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Goodsprings

Pop.: about 300

Industry: former mining camp

Nearest city: Las Vegas (pop. 1.5 million)

Distance to Las Vegas: 35 miles

Talk of the town:

Goodsprings is a sad town because a good friend has departed. Glen Weed died on Sunday. Bartender Barbara Lostis, who answers the phone at the old, stamped-metal-bedecked Pioneer Saloon when I call, says that's what everyone's talking about. They're planning a party at the saloon this coming Sunday to celebrate him. Weed was "65 or 66," says Lostis, and though he only lived in Goodsprings for 4 1/2 years, he worked his way quickly into his neighbors' hearts.

"He was a very good guitar player," says Lostis. "He was well liked. And he was a good mechanic. He did a lot of work here. He built that cabin, with Mike Niles, on the road coming into Goodsprings." She passes the phone to Lary Glen Anderson, who knew Weed well.

"I'm an entertainer and Glen was an entertainer," says Anderson, who is a voice impressionist (he does former President Ronald Reagan and then President Bush for me on the phone) and owns a traveling road show called "Elvis Mania." He says Weed played with some of the greats: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Marty Robbins and even Buddy Holly. "He was the kind of guy who traveled around," says Anderson. "He was into pipelining, welding and he was a helluva mechanic. All the ironworkers knew him. And whenever anybody needed something, Glen was there. He was a cowboy, too." Anderson passes the phone to Niles, who tells how he met Weed two years ago, and before he knew it, Weed was helping him build his cabin.

"Glen was a character," says Niles. "God bless him, he'd sit here in the bar, and if he got a hankering, or somebody requested a song, he'd start playing his guitar--he kept it behind the bar--and it's `Katy bar the door': A crowd would gather. Whoever walked in didn't walk out until he finished playing."

Weed's friends will celebrate his life Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m.. It's a potluck, so bring food. And stories. And maybe your guitar?--Heidi Walters