Print edition for February 27, 1998

Saturday at Gulfstream Park: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO&up Clm

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

Child safety topic of gaming industry seminar: "As casinos become more family oriented and children become more common sights, so do adults who prey on children," says Ernie Allen, president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Las Vegas 400 Qualifying: 2. (7) Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Ford, 167.411.

Wallace has dreams of becoming big winner in Vegas: Winning a NASCAR Winston Cup race is a treat for any driver. But former Winston Cup champion Rusty Wallace said taking the checkered flag in the inaugural Las Vegas 400 would be extra special.

Movie Guys: Jive 'Tribe' a lame loser: Dave; * Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Jenna Elfman, Natasha Lyonne and Lilly Tomlin.

State Tournament: basketball results: AAAA State Tournament in Reno

Man killed in struggle with police: Cathy Scott; The shootings took place shortly after 2 a.m. while police were responding to a domestic violence call at a northeast Las Vegas apartment complex, Metro Police said.

Police rule out gang shooting of baby: Cathy Scott; But investigators have not determined if the crime was random or if the baby's family was the target of a hit, Minor said.

Supreme Court upholds parent liability law: The court said Friday the state has a legitimate interest in seeing the costs incurred by a local government due to the delinquent acts of a juvenile are repaid.

Tires ready for Sunday's Las Vegas inaugural: "We had a successful tire test here with Ken Schrader in December," said Phil Holmer, Goodyear's marketing manager for stock cars. "This is the same tire recommendation we raced last year at Darlington.

Keefe steps up in UNLV victory: THE NUMBERS: Neither team managed to block a shot Thursday, which is unusual. It's the first time this year UNLV has failed to block a shot. ... Kevin Simmons was the only other Rebel to hi; For a guy who hardly touched the ball the last time he played, Brian Keefe hadn't forgotten why he is at UNLV.

Friday's College Baseball Scores: Ala.-Huntsville 16, Iona 1

Columnist Rusty Wallace: Change the name of the game after qualifying: Rusty Wallace; ONCE WE HAVE GOT our qualifying position set, our strategy turns to the race and how we're going to set up our car for Sunday's Las Vegas 400.

Benefit for Trickle embraces community: Tim Graham; By the dozens they somberly filed past Chris Trickle.

Killer at Caesars gets two life terms: Bill Gang; But District Judge John McGroarty was bound by the jury's decision and sentenced Johnson to two life prison terms.

Boys Tournament: Galena takes first step to title: Spencer Patterson; RENO -- Galena High School's countless supporters got want they wanted at Thursday night's 4A State Boys Basketball Tournament, but they might end up with more than they bargained for when their squad takes the floor next.

Martin wins pole for Saturday race: "This is a big surprise," said Martin, who has 32 Busch Series wins. "This is the car we ran (last week) at Rockingham, and I wasn't overly impressed with it there. We qualified 17th and finished third with it there, but some of the guys had us covered pretty good over there."

National magazine reports on King Day slip of tongue: Cathy Scott; The Feb. 23 issue of Jet magazine features a story about the Las Vegas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's call for the resignation of Officer Dan Holley, vice president of the Police Protective Association. The magazine has a weekly circulation of 900,000.

Airport passenger traffic down in January: Most of the decrease in passenger traffic was attributed to a lower demand for Las Vegas flights in January.

Bench warrant issued for arrest of diet clinic operator: District Judge Joseph Bonaventure issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Stewart cutting teeth in Busch Series: At the tender age of 26, Tony Stewart is on the fast track to carrying the NASCAR Winston Cup Series into the 21st century.

People in the News for February 27, 1998: Fried Rice

IHL recaps for Feb. 26, 1998: CLEVELAND--The Orlando Solar Bears (31-21-8) scored three goals in a 5:32 span of the first period, and held on for a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Lumberjacks Thursday before a Gund Arena crowd of 5,118. Eric Nickulus scored the winning goal on a power play 2:06 into the final period. Ben Hankinson started the early barrage 13:15 into the game. His tally was followed by goals from Bill Armstrong at 15:32 and Mark Beaufait at 18:47. Hubie McDonough added an insurance tally with less than a minute to play, and Pat Mikesch finished with two assists. Brad Lauer kept Cleveland ...

State Tournament: Boys-Girls basketball boxes: GALENA 82, GREEN VALLEY 71

Girls Tournament: Gorman defeats Carson 62-20: Spencer Patterson; The drought is over.

