Las Vegas news briefs

Friday, April 30, 1999 | 12:01 p.m.

Man to stand trial in drive-by slaying

A May 10 trial date is set for a 22-year-old Las Vegas man charged with murder in a drive-by shooting.

Levenral Demario "Marlo" Polk, 22, is accused of killing Walter Hodges, 22, who was found lying in Owens Avenue near Nellis Boulevard. Hodges was dead at the scene from two gunshot wounds in the chest, Metro Police said.

Prosecutors on Thursday told District Judge Joseph Bonaventure they are attempting to locate a weapons expert in San Francisco to testify about apparent gunpowder burns that were found in the car from which the shots were alleged to have been fired.

Bonaventure appeared concern that such a matter was coming before him so close to the trial date and cautioned the district attorney's office to get any information gathered to the public defender's office so that the defense can have time to get its own expert and not delay the trial.

A series of other motions to exclude or admit other evidence about Polk's prior misdemeanor arrests and convictions are scheduled to be heard by Bonaventure next Tuesday.

Polk was taken into custody at about 8 a.m. Jan. 7, as he was en route to Justice Court on an unrelated drug charge.

Metro Police detectives questioned him about the Hodges slaying and later booked him onto the Clark County Detention Center, where he remains.

The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed.

Young lawyers group honored

The Nevada Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section has been recognized for donating business attire to the needy.

The organization's Las Vegas and Reno chapters were honored by the USA TODAY newspaper for its annual Law Suits program.

Last October in Las Vegas and Reno the clothing was handed out to benefit the Washoe Association for Retarded Citizens and MASH Village in Las Vegas.

Also, as part of the honor, Wal-Mart stores will donate $2,000 to the charity of the group's choice.

There were more than 5,000 entries to the contest and the Young Lawyers Section was chosen as the Nevada winner.

Air Force base grounds air show

Nellis Air Force Base has canceled its May 8 air show following the Thunderbirds announcement Wednesday that they were temporarily suspending operations.

"The Thunderbirds are grounded. Nellis is the home of the Thunderbirds, and Maj. Gen. Glen Moorhead stated that it wouldn't be an air show without the Thunderbirds," Nellis spokeswoman Airman First Class Monica Munro said today.

Moorehead is the commander of the Air Warfare Center at Nellis.

The Thunderbirds suspended operations following an incident Sunday at an air show in Florida where two Thunderbird F-16s touched each other during a four-plane diamond formation demonstration.

The last air show at Nellis was two years ago, Munro said, when a two-day event was conducted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force. She said 425,000 people attended.

This year's show was to have had an A-10 aircraft air combat aerial show and a canine demonstration. The Thunderbirds were the featured attraction.

Report details contributions

The nuclear power industry showered Congress with $15.5 million in 1998 campaign contributions to persuade members to vote for temporary radioactive storage in Nevada, a nonprofit organization founded by Ralph Nader reports.

Public Citizen said Thursday that the proposed temporary storage bill HR 45 will have major environmental, health and safety consequences for people living along road and rail routes across the country. Leading recipients of nuclear contributions are representatives who supported a similar bill last year.

The House has passed a bill that would temporarily store nuclear wastes at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, while a repository site at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is under study. But the Senate has failed to muster enough votes in the past three years largely due to a veto threat.

President Clinton has vowed to veto any temporary storage in Nevada until studies are completed at Yucca Mountain in 2001.

Morrison Knudsen honored with award

U.S. Department of Energy officials presented a safety award Thursday to Morrison Knudsen Corp. for completing more than 1 million work hours without a lost-time accident at the proposed nuclear waste repository under study at Yucca Mountain.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Morrison Knudsen joined the Yucca Mountain team in February 1991. The company employs 220 people on the project, which is 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Public workshop scheduled Thursday

Las Vegas Springs developers have scheduled a public workshop from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday to allow residents to help design a cultural and environmental preserve at the birthplace of the city.

The preserve is slated to open in 2005 for the centennial of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Springs, located on Las Vegas Valley Water District property bounded by Valley View Boulevard on the west, Alta Drive on the south and U.S. 95 on the north, has attracted people for more than 5,000 years.

In addition to its historical significance, the property serves as a habitat for a wide range of plants and animals.

Health district hires liaison

Jennifer Sizemore has been hired as the public health information specialist for the Clark County Health District, Dr. Donald Kwalick, the chief health officer, recently announced.

She fills a new position designed to serve as a liaison between the health department's four divisions and the media.

Sizemore is an eight-year resident of Las Vegas. She has a degree in journalism and mass communications and a background in public affairs, community relations and advertising.

Veteran secretary announces retirement

Mary Lou Moser, longtime secretary to the Board of Regents, announced Thursday she is retiring at the end of June.

The announcement came on the first day of a two-day regents meeting in Reno.

"We are heartbroken to lose her," said Chairwoman Jill Derby.

Derby declared June "Mary Lou Moser Month."

Moser has been with the university system 30 years, 17 as secretary to the regents.

Union member convicted in fires

A member of the Steelworkers union has been convicted of setting fire to the cars of workers who crossed the picket line at Titanium Metals Corp. during the 1993-94 strike.

Stephen Cupka of Las Vegas will be sentenced 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27 in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Johnnie Rawlinson. Cupka was allowed to remain free on bond.

On April 16, a federal jury found Cupka, a member of Steelworkers Local 4856, guilty of two counts of arson and one count of conspiracy and not guilty of three other felony counts.

Security officers file lawsuit

Two women who work as security officers for Circus Circus Enterprises have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court against their employer.

Rebecca Reynolds and Maleen Millmine filed the suit this week alleging they were subjected to misconduct by male security officers who the women claim used video surveillance equipment to "videotape individuals (at Circus Circus) engaged in sexual conduct."

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