Las Vegans bring about reunion with pet lost in shooting
Scarlett, a runaway dog that went missing in June during a shooting, made it home for Christmas.
A flock of angels had been looking out for her at the Las Vegas Country Club.
Scarlett’s story begins June 20 when her owner, Allison Artiles of Santa Fe, N.M., went to the home of Michael McCarthy to borrow a car to see her boyfriend in Tacoma, Wash.
Artiles and Scarlett were at the wrong place — Sahara Avenue and Mojave Road — at the wrong time.
During her 20-minute visit, two men appeared at the door and, in a flash, shooting started.
McCarthy, 54, was killed, and Artiles, 29, was among two women critically wounded.
With bullets flying, 5-month-old Scarlett escaped from the scene.
Artiles, who was shot four times, was later told by the district attorney’s office that they found bloody paw prints going out the door.
Artiles, reached in Santa Fe on Tuesday, had almost given up on seeing her dog, a white-and-black Blue Heeler mix. “It was definitely the icing on the cake of happiness,” she said.
It happened because dog lovers such as David Hed and Shannon George and others wouldn’t give up after seeing the dog wander around Las Vegas Country Club and golf course for months.
Many residents broke the rules, and others put their jobs in jeopardy, said George, to keep the stray dog alive. A microchip also made a difference.
“In the end it all worked out, politics and policy be damned!” she said.
“They really restored my faith in humanity,” Artiles said.
MARS ROCKETS TO FAME
Bruno Mars is putting an exclamation mark on a breakout year.
After starting 2014 with a career-changing halftime performance in the Super Bowl, Mars is getting a cool $1 million to perform in front of 2,000 of Steve Wynn’s friends and best guests.
Wynn confirmed the $1 million deal on Tuesday during a phone interview.
“Bruno Mars is a music man,” Wynn said. “He is a gifted songwriter, a fabulous dancer and an amazing singer. He’s probably the pick of the litter of the young male pop stars.”
Four years ago he was on the cusp of fame and fortune.
Sean Christie, who runs Wynn’s Surrender nightclub and pool venue, had to ask who he was when his bookers brought in Mars.
“We had opened four months earlier, and it was a nondescript Wednesday for industry night,” Christie said.
Katy Perry’s boyfriend, Travie McCoy, was booked to sing “Billionaire,” which featured guest vocals by Mars, then 24.
Christie was on hand for the first dress rehearsal.
“Instead of singing the line, ‘I want to be a billionaire so (effing) bad,’ Bruno sang ‘I want to be a billionaire so (effing) bad, just like Steve Wynn.’
“We paid him $5,000,” Christie said.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Adding fuel to the guessing-game fire, former KMXB-radio, 94.1 FM, DJ Mark DiCiero was a guest on “Wake Up With the Wagners” (KSNV-TV, Channel 3) on Tuesday. After nearly 18 years as quarterback of “Mark and Mercedes in the Morning,” DiCiero left the top-rated show last week. He informed his fans on Facebook that he’s staying in this market and has several options. There is already speculation that those options could include a move to TV. His name recognition and large following would take a built-in audience to a morning show. …
Jackie Evancho, the “America’s Got Talent” Season 5 runner-up, returns to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 31. It’s a stop on her international tour featuring music from her third studio album, “Awakening.”
SIGHTINGS
Incoming UNLV President Len Jessup, being introduced early in the UNLV-Arizona game on Tuesday. He was escorted on the court by current President Don Snyder and athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy. Jessup, who starts Jan. 5, has been the dean of the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona for the past four years.
THE PUNCH LINE
“KFC in Japan will continue its tradition of offering customers a Christmas dinner, which includes chicken, wine, cake and champagne. For no extra charge, you can tell the cashier how you didn’t see your life ending up like this.” — Jimmy Fallon
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
