Print edition for March 19, 1999

Bill would stop use of cameras to catch speeders: Lisa Snedeker; Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, told the committee Thursday that his bill, which would prohibit police from using cameras to catch motorists who speed or run red lights, is needed to protect citizens' civil liberties.

College in Henderson panel's focus: Betsy Fretwell, intergovernmental relations director for the city of Henderson, said the decision was announced Thursday.

Murder charges, court-martial await Marine sergeant: Bill Gang; If convicted by the military of the numerous sexual misconduct, desertion and obstruction of justice charges, Bennett could be sentenced to life in a federal prison.

Miller hanging prompts moments of humor in state's Capitol building: Miller, his wife Sandy, son Ross and daughter Megan were on hand for the ceremony, a light-hearted event capped by the unveiling of the $10,000 painting done by artist John Meyer.

Officials tackle shortage of toilets for the homeless: Scott Reeder; "It's something you don't think about when you aren't homeless. But where do you go to the bathroom when you are homeless?" he said as he glanced at his pregnant wife, Laura.

Woman charged in NLV murder: Jace Radke; At about 11 p.m. Wednesday, North Las Vegas police detectives arrested Angela Colleen Love, 25, in connection with the murder of a 63-year-old man found dead Wednesday morning.

Ex-officer fights Black Book listing: John Wilen; Pascente was arrested at McCarran International Airport Monday after failing to register with police within 48 hours of arriving in town. Pascente, an ex-felon, arrived in Las Vegas on Friday.

Fine-tuning promised for bill banning hazing: Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, the chairman of the committee, told university officials he agreed with the concept of the bill but said its language was too broad.

NHP wants to ensure bill brakes road rage: By Ed Koch; "It is running parallel to our reckless driving law, and a reckless driving conviction carries a stiffer penalty," said Col. Michael Hood, chief of the Nevada Highway Patrol. Still, he said, "The law is a good idea and we support any law that helps with traffic safety."

Letter: Fight fan: I'm an idiot: Professional boxing is exactly the same as professional wrestling -- it's phony, fixed and rigged. It's time we all got together and said no more. I have never been a fan of class action suits but this is one that might be needed to bring boxing back from the brink, if it has not already fallen into the hole.

Man's body found at Apex landfill: Karen Zekan; An employee at the site approximately 20 miles north of Las Vegas made the gruesome discovery about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, spotting the man's head sticking out of a mound while moving garbage with a bulldozer, homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

'Saving Private Ryan' odds-on Oscar pick: Nolte is a 7-5 pick for his role in "Affliction," while Paltrow is a 4-5 favorite for "Shakespeare in Love."

Lefebvre deal finally done: The 5-6, 160-pound Lefebvre was the last link to the inaugural Las Vegas team that began play in 1993. He is the team's all-time leader in games (428), points (552) and assists (394). He is also second in career goals with 158.

Senate approves distributing prisoners' cash awards to victims: Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, the bill's author, said the idea behind AB22 is for prisoners to "meet their financial obligations" and to curtail lawsuits filed by inmates.

Huskies, Zags still standing in tourney: Steve Carp; PHOENIX -- You didn't think anyone would go out of the NCAA Tournament at this juncture without a fight, did you?

Nevada congressman fears terrorist missile attack at Hoover Dam: Scott Sonner; But local peace activists warned that the costly missiles threaten years of progress in the reduction of nuclear arms and will drain money from key domestic needs.

Ex-lawmaker Bailey dies: Bailey, 91, broke his hip several weeks ago and his daughter, Kathy Ebner, said his condition worsened after that.

Saturday at Santa Anita: 1st race 1 mi 4YO Clm: 1 My Boy Brandon (Valdivia) 118; 2 Pelagius (Espinoza) 120; 3 Love A Prince (Solis) 115; 4 It's A Reality (Garcia) 118; 5 Snow Beau (Ramsammy) 118; 6 Heart's Cry (Almeida) 118; 7 Nam De Plume (Gomez) 118.

Competency hearing for sex slave killer postponed until May: She said the three-day hearing, originally to have begun on Monday, now will be held May 10-12.

Columnist Steve Carp: It was merely Calvary to the rescue for Gonzaga: Steve Carp; PHOENIX -- Just when it appeared the clock was about to strike midnight for Cinderella, along came the Calvary to save the day.