Jarrett surprise pole winner at Las Vegas: Jarrett isn't known as a great qualifier, and his chief goal in the opening round of time trials for Sunday's inaugural Winston Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was to "make it into the top 25."

Nevada Supreme Court roundup: The court struck down Armstrong's argument that a faulty instruction was given to the jury on the use of force.

Two serial rapists feared on loose: Cathy Scott; Seven women have been attacked since December 1996. But the last three attacks may have been committed by a copycat criminal, said Sgt. Clint Robison with the Sexual Assault Detail. That means there may be two serial rapists, he said.

Box score: UNLV 72, Wyoming 66: 3-Point Goals: 4-14 .286 (Roberts, Young, Sawyer, Mann).

Bad luck, NY-NY slowdown hurting MGM profit: Gary Thompson; Net income for the quarter ending March 31 should be 25 cents to 35 cents a share, down from 51 cents a share in the 1997 first period, MGM Chief Financial Officer James Murren said today.

Profiles for the drivers in the Las Vegas 400: Hometown: Pittsboro, Ind.

Sports books receiving heavy action on LV 400: Tim Graham; The Las Vegas 400 seems to be passing the ultimate test.

Race fans love, hate '97 champ: He is at once the most revered and the most reviled driver on NASCAR's Winston Cup circuit. His legions of loyal fans are matched only by those who boo him at driver introductions and cheer his every mishap on the track.

Las Vegas among several new Winston Cup stops: The expansion of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series into Las Vegas this weekend isn't the final stage in the evolution of the country's fastest growing sport. It is only the latest.

Commission boundaries debated: Jeff Schweers; However, the most accurate and cost-effective plan would be to wait until after the 2000 census, they said.

School board delays settlement in cable channel dispute: Benjamin Grove; The Federal Communications Commission last year licensed district-owned Channel KLVX, a PBS station, to operate four local cable channels for educational programming.

27 months late, Rainbow Park scheduled to open next month: Denise Cardinal; The park, made up of ballfields and some playground equipment at the corner of Oakey and Rainbow boulevards, has been a problem for the city since 1994 when construction started.

Panel wants public input about report of radioactive exposure: An NRC committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the St. Tropez Hotel, 455 E. Harmon Ave. The public is welcome.

Gaming Commission drops three counts against Binion: But the commission denied other motions by Binion's lawyers who sought records for a list of state-licensed casino executives who are felons and to subpoena one regulator as a defense witness.

UNLV prof argues for slot machine ban: Professor William Thompson, who has studied gambling for 18 years, told the Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday it should at least require the machines be moved to the back of stores.

Binion accuser sentenced in killing of homeless man: Bill Gang; Thomas Lee Woodward originally had been charged with murder in the slaying of a Hispanic man police have been unable to identify, but agreed Thursday to plead guilty to the lesser charge.

Yamaha liable for $3.1 mil. in paralysis of LV teacher: The court supported a Clark County jury verdict that company instructions failed to warn riders of the dangers of certain maneuvers on the ATV.

Citizen says health district violated open meeting law: "They have not paid attention to the open meeting law for some time," Hall said. "I had them cold."

Rookies looking for respect at top of curve: Kenny Irwin Jr., Steve Park, Jerry Nadeau and Kevin LePage all are considered talented drivers with bright futures. But being a rookie in the big leagues of any sport can be difficult.

Letter: Handicapped individuals need more consideration: Also, I want to say one more thing. I think these people who use handicapped parking may have a handicapped person in their family. That person isn't in the car, but they think they are entitled to use the spot anyway. These people need to stop and think they are taking that place away from someone who really needs it.

Murderer may die for his crime: Bill Gang; Mulder was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder by a jury in District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski's courtroom that deliberated less than two hours.

Box Score: Fresno State 7, UNLV 3: Fresno State

On the road again with Willie: Joe Delaney; "Whiskey River" and "Stay A Little Longer" as a medley got things started and there was no let-up throughout. "Good-Hearted Woman With a Good-Timing Man" was next, then sister Bobbie Nelson was featured on piano and Jody Payne followed with "You're Living With My Dreams That Let You Down." Drummer Paul English, percussionist Billy English, guitarist B. Spears and harmonica virtuoso Mickey Raphael were introduced. Willie shares the stage generously.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Singleton saga, sentence should be a lesson for all of us: At least half of the 1.2 million people who call Las Vegas home had probably never heard of Lawrence Singleton until his trial for murder in Florida started two weeks ago. That's because they weren't living here 19 years ago when a young Las Vegas girl was brutally attacked by Singleton and left for dead on the side of the road in a ditch between here and Los Angeles. Now, everyone who reads or watches television knows the measure of this murderer.

