Publisher’s note: This is an editorial published by the Las Vegas Review Journal on Nov. 28. The Nevada lieutenant cover is a resident of Stateline.

The criminal case against Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki has been pretty odd from the get-go.

Mr. Krolicki had been rising in Republican party ranks, advancing from state treasurer to lieutenant governor, with well publicized plans to challenge U.S. Sen. Harry Reid in 2010 … when Democratic Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto decided to indict Mr. Krolicki on charges of mishandling state funds.

Ms. Cortez Masto’s indictment, handed down a year ago, alleges Mr. Krolicki misappropriated and falsified accounts involving the Nevada College Savings Program.

Read the whole story

Publisher’s note: Maxine Alper with the Sierra Foothills AIDS Foundation office in South Lake Tahoe will be on KTHO FM-96.1/AM-590 (www.kthoradio.com) on Saturday at 10am and Monday at 6pm. The closest Worlds AIDS Day event to Lake Tahoe is in Reno tonight from 5-7:30pm at Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR.

By Jenny Lightfoot

World AIDS Day – which is each Dec. 1 — was created in 1988 to focus global awareness on the pandemic and generate positive action to stop the spread of HIV and eradicate AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Well more than half a million people have died of AIDS in the United States — the equivalent of the entire population of Las Vegas.

Currently, it is estimated that more than a million people are living with HIV/AIDS here in America and about 20 percent of these people are unaware of their infection, posing a high risk of onward transmission. Every year approximately 56,000 Americans are infected with HIV, which means that every 9½ minutes someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV.

Alarmingly, 38 percent of people diagnosed with HIV progress to full blown AIDS within a year because they are unaware of their status and don’t receive HIV medications soon enough.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to work together to help reduce the stigma around HIV and to promote HIV testing. There now exists an HIV Rapid Test. This is a simple mouth swab with results available in only 20 minutes. Education (the social vaccine) and testing are crucial to the prevention and transmission of the HIV virus.

Jenny Lightfoot works for the Sierra Foothills AIDS Foundation office in Auburn.

By Kelly Shanahan

I guess I am the woman whose life would be considered expendable under the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s new guidelines on mammography screening and breast self exam.

I guess Caroline, the 26-year-old medical student who sat next to me as we both got chemotherapy; and Linda, the ward clerk at my little hospital; and Melodie, the restaurant owner — all of whom felt their cancerous lumps on breast self exam — are expendable as well. I guess my patients and fellow breast cancer survivors Lisa, Karen, Marla, Chris, Carolyn, Tracey, Annette, Michelle, Jana, Diane, Alice, Shelley, Anne, Kelly, Pam, Carol, Rebecca, Suzanne and Lea — all of us diagnosed with breast cancer prior to age 50 — are unimportant.

I understand many women under 50 (1,904) will need to be screened to find one woman with breast cancer. I understand that this costs money. But breast cancers diagnosed in women in their 40s are often more aggressive, faster growing tumors, and finding these cancers earlier unequivocally saves lives. Even the USPSFT, in the same paper recommending stopping mammograms in women in their 40s, acknowledges a 15 percent reduction in the death rate in women between ages 40 — 50 who have regular mammograms. Finding cancer earlier saves money as well — a lumpectomy is cheaper than a mastectomy, and no chemo is way less expensive than having to undergo months of chemo for a later stage cancer.

I was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer at age 47. If I had followed the USPSTF guidelines, I wouldn’t have my first mammo for another year. By that time, the cancer may well have spread to far reaches of my body, and I would be lucky if I survived to see my sixth-grade daughter graduate from high school. If I had had a digital mammogram every year since turning 40, instead of missing one year, my cancer may well have been diagnosed sooner. Losing both breasts and all my hair, vomiting and having bone pain from the chemo was no big deal; telling my daughter (9½ when I was diagnosed) that I had cancer and not being able to be there for her 100 percent because I was too sick, well that was what really hurt.

Thanks to a mammo, a mastectomy and months of chemotherapy, I am able to continue to be a productive member of society as a practicing gynecologist, a wife and a mom for, I hope, a very long time. The 22 other women I mentioned — secretaries, nurses, teachers, businesswomen, clerks, wives, moms, daughters — are all worth saving.

I stand with the American Cancer Society in condemning the USPSTF guidelines.

