The R-C Morning Report

Searchers are starting out again this morning to find famed aviator Steve Fossett, who took off in a single engine aircraft from the Flying M Ranch in southern Lyon County on Labor Day morning and did not return or report back. Fossett, who circled the globe in a balloon, was flying a single-engine Citabria aircraft. Searchers are focusing on a 600-square mile area ranging from Yerington to Mammoth. Special infrared gear will be used to search for him, according to Civil Air Patrol Nevada wing spokeswoman Maj. Cynthia Ryan at a press conference Tuesday evening.

Winds out of the north have brought with them smoke from the Moonlight fire in Plumas County, according to the National Weather Service. Visibility is down to three miles in places, particularly above 5,500 feet. The fire is burning 3-5,000 acres in Moonlight Valley near the border of the Plumas and Lassen national forests. The fire started at 2:24 p.m. on Labor Day and is only 15 percent contained. The smoke is predicted to clear out this afternoon. By the way, it's only 44 degrees outside at 7 a.m.

The ancient and leaning poles which have long stood witness along Main Street in Gardnerville may be coming down next week. Or they may just be topped. The plan of the Main Street Lighting Program was to bury the utilities and then take down the poles. On Tuesday, the town did a little venting over the fact the latter has taken so long. Several predictions of the poles' demise have been premature. Sierra Pacific Power Co. has in some instances cut down their half of the poles, leaving telephone and cable television lines up for their owners to come get. The last utility on the pole gets the prize of taking the thing down and filling the remaining hole.