Local news briefs for May 22, 2000

Monday, May 22, 2000 | 11:35 a.m.

Man killed in crash with pickup

A man was killed Sunday morning on the east side of Las Vegas when the car he was driving collided with a pickup.

The victim, whom Metro Police accident investigators are still trying to identify this morning, was headed east on Flamingo Road near McLeod Drive in a Nissan Maxima about 4:40 a.m.

At the same time a Dodge pickup driven by Avila William, 82, of Las Vegas was headed west on Flamingo and was waiting to make a left turn onto McLeod. The pickup turned into the path of the Nissan, hitting the left front side of the Maxima, police said.

The driver of the Nissan was taken to University Medical Center, and later died from his injuries. No charges have been filled in connection with the accident, but it remains under investigation, police said.

Pair nabbed in Arizona slayings

Two men charged with a drug-related slaying in Arizona have been arrested in Las Vegas.

Michael Obarr, 30, was arrested Friday about 2 p.m. at a convenience store on West Tropicana Avenue by agents from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation. A second suspect, Darren Goldin, 39, was arrested about 10 hours later at a hotel-casino on South Decatur Boulevard by officers of the Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff's Office, Deputy U.S. Marshal Pat Sedoti said.

Obarr and Goldin are wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a man who was shot four times in the head during a drug dispute in Phoenix in early May. The two are also suspects in a number of recent similar homicides in the Phoenix area, in which drug dealers and buyers were gunned down for their cash or drugs, Sedoti said.

Both men are being held in the Clark County Detention Center awaiting extradition.

DOE to discuss defense programs

The first in a series of meetings over the possible relocation of some Department of Energy defense programs from Los Alamos National Laboratory to other sites, including the Nevada Test Site, has been scheduled.

The public meeting is set for 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the DOE's Nevada Operations Office, 232 Energy Way in North Las Vegas.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson announced on April 26 that the DOE proposed to relocate programs at a group of facilities in New Mexico known as Technical Area 18. The facilities are between 30 and 50 years old. However, the DOE has to evaluate the environmental impacts at various sites before proceeding.

The alternatives include a different site at Los Alamos, considered the preferred alternative; the Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas; the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M.; and Argonne National Laboratory-West in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

LV schools to share $640,000

Three Las Vegas schools will split $640,000 in federal grant money as part of a national community learning centers program.

The three schools, Sunrise Acres Elementary School, Roy Martin Middle School and Desert Pines High School, all house community learning centers.

The centers provide classes, tutoring, recreation activities, family literacy programs, art, child care, nutrition education and family wellness workshops for the community.

The funding comes from the federal Department of Education, Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said.

"Studies prove that after-school hours have the highest instances of juvenile crime, but by redirecting the energies of these children with new options, we can ensure a safer and more productive neighborhood," Bryan said.

Russell Road work completion nears

The Regional Transportation Commission will celebrate the completion of a $6.2 million improvement to Russell Road between Mountain Vista Street and Eastern Avenue on May 30.

More than 2 miles of street improvements including four travel lanes, a continuous left turn lane, curbs, gutters and sidewalks are all part of the project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the improved roadway will be held at 9:30 a.m. May 30 on the south side of Russell just east of McLeod Drive.

While those improvements should speed up travel, motorists will be slowing down Thursday on Sahara Avenue between Boulder Highway and Mojave Road. The left and center lanes of westbound Sahara will be closed from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. as the concrete around a manhole is repaired by Nevada Department of Transportation crews.

Pig ear treats subject of recall

An Iowa pet food manufacturer is recalling one of its natural pet treat products because of possible traces of salmonella.

Medalist brand pig ear pet treats with lot numbers 07600EXU3 and 08300EXU1 are being recalled as a precautionary measure after the bacteria was isolated through a random sampling program.

Salmonella is not considered a risk for pets, but owners may become ill by touching their mouths or food after handling the bacteria.