Print edition for September 26, 2000

Dry year leaves waterfowl, hunters looking for water: Tom Gardner; RENO, Nev. - Northern Nevada's first dry year after five wet ones has migrating waterfowl searching for a wet place to land and hunters looking for enough water to launch a boat.

Nantkes key to grounding Falcons: Steve Guiremand; UNLV freshman Kurt Nantkes is doing his best impression of Air Force quarterback Mike Thiessen in practice this week. And the 6-3, 205-pounder from Aurora, Colo., couldn't be happier.

Letter: Lawyers fattened by Clinton probe: The taxpayers deserve to know how much of the $52 million went to Ken Starr and Ray.

Nevada fails to tap aid for kids: CARSON CITY -- Nevada will give up $18 million in federal money for health insurance for children of the working poor, partly because of delays in starting the Nevada Check Up program.

In spite of cameras, guards, man holds up Harrah's New Orleans: The man walked up to a teller's window, implied that he had a weapon, demanded and got an undisclosed amount of money, and walked out with it, police and Harrah's officials said.

Churches cause redevelopment woes: Las Vegas' redevelopment efforts are hampered by too many churches restricting economic investment and abandoned buildings plaguing neighborhoods, staffers told the City Council on Monday.

National museum long shot for Vegas: David Strow; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman says he'd like to convince the Smithsonian Institution to open its first Western museum in Las Vegas as a new jewel for downtown.

Editorial: It's time to break stalemate: But a major impediment to a genuine patient's bill of rights was overcome last year when the Republican-controlled House passed -- by a whopping 275-151 vote -- a bill that included the right to sue. But as the Sun's Benjamin Grove reported Sunday, the GOP-run Senate still isn't budging on the lawsuit provision and is siding with the insurance industry, which opposes this legal right.

New trial sought in botched murder of romantic rival: Greg Tuttle; Defense attorneys for a man facing a possible life sentence for the botched murder of a romantic rival by a friend who killed the wrong man are seeking a new trial.

Mayor sets design standard for planned center: Jace Radke; Plans for the West Coast's largest furniture showroom on a section of the old Union Pacific property downtown will have the city's support as long as it's not a box-shaped warehouse, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said.

Program to help students learn about health care profession: Jeffrey Libby; The Community College of Southern Nevada announced a new partnership Monday that aims to encourage high school students to pursue careers in the critically short-staffed health care profession.

Elique: Change is imminent: Changes to the UNLV Police Department's policies and procedures and its methods of investigating allegations of officer misconduct are well under way, says new Chief Jose Elique.

State official defends decision to scrap water planner office: Brendan Riley; Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, demanded that Gov. Kenny Guinn's administration explain the cut, described initially as a cost-cutting move.

Editorial: Network commits major-league error: Well, think again.

Late night fire leaves 23 homeless: Las Vegas and Clark County firefighters found heavy flames coming out the patio door of a downstairs apartment and lapping up into the apartment above when they arrived at the Sahara Palms Apartments just before midnight Monday, said spokesman Tim Szymanski.

Residents sue county over flood damage from creek: When Leonard and Jean Georges and Rainier and Mignon Gund moved into their homes along Duck Creek in the Las Vegas Valley's southeast, they had never heard of flooding problems.

Tennis: Local teams win titles: The women's team of Irene Agulilar, Dixie Cartwright, Carol Chamberlain, Eleanor Howard, Susan McFarland, Margaret Orchipinti, Judy Rosenberg and Rita Spurgin went undefeated with a 3-0 win over Wyoming in the finals on Sunday. The men's team of Stanley Ames, Ross Benson, Michael Bernstein, John Curtis, Gerald Detwiler, Robert Hoving, John McCandless, Leroy Perfect, John Ward and Ronald Williams was also undefeated during the three-day championships.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Even at 1-3, Rebels may finish 7-5: Dean Juipe; UNLV football fans shouldn't be too disheartened.

Monday's prep results: Girls Volleyball

Chairman says it was "time to step down": On Monday, Anchor announced Fulton and his family were selling their stake in Anchor for $306 million. In connection with the transaction, Fulton will step down as chairman of the company he founded 12 years ago, along with two family members who served as directors.

Travel agents say they're co-existing with the 'Net: Travel agents say they no longer have to prove that the Internet isn't going to wipe them out. Instead, they're working with new technology to make themselves more valuable to clients to keep loyal customers from booking online themselves.

Harter: UNLV moving toward 'major status': Jeffrey Libby; The future looks bright for 43-year-old UNLV in more ways than one, says President Carol Harter.

Community news briefs for September 26, 2000: MTV brings its Choose or Lose team to UNLV Friday in an effort to register young voters.

Two teachers honored for their contributions: Dave Hickey will receive the Arts in Education award at the Governor's Awards in the Arts and Humanities ceremony in November. He is being recognized for artistic achievement and support of the arts in Nevada. Hickey is an English instructor at UNLV.

UNLV clinic works with child disorders: Such difficulties can be the result of specific fears, general anxiety, social anxiety, separation problems, attention-seeking problems, or family problems, Christopher Kearney, director of the clinic and associate professor of clinical child psychology, said.

Letter: Stereotyping political party is ridiculous: All of our family has graduated from high school and two of our children graduated from college.

LV firm removed from bankruptcy filing: Alexander's Snowy River Feed & Tack, 3084 N. Nellis Blvd., had been included in a bankruptcy filing of the estate of Kimberly Matteuci Story.

Teachers' business profits tax petition has enough signatures: Brendan Riley; Susan Morandi, deputy secretary of state for elections, said only 44,009 valid signatures were needed on the school funding petition - and 63,795 were found to be valid.

