Where I Stand: Some thoughts on Children’s Home, politics and taxes

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

YOU ARE SLEEPING soundly when all of a sudden you are wide awake. Efforts to return to slumber land evade you. A dozen thoughts go through your head -- the cat needs to go to the vet for a shot, the rent is due, the car needs an oil change, don't forget to put out the garbage and on and on.

Writing a column can be compared to a restless night. You suddenly realize there are a dozen things to write about, but nothing very earthshaking. It's hard to get started, so you just wing it.

Those folks who want to close the Southern Nevada Children's Home in Boulder City would place more children in foster homes. The problem is, and always has been, there are not enough foster homes and many who apply do not have the qualifications demanded by the state and county.

Wealth has its benefits.

A friend tells me she was locked out of a high-fashion shop at the Forum Shops at Caesars. The clerk at the door told her they were closed for an hour so Mike Tyson could shop away from the maddening crowd.

The television love-fest between Matthew and Larry (Callister and Brown) isn't guaranteed to last.

Both candidates for City Council vowed to run a clean campaign, unlike the primary, which was laden with back-biting and innuendo.

Don't make any wagers that the campaign will "concern just the issues." When you think about it, the candidates' character in any campaign is an issue.

If the letters to the editor are any bellwether, the casinos are fortunate that the public isn't given an opportunity to vote for a gaming tax increase. It would pass overwhelmingly.

UNLV President Carol Harter is being evaluated by her peers and some not so peer to determine whether her contract should be renewed or extended.

No one asked me, but if they did, I would say that Dr. Carol Harter deserves a chance to continue with her goals for the university. After all, she's only been on board for two years -- long enough to get her feet wet. She came to UNLV after a devastating period, and her biggest job was to get the university back on track. She seems to have done that in spite of some heavy nit-picking. She most probably has made some mistakes and learned through trial and error.

Now she's being evaluated. Makes one wonder who evaluates the evaluators.

What this city needs are more shelters at bus stops.

So much of Strip history has gone up in dust as hotels are torn down to make way for the new.

Years ago, the Little Church of the West was located on the grounds of the Last Frontier Hotel. It was the scene of many weddings including those of the rich and famous, and was an anchor spot for the old Last Frontier Village.

Those days are gone. The church was moved south of the old Hacienda. For a time, it looked as if it might join some of our famous old hotels and be crushed to dust.

The Little Church was rescued and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Interior Department. To celebrate, a grand opening and dedication ceremony for the church is planned to take place at the new location, 4617 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The overcrowded conditions at Zenoff Hall, the county's juvenile detention center, are disgraceful.

So, one has to wonder why county officials are dragging their feet on the start of construction of adequate facilities. The bond for the building was passed at the last general election.

What are they waiting for?

Everyone living in older sections of the county should thank Commissioner Myrna Williams, who regularly voices her concern about the crumbling roads, lack of parks and general decline.

"There's been a benign neglect of the older neighborhoods," Williams claims.

Most residents of older areas would agree as they watch with envy the attention given to new areas.

Williams has become a spokeswoman for these citizens as she says, "I want more money spent in older areas, not just putting new roads on top of old roads."

Here's one basketball fan who was mighty happy that Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz received the MVP award for 1997.

Michael Jordan is the best basketball player who ever played the game, but Malone is the quintessential player. He excels in every department and works hard to prepare himself for every game. As the Mailman, he delivers.

W.H. Palmer offers his idea of a good teacher:

"A good teacher is someone who can understand those not very good at explaining and explain it to those not very good at understanding."