Print edition for September 6, 2005

Obituaries for Sept. 6, 2005: Billie Jack Badgett, 80, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 25, 1925, in Willis, Okla. A resident for 42 years, he was a master electrician, a member of Masonic Oasis Lodge 42 of Las Vegas and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 611.

Massive clean-up planned: Get Outdoors Nevada, an interagency volunteer program coordinated by the UNLV Public Lands Institute, is seeking hundreds of volunteers for clean-ups at Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Birth announcements for Sept. 6, 2005: Aug. 23:

Rittendale, veteran teacher, former Sun society columnist, dies: By day, Marguerite Rittendale was a dedicated teacher at Kermit R. Booker Elementary School and at other educational centers during a career that spanned four decades.

Fibromyalgia group plans meeting: For more information, call 897-9326 or 897-7388.

The Good Fight: Spencer Patterson; "I usually don't talk from stage very much, but I feel like I have to seeing that what's happening in Louisiana and Mississippi is sort of a failure," Mellencamp said before launching into his homage to the American farmer, "Rain on the Scarecrow"

Immunization schedule for Sept. 6, 2005: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., today through Friday.

Editorial: Tax plan a bad idea: She has twice introduced her plan to the Legislature, and twice the Legislature has rejected it. Persistence is oftentimes a virtue, but in this case it is not. Angle should walk away from this ill-advised plan.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Bad news causing mass listeria: But what about baked beans?

Editorial: Medicare headache: Beginning Oct. 1, health insurers can officially begin marketing their prescription drug plans to the more than 40 million Medicare beneficiaries. Most Medicare recipients are 65 and older, and in the next several months they can expect to be inundated with direct mailings from insurers trying to get them to enroll in their plans. As the Sun's Michelle Swafford reported Friday, while it is uncertain just how many companies will offer drug plans in Nevada, 19 insurers have applied with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide prescription drugs.

LV council to vote on firefighters' deal: Dan Kulin; A four-year contract with the Las Vegas firefighters' union that would come with cost-of-living pay raises from 3 to 4.25 percent each year and increases to city payments toward health insurance is scheduled to be voted on by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday.

White party leader accused in sex case: Jen Lawson; Metro Police are investigating the leader of the proposed White Peoples Party after several women accused him of sexual misconduct at one of his halfway houses, state officials said.

Retailers eye lottery benefits, challenges: Paul Nowell; CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For some North Carolina gas station and convenience store owners, the chance to sell lottery tickets is something they have sought for decades.

Gulf oil output 70 percent below normal after hurricane: BP, Europe's biggest oil company, Monday said it resumed production at its 55,000-barrel-a-day Holstein platform in the gulf. About 1.04 million barrels of the area's oil production was still off line as of midday yesterday, the U.S. Minerals Management Service said. The agency has scheduled its next report at 1 p.m. Houston time today.

One to grow on: Steve Guiremand; ALBUQUERQUE --- A dejected Shane Steichen was slowly walking back to the UNLV locker room at University Stadium following Monday's 24-22 loss to New Mexico when he suddenly stopped.

Nevadans aiding in search, rescue: The 70 firefighters, rescue workers, doctors and structural engineers of Nevada TaskForce-1 began search and recovery operations in the New Orleans area early today.

Pinnacle to rebuild in Biloxi: By Liz Benston; After spending three days touring Mississippi's hurricane-ravaged coastline, Pinnacle Entertainment's top executive said he is optimistic that the company's Casino Magic riverboat can be rebuilt within two years.

Beers seeks special session to kill tax on gasoline: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Bob Beers, a candidate for the GOP nomination for Nevada governor, today suggested a special session of the Legislature be called to eliminate the state tax on gasoline to help Nevada motorists.

Firm rejects Novartis offer: Novartis spokesman John Gilardi told The Associated Press that Novartis is aware of the statement from Chiron's board, but the pharmaceutical company had no immediate response.

LV apartment blaze forces evacuations: David Kihara; At least 39 people were forced out of their homes by a fire burned through their apartment building on Algonquin Drive near Flamingo Road early this morning, officials said.

Ex-Nevadan starts job under pressure: By Emily Richmond; Former Clark County School Board member Denise Brodsky, who resigned last month to become executive director of the United Way's St. Charles Parish office near New Orleans, is safe in Baton Rouge, her husband said.

