" Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, February 13, 1997 11
Another opening, another show, part I
section, I saw an ad offering eight chickens and coop, good
layers, for the taking.] give the number a call and find out it's
for real, and ifI come right by, they're mine. But, there are
Slim Sez
by Slim Sirnes
other people interested so I had better
not delay, as first come gets them.
This was too good a deal to pass up
and it was fight on the way to the hotel.
Ditto wasn't too keen about the whole idea, but calmed down
when I told her we would just keep them in the back of the
Sounds like a line from a show business production. Ditto
went with me down to Las Vegas to a reception given by
UNLV for the opening of the "Memories and Visions" art
exhibit where some of my stuff along with a lot of others will
be on display till February 26th. It's being held at the
Cannery, Flamingo and Pecos, in case you're interested.
As Ditto's '84 Plymouth Voyager (this is the one that the
doors keep falling offwhich in a way is handy if you're doing
a lot of shopping) wasn't running too swift, we went down in
my trusty old truck. This turned out to be a mixed blessing.
We got down to Vegas Wednesday, the day before the
reception. We checked in at the Gallery to find out if they had
any deals on low cost housing, which they did, Sam's Town.
On our way there we stopped at a 7-11 which just so happened
to have some of those free ad papers. Checking out the free
Letters to the Editor
truck out in the hotel parking lot. It wasn't like we were going
to bring them up to the room, although it would have been
interesting to see the reactions of the bellhops, room service,
or the maids. The room was pretty nice and warm and I must
admit I did feel a bit guilty about them poor chickens out there
in the cold. Ditto finally went down and covered them with a
blanket and they did all right. Next day we drove around
Vegas looking at all the new places that have sprung up. I
think we almost received as much attention. I guess them city
folks aren't used to seeing an old pickup truck cruising the
main drag with a load of chickens aboard.
The reception was pretty good, lots of interesting people,
free drinks and plates full of munchies. Some of the ones I
couldn't identify I took out to the chickens.
[To continue next week]
Internationalist
Although unintentionally, Walter Olney has performed an
enormous favor for the American public in his January 19 review
of"A Reporter's Life," the new book by Walter Cronkite.
Mr. Olney exposes for the first time, and highlights my long-
held suspicions, that Mr. Cronkite, the elitist, is indeed a rigidly
biased, left-wing liberal utopian. In his intensely anti-American
diatribe, Mr. Cronkite states, "I don't believe the public has
rejected liberalism"; "I had trouble with (Rondaid Regan's)
political philosophy"; and, "World government would be pref-
erable to 'mindless national sovereignty.'"
That last sentence should serve as a shocking wake-up call for
weary tax-payers of our once-proud United States. For this ultra-
rich buffoon to brazenly criticize our republic - which millions
of patriots have paid with their lives to preserve - as a represen-
tation of "mindless national sovereignty," is outrageous.
Does this guru of the liberal media, who has attained stature,
power and unheard-of acclaim from many who are ignorant of
his world government agenda, give credit to our freedom loving,
capitalist, free enterprise system for his success? Absolutely not.
This greedy egomaniac would surrender our form of govern-
ment and merge our nation into a socialist one-world govern-
ment if he had his way. Shame on this reprehensible man.
/s/Vince Bogdan
Pahrump, NV
Editor's Note: This letter originally appeared on January 29
in the Las Vegas Review Journal
Thanks to emergency services
On behalf of the people of Nevada, I commend all of the
emergency services personnel, governmental and private, and
the thousands of volunteers who responded to the needs of the
victims of January's disastrous floods in the Western United
States. And we send our deepest sympathies to those who lost
loved ones, homes or businesses to this natural calamity.
Northwest Nevada, too, suffered hundreds of millions of
dollars in damage, but fortunately, due to our mountainous
topography and the hard and timely work of thousands of people,
we are now dry and almost fully recovered. Our airports are
operating, our scenic, cultural, historic and world-class recre-
ational attractions are open, and all areas may be accessed by
ground transportation.
We now extend an invitation to send you and your clients to
enjoy the outstanding entertainment opportunities in the Reno -
Lake Tahoe.area, with our assurance that they will not be
incovenienced.
In short, we want you to know that when you or your clients
are ready for some rest and recreation, we're here for you.
/s/Bob Miller
Governor
Do you know what happens to
00your children once they get on
the bus?
I accidentally found out one day when my (very rough and not
a wimp) 8 year old 2nd grader rushed home and camped in front
of the heater for at least an hour. I was curious, to say the least,
and upon inquiry I became increasingly alarmed at his reply. My
first thought was that he had most certainly stretched the truth a
bit or was seeking sympathy for a wrong doing during his
scholastic day. To my horror, he wasn't even telling me the
whole story.
He started the recollection of his day by saying his bus was
very cold on the way to school. The children on the bus leave
their windows open to see who will close theirs first (even though
it is 20 degrees or below and sleeting or snowing). Why the bus
driver does nothing was one of the first of many questions to
come. Upon arrival at school, the children are told either to go
the cafeteria for breakfast or go outside. I feed my child at home
so that I may be assured that his day is started off nutritionally
sound since breakfast is the most important meal of the day (an
empty stomach cannot feed a hungry mind). Does that mean my
child is doomed to stay outside prior to school regardless of the
weather? I had certainly thought not, since no school would
allow such a thing, or would they?
I made it a point to make a trip to Manse Elementary School.
