Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 356
Photo by D’Ron Campbell. As part of its kickoff for homecoming week, Saratoga Middle High School’s pep assembly on October 14 saw Skyler Wood, left, and Principal JD Johnson duke it out with pillows. Check last week’s Saratoga Sun for a schedule of homecoming events....
Encampment FFA held a member meeting on September 25, 2024, at 6:30 PM. Ag Advisor Mandy Westerman prepared chili and cornbread, with officers serving the 23 attending members. The meeting focused on electing committees for Fundraising, Community Service, Meeting Planning, and the Halloween Carnival. We also reviewed our performance in the Horse and Livestock Judging Contest held on September 18, 2024. Overall our Horse Judging Team placed second. In Horse Judging, Kannon Gilbert placed 8th,...
Saratoga Middle High School kicked off its homecoming week on Monday with a pep rally which included a pillow fight between Principal JD Johnson and senior Skyler Wood. During the pep rally, the homecoming court was crowned with Wood and Madi Johnson crowned as the Homecoming King and Queen. As part of the rally, the Saratoga Panther mascot took the Southeast Cyclones—portrayed by Griffin Bartlett—to the mats. On Tuesday, students and staff participated in a dodgeball tournament organized by...
With the school year well underway across Wyoming, both Governor Mark Gordon and Superintendent Megan Degenfelder are encouraging school districts to re-examine their policies regarding student cell phones. In a joint letter, Gordon and Degenfelder wrote, “While smartphones have the potential to enhance the learning process, growing evidence suggests that excessive, unregulated use during school hours can lead to declines in academic performances and increase in classroom disruptions.” The gov...
Bees descended upon Saratoga Elementary School on September 26. So did dogs, goats, tractors and llamas. There were even some tractors and other ranching equipment. All of it was part of the school’s annual Ag Day which focuses on agriculture in Wyoming. SES and Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation (SER) District partnered to provide eight stations highlighting various aspects of agriculture. “The purpose of the event is to give students the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in...
With the ballot for the 2024 General Election set, voters in Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) will have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates running for office this year. According to a press release from the Carbon County 2 Education Association, a School Board Candidates Forum will be hosted at the Platte Valley Community Center. Of the four offices up for election this year, only one of them is a contested race. Incumbents Nick Wamsley, Joe Gaspari and Georgia Miller will be running unopposed. Elk Mountain’s Paul C...
It was a cold and blustery day when the 41 students from Encampment’s kindergarten through third grade got off the bus at Lewis Lake in the Snowy Range. Rayna Greenwood, the third-grade teacher, had all the students gather at a picnic table to be divided into groups. The goal for September 18 included doing environmental artwork inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, a scavenger hunt and the study of rocks and minerals, led by Justin Stern, the education coordinator and resource specialist with the S...
When is a rodent not a rodent? That is exactly what the Saratoga Elementary School’s kindergarten class was looking to find during their September 19 field trip to the Snowy Range. Children explored the rocks around Mirror Lake looking for the elusive pika. Kindergarten teacher Jaimie Lee led the expedition to catch a glimpse of the elusive critter. According to the National Park Service, while pikas may resemble a rodent they are closely related to rabbits. Pikas have tan- to grey-colored c...
A bus full of 6th and 8th grade students rode to the Snowy Range September 11 for a science class with Encampment K-12 sixth grade teacher Jordan Seitz. “Rain or snow, we go,” Seitz said. Seitz also teaches 6th and 8th grade earth science, but combines classes for different trips and rotates locations through the years. The science field trip was filled with hikes, hugging rocks and learning about eras from the past which shaped the east side of the Snowy Range. The unique classroom allowed stu...
“This is a really heavy topic and nobody wants to be having this conversation, but I do think it’s in our best interest to have these discussions and make decisions on our own behalf.” A closing comment from Kassey Westring, chairman of the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Board of Trustees, summarized a nearly hour long discussion at their pre-meeting work session on September 16. The topic, which included both Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken and Encampment Police Chief Kevin Shue,...
by D'Ron Campbell and Joshua Wood and Richard Espinoza No stranger to the Valley, Jake Johnston has taken a new leadership role at Encampment K-12 School beginning this school year with the retirement of Mike Erickson after 19 years with Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2). Johnston started his experience in a leadership role at Encampment K-12 as the acting principal for an interim period before Erickson fully retired. Johnston graduated from Saratoga High School in 2008. He also...
