Dear Editor

As I traveled home last night from my son’s last basketball game as a Serpent, I had the chance to reflect on the past year of Serpent sports.  I am so proud to say that I was born and raised in Hawthorne.  I am also proud to say that we still have a wonderfully supportive community.  My husband and I chose to raise our son in Hawthorne and I am glad that we did.

This was by far the most emotional and most exciting season of Serpent sports I have witnessed in years.  Our student athletes have truly made me proud on so many levels. They played their hearts out and gave it everything they had in their games.  Their perseverance and dedication to their teammates is truly commendable and as always I am proud to be a Serpent Fan!!  As the parent of a senior, this year, I did my best to attend every football and basketball game of the season. It was truly phenomenal to see how much traveling support our teams had from their families and fellow students!  This is the support that makes Hawthorne such a wonderful place to live!  I for one am really going to miss the Senior Athletes of the MCHS Class of 2014-Jared Keuhey; Collin Sanford; Victor Williams; Sheldon Self; Tommy Jackson; Alex Hernandez; Matt Blazewick; Jose Guevara; Kelsey Viani-Wittwer; Danielle Wilson; Lexa McFalls; Kailee Hawk; and Sarah Owens.

As both a parent and an educator in Hawthorne, I have had the opportunity to really get to know some of these great kids and I am truly thankful for the opportunity.  These athletes took time out of their days to work with the students at Hawthorne Elementary School and helped them to see that school pride can in fact extend beyond the walls of one school.  They signed autographs, they played football with them, they thanked them for cheering them on at their events, they made them feel special, and gave them someone to look up to!

As you read the local paper each week this school year, you may have seen many athletes identified as “player of the week”.  I think this is an excellent way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to excellence.  I would however like take a chance to stop and acknowledge another “player of the week”.  One who sadly is often overlooked during our sporting events when it comes to game stats and impact on wins.  Our MCHS Cheerleaders, this team of athletes plays the longest season together as they cheer through football and basketball. They work long hours to learn numerous cheers and dances.  They do their best to pep up the teams and the fans and I want to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication this season!  Thank you girls for your commitment to your fellow athletes as you spent two seasons this year cheering them on!  Thank you for helping to make my son’s last sports season at MCHS so incredibly enjoyable!

Once a Serpent, Always a Serpent!!

Stephanie Keuhey

 

Dear Editor,

This letter has to do with the Hawthorne Post Office in particular and the postal service in general.

On December 21, 2013, I ordered some medication from my mail order pharmacy to reduce the effects of the cancer I’m fighting.

The meds were shipped the same day (12/21). Hawthorne received the meds on Dec. 23. On Dec. 26, I called the post office to ask the postal clerk to check two possible boxes. My Hawthorne box number and my Havasu Lake box number. Without looking I was told they could not be in my Hawthorne box as I had mail forwarding and that they could not be in my Havasu Lake box as my name was not on it. At that time I was told he had already told me more than he should.

On January 2, I called back to the Hawthorne Post Office and told the same clerk that I had tracked my meds to Hawthorne and gave him the tracking number. He then looked and found my meds in my Hawthorne box. He then forwarded them to my Havasu box. Following is the list of dates and towns they went to:

• 12/23 – Arrival in Hawthorne

• 1/2 – Forwarded from Hawthorne (10 days)

• 1/14 – Denver, Colo. (12 days)

• 1/18 – Richmond, Calif. (4 days)

• 1/22 – Bell Gardens, Calif. (4 days)

• 1/14 – Forest Park, Ill. (2 days)

• 1/28 – Des Moines, Iowa (4 days)

• 1/29 – Moreno Valley, Calif. (1 day)

• 1/30 – Havasu Lake, Calif. (1day)

Total time, 40 days. Please remember this is medication. Not a chain letter.

Matt King

P.S. I believe this to be harassment or complete incompetence. 12 days, Hawthorne to Denver.

 

Dear Editor,

I have some questions I am sure Mr. Inlow would like the opportunity to answer, for if he is correct in his assertions these answers should help his cause.

• Are you aware that the police currently have the right to enter your home at any time they wish? That is correct. Of course there are a few restrictions placed upon that right and those restrictions are your protection under the constitution. Ask our Sheriff and he will use words like ‘probable cause’ and ‘search warrant.’ But make no mistake the right of the police is there and real.

Even in “Hot Pursuit” situations the legal restrictions are enormous let alone the danger of rushing headlong into an unknown situation. But, if there were a dozen people living in your house and gunfire was reported inside your house, the police would be within their rights to enter your home without first obtaining a warrant. Indeed, the fire department does not need your permission for entry if there is evidence of an uncontained fire burning inside your home.

• Are you aware of any restrictions you or anyone else might have on how you can use your property that might be of interest to the fire department? The first one that comes to my mind is also illegal. That would be a Meth Lab. Did you know that they are highly dangerous for the risk of explosions and fires? Again, the fire chief would need to demonstrate probable cause and obtain a search warrant.

How about amateur prospecting for gold? Although it is a reasonable hobby and a legal pursuit, what would you think of someone trying to smelt gold in your neighborhood? The toxic fumes produced would be in your or my legal right because we are doing this on our own property. It is up to our neighbors to deal with the poison in the air, right?

• You complain that this law targets the poor. Are you aware that the county has grant funds available to assist the poor in this effort? Are you interested in helping the poor in painting, removing junk, and repairing fences? F-Troop, Clampers, and church organizations exist to help the poor with these efforts. Are you on board?

• If you feel this ordnance is unconstitutional, why have you not challenged it in court? Is it because you know you would not win? Then let me ask you this.

You get your 500 signatures and Mr. MacBeth does not resign. We have a recall election and he easily wins his seat again. What are you going to do, sue the county? Try to recall one of the other commissioners? Start a revolt? Volunteer to bear the expense of the election for the county? 500 signatures do not an election win.

• On the other hand either Mr. MacBeth resigns or gets recalled. What next? You expect the county will crown you king or ask you to fill the vacated seat? My option of building my power generation facility in Mina is still viable. I have had people express interest in helping with funding. And I can use your own stand as my right to build that stinking, methane-producing manure and garbage compost heap in your back yard. Have a good day.

Charlie Morris

Walker Lake

 

Dear Editor,

I address this letter to the Secretary of the recall committee. In your letter in the February 20th, paper you stated that your committee is ‘..committed to the recall of Commissioner MacBeth due to the fact that he held the deciding vote…’ for this Ordinance. That is incorrect.

The ranking commissioner holds the deciding vote. Let me explain by using the US Senate as an example. Let us suppose that the US Senate has a tie vote, 50 votes for and 50 votes against an issue. The Vice President then has a vote. Senator Reid is not the one casting the deciding vote. The tie breaking vote belongs to the Chair; in that case the Vice President.

Voting in a small commission works the same way when you have an odd number. The only noteworthy difference is that Commissioner Tipton participates in the discussion of the issue. If both Commissioners MacBeth and Cichowlaz vote one way, then Commissioner Tipton’s vote is not needed. If Commissioner MacBeth and Commissioner Cichowlaz have opposing votes the Commissioner Tipton is the tie breaker. While all three may vote on an issue and go on record for their vote, technically what I described is the correct sequence of voting.

I understand that in this particular vote Commissioner MacBeth voted Yes, Commissioner Cichowlaz was absent (which is a vote of Absent), and Commissioner Tipton cast the tie breaking vote of Yes. Had she voted No, there would have been a three way tie of the vote and it would have been tabled until Commissioner Cichowlaz returned. Have a great day.

Charlie Morris

Walker Lake