Editorial: Grand jury tarnishes state wildlife workers

Hostility between Elko County and federal and state officials over the use of public lands in rural Nevada is nothing new. But the dispute stooped to a new low when an Elko County grand jury in 1997 accused the four of misusing their office to persuade a mining company to pay a $1.5 million remediation fee for its expansion on public lands. Independence Mining Co. paid the amount after the state claimed the company's project was on lands that were prime for mule deer habitat.

Even though the mining company had no objections, that didn't stop the grand jury from accusing the employees of oppression under the color of office. Only after the statute of limitations expired did the grand jury issue its report.

The Supreme Court should remove this blot and expunge the full grand jury report. To do nothing would set a dangerous precedent that would allow any grand jury in this state to malign the reputations of Nevadans through such cowardly cheap shots.

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