Print edition for December 23, 2003

Community briefs for Dec. 23, 2003: The West Flamingo Center for Active Adults 50 and up, sponsored by Clark County Parks & Community Services, is offering a variety of classes that begin the week of Jan. 5.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Santa has his work cut out for him: We can explain.

Girl, 8, OK after taken for ride by car thief: Jen Lawson; An 8-year-old girl was found safe this morning after the sport utility vehicle she was in was stolen from the gas pump area of a convenience store on Tropicana Avenue at Decatur Boulevard.

Grinch tries to steal Christmas: Dan Kulin; Someone tried to steal Christmas from dozens of homeless teenagers this year.

Desert Passage sold: Desert Passage, the Arabian-themed shopping mall attached to the Aladdin hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, was sold to a New York-based real estate partnership for $240.5 million.

Allen Town: Veteran comic brings variety shows to Rose Cottage residents: Now, along with bingo, arts and crafts and shopping trips to Wal-Mart, residents of the facility at 3985 S. Pearl St. are treated to occasional free performances by headliners, former headliners and other show business notables who know or at one time worked with Allen.

County records first flu death: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; For more information, or to schedule an appointment to receive a flu vaccination, call 383-1351, 383-1352 or 383-1494.

Appeals court upholds law on Indian gambling: Don Thompson; SACRAMENTO -- A federal appeals court upheld California's tribal gambling law Monday, ruling that it violates no federal law even though it gives tribes special privileges to operate casinos.

Station Casinos, Summerlin residents in standoff: Nearly three weeks after the Clark County Commission told supporters and opponents of the planned Station Casinos resort in Summerlin to go back to the negotiating table, a compromise still seems far from likely.

School District loses appeal on treatment of student: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District has lost its appeal of a state hearing officer's ruling that a 10-year-old special education student was not given the appropriate services she was entitled to under the law.

LV quake of similar strength possible, but not likely: After Monday's central California earthquake of magnitude 6.5, geologists living in Southern Nevada said that a comparable temblor could occur in the Las Vegas Valley, though it's not likely.

Officials say Las Vegas not specific target of terrorists: Jace Radke; Local and federal law enforcement officials joined Gov. Kenny Guinn Monday to say that there are no specific terrorist threats against Las Vegas as the nation continued to be at the second-highest level of terror-attack alert.

Weak holiday sales contribute to profit decline: The company said it had $13.8 million in costs associated with debt repurchase. Excluding those costs, the company earned 70 cents per share, matching expectations.

Letter: Bad energy bill shouldn't be law: While this is good news for clean air and clean water, I am concerned that the Bush administration and its allies in Congress will try once again to pass this harmful bill when Congress returns next year.

Business briefs for Dec. 23, 2003: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. Tuesday said it ended its long-running search for a chief financial officer by naming Michael Phalen to the post, effective Jan. 5.

Edtiorial: 'Person of the Year': Also Monday, Time magazine hit newsstands with the cover showing its annual "Person of the Year." The editors selected the men and women of the U.S. military. Three members of the 1st Armored Division are on the cover, representing our 1.4 million troops.

Immunization schedule for Dec. 23, 2003: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Airline posts loss of $75 million for November: Excluding $78 million in reorganization expenses and including $81 million received from the sale of a stake Hotwire, a travel-reservation Web site, UAL earned $3 million, said spokeswoman Jean Medina. Chicago-based UAL is required to file monthly reports as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Obituaries for Dec. 23, 2003: La Preal W. Beardall, 74, of Henderson died Saturday in a local health care center. She was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Loa, Utah. A resident for 40 years, she was a homemaker.

Bankrupt resort gets OK to borrow $10 mil.: By Liz Benston; A bankruptcy court judge last week gave approval for the owner of the Castaways hotel-casino to borrow another $10 million to keep the money-losing property open and to fund an expansion and remodeling project.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Pallbearers line up for last rites at Golden Gloves gym: Dean Juipe; The phone rang incessantly for the two hours I was there and for the rest of the day as well, said the man who had to answer it.

Mississippi casinos fund new park: Matt Volz; TUNICA, Miss. -- A $26 million museum and ecological park has opened on the banks of the Mississippi River, the latest development largely paid for with casino tax money that Tunica County officials hope will lure a wider range of visitors.

Holiday Closings: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Offices closed.

Namath to apologize for his behavior: Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath will apologize to the ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber for his bizarre behavior during an interview Saturday night, according to New York Jets spokesman Ron Colangelo.

Rattlers put focus on community: When Roy Hammonds played professional basketball in Seoul, South Korea, in 1996, the former San Jose Spartan required a new jersey for every game.

