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Russia, the largest oil-producing country that is not a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has signaled some resistance to pressure from the cartel to cut oil production. Iran, an OPEC member, is also fighting back against the cartel, saying it won't cut its own production of crude oil. Russian and Iranian resistance to OPEC's wishes to cut production might be good news for consumers who will continue to pay less at the pumps to fill up their cars, but could be m... Full story
Wyoming’s month-to-month unemployment rate saw a decrease of 0.3 percent, bringing the state’s unemployment rate to 5.1 percent for the month of October. That is only 0.2 points higher than the U.S. average of 4.9 percent. According to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Wyoming was one of seven states in the country that saw a statistically significant decrease in unemployment rates. Despite the spot of bright news for the state, when counting over-the-year, unemployment in Wyoming is up, from 4.3 percent to... Full story
A run of eight and a half happy but hectic years managing the Bear Trap Cafe in Riverside is coming to a close for Seattle-native Margaret Weber. Weber has scheduled one last last blow-out “Dukes of Hazard” themed party for the night of Aug. 31, then she will hand over the keys to new-owner Jolene Pavelka the following morning. Weber experienced a wide range of emotions while describing the transition process in a recent interview. “Although it’s been a very good 8½ years, it’s been a very lon... Full story
For Hank Morris, 37, a new resident to Saratoga and new real estate agent at Town & Country Realty in Saratoga, first impressions mean a lot. Though his path to living in Saratoga may have been a bit circuitous, but he is glad he finally has the opportunity to live and work in the Valley. He's been selling real estate since 2012 in Texas and Arkansas, and just three weeks ago moved to Saratoga with his wife Jessie, and two children, 6-year-old Sam and 3-year-old Maggie, to continue his career... Full story
Wyoming continues to see unemployment rates that are significantly higher than this time last year and markedly higher than the national average, according to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Wyoming is one of three states in the nation that saw a statistically significant increase in unemployment rate between July 2015 and July 2016. Of those three states, Wyoming's unemployment increase was the highest, increasing 1.4 points from 4.3 percent in July 2015... Full story
Wyoming has continued to shed jobs in the midst of a bearish oil market, according to unemployment figures published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June 22. Wyoming and North Dakota are the only two states in the U.S. that saw unemployment numbers increase over the year, according to the BLS' figures. Wyoming's unemployment numbers increased by 1.5 points, from 4.2 in June 2015 to 5.7 in June of this year. Wyoming also had an increase in unemployment from May 2016 until June 2016,... Full story
It’s back to the drawing board for both Triple D Construction firm and Trivest Enterprises. The fates of two separate development projects likely hinge on zone change amendments that have to pass through the Saratoga Planning Commission, and neither got the nod from the commission at a July 12 meeting attended by around 10 people. Rory Grubb normally serves as chair of the planning commission, but since he was representing Trivest at the July 12 meeting, he recused his spot at the table early o... Full story
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest unemployment figures Friday that showed an increase in payrolls that offset a disappointing performance in May, but the impact on Wyoming is unclear. Nationwide, nonfarm payroll increased by 287,000 in June, a far better performance than May’s anemic job creation numbers of 16,000. The biggest increases in employment were in the leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance and financial services sectors. Mining, including oil and gas extraction, has the highest u... Full story
A proposed coal liquefaction plant south of Medicine Bow is no more, according to an email sent to the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council (ISC) by the project’s proponent, Houston-based DKRW, Inc. The beleaguered project met its end after DKRW decided market conditions were not favorable to continue construction of the coal-liquefaction plant which would have turned coal into gasoline using a series of chemical reactions called the Fischer-Tropsch process that was developed in Germany in the 1920s. Coal liquefaction has been used successfully i... Full story
The town of Saratoga recently was given a copy of the new master plan for the town by Community Builders, Inc., the firm that was hired to produce the plan. The master plan is 254 pages including all appendices, and lays out strategies for town growth, the resources that Saratoga has and issues that may stand in the way of progress for the town as it grows over the next couple decades. The plan notes that a well-diversified economy will help the town grow and become more prosperous. According th... Full story
Earning membership in The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), an organization of insurance and financial professionals that recognizes achievement in the industry, is, according to Saratoga New York Life representative Brad Cary, “a pretty big deal.” And even though he was so honored last month, he says the biggest satisfaction in his work comes from helping others make financial plans and be ready for the future. Cary has been a New York Life agent in Saratoga since August 1987, Cary said, and in that time he has seen myriad changes in the fin... Full story
By Wednesday, May 11, the first shift will have started at the long-dormant Saratoga sawmill, according to Gary Ervin. Ervin, the managing partner of Saratoga Forest Management (SFM), is a 50 percent owner of the firm, and manages many of the lumber plant’s day-to-day operations. Production has been on hold at the mill since an early-morning fire disabled the facility in January. At full capacity, the mill employs about 140 people, with an additional 50 contract workers driving trucks or f... Full story
Engineering Associates moved from its old offices on East Bridge Avenue in Saratoga to a new location at 211 N. First Street last week. The company’s new offices are smaller than their previous office on Bridge Street, but it is a more efficient space for the employees, said Karl Smith, an employee at the company. Smith also said that parking was at a premium at the old office on Bridge Street. Ken Schwerdt, who also works at the company, said parking during the summer was particularly bad and that the company has a lot of trucks that used t... Full story
By the middle of April, Saratoga residents will know whether the "No Truck" signs installed on Bridge Street are going to be effective or not. Gary Ervin, managing partner at Saratoga Forest Management, expects the mill to be back running at full capacity by then, with trucks again routinely hauling timber in and out of the complex. The work is moving slower than Ervin had initially predicted. When an early morning fire first disabled the plant on January 20, estimates of how long it would be...
