Print edition for December 29, 1999

Group gives beef to last, first babies born at Carson-Tahoe: Parents of the first baby born in 2000 will get one, too.

Schools set for 2000: Terry Webster; The bad news is, the bad grades probably aren't going to disappear at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. The good news is, neither are the good grades.

Preservationists want monitor appointed: The motion filed on Tuesday was made after advocates for the 52-year-old landmark watched demolition crews remove pumps and close wells on the property.

Reid backs India before visiting nation: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sounded his support today for the government of India, which is negotiating with hijackers who seized an Indian Airlines plane six days ago. The carefully timed statement comes about a week before Reid leaves for India.

Shuffle Master, Mikohn settle suits: Gary Thompson; Las Vegas-based gaming equipment suppliers Mikohn Gaming Corp. and Shuffle Master Inc. announced today they've settled their patent disputes and will enter into cross-licensing agreements for various products.

Hearing set for suspect in wife's death: The beating of Venus Santarin in her home at 1913 Rose Coral Ave., near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Vegas Drive, resulted in a severe brain injury that led to death despite efforts to save her at University Medical Center, according to court records.

Police continue search for man preying on young girls: Keith Paul; No new abductions or attempted kidnappings of girls have been linked in the past two weeks to a man who was reported preying on at least six girls in southwest Las Vegas, but Metro Police patrols remain increased in the area.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Rebels' Scott opts to leave school, concentrate on golf: Victoria Sun; Junior tennis players have been doing it for years.

Selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Naughty N Haughty - Stalked and made 3-wide bid then weakened to 5th sprinting on Hollypark lawn in last, gate-to-wire winner before that, in the quinella 7 of 11 starts at this distance with 3 victories, Solis stays.

Battle brews over Walters-case judge: Bill Gang; The legal wrangling over which judge will preside in the money laundering case against politically connected gambler and golf course entrepreneur Billy Walters has taken something of a personal twist.

Nevada holds lead in growth: Booming

Silver Bandits open road swing by beating Swarm: The Swarm (8-4) suffered its first home loss in six games. St. Louis guard Erwin Clagget was the high scorer with 22 points.

Eastern Kentucky-UNLV box score: E. KENTUCKY (5-3)

Police ID suspect in fatal shooting: Keith Paul; Metro Police have identified a suspect in an argument that escalated to a shooting death Tuesday morning inside an East Flamingo Road bar, but they had not located him by this morning.

Thursday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Mdn: 1 Dina's Double (Martinez) 119; 2 Starting Ally (Espinoza) 121; 3 Come On an Dance (Teator) 119; 4 a-Frisco Folly (Husbands) 119; 5 Maritime Brass (Soodeen) 119; 6 Absolutly Belongs (Gryder) 119; 7 Rainbows and Roses (Beitia) 119; 8 Proprietress (Thompson) 119; 9 Deputy Blues (Pezua) 119; 10 Lottsa Talk (Luzzi) 119; 11 Ladies Galore (Nelson) 121; 12 Gate Agarbo (Blake) 112.

Homeowners sue Heartland developers: Kevin Helm, LBM's counsel, declined comment.

Price-gouging charged by some over New Year's room rates: Gary Thompson; Fears the millennium bash will be a big bust are apparently prompting some Las Vegas hotel operators to refuse discounts for customers who booked New Year's weekend rooms at high prices.

LV casino recalling slot club cards: The cards will not function after midnight Dec. 31 because the Gold Coast's old player tracking system was not made Y2K compliant in time for the 2000 rollover, casino spokeswoman Darita Ewing said. The casino is informing customers in signs throughout the resort to get new player tracking cards.

Fashion Outlet sues defecting tenant: In a Clark County District Court suit, Fashion Outlet said Frozen Fusion, which agreed on June 26, 1998, to rent space for 10 years at the 400,000-square-foot mall, allegedly ceased its operations two weeks ago.

Speedway Casino owner refinances debt through Wells Fargo Bank deal: David Strow; The owner of the Ramada Inn and Speedway Casino in North Las Vegas has refinanced about $33.4 million in debt.

Despite makeshift lineup, Lady Rebels nip Cal State Fullerton: Victoria Sun; The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team breezed into town looking for its first victory of the season Tuesday night.

