The great Todd Felts has tragically, abruptly passed away during the Thanksgiving break.
Former Lakemill Lodge Resident Reports Finally Saving Trapped Cats, Weeks After Evacuation
Above, how Jennifer found her former Lakemill unit earlier this week, and her cats including Kitty Baby, Mohawk, Sweet Girl and Booger.
Ten cats a former resident at the Lakemill Lodge was taking care of have finally been reported rescued, after she says they remained trapped inside Room 403, from the date of the forced evacuation in late October due to safety hazards inside, until earlier this week.
“It looked like a tornado slash hurricane just went through,” she said of the apartment at 200 Mill Street, which had also been left unlocked for a while, after she was finally able to regain access.
Jennifer had been living at the Lakemill Lodge, paying $200 a week, since December, when on October 30th she heard from a friend via Facebook there was a heavy police presence outside, with chaos and people on the streets with their belongings.
“We didn’t get any kind of notice,” she said. She was told to grab stuff for just a few days.
“I wasn’t even given an option,” she says of taking the cats she was taking care of, including kittens just born, and two she had rescued, including one from a ceiling of the Lakemill.
“On the 30th when they came, the police were downstairs, I literally told the officers, ‘what are we doing with all the animals?’ And they didn’t say anything.”
She asked a Lakemill manager called Chuck to check in on her cats, their litter box and to give them food.
After going to another motel and getting her $100 deposit back from Lakemill, Jennifer went to live with a recently widowed dad in a place near Renown Hospital to help take care of his infant son.
She wasn’t allowed back into her previous unit until this past week.
In previous reporting Our Town Reno was told all animals from inside the Lakemill had been accounted for and taken out, which Jennifer disputes.
“It would have been better with Animal Services. I don’t know how many times they were checked on,” she told Our Town Reno this week, sending along the photos.
She said she previously called Animal Services and the Nevada Humane Society but that no one helped her with her cats.
The cats are now split between her and a friend who volunteers at the Nevada Humane Society.
“This is very concerning if this is true,” Shyanne School the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Service wrote to Our Town Reno. “As far as my team was concerned, we were advised by Rob Rice from Reno Code Enforcement as well as Junior Brar, property owner, as well as Chuck, property manager, that there were not any animals left behind. The date of that phone conversation is in my email below, on November 6. My team was not allowed to enter the rooms due to the exposure risk, nor would this be something that we would do without a specific plan and adequate staffing and PPE (personal protective equipment) to do so. To my knowledge, we have not received any additional calls to respond to the Lakemill Lodge for animals, but I will double check our call history. “
The Lakemill Lodge’s business license has been suspended, with new requirements to reopen including having 24-hour security and new perimeter fencing.
Some former tenants have taken up legal action against Lakemill ownership, and Jennifer is considering doing so as well.
She had previously moved from the fifth floor to the fourth floor of the Lakemill in September and at that time had put some of her paperwork, clothes and shoes in a storage section near the laundry room of the Lakemill. Those belongings, she says, are now all gone.
“It’s been a life experience, but holy cow. It’s not an experience I want to go through again,” Jennifer says of her recent few weeks.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
New Lawsuit in Hailey Nieto's Killing, As Sentencing Days Away
Hailey Nieto’s family has filed a lawsuit in the Nevada Second Judicial District Court alleging negligence by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Siegel Suites and Smart Communications, which runs communications between inmates and people outside the Parr jail.
The lawsuit alleges that Nieto’s convicted murderer, 40-year-old Todd Tonnochy, was communicating with the teenager in 2022 when he was in jail for other crimes, threatening her with sex trafficking and murder.
It states that “Smart Communications had a duty to monitor, flag, report and intercept all potentially dangerous communications made by inmates, including but not limited to threats made by inmates.”
Tonnochy was released from jail in January 2023.
The lawsuit says he then began to sex traffick Nieto, a mother of two, at a downtown Siegel Suites in Reno and killed her there on March 21, 2023. Her partially dismembered body was found in the Cold Springs area in a pile of trash.
Tonnochy was found guilty of second degree murder in August, while being acquitted of first degree murder, after the defense said the shooting was an accident. Tonnochy was also found guilty of destroying evidence, possession of a deadly weapon and intimidating.
Judge Scott Freeman is scheduled to sentence Tonnochy on Dec. 2.
In a GofundMe for Nieto’s girls, which has now reached over $60,000 in donations, April Nieto wrote on September 30th: “We were sad that he was found guilty of only 2nd degree murder but with laws here there was a lot of evidence that was left out that the jury did not see. The silver lining is the other charges as well including habitual criminal which in Nevada can land you 10 years to life just on that charge plus enhancements like Felon with a firearm and intimidating witnesses. The judge also made the call that when sentencing happens on December 2nd he will decide the fate not the jury so we are happy about that he is known to be a tough judge.”
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Locally Unhoused, Her Murder Unsolved – The Life and Death of Amy Allen
A collage of photos shared by family and friends of Amy Allen’s life.
Local recorded deaths of neighbors experiencing homelessness tragically keep going up.
In 2016, it was 19; 2017, 27; 2018, 37; 2019, 39; 2020, 49; 2021, 57; and 2022, 98.
In 2023, 135 people experiencing homelessness died in Washoe County, according to official data, marking the eighth consecutive new high since these records were kept.
Of those 135 fatalities, nine were ruled as homicides, and another eight were listed as undetermined.
Behind each number is the story of a person – somebody’s child, someone’s brother or sister, and someone’s friend. One such woman was Amy Elaine Allen.
On July 20, 2023, at 5:23 p.m., Reno police responded to a 911 call of an apparent stabbing near the train tracks and East Commercial Row. Emergency personnel arrived on site, but Allen, 38, died at the scene.
According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, Allen’s cause of death was listed as “sharp force injuries of the neck and chest.”
Amy Allen’s life was not just stolen from her, but on that evening she was also taken from her children, her mother and father, her siblings and her grandchild. No one has been arrested for her murder yet, and months later, her family is left still looking for answers.
Allen’s older sister, Christy Sherrill Jasperson, a registered nurse currently living in Missouri, recalled her time with her younger sister when they were children.
“I used to take care of her pretty much. [I’d] get her ready for school, like get her up in the morning, get her dressed … She didn't want nobody waking her up – but you know, she was my little baby doll,” Jasperson said. “So, I just kind of mothered her when she was younger. She was the youngest of eight at the time.”
Allen was born in Stockton, California, and grew up in Galt, California, before her family relocated to Galena, Kansas, when she was a child. Jasperson recalled how even from a young age Allen was exceptionally tenacious.
“She was super determined, like she wanted something, she was going to get it – even as a child,” Jasperson said. “I'm serious. You could not deter that child. Most children you could distract them or you could you know, ‘Hey, look at this.’ – No. If she wanted something, that was it. She was gonna go,” Jasperson remembered.
Jasperson talked about how brave her sister was even from a young age. “When she was young her favorite show was Freddy Krueger … Nothing scared her – she didn't have nightmares, she wasn't one of those people.”
Allen’s mother, Joyce Sherrill, said when Allen turned 11 though, she began “acting out,” and had difficulties with her mental health. She was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The road that followed was a challenging one, and Allen ended up in the foster care system and group homes.
Both Sherrill and Jasperson said she would have periods of mania and was prescribed medications to manage her condition.
“I feel like she self-medicated with the meth because the medications that she took for bipolar, the side effects were terrible,” Jasperson said. “It numbs you… but you have to take them in order to, to lead a normal life.”
