Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Brief

REMODELING WORK

Henderson DMV office to be closed Saturday

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles' Henderson branch at 1399 American Pacific Drive will be closed Saturday to allow for remodeling work.

People who must visit a DMV office Saturday are asked to instead go to one of the three Las Vegas branches: 8250 W. Flamingo Road, 2701 E. Sahara Ave. or 4021 W. Carey Ave. between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Henderson branch will reopen at 8 a.m. Feb. 17.

All DMV offices will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day.

LAS VEGAS CENTENNIAL

July Fourth weekend picked for celebration

Las Vegas has picked the July Fourth weekend for the city's made-for-TV celebration of its centennial in 2005 and hopes the event will draw hundreds of thousands of tourists.

City officials said that will allow a celebration catering to locals to be held on the city's true centennial, May 14, 2005.

"That way the focus stays on locals," said Centennial Project Manager Stacy Allsbrook. "They can celebrate their city's birthday on the day of its founding."

Clear Channel Communications is planning a one- or two-hour celebration of Las Vegas' centennial that will air on a national network and feature "Vegas superstars" and other performers.

Corporate sponsors will pay for the show and subsidize much of the local celebration through an agreement with the city.

SIX-WEEK MANHUNT ENDS

Man arrested in killing of estranged wife

A Kingman, Ariz., man wanted in the shooting death of his wife the day after Christmas was arrested Monday in Las Vegas, ending a six-week manhunt.

Steve Cook, 41, is charged with killing his estranged wife, Bonnie, 36, and shooting and wounding her boyfriend, David Thompson, 36, in Kingman on Dec. 26.

Kingman police Lt. Dean Brice said the Arizona investigation produced the address of Cook's uncle and his computer business in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas police dispatched a special task force to the business and eventually arrested Cook at the El Cortez Hotel, according to Las Vegas police Lt. Jim Moses.

Cook was booked into the Clark County Detention Center pending extradition to Arizona.

FRIDAY MORNING SLAYING

Coroner's office IDs shooting victim

A man who was shot and killed Friday morning has been identified as 19-year-old Michael Panec, the Clark County coroner's office said.

Panec was found dead at a home near Charleston and Nellis boulevards, according to Las Vegas police. He and another man had gone to the home in the 5500 block of White Cap Street and argued with someone, police said.

Both Panec and his acquaintance were shot. The other victim survived his injuries, police said.

The gunman, who has not been identified, told police he fired because Panec attacked him with a knife.

Police plan to forward the case to the Clark County district attorney to decide whether the shooter should be charged.

APARTMENT COMPLEX SLAYING

Man found dead in laundry room ID'd

A 30-year-old who was found dead in a laundry room Friday has been identified as Juan Casillas, the Clark County coroner's office said.

Casillas, of Las Vegas, died from a gunshot wound to the head, an autopsy revealed.

He was discovered at an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Cambridge Street, near the intersection of Twain Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

No suspects have been named in connection with the killing.

Anyone with information about the crime can call Las Vegas police at 229-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Five departments receive certification

The Clark County School District is bringing a business approach to quality management to its own operations.

On Monday, Superintendent Carlos Garcia announced that five district departments are now certified under the International Organization for Standardization, a network of standards instituted in 148 countries.

It's the culmination of two years of training, auditing and corrective measures taken to improve efficiency in Human Resources, Curriculum and Professional Development, Purchasing, Maintenance and the School Board's office.

Garcia said the goal is for all departments to receive certification by 2006.

He said that the process has already resulted in quicker response times for maintenance work orders and the streamlining of paperwork in both Purchasing and Human Resources.