News briefs

Man turns in device to NHP

A Las Vegas man says he found a suspected pipe bomb in a deserted area north of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, put it in his truck and this morning drove it to the Nevada Highway Patrol office.

Troopers called the Las Vegas Fire Department Bomb Squad, which blew up the PVC pipe device about 7 a.m., said Trooper Scott Beringer, Highway Patrol spokesman.

Bill Downing said he found the pipe near Las Vegas Boulevard North, where he had pulled over Tuesday about 6 p.m. He then put it in his toolbox in the back of his pickup.

Beringer advised those who find a pipe bomb or other suspicious items not to touch them but just call police.

City, county seek executive director

Clark County and the city of Las Vegas announced Tuesday they will begin their search for an executive director to oversee the soon-to-be assembled Metro Police citizens review board.

The applicant must be a certified Nevada attorney with a minimum of four years experience.

The executive director will earn between $62,400 and $96,700 a year. Applicants can send their resumes to the Clark County Human Resources Department, 3rd Floor, County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, 89155.

CAT to add express service

A new express bus service will soon help shuttle Las Vegas Strip employees to work.

The Regional Transportation Service said the express bus service will shuttle employees during peak morning and afternoon rush hours between four areas of the Las Vegas Valley and the Strip.

The service, using regular Citizens Area Transit buses, will begin Feb. 28. The routes will be on Rancho Drive, Las Vegas Boulevard North, East Tropicana and West Tropicana avenues.

The Las Vegas Boulevard North route will begin at Cheyenne and loop at Industrial Road and Wyoming Avenue. The Rancho Drive route will begin at Ann Road and loop at Spring Mountain and Paradise roads. The West Tropicana route will begin at Twain Avenue and Durango Drive and loop at Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road. East Tropicana will begin just west of Andover Drive and loop at Hacienda Avenue and Stephanie Street.

For information, call 228-7433.

Participant in killing to be freed

Joel Kinney, who has served nearly 20 years in prison for a 1980 barroom robbery-murder in Las Vegas, is going to be paroled.

The state Parole Board said today it has agreed to free Kinney, 41, who intends to live in the Reno-Sparks area when he is released within the next three months.

Kinney has enjoyed a string of success in the last two months. In December the state Pardons Board agreed to reduce his life term without possibility of parole to allow him to seek parole.

Kinney, 41, was convicted of the fatal shooting of Donald Lill, 38, during a robbery of the Nite Twain Bar on Feb. 12, 1980. His accomplice, Charles Axtell, who reportedly pulled the trigger, is serving a life term without the possibility of parole.

Democrats hold lead over GOP

As the election season heats up, Democrats are continuing to maintain their edge in voter registration.

Secretary of State Dean Heller reported Tuesday that Democrats had 380,302 registered voters, a lead of exactly 1,000 over the GOP as of the end of January. At the end of December, Republicans trailed by 1,226 voters.

Yet in 13 of the 17 counties, Republicans hold the voter lead. Democrats are ahead only in Clark, Lincoln, Mineral and White Pine counties.

The end-of-January report shows 130,072 signed up as nonpartisan, 5,191 as Libertarian, 924 as Green, 17,422 Independent American, 694 Natural Law, 622 Reform and 2,008 voters with other designations.

Clark County had 258,780 Democrats and 221,190 Republicans.

Cottrell to retire from county post

After 31 years W.F. "Bill" Cottrell has announced his retirement from the executive director's post of the Clark County Housing Authority.

Cottrell came to Nevada in 1963 and served as city manager for Boulder City for two years before being appointed executive director of the Economic Opportunity Board. In 1968 he was named head of the housing authority.

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