Wayne Newton remains Mr. Las Vegas

To the editor:

As a frequent traveler in and out of McCarran International Airport, I am somewhat numb to the ever-changing billboards and hotel marquees throughout the terminal. Recently, however, something struck me as odd as I fought the ever-growing cattle call route to baggage claim.

It was a marquee advertising comedian George Wallace at the Flamingo with the slogan, "Mr. Las Vegas." Has the title been handed down from the king of Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton? Is Mr. Newton's title out on loan?

"Mr. Las Vegas" is a title Mr. Newton has earned as a headliner on the Strip for most of his public life and is certainly recognized as such throughout the world. Is Mr. Wallace doing a tribute to Mr. Newton, or is his ego completely out of control?

As a recent travel magazine stated, "When in Las Vegas, you will no doubt behold the three wonders of the region: Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and 'Mr. Las Vegas,' Wayne Newton."

And, the first street one encounters leaving the airport is -- yes, you guessed it -- Wayne Newton Boulevard.

ida myers

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.

Burn care

To the editor:

It burned me to read in the April 12 edition of your newspaper that Kathy Silver, the interim chief executive officer of the University Medical Center, and her staff would even consider closing the Lions Burn Care Unit, a facility that has been healing wounds for 39 years. It is the only burn unit serving the residents of the entire state of Nevada, southeastern California and northern Arizona.

In 1968, the local Lions started the burn-care center and began making donations. In 1998, the unit had 12 beds and treated 305 inpatients. The burn outpatient clinic treated more than 100 patients on a daily basis; one-third were children. Within a few years, the demand for a larger facility spurred UMC to look toward building a new Lions Burn Care Unit.

The Nevada Lions once again answered their call and joined hands with UMC. We agreed in a "memorandum of understanding" to raise a minimum of $100,000 in funds for the new burn care center and also to apply for matching funds from Lions Club International. Thanks to the efforts of the Nevada Lions, who have volunteered without pay, thousands of fundraising hours, we have met our commitments.

The new Lions Burn Care Unit will use our donation of more than $270,000 to purchase state-of-the art equipment.

Now you know why I am burning with rage.

Esther louie

LAS VEGAS

Meaty issue

To the editor:

Thank you for your April 12 article "Limited options: Vegan Las Vegas."

Having lived in Las Vegas since 1988, I can emphasize with fellow vegetarians and vegans. I have gone out to eat many times with friends and family only to end up eating a dinner salad, dry with possibly some crackers on the side. It has been especially disheartening to see a veggie burger on the menu and get excited to have a "meal,'' only to ask and find that it's grilled right along side the meat burgers in the kitchen.

I appreciated this article, not only for the acknowledgement of non-animal eating, wearing and product aware individuals, but also for the fact that you listed a couple of places I've not tried. It's encouraging to see there are new restaurants opening in the future that will have more of a vegetarian/vegan friendly menu. I especially look forward to trying some vegan cheesecake.

One other thing I'd really like to cover: Paul Hartgen, president of the Nevada Restaurant Association, needs to open up his mind to the prospect that all people are not the same. He estimates there are only 400 vegans in Las Vegas? Step out of the box. If Whole Foods marketing official Marci Frumkin doesn't want to say that's a ridiculously low estimate, I will.

valerie haley-dunne

SANDY VALLEY

Road map

To the editor:

Wow. Four billion dollars to repair and design new roads in Clark County? Anyone who has resided in Las Vegas for the past 30 years knows the extent of the mismanagement at the state Department of Transportation and local road departments.

Does anyone remember the paving, tear up, paving, tear up of Russell Road? How about Bermuda Road and likewise for so many roads in the county? Anyone who believes that road repair and construction is well-managed probably wants to buy swampland.

Let's face facts: Good management of road construction and repair would reduce the cost of our roads markedly and significantly reduce the projected costs of the anticipated need. What we need is a businessman or woman -- not politicians -- to manage the projects. Does anyone understand planning for a one-time repair is better than repeated tear-ups and repaving?

Finally, who is going to pay for the mismanagement? The taxpayer. Gas tax increases until we can't afford to drive. That will resolve the problem, because it will be too expensive to drive.

How long will we tolerate the mismanagement? As long as we keep paying, we will.

bob wong

LAS VEGAS