Letters to the Editor

Bears need to adapt to us

Editor:

Here we go again. Another newspaper article on how we (humans) are the cause of all of the problems with the bears vandalizing our property and attacking us in our homes.

All bears are predators. They will eat anything that they can get their paws on. They also follow the law of "survival of the fittest." Bears will do whatever it takes to get food for themselves.

In an Aug. 12 Nevada Appeal article (Shooting death of bear at Lake Tahoe criticized) Ann Bryant made some statements that criticized the man who defended his family against a large predator (the bear) that was looking for food. How dare she chastise someone for protecting his wife and child against a wild beast that broke into his home. It is clear to me that Ms. Bryant has never been involved in any situation where she has had to make a choice between saving herself (or her family) or protecting the predator (animal or human) threatening her. Her statements were simply foolish.

In the Aug. 15 R-C article (Bear calls flooding state wildlife dispatch) Carl Lackey states "We need people to use bear-proof garbage cans and restrict other human food sources for bears." Let me get this right. We should put all garbage in expensive bear-proof containers; destroy all of our fruit trees; never feed our pets outside our homes; spray foul smelling fluids in and around the trash cans and generally remove anything (from our property) that a wandering bear may find appetizing."

Well Mr. Lackey, after we remove all of the food sources from the outside of our homes, where does the predator bear then go to search for food? Not where they came from as they are down here looking for food. How about inside our homes? These bears will do what ever it takes to get food. That is nature.

Like it or not, the human is at the top of the food chain. We got there by not letting other predators eat us. Mr. Lackey is wrong in saying that we live in the bear's habitat. The bears are invading and vandalizing our habitat.

Marshall Goldy

Gardnerville Ranchos

Wind ordinance limits access

Editor:

I swore off writing letters to the editor some time ago because of the grief they often bring to your doorstep but I feel compelled to chime in on the issue of wind turbines and the proposed restricting of such to 5-acre parcels or greater. I have been actively researching the possibility of augmenting my power supply with both wind and solar equipment. There are products hitting the market now for residential use which can greatly reduce your reliance on the grid, something I yearn to accomplish for my home. (If your interested, check out windmonkey.com, for instance, to see just how far the technology has come and the price has come down) But, with only 1.6 acres, the proposed county ordinance would blow my plans clean out of the water. I agree with what others have said, this is not a proposal to bring wind power to Douglas County, it is a proposal to ban it. Our county commissioner, Doug Johnson has got to realize that if a majority of Ruhenstroth residents had wind turbines and solar arrays, our neighborhood could be less reliant on the grid, and therefore less vulnerable to our frequent power outages.

And with our proud status as a wind-prone area, we could actually find ourselves in a position to sell excess power back to the grid. I find the proposed 5-acre minimum to be arbitrary, discriminatory and very short-sighted, much like the elimination of bike paths from the master plan many years ago (remember?).

Come on Doug, go to bat for the sensible people in this county who long for energy independence and defeat or amend this proposal. If it's a matter of aesthetics and wind turbines are to be banned for all intents and purposes then when do the "homeowner's association types" start going after giant ham radio antennas and light pollution generating sodium security lamps? I'm sorry, but I don't want anybody telling me what I can or can't do on my property, especially when it comes to energy independence.

Don Nelson

Gardnerville

Thanks to roundup organizers

Editor:

I want to send out a huge thank you to Marion Barritt, Vicki Bates, Carole Thompson, Steve Lewis, Charlie Glenn and Barry Levan, the six individuals whose effort and dedication created the first Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Roundup Aug. 10-12. Also, a big thanks needs to go to Mr. Don Bently for providing the great location at Bently's Ferris Park in Minden and to Western Nevada College for hosting the afternoon speakers.

