Print edition for February 4, 2000

Porter has some catching up to do: Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has spent more on operating expenditures for her re-election campaign than Republican opponent Jon Porter has raised.

Jury hears story of tortured childhood for killer of two: Bill Gang; There is no dispute that Kenshawn Maxey had a deprived and abuse-filled childhood before he was arrested at 17 coming out of a bar where he had killed two people -- the bartender and his own best friend.

IGT pulls plug on Atlantic City Megabucks: ATLANTIC CITY -- International Game Technology has decided to pull its "Megabucks" progressive slot machine out of the Atlantic City market, a newspaper reported today.

Experts disagree on whether Calif. gambling expansion will hurt Vegas: David Strow; In the weeks before California voters considered Proposition 5 -- a proposal that would have legalized Indian gaming in that state -- Nevada casinos poured more than $27 million into an effort to defeat it.

Hollywood crews are busy filming at old LV cold storage warehouse: By Richard N. Velotta; A group of firefighters in turnouts trudged to a fire truck parked outside the building that houses the Lear Motion Picture and Television Studios in Las Vegas.

Big Nevada nursing home operator in bankruptcy: The largest nursing home operator in Nevada, with 1,382 beds in the Las Vegas area, has filed for bankruptcy in Delaware.

Biggest merger creates fourth largest firm: FRANKFURT, Germany -- The supervisory board of Mannesmann AG cleared the road for history's largest corporate takeover today, recommending shareholders approve the $180 billion merger with Britain's Vodafone AirTouch PLC.

Professor to receive Nevada Medal for his work in science: Mooney's studies of plants may help researchers figure out how to best breed food crops that thrive in harsh environments, Desert Research Institute President Stephen Wells said. The institute co-sponsors the Nevada medal awards with Nevada Bell. A $10,000 prize is included with the silver medal.

Community news briefs for February 4, 2000: Metro Police will hold a meeting Monday night for residents interested in the neighborhood watch program.

Unemployment at lowest level since 1970: WASHINGTON -- America's record-breaking economy surged into the new year with employers adding 387,000 jobs, pushing the unemployment rate down to a 30-year low of 4 percent, the Labor Department said today.

Investor's Jackpot stake tops 10%: Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday indicate several funds controlled by Gabelli purchased 94,000 shares over the past week. Gabelli spent nearly $1 million, at an average of $10.61 per share.

Seniors try again on exam: Terry Webster; Now comes the real test -- again.

Insurer, builder sue hotel-casino: "This is a construction-related issue, and the insurance in question is related to the Owners Controlled Insurance Program. We want to state categorically that anything that is legitimately owed will be paid," responded Sean McGuinness, the Resort At Summerlin's assistant general counsel.

Columnist Dean Juipe: UNLV looks to rescue its season: Dean Juipe; Utah has had better basketball teams than the one that will play here Saturday.

Developer takes option on shuttered casino: John Riordan, vice president of sales for Turnberry, said the option has a six-month term. At this point, he said, the company has not decided on what it would do with the property -- or even if it wants to buy it.

News briefs: A 29-year-old woman who killed her live-in boyfriend during an argument in June 1997 has been given probation on her guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter.

Feds fail second time to get drug conviction: Kim Smith; Federal prosecutors hope the third time will be the charm after jurors in the second trial of an alleged drug kingpin Thursday failed to return a verdict.

Hungarian has appetite for 5th win: Victoria Sun; Hungary's Zoltan Holba speaks very limited English, but he knows a good punch line in any language.

Bally appeals order to pay disputed jackpot: Last month, the unit of Alliance Gaming Corp. was ordered to pay the jackpot to California resident Sylvia Gutierrez, who claimed she had hit the progressive jackpot on a "Betty Boop" machine at a Reno casino. The board found that the three jackpot symbols had not lined up exactly on the payline, but ordered Bally to pay anyway, saying a player, from the position Gutierrez sat, would think the winning combination had been hit.

Women: Colorado State-UNLV box score: Augspurger 5-7 0-0 13, Gorton 10-13 1-1 21, Narkiewicz 0-2 0-0 0, Haanen 6-11 2-5 14, Johnson 7-12 0-0 18, English 2-2 0-0 6, Borton 1-1 0-0 3, Strecker 2-2 2-3 6. Totals 33-50 5-9 81.

