Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 2

CONTACT CITY EDITOR Michael Martinez 77S.786.6W2 OR MMARTINEZRG) COM 2007 LEGISLATURE 2A RENO TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007 RENO RENO SPARKS Nevada Legislature River Inn land up for sale, lease IN THEIR OWN WORDS 'Obviously, there are people who need to be prison for a long time. But there's also people going to prison for much longer than they need to be TODAY'S HOT TOPIC: PRISON CROWDING The Assembly Select Committee on Corrections, Parole and Probation hear two bills that seek to address the crowding in Nevada prisons. One would change the way the Parole Board considers granting or revoking parole, and the other would expand the use of residential confinement, add days for good behavior credits and increase re-entry programs for offenders. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Log on to RGJ.com to join in the debate. 63 Days left in session Tick Segerblom D-Las Vegas On a law attecting penalties for cnmes committed using deadly weapons OBITUARIES Caruso, Virginia Castle, Robert Johnson, Joan Patricia McGrath, Albert Meacham, Mary Katherine Reichard, John Clifford Samson, Shauna Lea Schooley, Russell T.

Shaw, Alison Lynn Sheppard, John R. Townsend, Colleen G. Turner, Howard 'Denotes In Loving Memory Complete obituaries on page 5C of Neighborhoods Voices section Lawmakers open to funding gifted students BRIEFLY Suspect arrested in Saturday night shooting A 26-year-old Reno man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and other charges after police said he fired several shots into an occupied vehicle Saturday night. Reno police said Eric Pickett was identified as the shooter by one of five people in a car in the 400 block of Linden Street just before 1 0 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Pickett was arrested Sunday morning at the Aloha Motel and booked into Washoe County Jail also on four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one of shooting into an occupied vehicle. The firearm has not been found. Detectives can be reached at 334-21 1 5 or Secret Witness at 322-4900. Reno police arrest man in pair of sexual assaults A 30-year-old employee of a local parking enforcement company has U.S. Rep.

Dean Heller, the former Nevada secretary of state, addresses lawmakers at 11 a.m. State Transportation and Homeland Security: hears a list ot bills that propose changes to provisions on registering vehicles. Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections: considers a list of bills, including one that would make it a crime to threaten or intimidate a person who is gathering signatures. Senate Judiciary: hears bills that would allow the court to order a person convicted of a third DUI to a treatment program for alcoholism or drug abuse, and another bill to require convicted sex offenders to register with local law enforcement before being released from prison. Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance joint subcommittee: considers the capital improvement budget for a list of projects ranging from replacing windows to roofing to flood control and asbestos removal.

BY SUSAN VOYLES svoylesrgj.cora A new sign has gone up in front of the River Inn saying the property is being offered for sale, lease or a joint venture meaning any and all options are being considered for the long-closed resort property on West Fourth Street. Blake Smith, the developer behind the Somersett project in northwest Reno, and several others have contracted with Alliance Commercial realty in Reno to market the property. An Alliance sign on the property says it could be used for office, retail or residential purposes. Under Reno's West Fourth Street corridor plan approved last fall, the property also is entitled to have a hotel-casino. "We're exploring the possible development of the property," said Gary Duhon, a Reno lawyer representing the Smith group.

"It's so premature, we're not so sure if it's going to happen at all." Duhon said the group is hopeful that something will come together in a few months. "It's a beautiful piece of property along the river. It could happen in a 100 different ways," he said. "I can't say whether a casino is a prime option. We're looking at all options." Smith's interest in the property surfaced in September when he hired a planning consultant to safeguard the property's gaming entitlements at amount to about $196,000, based on a per-pupil allotment of $5,600, said state superintendent Keith Rheault.

