Where I Stand — Ruthe Deskin: NASCAR to help give greyhounds a second chance

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 | 11:27 a.m.

Rain, rain go away.

Weather prog-nos-ti-ca-tors aren't making any promises, but racing enthusiasts who have been looking forward to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series would be happy if El Nino would send the wet weather on its way and El Sol would shine down on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Of all the feature stories about drivers, cars and tracks that are filling newspaper pages the most intriguing for me was brought to my attention by Claudia Presto of Kanab, Utah.

Claudia is the mother hen of the Greyhound Gang---an organization whose sole purpose is to rescue greyhounds who are unable to continue their racing careers. The Greyhound Gang offers the dogs for adoption.

If you attend the races to watch daring drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and others, you should take some time to venture into the merchandising and exhibits area.

There you'll meet a local racing team -- Allison Motor Sports -- and a bunch of former racers, four-legged ones.

Mark Allison has been racing for almost 20 years, competing in NASCAR- sanctioned race tracks throughout the Southwest. A top five competitor, he races a NASCAR late model and competes at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

But racing is not the only thing on his mind. Allison Motors currently sponsors and helps to promote the adoption of ex-racing greyhounds, two of which Mark owns.

"They don't put down race car drivers just because they aren't fast enough," Allison says. So, why should they put down the dogs?

Allison adopted his two greyhounds from the Greyhound Gang, one of hundreds of organizations throughout the United States that educate and promote the adoption of these dogs.

"I'm constantly amazed at how sweet, gentle and smart these racing dogs are -- a lot like race car drivers," Allison states with a smile.

A visit to the Allison Motor Sports and Greyhound Gang booth at the Las Vegas Speedway will help you get acquainted with a greyhound, but be careful. One look into the gentle face of a greyhound and you just might fall in love.

An association with greyhound racing dogs is not new to NASCAR.

Kristin Schwenke Block, whose husband is Steve Park's front-tire changer for Dale Earnhardt Inc., has started an organization called "Racers Helping Racers." Its members are Winston Cup people who own greyhounds and are raising money to help with adoptions.

Racing men. Racing cars. Racing dogs. That's all in store for you at the Winston Cup Series from Feb. 21 to March 1.

Look for a booth along side of the big semi-trailers. In the booth you'll see greyhounds, the Allison racing team's race car, and Greyhound Gang representatives.

I've seen some of these dogs and I guarantee it's hard to walk away without an adoption paper in your hand.

William Mors is gradually putting his dream together -- a thorough, factual and fascinating history of Las Vegas.

He is being aided by a group of oldtimers who have formed the Las Vegas History Foundation.

Eventually, Mors will have five videos and discs portraying the most informative, detailed and accurate history of Las Vegas that has ever been put together.

William Job Leavitt Jr., who was jailed briefly and charged with conspiracy to possess a biological agent for use as a weapon, impressed me with the grace and sensitivity he showed upon his release.

Sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If ever a case cried out for justice it is that of Genie Ohrenschall.

Ohrenschall, a state legislator, has been separated from her daughter by authorities and accused of child neglect.

Assemblywoman Kathy Von Tobel referred to the case in a recent letter and opined that, "We need to seriously consider changing the laws that are supposed to protect our children but end up taking away the rights of parents. No parent should have to go through what Genie Ohrenschall has."

For several months the SUN's Sandy Thompson has been researching and writing about cases that have come before the family courts. The issues are sensitive and one has to conclude, in some cases, that the judgments have not been based on thorough consideration of the rights of parents and guardians as well as the children involved.

Assemblywoman Von Tobel is correct in her assessment of the Ohrenschall case and it should also extend to others where judgments are questioned.

Herb True offers a lesson in parenting when he asks:

"Did you ever get the feeling you're developing the kind of kids you don't want yours to play with?"