Print edition for December 1, 1998

Threat of legislation prompting more bankruptcies: Brian Seals; Through the third quarter, bankruptcies in the southern portion of the state increased by 1,403 filings from the same period last year.

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: Chatting with the international artist next door: Scott Dickensheets; If you know anything about black art, you may have seen her paintings, or prints of them. If you watch TV, maybe you've noticed her work in the home of "ER's" Dr. Cooper. You like movies? Her paintings were in Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" and "Boomerang." Been to Will Smith's place lately? He owns her painting "Daily Snooze." Or maybe you've seen the porcelain figurines modeled on her work. Or the tiles. Or the calendars. Or the jigsaw puzzles. (But if you've seen the throw pillows, T-shirts or refrigerator magnets, don't buy -- those images were pirated, and it's ...

Letter: 'Original' group is very different: Another group has been using our name (or one might call it "riding on our coattails" because of our well established reputation). They are charging $25-per-person dues and do send out newsletters. In order to save expenses, personal calls are made for our meetings that are only held when we feel there is new and necessary information to be conveyed. We meet only at the Spring Valley Library on South Jones Boulevard.

Brief: Tunnel work unearths pests, draws lawsuit: Running Deer filed a lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Camden to halt the project, which has already survived a number of legal challenges.

Brief: Suit over failed merger to be heard in Nevada: Station wants Crescent to buy $115 million in Station preferred shares as stipulated in the companies' merger agreement. In a separate Texas lawsuit, Crescent is suing Station for a $54 million merger breakup fee.

Cost may halt plans for redistricting: The commission had approved spending $30,000 to redraw the boundaries. But with the added cost, there's a question now whether the county will bother, or will wait until the census count in two years.

Officer who threatened suicide placed on leave: The officer, on the force a year and a half, was apparently distraught over a recent break-up in a relationship when she began threatening her life shortly before midnight Sunday, said Officer Steve Meriwether, department spokesman.

Las Vegas news briefs: The motive for his killing is not known, Petersen.

Brief: Nevada company manipulating grass traits: In a related development, ABT established a molecular biology and transformation laboratory at the University of Rhode Island.

Columnist Jeff German: Donnybrook brewing at City Hall in 1999 mayor's race: On the horizon is a potentially monstrous mayor's race between two councilmen that could affect the job security of key city workers.

Brief: Xtreme Jackpot hits: The jackpot is paid in 20 equal annual installments.

From cabbie to cocktail waitress, Willows saw area grow from '40s: In the early 1940s, as one of Las Vegas' first female cabbies, Willows drove what she thought was an unusually high number of men to a ramshackle building off Arville Street and Flamingo Road. She later learned it was a bordello.

Constable campaign winds up at Ethics Commission: Lisa Snedeker; Former Republican candidate Steve Bergstrom, who lost his bid for the office to incumbent Democrat Herb Brown, said he filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission in mid-November against Brown and his campaign manager, Mark Kincaid.

Editorial: Nuke dump legal twists take a turn: If there is a message in this it should be that Congress and the nuclear power industry should give up on efforts to send nuclear waste to a so-called "temporary" repository at the Nevada Test Site under the ruse that federal law required storage by 1998. While the nuclear power industry has kept referring to its proposal in Congress to send waste to the Test Site as a "temporary" measure, no one seriously believed that once the waste came to Nevada it would ever leave this state again.

Brief: Coin management system ordered by two casinos: Separately, Spintek said it will install the system for 1,994 slots at Mirage Resorts' Beau Rivage resort under construction in Biloxi, Miss.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Real murder on the tube: Almost eight years have passed since I suggested that state executions of killers, kidnappers and rapists be televised. I suggested that legal executions be televised for a few years to see if it had any positive or negative effects on the general public or criminals. I added that "executions shouldn't be on the screen during children's hour... " Even this suggestion caused some heated letters that said executions shouldn't be brought into our living rooms at any time. But there it was, in prime time, Kevorkian killing Youk on national television.

All dolled up: Melissa Schorr; Lenore Tollens holds a nylon stocking stuffed with Fiberfill cotton in one hand, a needle and thread in another. Pinching the cloth together, she carefully pulls the needle back and forth through the pillow and suddenly, in the middle of the fabric, a nose appears.

Trial with du Pont ties in postponed: Bill Gang; U.S. District Judge Philip Pro delayed the trial at the request of prosecutors, who have not yet determined whether the death penalty will be sought for any or all of the defendants -- Las Vegans Diana Hironaga, 40, and Richard Murillo, 37, and the du Pont-connected Christopher Moseley, 58.

Brief: PUC considering phone resale agreements: Commissioners are expected to approve agreements between Sprint and Electric Lightwave Inc., Amber Communications Inc., E-Z Talk Communications LLC and United States Telecommunications Inc.

Atkinson Gates to seek another term: Atkinson Gates was elected in 1992 and has been chairwoman since 1995.

Union lobbies legislators over hospital staffing, information: Art Nadler; The union lobbied the Legislative Committee on Health Care Monday for support of its Quality of Care Act. The proposal would require minimum staffing standards at hospitals and require that hospitals and health-care facilities disclose information on patients' treatments.

Obituaries for December 1, 1998: She is survived by one daughter, Susan Jarrett of Henderson; one son, Ernest Lee Alewine of Russellville, Ark.; one sister, Dossie Dilly of Stigler, Okla.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Letter: Legislators should stick to the important issues: I want to know if they can make a solution to what they do about Saddam -- not walking away from it like President George Bush did. And raise the minimum wage so poor people can afford to rent an apartment.

Vote goes against state parole chief: More than 90 percent of the 44 officers who voted expressed "no confidence" in Concha and his policies, and about 80 percent voted against district administrator Dorla Salling, the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs said Monday. Fifty-three officers were eligible to vote, the conference said.

Supreme court rejects plea of Vegas killer: Kaufmann, through his lawyers, contended that he should have been allowed to withdraw his guilty plea because he didn't understand the consequences and was coerced by his lawyers in District Court in Las Vegas.

Three charged in casino forgery scheme: Kenneth Alex, 31, Kelly Lewis, 28, and Sheila Gallaway, 38, all of Houston, Texas, are accused of cashing a fake $46,500 cashier's check at the Grand Casino on Nov. 19. The trio is suspected of unsuccessfully trying to cash another fake check at Treasure Bay Casino on Nov. 20, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

Letter: Others know of speeding drivers: These drivers, whom I call "leadfoots," ignore the signs that are posted more than one-half mile before they would have to stop. The speed limit is 45 mph, but these drivers go through this intersection at 50 mph and some as high as 55 mph.

Editorial: Better rules approved for pediatric drug use: The new FDA rules do permit drug companies the necessary flexibility to defer testing in children for safety reasons. For example, the FDA may allow a drug manufacturer to postpone testing in children until the new drug is found to be safe and effective for adults. And the testing could be waived if pediatric studies are highly impractical, impossible or the drug itself unlikely would be used by children.

Casinos fight a never-ending battle against forgers, counterfeiters: John Wilen; The best way to deal with the problem is to learn the counterfeiter's tricks, and to be ever-vigilant, said a panel of experts at a recent Casino Management Association seminar.

Brief: Casino mogul developing golf courses: In typical fashion, Trump will affix his name to the courses in a bid to attract wealthy individuals and corporations. Also in typical fashion, he's charging full speed ahead even though the economy shows signs of slowing.

Community briefs: The program will emphasize response time adjustments that are related to physical changes or declining perceptual skills. Participants may qualify for auto insurance premium reductions after successfully completing the course. Call 435-3814.

Box score: Grand Rapids 5, Las Vegas 4: Second Period -- 4, Las Vegas, Brar 1 (Burridge, Petit), pp, 0:57; 5, Grand Rapids, Royer 5 (Rumble, Spiridonov), 4:55; 6, Grand Rapids, Spiridonov 5 (Rumble), pp, 14:30; 7, Grand Rapids, Frederick 5 (Richards), 18:40. Penalties: Grand Rapids, Ramsay (fighting, major), 2:37; Las Vegas, Miller (fighting, major), 2:37; Las Vegas, Petit (tripping), 2:49; Grand Rapids, Metropolit (slashing), 3:21; Las Vegas, Wilson (slashing), 3:21; Grand Rapids, B Coles (holding), 6:02; Las Vegas, Petit (holding), 6:02; Grand Rapids, Ashe (elbowing), 10:35; Grand Rapids, Petrovicky (roughing), 11:50; Grand Rapids, Bednar (misconduct), 11:50; Las Vegas, Bannister (charging), 11:50; Grand Rapids, D Cole (roughing), 12:38; ...

