Print edition for March 27, 1998

Rebel Marketing department has been through rough times: Steve Carp; Steve Stallworth can't get the image out of his mind.

Utah grad to root from air: Spencer Patterson; When Utah takes the court tomorrow for its first Final Four appearance in 22 years, the Utes will have a strong supporter in a rather unlikely place.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Las Vegan Vasser remains on track at Japan's Motegi: Jimmy Vasser had to go halfway around the world to make himself at home.

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

Saturday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 5-1/2 fur 4YO&up F&M Mdn Clm

Veteran Williams has paid his dues: Steve Guiremand; PEORIA, Ariz. --- "You're not the man I want to see right now."

A's owner dismisses move to Vegas: Steve Guiremand; The Oakland Athletics are in town to play a pair of exhibition games with the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of Big League Weekend at Cashman Field.

Fight spotlight shifts from ring to courtroom: Dean Juipe; U.S. Senators didn't need to go to Washington, D.C., for this week's scheduled review of the 1997 Professional Boxing Safety Act and round-table discussion on the status of the sport. They could have randomly selected any courthouse in the nation, dropped in, and, in all probability, convened for their hearings while a boxing-related case was on trial.

Police arrest man with seven priors: He left his house for work Friday morning, stopping on the way to pick up a six-pack. By the time police could pull him over, officers say he was pretty well finished with his first beer of the day.

Thunder brings in star Nedved: Tim Graham; The Las Vegas Thunder created a stir when it signed Alexei Yashin in 1994.

Columnist Dean Juipe: WrestleMania will showcase Tyson fondly: Dean Juipe; As the "special enforcer" for WrestleMania XIV Sunday in Boston, former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson will do his share of posing and undoubtedly be drawn into an occasional scrap. For sure he'll mix it up a bit during a main event in which a new buddy, Shawn Michaels, takes on an emerging Tyson nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin -- or "Cold Stone Steve Austin" as a bewildered Tyson called him during an orchestrated confrontation a few weeks ago.

On the cyber court Tar Heels Prevail: In the real world, they won't crown the NCAA champion until Monday night in San Antonio. But in the land of virtual reality, they're dancing in the streets in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Auto Racing standings and leaders through March 27: The 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car racing schedule, winners in parenthesis, and driver point standings:

Murdered man may have been trying to stop dispute: They left in a white panel van, police said.

Revised Boulder Highway casino OK'd: Valerie Miller; Providing that the City Council approves the plan, the first phase of P.T.'s Mining Hotel and Casino would be constructed on Boulder Highway and consist of 71 rooms. Developers plan to appear before the Planning Commission at a later date to request a second phase that would add 129 rooms, bringing the total number to 200.

Agency won't use eminent domain for Stratosphere: Bill Gang and Denise Cardinal; Redevelopment Agency attorney Mark Wasser said the city has no use for the 1.5 acres other than for the Stratosphere's use, which is in limbo because of a bankruptcy, a massive reorganization and a pending sale.

Wright pulls out of attorney general's race: Wright, 48, a former member of the state Parole Board, was out of town and could not be reached for comment. But a statement issued through a public relations agency, said he won't challenge Scott Scherer of Las Vegas, considered the front-runner for the GOP nomination. He wished Scherer "the best of luck."

Sierra Front headquarters evacuated by fumes: It was determined that dry traps in the sewage lines and strong winds caused sewer gas to get into the building. The problem abated once water was added to the sewer system at the center.

Basin bosses to discuss Tahoe deliverables: Participating in the meeting will be the regional directors of the U.S. Forest Service, Postal Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Obituaries for March 27, 1998: She is survived by three sons, Fernand Boucher, Norman Boucher and Daniel Boucher; one daughter, Ann Collins; two brothers, Domineque Trumenne and Vital Trumenne; and one sister, Gemma Boucher.

A plague of bassoons at UNLV: All four members took turns writing and arranging their now-infamous bassoon quartets, most of which are entertaining and humorous in nature. Their repertoire includes arrangements of jazz and pop music, with the appropriate parts of "Lead" Bassoon, "Screech" Bassoon and "Hot" Bassoon. Another unusual aspect of the group, according to founding member David Carroll, is that they never designated a first, second, third or fourth bassoonist. Instead, they drew their parts face down, sometimes even for concerts. There were exceptions. Anyone who composed or arranged a particularly difficult first bassoon part had to play it himself if the person who ...

