Area Briefing, March 25-31

WRANGLERS TO HOST ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS FUNDRAISER

Sierra Donor Awareness is teaming with the Nevada chapter of the Community Associations Institute and the Las Vegas Wrangers to raise funds for organ, eye and tissue donation awareness. Tickets to the March 28 game are available for $15 with a CAI discount, with $5 from each ticket going to the cause.

For more information, visit lasvegaswranglers.com. The offer is not available at the box office.

EVENT RAISES AWARENESS OF WALKING AND BICYCLING TO SCHOOL SAFELY

Children at Clark County schools were scheduled to take part in March 19 events promoting walking or bicycling to school safely in honor of Nevada Moves Day.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School offered several tips for children in conjunction with the event:

— Walk with a friend when possible.

— Plan a safe route to school.

— When walking near the street, refrain from pushing or running.

— Report any bullying that may occur while walking.

— Wear bright-colored clothing, and use a flashlight or reflective gear at night.

— Obey traffic signs, signals and school crossing guards.

For more information, visit walknevada.com or saferoutesinfo.org.

CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON TOURISM SAFETY

An International Tourism Safety Conference is planned March 31 to April 4 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, 201 Sands Ave.

The conference is aimed at providing safety and security officials in the travel and tourism industries with new information about equipment, strategies and best practices regarding keeping visitors safe.

The event is to be hosted by the International Tourism Safety Association, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association.

The conference is slated to feature presentations addressing issues such as coordinating and securing major events, tourism safety tactics, understanding food safety issues, safeguarding international and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender visitors and working with the media. A Tourism Oriented Policing and Protective Services certification course is scheduled to be offered.

For more information, visit touristsafety.org.

HUALAPAI WAY LANE CLOSURE PLANNED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF PARKING LOT

A small parking lot is set to be constructed on the east side of Hualapai Way to enhance access to an adjacent recreational trail, according to the city of Las Vegas.

The construction is planned through mid-April between the intersections with Alta and Town Center drives. Work is set to take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The east shoulder lane is scheduled to remain closed during the project. The impact on traffic flow is expected to be minimal, city officials said.

Plans include building a 12-space parking lot with entrance and exit drives.

Las Vegas Paving Corporation is the contractor. The city is managing and funding the $40,000 project.

NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL PART OF SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

The city of Las Vegas activated a new traffic signal March 12 at Garces Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.

The signal is designed to provide safer and more efficient passage for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit passengers as part of an ongoing pedestrian and bicycle safety improvement project on Garces Avenue and First Street, city officials said.

The project is managed by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

FUNDRAISER FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEVADA TO INCLUDE SAFETY FAIR, SHOOTING COMPETITION

The Gun Garage, 5155 Dean Martin Drive, plans a Shoot for Our Stars competition and safety fair from 5 to 8 p.m. April 16.

Gun enthusiasts are invited to demonstrate their skills by shooting at a target, going up against local law enforcement officers. Participants must be at least age 16, and youths must be accompanied by an adult at the event, dubbed as family-friendly.

Registration is $100, with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Nevada. The fee includes a three-station shooting package, a souvenir photo with participants’ competitors, food, beverages and a raffle ticket. An outdoor safety fair also is planned.

Registration can be conducted at shootingforourstars.com.

MARCH TO PROMOTE CHILDREN’S SAFETY

A Save our Children march is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 beginning at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, to raise awareness of safety in schools.

The 2-mile march to the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, is set to be hosted by Channel 8’s Dave Courvoisier and include speakers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County School District. State leaders also are set to speak at the event, which is scheduled to include faith-based entertainment and testimonials and bands and cheerleaders from the school district.

For more information, call 702-386-7100.

MEDIAN ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS TO CAUSE TRAFFIC DELAYS ON DECATUR BOULEVARD

Traffic delays are expected through the second week of April on Decatur Boulevard between Charleston Boulevard and Meadows Lane due to median island improvements, the city of Las Vegas announced.

Improvements will include grading, placement of decorative rock and installation of metal structures representing local flora and fauna.

Work is planned from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, when the inside lanes in both directions are to be closed to traffic. Jones and Valley View boulevards are recommended as alternative routes.

City Department of Operations and Maintenance staff members built most of the metal structures and are performing the grading, installation and other construction. Funding is provided by the city.

WORKSHOP TO OFFER INFORMATION ON SAFETY FOR WARD 2 SENIORS

A free Ward 2 informational workshop for residents 50 or older is set for 9 to 11 a.m. April 24 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive.

Presentations are planned from the Social Security Administration and Nathan Adelson Hospice. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is slated to discuss senior safety, and information on Medicare is set to be available.

Also, the Metropolitan Police Department will accept unwanted pills and prescription drugs for safe disposal.

Reservations are requested by calling 702-229-1100.

WARD 2 SHREDDING EVENT SCHEDULED MARCH 29

A Ward 2 shredding event is slated from 10 a.m. to noon March 29 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive.

