Print edition for August 31, 1999

John Robinson: Let the era begin: College coaching record: 104-35-4 (.741) in 12 years in two stints at USC -- 67-14-2 (1976-82) and 37-21-2 (1993-97). He won a national championship in 1978 and had two No. 2 finishes. He is 4-0 in Rose Bowl games and is 8-3-1 against Notre Dame. His 7-1 bowl record gives him a higher winning percentage in the postseason (.875) than any active college coach with a minimum of eight games. National Coach of the Year in 1979. Fired by USC after the 1997 season following 6-6 and 6-5-1 campaigns.

Ordinance proposal baffles Wal-Mart: Adrienne Packer; A proposed ordinance that could keep a planned Wal-Mart Supercenter from opening in unincorporated Clark County has mystified corporate officials who said they have never encountered such a law.

Obituaries for August 31, 1999: Earl Cantwell, 80, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born Dec. 25, 1918, in Toronto. A resident for eight years, he was a retired banker.

Nevadans top national average on SAT: This year's Nevada high school seniors did a little better on their College Board exams than the class before them, while the national averages for the last two school years were similar.

Restaurant sues to block Strip overpass: "We told the County Commission during hearings on this issue that we expected to lose millions of dollars because of this," said attorney John Moran Jr.

Many possible reasons behind murder-suicide: Kim Smith; As shocking as Timothy Blackburn's actions were Sunday morning, it is not surprising for desperate people to take the lives of their loved ones, local psychologists say.

California wildfires leave LV up in smoke: Smoke from a wildfire burning more than 50,000 acres of spiny Joshua trees and brush in Southern California drifted into the Las Vegas Valley on Monday, dimming visibility, leaving a distinct odor and affecting people with lung problems.

Hydraulic problem led to belly landing: A preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board seems to confirm an initial observation about the emergency landing of a corporate jet at McCarran International Airport earlier this month -- the belly-landing may have been the result of a leaking hydraulic system.

Confession in slayings will be used at trial: Bill Gang; In an effort to avoid the most damaging evidence against him in a quadruple murder, Terrell Cochise Young took the witness stand to complain that his confessions were the result of coercion and a beating at the hands of police.

Las Vegas airport hopes American will grow here with Reno Air deal: As the public bid farewell to Reno Air on Monday, some aviation experts say American Airlines' integration of the carrier will have a positive impact on Las Vegas.

Roofer sued over Gold Strike fire: Grace Leong; Affiliated FM Insurance Co. sued Commercial Roofers Inc. of Las Vegas, alleging Commercial Roofers' negligence during a roofing job caused the 1998 fire that destroyed the casino at the Gold Strike Inn & Casino near Boulder City.

Supermarket profit rises 8.8 percent: BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's Inc., the No. 2 U.S. supermarket chain, today said fiscal second-quarter profit rose 8.8 percent before costs related to its recent $12.5 billion acquisition of American Stores Co.

Governor names gaming commissioner: Chanderraj succeeds Bill Curran, who served 10 years as chairman on the commission.

Smith hurls Stars past Dukes: Matt O'Brien; With the center-field flags snapping in a strong northeast wind, the small crowd at Cashman Field expected to see a classic Pacific Coast League run-fest Monday night. Unfortunately for the Albuquerque Dukes, Las Vegas' opponent, someone forgot to notify Pete Smith.

Wednesday at Saratoga: 1st race 7 fur 3YO & up F & M Mdn: 1 Devilinareddress (Diego) 112; 2 Aunt Gertrude (Lovato) 121; 3 Blond Lady (Day) 117; 4 Bidasweet (Piermarini) 117; 5 Screamin the Blues (Samyn) 117; 6 Pro Motion Days (Davis) 117; 7 Adina's Star (Gryder) 117; 8 Ruling Queen (Prado) 117; 9 Gate Agarbo (Nelson) 117; 10 Starting Ally (Espinoza) 121; 11 Guy's Doll (DeCarlo) 121; 12 Playin Doctor (Velazquez) 117.

Wildfires in six Western states destroy homes, force thousands to flee: The largest blaze in the West is the Willow fire in the San Bernardino National Forest between Lake Arrowhead and Apple Valley, where homes have been destroyed. It has reached almost 50-thousand acres.

City Council to consider construction-tax boost for parks: Erin Neff; Although the state Legislature snubbed the city of Las Vegas' attempt to make parks eligible for construction impact fees, a proposed 12-percent hike in the tax could bring in some money for recreation projects.

