Print edition for December 15, 2000

Joe Delaney remembers 1973: Goulet, Lawrence at the Frontier: Joe Delaney remembers 1973: Goulet, Lawrence at the Frontier

Regents to review UNLV monitoring of boosters: University regents plan to examine UNLV's troubles with the NCAA at their next meeting in Las Vegas on Jan. 19, the Sun has learned.

Henderson planners reject office park developer for second time: Jeffrey Libby; For a second time in less than three months, the Henderson Planning Commission voted down a proposed 88,000-square-foot office park on the corner of Sandy Ridge Avenue and Hickory Grove Circle.

Maxfield lays foundation for commissioner's seat: Adrienne Packer; Chip Maxfield works where he can find space, whether it's a vacant Clark County conference room or an office left unoccupied during an employee's lunch hour.

Nuke panel urges state to veto Yucca rulings: The Commission on Nuclear Projects today recommended that the Nevada Legislature adopt a resolution to veto any congressional decision to make Yucca Mountain a high-level nuclear waste repository.

Tattoo parlors get tougher rules: Tattoo and body-piercing artists will have to pay about $120 in health permit fees, classes and immunization shots before they apply any needles to clients in Southern Nevada.

LV company selling Texas gambling ship interest: Marty Gross, president of Viva Gaming & Resorts, which owned 40 percent of the Texas Treasure Casino Cruise Ship Project, described the deal as an "internal buyout," within the Viva Gaming group but declined to reveal the identity of the buyer.

Obituaries for December 15, 2000: Delores Alton, 73, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 14, 1927, in New York state. A resident for 50 years, she was a retired waitress.

Construction vehicles will start burning cleaner fuel: Some Las Vegas construction crews will be burning cleaner oxygenated diesel fuel in their vehicles and hopefully kicking up a lot less dust thanks to two measures passed by the Clark County Health District Board.

LV traffic court to start moratorium: Judge Betsy Kolkoski, whose bench handles all traffic cases, said the moratorium reduces the administrative cost of carrying old cases into the new year and allows defendants to start 2001 with a clean slate.

Letter: Economy soared under Clinton: Before Bill Clinton became president I had taken a pay cut of $2 per hour after working at my job for 25 years. The economy was such a mess -- high inflation and outrageous interest rates, that no one could get a raise, and you had to feel lucky if you weren't downsized out of a job.

Report: BLM not protecting wilderness: Comments

Lawyer files second suit to stop electors: CARSON CITY -- Reno lawyer Carter King is making a second effort to stop Nevada's four presidential electors from casting all of their ballots for Gov. George Bush this coming Monday.

Barbara Greenspun remembers 1973: Monorail, maglev part of LV future: Although such a venture has not come to pass, ground was broken recently for a monorail system to serve the Strip, which leads one to believe the rest will come.

Russia may be willing to take high-level waste: Russia may be willing to offer the world a safe haven for high-level nuclear waste -- for a price.

Firm reports record earnings: In the year-ago quarter, the company reported a net loss of $200,000, or 2 cents per diluted share. The fourth-quarter results were in line with Nov. 27 earnings projection made by the company.

Where I Stand 1973 -- Hank Greenspun: Monorail would help with LV traffic woes: Las Vegas now enjoys world prominence because its community leaders have had the "forward look."

Health district seeks federal grants: Bolstered by reports that Cassidy & Associates has found millions of dollars in federal funds for other Southern Nevada government entities, the Clark County Health District Board wants to hire the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to do the same for its agency.

Health district briefs for December 15, 2000: The Clark County Health District Board by consent agenda vote Thursday granted without discussion a waiver allowing ambulances on New Year's Eve to take people with minor injuries to triage areas instead of hospitals as they are contracted to do.

California agrees to help clean lake: In a new spirit of cooperation, Southern Nevada and Southern California water officials have joined forces to clean up pollutants in the Las Vegas Wash.

Markers covered by check law: The court, in a unanimous decision Thursday, turned down the appeal of Tuan Ngoc Nguyen, who pleaded guilty to one count of drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds and was placed on four years probation.

Board, teachers, parents bid farewell to Tarkanian: Terry Webster; Lois Tarkanian ended her 12-year tenure on the Clark County School Board Thursday with enough flowers, cards and plaques to fill a small gift shop.

$21 billion transportation plan for 20 years unveiled: Jeffrey Libby; In the interests of meeting a January deadline for federal funding, the Regional Transportation Commission approved Thursday without comment three-year and 25-year plans expected to slow the increase of traffic congestion in the Las Vegas Valley.

Student sharing of books prompts concern: CARSON CITY -- Legislators are wondering about a policy adopted by an estimated one-third of the high schools in Nevada that stops students from taking books home overnight for study.

DOE desperately needs temporary storage site: Now that an appeals court has placed responsibility for radioactive waste piles around the country squarely with the Energy Department, pressure may increase to consider the Nevada Test Site as a temporary storage facility.

Developer gets $85 million for Vegas real estate: Columbia, Md.-based Rouse received $85 million in cash from the transaction, which it will use to pay down debt, buy back stock and finance new projects.

