Print edition for April 13, 1998

Frank Sinatra shrugs off death-bed rumors, wife says he's doing well: The 82-year-old entertainer hasn't been seen in public since before a January 1997 heart attack, which led to tabloid reports that Sinatra was gravely ill and had been given "last rites" by the Catholic church on several occasions.

Study: Nevadans most likely to dodge taxes: "Just like everyone else, the IRS knows you can drop in a couple of quarters and win a jackpot," said David Miller, H&R Block district manager. "People just want to report all of their losses, but not necessarily their winnings."

Young circus performer is gym-dandy: Melissa Schorr; Roman Tomanov is fidgeting as he is forced to watch himself once more, captured on video.

Routine traffic stop nets drug chache: A check of the vehicle turned up a hidden compartment near the gas tank and drug-sniffing dog Sadie zeroed in on the compartment, which contained about seven pounds of meth.

BLM authorizes water releases: The Carson River at Fort Churchill, 10 miles before the reservoir, is projected to flow at 162 percent of average during the three-month period, the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard reported.

Elko feels budget crunch: "In a nutshell, that's sales tax," City Manager Linda Ritter said.

Rare twin calves born: "I've never before been able to say I had a 100 percent calf crop, but I can say it this year," Dennis Bieroth told the Elko Daily Free Press.

Easter storm drops 18 inches of snow: "This is probably the most snow we've had in a month," said Todd Bigham of Truckee, Calif. "It looks more like January than April outside."

250 turn out for final day of nuclear protest: On Easter Sunday, 91 participants were cited for simple trespass when they stepped across a line at the entrance to the sprawling facility, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. One of the participants was also cited for resisting arrest.

Local governmental agencies face budget deadline: Among entities required to submit budgets this week are cities, counties, school boards and general improvement districts.

Hypnotist helps nab sexual assault suspect: Lyon County sheriff's Sgt. Lonnie Thompson said Carter had been the primary suspect for some time, but investigators lacked crucial details in the case.

People in the News for April 13, 1998: Sein-ing off

Ohio man pleads guilty in Indian gambling case: They funneled money from illegal gaming in western Pennsylvania to the short-lived River Oak Casino on the Rincon reservation in Valley Center, Calif., near San Diego. Authorities say $2.1 million was laundered.

Slot machines for $500, Alex: For casinos, the answer is TV game shows: Something special?

Reno police search for leads in woman's death: Police responded to a Ralston Street property after a maintenance worker found the woman near bushes. The worker was unable to awaken the woman and medics were summoned.

Possible homicide victim found in Carson City: He said evidence at the scene led investigators to believe it was a homicide, but he declined to elaborate.

Cave Rock talks near impasse: "To be simple and frank about it, nothing's changed from our point of view," Wallace said.

Obituaries for April 13, 1998: She is survived by her husband, Mike; two sisters, Laura Lombardi of Canton, Ohio, and Gloria DiCenzo of Monaca, Pa.; and one brother, Louis Ciccone of Youngstown, Ohio.

Editorial: Put brakes on new Medicaid proposal: The SUN's Art Nadler reported last week that by October 1 all individuals on Medicaid will be required to enroll with a designated health maintenance organization. Medicaid recipients would no longer be able to see the physician of their choice on a fee-for-service basis. The number of people in Nevada who are on Medicaid is significant: 97,852 people were Medicaid clients at the beginning of this year.

Mayor says she is recovering well from breast cancer: Jones said she is having a chemotherapy treatment every three weeks to catch any cancer cells that may have escaped.

Review board to choose golf course proposal: Jeff Schweers; The board is expected to select one of the proposals and pass its recommendation on to the County Commission, which could get to vote on it as early as May 5, Assistant General Services Director Don Thompson said.

Bank of America in huge merger: Eric R. Quinones; NationsBank Corp. and BankAmerica Corp. said today they are merging in a $64.8 billion deal to create a coast-to-coast banking giant, and Banc One Corp. is combining with First Chicago NBD Corp. in a $29.8 billion union to create the dominant bank in the Midwest.

