Print edition for October 31, 1996

505240227.html: FRIDAY

NFL Notes: Fumblitis hurting Rams' rookie QB: Watching Tony Banks is like attending one of those greased pig contests. You never know when he'll drop the ball next.

Steve Carp: WAC teams feeling the NCAA's pinch: Wright, who has attempted to rebuild Wyoming's basketball program, is in his fourth year at Laramie. He has an experienced, talented team coming back, one that is capable of beating anyone in the Western Athletic Conference on a given night.

People in the News for Oct. 3, 1996: Dan's still the man

New courthouse will rise from 'Minami hole': Steve Sebelius; The new 407,000-square-foot courthouse will be the anchor of the downtown "legal corridor," as well as ongoing efforts to spruce up urban Las Vegas.

Ultralight Pilot Serves as Surrogate Mother to Cranes for Migration: Their journey ended Wednesday at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, 15 days and 750 miles south of their hatchery in Idaho and about 80 miles south of Albuquerque.

Sports Briefs: Rebel captain to play in Honolulu: There hasn't been much to cheer about this year at Rebel Park, but UNLV's 0-9 football team received a piece of good news Wednesday as senior offensive tackle Dennis Whitmore was selected to play in the 1997 Hula Bowl.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Stratosphere new home for 'Viva': Joe Delaney; Dick Feeney's production will be in Danny Gans evening bailiwick, every day but Sunday. ... Comedian Dave Swan, master magician Valentino, our favorite Elvis, Golden Joe Baker, vocalist Laurie Caceres and a line of comely, talented dancers make up the cast. ... At $10, it's a show best-bargain.

Youth news briefs: The winning artwork was selected by a panel of local artists and will be featured in the 1997 Happy Times 11 calendar.

Colorful McCarran Airport Parking Plaza opens Tuesday: By Richard N. Velotta; Gold, silver, yellow, green, blue and red are colors that will be key to consumers finding their way around the $83.8 million McCarran Airport Parking Plaza, built with enough concrete to pour a sidewalk between Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Memories of long lines, short fuses: Bob Shemeligian; "Years ago, all automobile registrations expired at the end of the year," said Donna West, DMV assistant chief, and on New Year's Eve, it was like a war zone here. Employees didn't leave work until hours after their shifts ended -- and this was on a holiday weekend."

Columnist Jeff German: Negative politicking haunts Nevada: But if you've been watching television or reading your mail, you know that.

Clinton boosts Democrats: "It's going to have a tremendous impact," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who planned to be on Air Force One when the president touched down at McCarran International Airport.

Las Vegas news briefs: * EXPRESS SERVICE -- Citizens Area Transit is launching an express bus service on Las Vegas Boulevard. Strip express buses will operate daily from 6 p.m. to midnight, and will offer 15-minute wait times between buses. The service will operate between Fremont Street and Sunset Road, with six southbound stops and seven northbound stops. The one-way, adult cash fare is $1.50. To minimize confusion, unique bus stop signs have been created for the express service.

Lady Rebels get No. 6 rank: When the WAC released its women's basketball preseason coaches poll and UNLV was ranked sixth in the eight-team Pacific Division, Lady Rebels head coach LaDonna McClain didn't quite know how to react.

Editorial: The SUN's picks for commission: Incumbent Bruce Woodbury is being challenged by Lee Wayne Haynes in the District A race. Woodbury has been a responsive public official with a strong interest in responding to growth problems, especially traffic planning. He has done a terrific job and there is no reason to replace him. The SUN endorses Woodbury.

Clark County's Early Voting To End Friday: Voters were allowed to cast early ballots at a variety of sites throughout the valley, including malls, churches and libraries. Ten of the sites accepted ballots from all precincts, while others allowed just a few of the districts.

