Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 205
Going about my normal routine last Tuesday I noticed a vague irritation in my throat. I didn’t give it much thought as we put the paper out and began to work on the following week’s edition. When I got home though I followed standard “not feeling quite right” procedure and took some vitamin C and ate some chicken soup just in case. Later, while laying on the couch watching TV it suddenly occurred to me that I was very cold. Though the house was a normal temperature I just couldn’t shake the...
I remember the first time I tried a martini. I had been watching M*A*S*H,1 and the lead characters had been on and on about the still they operated in their tent and how great martinis are. So martinis—and how great and fashionable they must be—played wildly in my pre-teen mind as the family went out to dinner at the Tower of Americas in downtown San Antonio. When it came time to order dinner I asked for one. When that request was declined, I explained that I would be willing to try a bit of... Full story
The public is invited to an American Legion Veterans Day dinner to be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at the Legion post home at 403 Bridge Ave. Dinner will consist of roast beef, baked potatoes with fixings, green beans, salad, rolls and cake. The cost is $15 for individuals and $25 per couple. There will be a social hour beforehand from 5 to 6 p.m. with a cash bar. During the dinner, Gary Maki do a reading on the significance of the POW/MIA table and Jim Shepherd will give the Commander’s s... Full story
I didn’t set out to be a “crazy cat lady.” I have acquired three cats though and apparently three is the threshold for being dubbed such. For years I was cat-free–but in the summer of 2001 I felt the need to go to the library. There, in the entry alcove, was a lady I knew. I said “hi” and then noticed the box of kittens she was watching over. “You want one?” she asked. “They’re free.” Against my better judgment, I picked a few up and eventually settled on a little cutie with a checkerboard m... Full story
Fifty years ago a spacecraft was launched at the National Broadcasting Company. It was not a literal vessel but an idealized one sprung from the brain of a WWII pilot who, along with other distinctions, won the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was a craft that came to be backed and promoted by comic genius Lucille Ball and her Desilu Studios. The forward-looking Ms. Ball even managed to get the rerun rights to the show (along with “I Love Lucy”) from studio executives before the concept of reruns... Full story
The west is a dry place. I know this is a shocking revelation to those who live here and I apologize for intruding on your blissful unawareness. Coming from the coastal south, I was used to thunderstorms though. Sorry, that should be Thunderstorms with a capital “T.” Down there, rainfall would last literally weeks—with the occasional hurricane to break the monotony. Somehow the west still gets hurricane-force winds but a storm might only last 15 minutes … and you can dance between drops if you... Full story
Around 15 officers from across the nation, though mostly from Wyoming and Colorado, gathered at the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) Monday and Tuesday to become certified to train fellow officers on proper Taser use. Tasers are devices which fire small dart-like electrodes which stay connected to the main unit by thin wires. When triggered the electrodes fire and attach to a suspect and deliver an electric current to disrupt voluntary muscle control causing neuromuscular incapacitation. Th... Full story
Facebook is a nice little online tool with both apparent upsides and not-so-visible downsides. A reason to join The only reason I ever got on Facebook was to find a friend I hadn’t seen in 20 years. I checked the phonebook. I perused old addresses and phone numbers I had from years before. I called other friends. I Googled the guy. Finally I took the plunge and got on Facebook... …and found him immediately. We made plans to meet up with some other friends since I was planning to be in Hou...
