Print edition for September 1, 1999

Mother files wrongful death suit in shooting of son: LAS VEGAS - A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy during a teen "rave" party last year.

Burning Man drawing 20,000 to Nevada's Black Rock Desert: Scott Sonner; BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nev. - The drums are beating. The migration is on. It's time again to burn the Man.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Ronald McDonald House benefit draws state dignitaries: Elizabeth Foyt; A new direction in charitable gatherings, Saturday's Magical Moments '99 was hugely successful. Using the unique, multilevel setting of Studio 54 at MGM Grand hotel-casino, the late afternoon-into-evening benefit drew more than 400 guests, among them Nevada notables former Gov. Bob Miller with daughter Meghan, comedians Kenny Kerr, Sonny King, Pete Barbuti and Marty Allen, UNLV football coach John Robinson, the fabled DeCastro Sisters and Claude Trenier.

Cracked slabs to be replaced: Workers will have to tear out complete slabs of concrete and pour in new slabs in their place.

Editorial: Scientific rigor gets short shrift: The report by the independent scientific experts hasn't been publicly released yet, but a story by the Sun's Mary Manning on Monday noted that the review criticized the DOE's lack of information to support computer models for the direction of this ground water. This is nearly identical to the criticism leveled by a peer review panel's assessment of the DOE's use of a computer model to forecast radioactive ground water escaping from a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Editorial: Housing budget cuts could hurt homeless: Despite a huge federal government budget surplus, it appears Congress could significantly cut the Department of Housing and Urban Development's budget, which HUD officials say could reduce dramatically the aid that nonprofit groups receive to provide assistance to the homeless. In Las Vegas that could mean a reduction of $2.2 million, which in turn could result in MASH Village and the Shade Tree Shelter providing 202 fewer housing units for low-income families. Others that receive HUD funds are Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, the Women's Development Center and the Salvation Army. The House should reject the Appropriations Committee's reductions and ...

Haywire traffic signals snarls traffic for hours: The traffic signal system for the valley went completely out of service about 5:15 a.m., said Regional System Manager Gerry de Camp.

Crosswalks are contested territory: A few days ago, Carson deputies worked the crosswalk that connects Silver City Mall on the south end of town with several fast food restaurants on the other side. They handed out a dozen citations to drivers who didn't stop for pedestrians.

Grant will assist Indian Housing Plan: The population of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony includes 28 acres off Glendale Avenue and 1,960 acres in Hungry Valley north of Reno.

Residents invited to Y2K workshop: The workshop, sponsored by the city in conjunction with the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversions, will be held Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Las Vegas Church's Bevan Hall, 3025 Alta Drive.

French-themed hotel-casino opens on Vegas Strip: Robert Macy, Associated Press; Beneath a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower, next to a casino featuring slot machines touting "Le Jacque Pot," guests began registering Wednesday at this gambling capital's latest effort to go global.

Amendment suggested to expand rural representation: He told the legislative committee of the Elko Chamber of Commerce that amending the state constitution to increase the number of senators from 21 to 25 would help ensure representation of rural Nevada after reapportionment in 2001.

Elko nurses vote Sept. 10 on proposed contract: ELKO, Nev. - Elko General Hospital nurses will decide Sept. 10 whether to ratify the labor contract that has been tentatively approved by the hospital and Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3

Davis offers tribes increased gaming - with major strings attached: Brendan Riley; Davis offered a plan that could more than double the number of slot machines. But tribes would have to agree to share 25 percent of their gross profits with other tribes, as well as allow labor union activity in the gambling halls.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Del Mar: 1ST RACE

Sex slave killer loses bid to represent self: LOVELOCK, Nev. - A motion by convicted "sex slave" killer Gerald Gallego to represent himself in a new penalty hearing has been denied by a Pershing County judge.

Investigators tell of grisly scene at horse killings: Scott Sonner; VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. - Detectives testifying at a hearing for three men accused of slaughtering wild horses described on Wednesday the dead, maimed and dying horses they discovered in foothills near Reno in December.

County faces federal sanctions for lack of pollution control plan: LAS VEGAS - Clark County has missed a deadline for filing a plan to meet air quality standards on carbon monoxide and could lose its share of federal highway funds as a result.

