Print edition for February 22, 2000

Floods, aftermath nothing new to Las Vegas Valley: Locals tell newcomers that the flood season in Southern Nevada is July through September, but a check into the weather history of the 20th century shows that floods can and have occurred during every month of the year in the Las Vegas Valley.

Sierra Pacific dividend not yet at issue: Investors in Nevada Power Co. parent Sierra Pacific Resources Inc., concerned about the beating the company's stock took last week, say they aren't worried about the dividends they receive on Sierra Pacific stock.

LV website sues former consultants: In a Clark County District Court suit, R&S Gifts & Collectibles Inc. alleged the four consultants were hired in September 1999 to register the domain name R&S GIFTS and set up the company's website.

Durango rewarded with tough draw in boys state tournament: Spencer Patterson; RENO -- Last weekend, Durango's boys basketball team blitzed its way through one of the toughest playoff tournaments in area history, besting top-five squads Western and Bishop Gorman on back-to-back nights to win the Sunset Region.

Rebels Finnished for NCAAs?: Steve Addy; SALT LAKE CITY -- With a collapse that was swift and stunning in its completeness, the Rebels' dreams of a Mountain West title and NCAA Tournament berth might have been finished Monday night.

Green has down-to-earth approach after Daytona flip: During his 10-year career as a driver in both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series, Jeff Green has seen numerous cars get upside down at Daytona International Speedway and he always wondered what went through a driver's mind in that situation.

Undefeated Centennial girls face team with strong history: Spencer Patterson; RENO -- The Centennial girls basketball team comes into this week's 4A State Tournament with a 30-0 record, but the Bulldogs' first-round opponent has something a bit more impressive on its resume.

Sun Country adds LV hotel bag-check service: The airline announced Monday it signed a check-in services contract with Certified Airline Passenger Services (CAPS) in Las Vegas.

Icahn to launch expansions at three Las Vegas properties: David Strow; New York financier Carl Icahn plans to embark on $100 million in expansion activity at his three Las Vegas properties within 60 days, one of his top Las Vegas executives said Monday.

LV travel company opens new call center: The company said today the 38,000-square-foot facility was opened with 142 employees and the facility will have 250 by the middle of 2000. The company's Las Vegas call center has 550 employees.

NLV Police detective charged with assault on woman: Keith Paul; A North Las Vegas Police detective was in the Clark County Detention Center this morning, charged with assaulting a woman over the weekend in a Home Depot parking lot.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Dickel needs no assists from scorekeeper: Now that Mark Dickel has finally moved ahead of Oklahoma State's Doug Gottlieb atop the NCAA assists chart, inquiring minds -- or at least suspicious ones -- may want to know if the Rebels' fancy passer is getting a break from the Thomas & Mack stat keepers.

Investors shuffle stakes in IGT: Pacific Financial Research Inc. said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it holds 6.48 million IGT shares. No indication was given on when these purchases were made, although the filing is Pacific's first regarding an IGT stake. SEC rules require the filings to be made when an investor acquires more than 5 percent of a company's stock.

Investment firm sells stake in MGM: Last week, the firm reported it held no shares in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. One year ago, Capital held 3.65 million shares, a 5.76 percent stake.

Avalanche set off in Lee Canyon: "That was one of the biggest avalanches I've ever seen," said Bean, a spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort north of Mount Charleston.

Anchor Gaming sues executives over $290 million merger: Grace Leong; Anchor Gaming of Las Vegas and its subsidiary, Powerhouse Technologies Inc. of Atlanta, sued three former Powerhouse executives, alleging they duped Anchor into paying more than Powerhouse's fair value when Anchor acquired the company last June.

Low-grade wood used in many valley homes: Diana Sahagun; Solid numbers

Analyst: Hotels may feel rise in oil prices: Jason Ader, senior managing director at Bear Stearns & Co., said price increases in travel costs and lodging costs -- both caused by high oil prices -- could soon begin deterring Americans from traveling.

Homeowner set for showdown: Diana Sahagun; North Las Vegas homeowner Russ Lewis said last week that he's ready to face Falcon Homes on Wednesday before the Nevada State Contractor's Board over charges of faulty construction.

Tax disputes settled with LV casino, water companies: The commission last week unanimously accepted the settlement presented by Deputy Attorney General Sonia Taggart, who said the accounting systems in the two corporations that run the casino were not up to par.

