Print edition for October 28, 1998

Residents win fight for traffic slowdown: Erin Neff; Leto, 78, and his neighbors in the Upland Boulevard area got a higher-tech version of his warning Tuesday, one that is costing $800,000 in city funds. It's a five-month construction project to return the four-lane street to a residential drive instead of the shortcut to U.S. 95 it has become.

Sierra still has plenty of room to grow: And its acquisition of Kaiser Permanente's Southwest Division in Dallas-Fort Worth earlier this year solidified its Texas operation with the addition of 123,000 new members.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Baby store can cause buyer's rash: Normally, when the honoree is listed at various stores, shopping for a baby gift is just a matter of calling the suggested store to choose something from the list. Most of the baby speciality stores, such as Dagerman's Just for Kids, gift wrap and deliver the gifts to the shower site if the number of gifts going is large enough.

Challenger Harney cites holes in 'Swiss cheese' plans for District F: Adrienne Packer; "That night I saw on TV a county official say this is how it has to be, that we're going to have floods," the Nevada Highway Patrol trooper recalled. "I said, 'Nope, this isn't the way it has to be.' At that time, I decided to run."

High court allows Fine to remain Family Court candidate: Bill Gang; But her gavel will be silenced.

Nevada economy to continue expanding, but at a slower rate: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's growth will slow down in the next two years and the Las Vegas casino industry could face volatile ups and downs.

Case of bookmaker's murder goes to jury: Bill Gang; The jury in District Judge John McGroarty's courtroom deliberated about four hours Tuesday after the conclusion of closing arguments in the case that had covered more than two weeks. They resumed the task this morning.

Caesars' improvements help Starwood earnings: The White Plains, New York-based real estate investment trust owns 650 hotels, including Caesars Palace and the Desert Inn. Starwood reported funds from operations of $295 million, or $1.40 a share, up from $49 million, or 80 cents, a year earlier. The profit was in line with the average estimate of $1.39 a share from analysts polled by First Call Corp.

Guinn total exceeds $5 million: Guinn, the GOP candidate, reported Tuesday he has received $5.3 million and has spent $5.1 million in his quest to be governor. The report shows Guinn put $450,000 of his own money into the campaign in early September.

Embattled former city manager files two suits against NLV: Lisa Snedeker; Moran said one suit, currently being prepared by his partner Jill Lynn, will sue the city in District Court for severance pay Hinson believes she is entitled to and the other will be a civil-rights suit filed in federal court.

Indictment expected in casino theft: Bill Gang; A Clark County Grand Jury heard testimony Tuesday and voted on the case against Kolstad, a slot booth cashier who already is facing a lawsuit over the missing million filed by the Horseshoe's insurance company.

Longtime owner of brick company Aiken dies at 97: Aiken was a direct descendant of James T.S. Allred, one of 30 men Mormon leader Brigham Young sent to Las Vegas Springs in 1855 to build the Mormon Fort, which still stands at what is now Las Vegas Boulevard near Washington Avenue.

Finances criticized in House race: Martin Kuz; The latest round of sparring began after the Berkley camp sent out a news release earlier this week accusing Chairez of "campaign finance irregularities." Among the charges are that Chairez violated Federal Election Commission regulations by accepting donations designated for the primary election after Nevada's Sept. 1 primaries, and that several Chairez donors have exceeded contribution limits for the general-election cycle.

Court upholds conviction of death row inmate: The court, in its unanimous opinion Tuesday, said there were minor errors committed during the trial and penalty hearing, but the evidence against Sherman was overwhelming. And the outcome would not change.

Incumbent Kenny proud of efforts on beltway, clean air: Adrienne Packer; Pushpins mark Kenny's door-to-door progress on a wall map, lawn signs are stacked by the front door waiting to be taken into neighborhoods and phones are ringing incessantly.

Repairs end sewage leak into wash: A building contractor sliced through the line Saturday, but the Clark County Sanitation District was not notified until Tuesday, spokesman Marty Flynn said.

Arpaio keeps his distance from political campaigning: Lisa Snedeker; Steve Bergstrom, Republican candidate for North Las Vegas constable, sponsored the forum at Mojave High School featuring Maricopa County's Joe Arapio, widely known as America's toughest sheriff for his inmate-management initiatives and volunteer posses.

