58°F
weather icon Mostly Cloudy

New War Memorial Walk honors vets, teaches visitors

Pahrump Town Board members voted unanimously for some major upgrades to the veterans’ section of Chief Tecopa Cemetery this year. The addition of a Pahrump Veterans Memorial Walk was approved late last month.

The board’s decision comes after a series of Pahrump Veterans Memorial Advisory Board (PVMAB) meetings on the topic.

The proposed memorial walk, according to the board, would serve as an educational tool, which would include memorial markers or plaques commemorating each conflict of U.S. involvement from the American Revolutionary War to the war in Afghanistan, including the dates and length of the conflicts.

The markers will contain pertinent information on the wars including the number of personnel deployed within all branches of the military, as well as fatalities.

PVMAB member Alice Lubbers told town board members that along with the markers, there will be materials produced for local groups and students who tour the site.

“As visitors walk through the memorial we have a study guide with a brief synopsis of each war. These guides can be given free to school groups visiting the memorial and can be sold to the public,” she said.

PVMAB member Dina Williamson-Erdag said the board chose granite as the preferred material for the markers, which will be displayed along the memorial walk.

The cost of the project will not exceed $5,000.

“The markers we are going to use will be approximately 16 x 16 inches. They will be placed around the perimeter of the veterans memorial section in a wedge shape so they won’t be flat on the ground, making it easier to read. They will also be placed in concrete,” she said.

Williamson-Erdag also noted that the board selected one of three local vendors, Richard Cloutier, owner of Rhino Graphics, for the project.

“We did verify this particular vendor, and other vendors, were licensed and had taxpayer IDs by the Town of Pahrump. We did not want to proceed with anyone who did not meet those specifications,” she said.

Town Board Vice Chair Bill Dolan questioned if there would be 12 or 13 markers along the memorial walk which prompted PVMAB Chair Carl Jones to explain an issue with the local Paiute Indian Tribe in relation with the project.

“We had 13 markers and one was about the Indian War. We had a sub-committee to try and get the Paiutes to see how they wanted it represented. We had 13, but if there were any problems we could just go with 12. We didn’t want to hold up the process. The sub-committee is working on that right now,” he said.

Though both boards felt comfortable enough with moving forward on the proposal, one local resident, Eddie Jim had strong feelings against the memorial walk.

Jim, Pahrump Paiute Tribe Chairman, told both boards in no uncertain terms that he was opposed to the memorial walk at Chief Tecopa.

He said he should have been advised of the project when plans were first made.

“This is the Pahrump Paiute Tribe Cemetery and you guys just don’t understand Native American culture,” Jim said in part.

His comments were countered by Harley Kulkin who said Jim had plenty of opportunities to voice his concerns at PVMAB meetings many months ago.

“I have invited Mr. Jim many times to get involved with the advisory board so they have a presence where we can hear them and address their concerns. It makes it a little difficult when you won’t get involved and just show up at a meeting and have something negative to say. It puts people on the spot to wait till the last minute, when we have spent so much time trying to do things,” the chairman said.

Nevertheless, town board members voted 5-0 to move forward with the memorial walk project.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.