Area Briefing, Feb. 25-March 3

GILLESPIE HONORED BY NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION

Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Douglas Gillespie was recently selected to receive the National Sheriffs’ Association’s Ferris E. Lucas Award for Sheriff of the Year.

The award is set to be presented to Gillespie June 22 during the National Sheriffs’ Association’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Of the 3,080 sheriffs nationwide, only 18 have received the honor since 1995. Gillespie, a 33-year department veteran, was elected in 2007 and leads more than 4,700 sworn officers and civilian employees. He is responsible for the safety of nearly 2 million residents and 40 million visitors a year.

FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT PLANNED ON PORTION OF GRAND TETON DRIVE

Work to install storm drain infrastructure on Grand Teton Drive between Durango Drive and Rainbow Boulevard began Feb. 18 and is expected to last 15 months, according to the city of Las Vegas.

The project is aimed at helping alleviate flooding in the area during heavy rainfall.

Crews are slated to begin work at Grand Teton and Durango and move toward Rainbow. Work is set to include the installation of underground box culverts, which are large, concrete channels that carry water to the Las Vegas Wash.

One lane is scheduled to remain open on Grand Teton during the project, but motorists should expect delays, city officials said. Farm Road can be used as an alternate route.

The contractor is Las Vegas Paving, and the $11.7 million project is funded by the city and the Clark County Regional Flood Control District.

LANE RESTRICTIONS SET ON SEVERAL SOUTHWEST-AREA STREETS

Lane restrictions are scheduled through at least March 12 along Dean Martin and Birtcher drives, Haven Street and Robindale Road as part of field survey work conducted by the Clark County Water Reclamation District.

— A southbound or northbound travel or turn lane will be restricted on Dean Martin Drive from Post Road to Patrick Lane.

— A westbound or eastbound travel lane in either direction will be restricted at Birtcher and Saddle Tree drives.

— Northbound and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane on Haven Street near Robindale Road.

Field survey work is set to be conducted between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For more information and traffic updates, call the project hotline at 702-668-8668.

PROGRAM TO SHOW STUDENTS DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING

Students are scheduled to learn about the dangers of driving while intoxicated during an Every 15 Minutes program set for March 20 and 21 at Veterans Tribute Career & Technical Academy, 2531 Vegas Drive.

A DUI crash reconstruction scene is slated for 6:30 a.m. March 20 on Vegas Drive as part of the program, and an assembly is scheduled at 8:45 a.m. March 21 in the school gym to highlight the program’s message.

Every 15 Minutes is a two-day program that encourages high school juniors and seniors to think about personal safety when alcohol is involved, making mature decisions and recognizing that their actions affect others.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED ON STRETCH OF DECATUR BOULEVARD

Construction began Feb. 13 on Decatur Boulevard between U.S. Highway 95 and Lake Mead Boulevard as part of roadway improvements that are expected to last 12 weeks, the city of Las Vegas announced.

Daytime work is slated for 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with traffic restricted to one lane in each direction between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. A minimum of two lanes in each direction will be kept open during peak morning and afternoon hours, the city said. Also, milling and paving are set to occur between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. weekdays, and traffic may be restricted to one lane in each direction.

Motorists are advised to use Jones Boulevard or Rancho Drive as alternate routes, according to the city.

The project includes the installation of traffic signal interconnect conduits, the reconstruction of deteriorated pavement, median island modifications for improved traffic flow and safety, median island landscaping upgrades and roadway striping.

Las Vegas Paving Corporation is the contractor. The city of Las Vegas is managing and funding the $2.2 million project.

NONPROFIT WANTS TEENS TO KNOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Rape Crisis Center has launched an awareness campaign for teens in recognition of national Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February.

Stand Up – It’s the Right Thing to Do is being introduced to Clark County School District students through the Rape Crisis Center’s YourSPACE program, which empowers tweens and teens to understand, recognize and take action against dating and relationship violence.

As part of the initiative, the Rape Crisis Center is hosting a contest with the same name. Students at schools who have taken part in the YourSPACE program are invited to create an image, either a photo or a drawing, illustrating how they or their peers can help someone in a difficult situation by being an active bystander. The contest is set to close March 14.

For contest details, visit rcclv.org or call 702-385-2153.

