Area Briefing, May 28-June 3

TRAFFIC FATALITY NUMBERS LISTED
ON DIGITAL FREEWAY SIGNS

The Nevada Department of Transportation is posting traffic fatality numbers on digital freeway boards to remind motorists to drive safely.

The signs display updated statewide traffic death numbers and messages such as reminders to buckle up and avoid driving impaired.

The initiative was prompted by last year’s rise in traffic deaths, the department said.

Preliminary numbers show that 258 traffic fatalities occurred on Nevada roads in 2012, an increase of 12 deaths compared to the previous year, officials said. Conversely, Nevada traffic fatalities have generally trended downward after reaching a high of 432 in 2006.

Under the Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Nevada traffic and safety advocates implement enforcement, engineering, emergency medical and educational strategies to cut yearly traffic fatality averages in half by 2030.

For more information, visit zerofatalitiesnv.com.

GREEN POOL CASES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING DURING SUMMER

The Clark County code enforcement division recently said it has seen an increase in green pool cases this year and expects complaints to swell significantly during summer.

Green pools are breeding grounds for mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as the West Nile virus, county officials said. In 2012, the virus struck eight people in the county, including one person who died from the disease, according to county officials.

Residents of unincorporated Clark County are asked to report green pools by calling 702-455-4191 or visiting clarkcountynv.gov. Valley residents also can call code enforcement at 702-229-6251 in the city of Las Vegas’ jurisdiction, 702-267-3950 in the city of Henderson and 702-633-1677 in North Las Vegas.

The county reported 181 green pool cases in April, compared to 127 the same time last year. The county dealt with 853 green pool cases in 2012, up from 543 green pool cases in 2011.

County officials attributed the jump to increased public awareness of the dangers of green pools.

ANIMAL SHELTERS ANTICIPATE INCREASE
IN NEED TO HOUSE HOMELESS PETS

The Animal Foundation is seeking residents’ help as it braces for an increase in pet intakes due to the warmer weather.

The foundation recently announced the launch of the Foster Project, a communitywide initiative aimed at inspiring residents to open their doors to homeless dogs and cats in need of temporary homes. Organizers said they hope the initiative will recruit enough foster families to alleviate some of the stresses that shelters and rescues experience during the summer.

Through the project, 14 valley animal rescue organizations and shelters are offering different foster opportunities and sign up via animalfoundation.com/project to get involved.

Participating animal shelters and rescue groups include The Animal Foundation, Bull Terrier Rescue Nevada, Colossal Canine Care, Doberman Rescue of Nevada, English Springer Rescue America, the Little Friends Foundation, Paws 4 Love Pet Rescue, PeiPeople Shar Pei Rescue, Second Chance Animal Rescue, Senior Spaniel Rescue Inc., Sin City Saint Rescue, the Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation and Southern Nevada Bully Breed Rescue.

WEBSITE OFFERS TIPS ON HOW
TO STAY SAFE WHILE PARTYING

The Rape Crisis Center and Tao Cares, the charitable arm of the Tao Group, have joined forces to launch partysmartinlv.com, which offers tips on how to have fun while staying safe.

The website is intended to remind partygoers to use common sense and follow the listed tips to ensure they have a good time without compromising safety. The site is targeted toward young men and women.

Trusting the wrong person or not knowing when to stop partying can have lasting negative effects on people’s lives, said Daniele Dreitzer, executive director of the Rape Crisis Center.

HENDERSON POLICE CAPTAINS GRADUATE FROM MANAGERIAL SCHOOL

Two Henderson Police Department captains recently graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command for law enforcement managers.

Capts. Marc Cassell and Dane Mattoon completed the local 10-week program. It helps prepare law enforcement managers for senior command positions by combining academics with practical applications. Topics of study include management and management theory, organizational behavior, human resources for law enforcement, budgeting, staffing allocation and personnel deployment.

JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CAMP SCHEDULED

Junior Lifeguard Camp for youths ages 11 to 14 is planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17 to 21 at the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

The cost is $115 per youngster. Upon successful completion of the camp, participants will earn an American Red Cross adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and learn essential pool life-saving skills.

Participants must bring a bathing suit, a towel, a change of clothes, lunch, snacks and beverages.

For more information, call 702-229-1488.

HOME POOL SAFETY TRAINING PLANNED

Home pool safety training is planned for 9 to 10 a.m. June 15 and 7 to 8 p.m. June 20 at the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

The cost is $25 for the one-hour program, offered by city of Las Vegas aquatic unit staff members. Sun safety will be incorporated into the training.

Call 702-229-1488 for more information.

AMERICAN RED CROSS TO OFFER
TRAINING FOR BABY-SITTING

American Red Cross baby sitter training for youths ages 11 to 15 is set for 4 to 8 p.m. June 11, 13 and 14 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 29 and 30 at the Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive.

The cost is $75 per participant. The class covers child and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic first aid skills and pointers on starting a baby-sitting business.

Call 702-229-1488 for more information.

OPTIONAL SEWER LINE INSURANCE OFFERED

The National League of Cities is offering a program to city of Las Vegas residents interested in purchasing warranty protection for the small sewer lines that extend from their homes to the main sewer line, the city announced.

Residents are responsible for the sewer line that connects their homes to the city’s sewer system, city officials said. These sewer laterals normally extend from the home to about halfway into the street, where they connect with a main sewer line. The city is responsible only for the main sewer lines.

