Mike Trask

Reporter/ General Assignment

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Story Archive

Planned dog park meets howls: ‘It’s just too close,’ homeowner says, echoing others in Henderson community; Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009; Henderson wants to add a dog park and an off-road bicycle track to the 60-acre Arroyo Grande Sports Complex. And, yes, neighbors are complaining.
Henderson has a plan to enliven a major artery: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009; Henderson has formalized plans to redevelop an eight-mile stretch of Boulder Highway that’s lined with aging strip malls, fast-food restaurants and the occasional small casino.
Plans for U.S. 93 leave many wanting: Boulder City mayor says he will continue to press for 13-mile bypass; Monday, Jan. 5, 2009; The first shovel will be driven into the ground this week for improvements to U.S. 93 between Hoover Dam and sleepy Boulder City.
Residents say, Hikers? Not in our back yard: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008; On the night when the Henderson City Council approved what is to be the city’s tallest buildings — the 30-story Park Heights towers — citizens showed up to discuss something much smaller: a 12-by-12-foot shelter, a sign, three benches and a trash can. That would be the Anthem East Trailhead, which Henderson plans to build in the spring in the Shadow Canyon Village neighborhood, a picture of suburbia with tasteful desert landscaping.
Library transfer is about people, too: Staffers, programs will change with branch’s management; Friday, Dec. 26, 2008; Green Valley Library did its best to nurture a sense of community.
Unlikely confidence: Developer sticking with Henderson tower plan: Monday, Dec. 22, 2008; The adage in the real estate and development business is location, location, location. But here may be a case of timing, timing, timing.
Improvised plow clears hilly Henderson: City workers use rented road grader to move snow off Anthem’s winding roads; Friday, Dec. 19, 2008; Ed Owens dragged himself out of bed for work at 6 a.m. Wednesday, ready for another day on the Henderson street maintenance crew.
Public sector imitates private on buyouts: Taking cue from businesses, Henderson and other U.S. cities are turning to the kinder cut to rein in payroll expenses; Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008; Earlier this month the Henderson City Council offered buyouts to certain city employees as a way to cut payroll costs in the long run.
Library in Henderson soon to be in its system, too: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008; The Green Valley Library will temporarily close beginning Dec. 23 in preparation for its transfer from the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to the Henderson Library District.
Finding a tiny niche, taking a big risk: Friday, Dec. 12, 2008; In June, with the recession gaining momentum, Lance and Monica Hibbert did something counterintuitive. They started a small business.
His artwork just doesn’t last: Ice sculptures can be simple, exquisite, even useful, but artist notes they’re only decorations; Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008; Denny Wold, 45, loves the cold and that’s a good thing because he’s in the ice business. He spends eight hours a day in a 20-degree walk-in freezer. And that’s golf weather for Wold.
A new McStore, a winning formula: Friday, Dec. 5, 2008; How’s this for timing: McDonald’s is opening its largest Nevada store next week — a two-story version on the Strip — while we’re in the throes of the worst recession in decades.
Traveling works fine for him: Attention-seeking USC graduate’s goal is 50 jobs in 50 states; Friday, Dec. 5, 2008; Daniel Seddiqui couldn’t find a job after graduating from the University of Southern California, so he created his own job. As a press agent. For himself.
Proposal for project with Henderson’s tallest building progresses to council: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008; There’s some good news for a major development project in Henderson. The city Planning Commission has recommended approving Park Heights, a 40-acre project anchored by what would be the tallest building in the city. The “tallest” title now goes to Sunset Station, at 230 feet.
Las Vegas Marathon on a new course: Stewards of race will turn it over to group with formidable track record; Monday, Dec. 1, 2008; The financial gasping and wheezing that has accompanied the Las Vegas Marathon in recent years suggest a problem that Nevada runners and fans would rather not consider as they approach Sunday’s annual race. After all, the company that runs the marathon, Devine Racing, needed to sell the Los Angeles Marathon for an amount reported to be at least $10 million to dig out of a financial hole.
A campaign closer to home: HOA boards might not be glamorous, but they can exert great influence on daily life; Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008; Mark Klein has made a pair of decisions that illustrate life on the edge of the desert in the new West.
