Area Briefing, Feb. 26-March 4, 2015

SPIKE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS PROMPTS STATE-FUNDED ROAD PROJECTS

The Nevada Department of Transportation recently dedicated up to $10 million in state highway funds to pay for pedestrian safety improvements, primarily in Clark and Washoe counties, due to an increase in pedestrian deaths.

Nine pedestrian deaths have occurred on Nevada roads this year, an increase of five compared to the same time last year, the department said. Statewide, annual pedestrian fatalities have jumped from 35 in 2009 to 68 in 2014, according to the department.

Planned improvements in Southern Nevada include:

— Charleston Boulevard, from Hillside Place to Burnham Avenue: A curb extension is planned at Hillside and Burnham, as are pedestrian-accessible median islands and median fencing at 17th Street and at Lamont Street. Wireless pedestrian-activated warnings and/or traffic control devices also are scheduled.

— Lake Mead Boulevard, from Civic Center Drive to Pecos Road: A street redesign is slated, including a raised median, additional mid-block crossings, handicapped-accessibility improvements, lane narrowing to widen sidewalks and pedestrian-activated warnings and/or traffic control devices.

— Blue Diamond Road, from El Capitan Way to Fort Apache Road: A traffic signal, pedestrian crossing signals and sidewalk improvements are scheduled.

— Boulder Highway at Sun Valley Drive: A pedestrian-accessible median island is set to be installed with an overhead pedestrian-activated warning and/or traffic control devices.

For more information, visit nvroads.com.

SUNSET ROAD LANE CLOSURE SCHEDULED AT EASTERN AVENUE INTERSECTION

A double left lane closure on eastbound Sunset Road at Eastern Avenue is planned through 9 p.m. June 17 due to a Clark County Water Reclamation District project, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Contri Construction is installing a $42.8 million, 13-mile Paradise-Whitney interceptor. Motorists are advised to use caution and take alternate routes.

For more information, visit nvroads.com.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLED AT ALEXANDER ROAD AND TORREY PINES DRIVe

The city of Las Vegas recently activated a new traffic signal at Alexander Road and Torrey Pines Drive as part of a $2.6 million citywide project to enhance safety.

Nearly 12,000 vehicles travel through the intersection daily, and many students walk to school in the area, according to the city.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

SPECIAL PATROLS IN HENDERSON TO ENFORCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

The Henderson Police Department plans special patrols from Feb. 26 to March 12, targeting motorists who are not paying attention to pedestrians and pedestrians not crossing streets safely or legally.

The state-funded Joining Forces patrols are in response to an increase in pedestrian deaths on Southern Nevada roadways, the department said.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/police/home.

CITY SEEKS LIFEGUARDS, SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTORS AND OTHER APPLICANTS

Applicants are sought for several positions at city of Las Vegas pools.

The city seeks certified lifeguards, water safety/swim lesson instructors, pool managers, cashiers and laborers.

Lifeguard and swim lesson instructor applicants must be at least 16 and possess certifications in lifeguarding, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use.

Hourly pay is slated to be between $8.25 and $13. Tryouts and interviews are planned monthly until the positions are filled. Interested candidates should call the city’s Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309 to schedule an interview and tryout. Those interested also can apply online at tinyurl.com/lvemployment.

For those not certified to be a lifeguard, the city offers training. The brochure for classes is available at tinyurl.com/lvlifeguardclasses. Advance registration is required at lasvegasparksandrec.com or at any year-round city pool or recreational facility. Applicants can obtain reimbursement for their training.

Each two-week pre-lifeguarding skills course is held at the Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

The 25.5-hour American Red Cross lifeguarding course is offered at the Municipal Pool; the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive; and the Baker Pool, 1100 E. St. Louis Ave. Participants must be at least 15, and certification is valid for two years.

American Red Cross courses to recertify lifeguards and train candidates to be swim instructors also are available.

