Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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On August 14, Cassie and Tommy Orduno were awarded Business of the Year by the Carbon County Board of Realtors. The Ordunos own and operate several businesses in Saratoga including Bella’s Bistro, opened in 2011; Saratoga Sandwich Company, opened in 2020; Sunny Cup, opened in 2022; and The Lucky Pearl, opened in 2023. Across all four businesses, the couple employ a total of 28 locals while also raising their two young children. “It was an honor for me and my wife to win this award,” Tommy said....
Commitment to education in the classroom was the biggest factor for Saratoga Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Heather Strannigan’s recognition as this year’s Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Teacher of the Year. Strannigan graduated from Saratoga Middle High in 2014 and has taught at Saratoga Elementary School for seven years. “When I was in high school, I had an opportunity to be a student aide in a kindergarten class here at Saratoga Elementary School,” Strannigan said. “It gav...
The new school year is now here and I would like to take this time to reach out to both students and parents about the importance of making a new friend. When I first moved to Wyoming, I was scared to make new changes in my life. I wanted to know if people would be kind to me or not. Then I discovered how kind and friendly the people in the Platte Valley are. Every morning when I go to work, some stranger would say good morning to me. Whenever I go shopping some people would say hello to me and...
A whole lotta bull was on display at the 24th Annual Saratoga Bullfest as thirty of the best riders competed on August 24 to be this year’s winner. Each bull rider gave it their all and then some, but it would be Riverton’s Marty Custer who would walk away with the coveted Bullfest Spurs. “I have been here many years and never had a good shot at it,” Custer said. “I was going hard all summer and it feels good to finally win at Bullfest.” Custer said his work to prepare for bull riding is a...
On August 14, Shelby McGuire was recognized by her peers as she was awarded Realtor of the Year by the Carbon County Board of Realtors. The Realtor award honors one member each year who has contributed the most to the advancement of the real estate profession in Wyoming and its communities; to recognize that Realtor for efforts and work expended in the interest of the Association; to demonstrate to the public the place of the Realtor in the community; and to call attention to the qualifications...
The new school year is here and pedestrian safety is a top priority for the Saratoga Police Department. In a press release, Saratoga Police Chief Mike Morris said motorists should be alert when driving during the school rush hour. “The Saratoga Police Department would like to remind everyone that with the start of the school year, drivers should be extremely cautious when driving into our towns and streets,” Morris said. “When operating a vehicle please pay attention to the speed limits in sc...
A World War II training aircraft, the AT-6 Nella, was at Shively Airfield on August 13. According to The Bullock Texas State History Museum, the AT-6 airplane was first known as The Texan, becoming the most important training aircraft ever. The Texan would change its name to the AT-6 Nella in 1944, named after Fifinella, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) Squadron mascot. The AT-6 Nella was used in training classes from mid-1943 until the WASP Squadron was disbanded in December 1944....
Before the Bellamy Brothers took the stage to headline the Carbon County Fair on August 8, Jared Rogerson and the Rodeo Wreck opened for the legendary country duo. Fans danced and clapped to the beat of the music as Rogerson and the Rodeo Wreck cranked up their guitars, rolled the drums, and got the crowd on their feet. “There is nothing more incredible than being here in front of a bunch of fans of the West and rural life,” Rogerson said. “To be able to play my style of Wyoming Cowboy Count...
The Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins celebrated two decades in business on August 3, hosting a full day of events ranging from free golf to a barbecue patio party. Kids and adults could be seen putting golf balls on the small course. Golf instructors were also giving tips to kids on how to make the perfect putt. “It is an exciting time for Rochelle Ranch Golf Course,” said Abe Coulsey, Rochelle Ranch Golf Course Superintendent. “We have been officially in business for 20 years and it is a...
Anyone who has a dog, cat, horse or any domestic animal has a friend in Dr. Warner McFarland. McFarland was picked as this year's Carbon County Fair Parade Grand Marshall, which took place on August 3. McFarland said he accepted the honor of being Grand Marshall when the Carbon County Fair Board called him. “I got a phone call from Justin Ready of the Carbon County Fair Board and he asked if I would be Grand Marshall for this year’s fair,” McFarland said. “I don’t know how deserving I am but I...
After a two-hour service outage on July 18, Union Wireless is now investigating the reason behind the outage. As previously reported, Platte Valley customers of Union Wireless were without phone, data or internet service for approximately two hours. Initially, Union Wireless cited a planned power outage conducted by the Western Area Power Authority and Carbon Power & Light in the Elk Mountain area for the cause of the service outage. “It’s interesting that the Western Area Power Administration crew shut off the power at 10 a.m but we did not lo...
Nearly a month after the investigation into the Mirror Lake John Doe began, a suspect in the homicide has been arrested according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. As was previously reported, on the evening of July 4 the Albany County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a body near Mirror Lake in the Snowy Range mountain range. Upon arriving, the sheriff’s department discovered a body wrapped in a tarp. Initially declared a John Doe, the identity of the deceased was later revea...
The town of Encampment was swinging to classic country music, with some rhymes and the sound of a fiddle with everyone dancing in the middle. The Jake Clayton Trio, led by Jake Clayton, got the crowd going on the dance floor at The DiVide Restaurant & Lounge in Encampment on July 26. Though he lives in Tennessee, Clayton is no stranger to Encampment or the Platte Valley. “I have performed in Encampment at least eight times,” Clayton said. “I played multiple times at the town picnic and perfo...
