News briefs for Nov. 17, 2003

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

U.S. attorney assistants honored

Two prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Nevada were honored Friday by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Dan Schiess and Timothy Vasquez, who both work in the U.S. attorney's criminal division in Las Vegas, were honored with 2003 Director's Awards.

Schiess was recognized for his successful prosecution of former Assemblyman Harley Harmon, who was convicted in February of 34 counts of mail fraud. Harmon was later sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $2.7 million in restitution.

Vasquez was recognized for his work in the U.S. attorney's office in Puerto Rico where he was assigned before recently being transferred to Las Vegas.

Directors Awards are given to assistant U.S. attorneys, litigation and information support personnel, and others who have made contributions in federal, state and local law enforcement.

NLV hires new development chief

North Las Vegas has hired a new director of the city Development Services Department.

Lehman Walker, most recently a planning and development department director at University City, Mo., will start work with North Las Vegas on Dec. 8 with an annual salary of $110,000.

As development services director Walker will head a department with a staff of 60 and a $6.3 million annual budget. Development Services handles permitting, planning, zoning and building safety functions for the city government.

Walker replaces former Development Services Director Donna Kristaponis, who resigned in September.

Walker has a bachelor's degree in social science and a master's degree in city and regional planning from California State University, Fresno. He also has a master's in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Man killed while crossing highway

A 58-year-old man died Saturday after he stepped into the path of a car on Boulder Highway near Lowery Street in Henderson, Officer Shane Lewis said.

The victim was trying to cross Boulder Highway against traffic when he was struck about 7 p.m. by a northbound 1997 Chevrolet Lumina driven by Patrick McDonnell, 40, of Henderson, police said. McDonnell is an assistant Metro editor for the Las Vegas Sun.

The victim was taken to University Medical Center, where he later died. He had not been identified this morning, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, police said, and McDonnell was not cited. The investigation is continuing.