Print edition for August 18, 1999

Nevada gov won't sign proclamation for Reno's gay pride event: CARSON CITY - The zany irreverence of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is just too much for Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn. He won't sign a proclamation for a gay pride event in Reno because the "Sisters" are participating.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVI sponsor exemptions tough to come by: The task of awarding sponsor exemptions to play in the Las Vegas Invitational never has been an easy one.

Grand image on the Strip: Grace Leong; Size matters.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Getting back to shopping, post-vacation: Three weeks in Boston and New Hampshire were sublime: gorgeous weather (New Hampshire, not Boston), cool enough at night for blankets, warm enough during the day for swimming in Silver Lake or to just sit on the deck with a book. I spent a lot of time loon watching, but only once did I catch a glimpse of these grand water birds.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Playhouse construction preview held at House of Blues: Elizabeth Foyt; High spirits and spectacular views were enjoyed from the 43rd floor of Mandalay Bay when the House of Blues Foundation recently hosted the Nevada Association for the Handicapped. A preview of Playhouse '99, the mid-morning event allowed guests to learn details on the gala evening scheduled for Oct. 9 at the Mirage. Assisting with the brief program was City Councilman Michael McDonald, as well as Brenda Doumani of "The Young and the Restless," joined by Vince Triggs, NAH's executive director.

Business jet makes 'wheels-up' landing in Las Vegas: "If this is your plan, then I'm glad my children are with me," Paparone said after the pilot of the plane told the family to pray. "I just had to rely on my faith, and I was just grateful that they were with me."

Tribes kick off new TV ads to let voters know Indian gambling still in limbo: The commercials, backed by some 40 tribes, are needed "because most Californians believe Proposition 5's landslide victory has assured that gaming on tribal lands is protected," Macarro said. "Most people don't realize it hasn't yet been implemented."

Construction management accredited: This program will prepare students for management positions on major construction projects including the building of hotels, freeways and flood-control facilities.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Hot seat is familiar for Horton: Dean Juipe; At the age of 64, John Robinson has no intention of coaching anywhere after he leaves or retires from UNLV. Win or lose, success or failure, this is it for him.

'James McNair's Cakes' offers treats to please the soul: James McNair has made a career writing single-subject cookbooks. In his latest effort, "James McNair's Cakes" (Chronicle Books, $16.95), he presents a collection of cakes that are designed to please.

Nevada university to develop promising anti-pollution technology: Scott Sonner; RENO, Nev. - DuPont Co. awarded patent rights to the University of Nevada, Reno on Wednesday to develop technology that may drastically reduce pollution from mines.

CORRECTION: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Man pleads guilty to shooting officer: In a negotiated settlement, a man who shot a Metro Police officer in February has pleaded guilty to two counts of aiming a firearm at a human being.

County courthouse goes dark: LAS VEGAS - A failed transformer plunged the Clark County Courthouse into darkness, forcing officials to shut down operations and postpone trials.

State approves extra money to fight wildfires: CARSON CITY -- As Nevada experiences its worst range and forest fire season in the past three years, the state Forestry Division has successfully pleaded for extra money to fight the blazes.

Box score: Redhawks 5, Stars 2: Las Vegas

Adams eliminated in World Chess semifinals: Akopian of Armenia won for the second time with the black pieces in this four-game mini-match.

Community news briefs for August 18, 1999: McCaw School of Mines in Henderson needs volunteer tour guides. Each tour takes about 2 1/2 hours.

Gold producer reports second quarter loss: Alta Gold earned $114,000, or less than 1 cent per share, for the year-ago quarter. Revenues in the second quarter more than doubled, to $7.06 million.

Letter: NRA defender mixing up two diverse ideologies: Unfortunately, the author seems unable or unwilling to make a distinction between America and Nazi Germany. In return for the liquidation of the brown shirts, the German military was required to take an oath of allegiance to Hitler.

Thursday at Saratoga: 1st race 2-1/16 mi 4YO & up F&M Clm: 1 Flying Frenchman (Kingsley) 143; 2 Bear Saddle (Horgan) 135; 3 Neruda (Miller) 143; 4 Devil's Reach (Clancy) 152; 5 Seminole Spirt (McCarron) 140; 6 Class Eminence (Boucher) 140; 7 Cadence Count (Kiser) 140; 8 Duraznillo (Delozier) 146.