Columnist Dean Juipe:Timely win a reprieve for Rebels: Dean Juipe; It seemed outrageous. Favored by four points against a team it had lost to by 11 a month ago? Favored by four against a team with four more wins, six fewer losses and a realistic shot at the NCAA Tournament? Favored by four against a physical team when the Rebels have already established they're unlikely to defeat a tall team (like Utah) or an athletic team (like New Mexico)?

Suspected drug items found in hotel room: Glassware filled with fluid, torches, matches and a hypodermic needle were discovered about 5 p.m. Thursday by a housekeeper about to begin cleaning the vacant ground floor room, said Lt. Gary Schofield.

State takes lead in fighting battering: Del Papa was keynote speaker Thursday at a conference of professionals and concerned members of the community attending a one-day domestic violence prevention conference at University Medical Center. For Nevada's size, she said the state is becoming a national leader in the fight against domestic abuse.

Despite Oprah, LV loves beef: Brian Seals; And many Las Vegas consumers and meat industry workers agree her statements were of little consequence. Beef, they say, is still for dinner. And lunch as well.

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: Bummin' around with Bernie: Scott Dickensheets; Bernie Allen wants me to try lox. It's Tuesday, the day before his 82nd birthday, and Bernie is piloting his big white Cadillac through lunch-hour traffic toward a deli he knows. Several things quickly become apparent: He is a man unafraid to go 30 in a 45-mph zone; he is a man who, in the midst of an uproarious celebrity yarn, is serenely unconcerned with the niggling specifics of lane-changing, such as making sure there are no blue Toyota econo-boxes in the way; and he is a man of many uproarious celebrity yarns, and therefore many white-knuckle lane changes.

Man who crashed vehicle into SIIS office loses appeal: Forrester, 62, wounded when a security guard shot him in the head, got a seven-year prison term for assault, discharging a firearm and theft. He's scheduled for a parole in May.

Obituaries for February 27, 1998: She is survived by one sister, Coleen Van Hecker.

Aladdin completes financing: Gary Thompson; The deal includes $115 million of 13.5 percent bonds, a $410 million bank credit facility with a blended interest rate of 9.07 percent and a capital lease agreement of $80 million.

Del Papa seeks funding for bulletproof vests: A bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee would give matching money to state, local and Indian tribal law enforcement agencies. Del Papa said the FBI estimates more than 30 percent of the nation's 1,182 officers killed by guns in the line of duty since 1980 could have been saved if they had been wearing body armor.

Henderson shoots down hotel-casino at River Mountain: Valerie Miller; The request for a use permit involved the commercially zoned area between Boulder Highway and Sausalito Drive, just north of Racetrack Road.

Report: Russo owes $132,481 in California taxes: Russo denies that he owes the money, saying the figure is an accounting error.

Guard charged in prison sex case: Bill Gang and Cathy Scott; Officer Raymond Jay Harts, 33, is charged with sexually assaulting four female inmates between Nov. 4 and Jan. 10, according to a criminal complaint filed by the district attorney in District Court.

Rocking the Mideast With an Unlikely Alliance: Scott Peterson; ANKARA, TURKEY -- The joint military exercise could not have looked more innocent.Turkish and Israeli warships "rescued" dummies floating in the water, in a mock "humanitarian" operation. United States sailors were also on hand.

Race traffic: Heavy from start to finish: Bob Shemeligian; That's the recommendation of state and local police who will be stationed along the roadways leading to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend as race fans head out for Busch and Winston Cup series races.

IHL Standings as of Feb. 28, 1998: Northeast Division

EPA says it has no authority over landfill problem: The EPA, however, will stay informed of the progress at the closed, unlined Sunrise landfill, said Susanna Trujillo, solid waste project manager overseeing Nevada operations at the EPA's Region 9 office in San Francisco.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Chefs fraternity meeting marked by a fabulous feast: J&J and their vendors supplied the fish and seafood; the Rio chefs contributed their considerable cooking skills.

