Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: People who are busy

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE were in and/or out of the news during the past two weeks. Many of their names are only known to Nevadans, and others have national and international reputations. They are all important to large numbers of people.

On one hand there was Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig whining to a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee about how poor several of the baseball team owners are because of the money they are losing. Watch out for another boost in ticket, parking and peanut prices in the near future to pay high salaries. On the other hand there was Dr. Jim and Tina Hogan here at home collecting coats to keep Las Vegas street people warm this winter. He is the same physician who takes his talents and heart to help needy people. The people of Guatemala have been his patients for 20 years south of the border. Dr. Elias Ghanem, when practicing medicine, is another local example of a physician who was never too busy to help the sick, homeless people we sent to him from the Catholic Worker feeding program. ... Fr. Dave Casaleggio, now serving as a prison and jail chaplai n, has probably learned that no good deed goes unpunished. Dave's active role when working with groups looking out for the ! welfare of children has been quiet and only known by some of us who have the same interests. From helping the summer Sun Camp Fund to developing ways to help runaway youngsters have been but a few of his good works. Recently some people unsuccessfully did everything possible to drag him into the City Hall fracas. ... The retirement of BYU football coach LaVell Edwards was punctuated with a solid victory over rival University of Utah. Edwards has set an example as a man and coach that a young person can use as a guideline to become a productive citizen. Putting his name on the football stadium has added something very special to that beautiful facility. A lot of football fans are going to miss his face on the sidelines and football players are going to miss his fatherly guidance and advice. ... So the principal of Boulder City High School, Bill Garis, is be ing transferred to start a new high school for the Clark County School District. Bill has done an outstanding job for seven! years and he will be missed by the students, teachers and parents. He has continued the long line of men and women who have made BCHS an excellent school. ... Children and senior citizens have long benefited from the good work of Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley. Her appointment by Speaker Richard Perkins to the post of Assembly majority leader will give her even more power to help those needing attention. Perkins, as speaker, is the highest ranked legislator to ever come from Henderson. His power is now in the same league as that of the late Sen. James Gibson of Henderson, whose skills made him the most respected voice in Carson City for many years. His son Jim is now the capable mayor of Henderson. ... Gov. Kenny Guinn has selected a new chief of staff and she's a winner. I have known Marybel Batjer and her family since her high school days and have been w ondering when she would return to serve Nevada. She has served successfully in high-level positions at the national level a! nd for the state of California. Public service isn't something new for her family. Her father, Cameron Batjer, was an exceptional justice on the Nevada Supreme Court and always became a calming factor when conflicts occurred. Later, he went to Washington, D.C., where he became recognized for his knowledge and ability to make good decisions.