Roundabout talk again?

Once again the commissioners are trying to shove something we don't want down our throats.

We turned down the idea of a roundabout on Highway 160 once before. How many times do we have to turn it down before they get the idea?

If Fely wants a roundabout, put it on the street where she lives. You do not put roundabouts on major highways

They should have put the money they spent on their raises and longevity pay toward the permanent light.

As far as I am concerned, they don't do anything to earn their pay except try to tell us they know what is best for the people.

When the next election comes up, I hope the people of this town are smart enough to vote every last one of the commissioners and town board out of office and start over.

ROBERTA GAUL

Who sets bail?

I am always curious to read the variety of crime pieces you (the PVT) print. What I don't understand is who sets the bail?

It was my understanding the final word was from the judge.

So please explain to me why money under false pretences, burglary, forgery and conspiracy rates $25,000 bail when burglary, robbery with a deadly weapon and petit larceny only has $10,632 bail?

Is the deciding factor four charges vs. three? Obviously, not violent vs. non violent crimes.

Did the judge not think about the two shotgun-toting men that can be on the street for less than $2,000, endangering more lives, including our policemen?

And please don't get me started on all the arrests for failure to appear that get O.R.

Please just tell me, what was the judge thinking?

MICHAEL SPEAR

Roundabout a bad idea

I read the article (NDOT still pushing roundabouts) in the Oct. 23 edition of the Pahrump Valley Times.

I have only been in Pahrump for 15 months and, in that time frame, have gotten involved in many town activities. I love the town and want our elected officials to make good decisions regarding improvements in Pahrump. (A roundabout is) a bad idea for saving money

A traffic circle (roundabout) is not a good idea for the intersection of Homestead and Route 160.

Prior to relocating to our home in Pahrump, my wife and I lived in Germany for the past 10 years where we grew accustomed to the use of traffic circles (roundabouts) in several of the countries we toured or visited.

We have several friends in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and other European countries, and it is not true in Italy that "Every car has a dent." However, there is a steep "learning curve" in the proper entry and exit of a busy traffic intersection and there are dents in vehicles during that "learning" period.

In Europe, the intersections similar to Homestead and Route 160 have traffic lights. Why? Because the traffic lights control the traffic much better than traffic circles at busy intersections.

In this case, I agree completely with Commissioner Lorinda Wichman. Also, it is extremely short-sighted to look to save money with a bad idea.

It is also very obvious that Commissioner Fely Quitevis and NDOT look at the traffic circle in Fernley at the junction with Interstate 80 as a positive example while Commissioner Eastley remarked, "I go past there all the time. It's awful."

I hope our elected and appointed officials would please reconsider any stance to place a traffic circle at Homestead and Route 160, because it is a bad idea.

TOM AND FE WATERS

In response to Bob Little

1) The proposed taxation that you stated will tax the entire population only affects the upper 10 percent of the nation (have you read any of the other bills or just H.R.3200? Because there were 5 bills on the house floor up until October 29.)

2) I have no idea where you got your information on chemotherapy being banned, but that is blatantly untrue. You have cited no sources and therefore have nothing but your opinion to back this up. I can cite all of my sources. For instance, you can go to Congress.org and look up all the health care bills currently in legislation -- l2,927 of them, starting with H.R. 621 and including H.R. 3099 or H.R. 721 but especially H.R. 676.

3) Have you read the Congressional Budget Office report? Do you know what the overhead for Medicare actually is? I'll answer that for you -- it's 3 percent. Over a period of 10 years the Public Option would save the taxpayer $100 billion.

4) As for your statement about illegal aliens, please take note: Due process is best defined in one word -- fairness.

Throughout U.S. history, its Constitution, statutes and case law have provided standards for fair treatment of persons by federal, state and local governments. These standards are known as due process. When a person is treated unfairly by the government, including the courts, he is said to have been deprived of or denied due process.

This is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Part of our civil rights.

5) Have you ever had a loved one with a terminal illness asked if they needed or wanted couseling for their choices about end-life care? Have you ever even seen a DNR? Even the republicans have come out of the closet and stated that there are no such thing as "death panels."

6) AIG signed a contract and this is the outcome of the contract they signed. Since they violated the contract, they are being fined by the government. Because corporate welfare from the taxpayer was signed into law by George H.W. Bush. And I have yet to see a corporation with a debilitating illness.

