Print edition for January 14, 1999

Nye Commissioner suggests state's largest county be trimmed: "I hate to see Nye County split up, but things have changed," said Carver, who will see the rural areas lose seats on the commission after the 2000 census is completed.

Supreme Court boosts signature collectors: Nevada has such a requirement, according to Secretary of State Dean Heller. But he welcomed the decision, saying it removes a stumbling block to qualifying petitions.

Nevada Focus: World War II vet fights for equality: Inman said he was struck with "divine inspiration" in June 1992, when he became the commander of his VFW Post 9211 in Sparks for two years. That inspiration was to bring attention to the many different ethnic groups that served and died for our country.

CNN, PBS stations to cover 1999 Legislature: Jennifer Coleman; Weekday evenings starting at 5:55 p.m., CNN will break away from national news for a five-minute segment on Nevada lawmakers. The segments will be repeated hourly, ending at 9 p.m.

One suspect ready for arraignment; another undergoes mental exam: Sandra Chereb; Meanwhile, local horse advocates on Thursday cheered law enforcement for the speedy arrest of Anthony Merlino, 20, of Reno.

Reid names new state director: Reid, D-Nev., previously did not have a state director.

One suspect in horse slaughter free on bail; another undergoes mental exam: Sandra Chereb; Anthony Merlino, 20, Reno, posted a $60,000 bond and was released from the Washoe County jail.

Fight schedule -- January 14, 1999: At The Orleans, Las Vegas, (ESPN2), Thomas Tate, Philadelphia, vs. Merqui Sosa, Dominican Republic, 12, for Tate's NABF super middleweight title; Chris Linson, Santa Fe, N.M., vs. James Crayton, Las Vegas, 10, lightweights.

UNLV Softball picked to finish fifth in WAC Coaches' Poll: The Rebels lost just two players to graduation last season and return starters in every position except catcher where they will have to replace two-time All-American Julie Crandall. In addition to the returning letterwinners, the Rebels also have eight newcomers joining the team, giving the Rebels more depth then they have had in recent years. Among the new recruits are three pitchers who are expected to revamp a Rebel pitching corps that returns just one starting hurler from last season. UNLV opens its season on February 6 against Southern Utah. Their final WAC season kicks off on the road for ...

Gov. Guinn readies for 'State of State' speech: Brendan Riley; The Republican governor planned to spend the weekend fine-tuning his speech. But no last-minute changes were expected in the budget plan - it was in final form at the printer by midweek, so that copies could be distributed on the same day of Guinn's address.

Sun Boys Basketball Poll -- January 14, 1999: Records Through Tuesday's Games

Boys Basketball standings -- Through January 14, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO Fil Mdn Clm: 1 a-Face Turner (Velazquez) 120; 2 Beach Road (DeCarlo) 120; 3 Free Transfer (Pezua) 120; 4 Mini Scent (Cruz) 113; 5 Soft And Cozy (Diaz) 115; 6 Always Red (Johnson) 120; 7 Krisard (Luzzi) 120; 8 Jazz'em Up Jane (Diego) 113; 9 Rominna (Espinoza) 120; 10 Answer Dancer (King) 120; 11 She Will Roll (Lovato) 120; 12 a-Wedding Day Blues (Smith) 113.

Friday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 4YO&up F&M Mdn Clm: 1 Mahoning Sue (Barton) 118; 2 The Millers Light (Baze) 118; 3 Galla Knight (Radke) 108; 4 Hello Lila (Mercado) 118; 5 Nellee Belle (Dieguez) 111; 6 She's So Hot (Schvaneveldt) 118.

Preps: Wrestling standings -- through January 14, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Prep Schedule -- January 18-23: Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball standings -- through January 14, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Ray, Brack figure to battle for IRL title: AP Sports Writer

Preps: Girls Soccer standings -- through January 14, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Preps: Boys Bowling standings -- through January 14, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Preps: Girls Bowling standings -- through January 7, 1999: SUNRISE DIVISION

Nevadans get inside track for tickets to Senate proceedings: Mark D. Preston; President Clinton's impeachment trial has become the hottest ticket in Washington as people from across the country search for passes to the historic proceedings. But unless one is a family member or have the right connections to an influential lawmaker or are willing to brave long lines, chances of seeing the trial in person are slim.

