Print edition for October 30, 1997

Letter: Run for elected office and ride the 'good ol' boy' bus: And should one of my employees or a citizen blow the whistle on me, I will be allowed to ruin their lives and deprive them and their families of the same things in life that I get to enjoy by means of a paycheck from monies collected by the citizens of the city and county. After all, who's going to stop me? The county commissioners? The City Council? No way. They're too busy covering up their own corruptive practices.

Computers take a byte out of the car design process: Robyn Meredith; Sitting before a glowing screen hooked to a basement full of Cray supercomputers, a Chrysler engineer designing the new Concorde sedan ran dozens of simulations of that simple act. He was trying to create a car hood that would fit to a hair's breadth -- and stay that way.

State banking contracts go out to bid: State Treasurer Bob Seale asked Wednesday for bids on a full range of banking services.

Air conditioning exec sentenced to nine years in prison: U.S. District Judge Lloyd George also ordered Christensen and the two companies he ran, World Air Conditioning and M.J. Wood & Associates Inc., to make restitution totaling $3.8 million to the Internal Revenue Service and the Nevada Department of Taxation.

Jordan Doubts Its King: Scott Peterson; AMMAN, JORDAN -- The banners have been hung, the posters of smiling politicians have been plastered to walls, and opposition candidates have already begun to cry foul in Jordan's upcoming Nov. 4 parliamentary election.

Letter: Government shouldn't be in business of child care: I, for one, do not accept this responsibility. I do not have any children. If I did have children, I would consider it my job to care for them -- either through staying home with them or hiring a private facility to take care of them. I would not expect my neighbors to drop their interests and responsibilities to do it for me. I would be even more horrified by the idea of them being forced, by Big Government, to do it for me.

NLV on road to better business: Sixteen homes, a half-dozen businesses and part of a school bit the dust, but from that rubble along Lake Mead Boulevard has come better access through the heart of downtown North Las Vegas.

Letter: Jefferson wanted to protect church from government intrusion: This is the same Jefferson who gave leadership to the founding of the University of Virginia and recommended that students be allowed to pray and worship together on campus and, if need be, to meet and pray with their professors on campus.

Illegal weapons makers expected to change pleas: Rausch, 25, who graduated at the top his police academy class, was charged with conspiracy and four counts of possession and transfer of illegal machine guns.

Box Score: Thunder 7, Aeros 0: First Period -- 1, Las Vegas, Day 3 (Klimovich, Suchy) 6:38. Penalties: Kurtz, Las Vegas (high sticking) 1:59; Lariviere, Las Vegas (boarding) 11:05; Cull, Houston (tripping) 14:24; Kruppke, Houston (interference) 17:58.

A Tough Buy: Child-Woven Carpets: John Zubrzycki; MIRZAPUR, INDIA -- Chandrama looks at the half-finished carpet and then puts a taut and sinewed hand next to his knee.

Box Score: Grizzlies 6, Thunder 5: First Period -- 1, Las Vegas, Pattison 1 (Day), 1:11; 2, Utah, Modry 1 (O'Brien, Prosofsky), 4:00 (pp); 3, Utah, Knipscheer 3 (Namestnikov, Miller), 5:41 (pp); 4, Las Vegas, Pattison 2 (Slaney, Bancroft), 14:26 (pp). Penalties:Bancroft, Las Vegas (roughing), 0:46; Orszagh, Utah (roughing), 0:46; Day, Las Vegas (interference), 1:40; Bilodeau, Las Vegas (slashing), 3:39; Loewen, Las Vegas (holding), 5:26; Day, Las Vegas (goaltender interference), 6:28; Miller, Utah (slashing), 9:29; Taylor, Utah (holding), Taylor, Utah (hooking), 16:08.

Teenager dies after 'weird' turn of events: Cathy Scott; According to a witness, 14-year-old Miguel Valencia ran to a house on Solteros Street, near the 5500 block of Flamingo Road, about 8:30 p.m. and asked for help but wasn't making any sense, traffic Sgt. Curt Albert said.

Box Score: Thunder 5, Dragons 4 (SO): First Period -- None. Penalties: Rud, San Antonio (delay of game), 1:51; Loewen, Las Vegas (holding), 11:52; Klimovich, Las Vegas (hooking), 14:21.

Telephone workers narrowly missed by firing Navy jet: The tower is located on the Navy's Bravo 20 aviation training range, 35 miles north of Fallon.

