Double-Dealing in Misinformation
By Brent Mathewson
In last week's March 27, 1997 edition of the Gazette
fellow columnist Dave Downing made an attack against a
hard news article concerning the Nye Regional Medical
Center (NRMS) Clinic- by this writer that was published on
March 20,1997
The viciousness of the attack and the lengths that Dave
went to in order to distort and twist the truth were disap-
pointing to say the least. Mr. Downing did call and alert me,
prior to publication of his column, that he was doing a
rebuttal to the news article in order to show a different
perspective. I encouraged him to do so. A news article that
can be effectively rebutted using proper and honest journal-
ist procedures allowed within the confines of an opinion
column should be challenged if the subject matter is in the
public interest. Downing's attack went far beyond these
allowed perimeters.
The credibility of this column and all hard news copy by
this writer could and should have been effectively destroyed
if Downing's criticisms had been valid. Since they were not
and the stakes are so high, precious time and column space
must be utilized to address the issue.
The nuts and bolts of the news article in question are that
because Tonopah residents are forced to wait 7-10 days
before any medical attention is available at the NRMC
Clinic, all day to day medical care that is available is limited
strictly to the NRMC emergency room. This situation exists
nowhere else in Nye County. The monetary cost conse-
quences to the area residents are staggering. The informa-
tion in the article is a direct result of this fact. Since the
NRMC Clinic is run in a manner that is designed to disallow
prompt medical care except at the emergency room facility
a cost comparison between this care and that available at any
and all other clinics in Nye County is not only appropriate
but a prerequisite for an honest comparison. The news
article makes no bones about it and 'the reader is left with no
doubt that this is taking place.
Dave attacks my math and says that I can't add. Accord-
ing to him my figurers are off by $80. He does this by the
This Man's Opinion
by Brent Mathewson
simple expedient of ignoring $80 in
doctor fees identified in the article
and then wondering aloud about the
discrepancy, leaves his readers won-
dering whether I ever passed third grade arithmetic.
One can't help but wonder if Mr. Downing's attack is
simply against a news article containing unfavorable infor-
mation about an issue of some importance or is it much
deeper than that?
Any dedicated reader of the Gazette must realize that this
column, and news articles by-lined by this writer, specialize
in highly controversial subject matters of enormous politi-
cal and economic importance to Nye County. By and large
the information orovided is not generally available from any
Pre-paid legal services
By Shannon Himes
In regaras to the artacle entitled, "'this man's opinion"
dated, March 20, 1997, the Independent Associates of Pre-
Paid Legal Services, Inc., would like to set forth the actual
facts of how our company operates. The Nye County Com-
missioners past legal problems are not Pie-Paid Legal's
concern. The residents of Nye County are.
In regards to Mathewson's claim that Pre-Paid Legals'
benefits would be an "unfunded expense to all f Nye
County taxpayers," this is a misnomer. The comprehensive
benefits covered under the $25 a month plan which include:
phone calls and letters, document review, will preparation,
traffic defense, tragic accident and damage recovery, trial
defense, IRS audit services and reduced fees would be at the
voluntary discretion of the employees of Nye County. At no
time does the plan incur costs to the taxpayers of Nye
County.
If Nye County was to become a primary associate this
would create benefits for all employees as well as additional
revenue for Nye County. Once employees enroll as mem-
bers they can in turn become associates themselves. Asso-
ciates can enroll members from inside or outside the com-
munity. Hence, additional income is generated not only for
themselves but Nye County as well.
In regards to Mathewson's phone contact with Pre-Paid
Legal's Provider Law Firm, he stated the Gazette's call was
not returned. It is company policy that all inquires be made
to the corporate office or the independent associates office.
The Provider Law Firm speaks only to the members of Pre-
Paid Legal. The Law Firm is solely in place to service its'
members. If there are any questions regarding Pre-Paid
Legal, the number for our corporate headquarters is (800)
654-7757, our Pahrump office at (702) 727-1339 and our
Hazard County Comes to Nevada
By Bruce Stevenson
Shades of "Boss Hogg's" Hazard County comes to
Nevada. The Gazette learned that the paid employees of
the Nye County Ambulance Service in Pahrump have been
placed under the heavy thumb of Nye Counties Emergency
Management Supervisor Robert Nelson. Nelson verbally
transnaitted a memo declaring he would be the only speaker
for the services. The employees feel violating "his order"
will result in firings. Commissioner Carver's "Sagebrush
Rebellion" affirms that the Constitution gives us unalien-
able protection from the U. S. Government. Then appears
a Nye County supervisor threatening those Constitutional
rights, where does Nye County really stand?
