Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 1027 - 1051 of 1488
There are many things I have learned in my years in the west. As a “round peg in a square state” I have learned (and written) about hunting, fishing, hunting and fishing guides, gates and why you don’t want to sit “shotgun,” rowing a raft, snow and its consequences and much more. But never before have I written about cowboys. Before I get started, I want to warn you that I am, at some point in this column, going to make a joke so bad I pretty much guarantee you will groan aud... Full story
It was early, like it always seems to be for things like this. I had a vague idea of what I needed for the day, since I’ve been once before; warm stuff that’s not cotton for under my dry suit, gloves, my dry suit, fresh clothes for when we get off the river, and so on. It wasn’t warm outside, so I grabbed an extra wool sweater and stuffed it in the dry bag. Lunch was my job that morning, and with all the produce we had just gotten I decided to throw some stuff together that... Full story
Editor, There seems to be some confusion around our town about the cost the town bears for the Community Garden. I was not part of the ordinance developed by the last administration and Voices of the Valley in 2011 that created the Community Garden, but am an original member. The ordinance provided for development of the Town property where the Garden stands and a typical budgetary process and a Board. The Town put in the water tap and two frost-free water spigots and provides the water. The Town also volunteered to put up... Full story
Editor, Kudos to Mr. Winter and the town for handing what needed done to shore up the bridge prior to high water. Anyone who has looked at the North Platte River in the past month can see it has been carrying so much sediment that a few, or even a hundred, trips across it with equipment was not going to materially influence turbidly of the river to any significant degree. For a little perspective, we just need to think about what has made this river a great fishery. For over a hundred years ranchers have been working in the... Full story
At the last meeting of the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD No. 2) on April 18 in Hanna, Superintendent Jim Copeland notified the board that a group of people in Saratoga has asked the school district to consider donating land near Saratoga Elementary School (SES) for an expansion of the ExCel preschool. While Copeland said there was not a formal motion to the board to consider such a donation, he did say he wanted to bring the proposal to the board’s attention. ExCel preschool currently occupies trailers on land b... Full story
This tale took place during my Peace Corps service, when I took a two week trip to Ghana during my summer break from teaching at a school in Burkina Faso. This adventure begins in the least likely of places: a beach resort. Now, don’t get me wrong, beach resorts are wonderful locales to read on the sand, coax out a tan or savor a complicated cocktail. I did all of these things at the Green Turtle Lodge” on the southern tip of Ghana, and I enjoyed them greatly. Nev... Full story
Editor, During National Travel and Tourism Week, May 1-7, The Carbon County Visitors’ Council celebrated by wearing red on May 3 to demonstrate their support for all Hospitality workers across Carbon County who provide travelers with an awesome and friendly experience. In 2015 there were 1,470 people employed from tourist activity. Since 2010, visitor spending has continued upward here in Carbon County. 2015 was a great year and 2016 is looking spectacular as well! The lodging tax provides for many grants to fund local p... Full story
I had dreamed for years about going on a cruise. Names like Titanic, Lusitania and Poseidon (maybe there’s a weird theme there) have always conjured romantic images of rolling about on a boundless ocean. Finally I got my chance. My best friend Phil, who lives in Houston, and I planned to take a sea voyage. While scanning for prices we found that while kids are in school is the time with the lowest rates—and January worked for me. During the booking process, I talked with Mom... Full story
I never thought I would do work as a reporter. My senior seminar professor, while we were discussing possible career paths as I finished college, even point blank told me that she couldn’t see me working at a newspaper. Ever. In fact, she didn’t think I would be good at it. This was not meant as a flaw to my character at all, but rather a note of how I could best serve the writing community and literature as a whole. Any talent I have is definitely not for reporting. This sam... Full story
Editor, The Town has been approached by Jared Mason, SHS teacher, to see if the Town can use the services of four of his students in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to help them earn money to go to Atlanta, Ga., in June to compete at nationals. They need $4,500 for this. Mr. Winter knows we need extra muscle at the Saratoga dog park to do repairs to the holding enclosure to eliminate dangerous ice and snow between the holding pen gates. The 39-foot dirt path between the gates gets dug down over time by the... Full story
It doesn’t take long for misfortune to find me on this journey. It’s January, 2015, and I’m on the first leg of a long Greyhound voyage from Chicago Ill. to Rapid City S. D., where I’ll be visiting a friend I haven’t seen in years, in a place I’ve never been anywhere near. So begins another day in my itchy-footed life. Following a 10 p.m., snowy departure from downtown Chicago, my bus rolls dutifully Northward to Milwaukee, Wis., then Minneapolis, Minn. Not fast enough thou... Full story
There it sits. Holed up in a corner of your house specially designed to accommodate it. It works tirelessly—24 hours a day, seven days a week—with little or no complaint (mine groans occasionally). It captivates your attention for large chunks of time. This boxy device bears the weight of your kitschy sayings, destination memories and kid’s artworks. Of course I am talking about the relatively unheralded refrigerator. It used to be an ice-box in simpler times, but then (as e... Full story
I was in class when I learned my grandmother, Oma, was approaching the end of her life. I left class in horror. Naturally, I was terribly sad for a night or two but I thought back to conversations with her when I was 15 years old, 14, 10. She was at peace with her life. She had an extensive history about her, children and grandchildren and she left many stories. I’m not sentimental generally but I kept several of her things, if only because she was so practical that she w...
Editor, A wonderful thing about the Town of Saratoga (there are so many!) is that the town is directly on the bicycle trail known as the TransAmerica Trail. The TransAmerica Trail is 4,228 miles long and goes from Oregon on the west coast to Virginia on the east coast. A small number of these riders pass through Saratoga each day during the riding season. I think this is a great opportunity for Saratoga! It wouldn’t take much to show these bicyclists some great Western hospitality. We could provide free or donation camping b... Full story
It was late September in St. Louis, the time of year when the heat and humidity make the air feel like a wet wool blanket that wraps around you when you dare step outside of the air conditioning. We sat in a café in St. Louis’ Central West End, where the city’s old money lives, and new money plays. First date jitters were still pretty intense, and the search for light-hearted get-to-know-you banter continued. “So you went back to college when you were in your 30s?” she asked. “Yes, journalism is my second career,“ I... Full story
Like many famous quotes, there is some uncertainty over who actually said “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.” Regardless of which dead man gets credit for the sentiment, that is what I set out to do when I packed my car and left the places and people I know deeply and love dearly back in Chicago. That was a little over three months – not to mention several lifetimes – ago. My girlfriend Michelle and I crossed the Mississippi on a dismally foggy early winter day... Full story
Below is my 100th column for the Saratoga Sun. Before I get to that there are some things I would like to say first. Or you could just skip this and go to the column. When I was initially anticipating putting this milestone (maybe just for me) in, I had no idea the changes that would be coming to the Sun. Making me the general manager? What, they want me to grow up or something? I have had to learn about web pages, online subscriptions, uploading legals to both national and st... Full story