Jasperson recalls there were times in Allen’s life when she stayed on her medication though, and found success.
One such time happened when she married her husband Doug Allen and lived in Granby, Missouri. During this time her sister’s husband, Doug helped make sure she took her medications and she became a stay at home mom for their two children.
“She loved taking care of things, like she had her own chickens, and she liked the whole cycle of life when it came to that,” said Jasperson. “She taught me about my chickens and brooding and all that stuff and she had a garden that she planted and she grew everything and loved it.”
Unfortunately though this bright time passed. Jasperson said Allen’s mental health declined and she fell back into addiction, ultimately getting a divorce and losing custody of her children. Jasperson said that at this point she thinks her sister lost hope.
Allen’s mother, Joyce Sherrill, said that during this time, Allen linked up with an ex-partner and travelled to California, and it was there that Allen began experiencing homelessness. According to her mother, the man who she trusted and went west with once beat her, knocking out her tooth. Allen was able to get away, and eventually found herself in Carson City and then later in Reno.
Despite living on the streets, Sherrill said her daughter would always call her on important days.
“She would always call me on birthdays, [on] Mother's Day. There was not one day that she did not forget to call me. She'd borrow somebody's phone and call me,” said Sherrill.
Both Jasperson and Sherrill said they would call and check up on Allen as often as they were able to, and multiple family members tried to bring her back to Missouri to get her clean and off the streets. But Allen was determined to stay in Reno.
Jasperson recalled her sister’s bravery. “She was never scared ... She still slept on the street, even though somebody held her up at gunpoint.”
On July 18, 2023, police conducted a sweep of people living in tents along the train tracks near Record Street. Encampments were cleared in the midst of a heat wave. According to Sherrill this is also the day that Allen was robbed at gunpoint, and her possessions including her wallet and ID were stolen.
Two days later she was stabbed to death.
“She was gone by the time EMS even got there – too much blood, but it's just hard to believe. Like who who does that? Amy had nothing. She had nothing. You know, she had nothing. She had no money because somebody already stole her wallet. She had no home. You know, she had a tent. That's what she had, she had a tent,” Jasperson said.
“Nobody was there to even help,” said Jasperson. “And Amy, knowing Amy…she's fearless. She would be okay with fighting somebody, like she had to, she was in group homes and stuff like that…So I know whoever was stabbing her. She was fighting, but I can't even imagine…But you know, it was too late. I know as a nurse…” said Jasperson.
No arrests have been made in connection with Allen’s homicide. The question of why her killer has yet to be caught is a question being asked by those who were closest to Allen. In a correspondence, Allen’s longtime childhood friend, Tiffany Gustafson wrote, “What upsets me the most is no one has been convicted or even tried for her murder. If she wasn’t a homeless drug addict do you think her killer would be behind bars?”
Jasperson and the family are still looking for answers and have been in contact with Reno PD’s Sean Peralta, who has been working on Allen’s case for months now.
Peralta says forensics results related to the Allen investigation only came back from the backed up Washoe County Crime Lab in January.
More recently, a source on background told an Our Town Reno reporter the DA decided not to prosecute in this case for now, citing insufficient evidence. The District Attorney’s office did not respond for comment.
In the meantime, Allen’s family is waiting for justice for their daughter, sister, mother, and friend.
“She loved God and she was a good person and she didn't deserve to die in such a way,” Gustafson said. “I truly believe if there is a heaven that she's in it because she was a very gentle person. She was very kind. She would have given you the shirt off her back. She just suffered so much [from] mental health.”
Reporting by Kat Fulwider shared with Our Town Reno
Captain Laura Baker, Leading an "All Risk" Department from Reno Fire Station 4
From left to right: Firefighter Noah Urrutia, Captain Laura Baker, Firefighter Coltin Decker, and Fire Equipment Operator Paul Keckley, a dedicated crew united in service at Reno Fire Station 4.
When I arrived at Reno Fire Station 4 on Ralston St., looking to spotlight one of their own, Captain Laura Baker wasn’t on duty. Still, her name was the first to be spoken unanimously and without hesitation by the crew that day.
“You’ve got to come back for Captain Baker,” they said. “She’s the one you want, she's perfect for this.”
They spoke of her qualities with pride: her dedication, leadership, and the way she cares for her team like family. When I returned to meet her, Captain Baker was slightly taken aback that her crew had recommended her with such high praise, a smile lighting up her face.
Born in Caliente Nevada, and raised in Sun Valley, Baker’s journey to firefighting wasn’t a straight line. Growing up she dreamed of becoming a trauma surgeon, inspired by her maternal grandmother Jo, a county nurse who often brought young Laura along on home visits.
“By the time I was 10, I’d already learned so much about patient care,” Baker said.
Her grandmother's compassion and resilience left a deep impression on her, shaping the values she carries to this day. But when her grandmother passed away from cancer, life took a different path.
In her early 20s, Baker began fighting wildfires with the Bureau of Land Management. In 1988, at just 21, Baker joined the Reno Fire Department, marking the beginning of a career now spanning more than 36 years.
“I was tired of college,” she admitted. “My dad and uncle fought fire so once I started it was in my blood.”
Captain Baker describes her days at the station as unpredictable and demanding, but she says she thrives on the variety. Firefighting isn’t always about being the hero or celebrating the good days. She speaks honestly about the hard realities of the job.
“We don’t just fight fires,” she said. “ We are an all risk department, medical calls, hazardous materials, water rescues – you name it, we do it. We see things nobody should have to see, but we talk things out good or bad. This job is tough, but we help each other a whole lot.”
On top of the emotional toll of the job, there's the challenges of being away from loved ones. The long shifts, unpredictable hours, and the high stakes of firefighting can make it difficult to stay connected to family. Recognizing this Captain Baker invites her crew’s family to join in on firehouse dinners. Offering a chance to bond and recharge as they share meals, stories, and laughter as they become one big family.
Calls can come in at any moment, day or night. During her last 48 hour shift Baker’s watch recorded only 45 minutes of sleep. On occasions when the calls slow down, the crew on duty will play some basketball. Watching Baker shoot hoops, it’s easy to see the echoes of her childhood when she spent days riding across fields with her pony, Millie, skiing, playing softball, and camping in Lincoln County.
Over the years, Baker has created countless memories, from delivering a baby during a call to pinning her own son when he joined the Reno Fire Department as a paramedic firefighter. Through it all Baker has remained grounded in the values that brought her to firefighting in the first place: service, resilience, and family.
Some days, you might hear Baker called “Wolverine” a nod to her tough attitude, and her ability to stay on top of her crew, pushing them to be the best.
But don’t be fooled by that fierce nickname, as her nurturing side has also earned her the title of “Mama Bear” from her crew. Whether she’s mentoring new recruits, encouraging them to study for their exams, or simply making sure they’re well fed, she’s fiercely protective of her team.
“You have to be a caring individual to do this job,” she explained. “Physically, mentally, and emotionally strong or willing to get there and you need to know where to turn if things get tough.”
Whether she’s responding to emergencies, mentoring her team, or shooting hoops in front of the fire house, Baker embodies the spirit of service. Her crew’s admiration for her speaks volumes, and it's clear that she’s making a lasting impact at Reno Fire Station 4.
Our Town Reno reporting by Genevy Machuca
Displeasure Escalates Over Uneven Access to Local Soccer Fields
While different plans for bigger scale, high-level team and tournament worthy soccer fields are hitting major road blocks in northern Nevada, annoyance is escalating concerning access to existing fields for different leagues and clubs, with a consensus it’s an uneven playing surface benefiting the politically connected and board members of the Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) who control city field permitting.
