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Dec 28 FATAL ACCIDENT – LAKE MOHAVE

Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single vehicle rollover accident on Katherine Mine Road late Wednesday afternoon. Approximately 4:05 p.m., deputies responded to the scene of a fatal rollover accident where Ronald Dale Hull, 49, of Orange, Calif., was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigations determined speed was a factor in this accident.

December 13 Return of 'Nevada Passage' Reality TV Show Spotlights State's Outdoor Adventure Nevada Tourism Expands Made-for-Television Program in 2006

The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) announced plans for the second annual Nevada Passage made-for-television adventure competition that will expose the state's outdoor destinations to 2 million television viewers nationwide, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt announced Tuesday.

The Nevada Passage will bring 20 hand-picked athletes to Nevada May 8-13, 2006, to compete in a series of adventure sports in six outdoor destinations in or near the communities of Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, Virginia City, Austin, Pahrump and Laughlin. Paired into 10 coed teams, the athletes' experiences will be filmed and edited into a one-hour television program to be syndicated in more than 80 U.S. markets between August 2006 and February 2007.

"The inaugural Nevada Passage provided us with an extremely effective and powerful tool to show adventure travelers the rugged beauty and adventure opportunities they can find throughout the state of Nevada," Hunt, NCOT chair, said. "We can't wait to bring the same level of attention to six different rural destinations in 2006."

The 2006 Nevada Passage teams, expected to be announced in February, will have an opportunity to test a wide variety of skills as they compete in everything from off-beat events such as a ranch hand rodeo and railroad handcar races to more traditional adventure sports including biking, trail running, and jet skiing.

"Adventure sports are gaining popularity around the world, and Nevada's wide-open spaces are ideal for them, becoming a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts," NCOT Director Bruce Bommarito said. "There are few other states could combine rodeo, mountain biking, running, jet skiing, autocross and railroad races in one adventure competition the way Nevada does."

The inaugural one-hour "Nevada Passage" adventure reality show began nationwide syndication in August and has already aired in 100 markets on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and UPN affiliates as well as 11 resort networks. Viewers in top metropolitan markets such as New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles have seen "The Nevada Passage," which is scheduled to air at least 17 more times before syndication closes on Feb. 28, 2006. Along with reaching approximately 2 million television viewers through syndication, news stories and articles about the Nevada Passage also drew attention to the state's outdoor adventure with more than 60 minutes of combined television news coverage and 350 print and Internet articles.

The stages of the 2006 Nevada Passage, which are subject to change because of weather and other conditions, are planned as follows:

Monday, May 8 - Stage 1:
Adventure - Recumbent (reclining) bicycle Human-Powered Speed Challenge
Location - Battle Mountain; Nevada State Route 305

Tuesday, May 9 - Stage 2:
Adventure - Ranch Hand Rodeo
Location - Winnemucca; Winnemucca Special Events Center

Wednesday, May 10 - Stage 3:
Adventure - Railroad Handcar Races
Location - Virginia City; Virginia & Truckee Railroad yards

Thursday, May 11 - Stage 4:
Adventure - Mountain Bike and Trail Scramble
Location - Austin; Austin Park, Cahill Canyon and Castle Loop

Friday, May 12 - Stage 5:
Adventure - Raceway Autocross
Location - Pahrump; Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch

Saturday, May 13 - Stage 6:
Adventure - Jet Ski Slalom and Obstacle Competition
Location - Laughlin; Colorado River

NCOT also plans to expand The Nevada Passage in 2006 with non-televised outdoor competitions open to all adventurers the weekend before the main events begin. The new public event, named The Nevada Passage Open, is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, and will draw an estimated 400 travelers to the north-central city of Winnemucca to compete in mountain-biking racing, kayaking, off-road running and an all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) sand drag race. Online registration for The Nevada Passage Open will open in January at www.nevadapassage.com.

TEAM Unlimited, a Honolulu-based television events and marketing company, and R&R Partners, a Las Vegas-based integrated marketing communications firm, developed the concept of The Nevada Passage to showcase Nevada's dramatic landscape and adventure opportunities. TEAM Unlimited also produces the annual Nissan Xterra USA Championship Race at Lake Tahoe.

Dec 11, 2005 State casino win sets record
For the second time this year, Nevada casinos set a record for the most money ever won from customers in a single month, perplexing gaming analysts but fueling their bullish outlook on the Las Vegas economy.

Nevada casinos collected $1.06 billion from gamblers in October, according to totals released Friday by the State Gaming Control Board.

It was the fourth time in 2005 that the state's monthly casino win topped $1 billion. October's win was a 14.4 percent increase from the $925.3 million earned last October by casinos statewide.

The number also eclipsed the previous record of $1.03 billion won by casinos in March.

Dec 1, 2005 Lake Mohave Parade of Lights
The annual Lake Mohave Holiday Parade of Lights will be held at dusk on Saturday, December 10 at Katherine Landing. All entrance fees into the park will be waived for participants and observers. The brightly decorated boats will be available for viewing in the harbor area prior to the start of the parade. This event has been popular with locals and visitors alike for many years.

Nov 29, 2005 Harrah's to sell the Flamingo Laughlin
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the Flamingo Laughlin hotel-casino, and an undeveloped land parcel in Atlantic City, to affiliates of American Real Estate Partners, L.P. for $170 million in cash.

