Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
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WORLAND — With a design firm hired last month, work has begun seeking input on the plans for a new Ten Sleep School. Ten Sleep Administrative Assistant Neysha Lyman said the school board hired Arete Design Group out of Sheridan after a special meeting Oct. 25. She said the company has teamed up with Fielding International, “an award-winning international education design firm,” according to their website. “We design school facilities for today and tomorrow with one primary goal in mind — to improve learning.” In a letter to parents and the com...
2 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, an armistice was reached between the Allied nations and Germany effectively ending World War I, albeit the official end through the Treaty of Versailles would not come until June 28, 1919. But Nov. 11 came to be a time to honor our veteran servicemen and women. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, an act on May 13, 1938, “made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be ded...
WORLAND - The Worland High School Drama Department premieres its fall play this Thursday, Nov. 11, "Arsenic and Old Lace." Curtain opens at 7 p.m. There is an admission fee. An encore performance will be Friday night, also at 7 p.m. at the Little Theatre in the high school. Drama director Rick Dorn said this is the first year in his 16-year tenure that they have performed "Arsenic and Old Lace," noting it is a "classic, fun comedy that the kids are really enjoying doing." He said it is set in...
WORLAND — The Big Horn Basin Redistricting Working Group will be holding a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Worland Community Center Complex. County clerks from Washakie, Park, Big Horn and Hot Springs counties have been working since October on redistricting plans for the House and Senate district in the Big Horn Basin region. Washakie County Clerk Mary Grace Strauch said they have also included Fremont County in the discussions as one proposal does impact the Fremont County districts. She said as they were working on t...
WORLAND — The Worland Flying Club requested access through the only drive-thru gate at the Worland Municipal Airport. During the Worland City Council meeting Tuesday night, Bill Penning, club president, said the system would be better served if people were issued codes rather than cards. Cards cost about $70 and while a few of the 25 members have been granted cards, he would like everyone to have the opportunity. Airport Manager Lynn Murdoch said the system that is about eight years old cannot have any additional cards entered. She said they t...
As I write this Tuesday night there is much uncertainty regarding the two bills still being worked by the Wyoming Legislature during its special session to address COVID-19 vaccine mandates. There were 20 bills filed. Of those, the House and the Senate only introduced four and one of those was not even related to COVID-19 or the mandates. Now a week later and more than $100,000 spent (estimated cost for each of the session is $25,000) it is uncertain at this writing on whether any legislation will get passed. Or, if legislation is passed will...
WORLAND - The Halloween decorations that Valerie Vail puts up every year at the corner of Sesame Street and South Flat Road has been a favorite of neighbors and passersby for years. This year is no exception. Several years ago Valerie's grandchild found an inflatable, giant spider to add to her decorations and the beady eyes have been watching drivers on South Flat Road ever since as it is the corner piece to the yard décor. Valerie Vail said one of her favorite Halloween decorations was a...
A musical trip down Memory Lane Have you ever heard a song on the radio, your iPod, Spotify, Amazon Music or other streaming service and your mind is flooded with memories? If you love listening to music as I do you have to answer that question with a resounding yes. Some songs I like because of the lyrics, other because of the music, others because of the memories that are associated with the songs. This summer, when I got Amazon Prime it was not the video streaming service that comes with...
If you didn't go to mixed martial arts fighter Court McGee's presentation last Wednesday night at the Worland Middle School Auditorium you missed out. It doesn't matter if you are battling addiction, if you know someone who is battling addiction, McGee's story, as well as anyone's story who is in long-term recovery is inspiring. Yes, McGee, who says he has an inherent addictive personality, struggled in his recovery at the start, stumbling several times. But to date he is more than 5,660 days so...
CHEYENNE — In a probate case that led to a change in Wyoming statute, a Worland man got a small win from the Wyoming Supreme Court in a ruling issued Aug. 2. In February 2020, Deidra Walker Rowe, 33, was shot and killed by her husband Darren Rowe, 35, at their home in Casper. Several hours later he shot and killed himself. The state law at the time of deaths of the Rowes, stated that “no person who feloniously takes or causes or procures another to take the life of another shall inherit from or take by devise or legacy from the deceased per...
WORLAND - On Wednesday, Oct. 13, Court McGee, professional mixed martial arts fighter, celebrated 5,660 days of recovery, more than 15 years. McGee shared his story of addiction and struggles with recovery with Worland Middle School students in the morning and then to a good-sized community crowd that evening at Worland Middle School. He outlined how he got hooked on drugs, his struggles with recovery until he began his start into long-term recovery. After many failed attempts he said he was...
CHEYENNE – A special session to address vaccine mandates appears to now be a reality with a three-day session set for next week. Last Tuesday, Oct. 12, Wyoming Senate President Dan Dockstader and Speaker of the House Eric Barlow said, “Today we have fulfilled our duty under the rules of the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives by sending a poll to all legislators to determine whether the Wyoming Legislature will call itself into special session to address COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Members had until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14 to vot...
WORLAND — Despite losing about 300 acres of sugarbeets in the spring, Wyoming Sugar’s 2021 crop should push 32 tons per acre and finish above 19% in sugar content. Wyoming Sugar President and CEO Mike Greear said the company contracted for 12,200 acres. “We had quite a few acres abandoned with hail damage,” he said. They had 11,934 acres going to harvest this year. “It was a difficult spring for everybody,” he added. He said they initially estimated a “modest 30-ton crop” and then the beets...
