36 years ago this month

Nye County has finally won its tax suit claiming that the equipment used by private contractors at the Nevada Test Site should be subject to county property tax.

About $5 million in back taxes which have been accruing since 1965 will go to Nye County. About $3 million each will go to Clark and Lincoln counties.

An estimated $1.5 million of the back taxes are expected to go to county schools; with construction of a Pahrump Valley High School deemed the first priority.

Deputy registrar Tom Parsons said they have signed up 200 new voters in Pahrump. Parsons emphasized that there is no charge to become a resident voter. All residents, 18 years of age and older who have resided in the state at least six months and in a precinct for 30 days are eligible to register to vote.

There are now two precincts in Pahrump Valley, No. 1 north of Basin Road and No. 2 south of Basin road.

30 years ago this week

The American Borate ore-processing plant in Amargosa Valley is planning an expansion this fall that will add six to eight new employees.

The new floatation process to be used in the facility will more efficiently recover usable materials in the calcium borate mined by the company. The material recovered is used in the manufacture of "tactile grade" fiberglass, including glass dishes.

Local history is told in many forms, but undoubtedly the most enjoyable and the type that reaches the greatest audience is the historical novel.

Not many people remember B.M. Bower, who gained fame with her first novel "Chip of the Flying U," later made into a movie starring Clara Bow, but Bertha wrote a book which is probably the only historical novel ever set in Pahrump Valley.

Titled "The Voice at Johnnywater," it is an eerie tale of the old ghost town of Johnnie, published in 1923.

Jay Pennington plans to reopen the Ash Meadows Lodge.

He recently purchased the famous spa in Amargosa Valley and immediately began refurbishing the bar, restaurant and motel as part of his plan to make the place into a private hunting club.

He plans to open the resort to family trade at its inception. One of the specialties will be steaks as well as his own chili, which last year won the title in the world championship chili cook-off.

20 years ago this week

The largest graduating class by far in the 15-year history of Pahrump Valley High School, 85 to 90 students will be in the graduating class of 1988.

The exact number of graduates won't be determined until all the final exams are graded. The graduation will be an outdoor ceremony at Trojan Field. The keynote address will be delivered by Las Vegas television newsman Dave Courvosier.

Hiring a full-time county planner is on the Nye County Commission's agenda.

The county has been operating with only a consultant. Steve Bradhurst, who is spending more time on matters related to the proposed Yucca Mountain repository as it relates to Nye County. He has recommended that the county hire a planner. The commission will also be looking for a new administrator as Jan Wellman has given notice to leave her position.

The Binion family, which owns a 138-acre ranch in the heart of Pahrump Valley, has bought the Mint Hotel in downtown Las Vegas for $27 million. The Horseshoe name will cover both properties and will give the Binions one full block on Fremont Street directly across from the block-long Golden Nugget. The Binion Horseshoe has been one of the most successful gaming operations in Nevada.

10 years ago this week

This week all of Nye County will fall under mortar attack. Mortarboards to be exact.

Roughly 237 seniors will don their silly, four-cornered caps and march off into the future. Graduation festivities will be held at Pahrump Valley High School, Beatty High School, and Tonopah High School.

In most cases the Class of 1998 is slightly smaller than the year before, even at an increasingly crowded PVHS.

Tighter spending habits on the federal level for 20 to 25 years are needed to erase the national debt and lighten the load on today's youth and future generations, Republican Congressman John Ensign told a group of PVHS students.

Our current Federal debt is $5.4 trillion, Ensign said, and was created by senators and representatives elected because they "give people what they want by robbing the treasury."

That comment was clearly aimed at two-termed incumbent Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., whom Ensign will probably oppose in the November general election.

After more than three years of planning, construction, equipment acquisition, plumbing work, welding, redesigning the floor plan, expanding production capabilities and getting permits, it all comes down to this for Pahrump's Bandit Brewing Company: The customers' taste buds.

Eighty kegs of bock beer are ready and 120 barrels of Pilsener beer are ready to be bottled, cased and distributed to Nevada casinos.

"The best advertising is a (Bandit) beer bottle on top of a slot machine," director of operations Larry Berquist said.