Print edition for June 19, 2000

Mississippi casino giveaway litmus test for gaming giveaway policy: Some of the casino's customers complained that the winner of a Lincoln Navigator given away by the casino was the wife of the Astro Lincoln-Mercury dealership owner Bobby Culbertson.

Upcoming business briefs for June 19, 2000: Latin Chamber of Commerce -- Luncheon with speaker Bob Shriver discussing economic diversification. Friday. 385-7367.

Hearing set in Bellagio robbery: Kim Smith; A July 10 preliminary hearing date has been set for two men accused of robbing the Bellagio two weeks ago.

Trickle wins twice at LVMS: Last year on the same weekend, Trickle captured his first career victory. This year, he exceeded that accomplishment when he won the 25-lap main events and took over the lead in the race for the track championship.

Teachers' teacher: Lee Scrivner; The elementary school classroom looks like one from our collective memory: walls dappled with construction-paper art; tiny chairs in neat rows; and a teacher, like Ms. Moody, kiddie-voiced from years of coaxing children.

Decision on state bonds for monorail delayed: Adrienne Packer; The Nevada Department of Business and Industry has delayed its decision on whether to issue $640 million in tax-exempt state bonds for a proposed monorail project, saying it needs more time to review arguments from both sides.

Judge eulogized as versatile man: Brown knew what would happen because he had read the script for the B-movie -- one of several film ventures in which he performed.

Nevada regulators may seek law limiting predatory lending: Phil Levine; Nevada regulators hope a combination of greater public awareness and law enforcement will make the state a less hospitable environment for unscrupulous lenders targeting the poor and elderly.

Tabish hires new attorney; more time sought to file for new trial: Kim Smith; Convicted murderer Rick Tabish has a new attorney and both he and Sandra Murphy's attorney have asked for more time to file a motion for a new trial in the Ted Binion murder case.

Geothermal bubbles up in debate: A proposal by Sen. Frank Murkowski to rewrite the nation's energy policy to rely more heavily on nuclear power has reignited the debate over alternative fuels with some long-ignored sources like geothermal power finally starting to attract a little attention.

Lottery operator buying back stock: The buyback would be about 13 percent of the Rhode Island-based company's stock. The new stock repurchase program, authorized through June 16, takes the place of a previous buyback that had about $16.2 million remaining. That repurchase program would have ended this month.

Consumer tips offered: Consumer tips offered

Budget expert Miles leaving legislative post: CARSON CITY -- Dan Miles, the longtime budget expert who advised the Senate Finance Committee, is leaving to become interim vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Widow will face charges in Rudin slaying: Kim Smith; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure ruled Friday that prosecutors in the Rudin case have enough evidence to try her in the 1994 slaying of her husband, millionaire Ron Rudin.

LV company wins casino approval: The Gaming Commission voted unanimously last week for Phoenix Mississippi Inc.'s plans to open its Paradise Bay and Resort at the former Bayou Caddy casino site in Hancock County.

Three killed in crash of casino-bound van: The accident happened around 7:45 p.m. Friday at the corner of South Carolina and Arctic avenues.

Local news briefs for June 19, 2000: Metro Police are sorting through conflicting stories from witnesses about a Sunday afternoon shooting that sent one Las Vegas woman to the hospital.

Deadlock frustrates families: Kim Smith; The families of Peter Talamantez, Jeffrey Biddle, Matthew Mowen and Tracey Gorringe thought they were hours away from ending two years of heart-wrenching court proceedings.

Indy Racing schedule leaves out Las Vegas: The Indy Racing Northern Light Series on Sunday announced a 12-race schedule for the 2001 season that does not include a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Tiger needs just one mulligan: Dean Juipe; The swear words came effortlessly and were ripe with emotion. The outburst -- a virtual fusillade of no-nos -- was picked up by a microphone and broadcast to a disarmed, if unsuspecting, national television audience.

Proposed college site spurs concerns over public's view: Greg Harman; The proposed Nevada State College at Henderson -- which would border 300 acres of land contaminated with everything from pesticides, heavy metals and radioactive materials -- will be a safe place for students, officials say.

LV man gets life for beating roommate to death: Anthony Gallego, 21, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the November 1997 death of Richard Daniel Moore, 36, and was sentenced Friday by District Judge Mark Gibbons.

