Local news briefs for July 31, 2000

Monday, July 31, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

RTC gets money for stretch of monorail

Less than a month after a private monorail company received initial approval for bond funding to extend its MGM Grand-Bally's route, the Regional Transportation Commission received nearly $4 million for its portion of the system.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the $3,970,210 grant from the the U.S. Department of Transportation will fund preliminary engineering work and a draft environmental impact statement for the project.

If the Las Vegas Monorail Co. receives a $650 million tax-free bond issue from the state, it will extend the MGM Grand-Bally's system north to the Sahara hotel-casino.

The transportation commission's portion of the system will be 5.2 miles and connect the Sahara to downtown to Cashman Center.

Two die in unrelated incidents

A 3-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man died over the weekend in unrelated drowning incidents.

Jimmy Sigala, 3, was found in a hot tub at the Vista Del Valle Apartments, 4051 W. Viking Road, about 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Clark County Fire Department spokesman Steve La-Sky said.

The boy's parents, who were in an adjacent pool, lost track of the child, La-Sky said.

On Friday night a 23-year-old California man was found dead in the pool at the Tam O'Shanter Motel, 3317 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The man's name was not released this morning.

Man killed in single-car crash

A 26-year-old man was killed early Saturday morning when the car he was a passenger in spun out of control and crashed into a light pole.

North Las Vegas Police say that a 20-year-old driver lost control of a 1987 Oldsmobile coupe as he went around a curve at high speeds on the 4700 block of Mitchell Street.

The car collided with a light pole near the passenger side door. The force of the impact caused the Oldsmobile to partially wrap around the pole.

The 26-year-old passenger was not wearing a seat belt and is believed to have died on impact, police said. His name was not released this morning.

The driver fled the accident scene, but was later located and taken to University Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.

Excessive speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors to the accident, and the investigation is continuing, police said.

Trauma doctor joins athletics board

CARSON CITY -- Dr. Tony Alamo, Jr., a specialist in tactical trauma, has been named chairman of the medical advisory board to the Nevada State Athletic Commission by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Alamo, founder of the Alamo Medical Clinic in Las Vegas, succeeds Dr. Flip Homansky, who was appointed last week to the commission.

Guinn said Alamo "will be responsible for the health and well-being of hundreds of athletes, as well as the reputation and integrity of the sport of boxing in Nevada."

Alamo, 36, is chief executive officer of Health Strategies, Inc., a medical consulting firm, and chairman of the credentials committee at Sunrise Hospital. The committee is responsible for qualifying new and reappointed physicians.

"I'm certainly excited to take on a challenge that allows me to combine two of my greatest passions -- the practice of medicine and the sport of boxing," Alamo said.

Homeless man found dead ID'd

A homeless man found dead near railroad tracks downtown was identified as 44-year-old Sidney T. Colson, the Clark County coroner said this morning.

Colson was found under blankets near the tracks in the 700 block of Main Street Thursday about 2 p.m. by another homeless man, Metro Police said.

Police learned from other homeless people in the area that Colson camped in the area and was last seen alive Wednesday about 7 p.m. Colson had injuries in his head, but the cause of death is still pending, officials said.

Detectives continue to investigate Colson's death.