Where the airport ought to be

The latest article printed regarding the proposed airport indicated it had been approved.

Apparently no one on the board listens to the public as each time the vote has been submitted, the airport as described, was rejected.

For those who indicate the public is not educated enough to make the determination, they must remember who voted them in.

Maybe all the congratulations for the study are not warranted, and the location of the airport is not in the best interest of Nye County and Pahrump.

No one intentionally places an airport in the city proximity, but places it outside where it may grow when needed.

The ideal place for a new airport would be approximately 20 miles outside of town, which would give access for all without the noise and traffic of warehousing.

This would make the ideal place for the airport near Crystal, where it can be used by Pahrump, Yucca Mountain, Beatty and the Test Site.

JACK HARP

What will it take?

I'd like to add to Gina Fernande's letter on reckless drivers (June 4).

My child also waits for the bus on Hafen Ranch Road down from Hafen Elementary School. Not all, but several people drive like freaking idiots. It's like a NASCAR tryout.

I have complained to the NCSO several times and my wife has called the sheriff's department as well.

I am constantly telling the kids to not stand on the white line as the cars will not slow down or move over.

When a county deputy does show up, yes, the cars slow down because they see him. And if someone is wondering, 'Get the license plate number and report it,' I'd done that when I can see the plate number in time but the vehicles are going too fast to see it.

I've been told by a deputy that I can issue a citation, but I'll have to go to court.

As a retired military policeman, I know that no court will support my claims as I've used no speed detection device and it's my word against the speeding driver's.

How about maybe using an unmarked vehicle and setting up a speed trap once a month or more. Can the town board vote to have a time-posted speed limit installed when the children are there waiting for the bus and after drop off, lower the speed to 25 mph?

A parting thought: When parents are not satisfied with the sheriff's results, what will it take before some parents take matters into their own hands to fix this problem to protect their children?

KENTON J. FALERIOS

Grad night party

I would like to respond to Mark Smith's comments in the June 6 edition of the PVT regarding Grad Night 2008.

Perhaps it would be better for Mr. Smith to verify his facts prior to printing something that he states were my words. Or perhaps veracity in all his articles should be questioned by the reader?

In this particular article Mr. Smith states, "the subsequent grad night party fell flat on its face."

If you call an event where 189 out of 222 invites showed up (over 85 percent) along with approximately 50 other guests, were entertained, fed and gifted with over $20,000 in prizes -- and all at absolutely no cost to the guests -- as "falling flat on its face" -- then I am not sure what you could possibly consider a successful event. (I am sure that in this election season, many politicians would love to have this kind of failure.)

Mr. Smith further stated, "the fact is that several grads were told by Lisa Holleman that they could not attend." That is a 100 percent false statement -- or to be brief, a lie. At no time in six years have I ever told a grad that he or she could not attend grad night.

The only requirement for a graduate to be able to attend is that they be listed on the commencement roles at the graduation ceremony. That has been the only requirement for the past six years.

It is not for us to decide who is on the list and who is not. We are provided the final list of graduates at approximately 5 p.m. on the evening of graduation.

All students are told verbally at several graduate occasions and promotions, by posters at the school and by personal letters to their parents and to them, that this is the only requirement. If a grad chooses to not attend because his friends cannot come in -- then he chooses it -- we do not send him away.

Further, it has also been a rule that they may bring a "date boyfriend/girlfriend." They are specifically asked not to bring "friends." This is because this is not a party for the whole high school -- this is a party for the graduates. Most grad night parties in other places allow only the graduate and no dates unless they are also graduates.

As for the particular graduate's "date" Mr. Smith's article refers to -- the graduate was asked his name at the entrance -- as are all graduates. Then he was asked the name of his "date" -- the person at his side.

We do not care the sex of the person at the grad's side -- only the name and age. Since there are many people under age 18 and this is a youth event, we document every youth entering, grads and dates. We also document the time they arrive and the time they leave. All grads must take their "date" with them when they leave.

When asked the standard question, "What is your date's name?" -- both this particular grad and the "date" insisted they were not dates, that the other person was simply someone who wanted to come and hang out at the party. I specified to the grad that this was not the place for anyone and everyone to come and "hang out." A lot of people had gone through a lot of effort to offer this party, together with all of the free games, prizes, food and attention for grads -- not for just anyone who wanted a cool party to go to.

Certainly the "date" did not like this, but when he continued to insist that he just wanted to hang out I had to continue to state that it was against the rules. There were approximately 70 "dates" this night. All 70 were asked the same question.

Approximately 20 of the 70 also stated that they were not dates and just wanted to go to the party. They were not allowed in either. Many young people hung around outside of the entry just waiting for someone to come by whom they could convince to be their "date" for the night. They didn't get in either.

Yes, some girl-girl and some boy-boy couples came in. But they answered the question they were asked by simply providing me with a name and age. I didn't question how "close" was their relationship. It's not my job.

A note here -- several grads actually tried to come in with several "dates" -- as in five or more. Perhaps grads should have been allowed to bring in many dates and simply state they are polygamists?

I have provided seniors and parents with our telephone numbers months in advance for them to call if they have any concerns. Many parents or grads do call and ask about their "dates" and what is accepted.

