In many respects, the Opinion page of a newspaper, especially that of a small-town community newspaper, is its truest gauge of success. At least, that is the way we see it at the PROGRESS. Of course, the function of a community newspaper is to present all of the important local issues of the day as accurately, as objectively, and as comprehensively as possible. Every community newspaper strives to do that.
But that is really only a part of the equation. The best newspapers also allow an outlet for community discussion on those issues and topics. A newspaper Opinion page is meant to open the paper’s pages to its readers to express individual points of view on the issues of the day. This space is reserved for no other reason than to generate and encourage healthy discussion in the community. Because, we feel, if a newspaper’s Opinion page can do that, then it is a success.
Throughout the years, the PROGRESS Opinion page has always endeavored to provide an intelligent jumping off point for constructive community discourse. And a survey of this page over the past year shows that the free expression of opinion is still a strong way of life for the Moapa Valley community. We hope that it will always be so.
To begin with, plenty of important local, regional, state and national issues have come across the news desk at the PROGRESS this year; more than enough to keep our editorial staff busy throughout 2015. Our Editorial columns and our “From The Editor’s Desk” feature have successfully framed many issues this year.
We have, of course, expressed views on a variety of purely local matters. These have included the completion of the Cooper Street bridge, the adjustment of local utility rates to encourage growth, an appreciation for local educators, the rich history of M-week traditions, the pioneer heritage of our local post offices and much more.
We have also cast our eye further out, at issues more regional in nature. For example, we have commented on the Clark County School District’s handling of security in our local schools. We have cheered on local efforts to curb comprehensive reforms proposed to Sex Education curriculum in schools. We have shined a light on the voluminous Resource Management Plan drafted for public comment by the BLM and we have discussed its impacts for local residents. We have commented on other public lands matters ranging from Gold Butte, the new Basin and Range National Monument, Angeles Forest National Monument in California, and even the Burning Man activities on the Black Rock playa. In each of these cases we have explored how these relate to our own local struggles in public land management. All this is to just name a few.
We have also broadened our views from time to time far out to the state and national arena. We have frequently commented on the activity of the State legislature including bills to institute elections for rural Town Boards in Clark County, the new Business Tax, reorganization of the Clark County School District and more. And we have levelled criticisms of national policies and trends involving issues like federal oversight of health care, the pitfalls of environmental activism, the double-edged nature of race issues and “political correctness” in America and more.
These many editorial opinion pieces have not been written to manipulate public opinion or to tell people how they should think. In a community as intelligent, varied and thoughtful as Moapa Valley, that would be foolhardy. Rather our Editorials are published with the hope to spark a constructive conversation on these important issues.
And we seem to have been successful there!
The PROGRESS has received and published more than 40 letters to the editor this year. That is a goodly number for an off election year. We appreciate and value the time and effort taken by all of those who wrote in to share their views.
The writers of letters who have appeared in print during 2015 included: Esther Ramos, Jack Morgan, John E. Law, Jim Scanlon, Ralph Starita, Pastor Wayne Evans, Robert “Biker Bob” Kuczera, Parry Taylor, Tim Robison, Christian Collmar, Tom Morris, Keith Grimes, Tracey Cook, Sean McMurray, Bob St. Louis, Cindy McMurray, Karen Jensen, Carole Hegstrom, Par and Jenny Rasmusson, Genine Aiello, Pam Toulouse, Lois Hall, Dr. Phil Long, Kimberley Witter, Leighton Koehler, Edward Ofori DO, Heidi Lewis, Terri Robertson, Mary Kaye Washburn, Chris Green and Edmond Davis.
In addition, many people have posted hundreds of comments to our website at www.mvprogress.com. Most of these have not been published in the hardcopy of the newspaper but they definitely add to the community forum experience. Those few who provided names with their comments included: Tim Robison, Rodger Maxwell, P. Doyle Brown, Tedd Haas, Bob Adams, Lucy White, Abigail Snow, Lori and Richard Pedersen, Gary Abbott, Jim Scanlon, Deanna Hartson, Jason Wright, Shelly Bicknell, Jim Vallet, Jeff Jorgensen, Teresa Marren, Maureen Begley, Hank Dowling, Sandra Marshall, Jim Maniaci, Daniel Davis, Bob St. Louis, Bruce Layman, Maureen Skaar, Linda Smith, Sandy Saunier, Marty Buschman, William Luedke, Elder and Sister Rodney Nelson, Joan Leatham, Connie Withers, Mel Erickson, Ruth Tucker, Candyce Levine, Delores Lyon, Nadine Mickey, Carol Petrie, Debbie, Brodbeck, John Broca, Ed Roberts, Maureen Esposito, Stephanie Tobler, Robert Stringer, Diane Brown, Julie Smith, La’Kalea Caplinger, Trenton Robison, Harold Cohn, Jack Badlander, Alan and Mindy King, Gregory Schwob, Duane Smallwood, Kathy Manoff, Kevin Pickett, Frank and Linda Johnson, Trakar Shaitanaku, Tammy Abbott, Jerry Brown, Clea Whitney, Ann Gaball, Sean O’Neill, Vernon Lytle, Rob Mrowka, Jim Boone, Craig Tame, Jacque Bush, Bobbie Ann Howell, Mariilynn Pray, Barbara Scalzo, Donna Whitney Patten, Stephanie Tatgenhorst, Haunani Taylor, Ivie Walker, Betty and Christine Trombley, Alisha Hooks, Jennifer Weiderman, Michael Stewart, Whitney Donohue, Valerie Holt, Bernice Curtis, Joe Elliott, Kim Rogers, Val Smith, Bob Cronshey, Jeni Bristol and Dan Hoffman.
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 experts in various fields. These have added depth to the PROGRESS Opinion page. We thank the following for their contribution in these articles: Keith Grimes, Trustee Chris Garvey, Ace Robison, Esther Ramos, Lindsey Dalley, MVCEAB Chairwoman Cindy McMurray, Tom Baker and Nancy Grimes.
For the ninth year running, we once again express our utmost appreciation to Dr. Larry Moses who continues to faithfully compose, each week, his popular column “No One Asked Me But…” With his perfect mixture of humor, self-deprecating wit and in-depth knowledge of the issues, Doc. Moses continues to serve as a remarkable sounding board for our readers on a whole range of issues.
We at the PROGRESS fully comprehend the staggering amount of work which goes into producing a weekly column; especially one that maintains the high level of quality that Dr. Moses has consistently achieved throughout the years. We are grateful to him for it. We have said it before, and we say it again: The PROGRESS just wouldn’t be the same without Doc Moses!
Finally, we at the PROGRESS would take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very happy New Year! Over the next twelve months, we will face the commonplace events and sudden surprises; the happiness and heartbreaks; the victories and defeats; the joys and perils of a new coming year. and we will do it together as a community. Our staff looks forward to bringing all of these things to our pages during 2016. And we look forward to hearing from any and all of you, our loyal readership, with your unique and valued perspectives on the news items of the day; whatever they may be.
Please don’t keep your opinions to yourselves! They are always welcome here on this page.
And, once again, thank you, Moapa Valley, for reading the PROGRESS!
