Print edition for May 8, 1997

Senate OKs punishment for use of date rape drugs: Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the drugs flunitrazepam and gamma-hydroxybytrate are similar in their effect as valium but 10 times stronger.

Equestrian event at Horseman's Park: The dressage phase will be at 8 a.m. Friday at Horseman's Park. Cross country will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Floyd Lamb State Park. Show jumping will be at 8 a.m. Sunday at Horseman's Park.

Letter: What next - television celebrating drug addiction?: A reporter even had the the audacity to ask Ellen if she and her partner planned on having children -- as Rosie does even though she is afraid to "come out." I guess the next thing will be a national TV celebration when a star informs us he/she is a drug addict and plans to continue to be one.

Gaming regulators reject oddsmaker with ties to New York bookmaking: The decision, if upheld by the Nevada Gaming Commission later this month,

Lawmakers bump up mental retardation budget: The extra money would go to such things as job training, employment assistance, and in-home support.

With Jose Bellver, that's one big totally amazing creative experience: Scott Dickensheets; But they're not going to pull their triggers, at least not anymore. For one thing, these aren't real armed monkeys; this is art! For another, as depicted by artist Jose Bellver in the gorgeous black-and-white drawing tacked to the otherwise bare walls of his Pahrump studio, they have the slumped postures and defeated eyes of beaten rebels. "They really look like troops that have been exhausted," Bellver says.

Riviera show statue unveiled: The three-quarter-ton monument is a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the Riviera's "Crazy Girls" show. It is made of patina on bronze and will stand before a marble facade at the front of the Strip resort.

Students compete in Odyssey of the Mind: "Odyssey of the Mind" is a project that gets young people to think creatively, according to 13-year-old Judy Kresyman, one of the participating students.

Obituary: Jackie Waller: Visitation was scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. services today in Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd.

Obituary: Larry Gene Reeves: A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Friday in Bunker Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Billboard given for fund-raiser: The sign reads: "To Honor Them Is to Remember Them." Also featured is an artist's rendering of the memorial and a phone number to call in donations.

Letter: Let militia-plagued Idaho receive the nuclear waste: Sylvia Lampe Gross

Letter: Stop the foot-dragging on vets' cemetery expansion: I, personally, just do not understand that if the state of Nevada is expecting a rather larger monetary surplus, why sufficient funding cannot be transferred through the discretion of the governor's office, so that the entirety of Phase III can be constructed as rapidly as possible.

Obituary: Richard Wilson Macwilliams: Visitation is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Friday with a 6 p.m. rosary in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Mass will be celebrated 8 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church. A private burial will follow.

Senate, Assembly honor Holocaust victims: Opdyke, who was an 18-year-old Catholic nursing student who was living in Poland at the beginning of World War II, was forced to work in a German munitions factory and later served as a maid in a Nazi officer's villa.

Obituary: Pete Van Esch: Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Palm Chapel, Jones. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

Parents seek answers in missing woman case: Cathy Scott; Their 20-year-old daughter, Ginger Rios, has disappeared without a trace. For them, not knowing what happened to their daughter means sleepless nights. Neither parent has gone to work since she disappeared on April 4 because they've been searching for her.

Students celebrate history through art: The theme for 1997 was "Triumph and Tragedy in History." Students had the opportunity to create exhibits, give live performances, give media presentations or write papers.

Man arrested after hitting DMV employee: The employee, Vickie Palmer, was treated for severe bruising, swelling and pain and sent home. She was struck while pointing to a section of a document on a counter at the DMV office.

Obituary: Becky Templeton: Visitation is scheduled from noon-4 p.m. Saturday with a 3 p.m. service in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

Gaming license denied: Investigators said the group, directed by Daniel Kramer of Scarsdale, N.Y., used runners to place bets at Las Vegas sports books.

Metro working with volunteers to start cleanup of graffiti: I encourage T. Cooper, along with other interested citizens, to get involved in this worthwhile project. Contact Officer Dan Newman at the Southeast Area Command for details on how to participate.

Wisconsin sued for blocking Santa Ana, Calif.-based Internet gambling firm: Lawyers for the Santa Ana, Calif., company claim in the lawsuit, however, that Wisconsin's gambling laws do not apply to its proposed Internet operation.

