Las Vegas Sun

Police arrested protesters Thursday night after a lengthy series of marches and sit-ins timed to coincide with Sen. John McCain's acceptance of the Republican Party's nomination for president.

The arrests came after protesters staged their march near the state Capitol even though their permit had expired.

Among the dozens caught up in the police sweep were two Associated Press reporters on assignment to cover the event. They were issued a citation and detained, along with more than a dozen other members of the media, but were expected to be let go shortly.

Marchers tried to cross two different bridges leading from the Capitol to the Xcel Energy Center, where McCain was to accept his party's nomination for president. But they were stopped by lines of police in gas masks and riot gear who blocked the bridges after the marching permit expired.

A cat-and-mouse game followed as protesters moved around the Capitol area, splintered, and then organized into a marching force again. The size of the crowd varied from a high of about 1,000 down to a hundred and back to around 500.

About three hours into the standoff, about 300 protesters sat down on a major thoroughfare and police closed the four-lane boulevard. Officers then set off smoke bombs and fired seven percussion grenades, causing protesters to scatter.

Police surrounded about 200 people, including AP reporters Amy Forliti and Jon Krawczynski and reporters from other news outlets. Officers ordered them to sit on the pavement on a bridge over Interstate 94 and to keep their hands over their heads as they were led away two at a time.

The arrests came three days after AP photographer Matt Rourke, also on assignment covering the protests, was arrested. He was released without being charged Monday after being held for several hours.

A spokesman at an information center set up during the convention said 12 people had been arrested so far but that number would increase as people were processed.

Some of the scattering protesters entered a residential area north of the Capitol. Later, at least three smoke bombs were discharged in the area of apartments and houses.

About two hours into the standoff, police began arresting a handful of people even as the crowd dwindled from around 1,000 to around a hundred.

"The important thing is even though we didn't have a permit to march, people have decided they want to keep protesting despite all these riot police," said Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-War Committee.

Even as protesters were being arrested, the mood was much more relaxed than earlier in the week. It even turned festive at times.

Younger people did cartwheels. Tourists came by to check out the spectacle. The chants, which were political at the outset, turned silly a couple hours in.

"You're sexy, you're cute, take off the riot suit," protesters serenaded those blocking their path.

Brandon Thorson didn't find much to joke about. The 23-year-old factory worker from Minneapolis said he just wanted to go home _ but he tried to do it through police lines.

"One officer used his club to push me away and another officer hit me in the back with his club," Thorson said. "A third officer came in and sprayed me right in the face."

Minutes after the skirmish, Thorson's right eye was nearly swollen shut from the pepper spray. He was not arrested.

"This is a fascist military style occupation of the city of St. Paul," Thorson said. "Just because the Republicans are in town doesn't mean they can turn our city into a battlefront."

More than 400 people have been arrested in the past week, most on Monday, when violence broke out at the end of another anti-war march.

The Anti-War Committee, which organized Thursday's march, urged others to join in and denounced the increased presence of police in riot gear and acts of "intimidation" in the city.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty blamed the week's violence on a small group of "anarchists, nihilists, and goofballs who want to break stuff and hurt people."

"They need to be dealt with," Pawlenty said in a radio interview with WCCO-AM of Minneapolis.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday to recover leaflets seized during police raids, claiming a violation of First Amendment rights because protesters haven't been able to distribute the flyers.

___

Associated Press writers Amy Forliti and Jon Krawczynski contributed to this report.

• McCain’s words not always in synch with GOP
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John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the "constant partisan rancor" that grips Washington as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. "Change is coming," he promised the roaring Republican National Convention and a prime-time television audience.

To repeated cheers from his delegates, McCain criticized fellow Republicans as well as Democratic rival Barack Obama as he reached out to independents and disaffected Democrats.

"We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us," he said of the Republicans who controlled Congress for most of the past 15 years.

As for Obama, he said, "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it."

Before McCain's speech, the climax of the final night of the party convention, delegates awarded the vice presidential nomination to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the first female ticketmate in Republican history.

"She stands up for what's right and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down," McCain said of the woman who has faced intense scrutiny in the week since she was picked.

"And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming," McCain declared.

He and Palin were departing their convention city immediately after the Arizona senator's acceptance speech, bound for Wisconsin and an early start on the final weeks of the White House campaign.

McCain, at 72 bidding to become the oldest first-term president, drew a roar from the convention crowd when he walked out onto the stage lighted by a single spotlight. He was introduced by a video that dwelt heavily on his time spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and as a member of Congress, hailed for a "faithful unyielding love for America, country first."

"USA, USA, USA," chanted the crowd in the hall.

McCain faced a delicate assignment as he formally accepted his party's presidential nomination: presenting his credentials as a reformer willing to take on his own party and stressing his independence from an unpopular President Bush _ all without breaking faith with his Republican base.

He set about it methodically.

"After we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again," he said, and he pledged to invite Democrats and independents to serve in his administration.

He mentioned President Bush only in passing, as the leader who led the country through the days after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

And there was plenty for conservative Republicans to cheer _ from his pledge to free the country from the grip of its dependence on foreign oil, to a vow to have schools answer to parents and students rather than "unions and entrenched bureaucrats."

A man who has clashed repeatedly with Republicans in Congress, he said proudly, "I've been called a maverick. Sometimes it's meant as a compliment and sometimes it's not. What it really means is I understand who I work for.

"I don't work for a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I work for you."

