March '06 Insider Viewpoint Column

As our name states... Insider Viewpoint of Las Vegas, the facts and gossip from the streets of Las Vegas.

February 25, 2006 Street Facts

* Upcoming performances at the Silverton Casino include a concert on 3/18, Juice Newton 8p tickets are $25 and on 3/24-25 KC & The Sunshine Band 8p tickets are $40.

* The Oak Ridge Boys will make a one night performance at the Dallas Even Center at Texas Station Casino. Tickets are $22.50 and the event is March 3 at 8p.

* Tacone Flavor Grill, one of the fastest-growing quick-service gourmet food franchises in America, will open its doors to offer healthy and tantalizing treats at its first restaurant on The Strip, inside The Shops in Desert Passage, in March 2006.

* Fattburger is set to perform at Fiesta Rancho Casino on Friday, March 10 at 8p inside Club Tequila. Tickets are $15.00, $20.00, and $25.00.

* Arizona Charlie's Boulder Casino has started their $8 million expansion project that will add 7,300 square-feet of space for additional gaming areas along with a new front desk, Ultimate Rewards Center, gift shop and Porte cochere. The projected completion date is scheduled for summer of 2006.

* Famous Las Vegan dies at age 85, Frank Scott the founder of the Plaza Casino. The Plaza Casino opened in 1971 and Mr. Scott's partners included Sam Boyd, J. K. Houssels Jr. and United States Senator Howard Cannon.

* The Las Vegas Clark County School District has agreed to a contract for their new superintendent, Walt Rulffes. The contract is for 19 months and can be extended. Rulffes will be paid $290,000.00 annually. At least someone in the teaching profession is getting paid a decent wage.

* Speaking of Vegas school systems, the drop out rate is declining for the first time in three years. For the period of 2004-05 school year the drop out rate was 6.8 percent, this is down by over 1 percent.

* Nevada's Freeway Service Patrol is a free service to people who have disabled vehicles on I-15, the freeway that runs through the center of Las Vegas. Starting Monday this service that is funded by the State of Nevada will expand on I-15 from Las Vegas to California state line and additional coverage on Highway 95 in Henderson.

* The 22nd sub critical nuclear experiment was conducted at the Nevada Test Site this past Thursday. The experiment, named Krakatau, was considered a success. This event was conducted by scientists from Los Alamos New Mexico and the Atomic Weapons Establishment of the United Kingdom. The Nevada Test Site is located only 85 miles from Las Vegas.

* Rumor has it that Usher, the rhythm and blues Grammy winner, is searching for a headliner position in Las Vegas. He has been spotted on several recent trips to Vegas and his entourage includes some of the most powerful people in the entertainment world.

* North Las Vegas may be larger in population than Reno within the next few years. The population for North Las Vegas at the end of 2005 was 180, 219 and Reno population is 206,735. North Las Vegas last year grew at an amazing 9.2 percent increase.

March 5, 2006 Street Facts

* Yes it is true. The Hard Rock Casino condo project is now dead. Last week it was announced the proposed partner who was putting up the $1 billion was pulling out, therefore this persuaded Casino owner, Peter Morton, to immediately put out the for sale sign on the property. Very sketchy information is available to those who already put up money for their condo, looks like another major legal battle will be happening for the failed project.

* New afternoon show has started at the Riviera Casino, called The Matsuri Show. A very unique Japanese show fusing world-class athletics, extreme sports, and a symphony of sounds created by tapping, clapping, and stomping the stage. The show plays through April 29. Show times are 4p Sat-Thu, 7:30 and 10:30p on Fri. Ticket price is $59.95 general admission, $69.95 VIP seating, $39.95 for children under 12.

* A compromise has come together between Las Vegas Police Protect Association and Clark County and the City of Las Vegas. A new contract has been agreed upon that will increase the 2,600 Las Vegas police and correction officers a 21.8 percent increase over the next four years. They originally wanted 26.5 percent increase. The Las Vegas police salaries are ranked 14th highest based on the top 200 police departments in the United States. North Las Vegas police force is rated 3rd and Henderson is rated 10th.

* A new art exhibit, Rubens and his Age, is on display at the Gugenheim Hermitage Museum inside the Venetian Casino is now through July 31, 2006.

* Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Friday that the Energy Department will not move nuclear waste to Nevada until the repository at Yucca Mountain receives its final license. To obtain the final license could take years.

* Blood Sweat & Tears with Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night will perform at the Cannery Casino on May 13, 8p. Tickets are $14.95 and $20.95. Also the Cannery Casino presents the 2006 Triple Threat Country Concert with BlackHawk, Little Texas and Restless Heart on Saturday, June 3 at 8p at The Club. Tickets are $16.95 and $22.95.

* Another great Las Vegan musician died this past week at the age of 84, Irv Kluger. Living in Vegas since the early 60's, Kluger played with the best including Artie Shaw, Charlie Parker, Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie to name a few. He also worked with some prominent singers with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee. He was a regular Friday night entertainer at the Pogo's Tavern for the past two decades.

* Each year more than 2,000 school teachers are hired to fill the Clark County School District, which is the fifth largest in the United States.

* March 10 will be the date when Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins will receive plans of the Speedway Motorsports to build two 10-story condominium towers overlooking turn two of the race track. The Las Vegas race track will need to obtain a height variance because it is located directly across the street from Nellis Air Force base which has more than 80 aircraft taking off over the speedway daily.