Print edition for October 31, 2002

Recycle those old pumpkins: How about recycling it into livestock feed?

Experts say Nevada economy building steam: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's economy is starting to rebound and the recovery will speed up over the next two years, according to the state's fiscal experts.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Pro Stock champ has scare on plane: Darrell Alderman suffered a health scare on his flight home from last weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals but the three-time Pro Stock champion said he expects to race in the season finale at Pomona next week.

Albertsons shares drop after forecast: Albertsons Inc. today lowered its forecasts for profit because of falling sales. The second-largest U.S. supermarket chain's shares declined as much as 19 percent this morning, dragging down other grocers' stocks.

Fans get early treat at annual jam: Swingman Lamar Bigby won the dunk contest, guard Jermaine Lewis finished first in the 3-point challenge, and Ernest Turner gave incumbent Marcus Banks a run at the point in the scrimmage.

Pitt requests investigation of his action on Webster: Laurie Kellman; WASHINGTON -- Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt asked today for an investigation of William Webster's selection to head an accounting oversight board after the disclosure that Pitt concealed information about Webster from SEC commissioners.

Ads may add something in translation: By Timothy Pratt; A two-letter word in Spanish has opponents of Question 2 howling four-letter words in English.

High court orders judgments reduced: CARSON CITY -- For the second time, the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that Clark County should not have to pay the full $445,000 to each of three property owners whose land was taken for construction of the airport connector to the Las Vegas Beltway.

Mortgage company pushes AG campaign: Erin Neff; Democratic attorney general candidate John Hunt reports fewer ties to Vestin Mortgage and its chief executive on his second campaign report despite television ads, mailers and other activities paid for by the company on its own.

Profit flat for casino supplier: Revenue for Acres' first quarter of fiscal 2003 was $5.9 million, down from $6.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Casino changes owners: By Liz Benston; Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. on Wednesday closed on the previously announced sale of its money-losing Lady Luck hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas to a new business entity with plans to convert a wing of the property into timeshares.

Internet gaming ban still unlikely this year: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- It's not likely that legislation banning Internet gambling will pass this year, despite prodding from the White House.

Respect among two warriors: Dean Juipe; Fashionably late for the press conference, Johnny Tapia quickly sought out Marco Antonio Barrera to make amends.

Supplier reports decline: Revenues from continuing operations were $7.3 million, compared with $11.5 million a year ago.

Fashion Show ready to unveil expansion: Jennifer Robison; The Las Vegas Strip hasn't seen a megaresort opening since the Aladdin launched in August 2000 -- a veritable resort-corridor drought for a street accustomed to internationally renowned hotel-casino openings.

News briefs for Oct. 31, 2002: A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper is being blamed for a crash just after midnight this morning at Desert Inn Road and Jones Boulevard.

James paid Culinary Union's $21,000 bill for campaign help: Adrienne Packer; About three weeks after hundreds of Culinary Union members switched political parties to help shepherd Clark County Commission candidate Mark James past his primary election opponent, James cut the organization a check for $21,695.89.

Halloween used to warn of drunken-driving danger: Erica D. Johnson; ASpring Valley man found a scarier way than pumpkins and cardboard cutouts to decorate his yard for Halloween and teach passers-by a valuable lesson.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Olympian Williams steps up: Dean Juipe; In what figures to be the first of many moments of truth in his still-developing career, Ricardo Williams steps into the ring Saturday night with a former world champion.

Finances improve for LV firm: Included in 2002 third quarter results are previously announced charges of $27.4 million for restructuring initiatives, impairment losses, losses from discontinued operations and various other items.

Mayor to present new bobble-head: Erica D. Johnson; Mayor Oscar Goodman has traded in his pinstripe suit for Uncle Sam's signature red, white and blue.

Conway looking for new funding for National: National Airlines executives are again scrambling for investors after an aircraft lessor that had pledged a $2 million letter of credit to the airline backed out of the deal.

Wasted time main complaint of jurors: Kim Smith; When a committee formed by the Nevada Supreme Court earlier this year began asking people how the jury system could be improved, they kept hearing the same thing over and over again.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Basketball just around the corner: Steve Guiremand; Are you ready for some ... basketball?

Cause of crash of unmanned aircraft called human error: An RQ-1 Predator, valued at $3.3 million, crashed at a classified location and was destroyed on impact. No one was injured. The plane was assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis and was deployed as part of the 386th Expeditionary Group.

Fight schedule: Friday

IBM launches 'on demand' computing strategy for business: Peter Svensson; NEW YORK -- In his first major public initiative as chief executive, Samuel Palmisano on Wednesday introduced a new strategy for International Business Machines Corp. that stresses a vision of selling computing as a utility-like service.

Catching up with ... JAMIE VANMEETREN: High School: B. Gorman ('00)

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

Wednesday's prep results: BOYS SOCCER

Suit against Tuscany dismissed: Jeffrey Libby; A civil lawsuit that contests a Henderson redevelopment deal worth up to $40 million in public money was dismissed Wednesday because it was filed too late.

