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Community News
The gun, the badge, and the Snake
Adventure can not happen on Thulay morning. At sunrise I'm dig-
ging,q tiw post holes in the coolness of the ptxlawn hours. It's a simple
project, I have nothing scheduled lbra tkw days, and this is the time tbr
pleasant springtime home chores. The telephone. Fifteen yem ago I had
never had a telephone, and now...
Ken George, of Ken George Trucking and Towing. A fire family
man and a long time Baker businessman. Ken seldom calls with really
good news and this is no exception. Seems there's a fellow stuck in the
sand somewhere East of Dumont Dunes. Tripple A can't get anywhere
close to him and can I go back and eitber get him out, or call for Ken's
huge trtor to be Ixough out. The fellow has spent the night stuck in the
sand and his condition is unknown. He's been in cellular contact with his
wife in the city, but cellular service at the dunes in spotty at best.
The Isuzu Trooper is ready to go, as always. Planks, shovels, chains
ans straps ane stowed in the back. As are tools water, rations, first aid
gear, flares and her assor "Get unstuck" supplies.
I stop at Ken George's to get the latest info and to talk money. Because
it's Ken, I have a reasonable price in mind. Because it's me, Ken has a
much more pleasant price in mind. I don't argue, maybe we can buy
groceries Iftis week Ken hands me amap that has in some way been
faxed to him. He describes a Range Rover that is bright yellow and
seriously stuck. I doubt the serious part, but the fellow is stuck and tired
of the desert rmon my way.
At the dunes I head up S'ry Wash because ofinfo I have is that the
rig is stuck on the road bed of the old T&T rail road. The T picks
it's fotLr wheeled way up the Amargosa River to the opening of the
Amargosa Canyon. There are no tire tracks leading into the canyon. I
search the old mad bed pretty will because it is an easy place to get
.seriously high centered. Nothing.
I leave the wash and head to the road bed nearer the dunes. I cruise the
old abandoned rail bed honking the horn and watching fbr anything
yellow. I believe that may be yellow up ahead. Not only is it yellow, it is
a brand new Land Rover Detnder 90 0390 Ibr the enthusiasts). The top
of the 1390 is adomed with super huge Lucas Lights. Each Lucas Tamp
costs as much as a smalljeep. There is a small tangle of antennas ",dom-
ing the top of the fig, and a giant brand new Warn winch sets proudly
nestled inside the heavy iron aftermarket bumper. This is indeed a serf
ofa sruall .md dune.
A liisky German sbepaJd runs barking to greet me and a rather sheep-
ish looking tletlow comes over and inmxluces hiru.lf. The klbw's name
is John and he rays he's doing resh on the old Tidewater and Tonapah
Rail Road. Cing to write a Ixk, be says. That's OK with me, I didn't
In The Thermometer's
Shadow
by Mike Doughtery
ask Never do. John allows as how be was driv- L
ing down the old road bed and tried to top a
small dune and got stuck. This I can see. Been
there several tines myself. I start to reach for a
shovel, this may take twenty minutes or so. John StOpS rue and suggests
that we try out his new winch. Anything that is instead of a .shovel always
sounds good to me.
The new winch is a 9000 pound electric unit from Warn Wmch. It's a
dream to use. I freewheel it out, sel the end loop over my hitch, put a few
blocks under the wheels of the hwa, and we're ready to go. Smooth as
silk. Tiae car eases off'of the dune and mils onto finn ground. I unhook the
line and feed it back through the fairlead and onto the slowly winding
spool.
, Reaching the side of the car I notice something shiney on the ground.
I believe thers are ejected automatic pistol cartridges. 1 don't look too
close, but they're bright, silver colored and appen- to be different than the
old APC stuff we used in 45 calibre military rigs. John notices my atten-
tion to the expended rounds and points out one very dead side winder
rattle snake. Seems John was sleeping on the ound axl briber snake
decided to join him. John took exception and tumed the slithery critter
into snake burgers. I can understand John's discomtbrt. Still, that must be
quite some weapon he used. I don't ask, but I believe some government
outfits am now using a 10 mm pistol. That would explain the large car-
lridge case, but I don't ask.
Later, when it's paper work time, we're parked on a little rise and we're
ous off road rig. It is also somewhat stuck perched firmly aslride the ridge talking to Ken George on the cellular. Ken George on the cellular. Ken
Calendar of Events posted
A town meeting was held Thursday the 13th. Tie h3ard received a industhN park". Copies ofthe petition are at tx stores, theclinic, andtown
response tiom the Elhics Comrnksion regarding their letter to the gover- office awaiting your signature. Aresolution in of the hi-tech cam-
rxr. The commission will deckle whether or not to pursue their request the
21 s't of March at the new state building kx:ated at 555 E. Washington. The
brd will only be able to dgserve at thks meeting. The commission will
n(t) ik'tx wd ofwkr l-,c :ai;,gs will he, if they decide in akejufiic-
fi(l over s ruatter.
