Print edition for December 23, 1999

LV faces decline in New Year's crowd: Gary Thompson; Las Vegas tourist counts for New Year's Eve could be the lowest in years, as a confluence of events has blasted into oblivion rosy projections of record turnouts for millennium weekend celebrations.

Letter: Quality of life lagging in U.S.: Their urban environment, however, is not their only quality of life enhancement. Their crime rates are far below ours. Their schools consistently outperform ours. In fact, Germany has an outstanding apprenticeship program for which we have no equivalent. Four to six-week vacations are commonplace. They have universal medical care (I've used it and was eminently satisfied) and numerous other benefits to ensure a decent standard of living. In recent years, Germany has had to cut back on social benefits, but only because it has taken on the enormous task of assimilating East Germany.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Pets as gifts? Please take responsibility: Ruthe Deskin; In all probability a happy, loving puppy or a purring kitten will be among the gifts found under many Christmas trees.

Strip property sues tenants over leases: Grace Leong; Grand Casinos Nevada I Inc. sued three of its former tenants, alleging they defaulted on their lease agreements when they vacated the property before their contracts expired.

Library overload: Diana Sahagun; The path toward a badly needed second library for North Las Vegas may be discovered through talks now under way with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: A game plan is advised for New Year's accommodations: Dining out on New Year's Eve? There are plenty of choices, but if you're planning to go to the Strip you'd better have a game plan for hotel access. It's easier than you might think. Of course, ease of access depends on whether you live on the east side of town or the west. Remember the Strip will close from Russell to Sahara as soon as crowds roll in. The only east/west access will be via the Desert Inn arterial.

Bankruptcies: Steven D. Crunk, doing business as S&C Glass & Boardups, and Angela H. Crunk, formerly doing business as High Class Lawn Care and Rainbows Dreams Ice Cream, 6028 Springharvest Drive, filed for Chapter 7. Assets and liabilities were not reported.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Unbeaten Jones wants Vargas -- again: Dean Juipe; Fernando Vargas was 100-5 as an amateur, is 18-0 as a pro and has quickly established himself as a potential superstar for the new millennium.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Gearing for Christmas cheer, New Year's celebration: Joe Delaney; The day before the day before Christmas, our 78th, and our 34th with the Sun. ... Daughter Kathleen came over last Sunday and decorated the tree, something she has done since childhood. ... Her mother is her assistant and father is barred from the living room until the tree is complete except for one last item, a 45-year-old large round red ornament.

Family of Yosemite victims offers reward in Reno case: The reward, including $2,500 from Secret Witness and $2,500 in donations from "Grandpa Bill" Darnell's family and friends, now totals $10,000.

Caribbean nation may allow casino: CASTRIES, St. Lucia -- St. Lucia's tourism minister said the government will present a measure to legalize casino gambling to the parliament next month.

Boys Basketball standings: SUNRISE REGION

Las Vegas company fined $550,000 for environmental violations: Station Casino St. Charles Inc. had been accused of violating a dredging permit issued by the Army Corps of Engineers. The civil complaint was prepared by the Justice Department and filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.

Girls Soccer standings: CLASS 4A

Editorial: Mingling of slots, cartoon characters: Last week Nevada gaming regulators held a hearing on a proposed regulation that would prohibit slot machines based on a product intended for those who are under 21. Slot machines using cartoon characters have become the latest whipping boy for the anti-gambling movement. It has even prompted Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a GOP presidential candidate, to call for an investigation by Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. Nevada regulators seem genuine in their concern, but if other states that permit slot machines don't take the same serious tack, don't be surprised if federal intervention isn't attempted.

Problems seen with surplus food distribution: Local food recovery officials are encouraged that President Clinton is urging Americans to stop throwing away 96 billion pounds of food each year -- unsold restaurant meals that can be used to feed the poor in Las Vegas and nationwide.

Robin Williams reveals the mechanics of making 'Bicentennial Man': Dave Neil; Without missing a beat, Williams acknowledged his appreciation: "God bless you, son."

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Bledsoe takes 'season for giving' literally: Sal DeFilippo; If Christmas truly is a time for giving, then Drew Bledsoe has personified the holiday spirit. In fact, I'm convinced this guy is Santa Claus.

Classic notebook: Juniors emerge as college prospects: Spencer Patterson; It's no secret this year's Southern Nevada senior class hasn't drawn rave reviews from college recruiters. But this week's Holiday Prep Classic may have helped put some area juniors on the map.

