Stories published September 5, 2003Las Vegas Sun

Fund-raising effort for flood victims launched: Sito Negron and Will Oremus; Officials announced Thursday a local fund-raising effort and a low-interest loan program provided by the federal government to help victims of last month's flooding, but residents whose homes were damaged say it's too little and too late.

Plans made for State College area: Dan Kulin; Proposals for the Nevada State College at Henderson put the campus next to a mini-downtown anchored by a train station surrounded by shops and offices, with apartments above them, a city planner said Thursday.

Obituaries for Sept. 5, 2003: Shirley G. Bemus, 89, of Boulder City died Tuesday in a local care center. She was born Aug. 18, 1914, in Riceville, Iowa. A resident for 25 years, she was a retired accounting clerk.

LV closes three community offices: The reasons cited for the move included lack of foot traffic at the centers, the fact that council members have liaisons to serve the same purpose and the savings in rental fees for the offices.

Columnist Adam Candee: Gorman must slow Foothill freshman: Adam Candee; Maybe a little inverse proportion is in order for this week's prep football games.

Las Vegas union dispute simmers: U.S. District Court Judge Howard McKibben last week rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction from 12 former leaders of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 720 in Las Vegas who wanted to regain control of the 1,600-member union.

Transportation bill would give state $75 mil.: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Las Vegas monorail project would get $25 million in federal funding while another $5 million would be infused into the widening of the Las Vegas beltway and $7 million more would go into the construction of the Hoover Dam bypass road under a transporation spending bill approved by a Senate committee Thursday.

Developer enters Reno market: Del Webb has five master-planned communities in the Las Vegas area. Pulte Homes Inc., Del Webb's parent company based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is a major builder with Pulte-branded developments throughout Southern Nevada. Pulte does not have any communities in Northern Nevada.

Groups can leave state health program: CARSON CITY -- Groups of state workers are now eligible to apply to pull out of the state's beleaguered health insurance program that recently cut benefits.

Sports news briefs for September 5, 2003: NASCAR driver Kurt Busch dropped his assault complaint against rival Jimmy Spencer, who punched him in the face after a race Aug. 17 at Michigan International Speedway.

Columnist Jeff German: DA keeps lid on key Binion info: His lawyer, Jonathan MacArthur, describes what the former Binion defense investigator has to offer as "the best piece of information in the millennium" -- at least in Las Vegas, which has soaked up every tidbit it can on Binion's mysterious death for the past five years.

Fired NLV city manager Fritsch files suit against city: Dan Kulin; Former North Las Vegas City Manager Kurt Fritsch filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city, claiming the City Council violated the state Open Meetings Law, the City Charter and Fritsch's contract when it fired him on July 16.

Board told no local branch of medical examiners needed: RENO -- After being prodded by some state lawmakers to open a branch office in Las Vegas, the state Board of Medical Examiners on Thursday was told by Southern Nevada doctors that a Clark County office is unnecessary, especially if it means doctors would have to pay higher fees.

News briefs for Sept. 5, 2003: The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday denied an appeal from a Las Vegas woman who was left blind as the result of a medical procedure.

CCSN opens science building: Jennifer Knight; Stalled fund-raising, budget cuts and a lightning strike didn't stop the Community College of Southern Nevada from opening a new science building Thursday.

Reid plans to hold up NRC selection: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will place a hold on President Bush's pick for a seat on the five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission after the White House rejected his science adviser for another spot on the panel.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Football betting show takes root in Vegas: Wayne Allyn Root is. The noted football prognosticator taped the first episode of his nationally broadcast show Thursday in Las Vegas. The show was based in Los Angeles for its first three years.

Homeless man pulled from wash: Sito Negron; Steven Brooks said all he saw at first was water churning through the wash that passes under Eastern Avenue at Pebble Road.

Aladdin, Palms hit with labor complaints: By Liz Benston; The National Labor Relations Board has filed complaints against the Palms and Aladdin resorts, alleging the nonunion Las Vegas properties are illegally attempting to discourage workers from unionizing.

