Print edition for November 23, 1999

Suit filed over bottled water rights: In a U.S. District Court suit, Costello Beverage, which was told its distributorship rights would end as of Jan. 7, 2000, alleged Great Brands, formerly known as Evian Waters of France Inc., can't terminate its agreement as long as its Evian sales performance isn't deficient, and said a replacement water product won't be available to Costello Beverage for its clients.

Nurses protest in their pajamas: Ed Koch and Shaunta Grimes; Nurses in their nighties? It sounds like the start of a provocative letter to Penthouse magazine.

Seniors in the city: Erin Neff; Martin Basichas emerged from his second-floor apartment Monday afternoon leading his dog, Bo, down a quiet corridor into a room packed with more than 100 civic leaders and speech makers.

Mobile home license revoked: The state said the license was issued to the Las Vegas dealership's initial owner Timothy D. Woods, who then sold the company to Timothy Wirth in June 1998. Wirth, who assumed control of the dealership without state approval, was killed in an auto accident in Henderson in September.

CBS seeks dismissal of lawsuit filed by former teen prostitute: Kim Smith; Attorneys for CBS have filed an emergency motion asking for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against it last year by a former teen prostitute from Henderson.

Terrible Herbst in merger, set to close on Continental: David Strow; Herbst Oil Co. has agreed to merge 14 of its Terrible Herbst car washes and gas stations in the Las Vegas area with a Florida company trying to create a national network of car washes.

California couple sues trucking company over Las Vegas highway death: In a Clark County District Court suit, plaintiffs John and Linda Potter and their surviving daughter Teri Potter allege Kerner, who was driving a 1991 Freightliner tractor pulling a 1953 box trailer north of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway exit on Sept. 12, 1997, plowed into the rear of a 1979 Volkswagen van being driven by Michael Potter.

Henderson high school near reality: Valerie Miller; Henderson may soon get a new high school to accommodate growth along Lake Mead Drive but there are still some obstacles on the road to completion.

Megabucks fever ready to strike gamblers again: MEGABUCKS RECORDS

Transportation costs push up LV prices: The bank said grocery prices declined 1.5 percent in October, but prices rose for transportation, clothing (0.5 percent) and restaurant meals (0.9 percent).

Defense lawyer: Triple murder suspect a burglar, not a killer: Bill Gang; While the prosecution's opening statements in the Tony Amati triple homicide trial spelled out the case against the man who had been on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, the defense countered that few of the allegations are true.

Wetlands park funding inadequate; need critical: A desert wetlands park still on the drawing boards will need more funding -- about $1 million a year -- to keep its 2,400 acres afloat, water officials said during a local workshop.

Four left in race for chief of schools: Terry Webster; One of the five semifinalists has decided he wouldn't want to be the new superintendent for the Clark County School District, after all.

Ex-Metro officer Brady gets nine years: Kim Smith; Former Metro Police officer Christopher Brady stood mute Monday when he was sentenced to nine years in prison for the death of Daniel Mendoza. His father didn't, however.

School site too close to cop firing ranges: Terry Webster; A police lieutenant suggested the school be named "Little Beirut."

Nevadans are among the nation's most unhealthy: Lifestyles, access to health care, disease and mortality were considered in the study conducted by the nation's second largest insurer, UnitedHealth Group.

Report: Monorail will lose millions: Adrienne Packer; Plans for a 4-mile-long monorail system that would link several hotel-casinos along the Las Vegas Strip are overly optimistic and could result in a net loss of $1.5 billion over 30 years, an Illinois consultant's draft study says.

Interstate threatens suit against Champion: Phil Levine; Investors in Interstate Mortgage Group of Las Vegas, which has been seized by the state, were sent a letter from company President David Ferradino confirming the release of unsecured property and threatening a lawsuit against Champion Homes, the developer of that property.

Utility exits GreenPower program: The DRI is the environmental research division of the University and Community College System of Nevada.

County puts dust control on hold: Those hoping to get relief from airborne dust by early next year may have to wait at least a few months longer.

Entertainment highlighted on Mirage's 10th anniversary: Gary Thompson; It isn't the biggest change at the Mirage in the past 10 years, but it's probably the most visible and certainly the most symbolic.

Lawsuit filed over tire competition: In a Clark County District Court suit, Transport Tire, a commercial and truck tire wholesaler, said Murawski, who went to work for its rival Firebird Commercial Tire & Retreading Inc., tried to hurt Transport Tire's business by allegedly soliciting the account of one of its existing clients Las Vegas Paving.

Boulder Strip hotel-casino, RV park to be auctioned: David Strow; Sunrise Suites Hotel, together with a neighboring RV park, will go on the auction block in January to cover the debts of bankrupt Sunrise Suites Inc.

