First and foremost, a Happy Spring to all. Traditionally, this is the season where termites and ants do their worst damage. I will be discussing how to keep these pests from eating you out of house and home on Tuesday, March 31 at 4 p.m. Mountain on KVOA-NBC in Tucson Arizona and on Wednesday, April 1 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific on KMIR-NBC in Palm Desert. KVOA’s website address is www.kvoa.com and KMIR’s website address is www.kmir6.com.

I just got back from a trip last week to both Las Vegas and Carson City. On March 17, I visited Mr. Slater’s 4th grade class at Beatty Elementary – their essay about the Vivid Dancer Damselfly was selected from over 70 entries as the winning essay for the Truly Nolen-sponsored Nevada State Insect Contest. Below is a photo of the children seeing the Truly Nolen Mousecar from our North Las Vegas Branch (702-798-0010) for the first time up close:

After the students explored the mousecar, we brought out the stars of the show – Five hissing cockroaches – and I showed them to the students:

The following day (Wednesday, March 18), Mr. Slater, three of his students and I flew to Reno, Nevada and then drove to Carson City, the Nevada state capital, to testify on behalf of Senate Bill 166 and why the Vivid Dancer Damselfly should be adopted as the Nevada State Insect. Here is a photo of Megan Anders (left), Ryan Underwood and Lexie Arancibia testifying:

Following their testimony, the five of us posed with State Senator Joyce Woodhouse (left) and Clark County Representative Clark County Assistant Superintendent of Schools Joyce Haldeman – two of the catalysts who helped get the contest off the ground:`

It was a great trip, and I thank Judy Myers, Clark County Coordinator, School-Community Partnership Program, for her tireless work on this project, and for with whom none of this would have been possible.

Be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

As we spring into March, we are excited that the Nevada State Insect Contest’s winning submission has been chosen from a field of 74 entries! We also thank Stan Parris, Branch Manager for our North Las Vegas Branch for being one of the judges for the contest.

Here are the results from 1st place through 5th place:

1st – Vivid Dancer Damselfly, Beatty Elementary, Mr. Slater’s Class
2nd – Desert Marble Butterfly, Bunker Elementary, Ms. Fife’s Class
3rd – Thistledown Velvet Ant, Dooley Elementary, Ms. Tallant’s Class
4th – Jerusalem Cricket, Westergard Elementary, Ms. Gillette’s Class
5th – Juba Skipper, Forbuss Elementary, Ms. Nagel’s Class

For winning the contest, Truly Nolen will be providing mousecar fun at Beatty Elementary later this month where the class will be recognized for their achievement. In addition, I am flying with Mr. Slater and three of his students to argue for the passage of the Vivid Dancer Damselfly State Insect Bill in Carson City the following day. We are also providing bus transportation for the rest of Mr. Slater’s class to appear at the government building to observe the democratic process.

We are so elated as a company to have had such a great partner in the Clark County School District in this endeavor, and we are tickled yellow that state Senator Joyce Woodhouse and State Assemblyman Lynn Stewart have championed this project from the very beginning.

To read the winning essay, click here.

Be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy