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Apr. 14, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Daughters say Barrier left sign

NORM CLARKE
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This message was left for James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier on a car parked outside his memorial service Saturday.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.



"Buffalo Jim" Barrier's daughters believe he's telling them through a sign that he did not die of natural causes.

The grieving daughters of James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier are convinced they received a sign their father didn't die of natural causes.

Jennifer, Jessica, Elise and Jerica gathered Saturday night in a $2,400-a-night suite at The Skylofts at MGM Grand after their father's funeral for a 16th birthday party he had arranged for Jerica, aka "Little Buff."

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    • Barrier, 55, was found dead Sunday, April 6, in a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway.

    When one of the daughters opened the motorized window shades with a push of a button, the room fell silent.

    "We looked out and there was a Motel 6 sign," said Jennifer Barrier, 24.

    The family took it as "a sign that it wasn't his time," said Jerica," a sophomore at Trinity Christian High School.

    Family and friends are convinced the mysterious death was a mob hit.

    Barrier, the owner of the Auto and Marine Electric repair shop, had been receiving death threats for some time, and someone broke into his business over Easter weekend. Nothing was taken, Barrier told reporters, but a tax document with his home address on it was left in plain sight.

    His daughters, joined by their mother, Roxanne, and a few of Jerica's friends, spent the night watching TV coverage of the funeral and "trying to make each other smile," said Jennifer.

    Their father had thought of everything to make it a special night: "We had a butler who brought us watermelon juice," said Jennifer. "There was an espresso machine."

    It's inconceivable, they say, that he would go to such lengths for a special birthday party and then take his own life.

    "And he never left us without instructions," said "Little Buff."

    MORE TESTS FOR BRAXTON

    Flamingo headliner Toni Braxton has canceled her shows this week to undergo further medical tests after a heart scare.

    She was hospitalized overnight last Monday after suffering heart palpitations.

    A previously scheduled two-week break was to begin at the end of this week, which means she won't return until May.

    'BUFFALO' TALES

    During his eulogy honoring "Buffalo Jim" on Saturday, Barrier's attorney Robert Lueck revealed how his client got his colorful nickname.

    Barrier was leaving the Showboat Hotel and Casino on Boulder Highway in the mid-1970s when "a big Texan wearing a 10-gallon hat was strolling in. He was also rather drunk," Lueck told mourners at Palm Mortuary in downtown Las Vegas.

    The tipsy Texan stopped and stared at the hulking mechanic whose long hair draped over his shoulders.

    In a loud, booming voice, the Texan said that many years earlier he had gotten drunk and had sexual relations with a buffalo.

    He told Barrier, "I think you might be my son." And the name stuck, said Lueck.

    Barrier's daughter Jennifer told the funeral attendees her dad insisted on being her campaign manager whenever she ran for office in junior high and at Las Vegas High School.

    He came up with a placard featuring a photo of himself and the campaign motto: "Don't be buffalo'd with your vote. Vote for the best ... Jennifer 'Buffalo' Barrier."

    "And every year I won."

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    KSFN-AM, 1140 switches from a talk-show format beginning today to sports talk, with former ESPN anchor and radio host Dan Patrick on the air from 9 a.m. to noon.

    THE PUNCH LINE

    "John McCain was on 'The View.' He got along well with Barbara Walters. They were reminiscing about the Civil War." -- 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.



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    jerry wrote on April 18, 2008 11:56 PM: GOD: your comment as well as your "name" exposes you as a total moron that you are.

    The girls are obviously doing it to honor their father. He would have wanted them to go ahead with the party.


    Bubba J wrote on April 15, 2008 03:07 PM: Hey VJ, are just stupid or what? SkyLofts are FAR from the casino, not even attached. And you work for MGM? Liar. Also, MGM doesn't refund anything once they get their paws on it.


    VJ wrote on April 14, 2008 05:57 PM: I WORK FOR MGM/MIRAGE PROPERTIES.. THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM A REFUND ON THE ROOM UNDER THE SITUATION..

    BUT HEY WHAT KIND OF FATHER WOULD RENT A SUITE FOR A 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER IN A CASINO..
    SINCE YOU HAVE TO BE 21 TO GAMBLE AND DRINK IN THE CASINO.. CAN YOU SAY A FATHER THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HIS MINOR CHILDREN..

    MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY BOOZE ORDERED FOR THE PARTY..

    HEY NORM MAYBE CAN CHECK INTO THAT? THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT!!!


    tim wrote on April 14, 2008 04:53 PM: hey delray you { MAGGOT} go crawl back under your TRAILER !!!


    sosad wrote on April 14, 2008 02:27 PM: These children lost their father! What part is it that people don,t understand? We celebrate life as well as death! Memories last a lifetime so if they went to a suite so be it.Their Dad will always be in their heart, Who are we to judge how people mourn?


    Sandy Murphy wrote on April 14, 2008 02:04 PM: Just checked the SkyLoft website. They have 3 bedroom suites renting for almost $2,100 a night. A better location or weekend rental might just be $2,600. But, only a fool would spend that kind of money on a room. Sounds like old Buffalo was pretty flush with cash for Auto Shop owner. Interesting.......


    John Boy wrote on April 14, 2008 01:46 PM: Wow - the Texan had sex with a buffalo - that is something to be proud of. Who would say such a thing, even if he/she were kidding? Rediculous. The story would have been better had "Buffalo Jim" decked the drunk Texan for dissing him.


    The Donald wrote on April 14, 2008 01:44 PM: Hey DelRay, the 16 yr old has 24 year old sisters that were at the party. Also, it was most likely pre-paid, so they had to go or lose it. Nothing wrong with unwinding as a family in that suite, you insensitive fool. You are right thought - I know of no suites at SkyLoft that would rent for $2,400 a night - even their biggest and best penthouse would be much less than that for 1 day/night. Enough of the Buffalo Bill saga - let's move on. No sense in reporting anything more until the toxicology results are in and we all have a better idea of what the heck happened here.


    DANIELLE wrote on April 14, 2008 01:35 PM: OBVIOUS-the perps wanted to point out to Buffalo that they knew his address.
    DUH


    Obvious wrote on April 14, 2008 12:50 PM: Mad American: Direct your anger at the source of the public information - Clark County, not the messenger. This information is available to the public, it is as though you caught me reading aloud from a book at the public library!


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