Land of 'Valley-Speak' Seeks To Secede From L.A., for Sure: James Blair; LOS ANGELES -- Jay Leno suggests calling it "Off-Ramp Acres." Or perhaps "Newer Jersey" or "Unknown Actorville."

A Night in Purgatory: The Finished Story: It was the opening night at the enchanting new Purgatory mega-resort with its otherworldly theme, and "Buck" O'Rama, the legendary Irish mogul, was determined to put on a show.

Columnist Jeff German: White House, Miller pressuring Jones to run for governor: On Monday, Vice President Al Gore telephoned Jones to promise her White House backing if she runs.

Obituaries for October 30, 1997: Matthew Ryan Anguiano, 2 1/2 months, of North Las Vegas died Saturday in North Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 3, 1997, in Las Vegas.

Where I Stand: Success for people with disabilities doesn't come easy: Last night at Sam's Town, the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities honored these very special people. The Governor's Awards Dinner has come a long way since it was first held in the Carson City High School gymnasium 20 years ago. It's most appropriate that this affair is held in October, which is "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."

One Man's Crusade to Heal Illiteracy Ills: Daniel B. Wood; COMPTON, CALIF. -- The Rev. Alfreddie Johnson says the problem with inner-city America is not the usual litany of woes: drugs, crime, gangs, teen-pregnancy, domestic abuse.

Box Score: Ice Dogs 5, Thunder 0: First Period -- 1, Long Beach, Jutras 1 (Ast, Ignatjev), 3:26 (pp); 2, Long Beach, Augusta 3 (Williams, Lambert), pp, 14:01. Penalties: Quinney, Las Vegas (high sticking), 2:30; Finn, Long Beach (slashing), 4:38; Klimovich, Las Vegas (interference), 5:26; Lariviere, Las Vegas (holding), 8:30; Slaney, Las Vegas (cross checking), 13:33; Angelstadt, Las Vegas (fighting), 14:07; Penn, Long Beach (fighting), 14:07, Messier, Long Beach (hooking), 15:28; Finn, Long Beach (boarding major, game misconduct), 15:45.

Reno mall gets new cineplex: Park Lane retailers are hoping it will lure more shoppers.

Rio to build new 3,000-room hotel: Rio officials unveiled the first phase of a new master plan that would create a new road access to the Las Vegas Strip, site work for a future resort and additions to the existing property. The price tag on the first phase: $200 million.

Dial File: Appraiser of 'Frasier' -- a sitcom savior: There's a phrase you hear associated with television all the time -- assuming you haven't taken your medication lately.

Women Spur N. Ireland Talks: Kevin Rafter; DUBLIN, IRELAND -- The peace talks on the future of Northern Ireland have been underway for more than a month, with representatives of the two opposing communities reporting slow progress, after a rocky start.

Trainer says Moorer at peak for Holyfield: Dean Juipe; His previous trainer quit in frustration, walking away from big money and a heavyweight champion.

Cheveldae's homecoming: Tim Graham; While there was no news on McSorley's prospects to become an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his Thunder prepared for its visit to the Palace of Auburn Hills, where it faces the Detroit Vipers today at 4:30 p.m. PST.

Movie Guys: 'Boogie' to the beat of sex, sleaze and family values: * Grades: Dave, A; Jeff, A.

Row Erupts in Britain Over Ensuring Civil Rights: Alexander MacLeod; LONDON -- Britain is about to turn its back on a key aspect of its own 300-year-old legal tradition and embrace a human rights system that has operated in continental Europe since the end of World War II.

Movie Guys: Fright flicks from the video vaults for some vintagescream-a-thons: But fear not: They're all treats. Not a trick in the bunch.

Selections from spooky scribes: Melissa Schorr; Our readers fancied themselves quite the cross between Stephen King and Edgar Allen Poe, unfurling their fiendish imaginations to finish up "A Night in Purgatory," our Halloween tale of murder, mystery and mayhem.

Columnist Joe Delaney: 'Dracula' drops in for a snack this weekend: Joe Delaney; "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" are arguably the definitive horror classics. ... The authors of both novels were Irish. ... Bram Stoker wrote "Dracula" and Mary Shelley, wife of the poet, authored "Frankenstein" as a competition with other artists.

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 7 fur 3YO&up Mdn Clm

Columnist Steve Carp: BYU coach not afraid of challenge: Steve Carp; So imagine the Maalox moments Brigham Young basketball fans have endured the past couple of years.

Poll places Rebels No. 3 in Mountain: Steve Carp; But with the Rebels missing a few key performers, the usual suspects surfaced at the top of this year's WAC men's basketball media preseason poll.

