Valley rancher receives national press recognition

Carson Valley rancher Devere Dressler has had a lot of press lately. In addition to appearing in Range Magazine, the story of the Dressler Ranch in Carson Valley has appeared in the New York Times. That story was written by Randal C. Archibold, who works the Times' national desk.

Devere is not the only Valley resident who appears in the article, which includes Steve White, who owns White Dairy, and David Hussman, whose development rights were purchased by the American Land Conservancy.

The article, called "Big ranches bite the dust in Nevada" describes how the suburbs have encroached into Nevada's farming lands forcing out ranchers. According to the archive, the story appeared on page 22 of the Sunday edition.

The New York Times wants $4.95 to read the article, but a Google search for Devere's name will turn up the story as it appears in other publications.

Among those are the L.A. Daily News, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and San Diego Union Tribune, showing the interest across the country in our Valley.

Carson Valley is still home to several viable ranching operations and their survival is a critical issue to the future of this place. That's a pretty important story, if you ask me.

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Douglas High School graduate Christina Keegan was named Miss Berks County, Pa., and will be participating in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant in June, according to her mom, Tina.

A Minden resident, Christina graduated from Douglas High in 2004, which was when she participated in the Miss Douglas County Pageant.

She is attending Rosemont College, where she is pursuing a degree in pre-med and plans on graduating in December 2007 to attend medical school.

Christina has been on the dean's list for three years. She received the President's Scholarship to attend school in Pennsylvania. She played tennis at Douglas High School and performed in a production of "Beauty of the Dreaming Wood" at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School in Gardnerville.

Her platform is encouraging volunteerism and her talent is ballet.

Her brother Peter, graduated from Douglas High school in 2001 and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2006. He's in his first year studying environmental law in Vermont.

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A new photographer for The Record-Courier will be making the rounds today.

Niki Newbold is a Douglas High School graduate and a graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara.

She'll be working Fridays and Saturdays in the shift that was previously covered by Sarah King.

Sarah, also a Douglas High graduate, is attending the University of Nevada, Reno, and because she was living in Reno found the commute a challenge.

n Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.