Congress finalizes its session: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Retiring Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., was poised to take home one final legislative victory today with his effort to protect parts of Nevada's Black Rock desert.

Bankruptcies for December 15, 2000: Edward W. Maier, formerly doing business as Preferred Installations, 1400 Grape Arbor Way, filed for Chapter 13, listing assets of $143,072 and liabilities of $178,225.

Nevada energy policy panel set to make recommendations: The 17-member committee that is making energy policy recommendations to Gov. Kenny Guinn agreed on its first two proposals Thursday.

PUC approves local service application: In a 2-0 vote Thursday, commissioners approved the application of San Antonio-based SBC Telecom Inc. for certification to provide service in Las Vegas and other areas currently not served by Nevada Bell.

London Clubs' stock drops after problems at Aladdin: David Strow; British investors hammered the stock of London Clubs International today, after the company reported its financial results have been hurt badly by the struggles of the new Aladdin gambling resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Local news briefs for December 15, 2000: A 95-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman died Thursday morning in a fire in their mobile home in Moapa Valley, about 45 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Combined libraries concept dropped: Diana Sahagun; After more than a year of consideration, North Las Vegas Library Board trustees have officially dropped the possibility of consolidating with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Brother gives defendant alibi in double murder case: Kim Smith; The brother of an admitted racist who faces the death penalty in the slayings of two men two years ago provided him an alibi on the stand Thursday, but admitted he never told police what he knew.

HCA paying $405,000 to Nevada for overbillings: CARSON CITY -- The company that owns Sunrise and MountainView hospitals in Las Vegas has agreed to repay the state $405,000 in overbillings of Medicaid patients. The state may receive additional payments later.

Letter: Every voter is responsible: But I'm getting older and can't think as quickly and clearly as I once did.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: 900 miles, 30 hours -- and plenty of prospects: Steve Guiremand; Some might call it crazy.

Campaigns end with spending flurry: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada's four high-profile campaigns for Congress spent more than $1.2 million in the final four weeks of their races, mostly on expensive television commercials and media consultants, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Feasts abound around town this holiday season: "Have yourself a merry little Christmas," by dining out Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Unlike olden times, when the tree wasn't trimmed until Christmas Eve, it's now adorned and bedecked early in the season, sometimes even before Thanksgiving.

Holiday Prep Classic regains lost luster: Spencer Patterson; Tournament at a glance

Court briefs for December 15, 2000: A group of former Las Vegas Paiute tribal members who were kicked out of the small group last year took their case before a judge in tribal court Thursday to argue they were wrongly removed from membership rolls.

New Vegas law firms formed: Longtime gaming attorney Frank Schreck has formed Schreck Brignone Godfrey and will have partners Andy Brignone, Jack Godfrey, Leslie Terry Jones, Ellen Schulhofer, James Pisanelli, Clark Vellis and Todd Bice. Also joining the firm are David Arrajj and Nancy Helmbold.

LV economic growth to keep slowing: The white-hot economic growth that characterized Las Vegas in the '90s but slowed last year will continue to cool in 2001 and 2002, experts at UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research say.

Datebook for December 15, 2000: The Las Vegas Philharmonic will perform with soprano Luana DeVol and the Durango High School Concert Choir at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall. Tickets are $20-$60. Call 895-2787.

Tabish gets new home in prison system: Rick Tabish has been transferred to the maximum security Ely State Prison to serve time for killing wealthy casino executive Ted Binion.

Audit: Nuke agency not doing adequate job awarding contracts: CARSON CITY -- The state Agency for Nuclear Waste may have misspent $15,500 and still isn't doing an adequate job in awarding contracts in the study of Yucca Mountain, a legislative audit says.

Letter: Bush admitted mistakes made in younger days: She accused Gov. George W. Bush of lying about a DUI conviction. I don't recall any time he lied about the DUI, but I can recall when Vice President Al Gore stood on stage during the debates and lied to millions of people about Florida schools, his sick grandmother's medicine (or her dogs) and his statements about Bush made to publications (which he denied on the debate until Jim Lehrer called him on it), along with other untruths.

Analysts speculate on possible acquisition of Station Casinos: David Strow; Could Station Casinos Inc. be next in the parade of gaming acquisitions?

News of the Day: 1973: Story: The Washington Post won two Pulitzer Prizes Monday, one for it's investigation of Watergate.

Ill-fated plants to be given new life: Kris Hill; Volunteers for the Las Vegas Springs Preserve say they will devote much of the next four years to rescuing plants that otherwise might be destroyed by earth-moving equipment throughout the valley.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Switch to Dodge does not faze Petty: Despite having driven Pontiacs for much of the past two decades, NASCAR Winston Cup Series veteran Kyle Petty has no reservations about Petty Enterprises' switch to Dodge next season.

Richardson, Kelly to make season debuts: Steve Addy; In Saturday night's pregame introductions, Max Good will be announced as UNLV's head coach for the first time.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Project is music to kids' ears: In the grand scheme, the Las Vegas Valley attracts a lot of grand schemes.

