Local news briefs for September 22, 2000

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

Police say mother made up story

A woman who reported to Metro Police that her boyfriend kidnapped her 21-month-old daughter made the story up and now faces charges -- if she can be found, police say.

Erika Tellez told police her boyfriend, Frederico Ramos, had taken her daughter, Nitza Garcia, after an argument Monday. Tellez claimed she was not married to Ramos and he was not the child's father, police said.

Police said the name Frederico Ramos was an alias used by Eduardo Garcia. Officials said Garcia is married to Tellez and is the child's father. Police speculated Tellez was upset because Garcia was moving back to California.

Tellez faces charges of filing a false police report and malicious prosecution. After she filed the report, Tellez may have moved to California, police said.

Plea deal made in ATM scheme

A man who pleaded guilty Thursday to his part in an ATM investment swindle was to repay the three victims $45,500 today.

Philip Gardner will return $15,000 each to a Las Vegas woman and a Southern California man and $15,500 to a Northern Nevada woman.

Gardner, Bernard Titony and Douglas Kent Bawden are accused of telling investors that a business called "The ATM Store" would buy and place ATM machines throughout the country and that dividends would start within 60 to 90 days. The three are accused of violating several securities laws of the state.

Gardner pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor of conspiracy to sell an unregistered security. Titony is expected to plead guilty next week. There is no plea agreement with Bawden.

Evacuation of San Remo needed

Investigators have determined that a fire that forced the evacuation of the San Remo hotel Thursday was set intentionally.

The fire, which began in a laundry cart on the sixth floor about 7:50 p.m., triggered the hotel's sprinkler system. Investigators have no suspects yet, said Steve La-Sky, Clark County Fire Department spokesman.

Firefighters continued to use the sprinkler system to control the flames and smoke, he said.

The fifth and sixth floors of the hotel, 115 E. Tropicana Ave., were flooded.

Criticism arises over objectives

A long-range plan for Boulder City was faulted Thursday for not having among its objectives keeping the town small.

Neal Siniakin, a commercial properties manager in Boulder City, during a public hearing criticized the current draft plan prepared by a council-appointed advisory committee.

Siniakin complained that the plan speaks of maintaining Boulder City's "small-town charm" and "small-town flavor" but never states an objective of keeping Boulder City a small town.

He also opposed the plan's stress on courting tourists.

Two of the three others who addressed the plan, however, spoke in favor of the tourism emphasis.

The draft plan includes goals of continuing city beautification, more recreational programs, protecting surrounding natural resources, additional golf courses, the building of a conference center and opening a railroad museum.

MountainView receives approval

MountainView Hospital was approved for a license Wednesday to operate its recently completed expansion.

The facility opened its doors to patients Thursday with 72 additional beds, two Caesarian-section rooms, two X-ray rooms and four operating rooms in nearly 90,000 square feet.

In addition to more space, the hospital's pharmacy, engineering, central processing, medical records, housekeeping facilities and the parking lot were expanded during the project.