Las Vegas Sun News

2012

Playing with matches blamed for damage to condo: Sunday, June 24, 2012; By Jackie Valley; A child playing with a lighter started a fire Saturday evening at a Desert Shores Villas condo, causing $25,000 damage, fire officials said.

Laura Cisco is overwhelmed by friends and family during her 102nd birthday party at her home, Stewart Pines Senior Apartments in Las Vegas on Friday, June 29, 2012.

Role model at age 102: Great-grandmother still going strong: Community:; Sunday, July 1, 2012; By Kiki Turner; The red, white and blue balloons tethered to the backs of chairs and table legs made the lounge on the first floor of Stewart Pines Senior Apartments look decked out for an Independence Day party.

A look at the proposed Tule Springs National Monument area located in the northern part of the Las Vegas Valley.

Agreement could keep new utility lines out of Tule Springs fossil fields: Wednesday, July 4, 2012; By Joe Schoenmann; A settlement announced Tuesday might prevent new power lines and pipelines from going through a fossil-rich, 23,000-acre parcel in the north valley proposed as a national monument.

A piece of a B-25 Mitchell bomber lies on a table with printouts of New York Times newspapers from 1945 at Irv Atkins' home in Henderson on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. The artifact, from a B-25 bomber crash into the Empire State Building on July 28, 1945, was featured in a PBS TV show called "History Detectives."

PBS’ ‘History Detectives’ take on case of Henderson resident’s WWII-era artifact: History: Son hoping keepsake is piece of bomber that crashed into Empire State Building in 1945; Tuesday, July 24, 2012; By Conor Shine; When Louis Atkins arrived to work on Monday morning, July 30, 1945, he found a small hunk of metal sitting in his midtown Manhattan office in New York City. The mangled piece of metal was severely burned and sported rows of rivets. Atkins surmised the object was part of the B-25 bomber that two days earlier had crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building, which sat across the street from his office. The crash killed 14 people. Atkins took the piece home to show his family, and over the next 60 years, the artifact and its origins ...

A fireman stands beside a twisted girder as he examines the gaping holes in the north side of the Empire State Building, on the 79th floor, evidence of the terrific impact with which a B-25 Army bomber crashed into the structure in New York, July 28, 1945.

Henderson resident's artifact verified as authentic piece of New York history: History: PBS 'History Detectives' verify metal plate was from bomber that hit Empire State Building in 1945; Wednesday, July 25, 2012; By Conor Shine; For more than 60 years, a small, melted hunk of metal lined with rivets has been an object of fascination and the subject of countless school show-and-tell projects for Henderson resident Irv Atkins and his family. The artifact was discovered by Atkins’ father, Louis, in his 10th-story office in midtown Manhattan on July 30, 1945, two days after a B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building, which towered across the street from Louis Atkins’ office.

Twins Velma McKenney, left, and Thelma Woods celebrate their 90th birthday with family and friends Saturday, July 28, 2012.

Now 90, twin sisters back together under one roof, loving and living life: Living Las Vegas:; Tuesday, July 31, 2012; By Cristina Chang; It was a simple question: Who is the prettier twin? “Me,” Thelma Woods said without a skipping a beat. “Oh shoot!” said her twin sister, Velma McKenney. “Why you think that? And we look alike.” Las Vegas residents Woods and McKenney, who both turned 90 on Saturday, share more than their appearance. The twins grew up during the Great Depression, followed the civil rights movement closely and lived to see the nation’s first black president. They grew up in New Orleans during a time when the banks closed and finances were tight. But there would always be enough food on ...

Tuskegee Airmen Charles E. McGee, left, and Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. participate in a panel discussion during the International Black Aerospace Council convention at the Las Vegas Hotel Wednesday, August 1, 2012. McGee holds an Air Force record of 409 fighter combat missions flown in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Panel featuring Tuskegee Airmen brings historical touch to aerospace convention: History:; Thursday, August 2, 2012; By Conor Shine; Capt. Roscoe Brown spent two years flying with the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, logging more than 200 missions with his squadron. But, Brown says, people only ever ask about one. “Everybody always wants to know how I shot down the jet,” the 90-year-old Brown said Wednesday in Las Vegas. Brown, then 23 years old, was flying a long-range mission in 1945 as an escort for bombers on their way to attack Berlin when he saw a fleet of jets on his 11 o’clock.

Former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb poses at his home in Las Vegas Thursday, August 2, 2012. Actor Dennis Quaid portrays Lamb in "Vegas," a new CBS television series that will premier in September. Lamb was sheriff from 1961 to 1979.

Former Sheriff Ralph Lamb's old-school manner inspires TV character: History:; Saturday, August 4, 2012; John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; The first thing you notice about former Sheriff Ralph Lamb is that voice — the low, gravelly growl of a former five-pack-a-day Marlboro man. Even at age 85, Lamb still uses the plain-spoken utterances of an old-school lawman. He was known as the Cowboy Sheriff and once was considered the most powerful man in Nevada.

Nathaniel Burkett, 62, is led into the Clark County Detention Center after his arrest on two counts of murder and sexual assault.

Long trail, sometimes cold, led to arrest in slayings from 1978, 1994: Wednesday, August 8, 2012; By Cristina Chang; It was early Saturday, April 22, 1978, when a witness led Metro Police to the corner of an apartment building just north of downtown. There they encountered a gruesome sight. Officers found a dead woman lying nude between a parking stall and a wall at 211 W. Wilson Ave. Livid marks and scratches on the victim’s neck suggested that the woman, 22-year-old Barbara Ann Cox, had been strangled to death. Abrasions covered her back, and a cut was spotted over her right eye.

This image released by CBS shows Dennis Quaid as Ralph Lamb, left, and Michael Chiklis as Vincent Savino in the pilot episode of "Vegas," premiering Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.

Television isn't required for watching CBS' 'Vegas': Entertainment:; Tuesday, October 2, 2012; By William D'Urso; The new CBS TV show “Vegas” hit it big with almost 15 million viewers in its first week, and then another 2.35 million viewers who recorded and watched the show within three days of the original broadcast.

Nathan Burkett, accused in the decades-old deaths of two Las Vegas women, appears in court at the Regional Justice Center, Friday Oct. 5, 2012.

Court hearing in decades-old Las Vegas slayings delayed until December: Friday, October 5, 2012; By Jackie Valley; A preliminary hearing Friday morning for Nathaniel Burkett, 62, the man accused of killing two Las Vegas women decades ago, was continued until Dec. 7 in Las Vegas Justice Court.

John Feathers holds a Los Angeles Times story printed in the Las Vegas Sun about his son, John E. Feathers, and his map collection.

'He lived and breathed maps': Parents grateful son will be memorialized via collection: Wednesday, October 31, 2012; By Brian Nordli; John Feathers and his wife were sipping coffee as they watched the 6 a.m. news last week in their Las Vegas home when they received an early-morning jolt.

The New Frontier Atrium Tower starts to fall as it is imploded Nov. 13, 2007.

Video: New Frontier imploded five years ago today: Tuesday, November 13, 2012; By Las Vegas Sun Staff; Five years ago this morning, the New Frontier reached the end of the line when it was imploded at 2:37 a.m.

This faro table, an old-time card game, was known as the "suicide table" since three of those who owned the table committed suicide after incurring heavy gambling debt. The table is on display at the Las Vegas Historic Museum at the Tropicana. Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas Historic Museum

Once king of the gambling halls, faro now a ghost: History:; Monday, November 19, 2012; By Dave Toplikar; When Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday holstered their six-guns and sat down at a frontier saloon to gamble, they wouldn’t play poker. The hot game of the Old West was called faro, or farobank. Earp dealt a game at the Oriental saloon in Tombstone, Ariz. Down the street, Doc Holliday picked up extra money as a dealer in the Bird Cage saloon. Gamblers loved it. The hands played fast. A lot of people could play at once, like modern-day craps and roulette

Don Feldman, 1980 MGM fire survivor, sits in the living room of his home, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. Feldman was a baker for the MGM Grand at the time of the 1980 fire.

Survivors, witnesses describe chaos of MGM Grand fire: 1980 MGM Fire:; Wednesday, November 21, 2012; By Dave Toplikar; Some 5,000 people were in the MGM Grand when it caught fire Nov. 21, 1980. Eighty-five people died and about 700 were injured. Here are the recollections of some of those who either survived the fire or were there.

MGM Grand, Hilton fires led to improved safety codes

MGM Grand, Hilton fires led to improved safety codes: 1980 MGM Fire:; Wednesday, November 21, 2012; By Dave Toplikar; After 85 people died as a result of the MGM Grand fire in November 1980 and eight perished in an arson less than three months later at the Las Vegas Hilton, Nevada lawmakers revamped high-rise safety codes.

