Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 10

10 Reno Evening Gazette Friday, May 12, 1978 Humboldt school board facing growth problems hAorH fiion honrri McDermitt Combined School the plight of parents they appeared reluctant to move rapidly to solve the problem. The district already has two permanent school buildings located In the outlying areas of Denlo and Kings River Valley. Enrollment is below 10 in each school. Yet, when they were built, school enrollments were high and projected to go higher. However, mines fail, ranching operations change ownership and philosophies and school enrollments fluctuate at great cost to the district.

Happy Creek was suggested by the petitioners as the site for the new school. Ranchers offered land on a long-term lease basis and assistance with permanent Improvements necessary to locate a building there. Building Superintendent Garry Foster advised the board that a portable classroom meeting rigid State Planning Board specifications and a mobile home for the teacherage would cost about $45,395. In addition, transportation expenses of over $20,000 per year would be incurred; this in addition to capital outlay for the purchase of two new schol buses needed Immediately to serve the school. Following Foster's presentation, trustees found themselves "locked on the horns of a dilemma." The school district has only $95,000 available in its contingency fund and Is faced with much-needed facilities at McDermitt and possible addition of teachers to meet WINNEMUCCA' Demands (or new schools, additional classrooms, and a possible need (or additional teachers presented Humboldt County school trustees with some difficult choices at a recent meeting.

Parents of school children living in the Happy Creek, Leonard Creek and Pahute Meadows area of Humboldt County have petitioned the board to locate a school there. Projected enrollment of the school would be about 17. Presently 10 of the children attend the Leonard Creek School which Is a private school operated by ranch owner Lawrence "Frenchy" Montero with funding assistance from the school district. Other children either are enrolled in correspondence courses or make a 70-mlle round-trip to Winnemucca dally. The problem is compounded since the area Is remote and mountain ranges stand between the fertile desert valleys In which the farms and ranches and children are located.

Distances are great. Happy Creek is 45 miles by unpaved road from Pahute Meadows, necessitating a three-hour round-trip for school children daily if the school is located at Happy Cxreek as parents suggest. And student population constantly is in a state of flux. Even though board members were sympathetic to growing enrollments in Winnemucca. School Superintendent Robert Scott also pointed out that feasibility of whour trips twice dally for chilren living In Pahute Meadows would not be acceptable for very long.

"We'll be asked to provide a school there, too," Scott satd. Indeed, the Pahute Meadows might well have the preponderance of school children in the area soon. New ranch owners have many plans for development and reportedly are In the process of building homes for workers. Creating a further headache for the board is the fact that Leonard Creek Ranch children are getting older and the family is considering moving to Wlnnemuccca for high school, which would drop the enrollment at Leonard Creek drastically. Considering the lmmenseness of the county, the great distances involved, and the Inaccessibility of the different areas, any school district would have a considerable burden.

To a small-student-populatlon district such as Humboldt County's, providing for all children is an almost-overwhelming demand. Trustee Warren Scott commented that rural districts have not had an adequate share of state money. "Problems cannot be solved without money," he said. Board Chairman Lyman Schwartz offered the opinion that the district does not have finances to consider realistically development of a school at Happy Creek by next fall. Some relief might come with one-shot state money disbursed from the state general fund because of large surpluses, but this is apparently at least a year away.

A 1 IV- tswwa VI waw Principal Steve Chrlstensen describe need for three additional classrooms and work areas for specialists. McDermltt's enrollment is not growing per se but new programs, some federally-mandated, all providing for the needs of children, require space. The nurse, counselor, special education units, federal Title I remedial program, school psychologist, and speech therapist all have been added In the past five years and, according to Chrlstensen, "there is no space to adequately accommodate them." Purchase or lease of portable classrooms was offered as a solution to the problem, but Jeanne Botts, trustee from McDermitt, objected to this alternative, saying conditions are temporary crowding" and that portable classrooms are not satisfactory. "McDermitt has been patched up and partitioned long enough," she said. Trustee Don Jones pointed out that there is a need for a school bond Issue to aid McDermitt, but that he doubts it would pass "even In McDermitt." Trustee Warren Scott said he agrees, noting that he feels a bond issue would not pass until a new school Is needed In Winnemucca.

That eventuality, too, might not be far off. Alan Beck, chairman of the Humboldt County Regional Planning Commission, told school officials that zone changes approved recently alone provide developers with enough lota to build 400 homes. Trustees, faced with little money and great demand, agreed to investigate the needs of the entire district before making any final decisions. Carsonite 'wheeling' for record CARSON CITY (AP) BUI Cawelti shoves off here this weekend to begin a 450-mile wheelchair trip to Las Vegas In an effort to promote the "conscious handicapped level of society." Cawelti, 35, of Carson City, hopes to make some $30,000, through donations, to the Education and Grants Program for the Governor's Committee on the Handicapped. He also hopes to set a world record for wheelchair endurance.

He will make the trip In a specially-designed wheelchair, with three wheels In stead of four, racing tires and double push rims. He will be followed by his family and some friends in a motor home. Cawelti says he hopes to make the rugged trip through mountains and deserts in six to nine days. That will mean covering about 75 miles a day in 10 to 12 hours. "I've had this trip In mind for several years," he said.