Arrest warrant issued in Indiana for Ex-Rebel Nesby: Steve Guiremand; Another day and another black eye for UNLV's basketball program.

Suspect sought in kidnapping of teenager: Karen Zekan; Investigators linked Darryl Lazell Tolbert to the crime through a 1997 silver Mitsubishi sedan he allegedly was driving the morning of the abduction and which the victim and a witness who saw him in another location described in their reports to police. The car, authorities said, belongs to the man's mother.

Ensuring a safe flight: Officials at McCarran International Airport are expecting a surprise visit by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors sometime in the next six weeks as part of a nationwide effort to tighten airport security.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Pro gambler believes fix was in place: Dean Juipe; At least two governmental agencies, the New York state Senate and the Manhattan District Attorney, launched investigations this week into last Saturday's heavyweight title fight between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis at Madison Square Garden.

LVMS Points -- March 19, 1999: Pro -- 1. Dana Young 178; 2. Jerry Mock 176; 3. Ron Landram 155; 4. Paul Bledsoe 146; 5. Sandra Darby 145; 6. Jeff Bansbach 144; 7. Kirk Schroeder 124; 8. Tim Arden 123; 9. Kelly Buesig 122; 10. David Rowley 111.

Letter: Review board is necessary: There are many reputable people in the field who are capable of fair and capable judging.

Strike warned against garbage company: John Wilen; Silver State Disposal Services' 1,100 garbage removal workers are threatening to strike if a company decision to shift 62 union jobs to a subcontractor is not reversed.

LV bankruptcies: Stanley R. Murakami, formerly doing business as Kabocha Restaurant, and Sumiko Murakami, 5047 Myrtlewood, filed for Chapter 13, listing assets of $112,350 and liabilities of $130,263.69.

Lawmaker criticizes prison medical privatization plan: "Nothing is going to happen if we don't put it in the budget," said Giunchigliani, chairwoman of a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee handling prison matters. "I don't think they have made their case."

Teamsters try organizing Vegas car rental workers: John Wilen; The Union plans a 1 p.m. rally Thursday at the main office of Alamo Rent A Car, 6855 Bermuda Road. If the Teamsters' attempt to organize Alamo's 240 Las Vegas workers succeeds, the local Alamo office would be the first in the nation to be unionized.

Letter: Champ didn't hear correctly: Promptly, a cocky, overconfident Holyfield proclaimed this pugilistic revelation to the media and world: "Lewis is a wimp compared to me. Therefore, I'll take him out easily in round three."

Suspension sidelines Tracy for CART's season opener: Last summer on his way to breaking Roger Maris' single-season home run record, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire hit everything that moved.

Robinson brings open mind to spring practice: Steve Guiremand; John Robinson will get his first good look at his new football team this weekend when UNLV begins spring practice with sessions on both Saturday and Sunday at noon at Rebel Park.

Forest Service official offers resignation in logging paint controversy: Scott Sonner; The order comes a week after a worker advocacy group filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. seeking an injunction to ban the use of the paint it blames for increased rates of miscarriages and other physical ailments among Forest Service employees.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vasser's feelings mixed on Zanardi's defection: In their three years as teammates with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, Jimmy Vasser and Alex Zanardi became close friends off the track.

Standout receiver visiting Rebels: Steve Guiremand; First-year UNLV head football coach John Robinson could soon be joined by one of his former star USC recruits.

Thursday's Prep results -- March 19, 1999: Gorman 12, Mojave 0 Mojave 000 00 -- 0 0 2 Gorman 118 2x -- 12 12 1

NLV police chief: No cover-up: Jace Radke; "I'm the chief of police," Tillmon said. "I sit in the big chair."

Commission rejects billlboard proposal: Adrienne Packer; Commissioners voted 5-1 to reject the Las Vegas Boys and Girls Club's request to change the zoning of their property from residential to commercial.

Letter: NIT is not good enough: It has taken 12 years of agony and frustration to get a great football coach in John Robinson. Are we going to wait through 12 years of agony and frustration to get a basketball coach?

Sing-a-ding-ding!: Their warm-up doesn't sound like singing at all.