People look out their broken hotel room windows while they wait for help during the MGM Grand Nov. 21, 1980, fire.

'They were absolutely heroes': The MGM Grand fire and the men who fought it: 32 years later, firefighters relive the nation’s second-deadliest hotel fire; Wednesday, November 21, 2012; By Dave Toplikar; Two distant, black columns of smoke caught John Pappageorge’s eye as he drove to work on a crisp, 38-degree morning in November 1980. Pappageorge, then a deputy chief with the Clark County Fire Department, wondered if the smoke might be a pile of tires on fire. Or was it a building?

G. Robert Blakey speaks about the President John F. Kennedy assassination in a video being played at the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.

On anniversary of JFK assassination, investigator looks back: Q&A with Robert Blakey, former chief counsel of House Select Committee on Assassinations; Thursday, November 22, 2012; By Tovin Lapan; Forty-nine years ago today, on Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza. The assassination and subsequent slaying of shooter Lee Harvey Oswald shocked the country.

In this Dec. 7, 1941, file photo, a small boat rescues a crew member from the water as heavy smoke rolls out of the stricken USS West Virginia after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Two men can be seen on the superstructure, upper center. The mast of the USS Tennessee is beyond the burning West Virginia. Wednesday marks the 70th anniversary of the attack that brought the United States into World War II.

U.S. remembers a ‘date which will live in infamy’: Friday, December 7, 2012; Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times; In just over seven minutes, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave voice to a nation’s outrage, branding Dec. 7 as a “date which will live in infamy” for Japan’s attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Within an hour, Congress had voted a declaration of war.

Jack Brown on One Step, Rocky Ford, Colorado, 1921.

NFR has roots in informal gathering of cowboys in Colorado: 2012 WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO:; Saturday, December 8, 2012; By Richard N. Velotta; Rodeo has come a long way since a group of cowboys from neighboring ranches in Deer Trail, Colo., got together to settle an argument over whose wrangling skills were the best. How did rodeo get to be so big in Las Vegas? Here’s a look at some key events that have helped bring attention to Las Vegas every December.

Pop quiz: How well do you know the classic neon signs of Vegas?: LAS VEGAS HISTORY:; Wednesday, December 19, 2012; By Ric Anderson; It’s time for a Las Vegas history test, presented one letter at a time. We picture letters from seven signs on display at the Neon Museum, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The museum is home to more than 150 signs from Las Vegas casinos and other businesses, including hotels, restaurants and wedding chapels. Scroll through these photos to see if you can tell which casinos or hotels these letters came from.

2013

President Richard Nixon responds to a question following the formal press conference at the Western White House in San Clemente, Calif., Aug. 29, 1972.

Nixon at 100: 'He knew how to get things done': Wednesday, January 9, 2013; David Lightman, McClatchy Newspapers; Richard Nixon would have turned 100 today, and his old friends will gather at a hotel near the White House to toast the memory of the 37th president. What is not said also will say much about his evolving legacy, because no protesters or seething Nixon-haters are expected outside the doors.

Holocaust survivor Sasha Semenoff lights a candle during the Yom HaShoah community memorial service commemorating the victims of the Holocaust at Congregation Ner Tamid Wednesday, April 30, 2003. Candles were lit in memory of the six million Jews and five million non-Jews who died in the Holocaust.

For Sasha Semenoff, Holocaust survivor and longtime Vegas performer, 'music was his life': Friday, January 11, 2013; By Ed Koch; Longtime Las Vegas violinist Sasha Semenoff most times played for his livelihood. But there was one bleak period when, at the brutal hands of the Nazis, he played for his very life. In a 2009 interview, Semenoff told the Sun that while he was being transported to a concentration camp a German soldier saw him holding a mandolin and told him to play “La Paloma.”

Mobster Tony Spilotro, left, and his attorney, Oscar Goodman, walk side by side after a session of the Spilotro trial in 1986. Goodman is writing his memoirs, including his days representing alleged mobsters and three terms as mayor of Las Vegas.

In sneak peek of memoir, Oscar Goodman details how he came to defend mobsters: Living Las Vegas:; Wednesday, January 16, 2013; By Richard N. Velotta; Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman’s memoir about his life as a mob lawyer and his three terms as “happiest mayor in the universe” hits bookstores June 4.

Students in KKK costumes spark controversy at Las Vegas Academy: Thursday, January 24, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; A class presentation involving students dressed in Ku Klux Klan costumes has one local high school embroiled in controversy.

A view of Atomic Liquors, the oldest standing bar in Las Vegas, on Fremont Street, June 27, 2012.

Joe Downtown: Discovery of floor safe excites new owners of Atomic Liquors: Friday, January 25, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; Under layers of old flooring, Kent and Lance Johns, manager/owners of the old Atomic Liquors, 917 Fremont St., made an astounding discovery recently. A safe.

Dan Stafford participates in the putting contest during a Paradise Palms cocktail party at Las Vegas National Golf Club on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Renewed sense of community rekindles spirit of Rat Pack days in Las Vegas neighborhood: LIVING LAS VEGAS:; Friday, February 8, 2013; By Brian Nordli; It is fitting that residents in today’s Paradise Palms neighborhood party once a month in a hallowed hall of Las Vegas’ yesteryear. In a city that would rather demolish and rebuild than preserve and restore, these residents are fighting to hold on to what makes their neighborhood special.

Joe Downtown: Decades-old safe discovered in Atomic Liquors yields only old receipts: Monday, February 18, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; New owners of Atomic Liquors on Fremont Street, one of the oldest free-standing taverns in Las Vegas, finally opened a floor safe discovered months ago during remodeling.

Archivist Dee Dee Antle adjusts one of Elvis Presley's famous jumpsuits during the opening of Graceland's newest exhibition in Memphis, Tenn., March 4, 2013. “Elvis: Live from Vegas” features footage from some of "The King's" more memorable performances in Las Vegas and artifacts including Elvis' famous American Eagle jumpsuit.

New exhibit at Graceland showcases Elvis' connection to Las Vegas: Monday, March 4, 2013; Associated Press; A new exhibit opening at Graceland showcases Elvis Presley's strong connection to Las Vegas, where he performed and vacationed.

Nevada officials mark Holocaust Memorial Day: Thursday, April 4, 2013; By Cy Ryan; Henry Kronberg says he had nightmares for years of the time he spent in Nazi prisons and concentration camps during World War II and it must be prevented from ever happening again.

An entry sponsored by the R.O.S.E. Foundation makes its way down 4th Street Saturday during the annual Helldorado Parade.

Joe Downtown: Helldorado Days heralds Vegas' Wild West past: Wednesday, May 8, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; Computer chips easily outnumber cowboys in Downtown Las Vegas, especially as startup founders and coders find sanctuary around East Fremont Street, soon to be the backyard of dot-com retailer Zappos. But Zappos aside, Las Vegas’ persona remains firmly grounded in the Wild West myth, and downtown’s Helldorado Days, a multiday celebration of the the West’s rugged reputation, fits right in.

UNLV President Neal Smastrek speaks during UNLV's commencement Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Scarlet and Gray to observe golden anniversary commencement Sunday: UNLV:; Saturday, May 18, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; UNLV is celebrating its 50th commencement, a milestone that represents incredible growth for the university. UNLV began as an extension campus of UNR in 1951 with 12 full-time students and 16 part-time students who met in the dressing rooms of Las Vegas High School's auditorium.

Derek Stonebarger, from left, Lance Johns and Kent Johns, pictured April 29, 2013, closed their purchase of The Atomic in downtown Las Vegas in June of 2013. County records show it was sold to Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project on July 17, 2014.

Raising a glass to an Atomic history: living las vegas:; Saturday, May 18, 2013; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; On a nearly deserted downtown Las Vegas block, a small brick building fronted by a curvy neon sign heralds a bygone era here: That’s when the big bombs went boom and awestruck Las Vegas residents watched the mushroom clouds billow into the bright desert sky. At Joe and Stella Sobchik’s liquor store and bar on Fremont Street, downtown denizens walked up to the roof, cocktails in hand, for a better view of the sky show.

Owner Greg Smith poses inside the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

Little Church of the West marks 70 years of walking down the aisle: the strip:; Wednesday, May 22, 2013; By Alison Saclolo; When Dudley Moore knocked on Greg Smith's office door a few years ago, it was business as usual for the wedding chapel owner. Moore, an Oscar-nominated actor, was getting married the next day and wanted to see the Little Church of the West before he walked down its aisle. “He was scheduled to be married with us and I had no idea. We chatted a bit and he came in and played the organ,” Smith said. Little Church of the West will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Wednesday, and Smith said it still would be business as usual for the ...

