RTC recognizes student winners of annual Earth Day art contest

In celebration of Earth Day, Tina Quigley, general manager of the
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC),
recognized local students who won the agency’s annual Earth Day art
contest at two special award ceremonies on Monday, April 22 at Las
Vegas Academy High School and Wednesday, April 24 at Roy Martin Middle
School.
The annual art contest, sponsored by the RTC and Vector Media, invited
local students in grades six through 12 to create and submit artwork
that celebrates Earth Day and the RTC’s sustainability initiative,
“quicker, cleaner, greener.”
More than 300 students from 17 schools across the valley participated
in this year’s contest. At the ceremonies, RTC and Clark County School
District principals recognized the top two winners — Rudy Amaya of Roy
Martin Middle School and Jessica Judd of Las Vegas Academy. The
artwork of the two winners will be displayed on the outside of RTC
transit vehicles and will travel Las Vegas Valley streets for up to
one year.
Students were encouraged to create original designs and to incorporate
an Earth Day theme supporting sustainable transportation and creating
a more livable and viable community.
The runners-up were also recognized with certificates of achievement.
Runners-up included: Zach Cortez of Cashman Middle School; Reanne
Domingo of Desert Pines High School; Desiree Hogue of Las Vegas
Academy; Melis Jensen of Las Vegas Day School; Cora Beaudry and
Karlyle Niesen of Leavitt Middle School; and Arely Lucio Flores and
Tania Quintero-Cepero of Roy Martin Middle School.
* * * * *
Casino owner planning ‘Rock in Rio’ site in Las Vegas
Entertainment developers are announcing plans to build for a 33-acre
open-air music venue on the Las Vegas Strip to host a four-day Rock in
Rio USA festival beginning next year. MGM Resorts International said
Monday the “City of Rock” development to be built between the Circus
Circus resort and Sahara Avenue could attract up to 80,000 people per
day when it opens in May 2015.
Rock in Rio founder Roberto Medina says he’s excited to partner with
MGM Resorts, Cirque du Soleil and California developer Ron Burkle.
Plans will need county approval, and cost figures haven’t been made public.
Rock in Rio CEO Luis Justo said Las Vegas will hit it big when the
event comes to the United States next year.
“Vegas, you know, after all our research, I think it’s the perfect
match to bring to the biggest music festival in the world with the
biggest entertainment city in the world,” Justo said.
Officials say they’re planning five stages, themed streets featuring
sights, sounds and foods of Brazil, the U.S. and the United Kingdom,
and thrill rides and shopping areas.
The Rock in Rio concerts started 30 years ago and have featured some
of the top artists from around the world. The concert set for next
month in Lisbon, Portugal will feature the Rolling Stones, Justin
Timberlake, Lorde and Arcade Fire.
The event in Las Vegas is expected to draw more than 300,000 over the
four days it is scheduled. Tickets go on sale in January of next year,
but some reserved tickets are available right now, for a limited time,
at rockinrio.com.
Las Vegas already hosts the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway. The three-day music and arts festival draws about
100,000 people each day.
The announcement coincides with the S.L.S. Resort moving along on its
remodel of the former Sahara Hotel and Casino. The resort has to fill
27 hundred jobs before its grand opening in August.
* * * * *
Stratosphere Tower surprises 40 millionth visitor
It’s a long way from Birmingham, England to Las Vegas, and James
Kennedy isn’t likely to forget his first trip to Nevada’s gambling
metropolis.
Kennedy was treated to a superstar welcome Monday when he became the
40 millionth visitor to the Stratosphere Tower, a famous Las Vegas
attraction that stands 1,149 feet.
He was greeted by Stratosphere vice president and general manager Paul
Hobson with balloons, an entourage of Stratosphere staff and cameras.
Kennedy was presented a package of “getaway” goodies valued at $2,500.
His prize includes a two-night stay for two in a Stratosphere Suite,
dinner for two at the Top of the World Restaurant, show tickets,
champagne, $1,149 in free slot play and limousine service.
* * * * *
Drought presses Las Vegans to conserve water
Deep beneath Lake Mead, a 23-foot-tall tunnel-boring machine grinds
through stubborn bedrock in a billion-dollar effort to make sure water
continues flowing to this thirsty resort city.
For six years, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has been building
an intake straw below the reservoir’s two existing pipes. Due for
completion in fall 2015, critics say it may not provide a long-term
solution.
An ongoing drought and the Colorado River’s stunted flow have shrunk
Lake Mead to its lowest level in generations. The reservoir, which
supplies 90 percent of Las Vegas’ water, is ebbing as though a plug
had been pulled from a bathtub drain. By mid-April, Lake Mead’s water
level measured just 48 feet above the system’s topmost intake straw.
Future droughts and a warming climate change could spell trouble for
the city’s 2 million residents — and its 40 million annual visitors.
Those people “better hope nothing goes wrong with the last intake,”
said water authority spokesman J.C. Davis.
* * * * *
City Beat is a compilation of news and views of our editorial and
writing team, along with reader submissions and topics. Readers are
invited to suggest a local topic or any other items of interest.