Friday, May 28, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Brief

DIED IN IRAQ

17 Puerto Rican soldiers to be honored

At its annual Memorial Day festival the Boricua Association of Nevada will pay tribute to the 17 soldiers from Puerto Rico who so far have died fighting for the United States in Iraq.

A ceremony will commence at 11:30 a.m., Sunday at Lorenzi Park, on Washington Avenue just west of Rancho Drive.

The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. will feature cultural events, Caribbean music and food.

Admittance to the festival costs $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Proceeds will benefit the association's scholarship fund, which for the 2003-2004 school year provided 20 scholarships of $1,000 in partnership with the Ronald McDonald House for Hispanic students who participated in an essay contest.

Michelle Delgado, secretary of the association, said some of the proceeds from this year's festival also will go toward community service projects and other events aimed at promoting Puerto Rican culture.

GAS LEAK

Two townhomes destroyed in explosion

Two townhomes were destroyed Thursday afternoon when a gas leak triggered a massive explosion, a fire official said.

No one was hurt in the explosion and resulting fire, which started about 1:20 p.m. at 6215 Meadow Haven Lane, near Twain Avenue and Jones Boulevard, said Scott Allison, a Clark County Fire Department spokesman.

Fire investigators believe a leaky dryer gas line filled one of the units with gas. The gas eventually hit the water heater's pilot light, triggering the explosion that blew part of the roof off and sent clothing into trees and debris into the street, he said.

Firefighters controlled the flames within 30 minutes, and were able to save two of the four homes in the building.

No one was home during the explosion, but at least one family dog died in the fire, Allison said.

DEADLY ACCIDENT

4-year-old girl drowns in backyard pool

A 4-year-old girl drowned in her family pool Thursday after slipping out a bedroom window into the back yard, a fire official said.

The girl's brother found her about 4:40 p.m. at the bottom of the pool on El Camino Road near Twain Avenue and Jones Boulevard, said Scott Allison, a Clark County Fire Department spokesman.

Police officers in the neighborhood for a house fire responded and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The girl was taken to Spring Valley Hospital, where doctors tried for an hour to revive her before she died, he said.

Investigators think the girl might have crawled through a window to get into the back yard. The girl's family was home at the time, he said.

HIGH COURT DECISION

Lawyer who killed ex-wife disbarred

A Las Vegas lawyer convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-wife has been disbarred by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Alfred "Chip" Centofanti III voluntarily consented to his disbarment.

Centofanti acknowledged in an affidavit submitted to the court that his conviction violates a Supreme Court rule dealing with criminal acts that adversely reflect on a lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness.

Centofanti was convicted in April in Clark County District Court of fatally shooting his ex-wife in December 2000, just days after the couple's divorce was finalized.

DISTRICT COURT

Late delivery doesn't disqualify applicant

An eighth applicant has been accepted by the Commission on Judicial Selection to fill a vacancy on Clark County District Court.

John Curtas, an attorney affiliated with the Flangas McMillan Law Group of Las Vegas, was accepted after it was determined his application arrived late because of a problem with a Federal Express delivery.

Curtas, 52, hosts a radio show on KNPR.

The applicants will be interviewed the week of June 28. The commission will pick three finalists. Gov. Kenny Guinn will appoint the new judge from among the three.

The vacancy was created when Chief District Judge Michael Douglas was appointed to the Nevada Supreme Court.

NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR

School Board honors six new educators

Of the 2,000 new teachers hired this year by the Clark County School District, six were honored by School Board members Thursday as standouts in the profession.

The honorees for New Teacher of the Year were nominated by their building principals. This year's winners are: Rebekka Balkwell, Goldfarb Elementary School; Sara Rich, Beckley Elementary School; Ernest Ashby, Orr Middle School; Jennifer Lile, Cimarron-Memorial High School; Mary Beth Butman, McWilliams Elementary School; and Greg VanDePol, Woodbury Middle School.