Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 15

"-VMS- It MID AOVbHIIStMtNT SECTION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2003 RENO Sparks could end Hot August Nights participation i i 1 I I City loses $80,707, report shows: Of six annual events, only Big Easy will turn profit this year, board learns. MHHU.J.... i yiiiy iiidhii ii in in i i "People were bringing their own (food and drink) in and sitting down as opposed to other events where they would be walking around," Sherer said. "It wasn't the cash cow we thought it would be." The city spent 1 96,352 on the six special events this year, $29,555 more than in 2002 due to increased expenses associated with Hot August Nights and an extra 1 3,500 in police services for the farmer's market. Board members directed Sherer to make a list of events that could be cut from the schedule.

"We may have to make some real hard decisions and we better be ready with wh ich ones we are going to make it on," Councilman Phil Salerno said. inating an event. Councilman John Mayer said the city should consider not participating in Hot August Nights instead of cutting costs at other events. "I'd rather eliminate an event than cut costs," Mayer said. "I don't see how you can say that it makes money for the city." The other events are the Nugget Rib Cook-Off over Labor Day, Star Spangled Sparks in July and Hometowne Farmer's Market during the summer.

Parks and Recreation Director Stan Sherer said the increased costs for Hot August Nights were due to the city assuming about $70,000 in production costs for entertainment after the Silver Club reduced its role as a sponsor. as in 2002, $61,477. The report came as the council, acting as the Sparks Redevelopment Agency Board, learned only oneof the city's six annual events will earn a profit this year. For the first time in its three-year history, The Big Easy in July earned $3,834.43. Sparks Hometowne Christmas is expected to cost $48,825 next month, the report said.

Despite overwhelming popularity, estimates are that the six special events will cost nearly $200,000 in 2003, which board members want reduced even if it means elim Reno Gazette-Journal file CAR BUFFS: Debbie and Tim Pinnell of Reno take a photo of a red 1936 Ford coupe during the Sparks Show and Shine in Victorian Square in this Aug. 8 file photo. tions, he said. Food and beverage sales were about $24,000, half the 2002 amount. By Alison Bath RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL Some Sparks City Council members asked Monday whether Hot August Nights activities at Victorian Square should be discontinued after falling short of expectations this year.

The city spent nearly $215,000 for Hot August Nights events while revenues were 1 34,000, a loss of $80,707, according to report released Monday. Tracy Dominguez, superintendent of parks and recreation, said the city had hoped to lose only as much HOLIDAY CLEANUP WELL GROOMED: Santa gets his beard trimmed Monday at MasterCuts in Meadowood Mall by Eva Ernster. "I think it looks great," Santa said afterward. RflKHt tarn inhfiNtf TODAY Freeway link will be focus of meeting STAFF REPORT The planned construction of the final freeway link between Reno and Carson City is the subject of an informational meeting planned today by the Nevada Department of Transportation. The three-hour meeting begins at 4 p.m.

at the Galena Hign School cafeteriamultipurpose room, 3600 Butch Cassidy Drive, Reno, covering details about construction of an 8.5-mile section of six-lane freeway. The freeway would connect the Mount Rose Highway to Bowers Mansion, bypassing the communities of Steamboat, Washoe City and Pleasant Valley. Public comments will be accepted during the meeting or can be sent to Todd Montgomery, Interstate 580 freeway extension project manager, 1263 South Stewart Carson City NV 89712. Comments also can be sent via NDOPs Web site at www.nevadadot.com pubinvolvementmeetings. Sparks Today More Sparks news coverage is available online at RGJ.comsparkstoday and as a section in Sparks editions.

Accidents mean hours of work for Sparks investigators. But those experts are spending less time on scene and are more accurate than before. Global Positioning Systems make that possible. Sparks is the only city in the state using these procedures. Obituaries 4C Cameron, Hugh Cohen, Willie Cole, Joni Curtis, Charles Grellman, Kevin Hughes, Harry D.

Jennings, Helen Jepsen, Randy Lewis, Edna P. Nay, Marian L. Quilici, Rose Sibley, EldonW. Skipworth, Jerry Stewart Frank Stewart, James Tremmil, Birdie M. Walker, Sylvia L.

White, Woodrow Forum What's your view on latest survey? Today's nimctinn- com jr- If Gov. Reno Gazette-Journal Arnold i By Susan Voyles RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Former employees of the closed Sundowner Hotel and Casino in Reno are creating a network to help each other find work, spread the word about welfare benefits and lobby for insurance reform. About 40 of the 375 workers who lost their jobs met at the Alliance for Workers' Right offices Monday morning to vent and continue searching for new work after being laid off a week ago. "They said 'thank you' to nobody," said Seferino Ramirez, who worked at the Sundowner for 23 years, most recently as a porter. "It's a little hard right now to find a job.

We don't have insurance or nothing like that. I don't know if it is something we can do something about," he said. "Everybody feels bad." Employees were given notices saying their last working day would be Dec. 1 But the hotel-casino closed Nov. 9.

Rob Whittey, the Sundowner's chief financial officer, said the hotel-casino couldn't stay open three more weeks. He said the Sundowner tried to help its workers by providing a job fair and -bringing in insurance brokers. But that insurance would cost more than lower-income workers could afford to pay with their unemployment checks, according to state insurance officials. "Medical costs have gone through the roof. What can The city had expected to make up those costs through food and beverage sales, which fell short of projec- ami "Lincoln Wax, it's one of the best," Prez said.

