Highway Country ( KIXW / KIXF / KHWZ ) will host one of the largest country music talent searches, the 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown at the The Dance Club at the Riverside Resort on June 21 at 7 p.m. The show is free to the public.

Acts will compete for prizes including a weekend trip to Laughlin and an opportunity to perform at the state competition in Prescott, Ariz., at the Yavapai County Fair on Sept. 22. State winners vie for $1,000 cash prize and the chance to advance to a regional competition in the fall. The five regional winners are awarded an all expense paid trip to the National Final where they will compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize and the big title.

Four hundred radio stations participate in the Showdown across the nation. Highway Country, which has two full size radio towers that broadcast simultaneously across 40,000 square miles of the Southern California Mojave Desert, draws a large pool of talent. This year's contestants consist of eight women and three men.

Harrah's will host Paul Revere and the Raiders in the Fiesta Showroom on July 14 and 15. Still getting their kicks after more than five decades, the group continues to bring their '60s energy and spirit to audiences across the country. The band had 23 consecutive hit singles such hits as "Indian Reservation," "Kicks," "Louie, Louie," and "Hungry." Their music covered the issues of the '60s generation and became anthems for the times. Paul Revere and The Raiders blend music with sidesplitting humor and hilarious repartee. Tickets for their 8 and 10 p.m. shows start at $22.95, call 702-298-8510.

Paul Revere organized the Raiders in 1958 in Idaho. A few of the highlights of Paul Revere's outstanding career include: being the first rock group to be signed with Columbia Records; in 1965-1966, being featured 520 times on the ABC TV's five-day-a-week network show "Where the Action Is" produced by Dick Clark; in 1968 and 1969, Revere co-hosting a weekly ABC series, "Happening;" and Revere co-hosting a five-day-a-week summer show, "It's Happening."

In the summer of 1971, the Raiders' recording of "Indian Reservation" sold nearly four million singles, making it the biggest selling record for Columbia Records in 10 years.

Earlier this month, the Riverside Lanes opened its bowling lanes 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Laughlin will host the 17th annual Rockets Over the River fireworks display along the entire Laughlin River Walk on July 4. Radio stations will simulcast the show's music.

The 87th annual Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention will be held at the River Palms, June 13-16.

At the Ramada Express, the new Minato Sushi Bar at the Eclipse Bar is open and offers a full menu with freshly made sushi. Hours are 4 p.m. - 10 p.m., Sun. - Thurs.; 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Fri.; and noon - 11 p.m. on Sat.

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Also new at the Ramada Express is the Super Bar with a huge circular panel suspended from the casino ceiling and rich copper banding. Striking 15-foot pillars flooded with vibrant colors from purples, reds and greens to a rich golden sunset enhance the bar.

In addition, the Ramada Express now has three hospitality suites available on the second floor of the Promenade Tower: the Classic; the Safari Suite; and the Sports Suite.

Los Lobos will be performing at the Convention Center at the Avi on June 30 at 8 p.m.

The Colorado River is a boater's paradise offering boating, fishing, wave running and water skiing. Boat enthusiasts can now enjoy the Laughlin Bay Marina, which is the first private marina in Nevada. The marina offers preferred vessel service and launch reservations, 110 boat slips in the lagoon, dry storage and maintenance facilities for an additional 120 boats and watercraft, a three-lane launch ramp, a lighted boardwalk, ship store, full service restaurant and sandy beach. Many of Laughlin's resorts make persoanl watercraft rentals available.

The 25th anniversary of the national auto cross-country race will make a stop at the Colorado Belle on July 12. The "Great American Race" features vintage cars on display.

The Mojave National Preserve is a huge swatch of desert land west of Laughlin. It is part of the National Park Service and offers an off-the-beaten-path desert experience. Among the points of interest are: the Kelso Sand Dunes, Kelso Depot, Hole-in-the-Wall, Mitchell Caverns, Mojave Road, Teutonia Peak and Mid-Hills. Camping, hiking, and four-wheeling exploring are available.

In nearby Kingman, Ariz., the Bonelli House at 430 Spring Street has been resorted and furnished with period furniture. The home built in 1915 offers a walk into history with tours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays-Mondays.

Located 14 miles east of Kingman, Ariz., the Hualapai Mountains offer a forested environment similar to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. There are campsites, RV parking, group picnic areas and hiking trails. For information, call 928-757-3859.

Oatman, Ariz., is a thriving mining community and takes visitors back to the days of the Old West. If you like horseback riding, it's a wonderful way to experience the rugged beauty of the Black Mountains. The rides cover trails once used by the U.S. Calvary to connect Kingman to Ft. Mohave. The Oatman Stables offers one- and two-hour rides, breakfast rides, sunset steak rides and cattle drives. It is open from mid-October through mid-May; call 928-768-3257.

The Gold Road Mine offers a different walking tour of a gold mine located 2.5 miles north of Oatman, Ariz. The 45-minute tour is guided and includes a history of the mine as well as mining in general. Visitors can actually see gold as it appears in the rock within the mine. There's a small restaurant and gift shop at the mine. For tour information, call 928-768-1600.

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