That was the word last week from the National Park Service regarding the water at the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. Last week, the Park Service lifted a no-swim advisory in the area after lab results showed no toxin producers were found in the water.

Park officials had issued an advisory on June 8 after a foamy substance, and around 25 dead carp, were observed across an 8-mile stretch of the northern part of the lake. It apparently had generated from the Virgin River confluence and stretched as far as Echo Bay.

But the advisory was lifted on Wednesday, June 12 after investigation into the foam had deemed that it was nontoxic. Park service officials say they have still not determined what the substance was.

“While we haven’t received anything definitive as to the cause, we have reasonably evaluated the situation,” said Christie Vanover, park spokesperson. “Through all the scientific investigation, nothing dangerous to humans has been found.”

The National Park Service worked with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to test the water and conduct field observations. All water samples tested in the normal range for water temperature, specific conductance, pH and dissolved oxygen values. The foam appeared to be made up of proteins released from the dead algae.

“It is unclear if the fish die-off was related to the foam,” said Vanover. “The foam does seem to be dissipating and no recently dead fish have been found. We will continue to observe the area with routine patrols.”

The incident occurred during a time that has traditionally been busy on the northern end of the Lake. It affected one major event that was to be held over the weekend in the Overton Arm. The Nevada INT League, known as the “Little League of Watersports” was scheduled to bring its Wake Series to the Echo Bay area on June 14-15. Park officials expected this event to bring about 100 participants and their families to the area. But early in the week, in view of the swimming advisory, the organization opted for a change in venue holding the event in Newberry Springs, California instead. The organization is scheduled to hold additional events at Echo Bay later this summer.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our visitors,” Vanover said. “Our first priority is always visitor safety.”

Moapa Valleey Progress

MVHS 2013 graduates l to r Tiffany Marshall, Danielle Lyon, Hanna Leavitt and Breanna Harding celebrate following the MVHS Commencement ceremonies held on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of Debby Leavitt.

The students of Moapa Valley High School’s Class of 2013 celebrated a day they have long been waiting for. The school held its Commencement Ceremony at the Jeff Keel Stadium on Thursday June 6. In the warm evening the administration, students and proud family members gathered for this important event.

The audience stood as the graduates marched to the traditional Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar. Graduates McKenzie Harris and Coralynn Stevens began the program by singing the National Anthem.

In attendance at the ceremony were CCSD Academic Manager Andrea Klafter-Phillips and CCSD Trustees Chris Garvey and Dr. Linda Young.

MVHS Principal Grant Hanevold recognized both board members for their role in the approval of a new gymnasium for the school.

“Garvey presented it to the board and Trustee Young gave the final vote,” Hanevold said. “They have had a huge part in making it a reality.”

Student Body President Kaden Kelson leads the procession as the MVHS Class of 2013 enter the stadium for the Commencement Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Debby Leavitt.

Garvey thanked everyone for their help in the battle for the gym. “If we are a little lucky, we will be able to have graduation in air conditioning next year,” she said to applause from the audience.

MVHS Valedictorians Cody Gollahon, Kassandrya Goodman, Tabitha Witskin and Salutatorian Kenna McMurray gave their addresses to the class.

“How does having the highest GPA gives me the right to stand before you and give advice?” Gollahon asked his classmates. “Wisdom takes experience and we are all equal in that field.”

In his closing remarks Gollahon read a letter he wrote to Mr. Hanevold representing the class of 2013. In the letter Gollahon quoted Hanevold’s favorite movie, The Breakfast Club.

“Society sees us as it wants to see us, but what we found out through high school is that each one of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal,” he said.

Kimberly Marshall, Leah Bradbury, and Naomi Bessy get together for a photo after the 2013 MVHS Graduation on Thursday Photo by Stephanie Bunker/Moapa Valley Progress.

Kassandrya Goodman said that the class has had a great 4 years but are now headed for better things.

“But one day we will be parents,” she said.

Those in the class will be able to raise their own kids that will one day be graduating too, she said.

“I hope every last one of us can take a challenge with stride,” Goodman said.

“My family has been my guiding compass,” said Valedictorian Tabitha Witsken in her speech. “I come from a long line of college graduates, it is my legacy.”

She asked the students what their legacy is. She gave examples that some may serve a church mission, go to college, enter the armed forces, or some may just party like there’s no tomorrow!

“Only live your own legacy,” Witsken advised.

Salutatorian Kenna McMurray reflected on the times the class had together.