Challenges for delayed initiatives include a lack of private financing for the proposed Battle Born 5,000 seat capacity soccer complex in north Reno, neighborhood opposition for the suggested $40 million soccer stadium in South Valleys, and a lack of available funding to make quick progress on the Pembroke Flat Fields idea in southeast Reno.
Richard Jay, who sits on Reno’s Financial Advisory Board, is a past president of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League who has been advocating for the Pembroke Flat Fields. That project recently got Council approval for $450,000 for final designs, but there is no consensus whatsoever on how to pay for construction now estimated at over $20 million.
“Our current shortage is getting desperate,” Jay said while pleading in front of Council earlier this year for the Pembroke Flat Fields, saying it should have been done years ago, when fields were cheaper to build.
The worst though is for leagues and teams not connected to Jay, GBYSL and El Sol soccer which also has a presence on the RYSA board.
Organizers of several different teams and leagues who aren’t getting the access they want are planning to meet soon to devise a strategy to confront a grandfathered in system they say perpetuates inequalities.
“While no noticeable reform has been made, Sparks and Washoe County parks leadership have acknowledged the problems and a need for change,” Marc Radow behind the Battle Born Parr Blvd project and an avid public speaker in front of multiple boards recently wrote concerning local access to soccer fields, seeing a possible light in this soccer tunnel.
In a letter to the Reno City Council, Mayor Hillary Schieve, Reno Parks and Recreation, and Reno city management, he complained of the Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) not allocating the city’s component of fields equitably and inclusively.
He wrote the executive board of RYSA is comprised of “conflicted self-dealing members and alter ego private for profit businesses.”
Its vice chair is Randy Ritter, the president of both GBYSL and the soccer club Reno Apex, its Treasurer Vicki LaRovere is also with GBYSL, its executive chair is Brad Betker with Nevada Lightning Fastpitch Softball, its Commissioner at Large is Michelle Loux with Reno American Little League Baseball, its Secretary is Trish McFadden with Reno-Sparks Pop Warner, its Diamond Commissioner is Pedro Gutierrez with El Sol soccer, and its field maintenance person is Ian Anderson who runs the High Sierra Lacrosse League.
The RYSA executive board reads as a who’s who of who gets easy access to fields locally.
While other sports have fewer local leagues, soccer has many, and also has teams which emphasize development rather than competition, further distancing them from desired field access, as leagues get priority.
Ritter, the GBYSL president who is currently listed as Club President on the Reno Apex website, plays a dual role with both a non profit organization and a for profit team which stands to benefit from his positioning.
Base fees to begin playing for Apex start at $800 with many add ons included in the fine print, while salaries for some local academy coaches are said to run in the six figures, with added reimbursements for tournament travel and lodging.
A lease first signed in 2016 gives GBYSL full ongoing access to the Moana fields, also used by the private club APEX, both presided by Randy Ritter.
The City of Reno communications team told Our Town Reno to direct our queries about field access to GBYSL.
After we asked about the correlation between GBYSL and Apex, and possible favoritism in terms of field allocation, Rob Range, who is described on the Apex website as “Co-Director of Northern Nevada’s Olympic Development Program and … our current Vice President representing Northern Nevada with Nevada Youth Soccer Association,” wrote back a lengthy email to Our Town Reno.
His email address ends with gbysl.org and he cced other members of GBYSL and Ritter on his email.
“Reno APEX Soccer Club is a member club of Great Basin Youth Soccer League and as such gets access to GBYSL fields through our allocation process,” he wrote. “Reno APEX, a supporter and member in good standing with the league since 2006, currently represents over 21% of the teams in our competitive league (GBYSL Select) with 23 teams and 9% of our recreational league (GBYSL Recreational) with another 19 teams. This is significantly more than any other Reno based club and more than all the other Reno based club’s combined. As a comparison, the next largest supporter of GBYSL has 15 teams in our programs this season,” Range explained.
“All the fields that GBYSL has access to and obtains permits for from the City of Reno, City of Sparks and Washoe County are allocated to our member clubs and our independent teams for midweek practice space,” he continued. “That allocation process takes into account a number of factors to include but not limited to the number of teams in the league, requested venue, age of teams, geographic location of membership, historical usage, etc. It is a process that ensures fair and equitable allocation of very limited field space and a process used by sports associations around the county, including Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) for soccer, baseball, football and lacrosse fields. Every club and independent team in good standing with GBYSL is allocated adequate practice space and we are able to accommodate most venue requests from club administrators and team coaches.”
As per the Moana fields, which are also called the Richard L. Jay Fields, Range said these were maintained by GBYSL and used by Apex for midweek practices. He said it was unfortunate that the new pool at that location had reduced the soccer playing area by a third there, making it no longer suitable for games for players older than 10.
“Additional fields are desperately needed in our community. The Pembroke Project will alleviate some of the strain on our existing flat fields and we encourage everyone to fully support that project,” Range concluded.
Organizers of teams and leagues who spoke to Our Town Reno anonymously for fear of getting even less soccer field access sang a different tune, including that “it stinks of a monopoly.”
One said he feared the Pembroke fields will be controlled by in his words “the clique already controlling public fields.”
Another explained how leagues and teams scramble between county fields, city fields and having to pay high schools for use of their own fields, with limited availability. Some of the more desirable school fields are governed by the city of Reno, putting them under the control of RYSA as well.
One league organizer recently contacted RYSA while looking for fields for a new season, but said they got no response whatsoever.
They complain that many of the fields are reserved by RYSA linked teams, but when they drive by them these are often not in use.
“I think the hornet's nest needs to be poked and disturbed, to make it fairer,” they concluded.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Freedom to Read to Begin its Public Comment Efforts To Maintain Library Funding in Washoe County
Supporters of the Freedom to Read Nevada political action committee are preparing to go on a public comment mission to keep libraries funded at previous levels, starting with Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Their arguments include unclear wording on Washoe County Ballot Question 1 which ended up in a No vote (51.49%) and false flyers and intentionally misleading voter guides.
One of their advocates pointed Our Town Reno to the Washoe Republicans voter guide (included as screenshot) which stated “a “no” vote opposes the creation of a dedicated funding stream to the county library from your property taxes, which will cause your property taxes to be increased.”
The group Nevada Signal (also included as a screenshot) called it a “new tax.”
According to Ballotpedia “a "no" vote opposed adopting a property tax of $20 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years to fund the acquisition, improvement, and maintenance of library facilities in Washoe County.”
Library proponents have explained in a petition the vote was actually to continue automatically sending two cents of every $100 of assessed valuation to a library fund, which, approved in 1994, will now sunset in June.
It was generating about $4.5 million yearly, funding two dozen extra staff positions, nearly all of the book budget, the technology budget, construction of new libraries and renovations of existing branches.
Taxes aren’t being lowered for residents, and those funds will still be available via the county’s general fund, but they won’t be going to the library system directly anymore, meaning it’s up to the County Commissioners to decide how to spend the money, on libraries or elsewhere.
Bradley Leavitt, who recently launched a petition to maintain the funding dedicated to libraries, said voters were confused and some now regret having voted no.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Brar Motel Owners Under Renewed Scrutiny Over Wonder Lodge Conditions, While Former Lakemill Resident Angry Over Possible Looting
Photo above by Kade Collins.
