Tuesday, April 21, 1998 | 10:17 a.m.
Not in my backyard.
Our city fathers and mother apparently believe pawnshops do not fit the image of downtown Las Vegas they are trying to build.
Seeing the writing on the wall, one pawnshop owner and second-hand dealer has his eyes set on an empty bank building at Decatur and Meadows Lane.
Residents are fearing "there goes the neighborhood."
Councilman Mike McDonald, who has a reputation for grass-roots connections with his constituents, has called for a neighborhood meeting at Western High School tonight to discuss the application for the pawnshop at 300 S. Decatur Blvd.
"If they don't want them downtown where they belong, don't stick them in our neighborhood," seems to be the consensus among residents who feel the values of their properties will take a downward plunge with a pawnshop and second-hand store so close.
One city official stated that many businesses don't want pawnshops next door. Pawnshop owner Derminia Drobkin says she gets 300 tourists a day who want the pawnshops in Las Vegas and that the stores are part of the city's allure as well as history.
Pawnshops belong downtown where the action is.
They have been downtown for years and the owners and managers have taken pride in their efforts to change the industry's image by debunking old myths and presenting a cleaner and more modern image.
"Just keep them away from our front doors," say residents in and around 300 S. Decatur.
Sprint lost a public relations battle when they closed the telephone office at 104 Water St. in Henderson.
According to John Welland, Sprint told him the office only serviced 10,000 people per month. That's not too shabby.
How can we know what's good for us when drastic changes in information occur almost daily?
More than 100,000 people died last year from adverse drug reactions. These are properly prescribed and administered drugs.
Decaffeinated coffee was the only thing to drink. Now, we are told that the caffeine in coffee might not be such a bad thing after all.
Women were urged to have mammograms regularly. Now they are told that mammograms are resulting in a high number of false-positives. Women who have 10 mammograms over a period of time will have at least one erroneous report of abnormalities.
Heart medication can cause gum disease.
Don't drink milk. Do drink milk.
About the best advice for all is not to fret, but just relax and enjoy.
For those who have been bopped on the noggin by an over-sized suitcase, the new airline rules limiting the size of carry-on baggage are gratefully welcomed.
Business travelers insist they lose time waiting for baggage to come down a carousel.
The whole matter could have been avoided, but there are always people who sneak that little extra and carry several pieces of baggage onto the plane without consideration of the comfort or convenience of other passengers.
It would be an ideal world if baggage size was limited and travelers could be sure their checked luggage would reach the same destination as they do.
Paul Endy is justly proud of the commemorative chips that were distributed at the inaugural game of the Arizona Diamondbacks -- a product of his company Paulson.
Those lucky enough to get one will be holding a collector's item one of these days.
Last but certainly not least, the SUN is mighty proud to be listed among the "Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas."
Publisher Barbara Greenspun recently received word that Hank Greenspun has been selected by the publisher of the R-J as among the "best influential Las Vegans."
Sooner than you think it will be time to send youngsters to summer camp.
The SUN Camp Fund will be asking our readers to help with donations to send needy and handicapped children to camp.
Your donation brings joy to a disadvantaged child.
There's more to come on the SUN Camp Fund, but if you feel you would like to participate in this annual project for children, send your donation to the SUN Camp Fund, 800 S. Valley View, 89107.
A needy child will be happier because you cared.
Ron Rice says, "I like a politician who speaks his mind. That way he doesn't say much."
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