Stars 9, Cannons 2: Calgary

New Dula Pool to ease city's swimming crush: Denise Cardinal and Benjamin Grove; The $5.6 million pool, scheduled to be finished in September, is replacing the 50-year-old Dula Pool at Bonanza Road near Las Vegas Boulevard. The facility will house a covered Olympic-sized pool, bath house, workout area and classrooms. It's the most expensive -- and only -- pool built by the city in more than 30 years.

UNLV 12, Air Force 6: Jessop, Menges (4), Tufte (5), Tarkowski (6), Ladd (8) and Murphy; Barker, J.Smith (8) and Campbell. WP--Barker (3-3). LP--Jessop (1-2). Save--J.Smith (7). 2B--UNLV: Eberwein 2, Sarabia, Campbell. 3B--UNLV: N.Smith. HR--AFA: Lauritsen (5); UNLV: DeMarco (5), Campbell (9), Eberwein (9), Ludwick (10). SB--AFA: Frosch (2). DP--AFA 1, UNLV 1. LOB--AFA 9, UNLV 7. A--265. T--2:43.

Bankrupt mining company wants to give bonuses to executives: "I don't think this is a proper exercise of the debtor's business judgment," Assistant U.S. Trustee Nicholas Strozza argued. "There may be other employees out there who would stay on without the retention program."

Gubanich reaches for the major leagues: Steve Guiremand; Which begs the question: How did Gubanich, a former all-state football player good enough to be considered for the famed Big 33 high school football all-star game, manage to escape the grasp of Joe Paterno and wind up playing professional baseball instead?

Confident Jimmy Smith returns to the mound: In addition to a higher release point in his delivery, Smith is bringing something else to the mound this season: confidence.

Metro detective censured for using police debit card: Cathy Scott; Detective John Hillenbrand, 39, was charged last week with the violations and was being transferred from the intelligence bureau to patrol, Lt. Rick Alba said.

Plans on track for 180-bed nursing home: The design phase for the facility was recently completed, and plans are moving along very well, according to Dave Schmidt, project manager for the state Public Works Board.

Juvenile Court hearing set in deaths of Eldorado teens: Bill Gang; Amber Carey, accompanied by attorney Bill Terry and her father, entered the plea Friday in the courtroom of Juvenile Hearing Master Sylvia Beller, who will preside over the non-jury trial.

Thunder vs. Long Beach box scores: Second Period -- 2, Las Vegas, Belanger 32 (Legace) 1:54 (pp). 3, Long Beach, Finn 6 (Todd, Williams) 4:12. 4, Long Beach, Yachmenev 23 (Ignatjev) 15:51 (sh). Penalties: Todd, Long Beach (high-sticking) 0:29; Mateucci, Long Beach (tripping) 4:32; Potomski, Las Vegas (elbowing) 6:15; Morin, Long Beach (holding) 14:22; Yerkovich, Las Vegas (high-sticking) 18:23.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Peace would bring even more beauty to Ireland: The world has witnessed the impossible more than once this decade as bitter and long-feuding enemies have sat together and talked of peace. Some have even gone so far as to sign the kinds of pacts and accords that will lead, eventually, to the time when the children and grandchildren of the warmakers will work and play together. That time has not yet come in war-torn Bosnia and the ever-dangerous Middle East, but there continues to be progress, however slow and painful it may be. No one said it would be easy for decades and centuries of hatreds to be ...

Spring Mountains to be safe haven for rare species: The Spring Mountain Conservation Plan is the first of its kind in the nation, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said.

Letter: Equal pay knows no gender bounds: If a business fails, it is usually because of the many layers of rules and regulations enacted by bureaucrats who are out of touch with the blood, sweat and tears of those who actually produce something.

Southern Nevada facing air pollution woes: The solution, however, may clear the air while threatening water in the Las Vegas Valley.

