California Eye » Pahrump http://www.nyegateway.com Political commentary/genealogical interests Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:48:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Homeless Veterans in the United States http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/homeless-veterans-in-the-united-states.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/homeless-veterans-in-the-united-states.html#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:46:57 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/homeless-veterans-in-the-united-states.html Continue reading →]]>

With an estimated 107,000 homeless vets in the U.S., Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores their daily struggles and the legal battle over a plan to help them. Watch “CNN Presents” Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The Veteran’s Administration has nearly 400 acres of land set aside to house veterans and thousands of veterans who need a place to call home.

Los Angeles’ has an estimated 8,000 homeless vets have been barred from living at the sprawling campus for decades. The West Los Angeles property — some of the most valuable in the nation — was donated in 1888 to “establish, construct and permanently maintain” a branch of a national home for veterans, according to the original deed.

(Must have been a deed similar to the one here in Nye County which prohibited using a plot of ground by Growponics to grow vegetables.)

The 400 acres was donated by an unnamed benefactress. Veterans should be “given every single opportunity to rehab their lives — and if they have no place to live, a place to live.”

The VA saw fit to lease parts of the property to several businesses. In September, the VA canceled three leases after rising criticism. But other entities remain on the property including a public golf course, a college baseball stadium, a theater and practice fields for the exclusive private Brentwood School. Doesn’t sound like it is being used for Veterans.

imageRobert Rissman, as an 18-year-old high school senior, signed up with the Army intending to “go to college and make something of myself,” he said. “And the Army said they’d pay for it. ”

He was deployed to Iraq for a year as part of a quick response unit that saw constant action. Upon his return to Colorado’s Fort Carson, Rissman was diagnosed with PTSD. Nightmares and paranoia haunted him.

It got worse. According to Army papers, he once spent a day drinking and sitting on his bed pointing with the barrel of an illegal sawed-off shotgun in his mouth. “I just wanted to die or go to prison,” he said. “And that was where I was headed and I knew that was where I was going and I was OK with that.”

After leaving the Army, Rissman ended up homeless in Arizona and later Los Angeles, where he “was doing a lot of methamphetamines” and “smoking a lot of dope.”

Accurate figures are hard to come by, but the VA in its most recent report estimates about 107,000 veterans find themselves homeless on any given night. Mental illness plagues 45% of homeless vets and 70% suffer from some kind of substance abuse, according to the VA.

Washington has OK’d $35.5 million to renovate various buildings on the campus including “Building 209 for housing facilities for homeless veterans,” according to a bill signed by President Obama this month. (Hard to believe Congress passed such a bill considering the GOP’s determination to pass anything that might cost a nickel.) President Obama deserves our thanks and a pat on the back for signing the bill into law. Haven’t heard any of the GOP leadership commend him for doing the right thing.

The facility would provide vets with 70 permanent housing units, far short of the living space needed to house LA’s homeless vets. Yes, it is short, doesn’t even make a dent in that 107,000 vets. (Wonder how many homeless vets are living here in Pahrump, Nye County Nevada?)

The VA has launched an aggressive national plan with an ambitious goal: eliminating homelessness among veterans by 2015. (Good, but where do they sleep for the next four years?)

This summer the VA granted nearly $60 million to nonprofit groups that help veterans, including more than $7 million to aid an estimated 1,800 vets in California. The money aims to prevent veterans and their families from slipping into homelessness by helping with basic expenses such as rent, utilities security deposits and moving costs.

(Suppose the Town of Pahrump, or Nye County has sought any of this money for Nye County’s homeless veterans? Keep in mind Nye County is spending lots of bucks building a jail. Maybe that is one of the reasons Rissman figured he would either “die or go to prison.”)

Ron Kovic, whose story was made famous in the 1989 Tom Cruise film “Born on the Fourth of July.”

“If that land was given to veterans and if we were able to put at least a small percentage of what we’re spending on these wars in Iraq and Afghanistan toward building a facility for homeless and disabled veterans,” Kovic told CNN, “I think it would be one of the most honorable things we could do as citizens and one of the most honorable things that the VA could do to make up for the mistakes of the past.”

Amen Ron.

The ACLU has sued to let thousands of homeless vets live there (on the LA. land) But, can you believe it)  VA attorneys have asked a federal judge to throw the ACLU lawsuit out of court. (Wonder whose bright idea that is?)

