Print edition for October 11, 2000

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Special Value - Part of coupled Golden Eagle Farm-owned entry with Aerial Meeting, draws good post, Espinoza on Baffert trainee. Lucretia - Gomez scales Sadler trainee, draws good outside post, should get a good trip to work from. Value Play -- Fitting

Inmates return to normal day following release of reporter: Prisoners had been confined to their cells around 6 p.m. Tuesday as a precaution.

Fed approves merger creating the largest bank in Nevada: The Federal Reserve on Tuesday approved Wells Fargo & Co.'s $3.2 billion purchase of First Security Corp., clearing the way for a combined bank that will be the largest in Utah, Nevada, Idaho and New Mexico.

Kickapoo leader says dry conditions may force casino's closure: "If we don't get a 3-inch rain the next two or three weeks, we're going to have to shut everything down - and that includes the casino," Thomas said.

Candidates tackle issues: Next debates

Metro officers to attend force training: Keith Paul; Sheriff Jerry Keller has ordered all Metro Police officers to attend four hours of training after three shootings this year violated the department's use-of-force policies.

Columnist Peter Benton: Golfers mourn loss of Cobb: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas golfing community -- in fact all golfers in Nevada -- lost a true and valued friend last week with the passing of "Mr. Golf," Clyde Cobb.

Were procedures enough during Southwest flight that ended in a death?: C.G. Wallace; So why is 19-year-old Jonathan Burton dead?

Station has new offers for its Missouri casinos: David Strow; Continued troubles in Missouri have apparently convinced Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas to entertain outside bids for its two Missouri riverboat properties.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Aging tour players eye second life: Dean Juipe; There are exceptions, of course, but as tour-level golfers slip past the age of 45 or so they enter into sort of a vacuum, a purgatory.

Internet gaming ban reconsidered: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A bill that would ban Internet gambling is still alive in Congress, even after it was defeated in the House this summer.

Mexican tourist visitation to Vegas up 50 percent, LVCVA wants more: With the number of Mexican tourists to Las Vegas already growing at nearly a 50 percent clip this year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority got a look at an initiative to improve ground transportation from south of the border.

Fall 2000 prep playoff schedule, results: 4A SUNRISE REGION TOURNAMENT

Nevada Dairy Commission plans hearing on alleged gouging: The commission will meet Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m., at the Bradley Building, 2501 E. Sahara Ave., in the second floor conference room.

Down come the flakes, out come the skis: All three of them.

NLV Police start program for kids: Keith Paul; Sometimes the bad kids are the only ones who get attention, but the North Las Vegas Police Officer Association wants to change that in North Las Vegas schools.

Pacificare stock is decimated on earnings warning: Shares of PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., one of the nation's largest managed care companies, plunged 52 percent today after it said higher medical costs will cause its financial performance to fall well short of Wall Street expectations.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Behind the scenes, equipment companies angle for exposure: Victoria Sun; The $4.25 million Invensys Classic started this morning at the Desert Inn, TPC at Summerlin and Southern Highlands.

LV asks JAL to pick up Tokyo flights being dropped by Northwest: Northwest Airlines will discontinue its nonstop service between Las Vegas and Tokyo next year and local tourism officials are already lobbying rival Japan Airlines to pick up the slack.

Why her honor took a pass on race for governor: Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of six excerpts from the new book, "The Anointed One," by Sun political columnist Jon Ralston. This series, exclusive to the Sun, will run daily through Friday.

Court briefs for October 11, 2000: A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for his role in the largest bank robbery in the city's history.

Tarkanian questions Maxfield's associations: Adrienne Packer; A quiet race between political newcomer Chip Maxfield and seasoned public servant Lois Tarkanian became a bit testy Tuesday during a televised debate between the two Clark County Commission candidates.

Former Sierra Pacific CEO Niggli lands at San Diego utility: Sierra Pacific is the parent company of Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas.

