Print edition for March 9, 2000

Other Mountain West Conference Tournament boxes: AIR FORCE (8-20)

Henderson gas blast evacuates 50 homes: Jace Radke; Fifty homes were evacuated in a Henderson neighborhood Wednesday afternoon after a more than 53-ton tractor smashed a gas line, sending dust and debris flying into the air.

Casino worker charged in theft: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- A worker at the Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs and a customer have been charged with stealing nearly $30,000 in a craps game.

Alabama senators want probe of race course's ties to service: "There are legitimate concerns that the Birmingham Race Course is operating outside of its boundaries as defined by state law," said the letter. It was signed by Republican Sens. Steve French of Mountain Brook; Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills; Curt Lee of Jasper; Bill Armistead of Columbiana; Albert Lipscomb of Magnolia Springs; Del Marsh of Anniston; Hap Myers of Mobile; Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb; and Democrat Sen. Bobby Denton of Muscle Shoals.

Mob link to Binion case investigated: Private detective Tom Dillard flew to Chicago this week to step up an investigation into ties between murder defendant Rick Tabish and reputed mob associate Salvatore "Sammy" Galioto.

Gabelli increases stake in Tropicana operator: In a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gabelli's funds reported control of 6.36 million Aztar shares, a 14.6 percent stake in the company.

NLV facility to store hazardous waste step closer to reality: Diana Sahagun; One North Las Vegas Planning commissioner believes the potential dangers of storing hazardous waste -- no matter how minute -- are reason enough to keep the materials away from a nearby Holiday Inn Express.

MWC tournament women's boxes: UNLV (17-11)

Home Depot wins approval to build LV 'big box' store: The Clark County Commission might have been listening to California voters Wednesday night when it granted Home Depot the right to build a "big-box" home improvement store near the corner of Patrick Lane and Pecos Road.

Commissioners offer change to casino law: Adrienne Packer; Angry callers who jammed Clark County Government Center phone lines after the approval of a neighborhood casino prompted two commissioners to propose an ordinance sure to keep casinos far from homes.

Lake Tahoe-based Harveys offers to buy Boomtown Hotel-Casino: The purchase also would require Harveys to assume about $400 million in debt.

NHP says driver in crash fell asleep: Keith Paul; A van full of 13 people "launched like a rocket" off Interstate 15 and into a steep ditch median, killing eight and injuring five, after the driver apparently fell asleep, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said this morning.

Gov. Guinn seeks answers about school remediation money: "I want some answers on this," Guinn said Wednesday at a state Board of Examiners meeting.

News briefs: Graveside services for Sam Kloner, the 73-year-old disabled man who was killed in Tuesday's fire at the Cedar Springs Apartment will be 10 a.m. Friday at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Lobbyist says merger won't necessarily hurt AC: ATLANTIC CITY -- The casino industry's top lobbyist says the merger of MGM Grand and Mirage Resorts might not necessarily be bad news for Atlantic City.

Keno game licensed in N.J.: The license, received by American Wagering subsidiary AWI Keno Inc., is the company's first outside of Nevada.

Reserve casino operations improve for Ameristar: Ameristar reported a loss of $748,000, or 4 cents per share, compared to a loss of $2.5 million, or 12 cents per share, in the year-ago period. The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $76.4 million, up 14 percent, and cash flow of $11.6 million, an increase of 22 percent.

Big movie studio complex, casino proposed: A developer is proposing a 100-acre motion-picture studio and visitor center in the Las Vegas Valley.

All abuzz about low-level flights: Diana Sahagun; Virginia Ridgway remembers a helicopter "invasion" on her town last June.

New Showboat owners clear first regulatory hurdle: David Strow; The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday approved Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s $23 million sale of the Showboat hotel-casino -- but grilled the buyers for more than two hours regarding concerns about the background of one of the new owners.