“In fact, according to Mark Rosenbaum the Justice Department attorney said, ‘We don’t believe that the VA has any authority or any responsibility to provide housing.”

As for Rissman, he’s currently living at a halfway house in hopes of leaving his homeless life behind. He thinks the West Los Angeles property could help many more homeless vets win their personal battles. “It would get a number of people in off the street and get them doing what they need to be doing to get their life together,” said Rissman.

Meanwhile, the judge has refused to throw out the case and has appointed a mediator to try and resolve the situation beginning this week. Good for that judge.

“I promise you that these gates will be open,” said Rosenbaum. “We will win this case.

In the interim Americans in the United States continue to express their thanks for “the service” of the veterans, at least every 4th of July and Memorial Day.

Still proud to be an American?

Related posts:

  1. Happy Veterans Day
  2. Failing the Veterans
  3. The inhumanity of the United States

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/homeless-veterans-in-the-united-states.html/feed 7 Occupying WallStreet Range http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/occupying-wallstreet-range.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/occupying-wallstreet-range.html#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:48:30 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/occupying-wallstreet-range.html Continue reading →]]>

OW

And here is where they all are (Don’t look for Pahrump—it isn’t there):

elow, you will find a comprehensive list of links to local Occupy Wall Street solidarity groups in the United States and Canada. Please, find a group near you and sign up.

Unless otherwise noted, all of these links take you to Facebook pages, so you must be logged into Facebook in order to join them. If you would rather not use Facebook, you can also connect to local Occupy Wall Street events through Meetup.com.

If you know of a local Occupy group with a Facebook page or website that is not listed, either check Meetup.com or send the URL in an email to chris@dailykos.com. Use the subject line “new Occupy group.” Please keep in mind that links to groups are far preferable to links to events. Please do not send links to Meetup.com pages, or emails without links.

If you wish to tell others about this page, just say “go to OccupyWallStreetEvents.com.” That URL redirects to this page.

United States

Canada

Related posts:

  1. Chuck Muth: “Occupying Loserville, USA”
  2. Republican Eric Cantor calls “Occupy Wallstreet” protestors a mob
  3. 2012 Presidential Primary Calendar

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/10/occupying-wallstreet-range.html/feed 0 Election of Mark Amodei in Nye County http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/09/election-of-mark-amodei-in-nye-county.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/09/election-of-mark-amodei-in-nye-county.html#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:05:57 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/?p=5870 Continue reading →]]>

Mark Amodei

Mark Amodei being sworn in by Speaker John Boehner

Republican Mark Amodei won the election to the United States House of Representatives in Nevada’s Congressional District 2 last week.

Statewide in Nevada Amodei received 74,976 votes to Democratic candidate Kate Marshall’s 46,669 votes. That was 57.93% to 36.06%. [NSOS]

The Nevada Secretary of State reported there were 396,090 “active registered voters” for the special election in Nevada. Only 129,603 of those voters actually voted. That was 32.72% that voted.

Statewide, in early voting, 67,014 participated.  8,865 cast absentee ballots. Election Day brought 53,724 to the polls. More people took advantage of voting early than on the regular day of election.

So, how did Nye County do? Nye had 24,012 “active registered voters.” Only 4,416 voted. 2,000 voted early.  254 by absentee ballot. 2,212 voted on Election Day. Only 18.6% of the 24,012 actually voted in Nye County.

Rather sorry turnout to be sure. Makes one wonder about Americans. With all the flag waving patriotic chanting about liberty and freedom yet so few actually get off their duffs and vote. Even fewer still, I suspect, really know anything much about who they actually vote for.

On the 4th of July, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day Americans extoll their thanks and gratitude to veterans thanking them for giving their all to preserve American rights to liberty and freedom including the right to vote for people of their choice to represent them.

There are people all over the world demonstrating, getting killed, wounded, and jailed for their efforts in overthrowing dictatorial tyrants, trying to get the right to elect their representatives in government.

Americans are sorry examples for those people. All talk and no do. No wonder the United States is in a mess. Truth is America’s problem is because of Americans. Very few take their responsibility as citizens seriously. Most know very little about their representatives and what they do and don’t do, and why. Fewer people read newspapers, books, or know much about American history. They don’t inform themselves. They don’t take voting seriously. Nye County and Pahrump is no different. Don’t believe me? Ask half a dozen people coming out of Pahrump’s Wal-Mart who was running for election in Congressional District 2? I daresay not one could tell you their names, or who won, or what platforms the candidates had, or what political party they belonged to. Then ask them which candidate they voted for. Odds are they didn’t vote. Or if they did they didn’t know much of anything about whomever they may have voted for.