Saturday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Clm: 1 Swimmie (Castanon) 116; 2 Bolshoia (Hunter) 116; 3 Five Star Chili (Baze) 116; 4 Radica Gal (Lopez) 116; 5 Falstaffs Lady Ann (Arriaga) 116; 6 Dancing Goose (Barber) 116.

Prep Volleyball: Mitchell, Western aiming high in '99: Spencer Patterson; Standing nearly 6-foot-5, Brock Mitchell certainly cuts an intimidating figure as he takes to the air for one of his powerful kills.

America West flight attendants protest on the Strip: Angie Wagner; "We've devoted 10 years of our life to the betterment of this airline," said one flight attendant, who declined to give her name because of the contract dispute. "We want that promise that they gave us."

State tries working out deal with Del Mar Mortgage: The state and Del Mar Mortgage owner Mike Shustek are negotiating an agreement that would settle allegations of misconduct against the Las Vegas company.

NCAA's probe of UNLV remains a big mystery: If you're an avid follower of the UNLV men's basketball program, this would be the week to hook up with actor Jeff Goldblum and transform yourself into a fly on the wall.

Sound Check: Residents' gig at House of Blues marks local musical milestone: "What touring act hasn't been here yet?" she asked.

Ralph Siraco's Selections for Santa Anita: 1ST RACE:

Auto Racing standings, leaders and schedule -- March 19, 1999: NASCAR Winston Cup schedule, with winners in parentheses, driver point standings:

Med-school grads find their futures: Art Nadler; "Find your treasure," a faculty member yelled.

Road-rage trial begins next week: Bill Gang; A Las Vegas woman is scheduled to appear Tuesday in the Goodsprings courthouse to face felony charges in a purported road-rage incident that left a motorcyclist dead beneath the wheels of a semi-truck.

Mother killed at burger drive-up: Stray bullets killed a 24-year-old Las Vegas woman after narrowly missing her 5-year-old son Thursday night at the drive-through window of a McDonald's restaurant in North Las Vegas.

Boys Volleyball top teams -- March 19, 1999: 1. Durango

Local prices rise again: In comparison, the national cost of living on a nonseasonally adjusted basis rose 0.1 percent.

Letter: Schools don't need elevators: Louis Overstreet, a member of the district's bond committee, said, "I don't know why this town didn't use it earlier." He apparently doesn't know much about Las Vegas. We had two-story schools here 70 years ago when land was very cheap or free.

Alystra owner sued by nurse: A police report said Connors arrived at the hospital at 12:45 a.m. on April 3, 1997, with a shoulder injury. Morrow was pushing him toward the emergency room in a wheelchair when she bumped Connors into a table, the newspaper reported.

District court clerk admits violation: County Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Reed said she still thinks the former clerk should serve jail time.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Big problems in the air: About three weeks ago, Barbara called again to tell me that Delta Airlines Flight 1800 from Phoenix to Atlanta was checked by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents, who found that 102 of the flight's 186 passengers were illegal aliens. A couple of days later, two American Trans Air flights coughed up 56 illegals on one flight and 29 on the other. There's no doubt the INS agents in Phoenix are doing the job they are paid to do.

Columnist E.J. Dionne: Chafee-like moderates hard to come by: "I want to make it clear that I'm not going away mad or disillusioned or upset with the Senate," the Rhode Island Republican told the New York Times' Alison Mitchell. "I think it's a great place."

Witness describes how his two friends died in drive-by shooting: Bill Gang; Efran Hernandez, speaking through an interpreter at Thursday's preliminary hearing in Justice Court, said despite multiple gunshots that struck his companions, he escaped unharmed. He testified that as the gunmen fled, he guided his friend's truck to a convenience store for help.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Local entertainment pros do well with Reno production: Joe Delaney; Congrats, all concerned at the Riviera, on the hotel's new Royale Pavilion. ... Bobby Vinton will appear there today and Saturday at 9 p.m. ... Vinton and I go back together to 1960 on Atlantic City's Steel Pier.

Casino operator offers bonuses: Employees who meet performance standards and have been employed continuously through the quarter are eligible for bonuses as high as $300 a quarter and $1,200 a year.

Millennium tourism safety discussed: Speakers include New York City Police Commissioner Howard Safir; Jerry Keller, sheriff of the Metro Las Vegas police force; and Las Vegas hotel-casino security managers.

