Silver dollars & Wooden nickels

The Nevada Appeal's regular Silver Dollar and Wooden Nickel honors recognize positive achievements from the Capital region and, when warranted, point out others that missed the mark.

Silver dollar: To the baker's dozen " 13 people in all who responded and applied for the vacancy on the Carson City School Board by last Wednesday's deadline.

Just a week earlier, only one resident had stepped forward to apply for the vacant District 4 seat, which opened when board member and newly elected Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell resigned.

Hats off to those who made the effort to apply and offer to serve on this important government body. The school board is scheduled to select Crowell's replacement at its meeting Tuesday.

Wooden nickel: A wooden nickel would be too much for those responsible for the recent senseless vandalism, an all-too common scourge of modern-day life, at the Dayton Cemetery.

A week ago, a cemetery caretaker discovered the broken and toppled tombstone of James "Old Virginny" Finney, the colorful Nevada miner after whom Virginia City was named. Finney is described as a complicated character. From where he came from to how he died, nothing about Finney is entirely clear. Why the town was named in his honor is not known, but State Archivist Guy Rocha says the story is shrouded in familiar Comstock lore " a bottle of whiskey and protracted revelry supposedly contributed to his self-proclamation: "I baptize this ground Virginia Town!"

Silver dollar: One each to Armand Arnett, a longtime volunteer caretaker at the Dayton Cemetery, and the Historical Society of Dayton Valley board. Arnett has watched over the cemetery for several decades, and was heartbroken by the vandalism to Old Virginny's headstone. He's eager to see the historical site restored, as is the historical society.

A society board member said last week the organization will consider a request to fund a replacement marker, a move we hope can happen soon.

Silver dollar: In recognition of his long legal and judicial career in Carson City, best wishes to retiring District Judge Bill Maddox. He leaves that post after eight years. Maddox started his local legal tenure with the Carson District Attorney's Office in 1978.

- Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to editor@nevadaappeal.com.