Silver Dollars and Wooden Nickels: Bidding a fond farewell to the Ranch House

The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, then warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.

Silver Dollar: One of the competitors for the Miss America crown hails from tiny Mound House. Miss Nevada Diana Sweeney, 20, created a video for the contest in which she describes herself as a “small-town girl with big dreams.” You can help her with those dreams by viewing the video and voting for her to be named “America’s Choice,” which would make her eligible to participate in the contest as a finalist. To vote, go to missamerica.org/videocontest. Voting closes at 8:59 p.m. Sept. 12.

Wooden Nickel: It’s sad to see a longtime business close, and we bid Thurman’s Ranch House a fond farewell. Owner Skip Thurman acknowledged feeling “terrible” about ending the Basque-style restaurant’s run, but he acknowledged the economy and competition have made it more difficult for small eateries to flourish. The last day of business at Thurman’s Ranch House, which has operated under the same name for 40 years, is Sept. 11. An auction of some interior items is set for the following day.

Silver Dollar: Forty-three Nevada Guard get rides among Carson City, Reno, Fernley and Stead as part of a van pool conceived by Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Brooks. The program, a partnership involving the Nevada Guard and the vRide company, doesn’t just save money; it helps the environment by taking vehicles off the road.

Silver Dollar: Carson High School’s football Hall of Fame has four new members. Four former players — Ryan Berkich (class of 1998), John Gary (1979), Grant Boldt (1996) and Melvin Rodela (1984) were inducted recently during a party in the Carson Nugget parking lot. Congratulations to all four.