Stories published November 30, 2001Las Vegas Sun

Locals recall Beatle: After the Beatles appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" on Feb. 9, 1964, Las Vegas comedic mainstay Steve Rossi took George Harrison to dinner at La Camelia Restaurant in New York.

Go-Ped racers to compete at Circus Circus: Sanctioned by the Motor Scooter Racing Association of Canton, Ohio, the nationally televised championship sporting event will be held in a purpose-built Peditorium on the parking lot on the west side of the hotel.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Local schools missed boat on Kretschmer: Steve Guiremand; If you need a good example of why football recruiting is called an inexact science, just look toward Reno.

GAO calls for delay on Yucca decision: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department should indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to build a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a Congressional audit says.

UMC medical director quits unexpectedly: By Emily Richmond; Dr. Byron Brown, medical director of University Medical Center since January of 1999, has quit unexpectedly, officials at the county hospital said this morning.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Colts' Manning should take no Mora abuse: Sal DeFilippo; If I were Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, I'd buy head coach Jim Mora an early Christmas present.

News mixed on new home sales: "It's a mixed bag of signals," said Dennis Smith, president of Home Builders Research Inc. "October's home sales are better because of low interest rates and because a lot of deeds were finally recorded for homes that were in the process of being built prior to Sept. 11."

State approves rate decrease: Effective Saturday, average rates in Southern Nevada will decline 11.7 percent. For the average residential customer, this will lower winter bills by $9.64 per month.

Final 2001 SCORE standings: TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)--1. Dave Ashley/Dan Smith, Riverside, Calif., Ford F-150, 263; 2. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Chevrolet C-1500, 215; 3. Tim and Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 172; 4. Mark Post, Laguna Hills, Calif., Ford F-150, 152; 5. Jim Baldwin, Irvine, Calif.,Ford F-150, 54; 6. Robby Gordon, Orange, Calif., Ford F-150, 79.

Datebook: "Gift of Lights," a drive-through holiday lights event sponsored by Goodwill of Southern Nevada, is on display from 5-10 p.m. nightly, through Dec. 26 at Sunset Park. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Call 597-1107.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Needed: A dose of honesty: Among my sources of information is the monthly newsletter of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C. The October issue is almost entirely dedicated to denouncing terrorism. Because of the large number of active terrorists coming out of that country, it was an expected denial of government support.

Columnist Susan Snyder: She's right: Ignorance breeds hate: Call me unpatriotic.

Editorial: Shifting all meetings to Reno is bad policy: The board hasn't stated publicly why it has chosen to stop convening in Southern Nevada, but Northern Nevadans who are members of other state boards have been known to grouse about having to travel to Las Vegas. While this may pose a hassle of sorts for officials located in the Reno-Carson City area, their jobs aren't about convenience, they're about serving the public. Besides, making a trip to Las Vegas just six times every year is hardly a hardship. It also is mind boggling that the meetings would be held only in Northern Nevada since more than two-thirds of the ...

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Palms supplies a knockout with Alize: A few days after the opening of the Palms, Andre Rochat and his partner Mary Jane Jarvis hosted a lavish buffet reception for longtime patrons and friends at his elegant new restaurant, Alize. Situated on the 56th floor (give or take a few), the view from every table is bedazzling.

Editorial: Eliminate loophole in gun shows: It's good to see that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a sponsor of previous efforts to end the gun show loophole, isn't giving up the fight, however. McCain notes that foreign terrorists with criminal records have been able to exploit the exemption and buy weapons at gun shows. McCain is leading a bipartisan group that early next year will try to pass the background check requirement at gun shows by attaching it as an amendment to homeland security legislation.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: Roosevelt's wartime words are relevant today: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- This week marks the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the first attack on America that would "live in infamy."

Day of the Child vigil on Saturday: Packets will be distributed to parents on how to talk to their children about terrorism. Other packets will be given to emergency medical personnel on how to deal with abused children.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Bellagio weighs in with Light: Kate Maddox; Is Las Vegas ready for yet another high-end, luxury nightclub? Bellagio is banking big-time the answer is yes. Or at least maybe.

