Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Bird-Loving Desert Dweller Heidi Fleiss Explores Animal Planet Series
by Adam Buckman
Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss starring in her own show on Animal Planet? It could happen, now that she’s signed a deal with a producer of unscripted TV shows to “explore” the possibility of developing a series for the animal-oriented cable network.
What does Heidi Fleiss have to do with animals? Well, she happens to be the owner of a number of exotic birds – parrots, cockatoos and the like – which reportedly live largely uncaged in her rented house in Pahrump, Nev., a desert community about 60 miles west of Las Vegas.
Her proposed reality series would focus on her life as caretaker and protector of her flock, according to TMZ.
However, what TMZ didn’t report, but we can, is this: According to an Animal Planet source, Heidi is signed with one of the most prolific production companies in the non-scripted TV arena – producer Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Productions. That’s the company that brought you ‘Dirty Jobs,’ ‘Ghost Hunters,’ ‘American Chopper’ and about two dozen other shows. TMZ says Heidi told them she’s signed to shoot a pilot. Our sources say Heidi might be jumping the gun on that, but it is true that the production company has already done some shooting, as part of the process of exploring whether a series is feasible.
And that will depend in large part on Fleiss herself and whether or not she can be relied upon to meet her commitments to the production if an actual series ever comes to fruition. In 2006, she booted a production crew from her Nevada home after they followed her around for 10 months for an HBO documentary. The film – ‘Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal (Nev.)’ – was completed anyway and premiered on HBO in July 2008.
In the documentary, Fleiss admitted she was addicted to methamphetamine. The film also told the story of her birds – which then numbered nearly 70 (for reasons that are unclear, TMZ puts the current total at 20) – and how Heidi inherited them from an elderly former madam who lived in a trailer behind Heidi’s house and left her the birds in her will.
When it comes to TV, Fleiss, 44, (whose cousin, Mike Fleiss, also produces reality-TV shows) has a checkered history. Most notably, she was seen last year on ‘Celebrity Rehab’ on VH1, during which she left the show and rehabilitation facility, crashed her SUV and then returned. She was also seen subsequently on ‘Sober House.’
Just this past Thanksgiving, a fire broke out in her home, but by all accounts, none of her birds were injured, and neither was she.
Animal Planet’s exploration of a show starring Heidi Fleiss indicates that the channel is on the lookout for edgier animal shows. Another new series – featuring boxer Mike Tyson and his pet pigeons – is tentatively scheduled to premiere next year.
birdcage
Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss starring in her own show on Animal Planet? It could happen, now that she’s signed a deal with a producer of unscripted TV shows to “explore” the possibility of developing a series for the animal-oriented cable network.
What does Heidi Fleiss have to do with animals? Well, she happens to be the owner of a number of exotic birds – parrots, cockatoos and the like – which reportedly live largely uncaged in her rented house in Pahrump, Nev., a desert community about 60 miles west of Las Vegas.
Her proposed reality series would focus on her life as caretaker and protector of her flock, according to TMZ.
However, what TMZ didn’t report, but we can, is this: According to an Animal Planet source, Heidi is signed with one of the most prolific production companies in the non-scripted TV arena – producer Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Productions. That’s the company that brought you ‘Dirty Jobs,’ ‘Ghost Hunters,’ ‘American Chopper’ and about two dozen other shows. TMZ says Heidi told them she’s signed to shoot a pilot. Our sources say Heidi might be jumping the gun on that, but it is true that the production company has already done some shooting, as part of the process of exploring whether a series is feasible.
And that will depend in large part on Fleiss herself and whether or not she can be relied upon to meet her commitments to the production if an actual series ever comes to fruition. In 2006, she booted a production crew from her Nevada home after they followed her around for 10 months for an HBO documentary. The film – ‘Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal (Nev.)’ – was completed anyway and premiered on HBO in July 2008.
