Print edition for April 24, 1998

McDonald, three officers injured in accident: Cathy Scott; McDonald "got the worst of it," his sergeant, Brook Wiegan, said.

Binion's sister asks for stand-in: Becky Behnen filed papers in District Court alleging Maheu's appointment as an independent receiver is necessary to stop her brother, Horseshoe President Jack Binion, from steering the legendary downtown resort on a course of financial disaster.

Quake occurs near Hawthorne: The quake occurred in the Garfield Hills, about 15 miles east and southeast of Hawthorne and was felt as far away as Carson City.

Downtown plan putting squeeze on landowners: Bill Gang and Denise Cardinal; But the plan, which has not yet been formalized through a City Council ordinance, is drawing skepticism, concern and criticism from downtown property owners. Most of them are attorneys who want their offices near the new courthouse, who say that the plan is already being implemented.

'Madhattan' show to benefit LV Academy: According to academy principal Bob Gerye, "There are very few schools where high school students can work alongside professionals and truly hold their own. I attended a couple of rehearsals and was overjoyed at how my kids were able to keep up with professionals who have been doing this for years. We owe a lot to the 'Madhattan' cast for sticking with this project, even though the show is closing on May 3."

Jazz drummer Zigmund at CCSN: Tickets are $5 at the theater, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. For more information, call 651-4117.

Spike Lee speaks at CCSN: In 1989, Lee's "Do the Right Thing," which explored urban racial tensions, won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, the Best Director Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and a broad audience for his technically original, politically inspired and often controversial work. Most recently, he received an Academy Award nomination for the documentary "4 Little Girls," which is a nonfiction film about four black girls killed in the 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Ala. He is currently working on "He Got Game" with Denzel Washington.

USAC Midgets, Sprinters head for LVMS Saturday: Veteran Wally Pankratz will head the field Saturday night when the USAC Western States Midgets and Sprint Cars invade the half-male clay oval of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Visit to the Venetian like a tasty time warp: Lou's untimely passing, and Angie's retirement a short time after, were the reasons for selling the Venetian. Angie and her son, Larry Ruvo, senior director for Southern Wine and Spirits, kept the restaurant going until the right buyer came along.

Implosion to cost $2 million: Bob Shemeligian; Today, it's going to cost that much just to destroy a Strip hotel.

The end is near for the Aladdin: Bob Shemeligian; That's if everything goes as planned during the scheduled 7:25 p.m. Monday implosion of the 17-story hotel.

Aladdin's history dotted with troubled owners: Bob Shemeligian; In 1978, the hotel was the site of the world's first slot machine with a jackpot of $1 million.

Sample the sounds of jazz: Shane Gammon; "The jazz fan is a whole other breed of person. For the jazz fan, it's just a part of their life because they like how the music makes them feel."

Israel's Unlikely Ally: American Evangelicals: Ilene R. Prusher; ARIEL, WEST BANK -- Five years ago, Ariel was a town in the doldrums. Laying the groundwork for making peace with the Palestinians, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had frozen building plans and cut off preferential funding to Jewish settlements like this one, on land Israel occupied in 1967.

Sunrise, SUNSET; Sunrise, SUNSET: Melissa Schorr; Spy. Might. Lear's.

Movie Guys: Memorable 'Men With Guns' just Sayles along: * Starring: Federico Luppi, Damian Delgado, Dan Rivera Gonzalez and Damian Alcazar.

China Uses Ways Subtle - and Not - to Quiet Its Press: Kevin Platt; While Ms. Dai bikes around Beijing and has a daughter in college, for China's 1.2 billion citizens she has become a nonperson - officially at least.

Neil's the real deal: Joe Delaney; Eric Bikales was on keyboards, doubled flute and spelled Sedaka at the piano. Andy Laverne also doubled on keyboard and piano. Laverne gave Sedaka a near-perfect piano accompaniment on "I'll Be Seeing You." Jim Varley is a heavy duty drummer, subtle when necessary. Another Jim, Jim Fielder, bassist, was also given well-used solo time.

Cannavo heads Pro ET standings at LVMS: Cannavo heads Pro ET standings at LVMS

Commission reinstates El Cortez employee gaming cards: Originally, 29 El Cortez employees were charged with buying stolen property. It wasn't known how many were actually prosecuted and convicted.

