Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
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A Fremont County resident previously identified as one of Wyoming’s laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases has died, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). The newly confirmed death involves an older hospitalized woman who had existing conditions that put her at higher risk of serious illness related to the virus. There have now been 8 reported deaths, 559 lab-confirmed cases and 182 probable cases reported so far from across Wyoming. WDH recommendations to help slow the spread of illness include: · Fo...
The following is a press release received from the Wyoming Department of Health on Monday, May 18, in regards to the two new deaths on Wyoming's COVID-19 death total. Deaths of two Wyoming residents that occurred in March and April have been added to Wyoming’s total count of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Both deaths occurred in Colorado and were reported very recently to Wyoming’s Vital Statistics Services Office, which is part of WDH. Neither had been included previously in...
Wyoming’s Coronavirus-Related Death Count Addition Announced Another Fremont County resident previously identified as a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in Wyoming has died, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) reported on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The newly confirmed death involves a hospitalized adult man who had an existing health condition that put him at higher risk of serious illness related to the virus. There have now been 11 reported deaths, 596 lab-confirmed cases and 191 probable cases reported so far f...
WORLAND - Worland's grocery store, like many stores across the state and country have faced many challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, but Blair's Super Market store director Brandon Yule said his staff and the majority of their customers have handled everything well. Wyoming was one of the last states to record a COVID-19 case and once that first case was reported things began happening fast and furiously at Blair's. Yule said they had a busier than normal day on Thursday, March 12, the day th...
WORLAND — The Washakie County commissioners met Friday afternoon, May 1, with department heads via teleconference and at the Washakie County Fairgrounds to discuss reducing the Level 3 health status that was in place currently on county facilities. The county commissioners, along with a consensus from departments heads, voted to reduce the county down to a modified Level 2 status, opening all county facilities Monday, May 4. This will open all county facilities to the public with r...
CHEYENNE – The 65th Wyoming Legislature will convene for a two-day special legislative session beginning on May 15 at 8 a.m. The purpose of the special session is to address immediate needs of the state due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Legislature will also direct funds appropriated in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This will be the Wyoming Legislature's first special session since 2004. Proposed legislation may be viewed at: w...
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that updated public health orders effective May 15 will ease restrictions on several business categories and permit restaurants to resume indoor table service statewide. The Governor has also allocated $17 million in federal funding to expand COVID-19 testing, improve contact tracing and add to the state’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). “We have been working diligently to modify our public health orders to continue a safe and sensible reawakening of Wyoming’s economy...
WORLAND – Superintendent David Nicholas and the Worland school board announced that Washakie County School District (WCSD) No. 1 intends to finish the school year, unless directed otherwise from the state, on their current adaptive learning plan. The current plan has been approved through the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to last through the end of the year. “There is no plan to come back this spring, brick and mortar, for all of our kids,” Nicholas said. However, Nicholas said that adde...
WORLAND — Washakie County will follow the state guidelines regarding easing restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Washakie County Health Officer Dr. Ed Zimmerman, during a question and answer session on Facebook, said he had received several requests for exemptions from businesses including some nail and hair salons. He said Tuesday that he has denied all the requests at this time awaiting new orders from the state. He said, “We’re expecting some relaxation on the service industry.” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer...
WORLAND – Much remains unclear about the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), with interrelated questions still unanswered about its means of transmission and degree of transmissibility, its actual prevalence in the community and its lethality. One thing that is known is that health care providers must do their utmost to protect not only their patients but themselves and their staff from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Because almost everything about COVID-19 is uncertain, medical clinics in the Big Horn Basin have taken serious m...
Wyoming State Parks will partially reopen to camping for Wyoming residents beginning May 15. State Parks has remained open to day-use recreation but closed to camping due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The busy camping season unofficially starts Memorial Day weekend; however, we are excited to announce that we have been working with the Governor’s office and the State Health Officer to get Wyoming residents camping in just over two weeks,” said Darin Westby, Director of Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources. The decision to reopen out-o...
CHEYENNE – As Wyomingites prepare to slowly start venturing out more in public again, wearing protective masks will be a big part of ensuring that COVID-19 doesn’t spread any further. Dr. Alexia Harrist, Wyoming’s state health officer, said at a news conference Tuesday that although people don’t need to wear face coverings when they’re alone or with household members, they should wear face coverings in public places, such as a grocery store, where social distancing isn’t always possible. A face covering includes any cloth covering that covers...
CASPER – The sickest COVID-19 patients in Natrona County will soon be treated with the plasma of recovered patients, Casper-Natrona County Health Department spokesperson Hailey Bloom said in a Wednesday press conference. “Nationally, there has been a lot of discussion around using the plasma from those that are COVID positive who have now recovered to treat those who are very ill,” Bloom said. The plasma from recovered patients carries antibodies that fight the virus, she explained. Community members who have recovered from the illness donat...
