Print edition for February 7, 1997

Columnist Joe Delaney: This is Black History Month: Joe Delaney; Our favorite Alvin Ailey piece is "The River," which had music and narration by the late Duke Ellington. ... We use the Ellington narrative as our annual Friday before Easter column. ... It deals with "The heavenly anticipation of rebirth."

'Purlie' a Henderson production: The story is about a self-appointed preacher scheming to undo a despotic plantation owner, symbolic of freeing his people and the ways of the Old South.

UNLV show to highlight women's work in science: The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. It is free and open to the public.

Reba to take lead in movie career: Starstruck recently spent more than $1 million for the rights to a book on the New York Times best-seller list. A company spokeswoman wouldn't say which book, but said McEntire would have one of the two female lead roles.

PBA Tucson Open: 1, Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 7-1, 6,136. 2, Mike Aulby, Indianapolis, 6-2, 6,019. 3, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3-5, 5,987. 4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-4, 5,932. 5, Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City, 5-3, 5,919. 6, Dave Arnold, Gilbert, Ariz., 6-2, 5,894.

Navy issues checks, prepares to fix damage from sonic booms: Pilots from the Navy's esteemed Top Gun fighter-pilot school were participating in an instructor's refresher course when the incident occurred, the Navy said.

The Pendragons making month-long appearance at Caesars' Empire: This magical duo, famous for their speed and grace, have starred in numerous televised network productions, including their own 1995 Disney Channel all-star television special and "A Gala for the President," filmed for network television at Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C.

'Imagine' a dream come true concert: Ten Pas returned home, was able to gather all the fabric, sequins and designs and began to sew her own costumes after the death of her friend. She never gave up on her dream.

Parents of dead twin in NLV being investigated: Cathy Scott; The twins, Tatyna and Tevonte Johnson, were born Nov. 30, each weighing in at just 4 pounds, 12 ounces.

Energy Department budget includes $325 million for Yucca Mountain: DOE funding also calls for money to conduct four weapons experiments at the Nevada Test Site.

Bill seeks higher pay for Highway Patrol troopers: A survey conducted by the Nevada Highway Patrol Association shows the top salaries paid to NHP troopers, sergeants and lieutenants are 4 percent to 20 percent lower than other police officers are paid.

Gaels try to put nail in Trailblazers' coffin: James Yodice; The state's most intense boys' basketball rivalry renews tonight when fourth-ranked Durango entertains No. 5 Bishop Gorman.

Two telemarketing firms agree to close shops: Family Life and American Publishers Exchange, both owned by Scott Cooke, have signed a voluntary agreement to cease certain operations, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Wednesday.

Mardi Gras - Vegas style - comes early: The floats, some weighing more than eight tons, run on a 950-foot-long track, 13 feet above the casino floor. The floats parade through the casino ever two hours, carrying out three different themes, with 36 costumed performers.

USA Today honors Reno student: She gave birth to her son before she finished high school. She married and divorced before age 20. No one in her family had ever gone to college. Money, opportunities and free time are not plentiful for single mothers of 2-year-old boys.

Rooney rips Indian, LV casinos: "Why don't the Indian casinos making hundreds of millions of tax-free dollars help their own people?" said Rooney, noting reports about Indians at the snowbound Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota.

Use of child safety seats in county lagging behind: The event is being held in the wake of a survey by the organization finding that Clark County lags behind the rest of the country in the proper use of child safety seats.

Henderson student selected as Jason Project 'Argonaut': The Jason Project is a yearlong scientific learning adventure that culminates with 55-hour, live, interactive broadcasts from the Yellowstone and Iceland expedition sites, April 28-May 9.

Parole reform vote scheduled as fourth week of XGR starts: The measure is one of several that follow up on changes to the system started by the 1995 Legislature after a career criminal who was just paroled shot and killed a Sparks policeman.

'British Are Coming' to Henderson concert: Lano will appear as a soloist and guest conductor. Arthur Bartner, director of the USC Trojan Band, will share the podium with Mark Laycock, music director emeritus. The program is titled "The British Are Coming!" as four selections were written in or inspired by the British Isles.

