Print edition for October 9, 1997

Prep Roundup: Bonanza Sunset's top seed: Steve Cunningham; The week began with four Sunset Division boys' tennis teams vying for the top two spots and an invitation to the zone tournament.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Douglas, Toney injuries cut Top Rank stable: Dean Juipe; Then James Toney.

PBA Ebonite Challenge, Wednesday's Final results: 1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 456, 2-games, $21,000.

Heineken Open, Wednesday's Results: Singles

Friday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 5-1/2 fur 3YO&up F&M Clm

IRL practice: 1. Scott Goodyear G/A/F, 48, 26.430, 204.313.

Friday at Belmont Park: 1st race 7 fur 3YO Fil Clm

Arguments continue in Damonte hit-run trial: Damonte briefly stopped after hitting Don Ferris, 42, but Del Sodato said she wouldn't have been able to see his body in the rear view mirrors or by opening her car door to look back before driving off.

Ralph Siraco's Selections For Santa Anita: Selections made for clear racing conditions before scratches.

New state BLM chief pledges cooperation: "Our intent is to continue to keep applying under state water law for water rights for our water management," Abbey said. "Where honest differences occur, as in Douglas County, we'll look to the courts to decide, but that's the exception instead of the norm."

Grand Casinos withdraws bankruptcy participation: Ed Koch and Gary Thompson; While expected, Grand's announcement, coupled with Wednesday's surprising collapse of financier Carl Icahn's proposal for reorganizing the bankrupt Marvel Entertainment Group Inc., may slow the progress of Stratosphere's emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings.

Columnist John McCarron: Kaiser edges Hardy to take senior tourney at Orleans: John McCarron; Kaiser's ($260) five-game total of 1113 was only 18 pins better than Jay Hardy's ($125) 1095. But Hardy was hot in the optional doubles event, combining with three different teams to take the top 3 spots.

Luyendyk survives crash at Fontana, Calif.: TWO WEEKS AGO during the CART season finale at California Speedway, Arie Luyendyk hit another race car, then a concrete wall, at 210 miles per hour -- and lived to tell about.

Letter: One centralized nuke waste site in Nevada makes sense: We owe a lot to the resort industry, and they don't make a move without doing their research. I don't think you'd see Bellagio or The Venetian going up if they were worried about the impact Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of town, may have on their bottom line to attract the high-end clientele.

Goodyear has good night at LVMS, tops 204 mph: Scott Goodyear, ironically running on Firestone tires, took advantage of cooler track temperatures and posted the fastest speed in the first night of practice for Saturday's Indy Racing League Las Vegas 500K at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: IRL is alive, but Indy 500 not the same: Roger Penske won't attend, there won't be an Andretti on the starting grid and the only Unser behind the wheel will be Johnny, the son of Jerry Unser (Al and Bobby's brother), who was killed practicing for the 1959 Indianapolis 500. Johnny U's as nice a guy as you'll meet. But when it comes to his chosen profession, he is to Uncles Al and Bobby and cousin, Al Jr., what Tommie Aaron was to Hank.

Where I Stand: Rushing into school technology can bring failure: The USSR launching of Sputnik four decades ago made many Americans aware of our own educational shortcomings. During the following years, there was a burst of educational energy used to promote more science and higher mathematics. Then, as often happens, many of our schools drifted back into la-la land.

Nevada HMOs shy away from study: Art Nadler; The National Committee for Quality Assurance conducted a comparative information study recently of 329 HMOs nationwide, ranking them in part on: member satisfaction, childhood immunizations, cancer screening, prenatal care, mammography and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and smoking cessation treatment.

In a War It Cannot Win, Israel Tries New Tactics: Scott Peterson; INSARIYEH, SOUTHERN LEBANON -- When it came, the Israeli commando raid deep into southern Lebanon was no surprise to local villagers.

Whispers in the Dark: One more Monty?: * Dear Deity: Everyone knows actress Emma Thompson has tremendous range, but to play God? "Chasing Amy" director Kevin Smith wants the Oscar winner to be The Almighty in "Dogma," for Miramax. A "supernatural comedy," "Dogma" follows a pair of wayward angels who want to get back into Heaven, but to do so, they must destroy the Earth. Smith, whose other credits include "Clerks," "Mallrats" and the original script for the next "Superman" film, will also take on the screenplay for -- and possibly direct -- the next "Fletch" film for Chevy Chase.

