LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Community Pride

Editor:

In the past three weeks there have been two small groups who took it upon themselves to do something about the eyesores in our community. Then while biking one week ago along Casey Road, I was appalled by all the trash on the roadside from Walmart to McLean Road. Where are the property owners and do they not pride themselves enough to do something about the situation. It does not take much to organize a group to do this. Show our youth we care. Take them along to help.

I know there are those who walk Alcorn/ Bottom Road/and Rice Road who carry bags with them and pick up as they go. Thank you folks. I hope you inspire more to do the same. Is everyone really that busy. Do you not see trash as you drive along?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all business and property owners spent 1 hour a month tidying up around their areas. city or county makes no difference.

Judy Scherr

Churchill County

Supports Laxalt on suit

Editor

I would like to join Bob Clifford in his praise of Attorney Gen. Laxalt for having the ability to see through the machinations of federal agencies and the courage to go against Gov. Sandoval in opposing them.

When the Interior Dept. saw it might have trouble branding the sage grouse as endangered to accomplish its goals of depriving ranchers, farmers, miners and the general public of the use of millions of acres of public land it pulled a stealth weapon from its arsenal.

Through their resource management plans they could declare vast areas throughout the west as “habitat” for the grouse.

Mr. Laxalt’s suit to delay implementation of those plans threw a monkey wrench into the works.

There are two ways to determine habitat — observe where the species chooses to live, which is the most sensible; or observe what areas people like Harry Reid and Sally Jewell and members of groups like the Sierra Club

covet to benefit their interests.

We find many more sage grouse in areas where ranchers protect their calves (and the grouse) from predators and where farmers grow crops the birds like to feed on.

And we find fewer where mismanagement by federal agencies have allowed overgrowth of vegetation that provides cover for predators and fuel for wildfires.

Of course, we wouldn’t be involved in this maniacal minuet if the western states and counties controlled the public lands within their borders.

Jim Falk,

Churchill County

Sportsmen, conservationists work together

Editor:

Nevada’s remaining wild lands are vulnerable, dwindling, yet a most valuable resource. They provide critical habitat and essential migration corridors for native wildlife, while benefiting our quality of life, tourism and outdoor recreation businesses (“Find the happy medium between conservation and development,” Oct. 28). That is why, within the BLM RMP process, sportsmen and conservationists worked together to propose Backcountry Wildlife Conservation areas.

Conserving backcountry areas in the Carson City District, like the Clan Alpines and the Excelsiors, will provide exceptional opportunities to experience Nevada’s wildlife, whether as hunter, photographer, recreationist.

Pronghorn, bighorns, mule deer and sage grouse all call these wild places home, thus it’s imperative for BLM to work towards keeping our wildlife habitat intact.

It is no easy task to develop an RMP which balances resource development with resource protection, now and for future years. BLM’s laudable outreach to get public input, maximum information and science-based data ideally should result in measured, reasonable decisions. As they finalize the RMP process, hope abides that BLM will ensure Nevada’s long-term values by protecting our limited number of currently undisturbed areas.

Karen Boeger

Board member of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Nevada Chapter