Says everyone will pay for transportation improvements: Federal funds could provide as much as 75 percent of the money needed for projects such as increased bus service and a fixed-rail system from McCarran International Airport to the resort corridor.

Gunmen rob jewelry courier in mall parking lot: A jewelry courier from New York City told police that three bandits robbed him at gunpoint of several bags of the marked jewels while in the parking lot of the Fashion Show mall about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fulghum offers 'Love' stories: "True Love" is Robert Fulghum's latest book, and it's one of several hardcovers being published this month.

Letter: Ordinary people need justice done to them: Perhaps, if I had been someone of importance, a celebrity, or had a lot of money, justice would have been done and my son would be able to rest in peace in his grave under the big oak tree in Williamsport, Pa.

Editorial: Consensus the key to city's future: The concept should be expanded. A series of similar meetings in city and county neighborhoods could do much to develop a consensus on what kind of city Las Vegas will be in the next 20 years.

Senate committee wants to keep inmates off TV: "I think we should get some of the prison security guards in here to testify about what these changes would do the prison environment," she added.

Shooting 26%, Lady Rebs lose: This time, however, McClain could not fault herself for UNLV's atrocious second-half shooting performance in a 72-46 Western Athletic Conference loss to Hawaii Thursday night at South Gym.

Second Gardnerville man sentenced for lying in attempted bombing: Crockett, 53, was convicted in November of lying to a federal agent and to a federal grand jury during the investigation into the December 1995 attempting bombing of the IRS building in Reno.

'Tales of Old Nevada' take on a new look: Directed by Karen McKenney, the production includes a variety of scenarios about the pony express, mail-order brides, old-fashioned bread baking, an Indian war council and cattle rustlers, to name a few.

Downtown vice stings corral 32 more johns: Results of the two-night reverse stings held downtown on Jan. 23 and Feb. 5 include another person cited for loitering for the purpose of soliciting, police said.

SUNlight on politics: Wynn gets a win on Tahoe board: Larry Henry and Cy Ryan; MIRAGE Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn is extending his clout into Carson City politics.

Reeling Aztecs host Rebels next: Steve Carp; The San Diego State coach is in an almost helpless position as his struggling Aztecs, frustrated by five straight defeats and decimated by the loss of two key performers, are facing the very real possibility of not qualifying for next month's Western Athletic Conference tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Nevadans want fair share of highway funds: Nevada's congressional members, including the senator who helped write the original Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991, want a fair-size piece of the pie for Nevada, most notably Las Vegas where a high volume of visitor traffic helps accelerate highway decay.

E. coli found in cheese sold by Overton farmer: The white, Mexican-style soft cheese, sold in two-pound chunks, was found to be "contaminated with high levels of E. coli and coliform bacteria," Clare Schmutz, director of the environmental health department of the health district, said Thursday.

Legislature schedule for Friday, Feb. 7: 8 a.m. - Senate Commerce and Labor hears a presentation by Public Service Commissioner Judy Sheldrew on electric industry restructuring.

Florida detective earns praise from LV police: Hernandez said the plot was being considered by two men interested in freeing murder suspect Geovanny Torres as he was being taken to Las Vegas by police on Jan. 30.

Dean Juipe: LVIM quick but world record safe: On the books since April 17, 1988, the world's marathon record will likely survive Sunday's 31st running of the Las Vegas International Marathon as well. Yet the LVIM course on the old Los Angeles Highway between Jean and Vacation Village is lightning fast and if the field were a little stronger, the mark set by Ethopia's Belayneh Dinsamo nine years ago in the Netherlands would actually be in jeopardy.

Fight may have led to fatal crash: Karen Zekan; Family members told police that Alexander Walter Gendron, 34, of Las Vegas was at an apartment complex a quarter-mile away moments before the collision at Nellis Boulevard and Vegas Valley Drive about 4 p.m. Thursday.

Hawaii 72, UNLV 46: Ashby 3-5 2-4 8, Howard 5-9 2-2 12, Leeburg 5-10 3-4 13, Cockett 6-15 3-4 18, Itoman 6-10 0-0 14, Kotilainen 1-2 2-2 5, Fujimoto 0-0 0-0 0, Liu 0-1 0-0 0, Macintyre 0-1 0-0 0, Wautlet 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 26-55 14-18 72.

