Print edition for November 2, 1998

Letter: Other issues in Michigan election: Road conditions in Michigan reached an all-time low last year before the governor finally released federal funds to repair them. I have driven in Michigan for more than 50 years and they had never been as bad as they were last year when I left there. Of course, there is the issue of assisted suicide.

Serving homeless is city's dilemma: Lisa Snedeker; It's a quiet Wednesday evening in downtown Henderson.

Letter: Politicians talk, but say little: I'd like to go a little further. Maybe all politicians are liars. They don't think they are because they never answer a question. They dance around it and give some vague answer.

Letter: Congress won't do right thing: 2. Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel announces a minuscule increase in the Social Security checks due in January 1999.

Letter: Sweeping accusations hard to support: You say Ken Starr is not playing with a full deck. Again, what are you basing this on?

Drivers battling for four championships at LVMS: Legendary sprint-car driver Steve Kinser is poised to clinch his 15th World of Outlaws championship Wednesday night, but it won't be the only title handed out this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Sports books aren't panicking yet, but the NBA lockout has many worried about their bottom lines: Tim Graham; There were supposed to be throngs of roaring fans. There were supposed to be fast breaks, jump shots and slam dunks.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Denver is 8-0 yet will find 16-0 unlikely: Dean Juipe; They'll project, they'll analyze, they'll run the pertinent statistical numbers through every sort of data base in an effort to uncover a little insight.

Four days later, prep football playoffs begin: Spencer Patterson; Four days later than expected, the 1998 prep football playoffs kick off tonight, when the area's eight remaining 4A teams will be whittled down to four.

Scuffle after loss sums up Rebels' problems: Steve Guiremand; It appears the frustration of a probable winless season may finally be hitting the boiling point around UNLV's football team.

Pucks won't bring home same bucks if NBA season is lost: Tim Graham; The pucks probably won't pick up at the betting windows, even though the basketball bucks apparently won't be rolling in for some time.

Gambling addict pleads: Build stores without slots: John Wilen; The packed room of gaming commissioners, investigators and attorneys shuffled and stretched, checking watches and position papers, anticipating a break.

Blades 4, Thunder 1: KANSAS CITY--Jason Cirone scored for the sixth time in three games as the Kansas City Blades (4-7-0) defeated the Las Vegas Thunder (2-6-1) 4-1 Saturday in front of 3,485 at Kemper Arena. Cirone's hot streak has helped boost the Blades to their longest winning streak of the season, at three games. The Blades led from the fifth minute of the game, after Brendan Yarema scored his first goal of the season. Petr Nedved equalized for the Thunder at 12:21, but defenseman Mark Welsing's goal at 14:03 gave Kansas City the lead for good. Las Vegas goalie Konstantin Simchuk fended off ...

Rebels' coach happy with first year of program: Steve Carp; For a first-year program, they were lofty goals indeed.

LV business people: Desiree Leal of Century 21 Consolidated received the designation Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Horse fans prepare for biggest event -- Breeders' Cup: Ralph Siraco; On Saturday, America will once again go to the races.

IHL Standings -- November 2, 1998: Northeast Division

Bayno hoping his guys become more offensive this season: Steve Carp; He may preach defense first, but UNLV coach Bill Bayno knows his team is going to have to pick it up offensively this season if the program is to continue to grow and make it all the way back to national prominence.

Henderson lab seeks new uses for Timet's titanium: Brian Seals; But, as Timet President Andrew Dixey says, that's a finite market -- there are only so many planes that are going to be built in any given year.

LV gaming people: Felix Rappaport, who headed Boulder Station, left to become senior vice president of hotel operations at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

LV business events: Administrative professionals -- International Association of Administrative Professionals Las Vegas Oasis Chapter meeting. Nov. 10. 893-7779.

Gamers spending $85 million on election measures: Brett Pulley; Facing vital ballot initiatives and continuing to fight for increased acceptability across the country, the gambling industry and its supporters this year have contributed about $85 million to influence Tuesday's election.

Two arrested in beating death of Carlin man: Brown's body was found in a trash bin behind the Miner's Camp Bar around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Police Lt. Roy Ladd said.

