The other side of the Centennial money story told

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 | 7:31 a.m.

The man who was paid $20,000 to promote Las Vegas Centennial activities on cable television - and didn't - said Monday there is more to the story than what has been reported. But he did not explain what happened to the money.

The company Michael Hyams apparently represented when he received the $20,000 is linked to the singing Osmond family.

According to Missouri records, Hyams, Merrill Osmond and Osmond's son-in-law, Kade Hallows, are partners in the Merrimar Group.

Las Vegas Centennial Committee officials say they paid the Merrimar Group $20,000 to reserve two 30-minute television spots for programs about centennial events. The committee issued two $10,000 checks to Hyams, who was the local contact for Merrimar.

Betsy Fretwell, a Las Vegas deputy city manager and vice president of the Centennial Committee, said the $20,000 never made it to the television stations, and the committee wants Hyams to return the money.

In an e-mail exchange on Monday, Hyams said: "I guess that's one side of the story. That's not the case, however, as there was more to that whole situation than what is being represented.

"The playing field for the Centennial events that you speak of kept changing as we got closer to each event, which then ultimately changed what we were able to provide ... They don't see it that way, and nothing I can do will make them understand, so what else can I tell you?"

Hyams did not answer subsequent e-mails asking for elaboration and what happened to the $20,000.

Told of Hyams' comments, Fretwell said she's confident the matter will be settled through the city attorney's office. She said it has taken time to deal with the situation because the city had trouble tracking Hyams down.

Messages left at the Lodge of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo., for Hyams, Hallows and Osmond were not returned. Like Merrimar, the three men are listed as partners in the lodge. They also have offices there.

A message was also left with an assistant for Osmond. His Web site lists the lodge and Merrimar among his business interests.

Merrill Osmond is a brother of performers Donny and Marie Osmond and a member of the family singing ensemble. In addition, Merrill Osmond was also executive producer of the "Donny & Marie" television show.

Merrill Osmond is currently performing at the Branson Variety Theater in Branson.

Last year Hyams took the blame 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 designation as the largest ever - ended up costing the Centennial Committee $95,000.

The committee has overseen more than $4 million received through the sale of centennial license plates and from a merchandizing and sponsorship contract with Clear Channel.

The committee was formed to organize events to publicize the 100th anniversary of the birth of Las Vegas with the 1905 land auction organized by the railroad.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, chairman of the Centennial Committee, said there will be a public explanation of what happened to the $20,000 during the committee's next meeting, which is expected to be in June.

Goodman has also promised to work to get the money back and hold responsible anyone who may have wronged the committee.