MountainView Hospital

Adany — Hila and Eran Adany, a daughter, Mia Michelle, Aug. 25

Banks — Stacy and Toney Banks, a son, Emmanuel Jay, Aug. 13

Billey — Amy and Joseph Billey,Jr a son, Shane Stephen, Aug. 20

Brooks — Jamie Brooks, a son, Jaylin Elijah, Aug. 22

Castellanos — Alondra and Rogelio Castellanos, a daughter, Giselle Jasmine, Aug. 13

DeLeon — LeLiana DeLeon, a daughter, Evieleas Xioamara, Aug. 15

DiRaffaele — Tysha DiRaffaele, a daughter, Tatianna Jade, Aug. 19

Dyson — Nikia and Trelas Dyson III, a son, Ashton Jaden, Aug. 19

Edwards/Stevens — Charlene Edwards and John Stevens, a daughter, Taylor Mae, Aug. 25

Garrett — Danielle and Keith Garrett, a son, Karson Daniel, Aug. 21

Hernandez/Gomez — Melena Hernandez and Aaron Gomez, a son, Raiden Osiris, Aug. 16

Hill — Shauna and Robert Hill, a daughter, Sharon Nicole, Aug. 25

Hunsaker — Kristen and Tommy Hunsaker Jr., a son, Noah Thomas, Aug. 24

Kealoha — Laureen and Ray-Gordon Kealoha, a son, Kailer-Zayne, Aug. 23

Larson — Jamie and Jared Larson, a son, Kingston Jax, Aug. 19

Layson/Mattox — Katherine Layson and Kenneth Mattox, a daughter, Kayelynn Angel, Aug. 14

LoPinto — Yvonne and Gene LoPinto, twin daughters, Gianna Marie and Naria Kathleen, Aug. 11

Lorona — Carissa Lorona, a son, Aiden Jay, Aug. 19

Love — Marshell Love, a daughter, Mariah Rene, Aug. 15

Lowe/Lide — J’Ree Lowe and Darien Lide, a son, Kaeden Drayce, Aug. 26

Luke — Alicia Luke, a daughter, Serenity Rose, Aug. 21

Martinez/Vera — Vanessa Martinez and Gerardo Vera, a son, Julian Alberto, Aug. 21

McKnight/McMillian — Giavanni McKnight and Christian McMillian, a daughter, Maiya Cyani, Aug. 17

Medina ­— Jessica and Simon Medina, a daughter, Carolyn Jane, Aug. 13

Miranda — Suzette and James Miranda, a son, Matthew James, Aug. 27

Moeini — Jamie and Michael Moeini, a daughter, Veronica Nicole, Aug. 14

Padilla — Shaneka Padilla, a son, Miquel Issac, Aug. 26

Porter — Angelina Porter, a daughter, Sasha Aylia, Aug. 20

Ruvalcaba/Marentes — Isabel Ruvalcaba and Fortino Marentes Jr., a daughter, Araya, Aug. 20

Toney — Shauntavia Toney, a son, Taijhion Demajhiau, Aug. 16

Trumble — Kristyn Trumble, a son, Skyler Jonathan, Aug. 22

Yurek — Janice and Taun Yurek, a daughter, Carly Gail, Aug. 21

Summerlin Hospital

Adams/Elliott — Breanna Adams and Todd Elliott, a daughter, Aug. 21

Alvarez/Garcia — Anissa Alvarez and Edgar Garcia, a son, Aug. 15

Antonopoulos — Karen and Steven Antonopoulos, a son, Aug. 21

Barth — Melissa and David Barth, a son, Aug. 26

Braceros — Iluminada and Dan Braceros, a son, Aug. 22

Brantley/Gallien — Tracy Brantley and Eldridge Gallien, a son, Aug. 25

Brundy — Alicia and Nicholas Brundy, a daughter, Aug. 18

Camacho Dos Santos/Zavala Dominguez — Rachel Camacho Dos Santos and Jose Zavala Dominguez, a son, Aug. 23

Carmen/Reyes — Jesennia Carmen and Daniel Reyes, a son, Aug. 25

Carmona/Ferran — Blanca Carmona and Erick Ferran, a son, Aug. 22

Casey — Dianna and Seth Casey, a daughter, Aug. 21

Felshaw-Seimears/Seimears — Jet Felshaw-Seimears and Michael Seimears, a son, Aug. 22

Goodwin/Tary — Jennifer Goodwin and Brent Tary, a daughter, Aug. 25

Grant/Carsten — Kelly Grant and Randy Carsten, a daughter, Aug. 21

Hobson — Reena and John Hobson, a son, Aug. 24

Hutt — Jennifer and Patrick Hutt, a daughter, Aug. 22

Kluger — Nadine and Matthew Kluger, a son, Aug. 26

Kopp — Salena and Ian Kopp, a son, Aug. 22

Mackiewicz — Brooke and Benjamin Mackiewicz, a son, Aug. 15

Montiel/Lazo — Amor Montiel and Israel Lazo, a son, Aug. 15

Murrin/Everett — Jamie Murrin and Kip Everett, a daughter, Aug. 14

Prieto/Garcia — Elysia Prieto and Valentino Garcia, a son, Aug. 21

Santori — Traci and Anthony Santori, a son, Aug. 21

Scala — Michelle and Anthony Scala Jr., a daughter, Aug. 22

sonack — Lisa and Nathan Sonack, a daughter, Aug. 21

Studd — Kristi and Andrew Studd, a daughter, Aug. 20

Turner — Marisa and Michael Turner Sr., a daughter, Aug. 21

Underwood — Michelle and Travis Underwood, a daughter, Aug. 26

Valle/Juarez — Eileen Valle and Victor Juarez, a daughter, Aug. 19

Vassiliadis — Hionati and Spiros Vassiliadis, a daughter, Aug. 21

Watters — Kristine & Dustin Watters, a daughter, Aug. 22

White/Bautista Morales — Tonya White and Ivan Bautista Morales, a daughter, Aug. 20

Zuber/Vergara-Mery — Danielle Zuber and Alvaro Vergara-Mery, a son, Aug. 8

With the 20th anniversary of Desert Shores coming up, a lot of preparation, hard work and volunteerism is needed from the community for the Sept. 7 celebration.

Money is also needed for the celebration and community General Manager Rita Peterson knew where to find some.

She applied for a Neighborhood Partners Fund Grant from the city of Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department and received $2,500. Overall, 18 neighborhoods received a total of $55,000 in grant money, including the Cottonwood Terrace Community Association in Summerlin and Lone Mountain Vistas Community Association and Lone Mountain Vista V Community Association.

The program is about more than just giving money away. The Neighborhood Partners Fund grants help beautify, protect and bring unity to the Las Vegas residents who are willing to work for it.

The recipients of the grant money must match the money received in labor and donations to improve their neighborhoods. All together, the neighborhoods have pledged more than $153,100.

This is the third year Desert Shores applied for a grant and received it. In previous years, the community received money for the new signage found around the community that specifies the different neighborhoods and informs people about the different types of birds and their migration patterns that culminate around the four lakes in the neighborhood.

