Area briefing

PERMIT AMNESTY PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING HOMEOWNERS

The city of Las Vegas is offering a homeowner permit amnesty program during Building Safety Month in May.

Any homeowners who have done unauthorized work on their properties can pull the proper permits without incurring any additional penalties or double fees, the city said.

Garage conversions, patio cover installations, water heaters or water softeners or other remodeling work requires a city permit.

In related news, the city plans a homeowners' forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 8 on the first floor at the city Development Services Center, 333 N. Rancho Drive. Homeowners with permit questions will be able to meet with permit technicians and building inspectors to gain a better understanding of the process.

The Development Services Center provides a one-stop shop for the development community, housing offices for the planning department, business licensing, the building and safety department, land development, city engineering, fire prevention, public works and operations and maintenance.

MARIJUANA PRODUCTION to be topic OF TALK DURING 1ST TUESDAY

Indoor and outdoor marijuana grows are set to be the topic during the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. today at the department's valleywide area commands. The free open house-style event takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.

PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK INSTALLED ON JONES BOULEVARD

A pedestrian crosswalk was recently installed at the intersection of Jones Boulevard and Heather Mist Lane in the city of Las Vegas' Ward 5, just south of Cheyenne Avenue.

A pedestrian signal was installed for the safety of seniors who live in a nearby senior complex, City Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow said.

The section of Jones Boulevard is state roadway and is maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation.

SCAMS TARGETING SENIOR CITIZENS TO BE FOCUS OF AWARENESS EVENT

The Nevada State Contractors Board plans to launch its inaugural senior awareness program from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Martin Luther King Senior Center, 2420 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite B, in North Las Vegas.

The free event will highlight scams that target seniors, help seniors identify warning signs, provide tips and tools to help them protect themselves and offer information on where to report incidents of abuse.

Light refreshments will be available.

The Nevada State Contractors Board event is being held in partnership with a number of state officials and agencies.

For more information, visit nvcontractorsboard.com.

BRADLEY ROAD CLOSES AT NORTHERN LAS VEGAS BELTWAY

Bradley Road closed in both directions April 22 at the northern Las Vegas Beltway, according to Clark County. A bridge is scheduled to be built at the site to carry Bradley Road over the Las Vegas Beltway, county officials said.

The new bridge is expected to open by fall 2013.

The bridge is part of a $116 million Las Vegas Beltway widening and improvement project. Las Vegas Paving is contracted to complete the work, which is expected to be finished by summer 2014. Atkins is providing the Construction Management services for Clark County.

CPR COURSE SCHEDULED AT centennial hills ACTIVE ADULT CENTER

A free compression-only CPR course is planned for 11 a.m. to noon Monday and 12:30-1:30 p.m. May 23 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is set to conduct the session, which is being sponsored by Ward 6 Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross.

For more information, call 229-1702.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SHREDDED FREE DURING MAY 12 EVENT

Residents can have their unwanted documents destroyed during a free shredding event planned for 10 a.m. to noon May 12 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

The limit is five boxes per vehicle.

For more information, call 229-6154 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov/ward6.

FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS INSPECTIONS SET FOR MAY 12

Clark County families can have their child-safety seats installed and inspected from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12 at Audi Henderson, 7740 Eastgate Road.

The event, put on by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Audi Henderson and Safe Kids Clark County, will feature certified child-safety seat inspectors who will provide installations and inspections and demonstrate proper usage and installation for attendees.

Child-safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NORTH 5TH STREET BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION TO CAUSE LANE CLOSURES

Construction of a bridge pier for the North 5th Street Bridge over Interstate 15 in North Las Vegas recently began.

Crews are scheduled to work from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday for the next several weeks.

During construction hours, I-15 will be reduced to two lanes southbound between Cheyenne Avenue and Lake Mead Boulevard.

Crews will be working on the columns and the foundation in the center of the freeway for the North 5th Street Bridge.

The $30 million bridge improvement is part of the North 5th Street Arterial project. The North 5th Street bridge is expected to be completed in 2013.

Funding comes from the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and Target Construction is the contractor.

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY BUILT AND STOCKED AT SCHOOL

The Container Store recently partnered with the Junior League of Las Vegas to create an emergency food pantry at Wynn Elementary School, 5655 Edna Ave.

The Container Store provided storage and organizational products totaling $1,500 for the pantry, and the Junior League of Las Vegas restocked the pantry with food from Three Square and provided $2,500 in funding to keep the pantry full.

In addition to food supplies, a gently used refrigerator and other clothing items have been donated.

Wynn Elementary School was selected for the project through a grant written by the Communities in School.

Nearly 75 percent of Wynn students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has participated in Three Square's Weekend Backpack Program and the Kids Café since April 2009, but the creation of an emergency pantry will allow fresh food to be stored and distributed on campus to children in need.

For more information about the Junior League of Las Vegas, visit jllv.org or call 822-6536.

POLICE HONOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department recently saluted its communications professionals in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

The police department's communications bureau answered more than 1 million 911 calls last year and more than 3 million total calls for service.

Residents who would like to thank dispatch center employees may send notes and thank-you cards to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department - Attention MetroComm, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89106.