Russian dance company at UNLV: The Georgian State Dance Company has performed all over the world, including a 1967 performance at La Scala in Italy. It is believed to be the only time that a folklore group has performed in that bastion of opera.

Editorial: BLM gives its OK to sports complex: Under the agreement, Las Vegas Sportspark will develop and oversee the park, which will continue to sit on city-owned land. The land was given to the city by the BLM for recreational uses. As the population increases, and the demand for parks outpaces the supply for cash-strapped municipal governments, these types of joint ventures could be the wave of the future.

Rebel Marketing: UNLV's promotions department has been through ups and downs: Steve Carp; Steve Stallworth can't get the image out of his mind.

Security taking new measures: The recent murder of four students and a teacher at an Arkansas school and a serial rapist preying on women in Las Vegas focuses attention on the need for some kind of security system that will at least deter those who would harm others.

Trial set for alleged thrill murderers: Bill Gang; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure set a Nov. 9 trial date for the 21-year-old man and his two co-defendants, Troy Sampson, 26, and Edward James, 22. The trio faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.

Woman takes plea bargain in car crash that killed boy: Bill Gang; Cheryl Lynn Reilly, 34, unemotionally entered her guilty plea Thursday to a single DUI count in the plea bargain that dictates what the sentence will be and requires the dismissal of two other DUI charges from the same incident.

High school choir invited to national competition: It's a special honor for High Society to be chosen to represent Nevada in the competition since this is the show choir's first performance year.

Letter: Clintons distort, stonewall the truth: From the very start of the Clinton administration, their tactics have been consistent -- i.e., smear, discredit, destroy, stonewall and distort the truth. The Travelgate fiasco is a perfect example of how these shysters operate.

Hospice hosts seminar on death and dying: "Hospice: A Photographic Inquiry" documents individual perspectives on the emotional and collaborative experience of living and working in hospice environments. Investigating the hospice movement by immersing artists in the world of patients, families and health care providers, the traveling exhibition is organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the National Hospice Foundation.

Letter: Visitors upset because they weren't allowed to see stars: So, we went down to the rope. A security guard said, "You can't stand there, you'll have to move." After this comment we went back toward the stairs. We were not impeding anyone's way, and the guard said, "No one is allowed to stand on the stairs, you're in the way."

Letter: Atomic veterans' project suffers theft, vandalism: AAV founding director Anthony Guarisco was deeply upset at the discovery. "This action destroyed four years of work by our members," he said. "We were preparing to host 16 guests from Japan in less than a month, now we have only the land to show them. Everything of value that could be moved was stolen and everything else was destroyed. We will rebuild, and next time we will have a permanent caretaker, however hard the winter."

Accused cousins plead not guilty to murder: Bill Gang; District Judge Donald Mosley set a Nov. 9 trial date for Christian Walker, 19, and Johnny Walker, 18, on the charges they killed Christian Walker's 17-year-old girlfriend.

Basin bosses to discuss implementing projects to help Tahoe: Participating in the meeting were representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, Postal Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Editorial: Computer goofs hurt taxpayers: The Legislature's Interim Finance Committee on Wednesday approve the transfer of $4.2 million to help the state Division of Child and Family Services pay for a cost overrun for a new computer system, bringing the total cost to $14.2 million.

Eastern scientist wins Nevada Medal: Margulis is known for her research on the evolution of small forms of life, including the role of bacteria in influencing biological processes and environmental conditions. Her theory is that cells evolved into plants and animals not by genetic accident but because groups of bacteria banded together to form them.

Film Noir series at Winchester: "Film Noir III" consists of five films which emphasize the woman in film noir. The series opens March 31 with "Phantom Lady" (1944) starring Franchot Tone and Ella Raines, with two film noir regulars, Thomas Gomez and Elisha Cook Jr. The film was directed by Robert Siodmak, who also directed such noirs as "Criss Cross," "The Killers" and "The File on Thelma Jordon." The "phantom lady" of the title acts by her absence as the man-destroying femme fatale typical of film noir. "Phantom Lady" is recognized as a key film of the noir style.