“We have made memories that will make us miss this school,” she said. But there will also be many good times ahead.”

She said that the trials the students would face in life would mould them into who they will become.

McMurray thanked teachers, friends, and her parents. “People have helped us get here and without them we couldn’t be who we are today,” she said.

Hanevold said that he was sad that this was his last graduation at Moapa Valley High School. He has taken a new position as principal of Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas.

Nevertheless he emphasized, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”

During the ceremony he told the students they have been a high achieving and exemplary school, “You name it we have it.” He said he has been in the school district for 24 years and the last 7 at MVHS years have been the best ones yet. Hanevold assured the community that he will remain a Moapa Valley resident and, “…a part of me will always be a Pirate!”

Moapa Valley Progress

One locally-generated bill that passed at the State Legislature, the Farm to Fork bill, was signed into law by the Governor last week. Pictured l to r Quail Hollow Farm owners Laura and Monte Bledsoe, Governor Brian Sandoval and the bill’s sponsor Assemblyman Cresent Hardy.

Nevada lawmakers finally wrapped up the 77th Legislative Session last week. And it was not a moment too soon. The final day of the session ended at midnight on Monday night, June 3, with a series of key bills that still had not passed. Governor Brian Sandoval then called for a Special Sessionto finish up the last items that had been left undone. This began on Tuesday at 6:45 a.m.

In the days following, after the dust had a chance to clear, the Progress spoke to each of the four Legislators who represent the local community in Carson City. We asked their take on some of the bills that most directly affected the local communities.

The item first on everyone’s mind was the Energy Bill (Senate Bill 123) which, after hot debate, was passed in the Assembly late Monday night. This bill brings a landmark shift in the state’s energy policy, away from coal power plants, and mandates investment in renewable energy sources and cleaner burning natural gas.

This major policy shift came with a significant political push behind it. It had support from regional utility NV Energy, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, the state’s major casinos, the major labor unions and the environmental lobby.

This bill also had a direct relation to the Moapa Valley as it called for the early retirement of Reid Gardner Power Plant in Moapa. The bill outlines that units 1, 2 and 3 at Reid Gardner would be retired by next year, six years ahead of schedule. Unit 4 would be taken offline by 2017.

The Moapa Band of Paiutes, whose tribal village lies just adjacent to Reid Gardner, celebrated the bill’s passage last week.

“When we first started to call for the closure of Reid Gardner, we were told it couldn’t be done,” said Vickie Simmons, leading member of the Moapa Band of Paiutes Health and Environmental Committees. “Now, with this legislation, we are close to our goal. The coal plant that has for years poisoned our reservation will finally close and be cleaned up.”

But the four legislators representing the Moapa Valley communities were concerned about the impact that the plant’s closure might have on the local economy.

Assemblyman James Oscarson, who represents Moapa and Logandale, said that he had thought long and hard before finally voting in favor of the bill.

“It is such a significant thing for Moapa Valley,” Oscarson said. “We’ve taken a hit with marinas closing and the economy and everything. I just didn’t think that we could take the hit in losing those jobs. That was my primary concern.”

Oscarson said that the turning point for him was in a one-on-one conversation he had with NV Energy CEO Michael Yackira.

“He assured me that there would be no layoffs to that plant,” Oscarson said. “That was crucial for me.”

Oscarson said that he had also gotten many letters from local residents who wanted the coal burning plant shut down.

“I did get letters from local people asking me to make sure that the plant doesn’t continue causing the problems that it is believed that it created,” Oscarson said. “There are perceptions about coal dust and things. They asked me to help in that and I believe that we responded to the constituents needs.”

State Senator Pete Goicoechea also voted in favor of SB 123. But he said he had some misgivings about the direction in energy policy that it would take the state.

“Even though the bill seems like it is focused on ‘no coal’, we all know better than that,” said Goicoechea who represents Moapa and Logandale. “I’m very concerned about the enviros focused on all natural gas. That’s all fine right now when we are at a low market for gas. But gas prices have been much higher in the past and we will be there again. Coal has to be an option into the future.”

In respect to Reid Gardner, Goecoechea said he could see the writing on the wall. “I think that all of us understood the fact that the plant was doomed given the cost of retrofitting it,” Goicoechea said. “So I was pleased to hear that we got a commitment from NV Energy that there would be no layoffs from that facility.”

Senator Joe Hardy, who represents Overton, said that in earlier versions of the bill, he was concerned about a loosening of Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulation that the bill would bring for NV Energy.

