Dangerous duty: Carson High grad wounded in Iraq

Carson High grad (class of 2000) Tyrel Armstrong was wounded in Iraq last week. Fortunately for him and his family, he is healing after receiving a bad concussion and various cuts and bruises. Unfortunately, the two Humvees ahead of him were taken out completely with the loss of all the young men riding in them.

So, when you go to bed tonight, keep him and all the other young men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan (and their families) in your prayers. And pray, too, that the Iraqis get to where they can handle their own problems and allow our troops to return home. And we hope you're getting enough food there, Tyrel (his friends say he likes to eat) ... get well soon!

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And while we're on serious subjects ... there are three things you should know if you suspect someone has a stroke: can they 1) smile? 2) hold their hands over their head? and 3) say a simple sentence. If they can't, call an ambulance IMMEDIATELY ... the sooner they can be treated, the more likely they will survive with fewer complications.

The next thing ... here's a test to see if you have a tendency toward Alzheimer's ... can you list 25 animals (flowers, pieces of clothing, etc.) in two minutes or less. If you can, you probably have nothing to worry about. If you get less than 15, you may want to have yourself checked out, or bone up on crossword puzzles and other mind games to get your brain working. (Do NOT worry if you go into the next room and can't remember what you went in there for ... that happens all the time to us and we don't have Allthetimers ... )

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Judge John Tatro had a birthday on Sunday ... he wouldn't tell Carolyn how old he was, so we can only assume his age is higher than he can count ... (we're also assuming that we won't be in his court in the near future)

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Ellen and Glenn Nelson tell us it's only a matter of priorities when some things get fixed ... seems the power went out in Seattle a day before the Seattle Seahawks were to play in the Super Bowl. Sure nuff ... it came back on one hour before the game started. Made them wonder if it had been anything else, would it have been restored so quickly? We think they're onto something there ...

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Now that football is over ... are you ready for some baseball? The WNCC Wildcats will begin home games on Friday at 11 a.m. on their brand new field with a double header against Colorado Northwestern CC ... so suit up warm, buy a hot dog, and cheer for the home team. To get their complete schedule, go to www.wncc.edu. Play ball ...

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Brian Whalen, Sr. tells us about the policeman who was working with a rookie when they found three live grenades in a box. "What'll we do with them, sir?" he asked the older officer. "Just throw 'em in the back seat of the car," the patrolman answered. "But what if one of them goes off," the rookie asked. "Then we'll just report we found only two."

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Proscenium Players "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a powerful play (it's at the Brewery Arts Center for two more weekends ... 883-1976). Jeff Whitt shines as McMurphy, and the rest of the cast and crew bring the loony bin alive. Definitely not for children ... strong language (and brief strobe lighting during one scene) and dark humor. Also, the Dakota Organization (a new theater group in Minden) is opening Friday night with "Same Time, Next Year" at 7 p.m. in the CVIC Hall. For additional information, call 684-8077, and enjoy a good evening out. And don't forget the Carson City Symphony ... they will be performing at the Community Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. (883-4154) ... always a class act ...

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Russ Law wants to know what can be done about Mallory Way ... every time he wants to drop something off at the Appeal, he has to get a vehicle and spinal realignment ...

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DeeAnn Parsons is sure this happened at our new Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center ... "A student nurse found an elderly gentleman sitting on the edge of a bed, already dressed, with a suitcase at his feet. He insisted he didn't need a wheelchair to get to his car, but she patiently told him that he had to follow the rules.

Thus said, he reluctantly let her wheel him to the elevator. On the way down, she asked him if his wife was meeting him. 'I don't know,' he replied. 'She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'"

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Good News: Bradlyn Wissert's daddy is sooooo proud of her ... she's the Dayton Intermediate School's seventh-grade representative in the State Spelling Bee this year ... congratulations!

And the Sugar Plum Bakery in Genoa is open again after the flood damage they had last month ... their pot pies and quiches are to die for.

Joyce and Chuck Fowler celebrated their 28th anniversary on Saturday, complete with smiles and breakfast out ... more congrats ... and the new Bishop of Reno, Randolph Calvo, celebrated his ordination, complete with 4,000 of his closest friends, one cardinal, four archbishops, and many priests and deacons ... now that's the way to celebrate!

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Carson High can be proud ... the Naval Jr. ROTC rifle team just won the state championship last week; Kayla Sanchez won the 55 and 200 meter runs in the Holiday Inn/VS invitational at UNR; Bud Kop is a National Merit Scholar; and the inline hockey team won its third straight Northern Nevada league title ... way to go, guys and gals ... we're all proud of you ...

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Speaking of the Naval Jr. ROTC ... Carolyn met two young men who were helping a friend move ... Corey James and Josh Martino. They were not only helpful, but fine young gentlemen ... a credit to their community.

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(Thank Al Nicholson for this one) "When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy." (i.e., see "Cuckoo's Nest" above)

n Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at editor@nevadaappeal.com.