Print edition for May 20, 1998

Forest fire smoke chokes Northern Nevada: As a result, visibility has been greatly reduced and residents have suffered burning eyes and breathing difficulties.

Recall drive against Brown stalls: Heller said there were insufficient signatures of registered voters to require an election for Brown.

City Council OKs police budget: Denise Cardinal; The city's overall budget for fiscal 1999 totals $261.5 million. That's about an 8 percent increase from last year's budget.

Judge's resignation muddles election: Bill Gang; But since the official filing period ended at 5 p.m. Monday, it will be a complicated and convoluted process for anyone who might want the job.

Incentives to boost low-cost housing OK'd: On a motion by Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates, the board voted 4-3 Tuesday to approve a recommendation to adopt a countywide policy to give priority to projects qualified as affordable housing developments.

Fernley High School pulls student literary magazine: The poem, entitled "I Hear Silver Springs Singing," was written by a student who lives in Silver Springs.

Fallon teens receive Boy Scout 'Medal of Merit': Hellyar was attending a Boy Scout camp last summer when another boy began choking on a piece of candy.

Las Vegas Stars scorecard -- May 20, 1998: Good news on the injury front. The MRIs for outfielder Charles Poe and first baseman Jason Thompson both came back negative and both could be back in the lineup by the end of the week. Poe suffered what was called a sprained knee sliding into home plate on Sunday while Thompson jammed his shoulder diving for a ball on Friday night. He was placed on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to that game. "It was nerve-wracking," Poe said of waiting for his MRI results, which he got when he arrived at Cashman Field at 3:30. So how did Poe pass ...

Thursday at Belmont Park: 1st race 6 fur 3YO&up F&M Mdn

Religious leaders voice support for Gates: The Ministers Alliance Association of Southern Nevada held a news conference at the West Las Vegas Library Tuesday to show its support for Gates, who was re-elected to the District D seat in 1996 with 79 percent of the vote.

Berkley in nation's capital lining up campaign backing: Mark D. Preston; Berkley, a University and Community College System of Nevada regent and well-known Democratic Party activist, is in the nation's capital this week to meet with key political leaders and representatives from powerful lobbying groups, as they begin to size up who they will support in the November election.

Preps: Boys Golf, All Southern Zone team: Ben Auten, Bonanza

Metro's Conner makes cut in Spokane: Cathy Scott; The list was narrowed this week from six candidates to three.

Remains found north of Reno; two suspects sought: Authorities believe they know the victim's identity, but his name was being withheld pending positive identification and notification of relatives.

State to receive $12.5 million for drinking-water improvements: "Rural Nevadans have the same rights to safe, clean drinking water as Nevadans living in urban communities," Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said.

8 days in June critical to future of temporary storage in Nevada: Paul Kane; Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi had wanted to bring up the nuclear waste storage legislation two weeks ago. But it appears unlikely that a vote will come until Congress returns from its 10-day Memorial Day recess, according to supporters and opponents of the bill.

Pacific Coast League standings through May 19, 1998: Midwest Division

Plan approved for pedestrian bridges at Strip, Flamingo: Jeff Schweers; Tuesday the commission made good on a promise made last month that it would dictate the design and location of the east and north bridges if the Flamingo Hilton and Barbary Coast hotel-casinos couldn't reach a compromise.

Henderson Police: Tape misleading: Adrienne Packer; Viewers were stunned by the video aired on KVBC Channel 3 -- in the middle of sweeps week -- and participated Tuesday in the station's poll about whether the footage represented police brutality.

Public hearing to be held on perchlorate: The solid-fuel oxidizer perchlorate -- a salt that dissolves in water -- has been discovered in the water supplies of four Western states, including Las Vegas' drinking water.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Aging fighters can't escape Father Time: Dean Juipe; He can also show you another picture that he says he has carried for more than 20 years. It's the one of his idol, Carlos Palomino.

Legislature not part of state's hot job market: An additional 10 legislators, nine of them Assembly members, called it quits, choosing not to run for re-election.

