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Area Briefing, Aug. 21-27

NEW COAST GUARD AUXILIARY GROUP FORMS IN VALLEY

Residents are welcome to join a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla that was formed in July in Southern Nevada’s 11th District-South.

The unit teaches boating safety to people who use Lake Mead and parts of the Colorado River. Auxiliary volunteers also can take on assignments in areas such as communications, finance, human resources, public education, diversity and aviation.

The flotilla meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the third Monday at the North Las Vegas Airport, 2730 Airport Drive, and the next session is set for Sept. 15. The initial meeting in July was attended by 20 new members and about 24 potential members.

Auxiliary members come from all walks of life, including tradesmen, medical professionals, security personnel, artists, musicians, educators and retirees.

The group’s core values are the same as the U.S. Coast Guard’s: honor, respect and devotion to duty.

To attend a meeting or for more information, call Cmdr. Barry Keller at 702-219-2236 or visit goaux.us.

WEST NILE-POSITIVE MOSQUITOS FOUND IN CLARK COUNTY

A number of mosquitos from certain parts of the valley have tested positive for the West Nile virus, but no cases of infected Clark County residents have been reported, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

The mosquitos were found in the 89103, 89107, 89129, 89138 and 89149 ZIP codes.

Last year, the health district received reports of nine infected people. Officials advise residents to take precautions against the disease by using insect repellents and eliminating sources of standing water that support mosquito breeding.

For more prevention tips, visit the health district’s West Nile virus page on its website at tinyurl.com/westniletipsclarkcounty. For updates about the virus, visit the district’s West Nile statistics page at tinyurl.com/westnileupdates.

MCGRUFF MOBILE APP CREATED FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

A new app is available to help students stay safe during the school year.

AlertID has partnered with the National Crime Prevention Council to create the McGruff mobile app, available free at alertid.com.

After creating an AlertID account, users can receive law enforcement alerts, crime and sex offender alerts, prevention tips and more. The app also includes a virtual Neighborhood Watch where users can share photos and information regarding suspicious activity with neighbors, police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Users also can view an interactive map displaying crimes and sex offenders in their neighborhoods. They can receive alerts and information via email or mobile device for multiple locations, such as their homes, schools, offices or current locations.

COUNTY WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES EARN AWARDS

Two Gold Peak Performance Awards were recently presented to two Clark County Water Reclamation District facilities by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

The Flamingo and the Laughlin water resource center treatment facilities yielded the honor. The facilities were two of 158 wastewater plants nationally to earn the award. This is the second consecutive year the Flamingo facility has achieved the distinction.

The Peak Performance Awards program recognizes public agency facilities for excellence in wastewater treatment as measured by their compliance with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The Gold Award honors sites that have achieved 100 percent compliance for a year.

STORM DRAIN INSTALLATION STARTS ON FORT APACHE ROAD

Construction crews began installing a mile-long storm drain Aug. 11 under Fort Apache Road between Elkhorn Road and the 215 Beltway.

After the first portion of the project, expected to take 90 days, one side of Fort Apache will be closed one block at a time, diverting all traffic to the other side, with one lane open in each direction, according to the city of Las Vegas.

The project will consist of constructing a 12-foot-by-6-foot concrete box under Fort Apache, with associated concrete pipe, junction and inlet structures and manholes, connecting two major lateral storm drains to the main system at Deer Springs Way and Echelon Point Drive.

Work hours are scheduled for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the project is expected to take 12 months. Drivers should use Durango Drive or Hualapai Way as alternate routes for north-south travel, and Farm Road or the 215 Beltway for east-west travel.

PILATES FOR POLICE PLANNED THROUGH AUGUST

Pilates for Police is planned from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays in August at Calvary Chapel Spring Valley, 7175 W. Oquendo Road. The cost is $10 per session, with all of the proceeds going to the Injured Police Officers Fund.

Participants must provide their own mat. Sessions are for beginner or intermediate level.

To reserve a spot, call 702-362-9000.

FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO BE AVAILABLE AT SAFETY EVENT

A back-to-school safety event featuring giveaways for children is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Cambridge Recreation Center, 3930 Cambridge St.

Participating agencies are to include the Metropolitan and Clark County School District police departments, University Medical Center, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, UNLV, the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Free child safety seats are set to be available, but children and vehicles must be present. School district police and UMC personnel are scheduled to fit children to the right seat.