A room was condemned at the Wonder Lodge Motel yesterday on 430 Lake Street, after a 911 call reported a fight inside possibly involving a gun.
Chris Johnson, a Reno police public information officer, told Our Town Reno that upon arrival Reno PD found up to 16 people in one room, and while no gun was found, two people were arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrants.
Animal services were also called, as a cat had been in that room, while people who had been in the crowded unit were in the parking lot with some of their belongings.
“When we got down there, the condition of that room was atrocious,” Johnson said. “And so we called the health department as well as code enforcement to come check to make sure that that place was livable. And, they ended up condemning that one room, based on what they had found.”
A back view of the Lakemill Lodge today.
The Wonder Lodge Motel is owned by Brar Hotels Incorporated, the same ownership as for the now suspended Lakemill Lodge at 200 Mill street, where safety hazards prompted a sudden evacuation late last month.
Calls and emails made by Our Town Reno to contacts associated with Brar have gone unanswered.
One former resident at the Lakemill who has been trying to slowly get her belongings back is putting together a detailed itemized list of what was in her previous room. She says she’s missing items, calling it a “treasure trove for looting.”
She was able to go up to her room this week, but said her door was unlocked, and that her AC unit had been pushed down, knocking down plants and her tv. When tenants were evacuated they were told to take belongings they would need for just a few days.
Some former tenants have been asked to sign paperwork to get their deposit back and be given access to their former units, but several have told Our Town Reno they are refusing to sign anything while considering legal action against Brar Hotels.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Immigrants of Reno: An Amazing Mom from Balachaur in India
Ritu Khera makes a cup of masala chai.
Growing up in Punjab, India, northern Nevada resident Ritu Khera hails from a small town named Balachaur. In 2000 she left the familiarity of her culture to seek a better life in the U.S.
My mother’s mother tongue is Punjabi, a language that originated in the Punjab region of Pakistan and northern India. She also speaks English, which she learned through her studies in India and years of living in the U.S.
My mother reflects on nostalgic memories of her native home: spending time with family, attending an all-girls school, and helping her parents.
Being the eldest child of three, she had multiple responsibilities in the house. Culturally, her lifestyle has changed, but she continues to practice Indian traditions and cook Indian food.
“I had two brothers, and with cousins, we used to have a lot of fun together. Our lives were very peaceful,” Ritu said.
My mother embraces annual Indian traditions throughout the year such as Baisakhi, Diwali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Karva Chauth, Vrats, and more. Celebrating these festivals based on family, honoring gurus, and religious fasts, she keeps in touch with her roots.
During her teen years, my mother also practiced her Indian cooking skills, taught by my grandma. She has been making a variety of Indian meals for nearly 30 years now. At first, she was not given too many opportunities to cook but started to learn more later after marriage. “After marriage is when I started actual cooking,” Ritu said. “My husband taught me many things as his cooking style and taste is very different.”
My mother now explores Indian-style cooking beyond the simple meals she was introduced to. A favorite is stuffing okra with masala to make a dish named Bhindi.
When they first arrived in the U.S., my parents stayed in San Jose, California, before settling in Reno with new businesses.
Balancing the care for her children and helping out with the family business when necessary, my mother’s everyday life became quite a hectic routine.
“Everything was new here. I did feel a bit lonely at home at first, but after having kids, everything is good,” Ritu said.
While reminiscing about her childhood, what my mother misses most about Balachaur is her relatives and friends. Though everyone has ventured onto their own paths, she appreciates the moments they can reunite when she travels to India.
“This is something I am sure everyone misses from their home country,” Ritu said.
Regarding her present home in Reno, my mother recalls that it was the weather that stood out to her when she first arrived.
“I think it’s a very lovely place. Snow is something I never got to see in Punjab, so I do enjoy living here,” Ritu said.
Reporting and photos by Khushleen Khera shared with Our Town Reno
Tuesday Night is for the Big Hearts of Family Soup Mutual Aid
Photo from after the end of the community meal last week. The grassroots groups which bring hot home cooked meals, non perishable food, hygiene supplies, shelter items and harm reduction tools to Believe Plaza every Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. in the fall and winter, whatever the weather conditions. The group which was been doing this since October 2021 is currently fundraising.
“We're all a lot closer to being out here on the streets than we are in that f***ing City Council building,” said Nicole, 31, pointing towards the local seat of political power this past Tuesday.
While many were watching election results come in last Tuesday, Nicole and other volunteers were distributing food and other essential items to a long line of Reno’s unhoused and neighbors in need.
As winter swiftly approaches, with colder nights and stormy days, their volunteer group says it could use more assistance.
Nicole and another organizer, who went by an alias Oliver, described how the harsher weather increases the need for vital resources and help from more volunteers.
“We definitely could use more support in winter” Oliver said, and listed items such as hot soup, shelter items like tarps and tents, sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing, and hand warmers as items that could be life-saving during this time of year.
“If anybody’s willing to donate any of those things… obviously food is important, but right now keeping people alive [from cold] is the major stressor for us and the folks that come through the line,” Nicole said.
The “life-saving items” Oliver went on to say tend to also be the most expensive, and they frequently run out of hand-warmers as well as gloves and socks which can save people’s toes and fingers from frostbite.
Family Soup Mutual Aid, which just celebrated their four year anniversary, has gone from four friends putting together hygiene packs in a bedroom, to having close to “50 volunteers serving 200 people” on the busiest days.
Nicole and Oliver emphasized that anyone is welcome to come, and that you don’t even need to bring anything. “Even if you don't have anything to bring, just come out. Feeding people is enough, talking to people, and just treating everyone nicely as your neighbors is important,” said Oliver.
“Please come out,” Nicole added. “We’re all working class people… we all have that in common… that’s the most important thing is that we need to support each other.”
A volunteer who wanted to go by “K” also spoke to their experience volunteering with the group, describing it as “really eye opening”. Though K felt they were making an impact, she recognized the people “need a lot more” than they are able to provide. Even though, her experience has still been “important”.
“I think it's important for everyone to get to look each other in the eye. Sometimes I feel like the unhoused population never gets to be paid attention to. So just being able to engage in conversation and look at them like they're people is really important,” she said.
You can volunteer with Family Soup Mutual Aid every Tuesday evening at 5 p.m, at the Believe Plaza located on North Virginia Street, just south of The Row. If you can’t make it but are able to donate, they can be contacted via their Family Soup Mutual Aid social media about drop-off spots they have in the city.
In times of stress, anger, and anxiety, volunteering can have a profound positive effect on your mental well-being. You also have the ability to create real change in your community, which is especially important when so many in Reno are in need as winter approaches.
Our Town Reno reporting and photo by Dan Mariani
Jana, Facing Life on the Streets after Losing Her Apartment at Lakemill Lodge
Jana (in photo she shared with us) says she will have to sleep outside tonight and upcoming nights after the Lakemill Lodge where she used to stay was abruptly closed down last week due to safety hazards and she ran out of money.
She used to stay in room 421 and says she hasn’t “received any communications or information about what to do or where to go.”
She says she isn’t get paid until Tuesday night. She has been applying for new jobs but in her current condition she says it’s very difficult.
“How am I gonna get there you know and how am I gonna be able to dress appropriate for the position? If I can’t even access my stuff inside my unit at the Lake now, things are getting really frustrating right now,” she wrote to Our Town Reno.
