Vol. 1, No. 16
June
15,
2004
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
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Search Warrants In Hand. Agents Take Home Records
Evergreen At Mountain View Under Intense Investigation
by Johnny Gunn
An ongoing criminal investigation of possible Medicaid and/or Elder Abuse prompted the seizure of records and other material from the Evergreen At Mountain View nursing home in Carson City. A search warrant was issued to the Attorney General's unit that investigates such activity. The nursing home at 201 Koontz Lane is the same home in which six patients died within a 21-hour period on December 9, 2003.
According to Attorney General Brian Sandoval's information officer, Tom Sargent, "we take these matters seriously." The home has been under investigation before by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and by Nevada's Bureau of Licensure and Certification.
According to Sargent, the elder fraud unit asked for a sealed search warrant in order to help protect the privacy of possible victims. The investigation of the long-term facility appears to deal with Medicaid fraud and possible elder abuse, although neither Sargent nor anyone else will come right out and say so.
The Attorney General investigators, short handed at the time, according to published reports, called on agents of the U.S. Customs Service to help with the serving of the warrants. "The Customs service does have some jurisdiction when it comes to the possible misuse of federal funds, particularly in the case of Medicaid fraud," according to Sargent. There may have been as many as 22 agents from the state and federal units involved in the search for documents.
Nevada law has been changed recently to include much stiffer penalties for elder abuse, whether that abuse is financial, physical, or psychological.
The warrants were served about 8:00 O'clock, p.m., and some questioned the late hour. In fact one representative of the nursing facility said, "...if you had let us know you were coming we could have facilitated your search." Agents never do anything like that, and according to Sargent, "Timing has everything to do with the recovery of evidence. There is no way we're going to tell someone we're coming." He went on to say, "Eight O'clock certainly isn't the middle of the night as some has suggested."
During the investigations by the Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification last year, problems with adequate programs to ensure patients received vaccinations were found as well as failure to implement an infection control program. Documentation problems dealing with patient care also surfaced.
Following discovery of these discrepancies, the federal government in January of this year, said the facility could no longer receive Medicare payments for new patients. Further inspections found the facility in full compliance with state and federal regulations by March 2004, and the restrictions were lifted.
It isn't clear at this time what has prompted the continuing criminal investigation, but is believed there has not been any grand jury investigations. There have not been any more clusters of patients dying at the facility since the December 2003 incidents.
Evergreen has several facilities around Nevada, but it's only the home on Koontz Lane that is under investigation.
And The Hits Just Keep Coming: Gaming Hits All-Time High
Statewide Figures Released For April
Visitors to Nevada's casinos dropped a record number of dollars during April, 2004, compared to 2003, and the $826.9 million is up by eleven percent. This marks the best April in history, but not quite as high a win as was March of this year. March brought $930.3 million, the all time high in gaming win in the Silver State.
Only three areas of the state were in the negative numbers. Rural areas of Elko County were off by 1.1 percent; North Las Vegas was down by eight percent, while the Boulder Strip was down 1.1 percent.
The win column is led by southern Nevada with the Las Vegas Strip indicating a whopping 14.8 percent increase from last April. Almost as high at 13.6 percent is Laughlin.
In the north, the figures are also strong with Washoe County as a whole showing an 8.1 percent increase. North Lake Tahoe was a huge 40.5 percent above last year, and South Lake Tahoe was 12.1 percent better.
Dollar figures are indicative of player numbers. In Washoe County, casinos boasted a total take of $84.1 million while Clark County's dollars were measured in hundreds of millions; $678.7 million.
Nevada's rural counties weren't left out of the increases, bringing in $11.6 million, an increase of 11.9 percent over April, 2003.
Keeping in mind that the U.S. went to war in Iraq just one year ago, and the gaming figures for March and April of last year were down because of it, this is an indication of a strong economic recovery, not just in Nevada, but across the country as well.
President Bush Will Be In Reno At The End Of This Week
It's The First Visit For GWB To The Biggest Little City
by Johnny Gunn
President George W. Bush will arrive Friday of this week for a pep rally for 5,000 or more invited guests. There are no plans for the president to speak to the general public during his stay according to Republican officials. His speaking engagement is by invitation only and will be held at the Reno Sparks Convention Center.
