Print edition for November 9, 1999

Community news briefs for November 9, 1999: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. donated $8,160 to Friends of the Desert Wetlands Park for next year's Las Vegas Wash & Wetlands Cleanup.

Pioneering Las Vegas bakery owner Harkess dies at 85: In 1955, when most other bakers were packaging their goods in wax or paper containers, George Harkess, owner of Gail's Bakery on West Charleston Boulevard, got the idea of putting his sliced bread into plastic bags.

Pinon Plaza Resort expansion means more rooms: The new wing will adjoin the Pinon Plaza's existing 65-room hotel.

Wednesday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Mdn Clm: 1 April's Fantasy (Bisono) 116; 2 Slewvana (Meza) 116; 3 Polly's Promise (Lopez) 116; 4 Hi Ho Ginger (Campbell) 116; 5 Luckier (Gonzalez) 116.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Wild N Golden - Stalked and 3rd in last, 4-for-9 this year, 1-for-1 at Hollypark, drops a level now and gets a good inside post. Peter's Ballad - 3-wide and outfinished to 3rd while claimed at this level in last, second in return at Bay Meadows before that, hustling Pedroza for trainer Carava now. Value Play -- Halo Romeo

Life in prison for murderer of paraplegic: His two co-defendants in the case, Pedro Rodriguez, 20, and Robert Paul Servin, 17, were sentenced to death Oct. 20 after a Washoe District Court jury found them guilty.

Plot hatched after failure to extricate du Pont heir from relationship: Robert Macy; "Operation Dean" was initiated in July 1998 in an effort to coax Dean MacGuigan to get a divorce from a wife who was draining his trust fund and to end his relationship with Patricia Margello, a prosecutor said. Failing in the effort, MacGuigan's stepfather, Christopher Moseley, contracted to have Margello killed, the government contends.

Letter: Kids have right to be on Strip: JAN STORM

Letter: Billboards won't erase lawyers' negative image: While that case was going on, my lawyer had another case against me in which he took my deposition in an antagonistic manner. This left me hurt and confused.

Nevada's Civil Air Patrol will honor its top members at dinner: Shaunta Grimes; The Nevada wing of the Civil Air Patrol will honor its members during the annual Wing Conference and Awards Dinner at Palace Station Friday.

Editorial: This flap not exactly child's play: In his seven years as a Family Court judge, Gerald Hardcastle has seen his share of bitterness in divorce cases. Normally the public doesn't hear much about what goes on in Family Court since the hearings often are closed to the public. But Hardcastle was so frustrated with a particular case that he invited the media to attend a hearing on Friday. What had exasperated Hardcastle? A couple divorced four months ago still couldn't agree on how to divide their Beanie Babies collection, prompting the ex-husband to file a motion to get his share.

Wildfire takes a beating in Elko County: The fire was 90 percent contained Tuesday morning, and was expected to be put out by Wednesday evening.

Kiel Ranch fund-raiser a step in right direction: Diana Sahagun; At least 1,500 people flocked to the Community College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne Campus for the Western Heritage Festival, a Kiel Ranch fund-raiser complete with cowboy dancing and poetry but little in the way of gate receipts.

Evander sees rematch as time for redemption: Dean Juipe; With an air of invincibility that comes with being a reigning heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield strode toward the ring through a crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers.

Wednesday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO & up F & M Turf Mdn: 1 Ridged Appeal (Luzzi) 117; 2 Devilinareddress (Leon) 117; 3 Starting Ally (Gryder) 120; 4 a-Smooth Blues (Velazquez) 117; 5 My Shining Star (Riquelme) 117; 6 b-Kings Park (Rodriguez) 117; 7 Feeling Forty (Lopez) 120; 8 Waltzing Camel (Bridgmohan) 117; 9 Red Toes by a Nose (Beckner) 117; 10 Almost There (Santos) 117.

Editorial: Bean counters lose, but patients win one: It was shocking, then, when the nation's second-largest health insurer announced Monday that it now will give doctors the final say on what care is necessary. What is fascinating is the reason behind this radical change: costs. UnitedHealth Group had found that it was wasting $100 million annually to get prior approvals. Since the insurer approved 99 percent of the requests anyway, the paperwork cost more than the money that was being saved. Doctors still will have to justify some costly tests and other procedures, but ultimately the physician will have the last word on the patient's treatment.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Buffalo Jim pins the competition: In professional wrestling, even the bouts out of the ring are, shall we say, predetermined.

AG considering strategy in fighting deputies' fines: CARSON CITY -- A representatives of the state attorney general said Monday no decision has been made whether to appeal fines levied against two deputy attorneys general for delaying the release of parts of a confidential investigation into allegations against top state gaming officials.

