The Laughlin Herald

THE LEGAL LION OF LAUGHLIN LAYS TO REST

Ed Cooper Will Be A Tough Act To Replace

(October 24^th, 2010)

For those of you who haven’t already heard the news, Ed Cooper lost his battle with cancer this last Saturday night. Edward James Cooper, Esq. served this town for many years in a variety of capacities, but it is as the de facto Town Attorney, that he left his biggest mark. He will be remembered best, as the author of Laughlin independence, having written the legislation being carried forward to call for a vote on incorporation including a complete City Charter for the voters approval.

Letter To The Editor

RE: OUR TOWN ADVISORY BOARD AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

(December 1^st, 2009)

I recently read Mr. Frank Pilz’s letter to the Editor and your response.  I concur with the majority of the items discussed; however, I feel I must comment on a couple of points.

First of all, we never had a “right to vote” to elect the Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB).  In Ordinance 490, which was signed in February, 1976 and formed the unincorporated town of Laughlin, it states that the LTAB will be appointed by the Clark County Commissioners.  At that time, the citizens did not push to have the LTAB elected, which was an option as provided in NRS 269.576.  Had they done so, we would have the “right to vote” today for the LTAB.  It is my belief that we are the victim of our own negligence.

THE TOWN CRIER

Report From Town Hall

(July 28^th, 2009)

The Laughlin Town Advisory Board recently held its regular monthly meeting. Despite the fact that the Board is filled with Quislings doing the biding of everyone but the voters of the township, this last meeting was a two thumbs up performance not to be missed. The Occupation Board is starting to come into its own, sort of like how a new soap opera needs a few episodes to find its feet. So much went on that this will be the longest article I’ve ever written for The Laughlin Herald.

Letter To The Editor

The Chamber Should Change

(July 4^th, 2009)

The Laughlin Chamber of Commerce should change its name.  It does not represent Laughlin Commerce.  Its Board of Directors is controlled, and must always be so, by the casinos.  The vast majority of its members are Arizona businesses.  In an interview on TV2, the full-time executives of the Bullhead City and the Laughlin Chambers agreed that Arizona was for retailing and residences, while Laughlin is for gaming, entertainment and the jobs they provide.

RESTRICTED HOUSING

The Last Thing Laughlin Needs Is Another Black Hole for Police Resources

(June 11^th 2009)

Laughlin has only recently discovered the full truth about a government funded housing project, The Vista Creek Apartments. Despite a series of misleading presentations and assertions we now know it for what it is – another black hole for police resources at the expense of millions of taxpayer dollars.

IT COUNTS MORE THAN YOU THINK

Voting This Wednesday Will Speak Truth To Power

(March 30th, 2009)]

This Wednesday Laughlin citizens will have yet another opportunity to vote for local representatives. An ad hoc straw poll will be held from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Laughlin Community Church at 2910 Needles Highway, next door to the Mobil Gas Station. Every registered voter is eligible to cast a vote. As I said back in October, it really does matter who sits on the Town Advisory Board. Many have felt that the Occupation has become a fact of life and we’re helpless to do anything about. And yet already, one illegitimate Board member has been forced to resign. So everyone needs to vote. For the record, I will once again list the candidates I endorse – and why.

NOLI NOTHIS PERMITTERE TE TERERE

An Open Letter To The Reverend Gene Lee

(March 27^th, 2009)

Dear Gene,

I feel compelled to say a few words about some unfair criticism that has come your way in the last week or so. First the straw poll on the 1st and the inaccuracy of the statement about violating your tax exempt status. This is a clearly non-partisan event. Many churches tread on far shakier ground when they host events chaired by the League of Women Voters which has lied for years about their 'impartiality". But that's a left leaning bias so I'll assume that a few of our more radical residents find that acceptable. Secondly I find it disconcerting that some residents either can not or will not understand the distinction between the various events that collectively comprise Townfest. It is not a monolithic event, although I understand that socialists prefer to manage society in that manner. I am given to understand that the Carnival has always been a separate church event that takes place simultaneously during Townfest, but is not a specifically Townfest event, anymore than the various events that Kiwanis or Rotary put on during those days. Are Laughlin's service clubs next to be audited? Lastly there seems to be a few voices who object to the Townfest, the Carnival and the Town Advisory Board all being run by the same general group of people, even though the first two are private events. So I have an idea to address this objection.

