A compliment or encouragement is verbal sunshine. We are pleased to quote the following three short but meaningful ones:

***** No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make other person feel important. ---Mary Kay Ash
***** There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assit another human being---to help someone succeed. ---Alan Loy McGinnis
***** There are two things people want more than sex and money ...recognition and praise. ---Mary Kay Ash

It's our pleasure to post a short essay from "Speaker's Source Book II," by Glenn Van Ekeren:*2

Roger Ailes asks this penetrating question, " Do you bring other people up or down?" He continues, "This may be the most important question facing you in your career and life."*2
A natural follow-up would be, "How are you bringing other people up?" "What specific things do you do every day to show others their importance to you?"
One of the most difficult, yet meaningful actions we can take to encourage others is celebrate their success. Forty thousand fans were in attendance in the Oakland stadium when Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock's career stolen base record. According to USA Today, Lou left baseball in 1979 but faithfully followed Henderson's prestigious career and was excited about his success. Realizing that Rickey would set a new record, Brock was quoted in USA Today as saying, "I'll be there. Do you think I'm going to miss it now? Rickey did 12 years what took me 19. He's amazing."
Imagine how Rickey Henderson felt knowing the person whose stolen base record he was about to break was excited about his achievements. Envy or jealousy might have been more natural feelings for Lou Brock but encouragers set self-interest aside and rejoice in the happiness of others.*3

-------------------------------------
References

*1. PAI of WBTI is the initial of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. Ekeren, Glenn Van. "Speaker's Source Book II," (1994), Prentice Hall Press, Paramus, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Press.
*3. Ibid.

Friday, December 03, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Country's Stars Align
The National Finals Rodeo brings an array of Nashville's biggest names to town
By DOUG ELFMAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL

"Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich headline a concert Wednesday at the House of Blues.

Bill Engvall

Larry the Cable Guy

Ron White

Country singer Trace Adkins sings Thursday at the Silverton.

Dolly Parton performs Tuesday at Caesars Palace.

The National Finals Rodeo rides into the Thomas & Mack Center all week. For music fans, that means a lot of country singers and comedians are swinging into venues around Las Vegas. A look at most of the lineups:

• Randy Travis sings at 9:30 p.m. today through Sunday at the Golden Nugget.

Travis just signed up to help a family buy a new home in Bakersfield, Calif., and to raise $60,000 so the family's kids can go to college.

Tickets cost $93.50 at the hotel, 129 E. Fremont St. To charge by phone, call 386-8100.

• Stand-up Bill Engvall puts comedy in the Stardust at 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday and Thursday through Dec. 11.

Engvall has been performing in other cities on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour with Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White. All of them but Foxworthy are performing separately during rodeo week.

Tickets cost $41.65-$47.15 at the box office, 3000 Las Vegas Blvd. South. To charge by phone, call 732-6325.

• Larry the Cable Guy performs stand-up at 7:30 and 11 p.m. tonight in the Mandalay Bay Theatre.

The comedian, whose real name is Dan Whitney, took heat recently for joking on the TV show "The View" that he was on the Aiken Diet, "where you pop in a Clay Aiken CD and try to keep food down." Whitney has insinuated that the fallout from "soccer moms" over the joke has been stupid.

Tickets cost $57.75 at the theater box office, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and through Ticketmaster. To charge by phone, call 632-7580.

• Fremont Street stages free concerts by Steve Forde and the Flange 8-11 p.m. tonight and Saturday on its Third Street stage, and the TJ Weaver Band 8-11 p.m. tonight-Sunday on the First Street stage.

• Lonestar sings at 8 p.m. today at Whiskey Pete's in Primm.

Pitches for a previous concert this year claimed of the band's music: " `I'm Already There' has become a theme song for men and women in the military and their families. Victims of the 9-11 tragedy found comfort in the haunting `Not a Day Goes By.' Anyone who ever has been led by his or her heart can be mesmerized by `Amazed.' "

Tickets cost $27.45 at the box office at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena and through Ticketmaster. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at 474-4000.

• Brad Paisley and Pat Green perform in the Hilton Theater at 10:30 p.m. today through Sunday for $57.50-$68.50.

Paisley -- the singer of "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" and "He Didn't Have to Be" -- and Green are on the bill together while also sharing a duet, "College," on Green's new album, "Lucky Ones."

Tickets are available at the Hilton box office, 3000 Paradise Road, or charge by phone at 732-5755.

• The harmony-rich Ricochet performs at 2 p.m. today through Dec. 11 at the Stardust. Tickets cost $10.95 at the box office, 3000 Las Vegas Blvd. South. To charge by phone, call 732-6325.

• Terri Clark sings at 8 p.m. today and at 10 p.m. Saturday at Boulder Station.

Clark, a Canadian honky-tonk singer from a town called Medicine Hat, has a "Greatest Hits" album out, plus a new top single, "Girls Lie Too."

Tickets cost $28-$55 at the hotel's Boarding Pass Rewards Center, 4111 Boulder Highway, and at area malls. To charge by phone, call 547-5300.

• Tracy Lawrence sings at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

Lawrence is not only the owner of 17 No. 1 country hits, he's also an advocate for stem-cell research. He joined the National Advisory Council for the Alzheimer's Association after his grandmother and his wife's grandmother died from the disease. But he doesn't talk politics onstage.

Tickets cost $37-$50 at the box office, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and through Ticketmaster. To charge by phone, call 632-7600.

• Hal Ketchum sings at 8 p.m. Sunday at Whiskey Pete's in Primm.

Ketchum -- singer of "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Past the Point of Rescue" -- helped warm up an Iowa crowd for presidential nominee John Kerry.

Tickets cost $27.45 at the box office at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena, 800-386-7867, and through Ticketmaster.

• Dolly Parton performs at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at Caesars Palace. During her "Hello, I'm Dolly" tour, she tells a crowd that Elvis Presley almost recorded "I Will Always Love You," then sings the song next to a singer dressed as The King.

Tickets cost $59.09-$90.91 at the box office, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and through Ticketmaster.

• Gary Allan, Terminally Lonesome and Cross Canadian Ragweed perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the House of Blues.

Allan's wife died in October, and he asked that funeral donations be made to a cancer charity or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Tickets cost $35-$50 at the box office and through Ticketmaster.

• Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and John Nicholson and James Otto perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the House of Blues.

Big & Rich and Wilson have made the biggest splash in country music this year with their punk-ish songs (that is, punk for country music). Wilson's "Redneck Woman" put in-your-face crassness back into Nashville's slick country radio.

Tickets cost $50-$70 at the box office and through Ticketmaster.

