Letters to the Editor

Air attack was under way long before 8:20

In response to a letter writer's statement that air strikes did not happen until 8:20 a.m., your facts are incorrect.

I was the initial Air Attack supervisor, and my plane was wheels up at 0641 hours along with helicopter 403 and tanker 444. Tanker 415 wheels up at 0711 hours followed by helicopter 402 and helicopter JDR. By 0820 hours, the tankers had a total of six drops along with many effective bucket drops from the helicopters.

SCOTT DEWITZ

Air Attack Minden Tanker Base

Carson City

Ax the Tax won't hurt education budgets

The cartoonist who created the "Ax the Tax" drawing on the Aug. 1 opinion page didn't even come close to getting the facts right. Your readers need to see the rest of the story.

First, Ax the Tax proposes to repeal taxes in Senate Bill 8 passed July 21-22, 2003. Nothing in that bill funds Nevada schools. Check it out. Your cartoonist is simply parroting the teacher union line. The schools had been fully funded before SB 8 was considered.

Second, the $836 million in increased taxes proposed by the Governor's Tax Commission was said to be necessary because we were headed into a recession and next year the sales tax receipts for the state would be much less than in 2003. Leaving aside the fact that raising taxes in a recession has been very bad for those states that have tried it, the forecast was totally wrong.

Please read "February taxable sales up double digits again" (page A2, April 30) in your own newspaper. The state of Nevada received 13.4 percent more in sales tax revenue in February 2004 than in February 2003. "For the eight months of this fiscal year, that means taxable sales are up 11.2 percent - a more than double increase than that projected by the Economic Forum." Please read "12.6 percent gain in May state sales" (page A7, July 29) in your own newspaper. "The combined taxes based on the sales, split up among the state, schools, cities and counties, totaled $2.58 billion for the fiscal year through May. The state's share is $702.8 million and that's about $53 million higher than the estimate projected in May 2003 by the Economic Forum."

Based on the excuse given by the Governor's Tax Commission, that higher taxes were needed because sales tax receipts would be down, the $836 million tax has proven to be unnecessary. Rather than cutting needed services, all the state has to do is lay off those additional employees it hired after the tax increase went through. If the Californians flooding into the state need any services, they will pay for them in full. They are buying homes for 30-40 percent of what their California homes sold for; they are not indigent.

Your cartoon of poor little schools and social services being squashed by "Ax the Tax" is belied by the facts.

JOHN WAGNER, Chairman

Carson County Nevadans for Sound Government

DAVID SCHUMANN, Chairman

Douglas County Nevadans for Sound Government

Classier ways to handle Ruvo Stateroom gift

I would like to second Barbara Morgan's comments in her Aug. 3 letter to editor concerning the tasteless and offensive sign over the formerly called Nevada Room facility next to the Governor's Mansion.

I too was alerted in Guy Farmer's column to the large sign declaring the structure the Larry Ruvo Stateroom, and as Ms. Morgan did, drove by to see if it were true. Sadly, it was.

Ruvo's generosity, as Ms. Morgan and Farmer both said, could have been acknowledged with a small plaque. Harvey Gross' donation of the pavilion in the mansion's back yard which was given in memorial to his late wife was acknowledged with taste and dignity.

Gov. Guinn, to paraphrase the late Ronald Reagan, "tear down that sign!"

SUE MORROW

Carson City

Yucca Mountain chosen during Carter's term

In a July 20 article concerning Yucca Mountain, the Associated Press stated, "The Bush administration and Congress picked the site in 2002 to hold waste now stored at three military sites and commercial nuclear reactors across the country."

Fact: The Yucca Mountain site was selected and approved in 1980 during the presidency of Jimmy Carter.

DIANE GORDON

Gardnerville

Cause of fire was both illegal and irresponsible

As I read a letter to the Nevada Appeal Mailbox on Tuesday, I became a little ill. To think that someone could watch the Waterfall fire on television from Fallon and indicate no compassion for those who lost their homes and those of us who were evacuated, thinking we too would never see our homes intact again, all we have gone forever, not to feel a tinge of pain for the terrible stress so many encountered is very hard to accept.

We are all aware that fire is sometimes unavoidable without being told. It probably passes in our thoughts on a daily basis when the area is drought-ridden. It can happen anywhere. All the more reason for people to be cautious.

But to defend "some people who simply built a campfire" in a posted, illegal area with obvious lack of concern or responsibility, is indicative of one who would do the same.

Perhaps the letter writer would allow the same people to build an illegal fire in her backyard. She does not "believe anyone intentionally or willfully started the massive fire." Nor do any of us. That would be called arson. Instead it is safe to say that it is called stupid, irresponsible and breaking the law. Pity she condones that and more the pity that she has no clue of the terror of fire.

SONIA WATERS

Carson City

Inaccurate version of bomber run in Vietnam

As an inveterate peruser of letters-to-the-editor, I am considerably chagrined by the recent spate of anti-Republican, anti-Bush, and sometimes almost anti-American letters that have been written by our local friendly liberals.

