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November 21,2003
In search of Jimmy Olson; AKA Superman
Wanted: Reporter with bachelor's degree in mass communication; salary based on experience. Or something of that sort. What the want ad for a Pahrump reporter should also include is: have God-like qualities of omniscience - knowing all things - and omnipresence - able to be all places at one time. In the absence of that, the candidate should have extra-sensory perception so he or she could decipher when politicians are only telling the half of the story they want you to hear, aren't telling you some major news, or aren't explaining properly the subject in question. While many reporters have a good college background in political science, a primer in Nye County Politics 101 might be a useful addition to the curriculum. Consider some of the recent puzzling events that have led to some confusion at the local newspaper. Proponents of a college in Pahrump spoke about a "two-plus-two" program. Vicki Hafen Scott said students would be able to attend a Pahrump college for two years, then transfer to someplace like the financially troubled Nevada State College in Henderson. However, when Community College of Southern Nevada Pahrump Administrator Kelcy Thompson returned to work after the story ran, she interpreted "two plus two" to mean two years at the Pahrump CCSN campus, followed by two years at the new Pahrump campus. A reporter who is all knowing would be able to determine who is correct. Actually, a four-year college might be appropriate for Pahrump; after all, we're not like Henderson, just down the road from major centers of learning like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Perhaps if a hospital comes with some educated health professionals and Nye County is able to make Pahrump a center for nuclear research, we'd have more scholarly types as role models for our students - and would no longer have to suffer under the stereotype of brothels and trailers. Another example: When the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission decided to rezone lots around Joe Richard's latest bar and restaurant, The Kingdom, RPC board members said all the lots, including The Kingdom, would be merged into one lot under a reversionary map. All lots, including the corner bar, would thus be bound by a restriction banning sexual-oriented entertainment. When that fact was printed in the newspaper, Assistant Planning Director Cheryl Beeman wanted a correction, saying the restriction on adult entertainment did not apply to The Kingdom. Then RPC board member Harley Kulkin loudly complained on the managing editor's voicemail about us printing the correction. Kulkin felt the ban would be in effect for Richards' restaurant and, ahem, lounge. Beeman then clarified the situation, saying the lots would be combined into one, but the restriction would only apply to the other, rezoned lots. Now, after the PVT devoted much more ink to this RPC decision than was necessary, Mr. Richards pulled his application for the zoning change. I don't know if that many Pahrump residents really care if he opens a topless bar at that corner, if he'd only haul down some of those tacky billboards at the entrance to our town. Another item that could take a little ESP or super-human ability to decipher involves the Pahrump Town Board's termination of its contract with Monument Construction for the skateboard park. The Oct. 14 minutes begin with Town Attorney Cristina Hinds explaining, "What is going to be done is to terminate the contract with Monument Construction." Pahrump board members at the next meeting on Oct. 28 deny ever terminating the contract as reported. Town board member Richard Billman was able to explain, that by declaring Monument Construction in breach of contract, the town board essentially affirmed the contract null and void. Perhaps someone with God-like qualities could also understand whether Pahrump town clerks, when writing the agenda notice for a town board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 13 - a date that doesn't occur, at least in 2003 - actually meant Tuesday, Nov. 11, Veteran's Day, or Thursday, Nov. 13. From over the hill came the front page story in the Oct. 27 Las Vegas Review-Journal quoting Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman advocating a red light district on Fremont Street. In a story published in the Pahrump Valley Times two days later, the mayor's public information officer, Elaine Sanchez, specifically denied the mayor ever proposed legalized prostitution, though the Review-Journal stood by its article in a subsequent story on a citizens poll about legalized prostitution. Could a reporter read Goodman's mind to find out what he really thinks? Finally, when it looked like Nye County Commissioners had officially closed the book on asking our congressional delegation for $1 million for a 24-hour medical clinic, lo and behold, news came from Washington D.C., Nov. 10 that a conference committee approved $750,000 for such a purpose. While none of us would ever complain about the federal funds for our woefully inadequate medical care, the subject had dropped off the radar screen as far as press coverage. The local officials in Pahrump might try to make it easier on us reporters. Help us to understand what they're talking about. At least until we get a reporter with keen ESP skills. Write to Mark Waite at mwaite@pvtimes.com |