Mohave County high school has spirit(s): History: Students, staff have reported seeing ghosts, hearing strange noises at Kingman school built over old cemetery; Thursday, June 6, 2013; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; Principal Steve Elwood enters the narrow passageway where nobody else at Lee Williams High School dares to go.“This place gives people the creeps,” Elwood says. Talk about school spirit. Some believe the campus is haunted by restless phantoms from a previous century, when Kingman was a frontier town and Arizona still a territory.

Cast members of the "Criminal Minds" television series, A.J.Cook, center left, and Thomas Gibson, tape a scene Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2007, while on location in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Joe Downtown: TV star buoys effort to raise funds to save historic Huntridge: Thursday, June 6, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; “Criminal Minds” star and Las Vegas native Matthew Gubler is lending a hand toward efforts to buy, renovate and reopen the historic Huntridge Theater in Downtown Las Vegas.

A view of the Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, in downtown Las Vegas Wednesday, Feb.13, 2013.

Work put into Mob Museum's building honored for protecting history: Thursday, June 6, 2013; By Conor Shine; The Mob Museum has been recognized as one of the top public works projects of the year by a national organization, the city announced Thursday.

Archie Murchie's (1908-1999) action-packed career in the U.S. Forest Service began in 1929, when rangers routinely spent much of their time in the saddle, and ended in 1965 as they were becoming increasingly desk bound.

UNR partnership puts Nevada history at your fingertips: Monday, June 10, 2013; Guy Clifton, Reno Gazette Journal; From World War II recollections of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were on the front lines of the action, to the early days of Nevada’s gaming industry, to civil rights, ranching life, immigration and the words of state government leaders, the Oral History program has spent nearly 50 years documenting the voices of hundreds of Nevadans. Now the interviews are available online.

Cambra Blau helps her son Raith Blau make a candle during the 12th annual Pioneer Day festival at Fox Ridge Park Saturday, July 20, 2013.

Southern Nevada's early pioneer days celebrated: Saturday, July 20, 2013; By Brian Nordli; Children received a history lesson Saturday afternoon during the 12th annual Pioneer Day parade and festival at Fox Ridge Park.

The body of officer Trenton Nettleton is carried out of St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church after funeral services, November 25, 2009.

A look at Metro officers who died in the line of duty: Wednesday, July 24, 2013; By Las Vegas Sun Staff; The death of a Metro Police officer in the line of duty is relatively rare. And with the death of Metro Police Search and Rescue Officer David Vanbuskirk on Monday, the department suffered its 12th death in the past 50 years, and the first since 2009.

This May 2012 photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows ancient carvings on limestone boulders in northern Nevada's high desert near Pyramid Lake. The carvings have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America — at least 10,500 years old.

Nevada petroglyphs the oldest in North America: Wednesday, August 14, 2013; By Scott Sonner, Associated Press; Ancient rock etchings along a dried-up lake bed in Northern Nevada have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America, dating back at least 10,000 years.

The ancient carvings on these limestone boulders in northern Nevada's high desert near Pyramid Lake about 35 miles northeast of Reno have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America, at least 10,500 years old.

Nevada petroglyphs the oldest in North America: Thursday, August 15, 2013; By Scott Sonner, Associated Press; Ancient rock etchings along a dried-up lake bed in Nevada have been confirmed to be the oldest recorded petroglyphs in North America, dating back at least 10,000 years.

Friends greet each other at the recently remodeled Italian American Social Club Saturday, March 23, 2013.

At the Vegas social club where the 'made' men mingled: Sunday, August 18, 2013; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; It was a Thursday night, and the place was packed: Italian American Social Club on Sahara Avenue was saying goodbye to one of its own. Singer Mark Giovi was leaving town, and the crowd sipped martinis and watched him work the room.

Back in the day, even Las Vegas had a 'Boot Hill': history:; Saturday, August 24, 2013; By Ed Koch; Before the creation of cemeteries in Southern Nevada, transients buried their dead in the desert, noted with markers that soon disappeared or were forgotten. The small population of white settlers buried their dead on family ranches and some were transferred later to more permanent burial sites.

A tombstone marks the graves of Civil War veterans at Woodlawn Cemetery Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. Opened in 1914 on 10 acres of donated land, Woodlawn, the oldest cemetery in Las Vegas, is coming up on its 100th anniversary.

Lots of history buried in century-old cemetery near downtown Las Vegas: LAS VEGAS AT LARGE:; Saturday, August 24, 2013; By Ed Koch; Not far from downtown Las Vegas, a simple stone marker between two old shade trees marks the final resting place of Jack “Diamondfield” Davis. With Woodlawn Cemetery turning 100 years old in March, surely the spirits of Davis and other Las Vegas pioneers — politicians and gamblers; lawyers and indigents; farmers and Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate — will rise once more to be recognized.

MLK's dream inspires a new march, and a president: History:; Wednesday, August 28, 2013; By Nancy Benac and Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press; Standing on hallowed ground of the civil rights movement, President Barack Obama challenged new generations Wednesday to seize the cause of racial equality and honor the "glorious patriots" who marched a half century ago to the very steps from which Rev. Martin Luther King spoke during the March on Washington.

Christie Haynes reads a writing assignment she completed during a memoir writing workshop at the LDS Family Search Library, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Memoir workshop encourages seniors to explore intimate, sometimes painful memories: Sunday, October 27, 2013; By Danielle McCrea; Five women sit in a high-ceilinged room of a church that serves as a computer lab, desktop computers sitting on rows of long tables. They take turns reading aloud from papers handwritten and typed with intimate stories of their past -- some that they've never before shared.

Las Vegas resident and Kennedy assassination conspiracy theorist Bob Ries sits for a photo while selling his book "Who Really Killed Kennedy?" at a church garage sale Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013.

Las Vegas author laments that no one's listening to his Kennedy assassination theory: Monday, November 18, 2013; By Brian Nordli; Las Vegan Bob Ries, 71, admits he’s a nobody adding his voice to the cacophony of people shouting conspiracy, but he believes he has the truth of what happened Nov. 22, 1963, in his 126-page self-published book.

Bryn Armstrong walks through the burned out Las Vegas Sun newspaper offices on April 23, 1964. The paper which was located at 900 S. Main Street burned down on November 20, 1963.

Looking back on the early-morning blaze that destroyed the Sun building: History:; Wednesday, November 20, 2013; By Las Vegas Sun Staff; Fifty years ago today, a fire swept through the Sun newspaper offices, destroying the facility and crippling the printing press beyond repair. Cause of the fire was never determined, leading to much speculation about who was out to get the newspaper’s crusading founder, publisher and editor, Hank Greenspun. Today, we reprint the news article that was published the following day as well as two columns printed after the event.

Taking a look at the bigger picture after the smoke clears: Where I Stand:; Wednesday, November 20, 2013; By Hank Greenspun; A week after the Sun's building burned down Nov. 20, 1963, former Publisher Hank Greenspun reflected on the events of the day and what the situation taught him.

Newspaper people don’t let a little fire get in the way: dear boss:; Wednesday, November 20, 2013; By Bryn Armstrong; Former Executive Editor Bryn Armstrong wrote a column after the Sun's building burned down Nov. 20, 1963. In it, she assured former Publisher Hank Greenspun that his staff handled the situation well but that he may want to come back to the office.

In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy's motorcade travels through Dallas.

Boulder City woman who saw JFK moments before assassination shares memories: Friday, November 22, 2013; By Ana Ley; The convertible rolled past Sally Anderson and her schoolmates, offering a prized glimpse of Jacqueline Kennedy’s strawberry pink Chez Ninon suit and matching pillbox hat.

Philanthropist had long love affair with Nevada history, dance troupe Rhythmettes: Terry Lee Gialketsis, 1939-2013:; Tuesday, December 3, 2013; By Ed Koch; Native Nevadan Terry Gialketsis performed in Las Vegas High School’s Rhythmettes — a dance squad of such precision that it appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." And as an adult, she commemorated the struggles of 19th century pioneer women such as American Indian activist Sarah Winnemucca. But she was most proud of her quiet philanthropy.

A pedestrian walks by The Atomic on East Fremont Street Wednesday, June 20, 2013. The bar was originally built in 1945 as Virginia's Cafe but was renamed Atomic Liquors in 1952 when patrons used to go to the roof to watch the nuclear blasts from the Atomic Test Site.