In the past, the community received $4,000 for the projects, and although this year the amount was less, Peterson said she is happy to receive anything with the economic slowdown and budget cuts.

“We are really grateful that the city continued to do this,� she said.

Most of the money will be used to offset the cost of magnets that will be given at the celebration that can be put in the back windows of cars. The magnets are meant to create a sense of unity among the Desert Shores residents.

“It’s to say we’re from Desert Shores, and it’s a nice way for folks to know where we come from,� Peterson said.

Desert Shores volunteers pledged 145 hours of volunteer work.

“It’s nice that this gets the community to work together and volunteer,� Peterson said. “Matching funds is a great part of the program.�

The Lone Mountain Vistas Community Association received $1,000 to install a barbecue and a park bench in an open grassy area near the homes.

“I saw that a lot of people would go out there and socialize, but there was no place to sit,� said Terri Knight, secretary of the association. “We wanted people to mingle more and get to know each other.�

The volunteer hours pledged for the money came from residents volunteering to install the barbecue and bench.

The Cottonwood Terrace Community Association is having a Celebration of Life Multi-Generational Project and received $2,300. The event will include a dinner and will allow residents to get to meet each other.

The Lone Mountain Vista V Community Association received $3,800 for a neighborhood entrance beautification project.

They train over the summer, wear their uniforms on the football field with pride and perform using great physical exertion, coordination and teamwork — all while carrying a tune.

The Centennial High School marching band students worked hard over the summer and are ready to have what they think will be one of the best years yet.

Marching band instructor Mitch Gabel said this year the band is at the same point musically at the beginning of the year as it was in the middle of the year last year.

“It’s the work ethic they have,� Gabel said. “They work hard. They say ‘Let’s see how the hard work pays off,’ not only in the marching season but for the concert part as well.�

Gabel feels this will be the band’s “breakout year.�

“They’ve been steadily improving every year,� he said. “We have a real competitive show this year.�

The half-time show the band will perform is more extravagant than in years past. This year the band is incorporating two 10-foot by 10-foot pyramids and a 20-foot backdrop called “Pyramids of Egypt.�

In November, the band will compete with the schools from around the district at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Kirt Brannen, a junior who switched from a euphonium to a tuba this year and got it down in two days, said the band’s biggest rivals are “all of them.�

But Gabel quickly added: “We support all the other groups, and we always want to see them succeed.�

“But we still want to beat them,� Brannen said with a smile.

Much of the success the band members are seeing this year is because of the attitudes many of the band members have. The freshmen coming in and the veteran leaders are all excited for the future. A two-week band camp over the summer inspired many of the band members to work hard.

“We have improved so much,� said Justine Felton, a senior who is one of the drum majors. “Everyone has the attitude that they want to work hard, and they come to (the) band ready to do better.�

Success of the program, however, doesn’t rely solely on the students, Gabel said. The administration and parents have stepped up in support as well.

“The booster parents (those who help raise money) are working hard and are doing things like cooking dinners for us,� he said.

Parents have had to step up in raising money for the band because of state budget cuts that have affected the band. Last year the band received $20,000 to cover costs, while this year it received $7,500, a 65 percent decrease.

“We are absolutely, definitely feeling the budget cuts,� Gabel said.

Besides doing well in competition, band members said they hope others understand this year that being in marching band is no walk in the park.

“What these kids do physically requires possibly even more coordination skills than any other sport,� Gabel said. “The psychomotor skills needed to play an instrument and march at the same time is great, and hats off to them.�

The biggest misconception of being in the marching band is that it’s easy, some of the students said.

“But it’s not as easy as it looks,� said Jade Mack, one of the color guard captains. “There’s a lot of spinning, marching, counting and playing all at the same time.�

Mack’s fellow captain, Nicole Hart, agreed.

“People think, ‘Oh, you just play an instrument,’ but they don’t understand, that it’s really hard to do,� she said.

So, if it is so difficult, why do the students love to be in the band?

“It’s an infectious disease,� Felton said.

And “because you get to hit shiny things,� said Matt Day, a junior who is one of the percussion leaders.

Fellow band members say Day can’t go a minute without tapping and drumming on whatever happens to be in front of him.

And finally because “you can be obnoxious and loud,� Brannen said

Another reason, most of the band members agreed, is that band members become a second family.

“We all hang out together and have fun together,� Hart said.

The band played together at the high school’s first football game on Aug. 29 and will perform its routine with the pyramids for the first time during the Sept. 26 game..

After a five-week trial, a federal jury found three Las Vegas residents guilty of drug trafficking in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Benjamin Acuna, Anabel Valenzuela and Eddy Olguin were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

In addition, Acuna and Valenzuela forfeited their interests in various property in Las Vegas and also were found guilty on conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Evidence at the trial proved to the jury that Acuna and Valenzuela, who are husband and wife, led a large drug trafficking organization that shipped thousands of pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Hawaii from 2002 to September 2005, said Edward H. Kubo, Jr., U.S. Attorney for Hawaii.

Olguin assisted in the day-to-day operations of the organization, including arranging for the delivery of meth to others for transporting the drug from Las Vegas to Hawaii, Kubo said.

Acuna, Valenzuela and Olguin each face a possible life sentence with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Acuna and Valenzuela are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 5 by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway, who will also sentence Olguin on Dec. 15.

In addition to going to prison, Acuna and Valenzuela will forfeit to the federal government their interests in five Las Vegas properties because they were purchased or contained cash from drug trafficking or were involved or traced to the money laundering offenses.

The jury also ordered Acuna and Valenzuela to forfeit an $8 million judgment as a sum representing the organization's profit from the sale and distribution of 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine in Hawaii.

The case involved a three-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation unit.

So far, 21 people have been prosecuted and convicted of federal drug offenses for their roles in the drug conspiracy, Kubo said.

Another co-conspirator in the case, 40-year-old Antonio Santos of Waipahu, Hawaii, was sentenced on Sept. 2 to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court records, Santos was part of the drug conspiracy. He received drug parcels mailed from Las Vegas to Hawaii. Santos then mailed parcels containing cash after selling the meth to Las Vegas, ultimately to Acuna and Valenzuela. Santos was convicted after a jury trial in November 2007.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has named a state administrator to the board of directors of the 42,000-member state insurance system.

