Print edition for August 12, 2004

Rock Around the Doc: SkinnerRat founder Dr. Gary Telgenhoff balances career, music: Spencer Patterson; The experience was hardly new for Telgenhoff. As a forensic pathologist for Clark County, he works with cadavers every day.

Obituaries for August 12, 2004: Russell Beavers, 72, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. He was born Feb. 8, 1932, in Carterville, Ill. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired police officer and a Korean War Army veteran.

Editorial: Real friend to Nevada on Yucca: On his two-day campaign swing in Nevada this week, Kerry added to his anti-Yucca Mountain bona fides, declaring on Tuesday, "When I'm president of the United States, I'll tell you (this) about Yucca Mountain: Not on my watch." For those residents who still might be undecided, Kerry added this sweetener to the mix: He pledged to veto any legislation that would change the radiation standards at Yucca Mountain. This is a huge development because recently a federal appeals court said the Environmental Protection Agency didn't follow the law when establishing the radiation standards. Building a dump that would meet stringent ...

Sports briefs for August 12, 2004: For the fifth consecutive year, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host two NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series events in 2005. The 2005 NHRA schedule, released today, contained some minor changes from the traditional NHRA dates at LVMS.

Wet 'n Wild to close at end of season; development planned: The move is the latest indication that the owner of the land is making progress on longstanding plans to build a resort or other major project on the 27-acre parcel.

9-year-old subject of blood drives hosted by hotels dies: Lynn Doan; Nine-year-old leukemia patient Chrissy Nelson died Wednesday morning after a series of complications from her bone marrow transplant in March.

Official sees no relief soon to ER overcrowding: By Timothy Pratt; A high-ranking state official told hospital administrators Wednesday that he shared their sense of urgency about psychiatric patients crowding emergency rooms, but that nothing could be done to fix the problem immediately.

Letter: Kerry realizes what's important: Kerry and Edwards may lack "presidential" experience, but they both clearly understand the value of diplomatic relations as well as the cost of squandering those relations.

Hundreds protest at site of Bush LV speech: Hundreds of protesters lined the street outside the carpenters union facility in Las Vegas where President Bush held a campaign event.

Family survives explosion, fire that destroys Summerlin home: Ed Koch and Stephen Curran; Gone is the Deffner family's 13-year-old gray Schnauzer "Jewels," Brenda Deffner's wedding gown and 8-year-old Dylan Deffner's Yu-Gi-Oh card collection. Missing is their 2-year-old cat Chealsey.

Riverboat deal faces scrutiny: The deal is subject to regulatory approvals from various agencies, including the Missouri Gaming Commission and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Missouri, which is handling President Casinos Inc.'s reorganization. President and the President Casino on the Admiral have been operating under bankruptcy protection since June 2002.

Growth in state gaming win cools off in June: CARSON CITY -- After four straight months of double-digit increases in gaming win, Nevada casinos cooled off in June, posting a 5.7 percent gain over June 2003 with gross revenue of $855.4 million.

Gun scare prompts evacuation of market: Heather Rawlyk; The evacuation occurred after a man who had been driving erratically in the area was reported to have run into the store with a gun.

Corrections: * Because of an error by the Sun, a story in Wednesday's Metro section had the incorrect age of Carolyn O'Callaghan. She was 68. The Sun regrets the error.

Water threat not new, say authorities: Local and national authorities downplayed a bulletin released Wednesday that reviewed potential terrorist threats to public water supplies, characterizing it as a regular reminder of security steps that have been implemented in the Las Vegas Valley.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- ATTEN HUT -- Draws good post for grass route opener, bug boy Ruis aboard Mullins trainee, at-ten-hut at attention for winner. PLENTY OF HEAT -- Espinoza on Mitchell trainee, needs to overcome outside post in two-turn turf claimer, is he ready to give foes Plenty Of Heat? Value Play -- CHUBASCO RED

LV doctors say Kerry wouldn't relieve crisis: Stephen Curran; A group of Las Vegas doctors on Wednesday blasted presidential candidate John Kerry, alleging he is "silent" on Clark County's physician shortage and charging that the Massachusetts Democrat would block medical liability reform that they say would attract more doctors to Nevada.

Pioneer's title sponsorship re-energizes Las Vegas Bowl: Steve Guiremand; The 13th annual Las Vegas Bowl this year will have a new date, a new time and, perhaps most important, a new name.

Texas firm in California Indian deal: Jessica Gresko; SAN DIEGO -- A Texas company will help a tribe with San Diego County's smallest casino build a $25 million hotel and casino offering more than 10 times the number of slots.

Winslow tries to low-key first day on job: Rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was uncharacteristically humble after his first practice with the Cleveland Browns.

Letter: Republican attack on Kerry is irresponsible: Like all rights and privileges that we enjoy in this great country, the right to openly express one's opinion carries with it certain responsibilities -- in this case to make reasonably certain that what you say is the truth.

Woman recounts events of night boyfriend was killed: By Matt Pordum; After 13 years of grieving, the girlfriend of a 21-year-old man allegedly killed by Erasmo Pena testified on Wednesday that Pena was the man who waited on the side of the road and shot her boyfriend as they left a birthday party together.

U.S. sprinter will appeal suspension: ATHENS, Greece -- Torri Edwards, the sprinter who had made the U.S. track and field team in the 100 meters and 200 meters, was suspended for two years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday, after the American Arbitration Association panel approved the decision by the world's governing body of track and field last week to suspend her.

Regents divided on proposed settlement: Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval has agreed not to pursue the most recent open-meeting law complaint against the state Board of Regents as long as the regents agree to develop procedures to prevent future violations.