Box score: Houston 8, Las Vegas 0: Second Period -- 2, Houston, Boyer 3 (Christian, Lamb), 5:44; 3, Houston, Valicveic 7 (Kruppke, Dyck), 11:39; 4, Houston, Valicveic 8 (Hawgood, Wiseman), pp, 12:53; 5, Houston, Dyck 1 (Lamb, Christian), pp, 14:31. Penalties: Butenschon, Hou (tripping), 2:51; Las Vegas, Ewen (roughing), 8:05; Las Vegas, Bannister (cross-checking), 11:25; Las Vegas, Miller (Delay of game), 12:41.

Brief: Tennessee gambling debate heats up: Memphis attorney A.C. Wharton, a member of the state Higher Education Commission, is calling for a statewide lottery vote.

Residents, city officials oppose production hike at gravel plant: Lisa Snedeker; About 70 citizens turned out Monday for a public hearing held by the Air Pollution Control Division of the Clark County District Board of Health concerning increased mining activity near Railroad Pass at 12455 S. Highway 95.

Therapists lose bid to alter workers' comp: Art Nadler; Presently, an insurance company's claims examiner authorizes rehabilitation ordered by an injured worker's physician. That person need not be a trained medical professional.

Man dies from gunshot wounds: Phillips died early Tuesday at Washoe Medical Center.

Wednesday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1 mi & 70 yds 3YO & up Clm: 1 Deputy General (Gryder) 113; 2 Itching In Ivy (Luzzi) 117; 3 Luckie Spark (Johnson) 113; 4 Ben Laffin (Espinoza) 113; 5 Xrigeorj's Gold (Davis) 117; 6 a-Erv (Diego) 108; 7 Roberto's Pride (Douglas) 117; 8 Aly Coperfield (Castillo) 113; 9 a-Fourth And Six (Rodriguez) 115; 10 Summer Squeal (Migliore) 117.

Renter wins reprieve from eviction notice: Martin Kuz; Hunt, 47, and her two teenage children teetered on the edge of eviction for allegedly violating numerous regulations of the Laguna Del Rey Homeowners Association, which governs the condo complex. But the association board met Monday and agreed to let Hunt remain in the condo through the end of her lease next summer, provided she pay any fines if she is found guilty of the purported offenses.

Columnist Dean Juipe: These vows were made for walking: Dean Juipe; But Dennis Rodman must have had an inkling Carmen Electra wasn't really the girl of his dreams, even though he agreed to marry her three weeks ago in Las Vegas.

High court ruling relieves deadline pressure: The ruling means there is no deadline as to when the government has to take control of 40,000 tons of radioactive waste now stored at nuclear power plants nationwide.

Summerlin resort promises to be a step back in time: Robert Macy; "It will be kind of like it was 30 years ago when wonderful world-class resorts first came to Vegas," promised Paul Hanley, president of Regent International Hotels.

Spotting the stars: Miller Stockman in the Fashion Show Mall is a rodeo hot spot. A variety of rodeo stars are scheduled to appear at the store, including: Rusty Sewalt and Rocky Steagall, Dec. 4; Fred Whitfield and Rope Myers, Dec. 5; Rocky Steagall and Jeff Chapman, Dec. 6; Byron Walker, Dec. 11; Fred Whitfield, Dec. 12; and a number of Justin Boot and Wrangler endorsees. Call 737-7236 for more information. The schedule is subject to change.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV has chance to showcase Robinson signing: If UNLV and John Robinson close the deal this week -- and a source close to the UNLV search committee said Monday "all the eggs" are in Robinson's basket -- the Rebels will have a golden opportunity to introduce their eighth football coach on the most prominent of center stages.

Riverboat Casino closes in Reno: Owner William Douglas said he had been negotiating with other companies to purchase the casino with an exterior shaped like a riverboat.

