The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.
Wooden Nickel: Sen. John Ensign's rationalization that his "distraction," the legislator's description of his affair with a former staffer, was a mistake but not as bad as former President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern because he didn't lie about it under oath.
"I haven't done anything legally wrong," the Nevada Republican told the Associated Press last week prior addressing a Fernley Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd.
Silver Dollar: Staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada moved into their new clubhouse at the corner of Northridge Drive and Russell Way last week. The new
$5.5 million, 12,600-square-foot center has been in the works for about five years and will be open to members Monday, the first day of school in Carson City.
An open house for the public to view the new club will be Sept. 2.
"It's been a long, hard road," said Hal Hansen, club director. "There's been a lot of people who have helped. We can't thank them enough."
Silver Dollar: A Carson City mint full of silver dollars to Carson resident Wayne Nash, the good Samaritan who was shot after he stopped to help a motorist in Washoe Valley last May.
Nash, 51, was shot in the right leg after he stopped to assist a motorist, Rene Angulo, 17, who was face down by the roadside. Angulo died at the scene. The man who pleaded guilty to the shooting shot at Nash as he sped away in Angulo's car.
The Carson City Board of Supervisors, in front of a packed community center meeting room on Thursday, presented Nash and his family - his wife and daughter were with him at the time of the incident - with a proclamation recognizing their attempt to provide assistance that day.
Mayor Bob Crowell said they "were intent on helping a citizen in need and have suffered immensely for their unselfish behavior."
Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to editor@nevadaappeal.com.