Elko Daily Free Press from Elko, Nevada • 16

A16 ELKO DAILY FREE PRESS, Elko, Nevada Monday, January 10, i.i'iiujuiijuuji i Mm, 2000 ahead Wire Comity plan moves news summary: economic By Adella Harding An economic development plan for Elko County that has been in one stage or another for a more than two years is nearing completion for submission to the U.S. Economic Development Administration. "The plans are looking pretty good," Elko's economic development director, Ursula Powers said this morning, reporting that she expects the plan to be on the agenda for the Elko County Economic Diversification Authority' February meeting. ECEDA is coordinating completion of the plan, and Powers is compiling the strategies from each of the cities in the county, as well as for the county. Only Carlin's is still to come.

Meanwhile, the Carlin City Council has a meeting scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow to review its portion of the overall plan, now called the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies. That's the new name for the Elko County Overall Economic Development Plan. Carlin will be revising the older plan to fit a new format, according to Charles Voos, Elko County's community economic development director. "Carlin will narrow it to a more button format," he said.

Carlin Economic Development Coordinator Beth Brown said today that she had distributed copies of Carlin's strategy to the planning board and council members to review so they could update the plan, using Wendover's strategy as an example. Powers said the new strategies list one to five goals that the cities or county can accomplish in one year rather than listing a "ton of goals" that couldnt be realistically attained. "They need to be more streamlined and focused," Powers said. The overall strategies may be presented to the ECEDA Board at a meeting in February that would also serve as a workshop with the Comprehensive Economic Develop ment Strategies Committee, she said. The committee includes representatives of a number of entities throughout the county, Voos said.

After ECEDA and the committee review the overall strategies, the final step will be to submit the document to the Elko County Commission for approval before filing it with EDA. Powers said a key reason for completing the strategies is to see that Wells qualifies for EDA funding for Putin fires top Yeltsin aide tied to idckbacks MOSCOW (AP) Expanding his control of the government, acti ng President Vladimir Putin on today removed a top Kremlin aid at the heart of alleged government corruption and demoted two senior ministers. The Kremlin said Pavel Borodin had been removed as head oft he Kremlin property department, a multibillion-dollar empire th at oversees buildings, estates and businesses. Borodin has been i nvestigated by Swiss and Russian prosecutors for his alleged role in a major kickback scheme. Putin, who has been distancing himself from former President Boris Yeltsin's administration, promoted several allies to improv handling of the economy.

The shuffle could increase hopes of re viving stalled economic reforms. The acting president's popularity, already the highest in recent Russian political history, continues to rise, with a poll today show ing that 56 percent of people want him to be president, up from 49 percent on Dec. 27. Unions can't sue cigarette makers WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court today refused to let union health funds in Pennsylvania, Oregon and New York sue th tobacco industry, thwarting their efforts to recover the cost of moking-related illnesses. The court, without comment, turned away the health funds' arg uments that they should be allowed to sue cigarette makers under federal racketeering and antitrust laws.

The lawsuits were patterned after similar claims by state governments. Those led to settlements in which the tobacco industry will pay the states $246 billion for health care costs. The Justice Department also sued the tobacco industry in Sept ember. Today's court action will not affect that case. In the tobacco case, seven union health funds in Pennsylvania and six each in Oregon and New York sued.

They accused the tob acco industry of defrauding them into paying to treat heaith-plan participants' smoking-related illnesses. Concert record LAS VEGAS (AP) Fans of Barbra Streisand paid a whopping $14,694,750 to hear her ring in 2000, an all-time single concert box-office record, according to the host MGM Grand hotel-casino. Richard Sturm, president and chief operating officer of MGM rand Entertainment said all of the 12,477 tickets for the New Year's Eve event sold out. The previous record gross, as tabulated by the industry's Pollst ar Magazine, was $13.4 million, achieved by Placido Domingo, Luc iano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras at Giant Stadium in New York July 20, 1996. "Right from the beginning, Ms.

Streisand's engagement was reg arded as the single premiere entertainment for that once-in-a-mil lennium occasion," Sturm said. Indonesia Muslims protest ur; future projects, because it already meets EDA criteria. Wells has received EDA funds in the past, but Powers said Al Ames of EDA's Boise, Idaho, office told herihat in the future Wells won't get more money without the strategies being on file. Powers also said she is hoping Ames can attend an ECEDA meeting either this month or next to explain the latest requirements on EDA eligibility, and whether EDA expects Elko County also to be a part of a regional economic development district An earlier proposal that Elko County form a tri-county development authority with White Pine and Eureka counties met with resistance at the Elko level, and the original OEPD process stalled in 1998. Later, the county decided in early 1999 to revive the effort to cover all the bases in case Wells or other cities need and qualify for EDA funds.

Voos said the renewed effort also "got lost in the shuffle for a while" while ECEDA was going through the throes of organization and financial changes but is back on track. The now-disbanded North East Nevada Development Authority coordinated the original Overall Eco- (Ross AndremiFre Prcx) Contractors Board, now we're hearing some rumbling We don't know necessarily there is a problem," he said. Gov. Kenny Guinn will examine the board as part of a review of all state agencies to eliminate fiscal waste or organizational problems. No date has been set for the review.

