Print edition for October 23, 2002

Partner Up: Las Vegas square dancers are one big family': They turned to an American tradition that once flourished in rural pockets throughout the country.

Sun's Accent section earns national award: The awards, formerly known as the Penney-Missouri awards, were judged by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Saks has Las Vegas in the bag: Thursday, with General Manager Mari Landers once again as my guide, I revisited the grand, new Saks Fifth Avenue. My previous visit a few months required that I wear a hard hat. None was needed this time; Saks was ready to open.

Savvy wine buys: Allegrini Valpolicella Classico '01: But Allegrini has raised the bar in this charming Italian village, which is located between Milan and Venice, and the wines are uniformly excellent. This one has balanced acidity, moderate tannins and a robust cherry and dark fruit flavor.

Community briefs for Oct. 23, 2002: Residents in northwest Las Vegas can meet with their councilman from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Northwest Senior Center, 6841 W. Lone Mountain Road.

Unique restaurant chains link families and fun: Max Jacobson; Virtually all of the major chains are located here, many with multiple locations. Some of these chains stand out, not only in terms of quality and in bang for the buck, but also with regard to originality and family appeal.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Event benefits Boys and Girls Clubs: Elizabeth Foyt; An exceptional event hosted entirely by the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian for the benefit of the Legacy Society, this will be a chance to help a most worthy cause and meet the youngsters who need your support.

Editorial: Education candidates endorsed: Gary Waters, a longtime educational administrator and consultant, is seeking a third term in District 2. He is opposed by Roger "Oz" Baum, a children's book author. Waters has been a strong proponent of requiring a science proficiency test for high school students. He also believes firmly in the value of after-school programs, which can increase a student's overall academic performance if they're well-run. Waters is thoughtful and one of the top members of the board. The Sun endorses Gary Waters.

Tuesday's prep results: GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Henderson to chip in $50,000 for school sports: By Emily Richmond; The Henderson City Council is expected to approve up to $50,000 to help keep middle school sports going in Clark County, a pledge that would likely pull the activities off the chopping block.

More than 60 firefighters tackle recycling blaze: Early today a handful of the more than 60 firefighters who were on scene at the height of the blaze were cleaning up potential hot spots from the fire, which was contained by 11 p.m.

Letter: Dowd not doing liberalism a favor: If the left (and I'm slightly right of Atilla the Hun) wants to demonstrate its relevance to middle America, it needs to get over its childish, petty personal attacks on President Bush and tell us why its ideas and platform are good for those of us who have to work and pay taxes. Reasonable, intelligent Americans respond to reasonable, intelligent arguments -- not to poorly written, personal attacks disguised as pseudo-satire.

Candidates address school funding during public forum: By Emily Richmond; More than 200 parents and students turned out for an campaign forum on education spending Tuesday, eager to hear how candidates propose to improve the quality of Clark County's public schools.

Six-month jail sentence levied in fatal shooting: Kim Smith; A 40-year-old Las Vegas man who shot his fiancee's brother to death during a struggle over a gun was sentenced to six months in jail and five years' probation Tuesday.

Jones almost ready to sign to fight Ruiz in LV: Dean Juipe; Via a press release issued by his adviser, boxer Roy Jones Jr. broke his silence Tuesday and said he was almost ready to sign to fight World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz. The bout would be held March 1 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: Thursday's card

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fighter says Ruiz would beat Jones: Dean Juipe; Montell Griffin has experience with such things.

UNLV men still second; women move up to 42: The Rebels men held their position after a fourth-place finish at the rain-shortened Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. The women, however, moved up 12 positions, improving from 54th to a program-best 42nd.

Tortoise Trot planned for benefit of Red Rock: Proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving Red Rock Canyon through volunteer activities, education and fund-raising.

Green Valley opens big lead at 4A girls' state golf tournament: Adam Candee; Just one last trip around the course separates the Green Valley girls golf team from one of its finest seasons.

Thursday's horse racing entries: OAK TREE MEETING

Penn National posts big third-quarter gains: Vicki Smith; WYOMISSING, Pa. -- Penn National Gaming Inc., parent of the Charles Town Races & Slots and other racetracks and casinos, today reported a 30 percent jump in net income for the third quarter.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vegan misses, Renoite makes F1 cut: Michael Abbate of Las Vegas was not among the four drivers selected to race in Europe next year as part of the inaugural Red Bull F1 Driver Search program but one Nevada driver made the cut.

Blueprint for merged child welfare approved: Erica D. Johnson; A legislative committee has approved a plan to pay for a merger of state and county child welfare systems.

Letter: Saddam poses nuclear threat to our nation: It is a dreadful thought if this irrational man gets ahold of a nuclear bomb. The world is in peril if this sneaky and deadly dictator of Iraq has the material to threaten the world.

Guest Columnist Larry Dixon: Family, friendship strong in Dixon's racing camp: NHRA schedule

Columnist Peter Benton: Locals deserve break on greens fees: Peter Benton; Las Vegas has the highest average greens fees in the country.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Dion's Caesar show to be a mist-see: Well, Celine Dion will have a similar contraption hanging over her head at Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the facility being built to house her upcoming show.

