Print edition for March 31, 1999

Letter: Skeleton bills may be downside of short Legislature: I am talking about skeleton bills. These bills are good for the legislator or committee that introduced them, but bad for those who may never see the bills in their entire form (even those who vote on them).

LV gas prices jump 21 cents: Gas prices on the West Coast are more prone to fluctuations than in other areas because of its isolation from major gas and oil producing regions east of the Rocky Mountains, said AAA Nevada spokesman Paul Moreno.

Par-A-Dice license renewed: The renovation included improvements to the interior of the riverboat including new carpet, wall coverings and lighting throughout to provide each of the four levels of the facility its own distinct guest experience. The exterior of the pavilion was also remodeled to match the 208-room hotel. Other improvements included the addition of a porte cochere and the complete overhaul of the ventilation system.

Obituaries for March 31, 1999: He is survived by his wife, Anna; three sons, Ross Anderson of Stillwater, Minn., Terry Anderson of Shoreview, Minn., and Drake Anderson of Edina, Minn.; one daughter, Linda Anderson of Coon Rapids, Minn.; one sister, Shirley Willard of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Judge won't stop Continental closure: John Wilen; The Continental hotel-casino in Las Vegas could close tonight at midnight. Landlord American Realty Trust Inc. is threatening to take possession of the property from former owners Hotel Continental Inc. and Crowne Gaming Corp.

Prisoner release program planned: Drug Court is part of the Clark County District Court and is run by Judge Jack Lehman.

Personal relationship definition stalls lawmakers on ethics debate: Adrienne Packer; And quickly becoming the point of contention during the Senate Government Affairs Committee hearing was an element of the ethics law that troubled elected officials most: the definition of a personal relationship.

Bus crashes; kids safe: Jace Radke and Karen Zekan; Thirty-two Henderson fifth-graders were alive and well this morning after their charter bus banged its way down a 35-foot embankment along Interstate 15 Tuesday night.

Financial problems reported at gold mining company: The charge reflects the lowest gold prices in more than 19 years and start-up problems and cost overruns caused by delays in obtaining permits for Alta's new Olinghouse mine in Northern Nevada.

Urbanization raises valley temperatures: In the past five years, the robust growth that has added more rooftops and blacktops to the landscape has created a virtual sponge to trap heat in the Las Vegas Valley. With more concrete and pavement, the valley releases daytime heat more slowly overnight, boosting nighttime temperatures as well.

Commonwealth Edison supports plan to keep material out of Nevada: Commonwealth Edison and two other utilities are supporting the Department of Energy's plan, which would give the utilities money to keep the wastes at reactor sites while the DOE completes studies of a proposed permanent repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Passover celebration turned around life of future rabbi: Stacy Willis; "I walked into my rabbi's house as one kind of person, and I walked away a very different kind of person," Wyne, 32, said about a Seder dinner he attended when he was 18. "I appreciated my life so much more.

Bill would shift utility consumer protection to Attorney General: Jennifer Coleman; It's an arrangement neither office is too happy about. But lawmakers think one consumer protection entity would end what they see as duplicating efforts.

Lender sues LV homebuilder: The $375,000 claim represents the total currently past due plus the amount Rhodes would owe over the life of four separate five-year leases. The leases expire at various points from November of this year through February 2002. Holthus did not know the amount Rhodes is currently past due.

Revenue up, loss widens for magazine: Casino Journal Publishing said revenues rose 26 percent to $9.1 million thanks to higher advertising and subscription revenue, along with the launch of two new magazines and two new trade shows.

Forum scheduled for public to hear LV mayoral candidates: Erin Neff; A mayoral forum featuring eight of the nine candidates will be held at 7 p.m. at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

Letter: Producers pay tax for unproductive: You know what they all are? The producers! The productive! Also, they are the taxpayers who pay the federal taxes.

