Best of winners for 2008

by Kurt Hildebrand

Editor

Douglas High School Football Coach Mike Rippee was named Carson Valley's favorite coach for the third year in a row.

Rippee is in his 24th season coaching the Tigers.

With more than 650 ballots counted in 69 categories, the results of the 14th annual Best of Carson Valley are in.

Favorite athlete Douglas High School senior Jessica Waggoner is a standout in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She is an honor student. She went to the sectional championship of the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition as an eighth-grader where she took second place.

Meneley Elementary School teacher Becky Tupa was named Carson Valley's favorite teacher. Tupa, a Johnson Lane resident, teaches first grade at the Gardnerville Ranchos school.

Carson Valley residents' favorite law enforcement officer is Deputy Dean Kumagai. The 21-year veteran is a member of the Douglas County Sheriff's Honor Guard, and is teamed up with K-9 Akeeva.

More than half of the favorites this year are repeats from last year, but there are a few new faces in the competition.

Longtime favorites like A Wildflower, Carson Valley Golf Course, Northwest Martial Arts, Pizza Barn and Francisco's return to the top of their categories this year.

While many of the winners are old favorites, there is room for at least a few newcomers in the top spot.

This year DeBug Computing topped the list of favorite computer repair stores. Saletti's Restaurant was named favorite Italian restaurant for the first time this year.

New categories this year include boat repair and deli sandwich.