Square one for Henderson lobbyists: At all levels, city has new elected officials, and groups are out to get a jump on the fresh contacts; Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008; Terri Barber will have her hands full over the next three months.
North Las Vegas Housing Authority chief resigns: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008; North Las Vegas Housing Authority Chief Executive Don England resigned from his post today, North Las Vegas City Councilmen William Robinson and Robert Eliason said.
Henderson school’s dorm plans dashed: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008; Plans to convert Henderson International School classrooms into dorms for as many as 60 foreign students abruptly ended this week, to the relief of anxious neighborhood residents.
NLV senior center idea not flying: Councilwoman in mayoral bid presses notion despite declining tax revenue, new facility opening in 2010; Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008; North Las Vegas will soon have its third community center for residents of all ages but it doesn’t have any reserved for the exclusive use of its seniors. City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith wants to change that.
Preservation question still to be answered: Initial study on Upper Las Vegas Wash spurs another round of debate; Monday, Nov. 17, 2008; For 30 months preservationists have been waiting for the findings of a Utah State University study on the potential effects of developing the Upper Las Vegas Wash, a broad swath of archaeologically rich land that may determine how far Las Vegas and North Las Vegas grow into the desert.
Traffic backups near Aliante Station won’t last long: Monday, Nov. 17, 2008; Inside Aliante Station, North Las Vegas’ newest casino, it was all smiles and free drinks during the grand opening celebration on Tuesday.
At casino opening, being somebody is not without perks, or drawbacks: Friday, Nov. 14, 2008; Bob Borgersen couldn’t wait to check out the new casino in his neighborhood.
North Las Vegas eyes foreclosure solution: Federal crisis aid may pay for demolition at cost of moving people into homes; Friday, Nov. 14, 2008; North Las Vegas wants to spend about $7.6 million of foreclosure crisis aid money to buy and demolish a failed apartment complex, the only idea of its kind among the plans for the $54 million allocated to Southern Nevada.
Bureau of Land Management isn’t selling, so funding for parks tanks: Local governments request less, shift focus from new projects to renovations; Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008; With the real estate market tanking, developers are no longer asking the government to put its land up for top-dollar auction. As a result, the stream of money for parks has turned to a trickle.
Dormitory plans rile neighbors: Henderson International tries to assuage concerns about rowdy teenagers; Friday, Nov. 7, 2008; A plan by Henderson International School to become a boarding school for 60 students — mostly from the Far East — is riling neighbors who don’t want to welcome more teenagers to their streets.
In barbershop, anxiety as results roll in: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008; Darryl Jones, a tall, quiet 35-year-old barber, arrived at work Tuesday to find an Obama flier hanging on the front door of his shop. He had voted. For Barack Obama.
Plan for 30-story buildings moving slowly in Henderson: Monday, Nov. 3, 2008; The plan to build a massive mixed use project on the former gravel pit at Stephanie Street and Wigwam Parkway in Henderson still hasn’t received Planning Commission approval.
A piece of paper, a point of pride for this voter’s family: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008; John Stephens II, who is black, cast his vote last week with a sense of purpose, history and pride, clutching a pink piece of paper that shows how far the nation has come. It goes back to 1926, when Stephens’ great-great-great aunt was forced to pay a $1.50 poll tax for the right to vote.
Retail strip edges out credit freeze: But competition for tenants is growing; Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008; The concrete buildings along Lake Mead Parkway would not be standing had this 73-acre project begun any later. There would be no Target store anchoring what will become a 100-store complex near Water Street in Henderson.
Minister to base his war on porn at local church: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008; A minister who has achieved a degree of celebrity status for helping people addicted to pornography says he is moving his niche evangelical Christian effort to ground zero — Las Vegas.
Valley’s city governments feeling pinch: Tax revenue is down, cutbacks are likely; Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008; The largest suburban governments in the region — Henderson and North Las Vegas — are facing pressing budgetary concerns at a time when their residents are tightening their belts.