• Several free events will be heard around the Strip. As part of one of them, Mark Holt and Kimberlee Holt Tully perform 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Dec. 11 at the Excalibur at the Cowboy Heritage Artists and Photographer's Society's national art show and sale.

• Clay Walker performs Thursday through Dec. 11 at the Orleans Showroom. Walker, who has had multiple sclerosis for eight years, has also signed up, along with his band, to perform at MS bike tours to raise money to fight the disease.

Showtime is 10 p.m. Tickets cost $55-$82.50 at the hotel, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., at any Coast Casinos box office, through OrleansArena.com, at area malls, or by phone at 365-7075.

• Sara Evans and Phil Vassar sing at 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 11 at the Hilton Theater.

Evans sang at the Republican National Convention. Her husband, Craig Schelske, lost a 2002 bid for Congress from Oregon, which they later talked about to the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club."

In October, Vassar's latest No. 1 hit, "In a Real Love," ended a two-week stand at No. 1 for George Strait's "I Hate Everything."

Tickets cost $57.50-$74 available at the Hilton box office, 3000 Paradise Road, or charge by phone at 732-5755.

• Trace Adkins sings at 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 11 at the Silverton.

Adkins, whose new single is called "Hot Mama," is on the cover of the latest issue of Tall Magazine. He's 6 feet 6 inches tall.

Tickets cost $49.49 at the box office, 3333 Blue Diamond Road, or charge by calling 914-8557.

• Comedian Rodney Carrington performs at 10 p.m. Dec. 10-11 at the MGM Grand Garden arena.

The Tulsa, Okla., stand-up arrives with a "Greatest Hits" CD in stores, and a TV sitcom named "Rodney" on ABC. (It's about a stand-up comedian.)

Tickets cost $55 at the box office, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and through Ticketmaster. To charge by phone, call 474-4000.

• Comedian Ron White performs Dec. 10 at the Mandalay Bay Theatre. Tickets cost $57.75. White has joked, "Other people learn things when I drink. Last night, a limo driver learned if I say I gotta yak, it doesn't mean I have a long-haired buffalo livin' in my back yard."

• Blue County and David Lee Murphy perform for free in Boulder Station at 8 p.m. on Dec. 10. Blue County sing "Good Little Girls" and "That's Cool."

• Keith Urban and Katrina Elam perform Dec. 11 at the House of Blues. Tickets, $42-$62, are sold out.

New York Times critic Jon Pareles classified the headliner this way in an Oct. 30 concert review:

"If Keith Urban had arrived in the 1980s, he would have been a mild rocker: an amiable, unthreatening guitar-slinger along the lines of Kenny Loggins. Now the same kind of music is classified as country, and Mr. Urban, who is 37, has made himself a country heartthrob."

Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

TOURISM: A new sense of reality
'The Nevada Passage' a twist on TV genre
By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

"The Nevada Passage," a made-for-TV reality show, will pit teams of amateur athletes against each other in contests held throughout the state. In one event, contestants will bicycle and hike through Lamoille Canyon near Elko.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEVADA COMMISSION ON TOURISM

"The Nevada Passage," a six-day series, wraps filming May 24 with a whitewater kayaking race through downtown Reno.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEVADA COMMISSION ON TOURISM

RENO - Hoping to emulate The Donald's success with "The Apprentice" while avoiding the critical backlash that was "The Casino," proponents of outdoor adventures in Nevada's backcountry will soon take their message to the masses using a first-of-its-kind reality television program.

The Nevada Commission on Tourism on Tuesday said it is in the early stages of developing "The Nevada Passage," a 60-minute, made-for-television program that will pit teams of amateur athletes against each other in a variety of competitions held throughout the state.

The commission expects the $250,000 program will be syndicated in more than 80 television markets, giving an audience of approximately 2 million viewers a new perspective on how to have fun in Nevada.

"Through this competition, viewers will be able to see the beautiful outback of Nevada. It's just the kind of exposure we want," Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, who is also commission chairwoman, said in introducing the show at the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism at the Reno Hilton.

The show's first segment, which features a rock-climbing competition, will be taped May 19 at Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. Over the following five days, participants will race personal watercraft at Lake Mead; conduct a four-wheel drive based treasure hunt near Ely; bicycle and hike through Lamoille Canyon near Elko; and ride snowboards down a sand mountain near Fallon. The six-day series wraps May 24 with a whitewater kayaking race through downtown Reno.

Event highlights will also be shown in two 30-minute television programs airing on major networks and local affiliates. Those shows are expected to attract another 3 million viewers.

About three years ago, the commission shifted its focus toward marketing outdoor recreation as a supplement to well-known Nevada amenities like nightlife and gaming. "The Nevada Passage" marks the organization's most ambitious pitch to date, Executive Director Bruce Bommarito said.

"This is really one of the great adventure states in the country, and we want to share that message," Bommarito said.

"The Nevada Passage" will be produced by TEAM Unlimited of Honolulu, which also put together the Nissan XTERRA USA Championship Race at Lake Tahoe, as well as Las Vegas-based R&R Partners, which handles the commission's public relations. Paul Mitchell beauty products, Nissan North America and XTERRA Gear are co-sponsors.

"Through the recommendation by our faculty members including District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega, Dr. Rory Reid has been promoted from Adjunct Assistant Professor to Adjunct Associate Professor of Business Law, Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA), by Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) on December 3, 2004," announced Dr. John Wang, Spokesman of WBTI, on Monday, December 6, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada.*1

Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid was raised in the Las Vegas Valley. After growing up in Las Vegas, he attended Brigham Young University, where he earned his B.A. in International Relations and Spanish in 1985. Rory continued at BYU, attending the J. Reuben Clark Law School earning a J.D. in 1988. Rory returned to Nevada and began the practice of law. At the age of thirty, he became the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of a local company. After his tenure as corporate counsel, he went on to become a partner at Lionel Sawyer & Collins (lasvegas@lionelsawyer.com), a famous Nevada law firm.*2

Additionally, Las Vegas Life Magazine recently named Rory “Best Up and Coming Politician” in Southern Nevada. On the basis at an adjunct level, his teaching subject in business law will be good for a graduate school in business.

"As a graduate school in business, I'll put more emphasis both on values of theoreticality and practicality. I'd like to suggest eight courses for our China Certificate Program in Management: Financial Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Quality Management, Just-in-Time & Lean Operations, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, Applied Economic Analysis, and Strategy Formulation and Implementation," said Dean Dr. Keong Leong of GSBPA, who is professor and Chairman of the Department of Business of UNLV, for a Symposium.*3

The Summer 2003 Symposium of WBTI was held at Zax Restaurant of Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel on May 19, 2003 in Las Vegas. The theme of this mini symposium is: The Entrepreneurship of MPA/SME and MBA/PKE Certificates Program for the people of English and Chinese Speaking.*4

Commissioner Reid was sworn into office as County Commissioner on January 6, 2003, to Commission District "G". That term expires the first Monday in January 2007.

