Susan Sorrells
Tecopa Town Hall Unites Residents to Tackle Food Insecurity After Federal Cuts
“You guys are tough people out there,” said Jessica from the Inyo-Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA), nodding from her Zoom screen toward the handful of desert residents gathered inside the Tecopa Community Center on a cool October evening. “And we’re hungry,” a local resident replied. The exchange captured the tone of a town hall…
Fire Devastates Borehole Spring, Endangered Amargosa Vole Habitat
A devastating wildfire broke out at Borehole Spring near Tecopa, California, overnight on February 11, inflicting catastrophic damage to the hot spring which is also a delicate wetland habitat of the endangered and endemic Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis). The fire consumed a significant area of critical bulrush habitat surrounding the spring, posing a severe…
Celebrating the Resilience of Death Valley Women: A Documentary Screening
On a recent crisp afternoon in Shoshone, California, a crowd gathered around the Flower Building at the Shoshone Museum for the premiere screening of The Women Who Haunt Her, a new documentary by filmmaker Ted Faye. Known for his Weird Tales series, Faye’s latest work focuses on the lives of three remarkable women who helped shape the…
Residents Rejoice: State Route 127 To Reopen
Residents of Tecopa, Shoshone and businesses across the area rejoiced at the news that came in over email from Caltrans late last Friday evening: State Route 127 to Baker has a reopening date: December 4. The date is still technically tentative, as weather could still postpone it. The opening is also a partial one –…
The New Yorker On Death Valley
The article titled “The Queen of the Desert” by Alex Ross, published on January 4, 2022, in The New Yorker, discusses Susan Sorrells and her transformative role in the small village of Shoshone, located in the Mojave Desert. Sorrells, the chief custodian of Shoshone, owns the village and surrounding land, dedicating her efforts to preserving…