Silver State News Service

City’s Fire & Rescue Department Celebrates 65 Years

T.V. Special To Air On KCLV Channel 2
Beginning Wednesday

KCLV Channel 2, the city of Las Vegas’ government access television station, will air a special on the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, in honor of its 65th anniversary.

The special will also air at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23; 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24; 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25; 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26; 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 27; and noon on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

This special will chronicle the department’s history focusing on its growth, achievements and continued service to the community.

In addition to the special broadcast, a public service announcement (PSA) campaign, which will present 65 fire safety tips, has begun airing on KCLV. The department was also presented with a proclamation from the Las Vegas City Council at one of its recent meetings.

On Wednesday, Aug. 1, the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department celebrated 65 years of service; however, its history goes back much farther. The department actually got its start in 1906, a year after the city of Las Vegas was founded. The Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department had a station located along Fremont Street where the Binion’s Horseshoe parking deck now stands.

The department continued to be operated by volunteers until 1942, when members of the Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department petitioned City Hall to create a full-time fire department. With nearly 25,000 people visiting Las Vegas each weekend, members of the department were concerned with safety. The Las Vegas City Commissioners agreed and approved the formation of a full-time fire department. The paid firefighters were assisted by volunteer members as needed for large emergencies. In the beginning the department had two older pumper trucks, a pickup truck and two civil defense pump trailers. The department answered approximately 450 calls a year.

Today the department has 692 employees who work out of 16 fire stations and various other facilities. The department has more than 60 pieces of some of the most modern equipment in the world, answering more than 81,000 emergency calls a year. The department has an Insurance Services Offices Class One rating and is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Only eight fire departments worldwide have achieved such status, which means the department has the highest standards in rapid response for the public.

For more information on the department, visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov

Registration Begins Soon For Fall Activities, Sports And Senior Programs

The city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services has just published a new Fall Leisure Guide that details the wide variety of recreation and sports, special events, pool activities, holiday camps, youth initiatives and adaptive recreation offered. There are activities and sports programs for every family member, from the youngest to the oldest.

Get going on your healthy, active lifestyle at the center nearest you this fall with sports leagues and/or training, fitness and exercise classes, fun family events, after-school programs, educational workshops and leisure activities for all ages. Registration for the six-week Fall I session will be open from Aug. 18 through Sept. 7 for classes to be held Sept. 10 through Oct. 20. Registration for the Fall II session will be held Oct. 13 through 26 for classes Oct. 28 through Dec. 8.

Call any of the city’s leisure centers for information, registration numbers and a free Fall Leisure Guide class and activity schedule. The Fall Leisure Guide also is available online .
Save travel time by registering with a credit card online at

http://www.clvbeyondtheneon.com/

...or by touchtone phone at (702) 229-5445, once you have Leisure Access and LeisureLink numbers. In addition, you will need the codes for camps, classes and activities for which you wish to register. Registration also will be available at all of the following locations. Hours vary by location.

Freedom Walk 2007

The city of Las Vegas is hosting the second annual America Supports You Freedom Walk in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 8. The 2.2-mile walk will begin at 8 a.m. at the Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex, located at 7901 W. Washington Ave. Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown will join the crowd in a moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Entertainer Clint Holmes will lead participants in the National Anthem.

The Freedom Walk started in 2005 as a new national tradition to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country and honor our veterans, past and present.

Last year, more than 135 Freedom Walks were held across the country. This year, communities throughout the country are planning Freedom Walks.

For more information on efforts throughout the country, visit the

America Supports You Web site

City Of Las Vegas Offers Homeownership For Educators Program To Help Lure New Qualified Teachers

Program Offers Financial Assistance For Home Down Payment Or Rental Assistance

08/17/2007

New teachers on the fence about joining the Clark County School District may want to consider getting a fence of their own and a home to go with it, through the city- sponsored Homeownership for Educators program. Attracting teachers is a growing issue nationally, made more difficult in Las Vegas by high housing costs. The city’s program will assist entry-level teachers with rent or with the purchase of a home through down payment assistance of up to $30,000.

The Homeownership for Educators program is funded with redevelopment set-aside money. The Las Vegas City Council approved the pilot program, which was launched to help recruit for the shortfall of teachers. In order to qualify for the program, a teacher must not exceed 80 percent area median income and must live and teach within Las Vegas city limits at a Clark County School District school. Down payment assistance is available for the purchase of a home, or teachers can receive financial assistance toward the cost of rent.

Option A – Qualifying teachers may receive financial assistance of up to $30,000 for a mortgage buy-down.
Option B – Qualifying teachers may receive rental assistance of up to $500 per month, with a $6,000 maximum.

The program is administered by the city’s Neighborhood Services Department. Teachers who are interested in the program should contact Rodney L. Lister at 229-2330.

The Homeownership for Educators program is one of the many ways the city of Las Vegas achieves a vibrant, affordable diverse, unique and world-class city of opportunity. Residents can visit the city’s Web site to see what other services are available at www.lasvegasnevada.gov