IN PROFILE: Paul Matthews

BUSINESS: Driver for Integrity Taxi

AGE: 61

BACKGROUND: “When I came here, I put in a small RV park and just sold it about six months ago. I had a side job working on and installing evaporative coolers both commercially and in private residences.”

FIRST JOB: “I had a newspaper route in Larkspur, Calif., when I was 13.”

YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I have lived in Pahrump since 1995 and just joined the Moose Lodge, my first charity organization membership since I’ve been here. With a wife and four kids, I haven’t been able to to become involved in the community events.”

PERSONAL: “I dream of taking my kids to Disneyland and traveling to Alaska to go hunting for moose and fishing for salmon.”

BUSINESS CLIMATE: “There are businesses in Las Vegas that would like to open a store here but say they’ve tried it in the past … for two years and finally gave up. The rules, regulations and fees keep companies from coming here. I have four kids who are going to start needing jobs soon. We need jobs. The residents will be doing small businesses a service by shopping locally as often as they can. I do my part. I just bought a new truck from a local dealership to keep the tax revenues here.”