Thursday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO&up Mdn Clm

Mayors tell of gaming's good side: A small group of clergy and followers, carrying signs that read "gambling hurts," conducted a prayer meeting outside the downtown James R. Thompson Center before the nine-member gambling commission began its hearing.

Appeal to high court looms in Justice Center quarrel: Bill Gang; District Judge Mark Gibbons on Tuesday denied a motion by attorneys for a downtown law firm to overturn the county's seizure of its office, but postponed enforcement of his order until a high court appeal can be filed.

Many officials seeking forgiveness for tardy filing of financial forms: She's been in and out of emergency rooms and hospitals, suffering from pneumonia, undergoing a hysterectomy and being hit with a perforated colon.

Box score: Canadians 9, Stars 4: Vancouver

Ralph Siraco's Selections For Hollywood Park: Selections made for clear racing conditions before scratches.

Plan for Test Site rockets flying south: Regulation red tape is snarling progress to launch satellites from the Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Industry rejects NTS waste dump alternative: Energy Secretary Federico Pena made the offer to the utilities Monday. The Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry's lobbying arm, rejected it immediately.

Biaggi to lead environment agency: Biaggi, 40, succeeds Lou Dodgion who is retiring in July.

Second air ambulance set for LV: Art Nadler; Mercy Air Services of Fontana, Calif., will become the second air-ambulance company to service the Southern Nevada market on June 1. Valley Hospital's Flight for Life helicopter is currently the only air-ambulance service available.

Events to honor fallen warriors: Branch 90 of the Fleet Reserve Association will honor departed shipmates of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard in a flotilla of boats on Lake Mead at 9 a.m. Monday, continuing a local tradition that began in the late 1970s.

Editorial: Putting kids first in custody battles: In 1993, Barbara and Fred Spierer's 6-year-old son, Mikey, was kidnapped by his birth father and taken to his homeland in war-torn Croatia. Only after traveling to Croatia, and negotiating with officials there, were his parents able to secure his release and bring him back to the United States.

Letter: 'Seinfeld' not so funny to cartoonist: Off and on for nine years, I've tried to watch and enjoy "Seinfeld." I've had a few chuckles, but mostly sat dumbfounded that these four surly, nasty, unlikable characters made it the No. 1 sitcom.

Harrah's distances itself from gaming's standard growth strategy: Gary Thompson; Harrah's Entertainment Corp. told investors Tuesday it's going back to basics in pursuit of growth.

New $20 bill should hinder counterfeiters: The Federal Reserve Bank will unveil the modified bill, which will begin circulation in the fall, today.

Letter: Last chance to win the 'notch' battle: I am a 78-year-old World War II vet with medals I'd gladly give back to our government for a notch win!

Columnist Peter Benton: Sinatra's life focus of golfing benefit: Peter Benton; THE LAS VEGAS Frank Sinatra Celebrity Classic, a week-long extravaganza hosted by Barbara Sinatra and Wayne Newton, is set next Tuesday through Sunday at Stallion Mountain Country Club.

Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Holiday weekend provides chance to go for bi g ones: HOPEFULLY THE weather will cooperate and the winds will settle down so those who have been waiting to fish and boat at Lake Mead and other water holes will be rewarded this Memorial Day Weekend.

Closed door hearing could lead to dismissal of indictment: Bill Gang; The indictment names four men. If the motions are granted, the case against one or more of the men, one of whom sources identified as a prominent businessman, would be buried without public scrutiny.

Preps: Gators' Golfer honored: Preps: Gators' Golfer honored

LV shopping centers seek tenants at ICSC convention: Many of the builders of the unprecedented boom in retail properties also expect their projects to be must-see attractions that will help spur tourism, which they feel is suffering a cyclical lull right now.

Double homicide changes life at retirement complex: Karen Zekan; Today, they would gather for a 10:30 a.m. service at Palm Mortuary to say goodbye to their friend whose brutal weekend murder is still unsettling many hearts.

People in the News for May 20, 1998: Miscellany

Here Comes The Judge -- Online: Ruth Walker; New technologies are holding out the prospect of swifter, more efficient, more consistent redress of grievances in both the criminal and civil justice systems.

