AREA BRIEFING

COURT PROGRAM TO FOCUS
ON REPEAT TRAFFIC OFFENDERS

A new city of Las Vegas specialty court has been created by Judge Heidi Almase to focus on chronic traffic violators.

The Serious Traffic Offender Program, or STOP Court, is designed to establish connections with multiple agencies to put repeat traffic offenders through a program that will change their behavior and improve public safety.

The court focuses on drivers who receive 10 or more moving violations in a year. It is a partnership with Las Vegas Municipal Court, the Nevada Department of Transportation and its Zero Fatalities campaign, the Nevada Highway Patrol and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Each defendant in the program is required to have one open case with 180 days of jail suspended, obtain no traffic violations, obtain a valid driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance and pay all pre-existing traffic fines.

STOP Court takes place at 9 a.m. Thursdays in Municipal Court Department 3 on the fifth floor of the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave.

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

CITY LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE SEARCH
FOR NEW LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE CHIEF

The city of Las Vegas began a nationwide search March 4 for a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue chief following the Feb. 7 retirement of Mike Myers.

A candidate is expected to be appointed to the position no later than July 1, the city said. Meanwhile, Deputy Fire Chief Scott Fuller is serving as interim fire chief.

Candidates have until April 5 to submit their résumés. They will then be screened, with the most qualified ones selected to take part in an evaluation process being developed by city officials. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-May.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has 19 fire stations, two support stations, 664 authorized positions and an 2013 operating budget of $111.1 million.

HENDERSON MAN ACCUSED
OF SLASHING TIRES ON 32 VEHICLES

A 24-year-old Henderson man was arrested after being accused of tire slashings in his own guard-gated neighborhood March 9.

Andrew Y. Ayala was charged with two felony counts of destruction of property and held on $50,000 bail in the Henderson Detention Center.

The incident involved 32 vehicles on Indian Bend and Oakmarsh drives and Grossinger, Alisal and Walden courts in the Grand Legacy community, police said. All four tires were slashed on some vehicles, police said.

The case is under investigation, and Ayala is likely to face additional charges, according to police.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4750. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit crimestoppersofnv.com.

TALK ON IDENTITY THEFT PLANNED

Law enforcement officers plan to present a program titled Identity Theft, Fraud and Scams at 1:30 p.m. today at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane.

Guest speakers are scheduled to be Metropolitan Police Department Detective Michael Gomez and Scott Bakken of the FBI. Light refreshments will be served.

The event is free and open to the public.

Call 702-382-6456 or 702-233-3785 for more information.

FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSE TO INCLUDE PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins and the Clark County’s fire and parks and recreation departments plan to host an open house and pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m. April 6 at Fire Station 20, 5865 Judson St., near Nellis and Lake Mead boulevards.

Participating agencies are set to include Safe Kids Clark County, the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition, the Clark County Water Reclamation District, the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada, Nevada Child Seekers, the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada, Clark County School District police, the Metropolitan Police Department’s McGruff the crime dog and staff members from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, Recorder Office and Department of Business License. A fire safety house for children also is planned.

The Clark County Fire Department hosts open houses with community partners every other month at stations around the county. The next open house is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8 at Fire Station 21, 5015 W. Oquendo Road, near South Decatur Boulevard and Russell Road.

Residents with physical disabilities requiring an accommodation should notify the department of specific needs at least five days prior to the event by contacting Assistant Fire Chief Sandra Baker at 702-250-8404.

FREE CAR SEAT CHECKS TO BE OFFERED
FOR NEW WEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Parents who are confused about an upcoming change to weight requirements regarding child-safety seats can have them checked free at ongoing inspection events.

Sunrise Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Clark County offer monthly car seat checks from 10 a.m. to noon every third Saturday at The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, Henderson, and from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Wednesday at Sunrise Children’s Hospital, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway.

The new weight rule, set to go live in 2014, forbids the use of lower anchors for installing child-safety seats if the child and the seat have a combined weight of 65 pounds or more. Child seats typically weigh 15 to 33 pounds.

The rule, which officials say has caused confusion among area parents, is a precautionary measure should the lower anchors be unable to secure the seat.

Manufacturers have been federally required to install lower anchors in motor vehicles since 2001 to make child-safety seats easier to install.

Even with the anchor system, four out of five car seats are improperly installed, said registered nurse Jeanne Cosgrove Marsala, director of Safe Kids Clark County.

The new rule means parents will have to take the weight of their car seat and their child into consideration with every selection and installation of a car seat, Cosgrove Marsala said.

For more information, including additional safety seat inspection dates and locations, visit safekidsclarkcounty.org/events.php or call 702-731-8666.

THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER MAKES STRIDES WITH ITS ASSISTANCE EFFORTS

The Rape Crisis Center said its volunteer advocates were able to help more victims last year than in 2011, thanks to stepping up its community connections.

Center advocates made 588 hospital visit last year, an increase of 39.6 percent over 2011, when hospital visits totaled 421. Also, volunteer advocates handled 6,084 calls last year, up 1.9 percent over 2011, when volunteers handled 5,968 calls.

The increase in services accessed by rape victims is a result of better and stronger community relationships and community outreach, not necessarily an increase in the number of sexual assaults, said Bill Thomas, chairman of the board for The Rape Crisis Center.

Thomas said that in 2012, the center had an improved relationship with University Medical Center; a more collaborative relationship with the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, which includes nurses specially trained to collect forensic evidence in sexual assault cases; greater collaboration with law enforcement and other agencies that come in contact with sexual assault victims; and increased public relations and social media efforts.

The center has been working to improve community relationships, including with police, and raise awareness about its services, Thomas said.

Volunteer advocates with The Rape Crisis Center receive 50 hours of training and work a minimum of six-hour shifts each week on a 24/7 rotational basis to answer hot line calls from victims, provide support and information and make hospital visits when requested. The organization has nearly 30 volunteers.

The Rape Crisis Center is at 6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite W1B. For more information, visit therapecrisiscenter.org or call 702-385-2153.

COUNTY SEEKS TO HIRE LIFEGUARDS,
OTHER WATER-SAFETY POSITIONS

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking applicants to fill cashier, lifeguard, water-safety instructor and management positions for the 2013 pool season.

Jobs are available for those 15 or older, with hourly pay ranging from $9 to $15, based on experience and certifications.

Those who hold American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application at clarkcountynv.gov/parks.

Those who wish to apply for a lifeguard or other water-related position must complete the training course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd., or the Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility, 8275 Spring Mountain Road.

The training course costs a reduced rate of $70 if participants sign an employment contract with the county. Otherwise, the cost is $140. The course includes lifesaving skills, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator and emergency first aid. The five-day course is held multiple times until the last one, set to start May 2.

Prerequisite skills include the ability to complete a 300-yard continuous swim and retrieve a weighted object from 7 to 10 feet of water. Applicants with no prerequisite skills can attend a lifeguard preparation course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center for $10. The class is set for 5 to 6 p.m. March 29 and April 12.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov/parks or call 702-455-8508.