The sale is subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals. Harrah's expects the transaction to close in mid-2006.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

American Real Estate Partners said the Flamingo Laughlin is the largest hotel in Laughlin with 1,907 rooms and a 57,000 square-foot casino. The Atlantic City property, once home to the Traymore Hotel, is located between American Real Estate's Sands Hotel & Casino and the city's boardwalk.

Based in Mount Kisco, N.Y., American Real Estate Partners is a limited partnership that acquires and manages casinos, hotels and other properties. In addition to the Sands, the company has units that own the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower and other casinos.

Billionaire Carl Icahn is the chairman of American Property Investors, the company's general partner. Shares of American Real Estate were down 40 cents to $33.

Additionally, Harrah's signed a preliminary deal with Slovenia's Hit Group, the operator of nine casinos, to form a joint venture to develop a resort in Nova Gorica, a city on the border with Italy. The proposal would involve an investment of roughly $700 million through an equally owned partnership.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Harrah's will announce an agreement with a Spanish company to build a Caesars casino and resort in Spain. The property will also have a convention center, a spa and a 3,000-seat theater. The project is valued at $670 million, and Harrah's hopes to start construction next year for a 2008 opening, according to the report.

Shares of Harrah's were up 76 cents to $69 in recent trading.

Nov 15, 2005 Lawyers want Biker Case thrown out
A fight between Hells Angels and the Mongols that left three dead in a casino in Laughlin was "motivated by gang pride and retribution," the Clark County district attorney's office said.

But attorneys for 14 members of the two motorcycle gangs say the 54-count indictment should be dismissed because of numerous errors by the district attorney's office in presenting the case to a grand jury.

The Nevada Supreme Court is to hear arguments Thursday from attorneys of the accused to stop the prosecution from going forward to trial.

Nov 14, 2005 September: Ka-ching for casinos
Nevada casinos kept up their record-ripping pace of growth in September with only their third-ever billion-dollar win. The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Thursday reported September's statewide win was $1.01 billion, up 9.6 percent from $924.6 million a year earlier. Laughlin was up 4.7 percent to $49.7 million in September from $47.4 million in Sept '04.

Nov 10, 2005 Old, new Nugget owners' feud rages
Judge tells Landry's, Wynn to settle their differences
By Liz Benston Las Vegas Sun

Hotel developer Steve Wynn appeared in a courtroom Wednesday morning to pursue his lawsuit against the Golden Nugget over a Wynn Las Vegas executive hired away to work at the Golden Nugget Laughlin.

After about an hour discussing the case with Wynn and attorneys for both parties, District Judge Michael Cherry decided to continue the matter until Dec. 1 to give both sides a chance to settle their differences.

Nov 5, 2005 Columnist Jeff Simpson: A poor start for Landry's chairman
Landry's Restaurants Chairman Tilman Fertitta has owned the Golden Nugget for six weeks, and the Texan is rapidly making an impression in Las Vegas.

A lousy impression.

In 40 days Fertitta has canned several of the Golden Nugget's top executives and laid off scores of additional employees.

Oct 29, 2005 New arrests in Laughlin biker brawl case
Two new members of the biker gang Hells Angels have been arrested on federal racketeering charges related to a violent biker brawl inside and around Harrah's Resort. Jason Peterson was arrested today in San Francisco, California. Richard Fabel was arrested at his home in Spokane, Washington, yesterday. Forty two other people have been charged in the 2002 deadly melee between the Hells Angels and Mongols biker gangs.

Peterson and Fabel are being charged with 19 counts of violence in aid of federal racketeering and 13 counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Two Hells Angels and one Mongol died in the brawl. A third Hells Angel was shot to death later on a highway west of Laughlin. All 44 defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court on November 16th and 17th.

Oct 28, 2005 Scientists unsure how to protect the Colorado River
Scientists say they still don't know how to protect the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon without disrupting water and power production upstream.

Despite a decade of trying, few attempts have succeeded in trying to mimic the natural conditions erased by construction of Glen Canyon Dam, which supplies water and electricity to millions of people.

Endangered fish continue to disappear, habitat erodes almost as fast as it is rebuilt and interloping fish and plants find new ways to thrive.

The river's health as it courses through the Grand Canyon is the focus of a 10-year-old program created after environmental studies uncovered deteriorating conditions caused by Glen Canyon Dam. The giant structure cooled the river, stripped it of sediment and nutrients and tamed its seasonal flows, which helped keep wildlife habitat vital.

Scientists admit that reversing the damage from 40 years of unnatural river flows could take decades and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Living Rivers, a conservation group, claims the best solution is to decommission the dam and return the river to its historic flow all the way through the canyon.

"We're sacrificing the Grand Canyon for that dam," said John Weisheit, Living Rivers' conservation director. "We just don't need it."

Glen Canyon Dam, completed in 1963, supplies power across the West and stores water that eventually serves users in Arizona, Nevada and California.

Other restoration efforts also are under way, including a $600 million lower-Colorado habitat-conservation program adopted this year by Arizona, Nevada and California. But Weisheit said the government should stop spending money on ideas that will never solve the entire problem.

"They've spent $200 million and there's been no improvement," he said. "Nature's been doing this for millions of years for free."

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

Oct 26, 2005 Exclusive: Laughlin Battles State Agency Over Money
The Colorado River Commission, a Nevada state agency, has blatantly violated state law according to an opinion by the District Attorney's office. In essence, the CRC absconded with $5 million of public money, funds that should have been spent here in Clark County on infrastructure needs.

Like most other parts of Clark County, the river town of Laughlin is on a roll. Gaming profits and tourism figures are up. The economy is strong. The outlook bright. But residents know that something is not right here.