Editorial: Bite taken out of taxpayer wallets: Jurors can return verdicts that no one ever anticipated and judges can throw out key pieces of evidence. Quite simply, there are no guarantees in a courtroom.

Documentary film series at CHAC: "Edvard Munch" will be screened on March 24. Crucified by critics and the public in the late 19th century, Munch is now considered one of the major figures of modern art. Norwegian and German with English subtitles.

Second I-15 crash in two days proves fatal: Karen Zekan; Sadrudin Surani, 62, of Las Vegas died at the scene of Thursday's 8:30 a.m. rollover, 70 miles north of Las Vegas, said Trooper Steve Harney, Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman.

Bodine determined more then ever to help bobsledders: Bodine has been instrumental in designing and building the Bo-Dyne bobsleds used by the Americans, who once again have respectability in the sport. And he's not about to stop helping and raising money just because the sledders didn't bring home gold, silver or bronze from Nagano, Japan.

Letter: Forget reforming IRS; abolish abusive agency: As a taxpayer, I am outraged at the manner in which the IRS thumbs its nose at the law. On Jan. 14, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., asked Janet Reno to start proceedings to prosecute the IRS for using quotas. At least that's a step in the right direction.

NASCAR fuels Coca-Cola promotions: The Coca-Cola Racing Family features Winston Cup drivers Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Jeff Burton, Todd Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Steve Park.

Tentative agreement reached on power rate hike: The program, which must be approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, allows a customer to either round up his monthly power bill or add a flat rate of $5, $10 or $20 to their monthly bill. The money would allow Nevada Power to develop alternate forms of energy.

Union, Rio at odds over working conditions: Brian Seals; One investigation is aimed at a man union officials claim was hired to thwart organization efforts while another is aimed at the alleged firing of an employee for what union officials say was the employee's pro-union stance.

GM complaints about Fords blunted by Gordon's win: That wasn't supposed to happen. NASCAR had ordered Chevys and Fords to have an identical aerodynamics package - 5-inch spoilers and front air dams. The GM teams were certain that would favor the new Ford Taurus, and they would have started complaining.

Colombian trying to climb back to top: On his mind was the 1998 racing season, one he hopes will put him at the top of the list of prime-time players in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League.

It's a Sawyer Brown Town: Shane Gammon; "We liked the name. It was a name that nobody hated. You know when you get five guys together, that's a big thing," keyboardist Greg Hubbard said. "The original name of the band was Savanna, and there were like a hundred thousand other bands with that name. We thought we'd go for a name that hopefully nobody else had already picked."

Henderson Parks briefs: Four Henderson participants have been selected as contestants on previous trips.

Rwanda Massacres Were Avoidable, General Says: Lara Santoro; "It seems ... inconceivable that one can watch ... thousands of people being ... massacred ... every day in the media ... and remain passive," the former United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) commander said as his voice broke and tears fell from his eyes.

Letter: More must be done to help the homeless: Fabian Parker

In Pastoral England, City Ways Unwelcome: Alexander MacLeod; EXFORD, ENGLAND -- On Sunday, the stretches of wild and rugged heathland around this west of England village will be all but deserted.

Frantic antics on the radio: Lisa Ferguson; What would you do to win a pair of concert tickets?

Park slow starter in NASCAR rookie race: An ignition failure relegated the 30-year-old racer to 41st place in the season-opening Daytona 500. Then, last Sunday in Rockingham, N.C., the former modified star from East Northport, N.Y., came away from the Goodwrench 400 with a battered car and a 31st-place finish.

UNLVino hosts wine tasting: Patrons also will have the opportunity to mingle, listen to live music and participate in the annual auction of fine and unique wines. All proceeds from UNLVino go toward scholarships to UNLV.

IHL recaps for Feb. 27, 1998: Cincinnati Cyclones 5, Grand Rapids Griffins 3

Columnist Joe Delaney: Joe Williams, a national treasure: Joe Delaney; Best known for his years with Count Basie and his orchestra and such blues best sellers as "Every Day" and "All Right, OK, You Win," my friend Joe is also a master balladeer who can sing a love song with the best, and the classic Anthony Newley catalogue better than anyone.

Goodyear not stranger to NASCAR: That was the year that the Akron-based tire company was enticed to take part in NASCAR's new convertible-class series.