“In the first version, the PUC was only going to have input after everything was over,” Hardy said. “That all went away in subsequent amendments. The PUC was put back in place. In fact, I can’t think of a thing that we were concerned about that wasn’t resolved in some fashion.”

Hardy also voted for the bill.

Assemblyman Cresent Hardy was the only local representative who voted against the bill. He said that he was uncomfortable with the way it had come through to the Assembly.

“I just don’t think that it was good policy for the state,” Hardy said. “Everyone wanted to tell us that we needed to do what was necessary and that coal power is a thing of the past. But my belief is that with a different president we would have a completely different story. It is politics.”

Cresent Hardy was also the sponsor on the locally-born “farm to fork” bill. This bill was sparked by local Quail Hollow Farm owners Laura and Monte Bledsoe. The Bledsoe’s wanted to be able to serve up a gourmet dinner, made from their own produce, on their farm each year without having to pass a full health inspection like a restaurant would.

Cresent Hardy’s bill (AB 200) had near universal support in both houses of the legislature. It was quickly signed into law by Gov. Sandoval in a ceremony held Monday morning.

“I thought it went very well,” Hardy said. “We didn’t get everything that we wanted. But I told the Bledsoes that that’s how it works sometimes. You have to take small bites of the apple so that you can come back for another bite later.”

Oscarson was also in favor of the Farm to Fork bill.

“This is all part of that whole component of people being able to go back to the land and use those resources to generate income for their family,” Oscarson said. “Cresent did a great job of lobbying it to the folks in both houses so it was able to move forward.”

Along the same vein, another bill (SB 206) which passed both chambers with unanimous support, allowed for at-home cottage industries to produce jams and jellies and sell them without health inspections.

“This gets back to the pomegranate jelly that Moapa Valley is famous for,” said Sen. Joe Hardy. “It will make things much easier for the Pomegranate Festival folks.”

Another home-grown bill sponsored by Cresent Hardy was brought by the Partners In Conservation (PIC) organization. This bill (AB 381), which received unanimous support in both houses, recognized the cultural significance of historic St. Thomas, Nevada. It encouraged the State’s Office of Historic Preservation to collaborate with PIC in developing programs for the preservation of historical culture of St. Thomas.

“It was another feel-good bill that everyone seemed to get behind,” Hardy said. “They liked the idea of historic preservation. And we drafted it in a broad way so that it applies to anything related to St. Thomas and is fairly broad reaching in the region.”

Another hot button bill for Moapa Valley residents was the gun control bill (SB 221), which expands background check requirements to private party firearm sales. The measure ended up passing amid emotional floor debate. But all four representatives of Moapa Valley voted against it; and all four were hoping for a veto from the Governor.

“That bill was not about mental health and guns,” said Pete Goicoechea, who openly carries a .45 pistol wherever he goes. “It was really about a gun registry. And I am obviously opposed to that. We have a constitutional right to bear arms.”

Joe Hardy said that the bill did nothing to prevent criminals from getting guns; or to prevent mentally impaired people from going on a killing spree.

“People who have a psychotic break, you can’t predict who they are or when it is going to happen; medical experts can’t even predict it,” Hardy said. “So how do you stop someone going into a movie theatre or a school or wherever and shooting people? How do you predict it?”

Hardy said that, historically, the only thing that stops such a person once they have been identified is; either they commit suicide or they get shot by someone else with a gun.

Hardy had earlier presented a bill (SB 223) which tried to address the roots of this problem. But the bill never made it out of committee.

“My bill would have allowed volunteers, trained people, to carry on school campuses,” Hardy said. “Then there would be more people ready to stop those tragic events.”

Moapa Valley Progress

Another step was taken last week in the effort to bring the Gold Butte complex under additional federal protection. On Thursday, June 6, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to create a 348,515 acre national conservation area (NCA) in the region of Gold Butte: a vast area lying south of Bunkerville, between the Overton arm of Lake Mead and the Arizona border.

“Gold Butte is a state treasure and Nevada’s piece of the Grand Canyon,” said Horsford in a written statement. “This site should be preserved and protected for future generations.”

The bill is similar to one that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) submitted in the Senate last month. Like that bill, it would recognize 129,000 acres to be designated as federally protected wilderness in the region; as well as another 92,000 acres of wilderness within the adjacent Lake Mead Recreation Area.

In addition, Horsford’s bill adds a number of elements perceived as sweeteners to build support among northeast Clark County residents who have expressed fears that such a bill would simply restrict public access.