Free bicycle helmets also are scheduled to be distributed, with volunteers helping parents and children select sizes. In addition, free backpacks and school supplies with safety messages are slated to be available.

FIREFIGHTERS TO FACE OFF WITH HOCKEY PROS FOR YOUTH CHARITY

Twelve members of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 are set to take part in a hockey game with former and current professional players to raise money for the Las Vegas Firefighter Youth Hockey Charity.

The game is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the SoBe Ice Arena at the Fiesta Rancho, 2400 N. Rancho Drive.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12 at the SoBe Ice Arena box office.

Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 plans to unveil and sell its 2015 Las Vegas firefighter calendars to raise additional funds. It also plans to raffle off hockey sticks signed by participating NHL and ECHL players.

Participants include Chris Francis, former Las Vegas Wranglers player; Eric Lacroix, former Colorado Avalanche player; Stephane Yelle, former Stanley Cup winner with the Avalanche; Jason Zucker, a Minnesota Wild player; and Deryk Engelland, a Calgary Flames player.

The event raised $5,000 last year, and organizers hope to raise more at the upcoming event.

Las Vegas Firefighter Youth Hockey is a nonprofit that helps area children participate in the sport. The group provides funding to purchase equipment and to travel to different states for competitions.

For more information, visit iafflocal1285.com.

HENDERSON SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR MILITARY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

The city of Henderson plans to honor active military personnel with banners bearing each one’s name, rank and image.

Henderson residents, businesses and organizations may nominate an honoree and sponsor his street banner for a $150 printing cost.

The Military Recognition Banner Program honoree must be a Henderson resident or the immediate family member of one and must be an active-duty military member in good standing.

The application deadline is Oct. 1. The street banners are scheduled to be installed around Veterans Day, set for Nov. 11, and displayed for a year. Once the banners are removed, honorees are slated to be recognized at a ceremony hosted by the city.

Nomination forms are available from the city Community Development and Services Department and can be requested by calling 702-267-1500 or visiting cityofhenderson.com/community_development.

RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO HOST PARTY FOR A CAUSE

The Rape Crisis Center plans a party from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Lavo Italian Restaurant & Lounge at the Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, to help raise funds for its programs and services. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Tickets are $20, which covers drinks, appetizers and entertainment. Residents can purchase tickets at the door or by visiting rcclv.org.

In 2013, the center assisted 573 victims of sexual assault, handled more than 3,000 hotline calls and educated more than 11,000 Clark County students on how to prevent assault.

LEGAL ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED AT FREE CLASS

Various legal issues are set to be discussed during Community Law Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 23 at the UNLV Boyd School of Law, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

Topics scheduled to be covered are bankruptcy law; small claims procedures; divorce; paternity custody; guardianship; criminal record sealing; and deferred action for childhood arrivals.

The session is free and open to the public, and RSVPs are required.

For more information, call 702-895-3671 or visit tinyurl.com/communitylawday.

VIDEOS IN SPANISH TO HELP RESIDENTS REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN FAMILY COURT

Several videos to help residents represent themselves in Clark County Family Court have been posted in Spanish at tinyurl.com/representyourself.

The videos include presentations by various county judges covering topics such as mediation, arguing a case, children in the courthouse and legal motions.

More than half of the people who appear in Family Court represent themselves, and many speak Spanish, county officials said.

For more information, visit clarkcountycourts.us.

SANDS CARES DONATES FUNDS TO THE SHADE TREE

A social responsibility initiative by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. called Sands Cares recently raised $13,645 for The Shade Tree women’s shelter.

The company raised $3,645 by donating tickets to its employees for a Las Vegas 51s game, with all proceeds from their attendance going to The Shade Tree. Sands Cares also donated $10,000 to the nonprofit.

Sands Cares participants include The Venetian, the Palazzo and the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

For more information, visit sands.com.

RAMPART BOULEVARD SEWER PROJECT TO CAUSE LANE RESTRICTIONS

The city of Las Vegas recently began an 11-month sanitary sewer pipe installation project on Rampart Boulevard between Alta Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard.

The $12 million project is expected to cause lane restrictions on Rampart.

