Crime and safety news from around the valley, July 16-22, 2015

WATER DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE SHADE TREE

Park Place Infiniti, 5555 W. Sahara Ave., plans to collect bottled water through July to benefit residents at The Shade Tree.

Drop-off hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays.

The Shade Tree houses women and children affected by domestic violence.

For more information, visit parkplaceinfiniti.com.

WEST NILE-POSITIVE MOSQUITOES FOUND IN VALLEY

The first West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes this year have been found in the 89011, 89012, 89027, 89107, 89123, 89128, 89134 and 89146 ZIP codes, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

No human cases of the virus were reported in Clark County as of press time. Last year, the health district received reports of two infected people.

The virus can be prevented by using insect repellents and eliminating sources of standing water that support mosquito breeding.

For the latest information on the virus and prevention tips, visit tinyurl.com/westnilevegasvalley.

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES NEAR STRIP SLATED FOR UPGRADES

The Nevada Department of Transportation plans to conduct a $26 million upgrade to the four 21-year-old pedestrian bridges at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Improvements are slated to begin in early 2016, with anticipated completion by mid-2017.

The 16-foot-wide, 165-foot-long concrete-and-steel structures each have 17-foot clearance heights. The bridges provide connections between the MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South; the Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South; the Excalibur, 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South; and New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The project is set to replace 16 escalators and install low-energy glass and air-conditioning units to the elevators. Aesthetic improvements call for placing new tempered glass wind screens and polished aluminum panel cladding along all four bridges. The project is being funded by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The improvements are expected to enhance the safety and efficiency of pedestrian traffic flows and create a contemporary look consistent with the newer pedestrian bridge crossings along Las Vegas Boulevard, said Lynette Russell, NDOT’s assistant chief of project management.

The structures serve 130,000 pedestrians a day, making them the busiest crossings in the state.

For more information, visit nvroads.com.

VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM OFFERS TIPS FOR FLASH FLOODING

With the valley in the midst of monsoon season, the Valley Health System suggested safety tips in the event of flash flooding.

— Do not drive or walk through water when you can’t see the street or pavement.

— If you are caught in your vehicle during a flash flood, stay with it until help arrives.

— Know where the detention basins and washes are in your neighborhood, and if it looks like rain, stay away from these areas, which could include walking, bicycling and hiking trails and other recreational spots.

— Do not play in flood waters due to possible exposure to fertilizer, oil, feces, rocks and other debris.

For more information, visit valleyhealthsystemlv.com.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CLASS PLANNED

A class titled Prepare for the Unexpected: Urban Emergency Preparedness is planned for 7 p.m. July 21 at Las Vegas-Boca Park REI, 710 S. Rampart Blvd.

Attendees can learn planning and survival techniques for dealing with disasters. The cost is $10 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

For more information, call 702-951-4488.

PILL TAKE BACK DAY SCHEDULED JULY 22

A pill take back day is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 22 at the CareMore Care Center, 2601 N. Tenaya Way.

A Walgreen’s pharmaceutical team will be on hand to answer questions on used and unused medication. Light refreshments are slated to be available.

For more information, call 702-356-5244 or 702-799-7830.

MILITARY RECOGNITION BANNER PROGRAM OFFERS APPLICATIONS THROUGH OCT. 1

The city of Henderson is accepting applications through Oct. 1 for its Military Recognition Banner Program.

The street banners are set to display the names, ranks and photographs of active military members starting around Nov. 11. They will be displayed for one year.

Honorees must be Henderson residents or an immediate family member of one and be an active-duty military member in good standing. Residents, businesses and organizations may nominate an honoree and sponsor a banner for $150.

All service members are set to be honored at a ceremony hosted by the city after the display period.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/community_development or call 702-267-1500.

BICYCLIST FATALITIES INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR

Clark County recently saw its sixth bicycle fatality this year, compared to zero at the same time last year, according to UNLV’s Vulnerable Road Users Project.

The 2015 deaths involved bicyclists who were not wearing a helmet. County bicycle fatalities in 2014 totaled four.

The Vulnerable Road Users Project also reported that there have been 40 bicyclists critically injured as of June at University Medical Center alone. Nine of the victims were younger than 16.

Officials suggested that drivers be more vigilant this time of year, when more bicyclists are on the roads.

For more information, visit unlv.edu.

SITES OFFER DAYTIME SHELTER FOR HOMELESS

With triple-digit temperatures occurring daily in the valley, area officials reminded residents of daytime homeless shelters.

The daily shelters are at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, 1511 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 702-387-2272, men only; The Salvation Army, 33 W. Owens Ave., 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 702-701-5369, adults only; and The Shade Tree, 1 W. Owens Ave., 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 702-385-0072, women and children only.

For more information, visit helphopehome.org or clarkcountynv.gov.

APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR HENDERSON CITIZENS’ ACADEMY

The Henderson Police Department is accepting applications through July 17 for a 13-week Citizens’ Academy planned from Aug. 25 through Nov. 17.

Sessions are slated from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The goal of the academy is to build a bridge between residents and the police. Participants experience a condensed version of the actual police academy.

Topics are set to include radio and communications training, community policing, use of force, gang enforcement, crime scene investigation, detention center procedures, criminal justice, domestic violence and criminalistics.

Applicants must live or work in the city of Henderson, be 18 or older and have no felony, gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor convictions.

Applications are available at the East Police Station, 223 Lead St., or at cityofhenderson.com.

For more information, contact the Henderson Police Training Unit at 702-267-4850.

FREE CLASS TO FOCUS ON SEALING CRIMINAL RECORDS

A free class on sealing Southern Nevada criminal records is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. July 22 at the Las Vegas Urban League, 3220 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 50.

The class is being offered by UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law and Nevada Legal Services.

For more information, call 702-386-0404.

FREE TENANTS’ RIGHTS CLINICS SCHEDULED

A tenants’ rights clinic is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. July 24 at the North Las Vegas Justice Court, 2428 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Building A.

Nevada Legal Services and the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law are slated to host the free event, set to address common landlord-tenant issues and be followed by a question-and-answer segment.

For more information, visit nlslaw.net or law.unlv.edu.

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION CLINICS SET FOR SENIORS

Clinics for free legal assistance and free legal education are planned for seniors in the coming months.

— Legal assistance clinics at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., are set from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 16, covering identity theft; and Nov. 18, focusing on estate planning basics.

—Legal assistance clinics at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 19, addressing debt collection; Oct. 21, identity theft; and Dec. 16, estate planning basics

— Legal education clinics at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., are slated from 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 26, addressing fundamentals of landlord/tenant law; and Oct. 28, dealing with sealing criminal records.

For more information, contact Carmela Reed at Nevada Legal Services at 702-386-0404, ext. 140, or creed@nlslaw.net.

FORUM ON GANG AWARENESS PLANNED JULY 18

Free safety forums on various topics are planned monthly at the Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., through a partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Forums are slated from 1-2 p.m. July 18, gang awareness; Aug. 15, district attorney court procedures; Sept. 19, K-9 operations; Oct. 17, missing persons; Nov. 21, Metro Volunteer Program; and Dec. 19, emergency preparedness.

The presentations are also scheduled to be live-streamed at themobmuseum.org.

For more information, call 702-229-2734.