1999

Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you

I only want you to have some fun

I was dreamin’ when I wrote this

Forgive me if it goes astray

But when I woke up this mornin’

Coulda sworn it was judgment day

The sky was all purple,

There were people runnin’ everywhere

Tryin’ 2 run from the destruction,

U know I didn’t even care

‘cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over,

Oops out of time

So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999′

– Prince

In 1999, the primary concern nationwide was what will be the effect of Y2K, and the artist formerly known as Prince released ”1999,” in anticipation of the mayhem, which never happened.

The year generated major discussions in Pahrump, where numerous panel meetings, hand-wringing comments and other notions of panic were prevalent. As we all know, nothing catastrophic happened when the 20th Century ended and the 21st began at .00000000001 second after midnight.

So, on to the rest of what occurred in Nye County, the Pahrump Valley in general, with the emphasis on athletic events and news.

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Intermingled with these accounts are some of the major news stories which drew headlines in 1999. These items will appear in italics.

Realignment was one of the situations Pahrump Valley High School had to deal with in 1999.

Pahrump Valley was to stay in Class 3-A in the 2000-2001 school year, with Beatty, Round Mountain and Gabbs in 1-A and Tonopah in 2-A. And it stayed that way until 2008, when PVHS was elevated to 4-A and Tonopah was moved down to 1-A.

This reccuring story will be revisited in 2012, when the next Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association realignment goes into effect. Where will PVHS be? Stay tuned.

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From the more things change, the more they stay the same …until someone does something about it…

In January 1999, one of the leading news stories concerned the efforts to fund efforts to build a hospital in Pahrump. Rurary Health Management Corp RHMC was the primary mover-and-shaker behind this funding drive.

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Simkins Park was under development, with town manager Mike Cosgrove saying he was working with Valley Electric Association and Central Nevada Utilities to provide water and other services. Also being discussed: an 875-acre Fairgrounds development. ”We’re jumping through BLM hoops to get this done,” said Cosgrove. Another project was to build a skateboard park.

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Two movie studio projects were also announced, with construction to take place just beyond the Nye County-Clark County line south of Pahrump.

The first was to be constructed by Silver Star Studios and would include 50 backlots, warehouses and 54 offices. Brains behind this deal was Temma Pentecost-Keaton and would involve 80 to 100 acres ”already in option.” A performing arts center in Pahrump, to be constructed on Calvada Blvd, was also part of the deal.

The second developer was Lyle Noorlun, who said he would need $25 million to do a similar project for his company, Silver Eagle Limited; 509 acres were ”in escrow,” Noorlun said. The project was to be in the Trout Canyon area.

Noorlun said he expected to spend $100 million and that as many as 2,000 jobs would be created.

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Throughout the 1990s, Pahrump Valley girls sports teams had their problems, especially in basketball. But with Bob Hopkins coaching, the Lady Trojans won their first Southern League game in three years during the 1998-1999 season and they would finish 14-13.

Kristi Weir, Ashley Hastings, Emily Cross and Lori Hopkins were the leaders of that team that won seven of its first 11 games and would be dominated only by a Moapa Valley squad that boasted of 6-3 center Jordan Adams and 5-10 guard Kim Ortega.

The highlight of 1999 winter sports was provided by the PVHS wrestling team that was led by heavyweight John Turner, who won the state championship, and was excited by the emerging presence of Neil Cowley, who lost in the state finals to the legendary Skylar Wood.

Turner’s success marked the second straight year the Craig Rieger-coached Trojans would have a state champion. In 1998, Andre Kent claimed the 103-pound title.

Mason Cowley, Ryan King, Jeremy Johnson and Corey Beard were also standouts on that 1998-1999 team.

Seven Beatty wrestlers qualified for the regionals, including Sam Delaney, at one point in the season 15-1 at 215 pounds; Leo Vidio Farias and RaShawn Wright, along with Jason Kinney, Elliott Thompson, John Warrell and Regolio Femat also starred for the Hornets.

