Print edition for March 11, 1999

Pahrump growth boosts Nevada's Nye to one of nation's fastest growing counties: Robert Macy; Turns out, it's becoming a prime spot to grow people, too.

Dental-school bid spurs study of Medicaid rules: "I have assigned a member of the staff to the task," April Townley said Wednesday.

Authorities investigate shooting of dog: The officer started backpedalling but the dogs - a pit bull and a Rottweiler mix - came at him.

License plates to help fund Big Springs project: CARSON CITY -- Without comment, the Senate has passed and sent to the Assembly a bill to preserve the "Birthplace of Las Vegas" -- the Big Springs Archaeological District.

Hard to get meetings to run smoothly? Try Robert's Rules: That's when he published Robert's Rules of Order, adopted throughout the world as the standard way for people to work together in meetings.

Insurance industry and attorney general team up to fight fraud: Jennifer Coleman; Two bills approved by a Senate panel Thursday are intended to stamp out fraud that bilks insurance companies and Nevada consumers out of thousands of dollars a year.

Serious doubts raised about woman's shot at presidency: "A woman would not get the votes," said UNLV Director of Women's Studies Ellen Rose, "although there is no question women are capable of doing all sorts of things."

Columnist Steve Carp: McNichols brings back memories: Steve Carp; DENVER -- Where has the time gone?

Attorney for Binion suspect says detectives 'at dead end': Detectives raided the Pahrump home of David Mattsen Tuesday looking for evidence linking him to Binion's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, and her reported lover, Rick Tabish, who are said to be targets of the probe into Binion's death.

Mora chosen for position at Reno-Tahoe International Airport: Mora replaces Jim Kitchel, who resigned under pressure last May.

Thunder wins shootout with Kansas City, 8-5: The Thunder and Utah Grizzlies are both trying to unseat Kansas City from the final Western Conference playoff berth.

Ridin' the Airwaves: Kimberley McGee; We've all grumbled as we punched the car radio buttons in search of a station playing something we want to hear.

KVBC-FM Radio station preparing for expansion: Gerald Proctor, president of the company, said the transfer of the station's license from Sextant Compass Communication Co. and Meridian Communications Co. to Sextant Broadcasting Co. is an internal restructuring that would not have an impact on operations or the station's talk format.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Holyfield-Lewis: Does size matter?: Dean Juipe; It's as if everyone who believes Lennox Lewis will defeat Evander Holyfield Saturday at New York's Madison Square Garden cites Riddick Bowe as the reason why.

Insurance companies protest fee for new ombudsman: Jennifer Coleman; Senate Bill 196, introduced by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, would put an ombudsman in the insurance commissioner's office to deal exclusively with complaints about health insurance. It would be paid for with a yearly $1 surcharge on all health insurance policies.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Fan's DiMaggio memory lasts a lifetime: Each of us -- unless you happen to be an L.A. Clippers fan -- probably has witnessed a significant game or sporting event that we ultimately feel compelled, as the adage goes, to tell our grandkids about.

Joe vs. the Casino: Jennifer Coleman; The tax exemption was pushed through during the 1997 legislative session by casino mogul Steve Wynn, who furnished his Bellagio resort with over $300 million in fine art.

Probe to examine VA clinic: The inspector general's office will dispatch a team of investigators this month to look into problems with veterans care at the Las Vegas Veterans Affairs clinic.

Fishing Report -- March 11, 1999: On Monday afternoon Michael Geary of Las Vegas caught a 12-pound bass that bettered the state record by one pound. The fish, caught in the Virgin Basin, was released into the lake after being weighed at Overton Beach Marina.

Second victim in pedestrian accident dies in Reno: Police said one victim was pushing the other in a wheel chair when they were struck by a car Tuesday while crossing North Virginia Street near Bailey Drive.

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1 mi 4YO&up Mdn Clm: 1 Flycreek Dancing (Teator) 112; 2 Frosty Coy (Castillo) 117; 3 Majic Lite (DeCarlo) 117; 4 Cool Canadian Bris (Douglas) 112; 5 Island Hawk (Smith) 112; 6 Aunt Hope (Lovato) 116; 7 Cranay (Pezua) 116; 8 Cold Spring Harbor (Chen) 109; 9 Missouri Lad (Santagata) 117.

List of searchers grows for missing Las Vegas pilot: Gus Sabo, 51, manager of the North Las Vegas Airport, disappeared somewhere along the Baja California peninsula Sunday after his private plane encountered bad weather on a return trip to Southern Nevada.

