Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 10

Nevada Briefing MONDAY 2B NOVEMBER 18, 1991 A daily look at people and events making news in Nevada. 1 993. If approved, the lower rates would go into effect Feb. 1. Inquest clears police officers LAS VEGAS A coroner's inquest jury has cleared two Metro Police officers of wrongdoing in the shooting death of a man at a trailer park.

Jurors have ruled that the Nov. 2 shooting death of Chuck Walters was justifiable homicide. Walters was shot by Metro officers Gary Casper and Cindy Rodriguez after he answered the door to his mobile home with a gun in his hand. Rodriguez, who was on her first day on the job without a training officer, and Casper said Walters rushed to the door and opened it with a gun in his hand. Casper said he thought he was going to be shot so he fired his weapon three times, hitting Walters with each of the bullets.

Rodriguez also fired twice, but missed. Police had responded to the mobile home park at the request of a neighbor woman who said Walters had threatened her. Jury acquits Vegas art dealer LAS VEGAS A Las Vegas art dealer has been acquitted of charges he hired another man to burn down his luxurious Hawaiian home. A federal court jury has cleared Lawrence Ettinger of charges in the April 1985 fire that destroyed his $400,000 home on Maui. Ettinger was indicted in 1 989 along with Steve Homick, who has since been convicted of several murders and sentenced to death.

During the week-long trial, prosecutors tried to persuade jurors that Ettinger hired Homick and Michael Dominguezto torch his house for the insurance. food banks. Power plant meeting tonight LAS VEGAS A public forum will be held here tonight on a Utah firm's proposal to build a 100 million hydroelectric power plant next to the scenic Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Consultant ferry Hickman of St. George, Utah, will be available to answer questions about the plant proposed by his firm's client.

Blue Diamond North Pumped Storage Power. The Friends of Nevada Wilderness will sponsor the forum, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the Nevada State Museum. Friends of Nevada Wilderness is a non-profit coalition of groups and individuals concerned about public land issues. Nuclear dump sessions begin LAS VEGAS A meeting will be held here tonight on Department of Energy plans to study Yucca Mountain as the site for the nation's first high-level nuclear waste dump.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Cashman Field Center. Other meetings are scheduled for Tuesday in Beatty at the Community Center and Thursday in Reno at Lawlor Events Center. The meetings are designed for the public to discuss their concerns about the proposed repository. Hawkins fights redistricting LAS VEGAS Las Vegas City Councilman Frank Hawkins has criticized a redistricting proposal that would take the downtow casino area away from his district.

Under a revision proposed by city staff, the downtown area would be removed from Hawkins' Ward 1 and placed in Councilman Bob Nolen's Ward 3. Haw kins, a former Nevada and L.A. Raiders running back, said he wants the downtown and Union Pacific property to stay in his ward but he's willing to give up the southeast part of his ward. He said his desire to keep downtown has nothing to do with keeping the casinos, which traditionally have been generous campaign contributors. "It has nothing to do with contributions," Hawkins said.

"They (the casinos) have given to all the candidates. "I have downtown now and I'm not willing to give that up. Why should 1 don't have enough reasons why I should give it up. I think that's the way it should be." Nolen said he has no problems if Hawkins wants to keep the downtown in his district. Gas company rates may dip LAS VEGAS Southwest Gas Corp.

has asked for a rate adjustment that will slightly decrease the average residential bill. The adjustment would reduce bills by an average of about 3 cents a month. Southwest spokesman Dante Pistone said the request to the Nevada Public Service Commission would be the company's only rate request of a year. Under an agreement between the company and the PSC earlier this year, under which the utility took over control of CP National's gas franchise for Henderson and Green Valley, Southwest Gas agreed to hold the line on increases until at least Clark County School District reduces fleet by 36 cars LAS VEGAS The Clark County School District has removed 36 cars from its 744-vehicle fleet in a cost-cutting measure. The streamlining, which followed a study of district vehicle usage, will save the district at least $3 1 9,000 this year, officials said.

The district sold 33 cars at auction Nov. 2 and junked three others. In addition to the vehicle cutbacks, officials have reduced the number of cars assigned on a 24-hour basis and increased the use of vehicle pools. Scout drive successful LAS VEGAS A Boy Scout drive has netted 42 tons of food for Southern Nevada's needy families. The amount collected Saturday was nine more tons than local Boy Scouts gathered during last year's national Scouting Food drive.

