Print edition for October 8, 1999

Southwest Gas rate decrease approved by PUC: In northern Nevada, residential customers will see a 6 percent drop. For someone with an $80 bill, that means a reduction of about $5.50.

Guinn announces plan to remedy DMV woes: Angie Wagner; "I'm not here to point fingers or to lay blame. I am here to let the public know the ultimate responsibility for the problems ... is mine," Guinn said at a news conference to announce his plan.

Editorial: On budget, GOP can't right itself: Republican congressmen scurried for cover, trying to find a palatable way to balance the budget so that Congress' self-imposed spending caps weren't shattered. The latest plan would balance the budget by approving across-the-board cuts of 2.7 percent in all government programs, which is estimated to save $8.7 billion and balance the budget.

Letter: McDonald most visible councilman: Michael McDonald has been the most available and visible city councilman we have ever had.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: A marketing solution: WHATEVER happened to Johnny's Market?

Church website attack labeled a hate crime: Stacy J. Willis; Liberty Baptist Church's 23rd anniversary this week was tainted by an act some consider to be a hate crime.

Letter: Lack of respect by DMV angers senior: I mailed my renewal for my auto back on Aug. 15. It had an expiration date of Oct. 1 so I had plenty of time.

Letter: Instead of making demands, Koreans should apologize: They should be thanking us rather than demanding apologies. To hell with those who are doing the demanding.

Locals heading for Skat-Trak World Finals: Seven of the Nevadans will be racing in the Pro Division.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Wayne says no danke schoen to political career: Kate Maddox; Wayne Newton was in my hometown of Washington, D.C. earlier this week to pick up an award from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The formal D.C. press corps, accustomed to dealing with evasive politicians and whiny press secretaries, was pleasantly surprised when Newton asked reporters to just call him "Wayne."

'Strip' Show: Kimberley McGee; Elvis leans against the receptionist desk while Sammy Davis, Jr. caresses Marilyn Monroe's silk-gloved hands by the glassed-door lobby of the Henderson headquarters of "The Strip."

Editorial: Install signals now for dangerous path: But the city's Public Works Department says it will take until March to get the traffic signal in place, so in the interim the Clark County School District is doing the right thing by adding two bus stops nearby that should allow children attending elementary school to avoid the intersection entirely. Although the city eventually will add a traffic signal, North Las Vegas should fast-track the process and eliminate some of the bureaucratic red tape so that this life-threatening intersection doesn't endanger children any longer, whether they're on their way to school or not.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Force of Habit - Steadied a bit at crunch time and beaten a neck while 2nd at the fair in last, second best at Del Mar at this trip while claimed before that, Flores takes over on Vienna trainee, gets good inside post too. Sweet for a Moment - Won last pair of outings while claimed in both, runner by a head at a mile three races back, in the quinella in all 3 starts at this distance and 7 of 15 lifetime with 5 victories, a factor throughout. Value Play -- Peter's Ballad

Saturday at Belmont: 2nd race 1 mi 2YO Mdn: 1 Jon Andrew (Espinoza) 118; 2 Appleturnover Mike (Samyn) 118; 3 Dapper Sal (Teator) 118; 4 Rinka Dinka Due (Gryder) 118; 5 Brave One (Smith) 118; 6 Caffeine (Winnett) 118; 7 Cabin Boy (Beasley) 113; 8 Six Gun's Out (Coa) 113; 9 Tre Seven (Prado) 118; 10 Long Lake (Velazquez) 118; 11 Jovial Dancer (Lovato) 118.

Saturday at Bay Meadows: 2nd race 6 fur 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Forafella (Lopez) 116; 2 Glens Falls (Baze) 118; 3 First Tank (Burman) 116; 4 Golden Sunflower (Dieguez) 116; 5 Ask Ashley (Delgadillo) 116; 6 Somewhere Near (Carr) 116.

Saturday at Santa Anita: 2nd race 6 fur 3YO & up Clm: 1 Gudarian (Alvarado) 118; 2 Sycamore Springs (Solis) 118; 3 Go Go Edric (Puglisi) 118; 4 Indomable (PValenzuela) 116; 5 Amado Lark (Enriquez) 118; 6 Argolid (FValenzuela) 118; 7 Ayer Hoy Manana (Berrio) 118; 8 Able Easy (Sorenson) 116.

Suburban police departments: North Las Vegas Police Department:

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Las Vegas success may pay big for Gaughan: Brendan Gaughan is moving closer to landing a sponsor that will allow the Las Vegas native to run a full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season in 2000.