Leo Drozdoff, administrator of the state Division of Environmental Protection, will replace District Judge Janet Berry of Reno, who was removed from the board last month after it was found that elected officials are barred by law from being a member of the board.

Drozdoff will represent active members in the Public Employees Benefits Program.

Gibbons also chose George Campbell, a retired lawyer from the Nevada Attorney General’s Office who lives in Washoe Valley, to replace Ron Swirczek of Carson City.

Reappointed to the board for a second term was Jacque Ewing-Taylor, a research fellow at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Gibbons decided initially not to reappoint Swirczek and Ewing-Taylor because of their support for expanding the insurance coverage to include domestic partners, both of the same and opposite sex. Employee groups urged the governor to reappoint Ewing-Taylor because she was supporting domestic partnership benefits sought by the university that she represented on the board.

The regulation permitting gay couples to be covered by the state insurance plan was approved by the Legislative Commission. But it faces an uphill battle in the Legislature next year because it would increase costs by more than $4 million a year.

Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 345 pounds, newly retired NFL lineman Jonathan Ogden towered over the 1.6-ounce golf ball as it sat on the tee in front of him.

With one mighty swing, he sent the ball rocketing down the fairway — another good drive for the Henderson resident and avid golfer.

Ogden was one of more than 150 participants who hit the links for the “Troops to Teachers Golf Tournament� at TPC Las Vegas on Aug. 29, an event hosted by UNLV’s College of Education.

Also in attendance were professional golfer and UNLV graduate Seema Sadekar, retired Rear Adm. Chris Weaver, U.S. Navy; and retired Lt. Gen. Kevin Byrnes, U.S. Army.

The tournament raised more than $40,000 for the Troops to Teachers and Spouses to Teachers programs — nationwide efforts that were founded by the Department of Defense in 1994 as a way to assist eligible military personnel and their spouses who wish to transition to new careers as public school teachers.

Byrnes feels the programs are critical for military veterans and their families.

“Think about the opportunity it gives a young soldier, sailor, airman or Marine,� he said. “They’ve been sacrificing since 2003 when we got into Iraq. They’ve had the opportunity to lead and understand what character is all about, and they got it under the most trying of circumstances.�

Before applying, veterans must have at least six years of military experience, a college degree and an honorable discharge. If accepted, they receive a $5,000 stipend toward the costs of obtaining a teaching credential.

More than 200 veterans have been hired as teachers in Southern Nevada over the past 10 years, including 56 last year in the Clark County School District.

Myles Judd, an Iraq War veteran who returned from a yearlong tour in Baghdad in June, is now director of the Troops to Teachers program for both the district and the state of Nevada.

Approximately 11,000 veterans have been hired nationwide since 1992, Judd said. Many of those veterans gained leadership skills at a young age and have a strong desire to take those skills into the classroom.

“The Troops to Teachers program has an 86 percent retention rate since it began,� Judd said. “Across the board, the school teacher system has a 25 percent retention rate over the past 10 years.�

The Troops to Teachers Program tends to focus on, but is not limited to, low-income schools where more than 50 percent of students receive low-cost lunches. If a veteran is assigned to a low-income school, he or she receives an additional $5,000 stipend.

Schools throughout Clark County, Judd said, have been experiencing teacher shortages in math, science and special education.

One of the 56 local veterans hired last year through the Troops to Teachers program was Kurt Rice, a Henderson resident who is beginning his second year as an English teacher at Spring Valley High School.

Hailing from Santa Ana, Calif., Rice settled in Henderson in 2006 after a 25-year career in the Air Force.

He spent the first half of his career as a flight line mechanic — spending long hours loading bombs and missiles onto F-15 Eagles and F-111 Aardvarks — before transitioning into the field of military intelligence.

“It was a great experience,� Rice said. “It made me from a little squirrelly kid into a man. All the cliché stuff actually came true. It’s a family that I didn’t want to leave, but I was also excited about going into my new job.�

After only four years in the service, Rice said he already felt a desire to go into education. While in the Air Force, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Maryland.

“I always knew that I wanted to be a schoolteacher or a librarian when I got out,� he said. “I love to mentor, guide, teach and train.�

On the other hand, retired military personnel — especially former officers — can often take higher-paying jobs.

“It’s not about monetary reward,� Rice said. “If you’ve been successful in the military you can take the corporate route or work for the federal government. But teaching and working with kids is my passion.�

Jeff O’Brien can be reached at 990-8957 or jeff.obrien@hbcpub.com.

The instinct for timing drives many decisions in the business world.

As Station Casinos Inc. moves closer to the Nov. 11 grand opening of Aliante Station hotel-casino in North Las Vegas, the company says the time is not yet right to break ground on its long-awaited Durango Station.

However, the 70-acre site on the southwest corner of Durango Drive and the Las Vegas Beltway remains on the company’s short list to develop, said company spokeswoman Lori Nelson. Just don’t expect to see shovels in the ground until the gaming market and economic conditions improve.

“The plans are done, they are ready to go and it will really be contingent on timing based on the economic conditions,� she said. “It’s the economy, it’s fuel prices, it’s bond ratings. There’s a lot of factors that go into that.�

The tentative plan, though, is to break ground sometime in 2009 and open in 2011, Nelson said.

Station is at risk of defaulting on loans and running out of cash, hurt by reduced consumer spending and rising commodity prices, according to a recent report from debt rating agency Moody’s Investors Service.

The research firm cut the liquidity ranking of Station two notches to the lowest level after saying the Las Vegas-based company may break its loan agreements.

Moody’s also downgraded nearly $4 billion of Station Casinos’ debt in July, citing the drop in Las Vegas gaming revenue during the past few months.

Station reported second quarter revenue fell 7 percent this year to $339.1 million after a 5-percent decline in the first quarter. Second quarter cash flow of $128.4 million was down 11 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Station went private last November through a $5.4 billion buyout led by members of the Fertitta family, which founded the company.

The credit downgrades mean Moody’s views Station as having more risk than before, so the company may have to pay higher interest rates — similar to a person with a low credit score.

But that likely won’t slow the company’s development plans as much as the credit crunch, housing crises and general economic slowdown, said Bill Lerner, a local gaming securities analyst with Deutsche Bank.

