Crime and safety news from around the valley, Feb. 4-10, 2016

Homicide investigation and arrest: Henderson Police detectives are investigating the death of a 26-year-old man outside an apartment complex as a homicide. Officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls about gunshots fired in the area of North Green Valley Parkway and La Mesa Drive at the Villas at Green Valley about 1:20 pm Feb. 1. Officers discovered a man had been shot and died at the scene. No one else was injured during the shooting. The man's name and cause of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner's Office once he has been positively identified and his family notified. This is the second homicide investigated by Henderson Police in 2016. Two people were arrested Feb. 2 in connection with the homicide: Krystal Guice 23, and Deonte Coleman, 25, were located at a Las Vegas home near West Cheyenne Avenue and North Hualapai Way. They were taken into custody without incident around 2:15 a.m. and have been charged with murder and are being held at the Henderson Detention Center. Guice and the victim shared custody of a 4-year-old child. The victim was walking his four-year-old child to meet with Guice. During the child exchange, gunshots were fired, allegedly by Coleman. Guice and Coleman sped off with the child in a vehicle. The victim died at the scene. Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911.

Residential fire: The Henderson Fire Department responded to a multifamily residential structure fire on Eastminister Court, near Burkholder Boulevard and North Major Avenue, at about 9:10 p.m. Feb. 2. The first arriving engine company observed a fully involved fire in a second floor unit of a two-story apartment building. Crews initiated an exterior attack and then accessed the building interior to extinguish the fire. An aggressive attack by firefighters prevented the fire from extending into the other apartments in the six-unit building. The residents were home and discovered the fire in a bedroom. They evacuated the apartment safely and had a neighbor call 9-1-1. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters. Two pet birds perished in the fire. A total of 16 people and various pets were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. A City of Henderson Fire Investigator, Henderson Police, NV Energy and Southwest Gas Corp. assisted in securing the property. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The total loss is estimated at $518,400 for the building and $50,000 for building contents.

Results from enforcement effort: The Henderson Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Police stopped more than 800 motorists in an effort to combat speeders in a special enforcement effort from Jan. 5-21. The officers stopped a total of 850 motorists, handing out 618 speeding tickets. The officers also issued six citations for not wearing seat belts, five for running red lights, 18 for cellphone use, 69 for registration violations and 84 for no insurance.

Pool positions available: Clark County Parks and Recreation is recruiting to fill positions for the 2016 pool season. Positions are available for those 15½ or older from $9 to $15 per hour based on experience and certifications. The Aquatics Department is seeking applicants to fill cashier, lifeguard, water safety instructor and management positions. Those who hold the American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application online at clarkcountynv.gov/parks. Those who need certification can enroll in a lifeguard training class at either Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd., or Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility, 8275 W. Spring Mountain Road.

Stop DUI program: The city of Henderson has joined forces with Stop DUI to educate those who have been convicted of driving under the influence. The partnership serves as a reminder as people prepare for Super Bowl parties to ensure they have a designated driver for a sober ride home. Stop DUI, a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing drunken driving and assisting victims of DUI crashes, recently moved its offices to Henderson, operating out of the Alternative Sentencing Department building at 302 Tin St. The program is planning to host monthly victim impact panels in Henderson. The purpose of the panels is to help DUI offenders realize the long-lasting effects that a DUI crash can have on a person and a family. Visit cityofhenderson.com or stopdui.org.

Fire station open house: The Clark County Fire Department is planning a community open house from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at Fire Station 24, 7525 S. Dean Martin Drive. The focus is heart health and emergency medical services featuring Jaws of Life demonstrations to show equipment used to remove victims from car crashes, and demonstrations of hands-only CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). No CPR certificates will be issued, but firefighters will show how to perform chest compressions on a person whose heart has stopped beating. Educational materials from the American Heart Association will be available, and a children's fishing derby and tours of the fire station, vehicles, and the Department of Building and Fire Prevention's safety house are planned. The next open house is planned from 8:30 to 11 a.m. April 9 at Fire Station 20, 5865 Judson St.

