Local news briefs for September 13, 1999

A 29-year-old man shot to death in a North Las Vegas bar early Sunday morning was identified today by the coroner's office as Jose Salcido of Las Vegas.

Police found Salcido shot to death at about 3:30 a.m. at the Elherradeo Bar, 3402 E. Lake Mead Blvd. Police did not know whether or not Salcido worked for the bar or was a patron.

"We don't believe it was an attempted robbery, but we don't know for sure at this point," police spokesman Lt. Chris Larotonda said. "It appears that the patrons of the bar left right after the shooting before our officers could arrive."

Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to call police at 633-9111 or Secret Witness at 385-5555

ATV rider killed in plunge off ridge

A Las Vegas man was killed Saturday night when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving plunged off an 11-foot ridge.

Scott J. Lauters, 36, was driving a 1996 Polaris ATV along a power line road south of U.S. 95 near Indian Springs when he went over the ridge, Metro Police said.

Police believe the accident happened just after 10 p.m., and that the driver didn't see the ridge.

The accident is still under investigation, police said.

Convenience store suffers damage

A fire that started in the storage room of a northwest convenience store led to $100,000 in damage Saturday morning.

The cause of the fire at Terrible Herbst, 4805 W. Craig Road, has not been determined, but investigators have ruled it accidental, department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

A 52-year-old woman who was working in the store was taken to MountainView Hospital where she was checked out for smoke inhalation.

Two suspects arrested in heists

Metro Police have arrested two Las Vegas men in connection with a series of slot department robberies at local supermarkets.

A witness reported the license number of the suspected getaway car in a robbery Thursday at about 7 a.m., and police were able to track the driver down a short time later.

Michael Long, 18, was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, and told police that the man who actually committed the robberies had checked into a hotel, police said.

Police arrested Gary Burt, 23, and charged him with nine counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and nine counts of burglary with a deadly weapon. Police believe Burt is responsible for a recent string of change clerk robberies.

UNLV professor given probation

A UNLV professor and local cookbook author, who was charged with income tax evasion, was sentenced to four years probation by a federal judge Friday.

Les Kincaid was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Johnnie Rawlinson to perform 250 hours of community service and placed him on four months home detention, assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Rukstele said.

Kincaid pleaded guilty May 11 to two counts of filing false income tax returns, Rukstele said. Kincaid had failed to report almost $78,000 in income he had earned in 1994 and 1995 as executive director of the Las Vegas chapter of United Cerebral Palsy.

Two men arrested in burglaries

A two-month investigation by Henderson Police has resulted in the recovery of nearly $60,000 in stolen construction equipment.

About $46,000 of the equipment and tools have already been returned to owners, and two valley men have been charged in connection with the thefts.

Police arrested Darren Blue, 18, and Jeremiah Baro, 22, both of Las Vegas on July 15 when police say the two men were seen leaving a construction site in a pickup at 2:20 a.m.

Police found stolen tools and equipment in the truck, and further investigation led to two storage sheds containing the majority of the stolen goods, police said.

It is believed that the equipment was being stolen during early morning hours from construction site storage areas, police said.

Blue and Baro have each been charged with 18 counts of burglary, 15 counts of stolen property, two counts of grand larceny and possession of burglary tools.

Riggleman takes Las Vegas post

Las Vegas Valley Water District conservation manager David Riggleman will become the next communications director for the city of Las Vegas.

Riggleman, who will start Oct. 4, will earn $90,000 annually.

Prior to starting work for the water district in 1995, Riggleman was a television news anchor.

City Manager Virginia Valentine is hiring another water district employee to become her administrative officer. Marcia Holmberg, who is currently a management analyst in the water district's public information office, will earn $76,000 a year in her new position.

Holmberg begins work Sept. 27.

Sunrise begins special service

Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center's new physician referral line was unveiled today.

The line allows patients to talk to an operator who can match the patient with a doctor based on 31 criteria. In addition, the operator can set an appointment with the chosen physician. The service is free and can be reached by calling 731-8888.

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