$4 billion in financing lined up for MGM/Mirage merger: MGM Grand, controlled by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, said Monday that it will pay $21 a share in cash for Mirage and assume about $2 billion of Mirage's debt. MGM Grand said it already arranged financing for the transaction.

Campaign-sign limits proposed: Diana Sahagun; When municipal election time rolls around in North Las Vegas next year, campaign signs may be popping up later and disappearing quicker under a proposed ordinance.

Business leaders urged to back I-15 project: David Strow; Joint efforts by California and Nevada to loosen the legendary gridlock on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas are starting to bear their first fruits -- but Nevadans still need to maintain the pressure on officials to continue work on the critical highway, a consultant said Wednesday.

House launches new airport: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House today passed legislation that lays groundwork for a new airport to be built south of Las Vegas.

Severed line snarls Henderson traffic, damages homes: The force of the accident broke windows in five homes and tiles were damaged.

Nevada not to blame for illegal betting: George Will; This month the pulse of higher education reaches a crescendo with "March Madness," the college basketball championship tournament. So 'tis a season for a surge in sports gambling.

Casino win records shattered in January: Cy Ryan and David Strow; Nevada casinos kicked off the new century with a strong performance, posting a record win of $865.4 million in January, the state Gaming Control Board reported today.

Schmidt quits: CARSON CITY -- State Consumer Advocate Fred Schmidt, who has represented residential consumers in fights against big utilities for 12 years, is resigning to go into private law practice.

Editorial: Bush continues his silence: In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Bush said his biggest hurdle would be "convincing the American people that I've got the right judgment to be the president." Turning to the general election, Bush added that it's "way too early to develop a thoughtful strategy. You have to think it through a little more." While everyone agrees the nominees should offer reasoned, substantive positions, Bush shouldn't use this as an excuse to shy from taking stands on controversial matters. What has especially irked Nevadans has been Bush's dogged refusal to address the biggest federal issue facing this state: ...

Strohmeyer to take appeal to state Supreme Court: District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure last month rejected Strohmeyer's request for a new trial. Strohmeyer contended he was coerced into confessing that he raped and murdered 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson in a Primm, Nev. casino in May 1997.

Friday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 1 mi 4YO Clm: 1 Shake It Up Baby (Alvarado) 117; 2 Shawo Mountain (Meza) 117; 3 Plain Brown Suit (Castro) 117; 4 Mulholland (Lopez) 117; 5 Sonny's Big Bid (Baze) 117.

Infighting breaks out at LV construction union: Grace Leong; A Las Vegas construction union won a temporary restraining order Wednesday prohibiting two renegade union leaders and their supporters from harassing the union's members and employees and disrupting operations at its hiring hall and training center.

Wednesday's prep results: Chaparral 220, Clark 229 Medalist: John Taruc (Cla) -- 35

Plea bargain taken in slashing of boys: Kim Smith; A man accused of slashing the throats of two boys last fall has entered a plea agreement that settles the case without his taking responsibility for the acts.

Jazz official recounts Johnson's boasts in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; They also heard the lighthearted stories Johnson and his co-defendant, Cecil Brown, told about Edwards, which caused Jazz executive Mark Bradley to believe Johnson would make good on his threats because he had some clout at the Governor's Mansion.

Nevada posts 50 percent gain in population over decade: Nevada's population overall has increased 50.6 percent over the decade, from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.

LV firm expands with purchase: UMT President David Frohnen said his company has purchased all assets of Peninsula Metal Fabrication, San Jose, Calif. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Frohnen said Peninsula has about $8 million in annual sales.

Sun Prep Baseball Poll: 1. Silverado 2. Green Valley 3. Durango 4. Reno 5. Las Vegas 6. Bishop Gorman 7. Basic 8. Carson 9. Cimarron-Memorial 10. Churchill County

Rebels aim to stay focused: Steve Addy; Whenever the Rebels play San Diego State, their foremost goal is the same: Don't have a letdown against the Mountain West's worst team.