Sales tax increase opposed: Larry Henry; Assemblymen Morse Arberry and Wendell Williams, both D-North Las Vegas, said Wednesday that a sales tax hits poor people hardest and shouldn't be raised without a public vote.

Shooting spree ends peacefully with arrest: The standoff caused streets to be blockaded in the area of Grove, Yori, Stoddard, Apple and Wrondel, just west of Kietzke Lane. Nearby residents were evacuated and pupils at Echo Loder Elementary School were kept inside.

Sports history for May 9: 1932 - Burgoo King, ridden by Eugene James, withstands the strong drive by Tick On and wins the Preakness Stakes by a head.

505876540.html: American League

Facts on Jose Bellver: TO LAS VEGAS: Bellver came to Las Vegas in the mid-'70s after earning a master's at California State University, Davis. He lived and painted in Henderson and Las Vegas before moving to Pahrump.

Students face burglary charges: The five were arrested on Tuesday and appeared on Wednesday at a detention hearing. They will be held until their first hearing on Monday in Douglas County District Court.

Legislative summary for May 8: SENATE Measures Approved

Union sues Sands over severance: The Culinary Union has sued the Sands for the second time over the severance packages members were given when the hotel-casino closed last summer.

New Eagle Scouts: JOSHUA TABAK, 18, of Las Vegas recently became an Eagle Scout. He previously held the Scouting offices of senior patrol leader, patrol leader, librarian and Order of the Arrow. The Cimarron High School senior is a member of football, wrestling, Deca club, the Honor Society and the Mock Trial Club.

Obituary: Rachel F. Newton: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Debate over campaign mudslinging gets messy: Larry Henry; That's what happened Wednesday, as legislators bickered over a provision to fine candidates who lie about their opponents.

Dean Juipe: Augie Sanchez (a k a Kid Vegas) blossoming: Dean Juipe; It's boxing.

Editorial: Legislature should probe Family Court: Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Shearing tried to hide $479,000 in the court's budget to equalize pay among judges in the state, in violation of the state constitution and the will of the voters. In 1994, Nevadans, by a nearly 6-to-1 margin, rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to permit midterm judicial pay raises.

Obituary: Richard Lee Jacobson: Nevada Funeral Service-Nevada Cremation or Burial Society, 726 S. Casino Center, Suite 208, is handling arrangements.

Regents outline plans for using endowment funds: Debra D. Bass; Having socked $78 million away in an endowment fund -- which generates more than $2.5 million in interest annually -- administrators are haggling with the Legislature over how much they can spend and how much they should save.

Ex-aide: Shearing OK'd plan to hide raise money: Donald Mello, former director of the administrative office of the court, which prepared the budget, said Wednesday that Shearing was at budget meetings at which the ploy was hatched to ask for $170,000 for "digital equipment" when in reality the money was ticketed for $22,000-a-year salary increases for the justices.

Obituary: George William Lake: Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. today in Bunker Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Bunker Chapel. Burial will follow in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Disposable income up for Nevada's black population: Idaho was first and Utah second.

John McCarron: Cox prevails in Mahoney's Wild Dog match: The next Nevada Tournament Bowlers Alliance tournament is scheduled 10 a.m. Sunday at The Orleans. Entry fee is $65. Call manager Mike Monyak at 365-7400 for information.

UNLV: Men host regional again: Steve Carp; Once again, the NCAA Region 7 men's tennis tournament is at the Fertitta Tennis Complex with the host Rebels in position to advance to the NCAA championships next weekend at UCLA.

Obituary: Leonie Phillips: Visitation is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 9:30 a.m. Friday in Palm Chapel, Jones. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Whittell estate purchase deadline extended: About a year ago, the conservancy contacted the college about managing the buildings, said Mike Sion, spokesman for the college. As it stands, UNR would partner with the University of California, Davis.

More than 3,100 eligible for graduation: Ceremonies for students from the colleges of Hotel Administration, Extended Studies, Liberal Arts, Sciences and Urban Affairs will receive degrees at 9:30 a.m.

