Print edition for December 8, 2004

Columnist Jeff Haney: Gambling hedge fund proposal is anything but a sure bet: At least one blackjack card counter launched a successful career as an investment banker after a colleague lured him to Wall Street by calling it the world's largest casino -- adding, "and they can't throw you out."

The Love Shack: McWhorter's passion for South evident at Big Mama's Rib Shack and Soul Food: Ken Miller; McWhorter has done them all and well.

Editorial: Tax freeze unworkable: True to expectations, the early mailing touched off a chorus of protest from property owners. Calculations by many of them revealed their taxes rising 40 percent, give or take a few percentage points. Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield, in June, foresaw the protest and proposed a mollifying idea -- a property tax cap of 6 percent, embodied in Nevada law. He will propose the cap to the 2005 Legislature, with the caveat that a law must be approved by early March. That would give him time to adjust all of the property tax bills by the time they go out ...

Potential candidates gather signatures for council race: Dan Kulin; Whether or not Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief will face a recall election could be known as early as this afternoon.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- MARY SWANSON -- Starts from inner box in six-filly sprint opener, Baze aboard Hess trainee, fits this level and distance well. QUEEN IRISH -- Training at Santa Anita, Espinoza on Knapp horse, draws well for dash claimer. Value Play -- PURPLE TOI

Community briefs for December 8, 2004: The Clark County Parks and Community Services' Senior Advocate Program will sponsor the Holidays Around the World senior fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Paradise Recreation and Community Services Center, 4775 McLeod Drive.

Preps: State rankings: Compiled by the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Tribune

Printing office makes money under Nevadan's administration: WASHINGTON -- Nevadan Bruce James, the nation's public printer, has pulled the General Printing Office out of a financial tailspin, the agency reported on Tuesday.

Archanian jurors to decide life or death: By Matt Pordum; Jurors needed less than an hour of deliberations Tuesday to decide that 46-year-old Avedis Archanian was guilty of murder in the deaths of a mother and daughter at the jewelry store they owned.

Centennial can be less than perfect: Nick Christensen; Off to a 7-0 start and averaging a torrid 86.5 points per game this year, the Centennial girls basketball team looked as dominant as ever to start the 2004-05 season.

Settlement approved with man, 86, who sued police: Eric Leake; Henderson will pay Charles Walker $350,000 to avoid going to trial against the 86-year-old man who claims he was abused by Henderson Police.

Letter: School dress code has little value: The board of directors liked uniforms because they suggested discipline and order. Uniforms appealed to parents because they represented the look of an Eastern prep school. Some teachers felt that uniforms were vital to an environment and others thought the issue unimportant. While some students wore their uniforms with pride, others hated them and constantly challenged the policy in small or large ways.

Letter: Ethics violations so prevalent they can't be punished: But it seems fitting that she should receive just a slap on the hands by the Nevada Senate. To penalize her any more harshly would make many of her peers guilty of hypocrisy.

Perkins to decide on retirement from police: Kirsten Searer; Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said he will decide in the next week or two whether to retire from the Henderson Police Department and avoid controversy over public employees serving in the Legislature.

Rebels hope UNR wakeup call eases alarm about slow starts: Steve Guiremand; THE GAME: UNLV at Pepperdine.

Final monorail testing could begin next week: Stephen Curran; A final battery of tests that will determine when the beleaguered Las Vegas Monorail will re-open for public service could begin as early as next week, Clark County's top building official said Tuesday.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Ensign opposes ruling on military recruiters: U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is protesting a federal appeals court ruling that he says will allow colleges and universities to ban military recruiters from campuses.

Letter: Sex education is better at home: She continues on to say that if parents don't want their children learning about sex at school, they should send their kids to private school so they don't have to have sex education. Perhaps she could persuade some of her old allies on the State Board of Education to give these parents vouchers, so they don't have to pay both their children's tuition and her children's tuition.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Home is where the Nextel Cup is: In that it is only a year old, at least with its current nameplate, NASCAR's Nextel Cup doesn't have the tradition, lore and legacy of the Stanley Cup. The ultimate prize in hockey (when there is hockey, that is) and arguably the most famous trophy in sports is now 111 years old.

