Week of October 17, 2024
Pictures National Fire Prevention Week, Hunterfest and Indigenous Peoples Day, City Council Candidate profiles and the Harvest...
The investigation into an accidental fire at the Green Hills Golf Course is still underway to determine the exact cause, according to Worland Fire Chief Chris Kocher. Kocher said Worland Fire was dispatched at 5:41 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9 to a structure fire. They were able to contain the fire, at the golf course maintenance building to the front portion of the building. He said there was a little bit of smoke damage to the second set of rooms but no smoke or fire damage reached the back...
The Washakie County Courthouse lacks a handicap accessible door with a push button, prompting maintenance supervisor Breck Buer to consider installing a glass storefront door with ADA capabilities. During the last Commissioners meeting on Oct. 1, Washakie County Assessor Nancy Quinn brought to the Commissioners attention that the handicap accessible ADA door at the Courthouse did not have a button to open the door for people with a handicap, making it inaccessible. Because of this, County Maintenance Supervisor Breck Buer told commissioners...
Results are in for the spring 2024 WY-TOPP (Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress) standardized test, and Ten Sleep School has a lot to celebrate. WY-TOPP is an annual standardized test taken by students in every school district in Wyoming, used to gauge students’ growth and proficiency in the areas of math, English language arts (ELA) and science. Grades 3 through 10 are tested in math and ELA, and grades 4, 8 and 10 are additionally tested in science. Based on performance, scores are categorized either below proficient, proficient or...
Accolades were bestowed Tuesday at the Worland City Council upon Worland Police Sgt. Sean Duffy who retired from the force after 20 years and 2 weeks. Mayor Jim Gill said, "I'm extremely privileged and proud to recognize one of our officers. You've done a wonderful job for us over the many, many years and I can only say that your dad's (former mayor Dave Duffy) got to be looking down with a great deal of pride this evening." Chief Gabe Elliott said Duffy has been a pillar for the department and...
Results are in for the spring 2024 WY-TOPP (Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress) standardized test, and Ten Sleep School has a lot to celebrate. WY-TOPP is an annual standardized test taken by students in every school district in Wyoming, used to gauge students' growth and proficiency in the areas of math, English language arts (ELA) and science. Grades 3 through 10 are tested in math and ELA, and grades 4, 8 and 10 are additionally tested in science. Based on performance, scores are...
On National Mammography Day, this Friday, Oct. 18, another Making STRIDES against breast cancer will be offered to Washakie County and neighboring communities with an event in Pioneer Square in Worland. Organizer Cheri Bundren said it is an “invitation for everyone to participate in an effort to raise funds for research and patient services as we continue the fight to end breast cancer.” The event was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., but with inclement weather in the forecast they are pushing the start time to 1:30 p.m. and ending about 6...
How long have you lived in Worland? I moved here from Wheatland, Wyoming with my family in 1954, so I have lived here in Worland for 70 years. Why are you running for Worland City Council? It was brought to my attention that no one had signed up to be on the primary ballot, so I volunteered to do a write-in campaign and I received enough votes to be on the ballot for the general election. Do you feel you have the time it takes to serve on the Worland City Council? After 40+ years of farming and...
How long have you lived in Worland? 3 wonderful years. Why are you running for Worland City Council? Worland is great place to live, and I believe we're all in this together. We are a community that values freedom first and foremost. We may have some differences, but I believe we have much more in common. What makes this community strong is we the people, from the downtown businesses to our neighborhoods we are all the heart and soul of Worland. We need downtown revitalization; we also need a...
How long have you lived in Worland? I have lived in Worland for 35 years. I moved to Worland in 1989 to begin work at the Wyoming Boys' School. After 13 years, I transferred to the Department of Corrections for a few years, and then to the Department of Health at the Wyoming Retirement Center as the social services director. I retired after 25 years of service. I now substitute teach K-12 for Washakie County School District No. 1. Why are you running for Worland City Council? I am running for...
How long have you lived in Worland? 60 years Why are you running for Worland City Council? I'm seeking my second term, I believe there's more I can contribute to the citizens of Worland and help get some more positive results for the city. Do you feel you have the time it takes to serve on the Worland City Council? I have only missed two meetings in the last four years, so yes I have the time and I always make the time. With rising costs and ever tightening budgets, how would you address...