“They will be judicious about the pace of their development,� he said. “More of the increase in cost of capital for a company like Station has to do with the tight credit market, not what some kid in New York thinks about their risk profile.�

Lerner also disagreed with Moody’s assertion that Station could fail to meet its debt obligations.

Durango Station’s timetable likely won’t depend on how well Aliante Station opens, Lerner said. The company’s history of long-term growth and the steady stream of new residents expected in the coming years should keep Durango on the company’s short list.

“Aliante’s opening wouldn’t be any different in a stronger environment than it will be in the current environment. At the same time, certainly they recognize it’s a different part of the locals market for them,� he said. “These guys build stuff for the long haul to capture the secular (long-term) benefit of the population migration.�

When Durango Station is under way, the first phase will include 201 hotel rooms, meeting and banquet space, a pool, food court, entertainment lounge, arcade, a Regal Cinemas theater and gaming, slots, tables, a poker room and race and sports book.

It will include 190,000 square feet of retail in a two-story open air mall similar to The District in Henderson with a mix of boutique retailers, office space and restaurants.

The company hasn’t announced the price tag for Durango Station since construction costs likely would increase before the project is under way, Nelson said.

Although less than 10 miles from Station Casino’s Red Rock Casino Resort, Durango Station will siphon little business from its other properties, Nelson said.

Affiliates of the Greenspun family — publisher of the Home News — are partners with Station in Green Valley Ranch Resort and Aliante Station.

Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or jeff.pope@hbcpub.com.

A basketball coach, entertainer, explorer and a bull rider are being immortalized by having county streets named for them.

The frontage roads along the southern Las Vegas Beltway are being renamed Roy Horn Way and Raphael Rivera Way from Decatur Boulevard to Sunset Road.

The northside frontage road will be named for Rivera. The southside road will bear Horn’s name.

From Sunset north to Tropicana Avenue, the west side frontage road will be named for former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and the east side becomes Brent Thurman Way for the rodeo star killed in 1994 when a bull trampled him during a championship event in Las Vegas.

Tarkanian, known as “Tark the Shark,� coached the Rebels to the NCAA championship in 1990.

Horn teamed with Siegfried Fischbacher for a long-running magic show known for its white tigers. The show at the Mirage was cancelled in 2003 when a tiger mauled Horn.

In 1829, the Mexican scout Rivera found the Las Vegas Springs, making him the first explorer to see the future site of Las Vegas.

The name changes won’t affect existing addresses and the new signs will be installed between September and December at a cost of $186,000, according to the Public Works Department.

As a Republican Party committee debated which of the delegates from Nevada could attend the GOP national convention, at-large delegate Sharon E. Petty was packing her bags regardless of the outcome.

“If I had to sit in the nose-bleed section on a guest pass, I didn’t care. I was coming,� said Petty in a phone interview from St. Paul, Minn.

Serena Goldstock, a first-time alternate delegate from the southwest part of the valley, shared Petty’s enthusiasm about attending the convention. Then John McCain upped the ante when he named Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his running mate.

“Just to be a part of history, to be here with it being official … and be a part of the history process of having the first female vice president is just an awesome experience,� she said.

The national convention gives the GOP’s superstar career politicians another platform to address its supporters and the watching nation. But it also shines the spotlight on average Joes for a week as working class firefighters, teachers and college interns hobnob with the party’s power brokers and help officially select the party’s presidential candidate.

For weeks leading up to the convention, members of the Nevada delegation weren’t sure if they would have a voice in choosing the party’s candidate.

The Republican National Convention committee decided on Aug. 28 that the 34 Nevada delegates and 31 alternates could attend the Sept. 1-5 convention and could cast a ballot. The committee came up with a list of delegates that largely mirrored the McCain slate put forth by the state party, but that also included four delegates supporting Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Paul’s supporters argued they were shut out of the delegate selection process at the state convention after Paul, a former presidential candidate, inched out McCain for second place in Nevada’s January Republican presidential caucuses.

Rather than being banished to the upper deck of the Xcel Center in St. Paul because of the dispute, the Nevada delegates sat 10 rows from the podium where Laura Bush, Cindy McCain, Fred Thompson and John McCain spoke.

Goldstock, 31, arrived in the Twin Cities on Aug. 28 to avoid the crowds. But many of Nevada’s delegates, alternates and guests learned only that day if they were allowed to cast their votes.

“We’re glad that Nevada can take part in the RNC with all the other states,� she said. “I know a couple of people who were bumped from delegates and alternates down to guests and they still had guest passes for them. They could still partake in the convention itself, which was nice of (the party) to do.�

Being a delegate to a national convention was already somewhat overwhelming before the additional confusion, said Petty, a Henderson resident and vice president of finance for the gaming development company Rotate Black Inc.

Petty, 64, worked on campaigns for Nevada Sen. Bill Raggio, Govs. Paul Laxalt and Robert List and former Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott. But the national convention is a much larger political arena.

“You get to see exactly how things work at a higher level,� she said. “I feel so very lucky to be here. It’s a very humbling experience.�

Speaking by phone on Sept. 2 from the St. Paul Hotel where the Nevada delegation stayed, Petty described the convention as a non-stop whirlwind of lectures and meetings on a continuously changing schedule. The confusion about the Nevada delegates was followed by the potential disaster caused by Hurricane Gustav, which forced the RNC to reorganize its schedule.

“We (Nevada delegates) have been changing our schedule and events and speakers, as we speak, because the national things keep moving. It’s like a constantly moving target,� Petty said. “It’s informational overload first of all. Because the veterans are putting on something; the Jewish contingent is putting on something; the Hispanic delegation is putting on something. There’s so many different venues that you have the opportunity to go to.�

The Nevada delegates and guests also attended a luncheon with Guam delegates and were surprised by a guest appearance from McCain’s mother, Roberta.

“She was really nice and she’s not used to speaking or being in front of groups, but she just wanted to stop by and thank everybody for their support for her son,� Goldstock said.

The luncheon also included speeches from three former prisoners of war including Jerry Coffee, who spent time with McCain in a Vietnamese prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton.

“He explained to us their form of communication. They used different knocks that would signify letters,� Goldstock said. “This wasn’t Morse code or anything like that. And all these years later, he was still on the podium knocking out the different words such as ‘Minneapolis’ and ‘St. Paul,’ so it’s still ingrained in him.�

Despite the hectic schedule, Petty said the experience was worth it and looks forward to being a delegate again.

