The Nye County Natural Resources Department last month began a county-wide program to inform the public about well head protection.

The program focuses on community wells that serve 25 or more people or have 15 or more connections.

Nye County representatives will be presenting information on well head protection at public meetings throughout Nye County in the coming weeks. Topics on groundwater conditions and potential contaminants will be available.

Presentations will take place at town board meetings in Pahrump Tuesday, Tonopah June 13 and Beatty June 27. Representatives of BEC Environmental Inc. have yet to schedule presentations in Round Mountain and Gabbs.

Well head protection involves taking steps to prevent a well from becoming contaminated. In Nye County about 20,000 community and individual wells are in use. Contamination not only affects an individual well but can spread through the aquifer to other wells.

Information on the program will also be distributed to schools, businesses, civic organizations, community centers and the media. Additional information is available on the web sites for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 and the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension Service.

Rural areas like many communities in Nye County are dependent solely on ground water for their water supply. It is used for irrigation, livestock and businesses as well as domestic use. Maintaining ground water quality by preventing potential contamination is in everyone's interest.

Nye County Commissioners awarded a $25,000 contract to BEC Environmental Inc. last January to implement the well head implementation plan in Pahrump and Amargosa Valley, using a grant from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Open schooling shows

Pahrump Open Schooling shows will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 and Nov. 3 at McCullough Arena (corner of Highway 160 and Basin Road).

Call Debby Woodland at 727-5529 or email orandas@vwestdu.net for more information.

Pahrump Bike Night

"Pahrump Bike Night" will be held during the summer, starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday nights at Sonic. All are welcome, bike or no bike.

Contact Peter at 513-1742 for more information.

Exchange students host homes needed

DM Discoveries, a government-monitored exchange student program, is seeking host families in Nye County and the surrounding areas for foreign exchange students due to arrive in August for the 2007-08 school year.

Each student has full medical coverage, pocket money and has expressed a true desire to become a participating member of an American family - pitching in on everything from household chores to family discussions.

DM Discoveries is a non-profit, public benefit program. For more information, contact Mary Ann Gantvoort at 775-727-7977.

Lutheran church jewelry sale

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 650 S. Blagg, will hold a gently used jewelry sale early this fall with all proceeds to be donated to No To Abuse.

Please start looking at your gently used jewelry and drop off any and all donations at No To Abuse, located at 621 S. Blagg, across the street from Shepherd of the Valley.

Call Shirl at 751-6961 for more information.

School district volunteer needed

The Nye County School District volunteer coordinator's office is looking for an assistant; duties include meeting people and helping to place volunteers where they are needed.

Please contact the coordinator's office at 727-7743, ext. 258 or 259. The office is open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.

Wall of Heroes

Those who would like a military photo of a loved one to hang in S.S.I.'s new military museum and gallery at Chief Tecopa Cemetery may submit photos to Awards Plus at 1231 E. Basin. Photos will be duplicated and also placed on the wall at Wal-Mart.

Call Jenny at 537-1955 for more information.

Pet adoptions

Nye County Animal Services holds pet adoptions every second Saturday of the month, (weather permitting), at Case's, 6211 S. Quarterhorse.

Cats and kittens are $36 each and dogs and puppies are $64 each. Adoption fees include spay or neuter, rabies vaccination and a one-year license for dogs and puppies.

Please call the animal shelter at 751-7020 for more information.

Spay, neuter clinic

The Nye County Animal Shelter offers a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which is not based on income and is open to everyone.

The only criteria which must be met is dogs must be current on vaccines and owners must provide proof of shots at the time of the appointment.

Contact the animal shelter at 751-7020 for prices and more information.

Let SCORE help you

Don't place your business plans on vacation. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), sponsored by the Small Business Administration, is available now to help put your plans to work.

Located at the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce offices in the Nevada State Bank building at 1301 S. Highway 160, SCORE provides confidential free one-on-one counseling and assists in finding money or funding sources including business plan, marketing, break-even point, management guidance and all other features -- all at no charge.

Call Sally at the 727-5800 or SCORE at 727-9471 to schedule an appointment to discuss your business ideas and start on the road to a possible profitable venture.

Free drug tests

Teen Care provides free drug tests for the children of concerned parents and guardians.

The test detects marijuana, cocaine, meth, opiates, amphetamines and more. All services are free and confidential. Teen Care provides Christian help for teens involved with drugs or alcohol.

Appointments are available Monday through Saturday. Call 727-9911 for more information.

Hospice cell phone collection program

Nathan Adelson Hospice is still working with Collective Good collecting unused cell phones to raise funds and to save the environment.

This ongoing project is being reignited for 2007 with the hopes of clearing everyone's closets and dresser drawers of old cell phones.

Drop off places for cell phones have been identified and collection boxes put in place for the convenience of everyone looking for a way of disposing unwanted, out-of-date cell phones.

Community partners are Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, CC's Beauty Zone, Charleston Peak RV Park at the Winery, Wells Fargo Bank, Martinizing Dry Cleaners, Nevada Federal Credit Union, Valley Electric, The Wine Cellar and Nathan Adelson Hospice.

For more information about recycling old cell phones, call Tonya Brum, event/community relations coordinator for Nathan Adelson Hospice at 751-5601.