Hope for off-highway vehicles?
Re “Hope for Peace on the Range” [RN&R, July 3]:
I read Jon Christensen’s piece on the possibility of ranchers and environmentalists getting together and I could only wonder … Will that day ever come for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts?
The war being waged by environmental groups against having roads and trails open to motorized recreation is both pervasive and myopic. We need access to allow people with disabilities or limited abilities to escape the pressures of everyday life by sight seeing on public lands. That access is under vicious attack by these groups.
As long as these vehicles stay on existing roads and trails designated for OHV use, I am convinced that their “impact” is minimal and sustainable. The way to limit the few bad actors who refuse to play by the rules is to enforce those rules more stringently and not to take away opportunities from the law-abiding public.
Senators Reid and Ensign may think they are performing a public service by trying to have more wilderness declared in Nevada, but what they are doing is playing into the hands of the anti-access movement, people who want these lands all to themselves.
It’s discrimination, not preservation. Leave the trails and roads alone!
Sanford Cohen
Prescott Open Trails Association
Artist says thanks to all
I would like to thank all of the people that contributed to the Stewart Benson Benefit at Esoteric on June 15. Jim Zlokovich worked like a madman to pull the artwork together for the silent auction. A special thank you to all of the artists who donated works: Charles Adams, Kathleen Akers, Joan Arizabalaga, Tom Baker, Don Bowland, Dean Burton, J. Damron, Marcio Decker, Jan Demorest, Joe DeLappe, Evan Dent, Valerie De Serpa, Laddie John Dill, Paul DiPasqua, David Dory, Rustle Dudley, Valerie Esteban, Ingrid Evans, Max Ezra, Frantisek Fegl, Joanna Frueh, Tom Gilbertson, Michael Greenspan, Paul Gronner, Kelsie Harder, Stephanie Hogan, Martin Holmes, Zoltan Janvary, Elaine Jason, Jeff Johnson, Christine Karkow, Rebecca Eagle Lambert, Erik Lauritzen, Lynn Lazovich, Justin Manfredi, John Martin, Ed Martinez, Jim McCormic, Terina “Scooter” McCraw, Mickey McKay, Walter McNamara, Bob Morrison, David Naylor, Maurice Nespor, Renate Neumann, Mike Norton, Olivia O’Connor, John Parsons, Nolan Preece, Bill Proebstel, Nick Ramirez, Fred Reid, Leigh Reynolds, Donna Ray Richardson, David Robert, Kirk Robertson, Michael Sarich, Jamilla Savoy, Michael Scott, Snail Scott, Tamara Scronce, Mick Sheldon, Ed Sheppard, Dianna Sion, Chad Sorg, Ray Stratton, Gabe Toci, Ted Waddell, Jim Weaver, Larry Williamson, Roy Woodridge, Lynda Yuroff, Jim Zlokovich and Joe Zuccarini. Terri Montague did an awesome job of organizing the entertainment. A special thank you to performers BLC Acapella, Roy Muniz, Randy Robinette, Chris Good, Tom Plunkett, Ce Ce Gable, Robert Gilmey, Kate Cotter, Sophie Ralston, The Daisy Cutters and Nick Ramirez & Friends. To all who donated items for the raffle prizes, thank you.
A very special thank you to John Martin, Chad Sorg, Tom Baker, Terri Montague, New Medium Gallery, River Gallery, Stremmel Gallery, the guys at Blue Lion Studio & Gallery, Sorg Design, Reno News & Review, Carli Cutchin, David Robert, The Bob Garrison Show, the staff at Esoteric and everyone who donated time, money and valuables. Reno’s art community united to help one of its own and the event was a huge success, raising more than $10,000 to pay living expenses for the next four months, to ward off the credit card company and pay the medical bills that are starting to come in.
The cancer that I have is a level III melanoma. The success rate is 20 percent in living up to 10 years. This came on very suddenly. Within one week of the biopsy result, I was undergoing chemotherapy and unable to work. My treatments are very aggressive and make me feel ill for two weeks at a time. I have had three treatments and surgery since March 27. My final treatment will be the week of August 6. During this time, I have worked when I had the energy and felt well enough to do so. Government assistance takes time to receive, and my working made me ineligible for many assistance programs. My credit card company was screwing with me. I had no available cash and feared homelessness.
When I mentioned this to Jim Zlokovich during a visit with me in the hospital, he said, “You know what? I am going to put together a fund-raiser for you.” My eyes filled with tears as I tried to keep from sobbing like a baby. Thanks, Jim, you crazy bastard, for pulling it off.
My soul has been deeply touched by many. Thank you. I had no idea.
Stewart Benson
Reno