Tuesday, March 13, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.
Guinn selects Hoyt replacement
Gov. Kenny Guinn today named Ely lawyer Steve Dobrescu to succeed District Judge Merlyn Hoyt of Ely, who has retired after more than 27 years of service.
Dobrescu, 40, began his legal career as a clerk for Hoyt before being named deputy district attorney for White Pine County in 1987. He continues to serve as a deputy district attorney and operates a private practice focusing on family law, estate planning and real estate transactions.
The 7th Judicial District is composed of White Pine, Eureka and Lincoln counties.
The state Judicial Selection Commission nominated Dobrescu, Sudabeh P. Fahami and Rusty Jardine for the post.
Dobrescu is a graduate of White Pine High School and the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.
Suspect arrested in Laughlin hotel
A suspect in an Arizona bank robbery was arrested in a Laughlin hotel Monday, Metro Police said.
A man put a device he said was a bomb on the counter in the Stockman's Bank in Bullhead City, Ariz., about 9:40 a.m. Monday and demanded money from the teller. He fled after getting the cash, police said.
Bullhead City Police located the suspect's car and identified the suspect as 33-year-old Kelly D'Ambra, police said.
Reid pushes paycheck measure
War veterans should be able to simultaneously collect both their military pensions and disability paychecks, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., told a large audience during the annual national conference of the American Legion today.
Currently, military retirees cannot collect both retirement and disability paychecks -- they must forfeit a portion of the retirement check equal to the disability pay. Reid is a leading sponsor of a bill that would allow veterans to collect both in full.
"This to me is something we need to explain to everyone because it's so unfair," Reid said.
Estimates show about 400,000 military retirees would collect about $1.9 billion more per year. Reid has set Memorial Day as a target for passage.
Duct drops in Strip hotel
Clark County firefighters were called to Circus Circus Monday night when pieces of the hotel's air duct fell through a ceiling and into a lounge.
Two people were taken to University Medical Center and treated for minor injuries after being hit by debris in the Skyrise lounge about 6:30 p.m., fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.
The ductwork fell from an attic area just above the lounge in the hotel's Skyrise tower. The lounge and the surrounding casino were shut down so work crews could begin repairs.
Passenger flees without money
Metro Police detectives are asking for the public's help in finding a passenger who tried to rob a cabdriver last week.
The driver picked up a man about 8:30 p.m. March 5 from University Medical Center. The man asked to be driven to the 1600 block of L Street, Sgt. Lori Crickett said.
After arriving at the location, the passenger put a knife to the driver's neck and a struggle ensued, with the passenger running from the scene, Crickett said.
The robber is described as being about 35, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 120 pounds and black with brown eyes and a bald head.
Anyone with information about the the robbery should call robbery detectives at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.
Help sought for victim's daughter
A trust fund has been established for the 6-year-old daughter of a woman killed in a January house fire near downtown Las Vegas.
Brandy Jo Johnson, 29, was found dead in the back of a house at 1619 Harly Way, near Bruce Street and Stewart Avenue, on the night of Jan. 30.
A blaze broke out at the house at about 10:45 p.m., and fire crews could not reach Johnson through the flames. Johnson's mother, Debra Hansen, has set up a fund for Johnson's daughter, Melissa Underbrink.
Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo to account number 0925498586.
Donation to help keep top teachers
UNLV's Boyd Law School received a major boost after a philanthropist couple donated a $500,000 endowment that would help retain one of its top business law professors.
Officials hope the endowment, given to the law school by Doris S. and Theodore B. Lee, will help bring recognition to the 3-year-old law school through the hiring and retention of top law professors.
Bruce Markell, the recipient of the professorship, will receive a raise -- from $110,000 a year to $120,000.
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