Newlywed rings up another victory: Married a week and a half ago, Luke Branquinho came to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo not only a newlywed, but also as the world's top steer wrestler. And during the past five nights, he has put himself in position to really make his dreams come true as he seeks his first world championship gold buckle on Sunday.

Men convicted in home invasions: A Clark County jury convicted Dewan Blackburn, 24, and Bruce Bolden, 23, of assorted counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and home invasion in connection with the Jan. 17 and Jan. 27 incidents at the beginning of this year.

Columnist Adam Candee: Persistence puts Barlow on Q-school honor roll: Adam Candee; In a year that seemed to have peaks, valleys and nothing in between, it figures that even a soak in the Jacuzzi became an adventure for our everyman hometown golf pro, Craig Barlow.

Porter-led provision to ensure tourism interests represented: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., who this year fought for legislation aimed at making the Department of Homeland Security more sympathetic to the tourism industry, won a partial victory Tuesday.

It was a steal: Steve Guiremand; No wonder UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick is walking around with such a big smile these days.

Obituaries for December 8, 2004: Harold G. Alawine, 64, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 1, 1940, in Meridan, Miss. A resident for six years, he was a retired mortgage salesman and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

China's biggest computer maker acquires IBM's PC unit: The deal -- one of the biggest foreign acquisitions ever by a Chinese company -- was expected to quadruple sales of Lenovo, already Asia's biggest computer maker, the companies said.

Sewage, water rate hike considered: The plan, the result of an independent water and sewage rate study, would raise single-family home monthly sewage rates from $17.81 to $18.63 beginning February 2006. Monthly water fees would increase from $36.03 to $37.72.

Longtime Southern Nevada community activist Naylor dies: In 1976 then-Mesquite Club President Ruth Naylor wanted her organization to give Las Vegas a lasting, living monument for the nation's bicentennial.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Nathan has appetite for storytelling: When they attempted to cleanse and rededicate the temple, the Macabees found only enough sacred oil to light the menorah for one day.

Officials praise Kincaid-Chauncey: Clark County commissioners said their goodbyes to Mary Kincaid-Chauncey at the last regular meeting of the commission Tuesday.

Two more tribes drop claims in exchange for casinos: The deals were brokered with the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Band of Mohican Indians, also of Wisconsin. Both tribes trace their ancestry to New York.

Grandmother had dead woman's son: Jen Lawson; The mother who was found dead in her North Las Vegas apartment had dropped her 4-year-old son off about a month ago at the child's grandmother's house in Las Vegas and never returned to pick him up, police said.

More fire protection sought for Las Vegas group care homes: CARSON CITY -- The Las Vegas City Council will be asked by its fire prevention division to require all adult group care homes in the city to have sprinkler systems, fire alarms and smoke detectors.

Guinn defends his call for Augustine to resign: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn Tuesday defended his call for Controller Kathy Augustine to resign after being found guilty by the state Ethics Commission and he said there need to be changes in the law governing political activity of state workers.

Parton is tops at Colosseum: Leah Robinson; Don't let the blonde wig and famously large bra size fool you -- Dolly Parton is the real thing.

Self-defense argued in murder trial: By Matt Pordum; Sixty-three-year-old Joe Armstead killed 48-year-old David "Indian Dave" Leal on July 17 at Leal's trailer home, but he did it in self-defense, Armstead's lawyer told jurors during the opening of Armstead's murder trial Tuesday.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Epicurean Club feeds educational needs at dinner: Elizabeth Foyt; Led by President Joe Essa (Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining), the evening honored Wally Barr, president and chief executive officer of Caesars Entertainment. Supporters seen at the event included Bobby Yee (Bally's Paris), Janet and Andy Blumen, Mark Juliano (Caesars Palace), Claudio Cabetta (Venus Distribution), Lynn Wirth with Jeff Watjinks, Realtor Chuck Ruthe, Victoria Otter, Scott Farber (Emeril's) and Lloyd Wentzell of the Riviera, who spoke of the resort's 50th anniversary plans for spring 2005.