Robber takes hostages; victims overcome, beat him: Keith Paul; An armed robber and hostage taker had the tables turned on him this morning when his victims overpowered him, then beat him.

Scientists investigated in missing hard drives: WASHINGTON -- The investigation into the disappearance -- and mysterious reappearance -- of two computer hard drives holding nuclear secrets at the Los Alamos weapons laboratory is narrowing on several scientists who have given contradictory answers, government officials say.

Obituaries for June 19, 2000: Eva Mae Boggs, 80, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born April 21, 1920, in Kansas. A resident for 47 years, she was a homemaker.

Violent crime plunges in casino city: The number of murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults dropped by 10 percent from 1998, while the total number of crimes dipped by 0.8 percent, according to the report by Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz.

LV gaming company posts loss on restaurant, Internet operations: American Vantage operates the WCW Nitro Grill wrestling-themed restaurant at the Excalibur hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Guinn rips Berkley's criticism of drug plan: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn is telling members of Congress that U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada is spreading "false and misleading information" about his proposed prescription drug program for low-income senior citizens.

Signage designers in litigation: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Idea Center, which designs signage using computer graphics and photographic imaging equipment, alleged Creative Surfaces Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., sent defamatory electronic mail to Idea Center's clients including Harrah's hotel-casino in Reno and Terrible Herbst.

Man walking his dog shot to death: Keith Paul; A man was shot to death this morning while walking his dog in a northeast Las Vegas neighborhood.

Wal-Mart proposes center at Decatur, Charleston: Erin Neff; Six months ago the Las Vegas City Council heard three hours of debate about neighborhood preservation before unanimously voting to deny a Costco superstore.

Big LV carrier will serve Buffalo: Airline officials would not say if direct service will be offered between Las Vegas and Buffalo, though any expansion by Southwest will make travel to Las Vegas cheaper either through direct or connecting flights.

Warning labels have little impact on gamblers: David Strow; Presenting warning messages and odds of winning to gamblers may do little to change their gambling habits, two new studies suggest.

Ventriloquists make voices heard: Kirk Baird; Strolling through a casino with a puppet on one arm and talking to people in a childlike voice will usually do it.

Search for UNR president will begin: Under the board's bylaws, a five-regent search committee must be appointed to select a successor.

Letter: Bus stop at mall going to waste: What is the purpose of that shuttle still stand sitting there? About two months ago I sent a letter to City Hall, care of Oscar Goodman, our mayor. I have not received a reply to my correspondence from the mayor or anyone on his staff.

Licensing recommended for Atlantic City casino exec with tax problems: Juliano, 44, of Haddonfield, a former president of Caesars Atlantic City Hotel Casino, wrote off $8,965 for a "phantom" personal computer, reported gambling losses as a business expense and told the IRS he drove 180,000 miles on a car found to have traveled only 69,000 total miles, according to an investigation by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Meet the ventriloquists: Upper left: Carla Rhodes of Charlestown, Ind., with her dummy named Keith Richards. Upper right, clockwise from left: Ruth Means of Tucson, Ariz., with Helen of Troy; Spencer Horsman of Baltimore, Md., with Dexter; Winnie Blake of New York City with Dottie Lee; and Kandice Marie of Los Angeles with Lollipop. Middle, from left: Sarah Jackson of Boise, Idaho, with Serena; Peter Riley of Atlanta with Sean McCool; Eyvonne Carter of Wickenburg, Ariz., with Twyla; Lewellyn Bowen of Newark, Del., with Velma. Lynn Trimble of San Diego with a still-to-be-named puppet; and De Hai Tran of Vietnam with another unnamed ...

Community news briefs for June 19, 2000: The YMCA of Southern Nevada has begun a blue ribbon campaign to increase water safety awareness this summer.

Kit Kat will get new owner: The two formed Western Sierra Corp. to operate the brothel. Financial terms were not disclosed, but escrow should close in about two weeks, said Leonardi lawyer William Rogers.

Bernstein heads to Mexico to highlight key issue in Senate race: The Las Vegas lawyer will haul a bus load of Clark County senior citizens to Tijuana on Tuesday to buy prescription drugs for a fraction of what they cost in Nevada.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Grandma's forecast still warm: It's either a manifestation of growing older, or living in Idaho, or both, but my grandmother is chronically curious about the weather. They get a lot of weather in Pocatello, Idaho -- 85 degrees one moment, hail the next, then back to 85.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, June 19, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; Have you been drinking milk? The folks behind the celebrity-laden Milk Moustache campaign might know whether or not you have.