For example, Horsford’s bill would authorize a visitor’s center to be located in Mesquite which would be intended to act as a draw for tourists and a source of information about the region.

In addition, the bill would provide for a new boat ramp access to Lake Mead to be built on the east side of the Lake. The exact location of the proposed access road and ramp is not specified.

The bill also states that a study be completed with focus on existing and designated routes outside the NCA. Based on that study, a plan for “an Off-Highway Vehicle Trail” would be developed for the region. A preferred route for the trail would then be identified and designated, once it was determined that the trail “would not have significant negative impacts on wildlife, natural or cultural resources or traditional uses”.

Finally, the bill would create a Virgin Valley Tourism and Economic Advisory Council made up of 13 volunteer members. This would include four appointed from Mesquite; one each from the towns of Bunkerville, Moapa Valley, Moapa and the Moapa Band of Paiutes; as well as five at-large members appointed upon recommendation from the Clark County Commission.

The Council would be established to advise the Secretary of Interior on economic development initiatives for the region.

Horsford stated that these added provisions had arisen from meetings he held with residents and community leaders in northeast Clark County.

But leaders in the smaller rural communities contested that claim last week. On the contrary, community leaders in Moapa, Moapa Valley and Bunkerville say that they were not consulted by Horsford at all regarding the bill before it was presented. In fact, the first time many of them were contacted by Horsford’s staff was on Thursday, just after the legislation had been introduced.

Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board Chairman Gene Houston was one of those leaders. He said he received a call from a member of Horsford’s staff on Thursday expressing an interest to meet and discuss the bill. But it quickly became apparent to Houston that the staffer wasn’t entirely knowledgeable about the basics of the issue much less its local subtleties.

“I asked if they had been out to the Gold Butte area to see what was on the ground there,” Houston said. “They said they hadn’t even been out there, they had just flown over it in a helicopter. I told them they might want to go out to the area and experience it from the ground. I offered that we could take them out there and bring them up to speed.”

“They wanted to schedule a public meeting right away; and that was fine,” Houston said. “But, you know, the people in these communities have been living with this issue for years. They are just now starting out and this is a pretty volatile issue. Having a public meeting at this point will be like them being in Kindergarten and talking to someone who is graduating college. Not much will be accomplished and it is just going to tick people off.”

Lindsey Dalley, Chairman of Partners in Conservation (PIC), also received his first call from Horsford’s office on Thursday. He recognized that the Advisory Council idea put forward by the bill is similar to a concept discussed years ago. But the Council’s function set forth in the bill didn’t live up to the concept’s original intent, which was to ensure local control in the core conservation management planning for the area. That local control was an essential factor, Dalley said.

“Otherwise, the only real function of this board is to decide which posters should be put up at the Visitor’s Center,” Dalley said. “And that is just not what we had in mind.”

Moapa Town Advisory Board Chairman Craig Wolfley also received his first call from Horsford’s office on Thursday He said that he had told the staffer that he’d prefer the region be placed as a conservation area under Clark County.

“I’m not hugely in favor of the County government either, but if it was in County control at least we would have a little bit of say in the matter,” Wolfley said. “I think that it is not so much a matter of what we do, but a matter of who does it. If we keep things locally, we can decide what is needed and if we make mistakes we can change it. If the federal government makes mistakes, there is no backing up. Instead it will just get tighter and tighter until we aren’t allowed to even fly over it, much less drive into it.”

The bill was news to Bunkerville Town Board Chairman Steven Waite. By Friday afternoon last week, he had not receive any notice at all from Horsford’s office about it. After having a chance to review it, Waite said that he was concerned that the bill would not be effective in bringing conservation efforts that really count.

“In an economy that struggles to fund the proper policing of Gold Butte now, I can’t foresee sufficient monies that will ‘police’ and ‘improve’ this new NCA,” Waite said. “I can agree that Gold Butte needs to be protected, but the question is: From whom? Good citizens do not vandalize the petroglyphs, they do not violate the laws. This bill will restrict interaction in Gold Butte for families who have ties to that area for generations–ties that someone in Washington or Vegas has little knowlege of. Those inconsiderate few who care little for our history or our surroundings will still find time to deface and pollute the beauties of Gold Butte.”

The one community that Horsford apparently consulted in the bill draft was the City of Mesquite. The visitor’s center and boat ramp ideas came from suggestions made city officials.

In an email to the Progress last week, Mesquite Mayor Mark Wier explained the origin of the boat ramp concept.

