Print edition for February 5, 1998

Ireland Debates Powers Of Police: Kevin Rafter; In Ireland, meanwhile, a celebrated murder case has some commentators warning of a similar rush to judgment that may lead to a dangerous erosion of civil rights.

Driver to receive ShoWest award in LV: Audiences will next see Driver in "The Governess, a love story from Sony Pictures Classics, written and directed by Sandra Goldbacher. Driver portrays a young woman in the 1840s, who is forced to hide her Jewish heritage to secure a job as a governess after the murder of her father. Fascinated by photography, the governess begins to examine the difference between reflecting reality and creating your own reality. "The Governess" was filmed in England and Scotland and is slated for an early-summer release.

Lady Rebels beat Air Force: When Steve Corraro was handed the UNLV women's basketball interim head coaching job, he said he wouldn't make any drastic changes. What Corraro hadn't counted on was the Lady Rebels players had a different idea.

Teen accused of casino slaying takes stand: Angie Wagner; Strohmeyer, 19, of Long Beach, Calif. is accused of murder and sexual assault in the May 25 strangulation of Sherrice Iverson of Los Angeles. Her body was found in a restroom at the Primm Valley Hotel in Primm, southwest of Las Vegas.

Task force organized to make sure state collecting all tax revenues: "That is an accumulation of receivables over a period of years," said Comeaux. "I would not be surprised if it's that much that's uncollectable, but it's not just one year. That's an accumulation of at least five years."

Girls: Chaparral beats Basic 44-34: Matt O'Brien; Those anticipating a shootout at the gym on Annie Oakley Drive were disappointed, but at least the Cowboys did prevail.

City to demolish decrepit Aladdin Villas: Denise Cardinal; The City Council unanimously voted 3 to 0 to deny the owner's appeal that the order be stopped or extended for another few weeks. Mayor Jan Laverty Jones was not present for the meeting and City Councilman Larry Brown left before the vote was taken.

Editorial: Homebuyers get boost from state: To help out, the state Housing Division is expanding its home loan program to include down-payment assistance. The state Board of Finance last week approved a plan sponsored by state Housing Administrator Charles Horsey to set aside $500,000 for down-payment loans. The average loan is expected to be about $3,000 with an estimated interest rate of 4.99 percent. This up-front, down-payment loan will be available to those who finance their homes through the Housing Division, which provides mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers who have low to moderate incomes. To qualify for the low-interest mortgage, the individual also must be a ...

SUN Board: Community events, meetings, classes: Special events

Companies want to sever ties with tainted racetrack: Liza Miller Roche, attorney for American Wagering Inc. of Las Vegas, said the firm has no relationships with the gaming operation at Auga Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana. The racetrack is operated by Jorge Hank Rhon who is reportedly in the narcotics business in Mexico.

Contractor's protest delays UNLV library: The apparent low bidder for the job was Tibesa Construction of Las Vegas who submitted a $40,482,858 price for the project. That's about $1.2 million below the state board's estimate.

Union against granting waiver to developer: Jeff Schweers; Union organizers said letting Rhodes have his way is the worst kind of leap-frog development and lends fuel to supporters of a growth boundary that would hurt the building industry.

Nevada among first five states to win Welfare-to-Work funding: State Welfare Administrator Myla Florence says the councils can use the cash to help companies improve on-the-job training, help job placement services, fund job readiness programs, or supplement wage support for employers.

Tapia heavy favorite vs. Blanco: Dean Juipe; He has switched promoters and bought a house in Summerlin, yet little has really changed with Johnny Tapia.

McCarran Airport pioneer Hall dies at 78: He remarked to co-workers as he watched old buildings and hangars being torn down that he had worked on crews that four and five decades earlier had built those very structures.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: 1998 Green Scissors claims victories and sees problems: Now a 1998 Green Scissors Report has been delivered and, in the executive summary, tells us: "The Green Scissors Campaign, launched in 1995, has a proven track record of success, helping to terminate or cut at least 15 programs and save more than $20 billion. Members of Congress have formed bipartisan coalitions to promote Green Scissors recommendations, and the administration has been increasingly supportive. But as Green Scissors '98 shows, there is much more to be done."

