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Photo by Joshua Wood Adam Clarke and his wife, Misty, accept the 2023 Business of the Year Award during the 50th Annual Chamber Dinner and Awards on March 14 at the Platte Valley Community Center. For more photos and coverage, see page A7....
A Saratoga man was killed instantly in a fatal accident on Highway 30 with one motorist receiving minor injuries. On March 11, at approximately 1:07 p.m., troopers from the Wyoming Highway Patrol responded to milepost 239 on US 30/287 for a head-on collision with injuries. According to Trooper Ryan W. Gerdes, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when 70-year-old Rickey Bales of Hanna, Wyoming crossed the centerline. “Troopers determined an eastbound 19...
A Saratoga man was killed instantly in a fatal accident on Highway 30 with one motorist receiving minor injuries. On March 11, at approximately 1:07 p.m., troopers from the Wyoming Highway Patrol responded to milepost 239 on US 30/287 for a head-on collision with injuries. According to Trooper Ryan W. Gerdes, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when 70-year-old Rickey Bales of Hanna, Wyoming crossed the centerline. “Troopers determined an eastbound 19...
The Wyoming State Legislature passed two senate bills aimed at incentivizing the recruitment and retention of volunteers for emergency medical services (EMS) this session, but neither address the need for a revamp in the reimbursement system that financially supports the service. The local director of South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Service based in Saratoga, Stayton Mosbey, said these bills are “small steps in the right direction –everything that helps to attract someone to volunteer is worth it.” However, Mosbey said, there is anoth...
On February 29, 2024, Sandy Willford—loving wife and mother of three—passed away at the age of 78. Sandy Annan was born on March 9, 1945 in Riverton, Wyoming, the third of six children to Lois and Keith Annan. She attended school in Dubois and Big Piney, graduating from Big Piney High School in 1963. Soon after graduation the family moved to Saratoga where her father was engaged in the timber industry. Sandy went to work for Dr. Ray Corbett as a receptionist. On May 17, 1964 she married Lor...
On Friday, March 15, 8th graders from Encampment, Saratoga, and Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow schools took a field trip for 8th Grade Business Career Day. The students had the opportunity to visit different businesses in the Platte Valley. 8th Grade Business Career Day first started in 2016 by former Saratoga/ Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Stacey Crimmins and has continued each year except during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. Amanda Knotwell, Cimmins’ successor as Saratoga/ Platte V...
In the past week, I’ve talked with a few people—many of them longtime Valley or Carbon County locals—about the issues of bullying. It was even a major topic during the recent community forum with the candidates for Encampment K-12 School principal. I won’t reveal the names of the people I’ve talked to nor the exact nature of what they spoke with me about. These were personal conversations and the only reason I’m bringing them up is due to a similar comment through most of the conversatio...
Buffalo Bulletin, March 13 It has been said that Wyoming is one small town connected by very long streets. We are the least populated state in the union. There are 19 cities (municipalities with over 4,000 population) and 80 small towns. Despite the number of us who call a small town home, it’s no secret what the Wyoming Freedom Caucus thinks about the small towns in our state. Wyoming House Freedom Caucus Chairman John Bear, R-Gillette, made his disdain for small towns clear three weeks ago during debate of HB70, a bill designed to help W...
Often, we in the media get accused of having sacred cows we don’t cover or, alternatively, have targets of coverage. Neither is accurate, though some specific cases certainly can be made (fairly or unfairly). Whether the allegations are made based on favoritism or economics, the reality of our news coverage isn’t based on friendships or dollars and cents. It’s based on facts and how those stack up against the claims being made by those in charge. Sure, we read the rants on social media, but those aren’t facts. They are primarily someone...
Those of us who have been in the Christian faith for a while joyfully embrace Romans chapter eight as it is filled with encouraging promises. God has been so good to us and we know it’s because of His endless love that we can enjoy an abundant life filled with blessings. Of course, we have our share of frustrations and disappointments, but for the most part, the Lord provides for our basic needs and to be honest, He has also given us a lot of luxuries. When things are going well, let’s not become more focused on the gifts than the giver. We...
When I grew up, I was an avid reader. One of my early heroes was the polar explorer, Sir Earnest Shackleton. In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off on October 29, 1908, with four ponies to help carry the load. On January 9, 1909, their ponies now dead, rations nearly spent, exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. They had reached 88 degrees 23 minutes south. On the journey back to their ship,...
SHERIDAN — The four Sheridan County Commissioners sued by the Sheridan County Republican Party will remain in office through at least the end of their current terms following a ruling made earlier this week by Jude W. Thomas Sullins. Sullins came out of retirement to preside over the two-day trial in which the party accused the four commissioners — Christi Haswell, Lonnie Wright, Nick Siddle and Tom Ringley — of deliberately violating their statutory obligations to appoint a new commissioner after Allen Thompson left the board. The trial ended...
Five different versions of a property tax relief bill, which passed the Wyoming State Legislature this session and offer substantial savings to the citizens, are on Governor Mark Gordon’s desk as of Tuesday awaiting his signature. House District 40 Representative Barry Crago said he is not sure which bills the Governor will sign. He may look at how they work together as a group. He has 15 days from Friday to decide. House Bill 45, sponsored by Crago, proposes to cap the maximum allowable increase in property taxes each year at 4 percent in i...
Cody Ellenson, the primary suspect in the December 16 robbery of the Whistle Pig Saloon south of Saratoga, has been arrested by authorities in Florida. On March 15, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 32-year-old Ellenson in a press release. According to the press release, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) was contacted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) about a person in Wakulla County who might be a wanted fug...
On March 14, the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Platte Valley Community Center. Local business owners came together to be recognized for their accomplishments both in business and the community. One of those top winners of recognition was Valley Foods & Liquor, which won 2023 Business of the Year. The local grocery store is owned and managed by Adam Clarke, a third-generation grocery store owner. Clarke said this Business of the Year Award...
POWELL — Unlike most high school kids, environmental photojournalist Julia Cook spent much of her free time in the basement of the Draper Natural History Museum stripping rotting meat from the skeletons of various animals; bears, wolves, mountain lions. A half-dozen years later, you can still find her there volunteering to do work many would turn their nose up to. “Sometimes it is a bit smelly,” Cook said during a recent lecture at the museum. Cook was an intern with the Wyoming Game and Fish...
To protect the headwaters of three major Western rivers from invasive, troublesome mussels, Yellowstone National Park wants to require larger boats to undergo a 30-day “dry time” before launching. New rules up for comment also would ban any boat that’s once been contaminated by invasive Dreissena zebra or quagga mussels, regardless of decontamination cleaning. The proposal builds on existing rules, including inspection of all watercraft, designed to protect Yellowstone and downstream water...