News briefs for Sept. 6, 2002

Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

State scores in debt collection

State Controller Kathy Augustine said a debt collection program has taken in more than $1 million since last December from people who owe the state money.

She said the program, farmed out to two private companies, has not cost the state anything. She said her office and the attorney general have scheduled a debt collection workshop for all state agencies Oct. 24 in Carson City that will be teleconferenced to Las Vegas.

Driving school owner killed

A local driving school owner was found slain in his apartment Thursday morning after relatives had not heard from him in several days.

No arrests were made, but Metro Police detectives questioned a 19-year-old friend who was known to stay in the apartment.

Metro officers went into 58-year-old Daniel Miller's apartment in the 4600 block of Paradise Road near Harmon Avenue about 10 a.m. Thursday and found the body.

The cause of death was to be determined today during an autopsy, but police said the death is being investigated as a homicide.

Miller owned American Driver Education, a driving school on Flamingo Road, according to Clark County business license records.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Tuition program to hire ad firm

The state Board of Examiners Thursday approved a $370,000 contract for state Treasurer Brian Krolicki to hire an advertising firm to promote the Nevada Prepaid College Tuition Program.

But members said this was the last time this type of expenditure would be passed.

The board members -- Gov. Kenny Guinn, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Secretary of State Dean Heller -- all said this was too much money to pay for advertising for a program that has signed up only 9,500 people and collected $1.8 million in five years.

Del Papa suggested the money could be spread around to advertise other educational programs.

Woman found dead in alley

A worker found the body of a woman in an alley in the 1300 block of F Street about 8 a.m. on Thursday, Metro Police Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Police said the alley is frequently used by drug users and sellers.

The Clark County coroner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, although the circumstances of the woman's death suggest she was a homicide victim, Monahan said.

She has not been identified.

Anyone with information is urged to call Secret Witness at 385-5555 or the Metro Homicide Section at 229-3521.

Bridge work will cause dam delays

Motorists driving on U.S. Highway 93 near Hoover Dam may be delayed as temporary lane closures go into effect Monday through Saturday during September because of bridge maintenance, the Bureau of Reclamation said.

Crews will also be in the area during the day doing exploratory drilling for the proposed Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

Work started Thursday night as crews began replacing 40-foot by 2-foot expansion joints on the bridges near the dam. The work was expected to continue until this morning.

Traffic will be allowed to pass on alternating lanes and delays were expected to last less than 15 minutes.

NHP defends stop on wife of boss

The Nevada Highway Patrol said it did not show favoritism when it declined to issue a ticket for aggressive driving or speeding to the wife of state public Safety Director Dick Kirkland, who oversees the patrol.

Patrol Commander Dave Hosmer said Thursday a trooper, on patrol between Reno and Carson City on U.S. 395, saw a red car in his rear view mirror that was following too closely. The car then passed on the right side, clocking about 10 mph above the 50-mph speed limit.

The trooper pulled over Cindy Kirkland, who was headed for work in Carson City.

Hosmer said Kirkland was given a verbal warning.

The trooper recognized Kirkland and made a full report on why he gave the verbal warning.

Hosmer said the patrol made 15,121 traffic stops on the highway during August and 3,341 ended up with a verbal warning -- just over 20 percent.