Witnesses name alleged leader of 311 Boyz attack: Erica D. Johnson; Several teens who witnessed last month's alleged gang attack in Summerlin told a grand jury who the instigator of the melee was, but they were unable to say who threw the five-pound rock that crushed the face of 17-year-old Tanner Hansen, according to transcripts of the testimony.

Reserves sergeant from LV killed in Kuwait: Jace Radke; Growing up as a surfer and musician on the famed North Shore of Hawaii, Cameron Sarno always took the time to look out for his family and friends -- and taking care of others carried over in his mission as a staff sergeant in the Army reserves.

Brutality of attack shocks family: Jen Lawson; Sitting in the lobby of University Medical Center's trauma unit, John Del Prado reached into the breast pocket of his shirt and pulled out a stack of business cards and folded-up scraps of paper.

Restaurant pianists exempt from tax: Erin Neff; Restaurants wouldn't have to pipe in taped music to avoid a new tax under guidelines being considered by the state Gaming Control Board.

Business briefs for Sept. 5, 2003: The government has notified Tenet Healthcare that it will hold proceedings to bar what had once been one of Tenet's most profitable hospitals from federal health care programs, the company announced on Thursday. The move comes after accusations that potentially hundreds of patients had unnecessary heart tests and surgery at the hospital, the Redding Medical Center in Redding, Calif.

Apartments destroyed: Mary Manning, Will Oremus and Jennifer Shubinski; The American Red Cross opened a phone line for those displaced from their homes by the fire at Russell Road and Boulder Highway. (866) 438-4636.

Man slain outside NLV store: People in the area heard gunshots about 8:20 p.m. and called police. When officers arrived they found the victim with several gunshot wounds in his chest, Officer Justin Roberts, spokesman for the police department, said.

Fire causes evacuation of about 60 residents: Will Oremus and Mary Manning; One minute, the sky was clear and calm, and Robin Jones and her son Aaron, 12, were relaxing in a swimming pool.

Union protests at Wal-Mart: Danny Thompson, secretary-treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, spoke at the rally. The UFCW has been trying for two years to organize Wal-Mart and Sam's Club workers in Las Vegas, but so far no local store is unionized. Wal-Mart has denied discriminating against workers and says the majority of its employees don't want a union.

Boy escapes raging water: A 10-year-old Henderson boy skateboarding in a concrete flood channel was hit by a wall of brown water and swept away as strong thunderstorms raked the southeast valley Thursday afternoon.

Woman held in contempt ordered to spend 150 days in jail: Malia Spencer; A woman charged with attempted battery was told she would spend an extra five months in jail for arguing with a judge, despite laws that limit contempt punishment to 25 days in jail or a maximum $500 fine.

Whoa! That's yellow! And Bellotti likes both quarterbacks: AP; Jake Curtis of the San Francisco Chronicle said the neon yellow uniforms with green trim "resemble space suits in a cheap sci-fi movie."

Major fires in Las Vegas: The AeroTech rocket fuel plant at 1955 S. Palm St., near residential neighborhoods at Boulder Highway and St. Louis Avenue, burned, killing one person and seriously injured two others. It also destroyed five nearby businesses.

Morgan Stanley settles FERC charges: NEW YORK -- Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. has agreed to pay $857,089 to settle charges it violated power market trading rules during the Western energy crisis in 2000 and 2001, according to documents filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Tax panel not clear on who pays: Erin Neff; Although the new business license fee took effect July 1, the state's Tax Commission is still no closer to defining who is supposed to pay the $100 a year levy.

Man arrested in stolen gun case: Acting on a tip, detectives said they watched Michael Fitzgerald, a felon, enter a gated community in southwest Las Vegas and steal a bicycle and tools out of a garage, Moses said.

Gaming briefs for Sept. 5, 2003: ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Recall fever has infected Rohnert Park, where citizens opposed to a proposed Indian casino announced plans to try and recall the entire city council.

