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Mar. 25, 2009
Family files to keep horses in Calvada
By GINA B. GOOD
Tim Maples brought his 11-year-old daughter, Emily, with him to Pahrump's courthouse Friday. She watched her dad file what he hopes is the information Judge Robert Lane needs to reconsider his Feb. 23 decision and let the Maples family keep its two horses on its property in Calvada Valley subdivision, Unit 8. Lane ruled in favor of Donald Quinn, a neighbor who says horses are not allowed in the Calvada Valley subdivision where he and the Maples live. However, the judge gave the Maples one out. They had to bring written proof that the home they purchased three years ago as horse property is indeed land designated as agricultural residential. (Details of the controversy appeared March 18, in the PVT.) Over the past week, many real estate agents have gathered sales literature for the Maples from years past, when Preferred Equities Corp. was developing the subdivision. Pahrump's large community of horse owners has also reached out to the family. "We have a lot of community support," said Maples. "I know we would never have gotten this kind of support in Vegas. People in Pahrump care. We got so much information from people calling, emailing and even coming over and knocking on our door." "I can't say much about my neighbor because I've never met him," said Maples. "He didn't even go up to the table with his attorney when we went to court. I don't know why he's doing this. He can't even see my horses from his place. If he'd come over to talk to me, I'm sure we could have worked something out. "Maybe he thinks that having horses in the neighborhood is bringing down the value of his house," said Maples. "If so, he should take care of his own place. His property looks abandoned. It's a house sitting in dirt and weeds. If somebody is bringing down the value of the neighborhood, it's him." Maples admits the suit filed against the family by Quinn has taken over their lives. Tim, who retired after 20- plus years in the Army and Air Force Reserve, and his wife, Amie, work full time. "All this is taking a lot of time," said Tim, who added he and Amie want nothing more complicated in their life than raising their two daughters. But the whole Maples family is determined to fight to keep their horses. "People who weren't aware this was happening in our neighborhood know now and are very supportive," said Amie Maples. "Just today three different people come by the house to give support; it's pretty crazy. "We plan on not having to remove the horses from the property. This is their home and we plan on keeping it that way. One of the ladies who stopped by lives here in Calvada Valley and boards horses, so we can't be wrong." Emily's 17-year-old sister voiced strong feelings at her after-school job. "It really irritates me because he could be taking away my little sister's opportunity to go to college," said Christina Maples of her neighbor. "She's pretty good at Gymkhana and there are scholarships available. "He could be ruining her future. I don't want her getting into other things like drugs when she's older, because she feels like there's nothing else to do here." Christina said after Lane ruled in favor of their neighbor, Emily asked their father, "Daddy, are the horses going away?" The whole family took the decision hard, but Christina said, "Emily went into the back yard and stayed out there with the horses for hours. She was crying on the horses. That took me over the edge." Judy Golden, Christina's supervisor, also had a few choice words. "Why is this man trying to take away something that is so positive for the kids in Pahrump? "In five or ten years, these kids will be leaving here because this town gives them nothing. Or they will still be here, giving back to the town what it gave them -- nothing." "I guess it's my military upbringing, but when something is right, you fight for it," said Tim Maples. He wants to shorten the time until his next court date, which is April 27. "You do what you've got to do," he said. "You don't give up." |
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