Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 311
On November 18, Carbon County became one of nine other counties in the state to institute a mask mandate. The total number of counties in Wyoming with such a mandate is now at 12 with the public health orders coming as active cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) within the state continue to rise. Dr. Wayne Couch, public health officer for Carbon County, first announced the mask mandate during the November 17 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC). At that t...
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) is in the process of developing a draft Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for the county. The County has hired Y2 Consultants and Falen Law Offices to work with a County appointed steering committee to develop the NRMP following the guidelines set forth by the Wyoming Governor’s Office and the Wyoming County Commissioner’s Association. The County is developing this Plan as a tool which allows a local government to have a substantive impact on federal decisions, pla...
During the November 17 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), the commissioners approved a road use agreement between Carbon County and Brush Creek Ranch for a section of Carbon County Road 504. The approval of the document comes a week after the commissioners balked at a request from the luxury ranch to place a gate on the south end of the county road. Carbon County Road 504 is just one of many roads that, while accessible during the summer, is not...
“I understand people have expressed concerns about their civil liberties. I get that, I understand that. On the other hand, this is a public health emergency. The last one of these major pandemics like this was over 100 years ago. We’re not planning on this lasting forever, I don’t expect the public to tolerate it forever.” On November 17, Carbon County was one of nine counties in Wyoming that instituted a mask mandate following approval by State Health Officer Alexia Harrist...
Lenny Layman, Carbon County Emergency Manager, is one step closer to realizing the vision of a Carbon County Coordination Center following two significant donations to the project from energy companies operating in Wyoming. The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) were notified of the two donations during the November 10 meeting. As was reported previously (see “Managing a coordinated plan” on page 7 of the September 23 Saratoga Sun), an initial donation of $15...
As the Mullen Fire has been all but entirely extinguished following a heavy snow near the end of October, the assessment of damage done by the fire and future impacts to the area has been completed. Carbon County Fire Warden Ron Brown gave an update to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) on the Mullen Fire during their November 10 meeting. While the Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team’s assessment comprised the entirety of the fire’s burn area, Brown’s updat...
*Editor’s Note: On November 17, Carbon County Health Officer Wayne Couch issued a county-wide mask mandate effective immediately. The Saratoga Sun will have more information next week.* “We have a lot of holidays coming up, a lot more social events, and that’s where we’re seeing a lot of the spread within Carbon County is small family units and social events. So, we’re asking the public to be more socially responsible.” During their rescheduled November 10 meeting, th...
While other states are still counting votes days after November 3, the results in Carbon County were finalized on November 4. With more than 100 percent turnout, Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett said that, while it wasn’t a record turnout, it was a great turnout for the county. In Saratoga, voters overwhelmingly approved the formation of the Saratoga-Ryan Park Museum District while, in Medicine Bow, enough write-in candidates accepted their ballot nominations to ensure a q...
At 10 a.m. on October 20, around 50 people came for the grand opening of the Carbon County Road and Bridge, Medicine Bow Shop and Sheriff Complex. That might be a mouthful, but the facility impressed all that came. Representatives from Rocky Mountain Power and Power Company of Wyoming joined Carbon County Commissioners, engineering firms and many residents from Medicine Bow. Medicine Bow Mayor Sharon Biamon was pleasantly surprised at how many residents showed up. "We have...
Wyoming legislators, under the guise of “cost saving measures” for local governments, are again attempting to remove vital legal notices from the pages of your local newspaper. Though the Wyoming Legislature is not in session and many legislators will not return to the capitol in January following primary defeats, they are still working on interim topics. One of those topics, approved on a 10-3 vote by the Joint Corporations Committee on September 11, would remove the requirement for municipal and county governments to pub... Full story
by Joshua Wood Lenny Layman hasn’t been the Carbon County Emergency Manager for very long, having taken the job in May, but recent events—such as the RR 316 Fire in Hanna—have kept him busy. For Layman, that fire provided a great example of why Carbon County is in need of a coordination center. It just so happens that the Layman and the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) recently accepted a check for $15,000 from the Sinclair Oil Corporation (Sinclair) to go towar...
After 50 years of serving the county, Carbon County Counseling will be undergoing a transition. On September 1, CEO Patrick Gonzales approached the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) for a letter of support in regards to the acquisition and merger of Carbon County Counseling and High Country Behavioral Health. Joining Gonzales was High Country Behavioral Health CEO Kipp Dana. “We are seeking the commissioners, essentially your blessing, in support of a a...