Perhaps the best idea would be to be better informed and not attack Sen. Reid over unverified information before opening one's mouth in order not to insert both feet.

MARGERY KAY BEHRENS-HANSON

Where are all the flags?

I remember that shortly after 9/11 there was a U.S. flag on every house, or on a pole in the yard.

I bicycle every day (about 20 miles). I change my route a couple times a week. I pretty much cover the whole north end of town. I used to be able to gauge the wind direction by just looking at the flags. Now I'm lucky if I even see one flag in a ride. What happened?

I hear that a lot of people outside of our country think Americans have a short memory. Sadly, I'm beginning to think they might be right.

If I was a veteran returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, I sure would feel appreciated if I saw American flags all over my neighborhood when I got home.

I don't know what I would think now.

It can't be the exorbitant price of a new flag ($15 at Home Depot), and I realize the wind out here can shred a flag in pretty short order, but I usually get four months out of a flag. So $60 a year to show our troops, neighbors and the world what's important to us seems pretty cheap, if you ask me.

Just sayin'.

Also, on another point while I'm on a roll.

Please take your flag down when it is ruined. I have seen some shredded to the last row of stars. Please don't leave it up in that condition. Burn it in the barbecue and get another one.

If you can't afford one (and I can appreciate that), just leave it down until you can buy a new one.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

GENE GRIFFITH

Retired Navy aoc/asw

It's about money, not common sense

Gary Budahl visited Cottonwood, Ariz., and decided that roundabouts to control traffic were not such a bad idea.

How commendable for our treasurer to think about saving money for Nye County. It would be very easy to dispute his belief just by listening to what our sheriff, Tony DeMeo, said about not having any accidents at the intersection of Highway 160 and Homestead since the temporary traffic light was installed.

Living here for about eight years, it seemed like that intersection caused quite a few deaths along with major accidents.

Before any decision is made about roundabouts being so wonderful for the few people that live here, I think a survey should be made of the tractor-trailer drivers that deliver to Albertsons, Smith's, Walmart, Home Depot, Sears, the various auto stores, the car dealers, not to mention the new motor home sales company that transports his wares to the Nugget's parking lot for his sales. And let's not forget the mostly senior citizens that arrive every year in their motor homes and trailers that we call snowbirds.

I fear that Mr. Budahl is letting his thoughts of money take over his common sense.

This town needs more stoplights, and along with that, Highway 160 should be widened on the north end as well. Let's not forget the influx of visitors we will have if and when we get a prison built in the middle of town.

There are all together too many traffic deaths in Pahrump. Its time for our county commissioners to petition the state to spend some money in Nye instead of just Clark County.

RICHARD A. BROWN

Homines quod volunt credunt

Tony DeMeo's words in response to Dave Smith, Oct. 16, can also apply to Tony.

He believes crime is down and Pahrump doesn't have any meth labs. The local news and the DA's report tell a different story of the crime in Pahrump.

Who feeds Tony these lies? Just in my neighborhood alone, I have detected at least six meth labs and have to breathe the toxic fumes 24/7. It makes me feel nauseous especially when the "cooks" first start (an odor of a dirty cat box) and again eight hours later when the "cook" is finished (a sweet, nauseating odor).

You can imagine the toxic fumes and stench that permeate the air with six labs "cooking." My lungs are not at full capacity and I cough up mucous daily thanks to all you meth cookers and our sheriff, who refuses to do the job he was elected to do -- protect and serve the public.

It does no good to report a meth lab in progress as the deputy's response, as he does a quick drive-by, is Code H (unable to locate), or Code J (unfounded). It is apparent the deputies are unable to smell the fumes even if they did stay longer in the area.

Isn't meth lab detection the job of the drug detectives and not the deputies? Why does the sheriff have drug detectives if they aren't out detecting meth labs?

Believe me, meth labs are operating in almost every neighborhood, and it's too bad that most of the population can't smell the fumes. Those that can smell it don't know what it is so don't report it. If it is reported, the response is the same -- Code Henry or Code Jim.

Corruption is rampant in Pahrump. Even one of my doctors told me that "Pahrump is famous for its meth labs," and I am literally sick from the toxic fumes.

Homines quod volunt credunt, Tony. You believe what you want to believe.

Citizens, it's time to we put a halt to the corruption and vote in 2010.

Bonnie Grady