Laughlin should be growing but isn't, not much anyway. On the Arizona side of the Colorado, mansions and condos crowd the shoreline, homes fill the hillsides. Bullhead city is now a bustling boom town. On the Nevada side of the river, it's a far different story.
more from klastv.com

Oct 25, 2005 Plant's future still up in the air
For the Mohave Generating Station, there may be life after death. But nothing's sure yet.
The coal-burning, emission-spewing, 35-year-old power plant at Laughlin was expected to close Dec. 31 because the plant owners, which include Nevada Power Co., have not installed $500 million in pollution-control equipment required under a federal court agreement. more

Oct 20, 2005 Stolen vehicle recovered
Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jose Antonio Valenzuela Peinado, 25, of Sonora, Mexico, early Thursday morning for possession of stolen property, a felony. Deputies were informed via an attempt to located (ATL) of a stolen blue Ford Festiva out of Laughlin, Nevada. Deputies observed the vehicle traveling eastbound on Highway 68. Approximately 5:45 a.m., deputies along with Kingman Police officers conducted a high risk traffic stop in the 1000 block of West Beale Street. Deputies contacted the driver, identified as Peinado, and took him into custody without incident. During conversations with Peinado, he admitted to taking the vehicle. Peinado was transported and booked into the Mohave County Jail.

Oct 14, 2005 Visitor count down again
Although Las Vegas visitation grew, Laughlin and Mesquite sustained losses, the tourism agency's statement showed.

Laughlin lured 336,679 visitors in August, a drop of 5.3 percent when compared with the previous August. For the year, the city has drawn 2.75 million visitors -- a 3.7 percent decrease.

Mesquite fared worse. The city near the Utah-Arizona border drew 120,311 visitors in August -- a drop of 19.2 percent. For the year, Mesquite has drawn 1.1 million visitors for a 6.7 percent decrease. more

Oct 3, 2005 Drive by murder suspect arrested near Davis Camp
Mohave County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Jack Darrell McGee, 22, of Golden Valley, Tuesday (10/3) evening for 1st degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felonies. Approximately 3:55 p.m., deputies responded to a weapons offense call in the 5700 block of Abrigo Drive. Deputies were advised that two males had been shot and the male suspect left the scene driving a red Dodge or Plymouth passenger vehicle. Deputies observed a deceased male subject identified as Billy Dewayne Carlton Jr., 26, of Golden Valley, with a gunshot wound. Deputies also observed an injured male identified as Jim Neal McGee, 36, of Kingman. Jim Neal McGee, no relationship to the suspect, was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center and later flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas with gunshot wounds. Deputies contacted an uninjured third victim, identified as Billy Dewayne Carlton Sr., 53, of Golden Valley. Carlson Sr. reported that a male subject drove up to the residence in a red passenger car and pulled out a gun and started shooting. An ATL (Attempt to Locate) was issued to law enforcement agencies for the suspect and his red vehicle. The following law enforcement agencies assisted in trying to located the suspect; DPS, DPS Ranger Helicopter, BLM Rangers, Mohave County Parks Rangers and Bullhead City Police Department. Approximately 4:40 p.m. Mohave County Parks Rangers observed a male driver and vehicle fitting the description from the ATL. Mohave County Parks Rangers conducted a traffic stop at Highway 68 and McCormick Boulevard and contacted the driver, identified as Jack Darrell McGee. Bullhead City Police Officers responded and assisted. A handgun was located on McGee. Mohave County Parks Rangers and BHPD Officers detained McGee until MCSO Detectives arrived and transported McGee to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office in Kingman. Investigations determined that McGee admitted to being at the residence earlier where the incident occurred. McGee also admitted to knowing the deceased victim and admitted to shooting at the three victims. McGee was taken into custody, transported and booked into the Mohave County Jail without incident. This case is under investigation.

Sept 28, 2005 Golden Nugget Laughlin sold
Landry's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: LNY), one of the nation's largest casual dining and entertainment companies, announced completion of its acquisition of Poster Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). The acquisition includes The Golden Nugget hotel-casinos in Las
Vegas and Laughlin, Nev.

Under the terms of the transaction, PB Gaming, the sole stockholder of PFG, sold all of its shares of PFG to Landry's Gaming, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landry's, for $140 million in cash. Houston-based Landry's also is assuming $155 million of senior secured notes due 2011 and PFG's outstanding credit facility and is paying certain working capital liabilities, including house banks in the amount of $23 million, as part of the
transaction.

"We hope to revitalize downtown Las Vegas with our transformation of The Golden Nugget, much as we have helped revitalize downtown Houston with our aquarium, hospitality and restaurant concepts. We've also played the primary role in the development of the NASA/Clear Lake area with the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas," said Tilman Fertitta, chairman, president and CEO of Landry's.

"The Golden Nugget is a strong foundation for our emerging gaming division, and we look forward to introducing the brand into other markets as time goes on."

Landry's plans to build on The Golden Nugget's tradition of dining excellence by adding two of its established signature concepts: Vic and Anthony's, a world-class steakhouse; and Grotto, a trattoria-style restaurant featuring fine Italian dishes. Landry's operates 28 different restaurant brands and is the nation's second-largest developer of aquariums.

The company is a leader in the meeting, convention and event industry, with a state-of-the-art beachfront convention center in Galveston, Texas, and unique meeting spaces incorporated into each of its entertainment complexes, such as the Downtown Aquarium properties in Houston and Denver.

