Print edition for August 6, 1996

Softball probe goes to Metro: Steve Sebelius; Metro Police fraud detectives have taken over the investigation of alleged embezzlement of at least $1,350 from the city of Las Vegas' softball program.

Where I Stand: Union ads 'tell the facts' about GOP Medicare cuts: THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP of Congress has declared war on the working men and women of Nevada and the nation. This war started shortly after the inauguration of the current leadership. Why is Newt Gingrich leading the attack against workers and their unions? In an attempt to obtain the support of the general public, the AFL-CIO has been running television ads on 176 stations in 33 congressional districts, including Las Vegas.

Reno Attorney Vivian Lynch Dies: Lynch represented former Washoe District Judge Jerry Carr Whitehead in his battle against the state Judicial Discipline Commission that erupted into a long, bitter feud that splintered the Nevada Supreme Court.

Stars blow lead; Royster blows top: Leading 3-0 going into the eighth inning, Stars starter Scott Lewis and reliever Paul Abbott made some questionable pitches that allowed the Toros to score four runs in the final two innings and pull to within one game of the first-place Stars in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division standings.

People in the News for Aug. 5, 1996: Briefly

LV man wins $100,000 settlement from trooper: Russell Duensing accused Trooper Douglas Webster of hitting him with a baton when he attempted to flee the scene of a 1993 incident. Duensing was cited for resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.

Metro arrests suspect on tip: An anonymous caller advised authorities the morning of July 25 that Ronnie Burrell was hiding in an abandoned apartment at 901 W. McWilliams Ave., said Metro Police Detective Michael T. Karstedt. FBI agents and Metro Police officers assigned to the Criminal Apprehension Team found Burrell at the address and took him into custody at 8:55 a.m.

Las Vegas Stars Notes: Upcoming games

Jury nearly chosen for murder trial of Meegan: Bill Gang; The jury selection process that was expected to be complicated by the widespread publicity of the case is half a day ahead of schedule, although the first witnesses won't be called until Wednesday.

Neilson receives appointment: Beginning his career with the bureau in Provo, Utah, LeGrand has worked in Salt Lake City, Denver and Washington, D.C.

Coalition helps community: One is the Las Vegas Dental Health Coalition for Children, made up of organizations dedicated to establishing community-based dental services.

Metro cops at airport cope with idle time: Cathy Scott; The pranks included switching off lights when one of their fellow officers was using the men's room, throwing wet toilet paper into restroom stalls while they were occupied and hiding each other's shoes.

Two Stockholders Sue Company, Founder: The suit alleged that Stupak was selling part of his stock while officials continued to "hype" the project's potential.

Elges takes spot on state board: Elges replaces newspaper columnist Guy Shipler, who died March 30.

Horseshoe dispute may reach settlement: Bill Gang; The power struggle had resulted in longtime Horseshoe president Jack Binion having to share his presidency with sister Becky Behnen and complaints that resulting morale problems have diminished profits.

Nuke PACs hand out $1.9 million: Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, sponsor of the bill to temporarily store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain and the Nevada Test Site (S 1936), is among the top 10 Senate recipients.

Legendary LV dry cleaner Frank Baller dies at 81: That visit turned into a permanent move, as Baller that year opened Deluxe Hand Laundry and Cleaners on Main Street, where for four decades he personally served everyone from the common man to the Strip's brightest stars.

Program set to mourn bombing of Hiroshima: "With the Comprehensive Test Ban negotiations still in process and the recent World Court decision expressing the illegality of nuclear weapons, the world (is moving) toward a future free of the threat of nuclear holocaust," a NDE statement said.

Editorial: Dole's tax cut makes no sense: For a nation that can't balance its budgets, that copes with groaning trade deficits and a national debt of more than $5 trillion, a major tax cut seems risky at best.

Lawsuit accuses Stratosphere, Stupak of stock fraud: Rachael Levy; Shareholders Michael Ceaser and Samuel Tolwin filed the lawsuit Monday in Las Vegas federal court. They said they lost thousands of dollars because of false and misleading statements made by Stupak, the Stratosphere's controlling shareholder, Grand Casinos Inc., and others.

PGA Tour Statistical Leaders: Scoring Leaders

Racing Wildland Fire Threatens Reno Homes: Ribbons of flames flickering along the western Sierra Nevada foothills illuminated the predawn horizon as firefighters and residents waited uneasily to see what the day would bring in the battle against the 6,000-acre blaze.