ART PROGRAM TO HELP CITY DEAL WITH BLIGHT

The city of Las Vegas recently unveiled a pilot program to help beautify vacant, boarded-up homes by turning plywood into art.

Valley artist Markus Tracy has been commissioned for five designs to be painted on plywood and used to board up windows and doors on 10 vacant homes selected as part of the pilot program. The panels are scheduled to be installed by a city contractor.

City code enforcement employees routinely board up abandoned homes to keep them secure.

Funding for the $16,550 pilot project was approved by the city of Las Vegas Arts Commission.

Tracy has created several mural projects throughout the city and travels around the country as a muralist and teaching art for the Nevada, Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas arts councils.

FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE OFFERED MONTHLY AT THE GUN GARAGE

The Gun Garage, 5155 Dean Martin Drive, plans to offer a free gun safety course the last Sunday of every month.

The class is set to be taught by certified instructors from the National Rifle Association and cover safe firearms handling, storage and maintenance.

For more information, call 702-440-4867 or visit gungarage.com.

GET RID OF OLD PRESCRIPTIONS

Residents can drop off their expired or otherwise unwanted prescription medications from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Northwest Area Command, 9850 W. Cheyenne Ave.

For more information, call 702-828-3426.

CLARK COUNTY RECRUITING LIFEGUARDS, WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting to fill positions for the 2014 pool season.

Available positions are cashier, lifeguard, water safety instructor and management. Positions pay $8.50 to $15 per hour based on experience and certifications.

Those who wish to apply for a lifeguard or other water-related positions must complete the lifeguard training course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd.

Those 15 or older can take the course for $70 if they sign an employment contract with the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department. The cost is $140 to take the course without the contract. Prerequisite skills include 300-yard continuous swim and retrieval of a weighted object from 7 to 10 feet of water. Applicants must attend all classes to complete the five-day course, offered at various times until May 5.

Those who hold the American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application at clarkcountynv.gov/parks or call Clark County’s aquatics department at 702-455-8508.

GROUP OFFERS DISCOUNTS ON SPAYING, NEUTERING

The Animal Foundation is celebrating National Spay & Neuter Month in February by offering discounts on spay/neuter surgeries for pit bulls, pit bull mixes and cats.

Surgeries cost $50 for pit bulls and pit bull mixes and $20 for cats during the Pitties & Kitties Spay & Neuter Promotion.

To make an appointment or for more information, call 702-384-3333, ext. 137.

CITY SEEKS LIFEGUARDS, WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

The city of Las Vegas has immediate openings for certified lifeguards and water safety instructors.

Applicants must be at least 16 and possess current certifications in lifeguarding, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use. The hourly pay is between $9 and $11. Tryouts and interviews will take place each month until positions are filled, the city said.

Interested candidates should call the Las Vegas Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309 to schedule an interview or apply at lasvegasparksandrec.com.

Those who are not certified but are interested in becoming seasonal or career lifeguards can take the city’s pre-lifeguarding skills and American Red Cross lifeguarding courses.

Each two-week pre-lifeguarding skills course is held at the Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

The 25.5-hour American Red Cross lifeguarding course is provided at three locations: the Municipal Pool, the Pavilion Center Pool and Baker Pool. Participants must be at least 15, pass prerequisite tests on the first day of class and attend each session to obtain certification.

Advance registration for all classes is required at lasvegasparksandrec.com or in person at any year-round city pool or recreational facility.

Details on course schedules, fees, prerequisites and learning materials can be obtained at lasvegasnevada.gov/files/splash_for_cash.pdf or by calling the Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309.

FREE RADON TEST KITS TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH FEB. 28

Free radon test kits are scheduled to be available through Feb. 28 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner sites statewide.

Radon, a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that comes from the ground, accumulates in homes and can cause lung cancer.

The Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Road, Suite 105, has been working to raise awareness of the dangers of radon in the home since 2007 and has distributed radon test kits since 2008. Since that time, more than 16,000 homes have been tested in Nevada, and results indicate that one in four found potentially hazardous radon levels.

For more information, visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at radonnv.com, call the radon hotline at 888-723-6610 or contact Nevada Radon Education Program director Susan Howe at robertss@unce.unr.edu or 775-336-0248.