MWC notebook: Commissioner pulling double duty: Steve Addy; Few people would willingly give up a weekend in Las Vegas for one in Indianapolis, but Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson has a good reason.

Nevada's longtime consumer advocate resigns: Schmidt was appointed to his state post in 1988 by former Republican Attorney General Brian McKay. He was twice reappointed by McKay's successor, Democrat Frankie Sue Del Papa.

Letter: Why the hoopla over Reagan era?: Reagan did a lot more to hurt the nonrich; he busted the unions. He fought against increasing the minimum wage. Meanwhile, he did a lot to benefit the rich.

Airport officials want to spend $2 billion for improvements: "With the plan we have, if we are successful, we will be well situated to meet the needs of the valley as long as anyone can foresee," said Randall Walker, director of aviation for McCarran International Airport.

UNLV women Jinks Lobos: Steve Guiremand; The play is called, "Chicago." And what better person to run it than Constance Jinks?

Friday at Santa Anita: 1st race 1 mi 3YO Clm: 1 It's All Instinct (Baird) 118; 2 Ruff N Restless (Espinoza) 118; 3 Pro Bono (Pedroza) 118; 4 Foul Weather (Puglisi) 116; 5 North Northwest (Enriquez) 118; 6 First Journey (Solis) 116.

Rebel golfers play host to Vegas Intercollegiate: Victoria Sun; College basketball won't be the only game in town this weekend.

Nevada casinos start 2000 with record January win of $866.5 million: Brendan Riley; The statewide $866.5 win, up 7.3 percent from January 1999, surpassed the previous record month of September 1999, when casinos won $819.6 million, Frank Streshley of the state Gaming Control Board said Thursday.

California tribe eagerly embraces casino expansion: Ben Fox; Instead, Tony will take a half-hour drive from his home in San Diego to the Viejas Casino and Turf Club, a faux stone-and-adobe complex of buildings in the mountains 30 miles to the east.

Johnson's taped threats played for jury in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; Mark Bradley's testimony was backed by secretly made audio tapes, recorded in 1994, and played this morning as the federal racketeering trial of Edwards, Johnson and five others headed into its third month.

Theft caught on tape: Keith Paul; A robber trying to break into an automated teller machine last week didn't smile for the camera, but he did put on a show.

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Fil Mdn Clm: 1a Kippy's Nancy (Luzzi) 119; 2 Subtlety (Vergara) 119; 3 Northern Notebook (Lopez) 119; 4b Lisa's Time (Bridgmohan) 119; 5a New Music (Velasquez) 119; 6b Lulu's Lil Sister (DeCarlo) 119; 7 Lynde's Lucky Lady (Teator) 119; 8 Prospective Gal (Rocco) 114; 9 Ria's Charm (Montalvo) 114; 10 Here Comes Katie (Cora) 119.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Winning at any cost: Pollsters may ask individual voters their opinions about political attack ads and will be told they don't like them. Well, somebody must like them because winners at all political levels continue being returned to office after making personal attacks on opponents. Large numbers of voters continue to be "shocked" by negative and attack campaigns but must be influenced by them or they wouldn't be funded by candidates and their soft money friends.

Silverado, GV lead charge into 2000 battle: Spencer Patterson; For most of the past decade, the path to the state's large-school baseball title has gone straight through Henderson.

Highlights of January win report on Nevada casinos: Highlights of January win report on Nevada casinos

Tahoe governments seek local ban on fuel additive: The group on Wednesday voted to ask to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors to pass an ordinance banning the sale of gasoline containing the fuel additive known as MTBE.

Lil' Al back where he belongs: Mike Harris; Nothing seems more natural than Al Unser Jr. driving again in the Indianapolis 500.

Community news briefs for March 9, 2000: The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department is hosting two stained glass workshops this month. The first is 10 a.m.-noon Monday at the Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St., Henderson. The second is 9:30 a.m.-noon March 25 at the Silver Springs Recreation Center, 1951 Silver Springs Parkway.