Murkowski to unveil nuke waste proposal: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The sponsor of an ever-changing bill that could bring 77,000 tons of nuclear waste to Nevada was to unveil today an amended version aimed at winning the approval of the Senate and President Clinton next week.

2000 SCORE Desert Series leaders: TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks) -- 1. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 48; 2. Doug Fortin, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet K1500, 42; 3. Dan Smith, Riverside, Calif., Ford F-150, 25; 4. Rod Thomas, Placentia, Calif., Chevrolet C-1500, 22; 5. Mark Post, Laguna Hills, Calif., Ford F-150, 18; 6. Josh Baldwin, Irvine, Calif., Ford F-150, 13; 7. Todd Gatrell, Prescott, Ariz., Chevrolet, 11; 8. Lonny Helmbolt, Henderson, Dodge 2500, 10.

UNLV notes: Rebel swimmer honored: Tin posted season bests and first-place finishes in three events last Saturday -- 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle.

Counselor gets four life terms for abuse of children: Bill Gang; Larry Wisenbaker's years of sexually abusing boys at youth facilities across the country where he worked have come to an end and District Judge Kathy Hardcastle today guaranteed he will never get a chance to do it again.

Pressure exerted to close discussions on open meetings: Valerie Miller; For the attorney general's office, it was an open and shut case.

Saturday at Santa Anita: 1st race 6 fur 4YO Clm: 1 Steadiest (Ramsammy) 117; 2 Pembina (Berrio) 117; 3 I'm Smokin (Puglisi) 117; 4 Danzig Commander (Nakatani) 117; 5 Gambling Demon (Pedroza) 117; 6 Loma Lad (Flores) 117; 7 Rex Royal (Espinoza) 117; 8 Waypoint (Valenzuela) 117; 9 Musical Sweep (Baird) 117.

Locals sign with I-AA schools: Clark quarterback Charles Henderson (6-1, 190) and Eldorado offensive lineman David Larsen (6-2, 260) have both signed with Southern Utah. Both players were honorable mentions selections on the Sun's 1999 All-State team.

Saturday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up Alw: 1 Foreign Vengeance (Castillo) 116; 2 Conflagration (Vergara) 116; 3 Brashton (Teator) 116; 4 Visceral (Melton) 111; 5 Gun Rack (Arroyo) 111; 6 Shred the Money (Rocco) 111; 7 Jojo's Express (Chavez) 116; 8 Repute (Lopez) 121.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Waypoint - Should be forwardly placed throughout, draws good post, P. Val. on Mitchell trainee. Loma Lad - Starts from middle post, Flores/Baffert team, a factor for victory throughout. Value Play -- Gambling Demon

Lady Rebels lose on last-second shot: UNLV trailed CSU by 10 points, 57-47, with 14:13 left, but battled back to tie the score at 70-70 with five minutes to play.

Union organizer told to halt recruiting: State gambling regulations require unions or union representatives to get the state Gaming Commission's approval before even seeking to represent casino employees.

Thursday's prep results: Bonanza 4, Western 0 Goals: Recchio, Perry 2, Wish.

Saturday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 1 mi 4YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Sunset Limited (Warren) 118; 2 Annihilator (Lopez) 116; 3 Paris Orbit (Delgadillo) 116; 4 Idle Hour (Radke) 109; 5 Frantic Frances (Baze) 118; 6 Wee Willy Galpin (Carr) 116.

Letter: Congress decides all tax matters: Reagan's debt, Reagan's debt, they cry wolf. Here I go again.

Letter: Hispanics need to study English to be successful: What a tremendous role model for our Hispanic youth. We cannot succeed in this country without good English savvy. I was fortunate to attend schools appointed by the Christian Brothers and Jesuits.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Despite new faces, Gordon raring to go: Within the span of five weeks last fall, Jeff Gordon lost his crew chief, Ray Evernham, and five members of his highly successful "Rainbow Warriors" pit crew.

