Letters to the Editor

Killen must

face justice

Editor:

My name is Stephanie Carney and my daughter and I are the victims of David Scott Killen - the victims who did the citizen's arrest that got this young man and his friend out of the Gardnerville Ranchos so they could not harm anyone else.

Thank heavens it wasn't your wife and kids, Deputy District Attorney Kelly Werth, or any of the Douglas County deputies, or district attorneys, or maybe any of the local judges' families.

But then again, I'm sure restitution would be good enough for all of you. Funny thing is, I don't want the restitution that probably won't even come my way.

What I want is justice, for the citizens of this county, and Carson City. His attorney says it was one-day of window shootings.

Well, what would have happen if he hadn't shot at me? I think most of us know this would have continued for who knows how long.

I am personally asking all who are concerned, or who have had any kind of negative contact with this young man in his life to contact the division of parole and probation at (775) 684-2600. I need your voices to be heard.

Stephanie Carney

Gardnerville

Thanks for Candy Dance support

Editor:

As chairperson for the Town of Genoa advisory board, I want to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors and numerous volunteers who donated countless hours to make this year's Candy Dance Arts and Crafts Faire a success. As with the previous 86 years of the event, the 87th year was a success and all involved should be very proud of their efforts.

We made a number of changes to this year's event including a concentrated focus on the event's history. We also increased public safety measures before, during and after the event to better control traffic due to the threat of wild land fire as well as to improve basic event logistics. We improved the overall quality of the handcrafted products in the town's craft show to ensure the continued longevity of Candy Dance as a quality arts and crafts show. This is just a small number of the changes implemented this year to fine tune individual areas as well as improve the overall event for the enjoyment of all.

As with any event, there is always room for improvement. Next year the town will have more shuttles running between Carson Valley Inn, Douglas High School and the Candy Dance event, especially on Saturday.

The town appreciates the cooperation it receives from the CVI and DHS allowing the use of their parking lots to run shuttles. The Town of Genoa would like to thank everyone who came out to support the 87th annual Candy Dance, especially if you were inconvenienced in any way arriving or departing the event.

Candy Dance is not only a tradition, but it is a substantial source of the town's annual revenue. Continuing the tradition is important to the Town of Genoa as well as all of Douglas County. In the upcoming months the town will begin planning the 2008 Candy Dance. I encourage all involved to work with the town to keep this great tradition going strong and continuing for another 87-plus years.

Kitty DeSocio

Genoa

Town of Genoa Advisory Board Chairperson

Business county's first concern

Editor:

Regarding "Smoking ban sparks zone change request" in the Oct. 5 edition of The Record-Courier, which discusses 6-acres of commercial property across from Raley's, let's be clear about what's going on.

To me, what's going on is that the commercial interests of the property owners are trumping the interests of the community as expressed in our current plans and regulations, an all too common occurrence in Douglas County (can you say Beverly Hillbillies?).

The property is now zoned neighborhood commercial. Architect Julio Sandoval is requesting a change to general commercial on behalf of his clients, the owners of the property.

The principle effect of this change will be to allow stand-alone bars, which are now prohibited there. Under the current neighborhood commercial zoning, bars are allowed only as an accessory use within a restaurant. In other words, as restaurant beverage service. So the question is, is this a suitable location for bars?

Bars are fine in appropriate locations but we all know they can be problematic if put in the wrong place or if not operated properly.

Noise, disturbances of one sort or another, litter, etc., sometimes do result and those can adversely affect nearby uses. And bars can keep long hours in Nevada.

This property is near residential areas, Lampe Park and other neighborhood commercial uses. We apparently made a decision in the past that neighborhood commercial was the appropriate zoning here, most likely because it would be compatible with the surrounding uses.

Can we say the same about bars, perhaps with music and open until, say, 4 a.m.?

If your article is correct, Mr. Sandoval seems to be using Nevada's recently enacted smoking ban as an excuse for this, implying that the smoking ban is somehow forcing this change. That's questionable. To me, this change seems to be driven entirely by the commercial "needs" of the owners of the property. They want the flexibility to lease to bars if they can't find neighborhood commercial tenants such as restaurants or stores. It's as simple as that.

They have a right to ask for whatever they want, but that doesn't mean our officials should approve it, as Gardnerville officials did this request, apparently ignoring concerns of at least one nearby resident. Officials should consider the needs of and impacts on the surrounding community and look for ways to mitigate adverse effects.

One would think those would actually be their most important concerns.

But in Douglas County the first concern often seems to be the commercial interests of property and business owners, with the community and local residents left to fend for themselves. That's unfortunate.

Terry Burnes

Gardnerville

Moral relativism

in the gutter

Editor:

I am one of a number of displaced Californians who moved to this wonderful state partly to extricate myself and family from the insane cultural and more recently moral deficits of the San Francisco Bay area only to find that perhaps I didn't move far enough east.

