The first couple of months after moving to the Reno area, I was lonely.  All I did is work, writing Keno tickets at the Cal-Neva, then go home. One afternoon, I wrote a ticket for a woman from Canada, named Carol. She was visiting, having traveled with a gambling junket, as they were commonly known.…

The old joke goes: “Your Mama wears combat boots.” For my wife, Mary — it was true. Her mother, and my mother-in-law, Helen Conklin did wear combat boots during World War II. She was a nurse and 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 01 May 1945 to 06 December 1946. Boot camp for Helen…

A 1875 lithograph of Carson City and a 1907 Sanborn Fire Insurance map places Chinatown between East Second and East Fourth streets, and from Fall Street to Valley Street. The main street was East Third, with Chinatown spread out on both sides of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad tracks. Population estimates for Chinatown have ranged…

Shortly after getting fired last week from the radio station, a Marine Corps friend sent me an email. In it was a list of 15 rules for leadership. I had seen them before a several years ago, though I’m hard pressed to say where because I don’t recall. He explains that while the material is…

There had been a well-established Chinatown in Crescent City until the mid-1880’s. It was located along 2nd Street between G and H streets, along H to 2nd and 3rd Streets. They were expelled following the fatal shooting of a city councilman in Eureka, February 1st, 1885, during what the was called a ‘Tong War,’ by…

Is there and old friend you haven’t talked to in a while? Let not another day go by without tending that friendship. You and I have old friends that we value greatly; Some we’ve known since childhood, grade school, high school. Others are from our first job, perhaps a special get-together. Still others are our…

In attempts to be polite, I will stifle Many of beliefs and ideas, Fearful of hurting  another’s’ feelings When I speak truthfully. Slowly, I am learning – Much trial and error on my part, It is possible to be honest Without being mean or rude. How else can I let someone know how I feel?…

Bruce Connor passed away October 17th, 2013, in Medford, Oregon. Born April 30th, 1958, and raised in Smith River, he attended Smith River Elementary and Del Norte High School, graduating in 1976. As a Warrior, he played football and wrestled throughout his high school career, earning a white star his senior year. Bruce also attended…