Print edition for November 19, 1998

Brief: LV firm considering name change: Saint Andrews and its parent company, Las Vegas Discount Golf & Tennis Co., also canceled a plan to merge. Both companies reported losses in quarterly earnings reports issued Tuesday, mostly attributed to opening expenses of the park at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sunset Road.

Brief: American Wagering sues for funds: Bill Williams of Imagineering had no comment on the case, but said Imagineering had sued American Wagering in Washoe County about a month ago on a related matter.

Community briefs: Nov. 3: a boy to Elisa and Reginald Bomer. Nov. 4: a boy to Laura and Miguel Lopez. Nov. 5: a boy to Brynn and Marvin Lovato; a boy to Candace and Mark Manibusan. Nov. 6: a girl to Pauline Greennbaum and Spencer Freemar; a boy to Belinda and Robert Schaver III; a boy to Nicole DuBois and Ronalo Dale. Nov. 7: a boy to Veronica and Edgar Morales. Nov. 8: a boy to Brianna Keomaka. Nov. 9: a boy to Monica and James Gillespie; a girl to Susan and Markus Stroke.

Letter: Republican' use of phrases often belies the truth: I also hope they realize that "more freedom" and "fewer regulations" mean allowing polluters a free hand to poison the air and water while allowing the devastation of our forests and streams by profiteering lumber and mining interests. I am sure Republicans sincerely believe all these ideas will "promote economic growth" and "improve retirement programs" but either fail to realize or just don't care about the harm to people and the environment they would cause.

Letter: Proposed insurance reform won't work: It would seem to be more reasonable to spread the costs of the high-risk individuals over the entire taxpayer base rather than the limited conscientious insurance participants.

Casinos OK with GOP results: Casino leaders, including Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, had pushed Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., for the No. 2 post in the House, but Dunn lost in the second ballot.

Signing of deed 'resolves' Hinson controversy: Lisa Snedeker and Bill Gang; That's how close Linda Hinson came to being charged criminally by the district attorney's office.

Developers ante up for projects in SW valley: Adrienne Packer; The County Commission, acting as a zoning board, approved two new communities Wednesday after the developers agreed to spend millions of dollars on public facilities.

Cubs to play at Cashman: The Chicago Cubs and home run star Sammy Sosa have given a verbal commitment to participate in next year's Big League Weekend at Cashman Field.

Letter: Gambling panel news not new: NBC sportscaster Bob Costas' testimony was indeed a story of unpleasant circumstance, but to deny the millions of people not addicted the privilege of pursuing their love of gambling is un-American and unconstitutional.

Columnist Jeff German: Reid having easy time in Senate whip race: But uncontested is how his race for Democratic whip in the Senate is being described by Washington insiders.

Las Vegas news briefs: Nguyen told prospective investors they would get a monthly return of 10 percent over six months, but except for a small number of investors, the return never came, said a spokesman for the attorney general's office.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Be aware of charities in disguise: Ruthe Deskin; What's in a name?

Public gets the chance to speak on growth issues of next 20 years: Lisa Snedeker; The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority is holding separate public hearings in Boulder City, Henderson and North Las Vegas to get input from residents on how to deal with growth issues ranging from transportation to health care.

Reid opposes Guinn's stance: Reid said, "I do not support a permanent withdrawal of lands. A periodic review is in the best interest of all Nevadans."

NLV Council rejects casino proposal: Lisa Snedeker; While NevStar Gaming and Entertainment Corp.'s casino project breezed through the North Las Vegas Planning Commission last month with 6-0 approval and minimal citizen opposition, the City Council voted the project down Wednesday night in a 3-1 vote, with one abstention.

Legislators already 'fudging' on 120-day limit: A panel of legislative leaders Wednesday agreed to allow the budget committees of the Senate and the Assembly to begin meeting two weeks prior to the Feb. 1 opening of the Legislature next year. These lawmakers would receive their $130-a-day salary, and the time would not count against the limit.

Democrats fill out leadership team for Assembly work: But there are some surprises. Assemblyman Bob Price of North Las Vegas, who has headed the Taxation Committee for at least the last five sessions, is being replaced by David Goldwater of Las Vegas.

Advisory council listens to more complaints over zoning: Valerie Miller; Now that the controversial issue of industrial land in Calico Ridge has been sent to arbitration, another group of residents from the neighboring "Section Four" area are up in arms over the CAC's proposal to allow for a higher density development along Lake mead Drive on Henderson's northeast side.