LV company in second Indian casino deal: Tuesday's deal calls for Viva, together with Wagon Wheel Resorts, Casinos and Entertainment Inc. of Rockton, Ill., to develop and operate a casino owned by the Roseau River First Nation tribe. The casino will be about 60 miles south of Winnipeg, near the Canada-Minnesota border.

Penn National confirms casino purchases: WYOMISSING, Penn. -- Penn National Gaming Inc. said Monday it plans to purchase all the assets of two Mississippi casinos from Hollywood Park Inc., a gaming and entertainment holding company based in Inglewood, Calif.

Daughter's truancy leads to jail for mother: Sheriff's deputies arrested Bailey after Eagle Valley Middle School Vice Principal Fred Perdomo declared her daughter, then 13, a habitual truant.

Lake Tahoe loses passenger service: SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -- Lake Tahoe has lost all scheduled jet service, at least temporarily, after its last remaining carrier announced it was suspending all flights to South Lake Tahoe Airport.

Stupak sued by LV woman: In a Clark County District court suit, Normina Dennis alleged Stupak, who was driving a 1976 Cadillac, was trying to make a left turn into a parking space in front of a restaurant on Sahara Avenue when he struck her vehicle.

Vanisi's execution set: Monday's action simply puts the execution process in motion. The death sentence will be stayed for an automatic appeal hearing by the state Supreme Court.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Here's Pico - First-time starter by Synastry (Seattle Slew), solid Hollypark worktab dating back to September, well placed and good post, gets first time lasix and man-of-the-hour Pincay for debut. Faith Healer - Off slowly and wide trip when distant debut 3rd in last, winner scored by a dozen lengths so this one beaten only two lengths for runner up, hustling Valez returns. Value Play -- Itsallgreektoher

Resort changed the face and fortunes of Las Vegas: Robert Macy; Even Wynn, who counts Walt Disney among his heroes, couldn't have imagined how his bold $630 million venture would change the face, fortunes and future of Las Vegas.

Robinson eyes role of spoiler vs. CSU: Steve Guiremand; The word of the week around UNLV's football practices this week?

Trial set in school shooting: Bill Gang; A Jan. 24 trial has been set for 18-year-old Maynor Villanueva, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges in the shootings of two teenagers last month at Clark High School.

Editorial: Detailing the pitfall in polling: The highly respected Shorenstein Center notes that most polls -- as did the Los Angeles Times -- ask people to register their choices based on a list of candidates provided by the pollster. But this polling technique forces respondents to essentially choose one candidate, which has the effect of hiding the true percentage of undecided voters. In contrast, a recent Shorenstein Center poll -- conducted about the same time as the Los Angeles Times poll -- instead asked this open-ended question: "Which candidate do you support at this time, or haven't you picked a candidate yet?" When put this way, ...

Columnist Dean Juipe: Reno runs off harried grid coach: Dean Juipe; As disconsolate as John Robinson looked and sounded following his UNLV football team's most recent loss, from a comparative standpoint at least things were going better for him than they were for Jeff Tisdel.

Letter: Iverson should be ashamed of himself: If he had acted like a responsible parent, then the little girl would never have been in a position to have been killed. His case should be thrown out of court before it starts.

Community news briefs for November 23, 1999: Thirty-one Clark County students were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 1999-2000. The honor is based on their performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, one of the nation's primary college entrance examinations. Those who become finalists qualify for college scholarships.

It's a family affair as Al Jardine and his 'Family & Friends' surf into town: Kimberley McGee; When: 9 p.m. daily, through Dec. 1.

Rios murder case will go forward: Bill Gang; The mental state of murder defendant John Flowers still is in doubt, but a district judge has ruled that until he is determined to be mentally incompetent, he will have to face charges in the bizarre slaying of Las Vegas singer Ginger Rios.

Wednesday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up Alw: 1 Leroy D (Gutierrez) 110; 2 Colonel Capote (Matias) 117; 3 Seko (Carr) 117; 4 R Royal High (Burns) 117; 5 Thwart (Chaves) 117; 6 Storm Ruler (Miranda) 113; 7 Starring V. C. (Arriaga) 117; 8 Carter's Classic (Tohill) 117; 9 Main Course (Rodriguez) 110.

Obituaries for November 23, 1999: Faye Brown, 74, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. She was born June 22, 1925, in Chicago. A resident for 16 years, she was a retired candy company officer worker.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Sharing what we have: Twenty men stand watching the muckers.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Postseason may find Rams 'gone fishing': If this keeps up, Colorado State is going to be the equivalent of NCAA basketball's 65th-best team or the 34th-fastest car at the Indianapolis 500.

Letter: Don't interfere with those who want due: I'm not impressed by any means by their explanation as to why I'm not receiving my due.

