Print edition for August 14, 2001

Survivor's twin asks for prayers: Keith Paul; The twin sister of the lone survivor of a fiery helicopter crash near the Grand Canyon described the critically injured woman Monday as "a fighter" trying to recover.

Fire veteran looks forward to filling chief's position: When David Washington joined the Las Vegas Fire Department 27 years ago, there were only 13 other blacks on the force and few, if any, ever thought they'd get an opportunity to become chief.

Vegas cable operator names new manager: Lipford most recently served as regional vice president for Cablevision, where he oversaw more than 1 million cable customers in 10 cable systems in New Jersey and southern New York. He also previously served as vice president and general manager of Time Warner Communications in Rochester, N.Y.

Las Vegas nursing home to close, faces lawsuit: Healthpro Staffing LLC, which said it agreed on Feb. 27 to provide substitute or temporary staff to the Manor, sued the 225-bed nursing home at 8501 Del Webb Blvd. in Clark County District Court. The Manor is accused of failing to pay $117,220 for temporary staffing services.

Disease alert at hotel is under scrutiny: By Emily Richmond; Commissioner Erin Kenny this morning called a meeting of officials from the Clark County Health District and the Polo Towers to discuss why district employees distributed fliers about Legionnaires' disease to the property's guests.

Canadian casino near Detroit eyes expansion: A Canadian government agency, owner of the Detroit area's oldest casino property, is discussing plans to expand the casino's hotel and bus capacity in the face of rising competition from the U.S. side. The multimillion-dollar expansion would include 150 to 200 additional hotel rooms and a depot able to accommodate 12 buses at a time.

Stratosphere revenue up, profit slides down: Stratosphere on Monday reported a second quarter profit of $237,000 or 12 cents per share, down from $1.2 million, 57 cents a share in the year-ago quarter.

Breathing lessons: Spencer Patterson; Most symptoms of exercise-induced asthma can be alleviated by taking medication through the mouth via an inhaler prescribed by a physician. Here are the most common symptoms of exercise-induced asthma:

Citigroup to lay off 3,500 more workers: Citigroup Inc. will let go 3,500 more workers this year because of the economic downturn, adding to the 1,200 layoffs it previously announced.

Mack is $3 million in debt: Diana Sahagun; Mack's loans totaled $3.04 million as of June 2000. A breakdown of that debt:

Man had threatened wife's life: Keith Paul; A Henderson man, who last week was found dead in his burned house with his wife in what police are now calling a murder-suicide, threatened to kill his wife a year ago when the couple lived in North Las Vegas, police say.

Nevada firms worst in smoke-free policies: By Emily Richmond; Dr. Karen Arcotta, who heads the cardiology department at University Medical Center, winces when she sees cigarette smoke wafting into the air above slot machines in supermarkets or from open doorways of smoking lounges at McCarran International Airport.

News briefs for August 14, 2001: The death of a 47-year-old woman found dead in her mobile home last week is not considered a homicide, Metro Police said.

Funds marked for Strip-downtown rail link: Diana Sahagun; A proposal for a two-mile leg linking downtown Las Vegas with the Strip monorail may receive additional funding -- this time $1 million for more preliminary studies.

Firm moves to produce credit card slot system: David Strow; A small Las Vegas gambling company is promoting a new concept for casinos: the marriage of the slot machine and the credit or debit card.

Project gets first official tenant: Diana Sahagun; The much-delayed downtown Neonopolis entertainment project has its first official tenant and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a frequent critic of the project, can't wait until the 2,000-square foot Mexican restaurant opens.

New teachers welcomed: 1,300 prepare for Aug. 30 school start: Terry Webster; Nicolette Hubber broke her arm after a third grader kicked her legs out from under her.

Finding closure at the Maxim: David Strow; It was quiet in the lobby of the Maxim hotel Monday morning, more quiet than most Las Vegas resorts ever are.

Plea deal stands; man sentenced to life: Rebecca Malone; An 18-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to 20 years to life for first-degree murder, after District Judge Joseph Bonaventure denied the defendant's request to withdraw a plea agreement.

Defrauding of program for the blind charged: CARSON CITY -- A former manager in state government has been charged with using state money to buy equipment for the blind but then keeping the items for himself.

Atlantic City casinos increasingly take advantage of beach locale: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- On the beach in front of the Atlantic City Hilton, you can get a massage, rent a hammock or get a fishing rod and go surf casting from the water's edge.

Website in deal with Nevada hotels, restaurants: Financial terms were not disclosed.