Rory Reid is one of the sons of U. S. Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev. As his father has become the most powerful Democratic senator in Washington D.C., Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid is moving up in the local political ranks and is expected to be named board chairman in the coming January.

Rory said on Monday, November 15 that he had enough support from fellow commissioners to be voted chairman, a largely ceremonial position.

"I'm honored my colleagues have confidence in my abilities, and I look forward to our continued collegial relationship," Reid, 42, said.*5

Commissioner Reid was chosen by his fellow commissioners in the current term to serve in the following capacities: Nevada Development Authority; Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs; Regional Jail Commission; Clark County District Board of Health; and Southern Nevada Water Authority.

As a Clark County Commissioner, Rory also serves on the following boards/committees: Boards of Trustees – Clark County Water Reclamation District; Board of Trustees – Big Bend Water District; Board of Trustees – Kyle Canyon Water District; Board of Directors – Las Vegas Valley Water District; Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board; and Vice Chair – Local Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.*6

Rory has served as the Chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party. After his election to that post, he instituted significant and meaningful changes in the party structure that resulted in a more stable, cohesive and effective organization.

Rory and his wife Cindy are the proud parents of three children.

Rory has long been active in his community. He has donated his time to numerous local, state and national political campaigns. He co-founded Nevadans for Public Awareness. He also has donated his time as a Cub Scout Leader.

"Asian Pacific American have made profound contributions to American life, including the arts, economy, education, science, technology, politics, and sport. This community was here to help build trascontinental railroad, to serve in the Civil War, and to develop the latest Internet technology. I'm pleased to assure all you leaders of the community here today that I'll continue working to preserve and advance the heritage and value of Asian Americans. I'll put my effort to reach out and address issues of importance to the Asian American community, including the economy, education, safety, racial profiling, and hate crime, and immigration, among others. I'd like also to show my appreciation of all your accomplishments and contributions to the American way of life and your oustanding participation in the political, business , and educational processes. It's my pleasure to accept the honor as Professor of Administrative Strategies of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration of Washington Business and Technology Institute," said Harry Reid, U. S. Senator and Democratic Leader of the Senate at Asian American Leaders Tea with United States Senator Harry Reid on May 31, 2003 at Korean Garden B. B. Q. House in Las Vegas.*7

"The mission of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration of WBTI will emphasize the humanitarian orientation of public administration and social responsibility of business management. Throuugh academic entrepreneurship, we may expect the endeavor of this school for the community service based on humane spirit, led by Chairperson Elaine Chao of WBTI," said Dr. Dina Titus, Professor of Administrative Strategies in GSBPA. Dina is a Senator of Nevada Senate and Adjunct Professor of Political Science of UNLV.*8

----------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Bell, Stewart; Walsh, Jessie; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Las Vegas nicer with community service through cultural arts,' "10 Year Thai Cultures in Las Vegas, Nevada," (September 16, 2003), p. 30.
*2. Office of Rory Reid. 'Accomplishments of Commissioner Rory Reid,' "A search on the Google.com about Rory Reid," (December 1, 2004), U. S. A.: Google.com.
*3. Walsh, Jessie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Drs. Lee Bernick, Keong Leong appointed deans of GSBPA of WBTI,' "Nevada Examiner," (March 28, 2003), Las Vegas, Nevada.
*4. Reid, Rory; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Summer 2003 Symposium of WBTI is remarkable,' "Newsbrief of WBTI," (June 6, 2003), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*5. Packer, Adrienne. 'NEW APPROACH: Reid's son makes own mark ---Rory Reid likely commission chair,' (November 16, 2004) "A search on Google about LVRJ," Las Vegas, Nevada: Reviewjournal.com.
*6. Office of Roy Reid. Ibid.
*7. Denton, Mark; Walsh, Jessie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Our mutual cooperation and development between the officials and people will bring us a peaceful, happy, and healthy community,' "Newsbrief of WBTI," (February 7, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*8. Ibid.

Sunday, December 05, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: Senate lets controller keep job
Augustine convicted of least serious charge
By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

Surrounded by her attorneys, Controller Kathy Augustine, center, reacts during her impeachment proceeding Saturday in the Senate chambers in Carson City.
Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARSON CITY -- Controller Kathy Augustine was convicted Saturday by the Senate on one article of impeachment for illegally using state equipment in her 2002 re-election campaign.

Despite the conviction, Augustine will remain in office to serve the remaining two years of her term.

In a 20-0 vote, the Senate censured Augustine, handing down the equivalent of a reprimand. The censure came after the Senate earlier in the day voted 14-7, the bare two-thirds majority needed, to convict Augustine on the least serious of the three impeachment charges against her.

She is the first official to be impeached and convicted in Nevada's 140-year history.

Augustine, who is in the middle of her second and final term as controller, was unapologetic following the unanimous vote for censure. She claimed the dismissal of two of three charges against her was a victory and said she would be back at work Monday.

"I want to thank all the members of the Senate for asking the tough questions that finally got to the truth of this entire matter," she said.

Augustine said the charges stemmed from two disgruntled former employees attempting to hurt her politically by making inflated claims about the amount of campaign work they had performed on state time.

She rejected claims that she was abusive to her staff. "We have a very effective management style in my office," she said.

Augustine said the trial, which lasted four days, was difficult for her and will cost her thousands of dollars in legal expenses.

"Character and personal assassination is always a very difficult thing," she said.

Augustine said she does not believe her political future has been ruined by the proceedings and would not discount a run for another political office in two years, including a seat in Congress. "That possibility always exists," she said.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, who called a special session of the Legislature to conduct the impeachment proceedings, issued a prepared statement saying Augustine's own admission of the campaign-related violations to the Ethics Commission earlier this year made the process necessary.

"I would like to compliment the Legislature in moving quickly and giving full and fair consideration to the matter," he said. "As far as I am concerned, the issue is closed, and I know Kathy Augustine will quickly return to serving the citizens of Nevada."

Guinn and other top Republicans had called on Augustine to resign after she pleaded guilty to three violations before the Ethics Commission in September. Augustine, who is paid $80,000 a year as controller, was fined $15,000 by the commission, the most in Nevada history for a public official.

On Saturday, Special Prosecutor Dan Greco recommended that Augustine receive a 60-day suspension without pay as punishment for her lone conviction.

Augustine's attorney, Dominic Gentile, sought censure.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, proposed the censure, saying Augustine already has been fined and publicly embarrassed.

The punishment, Raggio said, should send a message to elected officials to separate their campaign work from their official duties.

"It is distasteful for us to have to render judgment," he said.

