Stoldal’s retiring, why not the dogs?

Forgive some employees of KSNV-TV, Channel 3, for thinking the station is going to the dogs.

Not only did highly regarded Executive Vice President of News Operations Bob Stoldal announce his retirement Wednesday, but TV 3’s unofficial canine mascots were recently rumored to be headed for doggie death row. The dogs live on station property.

Stoldal’s announcement is no great surprise given the expected changes coming after the sale of the station to Sinclair Broadcast Group. One of the most respected TV journalists in Nevada history, Stoldal returned from retirement more than four years ago to take over news development at TV 3. He previously headed KLAS-TV, Channel 8, news.

Stoldal is a also dedicated Las Vegas historian. He serves as the secretary-treasurer of the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement and is chairman of the Nevada State Museum board and a member of the Las Vegas Preservation Commission.

Meanwhile, tales of doomed dogs have been swirling around the station lately, and reporters have been growling mad at the prospect their friends might be headed for the big sleep.

But now I hear there’s a concerted effort to find homes for the pooches. Which is a good thing, considering TV 3’s perennial courting of dog and cat lovers in the community.

WYSOCKI DEATH: A funeral was held this week at the Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City for former Metro undercover detective and longtime local private investigator Mike Wysocki, who died recently after suffering an injury during an altercation with another private investigator.

Las enforcement sources say investigators have turned over their findings to the district attorney’s office for review in the matter.

MR. NEVADA: His neighbors would like to run him out of town, but undaunted former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren refuses to quit his annual Nevada Day open house celebration. He swears this is the last one.

The doors swing open at noon Saturday and Sunday at the extremely eclectic residence at 4318 Ridgecrest Drive. Plenty of entertainment with proceeds from a $15 donation per person to benefit “The Mid-East Memorial Wall.”

LAST WORD: UNLV history professor Eugene Moehring has been writing thoughtfully about the Nevada experience for many years. His most recent book is “Reno, Las Vegas, and the Strip: A Tale of Three Cities.”

An interesting and informative read, it ends this way:

“Along with maintaining a business friendly climate, leaders in Reno, Las Vegas and the state will need to think as imaginatively in the future as they have in the past. They need to do this if they hope to attract the right combination of industries that will trigger a renaissance of growth and prosperity reminiscent of the last century, when the two little cities used gambling and tourism in a magical way to vault their state and themselves from obscurity to stardom.”

ON THE BOULEVARD: All talk of fired-up Republicans and fretting Democrats aside, former state Sen. Joe Neal still likes incumbent Rep. Steven Horsford’s chances for re-election in CD 4. Of late Horsford has been targeted by attack ads funded by Crossroads GPS, GOP guru Karl Rove’s group. Neal spent three decades in the Legislature and has been measuring Nevada’s political winds for more than half a century. … Unlike so many Democrats, who can’t seem to find the phone number for the current occupant of the White House, Horsford this week is beginning to air an endorsement spot from President Barack Obama.

BOULEVARD II: Happy 150th birthday, Nevada. If you don’t mind me saying so, sweetheart, you don’t look a day over 149.

I’ll have a Silver State tribute coming Sunday: 17 notes from 17 counties.

Have an item for Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to jsmith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295.