Drive spokesman Mike Miller said 4.600 local Scouts collected more than 50.000 individual food items. He said 95 percent of the non-perishable items were collected in the Las Vegas Valley. The other 5 percent came from the Lake Havasu City, and Needles, Calif, areas. The Scouts spent the morning distributing bags door to door and returned in the afternoon to collect the food. The organization has given the food to the Salvation Armv, which will distribute it to area Cremation will be at Sierra Crematory, under the direction of Walton's Sparks Funeral Home.

Floyd E. Warren Medical technologist Cremation will be at Sierra Crematory, under the direction of Walton's Sparks Funeral Home. A memorial is being established ith the American Lung Association, SIDS Research, 61 19 Ridgeview Court. Reno 89509. Floyd Everette Warren, 77, died of natural causes Saturday at Washoe Medical Center.

A native of Healdsburg, Warren Cemetery. Elizabeth D. Sweetland Tiger South Dakota native Elizabeth Darlene Sweetland Tiger, 64, died of natural causes Sunday at Sparks Family-Hospital. A native of Aberdeen, S.D., she was born March 2 1 1 927, and had been a northern Nevada resident for eight years, coming from Seattle. Mrs.

Tiger was a homemaker. Surviving are daughter Roseanne Slaver of Henderson; brothers Tom Sweetland of St. Peter, Douglas Sweetland of Onalaska, John Sweetland of Liberty ville, Greg Sweetland of Duluth, and Wallace Sweetland of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sisters Joan Cottrell of Concord, Vivian Skinner of San Jose, Patricia Brewer of Eathan, S.D., Margaret Haagof Phillips, Roberta Sweetland of Watertown, S.D., and Judy Chittick of Midland, and two grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sparks First Ward, Prater Wav.

Robert W. Bates Grocer Robert William Bates, 70, died Friday at Hearthstone of Northern Nevada. Sparks. A native of Grandview, he was born July 7, 1 92 1 and had been a Reno-Sparks resident since 1958. Bates was in the grocery' business for many years.

He once was the oldest living kidney transplant recipient, receiving a kidney 23 years ago at the University of Utah Medical Center. Survi ving are his idow Ruth and daughter Chris Bates, both of Sparks; daughter Jaci Bates and son Randall, both of Reno; daughter Roberta Talmerton of Atlanta; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian burial ill be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Therese of the Little Flower Catholic Church, with burial at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, under the direction of Ross, Burke Knobel Mortuary, Reno.

Madelina Dalmasso Giraudo Virginia City homemaker VIRGINIA CITY established with the Storey County Fire Department Children's Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 603, Virginia Citv, 89440. Stanley F. Martin Slot machine supervisor McGILL Stanley F. Martin.

59, died Thursday at his residence. A native of Springfield, he was born Nov. 9, 1 932, and had been a McGill resident since 1946. Martin was a slot machine supervisor, a member of Ducks Unlimited, and a life member and district chaplain of Veterans of Foreign Wars. James Jewel Post 3547.

He was also a Korean War veteran. Surviving are his widow Andrea "Andy" of McGill, sons Stanley Jr. and Dale, both of Washington, brothers Kenneth R. of Ruth and Larry E. of Reno, sister Linda Lee Martin of Colorado, three grandchildren, two aunts, one uncle and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation is scheduled from 1 1 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Wilson-Bates Mortuary, Ely. A graveside funeral is scheduled for 1 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ely City Visitation for Madelina Dalmasso Giraudo, 94, who died Saturday at Carson City Convalescent Hospital. Carson City, is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m.

today at Walton's Chapel of the Valiey Cemetery and Mausoleum. Carson City. A native of Andonno. Italv, she was born Oct. 25.

1897, and had lived in Virginia City since 1 925, coming from Reno, where she lived for 20 years. She came from Italy to Bach, Okla. Mrs. Giraudo was a homemaker and a member of the Catholic Church. Her husband.

Paul, died in 1974. and ason. Jim Rosso, died in 1942. Surviving are sons Martin Rosso of Virginia City and Paul of Reno, daughters Mary Rosachi of Las Vegas and Jennie Helfrich of Merced. five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation also is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Walton's Chapel of the Valley Cemtery and Mausoleum, Carson City. Recitation of the rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Walton Funeral Home, Reno.

A funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, with burial at the cemetery, both in Reno. A memorial is being Sparks Family Hospital HOl.LEN 'To Joe and Robin of Reno, a daughter. Nov. 17, 1991.

Washoe Medical Center BRADY-PERSVN To Sandra Brady and Albert Persyn III of Reno.ason. Nov. 16. 1991. GRIENER-BROWN To Cherri Grienerand Daniel Brown I ofReno.ason.Nov.