According to many, Nevada is what's being called a swing state for both parties, and Nevadans should expect to see more high level Republicans and Democrats over the next six months.
Mr. Bush is expected to concentrate his speech on the economy and the war on terror during his meeting with the party faithful. Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's chief political advisor, and a Nevadan, was in Reno last week for a fundraiser. First Lady Laura Bush spoke in Las Vegas recently, as did Vice President Dick Cheney.
Millions of dollars in television advertising has already been spent in the Silver State, and many millions more are on tap, from both parties, and from outside political interests, some declaring themselves non-profit organizations.
Elections in Nevada often have less to do with party affiliation than personalities, and this might be one of the years where dominance in registration might play less of a part than the personalities and platforms of the individual candidates. The strongest party in the state is the Republican Party, but the key to this year's election might very well be those registered as independents.
Republicans hold the edge in registration, about 41.5 percent, while 40.1 percent are Democrats. The Independents however come in at 14.9 percent of the total voter registration, a number that will determine who takes the cake. Other smaller parties, and those with no preference total 3.4 percent and shouldn't have that must of an influence in total numbers at the polls.
In the electoral system, because of the three members of congress and two senators, Nevada will have five Electoral College votes. Mr. Bush carried the state in 2000, but Bill Clinton carried the state in 1996 and 1998.
The Nevada chairman of the Bush-Cheney ticket is Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and he says because of the importance of those five electoral college votes, he expects to see many high level dignitaries from both parties flocking to the state. "The president will do very well," he says. "Nevada is a priority for him," Sandoval continued, "hence the reason he is visiting here."
"Radios Don't Work" Cries Highway Patrol Union
Might Ask Citizens To Carry Cell Phones
The Nevada Highway Patrol Association, the union representing Nevada's highway cops has issued what might be considered an ultimatum: Fix the radios. The state has purchased some $10 million worth of radios that are not reliable, according to the union.
While on patrol, the officers can't reach dispatch, sometimes lost contact for long stretches of open road, put themselves in jeopardy if they have to call for help or back up and no one can hear them. The problem is centered in the northern half of the state, with officers that work out of the Reno area.
When the radio system was purchased from M/A-Com, the public safety division didn't bother to get FCC permission for the frequency they wanted to use, thus putting all the radios out of service. They are working themselves back into their previous frequencies, but the repeating systems on the mountaintops around the state aren't in compliance with the system being used, creating black holes for the officers on the road.
Nevada isn't the only state with problems after purchasing systems from M/A-Com. Hawaii and Pennsylvania have also had expensive problems with their communications systems. Some officers in other localities have suggested motorists carry cell phones with them in case a highway patrol officer needs to contact his dispatcher.
According to one report, some officers have had to travel miles in order to find a location from which radio communication can take place. There are indications that a multi-state investigation of the problems might be called for.
The Political Scene In The Silver State
First, The Petitions
This might very well be called the year of the petition as some 12 have been circulated around the state. Today, June 15, is the deadline for the signature bearing documents to be turned in for verification. Depending on an upcoming district court ruling in southern Nevada, one petition might get a 60-day reprieve, that being a directive to rescind the massive tax increase enacted by the last legislature. Some of those circulating that petition have been harassed and even arrested by government agencies.
Of the 12 being circulated, it appears that at least six will come forward with the necessary 57,000 valid signatures to put it on the November ballot. Those constitutional amendments must then be on the ballot a second time if they are approved this year.
There are two petitions dealing with education, both seeking to first, force the legislature to fund education before any other budget measure can be accepted. That is the focus of a petition circulated by Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons (R-Washoe) and her husband, Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-NV). They have collected about 90,000 signatures statewide, and the petition is already in the process of being verified.
A second, and very similar education petition is being circulated by representatives of the Nevada teachers' union. Besides calling for the education budget to be voted on before any other budget issue, this constitutional amendment also calls for Nevada to fund education at the national average of per-pupil spending. This petition has also been turned in with about the same number of signatures as the Gibbons' proposal.
