Posting Date: 01/28/2013

The intrinsic value of the visual and literary arts in the community often goes unnoticed when it comes to stimulating a stagnant economy.

Certainly these efforts provide aesthetic pleasure to those appreciating a painting, sculpture, photograph, or attending a theater, dance or musical ensemble. Authors, writers and historical museums increase awareness of literature and knowledge. People of all ages can participate in a variety of art forms either as a creator or a seeker of the personal value obtained from others efforts, or both. [Read more]

Posting Date: 11/26/2012

This is Part One of a two-part series)

In October, I attended a conference on Afghanistan sponsored by the Frank Church Institute at Boise State University. Frank Church, (1924–1984) served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981.

As LeRoy Ashby and Rod Gramer recall in their book, “Fighting the Odds,” Church was one of the Twentieth century's most respected and influential senators. Church fought for the Civil Right Act, stood against the war in Vietnam, fought for environmental legislation, investigated the CIA, the FBI, and multinational corporations.  [Read more]

Posting Date: 11/05/2012

By the time you read this, the presidential election may be over. One side will be extremely happy, while the losers may be asking for recounts in flooded eastern-seaboard states, or demanding re-counts.

There is, however, one more election that is important to our community. That is the 2013 election of three city council members. [Read more]

Posting Date: 10/15/2012

My dog “Cocoa (pronounced KoKo) is sick and tired of all these robo-calls and negative ads on television. I know that is true because she is constantly barking at the door and wanting to go outside and take a whiff of a sweet smelling plant and rub her ears against a cactus plant.

Dogs have wonderful senses and when something smells or sounds bad they notice immediately. If you haven't noticed they will try any number of new scents to get the bad odor out of their sensitive nostrils and rub their ears with their paws when they are bothered by sounds. [Read more]

Posting Date: 09/24/2012

(Note: A friend asked why the government failed to take action against Nakoula Bessely Nakoula for his hate film “Innocence of Muslims.” We talked about the prevalence of hate speech in the world today and I told her I would give the problem some more thought. Here are the results.)

Federal prosecutors should give serious consideration to filing felony hate crime and homicide complaints against Nakoula Bessely Nakoula for his alleged role in the killing of Ambassador Chris Stevens, information manager Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.  [Read more]

Posting Date: 09/05/2012

Part 1 of the 2 part series argued for (re)developing the blighted area of Mesquite boulevard into an eclectic mix of 19th and 20th century business oriented historical offerings powered by alternative energy. Part 2 of 2 discusses the processes involved in redevelopment.

Economic (re)development begins with a recognition that a blight problem exists (see note 1) and it must be resolved in the interest of the community-at-large.  [Read more]

Posting Date: 08/13/2012

John Taylor's recent articles in the Mesquite Citizen Journal are the latest publications concerning the accelerating movement towards alternative energy in small and large communities alike. The articles demonstrate the importance of both government and private sector initiatives in economic development.

It would have been interesting, and Overton Power could have potentially avoided its financial difficulties, had they moved in the direction of alternative energy advancements. But they did not, and the community lost out on a potential business boom.  [Read more]

Posting Date: 07/02/2012

The idea of using local tax payer funds for five years to fund a private sector regional business activity deserves serious public discussion

Ostensibly the role of this regional business activity is to recruit businesses to the community which Nevada's Secretary of State, Ross Miller, suggests is small- to medium-sized activities and not Fortune 500 companies. [Read more]

Posting Date: 05/21/2012

Nothing should stop the General Manager of the Virgin Valley Water District (VVWD) from conducting a study to determine the exact amount of water available to the community.

Recently the majority of the Water Board of Directors authorized the general manager, Ken Rock, to work with the U.S. Geology Service (USGS) and the Nevada state water engineer to determine the availability of potable water in the community's primary well. Board member, Ted Miller, voted against the initiative. [Read more]