Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Correcting a mistake is Job One

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, March 30, 2000 | 8:39 a.m.

"Don't get lazy. Do your homework."

When I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, our journalism professor used those words in almost every lecture.

So, what happened in my later years? I neglected to follow his advice and landed in a situation that would have guaranteed a flunking grade in Journalism 102.

I hereby offer my apologies to readers who took me to task for attributing an excellent public service program to Channel 4 (county TV) instead of Channel 2 (the city's television outlet).

The program on Africanized honeybees was produced by the city of Las Vegas Video Services and Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Co-hosted by Brian Willett of Video Services, and Fire and Rescue Information Officer Tim Syzmanski, the program included Gina Stoneking of the Nevada Department of Agriculture and Rodney Mehring from BeeMaster Inc. as guests.

I have been advised that copies of the show are now being used by schools and civic groups.

I was correct about one thing: The TV show on Africanized honeybees was excellent.

All of which brings up another point that will be causing taxpayers to wonder about the sanity of the City Council and mayor.

According to newspaper reports, the city is planning to spend a couple of million taxpayer dollars on a new city TV station, upgraded City Council chambers and increased public relations staffing, all of which might be difficult to justify. There are so any more urgent needs that require funding, including fire stations, parks, care for the homeless, maintenance and repair of public streets.

If the city plans to continue with such excellent, informative programs as the bee show, the money might be well spent.

But Channel 4 broadcasts that do nothing but boost and glorify the egos of public officials are reckless spending of public funds. It's all about our tax dollars at work -- but in what direction?

Whither Wynn?

The question these days is: What course will Steve Wynn take? Will he leave Nevada to pursue projects outside the state? Will he build another resort-hotel-casino on the Strip? Will he become a connoisseur of fine art and expend his talents in that direction?

That Steve Wynn has been good for Las Vegas is a given. His ingenuity, dramatic flair and vision have helped create a Las Vegas Strip far beyond the dreams of his predecessors. Even his detractors and those he might have trampled on his way to the top admit to his innovative genius.

And then there's his wife, Elaine. I doubt anyone really knows the totality of her commitment to the welfare of children and our community. If the Wynns want my advice, I would say: "Take the money and run." Enjoy life and stop to smell the roses.

But that's not Steve Wynn's style. We will just have to wait for what's next.

Watching a feeble Pope John Paul II courageously carrying his message of interfaith understanding in Israel and the Middle East has to be an inspiration to even the most agnostic.

One can't help being reminded of martyrs like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., who gave their lives in a search for peaceful understanding. The indomitable Pope has little chance of having his dream realized. How can differences between the world's great religions be solved when Christianity itself is shattered into denominational differences?

The appointment of attorney and TV station owner Jim Rogers to head the foundation for the development of Nevada State College in Henderson bodes well for the success of the college.

Rogers will be a formidable fund-raiser and a valuable asset to President Richard Moore when funding for the college will be determined at the state legislative session next year.

Do we have the right to remain skeptical?

Every time we have a gasoline crisis I remember back to a time when we were told the Alaskan pipeline would solve all our problems.

Sun Executive Editor Mike O'Callaghan, who has a unique ability to "hit the nail on the head" in his columns, suggested that the 60,000 barrels now being sent daily to Asia should be directed to our West Coast refineries along with 900,000 barrels already coming south from Alaska.

When friends tell my 83-year-old friend that he is looking great, his answer is: "Compared to what?"