Homeland Security chief Ridge set to stop in Vegas next week

Jace Radke

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is scheduled to stop in Las Vegas next week during a visit to the western United States.

Ridge is scheduled to arrive Sunday in Las Vegas, and could meet with Gov. Kenny Guinn on Monday, state homeland security officials said.

A spokeswoman for the the federal government said that final plans for the visit were not available and could not yet confirm if Ridge would be making the trip.

Jerry Bussell, Guinn's homeland security adviser and chairman of the Nevada Homeland Security Commission, said that he hasn't heard exactly what Ridge's plans are in Las Vegas, except that the secretary is scheduled to meet with the governor.

"A homeland security director is supposed to fly in Friday to meet with me, Sheriff Bill Young and others," Bussell said.

Ridge would follow on Sunday as part of a swing through the western United States, where he will recognize volunteers with the Citizen Corps Program, state officials said.

In fiscal year 2004, which ends Sept. 30, Nevada is to receive $418,000 as part of the Citizen Corps to be allocated for neighborhood watch and other community programs. The money will be distributed by the Nevada Homeland Security Commission and the state Division of Emergency Management next month to state and local agencies on an as-needed basis.

The money is one of three pots of federal money totaling more than $26.5 million that have been allocated for homeland security in Nevada. In addition Clark County will receive about $10.5 million in a separate grant as part of the Urban Area Security Initiative.