Local news briefs for April 5, 2000

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

More tests from in fatal fire

Laboratory tests of flooring taken from the apartment where three children died in a March fire were inconclusive so another lab is trying to determine if any evidence of arson can be detected, Clark County Fire Department officials said this morning.

The flooring came from the apartment of Helen Williams, where fire investigators say the March 7 blaze at Cedar Springs Apartments, 1750 E. Karen Ave., started. Williams' three children -- ages 4, 3 and 2 -- and a 73-year-old man in another apartment died in the blaze.

About two weeks ago the flooring was sent for testing after an arson-detection dog indicated she smelled a possible flammable substance.

"The results from the lab were inconclusive, but we feel like it is worth pursuing further and sent (the flooring) off to another lab that has more sensitive equipment," said Bob Leinbach, fire department spokesman.

Williams has been questioned several times by investigators, but there has been no determination that fire was deliberately set or there was a crime. So Leinbach said Williams is not a suspect.

The investigation is continuing with all possible causes of the fire -- including arson -- being considered.

Woman dies after March beating

A woman who was severely beaten on March 22 by a man she told police was an ex-neighbor died from her injuries Monday at University Medical Center.

Metro Police detectives are considering her death a homicide and are searching for a man she identified only as Bobby.

The 46-year-old woman filed a police report from her UMC hospital bed on March 23 as she recuperated from a broken leg, foot and wrist, several contusions and a collapsed lung. Her name was not released this morning by Clark County coroner officials until her family can be notified.

She had been released from the hospital, but took a turn for the worse Monday and was taken back to UMC where she later died.

Detectives are trying to locate any witnesses of the beating that occurred in the 400 block of South First Street. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

The woman's death was the 25th homicide in Metro Police's jurisdiction so far this year compared with 21 homicides as the same point last year.

Pedestrian dies after incident

A pedestrian struck and killed as he walked in a fast-food restaurant parking lot Saturday has been identified as 20-year-old Honda Ayres.

James Mask, 88, of Las Vegas was driving north in the 3300 block of South Maryland Parkway Saturday about 9:30 a.m. when for an unknown reason his car crossed the center lane and started heading north in the southbound lanes, Metro Police said.

The car struck a light pole on the sidewalk and then went into a Burger King restaurant parking lot, hitting another light pole. Ayres was walking from the restaurant to the sidewalk and was struck by Mask's car, police said.

The car hit a curb and rolled over on to its roof. Both men were taken to University Medical Center. Ayres died in the hospital a couple hours later from head injuries, Clark County coroner officials said. Mask was listed in fair condition in the hospital this morning.

Police are still trying to determine what caused the accident.

Water agreement signed by counties

The Las Vegas Valley Water District and the rural counties of Nye, Lincoln and White Pine signed a 1999 agreement to work cooperatively to resolve issues related to the water district's applications for unallocated ground water.

The four counties formed the Four Parties Management Committee, a key requirement of the agreement, intended to resolve county concerns surrounding key water rights sought for the future of Las Vegas. The committee met on Thursday in Las Vegas.

In 1999 the Nevada Legislature approved a measure to allow rural counties first rights on unallocated ground water within their borders. Then Las Vegas may apply to use the water.

The Legislature's response came after the water district filed for all unallocated ground water rights in the three rural counties in 1989. Since then, Las Vegas has focused on conservation, reusing Colorado River water and gaining more rights on the Colorado.

Events planned for schools candidate

The School Board Thursday is scheduled to vote on approving the contract to employ Carlos Garcia as the Clark County School District's new superintendent. The special meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. at the Greer Education Center, 2832 E. Flamingo Road.