Suit challenges ownership of newspaper: In a Clark County District Court suit, David M. Wray, who said he served as vice president and general manager of the paper for nine years, alleged he was led by Hoyt Sibley, his stepfather, to believe he would gain ownership of the business as he developed and expanded the publication and its subsidiaries.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Lady Rebels still have a ways to go: Dean Juipe; It was a test of sorts and a chance to see how reliant the UNLV Lady Rebels have become on mainstay Linda Frohlich.

Thursday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 2YO Fil Mdn Clm: 1 Rich and Lucky (Warren) 117; 2 Love Roads (Radke) 112; 3 Dixie Creek (Castro) 117; 4 Lindaregina (Tohill) 117; 5 Blazen Babe (Nuesch) 117; 6 Myriad Way (Valdez) 117; 7 Pleasantly Made (Mercado) 117; 8 Got Talk (Perez) 117; 9 Mystical Jessica (Miranda) 110.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Pros, public may see eye-to-eye on Sugar Bowl: It's not often that professional bettors and the general public find themselves hammering away at the same side of a betting proposition.

California man charged with DUI causing death: The driver of the car, Jordan Eldridge, 37, also of Gold Run, was charged with driving under the influence causing death, as well as driving on a revoked license, having no insurance, and failure to stop for a red light.

Casinos give problem gamblers toll-free hotline: Trevor Hayes; She should know.

McCarran set for New Year's, taxis face Strip gridlock: For the transportation industry, Las Vegas will be a tale of two cities Friday night.

Gorman falls to Monte Vista in shootout: Zack Hall; The Bishop Gorman girls soccer team went into the fourth annual Lady Devils Soccer Classic with the mindset to win, but instead the Gaels settled for four more games of experience for the upcoming Sunset Zone schedule.

Murphy, Tabish declared 'indigent': The two people charged with killing Ted Binion can receive up to $40,000 in taxpayer money for legal expenses, even though they both have private attorneys, a judge has ruled.

Thursday at Santa Anita: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Sarcastic Humor (Desormeaux) 117; 2 Grandma Luckey (Barnes) 108; 3 Naughty n Haughty (Solis) 118; 4 Klassy Kit (Black) 117; 5 Valdastar (Garcia) 118; 6 Ivycoveredwalls (Valenzuela) 117.

Competition in electric industry may be delayed: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's entry into the new era of competition in the electric industry may be delayed because of a myriad of unresolved problems.

Federal, state courts say they're ready for Y2K: Grace Leong and Richard N. Velotta; Hundreds of people who have cases pending in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas shouldn't get their hopes up that the Y2K bug will wipe out their debts.

Columnist Peter Benton: Whitaker, Weston take top honors: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas Country Club was the scene last week of the Vegas Golfer LVPGA Grand Finale Golf Tournament, 1999's last event on the Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA schedule.

Economic expansion seen well into 2000: NEW YORK -- A key measure of the economy's future performance rose 0.3 percent in November, signaling the economic expansion will continue well into 2000 as the longest in U.S. history, the Conference Board said today.

LV police on alert for more stolen explosives: Kim Smith; Las Vegas law enforcement officials have been alerted to another explosives theft, this time 400 miles away in Fresno, Calif.

Shooting at home described: Bill Gang; After being incapacitated by stun guns and beaten by intruders in his home, Thomas Gaule managed to grab his shotgun and regain control of the house as the bandits fled through the front door.

State steps up its campaign against Interstate Mortgage: Phil Levine; The Nevada Financial Institutions Division and the Attorney General's office are requesting a court order the liquidation of Las Vegas-based Interstate Mortgage Group Inc.

Police find car, still seeking suspect in fatal hit-and-run: The car, found Tuesday, was impounded and is being processed by Metro's crime lab for possible clues to the identity of the suspect who hit a 47-year-old Las Vegas man walking on Rancho Drive north of Airport Drive at about 8:30 p.m.

Las Vegas civic leader Wilson dies at age 84: In the mid-1950s, Woodrow Wilson, then president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, was visited at his office by Josephine Baker, one of the era's most prominent black female entertainers.

Millennium pressures fuel hotline calls: To call

UNLV standout Turner arrested: Steve Guiremand; UNLV head football coach John Robinson said Tuesday that star wide receiver Nate Turner will remain with the team despite his misdemeanor arrest last week at the Galleria Mall in Green Valley.

Preservationists want court-appointed monitor at Mapes site: Preservations claimed the work could be in violation of a court order prohibiting further damage to the building while the case is in court.