It is possible that Nevada voters will have an opportunity to vote on both, and realistically, accept both. There are many that say the idea of attempting to fund Nevada's education at the national level would raise taxes dramatically. Nevada's education is funded well below the national average.
A Look At Some Of The Initiatives
Among the other petitions that have made their way across and around the Silver State is one to legalize, to a degree, the use of marijuana. The measure was soundly defeated at the last general election, and this time the petition gatherers have been aided by an expensive and large advertising budget calling for the legalization of pot and creating an atmosphere in which youngsters would be kept from purchasing the stuff.
The current petition also calls for strong penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana.
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An initiative often referred to as Nevada's Proposition 13, the California tax law, Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R-Washoe) says she believes she will have the necessary signatures to place the property tax referendum on the ballot.
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Another measure calls for the elimination of government workers serving in the legislature. The Attorney General recently offered an opinion saying state employees cannot serve, but the petition being circulated would deny any government worker, state, county, city, or otherwise from running for or serving in the legislature.
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In a measure promoted by organized labor in the state, there is a petition to increase the state's minimum wage from $5.15, the national level, to $6.15. According to the initiative, the increase would be waived in the employer offered medical insurance for workers.
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One petition that isn't very well understood, and that might take some creative writing on the part of those putting together the ballots this year, is one calling for a roll back in casualty insurance rates. This initiative petition and, one sure to get lots of attention, a move to make lawyers who bring frivolous lawsuits responsible for any legal fees incurred by the person being sued are being challenged as actually intended to overturn medical malpractice reforms that have taken place.
It appears on the surface the drives are similar, but according to some sources, one is being led by doctors wishing to reduce the influence of attorneys that seem to specialize in medical malpractice suits, while the other is supportive of those attorneys.
If the measures end up on the ballots come November, it will take some serious reading to understand what is really meant by the petition.
As mentioned, today is the deadline for turning in the petitions, and then the signatures must be validated by either the Secretary of State or a county clerk or registrar of voters. The process generally takes a little bit of time, but we should have the final results available for the July 1 edition of The Nevada Observer.
The petitions that make the cut will appear on the ballot on November 2, and those that are accepted by the electorate will then be on the ballot in two years, and if passed for the second time, become state law.
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Open Meeting Law Challenged, Reinforced, Disregarded, Often
There Is A Move For Legislative Review
According to figures released by the Attorney General's office, there are many more challenges to Nevada's open meeting law this year compared to past years, and because of that, Brian Sandoval is asking the next legislature to take a close look at the law to determine if changes might be needed.
Sandoval would like to see clarification of some of the issues that are challenged regularly, and possibly a strengthening of the rules. Some agencies don't believe they are state agencies that come under the requirements of the law. Other groups, like non-profit organizations that work with public money often are completely in the dark as to the open meeting law.
One group that seems to be continually under suspicion of breaking, bending, or ignoring the law is the University System Board of Regents.
During one recent meeting, Community College of Southern Nevada president Ron Remington was fired during closed meetings, and charges of violation of the open meeting law are still under court review. Because of that incident, and others like it, a legislative committee is expected to review the law, one to see if it was violated, and two to see if it needs to be revised with possibly stronger language and penalties.
The Legislative Commission, meeting in Carson City was under the impression that there is not always consistency in following the law. Senator Randolph Townsend (R-Washoe) said there seems to be inconsistencies in how legal counsel to various agencies interpret the law. State agencies receive their legal direction by way of counsel from the attorney general.
As an example of how agencies seem to work to get around the open meeting law, seven members of the University Board of Regents all flew to a meeting on a private airplane owned by Interim University Chancellor Jim Rogers. This would constitute a quorum, and yet they insisted they only talked about baseball on the trip.
How would anyone know if business was conducted? Worse, since no one but the governing board of the university was on the plane, there would be no one to file a complaint. It would appear to be a direct violation of the law, but the law is worded in such a manner that a complaint must be filed before an investigation can be undertaken. And, you can bet none of the regents on the airplane are going to file.