RIVERTON — Part of Riverton's transient population has been quarantined on the Wind River Indian Reservation due to coronavirus concerns. "Our contact tracing is driving us to test people who have been exposed. Our transient population was definitely targeted over the last couple days," Fremont County Commissioner and Incident Command spokesman Mike Jones told The Ranger. With wide availability and use of coronavirus testing, Fremont County's number of cases had jumped to 98 through Monday, up from 66 on Friday. The count one week earlier w...
SUNDANCE — The first antibody tests have begun to appear on the market, both to purchase online and through a few providers in this region. But are they worth taking, this early in the game? The answer is no, according to both state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist and Dr. Heith Waddell of Crook County Medical Services District. At this time, the FDA has not yet approved any antibody test for use. Some are better than others, said Waddell. Some, said Harrist at Governor Mark Gordon’s press conference last week, are “downright fraud...
CASPER — American Sign Language interpreter Gail Schenfisch stands behind officials in the live-streamed Natrona County news conferences about the COVID-19 pandemic and interprets for the local deaf community. She’s relayed crucial information like school and business closures, precautions, the prevalence of COVID-19 in the county and state, symptoms, and how to access testing and medical care. The Natrona County Emergency Operations Center’s news conferences began daily last month and are now held most Wednesdays. Schenfisch, who teach...
Wyoming's coronavirus count to 415; state preps for easing of restrictions Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming grew by 11 to total 415 on Thursday as state residents began preparing for the easing of restrictions imposed on some businesses in March to prevent the spread of the illness. New statewide health orders took effect Friday allowing gyms and businesses providing personal services, such as hair salons, tattoo parlors and cosmetologists, to reopen. The state’s ban on g...
CHEYENNE – The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is now accepting UI applications from those individuals who do not qualify for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits, but do qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. This program, which is part of the CARES Act, provides up to 39 weeks of Unemployment Insurance benefits for those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, those who have exhausted their regular and extended benefits and others. "The Unemployment Insurance team and Tata C...
WORLAND — Three Washakie County businesses had plans approved by Wyoming Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist to open immediately. According to Washakie County Homeland Security/Emergency Management Director Kami Neighbors, Harrist approved exemptions to the state’s closure of bars and restaurants for Goose’s Liquor in Worland and Ten Sleep Brewing Company and Ten Sleep Saloon and Restaurant. Neighbors said Harrist, in approving the plans, reminded the businesses that the approval of the plans can be revoked if the metrics in Washakie Count...
This story may be updated throughout the day. Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Wyoming’s confirmed coronavirus case count increased by 15 over the weekend to total 435 by Monday morning, largely due to increases in Fremont County’s case count. The Wyoming Health Department reported 10 new coronavirus cases in Fremont County on Saturday and Sunday, bringing the county’s total to 122. Fremont County health officials have said that increased testing and contact tracing would lead to a significant increase in the number of cases in th...
WORLAND — Washakie County had its variance for restaurants and bars approved Monday by the Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist and County Health Officer. Dr. Ed Zimmerman. The variance allows bars and restaurants to provide dine-in seating under strict guidelines. The six-page health order No. 1 includes nearly two pages of guidelines that must be adhered to with restaurants, bars, coffee houses, clubs required to fill out a “Washakie County Intent to Operate Under Variance No. 1” form. Once the form is filled out and signed it wi...
CHEYENNE – As the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to keep their health at the forefront of their minds, it’s also caused fewer people to go to doctor’s offices and hospitals to seek care for other ailments. This is causing hospitals and clinics nationwide to suffer negative financial consequences from the pandemic that’s also causing businesses to close and people to lose jobs. Physicians statewide have experienced financial strain that they foresee continuing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the Wyoming Medical...
CASPER — As loosened restrictions on businesses take effect across Wyoming, health officials say contact tracing will continue to be an important tool to keep infections from spreading, with one county saying it is ramping up efforts to track cases. When someone tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracers as soon as possible interview that person to decipher who they may have recently been in contact with, and then take steps to have them self-isolate or quarantine to limit the spread of the illness, health officials said. Now that more b...
SHERIDAN — Sex trafficking may not be the first danger that comes to mind when considering the impact of COVID-19 on individual communities, but the two are inextricably linked, according to Alexandra Stevenson, co-founder of the human trafficking prevention nonprofit Uprising. Uprising launched a new campaign for the month of May to encourage open conversation between parents and children about online safety as children spend significantly more time on devices at home. Stress, emotional challenges and financial insecurity are vulnerabilities p...
CASPER — The Wyoming Legislature still doesn’t have a date for a special session planned for later this spring to respond to COVID-19 and its economic fallout. Lawmakers still don’t have a true agreement with Gov. Mark Gordon on how to spend more than a billion dollars in emergency funding before it expires on Dec. 30. And they haven’t figured out a means of expanding access to health care for thousands of uninsured Wyomingites. But as of Friday, they do have a starting point. As the week ended, members of legislative leadership put their s...