The Saratoga Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce (SPVCC) Annual Dinner celebrated local businesses, people and organizations once more. The Red Wagon and The Trading Post were New Business and Business of the Year, respectively. The Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department was awarded Organization of the year for the first time in memory and Teense Willford was named Volunteer of the Year. SPVCC provided their annual report, stating that they have 179 members and 23 new members, a 75 percent saturation...
"It's the biggest little store in the country," said Mark Rauterkus, owner of the Trading Post in Encampment. At the Trading Post, Rauterkus holds his spot behind the counter, while regulars enjoy food and coffee, ready to help those that stop in for a variety of goods and services. Other employees take that same post, and the staff helps locals and residents as they come by. Rauterkus has owned the gas station, convenience store and sporting goods shop since 1985, and on Dec. 7 they will celebr...
When Dee Trease and her husband Tom sold the Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon in New River Ariz,. back in 2003, they thought they were moving to the Platte Valley to retire. Turns out Dee is great at running bars and restaurants but is terrible at retiring. Almost immediately after moving to the Riverside-Encampment area, the two veteran restaurant/bar owners bought the Mangy Moose and ran it successfully until they sold the bar in 2011. Once again Dee was ready to retire, but when her husband...
Carbon County Commissioner Lindy Glode has been invited to be a panelist for the annual Leap into Leadership 2015 Thursday and Friday. Wyoming Leap into Leadership was started in 2008 to invite women across the state to become familiar with legislation. The Wyoming Women's Leadership Caucus is made up of all women, but both men and women are invited to participate in the Leap into Leadership seminar. "The group was started to network and a way to share lessons learned," Melissa Turley,...
Keith Bailey said he liked the mission of the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce (SPVCC), which is "Serving the Valley businesses and visitors by enhancing our economic vibrancy." Saratoga, like many small towns is fighting an aging infrastructure they can't afford to replace or expand upon. "Defining the mission is probably the easy part," Bailey said. With communities working toward similar objectives the opportunity for growth and development is a "zero sum game," Bailey said. This...
Engineering Associates (EA) announced Thursday that it recently acquired PMPC-Civil Engineers in Saratoga. This seven-person firm provides municipal engineering services to a number of towns in south-central Wyoming. PMPC also does civil engineering for private clients in Sweetwater, Carbon, and Albany counties. Six of the current PMPC employees have become shareholders of Engineering Associates, the new parent company of PMPC. CEO Heath Overfield believes that their participation in ownership should send a strong message to existing and...
The business people of Saratoga celebrated a successful year with the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce and recognized those who were selected and voted on by their peers. The Saratoga Resort and Spa was selected as Business of the Year, Sweet Marie's was selected as New Business of the Year, the Saratoga Encampment Rawlins Conservation District (SERCD) won Organization of the Year and Jimmy Hinkle earned Volunteer of the Year. Bella's Bistro, Brush Creek Ranch, Burns Insurance Agency,...
Editor’s note: This is the first of two stories on the sixth-month DKRW meeting required by the Industrial Siting Council. While this article is focused on the content presented, next week’s article will focus on public comment. Nearly 40 people attended the public meeting held by DKRW in Hanna Thursday night. Many of them walked away with less answers than they were hoping for. Bill Gathmann, DKRW’s senior vice president of finance, filled in for Bob Kelley, executive chairman of DKRW, who h... Full story