Print edition for December 9, 2004

Enterprise gets master-plan update: More than five hours of wrangling sent the Clark County Commission into the wee, small hours of the morning, but finally produced a master plan for future development of the township of Enterprise.

Pilot killed in small-plane crash: The single-engine Cessna T207A crashed shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, a NTSB spokesman said. The pilot, whose name was not released this morning by the coroner's office, was the sole occupant of the plane, authorities said.

Moncrief to face a recall election: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief will face a recall election, which will probably be held around the end of January, City Clerk Roni Ronemus said Wednesday.

No arrests made in brawl at Mandalay: No one was arrested in connection with the fight, which began at the House of Blues about 3:45 a.m., Carla Alston, a spokesman for Metro, said.

FAA disputes McCarran director's claims: Molly Ball; The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday responded angrily to comments made by the director of McCarran International Airport, who had blamed increasing flight delays partly on the government agency's handling of air routes.

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

Ethics complaint against Garcia rejected: A two-person board of the Nevada Ethics Commission has rejected a complaint filed against Clark County School District Superintendent Carlos Garcia related to the purchase of a new sport utility vehicle for the top man in the district.

Station is granted zoning OK despite objections: Station Casinos received zoning and a go-ahead for design of its planned Durango Station casino at the Las Vegas Beltway and Durango Drive on Wednesday, a move the Clark County Commission made over the appeals of some nearby residents.

UNLV course turns students into inventors: Molly Ball; There you sit in the office building of the future, looking out at the view as the window-cleaner robot glides by, clinging to the window with suction-powered feet and dragging a squeegee.

Perkins won't retire early: Kirsten Searer; Despite a federal agency's repeated statements that his deputy police chief job violates a federal conflict-of-interest law, Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said he won't retire early from Henderson Police.

Mail theft in valley on rise: Jen Lawson; Mail theft, a $60-million crime nationwide, is very preventable, Vic Fenimore, local spokesman for the local U.S. Postal Service said. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

Detective hit by car trying to detain suspected shoplifter: Eric Leake; A Metro Police detective was hit and run over by a car Tuesday at Las Vegas Premium Outlets as he tried to stop a shoplifter, police said.

Venetian owner eyes site of Pa. steel mill: By Liz Benston; The owner of the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, a month after failing in its efforts to help pass a casino petition in Nebraska, has signed an agreement with an investor to build a casino in another unusual spot -- the site of an historic steel mill in Bethlehem, Pa.

Slaying witness a no-show; mistrial declared: By Matt Pordum; Alleged murderer Joe Armstead has been granted a mistrial after an alleged eyewitness to the slaying with which he was charged failed to appear in court to answer questions from Armstead's defense attorney.

Marlins tell mayor stadium plan a must for attracting a team: Dan Kulin and Dave Mondt; Top Florida Marlins officials told Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman during a private meeting Wednesday that the city needs to have a plan to build and pay for a baseball stadium to attract a major league team, the mayor said.

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

Encouraging diversity can help bottom line, exec says: RENO -- A new program providing benefits to same-sex partners of MGM Mirage employees has been accepted by fewer than 100 of the company's 40,000 workers.

Trial set in killing of woman in front of child: By Matt Pordum; A Mexican citizen accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife in front of their 11-year-old daughter and two police officers pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Airman enjoys unique duty at Central American base: Dick Benoit; Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel Rice, son of John Rice of Las Vegas, will be experiencing a tropical holiday season this year.

Morse, Hughes attorney, longtime resident, dies: Putting three sons through college caused attorney William Morse to decide not to seek retainment to the District Court bench in 1970 and instead return to lucrative private practice in Las Vegas.

Editorial: Alternative to Yucca: "It's proven technology," John Holden, co-chairman of the commission and an environmental policy professor at Harvard University, said of dry cask storage, which can safely contain nuclear waste for at least 100 years. "It's not expensive. It's safe -- it's even terrorist resistant." With a testimonial like that, you'd think Congress would explore dry cask storage as a permanent solution instead of the multibillion-dollar Yucca Mountain project, whose burial site is geologically unsafe and which would require thousands of dangerous cross-country shipments of man's deadliest waste to a location just 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. It's well past time ...

Suit filed against Alliance: The two companies issued separate and competing statements Wednesday that disputed the focus of the suit.

Agency issues notices: Cindy Petterson, spokeswoman for the Division of Environmental Protection, said the alleged violations include paperwork deficiencies and failure to install new monitoring instrumentation. The issues were related to standards that must be met for a Title V permit the electric utility was required to obtain for the plant in April 2004.