Landry's also operates several hotels, including Inn at the Ballpark, a boutique luxury hotel across from Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros, in Houston, and Boardwalk Inn, a waterfront boutique property, on Kemah Boardwalk.

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas property recently underwent $35 million in upgrades and room renovations which were completed in 2003. Landry's plans to
create a uniform appearance throughout the grounds, inside and out, to tie all of the elements of the property into a distinctive whole. The Golden Nugget, one of the most recognizable names in gaming, occupies more than seven acres in downtown Las Vegas with nearly 40,000 square feet of gaming area. The lavish property currently features three towers containing 1,907 guestrooms and suites, the largest number of guest rooms in downtown Las Vegas, with some
of the most dynamic suites in town.

In 1995, The Golden Nugget was a founding member of the Fremont Street Experience, a five-block-long pedestrian mall boasting multi-sensory light shows choreographed to booming symphonic sound. The project was undertaken in an effort to breathe new life into downtown Las Vegas, and now draws more than 25,000 visitors per day. With the redevelopment of The Golden Nugget, Landry's will renew the momentum of the last decade and will position itself at the center of the movement to take downtown Las Vegas to the next level.

Recent signs of downtown's progress include the World Market Center, a home furnishings market that hosts two annual expos for the design trade and is the largest and most comprehensive home furnishings complex in the western United States, as well as the construction of several luxury high-rise apartment buildings.

"Downtown Las Vegas is on the upswing," Fertitta said. "We look forward to working together with other businesses and with the city government to transform downtown as Las Vegas moves into its second century."

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas was established in 1946 as a gambling hall. The property gained worldwide recognition under the ownership of gaming mogul
Steve Wynn, who purchased controlling stock in 1972. In the late 1980s, Wynn purchased the Nevada Club in Laughlin, Nev., located 90 miles south of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border. Situated on the banks of the Colorado River, the 300-room property has been operating as The Golden Nugget Laughlin since 1988.

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas casino has more than 1,300 modern slot machines and 70 table games, a poker room and race and sports book. A high-limit salon offers an intimate setting with a large variety of games. The hotel boasts a 400-seat showroom, which features stars such as Tony Bennett and Regis Philbin, and offers approximately 30,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities, including a 10,000 square-foot glass-enclosed pavilion.

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas currently features several award-winning restaurants, retail shops, an outdoor pool and a spa and salon, among many other amenities. The property received its first AAA Four Diamond award for excellence in 1977, and has now received the honor for 28 consecutive years.

The Golden Nugget Laughlin, a 300-room property on 13 acres, has 600 feet of Colorado River frontage near the center of the tourist strip in Laughlin, Nev. Landry's plans to add two distinctive Landry's brands, Joe's Crab Shack and Saltgrass Steak House, and a second hotel tower to the Laughlin property.

The Golden Nugget Laughlin's 32,000-square-foot casino features more than 1,000 slot machines and more than 30 table games. Additional amenities include numerous restaurants and bars, including Tarzan's, a popular sports bar featuring live entertainment and a nightclub and a variety of retail shops.

About Landry's Restaurants
Landry's Restaurants, Inc., is one of the nation's largest and fastest growing casual-dining and entertainment companies. Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Landry's owns and operates more than 300 restaurants, including Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Cafe, Charley's Crab, Willie G's Seafood & Steak House, The Chart House, and Saltgrass Steak House. Landry's also owns several icon developments, including Downtown Aquariums in Houston and Denver. The company employs approximately 36,000 workers in 36 states.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal Securities Laws. The forward-looking statements in this press release involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. The Company's ability to successfully complete the offering and other transactions described above is subject to various risks, many of which are outside of its control, including prevailing conditions in the capital markets and other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in the reports filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Sept 22, 2005 Arrests made in Laughlin murder investigation
Mohave County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Christina Esquera Cornwell, 48, of Golden Valley, and Matthew Brian Beem, 29, of Kingman, on Friday (9/23) for the death of Alex Junior Lackey, 74, of Golden Valley (see below). Cornwell was arrested for hindering prosecution, a felony. Beem was arrested for first degree homicide, a felony. Both Cornwell and Beem face local charges in Pendleton, Oregon. During the course of the investigation, detectives determined Cornwell and Beem to be suspects.

Pendleton Police Department, acting on information received from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, took Cornwell and Beem into custody on Thursday (9/22) at approximately 6:30 pm. Both Cornwell and Beem will face extradition. This remains under investigation by MCSO detectives as well as Pendleton Police Department. Additional charges are pending.

Sept 23 Update: Police in Pendleton, Oregon, say 48-year-old Christina Cornwell and 30-year-old Matthew Beem were arrested yesterday at a Stanfield, OR trailer park. Arizona investigators believe that Cornwell and Beem shot Cornwell's estranged boyfriend multiple times around September 10, then stuffed him into a box and dumped the body at the Riverside Resort Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, last week. Pendleton police were led to the couple after a tip from a Pendleton bank that reported somebody trying to cash a seven-thousand-dollar check in the name of the victim.

Sept 24 update:Police in Oregon had been told by the Mohave County, AZ., sheriff's office that a U-Haul trailer rented in Phoenix, AZ. was returned in Pendleton. Arizona investigators asked Pendleton police to search the trailer for fingerprints, blood and other evidence.