“When asked by the Senator’s and Congressman’s staff: ‘What does Mesquite feel would have an economic impact for the City in the region?’, we have responded with: ‘A boat ramp on the east shore of Lake Mead,” Wier stated in the email. “7.7 million people visit the lake every year. If a boat ramp were placed on the east shore, it would be reasonable to believe Mesquite’s hotel stays would increase, along with sales of gas and groceries.”

But the boat ramp proposal came as a slap in the face to Moapa and Moapa Valley leaders who are still smarting over the closure of the Overton Beach launch and the more recent reduction in services at Echo Bay.

“It looks to me like another government swindle,” said Wolfley. “They have promised Mesquite some money in the way of a tourist attraction. I assume that they have bought in to the deal and are willing to trade Gold Butte for a little bit of hopeful income to their village.

“But to think that we have a perfectly good launch ramp at Overton Beach, with all the infrastructure in place, that we can’t get to at all. We’ve been pleading with them for years now to open it back up and they won’t spend the little bit of money it takes to repair and maintain it. And to think that now we are going to build a brand new road across this landscape and into the National Park and put in a launch ramp? Are we supposed to believe that they are going to do that? It’s never going to happen.”

“It is all horse trading as far as I’m concerned,” said Houston. “Most of the deals are bringing Mesquite in. But there has been no real discussion with the other communities.

“I get concerned with these things added in to sweeten things up. They say they are offering these things. We saw that at Sloan Canyon NCA a few years ago, they offered lots of stuff, promised that roads would be left open, but when all was said and done they closed it down.”

Horsford has said that the current bill is merely in draft form and that changes can be made as input from the communities is received.

“I look forward to announcing a series of additional meetings in the next two weeks with other members of the community on this project,” Horsford said in a written statement. “This legislation will continue to be worked on and developed in an open and transparent manner, and I look forward to receiving more input from the residents in Moapa, Overton, Bunkerville, and Mesquite.”

Northeast county community leaders are welcoming this opportunity for input and dialog.

“I offered to take Horsford and his staff out to Gold Butte and show them around,” Houston said. “If they haven’t been out there and seen our heritage there, they don’t know anything about what they are proposing to take away from us. I’d welcome the opportunity to show them why we have these concerns and why we feel so strongly about it.”

Mayor Wier also felt that broad stakeholder input was essential in the process.

“From the time I took office, I have reiterated the need to include all the local stakeholders in this issue,” Wier said. “I am looking forward to the public meetings that have been promised by [our Congressional offices] to find viable solutions for addressing the concerns voiced by local stakeholders. I would like to see specific dates, times and locations for those meetings.”

Moapa Valley Progress

Students from the local NorthStar Commonwealth homeschool program will present an original play entitled, “All Hallows Eve” this week. While many kids have left the rigours of academia for the summer, the Northstar youth have been working hard to; not only write the play; but to cast it, practice it, and perform it as well.

The play strays away from the program’s normal productions of Shakespeare. This play was written by students Jade Day and Jessica Lawter and includes dance pieces performed by the the all-student cast.

“The most fun part of doing the play is being able to see my friends and myself grow in many ways,” says young playwright Jessica Lawter. “Another thing I like is spending time with my friends. My favorite parts are the bloopers and the dances, because I love to dance.”

The play will be performed tomorrow night, June 13, from 7-8 pm, at the Old Logandale School.

The play will feature Jade Day, Heather Jones, Teah and Chandler Stump, Jacob, Jessica, and Katie Lawter, Summer Omer, and Sean Parent. These students have been working very hard and the play is part of their curriculum.

Everyone is welcome to come and watch all the work that the students have put into the play. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family. All proceeds go directly to fund students’ tuition and fees. A bake sale will also be held to help raise funds for the students.

“The kids have worked really hard,” said Kay Parent, a mother of one of the performers. “ It’s going to be a fun play to see.”

The play is under the direction of Beth Lawter, Lyndy Omer, and Raina Stump.

Hansen’s home in Cedar City, UT, has provided a fascinating landscape that led her to expand her education by taking university courses in art and design

“I love watercolors,” she said. “I love the way the colors mix on the painting surface creating their own forms and colors.”

She also creates wheel-thrown pottery and decorative gourds. Hansen is a member of the Moapa Valley Art Guild.

Carstensen works with watercolors and acrylics. She enjoys painting many different subjects in nature and among her favorite subjects is wildlife in Pine Valley, UT.

