Print edition for September 21, 2005

Community briefs for Sept. 21, 2005: Acacia Demonstration Gardens, 50 Casa Del Fuego, Henderson, will host free sprinkler clock demonstration workshops from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1, 8, 29 and Nov. 5.

Online poker tourney winners reap benefits of low profile: By Liz Benston; One of the world's largest poker tournaments has just concluded, awarding nearly $13 million in prize money to 1,972 people. Yet the winners of these events may never be known to the public

Editorial: NASA serves as example: On Monday NASA announced plans for returning to the moon, something that this country hasn't tried since the end of the Apollo missions in 1972. The agency did not blink an eyelash at the cost -- $104 billion over the next 13 years, and hundreds of billions more after that. The agency exuded confidence in its belief that the pursuit of greatness was well worth the cost.

Racing briefs for September 21, 2005: NASCAR points leader Tony Stewart crashed during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday, raising serious questions about the track surface.

Volunteer sought for exchange students: The ideal candidate should enjoy fostering international friendships, be community minded, and enjoy working with teenagers. Community representatives screen potential host families, meet with local high schools, and provide support counseling for host families and students.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Event at Rhodes' home gives us 'Goosebumps': Elizabeth Foyt; Henderson Mayor Jim Gibbons was leading sponsor for the gathering and had spent much of the day accompanying Stine as he addressed more than 1,000 fourth grade students at area schools.

Pedestrians struck by car on Las Vegas Strip: The Strip was closed at Flamingo Road, a police spokesman said.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Celebration of cashmere is near: Saturday, Saks Fifth Avenue at the Fashion Show mall will be filled with activities, and goats, live and faux, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Utah senator: Yucca 'does not make sense': Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, once a strong supporter of the proposed high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, announced a surprising change of heart on Tuesday, arguing that the nation should rethink Yucca Mountain.

UNLV, Cendant team to create timeshare courses: One of the largest timeshare corporations in the world is partnering with UNLV's Harrah College of Hotel Administration to develop a fullscale timeshare program.

Online poker tourney winners reap benefits of low profile: By Liz Benston; One of the world's largest poker tournaments has just concluded, awarding nearly $13 million in prize money to 1,972 people.

Senate leaders, Bush discuss nominees for second high court seat: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- With Senate approval of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts virtually assured, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and President Bush today turned their attention to the next nominee.

Southwest Gas questioned on need for bigger increase: Kevin Rademacher; State regulators and an attorney for the Bureau of Consumer Protection on Tuesday quizzed a Southwest Gas Corp. executive with questions about the utility's purchasing practices amid soaring natural gas prices.

Ex-wife sentenced for hiring hitman: Just prior to sentencing the ex-wife of a Henderson Police sergeant to to 3 to 7 1/2 years in prison Tuesday, District Judge Jackie Glass told the woman that her plan to hire a hitman to kill the officer "really blew up in your face."

Residents evacuated after police standoff: It all started about 7 p.m., when two people driving in the Richard Court neighborhood were confronted by a resident who complained that they were driving recklessly, he said.

Henderson man faces charge in son's suicide: District Attorney David Roger said his office today will file a felony child neglect charge against a Henderson man whose 12-year-old son killed himself using a loaded gun that the father allegedly left unattended at his home.

RTC project gets NLV up in arms: By Brian Wargo; North Las Vegas and the Regional Transportation Commission are locking horns over a planned super-arterial along North 5th Street that city officials contend may endanger a proposed regional mall and other development along the corridor.

Fissures could threaten water pipeline: Hydrologist David Donovan of the Southern Nevada Water Authority is investigating cracks or splits in the Earth's surface along a possible water pipeline route that could "pose a significant challenge" to designing it.

Columnist Jeff German: Hospital big shots in for fight: In less than 24 hours last week, the big shots sent a group of hard-working nurses home for wearing buttons supporting a union organizing drive at sister Spring Valley Hospital across the valley.

One dead after car strikes crowd of pedestrians on Las Vegas Strip: CHRISTINA ALMEIDA; The car jumped the curb about 5:15 p.m. and drove into pedestrians walking in front of the Bally's and Paris Las Vegas hotel-casinos, police and fire officials said.

Board finds eye doctor guilty on 12 counts; license not revoked: David Kihara; The state Board of Osteopathic Medicine found an eye doctor guilty of 12 counts of malpractice and unprofessional conduct for performing and billing unnecessary eye procedures but did not revoke the doctor's license during a hearing on Saturday.

