Stories published March 23, 2001Las Vegas Sun

Layoffs, loss at LV firm: The company posted a net loss of $1.95 per share for the quarter. In the year-ago period, Mikohn reported a net loss of $2 million, or 18 cents per share. Revenues fell 10 percent to $24.2 million.

Cox moving against cable piracy: Grace Leong; Las Vegas cable television operator Cox Communications sued 39 Las Vegas Valley residents, alleging they illegally used "pirate" cable television decoding devices to steal its services.

Las Vegas crime briefs for March 23, 2001: The Las Vegas criminal apprehension team on Thursday arrested a fugitive wanted in Illinois on charges that include kidnapping.

Metro union chief unexpectedly quits: Keith Paul; Metro Police officers' union chief resigned Thursday night, saying it leaves the group in a better position to fight off a rival group challenging for the right to represent street cops and jail guards.

Vegas growth spurs boom in SW Utah: Nevada isn't the only state that faces changes because of high population growth in the Las Vegas area.

Woodbury, Porter back controversial pay raises: Jeffrey Libby; County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury and state Sen. Jon Porter have come out in favor of salary hikes that Boulder City voters will get a chance to approve or reject in the April 3 primary municipal election.

Wells Fargo buying financial planning operation: Wells Fargo will pay $21.03 in cash for each H.D. Vest share and for each option, an amount equal to the difference between $21.03 and the option's exercise price. That's three times H.D. Vest's closing price of $7 Thursday. The bank expects to complete the acquisition in the next three months.

Red Flag flies again: Air Force personnel gather at Nellis for training exercise: Angela Soo; It could have been a scene from the movie "Top Gun," only the pilots were real and Las Vegas was the setting.

Prep baseball standings: CLASS 4A

Ticket, room broker goes online: Visitors to the site can electronically book hotel rooms and purchase tickets to Las Vegas tours, rides, shows and attractions. Shows include Blue Man Group at the Luxor, American Superstars at the Stratosphere and Caesars Magical Empire. Golf tee times can also be made at five local courses.

Constitutionality of gaming regulations to be challenged by denied applicant: David Strow; A San Francisco developer is vowing to mount a legal challenge to the constitutionality of Nevada's gaming regulations, following the Nevada Gaming Commission's unanimous decision to deny him a gaming license Thursday.

Turning point: Las Vegas' struggle for racial desegregation started 41 years ago: Four decades ago, it took the efforts of blacks and whites working together to end segregation practices that prohibited blacks from staying in Las Vegas Strip hotels.

Judge revokes Williams' bail: Kim Smith; A District Court Judge this morning denied a request by Jessica Williams' attorney, John Watkins, to reduce his client's $5 million bail so she could go free until her sentencing next week.

CCSN officials scrutinized: Jennifer Knight; Allegations of nepotism and padding enrollment outlined in a state attorney general's report this week could result in criminal charges being filed against Community College of Southern Nevada officials as early as next week, an investigator said.

Venetian finances mixed -- table win off, hotel healthy: In a presentation to investors Thursday, Venetian Executive Vice President Bradley Stone said the Venetian is expected to post cash flow of $39 million to $42 million for the quarter. In the March 2000 quarter, the Venetian reported cash flow of $55.2 million.

Deputy chief recalls the solved cases and the ones that got away: Keith Paul; Metro Police Deputy Chief Mike Hawkins officially retired last week after a 30-year career that included years of working undercover and working on the investigation into the kidnapping of casino owner Steve Wynn's daughter in 1993.

Icahn fires back at American and TWA -- pledges $400 million for competing airline: Executives of Lowestfare.com won't say if their plans to build or buy a new airline will include a bid to acquire Las Vegas-based National Airlines.

Yucca measure loses backing of lawmakers: A Senate resolution lost support Thursday when 22 speakers voiced fears that it would send a signal to Washington that Nevada is ready to negotiate on harboring deadly nuclear waste.

Panel passes bill to halt sales of two power plants: CARSON CITY -- A major bill that would repeal Nevada's law allowing deregulation of the electric industry was approved Thursday by an Assembly committee.

Mecca to head GV resort: Mecca comes to Station from the Greektown Casino in Detroit, where he served as chief operating officer. Salvatore Semola, formerly director of table games at Station Casino Kansas City, was named as Mecca's successor at Greektown.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Vegas sports on TV/Radio

Incumbent, attorney vie for LV judgeship: Jace Radke; Voters will choose between an incumbent who says she has accelerated waiting periods in her court and a challenger who says he will eliminate layers of hearings if elected to a Las Vegas municipal judgeship on April 3.

Residents reluctant to aid slayings probe: Keith Paul; Clergy members have gone into a community plagued by eight gang-related slayings to urge residents to put aside their fear of gangs and mistrust of police and give information to solve the crimes.

