TONOPAH -- A Pahrump field office for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is being proposed, but if approved, the federal agency won't have an official building in Pahrump.

Instead, the BLM will merely be reorganizing staff to specialize in a certain geographic area, in this case southern Nye County, instead of by area of expertise, BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said. BLM employees in the Pahrump Field Office will still work in Las Vegas.

"The Pahrump field office as we are proposing it now it would be 12 positions dedicated solely to southern Nye County, whereas everyone now is dedicated to their position of specialty," Cannon said.

The Pahrump staff will include a field manager, two assistant field managers, a realty specialist, geologist, archeologist, liaisons with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Energy, a wildlife biologist, outdoor recreation planner, habitat conservation planner, wild horse and burro specialist and planning and environmental coordinator.

The request has to be approved by BLM state director Ron Wenker and at the Washington D.C. level, which could happen within two to three months. While it won't mean an increase in staff, due to budget constraints, Cannon said it could increase efficiency.

"Just in the area of applications for right-of-way, for RPP (recreation and public purpose) leases currently in certain areas of the county we have 100," said Juan Palma, Las Vegas BLM field office manager. "The response I get from a lot of people, we, the BLM, have to move a little faster on the response to these applications."

In 2004 the BLM constructed a fire station located in the desert by itself east of Manse Road and Highway 160. It contains a fire engine and will be staffed with a group of firefighters.

"As we look at the state demographics we know that Pahrump Valley has grown a lot," Palma said. "It just continues to grow, which means the kinds of issues we have to deal with will grow."

Palma said his office in Las Vegas handles a lot of habitat conservation plans in southern Nye County as well as water issues, including requests for detention basins.

The Las Vegas BLM field office covers an area up to just south of Beatty, but it extends farther north to include Department of Defense and Department of Energy lands.

Nye County Commission Chairman Gary Hollis pushed for redrawing the BLM district boundaries so Nye and Esmeralda County will be in one district.

He complained the county has to deal with different resource management plans drawn up by BLM offices in Tonopah, Battle Mountain and Las Vegas, which govern different parts of the sprawling county.

"It would save the county a lot of problems, it would save the BLM a lot of problems," Hollis said.

The commission chairman said he would file a protest of the BLM district boundaries. Commissioner Joni Eastley remarked the county's preference for a single BLM district in Nye County have been conveyed to members of the Nevada congressional delegation.

Adult literacy

The Pahrump Community Library, 701 East St., offers free, confidential, one-on-one tutoring to adults who struggle with reading.

All sessions are held with a qualified literacy volunteer. For more information, call 727-5930. ext. 19.

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.

Prescription meds assistance

Nye County, in a joint effort with the National Association of Counties, is offering a prescription discount card for those Nye County residents whose prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

Enrollment is free and there is no paperwork to complete or eligibility requirements to meet. These cards are accepted at all Nye County pharmacies.

Pick up cards at pharmacies or stop by Nye County Health and Human Services, located at 250 N. Highway 160, Ste. 4, or call 751-7095.