A red tail hawk takes flight near Muller Lane.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Parents have the power
Editor:
The R-C article about vape pens containing fentanyl fit closely with a recent Steve Hartman story about a boy who was the only one on the school bus without a cell phone. While all the other students buried themselves in their phones, he was looking at the passing scenery, the other students, and what appeared to be a medical episode happening to the bus driver. This boy, whose situational awareness was keen, rushed to the driver and gained control of the bus. Everyone suddenly realized they had been saved from disaster by this student. He was hailed as a hero. His parents wouldn’t allow him to have a cell phone, a decision he hated because he was left out of the social media loop.
This story does point out, however, that parents have the power as well as the duty to control their children’s screen time. As told in the R-C story, the vape pens were most likely purchased through a phone app connected to a local drug dealer. While the Sheriff’s Office is doing a great job investigating this new wrinkle in local drug abuse, parents should now take part in eliminating the key component in this problem. Cell phones. Our children are so focused on these tiny despots that they are not learning how to interact with each other or the non-virtual world. Parents can stop this destructive and possibly deadly activity in an already dangerous world.
Sue Cauhape
Minden
Worried About Social Security?
Editor:
Elon Musk’s recent statements on Social Security should scare everyone. He’s been pushing debunked claims that the program is “rife with fraud” while insisting, without evidence, that there’s massive waste to cut. On Fox Business, Musk declared entitlements like Social Security is “the big one to eliminate.” These scare tactics have zero factual basis: government watchdogs find less than 1 percent of benefits are paid improperly, and experts call Musk’s allegations blatant misinformation.
Now those false claims are being used to justify harmful changes. The Trump administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency (is rolling out policies that hurt everyday beneficiaries. As of March 31, 2025, Social Security recipients must verify their identity online or in person, phone verification is no longer allowed. This creates huge obstacles for seniors, people with disabilities, and rural residents who often lack internet access or reliable transportation.
Meanwhile, severe budget cuts are undermining Social Security services. The agency has already lost 7,000 employees, and six of its ten regional offices are set to close. Local Social Security field of’fices are also disappearing; the Las Vegas office is already closing, and Reno may be next. Closing offices and slashing staff will only make it harder for millions to get the benefits they’ve earned.
The future of Social Security is at stake, and we must not stay silent. Now is the time to push back against misinformation and demand our leaders protect this vital program for everyone who depends on it.
Beth Mancl
Genoa