Editorial: School bond panel needs wake-up call: The Sun's Benjamin Grove reported Monday that some members of the oversight committee say the board is hurt by several factors: absenteeism at its meetings, infrequent contact with the School Board and a rudderless direction. These same members who are worried about a lack of direction want the committee to become more aggressive and act as a watchdog instead of acting as a rubber stamp.

Shortened session at midway point: CARSON CITY -- Come Thursday, lawmakers can kiss their $130-a-day pay goodbye as they reach the halfway point of the first session of the Nevada Legislature limited to 120 days.

Editorial: Well owners in valley could get hammered: Southern Nevada well owners, however, believe that other parts of the bill are unfair. If their wells run dry, they don't own the rights to the water under their land, so they must hook up to the water authority's system, which well owners say can cost from $15,000 to $55,000. AB347 would allow well owners to pay for the cost of linking to the water authority's system by receiving low-interest loans. The water authority has suggested 5 percent loans, but well owners instead want zero-percent loans and a reduction in the total cost for hookup to the water authority's system.

Gators stay in hunt: Defending champion Green Valley won its second game in as many tries at this year's Lions Club Easter Prep Baseball Tournament Tuesday in San Diego, downing Palo Verde (Ariz.) 10-7 in nine innings.

Thursday at Santa Anita: 1st race 2 fur 2YO Fil Mdn: 1 Duchess Deb (Delahoussaye) 118; 2 Cordal Bay (Gonzalez) 118; 3 Qui's Fair Lady (Scott) 118; 4 In Lust With Loot (Stimpson) 118; 5 Beau's Bullion (Puglisi) 118; 6 Cee Miss Tizzy (Garcia) 118; 7 Don'tiwish (Antley) 118; 8 Miss Dora (Valdivia) 118.

More judges proposed for Family Court: CARSON CITY -- Clark County Family Court Judge Dianne Steel says she must sometimes make decisions affecting a family's future in 15 minutes.

Ex-Hughes chief joins Tejon board: At Howard Hughes, Goolsby helped develop Hughes's Summerlin master planned community as well as several Hughes office, commercial and industrial properties in the Las Vegas area.

Mirage Computers Inc. in merger: Company officials today did not put a dollar amount on the value of the transaction. Mirage gained access to a funding vehicle in the reverse merger.

Services set for Williams: Williams, 80, had been admitted to the hospital on Maryland Parkway one week ago. He left the hospital without checking out, walked three miles toward his home before he collapsed on the street and died a few blocks from his home.

Explosive device addressed to ATF employee: Karen Zekan; Beyond confirming the intended recipient, ATF Special Agent Tracy Hite, was barred by policy from disclosing details about the specific address, the contents of the package found Monday or what -- if anything -- could have potentially triggered the device to explode.

Murphy battles for control of videotape: Murphy's lawyer, David Chesnoff, was in District Court today fighting to not turn over the tape, which is in his possession.

Thursday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up Mdn: 1 Cure The Synful (Pezua) 113; 2 Chunga (Smith) 108; 3 Postino (Diego) 116; 4 Father's Magic (Nelson) 123; 5 Selective Pro (Lopez) 113; 6 Homer Boyer (Leon) 113; 7 Meteoric Rise (Winnett) 113; 8 Rah Rah Wal (Luzzi) 113.

Letter: Casinos should give more back to city: While acknowledging the benefits the gambling establishment contributes to the state in providing jobs to many hard-working casino employees, isn't it also true they are directly responsible for Las Vegas' existing growth factor?

Henderson: Growth leading election issues: Lisa Snedeker; That's if questions asked by some of the more than 125 residents who turned out for Tuesday's meet-the-candidates forum are any indication.

Power supply key to Y2K solutions: Jace Radke; No matter how many times the possible Y2K computer problems are studied in Southern Nevada, one fact always remains constant -- Nevada Power Co. is the linchpin in any kind of preventive plans.

Reid sees problems in state Y2K law: Jace Radke; Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, expressed concern about the broadness of the law, passed as Senate Bill 180, which provides immunity to state and local governments from civil action based on Y2K computer failures.