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM SAFETY CONFERENCE PLANNED

The 22nd International Tourism Safety Conference is scheduled for April 26-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road.

The event is for safety and security officials in the travel and tourism industries and focuses on providing new information, trends, equipment, strategies and best practices for keeping visitors safe.

Guest speakers from Clark County and around the globe are set to offer presentations addressing the state of tourism security, global terrorism, human trafficking, workplace violence, pandemic health issues, nightclub security, community policing and more. A Tourism Oriented Policing and Protective Services certification course also is slated to be offered.

The conference’s hosts are the International Tourism Safety Association, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association.

For more information or to register for the event, visit touristsafety.org.

RAPE CRISIS CENTER SEES BENEFITS OF ITS OUTREACH EFFORTS

The Rape Crisis Center marked its 40th year in 2014, seeing increases in the use of some of its services.

The nonprofit said that calls to its 24-hour hotline increased 27 percent over 2013, and the number of Clark County School District students educated about sexual assault prevention increased by nearly 12 percent to 12,570 students. Also, the number of counseling hours provided to victims and their families more than doubled to 1,039 hours, the organization said.

The increases reflect the center’s more effective outreach to targeted audiences in the form of providing services and raising awareness, according to executive director Daniele Dreitzer.

The number of victims seen in person at University Medical Center by Rape Crisis Center volunteers saw little change over the last three years, the organization said. Of the 552 victims with whom volunteers met at the hospital last year, 32.5 percent were ages 18 to 24, 28 percent were 25 to 34 and 13.4 percent were 17 or younger.

For more information, visit rcclv.org.

EMERGENCY REPAIRS UNDERWAY ON CHEYENNE AVENUE DUE TO SINKING ROADWAY

The Nevada Department of Transportation is conducting a $330,000 emergency repair project on westbound Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas.

A 350-foot section of roadway between Commerce and Revere streets has been sinking due to deteriorating soil conditions that left behind up to 2 feet of depressions in some places, the department said.

Construction began Feb. 8 and is set to last through Feb. 28, with work slated for 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. Westbound Cheyenne Avenue is scheduled to be reduced to one lane nightly due to the project.

Repairs are set to include using 40,000 pounds of a structural polymer resin that will be injected into the ground at 750 locations, filling the voids and weak areas while expanding and compacting the surrounding soil, the department said. The project is expected to prevent any significant shrinkage or deterioration for 10 years.

For more information, visit nvroads.com.

HENDERSON POLICE WARN PUBLIC OF TAX SCAM

The Henderson Police Department recently warned residents about scam artists calling and pretending to be IRS agents to obtain personal financial information.

The callers may seek the information by demanding money or saying a taxpayer is due to receive a refund, police said. The callers also may alter their caller ID to reflect an IRS number, and they use false names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers, police said.

Police said the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone, email or social media but instead sends written notice. The IRS also never demands immediate payment and doesn’t require a specific type of payment, such as a prepaid debit card.

To report such scams, residents can: call Treasury Department officials at 800-366-4484 or tigta.gov; file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftccomplaintassistant.gov; or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

BOOTH TO OFFER INFORMATION ON DEALING WITH DISASTERS

An information booth dealing with disaster preparedness is scheduled to be at several locations in the next few months.

The city of Henderson Office of Emergency Management plans to man the booth from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26, March 18 and April 16 at the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19 at the Henderson Events Plaza farmers market, 200 S. Water St.; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at the Henderson Pavilion farmers market, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.

The booth is set to include information on preparing an emergency supply kit, developing a disaster-response plan and staying informed.

For more details, visit tinyurl.com/hendersonemergency or call 702-267-2272.

HOMELESS LIAISON PRESENTATION PLANNED AT MARCH SAFETY FORUM

Free safety forums on various topics are planned from 1-2 p.m. monthly at The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., through a partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Forums are: March 21, homeless liaison presentation; April 18, narcotics; May 16, robbery; June 20, traffic awareness; 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.