Nevada has always been a betting man’s jungle. Before casinos we bet with each other, and here’s how one friendly wager played out on a Saturday afternoon away back in 1862…

Leo Hechinger was a stocky Dutch German who threw a keg party on his B Street Virginia City deck every Saturday afternoon during the month of May to celebrate the end of winter. His mining friends tossed a half-dime into a mason jar, and the end of winter celebration began…

A keg was delivered by horse-drawn wagon at high noon, and on this particular Saturday the young lad delivering that keg could not wrestle it out of the wagon. He was maybe sixteen-years-old and thin as a rail, so the boys started taking bets on whether that lad could deliver, or not. Well, the poor boy gave it his all, which was not quite enough, and he dropped the keg on the ground, which brought a groan from half of his audience, and a cheer from the other half. Then Leo walked over, hefted that keg, and carried it up onto his deck like it was a child. 

“Leo,” somebody shouted, “I bet you could carry that keg to the summit of Sun Mountain!”

Leo set that keg down, smiled at the boys, and said, “Don’t know if I could, or if I couldn’t, but I’m willing to try.” 

That started it. The boys began placing bets and talking up next Saturday’s happening. Word spread like fire in a mine, and the following Saturday speculators came from as far away as Hangtown to place their bets and bear witness to what could go down as the most Herculean Feat in the history of Nevada… 

It was said $30,000 was wagered on a side, which was held in a sort of escrow. One man from each side of that bet was assigned to accompany Leo, to safeguard that the keg would either touch the ground, or be borne to the summit of Sun Mountain, one thousand feet straight up. A keg of beer back then weighed over a hundred pounds, and Leo Hechinger weighed all of 145 pounds. 

Well Leo wrestled that keg from one shoulder to the other, and then down onto his hips and every which way you could conceive of lugging a keg, and yes, Leo Hechinger made it to the summit of Sun Mountain without that keg ever once touching the ground…

And what was amazing about that feat was that Leo knew he could do it, for he had done it before -at midnight.

That’s the kind of person we used to bet with back in early Nevada. Yes, Leo Hechinger was the sort of loveable character that was waiting in the weeds for you back in those hoary old days before a more sophisticated means of lightening our wallets would arrive here in the great state of Nevada…

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 11/07/2024, Written by Brenna O’Boyle

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – For the second time, Alexis Hill has beat Marsha Berkbigler for the County Commissioner, District 1, seat, according to unofficial results. 

Incumbent Hill received 24,567 votes or 56.18% of the vote, according to unofficial results listed on Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar’s website on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 12:39:53 a.m.

Berkbigler, a former 8-year County Commissioner, earned 19,159 votes or 43.82%. 

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Submitted by IVCBA Member PTSD NOW! 11/06/2024

PTSD NOW! has funded mental fitness/ resiliency training for more than 2500 men and women serving in Nevada, Arizona, Vermont, and Connecticut.

With your continued support, we continue to work to bring mental fitness training across the United States. In addition, we continue to provide direct therapy for active duty, reservists and veterans at no cost to them. Since 2021, we have committed over $500,000 to support the men and women in need.

These same individuals, in all likelihood, would not have received any counseling without the financial support of PTSD NOW!

Today, as we look at the conflicts around the globe, the issues we face have only been compounded! Conflicts continue in Ukraine and the Middle East and Gaza have spilled over to Lebanon and now Iran. The future for our service men and women is very uncertain with many National Guard personal currently being deployed to the region for assignments.

Our hope is that Veterans day will not be just another day but rather remembering the commitment and sacrifice of those who serve and have served We take for granted the men and women who protect our nation will always be ready to respond, when called to duty. We simply assume they will stand up and give their lives to protect us and our freedoms.

Unfortunately, in many cases, when our soldiers return, they are not the same person as when they deployed. Many times they are changed and more often than not, it is difficult to return to the lives they once enjoyed before deployment. That is where we, PTSD NOW!, come into the picture. We provide the tools which are needed to build mental fitness and resiliency and if needed counseling and therapy .

We are very excited to be working with the National Guard identifying apps which can be provided to active duty and reservists to create connectedness along with a mental and physical checkin on a daily basis. This new technology is very appealing to the young men and women joining the service today. The confidentiality allows higher participation and a connection to those the soldier picks as their support group.

PTSD NOW! has made and continues to make a difference for those who serve, so please make a donation today so our work may continue.

Please mail a check today or donate online at www.ptsdnow.org

Craig W Rauchle

President & Founder

Chase Rauchle PTSD NOW!

www.ptsdnow.org

craig.rauchle@ptsdnow.org

Originally Published by the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 11/06/2024, Written by Brenna O’Boyle

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The trio with joint marketing efforts unofficially took all three Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) trustee seats in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election. 

There were three open seats on the five-member board. 

Mick Homan, a retired Procter & Gamble executive with more than 35 years of financial leadership experience, received 3,165 votes or 25.17%, according to unofficial results listed on Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar’s website Wednesday, Nov. 6. The site automatically refreshes and was last updated at 12:39:53 a.m

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Imagery by Tahoe Daily Tribune

Submitted by Lake Tahoe School, 11/05/2024

Over the past few months, I have learned so much about Día de los Muertos and for that, I am very grateful. I learned that different cities, states, towns, and countries all celebrate the Day of the Dead a little (or a lot) differently, I have learned that people see it as as celebration of the people who have passed, and their journey from the afterlife, and most importantly, I have learned the deep involvement of this holiday in Latin American culture.

I didn’t only learn about Day of the Dead though, I learned about my family, specifically my great grandmother whom I loved very much. I learned about her passions, what she loved and cherished, and what she devoted her life to, and that information is incredibly valuable in holding onto the memory of her. After this project, I see Día de los Muertos as a wonderful holiday; one that I am incredibly happy to have been a part of. I think it is so important to value the passed, and this day is such a joyous and celebratory opportunity to do just that.