Sept 21, 2005 Mohave County investigates Laughlin homicide.
Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies took a report of a missing person last Wednesday (9/14). A reporting party said that he hadn’t seen his neighbor, Alex Junior Lackey, 74, of Golden Valley, since Saturday (9/10). The reporting party further said that he normally speaks with Lackey daily. Deputies determined that Lackey and his white 1992 Ford Explorer were not at the residence, located in the 3200 block of Black Rock Road. An ATL (Attempt to Locate) was issued to law enforcement agencies for Lackey and his vehicle. On Saturday (9/17) Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers located the vehicle parked in a parking in Laughlin, Nevada and a deceased body was located inside the vehicle (see below). Immediately Mohave County Sheriff’s Detectives assisted LVMPD investigation. On Tuesday (9/20) LVMPD along with MCSO Detectives determined the identity of the body to be Lackey. Mohave County Sheriff’s Detectives and LVMPD executed a search warrant at the victims’ residence, on Tuesday (9/20), and determined the residence to be the crime scene. The autopsy was conducted by Clark County and cause of death was determined to be from gun shot wounds. All further inquiries on this case should be directed to MCSO. Further investigation is pending.

Sept 20, 2005 Nevada high court urged to toss out deadly biker brawl case
The lawyers for seven Hell's Angels involved in the Laughlin, Nevada, brawl in 2002 that left three bikers dead are pressing their argument that the outlaw bikers can't get a fair trial.

In briefs filed with the Nevada Supreme Court, the attorneys argued the indictments were unclear, grand jurors were improperly instructed and the indictments improperly allege a single conspiracy involving both Hells Angels and members of the rival Mongols gang.

The briefs were ordered by the high court after justices blocked a Las Vegas trial of the seven Hells Angels that was to start July 25th. The court will hold oral arguments November 17th and at a later date rule on whether the trial should proceed.

Prosecutors submitted a brief stating the defense lawyers misread the law on indictments, and maintaining that the indictments are as clear as they need to be.

Sept 20, 2005 Murder victim identified
The Clark County Coroner's office has released the name of the Arizona man whose body was found Saturday inside a vehicle parked at the Riverside Resort Casino.

The Golden Valley man who died of multiple gunshot wounds was identified as 74 year old Alex Lackey.

A neighbor had reported Lackey missing three days before his body was found in a container inside his jeep at the Laughlin casino.

Sept 18, 2005 Missing man found dead in vehicle
Police are investigating the death of a man found Saturday inside a vehicle at the Riverside Resort Casino. The man's body was found about 9:40AM when a passerby noticed a foul odor emitting from the vehicle. Investigators opened the vehicle and discovered the man's body inside a container.

The body belonged to a Kingman, AZ, resident who had been reported missing several days earlier. His name was not released pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone with information can call homicide detectives at 229-3521 or leave anonymous tips with Crime Stoppers at 385-5555

Sept 18, 2005 Drug arrest made in Laughlin
Four people were arrested after a search warrant was served in the residential area of Laughlin. The initial search found over $5,000 worth of illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

Local police stated that several officers from the Laughlin substation executed the search warrant on Sept. 15 and in the course of action, methamphetamine, marijuana and an unregistered handgun were found.

The warrant at a Laughlin condo development and turned up 91 grams of methamphetamine and nearly one pound of marijuana. Some of the drugs and the handgun were found in the main bedroom. Other drugs were subsequently found in the living room and another bedroom.

Three suspects were charged with trafficking to possessing narcotics and maintaining a place to sell drugs. The suspects were identified as Michael Padilla, Christine Padilla and Arelano Alvaro. A fourth arrest was made but charges and identity were not immediately available.

Sept 16, 2005 Laughlin, Mesquite visitors down, Las Vegas up.
Nearly 3.4 million visitors came to Las Vegas in July, up 5.7 percent from the same month a year ago and the busiest July in local history, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Monday.

Mesquite's travel industry seemed to drown in the nearby Virgin River in July. The roadside resort's 124,833 monthly visitors represented a 14.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, its 982,259 tally was off nearly 5 percent from a year ago.

The news was slightly better from Laughlin. Its 353,200 July visitor count was off just 1.9 percent compared with July 2004. Through the first seven months of this year, Laughlin's 2.4 million visitor count showed a 3.4 percent drop.

Sept 16, 2005 A Ring of Their Own Finalizes October 8th Card at Harrah's in Laughlin
Rock and Sock Productions announced updates and additions to the upcoming October 8 show at Harrah’s in Laughlin, Nevada. They are as follows:

Undefeated Swedish super middleweight Asa Sandell (3-0-1) will square off against the tough and talented Laura Ramsey, (4-0) also undefeated. Ramsey is from Orlando, Florida. Featherweight Janine Garside, (2-0), from Windsor, Ontario, will face her stiffest competition to date when she challenges LA’s Rita Valentini, (6-3). Both of these battles are scheduled for six rounds.

The rest of the card remains as originally announced. The main event will feature NABA light flyweight champion Wendy Rodriguez (15-2-3) from Los Angeles against Yvonne Caples (7-9-2) from Las Vegas. The bout is scheduled for eight rounds of action as these two fighters engage in an extremely competitive rematch. Caples is coming off a highly disputed World Title loss to Ria Ramnarine and is looking to upset Rodriguez. Rodriguez is on a fast track to a world title shot and isn’t looking to be derailed.

Super middleweight Daria Hill (3-1) from Philadelphia returns to the "AROTO" series for a 6 round contest with the always tough Shadina Pennybaker (8-4-1). Pennybaker is from Pittsburgh.