Man convicted of transmitting HIV virus to teen: Lepley - a former middle and high school substitute in Pahrump, about 60 miles west of Las Vegas - could face up to life in prison when he is sentenced May 6, said Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett on Friday.

Editorial: Putting principle over one's politics: "If a president feels that the Secret Service agents can be called to testify about what they might have seen or heard, then it is likely that the president will be uncomfortable having the agents nearby," the New York Times reported Bush as writing. "If that confidence evaporates, the agents denied proximity cannot properly protect the president."

Nevada jobless rate continues at 4.6 percent: There was no change from February in unemployment, which was one-tenth of a percent below the national average and 1.4 percent lower than California.

Letter: New television show doesn't deserve kudos: Another gymnast, a woman, spends the night before a big meet getting wasted with a drug pusher. She arrives late for the competition and performs poorly.

Letter: Fluoride is the real thing for this reader: Tony Lese

Where I Stand -- Hank Greenspun: A past and present tribute to a Las Vegas favorite: We are reprinting a column written in 1966 by my late husband, Hank Greenspun, in which he pays tribute to Peter and his beautiful wife Mary Healy.

Obituaries for April 24, 1998: She is survived by her husband, William; two sons, Bryan Beveridge of Denver and Bruce Beveridge of Las Vegas; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Letter: State senator went extra mile to help: Schneider heralded a triumphant, last-minute move to raise enough money to pay off an unexpected demand for past-due assessments owed to the Hopkins' homeowners association at Desert Fairways West. What was originally a debt for slightly more than $300 turned sevenfold into a demand for more than $2,100 the day prior to the public auction of the Hopkins' $200,000 dream home.

Thursday's College Baseball Scores: Brockport St. 5-3, St. John Fisher 4-11

Saturday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1 mi 4YO&up Com

Las Vegas Stars vs Calgary Cannons: Las Vegas Stars vs Calgary Cannons

Box score: Stars 11, Cannons 6: Las Vegas

Lawmakers protest law center refusal to comply with auditors: The center is a private, nonprofit group that uses state and federal money to protect the rights of the disabled.

Williams homers again, Ties PCL record: CALGARY --- The Las Vegas Stars finish their eight-game road trip this afternoon here against the Calgary Cannons.

Sandoval gives up seat for gaming board: By law, no gaming commissioner can hold elected office.

Auto Racing standings and leaders through April 22, 1998: The 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car racing schedule, winners in parenthesis, and driver point standings:

Senior lawmaker announces re-election bid: The veteran lawmaker said the 1999 legislative session will be important because of reapportionment.

Las Vegas Senior Classic Par Scores: Las Vegas Senior Classic Par Scores

Gaming panel examines compulsive gambling: "This panel represents a new role for the state Gaming Control Board," Bible said, noting monitoring problem gambling was outside the board's traditional role of regulation.

Spooner Lake to Get Cutthroats in June: The restocking effort is scheduled to begin in June.

Former Metro officer given probation, house arrest in sex case: Bill Gang; Ramirez declined to speak in his own behalf, fussing about the charges and complaining about what he termed "the politics" of the case.

Constable Tabat looks back on career, ahead to retirement: The longtime boxing official will continue to work with amateurs and pros. And he plans to build on a career in the entertainment industry that began in the late 1970s, when he appeared as an extra on the old "Vega$" television series.

Fired auditor check points out payroll problem: Denise Cardinal; Toohey returned the check, along with a letter to deputy city manager Steve Houchens, her former boss. In her letter, she mentioned that she knew this error had occurred with other employees in the city.

Vegas woman arrested in infomercial investment scam: A 12-count felony complaint charges Bell, Eric S. Stein, 37 of Las Vegas and Philip Balestrieri of San Diego, Calif., with securities fraud and racketeering by misrepresenting to perspective investors a return of between 25 and 53 percent within 60 to 90 days.

Letter: Neal needs to explain stand on nuclear waste: Neal is either privy to inside information or thinks he knows a good deal when he sees it. Who butters Neal's bread? Obviously the butter is coming from his ties and networking during 28 years working at the Nevada Test Site.