The historic Hugus-Ferguson Building will not be home to the Carbon County Museum anytime in the near future. Nearly seven years after the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) and the Carbon County Museum purchased the building, built in 1895, Museum Board President Ken Klouda informed the commissioners it wasn’t feasible to pursue the project. “You asked us for an update of where we are on the Ferguson Hugus (Hugus Ferguson) Building. I got on the museum board bec...
The process of expanding cell phone coverage in Carbon County began for Union Wireless on September 1 as four public hearings were held during a meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC). All four conditional use permits, which are the first of many, were approved on a 3-2 vote. Before holding the public hearings, Deputy Zoning Administrator Kristy Rowan informed the commissioners that Union Wireless had requested a four year period in which they could leave...
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) have amended their personnel and benefits manual, updating it from the 2016 version. The proposed amendments cover several issues and the BOCCC will be taking public comment until October 20. Cathy MacPherson, who worked with Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett and Carbon County Attorney Ashley Mayfield-Davis on the changes, appeared before the commissioners on August 25 to discuss some of the updates. “The notice of intended a...
Following two special meetings, one on Tuesday and one on Friday, between two counties and several municipalities, it appears that the entities have settled on a request to be presented to the Industrial Siting Council (ISC) for the Gateway South Wind Project totaling $6,097,769. The lion’s share of the request is easily Carbon County which put in a combined request of $4.5 million and accounts for approximately 74 percent of the total request. Of that, the Board of Carbon Cou...
While most data from the 2020 Primary Election was on par with the primary election two years ago, one area that saw an increase was in absentee ballots cast prior to August 18. This information was provided to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) by Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett at the rescheduled August 25 meeting of the county commissioners. Bartlett also informed the commissioners that requests for ballots for the general election had already exceeded...
As the dust has settled from the 2020 Primary Election on August 18, the roster has been set for the general election on November 3. On the national stage, Wyomingites will have four women from the two major parties to choose from in both the House and the Senate to represent them come January. Meanwhile, incumbent Representative Jerry Paxton still faces a challenger. President of the United States President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Michael R. Pence will be running...
Despite the impact felt by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Carbon County Library System (CCLS) ended the 2019/2020 fiscal year relatively well according to Jacob Mickelsen, CCLS director. Mickelsen provided an annual update to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) during their rescheduled August 25 meeting at the Platte Valley Community Center. As part of that update, the director provided the BOCCC with information on multiple subjects including the economic...
With the primary election over, some candidates can breathe a sigh of relief as they have successfully fended off challengers in both House District 47 and on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. Compared to the 2018 Primary Election, voter turnout saw a three percent increase. In the last primary election cycle, Carbon County had a 56 percent turnout while, this election cycle, that number had increased to 59 percent. In that time, however, the number of registered...
With the primary election rapidly approaching and the United States still dealing with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), absentee voting has taken center stage this election cycle. At the July 20 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett provided the board with an update on ballots. According to Bartlett, her office had sent out a total of 1,744 requested absentee ballots and 529 had been received as of the day of the...
After an extended public hearing and 30 day protest period that saw no written protest, the proposed Saratoga-Ryan Park Museum District will be heading to the ballot in November. During the July 20 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), the commissioners voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2020-31 which directed Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett to place the question on the ballot. “As you recall, you had your public hearing for the proposed S...
The Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB) met with two attorneys from Corthell and King, the Laramie based law firm selected last month by the SCCIJPB, during their July 8 meeting. At the same meeting, the reappointments of Chairman Richard Raymer and board member Roger Cox were confirmed and the election of officers was held. Corthell and King As was reported previously (see “Water, sewer board engages with attorney” on page 12 of the June 17 Sar...
Carbon County Public Health will be facing budget cuts from the State level even as they prepare for a potential increase in cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Cuts to Public Health During the July 7 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), Nurse Manager Amanda Brown informed the commissioners that a memo had been received from the State of Wyoming warning of budget cuts of up to 20 percent. “They have notified us that there will be budget r...
With the Primary Election little more than a month away, Valley residents will have two opportunities to learn more about the candidates that will be appearing on the ballot on August 18. The Valley Service Organization (VSO) will be holding forums later this month for seven candidates for Saratoga Town Council, the five candidates for Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) and the four candidates for House District 47. The council candidates invited to the first forum...