Print edition for December 7, 1999

Appeals court dismisses Elko case against Forest Service: CARSON CITY -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed the appeal of an Elko County grand jury to force employees of the U.S. Forest Service to appear before it.

Community briefs for December 7, 1999: The Las Vegas Springs Preserve Project will honor board members Elaine Wynn and Janie Greenspun Gale 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Tiffany & Co. shop at the Bellagio.

LV seen as fair site for Binion trial: The prosecution and the defense said Monday they believed Ted Binion's accused killers could get a LV fair trial in Las Vegas despite the massive media attention the murder case has received.

Columnist Dean Juipe: City needs to stop and chart course: Dean Juipe; The afternoon paper with its breaking story about Las Vegas being a potential suitor for the Ottawa Senators wasn't even off the presses and a colleague was calling from Portland.

Editorial: So much for lower power bills: A recent development sparking this worry is a pricing plan offered by the companies that own the power lines -- Nevada Power in Southern Nevada and Sierra Pacific Resources in Northern Nevada. Both want to charge retail electricity providers a flat monthly rate for each of the new customers they sign up. A flat rate would be a dramatic departure from the current practice of charging each customer based on how much electricity they use per kilowatt hour, a policy that now rewards frugality.

Letter: Beware of new law regarding handicap parking: The new law states that only vans with side sliding doors from which wheelchairs can be lowered can legally park in these areas. No other vehicle can park in these areas.

Mountain West Conference honors Kambala: * Utah coach Rick Majerus wants reserve point guard Trent Whiting to take a redshirt season, starting after this week, to recover from a painful bone condition. Majerus said Whiting won't play tonight against Utah State but he might see action Saturday at Washington State. Under NCAA rules, players can take a medical redshirt season if they don't play in more than 25 percent of their team's games. Whiting has played in five games.

IGT offers to buy back 11 million shares of stock: Gary Thompson; International Game Technology said it will buy back nearly 13 percent of its outstanding stock at $21 a share, a 19.6 percent premium over its closing price on Monday.

Sports handicapper sued: National Sports Services Inc. says in the suit filed Monday that Wayne Root is an irreplaceable element of its nationwide operation that includes a pay-per-call program featuring Root.

Venetian figure's libel suit advances: John Prendeville, Bovis' former procurement manager on the Venetian project, had alleged he was fired because he refused to go along with bid-rigging and other illegal activities on the massive construction job.

Former Sun circulation exec Sandness dies: At age 10, John Sandness delivered the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune door-to-door.

Ten Las Vegas auto dealers assume AutoNation name: Phil Levine; Las Vegans shopping for new or used cars will find it increasingly difficult to avoid doing business with AutoNation USA.

Guinn says drop in tobacco revenue won't hurt programs: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Monday possible reduced payments from the national tobacco settlement should not cripple his Millennium Scholarships program or the health initiatives proposed for next year, many of which are aimed at senior citizens.

Police continue search for three saloon gunmen: Keith Paul; Metro Police continued searching today for the three gunmen who escaped from an apparent failed bar holdup early Sunday where an off-duty officer fatally shot a fourth gunman -- a 19-year-old convicted felon.

Killing suspect heads for mental facility: Bill Gang; Larry D. Taylor apparently is headed for the state mental facility before he can face charges of gunning down his ex-girlfriend in a crowded downtown casino.

Civil rights leaders urged for UNLV police board: Valerie Miller; Assemblyman Wendell Williams on Monday encouraged UNLV's police advisory board to appoint members of the civil rights community to its panel.

Two more builders back out of downtown projects: Erin Neff; Downtown Las Vegas revitalization efforts got a double dose of bad news Monday when separate developers confirmed their planned office towers would not be built.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels' backcourt could use a Rick Mount clone: No review of the replay was required, only a recollection of college basketball history.

