Letter to the Editor

Vote 'yes' on law enforcement tax

Dear editor:

I am writing in support of the proposed one half cent sales tax for Improved Law Enforcement.

I believe there are some misconceptions as to what this proposed sales tax is about and what it is not about.

First of all it is not about improved conditions of the inmates, even though Federal Courts may have a different view.

It is about improved conditions and safety in the workplace for jailers, cooks and deputies.

It is about public safety in that the proposed sales tax will dramatically reduce the risk of escapes. The architect chosen by the commission has built 111 jails. No prisoner has escaped from any of those jails.

It is about protecting the finances of Vernon County. If some outside agency would close down our current jail the cost of housing those prisoners would be around $31,000 per month.

It is about fairness. If for some reason we were required to build a new jail and the sales tax fails the only alternative would be a property tax. That would mean that the entire cost of the jail would be on property owners --- about one third of the population of the county.

It is about economic stability. A property tax would only build a jail. It would do nothing about increasing the pay of under paid deputies. It would do nothing about improving equipment for improved law enforcement.

The proposed one half cent sales tax will sunset to one quarter cent in 20 years or when the construction costs for the jail are paid -- which ever occurs first.

I remind the voters of Vernon County that they should consider the proposed law enforcement sales tax and the one half cent sales tax proposed by the Ambulance District as what they are, separate issues. Both deserve your consideration, independently.

Thank you,

Gerald D. McBeth

Sports story appears to overlook facts

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to the attention of Mr. Warren, sports writer, concerning his article of March 22, 2007, beginning with paragraph 12.

I have to believe that his comments concerning Drew Weatherly and James Tumm were just a poor choice of words, and not researched prior to this year. If not, they were in error and hurtful besides.

Mr. Warren describes these two players as having no "basketball talent" and having reached success only by hard work and that achieved just this year. Both of these young men have played school team basketball since seventh grade, with some traveling team experience as well. Mr. Warren, I wish you had watched them play a bit more than you have, or so it would seem.

It would have been better if you had simply listed their accomplishments which include most improved player for James and best defensive player for Drew Weatherly as well as second team All Conference and member of the Nevada Tiger Classic tournament team, without adding personal comments which are your opinion of course, but which are just plain wrong.

Now, many of your readers know that I am Drew Weatherly's grandmother, and you can respond by saying I am just prejudiced, but I have been watching high school basketball for some 60 years now, and I know what I see.

Last year Drew was a very effective defensive player, and a force to be reckoned with, even last year.

Also, since I have been watching Drew all his life, I should tell you that he has been carrying a basketball and shooting and dribbling since he was two years old. He does indeed have "basketball talent," plus a love for the game equal to any player at NHS now or ever.

Also James Tumm was recognized by his coach and many Tiger fans as having significant "basketball talent" by his freshman year even prior to any varsity play.

The team has had such a great year, I am sorry that this article closed it out on such a negative note.

Respectfully.

Doris Beard

Nevada