Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
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WORLAND – It all started with a trip to Salt Lake City. Accompanying his mother to Utah for a doctor's visit, Jack Pharaoh of Greybull saw his first homeless people on the streets when he was 9. "There were so many people with just blankets or a coat and no food or place to live," remembered Jack. "I came home and told my parents I wanted to do something so people didn't have to be like that." Jack took his savings, $75 from his piggy bank, and went down to the local food bank with the intent o...
WORLAND – Designated the state fish in 1987, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, a native to Wyoming before settlement and once abundant, is scheduled to be reintroduced to the Absaroka, Beartooth and Big Horn Mountains, but ahead of the measure, Wyoming Game and Fish officials are taking public input from interested anglers and outdoors enthusiasts. Thursday, in Worland, a group of wildlife officials led by Cody Regional Fisheries Supervisor Sam Hochhalter met with a half dozen residents to t...
WORLAND – According to the Wyoming Department of Health, influenza continues to be widespread across the state, going into the third week of January with 1,452 cases reported this season. “Most people, when they fall ill, don’t go to the doctor and most test results to make it to us, so it’s really hard to get an accurate account, but it continues to grow,” said Wyoming Department of health Public Information Officer Kim Deti. Deti also related that flu-related likely deaths have been reported, although none have been children or babies. ...
WORLAND – On Tuesday, Washakie County Emergency Management Director Jeff Schweighart briefed the Washakie County Commission on the opportunity to trial test a new advance warning system for the county, to work alongside the current Rapid Notify system used by county dispatch. Covered by a grant from the state, the $4,400 subscription package would enable residents to be notified, via cell phone application, of weather, chemical, police, fire, Homeland Security and emergency Warning System emergencies, with a feature that can target residents i...
WORLAND – The Washakie County Commission facilitated a meeting on Tuesday with members currently covered under Joint Resolution 315, which splits one-cent sales tax funds, along with new parties interested in becoming sales tax recipients, in light of the state’s waning budget. Attendees included mayors, council members and senior centers staff from Worland and Ten Sleep, representatives from the Worland Community Center and the Washakie County Crisis and Prevention Center (all current recipients of sales tax funds), and interested members fro...
WORLAND – Washakie County commissioners met Tuesday for a full schedule of department reports, ahead of a special tax meeting in the evening. Of noted importance was a budget correction by Banner Health for the construction of the new Washakie Medical Center. As presented by Banner Health Washakie Medical Center CEO Jay Stallings, the August estimated balance for the project was $170,610, however an accounting error of $233,000 with contractor Layton resulted in a subtraction of $129, 349.45, for an actual balance of $41,260.55. A...
WORLAND – State Treasurer Mark Gordon (R-Kaycee) spent Friday on a Capital Tour of northern Wyoming, speaking with banking officials about changes to the state investment services, and used his time to highlight improvements with Wyoming's unclaimed property division. According to the office of the treasurer, unclaimed property is money that is left behind and turned over to the state to hold for the rightful owners. It includes but is not limited to utility deposits, unpaid wages, insurance p...
WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, to hear county agency reports and get an update from Washakie County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Jeff Schweighart on preparations for future ice jam flooding along the Big Horn River. After the successful removal of a sediment bar blocking the Big Horn River in Worland, the office of emergency management reported that further mitigation to reduce flooding will take a backseat until mid-2018, or when budgets allow. The sediment bar, removed by McClellan and M...
WORLAND – "I've been a Republican my entire life, and traditional Republicans, especially Wyoming Republicans, are where it's about right. It's all right there, the things you should believe in and fight for," said Buford resident Rod Miller during a Tuesday visit to Worland to announce his candidacy for Wyoming's at-large U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Representative Liz Cheney. "These Republicans [in Congress] now, I'm not sure what they are, but they're not traditional, and they're n...
WORLAND - Washakie County's Wyoming Public Lands Initiative (WPLI) working group met on Tuesday, and in a departure from the already established consensus format, reviewed a conservation-based proposal presented by Wilderness Society representative Paul Spitler, on behalf of the conservation-based members of the working group. The goal of the WPLI group is to reach a consensus as to the use of the WSAs in the county, through public input. The primary areas of concentration in Washakie County...
TEN SLEEP – On Monday, the Town of Ten Sleep introduced a new wastewater ordinance at the council’s monthly meeting, in an effort to accommodate for industrial business within town limits, specifically the Ten Sleep Brewing Company. Established just outside of Ten Sleep in 2013, the Ten Sleep Brewing Company, looking toward rapid expansion, is considering a move inside the town limits of Ten Sleep, which would require a change to current wastewater considerations for the town, while at the same time bring needed revenue. In November, rep...
TEN SLEEP – The Town of Ten Sleep held a work session ahead of their regular monthly meeting on Monday, to discuss a draft letter in an effort to accommodate industrial business within town limits, specifically the Ten Sleep Brewing Company. Established just outside of Ten Sleep in 2013, the Ten Sleep Brewing Company, looking toward rapid expansion, is considering a move inside the town limits of Ten Sleep, which would require a change to current wastewater considerations for the town, while at the same time bringing needed revenue. In N...
