Area briefing

The Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation plans to begin its 10th annual Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Saturday, collecting toys at select Walmarts across the valley from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 18.

The 10th annual drive is aimed at brightening the holiday season for families by providing gifts for their children, foundation President Warren Whitney said.

Firefighters and volunteers will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and gift cards at the Walmarts at 7200 Arroyo Crossing Parkway, 8060 W. Tropical Parkway, 6464 N. Decatur Blvd., 4350 N. Nellis Blvd. and 540 Marks St. in Henderson.

Local fire departments are joining together to supply volunteers and firetrucks to help make this year’s toy drive a success. Many local businesses also have partnered with the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation to sponsor this year’s drive. Local sponsors include Walmart, Storage One, the Vitality Medical & Wellness Center and the Links for Life Foundation. All local fire departments are supplying volunteers and trucks.

Several community service programs and organizations have partnered with the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation to distribute toys to families in need.

For more information, visit theburnfoundation.org or call 485-6820.

CONSTRUCTION ON PORTION OF LAS VEGAS BELTWAY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW

Construction is planned on a northern section of the Las Vegas Beltway between Tenaya Way and Decatur Boulevard to transform the stretch of road into a nonstop, four-lane freeway.

The project is to take about 2½ years to complete. Drivers should expect periodic lane and road closures, city of Las Vegas officials said.

As part of the project, new highway interchanges will be built at Jones and Decatur boulevards, and a new bridge will carry Bradley Road over the freeway.

When finished, commuters can expect to see improved traffic flow across the northern Las Vegas Beltway as there will be more than seven miles of nonstop freeway from just east of U.S. Highway 95 to Losee Road, city officials said.

RADKIDS CLASSES TO TEACH KIDS LIFE-SAVING SKILLS

Nevada Child Seekers plans to offer free radKIDS classes next month at Karate for Kids, 6020 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 6.

The sessions are set for 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 27 through 30 for 4- to 8-year-olds and 1 to 3 p.m. the same day for 9- to 12-year-olds.

The program is dedicated to providing life-saving skills for children by teaching them how to resist aggression defensively. Topics include fire, the home, the Internet, bullying and abduction.

The classes are taught by DARE officers who are certified radKIDS instructors.

All children who graduate will receive a T-shirt, a wristband and a graduation certificate bearing their picture. They also will receive a certificate allowing them to attend any radKIDS class in the future, up to age 13, free.

Parents will receive a family manual so they can follow their children’s progress at home or during class. Parents are encouraged to sit in on the classes as often as they can.

Residents can register at Karate for Kids or by calling Maria Pinot at 375-5617. For more information, call 458-7009, email carole@nevadachild seekers.org or visit radkids.org.

SEWER WORK UNDER WAY ON FOX LAKE AVENUE AND CASCADE RIVER STREET

The Clark County Water Reclamation District is scheduled to conduct a sewer rehabilitation project through at least Dec. 9 on Fox Lake Avenue and Cascade River Street.

Roughly 70 feet of pipeline will be replaced, and two manholes will be rehabilitated during the project, which began Nov. 14.

Travel lanes on Fox Lake Avenue and Cascade River Street will be affected while crews install new sewer line, rehabilitate manholes, install a temporary bypass sewer system and remove existing infrastructure, district officials said.

Work will take place from 6:30 a.m. through 3 p.m., with lane restrictions 24 hours a day to protect trenches and the bypass sewer lines.

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

SHOP WITH A COP PROGRAM SEEKS DONATIONS for december event

The Friends of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Foundation is seeking donations to help fund the annual Shop With A Cop event in early December.

The program is in need of several thousand dollars to help more than 130 children.

Kids team up with police officers for a shopping spree, allowing the children to select gifts for themselves. It’s also a chance to promote good will between police and the community, the department said.

For more information or to make a donation, email contact@lvmpd foundation.org or call 539-5741.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER RECRUITS HIRED AT AREA AGENCIES

Eight recruit corrections officers recently joined the ranks of law enforcement in Henderson and Las Vegas after graduating Nov. 9 from the Southern Desert Regional Police Academy.

Six of the officers will work for the Henderson Police Department and two will join the Las Vegas Department of Detention and Enforcement.

The graduation took place at the College of Southern Nevada’s Henderson campus.

The recruit officers received academic and practical training on various topics, including ethics, criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, principles of investigation, community policing and crisis intervention training during the 13-week academy.

The Henderson police recruit correction officers will now complete a 12-week field training program.

The Southern Desert Regional Police Academy is a partnership between the Henderson and North Las Vegas police departments and the College of Southern Nevada.

POLICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Metropolitan Police Department’s volunteer program was recently recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs.

The department was the only one in the U.S. to achieve the honor, which was presented Oct. 25 at the association’s 118th annual conference and awards banquet in Chicago.

Assistant Sheriff Greg McCurdy and volunteer program manager Sharon Harding accepted the award on behalf of Sheriff Doug Gillespie.

Last year, Metropolitan Police Department volunteers donated about 135,000 hours of community service to Southern Nevada.

The department has about 470 volunteers. They assist with a variety of activities, including at seat belt enforcement checks; helping crime prevention specialists with the distribution of crime prevention materials at McCarran International Airport and at events; staffing community safety fairs; assisting investigators in tracking electronic crimes; searching for missing people; writing handicapped parking citations; installing locks in low-income senior housing; removing graffiti from public areas; assisting with maintenance duties at the department’s mounted unit facility; assisting with traffic control at crime scenes and fatal traffic accidents; and staffing the reception desk at the department’s headquarters.

Applicants to the volunteer program must be 18 or older and must be able to pass a background check. Training for team members is tailored to the specific task they are volunteering to perform.

For more information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.