Letters to the editor for Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013

Spay and neuter your animals

This is in response to Linda Arkeketa’s letter on the subject of Rollie who was put down at animal control because Mrs. Archuleta didn’t have the money for its bail for a couple of days. The time limit was not extended for her and Rollie was certainly the victim. True, there needs to be some compassion and I hope the Board of Supervisors addresses that at their next meeting. The question is, why? Was it because the pound was overcrowded?

The pound needs to be commended for wanting to build a larger more modern shelter, but do we need more room for animals or less animals? Which brings us to spay and neuter.

A few years ago, the National Animal Protection Association sponsored a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. People could afford their fees. If I were trained in veterinarian medicine and had an office, I would spay and neuter for the cost of supplies because I care that these animals are not put down when their only crime is being born.

Dixie Horsmon

Carson City

More deer crossing signs needed

This is to address the article from Sallie Lincoln of Carson City regarding the deer crossing sign she put up at our Capitol Building.

I too am a Carson City resident on the west side of town. In fact, I am fairly certain that the deer and her two babies were born two houses down from me. We have been photographing and watching their progress and growth since day one. I agree that the sign should remain and would strongly suggest even more signs.

Sallie is right. We, as residents, may show caution for these beautiful animals but people who visit from California and other areas aren’t really expecting a mother deer and its babies to be crossing the street and feeding so close to town.

Margie Sanchez

Carson City

Alzheimer’s walk Sept. 28 in Sparks

My father was diagnosed in 1993 with Alzheimer’s disease. My family was devastated as we began the infamous “long goodbye.” Dad died in 2001. My mom started having difficulty with basic life decisions in 2007. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008 and died in 2011. For 20 years, I watched this disease steal sweet memories and knowledge of friends and family ­ leaving both of my parents void of the life they lived.

Alzheimer’s has become the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Most shocking, it is the only one of the top 10 causes of death for which there is no cure, no effective treatments and no prevention. Today, there are 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s and this will rise to an estimated 16 million by 2050.

Please support this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 28 at the Spark’s Marina to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association for research, care and support services. Visit the website at www.alz.org to sign up to walk or select “donate” online. You can write a check payable to the Alzheimer’s Association. All donations are tax deductible.

If you have any questions about Alzheimer’s, please call the Northern Nevada office at 775-786-8061.

Pam Vickerson

Reno

No need to overreact on climate change

With regard to Anne Macquarie’s “commentary” article of Aug. 21, I noted that at least a half dozen times in the article the word “tax” was used. Did anyone else pick up on this and see the real message — an increase in taxes would be imposed on the taxpayer regardless of the form it would take and for what purpose?

As stated, “ ... a carbon tax would raise a lot of revenue for the federal government ... about 100 billion dollars a year ... ” Probably so; however, if the Feds can’t control a budget now and have to borrow a third of what’s spent, what would you expect that they would do with this “windfall?” Yep, just “fritter it away,” too, with no relief to the U.S. taxpayer.

With regards to the “global warming” issue, the “geologic record” (rock studies containing millions of years of data) indicates “Mother Earth” has gone though heating and cooling cycles well before “man and his footprint” appeared, and after, too. And so it will continue, I’m sure.

So let’s get real, make prudent, safe and gradual adjustments to our “carbon footprint” to help “Mother Nature” and not overreact to a “Chicken Little” scare and jeopardize the wellbeing of our society.

Mike Zola

Carson City

Nuclear energy would help sustain Nevada

This is a rebuttal to Mr. Farmer’s tirade on Aug. 25. The word “dump” was used five times implying that the storage of nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain would be a haphazard operation. Actually, it would be an underground warehouse and operated as such. Many people have expressed fear that there could be a nuclear explosion at Yucca Mountain or on the highway if a truck carting the casks had an accident. This would be impossible because to cause a nuclear explosion, a critical mass, with the proper materials, has to be created.

It is my wild estimate that less than 10 percent of Nevada’s population know the difference between alpha and beta particles and gamma rays. And yet, due to fear or whatever, a majority of Nevada’s population establish Nevada’s nuclear policy. There are two things more important to Nevada than the shipment of nuclear waste. These are future water supplies and the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Environmental friendly nuclear energy would be the best power source to help solve both problems.

States are independent. What would the people in California think if we went to them and asked permission to build a couple nuclear powered desalination plants on the ocean shores? Think it over. Being a belligerent maverick state does not promote good public relations! Las Vegas cannot survive without tourists!

Donald W. Cunningham

Carson City