The Voice of the Wild, Wild West
6-16-2000
When Your Editor described Scott Jolcover as the "neighbor from Hell" in last weeks issue because he had caused one of his neighbors in VC to have to pay $4,400 for an electrical connection, I had no idea what Jolcover had in store for Gold Hill.
Jolcover is general manager of Plum Mining, owned by W Hughes Brockbank the latest in a long line of investors who have financed Jolcovers career for years at a time. Plum Mining is intending to mine the same claims that Jolcover has used to attract investors over the last 15 years, and mill the proceedings in American Flat.
However, Plum Mining now has sent a letter to all Gold Hill residents asking their opinion of the companys plan to reopen the old Crown Point Mill (owned by Pete Leonard, who supports the plan).
Crown Point uses a ball mill which pulverizes ore-bearing rock to a powder-fine residue using what amount to massive ball bearings in a large cylinder. As the cylinder rotates, the balls smash to the bottom of the cylinder, making a sound that, in the larger mills, can be heard for miles around.
(A former operator of one such mill tells me that he lived four and a half miles away from the mill and could still hear it in operation quite clearly. In fact, he would wake up in the middle of the night if the mill ceased operation.)
According to "Modern Gold Mining"
The Ball Mill ~ The crushed ore [from the mining operation] is now put into a ball mill, which is a huge cylinder or drum that rotates horizontally and is about one third full of steel balls weighing several tons. As the mill rotates, the ore is gradually pulverized under the tremendous pressure of the steel balls as they roll over the rock. After many hours, the ore is reduced to sand. The larger particles of gold have by now been released and can now be separated by such methods as jigging.
Such a mill, less than a hundred yards from the Gold Hill Hotel, would put that operation out of business, both as a restaurant and as a hotel. The hotel is the only first-class restaurant and hotel on the Comstock, and its loss would be a severe blow to the area.
Recognizing this, Gold Hill Hotel owner Bill Fain has written a letter in reply to Plum Mining outlining his objection to the mill. (The full text of the letter can be found on Page 4.) Fain says, in part:
· Some Ball Mills can be heard as far away as four miles and anyone within a few hundred yards is subjected to sound that ranges from very unpleasant to the threshold of pain for those who are very close. The incessant repetitive noise is akin to Chinese water torture without escape. Even a restricted work schedule would not be acceptable to people close by.
· The many chemicals that are used to process the ore have highly toxic effects if exposed to humans and animals and without great care could easily penetrate the ground water and affect even wider areas.
· The steady flow of massive trucks bringing ore and removing waste would clog the roads and add to the noise level and congestion in our towns and villages as well as contribute with their fuel exhaust to the destruction of our naturally pleasant smelling air.
· The use of the Mill as a tourist attraction has merit and has been done in the recent past but does not require the mill to actually operate and therefore does not require the expensive renovation and special use permits.
When Art Wilson owned the mill he had partly restored it to its former life as a stamp mill, and intended to use it as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately Wilson went bankrupt in the interim.
Less Noise Than the Union Brewery
However, according to Pete Leonard, the mill will make less noise "than the Union Brewery on a bad night" and will not be audible to either the Gold Hill Hotel patrons or Gold Hill residents.
The Arguments
Doubtless old-timers and miners will say that the Crown Point Mill has historically operated as a mill. This is true, but it hasnt operated as such for many decades. In the meantime, the Fains have invested millions to turn the Gold Hill Hotel into one of the best inns in northern Nevada. It could equally be argued that their claim to precedence over the mill should now be honored. (Why the ball mill cannot be built out at American Flats, where there are hardly any residents, and there would be far fewer objections, is not clear.)
A Long Process
Plum Mining has not even begun the permitting process to reopen the Crown Point Mill. It is likely to be a tortuous process with objections from most Gold Hill residents (except for Pete Leonard), and requiring that environmental concerns about waste products, air quality etc be satisfied. Also, if the mill is, at long last approved, suits from property owners claiming that such approval amounted to condemnation of their properties can be expected. Since W Hughes Brockbank is in his eighties it will be interesting to see if he lives to see the process through. One thing is certain, if he does not, his heirs are unlikely to want to pursue this or the other Plum Mining projects, and Jolcover will once more be in search of a career-financer.