No, the root problem in the United States is not the President, nor the Senate or House of Representatives. American people are the problem. Furthermore, there is no apparent change of attitude on the horizon.

A compelling argument can be made the lack of voters is a good thing. That they didn’t vote is indicative they didn’t have enough sense to vote sensibly anyway. The quality of our elected representatives is dependent on the exercise of good sense by those who do vote. Maybe we are all better off in the long run. Do you think?

In Nye County Amodei received 2,746 votes. Marshall received 1,407 votes on Election Day, September 15. Two days later Speaker of the House John Boehner swore Mr. Amodei into office. For better or worse we’re stuck with Mr. Amodei for the time being. Do you think Nye County and Pahrump is going to be better off or not? Beats me but we’ll soon see, he is now in the saddle. We’ll find out if Nye County voters exercised good sense or not.

Related posts:

  1. Fact Checking Between Kate Marshall and Mark Amodei
  2. Nevada Republican Mark Amodei endorses Mitt Romney
  3. Will Nye County Dems beat the Nye County Republicans on September 13?

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/09/election-of-mark-amodei-in-nye-county.html/feed 0 ALEC and Nevada http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/07/alec-and-nevada.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/07/alec-and-nevada.html#comments Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:07:50 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/?p=5776 Continue reading →]]>

American Legislative Exchange Council

American Legislative Exchange Council

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a group of global corporations and state politicians that vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called “model bills” reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations. Through ALEC, corporations have “a voice and a vote” on specific changes to the law that are then proposed in your state, including Nevada.

I once thought that we, meaning us ordinary voters, elect people to serve in the states’ senates and assemblies to represent us voters in the writing and passage of laws that govern us. Turns out that isn’t exactly the way it is.

I’ve often wondered if our elected state senators and assemblymen/women personally sit down and draft the bills they intend to offer for debate and to be voted upon by both houses of the state’s legislature. I’ve also wondered whether those bills are actually read by our voting legislators and understood before they are voted upon.

May well be some of those bills are neither written nor read before being voted upon.

Members of ALEC may well have written the bills then handed them over to an elected legislator to present to the state’s senate and assembly for passage and transmission to the governor to sign into law.

On July 13, 2011, the Center for Media and Democracy unveiled this trove of over 800 “model” bills and resolutions secretly voted on by corporations and politicians through ALEC. These bills reveal the corporate collaboration reshaping our democracy, state by state.

The Center for Media and Democracy writes “ALEC has long been a secretive collaboration between Big Business and ‘conservative’ politicians. Behind closed doors, they ghostwrite ‘model’ bills to be introduced in state capitols across the country. This agenda—underwritten by global corporations—include includes major tax loopholes for big industries and the super rich, proposals to offshore U.S. jobs and gut minimum wage, and effort to weaken public health, safety, and environmental protections. Although many of these bills have become law, until now, their origin has been largely unknown. With ALEC Exposed, the Center for Media and Democracy hopes more Americans will study the bills to understand the depth and breadth of how big corporations are changing the legal rules and undermining democracy across the nation.”

A whistleblower provided a copy of the 800 model bills to the Center. The Center has analyzed the “bills” and resolutions in an effort to help the reader understand the bills, identify the legislation in their state and the wide extent of the agenda to rewrite our rights by the corporations that bankroll ALEC.

“These bills and resolutions reach into almost every area of American life: worker and consumer rights, education, the rights of Americans injured or killed by corporations, taxes, health care, immigration, and the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. Only by seeing the depth and breadth and language of the bills can one fully understand the power and sweep of corporate influence behind the scenes on bills affecting the rights and future of every American in every single state,” the Center says.

The Center seeks to “expose ALEC, its corporations and politicians, and how money has corrupted the democratic process….ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by legislative members every year, with one in every five of them enacted into law.”