Documents for shredding are limited to five boxes per customer.

For more information, call 702-229-6405.

RUN TO HONOR MILITARY MEMBERS WHO DIED ON COMBAT MISSION

The fourth annual Windy25 Memorial 5K is set for 9 a.m. April 5 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South, to honor fallen military members and raise funds to help their families through the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

The event is dedicated to the crew and passengers of the Windy25 who died on a combat mission in April 2005 during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Veterans who served with the crew and surviving family members are set to attend the race.

The event has raised $150,000. To register, visit tapsrunandremember.org/windy25.

Founded in 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 40,000 people. For more information on the program, visit taps.org or call 800-959-8277.

TRANSIT SHELTER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, U.S. Rep. Dina Titus and Henderson City Councilwoman Debra March recently announced improvements to make bus stops safer for transit riders and motorists.

Twelve fatal accidents involving a vehicle and a valley bus stop have occurred in the last decade, RTC officials said. A study the agency conducted found that each of the accidents was the result of a driver who was speeding, impaired, distracted or otherwise breaking the law. The study determined that the best and most cost-effective way to enhance safety is to move transit shelters at least 5 feet from the street, whenever feasible.

RTC officials said $2.3 million has been obtained from the Federal Transit Administration to help move back or install about 150 new and improved bus shelters and 130 benches and trash cans in Southern Nevada this year.

SANDBAGS AVAILABLE TO PROTECT PROPERTY DURING STORMS

Residents who need sandbags to protect their property during heavy winds or flooding can obtain sandbags free at two city of Las Vegas-run locations, according to City Councilman Steve Ross.

The locations are:

— The city’s West Service Center near Ronemus and Sauer drives behind the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive.

— The city’s East Service Center at the east side of North Mojave Road, across from the Animal Foundation, 655 N. Mojave Road.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/government/ward6.htm or call 702-229-6154.

DIVISION OF INSURANCE OFFERS TIPS FOR HANDLING AUTO ACCIDENTS

The Nevada Division of Insurance recently offered tips for drivers on how to handle noninjury accidents.

The tips were issued in light of the Metropolitan Police Department’s decision to no longer respond to or accept accident reports for minor, noninjury car accidents on city of Las Vegas and Clark County streets.

— Have a current insurance card in your vehicle.

— Put a small notepad, pen and disposable camera in the vehicle to ensure that you can document the details of an accident. A smartphone with a camera and note-taking app can also suffice. Insurance carriers also sometimes provide accident toolkits to customers upon request.

— Download the free smartphone app WreckCheck. Developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the app outlines what to do immediately following an auto accident and takes users through a step-by-step process to create their own accident reports. Additionally, the app lets users email completed accident reports to themselves and their insurance agents.

— Do not get out of your car to assess the accident scene if it is not safe to do so.

— Get the driver’s name, address, phone number, insurer’s name and insurer’s phone and policy numbers. Taking a picture of the driver’s insurance card is a simple way to obtain the necessary information.

— Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses and all passengers in the vehicle.

— Take photos or video of the scene, including automobile damage.

— Drivers should notify their agent or insurance company about the accident as soon as possible.

— When reporting a claim, have available your insurance card or declarations page and the information collected at the scene.

— If it was a multicar accident, the insurance companies involved may investigate the circumstances of the crash. A claims adjuster will likely want to examine the damage to the car and talk to the parties involved in the accident. The insurance company will use the adjuster’s findings as the basis of a settlement.

— Keep notes of all conversations with company representatives, repair shops and other parties.

For assistance navigating the claims process or other concerns, contact the Nevada Division of Insurance’s Las Vegas office at 702-486-4009 or visit doi.nv.gov.

FREE MONTHLY SEMINARS TO INTRODUCE NEW OPERATORS TO HAM RADIO

The K7QQQ Amateur Radio Repeater Club plans free monthly seminars for beginner ham radio operators in the community room at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive.

The group began offering the free monthly seminars Feb. 5 for new amateur radio licensees and any interested residents. Participants learn about packet, digital and text modes of radio operation during the two-hour sessions. Coffee and light refreshments are served at the events.

For upcoming sessions and class registration, visit k7qqq.org. For more information, email dan.connell@k7qqq.org.

CLARK COUNTY RECRUITING LIFEGUARDS, WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting to fill positions for the 2014 pool season.

Available positions are cashier, lifeguard, water safety instructor and management. Positions pay $8.50 to $15 per hour based on experience and certifications.

Those who wish to apply for a lifeguard or other water-related positions must complete the lifeguard training course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd.

Those 15 or older can take the course for $70 if they sign an employment contract with the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department. The cost is $140 to take the course without the contract. Prerequisite skills include 300-yard continuous swim and retrieval of a weighted object from 7 to 10 feet of water. Applicants must attend all classes to complete the five-day course, offered at various times until May 5.

Those who hold the American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application at clarkcountynv.gov/parks or call Clark County’s aquatics department at 702-455-8508.