However, Raggio said, a willful violation of the law did occur. "The judgment is not set forth to punish, but to send a message," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, issued a statement following the vote, saying elected officials know that using state equipment or staff for campaign work is improper, no matter the cost involved.

"Some of us who voted to sustain the articles (of impeachment) feel that elected officials should be held to the highest standard, and that was not done today," said Titus, who voted for conviction on all three counts.

The likelihood that Augustine would be found guilty of any of the charges was in doubt early Saturday when the Senate, on an 11-9 vote, dismissed the first and most serious charge against her. That count alleged that Augustine used her assistant, Jennifer Normington, to work on her re-election campaign.

Only a simple majority vote was required to dismiss charges, unlike the two-thirds requirement for conviction.

Augustine then declined to present a case in her defense on the remaining two counts, one of using a state computer and the other of using state equipment on her campaign.

The Senate then voted 11-10 to convict Augustine of using the state computer, short of the 14 votes needed.

The vote on the third count, of using state equipment such as fax machines and telephones on her campaign, was enough for the conviction.

The vote to convict came after an impassioned plea by Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, for acquittal on all charges. Coffin said her impeachment by the Assembly three weeks ago was punishment enough.

"We have put the stain of impeachment on Controller Augustine for the rest of her life," he said. "I believe in acquittal. I believe in a clean judgment."

No one else spoke before the vote.

Voting with Coffin for acquittal on the third and final charge were Sens. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas; Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas; Mike McGinness, R-Fallon; Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora; Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson; and Maurice Washington, R-Sparks.

Coffin later abstained on the vote for censure.

Following the vote to convict, the Senate heard arguments from Greco and Gentile on what Augustine's punishment should be.

Greco said he originally had intended to seek to remove Augustine from office. But gaining a conviction on only the least serious charge made him unwilling to pursue a penalty that severe, he said.

Gentile said he was surprised and pleased that Greco did not seek to oust Augustine. But Gentile, who argued for only a censure, also made a case against removal.

"To remove Kathy Augustine from office for using phones and fax machines will not assist the public in trusting you," he told the Senate. "It would be a bizarre response."

Gentile also argued against the suspension without pay proposed by Greco because Augustine already had been fined by the Ethics Commission.

"You're harming the public if you take her out of that office for 60 days," he said. "Now you may be teaching her an additional lesson, but you know what, she doesn't need any more lessons here. She's been fined $15,000, and she has the scarlet letter of impeachment permanently emblazoned upon her."

Despite an earlier suggestion that Augustine should pay for the cost of the special legislative session if found guilty, Lorne Malkiewich, executive director of the Legislature Counsel Bureau, said he knew of no such discussions. The final cost of the special session will run between $150,000 and $200,000, he said.

The following press release entitled "LINCOLN COUNTY LANDS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW,"*2 was released by the Office of U. S. Senator John Ensign in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 1, 2004.

President George W. Bush has signed into law a bill authored by Senators John Ensign and Harry Reid that will allow for the sale of federally owned land in Lincoln County and establish protections for environmentally sensitive lands there. The House version of the bill was authored by Rep. Jim Gibbons. The President signed the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 last night.

“A lot of people with varying interests and priorities came together to forge a compromise that will benefit the people of Lincoln County for generations,” Senator Ensign said. “We’ve created a boost for Lincoln County’s economy while protecting environmentally sensitive areas and allowing for the development of new water resources. It is very gratifying to see this bill become law.”

“This bill creates opportunities for conservation, recreation and development in Lincoln County,” Senator Reid said. “It is a good compromise that ensures that our public lands will be used for the public good. It’s a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together in a bipartisan manner.”

"This bill was the epitome of compromise and responsible public lands policy. It is good for Lincoln County and all of Nevada,” Rep. Gibbons said. “The final product not only protects sensitive lands but also increases, albeit by only a modest amount, the level of private property in a county where the federal government controls 98 percent of the land. I am pleased that we were able to pass this legislation before the close of the 108th Congress and am glad President Bush signed it into law."

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 will distribute the funds from Lincoln County land sales, which will be set at 85 percent for the Bureau of Land Management, 10 percent for Lincoln County, and 5 percent for the state education fund. The county will now be eligible to receive special account dollars through the 1998 Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act for parks, trails, conservation projects and capital improvements on federal land.

The legislation also establishes a corridor for the possible future transport of water to Clark County, while allowing Lincoln County to develop new water resources for future growth.

About Senator John Ensign (By the editor of this flier)*3

Senator John Ensign has served the people of Nevada from his days as a veterinarian, small business owner, and U.S. Congressman to his present role as the 24th U.S. Senator for Nevada.

Senator Ensign was raised in northern Nevada and moved to southern Nevada where he graduated from Clark High School. He attended UNLV and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1985.

Senator Ensign immediately began practicing veterinary medicine and opened the first 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.

Throughout his career Ensign has fought for smaller, more effective government, lower taxes, a strong national defense and aggressive approach to combating terrorists, increased parental control in education choices, and quality health care for Nevada's seniors and veterans.

Senator Ensign was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and serves on the following committees: Armed Services; Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Veterans Affairs. Ensign is Chairman of the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee. In addition, Senator Ensign chairs the High Tech Task Force and serves as Vice Chairman of the Republican Steering Committee, a group that shapes the party’s legislative agenda.

Since taking office, Ensign has worked hard to fulfill his promises to the people of Nevada. His Education High Growth Grant amendment, which brings tens of millions of extra dollars to Nevada schools, was included in the education bill signed into law by President Bush. The Prescription Discount Card for Seniors, a key part of Ensign's prescription drug plan, was endorsed by President Bush and would allow many seniors to cut their prescription drug bills by 40%. On the environmental front, enactment of the Ensign/Reid Clark County Lands Bill will protect environmentally sensitive areas in southern Nevada, allow recreational opportunities to continue, and improve the quality of life.

Ensign has taken the lead on technology issues as well. His "Dot Kids" legislation creates a subdomain on the Internet where children can explore the Internet without the fear of being exposed to material parents may deem inappropriate. His bill to delay the 700 MHz spectrum auction from moving forward was a critical step toward improving our nation's wireless network. Both were signed into law by President Bush.

Ensign spends his workweek in Washington and his weekends in Las Vegas with his wife, Darlene, and their three children-Trevor, Siena, and Michael.

John has been honored as Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) since November 1999.