Phase 1, planned through October, is set to include a sewer bypass at Lake Mead and work along Rampart between Lake Mead and Hillpointe Road. Work hours are slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Crews plan to close the east side of Rampart between Lake Mead and Hillpointe, shifting traffic to the west side of the median, with one lane open in each direction. Lane restrictions on Rampart north of Lake Mead and on eastbound and westbound Lake Mead approaching the Rampart intersection are set to be in place during August. Buffalo Drive is recommended as an alternate route for north/south travel.

Phase 2 of the project is scheduled from October to December between Hillpointe and Vegas Drive; Phase 3 is set for December to February between Vegas Drive and the north off-ramps from Summerlin Parkway; Phase 4 is slated for February through March between the Summerlin Parkway north off-ramps and Canyon Run Drive; and Phase 5 is planned for March to May between Canyon Run and Alta.

TAB Contractors is the construction company, and the city is managing the project. Work is being funded by the city sanitation fund and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

For more information, call 702-229-6272.

CITY GOES HALF ON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH GRANT PROGRAM

The Las Vegas City Council recently approved $55,000 in Neighborhood Partners Fund grants for 18 projects aimed at improving the community.

The recipients are neighborhood associations registered with the city. The residents in the neighborhood associations are scheduled to provide more than $163,570 in matching labor and donations to improve their neighborhoods.

The 18 projects are:

— The McNeil Neighborhood Association: neighborhood designation signage.

— Quail Estates West: audio-visual and security equipment.

— The Admiral’s Point II Homeowners Association: an HOA security system.

— The Aventura Homeowners Association: a safety and lighting improvement project.

— Bonner Elementary School PTA: Bonner Safety in Schools.

— The La Mancha Homeowners Association: signage renewal and beautification.

— The Crossroads I Homeowners Association: carport lighting, benches and barbecue/picnic area improvements.

— The Huntridge Neighborhood Association: neighborhood unity and beautification.

— The Stupak Neighborhood Council: funds for the neighborhood council and Police Athletic League Youth Adventure Club.

— The Western-Highland Business Association: a communication project.

— The Quail Ridge Drive Homeowners Association: enhancing community spirit.

— The Cultural Corridor Coalition: a Cultural Corridor awareness campaign.

— The Northwest Area Residents Association: a community garden.

— The Greens Homeowners Association: a security camera upgrade and lighting enhancements.

— The Willowdale Estates Homeowners Association: the Willowdale annual security event.

— Eagle Creek Heights: park equipment renovation.

— The Four Winds Homeowners Association: park security and lighting upgrades.

— The Whisper Creek Owners’ Association: entrance landscaping.

The city’s Neighborhood Partners Fund matches up to $5,000 for projects to improve the quality of life in registered Las Vegas neighborhoods.

Residents can register their neighborhoods by calling 702-229-6681. For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

FREE APP ALLOWS USERS TO REPORT PROBLEMS, FIND PARKING

The city of Las Vegas has launched an app for Android users who want to report a neighborhood problem or find parking.

Users can download the app, called city of Las Vegas mobile, via the Google Play store.

Residents can report or check the status of any problem in the city, such as graffiti, a pothole or a broken streetlight. Any alerts sent by users are received in real time by crews out in the field who could respond to the area.

The app also includes a link showing a map of city-operated public parking areas, rates and hours of operation. The app also provides a map that highlights downtown food trucks and their locations. In addition, the app links to the city’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel and news release archives.

Last year, the city launched a similar app for iPhone users, and it can be downloaded free. The city also has a mobile website, m.lasvegasnevada.gov, that allows residents to report problems within the city via their mobile devices.

RACEL STREET LANE RESTRICTIONS PLANNED THROUGH DECEMBER

A city of Las Vegas storm drain improvement project is planned through December on Racel Street between El Capitan Way and Finch Feather Street.

The project will require lane restrictions on Racel and occasional street closures, according to the city. Work hours are set for 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

New 42-inch reinforced concrete pipe is slated to be connected to an existing 42-inch storm drain at the intersection of Racel and El Capitan and be continued down Racel to just east of Finch Feather.

Additional improvements along Racel near Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs between Al Carrison Street and North Cimarron Road are scheduled to include inlet modifications and new asphalt with sidewalk ramps, curbs and gutters.

Harber Construction is the contractor, and the city is managing the project. The estimated cost is $498,820, provided by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District.

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