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Hank Bond was named publisher of the Pahrump Valley Times by co-owner Rich Thurlow, who previously held the position.

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Mike Cosgrove received $7,000 from Fleetwood Home Center owner David Lauver, with the funds to be used for the Pahrump youth baseball program. The money was to be used to upgrade existing ball fields, erect a batting cage at the Sports Plex i.e., Honeysuckle Park , as well as lighting two of the four ball fields.

In 1999, the baseball program attracted 450 players ages 5 to 18, an increase of 100 over 1998. Two batting cages were built and an electronic scoreboard was installed at the main diamond. A scoring tower, off the concession stand, was slated to be built. There were 38 teams, an increase of nine over 1998.

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The Nevada Regional Medical Center in Tonopah was in dire straits financially, but in early March, it was announced that the facility was awarded $1,075,000 to pay its outstanding debts, including $400,000 owned to the Public Employees Retirement System PERS .

Estimates were that it would cost $125,000 a month to keep NRMC current through June.

Around the same time, there was an advertisement in the Pahrump Valley Times informing readers that the Pahrump Theatre was showing movies, with ticket prices $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and children.

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The Pahrump Valley High School rodeo team was preparing for its 21st annual all-state rodeo in McCullough Arena, starting with a rodeo queen contest.

Lacie Lutz, a PVHS junior, was the winner with her attendants including Amber Daigler, Lacie Whitcotton, Candice Sanderson and Amanda Briskey. At the rodeo, which attracted more than 20 teams from across the state, former queen Blanca Rodriguez and Katie Meeks led the Trojans with five top 10 finishes and the team, as a whole, had 19 top 10 finishes in two go-arounds.

The PVHS team included 30 students and listed Robin Laub, Dale Leis and Jeff Meek among its advisors.

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The library bond request was approved, so it would get funds to open — and operate — after voters ok’d its being constructed … The Saddle West Hotel and Casino expansion was under construction … and the first phase of the Al Collins-designed Mountain Falls subdivision was approved … it would include the construction of 113 houses and the first of two major golf courses … The subdivision, when it was first discussed by Collins before the Regional Planning Commission, would cover 2,277 acres, have 8,360 homes built as well as two resort casinos, two golf courses, a 480-space RV park, a VEA substation and an equestrian trail and park, along with 300 timeshare condominiums.

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Future Pahrump Valley High School soccer standouts Bjorn Peterson and Ernesto Apolinar were being tested on a strong 13 and over team, which got some big wins in a tournament in February at Palm Spring, Calif. … Aaron Williams and Jerry Happeny were among the top players for the Beatty High School boys basketball teams … And at PVHS, 6-foot-7 Tyrone Burrus was working hard to keep the Trojans competitive in a tough Southern League … Paul Brecht was the coach of the Trojans, who finished 11-15 … Mike Thurlow, a sophomore, was the leading player on the Trojans spring golf team … Being organized were leagues for adult slow-pitch softball and fast-pitch softball for men … and girls. And prospective cheerleaders at Rosemary Clark Middle School were being asked to audition … Mike Domagala, was honored as the Class 2-A coach of the year, after leading the Muckers to a 9-1 record … Chance Kretschmer, who would later go on to be the NCAA Divison 1-A’s leading rusher nationwide at Nevada-Reno, was a star on that team, gaining more than 2,000 yards. … and a move to prevent non-Nevada high schools to play for Silver State championships met with disapproval.

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The Nye County School District, in March 1999, said the Pahrump Valley would need a new middle school and at least one new elementary school ”within five years.”… Terrible’s Lakeside opened, replacing the Double Eagle Casino … A traffic light at Basin and Highway 160 was being discussed by Public Works Director Bob Wickenden before a county commissioners meeting. … A technology park in the Amargosa Valley was being planned … Iconic radio broadcaster Art Bell and his wife were at a 2YK expo in Pahrump.

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A move was made by educators to prevent athletics directors to also be coaches in the Nye County school system. Eventually, it was approved, sort of it depended on where the AD was, and if he would be needed as a coach .