The money being requested by the Davidson Academy is the same amount given to educating public school students on a per-pupil basis in Washoe County, Rheault said. "That's not a lot compared to what we are spending," said Jan Davidson, co-author of "Genius Denied," which details the plight of extremely intelligent children. "We are putting in a lot more, of course, and we will continue to do so." The Davidson Academy opened on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall after the 2005 Legislature approved its formation. Some lobbyists told lawmak ers the school has brought national recognition to Reno. "1 look at the New York Times every morning online, and I am aware of three articles dealing with our (Nevada) higher education," said Jim Richardson of the Nevada Faculty Alliance.

One was on the UNR basketball team and coach, one was about UNLV's basketball team and its coach, and the last was, which took of two-thirds of a page, was about the Davidson Academy and its establishment at UNR. Eighteen of the Davidson Academy students are from Nevada. Families of the other students have moved to Nevada so for the school. "This is national news. It's a big item for the county," Rich BY RAY HAGAR rhagarrgj.com A bill to provide state funding for Reno's school for gifted and talented students received a warm first welcome Monday at the Legislature, despite the governor's plea that almost $112 million be slashed for his proposed biennium budget.

After investing about $2 million of her and her husband's own money into the Davidson Academy of Nevada, philanthropist Jan Davidson told the Assembly Education Committee she wants Davidson students to receive the same state funding given other public school students. The academy has 35 pupils of ages 12 to 16. Davidson's request would ardson said. "And to have it here in our state is quite an opportunity." Assemblyman Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, asked why a similar school is not established at UNLV. Davidson said Reno was chosen because it is home to her and her husband, Bob.

Another campus in Las Vegas may be something to look at in the future, Davidson said. "I have not looked that far ahead," she said. "We still have lot of work to do here. And even though we have accomplished a lot, we still have a lot more ideas on how to make the school better. And if we were able to do that and we have the demand in Nevada, it would certainly be something we would consider." If the request for money is de nied, school officials probably would return to the 2009 Legislature with the same demands', said Davidson Academy Principal Colleen Harsin.

"We will follow it though, as long as it takes," Harsin said. "We're not about letting the students down. We have made a significant commitment to them but we would also value buy-in from the state." "These students tend to be underserved in public schools," Harsin said. "This is a nationwide challenge that we are just happening to highlight in Nevada. Our hope is that, over time, other states will take notice of the program and build similar schools and also have access to state funding as well." TIM DUNNRENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL After years of sitting vacant, the River Inn properties along Fourth Street are now up for sale, lease or a joint venture.

been arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault, Reno police said. Reno police said Brendan Dunckley Dunckley a City Council hearing on the West Fourth Street plan. The T.M. Chang family of San Mateo, has owned the property since 1979. Duhon said he is not certain whether Smith has a formal option to buy the property from Chang USA LLC, the current owner.

The River Inn properties include eight acres on the north side of the river, including a closed motel and a giant A' frame building, once planned for a casino, that fronts the Truckee River. briefly owned the Double Diamond Ranch, later was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for fraud. His casino never opened, and the motel has been closed for 28 years. The property is also the site of the historic Lawton's Hot Springs, which opened in 1884-It was famous for its gigantic outdoor swimming pool and a tree-lined park when the Mark Yori family operated it for most of the period between the 1920s and 1957. The long, narrow parcel has about a half-mile of river frontage.

The River Inn deal also includes another 16 acres on the other side of the river, opposite the closed resort. Less than a mile to the west, Chang owns another 28 acres south of Mogul. It sits between Interstate 80 and the river. At the River Inn, the redwood A-frame was built by George I. Benny, of San Francisco, before he went bankrupt in 1982.

Benny, who also ERROR WATCH A Sunday caption on a 1 960 photo misidentified the location of The Stag and a portion of the old Reno Arch. They were at the corner of Commercial Row and South Virginia Street. Harpist Jeremy Keppelmann's telephone number was listed incorrectly in a Saturday story. His number is 853-7653. In a March 27 story about rapper Eminem and his ex-wife Kim Mathers, the Associated Press misidentified stipulations of a court order.

