Motorists are paying more at the pump

YOUR wallet might be getting a little lighter this summer, and it isn’t from the gambling here in Las Vegas.

Motorists are paying a little more at the pump, even though the cost of crude oil remains below $50 per barrel — just one of several factors that go into calculating gasoline prices, AAA Nevada spokesman Mike Blasky said.

West Coast gas prices — and their taxes — are among the most expensive in the United States, Blasky said. The region’s growing economy, increasing demand for gasoline and recent maintenance at Northern California’s oil refineries help drive up those costs.

“Until consumer demand levels off and refineries resume normal production, prices are likely to rise this summer across the region,” Blasky said.

Additionally, Blasky said that California’s conversion to a more expensive summer blend of gasoline is a factor at the pump, even though Nevada is not required to make the fuel switch.

Ken from Las Vegas recently sent an email to the Road Warrior asking whether a 12-cent gas tax increase in California was affecting prices in Nevada.

No, it’s not, because California’s gas-tax hike doesn’t kick in until Nov. 1, and it’s still unclear whether we’ll feel those effects at fueling stations in Nevada.

Mass appeal for a left-turn signal

Every Sunday morning, Roy from Las Vegas notices a stream of traffic turning left into the parking lot of St. Joseph’s, Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church near Tenaya Way and Sahara Avenue.

“Why, oh why, is there not a yellow caution arrow at this intersection, since it is constantly backed up before Mass?” Roy asked.

Traffic volumes did not warrant a flashing yellow left-turn arrow at this intersection the last time it was studied by Las Vegas traffic engineers, city spokeswoman Margaret Kurtz said.

“Typically, Sunday traffic is considerably less than the average weekday traffic, and any backup of vehicles entering and exiting a church dissipates quickly with little impact to adjacent signals,” Kurtz said.

However, Kurtz acknowledged that conditions at this intersection may have changed, and traffic engineers will take another look to determine whether a flashing yellow left-turn arrow could make any improvements.

Buffered bike lane

Richard from Las Vegas noticed that bicycle lanes are now running down the middle of the street in several neighborhoods on the city’s north side, particularly along Bradley Road, between Ann Road and Tropical Parkway, and also on Tropical, between Bradley and Decatur Boulevard.

“This seems awfully dangerous to the bike rider,” Richard said. “What is going on?”

Bradley Road and Tropical Parkway were recently restriped to improve traffic conditions around nearby Kay Carl Elementary and Lied Middle schools, Kurtz said.

Parents picking up their children from those schools routinely parked in the curbside bicycle lanes and adjacent travel lane, creating unsafe conditions in the neighborhood.

That situation prompted the city to add some buffered bike lanes and designated parking lanes as a way to manage traffic while creating a safer corridor for children who ride their bicycles to school, Kurtz said.

The city also added designated

WARRIOR

lenging people to get clean.

“Stella had a heart for people who struggled,” her friend Rachael Chesin said. “She helped many people get clean, and she truly loved God and loved people deeply.”

Jessica Avras, Martinez’s sister-inlaw, said Martinez dated Wood off and on for about a year.

“Stella wanted to save him,” Avras said. “She wanted to save the world.”

Before she was killed, her family believed the couple had broken off their relationship decisively, Avras said.

‘You will never find me’

Social media posts suggest the two began dating about May 2016. The pair are seen in a number of photographs together throughout 2016 and can be seen in August and October exchanging expressions of love on each other’s pages.

But the public face of the relationship took a turn shortly afterward. Martinez posted on Wood’s page in January, calling him a sociopath.

“I wish I never met you, I did everything for you,” she wrote. She

then accused him of destroying her life.

Martinezwrotethatshewas calling him out on social media to take back her power and warn other women about him.

Other comments foreshadowed the danger she faced.

“Although I have no doubt (you’re) still going to try to kill me but you will never find me,” she posted on his Facebook page in January.

In one comment, she described failed efforts to seek help from authorities. She wrote that police had taken his side in previous disputes and would not help her.

Avras told the Las Vegas Review-journal that police were called several times. After one fight, North Las Vegas officers booked Martinez, not Wood, on a domestic violence charge, she said.

Sgt. Ann Cavaricci, a North Las Vegas police spokeswoman, confirmed that officers responded to a fight between the couple in November. Martinez was arrested and convicted of a domestic violence charge.

She stopped calling the police after that, because she was afraid they would turn against her, Avras said.

Martinez’ssocialnetworkhad responded to her posts, urging her to

get a protection order, move and get away. The woman’s posts on Wood’s page were generally ignored, except in a few instances in which he called Martinez crazy.

Protecting victims

Liz Ortenburger, executive director of the Safe Nest domestic violence advocacy group and women’s shelter, said victims and their loved ones should be careful on social media.

“You don’t always know if that’s private,” she said.

Stalking is a common element of domestic violence, which is about power and control for an abuser. While victims look for love and support online, abusers could be using that information to track them down. People responding to posts should not post names, locations orotherinformationthatcould inadvertently lead abusers to their

victims, Ortenburger said.

She suggested privately sending contact information for a domestic violence hotline instead.

“Social media is probably not the best place to get support and help,” she said.

Help is available for victims of domestic violence. To contact Safe Nest, visit safenest.org or call 702646-4981.

For Shade Tree, visit shadetree.org or call 702-385-0072. To reach the 24-hour hotline at SAFE House, call 702-564-3227. For the Counseling and Advocacy Center, call 702-4514203. Visit safehousenv.org.

Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@ reviewjournal.com and 702-3830391. Contact Dana Rutkin at drutkin@reviewjournal.com or 702383-0381. Follow @Wesjuhl and @ Danadrutkin on Twitter.