Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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Sometimes it is worth looking a gift horse in the mouth. Publishers Clearing House can only be described as a cultural phenomenon. For decades, commercials have aired showing real people being presented checks by the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol. What may seem like a one-in-a-million chance of winning is, actually, a one in 6.2 billion chance of winning the company's "$5,000 A Week for Life" sweepstakes according to the Publishers Clearing House website. On December...
Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) advised parents today of a post shared widely on the social media platform TikTok. The post, which appears to be part of a national TikTok trend, refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary” on December 17. The notification comes as the United States saw its 29th school shooting of 2021 on December 1 at a high school in Humboldt, Tennessee. Parents throughout the district were notified of the...
The Wyoming Department of Corrections announced the promotion of Neicole Molden from deputy warden to warden of Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins on Friday. Molden was hired by the Wyoming Department of Corrections in 2009 as a Unit Manager Supervisor. Since being with the Wyoming Department of Corrections, she has held the positions of Associate Warden and Deputy Warden at Wyoming State Penitentiary. In total, Molden has more than 28 years in criminal justice. She hold a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the U...
The winter weather which closed down much of Interstate 80 this past weekend also closed down the second of two seasonal passes in the Platte Valley. On December 10, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced the closure of Wyoming Highway 70 over Battle Pass for the winter season. According to the press release from WYDOT, crews in Baggs and Saratoga made the decision based on weather forecasts and road conditions at the time. The section of Wyoming Highway 70 which connects the Platte Valley and the Little...
A nearly 30 year old cold case has been solved by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Cold Case Team according to a press release from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. On July 23, 1995, two Carbon County residents who had been camping in the area of South Spring Creek Reservoir in the Medicine Bow National Forest reported an attack by a male assailant. The male, who was armed with a rifle during the incident, committed multiple sexual assau...
After three meetings and months of discussion, a potential moratorium on energy development from the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) in the Shirley Basin failed by a vote of 2-3 on December 7. The split vote from the county commissioners came after multiple individuals from Medicine Bow spoke out against the moratorium. Prior to the vote by the BOCCC, Chairman John Johnson allowed members of the public to comment on the potential action. Before the comments,...
As the Wyoming Legislature goes through the once-in-a-decade process of redistricting, it appears the 2020 Census may have negative impacts for Carbon County following the December meeting of the Joint Corporations Committee. In an update on the process from Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett on December 7, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) were made aware of the potential dissolution of House District 47. The district, which encompasses most of Carbon...
The Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District (UPRSWDD) met December 1 for their regularly scheduled meeting. Amongst the topics discussed were the possibility of landfill system changes and an addition to the Saratoga landfill for a recycling facility. Brought to the table in the December meeting was a weigh in and weight out option for all trash, with a paid collection at the gate. The proposal would eliminate billing all together and create a pay by weight or...
Just one day after the retirement of Carbon County Treasurer Patty Bentsen, three candidates were selected to be presented to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCC) on December 7. The Carbon County Democratic Party Central Committee, led by Chairman Jacob Mickselsen, held a meeting at the Rawlins Library on December 4 to interview potential replacements for Bentsen. The requirements of filling a vacancy in county elected offices is laid out under Wyoming State Statute...
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) encourages eligible fully vaccinated Wyoming adults to enhance and extend their protection against COVID-19 by getting a single booster dose of one of the available free, safe and effective vaccines. National experts have updated their booster recommendations to include anyone 18 and over who received their second Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dose at least six months ago and anyone 18 and over who received a Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago....
The Saratoga Police Department now has yet another tool when it comes to addressing crime in Saratoga. During the November 16 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, the governing body authorized the police department to subscribe to LeadsOnline for a fee of $1,428 per calendar year. Sergeant Tyler Christen informed the council of the program, stating the department had been subscribed to it in the past. “They’re a company that allows us to monitor the pawn shops, so any sto...
A preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri was welcomed by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon on Monday afternoon. According to a press release from Gordon’s office, the injunction halts implementation and enforcement of a rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which would impose a vaccine mandate on healthcare workers. Gordon and Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill had entered Wyoming in a lawsuit with a 10-state coalition which included Missouri, N...
The Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC) did not meet in November but did have a meeting in on October 13. All board members were present with the exception of Casey Shinkle, the Carbon County CCVC representative. The meeting was held a week early due to the Tourism and Hospitality Fall Summit which several board members attending on October 21 to 22. The Carbon County Visitors’ Council is currently out of printed recreation maps designed in 2018. Additionally, the county g...
