36 years ago this month

A report on the geology, mining districts and mineral resources of southern Nye County has been published by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Because of its size, the county was divided into two studies under the cooperative program: Bullfrog-Rhyolite and the Ash Meadows district. The name of the book is "Geology and Mineral Deposits of Southern Nye County, Nevada."

30 years ago this week

U.S. Attorney Mahlon Brown had no comment on a letter made public from him to state Attorney General Bob List regarding the federal grand jury that spent more than five months looking at the affairs of Nye County. No legal actions resulted.

Brown's letter centered on the fire-bombing of the Chicken Ranch brothel in the south end of the Pahrump Valley, saying the federal investigation turned up nothing that could substantiate any federal charges.

However, Brown added he thought some crimes had been committed in Nye County and requested the attorney general's office to "instigate whatever investigation it deems necessary."

The Ward Burton Band, direct from the Union Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, will play for a dance every Friday and Saturday at the Calvada Inn. Inn Manager Duke Sears said that he hopes the community will support a good dance band on the weekends.

The battle surrounding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' plan to cordon off areas in the Big Dune in Amargosa Valley to protect a rare species of beetle heated up as District Attorney Peter Knight fired off a letter to District Manager John S. Boyles of the BLM.

According to Knight, "You will recall that we have had experience with the pupfish just as the people of Tennessee have had experience with the snail darter, and these kinds of exclusions of property to human use we feel are not in the best interests of society."

20 years ago this week

Preliminary results of a fiscal analysis of splitting Nye County show that if Pahrump were to incorporate, the new city would stand to have a shortfall of some $800,000 the first year, not including start-up costs.

The remainder of Nye County could be fiscally sound, according to representatives of Arthur Young and Co. who conducted the study. The second scenario portrayed possible unfavorable results if there was to be a county split from Johnnie south.

Fraud charges against Sheriff Harold Davis are to be heard in a preliminary hearing in Tonopah before visiting Justice of the Peace James Ames of Elko. A number of witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify for Davis, including the three Nye County commissioners, District Attorney Phil Dunleavy and Deputy District Attorney Jeff Morrison.

The Indian Springs Casino on Highway 95 opened a 45-room motel to complement its present bar, restaurant and casino facilities.

Gasoline and diesel service is to be added along with a convenience store, laundromat and an RV park and recreation center.

Owner Irwin Frank said the road stop has 10 more acres to develop and, when completed, the facility will be a complete recreation and rest stop for travelers, truckers and area residents.

10 years ago this week

In a meeting with hospital board members, Jason McCormick, the administrator for Pahrump Medical Center, received a chalk board full of ideas and also got his first heavy dose of frustration from some board members about his employer, Rural Health Management Corp.

Most of the remarks came from member Ed Sharp, who said he is fed up with RHMC officials always asking the board what should be done instead of suggesting things themselves.

"We're paying $180,000 a year to RHMC to give us some damn management," Sharp said. "We need professionals to come in here to tell us how to run this because we don't have a clue. We hired you to do it, now, damn it, do it?"

A month after they were discovered for the first time, the Africanized honey bee appears to be making itself at home in Pahrump.

Three swarms of the so-called "killer bees," including one blamed for an incident in which a local boy was stung six times while riding his bicycle, have now been destroyed in Pahrump.

Another two swarms were also destroyed this month and were thought to be Africanized, although that has not yet been confirmed by the Nevada Division of Agriculture.

"People need to be aware that they're here, and they're here to stay ... Don't panic, just stay away from them and call someone," advised Monica Peterson of Brig's Pest Control.

Brig's destroyed all five suspected swarms so far.