Obituary: Thelma Brown 'Brownie' Ireland: No local services are scheduled.

Obituary: Randall F. Balas: Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Las Vegas leisure news briefs: * BANDS AND CARS -- The Battle of the Bands and Car Show will be 2-7 p.m. May 24 at Durango High School, 7100 W. Dewey Drive. Cost is $10 and includes one drink and food ticket. There will be cash prizes and gift certificates to the top two bands. Prizes to cars will be for the best paint job and detail, best sound, best overall and biggest wreck. Auto entry fees are $10. Call Mrs. Brown or Chris Lush, 799-5850, Ext. 208, for information or to register.

Las Vegas youth news briefs: * BANDS AND CARS -- The Battle of the Bands and Car Show will be 2-7 p.m. May 24 at Durango High School, 7100 W. Dewey Drive. Cost is $10 and includes one drink and food ticket. There will be cash prizes and gift certificates to the top two bands. Prizes to cars will be for the best paint job and detail, best sound, best overall and biggest wreck. Auto entry fees are $10. Call Mrs. Brown or Chris Lush, 799-5850, Ext. 208, for information or to register.

Obituary: Ursula E. Praxl: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

'Father of the Internet' gives vision of the future: But Vinton Cerf, senior vice president of Internet architecture and engineering with MCI Communications Corp., found time to tell a small crowd about the need to upgrade telecommunications transmission lines and a vision of a direct Internet link to the brain.

Columnist Bob Shemeligian: C'mon, Vegas, show us the real scandals: Bob Shemeligian; Bob Nolen reportedly spends so much time at topless bars and so little time serving documents that he probably wouldn't recognize an eviction notice if it were rolled up between a woman's breasts.

Obituary: Margaret Anne Cowley: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, arranged private services.

Radio daze: Students take over the radio waves: Teresa Hinds; As Criner pulls back on the volume, he announces, "We are rolling, stand by for sound."

People in the news for May 8, 1997: Wacky lawmaker notes

Steve Carp: Racing Form gets another challenge: Race books throughout town had another newspaper being distributed on the premises. It, too, had all sorts of facts and figures and it was very thorough, with seven tracks, from New York to California, within its covers.

Sands hit with another lawsuit: The union accused the Sands of violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act when it failed to include tips in the severance packages and did not give 60-day notice of its closure.

Letter: A break on casino restaurant fare would lure more patrons: Letter: A break on casino restaurant fare would lure more patrons

Legends gather at Tropicana: Tim Graham; Unable to cash in during their primes, the stars of the past do what they can to capitalize on the big-money sports industry they helped create. Many find the lucrative memorabilia market a boon in obtaining what they feel they deserved, signing autographs and authorizing special items for sale to their fans.

Hollywood producer plans GOP run for Nevada governor: With typical showbiz bravado, Aaron Russo said Wednesday that his campaign is "unstoppable."

Man, 19, faces murder charge: Borice Tedman Boyd was booked into the Henderson jail Wednesday.

Shearing, Mello differ over details of budget controversy: "I sat right next to Miriam Shearing when we went through the budget request," Mello said. "She participated. She voted 'yes."'

Obituary: Robert L. Barrone: Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Obituary: George Mercer: Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., handled arrangements.

Letter: Bully makes life a hell for publishing a newsletter: Returning from sunday brunch, he confronts me in the lobby, damns the protective order as having faulty service and proceeds upon me. He is warned, not once, but twice. He continues, and gets a full can of pepper spray, sending him running off to the lobby. I'd forgotten to keep one eye closed (as spray vendors warn) so have my personal eye problems too, but within 30 minutes, they disappear. Metro arrives. Sees that the protective order is properly served (by them). They cannot issue him a citation for the prior assault and battery, they issue them only at the ...

Columbia defends partnerships with physicians: Art Nadler; "It's not something that's unlawful," said A. Allan Stipe, president of the Columbia Southwest Division in Nevada. "What we see are new levels of interests that are all customer friendly, where the physicians are acting as owners."

Regents outline fund plan: Debra D. Bass; Having socked $78 million away in an endowment fund -- which generates more than $2.5 million in interest annually -- administrators are haggling with the Legislature over how much they can spend and how much they should save.

