5-MINUTE R-C

• A Gardnerville Ranchos board member came under fire on Wednesday for an e-mail he sent a fellow board member saying he was lucky he wasn't shot. Supporters of outgoing general improvement district trustee Bill Barnum chided Al Wagner over the e-mail Wagner wrote after reading that Barnum's dog had been shot. Page A1

• A forest of forearms went up when the audience at Wednesday afternoon's master plan hearing on the Valley Bar was asked who supported approval of an amendment. Douglas County commissioners then all raised their hands in support for the historic bar that burned down last April. Page A1

• New citizen Nataliya Stahl said she is proud to be American. Her success as a real estate agent at Century 21, Clark Properties enables her to help children in her native Ukraine. Page A1

• Four people have been arrested in the past week with a combined 136 grams of methamphetamine. The Douglas County Street Enforcement Team has been busy. Page A1

• Deputy Leland Love received a medal for saving the life of a teenager who overdosed on drugs. Page A1

• Gardnerville bar owners met with county officials on Tuesday to try and work out a way to prevent the public drunkenness that has kicked off Carson Valley Days weekend in recent years. Page A2

• Eight Douglas County businesses were cited for selling alcohol to minors. In one instance, an underage white girl used the driver's license of a 26-year-old black woman to buy booze. Page A2

• Gardnerville man was charged with domestic battery and cruelty to animals Wednesday after the victim fended him off with a shotgun blast and her pit bull came to her aid. Erik McCormick, 36, was treated for injuries that included six shotgun pellets in his left leg and dog bites to his left arm and thigh. Page A3

• A new officer has joined Douglas County Juvenile Probation. Mike Torres has been working with troubled young people in Nevada for more than 22 years. Page A8

ALPINE

• Gardnerville orthodontist Dr. Vincent D'Ascoli visited the Alpine Early Learning Center in Woodfords to examine the children there. Page A10

• Alpine County Public Works is preparing for the snow to fly by issuing the plowing rules. Page A10

PEOPLE

• A Minden artist was inspired by words spoken by an ill friend to create artwork of angels. J. Renee Ekleberry is working now to compile a book containing an angel for every week of the year and an inspirational message. Page B1

• A group of senior citizens gathered Wednesday night for a dinner presented in their honor. Most were graduates of the Douglas County Nevada TRIAD Seniors' Law Enforcement Academy. Page B1

• Former Douglas High School teacher Krista Benjamin took a leave of absence to pursue a writing career, and since 2003 her work has been published at least 50 times. She will recite her poetry from the 2006 edition of "Best American Poetry" Tuesday evening at Comma Coffee, along with a performance by the Mile High Jazz Band. Page B1

SPORTS

• The Douglas wrestling team won its home-opener Wednesday night, taking a 43-32 win over No. 3 Damonte Ranch. Page C1

• The Sierra Lutheran High School boys' basketball team won its season-opener over Rain Shadow High School of Sparks last week. Junior Zane Waite had a strong game with 29 points. Page C1