Letters for January 17, 2002

No way, Oil-Dri
As a resident of Lemmon Valley for over 16 years, I’m not opposed to mining or the Oil-Dri Corporation. I do oppose the location of the proposed open pits and manufacturing facility. The truck route on Lemmon Drive travels through an elementary school zone where young, inexperienced children are on their way to school.

Combined with no proposed turn lanes for the trucks to utilize when getting to and from the access road, this creates a detriment to safety, hazardous driving conditions and unnecessary traffic.

There have been problems with water in Lemmon Valley for many years, forcing residents to drill their wells more than once. Water resources will be used for dust control—not that I want the dust or any health problems related to it. Dust that will blow in this area contains silica, a known carcinogen, plus other toxins that threaten the well being of residents. With drought conditions, I barely have a lawn for my children to play on.

Residents must have a choice about what is being built next to their homes. Quality of life is being threatened: solitude, recreation, the beauty of natural landscape and existing wildlife. Traditionally, mines are set up and communities are built nearby. Never have I seen a mine dropped into an existing community. Oil-Dri does not belong in this established community.

Tell the Washoe County Commissioners: All this for kitty litter? I don’t think so. Vote no!

Kelly Karpchuk
Reno

Blatant anti-semitism? Read on…
Re: “Check out the library, Hansen” [RN&R Letters, Jan. 3]:

I am writing to urge M. Ross to read the Old Testament, the dictionary and the encyclopedia in regard to the pre-Roman Empire history of the lands now known as Palestine and Israel. This land, previously known as Canaan, was the “Promised Land” promised to the children of Israel by Jehovah for destroying its original inhabitants with his help per Genesis 15:19-21, Exodus 23:23-24, and Deuteronomy 7:1-6 and 20:16-18.

The fact is that the Jews were homeless nomads in the desert, and the only way that they were going to get a homeland was to take one away from another people—a task that they are still trying to accomplish.

I recently skimmed the Koran and found it to be a better book than the Bible. It is a guide to the conduct of life without the distorted version of a history of a people and their routings and killings. The Koran’s god is merciful, unlike vengeful Jehovah.

The largest population of the Jews now lives in the United States, where they have assimulated and fit right in with the greedy, materialistic values.

Here they have wealth and power way out of proportion to their percentage of the population in Hollywood and Las Vegas and the worlds of finance, banking, retailing, publishing, etc. There is hardly such a creature as a poor Jew in this country or one who will help anyone but his own people. Since many Jews have become rich and powerful here, why don’t they all move here and leave Palestine to its original inhabitants?!

S. Wright
via e-mail

Heart healer
Re “Things That Go ‘eek’ at 1 a.m.” [RN&R, Jan. 10]:

For the record, I did not save Guy Richardson’s life. I’m just one of a number of doctors and nurses who did our best to give him a chance. He did the rest himself.

Great things can happen when someone takes charge of their own medical care. Exercise, diet, compliance with medications, close follow-up and bone-headed determination to beat the odds are the real reasons for Guy’s survival.

And don’t discount the power of love. I firmly believe that his heart can stand the strain because it’s not alone. His wife, Zoe, gave her heart to Guy many years ago. I know. I have seen it.

Todd Chapman, MD
Reno Heart Surgeons

On Melton
Rollie Melton, the Reno Gazette Journal columnist who passed away on Sunday, gave personal boosts to thousands of Nevadans. One way for you to honor his memory is to go out today and be as nice as possible to every person you deal with.

Michael Sion
Reno