FIVE RECENT ARTICLES FROM THE VETERANS REPORTER--Nevada's Popular Newspaper For Military Veterans And Their Families!

Veterans Chamber of Commerce Formed

In order to assist in promoting commerce between veteran-owned and non-veteran owned businesses, the Veterans Chamber of Commerce of Nevada has been formed by two business people with military backgrounds.

Chuck N. Baker, executive director of the chamber, said, "In today's economic climate, it's important to do whatever we can to help people succeed. And we feel that's especially true when it comes to helping veterans who currently own their own businesses, or who want to start a business after leaving the military. And we want to put veteran-owned businesses together with non-veteran owned businesses."

Echoing that sentiment is Su Phelps, the president of the chamber. Phelps is a multi-lingual Air Force widow with several local business interests that include being the owner-operator of Lakewood Recycling in North Las Vegas. She has long been involved in supporting veteran's causes, and feels that businesses owned by veterans can benefit from a chamber that will champion their interests while bringing together non-veteran owned businesses to cross-promote trade and increase profitability.

Baker is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War where he earned a Purple Heart. For the past 10 years he has been the editor and publisher of the monthly Veterans Reporter newspaper, which serves veterans and their families in Nevada. He is also the producer and host of the "Veterans Reporter Radio Show" Thursday nights on KLAV-1230 AM

Plans are now being made for a series of meetings, seminars and lunches that will feature knowledgeable speakers and business leaders who will impart valuable information for increasing commerce among chamber members. A planned newsletter and Website will also be developed to be definitive sources of details to improve business for members. Later in the year a membership directory to include a listing of veteran-owned businesses and services will be published at a nominal cost. Individuals are being sought to join the chamber's board of directors; the first directors to be named are Teresa Collins and Cristina Lopez, both of the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Water District itself is a founding member of the chamber.

-OFFICES: The chamber, a non-profit Nevada corporation, has physical offices at 1601 Stocker Street, Suite A, in North Las Vegas. For the time being the office is open by appointment only.
-MAILING ADDRESS: The mailing address is 2691 Industrial Road, Unit 40, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
-MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: Information on membership can be requested by calling the chamber's message line at (702) 791-1791, or by e-mailing veteranschambernv@hotmail.com.

Huckabee Watches Nevada Politics

BY CHUCK N. BAKER Veterans Reporter Managing Editor

I just returned from a business trip to Nashville where I attended a gathering of broadcasters. While there I attended a press conference with Fox News host Mike Huckabee. The former governor of Arkansas and a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination (coming in second to Sen. John McCain), Huckabee has reinvented himself (sort of) as a Fox TV show host and a radio commentator.

I say "sort of" because he explained to a gathering of reporters that his first job at age 14 was reading news, weather and commercials for KXAR radio in Hope, AR. Later he worked at other stations and currently he can be heard on "The Huckabee Report" over the Citadel Media network. He can't resist commenting on politics: "A poll finds that 'Congress member' has sunk four places below 'lawyer' and is now the least favorably regarded profession. And if you're a Congress member who's also a lawyer, well . . . I don't think the chart goes that low."

Someone else asked him about another run for the White House. He joked that if he ever became president, a lot more people would be turning to prayer. But he stopped short of saying he would make another run. That was my opening to ask him about the Silver State. I explained that I was from Nevada, and I wondered what he thought about Sen. Harry Reid's chances of being reelected. Without hesitation he said, "I hope he's a goner!" Then he rattled off names of two others who are seeking the job -- Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian. And he noted that there was also a third candidate whose name he could not recall. It's obvious that he's keeping tabs on the local race for the senate.

His TV show on Sundays is engaging and entertaining, and I enjoy watching it. I haven't heard the radio broadcast, but according to Huckabee and a spokesman who was with him, the short form news and commentary feature now has more than 500 outlets around the nation, "making it the fastest growing radio program of the past decade."

I asked him how he came to be employed by Fox. Did he approach them? He said that he was approached by three cable networks, and he felt Fox was the best fit for him. Concerning the stories that Fox is biased and conservative in its news, he said "There is a clear wall between news and programming" at the station. "I take my Christian faith with me to work every day. But Fox is not a Christian channel, it's a news channel."

Back to politics, he said "This is not necessarily a Republican year, it's an incumbent year." He laughed at those departing politicians who are leaving office on their own, saying they want to "spend more time with my family." He asked the reporters, "Did they even know they had a family?" Then he mocked an imaginary politician who returns home and is surprised to see a woman (his wife) living there. He drew strong laughs, using his on-camera talents to entertain the writers in the room.

On a more serious note he criticized the Patriot Act, saying that he wants Americans to be safe, but there is a line between safe and Constitutional rights. It's none of the government's business, he said, for the government to look into his cell phone calls, his church, his commercial dealings. And the X-ray machines at some airports are "a complete violation of U.S. rights." In addition to his media work, he heads HuckPac, which assists Republicans running for office nationwide.

Col. Glenn Miller's Music Now Under Direction of Larry O'Brien

BY CHUCK N. BAKER Veterans Reporter Managing Editor

Now owned and operated by Glenn Miller Productions under license from the Miller estate, the Glenn Miller Orchestra recently played in Las Vegas at Sam's Town. A dance floor filled with locals and tourists, they danced and paid tribute to the bandleader who disappeared in an airplane over the English Channel during World War II.