Before the polishing was done, 4-year-old Bailey Jones ran into the shoe shop to greet Santa. Bailey's parents, Kevin and Donya Jones, waited outside, ready for some early shopping. "There is actually a selection when you shop early," Donya Jones said. "Once I realized you could actually find things, we went ahead and did it." There are 36 shopping days, if you don't count Thanksgiving, left until Christmas and who knows how many before Santa's next haircut. Photo by Candle TowllReno Gazette-Journal CHRISTMAS WISHES: Bailey Jones, 4, sits on Santa's lap as he gets his shoes shined Monday by Manuel Prez, owner of Guys 'n' Dolls Shoe Repair at Meadowood Mall.

"For him, it has to be special," Prez said. Santa gets makeover at mall Reno Gazette-Journal file WHERE TO GET HELP Welfare: For food stamps, temporary assistance for needy families with dependent children and Medicaid, contact the state welfare office at 3697 Kings Row in Reno. Online forms: Applications, in English and Spanish can be downloaded for temporary assistance for families from the welfare office's home page on the Internet at www.welfare.state.nv.us. Energy assistance: Low-income households might be eligible for help with utility bills offered through the state energy assistance program. In the Reno area, call 687-4420.

Applications also are available from Sierra Pacific Power Co. I say?" Whittey said. "I feel very badly for these employees." The Sundowner had employed 300 full-time and 75 part-time workers when it announced the closing Oct. 2. See SUNDOWNER on 2C ccso Anguiano Tellez ccso fV, be looking sharp.

Along with the haircut and beard trim, Santa got his boots polished. "It's a once-a-year shine," Santa said. "These boots are just special for Christmas." At Meadowood, Santa never gives his real name. Mall administrators won't reveal it, eithec It was the first time Manuel Prez of Guys 'n' Dolls Shoe Repair had shined Santa's boots. He considered it an honor.

"It has to be extra special," Prez said. "For him, it has to be the best." For Santa, Prez broke out his finest polish. Leads run out in Carson case 'I V1 I WOWED: Courtney Hines, 2, and Kamryn Burke, 1 9 months, both of Reno, watch Santa get his beard trimmed Monday at MasterCuts in Meadowood Mall. By Don Cox RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Santa's beard is 6 inches long. You can measure it, or take the word of Eva Ernster, who should know.

She gave Santa Claus a haircut and trimmed his beard Monday, his first day at Meadowood Mall. "He may need another trim before the holidays," said Ernster of MasterCuts at the mall. "It depends on Santa." Before hoisting the first child onto his lap and hearing the first Christmas wish, Santa Claus must be well groomed. "I think it looks great," said a jolly Santa, after checking the scissor work in a mirror. A happy Santa means the holidays soon will be here.

It's also a signal to begin Christmas shopping. "We've already started," said Marcie Bailey, who, with husband Paul and their two sons, 3-year-old Nicolas and 1-year-old Ben, hit the mall early. "Hopefully, we'll be done in the next couple weeks." They were in time to see Santa get trimmed. Santa, according to Meadowood officials, always arrives at the mall a week before Thanksgiving. Christmas shoppers started showing Schwarzenegger doesn't keep his promise not to raise taxes, will California voters do to him what they did to Gray Davis? Yesterday's question: Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh returns to work today on 650 stations after a 38-day absence after he admitted being addicted to painkillers.

Will his audience shrink, stay the same or increase? Results as of 9 p.m. Monday: 315 votes. Shrink: 66 votes, 21 percent. Same: 125 votes, 40 percent Increase: 124 votes, 39 percent. Vote at RGJ.comnews.

This is not a scientific poll. It only reports the responses of Internet users who choose to participate. Contact us City Editor: Keith Stone, (775)327-6785 E-mail: kstonergj.com Newsroom fax: (775) 788-6458 Circulation: (775) 786-8744 Classified: (775)348-7355 By Steve Timko RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The search for missing Carson City woman Bertha Anguiano has run out of leads that could solve the case immediately, but investigators have so many follow-up tips that investigators might ask the state to help, authorities said Monday. Anguiano has been missing since Nov. 10, when her 3-year-old son was found at a Smith's grocery store in Dayton next to a construction site where Anguiano's husband was working.

The boy was bleeding from the head and told investigators his mother had been killed, investigators said. The boy told investigators that Juan Carlos Tellez, a laborer with no fixed address, hit him and his mother and pushed them from a truck, Carson City Sheriff Kenneth Furlong said. Investigators learned the up late last month and early this month. "Shopping has been really strong since Nevada Day," said Cynthia Moore, Meadowood's marketing director. It will get busier later.

"The two biggest days are the day after Thanksgiving and the Saturday before Christmas," Moore said. "After Thanksgiving is a traditional shopping day for a lot of families. They're looking for bargains. The Saturday before Christmas is 'last No matter when the shoppers and their children come, Santa will married mother of th ree had been having a relationship with Tellez in recent weeks. Investigators spent most of Monday interviewing people in Fallon, Furlong said.

Tellez stayed in a Fallon motel the weekend before the mother vanished and checked out of it three hours after Anguiano's 3-year-old son was found in Dayton, Furlong said. At the time of the interview, the investigators had not returned from Fallon to brief the sheriff about their findings. See MISSING on 2C I i.