Lack of sponsor delays new practice facility: Steve Carp; That new practice facility UNLV was planning to occupy this coming fall will probably not open its doors until 2000.

Columnist Tim Graham: Do we want to be just like Mike?: Tim Graham; So what are we left with?

Moutain West Conference unveils logo: Steve Carp; The Mountain West Conference finally has an image to go with its name.

Authorities arrest two accused of being cocaine suppliers: Authorities found drugs in their possession.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Jr. lightweight title defense on undercard: Dean Juipe; No division in boxing has as many great young fighters as the junior lightweights.

Metro treats bout security as routine: For appearance's sake, Metro could have justifiably padded its forces by an extra two dozen or more off-duty officers -- at $43 per hour per person -- especially since the promoter, not the taxpayer, would have footed that bill.

Office expansion at the Legislature building: Jennifer Coleman; Only two years after a $19 million remodel of the Legislative Building was completed, workers are expanding leadership offices for the Assembly and the Senate at a cost of $100,000.

Democrats question Guinn's education priorities: Brendan Riley; Guinn spent much of Wednesday working on the bare-bones budget and "State of the State" address that he'll present Monday to lawmakers. He isn't revealing details until then.

Thieves lick their chops, anticipating easy pickings: So are pickpockets.

St. Croix bets its future on casinos: Mireya Navarro; "I thought I was getting a jump start on things by moving to a bigger spot," she said.

Federal official won't say if veto threat still holds: "I'm not going to speculate," said Lake Barrett, acting chief of the DOE's civilian nuclear waste storage program. "(Last year), I had an administration position, and it was very clear. The administration has not taken a position (this year) but it will when it's time. It's premature."

Cave Rock proposal announced: The proposed action by the Forest Service isn't a final decision and marks the beginning of a formal public hearing process.

Obituaries for Jan. 14, 1999: She is survived by her husband, Gerald R.; one daughter, Vicki Stoeklen, and two sons, Robert P. Macias and Santiago Jimmy Lopez, all of Las Vegas; one sister, Jerry Fredrickson of Westminster, Calif.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Thunder wins shootout: Jason McBain not only extended his point-scoring streak to five games, but came up with the critical shootout goal to give the Las Vegas Thunder a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Blades Wednesday in an International Hockey League game.

LV computer seller to be sold: LEC Technologies Inc. has retained JP Turner & Co. to advise executives on a proposal to sell the company. One of the potential buyers: company President Mike Daniels, who said Wednesday that he would take the company private if he's the successful bidder.

Health briefs: To qualify for the study, a person must have low-back pain extending over a three-month period. Applicants cannot be involved in litigation or Worker's Compensation claims.

Lady Rebels visit Rice: The Lady Rebels won their conference opener, defeating Air Force 82-57 last Thursday in Colorado Springs, and improved their overall record to 9-3.

Brief: Adventuredome 31st in attendance: The indoor theme park tied for 31st in the world rankings with Seoul Land of South Korea. Disneyland topped the worldwide attendance list with 16.7 million visitors. Adventuredome ranked 21st among theme parks in North America, the magazine said.

Brief: Bank forecast declines: Despite the low unemployment rate in Nevada, job growth is slowing and Thredgold said that too is bad for small businesses.

Grand jury indicts four in ATM heist: Robert Arthur Bates, 26, and Timothy Lee Blackburn, 25, were indicted on charges of armed robbery, carjacking and unlawful use of a firearm.

Elko ranches seek help from county on wild horses: Clover Valley rancher Von Sorenson complained that more than 300 horses rounded up for adoption will be released back onto rangelands, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.

Las Vegas man arrested in check fraud, thefts: Jace Radke; Mickey Davis, age not available, was arrested on Jan. 7 on charges of burglary and using a forged instrument, Metro police said.