There have been many instances in the past of groups getting together and claiming they weren't really meeting. Often full quorums of the Reno City Council would gather and swear it was just an informal social gathering. That practice has finally ended following serious threats of suits.
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Las Vegas City Council Closes The Door On Legislative Workers
Although they didn't come right out and ban city workers from also serving in the Nevada Legislature, the Las Vegas City Council has made the conditions one would have to meet so rigid there probably won't be any takers. At this time, there are no city employees serving in the body.
To run, an employee would have to go on unpaid leave from the time of announcing the candidacy through the election process, then also take unpaid leave during the 120-day sessions. Employees would be allowed to maintain their city benefits while on leave, but would have to pay for them out of pocket.
A key part of the new regulation is the use of vacation and sick pay. Neither would be available to an employee/legislator.
The new regulations stem directly from the issue brought up because of the status of Assemblyman Wendell Williams during the last legislative period. Williams worked for the city and used a combination of vacation and sick pay during his time in Carson City, ran up some pretty hefty bills on his city cell phone, and abused other privileges of office. He was fired from his job, but in currently a candidate to retain his seat in the assembly.
Williams worked for the Department of Neighborhood Services and following his termination was required to pay back some of the cell phone charges he racked up.
Although many are saying this isn't an outright ban on a city employee serving in the legislature, it will probably amount to such. For instance, an employee would be required to use as much as ten months of unpaid leave during a 12-month period. For someone married and with kids, working on salary, that might be tough.
The new policy will go into effect on January 1, 2005. The new legislature will be seated in January 2005 and one employee who is attempting to be in the law-making body won't be affected. Ricki Barlow would have come under the regulation if it had been put into effect immediately, but at this time, according to the council, Mr. Barlow is free to conduct his campaign while on salary.
Barlow said he would be affected by the new regulation once the legislature is seated, and he hasn't made up his mind yet whether he will resign as Council Liaison or accept the unpaid leave situation.
In the meantime, the Nevada Supreme Court has not reached a decision as to whether or not state workers can serve in the legislature. According to Attorney General information officer Tom Sargent, that body is still deliberating.
During recent arguments before the court, the consensus was that the court might be giving consideration to sending the issue to District Court before they debate it. Attorney General Brian Sandoval, at the request of Secretary of State Dean Heller issued an opinion that state workers should not be allowed to serve in the legislature.
An opinion such as that, however, does not carry the binding effect of law. There is also a petition making the rounds that would ban any government employee from serving in the legislature.
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Clark County Commission To Put Advisory Question To The Public
Raising more debate than just about any other issue in Clark County is the request by Sheriff Bill Young for 300 new officers. At his request, the County Commission, unanimously yet, will place an advisory question on the November ballot asking whether voters would support a raise in the sales tax.
The question is whether the sales tax should be raised one quarter of a percent for four years, beginning in 2005, then raising it another quarter cent indefinitely starting in 2009.
Sheriff Young says the crime rate is increasing dramatically and he needs more people on the street. Others say, there are already police agencies such as park and school police who are underused and could be added to the force. And still others wonder if the use of sales tax for such a purpose would be economically sound since the amount of money raised could be seriously affected by such a thing as a recession or depression.
As a part of the debate is the question of how the money and the officers would be distributed in the county. Henderson, Boulder City, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas all have an interest as does the unincorporated area of Clark County. The advisory question on the ballot won't attempt to answer any of those questions.
According to the commission, if the voters approve of the idea, Clark County will go to the legislature during the 2005 session as ask for the sales tax increase.
The Final Price Tag? $7.9 Billion At $71 Per Share. MGM/Mandalay
Feds And Gaming Control Board Still Very Much In The Picture
by Johnny Gunn
As meetings go, it wasn't really a long one, seven hours at a conference table isn't out of line in today's business climate, but the dollar figure, and what it represents is huge. Mandalay Bay Resorts said $68 per share just wasn't enough, so Kirk Kerkorian and Company at MGM Mirage upped the ante to $71, an amount that computes to $7.9 billion.
It will stand as the largest merger of gaming properties ever if the project is finalized, and there will be many potholes along the way to that. MGM Mirage buying out Mandalay Bay Resorts will have to stand as the merger of a lifetime.