Why don't we have a vote about it?

Gene, I'll see you on April 1st. Have a swell weekend!

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

FAKE FINDERS

A Political Sleight Of Hand Show

(March 15^th, 2009)

As if the Occupation of Laughlin wasn’t bad enough, radical left wing Democrats in the county bureaucracy are mobilizing a propaganda effort to hypnotize the citizens of Laughlin from escaping from behind the partisan Iron Curtain that the All Democratic Board of County Commissioners have lowered on our town. The so called “fact finders” as they call themselves will have an illusionist show filled with fake facts open to the public on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at the Laughlin Public Library at 3:30 PM. I strongly urge all Laughlin residents to attend this meeting and keep the facts in front of the public. KLBC-TV will be there, the “fact finders will perform their feats of prestidigitation and I will play the role of the skeptical debunker who turns on the lights in the middle of the performance and shows everyone how the trick is done. A good time should be expected by all. Except for the fork tongued collaborators putting on this dog and pony show. Them I don’t promise a good time.

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

All Laughlin Citizens Need To Sign The Petition Against The Occupation

(22 February 2009)

If you haven’t signed the recall petition against the election vandals who stole our Town Advisory Board, (except for the one who simply bought her seat) now is the time to step up to the plate. Don’t let them serve one single day thinking they got away with the heist. Any Laughlin citizen may now go to the business office of KLBC-TV Channel 2 in the Aldapes shopping center during normal business hours and ask to sign the petition. It asks the Board of Commissioners to remove the current illegitimate board, appoint the rightful winners of the straw poll and pass an ordinance guaranteeing election rights in the future. Your signature really does matter because it help keep the light of liberty alive in Laughlin. Don’t let Commissar Steve Sisolak crush us under the heel of his storm troopers jack boot.

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

THE TWO FIFTHS COMPROMISE

What’s Next? Separate Drinking Fountains?

(January 26^th, 2009)

In 1787 our nation crafted a political compromise at our Constitutional Convention that was not one of our nation’s finer moments. It was known as the Three Fifths Compromise. Reduced to its most basic, it said slaves counted as three fifths of a person for voting, not that they could vote in the first place of course. Steve Sisolak seems to think that the serfs of Laughlin should be happy with his own Two Fifths Compromise.

TO THE BARRICADES

Preparing For A Long Protracted War

(January 22^nd, 2009)

THE LAUGHLIN HERALD APOLOGIZES FOR THE DELAY IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION

Over forty of Laughlin’s dedicated citizens made the trip to speak to the Clark County Board of Commissioners this last Tuesday. We made this town’s opinions heard in a dignified but firm manner. But the reaction of Commissioner Steve Sisolak afterwards made it clear that he will not budge in his dictatorial abolition of our voting rights. He has already tried to co-opt some citizens to give the impression that some compromise offering us second class citizenship would be magnanimous. Rosa Parks wouldn’t accept that and neither should we.

LAUGHLIN IN 2009

Challenges in the Political Landscape in the coming year

(December 28^th, 2008)

A host of public problems will face Laughlin residents next year and some of them may actually be acknowledged as existing by both civic leaders and local media. There are actually some recent signs that political discourse in our Township is going beyond polite non-discussion. Here’s what’s at the top of the non-polite discussion list for The Laughlin Herald in the annus novus.

SO WHO DO YOU LIKE ON THE FOURTH?

The Laughlin Herald’s Endorsements for Town Advisory Board

(October 26^th, 2008)

Laughlin is a community on the cusp of significant change. Missing millions of dollars, unfunded infrastructure, possible incorporation and overcharging for fire protection are just a few of the issues facing our town and they’re not going away. As we’ve seen from the recent controversy over the casino definition ordinance, it really does matter who sits on the Town Advisory Board, so with that in mind, here are the people The Laughlin Herald officially thinks should – and should not- serve on the Board. 

MUCKRAKING IN LAUGHLIN

A Great American Tradition Has Great Utility In Any Community

(October 19^th, 2008)

A reader recently took issue with my use of the word “muckraker” to describe KLAS-TV Chief Investigative Reporter George Knapp, feeling it was both a negative term and one that was never used to describe Mr. Knapp. Wrong on both counts. A simple search engine inquiry will disprove the latter and the former can be dismissed with only slightly greater historical and journalistic exploration. As I promised earlier here’s my take on the art and science of muckraking and what it means to Laughlin. 