Sanford starts to work on staff: Steve Guiremand; The pieces are starting to fall into place for new UNLV football coach Mike Sanford's staff.

Tribe appeals agency decision it cannot operate casino: The tribe filed its suit in October with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, a month after the commission reached its decision. Last week, the gaming commission asked to have the case transferred from Washington to a federal court in Kansas.

Sun has not set on Green Day: Spencer Patterson; The tattooed trio certainly fit the description Tuesday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, evoking the rebellious spirit of the genre's godfathers.

Editorial: Lagging logistics: In its latest assessment, the Review Board noted a problem that this newspaper has been writing about for years. In a letter to the Energy Department, the board noted the lack of a "detailed strategic plan" for transporting the waste to Nevada from nuclear power plants all over the country. The board expressed concern that because transportation planning is lagging, important safeguards could be "overlooked" as the Energy Department rushes to meets its deadline of beginning shipments to Yucca Mountain in about five years.

Perkins admits tackling growth is risky business: Kirsten Searer; Most people agree that growth needs to be addressed in Nevada, but politicians know it's a sticky issue.

Preps: Tuesday's Results: Desert Pines 63, Liberty 57 DP: Martez Christian 20 pts, Antonio Williams 13 pts. LBTY: Brian Magann 20 pts, Jordan Stokes 15 pts.

Man sentenced in fatal DUI: William Schwalbach, 63, also is required to pay a $3,000 fine.

Chief executive to assume chairman post: "TJ" Matthews, former chief executive of slot maker Anchor Gaming, became chief operating officer of IGT in December 2001 when the company acquired Anchor. He assumed the role of chief executive in October 2003. Matthews will remain CEO.

Researchers hoping to protect fossil sites: Scientists have discovered a nearly complete fossil record in the Las Vegas Valley, a record that dates back 190,000 years.

Former mayor's home burglarized: The burglary was reported at the $2 million home on Moon Valley Place in a gated community near Anasazi Drive and West Lake Mead Boulevard early Sunday evening, Capt. Rick Bilyeu of Metro's property crimes bureau said.

Marshal prospect is from poor home with rich tradition: Jace Radke; Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Police Chief Theodore "Ted" Quasula will be on his way to Washington, D.C., next week for interviews as he continues the process of becoming the U.S. marshal for Nevada.

Housing agency must cancel meeting: By Timothy Pratt; The Las Vegas Housing Authority, a $70 million agency that provides housing to about 15,000 people in the valley, had to cancel its monthly meeting Friday to avoid violating the state's open meeting law.

Women's Top 25 Fared: AP; 2. Stanford (5-0) did not play. Next: vs. Pepperdine, Friday.

Casino workers finding reason to smile: Michelle Swafford; A couple of Las Vegas casino operators are finding that they can improve their employees' bright smiles and provide a convenient health benefit through an alternative clinic.

Contractors board awards record amount to homeowners: Jennifer Shubinski; Source: Nevada State Contractors Board

Gambling addiction think tank studied: By Liz Benston; A casino industry trade group is exploring creating a global think tank on gambling addiction that would involve alliances between research institutions worldwide that specialize in addiction studies.

College Basketball Schedule: AP; Wake Forest at Temple, 7 p.m.

Grocery operator says earnings expectations lowered: Earnings next fiscal year will be $1.50 to $1.60 a share, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway said today in a statement. That's as much as 17 cents below analysts' average estimate. Expensing stock options for the first time will subtract another 9 cents, bringing net income as low as $1.41 a share, the grocer said.

State flunks economic development study: Kevin Rademacher; Nevada is failing in its efforts to support economic development with a qualified workforce, affordable housing and university research, a new study said of the state.

Boy shoots sister: Jen Lawson; A 5-year-old boy shot and wounded his 13-month-old sister Tuesday night, and the children's pregnant mother was arrested on child endangerment charges for leaving them home alone with a gun.