The Center asserts that 98% of the funding of ALEC comes from corporations, corporate trade groups, and corporate foundations. Each corporate member pays an annual fee of $7,000—25,000 dollars. “ALEC also receives direct grants from corporations, such as $1.4 million from ExxonMobil from 1998-2009….It has also received grants from some of the biggest foundations funded by corporate CEOs in the country, such as: the Koch family Charles G. Koch Foundation, the Koch-managed Claude R. Lambe Foundation, the Scaife family Allegheny Foundation, the Coors family Castle Rock Foundation, to name a few.”

ALEC has one Democrat out of 104 legislators in leadership positions. “ALEC members, speakers, alumni, and award winners are a ‘who’s who’ of the extreme right. ALEC has given awards to: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush, Charles and David Koch, Richard de Vos, Tommy Thompson, Gov. John Kasich, Gov. Rick Perry, Congressman Mark Foley (intern sex scandal), and Congressman Billy Tauzin. ALEC alumni include: Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Congresswoman Michelle Bachman, Congressman Joe Wilson, (who called President Obama a “liar” during the State of the Union address), former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, former House Speaker Tom DeLay, Andrew Card, Donald Rumsfeld (1985 Chair of ALEC’s Business Policy Board), Governor Scott Walker, Governor Jan Brewer, and more. Featured speakers have included: Milton Friedman, Newt Gingrich, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, George Allen, Jessie Helms, Pete Coors, Governor Mitch Daniels and more,” according to the Center.

Related posts:

  1. ALEC: “English Fluency Among Lectures in State Institutions of Higher Education Act.”
  2. ALEC pushes tort reform laws
  3. How do our laws become our laws?

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/07/alec-and-nevada.html/feed 2 Dina Williamson-Erdag receives award at Queen’s Tea http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/dina-williamson-erdag-receives-award-at-queens-tea.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/dina-williamson-erdag-receives-award-at-queens-tea.html#comments Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:34:30 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/dina-williamson-erdag-receives-award-at-queens-tea.html Continue reading →]]>

Rust_0001
Photo from the Pahrump Valley Times. After a few words from announcer Al Balloqui, Mrs. Erdag accepted her Woman of Distinction Award form Don Rust.

The League of Women Voters of Pahrump hosted the second annual Queen’s Tea last Saturday. It was a sell out crowd of more than 200 guests.

The event gave recognition to women in the Pahrump Valley for their volunteering and good works in the community, said President Dina Williamson-Erdag.

Eighteen women were awarded during the evening.

Buckingham Palace thanked the League for the gesture of the tea.

The League holds its meetings on the second Saturday of each month at The Pahrump Nugget’s Stockman’s Steakhouse.

For more information about the League visit its website (link above) or phone 775-443-7861.

Don Rust is a member of the Nye County Nevada Democratic Party’s Facebook group. Mrs. Erdag is the sister of Carolene Endersby, also a member of the Facebook group, and a member of the Town Board of Pahrump.

[Source: Pahrump Valley Times, June 24, 2011, page B5)

Related posts:

  1. Don and Fran Rust Elected 1st VP and Secretary of Nevada’s League of Women Voters
  2. League of Women Voters of Las Vegas Valley
  3. Join the League of Women Voters of Pahrump Valley

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/dina-williamson-erdag-receives-award-at-queens-tea.html/feed 0 TRUNC? Just Who are they? http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/trunc-just-who-are-they.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/trunc-just-who-are-they.html#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:19:10 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/trunc-just-who-are-they.html Continue reading →]]>

image

TRUNC will be at the Pahrump Nugget on Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM for a candidate debate. Why?

Top candidates will debate issues live based on questions submitted by CD2 residents. Special election is to fill CD2 Congressional seat vacated by Dean Heller. Pahrump, Elko, Sparks KPVM TV will air live. [PRLog Free Press]

TRUNC (Tea Party & Republicans Uniting Nevada Conservatives) is hosting the debate.

It is TRUNC’s position that the voters of Congressional District 2 have a right to hear from the candidates who are seeking their vote. TRUNC’s goal is to educate voters so that they can make an informed decision on who best represents them and Nevada in these critical times.

Nancy Price is one of the candidates seeking your vote. But she isn’t a member of the Tea Party, or a Republican. She is a Democrat. Nancy has issued this statement on the Nye County Nevada Democrats’ group on Facebook.

Please come to the debates in Pahrump and Elko. I will be debating Amodei and Lippold. The debt in Amodei’s commercial is due to wars of aggression not paid for. Eisenhower’s Republican administration had 91% tax rate for the top bracket. We paid our way then. Now we have war and austerity; I want peace and prosperity.