The current bandleader is Larry O'Brien, who lives in Las Vegas but who travels with the group most of the time. "I started leading the band in 1981, for 2 years --- then I toured with Pia Zadora and worked with Frank Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr. and did recordings, as a featured sideman on trombone. I played all over the area and the country," O'Brien said. "I went back [to Miller] in 1988 and have been back since.

"We're on the road 48 weeks a year, we're still the busiest band in the world, playing a minimum of 48 weeks a year, since 1956."

O'Brien said CDs of the band can be bought at stores all over the world. "All of the original recordings still sell very well, and they are packaged in different ways." The music is grouped in different ways, he said -- as romantic songs, swing albums, and other topics. "They will keep remixing the same groups of songs, so when they appear in stores they appear as new albums. But they are the 'same old beef stew' as Count Basie used to say."

O'Brien added, "Our choices as far as programming on radio have become very narrow. I remember when they had the Music of Your Life format all over the country. I regret their passing, became it leaves fewer choices." [The "life" format played easy listening and big band music of the 40s and 50s.]

"Glenn Miller was a military hero, he was lost on a mission to Paris to prepare the band's arrival there." He died under mysterious circumstances, but O'Brien said he believes the widely circulated story that an RAF bombing group that day could not see their targets, so they did not drop their bombs over Germany. Instead, they unloaded the bombs in the English Channel, This was apparently common, in case the planes had a rough landing in England, which might have set off the bombs while still attached to the aircraft. "One bomb [accidentally] hit Glenn's plane. The pilot kept a log book and admitted it on his death bed. The log book sold to a collector sold for $35,000," O'Brien said.

A motion picture about Miller starring James Stewart helped promote the band's music. "The 1954 move I gave a whole new impetus to the band, and to Ray McKinley. He played with Glenn in civilian life, and in the military. He was the perfect choice [to lead the new band] and brought a lot to the orchestra." Before and during WWII, Miller's music was at the top of the charts. He volunteered for the Army and led the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. His hit records include "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "In The Mood," among many others. The "Choo Choo" recording received the industry's first Gold Record for selling one million copies

When asked if he thought Miller would have embraced rock and roll had he lived, O'Brien said, "I don't think so. I think he may have had a couple of novelty tunes as they used to call them that may have tipped his hat to rock and roll, but that's it. We play the [old] tunes as if it's the first time we played it. We do it right, that's why we have done it all these years."

O'Brien continued, "We have some of his charts, the ones that still exist. A lot of the arrangements weren't in the band when the band was reformed. Some were taken off the records. Bobby Hacket's 'String of Pearls,' our man plays the first four bars as was done, then he improvised as Bobby did. I think Glenn would have done that. I don't think he would have stood still. He changed quite a few things, quite a few articulations, but you know as long as you have the spirit I think that's what matters."

The band plays Las Vegas about once a year, usually for one day. "If you don't sell out with, this band, you're doing something wrong," he said. He's doing the right thing -- Sam's Town was a sell out.

O'Callaghan Day At Nellis

The Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital is named after the Korean War veteran who was also the 23rd governor of Nevada. "Mike" was also the publisher and part owner of the Boulder City News and Henderson Home News, and was a top executive with the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, where he wrote a column several times a week. Often his columns dealt with veterans issues.

To honor the late governor, one of his daughters, Colleen O'Callaghan Miele, was given a Distinguished Visitor Flight on an F-15 Eagle fighter plane. The flight was handled by the 422 Test & Evaluation Squadron. She said that she was impressed with the teamwork of the Nellis staff, and the pride each airman took in his or her profession. She said during her flight she looked through the canopy and thanked both of her parents -- Mike and former First Lady Carolyn O'Callaghan. The flight was at 7,000 feet, and the plane made three circuits over the [Mike] O'Callaghan-Tillman Bridge at Hoover Dam, which is still undergoing construction.

The governor's grandson, Justin Miele, has completed basic training at Ft. Benning, GA, and is preparing to deploy to Iraq. During the Korean War Mike O'Callaghan received numerous combat decorations. At various times he served honorably in the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force before moving to Nevada and entering journalism and politics.

Marine Veteran Heads Tire Works Location

The adage "once a Marine always a Marine" holds true for most who have served in the Corps. Dalin Crowsey is the manager of the Tire Works store at 1250 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd. in Las Vegas, and he says that he still lives his life by the positive values he learned while serving in the Marines.

Crowsey served for 5-1/2 years, including duty in the Artillery in Afghanistan. He still has several friends that he served with, and in one case a former Marine he worked with walked into the Tire Works store and recognized him.

While on board ship in the Middle East, he took part in the motion picture "Rules of Engagement." The film company had contracted with the Marines to use the ship in a scene on board, and Crowsey and many shipmates can be seen on screen with actor Samuel Jackson.

Tire Works carries all major brands of tires including Fuzion high performance H-Speed rated. They come in 24 sizes and all metric sizing. Another major brand is Firestone, with its FR380. That tire has a tread design that channels water away to enhance traction. "Biting edges" give an added advantage of gripping in wet conditions.

Crowsey, who is married and has three children, says he is always interested in interviewing veterans who are seeking careers in the automotive industry. "It's a good career for young veterans to get into. I'm interested in recruiting veterans," he explained. "We can use people who are mechanics, and also management people." Training is available for qualified individuals. The company provides total car care, not just tires. Interested parties can call Crowsey for an application, (702) 368-6900.

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