36 years ago this month

The announced manpower cutback of about 1,250 workers at the Nevada Test Site reached about 450 employees through August, with the layoffs expected to be completed by October. The cut is a result of the NTS budget reduction from $110 million to $99 million for the current fiscal year.

An old fashioned corn roast marked the opening of Calvada's Cottonwood Park in early August. More than 60 employees and friends of the company showed up for the feast, which featured bushels of fresh corn picked earlier that day from Calvada's Pahrump Ranch fields. The park is located near a spring in the center of the Calvada property.

30 years ago this week

United Parcel Service seeks to serve all of Nevada with delivery of packages within the state. The company now delivers only packages that are shipped from out of state. UPS will present its application to the Nevada Public Service Commission Sept. 29 in Reno. McKee's World Wide Transport has already presented its request to provide both package and household goods delivery service to Pahrump, Panaca, Caliente, Pioche and Tonopah.

The new addition to the Community Center includes two new meeting rooms, two new restrooms, and an expanded kitchen facility. It is expected to be completed and ready for use before the end of the month.

Most of the work is already completed, with blue carpet going into the facility this week. The only major work remaining is the installation of the septic system serving the new restrooms. The addition is going to be a big bonus for community activities. It will allow three separate meetings to be held in privacy and includes a new west side entrance.

20 years ago this week

Another record-breaking Harvest Festival with world-class cowboys starring in the two-day PRCA rodeo is underway in Pahrump Valley. The continually expanding celebration adds a championship rugby match in the community park tonight, adding to an already busy weekend that includes stock car races, a fair, giant barbecue, carnival, parades, a lively batch of contests, rodeo queen contest, dances, live bluegrass music and more than 100 individual vendors who will rim the Pahrump Valley Community Parks with food, drink and irresistible merchandise bargains.

Pahrump Valley is experiencing a rising water table due to the growing population.

As more people have moved here, less agricultural water pumping has taken place. So it now appears that in 1987 the decline in agriculture pumping will result in a natural recharge.

Studies show use will drop as agriculture pumping, which is much more demanding than residential needs, continues to decline. Studies indicate that Pahrump Valley sits on a gigantic reservoir of 22 million acre feet of water.

The Rotary Club of Pahrump Valley launched its second $10,000 grand prize raffle with a kickoff this week. Saddle West owner Bob Huffman purchased the first ticket. Peggy Shaner and Jack Sanders, consultants at Saddle West, bought the second and third tickets. 250 tickets will be sold at $100 per ticket. The buyer has a chance to win the grand price of $10,000 and other cash prizes.

10 years ago this week

The Nevada Legislature passed a host of new laws that could directly affect the Nye County School District in the coming year. According to district spokeswoman Marijo Rymer, there are 80 of them, to be exact. Mandatory kindergarten for all kids who will be 5 by Sept. 30 is one law going into effect; another is Senate Bill 122, which will make it a category C felony for any teacher, administrator, coach or classroom aide to have sexual relations with a student between the age of 16 and 18.

Tuff Hedeman, who was portrayed in the movie "8 Seconds," arrived at Pahrump's Harvest Festival PRCA rodeo Hollywood-style -- in a limousine. It was indicative of the big-time rodeo Pahrump put on Friday through Sunday at the McCullough Memorial Arena. A record 350 professional cowboys -- up 116 from last year, competed in Pahrump for a record $30,000 worth of prize money. Over 4,000 spectators attended.

The latest movement to enforce Calvada homeowner agreements and protect property values began Wednesday night in the community center when roughly 150 residents who bought property in Preferred Equities subdivisions met to discuss the establishment of a nonprofit corporation.

The sole purpose of the corporation will be to raise funds sufficient to file lawsuits against four Calvada residents who are in violation of the codes, covenants and restrictions that all Calvada home buyers sign when they purchase property.

The Pahrump and Beatty museums each received $40,000 from the PETT account during the county commission meeting. Harry Ford and Chuck Gallivan, both of Pahrump, based the request for funding on the assumption that the Central Nevada Museum at Tonopah had received $53,000 from the county for the fiscal year, as well as money from the state legislature.