Dr. Kelly Shanahan owns Emerald Bay Center for Women’s Health, which has offices in South Lake Tahoe and Minden.

Lake Tahoe News is thankful for its loyal subscribers and random readers, regular writers and occasional contributors, and wonderful advertisers and those who’ve sent donations to keep the operation going.

We look forward to being part of your Thanksgiving for many years to come.

Personally, I want to thank my family and friends for their love and support in this year that has definitely been more than an E ticket ride.

Kathryn Reed, Lake Tahoe News publisher

Kathryn —

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.

American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.

Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve.

So tomorrow, I’ll be giving thanks for my family — for all the wisdom, support, and love they have brought into my life.

But tomorrow is also a day to remember those who cannot sit down to break bread with those they love.

The soldier overseas holding down a lonely post and missing his kids. The sailor who left her home to serve a higher calling. The folks who must spend tomorrow apart from their families to work a second job, so they can keep food on the table or send a child to school.

We are grateful beyond words for the service and hard work of so many Americans who make our country great through their sacrifice. And this year, we know that far too many face a daily struggle that puts the comfort and security we all deserve painfully out of reach.

So when we gather tomorrow, let us also use the occasion to renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous future that every American family can enjoy.

It seems like a lifetime ago that a crowd met on a frigid February morning in Springfield, Illinois to set out on an improbable course to change our nation.

In the years since, Michelle and I have been blessed with the support and friendship of the millions of Americans who have come together to form this ongoing movement for change.

You have been there through victories and setbacks. You have given of yourselves beyond measure. You have enabled all that we have accomplished — and you have had the courage to dream yet bigger dreams for what we can still achieve.

So in this season of thanks giving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to you, and my anticipation of the brighter future we are creating together.

With warmest wishes for a happy holiday season from my family to yours,

President Barack Obama

Letter to the Publisher,

On Nov.17, 2009, City Manager David Jinkens struck out. Here are the three strikes.

One: The City Council by a 4-0 vote rejected the CM’s request to send the finance officer to a conference at a cost of over $700. Mainly because the CM had violated policy. He approved the trip, paying for it, before it received approval from the council. That’s upside down.

Two: By a vote of a 2-2 tie, the CM cannot hire outside professional services which, had it passed, meant the CM could at $30,000 a pop hire without seeking council approval.

Three: The CM recommended using street paving CIP money to back fill for any short falls in money coming form the CTC for drainage projects. The council voted to use reserve funds. The vote was 4-0.

By striking out the CM should resign. That’s especially true when the Johnny Poland case is thrown into the mix.

Also, I believe the CM did not bargain with the police and fire employees in good faith. For instance, fire was willing to forego a 2% wage increase for a year, which is in the current contract. The CM never shared that with the council. He stacks it the way he wants it. He doesn’t keep good faith with the council. That is way over the line. He should go before he is able to continue striking out. The CM has become a loser.

By the way, the city has a $40 million reserve. What’s it for?

Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe City Council member

By Sallie Ross-Filgo

Never try to thaw frozen water pipes with an open flame. This could start a fire inside a wall space.

Instead, use hot water or a hand-held hair dryer for thawing.

Also, don’t use your oven or stovetop for heating the house. This is a fire hazard that could give off poisonous fumes.

Be sure all of your windows open easily. You may need to use them as emergency exits if a fire should occur.

Finally, make sure your furnace and water heater have clear space around the for air intake. This promotes safe and efficient operation of the appliances.

Sallie Ross-Filgo works for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.

By Steve Farnsley

The Tahoe Tallac Association’s 2010 Membership Campaign is under way. Your membership contribution now will guarantee a great 2010 Valhalla Arts, Music, and Theatre Festival. Thanks to all who have already become supporting members of the 2010 Festival.

If you renew or become a TTA member now, we’ll send you a specially-designed Valhalla Festival bookmark (for contributions of $25 or more) and a unique desk calendar featuring Tahoe-based photography (for contributions of $100 or more). The bookmark and calendar were designed by Valhalla Cultural Arts Store manager Sandy Ruacho. Membership levels and benefits are below.