TEN SLEEP – The Town of Ten Sleep will introduce a new wastewater ordinance at the council’s monthly meeting on Monday night, in an effort to accommodate industrial business within town limits, specifically the Ten Sleep Brewing Company. “Our attorney is writing it up now,” said Mayor Jack Haggerty on Friday. “It will set rates for industrial-sized entities and hopefully better define the requirements of the lagoon, and cover requirements for new sewer taps for businesses and residents.” Established just outside of Ten Sleep in 2013, the T...
TEN SLEEP – "It's been hectic and we've had to reshuffle some things, but we are getting close," said Library director Karen Funk, as workers were busy preparing to build a back wall at the Ten Sleep Library on Thursday. While the library prepares to welcome a new addition and effectively separate the meeting area from the general library, Funk and library staff have been moving books and making room for new shelving. "We have moved the entire north wall [of books] to three storage units u...
Wyoming State Park would gain 52 acres from Game & Fish HYATTVILLE – A new bill presented to the Wyoming Legislature would effectively increase the size of the Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site, north of Hyattville, currently part of the state parks system. "Ultimately, the bill would expand the boundary of the park, to increase visitation and to add more campsites," explained Medicine Lodge Superintendent Brooks Jordan. Under the bill (Senate File 005), Medicine Lodge would gain 52 a...
WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners heard from Representative Mike Greear (Dist. 27) on Tuesday, to discuss the upcoming legislative session in February, and some legislation which may impact county-level development. “I was hoping it might be an easy budget session but we’ve got up to 400 bills [proposed] this session,” said Greear. Greear talked with the commission about the possibility of Wyoming creating a state energy authority to consolidate some agencies, and also discussed the distribution of funds due to major budget cutback...
WASHINTON, DC – On Dec. 20, Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) introduced a piece of legislation that would amend the Wyoming Wilderness Act of 1984, expanding the definition of authorized recreational uses in Wilderness Study Areas in Teton County, effectively circumventing some recommendations made by the county’s Wyoming Public Lands Initiative (WPLI) working group. Cheney’s proposed amendment, House Resolution 4697, states in part, “all recreational uses occurring within such Wilderness Study Areas on the date before the day of the enactme...
CHEYENNE- The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced Friday that all licenses have been filed and are in good standing for Santa Claus to enter the state with his eight reindeer, on Christmas Eve. “We make sure we always have a special permit ready and this year everything is in order and on file,” said Game and Fish Communications Director Renny MacKway. According to Wyoming Fish and Game Regulations, Chapter 10, “a permit from the Department is required prior to importation, possession, confinement, and/or transportation of any livin...
WORLAND – The Washakie County Commission received the county’s independent audit for 2017 on Tuesday, from the accounting firm of Carver, Florek and James of Rock Springs, with Myriah McCullough of that firm presenting the findings to the commission. Overall, said McCullough, the audit found the county in a satisfactory position with only a minor net loss from fiscal year 2016. According to the 42-page report, as of June 2017, the county has an overall net position of $16,127,067, including cash equivalents and machinery to total $16,583,859. T...
WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners awarded a contract to Technical Forestery Services of Casper on Tuesday for the county Firewise contract, as outlined by a grant obtained by the county earlier this year. A federal program to aid county fire wardens with wildland fire mitigation, the grant also provides educational resources for homeowners in other than urban areas, easily threatened by wildland fires. Technical Forestry (the vendor for the previous Firewise grant) has served Washakie County, by providing community education, fuels t...
EMIGRANT, MONT. – "You know, this used to be fun," observed Doug Peacock from his home overlooking the Yellowstone River in Montana. "We had lots of chuckles around the campfire, imagining just how bad it could get, and man, we are here. It's now. Whether it's shrinking Bears Ears [National Monument] or fracking all over the West, these people are going after everything life-based. It's all coming apart." For Peacock, 75, the trail to becoming an environmental movement pioneer and voice for t...
WORLAND – A Worland man was handed more than $200 in fines and fees on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to stealing a $15 pregnancy test. The case stems from March 18, when Kershawn James of Worland was charged with shoplifting a pregnancy test from Blair’s Market in Worland. Confronted with the store’s surveillance tape as evidence, James denied his role in the theft, and initially pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor. Subsequently, the case was held over for a six-man circuit court jury trial, scheduled for Tuesday. After a jury had been...
WORLAND - Washakie County's Wyoming Public Lands Initiative (WPLI) working group met on Wednesday and hosted representatives from Hot Springs and Big Horn counties to work further on recommendations due to the state next year. The WPLI is currently studying best use for Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) in the county, with recommendations to be submitted to the state next year. The goal of the WPLI group is to reach a consensus as to the use of the WSAs in the county, through public input. The...
WORLAND – The Washakie County Fair Board held their monthly meeting on Monday, and stressed the need to fill an empty board position and hire a bookkeeper to keep the board on track heading into the 2018 fair season. Currently advertising both positions, the board announced a special meeting for Dec. 27 to review applications for the bookkeeper position and announce a new hire. The job opening will be advertised until Dec. 22.; the open board position will be advertised until filled, at which time new officers will be announced and a new t...
THERMOPOLIS – As part of the annual Wyoming State Parks and Historic site bison sale, Hot Springs State Park and Bear River State Park near Evanston will be auctioning a combined 15 bison, with a deadline for bids for Jan. 3. "We currently have 16 in our herd, so this will bring us down to 11," said Hot Springs State Park Superintendent Kevin Skates. "We usually use the proceeds to feed and care for the rest of the herd [after auction]." This year, the two parks are auctioning four heifer c...