Commission cap: February 1995: Delta Airlines starts a move among major U.S. airlines to limit the amount of commission it pays travel agents. The commission remains at 10 percent, but with a maximum payment of $50 for any domestic ticket exceeding $500.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Picking correctly seems akin to pulling teeth: Sal DeFilippo; The way my picks have gone the past few seasons, you would figure I could handle a little pain. OK, a lot of pain.

Reno lawyer suggested for appeals court: Walther would succeed Judge Melvin Brunetti, a former Carson City lawyer, who was named to the appeals court in San Francisco in April 1985 by President Reagan. Brunetti plans to take senior status on the court.

Births: jennifer@vegas.com; Sept. 22: Journey to Melissa Perreira and Ernesto Bolahao Jr; Tizoc Jr to Vickie and Tizoc Romero; Catrell to Marshell Love and Catrell Kline; Maleek to Veronica Ford. Sept. 24: Nicole to Ora; Joseph Jr to Shannon and Joseph Gross. Sept. 25: Ricardo to Claudia and Hipolito; Angel to Armida and Benny Montanez. Sept. 27: Ayanna to Sharon McLean; Guadalupe to Griselda Hinostroza and Juan Ochoa; Eddy to Diana Olivia Bustillos and Carlos Romero; Declan to Sharon and Logan Foster. Sept. 28: Ariana to Ivette and Guy Hansen; Christian to Courtney Kaplan and Charles Rowland.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Warrick has no one but himself to blame: Steve Guiremand; What was Peter Warrick thinking?

Cheyenne aims to salvage year: Spencer Patterson; With three weeks left in the prep football regular season, a clear-cut favorite has emerged in each division, the playoff picture has started to come into focus and Chaparral's Mario Hagan is running away with the local rushing title.

Valli, Four Seasons put on a memorable performance: Joe Delaney; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, plus a superb horn section, should be doing near-capacity business through Saturday in the Orleans showroom at prices in the $40 range, a tribute to an act that Billboard magazine calls "the longevity champions of rock 'n' roll." Comedian Stewie Stone, who has worked with Paul Anka and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme through the years, is an unbilled, very pleasant surprise.

North Las Vegas: City Hall will be closed on Fridays: Diana Sahagun; North Las Vegas City Hall will soon be shutting its doors on Fridays, shifting its operations to a four-day work week.

LV Icemen play New Mexico: Tickets for the games, which feature high school-aged players, are $4 for adults, $3 for students and $2 for seniors and children.

Dial File -- Steve Bornfeld: The good, the bad and 'The Strip': Fall unfolds. ... Let's lock and load:

Titanic artifacts to be displayed in Las Vegas: Personal items, dishware and a never-before exhibited D-deck portal used by first-class passengers to board the Titanic will be featured at "Titanic: The Exhibition" opening at the Rio hotel-casino Nov. 5.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Selig wrong to think DH expendable: Dean Juipe; Bud Selig brought this on himself.

Letter: Let's put MNF games here: We should be the permanent host for every Monday Night Football game.

LV hydroplane team to defend Hawaiian title: The team, owned by Kim and Debbie Gregory of Las Vegas and piloted by Mark Weber, will close its first full season of unlimited racing and will be looking to repeat last year's victory in Hawaii.

Signs posted forbidding guns at high court building: As word about the new law filters across Nevada, most public building administrators face a choice that Old West saloon keepers had to address: Do we, or do we not allow guns?

High court backlog reduced, chief justice says: "If this productivity continues, the court will reduce the backlog by 400 cases in one year, or about a 20 percent reduction," he added.

Date book: The Las Vegas Jaycees' State Fair will be from 4 p.m.-midnight today, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 6001 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Admission is $6; $4 for children ages 6-12 and seniors; free for children under age 5. Call 457-3247.

Letter: Bring back the Fed Cup: I would like to say that our members were very impressed with the Sun's coverage of the Federation Cup tournament and the prominence you gave the stories and photos.

Guinn proposes quick fix for DMV's computer-related delays: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn says the trouble-plagued computer system at the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety is getting better, but he's not willing yet to offer a money-back guarantee to customers who have to stand in line too long.

Rules set for referral companies serving the elderly: These services are basically "bounty hunters," Michael Clark, executive director of the Nevada Healthcare Association, told the board on Thursday.

Bankruptcies: David Green, also known as David Jay Grifka, doing business as Pentagon Properties, 2567 Paradise Village Way, filed for Chapter 7, listing assets of $87,990 and liabilities of $191,382.

Atonement not high on Wofford's agenda: Steve Guiremand; Contrary to popular belief, UNLV fullback James Wofford hasn't had Saturday's game at Wyoming circled on his calendar.

