Letters to the Editor Feb. 6

Editor

A truck driver did not see the motorcycle, so why are trucks allowed to use Waterloo? Hay trucks, 18-wheelers, have been observed using it as a short cut. At peak traffic time cars back up on Waterloo waiting to turn left to head south on Centerville. A light is needed at that intersection. Residents living off Waterloo have anticipated a major accident there for some time.

The county has allowed increased commercial development on Waterloo which presents a danger to those using Lampe Park. The children's skate park is across from Lampe Park and children run from one side to the other with little concern for the one crosswalk. Summer is extra dangerous and the fear is sooner or later a child will be injured, or killed.

Many years ago we were told another road was planned south off Highway 395 to Centerville to relieve traffic on Waterloo. Now is a good time to review this option.

Nona Hogue

Gardnerville

Editor:

 A few weeks ago one of your readers stated in a letter to the editor his unhappiness with the continual drumbeat about the state of the senior center. I am also sick of seeing the same old stale, whiny letter that takes up editorial space complaining about the Douglas County Senior Center. 

From time to time some of us express our opinion about one thing or another in The Record-Courier and we should be grateful that The R-C gives us that opportunity. To continually complain over and over and over about the senior center does nothing but bore most of us and take up space in the editorial section.

Being almost 69, I could care less whether the senior center is new, old or in between. I think people that like it and use it should be grateful that we have a senior center. The residents of Douglas County do not owe me a senior center.

To intimate that I decided to come to Douglas County based on whether they had a senior center is laughable to say the least.

I came here when I retired because it was a beautiful rural county, which by the way, appears to be slowly disappearing, since it seems to be the residential tract home building area of the United States.

I wanted to come to a quiet beautiful place that had doctors, a hospital, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, low taxes, movies, casinos, restaurants, stores, churches with activities, hiking, fishing, skiing, a park, and close to a large city like Reno or Carson City. A senior center was the last thing on my mind and had nothing to do with my decision and I don't believe it does for most old people.

I am sure most residents support Meals on Wheels mentally and some monetarily, and we pay taxes to Douglas County for services at the center. Douglas County has not yet become a socialist haven, where they raise our taxes, every five minutes for this that or the other thing that people want. The county has serious fiscal problems, and in my opinion, there are higher priorities to spend our taxes on than a new senior center.

I suggest the community build a senior center. Then people who want it can donate their money for it. Maybe someday it can be a combined effort between the residents and the county. I can't tell you the amount of times I have heard "there is a lot of money in Douglas County."

Well let the people who use the center and have all the money step up and fund it. Let's leave the county commissioners alone when it comes to the senior center and quit complaining about it over and over and over and over.

 James F. Joseph

Gardnerville Ranchos

Editor:

I see Mr. Lockwood is at it again. His latest letter indicates that "Douglas County has the most inadequate senior center and services in the Western United States." Wow. I was unaware of that. That's a pretty broad area.

Yet he chooses to live here. I'm confused. In the same paragraph he says that "telling local seniors to keep their mouths shut and quit complaining doesn't help the situation," (i.e. they should be allowed to continue to complain), but concludes his letter by saying that "complaining doesn't resolve anything." I'm confused again. Which one is it? On one hand it's OK for Mr. Lockwood to complain about the senior center (time and time again by the way) and the poor services of a budget strapped county, but on the other hand complaining doesn't resolve anything. I like the last one Paul, complaining doesn't resolve anything, no matter the subject you might be complaining about (hint, hint).

And I never said that "seniors are not welcome in Douglas County." Everyone's welcome in Douglas County: seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshman. My mom is a senior (she's 90 this year God bless her) I sit next to two senior ladies in church every week (can't hug them enough). I love senior citizens. So that's just not true. He also indicates that "cutting county services to balance the budget doesn't solve the basic economic problems." I don't even know what that means.

What I do know is that unless the county buys a printing press and starts printing money, services will be cut. No increased revenue (taxes) equals a reduction in services. It's just simple math. It has nothing to do with "attracting" people in these hard economic times. In conclusion, does Douglas County need a new senior center? Absolutely. Is now the time? Absolutely not.

Greg Worms

Minden

Editor:

On behalf of The Presidential Inaugural Committee, USAservice.org, and its many volunteers and supporters, I am happy to present in honor of Martin Luther King's National Day of Service all these items. These necessities from your wish list have been generously donated by the many supporters of the Family Support Council. We recognize that this falls well short of meeting all your needs, but hopefully it's a beginning to a new era of responsibility. This responsibility is to consider the needs of our fellow citizens, for we are all a thread in this quilt of life.

I would like to thank Smith's and Scolari's for allowing us to solicit donations at their store locations in Gardnerville. I would also like to thank Wheeler Screen Printing for generously donating the signage for the event. We could not have done this event without all the volunteers who helped in collecting all these items and advancing the cause of the Family Support Council. I would like to thank the Family Support Council, its staff and volunteers for all the wonderful work they do for us here in Douglas County. Finally, I would like to thank kind and considerate people who donated to this worthy cause.

A Call to Service

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has set up a new Web site to help promote community services and events. USAservice.org is being offered to all citizens to help establish and organize various community service projects and/or events. In the future you will be able to go to USAservice.org and find out what community service projects are going on in our area. Hopefully you will volunteer to get involved. We plan on addressing as many needs in our community as possible. We look forward to addressing issues ranging from our local environment to education; from counseling troubled teens to meeting the needs of those less fortunate. We hope to be involved with other organizations to see how we can work together to make an ongoing commitment to better serve our community in these difficult times.

It is noteworthy to know that here in Douglas County there are many who care about making our community a better place. During the Martin Luther King weekend of community service and this renewing of our commitment to serve our community, little old Douglas County and our local volunteers created and hosted approximately one-third of all events which were scheduled state wide. This reflects the recognition of our obligation to our fellow man together strengthened by a connection to our community. Hopefully it continues to grow.

Gary L. Kendrick

Regional Lead for the Presidential Inaugural Committee