36 years ago this month

Harry Mackey, a retired chemical engineer, who with his wife helps run the summertime operation at Furnace Creek Ranch, says not everyone is able to accommodate the intense heat of Death Valley. He tells of the two map-makers who poo-pooed warnings that the heat would slow down their map-making.

As it got hotter and hotter, they just began working earlier and earlier until finally they were mapping in the dark -- and, as it turned out, on the wrong mountain.

Two underground nuclear tests were conducted in July at the Nevada Test Site. The first was part of an experiment related to detecting nuclear explosions that might be secretly detonated in other parts of the world.

The shot of less than 20 kilotons was exploded in a tunnel about 900 feet below the earth's surface July 1. The second, July 8, was "Miniata," an 80-kiloton blast designed to develop a peaceful industrial capability, specifically "gas simulation."

30 years ago this week

Mandatory garbage collection service for residents of Pahrump Valley will be one of the subjects of discussion at the town board meeting at the Community Center. Other subjects will include the library advisory board and a request for a set of tires by the search and rescue organization.

The issue of compulsory payment for refuse collection is expected to produce a lot of resistance.

American Borate Corp., the company which bought out the Tenneco operation in Amargosa Valley last October, is preparing to expand its milling capacity and convert its Death Valley mining operation from open pit to underground.

The company's present work force of about 160 workers is expected to increase by 40 or 50 workers over the next several years as a result.

20 years ago this week

Alex Pasternak says he has a $300,000 investment in his 14 adult exotic animals being kept in the Pahrump Valley, and he would like the community to recognize him as a legitimate businessman. Pasternak, 40, said he feels unjustified hysteria has been stirred up by what he calls a "gunslinger" element in the community and claims he has been an asset in whatever community he has lived in.

A total of $11,150 was raised for the Pahrump Ambulance Emergency Service at its benefit auction Saturday at the Community Center. Proceeds go to purchase equipment for the service, helping it to provide emergency medical care for Pahrump Valley residents. The Child Abuse Prevention group's buffet held prior to the auction raised another $445.

Americans for Nuclear Testing will make a presentation at the Pahrump town board meeting. Details were not given on the posted agenda. In other business Tuesday, the board plans to read a proposal to adopt a flood and management ordinance and discuss and possibly approve a master land use map for Pahrump.

10 years ago this week

A remote dry lake bed about 60 miles from Pahrump could play a significant role in the future of America's space program.

Silurian Lake, about 30 miles south of Tecopa, Calif., is being considered as a landing site for short range tests of the X-33, a one-half scale model of Lockheed-Martin's VentureStar spacecraft which is expected to become the 21st century's answer to the space shuttle.

Wayne Wilson, an environmental engineer for NASA, said the dry lake bed near popular Dumont Dunes is the preferred short-range site because it provides some margin for error should the X-33 fail to land directly on line.

Remember when you were in school and you used to torture the poor substitute teacher with the thankless job of filling in for a full-time teacher you didn't like in the first place?

Well, the Nye County School District is taking steps to ensure its substitutes are ready to handle a little childish torture and anything else that might come up. All non-licensed applicants must attend one of the NCSD's day-long substitute teaching workshops.

Pahrump is just 10,625 new homes away from getting a $17 million middle school -- if the county commissioners approve a proposal by the Nye County School District to impose a $1,600 impact fee on new residential construction and new manufactured homes in the valley.

It will actually take fewer new structures than that, since the district has other sources of construction income and school officials are hoping a bond issue will pass next year.

The decision of the Pahrump Town Board at its last meeting to begin accepting bids for a permanent youth center was too little too late for long-time youth center advocate Bob Tomaro, who said he's frustrated with the whole thing and plans to resign from the town's parks and recreation board.

Town board member Bob Little, on the other hand, said he's encouraged by the town's progress and believes it's a good first step toward establishing a series of recreational facilities for both youth and adults in the community.