Many LV workers sent home to be with families

Kevin Ferguson

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 | 9:48 a.m.

Widespread concern for those affected by Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania swept across the Las Vegas Valley, prompting many local employers to send their staffs home for the day to be with their families.

The Galleria at Sunset, Fashion Show and most of the Boulevard and Meadows malls were entirely or partially closed. Some department store anchors were open for part of Tuesday.

Several national companies closed their Las Vegas operations. They included Barnes & Noble and Starbucks.

Rouse Co. of Columbia, Md., owner of the Fashion Show Mall, also closed its Hughes Center business park in midtown Las Vegas at Flamingo and Paradise roads.

The park houses numerous professional offices and local headquarters for companies like Colliers International, Sprint PCS, Painewebber and AT&T Wireless.

"Notice came in around 9:50 a.m. and we had 25 minutes to evacuate the building. They said they were locking the doors," said Karen Klagues, AT&T Wireless spokeswoman.

Tom Warden, vice president of community relations for Rouse's Howard Hughes Corp., said the closure was not a security measure. Instead, it was to allow time for people to reflect with family members.

"Doors were locked for incoming traffic, but unlocked for outgoing traffic," Warden said, noting people were able to continue working if they were in their offices before the 10:15 a.m. closure.

The valley's seven AT&T Wireless retail stores also closed following an order from its Redmond, Wash. headquarters.

Nevada Power Co. employees remained on the job, said spokeswoman Sonya Headen.

"It was business as usual. We don't consider ourselves a target," Headen said. "But we are on routine emergency status. Doors are always locked and employees must enter with a badge."

But one Nevada Power office in North Las Vegas closed because of a bomb threat phoned into a nearby Social Security office.