Where I Stand: Good, bad, sad and refreshing bits of information

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 10:17 a.m.

SOME INTERESTING MAIL has hit my desk during recent days. Some good. Some bad. Some sad. Some refreshing.

A letter from Rick Traasdahl is both sad and refreshing. Rick, truly one of the good guys in town, writes: "How interesting this puzzle of life is. We are affected by so many forces, people and events. We hear that we are the only ones that really have control of ourselves and our destiny. Not true! As parents, we do all kinds of things for our children. Make sure that the diaper is fresh, no red bottom. Have you brushed your teeth properly? Look both ways before you cross that street. Let me fix that scratch on your knee. Have you completed your homework? May I help you with that? Have you said your prayers? As parents, we dress our children and make sure that they are healthy and prepared for the events of their day. This sounds pretty normal, right? Wrong! We do not have control of our destiny. There are those who climb into their automobiles and have had a few too many and change the normality in our lives. On Dec. 20, 1995, another human being made a very poor (that's an understatement) decision as to how he was to drive his vehicle. In a whisper of time he changed and ended the lives of many people. He did not kill my son. He injured him so badly that his life will never be his own.

"There have been many people in our lives who have been so responsible for our son's life and rehabilitation. Bruce Bayne, Mike Parry, Mont Ringer, Dan Orr, Horace Smith and Pastor Ray Christenson are people of strong religious faith and moral fiber whose prayers and blessings were heard. A wonderful nurse at UMC Trauma named Tammy that would not allow our son to die. Sig Rogich, a friend who I had not seen since high school, had meals catered to our home. Vince Sacco and Bob Hogan provided extraordinary rehabilitation at a wonderful place called NCEP and Dean Weible, who is helping with vocational rehabilitation."

Rick goes on to tell of attorney Joe Benson, who gave invaluable legal help without fees. "He told me that there was no room in this case for attorney fees. Joe asked me if I would allow him to represent my son for no fee. He told me that our son was going to need all that he could get for him to be able to exist during his life due to the extent of his injuries and his ability to provide for himself during his lifetime. I asked Joe if he would work harder if I would pay him. He laughed and told me that what he was going to do for my son was going to be payment enough and that I would understand when he was finished with our case."

Another letter comes from a parent who brags about the fine school her children are attending but then points to an injustice:

"As the parent of children who have and are currently attending Cyril Wengert Elementary School, it came as no surprise to me when the school was identified as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. My children have loved school and have learned the '3 R's' in a warm, safe and supporting environment. Over the years, I have listened to 'the gospel according to Mr. or Mrs. Whomever' as my children have shared with me the words of their teachers. The principal has, at numerous parent meetings, referred to his teachers as the best. I agree! I have known for a long time that this is a Blue Ribbon School.

"Three representatives of the school are to be sent to Washington, D.C., in November to be honored, and not one of these will be a teacher. Two administrators (there are only two at the school) and the office manager will accept the award.

"A staff vote was taken to decide who would represent the school. The vote was then privately counted by the principal. Administrators and an office manager will represent Wengert Elementary.

"It bothers me greatly that when there are problems in education, teachers received the majority of the blame and criticism, but when there are honors and awards, administrators quickly step forward. They should equally share in the process, but this type of poor judgment and lack of sensitivity are the rule rather than the exception."

A probing writer, Brent Mathewson of the Pahrump Valley Gazette, asks some very serious questions that must be answered. He points out in an article that "Nye County has a signed contract with its selected independent auditor that requires the auditor to not tell the truth about the fiscal condition of the county and if he were to tell the truth he would be in violation of the contract and the county could legally refuse to pay him." Then Mathewson goes on to back up this statement with facts.

The Nevada Department of Taxation is properly looking into these allegations. You can bet that certain political forces in that large rural county will do their utmost to keep the investigation from going beyond a preliminary review stage. This situation cries for a full-blown audit of Nye County's fiscal condition.

Can a few local officials keep the Department of Taxation from doing its job?