I have a lot on my heart these days. The good news is that my heart is in great health. So… allow me to start with that.
Opinion
Living in Southern Nevada, we know there comes a point each summer when opening the front door feels more like opening up the oven.
Where does the time go?
The USA is the longest standing democratic republic in the history of the world. Much history has passed since the country declared its independence from Great Britain, hasn’t it? Even the king of England celebrated our independence by visiting the United States of America in April of this year.
For most Boulder City kids, summer vacation is quickly coming to an end as classes are set to begin the second week of August.
I hope you are among the lucky ones who are quarantined at home with someone you love. I can’t imagine the feelings of loneliness that would come with being truly self-isolated.
The newspaper or news website you are reading is in trouble. Like many other businesses, the COVID-19 crisis has eliminated most of its revenue but not its expenses, delivering a body blow to a business model that was already under pressure. But it continues to publish, providing your community with timely, accurate information about the crisis.
Like most of you, I am missing time spent in the great outdoors.
As I write this commentary, the majority of businesses other than grocery and hardware stores, gas stations and convenience stores are shuttered. I realize that this pandemic is serious and will likely cause many to suffer the illness and many will die from it. However, I don’t believe it is necessary to shut down the entire U.S. economy.
As we stay home for Nevada, we are renewing interest in old hobbies, taking up new ones and devoting time to things we never seemed to have enough time for before. We are exercising. We are cleaning. We are doing home-improvement projects. And we are cooking.
To say I’ve always been anxious to get things done is an understatement. It probably started when I was about 10 years old and began working in my grandmother’s grocery store. I had to be quick when it came to waiting on customers, bagging groceries, taking their money, making change and waiting on the next customer.
Although the resort-hotels of my company, Las Vegas Sands, are shuttered, I’m paying every one of our nearly 10,000 employees as though they were still working. We’re even working to make up for lost tips. I hope to do that right up until the time that we can reopen our businesses.
In the 1970s, I listened as a lecturer explained that in police work it seemed as though 20 percent of the population hated the police no matter how well they performed, 20 percent loved them no matter how poorly they did and the remaining 60 percent stayed on the fence to gather facts before reacting. I realized how true that is the older I got.
We need our better selves now as we deal with the COVID-19 virus. The response from our community has been overwhelmingly supportive of the efforts to fight this disease and protect our families, friends, co-workers and neighbors. I am not surprised that we are rising to this challenge as this community has always shown our strength when challenges arose. I am deeply appreciative of these efforts in this situation.
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Whether as a location for builders of Hoover Dam to escape the heat, a place to see movies with families, friends or a date, or a venue to enjoy ballet performances, the Boulder Theatre has been a favorite local historical landmark for nearly a century.
The federal government’s plan for Lake Mead has riled up Nevada officials who have vowed to protect the state’s water rights should a lawsuit become necessary.
Students in the Clark County School District will be able to sleep in a little longer this coming school year or will have to set their alarm clocks a bit earlier.
Coming into the season as defending 3A state champions, Boulder City High School boys tennis is eager to get back out on the court and defend their title.
