News briefs for July 26, 2001

Thursday, July 26, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

Resource center processing forms

There is no deadline for former or current Nevada Test Site employees or their families to file compensation claims, the Departments of Energy and Labor said.

The federal government opened a Las Vegas resource center, which has information available. The center has already processed more than 100 claims since opening on July 5, resource center office manager Bob Agonia said.

Illnesses covered by the law passed by Congress in October include cancers caused by radiation, chronic beryllium disease and chronic silicosis.

Former workers and their families who filled out forms at public meetings in June will begin receiving calls from the resource center to schedule appointments, Agonia said.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the resource center at (702) 697-0841 or toll-free at (866) 697-0841. The numbers operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is available on the Labor Department's website (http://222.dol.gov).

No cause found for dizziness

About 20 employees at a western Las Vegas credit union were treated by Las Vegas Fire Department paramedics for headaches and dizziness Wednesday afternoon.

One woman was taken to Valley Hospital Medical Center to be treated for difficulty breathing, but hazardous material technicians could not find what caused the medical problems, fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

No odors, gases or leaks were detected by the technicians at the IBEW Plus Credit Union, 1900 S. Jones Blvd. The employees started feeling ill about 2 p.m.

MacKenzie takes Gagnier's job

A former political coordinator for Culinary Local 226 in Las Vegas is the new executive director of the 4,300 member State of Nevada Employees Association.

Scott MacKenzie, 44, will take over the job Aug. 1, succeeding Bob Gagnier, who retired after 30 years of heading the biggest union of state workers.

For the past seven years MacKenzie has been secretary-treasurer and international organizer for the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 86 in Reno. Before that he served three years as political coordinator for the Culinary Union in Las Vegas.

A spokesman for the association said MacKenzie will concentrate on signing up more members and persuading the Legislature to allow state workers to bargain collectively for their salaries and benefits.

London-bound jet on its way

A London-bound passenger jet that made an emergency landing Wednesday night at McCarran International Airport was to take off today with 214 passengers who got an unexpected free night's stay in Las Vegas.

The American Airlines Boeing 777, which had taken off from Los Angeles International Airport, was forced to land after the pilot "experienced what appeared to be heart attack symptoms," an American Airlines official said. The first officer landed the plane without incident about 9:30 p.m.

The captain, whose name was not released, was tended to by a doctor and registered nurse who were passengers, officials said. He was taken to Desert Springs Hospital and was in stable condition today.