Print edition for August 6, 1999

EPA grant will help Las Vegas clean up contaminated sites: Erin Neff; Calling it a boon for both the environment and the economy, the city of Las Vegas accepted half a million dollars from the EPA on Thursday to help spark revitalization of slightly contaminated sites downtown.

Ensign questions recount cost: CARSON CITY -- Former Rep. John Ensign wants a recount of the costs of the recount of the election last November in which he lost to Sen. Harry Reid by 401 votes.

Blown tire leads to parkway death: Jace Radke; A leather tool belt with a hammer snug in its ring and orange extension cords were strewn across Summerlin Parkway Thursday afternoon after an accident took the life of a 24-year-old man returning home from work.

Saturday at Saratoga: 1st race 7 fur 3YO&up Clm: 1 Carson County (Espinoza) 118; 2 Cappiano (DeCarlo) 118; 3 Emperor Orr (Velazquez) 118; 4 Fight for Love (Diego) 115; 5 Sea Horse (Gryder) 118; 6 Bye Bye Boker (Luzzi) 118; 7 Deja de Retarme( (Chavez) 118; 8 Crafty Hombre (Prado) 118; 9 Rufasa (Beitia) 118; 10 Carrbine Special (Bridgmohan) 118; 11 Cox's Magic (Day) 118; 12 Fire Spark (Dominguez) 118.

Western states' use of Colorado River water: A look at current Colorado River water use by states and facts about the river and individual water use, according to the Colorado River Water Users Association:

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Del Mar: 1ST RACE:

Saturday at Del Mar: 1st race 6 fur 3YO&up Mdn: 1 Onkle Phil (Pedroza) 118; 2 Deposit On Top (McCarron) 118; 3 Colorswiththewind (Alvarado) 118; 4 McCordnskuba (Blanc) 118; 5 Hit the Silk (Puglisi) 118; 6 Prized Friend (Nakatani) 118; 7 Little Memin (Solis) 118.

508688250.html: Saturday

Las Vegas Motor Speedway points standings: 1. Scott Gafforini 670; 2. Chris Lowden 640; 3. Chuck Trickle 528; 4. Jerry Spilsbury 526; 5. Steve Anderson 496; 6. Ken Holt 492; 7. Joe Kirsch 464; 8. Dave Quartaro 404; 9. George Antill 394; 10. Lance Magin 374; 11. Rich Attasani 350; 12. Sam Crow 336; 13. Richard Bridges 332; 14. Ray Hooper Jr. 318; 15. Nick Antrillo 248.

Box score: Rainiers 10, Stars 0: Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas' Mack to enter Hall: Spencer Patterson; He may be entering the Football Hall of Fame with Lawrence Taylor and Eric Dickerson -- two of the flashiest players in NFL history -- but make no mistake: Tom Mack was the consummate blue-collar worker during his 13 professional seasons.

Nevada State American Legion Baseball Tournament: Friday's Results

Recruits to report Saturday: Steve Guiremand; John Robinson's first UNLV recruiting class reports to fall practice Saturday afternoon and will hold its first workout on Monday morning at Rebel Park.

Pharmacy fined for double-filling prescription: Art Nadler; The state Board of Pharmacy fined a national pharmacy chain and a pharmacist Thursday for double-filling an elderly woman's prescription.

Agassi wins 2 matches: Agassi opened with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-3 victory over Richey Reneberg in a match postponed from Wednesday because of rain.

Movie Guys: 'Iron Giant' a towering achievement in animation: Grades: Jeff, A; Dave, A.

Date book: Michael Green, a Community College of Southern Nevada professor and contributor to the recently published book "The Maverick Spirit: Building a New Nevada," will discuss the book and his chapter on late Sun Publisher Hank Greenspun at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Desert Willow Literary Guild, 2020 Horizon Ridge Drive.

Obituaries for August 6, 1999: Emanuel Berry

Coyotes lose in Anaheim: The Coyotes are now four points out of first place with four games remaining.

Domenici's plan could contain Yucca's fate: The fate of alternatives to dumping 70,000 tons of highly radioactive waste into Yucca Mountain lies within the proposed Senate Energy and Natural Resources budget.

Shelf Life -- Scott Dickensheets: 'A Short History of Las Vegas' lives up to its title: Barbara and Myrick Land's "A Short History of Las Vegas" (University of Nevada Press, $15.95) starts with a mistake. Chapter 1's opening anecdote features Las Vegas Sun columnist Muriel Stevens driving a public radio crew around the city. The Lands spell her name "Stephens."

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Rudd has plenty on the line at Indianapolis: Ricky Rudd may have more incentive to win the Brickyard 400 than any of the other 42 drivers in Saturday's race.

Mason provides laugh-packed hour: Joe Delaney; Jackie Mason possesses a brilliant mind; he is an observer, a thinker and a philosopher when he is not pointing out the wonderful absurdities of everyday life.

