Print edition for December 11, 2000

Beaver buckles down: Nobody considered Joe Beaver to be much of a threat to win the World All-Around Championship at this year's National Finals Rodeo.

Jackson to attend Oregon State: Spencer Patterson; His college choice all but final, Steven Jackson had to wait for one bit of unfinished business before committing to the only school he visited.

Beaver named the fans' favorite: Rodeo fans in attendance during the first six performances of this year's event selected the 15-time NFR calf roping qualifier to the prestigious award.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Loss puts UNLV coach on hot seat: Dean Juipe; It's important to keep in mind that UNLV president Carol Harter is very fond of basketball coach Bill Bayno and she isn't apt to send him packing unless the pressure on her is immense.

Robinson, Arkansas AD have old rivalry: Steve Guiremand; UNLV head coach John Robinson and Arkansas athletic director Frank Boyles didn't need any introductions when the two got together last week for the official Las Vegas Bowl team introductions press conference.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: One year after record breaker, Pincay earns anniversary win: Ralph Siraco; On Dec. 10, 1999, jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., spent the early part of his day mingling with racing fans and signing autographs before fulfilling his riding engagements on the afternoon racing program at Hollywood Park.

Gaming people for December 11, 2000: Keith Williams is vice president of casino operations at the Stratosphere.

Albertson's CEO to retire; stock buyback is expanded: BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's Inc., the country's second-largest supermarket chain behind Kroger's, said Thursday that Chairman and Chief Executive Gary G. Michael will retire in June.

Vegas Internet site redesigned: Bryan Allison, director of content, said the site is more colorful and easier to use. The home page was rearranged so that there are more links to stories and features to help plan trips to Vegas.

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

Birth announcements for December 11, 2000: Nov. 21: A boy to Susan Edwards. Nov. 22: A girl to Kathleen and Matthew Baird. Nov. 23: A girl to Dawn and Robert Covarrubias. Nov. 24: A girl to Debbie and Jose Sanchez. Nov. 25: A boy to Francine and Jose Hernandez; a boy to Melissa and William Burrell. Nov. 27: A boy to Teruah and Albert Ferris; a girl to Julienne Campbell and William Fukuhara. Nov. 28: A girl to Sunshine and Jonathan Sorensen; a girl to Denise Hill and Anthony Patton. Nov. 29: A boy to Vanessa and Michael de Jong; a boy to Lori Isbell and ...

Trends for December 11, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; Stop and shop

Locals must head to Utah to cut Christmas trees: Riding in a horse-drawn sleigh across snow-covered fields to cut your own Christmas tree is one of the many traditional myths that recur every holiday season.

Prep schedule: MONDAY

Columnist John Katsilometes: We're going to be big in Japan: In the daily flurry of phone calls, her's stood out.

Community news briefs for December 11, 2000: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., has scheduled blood drives at these locations for the coming week:

Midwest storm disrupts air travel: Tammy Webber; CHICAGO -- A developing storm blew snow across parts of the Midwest today, leading United Airlines to cancel about half its flights at O'Hare International Airport.

Another Nevada Power Co. generating plant sold off: Officials with Reno-based Sierra Pacific Resources Inc. said the five-unit Sunrise Station electric generating plant, located on 38 acres at the base of Frenchman Mountain on the eastern edge of Las Vegas, will be sold to Reliant Energy Power Generation Inc., a subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Houston, for $106 million.

Obituaries for December 11, 2000: Michael O. Craig, 53, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born Jan. 3, 1947, in Boulder City. A resident for 53 years, she was a laboratory technician.

Rodeo, LV casino stagecoach driver sued: The defendants also include Horseshoe Club Operating Co., Binion's Horseshoe hotel-casino, Senior National Finals Rodeo Association Inc. doing business as National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas Events Inc., Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Professional Rodeo Stock Contractors Association Inc. doing business as Stock Contractors Association.

Longtime LV Hilton PR director Banke dies at 64: Bruce Banke had a love-hate relationship with his longtime profession -- public relations director in the Las Vegas hotel industry.

Slowing economy hurting home-improvement chain: In its second earnings warning in two months, the Wilkesboro, N.C.-based retailer said earnings for the quarter ending Feb. 2 would be between 40 cents and 42 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson Financial had been expecting 46 cents.

Hotel chain sold to ski resort operator: NEWRY, Maine -- American Skiing Co., the largest owner and operator of ski resorts in the United States, today said it agreed to buy MeriStar Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $185.5 million in stock to expand in the lodging management business.

Walking Box still unsold: Las Vegas real estate executive David Boyer, representing Viceroy Gold Corp., a British Columbia-based mining company, said his client could not close the deal with George Brizendine to purchase the property once owned by movie stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow.

Planners offer vision for reduced gridlock: Stop-and-go traffic is in your future, but regional traffic planners are hoping to keep that daily aggravation to a minimum.

Nine states join forces to foster space flights: Nine states, including Nevada, have joined forces to attract shuttle companies that need spaceports.

Gallagher named to board: Gallagher will complete the term of former Park Place Chief Executive Arthur Goldberg, who died in October.

