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Thursday, June 26, 2003 Cowtown Chronicles
Jack Creek Pop.: 4 in town, and about 150 at surrounding ranches in Independence Valley Industry: ranching, outdoor recreation Nearest city: Elko (pop. 16,700), 60 miles south Distance from Las Vegas: 490 miles Talk of the town: The Jack Creek Lodge is for sale: $579,000 for the bar, restaurant, RV park and "the best water in the state," says Norma Viergutz, who owns it with her husband, Boney. Sadly, they have to move, maybe to Virginia City, where there are services for their 11-year-old daughter, Amy, who has cerebral palsy. Oh, that's news: Amy just finished a round of 11 surgeries to straighten her legs--she's doing fine. And that's not all: "The Bradshaws are up the creek in the canyon for their annual reunion," Norma says. The Bradshaws have been traveling to the canyon for 40 years to reunite. Oh, and "the YP Ranch cowboys, their wagon's in." They've been out six weeks in the desert, branding calves. Over the phone I can hear the cowboys jostling around in the bar, laughing, so I ask Norma to ask them what they talked about all that time out there. More laughter, and I hear a guy reply: "Gettin' drunk and goin' to town." Another guy says they talked about "Frank and Kyla's big argument"--some boyfriend-girlfriend dispute having to do with the teepee. Other than all that, the fishing's good at Wilson Reservoir--but the BLM just starting charging two bucks a car to get in!--and "the bands of sheep are coming through" from their winter grounds down south, Norma says. "And the wildflowers are just wonderful."--Heidi Walters |
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