TRUNC’s invitation provides:

TRUNC feels that this is the best opportunity for constituents to hear from the candidates.
The debate will be live in three cities all within Congressional District 2. Pahrump June 23, Elko June 24, and Sparks June 25th. The events are FREE, but require registration for tickets. Visit www.TRUNConline.com and click on the Candidate Debate Ticket link.
All questions for the candidates will be submitted by mail to:
TRUNC/Debate
4045 S. Buffalo Drive #101-377
Las Vegas, NV 89147.
Residents wishing to submit questions should focus on issues and be received by June 20, 2011 for consideration. KPVM TV of Pahrump will air the debate live on June 23rd, and rebroadcast the debate again on June 25.

If you want to rub elbows with a VIP (whomever that is) at an “Exclusive Meet and Greet Reception” you can pay $125 per ticket at www.TRUNConline.com for the privilege. (Hey! This is a Tea Party Republican event. You gotta have the money for these “special” perks.

TRUNC intends to unite conservatives who believe in small government, fiscal responsibility, low taxes & are “pro” constitution under the umbrella of the Republican Party in Nevada, for the purpose of defeating liberal & socialist candidates & their agenda.

You can read more about TRUNC at TRUNCOnline.com and the TRUNC Blog.

Related posts:

  1. Trigg and Reeves Campaign Event
  2. The Trigg Report
  3. Only in Nevada

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/06/trunc-just-who-are-they.html/feed 1 Nevada Test Site and Contaminated Water http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nevada-test-site-and-contaminated-water.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nevada-test-site-and-contaminated-water.html#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 15:51:17 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nevada-test-site-and-contaminated-water.html Continue reading →]]>

001GroundWater

Contaminated groundwater

The Pahrump Valley Times has an article today about the Nevada Test Site (currently called the Nevada National Security Site aka NNSS) and a problem about contamination in Nye County.

Nye County Commission Chairman Gary Hollis reportedly has told a Nevada State senate panel that “the nuclear testing program at the Nevada Test Site has created a legacy of contamination that Nye County and its residents will have to live with for generations to come.”

Since I live in Nye County anytime I read about contamination it captures my interest.

Then I read “Hollis said we have been denied access to even test the water to determine if it even is contaminated.”

Well, shades of Erin Brockovich! Remember that true story portrayed in the movie about “Erin’s exhaustive investigation uncovered that Pacific Gas & Electric had been poisoning the small town of Hinkley’s Water for over 30 years. It was because of Erin’s unwavering tenacity that PG & E had been exposed for leaking toxic Chromium 6 into the ground water. This poison affected the health of the population of Hinkley. In 1996, as a result of the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind, spear-headed by Erin and Ed Masry, the utility giant was forced to pay out the largest toxic tort injury settlement in US history: $333 million in damages to more than 600 Hinkley residents. [See the official website of Erin Brockovich]

Hinkley is located near Barstow, California, not all that far from Nye County.

“The federal government is concerned pumping even uncontaminated water could exacerbate the spread of radioactive contaminated water off the NNSS near Pahute Mesa, Darrell Lacy, director of the Nye County Nuclear Waste Project Office told the committee.”

Our very own Nevada District 36 Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, R-Amargosa Valley, introduced a letter of concern from Kathy Keyes, a homeowner in Sarcobatus Flat.

Just where is Sarcobatus Flat, you ask?

Sarcobatus

Sarcobatus Flat, Nye County, Nevada

 

Sarcobatus Flat is in Nye County. “Several dirt roads access the area from Highway 95, which is mostly in Nye County, Nevada, east of Death Valley, between Beatty and to north of Scotty’s Junction.”

“The Pahute Mesa range is directly behind my property. I have several concerns regarding the DOE finding contaminated water outside the NNSS in this area, first being my health I used and drank this water daily from 2004-2009 and second being my property value,” Keyes wrote.

Pahute Mesa
Map showing Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada

pahutemesa

Aerial photo of Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada

Goedhart says, “the federal government detonated 921 nuclear warheads underground at the NNSS from 1951 until 1992. He said the subsurface contains more than 93,000 curies of radiation.”

What’s that? Radiation? Glory be.