The Encampment FFA held their monthly meeting on August 28, 2024, to review the plans and ideas developed by the officer team in their previous session. The officers proposed hosting a pizza and ice cream social in the Ag Building for both members and non-members. The event was a success, with 25 students participating. During the meeting, several key topics were discussed, including FFA dues, the theme for the year, community service, fundraising efforts, and the possibility of attending the...
Commitment to education in the classroom was the biggest factor for Saratoga Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Heather Strannigan’s recognition as this year’s Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Teacher of the Year. Strannigan graduated from Saratoga Middle High in 2014 and has taught at Saratoga Elementary School for seven years. “When I was in high school, I had an opportunity to be a student aide in a kindergarten class here at Saratoga Elementary School,” Strannigan said. “It gav...
Carbon County 4-H has lots to be proud of with six state champion titles that came home in July from the Wyoming 4-H State Shooting Sports Contest in Douglas. The first trophy was won by the Junior Shotgun Team consisting of Ira Haskins (Baggs), Tuff Weber (Baggs), Stran Weeldreyer (Baggs), and Coy Munroe (Encampment). Shotgun team members shoot 50 clays in a singles round and then 50 more clays in a handicap round. Individual scores out of 100 are combined for the team score and Carbon County’s Jr team scored 324 to clinch first. Coy led t...
The Encampment FFA held its first meeting of the school year on July 30th on the front lawn of the school. The goal for this meeting was to kick off not only the upcoming fair season, both county and state, but also to grow and strengthen the FFA community throughout Encampment school. The FFA officers, having met earlier in the month, decided what better way to get spirits up then a friendly cornhole tournament. All students from both the middle and high school were invited and encouraged to...
After 30 years with Head Start in Saratoga, which operates under Carbon County Child Development, Pat Forbes is retiring as director. Forbes had an interesting journey before working at Head Start. While she always loved kids, childcare was not a career she planned on from the start. “I was going to be a stewardess. I had a degree in Spanish and Sociology. In 1974, when I graduated from college the first time, there was a fuel embargo. Everything shut down in the United States, including Pan A... Full story
Since 1993, the Platte Valley Arts Council has been enriching the quality of life in the area and expanding educational opportunities for all forms of the arts, whether it is music, literature, dance, visual arts, or theater. Its mission is “to foster awareness of and participation in any form of the arts, with the aim of developing vibrant and cohesive communities.” The arts council’s purpose is to keep Art in our everyday lives. In the year 2000, the arts council began awarding schol...
As high school seniors were practicing their graduation walks and making sure they had all their assignments turned in before accepting their diplomas, Saratoga Head Start held its own graduation. Part of Carbon County Child Development, Head Start held their graduation ceremony on May 22 at the Platte Valley Community Center Theater. Saratoga Head Start Director Pat Forbes led the commencement along with other Head Start staff as they showcased what students had learned for the school year,...
Fifth graders from across the county took a field trip to the Carbon County Courthouse to participate in a mock trial on May 21. Students from Rawlins, Saratoga and Baggs participated in the mock trial to learn about the judicial system with two groups at the courthouse. One held their trial at 9 a.m. and the other at noon. During the mock trial itself, students were given different roles, with some students given scripts and acting as witnesses, and others becoming members of the jury. The...
It was recently announced Saratoga Middle High School alumni Whitney Bennett made the President’s Honor Roll for Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs. Bennett, who graduated from SMHS in 2023, earned a 3.72 grade point average and was one of 91 students listed on the honor roll. Chase Kennedy and Mackenzie Priest, who are both set to graduate from Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Junior/Senior High School this year were listed on the Part-Time Honor Roll for Western Wyoming Community College. Kennedy earned a 3.33 grade p...
It was a day of laughter, joy, tears, and happiness as Saratoga seniors took part in college signing day on Senior Fischer Williams said he had almost forgotten about signing day. He said he ended up wearing his crazy shorts when he signed his letter. “It was a lot of fun and I almost forgot it was happening,” Williams said. “It is exciting to come together with my family and friends on this special day.” Williams has signed a letter of commitment to Northwest College (NWC) and wants to major i...