Print edition for September 20, 2001

Letter: America coming after its enemies: There are those in the world, including Osama bin Laden, who believe America to be the devil.

Letter: Walk a mile in their shoes: I realize that because we live in such a great country we are allowed to speak our minds and everyone is entitled to an opinion. But I believe we have crossed a line here that was best left alone.

Letter: Time to come to aid of country: All I could think to write was: Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country.

Letter: Better if events not canceled: As to "national unity," I will give President Bush the same respect and support most right-wing Republicans gave Bill Clinton in the Kosovo conflict. By the way, if our "appointed" president hadn't spent a month chopping wood in Texas and had given more attention to the middle, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Letter: Not the time to slam president: I was not a supporter of President Bush's candidacy during the 2000 election, nor did I vote for him. He is, however, the leader of this great nation. It is imperative that we create a powerful embodiment of our national motto. We truly are the "home of the brave," and we must act bravely and unite behind our leader during this difficult time.

Letter: No sympathy for casinos: Mayor Oscar Goodman told a group of us lately that he tried to talk to casino owners about giving the locals a break in the way of cheaper show tickets and comps and by showing appreciation for our patronage. They responded in their usual arrogant way with a loud "No." So, guess what? We're staying away, too.

Letter: Don't judge passengers: The letter to the editor written by John Heple in Sunday's paper was nothing short of ignorant. Unfortunately, it is not the first I have heard of these accusations. Some of my classmates at the college I attend here in Las Vegas said much the same. How can you possibly blame the passengers?

Salvation Army to close one shelter: By Timothy Pratt; The Rev. Duane Sonnenberg, homeless services administrator of the Salvation Army of Las Vegas, will close one of the shelters on the charity's campus at Owens Avenue and Main Street tonight for the second night in a row, leaving about 130 homeless men and women without a place to sleep.

Homeless funds placed on hold: Diana Sahagun; Unsure of whether the local economy will experience a dramatic shortfall since last week's terrorist attacks, the Las Vegas City Council Wednesday decided to wait two weeks before deciding how to distribute $200,000 in emergency weather shelter funds.

Las Vegas council briefs: The developers of the former Union Pacific Railroad property west of downtown will be able to build a casino as part their projects.

Salt Lake boot campaign beats LV firefighters: SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah firefighters may have beaten Las Vegas at its own game.

Three life sentences to Dozier: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man convicted of drugging two women, sexually assaulting them and videotaping the acts said he has a lot to offer society.

Letter: Get the trains back on track: There are millions of retirees and other people who have the time and who would be happy to take the train, sit back and relax and watch the countryside roll by.

Letter: Too bad Amtrak is a thing of past: A rail passenger car seats twice as many as a bus in smooth-riding comfort, but passenger trains are old-fashioned, aren't they?

Letter: Remarks evil, irresponsible: BARBARA PLOTKIN

Letter: Falwell's words engender hatred: Your comments -- that Americans whose views differ from yours (such as the American Civil Liberties Union, gay rights proponents and liberal courts) have left the nation "exposed to Tuesday's terrorist attack" -- serve to engender hatred and pit us against each other.

Letter: Writer should be ashamed: At a time when the whole country is talking about uniting and everyone is going through emotional turmoil over all the events of the past week, he wrote a letter in Sunday's Las Vegas Sun that would literally crush the families of the victims on those airplanes.

Letter: Easy to judge from a distance: It is very easy to sit in your warm home in a comfortable chair saying what you think they should have done.

Letter: Real-life tear on Statue of Liberty is appropriate: I am just wondering if this couldn't become a reality, adding a teardrop in real life as a remembrance to all lives lost not only in the tragic attack on our nation last week, but also to all those who died fighting for the freedom of the United States of America.

Letter: Comparing explosions: With no fanfare and almost zero press attention, the United States on Aug. 24 blew up the last Minuteman III missile silo scheduled for destruction under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). The silo at Grand Forks Air Force Base, which once housed an intercontinental ballistic guided missile equipped with nuclear warheads, was destroyed and sealed with 800 pounds of explosives.