Williams hangs on for shutout: Steve Addy; Jeff Williams threw a five-hitter with seven strikeouts, and was supported by three home runs: Phil Hiatt's league-leading 39th, Angel Pena's 13th and Jeff Branson's fourth.

Letter: Babbitt's changes unfair to miners: Many of us are small-scale prospectors, miners and recreational prospectors trying to work with the system as it has worked for over 150 years. His over-regulation of small-scale miners is another attempt to push through regulations based upon rhetoric rather than scientific evidence.

Letter: State senator wrong to seek workers' comp: There are enough outrageous elements of the story to fill three editorials. As a member of the state Senate, Washington should have had better judgment and a better sense of the law. As a member of the clergy, he should have held himself to a higher standard in his relationship with his workers.

Defecting sales executives sued by Vegas firm: Haycock Petroleum Co. Inc. sued former sales persons Brenda Lee Frentzel and Tom Tonai and their new employer, Tri-State Petroleum, in Clark County District Court.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: TV-related fire ruins Robby Gordon's chances at Glen: Television largely has been credited with assisting NASCAR's meteoric rise in popularity during the past two decades.

Where I Stand -- Shannon Bybee: Ever-evolving industry: IF ONE WORD best describes the evolution of gaming in Las Vegas, it is "change." Change has been a key element in Las Vegas becoming acknowledged as the worldwide center of casino gaming.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Business gets us out of line: Lorraine Solomon says the trick to starting a service-based business is to remember one common aspect of human nature.

Hawkes faces ethics hearing: Adrienne Packer; Former Clark County General Services Director Earl Hawkes is the latest target of former county facilities worker Gene Smith, who has filed five ethics complaints against elected officials and administrators.

Shareholders sue to block privatization plan: The lawsuit was filed in Las Vegas because the company is incorporated in Nevada, though its corporate headquarters is in Los Angeles.

PCL box: Sacramento-Las Vegas: DP--Sacramento 2, Las Vegas 1. LOB--Sacramento 6, Las Vegas 11. 2B--Prieto, Crosby, TMota. 3B--Hiatt. HR-Pena (13), Branson (4), Hiatt (39). SB--German (8), KJohnson (4).

LV radio station sued by concert promoter: Lisa Lee Rapuzzi, doing business as Webstock Concert Series, who said she paid Lotus Broadcasting Corp. doing business as KOMP Radio FM 92 to promote the concert event, sued the radio station in Clark County District Court.

Former Thunder coach Goring goes to Alaska: Goring was fired in March by the Islanders, who finished last season with the NHL's worst record. He coached the team to a 55-100-17 mark after taking the job in 1999.

Letter: Power is no bargain here: Imagine my shock and outrage when last month's bill was $178 and this month it's $188! I used less electricity this time last year, yet my bill has nearly doubled. I even used less electricity this month than last month and still am paying more. My friend's house is larger than mine, with four people doing laundry, showering and using the dishwasher every night. Her electric bill was $30 less than mine. Go figure.

Las Vegas bank says condo developer defaulted on big loan: The bank sued Craig Road Villas, owner of a rental condominium development at 6150 W. Palmyra Avenue, in Clark County District Court, to protect the property's monthly rents, which it said are "in danger of being lost and that substantial waste is being committed" on the property.

Softball: Six recruits sign to play for the Rebels: Joining the Rebels in 2002 will be infielders Morgan Bostwick of Salem, Ore.; Amber Campbell of Glendale, Ariz.; Stephanie Coe of North Medford, Ore.; Pauline Glenn of Tucson, Ariz; and pitcher Jackie Kerrigan of Eugene, Ore.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- Naughty Nacho -- Espinoza atop Baffert trainee, draws good spot for mile opener, Naughty may Nacho another victory for team at seaside. Vaca Gold -- Smith aboard Sumja trainee, must overcome outside post, rider heating up and trainer is solid Northern California--based conditioner. Value Play -- Codger

Coming events: The Thunderbirds Museum, containing information and memorabilia of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, based at Nellis Air Force Base, will be closed Aug. 21-24 for the team's mid-season break.

Community briefs for August 14, 2001: The Council of State Governments has selected state Treasurer Brian Krolicki for the Toll Fellowship, a weeklong seminar on government trends and policy development.

Green Valley shooting for stars: Victoria Sun; The cameras will be on, the lights will be shining brightly and the stands at Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif., are expected to be filled with 7,000 screaming fans.

LV firm in litigation over credit card billing services: National Sports Services Inc. sued ProvidentOne Payment Systems Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., Signature Card Services of Los Angeles, Equifax and Capital City Bank of Tallahassee, Fla., in Clark County District Court.

