By Ian McMillan, Yorkshire Post

Dangdangerlang dangerlang dangerlang dang, der lang lang lang!

There goes the map, smouldering outwards in grainy black and white from Virginia City to Carson City and beyond, to the shores of Lake Tahoe, and here come the Cartwrights, galloping towards the front of the TV screen on their magnificent steeds: Hoss, Adam, Pa and Little Joe, role models all, carriers of the Wide-Brimmed Hat Of Truth in a shabby and exhausted world.

Readers of a certain age may now be explaining the previous paragraph to younger people, but many of us remember the sheer gut-wrenching excitement of Bonanza on a Friday night (I’m sure it was Friday) as the Cartwright family fought on the side of good in the dusty 19th century Wild West.

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By Jon Ralston, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Two Nevada institutions were pronounced dead last week — Harry Reid and Yucca Mountain.

These two have died more deaths than Shakespeare’s coward, but both remain alive. But for how long?

I come not to write about the dump today — I’ll save my take on that new panel overseeing alternatives for another column — but to muse about whether Reid really is buried — or, as his friend Dina Titus put it recently, “done.”

The question must be asked (again) because of the blizzard of developments in the contest, both on Reid’s side and for his potential foes. Before delving into this, though, let’s look at the calendar — 275 days until the election. Much can happen. Reid may make another inflammatory remark (odds: overwhelming in favor) and the Republicans may slice and dice each other until a hemorrhaging, bankrupt nominee is chosen (odds: equally overwhelming).

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By Jeanne Lear

While decreases in state subsidies have resulted in many state certified recycling centers throughout California closing down, or reducing hours of operation, programs are expanding in South Lake Tahoe. More and more people are recycling their beverage containers, gaining some cash while reinforcing the recycling ethic in our community.

In 2009, the number of beverage containers recycled at the STR Recycling Center increased by more than 360 tons, or 28 percent.

In order to meet the increased demand, and to lessen the wait and traffic congestion at the Recycling Center at 2192 Ruth Ave. in South Lake Tahoe, South Tahoe Refuse opened a “satellite” recycling center at 2127 Ruth Ave., designed to handle large loads by appointment and walk-ins (customers without vehicles). This facility is open Monday through Friday from 8am-2:30pm. Now recycling is available in South Lake Tahoe Monday through Saturday.

State certified buy-back recycling centers are the collection points for California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers. The CRV program, which is commonly called a “bottle bill”, causes some confusion between California and Nevada residents. Although many residents shop at both California and Nevada stores, only California stores charge the 5 and 10 cent recycling fee for beverage containers. The recycling centers pay customers their CRV back and are subsequently reimbursed by the state for those payments.

To add to the confusion, cans and bottles bought in Nevada stores may still have the “CA Cash” logo on them.

The California program limits Nevada residents to a $50 per day reimbursement for CRV material. This leads to frustration by Nevada residents as the goal of recycling seems to get lost in the California regulations. Simplification of the state program would go a long way to solving this local dilemma. This seems unlikely as California’s budget blues continue to grow while CRV revenues steadily decrease.

Call (530) 541.7526 for further information or go to STR’s website at southtahoerefuse.com.

Jeanne Lear is director of Human Resources at South Tahoe Refuse.

President Obama’s second verbal assault on Las Vegas is an “unacceptable assault” that demonstrates his bias against an industry that supplies most of Nevada’s paychecks, Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki said Tuesday.

“First, President Obama’s reckless remarks scared off millions of dollars in Las Vegas convention business and hurt Nevada’s tourism industry at a time when our state is suffering the nation’s worst economic hit,” Krolicki said. “Incredibly, he does it again with an unacceptable assault aimed at Nevada’s casino industry, the finest in the world and a major provider of paychecks that feed Nevada families.”

Brian Krolicki

Obama, speaking in New Hampshire Feb. 2 , said, “You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.”

Krolicki, chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, said Obama may have gotten a pass from a number of people for his first anti-Las Vegas comment last year, when the president said bailed-out companies should not hold conventions in Las Vegas, but this time his remarks cannot be written off as a misspeak.

“President Obama has singled out an American industry in Nevada that employs our citizens and entertains millions of our visitors and held us up as a bad example,” Krolicki said. “No U.S. president should be so irresponsible.”

