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Republican committee thanks

As chairman of the Nye County Republican Central Committee, I want to thank Cora Bishop, Patti Chipman, Laura Billman, Nevada Tolladay, our past chairman and present vice chairman of the Nevada Republican Central Committee Paul Willis, the Pahrump Valley Republican Women and all other volunteers for all their dedication and help in the primary election. I also want to thank the voters who took time out of their busy schedule to get out and vote.

John Timmerman

NCRCC Chairman

I wouldn't feel safe

I find the signs around town to re-elect Wade Lieseke for sheriff that say "feel safe again" amusing if not downright ridiculous when you consider all the things he did when he was in office that could make you feel very unsafe.

For instance, the time when he dropped a gun out of his pocket in a very crowded public meeting, and when it hit the floor it went off and shot him in the leg, or the times he drove around the county like an Indy 500 driver and wrecked two new sheriff's cars and a motorcycle, and last but not least, passing out permits to carry concealed weapons to possibly anyone who came along for a "price."

I don't see him giving these permits away free.

Considering all of the above, and maybe more, I don't think I could feel safe with this man in office. This is for all the new people in town who may know nothing of this man's past.

Ken Causey

Allstate thanks

Kaye's Allstate would like to thank the community for all of the generous donations for our school drive. We were so fortunate to be able to help so many children.

A special thanks to the lion's Clubs for their large donation.

If you know anyone in need of help please contact the Pahrump Family Resource Center.

Kaye's Allstate

Kulkin's outburst

Kulkin's little outburst is pretty much a Democratic's response to not getting their way.

Watch Hillary sometime when things go wrong and you will see what I mean. Watch Dean and see if I am right. Watch Kennedy when he does not get what he wants. It spreads through the party and I love it.

It's just such fun to watch them make complete fools of themselves.

Wayne Fritsen

Shame, shame on you

The throttle cable broke in my car and I took it to one of our local auto repair shops here in town. The story that follows will shock you.

I called the garage after two days and the younger owner said "we locked your car last night and we don't have a door key to open it back up."

I asked him why he didn't call me on the phone so I could bring the key to him, and his response was, "Because I lost your paperwork."

His tone suggested to me that all these incidents were my fault. I got a ride back to the garage with the door key and was promptly ignored by the younger owner, who was talking on the phone.

I never thought getting my car fixed would be so dramatic. I will admit, at this point I did say two words of profanity not directed at any human being but at my broken-down car. I went outside into the heat of the day to try to put this situation in perspective and calm down.

The older owner came out and, as the two owners talked things over, I continued to stand there. It was as if I wasn't even there. The older man turned to me and told me in no uncertain terms to "get your car out of my garage."

I was in a state of shock, but felt I needed to say something in my defense. I turned to him and said I was going to put an article in the Pahrump Valley Times. As I was getting into my disabled car, one of the owners shouted to me, "Slander is a criminal offense."

I coasted down the streets, across Highway 372 to Center Auto, where I was treated with respect and professionalism. Oh, did I tell you I am a female senior citizen? Double shame, shame on you, and you know who you are.

Michelle Bonita

It's no secret

It's no secret that I've run for Nye County Sheriff in '98, '02 and in '06.

It's no secret that in '06 I campaigned hard and relentlessly.

It's no secret that for seven months, from January to Aug. 15, I met people at the courthouse and handed out 20,000 copies of various flyers, including my "16 Point Pledge." I only missed 12 days of campaigning in the courthouse due to early voting at that location.

All of this was witnessed by about 45 courthouse employees, and by well over 7,000 visitors who had business there. Additionally, 2,700 campaign hats were distributed to those who indicated their support.

It's no secret that I campaigned at the DMV.

It's no secret that I walked the highways and byways three or four times a day. There I met a great many people and got my message across.

It's no secret that the response was powerfully positive to the extent of being exhilarating. Many witnessed this and shared in the exhilaration.

It's no secret that I campaigned in the supermarkets, in the Social Security room at the community center, at the gas stations, at Whiskers, at Petrack Park and on both TV stations (Eye on Nye with Harley Kulkin, Political Viewpoint with Chuck Patti and the Lew Gitlin show, all on Channel 30, plus the Bob Davies show on Channel 41).

With carloads of people screaming out, "We voted for you," and, "We're praying for you," I was humbled but made confident. With complete strangers stopping to tell me how many votes they were securing for me, with thumbs up, V-signs, horns honking, arms waving, and a broad demonstration of strong support, I was assured of overwhelming numbers of votes. This time the voters were going to elect me by a great margin. I was going to win this one and restore freedom to the people by re-introducing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to Nye County.