Painting the West: Putman's works are renowned for their realism and authentic representations of what the early West was really like. Featured in prominent art journals and periodicals such as Art of the West, U.S. Art and Southwest Art, his works are widely held in both individual and corporate collections.

Illegal alien's saga ends in deportation: Genie Goel, 46, whose mother died of liver disease on Nov. 8 and whose father has terminal cancer, fought to control her emotions as Suresh Kumar Goel was taken away in handcuffs.

Councilman vows to close sexually oriented business: McDonald led the fight to shut down the store last year. The store - located near a residential neighborhood - has been operating without a business license since it reopened in October.

Stop On By: In Las Vegas to compete in the NFR, Murray will meet with fans, sign autographs and pose for photos inside the Everything Coke retail store. The 31 Miss Rodeo America contestants will also sign autographs and pose for photos with fans beside a Coca-Cola Harley-Davidson motorcycle. As a special addition to the event, the rodeo queens will perform a line dancing routine for the crowd and then teach a group of 30 local Girl Scouts to line dance.

Luciano Pavarotti soon to croon in Las Vegas: Pavarotti, 63, will transpose his iffy high Cs into a crooner's higher fees on April 10 at the hotel's 12,000-seat events center, with a medley of songs and lots of violins.

Ensign says margin dictates recount request: Steve Kanigher and Cy Ryan; Ensign said at a press conference at his Las Vegas campaign headquarters Monday that the 401-vote margin from the Nov. 3 election was too close to accept without a challenge. Reid officially defeated Ensign 208,621 to 208,220, a margin of two-tenths of 1 percent, making it the closest of the nation's 34 Senate races this year.

A barrel of fun: Rasmussen, who's a professional rodeo clown, describes his job as an unusual mix of comedian and guardian angel.

Wednesday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO & up F&M Mdn Clm: 1 Princess Malia (Puglisi) 119; 2 Amber Fire (Boyce) 119; 3 Amberific (Garcia) 119; 4 Some Pumpkin (Gladney) 119; 5 Miss Bay Hills (Sorenson) 117; 6 Doneitmyway (Delahoussaye) 122; 7 Airborne Angel (Valdez) 112; 8 Brazen Tale (Smith) 113.

Rebels travel to Nevada-Reno for annual Silver State battle: Steve Carp; It's too early for Pat Foster to tell how good his Nevada-Reno basketball team is or isn't. From his point of view, two games doesn't constitute a litmus test on the hardwood.

Court decision puts DOE's finances in jeopardy: The Supreme Court's denial to hear the appeal was not unexpected, a DOE statement said, but may interfere with funding a permanent solution to 77,000 tons of nuclear reactor wastes.

Army-Navy: More than a game: Steve Carp; WEST POINT, N.Y. -- It has been a tough year here on the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River.

Hiring committee still perusing resumes for UNLV football job: Steve Guiremand; Despite strong rumors that UNLV's head football coaching job is John Robinson's for the taking, the 16 members of a school search committee put together to review candidates for the job met again on Monday to go over resumes of coaches interested in the position.

Soo tribe backs effort to limit other Indian casinos: "We're not lobbying against these tribes having their casinos," Sault Tribe spokesman John Hatch told the Detroit Free Press for a story Tuesday. "We're lobbying against the size and locations" of the casinos included in the new agreements.

No business like it: Todd Peterson; Ike Sankey, head of Sankey Rodeo Company, explained it this way: "The performance of those animals is [stock contractors'] livelihood. If they're mistreated, if they're maintained in a poor manner, if they're not physically capable to do their jobs, if it hurts that horse or that bull every time you buck him...they're going to figure it out. If you're doing something that hurts him every time you buck him, he's gonna quit bucking."

Storm dumps up to 2 feet of snow in Sierra: "It was my most unfortunate idea to take the scenic route today," said Karen Dufresne, who was visiting the area with her boyfriend from England, Wayne Lawson.

Council mulls selling or adding to City Hall: Erin Neff; The way city officials see it, the architecturally unique structure has outgrown its usefulness -- making either its sale or construction of an addition necessary within the next few years.

Police kill suspect holding hostage on Greyhound bus: The bus driver, Jeff Peterson, managed to radio his dispatcher, who called police.

