Reno Mayor Cashell leads effort to save UNR band

RENO " Reno Mayor Bob Cashell is urging his community to ride to the rescue of the University of Nevada, Reno's marching band.

Cashell says he hopes to raise $250,000 to start an endowment to save the Wolf Pack band from the budget axe.

UNR President Milton Glick announced earlier this summer that the band may have to go given the serious cutbacks facing university programs across the board. He says the school is very grateful for Cashell's willingness to step forward to lead the new fundraising campaign. He says the band belongs to northern Nevada, not just the university.

Cashell says people should contribute whatever they can, whether it is $5 or a nickel.

The band's drum major, Zeb Bellon, estimates it would take about $1 million to create an endowment that would keep the band running for three or four more years.