Rounding out the evening, Las Vegas’ own Elena "Baby Doll" Reid is scheduled for the fifth bout in a tune up match prior to her highly anticipated rematch with Regina Halmich in Germany on December third.

"A Ring of Their Own" is the only all women’s boxing series. It is broadcast on a delayed basis by satellite and cable networks and reaches over 30 million viewers in the US and Canada.

Sept 7, 2005 Multiple Incidents, Fatalities on Labor Day Weekend
Despite gasoline prices at an all time high, visitation to the park was high over the weekend, with a total of 189,219 people visitors. Rangers managed the crowds with the continued help and support of numerous local agencies. Over the course of the weekend, rangers responded to 1,482 incidents, issued 69 citations, and made 4,107 visitor contacts. Significant incidents for the weekend included four fatalities, multiple arrests, multiple emergency service medical responses and multiple search and rescue incidents. Among them were the following:

September 3rd – A 64-year-old man who was boating with friends drowned on Lake Mohave after he got out of the boat to take a swim. Witnesses said that he was not wearing a life jacket at the time and that he was unable to hold on to a boat fender that was thrown to him when he started to experience trouble. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.
September 4th – A 30-year-old man who was recreating with several of his friends drowned when he attempted to swim to an off-shore peninsula. He was reported to be a poor swimmer and was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
September 4th – A 14-year-old girl from Bullhead City who was being towed behind a boat was hit in the head by a jet skier estimated to be traveling at 40 mph. She remained unconscious on scene. She was intubated and airlifted to University Medical Center, where she later died as a result of her injuries. The operator of the jet ski was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to Laughlin.
September 4th – A 45-year-old man who had consumed 18 beers climbed up a cliff and jumped off. He landed on the outdrive of a vessel and sustained multiple propeller cuts to both arms and legs, including a laceration over the femoral hip/groin area. A visitor on scene placed a tourniquet on the wound using a bungee cord and metal barbeque tongs. The man was air lifted to University Medical Center.
September 4th – Members of an interagency law enforcement team met at Placer Cove to conduct a saturation patrol in the area, including Aztec Wash. Law enforcement rangers and officers from the National Park Service, US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service made numerous educational contacts and issued citations for possession of controlled substance and fishing violations.

Sept 6, 2005 California Man Drowns at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
At about 1:40 p.m., today, September 4, 2005, National Park Service Rangers responded to a report of a possible drowning in the Thirty-Three Hole area of Lake Mead. A 30 year-old man from Inglewood, California had been swimming with three friends, when he went under the water about 30 feet from shore and did not come back up.

Bystanders on the shore entered the water and were able to locate and pull the victim out of the water. NPS Rangers arrived on the scene and immediately began performing CPR on the man. He was transported to UMC by Mercy Air where he was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m. The identity of the victim will not be released until family members have been notified.

At this time the presumed cause of death is drowning, but the Clark County Coroner will make a final determination. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.

NPS Rangers want to stress the importance of wearing personal flotation devices at all times while swimming or boating on Lakes Mead and Mohave. Swimming in an open body of water is very different than swimming in a swimming pool. When you get tired in a pool, you can grab an edge or stand up on the bottom. When you are swimming in a lake, or any other open body of water, you can not grab an edge or stand up if you get into trouble.

Thirty-Three Hole is located at about mile 8 on Lakeshore Scenic Drive, near Boulder Beach.

This was the 18th fatality (6th drowning) at Lake Mead National Recreation Area for calendar year 2005

Sept 6, 2005 Swimmer Missing and Presumed Drowned at Lake Mohave
A 64 year-old male is missing and presumed drowned at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The man from Foster City, California was swimming out to a buoy near river mile 35, just north of Aztec Wash on the Nevada side of Lake Mohave. He lost his hold on the buoy and went under the water, and was not seen again. The accident was reported to Metro who contacted the National Park Service shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2005. Divers arrived on the scene and began to search for the missing man at 12:00 p.m. They searched all afternoon, but were unsuccessful. The search was called off at 4:30 p.m. They will resume diving tomorrow morning. There is no further information at this time.

Sept 5, 2005 Needles Highway Project
Construction will soon begin on the Needles Highway Project. Motorists can expect temporary lane closures, heavy equipment and workers, but the roads will be accessible throughout the project's duration.

Construction on Needles Highway Project will be from the California/Nevada border to about five miles north of the stateline. Working hours are scheduled from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The work is expected to be complete within 300 calendar days.

No news on the California side of the project was issued.

Sept 1, 2005 Fatal Boat Accident
At about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31st, 70-year-old Noel Krupp of Michigan was fatally injured in a tragic boating accident at Lake Mead. She and four other people were boating near Willow Beach on the Nevada side of the Colorado River when the driver of the boat made an evasive maneuver that ejected her from the boat. Krupp was pulled from the water and transported to Willow Beach, where bystanders began and continued CPR until park rangers and rescue personnel arrived on scene. Mercy Air personnel administered advance life support and Krupp was transported to University Medical Center, where she later died of her injuries. The exact cause of the accident is currently under investigation. This was the 16th fatality in the park this calendar year.

Sept 1, 2005 Condo project to follow marina opening
Construction will begin next year on 400 condo units in Laughlin. This project by CRM Colorado River LLC is the next in line following today's opening of the Laughlin Bay Marina on the Colorado River.

The Laughlin Bay Marina, which was built on 1,250 feet of Colorado River frontage off the Needles Highway at Casino Drive south of the Laughlin's casinos, has 110 boat slips in the lagoon, dry storage and maintenance facilities for an additional 120 boats, gas services, a triple lane launch ramp, a boardwalk with lights, a restaurant, convenience store and a bar. The marina also has a sandy beach and swimming area. Daily launch fees PWC $25, vessel up to $35' $30.