Name: John Ensign (R-NV)
Born: March 25, 1958, in Roseville, CA
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Education: graduated E.W. Clark High School, (1976); attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1979); B.S., Oregon State University, Corvallis (1981); D.V.M. Colorado State University, Fort Collins (1985)
Family: married to Darlene Sciaretta; three children: Trevor, Siena, and Michael
Profession: veterinarian, U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator

1987-1994 owner, West Flamingo Animal Hospital, Las Vegas
1994-2001 owner, South Shores Animal Hospital, Las Vegas
1995-1999 served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District
Nov. 7, 2000 elected to U. S. Senate for 107th Congress

---------------------------------------
References

*1. PAI of WBTI is the initial of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. Press Release. 'Press Release from the Office of U. S. Senator John Ensign,' "Search resouces from the Internet," (December 3, 2004), U. S. A.: Google.com.
*3. Office of Senator John Engine. 'Biography of Senator John Ensign,' "A search about Senator John ensign on Google.com," (December 3, 2004), U. S. A.: Google.com.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Harvard professor to lecture
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Charles Ogletree Jr. (Photo. Please check it with LVRJ.)

Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree Jr. will present a free lecture at 4 p.m. Monday at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

Ogletree will present another lecture at noon Tuesday at the National Judicial College in Reno. He will discuss his book "All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown v. Board of Education," as well as current events.

The events are part of the Nevada Lecture Series, which features nationally noted speakers who offer insight into timely and relevant topics.

Friday, November 26, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Cirque Tops Itself

'Ka,' the most expensive live show in modern history, takes a new direction by telling a story
By MIKE WEATHERFORD
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Lo Ngaching performs during the pageant scene in "Ka," the new epic from Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand.

A turbulent storm at sea leaves "Ka's" young heroine and her nanny underwater, which is shown through a stage transformation, aerial wires and film projection.

Jorg Lemke (background, as Counselor) and Miro (as Counselor's Son) rehearse.

Jorg Lemke

Chinese Wushu artists perform in the pageant scene.

"Ka" performers are hooked into their harnesses.

Kleber Berto from Brazil rehearses in the "Ka" training room.
Photos by Jeff Scheid. (Check all the photos with LVRJ please.) [You may view them from the section of "Neon" on reviewjournal.com at November 30, 2004.]

Seen from directly overhead, two opposing groups of armor-suited warriors charge to meet in the middle. A fierce battle ensues, the warriors using staffs, swords and kung fu. Some have an almost-supernatural power to leap over their enemy.

That's how the scene unfolds in Cirque du Soleil's new "Ka." But the audience doesn't see the overhead perspective on film, or reflected in mirrors. They see it because the warriors are suspended in the air, their feet rappelling onto a near-vertical wall, upon which the image of the battlefield is projected.

Along with performing their stunt combat, the performers are squeezing control units, hidden in their fists, to move the wires that suspend them from a grid 90 feet above the stage.

In part, it's the answer to the question everyone had: How could Cirque top itself and deliver a distinct new product in its fourth show on the Strip?

The $165 million "Ka," which begins its first ticketed "preview" shows today at the MGM Grand (the formal opening is in February) marks not only a watershed for Las Vegas entertainment, but perhaps the creation of an all-new entertainment medium: the live movie; theater that uses the language of cinema.

"In movies you will see a battlefield from different angles ... We've had the opportunity to give people a live experience about battle that is completely different than what you would get in any other theater," says Lyn Heward, who oversees Cirque's creative content division.

"Ka" has the rich, textured atmosphere of grand opera, except that nothing is stagebound, not even the two stages themselves.

Scenes flow from one to another, changing perspective. When the nanny of the young protagonist falls overboard during a turbulent storm at sea, you first see the older caretaker (Teuda Bara) swept off the side of the boat that spins and bobs like a cork on the water.

Then the stage transforms to an underwater point of view, to show the nanny sinking to the bottom -- again by using aerial wires and film projection -- and the young heroine (Jennifer Haight) plunging in to rescue her.

"It does focus the way a spectator can watch an activity. When I go see `O,' I have difficulty choosing what to look at," Heward says. "But this is a little bit different. We are giving you a point of view to look at this from."

Moreover, the signature Cirque music, acrobatics and overall aesthetic have been focused into actual storytelling for the first time. "Cirque du Soleil is at the point where it wants to reinvent itself and see how it can push further," says Robert Lepage, the director hired to help Cirque turn that corner. "You have to move on to something different and you have to break something to do that."

Lepage -- perhaps best-known in the United States for staging two Peter Gabriel tours -- says he and Cirque founder Guy Laliberté wrestled with questions of, "How can this feel familiar without being redundant? How can this feel like you're walking into a different world, but still with the confidence you have in your guide, which is Cirque du Soleil?"

The long road

"If your foundations are solid, then you can build it," says "Ka" production manager Stephane Mongeau.

The first Cirque production to be storyboarded in advance came together, perhaps not coincidentally, in a relatively compressed time frame.

In June 2002, Cirque and MGM Mirage confirmed rumors that dated back to at least mid-2001: "EFX" would close at the end of that year, to be replaced by the new Cirque and, as it turned out, a theater gutted and rebuilt from the ground up.

But Lepage had come up with the basic treatment for "Ka" by the end of 2001. And Cirque had dropped a major clue to its new direction with its tribute to special effects in the 2002 Academy Awards broadcast.

"What we were trying to do at that time was say to people, `Look, you don't need the magic of film to do "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"-like movements.' You can actually do it in real life, too," Heward says.

Cirque knew it wanted to create an epic, and to present it in a suitable theater. For that it turned to Mark Fisher, production designer for the Queen musical "We Will Rock You," currently at Paris Las Vegas, as well as the U2 "PopMart" tour and the Rolling Stones' "Bridges to Babylon" stadium tour.

"He was a real sprinter for us," Mongeau says of Fisher. "He had a very quick vision of the entire big picture (and) computer-animated a rendering of the entire theater within a month. Someone like him inspires the others."

In lieu of a fixed playing area, the stage design resembles a black void, where the two main stages move in and out of position. One is the "Tommy deck," a platform that slides in and out much like a drawer. The other -- the one hosting the vertical battle -- is the "cliff deck," an 80,000-pound rectangle lifted in and out of place by a 230,000-pound gantry arm.

The old theater was gutted and construction of the new one began in July 2003. Cirque took over the 1,951-seat theater in November 2003, but missed its goal of opening last summer, chiefly because of problems with the gantry arm.

A big star of the show was the last to join the cast: fire. At first, county fire inspectors told the creators that the theater's lack of a formal proscenium -- and thus, the traditional type of fire curtain --would prohibit pyrotechnical effects. Cirque agreed, but later reopened discussions. Inspectors signed off on the pyro effects Oct. 31.

The cinematic feel of the show also introduces a new, home-theaterlike dimension to the theater: Every seat will have its own personal set of speakers.

"It is not as if sound always comes out of the seat. It is just another pair of speakers," says sound designer Jonathan Deans. In fact, there are 180 outputs of sound, compared to 60 for "EFX."