Regent's comments called violation of open meeting law: CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office argued Thursday that Regent Doug Hill violated the open meeting law when he called UNLV police "Keystone Cops" and "cowboys" for their conduct on a campus drug raid.

Alleged molestation victim, 12, testifies: Kim Smith; Jurors who must decide the fate of a former youth league coach featured in Sports Illustrated after his arrest on dozens of sexual assault charges on Thursday heard from one boy who was allegedly victimized for months.

Museum featured in Newsweek: On the Venetian museum, Newsweek wrote:

All quiet following school protest: The incident at Vo-Tech High School lasted from 7 a.m. to about 9 a.m. Thursday and ended with a number of students returning to classes or leaving the campus, officials said.

Las Vegas homeless facing even tougher times: Closing of shelters leaves no short-term solutions: Diana Sahagun; Dozens of tired, hungry men lined up in front of a temporary fence surrounding MASH Village's winter tent each night, begging for shelter, is never an easy sight for program coordinator Alondra Smith.

Where I stand--Mike O'Callaghan: Seeking justice for all: HELLO, Mary Jo White, is that you? I read where you are going to probe all 177 clemencies and sentence commutations given by President Bill Clinton before leaving the White House. In your position as a U.S. attorney in New York this increased power has been given you by newly appointed U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Letter: Mentally ill in Nevada need better services: An effective service, as supported by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, is a program called PACT. This is a well-tested community support program. It consists of a psychiatrist, nurses and other trained mental health staff. If needed, the staff is available seven days a week. They check on medication compliance, assist in personal grooming, help find decent housing and a job if the person is able to work.

Shootings hit close to home for two Rebels: Steve Guiremand; Thursday afternoon's latest high school shooting at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Calif., took place more than 300 miles away from UNLV's practice field, but it was still too close to home for a couple of Rebel football team members.

Bill would establish state's first mental health court: Stacy J. Willis; Pops doesn't want to move.

Saturday's prep schedule: Baseball

'Eden' cast, crew reflect on composer's influence: Kimberley McGee; What: "Children of Eden"

Guest columnist Stephen J. Cloobeck: Tour yields only a mountain of rhetoric: The tourist center is a sight to behold. The government has set up a highly sophisticated public relations machine here in an effort to convince valley residents that nuclear repositories are safe -- as if the government knows this for a fact.

Performing Arts: "Children of Eden"

Feeling the heat: With summer on horizon, power crisis could worsen: Nevada's summers are always long and painfully hot. This one could be even worse.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Forget adding teams -- first worry about boosting ratings: Sal DeFilippo; Maybe there is some definition of expansion that I'm not finding in Webster's.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Gang of 63 grossly underpaid: IMAGINE an employer trying to find good help with this job description:

Obituaries for March 23, 2001: Robert Stephen Blazek, 51, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born April 6, 1949, in Ohio. A resident for 31 years, he was a Vietnam War Army veteran and a member of the Rum Runner Pool League.

Columnist Kate Maddox: In-heat crowd has cash to burn: Kate Maddox; Some pretty generous ladies paid thousands, literally, for dates with some of Clark County's hottest hosemen. One duo -- a double package -- went for $5,000. Hosts Sherry Swensk and Mark Pfister of KLAS Channel 8, along with sportscaster Al Bernstein, intro'd the beefcake heroes to a mostly female House of Blues audience.

Letter: We deserve coverage: I am so very proud of the team and the CCSN program. The players are all so talented with the majority drawn directly from Las Vegas where people have followed and supported them for years.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Instructor leads a storied life: Most teachers with doctorate's degrees are found in college classrooms rather than kindergarten ones.

Thorogood shows few signs of wear, tear: Randy Matin; Fast Facts

Columnist Susan Snyder: Displays are signs of the times: It took a crane company, a hotel owner, a city agency, a private foundation, three trips across downtown and a couple of days.

Datebook: Rick Springfield, singer/songwriter and star of "EFX Alive" at the MGM Grand, will meet fans and sign copies of his new disc, "Rick Springfield: The Greatest Hits ... Alive," from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Virgin Megastore at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Santa Anita: 2nd Race -- A La Riene - Draws good outside post in downhill run, Baze scales Mandella trainee, pick in tough heat. Minor Details - Pincay aboard Baffert trainee for owner Golden Eagle Farm, draws good spot, contention runs deep. Value Play -- Shirley Booth

A Monkee's Tale: Nearly 35 years ago NBC debuted "The Monkees," a show about the antics of four youthful members of a band not unlike the Beatles.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Drag racer Dixon has long been sold on HANS: Larry Dixon didn't need to see the accident that claimed Dale Earnhardt's life last month to realize the need for added safety measures in auto racing.

