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Death of a Good friend

Did you ever have a good friend that you could talk to and they would listen to you and not interrupt or make you feel bad about yourself?

I had a friend like that. He would always listen to me, even when I would sing to him, very badly I might add. We would go on long walks and I could tell him everything.

We met way back in November, 2002, at Sagebrush Ranch in Las Vegas. I took one walk with him and we were best friends for life.

He was big and strong with dark hair and dark eyes. Those eyes. They were really big and beautiful. But they always had that worried look about them. His back and shoulders were very strong. He carried a lot of weight wherever we went.

We've lived a lot of different places together. We went from Las Vegas to New York, and then to Pahrump, where we lived for three years, and he died on a warm spring morning.

Wednesday he got pretty sick. He wouldn't eat or drink. He paced around feeling very uncomfortable.

We walked around the ranch, me talking and singing to him. He liked when I'd sing to him, it relaxed him.

The doctor came to give him some relief but it didn't help much. Through the night he struggled for comfort but none would come. What we wanted to happen didn't.

Morning came and still nothing. He took a turn for the worse and the doctor was called again.

We took another walk around, slow but unsteady, when the doctor came, and this time there was beautiful relief. After a couple of minutes the pain was gone, and so was he. Now he's running through fields of green with his old friends Irene and Zena forever.

This story is about my beautiful bay Gaited Morgan, Zorro, The Magnificent. He was 22 years old but pranced around like a six-year-old. He died April 22-23 from colic.

He was the best horse ever. Anybody that knew him would always say what a good guy he was. He stood perfect for Robert his farrier or the vet. Zorro was just an awesome guy. He loved my nine-year-old granddaughter, Mackenzie. She learned how to ride a big horse on him and used him in the Pahrump Valley Rough Riders. It was hard telling her about him, but I explained that he is no longer in pain and he is with his friends. He was my best friend. I will miss him dearly.

I would like to thank Dale and Marcie Fischer for letting him live on their ranch. I also want to thank Dr. Hensler for taking care of him during his illness and for helping him onto his final journey.

PHYLLIS DOLAN

Things not getting any better

I wish I could say things have gotten better since my last letter to you, but they haven't.

In order to balance the budget, Nye County School District is cutting some 70 certificated and administrative positions throughout the district. What this translates to, in real terms, is far too many students in each classroom being taught by teachers who face a reduced salary to teach them.

On Monday, a small crowd of teachers, parents and students held a demonstration in front of the Pahrump Nugget. If the volume of honked horns is any indication, there is a lot of community support for teachers and students in this community. Even Dr. 'Rob' Roberts, the district superintendent, stopped by, shook hands with the adults and children and indicated his support and understanding.

But all the understanding and support in the world doesn't help when the money isn't there.

I strongly urge every citizen and voter in Pahrump and throughout Nye County to contact your state legislators. Go to www.nsea-nv.org. Click on the black box in the center of the page. Use the prepackaged talking points, or...

Tell them what we all know to be true: Children learn best when class sizes are small enough for the teacher to give time to each child who needs it. Teachers make the most difference to children when the teachers themselves feel secure. It is easier to learn when the roof doesn't leak and the air conditioner works.

And when a kid scrapes a knee on the playground, it sure helps if the school's nurse aide has enough money in her budget to get adhesive bandages.

JUDITH LISTER

Time to collect

After scanning the deliquent tax list that was published in Friday, May 15 paper, I think more time spent collecting these taxes would benefit the county and alleviate a lot of problems.

RICHARD A. BROWN

Why include

Cleveland?

Your article about Henry Neth being arrested for fraud and embezzlement also includes a paragraph about his opponent, David Cleveland, in the 2000 election for commissioner -- along with detailed vote results.

What was the purpose of mentioning David Cleveland and an election long gone? Possibly because they could be cell mates?

MAGGIE LAWSON

New NORAD site?

If the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project is dead, then what are we going to do with the $13.5 billion hole in the mountain?

How about making it into a newer version of a Cheyenne Mountain North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) site?

I just cannot see the goverment driving all the equipment into the tunnel and sealing off the entranceway with cement. Besides, Nye County and Pahrump need the PETT (Payment Equal to Taxes) funds to survive.

Its time to get the town, county and state government in action to find ways to make some money off that hole in the ground/mountain.

TIM WASSON