UNLV vs Tulsa -- Game notes: Two weeks ago it was James Wofford's fumble at the goal line in overtime. Last week it was an officials' horrific mark on a key 4th-and-one play. Saturday, it was a botched PAT try that came back to haunt UNLV in its quest to snap what has now grown to a 14-game losing streak. The Rebels lost to a crippled Tulsa (3-5, 1-4) squad that was minus its two top quarterbacks and two top wide receivers, 20-16, on Halloween afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels might have at least been able to send this one into overtime if Kevin ...

Audit: Schools fail in tracking of equipment: Benjamin Grove; That was one finding of the most recent audit of the district.

Year 2000 problem among other gaps cited in annual report to School Board: -- The district's computers are not adequately prepared for the year 2000 problem. "Efforts are fragmented and there is limited management oversight," the audit said of the district's attempts to correct the problem.

International Hockey League Leaders -- November 2, 1998: Through Nov. 1

Radioactive water will stall approved condos: However, don't expect to see new residents moving in anytime soon. Construction at the site, part of a 2,200-unit subdivision being built by Rhodes Homes, is on hold while tests are being done to discover the source of radioactive underground water flowing under the land. The developer is being allowed only to grade for a golf course.

Carefree canines compete in flyball contest: Jace Radke; Both are part of the Western regional champion flyball team, Touch N Go, which sponsored this weekend's fourth annual Jumps N Jackpots flyball tournament in Las Vegas.

Rules on problem gambling approved: John Wilen; The Nevada Gaming Commission moved quickly at a special meeting this morning to approve new regulations designed to combat problem gambling.

Father of distance runner Wysocki dies: Wysocki, who lived in Las Vegas for 52 years, died Tuesday of heart failure at the Lifecare Center following a brief illness.

Nevada Focus: Teddy bear creator has taken 'incredible journey': Rosenbaum, who calls herself complicated and eclectic, made her first Teddy bear in response to the incredible pain brought about by numerous operations. She wanted something to cuddle against her abdomen to bring comfort. She created Huggy Fuzzy, the first curly-haired bear.

Magazine details LV's love-hate relationship with Comdex: Here's what Business Week reports in its Nov. 9 issue:

Two die in separate weekend traffic accidents: Tyler Adams died Saturday at University Medical Center.

State judicial committee chastises judge candidates over ads: The committee also chastised James Mahan for his fliers and TV ads in his race against Michael Cherr for district judge Department 17, and District Judge Gary Redmon for his TV ad in his race against Drake Delanoy for the newly created judicial Department 19.

State ballot filled with tight races: He told a rally of about 80 people on the front steps of the State Capitol that citizens must "not be torn apart" by this issue and he urged legislators to join in funding the Nevada Nuclear Projects Office.

Pact foreseen for pedestrian bridges: Adrienne Packer; The two overpasses that will link the Caesars Palace and Barbary Coast hotel-casinos and Bally's and Barbary Coast are expected to cost $12.8 million.

Cal Fed to buy merging banks' leftovers in state: The San Francisco-based savings and loan, the second largest in the nation, operates almost exclusively in California. Today's acquisition more than doubles its presence in Nevada.

Obituaries for November 2, 1998: She is survived by two daughters, Bobbie Turner of Las Vegas and Alice Lancaster of Pahrump; three sons, Louie Carr of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and John Carr and Don Barnes, both of Des Moines, Iowa; one sister, Irene McAlpine of Alabama; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Trooper's appeal rejected in mail-bomb case: The court also turned away an appeal by workers at Area 51, a top-secret Air Force base about 90 miles north of Las Vegas, who claim they and colleagues may have been exposed to extremely harmful levels of hazardous waste.

Vegas chess event to introduce fans to 'Fischerrandom' style: David Clayton; On the line was the Las Vegas Sun and Benko was asked his thoughts on the eve of a promised "Battle of the Sexes" event in Las Vegas, where the evolution of his openings criticism, a new style of chess called Fischerrandom, would create an international sensation.

Vindicated Bongiovanni says he won't seek bench again: Bongiovanni was found innocent Friday of 13 charges of bribery and wire fraud.