Letter: Wilderness bill efforts lauded: Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign and Reps. Jim Gibbons and Shelley Berkley deserve a big applause. They put party politics aside and worked together with business, conservationists and other Nevada citizens to pass legislation that will ensure that our state's special wild places will remain just the way they are for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. As more and more people move into the Las Vegas region, these areas of beauty and solitude grow even more important.

Stage set for record auction of public land: Jeffrey Libby; Henderson officials on Tuesday backed an auction of 1,954 federally owned acres in November 2003, setting the stage for the largest public auction of federal land since new public land disposal laws were passed in 1998.

Guinn will limit his campaigning: CARSON CITY -- As the Nov. 5 election nears, Gov. Kenny Guinn says he's not going to do much personal campaigning but plans to spend more time on his job as governor.

Regents' access to some records halted: Jennifer Knight; Nevada's university system chancellor has put a stop to the Board of Regents' unfettered access to personnel files and student records pending a board review of the policy.

Obituaries for Oct. 23, 2002: Idaire Axler, 90, of Las Vegas died Oct. 14 in Las Vegas. She was born June 1, 1912, in New York. A resident for 50 years, she was a homemaker and a member of Temple Beth Shalom sisterhood.

Firing of child welfare worker upheld: CARSON CITY -- A hearing officer has upheld the firing of an employee of the state Division of Child and Family Services for repeatedly using the state's computer system to surf the Internet for pornographic material.

Las Vegas man charged in ex-girlfriend's death: Arie Redeker is cooperating with police, homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said. He is being held in the Clark County Detention Center.

Suit filed over wrong results on test scores: By Emily Richmond; A Las Vegas attorney has filed a class action suit against Harcourt Educational Measurement on behalf of the more than 700 Nevada students who were incorrectly told by the company that they had failed the state's High School Proficiency Exam last spring.

Price of Le Reve IPO cut again: Wynn Resorts Ltd. has lowered the price of its stock offering for the second straight day, again delaying the proposed effective day of the IPO critical to financing the $2.4 billion Le Reve resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Vegas insurer's stock tumbles: Shares of Sierra Health, the largest health insurer in Nevada, tumbled $3.87 to $16.30 Tuesday and were down another $1.17 this morning. The company reported strong earnings Monday.

Resort posts fifth straight loss: In the company's monthly operating report, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas, the company reported $19 million in revenues, $20.6 million in expenses and $979,296 in bankruptcy reorganization costs, resulting in the monthly loss.

Credit card thieves strike Red Rock Canyon visitors: Jen Lawson; People visiting Red Rock Canyon expect to see breathtaking views -- they don't expect to become crime victims.

Two plead guilty in shooting death: Kim Smith; Two teenagers arrested in July in connection with the death of a man who was shot during what was supposed to be a fistfight have entered plea agreements.

Lease gets proposed movie studio rolling: Jeffrey Libby; A proposed $44 million movie studio cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when the Boulder City Council approved of a 40-year lease of a World War II-era hangar on city-owned land.

Governor hints at new taxes on liquor, cigarettes: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn doesn't agree with those who say a potential gross receipts tax on business is unfair.

U.S. official bullish on small business prospects: Grace Leong; Despite the stock market slump and continued weakness in the airline and tourism sectors in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans said Tuesday he remained positive about the sustainability of the current recovery because of strong growth in small businesses like Wheeler's Las Vegas RV.

Gaming supplier sells plant, subsidiary: The Las Vegas-based gaming supplier said its 50 percent interest in the Latin American sales and distribution office in Lima, Peru, was sold to a group headed by that division's general manager, Oscar Rodriguez. Mikohn recently sold off its exterior sign business, based in Las Vegas, in a similar manner. Terms of the latest sale were not disclosed.

Complaint against Heller dismissed: CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission today dismissed a complaint brought against Secretary of State Dean Heller by Christopher Hansen, the Independent American Party candidate for his office.

Massachusetts regulators file complaint against CSFB: Justin Pope; BOSTON -- Massachusetts regulators are accusing Credit Suisse First Boston of violating state law and "mocking investors" with "winky-blinky" tactics that blurred the boundaries between its research and investment banking divisions.

SDSU's Hall eyes chance for revenge: Steve Guiremand; San Diego State quarterback Adam Hall admits he has had Saturday afternoon's game with UNLV at Qualcomm Stadium circled for a while.

Revitalized: Community center in east LV set to open: Once a rundown part of town infested with gangs, crime and the blight of decaying structures, a portion of eastern Las Vegas is beginning something of a renaissance.

Ex-Louisiana governor reports to Texas prison: Anita Chang; FORT WORTH, Texas -- Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards had at least one good thing to say about the legal system after arriving in Fort Worth for a 10-year prison term.

Profit rebounds for MGM MIRAGE: By Liz Benston; MGM MIRAGE today reported a third-quarter increase in earnings driven largely by an easy comparison to last year's quarter, which was profoundly hurt by the effect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Metro 911 calls often put on hold: Adrienne Packer; When convenience store owner Joannie Hill's panicked clerk dialed 911 after an early morning robbery last week, he was hopeful the culprit -- still in plain sight -- would be nabbed.

Columnist Jeff German: Hired gun Horowitz in power play: Their latest move is to buy the services of well-known "consumer advocate" David Horowitz, who's appearing in television ads asking us to vote against the advisory ballot initiative on Nov. 5.