Letter: TV network shows Clinton support: Except for CNN and C-SPAN, no other network saw fit to publicize this nonpeace agreement. They treated it for what it is -- a piece of paper they must take back to the Middle East for approval of their people. Good Luck!

Fraud alleged in LV mobile home loans: Brian Seals; Timothy Wirth, Charles Schmidt and David Barr were sued in Clark County District Court by Extravaganza Inc., owner of Sahara Mobile Homes Sales. Schmidt and Barr were vice presidents with Extravaganza until June, the suit said.

New panel puts LV Wash water quality improvement on fast track: The Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee met at the Henderson Convention Center for the first time Tuesday and decided to study ground water, impacts from development in and near the wash and ways to improve water quality.

Letter: With shelters full, why sell animals?: The people who buy these puppies think they are taking home a healthy, well adjusted companion animal. But in reality many times discover they have purchased a dog that has a personality problem, disease, or genetic defect --- caused by overbreeding or the unsanitary, squalid conditions of the "Puppy Mill."

Obituaries for October 28, 1998: He is survived by his wife, Harriet; five daughters, Cynthia Cook, Virginia Cook and Michelle Cook, all of California, and Elena Danley and Adriana Born, both of Texas; one son, Glenn Cook, and one brother, Don Cook, both of California; and nine grandchildren.

Ariz. sheriff stumps for volunteer force: Lisa Snedeker; That would explain how he has established the nation's largest volunteer posse organization since taking office in 1993.

Narrow fundraising edge seen in key state Senate race: The winner in the Nov. 3 general election will help determine whether the Republicans, who hold a 12-9 majority, will retain control of the Senate. The District 7 race is key because it was left vacant by Republican Kathy Augustine, who is running for state controller.

It may be a jungle out there, but students are looking forward to it: With a 28-foot-high dome ceiling and elements natural to other rain forests, the self-sustaining, climate-controlled biosphere will serve as a science laboratory for elementary school children in Clark County.

Worker comp provider earns $153 million: KPMG Peat Marwick LLP said Tuesday the company has assets of $1.3 billion, an increase of $311 million from the previous year.

Letter: President should be forgiven: Every day the papers and television have nothing good to say about our president. We're taught in school that the office of president is a great office and one to be respected. They're making us lose respect for the office. Adults or grown-ups are our examples or role models.

Ethics charge filed in commission duel: Adrienne Packer; The complaint stems from a Herrera-funded radio spot that erroneously claimed that Doyle's insurance company is in bad standing with the secretary of state's office.

Ballot question would clarify judges' discipline: As a result, voters are being asked this election to approve a constitutional amendment to remove the court's authority over the state Judicial Discipline Commission

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: 'Divine Divas' celebrate anniversary at Main Street Station: Elizabeth Foyt; Providing a true "come-as-you-are" atmosphere, the Triple 7 often finds denim-clad construction workers sharing tables with guests in formal evening attire, with all intent on having a good time. Food and beverage service is constant throughout the entertainment, with a full menu including freshly boiled shrimp, orange roughy, sushi and on-site brewed ales and beers.

Letter: Fiscal responsibility isn't strong suit of our legislators: The good-hearted Republicans wanted to give the money back to us in a tax break. It is our money. They put up a weak fight and caved to the ever fiscally irresponsible Democrats. The Democrats, promising to save Social Security, did no such thing as they went on a social spending spree instead.

Artist, civic leader Thelma Calhoun dies: Ed Koch and Cy Ryan; Calhoun, a well-known Nevada artist, died Sunday at Life Care Center in Reno.

UNLV Rebels shine at annual Fan Jam: Steve Carp; It was easy to tell Chris Richardson was comfortable on the basketball court. Anybody willing to jump over a chair occupied by a teammte so he could dunk has to be at ease with himself.

Sierra expands again with purchase of Mutual of Omaha's Nevada operation: Las Vegas-based Sierra Health Services Inc. signed an agreement Tuesday to buy the Nevada health care business of Exclusive Healthcare Inc., United of Omaha Life Insurance Co. and United World Life Insurance Co., all Mutual of Omaha subsidiaries.

