Letters to the editor

Airport board resignation

Dear editor:

I have been chairman of the airport board of Nevada for the past 3 years, and have been excited about getting the new terminal for our city. I have appreciated having a number of fine people associated with me on the board, most recently Scott Buerge, Marie Wessley, Mark Loomer, and Marty Redburn. We have labored with the firm of Adams & Associates to have a rather striking design for the terminal, one that would stand out and be a facility that Nevada could be proud of for many years. The grant money was in place, and the demolition of the old building scheduled for Oct. 6, 2006, when out of the blue (or maybe the "black and blue") the city fired Adams and cancelled the project. I do not understand how this decision was arrived at, and I am told that not even all of the council members were aware that it had happened. Perhaps in their wisdom the council has a grander plan. Perhaps they have some other financing in the wings. Maybe the city will wind up with a terminal building some day that will cause all of us to say, "Wow, they really knew what they were doing after all!" But I do know that after all of the hard work, and after coming this close to having it a "done deal," and having seen all of the countless hours of design work on the part of Adams & Associated fall by the wayside, I have lost my enthusiasm for the project, and have given the city my resignation as chairman and member of the airport board. I will maintain my love of flying, and my love for this city, and my interest in the airport, but I remain bitterly disappointed.

-- Dr. Ron Jones

Nevada

Editor's note: The Daily Mail is conducting an investigation into the events surrounding this issue. Look for our report in future editions.

We had another good fair

Dear editor:

As I was leaving the fairgrounds on the last Sunday of the fair, I had to stop. One reason was to look around and see that everything was in its place. The second reason was to catch my breath. This is the last fair as a fair board member. It was like I was leaving. I know that I am not going anywhere. It is one of those things. I felt that we have done a good job of carrying on the tradition, and we will leave it in good hands for the next fair board. Looking back at the ones who started the Vernon County Youth Fair, what were they thinking? I am sure it was the same as it is today. For one thing How did they know that it would grow as it has, I don't think so? The facilities are great, second to none. Every year there is something new. One year it was the hog barn. Then it was the beef barn, pop shack, sheep and goat barn. Now there are plans for the horse barn and fixing the roof on the diner and home ec building. There are always projects going on. For one thing with projects, it takes a lot of work, people, materials, and donations. We have been very blessed with all of these. It has not been just one person doing all of this, it is everybody. One person comes up with an idea, another likes it, another and another joins in. There have been so many different talents put to use. For one thing I am sure everyone has several memories of the fair. Be they happy or sad, everyone has a story. Do you remember when so and so had that steer that swam the lake, or so and so had that real interesting project that went on to state markings of the years with what happened at the fair. Why is that the fair is a place on the calendar? Things are planned before and after the fair, but never during the fair. It is like and it should be marked, as a National Holiday in Vernon County.

The fair is very competitive but it is still fair. No matter where someone has placed, they have still done a great job. Just look at the results from the Ozark Empire Fair and the Missouri State Fair and you will see that Vernon County has been there and taken home several of the top spots.

Throughout the fair, everyone is pitching in, working at the diner, picking up trash, helping out where it needs to be done, all up to the final hours. Then on the last day, people show up from everywhere to help with the sale. It is unbelievable what the sale brings in. Businesses and individuals are paying over market price for these animals. Then at the end of the sale, is clean up. If you haven't experienced that, you better stay out of the way.

For one thing well it is for our youth. Why is that, all I can say, it's Vernon County.

As the judge said, something to the effect of, if you are involved in one of these organizations, you are five steps ahead of everyone else. As Vicki Erwin and I were talking about it one night under the pop shack, we believe that they are more than five steps ahead.

We just don't see any of these youths in the law enforcement system or the court system. When you see these young adults helping one another. When you see these young adults going up and personally thanking the buyer. When you see these young adults making the right decisions of right and wrong.

The leaders of 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, have done an excellent job. The parents have done an excellent job. Tell these young adults; tell the leaders and parents, good job. They need to hear that. It is tough rearing children in this day and age.

Just stop, look around, and think. We have the best fair grounds, volunteers, leaders, parents, and supporters. Anybody that has been around knows that Vernon County does not take a back seat, to any other fair.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you each and every one of you.

-- Ron Peckman, Vernon County Youth Fair Board

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