Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Lowden gets nickel for political tin ear

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: To Sue Lowden, for her political tin ear. Even after "chickens for checkups" went viral and brought national ridicule to the Senate candidate, she refused to acknowledge that bartering goods and services, or even negotiating with your doctor for lower prices, is not a viable alternative to affordable health insurance. For a nose job, it may work. For a triple bypass or kidney dialysis, well, no one has that much livestock. Her repeating the comments multiple times made her seem like a greenhorn, and cast doubt on her qualifications to go up against the grisled scrapper Harry Reid in November. It may just be her undoing.

Silver Dollar: To a very neat accomplishment for Carson City: The Nevada State Railroad Museum is about to debut its restored McKeen Motor Car, a self-propelled train car that originally arrived in Carson City a century ago. It's a beautiful piece of historic machinery, and well worth the trip down to take a look and a ride starting May 9.

Silver Dollar: To the Open Space Committee led by Juan Guzman, for finally getting the purchase of the Jarrard Ranch to the finish line. Maintaining open space for recreation is a key to residents' quality of life, and a terrific selling point for the city. The purchase will reap benefits for generations to come.

Silver Dollar: To Kohl's, which has announced it will open its Carson City store in Eagle Station on Sept. 26. Carson City desperately needs an infusion of new retail options. Kohl's, which has terrific sales and is a great place to shop for reasonably priced school and work clothes, shoes, housewares and accessories, will fill the bill nicely. We can't wait.