Local news briefs for February 23, 2001

Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

Truck hits 12-year-old

A 12-year-old boy was killed Thursday afternoon when he was hit by a recycling truck while crossing a street.

The accident happened at about 3 p.m. as Stephen Allshouse attempted to cross the intersection of Eastern and Searles avenues in northeastern Las Vegas.

Metro Police Detective Steve Winne said Allshouse started to cross Eastern inside a crosswalk and was struck by a Silver Dollar Recycling truck as it made a right turn from eastbound Searles to southbound Eastern.

"Witnesses say that the boy was crossing with the 'walk' signal," Winne said. "The driver of the truck told us that he saw the child, but the child didn't move when the signal changed. The driver said he thought the child was waiting for him to make the turn."

Tags to benefit missing children

Residents can now show their support for missing children by purchasing new license plates that will benefit the Nevada Missing Children Clearinghouse.

The license plates will cost $51 and a $20 renewal fee. Personalized plates will cost $86 and the renewal fee will cost $40. Plates are available at any full service Department of Motor Vehicles office.

The primary function of the clearinghouse, which was established in 1991 by the Legislature, is to educate the public about missing children.

It is also responsible for investigating and prosecuting parental abductions, and training law enforcement officers.

For more information, call 486-3326 or visit the website (ag.state.nv.us).

Institute seeks focus group

Individuals who have dealt with abusive or high-pressure real estate salespeople are being encouraged to participate in one of a series of focus groups being conducted by UNLV researchers.

The university's Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies is seeking individuals who may have been the victims of real estate agents or mortgage lenders who used predatory practices to sell property.

Predatory practices include unfair and abusive loan terms, misleading marketing and high-pressure sales tactics.

Each individual who participates in the focus groups, which begin next month, will receive a $25 stipend.

For more information on the focus groups, contact the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at 895-4492.

Help available at IRS office

The Las Vegas Internal Revenue Service office is offering expanded hours for residents through April.

The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays until April 7. It will also be open the last day of filing of income tax returns, April 16, until 6:30 p.m.

People can use the office at 4750 W. Oakey Blvd. to get tax forms and other publications, ask questions and get help from staff when filling out the forms.

Other tax-related information can be found at its website (www.irs.gov). Or call the 800-829-3676.