Obama supporter grateful for invitation

Minden resident Debra Gardia received an invitation to the inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday.

Debra was a precinct captain for the Obama campaign both in the primary and the general elections.

"It's the measure of the man that he remembered the small people who were involved in the campaign," Gardia said.

However, she won't be attending the event.

"I don't want to deal with the insanity of it all," she said. "I'm sure there are some people who worked for him here who are going. Nevada was a big state for him."

Debra hadn't really worked on a presidential campaign before.

"I worked a little bit for Clinton's campaign, but I worked on this one for two years, right from the beginning. I've never donated money either, but I did both this year."

Someone who is going to Washington, D.C., though about a month late for the inauguration, is 11-year-old Meneley Elementary sixth-grader Lindsey Adams.

Lindsey is going to the Junior National Young Leaders Conference for six days at the end of February.

She was nominated by teacher Nancy Stiles, who is a teacher for gifted and talented students.

In addition to her academic skills, Lindsey is involved with student counsel, yearbook, the choir and other programs at the school.

Mom Theresa Adams said dad David was a little nervous about having the girl cross the country on her own.

One of Lindsey's assignments is to write an essay on her personal definition of leadership and someone she thinks of as a good leader.

Theresa said Lindsey named her great uncle Michael James Adams, who was the 27th U.S. astronaut.

During her time in Washington, Lindsey will get to meet other students from around the country and see the sights in the nation's capital.

Retired fire captain James G. Jeffrey came by the office to warn his fellow Topaz Ranch Estates residents that he believes the water was causing him harm.

James came to this conclusion when he woke up at the veteran's hospital with an IV in his arm to rehydrate him.

"I went to the hospital last Friday," he said. "When I woke up the next morning the pain went. I was aggressive and had weakness but it was all gone."

James believes the cause is alkali and lime in the water and suggested residents filter their water or drink bottled water.

James said he has lived in the area for a quarter century.

n Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at 782-5121, ext. 215.