Letter: Art Force: ad man extraordinaire: Art's wife, Marian, was confined to a wheelchair for the 10 years I can attest to. He worked out of his home in order to care for her. Once in a while you would see them off camera in the rear of an ongoing promotion.

Where I Stand -- Pat Christenson: Well-revenued venues: FIFTEEN YEARS AGO the Thomas & Mack Center opened. Twenty-five years ago Sam Boyd Stadium was built. Neither of these facilities were of cost to local taxpayers yet their value to the community has been unprecedented.

Editorial: McGwire may have erased andro stigma: During his assault last year on one of baseball's most cherished records, in which he shattered the previous single season mark of 61 home runs set by Roger Maris, controversy erupted when McGwire acknowledged using androstenedione. While the use of "andro" is allowed by Major League Baseball, it has been banned by the National Football League, the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Letter: Congress needs to ensure medical records kept private: Why do we need a federal medical privacy law? Health records contain highly personal information. Yet, under current, law, individuals have virtually no control over the information in their health records.

LV team in quarterfinals: Against Selbu from Norway, Amie Romney scored her first goal of the Cup and Vanesha Bailey added the final goal of the game in the second half, ensuring a 2-0 win.

Letter: Hillary Clinton not convincing: Give it up Hillary and get a life.

Birth Announcements: July 23: A boy to Melissa and Tariq Jordan; a girl to Angela and Jeffery Duke.

Silverado wins Legion title: Spencer Patterson; With a berth to regionals already locked up, Silverado came into the week-long American Legion Baseball Nevada State Tournament playing for pride alone.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Mason, others have always been politically incorrect: Joe Delaney; Political correctness in the area of comedy has been a negative force, doing more harm than good. ... Ethnic humor, once one of the richest sources of comedy, has been greatly inhibited. ... One person, Jackie Mason, currently appearing in the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre, has been a very funny, very successful exception.

Letter: Clearing up DMV misconceptions: This law was passed as an anti-stalking and privacy protection measure, but recognizing that hit-and-run accidents create a need for license plate information, the 1997 Legislature amended the law to grant records access to auto insurance companies.

Bail option delayed for ex-cop in sex case: Bill Gang; District Judge Michael Douglas has had second thoughts about the $5,000 cash bail he set early this week for a former Metro Police officer charged with having sex with a 14-year-old girl he met while transporting her to a county home for displaced children.

Sound Check -- Geoff Carter: Pay a lovely musical visit to the 'Buena Vista Social Club': Late in "Buena Vista Social Club," Wim Wenders' bravura concert film/documentary of the all-star Cuban jazz group of the same name, comes the most affecting film moment of the year. Vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer has just performed with the group at Carnegie Hall and is strolling through the streets of Manhattan, murmuring, "Lovely ... lovely ... lovely."

Herrera calls for removal of Askew: Adrienne Packer; After just seven months on the Clark County Commission, Dario Herrera said he has concluded that the county's top administrator lacks the innovation and energy to lead the valley into the next century.

Padres bosses check arena location: Erin Neff; Their minor league team is already in town, but San Diego Padres executives came to Las Vegas last weekend to take in more than a Stars game.

Goodman defends his Cabinet selection: Erin Neff; Mayor Oscar Goodman is defending his selection of Rose Dominguez as his volunteer liaison to the Hispanic community despite her Anglo background and lack of Spanish language skills.

Stars shut out by Tacoma, 10-0: Tacoma starter Eric Weaver, who no-hit the Stars for 4 2/3 innings before giving up a bloop single to Aaron Guiel, was making an injury rehab start and picked up his first win of the season in three decisions.

LV woman in battle over missing jewels: Sandy Thompson; An 82-year-old Las Vegas woman is seeking the return of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry she says disappeared while in the hands of her divorce attorney's firm.

Editorial: Settle Venetian bickering: We do know that a prolonged battle between a Strip resort and its prime contractor will not be viewed favorably by Wall Street investors. They wield considerable influence over the gaming industry in general and Las Vegas megaresorts in particular. One bad project may dissuade financiers from participating in future Las Vegas investment opportunities. That is why we urge both sides to reach a swift and amicable settlement.

Dial File -- Steve Bornfeld: Unexamined life is not worth TV: Tonight on "The E! True Hollywood Story that goes Behind the Music time and time and Time and Again to present a Biography of all the shocking Mysteries and Scandals on the upcoming Everything - You - Never - Wanted - To - Know - About - Everyone - But - Were - Too - Indifferent - To - Ask Biography Channel":

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Speedway changes not all so hot: When Ronald Reagan campaigned for the presidency in 1980, one of the questions he asked Americans was "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Local briefs for August 6, 1999: A team of local law enforcement agents arrested an inmate Thursday who escaped from Indian Springs boot camp in April.

