Print edition for June 13, 2001

Help wanted: Public pool openings, hotel competition cause shortage of lifeguards: Erica Johnson; As of Monday, more than 30 public pools were open throughout the Las Vegas Valley. But city and county officials are still scrambling to hire lifeguards.

Appeal filed by Williams' attorneys: Kim Smith; Attorneys for a young woman convicted in February of causing the deaths of six teenagers picking up trash along Interstate 15 have filed her appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Five Open entrants have local ties: Victoria Sun; Las Vegas resident Anthony Kang has never played in the U.S. Open before -- or any other of golf's majors.

Escape response planned for youth facility: Keith Paul; Metro Police, state officials and authorities at a youth jail in North Las Vegas are creating a tactical plan to respond to future escape attempts, after an incident earlier this month illustrated the lack of one at the year-old facility.

Mayor seeks street crime crackdown: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman knows that for downtown to become a thriving metropolis, the city must invest as much energy in combatting crime as it does in promoting new projects.

Casino operators also eye Taiwan for gambling: Officials in the island nation of Taiwan are exploring the possibility of legalizing gaming on the archipelago of Penghu, located in the straits between Taiwan and China. So far, officials from Las Vegas Sands Inc. and MGM MIRAGE have visited Taiwan to examine the opportunity.

Columnist Peter Benton: Time to handicap the U.S. Open field: Peter Benton; Because of his dominance on Tour -- not to mention his outstanding record in the majors -- Tiger Woods is obviously the man to beat in the 101st U.S. Open which gets under way Thursday over the demanding Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.

SEC alleges Vegas firm deceived investors: The SEC filed the complaint against World Homes Inc., its CEO, Merle Ferguson, and Susan Donohue, secretary and treasurer of the company, in Nevada federal court last week. The complaint alleges violations of the federal Securities Act and Exchange Act and seeks an injunction against the company and unspecified fines.

Litigants respond to allegations in PurchasePro lawsuit: All Creative Technologies, which ceased operations in January 1996, named PurchasePro founder Charles "Junior" Johnson and Ranel Erickson, another former PurchasePro executive, as defendants in a February lawsuit.

Special session agenda is set: CARSON CITY -- The size of the Nevada Legislature will remain the same under the latest plan being negotiated before a special session Thursday, Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said this morning.

National Airlines talking to second potential buyer: A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge said she isn't optimistic about National Airlines' chances of striking a deal with a buyer that could pull the Las Vegas-based airline out of bankruptcy.

LV gambling operators likely pondering casinos in Mexico: David Strow; After an explosion of legalized gambling in the 1990s, there doesn't appear to be many new markets for the gaming industry in the United States.

Project not a pipe dream: New gas line would help ease energy crisis: A new pipeline that would traverse several Western states and cost about $1.2 billion could supply generating plants with enough power to provide electricity to 10 million homes each day, an official with the company that is heading up the project said Tuesday.

Hispanics hope lobbying figures into final drawings: Erin Neff; Southern Nevada Hispanics waited expectantly last week for proof that politicians had listened to their redistricting proposal.

Editorial: Don't rush students into science testing: Current law requires that seniors pass a new science exam in 2003 if they're to receive a diploma, but Senate Bill 148 would move that requirement to 2005. Delays such as this usually should be viewed skeptically because they are just postponing the inevitable. But in this case, state education officials note that school districts are only now adjusting the science curriculum to meet the state standards. For instance, Nevada now requires two science credits to graduate. As Sun reporter Cy Ryan noted, there are five possible areas of science study, so it's likely that some students may have taken ...

Letter: Free enterprise doesn't work for power customers: Now the utility companies have to build more power plants so they can once again be self-sustaining. The "free market" doesn't seem to work when it is a utility that is an absolute necessity.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Carson City now on Guinn Standard Time: THE PHONE conversation must have gone something like this:

Letter: We value money more than life: Why put them in jail for a "cooling-off period?" This only fuels their rage. Put them away for a very substantial amount of time the first time. If they do it a second time, put them away again and "throw away the key." The only reason most abusers abuse is because, as one confessed on a talk show, "I can. Nobody stops me."

