NLV: City gets more time for TV show

Lisa Snedeker

Thursday, April 8, 1999 | 11:19 a.m.

"North Las Vegas Now!" will be back on the air beginning April 25 for 13 new half-hour shows, but at a different time and on a network station.

Hosted by Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Coleman, the show may be seen at 7:30 a.m. Sundays on KVVU Channel 5.

Coleman vowed last fall that she was going to put the show on one of the local stations. The first programs, which ran through Dec. 6, were broadcast at 11 a.m. Sundays on KFBT Channel 33, or cable 6.

The North Las Vegas City Council Wednesday helped bring her avowal to fruition, unanimously agreeing to provide $20,000 for the additional programs as well as promotional tape for the city in a partnership with the chamber. The city financed the initial 13 shows to the tune of $19,500.

The council is investing the money as part of its effort to boost the image of North Las Vegas.

Coleman told the council the majority of the upcoming shows, which will run through July, will be shot on location.

"The show talks about the city's positives," she said. "We really want to showcase all of North Las Vegas."

The television show is part of a long-term effort to create a positive image for the city that is known to many by its informal moniker "Northtown," which has become in many people's minds synonymous with homeless shelters, gangs, drugs and street crimes.

So far, Coleman has raised $32,000, adding she anticipates a number of additional, substantial donations. She estimated the total cost of the additional shows at $74,131.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith and Councilman William Robinson said they would like to see the television show become self-supporting in the future.

"I think it's hard to place a dollar value on what the show is doing for the city ... but at some point, it needs to fly on its own," Smith said.

Jacque Risner, economic development manager for the city, told the council the first segment of shows were deemed a success.

Coleman added that Channel 4, the local public-access cable channel, will air reruns three times a week as it did with the previous segments.

"North Las Vegas Now!" is produced by Coleen Stauffer and Christine Johnston of Eclipse Productions.