IN BRIEF

NORTHWEST VALLEY BLAZE

Fire officials suspect appliances to blame

Electrical appliances might be to blame for a Wednesday morning fire that caused $200,000 in damage to a family of five's northwest valley home, fire officials said.

Las Vegas firefighters were called about 11:30 a.m. regarding smoke coming from the garage of a home in the 100 block of Worthen Circle, near the intersection of Buffalo and Westcliff drives, said Tim Szymanski, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman.

Inside the two-story home, they found thick, black smoke billowing from a blaze in the family room on the first floor of the home.

No family members were at home, and no one was injured, Szymanski said.

Investigators determined the fire was an accidental one. They suspect it started in an area where several electrical appliances were sitting in the family room, including a TV, computer and air conditioning unit. Family members told investigators they had left the air conditioning unit running when they left the house, Szymanski said.

The home was too badly damaged for the family to stay in, and it was being helped by the American Red Cross.

INTERSTATE 15 WRECK

California man killed when SUV overturns

A 32-year-old California man died on Monday after his SUV overturned on Interstate 15 about 30 miles north of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Aurelio Meza Alatisco of Bakersfield was traveling about 9 a.m. south on I-15 in a 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe when he lost control of his vehicle, the Highway Patrol said. The vehicle overturned on the gravel shoulder, the patrol said.

Meza Alatisco was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the SUV, the patrol said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger who was fastened in a child seat was taken to University Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries.

DEATH IN PAHRUMP

Pedestrian struck, killed by pickup

A 74-year-old man who was walking on a street in Pahrump died Tuesday night after he was struck by a pickup, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

The man was walking about 9:10 p.m. in the street on Pahrump Valley Boulevard a little north of Casey Road when he was struck by a southbound 1991 Toyota pickup, the Highway Patrol said.

Officials said that the pedestrian appeared to be at fault and that the driver of the pickup is not facing charges.

2,967 SIGNATURES NEEDED

Group seeks recall of Elko County sheriff

Two former members of the Elko County sheriff's posse and a Spring Creek resident have launched a recall drive against Sheriff Dale Lotspeich.

In a statement, the group said that Lotspeich had not enforced court orders, had violated civil rights and had unethical conflicts of interest.

"It's the same folks who have taken shots at me in the past, and they'll probably continue to take shots at me as long as I'm in office," Lotspeich told the Elko Daily Free Press.

The group is led by Gary Cummings, who resigned from the sheriff's posse. He said his involvement in the recall is unrelated to his resignation.

Lotspeich is a former sergeant who was elected sheriff in November, defeating his longtime boss, Neil Harris.

"The last election was one of change in Elko County," Lotspeich said. "When you go to effect change, some people don't sit with that very well."

The group has until Nov. 5 to collect 2,967 signatures from registered voters.