Joe Downtown: Bars, Mob Museum to celebrate repeal of Prohibition: Wednesday, December 4, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; References to Prohibition Era drinking has practically gone viral downtown. At least three businesses are celebrating the repeal of Prohibition, which was a Constitutional ban on alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933.

Annenberg Foundation Grants Manager Allison Gister, left, and Annenberg Space for Photography Ventures General Manager Carol Laumen used a clandestine plan to secure the return of valuable native American masks from a Paris auction last week. They are photographed in the office in Los Angeles where they spent the wee hours of December 9 executing the deal with telephone and online bids.

Secret bidders help Arizona tribes secure return of sacred artifacts: HISTORY:; Saturday, December 28, 2013; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; They were two veteran emissaries for a Los Angeles-based philanthropy, tasked with staging a clandestine operation to rescue a series of Native American spiritual artifacts from public sale half a world away. This month, Annenberg Foundation staffers Allison Gister and Carol Laumen found themselves making anonymous telephone bids at a Paris auction to secure rarities considered sacred by the Hopi and San Carlos Apache tribes in Arizona, including exotic mask-like visages that had been lost — some say looted — over the past century.

2014

The Suez Canal was under construction when Nevada became a state in 1864.

Celebrating Nevada's 150th with a look at the world in 1864: Wednesday, January 8, 2014; By Kristen Peterson; The Suez Canal and the U.S. transcontinental railroad were under construction when Nevada was admitted into the Union.

Long before they were lawyers and judges, Carl J. Christensen and Lloyd
George let their fists make the ruling (1947).

Joe Downtown: Historical society crowdsourcing for not-so-famous Las Vegas photos: Wednesday, February 26, 2014; By Joe Schoenmann; Some of the pictures the society already has are ones you may not have seen before: Elvis checking into the Sahara a day before “Viva Las Vegas” shooting began; Liberace standing by his car talking to a priest; and Lloyd George as a young man in 1947.

'Good for One Screw': A history of brothel tokens: Thursday, February 27, 2014; By Carly A. Kocurek, The Atlantic; http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/good-for-one-screw-a-history-of-brothel-tokens/283915/

Ralph Griswold, comptroller of the Aladdin Hotel, presents a unique money ribbon that was used in ceremonies marking the opening of the newly built Sinbad Lounge at the Aladdin to Kitty Rodman, first vice president of the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children, Aug. 12, 1969.

Pioneer businesswoman succeeded in 'a man’s world,' left lasting legacy at UNLV: Kitty Rodman: 1926-2014:; Thursday, February 27, 2014; By Ana Ley; Kitty Rodman, a native Virginian who followed her husband to Las Vegas in 1952 and subsequently became a pioneer businesswoman, revered philanthropist and champion of education, died Thursday. She was 88.

Assemblyman Joseph Hogan and Dr. Sarann Knight Preddy celebrate as they participate in a Bridge of Peace Ceremony of Reconciliation and Healing at the Elks Lodge on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. It was a highlight during A Moulin Rouge Affair sponsored by the Harrison House.

Events honor historic 1960 accord that ended segregation on Strip: Thursday, March 27, 2014; By Tovin Lapan; As Nevadans are celebrating the state’s history and making giant cakes for the 150th Anniversary, the Harrison House, Nevada Black Historical Society and other organizations wanted to make sure the history of blacks in Nevada was ...

Historian Michael Green takes a quick poll while teaching a Nevada history class at CSN on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014.

CSN’s master of tailor-made teaching: Education:; Sunday, March 30, 2014; By Tom Gorman; The College of Southern Nevada has one of the best history teachers in the country ...

Rick Harrison, co-owner of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop downtown.

Gold & Silver Pawn offers to sell McKinley wife’s tiara at cost to presidential library: Thursday, April 3, 2014; Associated Press; The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in northeast Ohio is hurriedly fundraising in hopes of buying a tiara that once belonged to President William McKinley's wife. The owners of Ida McKinley's diamond-accented headpiece sold it to Gold & Silver Pawn, the Las Vegas pawn shop featured in the History Channel show "Pawn Stars," the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Shop co-owner Rick Harrison has offered to sell the piece to the Canton museum for …

Long-time Las Vegas resident, Emilio Muscelli, poses for a portrait in the back yard of his home over-looking the 5th hole of the Las Vegas Country Club Estate golf course, Monday Jan. 9, 2012. Emilio worked as Vegas' most beloved maitre'd of the Hilton, and the International before that, and befriended many important people in the "who's who" of Vegas, Hollywood, and the world.

Revered maitre d’ enjoyed decades-long front seat to Las Vegas history: Emilio Muscelli: 1922-2014:; Thursday, April 17, 2014; By Ed Koch; Emilio Muscelli, an Italian immigrant who worked 27 years as lead maitre d’ at five major Las Vegas resorts, becoming as popular with some customers as the legendary acts that graced the showroom stages, died Tuesday of pneumonia at a Las Vegas hospital. As a revered Las Vegas maitre d’, Muscelli seated thousands of locals and visitors at the Rat Pack’s performances at the Sands in the early 1960s and to Elvis Presley’s attendance-record-setting shows at the Las Vegas Hilton in the 1970s. But he saved the best table for himself ...

Brush fire consumes 6 acres near Overton: Friday, April 18, 2014; By Bethany Barnes; Firefighters battled a large brush fire in Overton from late afternoon into the early evening, according a release from the Clark ...

Volunteer painters from Union #159 paint the Huntridge sign tower from a lift during the BYOB! Bring Your Own Brush community painting party, which is part of the Huntridge revitalization efforts, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013

Joe Downtown: Councilman exploring whether city can kick-start Huntridge fundraising effort: Friday, May 2, 2014; By Joe Schoenmann; Las Vegas Councilman Bob Coffin said a lawsuit looming over an effort to purchase and renovate the historic Huntridge Theater has caused would-be backers to …

The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sits in a conservation tank at a lab in North Charleston, S.C., before it was to be covered in a chemical bath on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Bathing the hand-cranked Hunley in chemicals marks a new step in the conservation of the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship. The chemical bath will help remove salts and the encrustation on the submarine's hull. The Hunley sank a Union blockade ship off the South Carolina coast in 1864. It was discovered in 1995 and raised in 2000 and brought to the North Charleston lab.

Scientists give Civil War submarine a bath in search for answers: Saturday, May 3, 2014; Bruce Smith, Associated Press; Scientists near the city where the Civil War began prepared Thursday to soak an encrusted Confederate submarine in a chemical bath to reveal its hull for the first time in 150 years, seeking to solve the mystery of the ...

Sammy Davis Jr. performs in front of a packed crowed at the Sands' Copa Room during the 1960s.

Daughter shares fond memories of Sammy Davis Jr.: Saturday, May 24, 2014; By Susan King, Los Angeles Times; Tracey Davis always knew growing up that her father, Sammy Davis Jr., loved her and her two adopted brothers, Mark and Jeff. But the legendary ...

Bandits Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are seen in an undated photo.

Legacy of Dallas-based bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde lives on: Monday, May 26, 2014; By Tristan Hallman, Dallas Morning News; Seven miles down the road, two crooks died a long time ago. For most other criminals, that could have been the end of the story. But Bonnie and Clyde live on. In the imagination of the public, Hollywood, haunted descendants and here on Main Street in this tiny town about an hour east of Shreveport, the legacy of their two-year crime spree endures ...

Alabam was once the nickname of a old man who cleaned the latrines during the 1930s construction of Hoover Dam. Now, thanks to a Boulder City arts project, a bronze statue of the long-gone character stands on a city street corner, greeting visitors.

When Hoover Dam was built, this worker had the dirtiest job: History:; Saturday, May 31, 2014; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; Nobody could recall his real name. Instead, he was known simply as Alabam, probably a riff off his Southern roots. But they all knew him, the old man who played a gritty and and all-but-thankless role in the Depression-era building of Hoover Dam. On Boulder City's main drag, not far from the shores of Lake Mead, he stands in an immortal pose, 8 feet tall with ...

The Slide Fire burns near 89 A south of Flagstaff, Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

Ruins revealed by Arizona’s Slide fire tell story of early settlers: Sunday, June 1, 2014; By Paresh Dave, Los Angeles Times; A couple of short stacks of logs that appeared to be intersecting at a right angle caught the eye of a firefighter battling the Slide fire in Arizona. An archaeologist with ...