“Shane come back… Shane… Come back…,” child actor Brandon De Wilde shouted out at the mysterious cowboy who rode into the sunrise after saving the boy’s town from bad men. It is the last words of the movie “Shane”, which was filmed entirely in Jackson, Wyoming. That was 1955 and it was the last major studio production filmed in the Cowboy state. There have been a few big budget movies, such as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, which have shot some scenes in Wyoming b...
At the November 18 rescheduled meeting of Riverside Town Council, a decision was made regarding new playground equipment as well as a change in sewer tap fees. A new town website has been uploaded. Also still present on the agenda is public safety. GameTime Equipment may be the source of Riverside’s newest playground equipment. After extensive research by community member Makenzie Rakness the town council has decided to pursue the project further through the company as well a...
While Patty Bentsen will officially retire from her position as Carbon County Treasurer effective December 3, she will remain in the position for a little longer than expected. At their November 16 meeting, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) unanimously passed Resolution No. 2021-41 appointed Bentsen as Interim Carbon County Treasurer effective December 3. Bentsen originally submitted her resignation letter on October 5, at which point it was expected a nominee...
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) are closer to placing a moratorium on energy development in the Shirley Basin following their November 16 meeting. While a resolution was presented to the commissioners, the need for further review has pushed any action back to their December 7 meeting. As wind energy projects continue to pour into Carbon County, and specifically around Medicine Bow, an ongoing study from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) appears to...
Who is the ultimate authority when municipal boards are in disagreement? This was the question raised by Councilmember D’Ron Campbell during the November 16 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. As the Saratoga Municipal Airport (Shively Airfield) undergoes its apron expansion project and a rehabilitation of its entryway, the Saratoga Airport Advisory Board is looking for solutions to remove a leach field long used by the fixed-base operator (FBO). The solution preferred by t...
Though the lower portions of the Platte Valley have experienced some slightly warmer weather in recent weeks, winter is on its way. On November 11, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced the seasonal closure of Wyoming Highway 130 through the Snowy Range. According to the press release from WYDOT, blowing and drifting snow combined with upcoming weather conditions and road conditions warranted closing the high country section of Wyoming Highway 130, also...
The Hanna Town Council met on November 9 at Hanna Town Hall with Mayor Lois Buchanan present, along with council members William Dys and Sam Sikes. Council members Tracy Fowler and Jayson Norquist were absent. After the agenda and minutes from the October 12 regular meeting and October 25 special meeting were approved, a new marshal was sworn in. Ted F. Kranenberg Jr. took the Oath of Office in front of his family and the people in attendance for the meeting. Public Works...
The Medicine Bow Town Council met on November 8 for their regular monthly meeting at the Medicine Bow Community Hall with all council members present with the exception of Dawndee Yocom. Mayor Sharon Biamon was also in attendance. After the agenda and minutes from the regular meeting of October 11 were approved the town went onto financials. Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath went over the bills item-by-item for a sum of $60,666.84. The council ratified the total. Kay Embree,...
With no additions to the agenda, and no public guests, the November 11 meeting of the Encampment Town Council had a quick .eeting. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the council started right away with the October 2021 financial statement. The council approved regular monthly bills of $22,045.69 for payroll and contracted liabilities. Moving along to updates on the Sewer Lagoon Improvement Project, the town council and Engineer Jon Nelson discussed options for improvement and...
It is often joked that in Wyoming the wind is so prevalent, when there’s a day without it everyone in the state falls flat on their faces. This seems especially true for Carbon County, especially around Hanna and Medicine Bow. Due to the surplus of wind in the area, the past decade has seen a number of energy companies converge on the Cowboy State with wind energy projects. What has been unknown since windmills and transmission lines began cropping up, however, is the i...
Booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech (Pfizer) and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Carbon County. Amanda Brown, Nurse Manager of Carbon County Public Health, provided the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) with a number of updates surrounding vaccines during their November 2 meeting. These included the status of booster doses in Carbon County, pediatric doses of Pfizer and their availability, and Carbon County's vaccination rate. Boosters "I've been getting...
The Saratoga Town Council waded into the polarized and politicized debate over vaccines on November 2 as they unanimously passed a resolution relating to vaccine requirements, despite apparent concerns expressed by legal counsel prior to the meeting. Resolution 2021-04, which was drafted by Councilmember Jon Nelson, did not appear on the agenda for the meeting but was added by the council member following the Call to Order. After reading the resolution into the record, Nelson...
