Columnist Ruthe Deskin: One man’s inspiring mission

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 1:53 a.m.

Seventeen years ago, David Blacksmith was homeless, hungry and a fugitive from justice.

"I was so low down that I had to look up to see the bottom," he explains. One day his hunger drove him to search for food at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. He came for a meal and found food for his soul. He became a pastor and served several churches nationwide until his path led back to Las Vegas, where he became assistant director and head of the job development program for the Las Vegas Mission.

Recently, the Rev. Edward Compton and his wife, who have so successfully directed the organization for 20 years, decided it was time to relinquish their duties. To whom did they turn to take over as executive director? None other than Blacksmith, who once found a meal and salvation at the charitable organization he will now direct.

The Las Vegas Mission is one of our most successful and long-running programs, lending a helping hand to the needy. As the community extends grateful thanks to the Rev. and Mrs. Compton, we should welcome Pastor Blacksmith with continued support.

My car license was due and I was getting a little nervous, as my renewal form and smog control had been mailed early. I dialed 486-4DMV (why don't they just use numbers?) and received the information that my call could be monitored. This was followed by the routine that makes me wish for the good old days.

"If you are calling from a touch tone phone, press 1." I pressed. I was given a menu of five choices. I wasn't quite sure which number I should press, but I went back and took a chance on 2. A voice informed me that "estimated waiting time is six minutes." Next I listened to a spiel about Nevada Power's program to energize my home. Then a garbled man's voice said something that sounded like a pitch for a new car. Then I was told that all the agents were busy but I would be served by the first available one.

I finally got through to a live voice and a friendly lady informed me that my tag and registration were in the mail, but it would take 10 days to reach me. Whatever happened to Pony Express? The next day the DMV issued a press release explaining that they had a backlog of 12,000 vehicle mail registrations and staffers were doing the best they can to catch up. Is that any way to do business?

This is a true story. A young man of my acquaintance was doing some remodeling in his home. The phone kept ringing with telemarketers hawking everything from home loans to dancing lessons. Finally he answered it. "Is this the head of the house?" he was asked. He answered with a flippant, "No, I'm robbing this house. Leave me alone." Within 15 minutes, he heard sirens and saw two patrol cars in front of his house. The cops didn't think it was funny, but it did prove that some telemarketers are concerned about the welfare of their constituents.

The fastest-growing sport for kids in Southern Nevada could be hockey -- especially roller hockey -- involving hundreds of kids and their parents. When experts talk of needing more interaction between parents and children they should stress how sports seems to be a common meeting ground.