A disregard for facts leaves Bush blind

Homophobia floats to the surface

Code of Ethics

Nicole Knight
Editor in Chief

Nestled between tiers of pine tree-covered mountains, the town of Truckee rests quiet and hidden. This small mountain town was founded on a historic railroad and white-water river. From afar Truckee mirrors photographs from the 1800s with narrow log cabins and a main street lined with shops. One of the only ways to distinct Truckee as a modern-day town is the vehicles driving its tree-lined streets. During the day, the town bustles with residents running errands, and at night the town turns dark with no streetlights and echoes only the song a passing train.

Believe it or not, this small town U.S.A. can be found in Northern California near the Nevada border. Truckee, 10 minutes from the famous ski and lake resort town of Tahoe and 30 minutes from the gambling icon of Reno, took me by surprise last weekend.

My boyfriend’s mother Cyndy moved to this quaint town last week and invited her son Tony and me up for a weekend-getaway. Although the plane ride to Reno Airport from Ontario took only two hours, I felt I had traveled to the other side of the country. After leaving the city limits of the buzzing and sparkling city of Reno, the landscape completely changed.

Cyndy’s SUV turned into a time capsule as we cruised on Highway 80 toward Truckee. Time melted away as we traveled through the same place the Donner Party endured their infamous journey and the railroad victoriously emerged. Following the river lined with evergreens and yellow aspens, the modern highway seemed caught in history.

The same historic vibe extended till we reached Truckee. The city seemed randomly placed in nature surrounded by endless layers of mountains. It was obvious Truckee was built up from the railroad serving as the central point of town.

Although there are no chains or obvious signs of the 21st century in Truckee’s downtown, traveling 10 minutes along the railroad takes you to the another side complete with all the modern commodities, including a Rite Aid and Starbucks. These parallel sides of town seem centuries apart. If had been blindfolded, thrown on a plane and landed in Truckee, I probably would have guessed I was taken somewhere in the eastern U.S.

Compared to the frantic freeways, vast industrial buildings, trampled natural landscape and bright lights of my Southern California home, I could not believe I was in the same state. The extreme differences between my Nor Cal weekend and So Cal return gave a harsh reminder of California’s massive size.

Of course last weekend may have seemed like such a shock because of my Southern California bubble. Down here it’s easy to be swept in the fast-paced, busy lifestyle and forget we are a part of a bigger, diverse state.

And the landscape was not the only major difference; Truckee’s way of living took a slower, more laid back feeling than the craziness of home. People everywhere took their time in situations I would normally expect rapid mannerisms, from slower food service to more patient drivers. Local townspeople all seemed to be connected and put a strong emphasis on community. Despite living there only one week, Cyndy was greeted by her post office by name. She also found tons of connections throughout the town; local business owners were not only closely connected community members, but friends and relatives.

I can understand why people have said California should be two separate states. The differences are dramatic. But it’s easy to see the allure of the West and how when this nation first started people flocked to California. The diversity of this state is what defines it and intrigues so many including myself.

Nicole Knight, a senior journalism major, is editor in chief of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at nknight@ulv.edu.