Medical board says no doctor exodus: RENO -- Despite warnings that doctors were leaving or closing their practices due to the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance, the state board that oversees medical licenses says there are more physicians with active licenses now than there were at the end of 2001, when the medical malpractice crisis began.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Del Mar: Saturday's card

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah:'Zumanity' faces the naked truth: In a remarkably candid conversation with VegasBeat last week, show choreographer Marguerite Derricks said her Cirque du Soleil bosses have given her a full three months beyond the show's Sept. 20 opening date to iron out the wrinkles.

Thurston, Chen, Hill draw top grades: The 21st year of Triple-A ball in Las Vegas featured a no-hitter at home, the threat of a single-season hitting record, a veteran using Cashman Field to springboard back to the majors and a few flops.

Letter: Letter's anti-gay views appalling: PATRICIA DUCHARME

Columnist Dean Juipe: Confident Rebels envision 2-0 record: Dean Juipe; This is not a team that has the luxury of an easy game on its schedule, in part because the season-long competition is pretty decent and in part because of its own shortcomings.

Residents embrace tribe's bingo proposal: Pamela Hamilton; SANTEE, S.C. -- Little by little, Patsy Clemons has watched this sleepy tourist town off Interstate 95 begin waking up during the past 20 years as new golfing and fishing attractions opened.

NFL injury report for September 5, 2003: Sunday

Payrolls slashed, but unemployment rate falls: August was the seventh consecutive month of cuts in payrolls, a survey released by the Labor Department showed, indicating continuing weakness in the job market. Analysts had expected companies to add 12,000 new jobs.

Letter: U.S. cannot be world's police: President Bush made a big mistake. His ego induced him to avenge his father's mistakes. We need to stop policing the world and stop trying to democratize countries that are happy with their religion and way of life.

Fishing report: Fishermen find success at Lake Mead: Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) creel census clerks said that striped bass fishing continued to be outstanding at Lake Mead.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: MWC to make pitch for BCS membership: Steve Guiremand; For the Mountain West Conference, it's time to put up or shut up.

Group wants light to shine in mountain cave: Mary Manning and Jean Reid Norman; Some of Barbara Orcutt's earliest summer memories are of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, being awed by the natural underground beauty.

On Display for Sept. 5, 2003: The S2 Art Center, 1 E. Charleston Blvd., will celebrate First Friday with demonstrations of their antique lithography presses and a showing of cat- and dog-themed artwork from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. today (888) 976-5666, ext. 106.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Disturbing attitudes: I don't know which is more disturbing -- the news that there is a gang of middle-class white boys who batter their prey almost beyond recognition, or family members and friends who practically ignore their crimes in order to continue the fantasy that these "are good kids."

Nostalgia triggers Pistols reunion: Spencer Patterson; Something rotten is headed to Las Vegas.

Grass allergy isn't holding back Edwards: NFL SNAP SHOT

Datebook for Sept. 5, 2003: The Clark County Parks and Community Services Department presents "The Starlight Movie Series" today at Paradise Park at Tropicana and McLeod. The free movie begins at 8:30 p.m. Bring picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs, but no alcohol or pets. 455-8278.

Some of Ramones' best at 'Home': Spencer Patterson; To the considerable consternation of my wife, a lot of the music I listen to tends to be meandering and abstruse.

Letter: Common-area pools would help: Common-area subdivision pools are very cost-effective, they must have lifeguards, and they are far safer than those currently in use by homeowners.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Learning from the past: Collins, prior to the charges, had become known for how he spoke to his troops prior to combat. "Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory," he said. These certainly aren't the words of a man who would mistreat prisoners. Collins' troops said the accusing major had been chastised by the colonel, for what he considered inappropriate conduct, prior to the charges being made by the U.S. officer.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Another turf war casualty: You don't have to run with the Bloods and Crips to get caught up in a turf war these days.

Columnist Erin Neff: Tax commission forced to do lawmakers' job: Erin Neff; But that child is about to learn an early and unfortunate lesson in politics because of the hasty way Nevada's tax plan was written.