The court order prevents them from criticizing each other only in front of their daughter, Hailie, and does not affect what they say in public. Clarification: Waste Management, the firm that picks up garbage in many areas of the Truckee Meadows, will not pick up one large item each year from each household for free. Residents can drop off a large item per household for free at the Lockwood Landfill, but Waste Management charges to pick up large items from curbside. Washoe County residents can drop off one old refrigerator per household for free. Nonresidents must pay $25 to drop off a refrigerator at Lockwood.

The Reno Gazette-Journal strives to maintain accuracy and fairness. If you see an error, please call the newsroom at 775-788-6397. was arrested March 22 for an offense in the 1 600 block of Sky Mountain Drive and on March 30 for a 2005 attack in the 4000 block of Gardella Avenue. Information from the first arrest led to the second, police said. Detectives can be reached at 785-8605 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.

Staff reports Legislators vote against data-mining companies Sparks city attorney challenges city's support of appointments WHAT'S NEXT Assembly Bill 570 will be heard by the Assembly Committee on Elections Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments today at 3:45 p.m. Washoe deputy nominated as all-star tracker Legislative Building 401 S.Carson Carson City Assembly Judiciary, 7:30 a.m., room 31 38. Assembly Government Affairs, 8 a.m., room 31 43. Senate Finance Joint Subcommittee, 8 a.m., room 31 37. Assembly Ways and Means Joint Subcommittee, 8 a.m., room 31 37.

Senate Commerce and Labor, 8 a.m., room 21 35. Senate Judiciary, 9 a.m., room 2149. Senate floor session, 1 1 a.m., Senate Chamber. Assembly floor session, 11 a.m., Assembly Chamber. Address By U.S.

Rep. Dean Heller 1 1 :30 a.m., Assembly Chamber. Assembly Taxation, 1 p.m., room 4100. Senate Taxation, 1 p.m., room 2135. Assembly Transportation, 1:30 p.m., room 3143.

Senate Legislative Operations and Elections, 1 :30 p.m., room 21 44. Senate Transportation and Homeland Security, 2:30 p.m., room 2149. Assembly Health and Human Services, 3 p.m., room 3138. Assembly Select Committee on Corrections, Parole, and Probation, 3:45 p.m., room 3161. Assembly Elections, Procedures, Ethics, and Constitutional Amendments, 3:45 p.m., room 3142.

Daily fuel gauge These are yesterday's average retail fuel prices in AAA's survey: winning $10,000 and spending a weekend at the NascarNex-tel Cup Series All-Star challenge. For three years, America's Most Wanted has teamed up with Sprint Nextel to honor first responders by creating the AMW All-Star Awards. For more than 14 years, STAFF REPORT Fernando Moreira of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office has been nominated as an America's Most Wanted All-Star. Moreira is a member of the sheriff's Hasty Team and Search and Rescue and has a chance at Moreira has volunteered his time and skills to assist Search and Rescue and train other volunteers nationwide. He became interested in tracking people while in the Portuguese army in Angola.

Moreira has assisted local law enforcement officers in numerous cases, including tracking an escapee from jail, locating teenage runaways and finding crucial evidence in a high profile murder case. To cast a vote, log on to amw.com. Votes will be tallied through April 15. The America's Most Wanted All-Star link is on the left-hand side of the home page. Area Regular Diesel Reno $3,167 $2,941 Las Vegas 2.920 2.905 Nevada 2.961 2.920 Sacramento 3.222 3.098 Nation 2.685 2.845 WEB: www.aaa.com SOURCE: AAA doctor-identified data has beneficial uses, allowing for research and doctor education.

But the bill's sponsor, Sen. Joseph Heck, R-Henderson, said that the bill made allowances for such noncommercial uses of the data. Heck said he wants to ban targeted marketing of drugs to physicians, which he called an unethical interference with a doctor's practice. Barry Gold, a lobbyist for AARP Nevada, supported the bill, saying that stopping the practice also will help combat rising drug prices. Profiling doctors just helps drug companies market the newest, most expensive drugs, said Gold.

