Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A short trip around town

Tuesday, April 2, 2002 | 8:33 a.m.

WHEN IS Max C'S Deli going to open down at 510 Las Vegas Blvd S.? I'm getting hungry for one of his specials.

A mutual friend tells me that the owner of the building is moving slowly or not at all to finish the necessary construction work. How about getting with it, fella. There are large numbers of Las Vegans waiting for the doors to open.

My colleague Ruthe Deskin is more than a little upset with people, like Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, who want to change the state song of Nevada. Ruthe, a gentle soul, was very nice when expressing her disagreement with the likable lieutenant governor.

Supreme Court Justice Myron Leavitt, a gentleman and also, like Ruthe, a native Nevadan, wouldn't be too happy to change the state song. The singing of "Home Means Nevada" recently played a prominent role during the dedication of the Myron Leavitt Middle School.

May I suggest that the lieutenant governor waits until after election this fall before becoming more vocal about changing the statute making "Home Means Nevada" our state song?

Jeff Rodefer, assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General, after 13 years of state service is going into the private sector. Few people in Nevada have the gaming and taxation expertise acquired by Rodefer over the years. Three years ago he authored the first edition of the Nevada Gaming Law Index, a complete research guide to case law and published AG opinions on gaming.

June of this year, the Gaming Law Review will publish an article he wrote concerning federal laws that may affect the legality of online gambling. This month he is on his way to join the Boyd Gaming Corporation. The list of accomplishments Rodefer takes with him into the corporate world are numerous and we can only hope he again offers himself up for some additional public service.

Public service has been a Rodefer family way of life. I knew his father as an outstanding FBI special agent in Northern Nevada. Also his mother served with that federal agency when assigned in Portland, Ore. More public service has to be in the future for Jeff.

Las Vegan Adolfo Ramirez has just returned from Texas where he has been gathering stories from Latino World War II veterans. He should have a wealth of information for his book because they have served in all wars this century in numbers much larger than their percentage of the population.

Al, like many Southern Nevadans, is proud of our Clark County Commission for naming a new park after the late Cesar Chavez. He came to know him when working for Catholic Social Services in San Jose, Calif.

Another local leader, Henderson's Reynaldo Martinez, also recalls the impact Chavez had on his life. Martinez worked several years with Sen. Harry Reid before going into private business. He is a co-founder of Compressus, Inc., which we will all hear more about during coming years.

Saturday, April 6, 2002, you can help feed the hungry and homeless here in Southern Nevada. The annual Empty Bowl Benefit Luncheon and Auction will take place at Green Valley High School Cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Nevada Clay Guild and Green Valley High School.

The announcement on the Sun bulletin board tells us: "A lunch of soup and bread will be served in hand made bowls. Each attendee will select their own unique ceramic bowl made by members and friends of the Nevada Clay Guild and keep it as a lasting reminder of world hunger."

For adults the cost will be $12 and children 12 and under will pay $10. You can bet that the money raised will be used to feed the truly needy.

Guess what? Mike Schaefer is running for public office again. As Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise." Not really, what would be a surprise is if we had a primary ballot without Schaefer's name on it.