Silver Dollars & wooden nickels 5/10: Swine flu shows its ugly head

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.

Silver dollar: Three cheers for news that the Carson High School senior project program likely will return in some form next year.

Organizers worried after the English department's secretarial position recently was eliminated that this might be the last year of the intensive research and community-based project seniors were required to complete. School officials, however, said this week the district is committed to maintaining the program by reallocating the workload.

CHS juniors may not be so ecstatic, but this program deserves to continue.

Wooden nickel: Two Carson City minors contracted the swine flu (H1N1) virus, according to the Nevada State Health Lab.

The Carson School District is following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and not closing schools. The district is taking precautions by sending home sick students and encouraging good hygiene, Richard Stokes district superintendent said.

Silver nickel/

Wooden dollar: This is one of our occasional good news/bad news items. The Arlington Square Ice Rink in downtown Carson City was a great attempt to bring added life " and foot traffic " to the downtown core during winter.

The Carson Nugget made significant monetary contributions to the project and deserves credit for supporting the city's effort.

However, despite city estimates that rink operations would break even, the venture lost nearly $130,000 in its first year. In these economic times, the city will need to closely evaluate this project later this year when determining if the rink will return for a second season.

Wooden nickel:

More disheartening economic news this week, this time from Carson City's parks department.

The city will likely have to delay building a new $10 million to $12 million recreation center for at least two years, Parks Director Roger Moellendorf announced. Because of the slow economy, a 1996 voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax is not generating enough money for the project.

- Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to editor@nevadaappeal.com