Las Vegas officer pleads innocent in drive-by shooting: A grand jury indicted Mortensen in January in connection with the Dec. 28 shooting of 21-year-old Daniel Mendoza.

Postal service clerk guilty in child porn case: Sentencing for John David Hotal, 52, is pending.

Yucca Mountain Boys to perform at UNLV: Part of the University Forum lecture series, the event is free and open to the public. It is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the auditorium of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History.

Facts on The Opera Beggars: CD AVAILABILITY: "Electromotive" and "Cough" are on sale at most local record stores.

People in the news for Feb. 7, 1997: With Scott Dickensheets on the DL, I have been summoned from the bullpen to save the Friday edition of People in the News. It won't be easy. First up is the always dangerous Jenny McCarthy, who's been on a home-run tear since that breakthrough Playboy spread. But now it appears her career is in the toilet. In a series of ads running in 10 magazines starting today, McCarthy poses in a bathroom for a $2 million campaign to sell a shoe -- Candie's -- that's making a comeback. In the late '70s, Candie's sold 14 million pairs. McCarthy, 24, says ...

Lewis - McCall Tale of the tape: Lewis - McCall Tale of the tape

Letter: Residents should rally to protect neighborhoods: Jones and her council are caught up in boomtown hysteria. More is better, bigger is better. They've become media darlings because growth and money is the only language they understand.

Locals to vie for top county post: Jeff Schweers; Clark County Commissioners said they want to find someone local who has experience and an understanding of the county's growth-related problems and its financial structure to replace County Manager Pat Shalmy, who announced his resignation Thursday.

Letter: Rock singer's attack on religion disgusting: Rev. Michael Blackburn

Plasso's record likely to stand another year: But if all goes according to plan, Plasso's record could be shattered next year if Boka's hope of increasing the prize money and visibility of the 26.2-mile race come to fruition.

Mason one of top three stand-ups today: Joe Delaney; Other topics included Catholics and Jews, Gentiles and Jews, the difference between them, Puerto Rican commercials, Italians as executives, black weathermen on TV, status symbols, Caribbean island vacations, Mexican vacations, Starbuck's coffee shops vs. ordinary coffee shops, the French people, exercise rooms, brie, cajun food, sushi, milk, salt, sugar, red meat, what is and is not good for you, health food stores, alfalfa and bean sprouts, Picasso paintings, Jews skiing, adultery, and Jewish husbands and wives.

Repairs to damaged road completed well ahead of schedule: The $725,867 contract executed with the Nevada Department of Transportation on Jan. 14 called for traffic to be moving by Feb. 15. It threw in an extra $5,000 for each day before the 15th the highway is open.

U2 tour could start in Vegas: Although dates and venues have yet to be verified, the Las Vegas show is rumored to be the first tour stop.

LPBT Terre Haute Open: 1, Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich. 975 pins 4 games, $10,000. 2, Carol Norman, Oklahoma City, Okla. 204 pins 1 game, $5,500. 3, Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J. 223 pins 1 game, $3,800. 4, Cindy Coburn-Carroll, Buffalo, N.Y. 204 pins 1 game, $3,000. 5, Dede Davidson, Clearwater, Fla. 153 pins 1 game, $2,600.

Election foretold Shalmy resignation: Christensen was regarded as the glue that held together a coalition of four commissioners who gave Shalmy majority support on the seven-member board.

Sports Briefs: Woods hot, fires a 64 in Thailand: Woods, whose mother Kultida is a native Thai, had four birdies on the front nine before a gallery of about 3,000 fans. While the tropical heat reduced that number to 1,000 at the turn, Woods rewarded the remaining fans with a a number of dazzling shots.

Hacienda's 40-year history chronicled in new book: Bob Shemeligian; Elvis impersonators in sequinned jumpsuits gorge themselves on Mexican food in the Hacienda coffee shop in homage to the real King.

All-male chorus concert slated: The concert will be open to the public as well as season ticket holders. Individual tickets are $13. For ticket information and direction to Ham Hall, call the UNLV box office, 895-3801.