Grein acknowledged she's under fire, but pledged to move forward with needed changes. "We're making some headway, we're getting there," she told the Gazette-JoumaL "I have given people every opportunity to change. If they cant change, they can leave." Students Jeff Laughter (left) and Dallas Bastin (center) receive instruction today from Bret Murphy, Diesel Necessary adjustments: Technology Instructor about lifters and adjusting them on this 50-liter Cummins Diesel Haul Truck engine. Both students are enrolled in this program at Great Basin College. Instructor Bret Murphy has been teaching Diesel Technology at GBC for 15 years.

nomic Development Plan and effort to form a tri-county economic development district, and the first funding for the OEDP came from EDA through White Pine County. White Pine County hired consultant Mike Baughman, president of Intertech Services Corp. of Carson City, in 1997 to prepare the Elko County plan, including gathering comments from the communities. White Pine had a $60,000 grant for developing the proposed Great Basin Development District, and Elko County had to have a plan before it could be part of the district Last year, Lynn Forsberg, the county's public works director, and Jodie Steeley of the county staff, began revising the economic development plan by visiting all the unincorporated communities in the county to get their comments as well as the incorporated cities of Wells, Wend-over, Elko and Carlin. "The county did a good job with all the outlying areas," Powers said today.

The cities and counties and ECEDA are doing the work this time without an EDA grant or an outside consultant Magic show next week The Elko County Sheriffs Posse is again presenting the Magic of Jay Owenhouse during four performances Jan. 16-17 at the Elko Convention Center, the sixth annual event for the group. The magic show is the largest fundraiser of the year for the volunteer group and Owenhouse has proven to be a success at each show, using a Bengal tiger in several productions. The sheriffs posse is a non-profit group that serves at the pleasure of the sheriff and is used in search and rescue operations and as security for special events, said Milt Grisham, deputy commander. The posse currently is 53 members strong with room for seven more volunteers.

Posse members are qualified deputies who usually work at other jobs outside of law enforcement but who volunteer their time, he said. Tickets for the magic show are $10 in advance or $15 at the door for adults and $12.50 at the door for children under 12. Show times are 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan.

16 and 2 p.m. Jaa 17. Advanced tickets may be purchased by contacting Grisham at 744-4334. Grisham encourages businesses to purchase the tickets and allow the posse to donate the tickets to Elko's youth to attend the shows. Cowboy poetry volunteers sought The Western Folklife Center will host a kickoff party for Cowboy Poetry Gathering volunteers from 5:30 p.m.

to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Janette Watts, volunteer coordinator, says the party will also welcome people interested in volunteering during the poetry gathering. "We are still seeking volunteers willing to help with the gift shop, membership desk, door monitoring, ushering and session logging," Watts said. "If you are scheduled to volunteer, or would like to be scheduled, please plan to attend." During the party, volunteers will hear about this year's gathering and questions will be answered.

Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be given away. Information is available by calling the Western Folklife Center at 738-7508. 22, 1947. After several years of working construction, they moved to the Elko area and have resided here since. Survivors include her husband, Bonnie of Ryndon; nieces, Karen Quilici of Ryndon and Judy Holt of Winnemucca; nephew, Richard Scott of Ryndon; and several grandnephews and grandnieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, James Scott, Richard Scott and Kenneth Scott who owned and operated the Pioneer Hotel, now the Western Folklife Center, and sisters, Zada Scholte and Eva Delaney. memorial Thursday stitch, crafts, aroma therapy oils, canning, going to yard sales and being with family and friends. Survivors include her mother, "Flossie" Black of Elko; sisters, Debbie Kikumoto of Elko, Tracy Mori of Tuscarora and Trina Flowers of Sacramento, four nieces and four nephews; two great-nephews and several aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her father Charles. In her memory, contributions are suggested to Friends For Life, P.O.

Box 1143, Elko 89803. rQ, State board stepping up discipline of contractors 'fey ti (Anociated Press) Activists from an Indonesian Muslim group shouted "Jihad! Jihad!" (Holy War!) during a protest at the Welcome Monument in Jakarta Monday. About 200 demonstrators gathered to demand that the Indonesian government take swift action to stop the killings of Muslims by Christians in Maluku province or they will wage a holy war to avenge their deaths. National weather The AccuWeather forecast for noon, Tuesday, Jan. 11.

-10 -Oe Os) 1te20e30sOeSOeOOe70eSOeMe 100 110 Bands separate high temperature zones for th day. No services are planned for Ruth Lucille Bustos 1 FRONTS: COLO WARM STATIONARY Ice tunny PI Cloudy Cloudy Local summary A fast westerly flow will continue through the end of the week across the Great Basin. This will bring periodic low pressure systems along with a continued threat of rain or snow to mainly Northern Nevada. Bko Statistics Record high- 57.1961 Record low- Month's prefpftsflon-- .07" Water year pradp- .81" Tomorow'iw1a- 7:07 Tonwrrowsunsjai- 435 NTXTTroedcciodltjons 7334888 2000 AccuWeather, Inc. ca Melvin "Frank" Gross, a Reno homeowner who has fifed complaints with the board, praised its new direction.