Technology makes our lives easier, or does it. There are things that make our lives easier if they work. There are a lot of technological marvels out there but yet we still have a ways to go. I’m not talking about the meme that says by now we all thought we would be flying around in a George Jetson car. I’m talking about basic necessities, OK maybe necessity is not the right word. But let’s look at some facts. We all know that with the right appliances you can pretty much program most things with your smartphone, including your refri...
WORLAND - Veteran and Eastern Shoshone tribal member Willie LeClair provided the keynote address for the third straight year at the Washakie Museum & Cultural Center's Indigenous People's Day. With the rains that came, the outdoor event was moved indoors. LeClair was able to work the change into his presentation. He said when the federal government continued to downsize the number of acres for the Wind River Reservation the federal government did not feel that the tribes could control millions...
WORLAND — The Washakie County Fair Board selected dates for the 2022 fair and are looking at possible new grandstand entertainment events. At Monday’s regular meeting, the board opted to keep the dates similar to this year, July 25-July 30 with the horse show on July 23. The board had considered moving it closer the state fair but did receive several comments from people who enjoyed the fair being on a different week than Big Horn and Hot Springs County so people could support those fairs as well. Wyoming State Fair next year is Aug. 16-...
WORLAND — The Wyoming Department of Health is tracking breakthrough cases through their COVID-19 dashboard on its website. According to the Wyoming DOH, “Breakthrough infections are infections that occur in people who are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people are those who completed the COVID-19 vaccine series 14 or more days before their infection. Janssen requires one dose of vaccine for the series while Moderna and Pfizer/Comirnaty require two doses to be complete. The data in the breakthrough case dashboard only includes cases from May...
WORLAND — A Montana state pumpkin record and a Wyoming state watermelon record were broken at the Wyoming State Champion Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off Saturday in Worland. Dawson Utterback of Worland broke the Wyoming state record for watermelon with his 40-pound watermelon on Saturday. There were 12 growers and 14 giant pumpkins weighed Saturday, four of the 14 pumpkins were damaged and the weight did not count in the competition. This year’s competition was won by Jason McGimpsey of Montana. His pumpkin weighed 1,200 pounds. Jay Richard of Jay...
WORLAND — With new information, the Worland City Council declined to take up consideration of regulating home-based bakeries. During the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission meeting Sept. 27, the board discussed whether to regulate home-based bakeries and other home-based food businesses the same as other home occupancy businesses. They tabled any decision and instead sought guidance from the city council. At Tuesday’s regular council meeting, City Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz reported that the city was notified late that afternoon tha...
This Sunday marks the start of the observance of National Newspaper Week, where I traditionally like to try and educate the public about something regarding the role of the newspaper but this year I would like to talk about “off the record.” The phrase “off the record” is bantered about quite a lot anymore, usually in jest but occasionally people say will say it when covering a meeting or in the midst of an interview. There are a few things to know about “off the record.” The Poynter Report senior media writer Tom Jones said it best in def...
WORLAND — In one year, the number of calls to the regional poison control center doubled from the five previous years on complications related to ivermectin. According to a health advisory on Aug. 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) that human exposures and adverse effects associated with ivermectin reported to poison control centers have increased in 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic baseline. These reports include increased use of veterinary p...
TEN SLEEP — A father and son from Sheridan County are facing multiple charges after an altercation with a citizen and a deputy last week. Cody James Veal (born in 1979) of Story and Niles Wesley Veal (born in 1951) of Sheridan appeared before Fifth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Ed Luhm on Friday afternoon in Worland, each facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges from an incident that began the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 14 and ended in the early morning hours of Sept. 15. The incident began with a call for breach of peace at L...
WORLAND — The nearly 10% drop in population in Washakie County and the 13% drop within the City of Worland has strong financial and legislative implications. According to the Census Bureau, the 2020 census showed Washakie County declining in population by 848 residents, or 9.9%, dropping from 8,533 to 7,685. The majority of the loss, per the Census Bureau was a drop of 714 residents in Worland (13%), dropping from 5,487 in 2010 to 4,773 in 2020. Ten Sleep showed a decline of 14 residents (5.4%) for a population of 246. Worland C...
WORLAND — Shortages in manufacturing has created issues with two bids for the City of Worland. On Sept. 7 the council approved a bid for towable air compressor to be used for blowing out sprinkler systems among other projects. The city received two bids and awarded the bid to Titan Machinery out of Gillettte. At Tuesday night’s council meeting, City Attorney Kent Richins said due to shortages the company was unable to fulfill the bid. He said Public Works Superintendent Nick Kruger approached the second bidder Tractor & Equipment out of Bil...
TEN SLEEP — The Ten Sleep school board interviewed two potential candidates to fill the vacancy left last month by Megan Truman. After interviews the board unanimously approved a motion to appoint Bill Murphy to the vacant seat. Superintendent Jimmy Phelps, in an interview Tuesday, said Murphy was sworn in following the appointment and took part in the rest of the meeting. In his letter of interest to the board, Murphy wrote, “Growing up in and graduating from Ten Sleep gave me a great sense of pride and ownership in this community. In the sub...