Monday, December 13, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JANE ANN MORRISON: Chandler lands in Denver, McShane helps homeless, Buzard still operates

It's time to catch up with two good guys and one not-so-good guy from previous columns.

Care to know whatever happened to the former Republican congressman who wanted to teach in Clark County, the priest who fell out of favor with Catholic officials and the eye doctor busted for cocaine use? Read on.

A year ago, former Congressman Rod Chandler was finishing up his student teaching at Silverado High School, hoping for a full-time offer to teach in the Clark County School District.

At first, it looked as if school district officials might let this uniquely experienced reporter-turned-legislator-

turned-congressman slip through their fingers.

But in the spring, the school district, after a little prodding from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, offered Chandler a spot to teach at a new high school.

Ah, but timing is everything.

The main reasons Chandler and his wife moved to Las Vegas no longer were here. They had moved to Denver.

Rod and Joyce Chandler moved from Bellevue, Wash., to Las Vegas not quite five years ago to be near their son John and his family.

But when John Chandler moved to Denver because of a job opportunity with the Adam's Mark Hotel, the senior Chandlers followed to be close to their son's family (apparently those grandchildren are worth whatever it takes).

Now Rod Chandler is considering writing a book about education, combining what he knows about Congress with what he's learned from the classroom.

During his 10 years in Congress, he had been known as one of the policy-makers for education. After his stint as a student teacher, "I realized how little I knew about education."

While apparently it wasn't the school district's fault, what a lost opportunity to Southern Nevada students who might have learned about social studies from a real live former congressman.

• GOOD GUYS, CONTINUED: The Rev. John McShane, who lost his assignment as chaplain for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada after publicly criticizing the agency, has created his own informal assignment.

McShane works with the hard-core homeless twice a week, seeking out the ones who refuse to go to the shelters. He also works with federal and female prisoners, and once a month he drives to Caliente to help the church there. In general, McShane volunteers when and where he sees a need.

McShane fell from favor after he spoke out in November 2003 about homeless policies at Catholic Charities. He was removed from his job as chaplain July 1 and, although he receives money to live on, he was told there was no official assignment available for him in Las Vegas.

McShane, who celebrated his 30th year as a priest in Nevada on Tuesday, said, "I've created my own ministry. It's being on the outside, but I'm finding blessings as I go along. I'm still hoping for a permanent assignment."

Now that's optimism.

• BUZARD DELAY: The state Board of Medical Examiners postponed deciding on a settlement proposal from Dr. Kurt Buzard.

The board decided to investigate a complaint from a patient the Las Vegas ophthalmologist operated on shortly after his cocaine arrest in August 2003. "The patient felt he should have been told of the event," said the board's general counsel, Stephen Quinn.

The board filed its original complaint against Buzard, accusing him of "bringing the profession into disrepute." Buzard proposed a settlement, which was on the board's December meeting, but that was postponed while the investigation continues.

Buzard is still operating on patients and trying to get new ones.

The Buzard Eye Institute has jacked up its television advertising to get new customers, and the sign in front of its Sahara Avenue office offers discounted surgery rates of less than $300 per eye.

Meanwhile, Lila Summerhill can't believe her lousy luck.

Buzard operated on her eyes, and when she had problems afterward, she went to a lawyer to pursue a malpractice case.

Her choice: Las Vegas attorney Lawrence Davidson, who is now suspended from practicing law and has his own prescription drug problem.

That's a double-whammy of bad karma for the 75-year-old woman.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at jane@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0275.