"I think they're a lot more receptive," he told the Reno Gazetteournal. "Here you have a young lady (Executive Officer Margi Grein) who is going up against Goliath companies. What is at stake here is more than anyone realizes." Gross said his house in northwest Reno, built by McKim Homes, was fixed only after three years of persistent complaining to the board. Last week, the board fined McKim $15,000 for taking too long to make repairs and ordered the builder to pay $17,953 for investigative costs. McKim's lawyer didnt return a phone call.

Not everybody is happy about the board's new direction. At least a half-dozen board investigators have quit or been fired in recent months, with some saving the board is going too far in regulating contractors. "The organization for a long time was run good," said Bob Kennedy, a veteran investigator who resigned last summer. "Now it has turned 100 percent pro-consumer. They are just beating the contractor to death.

"I have a great rapport with contractors and I could explain things to contractors and consumers. Most contractors will take care of what they need to 99 percent of these boys do a good job." The Builders Association of Northern Nevada plans to discuss the recent changes with the board, said Bob Jones, the group's executive director. "We've always been happy with the 2321 Dow Jones 49.64 NEW YORK (AP) Technology and media shares led the Nasdaq composite to its biggest point gain ever and the Dow Jones industrials to a new closing high as investors celebrated the $166 billion planned merger of America Online and Time Warner. The Nasdaq composite index rose 16657 to 4,049.59, according to preliminary calculations. The technology-dominated index has risen more than 300 points in the past two sessions, wiping out most remnants of a three-day slump that knocked 400 points off the Nasdaq last week.

The Dow rose 49.64 to 1157120, topping Friday's record close of 1L522J56. Broader market indicators were also higher. RENO, Nev. (AP) A state board is stepping up enforcement of new regulations designed to protect consumers from shoddy construction. Contractors Board disciplinary actions have soared more than 500 percent over the past two years as the agency flexes new muscle gained from the Nevada Legislature, The new laws were passed after many homeowners complained the board favored contractors, hired unqualified investigators and took too long to process complaints.

From July through December 1999, the board disciplined contractors 97 times and revoked 49 licenses. That compares to 18 disciplinary actions and seven revocations over the same period in 1997. "I think we're much more effective," said Deborah Sheltra, the only consumer representative on the seven-member board. "We have members who do not tolerate contractors jerking people around." Forest road mapping scheduled Assembly John Carpenter is searching for that road that takes people to a favorite hunting spot, or that little out-of-the-way two-track trail that leads to the best fishing in the state, or the road a rancher uses to get feed to his herd and he wants to share that information with the U.S. Forest Service.

Carpenter, R-Elko, is asking the people of White Pine, Nye, Lander and Eureka counties to share the secret and not-so-secret locations of all those roads with the federal agency in an attempt to eliminate "roadless" area designation proposed for millions of acres in Nevada. Carpenter said he will have maps of all the counties on display beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Stockmen's Hotel and Casino. The idea is to get people to mark up the maps with all the known roads running through the forest and submit those maps to the agency as comment from the people of the state. "We especially want the users of the forest to be there," he said.

Also under discussion will be Jarbidge's South Canyon Road issue and the government's attempt to end the dispute by including the area in its "roadless" designation. High Low Showvrt Rain T-ttorms FturrtM tnow NATIONAL SUMMARY: II si gofo to be mM tomorrow atong In Mairie to the 6Y)e In southern Florida Arctic falls over the northern Rockies and Cascade Coeatal rain fal from trie Cy Francisco. No services are planned for Ruth Lucille Bustos, longtime Elko resident who died Friday at Elko General Hospital at age 87. She was born March 13, 1912, in Eagleville, to Gabrielle and Gene Vive Scott She was schooled in Antioch, then went to San Francisco, where she graduated from business school. She married Bonnie Bustos on Aug.

Julie Black service here A memorial service for Elko native Julie Rae Black, 44, who died Friday in a Salt Lake City hospital, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Burns Funeral Chapel. Cremation will be in Salt Lake City. She was born May 15, 1955, to Charles C. and Florence A.

"Flossie" Erquiaga Black. She owned and operated Bristle Cone Craft Shop in Elko and had been a member of the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society and the Western Folklife Center. She enjoyed beadwork, cross- Elko FORECAST Low YeterrJsyirttrrfayitowartprv captation, tot th 24-hou period end- 28 45 trig rntoragnc Bko- 4234 Austin- 49(27 By- 4028 Las Vegas- 6037 Reno- 4943 Tonopah- 5526 Wkforsa- 3221 Wrremurxa- 4941 Sal Lake City- 4036 SanFranasco- 5650 Base- County Faktooarf is taking bids lor usage of the tacSties for year 2000. For more information cal the Fair Office at 738-3616 or attend the meeting on Wednesday, January 12, at 7:30 pjrt in the Spade Room at Stockmen..