Letter: Make Rogers superintendent permanently: Of course, as a past justice and chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court I can certify Jim is an outstanding and experienced attorney. What even many judges don't know, however, is that Jim is academically prepared beyond the usual Juris Doctor degree which most lawyers hold. Jim also went on to earn a Master of Laws degree from the University of Southern California, one of America's foremost law schools.

Editorial: Let's give mediation a chance: Jack Blackwell, regional forester who oversees the Forest Service's Intermountain Region, said that Vaught has a reputation of working well with others. Blackwell also noted Vaught previously worked in both the Humboldt and Toiyabe National Forests. "We heard loud and clear about the importance of selecting a new forest supervisor who understands the people, issues and culture of Nevada," Blackwell said in a statement.

Prosecutors say judge is too close to defendants: Prosecutors made the claims this week in a court document opposing an effort by defense attorneys to have the case reassigned to District Judge Donald Mosley.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Doll Tea a success for Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary: Elizabeth Foyt; Joe and Linda Wilcock recently played generous benefactors to the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary and hosted the organization's annual Doll Tea at their home in the very private Fountains at Green Valley. Guests were received into the beautifully decorated home by Linda Wilcock, Lt. Col. Maude Sullivan and Mary Bucholz, the auxiliary president. Dolls of every style and description, selected for the needy children of our community, were presented by guests and members and placed below the Christmas tree. Helping with dolls were twins Courtney and Samantha Thornton, granddaughters of Libby Law.

Fireworks show to light up downtown Reno on New Year's Eve: The fireworks will be launched from various rooftops in the downtown area. The show starts at 11:50 p.m. Friday and will last about 15 minutes.

Editorial: Making an impact around the world: A cornerstone of any democracy is its adherence to law. Without a fair and impartial court system, a complete breakdown can occur. The inability of courts to render just decisions can lead to anarchy or allow those with powerful interests, such as organized crime, to get whatever they want. Russia and other nations are finding the transition from communism to democracy is tough going, but it's contributions like the ones that George and others are making that might be able to give these nations the knowledge -- and firsthand experience -- to set up a functioning court system that ultimately ...

Catholic Charities helps find jobs for homeless: The agency is considered one of the -- if not the -- largest day-labor employer in the state.

Community news briefs for December 29, 1999: Local organizations Shade Tree, Safe Nest, New Directions, Candlelighters and Child Haven all received grants from the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities this month.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Finishing off the shopping season: This has been an interesting year for shoppers. In addition to the usual shopping in stores and by catalogs, shopping via the Internet made its mark. I have yet to buy anything this way, but my younger family members think it's the cool way to go. I'm wary of this kind of shopping, yet many of the catalogs I use are now online, so it probably won't be too long before I succumb to the lure of instant shopping at any hour of the day or night.

Robinson lands commitment from LA-area juco prospect: Steve Guiremand; UNLV football coach John Robinson landed a verbal commitment from one of the nation's top junior college cornerback prospects over the holidays when Los Angeles Harbor JC defensive back Demetrius Williams announced he would join the Rebels next fall.

Fingerprints identify murder suspect: Jace Radke; A man charged in the stabbing death of an acquaintance at the Palace Station hotel-casino Christmas night has been identified through fingerprint analysis.

Shopping spree a needed lift for homeless women: Shaunta Grimes; At Christmas everyone remembers the needy children, and many people even remember the homeless men. But it seems that single, homeless women tend to fall through the cracks, Ruth Bruland, director of MASH Village, says.

Supreme Court upholds searches in two LV cases: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday rejected the appeal of George W. Luster, serving life terms without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping of one man and the killing of another during his search in Las Vegas for his former girlfriend.

Date book: The West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead, will host the Poets' Corner, featuring established poets and an open microphone at 7 p.m. today. Admission is free. Call 229-4800.

Obituaries for December 29, 1999: Keith B. Bell, 52, of Henderson died Friday in a Barstow hospital. He was born Aug. 3, 1947, in Long Beach, Calif. A resident for two years, he was a health food salesman.

Letter: Pools, cars, doctors are true killers: Guns kill fewer people than automobiles in this country every year. The body count for automobiles is approximately 50,000 people.

Surviving scares: Victoria Sun; There's no better teacher than experience.

Money for homeless to be spent on housing: Lucero said the money will cover housing for 16 people at one time. But he's hopeful the program can be expanded in the future if it proves successful.