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Welcome, second-class citizen

My wife and I decided to spend the fall in a warmer climate this year. We wanted to get away from the Idaho cold. We stayed in our RV with our two cats.

I could bike and swim since the weather is always in the 70s. I could also catch up on some reading since Pahrump has such a nice library. It all sounded like so much fun.

After being in Pahrump for three weeks it all changed. I decided to go for a bicycle ride on a route I thought would be safe with light car traffic. Everything started out fine as I wheeled away for a 35-mile ride on Leslie Street.

About 10 miles into my ride, with warning a car lays on the horn unrelenting, I guess to see me shudder. I was not doing anything out of the ordinary. I am an experienced bicycle rider. I did cross the U.S.A. safely by bicycle. Is this how we welcome people to Pahrump, I thought.

Ahead in the distance I see the driver stop for fuel at Coyote Corner. I decided to stop and ask the driver what was up? I politely asked, "Do I know you?" I find this is the least threatening way to get information I need.

The driver answered, "Oh, I thought you were my brother." Hmmm, not real original, but "ok" and I continued on my ride.

About two miles down the road I hear a car approaching and suddenly was struck from behind with a rock. Ouch!

I instinctively glanced at the license plate and was able to remember three of the six characters.

Pahrump being a small town, I knew there was a chance to see the car and driver again in the future. The next two weeks I kept my eyes out for this car and license number combination. Ten days later I see the car. It is parked at the Pahrump High School parking lot.

I finally have the complete plate number. I can positively identify the driver. I could finally file a police report for battery.

Once the report was filed, I figured I was in good hands. How wrong I was.

Now things got really weird. The Nye County Sheriff's Office decides to investigate the opposite of what I put in my report: 1. The female driver suddenly became a male driver. 2. My original report was shredded. 3. Additional phantom deputies were introduced to the case that I never spoke to or met. 4. Case closed.

To date nothing has been done to the driver of the car who threw this rock at me. I must warn other bicyclists there is a rock thrower out there who is on the loose. Did justice just go out of style?

Where is my due process, Sheriff Tony DeMeo? I have the drivers' name if you need it again.

ROBERT HALL

PARENTS DO HAVE SCHOOL CHOICES

After reading the article by Chuck Muth (Dec. 26 PVT) regarding Nevada Assemblyman Ed Goedhart's "parental choice" Bill (EIEIO) to be introduced this session, I must ask: "Has Mr. Goedhart grown that far out of touch with reality to propose such a thing?"

Nevada's school systems are in enough financial trouble without pulling more of the tax funding out of the system to aid the affluent with their private school funding. (It is however, a very catchy acronym.)

He proposes "tax rebates to parents or legal guardians of eligible students who choose to enroll them in private schools of their choice, using some of the funds that would otherwise be paid to a school district on behalf of that student."

He goes on to state that "every parent and grandparent in Nevada pays taxes, which subsidize the public education system ..." By his reasoning they "should be entitled to at least a portion of that subsidy ..."

Isn't he forgetting that "everyone" in Nevada pays those school taxes, even those with no children in school? By his logic, should not the persons with "no" children in school be entitled to that same rebate? How do you suppose that would affect every school district's funding?

Mr. Muth implies that this bill will give Nevada parents a "choice." Every parent in Nevada "does," already, have the choice of putting their children in private schools or leaving them in the (tax-funded) public school system.

If they choose the private school, then that is "their" choice, and they are welcome to use it and should pay for it without additional assistance from public funds by placing additional financial burdens on the already struggling school districts.

Not everyone can afford private schooling for their children, even with the rebate described in this bill. What's to happen to those children left in the public schools as the state educational funding program is gutted even further by the passing of this bill?

The people of Nevada need to contact their representatives and make them aware of the public's viewpoint on this matter. Refer to the "Excellence In Education and Increased Opportunities Act" (EIEIO) introduced by Assemblyman Ed Goedhart.

LARRY WEESE

Amargosa Valley

ONE GOOD ANSWER

We are the consumer and the backbone of the economy. If we prosper, so does the economy. If we fail, so does the economy.

I believe I have heard about all the dumb excuses as to why the cost of living is so high.

Like it rained too much, not enough, came too soon, came too late. Frost came too early, too late, not enough, too much. Is the weather ever just right?

Our latest is the cost of gas. Gas has come down about $2.50 a gallon. I have seen nothing else come down. As a matter of fact, things have gone up. Why?

We, the consumer, whether retired, working and, yes, out of work, have only so much money to spend.

This rise in the cost of things, how do you expect us to pay for them?

You expect to prosper, but if we the consumer do not prosper, neither will you. Think about this as you raise the prices.

I would like one good answer. Think hard, as you have no good answer.

I could write a book about this but I'll await one good answer.

DALE J. LYNN

DEADBEAT DAD FOLLOW UP

On December 13, my letter to the editor about deadbeat dads was published in the Pahrump Valley Times. One, in particular is living in Pahrump. Out of the frustration created by watching my daughter's daily struggle to raise and support their two children on her own, I felt I had to do something.

My thought was for the deadbeat dad and his new family to read the letter, to realize the hardship they were creating and start taking responsibility.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the outpouring love and generosity the community of Pahrump gave to my daughter and grandchildren.

"Thank you" will never be enough. The gift cards from Pahrump provided them with the wonderful Christmas my daughter thought she could not give them. The stress of not being able to walk into a store and purchase gifts and food was lifted from her shoulders and for that I will be forever grateful.

There are so many mothers and children neglected by the system. We need to hold these absent parents accountable and responsible for their children. My daughter and grandchildren are just one in thousands going through this as the other parent lives a comfortable life not taking responsility for whom they brought into this world. Children are our future, not throw-aways!

If you are wondering, no, the deadbeat dad did not call; send a present or the child support check.

Thank you Pahrump! Thank you Pahrump Valley Times!

NORANN KING

THANK YOU, PAHRUMP

It is with the warmest heart that I write this letter of thanks.

As a single mother of two children it was hard to get into the holiday spirit when I had to tell my son and daughter there was not going to be a Christmas this year. Well I was wrong.

My mother wrote a letter to the editor talking about dead beat dads and the hardships endured by the family they leave behind when they fail to adhere to their responsibilities.

The intent of the letter was to tell people that it is not only the ex-wife that suffers in these circumstances, but the children, as mine have with only my income to raise them.

A heart felt thanks to the Pahrump community, words can not express my gratitude for the gift cards sent to provide a nice Christmas for my children. This truly shows there are earthly angels amongst us.

Thanks to you and the editor and publisher of this paper, my children had a great Christmas.

Sincerely,

NICOLE CEREZO