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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 according to Lenny...
A 55-year-old Elk Mountain man was arrested on May 17 by the Hanna Marshal’s Office following an investigation that began in late February. Charges filed against Lyle Gordon Richardson allege he committed the crimes of sexual exploitation of children and endangering children. If convicted, Richardson could face up to 13 years in prison, a fine of $11,000 or both. He is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. To protect both the victim and their family, their names will not be used in t...
At the May 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, Saratoga Police Chief Ken Lehr cited an increase in drug related offenses and violent crime in a request to advertise for a fifth police officer. While the town council unanimously approved the request, it came following a lengthy discussion led by Councilmember Jon Nelson about the communication, or lack thereof, between the police department, the council and the public. Build it, they will come Following Lehr’s request, Nelson clarified w...
The Saratoga Town Council unanimously passed their budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 on 1st reading during their May 18 meeting with Ordinance No. 859. While the governing body is anticipating more than $3 million in general fund revenues, the council still has work to do as the budget currently shows a deficit of nearly $300,000. The council has just two more readings to close the delta before the beginning of the fiscal year. The majority of the anticipated general fund revenues will come from...
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) announced on May 21 the likely final phase for statewide public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the immediate removal of one of the two remaining orders. Statewide public health order No. 2, which affected indoor events of more than 500 people, is now eliminated. Mask use and physical distancing requirements in statewide public health order No. 1 related to K-12 schools will remain through May 31, while the same requirements for colleges are immediately eliminated. An extension...
A sure sign of summer on its way, both scenic byways into the Platte Valley were officially opened last week by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). The first byway to open was Wyoming Highway 70, which officially opened on May 20 according to a press release from WYDOT. Also known as the Battle Pass Scenic Byway, this 23 mile section of highway connects the Encampment/Riverside area with the Little Snake River Valley as well as providing access to various United States Forest Servi...
Less than a year since the failed first reading of an ordinance that would amend Chapter 5.30 of the Saratoga Municipal Code, the discussion of specially permitted events and outdoor music appears to be returning to both the planning commission and the Saratoga Town Council. At the May 11 meeting of the Saratoga Planning Commission, the discussion was started by Saratoga resident Chris Shannon. Shannon is the co-owner of The Yard, a music venue across from the Angus England American Legion Post...
As spring run-off begins and the snow turns to rain, potential hazards from the Mullen Fire are beginning to impact potential early season recreationists. On May 12, the United States Forest Service announced that post-wildfire hazards along the North Platte River had prompted a temporary camping prohibition. Effective as of the issuance of the announcement, overnight camping on National Forest lands within 1,000 feet of the centerline of the North Platte River was prohibited. The portion of the...
As houses seemingly fly off the market and rentals are non-existent in the Platte Valley, the topic of affordable housing appears to be ever more prevalent. During the May 11 meeting of the Saratoga Planning Commission, the need for affordable housing was raised by Steve Niccolls, a Saratoga resident and pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Saratoga. "If it wasn't for the fact that the church that I serve provided me with a manse, I'm not sure I would have been able to stay here because,...
On May 11, Governor Mark Gordon announced Wyoming would end its participation in federal supplemental unemployment benefits. The reason for the decision, according to the announcement, was to address workforce shortages being felt throughout the state. The programs providing the supplemental unemployment benefits were made available through federal laws initiated in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Assistance to Unemployed Workers Act of 2020. The...
The Hanna Town Council meeting started early at 6:20 p.m. on May 11 at the Hanna Town Hall to allow the public to discuss the renewal of liquor licenses. There was no input from the anyone seated in the audience. All council members were present as was Mayor Lois Buchanan, town clerk Leslie Birge and treasurer Ann Calvert. The Council approved regular items pertaining to the agenda and April 13 minutes. Buchanan said the board and department reports would be discussed if there were any questions...
The Hanna fire department is volunteer, the same as many small towns in Wyoming. Finding people to commit to the time and training needed to be a volunteer isn't easy and, when a town fire department does, it wants to make sure it can give these folk the best equipment possible. The problem? Money doesn't come easy to small towns to fund a fire department, especially a town like Hanna which doesn't have many businesses within its limits. Fundraising can be very difficult, yet equipment to keep...
For more than a decade, Tyler Pickett Memorial Park has been a “someday” project for the Town of Saratoga. Despite assurances over the years that the project was nearly shovel ready, it has remained in the planning stages. However, that appears to be changing following the May 4 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Joe Parsons, Vice Commander of Angus England American Legion Post 54, appeared before the governing body requesting Mayor Creed James approve the formation of a working group to sta...
