Click images for enlargements. Advertisement

Solar energy

I have read your story (page A4) regarding the comments and solar achievements of Mr. Gene Raquepau. Thank you.

Although some of the comments made by Mr. Raquepau are true, the direction of your story tends to mislead the reader. It indicates that the solar industry is lacking in engineering information, is inflating the costs of its products and in general not doing a very good job promoting the causes of alternate energy to the public.

The alternative energy industry can use all the publicity and help it can get. We need to get our representatives to put alternate energy, such as solar energy, at the top of their "things to do" list. We need to see that they "make it happen."

And until we can come up with a new source of energy that will revamp our overworked, antiquated, expensive (and getting more expensive as we speak) power grid system, it appears that we are stuck with natural resources such as solar energy, wind turbines and the like.

We need more people like Mr. Raquepau to get involved trying to solve the energy problems of the world. You never know what they might come up with.

But to use outdated equipment and tried and true methods is not going to get the job done. It simply confuses the reader

I do, however, agree that wind generators are not economically feasible in this area. And for all the reasons cited by Mr. Raquepau.

I also agree that a solar hot water heating system is the best investment one can make and helps cut almost 30 percent of one's power bill.

It's beyond me why there isn't one on every building (including commercial) especially in southern Nevada. A relatively small investment that does so much good.

Mr. Raquepau's statement concerning the $6,000 investment made by Valley Electric Association was obviously made without factual knowledge. Being the "contractor" that supplied and installed the "German Solar System," allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The VEA "Pilot Program Committee" was presented with detailed information and specifications of many available hot water solar systems. They chose the Schuco system (engineered and manufactured in Germany) based on specifications of the system they felt were needed to produce the specific information they were seeking.

The factual information needed would determine the exact amount of power saved by using a solar hot water heating system and aid in determining if a rebate to customers that purchased said solar system was feasible, and how much that rebate could be.

Various and additional equipment such as flow meters, temperature gauges and other equipment would be attached to the installed systems to monitor the progress of those systems.

Obviously and unfortunately, Mr. Raquepau's $500 solar system could never meet those specifications.

But then, he is right in one respect -- $6,000 is a lot of money. Be that as it may, Solar Systems Inc. still sells the Schuco System.

We also sell and install the SolaRay System. A domestic solar hot water heating system manufactured in Ameria. It's as effective as the German system, easier to install and is several thousand dollars cheaper.

It is typical for well-intentioned individuals to try to "re-invent the wheel."

As in most cases, with a little effort, one would have discovered that their efforts to design or re-design a particular item such as a photovoltaic solar system or a solar hot water heater has already been accomplished by experts using proven methods and the latest equipment available.

Inverters that have the capacity to deliver both 110/120 volts and 220/240 volt currents have features such as automatic transfer switches installed internally and can be programmed in any number of ways including "grid-tie" or "off grid" applications.

Once these systems are installed and put on line, they are completely automated and require hardly any attention.

I commend Mr. Raquepau for his ingenuity and interest in the alternate energy industry. However, for all his efforts, for something less than $30,000, one can have a very sophisticated, completely automated, 4000-watt photovoltaic system installed in their home.

Installation time: eight to 10 hours.

It is inevitable that alternative energy is here to stay. People like Mr. Raquepau, the PV Times and myself must educate the public in the necessity of adopting the use of solar energy. The industry itself must make some drastic changes to make information and products available to the public economically and without confusion.

Although I am not a big fan of having the government as a partner, I see no other way (other than private investments) to make alternate energy real and economically advantageous to the public.

But then, that's another story.

ROBERT E. BOWIE

General Manager and Solar Consultant: Solar Power Systems Inc.

OK, I goofed but...

Yes, I goofed, but the information I was given indicated a relationship between Hollis Harris and Gary Hollis. I apologize for the error. Why would anyone move to Pahrump if they want all the amenities of a large city? Many people live in Pahrump because there were no "nice developments" with sewer and water, no Wal-Mart, no Home Depot, etc. We did our research and were comfortable with Pahrump "as is." I am not against all development, but I am definitely against development without a plan and funds to provide the infrastructure that development requires.

Our county commissioners have repeatedly shown that they talk about these things but cave in to the developers every time against all expert advice. You are extremely naïve if you think the commissioners or developers care about what is best for you and our environment. The developers are here to sell houses, and the commissioners are politicians. As an engineer, I have been trained to solve problems using logic by asking questions and finding solutions.