Builder mired in lawsuits, tries to avoid bankruptcy: Lien foreclosure and other lawsuits are stacking up in Clark County District Court against a Las Vegas real estate developer battling to stay out of bankruptcy.

Station to retain Reserve workers: A company spokesman said a provision that will ensure the employees' jobs will be retained was negotiated into the sales contract by current owner Ameristar Casinos Inc. Ameristar will sell the property for $70 million, taking a $57.2 million loss.

Drug court program has sluggish start: CARSON CITY -- A program espoused by Gov. Kenny Guinn to transfer nonviolent inmates from the state prisons into supervision by the drug courts in Las Vegas and Reno is just getting off the ground -- only six months before it is due to expire.

Murphy's attorneys ask judge to put Binion estate funds on hold: Kim Smith; District Judge Michael Cherry should not award any money to Ted Binion's estate in its wrongful death lawsuit against Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish unless their appeals are denied.

Court briefs for December 11, 2000: A Las Vegas man convicted of smuggling a dozen lizards into the United States in his underwear has been sentenced to three years probation.

NFR Notebook: Hancock sets new gold standard by going from No. 15 to No. 1: Cody Hancock came to Las Vegas just hoping to earn a nice paycheck during the $4.5 million National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack.

Paiutes fighting for ground water for power plant: A natural gas power plant would lift the Moapa Paiutes out of poverty and benefit the rest of Clark County by providing a new source of energy, tribal representatives argued Friday.

Guinn urged to support schools, families: CARSON CITY -- Democratic legislative leaders today called on Gov. Kenny Guinn to give education and families top priority when he builds his $3.7 billion biennial budget.

Letter: On right track for better access: It is my hope that this press not only allows us the privilege to improve this facility but that it opens the doors for a full campus assessment. Believe it or not there are classrooms and areas that people in wheelchairs cannot access. Jim Wadhams and I will be at the Legislature asking that this becomes a priority for our state. Thanks to reporter Steve Kanigher for paying attention to this and for continuing to watch the improvements. Stay with us, we have a long road ahead of us.

Passengers, power surge blamed for tram woes: Diana Sahagun; Overaggressive passengers and a power surge are to blame for the weekend chaos unleashed at McCarran International Airport, officials say.

Resort responds to foreclosure threat: Attorneys for J.A. Jones, the general contractor of the $270 million Regent, say they want a federal bankruptcy court to lift the stay imposed on state court cases dealing with mechanics liens against the property. If the lienholders were successful in proving their liens, state law would permit a foreclosure sale to pay the liens.

Salvation Army's Dodge plans to retire after 22 years' service: Sumner Dodge will tell you forthright, securing contributions to help the needy is hectic, food shortages and last-minute pleas are commonplace, and Christmas at the Salvation Army "is like a battle zone."

Mother's appeal rejected in Las Vegas child killing: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a mother who, with her husband, was sentenced to prison for the killing of their 10-month old daughter in Las Vegas and burning the body in Arizona.

Police familiar with accused killer: Kim Smith; Jurors in the capital murder trial of an admitted racist accused of killing two men in July 1998 got a brief glimpse into his world Friday.

NLV prepares for election changes: Diana Sahagun; Just edging past the one-year anniversary of the city breaking into wards, North Las Vegas is drafting election changes that will go into effect in May.

Casino tour bus overturns on snowy highway: ORANGE, Ohio -- A casino tour bus skidded on Interstate 271 in snowy weather, struck a ditch and flipped over last week, injuring six people, police in this eastern Cleveland suburb said.

Chastened UNLV squad searching for remedies: Steve Addy; Who: UNLV vs. Cincinnati When: 9 p.m., Saturday Where: Thomas & Mack Center TV: ESPN (19) Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

Letter: Some migrate south to vote: BOB STEVENS

California educator offered state job: CARSON CITY -- A California educator described as "dynamic" with "progressive ideas" has been selected for the $94,000-a-year job of state superintendent of public instruction, succeeding Mary Peterson, who is retiring at the end of the month.

Business people for December 11, 2000: Chris Schlaffman is a commercial loan officer and Margaret Foster is vice president at Bank of Nevada.

Editorial: Keep tabs on senior drug plan: Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who has been critical of Guinn's implementation of the program (which received overwhelming support from the 1999 Legislature), told Sun reporter Cy Ryan last week that enrollments could be lagging because of one of two reasons: Either senior citizens haven't heard about the program's availability or the program is so flawed that people aren't bothering to sign up.

Proficiency test changes proposed: Terry Webster and Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- Nevada students might have fewer chances to pass the High School Proficiency Exam in the wake of controversy over the test.

Letter: A President Bush deserves no respect: George lied about the DUI when first asked about it and finally admitted it was true when he was found out sometime later. Any American citizen who commits any of these crimes is arrested. Why hasn't George W.? It is downright scary to think about this man being elected when he feels he can get away with anything even if it is wrong. I fear for my family, especially my grandchildren.

Local news briefs for December 11, 2000: A Las Vegas man died after he was shot while driving along the 2100 block of Wendell Avenue, near Eastern and Washington avenues, early Sunday morning, Metro Police Department officials said.

McDonald recall effort is lacking signatures: Erin Neff; With just one day left to collect petition signatures, the drive to recall Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald from office is short of the required number.