Nurses charged with abuse located
by Andy Holtmann
PVG Staff
Officials with the state Attorney General's Office say
they are closer to apprehending the other two individuals
charged with the criminal neglect and abuse of an elderly
patient at Nye Regional Medical Center (NRMC).
Former nurses Jane Rudolph and Bernice Fay Anderson
are reported to be out of the state at this time, one apparently
out of the country. Both are wanted in connection with an
alleged dropping of a patient and subsequent cover-up of
improper transportation procedures that took place in late
November of last year.
According to Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Director
Timothy Terry, the Attorney General's Office is aware of
each of the nurses' whereabouts and is working on a way to
get them back to Nevada. Each have been charged with
Crinlinal Neglect of a Patient in violation of NRS 200.495
and Abuse Neglect and Exploitation of Older Persons in
violation of NRS 200. 5099, both felony counts. Rudolph is
also being charged with a misdemeanor for failing to notify
authorities.
"We're hoping to get them back here and in custody as
soon as possible," Terry said. "We would like to see them
choose to come back voluntarily. If they choose not to, then
we will be faced with extrictlhg them back to stand trial."
A third nurse, Patricia Perry Paul was arrested in Tonopah
on Novembel: 25. She faces the same charges as Rudolph
and Anderson. Paul was arraigned and later released on her
own recognizance. A December 10 preliminary hearing
date was set for her, but according to officials at the Justice
Continued on page 14
CLOSE CALL - Luis Morales, 35, of Los Angeles, Calif., lost control of his '93 Nissan Maxima on December 7,
about 9 a.m. while traveling southbound on Highway 127, 2 1/2 miles North of Shoshone. Morales rolled his car
twice and the passenger, Aurora Gonzalez of N. Hollywood, Calif. was ejected due to misuse of seat belts. She was
transported with moderate injuries to Pahrump Medical Center. photo by Ethel &lesser
Highway 160 to see four lane future
by Geoff Kreis
PVG Staff
Soon people will be able to drive safely between Las
Vegas and Pahrump thanks to $10 million in funding that
was given by the Federal Government to expand Highway
160 to four lanes.
President Clinton signeda six month extension last
week of the Inter-model Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act (ISTEA) highway bill. The $10 million was secured by
Nevada politicians for the Pahrump road project through
the Public Lands Highway Program last year, but the
funding has been delayed.
"Now that more people are living in Pahrump and using
Highway 160 to get to Death Valley, we needed to make
the highway safer for those who travel on it," said Senator
Harry Ried. "This long awaited funding will make it easier
for people to go sightseeing or hiking in the Spring
Mountains and will give them an alternative to the heavy
traffic on U.S. 95."
An average of one severe automobile accident occurs on
the highway per month according to estimates by Emer-
gency Medical Service Officials. In 1995 both state offi-
cials and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
agreed that widening the highway was the best option to
deal with several travel delays and safety concerns.
"The people who travel that road on a regular basis have
done a great job of making their concerns about safety
known," said Congressman John Ensign, "Safety has to be
a primary concern when making transportation improve-
ments, and this project will make travel in southern Nevada
considerably safer."
Nevada is the fastest growing state in the nation and
needs grants like these to keep up with the population's
growth.
"This project will provide for the construction of a new
two lane roadway that will lead to increase safety," Bryan
said. "It will also serve to decrease congestion in Pahr-
ump and to provide safer access to the Toyabe National
Forest and the Spring Mountian Range Recreational
Area."
NDOT studies conducted in 1996 estimated that an
average of 5,225 vehicles a day traveled Highway 160
between Las Vegas and Pahrump. The statistics for 1997
have not been released as of yet, but with the growth ot
Pahrump and Las Vegas the numbers have most likely
increased, according to officials.
On May 1, 1998, the tate will be accepting bids from
contractors and construction crews to take on the High-
way 160 project. All bids will be subject to final approval.
"Usually the construction begins two and a half months
after the bids are announced," said David Cherry, a public
information officer from Reid's Washington D.C. office.
"The highway construction should start in August ot
Continued on page,
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