The condo community will be a gated complex and is being built on the Emerald Golf Course, which closed operations in June. The condo complex is expected to be a huge success with buyers lining up from southern California. Eventually Casino drive will have to be widen to accommodate the extra traffic expected after the completion of the project. The project will have condos and townhouses and eventually five story high units that will overlook the new marina.

This project is privately owned and without the help from state officials, which dredged the lagoon over 10 years ago, would never have happened. The project known as "The Landing at Laughlin Bay Marina" is the first residential project on the Nevada side of the Colorado River shoreline.

Like Las Vegas, Laughlin is joining the "condo craze."

Aug 30, 2005 Harrah's hit hard by Katrina in Mississippi
Hurricane Katrina picked up several Gulf Coast casinos and hurled them hundreds of yards inland, crippling the region's gambling industry for months and potentially even years.

At least three of the floating barge casinos in hard-hit Biloxi were tossed from their moorings by the storm's 25-foot wall of water, their barnacle-covered hulls coming to rest up to 200 yards from the shore.

At the Grand Casino, the walkway visitors once took from the lobby to the poker rooms and blackjack tables was now an open hole into the bay. All the windows were blown out. The mast of a sunken sailboat stuck up from where the barge once was.

Gary Loveman, chairman of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the world's largest gambling company, told CNBC the casino was "probably ruined." Aerial footage showed the ravaged barge had washed ashore and landed on the other side of a busy highway.

"I think it will have to be cut into pieces simply to be moved out of there," Loveman said.

At the Beau Rivage, Biloxi's most opulent casino, the first and second floors were blown out. Mattresses, chairs and yellow insulation were in piles on the once-manicured landscaping.

Bernie Burkholder, president and chief executive of Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi, told The Associated Press the casino was "a total loss" in excess of $100 million.

He estimated losses would be even greater at many of the other coast casinos. Statewide damage estimates were not available, and efforts to reach Mississippi Gaming Commission director Larry Gregory on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The first two gambling floors at the Hard Rock casino were blown out by Katrina. The casino hadn't even opened to the public yet — that was supposed to happen Sept. 8.

"We had worked hard to put this place together," Hard Rock employee Debra Harville said as she surveyed the damage. "It was so beautiful. I don't know what I"m going to do now. A lot of people ain't got nowhere to go."

An official with Harrah's said the company's Grand Casino Gulfport also was swept inland, and damage was comparable to its sister property in Biloxi. Video aired on CNN showed that the Copa Casino in Gulfport was likely destroyed.

Others along the Gulf Coast were more fortunate. Boyd Gaming spokesman Rob Stillwell said only one of its three properties in Louisiana, the Treasure Chest casino in a New Orleans suburb, had been affected by Hurricane Katrina, though damage information was unavailable.

Harrah's New Orleans sustained "very little damage," Loveman told CNBC. "We've been very fortunate there."

JP Morgan gambling analyst Harry Curtis said Tuesday in a investor's note that casinos in Biloxi could "either be severely or permanently impaired."

The effect on the Mississippi economy could be severe. About 14,000 people work in the dozen casinos along the Mississippi coastline. Each casino has a land-based hotel.

The hurricane damage could cost Mississippi some $400,000 to $500,000 a day in lost gambling taxes. Last year, the state's casinos generated $2.7 billion in revenue.

Loveman said his company intends to pay the 8,000 employees of the Grand Casino, Harrah's New Orleans and the Grand Casino Gulfport for up to 90 days. All three properties closed Sunday before Katrina struck.

Aug 23, 2005 Laughlin resident arrested in Kingman
Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Michael Duane Bauer, 29, of Laughlin, Nevada, early Tuesday afternoon for possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, felonies, and a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear issued by Bullhead City Municipal Court. Approximately 1:00 p.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 40 at milepost 7 and contacted Bauer, the driver. During conversations with Bauer, he said that he has an outstanding warrant. Deputies verified the warrant and took Bauer into custody without incident. A K-9 unit responded to the scene. The K-9 alerted his handler to the console area on the passenger side of the vehicle. Deputies located a glass pipe and plastic bags containing a white substance which later field tested positive for methamphetamine. Approximately 5 grams of methamphetamine was confiscated. Bauer was transported and booked into the Mohave County District II Substation. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Aug 22, 2005 Nevada court sets biker appeal hearing
The State Supreme Court has scheduled a Nov 17th pretrial hearing regarding the authority of indictments charging the rival Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gang members with murder stemming from the 2002 riot in Laughlin that left three people dead.

All members of the Nevada high court, rather than the usual three-judge panel, will hear the case. The Supreme Court also canceled a hearing that was set for October 12th.

Seven members of the Hells Angels were planned to go on trial last month, but the Supreme Court vacated that trial date and decided to study whether the charges in the 73 count grand jury indictment were too perplexing or contradicted each other.

Members of the Mongol gang are scheduled to go on trial next year.

The biker gang members are charged with murder of two Hells Angels and one Mongol. They're also charged with battery, assault, conspiracy and aiding and abetting.

Aug 16, 2005 Nevada woman missing at California mountain pass
A Nevada woman whose car was found at a mountain pass a week ago remains missing and her family worries she may have been abducted.

Sixty-four year old Nita Mayo left her home in Hawthorne on August 8th and headed for scenic, winding Sonora Pass.

