News briefs for January 21, 2002

Monday, Jan. 21, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Nevadans lobby for federal help

Trains, planes and automobiles -- all were on the agenda for a meeting today between Gov. Kenny Guinn and a fellow Republican, Rep. Don Young of Alaska.

Also expected to attend were Nevada Reps. Shelley Berkley and Jim Gibbons, Regional Transportation Commission General Manager Jacob Snow and Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker.

Snow runs the region's bus service and regional road planning. Walker's department oversees McCarran International and regional airports. Both agencies, among others, are seeking federal support for Southern Nevada transportation projects.

Young, a 17-term congressman, is chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Topics scheduled for discussion include a proposed super-speed train to California, the local bus system, highway improvements and the planned new airport in the Ivanpah Valley, close to the California state line.

Two hearings scheduled Tuesday

Consumers will get opportunities to express opinions on the proposed Nevada Power Co. rate increases at two public hearings Tuesday by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

One hearing will begin at 9 a.m. at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 Water St. There will also be a hearing at 6 p.m. at the Winchester Community Center, 3130 McLeod Drive.

Nevada Power is seeking $921 million for energy that has already been used in Southern Nevada and an additional $22.9 million for administrative costs. If approved by the commission, power bills could go up by as much as 25 percent over the next three years beginning as early as April 1.

The utility has defended its request by arguing that it kept lights on in Nevada while neighboring California was suffering rolling blackouts as the result of an energy crisis brought on by deregulation.

But state Consumer Advocate Timothy Hay has said that the utility paid $500 million to $700 million more than it should have for power from other generators over the past two years. Hay said those costs should not be passed on to consumers.

Man suffers fatal wounds

Metro Police found a 33-year-old shooting victim in the 2200 block of Sunrise Avenue, just east of downtown Las Vegas, about 4 a.m. on Saturday. Patrol officers received a call of shots fired in the area.

The man was taken to University Medical Center but died as a result of his injuries.

The victim's name was being withheld until his family could be notified.

A small, brown car was seen leaving the area, officers said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Secret Witness at 385-5555 or Metro's homicide section at 229-3521.

Woman found dead in apartment

A Las Vegas woman found dead inside her apartment at 5995 Golden Lane is an apparent homicide victim, Metro Police said.

Her brother, with whom she lived, found the body about 7 p.m. on Thursday, police said.

Homicide detectives are urging anyone with information to call Secret Witness at 385-5555 or the homicide section at 229-3521.

Fuel services down for 3 weeks

Fuel services for automobile and marine customers was to be shut off today for about three weeks while fuel tanks at Overton Marina on Lake Mead are upgraded.

The fueling facility is expected to be available by Feb. 11, resort manager Paul Chandler said.

Boaters can fill up at Echo Bay or Callville Bay, south of Overton Beach, Chandler said.

Motorists can use the same outlets or find gas at nearby Logandale, about 45 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Temperature may drop 15 degrees

While temperatures were expected to hit near 60 degrees today in the Las Vegas Valley, another blast of winter is on the way for Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service says.

Temperatures could drop 10 to 15 degrees below normal, putting the high temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday.

Today's warmer air precedes a cold front pushing into Southern Nevada from the north.

The weather system will bring winds gusting 20 to 30 miles per hour tonight and Tuesday, but no rain or snowfall is expected.

By Thursday, if the forecast holds, daytime temperatures will climb to the mid-50s to near 60 degrees.

Two LV men found dead

Two Las Vegas men were found shot to death at a cabin on Cedar Mountain, about 30 miles north of Kanab, Utah, in what Kane County sheriff's officers said was a murder-suicide.

Douglas Jarina, 28, had four gunshot wounds in the upper torso, and James Perkins, 29, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the head, officers said.

The men had been friends for 10 years and investigators do not know what preceded the shooting, Chief Sheriff's Deputy Tracy Glover said.

Glover and Sheriff Lamont Smith were in Las Vegas Sunday to interview the men's family members.

Jarina and Perkins apparently had gone to the three-story cabin, owned by a distant relative of one of the men, to prepare for a large family gathering scheduled over the weekend.

Three carloads of family and friends discovered the bodies Friday about four hours after the two men arrived at the cabin.

Mount Rose trailheads planned

The U.S. Forest Service will build trailheads for two popular trails that lead into the Mount Rose Wilderness Area west of Reno.

A decision signed Friday by Carson District Ranger Gary Schiff clears the way for construction to begin this summer of the trailheads in lower Whites and Thomas creek canyons.