State Park passes available at the library

At the start of this year, Nevada State Parks launched a Library Park Pass program at public libraries throughout the state.

Available to public library card holders in Nevada, the Library Park Pass provides free entry into all 27 Nevada State Parks. This does not include “federal, regional, or other public lands in Nevada that are not part of the Nevada State Park system.”

A complete listing of Nevada State Parks is available at parks.nv.gov.

Locally, the park pass may be checked out for one week from either the Minden or Zephyr Cove library branch and will cover the day-use entrance fee for one passenger vehicle holding eight people or fewer. Nevada State Park museum entrance fees are also included, but other fees may be assessed for camping, boating, tours, or special programming. There is a $10 replacement fee for any park pass not returned within two weeks of checkout.

Nevada State Parks is piloting the program this year with a goal of making parks “as accessible as possible by providing an opportunity for all populations to access and experience a state park at no cost.” Passes are valid through De. 31.

The program is funded through the Nevada State Parks Gift Shop Grant Program, which uses the proceeds from all gift shop sales to support educational and interpretive programs within the state park system.

Visit the Douglas County Library website at library.douglascountynv.gov for more information about the park passes and to learn about the library’s other resources and events.

Questions about the park pass program can be directed to the Nevada State Parks headquarters at stparks@parks.nv.gov or 775-684-2770.

Douglas High School hosts blood drive

Douglas High School hosts a blood drive 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Vitalant bloodmobiles will be set up in the school’s parking lot to accept donations from donors age 16 and above. Students, school staff, and community members can sign up to donate.

The local blood supply is about 20 percent below what it was before the pandemic. Compounding that, the winter months typically see a drop in blood donations due to holiday schedules and travel, inclement weather, and seasonal illnesses. This decrease in donations has a critical impact on the blood supply, as the need for life-saving blood products remains constant.

To make an appointment during the Feb 28 blood drive, visit the Douglas High School homepage at dhs.dcsd.net and look for the link beneath “Upcoming Events and Information.” Visit vitalant.org to learn more about blood donor eligibility and to look for other available donation times and location options.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.