This week many of us are forced to say good bye to a truly unique and awesome individual. We all know Jeff Berning in different ways from different places. However, I think we all know the Jeff with the devious little twitch in his eye (that lets you know a prank is coming) and follows up with a smile that lights up the room. I myself was the butt of his jokes or on the receiving end of his pranks many times. Through the sadness and the tears, I hope we all find peace in remembering the fun and laughter he brought into our lives. I was very blessed to have Jeff in my life and honored to be his friend, he will be on my mind and in my heart forever.
WENDY ROBARDS
Dayton
Editor's note: Jeffrey Berning, who was born with spinabifida, survived more than 20 surgeries during his 28-year life before his death on Dec. 19. He was a greeter at Applebee's and an accomplished Special Olympiad. Memorial donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital in Sacramento.
Protect your car and belongings
We've lived in our home off East 5th Street since 1984, never feeling it necessary to lock our doors or our cars when parked in front of our home; until the last few years.
Twice in the past two years our cars have been pillaged by night time stalkers when we forgot to turn on the alarms. Once, my wife's purse was stolen and she had to go through the difficult and time consuming process of replacing her Social Security card and driver's license. Thank goodness no credit cards were in her purse when it was stolen.
Something woke me up at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. While walking through the house I noticed a car parked down the street with its lights on. I waited for 10 minutes then turned on our front lights to let whomever know we were awake and aware. After another 10 minute wait, the car still parked with its lights on, I returned to bed. Early Saturday morning while picking up the Nevada Appeal from my front yard I noticed a Sheriff's patrol car slowly driving up the street with a neighbor walking alongside. They stopped in front of our driveway pointing at our car and my next door neighbors, both parked off the street in our driveway. Then I noticed the tracks in the street, visible because of the light snow.
I followed the shoe prints. They appeared to be around a size 8 or 9, boat shoe pattern. My kids used to wear similar shoes when young, I think they were called "Vans" or something similar; popular with skate boarders. The tracks went directly to my neighbor's car, driver's door, then back into the street and on to our car, drivers door. They then led down the street to another car, drivers door, and on down the street. I am sure they were checking to see if an alarm light was on by the stomping around marks by the car's drivers door. Across the street I noticed the same tracks making a loop from the other direction.
The sheriff took photographs of the shoe prints and said they came from a yellow house down the street. Later we noticed two patrol cars in front of the yellow house. The parked car with the lights on? Hmmm?
To encourage neighborhood awareness I am printing copies of this letter and hand delivering it to every house in our immediate neighborhood; including the yellow house.
MICHAEL MILLER
Carson City
Appreciated support at Jeroen Wyands' service
A memorial service was held on a rainy, windy day in Dayton for one of Lyon County's finest, Jeroen Wynands. Wynands passed away Nov. 2.
The Memorial Service was held Nov. 10 at the Dayton High School. My husband Ron and I attended the service. The parking lot was totally full. Law enforcement was very well represented by Douglas County, Carson City, Washoe, Indian Tribal Police, Highway Patrol and Lyon County and many retired officers. I was very impressed by the family-like atmosphere among the community present; then I saw someone who had made a real effort to attend. We don't often notice the good deeds by our local representatives, but while waiting for the memorial service to begin, I noticed Congressman Dean Heller walking in. He had flown in from D.C., arriving on the red-eye special. He appeared quite tired, but stayed for the entire service. No, he was not politicking, Congressman Heller spoke with friends and sat quietly through the service paying his respects.
Usually we don't heart too many good things about our representatives, so I thought this was worth writing about. Thanks Dean for caring enough to make time.
DEE JOHN
Dayton
Editor's note: Jeroen J. Wynands, 51, a 19 year resident of Mound House, was a Captain with the Lyon County Sheriff's Dept. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dayton Grad Night, P.O. Box 1865, Dayton, NV 89403.
Suggestions for making ends meet in schools
It was rather pathetic to read the recent article on education. Are these superintendents kidding or do they like to keep their heads in the sand? My favorite sentence was Eureka's superintendent, Ben Zunino, stating, "I'm not sure you can expect the same level of achievement." Has Mr., oops, probably Dr. Zunino, checked Nevada's Report Card recently? On the TV news, Washoe County's Dr. Dugan stated he did not like "what they are doing to the numbers." Perhaps he should examine his own conscience regarding education funding dollars and what school districts are "doing with the numbers."
As some may know, I ran my campaign for school board on spending less and getting more. I maintain my belief that schools could and should be run more efficiently.
My opinion is there does not need to be any cuts in classrooms or teachers laid off. Cancel the pay raise the Carson City administrators just gave themselves; spend the $10 million surplus; tap into the $40 million per school district that is a "security" (rainy day) fund to make sure schools never close. That fund alone totals $680 MILLION. If layoffs are necessary, terminate the do-nothing principals like the man who oversees our high school.
Then, the school system can reconsider the $400 pay per month for stagnant, complacent school boards. The State Board of Education should probably be abolished completely.