Billie the Kid Mining Delayed
When Plum Mining received its special use permit to mine the Billie the Kid claim (above the Lucerne Pit near Silver City) and mill the proceeds in American Flat last October, the company indicated that it was going to proceed with operations immediately.
However, the company does not now intend to start operations until after July 4. There have been delays in the companys obtaining a water quality permit from the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) so construction of the leach ponds in American Flat have not yet begun. In addition, the company has not yet got sufficient electricity to the site.
A yearlong investigation into the theft of valuable artifacts from the historic Pipers Opera House in Virginia City has resulted in the arrests of two suspects, according to Storey County Sheriff, Pat Whitten.
38 year old Benjamin Woodbury Crosby of Carson City, and 36 year old Marty Lynn Hall of Reno have been arrested. Crosby, who turned himself in to the Storey County Detention Faoility, has been chargei with Burglary, Grand Larceny, and Conspiracy to Commit Bur;lary. He has been freed on bond. Hall, who was taken into custody in South Reno with the assistance of the Washoe County Sheriffs Office, was transported to Storey County and was released the following day after posting bail. Hall us charged with Burglary, Grand Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Possession of Stolen Property.
"This extensive investigation was conducted under the direction of the Nevada Division of Investigation (NDI). We would not be where we are without their support and assistance," says Sheriff Whitten. "Their resources and expertise greatly helped bring this case to our present position and enabled us to obtain multiple arrest warrants."
Sheriff Whitten says the arrest of the two suspects does not end the investigation. Other arrests are anticipated.
by John Tyson
Two Snakes and a Bird in the House
Deputies responded to two reports of snakes this week, including a report of a snake in a house in the Virginia City Highlands. Both snakes were dispatched promptly, one of which was confirmed as a rattlesnake. In another unusual call, a bird that had somehow gotten inside a building apparently set off an alarm. The bird was released and the alarm reset.
Sheriffs deputies answered 40 calls for service this week, including an arrest in Lockwood of a suspect for alleged lewdness with a minor. Bail for the suspect has been set at $30,000.00. Officers also assisted NHP on a DUI arrest on the Geiger Grade just north of Virginia City.
A joint investigation by Sheriffs deputies and Nevada Division of Investigation officers regarding the theft of artifacts from Pipers Opera House last year has resulted in the arrests of two suspects on a variety of charges. Additional arrests are anticipated.
Four female juveniles, all under 16 years of age, were picked up by deputies for being intoxicated. They were subsequently released to their parents.
A goose escaped major injury after being attacked by a dog in the Virginia City Highlands. The dog however was taken into custody and locked up at the animal shelter. In another case, a dog was reported stolen by its owner. That case is under investigation.
ATVs racing in the Highlands continue to be a problem. Deputies will monitor activity and cite those responsible if they continue to be a nuisance. An off duty deputy did observe a subject spinning donuts in the cemetery parking lot. The subject was stopped and issued a very expensive citation.
Other reports taken this week include two minor vehicle accidents, one of which occurred at the V & T Railroad depot, a report of a damaged vehicle on "C" Street, and two check the welfare reports. Deputies are also investigating a report of grand larceny and two reports of vandalism.
Sheriff Whitten advises that patience should be the word for the day while driving the Geiger Grade. NDOT crews report that most drivers have been courteous and understanding, but there have been a few incidents where flaggers have been put in jeopardy. NDOT contractors have to finish the Geiger project by the end of the month, or face fines. Drivers who violate the work zone speed limits, or attempt to run past flaggers also face stiff fines. Paving begins this week, and should go quickly.
Be safe, be courteous, and be carefu
by Jay Regas
During 1992, I was employed as a whorehouse bartender when I was arrested for allegedly being the "kingpin" of a 180 million dollar drug organization. I had been working at Old Bridge Ranch in that position since the brothel had opened Memorial Day 1984. I didnt own a car, I was living in a rented house and having trouble paying the power bill! I had lost my heart for the family wholesale florist business when my father past away during 1981. My eldest son Troy was running the floral warehouse and I was no longer associated with Regas Wholesale Florist. Between the time of my fathers death and my arrest, my ambitions wavered. Although I found myself comfortably working for someone else and no longer having the responsibility for the daily management of my own business that had consumed me throughout the previous twenty-five years. I had married and divorced for a third time and my four eldest children had left the nest. My life had become lethargic. One morning I woke up, looked in the mirror and questioned the direction I was allowing myself to take. It was time I energized my ambitions and became self-employed again!
