Woman seeks information on man and beard

In May 2005, Carolyn Mirch asked Nevada Appeal readers for information on Zachary Taylor Wilcox and his more than 48-inch long beard. Since then, she has published a short history about his life in Carson City, his involvement with the Days of '49 Celebration in Sacramento in 1922, his very strange whisker Will, and the beard mystery that continues to this day. The book "Crown Prince of the Whiskerinos" is available at Amazon.com for $16.99.

Mirch is Wilcox's great-great-great-niece and she is trying to find out what happened to his beard that he willed to the Wiskerino Club of Sacramento in 1927.

Anyone with information can call her at (503) 590-6507 or mail Carolyn Mirich at 15025 S.W. 141st Ave., Tigard, OR 97224, or e-mail her at mifieldni@yahoo.com.

Christian McEvoy, 23, called to say that his run through Carson City was a success. The Connecticut native is running across the United States in hopes of raising $1 million to benefit three organizations that help cancer survivors.

He was featured in a story that ran on page A1 of Wednesday's Nevada Appeal.

"Obviously a lot of people read (the article)," he said. "In fact, I had a guy come out who is from the local area and run with me. His son was a a cancer survivor, so it was pretty exciting."

McEvoy continues on Highway 50 East across Nevada and is running more than 12 miles a day. He's done more than 260 miles of the 3,500-mile trek across the United States. He'll head to Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and Ely next and should be in Utah by mid-August.

"We've met a lot of people along the way today on the road that just came out to say 'hi,'" he said.

To follow him across the U.S., leave messages of encouragement, read the blogs or donate, go to www.coasttocoastrun.org

P.J. Degross, founder of Web of Support, has organized a soldier adoption program aimed at finding families for each of the Nevada National Guard's 150 troops in the 593rd Medium Transportation Company.

The unit deployed July 7 and are currently training for combat at Fort Bliss, Texas. They will leave for Iraq on September 7.

"As of (Thursday), and less than 10 days into the adoptions, 69 soldiers of the 150 have been adopted, which is great, but our jobs are not finished," Degross said.

Adopting a soldier means you take him into your family for the total time of deployment.

"You send cards and letters and one care package a month, and you just try to support them," she said.

Those interested in adopting a soldier can contact Degross at pjdahling@aol.com or visit webofsupport.com.

An Elko-based mining rescue team placed first in two competitions, including Best All-Around Team" as part of the 2006 National Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest held last week at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

The Barrick Goldstrike "Gold Team" also finished first in the "First Aid" competition.

Thirty-three rescue teams from around the country participated in the three-day event, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration. FMC Wyoming's "White Team" from Green River, Wyo., was named the national Mine Rescue Team Champion, while their "Red Team" finished second. The Morton Salt Co. team from Weeks Island, La., rounded out the top three.

Mine rescue competitions are designed to test the knowledge of rescue teams who might be called upon to rescue their colleagues trapped following real mine emergencies. Teams must solve a hypothetical mine emergency problem, such as a fire, explosion or cave-in, and are judged on accuracy and speed.