Tuesday's prep results: Boys Soccer

Court TV reporter held hostage at maximum security prison: Kimes is serving a sentence of 125 1-3 years at Clinton Correctional Facility in northeastern New York. Kimes and his mother, Sante, were each sentenced on June 27 to more than 120 years in prison for murdering Irene Silverman in a scheme to steal her $7 million Manhattan home.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Woman shot during attack at bus stop: Keith Paul; A 57-year-old woman who was shot in the face while waiting at a bus stop Tuesday was in critical condition this morning at University Medical Center.

Rhodes faces January trial date: Kim Smith; North Las Vegas City Councilman John Rhodes will go to trial Jan. 8 on insurance fraud charges.

McGirr leads way for Green Valley: Spencer Patterson; The faces may have been different, but the school atop the scoreboard was quite familiar at the conclusion of Tuesday's 4A Sunrise Region Girls Golf Championship at Henderson's Dragonridge Country Club.

School Board hopefuls square off in forum: Terry Webster; On TV

Boxing: Local kinesiologist honored: Since then, he's 2-0-1. Ashmore designed a workout program for Sanchez that includes intensive boxing workouts, running, daily stretching sessions and weight training.

Records: Rhodes sought payment for NLV property: Diana Sahagun; City and court records show that a receipt for a hand-held computer -- which triggered an insurance fraud indictment against North Las Vegas Councilman John Rhodes -- was submitted for reimbursement to both the city and Rhodes' personal insurance company.

Three Clark County residents suffer tick-borne disease: The three people who contracted the tick-borne relapsing fever were thought to be infected over the summer after being bitten by ticks at Mount Charleston. All three residents were hospitalized but now are recovering at home.

Vegas firms in litigation over competition: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Discount Furniture Outlet, which said it relocated on May 31 to 1325 E. Flamingo Road, Suite B, from 953 E. Sahara Avenue Unit 12B and 14B, alleged the defendants opened a furniture store a day later using the plaintiff's name at the east Sahara location.

Senior citizens study Guinn's drug plan: RENO -- Seventy-four-year-old Jay Robinson says Gov. Kenny Guinn's senior citizens prescription drug program is just the thing a lot of elderly need.

25 county attorneys interested in open judge post: Kim Smith; Twenty-five Clark County attorneys have picked up applications in the hopes of replacing the late District Judge Gary Redmon.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Head north for good hunting: Paula DelGiudice; Most of the hunting seasons in the state opened last weekend. Reports are coming in of some very nice deer being taken in the Schell Creek Range near Ely. Some hunters are waiting for cooler weather to prevail. If you're a chukar hunter, some of the best hunting of the last few decades may await you, though it's not likely you'll find it in Southern Nevada.

MGM puts its rides up for sale: David Strow; MGM MIRAGE has put all of the rides at MGM Grand Adventures theme park up for sale, the strongest signal yet that the MGM Grand may close the popular attraction near the Las Vegas Strip.

Local news briefs for October 11, 2000: A Las Vegas man died Tuesday night when the car in which he was riding when out of control and crashed into two block walls.Brian A. Chapman, 20, was riding in a 1996 Saturn driven by 18-year-old Cheyenne Sanders about 11 p.m. when the car sped through a stop sign at Bonanza Road and Los Feliz Street, in the foothills of Sunrise Mountain, Metro Police said.

Catholic Church starts lobby arm: Robert Payant, recently retired president of the National Judicial College in Reno, has been named executive director of the conference.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Hockey bettor shoots, scores with fast start: NHL bettors looking for some guidance with their picks would do well to check out the "Hockey Zone" section of ThePrescription.com website.

Letter: Not all training of horses based on brutality: My problem is in letter writer Ruth DiMaggio's statement, "horses do not jump naturally, they are terrified and the behind the scenes training methods are painful, grueling and stressful." Obviously she knows nothing about how jumping horses are trained.