There seems to be a pattern here. First (and worst), came a letter that proclaimed "Roots of Vietnam War go back to Eisenhower." Subsequent letters assailed President Reagan, then Presidents Bush (41 and 43), with a few cheap shots at Nixon and Ford along the way.

The anti-Reagan letter came about a week after Reagan's death, which I considered scurrilous, considering the timing. It highlighted the Iran-Contra affair as the major event of his presidency. Naturally, nothing was mentioned about the Berlin Wall, ending of the Cold War and our improved economy, as compared to the Carter years of high double-digit interest rates and run-away inflation. The Iran-Contra business was a tempest in a teapot, particularly when compared to Clinton's shenanigans in the Oval Office and his lackadaisical foreign policy regarding the already-present terrorist campaigns against our country.

The Eisenhower letter was particularly distressing because of several paragraphs about Vietnam and Dien Bien Phu that contained totally incorrect information, including some blatant half-truths which are sometimes worse than just plain lies.

The author's story about a B-29 making a secret bombing run over the battle of Dien Bien Phu is probably untrue, despite what he might have read. Dien Bien Phu was a French fort situated in a long valley, high in the mountains of northwest North Vietnam, straddling Route 41 as it enters Laos. In the spring of 1954, the 16,000 man French garrison was surrounded by about 40,000 North Vietnamese troops.

If Republican President Eisenhower had ordered a B-29 to fly over the Dien Bien Phu battle area, it could only have been on a reconnaissance/photo flight, not a "secret bomb run," as the writer alleges. One bomb run by one B-29 on this mess would have been useless and, I am sure, never happened.

Why am I so sure about this?

I can attest to the Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954, because I was there. Not on the ground, of course, but flying a fighter photo escort in formation with an F9F-6P Cougar jet photo plane. We could see the flashes of the artillery pieces, a lot of dust, but not much else, particularly from 30,000 feet altitude. Our study of the photos that we took showed miles of fortifications and trenches around the fort, occupied by both French and Viet Minh troops. It was obvious that any aerial bombing or even close air support would have been ineffective.

We all know the reason for the aforementioned letters to the editor. They were meant to influence the coming elections, untruths and half-truths notwithstanding. The Democrats are out and they want in.

Question: "Whom do you think the Muslim terrorists would like to see elected?" - President Bush, who has already proven tough, keeps his word, gives no quarter, or the alleged "hero" Kerry, who has already told us he'll depend on the United Nations to defend America?

Be you Republican or Democrat, be aware that this next election is one that will affect our children/grandchildren and yes, even our great-grandchildren. If we leave Iraq and that part of the world, bring our soldiers home, then depend on the United Nations, (France, Germany, Russia, China, our friends), we will deserve exactly what we will get for being so stupid as to trust a bunch of foreign countries with our security. Fellow citizens, think hard before you vote in November.

GLENN TIERNEY

Carson City

Convention turned up usual gang of suspects

John Kerry has really shown me who to vote for. After surrounding himself with big names: Former president Jimmy "Gas Lines" Carter, former president Bill "Zippergate" Clinton and Al "I want a recount" Gore doing their version of "Thanks for the Memories."

Why Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton steals the show from Kerry, to be president-er-ah-Queen of the good old U.S.A.!

Oh yes, people who came for the show, please buy her hubby's book on your way out. All money will go to her and her Queen fund.

Where we get stung! Haven't we had enough of the Clinton's monkey shines? Please go on to the library and pick up his book. They should have it.

Oh yes, Kerry! Doesn't he have three strikes against him already? One, His wife "Catsup" had just cause in telling the media to shove it? Two, telling the military off? Three, telling the Teamsters their jobs would be better off in some other country? This is what I could make out between Bush bashing.

KENNETH L. CHRISTENSON

Carson City

Maybe it's conspiracy, maybe incompetence

There is a lot of talk out there that Sandy Berger stole classified documents regarding our national security and gave them to the Kerry campaign. The Kerry camp accuses the Bush camp of leaking the information (as opposed to being concerned about the crime itself).

Berger did this under the direction of the Clintons who in turn left Berger holding the bag and the Kerry camp blaming the Republicans. Perfect set up to take Kerry out leaving the nomination to (nope, not John Edwards) but Hillary Clinton! This is just speculation but not unrealistic.

Let's hope that it was just inadvertent and sloppy as the Democrats contend. I for one won't hold my breath on that hope. Again this is just speculation and conjecture. Wait a minute, isn't that what the liberal media crams down our throats 24/7?

RICHARD ANDERSON

Carson City

Don't let taxes run away like they did in California

Runaway property taxes? Citizens of Nevada have only to look at the history of California. Escalating property taxes in the '70s threatened to force middle class and fixed income taxpayers to sell their homes.

Local and state governments were happy to feast on the increased taxes. Politicians dreamed up pork barrel projects. There was no movement among local or state politicians to lower or limit property taxes. Hence by the people's power of initiative, Proposition 13 was born, limiting increases on property taxes for those who held on to their property and fixing the percentage of tax on new and resold property.

