Author: Amy Veloz

For Amy Jaime, creativity and determination have always gone hand in hand. From growing up in Pahrump and building lifelong friendships at Pahrump Valley High School to performing on stages across the country, Jaime’s journey has been one built on patience, persistence and believing in herself — even when stepping into unfamiliar territory. A 2017 graduate of Pahrump Valley High School, Jaime said many of her earliest influences came from both her family and the close-knit community she grew up in. She credits much of her work ethic and drive to her father, Gerardo Jaime Guzman, who built the family’s…

For Julianna “Jules” Ondrisko, the road to collegiate athletics did not begin with dreams of school records, state appearances or college recruiting calls. In fact, she admits there was a time she did not even consider herself athletic. Now, after four years of standout performances for the Pahrump Valley High School track and cross country programs, Ondrisko is preparing for the next chapter of her journey as she continues both sports at Nevada State University while pursuing a degree in nursing. Along the way, she built more than an impressive resume. She built relationships, confidence, unforgettable memories and what she…

For Cori Freidhof, serving as Nye County Clerk has been rooted in both experience and a strong belief in the importance of public service. Now seeking reelection after being appointed to the position just over two years ago, Freidhof says her campaign is centered on continuity, election integrity and continued outreach throughout the county. Born and raised in Nevada, Freidhof spent much of her life in Elko County before moving to Nye County 13 years ago. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of roles ranging from cocktail waitress to steakhouse manager, experiences she says helped shape her…

But Keep in Mind Food Safety for Barbecues and Picnics By Mara Posner, DOSouthwest Medical, part of Optum It’s the traditional start of the summer vacation and travel season, a time for family getaways and flavorful barbecues and picnics. During this time, it’s important to take precautions when it comes to safe food handling, preparation, and avoiding foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning caused by germs that can contribute to illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year 48 million Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.[2] Typical…

For Kayla Ball, running for Nye County Clerk represents both a professional next step and an opportunity to continue serving the community where she has spent nearly her entire life. A Pahrump resident for 31 years, Ball describes herself as “homegrown and raised here,” someone whose roots in the community shaped both her personal life and career path. Today, she balances several roles — working full-time as a legal secretary in the Nye County District Attorney’s Office, operating a sheet metal manufacturing business, competing as a rodeo athlete, and pursuing higher education. “I wear many different hats,” Ball said. “I…

When Pahrump Valley High School senior Ethan Rouse signed his letter of intent to continue his wrestling career at Wayland Baptist University, it marked far more than the next step in athletics. For Rouse, the moment represented years of growth, resilience, second chances, and the realization that the sport he never intended to love had ultimately transformed the direction of his life. Rouse will head to Plainview, Texas to wrestle collegiately while also pursuing a degree in finance, with long-term goals of becoming an investment banking analyst and eventually starting businesses of his own. But his path to collegiate athletics…

The Pahrump Valley Little League Senior Division playoffs continued Tuesday, May 12, with the A’s and Dodgers battling through a back-and-forth contest that featured timely hitting, aggressive base running and momentum swings throughout all six innings. The A’s struck first in the top of the opening inning against Dodgers starter Caleb Morales. After Andrew Chastain was retired on a pop out and Kasen Smith went down looking, Anthony Aguilar worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Bentley Shannon followed with a hard-hit single to center field, moving Aguilar to third before Jose Aguilar delivered the first big hit of…

Under sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the 90s, the Pahrump Valley High School track and field team turned in an impressive performance while hosting the NIAA 1A, 2A and 3A Regional Championships on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. With the top four finishers in each event earning a berth to the state meet, the Trojans rose to the challenge on their home track with personal bests, school records and numerous podium finishes throughout the two-day competition resulting in 26 athletes earning a trip to State. The running events opened Friday with the boys 4×800-meter relay, where the…

The Pahrump Valley High School boys golf team turned in a strong two-day performance at the NIAA Regional Tournament hosted at Mountain Falls Golf Club on Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7, earning a third-place team finish and securing a trip to the State Tournament in Boulder City. Competing on their home course, the Trojans showcased consistency throughout the regional event, with multiple golfers finishing near the top of the standings against a competitive field. Leading the way for Pahrump Valley on day one was Aaron Rily, who posted an opening-round score of 82. Brody Myers followed closely with…

The Pahrump Valley High School baseball team opened Regional Tournament play Thursday, May 7 in Boulder City with a competitive matchup against The Meadows Mustangs, battling through a back-and-forth contest before falling 4-3 in the opening game of the tournament. Despite the result, the Trojans showed strong defense, timely hitting and another solid outing on the mound from Sammy Mendoza, who worked all six innings for Pahrump Valley while striking out five batters and allowing just five hits. Pahrump Valley wasted little time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Tony Whitney started the game with…