Brenner could be in for the long haul at Golden Nugget: Joe Delaney; Comedian David Brenner is proving that the right attraction in the right room will work, even if the Golden Nugget happens to be the showplace of Casino Center.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Anderson tackles the singing greats at Stardust: Joe Delaney; Bob Anderson, appearing in the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater through Dec. 22, is not only a superior saloon singer, he is a world-class vocal impressionist as well ... Tom Jones was quoted as saying, "Bob is the best in the business at what he does and I think that is because he actually sings as well as the person he is doing." ... Jones is one of Anderson's subjects.

Editorial: No bounds in sight for players' salaries: Owners in all sports frequently bemoan having to pay such high salaries for star athletes, but no one is holding a gun to their heads, forcing them to spend tens of millions of dollars on athletes who, in many instances, don't live up to their billing. While the owners cry about their plight, the tears dry pretty fast, as the costs of free agency not too surprisingly get passed on to the fans in the form of higher prices for tickets, concessions and parking. Once again the losers in the skyrocketing bidding wars in sports will be the fans, whose ...

Prep girls soccer standings: CLASS 4A

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: For once, New Orleans is making all the right moves: Sal DeFilippo; The holiday season must have a distinctly different look in New Orleans this year.

Columnist Kate Maddox: 'Sweetheart' deal for Las Vegas: Kate Maddox; Another big-budget flick is scheduled to make a shooting stopover in Las Vegas. In addition to the much-anticipated (and much-delayed) "Ocean's Eleven," "America's Sweethearts" will also set up shop in town for a little more than three weeks of shooting beginning in February.

State report shows caseloads heaviest in Clark County: CARSON CITY -- There were 63,578 District Court cases filed in Clark County in 1999-2000, or 2,355 for each of the 27 district judges.

SCORE unveils 2001 schedule: January 18-21: 7th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, Laughlin

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Thursday's prep results: BOYS BASKETBALL

Sun Girls Basketball Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune.

Recruiting strategy has parole agency shorthanded: CARSON CITY -- A new strategy has been adopted by the state Division of Parole and Probation to prevent police agencies from recruiting highly trained workers, a practice that is leaving the state agency shorthanded.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 2nd Race -- Hero's Welcome - Delahoussaye stays on Hendricks runner for owners Wygod, adds blinkers of dull effort, gets one more chance here. Ceeband - Solis takes over on Robbins entry, draws good outside post for the 7-panel outing, makes late impact. Value Play -- Winging West

'Forever Plaid' left to ponder life after Flamingo: There's nothing black or white about the future of "Forever Plaid," whose contract is not being renewed by the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Nation's top players compete in Las Vegas: Cheng Yinghua and Jun Gao Chang are defending their respective titles of men's and women's U.S. champions against a crowded field. The player to watch is up-and-comer Mark Nazinski, who is the No. 1-ranked U-16 boys singles player.

Prep wrestling standings: CLASS 4A

Editorial: Sanctions more than a warning: Bayno has said that he hadn't knowingly or willingly committed any violations, adding that he will fight his firing. While it's debatable whether Bayno himself was responsible for the actions of boosters, the fact is that the NCAA's punishment was warranted. Over the years some supporters of the basketball team have said that UNLV has come under the NCAA's microscope unfairly, receiving more scrutiny than other schools. But such rationalizations are no excuse for breaking NCAA rules.

Columnist Geoff Carter: Multifaceted talents of Blur have crystal-clear appeal: Geoff Carter; The last wave of Britpop barely fazed me. When the parade started a few years back, I sidestepped the Oasis-London Suede-Elastica juggernaut and let it just roll by, hopefully in the direction of a tall cliff. And while I may be on the Radiohead bandwagon today, I'm pretty sure I was the last to step up. It's stacked five-high in critics, audiophiles and Brad Pitt; there's no room for me. My boots are dragging in the dirt.

Rising star: Don Ho's daughter breaks into the pop music business: Lisa Ferguson; She's the teen pop singer you probably haven't heard of.

Prep boys basketball standings: CLASS 4A

Sun Boys Basketball Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune.

Rebels still have a lot to shoot for: Steve Addy; Next up

Bandits droop in home opener: Victoria Sun; After winning their season opener on the road last weekend, the Las Vegas Bandits wanted to successfully defend their home court against visiting Richmond Thursday night.

Prep girls basketball standings: CLASS 4A

Columnist Ron Kantowski: It's tough to choose sides at UNLV: If the UNLV basketball melodrama were ever turned into a screenplay, the cast of characters would be limited to George Steinbrenner, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Don King, Kathie Lee Gifford and actor Rutger Hauer, who is always blowing something up in the movies.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: He gets Mike's opinion: I RECEIVED A LETTER from attorney J. Michael Schaefer, who is upset because we haven't given proper coverage to the Nevada Supreme Court decision ordered against him. Not only does he want proper coverage, but he also wants my opinion. He writes, "Your editorial could praise, or damn, the decision."

Boitano's 'Spectacular' makes seasonal return: Lisa Ferguson; Just as most people use only one toothbrush and typically drive only one car, Brian Boitano wears only one pair of ice skates.