Murder slated for the Mansion this weekend

Was it the ex-wife, or the actress?

Murder and mayhem -- and a couple of mayors -- are on the menu as the Republican Roundtable presents its first murder mystery dinner, "Who Killed Simon Slick?" at the Governor's Mansion on Saturday.

The cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., dinner starts at 7 and the demise of Simon Slick is expected some time around 7:30 p.m.

"This is going to be great fun," said Roundtable board member Pat Puchert. "We're using our own members and local political figures for the play and they're all hams."

Included in the line of suspects, a number of local celebrities including Mayor Ray Masayko as a former Olympic skier, Sparks Mayor Tony Armstrong as the archaeologist and District 25 Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, R-Reno, as the countess.

"Our two detectives will be free-roving with microphones, stopping at tables to ask who knew Simon Slick," said organization President June Burlingame. "Guests will receive a pen and paper to write down who they think the murderer is, but everyone is a suspect."

The evening starts with a no-host bar offering wine, beer and soda to the music of Francisco and Joey. Chicken scaloppini a la Marsala and Caesar salad top the menu and the event includes a silent auction.

An organization that offers a conservative forum for both men and women, the Republican Roundtable boasts 200 members and meets every third Wednesday at the Sands Regency Casino & Hotel in Reno.

The event costs $35 per person and is one of two fund-raisers held every year by the club, the money to benefit a variety of causes including the College Republicans at the University of Nevada, Reno for which the group sends two college students to Washington, D.C., every year. This event is booked, but for information call 825-5592.