Waiting for reimbursement

On the evening of Oct. 6, I took my daughter, 8 and my niece, 6, to the Fall Festival.

With parking at a premium, I parked between the helicopter pad and the horseshoe pit. Two other vehicles were already parked there.

There were no "no parking" signs, cones, barricades or any indication that parking was prohibited.

We were there from 7-9 p.m. and when we went to leave, my vehicle was gone.

A fireman informed me that my truck had been towed because the area where I parked was needed whenever they had to back out a fire truck. There seemed to be plenty of room to do that even with other vehicles "in the way."

I had to pay $160 fine to retrieve my truck from impound, and after talking to a town official with no satisfactory results, I am sorely disappointed, out the $160, our experience at the Fall Festival ruined, and what if there had been an emergency with my kids at the fair or my wife at home and I needed my vehicle immediately?

I truly believe this was a case of overkill and some exception should be made under the circumstances. An apology and a reimbursement check should be forthcoming.

Feedback from anyone who shared a similar miscarriage of justice would be welcomed. I can be reached at 775-764-7256.

VINCE MORA

Kukol a true friend of exotics

Kudos to you for your excellent article on wildlife ordinances vs. imaginary tigers. I am most pleased to read this.

I have been battling animal rights issues and fanatics for years as they migrate throughout our country, using any tactic essential to getting more ordinances. Their true intent is a future without any animals (exotic or domestic).

I personally have been involved in legislation here in California. There is an assembly bill (AB1634) that will be rearing its ugly head again with the new year. This punitive and intrusive attempt to mandate spay/neuter every dog and cat in our state needs to go away.

The bill has already been relegated to the doghouse once this year (July 2007 Senate Local Government Committee) and, hopefully, it will be permanently put to rest in January.

I am a friend of Zuzana Kukol and have also read her letter. Zuzana (or "Z" as we call her) is a highly respected woman, a superb writer and a true friend to the world of exotics (especially big cats).

Thanks again for your article. I will continue reading.

BRAT ZINSMASTER

Fairfield, Calif.

Excellent piece on "tiger"

The "Phantom Tiger" piece was excellent. Thanks for writing it and understanding what exotic animal owners go through.

Too many swallow the animal rights propaganda hook, line and sinker -- seems like you saw for yourself.

I don't own cats but do own primates. They are all a target for legislative banning.

Maybe people will wake up when it's their dogs and cats being legislatively extinct by the same organizations and tactics.

Thanks again. Keep up the good (honest) words.

AMY RAUSCH

Findlay, Ohio

Thanks for the article on exotics

Mark, I want to thank you for the article on the exotics. Well done and well worth reading.

I have a serval male that is a big part of my family. He came to us at four days old and has no idea what he is. In my honest opinion, people fear what they don't know.

I would like to say the money and time spent trying to prevent responsible owners from having these special babies could be put to better use.

Why not put this much time and effort in preventing parents from abusing their children? They aren't sterilized and as far as I know are free to have another child so the abuse can repeat itself.

I again thank you and hope that you will find it in your heart to help the many private owners keep the right to own exotics.

Standing up and taking the time to get involved and see the truth behind the lies says much about you. We need more people like you.

Again, I thank you.

SHELBY SANFORD

Henderson, N.C.

Paula did a great job

I also would like to congratulate Paula on a wonderful job on this year's Festival.

I live in California and make several trips each year to visit friends in Pahrump. I have to say that in my travelling, I find people in Pahrump to be very laid back, friendly and proud of their town.

The people make me feel right at home, like I belong there, and that's a warm feeling.

This year I was encouraged to enter my photography in the fair and was fortunate to win three, second place ribbons, which made me proud.

I love your town and have been pondering the idea of moving there. It's quite a change from California.

Again, I congratulate the town of Pahrump for a spectacular Festival.

LUCILLE DIRADOORIAN

Misled by ad

Is it all in the way you read it? The Oct. 10 edition of the PVT had an announcement for flu shots at our new hospital.

The ad in part read, "the shot is $20, and is administered free for Medicare Part B recipients."

