Print edition for August 27, 1999

Births: Aug. 11:

Saturday at Del Mar: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up Clm: 1 Chikalis (Flores) 119; 2 Tower Full (Desormeaux) 119; 3 Grady (Gomez) 119; 4 Over Houston (Espinoza) 119; 5 Wide Of The Mark (Pedroza) 119; 6 Path To Power (Nakatani) 119; 7 Shot MD (Pincay) 119;

Firefighters stop spread of 1,500-acre Duck Hill blaze: Brendan Riley; Before slowing late Thursday, the wind-driven "Sutro" fire had forced evacuations from several homes and a state campground and damaged an unmanned electronic communication facility on top of Duck Hill, overlooking Carson City.

Town hall meeting puts heat on Bryan: CARSON CITY -- The public isn't easing up on Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., as he cruises towards retirement after 26 years of public service.

Going ... Going ... GONG!: HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- More than seven hours before last Tuesday night's live, hourlong season finale of "Extreme Gong," the ribald game show's cast of carnival characters was assembled on a Hollywood National Studios stage to shoot a promotional commercial.

Binion feared girlfriend would kill him, attorney testifies: Angie Wagner; "He said, 'Take Sandy out of the will, if she doesn't kill me tonight. If I'm dead you'll know what happened," attorney Jim Brown said Binion told him on the phone Sept. 16.

UNLV may get top UConn recruit: Steve Carp; While waiting to learn the fate of Lou Kelly, his top recruit from this year's class, UNLV basketball coach Bill Bayno got some great news regarding the class of 2000.

Dimel hopes colleague can kick-start Cowboys' offense: Steve Guiremand; Wyoming

Editorial: Chess tries reining in game's bad boys: There has been disarray in the sport, but the World Chess Federation, which is holding the world championship in Las Vegas this month, has taken steps in recent years it hopes will bring civility back to the game.

Khalifman leads again in chess finals: Needing only one point in the remaining two games, he is now a strong favorite to claim the title and $660,000. The loser will take home $396,000. Prizes for the 100 participants will total $3 million.

Letter: Where does GOP stand on recent George W. debate?: It's time to step up to the plate and show the rest of the world that you are not the hypocrites everybody thinks you are.

Western wildfires enflame conflict over forest management: The more than 20 major wildfires charring brush and timber on thousands of acres in five western states come after federal officials were warned to thin forests to prevent catastrophic fires, logging companies and environmentalists said Friday.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Indy champ Brack weighing his options: The Indy Racing League's first true star, Tony Stewart, bolted the fledgling open-wheel series for NASCAR's Winston Cup circuit at the end of last season.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Is Tyson responsible for delays?: Dean Juipe; It may have been a foolish notion but there was Dan Goossen and he expects to field any number of inquiries on the status of Mike Tyson.

Click and Clack -- Tom and Ray Magliozzi: Different brands of gasoline have no effect on mileage: Because I don't think about cars at all (unless there's one coming at me at a rapid speed), this question may be very dumb. My sister says that different brands of gas, even though they're the same octane, will produce different amounts of mileage. She says she can buy one brand of gas and get from Pittsburgh to Carlisle, Pa., on a quarter of a tank, while another brand will burn half a tank going the same distance over the same roads. She attributes this to the octane rating being an average and says that some companies cheat with their ...

Editorial: Airline security is too lax: An airline spokesman suggested this isn't a wake-up call since the airline already has security procedures in place, but the breadth of the smuggling operation shows a need for the government to investigate existing policies.

Results of Finals, Game 4: Results of Finals, Game 4

Shelf Life -- Scott Dickensheets: Sniffing out mysterious meaning of 'Dog of the South': I'm thinking I might accuse author Charles Portis of textual harassment. His novel "The Dog of the South" (Overlook Press, $14.95) has been working me over pretty good, albeit in a peculiar way. I'm certain this is a great book, but I'm having trouble putting my typing finger on why, and it's making me crazy.

California governor declares fire emergencies in four counties: Steve Geissinger; The California fires were among 27 major blazes Thursday that had consumed 121,000 acres of grass, brush and timber across the West. Firefighters in air and ground crews fought many of the fires in triple-digit temperatures and rugged terrain. Meteorologists said lightning strikes threatened to spark new fires.

Letter: Holocaust council appreciates article: Stacy Willis is a magnificent journalist and did justice to the many factors that contributed to the complexities and support that have made our success possible in the State of Nevada.

