Home Subscribe Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

News
Apr. 09, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Chilling message for 'Buffalo Jim'

NORM CLARKE
MORE COLUMNS

"Buffalo Jim" Barrier, owner of Buffalo Jim's Auto & Marine Electric, stands outside his business in 2000. Barrier was found dead Sunday at a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway.
Photo by K.M. Cannon

Somebody familiar with James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier's auto shop left a chilling message after an Easter weekend break-in.

Ceiling panels had been kicked down where someone entered and Barrier's office files had been rifled through. On his desk was a tax document that listed his home address.

"They're telling me they know where I live," Barrier told Review-Journal features writer Corey Levitan, who was shown the scene two days later after dropping in to have his car repaired.

A shaken Levitan went home that Wednesday and e-mailed me details of the conversation he had with the colorful wrestling promoter.

Most Popular Stories
  • MOUNT CHARLESTON: Four die in plane crash
  • Two couples died in crash
  • NORM: Steve Wynn goes for mega-yacht
  • FAMILY SERVICES: Three visits preceded boy's death
  • NORM: Kirshner works on big Vegas project
  • NORM: Playboy models in state spotlight
  • Body of diver who jumped off 90-foot Lake Mead cliff found
  • NORM: Barkley is miffed by debt publicity
  • NORM: Playboy 'coed': Dad's OK with it
  • NORM: Elvis fan club will have star its way



    • I flew to Phoenix the next day for a long weekend and didn't write another column until Sunday.

    "Buff called me on Sunday," Levitan recalled Tuesday, "and said, 'Norm didn't run the piece.' He seemed to want it to run. He said, 'I feel like it's protection.'"

    With a family reunion, a wedding and all, the Barrier story escaped my mind. It's something I'm going to regret for a long time.

    Barrier was found dead Sunday at a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway. His four daughters are convinced that Barrier, a man who wasn't easily intimidated, was murdered.

    Barrier called me a few weeks ago, as he often did when he had a hot tip, and left me a message. "Call me, brother. Got a good story for you."

    Levitan believes Barrier was going to fill me in on a reality show he had in the works. "He told me he was working with an NBC producer. The show was going to be based on a campaign for mayor he planned to mount for 2011. He was going to run on an anti-corruption ticket."

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    Dethroned Miss Nevada USA 2007 Katie Rees goes on trial today on six misdemeanor charges, including resisting arrest. She was arrested about 3 a.m. on Feb. 6 and charged with assorted traffic violations. One question will be answered upon her arrival: Will she tone down her party-girl image? She showed up for her March 7 hearing in a revealing cocktail dress and high heels in Judge Joe M. Bonaventure's courtroom. Her attorney, Michael Cristalli, told reporters at the hearing that he was considering a police brutality lawsuit as a result of a broken tooth Rees suffered in a scuffle during her arrest. ...Hugh Hefner's eccentric dining habits were on display over the weekend. Hefner, whose routine includes faxing instructions to his restaurants of choice, ordered his usual at Trader Vic's on Saturday. A regular at Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills, Hef ordered chop suey, mashed potatoes, a tall glass of milk and a Mai Tai. The Palms, which has an exclusive contract with Coca Cola, had to ship in Pepsi for the Playboy founder. "And it has to be opened in front of him," said a spy. ... "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, along with host Ryan Seacrest, will host Tryst's two-year anniversary party at the Wynn Las Vegas. The red carpet is scheduled to begin at 11:30 p.m. at Tryst. ... Candace Crawford, Miss Missouri USA, is the sister of Chace Crawford, star of the hit TV show "Gossip Girl." His recent breakup with country music star Carrie Underwood, of "American Idol" fame, made news. She confirmed Monday that they called it quits via text message.

    SIGHTINGS

    Cruz and Romeo Beckham, the youngest sons of David and Victoria Beckham, jumped on stage during Elton John's show (Caesars Palace) and put on a dancing demonstration. Not far from them, also putting on a show, was Pamela Anderson and illusionist Criss Angel, looking like a cozy couple. ... Hollywood couple Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, dining Sunday with baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench at Koi restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort).

    THE PUNCH LINE

    "The next stop for the Olympic torch is San Francisco. Police there expect huge protests. It'll be the first time San Francisco's ever protested against anything flaming." -- Craig Ferguson

    Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.



    Leave Your Comment 15 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    CincyKid wrote on April 09, 2008 07:15 PM: That Johnny Bench really gets around. I saw him in the Diamond Club seats at Monday's Reds game against the Phillies that started at 9:35 AM, PDT!


    RUCrazyToo wrote on April 09, 2008 03:26 PM: Regardless of Rick Rizzolo's past exploits and crimes would he be that stupid to be involved in the death of Jim Barrier just days after his release, when he knows all eyes are surely on him. If he wanted him killed, why not have it done in the years prior to the indictment during the feud or while in prison with no potential direct physical connection to the crime?

    Rather than jumping to the most obvious conclusion, people should take a closer look at who stands to benefit from Barrier's death. Certainly not Rizzolo, as any tie to this incident would send him immediately back to prison and jeopardize his plea.

