e-Press

Updated Monday, December 1, 2008

CA Murder Suspect Caught in BHC
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - A 21-year-old ex-con accused of shooting a father and son in Fresno on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, was arrested by Mohave County Sheriff's Office deputies early Friday morning just south of Bullhead City.
Carl Joseph Oliver told deputies he pulled over on Highway 95 just after midnight because he dropped a chocolate pie on the floorboard of his pickup. MCSO Spokeswoman Sandy Edwards said deputies checked on the truck and found it had been reported stolen in Lemoore, California. While searching the truck, deputies also found a glass pipe that Oliver admitted was his.
Police say the 21-year-old Oliver is the man Fresno police say shot a father and son in an argument on November 20. Michael Santiago, 19, was killed, while is father, Aurelio Santiago, 50, was injured in the incident and later released from a Fresno hospital.
Oliver's has served prison time for robbery, and Fresno police say his criminal history includes vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and battery. He was also wanted in connection with an alleged carjacking earlier that same week. He was booked into the Mohave County Jail and his extradition to California was on Saturday.
Edwards said that he and a female companion were reportedly in Arizona visiting relatives for Thanksgiving.

Edison Refund Finally Decided?
LAUGHLIN, NV - The Nevada Tax Commission is expected to decide the fate of a $70-million tax refund to Southern California Edison Company sometime today. The utility claims it's entitled to a tax exemption for coal it piped via slurry line from Northern Arizona, for use at Laughlin's Mohave Generating Station.
The Tax Commission granted the refund for a portion of taxes the utility paid between March 1998 and December 2000 back in May 2005. Since that time, the Nevada attorney general's office challenged the decision, because the matter was decided behind closed-doors.
In his 2006 decision, Carson City District Court Judge Michael Griffin sided with the commission, ruling that the confidentiality law governing proprietary information was an exemption to the state's open meeting law.
An appeal before the Nevada Supreme Court this past April sided with Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and nullified a $40-million refund. Additionally, that refund has been earning 6% interest since dispute began.
Justice Jim Hardesty wrote the high court's majority opinion -- "When considering Edison's appeal, the Tax Commission deliberated entirely in closed session and voted in closed session. Therefore, its action granting Edison's refund was taken in violation of the Open Meeting Law."

Tri-Cities "Shop Local" Campaign Kicks Off
TRI-STATE - Representatives from Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City launched the Tri-Cities shop local campaign during press conferences held in all three cities Tuesday, just ahead of the holiday shopping season.
“We wanted to initiate this before ‘Black Friday'...but, it’s also an ongoing concern,” Bullhead City Vice Mayor Sam Medrano said.
Of course, Black Friday refers to the day after Thanksgiving which most merchants know as the busiest and most profitable shopping day of the year. The campaign slogan, “Shop Here. Find it Here,” urges residents to shop within the county and spend money at businesses throughout Mohave County.
“If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist,” said Lake Havasu City Council Member Don Callahan.
All three cities rely on sales tax revenues generated by local businesses to fund city services such as public safety, road construction and city parks. Kingman City Councilwoman Carole Young said an estimated 30% of county sales revenues leak to cities outside the area such as Las Vegas and Phoenix. It is hoped the shop local effort will help stem that trend.
The campaign includes posters, radio and television spots, as well as bumper stickers reminding residents of the importance and value of shopping within their cities.

Toys for Tots Gets "Bowled Over"
LAUGHLIN, NV – Bowlers from Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona participated in the 3rd Annual Toys for Tots Bowling Tournament held recently at the Riverside Resort and Casino in Laughlin. Nearly 100 people from as far away as Dolan Springs, Kingman, Golden Valley, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley, Lake Havasu City, as well as Laughlin residents, took part in the nine-pin "no-tap" tournament. The event was held to generate funds to purchase Christmas toys for local children. The tournament was hosted by the Marine Corps League -- Dean W. Rieter Detachment 887 -- from Kingman.
“The Marine Corps League has been the driving force behind the southern Nevada and northern Arizona Toys for Tots campaign for the past seven years,” Marine Master Sergeant (Ret) Earl Jones said. Jones is a member of the league and is the local coordinator for Toys for Tots.
Jones added that last year, Toys for Tots in both areas made a difference for more than 6,000 needy children.
“If families in the Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona areas are in need of toys for their children this Christmas, they should call (928) 718-TOYS and register,” Jones said. “The toys will be given out from various locations on December 19th, 20th and 21st.”

'Tis the Season... for Counterfeiters
KINGMAN, AZ - The Kingman Police Department has taken numerous reports of counterfeit $20 bills being from area retailers.
"On November 23rd and 24th, counterfeit $20 bills showed up at two stores," KPD Sergeant Rusty Cooper said. "Both bills had the same serial number." Cooper noted that with the downturn in the economy and the holiday season upon us, "The Kingman Police Department would like to encourage everyone to take extra precautions to avoid being a victim of fraud."
These steps can be taken to help avoid receiving a counterfeit bill:

- Feel the bill.
- Compare the bill with another of the same denomination and series.
- Look for colored strands in the paper.
- Hold it up to the light and look for a watermark.
- Look for a security thread (fine printing).
- Examine the serial numbers closely.

Cooper said retailers can also detect counterfeit bills by using fairly inexpensive special pens and UV lights.
Additional information can be found at the U.S. Treasury web site at www.ustreas.gov.
Anyone with knowledge of the printing or passing of counterfeit currency is asked to contact the Kingman Police Department at (928) 753-2191, or call Mohave Silent Witness at (928) 753-1234.