Area briefing

The Clark County Fire Department plans an open house from noon-3 p.m. Saturday at Station 18, 575 E. Flamingo Road.

Residents are welcome to attend to learn more about the fire department and safety techniques that are geared to benefit the whole family.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/7mc3ed5 or call 455-7311.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING AVAILABLE

The city of Las Vegas is offering an American Red Cross lifeguard training course through May at the Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road, and the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 Center Drive.

Those who successfully complete the course will be certified for two years in lifeguard training, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an automated external defibrillator.

Participants must be 15 or older.

For more information or to apply, visit lasvegasnevada.gov and click “I want to apply for” and then “jobs” or call 229-6309.

SHADOW LANE IMPROVEMENTS
TO CAUSE LANE RESTRICTIONS

Roadway improvements started recently on Shadow Lane between Alta Drive and Charleston Boulevard and will continue for the next four weeks, according to the city of Las Vegas.

Work is set to be conducted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The project will include improvements to sidewalk areas to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, the installation of an underground traffic signal conduit and construction of foundations for a future traffic signal at the intersection of Pinto and Shadow lanes.

One lane in each direction will remain open during these activities on Shadow Lane, but motorists are advised to use Rancho or Tonopah drives as alternative routes, the city said. Pinto Lane will be closed to through traffic at the Shadow Lane intersection periodically.

This is the first phase of a larger project. The second phase, which consists of sewer line and full-depth asphalt pavement removal and replacement and traffic-control improvements, is scheduled to begin in early April.

Drew Asphalt Paving Inc. is the contractor. City of Las Vegas Department of Operations and Maintenance personnel are managing the project.

Project funding is provided by the city of Las Vegas and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. The estimated cost for this phase of construction is $216,000.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-6011.

PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY
TO BE TOPICS DURING 1ST TUESDAY

Pedestrian and traffic safety are scheduled to be the topics during the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s monthly 1st Tuesday events, set for 7 to 8 p.m. today at the department’s area commands around the valley.

Attendees can learn more about what police are doing to address the problem and what drivers and pedestrians need to do to prevent accidents and fatalities.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After discussing assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.

FREE RADON TEST KITS TO BE DISTRIBUTED
AT AWARENESS PRESENTATION

A community awareness presentation regarding the radioactive gas radon is set for 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 25 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive.

Attendees will receive a free radon test kit for their homes. Testing for the gas is encouraged by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada State Health Division.

Winter is the ideal time to test for radon as most homes are kept closed up for the winter, said Laura Au-Yeung, the southern area radon program coordinator for the cooperative extension. The test takes two to four days to conduct.

The leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers is radon, experts said. Although smokers have a higher risk of radon-induced lung cancer than nonsmokers, about 21,000 people die each year in the U.S. of lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure. The radon health risk is highly preventable, yet few people know about the radon risk or have their homes tested for it, according to valley officials.

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil and enters homes through foundation cracks, openings and some of the porous materials used to construct foundations and floors of homes. It is an odorless, colorless, invisible gas that can reach harmful levels when trapped indoors. Radon can enter any home, old or new.

For more information, call
Au-Yeung at 257-5550, email her at au-yeungl@unce.unr.edu or visit radonnv.com. Any professional or community group that wishes to schedule a radon awareness presentation also may contact
Au-Yeung.