There are .some es that will be up for bid if back taxes on then
am not paid. The town has the ability to pay the back taxes on flse ixo p -
erties belixe they go to the auction. Them was some discussion regarding
the legality of this.
At the next n'eeting, which will be held March 27th at 6 pro, the
will deckle whether or not o ciwaxlate a petilion for becoming atownboard
lbnn of govenunent rather than an advisc . 15% of file registered
pu center being built in Pahrump was signed.
A health ctem committee was finned with Ralph M¢'Cracken serv-
ing as chaimtn. Tilis comruittee will correspond with the Rural Health
Cxmrit.n 4x)ut concerns with the Anwg Clinic. They wilt also deal
with any (¢d" I,dth concerns of the valley. A legal resea1h conlmittee
was al) txrned to research legal tc-
ic and bring inlbnnation to lhe l'xyd.
Brent Mathewson was appointed
chairman.
A calendar of events will now be
hung in the community center with
ALL events in the valley. This will
voters that voted at the last election will need to sign it before it can be hopefully keep two organizations
[ I..) Around A O from planning con-
I / . .mar00,osa flicting events on the
=ltsof00qu=on- I [ with Andrea
naire were mad: 13 in [ a, dy thing you have
favor of zoning, 14 | For more information: to do is caU tbe town
against it, 4 in fauxof | Call (702) 372-5459 office and let me
incorporating, 14" know when your
against, and 13 that need rnore infm'nalion.The reMts are in the town event is. Iterus to be discussed atfle
office for anyone who would like to review lhent next meeting are the morn tax di-
The lxard approved a petition to change the wccling SB 104 concem- nance, zoning, districts, and incoqx
ing the induslrial park at Walls fiorn "industrial park" to "only ratiort
Saturn Sales Specialist
Jacob Henn
There's never been a better time to come into your
neighborhood Saturn Retailer.,.Test drive the all new line of 1997
Saturn vehicles. Special,sport'-tfined suspension system, dent
resistant body panels anda dual overhead_cam performance
engine have helped make Saturn one oI the top selling
aufomobiles in America.
Come enjoy the Saturn experience. You'll never haggle over
price. . ,what you see is the price of the vehicle. No l=ipe, no
pressure, dust courteous knowledgeable, and friendly sales
people.
Please speak with me personally. You'll find complete
satisfaction Is my, only goal.
ffAIITl$; AT duff
$10,450'
*A.C CASSETTE,
SATURN
5325 WEST SAHARA
252-8900
"Plus twt, translpm'tation and dealer PrelF
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, March 20, 1997 19
/
/
and John ,am discussing payment and Jobtl gets out his wallet to access
his credit card. Unusual wallet ( of course I look) there seems to be an
extra flap that ckesn't do anything. Oops, yes it does. The simple black
flap conceals a gold badge with a darker center. The badge is unusually
flat but looks mighty official. John flips the cover back in place and
exlracts his credit card. Interesting.
When the payment rituals are completed, John asks me about water-
side camping. I agree to show him the good places on tl,,e way out I ask
almut tbe map I'd been gil:em to fu'd him. John took me to his D90 and
showed me a device that plotted his ation on a topol map using satalite
guidance and then explained be could print out the resulting map and fax
it b.v cellular. We didn't have this when I was in lhe Boy Scouts.
Said goodbye to John in the Sperry Wash. He .said he was going
upstream to lind a gcr, d waterside camp site.That's the last I saw of Johil.
He, his yellow I)90, and his German shepard, ,scout, faded in the
rearview mirror as I headed back to the blacktop and home to Baker.
Interesting morning. I made a couple of dollars, met a friendly fellow
in the dunes, and rescued a sand stuck Land Rover. However, I wcier
what the wal stay is behind the gun, the badge, and the make. There's
slill a mystery or two in these western lands.
Madness
Kiwanis Fund loiser
Every Saturday in March free
ranur-e will be loaded in your
private vehicle.
8 a.rn. to 2 p.m.
Basin and Bla88 at the Dairy.
Sorry, no
commerciol ((((_) (
vehicles, h M.<---
PT voteg Dar'y
Volley g:&_ and
..... u!X .... .i
SALOON & 00ASlNO
Saturday Nights
Chuck Wagon Dinners 6pm
Live Music
Sunday Mornings
Chuck Wagon Breakfast I0 am - 1 pm
Friday & Saturday
"Country Mint Band" Sat. 8 PM
R.V. Spaces and Rooms available.
PIONEER TERIII'I00R¥
W/00GOII TOURH
Day and Overnight wagon trips in Ash Meadows
For Reservations Call (702) 372-1717
Crystal, Nevada Gateway to Devil's Hole
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