Print edition for December 22, 1998

Columnist Jeff German: County Republican Party in post-election turmoil: Earlier this year, you'll recall, Russo forces aborted a campaign to recall Nevada Republican Party boss John Mason. Now, they're said to be working to overthrow Clark County GOP Chairman Milton Schwartz.

Where I Stand -- Zach Pogue: Teen topics hit home: For four hours, teens representing various high schools throughout the Clark County School District discussed their views and opinions on "Teen Topics." The forum incorporated a plethora of issues, including working parents and teens' place in the home, parental discipline, handling divorce, peer pressure, social interaction and even preparing for job interviews.

Brief: Harveys extends consent bid: The solicitation asks note holders to waive certain covenants in the notes that relate to change of control and merger financing. Harveys has agreed to pay a fee of $25 for each $1,000 of notes for which consent is received.

Frontier returns to Las Vegas with a new look: The Denver-based carrier has built its fleet to 17 Boeing 737 jets since the company pulled out of Las Vegas on Aug. 1, 1997.

Brief: Firm ups bid for Reno Air: "We think it's a $200- to $220-million corporation," Aviation Technologies Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Kemp told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Brief: PUC, phone company agree to service delay policies: Sprint will spend $18 million by the end of the year in an effort to provide three lines per residence in existing neighborhoods, up from the 1.8 lines per residence currently offered.

Hay quits as Nevada utility regulator: Gov. Bob Miller said he is consulting with Gov.-elect Kenny Guinn and hopes to name a replacement this week. Hay was appointed to his three-year term in July 1997.

Brief: U.K. gaming firm sold for $656 million: The United Kingdom government rejected Ladbroke's 363 million-pound acquisition of Coral from U.i.brewer Bass Plc in September on the grounds it would stifle competition, and gave Ladbroke until March to find a buyer. Now Ladbroke is selling the U.K. part of Coral, which operates sports and horse-race betting outlets nationwide, for a profit and will keep Coral shops in Ireland.

Brief: Extension issued for $57 million project: Originally, financial evidence was to be due by Dec. 31. City staff took responsibility for the delay, saying they needed more time to approve the building's plans.

Brief: Airline plans connections with Taiwanese air carrier: EVA Air operates 14 flights a week between Los Angeles and Taipei, and three between Los Angeles and Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, and 10 between San Francisco and Taipei. From Taipei, the carrier provides connections to destinations throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific region.

Lady Rebels fall to So. Utah: Sophomore Sarah Pratt led all scorers with 17 points as Southern Utah defeated the UNLV women's basketball team 80-57 on Monday in a nonconference game in Cedar City, Utah.

Brief: Ex-Hilton executive charged with perjury: Hilton escaped federal prosecution in the case in August by agreeing to pay a $500,000 fine. At issue is whether a $250,000 grant by Hilton to a firm controlled by the former Kansas City Port Authority chairman rewarded him for his support of Hilton.

Brief: Mississippi casino sale approved: The Sands Regency is a 1,000-room hotel-casino.

Vigil honors homeless who have died on the streets: Diana Sahagun; Bracing against the bitter cold, the crowd listened as the names of the 40 homeless who died were read aloud. Six of the names were unknown, identified as "John or Jane Doe." The ceremony was quick and quiet, with no apparent family survivors on hand to speak of the dead.

Keeping crime out of downtown: It is a war whose battles are fought in alleys, low-rent apartments and frequently on sidewalks, streets and in the doorways of businesses in full view of the public.

Slot managers told to focus on win, not percentages: John Wilen; That's the advice Jeff Payne, slot operations director at the New Frontier hotel-casino, gave a recent Casino Management Association seminar.

Obituaries for December 22, 1998: She is survived by three sons, Catalino Alfelor Jr. of San Jose, Calif., Franklin Alfelor of Las Vegas and Roland Alfelor of Guam; four daughters, Cecilia Ibanez of San Diego, Nenita Alfelor of Portland, Ore., Beverly Elpidio of Corona, Calif., and Percis Fello of Las Vegas; two brothers, Dedeng Santos of San Diego and Boy Santos of Guam; three sisters, Paquita Servino, Bea Decanay and Guadalupe Saquiel, all of Guam; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Process of drafting bills for '99 session under way: But consumer issues will be a top concern at the '99 session if the requests are any indication.

