Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: A silver apple to Carson teacher of the year

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: Even though the program caused Carson High School seniors a fair amount of anxiety, we're sad to learn the senior project coordinator's position was eliminated recently due to budget cuts. Darlene Nevin, the language arts department secretary, coordinated the senior project program with students since its inception. Since then, the projects have made a big difference in the lives of the students, and in the community. The district should make sure it continues for the next class, and every class thereafter.

Silver dollar: Support for Don Lamb, a former supervisor for Leroy's Sportsbooks, continued this week. Lamb can't afford surgery to treat the glaucoma that has left him with steadily deteriorating vision.

Previously, the community responded by donating to a medical account set up in his name. Now his ophthalmologist, Dr. Robert Wolff, has agreed to perform the procedure free of charge and Sierra Surgery Hospital announced it will not charge Lamb for use of the facility. Dr. Bruce Baldecchi of Anesthesiologist Professionals also agreed to donate his time and supplies for Lamb's 30-minute procedure scheduled this week.

Silver dollar: A silver-plated apple for the desk of Christina Bourne, Carson City School District's Teacher of the Year. Bourne, Miss Nevada 2003 and a music teacher at Empire Elementary School, is a 1997 Carson High School graduate.

"Christina is there for the kids. She is the most upbeat, positive person," Empire Principal Evelyn Allred said.

Silver dollar: To Carson City and state of Nevada health officials, who helped keep Nevadans calm even as national televised news reports about the spread of swine flu grew increasingly hysterical. The officials reassured us that there's no need to panic, and reminded us of proper hygiene habits that are smart to follow at any time, to prevent ordinary cold and flu.