Giving thanks for our community

Thanksgiving week focuses on the tradition of families gathering to enjoy each other’s company, watch a football game and eat a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Thanksgiving, a wonderful family day, gives many individuals an opportunity to look back at 2017 and then look forward to 2018. We are thankful to live in a community noted for its giving and the charitable work performed by many individuals and groups. From church and service organizations to military-related groups, they provide the necessary ingredients to make our city and county a special place.

Through hard work and dedication this year, we had many volunteers and government agencies step up and go beyond the call of duty to prevent what could have been disastrous flooding in central Nevada. Recently, the Churchill Economic Development Authority recognized individuals who have made a difference in improving the quality of living in our county.

Not only is this community a wonderful place in which to live, but it also is a community in which we must support.

The number of businesses open in Churchill County on Thursday is few, but the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority, the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, Churchill Economic Development Authority, Downtown Merchants Association and the Lahontan Valley News encourage our residents to spend their money in the county this year and take advantage of deals on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, two prominent national shopping days to promote holiday sales.

Spending in Churchill County during the holidays also has an added benefit. Taxable sales, a major funding source for county and city services, provides for the continued operations of law enforcement and the Fallon Churchill Volunteer Fire Department, the new William N. Pennington Life Center for our senior citizens, parks and other government-related functions.

According to industry standards and the Churchill County comptroller, every dollar spent within our county tends to go through an exchange of six or seven hands or businesses.

Although Reno or Carson City lures residents with good deals, those same deals also can be found locally.

As we have reported in the past, local business owners said customers from Reno have visited their stores, saying they found a better assortment of gift ideas and jewelry in the Fallon area than our neighbors to the west.

For those who insist on leaving Fallon for Reno, stop by our local businesses first and see what great deals are available here first. Shop Reno or Carson City … if you must … but on your return, stop and visit our businesses again.

Locals and those from the outlying areas such as Hawthorne, Yerington, Lovelock and Fernley can spend Saturday in Fallon, beginning first with shopping and later having a nice lunch or dinner at one of our fine restaurants followed by watching a movie either at one of our two theaters.

LVN editorials appear on Wednesdays.