Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 5

Wednesday, February 7, 1996 5A Nevada Club From page 1 A wants to run the Nevada Club as a boutique casino," said Bill Ead-ington, director of the University of Nevada Reno's Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming. "If it were me, I would think you'd really have to rethink what the Nevada Club is. It's a casino of another era; its appeal would have to go in a different direction." Fie cited an example involving Harrah's Lake Tahoe, which bought the small, outdated Barney's Casino next door and converted it into the successful Bill's Lake Tahoe Casino in 1987. Bill's was created by knocking down the wall separating Harrah's Sports Casino and Barney's, producing a facility. That could be a model for a casino takeover, Eadington said.

Or, "If the market justifies it, Harrah's could absorb (the Nevada Club) for additional floor space," Eadington said. "We don't currently have any interest in it," Jim Rogers, Harrah's Reno's senior vice president and general manager, said through a spokesperson Tuesday. "Right now, our concern is the investment we've made in the Hampton Inn," which opened last fall. His comments echoed those last month when Harolds Club went back up for sale. Fitzgeralds tried unsuccessfully to sell Nevada Club as early as 1990 and has wanted to sell the club "off and on" for several years, Griffith said.

It has been actively marketed since late 1995 through Pennington Associates of Reno. An advertisement in a recent issue of International Gaming Wagering Business lists an unnamed Reno casino for sale and a Pennington contact, advertising: "high foot traffic location in growing market (and) $7 million-plus year revenue profitable track record." "We've had inquiries," Griffith said. "There's no deal imminent right now." "Nevada Club will be here all of '96," he added. A transaction would take at least a year to complete, he said. "I don't think any employee should worry.

This isn't like Harolds Club." Harolds Club closed in April after its sale and has not reoponed. Another casino across the street also is vacant, Bob Cashell's Horseshoe Club, which closed late last year. When Harolds closed, Fitzgeralds absorbed some workers, others retired, and others joined new properties, Griffith said. The Nevada Club employs about 250 people. The new owner of Harolds Club, Bennett Holdings Inc.

of Syracuse, N.Y., continues to seek a buyer since Emerald Gaming a subsidiary of American Gaming Entertainment of Atlantic City, N.J.. of which Bennett is the majority shareholder could not secure financing to remodel the casino and build a 300-room hotel with an Australian theme. "Harolds Club is a different story" than Nevada Club, Griffith said, "because Harolds Club was a major failed property. We took a substantial hit to sell It." Griffith said the Nevada Club has been successful each of the past eight years Fitzgeralds has owned it less so the past couple of years as the company focused on its growth in other markets. "We're not just ignoring it," he said.

However, he added that more emphasis has been placed on the Nevada Club since Harolds' sale. The Nevada Club has about 10 table games, 550 slot machines, keno, two bars and Kilroys Diner. Lincoln Fitzgerald opened the casino in March 1946. Fitzgeralds bought the club from Fitzgerald's widow, Meta. in 1988, but managed it from 1 987 until then under the name Lincoln Management.

Reno Gazette-Journal TODAY'S TOPIC: ENVIRONMENT Weed 1 I or Study finds violence on TV pays off WASHINGTON (AP) Crime pays at least on television, according to a cable industry study released Tuesday on TV violence. Most of the time, the bad guys aren't punished; nearly half the time, violent acts in TV programs show no harm to victims, and more often they portray no pain, according to the survey of cable and broadcast shows. "The world of television is not only violent it also consistently sanctions its violence," said the report on the $1.5 million study commissioned by the National Cable Television Association. The study found a consistent pattern across all channel types and genres. "This is troubling," the report said.

The survey, the largest of its kind, was based on a sample of 2,500 hours of programming on 23 channels a mix of cable, broadcast and public television from Oct. 8, 1994, to June 9, 1995. It was conducted by researchers at four universities. "One of the clearest findings of this study is that a very high proportion of violent scenes lack any form of punishment for the perpetrators," the report said. The study does not rate specific programs, channels or stations for violent content.

The negative consequences of violence are usually not shown, the study also found. Associated Press tile photo WHITEWATER PANEL: Majority Counsel Michael Chertoff, right, huddles with assistant counsel Robert Giuffra. Suspicions voiced about Clinton records SOME OPTIONS Options for eliminating the Eurasian Watermilfoil in Lake Tahoe: Herbicides: Some herbicides have been used successfully in other lakes. They work quickly but only in small areas. A new herbicide, which has been used experimentally, needs a longer contact time with the plant in order to work and may be a problem in some areas.

