Money sought for Storey children's memorial

Storey County will be the fifth county in the state to install a memorial to slain children, said Nevada's Children Memorial Fund founder Tonja Brown.

Commissioners there approved two weeks ago allowing the installation of a Living Tree Memorial at Miners Park. Fundraising is under way for the project.

Brown, of Carson City, began the effort to install such memorials following the murder of 9-year-old Krystal Steadman in South Lake Tahoe in 2000.

Nevada's Children Memorial Fund, along with the Nevada Broadcasters Association and private donations co-sponsors the statewide memorials.

The first memorial was placed on the Capitol Grounds in Carson City in April 2004. Since then memorials have gone into Stodick Park in Gardnerville, Idlewild Park in Reno and The Children's Memorial Park in North Las Vegas.

"It's our dream to one day have a memorial in every one of our state's 17 counties," Brown said.

The $3,000 price tag covers the cost of a red maple tree, bench and plaque. The bronze plaque depicts a maple tree branch holding an empty swing with a fallen teddy bear on the ground.

For information on donating money for the installation of the Living Tree Memorial in Storey County, contact the county's Public Works department at 847-0958 or Brown at nvmemorialfund@aol.com. Donations can also be sent to the Storey County Clerk/Treasurer's Office at P.O. Box D, Virginia City, NV 89440. Make a notation on the check that the money is intended for the memorial at Miners Park.