Parraguirre to replace Pavlikowski: The 40-year-old judge, who has spent the last eight years handling misdemeanors and traffic cases in the lower court, was named today by Gov. Kenny Guinn to replace retiring District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski.

'Smart-growth' meetings set throughout valley: Environmental organizations are looking for help deciding what "smart growth" means for Las Vegas.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

State studies ways to distribute medical marijuana: RENO -- Nevada officials, anticipating that voters will once again approve a proposed amendment to the state Constitution to allow marijuana to be used medically, are looking at methods of distributing the drug if the ballot measure becomes law.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Furyk: LVI golfers must shoot 25-under: Jim Furyk knows that if he is to successfully defend his Las Vegas Invitational title next month, he has to shoot about 25 under par in the five-day tournament.

Vaughan set to lead the way: Steve Guiremand; Finally on Thursday night, after four years and three different colleges, Jason Vaughan will get to throw his first Division I pass.

Board lowers Reno casino's taxable value: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Equalization got a brief glimpse of the economic problems in downtown Reno.

DMV Computer upgrade will slow lines: Jerry Fink and Cy Ryan; The following temporary changes in hours have been announced:

New gambling regulator appointed by Governor Guinn: She replaces Las Vegas attorney Bill Curran, who decided to retire from the commission after more than ten years of service, including eight as chairman.

Gibbons praises plan on nuclear storage: CARSON CITY -- Rep. James Gibbons, R-Nev., has praised the Clinton administration for its policy to keep nuclear waste temporarily stored where it is generated rather than shipping it to Nevada but criticized the president for offering clemency to 16 Puerto Rican terrorists.

Jury tells county to pay $1 million more in eminent domain case: Adrienne Packer; For the second time in two weeks, Clark County has lost an eminent domain lawsuit and must pay at least $1 million more than it had originally offered for property it seized.

Family sues restaurant in shooting death of boy: The lawsuit was filed Monday by Teresa Flores, the mother of Gerardo Enrique Mejia, against the Casa Tequila restaurant.

Gore has yet to receive formal endorsements from Nevada politicians: Rep. Shelly Berkley supports Gore because of his opposition to the interim storage of nuclear waste in Nevada and his view that gambling should be regulated at the state and local levels, not by the federal government, according to Laura Chapin, a Berkley spokeswoman.

Longtime casting director, cultural leader Goldman dies: In the late 1970s Charlene Goldman heard that Aaron Spelling Productions was coming to Las Vegas to do a pilot for a potential weekly television show.

Big hotel merger discussed: The paper cited unnamed sources familiar with the proposed takeover, who said participants are trying to settle the transaction shortly. However, they said negotiations could possibly fall apart.

Archivist fears development near gold mining ghost town: Even so, residents of Nevada's Comstock Lode areas flocked to Bodie in search of the next big thing when their fortunes in the Silver State played out, and Bodie became an important link to Northern Nevada, said state archivist Guy Rocha.

Letter: Slots don't destroy lives; people do: There is not a slot machine in this world that will not let you walk away from it when you desire to leave. You have the choice as a free human being to do as you please. If you desire to destroy yourself, that is your choice.

National Airlines stepping into Atlantic City territory: National Airlines, which just completed its third month of operations, said it will begin scheduled service to Philadelphia Nov. 4.

Nye County sheriff calls defendant a 'con man': Nye County Sheriff Wade Lieseke Tuesday called Rick Tabish a "con man" who used him to set up an alibi in the theft of Ted Binion's silver fortune after the gambling figure's murder.

EA Sports added as corporate sponsor: Spencer Patterson; If the Las Vegas Bowl's new title sponsor is any indication, whatever college football fans are looking for should be "In the Game."

UNLV's soccer teams get seasons under way tonight: The women's team, coming off an 8-10-1 inaugural season, opens its second season today at 6 p.m. against Weber State at Peter Johann Memorial Field on the UNLV campus.

County fails to submit clean-air plan to EPA: The clock began ticking Tuesday for Clark County to meet a two-year deadline for controlling carbon monoxide before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency freezes federal highway funds.

Kroger names new president for grocer: Dispense succeeds Abel Porter, who retired from the company. Since 1986, Dispense has been vice president of marketing at King Soopers, another Kroger subsidiary in Denver.

