Letters to the Editor

Support your local library

Editor:

I am currently the secretary of the Friends of the Douglas County Library. I have donated thousands of hours of my time in three states working to support the public libraries where I have lived, including the Douglas County Public Library. I volunteer my time because I believe public libraries are an essential part of a literate and educated community.

Due to the current economic situation, the available funds for the Douglas County Public Library in fiscal year 2008-09 will be much less than last year. The room tax/sales tax fund, the primary source of funding for the Douglas County Public Library, has declined over the past several years and is not expected to rebound in the near future. As a result, reduced hours, reduction and/or elimination of programs, staff cuts, possible facility closures and other expense cutting measures are included in the library's projected 2008-09 budget. This is grim news for those of us who live in Douglas County.

The first objective cited in the fiscal year 2007-08 budget document for the Douglas County Public Library was "Communicate to the public the value of the library to the community."

If the cuts made to the Douglas County Public Library's 2008-09 budget result in reduced hours of operation, program cuts, facility closures and staff reductions, what message will the county commissioners be communicating to the public regarding the value they place on the Douglas County Public Library?

In Nevada, counties have the responsibility of determining how to fund the services they provide for residents. Virtually all Nevada counties, except for Douglas County, fund library services through their general fund (property tax and other sources) or special library districts (similar to the East Fork Fire Protection or East Fork Swimming Pool districts in Douglas County).

I believe that the county commissioners must consider ways of providing responsible, sustained funding for the Douglas County Public Library that do not depend on the fluctuating room and sales tax fund. The Douglas County Public Library is a vital community service that enhances the quality of life for everyone in our community - toddlers, children, teens, adults, seniors and families. As First Lady Laura Bush has said, "Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open."

Please keep the doors to our library open.

Barbara Wilson

Genoa

What is Rogers doing here?

Editor:

What must Don Rogers have done to raise the ire of the owners of your great newspaper chain, to have him banished to what he so obviously considers a backwater combination of Pettycoat Junction and Hooterville?

It seems not to matter if he chose to pick apart the infrastructure of our law enforcement agency, our school system, our parks and recreation facilities, etc., since the result would have been the same. Mr. Rogers has been exiled to a neighborhood he scorns.

It will be interesting to read reaction to Don Rogers' unsolicited opinions on matters about which he is woefully uneducated. Ironic to think the response will come from a public which he judges to be illiterate, apathetic and uninterested.

One wonders if any of the advertisers appreciate being associated with a newspaper publisher who considers the residents of this valley beneath contempt.

Judith Kohz

Minden

Airport issue no joking matter

Editor:

Your new boss needs some help. I refer, of course, to Mr. Rogers' emotion-based diatribe on March 21 about the airport. He really should be very careful because in one short article he successfully disenfranchised so many of his customers and unfrocked his own misinformation. What are his credentials to write in such absolute terms about our airport development and environmental impacts? Geez, the man just got here. Does he not understand that our airport is vastly different from his home town? If he can't quickly tune-in with his new community, demonstrate a little humility, learn and represent both sides of major stories without favoring the developers or any other special interest group, then I would invite him to return to Colorado.

The primary threat at our airport is not from commercial jets or from private bizjets attracted by our great skiing, nor is it any huge demand from local businesses executives. No, the primary threats that many residents fear is the potential for an invasion of outsiders with outside needs. But an aviation invasion is often unpredictable. This is not paranoia without precedent - it has happened at countless airports across the country. Examples - Prescott, Ariz. and Castle, Calif. Primary drivers can be an international flight training school, a new "fractional jet" hub, or as the Piñon Aero folks have declared in this newspaper, a "warehouse" for California jets. Why else would we need 100 huge new jet hangars?

Those of us who specifically moved to this valley due to its character and environment are just not willing to leave the door wide open for a jet invasion from outside. Who among us is willing to say to our grandchildren in 20 years - "Well, this used to be a really nice place until we believed Mr. Rogers and left the door open to all those jets! Sorry we have encouraged such a mess which can never be undone."

"Oh, and glider pilots, sorry to you and the bald eagles for scaring you away!"

Currently, the weight limit is all the protection we have, and that just got thrown out by a couple of selfish airport businessmen with no respect for democracy or the will of the people. This, despite recent technical information showing that the weight limit is actually completely bona fide with respect to the asphalt weight bearing capacity.

Mr. Rogers scoffs and claims that jets are no big deal. Perhaps he should meet with a group of Wild Horse and Saratoga Springs residents and see what they have to say about that. Many of those residents vigorously oppose the already-significantly-increased environmental damage from jets. So, Mr. Rogers, how does this jive with the $17 million spent to upgrade this airport in recent years - almost all to serve and attract more jets?

Perhaps the most ominous aspect is this. After just a few short weeks the airport growth proponents have apparently successfully lobbied the new publisher Ð just as they have done with many powerful decision-makers in the county in recent years. I would be happy to sit with Mr. Rogers and explain the realities of "Airport Development 101," after that he may have a different viewpoint to share with his readers.

Jim Herd

Gardnerville