News briefs for October 9, 2001

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 9:38 a.m.

Second support center planned

A second support center for laid-off workers will open in Henderson on Wednesday.

Project Helping Hand has already assisted thousands of people at the Culinary Workers Union Hall in Las Vegas. Services such as food stamps, rental assistance and job counseling will now be available in Henderson as well.

People interested in getting help at the second center should make an appointment over the phone at (702) 735-1090. The lines will open Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

The center will be located at the Community College of Southern Nevada's Green Valley Tech Center at 460 Arroyo Grande Ave.

Motorcycle crashes on way to accident

A North Las Vegas Police officer was in fair condition after crashing his motorcycle on the way to an accident this morning.

Officer Randy Laswell, 31, apparently hit something slick on Craig Road near Goldfield Street about 6:10 a.m. and hung onto the motorcycle as it slid to the pavement, Lt. Art Redcay, a department spokesman, said.

Laswell was taken to University Medical Center this morning for treatment. Traffic was slowed on Craig Road for about an hour.

Laswell, an officer for about five years, was also injured in May when he was hit by a car while leading a funeral procession on his police motorcycle.

Classes set for laid-off workers

Clark County Legal Services will conduct a free class each week to spell out options for laid-off hotel workers and other people having financial difficulties.

Lawyers and students from UNLV's Boyd School of Law will offer instruction and financial advice regarding bankruptcy, debt consolidation and other related issues.

The classes will be held 1 p.m on Fridays at alternating locations at the Legal Services offices, or the offices of the Consumer Credit Counseling Bureau on Decatur Boulevard.

The Oct. 12 class will be at Legal Services, 800 S. Eighth St. For information or to register for the class, call 386-1070, ext. 155.

Dickerson named to head group

Doug Dickerson, who has worked for the city of Las Vegas for 17 years, has been named executive director of the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities, which has offices in Carson City.

Dickerson, who is currently deputy director of administrative services for Las Vegas, will succeed Tom Grady, who is retiring in December after nine years.

The appointment was announced Monday by Elko Mayor Mike Franzoia, who is president of the league, which represents all incorporated cities and other municipalities in Nevada.

New Region 9 chief selected

Wayne Nastri, an environmental consultant and entrepreneur, is the new administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 9 Office in San Francisco.

The San Francisco office oversees operations in Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

Nastri served as president of Environmental Mediation Inc., a Southern California firm that advises clients on environmental issues.

Before establishing Environmental Mediation, Nastri was vice president of the Jefferson Group, a government public affairs firm.

Nastri holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and studied molecular genetics at California State University, Long Beach.