Print edition for August 1, 1998

Editorial: Senate ignores a voice of extremism: He was at it again recently, this time threatening to hold hostage the nomination of Bill Richardson to be the next U.S. Energy secretary unless the president gives the Energy secretary the sole authority to place a temporary nuclear waste dump in Nevada -- reversing previous White House policy.

Columnist Sandra Thompson: Congress considers curbs on ex-spouses' benefits: Sandra Thompson; It has been an emotional, controversial issue in Nevada, which has a sizeable military and retired military population. Las Vegas attorney Marshal Willick, who says he has handled thousands of military divorces, has been a key player in the fight for the rights of ex-spouses to collect what he says is due them.

Columnist Jeff German: Prodded into addressing problem gambling: Few will dispute that Las Vegas casinos have been slow to address their role in furthering gambling addictions. For years, the industry has turned its back on those with pathological disorders.

Caring individual made difference in woman's day: Las Vegas is very fortunate, having caring, young people like this man, going out of their way to help others, and should be recognized.

Editorial: School truancy has a new twist: As the Sun's Sandy Thompson reported last Sunday, parents officially withdraw their children from school, just as they would if they were transferring to a new school. Under current rules, students who withdraw in the last three weeks of the school year will be given the grade they've received up to that point without needing to take a final exam. So unless schools closely monitor withdrawing students to make sure they actually transfer, some students who withdraw get to go on a family vacation and escape final exams.

Wills, trusts, estates -- do you know the basics? Here's a primer: Not in the sense of having accepted your fate or eaten your last meal, but in terms of simple logistics. Do you have a will, even if it's only scribble on a legal pad? Is it where your heirs can find it, or is it in a stack of papers, perhaps in the hutch? Say, who gets the family credenza? Who has power of attorney? And what happens if you're lingering in a coma -- does your family know whether you want the plug yanked?

Nevada's cool summer heats up with record highs in July: Scott Sonner; "The summer got a late start after a cool June but then made up for lost time with near record temperatures in July," climatologist John James said.

Letter: Mount Charleston verdict is in, so developer should give it up: Go away -- the people who live there have spoken and the powers that be agree.

Where I Stand -- Joe Williams: Jazz remains too powerful to be limited by music labels: Duke Ellington once said that the big problem faced by musicians is that art is in the hands of salesmen. Marketing is the name of the game, and that has resulted in categories that they could sell. All these terms, such as jazz or swing or bop, are not recognized by performers. What we do is sing and play music, and people are moved.

Letter: We need to level playing field when it comes to health care: Certainly, all Americans do have a basic right to health insurance and/or health care services and the "tinkering" should surely stop -- but how?

Foster care advocates protest low payments: "Certain kennels charge more money to kennel an animal than foster families get paid," said Doug Fisher, 44, a foster parent.

Letter: Candidates shouldn't be advertising on property along thoroughfares: In addition, I do not think they should be permitted to advertise the sale of new homes along roadways. Half the time the signs are uprooted from the ground by the wind or blown into traffic, which could result in accidents or damage to vehicles.

Cimarron-Memorial graduate honored as Presidential Scholar: Trude B. Feldman; The 18-year-old is a senior at Edward W. Clark High School and the son of Mauyen and Ken Wong, who formerly lived in Vietnam.

Letter: Is showing respect for flag really too much to ask?: If placing an American flag in a toilet and urinating on it is considered "art" ... then I submit we had better re-examine our definition of art -- and free speech. I exercise free speech, but guard against using such "free speech" to harm others.

Letter: Panel shouldn't decide whether Yucca Mountain site is safe: Do they live in Nevada? Are they going to be alive when an accident occurs that poisons residents in the Southwest, or will it even affect them? No, so a presidential panel should not decide whether it is safe to store nuclear waste at Yucca mountain or if it should be done at all.

Man gets three years for threatening judges: Prosecutors claimed those messages and a letter written by Baldassarre constituted threats to U.S. District Judge David Hagen and U.S. Magistrate Robert Johnston.

Inmates to work as phone solicitors: He also said Friday that Telenet may soon enter into a contract to have inmates at the privately run women's prison in North Las Vegas handle the same job.

Reno City Council candidate shot police officer: "My life has changed. I am more responsible," said the candidate running in Ward 4.

Charting the Strip's new course: The southbound migration of Las Vegas Strip hotel-casinos that began in the late 1980s is about to be joined by a development that will feature birdies instead of blackjack.

The plan at a glance: This team plans to host the F-1 series finale on an annual basis beginning in November 2000. The county's share of the revenues would be 1 percent of the gross or $500,000 a year, whichever is greater.

California land group may be involved in investigation: Scott Sonner; Harriet Burgess, president of the American Land Conservancy, said the investigation appears to focus on her relationship with Jim Nelson, former supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Las Vegas man sentenced to jail for dynamite theft: Robinson told authorities he and Bunt were under the influence of methamphetamine when they went to the Three Kids Mine near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the outskirts of Henderson in July 1997.

Guest column: Valley should find way to keep some of this rainwater: Caesars Palace hasn't flooded lately, at least not like it did in July 1975, when auto wreckers worked day and night salvaging drowned vehicles from the parking lot. There's no flooding now at the intersections of Harmon and Eastern, where a new health center stands on that flood channel. There's no flooding at Flamingo and McLeod either, where a brand new drugstore now stands. Flood control projects turned those parcels into valuable property.

Plague of 'hoppers: Jace Radke; It is not exactly a biblical plague, but Southern Nevadans are having to deal with an invasion of grasshoppers this summer.

Letter: Firing of North Las Vegas official is for greater good: I contend such groups are detrimental to good government and stability. The time to stand up to them was long overdue. Therefore, I commend Montandon and the three council members who voted Hinson out. Only Councilman William Robinson supported Hinson.

Victim's mother wants prosecutors to file charges against accused killer's friend: Ms. Manuel is being assisted in the signature-gathering effort by Najee Ali, director of the South-Central Los Angeles-based humanitarian group Project Islamic HOPE.

Columnist Bill Hanlon: Teachers deserve merit pay, but some caution is needed: Bill Hanlon; I believe most would agree that hard working, dedicated teachers should be compensated for the job they do. Research suggests that classroom teachers are the single most important factor outside the family and home that influences students' achievements.