Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 526 - 550 of 5181
JACKSON — For the first time in recent memory, a small herd of horses was grazing outside the Teton County Library. Inside, their owner, Jake Hutton, wore a worn, drooping cowboy hat as he regaled state officials with his thoughts on why 640 acres of state land near Kelly shouldn’t be auctioned off. Hutton grazes his small herd on the parcel, which is just east of Grand Teton National Park, and runs an outfitting business there. He’d like to keep that job, but could...
Late one stormy London night in 1763, a man filled with despair was determined to end his life. He hired a driver to take him to the river and was convinced that if he could only cast himself into the depths of the Thames, his agony could be finally put to an end. He was unwavering in his resolve as he stepped down from the carriage and as it pulled away; he walked through the fog toward the pier and suddenly noticed a strange figure sitting there, staring at him as if he had been expecting him. In the awkward silence, he...
After several years of the Platte Valley Helping Hands (PVHH) Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner being available by delivery only, the 27th Annual Dinner will return with a dine-in option. This delicious free traditional Thanksgiving meal is available to anyone in the valley, but you must contact a PVHH Board Member by Friday, November 17th by calling any one of these Board members: Marilyn Verplancke 326-8190, Crissy Blocker 329-3468, Wanda Snell 256-2860 or Jamie Campbell 321-8728. The PVHH Board decided to eliminate their...
In the southeast corner of Wyoming sits the state’s only university, home of the University of Wyoming Cowboys and alma mater of current NFL players such as Josh Allen and Logan Wilson. Just a stone’s throw away from War Memorial Stadium—which arguably becomes the most densely populated location during home football games—is a surprising looking structure with equally surprising contents. The American Heritage Center (AHC) is located within the Centennial Complex which catches...
Area veterans and their guests were honored at the annual Veterans Day dinner at the Angus Eng American Legion in Saratoga Saturday night. Those in attendance enjoyed an excellent dinner, prepared by the Legion staff, shared in reflections and remembrance over the course of the evening. One poignant moment came when Legionnaire Don Ainsworth shared memories of boyhood friend Darwin Judge USMC. Judge and his fellow Marine, Charles McMahon, were the last two American casualties...
When the Kiwanis Club wanted some new benches for the Platte Valley Kiwanis Ice Rink on Veterans Island they knew just where to turn. Kiwanis members Cindy Carnes and Barbara Youngberg contacted Todd Weber, Industrial Tech teacher at Saratoga Middle/High School. Mr. Weber enlisted two of his outstanding students, seniors Jax Pagnac and Tuker Carricato. The end result show that Mr. Weber choose the right men for the job. Barbara and Cindy were impressed with the craftsmanship...
Cooler weather may have arrived, heralding the eventual return of winter, but that doesn’t mean bodies of water with harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCB) are any less of a danger. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming Livestock Board are continuing to remind people—especially hunters and anglers—to continue to avoid harmful algal blooms. “Although most blooms occur during the warmer months and blooms are expected to dissipate as temperatures decrease, some types o...
At a special meeting held on November 2, the Carbon County Republican Party Central Committee selected three candidates for the vacancy on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) following the resignation of Commissioner Byron Barkhurst. As was previously reported, Barkhurst’s resignation was accepted by the commissioners on October 17. At the same meeting, the BOCCC also declared a vacancy and provided a written letter to the chairman of the Carbon County R...
As we enter the holiday season and Americans across the country look forward to spending time with family, thousands of service members deployed overseas – many to the Middle East in response to the Israel-Hamas war – will not have that luxury and will be spending the holidays far away from loved ones. Here is how USO Holidays programming delivers a piece of home to them, along with ideas for how you can get involved: - Care packages: A care package might seem small in lig...
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming National Guard, renowned as the vanguard of military readiness and safeguarding Wyoming’s citizens and the United States, boasts a rich history of unwavering dedication to excellence. With its roots dating back to the late 19th century, the Wyoming Guard has become an indispensable asset in our nation’s defense and disaster response efforts. The Wyoming Army Guard was officially established in 1870. Its first federally recognized unit, Company A, 1st Wyoming Regiment, was founded in 1888, with...
Alan Brundage looks very unassuming. He’s tall, standing over six feet, and sports a beard and mustache. He speaks in a soft tone but with purpose and intent, making one feel that if he’s talking they better listen as it’s likely something worth being said. Brundage, who has lived in the Platte Valley for around two years now, spent nearly 50 years working for the federal government when one includes his time in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air F...
