VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY

Banner helps family

The family of Lawrence Bray would like to express their gratitude and thankfulness to the staff at Banner Churchill Community Hospital’s ER.

Larry suffered a massive heart attack on Nov. 17. His condition was grave, but due to the tireless efforts of the doctors and nurses, he survived. Everyone on the staff that day was so wonderful and kind to our family. He is home and now recovering.

Thank you all. God bless you.

STOCKMAN’S SU[ORTS DAILY BREAD

The directors of Fallon Daily Bread would like to thank Stockman’s for their continued support. Their generosity in supplying eight gallons of milk per week for many years makes it possible for our clients to have milk. The milk you supply is the only milk many of them receive.

Stockman’s is to be commended for their ongoing support of Fallon Daily Bread. Your generosity is another reason why it is great to live in a small town where businesses care about their community.

Still time to save WNC athletics

My son attended Western Nevada College from 2012 to 2014. He was drawn by the nationally recognized baseball program. We are sorry to see WNC athletics being abandoned. Nevada was hard hit in the recession. But it doesn’t add up.

The baseball and fast-pitch programs cost the college less than $400,000 per year. If the two programs attract 50 players, including 30 from out of state, that’s $735,000 per year pumped into the state and local economy, according to WNC cost of attendance figures. Those numbers are conservative.

What is the value of lost tuition and attendance? For Carson City, parent visitors come from inside and outside the state, and visiting teams and fans will spend a dozen weekends in Carson City next year. What is the value of several hundred visitors days? This ignores patronage from past players, and there are persons loyal to the program who want to provide support. And what is the value of introducing people to your state?

All of my son’s peers graduated with him. The team grade point was above 3.0. I am sure the college does not do that well on average. So WNC is not only abandoning a nationally recognized program, it is telling 50 of its better students they and their dollars aren’t wanted.

My son has great memories of your state, city, college and baseball program. We can only wonder what is wrong in Carson City that you would abandon a program that is winning on all fronts. I urge you to correct a poor decision while there is still time.

Kyle Dorsey

Olympia, Wash.

Funding needed for Alzheimer’s research

November was designated as Caregiver’s Month. Gov. Sandoval and almost every Nevada county issued proclamations commending caregivers and the demanding job they do caring for loved ones in our communities.

For 39,000 Nevada families, like mine, who had or have a loved one living with Alzheimer’s, the disease is devastating emotionally and, for many, financially. We are thankful that Representative Amodei has signed on as a cosponsor of the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (HR 1559). This bipartisan legislation will ensure Medicare beneficiaries newly-diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their families receive comprehensive care planning services.

Family caregivers often experience a financial burden — but they don’t bear this burden alone. The cost of Alzheimer’s disease affects all Nevadans — this year Medicaid costs for Nevada seniors living with Alzheimer’s are estimated to exceed $158 million, and is projected to grow to $303 million annually in the next 10 years. We have to end Alzheimer’s now before it bankrupts us all.

We urge Representative Amodei, Senator Heller, Senator Reid and all members of Congress to increase funding for Alzheimer’s research by at least $300 million when they return to work next week. Let’s give all Nevada families something to be thankful for this holiday season.

Mary Liveratti

Carson City