Print edition for September 28, 1998

Suspects in double killing arraigned: Bill Gang; Justice of the Peace Doug Smith set a Jan. 13 preliminary hearing date for 15-year-old Shauntay Weaton and 16-year-old DeAngelo Michell in the double slaying Wednesday in the couple's home at 832 Blankenship Ave., near H Street.

1998-99 Las Vegas Thunder Schedule: Broadcast note: All games broadcast on KENO AM-1460

Sparks fly at Reid-Ensign debate: By Steve Kanigher; Any doubts about the bitterness of the Nevada contest between Democrat Reid and Republican Ensign for Reid's Senate seat were wiped out from the opening bell as the candidates debated one another for the first time heading into the Nov. 3 general election.

Letter: We can get rid of the blame by getting rid of Clinton: There is enough blame to go around. It is an act of chicken little to throw rotten eggs at us. True, many Americans are resisting to become part of some egomaniac's desire to whip us into one global omelet.

New locks keep BLM from inspecting Sunrise landfill: The BLM owns the 720-acre site but the former landfill is leased to Clark County and managed by Silver State Disposal Service, which notified the federal agency Friday that it was switching locks to keep unauthorized people out until damaged caused by September floods is repaired.

Oily substance on road may have contributed to death: "There was a layer of oil on the road," Reno street maintenance manager Dennis Krause said.

Binion's coins missing: Ted Binion's valuable collection of old coins and currency is missing from his Las Vegas home, his lawyer confirmed Sunday.

Crook may have job back with impressive relief performance: Steve Guiremand; Football hasn't been a very enjoyable experience for UNLV quarterback Kevin Crook this season.

Letter: PETA doesn't put animals on same level as humans: Instead of telling PETA members to "get a life," Jennings should work toward giving life back to the orangutans -- not dressing them up and parading them around for profit. To quote Desmond Morris, "No animal should be dominated or degraded to entertain us." Think about it.

UNLV soccer team blanks UCSB: The Rebels struck early on an Andrew Hooker goal in the 10th minute. The assist was credited to Geoff Barto. Jason Melendez added a score at the 24:46 mark on a breakaway goal to give UNLV a 2-0 advantage going into the half. Todd Roberts scored UNLV's final goal at 69:10 off a rebound from Gaucho goalkeeper Brad Coddington. UNLV out-shot the Gauchos 13-10 and took five corners to UCSB's three.

LV civic leader Mack dies: Services for the Southern Nevada resident of 69 years who long served as vice chairman of Valley Bank will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Nevada designating $6 mil. for answer to Year 2000 bug: Brian Seals; Gov. Bob Miller wants to make sure the state's computers are ready for the problem upon the day of reckoning on Jan. 1, 2000.

Palm City condo plans reviewed: Valerie Miller; Commissioners are continuing their review of condominium plans, with the agreement of developer Rhodes Homes, until their Oct. 29 meeting because of concerns over the density of the project.

Del Papa: Officials may place votes about friends: Del Papa told Las Vegas City Attorney Brad Jerbic Friday that a person should abstain only if that friend would benefit from the vote.

State building service planned for Bennett: He once confided to a friend that when he died he would like to have his services at that facility so "we'll get some use out of those floors."

Hurricane closes Biloxi casinos: "We are closed," said Jaye Snyder, spokeswoman for Grand Casinos, which has casinos in Biloxi and Gulfport, Miss. "The Mississippi Gaming Commission closed all 11 casinos on the Gulf Coast at 8 p.m. Friday."

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Weekend racing roundup: Ralph Siraco; Friday night at the Meadowlands, N.J., Tomorrows Cat rolled to a decisive victory in the $500,000 Pegasus Handicap by defeating his sophomore classmates that included pacesetter Rock And Roll and California invader Barter Town. Jockey Joe Bravo, using his knowledge of track bias, kept Tomorrows Cat close to the pace and go the jump on favorite Comic Strip who had to much to do and finished 3rd while Limit Out closed to be 2nd. Limit Out came into the 1 1/8 miles race under the lights fresh from a victory in the Jerome Handicap just six days prior at Belmont ...

Eight still hospitalized from tour bus crash: Hospital spokeswoman Kerry Garcia said they had minor injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises to back and internal injuries. Most of the patients were from the San Francisco Bay area.

Letter: Letter writer has no sympathy for Japan's economic crisis: I for one am not disappointed in the concept of retribution while respectfully hoping that we are not due to pay "ours."

It was a weekend for the arts in LV: Jace Radke and Kristen Peterson; About 40 booths with artists and food vendors and two stages with musical groups greeted visitors as they strolled the area behind the Arts Factory at First Street and Boulder Avenue on Saturday and Sunday.

Editorial: Sunrise landfill needs a solution: As the Sun's Mary Manning reported last week, a recent flash flood caused a breach in the old Sunrise landfill and allowed a torrent of wastes to flow into an area just four miles from the source of the Las Vegas Valley's drinking water.

LV men arrested in alleged scam: Five of the defendants were arrested last week and one remains at large, federal prosecutors in New York said.

Rebels net Clay Court victory: The duo, ranked 25th nationally, earned UNLV its third-ever Grand Slam title by collecting three victories in one day -- all in straight sets.