Bankruptcies: World One Network Corp., doing business as Bell America, 3753 Howard Hughes Parkway No. 320, filed for Chapter 11, listing assets of $500,000 and liabilities of $1,856,227.

School Board complaint to be revisited: CARSON CITY -- E. Louis Overstreet has filed an appeal with the state Ethics Commission to overturn its decision to impose a $1,500 penalty against him for pursuing a frivolous complaint against Clark County School Board member Susan Brager.

'Folies' shapes up in time for milestone: Joe Delaney; The Tropicana's "Folies Bergere" celebrates its 25,000th performance this evening at 8 (with illusionist Rick Thomas, an afternoon attraction at the hotel, as special guest star). Proceeds from tonight's show will go to "M.A.S.H. Village," a local crisis intervention center. On Dec. 24 "Folies Bergere" will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

EPA seeks energy-efficient homes: For some new homeowners in Las Vegas, when they turn on the lights or crank up the air conditioner, their energy-efficient houses will save money for them.

Where I stand-- Pat Mulroy: Finding water reserves: IN 1995 the Southern Nevada Water Authority adopted an Integrated Resource Plan -- after thorough review by a 21-member citizens committee. The resource plan proposed utilizing additional water from the Colorado River, including short-term or temporarily available supplies because of flood conditions or nonuse by other states.

Attorney sentenced to prison in child-porn case: Bill Gang; Once a religion teacher to Catholic children, Las Vegas attorney Nancy Estabrook publicly acknowledged her slide from a life of achievement and success to the dark side of drug abuse and child pornography.

Raring to go: Spencer Patterson; Besides being its first football game in school history, Centennial High's game tonight against Valley will likely be an emotional affair for coaches and players on both sides.

Saturday at Saratoga: 1st race 7 fur 3YO & up Alw: 1 Grade One (Antley) 115; 2 Showboater (Day) 115; 3 Cat Scan (Smith) 117; 4 On The Tee (Luzzi) 115; 5 Exclusive Band (Sellers) 119; 6 Lake Hamilton (Chavez) 115; 7 Risen Warrior (Gryder) 117; 8 Markus (Prado) 115; 9 Sailor's Warning (Velazquez) 115.

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

Letter: Put an end to violence and hate: Furrow wanted to send a wake-up call to America to kill Jews. He is sick, sick, sick! He went out and shot some small Jewish children. We must realize that those bullets were not in Jews only -- those bullets were in every American, black, white, brown yellow, etc.

The Movie Guys: Much-delayed '13th Warrior' a dark-age epic: Grades: Jeff, C; Dave, C+.

Letter: Tracy was to blame in wreck: I was there and I watched the tape afterwards. What a "homer" piece you wrote. Tracy is a menace on the track and everyone involved with the series knows it (as does anyone with a scanner who has listened to his crew constantly trying to calm him down during races). Too much (guts) combined with too little brain. Call it like it is.

Sun City burglary retrial planned: Bill Gang; Prosecutors aren't done yet with the man they claim is the "Sun City burglar."

Investigators say 1,300-acre Duck Hill blaze human-caused: CARSON CITY - Investigators say a blaze that scorched about 1,300 acres of sagebrush and cheatgrass just north of Nevada's capital city appears to be human-caused.

Guilty plea made in shooting: Bill Gang; More than two years after his fiancee was shot to death, 33-year-old David Wayne Crawford pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

Letter: Mandalay Bay mistreats fans: My boyfriend and I are flying out there to see the Mayweather fight Sept. 11. My boyfriend's father went to the Mandalay Bay ticket office at 10 a.m. the first day tickets went on sale. Not only was he the first one in line, he was the only one in line.

NDOW recommends closing area to hunting because of fire damage: ELKO, Nev. - The Nevada Division of Wildlife is calling for a temporary ban on deer and sage grouse hunting in an area southwest of Elko because of the devastation to habitat from wildfires.

LVMS point standings: NASCAR Late Models

New offer made to operate Tahoe estate: "Let's see if we can't get these negotiations consummated," Bryan said. "Let's move on."

Columnist Joe Delaney: Birthday wishes to LV's Peggy Ryan: Joe Delaney; Indefatigable Peggy Ryan, still active, will be 75 years young Saturday, feted by family, friends, her many students, plus her over-50 -- years of age -- attractive and talented TNT Dancers and spouses, at the Las Vegas Country Club. ... Ryan and her TNT Dancers have been featured on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, the Arthritis Telethon, the annual local "30-30" dinners and many local causes.

