Hawthorne The Week of August 24, 2017 America’s Patriotic Home Mineral County 75¢ | Vol. 86 • No. 30 | A BattleIndependent-NewsIndependent-News Born Media newspaper The oldest continuous privately owned business in Mineral County. Published in Hawthorne, Nevada, since 1933 community | 2 opinion | 12 New teachers begin at MCSD Interior’s new sage grouse protection efforts welcomed mineral county technology Motorcycle rider dies after crash Self-flying planes during Vegas to Reno off-road race tested at By Heidi Bunch Hawthorne MCIN Staff In true Best in the Desert style, the 2017 Airport “Longest Off Road Race in the United States” ripped through the desert from out- By Heidi Bunch side of Las Vegas to the outskirts of Reno on MCIN Staff Friday, Aug. 18. This year, the course was 550 miles of The future used to be self-driv- rough, rocky and silt blowing terrain. Liz, ing cars, but after testing was a representative for the Best in the Desert done at the Hawthorne Airport, (BITD) organization confirmed that over the future may be in self-flying 338 motorcycles, quads, UTVs and vehicles airplanes. started the race. Only 204 finished. Microsoft tested the technol- Jason Voss, who started out in the third ogy of self-flying airplanes at the position, took the lead halfway through the airport with the help of Nevada Nevada desert, keeping that lead all the way Governor Brian Sandoval’s Of- to the finish line. He would take first place fice of Economic Development with a time just over nine hours, start to fin- and the Nevada Institute of Au- ish. tonomous Systems. Through the pits, all types of race equip- The Federal Aviation Admin- ment and their pit crews would be plas- istraion designed Nevada as one tered with stickers proclaiming, “Booyah!” of seven unmanned aerial sys- A famous quote from the founder of the tems. Hawthorne is one of those BITD organization, Casey Folks, who sites. passed away on Jan. 12 of this year while Chris Walach, director of doing what he loved – racing. Starting this the Nevada testing sites stated, race in 1984. “This is one of the most exciting Folks, who treated the volunteers and developments I have seen over racers like family, knew that without the the past several years in Nevada help of race fans, his dream was just that – a and globally.” dream. It became reality when people be- In a statement, Shish Kapoor, gan believing in his talents, both on and off a principal Microsoft researcher the race course. Heidi Bunch/MCIN said, Microsoft created a system Those Mineral County residents who Pit crews work on a truck during the Best in the Desert off-road race on Friday. that can keep gliders in the air were close to Folks remember his smiling without using a motor. face, kind words and his trips (after the During the test, two gliders, racing season) on the dirt roads of Mineral racing accidents during the Friday event. At the time of the race, he had been rac- one with a 6-foot wingspan and County. A professional quad rider was involved ing with the Warrior Built organization another with a 16-foot wing- Organizing this race in just under eight in a collision, reportedly with a race truck whose mission is “to honor the service and span, used this system to fine months, Donald Jackson who has worked and was at Renown Medical Center in Reno sacrifice of combat veterans and wounded and “catch rides” on the rising for the BITD organization for many years as recovering. service members who served our country hot air, similar to how birds fly. Operations Manager took to filling the large Unfortunately, in that report, Jackson also by providing vocational and recreational The gliders were equipped shoes left behind by Folks. reports of a death along the route. A solo opportunities. Vocational and recreational with a sensor built into the air- Jackson took the bull by the horns and motorcycle rider, 1st Sgt. USMC (Ret.) Chris opportunities break through walls and craft. Those sensors used algo- the “Longest Off Road Race in the United Carlisle was involved in a “solo accident”. foster an environment of healing, where rithms to predict air patterns States” was able to be completed – just as Carlisle passed away at Mt. Grant General great memories are born and new support which then planned a route for Folks would have wanted. Hospital in Hawthorne. The time of death at systems are formed.” The organization the glider to use, seeking out ris- This year, like those in the past, acci- this time is unknown. constructs vehicles of all types from the ing hot air or thermals. dents occur along the route. From fatigued The accident occurred between Pit 8 and ground, up. “Once it’s flying, it senses and dehydrated riders, to broken