Police looking for impaired drivers: Henderson Police traffic officers will be joining forces with officers from neighboring jurisdictions through Feb. 8 looking for impaired drivers over the Super Bowl weekend. Last year, officers made seven arrests for impaired driving over the weekend.

Chainsaw safety presentation: The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, the Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture, and the Southern Nevada Arborist Group plan a chainsaw safety and handling informational presentation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Cooperative Extension's Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. It is planned to cultivate safety and greater awareness for modern arboriculture. Attendees will be introduced to systematic methods to plan smarter and work more effectively. The presentation is set to be given by ArborMaster President Ken Palmer. Bring a hardhat and safety goggles. Registration for society members is $105 (early bird before Jan. 25 is $80); and $130 for nonmembers (early bird before Jan. 25 is $105). Student and senior members of WCISA's registration is $55. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Visit wcisa.net/events or call 866-785-8960.

Tenants' rights clinic: Nevada Legal Services the UNLV Boyd School of Law plan to host free community education presentations on common landlord-tenant issues. The classes are set from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 5 and 19, March 4 and 18, and April 1 and 15 at the North Las Vegas Justice Court, 2428 N. Martin Luther King Blvd, Building A. Attendees must go through court security.

Applications for Henderson police: Candidates interested in applying for the Henderson Police Department as a police officer or corrections officer are invited to attend free recruitment information nights, planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St. The Henderson Police Department will be providing information on how best to prepare for the hiring process. Following the presentation, there will be break-out sessions where prospective candidates can ask questions of human resources, backgrounds and current officers. Information on how best to prepare for the physical agility and online testing are to be available, as well. Online applications will be accepted until 5:30 p.m. March 31. Visit joinhpd.com.

Tax presentation: Nevada Legal Services is planning a free presentation about IRS tax collection and collection options from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Clark County Library Jewel Box Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Topics include: How did my IRS tax debt happen? If I owe the IRS, can it take my car, take my house or send me to jail? How long can the IRS collect taxes from me? What if I can't afford to fully pay my tax debt?

Sealing criminal records classes: Nevada Legal Services and the UNLV Boyd School of Law plans to host free presentations on how to seal your criminal record from 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays through May 2 at the Clark County Law Library, 309 S. Third St. There is no class on Feb. 12 or March 25. To reserve a seat, call 702-455-4696.

Community safety forum: The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., announced its 2016 Community Safety Forum calendar. Forums are to be held from 2 to 3 p.m. the third Sunday of the month. They are sponsored by NV Energy and are free and open to the public. Attendance at a forum presentation includes free general admission to the museum following the presentation as well as live streaming of the event. Upcoming Community Safety Forum dates and topics include: Feb. 21, The Active Shooter; and March 20, The Ins and Outs of the Clark County District Attorney's Office. Visit themobmuseum.org.

Winter safety on the mountain: Snow is predicted for the Mount Charleston area that includes Lee Canyon. The Mount Charleston Winter Alliance is urging visitors to prepare for severe winter conditions before visiting the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Some tips include: When traveling to the mountain, start with a full tank of gas. There are no gas stations onsite. Always carry with you: tire chains/tow strap, cellphone, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cable, snow shovel, blanket/sleeping bag, first-aid kit, compass, maps, bag of sand/kitty litter for traction, spare batteries, nonperishable foods and water. To receive the most up-to-date winter road and driving conditions, chain requirements and road closures, visit mtcharlestowinter.com. For real-time road information, dial 511 within Nevada and 1-877-687-6237 outside of Nevada.

