Letters to the Editor, March 14

Other options for your child's education

My wife and I just traveled to Texas with our son Conner to visit Texas Christian University. TCU is a small- to medium-sized Division I school now in the Big 12, and is on Conner's radar for college next year.

We were on a tour with 100 other families of prospective students learning why TCU is such a great choice for college. Most of these high schoolers were from Texas and attended 3A and 4A and yes, even 5A schools.

What was even more impressive was that the faculty and students of TCU admitted there weren't a lot of students from Nevada. Of the 19,000 applicants TCU received from around the world for the freshman class for the fall of 2012, they will only choose 1,900 freshmen.

We got to meet several prospective students and their parents from these large Texas schools who could only dream about getting accepted and attending TCU. These folks were also in disbelief when they learned that Conner, a kid from Nevada, attending a 1A school with less than 90 students in the whole student body, was already accepted with a scholarship to attend TCU.

Sierra Lutheran High School had two seniors apply, and both were accepted.

I don't want to take away from Conner and Danielle, but I'd like to say to parents out there who are discouraged by the poor ranking Nevada has in the public school system, you have another choice.

John J. Ediss

Carson City

Protect historic areas in Storey County

The Storey County Planning Department is developing a plan for an area within the county where open pit and surface mining will not be allowed. This zone is defined by view shed, and means that anyone in Virginia City or Gold Hill will not see any more open pits scarring the historic landscape. Underground mining will be allowed in this zone with a special use permit.

This is a good step in the direction of protecting the Comstock Historic District, the Virginia City National Historic Landmark and our residential and business communities. This zone means that no more open pits like we see today in Gold Canyon and Virginia City will occur. Outside of this zone, where they can't be seen, this type of mining would be allowed.

The county is on solid legal ground in this effort. First, this is consistent with the county Master Plan. Secondly, it is consistent with the two historic districts where protection of historic landscapes is required.

It is also what the majority of the residents want. Last fall, the Comstock Residents Association collected more than 400 signatures of residents who were opposed to open pit mining in the historic district, and found that only about one in 20 approved. Other communities in the country are taking similar stands to protect their communities, and courts are ruling in their favor.

Let your commissioners and county officials know that you support this effort to protect the historic district and our residential and business communities.

Robin Cobbey

Gold Hill