Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 239
On Jan. 16, Worland High School students met in the Middle School Auditorium for an assembly with guest speaker Chad Hymas, one of the top speakers in the nation. Hymas is a member of the Speakers Roundtable, a group of the top 20 speakers in the world. He traveled 300,000 miles and spoke at 220 events last year, in front of audiences ranging from top businesses to youth events. You may wonder: “What is he doing in Worland?” Longtime Worland resident Dr. Carl Cottrell’s daughter Mackenzie is ma...
As of this month, Bryony Volin has stepped down from her role on the Washakie Medical Center board of directors. Volin served on the board for three years, drawing on her experience as a nurse to aid the board in making decisions in the best interest of the hospital and the community. At the time of writing, there are four board positions open in Washakie County — Washakie Medical Center, Fair Board, Predatory Animal Control Board and the Solid Waste District #1 Board. The boards in Washakie County offer individuals an opportunity to make the c...
Worland High School’s speech and debate team has had a strong showing so far in the new year, and they’re ready for a weekend off to host the Worlando Beach Tournament this weekend. They couldn’t attend some of their meets due to weather, but the ones they have made it to have shown results. The team attended a meet in Thermopolis earlier this month, earning fourth place overall in the big schools category, and Star Valley’s meet where the team pulled out first place overall. Coach Rick Dorn said, “We have a big group of novices this year, so...
As of January 1, Bart Kroger retired as the wildlife biologist for the Worland office of Wyoming Game and Fish. As a wildlife biologist, many know Kroger for his work with the public and his activism in youth hunting programs. When you didn't see Kroger, he was working hard either in his office or in the field, making observations and collecting data to assist in important conservation decisions. Kroger's career spanned 35 years, and he considers himself lucky that 20 of those were spent...
Superintendent Annie Griffin shared some exciting news about the new school build progress during the Jan. 8 meeting of the Washakie County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees. Griffin said, “The gym is almost to its full height, the big beam above the music room is installed and the roof is going on. The first window was put into the fourth grade classroom. It looks sharp and has an emergency exit built in as an added safety feature.” She added that ductwork, plumbing and electrical work were being carried out throughout the building as...
Two minor leaks in the City of Worland’s water pipeline are being addressed this winter. City of Worland Director of Public Works and Parks Nick Kruger detailed plans to repair the section of pipeline that went into service in 1983. Kruger said that both leaks are located on a water transmission line that connects water wells to the city near Hyattville. They were both discovered during the summer, one by a rancher and one by an oil field worker, who noticed green patches of vegetation in areas that would otherwise be dry. “Due to where the...
For your tree to be recycled into mulch this year in the 29th annual Washakie County Conservation District Christmas tree recycling event, you’ll need to have it out no later than 8 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 6. Worland residents who live within the city limits need only to leave their trees – undecorated and unbagged – in the alley behind their house, near the dumpster. If you live outside of city limits, or an alley isn’t available to you, you can call 307-347-2456 ext. 121 to arrange a pickup. Ten Sleep residents who would like to dispose...
Bob Aguilar of Thermopolis was present for public comment at the Dec. 19 meeting of the Hot Springs County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting. Initially, Aguilar wanted to present about “academia statistics,” but board policy prevents members of the public from speaking on topics that are not agenda items. Aguilar pivoted to raise complaints about keeping the crosswalk outside the high school near Taco Johns staffed with crossing guards. The crosswalk is understaffed, and board Chairman Sherman Skelton told him that this is mostly...
Edna Scott celebrated her 108th birthday on Nov. 24 marking two milestones: the obvious one of achieving the age of 108, and celebrating her first birthday in Worland. Previously, Edna lived in Powell until 2000, then moved to an apartment in Laurel, Montana, where she lived until she took a fall. Afterwards, Edna moved in with her great-niece Fawnette Greff in Bridger, Montana, in 2022. Fawnette finally relocated the two of them to Worland this August to be closer to Fawnette's niece. Fawnette...
An anonymous bomb threat was sent to school districts across the state of Wyoming at approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13. According to an article by The Salt Lake Tribune, schools across Idaho and Utah were affected as well. The threat, making the claim that an explosive device had been planted on school grounds, was e-mailed to over 100 school administrators across the state according to Washakie County Sheriff Austin Brookwell. Brookwell confirmed that the threat had been received by administrators in Worland, Ten Sleep, Basin and Gre...
With Janet Collen retiring at the end of the month, the Washakie County School District No. 2 Board approved the hire of Anne Lyman to fill the position effective at the beginning of the spring semester. Collen’s retirement party was held at Ten Sleep School’s cafeteria on Dec. 13. Board Elections The Dec. 11 meeting of the Washakie County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees began with the election of board officers. A motion was approved to allow all current officers to maintain their current positions, resulting in this outcome: Erin Blu...
Between the Wyoming Legislature’s 2023 General Session and the 2024 Budget Session, State Senator Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) has been hard at work with his committees establishing priority issues to bring to the floor when the Budget Session starts on Feb. 11. Cooper said, “One thing that’s going to be a challenge to us on all of these bills is that the upcoming session is a budget session, so anything that isn’t budget related must win a two-thirds majority vote to be considered on the floor. We’ll bring all these bills to present but it’s like...