In the documentary, Fleiss admitted she was addicted to methamphetamine. The film also told the story of her birds – which then numbered nearly 70 (for reasons that are unclear, TMZ puts the current total at 20) – and how Heidi inherited them from an elderly former madam who lived in a trailer behind Heidi’s house and left her the birds in her will.
When it comes to TV, Fleiss, 44, (whose cousin, Mike Fleiss, also produces reality-TV shows) has a checkered history. Most notably, she was seen last year on ‘Celebrity Rehab’ on VH1, during which she left the show and rehabilitation facility, crashed her SUV and then returned. She was also seen subsequently on ‘Sober House.’
Just this past Thanksgiving, a fire broke out in her home, but by all accounts, none of her birds were injured, and neither was she.
Animal Planet’s exploration of a show starring Heidi Fleiss indicates that the channel is on the lookout for edgier animal shows. Another new series – featuring boxer Mike Tyson and his pet pigeons – is tentatively scheduled to premiere next year.
birdcage
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Shadow Mountain Quilters
Date: Thursday December 23, 2010
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every week.
Location: Varies, see notes and phone number
Notes: The venue and start times vary and are subject to change, often. Call 1-775-910-2355 first for information.
1st & 3rd Thursdays, Ruud Center, 9 am, 160 and Basin
2nd Thursday, Pahrump Library, 9:30 am, 372 & East
4th & 5th Thursdays, Methodist Church, 9 am, 372 & Pahrump Valley Bl., across from Big O Tires
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every week.
Location: Varies, see notes and phone number
Notes: The venue and start times vary and are subject to change, often. Call 1-775-910-2355 first for information.
1st & 3rd Thursdays, Ruud Center, 9 am, 160 and Basin
2nd Thursday, Pahrump Library, 9:30 am, 372 & East
4th & 5th Thursdays, Methodist Church, 9 am, 372 & Pahrump Valley Bl., across from Big O Tires
Heavy rains bring flooding to Las Vegas
Continued rains, flooding expected throughout the day, say forecasters
By Dave Toplikar
Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 6:50 a.m.
A flash flood warning was issued this morning for Las Vegas as heavy rains and snow are continuing to fall throughout the region, with flooding leading to evacuations in Mesquite and Pahrump and power being knocked out the Mount Charleston area.
Authorities advise motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Flash flooding is dangerous and that it takes only 18 inches of swiftly moving water to sweep a vehicle off the road and less than six inches to sweep a person off their feet.
The National Weather Service put out a flash flood warning this morning through 7 a.m. for central Clark County, where rain rates of between .24 and .5 of an inch per hour were being measured by remote rain gauges.
Local law enforcement officials have reported that some roads have been flooded in the northwest part of Las Vegas.
The flash flooding area includes North Las Vegas Airport, Nellis Air Force Base, Lone Mountain, Centennial Hills, Aliante, Summerlin, Sun City Summerlin and North Las Vegas.
At 5:36 a.m., local law enforcement reported that widespread flooding is occurring throughout the Pahrump area. The National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated that locally heavy rain would continue over that area, which would also add to the flooding.
Areas affected included Pahrump, the Desert Retreat RV Resort and State Route 160 on the west side of the Spring Mountains.
The 13-mile Scenic Drive, visitor center, Red Spring and overlook on State Route 159 at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area will be closed all day today due to flooding and debris on the road from flooding, according to the Southern Nevada District Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Flash flood watch
A flash flood watch continues through this evening for portions of northwest Arizona, California and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas Valley.
Forecasters say occasional rain will continue through the day, with isolated thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall. Rainfall rates could be between one and two inches an hour, they said.
The rain will cause ponding of water in low-lying areas, as well as rapidly flowing water in normally dry washes, they said. Flows of water and mud or debris might occur over area roads, they said. Travelers, campers and residents should be aware of the potential for flash flooding, they said.
Flood warning
The flood warning will remain in effect through Thursday evening for the Virgin River and Beaver Dam Wash in northeastern Clark and north central Mohave counties, the weather service said.