Rottweilers, German shepherd attack animal control: The dogs reportedly attacked Myers from different directions. She suffered bites to her leg, arm and back. She was taken to Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

Letter: Nevada Power pays price for 'money grab': Nevada Power made its deal at the Nevada Legislature and now neither the company, nor its shareholders, want to live by the deal they made.

Columnist Dean Juipe: 'Bones' shows a lot of heart: Dean Juipe; He didn't come out of the fight unscathed and his broken right hand is going to force him to the shelf for a little while.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Foul Weather -Draws well for the mile opener, hustling Puglisi aboard Nick Canani trainee, can trip out. It's All Instinct - Trainer West tabs Baird for this, draws good rail post, should get shortest route home. Value Play -- Pro Bono

State pays off in heat exposure death of mentally ill man: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Examiners agreed Wednesday to pay $46,500 to the daughter of a mentally ill man who escaped from Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services in Las Vegas and later was found dead in the desert -- due to heat exposure.

Multimillionaire bride calls on public to quit criticizing her: Conger's next goal is to unmarry a millionaire. She filed for an annulment Tuesday in Clark County, Nevada, saying her marriage to Rick Rockwell was a fraud and that he never mentioned having "a history of problems" with women.

Obituaries for March 9, 2000: Rose Beckerman, 75, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born Feb. 6, 1925, in Chicago. A resident for 10 years, she was a homemaker.

Letter: Focus plans on Strip congestion: If not, take the "high road" by constructing an elevated train over or right along the boulevard, just as was done to great success many decades ago in downtown Chicago. Provide ample, dependable shuttle service to the Convention Center if that is a concern as well.

Board rejects ethics charge, awards contracts: CARSON CITY -- Despite protests by a Las Vegas health care company that has filed an ethics complaint against the administrator of the state workers health insurance system, the state Board of Examiners Wednesday approved two contracts for the program.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Tourneys: Good, bad or ugly?: If you're a college hoop-a-holic, what's not to like about the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament?

Eight killed in van accident south of Las Vegas: Angie Wagner; Amid the bodies thrown from the vehicle, authorities picked through wreckage that included a rearview mirror and sun visors as well as a purse, shoes and luggage.

Development, growth topics of 'Smart' fair: The community fair will be the concluding day of a three-day conference that will bring together professional planners, developers, environmentalists and politicians to discuss growth issues affecting the valley.

Apology made for slave policies: NEW YORK -- Aetna Inc., the nation's largest health insurer, apologized today for selling policies in the 1850s that reimbursed slave owners for financial losses when their slaves died.

Multimillionaire bride wants out of marriage: Angie Wagner; Darva Conger said in court papers filed Tuesday that the marriage was never consummated and she and Rick Rockwell barely saw each other on their Caribbean honeymoon.

Another jury deliberates Manley's fate in teacher's death: Kim Smith; The fate of a Las Vegas man accused of murdering an elementary school teacher nearly five years ago is again in the hands of a Clark County jury.

Elko district attorney urged boycott of Forest Service: But Woodbury defended his actions and said nothing ever came of his recommendation.

F1-2000 Preview: Youthful Button gets F1 ride: Stephen Wade; This season, Jenson Button will be the youngest driver - some say too young - in Formula One.

Primm seeks gag order in rape victim suit: Grace Leong; Former casino executive Gary E. Primm and the Gary E. Primm Family Trust are seeking a gag order and the sealing of court papers in a civil case over allegations that Primm abandoned an employee in Mexico and failed to pay her after she was raped.

Highlights of Wednesday's testimony in the Edwards trial: Former casino executive Mark Bradley probably won't forget his first face-to-face meeting with Edwin Edwards' co-defendant, Bobby Johnson.

