Bob Shemeligian: Seen anyone annoying ‘round here?

Tuesday, July 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

LAS VEGAS is known as the city with the most churches, casinos and Boy Scouts per capita.

But this city of a million deserves at least one other distinction.

Las Vegas is surely the place where the most annoying people on the continent may be found.

And these people are very easy to find.

They include the mustachioed guy in the black silk shirt, wearing half a bottle of Paco Rabanne, seated at a 21 table in a Strip casino. He repeatedly stands on 12 against a 10 or an ace, wins thousands, then tips the cocktail waitress a quarter each time she brings another Grand Marnier.

They also include the old woman with an oxygen tank and a cigarette, wearing a purple, orange and pink sequined top, seated in front of a slot machine. If another player dares try to plunk a quarter in a machine to either side of her, she screams, "It's taken!" Then she coughs.

You find annoying people anywhere in Las Vegas:

* On U.S. 95, holding up traffic for miles because he's driving 18 mph past an accident scene so every passenger in the vehicle won't miss one gory detail.

* In the express lane of Vons with an overflowing cart of groceries, arguing with the cashier that she is not exceeding the 15-item limit because each member of her extended family contributed to the cart.

* Just ahead of you in line at the library, standing there like an alien from another galaxy, pretending not to understand when the librarian explains that he's already checked out 28 books and needs to return them.

Finally, you crack.

You grab him and scream, "Look, I know you understand English. You're the guy who's checked out 28 books!"

It stands to reason that Las Vegas, a city that draws thousands of Americans seeking a better life, would also draw more than its share of those highly annoying people who just can't understand why they encounter problems wherever they go.

Or maybe it's not just Las Vegas.

Maybe the annoying people are everywhere.

It's true, says Tony Dierckins, editorial director of Bad Dog Press, publisher of "The Habits of Seven Highly Annoying People."

"I think we're still feeling repercussions of the Me '80s," Dierckins said. "People simply don't think about anyone else. If they happen to wear a hat to the movies, they don't care."

Finally, we have a chance to exact a little revenge by naming those whom we consider the three most notable annoying people in our area.

The names of any "contestants" submitted to me at the Las Vegas SUN will be forwarded to Bad Dog Press and will compete for the title of Most Annoying Person in North America. The contest ends Sept. 6.

If you submit my name, make sure you spell it correctly.