Between the two, more than half the hotel rooms on The Strip will owned by the new company. There are 72,000 hotel rooms on The Strip and Mandalay Bay Resorts has about 21,000 of them while MGM Mirage operates 17,000. On top of that, the new Mandalay Bay Convention Center features one million square feet of exhibit space.
There are several stumbling blocks set up before the merger can be completed, among them questions of anti-trust laws, Gaming Control Board questions of market concentrations, and whether fair trade laws are jeopardized.
The two companies have a combined 76,000 employees, and about 23,000 of them are represented by the Culinary Union in southern Nevada. Besides properties in Clark and Washoe Counties in Nevada, the companies also operate gaming properties in Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, and Darwin Australia.
Some in gaming are asking if this is the beginning of monopolistic ventures within the industry. Besides the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the merger will be thoroughly investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), possibly even by the Labor Department, and Wall Street will probably have quite of bit to say as well.
The gaming regulators in Nevada have never had to review a merger of this size since new antitrust regulations have gone in law. At this time, the regulators say, there aren't any guidelines, such as numerical figures, from which them can make decisions.
At the federal level, the FTC has only one merger of slightly comparable size to relate to; the proposed merger of Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Corp. Using very narrow guidelines, as they described them, the FTC approved the merger without divestitures.
One of the stumbling blocks to the acceptance of this merger is the possibility of divestitures from either or both of the properties. They are in competition with each other in more than just the Las Vegas area. Although they appear to be diversified, because of limited areas where gaming is a legal business, there is an overlapping of market concentration.
The MGM Mirage is expected to generate about $4 billion dollars this year while Mandalay Bay Resorts could bring in about $2.6 billion. According to figures available to The Observer, about 75 percent of that revenue is generated on The Strip.
The list of properties is more than just eye-opening, it's impressive.
MGM Mirage Properties
Clark County:
MGM Grand, Bellagio, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Boardwalk, and Primm Valley Resorts.
The Monte Carlo is partnered with Mandalay Resort Group.
Outside Nevada:
Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, The MGM Grand Darwin, Darwin, Australia.
Mandalay Bay Resort Properties
Clark County:
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Luxor Hotel & Casino, Excalibur Hotel & Casino, Circus Circus Hotel, Casino & Theme Park, Colorado Belle, Edgewater, Gold Strike, Four Seasons Hotel, Nevada Landing, Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino, and Slots-A-Fun.
Washoe County:
Circus Circus, Reno, Silver Legacy, Reno. The Silver Legacy is partnered with El Dorado and Circus Circus.
Outside Nevada:
Gold Strike Resort, Tunica, Mississippi, Grand Victoria, Elgin Illinois, and Motor City Casino, Detroit, Michigan.
According to the most informed estimates available, the merger could take anywhere from ten months to a year to be finalized. At this time, according to sources within the two companies there are no plans to make changes as far as employees are concerned.
The Buzz Around the Silver State
From our Correspondents
From the Capital (The Silver One)
(Carson City) --- According to a report out of Washington D.C., the state child welfare division could be out well over a quarter of a million dollars for not measuring up to national standards for foster care, adoption, and child protective services.
The report, by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, was released just after the first of the month. According to the department, the review measures how children are faring in state systems, and that Nevada is below the norm in all several of the areas reviewed.
According to a Nevada Division of Child and Family Services representative, no state has passed the federal standards. "Child welfare is not a spending priority."
If the state doesn't develop a plan to improve its standards within 90 days, it could lose as much as $368,955 in federal funding.
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(Carson City) --- An insurance fraud case in Washoe County has drawn a guilty plea according to Attorney General Brian Sandoval. Timothy Lockwood will be sentenced on July 9 for reporting an automobile as stolen and collecting from Geico Insurance Company. He faces one to four years and a $5,000 fine.
According to the report from Sandoval, Lockwood will also be forced to pay restitution and investigative costs of about $20,000.