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

Gardener says dogs and curtains made him suspicious: Robert Macy; LAS VEGAS - A gardener says a pair of nervous dogs, closed curtains and locked doors seemed suspicious on Sept. 17, the day gambling figure Ted Binion was killed, but Thomas Loveday didn't call police.

Letter: America must define morals: They are intellectually lazy because they have accepted the premise that moral philosophy and conduct cannot be taught without violating the constitution.

Gulf Coast wants to replace Atlantic City as No. 2 hot spot: David Strow; Can the beaches of Biloxi replace the Boardwalk as America's second favorite gaming destination?

Tickets for Winston Cup race to go on sale Sept. 7: Tickets for the March 4, 2000 Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event also will be on sale beginning Sept. 7.

Results of Round 6, Game 3: Adams (5, England)- Akopian (31, Armenia) 0-1; Akopian advances 2 1/2-1/2.

Editorial: Health care agencies set for emergencies: And as the Sun's Launce Rake reported Monday, a group of representatives from local hospitals, fire departments, ambulance providers, ambulatory-care centers and the Clark County Health District have been meeting monthly to devise a strategy to cope with the possibility of taking care of those who get seriously injured at a time when the valley's population will nearly double with all the tourists here. Failing to plan for worst-case scenarios could imperil public safety. It's encouraging to see the government and health care providers readying themselves for the upcoming New Year's Eve celebration.

Sacramento area may be polluting Lake Tahoe: Growing air pollution in the California foothills and in Stockton are playing a significant role in clarity loss, said Dennis Murphy, an environmental researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Tighter security planned at NLV jail: A North Las Vegas jail official said security-tightening measures are under way in the wake of a recent high-profile jail break.

Sands Expo Center signs Super Show to 3-year deal: The Super Show, sponsored by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, actually is 25 individual shows conducted at one time. The 25 trade shows under the Super Show umbrella: Activewear Show; Outdoor Sports Show; Bowling, Billiards & Darts Show; Cycle Show; Fitness Show; Footwear Show; Golf Show; Imprint and Apparel Show; In-Line Skating Show; International Show; Sports Nutrition and Health Show; Licensed Sports Show; Marine and Water Sports Show; New Products Show; Team Sports Show; Tennis Show; Trading Cards and Collectible Products Show; Trophies & Awards Show; Winter Wear Show; e-sports Show; X-treme Sports Show; Casual Athletic Footwear Show; Urban Wear ...

Education board member reveals temporary move: CARSON CITY -- Bill Hanlon, one of the outspoken members of the state Board of Education, has moved out of his district in Clark County, but he doesn't intend to resign.

Hanson finds spot with Rebels -- at long snapper: Steve Guiremand; Ryan Hanson was the Orange County Register's Offensive Player of the Year last season after putting up some eye-popping numbers -- 3,082 yards passing, 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions -- at perennial Southern California powerhouse Los Alamitos High.

Thursday at Del Mar: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up Mdn Clm: 1 Royal Sunset (Steiner) 118; 2 Cubanito King (Jaime) 108; 3 Willy the Pooh (Vergara) 118; 4 Fly Kinda Guy (Valdivia) 118; 5 Jazz Collection (Enriquez) 118; 6 Tureek (Ramsammy) 118; 7 The Wicked Path (Antley) 118; 8 Ad Hawk (Garcia) 122; 9 Apieceofthepuzzle (Valenzuela) 122.

Letter: Baby elephants suffered cruel fate: Benjamin was in Las Vegas last June with Ringling Brothers at the Thomas & Mack. Those of us who observed him and baby Shirley felt so bad seeing them tugging on their short chains, rocking back and forth with nothing to do but wait to entertain their next audience. I'm reminded of babies in the wild we've all seen on PBS or National Geographic, playing in the water, running free, being protected by their family with no fear or worries. Benjamin and Kenny's lives, however, were quite different.

Disposable culture underlines environmental concerns and shift away from 'interdependence': Kimberley McGee; And when the lovely meal has been devoured, the products that no longer serve their use can all be tossed away -- generating a mere minimum of 10 pounds of garbage. No fuss! No mess! But, hey, where's it all go?

Editorial: Intolerance blemishes discourse: McCain said that "sharp and intolerant" rhetoric by politicians helped encourage the kind of bigotry that resulted in a white supremacist's shooting rampage in Los Angeles and others like it across the country recently. Unlike so many of his colleagues in Congress -- both Democrats and Republicans -- who take reactionary positions on issues, McCain is a political freethinker. For instance, while he is an unabashed conservative, he understands the need for some government intervention, including campaign finance reform and sensible restrictions on the tobacco industry, positions anathema to the GOP leadership. So the public will take seriously his view ...

