Print edition for July 24, 2000

Champion poker player McClelland dies: For Alma McClelland, poker was as much a social event as it was a means of winning money.

Reid says Cheney pick was concession to "crazies" in GOP's right wing: Scott Sonner; "I like Dick Cheney, but it is a typical Bush choice," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Race for top trainer comes down to the wire: Ralph Siraco; The dog days of summer are upon us -- at least for those of us in Las Vegas.

Little progress made in identifying bones found near Ruby Marshes: They were excavated and sent to the Nevada Division of Investigation in Carson City for analysis and later shipped to a forensic anthropologist at Chico State University in California.

Summer camp allows children to escape city: But with their parents absent from their lives, children living in foster care sometimes feel like outcasts, excluded from life and suspicious of their future.

Letter: Speaking out can save open space: JOHN PATRICK RICE Elko

Another tribe wants casino in Hancock County: Since then, the Kialegee have withdrawn from the project, but the Alabama/Quassarte - another federally recognized tribe that does not have a reservation of its own - has stepped in.

Roskos drilled in the nose as Stars wilt in heat vs. Tacoma: Steve Guiremand; Call it Bloody Sunday for the Las Vegas Stars.

Local reverend finds salvation from above: Stacy J. Willis; The Rev. Tim Robinson recalls his depression with disarming candor, tossing around the phrase "my planned suicide" as if he were talking about an upcoming social engagement.

Fire consumes 1,000 acres north of Reno: The fire broke out around 4 p.m. Sunday and spread quickly through heavy brush and cheatgrass.

Tribe won't pursue casino because of Ridge's opposition: In its letter, dated June 19, Seneca Nation President Duane James Ray said the tribe does do not own land in Pennsylvania, but has "historical and aboriginal connections" in western Pennsylvania. With the state's assent, the Seneca could try to buy land for development.

Community news briefs for July 24, 2000: July 3:

LVMS Bullring results: NASCAR LATE MODELS

Suspects in Bellagio armed robbery plead innocent: Lisa Snedeker; Oscar Cisneros Sanchez and Jose Manuel Vigoa face trial starting Nov. 6 on 14 charges, including robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping.

Casino chip collectors embrace their hobby with near-religious zeal: As a boy he collected matchbooks and postcards from the various local resorts. By the time Campiglia reached his teens his fascination with his hometown's No. 1 business drew him to an area of collecting where he was at the time forbidden to go.

PCL Box: Rainiers 7, Stars 3: E--Darr. DP--Las Vegas 1. LOB--Tacoma 13, Las Vegas 5. 2B--Alexander, Murphy, Radmanovich. 3B--Darr. HR--Lesher (20), Roskos (13), Alvarez (3). SB--Snopek 2, Flores 2.

Letter: Leftover signs are worst part of yard sales: But if I had one comment to make to the folks that have these yard sales, it would be to remove your signs and posters fastened with duct tape, scotch tape, coat hangers, and every other method known to man (or woman) on how to attach signs or posters to a light or telephone pole. Also, remove your boxes held down with bricks and rocks or not secured at all so that they can be blown all over the neighborhood. Frequently we have these advertising items removed weeks later or not at all throughout our neighborhood.

Obituaries for July 24, 2000: John R. Barkley, 64, of Mesa, Ariz., died July 15 in a Mesa hospice. He was born July 29, 1935, in Jasper, Ind. A former Las Vegas resident for 40 years, he was a retired printer who worked for the Las Vegas Sun, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Bonanza Printers.

East's arms silence West: Spencer Patterson; Through the first three innings, Sunday night's American Legion All-Star game had proceeded very much as expected -- with the two teams trading leads behind their explosive offenses.

Chips Ahoy: Denomination: $5

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, July 24, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; It's Monday again. And if you're reading this and asking yourself, "Where did the weekend go?" you're not alone -- just a little late.

