Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Some good thoughts about and from several Nevadans

Monday, Feb. 23, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.

Fadwa Ghanem in big letters adorns one of the newest fine buildings in Las Vegas. It's the community center for St. Anne church and elementary school. When I look at the name on the building it reads Mama Ghanem to me. All of us who were fortunate enough to include Dr. Elias Ghanem's mother as a friend remember her kindness and warmth. Her love and kindness shown to children makes her name on the grounds of an elementary school especially meaningful. ... Terry Care entering the race for State Senate District 7 has brought a new touch to local politics. Care did an outstanding job as reporter and news director at KTNV-TV 13 before attending law school. Before coming to Las Vegas he joined the Army at the age of 19 in 1966. Then, after graduating from OCS as a second lieutenant, he was an infantry platoon leader during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Wounded twice and decorated he was medically retired. He's been there and back and as a practicing attorney is now offering himself for even more public service. ... The Board of Regents deserve praise for making provisions for the survivors of UNR Police Sgt. George Sullivan to attend a state college or university free of tuition, book costs and fees. That body did the same thing for the Nevada widows and orphans from the war in Vietnam. Then Regent Jim Bilbray came up with the idea and it was passed unanimously. ... When defending the elimination of the debate team, Dean Martha Watson of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs wrote, "Unfortunately, the program has attracted and continues to attract very few participants. It has not fulfilled the original hopes for its becoming a magnet for drawing a significant number of excellent students to the University. And, at any time, the number of students actively participating, numbers fewer than would be in an average undergraduate class. Although some of the participants are quite successful, one has to ask about the wisdom of devoting so many resources to so few students, especially when equally valid and valuable programs in the Hank Greenspun School receive much less support." This tells me that the college is doing a poor job of recruiting and retaining those students wanting to debate. A like attitude wouldn't be tolerated in NCAA sports sponsored by UNLV. ... Richard Wyett is retiring as head of the Nevada Dept. of Parole and Probation but he's not resting. The one-time member of the NHP has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Assn. of Probation Executives. This makes him responsible for "coordinating administrative activities, membership development and support, training and research activities, and communication within a specified geographical area as assigned by the Board." His area of responsibility includes Nevada and 12 other western states. ... The death of former UNLV athletics director Al Negratti brings back many memories. He was a man of unquestionable integrity who was brought here to do a job that he wasn't allowed to complete. ... Will the new airway being planned for Las Vegas be successful? It should with Mike Conway running it. He has been a winner in past undertakings such as running America West. ... As my readers know I've always had some serious doubts about the fairness of some local homeowners associations. This goes back to 1987 when widow Dottie Price faced the bullying tactics of an association. A couple of weeks ago I received a copy of an association's publication "The Village Voice." It highlighted a story about a dog hurting some children and some residents believe it was published to intimidate a neighbor whose own leashed dog was attacked by an unleashed dog. If that was the purpose of the article it will backfire and give the leashed dog owner even more resolve to seek justice. ... A dynamic picture of amateur wrestler Bill Curran in action was published in the magazine "Communique" of the Clark County Bar Association. Curran, a respected attorney and chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, is a fine public servant we are fortunate to have in his present position. Not only was he captain of the Minnesota's Golden Gophers wrestling team and later an AAU competitor he also has the distinction of being an outstanding scholar. He has become an invaluable asset to the Silver State since moving here 26 years ago. ... Following a column written about the persecution of Christians in the world a nice letter arrived from Helen Goree of the Mountain View Assembly of God Church. She included a most interesting book which gives briefs on China, Cuba, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, North Korea, Vietnam, Iran and Uzbekistan as nations persecuting Christians. ... Nevada freshman Congressman Jim Gibbons, a Republican, has good reason to ask serious questions about our military readiness. Jim served in the Persian Gulf War and flew several combat sorties with the Nevada Air National Guard. Now that he's in Congress he has committee assignments that can make good use of his military experience. We should be happy he's questioning our military capability that has declined over the past eight years. Maybe this present confrontation in the Persian Gulf will wake up some political sleepyheads. This incudes both Democrats and the Republicans leading the majority in both the Senate and House.

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