Goldwater rejects run for Congress: Erin Neff; Democratic Assemblyman David Goldwater will not run against Rep. Jon Porter next year. Goldwater said he can be more effective as a veteran in Carson City than as a freshman in D.C., where his party is in the minority in the House.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Lounge acts are here, there and everywhere: For decades the free venues have provided alternatives to high-priced, main-room performances by big-name stars.

Fall's finest feted at Harvest Festival: Afsha Bawany; Arts and crafts connoisseurs can partake of everything from designer jewelry to homemade fudge at the 16th annual Las Vegas Harvest Festival through Sunday at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Video gambling trial under way: Jacob Jordan; COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The man who once ran the state's largest video gambling operation came close to a contempt charge during his trial Thursday, a federal judge said.

Columnist Adam Candee: C-M must contain Foothill freshman: Adam Candee; Maybe a little inverse proportion is in order for this week's prep football games.

Letter: Clinton deserves praise, not scorn: President Clinton ran our country in a superior manner. Our economy was booming and he made certain that nonmillionaire working, disabled and retired loyal Americans came first and were treated with respect.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: 'Zumanity' faces the naked truth: In a remarkably candid conversation with VegasBeat last week, show choreographer Marguerite Derricks said her Cirque du Soleil bosses have given her a full three months beyond the show's Sept. 20 opening date to iron out the wrinkles.

UNLV (1-0) at Kansas (0-1): Steve Guiremand; 4 p.m., Memorial Stadium (artificial turf) TV: None Radio: KBAD 920 AM

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Nothing good can come from NFL exhibitions: Sal DeFilippo; Every August, the debate surfaces, particularly when a star player gets injured.

Website asks Deane to resign: A Las Vegas resident running an Internet consulting business is taking a shot at bringing down Clark County Recorder Fran Deane, urging her to resign.

Nevada students make semifinals of annual Discovery science contest: Afsha Bawany; WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 5, 2003

Touching Down: Legendary Kirov Ballet takes spotlight at Aladdin: "People are calling and asking, 'Is it the real Kirov? Is it really the Kirov?'" Galina Kubrak, president of the entertainment company, said. "Yes. It's really the Kirov."

Performing Arts for Sept. 5, 2003: 'Serenades'

'Lord' cast still dancing in the dark at Venetian: The 42 Irish dancers are anxiously awaiting a decision by The Venetian management about the future of the immensely popular production by Michael Flatley, former lead dancer of "Riverdance," itself an immensely popular production.

Columnist Jeff German: Political corruption to continue till system overhauled: In May, after the corruption probe became public, the County Commission called back the 10-member task force of prominent citizens in an effort to restore the public's trust and confidence in county government. The names of several current and former commissioners had surfaced in the probe.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Hospitality industry honors students: No one knew better than these savvy professionals that the demand for culinary and management support was rapidly increasing. They accepted the challenge to raise scholarship funds.

Letter: All Nevadans must pay their fair share of taxes: This recall mania is an insult to people who understand the responsibility of government. No government can exist without taxes and I, for one, do not mind paying my fair share.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: No news is good news to irate entertainer Overton: Lisa Ferguson; Listen as the comic-turned-actor -- who takes the stage through Sunday at Catch a Rising Star at Excalibur -- rants about the widespread panic caused by cable news-station tickers, along with coverage of epidemic illness and fluctuating terror alert warnings:

State lawmakers ready for fiscal push in capital: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Congress' summer recess has ended and Nevada's lawmakers have returned to Washington to continue work on a variety of legislative priorities before adjourning for the year.

Columnist Geoff Carter -- Scene Selection: 'Meaning of Life' DVD set a triumph of repackaging: The film's effect on me was immediate and profound. To this day, I can't look at after-dinner mints without thinking "wafer-thin," I believe that fish can think and I can't ponder the Catholic Church without humming a certain song about reproduction. The film was as good as punk rock to my mind. I wasn't quite the same after I saw it.