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

Mirage shares rise on upgrade: Mirage was quoted at $15 a share, up $1.4375, in heavy trading. Mirage stock has climbed more than 16 percent since Friday, when BancBoston Robertson Stephens also upgraded the shares.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Metallica rehearses atop Rio for Billboard show: Kate Maddox; Rock group Metallica will hold a private, closed-to-the-public dress rehearsal tonight with a 38-piece symphony orchestra. No big deal, right? Lots of bands will be rehearsing before the big Wednesday night live show at the "Billboard Music Awards." But Metallica and company will be atop the Rio hotel-casino.

Making his move: To the casual rodeo observer, it may appear that Lan Lajeunesse came out of nowhere to qualify for this year's National Finals Rodeo.

Credit card firms sued for facilitating Internet gambling: The plaintiff, Northern California resident Fred Marino, lost more than $25,000 to online casinos in the summer of 1998, and charged these losses to his American Express and Discover cards. A statement from Marino's attorney said American Express threatened to sue Marino and destroy his credit report while attempting to collect on the debt.

Letter: Hey Jesse, mind your own business: The fight appeared to be very violent and those who could be identified should be held accountable for their actions -- no more and no less than any other student, be they white, black, pink or green.

Former CineVegas festival director loses round in court: Bill Gang; District Judge Ron Parraguirre has rejected a bid by the fired executive director of this week's CineVegas International Film Festival to freeze the assets of the fledgling event pending the outcome of her wrongful termination lawsuit.

Women: UNLV-Denver box score: UNLV (4-2)

Wednesday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Truly Classic (Pezua) 116; 2 Din's Landing (Diego) 111; 3 La Femme M (Lavoy) 111; 4 Mariano (Toscano) 116; 5 Chug Bud (Nelson) 116; 6 Ruby Crescent (Rodriguez) 116; 7 Northern Freya (Beasley) 113; 8 T Time Sue (Aguilar) 116; 9 Beauty's Bid (Bridgmohan) 116.

Comdex owner to sell publishing unit for $780 million: NEW YORK -- Ziff-Davis Inc., owner of the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas, is selling its publishing business, which includes a large group of computer and Internet magazines, for $780 million in cash to the buyout firm Willis Stein & Partners.

Citibank marketing financial advice: Phil Levine; Citibank hopes a new program offering financial advice will help it capitalize on newly minted legislation allowing banks to diversify and expand services.

Ninth pedestrian death brings police warning: Police Lieutenant Hal Wood says most of the accidents result from inattention on the part of the driver, the pedestrian or both.

Baseball sluggers to compete at Cashman Field event: Members of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and anybody else who does business at the Sawyer State Office Building on East Washington Avenue beyond the cozy left-field porch at Cashman Field would be wise to invest in hard hats before the Feb 12. weekend.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- The Wind Moria - Second when claimed at Oak Tree in last, close runner-up before that, steady works at Hollypark since, Nakatani takes over for return. Wacky Jacky - 5-wide, stalked and best of the rest 3rd off 6-month layoff in last, 3rd at same before that, easy daylight maiden breaker at first asking three races back, Desormeaux takes over on Hess-trained returnee. Value Play -- Slewreen

Pilot fired for leaving plane for a meal in LV: A Northwest Airlines pilot was offered his choice of a pre-flight breakfast meal or pizza, but wanted neither.

Architecture firm president resigns from City Centre: Schoeman, president of JMA Architecture Studios, cited his firm's design of a planned 100,000-square-foot building being developed by the Pauls Corp. as the reason for his resignation.

School chief candidates to be investigated: Terry Webster; A closer look -- through a detective's magnifying glass -- is now in order for the three Clark County School District superintendent finalists.

Deputy AG rapped over legal services: A senior deputy attorney general sanctioned for "abusive" court tactics may be performing 10 hours of community service at taxpayer expense in violation of a judge's order, a Phoenix lawyer charged today.