Craftsman Truck Weekend Schedule: * SATURDAY: 10:30 a.m.-noon: Craftsman Truck practice. Noon-1 p.m.: Winston West practice. 1:45 p.m.: Craftsman Truck qualifying (positions 26-36). 3-4 p.m.: Craftsman Truck practice. 6 p.m.: Legends Car celebrity race. 7 p.m.: Craftsman Truck last chance race (to determine starting positions 37-40). 8 p.m.: Winston West series finale (300K, 124 laps).

Where I Stand: Welcome President Clinton and happy birthday Nevada: I've only lived in Nevada for 40 years, but a sitting president to visit us during the final 100 hours of a national campaign hasn't happened during that period of time. In the past, we've always felt lucky to have even one visit from a president during a year and this is your second.

Palo Verde romps: Bob Cloud; Dave Delahuerta ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on just three carries, and Nicholas Cefalu added three scores, as Palo Verde ran past Mojave 32-3 in the freshman season finale for both teams at Cheyenne High School.

Trucks will keep Waltrip on track: Now, at the age of 49, Waltrip is hinting that next year may be his last as a full-time driver on the Winston Cup Series. But don't expect ol' D.W. to drop completely out of sight; he said he plans to maintain a presence in the sport as a car owner and a part-time driver in the Craftsman Truck Series.

New Uses Planned for Idle Land at Nevada Test Site: The test site's board agreed at a meeting Tuesday to pursue those three options.

The Daily grind: Lisa Ferguson; Something's brewing in Room 300 at Silverado High School.

Starship Orion maynot take flight: Gary Thompson; The proposed $1 billion project, which called for up to seven casinos, hotels and other facilities to replace the shuttered El Rancho resort on the Strip, hasn't been able to generate any enthusiasm from investors.

Election projection restraint urged by West: Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller said Wednesday he has joined with his counterparts in seven Western states in asking the networks to hold off projecting winners in presidential and congressional races.

Truck weekend trifecta for Trickle: By Ron Kantowski; The 24-year-old Las Vegan has cut a deal with Station Casinos Inc., that will enable him to enter all three races on Las Vegas Motor Speedway property this weekend.

Zone soccer Saturday at Durango: Bob Cloud; With the regular season behind them, eight area prep soccer teams set their sights on the Southern AAAA zone tournament, which begins Saturday at Durango High School.

Schuetz to remain at helm of Stratosphere: Gary Thompson; The company announced today that Schuetz has been named president, CEO and a director, indicating he'll be around a lot longer than the three to four months he expected to serve when named interim president July 29.

A Dose of Winter has Tahoe Resorts Eyeing Early Openings: "We have so much snow, it's just wonderful," Boreal spokeswoman Kris Norris said Wednesday.

Arum signs former Olympian Raul Marquez: Dean Juipe; Raul Marquez, a former U.S. Olympian, is 23-0 with 16 knockouts. He's a relatively complete fighter with style and excellent power.

Challenger sued by Mosley for ads: Bill Gang; The stinging ads challenge Mosley's reversal rate by the Nevada Supreme Court and allege that the judge beat up a motorist, assaulted an ex-girlfriend carrying a baby, got caught shooting at a bald eagle and recruited a judge to hear his own paternity case.

Young, Jones Play Dirty in Final Days of Fight for Supreme Court: Each candidate contends he didn't start the dash to negativity. Each also maintains his advertisements are factual. And each concedes negative campaigning wins close elections.

WAC primed for march to March: Steve Carp; And there's still a raw nerve that acts up every time you mention March Madness.

Miller chastises Lowden over 'misleading' mailer: "I'm resentful of the fact that they would try and give the impression that I am supporting her, when it's not true," the Democratic governor said Wednesday. "This was done without my permission."

Editorial: Check out the jungle: As last weekend's fire revealed, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

Genoa Store May Host Post Office: "We're at the stage where we're real hopeful," Penzel said. "They did look at the store and assess it, but it's premature to be happy, and premature to be sad."