Rainy days: The Las Vegas Valley was drying out this morning after a Monday deluge caused flooding on many streets, but the rain was still being felt on some roadways.

Fair tax for trade on 'Net studied: CARSON CITY -- The chairman of the Assembly Taxation Committee is developing a plan to make sure Nevada merchants are treated fairly in competition with companies who sell tax-free over the Internet.

State wants seniors to help in detection of Medicaid fraud: CARSON CITY -- A joint federal-state effort was kicked off today to recruit senior volunteers in Clark County to help ferret out and cut the estimated $109 million lost annually to fraud in the Medicare program in Nevada.

Back from injuries, Mottola gives Utes much-needed lift: Steve Addy; SALT LAKE CITY -- All along, UNLV didn't buy the party line on Hanno Mottola's injuries.

Del Mar buys LV accounting firm: The price was not disclosed. The deal is expected to close by March 15. LL Bradford will be the centerpiece of Sunderland's newly formed financial services division.

LV utility's quarterly earnings rise: Net income rose 15 percent over the year-ago period, while earnings per share increased 12 percent. Per-share earnings increased at a slower pace because Southwest has about 550,000 more shares outstanding since Dec. 31, 1998.

Murphy still living the good life: Murder defendant Sandy Murphy continues to live a life of luxury even though she's been declared indigent by a judge who has ordered taxpayers to cover part of her legal expenses.

Nevada regulators go undercover, videotape illegal limousine operators: Ray Vinole squirmed in his chair as a videotape he was in was played for members of the Nevada Transportation Services Authority.

Singer sues Internet company over domain name: The Las Vegas suit said the defendants, Jeff Burgar and Justin Lumsden, who allegedly operate and manage General Webgroup and Internet North, an Alberta-based Internet service provider, allegedly registered the domain name MARIAHCAREY.COM on Nov. 26, 1996, and are allegedly using the name to draw web users to their fan appreciation website at www.celebrity1000.com.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Dismal day in store for Rebels: Dean Juipe; If you are a basketball player on the men's team at UNLV, today may seem like the worst day of your life.

Community news briefs for February 22, 2000: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada is sponsoring two baking events to celebrate a $10,000 donation to the group from Pillsbury and Albertson's and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Officials balk at casino plans: BOONVILLE, Mo. -- City officials are balking at plans by the new owners of a planned casino to change its design.

DOE plans Las Vegas hearing on weapons complex illnesses: The agency is expected to hear testimony from workers, their families, union representatives and residents regarding work-related illnesses.

Editorial: Candidates' reprieve is too lenient: That is why we are baffled by the amount of confusion over financial disclosure laws in Nevada for political candidates and public officials. As the Sun's Cy Ryan reported, individuals who were fined a total of $250,000 for failing to file their financial disclosure statements on time last year will receive some clemency.

UNLV-Utah Box Score: UNLV (16-7)

Obituaries for February 22, 2000: Gary A. Anthony, 47, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 5, 1952, in Kansas. A resident for many years, he was a telemarketer.

Letter: Goodman obsessed with NBA team: Most of us don't want an NBA team in Las Vegas. Furthermore, we don't want Goodman to spend his time or taxpayer money on his basketball fetish.

Letter: Switch from gas to other fuels: STAN WISNIEWSKI

Tahoe resorts report bustling business over long holiday weekend: Sandra Chereb; "We had a great weekend," said Monica Bandows, spokeswoman at Heavenly Ski Resort on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, on Monday. "We hit an all-time record on Saturday. I think there's been a lot of pent-up demand from people who couldn't or wouldn't get away over Christmas and New Year's."

Developers of proposed Kingsbury gondola eye high-tech tramway: A Funitel was installed at Squaw Valley ski resort two years ago.

Three arrested in shooting: Shortly before 11:30 a.m. police found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of Ernie's bar, 1905 N. Rancho Drive.

Former Players Lake Charles consultant to testify in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; Patrick Madamba was being questioned by defense lawyers in the Edwards' federal racketeering trial.

Letter: We should not return youngster to his homeland: Perhaps the United States is wrong, but Cuba is playing games with us. They send two grandmothers on an expedition that turned into an exhibition.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Dangers of exotic cat ownership: Las Vegas seemed a strange venue for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publicly denounce the private ownership of exotic cats.

