News briefs for July 9, 2002

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 | 10:02 a.m.

Soil sampled at nuclear site

A crew from the National Nuclear Security Administration's Nevada Operations Office began collecting soil samples on Monday from a site in New Mexico to test for radioactive and chemical contamination.

Previous studies at the site, where a peaceful nuclear experiment named Gasbuggy was conducted in 1967, indicated no public health risk.

The environmental investigation is expected to confirm earlier studies and evaluate chemical contamination from petroleum used in the experiments.

Gasbuggy was conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission, predecessor to the Energy Department, as part of its Plowshare program, a series of experiments which sought to develop peaceful uses for atomic energy.

Gasbuggy was one of nine nuclear tests located outside the boundaries of the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Man sentenced in clerk's death

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in jail for the death of a convenience store clerk who died four months after being struck in the head during a robbery.

Elworth Sargent, 18, pleaded guilty in May to second-degree murder and two counts of robbery in connection with two unrelated convenience store robberies. He'll serve the robbery sentences concurrently.

Special Public Defender Alzora Jackson argued for a lighter sentence because Sargent turned himself in for the death of store clerk Dong Kim, and because other health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver may have contributed to Kim's death.

Sargent's co-defendant, Justin William Brooks, was sentenced to two to five years in prison for robbery with a deadly weapon in the March 20 robbery that led to Kim's death.

Direct payment for sewer started

Las Vegas' Finance and Business Services Department has started a direct payment option for residents to pay quarterly sewer service fees.

The direct payment service is free. Homeowners can fill out an application authorizing the city to debit their checking or savings account.

Automatic debits can be stopped at any time by submitting a request in writing 14 days before the next bill.

Residents interested in applying for the direct payment for sewer services can e-mail SewerACH@ci.las-vegas.nv.us or call a city sanitation technician at 229-6281.