Aviva Futorian and Roy DeBerry sit in Futorian's Chicago apartment. They have been friends since they met 50 years ago during "Freedom Summer." Although fewer than one-tenth of the 17,000 black residents who attempted to registered to vote during the freedom summer succeeded, the effort helped create momentum for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

50 years ago, ‘Freedom Summer’ changed South, US: Sunday, June 15, 2014; By Allen Breed and Sharon Cohen, Associated Press; As a teenager growing up in a Jim Crow society, Roy DeBerry wasn't waiting for white folks to come down to Mississippi and "save" him. But in the summer of 1964, the factory worker's son was very glad to see people like Aviva Futorian.

Mark Hall-Patton, center, poses for photos with fans outside the pawn shop featured on television's "Pawn Stars" in Las Vegas. Hall-Patton, the curator of the Clark County Museum, appears regularly on the show authenticating items brought into the shop.

Mark Hall-Patton, expert on TV’s ‘Pawn Stars,’ is the real deal: Sunday, June 22, 2014; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times; The gray-bearded man in the red shirt and wide-brimmed Amish hat wades into the crowd outside the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, squinting into the noon-hour light. Suddenly, the fans are ...

Photos of Sammy Davis Jr. are seen Wednesday, July 9, 2014, inside the Harrison House, where black entertainers and others stayed when Jim Crow-like laws ruled Las Vegas.

Harrison House, a reminder of Las Vegas’ segregated past, becomes a landmark: Thursday, July 10, 2014; By Joe Schoenmann; Until 1960, black entertainers could perform in Strip resorts but they couldn’t stay the night. Many stayed in the Harrison Guest House, a tiny home that Genevieve Harrison began renting to black entertainers when ...

Nixon tapes released on resignation’s anniversary: Monday, August 4, 2014; By Gillian Flaccus and Krysta Fauria, Associated Press; Almost a decade after Richard Nixon resigned, the disgraced former president sat down with his one-time aide and told the tale of his fall from grace in his own words. For three decades, that version ...

Rough crowd: When The Beatles came to Vegas in 1964, there was no official welcome from the city.

Fifty years later, looking back at The Beatles’ only Las Vegas tour stop: Wednesday, August 13, 2014; Dennis Mitchell; For some, it might be the biggest, coolest single event ever to happen in Las Vegas.

In this photo taken Aug. 29, 1966, The Beatles perform at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Candlestick Park, known for its bone-numbing winds, the Catch and the earthquake-rocked 1989 World Series, is officially closing after more than a half century of hosting sporting and cultural events.

San Francisco saying goodbye to Candlestick Park: Thursday, August 14, 2014; Associated Press; San Francisco said goodbye Thursday to Candlestick Park — the stadium where the city's beloved Giants and 49ers celebrated some of their greatest triumphs. The storied venue was expected to shut down after an evening concert by ...

In this Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, photo, a waitress works during the pre-launch rehearsal at the new restaurant Nazdarovie, where the reproduction of a Soviet propaganda poster hangs over the bar area in Havana, Cuba. The new retro-Soviet restaurant serves minty mojitos, but they come mixed with vodka instead of the traditional white rum.

Havana retro-Soviet restaurant a nod to nostalgia: Friday, August 22, 2014; By Peter Orsi, Associated Press; There's no rice, beans or fried plantains at Havana's newest private restaurant. You can order a minty mojito, but it'll come mixed with vodka instead of the traditional white rum. The waiters speak Russian, and patrons are expected to order in that language if they want ...

Niki Devine is shown with her bichon frise Magic.

Niki Devine, longtime Las Vegas socialite, dies at 87: Niki Devine: 1927-2014:; Wednesday, September 3, 2014; By Ed Koch; When socialite Niki Devine moved to Las Vegas in 1975 and considered buying a posh high-rise condominium, she heeded the words of her brother-in-law, a veteran New York firefighter, who warned her that ...

The Starship Enterprise, 1992, is a proposed mega-attraction designed by Landmark Entertainment Group with a life-sized ship as long as the Eiffel Tower, in permanent dry dock on Fremont Street.

Visit the Vegas that never happened: A look back at projects that fizzled: Las Vegas History:; Tuesday, September 9, 2014; By Ric Anderson; Like chips on a busy craps table, attractions based on Elvis, Titanic, "Star Trek" and many more have come and gone in Las Vegas. Visit the Vegas that never happened ...

The glamorous life of a Las Vegas showgirl

The glamorous life of a Las Vegas showgirl: Saturday, October 11, 2014; Maren Wade; Twinkies for breakfast and applauses that are "almost" better than sex. Almost.

In this Nov. 16, 1960, file photo, convicted atom bomb spy David Greenglass sits in a taxi leaving New York's Federal House of Detention. The former Army sergeant whose testimony led to the conviction and execution of his sister, Ethel Rosenberg, and brother-in-law, Julius Rosenberg, died on July 1. He was 92.

David Greenglass, Rosenberg spy case witness, dies: Tuesday, October 14, 2014; By Verena Dobnik, Associated Press; David Greenglass, who served 10 years in prison for his role in the most explosive atomic spying case of the Cold War and gave testimony that sent his brother-in-law and sister, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, to the electric chair in ...

Forrest Williamson, left, and homeless advocate Linda Lera-Randle El shop for some necessities at a thrift store on Main Street Friday, Jan. 17, 2003. Williamson was homeless in the Las Vegas valley for seven years and just got off the street when a portion of the $34,000 in Social Security disability benefits were restored to him.

Longtime champion of homeless in Las Vegas dies at 64: Linda Lera-Randle El: 1950-2014:; Friday, October 24, 2014; By Ed Koch; For more than a quarter of a century Linda Lera-Randle El stood as a beacon of light for the homeless in Southern Nevada, advocating for job training, community outreach and ...

This is a view of Highway 168 on Sept. 15, 2013. The highway runs from Interstate 15 in the Moapa Valley to U.S. 93 at Coyote Springs.

Still a state of pioneers: Nevada's 150th birthday:; Friday, October 31, 2014; By Matt Hufman; If you want to know the true nature of Nevada, whose 150th birthday we celebrate today, visit the ruins of St. Thomas, the town founded in 1865 by a group of hardy Mormons. Driven by the pioneer spirit, they…

The Las Vegas skyline is seen from the top of the Bellagio.

Las Vegas history test: Do you know former names of city’s casinos?: Thursday, December 4, 2014; By Ric Anderson; The history of Las Vegas is peppered with second acts. Third acts, fourth acts and even more acts, too. Resorts come and go, either being recycled through name changes or ...

An ambulance leaves the scene of an officer-involved shooting Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014, near Pecos and Alexander roads.

Book rekindles tales of tragedy, triumph within Nevada’s ambulance service: History:; Saturday, December 13, 2014; By Ed Koch; Paramedic Alan Tinney remembers pulling up to MGM Grand on that autumn day in 1980 and witnessing “a fireball coming out the side of the building” — the beginning of what would be the deadliest tragedy in Nevada history. Eighty-five people died in the blaze, and nearly 700 were injured. Tinney would make three runs from MGM ...

2015

Elvis Presley: What would have been?: Friday, January 2, 2015; By Kiko Miyasato; Looking at the King of Rock 'n' Roll's relevancy in Las Vegas' brave new era.

Abandoned 1882 rifle sparks archaeological quest: Nevada history: Origin of gun found propped against a tree is a mystery; Thursday, January 22, 2015; By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times (TNS); There it was, abandoned for the ages, propped up against a juniper tree in far-eastern Nevada’s Snake Mountains, a Winchester Model 1873 repeating rifle: the gun, as legend goes, that …

Stan Irwin was not only a producer and actor, but he helped bring The Beatles and, shown here, Judy Garland to Las Vegas. She played at the Sahara, drawing capacity crowds. The two are shown in front of a portrait of Garland at the Thunderbird Hotel on June 27, 1965.

Showbiz innovator who brought big-name acts to Las Vegas dies at 94: Stan Irwin: 1920-2015 :; Tuesday, February 3, 2015; By Ed Koch; Stan Irwin may have had his roots in old-time Vaudeville, but after he got to Las Vegas in 1946 he became renowned for being a forward-thinking entertainment innovator, decades ahead ...

A look at Las Vegas through the years: 5-minute expert:; Monday, March 9, 2015; Illustrations by Chris Morris; Las Vegas became a town in 1905. During the early part of the 20th century, it was little more than a dusty village in an alluvial valley, named after the green meadows that were fed by naturally ...

Stay cheesy: This is a real ad from a 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated. Crazy, huh?

Unsolved Vegas mysteries: From Savoy matchbooks to Tropicana tile, the truth is out there: Vegas on My Mind:; Wednesday, March 11, 2015; By Steve Friess; For a city as young as Las Vegas, it’s amazing how little we really know.