Park Service goes high-tech to nab cactus poachers: Robert Macy; A technology that has been used to keep tabs on endangered desert tortoises is now being used to target poachers who swipe valuable plant life such as cactuses, yucca and Joshua trees.

Storm system causes minor flooding: There were no injuries and no serious damage was reported.

Brownback touts gambling bill: "It is unseemly and inappropriate to bet on the athletic success of America's young people," Brownback said Monday during a Statehouse news conference.

Ralph Siraco's notes: Of course, local players have been able to place futures wagers on the Derby for as long as race books have been accepting bets on the bobtailed nags. But for the first time, Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, conducted a pari-mutuel futures offering last year with 15 states participating.

Fox scraps 'Multimillionaire' show: Ben Fox; Fox had already canceled tonight's scheduled rebroadcast of last week's hit show after learning about abuse allegations against the bridegroom. A restraining order was issued in 1991 against Rick Rockwell because an ex-girlfriend accused him of hitting and threatening to kill her.

Nevada secretary of state using Internet to reach citizens: By year's end, he envisions increasing business in his office by as much as 25 percent by letting people set up their corporations on his office's Internet site.

Officer charges with assaulting woman: Detective William Brooks was suspended with pay by the North Las Vegas Police Department Sunday after he was arrested by Metro Police, said Lt. Chris Larotonda, North Las Vegas Police spokesman.

Rebels rained out at USC: UNLV will return home to open the annual Coors Desert Classic with a game Thursday with Santa Clara.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Get to know the girl next door: Kate Maddox; Sometimes the things we're looking for are right under our noses. As reported here Sunday, Binion murder suspect Sandy Murphy last week rented and moved into a spacious apartment at the tony Regency Towers high rise, home to some of Las Vegas' most prominent citizens.

Editorial: Political ethics takes another hit: We believe Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny was out of line when she showed up at a Feb. 11 staff meeting to lobby for a developer who wanted to renege on a previous agreement involving a drainage ditch. It is bad enough to renege on a deal. It is worse in this case because the developer, Jim Rhodes, is not only Kenny's friend but the owner of the neighborhood where she lives.

Forum to fight renaming of Madison School: Terry Webster; A battle surrounding the renaming of Madison Elementary School continues tonight with a community forum held by WAAK UP (Westside Action Alliance Korps -- Uplifting People).

Letter: Internationalism not good for U.S.: What they were saying is that Democrats believe in international government and Republicans don't. But the reality is that for too many politicians, Democrat and Republican, they put Americanism second and internationalism first.

'Multimillionaire' emerges to feed reporters, duck most of their questions: Ben Fox; "I would love to talk about all this stuff but I'm so busy. I have to feed all of you," a jovial Rick Rockwell said as he shoved pizzas into the faces of reporters, some of whom had been standing outside his home in the rain since dawn.

'MegaSmiles' brightening smiles of children: That's what educators at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson are trying to tell local students.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Important Las Vegans: "What can I do to help?" came from a voice behind me. I looked around and it was the ring announcer, Chuck Hull. One of my amateur boxers wasn't feeling good and had just lost his match. That was more than 40 years ago and from that moment on I was a fan of Chuck Hull, who over the decades was one of the best ring announcers ever to work a fight. He and Jimmy Lennon Sr. were the two best in the world. Jimmy Lennon Jr. has since replaced his father in the ring.

City officials balk at Boonville casino plans: Isle of Capri, which plans a casino project worth $70 million to $75 million, signed a contract Thursday with Davis Gaming. Isle of Capri executive vice president Allan Solomon said the contract sets a March 31 deadline for city approval.

'Buddy' up to Holly as a touring tribute to the legendary rocker debuts: Buddy Holly himself sang it:

Man identifies assailant before he dies: Kesha Smith was booked by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police on charges of murder with a deadly weapon and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon.

NY firm cuts stake in casino operator: A recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicated Bear Stearns now holds 1.86 million shares in Station, a 4.39 percent stake.

Mutual fund takes position in company: Fidelity reported holdings of 300,000 shares, or 6.1 percent, of Lady Luck in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was the first ownership filing by Fidelity.

Flood prompts change in loading dock: BRIDGEPORT, Ind. -- Caesars Indiana officials are changing the Bridgeport casino's loading dock so the riverboat won't have to be closed during times of high water.