As the 2022 election cycle seems to be heating up early, election precincts and municipal boundaries were a point of discussion during the May 4 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. The discussion stemmed from concerns raised by Joey Correnti IV, Carbon County Republican Chairman, to Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett. In addition to the discussion of election precincts, Bartlett also briefly talked to the commissioners about the voter identification law recently passed by the...
Nearly two months after appointing a new town clerk, the Town of Saratoga will begin the search for a new town treasurer. The resignation of the current treasurer, Sammy Flohr, was announced by Mayor Creed James during the May 4 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Additionally, while the governing body will begin advertising for another town hall vacancy, it appears an audit of Fiscal Year 2019/2020 will finally take place. A proposal from an accounting firm in Lander was unanimously accepted...
Council President Lucinda Schofield called the Medicine Bow Town Council to order on April 12 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall. Those present were Schofield and Councilmembers Cindy Chace, Sharon Kahl (via speakerphone), and Dawndee Yocom. Mayor Sharon Biamon was absent. Also, present were Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath, Town Marshal David Redding, Fire Chief Peter Andrews. The minutes of March 8 were approved and the bills were ratified by the council. Ordinance 1-2021B went through its...
Though Carbon County has received some much needed moisture in the past few days, fire departments throughout the county have been dealing with an increasing number of wildland fires due to a dryer-than-normal spring. During the May 4 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), interim Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford informed the board none of the fires were what he considered accidental. “Unfortunately we’re having fires already. Little Snake River Valley’s had a few...
The combination of visitors to the Valley and contractors for the ongoing wind energy projects in northeastern Carbon County is, apparently, leading to extra work for the Saratoga Police Department according to Chief Ken Lehr. Lehr informed the Saratoga Town Council about the increasing workload for his department during the May 4 meeting of the governing body following a request from Councilmember Ben Spaulding. “Chief, I know you guys are getting taxed with a lot of stuff, especially with t...
Just one day after Paul Zamora's effective retirement as the Carbon County Coroner, the Carbon County Republican Party Central Committee unanimously selected a candidate to fill the vacancy. Brittany Nyman, who served as chief deputy coroner under Zamora, will be presented to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) during their May 4 meeting in Rawlins. As was previously reported (see "No finer professional" on page 1 of the April 28 Saratoga Sun), Zamora's retirement was announced via...
Carbon County Road 351, also known as Seminoe Road, may be seeing far more traffic than normal. It also may be seeing more attention than normal. During the April 20 meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC), Kandis Fritz discussed a potential road use agreement for County Road 351 as well as potential grants for repairing the deteriorating road. Sand mines Fritz informed the commissioners that she had received a call the day before the meeting about potential hauling on...
It was difficult to find a dry eye in the Medicine Bow Senior Center on April 20 as Carbon County Coroner Paul Zamora announced his resignation via letter to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC). “It is with great sorrow and trepidation that I inform you of my decision to retire at the end of this month. This decision stems from the current treading of my illness,” wrote Zamora. “It is time to focus all my energy on treatment and a little fun.” The letter, read by Chairman John Johns...
With budget sessions beginning this week for the Saratoga Town Council, the search continues for an accounting firm to audit Fiscal Year 2019/2020. At the April 20 meeting of the governing body, Mayor Creed James stated he had been in contact with several firms since being informed by Carver Florek and James that they would not engage with the Town of Saratoga for a second year. In similar financial business, the town council discussed two different State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grants...
Governor Mark Gordon signed legislation on April 21 that officially launches the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) in Wyoming. The program will utilize $200 million in federal funding to cover rent and utility costs for Wyomingites struggling financially due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gordon signed an Executive Order in February directing the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) to create the administrative infrastructure for the program so that funds could be distributed quickly upon passage of this...
In coming weeks, Medicine Bow National Forest fire personnel are hoping to conduct prescribed burns in the northwest portion of the Sierra Madre Range. The targeted burns will improve vegetation conditions and wildlife habitat, as well as reduce fire danger by mitigating fuel loading. Primary burn units this spring include approximately 220 acres in the Divide Peak area and are part of the Divide Peak Prescribed Burn Project. Located on the northern end of the Sierra Madres in Carbon Co., Wyoming, this project area is nearly 1,600 acres and...
The Hanna Town Council met on April 12 at the Hanna Town Hall. The council members present were Sam Sikes and Bill Dys. Council members Tracy Fowler and Jayson Nordquist were absent. Mayor Lois Buchanan was present. The council heard reports from the different departments and boards and once they were completed, the council approved them all. The bills to be paid up to March 31, totaling $35,341.87, were ratified. The bills to be paid on April 14, totaling $19,194.03, were approved next....