NFR notes: Horse's style points boost Hawkins in bareback win: Pete Hawkins proved Monday night that it's not always how you ride, but what you ride.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: People are important: SENIOR District Judge Norm Robison has to be proud of his son, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Craig Robison. Sunday, Craig, an Army Guard Black Hawk pilot, was presented the Air Medal along with Capt. Daniel Waters. The military announcement also said that at the same ceremony Sgt. Steve Milovich, Sgt. Patrick Moore and Sgt. Randy Barnes were presented the Soldiers Medal by Adj. Gen. for Nevada, Maj. Gen. Tony Clark. Earlier all of the men had received the Valley Forge Cross for heroism and the Navy Achievement Medal.

County has plans in place to put a lid on rumors at New Year's: Few public fireworks will be shot on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, and potential fireworks caused by wild millennium rumors will be doused by a public hotline, Clark County officials said.

Lady Rebels top Denver: Davis led all scorers with 26 points and added 12 rebounds for UNLV (4-2), while Frohlich had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Constance Jinks contributed 14 points, while Carlesa Dixon pulled down 10 rebounds.

Letter: Trade deficit is real problem: "Free trade" is not equitable or reciprocal as President Clinton practices it. We open up markets to countries who then deny us entry to their markets. Communist China, in which the military is involved in trade, has not earned special trade status or entry into the WTO.

Courageous cowboy: Kimberley McGee; Strummin', struttin' and survivin', country music star Clay Walker belts out hit tunes while keeping a debilitating disease at bay. But that ain't nothin' to this good-natured Texas boy who takes it all in stride.

Sentencing delayed for Henderson sports agent: Kim Smith; The sentencing of a Henderson sports agent who pleaded guilty to stealing $36,000 from professional basketball player Jennifer Azzi was postponed this morning.

Stanton, Bowers tie for first in National Finals Rodeo: Canada's Robert Bowers also had an 84-point ride.

Boy's family sues after wildcat attack: The lawsuit also was filed Monday against Jungle Friends on behalf of the boy's family, who witnessed the incident.

Chief of embattled parole agency retiring: CARSON CITY -- Carlos Concha, chief of the state Division of Parole and Probation, which has been criticized for a lack of supervision of convicted felons, says he is retiring at the end of this month.

1999 may have been a standoff between gaming supporters, foes: David Strow; It seems everyone with an interest in gaming -- friends and foes alike -- found something to like during the legislative sessions of 1999.

Gaming legend sued by auto dealer: In a Clark County District Court suit, Fairway, which alleged it received written authorization from Stupak to install a new engine and transmission, said it sold the van at a public auction to pay for the repairs.

Nuclear containers called into question: Hearing

Editorial: Cruise ship industry must clean up its act: As the cruise ships make their way through Alaska's Inside Passage, they can dump their raw sewage and garbage as long as it is more than three miles from land, which is just outside the territorial waters of the United States where tougher restrictions apply. Bowing to public pressure, the industry pledged on Friday it will no longer dump untreated garbage in the Inside Passage. While this is a step in the right direction, Congress should do more.

Obituaries for December 7, 1999: Vergil G. Asuncion, 41, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born June 10, 1958, in the Philippines. A resident for two years, he was a card dealer at a local casino.

National Finals Rodeo Results - Round 5: Fifth round-1, Pete Hawkins, Weatherford, Texas, 88 points on Harry Volds Im A Tiger Skoal, $12,909. 2, Jason Wylie, Rosebud, Ark., 86, $10,202. 3, (tie), Mark Gomes, Nickerson, Kan., Deb Greenough, Red Lodge, Mont., and Larry Sandvick, Kaycee, Wyo., 85, $5,483. 6, Clint Corey, Powell Butte, Ore., 83, $2,082.

Ernaut expected to be big help in vote-getting for Ensign: CARSON CITY -- Peter Ernaut, who helped fashion Kenny Guinn's successful campaign for governor, is going to become a political consultant to Republican John Ensign, who, according to some polls, is already 20 percent ahead of his opponent in the race for the U.S. Senate.