Group's community effort geared to restore marshes: The marshes played a huge role in keeping the area's drinking water clean, a role officials today want to recapture as chemical and microorganism contamination is causing grave concern for Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead.

Letter: NOW lost sight of its goals in criticizing Promise Keepers: The current NOW members have grossly misplaced their energies and have abandoned their mission. With thousands of women and children the victims of poverty and domestic violence here in our community, it would be far more appropriate and effective if local NOW members were protesting individuals and organizations that contribute to this travesty and not a spiritually based group that is advocating responsible marriage and fatherhood.

A Noble Act Of Harmony In the Balkans: Bill Egbert; TUZLA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- Bosnia has been fractured by one of the most ferocious ethnic wars this century. Croats, Serbs, and Muslims, who lived together peacefully for decades, have killed neighbors or driven them from their homes to create "ethnically pure" regions.

SUN Corrections: * It was reported incorrectly in Tuesday's SUN that Scott Feldman and Nathan Albright are attorneys for the Culinary Union. They represent the National Labor Relations Board in the case involving the Culinary Union and ARK restaurants in New York-New York.

This Week's Prep Matchups: THE MATCHUP: Jordan Phee's Cowboys are riding high with their three-game winning streak, optimistic about a postseason bid. Valley's loss to Rancho last week threw the Sunrise race wide open. Could be a shootout.

Valley finds it crowded at top: Steve Cunningham; A couple of fumbles here. An interception there. Untimely penalties. Missed tackles. It was downright ugly for Valley last Friday.

Latest caskets, gurneys, urns featured at funeral director's trade show: Angie Wagner; It was enough to give you a few shivers, but gloomy or not, the National Funeral Directors Association's trade show in Las Vegas this week attracted more than 6,000 undertakers.

Right-to-die group targets '99 Legislature: There is no question, of course, that everyone is going to die.

Judge allows American Honda to cut ties with Falconi's: The dealership has until Nov. 1 to appeal the ruling issued by Administrative Law Judge David Schreiber of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Gates gives up business, but hearing possible: Jeff Schweers; The Ethics Commission could still address the issue, despite an announcement from Gates that she was giving up her interest in a Fat Tuesday's frozen daiquiri franchise.

Prosecutors: Bid to dismiss Strohmeyer case 'frivolous': Bill Gang; In documents filed this week, prosecutors asked District Judge Don Chairez to simply toss out the motion filed by attorneys for the 18-year-old Long Beach, Calif., high school honor student.

City sued over Fremont access: Denise Cardinal; The city of Las Vegas is infringing on the First Amendment rights of visitors to the Fremont Street Experience, according to a lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Rent 'n Vent: 'Breakdown' with 'Grosse Point Blank': "Breakdown" gets an A.

People in the News for October 9, 1997: Mind over body

Are you ready for some Hank lore?: Phil Hagen; Hank Williams Jr. wasn't always ready for some football.

Editorial: NCAA should get their house in order: Clark, the Rebels' NBA-bound center, and Simmons, a transfer from the University of California at Irvine, who also was projected to play a key role in UNLV's quest to return to the NCAA Tournament this season, recently received harsh suspensions of 11 and 14 games, respectively, for accepting a trip to Orlando, Fla., during the past Spring Break from a pair of registered sports agents.

Siverado doubles up at Zone: Steve Cunningham; The tennis teams at Silverado may have received a monumental break by being switched to the Sunrise Division this fall, but Mike Mundt and Bob Clements aren't apologizing.

Defining The Look Of Africa: Lara Santoro; Women in long, shimmering gowns and men in starched black ties swirl around the buffet eyeing the monumental display of food laid out on silver platters.

Country singer Tracy Lawrence facing battery charges: "There was a fight involving him and his wife, and his wife sustained some injuries," Spears said.

A brush with a legend: Phil Hagen; It was 5:30 a.m., outside a local radio station, and Hank Williams -- the original -- drove up in an beat-up Chrysler Town-and-Country, its wood sides rotting and its engine smoking. Hank parked and went around to the passenger side. Wrestling with a guitar in one hand, he tried to help his pregnant wife, Audrey, out of the car with the other.

Horned Frogs have hit hard times: Tim Graham; It's a Horned Frog hand salute of sorts, resembling the sign for No. 2 with the fore and middle fingers bent at the knuckle.