Nevada to accept 800 Katrina refugees: CARSON CITY -- Nevada will be accepting about 800 of the people left homeless by the Katrina hurricane and Gov. Kenny Guinn will declare a state of emergency to qualify for federal funds to handle the arrivals, officials said this morning.

Company buys land on Barbary Coast site: Boyd bought two acres that the company didn't yet own and had been subject to a long-term lease. The purchase price was $15.7 million.

After 'crime' of homelessness, family happy to leave Vegas: By Timothy Pratt; It was like some strange summer vacation in hell. Or worse.

Local foster care discussions set: The Interfaith Roundtable discussions began in May after the start of a foster and adoptive parent recruitment campaign. The county Family Services Department has since estimated it has received more than 1,000 inquiries from would-be foster parents.

Nevada to accept about 800 refugees: Stephen Curran and Cy Ryan; Citizens are encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross. For more information, call 791-3311 or visit the group's Web site at www.redcrosslasvegas.org.

In Katrina's wake, Mississippi must mull land-based casinos: Jack Elliott Jr; Fifteen years after Mississippi legalized gambling, Hurricane Katrina may forever change the state's gaming landscape by forcing lawmakers and regulators to consider allowing casinos on land rather than just on barges.

Valley still the fastest growing metropolitan area in nation: The Las Vegas Valley remains the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation, according to the results of a Brookings Instition analysis of the most recent census data available.

Company's debt downgraded: Northwest's S&P rating fell from CCC+ to CCC- for its long-term corporate debt.

AFL-CIO chief criticizes federal response to Katrina: Jeremiah Marquez; LOS ANGELES -- AFL-CIO President John Sweeney derided the Bush administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina at a Labor Day rally Monday, saying the government's slow response was a sign of hostility to workers.

Nevada team aiding in search: The 70 firefighters, rescue workers, doctors and structural engineers of Nevada Task Force-1 expected to begin search and recovery operations in New Orleans today.

City expected to limit video lottery parlors: The proposed ordinance says that establishments holding an Alcohol Beverage Control Administration license, which is required to operate video gambling machines, must be at least 1,000 feet apart. Bars that offer the games would be prohibited in residential zones.

Reid returns to Congress, but with revised agenda: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Congress was back in action today after an August recess, facing a hurriedly revised agenda and a politically charged atmosphere in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and a new Supreme Court vacancy.

Traffic, lake deaths mar weekend: The long Labor Day weekend finished with these unfortunate statistics: Five people were killed, including a 4-year-old boy, in traffic collisions, one man drowned in Lake Mead and another man remains missing and presumed drowned in Lake Mohave.

Politicians may face backlash over new lottery: Gary D. Robertson; RALEIGH, N.C. -- The legislative fight over a North Carolina lottery took more than 20 years to finish, but the political memoir of state-run gambling in this state has just started.

$7.9 million resort opens: The Dakota Sioux Casino hotel's lobby features a hand-crafted chandelier and a seven-point stone star carved into the floor. The star represents the seven districts of the tribe, as well as "the Indian belief of where we come from," said Scott German, the tribe's vice chairman.

Pilot program allows firms to check immigration status of job candidates: Laura Wides; LOS ANGELES -- Many Americans focus on the border when they consider the fight against illegal immigration. But some experts say the real battle should be in the workplace to stop the hiring of people without work visas.

PartyGaming shares plunge as firm says growth rates to slow: Paul Jarvis; Shares of PartyGaming Plc, the online poker operator that sold $1.9 billion of stock in a June initial public offering, fell as much as 37 percent to below the IPO price after the company said revenue growth is slowing.

Young seeks special jail to be built for petty criminals: Stephen Curran; Scores of petty criminals who Metro Police say find themselves slapped with little more than a fine could find themselves in a special jail if plans to build a new facility to house them move forward.

Seeing red: David Kihara; Drivers who run red lights are so common in Southern Nevada that some traffic experts and Metro Police have a joke about it:

Lottery sales set record: "When we have a big jackpot winner, it gets a lot of press," said Lottery Executive Director Katie Pushor. "The little-known fact is lottery money is benefiting someone, somewhere every day, and not just our winner."

