Las Vegas news briefs for June 2, 1999

Wednesday, June 2, 1999 | 11:43 a.m.

Hearing delayed in health district case

A company alleged to have violated Clark County's clean air rules for asbestos removal had its hearing, originally scheduled for Tuesday, delayed indefinitely.

Desert Environmental Inc. owner Michael Carbaugh requested the delay in the case of the former Sierra Nevada Arms Apartments, built in West Las Vegas in the 1960s.

Attorney Ian Ross, representing the county health district, said at least one other company and other individuals were under investigation over removal of asbestos at the apartment complex near Lake Mead Boulevard and Rancho Drive.

In a case related to Desert Environmental, hearing officer Judith Schill is expected to accept a settlement from on-the-job consultant CT & E Environmental Services Inc. on Thursday. The company would pay $80,000 in penalties, the largest air pollution fine ever collected by the health district, for asbestos violations at the Sierra Nevada Arms.

Tournament to go on without Karpov

The World Chess Championship, delayed last winter in a move to placate defending champion Anatoly Karpov, has been scheduled for Caesars Palace next month.

Karpov's agent said Tuesday the champion would not participate.

Caesars Palace will host the event, with 100 of the world's top players beginning competition July 30. Final play is set for Aug. 22-28, with closing ceremonies Aug. 29.

Shiloh Quinn of Montreal, who represents Karpov, said the Russian champion would not be on hand to defend his world title but would file a lawsuit to try to block next month's tournament.

Karpov was scheduled to hold a news conference in Munich today to discuss the actions he plans to take.

Karpov won the world title in January 1998 and was to have held it for two years. But the World Chess Federation, known by its French acronym as FIDE, decided the championship should take place annually.

Nye to fight suit by radio host's son

The Nye County School District plans to vigorously defend itself against a lawsuit filed by the son of Pahrump radio talk show host Art Bell, the Reno attorney who represents the district said.

"The district intends to defend this one to the hilt," attorney Paul Anderson said, denying all claims made in the lawsuit.

Arthur Bell IV, 18, has sued the school district, Superintendent Geraldine Harge and high school principal Jerry Hill, claiming he was sexually assaulted by a substitute teacher over a period of time.

In April 1998 Brian Eugene Lepley, 34, who is HIV positive, was convicted of sexually assaulting Arthur Bell and another student.

Bell's son claims in his lawsuit that while he was a student at Pahrump Valley High School, he was sexually harassed by Lepley, a substitute teacher, and that the school district "for many years ... permitted and condoned sexual relations between teachers and students."

Anderson denied the district was aware of Lepley's behavior.

Woman killed in crash in UtahA

Las Vegas woman is dead after the car her mother was driving rolled on Interstate 70 near Green River, Utah.

Sonja E. Zaimah, 42, was not wearing a seat belt Tuesday morning when her mother, Thelma B. Thomas, veered across the highway, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Warren Nelson said.

Thomas remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday afternoon after having her leg amputated, the hospital said.