Savvy wine buy: Montestell '98 Reserve Pinotage: Max Jacobson; The excellent wines of South Africa were commercially unavailable in this country because of international sanctions during the long, dark years of apartheid. Now they are flooding in with a vengeance, and the most distinctive grape varietal they grow is Pinotage, which yields an easy to drink, highly aromatic red wine full of luscious red berry flavors and firm acidity. This particular wine has a wild fruitiness, a fair bit of spice and a hint of new oak. It's a wine South Africans love to match with game, perfect for whatever is cooking on the grill during early fall.

Las Vegas area fishing report: Las Vegas area fishing report

Community news briefs for October 11, 2000: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District will host Storytelling Festival 2000 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rainbow Library Amphitheater, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive.

Letter: Environment needs protection: We need similar help down here, and I am rooting for the bill to get enacted into law. Why aren't any folks thinking about conservation down here in the part of the state that suffers most from degradation?

Historic Boulder City hotel's rebirth continues with funding for alarms: Greg Harman; The rich echoes of history stir in Boulder City's 70-year-old Boulder Dam Hotel.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Tea at mansion celebrates state's mining history: Elizabeth Foyt; Nevada's statewide museums and the Nevada Museum, Libraries and Arts Foundation benefited from a gracious afternoon tea at the Governor's Mansion. Hosted by Gov. Kenny Guinn and first lady Dema Guinn, the perfect fall afternoon drew Las Vegas guests and museum supporters.

Power battle doesn't stop Suzie's: Suzie's applied for a building permit for its video arcade, but the city denied it.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Senate debate was a nice idea, but ...: If you're waiting for a report on the first U.S. Senate debate of Campaign '00, my apologies: I'm still waiting for the first debate.

Nevada to split vitamin settlement: CARSON CITY -- Nevada will receive $3.5 million of a $255 million out-of-court settlement with six international manufacturers of vitamins that were accused of price fixing during the past decade.

Metro officers honored for efforts in saving lives: The Livesaving Award was presented to five individuals:

Letters support attorney's credibility in Station Casino case: Paul Sloca; Mel Fisher, executive director of the Gaming Commission, and Col. Weldon Wilhoit, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, wrote letters to a federal judge last month noting Lazaroff's cooperation with investigators.

Red Rock offers Friday the 13th hike and stories: Entitled Full Moon and Friday the 13th, the three-mile hike Friday is open to anyone from 8 years old to adults. Volunteer Vera will tell the myth of "Friday the 13th" and weave ghost and Indian stories. Meet at the Fee Station. Parents must accompany children.

Reno council halting billboards before vote: The council unanimously passed the moratorium on Tuesday with Mayor Jeff Griffin saying, "Let the people have the last word."

4-year-old girl describes killings: Kim Smith; A 4-year-old girl took center stage Tuesday, albeit by video, in the capital murder trial of Richard Powell.

Convenience store offers Internet access: The kiosks are a three-part unit with separate terminals for ATM transactions, prepaid phone and Internet card sales and Internet transactions.

Edwards acquitted; Brown convicted of lying: Melinda Deslatte; The verdict was reached on the fourth day of deliberations. The trial was Edwards' second of the year. Although exonerated, he still faces possible prison time for a conviction earlier this year on racketeering and fraud charges in an unrelated case.

Weir taking aim at spot in Tour Championship: Dean Juipe; With his shirt collar all the way up and a Windbreaker wrapped tightly around him, Mike Weir hardly looked the part of the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour.

Obituaries for October 11, 2000: Imogene Allison, 77, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 7, 1923, in California. A resident for 14 years, she was a homemaker.

Thomas garners national spotlight: Steve Guiremand; Jason Thomas already has seen his share of blitzes during his five games as UNLV's starting quarterback. And because he has been able to handle the heat on the field, he's getting hit with a much more welcome blitz this week.

Las Vegas Rite Aid pharmacist's actions under board scrutiny: Veneda Cook, 64, of the east Texas town of Pittsburg, died of a brain hemorrhage while visiting her daughter Las Vegas last October. The pharmacy board alleges a local pharmacist erroneously doubled the strength of Cook's blood-thinning prescription medication.