Publisher’s note: The letter below is dated Jan. 31 and was sent to Michael Brown, manager of Douglas County, by South Lake Tahoe City Manager Dave Jinkens.

Dear Mr. Brown:

Happy New Year to you and county officials! I hope that the year is a good one for all of you. We have certainly had our challenges with a slow economy, and I know we all need to stay focused on ways to improve it in 2010.

I am writing to you in regard to the rumored and reported proposal to open and operate a “Strip Club” at the property near Stateline, Nevada, previously operated as Bill’s Casino. Individual members of the City Council and community members have voiced concerns regarding this proposed activity and its compatibility with existing and proposed businesses in the Stateline area.

Existing operators of businesses in the Stateline area have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to create a diverse venue of gaming, skiing, summer sports, and entertainment that is attractive to the millions of tourists that visit our communities for family-oriented fun and recreation. Great efforts are being made, with the support of the Nevada and California business community (through LTVA and the joint chamber), to promote family-oriented tourism to our communities, and I believe we are making progress in this regard in spite of a slower economy.

I do not claim to be an expert on strip clubs or adult-oriented businesses. I have heard and been told that strip clubs attract a certain clientele that are likely to be incompatible with existing business activity in the area, and it will detract from the family-oriented tourist trade we are seeking on both sides of the Stateline area. I am told as well that strip clubs may contribute to illegal activities that lead to the area becoming less attractive and less safe for local residents and visitors.

I understand and respect that the proposed location of a strip club is not in South Lake Tahoe or California and that the decision to permit such a use rests exclusively with Douglas County officials. I am respectfully asking that your office, other reviewing county departments, and county commissioners carefully evaluate the request and the possible adverse ramifications it could have on the existing Stateline business community and on proposed future development on both sides of the State line. Please ask yourself if this business activity adds to or detracts from the type of Stateline we want to have and create for the future?

I am available to discuss the matter with you or other officials if you wish to do so.

Thank you for your consideration in this regard.

Respectfully,

Dave Jinkens, MPA, South Lake Tahoe city manager

By Ted Gaines

Every day, families in our communities are feeling the pain of California’s economic meltdown and lack of job opportunities.

Unemployment in the Sacramento region has grown to 12.4 percent, which local economists say is a modern record. The unemployment rate has doubled in just 2 years. Nearly 83,000 people in our area have lost their jobs over the past few years as companies have been forced to cut jobs in California, relocate to other states or close their doors altogether.

Ted Gaines

But the global recession is only one reason why so many jobs and opportunities are leaving our state. Reckless policies passed by the State Legislature in recent years have contributed to making California the state with the most expensive business costs in the nation, according to an annual Forbes magazine survey. This is unacceptable.

As a small business owner myself, I know first hand just how difficult the Legislature has made it to create jobs in California. Every day, businesses like mine have to pay high taxes and fees and comply with dozens and dozens of mandates and regulations just to stay in business in our state and keep jobs here.

It is irresponsible that the Legislature has created a jobs climate in California that discourages job creation, rather than embraces it. The more than 2.2 million Californians out of work today deserve better than a state government that seemingly goes out of its way to chase jobs away.

That’s why there is no more important priority for the Legislature than putting California jobs first. The only way to help our economy recover in California is through job creation.

We cannot sit back and allow jobs and opportunities for hard-working Californians to disappear to other states – and even other countries – because the Legislature has put in place so many barriers to opportunity and prosperity in our state.

To make California more competitive with other states and bring back jobs, lawmakers must go through all of the rules and regulations currently on the books. Those that are hurting the economy, threatening job creation and putting people out of work must be set aside. Then we must take steps to make California more competitive with other states.

One way we can do this is by offering incentives to companies to create jobs, which has already proven successful in the auto industry. As the chairman of the Legislative Automotive Study Group, I have been very concerned about the competitiveness of California’s auto industry and the disappearance of auto manufacturing jobs from our state.

This was most recently exemplified by the announcement that Toyota would close the Fremont-based NUMMI auto manufacturing plant, the only one of its kind in California.

By taking steps to lower the cost of doing business here and offering incentives to create jobs for those out of work, we can make a difference in luring businesses and jobs back to our state.

Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, represents the 4th Assembly District in the California Legislature.