Elections office extends hours: Adrienne Packer; Newly appointed Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said his office will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Saturday.

Electric rates frozen for five years: Jennifer Coleman; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers have released a draft of an electric deregulation amendment that would freeze rates for five years and would give Nevada consumers a choice of power companies.

Bus firm hit with another lawsuit by disabled rider: Bill Gang; Norma Weinstein, 85, alleges in her lawsuit that a bus driver failed to secure her electric wheelchair in a CAT Paratransit van, and she broke her hip when she fell out of it as the van rounded a corner.

Debate on Nevada slot bill continues: Gary Thompson; A bill that would restrict the spread of revenue-sharing slot machines in Nevada is designed to boost the profits of the state's big casino operators at the expense of equipment manufacturers, the chairman of a Las Vegas gaming supplier charged.

Las Vegas news briefs: The bodies of Diane L. Paynes, 58, and Evangeline C. Lee, 72, were found in their bedrooms by Paynes' son March 23 when Payne failed to show up for work and did not answer her phone at home.

Venetian reveals dispute with construction manager: Gary Thompson; The owner of The Venetian hotel-casino revealed today that it has rejected a request by the construction manager to delay the opening of the $1.5 billion project for two months.

Lawmakers weigh privatization of state veterans home: But Ed Gobel of the Council of Nevada Veterans Organizations, representing 46 veterans groups, said a privatized home could provide care for veterans at no cost to them and save the state $1 million in expenses.

Union's telemarketing effort angers legislator: Von Tobel said the automated calls, which began late last week, have included alarming and frightening messages.

Thursday at Golden Gate: 1st race 6 fur 4YO & up F&M Mdn Clm: 1 Katherine Louise (Radke) 111; 2 Dianes Song (Warren) 116; 3 Monicatrippedbill (Arriaga) 118; 4 Greti (RBaze) 116; 5 Smile City (Castro) 118; 6 O.C. Taylor (Matias) 118.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Rebels to compete on live TV: The defending national champion UNLV golf team will make its lone live television appearance this season when it competes in the Compaq U.S. Collegiate Golf Championship this weekend in Lecanto, Fla.

LV selects new top planner: Tim Chow, director of community development in Nevada County, Calif., accepted the offer. He will make $94,000 a year.

Guinn vetoes bill imposing small fees: But he said AB105 authorized the Nevada Real Estate Division to collect the two fees.

Three bills could alter LV planning: Scott Reeder; On Tuesday, the former North Las Vegas city planner presented three bills that could significantly change urban planning in the Las Vegas Valley.

Scientist: Ban on two-stroke engines may not quench threat: Oris, a researcher from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, said both fish and the microscopic animals can be harmed when sunlight combines with gasoline emissions in water, producing the biologic equivalent of a bad sunburn.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Team hits beach, Rod hits bench: Dean Juipe; Rod Soesbe had all his Hawaiian shirts laid out. Pretty ones. Bright. Colorful. Floral patterns.

Assemblyman introduces three bills to manage urban sprawl: Kiley Russell; Assemblyman Thomas, D-Las Vegas, wants to encourage developers to slow urban sprawl in Reno and Las Vegas by giving property tax breaks or low-interest loans underwritten by the state for certain kinds of mixed-use developments.

Senate Y2K committee hears Nevada's plans for dealing with computer glitch: Angie Wagner; Whatever happens, local and state officials assured the Senate Committee on the Year 2000 Tuesday that Las Vegas and Nevada are prepared to handle any problem.

Lawmakers discuss protecting consumers in deregulated power market: Jennifer Coleman; It's an arrangement neither office is too happy about. But lawmakers think one consumer protection entity would end what they see as duplicating efforts.

Snow snarls western Nevada, Sierra: An early spring storm dumped up to 2 feet of snow in the mountains and 2-3 inches in the U.S. 395 corridor along the Sierra from Reno south through Minden.

