Where I Stand -- Ruthe Deskin: The problem with grand juries is their one-sided nature

FOOLS WALK IN where angels fear to tread.

I'm no angel, neither would I countenance being called a fool, but I do not intend to get into a discussion of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. It's too partisan and volatile.

I do have an opinion about grand juries, however. I don't think they are a fair and impartial medium for judgment because the prosecution controls the tempo of the questioning and those called for testimony do not have the right to question or have counsel present (although the latter stipulation was waived in the case of the president).

My personal experience with a grand jury occurred several years ago when I wrote a column that inferred some malfeasance on the part of a public official. A fellow columnist, Paul Price, had written of the same matter. We were both called to testify before a Clark County grand jury.

The Nevada statute protecting reporters from revealing their sources had been passed by a recent Legislature, so Paul and I simply gave our names and quoted the number of the statute.

Attorney Ralph Denton was outside in the hallway just in case matters got out of hand and we had to ask for a recess.

Actually I found the whole matter quite simple -- nothing more than giving my name, rank and serial number.

But there were two people in that room who must have been sweating profusely and offering little prayers that I would stand behind the statute and not reveal my sources.

You really couldn't blame them. They were both members of the grand jury -- and they were my sources.

If they could have planned it any better, I don't know how.

The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Community Achievement Awards dinner was a night to remember for the winners, finalists and guests.

With Jenny DesVaux Oakes and Dr. William "Bob" Bailey as emcees, the affair was a fitting tribute to those men and women in our community who have given that extra effort to build a better Las Vegas.

Awards were given in tourism, communications, public service, professional services, education, arts and entertainment, business and humanitarianism.

I was impressed with the character of all the finalists, and were I a judge, would have found it very difficult to make a final selection.

The honors went to Van Heffner, Connie Ross, Stephen Brock, Ann Lynch, Adrienne Cox, Capt. Mark Medina, Dr. John Fildes, Audrey Boyer, Phyllis Darling, Robert Geyre, Dr. Douglas Peterson, Karen McKenny Dyers, Nancy McRight, Peter Thomas, Dr. Keith Boman, Donna Husted, Leslie Parraguirre, Lee Plotkin, Father Herbert Ward Jr. and Candace Ruisi.

Our community thrives on the dedication and diligence of people like the men and women who were honored by the Chamber of Commerce.

We salute them.

The Oldtimer's dinner (for anyone who has lived in Las Vegas 30 years or more) is almost sold out.

Ken Johann, in charge of ticket sales, has announced that any tickets ordered but not paid for by Monday will be sold to the first bidder. For ticket information, call Johann Realty, 382-6336.

Jack Kogan and Joe Delaney, program emcees, have announced entertainment that includes the Four Freshmen, Peggy Ryan's TNT dancers, Peter Anthony and Bernie Allen.

The Oldtimer's dinner is your chance to become reacquainted with old friends and exchange stories of the "good old days."

Our Joe Williams is wowing them in New York.

Recently he appeared at New York's Central Park in a jazz festival put together by Quincy Jones and Claude Nobs.

Critics wrote: "The best performance came from vocalist Joe Williams, 79, who sang a swinging, confident rendition of one of his signature songs, and a few minutes later, did a small dance of joy."

Those wildlife people do some strange things.

The National Wildlife Service wants to declare the black-tailed prairie dog as an endangered species.

Meanwhile, Arizona state officials are planning to release 25 black-footed ferrets in northwestern Arizona, but there's a catch. The ferrets subsist on prairie dogs and the latter have been essentially eliminated in Arizona.

Both species -- ferrets and prairie dogs -- are disappearing and are endangered.

Something has to give, unless officials decide to let nature take its course.

Just as we feared, only three out of seven county commissioners voted on that controversial golf course.

Pershing County officials aren't pleased that serial killer Gerald Gallego will be back in their midst. Gallego was convicted in Lovelock of murdering two 17-year old girls and received the death penalty. The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction but overturned the death penalty, ordering a retrial of the penalty phase. Clark County Judge John McGroarty has been tabbed to hear the case.

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, and I'll show you a bunch of beleaguered taxpayers."

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