Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 17

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTn vada Tonight's tip Tuesday AUGUST 11, 1987 RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL CITY EDITOR: JOE HOWRY, 788-6305 Section 2C OBITUARIES 2C VITALS 5-1 5C CLASSIFIEDS 15C BRIDGE The Nevada State Fair opens at 4 p.m. at the Reno Livestock Events Center on Wells Avenue. Highlights include exhibits, performing artists and carnival rides. Details: 322-4424. Bryan encouraged to run against Hecht in '88 including the Nevada seat vacated by Republican presidential hopeful Paul Laxalt.

To recapture control in 1988, the Republicans must pick up four seats. But Republican strategists say Hecht should not be underestimated, even though polls show Bryan with a 3-to-l lead in a head-to-head race. "Of all the freshman senators up for re-election, no one is more up to the challenge than Chic Hecht," said Tom Mason, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "We have been very impressed with what Hecht has been doing. He's a great fund See BRYAN-HECHT, page 3C was in Washington last week to testify before a House committee considering a land exchange to let Aerojet General build a rocket fuel plant in Nevada.

Bryan favors the proposal. While there, Bryan met with several Democratic senators, including John Kerry, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The Democratic governor also met with potential campaign donors representing business and labor groups. Bryan said he also received an encouraging call from Sen. Alan Cranston, and met with Sen.

Harry Reid, D-Nev. Reid, elected to the Senate last year, served with Bryan in the Nevada Assembly from 1969 to the early '70s. "They have been encouraging," Bryan said of the meetings. "We definitely encouraged him to run," agreed Robert Chlopak, executive director of the Democratic campaign committee. "We think he'd be an excellent candidate and probably the best chance of turning that into a Democratic seat.

That would be important to us to hopefully strengthen the majority we have." As in 1986, the 1988 Senate race has both political parties wrangling for control of the upper house. In 1986, the Republicans lost control of the Senate, coofirmedbas fire chief Sparks redevelopment ordinance approved The Sparks City Council on Monday unanimously approved an amended downtown redevelopment ordinance that spells out the Sparks Redevelopment Agency's condemnation powers and assures business owners there will be no seizure of private property for economic development. The approval means the city can proceed with plans to narrow Street to two lanes to allow for more pedestrian traffic and render Street the main thoroughfare for automobiles. Plans also call for a face-lift of downtown businesses, and the eventual creation of community facilities such as a senior citizens center. The redevelopment proposal was received favorably at Monday's public hearing after language that referred to the redevelopment agency's ability to acquire property was clarified.

Business owners earlier had objected to the plan because they feared a repeat of a 1985 proposal that would have allowed the agency to condemn private property for resale to developers. Sex education on agenda Washoe County School District trustees tonight will appoint a nine-member advisory committee to recommend an AIDS and sex education curriculum for the coming school year. The school board also will vote on changes in an attendance policy that will provide incentives for students with good attendance to maintain their records and help prevent chronic absentees from missing more than the maximum allotted days. Trustees will go into closed session at 6 p.m. to discuss the 100 applicants for the sex education panel, and will reconvene in the public meeting to vote on the appointees.

The public meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Reed High School cafeteria, 1350 Baring Sparks. Also at tonight's meeting, trustees will discuss a school district survey that shows many students, parents and teachers support open high school campuses, while business owners largely favor closed campuses. it I -'-0 8 iL'. 'tr ft By Laura MyersGazette-Journai CARSON CITY Gov.

Richard Bryan said Monday key Democrats and potential campaign contributors in Washington, D.C., are encouraging him to run for the U.S. Senate in 1988. But he repeated past statements that he won't make a decision whether to challenge Sen. Chic Hecht, until this fall, although it appears he would receive financial and moral support from Democratic strategists. "I talked with them (in Washington)," Bryan said.

"But I told them I haven't decided yet." Bryan, now in the first year of his second four-year term as Nevada governor, Tumeir Commissioners debate merits of $1.7 million water rights plan By Don VetterGazette-Journal Washoe County commissioners Monday considered the consequences of spending $1.7 million for 3,487 acre-feet of water rights from the Winnemucca Ranch 25 miles north of Reno. Their biggest question is what to do with the water should the county consummate a deal with bankrupt rancher Dal-ton LaRue. Commissioners agreed during the caucus to issue a final decision Aug. 25. But scheduling the decision appears to be the easiest task.