Letter: Greenspun right about conservatives: Mr. Greenspun's opinion that George W. Bush's biggest obstacle to getting to the White House is dogmatic religious conservatives is right on the money. One need not be a "godless heathen" to recognize the danger posed by the fervor of some fundamentalists in the GOP -- such as Gary Bauer. If they had their way, American public policy would be determined by religious ayatollahs -- not unlike Muslim Iran -- rather than elected representatives of all shapes, sizes and differing opinions.

Southern Nevada drivers lead way in SCORE series: Following last weekend's season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, brothers Tim and Ed Herbst are leading the featured Trophy-Truck division in a Ford F-150, Billy Goerke and Brian Collins are in front of Class 8 in a Chevrolet C1500 and Danny Anderson is leading Class 10 in his Toyota-powered Jimco desert race car.

Sonic Utes: Steve Addy; Good thing a Las Vegas cocktail waitress won the Megabucks two weeks ago. At least that means Rick Majerus might only be the second-happiest person in town this weekend.

BLM to sell 400 acres in June: The Bureau of Land Management is preparing to put 400 acres up for sale at a June 8-9 public auction.

Woman hits slot jackpot: The woman, who has declined to have her name made public, was described only as Asian, by a representative of International Game Technology, makers of the statewide progressive $1 slot machines.

Iverson to testify at Strohmeyer hearing: Bill Gang; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure has changed his mind and agreed to let LeRoy Iverson testify next week at a hearing that could result in Jeremy Strohmeyer withdrawing his guilty plea in the killing of a 7-year-old girl.

DOE advocates method that could lead to Yucca approval: Approval of Yucca Mountain as the sole place in the country for burying deadly nuclear waste could be granted despite findings that Yucca would be unsafe, under a new approval method advocated by the Department of Energy.

Silverado High students shun Foothill option: Terry Webster; The message came through loud and clear: Overcrowding at Silverado High School is unbearable.

Agassi set to continue his storybook career: Victoria Sun; Andre Agassi is a bona fide giant in the tennis world these days.

Nine days after record jackpot, new Megabucks hit: The woman who won the jackpot asked to remain anonymous, said Connie Fox, a spokeswoman for International Gaming Technology.

McGruder chooses Vols: Steve Guiremand; The roller coaster recruiting saga of Cheyenne High School football star Lynn McGruder finally came to an end Thursday night when he announced he would sign a national letter of intent with the University of Tennessee today.

Court denies petition of death row inmate Doyle: CARSON CITY -- Anthony L. Doyle, sentenced to death for the beating-strangulation of a 20-year-old woman in Clark County, has lost his second appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Togliatti confident he can win despite cash disparity: Adrienne Packer; When campaign finance forms submitted last month revealed Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone had raised nearly $400,000, there were rumblings that the incumbent's most viable opponent would cower.

Flying fitness: Adrienne Packer; The packed plane finally touched down in Las Vegas and at least one passenger -- who had been strapped in a middle seat for five hours -- spotted exactly what she needed before the next leg of her trip.

Bicyclist killed after apparent altercation: Jace Radke; A bicyclist was killed Thursday after having an argument with two men in a truck who police believe intentionally ran over the 40-year-old Las Vegas man.

Bankruptcies: Lock Pro Plus Inc., 2657 Windmill Parkway No. 140, filed for Chapter 11, listing assets of $280,500 and liabilities of $180,000.

Editorial: More DMV workers should reduce lines: DMV employees still are trying to correct many of the unexpected problems with the new computer system, creating the need for more help, especially since the DMV soon will be ushering in a new way for motorists to renew their licenses and registration by computer. Now that Guinn has these funds, though, it is incumbent he show in a few months that progress is being made.

The Movie Guys: Craven's 'Scream 3' not a copy of the original: Grades: Jeff B, Dave C

Dream Theater at the Joint proves to be a real sleeper: Geoff Carter; Let's do this one by the numbers. Here's how to determine if you're at a "progressive rock" show:

Sound Check -- Geoff Carter: Smart, savvy grooves found on 'Anomie and Bonhomie': Back in 1985 I was reluctant to declare my love of Scritti Politti to friends. I thought the songwriting and vocal style of the angel-voiced Green -- the group's catalyst -- too polished for my friends to accept. However, I couldn't keep my enjoyment concealed for long, and one week I gave several acquaintances homemade cassettes of "Cupid and Psyche '85," Scritti's breakthrough 1985 release.