Jana can be reached on 916-269-9304 but says her phone is only running on wifi. Her email is mscwjlb2018@gmail.com
After being put up for a few days at the Travelodge owned by the same people who own the Lakemill with her remaining rent, she then stayed a few nights at a local America’s Best. Most people staying at Lakemill were paying about $200 a week, much less than what most other motels cost.
She sent us a video of inside her Lakemill room from just a few weeks ago, cramped with possessions and full of scratchers for several of her beloved cats. The business license of the Lakemill has since been suspended, with no indication of when it might reopen.
“I went back to Lakemill to get an update when I was told that if I do not forfeit my tenancy and sign this paper that I would not be receiving my deposit or gain access to my unit,” she writes of trying to get her possessions back. Several former tenants are considering joining a lawsuit.
“I am at a serious loss for what to do. If anybody has ideas, please contact me back with resources or information available I would be truly, truly grateful,” she concluded.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Did a local pastor violate IRS law with his pre-election voter guide?
As pointed out to us by a reader who included a YouTube link ( https://www.youtube.com/live/KhtxhlsNm8M?t=4771s) during a recent pre-election sermon at the Calvary Chapel Reno Sparks on Edison Way, Pastor Phil McKay said “We've prepared, our community impact team has prepared for you guys, a voter guide, that is going to hopefully help you to be educated on casting your vote so you know who you're voting for and what you're voting for. Amen.”
The Community Impact website, which has Mckay listed at the top of its about page and the same address as the church, has a 2024 Voter Guide with chosen candidates and answers on ballot questions, from Donald Trump for president to other Republican favored candidates and no on enshrining abortion rights in Nevada’s constitution.
At the bottom of the Calvary Reno website it mentions Calvary Chapel of Reno Sparks is a 501(c)3 Religious Non-Profit Organization.
However, as 501(c)(3) organizations, churches as well as charities have been prohibited from supporting specific political candidates since the passage of the Johnson Amendment in 1954.
The Internal Revenue Code provides that, by definition, 501(c)(3) organizations do not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Further, the IRS has indicated voter guides are allowed to be prepared or promoted by churches unless they contain a bias for or against one or more candidates, which in this case was clear.
In recent election cycles, though, as churches have become more obvious about publicly backing candidates, the outlet ProPublica reported the IRS “has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities.”
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Mothers and Other Residents from Abruptly Closed Lakemill Lodge Are Running Out of Money and Options to Be Housed
One former resident who receives disability payments says she may have to soon live in her car, even though she knows it’s illegal to do so.
It’s 4 p.m. today. A biting November wind starts to whip around downtown Reno. Seth, who gave a different name than his real name for fear of reprisal, with a wagon full of his clothes and his Chihuahua perched on top, is pacing back and forth in the parking lot of the Travelodge on Virginia street near the Walgreens.
“I have no idea what my next move will be,” he says, looking distraught.
He has just gotten a knock and told his time at the Travelodge is up as the latest $200 weekly payment he was making to stay at the evacuated and closed Lakemill Lodge has run out.
Three moms and former Lakemill residents, Lee, Leah and Misty, all wearing friend bracelets they made for each other, text and call each other frantically throughout the day, comparing the evolving plights of the looming homelessness they face.
Owners of the Lakemill, who also run the Travelodge and a local Econo Lodge, said they might be willing to accept old residents back once they are allowed to reopen, but at this point, there’s no telling when that might happen.
Today, residents were going to the Lakemill office to pick up their deposit money.
Residents were all abruptly forced out last Wednesday without any prior notice after syringes and human feces were reportedly found in common areas of the Lakemill. They were given little to no time to pack what they could, “for just a few days,” according to their recollections of what police told them.
A public communications specialist with the City of Reno J. Diego Zarazúa wrote Our Town Reno that “Code Enforcement received a complaint there was rotting food, garbage and people living in the stairwell. Representatives from the Reno Police Department, Code Enforcement and Northern Nevada Public Health conducted a site inspection as a matter of public safety. Tenants were not given notice, as the common areas were inspected based on the complaints received. All four stairwells were deemed a public health and safety hazard and were temporarily condemned causing the unforeseen evacuation of tenants.”
In terms of when the Lakemill might be allowed to reopen, Zarazúa wrote “Northern Nevada Public Health, Building Compliance and Code Enforcement will re-inspect the stairwells and other parts of the building to ensure the health threat has been remediated. An inspection will be coordinated with the different government entities after the property owner supplies Northern Nevada Public Health with the required remediation plans.” No indication of a timeline was included in the response.
The attached grocery store remained open today,
Seth has now been told to go back to the evacuated Lakemill Lodge, and get his deposit back in the form of a $100 check, without any indication of where he might be able to sleep. The walk is at least 20 minutes, so by the time he gets there, it will be too late to walk back to a bank to cash it.
Misty got the knock at her Travelodge temporary room earlier in the day. Lee, the only one in the trio of mom friends with a car, drove her to Heritage Bank to cash the check. Cops then took Misty to Lakemill and gave her ten minutes to clear out her room at the motel which is now taped off.
She then took her own wagon to a Motel 6 by foot, where she’s being charged $50 a night. She used to be homeless and now fears she’ll be homeless again as her money is about to run out.
Lee got several knocks today from Travelodge staff, telling her her time there is up as well. She keeps telling them her $800 monthly payment was still good for several more days. After we left, she said she was called on the motel phone saying tomorrow would be her last day allowed at the Travelodge. After she complained, they gave her until Saturday.
One of the friendship bracelets the trio of mom friends made for each other.
The Lakemill owners are housing people at other lodging locations they own until whatever payments they had for the Lakemill on Mill street run out.
Lee blames them for allowing unsafe conditions at the Lakemill, in the first place, including being permissive of people buying and using drugs in its stairwells, while allowing people who didn’t live there to have loud and late parties in the motel’s parking lots.
She had been staying there since January since it was way cheaper for her dog and her to stay than in her previous spot, a Siegel Suites where rent was $1400 with the pet deposit. In addition to being cheaper, the Lakemill also had a much bigger space and kitchen area for her living arrangements. Her mother recently passed away and she was trying to save up to figure out her next move now that her kids are grown up.
Misty is also a mom, separated from the father of her kids, who wears the friendship bracelets along with a third former resident Leah.
“While we don't have an exact number of Lakemill Lodge tenants displaced, approximately 69 households were provided some service by city staff, city contractors or partner agencies. This includes 24 individuals who were provided transportation by RISE and Karma Box,” Zarazúa wrote.
The three say they’ve received no such help, not even a list of contacts to call to seek help.
The Tavelodge is one of the places where former Lakemill residents were initially allowed to stay until their latest rent payments ran out.
“The City of Reno HAND staff walked door to door with the task force team to assess family size and potential assistance needed,” Zarazúa also wrote, but the three say they did not get that type of check-in. “Some households utilized the City’s rental deposit assistance program and were assisted at alternate locations. Some with children were provided alternate accommodations in coordination with Washoe County agencies. Some were provided accommodations at a few local motels, offered by the property owner to tenants who were current on rent payments.”
The three and Seth initially qualified for that last option, until their latest payments ran out.
In recent days, Leah has been staying at the Econo Lodge, while having to leave behind 10 cats and kittens at the Lakemill Lodge. She has a teenage son, and he’s been doing an internship at school in sowing, but wasn’t even allowed to go back inside to get his needed equipment.
All three say the forced relocation has cost them most of their savings, having to buy new hygiene products and costly food, since at the new motels they just have tiny fridges and microwaves.
