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The Chicken Ranch brothel will remain under its present ownership for the time being, after the Nye County Licensing and Liquor Board unanimously rejected a request for a brothel license by Bruce Kahn Tuesday.

The vote came after a recommendation by Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo.

"It's a long standing position that a brothel license is the most privileged license in the state of Nevada, if not the United States of America," DeMeo said.

A documentary film crew from Los Angeles was taping the discussion.

The sheriff said Lt. Jack Grimauld spent 125 hours doing the investigation. Grimauld found plenty of gaps in Kahn's application.

They include: failing to list whether he had been ever refused a gaming, liquor, brothel or other privilege license in Nevada; a complete answer to whether he had ever been arrested, listing the time and place of arrest; a list of 10 references and their phone numbers; a complete list of his assets; identifying who took his fingerprints for the application and a complete list of his addresses for the past 10 years.

"The applicant has not demonstrated the financial ability to own or operate a brothel," Grimauld said.

Kahn only listed a $3.6 million personal loan he was using to invest in the brothel. The property is being sold for $5.25 million, Grimauld said, leaving the sheriff's department to wonder where the remaining $2 million will come from.

Then there's the matter of a past bankruptcy as prohibited under the brothel code, Grimauld said. He added that there are three federal tax liens against Kahn.

Furthermore, Kahn lists an address in Dallas, Texas, but Grimauld said the brothel code states an applicant must have been a bona fide resident of Nevada for six months or more.

Kahn's 2004 income tax return lists a business named the Flying Zebra Bar.

Kahn unsuccessfully requested that the commissioners table the item so he could furnish more information. Grimauld described different information being supplied to the Nye County Sheriff's Department upon request, off and on, since March.

"I had attempted to provide as much information as possible but apparently I have failed at that," Kahn said in his brief testimony under oath.

Commissioner Butch Borasky asked the sheriff for a recommendation.

DeMeo replied: "Based on the investigation we have completed thus far that I would make the recommendation that we deny the application."

Kahn declined to say after the vote whether he will take further action.

Current Chicken Ranch owners Ken Green and Russ Reade bought the brothel in 1981. A previous newspaper article listed the original price tag at $6.95 million in 2004, when it was put on the market.

Deborah Rivenburgh, the current manager, would have stayed on in that capacity if Kahn's application were approved.

Bob Fisher, head of the public relations firm Fisher and Associates, which represents the brothel, said the property went into escrow last year but the Chicken Ranch obviously couldn't be sold until the new owner gets a brothel license.

The Chicken Ranch is based on the brothel made famous by the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. That movie was about a brothel that originally opened in 1844 in La Grange, Texas, but was shut down by the governor of Texas in 1973 after publicity by Houston television consumer reporter Marvin Zindler. An enterprising capitalist bought the rights to the name and established the Chicken Ranch in Pahrump in 1975.

It earned the name The Chicken Ranch during the Depression, when the working girls were allowed to accept produce and livestock in lieu of cash. The brothel then had so many chickens that it raised poultry to supplement its income and food supply.

The sale of the property would be a turnkey operation including the trade name and 40 acres.

Chicken Ranch owners were unsuccessful at persuading the Nye County Commission to let them issue public stock back in 2003.

Previously two prospective owners withdrew their application for a brothel license, due to problems complying with the Nye County code. That license application never even got to the hearing stage.

Widows support group

A support group for widows will be held the third Thursday of each month.

If interested, leave a message for Joanna at 751-2838 or Joan at 727-2339 for location and information.

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. Quarter Horse Ave. (off Thousandaire).

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.

Safe Place youth program

Safe Place is an organization in Pahrump that provides immediate help and support to youth in crisis. The location sites are the Terrible Herbst convenient stores on Highway 160 and Lakeside, and Skate Zone on Calvada Boulevard.

Safe Place provides services for youth, such as crisis intervention, shelter, job placement, food vouchers, hygiene products, transportation and much more.

Safe Place program coordinator Brenda F. Magruder can be reached at 775-291-3554 or 1-866-U-ARE-SAFE.

Senior Companions

Low-income seniors age 60 or over can earn $212 a month, tax-free, by volunteering for Senior Companions, a program that provides companionship, socialization and transportation to other seniors who have difficulty with daily living tasks.

The program is operated by Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

Call Beth at 702-382-0721 for more information.

Power Wheelchairs

Miracle on Wheels makes available electric power wheelchairs to non-ambulatory senior citizens 65 and older and the permanently disabled of any age, if they qualify.

Electric wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and also cannot operate a manual wheelchair sufficiently or safely enough to care for themselves in their residence.

Call 1-800-749-8778 or visit www.laspanmedical.com for more information.

Casting for Christmas pageant

A role for a father in his 30s to late 40s, speaking roles for three girls and six boys and roles for angles, wise men and shepherds are still needed for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," with rehearsals starting Sept. 6. Contact Francie Winters, PAC Theater Guild director, at 537-2181 for information.

Tutors needed for Pathways

The Pathways program needs tutors in mathematics. In addition, tutors are needed for language arts in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

A willingness to work with middle- to high school-aged students is a must.

Contact the volunteer coordinator's office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at 727-7743, ext. 258 or 259.

June family night

The Nye Communities Coalition, in partnership with St. Martin's in the Desert Episcopal Church, will host a family night from 6-9 p.m. Monday at the Pahrump Town Pool.

Families (children accompanied by a parent or adult guardian) are invited to an evening of free swimming, food and fun. This is an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free event.

For more information, call Julie Platson at 537-1115 or the coalition office at 727-9970.

Giant pumpkin contest

The deadline to enter the second annual Giant Pumpkin Contest, sponsored by the Pahrump Master Gardeners, is 5 p.m. Aug. 1.

The contest is open to all resident living in the Pahrump Valley School District. First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded in three categories; age 7 and under, 8-18 and age 19 and over. The heaviest pumpkin among all entrants will be awarded the grand prize ribbon.

Weigh-in will be held Oct. 3 at the Master Gardener booth between noon and 8 p.m. at Petrack Park, Highway 160 and Basin. Pumpkins will be on display during the Fall Festival.

Contest rules and entry forms are available at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office, 1651 E. Calvada Blvd. Call 727-5532 for more information.