Stations plan new formats: KISF 103.5-FM was bought by Heftel for $20.3 million. When the deal closes within two months, the 100,000-watt FM station will adopt the format of KLSQ 870-AM, Heftel's current Spanish-language station. KLSQ, a 10,000-watt station, will take on a new format, also in Spanish.

Community college faces budget deficit because of growth: College President Richard Moore finds himself in the predicament in part because he was warned two years ago in a letter from state Senate Finance Chairman Bill Raggio to grow no more than a projected 10 percent annually. The college's actual growth rate approached 15 percent a year.

Sun Correction: Sun Correction

$20 million OK'd for juvenile prison: Upon its expected completion in June 2000, the facility will be run by the private company Correctional Services Inc., of Sarasota, Fla., which the state will pay a daily fee for each inmate.

Siraco's Selections for Santa Anita: Friday's card

Circus Circus Enterprises to change corporate name: John Wilen; Circus Circus Enterprises Inc., the company that owns the new Mandalay Bay hotel-casino, will change its name at its annual shareholder meeting in June.

Columnist Janie Greenspun: Turn attention to questionable polio vaccine: Janie Greenspun; Who can't recite the names involved in the latest scandal? Now, how many heard or read the news about the early polio vaccine being linked to a "cancer-causing virus"? Defense rests.

Columnist Tim Graham: Rebels just weren't that good: Tim Graham; What do a dreidel, a turntable, a Greg Maddux curveball and the average UNLV basketball fan all have in common?

Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Turkey hunting picks up for state residents: When March rolls around, hunters throughout the country start thinking about turkey hunting. Turkey hunting is a major sport in the states where turkeys abound, such as California, and throughout the South in states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas and Alabama.

Henderson advisory panel to tackle Calico Ridge problem again: Valerie Miller; Chairman Manny Gomez told fellow members Wednesday night that the advisory committee intends to set aside its next two meetings to deal with the controversial issue, which drew as many as 200 residents to some meetings last year.

Dole speaks at Las Vegas seminar: "In seeking to make America better, we've neglected what made her good," Dole told about 8,000 people attending the Peter Lowe Success 1999 motivational seminar at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Rebels ousted from NIT: Steve Carp; LINCOLN, Neb. -- Just in case you missed UNLV's inglorious exit from last week's WAC tournament, the Rebels provided a replay Wednesday at the Devaney Center.

IGT buying slot distributor in week's second gaming merger: Gary Thompson; International Game Technology said today it agreed to acquire Sodak Gaming Inc., which distributes slot machines and other gaming equipment to Indian casinos.

TV deal couldn't be pulled off: Tim Graham; For the first time all season, the UNLV men's basketball program played a road game that wasn't televised in Las Vegas.

City fights redevelopment proposal: Scott Reeder; CARSON CITY -- Las Vegas city officials came out in force Wednesday to object to legislation that would automatically redirect 5 percent of redevelopment money to blighted neighborhoods, which could use the funds for sidewalk repairs, street lights and other improvements.

Luncheon offers peek at Kubrick film: Melissa Schorr; A reclusive and notoriously picky filmmaker spends the last hours of his life perfecting his first work to be released in more than a decade -- then drops dead.

Director leaving during Republican Party shakeup: Dan Burdish, who has been executive director the past three years, said he and six other staff members will step aside March 23 so that a new team can be assembled by GOP Chairman John Mason.

Rebels' Linda Froehlich named National Freshman of the Year: UNLV forward Linda Froehlich has been named the National Freshman of the Year by the Women's Basketball Journal, the magazine announced Wednesday.

Fight schedule -- March 11, 1999: At New York, (ESPN2), Hasim Rahman, Baltimore, vs. Michael Rush, Tampa, 10, heavyweights; Danell Nicholson, Chicago, vs. Frankie Swindell, Nashville, 10, heavyweights.

Youth club angers residents: Adrienne Packer; Boys and Girls Club officials hope the zoning of their 1.6-acre parcel wedged between U.S. 95 and the Mesa Vista subdivision will be changed from rural estates residential to commercial.

Citizens panel wants retired cops' relatives off board: Adrienne Packer; Committee members who urged the commission to keep relatives of current and former Metro Police officers off the review board were disappointed to see that family members of retired officers are eligible.

Friday at Santa Anita: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Fil Mdn Clm: 1 Zippy (Blanc) 120; 2 Jeremy's Angel (Steiner) 120; 3 Make It Mine (Rodriguez) 108; 4 Mugsy (Enriquez) 120; 5 Ivycoveredwalls (Sorenson) 120; 6 Miss Broadway ID (Hori) 120; 7 Cool Princess (Valdez) 115; 8 Panache (Puglisi) 120; 9 Greedy Gal (Valdivia) 120.

