In 2012, this page was not just the Progress Opinion Page. It was the “award winning” Progress Opinion Page. In September the Nevada Press Association recognized this section, giving it the first place award in the Best Editorial Page category for this year’s Better Newspaper Contest. At the Progress, we were proud to receive this award; not just because it is a wonderful distinction for the newspaper, but because it reflects the engagement and involvement of our readership. Without our readers feeling comfortable in using this page as a sounding board for their opinions and views, such an award would never be possible to our small town weekly paper. So we owe it to our many readers for being involved in their community and caring about the issues discussed to make this Opinion page the success that it has become.
This year we published 72 letters to the editor on a variety of topics. The overwhelming majority of these were written by local residents. But some were from readers who hail from far and wide, have some connection to the Moapa Valley and enjoy keeping that connection current through reading the Progress. We are gratified that these folks can do that. We appreciate all of the time and effort taken by all of those who wrote in to share their views.
Those writers of letters who have appeared in print include: Mike and Kim Otero, Philip Long, Dave and Kathy Cooper, Kimberly Witter, Vicki Wendt, M.V. Little League Board, Shelly Benkman, Julie Nelsen, Taylor Cordaro, Howard and Ruth Cragun, Kyle Cardinal, Jeanne Crayton, Stacey DuPee, Ralph and Dorene Starita, Belva Peacock, Lita Fisher, Chloie Leavitt, Jim Cencer, Lindsey Dalley, Ron Dalley, Bob Abbey, Marla La Master, Matt Hodkowski, Jim Scanlon, Cher Freeman, Ann Gaball and Ellecia Stone, Katherine Peek, Carol Schreiner, Cecilia Johnston, Cliven Bundy, Faith Braud, Lyndy Omer, Lori Waters, Annie C. Leavitt, Mandie Matheson, Lily Cai, Dorothy Shurtliff Fetherston, Ace Robison, Bridget Russo, Jinx Johnson, April Heath, Richard Barclay, Nate Woolston, Commissioner Tom Collins, Betty Heitmann, Tamara Harding, Abigail Brill, Rose Falin, Christine Trombley, Dennis Vance, Amy Hansen, Lee Robison, Jinx and Audrey Johnson, Bill and Sallee McCrea and Sharon Larsen.
We have also been pleased to publish more extended views in longer op-ed columns that are more detailed than a simple letter to the editor can be. Some of these have come from our readers. Others have come from other experts in various fields. These have added depth to the Opinion page. We thank the following for their contribution in these articles: Esther Ramos, Scott King, Dustin Nelson, Bill Wilson, Elise McAllister, Alec Stump, Scarlet Newman, Karen Budd-Falen, Susan Waite, Paul Driessen, Sidney Bounds, Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., Natalie Crosby, Judge Lanny Waite, Donna Swanson, Renae Terry, Delmar Leatham and Laura Bledsoe
The heart of a good Opinion page is its Editorial column which expresses the views of the newspaper and invites thoughtful response from readers. Progress Editor Vernon Robison was also recognized by the NPA and received the Best Editorial Writing Award for the year 2012. During the past year, the Progress Editorials weighed in on a variety of subjects including voter turnout, local business conditions, school ranking systems, Gold Butte, May Day and a number of political endorsements. These columns offered a jumping off point for diverse community discussion among our readership.
In addition, Robison this year offered a new series of columns entitled “From The Editor’s Desk”. These usually appeared in this same space on the Opinion page, but rather than offering the newspaper’s institutional opinion, they were simply his own views. Topics ranged from his feelings about the St. Thomas Alive successes to problems arising with his daughter’s struggles in school to fences being built between commercial buildings in downtown Overton to frustrations over the Park Service treatment of the Overton Beach road closure. And there were plenty more views expressed in this series of columns; all published with the desire to spark a community dialogue among our readers.
Dr. Larry Moses has also faithfully and graciously continued contributing his wonderful column “No One Asked Me But…” each week to this page. It has produced a steady stream of response from our readers; both in agreement of his views and in sharp opposition. This is just as it should be. Dr. Moses is now in his sixth year of writing this excellent column and we again appreciate his weekly efforts to making this page exceptional.
Finally, we take this final opportunity to wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous New Year! We look forward to the issues of community importance that may arise in the upcoming year and we look forward to hearing from all of you with your unique and valued perspectives on local, state, national and global events. Please keep your opinions coming our way.
Thanks, Moapa Valley, for reading the Progress!
