Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Wooden nickel to nation's lingering malaise

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

Wooden Nickel: Economic news nationally and regionally continued to point toward a slow recovery from the recession.

Statistics released in late June showed taxable sales in Nevada fell more than $700 million in April to $3.2 billion - a 17.9 percent drop from April 2008.

Carson City numbers were particularly dismal, with a reported 27.4 percent drop in taxable sales for the month to just $53.6 million. Auto sales continued to fall, dropping 27.1 percent below a year ago to just under $12.2 million. (However, Carson's city manager said he's received indications that major car dealers in town had a much better May and that June sales were encouraging.)

Nationally, in June employers cut 467,000 jobs, far more than expected, and the jobless rate hit a 26-year high of 9.5 percent.

Silver Dollar: A changing of the guard was completed July 1 when Jeff Kintop formally took the reins as Nevada state archivist. Kintop had been archives manager under his predecessor Guy Rocha for more than 20 years.

Silver Dollar: In late June, the concourse project uniting the three Nevada State Museum buildings on North Carson Street was formally opened. The complex was named for former first lady Dema Guinn.

Guinn was honored because of her longstanding support for culture, arts and history, including the Tin Cup Tea.

The latter event created by Guinn in 2000 has raised more than $460,000 over the years to support the museum and preserve Nevada's heritage while educating residents, children and tourists.

Silver Dollar: A tip of the silver tiara to Gardnerville resident Christina Keegan, who, in her last year of eligibility, was crowned Miss Nevada on June 27.

A 2004 graduate of Douglas High, she competed as Miss Northern Counties. She was Miss Carson Valley in 2008.

Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to

editor@nevadaappeal.com