36 years ago this month

The sumptuous Calvada Inn, including a restaurant, cocktail bar and supermarket, are scheduled to open in the early part of December with a casino slated to be added in January, pending license approval.

Daryl EngeBregson, the Las Vegas attorney who heads the group which has leased the building, announced the market will be open Dec. 4 with the restaurant and bar to follow Dec. 11.

The mammoth tax suit against federal contractors at the Nevada Test Site, which could result in $8 million in back taxes as well as a reduced tax rate throughout Nye County, is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court Dec. 13.

"If our suit is upheld, Nye County's entire indebtedness could be paid off," according to Bill Beko, Nye County district attorney. About half of the money would go for schools; this would mean the school board would have the money to build the Pahrump Valley High School for cash.

30 years ago this week

The Pahrump Valley school administration is pleased to announce that Laraine Crowther has been selected by her teaching peers as Pahrump Valley's Teacher of the Year.

Crowther will represent the Pahrump area in the Nye County Teacher/Nevada Teacher of the Year Award program. She moved to Pahrump from Logandale, Utah, in 1947. She attended the little red school house in Pahrump and Death Valley and Rancho high schools.

She received her B.A. in elementary education from BYU in 1966 and currently teaches fifth grade math and science here in Pahrump.

The confused days of the 1860s were especially hectic for James Warren Nye, the New York police commissioner and prominent attorney, as he moved about his city speaking against slavery, the issue that was uppermost in the minds of many people.

When the anti-slavery candidate, Abraham Lincoln, won the nomination as the Republican Party candidate for president of the United States, the New York police commissioner campaigned heavily for him.

Lincoln took the oath of office on March 4, 1861, just two days after former president Buchanan had signed the act creating Nevada Territory. Lincoln did not forget his eloquent supporter and appointed James Nye the territorial governor on Nevada, therefore becoming the namesake for Nye County.

20 years ago this week

Sen. Harry Reid said there would be an end to the strikes at the Nevada Test Site "in the near future." Reid and other members of the Nevada congressional delegation met with Energy Secretary John Herrington for about 45 minutes.

"The meeting went smoothly. I'm optimistic that we could see a resolution to the strike in the very near future. Everyone felt good about it," Reid said. What is at stake here is a positive outcome for the strike at NTS, which has more than 3,000 union workers idled.

Pahrump Valley High School ended the 1987 season on a sour note, losing to Parker, Ariz., 21-3. They ended 1-8 overall and 1-3 in league; they were fourth in the five-team conference.

Once again the Trojans were without premier running-back Jason Sandoval through most of the game and couldn't get much going on offense. Sandoval, who leads the team in rushing and pass receiving, carried the ball nine times for seven yards in the first half but was not able to loosen up his injured ankle for the second half.

A recent trip to Carson City by town board member Diana Stiles and County Commissioner Pat Mankins to discuss the widening of Highway 160 apparently has brought some results.

"As a result of the discussions," wrote Nevada Transportation Director Garth F. Dull to Stiles, "the Design Division is in the process of developing new cost estimates for shoulder widening on State Route 160 from the I-15 to Pahrump."

10 years ago this week

After a lengthy discussion Tuesday morning, the Nye County Commission voted to revise its controversial moratorium on land division to exempt subdivisions and commercial parcels that meet guidelines of a proposed ordinance that county planner Ron Williams will soon unveil.

The sweeping ordinance, which Williams and the Regional Planning Commission have been working on for months, will regulate Pahrump's growth by addressing everything from road construction and improvement to the use of wells and septic tanks.

Pahrump Town Board member Steve Rainbolt will ask his fellow board members to consider filing a federal lawsuit against both the Nye County Commission and the Nye County School District to force them to reapportion the districts to give Pahrump more representation on both governing boards. Rainbolt said he will bring the matter up for discussion purposes only, to get a feel for what the board and community members think of the idea.

Things are looking a little brighter around a few key intersections in town thanks to Valley Electric Association.

Earlier last month, Lou Holveck, general manager of VEA, met with RPC members Carol Lindberg and Ed Bishop to determine where to install street lights. The VEA is footing the cost of the installation and the power bill in order to help the RPC evaluate which light would be the most practical to incorporate into the town's master plan.

Things are quiet once again in Shoshone, Calif., as all of the activity and excitement of last weekend's Death Valley Fall Festival has passed for another year. Hundreds of people found their way to the small California town on Saturday and Sunday for the annual celebration, which included something for just about everyone. Everything from crafts, gems and minerals were on display, as well as continual activities, music and a performance by the Red Tail Native American Dancers.