Sandoval said that Lockwood, former officer of the Children's Community Chest of Reno had previously spent time in prison on a gaming fraud conviction. The fraud was noted by an acquaintance that reported it to the Fraud Unit of the Attorney General's Office.
In fiscal year 2003 the Insurance Fraud Unit received 412 complaints of suspicious fraud, a 26 percent increase over fiscal 2002. Of that number, 318 came to a conclusion. So far this fiscal year, 369 referrals are on the books for investigation. Four hundred seventy one have been closed, and 232 are open, pending review and screening.
Deputy Attorney General Ronda Clifton said, "Often it's a concerned citizen's phone call that prompts an investigation and brings an insurance fraud perpetrator to justice."
If you wish to report a possible insurance fraud, the number to call, toll free, is 800-266-8688. For more information on this and other legal matters in the Attorney General's office, log on to ag.state.nv.us.
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Churchill and Pershing Counties
(Fallon, Churchill County / Lovelock, Pershing County) --- Former Nevada wildlife commissioner Bradley Quilici of Lovelock, Nevada, and his son Dario of Cedar City, Utah have been arrested and charged with numerous violations of the hunting laws in the two counties. The elder Quilici was charged in Churchill County with 12 gross misdemeanor complaints according to Deputy District Attorney Brandi Jensen.
Young Quilici has been charged in Pershing County with killing or possessing a pronghorn antelope without a valid tag, and with a charge of obstruction. In addition, he is facing 16 gross misdemeanor counts in Churchill County.
Bradley Quilici resigned from the wildlife commission on May 5. He was appointed by Governor Kenny Guinn in 1999.
Among the charges the father and son face are making false statements to obtain a hunting license, tag, or permit, taking game without a proper license or tag, and obstruction of an investigation.
The investigation and rumors of it have been ongoing for some time in the outdoor communities of rural Nevada. The Nevada Wildlife Commission is the board that sets wildlife policies in the state.
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Storey County
(Virginia City) --- A new tax source for the limited Storey County Budget may soon appear along the banks of the Truckee River near Clark Station at Tracy. According to Barrick Gold Corp., a gas-fired power station will be built to serve power for its Eastern Nevada mines.
The plant will be gas-fired and will be a neighbor to the long-standing Sierra Pacific Company (SPPCo) power station nearby. According to Barrick officials, initially the company wanted to expand SPPCo's Tracy plant, but those plans fell through.
They picked Storey County site because of existing high voltage lines and a natural gas pipeline less than half a mile away.
The plant will cost slightly less than $100 million and the 14 gas-driven generators will be operated by a crew of about 25. Some 118 megawatts of power will be available for the Barrick mines. It might be possible that Barrick could make excess power available to SPPCo.
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(Virginia City) --- A major face-lift is taking place at the cemetery locations on the Comstock. Following decades of neglect, abuse, and theft, new fencing is going up along with a general fixing up of the many contiguous cemeteries. The work is partially funded by a $350,000 grant from the Save America's Treasures program. That program is administered by the National Park Service. According to those involved, they are also getting help from many local businesses and individuals, as well as services from the Bureau of Land Management.
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Washoe County
(Reno) --- Ground breaking ceremony for the Mills B. Lane Justice Center will occur on Friday, June 18 at noon at the corner of Court and Sierra Streets.
The justice center is a joint project between Washoe County and the City of Reno. It will house the Reno Municipal Court and the Washoe County District Attorney's Offices, and will be connected to the County's Family Court located at One South Sierra Street.
Local dignitaries and Judge Lane's two sons, Terry and Tommy, will be on hand for the ceremony. Washoe County Commissioners and the Reno City Council unanimously approved naming the building after Mills Lane last year when Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick appeared before them as an individual recommending the designation.
Gammick cited Mr. Lane's past service to the community as a former Washoe County District Attorney and District Court Judge. Gammick notified Lane immediately following the vote.
"I called Mills right after the vote, and he seemed thrilled," Gammick stated. "I talked with his wife Kay afterwards, and she said Mills had a big smile on his face. "
Completion of the 8-story, $36 million building is expected by January 2006. Washoe County serves as the construction project manager and awarded the contract to Clark & Sullivan Constructors last month. Clark & Sullivan recently completed the County's new Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center, which was completed six months early and within budget.
