Print edition for October 7, 1999

Hog Wild: Rev up for the World Bike Expo this weekend: When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Letter: Don't dismantle Metro Police: Instead of several officers being sent to a robbery in progress, I was sent alone to handle a "911 hang-up" due to human error in transferring the call from one agency to another.

This week's races: UAW-GM Quality 500

Jury takes less than four hours to pronounce death sentence: Carolyn Sullivan, the widow of Sgt. George Sullivan, tearfully thanked the people who supported her and the couple's children through two trials.

Maxim hotel-casino to close Dec. 6: Gary Thompson; The announcement was made by veteran casino executive Ed Nigro, who was appointed receiver of the off-Strip property before it emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Clint Holmes, others on the Strip where they belong: Joe Delaney; Clint Holmes should do very well when he opens at Harrah's early in 2000. ... Now that he is where he really belongs, in a Strip venue, he will have to beef up his show in order to compete. ... Rowan and Martin of TV's "Laugh In," during their headlining days at the Sahara, a similarly-sized showroom, would open for 20 minutes, introduce an unusual act for 20 or 30 minutes, then return for 45 minutes to close out the show, a suggestion.

Editorial: Hard look needed on this combo: While corporate officials were talking giddily about the benefits for shareholders, FCC Chairman William Kennard was throwing in a dose of reality, saying that the companies would "bear a heavy burden to show how customers would be better off" under a merger. "American consumers are enjoying the lowest long-distance rates in history and the lowest Internet rates in the world for one reason: competition," Kennard said. "Competition has produced a price war in the long-distance market. This merger appears to be a surrender. How can this be good for consumers?"

Editorial: Consider all options to stop DMV glitches: Guinn should take seriously a suggestion made by Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, chairman of a legislative committee with oversight of the DMV project. Beers, a computer consultant, believes that the new program should be shut down temporarily while the bugs are eliminated. In the meantime, the old system that ran smoothly would be brought back online. The DMV has rejected Beers' plan, but if it can be done without jeopardizing the new system's eventual success, the governor should do so, ending the unconscionably long lines at DMV.

Letter: Goodman just as ineffective as his predecessor: Once again it is apparent that Las Vegas is exemplary when it comes to rewarding, reelecting or promoting those people who do a bad, incompetent or ineffective job.

Nevada panel endorses Park Place-Caesars deal: Brendan Riley; The deal, described by Park Place lawyer Jack Godfrey as the largest transaction involving "purely gaming interests" in history was recommended Wednesday by the state Gaming Control Board.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Can Bush reshape GOP?: DISSENSION in the ranks, real or play-acted, is good for the Republican Party.

Casino commission hits Trump Taj Mahal with big fine: The bulk of the fine the commission imposed, $237,199, was for baccarat dealers failing to charge 10 "premium players" the vigorish. That's a 5 percent commission that must be collected on winning hands baccarat players bet with the house; otherwise, the casino would hold no advantage over players on such bets.

Nevada regulators oppose licensing of casino vet: Brendan Riley; The Nevada Gaming Control Board voted 3-0 Wednesday to recommend that Howard, who has held some top management slots, not be licensed as chief operating officer and general manager of the River Palms in Laughlin.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV-BYU game could break attendance mark: It's hard to tell if the upcoming UNLV-Brigham Young football game will set the all-time Sam Boyd Stadium attendance record, for a number of reasons.

Longtime LV businessman Kostelac dies: Steven T. Kostelac, a civic leader and longtime Las Vegas businessman whose demolition company played a role in the early booming growth of the valley, died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was 85.

Wildlife division seeks volunteers to gather seeds for recovery program: Sandra Chereb; "We cannot attempt to rehabilitate every one of those acres, but we're looking at those that we feel will have a better chance of recovery with some help," said Kim Toulouse of the Nevada Division of Wildlife, who is coordinating the volunteer effort.