Judge upholds penalty for domestic battery: Bill Gang; More than a year after he was convicted of domestic battery on his girlfriend, Las Vegas attorney and former Family Court judge candidate James Guesman is one step closer to paying for the crime he still disputes.

Admitted killer found near death is recovering: Keith Paul; An admitted killer, who was found near death in his Clark County Detention Center cell last week, is recovering in University Medical Center, but he refuses to say what happened to him.

Mystery man: Kim Smith; PAHRUMP -- The people who live on Thousandaire Street and South Pahrump Valley Boulevard make it a point to introduce themselves when someone new moves in, which is often given how fast Pahrump is growing. They watch each other's homes when they go on vacation, and they wave whenever they spy each other working in their yards.

Superintendent hopeful offers priorities: Terry Webster; There's nothing else like it.

Talks to protect roadless areas in forests are a matter of trust: The success or failure of public discussions about a federal proposal to protect roadless areas in the nation's forests may hang by a pretty thin thread in Nevada.

Wednesday at Golden Gate: 1st race 6 fur 2YO Fil Clm: 1 Sweet Lucky Charm (Castanon) 116; 2 Irish Fire (Chaves) 114; 3 Rockeyhillcat (Meza) 116; 4 Nearlymissthealarm (Bisono) 116; 5 Acefromouterspace (Carr) 116; 6 Prism Term (Lopez) 116; 7 Jolie's Gator Girl (Alferez) 116.

Nevada in line for extra $2.2 million for welfare progress: Brendan Riley; State Welfare Director Myla Florence said Monday the money for Nevada is the maximum possible - 5 percent of this year's $44 million federal grant for public assistance programs.

Reno man killed in motorcycle accident: The man was driving a three-wheeled motorcycle that left the road and overturned on the Pyramid Highway north of Spanish Springs Road, Trooper Jeff Bowers said.

Wednesday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Alw: 1 Slewreen (Black) 118; 2 Flying Lesson (Valenzuela) 116; 3 Wacky Jacky (Desormeaux) 116; 4 Our Navigator (Enriquez) 120; 5 One Lively Lyph (Espinoza) 120; 6 Kristen (Pedroza) 122; 7 The Wind Moria (Nakatani) 118.

Monday's prep results: Vo-Tech 78, Paradise Christian 53: Abdullah Al-Amin scored 28 points to lead the Road Runners to a home victory.

Authorities search for runaway boys in chilly desert: Paul Foy; One boy had trudged 30 miles across the frosty Utah desert, while another turned up in Nevada, 140 miles from the camp, and directed authorities to three others hiding near Beryl, Utah, 15 miles from the Nevada border.

Flights added between Vegas, Spokane: The Phoenix-based airline announced that it would fly the route with 134-seat Boeing 737s and 124-seat Airbus 319 jets. The schedule released today said flights from Spokane would leave daily at 7:58 p.m., arriving at McCarran International Airport at 10:28 p.m., and leave Las Vegas at 12:42 a.m., arriving in Spokane at 3:12 a.m.

London-Vegas start-up date announced: The British air carrier, which earlier said in September that it would begin nonstop flights between London's Gatwick International Airport and McCarran International Airport, will have arrivals and departures on Thursdays and Sundays.

Police think last runaways may have left the area: Paul Foy; The Iron County Sheriff's Department said one of the boys contacted a friend and asked him to wire money.

Sister says Reno suspect couldn't have been involved in Sacramento: Scott Hudson, 23, is one of four people arrested in the Reno incident. Two others are being sought. Police said the suspects are white supremacists who targeted Temple Emanu El.

American Vantage buys Internet company: The purchase price was $1 million cash plus up to $2 million more based on future earnings, American Vantage said.

Refinancing to require additional capital: The Henderson-based turfgrass seed company announced today that GE Capital said it would need an additional $10 million to complete the package.