Exhibit pays homage to history of rodeo: Baseball, born in the 1840s, is by far the oldest organized sport in the United States -- unless you want to include lacrosse, a form of which was played by American Indians long before the states were united.

Columnist Jon Ralston: This breakup could get uglier: AS A NEW YEAR beckons, a new day is dawning for the economy of Southern Nevada and its preeminent industry. And amid a confluence of shrinking profits in the wake of Sept. 11, rising costs, especially in health care, and a growing perception that the resorts are about as sensitive as sandpaper to their employees, the next year promises to be contentious and potentially destructive.

Letter: Highway trash looks terrible: Does the county and state not know of all the garbage? They are afraid to use people from the jail anymore because of the driver who killed those kids picking up trash.

Letter: U.S. should show its greatness by helping Cuba: While providing help to these people is certainly high-minded and caring, qualities too often in short supply in our me-centered society, I wonder if any of our country's leaders has the courage to suggest we do the same for our neighbor to the south, in our own back yard, Cuba.

Special counsel to probe Mack not yet hired: Diana Sahagun; With only six days until the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board is scheduled to hear two complaints filed against Councilman Michael Mack, the chairman has yet to hire special counsel to assist the board in rendering a judgment.

LV tries out a new kind of bus: Angela Soo; A pollution-free bus system that uses a technology developed in Israel made its first official test run this week in Las Vegas.

Children detail violence of mom's death: Kim Smith; Bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound and lying near his dying mother, Sir Lawrence Armstrong, 16, looked to his father for answers.

Voting guide to be printed in Spanish: By Timothy Pratt; The Clark County Department of Elections in January will publish for the first time a Spanish-language guide to voting, an official said Wednesday.

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Shaken Baby Syndrome is form of child abuse: Sandy Thompson; Rowse says her granddaughter, Kierra Harrison, was shaken and slammed while in the care of Alica Wegner, a licensed child-care provider, in March 1997. The child suffered a fractured skull, and died two days later. Although she claimed she did not harm the child, Wegner was convicted of first-degree murder.

Letter: Say goodbye to budget surpluses: President Bush has also been harping since early in his presidential campaign that the Social Security fund is in serious trouble. What are the proposals being generated by the Republican Party to deal with these problems? Simple! Cut tax rates for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, rob the Social Security trust fund to pay for other federal programs, and provide a holiday from the payment of Social Security taxes.

Letter: Anthrax letters sent to liberals: For instance, if the common-thread legislation be pro-choice, it is entirely possible the pro-life movement or one of its supporters on the extreme fringe is the culprit (I use the pro-life movement as an example only).

State panel to tackle issue of medical errors: By Emily Richmond; Members of a legislative subcommitee on medical errors will meet for the first time Wednesday to discuss whether Nevada needs a reporting system, and the chairman says he has set a "disciplined and aggressive agenda."

Letter: Anti-terrorism law threatens our freedom: Before Sept. 11, we feared crime. So we passed the three-strikes law and Megan's Law, even though these "bad guy" laws defy the Constitution and make our judicial system look like something out of a Victor Hugo novel. Now we fear terrorists, so we have passed the USA Patriot Act, which not only makes us seem like Nazis, but the law also may define protesters as "terrorists."

Court briefs for November 30, 2001: A California woman faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine when she is sentenced Jan. 10 on a charge of second-degree arson.

Rescue unit off on mission: The 66th Rescue Squadron was deployed from Nellis Air Force Base Thursday night, but its destination remains classified.

A heavy Burdon: Kirk Baird; Almost any 50-year-old-plus rock 'n' roller worth his or her salt could produce an autobiography.

Shooting may have been self-defense: Kim Smith; A 61-year-old Las Vegas man once held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center on a murder charge had bail of $150,000 set Thursday after a witness came forward to say he acted in self-defense.

Casinos are at greater risk of cybercrime: David Strow; Las Vegas' famed resorts haven't been victimized by cybercriminals yet.

