Letters to the Editor 4/10

Las Vegas cancer patients receive shocking news

With the Nevada Legislature in session I've been trying to follow, as much as I can, what the media is telling me. Pretty good so far. That is, until April 4, while watching the CBS show, "60 Minutes."

It seems that the people running our state have cut funding to the Las Vegas University Medical Center and that the center has drastically cut or eliminated outpatient services. CBS told me that outpatient cancer treatments have ceased. I believe, roughly 2,000 souls received notices in the mail informing them of the impending deaths. People in extreme poverty can get assistance but my guess is that the folks who have lost their jobs and health-care coverage are out of luck.

They may still own a house that is in foreclosure or unmarketable and have been given this death sentence. Methinks that's about 1,800 people. LVUMC was kind enough to give leads as to where to get private care, but most of us know where that road leads.

The word denial has more than one meaning.

The segment on "60 Minutes" spoke of our lawmakers planning further budget cuts.

I looked at enough local news today to come to the conclusion that our news (including our CBS affiliate) won't be covering this. I hope I'm wrong.

Fighting the Big C for four years.

JOHN M. SPRADLEY

Gardnerville

Agassi wonderful, but Carson has its own star

In writing about Andre Agassi's visit to the Nevada Legislature and the Carson City Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, the reporter rightly recognized Agassi for his philanthropy and his considerable accomplishments in the sport of tennis; however, she understated the accomplishments and contributions of local tennis star Bob Phelps when she referred to him simply as "volunteer coach."

Since moving to Carson City to retire in 1997, Phelps has been anything but retired. The first few years he worked tirelessly to transform the two badly neglected and unusable tennis courts at the club into the beautiful and very popular tennis center it is today. Phelps did this with the help of a U.S. Tennis Association Public Court Assistance Grant and the contributions of other donors and volunteers. Over the years, he has coached hundreds of the children who belong to the club and encouraged them to participate in local youth tennis tournaments.

For his work in bringing the game of tennis to anyone in Carson City who wanted to play, Bob received a USTA Eve Kraft Community Service award for 2007. In the same year, Bob was inducted into the Reno/Tahoe Tennis Hall of Fame. Las Vegas may have Andre Agassi, but Carson City has Bob Phelps.

CATHERINE BOEDENAUER

Carson City

The purrfect antidote to a hard work week

I want the community to know what a wonderful production is playing at the Community Center right now.

For less than the price of a movie ticket and refreshments, you can enjoy the live-action musical production of "Cats," with music provided by an excellent Carson High School orchestra. The costumes are absolutely fabulous, as is the singing and dancing. The body language of the actors is very "feline" indeed and the actors dance up and down the aisles, which thrilled the kids in the audience tremendously.

Please go and support the arts in our wonderful city. Legislators, this would be a great break from your hard work week. You will be glad you did, I promise you.

DIANNE SOLINGER

Carson City