Police search for man who shot and wounded Highway Patrol trooper: Sandra Chereb; Trooper Scott Swain, a 14-year veteran of the force, was in satisfactory condition at Washoe Medical Center on Thursday after undergoing surgery on his left ankle, Deputy Reno Police Chief Jim Weston said.

Suspect in trooper shooting arrested in Sparks: Sandra Chereb; SPARKS, Nev. - The suspect in the shooting of a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper was arrested at a home here Friday after officers traced him through telephone numbers left on his pager.

Firefighters polishing boots for MDA drive: Both Snider and Grigsby were later diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

Prostitution remains legal in Ely, Nev.: ELY, Nev. - The mayor of this small Nevada mining town came to the rescue of the only brothel in town, vetoing a bill that would have banned prostitution and closed the Stardust Ranch brothel.

Board gives RSCVA chief raise; bonus; perks: RENO, Nev. - The executive director of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority has been given a hefty pay raise and other perks by the agency's board of directors.

Reid may get big test from Mullings: Dean Juipe; A day earlier David Reid admitted there may be no tougher opponent than a former world champion coming off the loss of his title.

Man can't claim SIIS for self-inflicted wound: The result: a superficial head wound and a broken right hand.

Rebels won't use 'The Streak' for motivation: Steve Guiremand; UNLV's football team is already in full preparation for Thursday night's season opener at North Texas. But two words you won't hear John Robinson mentioning around the Lied Athletic Complex are, "The Streak."

Tribe studies restoring Winnemucca Lake: Tribal Chairman Norman Harry said restoring the lake would give back something that was taken away from the tribe years ago.

Utility bills for Northern Nevada to drop slightly: Typical power customers will receive $10 credit on their September bill. The rebate to gas customers will be $11.40.

LV contractor loses license: The contractor, which failed to appear before a board hearing held on Tuesday, had its licences revoked because it failed to establish financial responsibility.

McDonald out to stop council 'carpetbaggers': Erin Neff; Several candidates for the two open Las Vegas City Council seats would be ineligible if a proposed change to residency requirements was now in effect.

Decision delayed on West Las Vegas school: Jace Radke; A school construction schedule was squeezed tighter Thursday night as Clark County School Board member Shirley Barber and Assemblyman Wendell Williams were successful in delaying any decision on building a new school in West Las Vegas.

Rancher in shadow of Yucca fears worst from planned nuke dump: When Amargosa Valley rancher Ralph McCracken bought his 70-acre ranch in 1992 he didn't know Yucca Mountain was in the neighborhood, let alone that it might one day contain the nation's high-level nuclear wastes.

Meeting set on liens: Officials at the office of Commissioner Erin Kenny said Kenny may attend the meeting. Commissioner Bruce Woodbury was invited but can't attend, organizers said. Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates also will be invited, as will District Attorney Stewart Bell.

Las Vegan Pat Morita becomes a stand-up guy again: Kimberley McGee; Who: Pat Morita.

Steady economic LV growth seen: The index is compiled by UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research. It is a forecast for the performance of the economy in December based on data from June.

Business leaders still skeptical of LV: Grace Leong; Business executives nationwide continue to think of Las Vegas for its casinos, showgirls and Elvis impersonators -- not its strong nongaming business climate, a new survey found.

Execs leave in shakeup at LV firm: On Stage Entertainment Inc., the publicly traded Las Vegas entertainment company that produces Imperial Palace's "Legends in Concert" impersonator show, is reorganizing and will shed some of its theaters to focus on show development.

Trouble brews over Eastern Avenue plan: Valerie Miller; Henderson's amended Master Streets and Highways Plan barely won approval at Thursday's meeting of the Planning Commission as planners and residents voiced concern over the possible expansion of Eastern Avenue.

Stars rained out: Stars rained out

LV lobbies for new European air service: For months prospects of direct nonstop flights between Las Vegas and London have been dead. Today, there is a glimmer of hope.

Wrongdoing probed in merger; Arizona again postpones deal: David Strow; Allegations of wrongdoing are prompting the Arizona Corporation Commission to delay hearings for the second time on the merger of Southwest Gas Corp. of Las Vegas with ONEOK Inc.

