Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
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Four years ago in this space I asked residents to partake in the survey regarding the one-cent sales tax. There were under 400 responses for the survey. This year I appeal to potential voters to again partake in the survey. There are two important questions facing the county this year, whether to continue the one-cent general purpose tax and assist eight entities throughout the county; and whether to support a new quarter of a cent (one-fourth of one penny) to fund the county ambulance services. Four years ago 10 entities were on the survey... Full story
WORLAND - The Washakie County Homemakers announced their 2022 Unsung Hero last week, right before National Homemakers Week. Worland business owner and community volunteer Kathy Mercado is being honored as the Washakie County Homemakers 2022 Unsung Hero. She will receive a plaque and be honored at the group's fall meeting. All county Unsung Heroes around the state will be recognized at the state convention next month. In her nomination of Mercado, Homemaker member Linda Abell wrote, "A true...
The return of commercial bus service to Worland this week was a sign of what can happen when agencies and businesses work together for the betterment of a community. For two years Express Arrow bus service has been coming through Worland but not stopping. There were stops in Thermopolis, 30 miles south, and in Basin, 30 miles north, but no stop here in Worland. I’m not here to speculate on what did not happen the past two years but rather I want to focus on the what did happen this year. Washakie Development Association Executive Director LeAnn...
WORLAND — On Tuesday, the Washakie County Commissioners authorized Chairman Fred Frandson to sign a purchase agreement for property at 603 North Road 11 for an ambulance station. The county has been seeking a new location for a new ambulance station since contracting with Cody Regional Health last year. They acquired a parcel of land at the corner of Eighth and Robertson, but architect estimates to construct a new facility came in at $2.6 million, more than $1 million over the budget the county has from American Rescue Plan Act funding. F...
WORLAND — The City of Worland and the Town of Ten Sleep have both indicated they would like to continue to receive funds from the general purpose one-cent sales tax if voters approve the tax in November. The Northern Wyoming News has been profiling the eight entities that are seeking funding from the tax for the next four years. This if the final profile. A survey asking residents to rank the organizations will be available next month online and in the Northern Wyoming News. Rankings will help determine the percentages each entity receives. T...
WORLAND - The Crisis Prevention and Response Center (CPRC) receives just 2% of the general purpose one-cent sales tax funding collected in Washakie County. Executive Director Katrina Rice said they are seeking the 2% funding again if voters approve continuing the fifth-penny tax in November. In the past four years, Rice said the tax was utilized to pay off the loan that aided the costs of the facility's new addition. "Additionally, this funding has allowed the CPRC to pay for repairs that are...
The Worland and Ten Sleep senior centers each receive 5% of the current 1-cent general purpose tax in Washakie County. They are hoping to continue to receive distribution from the penny tax if it is approved by voters in November. TEN SLEEP SENIOR CENTER According to the Ten Sleep Senior Center Executive Director Randy Firnekas, the tax funds will be used for operations, maintenance and to secure matching funds for grants used to keep center programs stable. Firnekas said they have seen some rev...
WORLAND - The Worland Community Center Complex receives 25% of the general purpose one-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2018. WCCC Executive Director Steve Hunt in his letter to the Washakie County Commissioners notifying them of their intent to seek funding from the tax, the tax provides about 70% of their total revenue operating budget for one year. "Operating a former middle school as a community center is extremely expensive especially during and after the COVID-19 epidemic. Utilities...
WORLAND - Wyoming Boys School (WBS) newly-named superintendent Dale Weber discussed changes in the past three years through the COVID-19 pandemic and budget cuts as well as some upcoming changes to the juvenile facility. Weber said he was named the superintendent about a month ago, replacing Gary Gilmore who retired at the end of 2021. Weber, who had served as deputy superintendent since 2015, said he will look at filling that vacancy, but he has been getting comfortable in his new role and...
More than two years ago everything changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years ago we saw some businesses closed by the order of the governors, including here in Wyoming. We saw events cancelled or the number of spectators and participants limited. Then came the masks and even for the first part of last year everywhere you went a mask was either required (school events) or recommended. Wyoming got rid of the mask mandate earlier than most states. We didn’t have the huge lockdowns that other states put their citizens through. Businesses w... Full story
WORLAND — For the past six years the Washakie County 4-H Roadrunners Club has volunteered at the Fur Ball, the annual fundraiser for New Hope Humane Society. Former club leader Stephanie Voss said in 2015 she had been talking to event organizer Deb Coronado who was looking for volunteers. She said for about two years the club volunteered with the Boys Scouts to serve the food, bus tables and help with the auctions. She said her husband, Brian Voss, oversees the live auction and directs the club members. The Vosses will be assisting again t...
WORLAND — Red Cross of Wyoming assisted two adults and one child affected by a house fire on Holly Avenue in Worland on Friday, April 8. Red Cross assistance can provide care, comfort, mental health and health services, disaster supplies, lodging, and assistance for other immediate needs. Further assistance will be provided as needed. The Worland Fire Department was called to 300 Holly Avenue for a house fire at 5:37 p.m. on Friday. According to the WFD, “Upon arrival a garage and much of the home was fully involved. Crews made an agg...
