Ichthyosaur, State Fossil of Nevada (KLAS-TV)

Can you name the official state fossil of Nevada? It’s the ichthyosaur, a behemoth that was 50 feet long and ruled the seas hundreds of millions of years ago. Some of the largest ichthyosaur fossils in the world were found in Nevada, but just recently, a new scientific controversy has emerged about how these giant reptiles got around.

This might sound like an odd topic for the I-Team. However, few people in Southern Nevada seem to know it, but there’s a state park devoted to the ichthyosaur. It’s in central Nevada in what used to be a mining camp called Berlin. That’s where scientists found the remains of nearly 40 different ichthyosaurs. They plowed through the ocean above what is now Nevada, but back then, this land mass was down by the equator. 

Read the complete story at LasVegasNow.com.

Hearing scheduled concerning proposed changes to Nevada Division of State Parks regulations

CARSON CITY, Nev.–The Nevada Division of State Parks will hold a public hearing on December 13, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m., at 901 South Stewart Street, Suite 5005.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comments regarding the amendment of regulations that pertain to Chapter 407 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The purpose for the amendment of these regulations is to provide for the equitable collection of reasonable user fees and to provide for operation and management of State Parks.

The proposed regulation represents comments the division received from the public and the Legislature and do not constitute an increase in fees but allow for a fee at three parks not presently mentioned in the Nevada Administrative Codes: Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park, the Elgin School House and Buckland Station, a new facility that has not been previously open to the public.

Governor signs multistate, cooperative wildfire memorandum

CARSON CITY, Nev.–Governor Jim Gibbons signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the governors of Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming to outline and formulate a cooperative plan to ensure the continued coordinated support efforts for wildland fire fuels management and rehabilitation efforts between all four states.

“Due to exceptionally dry conditions and a lack of available forage, Nevada lost nearly one million acres this past fire season. If we fail to adequately rehabilitate this land, cheat grass and other invasive species will replace native plants, creating an even greater risk for future fires,” said Governor Jim Gibbons. “The threat of future catastrophic wildfires caused by cheat grass and drought is not limited to the State of Nevada. In fact, many western states face similar challenges during and after fire season, which is why the partnership between Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming is critically important to our collective restoration and prevention efforts. I thank Governors Otter, Huntsman, and Freudenthal for their cooperation and efforts to address these important issues.”

December events at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

LAS VEGAS–History comes alive at the Old Mormon Fort State Historic Park when the gates open for the annual Pioneer Christmas Celebration on December 14 and 15 from 7:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m.

Take a step back in time and discover the pioneer era with live music, Christmas carols, aromas of authentic Dutch oven cooking and a Christmas story as pioneer children hang their stockings. An 1860s Christmas will be re-created as close to the time period as one can imagine, with Civil War soldiers welcoming a wagon train into the Old Fort. This nostalgic experience for adults and children is free to the public.