Cabbie aids cop after injured man steals patrol car: A local cab driver came to the assistance of a police officer early today after a motorist, injured in a three-car accident at 2112 Western Ave., stole a patrol car while the officer was helping other injured people, Metro Police said.

Reid's chief of staff Martinez stepping down: "Reynaldo Martinez has been giving back to the community ever since I first knew him during high school," Reid said, as he announced the resignation.

New homes expected to give new hope to West Las Vegas: Erin Neff; Community activists joined with bankers, city officials and nonprofit redevelopment groups Wednesday to break ground for the first four of 13 new homes planned to be built in the city's original McWilliams Townsite -- an area that has fallen into decay and abandonment during decades of neglect.

Judges' rule may help city in its battle against adult store: Bill Gang; The District Court judges at their Wednesday meeting passed a court rule that seemingly plugged the hole in the law that has let Hot Stuff keep operating despite a determination by city officials that it is a sexually-oriented business in an area where that is not allowed.

Public purchase of LV Wash lands urged: The Friends of the Desert Wetlands Park voted unanimously Wednesday to endorse making sensitive lands in the Las Vegas Wash available for purchase or exchange outside the growth boundary set in recent legislation.

Future of Big Springs debated at hearing: In one of the last of a series of workshops bringing concerned citizens together at the Las Vegas Valley Water District, native Southern Nevadans and newcomers urged planners to preserve the springs site to help educate new residents and children.

Guinn aide says Comeaux to stay on as budget chief: Peter Ernaut, chief of the transition team for Gov.-elect Guinn, said Wednesday that Comeaux will stay on in his present $92,000-a-year job.

Hero in rescue of two men in mine honored: Pennington, 71, was honored on Wednesday by the Clark County Fire Department for discovering the two men after they had been trapped in the mine for nearly three days with no food or water.

Rapist returns to face punishment after 10 years: Bill Gang; As the consequence of Wednesday's plea bargain, the 35-year-old defendant will be sentenced to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served 10 years.

Former Las Vegas adult theater owner Glass dies at 77: In that way, he did not fit the typical image of an adult theater operator.

Deadline extended for tuition plan: The program was initiated in September.

Officer sues Metro Police over internal investigation: Bill Gang and Jerry Fink; There was to be a hearing today on the motion for a preliminary injunction against Metro Police at 4 p.m. before District Judge Sally Loehrer.

Judges affirm policy on politics in courtrooms: Bill Gang; That didn't sit well with his opponent, Shelley Berkley, who won the election. She complained that nonjudges should not have access to public courtrooms for political purposes.

Nevada ranks worst in shortfalls expected to hurt public schools: Benjamin Grove; That was the finding of a study released Wednesday by the National Education Association. The study ranked states according to their projected budget shortfalls and listed Nevada No. 50.

Brief: Work starts on first Detroit casino: While work is under way on the first of three temporary casinos, city officials and casino executives are struggling in their effort to acquire land for three permanent casinos.

Editorial: Clinton trip to Japan merits our attention: The president is right to exert pressure on the Japanese government to do more to jump-start its economy. U.S. financial assistance can go only so far; Japan and other Asian nations will need to do their part also by stimulating their economies. If Japan is able to turn around its economy, it will go a long way in ensuring the future growth of the global economy, including right here in our own back yard.

Brief: Smoke causes hotel evacuation: There were no injuries and the guest in the room where the fire started was not in the room at the time.

Brief: Light sentence for mobster tied to LV casinos: When he was indicted in 1996, the Justice Department said Tocco was involved in infiltrating the Frontier and Aladdin hotel-casinos in Las Vegas and the Edgewater hotel-casino in Laughlin in the 1960s and 1970s. Prosecutors said there is no evidence of current mob control of those properties now.

Brief: Hilton spinoff approved: Park Place will be headed by Arthur Goldberg, the acquisition-minded executive who joined Hilton when that company acquired Bally Entertainment.

Editorial: Western primary euphoria: At first glance the proposal makes sense. The presidential nominating process usually is over by the time Western states hold their primaries or caucuses, so moving up the dates of the election will benefit the West. In addition, by having eight states hold their primary on the same day it would give them the kind of clout that states in the South receive from their Super Tuesday primary.

Brief: AC casino fined: Showboat, which was acquired this year by Harrah's Entertainment, admitted to the latest violations and fired three financial executives.

Brief: Casino loses $1.5 million: Isle of Capri Casinos owns and operates riverboat and dockside casinos in Biloxi and Vicksburg in Mississippi, and in Bossier City and Lake Charles in Louisiana. The company also operates the Pompano Park Harness Racing Track in Pompano Beach, Fla. Isle of Capri expects to open its land-based casino in Black Hawk, Colo., in 1999.