Denial of water rights could delay proposed nuclear dump: Trevor Hayes; "Water is necessary for the repository to be constructed and operated," said Scott Wade, an environmental safety and health specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Prep volleyball and soccer all-conference selections: BOYS SOCCER

UNLV-Global Sports box score: Tuialati 10-18 2-2 22, Peters 4-5 5-9 9, Saxon 4-13 9-11 18, Reid 4-13 0-0 12, Rice 4-6 6-8 14, Curry 0-2 0-0 0, Mahmud 1-3 0-0 2, Branch 4-10 0-0 9, Sparks 3-5 3-5 9, Thompson 1-3 0-2 2. Totals 35-78 21-30 97.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Celebrity home decorator brings talents to Vegas: Kate Maddox; The Beverly Hills Design Group has arrived in Las Vegas. Open for just a couple of weeks, the new shop is the third installment of design guru and celebrity home decorator Gregory G. Smith.

Ex-trooper's case about wife's death returns to high court: Bill Gang; A decade after he was first accused of murdering his wife, former Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper George Warner sat in Nevada Supreme Court chambers quietly watching what could be the final chapter in his roller-coaster ride through the justice system.

Thousands to tie Y2K knot New Year's Eve: Jennifer C. Yates; Thousands of couples from Philadelphia to Thailand are choosing to say their "I do's" in chorus on New Year's Eve as part of their city's celebrations to mark the new year.

Obituaries for November 9, 1999: Ben Barbera, 76, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born March 2, 1923, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for seven years, he was a retired air conditioning company foreman.

Letter: Don't give up on Notch Babies: Our generation consists of survivors of the Great Depression, then World War II, and we earned every cent the hard way. I will not "go gently into that good night."

'Loca' Motion: Ricky Martin mania: Joey Guerra; When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Wednesday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO Clm: 1 Marlwood (Pincay) 118; 2 Wild N Golden (Berrio) 118; 3 Prized Demon (Martinez) 118; 4 Peter's Ballad (Pedroza) 118; 5 Regal Battle (Flores) 116; 6 Halo Romeo (Valenzuela) 118.

Correction: Correction

Letter: O'Callaghan deserves thanks: No, there is no justice when it comes to the elderly! In closing my letter to these representatives, I suggested that they should all be replaced by human beings!

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Government smell test: LAS VEGANS should be happy that at least one member of the city's Ethics Review Board is able to distinguish the line that separates what is legal from what is ethical in government. Former Assemblywoman Eileen Brookman says the appointment of city employees to the City Council doesn't "pass the smell test." What is described as legal is the very least we can demand from our elected officials. The standards they set above that floor determines the level of ethics and quality of government they practice. Nobody has ever had to question the ethics in government Eileen practiced during her ...

Effect on rates of Sierra Pacific purchase still unknown: "The company becomes larger, and you assume there will be some operational efficiencies there," he said. "But we have to look at all terms to make sure it's viable."

Strip win soars 41%: Cy Ryan and Gary Thompson; The opening of the Paris hotel-casino and the De La Hoya-Trinidad fight in Las Vegas helped push the gambling win in Nevada to a record $819.5 million in September, up 23.1 percent from a year ago, the state Gaming Control Board reported today.

Track club holds meet: Proceeds will benefit the Shade Tree Shelter, a facility assisting women and children in need of a safe environment.

22,000 aliens in Nevada face deportation: Martin Kuz; Angel Garcia finds himself ensnared in the sticky web of immigration law. The native Mexican does not grasp every last political intricacy of his predicament. Garcia only knows that, like hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who once held legal status in the United States, he faces deportation at any time.

Dental chief says resignation won't hurt program for poor: The acting director of the state's new dental residency program says the resignation of one of the program's three dentists is not endangering the fledgling effort to provide dental care for the poor.

Legislators cite rapid LV growth in airport plan: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A proposal in Congress to transform 6,650 desert acres southwest of Las Vegas into an airport probably will be set aside this week as lawmakers push to close up shop for the session.

Nevada casinos win record $819.6 million in September: Brendan Riley; Frank Streshley of the Gaming Control Board said today the September win, fueled by a big fight and a new Las Vegas Strip megaresort opening, represents a 23.1 percent jump compared with the same month in 1998.

Three insiders sell shares: MGM Director Gary Primm plans to sell 100,000 shares for an expected consideration of $4.8 million, while MGM Grand Secretary-Treasurer Scott Langsner is selling 6,041 shares for an expected $308,091.

State favorable toward DOE request for Yucca water-use permit: Enough water is available under the ground surrounding Yucca Mountain to support the operation of a high-level nuclear waste repository, according to State Engineer Michael Turnipseed.

Ivanpah airport plan took a long time to get off the ground: Building a new airport between Jean and Primm would mean lots of new homes, new infrastructure and more people.

Rudolph likely to return for Saturday's game at Air Force: Steve Guiremand; Star tailback Jeremi Rudolph is expected to finally be back in the lineup for UNLV on Saturday afternoon at Air Force.