Community news briefs for November 30, 2001: The Nevada Restaurant Association will hold its annual holiday luncheon noon-1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lawry's restaurant, 4043 Howard Hughes Parkway.

Mellencamp reflects on role in pop music: Kirk Baird; Information

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Top law officers agree: HAVING SPENT MORE THAN 45 years as a Nevadan, I was amazed when Mayor Jeff Griffin of Reno complained about the lack of cooperation he was receiving from the FBI. No, Nevadans haven't always experienced a spirit of cooperation with our nation's top law enforcement agency, but the flame of that spirit burns brightly today.

Plan for higher UNR fees criticized: Jennifer Knight; A plan that would raise registration fees at the University of Nevada, Reno, to pay off old debts at the defunct Fire Science Academy is meeting opposition from the Board of Regents.

Early LV resident, community activist Moss dies at 77: Although Corky Moss hasn't lived in Las Vegas for more than 30 years, her philanthropic work can still be felt in the many successful programs she either started or nurtured in Las Vegas' formative years.

Many fear more terror is just a point and click away: Imagine an Osama bin Laden follower disrupting local water, power and telephone services from thousands of miles away without exploding a bomb or spreading deadly biological or chemical agents.

Bus fosters community: Daniela Mohor; Local residents willing to do volunteer work in their communities now just have to get on the bus.

Civil Air Patrol to celebrate 60th birthday at banquet: A group of volunteer pilots has over the past six decades scanned millions of miles of remote and rugged terrain to find wreckage and -- with luck -- survivors of plane crashes.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Capitalizing on free enterprise: Break out your Nikes.

Alarm would remind parents of children left in car seats: Daniela Mohor; Alarmed by a series of deaths of babies left alone in cars last summer, a local pastor designed a safety device that reminds parents to remove a child from the car seat.

Winston & Strawn withdraws from Yucca Mountain legal contract: Benjamin Grove; Officials with the DOE and the firm, Winston & Strawn, described the parting as a mutual decision.

Pipeline planned to help save wash: Treated wastewater could be diverted through a new pipeline to bypass fragile wetlands in the Las Vegas Wash under a plan proposed by Clark County and two cities.

Editorial: Even more damning reviews: The General Accounting Office, Congress' nonpartisan investigative arm, released a report last week that recommends the indefinite postponement of a decision on Yucca Mountain's suitability. The GAO notes that the investigation has been "a failed scientific process." The Department of Energy, according to the GAO, has no reliable estimate of when a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain could be opened or what the cost to do so actually would be. The GAO report is a powerful indictment against the Yucca Mountain Project.

News briefs for November 30, 2001: Metro Police detectives arrested a former California Girl Scout camp manager Thursday on two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor.

Hearing postponed in shooting of girl, 16: Kim Smith; The preliminary hearing for a 16-year-old boy accused of shooting a teenage girl in the face has been delayed so that a judge can hear evidence against his co-defendant at the same time.

Economy aided by ventures into wild: Environmental protection is more than a cause, it's an economic issue for the Southern Nevada tourism industry, a new study released this month says.

GM chairman touts 0 percent financing: General Motors says there are about 38 million traffic accidents resulting in about 13 million vehicles going to 50,000 U.S. body repair shops to be fixed each year.

Mikohn, partner in litigation over blackjack device: Grace Leong; Las Vegas-based casino supplier Mikohn Gaming Corp. sued to stop Safegames Inc., a Las Vegas gaming control system developer, and its two European shareholders from marketing a device called "Safe Jack" in the United States.

Ivanpah airport may be delayed: The planned airport in the Ivanpah Valley near the California state line could be delayed by as many as four years, a Clark County Aviation Department planner said Thursday night.

Yucca Mountain impact study to be released: Clark County officials on Saturday plan to reveal preliminary results of a study estimating the social, economic and political ramifications should a nuclear waste repository be built at Yucca Mountain.

