Your 'wilderness' is our economy

With regard to the recent article by Andrew Kiraly regarding Lyon, Mineral and Esmeralda counties rejecting wilderness area proposals as part of federal lands bills ["Oh, no. Not ... wilderness!" May 1], those of us who reside here have far more knowledge of the impacts these designations will impose on our counties.

In Mineral County, our economy is based on three main influences -- military, mining and tourism. This fact is posted on U.S. Sen. [John] Ensign's website. The areas proposed for Mineral County would have interfered with military operations, mining operations and development and tourism trade when people found they could not come and go through the playground they've always enjoyed.

Regardless of what the wilderness proponents say, they are driven to lock up land as part of a master plan called The Wildlands Project. Ask Shaaron Netherton of the Friends of Nevada Wilderness. She should know -- her old buddy Dave Foreman (remember him from Earth First! and spiking trees that injured loggers?) is the mastermind behind it. That plan calls for 50 percent of all of America's public lands to be locked into wilderness area designations -- locked away from ordinary, working-class Americans who just want to get out of the city for a drive in the country.

The wilderness proponents had no idea of what was in Mineral County and asked to be given a tour last fall. Afterward, they devised their "wish list" that is based on nothing at all. They have done no environmental or ecological studies and they have nothing to counter the U.S. Forest Service assessments of these areas that do not recommend them for wilderness designation as they do not meet the definition of wilderness. These areas have been mined and prospected for more than 140 years. This was the area of the second biggest rush in Nevada's early mining history next to the Comstock. Where do you think those 10,000 miners were mining, just in Aurora? Give us a break.

SUE SILVER,<br>MINERAL COUNTY LIAISON<br>COALITION FOR PUBLIC ACCESS<br>HAWTHORNE, NEV.

Family feeling

On Feb. 28, the community came together to support a fundraiser put on by my family and friends to help pay for my medical costs associated with cancer and not covered by insurance. Mark Zeilman, Lori Funkhouser-King, Lisa Funkhouser O'Brien, Dirk Vermin, Tony James and Moss, owner of the Double Down, organized and ran the event. With no expectations of how many people would come and how many others would make donations, it is difficult to put into words what I felt when I walked into the Double Down on the evening of Feb. 28 and saw the place filled to overflowing with people and art.

I am writing this letter to thank everyone, the artists, those who attended (many of whom were artists), the volunteers, the businesses that donated products and services and, of course, those who put on the event. I felt a true sense of community that evening and that feeling has stayed with me. It was a reminder of why I have stayed in Vegas for so many years. I hope to see you all soon!

CINDY FUNKHOUSER