Silver Dollars and Wooden Nickels: Congratulations to treasure hunt winner

The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars and Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, then warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.

SILVER DOLLAR: Nobody came out looking particularly good after our federal government’s 16-day shutdown ended Wednesday. The political sniping annoyed Americans left wondering why our leaders can’t seem to execute the simple tasks — such as continuing to function — that we elect them to complete. The good news is that Nevada didn’t run out of money for its food stamp and other programs, and budget director Jeff Mohlenkamp says it appears the federal government is going to reimburse states for the expenses they incurred during the shutdown. Thank God for small favors.

WOODEN NICKEL: The partisan fighting will be back in the news soon. Congress also agreed to fund the federal government through Jan. 15, avoiding a potential debt default. That sets up a likely early-winter fight between President Obama and Republican lawmakers over borrowing and spending, leaving a weary electorate with even more to feel frustrated about.

SILVER DOLLAR: Dale Miller completed the 12th annual Nevada Day Treasure Hunt on the eighth clue. The 35-year-old Reno man says he participates in the hunt each year and loves Nevada history. “Today was the first day I was confident that I had enough information to go out and look without just wandering aimlessly,” he said after finding the medallion Wednesday. Miller said he typically checks the clues, which run in the Nevada Appeal, first thing in the morning and considers the meaning. Kudos to him for piecing it all together this year.

WOODEN NICKEL: A poll shows that 47 percent of Americans expect to retire later than they’d previously thought, and on average, they planned to stop working at age 66. That’s an average of three years later than they’d estimated when they were 40. Many respondents experienced a “big downward movement” in their 401(k) plans, forcing them to stay in the work force longer than planned, according to University of Pennsylvania teacher and retirement expert Olivia Mitchell. It’s disheartening to see people who’ve worked hard to secure a stress-free retirement being forced to delay it.

SILVER DOLLAR: The six surviving puppies in a litter found in a South Lake Tahoe trash bin all have homes in the area. Pet Network Humane Society in Incline Village reported receiving 60 to 75 adoption applications from across the nation for the dogs, which were found July 23 by a Good Samaritan. It’s great to see a story with a sad beginning have a happy ending.