News Briefs

Christmas tree recycling program grows

Boulder City’s Christmas tree recycling program was deemed a success.

For the second year, the city partnered with B.C. Waste to provide a place for free tree recycling. Although the efforts fell slightly short of the 300-tree goal, 278 trees were recycled this year, and exceeded last year’s figure of 266 trees.

The trees were transported to Henderson, where they were chipped into mulch that was offered for free to local residents.

City officials said the program extends the life of the Boulder City landfill and will be offered again next year.

Deadline extended for leading dives to submerged bomber

The deadline for businesses to offer guided scuba diving tours of the B-29 Superfortress bomber submerged in Lake Mead has been extended by the National Park Service.

Businesses that wish to offer the tours have until Feb. 20 to submit their applications.

The two-year commercial use authorizations will include scuba dive guiding on the B-29 site, limited to 100 client dives during each 12-month period of the permit, and unlimited scuba instruction and charter for other locations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The plane crashed into Lake Mead July 21, 1948, while engaged in high-altitude atmospheric research. The crew of five survived the crash, but the plane was lost in the depths of the lake. It was discovered by local divers in August 2001. The area has been closed to diving to protect the historical resource.

For details, visit http://www.nps.gov/lake/parknews/b-29-permit.htm. Additional information is available by calling Heidie Grigg at 702-293-8923.

Park Service seeking information about St. Thomas

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is seeking stories and photos about St. Thomas to develop brochures, on-site displays and Web pages. This project is intended to educate visitors and enhance their experiences when visiting the park and the park’s website.

St. Thomas, Nev., was established in 1865 by Mormon colonists sent by Brigham Young to start a farming community. The town had a rich history and was important to the social and economic development of Southern Nevada. It was inundated with water in 1938 as the lake was filling, but has been exposed since 2002 because of the drought.

The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that it may be exposed for at least 50 years. A 2.5-mile loop trail allows visitors to see some of the old structures of the town site and tour nearly 40 acres containing foundations of buildings, cisterns, canal features and the old rail spur.

If anyone has oral histories, documents or photos that they would like to share with the National Park Service for this project, contact Leslie Paige at 702-293-8729 or leslie_paige@nps.gov by March 14.