Guinn unveils plan to fight DMV delays: Guinn's plan

Record wildland fire season leaves Delaware-sized replanting job: Tom Gardner; The job of recovering the grassland by planting new seeds is daunting.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Good news, bad news, other news: Ruthe Deskin; Give us more good news.

Prep Football Statistics: CLASS 4A

Obituaries for October 7, 1999: Benigno 'Benny' Asenjo, 60, of Henderson died Tuesday. He was born April 3, 1939, in Havana. A resident for 24 years, he was a casino porter.

Letter: City, county line causes confusion: With the size and expenses of the Deputy City Marshals, Las Vegas already has a police department. The only way the existing protection agencies should be changed is by a vote of the taxpayers.

Letter: Get PETA after pigeon poisoners: Don't the taxpayers have something to say about this? I hope PETA gets after them!

Power plant to install scrubbers, cut pollution clouding canyon: Scott Thomsen; Owners of the Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nev., agreed to install pollution controls, including smokestack scrubbers, a filter system and new burners for the plant's boilers to settle a lawsuit brought by the Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club.

Suicide hotline rescued: Since the Suicide Prevention Hotline of Clark County issued a plea for financial help four days ago the nonprofit agency has received almost $9,000 in donations and more is on the way.

Friday at Belmont Park: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up Mdn: 1 Al Dor Rob (Chavez) 118; 2 Gigabyte (Nicol) 118; 3 Luykas (Pezua) 121; 4 Full Support (Castillo) 118; 5 Pippen (Samyn) 118; 6 Howareya (Coa) 113; 7 Law School Tuition (Prado) 118; 8 Skirmish Hill (Bridgmohan) 118; 9 Joe Pebo (Velazquez) 118.

Soccer families fear bullets at local sports complex: Kim Smith; The way soccer coach Jim Canada describes it, the scene was just like those played again and again on TV after mass shootings in Littleton, Colo., and Paducah, Ky., and Fort Worth, Texas. Kids running and screaming. People diving for cover.

Price of new school superintendent up in the air: But board members are still undecided as to how much that person should earn.

Wednesday's prep results: Durango def. Western, 15-4, 15-6, 15-7

C-M picked to hand struggling Cheyenne its fourth straight loss: Spencer Patterson; FRIDAY'S GAMES

Columnist Dean Juipe: Tyson, Norris trainers exchange verbal jabs: Dean Juipe; Aside from when David's trainer put a few misguided shillings on Goliath, every trainer in the history of combative sports has believed his man would emerge victorious and win even the toughest battle.

Friday at Santa Anita: 1st race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Bud's Golden Girl (Espinoza) 118; 2 Dome Thrice (Rodriguez) 118; 3 Bean Sum Fun (Valdez) 118; 4 Sisterbull (Pedroza) 118; 5 Victoria One (Vergara) 118; 6 Flying Hostess (Rodriguez) 111; 7 John's Hope (Alvarado) 118; 8 Jodi's Love Dove (Steiner) 118; 9 Maxi Mac (Garcia) 118.

Sutton, Okla. State hope to continue good luck in LV: Steve Carp; At the time, it didn't seem to be the appropriate place to turn things around. But there are a few people who come to Las Vegas and leave town flush with the feeling of success.

Fight schedule: At Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Kirk Johnson, Canada, vs. Rodolfo Marin, Puerto Rico, 10, heavyweights; David Bostice, San Bernardino, Calif., vs. Zuri Lawrence, Wappinger Falls, N.Y., 10, heavyweights; Brian Nix, Rochester, N.Y., vs. Tom Glesby, Canada, 8, heavyweights.

Mickelson, Couples, Singh enter Las Vegas Invitational: Couples claims the 1992 Masters among his 14 tour wins while Mickelson owns 13 titles. Singh captured last year's PGA Championship.

Friday at Bay Meadows: Post Time 7:15 p.m.

Community news briefs for October 7, 1999: Residents are invited to attend and provide feedback on neighborhood issues and possible future projects.

Tabish lawyer seeks ban on TV cameras: An attorney for Rick Tabish, one of Ted Binion's accused killers, has asked District Judge Joseph Bonaventure to ban television cameras from all future proceedings, including the March 13 trial.