Casino Petition Filed With State; Rival Plan Off Until 1997: Spitzer personally delivered his 577,666 petition signatures to state officials Monday. He refused to get drawn into an early debate with Rick Lertzman, who put his own casino plans on hold.

PGA Money Leaders: PGA Money Leaders

New Players Island course 'tribute to Mother Nature': Cal Olson may not be as noted a golf course architect as Pete Dye or Tom Fazio, but that may change once the Players Island Golf Club opens in October.

Rebels believe in present: When you're a rebuilding football program in a new superconference and your first game is against the probable preseason No. 1 team in the country, you don't casually toss victories aside, no matter how trivial.

Former Gaming Control Board agent pleads innocent in scheme: District Judge Peter Breen has set Dec. 2 as the trial date for Ronald D. Harris, 39, who also faces criminal charges in Las Vegas and Atlantic City for rigging slot machines.

Jeff German: Gephardt - Coffin could land seat on Ways and Means panel: But Coffin, who's running against Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., didn't seem to mind much.

Missing woman's body lay in yard for 8 months: Karen Zekan; With a warped frame and cheap artwork tossed atop it, the blanket-wrapped mound looked like just another pile of rubbish in the weed-strewn yard hidden from the road by electronic gates and dense shrubs.

Toros 4, Stars 3: E--Hatcher, Hajek 2, Bridges, Pye. DP--Las Vegas 1. LOB--Tucson 3, Las Vegas 4. 2B--Hajek 2, Pye, Bridges. HR--Hatcher (16), Montgomery (18), Thompson (20). SF--Steverson. SB--Tatum (2).

Jury to decide Bailey's fate: Bill Gang; Prosecutors asked the jury during closing arguments Monday to convict Pizza Hut employee Larry Bailey of first-degree murder based on the damning testimony of fellow employee Don Green.

3-alarm blaze guts NLV warehouse: Cathy Scott; Workers at Jet Concrete Inc. at 112 W. Brooks Ave. fired up wood chips inside a 55-gallon drum Monday in which to cook a barbecued lunch, said North Las Vegas Fire Marshal Joe Skaarup.

Sport Briefs: Anderson wins Top Fuel crown: Anderson of Ontario, Calif., covered a quarter-mile at Seattle International Raceway in a career-best time of 4.663 seconds at 308.00 mph for her second victory of the season. Dunn finished in 4.710 at 308.85.

Sundevils' dream dashed by Gators: Tim Graham; Just two days after winning two games to slip into the American Legion state tournament despite an 11-15 regular-season record, the Las Vegas Sundevils, comprised of players from Eldorado High, were whipped by Green Valley 20-3 at Arroyo Grande Sports Complex Monday in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.

RALPH SIRACO'S SELECTIONS FOR DEL MAR: Selections made for clear racing conditions before scratches.

Jury weighs self-defense in Lake Mead death: Bill Gang; The question for the jury in District Judge Lee Gates' courtroom is who to believe about the incident that left one man dead, another seriously injured and a third -- Aaron Trumbo -- facing a term of life in prison.

Senators push for air safety: Bob Shemeligian; Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said Monday he will call for increased airport security and improved anti-terrorism measures through his memberships on the Senate Aviation Subcommitee and the Intelligence Committee.

Stockholders meeting may settle Binion dispute: Bill Gang; The power struggle had resulted in longtime Horseshoe president Jack Binion having to share his presidency with sister Becky Behnen and complaints that resulting morale problems have diminished profits.

Las Vegas news briefs: * LV MAN ARRESTED -- FBI agents and Metro Police have arrested a Las Vegas man accused of robbing one bank and possibly linked to seven others. Thomas Paul McConville Jr., 49, was arrested Monday at the Aztec Inn, in the 2200 block of Las Vegas Boulevard South, after authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest, the FBI said. He was taken into custody based on a complaint charging him with the July 10 robbery of the First Interstate Bank branch at 1700 S. Main St. McConville, also known as Curtis Thomas Abshire, was booked into the Clark County Detention ...

Rangers cite boaters on Las Vegas Bay: A total of 210 watercraft passed through rangers' six-hour inspection period Sunday.

Nuclear money: Top 10 Senate recipients of nuclear PAC money in 1996 election cycle:

Law school plan nears reality: Debra D. Bass; UNLV President Carol Harter said "the new, we hope, soon-to-be-realized law school" will bear the name of William S. Boyd in honor of his $5 million pledge.

Symposium, blood drive scheduled: Art Nadler; There are 2.2 million bone-marrow donors listed on an international registry, but only about 130,000 of them are ethnic minorities.