Stars announced for annual children's benefit: LAS VEGAS - Singers Elton John and LeAnn Rimes head the list of performers scheduled for Andre Agassi's fifth annual charity concert.

Nevada students score higher than national average on ACT: CARSON CITY -- High school seniors in Nevada are posting higher scores in the American College Testing Program.

Fire chief job to stay: Simon is on her honeymoon but has said that her first choice for the job is assistant county manager Howard Reynolds.

Pawnshop trial nears conclusion: Bill Gang; Closing arguments were scheduled for today in the trial of three people in the bungled holdup at a Super Pawn Store that degenerated into a six-hour tension-filled standoff with police.

Fire still unofficial emergency: Nevada's top emergency management officials are sheduled to meet with commissioners Wednesday afternoon at the Elko County Courthouse.

Detroit casino business continues to boom: DETROIT -- MGM Grand Inc.'s new Detroit casino is continuing to draw big crowds, the Detroit News reported today.

Reward offered for power-line vandals: They said the vandals were using the insulators for target practice, but were endangering their own lives as well as those of unsuspecting visitors to the area who could have been electrocuted if they came in contact with the downed power lines.

State officials confident systems are Y2K compliant: But Nevada is 90 percent ready and only needs to do more testing, says Marlene Lockard, director of the state Department of Information and Technology.

International aid teams pour into earthquake zone, death toll nears 3,500: BRIAN MURPHY; Tens of thousands of people refused to return home as more than 250 aftershocks, several dozen of which were serious, rattled their confidence that the worst was over. Highway medians, parks, empty lots - anyplace open to the sky - were turned into makeshift tent cities across western Turkey.

Regulators asked to reconsider ruling: San Antonio-based SBC, owner of Nevada Bell, argued that such a ruling would expand the power of the PUC far beyond what Nevada legislators intended, and would be inconsistent with earlier rulings.

Neighborhood meetings for parkway expansion: Valerie Miller; In an effort to try to ease concerns of worried residents, the city of Henderson will hold two neighborhood meetings on Thursday on the expansion of Horizon Ridge Parkway.

10-year plan to improve water quality proposed: It's time Lake Mead got the kind of respect that Lake Tahoe does, State Sen. Jon Porter says, and he's working to develop a 10-year plan to improve the water quality in the nation's largest man-made reservoir -- an effort that would also improve the quality of the drinking water in the Las Vegas Valley.

Columnist Peter Benton: Watson to debut on Senior PGA Tour: Peter Benton; Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, Allen Doyle, et al, along with Senior PGA Tour rookies Bruce Fleisher and Christy O'Connor, Jr., are going to be facing some serious challenges and challengers in the very near future.

New Orleans casino plans big opening: NEW ORLEANS -- Harrah's New Orleans Casino has blocked 1,225 rooms for five nights at seven New Orleans hotels for its Oct. 27-31 opening celebration, the Times-Picayune newspaper reported today.

Storey wonders about Mustang: One option would be outlawing prostitution entirely, though none of the three commissioners has shown much support for that extreme measure.

Las Vegas Area Fishing Report: Over the weekend anglers competing in a two-day Nevada Striper Club fishing tournament had poor success, except for the Lake Mead Marina area. Those fish are being caught in deep water by drifting with anchovies.

City Council OKs zone change for hotel-casino: Valerie Miller; The Henderson City Council on Tuesday voted to approve plans for a zone change that will pave the way for a hotel-casino on the corner of Sunset and Gibson roads.

Herrera, Kenny go to law school: Adrienne Packer; Among the throngs of students who filed into the new William Boyd School of Law at UNLV early this week were Clark County Commissioners Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny.

FAA probes McCarran emergency landing: The Federal Aviation Administration has begun investigating the emergency landing of a private plane at McCarran International Airport Tuesday night that left a New Jersey family of six shaken but unhurt.

Real estate company founder dies of cancer: Myers was a past president of the Reno-Sparks Association of Realtors and the Nevada Association of Realtors and was a director of the National Association of Realtors.

Murphy's fashion statement banned: Officials told Murphy to remove the tan paint from the $300 black bracelet or be responsible for damaging county property.