Purchasing the water rights would make the county the lead player in the popular scenario of feeding Reno-Sparks growth with rural water resources. The acquisition of water rights or the outright purchase of farms for those rights is a growing trend with western communities starved for water. Water experts in Nevada say that as early as 1992, growth in the Truckee Meadows will outstrip the drought year yield of the Truckee River, the area's main water source. "Is this water going to be used on site or are we going to transport it and how much is it going to cost the homeowners who end up using it?" asked County Commissioner Gene McDowell. He cited efforts by Westpac Utilities to secure water from Warm Springs Valley, north of Sparks.

The state Public Service Commission rejected Westpac's plan that would have had current customers helping pay for the imported water. Under the rejected plan, the purchase, transportation and hookup to a new home in the Truckee Meadows would have cost up to $21,000 by the year 2001, McDowell said, citing Westpac figures. McDowell asked the county's utility division staff to determine how much Winnemucca Ranch water would cost water users in the Truckee Meadows. County Utility Manager John Collins said the Winnemucca Ranch water at $500 an acre-foot is cheaper than the Warm Springs water with a proposed purchase See WATER, page 3C Appeal rejected By Michael PhMlisGazette-Joumal A Reno judge Wednesday rejected the murder appeal of Frank Matylinsky convicted in 1984 of beating his seven-month pregnant wife to death and manslaughter of the unborn child. In denying the appeal, based on grounds of ineffective counsel, Washoe District Judge Peter Breen said the skill and strategy of Matylinsky's attorney probably saved him from a death sentence.

Matylinsky called paramedics in December 1983 to the couple's Sparks home and told them his wife wasn't Lsii rjij- ney, Fred Atcheson, admitted it to the jury-But Atcheson claimed Matylinsky was so drunk and under the influence of drugs that he blacked out and had no memory of the beating. As a result, Atcheson argued he could not have formed the premeditation for first-degree murder and could only be found guilty of second degree. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and former Chief District Attorney John Oakes went for the death penalty. But the jury gave Matylinsky life in prison without possibility of parole and See KILLER, page 3C -A 1 6-year veteran named to post By Wayne MeltonGazette-Journal Longtime Reno Fire Department administrator Otis Turner was named the city's new fire chief Monday by the Reno City Council. The council unanimously approved City Manager Hal Schilling's recommendation that Turner be appointed to the post.

The decision came in an 11-hour meeting in City Hall where the council also decided, among other things, to hire more engineers to improve traffic light synchronization, approve in concept the takeover of Moana Municipal Stadium by a local, non-profit group and pass a resolution supporting stricter state vehicle emission standards. Turner, 37, a 16-year department veteran, said he's excited about the appointment and is eager to serve the city. Turner's appointment became effective immediately. He replaces Richard Minor, who left Reno in May for a similar post in Hayward, Turner Calif. Minor earned $50,000 in the Reno job.

Turner's salary still must be negotiated. Schilling, several council members and Mayor Pete Sferrazza all have praised Turner as an excellent administrator and a leader capable of motivating his staff. Turner was one of 54 people who applied for the job. City personnel officials interviewed 12 of them. Of those, eight were invited to take a test for the post.

Five accepted and were tested July 31. Schilling said Turner received the highest score. Under questioning from Councilwoman Florence Lehners, Turner promised to follow labor contract negotiation rules. Several officials in the past have complained Reno fire chiefs haven't always followed city guidelines when negotiating with firefighters unions. In other action, the council: Decided to spend from $136,000 to $156,000 to increase the city's engineering staff to improve traffic light synchronization.

The city will appoint a professional traffic engineer, appoint a traffic signal superintendent and create a citizens' committee to study traffic. The additions are part of several changes recommended by James Matte-son, city traffic engineer in Phoenix, Ariz. The council invited him here in July to study Reno's traffic problems. Approved the concept of a new nonprofit organization taking over Moana Municipal Stadium from the city and spending up to $5 million in improvements over the next five years. Moana Complex Foundation Inc.

would raise donations in money, labor and material, much of it from local companies. The foundation has applied for tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Organizers hope most contributions would be considered tax deductible. The foundation's board would consist of repre- See TURNER, page 3C umbrella charge of racketeering. Manuel Rodriquez, former vice president of food, beverages and hotel operations, has been charged with embezzlement and is awaiting a preliminary hearing in Justice Court.

Among the allegations in the racketeering charge are claims that the group printed and substituted thousands of dol lars in buffet coupons for cash; shut off computers monitoring cash registers and stole the money taken in during that time; and rigged a drawing so one of the group would win a four-wheel drive vehicle. The charges against Peck say Simmons, Crockett and Rodriquez placed him on Boomtown payroll from Oct. 21, 1986, to Jan. 5, 1987, and paid him $4,621.50 in wages though he was overseeing a marijuana farm for them in Vale at the time. The salary was used for expenses at the farm, court documents charge.

