Editor:
I've been closely following the Park Cattle project starting from its earlier public presentations at the CVIC Hall through the most recent hearing before county commissioners on Sept. 4.
By way of background, the Town of Gardnerville rejected it, the Town of Minden narrowly approved it by a 3-2 vote, the county planning staff recommended against it, and the Douglas County Planning Commission rejected it by a vote of 6-1.
Why was the Park Cattle project rejected by most of these governmental entities? Primarily it was because there was no demonstrated need for an additional 4,995 houses to be built here in Carson Valley, which would be on top of some 4,700 houses already approved before the enactment of the new growth management ordinance on July 1, 2007, but not yet built. The mammoth size of the Park project, as this paper noted, would double the size of Gardnerville and Minden.
The impact upon our valley's rural character would be severe.
It is abundantly obvious that without the huge Park project there is plenty of inventory "yet to be built" not to mention the many hundreds of unsold houses in Douglas County due to the present economy.
Additionally there were concerns expressed by the county's planning staff that the Park project would significantly degrade the level of service as to traffic " in other words, more traffic congestion. There is also a serious concern over unresolved drainage and flood issues.
Given this background, the matter came up before the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4. Park offered up additional concessions " one of them to reduce the number of dwelling units to 4,495, a drop of 500 units.
Park's people (and there were many) then made their pitch, disputing the opinion of the planning staff, and offering up many hours of dissertation which led, in turn, to a state of data exhaustion that you could see expressed on the faces of most of the commissioners and those in the audience.
One might think that county commissioners would consider their decision a no-brainer given the prior rejections and negative recommendations by these advisory bodies. During this process only commissioners Brady and Johnson had the courage and clear thinking to try and bring this matter to a close by moving denial of Park's application for a master plan amendment. However, Brady's motion, with Johnson's support, was defeated 3-2.
Instead, in their understandably worn out state, the remaining commissioners couldn't decide and voted to continue the matter to their Nov. 6 calendar and directed planning staff to confer further with the Park people.
The Town of Gardnerville, the county planning staff and the planning commission should all be commended for resisting Park's array of goodies being offered up in exchange for approval and keeping its eye on our master plan's most important objective - keeping the rural character of our community intact. Let's hope county commissioners follow suit when the matter again comes up for a vote in November.
John H. Garvin
Sustainable Growth Committee co-chair
Minden
Editor:
A popular toy of politicians is the promotion of government-funded health care. All because of the high cost of such care, and the reality is that government interference is the absolute destruction of available health care. But all of that aside, the Sen. John Edwards of our nation are the driving force in cost elevation of what is not an exact science, but the plaintiff's bar, with good acting skills has driven the point that it is exact. And some practitioners do sloppy work. Wrong on all counts.
On Sept. 10, The Record-Courier carried a front-page story about a medical malpractice suit involving a procedure called a colonoscopy.
This is where a probe is inserted and where, if found, polyp growths are electrically burned loose and upon retrieval are tested for cancer.
There is some risk with the procedure, but there is a greater risk of cancer by not removing the polyps, and I am confident that the person in the article was told in advance of the risk involved, but I, of course, do not know that to be the case.
Under any circumstances, the $1 million plus verdict is a major contributor to the increasing costs of medical care.
I can speak knowingly about the risks involved in the colonoscopy procedure because it was thoroughly explained to me.
Roughly 25 years ago I underwent the procedure, and within 24 hours I required emergency surgery to correct the unintended colon procedure. Three years ago I had a similar colonoscopy performed, and again required corrective surgery.
However, I knew the risks going in, and I did not sue anyone. Medicine is not an exact science, and when, if ever, are jurors going to simply evaluate the facts against the accepted norms, and procedures? Are there ever medical problems where the practitioner violated accepted standards? Well, they, like the rest of us are human, and to that extent, just like all of us, may blunder. Keep in mind however that unless, and until, the researchers discover how the human cell functions, there shall be unintended, unfavorable results in medical care. No to the John Edwards, no to the politicians spouting government sponsored health care, and no to the lawsuits absent clear malpractice.