Real horse whisperer rides into town: Roberts' process of talking a horse into tameness launched him into the international scene as Queen Elizabeth invited him to Windsor Castle to demonstrate his amazing talents in 1989. Since that time, he has been the subject of numerous documentaries and articles throughout the world. Now in his middle sixties, Roberts began his career at age 3, assuming the role of equine prodigy for his father's riding school. Serving as a model for childhood accomplishment, his father used him as his calling card for school recruitment. By 1957, Roberts was a national rodeo champion.

Ernaut set as Guinn's top aide: Ernaut, 34, believed to be among the youngest, if not the youngest, chief of staff, also said the government relations section of the firm of Bayer Brown Forsythe & Ernaut has been disbanded.

Rodeo has a long history: Unlike other sports, which evolved from games or relaxation, rodeo grew from the actual work of cowboys, such as the taming of horses or the capturing of calves for branding.

Get well-heeled for rodeo: Todd Peterson; Whether you're in the market for a sturdy pair of boots to protect your feet while handling chores, or looking for a way to impress the guys or gals while dancing up a storm, check out these "cow skin connections" while in Las Vegas.

Heading for the Last Roundup Of This Year: Todd Peterson; Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rides the big event into the Thomas & Mack Center for the 14th straight year, Dec. 4-13.

Reno police check for possible connection with 1989 Reno case: Reno police are now trying to determine where Schoenhoeft was when Charles Chia, 8, and his sister, Jennifer, 6, were kidnapped after getting off a school bus near their Reno home on Oct. 18, 1989.

WAC Honors Rebels' Froelich: Froehlich a 6-2 freshman guard/forward from Oldendorf, Germany, led UNLV to a 2-0 mark last week and was named tournament MVP at the Golden Gopher Classic.

Shopping round up: The PRCA-sponsored gift show for NFR and PRCA souvenirs, the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center houses more than 375 exhibitors, featuring hundreds of western artists, craftsmen and western-wear dealers.

Nevada Supreme Court to set strategies during spa retreat: The justices and staff will get away from their daily business Dec. 10-11 to head to the Furnace Creek Inn. The agenda includes planning the court's mission and discussion of how the court operates.

Class act: speciality entertainment: One of these features, specialty acts, has begun to work its way into the NFR line-up.

Indianapolis is ready to cash in on Las Vegas' Formula One misfortunes: Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George has scheduled a news conference Wednesday, at which he will announce the famed Brickyard is adding a Formula One race in 2000.

Tar Heels invited to bowl in Las Vegas: Steve Guiremand; If you had predicted back in August that the North Carolina Tar Heels would be playing in the Las Vegas Bowl this year, you would probably have gotten a lot of strange looks from college football fans.

Authorities looking for Reno-area businessman: Saint John, 57, is a partner in a construction business and owner of the former Hot Rod's restaurant.

Store owners question effectiveness of new law: Brad Craddock, manager of the American Shooters Supply and Gun Club, said the new system takes a couple of hours to clear someone. The electronic system is linked to a federal computer that checks for previous felony convictions, mental illness, dishonorable military discharges or domestic violence convictions.

Wednesday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO & up Mdn Clm: 1 Happy Kalim (Nuesch) 120; 2 Alex Ray (Arriaga) 120; 3 Monday's Legacy (Tohill) 116; 4 Phnesse (Bisono) 116; 5 Ymir (Castro) 116; 6 Al Bhatta (Delgadillo) 116; 7 Indemnitor (Matias) 116; 8 Vali Boni (Lopez) 116; 9 Mamoon Ridge (Meche) 116.

November in Nevada was uneventful, weather wise: Sandra Chereb; Overall, last month was a little warmer and drier than normal, but the deviations from average were measured in 1 or 2 temperature degrees and only fractions of precipitation amounts, James said.

Senate picks Reid as whip: This came as Reid's defeated Republican opponent in Nevada, Rep. John Ensign, moved to challenge the senator's narrow re-election.

Miss Rodeo America Pageant Rides Tall: The festivities carry on from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, and many events are open to the public. All activities take place at the Flamingo Hilton unless otherwise noted.

Water activity found at Yucca: Mary Manning and Mark D. Preston; The Department of Energy's plans for disposing nuclear waste at the Nevada site, scheduled for congressional review later this month, assume the underground area 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas will remain dry for centuries.