Commission OKs Southwest Gas rate reduction: Southwest Gas Corp. will reduce rates of Nevada customers for natural gas service beginning in November.

Suit pits kids of deceased LV man: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas resident is suing her stepdaughter and her stepdaughter's lawyer claiming their attempts to evict her from her home has exacerbated her potentially life-threatening condition.

Shelf Life -- Scott Dickensheets: Meandering through the magazines in the middle: Let us not speak of Talk. Let us leave the latest issues of GQ, Esquire and Vanity Fair unexamined, the latest Life closed on the coffee table, the latest Reader's Digest unread, undigested.

Woman found dead had obtained numerous protective orders against ex-husband: Las Vegas police Lt. Wayne Petersen said Fernando Hernandez was arrested after being stopped for speeding. Inside his car was the couple's 3-year-old daughter.

The Movie Guys: Killer-themed 'Minus Man' is a movie plus: Grades: Jeff, B; Dave, B-.

Program would keep an eye on sex offenders for life: The state Board of Parole Commissioners will hear a proposal for a lifetime supervision program for sex offenders and take testimony from the public Tuesday at the Nevada Highway Patrol training room in Las Vegas.

Mayor ends city talk of split in police force: "I'm not a believer in deconsolidation," Keller said.

The Main Course -- Muriel Stevens: Dragon Court event at MGM an Absolut smash: Absolut vodka joined forces with Dragon Court Chinese restaurant at the MGM Grand this week and created a most interesting dining event.

North Las Vegas: City Council approves funds to help improve housing woes: Diana Sahagun; The North Las Vegas City Council has allocated nearly $300,000 to help rehabilitate 13 dilapidated apartment units.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Magic overload may soon occur on the Strip: Joe Delaney; David Copperfield, top annual money earner as a practitioner of the illusionary arts, returns to the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus this evening and will be appearing, disappearing and reappearing there through Oct. 31. ... Remember, Copperfield works solo and Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage are a duo; in addition, he doesn't have to maintain a menagerie.

Task force on school violence told of underreporting in Nevada: Brendan Riley; Phil Gervasi, president of an association representing officers working in Las Vegas-area schools, said he knew of several cases that were either not reported immediately or never reported. One involved a student who shot an arrow at another student during a physical education class.

New home sought for Quinn's artworks: Kim Smith; One day after learning the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center had canceled its Anthony Quinn benefit art exhibit, a company that represents the actor is scrambling to find a new show venue.

Court to rule on attorney's tactic: Watkins says charges stemming from one incident in such cases constitute a "same offense." As a result, pleading guilty to the one, lesser charge has resulted in rulings the driver can't be prosecuted on the more serious DUI charge because of double jeopardy. Double jeopardy means a person cannot be prosecuted twice for the same offense.

Patients win round in House against HMOs: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House chambers echoed with applause Thursday as representatives passed a bill that would make it easier for patients in health maintenance organizations to see their own doctors and give them more rights to challenge -- even sue -- their health maintenance organizations.

Man accused in Binion theft indicted on federal charges: A Pahrump man charged with helping Ted Binion's accused killers steal his silver fortune has been indicted on federal firearms and ammunition charges.

United Airlines cuts commissions for travel agents: Herbert G. McGann; United Airlines

Obituaries for October 8, 1999: Marion Edward Addington, 73, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Herington, Kan. A resident for 35 years, he was a security administrator for the government, a World War II Army veteran, and a chartered member of the Senior Club Association.

City buries Metro deconsolidation issue: Erin Neff; Three weeks of political upheaval, job uncertainty and union muscle flexing have come to a relieving halt for all involved as Las Vegas officials shelved talk of deconsolidating Metro Police.

LV manufacturer gains credit line from bank: Shuffle Master will use the line for general corporate purposes, including introducing new product lines, acquiring product lines or businesses and stock buybacks.

B of A facing earnings hurdles: Sam Zuckerman; Bank of America faces problems controlling costs and generating revenue as interest rates rise, trends that could hurt profits, according to company documents obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Boyd stock rises on Mirage takeover talk: The magazine's Oct. 18 issue quotes money manager Steve Kroll of Monness Crespi & Hardt as saying Boyd stock is undervalued relative to other casino stocks and as a potential takeover target, perhaps by Mirage Resorts Inc. of Las Vegas.

Casino operator buys back 5.75 mil. shares: The purchase, which totaled $87.7 million, was 87.5 cents a share or about $5 million above the Thursday closing price of $14.375 a share for Mirage stock.