1999 Las Vegas Stars Schedule: 1999 Las Vegas Stars Schedule

Community Briefs: * Aikido -- a Japanese martial art of self defense that begins Nov. 2.

Where the 'Buffalo' roams: Spandex is not for everyone.

Controversy over ex-regulators landing casino jobs: Brett Pulley; Instead of continuing to police the casino operators, he joined them, doubling his salary and becoming a senior vice president for Casino Magic, a casino hotel owner.

Trio of police impersonators remain at large: Karen Zekan; The victims told police they'd left open the front door of their home near Eastern and St. Louis avenues when, about 1:30 a.m. Monday, two men and a woman stormed in, guns drawn, flashing what looked like gold police badges.

Adelson remains wild card in county fundraising efforts: Democrat Williams, running in District E, raised $189,486 from Aug. 20 through Oct. 20, for a total of $573,061 for her campaign. Her Republican opponent, Mark Smith, raised $176,836 over the past two months for a total of $278,111.

Thursday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Fil Mdn Clm: 1 Briliant Ruby (Strauser) 117; 2 Untimely (Meza) 117; 3 Hello Lila (Burns) 117; 4 Fi De La (Perez) 117; 5 Bob O's Girl (Valdez) 110; 6 Silent Departure (Matias) 117.

Tuesday's Prep Results: Las Vegas 3, Vo-Tech 2. Goals: LV-Dominguez 3; VT-Diaz.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Full house buoys coach on hot seat: Dean Juipe; Lots of people, average people. And UNLV coaches, almost by the truckload.

Brief: Litigation over ownership rights to gambling games: Last February, Kerkuta invested $25,000 in an agreement that would give 35 percent ownership to him and 65 percent ownership to Richards, the suit states. Kerkuta alleges he was to be the only investor in the games, but later found out there were others. The suit alleges that more than 100 percent interest in the games has been sold by Richards.

Man to appeal death sentence: His public defender, Steve Gregory, asked unsuccessfully for a mishearing because Deputy District Attorney Egan Walker said that Geary had chosen death.

Rebels host regional tourney: Men's tennis players from 20 teams throughout the West will converge on the UNLV campus for the 1998 ITA Region VII Championships beginning today.

In just its third season the UNLV volleyball team is winning big: Tim Graham; Deitre Collins was on the cover of the 1996 UNLV volleyball media guide, standing in front of the unfinished New York-New York hotel-casino. The slogan "Building an Empire" was printed across the top.

Brief: Suit over gypsum mine: The suit alleges the company issued stock equal to 40 percent ownership in the company to the men, but that they have not paid for it. It also alleges they are making unauthorized sales of company stock.

Brief: Casinos hire greater percentage of the disabled: The state requires casinos to recruit and hire people with disabilities. The Rutgers study resulted in part from a lawsuit brought against the state Casino Control Commission by three groups representing the disabled.

Editorial: Endorsements for Board of Regents: In Subdistrict C, Tom Kirkpatrick faces John Ellerton.

Brief: Gaming company investigated again: This is the first indication local charges are possible after the U.S. Justice Department in August agreed to a $665,000 settlement with Hilton rather than file criminal charges against the gaming giant.

Miller: Yucca's fate bound for court: Nevada has been battling the nuclear industry and much of Congress to keep highly radioactive waste out of one of the fastest growing states in the nation.

Columnist Tim Graham: The Football Network promises nonstop gridiron action: Tim Graham; They laughed at the guys who conceived ESPN.

UNLV defender Hays stars on and off field: Steve Guiremand; Mark Hays has been on a roll.

Neonopolis backers confident they can compete with Strip: Erin Neff; Behind the scenes the financial moves are falling into place for Neonopolis -- a 264,000-square-foot shopping complex anchored by Mann Theatres' 16 screens.

Douglas County High band director cited: People in a subdivision near the football field say they don't have tin ears, but 6:30 is a little early for practice.

