Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
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Visitor input during the March 11 Washakie County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees meeting was dominated by an issue of communication between school officials and community members. First to speak was CJ Grimes, who said, "I met with [Principal Robert] Griffin last week to discuss a transportation issue, and I just got this kind of impression that there's maybe some communication problems, maybe he's spread a little thin because there's a lot going on... is there a span and control issue...
At the close of the third week of the 2024 Wyoming Legislative Budget Session, District 20 Senator Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) stated that the process of reaching concurrency on the budget was behind schedule. He said in an interview Sunday, “The appropriations committee has until Monday to finish the budget, and we’ll either approve it or disapprove it on the floor. If we can’t do that, then a new committee is appointed and we basically have until the end of the week to get this worked out; if we don’t get it done, there are three more days av...
Four Worland High School students had the opportunity to attend the CADCA Youth Leadership Program in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. The opportunity was extended by the Washakie Prevention Committee, who invited members of the W Club to submit an application as well as an essay describing why they wanted to go. Worland High School juniors Kaydence Mosley, Shaelynn Whitlock, Isabel Accurso and Jace Erickson were selected, and all of their travel expenses were paid for by the Drug Free...
State Senator Ed Cooper of Ten Sleep (R-SD20) provided an update on the second week of the 2024 Wyoming Legislation Budget Session, and although he largely approved of the 67 amendments to the budget as it stands after completing the second round of readings, he did voice frustrations. He said, “We worked late every night that we worked on the budget in the Senate, usually finishing at 11 or 11:30, and the House got done after us. It was easily 15- to16-hour days every day. It’s exhausting, but we did some good work. There were some good, sol...
As the second week of the Wyoming Legislature’s 2024 Budget Session nears an end, District 20 Senator Ed Cooper of Ten Sleep had much to discuss about the first week. Cooper broke down some of his positives and negatives of the first five days of the session by saying, “On the Senate side, we got through introduction of all of our bills, and like always we killed a few bad ones and we killed a few good ones. The introductory process requires a two-thirds majority with only three minutes to describe your bill. It doesn’t give a real good pictu...
Thermopolis Middle School Principal Darren Luebbe and High School Principal Catelyn Deromedi gave a joint report on how bullying is handled within their schools to the Hot Springs County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees at the Feb. 15 meeting. Luebbe said, “We have a bullying reporting system that’s on our district website that allows students to report bullying and sends that report to us, and it’s available to parents as well.” He stated that kids in each grade are taught how to use the reporting system at the beginning of each sc...
Locally, the legacy of Worland Speech and Debate is well-known. Having just won a championship in 3A last year, the program is renowned for its seemingly perpetual standing as a top speech and debate program in the state thanks to excellent coaching through the years from the likes of Kevin Tonkovich, Cornell Loschen and Rick Dorn. Worland has also garnered a reputation for producing competitors who pursue speech and debate after they graduate high school. Coach Rick Dorn said that currently,...
The Wyoming Legislature 2024 Budget Session will begin next Monday, Feb. 12, at which time all government representatives in the state will convene at the Capitol in Cheyenne to begin their bi-annual work on Wyoming’s budget and other issues. District 20 Senator Ed Cooper of Ten Sleep previewed important topics that will appear in session. Cooper began by introducing key differences between a general session and budget session. A budget session lasts 20 days over a period of four weeks – half the length of a general session. Cooper said, “At a...
After working for the past decade as CEO at Washakie Medical Center, Jay Stallings has retired from his role at the hospital. Stallings officially stepped down from his role at the beginning of 2024, but stayed on through January in an advisory role to aid in the transition of the new CEO, Lisa Van Brunt. He said of Van Brunt, "She is really a very hard worker. As we identified the traits of the new CEO going forward, there's no question that she meets those expectations." Stallings added, "But...
Worland Senior Center Executive Director Wendy Fredricks detailed what home services means to her organization and what they can look like in Worland soon in a recent interview. She said, “What we find is that putting someone in an institution is going to be way more expensive than keeping them at home, especially if all they need is a shower, some meals, some rides, a button.” “For many of our home clients, there’s just something they have trouble with now that’s interfering with their day. Let’s say you host friends for a card game once a...
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...