“Do yourself a favor and at some point be a delegate for your party. It’s wonderful,� she said.

Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or jeff.pope@hbcpub.com.

Zone change request delayed

Consideration of a request for a zone change that would allow a three-story office building on Spencer Street between Pebble Road and Serene Avenue has been delayed until the Oct. 7 meeting of the Clark County Planning Commission.

Applicant and property owner Steelman Properties C LLC requested prior to the Sept. 2 meeting that the item be heard at a later date so that outstanding issues relating to the proposed office building could be addressed.

Neighbors contested the application under the grounds that it would cause a dangerous traffic situation, as the property is 6 feet below street level and is near Silverado High School in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic.

They also said the requested clear windows would allow office occupants to see directly into residents’ yards.

Blimp takes to sky above M Resort

M Resort is taking to the air to advertise its location with the M Lightship — a blimp with an electronic lightsign.

The twin-engine A-170LS video lightship will broadcast live television and streaming video, Web sites and static images using a 70-foot by 30-foot screen.

Beginning this month, the M Lightship and its 2,100-square-foot advertising screen will be visible to thousands of residents and many of the nearly 40 million visitors coming to the city each year.

The blimp is owned by The Lightship Group, the world’s largest airship operator, and is one of only three electronic lightships in the world.

Forget bake sales and magazine subscription drives.

Thanks to its optimum location next to a busy shopping center, Silverado High School groups are able to accomplish a huge chunk of their fundraising efforts without lifting a finger.

On weekends the school’s parking lot is home to the Community Auto Display, where by spending a few bucks to display their for-sale vehicles in a safe location, residents can help the local high school.

Since the business/fundraiser came under new ownership during the summer, Silverado Principal Kim Grytdahl said he has high hopes that the fundraiser will continue to be successful.

For the last three to four years, the money raised by the fundraiser has gone to purchase everything from club T-shirts to lunches and prizes for exceptional students.

While Grytdahl declined to say how much the school would typically make in a month, he said in its best year it made about $9,000.

The money especially comes in handy with the smaller school organizations that may not have enough members to do their own fundraisers, he said.

While in the past the school received a flat monthly fee for the use of its parking lot, under the new management, Grytdahl said the school will receive percentages based on the amount of business done at the site.

Richard Ongstad said he and his partner, Terry Pugh, have been running the displays in California, the business’ state of origin, for the last 19-20 years. He said one of the highest grossing locations is a school in Sacramento, Calif., that makes as much as $120,000 a year.

Currently this is the display’s only Las Vegas-area location, although he said officials from UNLV have expressed interest.

But before a move is made with UNLV, Ongstad said he wants to see the weekend car count at Silverado increase from the previous averages of 36-66 cars a weekend to 140.

In addition to reaping the benefits of the extra money, Grytdahl said the treasurers of the schools’ different organization also gain from the partnership in that while participating on a school committee that decides how to use the money, they get “real world authentic experience� in expenditures.

“The neatest thing about this is that everyone wins,� Ongstad said.

For more information, contact Community Auto Display at 538-1343.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or ashley.livingston@hbcpub.com.

"All In," a new sports show produced by Greenspun Interactive and the staff of the Las Vegas Sun, will debut at 5:30 p.m. today on KTUD (Channel 14).

The 30-minute show, hosted by Sun sports reporter Alex Adeyanju, will delve weekly into the Las Vegas sports scene.

On this week's installment ...

- A look at UNLV's upcoming trip to Salt Lake City to take on Utah, which opens at home fresh off of a 25-23 win at Michigan.

- An interview with Rebels senior wideout Casey Flair.

- A glance at the area's top high school football storylines for this Friday night.

- This week's big UFC news: Randy Couture's upcoming return to the ring -- and what it could mean down the road -- plus a UFC 88 preview.

- Thoughts on the mind of Sun sports columnist Ron Kantowski.

- Insight into what will be the biggest weekend in football betting in Las Vegas since last winter, including some picks to consider.

Enjoy.

Blindfolded, the young campers instructed their counselors on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Sounds easy enough.

Laughter, however, soon erupted among onlookers as imprecise directions resulted in bread being placed peanut butter side down on the plate and grape jelly plopping out of an upside down turned jar.

It’s all about effective communication, said 4-H Community Base Instructor Sandy Sanders.

“What kids need to realize is even if you may know what you want you may not communicate it effectively,� she said.

The PBJ Exercise was one of many interactive lessons a group of local 8- to 15-year-olds participated in during their mid-August weeklong trip to 4-H Camp at Mount Potosi.

While the younger members of the group learned from different exercises, the older counselors and counselors in training gained insight from their positions as teachers and caretakers.

Camp counselor Alyssa Barker and counselor in training Rebecca Wright, both from Silverado High School, said among other things their role in 4-H has helped with a fear of public speaking.

Additionally, “It helps you greatly in school,� Barker said.

Despite the wide-spread association with rural areas, farm animals and crop growing, 4-H, which stands for head, heart, hands, and health, is also alive and well outside of the fields and mountains and in the concrete urban sprawl of Las Vegas.

Walter Barker, the children, youth and families specialist for the University of Nevada Reno Cooperative Extension, the entity that runs the 4-H in Nevada, said while when 4-H first started it catered to an agrarian community, it has changed with the times and to fit the location.

The modern 4-H hosts group activities that go way beyond that traditional association and serve to develop life skills in all areas, he said.

To help promote an understanding that the program is multifaceted, the local 4-H hosts the camp, which serves to give participants a taste of the many programs that the group makes available in town.

Barker said her favorite part of camp was the rocketry program in which they launched rockets into the air.

Another program campers were excited about was a GPS exercise.

Barker said the group learned how to use the equipment during the day by recording coordinates and images of different sites.

Members then went out after dark and had to find objects like quarters using only coordinates.

The GPS and rocketry programs also take place in a more in-depth introduction to 4-H that is done at community sites in town during different times of the year called The 12-week New Faces New Places program.

It emphasizes science, engineering, technology and also exposes attendees to the healthy living, arts and crafts, cooking and photography programs available through 4-H.

Once the program is finished, local groups are encouraged to form their own 4-H club specializing in the program of their choice.

