Area Briefing

PERFORMANCES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN

A variety of public and private anti-bullying shows are planned around the valley for students in preschool through third grade.

The shows, to be performed by Michael Darby & Smile, are aimed at helping children feel empowered to make a positive difference in the world.

Public shows include:

2:45 p.m. Oct. 11 at Steele Elementary School, 6995 W. Eldorado Lane.

1:40 p.m. Nov. 3 during the Vegas Valley Book Festival at a Las Vegas venue to be announced.

2:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson.

Private shows include:

8:30 a.m. March 7 at the Alexander Dawson School, 10845 W. Desert Inn Road.

8:30 a.m. March 19 at Bonner Elementary School, 765 Crestdale Lane.

For more information, visit michaeldarbyandsmile.tv, email aimhighsmile@gmail.com or call 271-9428.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION HONORED FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Living With Fire program was recently named an Exemplary Project by the Association of Public Land-grant Universities.

The Living With Fire initiative teaches Nevadans how to live more safely in high-fire hazard environments.

As part of the honor, the Living With Fire program earned a plaque and is set to be recognized during the Association of Public Land-grant Universities' annual meeting, scheduled for November in Denver.

The Living With Fire program stresses that the key to reducing wildfire threats to homes and communities is implementing preventative measures such as replacing wood roofs, screening vents and managing vegetation.

The program, coordinated and implemented by the Cooperative Extension, is a partnership that includes local, state and federal firefighting and emergency organizations. Partners meet routinely to plan events and provide input for projects.

Launched in 1997, the program has helped thousands of homeowners and communities prepare for extreme wildfire dangers, Cooperative Extension dean and director Karen Hinton said. One of Nevada's most pressing natural resource and safety issues is the threat of wildfire to human life and property, she said.

For more information on Living With Fire: livingwithfire.info.

RECRUITS GRADUATE, JOIN VALLEY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Eighteen recruits recently graduated from the Southern Desert Regional Police Academy, with the officers slated to join area law enforcement agencies.

The morning ceremony took place Sept. 20 at the Horn Theatre on the Cheyenne campus of the College of Southern Nevada, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas.

The graduates are slated to join the Henderson Police Department, the city of Las Vegas Detention and Enforcement Department, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada gaming control and the Clark County Justice Court.

The recruit police officers taking part in the 21-week academy received more than 775 hours of academic and practical training on various topics, including police ethics, criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, principles of investigation, community policing and emergency vehicle operations. The recruit corrections officers, meanwhile, received similar training in a 12-week academy.

The Southern Desert Regional Police Academy is a partnership between valley police agencies and the College of Southern Nevada.

CRIME PREVENTION TO BE 1ST TUESDAY TOPIC

Officers plan to discuss crime prevention with residents during the Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program set for 7 to 8 p.m. today at the department's valleywide area commands.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.

AMERICAN RED CROSS LOCAL HEROES

Thirteen Everyday Heroes Award winners were recently announced by the American Red Cross' Southern Nevada chapter.

The awards, distributed in various categories, recognize those who have done something extraordinary for someone else, saved a life or courageously responded during an emergency.

The recipients are Debbi Golding of Centennial Hills ; downtown residents Sue Brooks and Derris Hunt ; officers Raymond Steiber, Paul Shreiber and Ernest Jefferson of the Metropolitan Police Department; James Brathor and Joy Medeiros of Henderson; Matthew Ryan Hutchinson of the Summerlin area; O.K. Hubble of Sunrise ; Jonah Schreiner of the southwest area; Dr. Maj. Jeremy Kilburn of Nellis Air Force Base; and Terry Choyce of Pahrump.

For details about the award recipients, visit www.redcrosslasvegas.org/2012_Heroes_Winners.php .

CONFERENCE TO OFFER SPECIALTY TRAINING TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The Las Vegas Municipal Court plans to host a two-day conference titled Taboo Topics in Domestic Violence, Wednesday and Thursday at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

Topics are set to include cultural diversity, ethics, gender and sexual orientation, immigration laws, the female domestic violence perpetrator, confidentiality and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 privacy and security rules.

The training is geared to increase understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence across many cultures, Chief Judge Cynthia Leung said.

Workshops are planned from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. On-site registration is set for 8:30 a.m each day. The cost is $175, with registration available by mail, fax and at lasvegasnevada.gov/municipalcourt.

The conference is appropriate for peace officers, counselors, attorneys, judges, children's service workers, correctional facility staff, marriage and family counselors, drug and alcohol counselors, educators, law enforcement officers, pastoral counselors, social workers, psychologists/psychiatrists, hospital/clinical staff and treatment facilitators for domestic violence batterers.

