Area Briefing, July 23-29

F STREET REOPENING PROJECT
TO CAUSE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

The Nevada Department of Transportation plans to implement lane reductions, traffic shifts and various closures through spring 2014 as part of the $13.6 million project to reopen F Street under Interstate 15.

The traffic restrictions represent Phases 2 and 3 of the project.

During Phase 2, I-15 will be reduced to two lanes northbound and southbound between Lake Mead Boulevard and U.S. Highway 95. Northbound freeway traffic will move to the southbound side so crews can construct the northbound portion of the new F Street Bridge. In addition, the D Street off-ramp from northbound I-15 and the F Street-D Street connector will be closed through late fall.

Once the northern portion of the bridge is complete, Phase 3 will begin. It is expected to last until spring 2014 and includes moving southbound freeway traffic to the northbound side so crews can construct the southbound portion of the F Street Bridge. A temporary ramp to accommodate southbound I-15-to-Las Vegas Beltway traffic will also be built, transportation officials said. Two lanes on I-15 will be maintained in each direction throughout the project area.

The F Street reopening project has seven phases. Though time lines for the remaining phases haven’t been determined, the project is scheduled for completion in 2014. For more information, call 511 or visit nvroads.com.

SAFE SUMMER NIGHTS CELEBRATION PLANNED AUG. 6 AT KELLY ELEMENTARY

Residents are invited to get to know each other and enjoy music, games, entertainment and more during a Safe Summer Nights celebration set for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Kelly Elementary School, 1900 N. J St.

The free event is aimed at promoting peace and safety. Free hot dogs, chips and water are scheduled to be served while supplies last. A community resource fair at the event will offer information regarding youth activities, health services, community safety, money management programs, adult education opportunities, living assistance and more.

Participants are slated to include area nonprofit organizations and city of Las Vegas officials. For more information, call 702-229-5406.

CLARK COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
TO HOST OPEN HOUSE AT STATION 33

The Clark County Fire Department plans an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at Station 33, 865 E. Desert Inn Road.

Back-to-school safety will be a theme at the event, which also is set to include the Metropolitan Police Department’s McGruff the crime dog and the Clark County Fire Department’s fire safety house to teach children how to get out of their homes safely in case of fire.

For more information, call 702-455-7311.

The department hosts open houses with community partners on Saturdays every other month at different fire stations.

Participating agencies include the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition, the American Red Cross, Nevada Child Seekers, Nevada Healthy Homes and staff members from the Clark County business license and the district attorney’s offices.

ALTA DRIVE PROJECT PLANNED
AT VALLEY VIEW AND RANCHO DRIVE

Roadway improvements are planned through mid-August on Alta Drive between Valley View Boulevard and Rancho Drive, according to the city of Las Vegas.

Work is set to include repaving, utility adjustments and new traffic stripping and will generally be conducted between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A rubberized asphalt mix will be used for the project due to its environmental benefits and sound-reduction for adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Motorists are advised to use Charleston Boulevard or U.S. Highway 95 as alternate east and west travel routes.

Las Vegas Paving Corp. is the contractor, and the city of Las Vegas Department of Operations and Maintenance is managing the $400,000 project. Funding is provided by the city of Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE GETS NEW CHIEF

The Las Vegas City Council recently appointed William McDonald as the chief of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

More than 60 candidates from across the nation were considered for the position.

McDonald succeeds former Clark County Fire Chief Steven Smith, who has been providing interim leadership for the department since April 22.

McDonald most recently served as the San Jose, Calif., fire chief. He has more than 35 years of continuous service as a firefighter and has served as a fire chief since Feb. 1, 1993.

McDonald holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno. He also completed a state and local government program at Harvard University in 2000 and a certified public manager program at Arizona State University in 2007. In addition, he is a graduate of the executive fire officer’s program through the National Fire Academy.

SEWER WORK TO CAUSE DELAYS ALONG STRETCH OF LAKE MEAD BOULEVARD

A sewer rehabilitation project is slated to cause delays and traffic restrictions along Lake Mead Boulevard from Rancho to Hills Center drives into the fourth quarter of the year, according to the city of Las Vegas.

Crews are set to repair or replace about 23,000 feet of 21- to 27-inch sewer line and 70 manholes on Lake Mead Boulevard. In addition, 18 manholes on Hills Center Drive from Lake Mead Boulevard to Covington Cross Drive will also be repaired or replaced.

Work is set to occur overnight in nonresidential areas and during daytime in residential areas. Motorists can expect lane closures, and pedestrians can expect sidewalk closures. East-west travel alternatives include Cheyenne Avenue and Craig Road. Pedestrian and business access will be maintained during construction, the city said.

Las Vegas Paving is the contractor for the $7.1 million project.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 702-229-6011.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT BLOCK PARTY PLANNED AT KNICKERBOCKER PARK

The Providence Master Homeowners Association plans a free National Night Out block party from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Knickerbocker Park, 10695 Dorrell Lane.

The party is set to feature exhibits, information and demonstrations from area first responders. Activities are also set to include video games, a disc jockey, volleyball and soccer. Free popsicles will be available, and other treats will be for sale.

The Providence Master Homeowners Association plans to share information about a traffic safety initiative aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries on valley roadways.

Event participants are slated to include the Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, Neighborhood Watch representatives, MedicWest Ambulance and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Safe Community Partnership.

For more information, call 702-216-2020.

HENDERSON POLICE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENS’ ACADEMY

The Henderson Police Department is accepting applications through July 25 for its upcoming Citizens’ Academy, planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays from Aug. 13 to Nov. 5.

The goal of the academy is to build a bridge between residents and police and provide a condensed version of a police academy.

Graduates of the program can gain insight into the life and training of a law enforcement officer. Topics to be covered include radio and communication, community policing, use of force, gang enforcement, crime scene investigation, detention center procedures, criminal justice, domestic violence and criminalistics.

Applicants must live or work in the city of Henderson, be at least age 18 and have no felony, gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor convictions.

Applications can be picked up at the main station, 223 Lead St.; the Green Valley Substation, 300 S. Green Valley Parkway; the North Community Police Station, 225 E. Sunset Road; or the community relations unit inside the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road. The application also be found at cityofhenderson.com/police.

For more information, call the Henderson Police Department training unit at 702-267-4850.

TALK SHOP WITH THE COPS EVENT
SET FOR JULY 23 AT WHITNEY RANCH

The Henderson Police Department plans a Talk Shop with the Cops event from 6 to 7 p.m. July 23 at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive, and from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Heritage Senior Center, 300 S. Racetrack Road.

The events are slated to focus on issues such as traffic, crime trends and neighborhood safety. A question-and-answer period is planned after the presentations.

The gatherings give residents a chance to voice any concerns and are geared to foster cooperation between police and the public.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/police or call 702-267-5000.

NORTH LAS VEGAS TO HOST
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT

The North Las Vegas Police Department plans to host a National Night Out celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6 at Hartke Park, 1900 E. Tonopah Road.

The event is set to include free food, information and entertainment to promote crime prevention awareness, local anti-crime programs and police-community partnerships.

For more information, call 702-631-9111 or visit tinyurl.com/northlasvegaspd.