While researching the historical background on the book written by Walter Van Tilburg Clark and later the movie, “The Ox bow Incident,” directed by William Wellman, I happened on the name of William Flake. He found the three innocent men hanged by a vigilantes near Heber, Arizona — and played a roll in the life…

July 6, 2012 When I first heard the State of Nevada had opted to combine No Child Left Behind with Common Core, in late 2007 – I knew it was a plan to ‘take over and remake our local school system.’ By the time the Nevada State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State…

Mina was founded as a railroad town in 1905 and was named for Ferminia Sarras, also  known as the “Copper Queen.”  Sarras came to Nevada sometime around 1881, which was the date she was first listed on Esmeralda County tax records, described as “Spanish Lady, Belleville.” Writing in the September/October 2011 edition of “Nevada Magazine,”…

Andy Griffith, who played Sheriff Andy Taylor in the fictional town of Mayberry, died at the age of 86. Born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, in 1926, Griffith graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1949 with a degree in music. He originally planned on being a preacher, but instead became a teacher. After…

The major mining districts of northern California from 1850-1853, were the Trinity River mines, of which Weaverville was the center, and the Klamath and Salmon River diggings, of which Orleans Bar was the focal point. It was from the diggings on the Trinity that the Gregg party started on the expedition resulting in the rediscovery of…

The heat beating down on the sidewalk seemed to exhaust everything including my good mood. It had been a difficult day at the radio station and the walk seemed like a nice idea at the time. Yet the temperature was another factor I had not counted on as I trudged up the long hill. It seemed as if…

Running ten minutes late as usual, I pulled up to the sidewalk.  I set the brake and turned off the motor. No one else was on board but I did not want to take chances, especially since a company vehicle had been stolen in Las Vegas three days before. I opened the side door and stepped out…

“Roger that,” the engine operator said as he slipped the gear into drive. The large fire-rescue truck moved forward, slowly building up speed. Reaching over, I flipped on the lights and sounded the siren. I then pulled out the map book and started thumbing through the index for the street name. “You don’t have to bother with that,”…

1997 The wind howled hard An’ carried my father’s voice. I did not want to listen Though I had no other choice. The winter blow comes bitter An’ chills me to my bone. I hear my father’s voice With his unmistakable tone. My horse paws the ground As the wind bites an’ howls. I push…

1997 He’s in the dog house now After drinkin’ too much hooch, He kicked his wife, An’ kissed their pooch.