Area Briefing
CONFERENCE TO OFFER TRAINING TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Las Vegas Municipal Court plans to host a two-day conference titled Taboo Topics in Domestic Violence, Oct. 3 and 4 at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.
Topics are set to include cultural diversity, ethics, gender and sexual orientation, immigration laws, the female domestic violence perpetrator, confidentiality and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 privacy and security rules.
The training is geared to increase understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence across many cultures, Chief Judge Cynthia Leung said.
Workshops are planned from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. On-site registration is set for 8:30 a.m each day. The cost is $175, with registration available by mail, fax and at lasvegasnevada.gov/municipalcourt.
The conference is appropriate for peace officers, counselors, attorneys, judges, children's service workers, correctional facility staff, marriage and family counselors, drug and alcohol counselors, educators, law enforcement officers, pastoral counselors, social workers, psychologists/psychiatrists, hospital/clinical staff and treatment facilitators for domestic violence batterers.
For more information, contact Dena Williams at 229-6442 or drwilliams@lasvegas nevada.gov.
CRIME PREVENTIOn TO BE 1ST TUESDAY TOPIC
Officers plan to discuss crime prevention with residents during the Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program set for 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at the department's valleywide area commands. The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.
For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.
AMERICAN RED CROSS announces LOCAL HEROES
Thirteen Everyday Heroes Award winners were recently announced by the American Red Cross' Southern Nevada chapter.
The awards, distributed in various categories, recognize those who have done something extraordinary for someone else, saved a life or courageously responded during an emergency.
The recipients are Debbi Golding of Centennial Hills; downtown residents Sue Brooks and Derris Hunt; officers Raymond Steiber, Paul Shreiber and Ernest Jefferson of the Metropolitan Police Department; James Brathor and Joy Medeiros of Henderson; Matthew Ryan Hutchinson of the Summerlin area; O.K. Hubble of Sunrise; Jonah Schreiner of the southwest area; Dr. Maj. Jeremy Kilburn of Nellis Air Force Base; and Terry Choyce of Pahrump.
For details about the award recipients, visit redcrosslasvegas.org/2012_heroes_winners.php.
POLICE SEEK CROSSING GUARD VOLUNTEERS
The Metropolitan Police Department seeks reliable adults to serve as school crossing guards throughout the school year. The guards will assist elementary schoolchildren crossing the streets. For more information, call 828-3446.
FIRE STATION GETS NEW RESCUE VEHICLE
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Station 107, 9398 Sundial Drive in Sun City Summerlin, recently added a new vehicle to transport patients to area hospitals. The vehicle will be used by paramedic and rescue unit personnel.
Station No. 107 opened June 19 and is now operating at full staff.
For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/government/fire.htm.
AMNESTY FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SET TO END
The Clark County Building Department's 90-day amnesty for residential construction conducted without permits is set to end Sunday.
The program, which began July 1, offers homeowners in unincorporated Clark County a chance to pay regular fees for permits, inspections and plan reviews, with no penalty costs.
Fees for residential construction range from $150 to $400, depending on the project. The county building department's permit application center is at 4701 W. Russell Road.
The initiative is aimed at giving homeowners the chance to address any home repairs that require permits and inspections so that the residence is safe and abides by code.
The most common residential projects built without the necessary permits include garage conversions, room additions, patio covers and water heater installations, county officials said.
Work conducted without permits may not be covered by insurance, and residents could face costly repairs when they try to sell their homes, according to the county. In addition, faulty installations can cause fires, flood damage and other hazards, county officials said.
D.A.R.E. PROGRAM ENDS AFTER 25 YEARS IN VALLEY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Metropolitan Police Department announced Aug. 28 the suspension of D.A.R.E., its youth anti-drug program, due to budget cuts.
The department previously ran the program at 130 schools, launching it in the valley 25 years ago.
The Clark County School District Police Department pledged to develop a curriculum similar to D.A.R.E., to be taught by Clark County School District Police Department officers.
Las Vegas has 1.83 police officers for every 1,000 residents, below the standard of 2.0, police officials said.
As a result of the shortage, the D.A.R.E. program was suspended in order to place those officers back on the street. A squad from the department's saturation team also has been reassigned to patrol. The saturation team squads seek to reduce crime, deal with social disorder, neighborhood decay and detect emerging patterns in terrorism and intervene to prevent incidents.
The Metropolitan Police Department said it is facing an unprecedented budget shortfall of $46 million, despite building up $78 million in reserves over the last four years and cutting millions in expenses.
NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLED IN WARD 2 AT CHARLESTON BOULEVARD INTERSECTION
The city of Las Vegas recently installed a traffic signal at Charleston Boulevard and Indigo Drive.
The signal is meant to help provide safe access onto Charleston for residents and businesses in the area.
CITY CLOSES lake mead-pecos INTERSECTION FOR SIX-WEEK PROJECT
The intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Road was scheduled to close Sept. 24 and remain closed for six weeks as the city of North Las Vegas upgrades the Las Vegas Valley Wash box culvert.
The project intent is to improve flood control and enhance the wash's capacity at that location to withstand a 100-year storm event.
During construction, traffic will be detoured along Civic Center Drive on the west, Las Vegas Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue on the north, Lamb Boulevard on the east and Owens Avenue on the south. Alternative travel routes also will be permitted on Carey Avenue, Walnut Road and James and Palmer streets.
To keep to the six-week time frame, crews are slated to work 16 to 24 hours a day. Crews are to follow a work schedule that keeps noise levels at a minimum during late night and early morning hours.
This $24.2 million project is funded by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the Bureau of Land Management. Meadow Valley Contractors is performing the work. The city and Meadow Valley Contractors have set up a project hot line that businesses and residents can call for information or to voice concerns at 880-8442.
