News briefs

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 | 11:48 a.m.

Special prizes await 'Wheel' contestants

Contestants during Las Vegas week of the television show "Wheel of Fortune" will get at least a token reminder of the fortune they came to town to win.

City of Las Vegas silver millennium coins have been selected as a prize for contestants on the show airing Feb. 4.

The coins, which cost $9.95 and weigh one-half troy ounce, are the first coins ever minted for the city. Revenue generated from the sale of the coins will be used to support youth sports programs and facilities.

NLV taking citizen applications

North Las Vegas Police are taking applications for the 14th session of the citizens police academy.

The academy, which runs from March through May, is designed to provide citizens with instruction on how the department works and the wide spectrum of duties police officers face, Lt. Paul Womack said.

Participants must commit to three hours a week for 11 weeks to be a part of the academy. Classes include demonstrations by SWAT, criminal justice information, crime prevention, domestic violence and other topics.

Those interested in the academy can call Shawn Andrews at police operations, 633-1741.

Installation banquet planned Feb. 11

The Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce has announced its board of directors for this year.

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District board member and longtime Community College of Southern Nevada official Orlando Sandoval will serve as the president of the organization.

The installation banquet for Sandoval and his Cabinet will be held at Mandalay Bay Feb. 11. Rudy Beserra, vice-president of corporate Latin affairs for the Coca-Cola Co., will be the guest speaker.

Juvenile courts are evacuated

The courtrooms at the Clark County Juvenile Justice Center were not in session for about an hour Wednesday morning after a severed natural gas line prompted evacuation.

A construction crew working on a fire hydrant behind the center at the corner of Pecos and Bonanza roads accidentally broke the 2-inch line about 8:40 a.m., Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The courts were evacuated and people inside the detention center were moved to a different part of the facility until the gas could be shut off.

Southwest Gas technicians were able to turn the gas off by 9:30 a.m., and everything returned to normal, Szymanski said.