The Dial File -- Steve Bornfield: Humor could color the race question: Somewhere over the Rainbow Coalition, diversity flies.

Local briefs for August 27, 1999: A $13 million Tri-Service Reserve Center has been opened at Nellis Air Force Base.

Binion preliminary hearing costs surpass $45,000: Jean Reid Norman; The preliminary hearing to determine whether Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish will stand trial for murder in the death of Las Vegas gaming figure Ted Binion has cost the county about $45,000 -- a good percentage of that in overtime.

Battling over authority: Jace Radke; Every fourth grader knows that challenging the principal's authority is a sure-fire way to land in academic hot water.

Keon Clark pleads guilty in domestic violence case: Clark, whose true name is listed in court records as Arian Clark, was charged on Aug. 17, 1998, with "choking or punching" Cheryl Huffman, his girlfriend at the time.

Cropp admits that she lied for Murphy: Tanya Cropp said she never wanted to become involved in the murder investigation of Ted Binion.

Longtime advertising executive Felesky loses fight with cancer: Edward Felesky came to Las Vegas in 1969, a seasoned advertising executive from New York City whose clients included the Wall Street Journal, Proctor & Gamble and Revlon.

Sands seeks leads from LVCVA: In a letter faxed Thursday to Rossi Ralenkotter, vice president of marketing for the LVCVA, Sands President William Weidner asked that five conventions be identified so that his company, which operates the Venetian hotel-casino and the Sands Expo Center, could pursue contracts with them.

Guinn names audit chief: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn today named a Carson City woman to head the team that will do a top-to-bottom examination of government agencies and their spending.

Prepaid college tuition plan begins second year: CARSON CITY -- Enrollment opens Monday for the second year of a program that allows parents to pay up front for the college tuition of their children.

Obituaries for August 27, 1999: Margaret L. 'Maggie' Allen, 79, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 20, 1919, in Lebanon, Ky. A resident for 48 years, she was a bookkeeper for a nonprofit organization and a member of Eastern Star Southgate Chapter.

Analyst hikes forecast for LV operator: Anders raised his estimates after Mandalay reported second quarter earnings per share from continuing operations of 29 cents, which were in line with expectations. Bad luck at Mandalay table games lowered earnings about 4 cents, Anders estimated.

Woman charged with road rage pleads not guilty: Bill Gang; Former exotic dancer Alexis Jill Bodkin has pleaded not guilty to charges she created a road-rage incident on Interstate 15 that killed a California motorcyclist.

Texas boys might testify in sex trial: Bill Gang; District Judge Kathy Hardcastle said she intends to allow testimony from eight Texas boys at Larry Wisenbaker's trial on charges he molested 16 boys at St. Jude's Ranch in Boulder City.

City sued again over topless club's expansion: Peter Christoff filed suit Thursday in District Court alleging the council waived normally required parking and traffic studies related to the expansion even though the Nevada Department of Transportation planned to take all of the parking spaces in front of the club for the widening of Industrial Road.

Fire Dept. gives jammed concert bad review: The Joint inside the Hard Rock has apologized for overcrowding its venue for last Saturday's Tom Petty concert but the Clark County Fire Department has not yet determined whether to penalize the resort.

AgriBioTech financial report delayed; sales prospects bright: AgriBioTech blamed the delay on implementation of a new financial and management information system.

LV bond rating gets upgrade: Erin Neff; Las Vegas homeowners may have forgotten the property-tax hike passed this spring to bring needed parks to the city.

Sound Check -- Geoff Carter: Concert scene in Las Vegas closes in on crisis point: A few weeks ago I was asked by KVBC 105.1-FM (Hot Talk) radio personality Dennis Mitchell to make an appearance on the morning show he co-hosts with Garry O'Neal. I was a bit puzzled by the offer -- shucks, who wants to talk to little old me? But I was still flattered, and early one Friday morning I made the scene.

Date book: The Tropicana hotel-casino celebrates the 25,000th performance of "Folies Bergere" at 8 p.m. today. Proceeds from the performance will be donated to M.A.S.H. Village. Call 739-2411.

The Main Course -- Muriel Stevens: A double pleasure realized for Valentino at the Venetian: A birthday and the opening of Piero Selvaggio's Valentino Italian restaurant in the Venetian made the popular California restaurateur feel "twice blessed."

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