Memberships:

• Novice $25 Receive 2 tickets to an event (Seniors, students, military, and teens only)
• Friend of Tallac $50 Receive 3 tickets to an event
• Thespian $100 Receive 7 tickets to an event
• Theatre Patron $250 Receive 1 Season Pass
• Star $500 Receive 2 Season Passes
• Buscaglia $1000 Receive 4 Season Passes (In honor of Boathouse Theatre Patron, Leo Buscaglia.)
• Corporate (Contact TTA for details and benefits)

Your membership contribution helps in two ways: (1) it provides much-needed cash flow during the slow winter season and (2) it provides matching funds for the many grants TTA receives. Your contribution does not have to be huge.  Also, keep in mind that a Valhalla Festival Membership makes a great holiday gift — and your contribution is tax deductible according to IRS guidelines.

It’s easy to become a TTA member and support our mission to promote artistic engagement and cultural enrichment in the Tahoe Basin as well as historic preservation at the Valhalla Estate. You can go to our website at valhallatahoe.com/membership.html, complete the membership form and pay online. Or call our office at (530) 541.4975 and make your Membership contribution by credit card. Please give us a call at (530) 541.4975 or email steve@valhallatahoe.com if you have any questions.

As always, thanks so much for your support. We can’t do it without you!

Steve Farnsley is executive director of Tahoe Tallac Association.

Letter to the publisher,

I want to congratulate Wendy David & Judy Cefalu on their election to the LTUSD Board. Wendy is the strength and center of the Board.

It was a true privilege to work with Wendy. Two of my boys were lucky enough to receive both their preschool and their high school diplomas from Wendy.

It was also a privilege working with Sue Novasel, Michael Doyle and Larry Green. I can tell you that whether you disagree with the decisions made or not, these people truly seek to do the right things for the right reasons. I’m sure Judy will enjoy working with this Board and taking on the challenges ahead.

I also would like to thank Dr. (Jim) Tarwater and all the administrative staff for their professionalism and dedication. The classified employees were terrific as well. It was wonderful being a part of a team for even such a brief period that was able to bring test scores up (WAY UP!) at every school. The dedicated teachers have been asked to do more with less and they have done it.

I was very pleased to have received 1,842 votes. I had told myself that were I to be fortunate enough to win, that I would remember that I would then also represent those who had not voted for me.

I want to thank (Tahoe Mountain News Publisher) Taylor Flynn for endorsing me. I appreciated that you understood that I was sincere and dedicated to making this a great place for kids to live and go to school as well as someday return to raise their families. I especially enjoyed this month’s Tay’s Tales where you wrote about how you were inundated with rumors and attempts to bring down other candidates with the politics of personal destruction.

As one who has always felt the need to lead, I have certainly taken my share of broadside hits and rumors. But I learned about politics at an early age. I ran for president of my high school in Sonora. We had about 1,200 kids in the school. There were 1,480 votes cast. I lost by 14 votes. To my astonishment and heart break the administration of the school would not nullify the results even though the winner and his friends admitted to voting several hundred times. That was one of the best lessons I ever learned.

While there were no extra votes cast in this election, 5 votes difference was hard, but not devastating. In fact, when I came home, my three dogs, Annie, Lady and Cupid didn’t seem to notice at all.

There are many ways to serve. I’m going to do some coaching and do my best as a Board member of Tahoe Youth & Family Services. I’m also going to pass along to the School Board and Administration, the many issues, concerns and communications that 1,842 of you wanted me to work on. I hope you find ways to get involved, too.

Duane Wallace

Letter to community,

The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce wants to thank, Danny Freemon, owner of Pine Cone Acre Motel, KOWL and KRLT radio, city of South Lake Tahoe Fire and Police Departments of their help in Halloween Night Treat Street.

Many individuals and business that participated in Treat Street 2009 were Bob Attinger – Attinger Insurance, David and Karen Borges, D.C. – Borges Chiropractic, Leteicia Hansen – Mary Kay, Wendy David – LTSUD School Board, Pete McRoberts – Holiday Inn Express, Sue Novasel, STPUD, Duane and Tami Wallace – High Country Lodge and LTUSD, Scotty’s Hardware, David Kurtzman, Grocery Outlet, Sierra House PTA, Tahoe Valley PTO, Tahoe Pool Service, Eric Schafer – STPUD, Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe, Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra, JoAnn Conner – Pre-Paid Legal and ID Shield, Food Bank, Mike Doyle and Staff, Kandee – Staples and Tahoe Discount Mattress, STAR volunteers and Mark Johnston of Bolero Innovations Web Site/Business Developer.

South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce