Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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Following the announcement of Wyoming's first confirmed case of COVID-19 on the evening of March 11, events moved rather quickly as the Cowboy State began to make preparations to deal with the novel coronavirus. As the number of confirmed cases increased from one person in Sheridan County, measures were taken in attempts to prevent the spread of the virus. On Sunday evening, an announcement from Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent Jillian Balow recommended that school districts across... Full story
At the moment, the possible health impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wyoming appear to be relatively minimal. Following the weekend, the Wyoming Department of Health confirmed 10 cases of the virus. As the virus makes its way across the country, however, a number of states and metropolitan areas have ordered bars and restaurants to close in an effort to promote social distancing. On Monday afternoon, the mayor of Denver announced that all bars and restaurants were to be shut down... Full story
Noel "Van" Hayes, Jr., 91, of Cheyenne passed away March 6, 2020 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. He was born December 9, 1928 to Noel and Clarissa Hayes. He married Ella Marie Spomer on December 21, 1952 in Greeley, Colorado. He graduated from Colorado A&M (CSU) and was a Soil Conservationist for the USDA. He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and a past member of Platte Valley Lutheran Church in Saratoga. He is survived by his wife, Ella Marie Hayes; David Hayes of Milliken,... Full story
Geraldine Ann Vanderoef passed away in Greeley, Colorado at 2:30 p.m. on March 6. She was born to Olive and Theodore Quintero in Birmingham, Alabama on August 1, 1935. In her years before she turned 30, she went by the name Geri Ann. Afterwards she went by Ann. Ann's father was in the military and she lived in Alabama and Germany. She married two times before meeting the love of her life, Stuart Vanderoef. They were married 53 years. Ann worked for NASA in public relations in the 1960's where... Full story
The Hanna Town Council met at 6 p.m. on March 10 at the Hanna Town Hall. The agenda and minutes from February 11 were quickly approved and the council went into board and department reports. The first report was from the chairman of the High Country Joint Powers Board (HCJPB). Toby Smith said that, after the regularly scheduled meeting on March 5, it was realized that the cost of the convenience center at the landfill in Hanna was going to cost approximately $420,000 versus the anticipated cost...
With how remote many towns in Wyoming are, one might have expected that the panic-buying induced by uncertainty over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) would not reach parts of the Cowboy State. This was proven wrong, however, as posts on social media detailed the stockpiling seen by residents in Rawlins, the Carbon County seat, at both WalMart and City Market. In the days before and the days following reports of Wyoming’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, Wyoming has confirmed 10 as of late M...
When I was living in Taiwan, my awesome stepmother passed away and I felt a major loss. My father had died a couple years before, so that parental group was gone out of my life. They both died fairly young and I hoped my mother and stepfather would live many more years. I was lucky up until March 6 when, I am sad to write, my mother passed away. No one in my family really saw it coming but, I have to admit, she was not the same person I knew and admired growing up. Many people know my Dad...
Editor, In response to the article by Mike Armstrong,”A Missed Opportunity” I would like to support both Mr. Armstrong’s reporting and the members of the CCVC as well as other tourism partners. As Bill Sniffen noted in “Tourism is a runaway success for the Cowboy State,” tourism is the second-largest industry in the state, with promises of greater growth and expansion ahead. If you are a conservative who believes in trickle down economics, tourism spending is essentially putting money in the bank. For every dollar spent on promoting tourism,...
The Medicine Bow Town Council met at 7 p.m. on March 8 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall. The room was packed with seats hard to come by. Mayor Sharon Biamon, councilmember Trevor Strauch and councilmember Lyle Flansburg were in attendance. It was business as usual as the agenda was approved as were the minutes from the regularly scheduled meeting of February 10 and a special meeting held on February 26. The financials were the next item to be approved. Liz Ellis of the Medicine Bow...
With the leaping forward of an hour and the eventual arrival of spring, 1A and 2A schools were preparing to trade the hardwood for the track and field as they prepared for spring sports. Unfortunately, things developed very quickly in the terms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and that green light is stuck on red. Last week, the Wyoming High School Athletics Association (WHSAA) issued a press release announcing the suspension of all statewide extracurricular activities from March 16 to March...
Bob Smith, owner of the Roan Hill Ranch Guesthouse was represented at the March 10th Planning Commission meeting by legal council, Jon Schnal who moved to dismiss a complaint regarding horse nuisance. Mr. Schnal said the complaint had a lack of merit and was baseless. For almost 11 years, the ranch has been in operation and the horses have been an integral part of the operation. The special use permit for the operation of a guesthouse has been renewed by the town several times in the past. The l...
On Sunday evening, Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent Jillian Balow issued a recommendation that all schools in Wyoming close until April 3 for the purpose of social distancing and to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) was among those who quickly followed that recommendation, announcing school closures throughout the district. One of the questions that stemmed from Balow’s recommendation, however, was whether or not thos...
After the financials were read and approved during the Encampment Town Council meeting on March 11, the floor was opened to guests attending the meeting. Josh Saier and Crystal Gillen of the Sierra Madre Muzzleloaders made a request for use of the Encampment Museum grounds for the Rendezvous and the Marion Baker Invitational as well as a request for a $500 donation. A motion was passed to allow the use of the Museum grounds and donation with many thanks all around for a great event. Schelby...
Mayor Leroy Stephenson attended the Riverside Town Council meeting on March 11 via phone conference. It was a short meeting over all. Helen Weiland, South Central Wyoming EMS Joint Powers Board representative, relayed that their meeting had been canceled last month due to storms. The meeting was rescheduled for Monday in Saratoga. As previously reported on February 19, “SCWEMS update”, SCWEMS had hired a paramedic. However, the State of Wyoming still has not approved her license. The issue is...
As concerns over novel coronavirus (COVID-19) lead to closures of government offices, businesses and schools the Saratoga Sun will strive to keep our readers informed with as much up-to-date information as possible. Please make sure to check this page on a regular basis for updates as they come. *UPDATE* 03/19/2020 5 p.m. - Governor Mark Gordon issued a statewide closure order of all public spaces until April 3. This includes schools, museums, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, coffee shops, self-service buffets, salad bars, gyms, conference... Full story
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has endorsed a decision by the Wyoming State Health Officer to close public places for a two-week period to help slow the community spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The closure order extends through April 3 and includes schools, theaters, bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, employee cafeterias, self-serve buffets, salad bars, unpackaged self-serve food services, gyms, conference rooms and museums. “This Governor has never been inclined to overstep local authority, but these are unprecedented times. It is cri... Full story
In light of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in Carbon County, WY, public officials from the Carbon County Health Department, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, and other agencies are emphasizing the importance of continued community mitigation measures to manage the severity and duration of this illness in Carbon County. Local officials were notified late today by the Wyoming Department of Health that an adult male, over the age of 50, and living in Carbon County, has tested positive for COVID-19. The test was performed at the Wyoming Public... Full story