Peck is under a three- to five-year prison sentence in Oregon for charges related to the marijuana farm. He is currently serving that term in the Malheur County Jail at Vale. CS 1 Umtm m- Jean Dixon AlklnGazette-Journal SUMMER SCRUB: Fred Manha of Reno gives Little Orphan Annie a bath before the lamb makes an appearance at the Nevada State Fair children's petting zoo today at 4 p.m. Manha volunteered some the animals from his farm, just across from the fairgrounds on Wells Avenue. for killer of wife, unborn baby Suspect faces extradition A Reno federal judge ordered Monday that a murder suspect from St.

Louis, be returned to face prosecution for the killing of a postal worker there. Richard Durham, 27, is suspected of shooting an on-duty postman May 1 because he failed to pay a $2,000 cocaine debt, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court. A plainclothes Reno police detective spotted Durham Friday afternoon after being shown his photograph earlier that day. Another uniformed officer tackled and arrested the suspect when he tried to flee.

Dune buggy flips; 1 dead A Grass Valley, man was killed when his homemade dune buggy flipped at Sand Mountain east of Fallon, the Churchill County Sheriff's Department reported Monday. The victim was identified as Warren K. Cresswell, 28, whose dune buggy went airborne and flipped Sunday going over a ridge on the mountain. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fatality victim identified A woman who was killed Sunday in a head-on collision between Reno and Carson City was identified Monday as Enid H.

Hellmann, a 62-year-old Reno bookkeeper. The other motorist, Lawrence Sitton, 33, of Reno, was in serious but stable condition in intensive care at Washoe Medical Center Monday night. The Nevada Highway Patrol reported Hellmann was driving south in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 395 at Bellevue Road at 9:55 p.m. The accident remains under investigation.

Tahoe bicyclist killed TAHOE CITY A man riding a bicycle at Kings Beach was killed early Sunday morning when his bike hit a power pole. Martin J. D'Aunoy, 28, of Kings Beach was pronounced dead at the scene, a Placer County sheriff's dispatcher said. The accident occurred on North Lake Boulevard. Man dies in rollover SOUTH LAKE TAHOE A Southern California man was killed and two others were injured early Monday when their pickup truck overturned south of Markleeville.

Tony Hernandez, 24, of Corona was killed after being thrown from the overturning vehicle. Driver Douglas A. Murvihill of Corona and William J. Brendle of Riverside, both also 24, were treated for injuries at CarsonTahoe Hospital. The accident happened at 1 a.m.

on State Route 4, south of Highway 89. Staff reports Accused 'ghost employee' arraigned in Boomtown case breathing. Police arrived with paramedics and found his pregnant, 23-year-old wife, Margaret, severely beaten, with more than 80 percent of her head showing bruises. The unborn child was already dead and the woman died within hours at the hospital. Matylinsky told police he fell asleep and when his dogs' barking woke him, he found his wife in that condition.

He claimed he did not know how it happened. But evidence, including blood on his hands and feet, clearly showed Maty linsky did the beating andmtnal attor- fTtW id .11, -I WWW' r3 it -s a 'i i V4. it VXV ni. Marilyn NetwlonGazene-Journal JFvJ By Michael PhillisGazette-Journal An alleged "ghost employee" of Boom-town Casino, accused of accepting payroll checks while he worked on an Oregon marijuana farm, was arraigned Monday in Reno Justice Court. Jerry Dean Peck, 33, of Vale, waived the right to a preliminary hearing on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses and conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses.

He is now scheduled to appear in Washoe District Court on Wednesday, when he will actually plead to the charges and, if he pleads innocent, have a trial date set. Peck's arraignment was part of a lengthy, ongoing investigation that has already led to guilty pleas by two former Boomtown employees and the arrest of a former vice president at the gaming establishment 10 miles east of Reno, said Deputy District Attorney David Thompson. David Crockett, a former restaurant manager, and David Simmons, a former executive chef, pleaded guilty to an JAM: A Washoe sheriff's deputy, next to a Reno firefighter, directs traffic on Highway 395, near North McCarran Boulevard, late Monday afternoon. Driver Nancy J. Story-Davis, 31, of Reno lost control when trying to slow, troopers said.

She was treated for minor injuries. Traffic was backed up to Bally's..