State's transportation cuts criticized by Reid: Larry Henry; One item cut was language to authorize the widening of Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Southern California. Casino companies are pushing for that money to ease traffic. Funding could be approved during the spring in separate legislation.

Wynn move shuts down publisher: Doreen Carvajal; Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, angered over a critical unauthorized biography, moved this week to collect on a defamation award of more than $3 million that could shut down a small New York publishing house that thrives on controversy.

Salmon wait for festival's end to spawn: During the weekend festival, spectators who came to witness the end of the salmons' life cycle found only a few of the fish in the creek's shallow waters.

Committee blocks effort to kill nuke storage site: Paul Kane; The House Resources Committee sent the bill on with an "unfavorable report," but it was largely a symbolic rejection of the legislation.

Shoshone Indians plan nuke protest: They are calling for an end to using their land for nuclear waste dumping and nuclear weapons experiments.

Street People Turn Trash Into Cash: Jack Epstein; BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL -- For 40 years, Maria das Gracas Marcal, a second-generation scavenger, combed the streets of this metropolis of 2 million, collecting recyclable trash to feed her nine children.

Washoe tribal officials silent on departure of troubled police chief: Ahdunko and Tribal Chairman Brian Wallace weren't immediately available for comment.

Hilton Hotels buys golf course in Atlantic City suburb: The 100-year-old bayside golf club, whose 18-hole course gives a view of Atlantic City across a salt marsh, will help Hilton market its casino properties to gamblers looking for something different, said Wallace Barr, president and chief operating officer of Bally's Park Place Casino Hotel.

Boys Hope/Girls Hope home to aid 6 disadvantaged kids: The Las Vegas home, like the one in Phoenix, was built by Del Webb. On Wednesday, representatives from the developer and Boys Hope/Girls Hope gathered for a dedication ceremony at the home at 4901 W. Gowan Road, north of Cheyenne Avenue just west of Decatur Boulevard.

Cine-cism: Silent offenders in the dark: * The Parrot: This person has some sort of reflex that makes them repeat lines of dialogue that an actor or actress has just uttered.

Jones' surf shop handled differently: An investor in the company since May, Jones has listed her interest in the company with the Ethics Commission. She's part owner with George Manuras, who is the manager of the shop.

Trustee calls for ouster of Vegas school superintendent: Ax said she has taken and passed a lie detector test supporting her claims.

Pioneering editor Bibb dies: Bibb tracked down the information, banged it out on an old manual typewriter, redid the front page on deadline and broke the story about the Luther Jones quadruple murders. Bibb's account of the grisly late 1930s stockyard bludgeonings would be carried in newspapers up and down the West Coast.

Columnist Jeff German: State gamers step up Kansas City mob crackdown: The state Gaming Control Board, in a continuing crackdown on the Kansas City mob's presence here, will discuss Ribaste's Black Book nomination at its November meeting in Las Vegas.

Letter: Why should taxpayers pay for Reagan's Calif. ranch?: What happened to the big-money interests than propelled Reagan into a governorship and then the presidency? Since Reagan is no longer of use to them, why should they pony up the money?

SUN Board: Community events, meetings, classes: Special interest

Dial File: Holy hysterics! Protests prompt publicity for 'Nothing Sacred': You've got to love the saga of "Nothing Sacred."

Movie Guys: You won't regret spending 'Seven Years in Tibet': * Starring: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.D. Wong.

Hard Rock plans Vegas expansion: He told the state Gaming Control Board Wednesday he wants to build a 300-room tower, a six-story 1,100 car parking garage and three new restaurants.

Well-known Elko businesswoman, former school board member dies: Blackstock, 47, served on the county school board for 11 years before she retired in December. School Superintendent Marcia Bandera said Blackstock was an important leader in the district and made a difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff.

Green officially the fastest man alive: Green has gone faster, but not in an officially timed dash. Thursday's designation wrests the record away from his boss, Richard Noble, who set the previous standard of 633.47 mph on Oct. 4, 1983.

Columnist Joe Delaney: 'Country Tonite' comes home to closing notice: Joe Delaney; Fourteen LV cast members, six from Branson, Mo. and seven from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. made up the 27-person ensemble with "Country Tonite" producer-director Karen Nelson Bell in charge.