Author: Amy Veloz

Choosing one sport meant letting go of two others, but that decision ultimately helped shape Keir Sheppard’s future. After growing up playing baseball and spending years balancing multiple sports, Sheppard realized during high school that basketball had become more than something he enjoyed—it was the sport he wanted to pursue long term. That decision eventually turned into a college opportunity, as Sheppard committed to continue his athletic and academic career at Hesston College in Kansas, where he will compete at the NAIA level while pursuing a degree in Information Technology with plans to specialize in cybersecurity. Sheppard’s path to college…

For as long as she can remember, Lucy Smith envisioned dance being part of her future. After years of classes, performances, competitions and countless hours in the studio, continuing her dance career beyond high school was always part of the plan. What changed during her junior year wasn’t her goal — it was discovering what collegiate dance could actually look like and realizing just how many opportunities existed to continue doing what she loved. That realization opened an entirely new world. Smith learned more about college dance teams, game-day performances, national competitions and clinics designed to introduce dancers to programs…

Songs, storytelling and a cast of local young performers brought the kingdom of Arendelle to life as Donna’s Studio of Dance & Theatre concluded its production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. on Sunday, June 7, at Pahrump Valley High School. Based on the beloved Disney film, the stage adaptation follows sisters Anna and Elsa as they navigate loss, isolation and ultimately rediscover the strength of family and connection. Throughout its run, the production combined memorable musical performances, energetic choreography and character-driven moments that allowed each cast member an opportunity to help tell the story. At the center of the production were…

Nye County residents are being encouraged to share their perspectives on local challenges and priorities through a new Community Needs Assessment Survey designed to help guide future investments in programs and services across the county. The survey, coordinated by Nye County Health & Human Services through its opioid settlement initiatives, seeks direct feedback from community members about the issues they see affecting quality of life in their communities and how available funding can best be used to address those needs. According to Charli Bruce, who coordinates opioid settlement initiatives for Nye County Health & Human Services, community input will play…

The Pahrump Aztecs Silver 17U club baseball team put together two competitive outings over the past week, earning a 16-10 road win over EA Rattlers Legion Silver on Thursday, June 4, before returning home to Pahrump on Tuesday, June 9, for a 7-3 loss to the Las Vegas Varsity Wildcats. Against the Rattlers, the Aztecs wasted no time setting the tone. Anthony Montanez opened the game with a single, and Sammy Mendoza followed with a double to bring him home for the first run. Paul Walker added a sacrifice fly to score Mendoza, and Keith Lawrence later doubled to drive…

Summer football preparations looked a little different at Pahrump Valley High School on Wednesday, June 10, as the Trojan club football program welcomed Durango High School for a morning of 7-on-7 competition featuring both Varsity and JV athletes while also celebrating the arrival of a major boost for the program — a $20,000 equipment delivery from the Las Vegas Raiders. The event combined valuable offseason work on the field with an exciting moment off of it as players and coaches got their first look at the equipment package awarded to the program earlier this spring. For first-year Head Coach Toby…

The Pahrump Aztecs Bronze 14U club baseball team showed determination and flashes of strong execution throughout a Wednesday, June 10 doubleheader at home against DO Nelson, battling through adversity and continuing to compete from first pitch to final out in both games. DO Nelson claimed the opener 16-7 before completing the sweep with a 9-6 win in game two, but the Aztecs produced several big innings offensively and turned in multiple defensive highlights across both contests. In game one, Pahrump served as the home team and opened the evening facing early pressure. Bentley Shannon took the ball to start for…

The Pahrump Aztecs Bronze 14U club baseball team returned to its home field Thursday, June 4, for a doubleheader against Silverado, showing steady fight at the plate, defensive flashes and contributions from several players throughout the evening despite Silverado taking both games. Pahrump opened the first game as the home team with Trustin Wagnon on the mound. Silverado applied pressure early, but the Aztecs worked to limit damage with defensive plays around the plate. Stetson Brown and Bentley Shannon helped cut down runners trying to score, giving Pahrump important outs during a busy opening inning. The Aztecs looked to answer…

For Kylee Siegmund, high school was never about staying in one lane. Over the last four years at Pahrump Valley High School, she found herself balancing creativity and science, leadership and service, performance and academics — building a high school experience that reflected both who she is and who she hopes to become. Whether she was helping direct a theater production, supporting students through Hope Squad, earning one of the district’s most prestigious recognitions, or completing the final steps toward becoming an Eagle Scout, Siegmund built a reputation for stepping forward wherever she felt she could make a difference. As…

At just 8 years old, Lil K.K. Hustle is preparing for one of the biggest stages of her young career as she gets ready to compete this July at the 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Las Vegas, representing Team USA in an international event often described as the “Olympics of Performing Arts.” From July 13–21, performers from around the world are expected to gather at the Westgate Resort & Casino to compete across a variety of artistic disciplines including singing, acting, modeling, dance and instrumental performance. Lil K.K. Hustle plans to compete in four categories: rap, singing,…