In Brief

LAS VEGAS MAN

Highway 95 accident victim identified

A person killed in a car accident earlier this week on U.S. Highway 95 was identified Thursday as Hisae Saito of Las Vegas.

Saito, 85, was killed in a crash about 2 p.m. Wednesday in Nye County, just south of where U.S. 95 meets state Route 160, 70 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The accident occurred when the driver of a Ford Crown Victoria heading north tried to pass a big rig.

According to witnesses, when the driver of the Crown Victoria tried to pass, she realized she didn't have enough room and swerved to get back into her lane and lost control of the sedan Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Kevin Honea said. The car Saito was in, a Chrysler minivan heading south, struck the Crown Victoria on the passenger's side.

The minivan had seven passengers in it. A boy in the minivan, who appeared to be 4 or 5, also was killed.

The sedan had two people. A female passenger, believed to be 18 or 19, was killed but hasn't been identified.

COST OF UTILITIES

NLV water, sewer rate increase approved

North Las Vegans will pay more for water and sewer services in the near future.

The City Council on Wednesday approved a plan to increase water rates by 4 percent this month, again in October and a third time in October of 2009.

Water rates will increase each October thereafter by no more than 3 percent, Utilities Director David Bereskin said.

Sewer rates will increase by 5 percent this month, by 4 percent in October, and by 4 percent in October 2009.

They too will increase each October by no more than 3 percent, Bereskin said.

"The increases are needed to keep up with the cost of inflation," he said. "Our last increase was in October of '05, so it's time for us to make our rates current."

The rate increases will cost residential users about $34 a year, Bereskin said.

PROXIMITY PROTESTED

Funeral home planned near senior center

Residents of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, are protesting plans to open a funeral home across the street from a senior center, saying it would be a little too close for comfort.

About 100 people have signed a petition calling on the City Council to deny James Asper and Mary Hansen a special use permit giving them the right to lease the building across the street from the Lake City Senior Center as a funeral home, senior center manager Vickie Harrison said.

"I don't like it at all. It kind of gives you an uncomfortable feeling," said Marg Dunkle, 65, who signed the petition.

The Planning Commission approved a special use permit in December, but a neighbor appealed the decision.

Hansen said the building was chosen because it suited the business' needs, not because of its proximity to the senior center.

"We find it a little disconcerting that they would think that location is intentional," Hansen said.