Print edition for May 20, 1999

Two Anchor execs file to sell stock: Joseph Murphy, Anchor's vice president of casino operations, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday to sell 2,000 shares. On April 28, Murphy exercised 2,500 stock options at a price of $12 per share, and sold the shares on the open market for $47.94 per share, according to figures compiled by CDA Investnet, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. research firm.

Korean scandal haunts Mirage: David Strow; A former employee of Mirage Resorts Inc. sued the Las Vegas company, claiming it knowingly sent her to Korea to violate that country's currency laws, then abandoned her to Korea's justice system after her arrest.

Friday at Belmont: 1st race 6 1-1/16 mi 3YO & up Mdn Clm: 1 Taffin Le (Chavez) 114; 2 Clear To Launch (Espinoza) 114; 3 Missouri Lad (Davis) 122; 4 Graveyard Shift (Santagata) 114; 5 White River Kid (Smith) 109; 6 Chuckies Wings (Chen) 115; 7 In Case Of Fire (Gryder) 114; 8 Sultry Waltz (Luzzi) 122; 9 Of Notable Value (Lovato) 114; 10 Dave And Busters (Migliore) 114; 11 Champagne Winner (Rocco) 107; 12 John Nation (Samyn) 122.

Director to sell 50,000 shares: The shares would represent about 83 percent of the 60,200 shares Benninger owns. Of those shares, 50,200 are options that were exerciseable prior to May 11.

Obituaries for May 19, 1999: She is survived by one daughter, Ruthie E. Alisson of Enterprise, Utah; two sons, Joe Allison of Atlanta and Charles Allison of Bryans Road, Md.; one sister, Belvalene Cameron of Jacksonville, Fla.; two brothers, Donald Hamlett of Durham, N.C., and John Robert Hamlett Jr. of Virginia; and three grandchildren.

Obituaries for May 18, 1999: She is survived by her husband, David; one daughter, Amy Massa of Henderson; one son, Jimmy Andrews of Las Vegas; two brothers, Jim Lister of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Paul Lister of Eureka, Ill.; and one grandchild.

Friday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 4-1/2 fur 2YO Mdn: 1 Cindys Delta Fleet (Rollins) 118; 2 Trojan Lass (Rodriguez) 118; 3 Magicalmysterycat (Antley) 118; 4 Queenie Belle (Solis) 118; 5 Racy Broad (Pincay) 118; 6 Color My Heart (Nakatani) 118.

Suit filed to block Walgreens sign: Sahara Land Inc. filed suit in District Court against the owners of the Metz Plaza at 3763-65 Las Vegas Blvd. South over the proposed construction of the sign. The mall is near the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

Box score: Stars 4, Grizzlies 0: Fresno

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: One man's inspiring mission: Ruthe Deskin; "I was so low down that I had to look up to see the bottom," he explains. One day his hunger drove him to search for food at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. He came for a meal and found food for his soul. He became a pastor and served several churches nationwide until his path led back to Las Vegas, where he became assistant director and head of the job development program for the Las Vegas Mission.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Finding people of hope: By Brian Greenspun; What seemed like everyone in town showed up Wednesday night for the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Community Service Award Dinner. The honoree, of course, was the irrepressible Williams. It was just one more way for this community to show its respect for an individual who, from the moment she hit town 35 years ago, has never stopped giving back.

Stupak parries with Reese in his first debate: Erin Neff; Political rookie Nevada Stupak at times seemed overwhelmed during his first-ever debate Wednesday night, but he worked through answers about redevelopment, tax parity and urban blight with enough generalities to please a partisan crowd.

Speedway puts marketing in gear: The industrial park at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has dropped its lease rates in a bid to jump-start business.

Columnist Tim Graham: Felix and Oscar not a match: Tim Graham; Felix Trinidad is big.

Stock falls on Beau Rivage comments: Mirage fell $1.63 to $21.13 in trading of 4.9 million, more than double its three-month daily average of 1.7 million.

Friday at Golden Gate Fields: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up Mdn Clm: 1 Ground Rush (Warren) 119; 2 Absolut Ruler (Duran) 119; 3 Kickback (Radke) 119; 4 Doctor Doug (Delgadillo) 119; 5 French Cause (Martinez) 119; 6 Panama Dan (Arriaga) 118; 7 Frontier Hall (Barton) 119; 8 Blackhawk Dancer (Lopez) 119.

Teaming with Arie is big boost at Indy: INDIANAPOLIS -- Each time I come to Indianapolis, it feels different.

Rock 'n' Race: Melissa Schorr; When Nancy Davis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis eight years ago, she didn't want to accept that it was happening to her.

