Friday, October 17, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Veteran lawyer on juvenile, family issues takes step up at DA's office

Deadbeat dads, beware.

District Attorney David Roger has named courthouse veteran Bob Teuton the new assistant DA over the Juvenile and Family Support Divisions, and that is sure to spell trouble for slacker parents who take their child support too lightly.

Formerly the chief deputy DA over the Juvenile Division, Teuton has fought a long battle for the rights of children and families since starting with the county in 1977.

He spent 10 years in the criminal division and seven more years in the county's Family and Youth Services before joining the district attorney's office eight years ago.

Teresa Lowry will assume Teuton's previous duties in the juvenile division.

MASON'S MOVE: John Mason, the Northern Nevada lawyer and the former chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, is said to be preparing a campaign for the state Supreme Court. Word is he already has more than $70,000 pledged.

Should he follow through, no doubt Mason will take full advantage of the supreme court's controversial decision earlier this year to overrule the constitutional amendment mandating a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before increasing taxes.

SI'S CELEBRATION: They'll probably call it something as mundane as a funeral, but in reality it will be a celebration of an amazing life when folks gather at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary at 7600 S. Eastern Ave. to say goodbye to gaming legend William S. "Si" Redd, who died Tuesday morning at age 91.

Redd, founder of International Game Technology and a developer of the video poker machine, died with wife Tammi at his side at his Solana Beach vacation home.

"He was excited and enthralled by all the people he met, particularly the people in his business who came out here with the same adventuresome spirit that he did," son-in-law Alan Green observed. "He loved this town and he loved talking about it." RIZZOLO'S TRIBULATION: A third amended complaint filed this week in the increasingly heated lawsuit involving Crazy Horse Too magnate Rick Rizzolo mentions the words "baseball bat," but it turns out it wasn't one of the ones used by the company slo-pitch team.

In the latest broadside filed by Donald Campbell and Stan Hunterton, attorneys for Kirk Henry, the Kansas tourist who claims Crazy Horse Too bouncers broke his neck after a 2001 tab dispute, the lawyers claim Rizzolo was part of a 1987 incident in which a Colorado tourist was assaulted with a baseball bat at the club. The incident, the attorneys allege, resulted in the customer suffering permanent brain damage.

Rizzolo, it should be remembered, has no criminal convictions. He has flatly denied wrongdoing in the Henry case and has vowed through his attorneys to fight the litigation vigorously.

Rizzolo is also among the targets of an ongoing FBI investigation into suspected criminal activity at the Industrial Road topless cabaret.

OLD TIME REUNION: The annual Old Time Reunion, which this year pays tribute to injured animal trainer Roy Horn, is set for Sunday night at the Stardust.

The reunion each year draws hundreds of longtime locals, who gather over cocktails and dinner to talk about the community they know and love despite its blemishes and detractors.

Tickets are $35 and available by calling 798-4789.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Bookmaker Dickie Stevens died this week. He ran with a colorful crowd and among his peers was known as a gentleman. ... Wouldn't it be interesting if Cheetah's owner Michael Galardi kept a log listing the officials and other VIPs he comped at his club? That list might include some of the cops who frequented his place, along with whoever was responsible for giving his boys those handsome FBI caps. I wonder if such a log will eventually surface. ... Las Vegas-based accordion slinger Dick Contino still plays more than 200 dates a year. ... Congratulations to the Jarr Man, lounge monster Cook E. Jarr, who on Sunday will be inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana. Frank Valli, Connie Stevens, Jack Carter, Breck Wall, and Bill Acosta also will be honored. ... So, what's really behind the impending breakup of one of the valley's most dynamic law firms?

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.