Letter: Integrity, insight will be missed

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 | 9:13 a.m.

A long time ago, my second grade teacher packed us all into a bus, and we drove from Reno to Carson City to meet the governor of the state of Nevada, Mike O'Callaghan. Back then, you could still do that and I've always thought of him as "The Governor" ever since.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. O'Callaghan again at a Las Vegas Sun editorial meeting regarding the problem of uranium contamination at the Yerington Mine site, and I sat in awe as he regaled us with mining issues that the newspaper had covered, including cyanide leach ponds, and vignettes of Nevada history. It had been a lot of years and he hadn't lost a step.

Nevada has lost a great voice on environmental and social issues. Gone are his integrity, wisdom and the vast resource of his knowledge and understanding of the politics and history of this state. Only two Sundays ago, Mr. O'Callaghan's column discussed the proposed Vidler/Southern Nevada Water Authority pipelines in Lincoln County. Having witnessed the many problems caused by groundwater depletion in the Las Vegas Valley during the 1950s-1960s, he understood better than almost anyone the potential destruction in Lincoln County that these pipelines could cause. His experience and insight on these issues will be sorely missed.

The staff at Great Basin Mine Watch wishes to express our condolences to his family and friends for the loss of this great man.

CRISTI BARKER Editor's note: The writer is the community organizer for the environmental group Great Basin Mine Watch.