Letter: Hospital vote cause for shame: Shame on you Las Vegas, shame on you.

Editorial: Estate tax provisions to hit state: While the estate tax's elimination will be phased in gradually until 2011, state governments will see their share of the proceeds taken away much more quickly. Beginning in 2002, states will lose 25 percent of these revenues every year. By 2005 states won't be getting any money from this tax. This will be a sizable hit for Nevada. State budget director Perry Comeaux estimates the state will have to find $53 million in the next two-year budget cycle to replace this loss, which currently goes to the universities and is also used to partially pay for class-size reduction in elementary ...

Problem gambling questions raised: Laurence Arnold; NEW YORK -- With casino industry representatives watching warily, experts in the science of addiction grappled to describe why some bettors cannot control themselves -- and what that means for the nationwide spread of gambling.

Chefs finding supplies they need in Las Vegas area: Max Jacobson; No matter where you dine in this country, almost every top chef relies on a complex network of purveyors to bring food to your table. All but a handful of these chefs relies on products from afar: seafood from Maine, meat from Midwestern stockyards, produce from California or Chile and specialty items from all over the world.

Community briefs for June 13, 2001: Media Partners for Pets will host a community garage sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at H2O to Go, 4345 W. Tompkins Ave. Items range from large and small appliances, clothing, books, CDs, knick knacks, antiques, furniture, baby items, pet-related merchandise, and more.

Losing their Patients: Medical lingo may confuse those not in the know: Carrison, a doctor and director of University of Medical Center's emergency room, waited until he was 43 to embark on a medical career.

Boy needs joy summer camp gives: He would benefit greatly from a camping experience, his foster parents say, because he could spend time around other children and be involved in a variety of activities.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: These ideas are tops for pops: Dear old Dad. He deserves the best, but sometimes it's hard to decide what he'd like for Father's Day. There had to be clues as to what he wanted throughout the year, but did you listen when he moaned over the loss of his favorite whatever?

Obituaries for June 13, 2001: Carmen Bilotta, 85, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born June 7, 1916, in Cincinnati. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired tailor and owner-operator of a dry cleaning establishment, a Navy veteran and a charter member of No. 3697 Knute Rockne of Downey, Calif.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Super Summer Theatre celebrates opener: Elizabeth Foyt; Arecent gathering of the Super Summer Theatre board of directors included community leaders serving in advisory capacities. The early evening meeting, hosted by Alice and Homer Rissman at the Regency Towers, was a prelude to the 2001 musical offerings at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

Casino executives sell stock: Harrah's President and Chief Operating Officer Gary Loveman filed to sell 52,500 shares of stock June 4, grossing $1.86 million. This sale represented about 15 percent of Loveman's stock holdings in Harrah's as of Jan. 31.

Three Las Vegas youngsters try for milk mustache ads: Rebecca Malone; The pearly white teeth and milky upper lips of three Las Vegas kids are gracing websites and may someday figure prominently in national ads.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:10 p.m.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Outdoors journalists gather in St. George: Paula DelGiudice; The Outdoor Writers Association of America met for its annual conference last week in St. George, Utah. Writers from all over the country came to the Southwest to learn how to write better stories and take better photographs.

Salon changes name after suit: The salon said it has destroyed all Scissors Palace signs, brochures and business cards, discontinued a website that operated under that former name, stopped running TV advertisements under that name and requested a new telephone directory ad that uses the Versailles mark for the July 2001 directory.

Casino operator sues over Treasure Island website: MGM MIRAGE'S Treasure Island Corp., which said it owns the domain name, "treasureisland.com," sued Knot Investments in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, alleging it linked its domain name, "wwwtreasureisland.com" to an online casino called "World Wide Gamble," where real money bets can be placed over the Internet.