The use of herbicides may not be suitable in the Tahoe Keys because the weed is thick and covers a large area, but they may help by lowering the plant's dominance there. Dredging: This method takes the whole plant out of the water. The problem is that it disturbs the bottom of the lake and stirs up sediment, which clouds the water. One way of avoiding this is to enclose the area that is to be dredged to keep silt and plant fragments from getting released into other areas. Dredging is the most expensive option.

Insects: An option that needs more exploration is the possibility of introducing an insect that would graze on the weed. It is not known if it would work in Lake Tahoe. Source: Dr. Lars Anderson, weed researcher at University of California, Davis What boaters should know about the Eurasian Watermilfoil: Boaters should be aware of the weed problem and make sure their craft and trailer is cleaned off after leaving the lake. The plant can survive for a long time as long as it is moist and is not being baked in the sun.

It only takes a half-inch fragment to grow a new plant. A small clump can start a new colony. Learn to identify the plant and report it as you discover it. This will help the districts keep track of plant movement. From page 1 A boat channels.

"The machine works like an underwater lawn mower," Pearce said. "It cuts the plant and drags it out. But it doesn't catch all the fragments and they may get out into the lake and establish colonies." Carreau said he's been told the machines actually spread the weed. "The more you cut it the more it grows," he said. Pearce called in Lars Anderson, a U.S.

Department of Agriculture research service water weed specialist based at UC Davis, to help assess the extent of the problem. They flew an aerial survey around Lake Tahoe in September and followed up by boat in October to confirm the sightings of new weed colonies and collect specimens. Once researchers positively-identified the plant as an exotic non-native species, they presented their findings Jan. 11 to the La-hontan Regional Quality Control Board of California and will meet Feb. 28 with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

"We would like to see them come up with a management plan," Pearce said. "It's not only a danger to the ecosystem here at Lake Tahoe. It may affect other lakes here in the basin and elsewhere." The feathery-leaved plant grows so thickly it blocks light and increases water temperature like a blanket, Anderson said. The temperature change and dark water creates a favorable environment for algae growth, diminishing the lake's clarity. Pearce said she has been in contact with research agencies in Washington.

Minnesota. Wisconsin and Vermont. Many have developed management plans for eradicating the plant in lakes where the weed grows. "Millions of dollars are spent every year fighting this exotic." Pearce said. "A big part of that effort is the educational component." The conservation district hopes to educate the public about the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil by distributing materials and brochures explaining simple precautions that boaters and marina operators can take to thwart new weed growth.

In addition, a technical advisory committee has been formed to consider options for eradication of the plant in Lake Tahoe. Anderson said the ideal method for removal of the weed does not exist. "Some options include the se- mer Little Rock law firm's links to a failed savings and loan association owned by her partner in the Whitewater Development Corp. "I was very curious about it," Black said, referring to the discovery by a White House aide early last August of copies of 1 16 pages of Hillary Clinton's billing records for Madison Guaranty Savings Loan, which had been under subpoena for two years. President Clinton and his wife have said they cannot explain how the documents suddenly appeared on a table in the "book room" next to the first lady's private Black said the records, which were not surrendered until five months later, would have been "very relevant" to the government's conflict-of-interest study on the law firm, which was completed last Aug.

3. Switzer. agreeing with Black, said, "Curious is a good description." But asked by Sen. Richard C. Shelby, if it seemed that the White House had deliberated withheld the records.

Black replied: "I cannot say that, senator. I just can't speculate." WASHINGTON Federal banking investigators said Tuesday they are suspicious about the sudden appearance of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's long-missing billing records in the White House but that they were quick to concede that they have no evidence of any deliberate wrongdoing. Testifying to the Senate Whitewater Committee, Patricia Black and Steven Switzer of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it was "curious" that copies of Hillary Clinton's records were found only a few days. after completion of their report on her for Burglar alarm fees gain council backing Figures set: Alarm companies aren't happy.

By Susan Voyles RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL lective use of herbicides, introducing plant-eating organisms or dredging." he said. "Every method has its drawbacks. We need to choose one with the least negative impacts." said overtime expenses have jumped by $300,000 as more police work the parks, soccer games and for other duties. But he said he has made cuts elsewhere in his $2.2 million overtime budget and is within that budget. Some of the cuts were a result of an overtime study ordered by the council last fall.

Not every position is being filled when someone is in training or on leave. And a new gang unit has cut down on other officers working overtime. Reno police have talks underway with courts personnel and prosecutors to find ways to schedule more police appearances during work hours to avoid overtime. Meanwhile, 12 part-time police service technicians and a full-time technician are being trained and expected to start work in March. These technicians new positions for the department will have cars and be trained to take accident and other reports to take some of the pressure off of sworn officers Hascheff suggested a senior fee of $25, proposed by the city's burglar alarm committee as the fee for all residents.

