Where I Stand—Mike O’Callaghan: People making the news

Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 8:59 a.m.

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

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Nevada Reps. Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, and Jim Gibbons, a Republican, for their courage in continuing to vote to protect the American flag. It would have been much easier for them to abandon their beliefs because of the negative editorials they will receive from large numbers of the media. That's right, some writers honestly believe that protecting the flag flies in the face of the First Amendment. The longer our nation is removed from crisis and wars the more prevalent this kind of rationalization will become.

Congrats, Jim and Shelley. *

Hearing that Dr. Joseph A. Rojas has been appointed the interim chairman for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the University of Nevada School of Medicine was welcome news. I doubt if any other doctor in Nevada has delivered more babies during the past 40 years. He delivered our youngest child, Tim, in 1962 at Nellis Air Force Base. Tim's Rh factor required Joe to change his blood, which he made sure was available at the time of birth. The young Air Force officer had, just prior to arriving at Nellis, finished his residency at Tulane University. Thousands of Southern Nevadans have since benefited after the young doctor decided to stay with us when leaving active military duty. His son, Joseph, and his daughter-in-law, Kirsten, both OB/GYN physicians, are carrying on the tradition of first-class medicine for new Clark County families. *

Getting with the troops is the sign of a good public servant. Newly appointed Clark County Manager Thom Reilly has been spending long hours with county employees. His visits to the county fire stations have made a good impression upon the men and women who answer our calls when we need them the most. *

The nomination of Gen. John P. Jumper to become Chief of Staff of the USAF has received plaudits from men who served with him. Like most of the Air Force's elite flying officers, he has served tours of duty at Nellis AFB for a total of four years between 1974 and 1983. Since December 1997 this combat leader has been commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AFB, Germany. Looks like the Air Force has again sent one of its best to the top job.

Researching the voting record of Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown shows he has been consistent in protecting his district and the integrity of the Town Center. Unless the attorney attacking him knows something the rest of us are unaware of, it looks like an attempt to intimidate the council. There is an old saying that sometimes critics throw a ton of crap at office holders hoping some of it will stick. Although our newspaper didn't support Brown when running for office, we never found reason to question his honesty or ability then or now. *

Our hat is off to editor Chuck Baker and his Nevada Military Veterans Reporter monthly newspaper. He has undertaken a difficult task, but his publication deserves wide circulation among both military veterans and those who haven't had the privilege to serve. *

An e-mail from reader Marvin Cummings reads that he is appalled with the recent Nevada practice of high officials getting full pensions and full salaries. He goes on to ask, "Where is a Las Vegas Taxpayer Assn.?" I don't know, but there is a Nevada Taxpayers Association. I haven't heard from them in recent months.