For more information, contact Dena Williams at 229-6442 or drwilliams@ lasvegasnevada.gov.

ROAD WORK ON DECATUR BOULEVARD TO CAUSE LANE RESTRICTIONS

Seven weeks of construction began Sept. 24 on Decatur Boulevard as part of road improvements between Lake Mead Boulevard and Rancho Drive, according to the city of Las Vegas.

Most work is slated for 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Due to noise concerns, some work also is planned during daytime hours, the city said.

A minimum of two lanes in each direction are scheduled to remain open during peak morning and afternoon hours. During nighttime work, traffic may be restricted to one lane in each direction.

Motorists are advised to use Jones Boulevard or Rancho Drive as alternate routes.

The project consists of the removal and reconstruction of deteriorated areas of pavement, median island modifications for improved traffic flow, pavement resurfacing and the installation of a new traffic delineation.

Preliminary work was completed this year and consisted of improvements to sidewalk areas to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Las Vegas Paving Corporation is the contractor for the project, which is being managed by city of Las Vegas Department of Operations and Maintenance personnel. Funding is provided by the city of Las Vegas. The estimated cost for this project is $1.5 million.

SHADOW LANE IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULED THROUGH OCTOBER

The second and final phase of a public infrastructure improvement project on Shadow Lane between Alta Drive and Charleston Boulevard is planned through Oct. 31, the city of Las Vegas announced.

Construction is set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and will include half-street road closures, the city said. Motorists are advised to use Rancho or Tonopah drives as alternative routes.

Work involves the west half of the roadway and includes soil stabilization, asphalt paving utility adjustments and final roadway striping.

Completed work for this phase of the project includes sidewalk ramps, sewer main pipe and manhole replacement and paving of the east half of the street.

The first phase of work was completed this year and consisted of improvements to sidewalk areas to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, the installation of an underground traffic signal conduit and construction of traffic signal poles and foundations to make a future traffic signal at the intersection of Pinto and Shadow lanes possible without disturbing the new roadway.

City of Las Vegas Department of Operations and Maintenance personnel are managing the project. Aggregate Industries Inc. is the contractor. Funding is provided by the city of Las Vegas and the Clark County Regional Transportation Commission. The estimated cost for this phase of the improvements is $1.2 million.

FIRE STATION GETS NEW RESCUE VEHICLE

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Station 107, 9398 Sundial Drive in Sun City Summerlin, recently added a new vehicle to transport patients to area hospitals.

The vehicle will be used by paramedic and rescue unit personnel.

Station No. 107 opened June 19 and is now operating at full staff.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/government/fire.htm.

LAKE MEAD-PECOS INTERSECTION CLOSED FOR SIX-WEEK PROJECT

The intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Road is scheduled to remain closed through October as the city of North Las Vegas upgrades the Las Vegas Valley Wash box culvert.

The project aims to improve flood control and enhance the wash's capacity to withstand a 100-year storm event.

During construction, traffic will be detoured along Civic Center Drive on the west, Las Vegas Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue on the north, Lamb Boulevard on the east and Owens Avenue on the south. Alternative travel routes also will be permitted on Carey Avenue, Walnut Road and James and Palmer streets.

Crews are slated to work 16 to 24 hours a day and keep noise levels at a minimum during late night and early morning hours, city officials said.

This $24.2 million project is funded by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the Bureau of Land Management. Meadow Valley Contractors is performing the work.

The city and Meadow Valley Contractors have set up a project hot line that businesses and residents can call for information or to voice concerns at 880-8442.

D.A.R.E. PROGRAM ENDS AFTER 25 YEARS IN VALLEY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Metropolitan Police Department announced Aug. 28 the suspension of D.A.R.E., its youth anti-drug program, due to budget cuts.

The department previously ran the program at 130 schools, launching it in the valley 25 years ago.

The Clark County School District Police Department pledged to develop a curriculum similar to D.A.R.E., to be taught by Clark County School District Police Department officers.

Las Vegas has 1.83 police officers for every 1,000 residents, below the standard of 2.0, police officials said.

As a result of the shortage, the D.A.R.E. program was suspended in order to place those officers back on the street. A squad from the department's saturation team also has been reassigned to patrol. The saturation team squads seek to reduce crime, deal with social disorder, neighborhood decay and detect emerging patterns in terrorism and intervene to prevent incidents.

The Metropolitan Police Department said it is facing an unprecedented budget shortfall of $46 million, despite building up $78 million in reserves over the last four years and cutting millions in expenses.