Week of June 27, 2024
Week of June 27, 2024
Wyoming’s unofficial motto “water’s for fighting, whiskey’s for drinking” was on full display as people from across the Platte Valley attended a public hearing held by the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office on June 4. The hearing was in regards to State Engineer Docket No. 2023-6-2024, over the HF Sinclair Water Exchange. HF Sinclair purchased the Encampment River Ranch in January 2023 to supplement the refinery’s water supply during dry months, when the refinery’s water rights are...
Saratoga residents are one step closer to being able to own poultry within town limits following the June 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Ordinance No. 870, previously preferred to as the "Chicken Ordinance" was passed unanimously on first reading at the second June meeting of the governing body. A proposed draft of the ordinance was presented to the Saratoga Town Council in March, discussed by the Saratoga Planning Commission in April and the subject of a public hearing at the May 14...
The Saratoga Recreation Department faced multiple resignations at the June 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Councilwoman Kathy Beck resigned from being town council liaison to the Saratoga Recreation Department Board. She read a letter to the community members, talking about her history with the board and her passion for recreation. In her letter, Beck listed health and wellness, physical activity, community engagement, economic impact and quality of life as reasons why recreation is important. “Unfortunately I cannot be an...
At June 14’s Encampment Town Council meeting, the council discussed changes in water and sewer rates, a land dispute, a donation to the 4th of July Firework Display, and a request for use of town land with the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities. Encampment sewer rates have increased from $23 a month to $26. According to Town Clerk Doreen Harvey, this was done due to the additional expenses and man labor caused by the upgraded lagoon system which is more resource intensive and requires more maintenance. The water rate has remained at $46 a...
The Riverside Town Council met June 13 to discuss a plethora of subjects. The agenda included approving liquor licenses, issues with sewer, changing a street name in remembrance, and some discussion on a possible rate change. Liquor licenses applications for the Bear Trap and the Mangy Moose were submitted for renewal which were passed by the council. Mayor Leroy Stephenson reported that, while personnel were in the sewer lift, a battery was blown. Mayor Stephenson presented the idea that a street name was changed in remembrance of long time...
The Independence Day weekend and Saratoga Days are just around the corner, bringing with it headlining act Lita Ford. With yet another big name in music coming to perform for free in Saratoga, the Saratoga Police Department is working to prepare for the event. “Last year, the Saratoga Days Committee did an exceptional job of planning,” said Chief Mike Morris. “It was very well run. We had very few issues last year.” Few issues, however, doesn’t mean there weren’t any issues....
Flush valley residents are urged to buy a breakfast or bake sale item Saturday, June 29, so less fortunate folks may enjoy a free meal once a month. A fundraiser bake sale and homemade breakfast, sponsored by the “Gather at the Table” committee, will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in the Saratoga Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Bridge & Third streets. In addition to all the delicious bake sale items, folks may purchase a homemade breakfast consisting of biscuits and gravy or a breakfast burrito, to be eaten...
The Wyoming Arts Council announces that a new call for entry for public art is now open. The University of Wyoming is constructing a new building that will house dining facilities, offices, and student residential rooms. Through the State of Wyoming’s Art in Public Buildings program, artwork will be commissioned for the interior of the facility. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is open to artists with a deadline of July 12, 2024. This is a national RFQ open to artists residing in the United States. Wyoming artists will be given...
As the summer has returned to Saratoga, so too has the frustrating bites of mosquitoes and the familiar hum of the Town of Saratoga’s mosquito fogger. By now, all neighborhoods in town have likely seen the white single-cab truck with the red fogger in its bed driving through their area. According to Director of Public Works Emery Penner, residents should expect to see fogging on Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings and Friday evenings. That schedule, he added, is dependent on the weather....
At the June 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, the governing body received a total of nine resolutions from the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) following their 2024 conference, including one focused on how public notices are published under law. WAM is a non-profit organization representing various local governments from across the state of Wyoming. The association holds conferences to discuss and inform on municipal leadership. The resolutions from the conference not are not actually law, but instead suggestions for bills...
The Saratoga Cutthroats took a split against the Wheatland Lobos in a doubleheader at Woods Field on Friday, June 21. Both teams battled back and forth as Wheatland won Game One and Saratoga took Game Two. In the first game, the Lobos made a comeback from behind to beat Saratoga 12-9. The Cutthroats had a tough battle in Game Two but were able to pull off the win and beat Wheatland 6-5. Game 1 In the first game, going into the top of the 2nd inning, Saratoga had a 3-1 lead. However, Wheatland...
