Las Vegas news briefs for April 9, 2001

Monday, April 9, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

Counselor's paid sabbatical canceled

Pending the outcome of an attorney general's investigation into allegations against Vince Ricci for enrollment padding, community college officials have canceled his all-expenses paid sabbatical.

"I just think it sends the wrong message," said Mike Meyer, interim president of the Community College of Southern Nevada. "To me that's an honor to have a sabbatical. It's because you've done a good job, and I don't think that should be given in this case yet."

Ricci, a counselor and Italian teacher at CCSN, had been awarded a trip to tour Europe in the Spring of 2002 to recruit students and provide career counseling, according to Meyer.

The investigation on Ricci is continuing, investigators say. Ricci is alleged to have falsified student grades and enrollment numbers in order to receive funding for classes he taught.

College administrators had tried to make a case against Ricci back in 1999 but were unable to remove him from his tenured position.

12 construction facilities damaged

Clark County Fire Department investigators are looking into a Sunday afternoon fire that ripped through 12 construction trailers in a holding yard near Russell Road and Decatur Boulevard.

The fire was first spotted about 2 p.m. at a yard where portable construction trailers are stored and refurbished, Clark County Fire spokesman Steve La-Sky said.

The trailers were parked within a few feet of each other, helping the fire to spread, but because there were no high winds, firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading across the entire lot.

Investigators are talking to witnesses who reported seeing some juveniles running from the area at the time the fire started, but a cause has not yet been determined, La-Sky said.

The fire led to about $60,000 in damage.

Man dies after boat sinks

A 25-year-old Las Vegas man's body was found at Lake Mohave near Placer Cove Saturday afternoon after the boat he and three others were in sank.

Desi Hairston is believed to have drowned. His body was recovered south of El Dorado Canyon by a National Park Service ranger about 3:30 p.m.

Hairston's wife was injured in the boating mishap and was taken to Valley Hospital Medical Center to be treated for her injuries, a Park Service spokesman said.

Wind gusts created 2 to 4-foot waves on the part of the lake where the boat sank about noon, officials said.

Rangers are also searching for a California man who walked into the desert near Horsepower Cove Friday night, and has not been seen since. His absence was reported at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Woman hit by car on Flamingo

A 45-year-old Las Vegas woman died Friday morning after being struck by a car as she tried to cross Flamingo Road about 1 a.m.

Connie Enriquez apparently was crossing Flamingo Road near Swenson Street outside of a crosswalk when she was struck by a car driven by 75-year-old David Goldman, Metro Police said.

Enriquez was taken to University Medical Center, where she died Friday morning, hospital officials said.

Goldman and other witnesses traveling behind Goldman told officers they did not see Enriquez until she was struck, police said.