Brief: Men accused of forcing official to turn over money: The suit further alleges the men entered Advanced Construction Materials office and took proprietary information. The suit seeks damages and an injunction preventing the men from using the proprietary information.

Stars open season April 8, 1999: The Las Vegas Stars will open their 1999 season at Cashman Field on April 8 when they begin a four-game series with the Omaha Golden Spikes, the triple-A affliate of the Kansas City Royals.

Brief: Regulators fine tune new rules: Much of the discussion at Tuesday's meeting again centered around banning the use of special promotional wagers to attract high-roller betters. While the industry says promotional wagers are necessary to keep high-wager betters in Nevada books, Gaming Control Board officials say they are simply a veiled attempt to illegally circumvent a recent state law banning books from offering rebates to their best customers.

Thursday at Santa Anita: 1ST RACE 1-1/16 mi 3YO Fil: 1 Steward I Can (Garcia) 115; 2 Elevator Gail (Pincay) 115; 3 Lots Of Laughs (Pedroza) 115; 4 Sisterbull (Steiner) 115; 5 Luckyisforever (Ramsammy) 117; 6 Anita Margarita (Solis) 115.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Hunting license sales off: Paula DelGiudice; Hunting license sales declined in the majority of states in 1997, with some states reporting large decreases.

Reno council approves pay raise: The pay hikes don't go into effect until the next council and mayor are seated. Mayor Jeff Griffin, the only Council member who is running for re-election, abstained from the 3-2 vote.

State panel approves record $450 million in highway projects: While the money will be authorized for spending in 1999, state transportation officials said it actually will be spent over several years as projects are designed and finished.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Three-Tour event attracts top field: It is not considered an official event by any of the tours, but that hasn't stopped the Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge from drawing the biggest names in golf to its annual charity event.

Editorial: Selections for constable races: In the hotly contested North Las Vegas constable's race, Constable Herb Brown is facing Republican Steven Bergstrom. Brown, a Democrat, was selected to replace Lou Tabat who retired earlier this year. Brown has 26 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as a U.S. marshal for the District of Nevada and assistant chief of police for North Las Vegas. Herb Brown is solid, respected and the best choice for the job, receiving the Sun's endorsement.

Problem gaming rules expanded: John Wilen; This is a significant departure. Earlier drafts of proposed new regulations applied only to big nonrestricted licensees like slot route operators and hotel-casinos.

Columnist Peter Benton: Rio Secco hosts inaugural Danny Gans Invitational: Peter Benton; If you are a guest of the Rio hotel-casino you can play at their exclusive Rio Secco golf course for $190. For $300, Clark County residents can play the course that has been voted one of the best in the United States.

Brief: Henderson considers electricity options: Mark Calhoun, director of public works for the city, said the comments were filed to keep the municipality's options open as restructuring of the electrical industry unfolds between now and Jan. 1, 2000, when competition is due to start.

Brief: 'Dean of blackjack' dies at 61: "He was not a gambler at all. He really didn't like gambling. But he enjoyed the mathematics of it and the people he met through it," his wife Lydia Griffin told the Sacramento Bee.

Editorial: Choices for county races: In the race for assessor, the office which appraises and assesses real estate for property-tax purposes, incumbent Mark Schofield, a Democrat, faces Republican Robert Beardshall and Libertarian Dick Geyer. Assessing property can be a political hot potato but Schofield has demonstrated that he has the courage to make assessments based on facts, not emotion. Mark Schofield receives our endorsement.

Brief: LV hospital owner buys back stock: Quorum owns Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas.

Harvey's to get facelift: The low-rise entrance to the resort will be changed to more closely resemble the overall high-rise look of the rest of the resort.

Brief: Downtown LV attraction sued: Fremont Street Experience officials had yet to be served with the suit and had no comment.

Thursday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up F&M Mdn: 1 Trading Right (Samyn) 117; 2 a-Bally Duff Dancer (Velazquez) 117; 3 I Am A Cutie (Davis) 117; 4 Watrals Rosita (Nelson) 121; 5 La Belle Cuantal (Chavez) 117; 6 Irish Dear (Gryder) 117; 7 Barbara J.D. (Leon) 117; 8 a-Critics Acclaim (Bravo) 117.