Major debt holders demand better terms from Trump: Jeannine DeFoe; Donald Trump's plan to reduce $1.8 billion of debt at Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. may be delayed without the support of one group of bondholders who are demanding better terms.

News briefs for August 12, 2004: North Las Vegas is seeking input from the business and minority communities in identifying a vision for the city's future and creating a 20-year strategic plan for the area.

Scooter shops slow to follow new rules: Lynn Doan; The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance in May that requires businesses selling motorized scooters and skateboards to notify customers that such devices are subject to state laws.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 4:02 p.m.

Developer of MonteLago selling interests in resorts: The Canadian company that developed the Lake Las Vegas' MonteLago Village is selling a majority ownership interest in nine commercial properties attached to resorts, including the Italian-themed village in Henderson.

Energy Department won't wait for key Yucca issues to be resolved: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department will answer all 293 remaining scientific issues for the Yucca Mountain project by the end of the month, but will not wait for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deem them "closed" before submitting the project's license application.

Hearing postponed for former athletic director: Emily Richmond and Matt Pordum; Former Clark County School District athletic director Larry McKay was still wanted on felony theft charges this morning after a hearing to quash a warrant for his arrest was postponed.

Indicators suggest growth: Retail sales increased 0.7 percent to a $336.5 billion annual rate as Americans spent more on autos and furniture, the Commerce Department said today in Washington. The increase follows a 0.5 percent decline in June that wasn't as deep as first reported. The number of Americans seeking first-time jobless benefits fell by 4,000 to 333,000 last week, the Labor Department said.

Board recommends OK for purchase of Aladdin: CARSON CITY -- A group that is buying the Aladdin hotel-casino out of the bankruptcy court in a $637 million deal has big plans to make the resort a major competitor with others on the Las Vegas Strip.

Former schools athletic director expected in court: By Emily Richmond; Larry McKay, the former Clark County School District athletic director facing felony theft charges, was expected in Las Vegas Justice Court this morning to ask that a warrant for his arrest be quashed.

Cadet spends rigorous summer preparing for an Army career: Dick Benoit; As fall semester and the return to college classes approach, Valley High School graduate Alicia Frei and her fellow cadets can look back on a summer that will shape the rest of their lives.

Court says plan for R.I. casino is unconstitutional: The justices also said the General Assembly's establishment of the proposed casino violates the state constitution.

Extreme heat warning hits third day: National Weather Service forecasters issued an extreme heat warning today -- the third day in a row. The high temperature was predicted to reach 110 degrees or higher.

Making all the wrong moves: Jen Lawson; Moving tips

Community briefs for August 12, 2004: The Nevada Domestic Violence Prevention Council is seeking new members. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 20.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Buchanan courted for new reality show: Buchanan described the show as "what happens after 'Cops' (the Fox network reality show)."

Perkins lashes out at accusers: Dan Kulin; Richard Perkins, Assembly speaker and a Henderson deputy police chief, lashed out Wednesday at the federal office accusing him of violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits some government employees from running in partisan elections.

Letter: Yucca hardly state's top issue: I have made drives around this state and have seen the endless miles of desolate ground. I'd much rather see nuclear waste stored there than somewhere like San Diego, the Great Lakes, or New York City. The waste must go somewhere, so why not put it in the middle of nowhere?

Board to hear appeal on olive trees: Beth Slovic; Nearly 50 olive trees facing the chopping block because they appear to be an illegal, pollinating variety may live to see at least another spring, following an appeal by the agencies responsible for the trees to the Clark County Department of Air Quality Management, which in May ordered the trees removed.

TV station sale approved: Las Vegas TV Partners -- a media company that includes Greenspun Broadcasting LLC and New York-based Catalyst Investors LP -- announced in April its plans to buy the station from Four Seasons Broadcasting.

Councilman: Vons closing 3 LV stores: Jennifer Shubinski; Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly said this morning that supermarket giant Vons plans to close three stores in the area, including one in a redevelopment zone that will leave residents without a nearby grocery store.

Hawk to face ethics commission: By Emily Richmond; Former State Board of Education member John Hawk will appear Wednesday before the Nevada Commission on Ethics to respond to allegations that he used his elected post for his own advantage.

Triage center funding plan on the table: A funding plan to keep the Community Triage Center open through next June will be considered Monday by a public board of area hospital administrators.

Kerry hopes for advantage with stance on repository: Kirsten Searer; John Kerry may have a trump card in Las Vegas -- his pledge to stop the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

Bush comment on Yucca anticipated: Kirsten Searer; President Bush was expected to address the issue of Yucca Mountain during his visit today to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America International Training Center.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Huge field likely for Las Vegas Primm 300 off-road event: Next month's SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 desert race is expected to draw an event-record field of 175 car and trucks for the ninth annual event at the Nevada/California border.

Persistence starting to pay off for 51s catcher: Nick Christensen; "He's the luckiest guy in the world."

Editorial: Shelters save lives: Local statistics, however, show a trend in that direction. An April census showed that the homeless population, now estimated at about 7,800 in the Las Vegas Valley, is growing about 4.5 percent a year. But the number of emergency shelter beds has not kept pace, increasing just 2.6 percent over the past year, from 1,501 to 1,540. The result is a chronic shortage of shelter space.

Trial begins in man's killing after night of club hopping: By Matt Pordum; The death of a 40-year-old man after a night of drugs, alcohol and club hopping was not the case of a gay partier who went too far, but one of a "gruesome and horrific" murder of a man, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

'I'll play the best guy': Steve Guiremand; Kurt Nantkes starts his final preseason camp tonight at UNLV as the No. 1 quarterback for the Rebels.

Shapiro won't stop pitching for team: Mike Shapiro, the point man for a group's effort to relocate the Montreal Expos to Las Vegas, will appear today on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston."