Author: Amy Veloz
Nearly seven years have passed since the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, yet for Breana Koch, Denise Stout, and Sharlee Rogers, the event still casts a long shadow over their lives. As the anniversary of the October 1, 2017, tragedy approaches, the three survivors reflect on that night, how they’ve coped since, and the community bonds they’ve formed in the aftermath. Breana was just 15 when she attended the festival with her mother, Denise, and their friends and extended family, excited to see Jason Aldean perform. “We were just standing there, waiting for Jason,” Breana recalled. “When the shooting started,…
The Junior Trojans wrestling program, led by Benji and Crystal De Santiago, has been making strides in providing a structured and supportive environment for young wrestlers in Pahrump. What began as a small family activity has quickly grown into a community club with a focus on nurturing discipline, hard work, and a passion for the sport. Benji and Crystal De Santiago first launched the program in November 2023, after realizing that despite wrestling’s popularity in the town, there were no youth opportunities for the sport. “Wrestling is a big sport in this town,” Benji explained. “There was nothing for the…
This past weekend, from September 19-22, Pahrump once again celebrated its rich history and community spirit with the Annual Fall Festival. Originally launched on September 5, 1964, as the Harvest Festival, the event began as a small gathering where local farmers celebrated the valley’s cotton and alfalfa harvest. Cars and horses lined up at the edge of town to sell goods and mark the start of the autumn season with a barbecue. Today, the Fall Festival has grown into one of Pahrump’s largest and most highly anticipated annual events. Hosted by the Town of Pahrump, the festival brings together thousands…
The PVHS Trojans displayed grit and determination in their Friday night showdown against the Virgin Valley Bulldogs in Virgin Valley on September 20. Though they ultimately fell 28-7, the Trojans showed moments of brilliance on both sides of the ball and kept the game competitive throughout. Virgin Valley struck first, scoring with 6:14 left in the first quarter, but the Trojans’ defense quickly showed its strength. Austin Alvarez made a pivotal play by breaking up the Bulldogs’ extra-point attempt, keeping the score at 6-0. Despite a fumble late in the first quarter, the Trojans’ defense held strong, keeping the game…
Local junior Emalee Bolling took home top honors at the annual Pahrump Fall Festival’s Food and Art competition, impressing both judges and attendees with her stunning dragon-themed cake and mouthwatering apple pie-filled cupcakes. The aspiring baker, currently a student at Pahrump Valley High School, has big plans for the future, and her recent success is just the beginning. Emalee’s dragon cake, which won first place in the age division for its remarkable appearance, was a visual masterpiece that stood out from the competition. “I wanted to challenge myself, so I made a dragon out of modeling chocolate,” she explained. “I…
The PVHS Girls’ Soccer teams had a strong showing on Monday, September 23, as both JV and Varsity teams delivered impressive performances in their matches against Mater East. The Junior Varsity team led the charge, securing a commanding 8-2 victory, while Varsity followed suit with a solid 6-2 win. The JV team came out with intensity, scoring an impressive eight goals, with seven different players finding the back of the net. Justess Maxwell stood out, scoring twice, while Amaite, Jane, Biannet, Stefani, and Melanie Carson also contributed goals. Melanie Carson’s strike came from a perfectly placed penalty kick into the…
The Nye County School District (NCSD) is calling on parents, students, teachers, staff, and community members to participate in a statewide survey regarding potential changes to high school start times. The survey, organized by the Nevada State Board of Education (NDE), aims to gather input from across the state as part of a larger discussion on how start times could impact student success. The survey explores various aspects of adjusting high school start times, such as how changes might affect student attendance, behavior, and academic performance. According to NDE, the feedback will be crucial in shaping decisions that could result…
The Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) Boys’ Soccer team secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Boulder City on September 20, continuing their strong season with an impressive performance on both ends of the field. The Trojans were bolstered by goals from Hector Hernandez and Roberto Gonzalez, and a standout defensive effort led by Ryan Nunez Manzo, who anchored the defense with his cousin, Henry Nunez Manzo, forming a formidable central pairing. Head Coach Andrew Norton praised the team’s performance, highlighting the contributions from both starters and substitutes throughout the match. “Everything went right. We kept fresh legs all game long.…
The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ tennis team faced off against Boulder City in a tough match at home on Monday, September 23, falling 5-13 to the undefeated Eagles. While the Trojans didn’t secure a win, they put forth a tremendous effort. “Our boys’ Trojan team lost their first match yesterday versus the still unbeaten Boulder City team 5-13,” said Coach DelaRosa. “It was a warm day and an intense match up which our team fell short, however, the good news is that our hard-working boys scored the most points against Boulder during my tenure as coach and existence of…
The Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) Trojans tennis teams delivered a strong performance on September 24, 2024, as they hosted the Virgin Valley Bulldogs. Both the boys and girls teams showed resilience and skill, securing wins in their respective matches. For the boys, the Trojans dominated Virgin Valley with a final score of 15-3. Standout players included James DelaRosa who went 3-0, Sonny Skinner who went 3-0, Milan Vasquez who 2- in singles. Jace Eichner and Lucas Johnson went 3-0, Chris Jacks and Legend Reigns went 2-1 and Juan Rodriguez and Bryce Dykstra who also went 2-1 in doubles.. The…