The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.
SILVER DOLLAR: To the Carson Area Chapter 388 of the Veterans of America for organizing Saturday’s “Welcome Home” Vietnam Veterans of America Ceremony at the Nevada Vietnam War Memorial at Mills Park. All of those who are veterans of the Vietnam War — living and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice — can never be welcomed enough because for 40-plus years they never received the welcome home they deserved. Look for coverage of Saturday’s ceremony in Tuesday’s Appeal.
SILVER DOLLAR: To Carson City for providing a Junior Giants program for youth in our community. The program, which launches in June and is sponsored by the San Francisco Giants, has received rave reviews in how it develops the character of youth who participate in the program.
SILVER DOLLAR: To the Nevada Humane Society for offering free spay and neuter surgeries, plus free rabies vaccinations as part of Community Cats, PetSmart Charities’ spay/neuter campaign for free-roaming cats during this month. Many in the community can speak about how needed this program is. For more information call, 775-856-2000, ext. 333.
SILVER DOLLAR: To former South Tahoe standout Jerod Haase for being named the men’s basketball coach at Stanford.
SILVER DOLLAR: To Nevada State Archivist Jeff Kintop for receiving the lifetime achievement award from Intermountain Archivists.
WOODEN NICKEL: To Harry Reid for telling Jesse Sbaih, a Democrat who’s running for Congress, he couldn’t win. Regardless if Reid told Sbaih he couldn’t win because he’s a Muslim — which Reid’s staff denies — he should never tell any prospective candidate he or she shouldn’t run. Be realistic with the candidate. Yes. Discourage the candidate. No. We wonder if Reid had ever been told he shouldn’t run for public office — and if his Mormon faith has ever been an issue when it has come to him running for public office. Our guess is yes.