Harry Mortenson, longtime assemblyman dedicated to preservation of Tule Springs, dies at 84: Friday, March 13, 2015; By Ed Koch; Harry Mortenson arguably was more scientist than politician, but he combined his skills as both an ecologically conscious nuclear physicist and dedicated longtime Nevada assemblyman to push through ...

Betty Willis at the West Charleston Library on December 7, 2002.

Betty Willis, designer of the Las Vegas welcome sign, dies at 91: Monday, April 20, 2015; By Adelaide Chen, Katie Visconti; Betty Willis, who designed the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, has died at age 91. The Southern Nevada native was the genius behind the famous sign, unveiled in ...

Sandoval buries time capsule to mark Nevada’s 150th birthday: Friday, May 1, 2015; Associated Press; Special items from Las Vegas and Nevada's 150th birthday have been buried in a time capsule for 50 years. Gov. Brian Sandoval and former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki met Friday morning at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas to do the honors. The capsule ...

11:06 a.m. - Workers secure the Crazy Girls sculpture to a truck at the Riviera Monday, May 4, 2015. The sculpture will be taken on tour up and down the Strip before eventually being installed at Planet Hollywood, said Nevada Nichols, technical director for Crazy Girls.

‘Thank you for 60 wonderful years’: Guests, employees say farewell to the Riviera: The Strip:; Tuesday, May 5, 2015; By J.D. Morris; Although the hotel operations were still humming along in a largely normal fashion on Sunday, plenty of signs — literal ones — reminded guests that the end was near. One such sign by the check-in area states plainly that the Riviera closes at noon Monday ...

Unknown Nevada: Historical nuggets that raise even expert eyebrows

Unknown Nevada: Historical nuggets that raise even expert eyebrows: Wednesday, June 10, 2015; By Kristy Totten; From earthquakes to the aftermath of the Kefauver hearings.

The Carpenter 1 wildland fire was one of the largest fires ever in the valley. Sparked by lightning, it began July 1, 2013, near Pahrump, burned more than seven weeks and destroyed about 28,000 acres of land. The area still is recovering today.

What you need to know about wildfire season: 5-minute-expert:; Monday, June 22, 2015; By Kailyn Brown; As the valley gets hotter and drier, the prime season for wildfires is quickly approaching. A lightning bolt or flicked cigarette can start a fire within seconds, potentially causing millions of dollars in damage and risking lives. In the midst of summer vacations and weekend camping trips, here is what you need to know about how wildfires start, where they happen and how to prevent them ...

In this July 16, 1945, sequence of file photos, a mushroom cloud is recorded by an Army automatic motion picture camera six miles away as the first atomic bomb test was conducted at Alamogordo, N.M.

PBS special ‘The Bomb’ seeks to tell story of atomic weapons: Monday, July 27, 2015; By Russell Contreras, Associated Press; The creation of the atomic bomb in a New Mexico secret city and newly restored and declassified footage will be featured in a new PBS special released as ...

City decides parts of the past are worth preserving: Sunday, August 9, 2015; By Conor Shine; Six Las Vegas neighborhoods are being considered for the National Register of Historic Places ...

Tourists take photos at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign Saturday, March 14, 2015, on the Strip.

41 million visitors, 24/7/365 action: A better look at Las Vegas, by the numbers: Monday, August 17, 2015; The Sunday staff; Las Vegas is a 24-hour destination. Our city hosts millions of visitors each year, is the economic lifeblood of Nevada and is home to the majority of the state’s ...

Patricia and Conrad Davillier stand in east Las Vegas, not far from their home, on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. The couple moved to Las Vegas after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their Mississippi town.

Las Vegas couple reflect on decade in exile from Hurricane Katrina: Wednesday, August 26, 2015; By Jackie Valley; When the television meteorologist caught his attention, Conrad Davillier was fastening his tie for Sunday Mass at his home in Diamondhead, Miss., about an hour northeast of ...

Las Vegas real estate developer Merv Adelson is shown with his wife, television newscaster Barbara Walters, in November 1986.

Las Vegas developer turned Hollywood mogul had his share of highs, lows: Merv Adelson: 1929-2015:; Wednesday, September 9, 2015; By Ed Koch; Merv Adelson, who built Sunrise Hospital and Nathan Adelson Hospice during his years in Las Vegas and later was married to celebrity newswoman ...

The Old Boulder City Hospital, constructed in 1931

Boulder City residents temporarily block demolition of historic hospital: Friday, September 11, 2015; Associated Press; Officials are deciding whether to permit the demolition of the Historic Boulder City Hospital where injured Hoover Dam workers were treated in 1931. KSNV-TV reports a group of residents filed an appeal and ...

In this Nov. 22, 2013, file photo, the SS United States sits moored in Philadelphia. The historic luxury vessel that hosted princes and presidents could be sold for scrap unless a preservation group raises enough money by the end of the October.

Historic cruise ship sends out mayday call for funding: Thursday, October 15, 2015; By Kathy Matheson, Associated Press; Even as stewards of a historic cruise ship that carried princes and presidents frantically pursue deals to preserve the vessel, they fear rescue efforts will sink without ...

Lonnie Hammargren looks at an animatronic tiger Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at his home. Hammargren, a retired neurosurgeon and former Nevada lieutenant governor, opens his home to the public on Nevada Day.

Nevada history, more on display at Lonnie Hammargren’s home turned public museum: Retired neurosurgeon and former lieutenant governor to host 20th annual Nevada Day open house; Tuesday, October 27, 2015; By Ray Brewer; Lonnie Hammargren is a memorabilia collector with a good story to tell. And he has no plans of slowing down, even though he hinted as much last year. A retired neurosurgeon and ...

Firefighters respond to reports of smoke at Starbucks, Trader Joe’s stores: Monday, November 2, 2015; By Kailyn Brown; Las Vegas firefighters responded to calls this morning at a Starbucks coffee shop and a Trader Joe’s grocery store, but no fire was discovered at either business, officials said. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue tweeted ...

This is a photo of the Boulder City hospital and doctors' residence taken in 1932. The hospital was closed in 1935 after Six Companies Inc. finished Hoover Dam. It responded in 1943 to care for the war wounded.

Tuesday vote will help determine historic Boulder City hospital’s fate: Sunday, November 8, 2015; By Kyle Roerink; There are few signs of life at the historic Six Companies Hospital in Boulder City. Boards cover the windows. Piles of dirt and weeds jut from the ground. The empty building, once a vibrant place, now has a future in limbo. Preservationists want to keep the former hospital intact. A developer wants to tear it down to build housing. The Boulder City Council will decide Tuesday whether the developer — a city planning commissioner — will receive a permit to demolish the 83-year-old building ...

Boulder City approves demolition of historic hospital: Wednesday, November 11, 2015; Associated Press; The historic building that once served as a hospital for workers constructing the Hoover Dam is coming down. The Boulder City mayor and all four members of the City Council voted Tuesday to let ...

People gather for the grand opening of the visitor center for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Los Alamos, N.M., on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. The event follows a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., that established the park at sites in New Mexico, Washington and Tennessee.

New Mexico community marks opening of Manhattan Project park: Wednesday, November 11, 2015; By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press; Residents of a once secret government city in northern New Mexico marked the beginnings of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park on Wednesday with ...

One of the world's wealthiest and most powerful individuals came to Las Vegas under the cover of darkness during Thanksgiving weekend 1966. By the time he left Nevada on Thanksgiving 1970, Hughes had become the state's largest private employer, largest casino owner, largest property owner and largest mining claims owner. Hughes was influential in sweeping the mob out of controlling Vegas casinos and helping the Nevada Legislature pass the Second Corporate Gaming Act.

A peek into the mind of Howard Hughes: Monday, December 28, 2015; By Megan Messerly, J.D. Morris; Last week, our staff examined how secret documents stored in a safe owned by Las Vegas Sun publisher Hank Greenspun were connected to the Watergate break-ins that sunk President Richard Nixon. This week, we take a detailed look at what the documents said ...

2016

Celebrating the Las Vegas showgirl: An icon lives on in one group’s evolving passion project: COVER STORY:; Monday, June 13, 2016; By J.D. Morris; In the Rat Pack-era neighborhood of Paradise Palms, one house is an entertainment sanctuary. Among thousands of artifacts are many treasures pulled from the historic showgirl extravaganzas of the Strip. But the collectors learned that it’s not all glamorous when a home becomes a museum.

