Thursday, July 21, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.
Top Yucca official resigns from post
WASHINGTON -- A top Yucca Mountain project official will leave his post next week, citing personal reasons.
Joseph Ziegler resigned last week, the department confirmed today. Ziegler is on leave until the end of September, but his last day of working for the department will be Tuesday, according to the Yucca Mountain project office.
Ziegler was head of the project's license application and strategy, putting him in charge of preparing and finalizing documents the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will use to decide whether to allow the department to build the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Fed official to visit two military sites
Two Nevada military facilities will receive a second visit from a Base Realignment and Closure commissioner next week.
Commission Chairman Anthony J. Principi will visit the Hawthorne Army Depot and the Nevada Air National Guard base at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Tuesday, according to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Principi, the former Secretary of the Veterans Affairs, is in charge of the nine-member commission that will finalize a list of military sites to be closed or realigned. The list is due to the president by Sept. 8.
The Pentagon recommended closing the Hawthorne Army Depot, which would cost hundreds of jobs. It would also move planes from the 152 Airlift Wing at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to an Air Force base in Arkansas, among other changes in the state.
Man sought in studio shooting
Metro Police are searching for a man who shot and killed another man, believed to be a rapper, at a recording studio this morning at Hacienda Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.
The two men apparently knew each other and got into an argument, which led to the shooting, police said.
Police want to talk to a man who goes by the nickname "Loc" in connection with the incident.
NLV officers honored
Two North Las Vegas Police officers were honored Tuesday by city officials for their decades of service.
Detective Robert Tanner received recognition for 35 years of service to the community and the department.
Lt. Michael Blackwell, Sr., was recognized for 30 years of service.
The officers received certificates and lapel pins from North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, the North Las Vegas City Council and city department heads, including Police Chief Mark Paresi.
"Law enforcement is a demanding and often difficult profession," Paresi said. "This kind of longevity is rare in any job; it is truly a noteworthy accomplishment for police officers. The public appreciates the commitment these officers have made to the community for so many years."
Henderson names development chief
Henderson has named Bristol Ellington as the director of community development.
Ellington, who has served as assistant director since 1996, replaces Mary Kay Peck, who took over on Monday as assistant city manager. Ellington will earn $150,836 a year. Peck's salary as assistant city manager is $167,153.
City Manager Phil Speight said Ellington has shown great leadership in the department and is highly respected.
A resident of Florida before moving to Henderson, Ellington served as a principal planner for Palm Beach Gardens between 1988 and 1996. He has a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan and bachelor's degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin.
Two arrested in fatal shooting
Metro Police arrested two suspects Tuesday in connection with a shooting last week that left one man dead and two women injured.
Demarene Coleman, 20, was charged with murder and attempted murder and Montelle Motley, 25, was charged with accessory to murder.
Police said Tanzie Austin, 41, was seen arguing with Motley along Mesquite Avenue near Eastern Avenue on July 10. Coleman emerged from an alley, allegedly shot Austin several times and fled with Motley, police said.
Man critically hurt in auto collision
A 28-year-old man was critically injured Wednesday after his car collided with a sport utility vehicle on Decatur Boulevard near Grand Teton Drive, Metro Police said.
Shalief Strother of North Las Vegas was heading south on Decatur in a 2001 BMW about 6:40 p.m. when it collided with a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle. It appears the driver of the Hyundai, Colleen Wiley, 43, of Las Vegas failed to yield as she made a left onto Grand Teton, police said.
Strother was taken to University Medical Center with critical injuries. Wiley suffered minor injuries.
Crow tests positive for West Nile virus
A dead crow found in Northern Nevada has tested positive for West Nile virus, the first reported in the state this year.
The bird was found dead in Yerington on Monday and taken to the state Agriculture Department's Animal Disease and Food Safety Laboratory.
Two mosquito pools sent in earlier tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis.
"The bottom line is, the West Nile virus is in Nevada," said Dr. Bradford Lee, state health officer.
archive