Feds find wrongdoing at national Culinary Union: Steven Greenhouse; The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union is better known in Las Vegas as the Culinary Union. It represents Las Vegas hotel-casino workers and is a political force with 35,855 members.

Kerr, PEPCON may be Superfund sites: Scientists are concerned that perchlorate contaminating the Colorado River could affect 23 million people drawing water to drink and grow crops.

Obituaries for September 28, 1998: She is survived by two daughters, Carolyn J. Custer and Colleen J. Custer, both of Las Vegas; and one sister, Clarice Moxley of San Jose, Calif.

Letter: Definition of sexual relationship might prove Clinton didn't lie: If we asked, would we expect the woman in these two scenarios to say that she had a sexual relationship with the man? Of course not. In her mind she was performed upon with a sexual act she did not seek, whether she enjoyed it or not.

Upset of Cimarron puts Gorman back in Sunset race: Spencer Patterson; Just one week after seeing No. 2 Cheyenne rally from a 21-point deficit to beat them, the Gaels had allowed the No. 4 Spartans to come back from 16 points down to take the lead.

Las Vegas Cup -- Final Results: Unlimited Hydroplanes

LV Business Fast Track: Lance Barnhart is a sales representative at Mirage Computers Inc.

Tanker truck driver called hero by some witnesses: Martin Griffith; The driver, Dave Cermak, 55, of Sparks, was killed Saturday after he swerved to avoid hitting two cars stopped at the intersection to help in another accident.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: 3 sluggers, 2 seasons, 1 computer: Prairie View's 14-12 victory over Langston (the university in Oklahoma, not Mark) and Lovett's short-lived marriage to Ms. Crawford notwithstanding, nobody straddled the boundary like McGwire and Sammy Sosa this summer. But what would have happened had they stepped across it?

LVMS Results for Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998: Saturday's Final Results

UNLV vs. Colorado State game notes: Normally, losing a conference game on the road by 22 points isn't much reason to celebrate. But during a September not to remember for UNLV's struggling football team, a 38-16 loss at Colorado State produced some optimism from the 0-4 Rebels. "We're disappointed that we lost, but at least we showed up," Rebels coach Jeff Horton said in a very telling quote about his squad. "We looked like a football team. We moved the ball and we were real physical on defense." So what if one of Colorado State's star running backs, Damon Washington, sat this one out with an ...

Las Vegas news briefs: He apparently was unable to get his parachute open after jumping from 12,500 feet Saturday, said a representative of Skydive Las Vegas. Officials have speculated that the man may not have been able to reach the ripcord on his parachute.

Big casino operators urged to get into Internet gaming: John Wilen; "There is widespread support for this bill in Congress," said Sebastian Sinclair, an analyst with Christiansen-Cummings Associates in New York.

Immigrant employees protest ruling to void work permits: But the 29-year-old dishwasher at the Treasure Island Hotel-Casino could not hear the chants uttered by the mostly-Hispanic marchers.

Letter: Republicans will pay for witch hunt against Clinton: Take heed, Republicans: Vote against our president and I will vote against you in the upcoming elections, and I hope America will follow suit to exact revenge for your "immoral" deeds.

Las Vegas business briefs: sgreen@lasvegassun.com; STATION CASINOS MAY BUY BACK SHARES -- Station Casinos Inc. said its board of directors authorized the re-purchase of up to $30 million of its outstanding equity securities. This is contingent on approval from the company's bankers since share repurchases are not allowed under Station's revolving loan.

Commissioners to take up new cable TV agreement: Adrienne Packer; The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Clark County Commission chambers.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Hart's 'Minuteman' isn't a good military alternative: My conclusions have come from reading his book "The Minuteman: Restoring an Army of the People." Hart's idea of having a citizen army at all times is exactly what we had during our Revolutionary War and, because of the draft, also to fight World War II. Between wars our country has always, very dangerously, let down its military guard and allowed our regular forces to deteriorate.

Killer's death penalty trial to continue: The penalty hearing is scheduled to start today for Robinson, found guilty of the killing of Tracy Kennedy in September 1996.

Investigation under way into deadly Navy helicopter crash: The wreckage of the civilian plane was located Sunday in the same area by another Navy helicopter.

Villwock thunders at Mead; Hydroplane victory made at windy lake: Having already wrapped up the drivers championship the week before, Dave Villwock set his sights on the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association's record book.

Man, 71, murdered with Candy Lady indentified: Shauntay Wheaton, 15, and DeAngelo Michell, 16, have been charged in the deaths of Evans and Flora Johnson, 86, Metro Police said. The pair was scheduled to be arraigned in Justice Judge Doug Smith's courtroom this morning.

LV Upcoming Business Events: Hazardous waste management -- Seminar by UNLV's Small Business Development Center. Tuesday. 895-0852.

Miller fuming over out-of-context Ensign ad: "I support one man in the race to be Nevada's senator -- Harry Reid (D-Nev.)," Miller said. "I am disappointed and annoyed with John Ensign's misleading campaign tactics, taking a past statement out of context and representing it as an endorsement of his candidacy. I am saddened to find his campaign is trying to mislead the voting public into believing that I am anything but 100 percent behind the re-election of Sen. Reid."