Barker said there have been no schools or community groups from the Silverado area that have expressed an interest in participating in the introductory 12-week program. The program has been held in north and west Las Vegas and Henderson.

Those with an interest in 4-H may call the extension’s office at 222-3130 and request to speak with someone in 4-H.

The 12-week program is free with the exception of a minimal cost for materials, Barker said.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or ashley.livingston@hbcpub.com.

A man and a woman have been arrested in what Metro Police described as a vacant home rental scam.

A California resident who owned a vacant home near Russell Road and Jones Boulevard arrived in Las Vegas more than a week ago and found a mother and two children living in the house, police said.

The mother told the owner that she had been renting the home for several months. She said she had signed a contract and had paid rent to a woman she knew as "Melinda Hertz."

The mother gave police handwritten rental receipts. She said that she had seen an ad on the Craigslist Web site offering a house for rent. She spoke by phone to a woman calling herself "Melinda," police said.

"Melinda" claimed to be the landlord and the two women agreed on the amount of monthly rent and deposits totaling several thousand dollars. "Melinda" agreed to meet the mother each month at a different location and directed her to pay the rent in cash only.

Metro's Enterprise area command problem solving unit observed the mother hand over cash to a man and a woman Monday in a nearby restaurant. After the money changed hands, officers moved in and arrested the couple.

"Melinda" was identified as 26-year-old Melissa Cowan of Las Vegas. The man has been identified as 56-year-old Emilio Gonzales of Las Vegas. Gonzales claimed to be a licensed Realtor and had a business card with the name of a local real estate office, police said.

Police are not releasing the name of the real estate office used on the business card because it may have been used as part of the fraud.

The two have been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on three counts each of obtaining money under false pretenses, conspiracy to obtain money under pretenses and a single count of burglary.

Police warn potential renters that all business conducted in restaurants or coffee shops away from any type of formal office indicates a possible rental scam.

A legitimate landlord should be able to provide an actual business address, police said.

All rental contracts and receipts should have business information that can be verified by prospective tenants.

Another indication of a scam is that all business is done in cash, police said.

Police believe that the mother is not the only victim of this scam. Anyone who has rented a house or other property from "Melinda" or Gonzales under similar circumstances is urged to review their documents and contact police if they believe they may be victims.

Those with information regarding the case can contact Officers Zinger at 828-2881 or Farris at 828-4831. Residents can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Three ballot initiatives backed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson will not be on November's ballot, as the Nevada Supreme Court ruled today that signature gatherers' affidavits failed to follow state law.

Two of the ballot initiatives would have diverted room tax money from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to the state budget.

The third initiative would have required a two-thirds super-majority on initiatives that increase taxes.

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision upheld an earlier district court decision, saying that the affidavits signature gatherers signed were faulty.

First, the opinion said, the affadavits did not list the number of signatures on the document. Secondly, there was no place for signature gatherers to swear that signers had an opportunity to read the full text of the initiative.

Only former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle's Proposition 13-style initiative could still make it on the ballot. Her initiative is being challenged by the Nevada State Education Association.

CARSON CITY – The Taxicab Authority’s proposed ban on cell phone use by cabbies while they transport passengers would exclude hands-free cell phones, according to the agency’s administrator.

Taxicab Administrator George Walker said the synopsis of the bill by the Legislative Counsel Bureau wrongly gave the impression that all cell phone use would be banned. It applies only to hand-held devices, he said.

Walker submitted the request for a bill to be drafted by the Legislative Counsel Bureau. Every week the bureau publishes a list of the bill draft requests, giving a one-sentence summary of the content.

Walker said he doesn’t have a list of accidents that might have been caused by drivers using hand-held cell phones. The authority is taking this step for the safety of both the passenger and the driver.

There are about 7,800 taxi drivers in Las Vegas who made 26.6 million trips last year.

Elizabeth Jacobson regularly talked to her stepson about the temptations teenagers face: vices such as alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs.

But there was one thing that she missed: prescription drugs.

It’s not that she wanted to avoid the conversation, she just didn’t know such pills and other prescription medications were a temptation until it was too late.

Police say her stepson, Donald Jacobson, 16, died of an accidental overdose of hydrocodone, a painkiller, on April 12.

“I didn’t lecture him on this,� she said. “I lectured him on everything, but never in a million years did I lecture him on pills because I wasn’t aware it was so rampant. We don’t do any of that in our household, I don’t even know anyone who does.�

The friends and family members of Donald Jacobson, who was known as DJ, said they could not believe their ears when they were told of how he died. The junior at Centennial High School was a wrestler, had dreams to fight professionally and had lots of friends. But the most surprising thing about his death was that he had always been adamant about not drinking, partying or doing drugs, they say.

“I never knew him to go out to party and drink,� said Jesse Longstreth, 18, who was one of Jacobson’s best friends. “We all had friends who drank, but he never really hung out with them when they partied.�

Longstreth described Jacobson as a good kid who knew everyone at school and was “really good with the girls.� When he died, a large group of Centennial High School students wore T-shirts in memory of him. Even now, the shirt is worn by about 15 Centennial students every Friday.

Longstreth remains shocked at the death. He said Jacobson would not tolerate it if one of his friends experimented with drugs.

He even tells of a time when one of Jacobson’s good friends started smoking marijuana.

“He would get on her case and tell her that he wouldn’t be associated with someone who smokes pot,� Longstreth said. “He helped her not do it anymore.�

Cayla Carlock, 17, who dated Jacobson on and off and was always a close friend, agreed with Longstreth.

“It really took me back when I found out how he died,� she said. “He was never into alcohol and drugs. I never saw this coming. I would have never guessed that this would have happened. If he ever saw someone doing drugs or drinking, he would tell them that they wouldn’t get anywhere doing that.�

So the unexpected death left them wondering, “What happened?� and “How did he get into prescription pills?� The answer isn’t easy, but friends and family members are sure they know who to blame.

Neal Hussey, 24, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Jacobson. He’s accused of providing him with the prescription drugs that killed him. Authorities allege that Hussey gave Jacobson more than 160 pills, including 32 hydrocodone pills, the night before his death.