Police Seek Pair for Questioning in Murder: He is 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds with thinning brown hair and glasses. She also is 5-7, weights about 145 pounds and has shoulder-length auburn hair.

Missing Eldorado teenager sought: SUN STAFF REPORTS

Comdex to boost November convention stats: That's how many trucks of equipment it takes to set up for Comdex which runs Nov. 18-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Rep. Vucanovich's Son Dies of Heart Attack: Dillon, who owned Michael F. Dillon & Associates, a public relations and consulting firm in Sacramento, suffered a previous heart attack three years ago, Mrs. Cafferata said.

Bands get jazzed in performance: Tickets are $12.50, $10 for students and seniors. For more information or reservations, call 651-5483.

Lots of rhythm, no blues: Lisa Ferguson; There really is no place like home.

Columnist Bob Shemeligian: If you can't read the first 11 words ...: Bob Shemeligian; That's what National Programming Service, the pay-per-view vendor for the Nov. 9 Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield bout, is offering.

Rancho plans magnet programs: Teresa Hinds; About 2,700 students from Rancho and nearby elementary and middle schools filled the football stadium bleachers Wednesday to learn about the Academy of Aerospace and Aviation and Academy of Medical and Allied Health Professions magnet programs. Both are slated to open at the start of the 1997-98 school year.

New courthouse draws praises: Steve Sebelius; The new 407,000-square-foot courthouse will be the anchor of the downtown "legal corridor," as well as ongoing efforts to spruce up urban Las Vegas.

Art show looks at Indian culture: Items include Navajo and Hopi kachinas, Navajo rugs, gold and silver jewelry, pottery from Indian pueblos and sandpaintings. They range from prehistoric periods to contemporary.

LV's Fritz honored on state's birthday: Tim Graham; Twenty-one years after she last competed at a competitive level, Las Vegan Laura Fritz is a little bewildered at her latest honor.

Settlers' Souls Haunt Old San Diego's Whaley House: "It's not like there are poltergeists or furniture that flies around or anything anyone needs to be afraid of," said Wayne Cook, curator of the 140-year-old Whaley House. "It's just a very old, very lovely house - ancient history by California standards."

Trek to track to be better this Sunday: Track officials and local authorities have come up with a plan to deal with the traffic onslaught before and after Sunday's big race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Nevada, Other Western States Seek Moratorium on Election Predictions: "In Western states, voters are learning from the media of declared winners before they themselves have had a chance to reach the polls," Heller said.

Ruling won't affect IRS toke tax system: Gary Thompson; Tax attorney Michael Singer agreed, saying the ruling only prohibits the IRS from forcing restaurants to pay back taxes owed by workers who underreported income.

This Week's Prep Matchups: * The matchup: What a difference a week makes. A week ago, Bonanza was flying high on the wings of a three-game win streak, looking to possibly win the Sunset Division championship. That was before Cimarron-Memorial jumped on the Bengals early and often en route to a 36-14 victory, relegating Bonanza to third place and a trip to Las Vegas High. The Bengals are the other playoff team with a losing record, but the difference here is Bonanza did prove itself against quality competition -- handing Western its only loss of the season. Will that team come to play the ...

Clinton Celebrates 'Nevada Day' with State, But Fails To Mention Coffin: Clinton, however, made no mention of Coffin during his 45-minute speech. The omission is consistent with Clinton's apparent efforts lately to distance himself from Democrats running for Congress, many of whom are considered more liberal than Clinton.

Power contract for river water sparks concern: In addition to the miles of pipeline needed to transport water from the Colorado River to Las Vegas, $21 million must be spent yearly on electricity to run the pumping stations.

LV Civic Symphony kicks off 20th season with free concert: The symphony program will also include Rossini's "La Gazza Ladra," Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A (Italian), Rachmanivov's Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14 and Vivaldi's Concerto in C major for Piccolo featuring soloist Jo Raquel Stoup.