He said he wants to promote the education and environmental needs of the disabled. He says he hopes people will pledge a penny or more for each mile covered. i0 PPf Disabled Nevada vets to meet in Reno All Hardwood Hand CotvmI folding Rockar Walnut tlnlih, toautif ul tttpMtry fabric Paddod Seat A Back The retired director of the Nevada Veterans Administration Regional Office, Harry Piper, Is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the 30th annual Disabled American Veterans state convention May 20 at the downtown Holiday Inn. Piper is a disabled veteran of World War U. Other honored guests at the convention include Richard K.

Soenson, newly appointed Veterans Administration Regional Office director; Thomas G. Dehne, assistant national DAV adjutant; and Sally Wilton of Tucson, the national auxiliary chaplain. The state DAV commander, Ray Crosby, and state auxiliary commander, Eleanor Crosby, will go out of office at the convention. Crosby said Sorenson, who is one of about 281 living Congressional Medal of Honor winners in the United States, Is a veteran of World War II. He pointed out that Sorenson's job Includes administration of veterans affairs for about 100,000 veterans in Nevada and four counties of eastern California.

Sorenson is a life member of DAV. Dehne is a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War. He was wounded during an assault on an enemy position in western Korea in 1952. He and his wife, Ruth, live In Ft. Mitchell, Ky.

Crosby said about 6,000 to 7,000 Nevada veterans are eligible to become members of the DAV. He said membership requirements are that a veteran must either have been awarded the Purple Heart medal, or have been a prisoner of war, hurt or wounded durng wartime service In defense of the United States, and have an honorable discharge. Any wife, mother, daughter, grandmother or granddaughter of a recognized disabled American veteran is eligible to belong to the DAV Auxiliary. Crosby is a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and is ending his second term as Nevada state commander.

He first served in 1963-64. The National DAV, chartered by Congress after World War has a membership of more than 560,000. Brothel vote halt sought CARSON CITY (AP) -The lawyer for two Lincoln County brothels has asked the state Supreme Court to block next Tuesday's referendum election to decide if prostutition should be outlawed in the county. James Brown told the high court on Thursday that the election should be blocked because improper procedures were followed in setting up the balloting. The petition to the Supreme Court followed a decision by District Court Judge Merlyn Hoyt to allow the election despite opposition from Sheri's Ranch and Judy's Coyote Springs Ranch.

Judge Hoyt held that objections raised by operators of the two brothels were not sufficient to sidetrack the electoral process. Brown argues that a third of the 392 signatures on a petition seeking the referendum appeared to be questionable. He said many listed no addresses. Without all the signatures, the petition would be invalid. But Hoyt said many Lincoln County residents live on ranches or small towns and do not have regular street addresses, so the omission of addresses was not "an error of substance." Lincoln County voters decided in the last general election to approve prosti Not Shown but Available for Mothers Day Delivery Spec.

Sale on Bentwood Rockers $15995 LEE'S NEIfDA CUSTOM BUILT BARS DINETTES STOOLS WALL DECOR Mon. thru Sat. 10 tot, Sun. 12 to 5 Highway patrol needs men, women Troopers receive group health and accident insurance, and retirement, death and disability pension system coverage. Entrance testing includes written, physical performance and oral examinations.

Air fare boost proposed CARSON CITY (AP) United Air Lines wants to. boost its fares between Reno, Elko and Ely by about 3 percent, the state Public Service Commission says. The rate hikes would equalize the intrastate fares with interstate fares which were increased effective May 1, the PSC said Wednesday. The Nevada Highway Patrol is in the process of recruiting men and women for about 15 trooper positions soon to be filled. The patrol will be taking applications through June 23.

Testing will begin In July and recruits will start 15 weeks of patrol academy training In January. Applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent between 21 and 40 years old and in good health. They will be patrolling portions of the state's 51,000 miles of highways, while protecting and serving the driving public, the agency noted. While training, they will receive $1,063 per month and as patrolwomen and patrolmen, may obtain merit salary raises to a top $1,460 or more if they secure promotion. (702) 826-2161 tution.

But late last year a 4052 Kiattk ton, no, Navodo Crott Rood Shopping Cantar FREE DELIVERY I NO DOWN EASY TERMS I YEAR WARRANTY petition was circulated to start the referendum Grow 'n save week. Great Scott sale! Use Scotts Turf Builder to grow a beautiful lawn. 747 5000 Sq. Ft. Regularly 8.95 Turf Builder contains three types of nitrogen for 6 to 8 weeks of feeding.

Plus, it helps your grass grow thick. Save 20 POTTEXG SOIL or PLANTER MIX Bag Save 13 SCOTT'S SPOT DANDELION CONTROL Your Choice. 1 cu. ft. size.

77 Reg. 2.19 lib. 4 oz. can. Easy, efficient, waste-free.

227 Reg. 2.95 pv STEER 711 A TVTT TT A great Mother deserves a great gift. You deserve a great price! 14 karat gold jewelry, 20 to 30 off. Diane Von Furstenberg lipstick and nail polish, 40 off. How thru May 15th.

eouqtpjeou Next to Mervyns on Kietzke Open evenings 'til 9, Sunday 12-5 Save3 Great value! Rubber vinyl garden hose. Strong, pliable. 077 Keinforced tire cord. Reg. 11.99 IT INCREASE YOUR BUYING POER ITH ARDS CREDIT Come grow with us.

DJJ '1L 'ffiL ODDIE SILVERADA STORE HOURS 9:30 A.M. to 9 P.M. Saturday: 9:30 A.M. to 6 P.M. Sunday 11 to 5 PHONE 358-8830 FREE PARKING.