Securities industry urged to recognize danger signs of compulsive gambling: David Strow; A story like Christopher Anderson's has an all-too-familiar ring to it in Las Vegas.

LV Internet companies in marketing pact: The agreement will give Travelscape.com access to PurchasePro.com's e-marketplace, where businesses buy and sell products and services.

Firm projects strengthening apartment market, job growth in Las Vegas: Conducted by Palo Alto, Calif.-based Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co., the Apartment Research Report found Las Vegas' job growth will reach 6.4 percent in 1999, up from 4.7 percent growth last year. The area's population will increase by 4.3 percent this year, down slightly from last year's 4.5 percent growth.

Washington Mutual trying new strategy: Phil Levine; Washington Mutual is banking on an untried new strategy -- dubbed "click and brick" -- to make its mark in Las Vegas' competitive financial sector.

Alban, Van Meetren head volleyball squad: Alban, the Skyhawks' senior setter, headlines an All-Sunrise team that also includes teammate Ashlee Kordestani, Green Valley's Malia Koelliker, Basic's Danielle Dodgen, Chaparral's Katie Nihipali and Las Vegas' Adrianne Page. Silverado's Pam Sloan was named Sunrise Coach of the Year.

Sierra Pacific, Nevada Power debt under review by agencies: Effects unclear

LV gaming operator agrees to $5,000 fine: Hail and Deputy Attorney General Lou Dorn signed a stipulation to resolve a complaint filed by the state Gaming Control Board earlier this year against the owner and the business with three slot machines at 2934 Lake East Drive. The agreement must be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which meets later this month in Las Vegas.

Indian artifacts delay Hoover bypass: CARSON CITY -- An environmental impact statement looking at potential new routes for the $200 million Hoover Dam bypass road has been delayed an estimated nine months after Indian artifacts were found along the route, state Transportation Director Tom Stephens said today.

Fed agencies warn of scams aimed at firms, consumers: David Strow; "Consumer beware" was the main advice at a Las Vegas convention Monday, as government regulators tried to educate the nation's business media on efforts to protect consumers and investors.

Alliance to voice concerns: Terry Webster; The Alliance for Social Justice, an education advocacy group, made its voice heard Monday during a press conference on the front steps of the Clark County School District's Education Center on East Flamingo Road.

District judges' duties to remain same -- for now: Bill Gang; Against the wishes of most District Court judges, the current specialization system -- with some judges handling criminal cases and others handling civil -- is going to be the way judicial business is conducted in Clark County.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Blame Utah for Rebels' weak slate: Dean Juipe; He is aware of the complaints, yet, he admits, "they fall on deaf ears."

Indiana clears Blue Chip deal: The Indiana Gaming Commission on Monday approved Boyd Gaming Corp.'s acquisition of the Blue Chip riverboat casino in Michigan City, Ind.

Las Vegas company lands contracts at Gold Coast, Plaza: The value of the contracts wasn't disclosed.

Fallen wall remembered: On Nov. 10, 1989, Anja Vogel, a 15-year-old East Berliner, awoke to an announcer on a West Berlin radio station talking about "the celebration, the champagne, the people dancing on the wall."

New office building set for Harrah's: Construction of the four-story building just south of McCarran Airport is expected to begin by year-end and be completed by December 2000. The facility at the Warm Springs Road exit of I-215 will include a three-story parking garage.

UNLV vows to tighten defense after exhibition: Victoria Sun; The numbers don't lie.

California man pleads guilty in DUI death of his daughter: Bill Gang; A California construction worker has pleaded guilty to a felony drunken driving charge for a high-speed rollover accident that killed his 4-year-old daughter and traumatized witnesses.

Resort to televise pageant to 50 million: Staged in Hong Kong in previous years, the pageant will be broadcast from Las Vegas this year via satellite to Hong Kong, North America and the Far East. The pageant is intended to promote tourism and cultural exchanges between North America and Hong Kong, and will be viewed by approximately 50 million people worldwide.

Sentence passed in 'Coin' heist: Bill Gang; Sometimes crimes of great magnitude deserve punishment no matter the circumstances, a district judge concluded before sentencing two aging New Mexico brothers to prison for their roles in the $1.6 million United Coin Co. heist in 1997.

Slots appealing to children to be removed: The company announced it is removing "Three Stooges," produced by Shuffle Master, and "Betty Boop," operated by Bally Gaming and Systems. Station owns and operates Palace Station, Boulder Station, Texas Station, Sunset Station and Wild Wild West hotel-casinos in Clark County.

Highlights of September win report on Nevada casinos: -STATEWIDE: $819.6 million, up 23.2 percent.

Trial begins in death of du Pont heir: Kim Smith; The trial of a man accused of killing a du Pont heir's girlfriend began Monday with the testimony of those who found the victim's body.