Editorial: Aiding children of working poor: Miller's original plan was flawed because it shut out UMC, opting instead to use only health maintenance organizations. Implementation of the governor's plan was delayed for a short time as officials worked to find a way for UMC to join. Omitting the county-run hospital from consideration was troubling since it provides millions of dollars in care to Clark County's indigent patients, many of whom are children. In allowing the hospital to participate as a preferred provider organization, the county will now be able to recover some expenditures and save taxpayer money. Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who is a member ...

IHL Standings as of Feb. 6, 1998: Northeast Division

Obituaries for February 5, 1998: He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; four sons, Frank Brazzale IV, Ernest Brazzale and John Brazzale, all of Wyoming, and Tony Brazzale of Colorado; one daughter, Cathy Syring of Texas; and seven grandchildren.

Roy Jones Pulls out of fight: The Roy Jones vs. Buster Douglas fight that appeared to be set for May 2 in Atlantic City is off. Top Rank, which had the fight on its schedule, announced that Jones has pulled out of the bout.

Embattled library district seeks interim director: The three-member panel said at the conclusion of a public meeting held Wednesday it will interview several potential candidates Wednesday and submit two names to the board of trustees Feb. 12 for consideration.

Dial File: Melange of madness and mea culpas: Or, as Herman's Hermits so pithily put it in their hit "I'm Henry the VIII, I Am": "Second verse, same as the first.".

Westward Ho to be sold to Florida investor: Bob Shemeligian; The deal is expected to close next week, said sources close to the sale.

Ralph Siraco's Selections For Santa Anita: Selections made for clear racing conditions before scratches.

Morning Mouths: Melissa Schorr; Morning DJs must have one of the hardest jobs in the world: dodging stalkers, chasing ratings, not to mention being witty at the crack of dawn.

Reno lawmaker to leave office; Carson City senator to run again: Sen. Ernie Adler, D-Carson City, said he will seek a third four-year term in the Senate, representing the capital district.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Orleans showroom is new LV hot spot: Joe Delaney; During our Tulane Law School days, 1951-1953, New Orleans' Bourbon Street was red-hot with Louis Prima and Keely Smith at Frank Ferrara's Sho-Bar, George Lewis at Steve Valenti's Paddock Lounge, Lizzie Miles & Freddie Kohlman's Band at Sid Davilla's Mardi Gras Lounge, and Sharkey Bonano plus the original Dukes of Dixieland (Hyp Guinle's Famous Door).

Strohmeyer expected to take stand: Bill Gang; The 18-year-old Strohmeyer was not expected to talk about the incident itself but about the events after his arrest near his Long Beach home three days later.

French Buy Virtue With A Vengeance: Peter Ford; Philosophy. More exactly, the chance to join in one of the weekly philosophical debates that pack standing-room-only crowds into the Cafe des Phares and two- dozen similar establishments around the French capital.

Phone outage hits 80,000 customers, 911 service: Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi said his department used cellular phones to make limited calls and set up a special number as a substitute for 911.

Reid looses Hoover bid: Paul Kane; During the debate to rename Washington National Airport after President Ronald Reagan, Reid tried to use the opportunity to pull the former FBI director's name off the headquarters and simply call it the FBI building.

Former casino exec to take city job: Denise Cardinal; Barton is asking for a third deputy city manager to be added to his staff. The request goes before the City Council to approve at the Feb. 9 meeting. Sources at City Hall said the request will be receiving the council's full approval.

Tarkanian, Maxson feud resurfaces: But her efforts, which first surfaced at last week's Board of Regents meeting in Las Vegas, have re-opened the wounds of a bitter feud between Maxson and former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Mexico Stung as Army Swarms Over Chiapas: Grace Braley and Linnet Taylor; Last month, a resident in the Mexican village of Acteal led the way into a chapel where people had been "praying for peace, asking for deliverance from the violence" that had made them flee their homes when they were attacked by some 40 or 50 armed men.

Minorites ask: Where is expanded City Council: Denise Cardinal; It's an unusual feeling for the black activist who isn't known for keeping her mouth shut.