My hat is off to Gov. Gibbons. He is holding firm on what needs to be done. There is too much waste in government at all levels. Someone has to stand tough. Good for you, Governor!
Ann Bednarski
Carson City
Consider the source when it comes to Yucca Mountain
Columnist Chuck Muth takes Bob Loux to task for opposing the Yucca Mountain nuclear dump. Writes Muth, "He (Loux) also launched into his patented anti-Yucca "Chicken Little" routine, breathlessly pleading "What's the going price these days for an ecosystem contaminated by radioactivity?"
I don't take that question as breathless pleading, any more than I take Mr. Muth's written thoughts as ignorant grunting; I take both Mr. Loux and Mr. Muth as proponents of their points of view about the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository.
When I weigh their arguments I note that Mr. Muth credits Mr. Loux with more than 20 years' involvement opposing the dump, while he himself stopped in at the site for a tour and a sandwich 10 years ago. "So consider the source," as Mr. Muth ends his commentary. Enough said.
DAVID W. TOLL
Gold Hill
Mansion lightsare an important tradition
Thanks to Governor and Mrs. Gibbons and Mansion Coordinator Helen Wiemer, who has worked professionally with governors of BOTH parties for the benefit of all Nevadans and visitors, for the beautiful mansion Christmas holiday decorating! It's an important tradition in our Nevada community.
This distinctive building is a scenic tangible reminder of Nevada's great colorful history. Locals often drive by to show it off to visitors throughout the year.
With our burgeoning population, inviting school children in during the holiday season is a positive way to attract a healthy interest in our state's history and growth.
Taxpayers should appreciate the careful recycling of decorations accumulated over the years and the donated new ones.
Inmate trustees do an excellent job, too. Thanks to all of you.
Here's to a healthy and happy New Year for all us Nevadans!
VICTORIA J. ROBERTS
Gardnerville
Unorthodox classes important in schools
Chuck Muth is dead wrong by mocking the class entitled "Culture of Pizza" and the persons responsible therefore as wasteful and fruitless. It is a well-known fact that such so-called wasteful and fruitless things are some of the most important things in life. At the very least, classes that are unorthodox in their approach show students how to create their own perspectives and see things in a different way. Being taught in a fresh and innovative manner challenges students to think for themselves rather than going through the motions in rotating cell blocks on "A" days and "B" days. What else are we going to teach our pupils anyway? Does Mr. Muth have suggestions he would like to share with us? It is as though Mr. Muth would rather save a nickel or two out of his precious tax dollar than prevent us all and our children from becoming unwashed and culturally-deficient Philistines.
For example, the best schools teach Latin and Greek because it expands on critical thinking in regards to historical cultures and expands on language ability, which, in turn helps with computers, music, and mathematics. And yet, no one speaks these languages anymore and expects to be taken seriously. Dead languages, funny-sounding classes and other nonsense must have their right to be taught!
NICHOLAS SOSA
Carson City
Fuji Park has gone to the dogs, so keep it that way
On Dec. 31, I took the day off and my neighbor and I took our pups to Fuji DOG park. A person I can only assume works for the parks department told everybody the dogs had to be leashed from 11 to 1 so the dogs would not disturb the "picnickers." Uhhh...
The wind chill was very cold Monday afternoon and of course there were no picnics. Actually, I don't know anybody who goes to a dog park to eat anyway.
Apparently some people buy their Costco pizzas then want to go to Fuji (a dog park) to eat. Fuji is listed as a no-leash dog park and that is what people should expect when they go there. There are many parks where people can go to eat where dogs are not allowed off leash. It is ridiculous for a select few tightwads ( who won't pay for a restaurant) to expect all the patrons and pets at Fuji to bow to their selfish desires. Why don't you just eat in your cars?
Plus, why don't we try a little common sense? I don't know anybody who goes outside on a winter day to eat pizza. Nor do I know anybody who goes to the dog park and complains about the dogs. Besides, what kind of "picnic" is that, exactly?
So, if you don't want to be bothered by dogs, don't go to dog parks. Problem solved.
VIRGINIA KANZA
Carson City
Time for Douglas County to put the 'anti-senior' perception to bed
It is time for the Douglas County Commissioners to take some positive action to improve our county and help to recover from the financial and real estate slump which we are now experiencing. Our county is now suffering from a glut of homes for sale, many vacant houses and commercial buildings, several recent business failures and decreasing real estate values.
Douglas County needs a new senior center not only to entice seniors and retirees to move here but also to show them that the widely held perception that our county government is "anti-senior" is not true. Our Chamber of Commerce and Realtors should endorse the building of a new senior center as one way of helping to improve our economy. Approving more casinos in our county is a losing cause. The Nevada counties which have the most casinos also have the highest crime rates, highest taxes, largest rate of people on welfare and largest number of "illegals." These are not factors which are attractive to potential home buyers.
In addition, spending capital improvement funds to expand our jail and court facilities and buying vacated buildings at a time when the country population is declining is not practical. Our county commissioners should instead immediately approve the construction of a centralized and adequate senior center.
PAUL LOCKWOOD
Minden