Pfeiffer is vice president of the Virgin Valley Arts Association. She said she was interested in painting and drawing at an early age. She has continued to sketch and took up oil painting in high school. Her interest in flowers led her to become a floral designer in the Los Angeles area. She now paints with watercolors and has displayed her art in local galleries.

The museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5, children and members enter free. For more information, call the museum at (702) 397-2193.

Well, things have gotten off to a rocky start! Of course, ‘start’ may not be the best word for a struggle that has been ongoing for more than a decade. But it is the start of the most recent battle over what to do about Gold Butte. Last week was also apparently the start, after six months in office, of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) engaging anyone in the Moapa Valley on this issue.

Unfortunately this start has not been very pretty! Last week Horsford presented a bill in the House to create a national conservation area (NCA) at Gold Butte with federal wilderness. Nothing new there, we’ve seen that before.

What’s more, the bill was presented without Horsford or his staff having consulted anyone in the towns of Moapa Valley, Moapa or Bunkerville first. We’ve seen that before, too.

To be fair, though, Horsford’s staff did reportedly make a round of phone calls to a few leaders in those communities just AFTER the bill had been introduced; just as a sort of courteous “by the way”.

As a result, some of the more subtle intricacies of the bill were off just a bit. There were provisions in the bill that stepped on a few toes and irritated some sore spots. And in a couple of instances, the bill was just downright insulting to residents of the small rural communities.

Nevertheless, Mr. Horsford has admitted that his bill is just a draft; a working document still to be perfected. He has committed to hold meetings in the local communities to listen to the views of all stakeholders here. We hope that he does.

Through the years, the residents of the rural communities have always welcomed the opportunity to be involved in conservation efforts at Gold Butte. And, though many local residents now feel sidelined by Mr. Horsford in his presentation of this bill, they are still reasonable and forgiving people. They understand that Mr. Horsford and his staff are new in the position. So most folks are willing to start off again on a new foot with the Congressman.

So, Mr. Horsford, in that spirit of cooperation; and recognizing that you are unfamiliar with the political dynamics of our small communities; we would humbly offer you a few pieces of advice in dealing with the local residents on this issue.

1. Reach out and open the lines of communication. It’s true. Anyone that looks at the result of the last election can see that the voters of the northeast rurals did not vote for you. We are clearly on separate sides of the political divide. But that doesn’t mean that we should be avoided like a bad dog on a chain. You are our representative and we have issues that need attention. Come out here; both send your staff out and come out personally; for a visit once in a while.

Meet with us here in our communities, listen to us, work to develop relationships of trust and build inroads here. You can’t just schedule a meeting in the City of Mesquite and claim that you’ve got us all covered. It just doesn’t work that way.

Remember the wise words of Tip O’Neill, “All politics is local”. This isn’t Washington, and it’s not Las Vegas. This is rural Nevada and you have an awful lot of it in your district. So arrange a visit and come spend some time getting to know us.

2. Build on common ground. You should not underestimate the value that the residents of these communities place upon the Gold Butte region. This battle is not about us retaining our recreation privileges at Gold Butte. It is NOT about recreation. Rather it is about preserving access to our heritage.

The barren deserts of Gold Butte have great historical significance to us. Many of our residents have ancesters that have worked and struggled there to scratch out a living in a harsh environment. For generations since, we have been drawn to those places, as almost holy spots, to remember our heritage. Fathers have taken their sons to see and experience what their grandfathers and great grandfathers did before them. This is not just about where we can ride our OHVs. Gold Butte is a part of who we are and where we came from.

So we are certainly not against conservation efforts. We have watched with concern as increased visitation has taken its toll on areas that are precious to us. For many years, we have taken the initiative and formed volunteer efforts to conserve and protect the area when there was no federal agency funding to do so. In those cases we have worked right alongside those federal agencies to get the job done. Along the way, we have instilled a sense of ownership in our people for those sensitive lands. Now, isn’t that the very heart of conservation efforts?

In any case, we welcome common-sense and effective conservation efforts at Gold Butte. So there is a lot of common ground upon which we can build.

3. Don’t get stuck inside the box. You have, by now, been accosted by special interests whose only agenda is to have you procure vast quantities of federal wilderness. This is so they can check it off their list, give themselves credit for it and move on.

We’ve found that these measures alone are limiting to real conservation efforts and don’t have much real value. After all, areas of wilderness are self-evident at Gold Butte. Declaring them so doesn’t make much real difference; except to the special interests raising funds back in Washington.