Residents can expect a letter from Service Line Warranties of America offering the optional sewer line insurance in the event of a line break or other maintenance issues. The city receives a royalty from Service Line Warranties of America, and the program is being offered at no cost to the city.

The warranty covers sewer line repairs up to $4,000, plus an additional allowance of $4,000 for public street cutting.

For more information, contact Service Line Warranties of America at 866-922-9006 or visit slwofa.com.

CONTRACTORS BOARD OFFERS ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY SPOUSES

The Nevada State Contractors Board offers an assistance program for veterans transitioning into civilian employment and spouses of active-duty military personnel who are relocating to Nevada.

Military spouses move from state to state more often than the general population and face certain challenges in obtaining licenses to perform their trades, the board said. Veterans, meanwhile, sometimes do not receive proper credit for the work experience they gained while serving their country, according to the board.

The assistance program offers:

n A staff member who is trained to evaluate transferable military training and experience from all branches of the military that meet minimum licensing requirements.

n Consideration of military experience and training when the board evaluates college credits to determine acceptable education levels for license applicants.

n Evaluation of military spouses’ records of licensure to determine whether they are eligible for a waiver of certain experience requirements for licensure.

For more information, contact license analyst Barbara Miller at 702-486-1100, extension 7814, or bamiller@
nscb.state.nv.us.

WEEKEND BUILDING INSPECTIONS
ADD UP IN CITY OF LAS VEGAS

City of Las Vegas building inspectors have responded to more than 1,200 weekend inspections since the city expanded operation for the service to seven days per week in July 2012.

To schedule an inspection Monday through Friday, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/schedule/inspections.htm or call 702-229-4677. For inspections on Saturday or Sunday, call 702-229-4076.

POLICE EXPLORER SELECTED FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN VIRGINIA

Metropolitan Police Department Explorer Anthony Gariano was recently selected to attend the 2013 National Law Enforcement Leadership Academy, hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Gariano was one of 50 students selected from across the nation to participate in the program. He is set to travel this summer to the Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters in Virginia, where he will attend a weeklong academy to learn leadership skills.

Participants also are slated to travel to the headquarters of the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Secret Service to learn about those agencies.

For more information, visit lvmpdexplorers.com or call 702-671-5886.

AMBULANCE COMPANY
CONDUCTS DISASTER DRILL

Community Ambulance conducted a disaster drill May 11 to practice its emergency response plan and train about 30 emergency medical technician students.

The event, which took place at the EMS Training Centers of Southern Nevada, 3310 Sunrise Ave., included a mock explosion in a building, producing victims with simulated wounds who were transported from the scene.

CAMPAIGN TARGETS ILLEGAL DUMPING

Clark County commissioners and several partners unveiled the Keep Clark County Clean campaign May 2 to boost awareness about illegal dumping and littering.

In advance of the summer flood season, county commissioners and area agencies are seeking the public’s help to eliminate litter from streets, sidewalks and neighborhoods and to stop illegal dumping on vacant lots and desert areas.

Campaign partners include the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, the Clark County Water Reclamation District, the Southern Nevada Health District, the Las Vegas Valley Water District, Republic Services and Outdoor Promotions Inc.

Discarded cardboard boxes, plastic shopping bags, fast-food containers, illegally dumped tree branches, bushes and construction debris get washed into flood control channels and add to cleanup issues after a storm, officials said. The county spends more than $2.2 million a year cleaning up such trash.

As part of the campaign, billboards posted at 30 area bus shelters encourage the public to report illegal dumping to the Southern Nevada Health District by calling 702-759-0600 or filling out a complaint form at southernnevada
healthdistrict.org. Residents in unincorporated Clark County can report complaints to the county’s public response office at 702-455-4191 or fill out a form at clarkcountynv.gov. Residents also can report a dumping in progress by calling 311.

The campaign includes a new section on the county’s website that deals with how and where to report illegal dumping. The section has a list of transfer stations and landfill locations and guidelines on what can be picked up curbside or disposed of at drop-off sites as part of Republic Services’ household hazardous waste program.

For more information, visit paininthedrain.com.

AMNESTY PROGRAM OFFERED
FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Southern Nevada building departments are encouraging homeowners to participate in an amnesty program during May that waives penalties on self-disclosed residential construction conducted without permits.

During the amnesty, which coincides with Building Safety Month, homeowners in Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas will be subject to paying regular fees for permits, inspections and plan reviews but not penalties. Fees for residential-related construction range from $60 to more than $400.

The primary goal of the amnesty is to encourage safety and self-disclosure of nonpermitted work and obtain compliance. The most common residential projects built on residential property without the necessary permits are garage conversions, room additions, patio covers and water heater installations, building officials said.

To apply for the amnesty program, a homeowner must first contact the building department in the jurisdiction where the home is located to obtain the necessary permit forms. The homeowner must also take part in a five-minute educational training session regarding the building permit process.

Government locations are:

n The Clark County Building Department’s Permit Application Center, 4701 W. Russell Road, 702-455-3000 or clarkcountynv.gov.

n The Las Vegas Building and Safety Department in the Development Services Center, 333 N. Rancho Drive, 702-229-6251 or lasvegasnevada.gov.

n The Henderson Community Development and Services Department, Division of Building and Fire Safety in the Development Services Center at Henderson City Hall, 240 S. Water St., 702-267-3600 or cityofhenderson.com.

n The North Las Vegas Permit Application Center at North Las Vegas City Hall, 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 702-633-1577 or cityofnorthlasvegas.com.