Centenarian remembers Nevada fondly

Carl Van Hess wrote this week about his grandfather, Harold Comstock, who will celebrate his 100th birthday June 7.

He said his grandfather was born in Carson City in 1906 to John and Anne Comstock. He lived here until he was 15, then moved to Texas with his family.

"My grandfather has many fond memories of his youth spent in the Carson City area," Van Hess wrote. "He loves to tell his many family members about growing up in Nevada.

"I thought it would be a a wonderful surprise for his birthday if a few people from the Carson City area would send him a postcard from Nevada."

If you would like to send something to Comstock, mail to:

Mr. Harold Comstock

715 Ave. D

Port Neeches, Texas 77651.

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[Three Western Nevada Community College employees received Presidential Awards for Excellence at the Nevada Community Colleges Conference in Henderson on April 28.

Bonnie York, a computer technology professor, received the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence. Retiring after the 2005-06 school year after 29 years of teaching at Western, York has dedicated her life to shaping the college's computer program.

She established the first computer networks and labs in Fallon and was the first recipient of Western's Outstanding Faculty Award. She has served on the college's curriculum, peer development, sabbatical and faculty senate committees.

Claire Yurovchak, student activities coordinator, received the Presidential Award for Administrative Excellence.

Hired at Western in 2004, Yurovchak created the department of student activities, developed an annual cultural art series and taught a three-credit course on leadership development.

She serves as chair of the Multicultural Festival and as an advisor to the student government and student programming board.

Barbara Ford, institutional research statistician, received the Presidential Award for Classified Staff Excellence. In her 11 years at Western, Ford has coordinated student course evaluations, survey development and implementation and Classified Employee of the Month elections.

She served on the by-laws, professional development, classified council and search committees. Outside the college, Ford is involved with Boy Scouts of America and the Pearl Harbor Survivors group.