Concerning left behind animals, Shyanne Schull the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Services wrote to Our Town Reno: “We handed out some dog sweaters for some of the smaller dogs and provided cat carriers for those that did not have a way to transport their cats safely. Additionally, on Friday, we responded again with additional cat carriers, dog sweaters and leashes and dog food. My team worked with Reno Code Enforcement and the manager of Lakemill Lodge to identify the 5 remaining units that had animals inside. The animals were safely evacuated from the rooms by Lake Mill Management and Code Enforcement, and to our knowledge, there were not any owned animals left behind.”
Another group of former Lakemill residents was put up at a Motel 6 but were all kicked out after reports of vandalism and theft.
“On Monday morning, HAND staff reached out to Motel 6 to confirm that the owner of Lakemill Lodge had arranged for an extension of stay for these residents,” Zarazúa wrote. “However, the Motel 6 manager informed us that they were no longer welcome at the establishment. The manager cited instances of property damage and noted concerns over occupancy limits, as there were reportedly 4-5 individuals per room, often accompanied by multiple animals of different species.”
Our Town Reno reporting, Nov. 6, 2024
Watch Party Turns Tense at the Emerson in Midtown Reno
There was just a smattering of locals gathered at the Emerson Bar in Reno as election results started pouring in, into the night on Election Day.
Some faced the big projector, which shone bright with red and blue. The voices of CNN reporters John King and Pamela Brown rang throughout the room, but were mostly drowned out by the sound of chatter.
Those seated at the bar with their backs to the big screen shot nervous glances behind them every once and a while.
Peter Barnato was seated at the bar but turned towards the project screen. He told me that he had come here for past elections, wanting to be amongst friends and community.
“It’s not as much what’s at stake for me, it’s what’s at stake for my friends and my community,” he said, referring to his LGBTQ+ circles.
As the night went on, the screen showed more and more red. And the patrons of the Emerson, an establishment catering to Reno’s queer community, seemed to grow a bit more quiet.
Taylor Cerny walked in with a friend, and the two made their way to a little nook with no view of the projector screen. They were just here for the quesadillas and some chatting, they told me. But there was no escaping the CNN anchors that filled the room.
“What’s at stake for me is the right to bodily autonomy, and my rights as a queer person,” Cerny said.
Geeve Iverson sat right in front of the projector, but chose to focus his energy on painting ceramics with his friend and his niece, Leilani. He said he needed something else to focus on than just watching the results coming in.
“I am fearful of what will happen with the Afforadable Care Act. I have a 26-year-old sister and I’m fearful of what will happen if she needs an emergency abortion,” Iverson said.
At around 8:50 P.M., the ramblings of CNN were muted and replaced with upbeat music. The chatter increased and the glasses started clinking.
In 2020, there was initially what was called an early red mirage in the results for former Republican President Donald Trump, before he was defeated by President Joe Biden.
Around 9 P.M. with North Carolina going into Trump's column, the path to victory for Vice President Democratic nominee Kamala Harris was getting narrower but still possible.
In Washoe County, a swing county in the battleground state of Nevada, long lines at UNR led to vote counting starting later than expected.
Reporting by Ray Grosser for Nevada Vote
Political Hats Taken Off and Fears of Deep Divisions Expressed During Washoe County Voting
At the Plumas gym on Monroe Street today, with a beautiful golden leafed tree framing the entrance, there was a steady stream of voters throughout the morning on Election Day 2024.
Jennifer, a 65–year-old retired local ski instructor found the voting experience smooth, opting to vote in person despite receiving her mail-in ballot.
“I think it's really more important for Nevadans than maybe some of the other country,” she said of voting in a swing county in a swing state with razor thin margins in polling for the top of the ticket showdown between Vice President Democratic nominee Kamala Harris versus former Republican President Donald Trump.
“Prices, grocery prices. Kamala Harris has mentioned that a few times,” she said of her own concerns. “It went up during the pandemic and it never really came down. I think the economy is really strong right now. I think the current administration has done a good job. The stock market is doing great. So I'd like to see that continue clearly. Women's rights, women's reproductive rights are top of the top of the ticket, for sure,” she mentioned as her other priorities.
“Don’t take it for granted that you live in a democracy. It's your right living here in America to vote, and I think it's your duty. It is not hard to register to vote,” she said. Even if not registered yet, voters can do so even on Election Day until 7 p.m. at one of 50 plus local voting centers with local ID.
“I think because we live in a democracy, and our life here is so comfortable, we get complacent,” she warned. “And just take a look around the world and how some other countries are that don't have that opportunity, you'll appreciate voting a lot more.”
Tyler Thompson (left), a 29-year-old restaurant manager and rap music producer said he voted due to encouragement from his grandfather. He said environmental issues are at the top of his own concerns.
“A lot more pressure I feel to vote,” he said of this election cycle. “A lot more people that usually don't vote are voting and so yeah, it just kind of feels like everybody's joining together and voting, really exercising their right.”
He was reminded of electioneering rules, which prevent any voter from wearing political clothing while entering a voting center.
“It was an interesting father, son, kind of little dilemma in front of me, it was interesting, and a little chaotic,” he explained. “They were refusing to take off their hats, their political hats. So it was a little interesting, but the staff handled it well.”
Heather Mandel, 71, a self described semi-retired tax accountant from Northern California, emphasized the importance of voting, especially in this transitional period.
Mandel appreciated the new poll pads being used, even though she was hesitant at first. “I was not sure, because I haven't done the machine thing before, but no, it worked fine,” Mandel said.
Immigration is one of her main concerns.
“I think we are a country of immigrants, but I really think that there's a legal process available, and I think that should be made sure that that's honestly being made available to people so that we don't have so many illegal [immigrants] feeling they have to break the law to be here. So I think it needs to be, I don't know, streamlined in some way, yeah, but I'm really all about doing things legally and by the law. So, yeah, so that's important to me,” she said.
She says she’s noticed divisions even within her own family.
“Families are divided. Unfortunately, obviously, I'm of the older generation. I have some more conservative views. Doesn't mean I don't love my great nieces and nephews, but because I'll listen to them, yeah, I'll hear them out, but they won't let me talk, you know,” she concluded.
Reporting for Our Town Reno by Joey Azar
Security Guard At Cares Campus Reaches Out, Seeking to Improve Conditions at Massive Shelter
A higher up within the county recently walked through a construction site at the Cares Campus without a construction hat or vest, while everyone else was wearing these, showing disrespect, according to a security guard who reached out to Our Town Reno, wanting to share ideas on how operations at the massive shelter and adjacent safe camp could be improved upon.
These include better arrival pat downs, better allocation of where available money is spent, better food, more communication on rule changes, more transparency for local media, and more showers, laundry rooms and computers for people staying at the massive shelter.
Shifts can be long, often difficult and tense for pay starting at $20.50 an hour, the guard said.
The new Welcome Center (above) is beautiful and extremely expensive and "pretty useless" for the unhoused sleeping at the Cares Campus, according to the guard who wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job.
"It looks pretty, but there's a lot more they could have done with that money for the participants for sure," the guard said.
One idea would be to have the Safe Camp have its own shower and laundry area rather than having to walk five minutes every time to the Cares Campus facilities. For one woman missing a leg and using a wheelchair, the guard says, the trek takes half an hour.
"She has to roll across the construction stuff they have there, an asphalt parking lot, up another asphalt ramp until she gets to concrete that's flat," the guard explained on the lack of help for the disabled going to and from the Safe Camp. "It breaks my heart," they said.