Two drowned at Lake Mead: The boat, a 14-foot Kapri sailboat, was capsized between Indian Canyon Cove and Sandy Cove on the Arizona side of the Lake, Whitney said.

Kwalick to replace Ravenholt as Health District chief: Art Nadler; Kwalick, who formerly was the state health officer for six years, has been working side by side with Ravenholt over the last year. He officially takes charge May 9.

Builders urged to soak up the sun: The Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources provided information on topics that included technology and design, funding opportunities and legislation relating to solar energy and energy efficiency.

Former prostitute, commissioner face off at convention: Angie Wagner; Ms. Winchester, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1996, said in her remarks to the state Republican Convention that she had never been involved in a scandal like Clark County Commissioners have.

Guinn, Russo square off at GOP Convention: Angie Wagner; "This governor's race can't become a grudge match," Russo said during a rousing address to the state Republican Convention luncheon.

Information sought on slain teen: Maynard was reported missing on Dec. 31 and was believed to be a runaway from Norco, Calif., police said.

Teenage girl enters plea deal in 1996 slaying: Seventeen-year-old Michelle Ogle was set to stand trial Monday on second-degree murder charges but chose to take the plea bargain that will give her a chance at probation.

Business loves the 25,000 Harleys headed for Laughlin: Brian Seals; About 50,000 people are expected in the Southern Nevada town of almost 9,000 residents over the weekend for the 16th annual River Run. About 25,000 motorcycles are expected.

Sales up in Clark County, down for state: The one-tenth of a percent drop in February sales comes on the heels of a report that gross revenues in Nevada casinos were down by more than 7 percent in February.

North Las Vegas touts its economic diversity: Brian Seals; "We're a balanced community," said Jaque Risner, North Las Vegas economic development coordinator.

Adelson acknowledges oversupply concerns: John Wilen; "We are unreversably and unequivocally of the conviction that what is good for the whole community is good for us," Adelson told the Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday. "And what is good for us is good for the community."

Another student caught carrying gun at school: Cathy Scott; On Thursday afternoon during school hours a Rancho High School student walked onto the campus of J.D. Smith Middle School with a loaded .22-caliber handgun. The gun was ready to fire, school police said. School is in session from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

UMC must steer clear of Russo event, DA affirms: "To the extent that it is a political forum, UMC is not going to participate," Bell said.

Union, leader of food bank mend fences over fee policy: She just wishes that the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 2502 didn't misinform a bunch of Southern Nevada charities by claiming in a March 16 letter that the food bank sells food to organizations that help the poor.

Bill passes Senate with Reid proposal to curb dropouts: Benjamin Grove; "We have successful programs that have worked," Reid said in a telephone interview. "We want to take those programs and put them in other places all over the country."

ACLU tackles 'tough times for civil liberties': The American Civil Liberties Union, formed in 1920, supports the right of such groups to avail themselves of all civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

Disability rights agency may lose funding: The Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center Inc. was roundly criticized at a meeting of the Legislative Audit Committee by former center employees and clients who said it is not standing up for the disabled and mentally ill who are in institutions.

Hems lower, school hours unchanged: Benjamin Grove; "While I feel strongly that the elementary school day should start earlier and the high school day should start later, I think it's obvious this item is going to take a lot more work and a whole lot more money," board member Judy Witt said.

Computer delays, overruns cost state millions: Despite spending large sums of money on these information systems, the results are mixed, said the audit which examined the state Department of Information Technology.

Area leaders shun 'regionalism': Denise Cardinal; To hear the Urban Land Institute tell it, Las Vegas is doomed.

New CAT bus route to aid elderly: Kurt Weinrich, executive director of the Regional Transportation Commission, said Route 701 will operate seven days a week from 8:20 a.m. to 6 p.m., travelling the route of Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway to the University Medical Center core area on Charleston Boulevard.

Officials scramble to cut corners on justice center: Jeff Schweers; Since the architectural design for the 620,000-square-foot project came in $10 million over that budget, administrators and elected officials have been working hard to find creative ways to trim the project costs and space but still meet court needs for the next 20 years.

