Local news briefs for September 20, 2000

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

Airport now can sue over dumping

Clark County commissioners authorized McCarran International Airport officials Tuesday to sue developers who illegally dump construction debris on airport land.

Displaying videotaped footage of piles of dirt, concrete, wooden pallets and the haphazard roads used to dump the debris, Randy Walker, director of county aviation, told commissioners that the dust kicked up by the traffic could expose the airport to hefty fines from the county Health District Air Quality Division.

The trespassing and dumping have become so brazen, Walker said, that in one recent incident a developer returned to unload dirt just a day after being escorted off airport property by Metro Police officers.

"I think that they think of us as a county agency and that they can ignore us," Walker said.

The undeveloped airport land includes some 5,300 acres acquired from the Bureau of Land Management last year.

Adult club owner sues neighbor

Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo filed a defamation lawsuit Tuesday against "Buffalo" Jim Barrier.

The suit is the latest installment in an ongoing dispute between Barrier and Crazy Horse Too.

In the lawsuit, Rizzolo says Barrier made false statements in a lawsuit he filed in June alleging racketeering at Crazy Horse Too in an effort to harm Rizzolo's reputation.

Rizzolo's suit says Barrier alleged in his lawsuit that drugs were sold at the club, that Rizzolo promoted prostitution at Crazy Horse Too and that the club owner bribed public officials.

Rizzolo's lawsuit also accuses Barrier, Allstate Auto and Marine Electric next door to Crazy Horse Too on Industrial Road, of trying to disrupt business at the club and trespassing.

Barrier said he expects Rizzolo's suit to be dismissed, because all of the statements cited were culled from court records.

Rizzolo's lawyer, Dean Patti, was in court this morning and not available for comment.

FOR THE RECORD:

Metro Police

arrested an escaped inmate Tuesday who walked away from Indian Springs Boot Camp Sunday, state prison officials said. Police said Daniel Weathers was arrested at 10:40 a.m. and was being held at the Clark County Detention Center until authorities decide if he will be sent back to Indian Springs or to another facility.

The recent news

of a severe blood shortage has prompted many Las Vegas residents to call Clark County Red Cross to find out how to help. The Red Cross of Southern Nevada can't accept blood donations because it is not part of the blood donor region. The organization encourages those interested in donating blood to contact the agency coordinating donations for the Las Vegas area, United Blood Services, at 228-4483.