Record-Courier annual hits streets today

Fortified by a celebratory Rice Krispies Treat and a fruit drink, young Cody Ball excitedly raised his arms over his head.

"I'm famous!" he exclaimed after he found his drawing on page 12 of the 2006 Carson Valley Almanac, distributed in today's Record-Courier.

Cody and his classmates at Minden Elementary School are the youngest contributors to the R-C's annual edition.

Focusing this year on Minden's centennial, the children - under the direction of their teachers Sharon Chappell and Janell Sheets - were asked to come up with ideas for Minden 100 years from now.

The students celebrated Wednesday with an author's party.

They were delighted with the results as they pored over a class picture and listened to their teacher read their story.

"Do you see how important spelling words correctly is?" asked Sheets as the children nodded in agreement.

"Doesn't it feel great to see your words and pictures in print?" she said. "You're published!"

This year, the R-C called on several community members for contributions.

Tom Perkins of Minden submitted several black-and-white photographs of the town and writers Charlie Hatch, Bob Ellison and Hap Fisher collaborated on a history of the Hellwinkels and the Raycrafts, two of Carson Valley's prominent immigrant families.

Other features include profiles of recent Douglas High School graduates who have returned to the Valley as teachers and plans for the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

Edited by Kurt Hildebrand, the emphasis this year is on Minden's celebration with more than half of the 180-page publication devoted to the town.

The 24th annual Almanac also is packed with advertisements and directories of Carson Valley businesses, service organizations, government agencies and a calendar of events.

A copy of the Almanac is included in today's home-delivered editions of The Record-Courier. Free copies are available at the R-C office, 1503 Highway 395, Suite G, Gardnerville.