News briefs for June 5, 2003

Thursday, June 5, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

Help sought in finding woman

North Las Vegas Police are asking for the public's help in finding a 39-year-old Down Syndrome woman, who has been missing since 2:30 a.m. today.

Terri Akiona lives in the area of Camino El Norte and Ann Road, but Officer Justin Roberts said she could be anywhere.

She was last seen wearing a red and white dress and black shoes and might be carrying a black and purple backpack. Police aren't certain if Akiona wandered away or if foul play is involved. Anyone with information is asked to call North Las Vegas Police at 633-1390.

Fire closes railroad tracks

Freight train service was suspended today between Barstow, Calif., and Las Vegas while firefighters battled a blaze in a pile of railroad ties near Jean.

Clark County fire spokesman Bob Leinbach said firefighters from surrounding communities and Las Vegas were working to contain the fire off Interstate 15, midway between Las Vegas and the California state line.

Eight tankers were on the scene at 8:30 a.m. Firefighters were using earth-moving equipment in addition to water and foam to battle the blaze.

Mark Davis, a Union Pacific Railroad spokesman in Omaha, Neb., said a train engineer reported the fire about dawn in a pile of wooden ties along the track. There was no immediate report what caused the fire.