Gymnastics: Summer Recreational tournament Saturday: The event, the first of its kind to be held in the area, is open to all participants of the recreational gymnastics programs offered at the rec centers in Henderson and Boulder City. There will be 120 athletes competing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wrestling: Buffalo Jim Barrier to hold open house: Wrestling: Buffalo Jim Barrier to hold open house

News briefs for June 13, 2001: A man is in critical condition today and two others were injured in an early morning drive-by shooting in an area hit this year by a series of gang-related slayings.

Shooting range deal OK'd: Jeffrey Libby; The Boulder City Council approved Tuesday a preliminary contract that would build a regional public safety shooting range southwest of Railroad Pass in the Eldorado Valley.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's card at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Buffalo -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Nakatani atop McAnally trainee, adds blinkers for this. Moroohaza -- Training at Anita, Espinoza on Abrams trainee, should get good trip for graduation try from outside post. Value Play -- Saying Grace

PCL box: Las Vegas-Memphis: E--Kiefer, Whitmore, Medina. DP--Las Vegas 2, Memphis 2. LOB--Las Vegas 8, Memphis 12. 2B--Cookson, Mota, K. Johnson, Mashore. HR--Cookson (4), K. Johnson (3), McDonald (7). S--Kiefer. SF--Lucca. SB--Prieto.

Rebels' Banks finalist for Pan Am squad: Banks played the last two years at Dixie College in St. George, Utah, and last fall he signed a national letter of intent to enroll at UNLV this fall.

Guinn can limit length of session: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn has the authority to set a time limit on the special session of the Legislature scheduled to convene Thursday for reapportionment and to revote on bills whose legality is in question, the state attorney general's office said Tuesday.

Oddsmakers not convinced Bonds will break HR record: Spencer Patterson; Barry Bonds may be ahead of Mark McGwire's record home run pace of 1998, but the Imperial Palace knows the San Francisco slugger still has a long way to go if he's to hit 71 this season.

Firm: Spark downtown business: Jeffrey Libby; Downtown Henderson has languished in a time warp with little private investment, but can be and should be saved, says the most recent study released by a consulting firm with plans to spark new business investment along Water Street.

Hecker conducting Little Big Man's Camp: Hecker conducting Little Big Man's Camp

51s' roster is shuffled after win at Memphis: Behind the hitting of shortstop Keith Johnson and red-hot right fielder Brent Cookson, the 51s snapped their five-game losing streak with a 10-3 victory over Memphis Tuesday.

UNLV women to play on national television: UNLV women to play on national television

Las Vegas area fishing report: LAKE MEAD: Striped bass fishing continues to improve as boaters are catching fish with top water lures and by drifting bait in the Boulder Basin and Overton Arm.

Davey Hamilton's wife thanks public: "I just want to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers. We have received literally hundreds of phone calls in the last few days regarding Davey's condition," Tracey Hamilton said in a statement.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Tiger's hot, and they're betting him: Dean Juipe; Look no further than Las Vegas to see the degree to which Tiger Woods is dominating golf.

Energy surcharge imposed: The surcharge will take effect June 15. Properties that will introduce the surcharge are Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton, the Flamingo Reno, the Reno Hilton, Caesars Tahoe and the Flamingo Laughlin.

Conviction of LV killer upheld: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Arthur Robles, who fatally shot a convenience store clerk in Las Vegas in March 1996.

Court briefs for June 13, 2001: A 48-year-old Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty in April in connection with a fatal March accident was sentenced to 5 1/2 to 20 years in prison Tuesday.

Mongolian kids recovering from heart surgery: By Emily Richmond; Two children from Mongolia who came to Las Vegas for life-saving heart surgery are recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Sunrise Children's Hospital, their doctor said.

Wireless local voice telephone, Internet service offered: Local phone service -- transmitted to an antenna installed on a customer's home -- starts at $12.95 a month. High speed Internet service -- also delivered to the antenna -- is priced at $34.95 per month.

Police review land owner's request to roust homeless: Diana Sahagun; Boulder City resident William Smith, who owns the property that has become known as "Tent City," has formally asked Metro Police to remove the homeless people who live there.