Tenants lose case in water rates: Grace Leong; The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada on Tuesday rejected a request that it regulate water rates charged by some apartment complexes.

Community news briefs for September 1, 1999: The first phase of a plan to widen Interstate 15 from two to three lanes between the California border and Las Vegas will be finished Friday.

Hikers whose cell phones replace common sense: "A lot of people see the cell phone as their lifeline, I suppose," Fleck adds. "The days of self-rescue are apparently over. These days, you call 911."

Letter: Goodman right man for the job: His leadership and integrity, coupled with the best City Council ever, will make Las Vegas the best city in the country.

Outsider brings statistical strength to gaming panel: David Strow; In gaming circles, Radha Chanderraj might be considered the ultimate outsider.

Cino gets 15 years on charge related to Blitzstein murder: Kim Smith; One more of the many characters involved in the Herbie Blitzstein murder case was sentenced by a federal judge Tuesday.

Allen's grand slam leads Stars to 4th straight victory: Matt O'Brien; Though destined for the golf course when the regular season ends in early September, the Las Vegas Stars haven't packed up their bags and called it quits on the diamond yet. Tuesday night was proof of it.

Services scheduled for Boggs: Boggs was born in Las Vegas on Sept. 15, 1907, and according to news accounts of the early 1950s was "the oldest living child born in Las Vegas." She died Thursday at a local convalescent home at age 91 after spending her entire life in Southern Nevada.

Congressional probe urged in waste shipments to NTS: A nuclear watchdog group has called for a congressional investigation into Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory after it was discovered the lab shipped illegal toxins mixed in radioactive waste to the Nevada Test Site.

Letter: Reader appreciates Binion TV coverage: Our tenure in the working force necessitated establishing residence in many states. In none of those states did the mandate of a justice of the peace involve authority to act in cases other than minor offenses, administering oaths or performing marriages.

Local briefs: Metro Police are trying to determine a motive in a Tuesday morning shooting near the west edge of the valley.

Trial begins on disputed jackpot: Bill Gang; As the trial began over Heather Devon's claim that the old Frontier hotel-casino deprived her of a $97,000 jackpot, the facts in her mind were clear and simple.

Thursday at Saratoga: 1st race 2-3/8 mi 3YO & up Alw: 1 Envy of the Crown (Brown) 148; 2 Little Hurt (Petty) 156; 3 a-Riff (Kiser) 150; 4 Little Caveat (Miller) 156; 5 b-Haveplanwilltravel (Horgan) 143; 6 Starquester (Delozier) 152; 7 a-Buga (Wilson) 156; 8 High Cotton (Edwards) 148; 9 b-Inca Colony (Clancy) 150; 10 c-Premium Bond (Kingsley) 150; 11 c-Sky and Sea (Miller) 156.

Box score: Stars 8, Dukes 6: Umpires -- Sanders, Barksdale, Drake. Time -- 2:56. Attendance -- 3,686.

Thursday at Del Mar: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Santa Fe Express (Flores) 119; 2 Frantic Frances (Pincay) 119; 3 Princess Malia (Pedroza) 119; 4 Muschi (Enriquez) 119; 5 Luckyisforever (Sorenson) 119; 6 Ms Ly Beau (Black) 119; 7 Victoria One (Vergara) 117.

Teen girl tells of prostitute's life during trial testimony: Kim Smith; In testimony that was sometimes insolent and frequently tearful, one of the teenage girls an alleged pimp is accused of recruiting into his business described her life on the streets.

Murphy killed for money, prosecutors say: Angie Wagner; Binion's live-in girlfriend, Sandra Murphy, knew she had been written out of his will and that their relationship was on the rocks, prosecutor David Roger said during closing arguments in the preliminary hearing for six people linked to the case.

New dust regulations to be unveiled: Developers, construction companies and the public will have a chance to review and comment upon proposed rules to curb airborne dust in a series of workshops scheduled for September and October.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Boxing title reverts to Las Vegas: Dean Juipe; Las Vegas has a number of identifying traits.

Utility merger hearing set for Oct. 21: The hearings, which were supposed to have begun today, have been delayed by concerns by some commissioners that ONEOK used the regulatory process to avoid a proxy battle over Las Vegas-based Southwest with Southern Union Co.