Breast implant lawsuits cleared: Kim Smith; A U.S. Bankruptcy judge in Michigan has cleared the way for more than 200 Nevada women to sue Dow Chemical Corp. over their silicone breast implants.

TIMET warns of more production cutbacks: A slump in sales to the aerospace industry prompted Titanium Metals Corp. on Wednesday to reduce quarterly sales estimates and warn of potential layoffs at production plants.

Rainforest Cafe chain sold for $108 million to casino operator: Lakes Gaming Inc. of Minneapolis said Wednesday its will acquire Rainforest Cafe Inc. in an all-stock deal valued at $108 million. Lakes will swap 0.55 shares of its common for each share of Rainforest.

Appeal seeks to block demolition of historic hotel: Brendan Riley; "The Mapes is going down, absent a stay," attorney Jeffrey Dickerson said in a high court petition filed Wednesday on behalf of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local save-the-Mapes advocates.

Venetian, county and bank are helping workers, residents with savings accounts: Phil Levine; Clark County's Economic Opportunity Board and the Venetian hotel-casino are entering a joint venture designed to help working Las Vegans save for their future.

Henderson's 28 not enough in loss to St. Louis: Victoria Sun; After a grueling 10-game road trip, the Las Vegas Silver Bandits returned home to host the St. Louis Swarm on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Insurance Commission sets worker compensation rates: A Las Vegas insurance agent and a lobbyist representing construction subcontractors in Nevada protested that officials don't even know if the existing rates for the newly privatized worker compensation system are accurate.

Editorial: Addressing terrorism threats: Officials already were beefing up security for the millennium's end, but concerns were increased recently. First, last week 13 individuals in Jordan were arrested who had links to Osama bin Laden's terrorism network. It is believed they were intent on attacking hotels, tour buses and tourist sites in that Arab nation. Meanwhile last week an Algerian, Ahmed Ressam, was arrested while trying to bring bomb-making equipment into Washington state from Canada. Authorities are exploring whether Ressam is linked with the bin Laden group, and they are looking for up to three people who may have ties to Ressam.

Letter: Ali is a role model: Ron@vegas.com; Too bad that medical student she referred to didn't follow Ali's example and refuse to go to Vietnam. He would still be alive today and he probably would have saved quite a few lives himself as a doctor.

Obituaries for December 23, 1999: Betty Ray Austin, 56, of Las Vegas died Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. She was born Nov. 24, 1943, in Olive Branch, Miss. A longtime resident, she was a homemaker.

Fight schedule: At Kampala, Uganda, Justin Juuko, Las Vegas, vs. David Ouma, Uganda, 10, junior lightweights.

Metro drops lien against Walters: Bill Gang; The efforts by Metropolitan Police to seize Billy Walters' Desert Pine Golf Course because of allegations it was funded in part by illegally obtained gambling funds have been dropped.

California man pleads guilty in 1997 death: Michigan resident Vicki Anderson, 55, was walking across the Strip near the Bellagio resort when she was struck by a speeding car Oct. 9, 1997.

Girls Basketball standings: CLASS 4A

New Mexico governor to fight expansion of gambling: SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson says he will not go along with any expansion of gambling in New Mexico -- at race tracks or elsewhere.

Reno Air founder pondering another carrier: A Reno office has been established and a recorded telephone greets callers: "You have reached the planning office for Casino Royale Airlines."

Body of Las Vegas man is found on Interstate 15: "The medical examiner said it could have been self-inflicted or someone could have stabbed him," said Steemblik.

Interim chancellor finalist for Tennessee job: Anderes advised Nevada's university regents of his interest in the Tennessee position in a letter last week.

Appeals court stays transfer of gambling lawsuit: The Lake County developers filed papers Tuesday with the appeals court contending Lake County Judge Stephen Walter was wrong to reverse the decision of the original judge in the case. That judge had ordered the case to stay in Lake County and issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Illinois Gaming Board from approving the casino in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont.

Birth Announcements: Dec. 14: A boy to Elena and Alexander Pustinger; a boy to Dawn and Juan Gamez.

Parole commissioners meet to review sex offenders: The proposed administrative regulations would begin the process of setting up lifetime supervision at least four months before an inmate's scheduled release from prison.

Nevada women who voted against Dow Corning plan may sue parent companies: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Spector ruled late Tuesday that any woman who voted against the settlement approved last month could sue Dow Corning's corporate parents, Dow Chemical Co. and Corning Corp., each of which owns half of Dow Corning.

