Sean DeFrank
Associate Editor
Contact: 868-4553 • Email
A Southern Nevada resident since 1974, DeFrank worked for the Las Vegas Review-Journal for more than 13 years, primarily as a sports copy editor but also covering the city of Henderson in the late ‘90s, before coming to Vegas Seven just in time for its launch. The UNLV graduate is also a U.S. Army infantry veteran, and was recalled to active duty in 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm. He lives in Henderson with his wife, enjoys traveling and going to concerts, and loves his UNLV Rebels.
Recent Articles
Found in Translation
Rosemary Hyun uses multinational skills and compassion to make a difference in young lives
February 24th, 2011
One of the things Rosemary Hyun enjoys most about her job is connecting with young patients, especially those who are first-generation Americans. The Korea native understands the unique trials of growing up in one country with parents who were raised in the traditions of another. It’s this ability to relate and communicate that has helped make her the leading vote-getter among all pediatricians in the Top Docs survey. “I lived it, so of course I’m more sympathetic,” she says. “And I think the families know that I did grow up in the old country, so maybe I draw more of that population.”
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He Works on the Brains, She Works on the Beauty
Goesel and John Anson are Las Vegas’ surgical power couple
February 24th, 2011
When you’re the wife of a neurosurgeon, there are sacrifices to be made—long nights at home minding the fort and watching the child while your husband is out fixing brains. “We both can’t have the schedule of a busy neurosurgeon,” says Goesel Anson, whose husband, John, is one of the Valley’s top neurosurgeons. “Obviously someone has to be a little bit more stable, and that someone is me.” Sounds like a classic story of a patient medical spouse. But there’s a catch: Goesel Anson is one of the Valley’s top plastic surgeons.
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A Whole New Ballgame
Former College of Southern Nevada coach ready to work his magic at UNLV
February 17th, 2011
One week before the UNLV baseball team’s season opener, the players were busy putting the finishing touches on improvements to Wilson Stadium. The infield has been resurfaced, the dugouts rebuilt and painted, and new turf installed in front of them. But the most notable change heading into the Rebels’ Feb. 18 home opener against Maine is the presence of first-year coach, Tim Chambers.
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NIGHT on the HUNT
The lawbreakers jumped bail. It's in Eugene Caruso's financial interest to find them
February 17th, 2011
Eugene Caruso cracks open a 16-ounce Rockstar Energy Drink before we even reach Primm. “This is the first time I’ve ever had one of these,” Caruso says. Ten-thirty on a Tuesday night in a van speeding from Las Vegas to San Diego is as good a time and place as any to start. We’re hunting fugitives, so staying awake is a good idea. Caruso’s beverage is the only thing unfamiliar to him on this trip.
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Collect Them All
February 10th, 2011
Anyone interested in buying a copy of Vegas Seven? Yes, we’re aware that you didn’t pay a nickel for the issue you are now reading. But that hasn’t stopped some aspiring capitalists from trying to make a few additional bucks off of our hard work. An Internet search that went astray, as many do, happily revealed that a handful of Vegas Seven issues can be purchased on eBay. The majority of them can be bought for $6.49, with a couple of issues going as high as $9.99. By comparison, while most issues of Las Vegas Weekly are going for just 90 cents (hey, we didn’t set the market), the Sept. 7, 2006, issue commemorating the 10-year anniversary of Tupac Shakur’s death is priced at $130.
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Power to the Homeowners!
February 10th, 2011
The complaints were many, but the theme was common: Homeowners associations in Nevada have become too powerful and it’s time to reel them in. At a rally in front of the Grant Sawyer Building on Feb. 7, more than 50 people protested the one-sidedness of the issue in an attempt to bring change to HOAs.
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Fighting Back
UFC star Forrest Griffin returns from injury
February 3rd, 2011
For a fighter, inactivity is an enemy. The absence of action can hurt in many ways—causing a body to grow soft and a mind to grow doubt. In preparing for his first bout since November 2009, UFC light heavyweight Forrest Griffin is dealing with the anxiety of returning to the Octagon after a long layoff to face mixed martial arts veteran Rich Franklin in UFC 126 on Feb. 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
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Please Stay on the Line
Remember pay phones? They’re still out there. You just have to know where to look.
February 3rd, 2011
The proliferation of telephones in the United States has never been greater. More than 285 million Americans, about 91 percent of the population, have mobile phones. As these numbers grow, there’s less need for pay phones. But there are still people out there who depend on pay phones for daily communication, and finding those phones is getting harder and harder to do. According to Willard R. Nichols, president of the American Public Communications Council, a national trade association that represents many of the country’s independent pay phone operators, there are more than 5,000 pay phones left in Nevada.
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Bill Young
The Public Servant
January 27th, 2011
<p>With a nurse for a mother and a police officer for a father, Bill Young Jr. always knew he wanted to help people. When it came time to pursue a career, though, Young never really considered following directly in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he sought another avenue in public safety.</p>
<p>“The running joke in our family was, ‘Nobody likes the cops; everybody loves the firemen. It’s a no-brainer,’” he says.</p>
Casting Call
An abundance of fishing opportunities exists in Southern Nevada
January 27th, 2011
When it comes to outdoor activities in Southern Nevada, few offer the flexibility of fishing. There is no offseason, and it can be done around the clock. There’s also a variety of settings available to provide opportunities for everyone—from diehard anglers to casual family outings. With fluctuating waterlines at Lake Mead, though, and changes in season, it helps to know where and when to go, what’s available and what type of bait to use. “We have no downtime when it comes to fishing,” says Ivy Santee, angler education coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “The only downtime is when the skies open up and it pours on you. And even then the fishing can be really good. You’re only limited by the days you feel like going out.”</p>
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