Reporter’s Notebook

ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman headed to his second dance lesson in preparation for Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars, an appearance he predicted will be an unmitigated disaster.

He said magician Lance Burton, who is master of ceremonies for the April 19 event at the Palms, would have to employ his magical gifts. "After he sees me do my first step," Goodman said, "he's going to make me disappear."

The competition will raise money for various cancer charities. The other competitors are boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, radio personalities Chet Buchanan and Steph MacKenzie, Chris Phillips of "Zowie Bowie" and actor/singer Brent Barrett.

ALAN CHOATE

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER, said in a taunting way: "Apple fritters. Apple fritters. 7-Eleven fritters."

THOSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INTERNET SITES just don't get updated fast enough. The complaint arose last week when parents at Tanaka Elementary School in southwestern Las Vegas said they did not know about a switch to a year-round schedule. When administrators told parents at a school meeting that they should have checked their school Web site, parents were incredulous.

The site "still has the fall festival up," said mother Angeleen Turner.

JAMES HAUG

LAS VEGAS CITY EMPLOYEES APPARENTLY ARE FEELING the effects of the depressed economy. The city has been working hard to cut costs and streamline operations, City Manager Betsy Fretwell said last week, and it's taking a physical toll.

"Sick leave is going up," she told the Las Vegas City Council, adding that some people are "seriously ill."

"People are going the extra mile. They're stressed out," Fretwell said. "I'm really worried about it."

ALAN CHOATE

DURING A STATE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING Friday on whether to change Nevada's smoking ban, Reno cardiologist Dr. Richard Seher, president of the Nevada State Medical Association, testified about the health consequences he said second-hand smoke can have.

Committee Chairman Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, asked the doctor if he believed the state had a responsibility to protect people from themselves.

Seher said the state already does that: seat belt laws, for example.

Countered Care: But you're never going to stop people from smoking entirely, especially in their own private residences.

"Wish I could," Seher said.

RICHARD LAKE

DURING A PRESENTATION ON NEXT YEAR'S Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency budget, Mayor Oscar Goodman's attention was drawn to a line that said, "Sal & Ben."

"Is Sal and Ben a new project, or an ice cream parlor?" he asked, hopefully.

"Salary and benefits," responded Mark Vincent, who then told the mayor to be sure to eat his vegetables. (Not really, but he probably said it in his mind.)

ALAN CHOATE