Yes, we stretched the rules by allowing exchange students who technically are seniors but cannot "graduate." Yes, we have allowed entry to people we know and recognize are with the press. (As with the Times reporter -- whom we certainly do not think of as "gray and grizzled" -- but that is Mr. Smith's opinion.) Yes, we have also allowed certain town and county officials who are known to be those positions. We also allow teachers to stop in and chaperone for a bit. We did stop many parents and others who "just wanted to take a peek." All chaperones who help are listed and checked also.

Do I regret my decision over the one young man who raised such a fuss? Absolutely not. We had over 300 youths request entry that night. Most in the space of about 90 minutes.

He was among several that were not allowed entry that night -- and it is because I follow the rules to the best I was able to discern each situation.

There were many that simply come up from Las Vegas each year because they have heard about the party.

This particular "non-date's" mother came and yelled at me shortly thereafter -- which was a most disturbing time since she prevented me from doing my job of admitting grads for those few minutes.

I explained the rules to her the letters and "boarding pass" which clearly state, "Please do not bring friends."

I did explain to the grad student that he was welcome to attend. In fact, many grads, when asked about their "date," stated the other person was not really a date and then they told their "friend" they were going in and that the non-date had to go elsewhere.

I further explained all of this again when the mother went to the press the next morning.

As for graduates receiving gifts, the graduates and their parents are told months prior to the event that they must stay until the end of the event in order to receive the gifts. If they leave prior to that time, they actually sign out and sign that they are aware that they are giving up their opportunity to receive gifts.

The grads are reminded of this all throughout the night and of course, when they leave early..

This is the whole point to the event. To keep them there -- under controlled circumstances -- rather than having them partying on the streets.

Mr. Smith ended his poorly informed article with this statement: "Maybe next year we can hand out press cards and ensure that everyone can go," is a statement he might want to reconsider and perhaps ponder this one.

If the grad night committee, who spend thousands of dollars, and the community, who give many thousands of dollars -- only because they believe in trying to achieve a wonderful safe night for our grads -- are going to be thwarted in their very ideal purpose and reason for "Grad Night," then why worry about having one next year at all?

LISA HOLLEMAN

Corruption in Nye

The attorney general's office has filed at least four counts against one of our county commissioners.

You may know him or heard of him as Peter Liaka in Chicago or Peter Liakopoulos in Las Vegas or Peter Liarkopoulos in Pahrump or Peter Liakopoulos Jr. in Amargosa.

Just a few short weeks ago, this commissioner verbally attacked a citizen of Nye for checking into possible criminal actions taken to gain profit in TV ads for a TV station here in Pahrump.

The citizen in question is a credit to our town and his political party.

For being a commissioner, he asked a stupid question. Who gave him the authority to check into this?

Everyone should know a U.S. citizen has the right and authority.

Being a commissioner does not put you above the law or any other citizen.

Two felonies -- can this be political?

Well, most everyone involved is in politics, some doing their job and enforcing laws and others breaking the law.

Two gross misdemeanors -- one is graft, the same as extortion, using your power of office to profit for votes in upcoming decisions by the BOCC.

Now we know the citizen mentioned above had all the authority needed to check out the TV ads.

Will this commissioner do the right thing and save our county and political party from this embarrassment? I don't think so.

If things go badly for him, will he be a man and take what is handed down, or rat and sell out everyone he can?

If I were doing business with him, I would distance myself and be ready with my attorney.

Everyone have a great summer and think before you vote.

WILLIAM GARLOUGH

Rising gas prices places kids at risk

First of all, I would like to thank the NCSO, Scott Lewis and the PVFR emergency services that responded so quickly to Child's Play Learning Center Friday, June 6.

It wasn't until a little after an hour of opening Friday morning that we realized a huge amount of gas had been spilled onto our driveway.

Apparently some very desperate souls helped themselves to the fuel in both of our vans via drilling holes directly into the gas tanks. A messy job, most was wasted onto our driveway.

It is unbelievable to me that they came prepared with drills, placed children, staff and families at risk and essentially cost thousands of dollars for a few gallons of gas.

Anyone could have innocently thrown out their cigarette butt upon arriving to drop off their child at day care and ignited the whole place.

Our Pahrump Emergency Services knew this and placed our call top priority, and to them we are eternally thankful.

One thousand dollars reward for the conviction of persons associated with this crime, no questions asked, is being offered.

One witness says a dark-colored Chevy S-10 pickup was in our parking lot backed up to one of our vans. If you know someone who steals, drives a similar vehicle and smells of gasoline, please report him/them before they hurt someone.

Sincerely,

RACHELLE PUCKETT

CPLC Director

Thank you

The Cinderella Girls would like to thank everyone who helped us with our concert. The money was a big help to the girls.

Skate Zone was awesome for helping us with the building and Seemoore's Too, thank you so much for the ticket sales.

A great big thanks goes out to all the bands who played for free. Dac and Deal'N Records, Razorback and Iscariot Syndrome, you are awesome.

The concert would not have been possible without all the help.

Last but not least, thank you, to all the people who came to the concert. We appreciate the community support.

Thank you as well to Channel 41 and the Pahrump Valley Times for the press.

We appreciate you all.

ASHLEY DITINTO, DIRECTOR,

Cinderella Girls and their parents