Print edition for May 5, 1997

Mutual fund eyeballs hands-on entrepreneurs: The analysts who have the answer may have crossed paths with investors ready to jump aboard with their capital last week at Bally's.

Sal DeFilippo: Derby bettors do well at local sports books: Sal DeFilippo; There's one consistent and dependable adage relating to the Kentucky Derby: Any horse can win. Unless, of course, that horse happens to be the race favorite.

Commissioners support highway widening plan: Plans call for both stretches to be widened from two to four lanes.

Charter school measure revived: "I feel real positive that this bill will pass the Legislature," says Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City. "We're providing a way to make improvements to our educational system."

Tales of clumsy genes and embarrassing pants: David Renzi; It was wet from the sprinklers, but Paul -- I called him Dad, Mom called him many things (most of them unprintable) -- braved ahead. He set one foot on the cement, then another. And that's when he just about busted his butt.

Controversy surrounds NLV race: Bill Gang; He also did enough controversial and problematic things to get him booted off the bench in 1995 by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline.

Where I Stand: A new set of eyes to seek facts of Gulf War illness: Another upfront man, Secretary of Defense William Cohen, says that Rudman's role will be to "find the facts." Rudman, who served 12 very productive years in the Senate, will learn the truth. He's not going to be concerned about stepping on the toes of people who try to keep him from the truth.

Ralph Siraco: Derby's winning trainer is used to close finishes: But when the accomplished conditioner made the move to thoroughbred racing in 1991, he could have never dreamed that those close photos would follow him in the most important races of his young thoroughbred-training career.

Obituary: Elizabeth J. Gansworth: Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., arranged private services.

Squabble over campaign fliers: Bill Gang; Last minute volleys have rattled the campaign for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 5, with incumbent Judge Gregory Barlow chastising challenger Cedric Kearns for what he said were misleading fliers.

People in the news for May 5, 1997: Briefly

Bike riders tour ET Highway: Nichole Davis; More than 50 visitors spent the weekend in Rachel, 150 miles northwest of Las Vegas. About 30 of them participated in the X Rides, a two-day bike-riding event.

505863110.html: American League

Obituary: Morris J. Rogers: Graveside services will be 8 a.m. Tuesday in Palm Memorial Park. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Let your dogs take you for a walk on Mother's Day: The Las Vegas Valley Humane Society is sponsoring its first Wag-a-Tail Walk-a-thon featuring hundreds of pet owners and their dogs walking a course at Summerlin's Hills Park to raise money to spay/neuter and rescue animals.

Obituary: Marvin Millar: Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Post office gets new home: The post office opened in 1860 when the town was in Carson County, Utah, making it Nevada's fourth oldest post office.

Australian trip pays dividends: James Yodice; Almost 10 years ago, a group of seven women professional bowlers traveled from the United States to Australia for a competition. For local Carol Gianotti-Block, that trip changed her life.

Letter: Councilman Reese was responsive to requests to slow residential traffic: Bartholomew B. Rivers

Obituary: John Edward 'Greydog' Grimes: Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Palm Memorial Park. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Company swaps for LV land: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Olympic Management of Phoenix signed off on the second and final phase of a deal in which both sides traded about $41.8 million worth of assets.

Physicians urged to watch for symptoms of depression: Art Nadler; Women are twice as likely to be afflicted as men.

AG's suit backs rights for blind: A federal act allows blind persons to operate businesses on federal property. States can license the blind operators and can file grievances against the federal government in disputes.

The word according to Hubie: Steve Carp; The First Hardwood Church of Basketball was far from filled Sunday at Bally's. But those who caught the talk left more enlightened than when they had arrived, thanks to the wise words of a veteran of many battles, who endured an 11 1/2-hour journey from Detroit to spread the gospel.

Lot of rhetoric but low turnout expect in Tuesday's elections: The most high-profile race is that of councilman Matt Callister and challenger Larry Brown, an official of the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Beware of HC: Some signs are so recognizable that you obey them on instinct. For instance, does a red octagon sign really need the word "STOP" on it for you to hit your brakes?

Virtual pet newest rage: Lisa Ferguson; Introduced last year in Japan by the Bandai company, Tamagotchi is an egg-shaped cybercreature that comes on a key chain and requires about as much attention as an infant. When it's hungry or wants to play, it beeps to get your attention.

Police brutality ruling could affect Mendoza suit: Rachael Levy; Ramon Mendoza is seeking monetary damages from Metro in connection with the drive-by shooting of his 21-year-old son, Daniel, who died Dec. 28. Former Metro Officer Ron Mortensen, an off-duty rookie cop at the time, is on trial for the murder.

Polygamist wife contends polygamy is the ultimate feminist lifestyle: "Polygamy is an empowering lifestyle," Joseph said Saturday during her keynote address at the Utah NOW conference.

Latham got a peek at the Show: After finally realizing that dream last month when he was called up from the Salt Lake Buzz to replace -- of all people -- Paul Molitor on the Minnesota Twins' roster, Latham has tried to tell his boyhood friends what life is like in the major leagues. But words fail him.