Tommy Tune to star in 'EFX' show at MGM Grand: Tune, 59, will play himself in the show, which has been changed to showcase Tune's tap dancing and singing.

Former NLV city manager plans council run: "I've been thinking a lot about it, and now that I don't have a job, I thought it would be a good time to run for office," Hinson, 50, said.

Pay hike approved for Cram: The School Board approved the raise Thursday with a 6-1 vote, with Lois Tarkanian dissenting.

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: Ho uh-oh -- Watch the Furby fly: Scott Dickensheets; It involves a nice woman named Lynn (not her real name), a seasonal worker at Famous Toy Store (not its real name). On the day in question, Lynn was caretaker of that most valuable of commodities, a stash of Furbies. Two cases of them underneath the counter of her customer-service booth, to be handed out as people asked for them. She hoped no one would ask.

Assistant county manager quitting: Adrienne Packer; Rinaldi, a 14-year planning veteran with the county, said she spent 50 hours a week at the County Government Center and another 10 hours working at home every week, which left little time to spend with her 7-year-old daughter.

Rebel hoping to stun Cowboys: Steve Carp; There's no way Bill Bayno would ever make a bold prediction. But the UNLV coach is hoping his 4-5 basketball team can be rewarded for its improved play with an early Christmas present at 9 tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Holiday Prep Classic -- Monday's Results: Horizon 75, Durango 69

Rio urges judge not to interfere with golf course operation: Bill Gang; If that's the case, can a court step in and set the green fees, or should that be left to the owners who spent $34 million building the facility?

Las Vegas news briefs: The drugs found in Ungar's system were cocaine, methadone and the pain-killer Percodan, Clark County Coroner Ron Flud said. He declined to release the amounts of the drugs, but said that no one drug by itself was enough to cause Ungar's death.

Editorial: In this new era must politicians be saints?: Sadly a pornographer now acts as a power broker, in effect calling the political shots in our nation's capital. While what Larry Flynt did was disgusting, let's not get too carried away, suggesting he started all this. Nowadays it's difficult to discern the ethical standards between some of our nation's most respected media outlets and that of Hustler when decisions are made to investigate the private lives of public officials.

Gary McKnight Finding life beyond basketball: Steve Guiremand; By Steve Guiremand LAS VEGAS SUN

Plan to build around City Hall approved: Erin Neff; The council voted unanimously Monday to approve a plan to build up around the existing 25-year-old building in the next 20 years to allow the city offices room to grow.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing notes: The 1998 Autumn Meeting at Hollywood Park came to an end yesterday on a record note. A slight increase in on-track attendance helped Hollywood Park's 19th fall meeting finish with a record daily average handle of $9.1 million, topping the previous mark of $8.8 million daily in 1995. Exempt from Breeders' Cup years at the fall meet, the record continues the trend throughout the nation for racing where tracks experienced a resurgence in total handle records due to the expansion of simulcast networks.

Southern Nevada to get part of $2 million in AIDS funding: Art Nadler; The money, which also will be disbursed to Mohave County in northern Arizona, was appropriated through the federal Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which was passed by Congress in 1990.

La Nina chill sends shiver through valley: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; Southwest Gas officials were working today to rectify a problem with low pressure that occurred at the extreme ends of its pipeline at Summerlin and in Henderson, affecting 270 customers, mostly residential homes.

Letter: Senators should pledge purity: Letter: Senators should pledge purity

Despite battles downtown, crime rate on decline in valley: The Federal Bureau of Investigation's most recent Uniform Crime Report -- a barometer of the direction crime is taking around the nation -- says crimes reported to police have been declining for the past six years.

Miller talking with Newmont Gold about future job: Asked to elaborate, a spokesman for Miller said after the meeting that the governor's only additional comment about Newmont was that he had been approached about "doing some things with them after the 4th." Gov.-elect Kenny Guinn will be sworn into office Jan. 4.

Four wanted in $1 million bank robbery: About 9 p.m. Monday, two masked men armed with guns kidnapped three family members who worked for the bank's janitorial service, said Aurelio Flores, spokesman for the FBI.

State sees big jump in revenue from sales tax: Although the state economy overall is growing faster than the national average, Gov. Bob Miller two months ago ordered a hiring freeze after learning that fiscal year 1998 tax revenue fell short of predictions by $23 million and that tax collections for fiscal year 1999 are predicted to fall short by $50 million.

