Search is on for missing centennial funds

Dan Kulin

Monday, May 8, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

The Las Vegas Centennial Committee paid $20,000 for work that apparently was never performed, and the group has been trying to get its money back for months.

Committee Vice President Betsy Fretwell, also a Las Vegas deputy city manager, said the committee gave Michael Hyams $20,000 to reserve two 30-minute slots on cable television for programs on the city's 100th birthday celebration and on 100 simultaneous weddings held on Fremont Street as part of the festivities.

"When we went to confirm the times for the two programs, we became aware that the deposit had not been transferred there," Fretwell said. "We're trying to get the $20,000 back from Mr. Hyams."

Fretwell said local officials have been unable to reach Hyams. Attempts by the Sun to reach Hyams were also unsuccessful. Messages left Thursday and Friday for a Michael Hyams at the Missouri hotel where sources said he now works were not returned.

Fretwell said the two $10,000 checks given to Hyams were written to a Utah company that he represented called the Merrimar Group.

That company could not be found. Utah state records showed that two companies with the word Merrimar in their name no longer exist.

A television program about last May's centennial birthday party never aired. But the centennial committee later paid for a program based on the 100 weddings that was broadcast on the Oxygen cable network.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who is also the committee's chairman, said he will do all he can to get the $20,000 back. He said the matter will be discussed during the committee's next meeting, expected to be in June.

Goodman and Fretwell said the city attorney's office is investigating the issue and trying to track down Hyams. The Centennial Committee oversaw more than $4 million in revenue generated by the sale of centennial license plates and from a merchandizing and sponsorship contract with Clear Channel. Hyams was a volunteer who helped with promotional and other aspects of the city's centennial birthday party. Hyams also was in the news last June when he publicly took responsibility for not securing a contract with Sara Lee to provide "the world's largest birthday cake" for free.

The 130,000-pound cake - still awaiting official certification by the Guinness Book of World Records - ended up costing the Centennial Committee $95,000.