Columnist Kate Maddox: Jackpot winner still having a ball

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

You figure hitting the Powerball jackpot is enough winning for one year. Not so for David Edwards of Ashland, Ky. The Rio also had a hefty payout for the lucky lottery taker.

During a weekend a.m. photo shoot for an upcoming Washington Post feature story, Edwards, who says he usually doesn't gamble in the morning, broke his rule and posed for photos in the hotel's high-roller salon, $500 chips in hand. A mere 30 minutes later, after buying into a blackjack game for $13,500, Edwards walked away with close to $40,000.

I know, life's not fair.

Edwards and his fiancee, Shawna Maddux (no relation, darn the luck!) have been staying VIP-style at the Rio and insiders report the couple couldn't be happier or more pleasant to well-wishers.

The hotel apparently took a liking to the new multimillionaire as well. Edwards, who received his $41.4 million pre-tax Powerball check on Monday, had no trouble borrowing a little cash for the Saturday morning photo op. Guess they assumed he'd be good for it.

It was just a few months back that eager beaver, wannabe Aladdin headliner Carmen Electra signed a contract with the producers of "Lumiere," for what was reportedly a bargain deal.

Time passes, Electra apparently gets clued in as to how low-balled she was by her new partners, and faster than you can say "Baywatch," she was back at the tables -- renegotiating.

Inside sources said Electra reportedly added more cash to her flash after threatening producers with a walkout. That story spurred recent rumors that the brunette beauty was forsaking Vegas altogether.

Not so, says her publicist, Eileen Koch of Los Angeles. On Monday Koch emphatically said Electra "couldn't be happier" about her upcoming starring role in the Aladdin production. Koch added that although "there are always renegotiations along the way," Electra is "definitely locked in and is very excited" to be coming to the Strip. "Lumiere" is scheduled to open in spring 2002.

A very generous benefactor is opening his home to patrons of the Nevada Ballet Theatre this week. On Friday, guests who will have paid $250 for the privilege will get a sneak peek at one of the Valley's largest private homes. The whopping 28,000-square-foot spread features three swimming pools and a price tag hovering in the $20-million neighborhood. Guests will be treated to a St. John fashion show and a gourmet lunch prepared by the new chefs of Turnberry Place's upscale Stirling Club. Proceeds from the event benefit the Nevada Ballet Theatre Youth Programs.

I guess the "Storm" folks weren't too happy with this column's Sunday item reporting paycuts and layoffs. A last-minute meeting was called, apparently to inform cast and crew that talking to the press (i.e., me) about company business was "frowned upon" by management. The crew was reportedly told that they too would be asked to take salary cuts in still another effort to tighten purse strings. Also, production manager Michael Gill is now out of the "Storm" picture, and whiz kid director/ concept man Jamie King is scheduled to return to the helm now that his stint on Madonna's Drowned World Tour is winding down.

And speaking of the Material Mom's tour, one source says that as a result of tepid crowd reaction during her MGM gigs, Madonna will never return to Vegas.

Madonna, who at one point profanely reprimanded the audience for being too calm and for not getting up on its feet, was reportedly so upset with the lackluster reception that she threw a diva-like tantrum post-show, telling organizers that she won't be back to town "ever again."