McCarran’s lounge act opens as USO takes over Terminal 1

By John Katsilometes

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 | 11:14 p.m.

Notes from an event, this one the ribbon-cutting for the USO Lounge at McCarran International Airport, which opened Thursday afternoon in Terminal 1:

• In his remarks at this afternoon’s news conference, Gen. Frank Gonzales, commander of the Nevada Army Guard, told of what it’s like for a serviceman to see the USO logo. “Whenever I see it, I’m happy,” he said. This is a tribute to all the work the USO has performed overseas, particularly entertaining the troops, and also for the lounges that have sprouted up across the country. And, say this for Gonzales: He could play himself in the movie. He’s not a guy you’d want to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

• After a series of statements read by staffers on behalf of Nevada’s Congressional delegation (including outgoing Rep. Dina Titus), Sen. John Ensign took the podium and said, “My staff wishes it could be here today …” Funny. He also said, “I have no letter to read, either.” He’s lost a lot of weight over the past year. He rides his bike over great distances and mentioned that he was going on a 100-mile ride Friday.

• When it was noted to USO Celebrity Circle Chairman Wayne Newton that Sen. Harry Reid was present for the USO Lounge groundbreaking in August and Ensign stood for Thursday’s ribbon-cutting, Newton laughed and said, “Hey, ya gotta spread it around.” The “it” being love, I believe.

• There is a possibility of expansion from the current 2,000-square-foot R&R covey, which is on the Terminal 1 mezzanine level where the US Airways lounge once stood. Or, the planned Terminal 3 might also be a site for a USO Lounge. “We could build out here, to the north, or put it in Terminal 3,” McCarran Director Randy Walker said. “If we ever saw that need, we would contact the USO. We’d be ready for any demand.” Walker also said that Terminal 3 would ensure the airport would be ready for a boost in passengers whenever the tourism numbers return to their peak of a few years ago. “We’re down 16 percent (from 2007), but we need to be ready when those numbers return, whether it’s two, three or four years. The airport will be ready,” he said.

• Newton said from the podium, and County Commissioner Steve Sisolak repeated after, that the building of the lounge was a selfless project. “It’s amazing what you can get accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit,” Newton said. Sisolak added, “This could be a model for how different entities can cooperate. We’ll use it as an example of cooperation.” It helps that building a lounge for exhausted servicemen and servicewomen is a universally appreciated endeavor.

• Spotted around the room were Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, Cox Communications exec Steve Schorr, former Regent and County Commissioner Thalia Dondero (who is always quick to smile), Texas developer Steve Kennedy and his wife, Geneva (partners in the Newton museum across Sunset Road from Casa de Shenandoah), Ira David Sternberg, conducting some sort of live-stream podcast, and Chuck Baker, Veterans Reporter newsletter editor and columnist.

• On that Newton project, Commissioner Sisolak said he plans to meet with Newton’s neighbors near the proposed museum and showroom project to the north of Casa de Shenandoah. “They have concerns, and they have a right to be heard, but the Newtons have rights, too, as property owners,” said Sisolak, who reiterated that the land on which Shenandoah sits and the property purchased across Sunset by Kennedy is properly zoned for what Newton has planned.

• Newton said the USO tour of Afghanistan will be in March. No lineup set, yet.

• Missing was Terry Fator, whom we were told is suffering from the flew. I mean, flu. Flew, that would indicate all these flights Fator has been making to Hawaii, how he probably caught the flu. He’s to be back in action by the weekend.

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