Native American cartoonist Ricardo Cate', far right, and Chicano cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, center, visit Wounded Knee Memorial on May 1, 2015, in Wounded Knee, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The nightclub attack in Orlando was initially described by some news organizations, including The Associated Press, as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. In truth, America has seen even bigger massacres, some involving hundreds of men, women and children, like the one at Wounded Knee in 1890 against the Lakota.

AP Explains: How does Orlando massacre fit in U.S. history?: Thursday, June 16, 2016; By Deepti Hajela and Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press; The nightclub attack in Orlando that left 49 victims dead was initially described by some news organizations, including The Associated Press, as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. In truth, America has seen even bigger massacres ...

Known just as "the adobe," this structure on the former Kiel Ranch in North Las Vegas is considered the second oldest building in the region.

North Las Vegas marking opening of historic site at Kiel Ranch: Wednesday, June 29, 2016; Associated Press; North Las Vegas is marking the opening of a restored historic site at one of the first settled spots in the Las Vegas area. Officials plan a Thursday ceremony at ...

An information board with a photograph of Alan Seeger guides visitors through the French National Necropolis of Lihons, in Lihons, France, on June 8, 2016. American poet Alan Seeger died a century ago on July 4, during the 1916 Battle of the Somme in northern France, already fighting for a global, common cause that bound dozens of countries together at a time when the United States was still a bystander, reluctant to get involved in a faraway war.

100 years later, France marks American's July 4 sacrifice: Monday, July 4, 2016; By Raf Casert, Associated Press; In the end, Alan Seeger's bones could no longer be distinguished from those of his Foreign Legion comrades who had fallen alongside him in one of the most brutal battles of World War I ...

Joe Lychner of Houston, Texas, walks Nov. 19, 1997, among fragments of TWA Flight 800 in Calverton, N.Y. Lychner lost his wife and two daughters in the crash of the Boeing 747. Flight 800 exploded and crashed July 17, 1996, while flying from New York to Paris, killing all 230 people aboard. An FBI investigation found no evidence that a criminal act brought the plane down.

After 20 years, healing and heartache from TWA Flight 800: Monday, July 11, 2016; By Frank Eltman, Associated Press; For many who lost loved ones on TWA Flight 800, the passage of 20 years has helped them carry on. Others say they will never get over the heartache from what remains one of the most hotly debated air disasters in history ...

The Rexford, an apartment complex built in 1958, is on the Nevada Preservation Foundation's Home & History Tour. And it's part of the Beverly Green neighborhood, which is up for historic designation.

Home sweet history: Preservationists focus on Old Vegas neighborhoods: Monday, August 15, 2016; By Jackie Valley; There’s a place in Las Vegas where postal workers still deliver mail door to door, where towering trees cast shadows across large yards hugging houses in spring shades of pink, blue and green — a tapestry that, despite its oddities, feels harmonious. Never stray from ...

The Riviera's Monte Carlo tower, right, and adjacent buildings are imploded Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority plans to use the property for a Las Vegas Convention Center expansion.

Final Riviera tower imploded, closing chapter of Las Vegas history: Tuesday, August 16, 2016; By Jackie Valley; Boom. And it’s gone. Blasts razed the final tower of the Riviera early Tuesday morning, putting to rest that piece of Las Vegas history. The tower fell at precisely 2:30 a.m. Today’s implosion ...

Financier Parry Thomas speaks during his induction into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame, presented by the UNLV College of Business, Thursday, February 21, 2002 at the MGM Grand Conference Center.

E. Parry Thomas, business icon who helped shape Las Vegas, dies at 95: Friday, August 26, 2016; By Ed Koch, Special to the Sun; By financing casinos at a time when other banks refused to consider making loans to them, visionary banker E. Parry Thomas helped build the foundation of our resort economy ...

World War II veteran Gaetano "Guy" Benza shows off sand, collected during a 2009 visit to Omaha Beach, at his home in North Las Vegas Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Benza and Davis Leonard, another local World War II veteran, will receive the French Legion d'Honneur award on Friday. The award is the highest honor France bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals.

North Las Vegas' Gaetano Benza, decorated WWII veteran, dies at 91: Thursday, September 1, 2016; By Ricardo Torres-Cortez; Retelling his World War II experiences to younger generations, Gaetano “Guy” Benza would sift sand he brought back from Normandy beaches through his fingers ...

Clifford Perlman, Caesars Palace exec who ushered in corporate age of Vegas gaming, dies at 90: Friday, September 9, 2016; By Ed Koch, Special to the Sun; Clifford Perlman may best be remembered for his work to establish Caesars Palace as a major sports entertainment capital during the early 1980s. He worked with promoter Don King to bring so-called “Fights of the Century” to ...

Mary Wesley, whose social activism brought hope to impoverished Las Vegans, dies at 79: Friday, September 16, 2016; By Ricardo Torres-Cortez; Mary Wesley, who was on the frontline of the Caesars Palace demonstration that day, raised eight children and 17 grandchildren.

In this Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, photo, a display of news clippings and mementos form 1941 form part of an exhibit at the Museum of World War II, Boston, in Natick, Mass. The new exhibition, which opened Saturday, Oct. 8, features artifacts that have rarely been publicly displayed.

Display of rare items marks 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor: Sunday, October 9, 2016; By Philip Marcelo, Associated Press; President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it a "date which will live in infamy" — and three-quarters of a century later, relics from that audacious attack still conjure strong emotions. A new exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack that drew the United States into World War II is opening at a private museum west of Boston ...

USS Arizona survivors Don Stratton, center, and Lauren Bruner, left, speak in 2014 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Just five USS Arizona survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, which took place 75 years ago today, are still alive.

Pearl Harbor survivors tell harrowing tale of rescue: Wednesday, December 7, 2016; By William Cole, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (TNS); In the Pearl Harbor attack, a 1,760-pound Japanese high-altitude armor-piercing bomb had penetrated the USS Arizona’s decks 40 feet from the bow, igniting a million pounds of gunpowder for the ship’s massive …

Muriel Stevens talks with a guest on her television show, the "Muriel Stevens Show" in Las Vegas circa 1975.

Muriel Stevens, longtime Sun columnist and culinary expert, dies at 90: Wednesday, December 14, 2016; By Ed Koch and Rebecca Clifford-Cruz; As the Las Vegas Sun's veteran restaurant critic, Muriel Stevens blended years of expertise in the culinary arts with a liberal measure of grit, a dollop of determination and two cups of chutzpah to help readers choose ...

Debbie Reynolds, left, and Carrie Fisher arrive at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday Sept. 10, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher linked by death: Wednesday, December 28, 2016; By Andrew Dalton, Associated Press; Debbie Reynolds embodied the sunshine of postwar America on the screen as she matched steps with Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain."

2017

People enjoy the lake view while fishing at Sunset Park in Las Vegas on Tuesday, August 13, 2013.

Sunset Park to mark 50 years with walking tour: Thursday, January 19, 2017; By Camalot Todd; Over its 324 acres and spanning the decades, Sunset Park has hosted countless festivals and tournaments, spontaneous community gatherings, birthday parties and even the UNLV football team’s practices in 1971. On Friday, the regional park’s own 50th birthday will be the occasion to celebrate. ...

Seven takeaways from Sunset Park’s birthday tour: Saturday, January 21, 2017; By Camalot Todd; Clark County marked the 50th year of Sunset Park with a rain-soaked walking tour on Friday. Clark County Museum Administrator Mark Hall-Patton, a frequent contributor to “Pawn Stars,” led the tour. Here are our takeaways. ...

Roberta Ross sold the Ross Manor, also known as Ross Apartments, which has been in the Ross family since the 1970s. Roberta Ross has run it since 1985, and on Dec. 22, 2016, she sold the property to Ed Ceran and 21 other people under a tenants in common agreement.

Roberta Ross sells Reno's Ross Manor after 30-year legacy: Monday, January 23, 2017; By Mike Higdon, Reno Gazette-Journal; On Dec. 22, Roberta Ross sold a big piece of her life. For 31 years, Ross worked at and then later owned one of the oldest apartment buildings in downtown Reno, the iconic Ross Manor at West and First streets ...

Automatic sprinkler puts out fire at Las Vegas apartment building: Monday, January 30, 2017; By Las Vegas Sun Staff; An automatic sprinkler put out a mattress fire at a downtown apartment building early today, preventing the blaze from spreading, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials. Nobody ...

Various artifacts have been added to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre exhibit at the Mob Museum, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. The artifacts are associated with the notorious 1929 gang slayings in Chicago.

Mob Museum celebrates five years with chilling new artifacts and free admission for locals: Saturday, February 11, 2017; By Camalot Todd; The Mob Museum started its fifth anniversary celebration with an appropriate bang, unveiling new artifacts from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, including bullets removed from the bodies of the victims and the original coroner’s documents. They connect to one of ...