Sports briefs for September 21, 2005: The New Orleans Hornets will play 35 home games in Oklahoma City and six others in Baton Rouge, La. under terms of a temporary relocation agreement approved today by the city council.

Task force recommendations help development: Stephen Curran; Scores of Clark County Growth Task Force recommendations have already begun shaping how development decisions are made throughout Southern Nevada, county officials said Tuesday.

Horse slaughter ban amendment OK'd by Senate: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The country's three horse slaughter plants may no longer be able to sell horse meat for food, based on Senate action Tuesday.

Building plan gets over 90 attendees: Commissioners approved the change last month, although county officials and representatives from unions and building inspectors are still working to spell out guidelines for the new category of worker, Lynn said.

Visitors aided in preparedness plan: Stephen Curran; Clark County's steady stream of visitors may have uniquely prepared its emergency preparedness officials for a potentially catastrophic disaster here, the county's emergency manager said Tuesday.

12 people named to pipeline panel: The group will review how best to improve the pipes responsible for bringing more than 122,000 barrels of fuel a day from the Colton Terminal in California to Las Vegas. They were built more than 40 years ago, when Las Vegas was home to about 65,000 people, and are now facing capacity, officials say.

Katrina survivors filling spaces valley residents might need: The scramble to find places for Hurricane Katrina survivors to live in the Las Vegas Valley is filling up rooms that otherwise would be an option for valley residents whose homes have burned or flooded, officials say.

Sands may build casino in Scotland: Gabrielle Monaghan; Las Vegas Sands Corp. won planning permission to build the U.K.'s only "super casino" in a deprived part of Glasgow, Scotland, as Britain opens up its gambling market.

Man found shot to death outside apartments: The victim lived at the apartment complex at 6983 Appleton Drive and was shot after getting into an argument with others in the area, Metro stated.

Full speed ahead: Brendan Gaughan sums up his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in one word: successful.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Giants should continue to reward backers: Football fans look at Sunday night's game in which the Chargers host the Giants and see an intriguing story line: New York quarterback Eli Manning will be making his first appearance against the team he snubbed in last year's draft.

New assessment offices to ease strain on Fertitta center: Hurricane survivors arriving in Las Vegas will be directed to a new assessment center opening at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Clark County officials said.

Rural preservation districts given official confidence vote: Dan Kulin; A revised ordinance to create rural preservation districts in Las Vegas was applauded by county, state and neighborhood leaders on Tuesday, and sent on to the full City Council with a recommendation to adopt the measure.

Officers back from Mississippi: Jen Lawson; Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Charlie Haycox had his own welcoming committee when he and about 100 other Nevada law enforcement officers returned after spending two weeks helping Mississippi police in the hurricane-ravaged region.

NRC advisory panel studies Yucca issues: The controversial e-mails that cast doubt on some Yucca Mountain research, plus ongoing tests to check that research, were among the issues discussed Tuesday at a meeting of an advisory committee of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Columnist Peter Benton: Win, lose or draw, looking forward to good sports: Peter Benton; The sixth staging of the Presidents Cup, which pits the 12 top International players (excluding Europe) against the 12 best the States has to offer, gets under way Thursday over the 7,335-yard, par-72, Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville, Va. This layout, incidentally, is the site of the three previous Presidents Cups which have been contested in this country -- all, by the way, being won by the USA team.

Another debate looms for lawmakers: Mike Glover; DES MOINES, Iowa -- The growing popularity of a new form of poker may plunge the Legislature into another round of emotional debate over gambling, key lawmakers said on Tuesday.

Rebuilding effort proceeds: David Dishneau; GULFPORT, Miss. -- Mobile homes will be set up in relatively small clusters scattered across the Mississippi coast rather than in a couple large sites so that the thousands left homeless by Hurricane Katrina will have an easier time rebuilding, Gov. Haley Barbour said Tuesday.

Obituaries for Sept. 21, 2005: Alice Collis, 57, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. A legal secretary, she was born Jan. 5, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Lottery winner's business target of complaints: Diversified Enterprise and its subcontractor, Zion Inc., allegedly have sliced water, sewer, gas and power lines, cut down trees and knocked down fences, according to complaints filed with the PSD, located in Waverly.

Judge blocks regulator's ouster from redevelopment panel: Judge M. Allan Vogelson, sitting in Camden, issued a temporary injunction against bouncing Linda Kassekert from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's board and set a Sept. 30 court date to hear the matter.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 10 a.m.

