Air Force vet has had enough with DMV frustrations
Matt Palance stood in his share of lines in the military, but nothing quite prepared him for the frustrating experience he received during recent trips to the Henderson Department of Motor Vehicles.
The DMV is overwhelmed these days, and increasing numbers of citizens are waiting more than three hours — and often being forced to sojourn multiple days — to comply with the law.
For Palance, 80, the frustration was made even more complicated by the fact the DMV’s touted $125 veteran’s discount wasn’t available to him if he renewed his registration through one of the department’s otherwise handy computer kiosks. He was told he had to be there in person.
The pensioner, who served in the U.S. Air Force, also was delayed because the DMV’s new “Dash Pass” system enabled others to sign up on line and cut in front of Palance and hundreds of his fellow citizens.
While department officials debate the DMV’s budget and efficiency before the Legislature in Carson City, Palance and many others I’ve spoken with in researching recent columns continue to question the lack of fair treatment they’re receiving.
While officials are repairing the DMV, they should also make sure they don’t treat veterans unfairly.
GOOD MAN: Harry Mortenson, a nuclear physicist and longtime member of the Nevada Assembly, died of natural causes this week. He was 84.
In 14 years in Carson City, the Democrat carved out a legacy of caring for Nevada’s working families.
DANE INVESTIGATION: Metro detectives on Monday took their investigation of extortion allegations against Tony Dane to Salt Lake City, where the conservative GOP activist maintains his automated-dialing servers.
If they were looking for the source of the voice of freshman GOP Assemblyman Chris Edwards, who is accusing Dane of attempting to strong-arm his vote during the selection of the Assembly speaker, they might be searching in the wrong place, an informed source says. The Edwards recording wasn’t made via phone lines.
In early February, detectives served a search warrant at Dane’s home in northwest Virginia and retrieved phones and other equipment. Since then, Dane’s attorney David Otto has attempted to have the equipment returned.
MADDUX STRIKES OUT: It looks like another easy strikeout for Greg Maddux — and that’s always a good thing for Las Vegas.
The Maddux Foundation, led by the baseball Hall of Famer and wife Kathy Maddux, is sponsoring the Strikeout Childhood Cancer fundraiser to benefit Candlelighters. It’s set for 3 p.m. March 22 at Red Rock Lanes inside the Red Rock Resort. For more information, go to themadduxfoundation.com or candlelightersnv.org.
TROUBLE AHEAD: A local lawsuit that might easily have gone unnoticed threatens to embarrass Simon Property Group, the Forum Shops and Caesars Palace in the wake of a discovery commissioner’s recommendation that Caesars’ side be sanctioned $10,000 for “outrageous, egregious and chronic actions which have been designed to obstruct the discovery process.” District Court Judge Douglas Smith already has ruled Caesars needed to produce Vice President of Security and Surveillance Tom Flynn for a deposition in a litigation involving the slaying of Bradley Flamm. But the company has refused to do so.
If this blows up, it could make national headlines at a time Caesars has other issues on its calendar.
PERFECT Pi DAY: As all you mathematicians know, Saturday, March 14, is National Pi Day. This year, though, the 3.14 can be carried out several more digits to 3.1415926 if you throw in the precise time.
To celebrate the phenomenon, Beacon Academy online charter school students will be throwing pies as well as eating them at Spring Valley Park.
As a side note, Saturday is also Albert Einstein’s birthday. It’s just a theory, but I don’t think Einstein ever threw pies.
ON THE BOULEVARD: Wednesday is “Nevada Moves Day,” the day set aside to encourage children to get out and ride their bicycles — just not around one of the most bike-unfriendly towns in the country. Wear a helmet! …
Services for Venna Davis, who made Davis Nursery bloom for six decades, are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the LDS Church at 2401 Tonopah Ave.. She was 91. …
As a county commissioner, the late Paul Christensen wore his feelings on his sleeve and never failed to speak his mind. …
Longtime Las Vegas sportswriter Brian Hilderbrand’s pals from the sports writing fraternity are getting together Sunday evening at the Tap House to lift a beer and chicken wing in his honor. Hilderbrand died recently after suffering a stroke. He was 55. …
Investor’s Business Daily just published a glowing story based on former Las Vegas cop Randy Sutton’s latest book, “The Power of Legacy.”
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.