Nevadans, wake up! Legislators graciously proposing 6 percent a year limit on property tax raises ! That is 60 percent every 10 years. If your taxes are $2,000 now, they will be $3,200 in 2014. Do you receive a raise of 6 percent every year? How are retired and other people on fixed income going to cope? I lived in California from 1967-1985 and experienced the impact of soaring property taxes. Your representatives will not fix this problem voluntarily. They perceive it is their job to collect and spend taxes. The unconstitutional deficit budget passed by the legislature and governor is an example.

It is up to us to use our collective initiative power to put a permanent limit of one percent on annual tax increases on the ballot. Our government units can live with that when the vast amount of new tax dollars generated by new residents, new homes and new businesses are added to the total. There is no need to add new taxes. Witness what the mentality of heaping large tax increases on businesses did to California's economy eventually. In addition to our initiative power, we must vote for representatives who will vote for controlling taxes and eliminating political pork.

Only you can limit your taxes and hence government spending.

DICK GOODRICK

Dayton

Senior Center events need more publicity

The trouble with the fund-raisers for the Senior Citizen's Center is the administration. They don't advertise their events in the newspaper so no one outside of the center knows what's going on.

Last year we would have gone to the Bluegrass in the Garden event, but we didn't know about it until it was too late.

Also, the administration doesn't support the monthly dances that we used to enjoy going to.

BARBARA A. DUDZIAK

Gardnerville

Law overstepped its bounds with fire arrest

In response to your recent reporting of the arrest of local businessman Allan Fiegehen, 69, part owner of the Ormsby House, Glen Eagles Restaurant and Cubix Corp., I would offer the following comments for consideration.

There is little doubt that our entire community was forced into a crisis mode, and for some into a survival or panic mode as a result of the Waterfall Fire. Many of us stood helplessly, if not hopelessly, watching in fear as the Waterfall fire swept through large portions of our community. Some of us watched in terror as fire swept directly through our own backyards and neighborhood streets, only to find our homes still standing hours or days later, thanks to the valiant efforts of those fight fighters who risked their own lives in efforts to help others.

What continues to bother me most, however, are those vivid and repeated television broadcasts who repeatedly stated: "Nevada is the 'Battle Born State' and individuals within our state have the right to stay and protect their individual and personal property. They cannot be required to evacuate under state law nor forced to leave their homes, nor can they be subject to arrest for failing to do so.:

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe I read somewhere, "Those refusing to evacuate their homes and property when directed to do so by local authorities, can and will be arrested for obstructing," with one such article stating that Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong personally confronted a homeowner in Timberline and directed him to leave; however, the homeowner blatantly refused. Per Ken Furlong as published in the Nevada Appeal, "I had previously used my only pair of handcuffs on a prior violator, thus I allowed this man to remain."

Thus my concerns and comments regarding the arrest of Mr. Fiegehen:

Mr. Fiegehen has an uncanny reputation within our community as an innovative, resourceful and successful local businessman. For those who know Mr. Fiegehen on a more personal level, I think he could be defined as an extremely gentle, modest and soft spoken man.

Mr. Fiegehen has publicly expressed his rebuttal to those charges and admitted publicly that in retrospect, he may have misinterpreted the intentions of the police vehicle parked on the shoulder of the roadway, and in doing so may have made a mistake in failing to yield when the lights and siren approached from the rear.

What concerns me most in the case of Mr. Feigehen's arrest is that police mentality that suggests that the local law enforcement community has the authority and self-imposed empowerment to intimidate, attack and threaten its citizens in their efforts to control and maintain order in the name of public safety. It appears to me based on the information published on behalf of both sides, there remains little chance that Mr. Fiegehen was responsible for obstructing or impeding any evacuation efforts, nor was he impeding the flow of emergency, rescue or fire fighting vehicle at that time, nor was he putting himself, his family or other citizens in danger as a result of his actions.

As would be expected by any other citizen, Mr. Fiegehen, was deserving of more respect, more consideration, more compassion and more integrity than apparently was offered. Mr. Fiegehen should be commended for taking a personal stand on this matter to date, and as a local businessman, he has invested as much, if not more into our community than most. He is clearly owed a public apology.

STEVE CRAM

Carson City

Isn't a bypass supposed to go around a town?

I read the article about the bypass in this morning's paper, and the first thing I read is the sentence or part of it that says "freeway through town." You just don't understand what a freeway is, do you? Read carefully: A freeway is a bypass that is supposed to go around a town, thus freeing up the city streets so the traffic will run more smoothly.

Look to Seattle and Charlotte, N.C. Please don't tear up streets or drive-throughs to build this dumb freeway, such as Highway 50 and Scolaris parking lot. Dumb! And gas tax again? Whatever happened to federal funds for a bypass? Look to Reno and Las Vegas.

LOUISE CARMACK

Carson City

A vote for Nader will be nothing but wasted

As registered voters, we have to look closely at the facts of Ralph Nader's candidacy for president. He does not stand a chance of getting elected. A vote for Ralph Nader is a wasted vote.

CHARLES L. SHELDON

Dayton

Address your correspondence to Letters to the Editor, Nevada Appeal, PO Box 2288, Carson City, Nev., 89702.

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