Local news briefs for November 17, 2000

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 10:40 a.m.

Guinn to lead education panel

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn has been named chairman of the Education Commission of the States, an organization that works to raise student achievement.

Christie McElhinney, spokes-woman for the commission, said Guinn will help coordinate the group's efforts to advise state officials on measures to improve education.

"Having a governor with such an extensive background in education as the chair of ECS will help us greatly in our communication efforts," McElhinney said.

Guinn is a former superintendent of the Clark County School District and served a year as interim president of UNLV. The commission also noted Guinn pushed through his Millennium Scholarship program to give high school students with a "B" average a scholarship to college.

Flu vaccine will arrive, officials say

Southern Nevada health officials are confident they will receive the full 40,000 flu doses they have ordered, but they just don't know when.

"We are expecting to get the vaccine, but we don't have an arrival date confirmed yet," Clark County Health District spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said.

Last year the health district provided 40,000 shots.

Families to have a merry Christmas

A local family will receive Christmas with all the trimmings through the "25 Days of Christmas" program sponsored by Cox Communications, Thomasville Furniture and the Fox Family Channel.

Residents may nominate families who they think have made sacrifices, overcome obstacles or made a significant contribution to the community.

The winning family will receive a decorated Christmas tree, a visit from Santa, a television, holiday dinner for four, a $500 retail gift certificate, a family portrait and a Fox Family gift box.

Five other families will get a stocking stuffer holiday package that will be a smaller version of the grand prize.

Nomination forms must be submitted by Nov. 26. Forms are available at both Thomasville Furniture stores, 2000 S. Rainbow Blvd., and 1541 W. Sunset Road., or at the Cox Communications office, 121 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.