Little Lost Dog Found in Sun City Is Saved

After having been picked up by Las Vegas Animal Control, a little girl terrier was bailed out by A Home 4 Spot, a Las Vegas pet rescue group. Her life has been saved. Shenandoah, her name for now, was examined by the group’s veterinarian, while getting her necessary immunizations and having some dental work done. “After she was identification-chipped and deemed healthy, little Shenandoah got a much needed bath, and was brushed and groomed,” said Diana England, founder of A Home 4 Spot. The pet rescue group has begun adoption proceedings to find Shenandoah a permanent home.
“She’s beautiful,” Diana said.
Shenandoah, found in Sun City near Hot Oak Ridge Street and Sundown Hill Avenue on August 4, was in disheveled shape when she was picked up by Animal Control. After the requisite time passed with no success in locating her owner, she was scheduled to be euthanized last week. Upon learning about the dog’s dreadful plight, anxious Sun City residents had just one day to try to save her. Animal Control won't release a detained animal to anyone except its original owner or a recognized pet rescue group. Countless phone conversations and emails succeeded in putting the appropriate people together and on the day that was reckoned to be Shenandoah’s last one, A Home 4 Spot bailed her out.
The episode began when Pinnacle Social Monitor Brenda Holland was contacted by Kim Petricka of Nevada Lost & Found Pets. After Brenda reached out to Security Patrol to see if a report had been filed on the lost dog, she pointed Kim in the direction of the Link, where Managing Editor Jeannette Carrillo issued an On the Spot alert in an effort to locate the dog’s owner. On the Spot is one of the Link website’s newest features that enables the magazine to post alerts for lost people and pets, as well as community emergencies.
Next, Sun City resident Stu Gershon went door to door, showing his neighbors a photo of the little dog. His Neighborhood Watch block captain Molly Sher circulated an email blast to residents along the street where the dog was found. Then Stu got his neighbor Carrie Diamond involved, who contacted the dog pound, then called pet rescue centers to help accomplish Shenandoah’s release.
It was the contributions of each of these kindhearted people that saved the life of a precious little girl dog.
Ellen Greenspan/Link
“She’s beautiful,” Diana said.
Shenandoah, found in Sun City near Hot Oak Ridge Street and Sundown Hill Avenue on August 4, was in disheveled shape when she was picked up by Animal Control. After the requisite time passed with no success in locating her owner, she was scheduled to be euthanized last week. Upon learning about the dog’s dreadful plight, anxious Sun City residents had just one day to try to save her. Animal Control won't release a detained animal to anyone except its original owner or a recognized pet rescue group. Countless phone conversations and emails succeeded in putting the appropriate people together and on the day that was reckoned to be Shenandoah’s last one, A Home 4 Spot bailed her out.
The episode began when Pinnacle Social Monitor Brenda Holland was contacted by Kim Petricka of Nevada Lost & Found Pets. After Brenda reached out to Security Patrol to see if a report had been filed on the lost dog, she pointed Kim in the direction of the Link, where Managing Editor Jeannette Carrillo issued an On the Spot alert in an effort to locate the dog’s owner. On the Spot is one of the Link website’s newest features that enables the magazine to post alerts for lost people and pets, as well as community emergencies.
Next, Sun City resident Stu Gershon went door to door, showing his neighbors a photo of the little dog. His Neighborhood Watch block captain Molly Sher circulated an email blast to residents along the street where the dog was found. Then Stu got his neighbor Carrie Diamond involved, who contacted the dog pound, then called pet rescue centers to help accomplish Shenandoah’s release.
It was the contributions of each of these kindhearted people that saved the life of a precious little girl dog.
Ellen Greenspan/Link
FBI Talks Financial Crime
Presentation Draws Record Crowd to Residents' Forum
It’s not a matter of if you’re going to get scammed, but for how much money you will be taken for, said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Detective Jefferson Grace, who works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on financial crimes.
Grace was one of three speakers who addressed an overflow crowd of more than 450 residents during the monthly Residents’ Forum program at Desert Vista.
“There’s so much fraud that goes on today that I would need a full day and a half to talk about it and we’d only cover about half the scams out there,” Grace began.
The pace of fraud regarding financial crimes across the country is not slowing down. In fact, FBI statistics show Nevada as No. 22 on the list of states where financial crime is on the rise. And one type of crime high on law enforcement’s radar is skimming or access device fraud.
One by one, Grace showed residents videos and slides of skimming in action. The routine involves a person fitting a fake face plate or faux slotted card insert onto a real ATM machine, gas pump or convenience store card reader. The devices look so real that once in place, it’s nearly impossible to identify them. One video even showed how quickly a man standing in line behind a customer at a convenience store placed a fake face plate onto a card reader sitting on the store’s counter. As the merchant looked away to answer a question, the man, who was second in line, removed a plastic overlay from his bag and clicked it into place. The entire motion took less than 3 seconds for the fraud to begin. And once it starts, Grace said the crime will continue until someone discovers the device, or not.