Letter: News coverage is appreciated: I've always learned from the contributions of Mike O'Callaghan, and was not disappointed on Sunday. With the exception of the letter from John Heple -- who I hope sees by now that those passengers did not realize they were flying in the hijackers' weapons soon enough to act -- this paper should go far to inspire us all to not be "afraid to act and take responsibility for our own safety" as Mr. Heple seems to think.

Letter: Many kinds of extremists: American extremists such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are using this tragedy in an attempt to advance their agendas of bigotry and discrimination by blaming such diverse groups as liberals, gays, abortion supporters, the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way for the devastation which is on all our minds. Everyone needs to remember that extremism in the name of any cause is destructive.

Letter: U.S. must rub out mindset of terrorists: I listen to the voice of a leader in a far-off land, and the ignorance in his words is stunning. I had thought that a certain amount of such ignorance and isolationist behavior is to be expected and tolerated, but it is now clear that such places are the friend and harbor of terrorism. These places should be forever eliminated.

Las Vegas area fishing report: Stripers biting in Las Vegas Bay: Updated Sept. 20, 2001

Slowdown felt from one end of Strip to the other: Lisa Snedeker; Blackjack and roulette tables sit empty and banks of slot machines remain eerily mute in the multimillion-dollar resorts along Las Vegas Boulevard.

Future of Strip is unclear: David Strow; During Las Vegas' boom of the 1990s, the Strip hotel-casino industry was often called recession-proof.

Prep football picks: Falcons star Ford to boost Foothill again: Spencer Patterson; A third of the way through the regular season and just five losses. Things should get tougher when league play begins next week, so Friday could be critical in the chase for .800. And to the coach who called to gloat about one of my rare mis-picks: leaving your message with our competitor across town sort of defeats the purpose, don't you think? You don't have to look far to find our number -- it's atop this very page.

Commissioners approve two casino projects: Two casino projects got Clark County approvals Wednesday -- and developers said that fears of an economic turndown affecting the region probably won't slow construction.

County proposes guidelines for Russell Road businesses: Residents along East Russell Road, many of whom have vehemently opposed some commercial projects near their neighborhoods, may soon have a Clark County rule mitigating the impact of those projects.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let's take break from trash talk: So when will your life return to normal?

Vegas air tour traffic plunges 50 percent: Air tours over the Grand Canyon, a highlight for many Las Vegas visitors from overseas, are off by 50 percent following last week's deadly terrorist attack.

UNLV's dean of business planning to expand school: UNLV's College of Business, off to a fresh start with its accreditation approved, is reaching out to the Las Vegas business community with a series of new programs, the dean of the college said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Manfredy says he will be ready for Diaz: Dean Juipe; It's a familiar pattern within the boxing industry: Promising fighter steps up in class to take on a veteran who is perceived to be fading.

Battle of unbeatens: Spencer Patterson; While most Desert Pines players look back fondly on their school's breakout 2000 football campaign, Jamar Barnes prefers not to think about last year.

Las Vegas-area development still seems to be on track: Kevin Ferguson; Boeing is cutting 20,000-plus jobs as demand slows for new airliners due to terrorism. Timet's titanium is used in jet engines.

Emergency officials focus training on biological, chemical attacks: As federal officials prepare to recommend Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, and with domestic terrorist attacks fresh on their minds, local managers didn't wait to begin altering emergency response plans.

Boys prep soccer standings: CLASS 4A

Charities confident funds will end up in right hands: To give to the September 11th Fund, send donations to the United Way of New York City, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016.

Team has few jitters about flying: Steve Guiremand; WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Catching up with Vanesha Bailey: High School: Cimarron-Memorial ('01)

Continued blood donations urged: By Emily Richmond; Officials at Southern Nevada's largest blood bank are urging people to keep up the patriotic momentum of donations.

Sun Statewide Prep Football Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and Sparks Tribune.

It was an agonizing wait: WTC worker finally gets through to his children in Las Vegas: On the morning terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, Las Vegas siblings Peter, Liliana, Petra and Blaise Pisani went to school fearing for the safety of their father, Peter Pfabe, who worked at the office towers.

