SILVER DOLLARS AND WOODEN NICKELS: Getting a kick out of Empire program

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

SILVER DOLLAR: To Empire Elementary School for keeping students accountable through its soccer program. In order for students to participate in the program they must set behavior and academic goals they have to meet and the students at the school also deserve praise in how they have responded as many students have shown significant progress in whatever goals they’ve set. So the program has been a great lesson in goal-setting as well.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Corey Reid, who has earned a scholarship to compete in track at Division II Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. Reid, who is one of the nation’s top high school decathletes and the defending state champion in the 400 meters, will compete for his uncle Kevin Reid, a 1983 Carson High graduate, who as head coach has developed Azusa Pacific into a national power.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Mark Struble for his work in battling Alheimer’s Disease. Struble is taking his cause to Sacramento where he’ll run in the California International Marathon on Dec. 7.

SILVER DOLLAR: This community should be proud of itself because of the numerous schools and organizations in the city who are helping those in need during this holiday season. So we’ll just give a Silver Dollar to the entire community for its selfless spirit during this holiday season.

WOODEN NICKEL: Conservatives all the time complain about those who portray themselves as victims. We’re singling out one conservative who’s not practicing what conservatives preach in Assemblyman Ira Hansen, who had to step down as speaker of the Assembly for offensive statements he made in the past. As a politician, Hansen had to know the reality his past could catch up with him. But instead of taking the high road, Hansen was quoted as saying he was a “victim of a carefully orchestrated attempt to remove a conservative Republican froma major leadership role in state government.” Mr. Hansen, you’re no victim.