Gaming contractor's profit rises: Earnings in the year-ago quarter reflected an $861,000 write-off for advances and investments in a proposed Indian casino.

Obituaries for March 19, 1999: He is survived by his wife, Anna H.; two daughters, Rose Nolan and Lisa Bradley, one son, Jackie Lee Syddall, all of Las Vegas; three sisters, Elizabeth Braner of Las Vegas and Carol Christan of South Carolina and Donna Meuse of Jacksonville, Fla.; three brothers, Percy Davies of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Robert Bookhammer of Atlanta and Chuck Bookhammer of California; and seven grandchildren.

Nuke shipment hearing delayed: The delay will give Nevada's congressional delegation time to lobby colleagues on the dangers of sending nuclear wastes to the Nevada Test Site in 2003 instead of waiting for the federal government to complete studies at Yucca Mountain.

Debt offering priced: Coast said it will fund the tender offer through the private placement of $175 million of senior subordinated notes paying 9.5 percent a year, and with cash and a revolving bank credit facility.

Dial File: Irony, thy name is Oscar: Yes, I will heap scorn upon its pompous pomp and supercilious circumstance the minute it's over. No, I wouldn't miss it next year for all the gold spangles on whatever almost-gown some top-heavy not-quite-starlet will barely be wearing in hopes of gaining stares and losing the not-quite.

Texan Tune guides 'EFX' storyline: Joe Delaney; Tune is the third person to star in this musical extravaganza. Michael Crawford was the first, giving the show a British Music Hall quality. David Cassidy's approach was more youthful, more American, with a more personalized story line. Tune, the quintessential dance master, seems more of a guide than a participant. One can make a case in favor of each performer to date as being the best.

Editorial: Marijuana study could aid rational dialogue: For years there has been strident opposition to using marijuana for medical purposes, with fears that it doesn't have real medical benefits and is just an attempt by pro-drug advocates to get more marijuana into circulation. But this simplistic notion probably will lose the resonance it once had. The institute said marijuana should be tested in scientific trials, but it did acknowledge that smoking marijuana can cause respiratory disease. The institute said to avoid this a standardized form of the drug, which could be taken by using an inhaler, should be developed.

Sun Life Datebook: AUTHORS APPEAR

Plan revamps judges' powers: Bill Gang; The 27 district judges know it, and the only question is how the Legislature and Nevada Supreme Court will structure the inevitable "strong chief judge" system.

Nevadans in Congress fume about gambling briefing: Mark D. Preston; The National Research Council briefed two staff members for Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., about the contents of the report Wednesday before unveiling it Thursday for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission.

Execution date set for convicted killer: Brendan Riley; Nevada Prisons Director Bob Bayer set the date - at 9 p.m. on a Monday - for Alvaro Calambro, whose scheduled execution by injection is being challenged even though he opposes any appeals.

Letter: Lewis stalker case hits point on mental illness: There are 24,000 Nevadans who suffer severe mental illnesses through no fault of their own -- nature does it. The Department of Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation reaches only one in 10 of these brain disease victims.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Sunset Station's Sonoma Cellar hits heights for food, decor: Muriel Stevens; The dining room is elegant and inviting, with vaulted ceilings, handsome wrought-iron chandeliers and posh appointments.

Editorial: A new law won't erase this tragedy: Strohmeyer was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but Iverson's family and others were outraged that Nevada didn't have a "good Samaritan" law so that Cash could be put on trial for failing to act. It is morally obvious that Cash should have intervened. The difficult issue, though, is whether there should be a state law that makes criminals of men and women who are guilty of inaction.

The Movie Guys pick winners for movies' biggest night: So, who will be the winners? What can we expect from the list of deserving nominees? Well, we have put on our thinking caps and researched Oscar history to determine the answers those very questions. So, without further delay, here are our picks on who will win the little golden statues this Sunday night. The envelopes, please.

Letter: Reader praises drama workshop: As a participant in these workshop sessions for the past 10 years, I have seen many individuals develop from timid, withdrawn personalities into fine, talented performers who have been able to earn good money in the film and electronic media, both in front of and behind the camera.

Rocket launching firm attracts investment: Northrop Grumman also has an option, in the form of warrants, to invest up to $120 million more. And Northrop Grumman agreed to assist Kistler in forming an industry consortium designed to help raise additional capital.

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