Brief: Record profits predicted: That figure is better than the record $5.2 billion airlines collectively earned in 1997, but it will likely be surpassed with an estimated $6 billion to $6.5 billion in net profits in 1999.

Restaurant destroyed by fire sues insurers: Brian Seals; The suit seeks unspecified financial damages to cover the restaurant owner's losses. Investigators estimated damage to the restaurant at $500,000 in the days following the blaze.

Friday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO&up Mdn Clm: 1 Brash (Smith) 110; 2 General (Pincay) 115; 3 Francis Parker (Garcia) 120; 4 Smoking Pow Wow (Alferez) 117; 5 Poplar (Desormeaux) 119; 6 Inwood (Solis) 119; 7 Gotta Dance (Gonzalez) 110; 8 Going Light (Valdez) 110.

Rebels get committments from two prep standouts: Steve Carp; The early signing period for national letters of intent has come and gone and UNLV's cupboard is not bare.

USC has turned things around after a lackluster 1997-'98 season: Steve Carp; The 1997-98 campaign may be in Henry Bibby's rear-view mirror, but the wreck that was Southern Cal's basketball season a year ago remains etched in Bibby's mind.

Friday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 2YO Clm: 1 Cayerless Moment (Delgadillo) 117; 2 Leme At Em (Carr) 117; 3 Shoot The Clock (Warren) 115; 4 Graduate (Tohill) 117; 5 On Probation (RBaze) 117; 6 Pirate's Stash (Lopez) 117.

Reid, Guinn at odds over indefinite lockup of Nellis range: "We should review it periodically. It should not be permanently withdrawn," the Nevada Democrat said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Reno planners give nod to Beverly Hillbillies Casino: "I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm happy about it," Baer said following a public hearing on the project proposed for Park Lane Mall, south of downtown Reno.

Horseshoe eighty-sixes Stupak again: Gary Thompson; On Tuesday, the State Gaming Control Board said the casino had until Dec. 7 to redeem $250,000 in chips held by Stupak. But Horseshoe owner Becky Behnen said she would appeal the board's order.

Patterson's picks -- 4A state championship: Spencer Patterson; By Spencer Patterson

The Meadows battles Needles for 2A championship: Spencer Patterson; Two of Friday's small school Nevada state football championships will have a decidedly non-Nevada flavor to them.

Developers propose four more casinos: John Wilen; Planning commissioners in Henderson and Clark County are to consider proposals for at least four new casino resorts tonight, and must decide whether to extend time limits for two previously approved projects.

Agency won't push enforcement of casino chip ban: Robert Macy; "This is not an issue with us," Steve DuCharme, chairman of the state Gaming Control Board, said Wednesday. "We don't plan on changing any of our enforcement efforts."

Tenderness or tradition?: Kimberley McGee; Corrine Flatt didn't have a choice when it was time for her baby to be delivered.

Prep realignment weighed for a new millennium: Spencer Patterson; Nevada's prep sports scene could have a very different look heading into the new millennium, depending on what happens at two re-alignment meetings slated for this week in Las Vegas.

Lady Rebels win again: Led by freshman forward Linda Froehlich's game-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds, the UNLV Lady Rebels defeated Texas-San Antonio 65-60 in Wednesday night in Texas.

Newest Indiana floating casino set to open: Beginning Saturday, the sessions will begin at 11 a.m.

Players facing waiting game for coach: Steve Guiremand; They came from places like Honolulu, San Diego and Clifton, N.J., to play for Jeff Horton.

Box score: Ice Dogs 3, Thunder 1: Second Period -- 1, Long Beach, Augusta 10 (Roach, Wansborough) 3:12 (pp). 2, Long Beach, Lemieux 1 (Lambert, Augusta) 11:38 (pp). 3, Long Beach, Hollis 3 (Lemieux, Matteucci) 17:09. Penalties: McCambridge, Las Vegas (cross-checking) 1:57; Jutras, Long Beach (roughing) 3:40; Ewen, Las Vegas (roughing) 3:40; Miller, Las Vegas (roughing) 5:49; Wansborough, Long Beach (roughing) 8:10; Jutras, Long Beach (misconduct) 8:10; Ewen, Las Vegas (roughing) 8:10; Romaniuk, Las Vegas (charging) 9:29; Helmer, Las Vegas (roughing) 11:10; Wansborough, Long Beach (roughing) 13:33; DeBrusk, Las Vegas (roughing) 13:33; Petit, Las Vegas (holding) 13:51.