Legal action continues in merger fight: U.S. District Judge Sven Erik Holmes of Tulsa, Okla., issued a preliminary injunction against Southern Union on Wednesday blocking it from trying to influence a shareholder vote on the proposed merger between Southwest and ONEOK Inc. of Tulsa. Southern Union immediately asked the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver for a stay of that order. The vote has not been scheduled.

LV engineering firm sold: Publicly traded U.S. Laboratories Inc. bought Buena Engineers Inc., 3021 S. Valley View Blvd. Terms were not announced.

Blazers volleyball team upended by Green Valley: Matt O'Brien; It's the point in the boys volleyball season where records can be tossed out the window. For most teams, this is not a major ordeal, but for Durango High it creates a rather daunting scenario.

Advisor: Regional conflicts can be settled: Martin Kuz; So contends former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who last year helped broker an unlikely peace pact between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Subduing the tensions in the British-ruled province required nothing less than an "absolute conviction that a conflict can be ended," Mitchell said.

New enforcers hope to clean up the trash: Lisa Snedeker; The 30-year North Las Vegas resident, who lives in Walker Park near June and West streets, has approached the City Council several times in recent months with complaints about the lack of code enforcement in her neighborhood.

LV works for regular direct flights from Italy: An Air Europe Boeing 767 arrived Wednesday afternoon with more than 180 tour operators, travel agents and members of the press, the first of at least five charter operations in July, August and September for the Milan-based airline.

Senate committee delays vote on nuclear storage: Mark D. Preston; Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, who heads the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said he will wait until after Memorial Day before holding a vote on the bill that President Clinton has threatened to veto.

Budget panel pumps another $28.7 million into schools: CARSON CITY -- An extra $28.7 million will flow to Nevada schools over the next two years, including state money for the first time for summer school.

More bulls scheduled for Mesquite celebration: Officials, who on Wednesday released details of this year's Mesquite Running of the Bulls Festival, said this year's participants will have more chances to run, on a longer course and in front of more bulls.

Stars closer Cunnane may be next call up for Padres: Steve Guiremand; Will Cunnane had a little more room to kick back and eat his postgame meal of spaghetti and meatballs Wednesday.

Anniversary, shooting has LV officials on alert: At Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas, where precinct revoting is taking place because of irregularities in the May 4 primary, additional North Las Vegas Police and School District patrols have been added, officials said.

Editorial: Gaming fund ban a bad idea: The commission has endorsed some poorly thought-out proposals -- such as banning all betting on college sports -- and prohibiting political contributions by a legal industry certainly belongs to the category of bad ideas. Supporters of a ban use as a model the state of New Jersey, which bans casino companies and employees from making donations to candidates for state office or political action committees.

DiBetta big reason for Durango High's success: Spencer Patterson; John DiBetta's offensive numbers practically jump off the Durango stats sheet: a .509 batting average, an .889 slugging percentage, 53 RBIs and an area-best 10 home runs.

Defense denies defendant involved in tavern murder: Bill Gang; As the trial began Wednesday, Wall told jurors that Garner was the lookout and getaway driver who waited outside while 32-year-old Charles Randolph committed the robbery and fired two shots into Shelly Lokken's head.

Ex-county building inspector indicted: Gary Thompson, Bill Gang and Adrienne Packer; The indictment alleges McAnally altered the records to backdate approvals of several remodeling and renovation projects at the Strip resorts and at the homes of his father and a friend, contractor Tommy Ford, whose company did at least some of the work.

Lem Banker still insists first fight was fixed: Dean Juipe; For what it's worth, investigators with the Nevada Gaming Control Board have completed their inquiry into the betting patterns within the state toward the March 13 heavyweight title fight in New York between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis. The board announced that it found nothing out of the ordinary in a bout that was scored a draw despite the fact it appeared Lewis clearly won.

Adamsen, Goodman woo senior voters: Erin Neff; Adamsen concluded his remarks in 9 minutes, saying he had to leave to tape interviews with CNN and ABC for broadcast several weeks from now and wouldn't be joining the seniors "for the desserts I brought."

Some struggle, some soar in complex classroom: Benjamin Grove; Teacher John Pendry takes stock of what his students have learned.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Justin Juuko in demand after Vargas pulls out: Dean Juipe; James Crayton's loss may be Justin Juuko's gain.

Stalking bill passes Senate: Assembly Bill 363 now goes back to the Assembly for approval of a Senate amendment.

Editorial: House should stop free-lance diplomacy: But last week Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the group that its endeavors could damage the administration's own diplomatic efforts. Unfortunately Albright's message was lost on the group, which is continuing to promote the peace plan it developed with the Communist-led Duma last month. That plan calls for a simultaneous end to NATO's bombing, a withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and an end to the fighting by the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: ESPN: Tough to turn on, tune in and figure out: Hopefully, it's gotten to the point where the TV sports listings you find every day on Page 2 of the Sun sports section are at least 98 percent accurate.