We’d just advise that you step outside the wilderness box for a moment. Consider a broader range of conservation measures that have real value and that will make a difference on the ground.

These are things local folks have been working on out there all along. After all, we are independent rural residents. We are not accustomed to, nor do we particularly want, the federal government taking care of our every need. We’ve witnessed that the further away decisions are made, the more ‘one-size-fits-all’ the result becomes. And we don’t like ‘one-size-fits-all’!

So we would like to have local control over conservation efforts at Gold Butte. We’d welcome federal support in those locally-born efforts. But we have difficulty when things are set up the other way around. We have seen it time and time again: when federal agencies are in control and the locals are relegated to an advisory capacity, we end up being locked out. Decisions are made without us and we lose access to the resource. In this case the loss would be truly great.

So whatever you want to call the region; whether it be an NCA or a county conservation park; step outside the box and do something different; something special. Hand the primary management decisions over to local people who value the resource the most and who know it the best. Then give us a means of federal backup support to enforce rules and get the job done.

4. Don’t try to placate us with empty promises. When it comes to federal lands, we’ve been around the block before. Making claims about all of the economic benefits we will derive from locking up vast tracts of land is not going to carry much water with us.

A visitor’s center in Mesquite, 30 miles away from the boundary of the proposed NCA, won’t help Moapa, Moapa Valley or Bunkerville much. It might help Mesquite a little, but we doubt it. No one has provided any reliable data on that yet. So it sounds a lot to us like a waste of federal dollars that ought to be better spent in locally-led, common-sense conservation efforts.

Here’s something else. Given the history of the National Park Service’s inexplicable lock-down of Overton Beach, and their bungling away of the services at Echo Bay, your new boat ramp idea is just salt in the wound for Moapa Valley business owners and residents. It’s truly nothing more than that.

Even if you could swing it with the Park Service to build this new boat ramp to nowhere, it would be absolutely insulting to Moapa Valley folks, who have felt the devastating economic affects of the virtual closure of the Overton Arm by the Park Service. That you didn’t instead spend the political capital to get the chain across the Overton Beach road removed would be deeply resented in Moapa Valley.

In the end, Gold Butte is too important to us to try to buy us off with empty concessions. Make sure that your promises to us count. And make sure you can keep them.

5. Have the courage to represent us. We know that you are under immense pressure from wilderness groups, Congressional colleagues and big urban Las Vegas developers to get this done and to get it done quick.

But we’d just remind you that you are our representative in Congress. You represent the people, not the special interests.

Up to now in this saga, it seems you have listened a lot to those others and not so much to the people here that will be most affected by this bill.

But it is incumbent upon you; and it is the honorable thing; to listen to us, to get to know us, to learn about our concerns, to be familiar with our interests and to represent us in Washington.

That is your role as a Congressman. So our final advice to you is: please have the courage to play that role honorably.

No one asked me but… If anyone needed evidence that Nidal Hasan, the psychiatrist soldier who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, is a fanatical nutcase, they only needed to read his own defense for his actions. It is hard to believe that this act took place nearly three years ago and we are still waiting for justice to be served.

You may recall Nidal Hasan, an American born jihadist, went on a murderous rampage while screaming the Muslim extremist battle cry “Allah Akbar”; translated God is Great.

Government documents indicate that for years before the shootings, Hasan had told colleagues that the United States was waging war against Islam. In e-mails Hasan sent to a radical Muslim cleric, he indicated he supported the terrorists and was intrigued with the idea of U.S. soldiers killing comrades in the name of Islam.

While his extremist views were noted in yearly evaluations, he was continually promoted by those who feared they would be viewed as Islami-phobic if they opposed his advancement. Had his anti-Jewish and anti-American feelings been expressed against Muslims, he would have been cashiered out of the army.

The DOJ and others in the Obama administration have characterized Hasan’s action as “work-place violence”, not an act of terrorism. This may be understandable since the Obama Administration fails to recognize the war in Afghanistan as a war; it is merely an “overseas contingency”. This too may be a fair evaluation since Congress has never declared war on Muslim extremists.

When troops went into Iraq, Congress did not declare war, they merely gave the President war powers. Congress then allowed the President to send troops to Afghanistan under those same powers. I am not sure what Constitutional basis Congress has for giving war powers to the President without a declaration of war but that is an issue for another column.

Hasan has been indicted by a military court for 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. If convicted, he is facing a possible death penalty.