I wanted to have a calm inquiring discussion with principal Dale
Norton as to the demise of my child once he boarded Nye County
School District Transportation and the subsequent time after-
ward. When I asked Mr. Norton what this was about I was
immediately hit with a "How dare you speak to me, you under-
educated beneath me" attitude. I overlooked this at fast but
started to grow increasingly agitated when in the middle of my
sentence he turned, and walked away from me saying that there
was not enough room for all the children to get out of the weather.
At this time the secretary on duty cut in by saying she made sure
her child (also attending Manse) was dressed warmly and given
money to go eat breakfast in the cafeteria when the weather was
bad. She further suggested to me that I drive my child to school
daily making sure to bring him right on time so that he would not
have to wait in the weather. I made sure the unthinkable
statement I had just heard was right. The cafeteria was for
children eating breakfast only and that even though all the
teachers at Manse Elementary should be there on campus the
children would have to wait in the freezing rain and weather or
under the puddled awnings of this aging building. I was and am
appalled to think of a school thinking of itself and not its children !
Our schools are there for our children, right?
I then inquired what could he done to save this unacceptable
condition. Mr. Norton replied "We have no money but if you
would like to do something, go right ahead." I asked who's butt
I could possibly light a fire under but silence bestowed the room
(which fueled my frustration further). I reminded him that my
son would not be subjected to neglect or abuse from anyone and
suggested I speak with my attorney. He then asked my son's
name and (singling him out) stated he alone would be allowed to
sit in the office when the weather was bad. I left the Manse
Elementary School office in bewilderment and uneasiness won-
dering the other ways in which an establishment built for the
children was practicing child endangerment.
I have since talked to many people regarding this incide.nt and
have been shocked to hear much worse happening. The most
recent being to increase the zoning area of Manse Elementary so
that it would be allotted more money even though they are going
to start year-round schooling due to overcrowded conditions.
The whole ordeal sickens me as I have 2 other children due to
enter the school system within the coming 5 years. I openly
welcome other questioning and concerned parents to speak their
minds as well. Hopefully we can all find a way to remind this
school district of its main priority, the children.
Is/A worried mother and parent (name and address
withheld by request)
A thank you from the SONYCO
Lions
The SONYCO Lions Club wishes to thank Bobby and
Nadine Boiling for allowing us to have a cookshack in the Pit
Area at the racetrack for the last four years. Your generosity in
not charging us was deeply appreciated.
We also want to thank the drivers, pit crews and their families
and friends for supporting us by buying from us.
After operating expenses we net $2500 to $3000 dollars for
each race season. We purchase an average of 100 pair of glasses
a year, send a child to camp for a week, donate to burned out
families and too many other things to mention in this letter.
Sadly we will miss your kindness and generosity from this
year forth. The track has been sold and the new owners are
building a new facility for the pit area which they will operate.
We wish them success.
We decided to take this time to publicly thank everybody and
to let the community know how much you have helped us help
the community.
We will be having other functions throughout the year to
replace this loss. We hope everybody will come to them as they
are announced.
Again, thank you.
/s/Clara Cook, Board Director, SONYCO Lions Club
Pahrnmp, NV
A legislative update
I have been asked why the Nevada Legislature opens on a
holiday, Martin Luther King Day. The 69th Session of the
Nevada Legislature began on Monday, January 20, with opening
ceremonies and the swearing in of newly elected legislators. The
opening date of the Legislature is set by the Nevada Constitution,
the third Monday in January. The session does not have a
determined date to end, but has averaged 160 days for the last few
sessions.
This year the Governor's State of the State message was
dominated by education. His proposals will have a large impact
on rural Nevada schools. I have always supported control of the
education at the local level, but the Governor is talking about
mandatory kindergarten and class size reduction at 16 to 1 grades
1 to 3. These programs could adversely affect the local manage-
ment of local school districts. I will be communicating with local
school boards soon to get their input on these issues.
Let me invite everyone to become involved in "the system".
That means calling me to let your feelings be known or leaving
your message about particular legislation with the Legislative
Message Center. To call my office toll-free from rural Nevada,
the number is 800-367-5057. The fax number is 702-687-5898.
All Legislative Committees are open to the public and anyone
can testify during hearings. The address during the session is
Mike McGinness, 401 South Carson Street, Carson City, NV
89710.
/s/Senator Mike McGinness
Carson City, NV
The balanced budget
amendment
Currently the U.S. Senate is debating the positives and
negatives of amending the Constitution to require that the
federal budget be balanced. As with all discussions in Wash-
ington, politics are playing a significant role. The "stumbling
block" being placed on the floor appears to he the issue of
whether or not to include Social Security in the budget.
Reasonable people can disagree on the merits of this issue, but
we must not let this keep the Senate from passing this vital
amendment. We have not had a balanced budget in 29 years
(the last was in 1969), and it is fairly obvious that the majority
of the American people do not trust our elected officials to do
it on their own. Rhetoric aside, if they cannot summon the
nerve to take a heavy slice off of corporate welfare, what
realistic chance do we have of them ever balancing the budget?
Senator Bryan is co-sponsoring the Balanced Budget Amend-
ment, and he deserves our support and thanks on this critical
issue. Remember, if the Social Security Amendment fails, it
does not change how the budget is currently being done. The
only real change will come through passage of this Balanced
Budget Amendment with or without the Social Security ele-
ment. Now is the time! We need to do it for our children and
grandchildren.
/s/Bob Tonelli
Reno, NV
The Pahrump Valley
Gazette corrects mistakes. Errors should be
brought to the attention of the newspaper by calling
727-5583.
ooo
All opinions expressed on the letters page are those
of the artist or author indicated. Furthermore,
letters with names withheld will only be published if
a legitimate fear of retribution exists.