Kroger profit up 23 percent: Kroger owns Smith's Food & Drug Centers and Food 4 Less stores in Las Vegas.

News briefs for September 20, 2001: A 21-year-old Las Vegas man has been indicted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.

Girls prep volleyball standings: CLASS 4A

MGM MIRAGE gets Internet gambling license for Isle of Man: Kevin Ferguson; MGM MIRAGE, a longtime proponent of legalizing Internet gambling, is positioning itself as leader in the controversial industry now that it has become one of the first big traditional casino operators to receive an Internet gambling license.

Girls prep golf standings: CLASS 4A

Charities hope locals won't be left out: Officials of major Las Vegas charities that are receiving donations earmarked for New York City disaster relief say they don't expect a decrease in giving for local disaster relief.

Nevada senators tour N.Y. site: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada's senators visited "ground zero" in New York City today where hard-hat work crews and emergency workers are still sifting through the smoldering rubble of the toppled World Trade Center.

Obituaries for September 20, 2001: Jean C. Arnquist, 85, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. She was born March 8, 1916, in Kalamazoo, Mich. A resident for 29 years, she was a retired clothing store manager.

Land to be sold for low-income complex: Mathis Winkler; City Council members Wednesday unanimously voted to sell a 6.69-acre site near Tonopah Avenue and Yale Street to a nonprofit developer who plans to build an apartment complex with 70 units for low-income seniors.

Sun Athletes of the Week: Grady Thomas and Janell Gibson: School: Chaparral

School district expected to remain sixth largest: Terry Webster; The Clark County School District is likely to remain the nation's sixth largest for another year.

Patient kept sex evidence: Kim Smith; A mental health patient who claims her counselor sexually assaulted her kept physical evidence of the assault in a Ziploc bag for four months before giving it to police, she testified Wednesday.

Girls prep tennis standings: CLASS 4A

Residents buying ammo, survival supplies: Jeffrey Libby; Center Mass Firearms in Henderson has only seven to 10 days' worth of bulk ammunition, owner Leon Novak says. His six wholesale suppliers, including one in Reno, are already sold out.

Panel against cutting resort rates: CARSON CITY -- Nevada resorts should not cut their prices to draw more visitors during this economic downturn, a casino official says, and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt agrees with him.

Bush proposes aid for airlines: WASHINGTON -- President Bush is asking Congress to give the nation's financially struggling airlines a quick $5 billion in cash and help with any lawsuits stemming from last week's terrorist attacks.

LVCVA alters ad campaigns: Adrienne Packer; Recognizing they must resume advertising to keep Las Vegas' economy from plummeting further, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority officials are planning a more sensitive campaign strategy.

Counting method developed: The Legislature, in granting tax relief to the casino last spring, said that under the new contract, the casino must never cut employment or payroll by more than 10 percent from the base line number of employees and payroll as of March.

Life returning to normal for UNLV students: Jennifer Knight; The halls of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Tuesday were brimming with students. A hefty Elvis impersonator belted a rendition of "Love Me Tender" to a lunch-time crowd. A group of fraternity pledges sang, though off key, in the middle of the quad.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Funny Car's Epler: Taking week off right thing to do: After a two-week layoff, the NHRA Winston Drag Racing season will resume this weekend with the AutoZone Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, but Funny Car driver Jim Epler acknowledged it would be tough returning to work.

Prep boys tennis standings: CLASS 4A

Union to take firing of nurses to state: By Emily Richmond; Members of Nevada's largest nurses union, angered over the firing of two colleagues from Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center for refusing assignments, were expected to file formal complaints today with the state Board of Nursing against two supervisors.

Park Place pledges money to NY agencies: Ed Koch and Mary Manning; Park Place has selected two New York agencies to which the company will fulfill a $1 million pledge made last week to victims of terrorist attacks.

Prep football standings: CLASS 4A

FBI checked flight school students: Mathis Winkler; Flight school operators around the valley said Wednesday that FBI agents went through their student files immediately following last week's terrorist attacks.