Gaughan takes 7th, reclaims points lead: Brendan Gaughan didn't know whether to laugh or cry after he finished seventh in Thursday night's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Richmond International Speedway and regained the series points lead.

Editorial: Give at-risk schools the top priority: Martha Young, associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, explained the widespread problem to Sun reporter Emily Richmond in a story that ran Thursday. "It's no secret that (the Clark County School District), like many districts, places newer teachers in at-risk schools and that's one of the reasons we see a dramatic difference in achievement," Young said. "More successful schools tend to have a rooted population of teachers further along in their careers."

Editorial: A nation that still is vulnerable: On Thursday it will have been two years since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 3,000 Americans on a single day. There haven't been any terrorist attacks in the United States after September 2001, but there still is an undercurrent of anxiety that many Americans have about this new era of warfare. In many respects we are just as vulnerable as we were on 9-11.

UNLV eyes road success: Steve Guiremand; John Robinson said his former boss, USC coaching legend John McKay, used to call it the best minute in football.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Magazine's top-100 guitarists list hits too many sour notes: Spencer Patterson; It appears generating disagreement was about all the magazine's editors had in mind when they compiled their picks for the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Sir Duke: Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 7, 2003

Columnist Susan Snyder: A day of celebration is grand: Have you called yours?

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Hearn snares ride in weekend IRL race: Henderson resident Richie Hearn will return to the Indy Racing League this weekend for the first time since the Indianapolis 500 and drive for Team Menard in Sunday's Delphi Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Ethics policy has some merit: What's so sad about this inexorable set of circumstances is that the county's ethics task force, revived by Commissioner Rory Reid and led by law school Dean Richard Morgan, produced a worthwhile product that commissioners will look at this week. But the ethics mavens are handicapped by the political corruption probe that makes a cynical public even more cynical and by the ineluctable fact that dishonest people will always find a way to behave dishonestly.

Thursday's prep results: Bishop Gorman def. Cimarron-Memorial, 25-21, 25-14, 25-13: Apryl Roberts totaled 10 kills and four blocks, Carly Babin had eight kills, and Ashley Olson tallied 21 assists to lead the Gaels.

Medals of Honor found in shop: The three medals, one each from the Air Force, the Navy and the Army, were displayed in a window of Bargain Pawn, 1901 Las Vegas Blvd. North, said Special Agent Todd Palmer, an FBI spokesman.

Reilly, Deane reach accord on recorder's office woes: Clark County Recorder Fran Deane and County Manager Thom Reilly reached a sort of detente before a taping of a cable news program Thursday.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Local trout group sponsoring annual One-Fly event: Barb Henderson; The Southern Nevada Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SNCTU) continues to be an active conservation fishing group providing proper casting to achieve its mission -- to conserve, protect and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.

Editorial: Northwest now needs a flood of support: Yet their losses represent individual hardships no less severe than if another thousand or two homes and businesses had been involved. That's why we support the local drive to raise at least $300,000 through the Red Cross to help the flood victims rehabilitate their homes and businesses. Singer Celine Dion, who performs at Caesars Palace, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman have appeared in a TV ad to promote the drive. Las Vegas Councilmen Michael Mack and Larry Brown, who represent the northwest, have also helped out by seeking corporate donations. An account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank ...

Columnist Susan Snyder: Baby, this program is a big hit: It was obvious that Dubowe, of Sun City, was having quite a party -- a baby shower, actually.

Group hopes to help stem rising rate of HIV infection: Afsha Bawany; Although there have been advances in drugs treating HIV and AIDS, many AIDS awareness groups say problems persist in making the public aware of the threat of HIV and AIDS. They are finding that young adults are at risk to contract the disease because many of them believe it won't happen to them.

Single mom would like to send three children to camp: "My children have expressed to me many times their interest in attending camp," she writes. "Unfortunately, I am not able to afford the whole cost."

Las Vegas Sun

Print edition for September 5, 2003

Today's frontpage

The Sun

RSS Feeds