Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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BUFFALO - Alice Swett loves her job. "It's solving puzzles day after day, and I love solving puzzles," she said. She has been an accountant since 1986 and owns Swett Equity Accounting, where she employs two full-time and one part-time accountant, in addition to herself. But Swett said she's lucky to have the staff she does, as the number of people in the profession has dwindled over the years. Swett often has to turn people away because she can't take on more clients. "There...
JACKSON - Some lawmakers in Teton County voiced their doubts about the "Five and Dime Plan" promoted by the hard-right Wyoming Freedom Caucus at the end of last week. The Freedom Caucus established its majority power in the Wyoming House of Representatives in the Nov. 5 election and committed to passing five bills within the first 10 days of the upcoming legislative session. The proposed legislation includes invalidating driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants by...
The 68th Legislature is set to convene for the 2025 General Session on January 14. Bills are already being filed and there will be even more changes in the make-up of both the House and the Senate. The majority of the bills filed so far appear to be aimed at cleaning up already existing statutes. A few, however, seem to override local control of political subdivisions such as school districts. Indeed, two bills introduced already are regarding concealed-carry on school campuses and the banning of cellphones in schools....
Editor's note: This is the final story in a series on the Valley Village Childcare as it approaches its one year anniversary in their new building. Less than a year after the Valley Village Childcare Center (VVC) opened its doors at their new location in the Ray A. Corbett Building, the VVC board established a partnership with the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative (Collaborative). The Collaborative is a Trustees Education Initiative outreach in the...
POWELL - Traveling to Park County from the suburbs of Tokyo for a two-year stint at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, Haruka Takaku has a list of goals to accomplish. There are work goals and there are personal experiences she would like to take home with her in 2026. One of her first goals was to drive a "Wyoming" truck. Enter one Ford F-150 4x4 with the largest cab Ford makes and a 6.5-foot bed. Takaku doesn't drive in Japan. She takes trains and subways to work each...
SHERIDAN - Col. Ryan Laughton isn't guarding the galaxy with a talking raccoon or a walking tree, but his mission is no less cosmic. As a real-life guardian with the U.S. Space Forces Japan, he's bridging nations and protecting the skies - despite not battling any interstellar villains. Laughton, a proud representative and former resident of Sheridan, is leading the charge as Commander of U.S. Space Forces Japan. From his post across the Pacific, he's strengthening ties...
A life well lived!! Angeline Marken Kinnaman, known to her many friends as Angie, passed from this life on December 25, 2024. Angie, a proud native of New Mexico, was born November 6, 1934, and had lived in Rawlins since 1961. Angie led an active and interesting life; her spunk and sparkle were impossible to miss. Angie married a Rawlins native, Dan Kinnaman, on November 15, 1958, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They became parents to three children, Dana, Andrew, and John. Her...
Winners of Valley Service Organization's annual lighting and decoration contests are Patrick and Stephanie Patterson, whose home at 234 Condit Court, across from the number two tee at the Saratoga Hot Springs golf course, lights up the residential area in fantastic fashion and must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Pictured in their front yard with a huge Santa are the Pattersons, with Patrick receiving the $25 award from VSO member Cheryl Ervin, while Stephanie...
JACKSON - Beverly Boynton has lived in Kelly for decades but only been walking the Kelly parcel for two or so years, thinking about the pristine square mile of sagebrush and wildlife habitat as the National Park Service maneuvered to buy it from the State of Wyoming. The more she walked the parcel, the more she understood how valuable it is for wildlife. Last spring, Boynton wanted to hike the parcel but was stopped by a herd of 1,000 elk that she didn't want to stampede. She...
Topping the menu for the next “Gather at the Table” free meal is stew beef and pork with vegetables over pilaf rice, garlic bread, plus ice cream with fudge brownie and chocolate sauce with cookie crumble, along with a beverage. Everyone is invited to ring in the new year by sharing a complimentary meal along with fellowship from 5:00 to 6:30 Monday evening, Jan. 6th, 2025, in the Saratoga Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Bridge & Third. Area residents and...
Saratoga Middle High School wrestling finished out the 2024 portion of the season by travelling to the Joe Aimone Invitational in Kemmerer. The tournament is a new one for the SMHS grapplers, competing with 13 other teams from Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. Many of the teams in attendance were larger 3A schools, so the competition was fierce in every weight class. The tournament was round-robin style, which affords the athletes many opportunities to get on the mat and gain valuable experience. Saratoga placed 10th out of the 14...
‘Tis the season for New Year resolutions. We’ve been flooded with advertisements and postings about gym membership deals, miracle pills and meal plans. But, none of the advertised products actually work, it’s the individual that has to put it to good use. It’s believed that ancient Babylon is responsible for the creation of the New Year resolution. Starting some 4,000 years ago with the Akitu festival, Babylonians would make promises to the gods which would include repayment of debt, returning borrowed goods, pledgin...
For many years I’ve had the privilege to visit those in jails, prisons, hospitals, recovery centers, and nursing homes, as I truly enjoy spending time with all people. In nursing homes, I sing, teach Bible studies, and appreciate hearing about their former lives. The Lord has allowed me to make some precious friendships and I want to share with you about a lovely lady who after a devastating stroke was no longer independent and is now in a comfortable setting where she is well taken care of. I love talking with her and a w...
What a wonderful time of year! The giving and receiving of Christmas gifts, or presents, filled many households this year. I find those words “gift” and “present” interesting. Webster defines “present” in the noun form as something presented, as in a gift. Present can also be a verb which is defined as an offer to view, as in to show. The word gift can also be a noun or verb. The noun means a notable endowment or something voluntarily transferred to another person without compensation. Gift is also a transitive verb (sorry...
Photos by Liz Wood...
With president-elect Donald Trump promising not only to crack down on immigration, but to begin mass deportation in the United States of undocumented immigrants, it appears Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reaching out to local law enforcement regarding already existing programs. According to Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken at the December 17 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners, ICE reached out to several state and local law enforcement agencies...
The two Saratoga Town Council meetings in December wrapped up business, saw a councilwoman’s term end and set the stage for a new council in 2025. The first item to be cleared was the ongoing liquor license saga for the American Legion Post 54. The issuance of the liquor license was tabled and delayed for the month of November due to complaints filed with the Town and the State of Wyoming Liquor Division. The American Legion Commander, James Olguin, attended the December 3 meeting and was apologized to by Mayor Chuck Davis f...
LARAMIE - There is a rugged beauty to southeast Wyoming. A new organization wants to help combat veterans experience that beauty in a positive way. Laramie Range Adventures for Veterans is a new program connecting combat veterans with hunting, fishing and wilderness experiences, as well as with fellow veterans. Daniel Haff, LRAV founder and president, said the concept of bringing veterans to the outdoors has its roots in the military experience. Haff, a U.S. Army veteran who w...
Photo by Liz Wood Coltan Ledgerwood schemes up his chilly plot at the Platte Valley Community Center December 20. The play 'North Pole's Talent Show" was directed by Marie Christen and performed by elementary students....
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