Resident seeks removal of Carson sheriff, DA: The complaint stems from a dispute over Weddell's arrest on a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of aiming a weapon at another person in October.

Court overturns Spokane injunction, says protections needed: A shutdown needs further justification, the court said: for example, a determination that the type of gambling in question was banned by state law, and was therefore illegal on reservations, or evidence that the tribes had been acting in bad faith. The court also said the U.S. Interior Department was considering regulations that might fill the gap in the law caused by the Supreme Court ruling.

Preps: Local teen masters the slopes: Spencer Patterson; Ryan Myers is used to getting strange looks when he tells people he's an alpine ski racer from Las Vegas.

Winter does a spring thing: Tom Gardner; And the typically capricious spring weather is serving up a wintry blend of wind, snow and lilac-nipping cold.

State wins wrongful death suit: The widow and other survivors of Ralph Parker filed suit, claiming the state was negligent in failing to plow and sand the highway or to warn motorists of a winter storm that dumped snow on Interstate 80 on Jan. 30, 1993.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Continuing legal abuse of state workers must be halted: The writer saw a close working relationship between various environmental groups and individuals within state and federal agencies, as well as key elected officials, as a threat to the economic stability of Elko County. He wrote:

IHL Standings as of March 27, 1998: Northeast Division

People in the News for March 27, 1998: Miscellany

Procedural error kills pyramid scheme case: District Judge Joseph Bonaventure Thursday upheld a Justice Court ruling that Del Papa's office had not provided the defense with pre-trial discovery in a highly publicized case in which the four women were charged with promoting a pyramid scheme.

Lawmakers OK remedial programs for nonperforming schools: Several programs already are in use in Nevada schools, including Reading Recovery, Reading Renaissance and a new after-school program, the Voyager Expanded Learning Program.

Thunder acquires another defender: Tim Graham; The Las Vegas Thunder continued taking blue-line injections by acquiring its fifth defenseman in six days.

Two victims in separate car accidents die: Michael Busceni, 74, of Los Angeles, died at 6:37 p.m. Tuesday from the critical injuries he suffered when the 1993 Ford pickup he was a passenger in flipped numerous times across Interstate 15 near Primm, said Trooper Steve Harney, Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman.

Longtime UNLV scorekeeper dies: Spencer Patterson; Ruparcich, who was known to his friends as "Rupe," helped found the Southern Nevada Officials Association after moving to Las Vegas from Minnesota in 1951.

Services held for officer killed while training on mountain: After the services, a police helicopter took the 40-year-old Peterson's remains on a flight around Mt. Charleston, an area where he climbed frequently and where he lost his life.

State hires one more education consultant: The Legislative Committee on Education awarded a $20,000 contract to Eugene Paslov, former state superintendent of public instruction.

School dress code gains preliminary approval: Benjamin Grove; The School Board Thursday voted to adopt a new dress code policy requiring shirt sleeves to be at least 3 inches long and shorts and skirts to come within 5 inches of the knee. The board is scheduled to make a final vote on the policy April 23.

Jones against eminent domain in Stratosphere expansion: The city took 1 1/2 acres of land just north of the Stratosphere in 1995 using eminent domain for a planned addition to the hotel. Since then, the Stratosphere has declared bankruptcy.

Movie Guys: Shootin' with the Newtons and gunnin' for fun: Dave; * Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, Vincent D'Onofrio, Julianna Margulies, Dwight Yokam and Bo Hopkins.

Joke racin' with Mason: Joe Delaney; Mason is a voracious reader, right on top of today's events, with a brilliant, questioning mind. He tells the truth funny. His Yiddish accent makes it even funnier. Jackie is an equal opportunity destroyer. Nothing is safe or sacred.

Columnist Joe Delaney: You'll never find another career like Rawls': Joe Delaney; These were small black neighborhood nightclubs; first in Chicago, then Los Angeles, working for difficult audiences and very little money. ... It was during this daunting apprenticeship that he developed a style of soliloquizing his way into a song, quieting the audience.

