Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Borders is still real news

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 8:18 a.m.

Aspiring young reporters and editors looking for a role model need not seek too far. The consummate journalist is right here in Las Vegas.

Myram Borders, who recently retired as chief of the Las Vegas News Bureau, represents the best in a career that began with her graduation from the University of Nevada, Reno, school of journalism, and included the position of Bureau Chief from United Press for many years.

During that time Borders covered every major news story that broke from Las Vegas. She knew the city as no other journalist did, having lived here since 1940.

Integrity, honesty and a dogged determination to seek the truth kept Borders head and shoulders over most of her peers. She has always had the respect of politicians, businessmen and women, educators and her readers.

I was always impressed by her ability to ask incisive questions that couldn't be answered by routine rhetoric.

When Borders decided to take a new approach to her career and accepted the job as head of the state consumer affairs office, I knew it wouldn't last too long.

Myram Borders is not one to put up with the gobbledygook of government bureaucracy. In her own words, "After 18 months, I needed to find a job where I could once again speak the English language, because I was having a tough time learning and speaking the language of the Nevada Revised Statutes."

With retirement, Borders has earned the right to some time to smell the roses, but I would fervently hope my friend and colleague finds an outlet to share her vast experience and remarkable talents.

Teaching at one of our universities or colleges would be a natural. She has so much to give to students eager to learn the business of journalism as it should be.

What a pleasure finally to see Vassili Sulich's book, "Vision in the Desert," in print. I read the original manuscript and was impressed with the sheer beauty of his writing and the fascinating story of his career as a dancer and guiding light for the establishment of the Nevada Dance Theatre.

Might a movie be in order?

Oh, for the good old days, when a simple phone call was all one needed to transact business.

Recently my garage door opener decided to give up the ghost and refused to budge.

It was a Sears product so I called Sears. It took me several minutes to find the number I needed in the phone book. Turned out it was the wrong number as they "didn't do garage doors." I was referred to an 800-number.

After some wait a voice answered and I explained the problem.

"Well," I was told, "it will cost you $60 for us to give you an estimate, and that's nonrefundable." Thanks a lot. I didn't have a choice so I asked when someone could look at the door. I was given a time -- four days later.

On the date of the repair job, a gentleman called to confirm. He repeated, "You know this will cost you $60 for an estimate -- nonrefundable."

The repairs amounted to $173. I wrote a check and the Sears guy insisted on positive identification, possibly fearing that this senior citizen was about to take off and cheat Sears out of that $60 nonrefundable.com