Stars lose: Royster counts the ways: It was, however, the first time manager Jerry Royster called it what it was: bad baseball.

Obituary: Marie E. Sitkiewicz: Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Columnist Ken McCall: Alta resident resigned to giving up house for road project: Ken McCall; Standing in front of her home just east of Rancho Drive, longtime resident Judy Cornett watches with a weary resignation. The noise and the fumes and boneheaded stunts pulled by impatient drivers drain the humor from her otherwise effervescent personality.

Woman claims responsibility for infant's death: Her husband, David Lee Rountree, now 58, served a four-year prison term after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

When welfare ends, will jobs be there?: Larry Henry; A measure making its way through the Legislature, Assembly Bill 401, caps benefits at two years -- the result of public pressure and federal legislation -- to wean people off lifelong assistance.

Las Vegas business fast track: Harker has worked for 20 years in the Las Vegas market.

Scouts plan Camp Foxtail: Girls devote a portion of each day to focusing on their chosen session theme. The remaining time is spent participating in general camp activities such as hiking, arts and crafts, cookouts and nature discovery.

LV teen seeks funds for conference: Debra D. Bass; It showed.

Eldorado, Garside crime top school list: Teresa Hinds; A school district report for 1995-96, released in April, shows every middle school and high school in the Las Vegas Valley had at least one violent incident.

Exercise can be more effective than dieting: For many, the image in the mirror will be disappointing. There will be a renewed resolution to "eat less and exercise more." Yet national statistics reveal that only 30 percent of those who restart a regular exercise program are likely to still be exercising in three months.

Teaching trends may account for lower test scores: Teresa Hinds; According to school-by-school test scores released by the Clark County School District for 1995-96, a majority posted lower scores on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills than they did on the same test given during the 1994-95 school year.

Turnout to be light for primaries: Or, those with big campaign war chests will push the grass-roots types out of the race.

BOR plans to release water from reservoir: "The purpose of the releases is to make sure we don't over-top the boards" of the dam, Lyman McConnell, project manager for the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, told the Lahontan Valley News.

At what price Freon?: If you are ever going to have your car retrofitted with a non-Freon air-conditioning system, now is the time to do it.

Robbery suspect shot in chest by police officer: About 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Cory Dudley, 22, of Las Vegas ran out of the Super Pawn at 354 N. Nellis Blvd., near Stewart Avenue, with "his robber's bag," police said. Two citizens chased after Dudley on foot and were joined by a police officer.

Two brothers arrested in stabbings, police standoff: Police went to the home after the three men who were stabbed escaped and notified authorities. Two of the men were hospitalized in serious condition with stab wounds.

Migratory birds beginning annual flights north through Las Vegas: For Southern Nevada birders, May 10 marks the arrival of thousands of hummingbirds, vireos, swallows, orioles and others returning to nest from their winter quarters in Central and South America, said Cris Tomlinson, a biologist with the Nevada Division of Wildlife.

Internet pioneer to attend convention: Vint Cerf, senior vice president of development for MCI and the designer of the protocol that makes the Internet run, will be a special guest of the show, which is being staged at the Las Vegas Hilton and the Convention Center through Friday.

Letter: Gay rights are not moral, but legal issues: We have families and in the state of Nevada we can adopt as single gay parents or we can adopt as couples. We send our children to school and college. Our society has given us the unique ability to determine whom we call family.

UNLV returning to mass commencement ceremony: Debra D. Bass; A few years ago, the university started breaking up the commencement exercises by college, so each student would have the experience of walking across a stage and hearing his or her name and parents and others wouldn't have to sit through a four-hour-long event.

Letter: Nude backside photo at Riviera an affront to tourists, Las Vegans: Out of tens of thousands of residents, only seven bothered to complain personally to the hotel about the billboards and taxicab displays.

Comment period for Yucca dump guidelines extended: The first comment deadline had been set for Feb. 14. Public requests for extra time have resulted in three extensions, with the latest deadline being set for May 16.

Las Vegas business events: REAL ESTATE SERIES -- Project management will be the next topic covered in the Graduate Builders Institute series, sponsored by the UNLV Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies in conjunction with the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association.

Yucca comment period extended: The first comment deadline had been set for Feb. 14. Public requests for extra time have resulted in three extensions, with the latest deadline being May 16.

Obituary: Mark Daniel Boka: Services will be 7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St.

Letter: Trent Lott's efforts to change Consumer Price Index will benefit the wealthy: Such a change is nothing more than making COLA recipients, who are mostly the nonrich, pay for the GOP-led fight for capital gains and estate tax cuts, which benefit mostly the rich. The purpose is to prevent the rich from paying for the deficit, which we must not forget was created through the Reagan tax programs. This issue goes to the heat of the budget-balancing negotiations.

Letter: Bosnian refugees entitled to vote absentee in homeland elections: Refugees account for about one-quarter of the Bosnian electorate. Absentee voting programs are one way to enfranchise refugees and enhance the likelihood of successful elections.