Editorial: Don't mess with nuke standards: As the U.S. Department of Energy's investigation into Yucca Mountain's suitability moves forward, part of the controversy has shifted to what public health and safety guidelines should be met before a repository can be built. Supporters of the repository are concerned that if the Environmental Protection Agency's strict radiation standards are imposed, Yucca Mountain could cost billions of dollars more than anticipated, which could potentially derail the project. In contrast, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which would have to license Yucca Mountain if it is deemed suitable by the DOE, wants less stringent standards. This isn't too surprising since the NRC ...

Tribe may want casino near Paxton: The Miami sued 15 landowners last month in U.S. District Court, seeking to recover land in 15 counties that the tribe contends rightfully belongs to them. State officials said the lawsuit is not about the land, but instead meant to pressure Illinois into letting the Miami open a land-based casino.

Reno fire nearly contained; another breaks out near Tonopah: Erratic winds whipped the fire in various directions, but firefighters tamed its advance with the help of four air tankers and a helicopter when the winds died down around nightfall.

Columnist Darren Richardson: Nevada among vital states for Gore, Bush: Darren Richardson; Las Vegas doesn't accept wagering on presidential elections, but if it did, the preconvention favorite would be George W. Bush.

Video chain delivering films over phone lines: Blockbuster Inc. and Enron Broadband Services have struck a 20-year agreement to deliver movies on demand to consumers' computers or televisions over high-speed telephone lines.

Price drop hurts Henderson plant owner: Sales of $108.8 million were down 15 percent as prices fell but sales volume increased. Aerospace industry inventory levels remain high, hurting Timet. The titanium maker also said it's in talks to settle a lawsuit it filed against Boeing over titanium sales to Boeing.

Security tightened at Ely prison: CARSON CITY -- Security has been tightened at the state's maximum-security prison in Ely after a one-time notorious inmate said he has evidence that a corrupt guard smuggled in drugs, a gun, bullets and handcuff keys in exchange for money from convicts.

LV hospital operator's profit up slightly: Revenue increased from $513 million to $524.8 million for the owner of the Valley Health System in Las Vegas, which includes Valley, Desert Springs and Summerlin hospitals.

Trial set for teen in father's slaying: Aaron Clemens; A quiet and unresponsive Conan Pope, 15, was arraigned in District Court this morning on an open murder charge related to the shooting death of his father.

Castaldi steps down from KVVU post: KVVU Channel 5 News Director Gwen Castaldi has announced that she will resign from the department she helped launch more than two years ago.

Local news briefs for July 24, 2000: Metro Police homicide detectives continue to investigate the death of a 77-year-old man who may have been the victim of a burglary.

LV bank operator posts higher profit: With assets of $185.7 billion, Washington Mutual has more than 2,000 offices nationwide.

Ballot issues would enrich sponsors: David A. Lieb; As many as four citizen-initiated proposals could be on the Nov. 7 ballot in some counties. And in most cases, the people sponsoring the issues stand to benefit financially.

Serena keeps Open outfit a top secret: Victoria Sun; Defending U.S. Open champion Serena Williams will be wearing a new Puma tennis outfit at this year's Open that starts Aug. 28, but the seventh-ranked player on the Sanex/WTA Tour -- also a renowned clothes horse -- wouldn't tell what it looks like.

Hospital operator beats profit forecasts: Formerly known as Columbia-HCA Healthcare Corp., the firm is a big operator in Las Vegas with its Sunrise and MountainView hospitals.

Binion resents his portrayal in Illinois report: The Illinois Gaming Board has declared Horseshoe Chairman Jack Binion unfit to hold a license in the state. The board detailed its reasons last week for denying Horseshoe a renewal of its license for the Empress Casino in Joliet, Ill.

LV financial operators post higher profit: First Republic Bank of San Francisco, which operates in the Las Vegas market, said it earned $5.5 million or 59 cents per share in the second quarter vs. $5.8 million or 57 cents in the year-ago quarter as it reduced the number of shares outstanding.

S&P affirms bond ratings in wake of Missouri deal: S&P repeated its "BB" corporate credit rating, "BB+" bank loan rating and "B+" subordinated debt rating. S&P's outlook remains positive.

