Letters

Winner, winner

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

The Nevada Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest had its awards banquet on Friday. Here’s what we won. Congratulations to all.

First Places

Story of the Year, Fatal Encounters Series, D. Brian Burghart; Best Spot News Story, On paper, Dennis Myers; Freedom of the Press, Fatal Encounters, Editorial Staff; Best Explanatory Journalism, Fatal Encounters, D. Brian Burghart; Best Nonstaff Story, Born to Crawl, Jeri Chadwell; Community Service, Fatal Encounters, D. Brian Burghart, Dennis Myers, Brad Bynum, Brian Breneman, Jonathan Buck; Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series, Fatal Encounters, D. Brian Burghart; Best Information Graphic Who gets killed? Brian Breneman; Best Local Non-staff Column, Left Foot Forward, Sheila Leslie.

Second Places

Best Multiple Photo Essay, American Flatlined, Steve Erickson, Howard Goldbaum; Best Critical Writing, Completely different, Getting catty, Dance around the truth, Jessica Santina; Best Spot News Story, Buck Wild: Mustang advocates clash again with BLM, Georgia Fisher; Freedom of the Press, Closed to the public, Dennis Myers; Best Editorial Writing, Knock off the PR/ Get out of the way/ Recall the GazetteJournal, Dennis Myers; Best News Feature Story, Street Cred, Georgia Fisher; Best Multi-Color Ad All you can eat sushi, all the time Kyle Shine, Joey Davis.

Third Places

Best Headline Writing, Brad Bynum; Best Large-Space Ad, Kyle Shine, Joey Davis; Advertising General Excellence, Reno News & Review Staff; Best Critical Writing, Todd South; Best Editorial Writing, D. Brian Burghart; Best Explanatory Journalism, Dennis Myers; Best Business News Story, Brad Bynum; Best Special Section or Campaign (Advertising) Kids News & Review Kids and staff from the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, Priscilla Garcia, John Murphy, Reno News & Review Staff; Best Entertainment Writing, Brad Bynum; Best Special Section (Editorial) Bridal Guide 2015. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

Early checkout

Re “Broken” (Editor’s note, Sept. 24):

Seems to be a lot of this going around, people we love headed for the door before the party is even getting started. Me, I’m working up some spit to deal with my love of many years who has been doing that dance for a half-a-year now. Lost Mom and Dad in recent years, couple of relatives and in-laws, and my current location in the grief cycle becomes a little moot. So we can only live each day, reaching for the value in the minutes, hours, days, weeks and months we spend sitting at a bedside.

So, it’s nobody’s fault, just happenstance. I won’t call it luck, just chance at work in a variable world. Strangely, I don’t feel a need to pray, I will find out in my time what it all meant, and what is to come for me, for everyone before me. There is a plan, but I’m just a ground-pounder. Don’t need to know the details, just do my job.

A lot of pain is just sitting there. I trip over it every once in a while. Right there next to the big fluffy pile of hope that is real comfy to just roll around in. We had so many plans, now we’re contemplating what’s even possible, hoping for the best, planning for the worst. Can’t say I am happy, but at least I’m content.

Rick Woods Sparks

Editor’s note: Carmen Garcia died on Oct. 3. She had a widespread network of friends. We’re going to have a couple of celebrations of her life, so if you’re not already in contact, feel free to contact me here, brianb@newsreview, and I’ll get you into the loop.

Sticks and stones

Re “Don’t answer the racists” (Letters to the Editor, Sept. 24):

There you go again, with the names. Hear me now. I work with at least a dozen Latino men for whom I have a great deal of respect. Some of them do not speak English well, but they are all here legally—hard working, responsible men who support themselves and their families. I am also aware of Latin people who, despite the fact we have the most lax immigration laws in the world, are here illegally, who consume social services that are already spread too thin. Because I can say this makes me a racist? So here’s the deal. I misjudged you. I believed you one of those people with a misguided world view that compels them to aggressively deny the truth around them. I’ve come to see now that you are a person whose elitist self-image believes these law breakers are in need of advocacy, like some lesser creature, and that makes you the racist.

Kelly Jones Carson City

Love your local coyote

The coyote is the scapegoat of the ranching industry, reviled for depredation and, it would seem, for simply existing. The actual amount of coyote depredation upon livestock is hotly debated between the conservation and animal protection community in opposition to the livestock business and its supporters. There will be a coyote killing “Derby” October 16 and 17 in Austin, Nevada, which fans the flames of this controversy. Participants will have “fun and adventure” while killing as many “Song Dogs” as possible. Hunters will fan out for miles, thereby endangering other people or pets. Prizes in a “Calcutta” model will go to those killing largest animals. For a scientific, informed look at such events and at coyotes in general, Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote, will present a film and question-and-answer session Friday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nevada Humane Society, 2815 Longley Lane. Coyotes are native to Nevada and are important for healthy ecosystems. Two decades of war against this resilient carnivore results only in its proliferation across the continent. Isn’t it time we learned to live in peace with these remarkable creatures?

Trish Swain Sparks

Erik Holland Clean up McCarran

As Reno continues transforming into a great city—both livable and prosperous—we can’t ignore the little things that affect our quality of life and reflect our hometown pride. The weeds on the medians of McCarran Boulevard are more than an eyesore. They indicate neglect by our governmental agencies charged with maintaining our roads with our tax dollars. The ring road is like a handsome person with unsightly hair growing out of his nose and ears. McCarran is a state route (SR 659). Not only we locals use it to commute to work and home, shopping and home, but so do visitors, as well as people considering moving here. The winding boulevard shows off much of the beauty of our Truckee Meadows — our trees and canyons, pretty neighborhoods and commercial centers. The weeds need to go! Heidi Loeb Hegerich Reno

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Contributors Amy Alkon, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Eric Marks, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Brendan Trainor, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Associate Art Director Brian Breneman Ad Design Manager Serene Lusano Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Design Kyle Shine Advertising Consultants Joseph “Joey” Davis, Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Operations Coordinator Kelly Miller Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Manager Anthony Clarke Distribution Drivers Tracy Breeden, Alex Barskyy, Denise Cairns, Steve Finlayson, Debbi Frenzi, Vicky Jewell, Angela Littlefield, Marty Troye, Warren Tucker, Gary White, Joseph White, Margaret Underwood General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Nicole Jackson Accounts Receivable Specialist Kortnee Angel Sweetdeals Coordinator Courtney deShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins 405 Marsh Ave., Third Floor Reno, NV 89509 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds to classifieds@newsreview.com Website www.newsreview.com Printed by Sierra Nevada Media The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.