Former drug haven gets a new look: Jace Radke; A total of $75,000 was awarded to the apartment complex at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Avenue, which was once featured in Reader's Digest as "one of the worst public subsidized rental complexes in the country."

Gravel plant allowed to boost production: Bonanza had requested an increase in its annual production from 675,000 tons to 3.3 million tons at it granite mining operation, located in the Eldorado Valley, three miles west of urban Boulder City.

Two facing trial in separate killings involving complaints of loud music: Bill Gang; Sixteen-year-old John "June Bug" Williams was indicted Wednesday by a Clark County Grand Jury in the Dec. 9 shooting death of a man who was having a party in an apartment across an atrium area from his.

Editorial: Maybe it won't be so bad after all: James, a social conservative and dean of the School of Government at Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia, was greeted suspiciously by the gaming industry at the outset. Later she came under fire -- and deservedly so -- for allowing a subcommittee to meet in secret. This action prompted Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., to seek a General Accounting Office investigation of the commission.

Robinson has his eye on two more top quarterback prospects: Steve Guiremand; By Steve Guiremand LAS VEGAS SUN

Circus Circus entering convention business: John Wilen; Circus Circus Enterprises Inc. is entering the increasingly crowded arena of competing to host conventions in Las Vegas.

Rice could give Rebels challenge: Steve Carp; You can lament UNLV's 1998-99 basketball schedule all you want. But amid the cries of it being a sham and totally bogus, some good may have come from it.

Penny power hits post offices as H stamp becomes a hot item: The stamp, which features a rooster and no price value, has a designated worth of one cent to make up the difference between the old rate of 32 cents and the 33-cent rate that went into effect Sunday.

No decision on extent of Virginia's investigation: Virginia State Trooper Tim Rice, one of Gov. Jim Gilmore's bodyguards, remained on administrative leave today. Virginia investigators are looking into whether Rice acted properly in firing at a man who stole the rental car in which Rice was to chauffeur Gilmore to a Las Vegas hotel last Friday morning.

Study: Perchlorate no human threat: The study has been highly anticipated for more than a year after researchers discovered widespread ammonium perchlorate contamination in Lake Mead, Southern Nevada's major drinking water source, in 1997.

MGM Grand, Detroit mayor win legal battle: Chief Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Sapala upheld the Detroit City Council's zoning ordinance that allows MGM to build its temporary casino.

Brief: Park Place sues Harrah's: "Bally believes that IGT's exclusive arrangement with Harrah's is an unlawful restraint of trade and amounts to unfair competition," Park Place attorney Bernard DeLury Jr. was quoted as saying by the Press of Atlantic City newspaper.

Nevada developer outlines plans for Atlantic City casino: It will feature a 120,000-square foot casino, eight restaurants, 3,000 slot machines, 120 table games, a spa and 40,000 square feet of meeting space, Boughner said. It will employ about 5,000 people.

Visitor volume up slightly for November: The visitor count for the first 11 months of 1998 was basically unchanged from 1997, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said. Through November, 28,158,990 people visited Las Vegas, compared to the 28,171,143 visitors in 1997.

Editorial: Better safety needed for a car's child seat: As any parent can attest, setting up these seats isn't easy, even with instructions. Under the safety board's recommendation, fitting stations could be placed across the nation at vehicle inspection sites, DMV offices, fire stations or even car dealerships. There is no price tag yet for this type of program, but NTSB Chairman Jim Hall indicated the funding should come from government transportation dollars.

Victim of Summerlin abduction provides descriptions of rapists: Karen Zekan; A Las Vegas woman abducted from a Summerlin parking lot and raped in the desert almost two weeks ago has helped police develop composite drawings of two of her attackers.

Unintimidated Botha vows he'll come out fighting against Tyson: Dean Juipe; There he sat, the absolute picture of disgust.

Traffic-ticket moratorium pays off with response topping previous year: The moratorium, which ran from Nov. 16 to Dec. 31, resulted in $279,687 in fines being paid compared with $89,061 in 1997, the court reported this week.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Nevada may vote to oust Californians from NIAA: Spencer Patterson; A movement to oust five California high schools who participate as members of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association may be gaining momentum, according to NIAA Executive Director Jerry Hughes.