Then, incredibly, I was informed that I only got 588 votes.

I know my thousands of supporters are genuine and this vote count is a joke and nobody is laughing.

Thanks to all of my wonderful supporters. I believe you and not the so-called "official" count, a tally that does not add up. I greatly appreciate your efforts and your prayers.

As I am keeping the faith, I know you will keep the faith too.

It's no secret.

Ray "Mallow" Mielzynski

The Flagman

Is Focus Group another PEC?

Thousands of people have filed suits at the Hague in the Netherlands against Pacific Equities Corp. for selling them unbuildable land here in Pahrump. The realtors who sold this development 20 years ago remain under international indictment.

Is the Focus Group planned 6,200 homes on 900 acres another PEC?

Where can the public view (this project affects everyone in Pahrump's taxes) water studies and other vital information?

There is a federal and state moratorium on road building. Has the school board been consulted on their projected educational needs?

What about health needs, sheriff, fire department, EMT and ambulance service, as well as others not mentioned?

We are 43,000 residents today. If this project and others of this huge caliber are allowed, Pahrump will continue to be known nationally and internationally as the real estate fraud capital of the United States.

PEC only knows greed, not need. Let's look long and hard at this potentially blue sky Focus Group project by attending the commissioners' meeting at 8:30 a.m., Sept. 20, at the community center.

Salley Devlin

Barking dogs

The recent article in the paper ("Kennel's neighbors bellow over barking dogs," Aug. 30 PVT) on neighbors being upset over the constant barking of dogs at several kennels around Pahrump is long overdue.

This problem is not restricted to just kennels but also to neighbors who have no respect for others living in their communities when they leave their dogs out all hours of the night.

They bark at rabbits, passersby, their own shadows, preventing others from getting any sleep.

If there isn't an ordinance against this, there should be.

Robert J. Rainey

Open letter to Gary Hollis:

Mr. Gary Hollis, what exactly do you think your function on the Nye county board of commissioners is supposed to be?

With regard to the Focus Group, you say it is not for you to tell someone what they can or cannot do with their property?

Well, our ordinances and master plan do exactly that. They tell someone, on behalf of the people, very specifically what they can or cannot do with their property.

You cannot have selective enforcement of our laws and regulations. The Focus Group has to be held to the same standard as other developers or small property owners.

You apparently see things differently. Focus Group, according to your statement, should be able to bypass our property laws. That is selective enforcement and a criminal act.

So I have to ask you, what was your reason for getting yourself on the board of Nye County Commissioners? Was it to serve on this board so that you could nullify the wishes of the people by advancing the agenda of the Focus Group and providing them with special treatment? Was it to hinder the people and community of Pahrump in their opposition to the Focus Group project? Do you have a problem enforcing our ordinances on an equal and non-biased basis?

Mr. Hollis, please enlighten us: Why exactly are you on this board?

Your statement was not only asinine but shows an arrogance and disregard toward the very people you are supposed to represent. It suggests an obvious bias and conflict of interest, and most certainly a lack of understanding. It disqualifies you from voting or discussing the Focus Group development plan.

Mr. Hollis let's face it, you are really not representing the people, you are misrepresenting the people. You no longer have the public's trust. Please consider resigning before there is a recall.

John Brent

Let's contact the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acts like the Federal Deceptive Agency. Although instituted to ensure the health of the American people, it devotes its time to looking after the welfare of special interests.

Not long ago ground-up dead cattle were allowed to be fed to live cattle as a source of protein. I believe blood products from dead cattle are still allowed to be mixed with feed.

Hormones were given to dairy cows so they could produce more milk than intended by Mother Nature. This caused infected udders which produced milk containing pus. Well now, we can't have pus in our milk so the dairy cows were injected with antibiotics, so now we can drink milk tinged with antibiotics.

Food is shipped into this country that has been grown in soil fertilized with human waste. Our food is often saturated with chemical weed killers and pesticides, and for some reason that defies logic, we are expected to consume this poison.

The tube of Crest toothpaste which I have in front of me contains the warning, "Keep out of reach of children 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidently swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away." That's because fluoride, an active ingredient in most toothpaste, is a poison.

We are fortunate here in Pahrump, but most communities on a central water supply have fluoride added to their drinking water. It is added to the drinking water pumped from Lake Mead. It's one thing to have fluoride applied to the surface of teeth, but why would you want to drink the stuff?

