News briefs for September 2, 2004

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 | 10:41 a.m.

Asbestos found in Sky-Vue homes

A Las Vegas city spokesman said Wednesday that a contractor found six trailers that contained asbestos at the ruined Sky-Vue mobile home park, 15 W. Owens Ave.

The finding clears up a question for the city and sets into motion a new deadline by which the park owners either have to present a contract for demolition or the city will do the work and charge them.

"The bids are due by the close of Friday, which also is the deadline for the DiMarcos (the park owners). We're kind of on parallel tracks," city spokesman David Riggleman said.

Riggleman said he did not know which trailers contained asbestos, or in what condition the trailers with asbestos were. Four recent fires and ongoing vandalism have already reduced many of the trailers to rubble.

Steps taken to guard jail funds

North Las Vegas is buying software that will help prevent, or catch, theft from city jail funds.

A former jail supervisor is accused of stealing about $437,000 from inmate accounts between July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2003.

City Manager Gregory Rose said the $780,884 software will improve the tracking of jail funds by providing an analysis of money coming and leaving the jail on a monthly basis.

"Inconsistencies would be caught a lot sooner," Rose said.

The City Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday to buy the software, which will come from the Motorola company.

Members named to youth council

Gov. Kenny Guinn has named 11 new members, five of them from Las Vegas, to the governor's Youth Advisory Council to make recommendations on health matters involving teens and young adults.

The five from Las Vegas are Joann Blosser, Amanda Coil, Rachael D'Souza, Elizabeth Fravel and Bradley Keating. Alternates from Las Vegas for the two-year term are Chloe Jordan and Gabriela Pirana.

Brandin Mann of Wellington is the chairman and D'Souza will be vice chairman.

The council advises the governor and his staff on such things as teen pregnancy prevention, violence, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse.

First lady will auction necklace

Nevada first lady Dema Guinn has donated a necklace with a solid silver medallion to be auctioned off Sept. 11 in a fund-raiser to support museum projects.

The necklace bears the state seal on one side and the likeness of Gov. Kenny Guinn on the other. The governor will personally conduct the auction during the Tin Cup Tea at the governor's mansion in Carson City.

The proceeds will go to the Nevada State Museum and the W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Hearing set for former principal

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 1 for a former principal of Moapa Valley High School, who is charged with stealing $11,675 in campus funds.

Daniel Reese, who retired from the Clark County School District last year, was arrested July 29 and charged with three counts of felony theft.

Reese's attorney, George Foley Sr., faxed a statement to Moapa Valley Justice Court waiving his client's appearance for the arraignment on three counts of felony theft. Such faxed requests waivers are not unusual in early court proceedings because of the location of the rural court, said Clark County prosecutor Erik Jorgensen, who is assigned to the case. Reese must appear in person for a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 1.

Reese was inappropriately reimbursed for expenses that had already been paid for using district funds, according to an internal audit prepared in June 2003. Reese paid back the money and retired, district officials said.

Dust advisory for today

With strong winds expected in Southern Nevada beginning this afternoon and lasting through midnight, Clark County Air Quality officials are advising residents to brace for potentially unhealthy levels of blowing dust.

The National Weather Service expected winds to increase this afternoon, with sustained winds up to 25 mph. Dry, windy conditions tend to make the valley's problems with fine dust, which can aggravate respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or asthma.

Airborne dust may reach unhealthy levels during air quality advisory conditions. If forecasted conditions occur, public health officials urge children, seniors and people with chronic respiratory problems to stay indoors. Officials also recommend that all residents limit outdoor exercise during dust storms.

As part of today's advisory, officials are notifying construction site operators to take steps to check and stabilize their property for blowing dust and debris as required by local air quality regulations.

Call 385-DUST (3878) to report excessive amounts of blowing dust.

Tickets are still available

for a post-convention rally to be held with Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday afternoon at Cashman Center. Tickets are free but must be obtained before the event by calling the Nevada Republican Party at (702) 258-9182. Doors open at noon and close at 1:45 p.m. This would be Cheney's fifth campaign trip to Nevada this year.