“A former Nye County geo-hydrologist, Tom Buqo, estimated that the underground tests polluted 1.6 trillion gallons of water, the same as the amount of water the Southern Nevada Water Authority is allowed to withdraw from the Colorado River in 16 years.”

Hollis said Nye County has been denied money to do water testing near Pahute Mesa under its independent science program to verify if the contaminants migrate farther, but the county doesn’t have the money to drill five wells 2,000 deep.

So, what’s the problem you ask?

Just think about the water contamination in Hinckley, California and compare it with water contamination in Pahute Mesa, just a few miles north of Pahrump. And, I think, it’s downhill from there to Pahrump.

Glass of water anyone?

Related posts:

  1. Nevada Test Site Radioactive Groundwater
  2. Water fluoridation bill passes Nevada Senate Finance Committee
  3. Sheriff DeMeo Saves Our Water Rights

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nevada-test-site-and-contaminated-water.html/feed 3 Crashing Governor Sandoval’s Picnic http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/crashing-governor-sandovals-picnic.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/crashing-governor-sandovals-picnic.html#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 04:56:56 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/crashing-governor-sandovals-picnic.html Continue reading →]]>

Students and Nye County Democrats protest Governor Sandoval’s cuts in budget.

Today, twenty-seven people gathered at the Pahrump Winery to protest Republican Governor Brian Sandoval’s drastic reduction of Nevada’s education budget for Nevada’s schools.

Twenty-one UNLV students filled a bus in Las Vegas and came to the Pahrump Winery to participate in the demonstration. Two Great Basin College students joined with them to protest. Four Nye County Democrats also participated in the protest.

The demonstration was initiated, organized and conducted by the students use of their Facebook Group called “Nevada Students Unite Here,” and coordinated it with members of the Nye County Democratic Party.

Yvanna D. Cancela, Political Director for the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 in Las Vegas provided logistical support for the demonstration.

The protesting group marched along the roadway opposite the picnic sponsored by the Nye County Republican Party in celebration of Governor Sandoval’s election as Nevada’s Governor. Attendees paid $50 a head to attend the picnic.

The demonstrator’s chanted “SOS – Save our Schools” as they displayed their signs of protest in clear view of the Governor and his picnic party.

The Governor sent a representative to inform the protestors he heard them and commended them for exercising their First Amendment rights.

The picnic and demonstrators were covered by members of the local news media, the Pahrump Valley Times and the Pahrump Mirror. Reporters interviewed some of the demonstrators and Jack Wood, administrator of the Facebook group “Nye County Nevada Democrats.”

Related posts:

  1. Nye County school closures considered by School Board
  2. Conservative Grassroots of Nevada pick Jim Gibbons for Governor
  3. Brian Sandoval Proposes Laying Off 72 Nye County Teachers

]]> http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/crashing-governor-sandovals-picnic.html/feed 2 Nye County school closures considered by School Board http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nye-county-school-closures-considered-by-school-board.html http://www.nyegateway.com/2011/05/nye-county-school-closures-considered-by-school-board.html#comments Sat, 07 May 2011 03:45:21 +0000 Featheriver http://www.nyegateway.com/?p=5586 Continue reading →]]>

Republican Govenor Brian Sandoval of Nevada

Republican Govenor Brian Sandoval of Nevada

Fely Quitevis, Chair of the Nye County Republican Party Central Committee informed the Pahrump Valley Times the event is only open to “anyone” who wants to donate $50 and is a registered Republican. She sees the picnic as a “celebration of Sandoval’s victory in the November elections, not a time to pose difficult questions to the governor.”

“Sandoval has pledged not to increase taxes amid a major budget shortfall,” reported the PVT.

While Quitevis celebrates Sandoval’s victory and doesn’t feel it time to pose difficult questions to him, The Nye County School District Board would probably like to ask Sandoval how can they save Nye County’s education system to comply with his budget.

I would bet many school kids and parents in Nye County would like to ask him some questions too while the Nye County Republican Central Committee celebrates Sandoval’s election.

At the trustee’s Nye County School District’s Board (NCSD) meeting on May 3, three more scenarios were presented by Ray Ritchie, chief administrative and financial officer, to solve the district’s budget crisis.

Consideration of closure of schools in Pahrump, Gabbs and Tonopah was presented as a way to save teacher positions in view of a $5.8 million budget loss for the school district this coming school year.