Wyoming to get test from defending champs: Steve Guiremand; Dana Dimel's Wyoming Cowboys have won eight games each of his first two years in Laramie.

Court to review 'Son of Sam' law: The original law, in New York, was ruled unconstitutional in 1991 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said the law violated free speech and was so broad that it would have applied to the Autobiography of Malcom X and Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience."

No quick fix forthcoming for Venetian builders: Gary Thompson; County Commissioner Erin Kenny offered little hope for a quick political fix Tuesday to local trade contractors facing financial trouble because they haven't been paid for building the Venetian hotel-casino.

Wild horse found dead at Red Rock: A resident spotted the horse's body Friday lying next to a watering trough in the Cottonwood Valley area called Wilson Spring. The spot also is known as Tunnel Springs, Bureau of Land Management spokesman Phil Guerrero said.

Drug detection patch draws challenge: Kim Smith; A relatively new drug test called the sweat patch goes on trial soon in Las Vegas as the result of a challenge by a federal public defender.

Letter: High technology won't take root in Nevada desert: First, Nevada is a computer illiterate state. After seven years and $100 million the Welfare Division is still running around in circles trying to learn a computer program.

Let's get it on (again): Dean Juipe; It has been six years since boxing had a unified heavyweight champion.

Inquest set in shooting: A coroner's inquest into the fatal shooting of jail escapee Timothy Blackburn, who was awaiting trial on federal bank robbery charges, has been set for Oct. 1 in District Court Department 5.

Obituaries for September 1, 1999: John Barra, 89, of Las Vegas died Aug. 25 in a local hospital. He was born July 3, 1910, in Italy. A resident for 21 years, he was a retired tool and die maker for 40 years.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Follow the betting scene in Sun's new column: Sports betting in Las Vegas has been likened to a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game in which the casino -- or "the house" -- scrambles to stay a step ahead of ever-cagier gamblers -- or "the public."

Tuesday's Prep results: Las Vegas 1, Mojave 0 Goal: Dominguez.

Paris Las Vegas to open doors tonight: Gary Thompson; Paris Las Vegas, the fourth new megaresort to open in Las Vegas in the past 11 months, debuts tonight with a celebration spanning two continents.

Nevada company buying Iowa casino, track for $165 million in deal: Harveys said it will pay IWRA, the nonprofit license holder of Bluffs Run, $165 million for the property.

Metro Police veteran sues department: Kim Smith; A 19-year Metro Police veteran filed a discrimination lawsuit against the department Tuesday.

Hispanics rip district split: Erin Neff; Claiming they were omitted from the process of redrawing Las Vegas voting districts, Hispanic leaders Tuesday criticized the proposed ward map because they said it splits the city's Hispanics into two different wards.

Merlino's lawyer: "The real shooters are still out there": Scott SONNER; Anthony Merlino, 20, and two former Marines, Darien Brock, 21, and Scott Brendle, 22, face a preliminary hearing in Virginia City Wednesday on charges of slaughtering the horses in the foothills east of Reno Dec. 27.

McDonald poised to push his picks: Erin Neff; City Hall observers say Councilman Michael McDonald is ready to fill two new City Council seats with his top choices. And it's likely he has the other votes he needs to ensure he will have five supporters on the panel once the Las Vegas redistricting process is over.

Desert Passage names ad agency: Momentum's contract as the project's advertising firm commenced July 15. The marketing and promotion firm was chosen from among several local and national companies.

U.S. economy to continue growth: NEW YORK -- In another sign the U.S. economy continues to grow at a brisk pace, a key barometer of future activity rose 0.3 percent in July, the same rate as in the prior two months, the Conference Board reported today.

Indian gambling negotiations stall as tribes ask Davis to rewrite plan: Brendan Riley; Talks began Tuesday and were to resume today as negotiators for Davis and the tribes sought a compromise.

Venetian bonds may clog LV courts: Bill Gang; The Venetian hotel-casino and its general contractor have been reducing the number of liens filed by subcontractors by posting bonds that automatically dissolve the liens, but the move has the potential to clog the court system.

Trial on hold after defender resigns: Bill Gang; The trial of a teenager facing the death penalty in the slaying of two people during a bar robbery has been pushed back four months after his lawyer resigned from the public defender's office.