John McCarron: Rare 900 series reported 5 times: Jack Mordini, Group Executive for ABC, announced Tuesday that Sonnenfeld's 900 series was approved. Jeremy will be honored this weekend at the opening of the ABC national tournament in Huntsville, Ala. Using a new blue Pearl Pulse bowling ball, Sonnenfeld rolled his record-breaking series on three different pairs, a difficult task for sure.

SILVER: * TONIGHT: World of Outlaws sprint cars, LVMS dirt oval. Racing at 7 p.m. Adult general admission $30, children 6-11 $10.

WAC Standings: Pacific Division

Rodman tells Leno his basketball woes: "It's a damn shame we've got people out there and the first thing out of their mouths is 'I'm going to sue,"' Rodman said. "Now his ass is in jail."

Sheep hunters flock to Philadelphia: The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep shunned the traditional western sites for its annual convention this year and brought thousands of hunters flocking to this Northeastern port city.

Trouble in Paradise: THE NUMBERS: UNLV shot just 38 percent from the floor Thursday, but Hawaii, which was averaging just under 50 percent from the floor going into the game, shot just 41 percent. "You've got to; Such seems to be UNLV's fate against Hawaii.

Busch Clash: 1. (5) Terry Labonte, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

LV watches Rodman play, sashay: Tim Graham; And in Las Vegas there is none stranger.

Budget committee hears personal testimony at welfare hearing: As she spoke, welfare recipient Beth Ingram's three-year-old son played with a toy truck on the hearing room floor - evidence of the trouble Ingram has had finding child care for her three children while she works and attends school.

American League Capsules: EAST

Fight results: Fight results

Lewis wants to play equalizer: Dean Juipe; But the next best thing from the Englishman's perspective is an age-old equalizer: revenge.

Horse Racing: ateb Through Jan. 26

Survey shows patients unhappy with hospitals: Art Nadler; "Eye on Patients: A Report to the American Public," conducted by the Picker Institute, a nonprofit health care consumer research and consulting company from Boston, found that one in three hospital patients felt they weren't having enough say in their treatment.

Beggars can be choosers: David Renzi; "So you can write that he does nothing," quips the drummer, who hauls bags at a hotel.

Columnist David Ehlers: New York-New York off to strong start: David Ehlers; Since New York-New York's opening, Las Vegas Investment Advisors has undertaken a series of pedestrian and vehicle traffic surveys at New York-New York for the purpose of measuring the trends in visitor volumes. Our survey clearly indicates that through the fourth weekend following New York-New York's opening, the new property is attracting increases in visitor volume each week.

Labonte to start up front at Sunday's Busch Clash: "Like always, the competition's going to be tough," he said with a shrug. "It's hard to win, no matter where you start."

Lockard presents information services budget to money committee: In a much-publicized gaffe, computer programmers didn't design computers to read digits beyond 1999, forcing the country to spend billions in reprogramming. Nevada will pay about one-third of the cost of its conversion, and the rest of the money will come from federal sources.

Austrian Open: Singles

Daytona ARCA 200: 1. (1) Andy Hillenburg, Indianapolis, Ind., Chevrolet, 185.166.

Senate fails to override three bills vetoed by governor: But a provision in SB341 prompted opponents to question whether it might restrict school officials from reporting suspected child abuse.

County held liable for faulty fireplace work: Bill Gang; A District Court jury on Thursday said the county is liable for $162,000 that it cost to replace the more than 100 metal chimneys at the Royal Palms Apartments, at 5711 W. Tropicana Ave.

505569137.html: NEW YORK -- The 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car racing schedule:

'Old Man' brings life to big screen: Frazier Moore; There she was last August, like the rest of the cast and crew of "Old Man," withstanding 5 1/2 weeks of Louisiana bayous and daily rainstorms and a special-effects flood, all for the sake of this "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production of the William Faulkner short story (airing at 9 p.m. Sunday on CBS).

National League Capsules: EAST

Cop-acquittal remark jeered: Bill Gang; Mortensen pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charges that could put him in prison for life if he is convicted. District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski set an April 28 trial date for the 31-year-old rookie officer.

