Where I Stand—Mike O’Callaghan: Real people making news

Thursday, June 21, 2001 | 8:45 a.m.

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

DURING THE 45 YEARS I've been in Nevada no single person has done more to promote higher education than Dr. Richard Moore. Not only did he bring our Community College system in Clark County to life, he also identified the need for a state college. His foresight and energy has been a plus for Nevadans of today and tomorrow.

Moore's dedication to promoting and improving higher education is almost beyond belief. A lesser man would have sung Johnny Paycheck's song "Take This Job and Shove It" to the regents and Chancellor Jane Nichols when hearing he wouldn't have a job as president of Nevada State College at Henderson if he didn't raise more private money. It wouldn't be difficult for a person with his talent to find an even higher-paying job. Despite the roadblocks put in his way he plods forward to make this a better place to live.

I have been told that Nichols, a high-quality educator herself, is working with Moore to get the college started next year. All of them, regents, administrators and Moore were blindsided by an amateurish Legislature playing partisan games during its final hours. There will be more on this issue, which was a result of congressional reapportionment nonsense in the Senate.

Regent Mark Alden's remarks about the Legislature adding two more regents to their already divided board made readers chuckle. Alden told Sun writer Jennifer Knight, "If we go to 13 regents, it will be like sitting 13 orangutans on the dais." Then he added, "Not only will it be an embarrassment for the state but the nation. We'll lose all oversight."

It's doubtful if the board's monkey business will ever affect our nation, but when compared to orangutans, two or three of the present regents should feel complimented.

The pounding of the booming car stereo next to you at a stop sign or rattling your windows at home isn't going to be curtailed. Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning did her best and got Assembly Bill 481 through the legislative maze, but it was killed on the governor's desk.

I asked Gov. Kenny Guinn why he vetoed the bill and he quickly pointed out that it only applied to booming stereos in vehicles operating on highways. He also saw it as being a tough law to enforce but, if needed, should be accomplished by local laws and ordinances.

The Reno Gazette-Journal editorial writer saw it differently when telling readers: "Guinn worries that the law will be challenged and that local governments will be usurped. We say: Worry about us, not the local governments; and let the lawsuits come. We're more than willing to take them on."

The writer viewed the boomers as a pollution problem "that explodes out of neighboring cars, endangering our eardrums, throbbing through our unwilling bodies, driving us nuts as we sit trapped at intersections or in long lines of traffic, the music blaring right next to us for block after block."

Vonne, you did your best by even getting it through the Legislature. That alone shows your skill as a legislator who is also concerned about her constituents.

Have you noticed that certain people continually give back to the community? Paula Francis, the respected news anchor at Channel 8, is one of those fine people.

Last Saturday she was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth Dinner. It was the time to recognize the work for humanity accomplished by Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. She was honored as the Homeless Youth Advocate of The Year.

Paula moved the program right along and the commentary of County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera and N.P.H.Y. Chairperson Kathleen Boutin were from the heart and right on target.

Just when it appears that the press is regaining some sanity the illusion is destroyed with another negative reference to the daughters of President George W. Bush. The writers should get lives of their own and get off the case of these college girls.