“If you find a skimmer, it’s a 911 call as far as I’m concerned,” said Grace. “Do not remove it. Call the police and tell them you’ve found a skimmer.”
One of reasons it’s so difficult for law enforcement agencies to fight financial crime, Grace said, is because it’s become a billion-dollar industry. When it used to cost a couple of hundred dollars to build a skimming device, it now costs only $7 to buy a piece of equipment that can send 100s of lives into turmoil. Add to that the fact that criminals spend 100 times more than banks do to prevent such fraud and it’s a nearly impossible situation to solve.
In 2016, FBI data revealed that one skimmer can hold more than 1,000 card numbers, with one card number worth between $2,000-$50,000. Employing modest match, Grace said that one skimmer with 400 cards can net $2,000,000.
So how does one fight back? Came a question from the audience.
“Well,” Grace said, “I would recommend that if you use a debit card, make sure that it is not linked to your primary accounts. Or, maybe use a low-balance credit card that you pay off monthly. That way, if it is hacked, there’s not too much damage they can do.”
Other scams covered during the Forum touched on the popular romance and grandparents scams. Such frauds remain successful, said FBI Special Agent Todd Tumbleson, because victims are usually embarrassed to tell their families or friends they’ve been victimized by such schemes.
As to words of warning regarding those two scams, law enforcement officials advise seniors to limit the amount of personal information they post on Facebook.
“Criminals research you. They look at your personal information. Seniors are being targeted because you are the ones who they see have the disposable income. You’ve saved all your life, and because it’s hard for seniors to believe that there are people out there who do this kind of thing,” said Tumbleson.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Mainly, safety rests with the individual. Take a moment every day to review your bank statements, be aware of mysterious transactions being charged to your accounts, keep in touch with family members and never be afraid or embarrassed to hang up the phone when someone on the other end asks you to wire them money. If that happens, it is almost always a scam!
By Jeannette Carrillo/Link
Grace was one of three speakers who addressed an overflow crowd of more than 450 residents during the monthly Residents’ Forum program at Desert Vista.
“There’s so much fraud that goes on today that I would need a full day and a half to talk about it and we’d only cover about half the scams out there,” Grace began.
The pace of fraud regarding financial crimes across the country is not slowing down. In fact, FBI statistics show Nevada as No. 22 on the list of states where financial crime is on the rise. And one type of crime high on law enforcement’s radar is skimming or access device fraud.
One by one, Grace showed residents videos and slides of skimming in action. The routine involves a person fitting a fake face plate or faux slotted card insert onto a real ATM machine, gas pump or convenience store card reader. The devices look so real that once in place, it’s nearly impossible to identify them. One video even showed how quickly a man standing in line behind a customer at a convenience store placed a fake face plate onto a card reader sitting on the store’s counter. As the merchant looked away to answer a question, the man, who was second in line, removed a plastic overlay from his bag and clicked it into place. The entire motion took less than 3 seconds for the fraud to begin. And once it starts, Grace said the crime will continue until someone discovers the device, or not.
“If you find a skimmer, it’s a 911 call as far as I’m concerned,” said Grace. “Do not remove it. Call the police and tell them you’ve found a skimmer.”
One of reasons it’s so difficult for law enforcement agencies to fight financial crime, Grace said, is because it’s become a billion-dollar industry. When it used to cost a couple of hundred dollars to build a skimming device, it now costs only $7 to buy a piece of equipment that can send 100s of lives into turmoil. Add to that the fact that criminals spend 100 times more than banks do to prevent such fraud and it’s a nearly impossible situation to solve.
In 2016, FBI data revealed that one skimmer can hold more than 1,000 card numbers, with one card number worth between $2,000-$50,000. Employing modest match, Grace said that one skimmer with 400 cards can net $2,000,000.
So how does one fight back? Came a question from the audience.
“Well,” Grace said, “I would recommend that if you use a debit card, make sure that it is not linked to your primary accounts. Or, maybe use a low-balance credit card that you pay off monthly. That way, if it is hacked, there’s not too much damage they can do.”
Other scams covered during the Forum touched on the popular romance and grandparents scams. Such frauds remain successful, said FBI Special Agent Todd Tumbleson, because victims are usually embarrassed to tell their families or friends they’ve been victimized by such schemes.
As to words of warning regarding those two scams, law enforcement officials advise seniors to limit the amount of personal information they post on Facebook.
“Criminals research you. They look at your personal information. Seniors are being targeted because you are the ones who they see have the disposable income. You’ve saved all your life, and because it’s hard for seniors to believe that there are people out there who do this kind of thing,” said Tumbleson.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Mainly, safety rests with the individual. Take a moment every day to review your bank statements, be aware of mysterious transactions being charged to your accounts, keep in touch with family members and never be afraid or embarrassed to hang up the phone when someone on the other end asks you to wire them money. If that happens, it is almost always a scam!