Now Hasan has added an interesting twist to the case. He has asked to represent himself and his defense will be “defense of others.” He is contending the killings were an attempt to protect others.

This would be a great defense in some cases. For instance, if a madman was running around a military base killing unarmed people and a person was to kill that individual. Oh! That’s almost what that security guard did in this case. Unfortunately, she only wounded Hasan.

When Hasan was asked who these “others” he was defending were, he replied the Taliban Leader Mullah Omar and “leadership of the Taliban in general” who were in immediate danger from the American troops occupying the Texas Army post. He stated this was evidenced by the continual attack by American troops on the Taliban.

If the judge allows this defense, I would suggest that the prosecution add treason to the charges he faces.

Treason is one of the few crimes actually mentioned in the Constitution. It was deliberately mentioned, and was included as a protection of free speech before the First Amendment was added to the Constitution.

In pre-revolutionary England, treason was very loosely defined and was used extensively by the imperial government to control those who opposed the government in any form. The founding fathers were well aware of the fact that they were standing in the shadow of this law when they verbally opposed the King. When they drew up the Constitution, they took a very restrictive view of treason. They were so concerned with it that they wrote Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution which states “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, given them Aid and Comfort. No person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open court.”

The penalty for treason is found in Public Law 113-9: “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”

Does Hasan’s actions meet the standard for treason? His very defense, that he killed the soldiers to protect the Taliban a declared enemy of the United States, would surely convict him. Since the Taliban and other Islamic extremist have declared war on the United States, his actions should qualify as an act of war against the United States.

Hasan’s own declaration that the United States was at war with Islam would make his actions those of one who is giving aid to those he perceived as an enemy of the United States. There are at least 30 more witnesses than the two required for conviction under the Constitution.

Hasan has confessed in open court that his actions were designed to aid those he perceived to be enemies of the United States. With Hasan’s actions, resulting in the murder of 13 soldiers, the death penalty which is the maximum under this law is more than reasonable.

Hasan should welcome these additional charges as they come about from the Constitution he pledged to defend when he joined the American army.

The oath he took was: “I, Nidal Hasan,…do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”

Maybe since he feels the God he recognizes is the not the God the Constitution was referring to, he feels his oath does not count.

Thought of the week… The United States did not choose to fight Islamic extremists. These terrorists chose to fight our way of life. They chose to challenge our existence.

- John Boehner

Pastor Wayne and Connie Evans.

Pastor Wayne Evans was recently assigned as the Lead Pastor of New Hope Christian Church in Overton.

Pastor Wayne, a graduate of Berean School of the Bible inSpringfield, MO., is credentialed with the Assemblies of God and has pastored at churches in Louisiana, New Mexico, Alaska, Idaho and Northern California.

Prior to this appointment, he and his wife were lead pastors at First Assembly of God in Marina, California for 13 years. Wayne also served on the District Presbytery for three years, representing the 24 churches in the Monterey Bay area.

Pastor Wayne and his wife Connie are also very active as Chaplains in the “HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry”, ministering to the biker community on the west coast. They believe this un-reached group of people merits a presentation of the gospel that is meaningful to them.

The couple said they look forward to continuing this outreach ministry and invite all those who live in or just “ride” through the Moapa Valley community to join each week for Church at New Hope – where everyone is welcome.

Evans has been married to his wife Connie for 41 years and they have two grown sons.

They are excited about the growth in the congregation at New Hope Christian Church and are looking forward to getting acquainted with their new home community as well.

All are welcome to greet them and get to know them personally. This Sunday, Father’s Day, would be an excellent time to do that. The service at New Hope will be followed by a potluck meal and a ‘get acquainted’ time. Services at New Hope Christian Church each week include Sunday School classes at 9:30 a.m. followed by Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Wayne can be reached at New Hope Christian Church (702) 397-8866.

Austin Ekenstam

Elder Austin Ekenstam returned home from the Texas McAllen Mission on June 5, 2013 after faithfully serving for two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He will be speaking on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. in the Logandale 5th Ward at the LDS Stake Center.

Elder Ekenstam is the son of DeVon and Marianne Ekenstam.

Connor Watts

Connor Watts

Connor Adrian Watts, son of Adrian and Lynne Watts of Logandale, has returned home after serving in the England Manchester Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He will be speaking in the Logandale 6th Ward this Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at 1605 West Hinckley Ave. Lunch will be served after meetings at Connor’s home, 2051 Wittwer. Everyone is welcome.