Area briefing

SECRET SERVICE VETERAN HIRED AS COURT SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR

Twenty-three-year Secret Service veteran Douglas Coombs was recently selected as court security administrator for the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave.

Coombs’ experience includes a post as a special agent in charge and six years in private protection.

As the special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office, he supervised presidential, vice presidential and head-of-state visits to Nevada. Coombs is a Boston State College graduate and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado.

Coombs began his new post Sept. 6 and reports to the court security director, who is responsible for managing the security for the Clark County courts, including the Regional Justice Center, Family Court, Clark Place, the Phoenix building and the Flamingo campus.

Given recent incidents of violence locally and around the nation, courts and other public facilities continue to step up security, county officials said. The Regional Justice Center averages about 5,000 visitors a day who must pass through security screening.

The Regional Justice Center houses facilities for the Nevada Supreme Court, the Eighth Judicial District Court, the Las Vegas Township Justice Court and the Las Vegas Municipal Court.

For more information, visit clarkcountycourts.us.

DRIVER SAFETY CLASS SET FOR SEPT. 20

An AARP driver safety class is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at the h2u MountainView Office, 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 114.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers.

Attendees can receive a discount on automobile insurance. Class size is limited.

For more information, call 233-5474.

AL GILLESPIE NAMED INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS PRESIDENT

The International Association of Fire Chiefs recently installed North Las Vegas Fire Chief Al Gillespie as president and chairman of the board for 2011-12.

The installation took place Aug. 27 during the association’s Fire-Rescue International Conference in Atlanta.

Gillespie previously served as the 2nd and 1st vice president after being selected in an international election by his peers.

As board chairman, Gillespie will provide leadership to an 18-member board of directors. He will serve as the primary spokesperson for the association on matters of national and international interest. He will testify on behalf of the association at U.S. House and Senate hearings and serve as the representative dignitary for the association in all major political and international functions.

Gillespie has served as the treasurer and vice chairman for the Safety, Health and Survival section of the association and participated in the association’s membership task force. He has served as a board member of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers and as secretary/treasurer of that organization.

Gillespie has a strong labor/management background and has been a leader in developing team-working relationships between labor groups, including the International Association of Firefighters and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He has served as chairman of the Washington State Fire Chief’s Labor Relations Committee.

Gillespie is in his 35th year in the fire service and has served the city of North Las Vegas for more than six years.

LITTLE LEAGUE HONORS RETIRED OFFICER WITH 2011 CHALLENGER AWARD

Little League International Baseball & Softball’s 2011 Challenger Award was recently presented to retired Metropolitan Police Department corrections officer Tom Taycher.

The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the Little League ideal of providing all children the opportunity to play baseball, regardless of their ability. The ceremony was conducted on the field during the 2011 Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The event took place Aug. 18-28.

Taycher is the director of the Challenger Little League of Southern Nevada, which allows developmentally and physically challenged children the opportunity to play baseball.

As the parent of a son with multiple disabilities, Taycher was instrumental in creating a baseball field at Justice Myron E. Leavitt Family Park on East St. Louis and Eastern avenues. The park, formerly known as Jaycee Park, has received the approval of the American Disability Association.

Taycher served as a corrections officer at the Clark County Detention Center for 27 years and retired in 2008. He is only the 14th person to receive Little League’s Challenger Award.

For more information, visit littleleague.org/page58510.aspx or challenger-little-league-of-southern-nevada.org.