"We take a sound and shred it into multiple sections," Deans explains. "It will go out and fly around the auditorium shredded, then come back into that (original) sound. Will the audience know that is happening? No. But they will feel something different is happening."

Much of the music is recorded, but all sound effects are live. "If a fireball comes up through the stage," Deans explains, "we draw little squares on the camera image (that monitors the stage action). So when the fireball crosses through the squares, it actually triggers different sounds, and places the sounds to different speakers."

War and peace

"It simplified itself," Lepage says of the story that was code-named "Duality," and takes its name from the Egyptian concept of a spiritual double. "It's difficult to talk about simplicity in this context, but it did."

"The story was very ambitious in the beginning, and that is what simplified itself, to where you get a thread more than a story and that thread becomes your emotional guide," he explains. "It's still a Cirque du Soleil show. It's all based on numbers and pretexts to have acrobatics or martial arts. It's the way you string these things together that forms a story line."

In this case, it's the story of twins (Haight and sister Sheri) in an ancient Asian society who are separated when enemy archers kidnap one of them. Along the way, their separate journeys include a giant forest and a beach full of giant animal puppets created by Michael Curry, best known for Broadway's "The Lion King."

The biggest challenge: "How do you present conflict in a Cirque du Soleil show?" Lepage remembers. "How do you present violence in a nonviolent way? How do you make a ballet out of an attack?"

Cirque traveled the world to find swordsmen, archers and the roof-jumping Yamikazis of Paris. "You show these videos in sequence and you went, `Yikes! This is so violent,' " Lepage recalls.

Help came from Taiwanese martial arts choreographer Yung Biau Lin and his experience dating back to his childhood with the Chinese Opera, which trains youngsters in gymnastics, acrobatics and martial arts as well as performance skills such as mime and dance.

"There are many ways to use the martial arts. Fighting is one, but there are a lot of others," Biau Lin says through an interpreter.

"What I am trying to do in this show is look at the whole span of energy and play with that," he says of the rare mix of disciplines: Chinese Wushu -- an umbrella term for a variety of styles -- and Brazilian Capoeira.

For all that is new about "Ka," longtime fans of Cirque will hear the sounds of a long-lost friend. René Dupéré, who composed the soundtrack to "Mystere" and most of the Cirque shows before it, returned to the fold at Laliberté's request after a 10-year break.

"It has to be a score, like a movie score," Dupéré says. "The music has to tell what's going on, because there's nobody talking."

The most distinctive aspect of the score is a 42-voice choir, which sings "invented lyrics" by Dupéré's wife, Elise Velle, who was principal singer for the first year of "Mystere."

The choir and orchestral sounds are blended in with the live performance of a seven-piece band, which the audience doesn't see.

But, Dupéré says, in places "I had to soften (the music) a bit. It was so dramatic, I couldn't see the action. The music was too big."

It's a larger lesson the creators of the most expensive live show in modern history are trying not to forget. One key special effect is created by nothing more than the shadow of a candle.

"Human beings make the effects, and not machines," Heward says. "The technology is simply a support to the human performance."

Monday, November 29, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Politicians ponder future races

Mayoral challenge considered in North Las Vegas
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon delivers his State of the City Address in the conference center at Texas Station in January 2002. The two-term Republican mayor plans to run for re-election in 2005. He says he has not heard any grumblings about serious opposition.
REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Hispanic Democratic activist Andres Ramirez has announced his intention to challenge two-term Republican North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon in the 2005 municipal elections.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Shari Buck watches Nov. 2 election returns with her father, Jim Avance, at a Texas Station ballroom. Buck, who lost her bid for a county commission seat, is being encouraged to challenge North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon in 2005.
Photo by RONDA CHURCHILL/REVIEW-JOURNAL

Stephanie Smith
North Las Vegas councilwoman planning 2009 mayoral run

With the holiday season upon us, many politicians are thinking of good cheer, but also about which races they might run for in the future.

Nowhere is that more prevalent than in North Las Vegas, where one city council member is mulling a run against Mayor Mike Montandon in the spring and another is already announcing for the race six years hence.

Councilwoman Shari Buck, who spent much of this year in a failed bid for the county commission, has been asked to take on the two-term incumbent in 2005.

"I haven't told them yes, but I haven't told them no," Buck said of her supporters. "I'm going to enjoy the holidays and spend some time with my family. I don't know whether I'd be willing to run again so quickly."

Buck, a Republican, lost to Democrat Tom Collins in the commission race. Like that election, she wouldn't stand to lose anything, save for the race itself, if she enters. Her council seat is not up for two more years.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who also has a failed county commission bid in her past, said she is planning to run for mayor, "not this springtime, but in four years."

Smith said she will run for re-election in the spring before launching a bid for mayor when Montandon is term-limited from seeking a fourth term.

"I think Mike has done a good job," she said.

Smith lost in the Democratic primary to Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey in 2000 after being courted to run for the seat by Erin Kenny, a central figure in the political corruption probe that has ensnared several former politicians.

Hizzoner apparently believes he can stay where he's at for another four years. He said he hadn't heard any grumblings about serious opposition.

"The only name I've heard is (Andres) Ramirez," Montandon said.

Ramirez, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, spent this election year registering voters for the nonpartisan Voices for Working Families. A Democratic activist, Ramirez also has focused efforts on Hispanic voters and grooming Hispanic candidates.

He announced recently he would be challenging the Republican mayor.

"As the mayor, I believe it's your duty to take a leadership position," Ramirez said.

He criticizes Montandon for "failing to fund police at the right level" and "for failing to establish a community health care center."

Ramirez, who is vice chairman of the city's Visioning 2025 committee, said he believes he can raise $250,000 for the race and effectively target the city's 60,000 registered voters.

Montandon, who will get plenty of help next year from ally and Councilman Robert Eliason, shrugged Ramirez aside.

"I can handle this," he said.

Las Vegas council races

Spring also brings the return of the real politicking in Las Vegas.

If Councilwoman Janet Moncrief faces a recall election early next year, there will be four council seats up for grabs in 2005.

Councilmen Steve Wolfson, Larry Brown and Michael Mack all must stand for election. The primary is in April and the general election is in June.

Forces are lining up for the races, with Mack believed to be the most vulnerable to a serious opponent.

Recruitment for that opponent is ongoing while others are working to freeze Mack's fund raising and give a credible challenger a chance in what have become expensive municipal races.

Mack has been subject to several ethical allegations this term, but has a strong ally in Mayor Oscar Goodman and is friends with political consultant Billy Rogers, a proven force in local races. Rogers' firm is concentrating, for now, on the Moncrief recall.

Wolfson, who won a frenzied special election this year to replace Lynette Boggs McDonald, will have the power of incumbency behind him next year.

