Home Depot opens

Wielding a zinging circular saw, Nevada first lady Dema Guinn zipped through a 2-by-6 board Wednesday evening in Home Depot's twist on a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Carson Valley store.

A $1,500 donation from Home Depot to the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada also marked the "contractor's night" preview of the 132,000-square foot store.

"Now, that's the way to start things off," said Charles Stetler, a member of the museum's board of directors.

The store is set to open to the public at 6 a.m. today.

Hundreds of invited guests poured into Douglas County's newest retailer, where factory representatives were demonstrating such goodies as a portable nailer powered by butane - no more dragging electrical cords or drop cords through a construction project.

Builders' questions about products or tools were frequently drowned out by the whine of a plunge router or the thump of a pneumatic stapler.

For do-it-yourselfers who need such specialized equipment for a single project, the Home Depot is the first in Northern Nevada to feature a tool rental center. Carpet stretchers, laser levels, hardwood floor nailers and demolition hammers are available for periods from four hours to a month at a time.

Home Depot joins a Target store as anchors of a new shopping center just south of the Douglas County/Carson City line at Highway 395 and Jacks Valley Road.