LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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THANK YOU FOR THE WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

Thanks to Kim Andersen ("Vegas Memories," View Neighborhood Newspapers, March 25) for bringing back the wonderful memories I have of Alpine Village on Paradise Road (across from the Hilton). For years, my husband and I, along with our friends, ate there every time we were in Vegas (usually three times a year).

My memories include waiters in lederhosen and waitresses in bib-front dresses ... fantastic moving displays during the Christmas season ... an all-you-can-eat kettle of the best soup I've ever had -- on every table, regardless of what you ordered for dinner ... the biggest baked potatoes ever ... and BEST of all, the little cinnamon rolls that came with the bread! We always asked for extras of those to take back to our hotel rooms.

Ms. Andersen indicated she didn't know what happened to the place. The story I heard at the time it closed was that it was shut down by the Health Department. This was very distressing to me, since it indicated they had let it go downhill over the last year or so it was open.

It was great while it lasted, and fun to remember.

Sue Casey

North Las Vegas

GOLD BUTTE AT RISK

Gold Butte was well introduced by Deborah Wall's article of March 25 ("Outdoors," View Neighborhood Newspapers). Just reading Deborah's article gives a sense that the Gold Butte area deserves and needs comparable protection and management to that given Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon. As she points out, the area is primarily managed by the (Bureau of Land Management). Unfortunately, there are some areas that are being vandalized by illegal off-road use and defacing/theft of petroglyphs. Such damage can be minimized by giving the area National Conservation Area and wilderness designations. Such designation, intelligently applied to the area between the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument to the east and Lake Mead to the west and south, would enhance a great wildlife refuge, and protect archeological and historical resources. Let us work toward that end, a worthy legacy for our grandchildren and beyond.

William Belknap

Boulder City

VANDALISM, OFF-ROADING RUINING GOLD BUTTE'S BEAUTY

I was happy to see the recent article in the View News ("Outdoors," March 25) featuring the Gold Butte area. Ms. Wall adequately described what you might find in this beautiful area that lies just two hours east of Las Vegas. However, as one who has visited Gold Butte recently, I would like to point out that some of the special archeological and sacred sites described by Ms. Wall have been subject to vandalism. For example, I have seen bullet holes marring ancient petroglyph panels. These panels may date back to 2,000 years or more. Additionally, irresponsible off-roading has created illegal roads that damage the fragile ecosystem and aid in the spread of invasive plant species.

These problems underscore the need for wilderness protection of Gold Butte. Although Clark County gained some protection in 2002, Gold Butte was passed over, in large part, for wilderness protection. As Clark County continues to grow, wilderness areas such as Gold Butte are being impacted in negative ways. It is time for Gold Butte to gain National Conservation Protection in order to preserve its fragile resources and its rich, cultural history.

Debra Bookout

Las Vegas

WHITNEY RANCH RECREATION CENTER A SAD SITUATION

Over the past two years, I have been taking a fitness class in the evenings at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center.

I used to bring my children so that they could utilize the gymnasium and game room facilities during my class, but in the last six months I have decided to leave them at home.

It has gotten to the point where I don't feel this is a positive environment for my children.

It is impossible to enter the building without passing multiple groups of young teenagers loitering out front, using horribly profane language, and disrepecting the staff that are doing their best to keep these children off of the property and/or at the very least, getting these kids to act like they have a sampling of home training. Many of the children come over directly after school and stay until the building closes at 9 p.m.

In essence, the recreation center staff are being asked to raise and care for a large number of children from the neighborhood.

Inside the building, the staff are constantly telling these children to stop bullying, using foul language, yelling and screaming, stealing, fighting and causing every other form of mischief.

The bottom line is that many of these children have parents who are taking advantage of the system. These parents purchase the $2 a year participation card.

From my discussion with staff, these cards were originally designed for the children of parents who are taking classes at the center or for the young adults in the area to play basketball, ping pong, and/or pool in the afternoon and evening.

Like the title says, this is "A Sad Situation" and another example of irresponsible parents allowing the system to raise their children.

It's no wonder violence, teen pregnancy, and the number of homeless teens is on the rise!!

Natalie M. Barrella

Henderson