News briefs for Oct. 24, 2002

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

Charges filed in nursing home case

A nursing assistant at a Las Vegas nursing home has been arrested on two felony counts of abusing an 84-year-old patient, including shoving part of a nightgown into the woman's mouth.

Tim Terry, director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the attorney general's office, said Chinelo Amaka Smith, 20, was an employee at the Plaza Regency at Sun Mountain when the alleged offenses occurred.

Terry said Smith struck the elderly woman twice while preparing her for bed and in a separate incident she stuffed the gown into the woman's mouth.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said: "This elderly woman is more than just a patient in a facility. She is a resident in her nursing home. We must prosecute these offenses and ensure our elderly can feel safe in their residence."

Two appointed to advisory panel

Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced new appointments on Tuesday to citizen-based Resource Advisory Councils in Nevada that advise the Bureau of Land Management on public land issues.

New appointments to the Mojave-Southern Great Basin council include George "John" Weisser of Las Vegas and Ed Skudlarek of Carson City. Members reappointed to the committee are Marta Agee of Alamo, Jerry Helton of Las Vegas and Stephen Mellington of Las Vegas.

Citizens are appointed to the councils for their expertise in natural resource issues. The councils aim to improve the health and productivity of the public lands in the state.