The News Editorial: More cookies for dogs, candidates and voters

So time to dole out some snickerdoodle cookies and a crumb from events over the past week.

The first cookie goes to everyone who posted their dog photos to our Facebook page on Monday, International Dog Day.

I had one reader and Facebook follower text me that we know what people care about … their dogs. As a dog lover I completely understand that. It was so fun to check out everyone’s dogs and the expressions on some of the dogs were priceless.

Thank you to everyone who participated, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the interaction.

And speaking of dogs, I will take time for two public service announcements. I had a discussion with a dog owner recently about the need for a dog park and I mentioned my dogs do not play well with others but as she noted maybe that’s because there is no opportunity to socialize. This is true. They get along great with each other but rarely have any interaction with other dogs.

I know a dog park has been discussed for several years and it would be great if that project could move forward. Perhaps it is similar to the pickleball courts and someone or some group just needs to spearhead the project to help raise funds and help the city with the project.

The city has several pressing matters and a dog park is surely not at the top so if we want it we need to help make it happen,

Maybe, it does not even need to be in the city, perhaps the county has some land that could be turned into a dog park, or maybe a private individual has property that they would be willing to have used for a dog park.

We do not necessarily need for the city to do it.

If there is a group working on this, contact us and we can help spread the word and perhaps get some additional help on the project.

As long as we are talking about dogs I would be remiss if I did not ask for all dog owners to be responsible and pick up after your dog if you are walking on public sidewalks or in public areas. We recently were greeted with a pile of dog poo near the front door of the office.

I don’t like picking up poo anymore than the next guy but I know as a dog owner, it is my responsibility to do so.

Some more snickerdoodle cookies go to the newest council candidates. Six candidates accepted or have indicated they will accept write-in nominations. This means these people are willing to serve our city if elected in November and most of all it gives voters in their respective wards a choice and that is always a good thing.

Cookies go to those in the special districts who have also filed to run for their respective district seats. We thank you for your service.

Cookies go to all those who came out to vote in the Aug. 20 election. You exercised your right guaranteed in the Constitution. You let your voice be heard at the polls.

Your candidate may not have won but you were part of the process and that is important. Every vote matters. And, due to the diligence of our Wyoming Secretary of State office and the county clerks across the state, testing and retesting the tabulating machines, we know every vote counted.

Gray said in a press release, “As the polls have now closed, I want to thank county election officials, election judges, and poll workers for their efforts in making this election a success.”

Gray added, “Participating in the electoral process is a crucial part of our republic.”

Sadly, this is where the crumbs come in for those who could but chose not to participate in the process on Election Day.

According to WyoFile reporter Madelyn Beck, “There were 122,693 ballots cast state-wide, according to the unofficial counts. That’s only 60% of the voters who showed up in 2022 and around 18,000 fewer voters than those who participated in 2020 or 2018.”

This year we had important elections in narrowing the race for mayor, deciding on legislative races and county commission races. These are important races for local and state governance. These are races that could impact your way of life.

Washakie County only had 2,305 votes cast Tuesday, 2,127 Republican, 127 Democratic and 51 non-partisan. In 2022 there were 3,088 votes cast in the primary election, 2,401 in the 2020 primary. This year’s turnout was higher than in 2018, when only 2,210 votes were cast.

Some may not have voted because they were not registered Republican or Democrat and if you did not live in the city limits there was nothing to actually vote on.

If you chose not to vote Tuesday I encourage you to register and vote on Nov. 5. You can register early up until Oct. 21 or on the day of the election. You may register and vote absentee from Oct. 22-Nov. 4.

The 15th Amendment states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

The 19th Amendment states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

Any citizen of the United States 18 years of age by Election Day may register to vote. You must be a resident of Wyoming to vote in Wyoming, not be currently adjudicated mentally incompetent; not been convicted of a felony, and have not had voting rights restored. You must have a valid ID to register.

It’s your right, please exercise it Nov. 5.