WORLAND - The Washakie Development Association and Worland Youth Learning Center are hoping to be included in the general purpose one-cent sales tax for the next four years, if the tax is continued by voters. The two organizations would be new entities added to the distribution of the tax that comes before voters every four years. Other organizations on the tax and seeking to continue to be included in the distribution are the Worland and Ten Sleep senior centers, Crisis Prevention and Response...
Green takes the gold in anatomy WORLAND — Worland High School Science Olympiad member Tate Green took first place at the state tournament in anatomy and physiology. Coach Karen Grzybowski said Green’s category was a “challenging lab practical.” Green led a strong team with six groups medaling at the competition in Casper on Saturday. Grzybowski said, “This year’s Science Olympiad team had the best showing yet. Eight of our 11 members placed in the top three for their events and our team score was lower than it has been in the past. Just like g...
WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission discussed scheduling appeals hearings for two items for Veile Mortuary during their regular meeting April 11. Bill Hibbler, attorney for Clayton Draggoo of Veile Mortuary said they were appealing two separate matters, a building permit for a 10-foot expansion of the garage and a building permit for a crematory, both at 301 South Eighth. The board in June of last year did approve a variance to allow the expansion of the garage. Approving the variance did not include approving a bu...
WORLAND — About 25 people attended the Bighorn River Blueway Trail meeting in Worland at the Washakie County Library and one of the main concerns noted was safety, especially around diversion dams. Facilitated by Wyoming Outdoor Recreation (WOR), the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) was the first of seven outdoor recreation initiatives to be convened around the state by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails. These initiatives bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, c...
WORLAND — Residents and government agencies alike are adjusting to fuel prices that are nearing $4.50 per gallon for 87 octane unleaded fuel and over $5 for diesel in Washakie County. Most government officials have been able to weather the impact on the budget since the increase started past the midpoint of the fiscal year. Washakie County Clerk Mary Grace Strauch said, “We are monitoring each budget and if needed we will do a budget amendment to supplement the fuel budget line items.” Strauch said the Road and Bridge fuel line item for gasolin...
Worland City Council June events approved feature Jesus and aviation WORLAND — The Worland City Council approved two events for June during their city council meeting Tuesday. Jo Bowman told the council that the second annual March for Jesus will be on June 4. She said they have been in touch with more churches this year and are expecting to have more marchers. Last year they had about 25, she said. This year they are anticipating 50 to 100. “We would like it to look like something more than a mugging group,” Bowman joked. The march will go do...
WORLAND - Longtime crossing guard and school volunteer Jesse Charles was honored posthumously at a ceremony last Monday, March 28. The ceremony was at East Side Elementary School where Charles volunteered. East Side teacher Carla Bryant and East Side Parent Teacher Organization President Kacie Miller, who helped organize the event, presented the plaque to Jesse's wife Judi Charles. Bryant said, "For years and years, Judi and her husband Jesse devoted hours of their time as volunteers for East Si...
WORLAND - Washakie Medical Center announced the 2021 Employee of the Year right before a luncheon Friday morning. Getting surprised with the announcement was 5.5-year employee Angela Johnson. Johnson began work with Banner Washakie Medical Center as an EVS (environmental services) advocate and after a year she applied and moved up to an EVS lead. She said, "This is one of the best jobs I have ever had. My family has been a great support to me." Johnson said she was "quite surprised" by the... Full story
WORLAND — The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees approved a small increase to lunch prices for the 2022-23 school year at their regular board meeting Monday. Business Manager Charlie Cauffman said the food service program has been provided free of charge since March 13, 2020, through federal funding. “Unfortunately, the federal program under which we were able to do this is ending as of June 30, 2022,” Cauffman said. He noted that means that the district will be returning to National School Breakfast/Lunch Program on July...
WORLAND - Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day has been observed in Wyoming for the past 10 years and this year Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon joined Adjutant General Major General Greg Porter and Wyoming Veterans Commission Chairman Jake Jacobs thanked Worland area veterans for their service in a ceremony on Saturday. Each year the state selects two to three communities to hold state services and this year Worland was one of three stops the state delegation made on Saturday. Wyoming Veterans...
WORLAND - Worland High School senior Carley Yule won the Wyoming High School Journalist of the Year Award this year. As a state winner, Yule is eligible for the National High School Journalist of the Year award to be presented next month. Yule is an editor on the Worland High School yearbook, having designed the 2022 cover, assisted with designing layout of pages and is in charge of the academics and clubs sections. Yearbook advisor Sarah Staley said this is the first time to her knowledge that...
WORLAND — With grandparents who immigrated from the Ukraine, keeping many of the holiday Ukranian traditions has been a way of life for David Maslowski of Worland. This year as he and his family plan for the Easter traditions, the plight of the Ukranians is ever present on his mind. “We’ve been watching the news most every day on Fox,” David Maslowski said. “You feel terrible for the Ukranian people. They are really more closely with us Western folks, and I think that’s why [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is going in there, he doesn’t want t...
It was about dusk the other night. I was taking a walk around the property with the dogs, and the cats, before it got too dark to see anything. Across our lane is some private property and then BLM. We see people driving all the time over there so seeing lights at this time of night was not unusual. I figured it was someone who had been enjoying a day in the badlands. But my eyes stayed in that direction as I’m always curious which direction people turn and I like to watch the dogs’ reaction to make sure they don’t always run to the fence... Full story