17, 1991. JAIME DE AVIEA-AVTLA CORDERO To Martha Jaime De Avila and Rene Avila Cordero of Reno, a daughter, Nov. 15, 1991. NOBLES To Harvey and Purita of Reno, a son, Nov. 16, 1991.

ROBERTS To Vaughn and Angelique of Sparks, a son, Nov. 1 5, 1991. SMITH To Todd and Francesmarie of Sparks, a daughter, Nov. 16, 1991. SOTELO JACINTO-JACINTO SOTELO To Monica Sotelo Jacinto and Bleuterio Jacinto Sotelo of Reno, a son, Nov.

17, 1991. STEWART To Joseph and Laura of Reno, a son, Nov. 16, 1991. he was born Feb. 25, 1 924, and had been a Reno resident since 1951, coming from Walnut Creek, Calif.

Warren was a medical technologist, owning his own laboratory. He was a charter member of the Sparks Sertoma Club, and a member of the American Legion and B.P.O. Elks CLub. He was also a World War II Navy veteran. Surviving are his widow Ermana of Reno, sons Roger of Sparks and Ronald E.

of Henderson, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral is scheduled for a later date at Mountain View Cemetery. TOURISM mmmmmm0m Nobody laughing at Laughlin's ideas these days ifiT-TW J. 3sf Si If I LAUGHLIN When entrepreneur Don Laughlin bought a bankrupt, eight-room motel on the shores of the Colorado River in 1966, a few of his new neighbors across the river in Bullhead City, must have snickered. Who would want to visit that barren stretch of Nevada desert, they reasoned.

Now, 25 years later, one thing is clear: You can't laugh at Laughlin any more. Laughlin, the resort city that grew from the motel, recently passed Lake Tahoe to become Nevada's No. 3 gaming mecca and it's closing in on Reno to become No. 2. The town north of Needles, has built its reputation by marketing itself as a folksy, friendly alternative to Las Vegas.

The along the river. They had to hurry, though, because this bandwagon was moving at a breathtaking pace. In the past two years, the Edgewater and Sam's Town casino-hotels have each expanded by opening new towers. The Flamingo Hilton opened last year with 2,000 rooms to take the title as Laughlin's largest resort. In the past few months, work has been under way to double the size of the Laughlin Bridge from two to four lanes.

The bridge, which Don Laughlin built himself in 1 986 for $3.5 million, has been vital to the town's expansion. The majority of Laughlin's workforce lives across the river in Bullhead City. Still on the drawing board, although on hold for now because rooms are inexpensive, and the table limits tend to be lower, too. The $2 blackjack and craps table still reigns here, and nickel slots are plentiful. Lake Tahoe found fame by offering an exciting night life for skiers and mountain tourists; Laughlin has done the same thing for summer river rats and winter snowbirds RV-driving retirees who flee cold climates to enjoy warm Southwest winters.

The town that started as a wide spot in the road, with 12 slot machines, now boasts 10 casinos, seven of which also include a major hotel operation. After watching the expansion and success of Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort, such major casino chains as Harrah's, Hilton and Circus Circus jumped on the bandwagon and set up shop investors are nervous about the recession, are a giant hotel tower addition to the Golden Nugget and a massive four-hotel, casino complex called Emerald River, almost one mile south of the main casino row. The project, which includes an already-open golf course, will be built over the next 10 years. Farther south along the shore another project called the Para-disc Bay Resort, being developed by the Fort Mojave Indian tribe, will have another 1 ,000 rooms. Don Laughlin says he knew the area had potential.

But he's still surprised at the way things have gone. Now Laughlin doesn't want the town to lose its charm a charge he levies at his former home, Las Vegas. Gannett News Service NAME BRANDS HUNTER DOUGLAS LEVELOR K1RSCH DELMAR LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! JE.OPv CUSTOM WINDOW FASHIONS HOLIDAY DELIVERY "FAST OR FREE" imz AVG R. FROM 1 Mil AVG R. FROM Safe 'MINIBLINDS VERTICALS PLEATED SHADES $2800 $g-joo $gyoo $gg00 $0000 AVG R.

FROM Craig Sailor Gazette-Journal GOING UP: Reno firefighters hoist a ladder at a vacant mobile home that burned Sunday at about 1:40 p.m. at 800 Gentry Way. Firefighters had the flames controlled within three minutes of arrival. Battalion Chief Greg McVickers said the fire apparently started in a cooking appliance in the kitchen. No injuries were reported.

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