Newton defenses finally penetrated

Wayne Newton's financial difficulties played out in public Saturday when a process server slapped him with legal papers before his show.

It happened at the Tropicana, home of Newton's "Once Before I Go," which commemorates his 50 years in Las Vegas.

Newton had avoided several process serving attempts in recent months, public spectacles that included moving vans being turned away at his estate.

But this time the serving company came up with a way to get a foot in the door -- at a cost of $149.99 for the VIP package to gain entrance to a meet-and-greet session.

Spies tell me it played out like this: With about 20 people waiting in line to schmooze with Newton, his security guards approached a black man in his mid-20s.

Apparently on high alert after recent attempts to serve the Las Vegas entertainment legend, the security personnel started asking questions.

The young man said his parents were big fans and were in the process of parking the car.

When the line got down to a couple of people, the security guys returned and asked where the parents were.

"I just hung up with them," he said, adding they should be arriving any second.

In the time it took for that conversation, no one was left in front of the man, who excitedly greeted Newton with the words, "Mr. Newton, Las Vegas loves you." As applause broke out from others in the room, the process server added, "you are served!" and handed Newton the legal documents.

The bizarre scene ended with the man darting out of the room and the casino, with security in hot pursuit. They didn't catch him.

The serving company, sources said, was carrying out the mission on behalf of O. Bruton Smith, whose empire of NASCAR tracks includes the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Charging Newton with being delinquent on a $3.35 million loan, Smith filed suit Feb. 9 in Clark County District Court against Newton; his wife, Kathleen McCrone Newton; their company, Desert Eagle LLC; and Newton Living Trust.

Smith seeks foreclosure on the Newtons' 38-acre Casa de Shenandoah ranch, which the Newtons had put up as a guarantee, along with a Fokker F28 MK 1000 private jet.

Messages left for Newton's media rep were not returned.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

It takes a lot to get a town to turn out to see reality TV stars, but that's what happened to the "Pawn Stars" on Saturday at the Lake of the Torches Resort in Lac du Flambeau, Wis. More than 3,000 people showed up at the casino to meet the stars of the History Channel hit: father Rick Harrison, son Corey and Corey's pal Chumlee, during their six-hour visit. The latest census shows Lac du Flambeau has 3,004 residents. ...

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian make an in-studio appearance together today on KXNT-AM, 840, starting at 7 a.m. Alan Stock moderates the one-hour session.

SIGHTINGS

Golfing at Wynn Las Vegas on Tuesday: NFL legends Don Shula, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Thurman Thomas and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and baseball greats Steve Garvey, Andre Dawson and Bill Madlock. They were attending a private convention. ... Chris Tucker, joining George Wallace on stage at the Flamingo for some stand-up comedy. ... Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, at Blush (Wynn) Saturday. ... At the Palms: Martin Lawrence at Moon after his show at The Pearl; Chris Rock, chatting with Lawrence backstage. Rock was in N9NE Steakhouse with a friend and two bodyguards. ... Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall celebrated his 26th birthday at N9NE with friends. He received a telephone call during dinner from New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. ... Flavor Flav, with security, taking in naughty hypnotist Anthony Cools' show Saturday at Paris Las Vegas. "Laughed so hard he broke his clock," tweeted Cools.

THE PUNCH LINE

"History was made yesterday in Washington, D.C. Congress actually worked on a Sunday. ... On the bright side, John Edwards can finally get a vasectomy." -- David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.