IN BRIEF

     Group forms to seek
     Family Court reforms
     
      A group of divorced and separated parents is forming an organization to lobby for change in the Clark County Family Court.
      The Coalition for Family Court Reform will hold its first meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in the community room at Saturn of Henderson, 310 N. Gibson Road.
      Al DiCicco, the group's director, said the organization is for mothers and fathers who feel any family member has not been treated fairly by the Family Court.
      "I've seen my kids harmed by ongoing litigation," said DiCicco. "I have seen that nobody in the court system steps into the situation and resolves the differences between myself and my ex."
      He said the organization will evaluate Family Court judges prior to next year's election and inform the public of the judges' "conduct, strengths, and weaknesses from a litigant's perspective." It will also propose new legislation. Annual membership will be $10.
      "The inadequacy of the system usually causes unnecessary emotional and financial stress to all parties that enter in," DiCicco said. "In many cases the system seems to prolong hostility rather than resolve disputes."
     
     Man pleads guilty
     to currency charge
     
      A New Jersey man arrested after passing fake $20 bills at a Las Vegas lounge pleaded guilty Monday to a single count of possession of counterfeit currency.
      Michael Beeler entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Lloyd George, who set a sentencing date of Oct. 29.
      The March 10 arrests of Beeler and Theodore Supranovicz, both 31, led authorities to search a New Jersey packing plant where several explosive devices were found.
      Police found devices such as pipe bombs and what appeared to be a grenade inside an area used for storage at the plant.
      Beeler was not implicated in the explosives charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Schuit said Supranovicz has resolved his counterfeiting and explosives charges with authorities on the East Coast.
      Authorities alleged that Beeler visited a "gentleman's club" called Club Paradise, 4416 Paradise Road, and gave a waitress two counterfeit $20 bills.
      Beeler and Supranovicz had several other $20 bills in their possession and in a hotel room, authorities said.