bones or Pit 9 of race route. He was also a member of Mighty Oaks flight changes in altitude or di- freak accidents and even death, the racers The Independent-News has learned that Warrior Programs, which helps veterans rection and then makes its own are made aware of the hazards the may face Carlisle was a 20-year Marine who served to process the hardships they may have en- decision if it has to go left, right, along the route, but like many – the thrill of as an infantry leader in Iraq and Afghan- dured during and after combat. up or down, based on where the the race outweighs the dangers. istan as well as a drill instructor. For his ser- The next race of the BITD organization thermals are going to take it,” An incident report was supplied to the In- vice, he was the recipient of the Bronze Star will be held in Lincoln County in Septem- dependent-News by Jackson regarding two as well as two Purple Hearts. ber. > See AIRPORT, Page 3 education Junior high students greeted with brand new hallway By Sheri Samson developed within the school MCIN Correspondent staff. By enlarging the scope of input to include students, fam- Years ago, as student en- ily members and community rollment was declining, the leaders, these meetings were cost-saving decision to move providing long-range solutions. the junior high school students This began in the summer, to the Mineral County High as part of staff member Kathy School facility became a real- Trujillo’s master degree, called ity. This down-sizing basically The Capstone Project. It has combined two brackets of edu- now been determined that this cational and social groups into program will be continued as a the same structure and hall- growing entity of affirmation. ways. Most of the normal ad- Positive incentives, leadership justment hurdles were ironed- growth through mentorship out over the years, except for and reinforcement of making the feeling of exclusion, which good choices will guide a stron- most seventh and eighth grad- ger learning structure within ers would express. Sheri Samson the school setting. After all, the entire building Principal Jeff Wales speaks with junior high students before cutting the ribbon on their new Walking into their first day of was named Mineral County “Rocket” hallway at Mineral County High on the first day of school. the 2017-18 school year, junior High School. All the hallways high students were met with were painted in Serpent colors differing corridors. It seemed program. from specific staff members and their own, newly painted hall- of gold and black. Yellow lock- that the junior high school kids But this year changed the leadership. An influx of positive way of beige and “Rocket” blue. ers lined the long hallways of were placed into temporary view and mindset for these ideas, shared by all ages, was During the summer months, crowded movement, as mixed housing rather than experienc- younger students, thanks to a part of a program called “The classes were stationed along ing their own unique, two-year year of brainstorming changes Dream Team”, which quickly > See ROCKETS, Page 2 page 2 Mineral County Independent-News || The Week of Aug. 24, 2017 your seven-day forecast today friday saturday sunday monday tuesday wednesday 92/57 95/60 98/59 99/61 100/61 98/64 100/64 Mostly sunny Sunny and hot Hot with plenty of Hot with sunshine Mostly sunny and very Mostly sunny and hot Mostly sunny and very sunshine hot hot Amber Blinco Bridget McNulty Claire Hayhurst Devin Loughry Jennifer Frade Melissa Isom Richard Durham Steve Hudson New teachers begin at Mineral County School District By Sheri Samson ico, will be teaching high school English; Principal Mike Domagala of Schurz El- Keith Neville will remain flexible to at- MCIN Correspondent Myrna West, who previously taught at ementary School had the same returning tend each school as his schedule per- Hawthorne Elementary, will be teaching teachers and staff, noting, “Our enroll- mits. The school board will be reviewing As the Mineral County School District the Junior High Math Enrichment and ment is growing and we have an added the district’s policy manual by sections, hosted a “Welcome Back Breakfast” Melissa Isom joined the library staffing excitement toward progress within our with corrections and recent legislation for returning teachers and staff mem- as a high school Para-Pro. students this year.” changes to be included during the up- bers, new teachers were introduced as Principal Stephanie Kuey introduced Two staff members joining the Mineral coming public board meetings. they recently joined this year’s teaching Amber Blinco, Claire Hayhurst and County School District were introduced Superintendent Hackford shared, teams.