This has been a banner year for the Progress Opinion section. In 2010 our readership has shown am increased involvement in community issues by submitting their views for publication. This trend has been gratifying to us who manage and edit this page and strive for it to be a meaningful place for community dialogue on important issues. In many ways we gauge our very success as a community newspaper by the vitality of the opinions expressed here. By that gauge alone, we feel that the Progress has done well this year. Still, it was gratifying when we received an independent perspective that backed up our own feelings on this matter.
In September, the Progress was honored by an award from the Nevada Press Association recognizing the paper for the Best Opinion Page in our class. This was quite a distinction. As we put so much value in providing this forum for our readership, we can’t think of a more valued award for us to receive.
The backbone of a successful Opinion section is the Editorial column. The Editorial column gives perspective to the week’s news and initiated community thought and discussion. The Editorial forwards our views as a newspaper, inviting and encouraging thoughtful response from our readership.
During 2010, we published over 30 Editorial columns on a wide range of topics. Through the course of the year we focused on issues of local importance from Moapa Valley Incorporation to the management of the vast Gold Butte complex to the performance of local schools. We gave recognition and appreciation to those who faithfully serve the community in articles about volunteer firefighters, water district board members, sewer line construction teams and many others. We shined a light on regional and state issues such as the workings of the State’s Broadband Task Force, the Yucca Mountain project, the State’s budget woes, state ballot initiatives and more. We expanded our view to the national stage dealing with topics like federal health care legislation, energy policy, public lands management and other issues.
In publishing these columns we have hoped to set the stage for an active community discussion on these and other topics. And we have been pleased to see that this is exactly what happened. Our readership has responded with intelligent and well-expressed views of their own offering added perspective and depth to this section.
This year we printed a total of 124 letters to the editor; a new record for the Progress. Eighty of these letters directly referenced topics or articles that had been explored in a previous issue of the Progress. Twenty-six of the letters came from readers who live elsewhere but who still keep ties to this community through reading and participating in the local newspaper. We were pleased to offer this blank page to our varied readership to participate in the community discourse, whether living just down the street or across the country.
At certain times this year, the Progress experienced something we haven’t before; and experience that is usually the province of larger newspaper publications. We received more letters than we could actually print in a timely manner. Especially during the lead up to the November elections, our office was bombarded by letters from readers who wanted to weigh in. It was a difficult task choosing which letters would be printed and which could not. But we recognized this as a good problem to have.
Often we found that multiple letters expressed similar viewpoints. So we worked where we could to publish letters that were representative of multiple writers. Of course, we apologize to those whose letters did not appear in print. We recognize that it takes a certain courage and boldness to sit down and write a letter on a controversial topic for publication in the town newspaper for all to see. We deeply appreciate those who have taken the time to do so, whether they were published or not.
We offer specific thanks to the following who shared their views with us in print: Scott King, Mike Gurule, Lee Robison, Jack and Deanne Morgan, Audrey Johnson, Nate Hendricks, Pete Hamilton, Billy D. Mildice, Dorene Starita, Bruce Baxter, Gene Rasmussen, Esther Ramos, Jim and Carol Cencer, Lois Hall, Dee Timmons, Bob Zangger, Natalie Crosby, Chris Green, James Linhart, Rod Adams, Rich Brough, Hazel Osier, Kevin & Vicki Willard, Bruce Baxter, Dave Danbeck, Vicki Wendt, Jeanne Crayton, Bret Staley, Frank Weigel, Moapa Valley Committee On Incorporation, Lexie Hill, Roger Perkins, Ed Roberts, Larry Barnum, Diana Fisch, Kathryne Olson, Dr. Joe Heck, Pennie Rumsey, Becky Bartle, Diane McCorkle, Jack Nelson, Mercy Walschek, Nancy Grimes, G. Wilson, Christine Sheldon, Marc Chapelle, Karen Jensen, Corie Jones, Andria Reymore, Boyd Applegate, Clint Brill, Joshua Chandler, Val Smith, Andrea Wahl, Misti McDonald, Sandy Bryant, Cole LaCroix, Mikenzie Robison, Amber Leavitt, Kimberly Brundy, Jerry and Claudia Eynon, Arlene Talbot, Denise Robertson, Tom Collins, Nancy Hall, Lindsey Logue, Richard and Jackie Belcher, Elise McAllister, Buckey Walters, Ryan Doty, Elaine Holmes, Dave Floodman, Jim Whitney, Ellen and Thom Hutchinson, Frederik Kuhn, Scott Carson, Guy Doty, Lyn Wren, Richard Bush, Susan and Daniel Gravel, Jim Scanlon, DeLois Smith, Tim Twelker, Myrna Cooper McDougal, David Cook, Kurt Lytle, Sam Aikele, Linda Smith, Tony Terry, Terry Fisher, Bill Strickland, Tim Robison, Martina Esther Sabo, Larry Adams, Carmen Rhoda, Buster Winkler, Ruth Cragun, Darlene Millington, April Heath, Rick Wilson, The Thouren Family, Ann Pippin, Arnold Theisen, Catherine Ellerton and .
At various times this year, the Progress Opinion page has been further enriched with a variety of Op-Ed items. During 2010, we have published 26 of these Open Forum articles. These pieces allow for an in-depth analysis and commentary on important community issues from recognized experts and/or well informed community members. Because of their added depth, these articles need more space than would be possible in a typical letter to the editor. Those who contributed Open Forum articles in 2010 were: Esther Ramos, Phillip Long, MV Incorporation Committee, Stan Hardy, Lynn Bowler, Charles Jamison, Lindsey Dalley, Ron Dalley, Joshua Chandler.
We appreciate the time that these writers have put into adding to the thoughtful community discourse.
Of course, we must recognize Dr. Larry Moses for his weekly efforts in providing us the well-loved and well-read column No One Asked Me But…. Doc Moses has been writing this column or the Progress since September 2007 and we have been overjoyed to publish every one. His work has become an absolute essential to Progress readers.
We were pleased to be present when Dr. Moses received an award from the Nevada Press Association for the Best Non-staff Column. It is a privilege to have his weekly contribution in the pages of the Progress. Whether you agree or disagree, Doc Moses’ talent for viewing things through a different lens always has a way of provoking thought in our readers.
Though it doesn’t always appear on the Opinion page we would also recognize the writer of another regular column in the Progress: Mike Donahue who writes Rural Rants. This innovative bi-monthly piece provides a quirky and warm-hearted view into the experience of rural living. Donahue’s column is a celebration of the simple country life and the down-to-earth folks who live it. Mike was also recognized this year with an award from the Nevada Press Association for his work on this column. We congratulate him and appreciate his efforts in enriching the pages of this rural newspaper with his experience and his creative viewpoints.
Finally, we would take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous New Year! We look forward to hearing from you in the upcoming year on our coverage of the community’s news and events. Please keep your views and input coming our way.
And thank you for reading the Progress!
