Print edition for June 26, 2006

Letter: Kudos to Sacco for helping the homeless: As to the homeowners who feel deprived of the use of the park, move to Summerlin or a smaller city. With a population of 1.7 million, no park in Clark County is a safe place to leave your kids unattended. The homeless in Circle Park do serve a purpose; they guarantee you will go to the park with your children. If you are worried, it wouldn't hurt to bring the homeless people some food or bottled water.

A swing and a miss: Calvin Brock kept his unbeaten record intact Saturday night at Caesars Palace.

Letter: Secondhand smoke is a proven killer: As someone who once smoked, can anyone else "honestly" list the positive benefits derived from smoking? Are smokers so concerned about losing their precious freedom to smoke that they ignore the fact that it is killing them and those around them? How stupid and selfish is that?

Jeff Haney bids farewell to a hockey handicapper who was always a favorite: As Bryde would never hesitate to tell you in his inimitable way, he was not part of the city's gaming establishment, or what he considered the "inner circle" of well-known local sports betting figures.

Hotel could be Boulder City's ticket out of the rough: Strapped for cash because a city golf course has lost millions of dollars, Boulder City officials want a hotel developer to help the city hack its way out of the financial rough.

Editorial: Program still grounded: According to a recent story by USA Today, two leading aviation organizations - the Airports Council International and the Air Transport Association - have issued letters saying many airport checkpoint areas don't have room for a dedicated Registered Travelers lane and that the program threatens to be a financial drain that could ultimately prove a disadvantage for passengers.

Population boom not enjoyed by this desert dweller: By Launce Rake; hey make their home in the brutal heat of the Mojave Desert, where they wander the harsh landscape of rock and sand, Joshua trees and cactus. Although they have survived, even thrived, in the desert for millions of years, desert tortoises find themselves disastrously ill-equipped to deal with man.

Editorial: This punchline isn't funny: According to a recent story by The Washington Post, amateur videographers armed with inexpensive digital or cell phone cameras are recording knockdown, drag-out fights among friends or strangers, then posting them on the Internet.

Politics takes grandstand seat: By J. Patrick Coolican; FALLON - The Rattlesnake Raceway sits up on a hill like some ancient temple or medieval castle. The '80s-era Monte Carlos - rebuilt to be race cars - slide around the small dirt track going a hundred before they inevitably slam into each other.

John Katsilometes on how the flip of a quarter determined the cast for opening night of 'Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular' at the Venetian: That was the case for "Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular," which ended its preview period and held its opening-night premiere on Saturday at the Venetian. Because the show is so physically (and vocally) demanding, the production alternates a total of six world-class performers in the lead roles of the Phantom, Christine and Carlotta.

Letter: Wisdom lies in knowing when the fight is over: It is amazing to see all these elected officials sitting in their air-conditioned offices, driving around in their chauffeur-driven cars, living in the best parts of the country in the best homes that "taxpayers" money can buy, telling us to "stay the course" while our children, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers are over in a God-forsaken country where they are not wanted and have been slain just because they were representing America.

Ron Kantowski rolls into Las Vegas Motor Speedway to check out the progress on a $30 million project: When you're in the middle of a $30 million construction project that will dramatically change the shape of racing as well as that of the facility itself, there simply isn't time to relive the past.

Editorial: The march of biodiesel: Later that year the Clark County School District began purchasing biodiesel from Haycock as a pilot project for its buses. Seeing the success of that project, local governments and agencies began purchasing biodiesel in 2002 for their fleet vehicles.