    Also, if somebody wants somebody killed, I wouldn't imagine you give them warnings and hints or call them that day, rather you use the element of surprise to your advantage and strike without warning. However, if you need a foundation for a setup then you start leaving a trail…..

    So who benefits....Stupak may benefit as retribution for the situation with his Rolls Royce. Not only did Barrier retain the car, but then rather than sell it to recoup his lost costs, he added insult to injury by parading around town driving the same car. The coincidental timing of Rizzolo's release would surely distract attention, except for the missing car that later reappeared...

    Steve Miller may benefit because it provides further intrigue and depth to the book he is writing on this subject and indirectly provides further apparent validity to his claims. By portraying himself as a potential target and victim it would surely distract attention….

    Sometimes the easiest answer is not necessarily the right one, and maybe the person who did this to Barrier was hoping everyone would jump to the exact conclusions everybody appears to have jumped to......incorrectly.


    JIM_MOOTS wrote on April 09, 2008 11:32 AM: Bill wrote on April 09, 2008 06:23 AM:
    Jim_Moots writes and spells like a mobster....

    tim wrote on April 09, 2008 06:21 AM:
    It is chilling the response from this Jim_Moots clown...
    Blame the victim? Jim_Moots must either be an attorney for or one of the crooks Buffalo Jim took on ....then again, is there really much difference between an attorney or a criminal..

    Furious wrote on April 09, 2008 09:17 AM:
    Jim Moots is probably Tony Sgro in real life.
    --------------------------------------
    PEOPLE YOU COMPLIMENT ME TOO MUCH.. A MOBSTER...A CRIMINAL??

    YES I AM ITALIAN AND FROM CHICAGO BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME A MOBSTER OR A CRIMINAL.. BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO REMEMBER IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ITALIAN AND JEWISH MOBSTERS. YOU PEOPLE WOULD STILL BE A ONE HORSE TOWN HERE..I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE OLDTIMERS THAT THIS TOWN WAS ALOT BETTER WHEN THE MOB RAN THE CITY..

    I AM JUST A NORMAL GUY WHO WANTS TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN. IF YOUR FEEBLE MINDS WOULD HAVE READ THE POST CORRECTLY YOU WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I STATED...

    QUOTE(BUT EVERYONE IS MAKING THIS SOUND LIKE THIS WAS A ONE MAN IDEA. IF IT WAS RIZZOLO, STUPEK OR WHOM EVER THEN THEY DESERVE WHAT THEY GET..
    I FEEL FOR HIS FAMILY AND GIVE MY CONDOLENCES.)

    SO RE-READ MY POSTING AND UNDERSTAND WHAT I POSTED.. GET ALL THE INFORMATION TO THE STORY, BEFORE PROFILING PEOPLE AS BEING A CRIMINAL OR MOBSTER..

    AS A MATTER OF FACT, I AM INSULTED BEING CALLED AN ATTORNEY..




    David wrote on April 09, 2008 10:49 AM: If you think Oscar was worried about running against Jim you are mistaken. Oscar is in his last term and cannot run for mayor again.


    Now THAT"s the best news I have ever heard!


    Lon wrote on April 09, 2008 09:42 AM: Katie Rees is NOT news. I'm surprised she is not earning a living a Cheetah's by now. That's all she's good for.


    Dave wrote on April 09, 2008 09:40 AM: "Not far from them, also putting on a show, was Pamela Anderson and illusionist Criss Angel, looking like a cozy couple"

    Just when I thought that Pamela Anderson couldn't sink any lower....


    Furious wrote on April 09, 2008 09:17 AM: Jim Moots is probably Tony Sgro in real life.


    David wrote on April 09, 2008 08:58 AM: If you think Oscar was worried about running against Jim you are mistaken. Oscar is in his last term and cannot run for mayor again.


    GOD wrote on April 09, 2008 08:50 AM: Norm is always on top of the scoops...

    Forgets to run a newsworthy Buffalo Jim article (oops) but always has time for a Pam Anderson or Chrissy Angel sighting...
    WAY TO GO NORMAN!!!


    David Johann wrote on April 09, 2008 07:30 AM: Who said Buffalo Jim was the perfect guy? Who said he didn't have any vices? I don't know if he did, and I don't care. If he did, those were his problems, not mine.

    You don't have to walk on water to carry a higher message (or to be martyred). From the Christian tradition, the 12 in Jesus' inner circle, a bunch of smelly fishermen, all questioned their own worthiness. They must have had some "vices," eh?

    I'm not saying Buffalo Jim was a saint because I don't know. But there is no question that he was brave and heard a higher calling.

    The question for me is: who had the means, the motive, and enough knowledge about Jim's life to carry out a murder and leave little trace?

    If he was murdered (and I think it is reasonable to assume that) I'd bet that it was financed by someone who knows both the mayor and Rick Rizzolo. Given what we know about those two, I think it's reasonable to assume this as well.

    Barrier could have beaten Oscar. Who benefits under Oscar's mayorship? Who benefited from his law practice? Of those people who benefit(ed) from knowing the mayor, who might also have wanted to "teach" Jim Barrier a lesson on behalf of Rizzolo (the type of character with whom the mayor, in his earlier years, would have had an ongoing working relationship)?


    Read All Comments