Parents'-rights bill veto sustained: The 1995 veto was upheld in the Senate Thursday, but Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, who sponsored SB341, said she has a similar bill being drawn that could take care of many of the objections voiced Thursday. She said the chances of passage were good in the Senate.

Columnist Ken McCall: Troubled water pipeline project finally nears end: Ken McCall; The people who live and work between Oakey Boulevard and Alta Drive can't remember driving the area without dodging heavy equipment, concrete barriers and impatient, merging drivers.

Pact to restore wetlands nearer: The Southern Nevada Water Authority is close to an agreement with federal, state and local water and wastewater officials to begin restoring some of the 2,000 acres lost along Las Vegas Wash, said Pat Mulroy, the authority's general manager.

Troubled ABC News may lose its head: David Bauder; Troubles at ABC, the longtime king of network news divisions, have led to the beginning of questions about the future of news chief Roone Arledge, a legendary TV executive.

Where I Stand: We can conquer only a limited amount of the desert: Several weeks ago, the flooding Walker, Carson and Truckee rivers wiped out any recollection of a dry Washoe Lake and rivers that could be walked across with only the soles of shoes getting wet. Yet, these drought conditions existed only three or four short years ago, and they will return some time in the near future.

Retail shops will 'play' to locals, tourists: Bob Shemeligian; The nearly two dozen avant-garde retail shops comprise 60,000 square feet on two levels of the Rio's $200 million addition, which opens to the public at 11 p.m. today.

Cop-shooting suspect still eluding police: Karen Zekan; Authorities believe the suspect wanted for the attempted murder of a Metro Police officer is being transported around town in the trunks of friends' vehicles.

Piano-saxophone duo to play at Winchester: Romano, a prominent Las Vegas tenor saxophonist, played with the Woody Herman bands for many years, appearing in the Newport and Monterey jazz festivals.

Masquerade Village to make unique niche: Gary Thompson; Long a locals favorite, the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino has never generated the following on Wall Street many believe it deserves.

Drop that show snovel and grab a bat - baseball is back: Whatever the reason, when pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Florida and Arizona in a few days, they'll all be expecting to still be playing baseball in October.

U2 hoping 'Discotheque' hype will hike disc sales: David Bauder; But fans who want to buy the disc are out of luck -- until Tuesday.

Marnell imprint on gaming properties nationwide: Robert Macy; "This ranks right at the top," Marnell said recently, taking a break from surveying crews working feverishly to put finishing touches on the Rio Hotel's new Masquerade Village. "We've done some pretty exciting things in this city over the years, but this certainly ranks at the top."

Murderous escape plan told: Bill Gang; Sherman planned to hire a hitman to kill two guards and a doctor in the escape plot that was to be executed when he visited an optometrist's office, Deputy District Attorney David Roger said Thursday.

Ron Kantowski: Outlaws back in town for 2 nights of racing: The World of Outlaws and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, two entities trying to enter the upper pantheon of professional auto racing, join forces for the second time this weekend, during a three-day festival of short-track racing billed as the Silver State Shootout.

Doctor's killer planned murderous escape plan, DA says: The jury, which convicted the 32-year-old defendant Wednesday of the 1994 beating death of Dr. Lester Bauer, must decide whether the appropriate punishment is life in prison or death.

Thunder starting to come together: Tim Graham; The Thunder resumes its second-longest homestand of the season tonight at 7:05 against its heated IHL Southwest Division rival, the Utah Grizzlies. Forward Joe Day makes his long-awaited Las Vegas return and defenseman Kerry Huffman comes back from rib and spleen injuries.

Bill modeled after teacher sex scandal introduced: Under the bill introduced by Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, in Carson City on Thursday, people employed in positions of authority by schools, colleges or universities would be prohibited from engaging in sexual contact with students ages 16, 17 and 18.

505568731.html: FRIDAY

Rural Nevadans convene for state summit: "Our purpose in Fallon was to cast a wide net over different kinds of sectors and define some key issues," said Sarah Mersereau, state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural devlopment program.