The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 13

THE SALINA JOURNAL SXXTTURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2OOO BB LAS VEGAS No alcohol allowed In a city famous for its nightlife, alcohol ban raises ire By ANGIE WAGNER The Associated Press LAS VEGAS In a city better known for encouraging sin rather than salvation, dozens of churches are making it tough for new bars or nightclubs to set up shop. Some say a new ordinance that bans the sale of alcohol near churches is hampering efforts to breathe new economic life into west Las Vegas a pocket of poverty untouched by casino glitz. The area is home to 176 churches, some set up in small storefronts. "It's an area of town that is in desperate need of some redevelopment," City Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who represents west Las Vegas, said. The ordinance, passed by the City Council with little fanfare in December, restricts alcohol sales within 400 feet of a church.

Taverns are restricted within 1,500 of a church. Existing bars and stores were grandfathered in, but they cannot expand or keep their liquor licenses if they are sold. Weekly believes many developers simply haven't proposed new bars or stores in the area because of the ordinance. He has also has had complaints from convenience stores that have lost their liquor licenses and now can't reapply. "I don't think it's the churches causing the problems," said Sarann Knight Freddy, president of the Jackson Street Redevelopment Co.

"They had nothing to do with the ordinance." In the 1940s and 1950s, west Las Vegas was known for its clubs places such as the Harlem Club, Brown Derby and Ebony Club. Many black performers, including Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis headlined on the Strip, but were forced to stay at west Las Vegas boarding houses. West Las Vegas is regarded as the start of segregation in the city and remains predominantly black today. Now, it is often overlooked and has decayed, becoming infested with gangs and drugs. Few developers have been interested in the area.

The Associated Press Pastor Harold Dorsey poses outside his Las Vegas church near a grocery store that sells liquor. Under a new Las Vegas city ordinance, liquor sales now are banned near churches. Freddy's nonprofit group and others are working to revitalize the neighborhood, but the ordinance is thwarting people who have purchased land in the area and want to open clubs and other alcohol-selling businesses. "They won't be able to carry their dreams out," she said. Preddy suggests churches, her group and government officials work out some kind of agreement.

For the churches, keeping out bars doesn't seem that bad. What's the big deal? "You only hear it in Las Vegas," the Rev. Harold Dorsey, pastor of the Neway Church of God in Christ, said. His church, located across from a grocery store that sells alcohol, has been in the neighbor- hood for 17 years. He believes there are enough clubs and bars in the city and doesn't see wny limiting bars would limit redevelopment.

"It's crazy," said the Rev. S.C. Hooks, pastor of the Great Commission Interdenominational Church and a member of the West Las Vegas Neighborhood Council. "We've got a lot of casinos, but we still got to raise our children here. "That's just the law and they'll just have to abide by it." Weekly is sympathetic and understands that quality of life is important but isn't sure what the answer -is.

"There is always room for discussion. If it calls for changing something to make it work, that's open for discussion," he said. WORLD YOUTH DAY Church Many buildings at age where repairs are needed FROM PAGE B4 But the purpose is not to replace the old building, Smith said. "There are things and emotions in that building that cannot be replaced," he said. "We are building something new.

Something for the now and the next generation. You could never replace a building like that," First Covenant Church Planning has begun for a new $5.5 million building for First Covenant Church, 801 E. Cloud. The church board's chairwoman, Kristin Seaton, said the church has purchased property at Magnolia and Markley streets, and the next step will be to bring building proposals to a vote of the congregation. The church will begin a major funds campaign with presentations to church members during the 8:30,9:45 and 11 a.m.

Sunday worship services. Featured speaker will be the Rev. Robert S. Hallett, president of TLC Ministries, New Castle, who will lead the campaign through December. Seaton said a construction schedule won't be set until building plans are confirmed.

The congregation voted to consider a new location for the church in January 1999. "We were feeling primarily land-locked, and we're interested in continuing our outreach," Seaton said. "We realized we needed larger space for our outreach and were concerned that we would take over the neighborhood." St. Mary's St. Mary's Catholic Church, 23O E.

Cloud, is going to build new parish offices, a parish hall and meeting rooms. The Rev. Kerry Ninemire said to make room for the new additions, the Catholic Rectory, which includes the present priest living quarters and the parish office, will be razed. The project is expected to cost $1.4 million, half of which has been raised through a fund-raising campaign. Ninemire said the strong interest in Catholic education led to the success of the fund-raising campaign.

By necessity, Ninemire said, the church had to have a parish hall to accommodate the growth and to add to the fellowship of the congregation. The existing St. Mary's parish hall, across the parking lot, will be converted into classrooms or library and computer space for St. Mary's Grade School. The growth in Sacred Heart schools is necessitating more classroom space.

"The economy in Salina is good. It's allowing people to contribute," Ninemire said. Construction is expected to be finished within a year. First Presbyterian First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Eighth, has spent about $550,000 on renovations and maintenance projects.