Costly U.S. Senate race tops Nevada ballot: Martin Griffith; The race for U.S. senator between incumbent Democrat Harry Reid and Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., tops a long ballot Tuesday and will help shape the direction of the next Congress.

Concert Photos: Phish: Concert Photos: Phish

HIP to learning: Sandy Thompson; The packet contains simple items: Children's books, pencils, crayons, paper and a glue stick. But to Cassandra Bankston's 4-year-old daughter, it is a gift.

Concert Photos: Bow Wow Wow: Concert Photos: Bow Wow Wow

Poll shows big support for limits on legislative sessions: The poll was conducted over a three-day period ending Tuesday by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and KTNV-TV, Channel 13. It has an error margin of 3.5 percentage points.

Brief: Regulators delay action on sports book refunds: The rules approved crack down on messenger betting by prohibiting the use of cell phones and pagers in books, and say wagers cannot be placed via the Internet.

Local residents support band director cited for disturbing peace: "My phone has literally been ringing off the hook," Zabelsky said. "I am excited about the community support that we have for this band."

Brief: Labor backs off Spaghetti Bowl picketing: The Operating Engineers picketed the Spaghetti Bowl site since Sept. 14, protesting the termination of a union employee. But because the Building Trades Organizing Project is seeking to organize Meadow Valley employees, the NLRB decided there was some organizational intent behind the picketing. Organizational picketing is limited to 30 days, said Steve Wamser of the Las Vegas NLRB office.

Brief: Gambling executives found innocent of money laundering: Cleared were Joseph Rahi, a player development director; and Charbel Fleifel, a marketing executive.

Holiday Hotel-Casino closed: Customers were ushered out of the club at midnight.

Brief: New book rips gambling: A Business Week review says O'Brien "thinks gambling stinks and that its ubiquity is an abomination. He shows that since the odds always favor the house, the vast majority of gamblers are suckers. Furthermore, as he ably demonstrates, gambling usually doesn't bring the economic boon it promises to cities and states, attracts crooks galore and bilks the poor.'

Man sentenced for sexual assault of pizza deliverywoman: Lyon County sheriff's deputies said the woman was trying to deliver a pizza last Nov. 15 to a Mason Valley location when she was lured to an unlit area and sexually assaulted.

Brief: LV second best city for business: Of Las Vegas, Fortune notes it has ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. cities in terms of job creation and population growth since 1990.

Charges dropped against high school band director: Zabelsky was cited at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, after sleeping residents in a nearby subdivision complained about the pre-dawn rehearsal.

Trump Hotels denies interest in LV land: "A press release issued by Resort Properties of America describing a possible property acquisition in Las Vegas was unauthorized and is inaccurate," said Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts in a statement Friday afternoon.

School Board approves buying mobile homes to house teachers: School officials said adequate housing is the biggest obstacle in recruiting teachers to Gerlach 100 miles north of Reno on the edge of the Black Rock Desert.

Missing northern California plane found in Nevada, no survivors: The victims were identified as pilot William Goss, 54, of Nevada City, Calif., his wife, Karen, 54, and their son, Matthew, 24.

Brief: Details unveiled for new resort on Flamingo: Planned amenities include 2,033 guest rooms, a 234,000-square-foot casino, and conference, entertainment, restaurant and shopping areas.

1998 PGA Tour Winners: Jan. 8-11 - Mercedes Championships (Phil Mickelson)

Brief: Gaming executive hospitalized: Brief: Gaming executive hospitalized

Prep playoff schedule, results: SOUTHERN ZONE TOURNAMENT

Columnist Melissa Schorr: Judge by character, not chronology: Melissa Schorr; Take the case of Riley Weston, a writer on the new WB hit "Felicity," who was recently "exposed" as an imposter. Her sin? Instead of being the 19-year-old Wunderkind she had purported to be, she was actually 32.

Brief: Chief executive leaves LV firm: The Las Vegas company is a producer and wholesaler of fat-free dairy products. The company's stock dipped in recent months, from about $1.30 per share in July to about 38 cents a share today.

Brief: Casino developer seeks approvals: The resort will look like a Bavarian ski chalet, said Jim Shadlaus, a partner at Richard Tam Enterprises.