Watchdogs question limit on gambling testimony: Bob Johnson, president of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, and Pat Rogers, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Press Association, said they had written letters to committee members, asking for a chance to speak on the matter.

Holiday closings: Here's what's open and closed on Christmas Eve Friday, the day that is being recognized as the holiday for business purposes (note some entities also will close early on Thursday):

Prep Wrestling standings: CLASS 4A

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

Venetian resort offers savings program: Working with First Security Bank and the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County, the resort matches contributions made by employees in a savings plan financed by matching grant money.

Lawmakers propose 9 percent revenue sharing rate: Those were among the preliminary suggestions of the Committee on Compacts, which is reviewing proposed new pacts negotiated between Gov. Gary Johnson and Indian tribes.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: USA Today: Big cut, no contact: Granted, it was a daunting project for USA Today to compile a list of the five greatest athletes of the past century for each state, which it ran on Wednesday. I mean, what's coming tomorrow? A five-part series outlining world peace?

Jodie Foster digs into the past for 'Anna and the King': Dave Neil; As a child actress who has matured into a confident adult actress and self-assured filmmaker, she is definitely an interesting case study.

Letter: Newspaper has responsibility to be accurate: The only connection between Mr. Tabish and myself is that Mr. Tabish apparently patronized the Crazy Horse Too, a Nevada corporation which I own a controlling interest in. I am in no way "close" to Rick Tabish. Hundreds of thousands of people, apparently including Mr. Tabish, patronize Crazy Horse Too. The Nov. 4 article states that Mr. Tabish has VIP privileges at Crazy Horse Too. While Crazy Horse Too has a VIP room, anyone willing to pay may enter the room. There are no memberships or "privileges" handed out to anyone. The only connection between Mr. Tabish and myself was ...

Gaels outmuscled in title match: Spencer Patterson; California's Long Beach Poly High has long been known as a football power, producing such current and former NFL luminaries as Willie McGinest, Gene Washington and Tony Hill.

Judge dismisses legislator's challenge: U.S. District Judge Philip Pro granted the Ethics Commission's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Obscene pictures left on cars at mall: Keith Paul; A woman leaving Meadows Mall Wednesday afternoon found pictures of a man's genitalia left on her car -- the 10th such incident at the mall's parking lot reported to Metro Police since 1997.

Holiday Prep Classic local boxes: St. Mary's (Manhasset, NY) 74, Western 41

Drunken driver pleads guilty to killing woman on Strip: Bill Gang; An habitual drunken driver, who is serving a California prison sentence for a drug offense, has pleaded guilty to running down and killing a Michigan woman as she tried to walk across the Strip in 1997.

Victim's family faces uncertainty: Trust fund

News briefs: A 36-year-old Las Vegas man was found dead on the side of Interstate 15 near Salt Lake City on Wednesday with a knife plunged into his chest.

Builders sued by homewners: "It is a cosmetic issue related to the paving and not anything related to the actual homes. We were hopeful we could take care of everything through mediation instead of getting involved in a lawsuit," responded Amy Friend, Kaufman and Broad's spokeswoman.

LV Hispanic broadcasters part of merger: Entravision Communications Co. LLC of Los Angeles said it will buy Latin Communications Group Inc. for more than $250 million to create one of the largest Spanish-language media companies in the United States.

Low-income housing development seen as key for downtown's future: Erin Neff; Will Newbern's vision stretches beyond the run-down motels, quickie markets with their brisk alcohol sales and past the vagrants trolling block upon block nightly seeking booze, drugs or willing companions.

LV Culinary Union eases rules for health insurance eligibility: David Strow; The Culinary Union is loosening new eligibility standards that in their initial restrictive form could have cost many part-time hotel-casino workers their health insurance coverage.

Three Oasis apartment complexes in Las Vegas to be sold by March: Phil Levine; Camden Property Trust hopes to sell three of its 41 Las Vegas apartment complexes as part of a move to shed its older properties.

LV to pursue more flights after merger: Montreal-based Air Canada is evaluating how it would increase service if it were to acquire Canadian Airlines' fleet. One of its proposals is to increase the frequency of flights between Toronto, Ontario, and Las Vegas. Air Canada currently operates round-trip flights Thursdays and Sundays on Boeing 767 jumbo jets between Las Vegas and the two cities.