Without the senior rebates, the proposed fees would generate $400,000 a year. Last fall, Police Chief Jim Weston wanted to stop responding to burglar alarm calls because 99 percent turn out to be false and police are overloaded with other calls. As a compromise, the council asked for a fee and will dedicate the new money to the department. Over the objections of alarm companies, the council voted to require them to add the fees to their regular bills and remit the money to the city. As police respond to calls, homeowners and businesses without permits would be cited.

And their alarm companies would be cited, too. "The city just cost me $100,000," said Tom Emery, of National Guardian security company. With the added fees, he said he won't be able to follow his business plan in raising the price for his services this year. Louie Burgarello, who owns an alarm company bearing his name, said the citizens are being fooled. The fees originally were based on a $318,000 annual estimate for police to respond to burglar calls.

When indirect city costs were added, the proposed cost jumped to $8 10,000. On a per call basis, that averages $79, which is greatly inflated, Burgarello said. That compares with per-call averages of $30 in Sparks and Dallas, $22 in Portland and an average of 1 6 in California, he said. The council also got an update on police overtime expenses. With Reno police upset about negotations over their contract, they've stopped doing all voluntary outside security work.

For the downtown Citifare bus station, that means no police have been on the beat and private security officers are at work. Weston said the Regional Transportation Commission is not happy because police officers do a better job in controlling undesirables. Since a gang killing in Horseman's Park last August, Weston Reno residents and businesses with burglar alarms can expect to pay a fee for the privilege of a police officer showing up at the door. Residents would pay an annual fee of $39 and businesses would pay $81, which represents 50 percent of the total costs of sending out police for these calls, according to city figures. The Reno City Council agreed on the fees Tuesday and an ordinance is expected to be returned to the council within a few weeks.

At Councilwoman Candice Pearce's urging, city staff is to find a way to give a break to senior citizens. Councilman Pierre Plans for 1,000 new housing units dropped as city won't condemn land WE'RE SWEET ON BARBIE PRESENTING THE LIMITED EDITION PEPPERMINT PRINCESS'" BARBIE DOLL Barbie" is all dolled up in her special peppermint-striped dress. Like all things sweet, however, she's much too good to last. A limited edition. $60 On a 4-3 vote, the City Council acting as the redevelopment agency board voted Monday not to use eminent domain power to help one property owner obtain the property of another.

That included residential property. The council had previously discussed holding off on housing issues until a workshop on Feb. 20. Rothenberg said he's disappointed. No builder will buy land at above-market rates with the hopes the redevelopment agency will later help them out with the costs, Rothenberg said.

And some assistance is required to turn around the stagnating neighborhoods around downtown, he said. In gutting its housing strategy, he said council is welcoming more urban sprawl, which in the long run is more expensive for local government to provide services. Griffin also said he's disappointed with the council vote. He said affordable housing is the biggest problem facing the city and the redevelopment agency could have helped. Councilman Jim Pilzner, who authored the new eminent domain policy, declined to comment.

lington, Fifth, Vine and Sixth streets. While existing businesses would remain, vacant lots and derelict housing would have been purchased for the new housing. Rothenberg also planned new restaurants and shops on Fifth Street, with artists' lofts above. He contemplated an ice skating rink and proposed angled parking on Fifth Street. Another 150 to 180 units of condominiums for professionals was planned south of the National Automobile Museum on four blocks bordered by Lake, Ryland, Holcomb and State streets.

That area now includes a large number of boarded-up or otherwise rundown homes. The projects would have represented an investment of up $100 million, based on the units selling for $80,000 to $100,000 investment. That doesn't include the value of any new businesses. Rothenberg said he hadn't done the research on how much redevelopment help would have been sought in either condemning properties or subsidizing land costs. He had lined up a builder for the project and several local banks had expressed interest in financing home construction.

By Susan Voyles RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL In the aftermath of the Reno City Council's decision not to condemn property to help developers, plans for nearly 1,000 new homes in the downtown area were dropped Tuesday. Bruce Rothenberg, a Reno housing financing consultant, said he stopped design work on the housing plans after working on them for eight months. He said he was counting on the city's City Center housing strategy approved last year to rebuild parts of two neighborhoods near downtown. But the council has now gutted that strategy, he said. Rothenberg would have wanted help from the downtown redevelopment agency to condemn land on eight blocks sought for the two projects and lower land costs to make the project economically viable.

But without the power to condemn, Rothenberg said land prices will come in too high for the projects to make sense. They included: Six hundred to 800 units of townhouses and senior housing in a four-block area bounded by macys To order, dial toll-free 24 hours a day: 1-800-622-9748. Barbie is a registered trademark of the Mattel Company..