The guest opinion piece by Jack Van Dien (Record-Courier Dec. 3) fantasizing about "The continuing drama at Minden-Tahoe Airport" certainly was full of opinion. Mr. Van Dien salts his fanciful farce with incomplete facts to create an appearance of reality. However, the fact is he is writing fiction.
The worst act of Mr. Van Dien's ludicrous melodrama is his gross characterization of many fine individuals as "conspirators." Moreover, he suggests these volunteers and county staff cast the citizens of Douglas County as "sheep to be sheared." I was an Airport Advisory Committee member for four years. I volunteered my time just like all the other busy people I worked with on the committee.
We gave freely for the well-being of our community as do other local volunteers. Perhaps Mr. Van Dien might volunteer his time instead of launching personal aspersions from the sidelines. If he were involved, rather than relying on his imagination, he would know citizens selflessly contribute their valuable time to our county doing good work and we Douglas residents are far from being "sheep."
The reality of FAA compliance is an important environmental and economic issue facing our county to be understood based on all the facts.
It is important to note that the airport has been, is now and will be a part of our nation's transportation system just like Highway 395 and Highway 50. It is supported by taxpayers throughout the country not just those in Douglas County. The real fact is that no county general fund money is used to operate the airport. The airport produces revenue for the county.
The airport is a self-sufficient entity that relies on its users and airport businesses to support itself. The FAA support comes in the form of money to maintain the airport through various projects that are submitted by airport management.
Douglas County taxpayers, who pay federal taxes, support not just our airport but all the airports in the country.
Please take the time to investigate this issue thoroughly. Don't let shallow shadowy fiction pretend to be reality. Contrary to the dark dream in Van Dien's mind, there is a transparent positive process involving the residents to insure our airport continues funding from the FAA and protecting the rural character of Douglas County. This is a true story.
By the way, to the best of my knowledge, the closest the B-29 bombers got to Minden, when they finally came on line towards the end of WWII, was Wendover. Silver Springs Airport was not used for military training and it was officially made an airport in 1987 and was not paved until 2001. So much for the P-51 training at that location.
If one is to take Mr. Van Dien's fictitious perception of reality as gospel, keep in mind this individual can't even get his facts straight about easily researched information.
With that in mind, think about what he had to say about the many individuals who serve, voluntarily, to make Douglas County a great place to live and work. Again, he doesn't have his facts straight. Listen to the people who do have the facts, not those who try to bully you with fictitious and scurrilous statements.
Bill Schroeder is a master certified flight instructor at Minden-Tahoe Airport.