Comanche Nation voters want share of casino profits: Tribal voters overwhelmingly approved a plan for the distribution of revenue from the $29 million the tribe expects to make from its four casinos for the year ending Sept. 30, Chairman Wallace Coffey said Monday.

Letter: Bases should be spread out: Consider the proposals to transfer nearly all National Guard forces and/or equipment from the various states to only several locations. These troops and equipment must be available to governors for instant deployment if needed to control emergencies (when they return from foreign duty).

Sunset Northwest a loaded league: Nick Christensen; Their stories are similar. So are the results.

Letter: Roberts' views are too narrow: The White House refuses to release documents that would clear up troubling positions he has argued relating to women's issues, civil rights, voting rights and privacy matters, and he has not seen fit to answer direct questions during confirmation hearings that would have clarified his positions.

Fed raises interest rates; more hikes seem likely: Edmund L. Andrews; WASHINGTON -- Saying that Hurricane Katrina was unlikely to pose a "persistent threat" to the economy, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Tuesday for the 11th time in a row and signaled that more increases are on the way.

Letter: Bush losing even GOP's faithful: Granddad hated to part with his money, but he still believed that the government had a responsibility to the poor. Granddad had no tolerance for liars, and as a high school teacher and principal, he was able to spot one a mile away. I don't think he would have believed much Bush has had to say about just about anything.

Letter: War on the cheap discouraging, too: The troops who are there know that those who do not support the war, as a whole, support the troops. There has been no call to stop paying for this unjustified war and no call to stop providing needed equipment and supplies.

San Mateo residents debate plan to demolish race track: The Bay Meadows Land Company told council members Monday that horse racing is no longer sufficiently profitable, and a new development will bring much needed revenue to the city.

Letter: Reporters played invaluable role: It was the media, along with the local officials there, who exposed the incompency of the federal government and those responsible for taking care of getting people to safety.

New flights to be added to Las Vegas schedule: Southwest Airlines, Las Vegas' busiest commercial passenger carrier, is redirecting its fleet while reparations occur in New Orleans. The airline recently returned two flights a day between Houston and New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Decision to retire Marshall Field's moniker a bitter blow to some: Don Babwin; CHICAGO -- It has always been much more than a department store. It's the magical place where parents brought their children to see the windows at Christmastime, where those children grew and did the same with their kids -- stopping, of course, to visit the one true Santa Claus.

Poll: Pessimism in economy is worst in 13 years: Sixty percent of the 1,000 people polled said the economy is getting worse. That's the highest percentage since December 1991, the year of the first Persian Gulf War. Twenty-seven percent said it is staying the same and 11 percent said it's improving, according to a news release from ABC News.

Preps: Schedule: Girls' Volleyball

Letter: Tax-and-spend policies hurt: Many of us moved here to escape the oppressive taxes of New York or California. Gov. Kenny Guinn is nothing more than a Rockefeller Republican who likes spending and taxes. I saw that policy destroy New York state and, frankly, don't wish to see it here.

Health sciences building opens at community college: The building complex was a top priority for the new millennium as the state's health training and treatment advance to meet growth, said CCSN President Richard Carpenter.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Miller called up to Truck Series to replace Wallace: At Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Alien characters to ride rails starting Thursday: Characters from the "Star Trek" universe will board the train at the Las Vegas Hilton station at about 10 a.m. and ride among passengers in the morning. The promotion to call attention to the monorail system and the Hilton attraction is expected to run through the end of the year.

Sugar Bowl moving to Atlanta or Baton Rouge: Atlanta's Georgia Dome will host the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl if LSU's Tiger Stadium is unable to, the game's executive director said Tuesday.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Sanford a class act even after tough loss: If this is Wednesday, it must mean there's another hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. So here's a few more Category 4 notes to consider:

Letter: Seniors want only to retain what they have earned: Like the rest of Las Vegas, Sun City Summerlin is replete with refugees from the tax-and-spend policies of other states. With age comes wisdom, and the seniors in Sun City have lived the real impact of Proposition 13 in California and they love it. The seniors have also seen how California's government created and contrived every conceivable license, fee or user tax to reach into their pockets and pick them clean and they hate it.

Names in the game for September 21, 2005: Rex, the Labrador puppy owned by Lance Armstrong, is recovering from successful open-heart surgery at Colorado State University's veterinary hospital.

Editorial: A man who had a story to tell: He never went back to his pre-war career as an architectural engineer, but spent the next 60 years tracking down Nazi war criminals so they could be tried in court for their atrocities. But that was only part of his post-World War II life. He was just as well known for educating the world about the Holocaust.