House fire believed to be accidental: Heavy smoke was coming from the back of the single story brick house at 742 Encanto Drive, near Bonanza Road and Las Vegas Boulevard North, when firefighters arrived shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday.

Friday's College Baseball Scores: Bentley 12, Brandeis 9

Saturday's College Baseball Scores: Bowdoin 9-11, Mass.-Boston 4-6

Sports history for May 4: 1940 - Gallahadion, a 35-1 longshot ridden by Carroll Bierman, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over favorite Bimelech. Gallahadion pays $72.20 to win.

SCRA sprints: Passing Masters Dash - 1. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda, Calif.; 2. Steve Ostling, Lakewood, Calif.; 3. Mike English, Norwalk, Calif.; 4. Troy Cline, Hawthorne, Calif.; 5. Richard Griffin, Silver City, N.M.; 6. Ron Shuman, Tempe, Ariz.; 7. Mike Boat, Peoria, Ill.; 8. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Calif.

Letter: Cancelling GOP fund-raiser a power play by big labor: Ironically, it is the Culinary Union that calls the Elardis "lawbreakers." Where is the evidence that they have broken any laws? Seen any convictions lately (or ever)? Some disgruntled employee makes wild allegations about the Elardis' "secret spy center" (some secret, what casino doesn't have surveillance?) and the strategic placement of garden manure and suddenly they are "lawbreakers" -- go figure.

Military land watchdog group sets up website: The address is:

Dean Juipe: Softball star has numbers like Williams: Now an all-star at the major league level with the Cleveland Indians, Williams put in a celebrated three seasons with the Rebels in the mid-'80s. Aside from being a pivotal player on some great teams, he set the school record with 58 career home runs.

Nevada attorney one of nation's 100 most influential: He is the first Nevadan and the first gaming lawyer to be selected for the prestigious list, which has been published by the National Law Journal every three years since 1985.

Sports history for May 5: 1952 - Pittsburgh Pirates farmhand, Ron Necciai of the Bristol Twins, threw a no-hitter and struck out 27 batters in a 7-0 victory over the Welch Miners in the Class D Appalachian League.

Habitat starts 13th LV-area home: The 1,600-member Clark County Bar Association is sponsoring the project at the corner of Moser and Rexford streets in Henderson.

Save Mart 300, Results: 1. (1) Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark., Ford, 74, $113,995.

This Date In Baseball, May 4: 1969 - The Houston Astros established an NL record with seven double plays against the San Francisco Giants. First baseman Curt Blefry participated in all seven.

Air Force investigates group that bragged of drinking and womanizing: "The Inspector General's office is looking to see if there was any official support of the Barstoolers on the part of the Air Force," Capt. Keri Humphrey-Clinard, an Air Force spokeswoman, told the newspaper.

Participation grows in Gay Pride festival: What started as a picnic for about 500 members of Southern Nevada's homosexual community in 1983 has grown into a festival of more than 7,000 gays and straight supporters of gays last year, with a projected crowd of about 10,000 this year.

Survey shows Nevada lagging in youth programs: One of the most ominous signs was in the area of the state's death rate for children ages 1 to 14. Nevada is now ranked 44th in the nation, compared to 31st last year.

Letter: Riviera's nude picture in poor taste for the Strip: Tourists with children will see nude female parts of women as they walk or drive by. What happened to bring the kids for a family vacation?

Baseball and track playoffs this week: James Yodice; Baseball and track and field have reached their postseasons, and the other spring sports will join them soon.

Car slams into house; baby injured: Cathy Scott; The bizarre incident occurred about 2:20 a.m. today when a man, whose name has not been released, forcibly took his former girlfriend, 27-year-old Monica Hill, from her house in the 5200 block of Hagemann Lane, near Nellis Boulevard and Bonanza Road, Metro Police traffic Sgt. Curt Albert said.

Letter Museum's Earth Day exhibit destroyed the spirit of the observance: At the Natural Museum of History booth, we all stopped, and a very nice young man was talking to a couple of adults. The kids crowded around to see what he was doing and, as the children watched in shock, he cut up real cows' eyeballs. The children were very disgusted and upset as they talked about it the remainder of the day. I, even as a teacher, couldn't justify what purpose it served nor did I feel this was appropriate under the guise of Earth Day.

Broadbent shifts to monorail: Jeff Schweers; "It just seemed like it was the time to go," Broadbent said. "I'm looking at some other opportunities, and if they come through earlier, I would need to be out earlier."

This Date In Baseball, May 5: 1917 - Ernie Koob of the St. Louis Browns pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in a 1-0 victory at St. Louis.

Box score: Buzz 14, Stars 3: E--Stevens. DP--Las Vegas 1. LOB--Salt Lake 11, Las Vegas 7. 2B--Ogden, Durant 2, Castellano, Latham, Simons, Shave, Jackson, Bush, Beamon. HR--Shave (3). SF--Shave. SB--Jackson (2), Latham (2), Beamon (4). CS--Latham.

Letter: Ongoing tragedies ignored amid hype over murder trials: This is yet another example of misplaced American values, press sensationalism and a distorted criminal justice system.