We were told to get in two lines, one for cash and the other for Medicare Part B. The lady in front of me said to the worker, I have such and such insurance and Medicare Part B.

Right away, the worker said, well, you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll have to go over to the other line and pay for it.

Some people left when they found out they had to pay; $20 to some on a fixed income can be a hardship on their budget.

It seems to me that the as was misleading and could have been better written for the benefit of everyone.

I could have got a free flu shot somewhere else, but I was there and liked the idea of the early date in the month.

This situation to me is similar to the town board and the curator for the veterans' museum.

Things need to be spelled out better so that there is no wondering about an ad at all.

BEVERLY CANNON

Thank you from SafePlace

SafePlace would like to thank all who supported the flag football event, "Cops and Jocks" on Oct. 20.

The "jocks" with the Nye County Sports Association won, but "touchdown" for the Nye County Sheriff's Office who have for two years, given their support to SafePlace.

We would like to give a very special thanks to Ron Frazier at Frazier Furniture. His family and employees went over and beyond for our program.

To Dr. George Leaks, thank you. You've never let us down. Thanks to Kaye's Allstate Insurance, the media of Pahrump and Christina and Horace at the Pahrump Valley Times.

Thank you to Linda Meads and Selwyn Harris of Channel 41, Karen at KNYE Radio, Linda Kass at Valley Electric Association for your fantastic article supporting SafePlace.

We would like to thank Mr. Farr and the Pahrump Valley High School Band, the majorettes, Captain Hernandez and the ROTC.

Thank you to the owners of Got Game? Sporting Goods. Jessica and husband Gary McCutcheon were also our referee and the donator of our trophy for the winning team. Thank you John Mullen for announcing our game.

To participants at the concession stands, No to Abuse, Joyce Fitts and Girl Scout Troop 216, Boy Scout 808, and Pahrump Valley High School Choir, thank you.

Thank you Holly Clayton for bringing the Pop Warner Cheerleaders, The Sharks, The Rush and The Trojans.

Thank you Jordan McCutcheon, Miss Pre-Teen Nevada and thank you to the Salvation Army.

To Dawn and Courtney Lewis and all the players from the Nye County Sports Association, thank you for stepping up to the plate.

And finally, thank you to my volunteers, Edith McCain, June Dixon and Wanda Cotton; and thanks to SafePlace of Las Vegas, Wendy Mayfield and her crew and last but not least, Kathleen Boutin for allowing us to have this event.

Thank you Pahrump.

BRENDA MAGRUDER

Dust is a major problem

Many people in Pahrump suffer from many ailments which are all associated with the fine dust which constantly blows throughout our town.

Eye problems, infected sinuses, throat problems, asthma and pneumonia are just some of the things making our lives miserable and sometimes can even cause death.

Dust in a desert community is inevitable but it can be controlled, if the proper steps are taken.

Building construction is very necessary for the growth of any community and it appears as though they are doing their best to keep the dust down, because they use water trucks to spray the areas in which they are working.

The problems seems to be coming from two places. Our town has many roads which are not paved or chip sealed, and the vehicles which use these roads are traveling way too fast, which creates an enormous amount of dust.

The other problem is the use of off-road vehicles within the town of Pahrump. These vehicles are being used in any open area which they can find, including areas posted "No Trespassing" or "Private Property."

These vehicles break the crust of the soil and create fugitive dust particles which are so fine, our bodies can not filter them out, and this causes the serious medical problems which many people are now experiencing.

Off-road vehicles are designed for rugged terrain and the tires made to dig into the ground which turns the soil to "poof dirt."

The fact that Pahrump is such a dry area causes the dust from the broken soil to fly around every day. These off-road vehicles are made for use on BLM land, not in residential areas.

Nye County has a serious dust problem and is being monitored at the present time by the federal government. We have an air quality compliance officer, sheriff's department, district attorney, town board and county commissioners, so we definitely have enough people in position to solve this problem, and if they don't, then the federal government will probably declare Nye County out of compliance and they will take control of our town, and I don't think anyone wants that.

If we want good people to move to Pahrump, then we must provide a safe environment, and this includes safe breathable air.

LOUIS J. DECANIO