Magic throws his hat into the ring: Tim Graham; @Copyright 1998 LAS VEGAS SUN

People in the News for February 5, 1998: Briefly

Customer may have shot auto shop worker: Cathy Scott; George Veit, 42, was killed just before 8 a.m. by a masked gunman, police said. He had been in the area between the office and the repair bay at Best Auto, 1266 N. Nellis Blvd., near Washington Avenue.

Colby Hyt looking even better: Spencer Patterson; Cimarron-Memorial's Colby Hyt had an outstanding sophomore season last year, batting .444 and posting a 3.00 earned-run average.

Babbitt seeks talks on Indian casino issue: Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., were the main sponsors of an amendment last year that prohibits Babbitt from approving Indian gambling compacts before Oct. 1. Babbitt called the legislation "kind of an ominous signal."

Las Vegas High bounces back, beats Rancho: Spencer Patterson; After dropping a triple-overtime affair to Valley last Friday, it would have been understandable if the Las Vegas High boys basketball players got a little nervous the next time they found themselves in a tight game.

Box score: Lady Rebels 70, Air Force 62: UNLV (75)

UNLV Beat up on Southern Utah: As UNLV's primary power sources, Kevin Eberwein and Ryan Ludwick aren't seeing a lot of good pitches. But it didn't stop the pair from putting a charge into the Rebels' offense.

S. Africa Frets as Large Black-Run Firm Collapses: Ed O'Loughlin; The demise of JCI as a major international mining house, announced after its annual general meeting last week, comes just over a year after the company came under the control of a black consortium led by financier Mzi Khumalo. Since then, the company's share price has halved amid bitter accusations of misjudgment, bad management, and conflict of interest.

Preps: Honor Roll: Spencer Patterson; If 10 points and 10 rebounds is considered a double-double, Las Vegas High's Lillie Williams may have produced the area's most outrageous double-double ever last Friday night.

Linescore: UNLV 17, Southern Utah 1 (7): Linescore: UNLV 17, Southern Utah 1 (7)

Gymnastics meets at Cashman: Las Vegas gymnasts Jacqueline Coatsworth, Erica Ficarrotta and Carrie Knepp will be among the 102 Southern Nevada competitors joining a record field of 2,930 entries in the Go For It Classic, which begins tonight and runs through Sunday at the Cashman Field Center.

Gas leak blamed in house blast: About 40 neighbors were evacuated as a precaution.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Disgruntled Tyson bound to contracts: Dean Juipe; It's a habit, a pattern. He'll do something and later regret it.

IHL Recaps for Feb. 5, 1998: FORT WAYNE, Ind.--The Fort Wayne Komets (29-18-4) rallied from two goals down to set the stage for a 3-2 shootout win over the Long Beach Ice Dogs Thursday before 5,922 at Memorial Coliseum. Tom Pederson's deciding tally was the only goal of the tiebreaker. The Ice Dogs, who had won three straight coming into Thursday's game, shut out the Komets through two periods. Defenseman Vitali Yachmenev scored the first goal of the game at 13:58 of the opening period, and Rob Kenny made it 2-0 at 8:55 of the second. Fort Wayne's Ed Campbell finally broke through with a power ...

Nevada Focus: Tahoe skier makes it to Olympics: "I was up at 5:30 a.m. (Monday) and getting kind of restless. There's been so much stress. I'd been waiting three days for a phone call," said Mendes, who decided to kill some time with a trip to the post office.

LV keeping 702 area code: Las Vegas residents won't have to worry about having to change business cards, letterheads and other forms that include telephone numbers following the unanimous decision by the board to order a new area code for all of the state except Clark County and a small pocket of users in Pahrump.

Claim for $1.4 million jackpot rejected: Smith had been pumping quarters into the machine and getting small payoffs when it jammed. He wanted to keep playing the same machine, so he hung around while a slot technician opened it up and found a loose wire.

WAC Suspends Kambala: Steve Carp; COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- This isn't Bill Bayno's idea of getting the second half of the conference season off to a fast start.

Columnist John McCarroon: Baker's 238 average tops seniors: John McCarroon; VETERAN DICK Baker averaged 238 to dominate the field at the Gold Coast Senior Scratch Bowlers Tour. Baker's 1194 ($280) total also topped second-place finisher Roy Meadows 1162 ($140).