There was just one insurmountable problem I faced to reenter the business world I was broke. According to the government I should have had my paycheck or profit share of the 180 million dollars for being the CEO of the major "alleged" Regas Drug Organization. But in reality, I was broke!
Reno was a-bustle in 1991. McCarran Boulevard had been completed to encircle the sister cities of Reno and Sparks. Northwest Reno was expanding toward the peak of Peavine Mountain, McQueen High School was open, at the corner of McCarran and Mae Anne Avenue, stripmalls had been built. I felt there was an outstanding business opportunity to open a sports bar in a small mall complex recently finished on Mae Anne about a block off McCarran. One of the key elements of guaranteeing good fortune in the service business is location, location, location, and this "location" was ideal with easy access, off of and returning to, busy Mae Anne Avenue.
First I approached a local small casino operator who had lent me money in the past and had guaranteed me a loan if I brought him a convincing package. I ran my ideas by Kenny "Crunch" Crenshaw, a fellow employee at Old Bridge Ranch, who I invited to join me in this venture. Crunch had gone to work for the Confortes as a cook at the Mustang Ranch during 1978. When David and Ingrid Burgess opened Old Bridge Ranch they were able to convince him to move from Mustang to cook for the ladies at their brothel. After working with Crunch for a couple of years I felt his charm, attitude, personality, chutzpa and charisma was too "large" to be stuck in the kitchen preparing meals. I enticed him to give up slaving over a hot stove and move out to where the action was and tend bar where his personality would be an asset to Old Bridge.
He quickly became one of the finest bartenders I have run across working the planks. With the bar experience I had gained managing the brothels bar and Crunchs food service experience and flare for bartending, I felt we would make a successful team. The two of us took some preliminary steps planning for the type of sports bar we would introduce into the Mae Anne neighborhood and the ambience we felt would be needed to make customers comfortable. We spoke with and toured the facility with the realtor. We put together thoughts for a menu and I contacted IGT (International Games Technology) who are always willing to help new bar entrepreneurs with the expense of building and accessorizing a bar in exchange for gaming machine placement.
We thought of calling the place "Cool and Crunchs / Sports Bar & Grill" (Cool being the nickname Crunch had hung on me at the brothel.) and to serve from a menu that mimicked our personalities. We planned a very deliberate twosided menu with one half catering to a YUPPIEs epicureans palate, with avocado & shrimp sandwiches, brie and Ceasar Salad type of food and on the other half Hamburgers, deepfried vegetables, ribs and other greasy finger licking foods. An important feature to us would be the quality and freshness of the ingredients and care in the preparation of the meals we planed to serve.
It was our idea to fill the joint with televisions that would remain on sport channels without sound, around the clock. Crunch is an athletically stout AfricanAmerican with a Berry White voice that he broadcast for a short while as a disk jockey in Salt Lake City prior to moving to Nevada. As it was I allowed Crunch to make the choices and purchase the records we placed on the Old Bridge Ranch jukebox. In "Cool & Crunchs," one of his duties would have been to select the music that we planned to play continuously. We also planned an open kitchen that jutted into the room so whoever was preparing meals would be part of the activities taking place in our bar & grill. We discussed the type of employees we would be hiring and promotions we could utilize to keep our customers interest.
Luckily we had only spent a small amount of time doing the preliminary groundwork for our endeavor. It was during that time the federal indictment was served on me and I was arrested. It was unfortunate for Crunch and I, but pleasingly successful for the people who opened a sports bar by the named of "Bullys" at that location. On the other side of the coin our broken dream benefit David and Ingrid Burgess. They still have Crunch, with his Barry White voice and special charisma, mixing lively concoctions at Old Bridge Ranchs bar to this day.