Lorie Kane winning her battles on LPGA Tour: Lorie Kane didn't join the LPGA Tour until 1996, so she never had a chance to meet Heather Farr, the popular LPGA player who lost a courageous 4 1/2-year battle with cancer in 1993.

Reid says he'll be voice of moderation as new whip: Scott Sonner; "One of the reasons I'm getting this job is I'm a moderate in the Senate," said Reid, re-elected to a third-term by just 401 votes over conservative Republican Rep. John Ensign.

Columnist Dean Juipe: McKinney fights for position, shot at title fight with Hamed: Dean Juipe; At this point in the career of Kennedy McKinney the stakes are huge. Prestige, money and championships are of vital importance.

Why are Comdexters so loath to buy their thrills?: Geoff Carter; Having said that, I can say that I'm not much for the places men go to see them in action. I've never gotten on with so-called "gentlemen's clubs" - not because there's topless women everywhere (Go, breasts, go!) but because there's smug, horny, desperate men everywhere and they look like idiots and smell like chumps. I don't like being reminded of the base idiocy of the male child, so I don't go to strip clubs, and I satisfy my tops-and-tails fetish by watching Helen Hunt in "Twister" - again and again and again.

Thunder tumbles into cellar after loss to Long Beach: Tim Graham; The Las Vegas Thunder posted some impressive numbers. It just didn't do it early or often enough.

Reno Air to be acquired by American Airlines: Sandra Chereb; The $124 million deal calls for American to acquire all outstanding common shares of Reno Air for $7.75 cents per share.

Fight schedule -- November 19, 1998: At Irvine, Calif., Gustavo Tapia, Westminster, Calif., vs. Rogelio Castaneda, Mexico, 10, junior welterweights.

Columnist Tim Graham: Rumor mill cranks over UNLV job: Tim Graham; It doesn't take long for the rumor mill to start churning.

LV companies cash in on iris-identification systems: Anonymous Data Corp., headed by Dr. James Beecham, a practicing pathologist, is preparing to field-test a mobile iris scanning system being shown at Comdex Fall, the giant computer trade show that is expected to draw 226,000 people to Las Vegas before it closes Friday.

Tourism execs weigh Comdex impact: Robert Macy; Comdex officials are estimating the final attendance will top 220,000, surpassing last year's record of 211,000.

North Las Vegas officials reject $140 million project: NevStar Chairman Michael Signorelli said the company may look elsewhere for a location to build the project. Included would be a 200-room hotel, a 37,000-square-foot casino, a bowling center, movie theater, fitness center, retail complex, video arcade and restaurants.

ESPN deal to pad UNLV's budget: Steve Carp; The fledgling Mountain West Conference has taken a quantum leap forward in terms of credibility as well as visibility after reaching a tentative agreement with ESPN on a seven-year, $48 million contract.

Williams latest Las Vegan to claim a world championship: Dean Juipe; He paid his dues.

Spartans tackle Elko and years of dominance by north schools: Spencer Patterson; When Cimarron-Memorial takes the field Friday for Nevada's 4A football championship, the Spartans won't just have Elko to contend with.

Nevada Focus: Digging up some Tahoe history: "You'd be surprised at all the things we've found. It's quite an array," Maher says. "Everything from Native American sites to flumes and logging chutes."

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Fil Clm: 1 Sweep The Salt (Santagata) 118; 2 Honey Sauce (Beckner) 112; 3 Bouncing Around (Castillo) 112; 4 Bushmill (Nelson) 116; 5 Andthat'sthetruth (Gryder) 116; 6 Two Putt (Diaz) 113; 7 La Femme (Diego) 109; 8 Arctic Gold (Molina) 106; 9 Truth Value (Espinoza) 116.

Obituaries for November 19, 1998: He is survived by one daughter, Michele Alexander of Las Vegas; and three grandchildren.

Walters co-defendant enters not-guilty plea: Bill Gang; Pray was ordered Wednesday to stand trial along with Walters and Jimmie Jay Hanley on June 7 in District Judge Donald Mosley's courtroom, although attorneys for the defendants have vowed to file motions to dismiss the charges.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Missiles for Saddam: On my way back to Nevada, I picked up some newspapers in Houston. Sure enough, at least one writer was already declaring that Saddam Hussein had won again. The crisis had been postponed and now Clinton's foreign policy is under fire. To the best of my recollection, it wasn't President Clinton in 1991 who allowed the Republican Guard to take its tanks and helicopters back to Baghdad and be used a short time later to butcher the Kurds.