House shuffle may aid gaming: Hastert, expected to be elected Jan. 6 when the new Congress convenes, comes from a district that has two successful riverboat casinos.

Governor's mansion remodeling should finish Jan. 22: The 1909 southern colonial mansion is getting new carpeting, wall coverings, draperies, wood and marble flooring as well as a kitchen expansion.

Letter: Theory of GOP's revenge motive doesn't hold up: He also said: "The GOP's need for revenge was going to corner a Democratic president, any Democratic president..." Mr. Levendosky, there was no need to corner Clinton. The president served himself up on a platter when he lied in sworn testimony on multiple occasions and committed other serious offenses.

Editorial: Las Vegas city needs more wards: After the Las Vegas city lobbying team objected, a compromise resulted in which the City Council avoided a legislative mandate and was given the authority to increase its size. The City Council, in turn, asked a citizens' group for advice on what to do.

Public urged to vote on council additions: Erin Neff; Despite a vote taken last Thursday that it recommend adding two seats to the board, committee Chairman Ron Portaro said Monday the committee is "not recommending that two wards be added."

City Council briefs: Gordon is president of Laurich Properties Inc., a Las Vegas-based company that develops shopping centers throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Laurich has been in the real-estate business for more than 40 years.

Nevada panel ponders best day for presidential primary: Brendan Riley; Secretary of State Dean Heller, chairman of Nevada's Rocky Mountain Presidential Primary Task Force, said the delay is needed to make sure a Friday primary wouldn't exclude any potential voters.

Council calls monorail plan crucial to redevelopment: Erin Neff; Representatives of the Clark County Regional Transportation Commission and the MGM Grand-Bally's Limited Liability Co. presented an update on recent monorail developments, including the County Commission's Dec. 2 approval of a monorail franchise.

Letter: Proceedings cast shame on nation: Clinton should not have lied under oath, I agree. Maybe his definition of sexual intimacy is different than most people's. I admonish the Republican Party for even thinking of impeachment. This was the president's personal life and in no way breached his duties as president of the United States. It's a shame that this will go down in our history books, as "Zippergate."

Columnist Dean Juipe: IBL liaison sets Jan. 1 deadline: Dean Juipe; For NBA commissioner David Stern, it's his newly imposed deadline for initiating serious talks with the league's locked-out players if not resolving the dispute completely.

Letter: Alternate plan for legislators' pay: 1. Legislators receive more than $16,000 in indirect compensation each session to cover travel, lodging, food etc. These payments mitigate the need for higher direct compensation.

Deadline set for purchase of building leased to city: Bill Gang; The case has been dragging on through repeated court hearings for a year as United Municipal Leasing Corp. has tried to coerce the city into renegotiating its lease for 731 S. Fourth St.

Autopsy awaited in woman's death after domestic dispute: Karen Zekan; Gilbert Sanchez, 62, who is charged with murder, told police when he called about 9:45 a.m. Monday to report his wife's death that the two had been fighting the night before and that she seemed OK when he left her in a bedroom, said Henderson Police Capt. Richard Perkins.

Council OKs fines in botched housing cleanup: Erin Neff; Nearly four years of pent-up frustrations boiled to the surface both inside the council chambers and outside on the plaza in the moments leading up to and following the unanimous vote.

Lane retires as boxing referee, wants to be color commentator: Martin Griffith; RENO -- The referee whose action led to Mike Tyson's temporary banishment from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield's ear is calling it quits.

Holiday Prep Classic -- Tuesday's Schedule: 9:30 a.m. -- Mt. View vs. Durango

UNLV Men and Women win at Winter Invite: The men edged Tennessee 753-749 and the women scored 546 while their nearest competitor UC Santa Barbara scored 249.

Wording key in plan to handle growth: Scott Reeder; The authority, which was created by the Legislature in 1997 to deal with the effects of growth in Clark County, has developed a long-term strategic plan, which it will present to the Legislature when it convenes in February.

Oak Hill, Mount Zion among premier team remaining in winner's bracket: Spencer Patterson; The cream rose to the top on day two of the Holiday Prep Classic, as the 54-team field was whittled down to just six in the winner's bracket.

New company rises from the ashes: Tom Gardner; U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gregg Zive approved a reorganization of the company that merges Pegasus Gold International, Florida Canyon and Montana's Diamond Hill and Montana Tunnels mines into a new company called Apollo Gold.