News briefs for Dec. 4, 2002

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 | 9:23 a.m.

Pedestrian killed crossing highway

A 66-year-old Las Vegas man died Tuesday after being struck by a van as he tried to cross Boulder Highway.

Michael Norton Spence tried to cross Boulder Highway north of Flamingo Road about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and walked in front of a Chrysler van, Metro Police said.

The van driver swerved to avoid hitting the man, who was jaywalking, but was unable to do so, police said.

The man was taken to University Medical Center, where he died shortly after arrival.

The accident is under investigation.

It was the 124th traffic fatality this year in Metro's jurisdiction.

Police car collides with vehicle

A Metro Police officer's patrol car collided with another car about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday at H Street and Alexander Avenue.

Officer Phillip Galvan was driving northbound on Alexander Avenue as Christel Tillman tried to make a left turn in her Ford Focus. Galvan steered to the left to try to avoid Tillman's car but was unsuccessful and hit the left side of Tillman's car, Metro said.

Both drivers were taken to University Medical Center. No charges have been filed at this time.

The accident is pending investigation.

New sign greets downtown visitors

Las Vegas city officials lit up downtown on Tuesday.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, City Manager Doug Selby and Councilmen Michael McDonald, Lawrence Weekly and Michael Mack closed off several lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard to celebrate the lighting of the new "Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas" sign.

The sign, which is 16 feet tall, was donated to the city by the Fremont Street Experience. Selby said the sign cost $21,000 to refurbish. A new sign would cost $37,000, Selby said.

Goodman said it took three years to get the revamped sign but said it was worth the wait.

"It really represents the heart and soul of Las Vegas," Goodman said. "It's the real Las Vegas sign in the real Las Vegas."

State Treasurer Brian Krolicki

is the new president of the National Association of State Treasurers. Krolicki will serve a one-year term heading the national association.

Political scientist Eric Herzik

has been recommended to become interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno. Herzik, a political science professor at the school and director of the Great Basin Policy Research Institute, would serve in the post for six months as interim dean. Herzik has been a faculty member at UNR since 1989 and is considered an expert on politics in the state.

The former girls basketball coach

at Dayton High School has been given a suspended prison sentence and placed on five years' probation for having sex with a student. Lyon County District Judge David Huff sentenced Desi Navarro, 26, Carson City, to between 16 months and four years in prison. But he suspended the sentence Monday as long as Navarro conforms with the conditions of probation.