Gay-rights bill draws instant attack from foes: Scott Reeder; That's the contention of advocates of a bill that was introduced Wednesday into the Nevada Legislature.

Ex-judge named to Michigan Gaming Board: Gov. John Engler announced the appointment Thursday. Ford replaces the Rev. Jim Holley, who resigned in December. Her term will expire Dec. 31, 2000.

Legislators approve program to put juvenile criminals to work: Kiley Russell; The bill would give Nevada counties the option of helping to find jobs in the community for children over 14 who are convicted their first offense. Part of the money the offenders earn would go into a fund to pay restitution for any damage they did.

Tournament TV: Today's games

Trickle Bill signed by Guinn: The law becomes effective immediately and replaces the former law, which said if the victim did not die within one year and a day after the attack, a murder or manslaughter complaint could not be brought.

Regulators seek to revoke license of Henderson casino: John Wilen; Henderson's Alystra casino is in danger of losing its gaming license.

Friday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 5-1/2 fur 4YO&up F&M Clm: 1 Reign Of Peace (Radke) 116; 2 River Runs Wild (Miranda) 116; 3 Belle Of Nassau (Meche) 118; 4 Peek A Boo Streek (Barton) 118; 5 Delta Dancer (Boyce) 116; 6 Almost Ready (Meza) 116.

Editorial: Sweepstakes industry has dug its own grave: Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., told an American Family Enterprises executive that it was misleading for the company to send a mailing to recipients with a large headline that stated there was a "2 person race for $11 million," when actually the odds were slim and none. Naomi Bernstein, vice president of marketing services, contended there was nothing deceptive in the letter. Durbin angrily stopped her. "This is a lie. You're deceiving people," he responded.

Editorial: Hope for a UNLV school of dentistry: In addition to providing dental education for Nevada residents, the school's mission also would include providing accessible dental care for under-served Nevadans, such as Medicaid patients. As is too frequently the case with health care, those who need care most often have the least access to quality care. Many dentists don't want the hassle of dealing with the Medicaid red tape that goes with treating poor patients, so Rawson's plan would enable a greater number of the indigent to get care since the dental school's faculty and senior students would see them.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Not the ol' fade-away: So now we know what happens to generals when the wars are over and their countries no longer need them (at least, that's what many in this country hope happens to our war horses). Have you ever wondered what happens to others who have captivated the news or shared the headlines?

Box Score: Nebraska 68, UNLV 55: 3-Point Goals: 4-23 .174 (Marion 0-2, Simmons 1-3, Dickel 0-1, Herod 3-10, Keefe 0-2, Stewart 0-1, Daniels 0-4).

Letter: Senator has gone too far in his war against alcohol: Considering the fact that he is almost a centenarian, I take his rage with a spoon of salt and a shot of sour mash with a dash of Tabasco to soothe my Southern comfort.

Columnist Jeff German: R&R dazzles LVCVA into renewing lucrative advertising deal: On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority made it official when it voted unanimously to hand the state's largest and most politically connected advertising firm nearly $150 million to promote the city of Glitz well into the new millennium.

Injunction sought against repair shop: The Nevada Department of Business and Industry filed suit against A-Allied Service Center, 4047 W. Desert Inn Road.

Senators look to fix snags with satellite TV: Mark D. Preston; Higgins said he is unable to receive clear reception from almost all of the local stations, and he had to purchase a satellite dish just to be able to watch television.

Letter: VA clinic has been helpful, responsive: Local VA Director Ramon Reevey's style of managing is persuasive as opposed to authoritarian. The difficulty lies in the system; it is exceedingly difficult to render a meaningful or disciplinary action upon an employee and almost impossible to discharge one.

Community briefs: The NAMC-Southern Nevada was established last year to address local minority construction contracting issues and concerns. Call 871-0492.

Community briefs: births: Lake Mead Hospital

Fire director, bring back doctor: I took my neighbor, who is an 85-year-old woman, for a 3:30 appointment; she got in to see the doctor at 6 o'clock. By that time she was totally confused and the visit was a complete waste of time. Thank you, Mr. Moore.

Entertainer developing casino theaters: "His name in the entertainment world says it all," said Isle of Capri President John Gallaway. "There isn't a bigger name in gaming entertainment than Wayne Newton."