Homeowner tells of shooting intruder to death: Kim Smith; A man whose friend was shot dead by a homeowner after the two allegedly broke into his house in July will face a murder charge.

Editorial: Right step taken on cleanup: The problem can't be overstated. Environmentalists and public health advocates have long been concerned about the poisonous liquid leaking into the Colorado River, which is the source of drinking water for 23 million people downstream in Nevada, Arizona and California. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission thought it was acceptable to just leave the tailings where they were, capping them with either clay or concrete in an attempt to prevent the toxic materials from escaping. But the DOE, to its credit, said capping the tailings wasn't an adequate safeguard. Instead the DOE now will oversee the cleanup, moving the million of tons ...

Pinnacle shareholders approve merger: Harveys is controlled by Colony Capital of Los Angeles.

State pleased with high court decision to hear tribal case: CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa on Tuesday hailed a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the state's appeal of an American Indian's $1 million lawsuit against state wildlife officials.

Nellis plans mock stealth combats: Stealth fighters and bombers will be tested under mock combat conditions in the skies over Las Vegas in the next few weeks to help determine what caused an F-117A to crash in Kosovo, Nellis Air Force Base officials said today.

Great gumbo plentiful in LV restaurants: Max Jacobson; The term gumbo comes from an African language, and the original meaning of the word was okra. Okra was originally used as a thickening agent in gumbo. Many traditional Creole cooks in the South use it still.

Two more pupils facing charges in dog's kidnapping: Keith Paul; Two more Mojave High School football players were to be charged today for their role in the kidnapping and abuse of the Centennial High School mascot, but a football coach questioned by police will not be charged.

Texas investigators travel to Las Vegas to question two men in Lake Meredith bait shop slaying: Shelton said the men were wanted in connection with the theft of a car, a home burglary and some forgeries in Hutchinson County.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Catalog full of truffles: "The truffle is not really an aphrodisiac, but it may make the man more amiable and the woman more amorous." You don't have to take seriously the truffle wisdom of famed Epicurean Brillat Savarin, but there's no question that the seductive aroma of fresh truffles is a turn-on for appreciators. But where to buy them?

Gun lock program stalled: Agencies in 360 other communities signed up for the program, but had not begun to distribute the locks before police in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn., reported the problems last week.

Ethnic diversity targeted in series on scholarships, financial aid: It is the first of eight workshops co-sponsored by the Clark County School District to help seniors find college tuition assistance.

LV company loses suit over loss of Indian gaming contract: Ishii ruled he didn't have jurisdiction in the dispute, American Vantage said. The firm said it may appeal the ruling or sue the California tribe in state court in hopes that the state court would assume jurisdiction in the matter.

Editorial: Government should honor privacy law: But the Associated Press reported last week that the White House and some federal agencies aren't honoring this commitment. The Environmental Protection Agency and NASA, for instance, obtain personal information from children who submit artwork, which is then posted on their websites with the child's name, age and hometown. When practical, government should abide by the same laws and rules it imposes on the private sector. This parental consent law should be no exception.

Golfers aiming to climb money list: Victoria Sun; Will the real Edward Fryatt please stand up?

Lake Mead cruise a break for harried workers: Kimberley McGee; When: Sunday through Thursday, dinner cruises 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, dinner and dance cruise at 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; daily cruises at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Fallon to Fernley route will be closely watched: Last year, the Nevada Department of Transportation posted signs requiring motorists to turn on their headlights in an effort to reduce the number of head-on collisions.

Letter: Nothing wrong with VA system: He says that we deserve better treatment and asks, what's wrong with the system? I have been a patient at the Las Vegas VA Medical Center for several years and I find the treatment and care to be excellent. They have good, caring doctors and all of the latest, up-to-date equipment. They will even mail your prescriptions and refills to you, saving you a trip.