The Nevada State Medical Association also supported the bill. The American Medical Association, which has financial contracts with the data-mining firms, opposed it, and said it offeted doctors an "opt-out" program. Heck said that program was insufficient, and allowed the drug and data-mining companies to "self-police." He added that many doctors still aren't aware their prescription information isn't private. BY JOEMULLIN ASSOCIATED PRESS A key state Senate panel voted Monday for a bill that would make Nevada the second state in the country to ban data-mining companies from buying doctors' prescription information. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted 4-1 for Senate Bill 231.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, cast the opposing vote, saying the bill would expand patient privacy rights to doctors and "I'm not ready to go there yet." A handful of data-mining companies had been purchasing information about what doctors prescribe which medications fot over a decade, selling the information to pharmaceutical companies. Connecticut-based IMS Health, considered the industry leader, reported $444 million in profits during 2006. According to the company's SEC filings, almost half its revenue comes from helping drug companies optimize their sales force. IMS Health and competitot Wolters Kluwer Health argued that current law was meant, to protect the privacy of patients, not doctors.

They argued that in government and how their elected representatives are trying to take away this voice, without a public hearing or an advisory vote," Adams said. Farside and Adams said having an appointed city attorney could lead to cronyism. A major defect in the proposed legislation is that there is no requirement the appointed city attorney be a lawyer, they said. Sparks Councilman Mike Carrigan said at last Monday's city council meeting the council should not support the bill because of the past votes by citizens indicated they want the position to remain elected rather than appointed. But the majority of the council was in favor of the bill and instructed Rob Joiner, the city's government affairs director, and city lobbyist Rocky Finseth, to support the legislation.

Activist Shirley Bertschinger, a frequent critic of Adams who helped spearhead the recall effort, said she favors the bill. "Every other city in this state has an appointed city attorney," she said. "I don't know why Reno and Sparks should have an elected one." Townsend had attached the legislation as an amendment to SB101, a bill that will amend the Sparks City Charter to allow the city council to hire outside counsel without the permission of its city attorney. But the city requested it be kept separate from SB101 and attached it to AB570. The bill would have to pass the Assembly and Senate and be signed by Gov.

Jim Gibbons to become BY GUY CLIFTON gcliftonrgj.com Embattled Sparks City Attorney Chet Adams charged Monday that the Sparks City Council is going behind the backs of voters and its own charter committee with its support of a bill that would change the city attorney positions in Sparks and Reno from elected to appointed. Sparks activist David Farside, who usually disagrees with Adams, is on his side this time. "This is about the abrogation of the rights of voters," Farside said. Assembly Bill 570 will be heard by the Assembly committee on Elections Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments today at 3:45 p.m. Adams said he plans to be there to testify against the bill.

"One of my main concerns is the rights of voters are being taken away from them," he said. "The Sparks voters have consistently said they want to vote for city attorney. This bill eviscerates that voice." Inelectionsinl974and 1991, Sparks voters rejected ballot questions that would have made the city attorney position an appointed post. In addition, the Sparks Charter Committee voted not to include the provision on its proposed charter changes that are being considered by the Legislature in a separate bill, Senate Bill 101. Farside said AB570, introduced by state Sen.

Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, is being pushed by the Reno City Council and that Sparks is tagging along with it. Reno and Sparks are the only two cities in the state with elected city attorneys. He said the bill would take away an important right of voters. "If we do not like what the city attorney has done, we (the voters) can fire him," Farside said. Farside said events in Las Vegas, particularly an ordinance that prohibited feeding the homeless in city parks that was unconstitutional, illustrate that the city attorney needs to be held accountable to the voters rather than answer to a city manager or city council that appoints the city attorney.

