Area Briefing, Feb. 5-11, 2015

HEALING HEARTS 4K TO BENEFIT RAPE CRISIS CENTER

The Rape Crisis Center’s second annual Healing Hearts 4K run/walk is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 21 at Cornerstone Park, 1600 Wigwam Parkway.

Participants are encouraged to wear red and bring posters in support of domestic violence survivors for a chance to win a prize for the most creative statement/poster.

The event is family- and pet-friendly and features a 2.5-mile loop course. Registration is $35 through Feb. 6 and $40 after that date. Proceeds are set to benefit the Signs of Hope Counseling Center at The Rape Crisis Center, 801 S. Rancho Drive, Suite 2.

For more information, visit rcclv.org.

SPEAKER TO DISCUSS EFFECTS OF RADON EXPOSURE

A presentation on radon exposure and testing homes for the radioactive gas is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, 6900 N. Durango Drive.

The discussion is set to take place during a Better Breathers Club meeting and be led by Jamie Roice-Gomes, radon education coordinator for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

For more information, contact club facilitator Henry Clay at 702-835-9898 or henry.clay@uhsinc.com.

NONPROFIT TO OFFER SPONSORSHIPS FOR KARATE PROGRAMS

Local nonprofit Get High on Kicks, Not Drugs plans to offer 20 sponsorships for the first 20 people to contact Allen Sarac’s Professional Karate Center, 5455 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 100.

The sponsorships are for up to $500 for any program 12 months or longer at the center, which can be reached at 702-798-5425.

Get High on Kicks, Not Drugs is an anti-drug and anti-abuse group for youths ages 5-18.

For more information, visit lvkarate.com.

STATE OFFICIAL WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT FIRE SAFETY SCAMS

Residents should be aware of a fire safety scam in which consumers receive invoices for inspections they did not request, according to Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt.

All legitimate fire inspection companies must be registered with the state. To avoid being scammed by fraudulent fire inspectors, residents can ask for a state fire marshal license number.

To report fraudulent fire inspectors, contact the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Fire Marshal Division at 775-684-7500. A complaint also can be filed with the Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting tinyurl.com/nvconsumercomplaints.

CITY ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL DOWNTOWN PARKING

The city of Las Vegas announced that it has expanded its partnership with the Downtown Project to help create additional parking downtown by opening a new lot.

The new spaces became available Jan. 23 in the Downtowner Lot on Eighth Street just north of Fremont Street.

Through the partnership with the city, the Downtown Project develops empty lots into parking areas to accommodate visitors to downtown. The city’s parking services division operates and patrols the lots while the Downtown Project sets the rates.

The Downtowner Lot includes 53 spaces. During the day, the metered spots are $2 per hour or a flat fee of $10 for all-day parking. Only the $10 flat fee is available on nights and weekends, and special-event parking costs vary, according to the city.

Other lots available through the partnership include:

— The Llama Lot on Fremont Street between Ninth and 10th streets.

— The Gold Spike Lot on the northeast corner of Fremont Street and Ogden Avenue.

— The Container Park Lot on Seventh Street between Carson Avenue and Fremont Street.

For availability, rates and contact information for all public parking facilities, download the ParkMe app or visit parkme.com.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS ADDED IN EAST AND NORTH VALLEY

The city of Las Vegas recently activated two new traffic signals at Ann and Cimarron roads and at Washington Avenue and Sandhill Road.

Nearly 16,000 vehicles travel through the Ann and Cimarron intersection daily, while nearly 17,000 vehicles travel through the Washington and Sandhill intersection each day, according to the city.

The lights are part of a $2.6 million project to enhance safety. Twelve signals and other traffic safety improvements are a part of the project.

NORTH LAS VEGAS FIREFIGHTERS, BOY SCOUTS RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SMOKE DETECTORS

The North Las Vegas Fire Department recently implemented Phase 1 of its 2015 Smoke Alarm Program, with assistance from local Boy Scouts.

The Boy Scouts and firefighters walked door to door Jan. 17 in at-risk neighborhoods offering residents new smoke detectors or assistance in changing batteries in existing smoke detectors. They also provided information to homeowners regarding proper maintenance of the devices.

About 125 smoke alarms were installed during the effort, with a focus on the senior population. The Boy Scouts were able to earn their Eagle Scout leadership badge upon completion of the project.

For more information, visit cityofnorthlasvegas.com.

SEWER PROJECT UNDERWAY IN DURANGO HILLS AREA

A sanitary sewer pipe installation project began Jan. 20, extending from south of the Rampart Boulevard/Cheyenne Avenue intersection north to the Durango Hills Water Resource Center, 3271 N. Durango Drive, and running east along Cheyenne past Cimarron Road.

The city of Las Vegas project is expected to take about 11 months, causing lane restrictions on Rampart and Durango and on Cheyenne.

Work is scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Two lanes of travel in each direction are slated to be maintained in both directions on Rampart and Durango and on Cheyenne whenever possible, the city said. Lake Mead Boulevard is recommended as an alternate route for east-west travel, and Buffalo Drive is suggested as an alternate route for north-south motorists.

The project’s estimated cost is $11 million. For more information, call 702-229-6276.

HENDERSON POLICE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

The Henderson Police Officers’ Association recently launched its new website at hpoa.us.

The site features news about the organization, information on its community involvement, photos and several social media links.

TALK SHOP WITH COPS EVENT SET FOR FEB. 25

The Henderson Police Department is scheduled to host a Talk Shop with Cops event from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at the North Police Station, 225 E. Sunset Road.

A presentation is set to cover traffic issues and crime trends, focusing on the area surrounding the police station. A question-and-answer segment is slated to follow the presentation.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/police/home or call 702-267-5000.

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.

PRESENTATIONS TO TEACH RISKS OF RADON

Presentations are planned at five valley locations to teach residents about the risks of radon.

The events are being held in honor of National Radon Action Month in January. Presentations are planned at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.; 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd.; 1 p.m. Feb. 8 and 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; and 1 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane.

Free test kits for homes are set to be available at the presentations and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 28 at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Road.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and cause lung cancer. When a home is closed during colder months, radon concentrations typically increase, making winter an ideal time to test a home for radon, according to the Cooperative Extension.

For more information, visit radonnv.com or call the radon hotline at 888-723-6610.

ELDER EXPLOITATION TO BE DISCUSSED AT FEBRUARY SAFETY FORUM

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

Forums are: Feb. 21, elder exploitation; 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.

FIRE ACADEMY SEEKS APPLICANTS

Candidates are being considered for the 2015 Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Citizens Fire Academy.

Applications are available at lasvegasfire.org by clicking the link for the 2015 Citizens Fire Academy application package.

The nationally recognized academy consists of 10 three-hour classes and includes a number of speakers from the department and support agencies. Also included are tours of facilities, demonstrations, a ride-along with a fire crew and a hands-on participation day at the department’s training center, 4425 W. Tropicana Ave.

Classes are set to meet weekly from Feb. 26 to May 7. For more information, email cfa@lasvegasnevada.gov or call 702-229-0146.