Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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Update as of June 9, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. The National Forest Service now puts the North Fork Fire at approximately 13 acres. Two hotshot crews, a Type 2 hand crew, three engines, a Type 1 Heavy Helicopter and a Type 3 Helicopter are being used to fight the fire. Wednesday is expected to be a big operational day as they hit the fire hard. The North Fork Fire, approximately four miles west of Hog Park Reservoir, is not the cause of current heavy smoke in the North Platte Valley... Full story
The Hanna Agricultural Resource Team (HART) met on May 18 at the Hanna Market for their first meeting of the 2021 growing season. Perry Goodrich, chairman of HART, told the group their community garden located on grounds owned by Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) was going to have to be moved to a new location behind the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School. "They (C J Mahan Construction) are going to need the land that the garden is on for the...
For the past year, the coal mines under the town of Hanna have been one of multiple projects taken on by the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The process has been to fill the miles of shafts under the town with grout to prevent any future subsidence. Last summer, the Hanna Elementary School and the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Junior/Senior High School were the focus of AML before the agency expanded to...
Each year, the ladies of the Valley Service Organization (VSO) bestow the title Woman of Distinction on a woman who has made significant contributions to the North Platte Valley. In previous years, honorees have included influential Valley residents such as Elva Evans (2018) and Cheryl "Mo" Munroe (2019). This year, the VSO awarded the title Woman of Distinction to five Valley residents for their hand in filling a need for childcare in the area. Tiffany Jones, Cheena Parsons,...
Graduation from 6th grade to middle school is often marked with a ceremony or small party of some sort by students, teacher and school. In small schools, the transition means that a students is not a little kid any more. When agriculture was dominant in the economy and workforce, a 6th grade education typically the limit. Times have dramatically changed since then but there is still an idea that going into 7th grade means a child is leaving behind recess and to some degree...
The school year is over and parents, graduates and educators feel a sense of accomplishment. Summer is almost here but, for most graduates, life is going to change in the near future. Some students are already making plans to join the armed forces before fall. There are some graduates still figuring out options and may enter the workforce in some capacity, whether it is in Wyoming or in another area. Many graduates are going on to higher education here in Wyoming. Devon...
It can be all too easy to focus on the things going wrong in our lives that we overlook the things going right. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple thing to wake us up to that fact. At the same time, that simple act can hit us like a ton of bricks. For me, it was a fire pit. The past few summers haven’t exactly been great for getting out of town with my family. Last year, especially, was difficult as I was wrapped up in covering how the pandemic was impacting life in Carbon C...
Thank you, Foster. You could sum up Foster Friess in one word: Generous. He did more for more people than anyone I have ever known. He and his wife Lynn gave away $500 million in their lifetimes. Amazing. Foster Friess died May 27 at age 81. My story with Foster is a personal one. I had worked with him and Lynn some 20 years ago on some obscure project and had not had any contact for many years. Out of the blue in April of 2018, he called and asked me to help him with his governor’s campaign. There is no hesitation when F...
Carbon County Commissioner John Espy was recently elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Western Interstate Region (WIR) according to a press release from the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA). WIR is a regional affiliate of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the election occurred during the WIR spring board of directors meeting in Hamilton, Montana. "I am excited for this new role with the Western Interstate Region," said Espy. "The work this...
The Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering will be celebrating two years in one this summer. The annual event, which sees cowboy poets and musicians from across the country descend upon Encampment, was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). This year, however, the event will return with plenty of bang for your buck; especially since it will be free. Beginning on Friday, July 16, attendees will be able to take in a free open mic poetry/music event before gathering...
Food inequality is an issue that is faced by families throughout the country, whether they live in urban or rural settings. For many children, the only time they are able to get breakfast or lunch is when school is in session. As of yesterday, Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) will be conducting a free summer meal program for children 18 years and under. There are no income guidelines and children do not have to be enrolled in any CCSD2 school to be able to receive free meals. Parents or guardians of children can... Full story
Newly passed legislation appears to be causing headaches for county treasurers throughout Wyoming before it has even taken effect. Senate File 60, which was introduced and passed during the 2021 General Session, is supposed to provide a process for monthly ad valorem taxation of mineral production instead of biannual payments. During the May 18 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), County Treasurer Patty Bentsen requested a letter of support from the...
Father. Husband. Grandfather. Friend to everyone; as he never met a stranger. Bob, 83, of Dallas, Texas passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 27. His caring and loving approach with people made an indelible impression to all he encountered. Bob was born November 14, 1937 in Amarillo, Texas and was raised by his mother and grandmother. Bob graduated from Amarillo High School (home of the Sandies) where he excelled academically and in sports; including baseball and basketball. His talent in baseball earned him a scholarship... Full story
Following more than a decade of service to the Town of Hanna, Jeff Neimark has announced his retirement from the Hanna Marshal’s Office and from law enforcement. Hired in 2008, Neimark’s 13 years as Hanna law enforcement makes him the longest serving Town Marshal in the history of Hanna. Along with the 13 years he served as Hanna Marshal, Neimark’s retirement brings an end to 31 years in law enforcement. His career began in 1989 as a police officer in the City of Highwood, Illinois. While there, he started the depar... Full story
The days of the Nigerian prince needing help getting his money out of the country or the long-lost wealthy uncle leaving a sizable inheritance are long gone. As technology has advanced, so have the ways in which scammers and con-artists have tried to take advantage of people. On May 12, Saratoga resident Janice Kerpan fell victim to one of the more recent scams and not only lost $600 but became the victim of identity theft. All of it started with a seemingly misaddressed...