When Donald J. Trump becomes president he has promised to build a wall along the Mexican/American border. As recently as his win in the South Carolina primary, Trump reaffirmed that “… we’ll do the wall, don’t worry. We’re going to do the wall.” I, for one, applaud this for several reasons. I would like to see America build more monuments. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a wonder. Mount Rushmore is amazing. Crazy Horse is a labor of love, the Empire State Building is an architectur... Full story
I was walking around town the other night (because I am trying to get some exercise) and had gotten to the other side of town from my house (it’s not a big town) when I heard a repetitive and plaintive mewling. Being a cat guy (or a guy who will investigate any animal in distress), I walked over behind the abandoned building where the noise seemed to be coming from. When I got to the back door to the building I heard the meow a couple more times and thought to myself that the cat had gotten t... Full story
There are many things I have learned in my years in the west. As a “round peg in a square state” I have learned (and written) about hunting, fishing, hunting and fishing guides, gates and why you don’t want to sit “shotgun,” rowing a raft, snow and its consequences and much more. But never before have I written about cowboys. Before I get started, I want to warn you that I am, at some point in this column, going to make a joke so bad I pretty much guarantee you will groan audibly. Many will... Full story
I had dreamed for years about going on a cruise. Names like Titanic, Lusitania and Poseidon (maybe there’s a weird theme there) have always conjured romantic images of rolling about on a boundless ocean. Finally I got my chance. My best friend Phil, who lives in Houston, and I planned to take a sea voyage. While scanning for prices we found that while kids are in school is the time with the lowest rates—and January worked for me. During the booking process, I talked with Mom about cruising sin... Full story
Local sportsmen hope to bring a chapter of Ducks Unlimited back to Saratoga. The Ducks Unlimited website says the organization is the world’s largest and most effective wetlands and waterfowl conservation. The group utilizes a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities to accomplish their conservation goals. “There used to be a chapter in Saratoga about 10 to 12 years ago,” according to Joe Parsons, the new chapter’s chairma... Full story
There it sits. Holed up in a corner of your house specially designed to accommodate it. It works tirelessly—24 hours a day, seven days a week—with little or no complaint (mine groans occasionally). It captivates your attention for large chunks of time. This boxy device bears the weight of your kitschy sayings, destination memories and kid’s artworks. Of course I am talking about the relatively unheralded refrigerator. It used to be an ice-box in simpler times, but then (as evidence autom... Full story
Guy Erickson was voted the 1A Southwest Conference Player of the Year recently by all the 1A coaches in attendance at the All-State meeting. Erickson averaged 16.7 points on 39 percent shooting and maintained a 77 percent free-throw average to go with an average 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals. Encampment Tigers Head Coach Clint Bromley said of Erickson, "He is a kid that has devoted a lot of time to the sport of basketball and his success in academics, and he deserves every accolade that comes his... Full story
In an effort to improve river safety in the Valley, Rob Streeter with Carbon County Search and Rescue has organized a whitewater safety training to be held in the Saratoga area May 6, 7 and 8. The three-day course, taught by Bill Dvorak of Dvorak Expeditions out of Nathrop, Colo., will include a day and a half of classroom and dry land instruction which will be held at the Saratoga Fire Department followed by another day and a half of river training at Veterans Island in Saratoga. According to... Full story
Below is my 100th column for the Saratoga Sun. Before I get to that there are some things I would like to say first. Or you could just skip this and go to the column. When I was initially anticipating putting this milestone (maybe just for me) in, I had no idea the changes that would be coming to the Sun. Making me the general manager? What, they want me to grow up or something? I have had to learn about web pages, online subscriptions, uploading legals to both national and state websites, posta... Full story
In a closely-contested long weekend of state tournament basketball, the Encampment Tigers lost a double overtime game by 2 points, won an overtime game by 1 point and won another by 3 to take first place in the state's 1A consolation bracket. In Thursday's opener against the Kaycee Buckaroos, Tigers Head Coach Clint Bromley said the Tigers played tight all game and didn't execute the offense the way they should have. Although the Tigers had opportunities to win the game in regulation and in the... Full story
The Encampment Tigers headed to Lander Thursday to face Meeteetse as their first opponent in regional play. According to Head Coach Clint Bromley his team began the contest slow due to tournament jitters but came back strong in the second half to finish with a 73-55 win. Of the win, coach Bromley said, "We played good team basketball vs Meeteetse with four guys in double figures and two scoring 9 each. When the scoring is distributed this evenly we usually have good results." The four double-fig... Full story
The Encampment Lady Tigers went to Lander for regional play Thursday and started off hot against the Dubois Lady Rams winning 57-41. Noelle Peterson dropped in 13 points on 5 of 13 shooting and collected 7 boards while Cassidy Little added 9 points on 4 of 9 shooting. Head coach Amy Clay said, "We played very well against Dubois. The girls were determined and wanted to win the first game at regionals. Our bench gave us some good minutes and made few mistakes." Coach Clay went on to add that it... Full story