News briefs for Jan. 22, 2004

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

Bounced checks to cost more

The North Las Vegas City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday night to increase the charge for bouncing a check submitted to the city. The charge will now be $25. It had been $15.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith voted against the increase saying the city shouldn't make matters worse for someone going through a rough financial time.

The city receives about 200 bad checks a month, city Finance Director Phil Stoeckinger said.

The increase will bring in an additional $25,000 a year to the city, he said.

Summerlin crash victim identified

A man killed in a crash early Wednesday on Cliff Shadows Parkway in Summerlin has been identified as 32-year-old Michael A. Fischella of Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner's office said.

Fischella lost control of his 1989 Audi on a curve and was ejected when his car rolled, police said.

He was not wearing a seat belt and died several hours after the accident at University Medical Center. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash, police said.

Motorist killed in crash on U.S. 95

A 35-year-old Henderson man was killed in a crash about 4:30 a.m. today on U.S. 95 near Horizon Drive when his Jeep slammed into the back of a tractor- trailer, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Lt. Phil Dart said a tractor-trailer was going 25 to 30 mph while heading south on U.S. 95 in the far right lane when the accident occurred.

The Jeep driver, whose name has not yet been released, was pulled out of his vehicle just before it caught fire, Dart said.

The speed of the Jeep has not been determined, but investigators suspect the Jeep driver was impaired by alcohol, Dart said.

The driver of the tractor trailer was not hurt.

A portion of U.S. 95 southbound was closed for at least four hours while troopers investigated the crash.

84-year-old stabbing victim ID'd

A man found stabbed to death in his home Tuesday night has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as 84-year-old Albert Greco of Las Vegas.

Metro Police arrested Greco's son, Charles Anthony Greco, 48, at the scene and charged him with murder of a victim over 65.

Police said they had been called to the house in the 200 block of Delmar Street numerous times in the past on reports of family fights.

Bar liquor license to be considered

The Las Vegas City Council set a date of Feb. 18 to decide on a complaint filed against the liquor license for Blue Heaven Bar, owned by Michael Galardi.

The matter is not expected to generate the level of discussion that a similar complaint did Jan. 7, when the city levied its largest fine ever against a club that had been partly owned by Michael Galardi.

The Jan. 7 complaint was against a license Michael Galardi held as part owner of La Fuente Inc., which operated the topless club Cheetahs. He sold his share to his father Jack Galardi in October, but the city still levied a $1.095 million fine for violations of the terms of the license for the period in which Michael Galardi was a part-owner. Jack Galardi has not paid the fine yet.

Michael Galardi was not fit to hold that license, the City Council decided, because of his guilty plea to federal corruption charges in San Diego.

The younger Galardi has told authorities that he bribed public officials, according to his plea agreement.