Mortensen points finger at buddy: Bill Gang; Wednesday's testimony was the first time Mortensen told his version of the Dec. 28 events that led to his arrest on murder charges. He took the opportunity, as expected, to point the finger of blame back at his one-time partner.

Letter: Ted Nugent a disgrace for his inhumane hunting: Bobby Cairee, who leads hunts for feral pigs in Hawaii, describes one-time client Ted Nugent as "unethical" and says Nugent "shoots at anything. He just likes to kill a lot of animals.

Letter: Average resident gains nothing from growth taxes: The Revolutionary War never really ended; we are still fighting taxation without representation!

Closing arguments in Mortensen case set for Monday: Court will not be in session Friday, and closing arguments are set for Monday.

New cars, same idea at Indy: Roberto Guerrero; It's funny, because it doesn't seem that long ago that I was a rookie at Indy, and now I'm one of the most experienced drivers at the Speedway. I'm still amazed at the crowds and all the tradition, but I'm here to do a job, and that's winning the Indianapolis 500.

Bengals take volleyball title: James Yodice; Bonanza High School clinched the Sunset Division boys' volleyball title on Wednesday night with a hard-fought four-game victory at Bishop Gorman.

11 townhomes damaged in fire: Karen Zekan; The sparks that shot from the outlet seconds later weren't nearly as frightening as the small counter top blaze that started next. She said she pulled out the cord, shut off the breakers, doused the flames with an extinguisher and was relieved when property maintenance workers later told her all was OK.

First scheduled nonstop flight between LV-Germany takes off: The Heckelers and their friends, Karl and Rose Knauss, were passengers aboard Condor German Airlines' first scheduled nonstop flight between Frankfurt-Mein International Airport in Germany and Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Corrales wants to be 'big, bad wolf': Dean Juipe; That's because Corrales' father had the good sense to direct his son, then a feisty 8 years old, into an established amateur boxing program.

Where I Stand: Gov. Miller not accepting presidential appointment -- now: Gov. Bob Miller in the presidential company going to Mexico started some of the old political rumor mills whirring again. No, he's not going to leave Nevada and become ambassador to Mexico. That job is to be filled soon by a very competent Republican Gov. William Weld of Massachusetts. There's little doubt that Miller could be an excellent ambassador for the United States in Central or South America and in many other countries. If he wants such an assignment, when he leaves office, you can bet it will be his. Miller made the trip to Mexico because of his leadership ...

Obituary: Bertha Rangel: Visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m. until a 4 p.m. memorial service Friday in Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Moriarty adept at picking partners: James Yodice; Despite the overwhelming individual nature of the sport, even in doubles the task of finding a suitable partner can be a tiring process.

Obituary: Clara E. 'Betty' Nichols: Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon services Saturday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

14,000 hours, zero money ... and she loves her job: Melissa Schorr; Can you imagine holding down the same job for 19 years?

Executive says city is a big theme park with a captive audience: Gary Goddard, chief executive officer of Landmark Entertainment Group, gave the assessment at the annual Tourism Awareness luncheon, sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Early plans approved for massive planned development: "We're all very concerned about growth paying for growth," Commissioner Lorraine Hunt said.

Contractors defend open shops in Southern Nevada: Pauline Bell; John Jennings, the nation's leading open shop supporter, steadfastly defended contractors' rights to run their own companies during a speech to more than 100 members of the local Associated Builders and Contractors' chapter Wednesday.

UNLV: Women head to San Diego: Steve Carp; Which is why this weekend's trip to San Diego is about business, not pleasure, for the UNLV women's tennis team. It will take three victories between Friday and Sunday. But if the Rebels still are standing, they'll head to the Bay Area next Saturday to compete in their first NCAA championship.

Developers must predict impact on services: Jeff Schweers; The first company to provide the fiscal impact study will be the Olympic Group, based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Olympic is a major player in the federal land exchange business. The commission imposed that requirement on the company Wednesday as a condition of its conceptual plan for a 1,700-acre development on former federal land along the southern edge of the valley.