Former football player hurt in hurt in pro wrestling match: The accident at the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday is the second professional wrestling tragedy in five months.

New trial dates in du Pont case: Christopher Moseley and Ricardo Murillo were to go to trial Oct. 18, but a scheduling conflict in federal court prompted the trials to be moved back.

Volleyball coach remains upbeat despite slump: Despite watching her team lose four of its past five matches after opening the season with seven straight wins, UNLV volleyball coach Deitre Collins remains confident heading into Friday's match at 10th-ranked BYU.

Spy pilots recount chilling chapters in American history: Robert Macy; The bi-annual convention of Roadrunners International wraps up tonight.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Divisional splits leave some strong teams out of playoffs: Spencer Patterson; When Southern Nevada's traditional Sunset and Sunrise conferences were split into four divisions this year, the move was hailed as a necessary step to keep up with the area's never-ending population boom.

Columnist Steve Carp: Fight against greed goes to the courts: Steve Carp; Does the name Leonard Potechin ring a bell?

Prevention, fire safety encouraged: In a 24-hour period the Oct. 9, 1871, fire killed nearly 250 people, destroyed more than 17,000 buildings leaving nearly 100,000 people homeless and blackened more than 2,000 acres.

UNLV, UNR default rates on student loans low: Shaunta Grimes; Being the sixth least expensive university system in the western United States is a factor in UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno, having student default rates below the national average, according to university spokespersons.

Tax inequities and road repair money top tax study priorities: O'Connell said the most pressing problems are inequities caused by depreciation of real property and skyrocketing values in areas such as Incline Village.

Goodman loses ethics-law debate: Erin Neff; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman found himself on the losing end of an ethics-related debate Wednesday.

North Las Vegas briefs: The North Las Vegas City Council made three proclamations for the month of October at Wednesday's council meeting.

Cable channel funds approved by council: Valerie Miller; A joint cable station for Henderson and North Las Vegas is one step closer to reality after the Henderson City Council this week approved more than $300,000 in startup funds for the venture.

Schools' chief list trimmed to five: Terry Webster; Five -- the number of candidates the Clark County School Board will consider for the superintendent's position -- was the easiest figure the board decided upon during a special meeting Wednesday.

Supervising sex offenders: Lifetime supervision

Rio to display relics: The display is co-produced by SFX Family Entertainment and RMS Titanic, a company that holds salvage rights to the luxury liner that sank in 1912, killing 1,500 passengers.

Ten indicted in N.Y., Nevada in stock scam: Kim Smith; Ten men, including two former Las Vegans, have been indicted by federal grand juries in New York and Nevada in connection with a stock market scam that garnered more than $10 million in profits.

Wells Fargo, B of A, Zions rated by analyst: Morford raised Wells Fargo's rating from "buy" to "strong buy," and set its 12-month target price at $49 per share.

Trial set for cop facing drug charges: Bill Gang; A Dec. 20 trial date has been set for a five-year veteran Metro Police officer charged with drug trafficking and being under the influence of drugs from a May incident that nearly cost him his life.

Municipal Court gets extra funds: The City Council on Wednesday approved the court's request for seven full-time clerks, an hourly clerk and several promotions of clerks to supervisory positions.

North Las Vegas: Council may contract outside legal services: Diana Sahagun; The North Las Vegas City Council is considering hiring a private, outside lawyer as a new city attorney.

News briefs: The expansion of Las Vegas City Hall took another step toward reality Wednesday when the council authorized staff to issue $10 million in bonds.

Raley's chief sets his sights on growth plans in Las Vegas: Phil Levine; Raley's Chief Executive Michael Teel, a lifelong resident of Sacramento, says he felt right at home during his first visit to Las Vegas. But he admits he had a lot to learn about the town.

LV companies seek AC permits: The companies applied to New Jersey for approval of their plans for roadways, utilities, landscaping and other improvements on a 150-acre site in the Marina District Mirage obtained under an agreement with Atlantic City.

