Print edition for October 18, 2000

New book makes Halloween even more fun: Chock full of ideas to make Halloween a special celebration, the fun-filled trade-sized paperback offers recipes to please any ghost or goblin, pumpkin carving tips and all sorts of clever ideas to please trick-or-treaters.

Candidate's wife makes campaign stops across LV Valley: Jeffrey Libby; Hadassah Lieberman, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, told about 75 Henderson seniors Tuesday that a society is judged by the way it treats its elderly.

Grgic '96 Plavac Mali: Max Jacobson; If you're wondering where all the vowels went, Croatia is famous for -- among other things -- consonants, wines and winemaker Mike Grgich, a familiar name in the California wine trade (his Grgich Hills Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon have won numerous awards). Yes, this is the same Mike Grgich, minus the final "h" when his name is spelled in his native language. And Plavac Mali is similar to a California Zinfandel, spicy, robust and intense, a great food wine and a fine value. This is really one of the first wines from the Balkans to hit local shelves. If it ...

Shortage of size could pop up to haunt UNLV: Steve Addy; The Rebels lost only two players from last season, and there is no question they will miss point guard Mark Dickel more than backup center Isaiah Epps.

Gators could face challenge this year: Spencer Patterson; The two-day, 36-hole 4A State Girls Golf Tournament gets under way today at Genoa Lakes Golf Club near Carson City, and for the first time in five years, Green Valley will not be the prohibitive favorite.

Red Rock offers wildlife views: The hikes and other educational programs are free, but reservations are needed. Call 363-1922.

Denton, Phillips: Possible Outlaws?: Victoria Sun; The Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL submitted their list of 11 territorial picks to the league office in Stamford, Conn., today.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Fashion trends are male order: There are today almost as many men's fashion magazines as there are women's. The New York Times regularly devotes special Sunday magazine sections to "Men's Fashions of the Times."

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Local women provide Nevada history lesson: Elizabeth Foyt; The Nevada Women's History Project, Southern region, recently hosted its fall meeting and brunch at the Elks Club. Joyce Marshall was keynote speaker, providing a lively program about her experiences as a Las Vegas teenager in the 1950s.

Tuesday's prep results: BOYS SOCCER

Bid for new trial in killing fails: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man who hired an inept hitman will have to spend at least 47 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole in a murder conspiracy gone awry.

State highway closed for three hours after logging truck crash: A passenger in his jeep, Timothy Althouse, 13, Truckee, and the driver of the logging truck, Michael Maddox, 57, Oroville, Calif., suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized in Truckee, the California Highway Patrol said.

Riverboat liquor sales restriction rejected by state panel: Committee members voted against the plan because it fell short of an earlier proposal that called for a 16-hour selling period, said Claire Eberley, a spokeswoman for the legislative panel.

Nevada universities charge less than most: The average tuition at the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas was $2,145 dollars per semester. That compares with $3,964 dollars at University of California campuses, which were ranked the most expensive.

Three teens arrested in rash of Reno-area burglaries: According to detectives, the boys said they would work their way down a street, burglarizing unlocked vehicles and houses. They stashed their loot in nearby undeveloped areas.

Nevada sales hit $2.55 billion in August: Bar and restaurant sales, indicators of tourist traffic, were up 8.9 percent in August. General merchandise was up 8.4 percent and clothing stores were up 11 percent.

RSCVA antsy about bookings: The agency is spending $105 million on the project and officials say more business is needed to help pay off the debt.

Young man accused of heading to Las Vegas to try to recoup hedge fund losses: Larry Neumeister; Mark Yagalla of Wilmington, an unregistered investment adviser, was charged with mail fraud for allegedly squandering money from at least 20 investors in his hedge fund, Ashbury Capital Partners, L.P.

Meeting to be held to discuss court facilities: The open house will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fines instituted for false alarms: If there are six false calls in a year at the same location, police will stop responding until the problem is fixed.

MotorCity workers approve deal: Workers at the MGM Grand Detroit casino voted Monday to approve the three-year deal reached Saturday.

Local research group gives power to the people: Kirk Baird; James Medick remembers it as if it were yesterday.

Editorial: Peace is more than just words: Palestinians blame Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount for the latest tension, but the fact is that it is the Palestinians, not the Israelis, who started this latest round of violence more than two weeks ago. Let's also not forget that it was a Palestinian mob that last week lynched two Israeli soldiers who mistakenly ended up in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat also showed his contempt for peace last week when he released Islamic militants from jail. (As part of the deal reached Tuesday, Arafat agreed to rearrest the militants, though it ...

Las Vegas has plenty of room for dining pleasure: Max Jacobson; Many restaurants have event coordinators who do just that. Several even have private function rooms ideal for timely celebrations:

Home invasion victim describes struggle over gun: Kim Smith; The preliminary hearing for a Las Vegas teen suspected of being a serial rapist and a killer continued Tuesday with the testimony of a man whose home was invaded in June.

