Local news briefs for April 17, 2000

Monday, April 17, 2000 | 10:32 a.m.

Victim in one-car accident identified

A woman who died in a Saturday night accident in northwest Las Vegas -- the 23rd fatal accident in Metro Police jurisdiction this year -- was identified this morning as 20-year-old Nicole Turk.

The Las Vegas woman was driving a 1995 Saturn east on Mariner Drive at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday when the car traveled through some water at the intersection of Soft Breezes Drive.

The driver lost control of the Saturn and spun out, eventually hitting a tree, police said.

Turk was taken to University Medical Center, but she died shortly after arriving. Two 13-year-olds in the car sustained minor injuries in the accident.

The accident is still under investigation, police said.

Southern leg nears completion

The entire 19-mile southern leg of the Las Vegas Beltway is scheduled to be up and running by April 28.

On April 26 the frontage road system from Rainbow Boulevard to Tropicana Avenue will open on the western end of the beltway, Clark County Public Works officials said.

Two days later, on the morning of April 28, section four of the beltway between Green Valley Parkway and Stephanie Street in Henderson will open. The $236 million southern portion of the beltway was built in sections under 13 construction contracts.

While that portion of the beltway project comes to an end, the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the city of Las Vegas are scheduled to break ground on the $35 million Interstate 15 channel project on Tuesday.

Five miles of flood channel improvements are scheduled to be made between Alta Drive and Sahara Avenue on both sides of I-15. The project will close Wall Street between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Western Avenue beginning Tuesday.

When completed, the project is expected to eliminate flooding of the Charleston Underpass and downtown streets, Las Vegas public works officials said.

Metro seeking help from citizens

The Metro Police Department is looking for a few good volunteers to join the more than 500 who help its officers and civilian employees.

A Laughlin substation volunteer program is scheduled to be launched in early May, and recruitment is under way for a volunteer translator team.

Those interested in becoming a Metro volunteer can call 229-4304 or check the department's website at: www.lvmpd.com.

Settlement made with fired professor

UNLV and a former mathematics professor have reached an $830,000 settlement stemming from the educator's 1990 wrongful termination suit.

After a 10-year court battle, the courts found that Michael Golberg's firing was not legal.

In June 1990 Golberg was fired by the university and placed on disability while suffering from acute diverticulitis, Golberg's attorney, Daniel M. Bunin, said.

Within four years Golberg's benefits were cut off and he had to cash out his retirement pension, Bunin said.

The settlement involves no reinstatement, and according to the agreement, no future claims can be brought against the university on the matter.

An economics expert retained by the University and Community College System of Nevada estimated that UNLV would be liable for more than $900,000 in back pay to the professor and future damages could have brought the potential liability to $1.4 million.

National history facility helped

Two Southern Nevada museums have been awarded federal grants totaling more than $9,000 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum will receive $6,030, and the Liberace Museum will get $3,300. A total of 136 institutions around the country received similar grants on a first-come first-served basis.

Federally funded clinic opens in NLV

The North Las Vegas Family Health Center, 2225 Civic Center Drive, was to open today, offering family medicine, pediatrics and women's care.

The clinic is a federally supported program that offers billing for most insurances, Medicaid, Medicare and Nevada Check-Up. Medical services are provided for a $15 base fee, a health center representative said.

The clinic is run by Nevada Rural Health Centers Inc. The company plans to open more clinics in Clark County.

NLV schedules first gathering

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon will present the first Mayor's Community Breakfast 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mojave High School.

The community-oriented event will provide residents an opportunity to meet with the mayor, City Council and city manager.

Cost is $3 per person, with children under 18 admitted for free.

Space is limited. To reserve a seat, call Dena Duarte at 633-1025.

Owners can check with Metro website

Anyone who has had a car stolen can check Metro Police's website to see if the car has been recovered and listed in a database.

The database lists vehicles recovered -- but not yet claimed by their owners -- by license plate number and towing company storing the vehicle. Police update their listings of recovered stolen vehicles daily on their website (www.lvmpd.com). Listings are purged after 30 days, police said.

Clark County Sheriff Jerry Keller said sometimes people have a car stolen and when investigators try to contact them when their car is found, the victim no longer is at the address or phone number given to police.