Emergency funding request one option in vaccine money shortfall: The program pays for shots for children who are on Medicaid, uninsured, underinsured or are Native American or Alaskan natives.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Hard Rock takes another public-relations blow: If you walk into the public relations department at the Hard Rock hotel-casino this week, don't be surprised if the receptionist bears a resemblance to TV fright meister Rod Serling.

New rule eases shipping of waste to Yucca: A new rule issued Monday by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow nuclear waste to be shipped to a proposed permanent repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, with fewer restrictions.

Box score: Stars 7, Dukes 3: Umpires -- Sanders, Barksdale, Drake. Time -- 2:25. Attendance -- 2,990.

DMV Computer upgrade will slow lines: Jerry Fink and Cy Ryan; The following temporary changes in hours have been announced:

Thunderbirds cancel air show over Las Vegas: Key achievements in the 46-year history of the Thunderbirds:

Larry Paulson: Despite what you hear, there's plenty of water: I see by the Sun's recent article, "Room will be made in Lake Mead for runoff," that the Colorado River system is at brim capacity again, as it has been for most of the past two decades. The Bureau of Reclamation is starting releases to make space for flood control.

Letter: Kenny not much of a role model: Some role model.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Sparse crowd casts pall over show: It's a side of the Entertainment Capital of the World not featured in any tourism pamphlet.

Experts still assessing huge losses from summer fires: This summer has seen more than 2,300 square miles of grass, brush and trees burn in rural Nevada.

Nye County sheriff set to take stand: Defense lawyers were expected to put Nye County Sheriff Wade Lieseke on the hot seat today as the preliminary hearing for Ted Binion's accused killers nears its end after more than two weeks.

Casino football contests give fans the chance to score big: Each year at this time, sports bettors devour the opportunity to test their skills, catch a little luck and win some money by entering the football handicapping contests offered by Las Vegas casinos.

Traffic light-synchronization failure snarls traffic: The traffic signals went haywire this morning, causing widespread commuter snarls on surface streets throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Cool weather shouldn't harm most plants: "People need to pay attention when they go to bed," said horticulturist JoAnne Skelly. "If the skies are clear and really still, you can usually expect a freeze."

McCullough batters Martinez at Hard Rock: Dean Juipe; As was apparent from the designs on his arms, Len Martinez had already seen the inside of a tattoo parlor.

Letter: Where is Brady's anti-gun rage now?: Recently, John Hinckley Jr., who actually pulled the trigger, was released on "supervised leave" (He's MUCH better now). The always-vociferous Sarah has been strangely silent on this latest travesty of justice.

Builder loses $11.7 million as result of trading scandal: The 24-cent reduction compares to earnings by Kaufman and Broad of 68 cents per share in last year's third quarter.

Firefighters struggle against biggest of Western blazes: Anthony Breznican; Uncontrolled blazes were being fought in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and California, where the biggest concentration of firefighters worked to tame a 50,000-acre blaze that has destroyed 12 homes since Sunday about 80 miles east of Los Angeles.

Where I Stand -- David Buer: Sheltering the homeless: OVER THE LAST couple of years efforts have been made to coordinate government agencies, service providers and charities in their work to relieve the sufferings of the homeless in our midst.

Casino sues Mesquite over denied expansion: David Strow; For nearly four years, Stateline Casino Inc. hasn't been able to convince the city of Mesquite to allow its expansion. Now, the hotel-casino is bringing the issue before a Clark County judge.

Editorial: Final say on control in schools: The School Board in June named Dan Reyes acting chief pending a national search, but Clark County School District Police Union President Phil Gervase doesn't believe this fully addresses his members' worries, because the chief still reports to the school superintendent. School police want the School Board to go one step further and place them under the control of Metro, but so far the Clark County School Board has chosen not to go this route, opting to keep the status quo. The union suggests some school administrators don't take safety as seriously as the police do, but Superintendent Brian Cram ...

Rebels have new (and improved?) look: Steve Guiremand; They have a newly refurbished stadium.

Police say gunshot led to storming of hotel room: Kim Smith; Despite earlier reports that Metro Police SWAT team members stormed Timothy Blackburn's motel room in an attempt to save the suspected bank robber's family, the gunshot that prompted the forced entry came not from Blackburn, but from an unnamed police officer.

Development of downtown Reno delayed: No leases have been signed for a block of shops and restaurants that was supposed to open next month, but backers of the project say the original terms of the contract were too severe and easing them just increases their likelihood of success.

