News briefs for October 5, 2001

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

Cop shot at after stopping truck

Henderson Police are looking for two people in connection with a Tuesday incident in which someone shot at a police officer.

Investigators are seeking warrants for William Ronald Clark, 23, and Melissa Hack, 25.

About 4 a.m. Tuesday a Henderson Police officer was running a random license plate check on a Ford truck on Sunset Road near Mountain Vista Street when the truck made a U-turn, police said. Seven gunshots came from the truck and were fired toward the officer and his vehicle, police say.

The officer was not injured, but four of the shots hit his patrol car, causing it to stall, police said. The truck and a handgun were later found in a nearby business park, and the truck was confirmed to be stolen.

Clark is described as white, 5 feet 11 inches and 175 pounds. He goes by the alias Billy. Clark was previously convicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, in addition to narcotics related charges, police said.

Hack is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches and 125 pounds. She and Clark are possibly driving a black 1997 Honda Prelude, with Nevada license plate 101GSM.

Anyone with information on Clark and Hack are asked to call police at 565-8933 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Askew goes to work for List

Former Clark County Manager Dale Askew was named vice president Thursday of the Robert List Co., a firm that specializes in public policy and government relations. Askew was forced out of his position with the county last summer and was replac` ed by former county adminstrative director Thom Reilly. This isn't the first time Askew has worked with List, a former Nevada governor. When he was governor in 1980, List appointed Askew as a fiscal member of the state Gaming Control Board.

BC landmark joins historic list

The National Trust Historic Hotels of America has added the Boulder Dam Hotel in Boulder City to its national membership, the first such building from Nevada named to the group.

The Boulder Dam Hotel, which opened in 1931, joins 21 other historic hotels selected this year from across the country.

In its early years, the hotel catered to tourists curious about the engineering marvel being built about nine miles down the road -- Hoover Dam, then known as the Boulder Dam. The hotel boasted centralized air-conditioning, private bathrooms and special quarters for pets, all of which were considered luxuries in the Depression years.

The hotel fell on hard times during World War II when gas prices rose and people traveled less. It never really recovered, becoming more of an apartment house than a hotel by the 1990s.

But the old hotel underwent a massive restoration effort and reopened 22 of the original 83 rooms in June.

Weather makes breathing easier

An air quality monitor reported unhealthy levels of dust and soot in Henderson's air before noon Thursday, but it was the only one of 24 stations in the Las Vegas Valley that reported unhealthy air.

The Clark County Air Quality Division has kept track of unhealthy levels of pollution all week as stagnant air, smoke from distant forest fires and local dust combined to pollute the air.

Cooler temperatures and windier conditions are expected over the weekend, National Weather Service forecasters said. Winds of more than 20 mph should help remove the particles from Southern Nevada's air, officials said.

Labor commission to head board

Gov. Kenny Guinn has named state Labor Commissioner Terry Johnson to an unpaid position as chairman of the board overseeing the health insurance program for state workers.

Johnson succeeds David Smith, who has been acting chairman since June. Smith, who works for the Parole and Probation Division, will remain on the board.

Johnson has been labor commissioner since 1999. Before that he was assistant business advocate for the Center of Business Advocacy in the state Department of Business and Industry.

Guinn said Johnson has a "strong background as both a mediator and as an administrator."

"In these roles, Terry has handled difficult labor disputes and prevailing wage issues," Guinn said. "Therefore, I feel Terry possesses the skills to lead this board through the complex and challenging issues currently facing the board."

Man taken off flight

An America West flight from Las Vegas made an unscheduled stop at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport after a passenger tried to open an emergency exit, authorities said.

The man had become disoriented and the pilot decided to divert, said Col. Bob Garner, a spokesman for the Jefferson Parish sheriff. He was taken off the flight about 5 a.m. Wednesday and arrested, Garner said.

The man, who gave his identity to authorities as George Hatfield, 29, of Lakewood, Wash., was booked on a charge of criminal mischief and released on $100 bond later in the day, Garner said.

After the man was taken off the plane, the flight continued without interruption to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.