News briefs for Oct. 14, 2002

Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

Poison not ruled out in dog deaths

Autopsies done on the two dogs found duct-taped and floating in a North Las Vegas resident's pool last month showed the dogs probably drowned, although poisoning still has not been ruled out, North Las Vegas Police Sgt. Frank DeMartino said.

Tests for poisons turned up nothing, but DeMartino said poisons could have gone unnoticed in the tests and additional toxicology tests could be done.

A $7,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever killed the dogs.

The dogs were found on Sept. 21 and Sept. 24 in an above-ground pool behind a house on Agave Avenue. Police believe both dogs were in the pool at the same time, but the second dog was not seen for several days because of the cloudiness of the pool water.

Police are asking anyone with information on the case to call 633-9111 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Teen, 17, killed in drive-by shooting

Metro Police are investigating the drive-by shooting of a 17-year-old Las Vegas boy who died Saturday morning.

Officers responding to shots fired near Karen Avenue and Van Patten Street about 3 a.m. Saturday found shot, . The teen was taken to Witnesses reported that Michael Villa and four others were riding in a white Lincoln when a tan Honda with two men drove alongside and exchanged words.

After shots were fired from the Honda, it sped off, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said. The Lincoln's driver took Villa to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Investigators said that the shooting may be gang-related.

Police are looking for two men in their late teens or early 20s. One wore a black checkered shirt. The other was described as having a shaved head and wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the Homicide Section at 229-3521.

Motorcyclist killed in rear-end crash

Metro Police are investigating the fatal crash of a motorcyclist into the back of a sport utility vehicle.

Laurence Revak, 37, of Las Vegas was killed in the accident about 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Metro Police officers said Revak was traveling east on Alta Drive behind an SUV traveling in the same direction when the SUV slowed to make a turn.

The motorcyclist failed to slow down and struck the rear of the vehicle, officers said. Revak was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SUV driver and her three passengers were not injured, officers said.

Red Flag makes skies busier

Southern Nevada skies could be noticeably noisier starting Tuesday night as military aircraft fly out of Nellis Air Force Base.

The flights are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays until Nov. 8 for a Red Flag exercise.

Some flights will involve up to 65 aircraft ranging from B-1 Lancers to F-16 Fighting Falcons. The aircraft will take off and head north to the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range.

The four-week exercise will allow pilots to simulate an air war over the nearby range.

Red Flag was established in 1975 to better prepare U.S. military forces for combat.

Nuke reading room has new home

The National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Operations Office pubic reading room, managed by Bechtel Nevada, has moved to 7730 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 112.

Open to the public, the reading room operates from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. The library may be contacted by phone at (702) 295-1628, e-mail, cic@nv.doe.gov, or fax, (702) 295-1624.

The Coordination and Information Center collects historical documents, records and data dealing with the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program.

A list of the government's collection is also available through OpenNet (www.osti.gov/opennet/).

OpenNet is the Department of Energy's bibliographic database containing declassified and publicly available documents. It allows interested people to identify documents, find them within the Energy Department complex and find information for ordering them.

LV man named to disability panel

Gov. Kenny Guinn has appointed George Scott to the Governor's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities.

Scott, a Las Vegas resident, is the business representative for Operating Engineers Local 501. He replaces Moshe Bialac of Las Vegas on the committee.

The committee was established by a governor's executive order to assist disabled residents by developing programs that enhance resources available to business and industry to promote employment opportunities for the disabled.