Allowing hydrogenated oils to be an ingredient in much of what we buy at the supermarket is probably the worst offense against Americans' health allowed by the FDA. Research shows that these oils, originally developed to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life, when consumed over time have probably caused millions of Americans to become ill and are probably the underlying cause of many deaths.

We are told to eat organic foods because they are healthy, yet only a small amount of the products available in our stores is organic. If organic equates to healthy food, then what do we call the other stuff that's for sale? OK, but not as healthy as it could be? Years ago all food was organic, we simply called it food.

If organic means the healthiest, then we need to demand more organic products from the store managers. We need to see more items labeled with no hydrogenated oils and no trans-fat.

Most packaging lists a point of contact. We can also express our thoughts to Congress and, of course, the FDA. It's time they looked after the needs of the people.

Leonard J. Coenen

Education is the best regulation

In regard to regulating breeds:

I agree with the writer who suggested not to ban certain breeds. However, I don't think regulating certain breeds is the answer. There is no such thing as a dangerous breed or a breed that doesn't bite. I should mention that I do not own any of the breeds that are commonly considered dangerous, but who is to say that my breeds won't be next?

This is my suggestion: education.

When I was a child, my mom told me this: If a strange dog runs up to you, stand still and look away from the dog, never run from a dog, never pet a dog you don't know, and when the owner is not present, always ask for permission to pet the dog first.

This was good advice. One day I walked up to a small dog that was hanging out in its driveway, I did not know the dog, but it looked like a friendly dog to me; it snapped at me when I petted it.

I ran to my mom and told her what the dog did. Her answer was, "It serves you right, I told you not to pet a dog unless the owner was there and gave you permission."

I should add here that my mom has never owned a dog, nor does she know a lot about dogs, but she has a lot of common sense and she taught me that I must take responsibility for my own actions and not try to blame somebody else for my mistakes.

Some food for thought: If I sneak up on a certain breed of horse and pet it on the rear and the horse kicks me, would anybody come saying it's a dangerous horse and that this breed of horse needs to be banned or regulated?

Probably not. People would tell me that what I did was stupid. Why do we treat dogs and horses differently? Why is a dog that bites somebody who gives it a hug considered dangerous, but when a horse kicks, we understand that common sense tells us not to sneak up behind a horse and pet it?

Why do dogs bite? For one, a dog that bites always has a reason to do so. They don't just run around and look for something to sink their teeth into.

Most dog bites occur because a dog feels either threatened, or because it feels the human needs a correction for behaving improperly. Many behaviors that we consider "being nice" in human terms are considered rude and aggressive in dog behavior terms, for example, hugging, looking into a dog's eyes, bending toward dogs, patting on top of the head or neck or walking towards a dog in a straight line. We can reduce the likelihood of getting bitten if we don't act in a way that dogs consider rude or aggressive.

Here are a few examples: Somebody walks a dog in the park, a child comes running toward the dog, throws her arms around the dog to hug it and the dog bites.

If this is a fearful dog, it bites because in the dog's view the child is attacking. If this is a dog that simply knows that invading one's space and acting aggressively (throwing arms around the dog) is improper behavior in dog society, it bites because it feels the human needs to be taught better manners.

I walked my 120-pound dog in a park one day, and when I stopped to have a sip of water a very frail, elderly lady approached and commented on my pretty dog. All the while she came closer and started bending towards my dog. I told her to not come any closer. I was afraid that my dog, who isn't used to frail, elderly ladies, might knock her over if he would lean on her to be petted. She was surprised when I told her not to come closer: "I thought those were good family dogs?"

My response was, "He could hurt you by being friendly."

Please let's not forget that biting is not the only type of injury to humans to be concerned about, an overly friendly and exuberant mid-size dog jumping up on somebody can cause severe injury. So does a dog that is allowed to run loose and cause car accidents.

Back to my suggestion about education:

Most dog bites are the result of dogs not being properly socialized and humans inadvertently provoking bites. I believe we could decrease the amount of dog bites in a very short amount of time if the subject of animal safety and responsible pet ownership were part of every child's curriculum in school.

Let's say basic education on that matter in first grade and then some more when they are a little bit older the children will take the information home for their parents to learn as well.

If children would learn how to behave around dogs in a way that does not provoke a dog to bite (and teach their parents about it too), in addition to teaching them how to properly raise and train dogs, and how to be responsible dog owners (not letting your dog run loose), it wouldn't be long before the numbers of dog bites would decrease.

The same education should be made available to those who do not have children free of charge. The curriculum for such education should be developed by an organization such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, to assure that what is being taught is based on science and not some outdated books.

Marlene Johnson