Sunday, July 03, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

WEEK IN REVIEW: Reporters Notebook

Spaghetti Bowl traffic moves about as fast as a desert tortoise, so why not have a couple adorning the interchange? Lake Las Vegas Resort gives good promotional items. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus does not.

THIS PAST WEEK, THE SPAGHETTI BOWL INTERCHANGE received a pair of new residents: two concrete sculptures of desert tortoises, each weighing 5 tons and costing $35,000. It's part of a $3 million plan to landscape the bland crossing of Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 95.

The desert tortoise is the state's official reptile, but given the interchange's moniker, not all agree it was the right decorative choice.

"I haven't heard any mention of including several humongous meatballs," said Summerlin resident Jim Brush.

On the other hand, some might say a pair of immobile turtles are the perfect symbols for the centerpiece of the Las Vegas Valley's highway network.

OMAR SOFRADZIJA

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "This guy's probably going to be a client later on."

THE ONLY REGULAR ATTENDEES OF MAYOR OSCAR GOODMAN'S WEEKLY NEWS CONFERENCES are the two local newspapers' city government reporters, the Review-Journal's Mike Kalil and the Las Vegas Sun's Dan Kulin. But last week, Goodman also hosted an Israeli travel magazine writer and a reporter from The Washington Post.

Goodman explained to the out-of-town reporters that both Kalil and Kulin were soon departing their slots at City Hall.

"Mr. Kalil here is going to be the music editor," Goodman said, referring to the reporter's recent reassignment at the R-J.

The mayor's smile then turned into a frown. "And Mr. Kulin here, well, he's going to be unemployed." Goodman's quip referred to the Sun's recent announcement that it anticipated layoffs as part of a reorganization.

THE ISRAELI TRAVEL WRITER THEN ASKED GOODMAN WHAT, besides the city's centennial, is the major story in Las Vegas right now. Goodman was quick with a response. "One of our local newspapers is folding." He was referring to the Sun's plan to become a section inside the R-J in September.

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "I really don't want him to spit on me."

SUPERINTENDENT CARLOS GARCIA MARKED HIS DEPARTURE from the Clark County School District with the purchase of a silver sports car with personal plates declaring "LIBRE," the Spanish word for free.

After being told about the plates, one central administrator pretended to mishear and asked: "What did they say, he's leaving?"

LISA KIM BACH

THE REVIEW-JOURNAL NEWSROOM DOESN'T WELCOME NONFERMENTED SWAG from any source. Indeed, the paper always discourages such booty, and often sends it back.

But it can be amusing to compare the promotional items sent to the newsroom.

At one end of the Swag-O-Meter in recent weeks was the wicker basket Lake Las Vegas Resort sent music critic Mike Kalil to promote its "Stars on the Lake" concert series.

Inside was a corkscrew/bottle opener, two wine glasses, a cutting board and a pate knife -- or as we in the news business like to say, a couteau.

At the other end of the Swag-O-Meter was the big bag of raw carrots the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus sent to promote its appearance at The Orleans Arena. A press release was affixed with packing tape.

SEN. BOB COFFIN, D-LAS VEGAS, DOESN'T MIND MULTITASKING ON THE GREEN. While doing a phone interview with a reporter on Tuesday, Coffin talked until it was his turn to take a shot at the 16th hole.

"Hold on, let me hit this shot first," Coffin said into his cell phone. "Uh-oh, that's not good. I went left in the rough."

LISA KIM BACH