Snowbirds favor Las Vegas over Arizona: Jace Radke; Arizona State University researchers estimate that more than 325,000 snowbirds ages 65 and older make their winter homes in Arizona. But Las Vegas RV Resort manager Steve Smith says Arizona will have a fight on its hands for the new wave of younger birds.

Resorts try to bridge the gap: Adrienne Packer; The Clark County Commission, acting as the zoning board, granted Mirage Resorts Inc. and the Venetian hotel-casino a two-week delay to allow representatives to work out a deal with the Venetian's next-door neighbor, the Rosewood Grille.

Turnout low for candidate forum: Only 19 people showed up at the forum to hear what the candidates had to say before today's revote by precincts 4005 and 4008 because of irregularities in the May 4 primary election.

Three companies reveal action plans for catastrophic events: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp.'s plan showed that a loss of 28,000 pounds of hydrogen sulfide in the air could affect people in a 9-mile radius. Pioneer Chlor-Alkali Co. could release a detectable chlorine cloud extending for 18 miles, reaching into Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Sloan, in a worst-case accident.

Vargas not happy that Oscar won't fight him: Dean Juipe; Oscar De La Hoya dropped something of a bombshell on an unexpecting audience last week when he said, in no uncertain terms, that he would never fight one of the sport's rising stars, IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas.

Eldorado park to be named for Seastrand: Lisa Snedeker; The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan calling for the transfer of 34 city acres to Pardee Construction Co. in exchange for the development of a $3 million park on about 23 acres owned by Pardee.

Promoters holding up Holyfield-Lewis II: Dean Juipe; The deal is in place except for one sticking point: Who will be the promoter of record?

Reeves shuns spotlight in Dogstar: Geoff Carter; Playing that same night at the Railhead lounge: "Dogstar: The Matrix 2."

Fight schedule: At Robinsonville, Miss., Oleg Maskaev, Kazakstan, vs. Shane Sutcliffe, Canada, 10, heavyweights; Derrick Jefferson, Detroit, vs. Obed Sullivan, Gulfport, Miss., 10, heavyweights.

Jury weighs fate of two reputed mob soldiers: The jury received the case this morning following the conclusion of closing arguments in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Philip Pro.

Mandalay Bay bolsters Circus operating net: Circus Circus said operating income was $39.4 million, or 43 cents a share, in the latest quarter, up 87 percent from $21.6 million, or 23 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

One year in a school: An emotional upheaval: Benjamin Grove; Today teacher John Pendry reflects on what his students are learning and the sometimes harried routine they endure.

Mayor hopping mad over loss of impact fees: Cy Ryan and Erin Neff; Voting 27-14, the Assembly rejected Senate Bill 457 to allow the city to impose impact fees on new homes to raise money for fire stations and parks.

Group aims to bring soccer teams to area: LVSDC President Yan K. Skwara heads the group designed to relocate an existing A-League outdoor soccer franchise to Las Vegas and also bring a new indoor soccer team to the Clark County area.

High court puts end to welfare disparity: The case arose after three women, who had recently moved to California to escape abusive family relationships, challenged the law's constitutionality. In its 7-2 decision, the court found that citizens of the United States have a right to travel, choosing to be citizens of the state where they wish to live. "The states, however, do not have any right to select their citizens," Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Durango stalks leader in golf: Spencer Patterson; This week's state playoff extravaganza officially kicked off Wednesday, as the two-day 4A State Golf Tournament reached its halfway point at Reno's Hidden Valley Country Club.

Fitzgeralds pumps funds into casinos, restructuring debt: John Wilen; Las Vegas-based Fitzgeralds, which operates casinos in downtown Las Vegas; Reno; Tunica, Miss.; and Black Hawk, Colo.; announced last week it had decided "it would not be in the best interest of the company to make the regularly scheduled interest payments on its $205 million 12 1/4 percent senior secured notes due 2004."

Rebels baseball team loses in first round: Rebels baseball team loses in first round

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Hollywood Park: 1ST RACE:

4A postseason results, schedules: 4A STATE TOURNAMENT

Low-income motorists can receive help with emission-control repairs: Art Nadler; The Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department, the Clark County Health District and the state Department of Motor Vehicles have teamed up to offer qualified drivers up to $600 in free repairs after they pay a $100 co-payment.

Juveniles present biggest problem for arson sleuths: About half of all arsons are committed by juveniles, says Clark County Fire Investigator Lloyd Johnson.