Print edition for December 7, 1998

Mah jongg players warm up for second winter tournament: This will be the fourth time the Monte Carlo has hosted a Troum-sponsored event. The Strip resort has been the site of three summer Las Vegas mah jongg tournaments since 1996. The West Coast tour has stopped in Las Vegas yearly since 1990, when the inaugural event was held at the old Dunes hotel-casino.

Lyon County hires lobbyist: The firm earlier won contracts to lobby on behalf of Carson City and Douglas County at the session.

Storms set stage for busy Christmas at Lake Tahoe ski resorts: Martin Griffith; Resort operators said a weekend storm left up to 1 1/2 feet of new snow and helped position Sierra Nevada resorts for the best Christmas skiing in the country.

Authorities investigate death of 2-year-old: Homicide and youth services detectives were looking into the death.

Radioactive waste builds up as storage solution sought: Utilities say the government should haul away the deadly garbage and are seeking billions of dollars in damages because of federal inaction.

Ensign pins fading recount hopes on Washoe: With recounts in at least 12 of Nevada's 17 counties completed, Reid has maintained his 401-vote lead and may have increased it by one vote.

Las Vegas priest elected Episcopal bishop of western New York: Garrison, 53, was one of seven candidates for the post. His election is subject to approval by a majority of the 200-member national House of Bishops and by more than 100 dioceses across the nation.

Eddie House couldn't miss against Rebels: Steve Carp; PHOENIX -- If this is going to become an annual rite of passage, UNLV coach Bill Bayno needs to find some other ritual.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Skip Away a vote away from horse of year honors: Ralph Siraco; But, snow in Las Vegas? Betting against snow in Las Vegas is as close to a sure thing as the sun setting in the west.

Man charged with felony drunken driving in accident that killed woman: The Nevada Highway Patrol charged that Grover left the scene of an accident in the Carson City area, then headed east on Highway 50 at a high rate of speed before colliding with Elaine Vela's car. She was killed.

Las Vegas news briefs: Sunrise Hospital and SEIU reached an agreement two months ago to have the vote.

Next is big winner at Billboard Awards: ANGIE WAGNER; LAS VEGAS -- The R&B trio Next was the big winner Monday night at the Billboard Music Awards, earning eight awards, including new artist of the year.

Chemistry problems apparent for UNLV: Steve Carp; PHOENIX -- Bill Bayno has a sports psychologist at his disposal. Perhaps it's time to call him in and see if he can figure out the schizophrenic nature of this UNLV basketball team.

Las Vegas Bowl hopes to keep WAC team in 1999: Steve Guiremand; It was about an hour after the third and final WAC Championship football game and Commissioner Karl Benson still was relaxing in his private box at Sam Boyd Stadium with a handful of colleagues.

Ethics battle over NLV constable race postponed: Lisa Snedeker; Technical difficulties thwarted Friday an attempt by the former Republican candidate for the North Las Vegas constable's office to bring a complaint of unethical campaign practice against his opponent and a staff member.

Bruce Ford is back in the saddle again: Bill Bowman; The smile on Bruce Ford's face told the story.

Obituaries for December 7, 1998: She is survived by her husband, Donald R.; two sons, John L. Hickey of North Las Vegas and Dean Hudson of Waterman, Ill.; two daughters, Leslie A. Hickey of North Las Vegas and Laurie Hudson of Aurora, Ill.; two sisters, Edna Mae Ott of Kingston, Ill., and Myrla Underwood of Sycamore, Ill.; and one grandchild.

Public floods Assessor's office with calls about property appraisals: He said most people want to know why tax values keep raising, and he tells them it's because of inflation and rising property values.

A shrinking plan for nuke waste: For a handful of physicists at UNLV, however, reducing thousands of tons of radioactive materials to 230 pounds makes sense. It would put an end to the federal government's need for a nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain or anywhere else.

Storm system brings rare snowfall: Southern Nevada residents and tourists awoke Sunday to the rare sight of snow in this gambling capital.