Poll shows support for gaming tax, opposition to business levy: The poll shows voters approving by a margin of 63 percent to 26 percent a petition by state Sen. Joe Neal that would increase the state fee on casino revenues from the current level of 6.25 percent to 11.25 percent. A total of 637 likely voters were polled statewide by the Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. and 11 percent were undecided. The poll, conducted for a Las Vegas newspaper, has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Trial for 23-year-old murder may finally take place: Stephen Robert Smith, 57, of Sparks is being held without bail after DNA testing linked him to the 1977 death of Lisa Marie Bonham of Martinez, Calif.

Ordinance means fines for wasted water: "We live in the desert," Dayton Utilities office manager Misty Plett said. "We've had a lot of wet years, but we want to conserve now for drought years that might come."

Infractions committee looks familiar to UNLV: Steve Addy; When UNLV's men's basketball program defends itself in August against alleged NCAA rules violations, the school will be judged by peers, not NCAA personnel.

Road-building plans raise worries: Scott Sonner; So Elko County Sheriff Neil Harris raised eyebrows when he said he saw trouble brewing at a rebellion against federal land policies planned for the Fourth of July at Jarbidge, Nev.

Mandalay Bay putting teeth into claim as South Seas resort: Robert Macy; Two divers in protective suits interacted with ominous-looking tiger sharks and tickled the bellies of curious sting rays Monday as Mandalay Bay resort and casino introduced its latest attraction.

Camacho Jr. scores big KO: Dean Juipe; He's stronger than his father and at least as quick.

Opera artifact thieves arrested: Both men were arrested last week on charges of burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy to commit burglary. They were released from jail after posting bail.

Little worries as Little River prepares to lose video gambling: "I don't think it will change Little River that much if it stays or if it goes," said Danny Juel, captain of the fishing boat Pride of the Carolinas. "The machines don't bother me one way or the other."

Editorial: 'Brigade' needs to grow up: But the atmosphere has been so poisoned by local and state politicians who live in Elko County that an Elko rancher, Demar Dahl, is now vowing to "reclaim" the road on Independence Day. Dahl's threats to have the so-called "Shovel Brigade" come to Jarbidge on July 4 prompted a swift and stern response last week from U.S. Attorney Kathryn Landreth, the chief federal prosecutor in Nevada. According to her letter to Dahl, Landreth warns him that he could be subject to federal prosecution if he doesn't seek the necessary federal permits before performing work there.

NAACP says MGM Grand's minority contracting inadequate: MGM Grand at first disputed the claim, but later said the $1.6 million it has spent on black-owned businesses was inadequate. The figure does not count companies hired by its general contractors.

Colorado River ruling gives tribe a rare victory on water rights: Matt Kelley; Arizona and California had asked the high court to block the Quechan's water claim, saying the tribe gave up any rights to that water in 1983. Lawyers for both states had warned that a victory for the tribe could aggravate potential water shortages as the desert region continues to outgrow its limited water supply.

Letter: Las Vegas full of dangerous, crooked people: You will be inundated by the number of crooked politicians, fighting amongst themselves, disinterested in the public welfare, only what they can get out of their offices.

Columnist Kathryn Crosata: Designers aware of accessibility concerns: Kathryn Crosata; I applaud those with disabilities coming forward to express the difficulties they are having in accessing some of our public buildings. Steve Kanigher's May 21 article, "Barriers block path to access," suggested that architects have put no thought into making buildings truly accessible and that budgets often affect the enforcement of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Paralegals fight complaints that they're misleading immigrants: Aaron Clemens; Most Americans know a notary public is very different from an attorney, but some Spanish-speaking immigrants get confused. The word notarios means a legal expert in Mexico but refers to the nonlegally trained notary public in the United States.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Desormeaux sizzling, but can't shake Silic: Ralph Siraco; "The more things change, the more they stay the same," was probably what jockey Kent Desormeaux was saying to himself after Sunday's Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park.

Tollberg called up to San Diego: Interim co-managers Darrel Akerfelds and Randy Whisler, filling in the last three nights for Tony Franklin -- who was in Los Angeles attending a funeral -- could take some pride in Las Vegas (41-27) snapping a three-game losing streak.