Box Score: Thunder 4, Aeros 2: First Period -- None. Penalties:Trombley, Las Vegas (slashing), 11:49; Day, Las Vegas (fighting), 20:00; Stewart, Houston, (fighting), 20:00

LV's Smith wins fight: LV's Smith wins fight

PBA Ebonite Challenge, Final results: 1, John Mazza, Shelby Township, Mich., 929, 4 games, $21,000.

Local governments fight state's court-fees collection: Tom Grady of the Nevada League of Cities said the money collected in local courts goes to fund law enforcement and judicial programs.

IHL Standings through October 29, 1997: Northeast Division

Colombian Open, Wednesday's results: Singles

Airlines report fewer passengers: Most of the decrease in passenger traffic was attributed to an unusually high number of passengers in September 1996, when Southwest Airlines had a $25 fare special, officials said. During the sale, other airlines matched Southwest's promotional fare, creating a temporary swell in passenger traffic.

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

Editorial: Frontier strike end a relief: The nation's longest-running strike -- six years -- is set to end when a Kansas industrialist and hotelier, Phil Ruffin, takes over the Frontier Hotel, which he purchased from the Elardi family.

Paris Open: Singles

Columnist John McCarron: Howell wins at Sam's Town: John McCarron; Howell's 595 ($66) beat Susan Johnson's 590 ($40). Chris Halladay's 582 ($30) gave her third while Yvonne Fredieu 579 ($20) held on for fourth.

UNLV's Nesby: I just want to win: Steve Carp; Tyrone Nesby was facing a difficult decision. Or so it seemed.

Nevada still getting new business from other states, less from California: "What happened is that California woke up, and found out how to hold on to its companies in the last year or two. In some cases, they have moved them within the state," he said.

Insurance for infertility sought: Supersano, of Reno, says the Nevada group will ask the 1999 Legislature to require insurance companies to include coverage for infertility in health policies.

US Warms To Hockey's Ice Queens: Sam Walker; "Fluffy?"

Friday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 6 fur Fil 3YO Mdn Clm

Rebels successful in Rolex Regional Championships: Rebels successful in Rolex Regional Championships

People in the News for October 30, 1997: Briefly

Old Carson River power dam blown up: Richard Mirgon, emergency management director for Douglas County, said Fallon Naval Air Station explosives experts volunteered to reduce a remaining 60-foot-wide, 30-foot high section of the dam to rubble.

National Forest designation sought; locals say bill premature: The management unit was created in 1973 from parts of the Tahoe, Eldorado and Toiyabe national forests, and the proposed designation would enhance the basin's status, the lawmakers said.

Ghost Writer: Clyde Dinkins: "The story intrigued me," says Dinkins, a native of Rochester, N.Y., who moved to Las Vegas four years ago when his car broke down on the way to California. "It (the story) was so creative, yet it had the reality of the casinos. I tried to get into that frame of mind and continue with the same genre."

QB duel down to Moreno: Tim Graham; The big quarterback showdown was supposed to take place in less than 48 hours at Sam Boyd Stadium.

IHL recaps for Oct. 29: ORLANDO--Hubie McDonough's goal at 16:38 of the second period gave the Orlando Solar Bears a 2-1 win over the Michigan K-Wings Wednesday at the Orlando Arena. The win, Orlando's fourth straight, moves the Solar Bears (5-3-1) into a tie with Detroit at the top of the IHL's Northeast Division. Dave Chyzowski broke a scoreless tie and gave the Solar Bears a 1-0 lead with a power play goal 10:30 into the second stanza. The K-Wings (4-4-1) outshot Orlando 27-20, but only John Emmons beat goalie Scott LaGrand, at 5:07 of the third period. LaGrand finished with 26 saves. Jordan Willis ...

Judge: Rio's golf course fees are 'a little high': Bill Gang; But with a $300 green fee, is the Rio hotel-casino's golf course really a public facility?

Center for children with HIV reopens: Cathy Scott; Parents and board members met with county mediators early today and agreed to open the doors while they work out their differences, said county spokesman Tom Warden.

Wife-killer finally gets his wish: a death sentence: Bill Gang; The crackling electrical charge from the device that is, in essence, a remote controlled stun gun, sent him tumbling from his chair and left him shaking uncontrollably on the floor as astonished jurors watched.

Gators to heap load on Glasper: Steve Cunningham; Larry Thomas ain't messin' around -- his star, Jamar Glasper, is going to be a busy man tonight.

