Some troubling incidents in Ruhenstroth

Phew. Everyone who is glad for the cooler temperatures raise your hands. It has been unseasonably hot this summer, hasn't it? Or is it just my imagination? This type of weather tends to bring people outside to enjoy walks through the neighborhood or just visiting with neighbors. Hope you are able to get out and enjoy the weather and our neighborhood because I believe it will be returning to the hot, hot days real soon.

I have received some e-mails regarding mischief that has been occurring here in Ruhenstroth. One neighbor purchased eight Canada geese decoys in the spring and placed them around her circular driveway and in the front of her home. During spring break for area schools, they noticed lights in the driveway but didn't think much about it since people use their driveway to turn around in. The next morning, one of the decoys was gone. Right after school let out for the summer, the same thing happened again. They say the decoys are not visible from the street and would have had to be spotted during the day for a nighttime snatch. Pretty brazen. The owners said the tire tracks appear to be from a small SUV or lightweight truck. Has anyone noticed decoys in their house or yard? The owner would love to have them returned - no questions asked.

Another neighbor reports that the tube for their Reno-Gazette Journal newspaper was run over and destroyed. They also noticed fresh tire tracks where the posts were but the reflectors about 18 inches away were unscathed.

Last winter, someone came up our hill and took the 100 gallon water tank for the horses out of our front yard - it was just outside the panels containing the horses. It would have taken at least two people and a good-sized vehicle to get it across the property to the driveway. I was shocked at the audacity of the people responsible. What bothered me the most was that it wasn't ours to begin with - it belonged to our daughter who was in Afghanistan with the Nevada Army National Guard 113th Aviation Unit protecting the rights of these selfish, inconsiderate people.

If you have noticed any of the above mentioned incidents, please let us know. I suppose the best solution would be for the thieves to return their loot, but then I always was a dreamer.

On July 24 at about 9:45 pm, I was returning home. As I drove south on Highway 395 (doing the speed limit), I was passed rather recklessly by one of those newer, lifted, big trucks. I didn't think much about it until I slowed to make the turn on Palomino Lane and there were two vehicles waiting to turn in first - a smaller, compact car and "road-rage truck" which looked as if the driver was trying to push the smaller car across the intersection. It was very scary. This big truck ran up and back on the car's bumper for over a mile until it turned into a driveway. I was very scared for the driver of the compact car as the driver of the truck seemed out of control and was being reckless as he/she wielded the 5,000 pound-plus weapon through our streets.

We've had several requests from the firefighters in the neighborhood as well as from the residents for us all to observe the speed limit on our streets. This incident goes beyond the need for slower speeds ... I am just grateful that there weren't any pedestrians on the streets and nothing more serious than threatening gestures were made.

Please be careful on our streets.

Have a ramblin' good week.

n To reach Gail Davis, e-mail hilltopranch97@charter.net or call 265-1947.