SAVE WILDCREEK, AGAIN. Several years ago I was involved in a successful campaign to save Wildcreek Golf Course from elimination. Today I understand that there will be a meeting at the RSCVA regarding an attempt to build a new high school on the Wildcreek property thus destroying the golf course.
According to reliable sources, the property is owned by Washoe County and the golf course is operated by the RSCVA. The current plan supposedly would have the RSCVA transfer their rights to the Washoe County School District. Presumably, the Washoe County Commission would have to approve the deal.
When it comes to the beleaguered Washoe County School District, it is currently having all sorts of problems, not the least of which is fiscal. News obtained from the area’s daily paper shows that the district spent nearly $20,000 for an outside consulting firm to help in the evaluation of the district’s manager. Then when it came to actual evaluation time, that information was tossed out. Also, other news shows that the district spent nearly $50,000 running an in-house investigation. Fiscal mismanagement has always been a problem for the school’s trustees, who have routinely moaned about their increasing debt load.
Another school district imbroglio that caused a great deal of criticism recently was the fact that by eliminating some tests, the district had achieved an increase in the graduation rate. Adding to this was the district’s suggestion that the scores of previous tests that had been failed by a number of students be disregarded and those former students be added to the graduation rolls.
Proponents of saving Wildcreek have noted that the 2300-student capacity of the proposed school would add a tremendous amount of auto traffic to an already congested area. Also, creating an impervious surface over the golf course would greatly increase the propensity of flooding.
Anyone who has an interest in saving Wildcreek again should take time to attend this morning’s meeting at the RSCVA.
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THE HIRSUTE CRAZE. Currently, athletes in sports endeavors of all kinds are wearing beards, both long and short. There is no plausible explanation for this phenomenon. Years ago there was a single San Francisco Giants pitcher that had a heavy beard and he may have been the person who started the trend. In Pro Basketball, the prime example would have to be James Hardin. The practice has even spread to Pro Football and Pro Tennis. The only sport that has thus far escaped the hairy situation seems to be Track and Field, where every added ounce of weight is a detriment. In the past, Pro athletes were well-shorn and clean shaven as they were perceived to be the most excellent role-models for youngsters.
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A TYPICAL DAY AT THE MAPES. I am often asked, particularly at G.O.D. Club meetings, what it was like during the halcyon days of the Mapes Hotel’s existence. I usually respond by citing a day in 1960 during which the Winter Olympics were held at Squaw Valley. My day began by collecting the mail at the Main Post Office around 7:30 a.m. In those days, the early hours at the Post Office were a meeting place for many of the business and professional men who liked to collect their own mail. The area was crowded with gentlemen engaged in conversations of all sorts, discussing items of local interest. After the Post Office, it was a short journey to the Coffee Shop of the Mapes Hotel, where perusal of the Nevada State Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle were routine.
While checking the morning mail in my office on the Mezzanine of the Hotel, I contacted Tony Curtis who, along with his wife Janet Leigh, was staying at the Hotel as guests of Charles Mapes, about their 10:00 departure time to visit Squaw Valley and the Olympics. The Curtis’ was accompanied by actress Barbara Rush and her husband Warren Cowan. Once we got to Squaw, I directed them to the nearest venue of activity and took time to check in with Walter Cronkite at his chalet where he was covering the first-ever TV broadcast of any Olympic games.
Returning to the Hotel after lunch at Squaw, I got through the usual routine of ads and publicity releases. At 4:30 I picked up Tony for a handball match at the YMCA on Foster Drive.
Following a short break, everyone attended the Dinner Show featuring Sammy Davis, Jr. in the Skyroom of the Hotel. The lull between the Dinner and Midnight Shows was filled by a visit to the International Olympic Press Club Room in the southeast corner of the top floor of the Hotel.
Following Sammy’s second show, he invited the Press and movie stars to a private showing of some unreleased Hollywood movies in the Press Room.
Returning home at around 3 a.m., I was looking forward to the same routine beginning in approximately four hours.
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