News briefs for August 25, 1999

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 10:47 a.m.

Pilot in crash missing medical exam

The pilot who died in a private plane crash Friday may not have been legally qualified to fly because of an apparent failure to obtain a required medical exam, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Authority in Oklahoma City said today.

FAA spokesman John Clabes said that as of this morning there is no record in the agency's computer system indicating that Kenneth Horne had a recent examination.

Federal law requires pilots over the age of 40 have a physical every two years.

Clabes said records show Horne should have had an exam on or before Feb. 26 this year.

"But he could have had one and it just hasn't made its way through the (record) system yet," Clabes said.

Horne and his wife Gwen, 52, were killed Friday when something went wrong with their single-engine aircraft and into crashed into a residence at 3249 Sisk St.

Passenger John Trivett, 42, of Las Vegas, was seriously injured in the crash.

The three people were returning from a Reno chess tournament.

NLV police union slaps city with suit

An ongoing feud between two North Las Vegas Police officers and the police union has now pulled the city of North Las Vegas into the spat.

A District Court lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association against the city alleging that city officials were negligent in hiring two officers who are said to be avowed enemies of the union.

One of those officers, Michael C. Thomas, already is the object of a lawsuit filed by David Galyen, the president of the police union, alleging defamation.

Thomas appeared on the television show "Hard Copy" to allege the union skimmed health insurance premiums.

Tuesday's lawsuit charges that the city hired Thomas and fellow officer John Armstrong "without properly investigating their backgrounds."

The lawsuit states that city officials didn't terminate Thomas "even though they had knowledge he was unfit and incompetent for employment."

The legal action seeks unspecified damages in excess of $40,000.

Another lawsuit targets Rodman

Lawsuits and legal problems seemingly have become a way of life for ex-pro basketball player Dennis Rodman.

The latest legal action was filed Tuesday in District Court by Pedro Santana, a change cashier at Caesars Palace, who claims Rodman pushed then punched him on July 31.

The lawsuit, filed through attorney Eckley Keach, contends that Santana suffered a compression fracture of the spine and emotional damage as a result of the incident. Santana is seeking unspecified compensation of more than $40,000.

Hearing scheduled in market robberies

A Sept. 9 preliminary hearing has been set for a 22-year-old Las Vegas man on 34 felony charges in a string of 11 supermarket robberies that targeted slot machine change clerks.

Charles Centore, 22, was arraigned Tuesday in Justice of the Peace Doug Smith's courtroom on the charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life if he is convicted.

He is charged with 11 counts each of robbery and burglary, 10 counts of grand larceny and one count each of possessing stolen property and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Centore was arrested Aug. 20 after the botched robbery of a clerk at the Vons supermarket at 475 E. Windmill Ave. Police spotted Centore at a bar near Warm Springs Road and Eastern Avenue and arrested him after a short foot pursuit.

UNR scores high in U.S. News guide

RENO -- A report by a national news publication has ranked the University of Nevada, Reno, among the top 228 universities in the country for the 10th year in a row.

U.S. News & World Report, in a guidebook distributed this week, listed 1,300 colleges, comparing them in seven categories for academic quality.

The categories, established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, included academic reputation, student retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation-rate performance.

Nevada and 146 other public universities earned the distinction, along with 81 private institutions.

"Although there may be some concerns about these types of rankings, we are nevertheless thrilled that we continue to be listed among the top national universities in the country," David Westfall, UNR's vice president for academic affairs, said. "It is a tribute to our students, faculty and staff, and quite an honor to hold such a ranking for 10 years in a row."

Munitions test today at Test Site

The last of three military munitions detonation tests is scheduled for today at the Nevada Test Site.

The test, called "Jolly Roger," will involve detonating 24 155 mm artillery shells to demonstrate environmentally sound technologies for ridding the Defense Department of excess ammunition.

The experiments conducted at the end of the 100-foot-long X-tunnel in a 35-foot-wide chamber inside Little Skull Mountain, about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, will allow the Defense Department to openly detonate and burn the leftover munitions.

LV analyst picked to lead state group

CARSON CITY -- Janelle Kraft, a financial analyst for the city of Las Vegas, has been elected president of the Nevada Government Finance Officers Association, which promotes education in budgeting, governmental accounting and cash management.

Kraft, who works in the city's Intergovernmental Relations and Policy Research Office, succeeds state Treasurer Brian Krolicki, who served two years as president. Other officers elected at the association's state convention were Michael Olson, treasurer of Las Vegas, who will be treasurer of the association and Diane Vasey, deputy state treasurer, chosen as the new secretary of the group.