IN BRIEF
GOVERNOR'S PRESS SECRETARY
Kieckhefer appointed to be Gibbons aide
Gov. Jim Gibbons on Wednesday appointed former newspaper reporter Ben Kieckhefer as his new press secretary.
Kieckhefer spent several years as a government reporter, then moved into public relations, issue advocacy and government affairs. He worked for The Associated Press covering the 2003 Nevada Legislature, as well as the Reno Gazette-Journal covering the city of Reno and for the Copley News Service covering the 2001 Illinois Legislature.
Kieckhefer most recently worked for Innerwest Advertising & Public Relations and IW Strategies in Reno. He will start work March 20. He will earn $95,000 in the position.
BOULDER HIGHWAY ACCIDENT
Police officer injured during traffic stop
A Las Vegas patrol officer was injured during a traffic stop Wednesday but was expected to recover.
Police did not release the name of the officer, 25, who had stopped a bicyclist about 3:15 a.m. on Boulder Highway, south of Harmon Avenue.
"The officer stopped his black-and-white patrol vehicle in such a manner which left a portion of the vehicle's rear protruding into the right northbound travel lane," a police statement said. "The officer did not activate his emergency lights while conducting the stop."
According to the statement, the officer was talking with the bicyclist when a northbound car struck the left rear of the patrol vehicle, pushing it into the officer, bicyclist and bicycle. The officer was taken to University Medical Center.
"He's being kept just for observation, but he's going to be fine," officer Martin Wright said.
Police said the bicyclist, Scott Graham, 36, of Las Vegas, was taken to Sunrise Hospital, treated and released. The car was driven by John Morrison, 42, of Homestead, Fla. Police said he suffered minor injuries.
Wright said the police Accident Review Board will evaluate the incident and assess any appropriate disciplinary action.
ARIZONA FATALITY
Mountain descent results in man's death
An off-road recreation enthusiast was killed Wednesday when he tried to navigate a sand rail down a steep mountain about 21/2 miles east of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Mohave County sheriff's office spokeswoman Trish Carter said Michael James Mansfield, 61, of Lake Havasu, was dead at the scene of the 1:30 a.m. accident.
Carter said Mansfield was ejected after the sand rail traveled more than 200 feet down a cliff. She said a passenger survived after exiting the vehicle when he determined that the descent was too dangerous.
ELDERLY COUPLE'S RESIDENCE
800 small dogs seized from mobile home
About 800 small dogs, including Chihuahuas, terriers and Pomeranians, were seized from a triple-wide mobile home in Tucson, Ariz., authorities said Wednesday.
Pima County sheriff's deputies and animal welfare officials who removed the dogs also found 82 caged parrots in the home in a rural area northwest of Tucson.
Some dogs were pregnant and giving birth as they were taken to shelters in Tucson, said Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Ninety-six dogs were taken from the house Monday and another 700 on Wednesday, she said.
The elderly owners, who have not been identified, apparently were overwhelmed in trying to take care of all the animals but have cooperated with authorities, sheriff's Sgt. James Ogden said. No charges had been filed, but authorities continued to investigate.
