Letters to the editor Oct. 9

Pat Bates remembered

as legacy lives on

Twenty years ago, Carson City lost one of its finest. Pat Bates' death was a loss for the community, the state, and for those who were personally touched by her. And yet, because of the life she lived, Pat continues to live in the hearts of those who knew her, those who loved her.

Pat dreamed of developing a place where, regardless of financial means, those fighting the terrors of drug and alcohol addiction could come and be made whole. At the time of her death in 1991, Pat Bates was the founder and executive director of the Community Addiction Clinic, now the Community Counseling Center. Today, the center continues to flourish, and Pat's dream continues, thanks to the dedication of Mary Bryan, executive director, the staff, and the Community Counseling Board of Directors.

Even though she was in our lives for far too short a time, we and others who knew her are content that Pat Bates is still here in spirit. We feel her presence every day, in the places we travel, in our last thoughts of the day, and yes, sometimes even in our dreams. Pat cast a light too far to ever be forgotten.

The family of Pat Bates

Tracy & Michael Davis and Cheryl & David Worthington

Improve infrastructure for the environment

On a recent trip from South Lake Tahoe to Reno to catch a flight home, I had one last opportunity to view the scenic Lake Tahoe shores and come down into the beautiful Carson Valley, only to be met with ugly traffic on the south end of Carson City. I realize five minutes is a short period of time to sit in traffic for the few miles of the freeway that is not completed, but it would be so much better for the environment and safety of drivers to come down Spooner (US 50) and be on the freeway.

In 2005, the world economic forum rated the U.S. No. 1 in infrastructure economic competitiveness. Today, the U.S. ranks 15th. When did they start building the freeway in Carson? When will it be finished?

I know that Carson City is working hard to complete the freeway, but it sure is disturbing when trying to get from one place to another to have to go through traffic, pollute the air by sitting in traffic and waste precious time sitting in traffic.

I will return to visit Lake Tahoe when I will be able to drive from the South Shore to Reno on double lane roads without having to stop at signals.

We as Americans need to spend our tax dollars on infrastructure that will help save our environment, increase our competitiveness and make the Tahoe Basin a destination of choice for domestic and international travelers.

Jason E. Wood

Reno

Perkowski had a real impact on students, community

I noted the recent passing of my friend, John Perkowski. I met John and his wife Jean soon after I arrived in Carson City, as we both were members of the local chapter of the Retired Officers Association, now the Military Officers Association of America.

A number of years ago, John spoke to my class of seniors at Carson High School during our study of World War II. As a teenager barely older than my students, John was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines and spent 40 months as a prisoner of war.

He explained the geography of Manila Bay and the fortress of Corregidor and described watching from Fort Drum as Lieutenant Commander John Bulkeley and his PT boats extracted General MacArthur, his family and staff from Corregidor, although he did not know those details at that time. His recounting of the horrors of POW life was a real-life history lesson profound in its impact.

John was a frequent attendee at the CHS Veterans Recognition Ceremony each November. He proudly stood to thunderous applause by the students when former prisoners of war were recognized. As noted in his obituary, John will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 21, joining Jean.

Charles Cannady,

Commander, USN Retired

Carson City

Those in charge fail to listen to public on bear hunt

In her letter, Nancy Whitman showed that she has learned one of the realities of life. It was doubly underscored by the Department of Wildlife making the bear hunt permanent to satisfy the demands of a minuscule number of persons, despite the overwhelming objections of citizens. The government does not care one bit about what you think. Pay your taxes, sit still and shut up, citizen. Don't bother us; you have no say.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and our state senators and assemblymen could have reacted to the (voice of the public) but they did nothing. The entire affair hints of collusion.

I think that the DOW made the bear hunt permanent because if it didn't, it would have looked foolish for approving it in the first place. If it is going to proceed with this stupid decision, why not subtract all nuisance bears killed in a 12-month period from the number of tags to be issued? Also, (don't allow) dogs. If you want to hunt, do your own work.

And, before you throw darts at me, I am a life member of the National Rifle Association, and I ordinarily do not oppose hunting, but I do oppose the bear hunt. That's how it is.

Gerald Cuffe

Minden