Utah State University Professor Mike Glauser recently traveled through Saratoga as a part of his seven week journey to raise money for student scholarships. The goal of the fundraiser, called “Pedaling to End Poverty,” is to dramatically reduce poverty around the globe. Glauser is joined by his wife, several colleagues and a documentary crew to film the experience. Glauser and his team are following the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, a 4,228 mile route that runs from coast to coast. The trial...
The Platte Valley Trout played a shutout game with an amazing performance by pitcher Trayton Johnston on Friday, June 21. Johnston pitched 13 strikeouts, allowed only two hits, and walked three batters as Trout won the third annual Carbon County Classic against the Rawlins Allstars 5-0 After the game, Johnston said he was thrilled about his performance and was excited to get this win for Platte Valley. “It was pretty amazing. This was my first game,” Johnston said. “Our team did well...
*Editor’s Note: The Saratoga Sun is running the tournament results again as we printed inaccurate results in our June 20 edition. We apologize for the error and congratulate ALL the winners on their success!* Ages 5-7 Boys: 1st - Elijah Harris 2nd - Booth Parsons 3rd - Decker Drake Girls: 1st - Finnley Werth 2nd - Maddie Wright 3rd - Dylan Merrill Ages 8-9 Boys: 1st - Liam Johnson 2nd - Bryce Anderson 3rd - Jeremiah Johnson Girls: 1st - Raya Stockwell 2nd - Gracie Penner 3rd - Myranda Lehr & Isla Christen Ages 10-11 Boys: 1st - Lucas...
One of the recent resolutions from the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) would give “local governments the choice of how and where to publish the required memorialization and notice under Wyoming law.” I don’t think this implementation is a good idea, for several reasons. Firstly, this phrasing gives no minimum requirement for where memorialization and notice should be published. If the goal is to allow greater reach of notice by allowing local governments to post notice online...
Cowboy Bill Wadsworth was an extraordinary man. He was a pillar of the community in the Valley and it is pretty rare to come across anyone who lives here who hasn’t at least interacted with him once. I really started getting to know him during my time working at the Bear Trap. He would always come down for a good soup night, get himself a bowl or two, and a quart of it to go. Every time I saw him, he had a smile on his face. I always loved it when he came in. He had a special way of making you feel like the most important person in the...
Saratoga’s downtown can be a beautiful location as locals and visitors alike shop and eat among historic buildings under the backdrop of gorgeous mountain vistas. We say “can be” as there are times when littering detracts from that beauty. A prime example is the morning of June 21. We at the Saratoga Sun noticed a few beer cans thrown into the sewer drain and a lovely floral arrangement in front of Bridge Street Bargains destroyed. That morning, we grabbed a trash bag, dust pan and push broom and not only cleaned up this mess but walked...
Speaking of God always brings us into the realm of mystery. As mentioned in part I, one meaning of mystery (musth, rion), is something that is beyond the comprehension of man. And God is certainly beyond our understanding. He is timeless and eternal. We are so bound up in time, that to even imagine a timeless being stretches our imaginations to the breaking point. In looking at the other attributes of God, everything we can say about God is so far beyond those same attributes of man. God exists. Man exists. God lives, man lives, God loves,...
One of the more popular verses about blessings in the New Testament is John 10:10. We notice Christ is speaking, “The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But, I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” This statement is a wonderful promise of confidence as it generally describes how the devil is evil and is trying to destroy us, and that God is always good and desires for us to be victorious representatives of His glorious kingdom. You would think that everyone on the planet would want to...
For 135 years, the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church has stood the test of time becoming the oldest church in the Upper North Platte River Valley. On Sunday, June 23, St. Barnabas celebrated its 135th anniversary. After Sunday service, members of the church met at the parish hall and learned about its history from local historian Dick Perue. People saw old pictures and learned about the names of the people who helped found the church in 1889. Members of the church and the community visited the...
The Kaake Walk Dog Park is where their four-legged companions can spend time together. Kaake Walk Dog Park was first founded by Ruth and Leon Hetherington and opened in 2002. Since then, the Platte Valley Community has volunteered to help clean up the park or do maintenance and repairs. The Hetherington’s named the park after their close friends Bill and Syril Kaake who were also dog lovers. Kaake Walk Dog Park is now looking for donations to help keep the park operating. Georgia Zimermman,...
Roxie Verplancke, 72, longtime Saratoga and Rock Springs resident, passed away on June 16th, 2024.Roxie was born on November 25, 1951 to Charles and Angie Price in Deadwood, SD.Roxie spent her childhood in Wyoming, Colorado, and the Black Hills. She attended Platte Valley High School. In 1969 Roxie met the love of her life and on February 21, 1970 she wed Robert Verplancke in Saratoga.In 1975 the Verplanckes moved from Hanna to Saratoga where they lived until 1998. Roxie worked for a time at...