Letter: Rebels need Dr. Tom: Unlike the aforementioned two, Dr. Tom doesn't currently have a job, and he is several years younger than both of them. He has coached at four Division I schools and won at each of them. Not only does he coach an exciting, up-tempo, full-court game, but he has a reputation for being a true gentleman both on and off the court who will make fine citizens out of his players and keep the pesky NCAA away.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Jerry Lewis' long -- and laugh-filled -- road: Joe Delaney; Belated birthday bests to Jerry Lewis, 75 years young last Saturday ... Lewis will be performing through Sunday at the Orleans ... His parents, Danny and Rae Lewis, were professional entertainers ... Danny was a total entertainer while Rae was a pianist, arranger and musical director for Danny ... Jerry made his entertainment debut at age 5.

Columnist Jeff German: Lanni has grown tired of NCAA's 'madness': TERRY LANNI has never been afraid to speak his mind, especially during March Madness.

Review: 'In The Mood' encases delicate tale: Geoff Carter; Grade: ***

Letter: Forget about Gene Keady: No coach can recruit the blue-chip players needed to make the Rebels good enough to reach the Final Four while UNLV is on probation. So why the rush to hire a famous coach at a fabulous wage?

Where I Stand 1987 -- Hank Greenspun: 'Saga of Bugsy's Safe' is retold through Sun: How Las Vegas was won!

Review: Strong cast pumps life into 'Heartbreakers': Max Jacobson; Grade: ** 1/2

Editorial: Alaskans: Not in our back yard: What makes this deliciously ironic for Nevadans is that Knowles' fellow Alaskan, U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski, has led the charge to bury 70,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste in Nevada's Yucca Mountain. Not only have we had to endure years of Murkowski's malarkey about how safe it is to bury nuclear waste here, but he also has told us how safe it is to ship it clear across the nation to Nevada. That, of course, brings us back to Knowles.

Castellanos delivers for Skyhawks: Spencer Patterson; The past three weeks have not been easy for Ryan Castellanos.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Scintas prove to be Rio deal: Kate Maddox; The Scintas have officially jumped ship. The four-member comedic family affair is scheduled to open at the Rio's Copacabana Showroom on April 12. As rumored, the date will indeed require a super-quick turnaround from their current deal at the Las Vegas Hilton. The show's last night there is April 1. And, a week of previews are scheduled prior to the Rio opening. I guess all parties are feeling comfortable with the new digs.

Big utility merger involving Nevada likely off: The chief executive officer of Sierra Pacific, owner of Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas, told the Las Vegas Sun earlier this month that the deal probably wouldn't happen for another reason: Sierra Pacific's weakened financial position.

Yucca tours seen as lobbying efforts: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Energy Department officials at Yucca Mountain last year played host to 4,200 visitors who toured the proposed nuclear waste dump.

On Display: "The Best of Nevada Camera Club 2001," the annual exhibition of selected works by club members, is on display through Monday at the Sunrise Library, 5400 Harris Ave. Call 453-1104.

Thursday's prep results: BASEBALL

Editorial: Law is limited when punishment is set: Mahan's ruling, however, should not be interpreted as an exoneration of McDonald's actions. Both the city and state ethics commissions properly found that McDonald did violate ethical guidelines with his behind-the-scenes pursuit to get the city to buy a financially ailing, privately run park, which had McDonald's boss as one of its investors. For that matter, it is hoped that all elected officials in the valley take note that such unethical behavior won't be tolerated in the future. Period.

Mesquite Club helped sink LV's first roots: Kimberley McGee; It was a simple plan.

Letter: Right time for political reform: But things might be different now. At long last, we have a chance to stop talking and start doing. The legislation by Sens. John McCain and Russ Feingold may not be perfect, but it is a bold, bipartisan step in the right direction -- one that will finally start to remove the corrupting influence of special-interest money from our political process.

'Forever Swing' a welcome big-band revival: Joe Delaney; Dean Regan's "Forever Swing" is a well put-together big-band musical revue in the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts through Sunday, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

Editorial: Schools need more, but this isn't the way: But state legislators should not drain local government services because they have failed in their responsibility to adequately fund education. They should go back to the drawing board and devise a plan that ensures that funding for state and local services, including that for schools, is made whole.

Letter: Too bad for our nation that Clinton is gone: CASSANDRA PETERSON

Joe Delaney remembers 1987: Loggins, McDonald at Aladdin: Joe Delaney remembers 1987: Loggins, McDonald at Aladdin

Knee injuries could threaten Sunia's career: Steve Guiremand; The college career of UNLV middle linebacker James Sunia may be in jeopardy after the senior from Honolulu had to undergo major knee surgery for the second time in five months.