Man who ran over cop, FBI agent gets 71 months: Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Ko said District Judge Philip Pro sentenced Terry Brown after he also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

Air Force gunning to achieve respect: Steve Guiremand; Wyoming head coach Dana Dimel is known as a straight shooter. So his comments at the Mountain West Conference kickoff dinner in Colorado Springs shouldn't have been that startling.

Jazz pioneer McShann pleased with where life has led him: Mary Campbell; "Whatever happened just happened," the 83-year-old avatar of Kansas City jazz says. "You know how it is, you just take things as they come. You run into a few snags, you try to unsnag them and go on."

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

University formula for renovations criticized: For that matter, so are offices, laboratories, hallways and broom closets.

Davis offers tribes increased gaming: The development was reported by The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.

Rebels field deep roster, take aim on NCAA volleyball tourney: In less than 72 hours, the UNLV volleyball team will open the 1999 season against the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the Official All-Star Cafe/UNLV Volleyball Classic.

Local briefs: District Judge Jeffrey Sobel has set Oct. 12 for sentencing of inmate Roy B. Bell, who escaped from the Southern Desert Correctional Center in Indian Springs by hiding in the undercarriage of a delivery truck in January.

Letter: Panama Canal must be controlled by United States: Congress must uphold their sworn duty to protect and defend our Constitution and our country.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson hits it off with fans: Dean Juipe; Everyone in his audience wanted to be convinced, wanted to be reassured.

City to take look at golf course land swap: Erin Neff; The city of Las Vegas isn't so sure Silver Creek Golf Inc. is making an offer too good to refuse.

Local agencies fear proposed HUD cuts: Jace Radke; The homeless population in Las Vegas may feel the pinch if funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development are passed by Congress.

Sun State Football Top 10 Poll -- Aug. 27, 1999: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Daily Tribune.

Monday's prep results: Palo Verde 18.5, Valley 4

Police say escapee shot himself after shooting wife and daughters: Sheriff Jerry Keller said Timothy Lee Blackburn shot himself to death as police entered an apartment where he had just shot his daughters and his wife early Sunday.

Consolidated bus service proposed: Several Coast casinos operate their own shuttle buses, but they suffer from low ridership. Officials hope a consolidated shuttle service will be more efficient, the Sun Herald newspaper reported.

Wednesday at Del Mar: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Choice Blend (Puglisi) 119; 2 Box of Jewels (Ramsammy) 119; 3 What a Prize (Pedroza) 119; 4 Glens Falls (Sorenson) 119; 5 Modelofperfection (Steiner) 119; 6 Encore Express (Pincay) 119; 7 Abbeyside (Aguirre) 119.

Merlino's lawyer: "The real shooters are still out there": Scott Sonner; RENO, Nev. - A lawyer for one of three men accused of shooting 34 wild horses said Tuesday police had other suspects in the killings and predicted that evidence in court this week would vindicate his client.

Animal refuge begins recovery: Support has ranged from $20 personal checks to large-scale fund-raisers. Sierra Pacific Power Co. employees raised $5,000 that was matched by the company's charitable foundation.

Editorial: Survey takes pulse of business leaders: The survey paid for by the Nevada Development Authority, Commission on Economic Development and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada also found that just 29 percent knew that the state's gaming and hotel employment base is only 25 percent of Nevada's total. While state officials are correct that just one in four jobs are directly tied to tourism, the fact remains that it is the engine driving our economy. In addition, the marketing blitz on tourism's behalf done by the casinos -- and even local and state governments -- has contributed to the impression that tourism is a Leviathan ...

Community news briefs for August 31, 1999: California and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers are teaming up to make the stretch of road between Las Vegas and Barstow, Calif. safer.

Alleged Lahontan killer was on probation: Estes said he had not received the reports on the incident from sheriff's investigators, so he does not have the specifics of either the shootings or Stinchfield's criminal record.

Resort sues ex-exec over severance deal: Selesner, who was fired at a board of directors meeting held on Aug. 17 to discuss his performance as general manager, had rejected the company's severance package. The package amounts to more than several hundred thousand dollars. Selesner was senior vice president and general manager of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Henderson's Dick Wilson -- Mr. Whipple to you -- is still squeezably soft after all these years: "She's the most beautiful girl in the world," Wilson, 83, says with adoration that has not been tempered by time. "And she's the greatest tap dancer I've seen in my whole life."

Study set on how Nevada will handle medical pot use: "We are trying to get ahead of the curve since it looks like the initiative will pass," Rosencrantz said.