Candidates chosen for NAACP election: Jace Radke; Behind closed doors, a meeting Friday night resulted in three choices to replace the suspended branch president, the Rev. James Rogers.

Henderson student a Rhodes Scholar: The Henderson resident's job on the campus of Brigham Young University, where he maintains a 4.0 grade point average, is to help a professor decipher the early works of Geoffrey Chaucer from old English.

Black leader blasts judge's sentence for white supremacist: Martin Griffith; Ken Dalton, president of the Reno-Sparks NAACP chapter, said Sunday that he thinks Sparks Municipal Judge Larry Sage's sentence was too lenient.

Rodeo makes Vegas casino operators happy: An estimated 35,000 visitors are expected to come to town for the rodeo, which began Friday and runs through Sunday at UNLV's campus arena. They will infuse about $28.5 million into the local economy, plus what they lose on the casino tables and in slot machines.

Challenge of pipeline pact fails: Bill Gang; District Judge Mark Gibbons ruled Friday that the Southern Nevada Water Authority and a state hearing officer did not act arbitrarily or abuse their discretion when they approved the contract awarded to Lake Mead Constructors -- a joint venture between Gilbert Western Corp. and Kiewit Western Company.

Judds' reunion a celebration of health: The announcement came Friday night on the stage of Caesars Palace, where Wynonna was performing during National Finals Rodeo.

Study calls for more health-care education: Art Nadler; The Health Care Education Committee of the University and Community College System of Nevada was presented with the study Friday. It found that there were no overly crowded health-care fields in the state.

Schmidt may replace Luyendyk on IRL circuit: Sam Schmidt followed Arie Luyendyk to the checkered flag in the Indy Racing League's Las Vegas 500 in October at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Two points perhaps not enough: Two heads are not always better than one -- remember when Ray Milland and Rosey Grier combined to form "The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant" in the movies? So it may be time for Bill Bayno to put away his chemistry set.

Columnist Melissa Schorr: Sorry, the Force isn't with her: Melissa Schorr; It was a dark, rainy day and she and her fellow campers were taken to a dark, scary place: a movie theater. Space battles were raging up on the screen. Kids were shrieking and throwing popcorn all around her. It was her first experience in a theater.

Snow causes minor snags, major sense of wonder: Jace Radke; For a few hours the neon and glitz of the Strip were temporarily covered by a blanket of snow that lingered on palm trees and cactus across the valley.

Energy chief pledges funds to let science settle Yucca issues: Both the Department of Energy and the University of Nevada will conduct tests on ground water, heat effects on the mountain's volcanic rock and other extended experiments, said Zell Peterman, the chief of the U.S. Geological Survey's environmental science team for Yucca Mountain.

Sun Plaza groundbreaking moved to January: Brian Seals; Groundbreaking for the 14-story Sun Plaza office building in downtown Las Vegas has been pushed back to January with the expected completion date now projected in the first quarter of 2000.

LV business people: Anthony Tompkins is an account relationship officer at the Summerlin branch of First Security Bank.

IHL results for Dec. 5, 1998: ORLANDO--Hubie McDonough scored two goals and assisted on a third as the Orlando Solar Bears (13-10-0) blanked the Las Vegas Thunder 6-0 Saturday at Orlando Arena. A crowd of 9,324 saw the Solar Bears snap a two-game skid. McDonough scored both his goals in the first period, at 2:57 and 16:56, sandwiching Allan Egeland's fifth goal of the year to leave the score 3-0 at the intermission. Kirby Law and Pierre Sevigny each had a second-period goal plus one assist. Todd Krygier, who assisted on three of Orlando's first four tallies, capped the win on a third-period power play. Solar ...

Letter: Fur fading from fashion focus: If people will remember what happened with the whaling industry, once kerosene oil was discovered, we no longer needed the oil produced from whales, and these animals became appreciated, instead of hunted, and technology moved forward.