Authorities say her 1997 Mercury Sable station wagon was found last Wednesday night at Donnell Vista, an observation point overlooking a river canyon about 1,000 feet below.

Search and rescue teams with dogs and three helicopters combed the canyon Thursday and Friday, but found no signs of the woman and no obvious signs of foul play.

Her daughter, Tracy Mayo, says with no evidence that their mother had fallen, family members fear she may have been kidnapped.

Nita Mayo grew up in England and worked at Mount Grant General Hospital in Hawthorne. She is five-feet tall, 140 pounds, and speaks with a British accent.

Aug 11, 2005 California Woman Wins World Record Penny MegaJackpots(R) Prize at AVI Resort and Casino

Shigeko Ide Stein visits The Twilight Zone® Video Slots at AVI Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada three times a week. Her persistence in playing pennies paid off in a big way Wednesday evening when she became the latest MegaJackpots® millionaire, winning a jackpot of $2,995,071 which surpasses the previous world record of $2,065,685 hit earlier this year.

Stein, a 61-year-old business manager from Needles, California, says she took "the only open seat at the four Twilight Zone® games."

The big win did not surprise Stein as she had a premonition earlier this week that she was going to win on a MegaJackpots® game at the AVI Resort and Casino.

Stein said she knew instantly that her maximum coin bet had won, but did not realize how much until she saw the other MegaJackpots® meters reset to $200,000. "I just had a good feeling after seeing a woman had a winning combination but didn't have a max coin bet," she added.

The lucky winner says she will keep her job, pay off her debt and look after her friend with her winnings.

Aug 10, 2005 New bridge planned for Bullhead City
After many years of talking about it and looking for the right location, construction is tentatively set to begin in three years on a new bridge linking Bullhead City, AZ and Laughlin, NV.

A 286 billion dollar transportation bill signed this week by President Bush contains 21 million dollars for the project.

The assistant city engineer for Bullhead City says there's still work to be done before construction can begin. A Bullhead City Council member said Arizona has already added the project to its state project list and Nevada will do the same next spring.

Aug 10, 2005 Nevada Casinos Post Record Results
Nevada's casino industry won a record $11 billion from gamblers in the fiscal year that ended June 30, with results from the Strip and the Las Vegas locals markets leading the way.

The fiscal 2005 performance bettered the previous record, set the year before, by a whopping 8.8 percent, almost double the 4.5 percent average annual increase reported over the past 10 fiscal years.

The state Gaming Board reported that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip won 9.6 percent more money this past fiscal year compared to 2004. And, the Strip now accounts for 51 percent of Nevada gambling, an all-time high.

Statewide, Nevada's 178,000 casino slot machines brought in $7.4 billion last fiscal year, a 9.7 percent increase. The state's 5,776 table games showed winnings of $3.5 billion, up 6.1 percent.

Gross winnings from blackjack dropped by 3.6 percent statewide, to $1.2 billion. Craps win rose 6.8 percent to $452.6 million. Roulette was up 8.5 percent to $297.7 million and baccarat jumped 30.1 percent to $550 million. 

Laughlin casinos won $611.3 million, up 6.9 percent. Slot revenue jumped 7.4 percent and table win rose 2.3 percent.

Aug 8. 2005 Clark County ranks low in census survey of wages
Clark County, Nevada, ranks near the bottom in worker pay in a US Census Bureau survey that found New York City has the highest wages. The county including Las Vegas and Laughlin ranks 45th out of 50 among the most populous counties with an average payroll of 32-thousand-nine dollars per employee in 2003.

New York's had the highest average annual salary per worker at 73-thousand dollars.

The lowest was Riverside County, California at 29-thousand dollars.

The bureau's 2003 County Business Patterns report was released today.Clark County ranks 26th among the 50 counties with the most business establishments in 2003. That was up one notch from 27th a year ago.

The survey says there were 700 thousand people working at 34 thousand businesses in the Las Vegas area.

Aug 1, 2005 Enereo Diaz-Sanchez, a 37-Year-Old Man from Mexico
Dies at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
At about 12:04 p.m., today, August 1, 2005, the National Park Service Dispatch Center received a call from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Dispatch Center reporting a possible drowning at the Boulder Beach area of Lake Mead.

NPS Rangers Eric Lisnik, Brian Lake, and Brian Cooperider were in the area and arrived on scene at 12:06 p.m. When the Rangers arrived a visitor was performing CPR on the victim. The Rangers took over performing CPR and continued working on the man for about 40 minutes. Tiege Downes and Nick Celeste from Wildland Fire also responded.

According to family members at the scene, and other witnesses on the beach, the victim was swimming about 25 yards off shore when he called out that he was cramping. Witnesses then saw the man go under the water. Two bystanders, a husband and wife from California, jumped into the water to try to save the victim. They were able to pull the victim out of the water and bring him on shore. The couple immediately started CPR until the Rangers arrived a few minutes later and took over.

At this time, the presumed cause of death is drowning but the Clark County Coroner will make a final determination. Mr. Diaz-Sanchez was in about six feet of water and was not wearing a life jacket. This is all we know at this time.

NPS Rangers want to stress the importance of wearing personal flotation devices at all times while swimming or boating on Lakes Mead and Mohave. Swimming in open bodies of water is much different than swimming in a backyard swimming pool. When you cramp up or get tired in a pool you can grab onto the edge. When you are swimming in a lake, or any other open body of water, there is nothing to grab onto when you are in distress.

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