39 years ago this week

Nye County was building out Mesquite Road to the east of Route 160 to a new county gravel pit.

Tom and Gerry Duke expanded their Tomken Enterprises feed operation to include "a spacious western clothing and supply store."

At the same time, Sam Gray announced he would open the Pahrump Welding Works at the corner of Highway 160 and Mesquite.

About 2,400 folks showed up at the barbecue at the eighth annual Harvest Festival.

Joe Spearman brought home $750 plus trophies in the 11th annual World Championship Wild Burro Race in Beatty.

Publisher-Editor Milt Bozanic continued his tradition of finding pretty girls for the paper, often going as far afield as the Sunrise Raceway's Miller High Life TT Scrambles in California. He managed to feature the "eye-filling Terry Traver of Riverside" in among the motorcycle riders.

30 years ago

Fifty-four sheriff's deputies and others had resigned or been released since Jan. 1, 1979, when Joni Wines took over as top dog. The latest resignations were of Undersheriff Pete Bertolino and Office Manager Carol Reed.

Bertolino said "mismanagement of the sheriff office and not external pressures" caused his resignation.

"He also said the sheriff's department is run more like Playgirl Magazine than a law enforcement office," the PVT reported.

The drive to recall Wines had achieved 86 percent of the required signatures. She named Larry Massoli as undersheriff and Frank Homestead as captain.

The newly formed Business and Professional Women of Pahrump Valley named Hazel Nendazian president.

"Dandy Don Denkers" opened his real estate office. In order to save ink, the PVT said, Denkers left the "s" off his last name on the sign.

Dennis Shanks planned to plead guilty to killing Robert Bieganski in November. The altercation that led to the murder began over a $15 debt.

Virgil Ball reported the theft of $15,000 worth of furnishings at Filly Farm Dude Ranch, next to the Walter Plankinton brothel on Homestead Road.

20 years ago

Bob Revert said he was sticking to the "high road" plan to link Amargosa Valley and Pahrump.

James Miller and Fire Chief Pete Wallace were among the three people arrested in a raid on a residence in Pahrump.

Two workers for Blackrock Cable were catapulted 10 or 12 feet into the air when the cable on which they were standing was run over by a vehicle near Bell Vista and Bannavitch. Neither was seriously injured, nor, so far as is known, did either apply to become a stunt man.

A resident objected strenuously to the barking that ensued after a Humane Society shelter opened on Quarterhorse Lane. Town board Chairman Chuck Conely wondered where the complainant had been "when we tried to pass the zoning ordinance" that might have controlled such disturbances.

Claire Anderson said she could empathize -- she had lived here for 15 years and now had "3,000 cows in my back yard."

Maybe, suggested Conely, she could at least "get free milk."

"Without zoning," said board member Diana Stiles, "I don't think we can do anything."

10 years ago

A recall effort targeting Nye County Public Administrator Robert "Red" Dyer got off to a hot start with about 700 signatures acquired over the initial weekend.

The public had lost its respect for Dyer "and its trust" in his job performance.

Dyer's announcement that his wife Jeannette had resigned as his deputy cut no ice, according to recall supporters. Jeannette wrote a letter to the editor chastising the PVT for its smearing her.

A sheriff's detective was investigating the pair on charges ranging from malicious prosecution to theft.

After Michelle Davies, 11, died in a fall into an open mineshaft in Beatty, the hole was filled in. As the PVT commented, this one hole was filled but "hundreds of thousands more remain in this historic mining country."

The licensing and liquor board ordained Last Chance Saloon and Steakhouse and the Italian Connection II with liquor licenses.

An effort to acquire some office space in the old county complex in Pahrump was swatted down by Nye County Commission Chairman Dick Carver.

Carver said nothing doing because the Constitution never allowed for the federal government to make use of police powers.

"'I assume that's a motion to deny,' said Commissioner Cameron McRae" deadpan.