Pair getting quick taste of Triple-A: Steve Guiremand; Scot Hemmings was standing in the outfield during the first inning of his game against Seattle Mariners' extended spring training squad in Peoria, Ariz., on Monday morning when he was waved into the dugout.

Obituaries for May 20, 1998: She is survived by five sons, James Williams of Buffalo, N.Y., Levi Armstrong, James Edward Armstrong and Calvin Julious Armstrong, all of Silver Creek, Miss., and Willie J. Armstrong of Chicago; three daughters, Mable Holloway, Tressie Washington and Georgia R. Reed, all of Las Vegas; one brother, Ethel Robertson of Danville, Ill.; two sisters, Fannie Mae Hooker of Silver Creek and Novella Jefferson of Prentiss, Miss.; 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Hotel workers launch postcard drive over meal taxes: Brian Seals; But it's not just a public relations battle, it is one that will play out either in Congress or in federal court.

Freshman catcher making right calls for Gorman: Spencer Patterson; It isn't very often that a team headed to a state baseball tournament has a ninth-grader in its starting lineup, to say nothing of a freshman catcher behind the plate, calling pitches and handling a veteran pitching staff.

CasaBlanca was unaware of sting operation: John Wilen; "The casino had no connection at all to this thing," said Craig Ziegler, an agent in the U.S. Customs service's Las Vegas office.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Bill Boyd keeps his family's legacy of giving alive: Few Las Vegans remember the good old days when the post-war pioneers of this burgeoning valley risked what they had -- which wasn't much more than their good names and fertile minds -- to invest in a dream that was to become the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Gorman graduate Matt Smith tabbed as top frosh: Gorman graduate Matt Smith tabbed as top frosh

'To End a War': Take Force, Add Envoys and 'Fudge,' Then Stir: Richard Bernstein; But in Richard Holbrooke's first-person account of the U.S. negotiation that ended the conflict in Bosnia, it becomes clear that Holbrooke himself, in direct contradiction to Washington's official statements, was telling Tudjman to press militarily ahead, even urging him to seize specific Serbian-held towns.

Editorial: Union embraces Wilhelm for post: On Monday, Wilhelm's intelligence, perseverance and innovation were rewarded as he was elected president of the 300,000-member international Culinary Union. Wilhelm, 52, was a unanimous choice of the union's executive board that met in Chicago. He takes over on Aug. 1, serving the remaining three years of Ed Hanley's five-year term.

'The Living Sea' comes to Omnimax: "The Living Sea," a 1995 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary (Short Subject), engulfs audiences with stunning footage of the world ocean and its abundant life. The film takes viewers riding over thundering waves as Coast Guard trainees rehearse rough-surf rescue, scuba diving among the Cental Pacific islands of Palau, surfing in Hawaii and swimming eyeball-to-eyeball with humpback whales. Audiences will follow a remotely operated vehicle to a depth of 3,00 feet, where they will view at close range strange creatures of the deep.

School district considers hiring armed deputies to patrol schools: "It improves student safety by providing for three trained individuals on every high school campus and one at the middle schools where we don't have any now," Superintendent Mary Nebgen said. "As a school district our mission is educating students and a police force is a questionable aspect of that if there's a better way to provide for student safety."

Columnist Tim Graham: FX helps fill boxing void on television: Tim Graham; The biggest fear surrounding the cancellation of "USA Tuesday Night Fights" was that the decision signified the declining future of televised boxing.

Letter: Setting record straight on workers' rights initiative: Why?

Howard Hughes chief is retiring: Goolsby, 56, is leaving because the company is hugely successful and is on track to remain so; and because he wants to spend more time with his family, said Hughes executive Mark Brown.

Clement struggles for Stars: Steve Guiremand; San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers stopped by Cashman Field Tuesday night to watch the team's top pitching prospect, Matt Clement, lose a 9-4 decision to the Vancouver Canadians.

Man pleads guilty to fraud try in concealing accident: Karen Zekan; Bernard G. Johnson, 43, was accused of concealing the noon-time accident Jan. 25 when he purchased a policy at 2:45 p.m. from Nevada General Insurance Company.