Antique Store

1. Cheshire Antiques

2. Tumblewind Antiques & Collectibles

3. Joyce's Jewelry, Gifts & Antiques

Athlete

1. Jessica Waggoner, volleyball, basketball, track & field

2. Barron Santiago, football

3. Dustin Miller, motocross

Auto Body Shop

1. Mort's Auto Body

2. Norris Auto Body

3. Superior Collision Center

Auto Parts Retail

1. Napa Auto Parts, The Parts House

2. Kragen Auto Parts

3. Carquest Auto Parts

Auto Repair Shop

1. Golden Nugget Automotive

2. Christensen Automotive

3. Mort's Auto Body

Bank

1. Wells Fargo

2. Bank of America

3. Greater Nevada Credit Union

Barber Shop

1. Main Street Barbers

2. Wild Hair Barbers

3. Alpine Barber Shop

Basque Food

1. JT Basque Bar & Dining Room

2. Carson Valley Country Club

3. Overland Hotel

Beauty Salon

1. C & Company

2. Nyona's Studio 395

3. Drago's Salon

Boat Repair Shop

1. Performance Marine

2. Adams Family Marine Service

3. Testa Racing

Breakfast

1. Woodett's Diner

2. Katie's Country Kitchen

3. Danny's Ironwood Grill

Burgers

1. The Wildhorse Pizza, Bar & Grill

2. Carson Valley Country Club

3. Danny's Ironwood Grill

Chiropractor

1. Dr. Stuart Pardee

2. Dr. Dublin Hart

3. Dr. Don Miner

Chinese Restaurant

1. Mandarin Gourmet

2. Hunan Chinese Restaurant

3. Wasabi's Sushi & Asian Bistro

Cleaning Service

1. Merry Maids

2. Bobby Page's Dry Cleaners

3. Bigg Impressions Cleaning Service

Clothing Store

1. Pazazz Fashions

2. Especially for You

3. Ruby Rose Cowgirl Clothes

Coach

1. Mike Rippee, Douglas football

2. Ernie Monfiletto, Douglas football

3. Mike McLaughlin, Douglas tennis

Computer Repair

1. DeBug Computer Consulting

TIE 2. Computer Zone

TIE 2. John Cressaty

3. E squared C

Dance Studio

1. All About Dance

2. The Dance Workshop

3. The Academy of Dance Arts

Day Care

1. Sunshine & Rainbows Child Care Center

2. Trinity Lutheran Child Care Preschool

3. Land of Oz Preschool

Day Spa

1. David Walley's Resort, Hot Springs & Spa

TIE 2. C & Company

TIE 2. Drago's Salon

3. Shear Heaven Salon Da Spa

Deli Sandwich

1. Subway

2. Full Belly Deli

3. Port of Subs

Dentist

1. Dr. Timothy Pinther

2. Dr. Gary Anderson

3. Dr. Todd Gray

Dessert

1. Cold Stone Creamery

2. Dairy Queen

3. Barone & Reed Food Co.

Dinner

1. Barone & Reed Food Co.

TIE 2. Fiona's Bar & Grill

TIE 2. Saletti's Restaurant & Bar

3. JT Basque Bar & Dining Room

Doctor

1. Dr. Ralph Herbig

2. Dr. Thom Merry

3. Dr. Mark Brune

Electrical

1. Minden Electric

2. Central Systems Electric

3. United Electrical Services

Financial Service Provider

1. Greater Nevada Credit Union

2. Ted Rich, Wells Fargo

3. Wells Fargo

Fitness Center

1. World Gym

2. Curves for Women

TIE 3. Carson Valley Swim Center

TIE 3. Northwest Martial Arts

Flower Shop

1. A Wildflower

2. Aladdin Flowers & Gifts

3. Bouquet & Bouquet

Gallery

1. Lone Tree Frame & Gallery

2. East Fork Gallery

3. Artistic Viewpoints Gallery & Studio

Gas Station

1. Arco AM/PM Minden

2. Arco AM/PM Gardnerville

3. Pacific Gasoline

Gift Shop

1. Fresh Ideas

2. Especially for You

3. Classical Glass

Golf Course

1. Carson Valley Golf Course

2. Genoa Lakes Golf Club and Resort

Grocery Store

1. Raley's Supermarket

2. Scolari's Food & Drug Co.

3. Smith's Food & Drug Center

Hair Stylist

1. Nyona Lang, Nyona's Studio 395

2. Carolyn Wohlgemuth, C & Company

3. Judy Koblitz, C & Company

Hardware Store

1. Ace Hardware

2. Meek's Lumber & Hardware

Heating & Air Conditioning

1. Carson Valley Heating Inc.

2. Dave Taylor Appliance Service

3. Coastal Aire & Sheet Metal

Insurance Agent

1. John Scott, State Farm Insurance

2. Mike Eddy, American Family Insurance

3. Warren Reed Insurance

Italian Restaurant

1. Saletti's Restaurant & Bar

2. Two Guys from Italy

3. Marcello's Ristorante & Bar

Jewelry Store

1. Joyce's Jewelry, Gifts & Antiques

2. Jewelry Box

3. Especially for You

Kennel/Pet Sitter

1. Carson Valley Kennels & Grooming

2. Pet Sitters Plus

3. Canine Country Club

Landscape Company

1. Rice Landscape

2. Nevada Landworks

3. Designing with Nature

Law Enforcement Officer

1. Deputy Dean Kumagai

2. Sheriff Ron Pierini

3. Deputy Greg Shields

Locksmith

1. Carson Valley Locksmith

2. Howell's Lock & Safe

3. Accurate Mobile Locksmith

Lunch

1. Carson Valley Country Club

2. Russell's Mercantile

3. The Wildhorse Pizza, Bar & Grill

Manicurist

1. Barbara Nichols, C & Company

2. Heidi Bowers, Valley Nails

3. Debbie Orr

Martial Arts Studio

1. Northwest Martial Arts

2. West Coast Martial Arts

3. Sierra Dojo

Mechanic

1. Mike Schiller, Golden Nugget Automotive

2. Justin Wing, Double J

3. Mark Hollar, Hollars Automotive

Mexican Restaurant

1. Francisco's

2. El Aguila Real

3. The New Rancho Grande

Optometrist

1. Dr. Richard Baumann

2. Dr. Somer Lyons

3. Dr. Evan Pritchett

Permanent Makeup Artist

1. Stephanie Waggoner

2. Pamela Horton

3. Suzette Bennett

Personal Trainer

1. Cheryl Morris, Washoe Tribe

2. Mark Waggoner, World Gym

3. Brenda Fisher

Pest Control

1. Catseye Pest Control

2. G&R Pest Control

3. Carson Valley Exterminators

Pet Groomers

TIE 1. Carson Valley Kennels & Grooming

TIE 1. Shirley's Valley Grooming

2. Clippers Dog Grooming

3. Gina's Grooming

Pharmacy

1. Raley's Supermarket

2. Rite Aid Pharmacy

3. Scolari's Food & Drug Co.

Photographer

1. Bob Macias

2. Kid Pix

3. Jay Aldrich

Pizza

1. Pizza Barn

2. Papa Murphy's Take 'n' Bake Pizza

3. Round Table Pizza

Plumbing Company

1. York Plumbing Inc.

2. Jackrabbit Plumbing Inc.

3. Scottsdale Plumbing & Excavation

Restaurant

1. Wasabi's Sushi & Asian Bistro

2. Fiona's Bar & Grill

3. Barone & Reed Food Co.

Roofing Company

1. Silver State Roofing

2. Coyne Roofing

3. Tom Goldston Roofing, Inc.

Teacher

1. Becky Tupa, Meneley Elementary School

2. Jennifer Norman, Carson Valley Middle School

3. Barbara Phillips, Meneley Elementary School

Thrift Store

1. Barton Hospice Thrift Store

2. FISH Thrift Store

3. Helping Hands Thrift Shop

Tire Shop

1. Mark Smith, Les Schwab Tire Center

2. Tires Plus

3. Kelly Tires, 1-Way Auto Care

Transmission Shop

1. Carson Valley Transmission

2. Christensen Automotive

3. Gardnerville Automotive & Transmission

Travel Agency

1. CruiseScape Travel

2. All About Travel

3. Presto Travel

Veterinarian

1. Cameron Ross

2. Bob Gorrindo

3. Steve Talbot

Waitperson

1. Terry Brown, Carson Valley Country Club

2. Kerry Munk, JT Basque Bar & Dining Room

3. Amada Joseph, Fiona's Bar & Grill

Wine Selection

1. Raley's Supermarket

2. PJ's Liquors

3. Battle Born Wine