Will Gray just celebrated his second anniversary as the chief of the Boulder City Fire Department. The responsibilities of the department were recently emphasized as the firefighter EMTs administered thousands of Covid-19 tests in the wake of the Omicron variant of the virus. Available to residents and employees of city businesses, the tests were the saving grace for people who suspected they had been exposed, but unable to find an alternative testing location. Gray also finished an evaluation of the department and its operations that had been delayed by Covid. He recently recommended to City Council that a secondary fire station was necessary in order to serve the entirety of the city in the prescribed time period that could mean the difference between life and death. He spoke with host Roger Gros at the Fire Station in January.

Downtown Henderson is growing quickly. Sometimes known as “Old Henderson,” the area includes the Henderson City Hall and government complex, several casinos including the Pass, which is owned by Joe DeSimone, who also owns the Railroad Pass Casino Hotel, and the new practice facility for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League. When Tim and Mike Brooks bought the Emerald Island Casino, it was another infusion of new ownership for the area. Two years ago, the brothers also acquired the Rainbow Club casino, immediately adjacent to Emerald Island. Small casinos were particularly hard hit by the pandemic and the Brooks brothers’ properties were no exception. Tim Brooks, who is the CEO of the two properties, explains what it took to survive the pandemic and how they’re faring now that the pandemic is winding down. He talks about his background, what brought him to Henderson, and how he’s planning for the future in the booming downtown area. He spoke Boulder City Podcast host Roger Gros at his offices in Emerald Island Casino in October.