Adams said the proposed bill would take away the checks and balances in the city government. Adams has been in a public dispute with the Sparks City Council for several months over the planned Lazy 8 Casino in Spanish Springs. An attempt to recall Adams failed when it was ruled that not enough signatures had been collected. He is also the subject of a separate investigation into charges of misconduct in his office. He said the issue of AB570 is bigger than his personal issues, and will have far-reaching effects for years down the road.

"This is a huge issue about the citizens of Sparks, their voice "Ik WIN A NEW LENNOX AtR CONDITIONING SfSTBM-FREB II II ill i Panel OKs bill for more judgeships in Vegas, Reno I A I CLEARANCE SALE SPARKS STORE ONLY! 9 Quote of the day "I feel very blessed that I found something that worked because at age 21 that's about the last thing you want is to be in a wheelchair the rest of your life." Andrea Whittemore patient at the WhittemorePeterson Institute for Neuro-lmmune Disease being treated for the past 8 years with an experimental drug for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Schedule Today: Sam Shad hosts; Annette F. Whittemore; Dr Daniel L. Peterson; Judy A. Mikovits, research director; Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick; Steve Robinson, deputy chief of staff to governor; Ellie Lopez-Bowlan; Chuck Muth, Nevada News Views.

Wednesday: Shad and Democratic consultant Marlene Lockard host; U.S. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Carson City; Mylan Hawkins, Interface Computer Associates; lawyer Joe Guild; Chris Wicker, Washoe County Democratic Party. Thursday: Shad and Republican consultant Randi Thompson host; Hal Lenox, Nevada; Lockard. Details: "Nevada Newsmakers" airs 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Monday through Thursday on KRNV News 4, and repeats 9 to 1 1 a.m. Sundays on K0H radio (AM 780) in Reno and on Charter Cable Channel 1 4 at 9.30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Streaming video or downloads are available online at nevadanewsmakers.com fJl'UJ Lam. SUhSr fftfB PORCELAIN 1 i Tusc Beige 20x20 Reg.

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398 ft. available also passed a bill that prohibits police from requiring a victim of sexual crime to take a polygraph test. Deputy Attorney General Robert Bony said the changes in AB482 are needed to comply with the federal Violence Against Women Act and fot Nevada to continue to get federal funding for law enforcement and court costs related to domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault and teen dating violence. Nevada got $1.3 million in 2006 under that program. The panel also reviewed AB300, which removes the requirement that someone who commits a crime using a deadly weapon receive twice the sentence for the crime.

ties and providing support staff salaries, benefits and other related costs. The combined costs at the local level are estimated at $26 million for 10 judges in Clark County, encompassing Las Vegas, and $7 million for two judges in Washoe County, encompassing Reno, over the next two years. Assemblyman Ty Cobb, R-Reno, said there's a need for more judges. He supported the increase but not its fiscal impact. "I would like to see the localities negotiate the exact number (of judges) that is palatable to the state and the localities," Cobb said.

The Judiciary Committee BY AMANDA FEHD ASSOCIATED PRESS The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted Monday for a bill that adds 12 new judgeships in the Las Vegas and Reno areas, but some panel members expressed concern about the measure's local government price tag of at least $32 million. Assembly Bill 246 now moves to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee because of its fiscal impact. The Legislature must consider the price to the state for paying judge's salaries, about $4 million a year. But those costs are much less than what the counties would shoulder for building new court facili Rustic Brick 16x16 Reg. sq.

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undisclosed port, somewhere in the Middle East. "Due to host nation sensitivities, we can't release the name of the port we're in right now," said Lt. Nathan Chnstensen, a ship STAFF REPORT After participating in a massive military exercise in the Persian Gulf, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is at an spokesman. Pilots aboard the Stennis trained at Fallon Naval Air Station, 60 miles east ot Sparks, before the carrier left in January for the Middle East 15 wvwThertoooxom 8975 Double Diamond iwu dreg btreet, A-5 Suite 303 775.853.8197 775.358.7733 NR07-0403.