Local news briefs for July 12, 2000

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

Man sought in his wife's death

A man found dead in North Las Vegas Saturday was wanted in Colorado on a warrant in connection with his wife's death.

Ramon K. Garcia, 31, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was found dead under a bush near train tracks across from the 4500 block of Mitchell Street Saturday about 5:45 a.m. by a train conductor, said Lt. Chris Larotonda, North Las Vegas Police investigations bureau commander.

Police are investigating the man's death but have not determined if he is the victim of a homicide. Clark County coroner's office officials said they are waiting for the results of toxicology tests before ruling on his death.

Investigators suspect that Garcia's body may have been there for more than a week.

Colorado Springs Police issued a warrant charging Garcia with murder Friday in the slaying of his 46-year-old wife, Alison McLain. The woman's body was found last week by campers in a park.

Protection sought for sage grouse

The National Wildlife Federation with the Nevada and Idaho Wildlife Federations have asked the U.S. Forest Service to designate the northern sage grouse and the Gunnison sage grouse as sensitive species.

The sage grouse live on Forest Service lands in both Nevada and Idaho.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has already been asked to list the northern sage grouse as threatened or endangered in Washington state and the Gunnison sage grouse as endangered in Colorado and Utah.

Colorado and Wyoming state governments have started special management actions to recover sage grouse populations.

Work to be done on I-15 off-ramp

The eastbound Charleston Boulevard off-ramp from northbound Interstate 15 will be closed for five weeks starting Sunday about 9 a.m.

The closure will allow construction of the I-15 Freeway Channel Flood Control Project, which is intended to curb the Charleston Underpass' susceptibility to flooding, city of Las Vegas officials said.

Motorists may use the westbound Charleston off-ramp as an alternate route by turning south onto Grand Central Parkway and east onto Charleston.

The I-15 Freeway Channel Flood Control Project is the largest single project the Regional Flood Control District has funded in Las Vegas. The project is due to be completed in 2002.

Fremont Street to be repaved

Fremont Street is scheduled to be re-paved between Seventh Street and Charleston Boulevard next week, limiting traffic and parking along the thoroughfare.

Construction will begin 9 p.m. Sunday and continue 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Sept. 3.

During construction hours, parking will be prohibited off Fremont Street and one travel lane will remain open in each direction.

New lights set for Cheyenne Ave.

New traffic signals are scheduled to be installed at the corner of Cheyenne Avenue and El Capitan Way, city of Las Vegas officials said.

The signals will start in a "red flash" mode on Thursday to alert motorists to treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

The signals will be put into full operation on Friday.

The Cheyenne Avenue-El Capitan Way signal is the seventh set of new signals to be installed in Las Vegas since Jan. 1.

Federal funds secured for project

Nearly $2.5 million in federal funds has been secured to build a Citizens Area Transit bus terminal at the intersection of Interstates 15 and 215, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Tuesday.

Berkley, a member of the Transportation Committee, said this station aims to speed the commute between the southern Las Vegas Valley and the resort corridor. The increased efficiency of a mass transit system will not only cut down on traffic congestion, but also improve valley's air quality, she said.

Sheepherder pleads guilty

A Chilean sheepherder has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing one man and wounding another during a fight at an Ely brothel.

Reginaldo Nestor, 42, entered his plea on Monday before District Judge Merlyn H. Hoyt. Nestor's trial on charges of murder and attempted murder was to begin next week.

Joseph Bates, 54, was stabbed to death and John Christopher, 55, was wounded at the Stardust Ranch brothel on Aug. 1.