In this undated photo provided by the Albanian Police on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, archaeological artifacts from ancient Apollonia are displayed in Radostine, Albania. Albanian police say they have prevented the smuggling of 230 archaeological artifacts from ancient Apollonia and have arrested two people.

Albania stops smugglers of 230 ancient Apollonia artifacts: Sunday, February 12, 2017; Associated Press; Albanian police say they have prevented the smuggling of 230 archaeological artifacts from ancient Apollonia and have arrested two people ...

Sign malfunction blamed in Henderson office building fire: Wednesday, February 22, 2017; Associated Press; Authorities in Henderson say an exterior electrical sign malfunction sparked a fire that spread to the attic of an office building and caused nearly ...

Benjamin Victor's statue of Northern Piute Sarah Winnemucca stands in the Nevada State Capitol. The Legislature is considering designating Oct. 16 as Sarah Winnemucca Day.

State looks to recognize iconic Native American woman Sarah Winnemucca: Thursday, April 13, 2017; By Yvonne Gonzalez; A flower in one hand and a book in the other, Sarah Winnemucca’s sculpted presence in Washington, D.C., and Nevada pays tribute to a legacy that state lawmakers are looking to enhance. The most recent effort is a bill that seeks to designate Oct. 16 as the state’s Sarah Winnemucca Day. ...

An undated handout photo of the painting by A. M. Willard made in the late 19th century, originally titled “Yankee Doodle,” that came to be known as “The Spirit of ’76.”

A patriotic tune, perched on a branch of a family tree: Tuesday, July 4, 2017; By Sam Roberts, New York Times News Service; David Ditta, who just retired as a commercial photographer and videographer in California, was a genealogist by avocation who could trace his American ancestors, the Davenports, back to relatives who arrived in 1637 ...

Worried that our president is unstable? History offers hope: commentary:; Tuesday, August 29, 2017; By Nicholas Kristof, New York Times News Service; What happens when the people of a great nation gradually realize that their leader may not be, er, quite right in the head?

Jeri Packe is shown from her days as a Las Vegas performer.

Jeri Packe, Las Vegas showgirl and entrepreneur, dies at 72: Friday, December 1, 2017; By Ricardo Torres-Cortez; In her nearly 50 years as a Las Vegas resident, Jeri Packe unconditionally adored her city, which she saw evolve from a chic gambling destination to the modern entertainment mecca it’s become ...

2018

Historic Las Vegas neon signs shine bright for 1st time in years: Wednesday, January 31, 2018; By Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press; As Frank Sinatra asks Lady Luck to stick around, the neon red lights of one of Las Vegas' most famous towering signs appear to dance under the night sky, revealing a beating heart and the rest of the marquee of a famed casino-hotel. Other rusted, dusted and broken neon signs in a large gravel lot ringed by a security wall appear to light up with neon not seen for decades as other ...

Charlotte Hill, former President of the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas Sun Summer Camp Fund in 1977.

Charlotte Hill, founder of Sun Camp Fund and pioneer of Las Vegas volunteerism, dies at 92: Friday, April 27, 2018; By Ed Koch; Charlotte Hill was so active in so many causes, so giving to so many organizations — maintaining a high energy level no matter how thin she spread herself — that even her closest friends could not understand how she was able to do all that she accomplished ...

Holocaust survivor, former French spy to speak in Las Vegas: Monday, May 14, 2018; By Chris Kudialis; A Holocaust survivor and former French spy during World War II will share her stories of survival and espionage on May 23 in Las Vegas. Marthe Cohn, 98, who acted as ...

The Fremont East District, Downtown Las Vegas, Wed. Dec 27, 2017.

Historical marker proposal for downtown Las Vegas seeks funding: Markers planned for the likes of John C. Fremont, Jim Bridger; Thursday, July 26, 2018; By Mick Akers; A stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard downtown will eventually pay tribute to the history of the street names in the area. Las Vegas plans to install ...

A proposal calls for restoring seven aging properties in the Fremont East District.

Proposal would restore old motel facades in Fremont East District: Monday, July 30, 2018; By Mick Akers; The work will be part of Project Enchilada, the downtown master plan aimed at enhancing streetscapes, open space, retail and ...

In this Aug. 15, 2015, file photo, dozens of Basque chefs tend the fire pits at the Inaugural Basque Fry at Corley Ranch in Gardnerville. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and a slate of conservative officials and political figures will descent on a Northern Nevada ranch Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, for the 4th annual Basque Fry hosted by Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt.

Q+A: Expert discusses Basque history, culture in Nevada: Saturday, August 25, 2018; By Yvonne Gonzalez; Politics and food are some of the long-lasting marks that Basque immigrants have made on Nevada, and both will be on display at a Republican event in Northern Nevada today ...

In this lithograph by artist James S. Baillie, artillery-fortified U.S. forces under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor rout Mexican troops during the Mexican American War’s Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847. Though the war is largely forgotten north of the border, it continues to resonate through tensions over immigration and trade policies.

Little-regarded war continues to matter, 170 years after conflict: U.S. History:; Sunday, August 26, 2018; By Ric Anderson; Imagine if the U.S. invaded a country, conquered it after a savage conflict and gained about half of that nation’s territory in the treaty that …

2019

Century-old Reno home completes relocation in downtown: Monday, April 8, 2019; Associated Press; A century-old house in Reno has successfully made the trip to the other side of downtown, eluding demolition. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports the Humphrey House, a Craftsman bungalow built in ...

A view of the dining and living room in the Jackie Gaughan Suite during a El Cortez-Mob Museum event at the El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The El Cortez and the Mob Museum are pursuing a package that will include a stay in the suite. Casino owner Jackie Gaughan built the hotel tower in 1980 and lived in the suite until his death in 2014.

El Cortez, Mob Museum offer Jackie Gaughan suite package: Tuesday, July 16, 2019; The days of gangsters running around downtown Las Vegas might be over, but mob history enthusiasts can now take advantage of a new VIP package. The Mob Museum has partnered with ...

In this April 23, 2014 file photo, a man smokes an electronic cigarette in Chicago.

Mysterious vaping lung injuries may have flown under regulatory radar: Thursday, August 29, 2019; By Sydney Lupkin and Anna Maria Barry-Jester, Kaiser Health News; It was the arrival of the second man in his early 20s gasping for air that alarmed Dr. Dixie Harris. Young patients rarely get so sick, so fast, with a severe lung illness, and this was her second case in ...

A house at 1220 Cunningham Drive in the Historic Westside of Las Vegas on Monday, July 29, 2019.

Foundation lays out ambitious plan to preserve, revitalize Las Vegas' Westside: Friday, August 30, 2019; By Miranda Willson; The 1940s in Las Vegas was an exciting time of growth and possibility. But not all residents could share in the excitement. Just as Las Vegas’ black community was growing in size and prominence, city officials delivered a major blow to the Westside, virtually the only area where African-Americans were permitted to live at the time ...

Showgirl Video, shown Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, on Las Vegas Boulevard just north of Charleston Boulevard, shuttered last month. The building housing the area’s lone peep show awaits demolition.

Showgirl Video's closure marks end of era for peep shows in Las Vegas: Monday, September 9, 2019; By Kelcie Grega; When Raymond Pistol opened Showgirl Video on Las Vegas Boulevard in 1983, the live dancers performing behind the peep show window were taxed the same way as “vending machines” under the city code, he said.

A man holds a photo of a victim during a ceremony marking the 18th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at the National September 11 Memorial, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in New York.

18 years later, America vows to 'never forget' 9/11 terror attacks: Wednesday, September 11, 2019; By Karen Matthews and Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press; Americans commemorated 9/11 with solemn ceremonies and vows Wednesday to "never forget" 18 years after the deadliest terror attack on ...

Phil Carlino, a longtime power in Nevada Democratic Party, dies at 93: Thursday, November 7, 2019; By Ed Koch; Phil Carlino, who helped guide the political careers of Gov. Mike O’Callaghan, U.S. Sens. Howard Cannon and Harry Reid, Sheriff Ralph Lamb and scores of others, died at 93 ...

A 15-foot-tall, spiraling public art sculpture called "Spin Baby" by artist Wayne Littlejohn is unveiled at the intersection of Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Drives Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.

New sculpture near Strip pays tribute to the Rat Pack: Monday, November 25, 2019; By Kelcie Grega; A new sculpture behind the Strip pays tribute to old Las Vegas and the entertainers who helped put Las Vegas on the map. Spin Baby is the creation of longtime Las Vegas artist ...

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