43°F
weather icon Mostly Cloudy

E-cigarettes removed from banned list for county workers

Nye County employees will be able to use electronic cigarettes within the county’s properties.

Nye County commissioners voted last week to remove the devices, commonly called e-cigarettes, from the list of tobacco products that are prohibited within any building owned, leased and utilized by Nye County.

It was the only amendment for the Nye County Personnel Policy Manual approved Dec. 6.

Electronic cigarettes are not a tobacco product and many use them to kick the habit of using tobacco, much like patches or gum, Nye County Commissioner Lorinda Wichman said.

“Electronic cigarettes are not tobacco use and they are a method to eliminate tobacco use and for people to quit smoking,” Wichman said.

Wichman said she is the only commissioner on the board who uses e-cigarettes.

Under the original rules for use of tobacco in the county’s personnel policy, the prohibition extended to areas that are routinely or regularly used by employees, including but not limited to work areas, restrooms, hallways, employee lounges, cafeterias, conference and meeting rooms, lobbies and vehicles Nye County owns or uses.

The county also shall not allow the use of tobacco products during staff and training meetings, according to the documents.

“I’m spending as much as eight or 10 hours in county vehicles and I would not have voted for that,” Wichman said.

The section in the manual titled ‘Tobacco Use’ was adopted at the April meeting. During that meeting, commissioners discussed medical marijuana use and policies, but didn’t discuss the use of tobacco products.

At the meeting last week, commissioners also adopted the language for information technology policies and social media policies for Nye County employees.

The language for information technology policies specifies guidelines for privacy of employees when using the county’s electronic and telecommunication properties, systems, or services; prohibited use. The language for social media policies specifies guidelines for employee monitoring, authorized social networking, personal blogs and social networking sites.

“It was standard language changes to keep the manual moving forward with new technology,” Wichman said.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Dishwasher saves choking diner at Pahrump Senior Center

Adrienne Fors says she was eating pork and rice when she literally bit off more than she could chew. “When I tried to swallow, it went down my throat and then then it got caught with the curve of my throat. Thank goodness Troy was there to do the Heimlich on me.”

Ruling: Former Nye County commissioner benefited from his vote to increase pandemic-relief funds

The Nevada State Ethics Commissions found earlier this week that former Nye County Commissioner Leo Blundo had failed to disclose his financial interests ahead of a vote to increase pandemic-relief funds to local small business owners. He benefited about $35,000 from the deal, according to the finding of a state ethics panel.

Celebrate life at this popular butterfly release

The event is sponsored by Nathan Adelson Hospice and comforts those who are grieving the loss of a loved ones.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Basin and Blagg intersection closure starts Monday

The construction currently underway on Basin Avenue has been focused on the intersection at Blagg Road for the last few weeks and Nye County Public Works will soon have that intersection back to full use but first, the department will need to close it to regular traffic, a fact which area motorists will want to take note.

SNEAK PEEK: Go inside ‘The Bagel Lady’s’ new Pahrump shop – PHOTOS

Shelly Fisher AKA “The Bagel Lady” is opening Shelly’s NY Bagels on March 25. Fisher has customized the corner suite at 1190 E. Highway 372 and will serve breakfast and lunch there. She tells the Pahrump Valley Times how the local community has helped grow her operation and gave our Faye Burdzinski and John Clausen an inside look at her new operation.

Pahrump fugitive arrested after months on the run

Anthony Bell evaded a SWAT-team standoff earlier this month. Footage shows the suspect brandished a rifle outside Pahrump casino following a fight in December.

LOVE FADING: See what’s become of the notorious Love Ranch brothel – PHOTOS

A year after the Love Ranch sold as part of a $1.3-million acquisition of 23 properties that included this Nye County brothel where NBA star Lamar Odom was famously found passed out from an apparent drug overdose, there’s been little effort to reopen or restore the iconic site. Photojournalist John Clausen went inside to “show us the Love.”

Pahrump’s Heidi Fleiss recalls ups and downs with actor Tom Sizemore

Actor Tom Sizemore died on March 3, after suffering a stroke weeks earlier. He starred in Natural Born Killers, Saving Private Ryan and other blockbuster films. Sizemore served 8 months for abusing the former ‘Hollywood Madam.’ Fleiss reflects on their time together.