By DR. LARRY MOSES
No One Asked Me But… County commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick is presently championing the expansion of the Logandale Sports Complex located across from the Clark County Fairgrounds. When this project was original purposed, nearly 25 years ago, by the then-Moapa Valley Parks and Recreation Director James Robison the plans included four baseball fields, two soccer pitches, an outdoor basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a number of picnic areas, a rollerblade area, a set of tennis courts, as well as a recreation and aquatics center. These plans also included adequate parking.
Years ago, the first phase of this project was completed which included two ballfields, and a large picnic area. With the Clark County School District limiting the use of school fields and facilities, these fields have been a boon to the community. Just a note, these limitation are not due to our local school officials; it is the action of the Central Office of CCSD that has caused the shortage of usable gym and field facilities.
In a 2019 interview with The Progress, current Director of Parks and Recreation John Stastny stated: “We have pretty much run out of turf space. All of the fields are booked solid and we are still seeing conflicts between different programs over time on the fields.”
This problem is exacerbated by the fact that during much of the year the temperatures in the valley drives most outdoor activity to the evening hours. This requires lighted fields. Without the use of school facilities, there is not enough fields to house the groups that are seeking to use the parks.
I believe an expanded sports complex would benefit the community economically. The Director of the Sports complex could develop soccer, baseball, club football, and other tournaments that would draw people into our community. As school sports are in danger of disappearing, club programs will become more important and with a local venue our parents and children will not have to always leave the valley to participate.
At the time of this writing, I am not privileged to information as to how much of a build-out our commissioner is supporting, but anything would be of a benefit to the community. The community members interested in this project might want to organize and explore additional funding sources to help complete a total build out. There are federal grant monies available for small communities. With the federal government’s infrastructure programs looking for projects to employ people, we might find ourselves as prime candidates. We might want to get our Senators and Congressman on board.
Commissioner Kirkpatrick has been very supportive of our community and it is important that we now support her efforts on our behalf. She has asked that members of the community support her efforts by letter or e-mail. I sent my e-mail this week and I hope you will join me in this effort.
No one asked me but… I am confused. I was first told to wear a mask to protect myself from COVID 19. I was told to follow the science and listen to the experts. The experts then told me that the mask would not protect me from the virus. Wahoo! I don’t need a mask. But No! The scientists and experts said I still need to wear the mask to protect you from me.
The scientists and experts said that if you stay 6 feet away from me, you will be safe. The same experts said that if school students stay 3 feet away from each other, they will be safe. Apparently, the virus cannot travel as far when infecting children.
Let’s follow the scientist and medical experts they say. It would be much easier to do this if they made any sense and didn’t change their scientific admonitions every other day. Apparently, the virus is very selective. It will not attack an individual without a mask sitting at a table eating dinner. It will, however, attack anyone sitting at a bar drinking a beer.
A common run of the mill person listening to live music in a bar will be attacked by the virus; however, it would not dare attack the unmasked King Sisolak of Nevada as he listens to live music in his favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. The commoner apparently will be attack in a beauty salon but not Speaker of the House Pelosi. I will remove my hat and sun glasses, but don my mask, as I enter my credit union. I will wear the mask, not to protect me from you, or you from me, I will wear the mask to protect my local merchants from the secret police that has be established by King Sisolak.
Even though re-opening the businesses of America is going slowly jobs are coming back. Americans are going back to work. This is bad news for the party out of power and most Democrat Governors are hampering this revival until after the election. Win, lose or tie, after November 3, or however long it takes to decide the 2020 presidential election, the shutdown will end.
However, I find it rather disconcerting that the Democrat Presidential Candidate has indicated if he is elected he will mandate that all Americans will wear a mask if they leave their house. Joe Biden apparently thinks that the virus will still be with us on January 25, 2021, and even if that is not the case, the wearing of a mask in public will be a requirement for living in America after his inauguration. If you wish to wear a mask, more power to you. Personally, I have no desire to spend the few years I have left behind a mask.
Thought of the week…. “Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process.”
– John F. Kennedy
