The Las Vegas Wranglers will meet the Alaska Aces in the second round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs starting this Friday and Saturday at the Orleans Arena (4500 W. Tropicana Avenue) at 7:05 p.m.

The Wranglers who are National Conference regular season champions will host Games One and Two of the National Conference Semi-Finals. Game One is set for Friday, April 25th at 7:05 pm at the Orleans Arena, and Game Two played on Saturday, April 26th at 7:05 p.m. The best-of-seven series then moves to Anchorage for Games Three, Four and Five. This weekend's match-up marks the second time the Wranglers and Aces have met in the Kelly Cup Playoff history. In 2006, Alaska defeated Las Vegas 4-2 in the best-of-seven West Division Finals and Alaska went on to win the Kelly Cup that year.

This year, the Aces aced out Idaho 4-0 in the first round to advance, while Las Vegas defeated Stockton 4-2 in the opening round.
Wrangers vs. Aces Schedule:
Game 1: Friday, April 25th at 7:05 pm - Orleans Arena
Game 2: Saturday, April 26th at 7:05 pm - Orleans Arena
Game 3: at Alaska - Tuesday, April 29th at 8:15 pm (PDT)
Game 4: at Alaska - Thursday, May 1st at 8:15 pm (PDT)
Then if necessary:
Game 5: at Alaska - Friday, May 2nd at 8:15 pm (PDT)
Game 6: Tuesday, May 6th at 7:05 pm - Orleans Arena
Game 7: Wednesday, May 7th at 7:05 pm - Orleans Arena

There are 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages available. Fans interested in purchasing playoff packages may contact the Wranglers front office at (702) 471-7825 (PUCK). Fans may purchase tickets on the Wranglers team Web site at www.lasvegaswranglers.com or the Orleans Arena Web site. Fans may also purchase tickets at any of the following locations: Galleria Mall, Orleans Casino showroom box office, Gold Coast Casino and the Suncoast Casino showroom box office. Tickets also may be ordered by phone at (702) 284-7777.

Good luck Wranglers!

It's time to start thinking about what special thing you can do for Mom on Mother's Day. If you want to go beyond sending some flowers, and your Mom's nearby, check out these suggestions for a local way to celebrate Mother's Day in Vegas, and thank her for all she's done for you over the years.

If you want to strut your stuff (or your float) in the 2008 Helldorado Parade, entry forms must be received by the city no later than Monday, April 28. Entry forms can be obtained online at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/helldorado or by calling (702) 229-6501.

The 2008 Helldorado Parade will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. There is no entry fee for the parade and car clubs, equestrian clubs, marching bands and walking groups are encouraged to submit an application. Entries will be judged based on theme, creativity and their relation to Helldorado Days and the city of Las Vegas' 103rd birthday.

The parade route runs northbound on Fourth Street from Hoover Avenue to Ogden Avenue. Information on these upcoming events can be found on the official Helldorado Days Web site

.Read more about Helldorado Days.

Summerlin’s Earthfaire will be held this Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Summerlin Centre Community Park on Town Center Drive between West Sahara Avenue and West Charleston Boulevard.

Activities at this free event include environmental activities for kids by Mad Science; live wild horses from the National Wild Horse Association; pet adoption by the Nevada SPCA and more. Other exhibitors include Friends of Red Rock Canyon, The Tortoise Group, Nellis Air Force Base Environmental Management Office, City of Las Vegas Environmental Division, The Nature Conservancy, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Outside Las Vegas, Conservation District of Southern Nevada and many others. There will also be musical entertainment and food for purchase at this family-friendly event, now in its fifth year.

High winds that hit up to 60 mph at Red Rock Canyon this morning and up to 40 mph in the southwest prompted Clark County Air Quality officials to issue a dust advisory for the Las Vegas Valley now through Wednesday morning.

As of now, dust levels are remaining at a "moderate" level, which is not considered unhealthy. However, officials are sending notices to valley construction sites and other outlying areas in the county to take precautions to prevent blowing dust. Today, the National Weather Service is predicting winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to or exceeding 40 mph. You can track dust levels on the Clark County Web site

There are several really fun events this weekend in Vegas, so if work is getting you down, think ahead to these upcoming events:

April 19-20
Las Vegas Celtic Gathering and Highland Games
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs
Celebrate all things Celtic, Vegas-style at this 4th annual gathering. For more information, visit www/lasvegascelticsociety.org.