County commissioners push for stricter limits: Commissioners Bruce Woodbury and Yvonne Atkinson Gates are co-sponsoring an ordinance that would increase the minimum distance between residential areas and new casinos to 2,500 feet. The current distance is 500 feet.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Faiss has a place in the Sun: Ruthe Deskin; This is the year the Sun is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I was reminded of that when someone sent me a copy of the February issue of Casino Journal, a slick and imposing magazine that tells us all we might want to know about the gaming industry, and a few things best left for the closet.

Johnson on tape: from demanding to conciliatory: Natalie Gott; The tapes, made over a period of months in 1994, have been played over the past two days to back up the testimony of Mark Bradley, a former vice president of Jazz Enterprises, who worked with the FBI to catch Johnson in an alleged extortion attempt.

Washoe Sheriff Kirkland named new DMV boss: "Richard Kirkland, through his organizational and management skills as well as his outstanding leadership abilities, has made the Washoe County Sheriff's Department one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country," Guinn said today.

NASCAR schedules and standings: Feb. 20 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Jarrett)

Ways to increase profits up to Legislature, Ohio panel says: Andrew Welsh-Huggins; The Lottery Profit Review Commission, created by lawmakers to study ways to boost sales, won't recommend two controversial methods: Internet sales and video lottery terminals.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Title bout serves as valuable reminder of progressing slowly: Joe Delaney; Talented performers, once discovered, must be brought along slowly, allowed to develop, and ascend that ladder rung by rung, no shortcuts. ... This is true in both show business and sports. ... If you watched Felix Trinidad demolish David Reid, outdoors at Caesars Palace last Friday, you witnessed a classic example of a talented young boxer brought along too fast.

House approves controversial gambling agreement with Shoshone-Bannock: Mark Warbis; One of the three northern Idaho tribes that so far have failed in attempts to delay implementation of the plan responded even before Thursday's 48-21 vote for the bill, which ratifies the state's compact with the southeastern Idaho tribes.

Judge throws out all but one charge in horse shooting case: Sandra Chereb; District Judge Michael Griffin's ruling deals a serious blow to Storey County prosecutors' case against the three former high school buddies from Reno who had been charged with shooting more than two dozen horses.

City in Torment!: That was nearly three weeks ago. Feb. 19, specifically. It was a day when, as politicians like to say, "mistakes were made."

Prosecution's case against three men rests on one horse: Sandra Chereb; Anthony Merlino, 21, and two former Marines, Darien Brock, 21, and Scott Brendle, 22, were accused of shooting more than two dozen free-roaming horses in the hills east of Reno in December 1998. They admitted they shot at one horse, but denied any other involvement.

Everett furthers comedy career in 'Next Best Thing': David Neil; Already an accomplished author with his successful novels "Hello Darling, Are You Working" in 1993 and "The Hairdressers of St. Tropez" in 1995, Everett intends to return to his literary craft. And he is currently in production on the upcoming comedy "Unconditional Love," which reunites him with "Wedding" director P.J. Hogan.

Couple gives birth at Wisconsin casino: "All the way over Travis was telling me that everything would be all right, that we'd make it, but by the time we got to the casino, I knew I was going to have the baby right then," Foy said.

Experts predict success for Indian casino gambling in Michigan, but marketing needed: Malcolm Johnson; "I think it's going to exist for many years to come," said Richard Bailey of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

State, federal census counts differ: But the state demographer's office, in population figures certified February by Gov. Kenny Guinn, put the state population at just under 2 million - or 158,397 people more than the U.S. Census estimate.

Ali has challenging words for actor Smith: Ali joined stars, producers, directors and studio executives at a luncheon highlighting Sony Pictures' upcoming movie slate for theater owners attending their annual ShoWest convention.

This week's races: WINSTON CUP

Racing notebook: Chevys inching forward: "We just want to be equal with them," Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, said after NASCAR changed its aerodynamic rules in a bid to make the all-new Monte Carlos more competitive.