Squatters in the Pine Nuts

We're hearing more and more about "squatters" camping out in the nearby Pine Nut Mountains. Last week a neighbor reported seeing smoke around Bar J Road. When our Fish Springs volunteer firefighters responded they found a couch, beer bottles and a smoldering campfire. It's a very scary scenario as embers from the campfire could easily have blown into the surrounding brush and trees.

Some people are abandoning old vehicles and appliances out there making the beautiful Pine Nuts look like a junk yard. Last fall another area just north of Fish Springs valley on BLM land was badly trashed.

There were lots of cans, broken glass, burned wood and other offensive litter. Once again, there was evidence of bonfires. It is very dangerous to start a campfire in the Pine Nut Mountains. If you see smoke out there call 911 right away.

HazMat Truck became a giant accordion: Did you see the Fish Springs fire department's hazardous materials truck in the Carson Valley Days Parade yesterday? In keeping with the parade's theme of "German Festival," the members of the Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department turned the HazMat truck into a giant accordion playing lively German music. That may have been stretching the imagination a bit and it certainly was no easy task, but at least it was fun.

There's a lot of camaraderie in our all-volunteer fire department and quite a few of the members have been volunteers here for over 20 years. We're presently recruiting some additional new members. If you live in the Fish Springs or East Valley areas and would like more information about joining our fire department, stop by the station any Tuesday at 7 p.m. and we'll give you the grand tour. This might be one of the most fulfilling activities of your life.

n "Out in the Sticks": We know and appreciate that we are very fortunate to live here in beautiful Fish Springs, but sometimes living "out in the sticks" can be a pain in the neck problem. All residents living in this mile-high valley have a large lot with a well and a septic system. If your well stops pumping or your septic overflows, you've got problems - sometimes very serious problems.

On Memorial Day weekend we had a house full of company and right in the middle of our big barbecue, our water turned into dirt and stopped running. The well pump had broken. Being a big three-day holiday weekend, there was no pump guy available to come and fix it. We were without water for three days and during that time we had six visitors from Germany staying with us. I guess that's one of the hardships when you live "out in the sticks."

n Linda Monohan can be reached at 782-5802.