Deejay’s death stuns co-workers
The mysterious death of a popular longtime Las Vegas radio deejay left co-workers in shock as details began to surface.
Police informed Lotus Broadcasting officials of Mike Culotta's death on Thursday, according to John Griffin, operations manager for the company.
"We don't know from what," said Griffin.
Culotta, 48, died in a local hospital, about two months after going on medical leave, said Griffin.
A source close to the situation said Culotta died Nov. 2 in Valley Hospital but his identity wasn't discovered until his brother filed a missing persons report a week ago. He reportedly had a heart condition.
Culotta was on the air with the company for 29 years, the last 10 on the Mike and Lorin afternoon show on KXPT-FM 97.1 (The Point.) He worked at KOMP-FM 92.3 for 19 years.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A rough health year for drag star Frank Marino of "Divas Las Vegas" took another painful and bizarre twist Friday. He underwent surgery for the fourth time since a series of gallbladder emergencies in September. He was rushed to Summerlin Hospital about 6 a.m. after experiencing pain in his esophagus. "I cheated on my diet and had a Jenny Craig diet spaghetti and meatball dinner. A meatball got lodged," he said. He returns to the show tonight, bracing for an onslaught of epic one-liners.
SIGHTINGS
Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, spotted at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday. ... Tony Award winner and country music star Laura Bell Bundy, singing the national anthem at Friday's National Finals Rodeo session. ...
"Peepshow" star Holly Madison, celebrating her 31st birthday three weeks early at Tao and Lavo on Thursday with new beau Jack Barakat of the punk rock band All Time Low, pal Bridget Marquardt of "Girls Next Door" and Las Vegas sidekicks Laura Croft, Angel Porrino and Josh Strickland. Madison and Barakat, 22, met in June when his band played at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. They started dating in September. ... At Munchbar (Caesars Palace) on Friday: NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon, Hermie Sadler, and Elliot Sadler. ... ESPN baseball analyst and former Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe, on the patio at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina on Thursday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"For the fourth year in a row, New York's LaGuardia Airport was voted the nation's worst airport. It is so undermanned, passengers have to fondle themselves." -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
