Page 10 - Demo

10 VETERANS Reporter News www.VeteransReporterNews.com August 1 %u2022 2025 Letter to the Editor: A Grateful Citizen Salutes Hunter Cain%u25a0 VICTOR POWELL.As a proud U.S. citizen and someone who deeply values service, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation after reading your recent article, %u201cStill in the Fight: The Relentless Service of Hunter Cain.%u201dIn an era where headlines are often fi lled with division, corruption, and despair, Hunter Cain%u2019s story is a powerful reminder of what real leadership, courage, and compassion look like. His life embodies the truest form of service %u2014 not just on the battlefi eld, but in the daily, often unseen work of uplifting those most forgotten by our systems.Hunter didn%u2019t just wear the uniform and call it a day. He came home and continued serving %u2014 in foster homes, government halls, and grassroots movements. The fact that he has opened his door to over 40 foster youth %u2014 and adopted twelve of them %u2014 is nothing short of extraordinary. Many talk about fi xing broken systems; Hunter is out there actually building a new one from the ground up.His launch of the Foster Care Chamber of Commerce, his relentless advocacy for veterans, and his commitment to young people society often casts aside %u2014 these are not just acts of kindness; they are acts of patriotism. He is redefi ning what it means to serve our country, and he%u2019s doing it without asking for credit, glory, or even rest.To Hunter Cain: Thank you. Thank you for reminding us what integrity looks like. Thank you for proving that one person can make a difference. And thank you for showing this nation that the fi ght for justice, dignity, and hope is just as important here at home as it is overseas.If more of us followed your example %u2014 if more of us said yes when it was easier to walk away %u2014 this country would be a better place.With gratitude and deep respect,MILITARY, VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS APPRECIATION DAYFREE ADMISSION FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, ACTIVITIES FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILYSaturday, October 4, 202510:30am %u2013 4pmCraig Ranch Regional Park%u2022 Food & Live Entertainment %u2022 Vegas Cruisin%u2019Car Show %u2022 Wheels 4 Warriors %u2022 Battle of the Branches Tug of War%u2022 Children/Family Area %u2022 Miniature Pig Show %u2022 Vendor BoothsFREE FOOD FOR MILITARY, VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WITH IDHealth District identifi es fi rst West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes of the season%u25a0 Public urged to %u201cFight the Bite%u201dLAS VEGAS %u2013 The Southern Nevada Health District has identifi ed the fi rst mosquito pool of the season testing positive for West Nile virus in the 89123 ZIP code. The Health District is reminding residents to take precautions and %u201cFight the Bite%u201d to help reduce the impact of mosquitoes in the community. Since launching its seasonal mosquito surveillance in April, the Health District has set more than 1,670 traps across Clark County to monitor mosquito species and detect virus activity. Traps are placed in parks, wash channels, wetlands, residential areas and other potential breeding sites. Collected mosquitoes are sorted and cataloged by species and location at the Health District%u2019s Main Public Health Center, and samples are then sent to the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory for testing. More than 1,800 mosquito pools have been tested this year.West Nile virus activity in Clark County reached unprecedented levels in Clark County in 2019, with 43 reported human cases. Activity was minimal in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2024, 26 human cases were reported.In addition to identifying mosquitoes that commonly carry West Nile virus, the Health District is monitoring the presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya. Unlike most mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti are aggressive daytime biters that prefer humans to birds. They are persistent ankle-biters, and a single female can bite multiple times. These mosquitoes breed in small containers that collect rain or irrigation water%u2014such as children%u2019s toys, wheelbarrows, plant saucers and even bottle caps. The Health District%u2019s Fight the Bite campaign encourages people to:Eliminate standing water around their homes.Use an FDA-registered insect repellent and wear protective clothes.Report mosquito activity to the Health District%u2019s surveillance program at (702) 759-1633 .Report green pools to local code enforcement agencies.%u201cPapa Jake%u201d Larson Dies at 102%u25a0 By Dr. Linda MillerI was saddened to hear on the morning of July 21, 2025, that Jake Larson had died. I don%u2019t know if I ever met him during my twenty-fi ve year involvement with the Battle of the Bulge Association and traveling overseas with them. I became aware of him two years ago when one of my USS Nevada veterans, Dick Ramsey, sent me a picture of them during the D-Day reunion in Normandy June 6, 2022. It was sponsored by the Best Defense Foundation. I had hoped that Jake would have been at the Battle of the Bulge Reunion meeting in St. Louis last year, but he was not.He was known as %u201cPapa Jake%u201d on TikTok after his granddaughter McKaela Larson shared his war stories and memories from his long life. At his death, he had 1.2 million followers. As a former history and government teacher, I recognize the value of this information and how it will live on and enlighten all ages.During this year%u2019s 81st anniversary celebration of D-Day, Jake was in many articles in print and on the media. My friend Dick Ramsey was sitting next to him. The best coverage was on FOX News on June 6, 2025, showing Jake and Dick talking and shaking hands with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.Picture of Jake (left) and Dick (right) during June 6, 2022 activities in France. Photo provided by Dick Ramsey