Vernon Latshaw
Gardnerville
Editor:
Sarah Palin has taken the political world by storm this election season. Everyone has heard about this Alaska governor and her field dressing a moose. Douglas County voters are lucky to have their own Alaskan woman candidate, Nancy Epstein for Douglas County commissioner. Nancy Epstein moved to Douglas County from Alaska. Nancy has eaten moose stew. She's ridden on an Iditarod dog sled. She's fished among the bears in the Alaskan wilderness. Most of all, Nancy Epstein is taking on the old boy network just like Sarah Palin. Nancy won her recent primary by over 80 percent. Voters recognized that Nancy Epstein is not taking money from big developers and special interests like other candidates. Douglas County voters noticed her political signs are not showing up on controversial future development properties en masse. Nancy Epstein is only accepting small donations from ordinary citizens of Douglas County. Nancy Epstein is spending the donations she is receiving at Douglas County businesses. Nancy Epstein realizes small businesses in Douglas County need all the support they can get from candidates and politicians currently in office because she is a small business woman. Just like Sarah Palin, Nancy Epstein is a working mother and knows the issues of the economy, taxes, and growth in our county. I would urge all Douglas County voters to get to know Nancy Epstein, and vote for a woman willing to represent all of Douglas County.
Paul Dayton Belt
Gardnerville
Editor:
Derby, Brown, Epstein " we are so very fortunate in Douglas County to have three well-qualified and experienced women running for elected office on the national, state, and local levels. To me, essentially their party affiliations do not matter. What matters is their commitment to good government, their willingness to do the job required, and their love of our community.
I am confident that when elected, all three will do everything in their power to benefit the citizens of our area, the state, the nation, and the world. I urge your support and vote for Jill Derby, congress, JoEtta Brown, state assembly, and Nancy Epstein, Douglas County commission.
Linda Hiebert Sekiguchi
Minden
Editor:
I wonder if anyone can explain how a person can be pro life, pro war and pro gun and hunting. How can one shoot to kill a soldier, a civilian, a moose, elk or bear? They all have a beating heart. Killing is killing " isn't it? And, how does this fit into God's plan? I really don't understand the thought process.
Patricia Bailey
Gardnerville
Editor:
In response to Minden resident Jeanne Larson " I do not have to run and not walk to my nearest religious establishment to ask for forgiveness for voting for George Bush. This is not a religious vote, but a vote of who can do the best job for the American people.
You should run, not walk and take the first plane to the third world and visit and get acquainted with the conditions of living because that is how you will be living if you vote for Obama.
While you are there, you should also thank the men and women that are fighting for your freedom even though you don't appreciate the effort they are and have made so we, you and I, can voice our opinions. We sure couldn't do this in any other country.
I also want to thank you for helping me make up my mind as to the right choice to vote.
M. O'Brien
Gardnerville
Editor:
The Swift Boaters are alive and well and back with a vengeance. Their recent TV spot proclaims: "Obama's one accomplishment? Legislation to teach 'comprehensive sex education' to kindergartners. Learning about sex before learning to read?"
This is a vicious lie easily debunked by anyone really interested in the truth; http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/.
One would hope that the perpetrators would be engulfed by their own scum, but it seems a significant number of voters will always choose to believe that which dovetails with their pre-conceived ideology.
The spot ends with: "I'm John McCain, and I approve of this message." I wonder if he really does, and if so, is he fit to occupy the office once held by George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and JFK?
John O'Neill
Minden
Editor:
In regards to Jeanne Larson comments about the folks that voted for President Bush. I do not know you but at the same time, I seem to, because you sound so bitter and angry like most Dems here in Texas.
If you were willing to do a little research, the things that our president has done for us has made this country safer.
And yes, we have not been hit again, even though Congress has tried very hard to stop the president at every turn. As far as Obama, I would advise looking into him closer before suggesting on voting for him.
I am a Christian, and I ask for forgiveness every day for my ineptness and sins, not for who I voted for.
And lastly, my son Jacob is an Iraq veteran that has served two tours and will be going back for a third next year. He is proud of his service and so am I. He believes that he has made a difference over there for us here at home.
Be thankful for these people that risk everything so that we can enjoy our First Amendment right to share opinions.
Finally, President George Bush has done a great job protecting us. Yet please understand, he is not perfect. Nobody is.
Tim Roberts
Collinsville, Texas, and Carson Valley