Brief: Lower profit for LV gaming supplier: The company blamed the decline on fewer sales of furniture and other equipment due to fewer new casino openings and expansions in 1998.

Sierra Pacific says it will be ready for year 2000: "We feel it is manageable," said Dexter Sale, Sierra Pacific's Y2K project leader. "It will take a lot of discipline, but we believe we'll complete it."

Colleges told to deal with state shortage in health care industry: Art Nadler; The "Health Care Education Study" was released Wednesday to members of University and Community College System of Nevada. It showed, in part, that while the national average of physicians per 100,000 population should be 256, in Nevada it is 155. Clark County was even lower with 148 physicians per 100,000 people.

Rock 'n' Rebirth: Pharoahs 2000: Melissa Schorr; "Hey, thanks, they broke up," lead singer Robin Wilson curtly replies as he launches into "Allison Road," the hit song that he wrote for the aforementioned band.

Letter: Why do casinos have own rules?: Jack R. Cook

Woman describes hearing fatal shots: Bill Gang; Alfreda Russell testified Wednesday that there was no answer at the home next door that was shared by 86-year-old Flora Johnson and 71-year-old Azel Evans.

Downtown takes next step with Neonopolis: Erin Neff; The price of progress downtown has claimed dozens of businesses that for decades offered lunch, souvenirs and hotel rooms in the city's historic heart.

Ex-Gael Roban rises again in Dixie: Spencer Patterson; By Spencer Patterson LAS VEGAS SUN

Sun Girls Basketball Poll -- January 14, 1999: Records Through Tuesday's Games

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Remembering a committed letter writer: Ruthe Deskin; I was no exception when I took on my first job at the old Reno Evening Gazette. My duties included being society editor and occasional obit writer. I never did get the connection, but there must have been some reason for juxtaposing afternoon teas with death notices.

Planning board members all scream for ice cream regulations: Scott Reeder; And what did they talk the most about?

Letter: Wynn will always trump Trump: As Wynn has said regarding Trump, he's a lightweight. Trumpism is tackyism with his egotistical, vain obsession to put and see his name on everything. Wynn has "class," Trump doesn't. Further, I opine Dunn is bereft of common sense and displays inane, retrogressive reasoning. Basically, Trump is a has-been. Bellagio is the future.

Enterprise residents don't want township annexed: Lisa Snedeker; About 60 Enterprise Township property owners raised their hands when Advisory Board Chairman John Hiatt asked those at Tuesday night's standing-room-only meeting who was opposed to being annexed into Henderson's city limits.

Columnist Jeff German: Native Las Vegan comes to defense of gaming critic Dobson: Last week, you'll recall, Dobson, a member of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, sent a letter to his supporters ripping into Las Vegas and its way of life.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Remembering the purpose for long weekends: Joe Delaney; Columbus Day was always on Oct. 12. ... This year, it's on Oct. 11, a Monday, for another ersatz government-mandated three-day weekend. ... Resort areas are happy and so are most working people; the consensus favors these three-day weekends. ... So be it, but we should also remember why we're having a three-day weekend as well.

Horseshoe's big cash-in of chips comes to quiet end: Horseshoe Club President Becky Behnen told the Sun today that she still has concerns that some chips have been counterfeited because more came back than were manufactured for the downtown casino.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A petty, political move: Dottie served more than two decades on important state boards. Bill, after several years as the dynamic Washoe County district attorney, went to the Nevada Senate where he has served and been an effective leader for 26 years. So why shouldn't a public facility bear their names? Because he is a Northern Nevada Republican? Because he, in his leadership role, has irritated some of our Clark County politicians? Because he runs the Senate with a firm hand?

Letter: Olympic athletes, not officials, should get gold: After all, at the Olympics it's the players that deserve the gold. They earned it.

Letter: Clinton trial can make one sick: And just like that without warning, the next time might be barf time. Or maybe we could just leave our radios off. But that would put at risk hearing of any of these senators stiffen up their backbones, listening to full evidence as jurors with open minds, and then vote to preserve the integrity of the Republic.