Gabriel Lither, who finished second in that special election, said he is still evaluating Wolfson's council record to determine if he will run.

Third-place finisher Ric Truesdell also is considering a bid against Wolfson.

There hasn't been a whisper of an opponent yet against Brown, who won his re-election in 2000 when nobody filed to run against him.

GOP vice chairman

The Clark County GOP has selected party soldier John Hambrick to be vice chairman.

Hambrick, who made an unsuccessful bid to be party chair against Steve Wark in the past, is now poised to seek the top job again if Chairman Brian Scroggins steps down as expected in July.

Contact political reporter Erin Neff
at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.

Sunday, November 28, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Impeached Augustine ready for a fight to the bitter end

Now that Sandy Murphy beat the rap, state Controller Kathy Augustine might be the most notorious woman in Nevada.

Augustine doesn't stand accused of a sensational murder, nothing so tame. Instead she finds herself in a "trial of the century" in the form of an unprecedented impeachment proceeding before the state Senate. Although key players continue to wrangle over the details of the due process she'll be afforded, her trial is set to convene on Monday in Carson City. A two-thirds Senate vote could make her the first state constitutional officer impeached in Nevada's 140-year history.

She's accused of violating the public trust by having employees perform campaign work on state time at taxpayer expense. The Assembly met Nov. 11 and unanimously voted to impeach her. In September, she signed off on a state Ethics Commission complaint and agreed to pay a record $15,000 fine in connection with accusations that personal assistant Jennifer Normington and former Assistant Controller Jeannine Coward worked on her 2002 re-election campaign on state time. Other office workers swore they were hassled by Augustine after they declined to assist in her campaign.

Though Augustine's attorneys John Arrascada and Dominic Gentile have made certain few facts are undisputed, Augustine's personality and political persona don't make her much of a candidate for victimhood. She's been accused of being brassy and other B words, but the greater question is whether her offense rises to the level of the political equivalent of a death sentence in an office for which she's already term-limited.

It also begs a question: Why have Gov. Kenny Guinn, Sen. John Ensign and lesser political players tried to get her to resign even after she accepted responsibility for ethics violations and crippled her political career?

It's an odd time in Nevada's political history to create a "zero tolerance" policy, and it makes me wonder whether elected officials are really prepared to make envelope stuffing on state time the minimum requirement for throwing a bum out of office.

Augustine began a recent interview with a friendly but typically pugnacious remark.

"Why did you call me a bum?" she asked.

At least she reads the column.

"There's more than meets the eye," she continued. "I think that the most important point, and I think a lot of the public missed it, is in fact I did apologize to the people of the state of Nevada immediately following the ethics hearing. As a leader, and being in charge of the state controller's office, I was sorry for what had occurred, and I took the brunt of the punishment because of my position. And I don't think that that message was accurately conveyed.

"I have never in my 12 years in elected office been involved in any kind of ethical issue. In fact, I think I've probably overcompensated not to be.

"I believe that the ethics commission was the correct venue. I think that the punishment there fit the `crime,' and I think that what is occurring now has gone above and beyond. I do believe that there are some members of the Senate who are very introspective on what they see is occurring now as well. Does this constitute removal from office? My belief has always been, and it's one of the reasons I have not resigned from my position, is that it does not. A mistake was made, it occurred. I'm paying the fine for it."

The $15,000 fine was more than the $9,900 state estimate of working time lost, more than the $10,000 for which Augustine's attorneys argued. But Augustine's attorneys now contend that the actual taxpayer cost for her campaign work was closer to $1,000.

That makes skeptics wonder why she didn't fight harder at the ethics commission level. Was it because she thought the ethics decision would end her trouble?

Instead, she encountered even more political pressure.

"I was told that they were going to turn the heat up on me," she said. "I do honestly believe that they thought that I would have folded quite some time ago."

They were wrong.

With her day in court at hand, folding is the last thing on her mind.

John L. Smith's column appears Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.

Over the past six years, my administration has emphasized the importance of innovative programs administered through the State Department of Corrections. One of the most important has been the development of the Casa Grande re-entry/transitional housing facility, which held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this week in Las Vegas. Special thanks are extended to developer Irwin Molasky and Department of Corrections Director Jackie Crawford, who have worked closely with Department of Corrections staff, the Governor’s Office, the Treasurer’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office in taking Casa Grande from concept to reality.

Casa Grande, a comprehensive, community-based residential facility, will assist Department of Corrections offenders as they re-enter mainstream society. It will provide a cost-effective and program-intensive alternative to traditional prison custody. When fully functional, Casa Grande will lower the number of repeat non-violent offenders – making for a safer Nevada.

Numerous studies have shown that it is not enough to simply lock up offenders without offering them an effective means to transition back into mainstream society.

That is why the state’s investment in Casa Grande is so crucial. Re-entry planning and transitional services can and do make a difference – for the offenders, and for the communities in which offenders choose to live after they have completed their sentences. Casa Grande also makes excellent business sense, as the cost benefit will save Nevada millions of dollars each year.

At Casa Grande, inmates will receive counseling and assistance in important areas such as housing, education, employment, financial management, medical concerns, and family reunification. Just as important, Casa Grande will allow Nevada to join only a handful of other states (Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, and Utah) that have similar transitional and re-entry programs. When Casa Grande is completed in summer 2005, it will make Nevada a strong example for the rest of the country, and will further magnify our excellent efforts by the Department of Corrections.

-----------------------------------------
Reference

*1. About Governor Kenny Guinn (by the Editor of this flier):

Kenny Guinn, 67, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Education from Fresno State University and later obtained a doctorate in Education from Utah State University in Logan. He was named Superintendent of Schools in Clark County and served with distinction in that position until 1978.

In his work for the Clark County School District, Guinn was recognized as an effective administrator committed to educational excellence at a time when the county was experiencing exponential student growth. His service to Clark County students was honored when Kenny C. Guinn Junior High School was named for him.

In 1978, Guinn began applying his management skills in business as Administrative Vice President for Nevada Savings and Loan in Las Vegas, which later became PriMerit Bank. At PriMerit, he was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas-based bank. Soon thereafter, Guinn was recruited to the energy business as the President of Southwest Gas Corporation and eventually became Chairman of the Board of Directors of that utility in 1993.

In 1994, Guinn was recruited by the University of Nevada Board of Regents to serve as interim president of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

In addition to his one-year term at UNLV, Guinn served the state in leadership roles on a variety of committees and commissions, including the Clark County Community College Advisory Committee, the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees, the White House Conference on Children and Youth, among others.

Guinn has also worked in his community in a variety of volunteer roles, ranging from involvement in the Boy Scouts and Pop Warner Football to the United Way of Southern Nevada and the Southern Nevada Independent Youth Athletic Association.