Does Pahrump have enough water for all the homes proposed? Does Pahrump have a tax base to support the development by providing water, flood control, sewer, police, fire, emergency services, health care, roads, lights, schools, teachers and power for all the development? The answer to these questions is no. To change the answer to yes means the people living here must pay for it. The developers pay a few fees, sell the house and disappear. Did anyone notice Mr. Collier's letter regarding the doubling of his sewer fee? Mr. Collier should thank you and all the great "development" for that increase. If you want development, you must pay for it. If you can't or don't want to pay for it, you must give up development. Right now Pahrump does not have flood control and those "nice developments" are in the flood zone. Do you have flood insurance on your home and its contents? If your home is flooded, I can assure you that the developer and the commissioners are not going to replace them for you. As to the "nudie bar," my suggestion is to go to any big city in the country and you will find prostitution and topless/nude bars. In Pahrump this is legal, controlled, the girls are tested and it is as "safe" an environment as possible. If you remember your history classes, making alcohol illegal didn't make it go away. And these bars and hookers provide a good chunk of our tax base. So if you use the services and stores you wrote about, you can thank the hookers for paying for some of it without the crime usually associated with it. My final thought and questions remain the same. If you didn't like Pahrump without its "nice developments," tons of stores, and with its hookers, why the heck did you move here? I blame thoughtless people like you for buying here, moving here, encouraging the greedy developers, demanding these changes and electing the ignorant people we call our commissioners.

BELINDA HENDRICKSON

Thanks Hoedown sponsors

The PR committee of PVCAT would like to thank all the sponsors who made the Positively Pahrump first annual Family Hoedown such a success.

Those businesses donating goods to put on the hoedown were: StageStop Casino, Joe's Sanitation, Cook's Ice, Wal-Mart, Albertson's, L&S Fire Extinguisher Co., the Moose Lodge, Grocery Surplus, Hollis Harris, Heath Co., Keith Froehling International and John Shea.

The businesses that donated door prizes were: UV Solutions, High Desert Line Dancers, Seemoore's Too, Marcelino's Healing Arts, L&S Fire Extinguisher Co., Keith Froehling International, Power of Heals, Secret Sisters, Papa Willie's, JC Penney, Kimberley's, Sunflower and Lois Layne's.

Also a special thanks to volunteers JB, Jackie and Norma.

Thanks you to the performers: Sun Country Cloggers, High Desert Line Dancers, the square dancers, Pahrump Gunfighters and Midnight Country.

Thank you, Rebecca May, for providing the face painting, Nye County chapter of the Nevada Country Music Association, Pahrump Valley Times for their coverage, StageStop Casino for letting us use their field and Norman for all his hard work helping up put on the event.

See you all next year.

MARIAN MAXFIELD

Secretary, PR Committee

Parent involvement

Many people think of parent groups as being only about bake sales or about personal agendas coming before the best interests of the school.

Hafen Elementary School (HES) PTO, however, is about men and women working together toward a common goal to create a better educational experience for our children. We strive to create an atmosphere where teachers and administrators can do their best work, and in turn, so can our children.

As our first year as an "official" PTO comes to a close, just what has the HES PTO accomplished? Turns out -- quite a bit.

- We became the first legal nonprofit parent-teacher organization in Pahrump. This makes us eligible both for 501(c)3 tax exempt status and educational and recreational grants. When applied for properly, grants can supply Hafen with field equipment, classroom supplies, musical supplies, etc.

- We created a new traffic pattern, which promotes the safety of our children during busy pickup and drop-off times.

- We paid for class field trips, making sure all children can attend and experience fun off-campus educational activities.

- We hosted several family events (skate night, winter dance, holiday shopping, candy-grams, scorpion sales, Gift Avenue, etc.), bringing families and local businesses together to support Hafen.

- We donated many articles of clothing and food to families in need of extra help, thus promoting togetherness and generosity.

- For two years in a row, we sponsored classroom competitions in a school-wide food drive to benefit our community.

- For two years in a row, we designed banners that currently hang in the multipurpose room. At the end of the year, the 5th grade students will sign it as they leave elementary school. We hope to have Student Council design this banner each year.

- We instituted a recycling program together with Pahrump Valley Disposal and a plastic bag recycling program with Wal-Mart.

- We instituted Family Night at Papa John's Pizza on the third Wednesday of every month.

- We sent in the box tops. Currently these funds (about $700) are flagged for classroom field trips.

- We have planned the huge spring carnival.

- We are implementing a Character Counts program.

- We purchased the Hafen Elementary School marquee that was recently installed.

There have been more than 500 independent research studies about parent involvement. The results are startling. When parents get involved in their children's education, grades go up, test scores go up, children become more likely to pass and to attend better schools after high school, they have fewer discipline problems and they're less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

If you can spare a few hours a month, please call us.

Sincerely,

SAMANTHA SARANDOS

President, HES PTO