Columnist Tim Graham: Local fans can dig into a baseball buffet: Tim Graham; Baseball junkies, rejoice.

Columnist Peter Benton: Volunteers behind success of junior golf: Peter Benton; Twenty years ago, local professionals Joe LePire Jr., Scotty Greer and Tim Webster, along with caring parents such as Buzz and Verna Marcinko, Joe LePire Sr., Marry Ann Contino, Jerry Clark and Jay Love, recognized the need to set up an organization for youngsters to learn about and play golf.

Joe Williams, jazz legend sang with Basie, Hampton in half-century career: Robert Macy; Williams was 80.

Hubbard has big plans for UNLV football: Steve Guiremand; Joe Hubbard thought his college football days were over.

Special car plates for DUI drivers termed privacy invasion: Kiley Russell; But advocates countered Tuesday that the license plates are supposed to be embarrassing and would work as both a warning to other drivers and as a deterrent to people who might otherwise consider driving after too many drinks.

Thunder climbs out of the cellar: Steve Guiremand; The Las Vegas Thunder players awoke today to find themselves in some uncharted territory for the 1998-99 season.

Columnist Paula Del Guidice: Preparation the key to safe boat outings: The first really warm weekends of the season act like a magnet to draw those who have been house-bound all winter from behind the walls and television sets. It's the perfect time to enjoy fishing, boating or hiking because it's not too warm, even though it's apt to be a little crowded.

Sandoval named Nevada Gaming Commission chairman: Curran was appointed to the Gaming Commission 10 years ago by Miller and became chairman two years later. While Sandoval will take over as chairman April 28, Curran will remain as a panel member until Guinn can find a replacement. The governor said he'll focus his search in southen Nevada.

Killer of two given life without parole: Bill Gang; After two hours of deliberations Tuesday night, the jury at Dennis' penalty hearing voted to sentence the 50-year-old defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Road rage bill termed unnecessary: Kiley Russell; "We're adding a metro Las Vegas problem in Nevada law that we really don't see in northern Nevada," deputy public defender John Morrow told the Assembly Transportation Committee during a hearing Tuesday on AB457.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Hard look at water softeners: The latest to go is my water softener. Due to the hardness of our water, a water softener is, for most of us, a necessity. Without a water softener, clothes do not wash well, dishwashers leave spots on glasses and skin gets dry and itchy.

Budget has possible $50 million hole: But Guinn and Human Resources Department officials told lawmakers Tuesday caseloads may be up enough to cost the state $30 million more than the $311 million budgeted over the coming two years.

Senate resolution would extend terms of legislators: Jennifer Coleman; SJR17, a proposed constitutional change by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, would give senators six-year terms. Members of the Assembly would double their time in office to four years.

Tuesday's Prep Results -- March 31, 1999: Bonanza 9, Montebello (Calif.) 1

Rocker Rolls: For now, Thomas Greenough, who long ago adopted the duel identity of Tommy Rocker, has stepped into yet another alias -- that of irascible country twanger Darryl Green.

Rule arson in recent construction site fire: "Josie found some possible evidence of flammable liquids so we're going to call it an arson fire," fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said Wednesday.

Suspect held in mail bomb; religious leader targeted, police say: Investigators told The Dallas Morning News that they have linked Alexander to an explosive package found in a holding area of a Greyhound bus station. The bomb found in Las Vegas was addressed to an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said ATF Special Agent Tracy Hite.

Blast at Dallas facility sparks concern over Las Vegas suspect: Robert Macy; Frank Darwin Alexander was arrested here Sunday, the day of the Dallas explosion, after police found eight explosive devices in his room at a downtown motel.

Del Papa "very, very strongly" considering U.S. Senate bid: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY - Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, back from Washington, D.C., meetings with national Democratic Party figures, said Tuesday she's "very, very strongly" considering a bid for the U.S. Senate.