The guard stressed better internal and external communications with those sleeping inside as well as the community and media, about what exactly is going on.
"So during their intake, they're being told how our security works, how their bed works, how they can lose it, what programs they have to help or to help get them out of there," the guard explained.
Media is invited on special occasions, but Our Town Reno hasn’t been able to visit on a regular day to see conditions inside. The most recent time we tried, we were kicked out.
Several weeks ago, the guard said a policy was changed not allowing food to be brought in from the outside anymore, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of food being thrown out.
"We need signage inside. We need posting," the guard explained. "We needed to say when they changed the rule about the food, there should have been a sign no perishable foods, and they should have written in big, bright colors, slap there right on the front of the Welcome Center so that everybody knows coming in, when they change the rules. That is something that I feel like absolutely needs to be done."
Dinner is quite early in the evening, with food which could also be improved, according to the guard.
"I've heard prison food mentioned many times," the guard said.
A Facebook comment indicated this was an example of food being served at the Cares Campus.
Better security such as more stringent pat downs to prevent drugs from getting inside would be helpful as well the guard said.
"We do non-invasive pat downs where it's just the front pants pockets and if somebody has something being detected in the metal detector, we just ask them to remove the stuff. So we try to not search them as much as possible. And I think because of that reason, stuff is still getting in because, they should honestly treat it like, probably like TSA does, take it a little more seriously... Our metal detector, I do not trust that thing at all," the guard said.
Weapons are detected with the current system the guard said, but well hidden drugs aren't.
Some employees were suspected of bringing in drugs previously, which is why they now go through the same lines of security at the entrance as those sleeping there, the guard said.
Disruptions happen from outside as well, including by people shooting guns or launching grenades by the safe camp or recently ramming an entrance gate with a vehicle.
"So all of our guards are on edge all the time and trying to do our best to, like, focus on the security more than anything," the guard said.
The most difficult position is the solitary unarmed guard at the Resource Center, the guard said.
"I think they should get paid at least $5 more an hour than us because it's quite more intense than the rest of the campus. When we have no beds available, they'll send them over to the Resource Center. Before it was closing at 8 o'clock, but now that it's cold, they opened up the overflow. So now pretty much anybody who can't get a bed on the campus will be sent over to the Resource Center to just pretty much sit around and wait for a bed," they told Our Town Reno.
The guard says overall they don't think the training was adequate enough, such as using X-Ray machines, or dealing with different situations which come up.
A basketball court is being built they said, but they would like to see more access to WiFi and clean computers, so people could apply for jobs and resources.
"There's just a couple of computer spots in the Welcome Center, which I think maybe that was the idea that they're going for," the guard said, explaining more rooms like that are needed to get more people staying at the Cares Campus actively working on improving their plight.
When walking around downtown, the guard says they see a lot of people who were kicked out of the Cares Campus or no longer liked being there, and that it makes them sad they weren't able to get more help and that their overall situation hasn't improved. Too few, too slowly, and too rarely do people get housed, they concluded.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Lowrider Car Culture Keeps Rising and Gaining Respect in Northern Nevada
In his adolescence, Roberto Nerey says he was misguided into becoming a gang member because he believed that’s just what Chicanos did.
However, he decided to leave that lifestyle behind after he started questioning why his uncle never went to jail or why he didn’t even fight. Nerey’s uncle showed him a different side of Chicano life, lowriding.
“It gave me hope that someday I could be free from that bondage of loyalty to the barrio,” he said.
Nerey, originally from Highland, California, has been in Reno, Nevada, since 1976. He started the Reno/ Sparks NV/ Lowrider Council in 2016 to give lowriders a voice. Similarly, Miguel and Arlien Casillas, originally from Southern California, founded Wicked Wayz Car Club in 2013 to give back to the community and build long-lasting relationships.
“I reverted back to my childhood and did something I loved with my wife. We’ve done it together,” Miguel Casillas said.
Both the lowrider council and car club want to leave a positive impact and help those in need. Nerey’s lowrider council leads by example. One of their goals is to influence the younger generation and direct them down the right path. They volunteer with kids and families around the community.
“Ex-gang members, ex-addicts, ex-convicts, they can become whoever they want. Regardless if they’re 45 years old,” he said of the importance of turning people around in his work.
Arlien Casillas also brought up their car club’s desire to make a difference.
“The whole being in our platform is being able to give back and have everybody fulfill a sense of purpose,” she said.
The lowriding community has expanded a significant amount in Reno over time. Nerey said that the visibility of the culture wasn’t prominent in the late 80s, but that’s when he remembers there being lowriders around.
When Miguel Casillas first arrived in Reno in 2001, he knew lowriders were here, but he didn’t see much of them. When he did come across them, they were seen downtown. Some struggles came along with a small lowriding community.
“It was difficult because back then, we had to go to Sacramento or San Jose, [the] closest communities to us to be able to do hydraulics, do the paint jobs, upholstery, just to even get wire wheels, 13-inch wire wheels,” Nerey said. “We didn’t have none of that then as we do now.”
As the lowrider community continues to grow, Arlien Casillas said that it’s gaining more respect. However, the community has struggled with discrimination and racism for a long time.
“Lowriders have gotten historically a bad name,” Arlien Casillas said. “They’ve banned cruising, and they’ve outlawed it… we’re breaking that stereotype of what most people think of lowriders. I don’t even want to repeat what they think of us because I don’t believe it.”
Nerey said that many stereotypes had pinned them as the bad guys. Local police would arrest people and issue citations during lowrider cruises.
“I could never understand why driving a vehicle or cruising was a crime… we felt like second-class citizens because of the way we were treated,” Nerey said.
Despite these hardships, the lowriding community has stuck together.
“It’s a lifestyle,” Arlien Casillas said. “We’re all brotherhood.”
She mentioned that their club members are their families. They celebrate holidays, wins, losses, and more together. Family and community are a big part of this way of life.
This lifestyle was passed down to them through family and friends. It was a culture they grew up seeing as a child.
“I remember as a kid getting inside the car with my uncle, listening to oldies… I’ll never forget when he would take me in his car, and all I ever wanted to do was grow up and have my own,” Nerey said.
He remembers seeing others look at and admire his uncle’s car. Now, Nerey has lowriders of his own. He rides a ’78 Lincoln Thunderbird as well as a ’78 Eldorado Cadillac.
As for the Casillas’, you can find them riding in their ’84 Regal or ’63 Chevrolet Impala. In addition, their son has a ’99 Lincoln.
Arlien Casillas said that building the cars is a never-ending process. Miguel Casillas added that it depends on the modifications one wishes to make to their car. Many aspects go into lowriding, such as using hydraulics, riding low, being quiet, painting murals, and more.
“Art is lowriding, and lowriding is art,” Arlien Casillas said. “Every car is individual, and every car has its own touch, its own look, its own build, its own bill. Every car is a work of art.”
Casillas said that the lowriders represent individuals, their roots, the Latino community, and one’s heritage through artwork.
“To me, lowriders symbolize a way you can represent yourself,” Nerey said, “The car you build, is who you are on the inside… in terms of your pain, struggles, to your love.”
Looking forward, Miguel and Arlien Casillas want to help wherever they can and assist the community on a larger scale. They hope to expand their car club and get more people involved.
“Bigger, badder, [and] better,” Arlien Casillas said.
If someone wants to get involved or build their own lowrider, they can reach out and message the Reno/ Sparks NV/ Lowrider Council or Wicked Wayz Car Club.
“We’re willing to share our knowledge and passions with you,” Arlien Casillas said.