NCAA lobbies for ban on sports betting: Copyright 1999 Las Vegas Sun

Tenet Healthcare profit declines: Tenet, the nation's second-largest hospital chain, said profits from operations were $122 million or 39 cents per share in the quarter ended Aug. 31, off from $137 million or 44 cents in the year-ago period. The results were in line with the 38 cent average estimate of analysts polled by First Call Corp.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- John's Hope - Even 5th from rail post at the fair off 10-month layoff in last, runner-up before last and a win three races back---both in close photo-finishes, drops back to competitive level now, should be ready. Bud's Golden Girl - Stalked, made bid and game winner at the fair in last, dueled lead and drew clear to win at Hollypark three races back, in the quinella 13 of 24 lifetime starts with 7 victories, knows how to win. Value Play -- Sisterbull

Bullish European investors eye casinos: Gary Thompson; Buoyed by a bullish new survey of the Las Vegas gaming market, a European investment group is intensifying its efforts to buy a Strip casino.

Wal-Mart vote challenged: Adrienne Packer; A day after union members celebrated the Clark County Commission's decision to pass an ordinance that keeps Wal-Mart Supercenters out of the county, legal action was taken that could put the issue on next year's election ballot.

Park Place purchase of Caesars receives initial state approval: CARSON CITY -- In what is billed as the biggest casino transaction in history, Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas gained preliminary state approval Wednesday to buy Caesars World Inc. for $3 billion.

Deal creates copper giant: PHOENIX -- Asarco Inc. has accepted Phelps Dodge's $1.1 billion takeover offer, completing a three-way $2.9 billion merger and putting an end to a bidding war that has reshaped the world's copper industry.

LV, B of A selected for small business program: Phil Levine; Las Vegas is one of six cities chosen to participate in a new national loan program aimed at helping small businesses in need of capital.

Arts program fosters cultural appreciation: Sandy Thompson; The 24th Vanda Master Series is under way at UNLV. The 1999-2000 series opened Sept. 24 with Michael Feinstein.

Riviera shareholder files suit to block merger settlement: David Strow; Riviera Holdings Corp.'s largest shareholder is attempting to block a $5 million settlement with California businessman Allen Paulson, saying the Las Vegas company is leaving it open to litigation caused by Riviera's misconduct.

House votes down modest HMO bill: WASHINGTON -- House members today rejected the most modest of four competing patient-protection bills as they confronted the politically charged issue of HMOs and whether injured Americans should be allowed to sue them.

Reno lawyer suggested for appeals court: CARSON CITY -- A Reno lawyer who headed the election recount team for Sen. Harry Reid is being recommended by Reid for appointment to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sun Prep Football Top 10 poll: Oct. 7, 1999

LV officially approves two new wards: Erin Neff; Although the Las Vegas City Council approved the creation of two new wards Wednesday, the actual boundary changes and swearing in of new council members won't happen until next year.

North Las Vegas: Developer must install sprinklers in homes: Diana Sahagun and Ed Koch; By the narrowest of margins, a developer, whose project originally was allowed to be built without sprinklers now must install the fire-prevention devices.

911 recording lands 'victim' behind bars; 'suspect' walks free: Bill Gang; For 17 days 19-year-old Justin Tait sat in the Clark County Detention Center facing felony charges that he had knifed his buddy's mother.

Even in losing, Walsh's court campaign pays off: Erin Neff; Public defender Jessie Walsh's spring campaign for the Municipal Court may have ended in official defeat, but it led to her appointment Tuesday for an opening on the bench.

Vegas council to be expanding: Council members approved an ordinance Wednesday establishing new city ward boundaries that will add two new seats to the council.

Rudolph, the hard-nosed runner: Steve Guiremand; What if?

Chess groups' fight erupts in court: Bill Gang; Normally viewed as sedate and subdued, the Nevada chess community has erupted into a cat fight that finally degenerated into a lawsuit.