Firms OK'd for incentives to come to Nevada: Kevin Rademacher; Three companies expanding or moving to the Las Vegas Valley, and promising to create at least 122 new jobs, received state incentives on Wednesday from the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

Fighting for a cause: For heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, the preparations for Saturday's title fight have been overshadowed by political upheaval half a world away.

Wynn seeks Macau expansion as Las Vegas opening looms: By Jeff Simpson; Wynn Resorts

Michigan Senate votes to stop Allegan County casino: The Senate voted 24-11 to approve a measure to rescind its endorsement of a compact that would allow the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians to operate a casino in Allegan County.

Sanford puts three on staff: Steve Guiremand; The first three assistants on new UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford's staff were officially named on Wednesday.

Convicted killer awaits sentence: By Matt Pordum; A jury today considered whether to give Avetis Archanian the death penalty for killing a mother and daughter at the jewelry story they owned.

Burning of salt cedar continues: A foreign tree, the salt cedar, has invaded the Las Vegas Wash from one end of its 15-mile length to the other and it is being burned as fast as it is removed.

Letter: Politicians in no position to hear Augustine's case: Some of the politicians sitting in judgment of Augustine may be guilty of the same or other unethical activities; having these people act as her jury is the same as having a thief being judged by a band of other thieves.

Community briefs for December 9, 2004: The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American National Red Cross is asking Southern Nevadans to donate 100-minute phone cards for use by service members who are stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Burglars took safe from Jones' home: Stephen Curran; Burglars who broke into the Summerlin home of former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones made off with a 400-pound safe holding years worth of heirloom jewelry, the politician-turned-gaming executive said Wednesday.

Letter: Nevada is getting nothing for vote: GILBERT EISNER

Nellis could get radio system that jams garage-door openers: Jace Radke; Nellis Air Force Base officials don't know yet whether the base will be getting a new radio system that uses frequencies that could inconvenience residents by jamming nearby garage-door openers.

IGT files suit against Alliance Gaming: By Liz Benston; International Game Technology filed a patent infringement suit in federal court Tuesday against competitor Alliance Gaming Corp. over features on slot machines.

Electronic records system goes online at area hospital: Michelle Swafford; North Vista Hospital, formerly Lake Mead Hospital, launched its electronic patient records system Tuesday, becoming the seventh of 11 Las Vegas Valley hospitals to convert.

Boulder City trash firm being sold: Jennifer Shubinski; Waste Logistics of Nevada is in the process of purchasing Boulder City Disposal, Boulder City's trash hauling company and landfill operator, for an undisclosed purchase price.

Augustine employee quits after testifying: CARSON CITY -- A state controller's office employee who testified against her boss Kathy Augustine during the controller's impeachment trial has quit the office.

Fiery Tibbetts is back on ice: Nick Christensen; Billy Tibbetts, the newest and most notorious Las Vegas Wrangler, will be back in uniform Friday night after serving a 10-game suspension, and he'll make his return home Tuesday when the Wranglers play Greenville at the Orleans Arena.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 2nd Race -- GARDEN WHIMSY -- In outside box in small five-filly route field, Flores aboard Shirreffs trainee for owners Wygod, victory Garden a Whimsy thought? GIRL WARRIOR -- Starts from rail post for two-turn allowance outing, Espinoza scales Drysdale trainee, is she a Girl Warrior? Value Play -- DOLLY WELLS

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

Heller touts Nevada voting system in Washington: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada's success with new electronic voting technology has made it a case-study for election reform advocates.

Cost of pedestrian bridges limiting where they're built: Stephen Curran; The elaborate bridges that guide pedestrians high above the congested intersections on Las Vegas Boulevard are credited with saving countless lives and millions of dollars in property damage.

Letter: GOP off to scary start since Nov. 2: His Republican Senate colleagues humiliated Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Spector, who campaigned as a "moderate." They forced him to retract his commitment to preserve Roe v. Wade.

High school near orchard receives Arbor View name: By Emily Richmond; A name has been chosen for a new campus set to open in August adjacent to the historic Gilcrease Orchards in northwest Las Vegas -- Arbor View High School.

Company eliminates threat by paying four creditors: This week, Trump Hotels eliminated the threat the creditors posed by paying the companies everything owed them.

Preps: Wednesday's results: Coronado 82, Western 73: CORO: Travis Stuhman 26 pts, Tysson Poots 18 pts. WEST: McIver 23 pts.

