Scott Schrantz's Blog

Reno blogger Ryan Jerz was interviewed by the RGJ for another one of those "Blogs are destroying culture" stories, this time about sports blogs. And at least they managed to work the story so there was a question mark at the end of it -- "Are blogs destroying culture?" As usual the answer is "no", but there are enough creaky old toads out there saying "yes" to let the newspapers pretend that there are two sides to the story.

Jerz gives the only response that needs to be given, that there are crap blogs and there are good ones, just like there are crap newspapers and there are good newspapers, and you can't let the crap ones bring the good ones down. But the fact that stories like this keep getting written means that we have to keep saying it.

The exterior signage is now up at Burlington Coat Factory. Besides coats they also sell Baby Depots and Home Decor, plus probably dozens of other things. A quick peek inside shows the racks and headless mannequins moving into position, readying for the grand opening.

You can also see that they've kept the "Wal-Mart Stripe" on the building, even though they've painted it a shade of red. And they've chosen pink as part of their palette of colors, so that's pretty fantastic. Luckily, when I took a closeup of the wall, the camera decided to color-correct it to more of a brown. My camera can be so judgmental.

Fairview Street is still a mess due to the massive repaving project they're doing. Fairview westbound is closed between Saliman and Roop, and eastbound is open only one lane and you have to dodge cones and construction vehicles the whole way. But! They're making progress, and the first layer of asphalt is down.

It sure does seem like this project would have gone a lot faster if they had just closed the road, and repaved the whole thing in one go. By closing down the whole stretch, they wouldn't have to hassle with cones, or flagmen, or paving half the street one month then paving the other half later. They could just blast through it and get it done. Sure, that would have blocked access to all the businesses and residences along that whole stretch of road, but it's all for the good of the freeway, right?

Fairview east of Saliman is also a high holy mess, because not only are they repaving there too but you also run into the freeway construction zone and the new overpass they're putting up. But that part of Fairview is open to two-way traffic at least.

The mystery construction project on Curry Street, at the base of C Hill, finally has been given a sign so we all can know what they're building. For a long time I'd been calling it a condo project, because for years there was a sign advertising a new condo development to be built on the land. That project fell through, though, and what's actually being built now is the Sierra Nevada Cancer Center.

Dr. Jorge Perez and his staff are currently located on Division Street, in an old building near the old hospital that he shares with several other practices. But while everyone else in the medical community is making a move north to be closer to the new Regional Medical Center, Dr. Perez is having his new facility built to the south, overlooking the slopes of C Hill.

There's another vacant lot being plowed under on the west side of town, getting prepped for construction. This time it's the lot at the northwest corner of Fifth and Division streets, and the equipment is on site clearing away the grasses and weeds. This corner has been empty for as long as I can remember; that area is zoned residential, so we'll probably see a house go up on the lot, just like the one that went up across the street a few years ago.

Kevin Karl in the Traveling Nevada blog has a post about the Murry Ranch in Pleasant Valley, along 395 a bit north of Carson.

RGJ: Spectacular Summits: Seven great hikes to do in the Tahoe Basin

1. Mount Rose
2. Mount Tallac
3. Freel Peak/Job's Sister
4. Twin Peaks
5. South Camp Peak.
6. Rose Knob/Mud Lake
7. Snow Valley Peak

The old Sundowner Hotel (converted to the Belvedere condos) in downtown Reno caught fire this afternoon. it was a smallish fire, and the fire department knocked it down pretty quickly. Reno Passport has pictures from the scene.

Traveling Nevada: Free Stargazing Event in Minden

Nevada State Parks invites the public to a free stargazing event on Saturday, July 26, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park in Minden, about an hour south of Reno.

Beginning at 8:30 p.m., park staff and members of the Astronomical Society of Nevada will be on site with telescopes to view Jupiter, the moon, Milky Way and other astronomical sights in the sky over Carson Valley. People with their own telescopes are welcome to bring them to the event, which will conclude at 10 p.m.

Visitors are advised to put on bug repellant, bring a blanket, lawn chairs, a light jacket and a non-alcoholic beverage. A portable restroom will be available.

Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is located just west of Minden, approximately one mile south of Douglas High School at 1450 Highway 88. Dangberg Ranch in Minden When approaching from the north on State Route 88, turn right on the dirt road where the Park Cattle Company sign is located. Please drive slowly as cattle may be on the road. The ranch house is located approximately a half-mile from the turnoff on Highway 88.

Tours of Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park are conducted Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 a.m., with a second Sunday tour at 2 p.m. Advance tour reservations are required and can be made by calling the park at 775-783-9417 or e-mailing dangbergranch@parks.nv.gov. Tour group sizes are limited to 10 people. Tour admission is $3 for adults and free for children 12 and under. For more information visit http://parks.nv.gov/hr.htm.

From Downtown Makeover: Downtown Reno Walk.