The Mills B. Lane Justice Center will be connected to the existing county building at One So. Sierra Street, which houses the Reno Justice Court, Washoe County Family court and other County court-related offices. The joint facility was one of the recommendations of a citizens' Justice Facilities Working Group convened by Washoe County to address our community's justice system space needs over the next 20 years as well as save taxpayers money through shared services such as prisoner transport and security screening.
Mills Lane is known internationally as one of the finest boxing referees in the world. He was in the ring the night Mike Tyson bit the ear off an opponent. He oversaw major bouts worldwide. He also served as a television judge on his own nation-wide syndicated program, Judge Mills Lane. Judge Lane suffered a stroke several years ago and was forced to retire from active work.
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(Reno) --- In it's several decades long history, the old building at the corner of Virginia and First has been a bank, that came first, through several banking institutions, then was home to the Greater Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce, then lobby for the Cal-Neva Hotel Casino, and now is slowly becoming home to the City of Reno. All the various city departments should be in place before the end of July. Current tenants will stay, according to current plans.
The city paid some $5.5 million for the building and is in the process of spending another $4.8 million in renovations. The building is 16 stories in all, and estimates are the facilities will be more than adequate for about the next 20 years.
The Mayor and his staff have already moved into 15th floor offices along with the City Manager and City Council. Reno's Redevelopment Agency has moved into the 7th floor. On June 28, The technology Division will occupy the 5th floor; Community Relations will also be on the 5th floor. Human Resources, Civil Service, and Organizational Effectiveness divisions will move into their spaces on the 4th floor. July 19 will be moving day for the City Attorney and City Clerk, occupying the third and second floors respectively.
One downtown wag said that since many of the offices will look directly down at the empty, dust blown lot once home to the Mapes Hotel Casino, maybe something might be built there. Like a nice park in which to have lunch and watch the beautiful Truckee River meander through town.
The Reno Public Works Department won't move into the new City Hall until the lease on their current location expires in 2005.
City Council meetings will continue to take place in the old chambers through July. Retrofitting and other work is expected to continue for the next several weeks. One of the larger expenses was installation of security measures that have been put in place.
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Clark County
(Las Vegas) --- Assemblywoman Kathy McClain (D-Las Vegas), and a Clark County employee as well, was reinstated to her county job after being fired for double dipping by way of taking sick leave in order to serve in Carson City. The reinstatement comes by way of arbitration.
It's expected the lawmaker will receive some but not all of her back pay. She had been working for the Parks and Community Services Department, but at this time it isn't known whether that is where she will return. Her annual salary with the county is $69,501.
According to the original charges, McClain used a full 40-hour workweek of sick leave during one of the special sessions that were called during the last legislative session. According to county policy, employees are prohibited from using sick leave or vacation time for other employment.
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(Las Vegas) --- It took a while, but the Nevada Ethics Commission levied a fine of $5,000 on Clark County Recorder Frances Deane. Deane was accused of attempting to profit from doing her job, by attempting to sell documents to the public that should not carry a cost. She was accused of starting a business that would have competed with her elective office.
The fine is the maximum amount that could be levied for a violation of this sort. Deane is expected to pay the fine in monthly $500 installments. According to the decree, Deane will not have to give up her elected position.
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Humboldt County
(Winnemucca) --- Following years of success in transplanting and herd development, the Nevada Wildlife Department is facing serious problems with one of the largest herds of Big Horn Sheep in the state. During recent trips into the Santa Rosa Mountains, north of Winnemucca, the bodies of hundreds of big horns have been discovered, along with many apparently sick animals.
Department biologists fear the herd may be suffering from some sort of virus. Tests on the dead and dying animals are being conducted at this time.
The Santa Rosa range is north of Paradise Valley and was seriously affected by range fires over the last few years. Whether or not the virus or whatever is felling the animals is the result of the fires isn't known at this time. The herd had numbered almost 300 animals, and it's feared there may be less than 200 alive today.
The herd has been building since 1978 when about a dozen sheep were introduced in the region.