In Boulder City, two officials arouse ire from new sources: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008; Small-town politics in Boulder City get stranger by the day. The latest town gossip involves allegations against the city clerk and a city councilwoman. Neither allegation will result in charges.
John Grogan: Reformed reporter wrote ‘Marley & Me’: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008; John Grogan became part of American pop culture with his first book, “Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog.” A movie version arrives in theaters this Christmas.
Californians' work for Obama is here: Their own state in the bag, they trek east, brave cold to boost campaign; Friday, Oct. 17, 2008; Las Vegas has gone Hollywood for Barack Obama — or perhaps it’s more correct to say Hollywood has gone Las Vegas.
Aging Boulder City Hospital dares to dream of progress during downturn: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008; Tom Maher wanders around the 67-bed Boulder City Hospital, some of its tile floors unchanged since 1973.
Still hoping for peace on Earth: North Las Vegas Franciscans dedicated to abolishing nuclear weapons; Friday, Oct. 10, 2008; On a side street in one of the bleakest neighborhoods in the Las Vegas Valley, a small residential lot is distinguished by three old barracks from Nellis Air Force Base.
They’re cutting back, but they're having fun: Visitors determined to have a good time don’t want to hear financial news; Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008; Jim Erbes came to Las Vegas because of the economy, not despite it. He cut his vacation with his wife and son from $5,000 worth of airfare and resort stays to a 310-mile drive from Scottsdale and two days at the Excalibur for $63 each.
How times have changed: Now shopping center is news: North Las Vegas OKs $110 million plaza; Monday, Oct. 6, 2008; The approval of a shopping center wouldn’t have been too newsworthy back in the heyday of growth in Southern Nevada when strip malls seemed to be sprouting on every thoroughfare.
For hikers in Henderson, park will offer happy trails: Monday, Oct. 6, 2008; When you’re a desert city with a 20-acre lake, there must be something you can do with it.
One in a city of 215,000 and still struggling: Independent bookseller has monopoly in North Las Vegas, but not enough customers; Friday, Oct. 3, 2008; The phone rings at Bestseller Books in North Las Vegas, where used paperbacks are stacked to the 12-foot ceiling.
Mike Little, the accidental environmentalist: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008; Mike Little is an alchemist, entrepreneur, developer and accidental environmentalist who has been pushing plans for a trash-to-energy plant in Boulder City. Boulder City has been listening carefully, although it has not made any commitments.
Bad driving proven, NLV camera-ready: Data in hand, city renews push for stoplight tool; Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008; North Las Vegas has installed sensors to track how many vehicles blow red lights at two of the busiest intersections in the city: Martin Luther King Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue, and Camino Al Norte and Craig Road.
When Mocha Joes opens, it won’t have to look far for advertising: Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008; For the past 10 years Mike Hopper has run Sin City Mad Men, a marketing and advertising company. He’s given many clients advice on interior design and getting attention.
Casino's plans on hold: Economy forces Silver Nugget to delay its contribution to North Las Vegas redevelopment; Friday, Sept. 26, 2008; Walk outside the front door of the 45-year-old Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas and there’s nothing to see — unless you’re looking for the future.
Pit in Henderson may sprout towers: Friday, Sept. 19, 2008; Over the years two plans have been floated for the vacant land on the northwest corner of Stephanie Street and Wigwam Parkway in Henderson.
What price desolation?: Rachel residents consider raising $900 to continue fight against development; Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008; The residents of Rachel lost the first round in their fight to keep a private prison out of their community of fewer than 100 people. Now, they might not be able to afford to fight the second round.
Deal likely for Fiesta worker housing: Developer says it could become model for valley; Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008; The Henderson City Council will review plans today for what a developer is calling a workforce housing project near Fiesta Henderson.
Library branches out to mall, going where the foot traffic is: Monday, Sept. 15, 2008; The store in the Galleria at Sunset in Henderson, the one that sells toys just outside of Mervyns, will cease as a retail operation next year.
Six questions for North Las Vegas City Councilman William Robinson: Monday, Sept. 15, 2008; William Robinson has served on the North Las Vegas City Council for 26 years, a time in which the city’s population rose from 40,000 to more than 230,000.