Cop suspected of being drunk sent home: Cathy Scott; Officer Beverly Wagner arrived at work in uniform at the start of the swing shift and reported to briefing about 2:30 p.m. She appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police sources said.

Two bodies found at Lake Mead: About 8 a.m., divers were searching the hull to make sure there were no more victims aboard the boat, rangers said. The boat was being removed from the lake at press time.

Head-on collision kills driver: The 59-year-old driver had been eastbound in her 1989 Toyota along State Route 160 when she crossed the solid line dividing the two-lane road near mile post 17 and crashed into a westbound 1985 Oldsmobile, driven by Robert Hobb, 65, of Pahrump, said Trooper Steve Harney, Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Journeyman was anxious to turn 50: Dean Juipe; It was there, figuratively in the water, waiting for him as he approached the age of 50 and as he was beating the back roads of America, playing golf for money wherever the invitation.

Season on line for Thunder tonight: Tim Graham; The Las Vegas Thunder is in desperation mode. But Clint Malarchuk is not resorting to desperate measures.

Thursday's Prep Results: Green Valley 7, Chaparral 0

Prep: 'Other' ace pitches Gators to 7-0 victory: Spencer Patterson; Although it's fairly obvious that two ace pitchers are better than one, few high school squads ever get the chance to test that theory.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Taylor will aim to shake bad luck in Grand Prix: Wayne Taylor stands second in the Professional Sports Car Racing's drivers point standings coming into this weekend's Nevada Grand Prix at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but the two-time World Sports Car champion is not satisfied.

All-Polish Stars soccer team survives tough first season: Steve Carp; They share several common bonds -- a proud heritage and a love for soccer. They compete out of loyalty to their native land and their desire to put the ball in the opposition's net.

Saturday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 4YO&up F&M Clm

Three local golfers take their shots: The three professional golfers with Las Vegas ties were in agreement after playing their opening rounds of the Las Vegas Senior Classic at the wind-blown TPC at The Canyons:

Palmer greatness plays through: The drives weren't as crisp, the long-iron shots not as accurate, the legion of fans not as strong. But there was no mistaking the silver-haired gentleman who commanded the largest gallery during the opening round of the Las Vegas Senior Classic at the Tournament Players Club at The Canyons.

Douglass a breeze at windy Classic: Dean Juipe; This time the early worm got the birds.

1998 LVMS points standings: Late Model Sportsman -- 1. Mike Ray 248; 2. Scott Gafforini 216; 3. Jerry Spilsbury 202; 4. Al Lake 166; 5. Bob Barker Jr. 166; 6. Tie between Ken Holt and Bobby Pangonis, 164 each; 8. Wayne Jacks 160; 9. Chris Lowden 140; 10. Dick Cobb 138.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Here's a tale of three comics: Joe Delaney; Carlin, born 1937, is the youngest. ... His father, Patrick Carlin, was national advertising manager for the New York Post newspaper and his mother, Mary, an executive secretary in an advertising agency, which may account for his interest in words, meanings and usage.

507130920.html: "Ellen" came out of the closet only to be shown the door. The ABC sitcom that brought the issue of homosexuality to televisions across the country will not return for a sixth season, ABC confirmed. The program drew the most attention a year ago when lead character Ellen Morgan announced her sexual orientation -- as did Ellen DeGeneres, the comedian who plays her. She became the first lead gay character in a TV series. Ratings have been disappointing since then. DeGeneres and the network lately have squabbled over the show's content, including whether a kiss between her and another woman ...

Travel agency hopes to bring more Mexicans to LV: Monterey-based Centrotours has signed a one-year contract that will guarantee two charter flights a week between two Mexican cities and Las Vegas. The first flight arrived at McCarran International Airport Thursday afternoon.

Editorial: More damaging records released: House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley, R-Va., released on Wednesday 39,000 documents his committee had subpoenaed, showing that lawyers for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. had withheld research destroyed evidence of smoking's hazards. That Bliley would initiate releasing these records to the public is significant, especially since he has been known as a friend of the tobacco industry. "I am very concerned about teenage smoking, and am taking steps to help reduce it. Getting these documents out and into the open is one of those steps," Bliley said.