Obituaries for March 11, 1999: He is survived by his wife, Patricia Rudd-Bird of Pahrump; two daughters, Leeann Salamy of Elk Grove, Calif., and Kendal Sue Adams of Henderson; two sisters, Carolyn Christensen of Silver Spring, Md., and Susan Lynn of Las Vegas; and two grandchildren.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Madness of March -- on and off court -- underway: Joe Delaney; Sports can be great entertainment, even for nonbettors. ... Look at the resurgence of the L.A. Lakers NBA team, with Kurt Rambis as the new coach and the addition of Dennis Rodman. ... On the court, Rodman makes a game worth watching; he is an entertainer as well.

Mirage director selling stock: In his post with New City, Bronson has been responsible for certain corporate development activities outside Nevada. He couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday and the filing didn't disclose whether he still owns Mirage shares.

Mortensen appeals to Nevada Supreme Court: Bill Gang; Frank Cremen charged that prosecutors and homicide detectives so "trampled" on Mortensen's constitutional rights "in bad faith" that granting a new trial in his first-degree murder conviction is insufficient. He asked the three-justice panel to dismiss the case and free Mortensen.

737 modifications could affect McCarran carriers: Any requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration to modify Boeing 737 jets would have a major impact on airlines operating in Las Vegas.

Washoe school board opposes charter school bill: Among other things, the new bill removes a requirement that charter schools target at-risk students.

Judge orders charges dropped against pool company executives: A complaint alleges the three were principals of Esquire Pools Inc., which failed to build 12 swimming pools for which Las Vegas and Henderson residents had contracted.

Ruling in Champion Chevrolet case upheld by 9th Circuit: Sandra Chereb; A ruling last week by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a previous decision by U.S. District Judge David Hagen in Reno.

Nevada Focus: Ranchers worry about intruders during calving season: That scene of man vs. nature has been playing itself out with too much regularity, according to Tricia Settelmeyer, whose family ranch fronts three miles along Highway 395 in the central Carson Valley.

Report positive for Metro: The report is contrary to contentions of Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald, a police officer, who has claimed Metro hired too many administrators at the expense of putting more officers on the streets.

Jerry Lewis relives stalking experience in speech to lawmakers: Kiley Russell; Lewis, in a speech to state lawmakers, cracked a few jokes before reliving the "fear, the horror, the terror" of being stalked.

Rural governments oppose nuke waste transport on public roads: The bill, H.R. 45, would allow for interim storage at the test site until Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is approved. Yucca Mountain is the only site being studied as a permanent repository for 77,000 tons of radioactive waste now collecting at nuclear power plants across the country. President Clinton has promised to veto bills designating Nevada as the nationwide repository for nuclear waste.

Businesses object to paying for health insurance ombudsman: Jennifer Coleman; SB196, introduced by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, would put an ombudsman in the insurance commissioner's office to deal exclusively with complaints about health insurance. It would be paid for with a yearly $1 surcharge on all health insurance policies.

Physician faces new charges: A federal grand jury brought several new charges Wednesday.

White Pine County can't afford to educate its children: Kiley Russell; The 77 children face a 90-minute bus ride into Utah, partly on dirt roads, because White Pine County can't afford to build new classrooms or fix the ones they do have, legislators were told.

Nevada Focus: TRPA prepares for appeal of court decision: The trial is a two-part process: one trial to determine TRPA's liability and one to determine damages. The second has not been held, and because it has not been concluded in U.S. District Court in Reno, TRPA needs permission from both the ruling judge and the court of appeals to move forward in the appeal.

Man arrested for killing at downtown motel: Investigators were called to the Horseshoe Motel at about 4:15 p.m. after the man telephoned the Reno police department dispatcher and said he had strangled a woman over the weekend.

Developer describes giant hotel-casino project for council: Dana, of Bal Harbor, Fla., said the project offers the city a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... to completely transform both the skyline and the economy of the local area."

New technology means curtain to fall on main movie symbol: the film reel: Leading the revolution is director George Lucas, whose eagerly anticipated "Star Wars" prequel, "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," will be shown this May in four digitally equipped theaters. In two to five years, increasing numbers of movie houses could go digital as exhibitors work out technical and business problems.

Judge denies mother's appeal on behalf of son on death row: Sandra Chereb; U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben rejected a petition from Calambro's mother, who sought to appeal on her son's behalf.

Legislature told Nevada needs a law to protect gays in the workplace: Kiley Russell; "This bill forbids employer discrimination based on sexual discrimination for homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals - nothing more and nothing less," Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, told the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on Wednesday.

New fee charged at Walker Lake campground: "User fees will be put back into the campground, providing for maintenance and improvement in the future," said Jim Singlaub, manager of the BLM's field office in Carson City.