Good Evening,

According to Caltrans District Director Jody Jones in a communication to me today the State Highway 50 Road, Water Quality and Beautification Project within the City limits will be brought by Caltrans staff to the California Transportation Commission for allocation of funds (probably at the June or July CTC meeting). Caltrans will then go out to bid. Award is scheduled for Fall 2010 and start of construction will depend on contractor, weather, etc.

This is good news indeed. The first phase project is for that portion of Highway 50 from Ski Run to Trout Creek with water quality, sidewalk, landscaping and lighting improvements.

The news is good, and the construction work will be good for the local economy.

David Jinkens, South Lake Tahoe city manager

Publisher’s note: South Lake Tahoe City Manager Dave Jinkens gave the following letter to the City Council on Jan. 25. He announced on Jan. 26 during open session at the council meeting in his report that he would not seek a contract extension. His contract expires in August. He turns 60 in March.

Dear Mayor Lovell and Members of the City Council:

I hope that in 2010 our City government will be successful in focusing attention, energy, and resources on needed community improvements to best serve the 24,000 residents who reside here. The City government’s competent management team is ready and able to assist you in this important endeavor. As local government officials, we must continue to focus attention and resources on the matters of most importance to our community’s health and prosperity. We must work in harmony to create a healthy governance model for small and big businesses, recognize and support our existing business community, develop rational and efficient land-use policies to encourage private investment, value and listen to our residents, and put the general interests of our entire community first.

After considerable thought, I am writing as well to inform you that it is my intention to not seek an extension of my employment agreement with the City this year. I will work with the City Council on a transition plan and assist in any way I can to make the transition a good one.

It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the City Council and the people of South Lake Tahoe as your City Manager. Since my appointment in August 2002, I have worked with many fine elected leaders to place the people of the community and their interests at the top of consideration on public policy matters. With the help, guidance, and support of able members of the City Council, City management, labor organizations and community members we were able to transform a dismal City government financial picture into a more stable City government operation with strong reserves while continuing to provide a high level of essential community services. Work underway for the City’s General Plan, Tahoe Valley Community Plan, Sustainability Plan, and Redevelopment Plan #2 will serve residents well into the future. The adoption of a storm drainage master plan and street master plan identify infrastructure work needed in the community.

We face new challenges today with a State government in fiscal disarray and a slow local economy. City government leaders will need to meet these economic and budgetary challenges while maintaining, to the greatest degree financially possible, essential services to the community.

I want to make a special point of thanking City employees from all departments past and present during my tenure for their commitment to the public service and their desire to provide the best services possible to the people of our community. All City employees in their varied jobs are important. I have been honored and privileged to work with them in support of the City Council and our community. I value them and the job they do, and I wish them good fortune and success. There is no greater honor than to be a member of the public service.

I was told once by a council member that I am not a politician. He was right. I respect the political process in our democratic republic. A city manager cannot and should not be a politician while he/she is in this capacity. The people expect good, clean, honest, effective, non-political and non-partisan service from local government irrespective of political considerations or affiliations, and I have worked to see that City government provides these types of services during my tenure.

While I am departing as an implementer of public policy, I will maintain a keen interest in the community and policies that will benefit it in the future.

Thank you again for the privilege to serve. I wish you and the people of our community success, happiness, and good fortune

David M. Jinkens, MPA, South Lake Tahoe city manager

By Martin Griff, NJ.com

After reading that bankrupt Tamarack Resort in Idaho is suing its primary lender, accusing it of causing its demise, ski buddy Bob Dever, a semi-retired businessman from Philadelphia added some perspective for your reading pleasure:

While most of us, those interested in skiing, boarding, and other related winter sports, are primarily concerned with accessibility, weather, snow depth, and lift capacity, it is sometimes good to remember that our December through March destinations are businesses. These businesses have to deal with things like cash flow, financing, equity positions, and that endless mantra of grow, get bigger and better, or die.

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By Theodore B. Olson, Newsweek

Together with my good friend and occasional courtroom adversary David Boies, I am attempting to persuade a federal court to invalidate California’s Proposition 8—the voter-approved measure that overturned California’s constitutional right to marry a person of the same sex.

My involvement in this case has generated a certain degree of consternation among conservatives. How could a politically active, lifelong Republican, a veteran of the Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush administrations, challenge the “traditional” definition of marriage and press for an “activist” interpretation of the Constitution to create another “new” constitutional right?

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