Local news briefs for July 17, 2000

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

FAA investigates Flamingo accident

Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate a plane crash on Flamingo Road Friday night.

About 9 p.m. a single-engine Cessna with three young men aboard reportedly lost power and struck a power line as it approached McCarran International Airport, forcing a crash landing at the intersection of Flamingo and Swenson Street, Metro Police said.

The plane was piloted by Jed Schmieg, 20, who was traveling with Niel Littleman, 20, and Jon Schroeder, 22, to Las Vegas from Boulder, Colo.

Littleman was treated for minor injuries at University Medical Center, and Schmieg remains in fair condition in the hospital. Schroeder was not hurt in the crash.

Pickup collides with oncoming car

Alcohol and speed appear to be factors in a Friday afternoon accident that left a 63-year-old Las Vegas man dead.

Christopher Terry, 21, was headed westbound on Flamingo Road near Fort Apache Road about 3 p.m. when his 1997 Ford pickup collided with a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass, killing Sherman Smith, Metro Police said.

Terry was attempting to pass slower traffic, when the Ford struck a curb, sending the pickup across traffic and into the path of Smith's eastbound Cutlass. Smith suffered fatal injuries in the crash, and Terry was treated for moderate injuries at University Medical Center.

Alcohol and speed on the part of Terry appear to be contributing factors to the accident, police said. The accident was the 49th traffic fatality in Metro's jurisdiction this year.

Court to set up 24-hour drop box

Beginning today Las Vegas Justice Court will be using a drop box that will allow for court documents to be filed 24 hours a day.

All papers and pleadings including motions, oppositions, replies, affidavits, points and authorities will be accepted. The filings have to be paid for by check.

"We're responding to our customer needs," Justice Court Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti said. "Providing the box will allow documents to be received by the Justice Court during regular and off-business hours and greatly increase customer convenience."

Cabdriver sought compensation

A Las Vegas cabdriver who sought to collect $350,000 for injuries suffered in an accident with another taxi has lost his appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

The court Friday upheld the jury verdict that Checker Cab did not have to pay Marc Cramer, who was injured in January 1995 while working for Desert Cab. A Checker Cab driven by Charles W. Peavy ran a red light and collided with the taxi driven by Cramer.

The court said the case was primarily about Cramer's credibility. "The jury received ample evidence to support a finding that his (Cramer's) injuries were either nonexistent or unrelated to this accident."

Cramer had been involved in two accidents in the two years prior to the one cited in the suit.

Albright named recreation director

Assistant Public Works Director Ken Albright has been chosen as the new North Las Vegas parks and recreation director, effective Aug. 3.

Since April Albright has been serving concurrently as the acting parks and recreation director. The position was vacated by Eric Dabney, who now leads the city's newly created Administrative Services Department.

Albright has been employed by the city since 1991, where he has served as an administrator for the resources and environmental division, assistant director of public works and manager of field operations.

The salary range for the position in $74,651 to $106,644.

Motions scheduled in defamation suit

Preliminary motions were scheduled today in former presidential flame Gennifer Flowers' defamation lawsuit against the first lady and two of President Clinton's former advisers.

Flowers, a Las Vegas resident, filed a lawsuit against Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Stephanopoulos and James Carville, claiming that Carville and Stephanopoulos continually have libeled and slandered Flowers since 1992.

The lawsuit, originally filed in November, cites Stephanopoulos' 1999 book "All Too Human: A Political Education" and a series of interviews on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Flowers added Hillary Clinton to the lawsuit in January, accusing the first lady of orchestrating three burglaries of her home, defaming her and invading her privacy.

The lawsuit, scheduled before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro, seeks damages in excess of $75,000 and calls for a jury trial.

Carville is a political strategist who played a major role in Clinton's presidential bids. Stephanopoulos, a former White House communications director, left the Clinton administration in 1996 and is now a political analyst for ABC.

Clinton initially denied having an affair with Flowers, but he later acknowledged the relationship during statements taken in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

Flowers moved to Las Vegas to pursue a singing career.

Ghiggeri named to Senate post

Gary Ghiggeri, who has worked for the state since 1971, has been named Senate fiscal analyst to succeed Dan Miles, who resigned to join the University and Community College System of Nevada.

The appointment was announced Friday by Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich, who said the salary was about $82,935.

Ghiggeri has been with the legislative fiscal analysis division since 1983. Before that he worked for the welfare, mental health and the budget divisions. He has been principal deputy fiscal analyst and was assigned to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

He will now become the top fiscal adviser to the Senate Finance Committee.

The fiscal analysis division has two top positions. Mark Stevens is Assembly fiscal analyst and he will be the administrative head of the agency, Malkiewich said.