38 years ago

Workers at the Nevada Test Site were still waiting on word about any resumption of testing.

Testing had been suspended after the 20-kiloton "blueberry" shot "'got away' and caused radioactive venting."

No shots had been undertaken since the previous December. During the same period the year before, something like a dozen tests had taken place.

Howard Smith, proprietor of the Amargosa Hotel, said, "When I came out here seven years ago, you could see two lights out there, now it looks like a city."

Meanwhile, "Billie" Locke, manager of the Tonopah Hotel was overwhelmed by a visit to Sacramento, Calif. "It took me three weeks to unwind when I got back," she said, "and now I'm here for the duration."

Down the hill to the southwest, Shoshone, Calif., "welcomes you to Death Valley National Monument." The advertisement included -- clearing my throat here -- the phrase "Where Death Valley begins."

30 years ago

The PVT reported that TV reception at the north end of Pahrump "will be warming up by the end of this week and should be tested and in full service by the end of next week." The tower at the Mesquite-Blagg intersection was to relay all five signals from Las Vegas.

About 10 people were exposed to low-level radiation when a trailer of medical nuclear waste material to be burned at the NECO dump burned a little ahead of time. The nuke materials burned as well.

No health hazard was reported, although Gov. Bob List said those responsible "should be hung from the yardarms."

Nye County commissioners learned about the incident from the press.

Beatty residents were reported to have reacted calmly.

A thief made off with a 55-gallon gasoline drum from a residence in the valley. It was filled at the time. Considering that two service stations in Pahrump had run out of gasoline the week before, perhaps the thief knew whereof he stole.

Efforts to secure a $600,000 loan for a supermarket in Pahrump apparently became sidetracked, but an alternative try might still make the loan a possibility later in the year.

20 years ago

The Pahrump-Amargosa Valley Road was to be named the Bob Ruud Highway, the Nye County Commission announced.

The state supreme court ruled SB 463 -- the bill that gave Pahrump unique planning power -- unconstitutional. That supported a ruling by Judge William Beko at the district court level.

In other court news, Undersheriff Mark Zane presented a writ of habeas corpus seeking relief from the indictment charging him with intimidating a public official, handed up by the grand jury in February.

The information that led to the charge had been submitted by Dep. LaDon W. Murray concerning a traffic stop involving him, Zane and a private individual in Tonopah.

A proposal for a science and technology center near Lathrop Wells was discussed in Washington by the Nye County Commission. The commissioners allocated $3,000 to have a preliminary concept and strategic plan prepared.

A mob of fishermen showed up at a Saddle West meeting called by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to object to possible limitations on recreation at Crystal Reservoir.

10 years ago

Mike Fortin was reported doing better after falling from the roof of an office building here.

Small theaters, like the Pahrump Theaters owned by Zahid Sadiq, weren't crying for joy about the upcoming release of "Star Wars: Episode 1 -- the Phantom Menace."

They were just crying.

Expected to be a blockbuster, the movie was not to be released to the local theater, one among many with no hope of screening the movie for months.

Rich Thurlow suggested in his column that "Star Wars freak/news editor Henry Brean" was allegedly taking vacation to go to a wedding, "but I can't help but believe he had an eye on the calendar and the release date when he asked for the time off a month ago."

Pahrump Town Manager Mike Cosgrove accepted a Superman shirt during his birthday meeting in front of the town board.

In the end, Zahid Sadiq might not have screened the "Star Wars" movie anyway. He was facing bankruptcy.

Judge John Davis had ordered an auction sale to settle some construction costs, but Sadiq said that wasn't going to happen.