Letters to the Editor

Trees, shrubs not safe from nighttime vandal

Watch out, Boulder City! The Boulder City tree butcher has struck again under cover of darkness.

Previously, he had cut a whole series of branches off city and private trees along the upper part of Adams Boulevard past Utah Street and left them scattered all over the sidewalk where people and pets had to step over or around them. He even found the oleander and trumpet vines offensive and hacked them off.

But he didn’t stop there. This past weekend, the cowardly vandal butchered a beautiful fig tree, sawing off two big limbs extending upward over a 7-foot back wall on River Mountain Road and continuing out over the sidewalk well above the level where it would impede anyone. People have enjoyed what was just about the only shade along there while looking up to check if the figs were ripe yet.

One limb that was sawed off was 4 to 5 inches in diameter. The other was 2 to 3 inches and was left with a 1-foot split in the remaining stub. I don’t know for sure, but I would bet that what he did represented $400 to $500 dollars worth of damage. The homeowners and neighbors are heartbroken.

Do you know who this guy might be? Someone said they saw some old guy breaking a branch off another tree on River Mountain and mumbling about branches hanging over the sidewalk. It could be the same guy, or not.

A normal person with an issue talks to the homeowner or contacts the city. But this guy sneaks around in the dark to do his dirty work. There are walls and sidewalks with plants and trees all over Boulder City. Who knows where the tree butcher might strike next?

Chris Ward

Red shirts show support for those who serve

Summer has arrived and Independence Day is just around the corner. Each summer we Americans have so much to look forward to: beautiful weather, family vacations and neighborhood barbecues. We are able to do these things without worry thanks to the men and women who have fought for our freedoms.

Several years ago the American Legion, Post 31, instituted “Red Shirt Fridays” as a way for our community to show support and camaraderie for those who give their lives so that we can live ours.

These red shirts sport the Support Our Troops logo and are proudly worn on Fridays by many local businesses and by residents as well. If you don’t have one yet, or need a new one, please contact Joe Rowe at 702-722-4273 or the American Legion office at 702-293-6374. There are T-shirts as well as golf shirts in sizes for kids through 4X for adults.

One of the great privileges of living in Boulder City is the hometown Fourth of July parade. Let’s come together and all wear our red shirts on Independence Day to the parade, barbecues and to the Damboree celebration.

Let all of the Las Vegas Valley see that Boulder City residents remember what we are celebrating on the Fourth of July and to whom we owe our thanks: the troops here and abroad serving to keep our country free.

Joe Rowe,

Past commander, American Legion