Community news briefs for October 18, 2000: The Las Vegas chapter of Service Corps of Retired Executives will present its next How to Really Start Your Own Business workshop 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Foley Federal Building, 300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 1100.

Wyoming QB remains upbeat in tough year: Steve Guiremand; This is not quite the way Wyoming quarterback Jay Stoner had hoped his senior year would go.

Henderson residents fail to pull plug on CCSN's baseball lights: Jace Radke; The Henderson City Council has denied an appeal from residents to keep the Community College of Southern Nevada from erecting lights at its Henderson baseball facility.

Political notebook: Candidates' forum planned at City Hall: Many politicians or their representatives are expected to participate in Candidates' Day, including those running for U.S. Senate, state Senate and Assembly as well as many local races.

Court briefs for October 18, 2000: A 59-year-old man accused of shooting another man to death inside the Stardust hotel-casino's sports book has been bound over for trial.

Clinton warns ship's attackers: NORFOLK, Va. -- Honoring the 17 sailors killed "standing guard for peace" aboard the USS Cole, President Clinton warned their attackers today: "You will not find a safe harbor. We will find you and justice will prevail."

Regents races facing no shortage of crucial issues: Jeffrey Libby; Before the September primaries, one race dominated state higher education, and the campaign rhetoric for a seat on the Board of Regents hovered around a proposed state college in Henderson.

Number of welfare recipients rises again: CARSON CITY -- The number of people on welfare assistance has climbed for the fourth month in a row and it is at its peak for the year.

Porter, Berkley nearly even in funds: Greg Tuttle; Republican state Sen. Jon Porter and Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley are drawing close to a tie in at least one facet of their race for a seat in the House of Representatives: money.

McDonald, Arberry to face ethics board: Erin Neff; The Las Vegas Ethics Review Board will have its highest-profile meeting in years Thursday as it mulls the political futures of two of the best-known elected officials.

Bathroom key becomes key evidence in killing of teen girl: Kim Smith; Two years after 16-year-old Jessica Heaney was found dead in the bathroom of her condominium's clubhouse, her accused killer was found with the key to that restroom on his keychain.

Alleged madam plea bargains: DENVER -- Racketeering charges and other counts against a woman accused of hiring hundreds of Asian prostitutes to work at brothels in California, Colorado and Nevada have been dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Obituaries for October 18, 2000: George Byron Barnett, 36, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 17, 1963, in Illinois. A resident for many years, he was a carpenter.

Local news briefs for October 18, 2000: Two children injured in a car accident on Interstate 15 Sunday died Tuesday night at University Medical Center.

Letter: Retired generals shouldn't be seen this way: KELLY KRIEG

McCarran property nets county $3 million: Adrienne Packer; A contentious bidding war for property near McCarran International Airport Tuesday had two major developers baffled and Clark County commissioners calling for a review of the airport's auction policy.

Letter: Make tax cuts a lesser priority: Instead, the first priority should be to pay down the national debt which reached such gigantic heights during the Reagan/Bush deficit era. Now that we have a surplus (and hopefully the tax policy in the future will permit the surpluses to continue for years), paying off the debt will reduce the tremendous interest payments on the debt. This will benefit all taxpayers through reduced interest rates and other advantages.

Columnist Jon Ralston: McDonald's escape would be criminal: So all of the folks down at City Hall who hoped to see Councilman Michael McDonald led away in handcuffs were disheartened last week when District Attorney Stew Bell decided not to file charges.

Letter: Valley's water is polluted, too: RICHARD FISHBACK

Editorial: Selective disclosure ban is long overdue: Selective disclosure, the SEC reasons, results in a loss of confidence when small investors see a stock's price change dramatically -- and only later find out it was due to the same information that market insiders had obtained before them. Another concern the SEC has is the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" syndrome. Information sometimes is released to a few analysts to curry favor, which can result in the analyst reporting favorably on the company's performance.

Bernstein, Ensign target soft spots: While U.S. Senate race combatants Ed Bernstein and John Ensign hurl barbs at each other their biggest targets have been health care companies and trial attorneys.

Rio prevails in lawsuit filed by disgruntled gambler: The Rio is owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas.

Police officials upset by DA's failure to prosecute McDonald: District Attorney Stewart Bell isn't likely to lose his good friend, Sheriff Jerry Keller, over the decision not to prosecute City Councilman Michael McDonald.

Metro report: McDonald lied: Erin Neff; City Councilman Michael McDonald lied about the purpose of his May visit to the Las Vegas Sportspark and lied again when he said he never lobbied anyone about the potential sale of the recreation center to the city, according to a police report.

Water authority facing energy shortage: The power bill to pump water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley has doubled in the past year, and the valley's primary water provider is trying to figure out how to keep from passing on the rate shock to consumers.

Station to buy Reserve: David Strow; Station Casinos Inc. took another step toward dominance of Las Vegas' locals casino market today, announcing a deal to buy the Reserve hotel-casino in Henderson for $70 million.