Perusing the pages of the Nevada Appeal/Record-Courier this past year has on a number of occasions caused me to question my decision to move here, until today that is, when I read Mr. Conrad Velin's Guest Editorial, "Quit digging, Sen. Reid...the U.S. is winning in Iraq."

It was so refreshing to read Mr. Velin's concise and fitting description of Senators Reid, Pelosi and Clinton and their extreme left-wing backers, "Moveon.org/Daily Kos/Code Pink/Media Matters." I have considered canceling my subscription the Appeal/Courier for what I consider its obvious promotion of extreme leftist values and ideas. I am now in the process of re-considering that decision because today I found two redeeming editorials in this newspaper, Guy Farmer's commentary on the "Recent Immigration Raids," and the aforementioned article by Mr. Velin. I wrote Mr. Velin and thanked him for so openly and directly stating his thoughts in a media environment that normally obfuscates, distracts, denies and misleads us into thinking that those who stand for a government(society) seeking to uphold traditional values, moral and ethical thinking, justice for all, are in the minority in this country and essentially all nuts. Just as one example, why is it that the Appeal/Courier never covers the stories of Harry Reid's corruption and incompetence? He is Nevada's senator, for god's sake. You owe your readers the truth about this man. I am so often appalled at readers and writers alike who in their effort to promote their own ideas distort and misuse objective facts in order to conveniently promote their own cultural and environmental agenda Ð most of which is void of either facts or truth.

I sincerely hope that soon as a society we can leave the cultural deficits of materialism, moral relativism and lack of objectivity in the gutter where they belong and return to a sanity that promotes Judeo-Christian values in a nation that appears to have forgotten them. Thank you for allowing Mr. Velin to express his views and opinions and please encourage him to continue to do so in the future. For the short term I will continue to subscribe and look for a more accurate and balanced presentation of the news.

Joe Taranto

Gardnerville

DAWG thanks

for the support

Editor:

The Douglas Animal Welfare Group would like to express their thanks to everyone who attended our third annual "It's a DAWG's Day" -Animal Awareness Event on Sept. 8 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Gardnerville and making it such a successful event.

We would also like to say thank you to the following individuals and businesses who participated:

Donators: Adele's Restaurant, Art!Rageous, Beverly Caputo, Bing Materials, Michelle, Jessie and Nita at Body Language, Ironwood Stadium Cinema 8, Diane Wilkinson, Donna Cash, Erin Paulson, Judy Kobliz, Lori Roe, Michelle Supelana, Nyona Lang and Stephanie Waggoner of C and Company of Minden, Carson Valley Golf Course, Carson Valley Inn, Carson Valley Wal-Mart, Casino Fandango, Gareth Craner, Diana Furness, Diane Wilkinson, "DJ" Dona J Baxter, Donna Marie of Aesthetically Speaking, Douglas Disposal, Dr. Linda Miner, Drago's Salon, Eldorado Hotel & Casino, Empire Ranch Golf Course, Fresh Ideas, Gay Burns of Coldwell Banker Best Sellers, Harrah's/Harvey Hotel & Casino, In 'n' Out Burger, Jafra by Sherrie Harcourt, Janice Grivich, Kathy Graff, Kelly Chase, Lupe Avila of Polished Odorless Nail Studio, Marabel Moorhead, MS Dixie, Nancy MacGillivray, Norma Jean Chaney, Pamela Horton of NV Academy of Micropigmentation Permanent Cosmetics, PartyLite Candles by Sherrie Harcourt, Peppermill Hotel & Casino, Red's 395 Grill, Shari Mirgon of Healing Arts Associates, Sour Truckee, Sorenson's Resort, Starbucks, The Body Shop at Home by Peggy Pollyea, Trader Joe's, and Travel Advantage Network.

Vendors: Canine Creations, Critter Connection, Douglas County Democratic Central Committee, Eastern Sierra Feed, Fas-Break Windshield Repair, Jafra by Michelle Seibert, Jewels by Parklane, John Peeters Wood Crafts, Kritter Pressions, Max's Pet Supplies & Gifts, MJ Archer Photography, PartyLite Candles by Sherrie Harcourt, Paul's Pet Food Delivery Express or Nevada, Pet Chef Express, Pet Sitters Plus, Quail Ridge Animal Hospital, Sierra Nevada Trading Company, Tastefully Simple by Gail Bolander, Turbo Flare USA, Wayne's Family Music. DAWG Pound Participants: Nancee Goldwater, Lloyd Higuera, Kelly Kite, Cindy Peterson, Jenny Sartin, Skip Sayre, James Settelmeyer and family, Steve Weissinger.

Sherrie Harcourt

Carson City