News briefs for March 26, 2004

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

Driver killed when car flips

A California man was killed Thursday when his vehicle flipped on U.S. 95, about 10 miles northwest of the Mount Charleston exit, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. A red Honda Passport was heading south on U.S. 95 when the driver drifted out of his lane, over-corrected and lost control, rolling into the desert, Trooper Angie Wolff said.

The driver was wearing a seat belt, but the damage to his vehicle caused fatal injuries, Wolff said.

The passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and was flown by Mercy Air to University Medical Center. He was being treated for life-threatening injuries.

Henderson clerk gets pay hike

Henderson City Clerk Monica Simmons received a 7.5 percent pay hike on Thursday, pushing her salary to $141,854 a year, City Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said.

The raise was unanimously approved by the council after a closed-door council meeting to evaluate Simmons.

Cyphers said Simmons earned the raise by leading a department that is busy with many responsibilities, including passports, city records, historical information and elections.

Simmons has received an 8 percent pay raise in each of the last three years. This latest raise puts Simmons' pay at the top of her pay scale.

Before Thursday Simmons' annual salary was $131,921, which was already higher than some other area city clerks.

Las Vegas City Clerk Roni Ronemus' annual salary is $104,917, a city spokeswoman said.

Board postpones school name policy

The Clark County School Board on Thursday postponed a discussion on a new policy that would allow for school names to be changed.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia said there was a request to hold off on the matter until there is a board meeting that can be attended by all of the board members.

Board member Shirley Barber did not attend the Thursday meeting, and board member Larry Mason arrived at the meeting after the decision to postpone the matter.

The issue was brought to the board's attention when the scandal surrounding Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, reached a peak last fall. Williams' problems cost him his job with Las Vegas Neighborhood Services, and some community members asked whether the Clark County School District would -- or should -- rename the elementary school that bears his name.

It's back to spring in Southern Nevada

The National Weather Service is forecasting normal spring temperatures over the weekend with highs in the mid-70s, but gusty winds will make it feel cooler.

Winds from 15 mph to 20 mph swept the Las Vegas Valley Thursday night with gusts to 30 mph, the weather service reported.

Lows will range from the mid-50s to the low 60s through the weekend.

Pollen counts remain extremely high, especially from mulberry trees, the Clark County Air Quality Division said.

Carol Barlow of the Allergy Institute of Nevada said that trees and weeds in the valley have "double-bloomed."