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: It's in a casino, so is it art?: Scott Dickensheets; Let's begin threshing this out in the clay-spotted home studio of artist Sue Brna. Brna is one of the squadron of artists hired to re-create the thousands of authentic-looking architectural flourishes that will festoon Sheldon Adelson's Venetian hotel-casino when it opens next year.

Memorial to honor Green Beret vets: "Although the bulk of Special Forces deaths occurred in Vietnam, many others have been lost in conflicts since then," said Lloyd Simpson, past president of SFA Chapter 51 of Las Vegas and an organizer of the 1 p.m. ceremony.

Winter storm poised to barrel into Sierra, Nevada: Chains were mandatory early today on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, and forecasters predicted the weather would only get worse before it got better.

Taking nothing for Granted: Shane Gammon; When Grant released her latest album, "Behind The Eyes," in 1997, she said she had reached a "crossroads" and after "a complete self-examination from head to toe," she said she felt a new awareness of the human condition, reflected in the album. She also characterized the album as a return to her musical roots, with more personal songs.

Tax shortfall threatens county programs: Jeff Schweers; "While we have a very healthy budget now, it's going to take hard choices to figure out how to fund these programs," Finance Director George Stevens told the County Commission Thursday during a workshop on the 1998-99 budget.

Enthusiasm high for new UNLV library: "This may be one of the most memorable moments in the history of this university," said UNLV President Carol Harter as she stood beside architects' renditions of the five-floor, 300,000-square-foot building scheduled for opening in January 2000.

Nuke study: Yucca ground stretching: Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is the only site in the country being studied as a permanent repository for the high-level nuclear waste produced by commercial power plants and defense activities.

Hawkes leaves library board: Jeff Schweers; Although the move was only a few blocks from his former house, it placed him in the Henderson library district, making him ineligible to serve on the Las Vegas-Clark County board.

Nevada writer Myrick Land dies at age 76: Land wrote or collaborated on a dozen books, several with his wife, Barbara, a former New York Times and Miami Herald reporter. He also wrote hundreds of articles for national magazines in the 1950s, '60s and 70s.

Yanni-on-the-spot: Anne Hosier; He's a walking, talking Rorschach test.

Prosecutors expand case after finding no end to betting in cyberspace: Afterwards, FBI agents posing as customers found that two of the companies continued to operate, resulting in new charges Thursday.

Weekend Update: Music, Theater, Etc.: SONG OF INDIA -- The haunting sounds of the sitar will fill the Reed Whipple Cultural Center at 8 tonight when virtuoso Kartik Seshadri takes the stage. A protege of Pandit Ravi Shankar, he has played duets in concert with the maestro. Tickets are $12, $10 for students, seniors and the disabled at the door at 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Buyers sought for million-dollar condos: But the weather halted plans to offer tethered balloon rides to 1,149 feet -- the elevation of the top of the Stratosphere Tower.

Mayor-appointed committee to weigh ban on grocery slots: Denise Cardinal; The committee, which has recommending power only, met Thursday for the first time.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Menu make-overs pass the taste test with flying flavors: The race to keep up with the changes taking place in restaurants nationally and locally means never letting up, not even for a minute. Long-established Las Vegas hotels are determined to keep pace.

County powerless to regulate medical waste: Art Nadler; "The state Environmental Commission is suppose to be addressing recyclers," Dr. Otto Ravenholt, Clark County chief health officer, said. "There are 40 to 50 recycling stations in the community, and we don't issue them permits."

Farmers auto insurance hike OK'd: State Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman Thursday approved the company's rate increase application for the 175,000 vehicles it covers in Nevada.

Internet gamers urge regulation of online betting: John Wilen; That's exactly what Internet gambling companies urged Thursday at the International Gaming Business Exposition in Las Vegas.

Corporate challenge finds it needs more elbow room: That's why Saturday's opening ceremonies for the citywide competition were moved this year from Freedom Park to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Trickle services set for Sunday: Trickle, who was shot in the head by an unknown assailant more than a year ago, died Wednesday from lung complications.