The Washakie County Fair Board, without an entertainment contractor, will be attending the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs next month in Rapid City, South Dakota, in hopes of securing entertainment for the 2025 county fair. The board set the 2025 fair week dates as July 19 to 26 with the horse show starting things on Saturday, July 19 and the livestock sale finishing the week on July 26. Beth Shaffer, acting as chair at Monday night’s meeting, reminded the board that Daniel Kosel, who has been the musical entertainment contractor was no...
Growing giant pumpkins takes plenty of patience and care. For Worland's Ananias Williams, he carefully tended to his giant pumpkin all summer long for the ultimate goal of watching it get smashed. The 9-year-old stumbled into growing pumpkins last year when his pumpkin grew to 150 pounds. His family then met resident giant pumpkin growing master Jay Richard, and next thing you know, Williams bought pumpkin seeds from Richard. "Last year, we bought a plant from one of the local nurseries," said...
Wyoming Sugar Company President and CEO Mike Greear anticipates finishing the harvest near the end of October, which is later than usual, due to high temperatures and a mechanical breakdown at the factory. Greear said, "We're used to hot temperatures in late September, early October, but they've been much higher this year ... it just means our growers don't get to harvest the full day until the temps cool down." The ideal harvesting weather is no higher than 70 degrees during the day, according...
In April of last year, the independent living coordinator at the Wyoming Boys' School Robin McIntosh took it upon himself to start cleaning out the facility's greenhouse, which through discontinued use had become more of a storage shed; after a year and a half, and through his efforts and those of science teacher Rebecca George it has become the center of a thriving garden program supported by all the schools' students and staff. McIntosh said that some teachers at the Boys' School had...
For more than five years, Mustang Mountain Vineyard and Winery, 24 Mustang Mountain Drive in Lovell, has been growing and improving. Nicole Laffin and her husband Dan Laffin moved to Lovell in 2017 to help Nicole's parents Nancey and Larry Blair on the Vineyard, recounted Nicole. In an email interview, Nicole explained that before the Blairs moved to Lovell, they visited a multitude of places due to Larry's job. When they were in Washington state, Nancey went to many vineyards and wineries and...
Chronicling the stories of Washakie County and...
SHERIDAN - Sheridan County School District 1 Business Manager Jeremy Smith's entire life has been geared towards "service above self," so it made sense to him to become a volunteer firefighter. Smith has been the business manager for SCSD1 for 22 years while also serving 20 years as a volunteer firefighter for the Dayton Fire and Rescue team, and has been one of many fighting the Elk Fire while holding down a fulltime job. Smith got back from hunting mid-morning Sept. 29 and was paged to go to...
Multi-million dollar ranches in the line of advancing fire. Crews feel confident in their ability to defend structures. GROS VENTRE - As the Pack Trail Fire moved down Burnt Ridge, torching pine trees in its path, Chris Fizer pointed to 10 feet of bare ground firefighters had cleared between a fence and the sagebrush hillside north of the Elk Track Ranch. If the fire got close enough, firefighters planned to climb the hill and set the sagebrush and grasses ablaze with drip torches to rob the...
After an excellent showing at the 3A West conference duals, things are rounding into form for the Worland Lady Warriors volleyball team. "They did awesome and I'm really proud of them. I think we shocked a couple of people and it was a great weekend," said WHS volleyball coach Joanna Peterson. Before playing in the 3A West conference duals, the Lady Warriors hosted the 2A Hot Springs County Lady Bobcats on Oct. 10. In a precursor to the weekend, the Lady Warriors took down the Lady Bobcats 3-0...
One of my all time favorite memes is the one that states, “My brain has too many tabs open; 4 of them are frozen and I have no idea where the music is coming from.” For this week’s column I am going to try and go through some of those tabs open in my brain and jot down some random thoughts so I can close them and open some more. 1. Who said NASCAR’s Championship Chase was boring? Last Sunday’s race as Kyle Larson dominated the final stage, the drama unfolding was who was going to advance to the playoffs and the Round of Eight. That...
Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years Doyle Hunt; parents Frank and Dorothie Buckle; brothers John and Robert Buckle; granddaughters Emma Hunt and Caitlin Hunt. She is survived by her children Gary (Shelly) Hunt, Kathy Hunt, David (Colleen) Hunt, Douglas Hunt, Andrea (Dean) Rothschadl, Tracy (Gary) Pedersen; grandchildren Jeremiah Hunt, Madison Hunt-Gaur, Andrew Hunt, Alyssa Spielman, Sarah Hunt, Lauren Paschall, Anna Steiger, Caleb, Lindsey, Jacob and Julia Pedersen;...