Dial File -- Steve Bornfeld: Lights are bright on Broadway TV: As Billy Shakes so eloquently opined:

State trims Nevada Power rate request by $66 million: A Nevada Power executive said the decision would be appealed.

Obituaries for February 4, 2000: Albert Ballin, 64, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. He was born May 27, 1935, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for seven years, he was a retired airline mechanic and an Air Force veteran.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Mayor Oscar on a roll: SITTING ACROSS THE SUN editorial board table listening to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is a special experience. After several months in office he still exudes the energy, both mental and physical, expected of a man still on the campaign trail. As a matter of fact he hasn't quit talking or working since being elected last year. He loves his job and is going about it like a bunny being energized by a locomotive battery.

Date book: Actor and artist Gregory Etchison will demonstrate drawing at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mesquite Club, 702 E. St. Louis Ave. Call 393-6192.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Siegfried & Roy continue to amaze after 10 years at Mirage: Joe Delaney; At Tuesday's between-shows ceremony when Siegfried & Roy were honored as "Magicians of the Century" by the 20,000-member International Magicians Society, we had a chance to chat with Mirage Resorts Chairman of the Board Steve Wynn. ... The ceremony was part of the observance of the start of Siegfried & Roy's 11th year at the Mirage.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Epic Epicurean Awards capped with a lively affair: Las Vegas Life magazine created quite a stir with its first annual Epicurean Awards party at the Four Seasons recently. Chefs, restaurant owners, media members and contributors gathered to celebrate the debut of the Epicurean Awards, and the winners. The event was planned to coincide with the release of the Epicurean Awards story in Las Vegas Life's February issue, available now.

Pioneer civil rights activist, real estate exec Elliott dies: Margie Elliott had already made her mark as a Los Angeles actress and restaurateur before she came to Las Vegas in 1954.

Birth announcements for February 4, 2000: Jan. 25: A boy to Karen and Robert Van Der Linda. Jan. 26: A girl to Helen and Andrew Cornelius; a boy to Annette Weishaar and Shane Jacob; a boy to Tanya Spicer. Jan. 27: A boy to Sofia Lopez and Carlos Hernandez. Jan. 28: A girl to Cristina and Richard Jensen. Jan. 30: A boy to Debra and Erashe Stuart; a boy to Melody and Steven Rowles. Jan. 31: A girl to Melissa and Michael Perry.

Committing Comedy: Kirk Baird; What: The Usual Suspects.

Editorial: Public interest scores big: During a November hearing by Turnipseed on the DOE's request, Deputy Attorney General Marta Adams said that granting the permit would be "a clear and present danger to the robust economy of Nevada." Adams said that while the amount of water may not be significant there was the possibility it could become contaminated after its use at the proposed repository. She also mentioned that public opinion polls have shown that three-quarters of the state's residents either oppose or strongly oppose the repository -- and that if built, the repository could lead to a drop in tourism because of the stigma ...

'At the Copa' shows marked improvement at the Rio: Joe Delaney; "David Cassidy at the Copa, Co-starring Sheena Easton," revisited at the Rio. We attended the "soft opening" on Jan. 18 and called it a work in progress, "an amalgam of good ingredients." The show caught this week flows better and was well-received by a goodly crowd. There is a storyline, a familiar story usually found in films intended for the second half of a double feature. There is also a narrator, a broken down old man who recalls the glory days of the Copa, filling in parts of the nightclub's history.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Couple marries amid media mayhem: Kate Maddox; The German strangers who tied the knot at the Venetian on Tuesday did so with an audience of disbelieving shoppers and curious tourists, as well as with about five or six TV cameras jammed in their faces as they took their vows.

Hamada's drowning accidental: Hamada, owner of the four Hamada of Japan restaurants in Las Vegas, was found dead in a swimming pool behind her home in the 800 block of Pinnacle Park Avenue Jan. 10.