Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 1182 - 1206 of 1488
Last week terrorists murdered 12 people in Paris. Ten of those killed worked at Charlie Hebdo, a satirical French magazine based in Paris, because the publication produced and printed irreverent cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad. The newspaper world responded to this tragedy with cartoons and editorials of their own, many of them playing on “the pen is mightier than the sword” theme. After the murders, everyone paying attention to the news became familiar with Charlie Hebdo. We would even go as far a saying Charlie Heb...
So, I was gabbing with the folks on the Encampment Town Council before their meeting on Thursday and the topic of kids and childcare in the Valley came up. An undisclosed source said they would be happy running a daycare facility if they actually liked other people’s children. I got a big laugh out of this. I have always loved kids in general, but I find I am very judgmental of “some people’s kids.” My judgment runs the gamut from “worst kid ever,” to “that kid is freakishly w...
“Together we are stronger!” That was the theme of the fundraiser for fire-stricken Dubois, Wyo. put on by the Encampment School during last Saturday’s basketball games. Job well done Encampment. You raised $1,273 for the Dubois Fire Fund that the Rams basketball teams could take home to their chamber of commerce. That’s more than $2 for every man, woman and child in town. As the fundraiser theme suggests, we in rural America are stronger together. Dubois has a population just under 1,000 people, about double the size of Enca... Full story
Happy New Year! With a New Year comes resolutions. I am a resolution person. I make resolutions every year, some I break, some I partially succeed at and some I am successful with. I decided to do some research to find statistics on resolutions. The University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology conducted research on Jan. 1, 2014. Here is what they found according to http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/. 1. Lose weight The No. 1 resolution was...
This is an example of when the headline came first. The article came only after the headline refused to leave my thinker thing. I wasn’t thinking about peas. I wasn’t thinking about the phrase you probably thought of when you read the title. I was a little down about my recently-wrecked cute little green car, but I wasn’t thinking about what kind of foods might make me feel better. It just showed up in my frontal lobe’s inbox. It might have been beamed there by little extra-qu... Full story
Writing the “Dunn in the Sun” column every month is often a well-needed change of pace. With columns there is no digging through notes, no listening to interviews, no research involved. It’s just me and my thoughts – talking about everything from life events to political issues. I’ve written more than one dozen columns in my year-long stint at the Saratoga Sun, but this will be my last. I have recently accepted a position as a staff writer with the Sheridan Press in Sheridan,...
I am darn proud of the people I am surrounded by in the Platte Valley this Christmas. Largely because of my duties with the Saratoga Sun, I have become more aware of the amount of giving and holiday spirit in the Valley than I was during my first two Christmas’ here. My family has a tradition, started by my sister-in-law, of the adults giving to each other’s charities of choice instead of piling gifts on each other. The children are exempt from this and are generally spo... Full story
Editor, I would like to comment on the article in the December 10th Saratoga Sun “Police Chief Combats WOHS.” The so called “Red Tape” that was referred to when accepting the grants has always been a requirement for the grants. However for years the sub-recipients of those grants have been spoiled, we were allowed to purchase pretty much what we wanted from our wish lists. Wish lists are those items that the city councils or commissioners may not normally approve the purchase of out of our budgets. In the past Wyoming...
Generosity shines through during this time of year. The Festival of Trees was no exception. Forty-three donations were made to the annual festival of trees and business people and residents of Saratoga and the Platte Valley pulled out their checkbooks to support this great event. The festival is in its 11th year and is still going strong. Every year, the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts the event and it continues to attract people and donations. Considering the fact that other communities around the state has...
I found it interesting that if I go anywhere in the Platte Valley without my camera, that is the first thing people notice. I love taking photos. It is probably the most favorite part of my job, and that is saying something, because I love my job. I traveled all over the Platte Valley with my camera this week – concerts, festivals, parades, basketball practice, basketball games you name it – it happened last week. My camera got quite the workout too. My camera has two slo... Full story
Well, it’s the holidays. Like many Americans, I hop in my car and drive to see relatives for Thanksgiving. Specifically, I go to see my father and his wife in Lawrence, Kan. This mostly-annual trip is no small undertaking as it is about 1,561 miles round trip. I set out Tuesday night for Cheyenne to stay with friends and get a running start on the 11 to 12 hour trip (that’s if you don’t stop a lot). The weather predictions are clear for the days I had planned to travel and I...
