Area briefing

BOARD ISSUES CONSUMER ALERT REGARDING FRAUDULENT CONTRACTORS

Nevadans should watch out for groups of con artists moving west who are likely to be seen driving through neighborhoods soliciting home improvement services, according to a recent consumer alert from the Nevada State Contractors Board.

The groups, called travelers, are known for initiating home improvement scams and soliciting asphalt paving or roofing projects, the board said. Travelers often approach homeowners working in their front yards and by door-to-door solicitations. Their vehicles are usually new, clean and loaded with supplies.

Travelers often claim they have performed work for others in the neighborhood and have extra materials that could be used to fix a similar problem for the next homeowner. They install inferior materials using shoddy workmanship and leave town before victims realize they have been scammed, according to the board.

Residents should always ask for a business card and contractors’ license numbers. They can also check the board’s website at nvcontractorsboard.com or call the Nevada State Contractors Board at 702-486-1100 to confirm if a license number is legitimate.

Unlicensed or suspicious contractors can be reported via the board’s hot line at 702-486-1160.

FEMA RECOGNIZES LOCAL EFFORTS
TO INCREASE FLOOD SAFETY

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has upgraded the city of Las Vegas to a Class 5 Insurance Service Office rating when it comes to flood preparedness.

The designation means city residents are eligible for a 25 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums effective Oct. 1, city officials said.

Under FEMA’s community rating system, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reward community actions that reduce flood damage to insurable properties, strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program and encourage a comprehensive approach to flood plain management, the city said.

The ratings upgrade pushes the city of Las Vegas into the top 5 percent of communities in terms of flood preparedness.

For more information, visit regionalflood.org or call the Clark County Regional Flood Control District at 702-685-0000.

RESIDENTS REMINDED TO CALL 811
BEFORE EXCAVATION PROJECTS

In honor of National Safe Digging Month in April, Southwest Gas Corp. reminds homeowners and contractors to call 811 a few days before starting any digging or underground excavation project so utility-owned lines can be properly marked and avoided.

The free call is aimed at helping prevent injuries and unnecessary expenses.

Other tips for digging include:

n Consider moving a project’s location if it is near utility line markings.

n Respect the marks and hand dig within 24 inches of natural gas pipelines.

n If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Do not allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.

n Anyone who notices a hissing noise coming from the ground or an above-ground pipeline or the smell of rotten eggs should leave the area immediately and call police at 911 and Southwest Gas Corp. at 800-447-5422.

For more information on National Safe Digging Month, visit call811.com/faqs.

APPLICANTS SOUGHT
FOR POLICE EXPLORER PROGRAM

Residents ages 16 to 20 can apply for the Metropolitan Police Department’s Explorer program through Wednesday .

The career-based program exposes young adults to the realities of a career in law enforcement.

Explorers see what it takes to be an officer, how to process crime scenes and how to handle 911 emergency calls.

For more information on the program, visit lvmpdexplorers.com or contact officer Michael Rodriguez at m12717r@lvmpd.com. For area command locations, visit lvmpd.com.

The program is a branch of the Boy Scouts of America’s Learning for Life program, developed to help build good moral character, promote good citizenship and develop personal and mental fitness.

Participants must be of good moral character, have no felony convictions or lengthy criminal history, pass a police background investigation and be motivated to volunteer in the community.

Explorer posts are at each of the department’s area commands, the crime scene investigations section, the communications bureau and the Clark County Detention Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.

GROUND-LEVEL OZONE ADVISORY IN EFFECT

Ozone season began this month in the valley, and the Clark County Department of Air Quality has issued an ozone advisory through September.

Warmer weather and levels of pollutants can trigger a build-up of ground-level ozone during the afternoon, the department said.

Unhealthy doses of ground-level ozone can reduce lung function and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis. Ozone also can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath — even in healthy people. When ozone levels are elevated, officials suggest limiting strenuous outdoor activity.

Air quality officials said they will monitor conditions while the advisory is in effect and notify the public of any alerts.

Residents can sign up for free text and email advisories for air quality at enviroflash.org.

Residents can help reduce ground-level ozone by:

n Filling their gas tanks after sunset.

n Conducting errands in one trip.

n Avoiding spilling gasoline and topping off their gas tanks.

n Keeping their cars well-maintained.

n Using mass transit or carpooling.

n Avoiding idling their car engine.

n Walking or riding their bikes when practical and safe.

n Driving an electric or hybrid vehicle or a low-emission scooter or motorcycle.

n Turning off lights and electronics when not in use.

n Using low-maintenance landscaping that uses less water and doesn’t require gas-powered lawn tools.

LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCIL
PASSES RV PARKING ORDINANCE

The Las Vegas City Council recently passed an ordinance to allow recreational vehicle owners to park their RVs in a residential area for up to 48 hours while preparing for a trip.

To use the 48-hour grace period, residents must apply for a permit, but the online permitting process is not yet functional.

Until the permitting is available, the city said it is honoring the 48-hour time limit without a permit.

For more information, call 702-229-6432.

ANNUAL FLOAT-LIKE-A-DUCK EVENT
TO PROMOTE DROWNING PREVENTION

Floating lessons for kids and water safety tips will be available during Paragon Pools’ 10th annual Float Like A Duck event, set for 1 to 4 p.m. May 25 at the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA Water Sports Park, 4141 Meadows Lane.

The event is slated to feature exhibits, hands-on activities, floating classes, open swimming and appearances by Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Stavros Anthony and local news personalities Ted Pretty, Heidi Hayes and Bryan Scofield.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue plans to have a firetruck on display. Paragon Pools water safety mascot Duckie and the Metropolitan Police Department’s McGruff the Crime Dog also are scheduled to attend the free event. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent.

For more information, visit paragonpoolslv.com/floatlikeaduck
watersafety.htm.

RADON AWARENESS PRESENTATION
SET AT PASEO VERDE LIBRARY

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension plans a radon awareness presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. Attendees will receive a free radon test kit.

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas in many homes, schools and other buildings, is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, organizers said.

For more information, visit radonnv.com or contact radon program coordinator Laura Au-Yeung at 702-257-5550 or au-yeungl@unce.unr.edu.

GRANT PAYS FOR LASER SPEED DETECTION UNITS FOR NORTH LAS VEGAS POLICE

The Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety recently awarded the North Las Vegas Police Department $4,507 in grant funds to purchase three compact laser speed detection units. The units will be deployed during speed enforcement saturation patrols to reduce the number of speed-related traffic crashes.

The department is scheduled to begin using the devices within 90 days.

RAPE CRISIS CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
TO WORK WITH VICTIMS, COMMUNITY

The Rape Crisis Center is seeking volunteers 21 or older to assist in responding to sexual assault victims 24/7, among other tasks.

Volunteers assist the center’s staff in answering crisis calls around the clock, making referrals to victims and others who are seeking assistance. They also represent the center at community outreach and educational events and help with fundraising activities.

Committed to the prevention of sexual assault, center volunteers and staff members work with the Clark County School District to conduct educational events to help children identify signs of being molested or inappropriately touched. They also work with nightclubs to educate security personnel on how to identify sexual assault in the club. Volunteers also help organize community service campaigns targeted toward young women, the most vulnerable demographic for sexual assault, to educate them on how to avoid high-risk situations.

The center said that crisis response volunteers are its greatest need.

Volunteers must undergo 50 hours of training over the course of five weeks for three evenings per week. Volunteers must be able to complete a background check and commit to a minimum of six months of volunteer service and at least six hours per week on call.

Those who are interested should complete an application and set up an interview.

For more information, visit therapecrisiscenter.org and click on the volunteer icon or call 702-385-2153.