36 years ago this month

Top Arabians and Appaloosa horses will dominate the scene at the fourth annual El Riatas Horseshow and Gymkhana in the Pahrump Valley June 12-13. Classes include showmanship at halter, lead line, junior bareback equitation, pleasure, matched pairs, Arabian and half-Arabian equitation, saddle seat, costume, English pleasure and others.

Top scholastic honors for the Death Valley High School class of 1971 go to Joseph LaComb, Greg Hafen and Merna Anderson. Other Pahrump graduates were Robert Bolling, Bradford Gordon, Henry Maddux and Kitty Simmans. LaComb and Hafen were named co-valedictorians and Miss Anderson, salutatorian.

30 years ago this week

The road joining Pahrump and Amargosa valleys has been cut through and is expected to be opened as a graveled thoroughfare suitable for passenger cars by early next year. Asphalting of the road will take place as money is made available, possibly next year.

A brook with rock-lined banks is the latest feature being added to the front nine holes of the Calvada golf course. Water from natural flowing springs around the course will be channeled into the winding stream. A group from the U.S. Golf Associations is scheduled to visit the course to offer comments on its construction.

Anna Barris of Pahrump, Miss Helldorado of 1977, is in Clovis, N.M., this weekend as guest of honor for their Pioneer Days celebration, which includes a Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association event and the Miss Rodeo New Mexico Queen contest.

20 years ago this week

An amended bill that would increase Nye County's share of federal grants generated at the Yucca Mountain repository to 25.4 percent appears headed for a state Senate vote. Two of three Nye County commissioners oppose the plan, saying it exaggerates the potential income to be generated and contradicts the law which says the grant money from a repository site should go to the site county, namely, Nye.

Around 40 exhibitors will display their wares and talk about their services Sunday at the first annual Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce Trade Show at the Saddle West Convention Center. The purpose of the trade show is to help make more Pahrump Valley residents aware of businesses and services currently operating in Pahrump.

Pahrump Town Board member Barbara Moore and planning advisory board member Tim Hafen are scheduled to testify today before the state legislature's government affairs committee concerning SB463. The measure, approved by the state Senate two years ago over the objection of the Nye County commission, would give the town of Pahrump planning powers of a third-class city. Moore and Hafen are expected to testify in support of SB463, citing faster and more efficient consideration of parcel and subdivision matters.

10 years ago this week

If the Nevada Legislature approves funding for just one of the proposed Community College of Southern Nevada high-tech learning centers, college officials think Pahrump should get it.

Orlando Sandoval, associate vice president for planning and campus sites, said that Pahrump has a greater need for the center and deserves it because they were so enthusiastic and aggressive in their approach.

Nye County Commissioner Cameron McRae wants to bury the rumor that county cemeteries will be closing. "There will be no closure of cemeteries," said McRae, who is apparently upset over the unfounded reports which have circulated county-wide since the commissioners met in Amargosa Valley the week before.

The Planned high-rise expansion of Terrible's Town Casino has a lot of people, including members of the town board, re-examining the resources of the town's volunteer fire department. That comes as no surprise to Fire Chief Vern Long, who says the addition of a seven-story hotel will not create a new problem but merely add to an existing one, as his department is already pushed to its limits by the town's rapid growth.

Meet the new boss. Larry Goins -- Pahrump Valley High's athletic director from 1988-1993 -- recently got his old job back. Goins, who's taught at PVHS for the past 12 years, will replace outgoing athletic director Ron Eason, who's accepted another position in the Nye County School District.