As we come to the end of another year, it is time once again to take a look back over the past 12 months and take stock of the goings-on in the Progress Opinion section. Glancing back through our 2011 archives it has become clear that diverse and thoughtful opinions were alive and well this year and were as strong as ever in the Moapa Valley. At the Progress we value the opinion of our readers and we welcome the expression of those opinions in our pages. In many ways, we gauge success as a community newspaper by the vitality of local opinions expressed in this section. Thus, we take this opportunity each year to look back and evaluate this involvement from our readers and to appreciate those who have contributed.
In our view, the purpose of this newspaper’s Opinion page is not toward a community indoctrination into our own views and opinions. Rather it is to encourage thought in our readership regarding various issues in the news of the day and to provoke our readers to then add their own opinions to a rich community dialog. In this respect the Progress Opinion page was a success this year. Most of the published items written and submitted by our readers were in reference to editorial columns, op-ed pieces or other letters which had previously appeared on the Opinion page.
The backbone of a successful Opinion section is its Editorial column. This column forwards our views as a newspaper and invites thoughtful response from our readers. During 2011, we published over two dozen Editorial columns on a variety of issues. The subject matter was predominantly local in nature, as it should be. Thus, we commented a great deal on local issues relating to flood control, transportation, Moapa Valley incorporation, fire district, water and power districts, local students and, of course, the notorious Southern Nevada Health District vs. Quail Hollow Farms episode. But our scope also expanded to the regional level in columns about education funding, election redistricting, an important county agricultural ordinance and many others. Finally we also commented from time to time on national issues where they affected our local population. These appeared in columns about things like the downgrade of U.S. debt, national energy policy and the management of federal lands in our area.
Another wonderful sounding board for the opinions of our readers was the long-running and well-loved op-ed column, No One Asked Me But…, by Dr. Larry Moses. Doc. Moses is in his fifth year of writing this insightful weekly piece. It has become an absolute essential to the Progress and often provokes more reader comment than any other piece in the paper. We appreciate Doc. Moses for his ongoing weekly efforts!
This year we printed 74 letters to the editor. Most of these were written by local residents who had something to say about the news of the day. Many, however, came from readers who live elsewhere but who, for whatever reason, keep ties to the Moapa Valley community through reading and participating in the local newspaper. In addition to the published letters, a healthy discussion also took place in hundreds of comments posted on our website at www.ruralbusinessjournal.com/mvprogress. We are pleased to offer these various avenues of participation in our community discourse; whether our readers are living just down the street or across the world.
We offer specific thanks to those who shared their views with us in print including the following: Richard O’Dell, Commissioner Tom Collins, Commissioner Steve Sisolak, Ina Reinhardt, Guy Doty, Mike and Tasha Gorman, Tom Gamaleri, Esther Ramos, Scott King, Jinx Johnson, Lee Kistner, Nikki McCabe, Ron Ward, Catherine Ellerton, MeLissa Estes, Ruth Cragun, Tracy Cardinal, Jamie Hudec, Alex Gonzales, Bob Hitchcock, Jack Morgan, Andrea Wahl, Christine Trombley, Stuart Riggins, Shannon Gongos, Morris and Pat Christensen, Will Dalley, Ron Ward, Taylor Cordaro, Charlie Jamison, Kimberly Brundy, Cathy Sendlein, Ed Roberts, Billie Hunt, Jerry Craghead, Christina Sheldon, Vickie Trento, Linda Hart, Laila Kacher, Dave Wilson, Shelly Benkman, Pam Toulouse, Dorene Starita, Ray Turley, Lindsey Dalley, Tye Eastman, Bryce Omer, Logandale Volunteer Fire Department, Charlie Jamison, Dennis Vance, Philip Long, April Heath and Dave Cooper.
At several times throughout this year, we were approached by individuals who had an expertise in certain subject matter and who wanted to submit a more extended op-ed piece for publication. We have been happy to publish nearly 20 of these special Open Forum pieces on this page over the past year. We thank the following for their in-depth contribution to the community on these important issues: Matt Barber, Esther Ramos, Dustin Nelson, Lori Collins, Brian Burris, Whitney Donohue, Scott King, Laura Hines-Jurgens, Laura and Monte Bledsoe, William Wilson.
Finally, we would take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous New Year! There, no doubt, will be a great deal of community importance to discuss in the upcoming year. We look forward to hearing from your in 2012 with your unique and valued perspectives on local, state, national and global events. Please keep your views and input coming our way.
And thank you all for reading the Progress!