Nevadans rip DOE report: The Department of Energy encourages comments on the draft Yucca Mountain Repository Environmental Impact Statement. Comments may be submitted at a public hearing or:

Companies fined for dust pollution: The Clark County Health District's Air Pollution Control Division issued $37,000 in penalties in July to nine companies for major air pollution control violations.

Blazes draw firefighters from around nation: Scott Sonner; RENO -- Firefighters were brought in by the hundreds to fight wildfires that blackened more than 900 square miles of Nevada range, threatening ranches and historic buildings.

Mining officials say industry is under government attack: Matt Kelley; WASHINGTON -- An Interior Department ruling that would restrict mining on federal land is part of a scheme to abolish the industry in the United States, mining representatives and their House supporters argue.

Profit falls for slot route operator: Jackpot blamed the decline on a $2.1 million charge for the termination of a merger with Carnival Resorts & Casinos and the closing of the Owl Club casino in Battle Mountain, Nev.

Black Book nomination submitted for fugitive slot-machine cheater: CARSON CITY -- A professional slot machine cheater, said to be "on the lam" from federal authorities, was nominated Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board to be included in the Black Book, a list of those barred from casinos.

Las Vegas gains Atlanta, Tulsa flights: Comair Inc., a partner in Delta's worldwide network, will enter the Las Vegas market with one daily round-trip flight between Tulsa, Okla., and McCarran International Airport. The flight will leave Tulsa daily at 10:30 p.m., arriving at 11:25 p.m., and leave Las Vegas at 12:15 a.m., arriving in Tulsa at 4:49 a.m.

Miracle Mile flooding may have been averted: Confusion over who was to maintain the wash adjacent to the 520-unit Miracle Mile Mobile Home Park may have contributed to flooding that destroyed five homes and damaged another 10 last month, a Clark County official said Thursday.

Earnings decline as expected: Mirage said net income fell to $18.5 million, or 9 cents a share, from $33.6 million, or 18 cents a share, in the 1998 second quarter. Revenue rose to $575.2 million from $315.6.

Suit over convention center expansion headed to trial: District Judge James Mahan on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Venetian hotel-casino against the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority over its $150 million convention center expansion financing plan.

Suit alleges neglect led to developer's death: David Strow; A long-time employee of the late Las Vegas developer Ernest "Ernie" Becker is suing Becker's family and company, claiming neglect led to Becker's death in June at age 80.

Hotel-casino sues insurer over fire: The suit said the fire on May 29, 1998, caused substantial damage and prevented many of its rooms from being rented for several months.

MGM Grand to buy back more stock: MGM Grand completed a 12 million-share repurchase program earlier this year that saw it buy back 6 million shares at $35 each and another 6 million at $50 apiece.

Charges still flying between Venetian, Bovis: Gary Thompson; Lehrer McGovern Bovis Inc. reacted angrily today to the Venetian's claim it has made payments due to Bovis and other subcontractors working on the $1.5 billion resort.

Vegas tribute acts pay their respects to the real deal: So are the faces.

Bankruptcies: Elliston C. and Donnyss T. Rucker, formerly doing business as The Pink Door Floral and Gift Partnership, 8637 Castle Hill Ave., filed for Chapter 13. Assets and liabilities not available.

Gun, knife use down on campus: Crime in Clark County schools is up, but fewer students have been found using guns and knives to commit offenses.

Postal passing: It's 6 p.m. Monday in Goodsprings and the streets are empty.

Las Vegas ice maker sold: Officials said Mr. Ice, 1201 Searles Ave., has 55 employees and delivers up to 10 million bags per year locally. Las Vegas is one of Packaged Ice's top five to 10 markets.

Casinos' roles debated during problem gaming awareness week: David Strow; Everyone agrees that compulsive gambling is a problem. Now the question is this: Who is responsible for preventing it and helping problem gamblers?

Boy, 15, gets probation in shootings: Bill Gang; Matthew Cumplido, a 15-year-old boy who joined his father in a retaliatory rampage that resulted in the shotgun slayings of two men, has been given probation.

Governor proposes LV parking garage: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn says a parking garage may have to be built adjacent to the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas to free up land to construct more office space for state agencies.

Summer camp helps: Tavon, who is an outdoor person, has never been to camp but says she's interested in going.

Two sentenced in Blitzstein case: Kim Smith; One week after the man who arranged the hit on mobster Herbie Blitzstein was sentenced to 180 months in prison, two men who profited from Blitzstein's death appeared before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro to learn their fates.

LV takes steps to overhaul its core: Erin Neff; With studies suggesting downtown Las Vegas is sorely lacking affordable housing and is ripe for urban-style apartments, a San Diego developer is being tapped to create a project to fill both needs.

Prosecutors move to ensure testimony of key witness in Floyd case: Bill Gang; Fearing that a key witness against Zane Floyd in the Albertson's supermarket slayings won't be available at trial, prosecutors have filed court documents seeking permission to preserve her story through a videotaped deposition.