Alice Eychaner poses with Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce President Dan Rodriguez after being given the Chamber of Commerce Service Award Saturday. Above, Rodriguez presents the Community Service Award to Karen Jackson, owner and operator of KNYE-FM at the Wild West Extravaganza Saturday. Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce President Dan Rodriguez Rodriguez presents the Community Service Award to Karen Jackson, owner and operator of KNYE-FM at the Wild West Extravaganza Saturday. Farrier Garret McCaslin shows how to put on horseshoes during the Wild West Extravaganza held on the grounds of Boomtown last weekend. Dave Stout, a member of the Pahrump Gunfighters, stares down an opponent and starts to draw his sidearm. Pony Express riders enter Boom Town at the end of their daylong trek to re-enact the 1860-61 mail route. Avelino Guillen, 3, pets a rescued horse from the safety of his papa Jeff's arms. It took some encouragement, but the youngster finally couldn't resist and touched the small horse. Photos by Horace Langford Jr., Mark Waite and Gina B. Good / PVT Advertisement

Karen Jackson, owner and operator of KNYE-FM was given the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award while chamber volunteer Alice Eychaner was handed the Chamber of Commerce Service Award in two ceremonies at the Wild West Extravaganza Saturday.

Chamber of Commerce President Dan Rodriguez said Jackson has made KNYE, broadcasting at 91.5 FM, "a community radio station in the truest sense of the word. Supporting and reaching out to serve the community is the mission of KNYE."

Rodriguez cited examples of that community spirit, including food drives for local charities, coat drives for the winter and school supply drives in partnership with Valley Electric Association.

As an example, Rodriguez referred to an incident last November when Harry Beck's home on Silver Sage Road burned down. Jackson, with the help of KNYE-FM, had his family in a new, fully-furnished home within a week. It was the second catastrophe for the Beck family, who survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"This is what community is about. It's about people supporting each other but a community needs a voice. That's why we're honoring the big voice of the Valley," Rodriguez said.

Well-known radio talk show host Art Bell, whose Coast to Coast show on subjects like extraterrestrials was broadcast on more than 500 stations, started his own Pahrump station, KNYE-FM, which went on the air with 6,000 watts of power on Nov. 19, 2001. KNYE features an oldies format.

Eychaner was named the grand marshal of the Pahrump Fall Festival Parade this Saturday.

A retiree living in Pahrump since 1994, Eychaner volunteers for almost every chamber of commerce and United Way event in Pahrump including the chili cook-off, Baker to Vegas run, boat regatta, business expo, St. Patrick's Day festival, luau and many others.

In introducing Eychaner, Rodriguez said: "Her level of enthusiasm, energy and volunteerism is bar none. Alice is involved with many of the chamber's events and annual publications. Her many years of dedicated efforts make her a wonderful resource for staff and members.

"Her commitment, her sense of humor, her kind-heartedness and perseverance to get the job done is deeply appreciated by the chamber's board, staff and membership," he said.

Chamber executives handed out the awards in front of the main stage during the Wild West Extravaganza at 4 p.m. Saturday, a departure from the last two years when it was awarded during the evening show.

Bob and Joyce Baker were the recipients of the community service award last year, Jack Reeves was the recipient when the chamber first began the annual awards program two years ago.