What compels Nelson to think that he can thwart a
person from speaking out defending employees under his
guidance? Any prudent supervisor expects the supervisor
in Pahrump Bill Pyzyna to speak for persons placed under
his administration, whether they are paid or volunteer. To
explain or buffer attacks from persons outside the ambu-
lance service that are not aware of the appropriate medical
care demanded by protocol.
The "Good Old Boys Club" is alive and well in Nye
County, be-fore-warned that speaking the truth does not
matter to the "Good Old Boys Club" members. Covering
it up, sweeping it under the carpet, whatever is done with
it - defecated material still smells the same wherever it is
placed.
The Pahrump Ambulance Service is one of the best in
giving not demanding. Backup your ambulance service.
Help them upgrade your ambulance service to Paramedic
status Demand that they provide Paramedic training in
Pahrump allowing the working EMT the opportunities too
attend the classes. The volunteers, even the paid people
cannot afford to quit their jobs to obtain Paramedic train-
ing. Get behind your ambulance service before it is lost,
support it now!
Letters to the Editor
other source. A great deal of time and effort is usually
necessary to gather and provide the information given. And
people in high places of political and economic power in
Nye County in all cases covered, sincerely wish that you did
not have access to it.
The economic disaster surrounding NRMC is only the tip
of a much larger problem. The larger problem that is being
covered up with some degree of success is like trying to hide
the Rock of Gibraltar under a doily. Baring some unex-
plained mounds appearing in the desert, or the complete
destruction of the credibility of this newspaper by whatever
means that may be possible, the truth will come out.
The magnitude of a conflict of interest of stupendous
proportions that exists between the chairman of the Nye
County Commission and the votes he has made regarding
the financial county support to NRMC are staggering and
that is an understatement of some size. The only possible
proper vote that the chairman should be making on these
issues would be to abstain with full disclosure for his reason
for doing so. The issue is so politically explosive that it is
hoped that other news media in Nye County will share in the
accurate distribution of this information to the public at large.
If past performance is a guide to the future this hope is
probably forlorn and the Gazette will have to break the story
on its own and fight the misinformation coming through the
ether at the same time.
If this be the case it would at least be helpful to not have
to devote time and space dealing with misinformation com-
ing from within our own pages.
That is this man's opinion.
Las Vegas office at (702) 248-0969.
Pre-Paid Legal is a publicly owned company that has been
in business successfully for 25 years. Pre-Paid Legal has
been touted by magazines such as, Forbes, Business Week
and Financial World, as one of the fastest growing, well run
companies in America. Last year, Pre-Paid Legal was ranked
third in growth on the American Stock Exchange. Addition-
ally, our benefits are now in place with eight state govern-
ments, numerous counties and municipalities as well as
private enterprise employees throughout the United States.
The fact is that this nation which prides itself on efficiency
and justice, has developed a legal system that is the most
expensive in the world. Our intention is to provide "afford-
able justice for all," so that citizens, regardless of income
levels are afforded legal protection.
That is this woman's opinion.
Pahrump Community Hospital Board
Do you mind taking your
OPINIONS!
down the hall before I call Cameron.
I I
I
Boring through the Sierra
Beyond April" 1997; we the People's "Yucca Mucker" tunnel
boring machine at Yucca Mountain, Nevada; apparently won't
have a tunnel-boring mission anymore and will go on the United
States Department of Energy (DOE) auction block to the highest
bidder.
Simultaneously; the High Sierra Mountain Range and the
Truckee Meadows of northern Nevada are seemingly on the
Horns of a Hard Rock Dilemma; having less or waste tubes of
commerce linking northern and Central Nevada with northern
and Central California beyond 1997 and into the early 21
century.
I
These tubes of commerce tunnels if bored through the Sierra
Nevada Mountain Range in the early 2P t century could be for:.
(1) Electric monorail bullet train passenger trains from the
Bay Area, California to the Reno-Sparks, Nevada area and
eastward to the New York area. An Anaheim, California to Las
Vegas, Nevada bullet train is underway in early 1997 and it
conceivably could be constructed one day eastward to Atlanta,
Georgia area. Also a bullet train could begin at the Antioch-
Stockton, California area and go tl-avugh a tunnel on the north
rim of the Yosemite National Park and proceed eastwards to
Colorado Springs, Colorado and to Washington, D.C. and to
Annapolis, Maryland and to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
I
(2) Auto and trnck travel tunnels for year around travel
could occur through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range includ-
ing file Yosemite National Park Valley Floor area and also the
northrimofthe Yosemite Park rea; thusly linking US-395 Hwy
with central California
(3) A freight Wain re-route way northwards fromthe vailey
floor oftheTruckeo-Meadows of Reno-Sparks, Nevada area; by
of an early 2P t century railroad tunnel for freight trains
through the Sierra Mountain Range way north of Reno-Sparks,
Nevada; would possibly be free from floods knocking OUt
railroad tracks through the High Sierras; as occurred to railroad
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