Nevada Merchants sell $2.56 billion in goods during September: When levies collected on sales for local governments and schools are added in, the September sales tax total climbs to $186.1 million.

State gets C minus in effort to fight DUI: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada deserves a C minus for its effort to combat drunken driving, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The national activist group released its Rating the States 2000 Report Card at a press conference today in anticipation of the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday.

A's give ex-Rebel $3.25 mil.: Mathews went 9-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 50 games last season, when he made $750,000. The right-hander, obtained by the A's in 1997 as part of the trade that sent Mark McGwire to the St. Louis Cardinals, also had three saves last season.

Humanities committee gives grants: The Lied Children's Museum was awarded $8,500 for a exhibit on the Inuit people of Canada's eastern Arctic.

Court battle continues over videotaped arrests in Tahoe casino: Brendan Riley; Both women are charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor assault on security guards at Caesars Tahoe Resort, and the lawyer for one has said the restrictions impaired his ability to defend his client.

Silver Bandits win by 54: Silver Bandits win by 54

Wednesday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Mdn Clm: 1 Itsallgreektoher (Valenzuela) 120; 2 Faith Healer (Valdez) 120; 3 Numerical Order (Garcia) 118; 4 Here's Pico (Pincay) 120; 5 Sanz Sousse (Ramsammy) 120; 6 R Fiesta Girl (Delahoussaye) 118; 7 Flores Wild Cat (Diaz) 113; 8 Fila Dough Pro (Puglisi) 120.

Search for man turns to search for suspect: Cortez, 21, was shot twice in the head with a .25-caliber handgun at a Wendover trailer park and died at a Salt Lake City hospital.

No rap against Dye: Victoria Sun; Rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg has corn rows. So does UNLV basketball player Kenny Dye.

Wednesday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Lapiz Lazuli (Aguilar) 117; 2 Jametta (Diego) 112; 3 Won Your Star (Toscano) 117; 4 Truly Classic (Pezua) 117; 5 Picture Me (Bramblett) 107; 6 Radiance( (Beitia) 117; 7 La Femme M (Bridgmohan) 117; 8 Drivingmissbertie (DeCarlo) 117; 9 Beauty's Bid (Beasley) 112.

Letter: Television station's chopper robbing senior of sleep: KVBC-TV, Channel 3 is adjacent to Archie Grant. The problem is their helicopter. The revving time before takeoff and the return disturbance is an on-and-off, all-night deal. Seniors living close to the station feel they just have to live with it.

Bramble says he got raw deal on reservation: Dean Juipe; Still angry three days after the fight, former WBA lightweight champion Livingstone Bramble said he was ripped off Friday on an Indian reservation near Oneida, N.Y.

Red ribbons remind mountain motorists not to drive drunk: Shaunta Grimes; During the past 12 holiday seasons, nobody has died on Kyle Canyon Road as a result of drunken driving.

Flights diverted by federal rules: Jensen said the FAA has a new approach procedure for missed flights after making a similar landing approach in Elko recently.

Longtime Las Vegas educator Derfelt dies at 93: When friends of Olive Derfelt would read newspaper reports of violence in today's schools, they'd say to her: "I'll bet you are glad you're not a teacher these days."

Editorial: Costs too high for nuclear waste dump: The DOE is worried that Congress may walk away from the project because it has become too expensive, a prospect Nevadans naturally would welcome. When confronted previously with evidence pointing out what a disaster Yucca Mountain would be, Congress' response has been to cut corners, attempting to make a square peg fit into a round hole. What Congress should do is halt the DOE's suitability study of Yucca Mountain. A better approach -- both scientifically and fiscally -- would be to investigate other options of disposing nuclear waste, including the highly promising area of transmutation that recently was touted by ...

Authorities looking for two carjacking suspects: Scott Sonner; As many as 50 law enforcement officers, police dogs, SWAT teams and two police helicopters searched late Sunday and early Monday for two suspects along Interstate 80 and the Truckee River east of the Reno-Sparks area.

Miller's Lady Rebels aim to rebound from NIT loss: Avenging a 23-point loss last year is far down on Regina Miller's list of tasks to accomplish in the UNLV women's basketball team's home opener against Southern Utah tonight at 7:35 at the Thomas & Mack.

FBI report shows LV crime rate continuing to decrease: Keith Paul; The number of violent crimes in the Las Vegas area continued to fall in the first six months this year, following the nationwide trend for most of 1990s, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.

Tahoe Air has come and gone: All but four of its employees are out of work, however.

Reno-Tahoe Airport completes Y2K compliance: Scott Sonner; "We are pleased to announce today that we are prepared for the Y2K transition," said Adam Mayberry, spokesman for the Washoe County Airport Authority said Monday.