SUCKERFISH WARS, EPISODE 2

Attack of the Southern Nevada Water Authority

(July 14^th, 2008)

The June 10^th, 2008 minutes of the Laughlin Town Advisory Board had six pages of testimony from Holly Cheong, Environmental Planner for the Nevada Water Authority together with questions and comments from Board members. What was all the hoopla about? The fifteen acres of the Big Bend Conservation Area, which is on the site that was formerly the Boy Scout Camp at the south end of town. More accurately, the hoopla was about the fantasy and equivocation Ms. Cheong wove and the Board’s attempt to get a straight answer – without much success. 

NOT ON THE SAME PAGE

Clearly This Town Is Not Of One Mind On The Resort Definition Ordinance – But Suckerfish Are Another Matter

(May 19^th, 2008)

They didn’t run out of chairs at Town Hall last week, but suffice it to say the ones they had got some use. It was one of the largest public turnouts in recent memory. And many of those in attendance were there to protest the abrupt proposed change in the county resort definition ordinance. But it was a double feature that day.

WOULDN’T IT BE EASIER TO BURN IT DOWN?

Mental Health Officials in Reno Would Rather Slowly Poision Laughlin Clinic 

(May 4^th, 2008)

After having failed to strangle the Laughlin Community Mental Health Center before it was even born, officials at the State Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services switched to a strategy of waging a two plus year campaign to try and keep the Center from actually doing anything. Outraged at being overruled by legislators whose only claim to legitimacy is that they were, lemme see, oh yeah, elected by the people, they figured if you can’t kill it outright, cripple it.

WHAT IF THEY GAVE A MEETING AND NO ONE CAME?

Last Weeks Meeting of the Clark County Republican Central Committee Failed to Achieve A Quorum – And That’s Not Bad

(March 22^nd, 2008)

I traveled to Las Vegas with my lovely wife Linda last week to attend a meeting of the Clark County Republican Central Committee. About 15 minutes into the meeting someone demanded a quorum count. Guess what? With about 240 people in attendance, we didn’t have enough members on the floor to conduct business. And the meeting still went on for two hours. And yet, it would have to be considered a success.

GOP CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

The Laughlin Delegation at The  Clark County Republican Convention

(March 9^th, 2008)

The Clark County Republican Convention was this Saturday at The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. Both of Laughlin’s Precincts sent delegates to participate in the largest such convention in Nevada history. Usually a gathering of about 300 delegates, this record shattering meeting had a door busting 3000 plus attendees. It was not without its’ logistical problems or political controversies, but nonetheless represents the beginning of nothing less than a Republican Renaissance in Nevada.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

RE: WHO’S NEXT

(February 17^th, 2008)

Times For Meetings Are Good Leadership Decisions.

People have complained before about having to wait until the end of the meeting for 'public comments', or what some call 'new business'.  People have complained about only having 3 minutes to speak.  Then from my experience this is not adhered to as individuals do speak longer if they are of the status quo, or if the Board likes what you have to say, or its a Town Board member or Jackie Brady's staff. The LTAB meetings aren't exactly run under the standard of 'Robert's Rules of Order'.

WHO’S NEXT?

Long Drawn Out Town Board Meetings Shouldn’t Shut Out Ordinary Citizens 
(February 9^th, 2008)

Last December, I wrote about a presentation made to the Laughlin Town Advisory Board by some out of town county staffers that I described as an “unbearable nightmare of this two and a half hour water torture”. As I noted that day, many Laughlin residents who had issues of importance to them on this topic and wanted to speak publicly were forced out by sheer exhaustion. An individual topic can be front loaded to keep out public comment, but there’s another barrier to free speech that exists at every single regular monthly meeting of the Board that no one has raised a complaint about.

LOST IN SPACE

Laughlin’s Republicans Have Been Abandoned On The Edge Of The Galaxy

(January 19^th 2008)

As the Republican Precinct Captain for the Eastside of Laughlin I chaired one of Laughlin’s two GOP Caucuses today with my fellow Precinct Captain Jim Legler who chaired the caucus for the Westside. And aside from the many issues of whether the caucuses were a good idea to begin with  something beyond the scope of purely Laughlin politics and this newspaper  one thing that became increasingly clear is that many Laughlin Republicans feel they have been left out in cold by their party.