The $5.8 million shortage for the budget was attributed to a decrease in the number of students in the school district and a decrease in the assessed valuation for the county resulting in lower property tax revenues. Additionally, Republican Governor Brian Sandoval seeks to cut education spending back to levels existent before 2007. That reduces the budget by nine percent.

Trustee Edna Forsgren addressed the board, about closing the school in Gabbs, saying, “I think we find that the schools are the heart of the community and a lot of times, when we take the schools away, we gut the community.”

Board President Harold Tokerud seemed to concur with Forsgren. “I thought about the culture of schools and the culture of a small town. You take out the school, you kill the town. There’s no doubt about it. It’s a tremendous responsibility we have to try and get this budget together.”

Ritchie said Governor Sandoval was not backing down from his proposals.

Pathways (Alternative) High School in Pahrump, the school in Gabbs and Tonopah Elementary/Middle School attending Tonopah High School is contemplated for savings. Gabbs School currently has 60 students and seven teachers for all grades. Closing Gabbs School would amount to savings of $248,950, according to Ritchie.

Pathways has 170 students and four teachers. The state pays the school $1,023,230.

The proposal of closing Tonopah Elementary and Middle School and combining the students at Tonopah High School was discussed and rejected. Ritchie informed the board that the move would require the addition of five modular classrooms to handle the increase of students attending.

While families of Nye County are struggling to survive and educate their children Governor Sandoval holds to his campaign promise not to increase taxes, just cut state support of schools. I wonder how happy Nye County Republicans and their families are (the ones that can’t afford $50 to attend the picnic or pay for private schooling) now about having elected Sandoval Governor? Wonder if they’d do it again?

Sources: Pahrump Mirror and Pahrump Valley Times

Related posts:

  1. Two Nye County School Board Trustees Resign
  2. Crashing Governor Sandoval’s Picnic
  3. Nye County has “ton” of money in property vaults of it’s Secretary of State

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Full Interview at HealthCare Partners concerning: Health Plan of Nevada made a "business decision" to exclude from their network of doctors. These providers include Fremont Medical Centers, Rainbow Medical Centers, Boulder City Clinics, Advanced Medical Center and Specialty Medical Centers in Pahrump (now HealthCare Partners).
HealthCare Partners services more than 300,000 patients and between our Senior Dimensions & Commercial patients, this affects more than 36,000 of our patients. The exclusion affects HPN Senior Dimensions patients, HPN commercial patients and HealthCare Partners staff with HPN medical plans.
What does this mean?
You do not need to immediately change your doctor or health plan
If HPN Senior Dimensions:
a. Feel assured you can keep your doctor and your current plan benefits until September 30, 2011; and if you are still currently under active treatment you have the right to keep your doctor and current health plan until January 31, 2012.
b. Please schedule a "complimentary consultation" with your doctor to discuss your health plan options. Bring the letter HeathCare Partners sent you in the mail, specifically ask to discuss your healthcare options and no copay will be charged.
c. HealthCare Partners of Nevada family of providers is also contracted with Humana Gold, Humana Special Need Program and Secure Horizons. Your doctor’s office will provide you with a list of plans – the choice is yours.
d. You can also call 1-800-MEDICAR(E) 1-800-633-4227 to file a complaint and/or request a special enrollment period to allow you time to make an informed decision.
If HON commercial patients:
a. Feel assured you can also keep your doctor and your current plan benefits until September 30, 2011; and if you are still currently under active treatment you have the right to keep your doctor and current health plan until January 31, 2012.
b. Please schedule a "complimentary consultation" with your doctor to discuss your health plan options. Bring the letter HealthCare Partners sent you in the mail, specifically ask to discuss your healthcare options and no copay will be charged.
c. Contact your employer’s Human Resources Department for options to keep your current doctor and current health insurance plan.
d. You can call the Nevada Insurance Commissioner to file a complaint at 702-486-4009 or 800-992-0900 #2 (or) email cnsmsvlv@doi.state.nv.us
Does the patient need to pay copay for the "complimentary" visit?
NO. If the patient specifically requests a doctor visit to discuss his/her health plan options with their provider, no co-pay will be charged. All regular scheduled appointments are to be charged as normal.

Related posts:

  1. Nevada’s health care for low-income people struggles
  2. 51% favor Obama’s health care plan
  3. Health Care Reform Bill expected in August

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