Church administrator Mary Andersen said the work included an elevator, reconfiguring two classrooms, remodeling some of Blair Hall (the basement area), landscaping and building a new entrance that faces the parking lot. The construction was completed this past month. Andersen said the need for a new elevator triggered a capital campaign for major renovations to the 80-year-old church. "We originally set out to install a new elevator because the one we had didn't go to all the floors of our educational building," Andersen said. "We began with that project and decided to keep going.

"We have had a lot of good comments. (The congregation) is very pleased with the elevator. The greater accessibility Young Catholics feel the heat Organizers stock up on water as youths walk through Rome By The Associated Press ROME With Rome facing the hottest weekend of the year, organizers are trying to keep more than a million Catholic pilgrims gathered for World Youth Day from passing out in the heat. "Fainting? They are all fainting," a Red Cross officer said glumly at a relief tent set up near St. Peter's Church.

Dozens of pilgrims sought aid Friday, when temperatures hit 86 degrees. More than 1,100 people sought medical assistance ii-i the first three days of the Roman Catholic Church's annual World Youth Day. The most serious case was a 16-year-old Chilean girl who passed out and spent seven hours at a hospital. The pilgrims have been wall-c- ing miles in the sun, from basilica to basilica. Firefighters have been spraying crowds with water, opening fire riy- drants and keeping public lawn sprinklers going as impromptu, showers.

Weather forecasters say trie biggest challenge will be Saturday and Sunday, when a projected 1.5 million people gather in the Rome suburb of Tor Ver- gata to attend Pope John Paul II's night vigil and Sunday Mass. As the pilgrims walk to the field where they will stay overnight through midday Sunday, the temperature will hover around 100 degrees, made even steamier by humidity above 80 percent and a southern wind. The grounds where they will sleep under the stars and watch the events are hilly and treeless, with just a few tents to provide shade. has been a wonderful feature." Andersen said she guesses that much of the local church construction has to do with the ages of the buildings. "A lot of churches are like ours.

They are probably old, and there just comes a time when, to keep your plant viable, you have to put some money into them," she said. Episcopal-Christ Cathedral The Episcopal-Christ Cathedral, 138 S. Eighth, is doing some repair work to maintain its 1906-vintage building. Started in 1999, the work is a four- phase, four-year process expected to cost $325,000. Most of the money has been raised.

Masonry repair accounts for about $110,000 of the cost, said Robert Frisbie, head of the building and grounds committee for Christ Cathedral. Other projects include work on the air conditioning equipment, foundation, roof, parking lot, electrical, plumbing and painting. "Christ Cathedral is bringing its building into top-notch shape," Frisbie said. Doug Peterson, parish administrator, said, "A lot of the work itself stemmed from the fact that there is some needed maintenance and upgrades for the facility. And some of it is the want to develop and enhance the cathedral." The first phase of masonry work, which has been completed, involved repairing stone and mortar on tne north, south and east gables of the building.

The second involves the replacement of mortar. That will be followed by the cleaning of stone and replacing the interior mortar of the bell tower. The project will continue through spring 2O02. Reporter Tana Thomson can be reached, at 823-6464, Ext. 173, or by e-mail at saljournal.com.

SPECIAL EVEIMTS "Melons For Missions" is planned at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at University United Methodist Church, 1509 S. Santa Fe. Pastor Conway has returned from Texas with some ripe melons. A freewill donation will go for mission work.

Alto-tenor soloist Bill Crawford will perform during the 10 a.m. Sunday Eucharist at Christ Cathedral, 138 S. Eighth. The Ramsey Family Singers will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Fellowship Baptist Church, 600 W.

Prescott. Members are Harry and Joyce Ramsey accompanied by their son Tim and his family. As we lead our youth from childhood into adolescence, we approach a crucial period that will influence their entrance to adulthood. Often it is difficult to know how to obtain the appropriate response from our son or daughter. How do we maintain the control of a parent and still be a friend our child can confide in? Not an easy feat; a parent needs help! There is help for us and for our children.

Enroll your children in Sunday School, Bible School, and youth groups that provide wholesome and exciting activities. Make sure they are guided by youth leaders who have studied the best ways to communicate at such a turbulent time in human growth and development. Enroll yourself in Bible study and find your strength and wisdom through the weekly worship, sharing with those with similar concerns. This will help you work with your children while serving as an example. Worship this week.

Tilt the balance in your family's favor. Sunday Monday Psalm Psalm 61 Tuesday Psalm Wednesday Psalm Thursday Psalm 73 Friday Saturday Psalm Psalm Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society Copyright2000, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.O. Box BOOS, Cfiarlottesville, VA 229O6, www.kwnews.com Both your FAITH and your CHURCH GROW through REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE OVER 37YEARS OF QUALITY SERVICE BY THE HASSMAN FAMILY Termite Pest Control, Inc. I MEMORIAL ART COMPANY, INC. "In Our 70th Year Under Same Family Management," 1608 S.

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