Taxable sales grow 6.4 percent in August: The state Taxation Department reported today sales reached $2.5 billion, spurred by performances at car dealers, restaurant and bars.

Deaths linked to power plant pollutants: Pollution from Clark County's two coal-fired power plants kills 18 people in Southern Nevada and neighboring Arizona a year, a new study maintains.

Spintek showing off new products as it teeters on the edge of bankruptcy: David Strow; This week was supposed to be a coming out for Spintek Gaming Technologies Inc., a week when the Las Vegas company would show off a diversified new line of new products and games.

Company reports higher quarterly earnings: Coast reported cash flow of $21.1 million for the quarter, up 32.2 percent from the year-ago period.

Mandalay workers in Detroit approve union pact: Phil Schloop, a spokesman for the labor coalition Detroit Casino Council, said 70 percent of the workers who cast ballots voted to approve what will be their first contract.

Congress OKs second valley airport: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Congress on Tuesday approved a plan for Las Vegas to join a "unique class" of cities with two airports, Nevada lawmakers said.

County clears way for new terminal: Adrienne Packer; The Clark County Commission gave airport officials permission Tuesday to begin negotiating for more than 300 apartment units and homes along Russell Road to make room for a new McCarran International Airport terminal.

Momentum building for coinless slot technology: David Strow; Rick Scheer likes to say there's a new baby taking its first steps in the gaming industry, about 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Profit falls 94 percent for big Vegas airline: America West is the second-busiest carrier in Las Vegas at McCarran International Airport, where it operates a hub.

UMC sues state Nursing Board in privacy dispute: Grace Leong; University Medical Center is suing to stop the Nevada State Board of Nursing from ordering the hospital to release a list of UMC nurses to a local labor attorney, a move the hospital says would violate its staff's privacy rights.

Harrah's profit up despite problems: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas shook off a subpar financial performance from its Rio hotel-casino to post record third-quarter revenues, the company said today.

Wisconsin citizens react to casino with prayer: But the opponents, who came to City Hall after an interfaith prayer vigil at three local churches, waited for two hours to be heard.

Billboard attacking Alden heats up regents campaign: Jeffrey Libby; The hand-painted billboard off U.S. 95 in Henderson reads, "Mark Alden is a danger to our community."

Regents to mull connection between new college, UNLV: Jeffrey Libby; The controversial alignment between the proposed state college at Henderson and University of Nevada, Reno, has been reopened for discussion.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Big electronics manufacturer pulls out of Vegas Consumer Electronics Show: Thomson Multimedia Inc., one of the world's largest consumer electronics producers, is pulling out of the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.

Volunteers list grows at center: Kris Hill; It has been a year of growth for the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada.

Ethics director to switch to museums, history: At the ethics commission, Rohrs was paid $72,000 a year and had supervision over one employee. He's going to an agency with a $5 million budget and 80 workers. He pay will be $68,000.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Computer system would create ultimate virtual golf experience: Victoria Sun; It simulates some of the toughest golf shots you'll ever have to hit by tilting to different degrees, and is designed to help you get better through repetitive training.

Golf: Rebels 11th in tournament: Freshman Travis Whisman (73-71-74-218) cracked the top half of the group at 5-over par, finishing 29th overall of 60 competitors. Fellow freshman James Oh (72-72-76-220) followed in 33rd place and sophomore Tyler Mays (80-78-72-230) finished 56th. Newcomer Justin Lee (75-80-77-232) placed 58th.

Columnist Peter Benton: Martinez, Massey top LVCC event: Peter Benton; Last week the Las Vegas Country Club hosted its largest and most popular event of the year -- the 30th annual Member Guest Tournament.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Meteor Game - Gomez on Dutton trainee, needs a prompt start and clean trip from rail post for sprint opener, graduation for Game. Lively Liz - Flores on one of two uncoupled Duncan trainees, draws outside post, rider selection good endorsement. Value Play -- Valuebull

Columnist Dean Juipe: Why not go for two after every TD?: Dean Juipe; A touchdown is scored and the kicker comes out and adds the extra point. It's all so perfunctory we take it for granted.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Tracking college overachievers -- and flops: In his Logical Approach newsletter last week, Andy Iskoe revealed the 20 college football teams that have shown the greatest improvements since the start of the season -- and the 20 that have shown the greatest declines.

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

Today's frontpage

< Previous | Next >

Most Read
Discussed
Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Blogs

Elsewhere

Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109

10 hours, 7 minutes ago

Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity

Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR?

11 hours, 4 minutes ago

Top Chef: Las Vegas

The Jet Stream: And then there were four

11 hours, 8 minutes ago

Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple

11 hours, 18 minutes ago

Miech Again

Chilly start for Chace, but Stanback says he'll warm up (1 Comment)

12 hours, 45 minutes ago

Elsewhere

Harvard Poker Pro: Texas Hold 'Em skills can help traders

15 hours ago

Oscar De La Hoya wants to see Pacquiao/Mayweather

15 hours, 18 minutes ago

More blogs »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question