Area briefing

The Las Vegas Justice Court will head up a program that requires mandatory mediation for upcoming small claims cases.

For every Las Vegas Justice Court small claims complaint filed on or after Sept. 1, the defendant will be required to file a written answer in response. Once the answer has been filed, the justice court clerk’s office will schedule the case for mediation.

The new mediation process is intended to improve satisfaction among the parties, reduce the need for future litigation and make more efficient use of judicial resources, Chief Judge Karen Bennett-Haron said. Mediation programs for small-claims cases are already being used effectively in many cities across the country, she said.

Certain cases will automatically be exempt from the mandatory mediation requirement, including cases involving debt evidenced by credit card, deferred deposit loans, high-interest loans, title loans, and check-cashing services. Cases filed by inmates against the Nevada Department of Corrections also will be automatically exempt from the mandatory mediation requirement.

Mediation is an informal process in which neutral mediators assist the disputing parties by helping them identify issues and settlement options. The mediations will be conducted by specially trained county courts Neighborhood Justice Center mediators. If the issues in a case cannot be resolved through mediation, the case will be scheduled for trial.

For more information, contact the Neighborhood Justice Center at 455-3898 or visit clarkcountycourts.us.

CITY TO REPLACE 6,600 STREETLIGHTS WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT LED FIXTURES

The city of Las Vegas has begun replacing 6,600 existing streetlights with new, energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures. The new streetlights are expected to save $400,000 per year in energy costs and provide more vibrant color, geared toward enhancing the safety of the neighborhoods.

The change will take four months to complete. The city plans to replace all of the city’s existing 50,000 streetlights eventually.

While typical streetlight lamps last about six years, LED fixtures have a longer life, estimated to be 15 years.

The city of Las Vegas Department of Public Works is managing the project. Funding is provided by $2.9 million in federal energy conservation bonds and $400,000 from a state of Nevada American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant.

Henderson Police seek applicants for upcoming Citizens Academy

The Henderson Police Department is accepting applications for its upcoming Citizens Academy, planned for 6 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday from Sept. 6 through Nov. 29.

The 13-week program provides residents with unique insight into the life and training of a Henderson police officer. The goal is to build a bridge between residents and the police department. During the program, residents experience a condensed version of the actual police academy. 

Topics to be covered are radio and communication training, community policing, use of force, gang enforcement, crime scene investigation, detention center procedures, criminal justice overview, domestic violence and criminalistics.

Applicants must live or work in Henderson, be at least 18 years old and have no felony, gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor convictions. The department holds two academies a year, and space is limited.

Applications can be picked up at the main station at 223 Lead St., the Green Valley Substation at 300 S. Green Valley Parkway, the North Community Police Station at 225 E. Sunset Road or the Community Relations Unit inside the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road.

For more information, call 267-4850.

kids to learn how to resist aggression during Nevada Child Seekers classes

Nevada Child Seekers plans to educate kids on how to resist aggression defensively during radKids classes set from early September through mid-December at the Silver Springs Recreation Center, 1951 Silver Springs Parkway, Henderson.

The radKids program aims to provide children with basic safety skills dealing with issues such as fire, their home and the Internet and avoid potential bullying and abduction.

The organization, which tries to prevent children from being exploited or going missing, is offering the free program in 90-minute sessions planned every Saturday.

The schedule for Sept. 3 through Oct. 22 is:

n 9 to 10:30 a.m. for 4- to 8-year-olds, code 194055-12.

n 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for 9- to 12-year-olds, code 194055-14.

The schedule for Oct. 29 through Dec. 17 is:

n 9 to 10:30 a.m. for 4- to 8-year-olds, code 194055-13.

n 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for 9- to 12-year-olds, code 194055-15.

A $61 fee is payable to the Silver Springs Recreation Center. The city of Henderson has scholarships available for families that qualify. Nevada Child Seekers also will offer scholarships.

For the Henderson scholarship, pick up the paperwork at any recreation center in Henderson or at Henderson City Hall, 240 S. Water St. For the Nevada Child Seekers scholarship, call 458-7009.

Residents can register at the recreation center or at cityofhenderson.com

Parents will need to attend the first class so consent forms can be signed.

For more information, call 458-7009, email carole@nevadachildseekers.org or visit nevadachildseekers.org.

Lane restrictions to be lifted soon on Eastern and Tropicana avenues

The Clark County Water Reclamation District will be completing sewer rehabilitation work and conducting final paving and striping operations on Eastern and Tropicana avenues.

The two right lanes on northbound Eastern Avenue from north of Reno Avenue through the intersection at Tropicana Avenue will be restricted while work is completed.

Drivers should expect intermittent lane restrictions on northbound Eastern and eastbound Tropicana avenues during final paving operations, set to last through at least Sept. 2. Work will be conducted 24 hours a day.

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

Sewer rehabilitation project causes lane restrictions on Peace Way

Lane restrictions are in effect through at least Aug. 31 on Peace Way between El Capitan Way and Juliano Road as the Clark County Water Reclamation District conducts a sewer rehabilitation project, which began July 29.

Westbound travel will be restricted, and eastbound and westbound travel will be moved to the south side of the street, one lane in each direction, district officials said.

Work is set to be conducted 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sewer service will be uninterrupted during the project, according to the district.

The district advised drivers to be aware of potential delays, take precautions and allow extra time when traveling through the project area.

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

Smokey bear exhibit on display at lied discovery children’s museum

"Smokey Bear & Woodsey Owl: Home Sweet Home" is scheduled to be on display through Sept. 25 in the Cultural Gallery at the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

The exhibit was developed by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to spread the messages of wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation.

For more information, visit ldcm.org or call 382-3445.

Southern Nevada agencies release Domestic violence awareness videos

Officials from an array of Southern Nevada agencies released two new videos Aug. 5 dealing with the awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

The videos, titled "Stop the Violence — Don’t be Silent," were produced following a collaborative effort among Southern Nevada agencies. The goal is to encourage the reporting of domestic violence and raise awareness of the availability of help for victims of the crime. The videos are designed as public service announcements and will be shown at area public venues.

Agencies involved with the production of the videos include the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, Safe Nest, S.A.F.E. House, MedicWest Ambulance and the Metropolitan, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Mesquite police departments.

Free digital fingerprinting planned for kids at sites in August

Nevada Child Seekers plans to offer digital fingerprinting and child photo IDs at several sites around the valley in August.

The free services are for kids 5 through 18. Nevada Child Seekers also is giving away free fingerprint and DNA collection kits and a child photo ID to parents of children who are too young to be digitally fingerprinted.

Parents must sign a consent form for each child before they are fingerprinted and photographed.

Nevada Child Seekers said it does not keep the fingerprints or photographs on file.

The schedule is:

n 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road.

n 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Walmart, 3615 S. Rainbow Blvd.

For more information, visit nevadachildseekers.org or call 458-7009.