Day care programs to receive federal assistance: The Community College of Southern Nevada will receive $38,000 to develop a new childcare center at the Charleston campus and establish a new sliding-fee scale at the existing Cheyenne campus.

Second-quarter revenues soar: The company attributed the boost to aggressive marketing promotions and robust growth in advertising and subscription revenues.

Prep standout Christie moves to Mississippi: Spencer Patterson; It's a good thing Al LaRocque recently took a relaxing two-week vacation in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., because the Durango High School boys basketball coach is about to have some sleepless nights.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Visit to Montana cleanses the spirit: Paula DelGiudice; Everyone's got their end-of-the summer, cure-the-August-doldrums vacation spot that they look forward to all summer: The spot that keeps them going every day in 100-degree temperatures, knowing that there will be a break in the heat soon.

Lawmaker seeks ban on fees for protective orders: "Quite often the people who find themselves in a situation in which they need to file a protective order do not have the money to pay a $36 filing fee," said Koivisto. "It was not the Legislature's intent to make it more difficult for a person to get a protective order, rather the intent was to make it easier."

Girlfriend charged in fatal car jacking: The girlfriend of a 20-year-old man killed during a car jacking has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder.

DuPont gives UNR major gift in form of mining technology patent: SCOTT SONNER; The chemical treatment still in its developmental stages helps prevent acid run-off at hard rock mines, one of the most severe environmental problems facing rivers and streams in remote areas of the West, according to researchers at Nevada's Mackay School of Mines.

Sanitation District director Gans leaving for LVCVA: After 27 years managing wastewater for Clark County, Jim Gans is leaving the Sanitation District to become vice president of operations for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

UNLV establishes cancer institute: By Mary Manning; UNLV scientists whose work involves cancer research have created a new cancer institute in Southern Nevada.

Paper, TV Station seek to bar newsroom searches: The issue stems from an attempt by District Attorney Richard Gammick to seize television footage and reporters' notes following interviews Jan. 6 of Christopher Lee Merritt.

Testimony of Texas victims sought in trial: Bill Gang; When Larry Wisenbaker stands trial on child molestation charges, he may not be facing just the 16 boys from St. Jude's Ranch in Boulder City who say the burly counselor victimized them.

Malone says put Askew issue to rest: Adrienne Packer; When Clark County Commissioners Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny explained the reasoning behind their wishes to oust the county manager, the third board member reportedly behind the effort quietly left town.

Herbst family quiet on bankrupt property: The 400-room hotel-casino on 10.5 acres at Flamingo and Paradise roads closed March 31 after owner American Realty Trust Inc. foreclosed on the property.

Teachers' pay goes to arbitration: Union representatives for teachers, school secretaries and principals came to Tuesday night's meeting with Clark County School District negotiators prepared for the worst -- a declaration of impasse in their pocket.

Community briefs for August 18, 1999: CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Ellen Koivisto, D-Las Vegas, has asked the Las Vegas Justice Court to stop charging a $36 filing fee for protective orders, usually sought by victims of stalking and harassment.

Binion's lifestyle described: Several witnesses who spent time with Ted Binion in the hours before his Sept. 17 murder were to take the witness stand today in the preliminary hearing for his accused killers.

County briefs for August 18, 1999: The Clark County Commission on Tuesday approved an amendment to the ordinance that allows for a police review board to be formed after concerns were raised by Las Vegas officials.

Scientists no help when it comes to faults: Although scientists can predict where an earthquake might strike, they cannot tell those living near a fault when the Earth will unleash its stress.

Chevron files lawsuit, seeks to repossess LV service station: Grace Leong; Chevron USA Inc. is seeking to repossess a service station managed by Hayes Foodmart Inc.

Guinn names state's first health care ombudsman: Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said she's distressed about the appointment. She pushed for the ombudsman office to help patients and injured workers who have trouble with their health insurance companies or workers compensation.

Third person charged in theft of historic skulls: Hershey is accused of going with David Shaughnessy to the cemetery around Halloween 1997 to steal the skulls of pioneer Carson City prosecutor Patrick Henry Clayton and his wife Susan.

Obituaries for August 18, 1999: Shirley H. Albury, 59, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born May 27, 1940, in Blackburn, England. A resident for 34 years, she was a real estate saleswoman.

Yucca layoffs possible: If Congress cuts the Energy Department's budget too much, the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project faces major layoffs and delays, an official said Tuesday.