Mesquite police have been asking people to voluntarily evacuate an area east of Sage Way between East Mesquite Boulevard and East Old Mill Road, forecasters said.
An evacuation center has been set up at the Virgin Valley High School and sandbags have been made available at Hunter Park.
Mandatory evacuations did occur at Beaver Dam Arizona on Tuesday. Beaver Dam Wash crested at 14.7 feet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 51 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 36 degrees. The record low was 12 degrees, set in 1990.
Around the valley just before 6 a.m., temperatures were 50 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 52 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 50 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.
Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 53 degrees by 9 a.m., to 55 degrees by noon, which is expected to be the high for the day, forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 56 degrees and the record high was 68 degrees, set in 1950.
Temperatures are expected to drop to 48 degrees by 6 p.m., and remain at 48 degrees at 9 p.m. and at midnight, forecasters said.
Thursday's morning low will be 45 degrees and Thursday's high will climb to 57 degrees, they said.
By Dave Toplikar
Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 6:50 a.m.
A flash flood warning was issued this morning for Las Vegas as heavy rains and snow are continuing to fall throughout the region, with flooding leading to evacuations in Mesquite and Pahrump and power being knocked out the Mount Charleston area.
Authorities advise motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Flash flooding is dangerous and that it takes only 18 inches of swiftly moving water to sweep a vehicle off the road and less than six inches to sweep a person off their feet.
The National Weather Service put out a flash flood warning this morning through 7 a.m. for central Clark County, where rain rates of between .24 and .5 of an inch per hour were being measured by remote rain gauges.
Local law enforcement officials have reported that some roads have been flooded in the northwest part of Las Vegas.
The flash flooding area includes North Las Vegas Airport, Nellis Air Force Base, Lone Mountain, Centennial Hills, Aliante, Summerlin, Sun City Summerlin and North Las Vegas.
At 5:36 a.m., local law enforcement reported that widespread flooding is occurring throughout the Pahrump area. The National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated that locally heavy rain would continue over that area, which would also add to the flooding.
Areas affected included Pahrump, the Desert Retreat RV Resort and State Route 160 on the west side of the Spring Mountains.
The 13-mile Scenic Drive, visitor center, Red Spring and overlook on State Route 159 at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area will be closed all day today due to flooding and debris on the road from flooding, according to the Southern Nevada District Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Flash flood watch
A flash flood watch continues through this evening for portions of northwest Arizona, California and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas Valley.
Forecasters say occasional rain will continue through the day, with isolated thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall. Rainfall rates could be between one and two inches an hour, they said.
The rain will cause ponding of water in low-lying areas, as well as rapidly flowing water in normally dry washes, they said. Flows of water and mud or debris might occur over area roads, they said. Travelers, campers and residents should be aware of the potential for flash flooding, they said.
Flood warning
The flood warning will remain in effect through Thursday evening for the Virgin River and Beaver Dam Wash in northeastern Clark and north central Mohave counties, the weather service said.
Mesquite police have been asking people to voluntarily evacuate an area east of Sage Way between East Mesquite Boulevard and East Old Mill Road, forecasters said.
An evacuation center has been set up at the Virgin Valley High School and sandbags have been made available at Hunter Park.
Mandatory evacuations did occur at Beaver Dam Arizona on Tuesday. Beaver Dam Wash crested at 14.7 feet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 51 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 36 degrees. The record low was 12 degrees, set in 1990.
Around the valley just before 6 a.m., temperatures were 50 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 52 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 50 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.
Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 53 degrees by 9 a.m., to 55 degrees by noon, which is expected to be the high for the day, forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 56 degrees and the record high was 68 degrees, set in 1950.
Temperatures are expected to drop to 48 degrees by 6 p.m., and remain at 48 degrees at 9 p.m. and at midnight, forecasters said.
Thursday's morning low will be 45 degrees and Thursday's high will climb to 57 degrees, they said.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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