Las Vegas news briefs

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997 | 11:23 a.m.

PENALTIES ASSESSED --The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that two plastic foam molding facilities, Universal Urethane Inc. of North Las Vegas and Foam Molders & Specialties of Cerritos, Calif., have agreed to pay $15,000 each in penalties. The EPA's complaint alleged that the companies violated the Clean Air Act by using an ozone-depleting substance in making plastic foam products. Use of Hydrochloroflourocarbon-141b (HC-FC-141b) in making whirl-pool bath spa pillows or cup holders made of plastic foam harms the earth's stratospheric ozone layer, said Dave Howekamp, director of EPA's western regional air division. The use of such substances was banned by the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 because they deplete the ozone layer. The penalty payments from the two companies settle the alleged violations, Howekamp said.

FIRE CAUSE --Investigators have determined that a fire that damaged a downtown Las Vegas apartment may have been started by a 2-year-old boy playing with a cigarette lighter. An elderly occupant of the Cherokee Apartments, 736 N. 11th St. near Maryland Parkway and Bonanza Road, told investigators that she was in her bathroom about 11:35 a.m. Wednesday when her young grandson ran in the room screaming. She then saw the bedroom mattress was on fire. The woman safely escaped with the boy. Las Vegas firefighters arrived and were able to extinguish the blaze in about 10 minutes. Investigators determined that the fire was accidentally set by the child who got the lighter from a night stand next to the bed. Damage has been estimated at $30,000. The American Red Cross was working to find temporary shelter for the woman and her grandson. The rest of the building's occupants were able to return to their unit late Wednesday, authorities said.

FUND DRIVE -- Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has begun its Annual Appeal fund-raising drive. The charity, founded in 1941, serves needy individuals in Southern Nevada. Its programs include: Catholic Charities Thrift Stores, which feed down-and-out individuals; St. Vincent Shelter, a homeless shelter that provides temporary residency; the St. Vincent Work Program, responsible for helping men find full-time jobs; Senior Companion; Regina Hall, a group home for adolescent girls; Meals on Wheels, which delivers hot meals to homebound seniors five days a week; and the Holy Family Day Care, which offers low-cost child care, adoption services and migration and refugee services. The nonprofit organization is also planning to build a new Catholic Charities Plaza, to be located at 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. The first phase will include a new shelter and dining area and kitchen. It is expected to service more than 600,000 people. Catholic Charities Annual Appeal is the organization's major fund-raising event for the year. For information, call Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada at 385-2662.

WATER WORKSHOP -- The first public workshop on groundwater management in Las Vegas is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. A series of public workshops was scheduled after the Legislature created the "Advisory Committee for Ground Water Management." The bill also authorized the Southern Nevada Water Authority to assess a voluntary $10 fee on well owners and those holding groundwater rights to help fund activities to manage groundwater in the valley. The program will include a complete inventory of all wells in the Las Vegas Valley, more conservation education for well users and a cost-benefit analysis of artificial recharge. The workshops will help the community learn about the advisory committee and the groundwater situation in the valley. The public may also offer possible solutions for overdrafting, aquifer protection and ground water management. The workshop is free and public comments will be sent to the 1999 Legislature for addressing the Las Vegas groundwater basin.