Area Briefing

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT CELEBRATIONS PLANNED AROUND THE VALLEY

Valley police agencies plan several free events today to celebrate National Night Out.

The 29th annual event, created by the National Association of Town Watch, is meant to enhance community-police relationships, raise awareness about crime and drug prevention and send a message to criminals about being organized and fighting back.

LAS VEGAS

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department plans several events that are open to the public:

6-8:30 p.m. at Desert Breeze Park, 8425 W. Spring Mountain Road. The event is set to include 15 booths featuring safety and health information and 20 to 30 vendors providing free food and beverages. SWAT members also are set to attend.

6-8 p.m. at Knickerbocker Park, 10695 Dorrell Lane. The department plans to roll out its new traffic safety campaign, Prevent Any Roadway Tragedy, during the event. A visit from the department's air unit also is planned.

6-8 p.m. at the Albert Avenue cul-de-sac at Palos Verdes Street. Activities are set to include carnival-type games and crime prevention information.

6 p.m. at Bell Elementary School, 2900 Wilmington Way. Police plan to provide National Night Out information in conjunction with a back to school fair.

5-9 p.m. at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Police and the National Association of Town Watch plan to host the event, which is set to include kids' fingerprinting and a meeting with Smokey the Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog. Also, members of SWAT, the K-9 and mounted units and the Clark County Fire Department are set to attend.

5-8:30 p.m. at the Walnut Recreation Center, 3075 N. Walnut Road. The event is set to include free backpacks, dental immunizations, fingerprinting and school supplies.

For neighbors-only National Night Out events in the city of Las Vegas, contact a department crime prevention specialist by visiting lvmpd.com/protectyourself/crimeprevention.aspx.

HENDERSON

The Henderson Police Department plans an event from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St. The celebration is set to include live music by the Sin City Surfers, free hot dogs, chips and ice cream and children's activities provided by Home Depot and Mad Science, which provides hands-on learning activities. Participants can meet police officers and members of the SWAT, K-9 and criminalistics units. Crime prevention booths and exhibits also are planned.

NORTH LAS VEGAS

The North Las Vegas Police Department plans its event from 6-9 p.m. at Hartke Park, 1900 E. Tonopah Ave. Entertainment and free food and beverages are planned. Community resource information is set to be available from nearly 40 nonprofit and public safety entities throughout Clark County.

For more information, visit natw.org.

POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS TO COMPETE IN CHARITY HOCKEY GAME

Las Vegas Valley police and firefighters are set to compete against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department of North Carolina in a charity hockey game at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Fiesta Rancho SoBe Ice Arena, 2400 N. Rancho Drive.

About 30 valley police officers and firefighters are set to take part in the event. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children 12 or younger and can be purchased at the Fiesta Rancho box office.

Funds will benefit The Rape Crisis Center and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada.

For more information, visit facebook.com/pages/las-vegas-police-ice-hockey-team/205994669124.

POLICE DEPARTMENT EARNS ACCREDITATION AWARD

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that it recently became the eighth agency in the country to receive the Tri-Arc Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.

The award is given to recipients that have a concurrent commission-issued accreditation for their law enforcement agency, public safety communications center and public safety training academy.

The commission approved the award after reviewing the reports of inspections by its assessors for the re-accreditation of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's communications center and the initial accreditation of the training academy.

The department was first accredited in 1989, and the communications center was first accredited in 2009.

CITY BUILDING AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT EXPANDS HOURS TO INCLUDE WEEKENDS

The city of Las Vegas building and safety department has expanded its inspections to seven days per week.

The city hired two employees who are available for inspections with water, patios and other services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

To schedule an inspection Monday to Thursday, call 229-4677. To schedule an inspection Friday to Sunday, call 229-4076.

BETTY LANE CLOSURES, LANE RESTRICTIONS PLANNED DURING SEWER PROJECT

The Clark County Water Reclamation District is scheduled to conduct a sewer rehabilitation project through at least Aug. 24 in northeast Las Vegas.

Work is set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on Betty Lane between Washington and Harris avenues, on Washington Avenue from Christy to Betty lanes and on Christy Lane from Owens to Washington avenues, according to the district.

Betty Lane is set to be closed to through traffic between Harris and Washington avenues during work hours. Residents on Betty Lane will have access to their homes, the district said. Betty Lane will open to through traffic during nonworking hours, but lane restrictions and safety barriers will be in place.

During the project, sewer collection lines will be replaced and relined, temporary bypass pumps and lines will be installed and manholes will be rehabilitated.

For more information, call the project hot line at 668-8668 or visit thelvpipeline.com.

COUNTY GRANTS THREE-MONTH PERMIT AMNESTY FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

The Clark County Building Department announced a 90-day amnesty program, waiving penalties on self-disclosed residential construction conducted without permits.

The amnesty began July 1 and is set to run through Sept. 30. Homeowners in unincorporated Clark County can 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.