When was the last time you thanked a military member or veteran for their service? November is National Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month and an excellent time to celebrate, support and honor service members. That’s why Points of Light, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing people to take action that changes the world, is sharing ways you can get involved, along with the stories of former military members already doing so. From volunteering to donating and beyond, these ideas are based on t...
When it comes to honoring veterans and their service to the United States, there are various ways in which people, businesses and organizations show their respect. It can be a “thank you” in passing on the street, a dinner honoring their service or a business offering discounts. One way in which the State of Wyoming and county assessors show their appreciation for someone’s service is through a veteran’s exemption for either property taxes or vehicle licensing. How does it...
What if you were told an hour of your time could change someone’s life? In the time it takes you to read this article, nearly 100 people will receive lifesaving blood transfusions. By taking just an hour or so to donate, you will do something wonderful! Here, in the southern part of Wyoming, it takes 500 people a week to donate blood to serve the 47 area hospitals in this region! One out of every 3 people will need blood during their lives, but only one in 20 people regularly give blood. Saratoga’s next blood drive with Vit...
An annual tradition, the Platte Valley Giving Tree Project is set to return for another year of giving area residents an opportunity to give to others. Kassey Westring, Valley Service Organization (VSO) coordinator for the 2023 Platte Valley Giving Tree project said forms for inclusion on the Giving Tree have been distributed and the deadline for families to return the application forms is Thursday, November 16. Forms were distributed to area families earlier through Saratoga and Encampment schools, preschools, Head Start,...
In Matthew 22:34-35, Jesus is being tested by the Pharisees, asking him which commandment is the greatest. Not which of the Ten Commandments, but which of all the commandments in Torah – those first five books of the Old Testament. Torah has 613 commands according to Jewish tradition. Jesus answers them by quoting Scripture. Specifically, part of the Shema, the prayer that all devout Jews are to recite daily. The part that Jesus quotes to the Pharisees is part 3 of the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:5 - “You shall love the Lor...
History buffs and folks interested in this area’s pictorial heritage are invited to climb aboard the stage running from Walcott Junction, Wyo., to Pearl, Colo., Thursday evening, Nov. 16th. Boarding will be at 6:30 in the Saratoga Branch Library for a 45 minute narrated video stage coach ride to be presented by Dick Perue of Historical Reproductions by Perue. Perue is a collector of Saratoga & Encampment valley history and is working to “preserve local history one picture at a...
As goes the Red Desert, so goes the rest of the country. This is the concern of Representative Bob Davis (R - Baggs) of House District 47. Davis’ district, while encompassing most of Carbon County, also includes portions of Sweetwater County which is included in the Red Desert. Since it was released in August of this year, the draft resource management plan from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the Red Desert has been the center of controversy and debate. C...
Wyoming is home to only one military installation, but that base, F.E. Warren in Cheyenne, has a notable history, and continues to play a significant role in the nation’s defenses. Originally established in 1867 as Fort D. A. Russell, F. E. Warren Air Force Base is the oldest continuously active military installation within the Air Force. The former Army fort turned over to the, then, newly formed branch, upon its inception, in 1947. Today it is home to the 90th Missile W...
For nearly 40 years, a homicide in Jackson County, Colorado haunted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Since 1987, the identity of the victim had eluded law enforcement until recently. According to a press release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the use of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG, and other advancements in technology allowed sheriff’s office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Inves...
As we were working on this special Veterans Day section the Sun, of course, wanted to include stories from area service members. Then there was some discussion about including my father’s story as well. I was a little reluctant since it doesn’t have a local tie. But, yes, it is interesting. Interesting enough that I am going to share it here. My father, Frank, is one of the horse soldiers you see in this old photo. I’m not sure many people realize that the U.S. Army and the N...
When Eric Soyez joined the United States Navy, he became the 3rd generation in his family to serve in that branch of the Armed Forces. His father and his grandfather had both served and had been jet mechanics. “I’ll be honest, I was a little bit of a hellraiser when I was a kid and I got myself in a little bit of trouble,” said Soyez. “I thought maybe it was time to turn the other direction and do something with my life.” While he followed—in a way—in the footsteps of his fath...
Justin Brown can be pretty easy to pick out in a crowd. He stands at over six feet tall and is covered in tattoos. When he speaks, he has a bit of a southern drawl. Though he owns and operates TYK9 just outside Saratoga now, he was once a Ranger in the United States Army. He also spent six years working for Blackwater. Now a civilian, Brown works with domestic dogs and does K9 training shepherds and malinois. The drawl he has when he speaks is a holdover from being raised in t...