Company roping in plans for rural resort developments: A Seattle investment company believes it will hit the jackpot with three rodeo and casino resorts in rural Nevada.

Ex-Clark school board member starts United Way job under pressure: By Emily Richmond; Former Clark County School Board member Denise Brodsky, who resigned last month to become executive director of the United Way's St. Charles Parish office near New Orleans, is safe in Baton Rouge, her husband said.

Police group getting into slots business: The FOP's Mountaineer Lodge 78 has leased a building and plans to open a family-style steakhouse in about a month. Since the FOP is a fraternal organization, state law allows it to operate up to 10 limited video lottery machines. The machines must be in a separate room with limited access.

Some schools ban backpacks, citing space and safety issues: By Emily Richmond; Fed up with cluttered aisles, jostling in the hallways and even a few minor injuries, some Clark County School District principals have done away with what they say was at the root of the problems: backpacks.

Committee to be formed to devise plan for pipelines: Stephen Curran; Clark County commissioners were expected to create a committee today to devise a plan for reversing the strain on key fuel pipelines they say could stifle growth in Southern Nevada.

It's guesswork even for Patriots: Preparing for a season opener is especially difficult, even for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Three local residents have West Nile virus: Three Clark County residents have been reported with cases of the West Nile virus, bringing Nevada's total this year to 16 cases in humans, health officials said.

City weighs Katrina's effect on construction costs: Henderson plans to issue $56 million in bonds by the end of the year for expanding its court and police facilities, but city officials warned that the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina may drastically increase the costs for construction projects.

Wheaton turns it around for Rebels: Steve Guiremand; ALBUQUERQUE --- Simply put, Donell Wheaton had his coming out party Monday at University Stadium.

Injured Guice puts a big hurt on Lobos: Steve Guiremand; ALBUQUERQUE -- Junior cornerback John Guice was one of UNLV's most heralded recruits last winter after earning first team J.C. All-America honors at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. And after giving up a few early receptions to New Mexico wide receiver Hank Baskett, he settled in to play a strong game.

Letter: Nuclear waste is inviting target: Again I am lectured that I must be a realist and pragmatic and accept political expediency instead of sound science on Yucca Mountain. No! I also will never accept President Bush breaking his word during an election campaign. He promised sound science in 2000 and adherence to the court decisions without congressional interference in 2004. Nevadans should never accept that he will break his word.

Letter: Fossil record gaps dismiss evolution as just guesswork: They claim that the word theory is a perfectly acceptable scientific term. My dictionary also defines theory as an unproven assumption. Speaking of words, read any work on evolution and you will find words like could, may, possibly, might, perhaps.

Preps: This week's schedule: Girls' Volleyball

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels' road back starts with one stunning step: ALBUQUERQUE -- While it is universally accepted that Rome wasn't built in a day, that may only be because Mike Sanford wasn't drawing up plays for the mythical King Romulus in 750 B.C.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: This time around, Kyle Busch kicks ash in Fontana: Kyle Busch's relatively brief professional racing career came full circle Sunday night when he earned his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory at California Speedway.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Sports briefs for September 6, 2005: Del Worsham became the sixth driver in Mac Tools U.S. Nationals history to sweep the Funny Car eliminations and Skoal Showdown bonus race , beating Frank Pedregon in the final Monday at Clermont, Ind.

51s' Ross ends slump, disappointing season by hitting for cycle: Nick Christensen; At the close of a season of disappointments, it was finally something to cheer about.

PCL considers moving team in Louisiana: The Pacific Coast League's franchise in New Orleans may play its 2006 season in Baton Rouge, PCL vice president Don Logan said Monday.

Names in the game for September 6, 2005: Las Vegas will be represented at the Lexus Cup team golf event in Singapore in November after Natalie Gulbis was named to the International team on Monday along with American teenager Paula Creamer.

Gaming foes active in 'Christmas City': Michael Rubinkam; BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Since Bethlehem Steel shuttered its massive plant here a decade ago, the city has successfully remade itself into a tourist destination. Visitors come for its quaint downtown shops, its music festivals, and its Moravian architecture and traditions -- especially during Christmastime.

Dismal season still had plusses: Nick Christensen; There was no batting practice at Cashman Field before Monday's season finale, just a few Las Vegas 51s players and coaches tossing a football around, acknowledging what's been understood for more than a month.