Letters to the editor Nov. 13

Nevada Day parade-goer disappointed with flyover

I was sorely disappointed with the flyover to kick off this year's Nevada Day Parade. The official Nevada Day program boasted a "Missing Man" formation of jets and a C-130 transport. I only saw two jets flying in tandem and a WWII-era fighter buzz by.

The veterans' organizations were in full force on the ground and made a great showing. What happened to our active-duty support? This was Nevada Day, for cryin' out loud!

With Naval Air Station Fallon and the Reno Air Guard so close, I think it's appalling that they didn't show more participation. With what appeared to me to be a record crowd lining the streets for what turned out to be a truly awesome parade, I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt slighted, and a little embarrassed, for the pathetic display offered up by our local active armed forces in the air.

Where is your state spirit?

Jon Perriraz

Carson City

Dr. K. gave wrong

advice on alcohol

In the Oct. 16 Appeal in the "Ask Dr. K" article, the doctor implied that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is better than abstinence. What the doctor failed to mention is that alcohol is an addictive drug and tranquilizer.

The brain is the most precious organ in the body. The brain defines who we are, what we are and what we become. Alcohol lessens inhibitions and reduces reaction time and altitude tolerance. Even for moderate drinkers, many years of alcohol use can lead to cirrhosis and hepatitis and other health problems if the liver loses its ability to metabolize alcohol intake.

Whether the doctor was paid to promote alcohol use or he was justifying his own use of alcohol, we will never know. Moderate alcohol drinking is like walking on a tight wire. One misstep can lead to eventual alcoholism.

The most important decision a young person will make is whether to abstain or become a drinker. Thousands of words could be written about the accidents, tragedies, physical abuse, health problems and the moral decline in the U.S. population. If people keep abreast of the news, they can't help but be aware that the use of alcohol is a big monetary drag on our economy.

People could accuse me of preaching. Since I have no religious affiliation, I am not qualified to preach. I depend upon my 91-year-old brain to determine what is right or wrong, and to enjoy the life I lead.

Donald W. Cunningham

Carson City

Legal side of

Yucca argument

still tied up in courts

Guy Farmer's letter celebrating the death of Yucca Mountain mentions the motive behind South Carolina's court challenge to the administration's abandoning the project, but not the legal issue, which has yet to be decided in court: Can the executive branch of the U.S. government overturn established law?

My defense of Yucca Mountain these last 25 years was that it was a safe endeavor as proposed, and recently the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff agreed in their Technical Evaluation Reports evaluating the license application. So, I feel vindicated. Does that mean Yucca Mountain should be pursued?

To the Department of Energy's credit, it repeatedly showed Congress that the proposed system was safe, but also very expensive. Why? Because the sophisticated engineered barriers which would last for hundreds of thousands of years in an oxygen-rich environment would cost $15 billion. That's more than has already been spent on Yucca, and it could be saved by going to an environment with no oxygen, like in a deep repository in clay or salt.

DOE has been operating a repository in salt for 12 years in southeastern New Mexico. A new repository near that facility could take advantage of the site-characterization work already completed for that first repository. It would need only minimal engineered barriers to last as long as the facility stays open. This approach could save twice what was spent on Yucca so far.

Sorry, Nye County. Your well-being was sacrificed by people remote from and uncaring about your economic realities.

Abe Van Luik

Las Vegas

Sense of community alive and well in Yerington

On Oct. 29, I attended a concert in Yerington. The performing act was the Bellamy Brothers, nationally acclaimed country and Western superstars. The main concert was preceded by several acts of local talent, which were fantastic in their own right. The concert was hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Mason Valley and also Nevada Copper.

It is an event such as this that reminds me of what a small rural community like Yerington has to offer. I saw a variety of entertainment in a small hometown venue, and was surrounded by neighbors and friends.

The next Sunday morning, I went to have breakfast at a local restaurant, Dini's, and bumped into the Bellamy Brothers, who also were there. They said that they had a great time performing in Yerington and enjoyed their stay. They seemed to be just good old folks who enjoyed what they were doing and being with others in a small town

It is hard to imagine that they put on approximately 180 concerts a year. The performance also reminded me that Yerington is a vibrant and thriving community because of the organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club. There is a strong and purposeful partnership with local businesses such as Nevada Copper.

This gives people a sense of community with an eye on the future. Thank you!

Dennis W. Stark

Yerington

Wild horses are young girl's joy of the world

There is a young girl around 10 years old who lives in Stagecoach who is terminally ill. She wakes in the morning with the eager joy of a child at Christmas in the hopes of seeing her horses through the window, which is her view of the world.

The mustangs she lives to see are a small band that roam the western part of Stagecoach. When she heard that they would be rounded up, she could only cry, "Why? Why are they taking away my horses?"

Her mother says it's possible that losing her horses will destroy any will she has to live. Are those responsible for this roundup ready to live with that on their shoulders? Can we take them to court for murder if they include that band in their roundup?

Just some thoughts as we try to build a humane and loving world.

Nancy McPherson

Stagecoach

Hard-working reader is the 60 percent

I am not the 99 percent. I am not the 1 percent. I am the 60 percent which gets out of bed every morning and puts in a hard day's work and pays my taxes, so the 99 percent can receive their weekly unemployment checks during their time spent protesting on the public land that my tax dollars paid for, and also, to be protected during this protest by the police, which my taxes also paid for.

I am the 60 percent which finds a hard day's work rewarding, which has never asked for any handouts from anyone, which has somehow by the grace of God never really been hungry or without a roof above my head, the 60 percent which believes that a person who strives to achieve the American Dream should be respected, that a person who is rich should be admired for his achievements, not envied.

I am the 60 percent which admires this country for the greatness it is, which will never support free handouts to non-American citizens. I also honestly take pride in flying my American flag daily.

I am the 60 percent which understands that if you cannot afford a material item, perhaps you don't need it. In turn, I appreciate everything I do have because I earned it.

So to you, the so-called 99 percent, maybe take that misdirected anger and look inside yourself. Perhaps the solutions to your issues are within.

Donald Jackson

Carson City

Nevada is No. 1 for all the wrong reasons

Nevada is No. 1 in unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies, high school dropouts, divorce rate, biggest drop in wages, highest teenage pregnancy, and meth use by individuals and the workplace.

Reno has the highest rate of alcoholism, and education ranks 45th out of 50.

How much worse can one state do? Next election, vote out politicians' accomplishments.

We may be Battle Born, but we are all battle weary now, and it's not getting better.

Steve Rose

Carson City