Gordon Biersch selling eateries to Tenn. firm: Gordon Biersch operates brewery/restaurants in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona and Washington.

Police departments in suburban areas weigh benefits, drawbacks of consolidation: Kim Smith; While the debate about the Metro Police Department breaking up ended Thursday with an announcement by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman that the city would no longer study the concept, the idea of consolidation is still an intriguing one that has probably been considered by every community in the valley.

Can 'big-box' ruling pass court test?: Adrienne Packer; A controversial ordinance adopted Wednesday should stand up in court unless a judge reads beyond the listed intent and sees that Clark County officials had other motives, some area attorneys said Thursday.

Lawyer gets DUI suspects off hook: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas lawyer has found a way to beat the drunken driving law in certain cases -- at least for the time being.

Homeowners' associations sue over roofs: "The damages are limited mainly to the roofs, which were leaking severely after the recent rains," said Roger Grant, the plaintiffs' attorney.

Maxim to close doors in December: Gary Thompson; The 800-room Maxim hotel-casino plans to close Dec. 6, throwing 791 employees out of work just in time for the holidays.

Casino leaders lash back at NCAA bid to ban betting: Nevada casino industry and congressional leaders today are assailing the National Collegiate Athletic Association's campaign to persuade Congress to ban betting on college sports.

$95 million takeover bid made for LV's Jackpot Enterprises: David Strow; Las Vegas Entertainment Network Inc. today launched an unsolicited $95 million takeover bid for Jackpot Enterprises Inc. of Las Vegas.

LV firm buys into Internet company: Under terms of the agreement, American Vantage will pay $1 million cash for Placement 2000.Com Inc., a firm specializing in providing online recruiting services for information technology companies and workers. The company offers a online database allowing the posting of resumes and job openings.

Bogus green card outfit busted: Jace Radke and Kim Smith; Metro Police and Immigration and Naturalization Services agents arrested 67 people Thursday morning in the culmination of a four-month investigation into a counterfeit green card ring.

Las Vegas No. 6 in new business ranking: In a ranking of the nation's large cities, Las Vegas trails West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.; Salt Lake City-Ogden; Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill; Atlanta and Orlando.

Investor sues county over Desert Inn Road parcel: The real estate investor who owns a piece of the Desert Inn Road Super Arterial is suing Clark County for allowing motorists to trespass on his property.

Friday's prep football matchups: Bishop Gorman at Western

MGM Grand promotes entertainment chief: Sturm convinced Barbra Streisand to perform at the MGM Grand in 1993 and signed the songstress to reappear there for the upcoming New Year's Eve. Sturm has worked with some of the top recording artists, comedians, dancers and illusionists in show business.

Traffic lights computer fails: "They all still changed colors, but they were released from a coordinated operation," Gerry de Camp, systems director for the Traffic Department, said. "The lights up and down Las Vegas Boulevard to downtown operated independently."

Metro officers relieved to be out of 'limbo' on looming issue: Jace Radke; The word filtered down through the ranks of Metro Police quickly that the proposed deconsolidation of their department was dead.

Panel launches study of options to ensure safety on campuses: CARSON CITY -- A commission created to head off school violence was told Thursday that colleges are not training potential schoolteachers how to manage classrooms to avoid disruptions.

Burial set for sacred Jewish texts: Stacy J. Willis; The yellow and crumbling pages of hundreds of sacred Jewish books will find their final resting place this weekend.

Temporary plaza set for casino site: Harrah's bought the closed Harolds and Nevada clubs in June. Those buildings will be demolished this fall.

Miller hits McDonald with ethics complaint: Erin Neff; Former Las Vegas Councilman Steve Miller has asked the Nevada Ethics Commission to rule on whether Councilman Michael McDonald failed to disclose conflicts when he voted for a controversial franchise extension for Silver State Disposal in July.

Thursday's prep results: Rancho 1, Eldorado 0 Goal: Romero.

Bible eyed for gaming group: A group of Nevada Resort Association members is working on a deal to hire Nevada Ethics Commission Chairman Bill Bible as the gaming organization's new president.

Computer centers to open Internet to disadvantaged: Disadvantaged children will be able to join the computer revolution, thanks to a federal grant, community college matching funds and Nevada Partners Inc.

Murder suspect guilty in retrial: Bill Gang; As was his fate at his first trial in 1995, Michael J. Silva has been convicted by a District Court jury of first-degree murder.

Dallenbach still looking for first win: Mike Harris; CONCORD, N.C.- Although time is running out for Wally Dallenbach Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports, he'd like to make his mark with the three-car team before he leaves.