Rudin's attorney wants the public to pay: District Judge Joseph Bonaventure will consider the request in court on Oct. 5. Rudin's trial is set for Oct. 30.

Strip hotel implosion set for Oct. 3: The developers of the upscale Turnberry Place condominiums plan to implode the El Rancho at 2:30 a.m., company spokesman Matt Levinson said.

Travel boom drives 8.1% increase in LV air traffic: Southwest Airlines, the No. 1 carrier in Las Vegas, posted a 5.8 percent increase in August traffic to 980,000 people. No. 2 carrier America West was up 15.7 percent to 548,000 passengers. United fell 9.7 percent to 262,000, Delta was up 5.3 percent to 244,000 while Las Vegas-based National jumped 158 percent to 199,000.

Casinos help out schools: The partnerships, part of the school district's Focus Schools project, also will provide each of the school's computer labs with computers, along with other equipment. Additionally, Station Casinos employees will volunteer to help with school events and offer teachers support in the classroom. Student and teacher award programs also will be sponsored.

Man killed in motorcycle-auto crash: Las Vegas police said the man, whose identity was withheld until relatives could be notified, struck a car driven by Tara Sonnenberg, 23, of Las Vegas.

Gymnastics: Brown's hosts meet Saturday: Gymnastics: Brown's hosts meet Saturday

Ex-pollution official cleared: A former Clark County Health District official in charge of air pollution control programs has been cleared of wrongdoing.

Citizens group dinner to feature Porter: Tickets are $35 a person and may be reserved by calling Phil Stout at 565-8842 or John Sanford at 382-9165. The outdoor dinner will be held barbecue style at a private home. Dress is casual.

Henderson residents caught in Del Webb-MacDonald feud: Greg Harman; A simmering three-way conflict between management at Del Webb's Sun City MacDonald Ranch, its residents and a prominent developer may bubble over into picket lines and litigation.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Hey Bayno, shhh! The NCAA may hear you: Based on his comments following the Dallas Inquisition (a k a UNLV's hearing in front of the NCAA Infractions Committee) last Friday, one can assume Bill Bayno wasn't spanked very often as a kid.

Commissioner leaving public relations after less than a year: Herrera cited personal reasons for leaving the company. Herrera, a student at UNLV's Boyd School of Law and a representatives of District G, recently moved into a new house and he and his wife, Emily, are expecting their first child.

Teachers union qualifies petition: CARSON CITY -- The secretary of state's office announced Monday the business tax petition by the teachers union has qualified and will be submitted to the 2001 Legislature.

Date for building of college uncertain: CARSON CITY -- Construction of the Henderson State College could begin in 2003 if designs are funded this year and the governor and Legislature follow through with approvals for an initial classroom and student services building.

Letter: Writer misses several points: That's a bit more than a simple lie about sex -- that's against the law.

U.S. teams prosper in American sports: SYDNEY, Australia -- Americans won American games at the Olympics today -- softball, baseball and volleyball.

Nuke compensation plan shelved: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A congressional panel apparently has scrapped a plan for this year to compensate nuclear weapons laborers for their work-related illnesses.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Retelling a rat's tale: This rat thing in Las Vegas isn't funny. There, I've said it.

Rebel golf team falters: The Rebels finished first-round play in fifth place with a 5-over par team round and just six strokes behind Georgia. However, with six holes of the second round completed, UNLV slipped to 13-over for the tourney and ninth place in the team standings. At 1-over par, Georgia led the team competition with a 3-stroke edge over Texas.

UNLV's Harter: Overzealous boosters just aren't welcome: Steve Addy; UNLV took responsibility for NCAA rules violations by self-penalizing its men's basketball program last week.

Obituaries for September 26, 2000: Douglas Vernon Anderson, 53, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born May 21, 1947, in Utah. A resident for 18 years, he was a cement finisher, a Navy veteran, a professional bass fisherman and a member of the Small Business Association.

Nevada PUC and consumer advocate under the gun over rising electric rates: CARSON CITY -- Despite an 8 percent increase in electric rates in Clark County, Nevada Power Co. is recovering only a fraction of what it is paying in higher fuel costs, a utility executive told the Legislative Commission on Monday.

Local news briefs for September 26, 2000: A Las Vegas motorcyclist was killed during rush hour Monday when a station wagon turned in front of him causing a collision, Metro Police said.

State lauds court win on Yucca water rights: State officials and Nevada's congressional delegation cheered getting the home court advantage in a fight to keep a nuclear waste repository out of Yucca Mountain.

First lady to pay call on Las Vegas Valley: The private cocktail reception is expected to raise at least $75,000. In addition to helping Clinton, some of the money will go to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and to the New York State Democratic Committee.

Metheny Trio adhere to rhythm method at Blue Note: Steve Bornfeld; There is playing a musical instrument.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Rigid scrutiny awaits C2K: Kate Maddox; A hot rumor hit the mill over the weekend when insiders spread word that Club C2K would reopen under new management by the end of the month. The likelihood is that it won't happen quite that quickly, but sources indicate there will be some new action in the space by the end of October. That is, if the hotel can find someone willing to touch the tainted nightspot.

Accused niece killer to face murder charges in Nevada: Lyon County District Attorney Robert Estes expects Kuhn-Brown to arrive in his jurisdiction this week.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Context gets lost in controversy: You have to wonder.

'Three Penny Opera' opens UNLV season: Kimberley McGee; When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and October 5-7; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. October 8.

Pros and cons of Greenbrier casino to debate their views Oct. 3: Greenbrier County residents will vote in a referendum Nov. 7 whether to allow The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs to operate a casino for its guests. The Legislature this year authorized the vote.