By Jeannette Carrillo/Link
Friday Band Night to Feature The Meltdown

Funky, soul dance band The Meltdown returns to Band Night by popular demand. Group members have toured the world with some of the greatest names in music, from The Rolling Stones to James Brown to The Commodores. Mark Chiangi on drums is a Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and Billy Ray Charles on guitar is a world-renown blues singer and composer. With its mix of old school rock, blues, funk and R&B, The Meltdown is ready to get you up and dancing all night long. Tickets are $10 at the door; doors open at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7:30. Food and drinks are available for purchase at The Summit Snack Bar.
A Reminder on Resident Dues Increase
The new assessments of $1,392 (implemented for fiscal year 2017-2018) takes effect for each property in Sun City Summerlin on the account’s renewal date after July 1, 2017. The renewal date for each house was established by the date – month and day – when the house was first sold by Del Webb. For example, if a house was first sold on November 19, 1991, the assessments for that property will run from November 19, 2017, to November 19, 2018. Depending on whether a homeowner pays annually or monthly, the assessment/s will increase at that time. For those who pay annually, they will owe $1,392 in November; if deducted monthly, the automated withdrawals will increase from $107 to $116 a month, starting in November. There is no need for residents to contact their banks due to the increase.
Tavern at The Falls Specials
Enjoy Spaghetti & Meatballs, Chicken Marsala, Beef Shepard's Pie, Pecan-crusted Trout and More Throughout the Week

TUESDAY, August 15 – Spaghetti and meatballs; or grilled chicken Alfredo over fettuccine, $10.99 each.
WEDNESDAY, August 16 – Chicken Marsala with mash potatoes and vegetables and sweet mushroom sauce; or grilled chicken satay, featuring tangy sweet and peanut marinated chicken over rice pilaf, $10.99 each.
THURSDAY, August 17, Beef shepherd’s pie with seasoned beef, peas and carrots topped with mashed potatoes and then baked; or Southwestern breadcrumb-crusted baked chicken with mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and a brown sauce, $10.99 each.
FRIDAY, August 18, Pecan-crusted trout, rice and vegetables, with a brown butter sauce; or Shrimp-and-white fish-stuffed Basa, with rice and sauteed spinach and a lemon white wine sauce, $13.99 each.
SATURDAY, Spaghetti and meatballs, $10.99; or Sauteed beef and broccoli over rice with a light sauce, $13.99.
SUNDAY, August 20, Chicken Marsala, $10.99; or pecan-crusted trout, $13.99.
WEDNESDAY, August 16 – Chicken Marsala with mash potatoes and vegetables and sweet mushroom sauce; or grilled chicken satay, featuring tangy sweet and peanut marinated chicken over rice pilaf, $10.99 each.
THURSDAY, August 17, Beef shepherd’s pie with seasoned beef, peas and carrots topped with mashed potatoes and then baked; or Southwestern breadcrumb-crusted baked chicken with mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and a brown sauce, $10.99 each.
FRIDAY, August 18, Pecan-crusted trout, rice and vegetables, with a brown butter sauce; or Shrimp-and-white fish-stuffed Basa, with rice and sauteed spinach and a lemon white wine sauce, $13.99 each.
SATURDAY, Spaghetti and meatballs, $10.99; or Sauteed beef and broccoli over rice with a light sauce, $13.99.
SUNDAY, August 20, Chicken Marsala, $10.99; or pecan-crusted trout, $13.99.
National Parks Pass On Sale Through August
Seniors have until the end of August to purchase a lifetime pass to the network of national parks for $10 (plus processing fees if purchased online, https://store.usgs.gov/senior-pass). A Senior Pass to National Parks benefits includes:
1. At national parks that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee, the Senior Pass admits you and the passengers in your car or other private vehicle.
2. At the national parks where a per-person entrance fee is charged, the Senior Pass admits you, plus three other adults (who need not be seniors; children under age 16 enjoy free admission).
3. The Lifetime National Parks Senior Pass also gives seniors a 50 percent discount on federal-use fees charged for camping, swimming, boat launching, parking and tours. In some cases where use fees are charged, only the person named on the Senior Pass will be given the 50 percent discount. The Senior Pass is non-transferable and does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or concession fees charged by private companies.
1. At national parks that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee, the Senior Pass admits you and the passengers in your car or other private vehicle.
2. At the national parks where a per-person entrance fee is charged, the Senior Pass admits you, plus three other adults (who need not be seniors; children under age 16 enjoy free admission).
3. The Lifetime National Parks Senior Pass also gives seniors a 50 percent discount on federal-use fees charged for camping, swimming, boat launching, parking and tours. In some cases where use fees are charged, only the person named on the Senior Pass will be given the 50 percent discount. The Senior Pass is non-transferable and does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or concession fees charged by private companies.