Delays at McCarran will only get worse: Molly Ball; Flight delays at McCarran International Airport -- already among the nation's worst -- are only going to increase as the "highway in the sky" becomes too jammed to accommodate increasing traffic, Aviation Director Randy Walker said today.

Gaming execs say Nevada's success lies in investment: RENO -- Two Las Vegas gaming executives say there is an ever-increasing need for capital investment in attractions and attention to quality customer service if Nevada is going to maintain its edge as the premiere gaming destination in the world.

Officials unveil details of new Nevada adventure tourism push: RENO -- Two Southern Nevada tourist attractions will be locations for the kickoff of a promotional television show designed to put the state in the forefront of adventure tourism.

Guinn plans more school money: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said today that the budget he will propose for the coming two years will include more money for elementary schools and an increase in the Nevada's "rainy day" fund, which currently stands at $120 million.

Commission candidate fails to file election report: An unsuccessful candidate for Clark County Commission has failed to file his report of contributions and expenses for the 2004 election, and the failure may cost him thousands and get him in hot water with his boss.

Families struggle with Vegas housing costs: Stephen Curran; The cost of housing appears to be taking its toll on low-income Las Vegas families, almost three-quarters of whom must shell out more than a third of their monthly income to pay the rent, according to a national study released today.

Columnist Jeff German: Clowning around at City Hall: You know the history of this long-running sideshow, "All About Oscar."

Sports Illustrated goes to bat for Vegas: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Councilman Larry Brown will head to Major League Baseball's winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif., this weekend with a boost from the nation's leading sports magazine.

Tonight's matchup: UNLV (2-2) at Pepperdine (6-1): Steve Guiremand; Tonight's matchup: UNLV (2-2) at Pepperdine (6-1)

Company buys patents: The purchase allows Shuffle Master to continue to license the technology to slot maker Mikohn Gaming Corp. as well as to Gaming Partners International Corp., which makes electronic-enhanced chips and readers for table games.

Gas pipeline company charged by EPA over lack of emergency drills: The agency seeks as much as $157,000 in penalties from the company for failing to conduct emergency drills as required, saying Kinder Morgan's actions created a higher risk of an oil spill.

Experts: Yucca 'backup' sites needed: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The nation needs Yucca Mountain as part of a broad energy strategy, including expanded nuclear power -- but the government should also construct above-ground "dry cask" waste storage sites, a coalition of energy experts said today.

Gaming industry outlook good: "With waning interest in regional markets, Fitch believes Las Vegas will continue to become a more prominent market for expansion in 2005 due to its strong demand fundamentals and favorable regulatory environment," the agency said. "Year-to-date growth has exceeded expectations, with visitor volumes, room rates and casino revenues hitting record highs and property margins widening significantly."

MLB scraps Bonds campaign: Major League Baseball halted plans Tuesday to promote Barry Bonds' pursuit of the home run record, one day after Topps signed him to an endorsement deal.

Sports briefs for December 8, 2004: Five Indiana Pacers players were charged today for fighting with fans in the stands and on the court during the brawl that broke out at a game last month. Five fans were also expected to face charges, news reports said.

Augustine proceedings draw little interest: Kirsten Searer; While many legislators have declared their frustration with the outcome of the impeachment proceedings against state Controller Kathy Augustine, few said they have received serious complaints from taxpayers.

Judge prevents family from selling shares of Nevada Beverage Co.: Judge Sally Loehrer continued the restraining order which she issued late last month, halting the sale. Each side in the dispute was ordered to submit recommendations for an independent accountant by today.

NFC racing toward wacky finish: By the end of the day on Sunday, Jan. 2, six NFC teams will have qualified for the playoffs. No joke. Really. We mean it.

Preachers claim UNLV limiting free speech: David Kihara; Less than a month after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled on free speech issues at UNLV, a group of campus preachers this week is claiming the university is hindering freedom of speech by prohibiting them from sermonizing at certain areas of campus.