Favoritism at Nevada casino subject of court appeal: RENO -- Arthur Gersztyn maintains he was improperly fired as director of security at the Riverside Casino in Laughlin when he complained to owner Don Laughlin about the conduct of Laughlin's girlfriend.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Lying not the ticket in sports: Nothing can turn a never-was into a has-been the way sports and about 10 years can.

Henderson jockey dies: Shortly after the start of an 870-yard quarterhorse race Saturday night in Boise, Idaho, Welch's 4-year-old gelding, Porthos, either took a bad step or clipped heels with another horse and fell.

Las Vegas drivers triumph: Quartaro took the lead from Jeff Wright of San Diego on lap eight of the first 25-lap NASCAR weekly racing series late model feature. By the halfway point, Rick Cobb, a Las Vegas resident, was challenging for the point. Cobb had problems after the second caution leaving Quartaro to hold off Jerry Allec of Carson City.

Construction begins on northeast Missouri casino: "It's been a long time coming," Mayor Harold Ludwig said.

LV firm replaces distributor in product dispute: JCM said its distribution agreement with Western Money Systems will terminate July 30. The company has replaced the Western Money Systems with PDS Financial Corp. of Las Vegas, which will have the non-exclusive right to distribute JCM products in Colorado and New Mexico.

Two arrested in Reno shooting: Scott also was charged with drug offenses.

Fire season costs racking up: "We've been very fortunate to get what we need as we need it from outside the state, but the availability of that help is dependent on fires throughout the West. We're experiencing a very active fire season."

School Board continues calling practice: Terry Webster; Nearly a year after the state attorney general's office called the practice improper, the Clark County School District continues to require taxpayers to pre-register before making public comments during School Board meetings.

Program to sterilize women attracts three participants: The Nevada chapter of Children Requiring A Caring Kommunity, which opened here in February, said its program has been hampered by advertising hassles.

Clark County leads nation by wide margin in business creation: The agency said there were 26,691 business establishments in Clark County in 1998, up 6.7 percent from 1997. This compared to the national increase of .7 percent and the increase by No. 2 Maricopa County (Phoenix), Ariz., of 1.9 percent.

Casino owner donating big antique organ to arena: An architect of the Engelstad Arena said the Mortier Dance Organ is more than 26 feet long, 19 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Southwest Ambulance ready to hit the streets: Erin Neff; Southwest Ambulance cleared one of its last legal hurdles to starting service in the Las Vegas Valley when a judge ruled Friday against American Medical Response.

LV mortgage lender pressing state over licensing delays, agency says matter is closed: A Las Vegas mortgage lender whose license renewal was among more than 500 delayed by state regulators is pressing to make sure the problem doesn't occur again.

High-profile cellmates split up after complaint: Three women charged in high-profile homicide cases no longer are housed in the same cell at the Clark County Detention Center, jail officials confirmed today.

Nevada Power chief's resignation blamed on plunge in stock price: Negative implications

Neonopolis project at critical stage: Erin Neff; A planned entertainment complex in downtown Las Vegas besieged with setbacks may finally be nearing the announcement that will make or break the $99 million project.

BLM called too rigid on land auctions: The auctions of Bureau of Land Management parcels in the Las Vegas Valley have not been as successful as they could have been because the federal government is too rigid a seller, local developers say.

VoiceStream Wireless sold for $50.7 billion: The deal, however, faces opposition in Washington since Deutsche Telekom is majority-owned by the German government. European officials say, however, that any opposition could have implications regarding previously established World Trade Organization agreements.

Hearing opens before 3 judges: Greg Tuttle; A hearing in Clark County District Court to determine the fate of quadruple murderer Donte Johnson began this morning before a panel of three judges.

Las Vegas Valley hit with trace of rain: Las Vegas has been without a measurable rainfall for 137 days, but a bank of clouds moving from south to north moved along just east of Interstate 15 around 2:30 p.m. The local record for days without measurable rainfall is 150, according to the National Weather Service.

Last service: Jace Radke; From the outside, the tan, box-shaped structure at 2753 S. Highland Drive looks much like any other two-story office building in Las Vegas, but inside a church has found itself at the center of a political controversy.