Saturday, April 19
Henderson Heritage Parade & Festival
Henderson celebrates 55 years of history with free activities for the public, including a pancake breakfast, parade and the International Food & Folklife Festival. The Mayor & Council Pancake Breakfast is at 8 a.m. in front of the Henderson Convention Center, located at 200 S. Water Street, followed by the parade at 10 a.m. The parade route will begin at Water Street and Ocean Ave. and proceed down to Water Street and Victory Road. The celebrations continue with the International Food & Folklife Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 200 S. Water Street. The festival features world cuisine, live entertainment, colorful costumes, crafts, kid’s activities and more. Additionally, classic cars of all years, makes and models will line Water Street from Basic Street to Atlantic Avenue from noon to 4 p.m.For more information, call (702) 267-2171 or visit www.HendersonLive.com.

Sunday, April 20
2008 AIDS Walk
According to Aid for AIDS of Nevada, in 2007, more than 6,000 people walked rising over $550,000. Over 250 corporate and community teams raised 70 percent of the total funds collected. Find out how you can help in the 2008 AIDS Walk.

Another four Toni Braxton shows have been canceled at the Flamingo. Braxton is recuperating after being hospitalized with chest pain. The Flamingo expects her to return the stage next Tuesday. The six-time Grammy winner began her popular Vegas act, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" in 2006. Braxton has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart, but a cause for her current situation has not been disclosed.

The Flamingo Showroom is offering refunds for the canceled shows. Call the Flamingo Guest Service line at (702) 733-3333 for more information.

Yesterday, the City of Las Vegas decided to revoke the business licenses of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and the Gastroenterology Center, as well as money orders totaling $500,000 for putting at least 40,000 people at risk of contracting Hepatitis C and other serious diseases. The half million dollars will be used to help former patients who need to be tested as a result of possible contamination from the centers shoddy practices. According to a Las Vegas Now report, Mayor Goodman said the city did all it could under its jurisdiction. Apparently, though the doctors could still open other clinics, however their old licenses will indicate their involvement with this hepatitis scare.

What do you think? I think their medical licenses should be yanked too. The blatant disregard for literally thousands of people's health just to save some money? I think it's pretty appalling.

Tomorrow, Saturday April 5, join others interested in solar power at this annual event, which is part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour. Take a self-guided tour of homes powered by the sun! Local homeowners will talk with tour participants, showing them what they are doing to live more sustainably. Certain locations may also feature experts to help answer questions about solar electric systems, alternative materials or various other items of interest. Over 120,000 people are expected to attend Solar Home Tours nationwide this year. This is 13th year for the National Solar Tour, and the third for southern Nevada. It's a great way to meet people and get good, practical ideas on using renewable energy.

Tomorrow, meet between 9 a.m. and Noon at the Orientation Plaza at the Springs Preserve. Then you can go to any site on the self-guided tour, in any order, at any time during tour hours (10:00 am - 4:00 pm). Tour pricing is designed to reward those who carpool and use alternative vehicles. See www.solarNV.org for more details. (Advanced registration is required!)

It makes me all road ragey to even type this but beginning tomorrow the I-15 Design Build Project commences. The I-15 is being widened from the I-15/US 95 Interchange to Craig Road.

It's a $240,000,000 project, part of a bigger project to expand I-15. This phase of the plan is to expand I-15 from six lanes to 10 lanes from the Spaghetti Bowl to Lake Mead. According to the Nevada DOT I-15 in the area of Craig Road various lanes will be closed in each direction, Sunday through Friday evenings through April 3 from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. each evening. Motorists should use lane shifts as directed. Extreme caution in the workzone is advised. Major construction projects on Interstate 15 will affect traffic for the next few years, so don't expect to zip along the I-15 anytime soon. The California DOT and the Nevada DOT also announced a new construction project yesterday that will affect drivers wanting to come to or leave Las Vegas. The construction is estimated to be complete in summer of 2010. Crews will be adding truck lanes on both southbound and northbound lanes from Baker, Calif. to the Nevada stateline.

Check out the Nevada DOT Web site for more info.