On July 18, customers with Union Wireless in the Platte Valley experienced a service outage which lasted approximately two hours. The internet, cellular and phone service outage appears to have impacted some business more than others. Scott Duke, interim CEO at the North Platte Valley Medical Center, said the service outage did not disrupt the hospital's operations a whole lot. “The hospital has redundant backup wireless and the backup wireless kicked in so we didn't completely shut down,” sai...
Finn Rolseth, a former Saratoga Panther, closed the final chapter of his high school career on July 20. Rolseth, who graduated from Saratoga Middle High School earlier this year, played in the Wyoming Coaches Association All-Star Game at Casper College. Wyoming Boys South fell to Wyoming Boys North, 80-69. Rolseth said the all-star game was a big challenge because it was fast-paced. “The biggest adjustment between 1A and the all-star game was the speed,” Rolselth said. “Everything’s faster....
A wicked twist on Texas Red Dirt music will be coming to the North Platte Valley this weekend. Cory Waller & the Wicked Things will perform at the 18th Annual Encampment Community Barbeque/Potluck on August 3. This will be The Wicked Things’ first visit to the Platte Valley. Waller said he had been asked for a long time to perform in Encampment but, due to his touring schedule, he could not find the time to come to the Platte Valley. “I had a friend of a friend who has been trying to get us to...
Bike riding enthusiasts across the United States and worldwide recently came together to participate in the 26th annual Tour de Wyoming. Tour de Wyoming came to the Platte Valley on July 14 and again on July 17. Bikeriders camped at the Lazy Acres Campground and RV Park in Riverside as part of a six-day tour. Bike riders started at 7 a.m. and took different routes each day. Amber Travsky, the founder of Tour de Wyoming, said this year at least 250 riders participated. “Every year we entice 250 r...
The Platte Valley Trout All-Stars season ended on July 18 as they lost their third straight game to the Platte County All-Stars, 3-2. Head Coach Ben Spaulding said, despite the three losses, he was proud of his team's effort and sees a bright future for next year., Spaulding added his team needs to work on their hitting. He said he will be looking for ways to help them during the off-season. “The kids played very well defensively. Great pitching from Jackson Kopasz and Beckett Spaulding and o...
Western music and poetry brought out a range of emotions during the 22nd Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering as people laughed, smiled and shed a few tears. Every song or poem from each artist told a story of romance, drinking, farming, family, traveling, and adventure in the eyes of a cowboy. Floyd Beard has performed music and poetry since the late 1970s. Beard said he always had a love for rhyming with words, which helped him become a poet. “I have always been in love with rhyming w...
Two conservation groups came together to raise awareness about protecting rivers and lakes in the Platte Valley. On July 18, Trout Unlimited and Rivers Are Life united to clean up Veterans Island. Local and out-of-state volunteers participated in cleaning up trash, cigarette butts, and waste. High school students also volunteered, learning the responsibilities in maintaining a healthy environment for parks, rivers and wildlife. “This is the first year Trout Unlimited is doing an expedition c...
I have been fighting obesity off and on in my entire life and it is never easy. Staying in good health is a big challenge for many people. For those who are dealing with obesity or being overweight, understand it is not your fault. We think it is because people have a problem with overeating which causes excessive body weight. However, it goes way beyond controlling food portions. I have dealt with food addiction before and, at times, I felt helpless. Then I realized I was dealing with a...
The University of Wyoming hosted the 38th annual VisCom Conference at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort from June 17-20. Scholars and professors from UW and other universities shared their work and ideals on social, political, cultural, and sexual issues through visual communication. At the end of each presentation, scholars and professors answered questions from the audience about the research they put into their project. Professor Cindy Price Schultz, head of communication and journalism at UW,...
The Saratoga Cutthroats ran into trouble against the Rawlins Bandits on July 9 as Rawlins pitching limited Saratoga to only two hits and the Bandits won 11-0 in Game 1. Saratoga attempted to make a comeback in Game 2 as they were able to knock in runs in the later innings. Rawlins however, made the big plays on defense just enough to hold off Saratoga. Game 1 Rawlins pitcher Lee Maestas had a dominant performance with a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts. The Bandits hitting was on fire and...
It was not a perfect strike, but Saratoga’s own Barb Youngberg and Cindy Carnes competed in this year's Women's Wyoming State Bowling Tournament on April 26 in Cheyenne. Youngberg and Carnes are currently members of a bowling league at the 10th Frame Bowling Alley in Walden, Colorado. “On the singles, I finished 5th place and won $250,” Youngberg said. “My score was 766 and Cindy’s was 735, this was in handicap. I have been competing for 3 years and Cindy has been competing for 5 years.” Y...
The Platte Valley Trout All-Star team is now in a position where, if they lose one more game, they take an exit out of the District 2 Tournament. On July 15, the Trout had a tough loss to Laramie 10-0. According to Platte Valley Head Coach Ben Spaulding, Platte Valley came out a little nervous and tense. He said It showed when they first went up to bat. “We had two great hits from Jackson Kopasz and Beckett Spaulding In the 1st inning,” Spaulding said. “Shortly after, we got punched with a dou...