IHL results Dec 4, 1998: ORLANDO--The Las Vegas Thunder (6-12-3) snapped a five-game losing streak with Friday's 3-1 win over the Orlando Solar Bears (12-10-0) at the Orlando Arena. Scott Hollis scored the winning goal at 16:43 of the third period, 16 seconds after Orlando's Todd Krieger was sent to the penalty box for elbowing and roughing. Patrice Lefebvre, who assisted on the deciding tally, also set up defenseman Drew Bannister's second goal of the year, which tied the score 1-1 in the second period. Russ Romaniuk iced the win with an empty-netter three seconds before the final buzzer. The Solar Bears led 1-0 at ...

Letter: Ensign should accept defeat: Just think, Ensign, this will happen to you in future years. The Republicans are sore losers. Ensign should get off his high horse and accept defeat like a man. Voters, remember this if Ensign runs again. Sore loser!

Engineer approves tribe's applications for unappropriated water: "The unconditional and permanent permit is a pleasant surprise, but the tribe knows it has to continue its work to address the Truckee's many competing demands," Tribal Chairman Mervin Wright said.

Chrysler executive brings attention to LV firm: John Wilen; Performance Learning received a lot of press last week when it lured Dennis Pawley away from DaimlerChrysler Corp., where he had been Chrysler's respected chief of worldwide manufacturing.

Letter: Charms of 'Babe' not to be missed: I hope families will make an effort to see this charming film. It's a rarity which may get lost in the shuffle of bigger budgeted, less imaginative Hollywood movies. That would be a shame.

Columnist David Broder: Without rivals, Gore will avoid issues: David Broder; In the space of a few hours last Wednesday, those attending the annual convention of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council heard speeches from Vice President Al Gore, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska.

Brief: City selling casino to tribe: Under the deal, the tribe would own the casino and Ladbroke/USA would manage it. Neither side would disclose the selling price Friday.

Brief: Two gaming firms sell debt: Proceeds will be used to reduce outstanding debt issued under Harrah's $2.05 billion credit facility, the company said in statement filed today with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

IHL results for Dec. 6, 1998: WINNIPEG--Jan Nemecek scored at 15:59 of the second period to give the Long Beach Ice Dogs (19-7-0) a 2-1 win over the Manitoba Moose (16-4-3), and end the IHL's longest active winning streak at seven games, Sunday at Winnipeg Arena. It was also the first regulation loss in 13 games for the Moose. Long Beach moves back into a tie with Houston for the IHL points lead, with 38. Penalties made the difference for the Ice Dogs. Both Nemecek and Eric Manlow scored on power plays, while the Long Beach defense killed all six of Manitoba's extra-man chances. Winning goalie ...

LV business events: Commercial Marketing Group -- Holiday brunch and retail panel discussion. Wednesday. 889-1600.

Editorial: Consumers need more protection: An interim committee of the Legislature was created following the disclosures to see if better consumer protections could be put in place. The committee is expected to meet this week and finalize its recommendations to the 1999 Nevada Legislature. The committee should give serious consideration to proposals by Secretary of State Dean Heller, who is offering a plan that would provide needed consumer protections, bringing oversight of these companies to a division in his office that regulates securities.

IHL Standings -- December 6, 1998: Northeast Division

Computer guideline policy revised: "This one might have a chance of being considered appropriate for a university and community college system and its faculty," Nichols said. "We hope we have made the changes that will make it acceptable. This is the fifth draft we have put together."

Brief: MGM Grand, Primadonna sign definitive pact: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Primadonna's investment banker, said the exchange ratio is fair to Primadonna's stockholders.

Letter: Justifying spa retreat is laughable: We the people are paying for this and I for one do not think it is necessary for six judges and staff to learn the "decision-making process and general operation of the court" at a spa. This is why they made conference rooms. And besides, didn't the public elect these judges because we thought they already knew the decision-making process? What in heavens name has happened to common sense?

Brief: Texas Station lands a Krispy Kreme: The Texas location will be a "cold shop," where doughnuts will be processed and sold, but not fried. Krispy Kreme opened its first Las Vegas store, at 7015 W. Spring Mountain Road, in March.