Theater Co. brings 'Beanstalk' to stage: Kimberley McGee; Wearing a black hat with the name "Jack" emblazoned on the back, the title character of the Nevada Theater Company's holiday children's play putts across the stage on his scooter.

Cold, wet storm leaves LV Valley for the Rockies: A hit-and-run storm slammed into Southern Nevada Thursday, dusting the Spring Mountains with snow in time for ski season and spraying drizzle on the Las Vegas Valley, though no measurable amount of rain could be recorded.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Revello -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Smith on Mandella trainee, well spotted in Cal-bred maiden to graduate. Treasured Note -- Delahoussaye on Stute trainee, needs clear trip from inner post, Note may come diploma due here. Value Play -- Eddie Eddie

Congress allocates $400 mil. in funds for state: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Congress in its last dash to finish work for the year is finalizing federal budget bills that will funnel more than $400 million to Nevada.

Teachers revisit demands for salary hikes, class cuts: Terry Webster; Nevada teachers are still fighting for more state education funding, despite the economic aftershocks caused by Sept. 11.

LV firm's stock on rollercoaster: David Strow; PurchasePro Inc.'s stock went on a rollercoaster ride the past two days, following a string of announcements from the beleaguered Las Vegas e-commerce company.

Casino is robbed again: A man entered Harrah's at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, approached the main cage and said he was armed, police said.

Off-Strip hotel purchased: The 236-room Royal Hotel was purchased Nov. 15 from a Las Vegas resident for an undisclosed amount by Resort Magic. Resort Magic is a subsidiary of development firm USA Capital of Las Vegas.

Miner says rules hurt industry: The president of the National Mining Association is asking administrators of public lands to support revisions to current policy that would enable miners to do more prospecting.

Three local golfers thriving at Q-School: Victoria Sun; The pressures of the PGA Tour's final stage of Qualifying School haven't seemed to bother veterans Tommy Armour III, Robert Gamez or John Riegger in the slightest.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Crew chief switch may help Busch: Jimmy Fennig, the veteran crew chief who helped Mark Martin to 14 NASCAR Winston Cup victories since 1997, is changing jobs within Roush Racing and will serve as Kurt Busch's crew chief in 2002.

VEGAS WEEKEND SPORTS ON TV-RADIO: VEGAS WEEKEND SPORTS ON TV-RADIO

Revised proposal targets Internet gaming: Laurence Arnold; WASHINGTON -- Critics of Internet gambling are hoping that a new bill will succeed where past efforts to ban the activity have failed.

MacCachren takes overall title: MacCachren, a second-generation Southern Nevada desert racer, also won the Class 1-2/1600 points title in his VW-powered Fraley racecar. He won four of five races in his class, marking his first SCORE races in the 1600cc class since his rookie season in 1983.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Sidro's Armada remains afloat in Las Vegas: I happened to be walking through the Stardust with a couple of friends visiting from out of town this week when I heard the sound of fiddle music coming from the Starlight Lounge.

Final decison near on valley's ground water: CARSON CITY -- A final decree regarding who owns ground water rights in the Las Vegas Valley is near. The decision would end a case that dates to the mid-1990s.

Swimming: Rebels dominate in their own tournament: Through 10 events, the UNLV women hold a 92-point advantage over San Diego State. Fresno State is third with 167 points, Wyoming fourth at 149, New Mexico fifth at 134 and Cal State Northridge sixth at 125.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Gratitude? Forget it in sports: Dean Juipe; There are times when gratitude is in short supply in sports.

Nevada drops mining suit after BLM eases policy: CARSON CITY -- The state has dropped its lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management after the agency changed a regulation that state officials said would cripple the mining industry.

GAO: Delay decision on Yucca: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department should indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to build a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a Congressional audit says.

Mississippi casinos hit by slowdown: John Porretto; JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi casinos felt the effects of the sluggish economy and the terrorist attacks last month as gross revenue fell 2 1/2 percent.