Washakie Medical Center Board Treasurer Ryan Baumeister began the Nov. 27 meeting of the Washakie Medical Center Board of Directors by explaining his absence at the previous month’s meeting. He was attending a public officer training session to meet the requirements to continue in the capacity of treasurer. While attending, Baumeister learned about a risk that currently applies to the Worland hospital. He said, “I was informed that there exists a Wyoming statute that states public funds may not be held at a credit union.” After learning this,...
Although unable to reproduce last years’ success, the Worland High School Drama team had a good showing at the Wyoming State Thespian Festival last weekend in Casper, placing fourth overall in the 3A division. The team’s arena play and devised play both earned third place. Worland Drama coach Rick Dorn said of the competition, “State was a good experience for us. We were a younger team, and a lot of novices did really well. At the end of the day, we didn’t quite get what we were hoping to get, but Green River and Torrington were really on thei...
When Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19, the nation mourned the passing of the former first lady. The wife of President Jimmy Carter, who served one term as president from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn was known for being a proudly non-traditional first lady; she launched humanitarian initiatives, sat in on cabinet meetings, and was referred to by her husband as an "equal partner." For one Worland resident, the news of Rosalynn's passing was an opportunity to reminisce about a special time in...
Worland High School’s Speech and Debate team has competed in two meets already this year, and according to Coach Rick Dorn they have shown promise at both. Dorn is joined again this season by Assistant Coach Emily Myers. He said, “In the early season, we’re not too worried about results. We want kids to get familiar with their material; finding new pieces that work, start learning them, cutting them as needed, all that stuff. Later in the season is when it counts.” Despite his words, his team has gone ahead and gotten results already, too. Th...
Hot Springs County School District No. 1 Business Manager Jessica Benefiel detailed her plan to change the funding source for the construction of the district’s teacherage project during the board meeting Nov. 14. Benefiel stated that Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) money is currently funding the project’s $1.2 million cost, but due to conflicting information she is not sure about using it for this purpose anymore. Benefiel said that she was previously advised by two Wyoming Department of Education officers that The...
As winter quickly approaches, now is a good time to remind residents about snow removal procedures in the area. City of Worland Public Works Superintendent Nick Kruger said, "Our criteria is usually three inches... there's some variability in there but usually at about 3 or 4 inches we'll start [snow removal]." He continued, "We do the main routes first, the highways coming through town. The secondaries are where we start tying into roads like West River Road and South Flat, secondary highways....
Ten Sleep School Principal Robert Griffin shared Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress test results from the 2022-2023 spring semester during the Washakie County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov. 13. All students in grade levels three through 10 take this summative assessment each year in English language arts (ELA) and math. Students in grades four, eight and 10 are tested in science. Results included: •73% of Ten Sleep students tested as proficient or advanced in ELA, compared to 74% last year. •65% scored proficient...
Veterans Day is on Saturday, Nov. 11 this year, and veterans will be honored all around the Big Horn Basin. American Legion The American Legion Post 44 will be hosting a breakfast buffet followed by a flag disposal ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11. Veterans and their families are invited to 129 South Seventh Street in Worland for breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. A flag disposal ceremony will take place at 1 p.m., where American flags that are fit to retire will be burned. This will be open to the public, and people are invited to bring their flags...
The Worland High School Drama team will be performing two one-act plays in the Worland High School Little Theatre this week that they will be taking to the State Thespian Festival at the end of November. The drama team, directed by Rick Dorn and assistant director Phillip Nelson, will be performing "What they Saw," an original devised play written by the team on Nov. 9 and 10 at 7 p.m., followed by "Swagger," an arena play by Eric Coble. Tickets will be available at the door. "What they Saw"...
Although uplifting messages were shared, with the subject matter of mental health and suicide in Wyoming, the atmosphere at Governor Mark Gordon’s Mental Health Town Hall at the Wyoming Boys’ School on Oct. 25 was a somber one. In the wake of the news of House Bill 65 replacing the permanent funding plan for the 988 Wyoming Suicide Prevention Hotline with a biennial funding system, the future of mental health activism in Wyoming has become uncertain. To be transparent and combat this uncertainty, Governor Gordon held a mental health Town Hal...
The Oct. 24 meeting of the Washakie Medical Center Board of Directors began with the board receiving thanks from the Washakie Hospital Foundation. Representatives of the foundation Keith Van Brunt and Mary Jo Hake came to the meeting to express thanks to hospital employees who participated in an optional payroll deduction campaign to raise donation funds for the organization. Van Brunt said, “Our initial goal was for employees to have 5 percent participation and raise about $2,000. But we have such an amazing community that we had almost 29% pa...
So far, I’ve tackled subjects of horror that hinge on either the paranormal or extraterrestrial to deliver the fear factor. These work in the moment, but I find that as an adult I don’t fixate on the scary bad guys like I used to as a kid; I wouldn’t lose sleep for days if I watched “Jeepers Creepers” today. But, what if the object of fear is a cave? Caves are already intrinsically scary to me. They are dark, claustrophobic, largely unexplored and unpredictable. Before I had ever seen “The Descent,” the furthest I had walked into a cave was th...
Brothers Carter Arnold, 16, and Bridger Arnold, 13 were awarded their Eagle Scout badges from their Scout Master, Dr. Jim Nelson, D.D.S., at a ceremony on Oct. 8 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Worland. The boys both climbed through six Scout ranks before Eagle Scout and acquired at minimum 14 required silver badges and seven gold elective badges. On reaching this goal at such a young age, Bridger said, “There’s a certain number of kids like me who are determined to get it done fast, but I don’t really know how many....