The Roundup offered educational workshops, activities and vendors promoting sustainable practices, renewable energy use, and environmental responsibility. The planners did an excellent job of providing a wide range of information on topics relevant to the event's name; solar, geothermal and wind energy, biofuels, energy efficient building and transportation, recycling, greywater use, composting, sustainable agriculture and landscaping, strawbale building and water issues. There was a kids' tent with paper making and sun oven baking activities that many adults seemed to enjoy too. It was exciting to see all the sustainable living ideas, inventions and practices that can really reduce energy consumption. Most days I try my best to consume less but it was a great reminder (frying pan over the head) to hear that "1 person in the U.S. uses the same amount of resources as 75 villagers in Curacao." Try better!

Most importantly, the Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Roundup created a common ground for many to stand on. Some came because of environmental concerns, others because of practicality and economics. Some even came all the way from southern California and Colorado because they "wanted to visit the Carson Valley and it sounded like a great event." Whatever the reason, everyone seemed to be grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to new ideas or learn more about innovations they had heard about previously. One delighted local said, "I never thought I would see an event like this in Minden ".

I'm hoping that this event has opened some new doors in our valley that is so rich in both community and renewable energy.

Looking forward to next year's Sustainable Roundup.

Norah Gastelum

Gardnerville

Thanks for

supporting sale

Editor:

St. Gall Catholic Church, Fr. Paul McCollum, Fr. Elberto Melendez and the rummage sale committee members would like to express their heartfelt thank-yous to all the following for their help and contributions for the 2007 Rummage Sale: To our community for their continued support of donations to make this sale possible. Parishioners for all their baked goods provided. Betty Larrouy, Carol Aldax, Lucy Aguilar, Maria Martin and and Jean Homer for feeding over 100 volunteers the day of sale. Park Ranch for storing items, Raley's donations of bags, water. Knights of Columbus, security and parking Gerry Florence, from Northern Nevada Fence Product, Barone & Reed, Antoci's Supper Club, Douglas Disposal, Cooks Pantry, Ben Vassar, Sani-Hut Company, Park Ranch, Carson Valley Inn, Channel 26, Sweetie Pie, Starbucks Manufacturing Plant, Sugar Plum Bakers, Russell's Mercantile, Scolari's Food, Sierra Nevada Trade, Sertoma, Pastor Adam Barkley.

Special thanks to China Spring and Rite of Passage for their labor. Special thanks to The Record-Courier for running all of our announcements, as well as Nevada Appeal.

And a very big thank you to the numerous volunteers that gave many hours of hard work and put this fundraiser together. All leftover items were distributed to: Austin's House, Helping Hands Thrift Store, Blue Star Moms, Project Santa, Carson Valley Art Association Scarecrow Festival, Abbey Crossing, City of Refuge and DAWG. See you next year.

A pre-sale date was offered to Angora fire victims 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1 for any household needs.

St. Gall Catholic Church

Gardnerville

Firefighters

did great job

Editor:

We wish to say thank you to all of the firefighters and law enforcement personnel that worked the Power Dam fire. Our home is across the highway from the fire area, and in fact, was the command center area for this event.

The Douglas County Sheriff's deputies were really great, and even offered to assist my wife to load up our belongings if we should need to evacuate.

Because of the amazing response to this fire, that was not necessary.

The wind was blowing fire over the guardrail of the road at one time, right over the heads of firemen and their engine, but those men didn't run from it, they kept fighting it.

I work for the El Dorado County Department of Transportation in Tahoe, and I saw the Angora fire first hand and know people that lost their homes.

The Power Dam fire had great potential to run down into many homes here as well, and the only reason that didn't happen was because of these brave people, and the coordination from the commanders to fight it properly.

We truly thank you all for a great job.

Thanks also to all of our wonder friends that called us to offer help.

We live in a great place, with wonderful people and we feel very blessed.

Kent and Kathy Taylor

Gardnerville

Thanks for Devil Pups support

Editor:

To Re/Max and other contributors,

I would like to thank you for contributing to the Devil Pups program this year.

I was able to go and I had a great time. I learned leadership, team work, and how to conquer many challenges.

I would recommend this program to other boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 17.

It was tough to make it the whole 10 days.

There were times that I wanted to quit, but the others there kept me going.

I'm so glad I was able to attend.

Thank you also to Maj. George Class and Tony Klein for helping recruit.

Austin Hoyt

Gardnerville