'Cats go for state crown on road: Spencer Patterson; Much as Las Vegas High football coach Kris Cinkovich would love to host the 2001 NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Championship at the friendly confines of Frank Nails Field, he knows beating McQueen in Reno would only make a title that much sweeter.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

How Congress appropriated money for Nevada: Agriculture:

Eager Beaver: Spencer Patterson; One year ago, Steven Jackson sat in the stands at the annual Oregon-Oregon State football game, dreaming of the day he might play in the Beaver State's annual rivalry.

Cheyenne's Snyder to stay on as head coach: Snyder, 30, took over a 1-2 Cheyenne squad in September when first-year coach Marcus Sherman resigned. The Shields went on to win five of their final nine games, posting playoff victories over Bishop Gorman and Cimarron-Memorial before falling to Durango and finishing 6-6 overall.

Bids being accepted in Sun auction: Deadline to bid on merchandise given to us by people behind or associated with stories we report on during the year is Dec. 14.

Sun business staff to merge with sister paper: The announcement was made by Michael J. Kelley, managing editor of the Sun, and Bruce Spotleson, publisher of In Business.

Officer cleared in killing: Keith Paul; As Metro Police Officer Theodore Glaude tearfully testified Thursday how he begged a man last month to drop his weapon, the man's mother covered her face and sobbed.

Townsend named new audit chief: CARSON CITY -- A certified public accountant who has conducted some high-profile audits of state agencies has been named chief of the audit division in the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau.

UNLV's next opponent is no pushover: Steve Addy; WHAT: Georgia Southern (3-2) at UNLV (2-2)

Still shakin': By Jerry Fink; Charo is ageless. Really. No one seems to know for sure how old the "cuchie-cuchie" girl is a mystery she has fun with.

Man shot in gun battle with police: Keith Paul and Mary Manning; A seven-time convicted felon who told several people the police would never take him alive got into a running gun battle with Metro Police late Thursday that ended with the suspect being shot more than 20 times by as many as 14 officers.

Symphony teams with area teens for concert: To help set the holiday spirit, the Nevada Chamber Symphony will perform Christmas favorites Tuesday at the Winchester Community Center with guest artists from the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts.

Columnist Joe Delaney: James has influenced performers of all genres: Joe Delaney; Etta James, appearing Saturday at 8 p.m. at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, has been a major contributor to rock 'n' roll, rhythm 'n' blues and contemporary pop music for the better part of five decades ... Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 1938, she was in her early teens when she was discovered by bandleader, songwriter and record producer Johnny Otis.

Obituaries for November 30, 2001: Joy Boozer, 83, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Jan. 15, 1918, in Stow, Ohio. A resident for 14 years, she was a homemaker, a member of the Arizona chapter of the Moose and the Rebekahs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Plan to federalize guards at nuclear plants revealed: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Now that Congress has approved a federal security force for the nation's airports, it should approve the same for nuclear power plants, Sen. Harry Reid said.

Regional coalition hopes to play key role in disputes: After a year of sometimes sharp inter-governmental feuding, the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition has an important role to play as a peacemaker, its new leader says.

Wilson the best effect of 'Enemy Lines': Geoff Carter; "Behind Enemy Lines" requires the viewer to watch several other films. The film borrows heavily against every military film of the past two decades -- "Top Gun," "Uncommon Valor," "Saving Private Ryan," even "Rambo" -- but you don't need to have seen all or even any of them. Rather, you need to have seen all of Owen Wilson's comedies, to fully appreciate the solid performance he gives in this otherwise standard war yarn.

'Legends' comes alive at New Frontier: Joe Delaney; "Rock 'n' Roll Legends" at the New Frontier is quality, low-priced entertainment. It is a no-frills show with good lighting and sound production and talented youngsters duplicating Roy Orbison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley, using their own voices against a rerecorded sound track.

Lady Rebels look for sweep: Steve Guiremand; With a 4-0 record and a championship trophy from last weekend's Lady Rebel Shootout already in hand, it would be a fair to say Regina Miller's UNLV Lady Rebels are off to a good start in the 2001-2002 season.