Four face charges in tavern robberies: Nelson Saint-Hilaire, 20, was arrested Tuesday and charged with robbery with a weapon and burglary with a weapon, Metro Police Lt. Larry Spinosa said.

Bryan wants crackdown on Indian gaming in California: "The Justice Department has done an abysmal job of prosecuting illegal Indian gaming," Bryan, D-Nev., told a Senate hearing on Wednesday. "The failure by the U.S. attorneys to enforce the law has created a situation which rewards wrongdoers and those obeying the law suffer the consequences."

Area solar power construction may be heating up: Jan McAdams, an energy consultant, said solar-powered building has come down to earth in Las Vegas.

Whistleblower: Elardis off free: Legare, who once ran a spy squad for the Elardis, accused state gaming regulators Wednesday of letting the family off the hook for alleged misconduct during the six-year Culinary Union strike.

This Week's Football Picks|: THE MATCHUP: Green Valley lost last two to go from first in the Sunrise to a road playoff game. Jamar Glasper is finally 100 percent for the Gators tonight and will figure prominently in their plans. Cheyenne rebounded from big loss to Cimarron to defeat Western last week, securing the No. 2 seed.

Western's focus: Valley QB Jackson: Steve Cunningham; Rich Stevens might have been funnin' a bit when asked how his Western Warriors figure to stop Valley quarterback Dion Jackson and his talented mates.

Letter: Nevada residents would be losers in nuke dump siting: A structure needs to be designed to carry out the intended function and built to withstand the different types of forces that may act against it.

Apartment occupancy goes down: The quarterly U.S. Apartment Market Report, researched by Dallas-based M/PF Research Inc., says the Las Vegas occupancy rate fell to 90.6 percent in the second quarter of 1997 after three consecutive quarters at or above 93.5 percent.

Neighborhood College grads learn about unity: Elizabeth Dutton; The 10-week program, initiated July 1 by the County Commission, is an opportunity for people of many different nationalities and communities to learn to make a difference in their neighborhoods.

Letter: Clarifying columnist's remarks on Gates, DNC and GOP changes: Second, with regard to Jeff's report on my change in status with the Nevada Republican Party: In no way, shape, form or fashion did Chairman John Mason or anyone else attempt to "muzzle" or "purge" me from the position of GOP spokesman. In fact, the exact opposite is true.

Parents upset by closure of center devoted to HIV children: Cathy Scott; Parents dropping off their kids Tuesday morning found the doors closed to Reach Out, the only day-care center in Clark County that specifically accommodates children with or affected by the HIV virus. The center shut down over a dispute that has yet to be resolved involving a parents group, the director and the board of trustees, parents said.

8-1 Cimarron aims to cool red-hot Sundevils: Steve Cunningham; Ken Trujillo must be one heck of a motivational speaker.

Elardi: Warning guests of violence was illegal: Bill Gang; But Frontier general manager Tom Elardi testified Wednesday that the April 1993 incident involving Sean and Gail White was the only time during the six-year labor dispute that there was violence involving a registered hotel guest.

Man pleads guilty in accident that killed basketball player: Michael Allen Thompson, who was 20 when the car he was driving killed Rodrick McClure and his stepfather, James Addison, a day after Christmas last year, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of felony drunken driving. He faces two to 20 years in prison.

Board: Pool contractors cannot collect fees up front: Art Nadler; At its meeting Wednesday, the state Contractors Board also ruled that upon completion of each phase of construction, homeowners must be given lien releases, so subcontractors can't come back for payment if general contractors don't pay them.

State 4A Football Playoff Matchups: Western (6-3) at Valley (6-3), 7 p.m.

Guard told that prison is no excuse for profanity: That's what a state hearing officer has told a prison guard in upholding a five-day suspension without pay.

Rio announces major expansion: Rio officials unveiled the first phase of a new master plan that would create a new road access to the Las Vegas Strip, site work for a future resort and additions to the existing property. The price tag on the first phase is $200 million with the entire project expected to cost $750 million.

Tougher tests loom to graduate high school: The state Department of Education said Wednesday these tests in reading and math reflect higher academic standards required of students. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mary Peterson said students will not just occupy a seat in the class and be able to pass these tests.

Chaparral, Durango hope to emerge as darkhorse: Steve Cunningham; Jordan Phee simply thought he was entering the second year of rebuilding the football program at Chaparral.

Elardi: Family happy with 'whirlwind' Frontier deal: "If she's happy with the deal, I'm happy," Elardi said after testifying at a trial over a guest who was beaten by Culinary Union strikers in a 1993 sidewalk altercation.