Letters to the Editor

Government spending out of control

Editor:

With revenue reductions why is government continuing its spending habits?

Western Nevada College produces a very expensive, glossy 16-page four-color flyer full of more self-congratulating stuff than courses and sends it to every recipient of U.S. mail Ð probably more than 80 percent end up in the trash. What ever happened to newsprint flyers?

University of Nevada offers a whole host of "basket weaving" classes. We taxpayers should be outraged. When their huge budget increase is reduced a few points they scream like a stuck pig.

Douglas County spends $800,000 plus on a building and then tries to figure out how to use it. Douglas County gives retailers millions to construct their private stores. Douglas County gives its employees 8- and 9-percent annual raises. (Did you get a 9-percent raise?) And now they want to add a business license tax?

Hey guys, elections are coming and we taxpayers are watching you very closely.

Stuart Posselt

Minden

California bans smoking in

cars with kids

Editor:

Smoking in cars exposes passengers to dangerously high levels of toxic air and breathing in these toxins is especially dangerous for growing children. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including many of which are cancer causing.

The smoke-free car law protects California's youth from exposure to secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in cars with minors and should be supported by every resident in Alpine County.

The U.S. Surgeon General states that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke exposure can be harmful to children who are especially vulnerable to the health effects, like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections.

Children should not have to suffer with these health effects because adults choose to smoke around them.

The best option for children is to have adults around them who don't smoke. Californians who would like help quitting smoking can contact the California smokers' helpline for a free quitting plan at 1-800-NO-BUTTS or 1-800-45-NO-FUME.

Protect your children from exposure to secondhand smoke. They're depending on you to keep them safe.

Shane Marquardt

coordinator health education programs

Alpine County, Calif.

Merry Christmas to generous driver

Editor:

I went to the Starbucks in Minden on Sunday afternoon and sat behind a black SUV with a license plate that read GOMMYGO while I waited for my drink. When the SUV pulled out of the drive through and I pulled forward, the barista told me that the person in the black SUV had paid for my drink. Thanks for the peppermint mocha, GOMMYGO. And Merry Christmas.

Leslie Pearson

Gardnerville

Quit messing with the decorations

Editor:

Last night two of our lighted deer on our front lawn were stolen. The grinches took "Mom and Dad" leaving the baby deer to fend for himself.

The sheriff's office said they believed this might be a "prank" where many lighted deer are taken and placed at a friends house for a joke. Maybe we all need to be on the lookout for newly placed lighted herds and advise the sheriff's office.

It is sure going to be hard to explain to the grandchildren and Christmas young ones why some people only take and not give during the season.

Unfortunately, our home can no longer say Merry Christmas to those passing by. We seem to say Bah Humbug.

Mike Edwards

Minden