Fight schedule: Saturday At Sao Paulo, Brazil, Valdemir Pereira, Brazil, vs. Ariel Elias, Argentina, 12, for the vacant WBA Fedalatin featherweight title; Acelino Freitas, Brazil, vs. Fernando Saucedo, Argentina, 10, lightweights; Daniel Bispo, Brazil, vs. Lino Barros, Brazil, 10, cruiserweights.

First-time offender gets jail term in child porn case: By Matt Pordum; District Judge Nancy Saitta sent a message Wednesday with an unusual sentence for a man who used a computer at the Nevada Division of Welfare to download child pornography -- even first-time offenders can face jail time.

Editorial: Law unfair to campuses: We hope the ruling by the three-judge panel is upheld. Campuses are free to decide for themselves who appears on campus to acquaint students with job opportunities. They don't have to allow the pornography industry on Career Day, for example. So they shouldn't have to bear repercussions for availing themselves of that freedom, any more than a student should be denied a government-backed student loan for choosing or rejecting a particular course of study.

Sports briefs for December 9, 2004: A company run by the son of Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf could earn millions providing consultant services to the District of Columbia government on plans for development of a baseball stadium project.

Shepherd University to offer course in casino gambling: If the program is included in the college's Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, students could learn all facets of the gambling industry, including hospitality, marketing, business and legal issues, said Athletic Director Karl Wolf.

High rises focus of open house: While the mixed-use development ordinance would allow other kinds of development, the focus of the county's effort to draft the new rules is on the dozens of high-rise buildings of mixed residential, retail and office uses planned for the region. Commissioners directed staff to begin developing the ordinance in August due to the growing number of applications county planners are receiving for mixed-use projects. In 2003, for example, the county received four applications for mixed-use proposals, compared to 31 approved or now coming through the county process.

Corrections for December 9, 2004: Corrections for December 9, 2004

First-time winners take the spotlight: Cimmaron Gerke of Brighton, Colo., and Mike Outhier of Utopia, Texas, liked their first victory lap so much, they couldn't wait to take another one.

Principi quitting won't stall NLV veterans hospital: WASHINGTON -- Plans for the new veterans medical complex in North Las Vegas will not be affected by the Wednesday resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, Nevada officials said.

Obituaries for December 9, 2004: Mike C. Apodaca, 80, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born May 8, 1924, in Albuquerque. A resident for 62 years, he was a retired landscape contractor and a World War II Navy veteran.

Strip's Hawaiian Marketplace loses appeal for many tenants: Jennifer Shubinski; Less than a year after opening the Hawaiian Marketplace on the Las Vegas Strip the majority of its tenants have closed down -- including its food court -- leaving the owners to rework the center and the remaining retailers struggling to survive.

Import prices rise: The rise in the import price index followed a revised 1.6 percent jump in October that was more than first estimated, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Excluding petroleum, prices rose 0.7 percent last month after falling 0.1 percent.

Council considers hiring mayor's son as lobbyist: Dan Kulin; The Boulder City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to hire the mayor's son to be the city's lobbyist in Carson City.

Two survive cut for Nevada State College chief: Only two of the five finalists vying for the presidency at Nevada State College made the cut Wednesday after hourlong interviews with the 15 members of the joint regents and college search committee.

Rebels draw another blank: Steve Guiremand; MALIBU, Calif. --- Oops, they did it again.

Monorail officials encouraged about timing of system tests: Stephen Curran; Las Vegas Monorail executives left a meeting with the Clark County Building Division on Wednesday "encouraged" about when a final battery of tests to re-open the trouble-prone system could begin, a company spokesman said.

News briefs for December 9, 2004: A grandmother and an infant escaped a house fire near Rancho Drive and Oakey Boulevard Wednesday morning, but damage displaced three adults and four children, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Stars pay homage to Wonder at 'Billboards': Spencer Patterson; Oscars aside, awards shows rarely go into overtime. When they do, the extra footage rarely makes the broadcast.

BILLBOARD WINNERS: Artist of the Year: Usher

Deck the Malls: It seems trying P creating a mall show with dancers from the Strip, a gate agent at McCarran International Airport, two Las Vegas models and a borrowed 1960 Cadillac Eldorado.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Sandwich has been quite a sight: The sandwich that Diana Duyser cooked up 10 years ago and sold last month on eBay for $28,000 will be in Las Vegas until noon Friday. After that it hits the road with Duyser and her husband, Greg, who renewed their wedding vows before the Virgin Cheese during a press conference Wednesday.