Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Thanks for the memories, Appeal readers

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

SILVER DOLLAR: To all our readers who submitted their personal holiday memories of Christmases past. The only thing better than the personal joy of the holiday season is sharing that joy with others. To those who shared their stories, poems and anecdotes, thank you.

SILVER DOLLAR: To House Speaker John Boehner and others in the Republican leadership who finally agreed to the extension of the payroll tax holiday. The last thing working Americans need right now is a higher levy on their income.

WOODEN NICKEL: To opportunistic holiday scammers who use the season to enrich themselves. These scams - identity theft, fake charitable donations and text message scams - drew a word of warning from Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Carson City Public Works Director Andrew Burnham and his crew for a timely response to complaints about a dangerously icy patch of Numaga Pass in the Lakeview area. The situation has festered on and off for four years, and it's good to see the city finally addressing a permanent fix.