Nevada home insurer seeks higher rates: United Services Automobile Association is proposing a 14.8 percent increase for the 9,506 homes and 918 condominiums it covers in Nevada. The rate would be effective in March 2002. The last previous rate change was a 5.1 percent decrease in December 1998.

Vargas walks out on media: Dean Juipe; Playing the role of prima donna to the hilt, Fernando Vargas stormed out of the Mandalay Bay Events Center after complaining Wednesday that the facility was inadequate for a training session.

Gamblers nervous as business slows in AC: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- These days, seats are easier to find on the buses that ferry gamblers to Atlantic City's casinos. Suddenly, the 25-cent slot players from Pennsylvania, New York and northern New Jersey don't want to make the trip.

Terror suspects may have visited Las Vegas: Jeff German and David Strow; Some of the suspected associates of the 19 hijackers responsible for the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., may have stayed at Las Vegas hotels within the past two years.

College tennis stars to play in LV event: Victoria Sun; Next January when the world's top men's and women's professional tennis players are competing at the Australian Open, some of the best men's and women's collegiate tennis players will be in Las Vegas competing in the National Collegiate Tennis Classic.

Memorial planned at Red Rock: The Bureau of Land Management, Friends of Red Rock Canyon and the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association are splitting the costs of installing the memorial stones. The dedication will coincide with National Public Lands Day on Sept. 29.

General aviation, flight schools hammered by shutdown: The nation's flight schools say they will be out of business soon unless the government lets their planes back in the air.

Vendors told to compromise at youth games in city parks: Diana Sahagun; Mobile food vendors will be allowed to work city parks on a short-term basis but must partner with youth sports teams if they want to remain a more permanent fixture.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Bass fishing events canceled: Paula DelGiudice; A stunned country watched last week's terrorist attack and the ensuing rescues, and responded in the only way possible. No one felt like celebrating; no one felt much like watching football or baseball. No one felt like playing sports when so much that had seemed so certain was now uncertain.

Cuts hit LV taxi, baggage firms: The economic chaos crippling the transportation and resort industries following last week's terrorist attacks is now affecting the Las Vegas taxicab and baggage handling industries.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Ignorance that kills: AFTER SEVEN DECADES of watching people under stress strike out at others and then later apologizing, recent happenings have surprised me. We, as Americans, have taught in our homes, schools and churches the foolishness of past acts against people just because they look different than us. Our ugly treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II has left marks on our nation's soul that are still healing.

Editorial: Keep local economy strong: The initial signals have not been encouraging. Hotel vacancy rates have skyrocketed, conventions have been canceled and gaming stocks continue to plunge. Regrettably, this has led many resorts to consider employee layoffs. Park Place Entertainment Corp. and Mandalay Resort Group have already announced layoffs and hundreds of employees have lost their jobs. Park Place also decided to delay a planned $475 million expansion at Caesars Palace.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: It is time to heal the wounds: Ruthe Deskin; How does one put emotions into words when the subject is such a horrendous act as the terrorist attack on America?

National Guard transportation company leaves for Egypt: Dick Benoit; Forty members of the 1864th Transportation Co. began deploying to Egypt Wednesday morning out of Nellis Air Force Base.

Community briefs for September 20, 2001: University Medical Center's Primary Care Centers are providing men 50 and older with discount screenings for prostate cancer Saturday.

Focal Point: Rogers makes creative statement with photo exhibit: After his 1999 CD "She Rides Wild Horses" produced two country music hit singles, the 63-year-old returned last year with "There You Go Again," which earned him another spot on the Billboard charts.

Columnist Joe Delaney: National tragedy hits home in Las Vegas, too: Joe Delaney; The previous Tuesday's horror has been thoroughly documented everywhere ... Roberta has the alarm set for 5:45 a.m. in order to get Scott up and off to work at 7 a.m. ... I'm up each morning when the alarm goes off ... Roberta yelled from the kitchen, "Turn the TV set to Channel 3" ... We did so, just in time to see the second plane crash into its World Trade Center target.