A Metro Police arrest report summarized the case against Hussey:

It said Hussey and Jacobson met at a Discount Tire Store, where Hussey was Jacobson’s manager. Hussey told detectives that the night of the overdose, Jacobson went to Hussey’s house for a barbecue. Hussey told police that Jacobson and he had been drinking beer. The report said Jacobson had decided to stay the night and Hussey reported that when he woke up, he found that Jacobson wasn’t breathing. Although Hussey called 911, paramedics were unable to save Jacobson.

After finding that the cause of death was an overdose of hydrocodone, Hussey admitted to police that he had an addiction to prescription pills and had offered Jacobson some pills in the past, but he did not give Jacobson any pills the night of his death, the police report said.

But Jacobson’s family doesn’t think Hussey is innocent. Elizabeth Jacobson said the family received a toxicology report stating that Jacobson did not have any alcohol in his blood the night of his death, proving in their minds that Hussey wasn’t being honest with police.

“DJ trusted Neal for whatever reason, he had respect for this man who was not deserving of it,� Elizabeth Jacobson said.

Elizabeth said the family didn’t have any problems with Jacobson until he started spending time with Hussey. She said that Jacobson’s inexperience with drugs and trust in Hussey, who she said knew the consequences of prescription pills, were his downfall.

Longstreth said that before Jacobson died, he was spending less and less time with his friends and more time with Hussey.

“I think because of where he was working and the influence that was around him, it wore on him,� he said. “If you’re around something enough for a long time while looking up to someone who is your manager, you can really be influenced by that.�

Attorney Conrad Claus, who is representing Hussey, said that he is looking forward to exonerating Hussey. He said that because Hussey did not offer Jacobson any pills the night of his death, it is not possible to prove that he is guilty. He also said that Hussey had a legal prescription for the pills and that Jacobson took the pills without his knowledge.

Hussey’s trial is set for March.

Jacobson’s family and friends miss him but hope that his death teaches others that prescription drugs are dangerous and not to be experimented with.

“I think his death has opened a lot of eyes,� Carlock said. “I hope more kids open their eyes and see what pills can do. There are a lot of people dying from it because it’s so easy to get your hands on now days. I would have never guessed that DJ would pass away because of drugs, it could happen to anybody.�

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or jenny.davis@hbcpub.com.

Bernice Friedman said she doesn’t want the Jewish Family Services Agency to be a big, dark secret. The newly elected president of the board for the local social service agency said it’s time that the agency is better known in Las Vegas.

A self-proclaimed New Yorker, Friedman and her husband moved last year from the East Coast state known for having a strong Jewish community to Las Vegas, where she says the Jewish population is swelling.

“This is a growing area, there is a growing Jewish population here,� she said. “We heard great things about Las Vegas.�

When she moved into her Summerlin home last July and became an active member of Temple Beth Sholom, she became fast friends with the past president she recently succeeded, Mordecai Labovitz, and it wasn’t long before she was serving on the board as an officer.

The board selected Friedman as president in July.

“I’m really hoping that the community will continue to support us,� she said. “We do so many wonderful things for the entire community.�

The 30-year-old agency provides services for those seeking help in adoption services, runs a food pantry, helps with burial and bereavement services for Jews, offers counseling and psychotherapy services, provides Holocaust survivors assistance, helps answer questions of those needing social services assistance, offers scholarships and runs a job placement program.

Before she was president at the agency, Friedman, 65, spent most of her life serving in nonprofit organizations, including serving as chairwoman on the Bronx Division Board for the Jewish Home Lifecare, vice chairwoman of JBI International, chairwoman of Health and Human Services Affiliation Review Committee for UJA-Federation of New York and a member of The Educational Alliance.

More than 5,000 people call the Las Vegas agency a year seeking information on human and medical dilemmas and its food pantry provides food for more than 12,000 people every year.

Friedman said as president she will focus on the three C’s: communication, cultivation and collaboration.

“I want to get our name out there by communicating, to cultivate relationships with donors so they know they are appreciated and collaborate with organizations so we have a lot more leverage,� she said.

An upcoming collaboration includes the agency partnering with the UNLV Nevada Conservatory Theater to present the Broadway adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank,� which will premier in February.

The Holocaust Survivor program is among the most needed services offered.

“Outside of New York and the Miami area, Las Vegas has the third largest Holocaust survivor population,� Friedman said.

The agency serves many of the nearly 350 survivors in Las Vegas, many of whom are struggling financially, she said. The agency receives a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany to provide assistance in filing claims for reparations, counseling, assistance in obtaining social services, food and medical care and, in some circumstances, short-term cash assistance for basic necessities.

“When something terrible happens to you, your mind reverts to that horrible time you lived through,� Friedman said. “These people need our services for ongoing support groups.’’

In 2007, the agency provided more than $60,000 to local survivors. Many of the survivors underestimated the cost of living here because of the high rents and utility bills. In the last two years, more than 65 survivors received some type of rental, utility, medication or food assistance from the agency, totalling more than $40,000 in emergency assistance alone, according to the agency’s Web site.

The counseling and psychotherapy services available to all clients, through Jewish Family Services Agency Counseling Services, are for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families and groups and are offered at two locations: one on the east side of town at the agency’s main office and one in Summerlin. The counseling is not free, but most insurance plans are accepted at both sites. For those who do not have insurance or for those whose insurance doesn’t pay the entire bill, the agency offers the counseling at a discounted price using a sliding fee scale.

The food pantry, run by volunteers, is open Monday through Friday.

“The volunteers that volunteer for JFSA are the most dedicated group,� Friedman said. “Whether paid staff or volunteers, all who work here are very dedicated and take what they do seriously.�

For those interested in other volunteer opportunities, the agency has more programs for which it needs volunteers. The Shopper/Transportation program needs volunteers to drive around the elderly, the Friendly Visitor Program needs volunteers to visit those who may be experiencing loneliness and depression, the Bikur Cholin program needs volunteers to visit ill patients in hospitals and the Telephone Reassurance program needs volunteers to call homebound seniors.

“This is a large part of my life, I get a great deal of satisfaction from this,� Friedman said.

Other changes at the agency include naming a new executive director, Eric Goldstein. Goldstein has 16 years of experience in Jewish community programming and services in Las Vegas, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia. Since 2005, he’s been executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. Goldstein was previously working as the temporary executive director at the agency as it did not have a permanent director.