Rape Crisis Center seeks volunteers: The Rape Crisis Center is increasing the number of volunteer training sessions in 2016 to better meet the needs of sexual assault victims and their families. This year, the center will offer three 50-hour five-week training sessions in late winter, summer and fall. Those who are interested in participating must complete an application and set up an interview prior to the beginning of training. Interviews are being scheduled. Volunteer training is a total of 50 hours and includes learning about the services of the center, community resources for sexual assault victims, how to respond to individuals in crisis, how the investigation and criminal justice process works for sexual assault cases, and numerous other topics. New volunteers must be at least 21 and be able to successfully pass a background check, drug screening and commit to a minimum of six months of volunteer service of at least six hours per week. Volunteers of varying age, gender identity, racial and ethnic background, sexual orientation, and language abilities are encouraged to apply. Call 702-385-2153.

NDOT lighting installation: In January the Nevada Department of Transportation is set to make $1.2 million in lighting improvements along a 35-mile stretch of Interstate 15 from Jean to the I-15/U.S. Highway 95 "Spaghetti Bowl" interchange in Las Vegas. Acme Electric is the general contractor. Work calls for replacing 550 high-pressure sodium fixtures with light-emitting diode lamps. Work will occur during nighttime hours when traffic is minimal. Anticipated completion is by spring 2016. Visit nvroads.com.

State Route 160 changes: The Nevada Department of Transportation awarded a $16.5 million contract to Aggregate Industries SWR Inc. for a 5-mile widening of state Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road) in southwest Clark County. The project will widen the highway from two lanes to four travel lanes between Mile Marker 10.89 (just past state Route 159 or the Red Rock Canyon Road junction) and Mile Marker 16.63. The improvements will flatten side slope shoulders for safer vehicle turnouts while installing new drainage pipe and tortoise fencing. Other work consists of placing barrier and guardrails as well as hydro-seeding 38 acres. Construction will entail moving enough dirt to fill 1,800 average sized swimming pools, and enough placing asphalt to pave 8,000 driveways. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2017. Although the speed limit will be lowered to 55 mph during construction, one lane will remain open at all times. Visit nvroads.com.

Boulder Highway improvements: The Nevada Department of Transportation is planning on making several pedestrian safety improvements to Boulder Highway (state Route 582) in 2016 and 2017, including an overhead rapid flashing beacon and Danish-offset median island at Boulder Highway and Sun Valley Drive, near the Eastside Cannery. NDOT will also be lowering the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph along a two-mile stretch of Boulder Highway from Galleria Drive north in early 2016.

Tropicana Avenue upgrade: The Nevada Department of Transportation plans to upgrade East Tropicana Avenue between Eastern Avenue and Boulder Highway from January through fall 2016. The $7.67 million upgrade is slated to include new asphalt pavement, raised median islands and widened sidewalks. The project is aimed at preventing additional roadway cracking and deterioration and providing pedestrian enhancements, the department said. Work is expected to take place primarily during overnight hours. Visit nvroads.com.

Yellow Dot program: The 2015 Nevada Legislature passed AB 176, bringing the Yellow Dot program to Nevada. The voluntary program has participants provide important medical information about themselves and their passengers in the glovebox of their vehicles. First responders are alerted that this information is in the vehicle by a yellow dot decal placed in the lower left corner of the rear window. Residents can pick up a free Yellow Dot kit at one of more than 40 participating locations across the valley. For a list, visit rtcsnv.com/yellowdot, or to request the kit, call 702-676-1754 or email YD@rtcsnv.com.

Report illegal discharge activity: The Nevada Department of Transportation urges residents to protect water quality through prevention by reporting illicit drainage and discharge onto state roads and transportation facilities. Illicit discharge is anything entering a roadway drainage system that is not natural stormwater. Pesticides, construction dirt or materials, as well as materials from neighboring properties and roadway runoff containing fertilizers, vehicle oil and chemicals are examples. New legislation grants NDOT rights to issue permits for certain water discharges onto state roadways, as well as assess fines if needed. Illicit discharge onto state transportation facilities can be reported by contacting 775-888-7013 with the location and type of drainage or discharge. For more information, visit nevadadot.com/stormwater. In addition, a pollutant spill impacting a Nevada waterway must be reported to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's spill reporting hotline at 888-331-6337.