Second appeal denied in killing at LV hotel: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has dismissed a second appeal by William Witter, sentenced to death in the fatal stabbing of a man in the parking lot of a Las Vegas hotel.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Kole cool on 'Sopranos' bash: Kate Maddox; Kelly Kole called to say that she hadn't heard a thing about the genuine Bada Bing girls coming out here on Saturday to help entertain at the Las Vegas Hilton's high-roller "Sopranos" bash.

Offense to count on Costa for spark: Steve Guiremand; UNLV fullback Steven Costa's middle name should be Versatile.

Sports book shooting trial delayed: Kim Smith; The murder trial of a man who claims his victim was a mob enforcer out to kill him has been postponed because of concerns about the defendant's mental health.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Nevada trails nation in black population: Nevada had slightly higher percentages of whites and blacks than the West as a whole but remained well below the national average for blacks, according to census data released Monday.

Editorial: Board needs to get to bottom of dispute: It's only fair that the Board of Regents, which will take up the matter this week during its meeting in Reno, reviews this matter thoroughly and expeditiously. The last thing the university needs is to be torn apart again as it was during the lingering dispute between UNLV President Bob Maxson and coach Jerry Tarkanian in the mid-1990s, a fissure that not only split donors but also left wounds within the university itself that only have recently started to heal.

Editorial: Boosting stem cell research: Despite the criticism, the president chose the sensible path on this controversial scientific endeavor that is fraught with ethical questions. On balance, Bush's decision allowed federally funded research to go forward in what scientists say is a promising area. His nationally televised address last week also showed that he had wrestled with the issue and understood its far-reaching implications. And for a president who has been dogged by accusations that he isn't a deep thinker, he showed that wasn't the case with this issue.

Florida resort company seeking hotel alliances: Bluegreen Corp., Boca Raton, Fla., is developing alliances with more than 300 hotels and resorts in the United States and the Caribbean and already has agreements with Adams Mark Hotels and Resorts, Provident Suites and Estero Island Beach Resorts.

Vegas auto dealer fights state fine: The DMV levied the fine on Jan. 8 after GMF allegedly failed to provide Michael Mendoza, a lessee of a car, with evidence of compliance with emission standards.

Obituaries for August 14, 2001: Ida Mae Brown, 91, of Henderson died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born July 17, 1910, in Los Angeles. A resident for five years, she was a retired civil service purchasing contractor.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Wunder where Charlie is?: It's too bad Charlie Cavagnaro, UNLV's lame duck athletic director, isn't taking calls from the media these days. I wanted to tell him to have a bratwurst and a Beck's on me.

Jury selection begins in Stratosphere slaying: Kim Smith; Jury selection began Monday for a man charged in the May 2000 slaying of a tourist at the Stratosphere.

Parents get time to provide evidence in daughter's death: Kim Smith; Elsa Heird's days are filled with memories of her daughter Danielle, but it's the nighttime visits that haunt her most.

LV center closed: The distributor of maintenance and operating supplies said the closure of the four distribution centers in Las Vegas, Sparks, Bakersfield, Calif., and Auburn, Wash., will be completed by the end of the fourth quarter and is expected to save about $750,000 annually.

Community service board increased: Rebecca Malone; Gov. Kenny Guinn has appointed eight new members to a commission that administers federal and state money to AmeriCorps programs.

Vegas office equipment firm sued by rival: Tangerine Express Inc. sued Laser World Inc., its president, Michael Friedman and manager, Patrick Larson, in Clark County District Court, alleging they solicited its employees to defect to Laser World in order to use Tangerine's trade secrets.

Immunization schedule for August 14, 2001: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tuned in: Las Vegas Songwriters Association ready for rhyme time: She's a songwriter who's been writing country songs for nearly 20 years. She takes ideas from catchy phrases, television shows or newspaper stories, then turns them into heartfelt lyrics that she sends to Nashville, Tenn., to have recorded onto a demo tape.

Man slain by police was parolee: Keith Paul; A 38-year-old man shot by a Metro Police officer after police say he confronted officers with a knife had been released from prison on parole just 13 days earlier.

Construction defects alleged in lawsuits: Several Cabrillo Terrace condominium owners filed a class action lawsuit against developer Millen Development and Cabrillo Terrace Owners Association, alleging defects in their 96-unit development at Cabrillo Circle and Venice Drive in Henderson.

Nevada civil rights pioneer Hoggard dies at 86: In the early 1950s local children ditching school knew when they saw truant officer David Hoggard coming their way that it was useless to run.