Columnist Ruthe Deskin: New Year, but same annoyance

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001 | 9:10 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@lasvegassun.com.

What a way to start the year 2001.

At 11 in the morning on New Years Day I had already answered two telemarketing calls. The first was a deal to pay off the mortgage on my home (which I don't have) and the second a chance for a vacation for two to who knows where. I didn't take the time to listen.

One New Year's resolution I had planned was to stop griping about these unwanted telephone solicitations. Now I've decided if anyone ever runs for public office on a platform to outlaw this infringement on our privacy, I will hit the campaign trail on his or her behalf.

That most calls nowadays are recorded messages only adds to the frustration. There must be thousands of people out there who respond positively to these calls or it wouldn't be such a lucrative business.

For the rest of us, please go away.

Seventy years ago, in 1931, University Medical Center started as Clark County Indigent Hospital.

In 1940 the name was changed to Clark County General Hospital, and paying patients were admitted for the first time. Later it became Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and in 1986, in recognition of an affiliation with the University of Nevada medical studies program, the name was changed once again to University Medical Center.

The growth of the old hospital is symbolic of the quality of health care now available to Southern Nevadans.

Officials of the hospital are planning to celebrate the 70th anniversary. A part of that event will be compiling stories of former patients from the 1930s and 1940s. Persons who might have been patients at the hospital in those years are asked to call 383-2090 and share their stories.

Like 2000, the firing of UNLV basketball coach Bill Bayno has become history.

There are still, however, a few Sun readers who took exception to a recent column in which I referred to the firing as "not a class act" and "heartless." Ron Rogers gave me a word lashing for my sentiments, as follows:

"Bayno was at the wheel. He got caught. He was wrong. Not only was the firing justified, he should be banned from coaching for a reasonable time -- without a healthy contract buyout. Maybe he will work a little harder to keep his program at brand X clean. Print that."

It's printed, but I reiterate my opinion -- the firing could have been done in a more humane manner.

A new year is a time to look ahead as well as a time to remember, according to an old friend and longtime Sun reader, who once delivered mail to the affluent neighborhood bordered by Charleston, Rancho and Oakey.

Now he asks how many people remember the Las Vegas Rhythmettes, Nevada Southern University, Joe W. Brown race track, the Silver Slipper and Western Village, Helldorado days, the drag strip in the desert west of the city, lounge acts, the Rebels playing basketball in the rotunda of the old Convention Center, the Las Vegas Wranglers baseball team and Mayors Ernie Cragin, C.D. Baker, Ron Lurie, Oran Gragson and Bill Briare.

Those were the days, my friend.

Now we look ahead to an even more brilliant future for Las Vegas. Happy New Year.