Arlien Casillas mentioned that you don’t need to be a part of the Latino community to take part. Nerey also said that you don’t need to be Chicano or Latino to be involved, as long as you love the culture, are positive and respectful.
Reporting by Stephanie Navarro Rocha shared with Our Town Reno
Evacuated Lakemill Lodge Residents Consider Lawsuit Against Ownership
After being forced to abruptly leave the Lakemill Lodge on Wednesday due to a sudden enforcement shutdown, former residents have since spoken anonymously to Our Town Reno on the chaos and difficulties they’ve encountered since.
They say they’ve been set up by ownership, Brar Hotels Incorporated, in other motel-type lodgings but that they are seeking legal advice and considering a lawsuit.
A Kanwal Brar is listed as the Reno-based GM of Brar Hotels Inc. on LinkedIn but did not respond to a message there.
One former Lakemill Lodge tenant had to leave her cat who had just had new kittens, all inside. Another had a full fridge and all her costly dog food was also left behind. One person who had barricaded themselves inside got shot by police on Thursday and transported to a hospital. One tenant was put in with another family, even though she wanted her own room.
At the time of the forced evacuation, tenants were rushing outside, with whatever they thought of taking, while confused children cried, people working or sleeping were being texted to frantically, and doors were being knocked on.
“We were rushed out like a fire from our rooms by the cops,” one wrote to us in a text message.
Former residents there described the Lakemill as having challenges, with no AC, and occasional “shady characters” coming through, some not living there and dealing drugs, or sleeping in stairwells, and some not being able to pay for more than a few weeks before being evicted.
They said there were good sides as well though to living there. One said she had a portable burner, a lovely counter top oven, and a full size fridge.
More than 100 rooms were reportedly occupied, when Northern Nevada Public Health decided to close it after inspectors found used drug syringes and human waste in stairwells and common areas.
“Tenants were in the total dark,” of this shutdown happening, one tenant said.
One rented a nice, large studio apartment for $800, with utilities included.
“We had wifi too, but they shut that off when they started painting the outside,” she said.
She said no background or credit checks were needed and that it was a huge savings for her compared to a Siegel Suites on 7th street where she used to have to pay a $1400 monthly rate, including pet fees, for a much smaller studio.
“The maintenance are awesome....they really did try...they live there too,” she said about staff at the Lakemill Lodge, which had recently gone through an exterior overhaul.
After the evacuation, she said the owners set her up by evening in the Travelodge on Virginia Street near I-80, which she says they also seem to own.
It got off to a rough start though, as she immediately had to get rubbing alcohol to kill off several bed bugs (one shown in photo). Plus, since then, she says she hasn’t been given access to the continental breakfast most other guests are getting at that location.
She has a car and has been driving people around to different pantries to get food and clothes for others who have been displaced, and are encountering even more difficulties.
Rent, she says, was paid in two week increments at Lakemill, and her next payment was due next Friday. She first arrived in Reno after fleeing a California fire which ravaged her old town and now this, she says. Her boyfriend has a job, and she has a car and lives off of Social Security, but fears for other former neighbors, and how they might end up totally unhoused.
Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024
Kamala Harris Voters Mostly Confident About Election Results While Rallying in Reno’s Crucial Swing County
Halloween yesterday was accompanied by a short notice visitor, Vice President Kamala Harris. With just a few days before Election Day, the Vice President and Democratic nominee visited the Biggest Little City to rally voters in Washoe County, one of the few swing counties within a swing state in the country.
“It is time for a new generation of leadership in America,” she said at a packed Reno Events Center.
“This is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance and out for unchecked power,” Harris said, drawing applause and a contrast with her opponent in the presidential race, former Republican President Donald Trump.
“If elected, Donald Trump on Day One would walk into that office with an enemies list — when I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list,” she said.
“We have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other,” Harris added. “We’re done with that. We’re exhausted.”
The location of her speech was a shift from previous top of the ticket rallies for Trump and the two vice presidential aspirants which were all held in local casinos. As Harris supporters eagerly awaited her arrival, NevadaVote checked the temperature on whether they were confident or concerned with Election Day just around the corner on Tuesday.
Elyse Robertson poses in front of a concession stand at the Reno Even
“I feel confident,” shared Elyse Robertson (above), a veteran attending the rally as Harris predicted victory. “I think after Sunday that a lot of people saw really just how bad MAGA is, and how scary that is. And how Kamala and the other side is healthy for the nation and healthy politics.”
Robertson was referring to Trump’s controversial Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday in New York City, where opening rally speakers were criticized for racist jokes and other affronts, including the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
“Oh, I’m confident. I’ll be concerned the day after if we lose. But in the meantime, I’m staying positive,” said Eloy Hara (in photo below), the business manager of Labor Local 169. Standing with another union worker in custom bright orange Harris t-shirts, Hara spoke to how he is rallying his union not only for Harris, but for Democratic Senate incumbent Jacky Rosen as well.
“We’re, encouraging all of our members, to vote, for, Kamala Harris, Jackie Rosen, and, you know, because we know the way we see the future is they’re going to help us, or she’s going to help us create, new construction, uh, union paying jobs, and that’s why we’re supporting her.”
Hara poses in front of Harris rally line, with shirt reading ¡LIUNA! For Harris Walz Feel The Power. LIUNA stands for Laborers’ International Union of North America
Other Harris rallygoers expressed a mixed bag of confidence and concern. Sue Selle is confident now, but expressed how her feelings have also fluctuated recently.
“I’m feeling really confident. I’ve been concerned, cautiously optimistic, but concerned going into this. But in the last week or so I’ve been feeling a lot more confident,” said Selle, originally from Redding, California. Selle was selling Harris campaign stickers, two for $5, with various slogans on them and a sweatshirt whichread Madam President.
Selle described how her confidence comes from the early ballot returns, and that she also has a “different feeling” about this race.
“I definitely was not feeling this way in 2016. I was, I felt very different, so I think this is a good sign.”
Selle is referencing how in 2016 Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, defying predictions.
Selle poses wearing a ‘Madam President’ sweatshirt, with numerous stickers, with slogans such as “childless cat ladies for Kamala.”
Another attendee feeling conflicted was Lauren who only gave her first name.
“Concerned and confident,” she said, accompanied by an attendee holding a “Republicans Voters Against Trump” sign.
“I can’t, I can’t, can’t, have a bully. I can’t stand the idea of somebody, besides Harris winning, you know. it’s not the people that support him. Some of those people might be good, but he is such a bully,” Lauren said, struggling to speak from being so overcome with emotion.
Warm up speakers included Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
In her remarks, Harris said she was the candidate for freedom, protecting civil rights and making costs affordable again. Harris repeated she would “end a tax on tips for service-workers”, despite NevadaVote reporting on the shortcomings of this policy. It’s also being touted by Trump.
Harris and her supporters chanted about “not going back”, before she exited the stage.
Nevada Vote reporting by Dan Mariani shared with Our Town Reno
Lakemill Lodge Shut Down and Residents Evacuated
The Lakemill Lodge was shut down today and its occupants evacuated, after inspectors say they found human waste and hypodermic syringes on site in stairwells and in common areas.
Reno PD said that after being tested needles which were found during the inspection came back positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin.
The City of Reno said it was working with residents who were living there to find temporary housing.
The motel, at the corner of Mill and Lake streets, which has repeatedly been on the radar of code inspectors, will not be allowed to reopen until renovations can be made and health and safety hazards are addressed.