LVMS changes truck race to Saturday: The 2003 NCTS race will start at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. This year's race was held on Sunday, Sept. 13 and attracted a crowd estimated at 15,000.

Letter: Cast a vote for freedom: He seems to have missed a very important fact in the traffic death of Sandra Thompson, which is that marijuana was illegal at the time of her death. The law did not save her life and this accident is irrelevant to the question of whether or not passage of Question 9 is a good idea.

Former Tropicana exec, arts patron Saltz dies: Erica D. Johnson; Of all the memories Robert Saltz has of his father, two things stand out -- his giving nature and one gleaming, physical characteristic.

Letter: Minnesotan was one of the last real liberals: I am a product of the Republican-induced Great Depression. The first liberal, FDR, led the country out of that depression by social legislation like Social Security. These were legislative measures which aided the little people. They were acts that formed the heart of the Democratic Party.

Friday's horse racing entries: OAK TREE MEETING

'Cats, Jags set for showdown: Adam Candee; Leon Evans glows as he surveys his Desert Pines football squad and sees the skill and talent of a championship team.

Family of slain teen speak against sentence: Kim Smith; When her 17-year-old daughter suddenly took a bad turn early this year, Carlana Primacio said she did everything she could to get her back onto the right path.

Growth slower than expected: The rise in gross domestic product, the total value of all goods and services produced in the nation, followed a 1.3 percent rate in the second quarter, the Commerce Department reported today.

High fashion: Mall expansion a true wonder: Sun Staff; Parking was often a trial, but that was the least of it.

Sun Prep Athletes of the Week: Chat Martin, Allison Davis and Carrie Schofield: Chat Martin

Community briefs for Oct. 31, 2002: Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is seeking volunteers to help at the park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in order to complete construction on a new trail to be opened in the spring.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Not for gathering dust: The report gave three essential instruments that must be improved and used to protect our homeland:

Letter: Voter interest is essential: Will more eligible voters vote by Nov. 5? Are they more politically involved and aware today?

Defense: Man not impaired in crash that killed son: Kim Smith; Michael Anthony Schlotfeldt wasn't drunk when his minivan struck a U-Haul truck head-on, killing his 2-year-old son, his attorney told jurors Wednesday.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Women showing more clout: Ruthe Deskin; If memory serves me correctly, that was the slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes.

(Re)Making History: Under new management, Huntridge Theatre set to reopen: Spencer Patterson; "I had some people yell at me when they thought I was closing the place," Mizrachi said. "The secretary of a friend completely stopped talking to me for a while."

Rundle returned to face charges: Jen Lawson; Two months after he fled Las Vegas, William Rundle returned Wednesday evening to face charges that he killed his wife, Shirley.

Editorial: Let nature decide site of wetland: For the past two years in the north end of Boulder City, a two-mile stretch of unnatural wetland has been forming on public land below the Cascata golf course, which was built on a hillside. The water that keeps the course lush, and that keeps man-made rivers flowing and a 400-foot man-made waterfall cascading, is running off. Such water is generally not fit for drinking. The runoff could also absorb hazardous metals occurring naturally in the soils before settling as a wetland. The potential is there for a growing wetlands area whose water could harm wildlife and whose presence could ...

Palo Verde should lock up its playoff spot: Adam Candee; Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune

Obituaries for Oct. 31, 2002: Gloria Alcayde, 78, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born April 29, 1924, in Mandaluyong, Philippines. A resident for 2 1/2 years, she was a homemaker.

Editorial: Stop warehousing mentally ill, drunks: WestCare, a center to care for patients who need substance abuse treatment or who have behavioral problems, is willing to set aside 60 beds for those who are mentally ill. The center also could take care of chronic drunks, who currently also are taking up bed space at local hospitals because they have no place to go until they dry out. This week the Legislative Committee on Health Care endorsed the plan, which would cost about $3.8 million a year. The costs would be shared among state and local governments. The savings could be significant. Currently an emergency room bed ...

Review: Enriching sounds of Yo-Yo Ma fill Ham Hall: Marilyn LaRocque; "Hope you're ready for a musical adventure," cellist Yo-Yo Ma greeted the audience at Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Wednesday night. The capacity crowd roared its assent.

Nellis airmen decorated in war on terrorism: Dick Benoit; Four Nellis airmen were decorated for their efforts in support of the war on terrorism during recent ceremonies at the base.

Third grade teacher wins $25,000 Milken award: By Emily Richmond; Cheryl DiMartino, a third grade teacher at C.P. Squires Elementary School, never thought she'd win a $25,000 award for classroom excellence.

Justice Department filing suit to block merger: The department's opposition comes despite concessions EchoStar offered last week to bolster a rival company and avoid concerns about a potential monopoly.