Letter: 64 is OK for women: However, regarding his Tuesday note on a 64-team NCAA women's basketball tournament being overkill, I'd like to point out that a No. 16 seed has upset a No. 1 seed on the latter's home floor (Harvard over Stanford) in the women's tournament. Sixty-four teams are deserving of entry into this tourney but the NCAA must make all games on neutral courts as on the men's side.

On Target: 38 Special's aim remains true: Kirk Baird; What: 38 Special.

Oscar set to resume boxing career: Dean Juipe; It's easier said than done, of course, but Oscar De La Hoya believes he would avenge his earlier losses to Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley if given the chance.

Team of experts to aid in decision on land: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman promises -- now that he has called in experts to help him plan 61 acres downtown -- that he will keep his mouth shut and let them do their jobs.

Cell phone bill given new look: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, is changing the direction of his bill that would punish motorists involved in an accident while using a cell phone.

B.C. wants out of air pollution district: Boulder City moved one step closer to getting out from under Clark County's air pollution rules Thursday.

City manager responds to Safe Streets criticism: Kris Hill; North Las Vegas City Manager Kurt Fritsch released a four-page report Thursday responding to criticisms of the Safe Streets 2000 program.

Homeless man's death an apparent homicide: Keith Paul; A homeless man who was kicked and beaten by a group of teens in December died at a rehabilitation hospital earlier this month, making his death an apparent homicide.

Restrictions on teen driving proposed in Assembly bill: Erin Neff; Many parents fear teenagers' requests to drive at night with friends more than they do young drivers' pleas for their own vehicles.

Top Assembly Democrat calls for drug plan overhaul: CARSON CITY -- A three-bill package that would overhaul Gov. Kenny Guinn's senior citizen drug program -- including converting the private insurance system into a state-run operation -- has been introduced in the Assembly.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Will Rebels get stuck with Maude?: Back in college, there was one summer where menial jobs were particularly hard to come by. By the middle of June, my buddy Dan and I couldn't even scrape together $4 for a grandstand seat at Wrigley Field (this was 1975, mind you). So to pass the time, we'd wait until one of our dads filled up the Tempest with gas, and then drive it up to Chicago's bustling Michigan Avenue at noon, when all the secretaries (again, this was 1975) would break for lunch.

Health board clears way for air pollution audit: The Clark County District Board of Health on Thursday opened the door to an audit of a controversial air-pollution control program.

Injured Hunter, Hoyas struggle against Terps: Steve Addy; ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Demetrius Hunter kept hoping some spring would return to his step Thursday.

UNLV women lose to Ohio State: The Lady Rebels fell to 4-7 on the year while the 21st-ranked Buckeyes improved to 10-5.

Height of the party: Steve Addy; Tourney TV

Postcard from Anaheim, Calif.: Gaughan grabs pole position at alma mater's game: Hello from Anaheim --

51s hold open house Saturday at Cashman: Festivities will start with the unveiling of the 51s' home and road jerseys.

NCAA West Tournament boxes: GEORGETOWN (25-8)

Barbara Greenspun remembers 1987: Urgent call came from Flamingo: In the column of July 17, 1987, reprinted above, Hank recounted the story. Both he and Dick Chappell were so naive about the consequences of opening the safe. In retrospect, Hank once said it was most probably one of the stupidest things he ever did.

Where I stand--Mike O'Callaghan: Only for personal use: THE FRONT PAGE of the Tuesday's Sun should have given Sen. Mark James an answer to his hesitation about filling loopholes in a state law that allows manufacturing of methamphetamine for personal use.

News of the Day: 1987: Story: A U.S. Navy frigate was hit Sunday night by at least one of two missiles fired by Iraqi jets in the Persian Gulf, officials said. At least three Americans were killed and 30 were unaccounted for as the burning ship lay "dead in the water."

Letter: We're suffering under Bush era: The stock market has fallen and shows no sign of leveling off. The only thing on Bush's mind is tax cuts for the rich, even if he has to kill Social Security and Medicare to do it. I believe that within six months we will have mass unemployment and our treasury will be near bankrupt.

Who cares, Yo?: Victoria Sun; Next up

Editorial: No more delays for ill workers: As the Associated Press noted in a story this week, the Justice Department has just three attorneys, two supervisors and 14 payment clerks to handle claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. That small staff has had to process about 9,000 claims during the past 10 years. Some members of Congress, who oppose Chao's suggested transfer, also say that there have been substantiated complaints that this program isn't run well. The Labor Department, which oversees a worker compensation program for government employees, has more than 900 workers and receives about 19,000 wage-loss claims annually.

Letter: Alaska suitable as oil source: If we want to spring free of our dependence upon the whims of the Arab countries and OPEC, we must establish some domestic sources of oil, and what better place than Alaska? All the rest of his article is bleeding-heart liberal, environmental bunkum full of wrong assumptions and facts about the effects upon wildlife, especially in comparison with harm done thereto by drilling elsewhere in the United States.