Local news briefs for October 27, 2000

Friday, Oct. 27, 2000 | 11:31 a.m.

Fire captain's recovery continues

A Las Vegas fire captain was moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center on Thursday, as he continues to recover from injuries suffered in a September auto accident.

Capt. Nathan Pechacek had been at University Medical Center since a Sept. 17 accident. He is recovering from numerous internal injuries.

Metro Police say 33-year-old Dorin Geba struck the side of Pechacek's vehicle with his sport utility vehicle. Pechacek was assisted by a former Navy paramedic until medical personnel arrived.

Geba has been charged with felony driving under the influence.

Protecting seniors topic of symposium

Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa will attend a national symposium on protecting seniors from abuse next week.

Del Papa will speak on Nevada's Elder Abuse Prevention Task Force at the symposium in Washington, D.C., on Monday and Tuesday. The symposium will eye federal, state and local programs to prevent older people from becoming victims of abuse, exploitation, fraud or neglect.

"Elder abuse is a serious crime that we have addressed in a coordinated manner in Nevada," Del Papa said.

Health board approves changes

The Clark County District Board of Health approved fee changes for comprehensive permits and plan reviews at its regular meeting Thursday.

Most fees for such things as food services and sales, tattoo parlors, drink vendors and waste management went up by 16 percent. A second phase of fee increases will bump most fees up by a total of 26 percent by 2002.

The new fee structure also included new fees for such purposes as landfill inspections and waste hauling.

Health district staff members said the new fees are necessary to better recoup expenses. Staff said only 52 percent of inspection costs are covered by the fees in place now. The new fee structure should cover 80 percent of expenses.

The 16 percent fee increase becomes effective Jan. 1.

New regulations for farmers markets

The Clark County District Board of Health approved new regulations governing vendors at farmers markets.

The regulations are designed to improve and standardize sanitation rules for food sales.

The rules require vendors to have a hand sink with running water.

The rules govern farmers markets throughout the county. There are now markets in Henderson, Boulder City and unincorporated Clark County.

Suspected bank robber busted

A man alleged to have robbed at least nine banks in Las Vegas and Henderson since Sept. 25 was arrested at a Las Vegas Boulevard hotel on Thursday.

Metro Police officers, in coordination with Henderson Police and the FBI, arrested John Gilbert Kovac, 33, at about 10 a.m. at the Stratosphere hotel-casino.

Kovac was scheduled to make his initial court appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge today, FBI officials said.