Rio project planned: Representatives of The Rio and and its parent company, Harrah's Entertainment Inc., would not comment on the plans.

Murphy stays mum after prison release: Erica D. Johnson; By the time Sandy Murphy was released from the Clark County Detention Center on Monday after posting $250,000 bail, a crowd of onlookers had gathered near several motels behind the jail, clapping and shouting her name.

Sports briefs for December 23, 2003: Athletic director Barbara Hedges said Wilson had been reasigned to other duties and will not be retained when her contract ends in June. Hedges said assistant coaches Scott Centala and Steve Daily will lead the team on an interim basis.

Letter: Conservatives' loyalty to Bush is irrational: I'm referring specifically to the following actions by Bush:

Home for holidays: Return to Mexico makes for feliz Navidad: By Timothy Pratt; It's Grandma and Grandpa, of course.

New Mexico's kicker not your average player: Steve Guiremand; Katie Hnida kicked herself into the NCAA record books in last year's Las Vegas Bowl when she attempted an extra point in New Mexico's 27-13 loss to UCLA.

Vestin Group board appoints panel to evaluate privatization: Kevin Rademacher; Additional details about Vestin Group Inc. Chief Executive Michael Shustek's move to take the company private are emerging.

Columnist Jeff German: Murphy is that same old girl: "I'm hoping the last four years in prison has changed Ms. Murphy's cavalier attitude," the judge said.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Horn, Lewis return for the holidays: Jerry Lewis arrives home today from an undisclosed area rehab facility to spend the holidays with his wife, Sandee, and daughter Danielle, 11.

Editorial: Pay for VA doctors not competitive: It's been our observation that the local VA provides excellent care for veterans. There are logistical problems, largely because the VA is now leasing three buildings due to the June closure of the Addeliar D. Guy III clinic because of structural deficiencies. Also, the VA's 12 satellite clinics are staffed by different specialists, meaning veterans with multiple conditions sometimes have to travel from clinic to clinic for their complete care. And there are the occasional administrative problems common to all health-care organizations. But medical care at the area VA clinics is strong.

Wranglers skate the midnight shift ... and score: Nick Christensen; The Wranglers' midnight hockey promotion proved to be a success at the gate after all.

Fewer new-home permits issued: Jennifer Shubinski; While home sales in the Las Vegas area continued to exceed records for the year, new-home permits issued valley wide in November fell to the lowest level in almost two years.

Roy Horn home in time for holidays: Jennifer Knight; World-renowned illusionist Roy Horn returned to his Las Vegas home Monday after two months at a California medical center where he received special treatment for the stroke he suffered after being attacked by one of the Siegfried & Roy performing white tigers.

Man pleads guilty to threat charge: Ryan Edward Lewis entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Roger Hunt and could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in March.

Fed court denies rehearing in erotic dancing club case: CARSON CITY -- A federal appeals court panel on Monday refused to grant a new hearing on whether the constitutional rights of the owners of an erotic dancing club in Las Vegas were violated when the club's license was suspended for serving liquor without a license.

Gaming briefs for Dec. 23, 2003: BILOXI, Miss. -- Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. announced Monday the completion of an agreement to build a casino and entertainment complex in Coventry, England.

Woman, 71, hits Megabucks at Fremont for $8.9 million: Heather Rawlyk; Having a Christmas Eve birthday usually means getting shortchanged on presents, but not for 71-year-old Amy Nishimura, not this year.

Where I Stand -- Guest columnist Kelly Sinnott: Examining schools, rules: THE FIRST TOPIC we discussed was the tardy policy at schools in Clark County. Although most people agreed that some kind of tardy policy was a good idea -- encouraging good habits in the future workplace -- opinions varied on how to deal with late students.

Purchase of land for new Gorman High is finalized: The high school's development cooperation has closed escrow with the Howard Hughes Corp. for the land off Hualapai Way near Russell Road, officials with the Diocese of Las Vegas have announced. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Suspect arrested in fatal shooting: A man suspected of killing a 23-year-old Las Vegas man on Friday night was arrested Monday by Metro and North Las Vegas police officers.

FluMist covered by insurance: People on a Sierra Health insurance plan who are between the ages of 18 and 49 can obtain FluMist from Albertsons Inc. or Sav-on Drugs pharmacies without a prescription during their flu vaccination clinics, the company announced last week. Sierra Health insurance members between the ages of 5 and 17 must see their physicians for the nasal mist vaccine, which is consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Tax hike foes see victory at polls: CARSON CITY -- If opponents of the state's $831 million tax package get a referendum to repeal it on next year's election ballot, they say they will have accomplished their goal -- even if the repeal effort fails.