Nature sends message to new city auditor

Erin Neff

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

If Radford Snelding's luck holds up when he arrives in Las Vegas, he should head directly to the Megabucks machines.

The city of Las Vegas' new internal auditor escaped unharmed when a tornado ripped down his street outside Shreveport, La., destroying a neighbor's home in the process.

"It jumped over the house next to us and then took the roof off our barn," Snelding said.

A total of six tornadoes damaged buildings and uprooted trees in the Shreveport area Sunday night. Seven minor injuries were reported and one woman suffered a heart attack.

Although his home escaped the brunt of the storm, the twister upset Snelding's horses and left his family without power and the ability to draw water from his well.

"We spent last night without power and water and might have to spend one more night like that," Snelding said Monday.

Snelding, who is currently the city auditor in Shreveport, said the entire city center there is practically shut down.

The Las Vegas City Council just approved Snelding as the new city auditor last Wednesday. Snelding is currently negotiating a contract with the city and is expected to earn $91,000 annually. The council still has to ratify his contract.

Snelding is a bit more anxious now to finalize the details and move to Las Vegas.

"I'm looking forward to some warm, dry weather," he said.