Eddie Gomez Trio at UNLV: Drummer Jimmy Cobb has played with legends as Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Pearl Bailey, Billie Holliday, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie.

Stars notes: The Stars will send left-hander Heath Murray (0-0, 3.18) against Calgary right-hander John Snyder (1-0, 0.00) tonight at 7:05 p.m. The series and home stand conclude on Tuesday night at 7:05 with right-hander Matt Clement (1-0, 0-0) making his second triple-A start for the Stars against left-hander Jim Parque (0-0, 7.20).

Boulder City landfill's fate still up in air: Adrienne Packer; Do they even want a landfill?

High court rules on alimony cases: The court, in two cases from Las Vegas, ruled against ex-husbands who wanted to reduce or eliminate support when their ex-wives started living with new men.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Sophomore class of '98 prepares for Triple Crown races: Ralph Siraco; On Saturday, the sophomore class of '98 completed their finals in a trio of Kentucky Derby preps stretching from the Big Apple through the spa of Hot Springs to the very heartland of the Derby in the bluegrass.

Teamsters complain about union buster at MGM, New York-New York: Brian Seals; Some 37 New York-New York parking valets will vote April 22 on whether they want Teamsters Local 995 to represent them. A vote by about 20 warehouse workers and receivers at the hotel-casino should be held during the first week of May, Teamster organizer Rob Rovere said Friday. A vote of parking valets at MGM is likely, but not date has been finalized. MGM Grand and Primadonna Resorts are equal partners in New York-New York.

Open-meeting ruling against regents hailed: Kent Lauer says the ruling Friday is a substantial defeat for secrecy in government.

Hendershott ahead of game in preparing for soccer debut: Steve Carp; Far from it. Everything in her office at the Robert J. Miller Soccer Building is in order, and the former Michigan State assistant has everything under control. That's not to say her life isn't frenzied, what with recruiting, scheduling, paper work and other minutiae that would bog down any coach. It's just that she seems to have a handle on things.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fans packing arenas to see revered Bulls: Dean Juipe; They are America's most popular sports team.

LV man kills self after SWAT standoff: Karen Zekan; The man, whose name was not released, was intoxicated and had been arguing with his wife over an ongoing issue that afternoon when about 5 p.m. a scuffle ensued involving his wife and his teenage daughter, Metro Police Lt.Rick Alba said.

Thunder faces tough opponent in Ice Dogs: Tim Graham; The Ice Dogs clinched the Western Conference title and the Huber Trophy as the IHL's regular-season champions on Sunday -- the final day of the regular season -- with a 6-1 victory over the Thunder at the Long Beach Ice Arena.

Common Cause president questions Miller trust fund: "As a general principal undisclosed money is always a problem for public officers," James Hulse, newly installed president of Common Cause, said.

Letter: Another assault on right to bear arms: These senators, opponents of freedom and personal protection, have focused their efforts on grabbing the media spotlight created by Jonesboro.

Pena tabs deputy as possible successor: Pena said earlier this month he plans to leave the secretary's post June 30. He described Moler as "a very competent person.

Bottles of oxygen fuel bedroom fire: Frank Haley, 75, told investigators that he awoke when his wife, Rita Haley, 76, began yelling that her bed was on fire about 10:45 a.m. Sunday, said Tim Szymanski, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman.

Deal expands Debbie Reynolds' bankrupt LV hotel-casino: David Siegel plans to add 1,000 rooms to the 192-room hotel at 305 Convention Center Dr. and to lease back the gaming and entertainment portion of the facility to Reynolds, according to Fisher, who is the entertainer's son and an executive with her corporation.

Tahoe Air won't be boarding passengers this summer: Tahoe Air recently contracted the services of Ally Capitol, a Bay Area investment bank which will raise the money.

Murderer asks judge to let him die for killing: Bill Gang; Roderick Abeyta, 45, stood trial in 1996 and was convicted by a District Court jury which then decided he should receive the death penalty for his brutal crime.