Kenny spent his boyhood in the small, Central Valley town of Exeter, California where he met Dema, his wife of 47 years. Kenny Guinn believes in families.

Dr. Kenny Guinn is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI). He is now the Governor of Nevada, U. S. A. at his second term.

Thursday, November 25, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

BINION TRIAL AFTERMATH: Murphy plans legal actions
Wrongful incarceration, palimony, inheritance battles might be coming
By GLENN PUIT
REVIEW-JOURNAL

William Fuller, the wealthy businessman who funded Sandy Murphy's defense team, talks to Rick Tabish shortly before Tabish and Murphy were acquitted of a murder charge Tuesday.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Sandy Murphy awaits the verdict in her murder trial Tuesday.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Rick Tabish, right, embraces his father, Frank, after being found not guilty of murder in the Ted Binion murder retrial Tuesday.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Sandy Murphy is considering a civil rights lawsuit alleging wrongful incarceration in 2000 in the death of Ted Binion, and she plans to pursue at least $1 million left to her in Binion's disputed will, an associate of her wealthy benefactor said Wednesday.

Also, Murphy benefactor William Fuller has told the Review-Journal there have been movie deal inquiries of Murphy.

"Some filming people have been in touch with me, and they are thinking of making a film out of it," said Fuller, who funded Murphy's legal defense team.

"If you win the thing, everyone wants it," Fuller said. "If you lose the thing, no one wants it."

Fuller's employee, John Prendeville, said national TV shows are showing interest: "Good Morning America" hopes to get Murphy and her attorney, Michael Cristalli, on the show next week, and a national television news show has asked about interviewing Murphy.

Murphy and Rick Tabish were charged in 1999 with drugging and killing Binion, Murphy's millionaire boyfriend, in a plot to steal his $7 million in silver and to prevent Binion from cutting Murphy out of his will. The two maintained their innocence, but they were convicted of murder and other charges in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison.

The convictions were overturned on appeal last year, and Tuesday, after a six-week retrial in the courtroom of District Judge Joseph Bonaventure, Murphy and Tabish were acquitted of murder.

The jury convicted the pair of grand larceny, conspiracy and burglary in the theft of Binion's $7 million in silver.

Murphy and Tabish are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, and they each face potential maximum sentences of 21 years.

Prendeville, whose name was mentioned amid witness-tampering allegations lodged by District Attorney David Roger in the Binion case earlier this year, was hired to do the behind-the-scenes work of Murphy's criminal defense.

Fuller said Tuesday he views Prendeville as a driving force behind Murphy's acquittal, and he praised Murphy's defense attorney, Michael Cristalli, and his staff for their courtroom work.

Prendeville said the Las Vegas Valley can expect litigation filed on behalf of Murphy in the coming months. Prendeville said the Murphy camp is contemplating a civil rights lawsuit based on the contention Murphy was wrongly incarcerated in 2000 and spent nearly four years in prison on false charges.

"A civil rights action is a strong possibility," Prendeville said. "It is typical litigation for anyone who has been released after being convicted wrongfully."

Prendeville said Murphy plans to pursue the items Binion left to her in her will: his house on Palomino Lane, its contents and $300,000.

The proceeds of the sale of the house, roughly $700,000, have been put in a trust account, and it has been generating interest. Prendeville estimated the amount of the sale, its contents and the interest generated to be close to $1.1 million.

But whether Murphy is due anything is expected to be contested by Binion's estate. One of Binion's attorneys, James Brown, has said Binion called the day before his Sept. 17, 1998, death and told him to take Murphy out of the will.

Litigation over Murphy's disputed inheritance was put on hold pending the resolution of the murder case. Nevada law prevents someone convicted of murder from inheriting the valuables of their victim, but now that Murphy has been acquitted, she is free to pursue the inheritance.

Prendeville said Murphy plans to pursue a palimony lawsuit previously filed against the Binion estate. The lawsuit contends Murphy is due compensation for the nearly three years she lived with Binion.

"Palimony for her loyal service and devoting her precious time to him," Prendeville said.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Binion's daughter, Bonnie, against Murphy and Tabish is still pending.

District Judge Michael Cherry, who is presiding over all of the civil cases, said Wednesday the wrongful death lawsuit, the palimony case and the probate litigation are all still pending. He expects to schedule a status check on the litigation after proceedings are resolved in the criminal case.

Cherry said he was prevented from commenting further.

Attorney Robert Murdock represents Tabish in the wrongful death lawsuit, and Murdock said he is optimistic the lawsuit will be dismissed.

"Frankly, I think it would be better for all parties if this just went away," Murdock said.

Prendeville works for Fuller, an octogenarian millionaire who made his money largely in the mining business. But Prendeville's and Fuller's names were mentioned by prosecutors earlier this year as potential targets of a witness-tampering investigation before Murphy and Tabish's retrial.

Roger, the district attorney, has said authorities are investigating whether Prendeville tampered with witness Kurt Gratzer in the Binion retrial by paying thousands of dollars in legal fees on behalf of Gratzer. The legal fees were paid for Gratzer while he was housed at a Montana jail on drunken driving charges.

Gratzer took the stand during the Binion trial and said Tabish was only joking when he talked about killing a casino owner named Ted before Binion's death. Gratzer also said he believed Murphy had nothing to do with Binion's death.

Roger has said the decision on whether to seek any charges against Prendeville would not be made until after the retrial concluded. Roger was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Prendeville said he is confident no charges will be filed against him. He said the payments were made to Gratzer because the man was down on his luck.

Prendeville has said the payments were made well after Gratzer signed sworn affidavits indicating Murphy had nothing to do with Binion's death.

"That's all rubbish," Prendeville said of the accusations,

Fuller declined comment on the accusations, other than to say:

I'm an old dog in the road, and I've got to watch my mouth sometimes."

Fuller went on to say he has no hard feelings against the district attorney's office, and he said he thinks it and its prosecutors did a "good job" during the retrial.

"They've got a job to do," Fuller said.

In a television interview with KLAS-TV, Tabish said Wednesday he hopes to challenge the convictions on the theft of Binion's silver fortune. He said he had nothing to do with Binion's death.

"I didn't wake up (on Sept. 17, 1998,) and say, 'I'm going to kill somebody.' It didn't happen," Tabish said.

Tabish is in prison on an unrelated extortion plot. He said if he successfully challenges the silver charges, he hopes to be out of prison in about 16 months.

He said his relationship with Murphy is over.

"It's been five years, and a lot of stuff's went on," Tabish said. "I hope she gets on with her life. I hope she finds happiness. I always stood with her. ... She's not capable of killing a cricket."