Thanksgiving is upon us, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s one of the greatest American holidays out there — anytime you combine sitting around all day watching football and enjoying fantastic meals with family, it’s nearly an impossible combination to beat. This Thanksgiving, like every Thanksgiving, it’s important to remember what you are thankful for. As for me, I have so many things to be thankful for, listing them off before I dive into a delicious turkey and mashed po... Full story
On Thursday, I had the privilege of attending a question and answer session for the media with legendary journalist Bob Woodward. In case you don't know who he is, as a young reporter, Woodward, along with Carl Bernstein, exposed the Watergate scandal and covered the ensuing political and legal turmoil that led to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. He has two Pulitzer Prizes and has authored or co-authored 12 books that have been number one in the nation for... Full story
This season, I had the privilege of covering the Encampment Lady Tigers volleyball team. I call it a privilege because they were an amazing group of girls to watch. I have covered volleyball off and on for the last several years when the sports reporter had more than one game to cover. Because I live halfway between Saratoga and Encampment, I volunteered to cover Encampment. Little did I know I would develop friendships while covering the Encampment girls. Next to my desk, on...
Editor, I would like to thank the Saratoga Sun for covering the First Annual Saratoga Community Garden Fall luncheon. We all had fun making dishes from our produce, hosting the town employees and others that have helped us, and giving away some of the bounty we had gathered. From my perspective, it came from a great mix of Valley people who have long contributed to improving our town, and new townspeople who brought lots of good ideas and energy. The Community Garden, which will continue to grow into an even greater asset to...
We are the Cowboy State for many reasons. This past weekend, four of Carbon County’s cowboys were recognized for their contribution to the state of Wyoming as ranchers. Wyoming is so cowboy, we have a Cowboy Code of Ethics. Wyoming was the first state to adopt a Code of Ethics in March 2010. • Live each day with courage • Take pride in your work • Always finish what you start • Do what has to be done • Be tough, but fair • When you make a promise, keep it • Ride for the brand • Talk less and say more • Remember that some...
I’m Keith McLendon, and I approved this message. Of course I did. I wrote the damned thing. After a given candidate has run on for his 30 seconds about how evil he thinks his opponent is, they then have to let you know (in no uncertain terms), that they agree wholeheartedly with the words that were just coming out of their mouths. I know PACs (Political Action Committees) pay for a lot of advertising. These messages do not come directly from the candidate’s campaign, so the PA... Full story
Dear Editor, I wanted to express my support for the creation of a Fire Protection District in Carbon County on the upcoming November ballot. I would also encourage residents of unincorporated Carbon County to support it as well. This issue has been placed on the ballot by our County Commissioners to address the ever growing need for resources in all of the divisions of the Carbon County Fire Department. The resources needed including, vehicles and apparatus, training, personal protective equipment were not dreamed up by...
Editor, As assistant fire chief of Carbon County Fire Department – Hanna Division I am in support of the fire district. I am in support of the fire district because it will provide much needed money to upgrade personal protective gear for the volunteer fireman throughout the county. It will standardize training for the different departments to make it consistent so it is easier and better for the departments to work together as one. It will allow older trucks to be replaced because as the trucks age the parts are becoming m...
Editor, This letter is to the residents of Carbon County. As Chief and Assistant Chief of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, we would like to encourage the proposed Fire District for Carbon County. There are many pro’s to having a Fire District within our community. For one, firefighters will be more uniformed training and equipped throughout the county. The cost of personal protection equipment (PPE) and other fire fighting apparatus used to keep your firemen safe comes at a high cost, and sadly this equipment does n...
Election day: the one day every two years where we drive to the fire station and overthrow the government — and there is not a policeman in the street. I love election day. I love the fact every two years, we have an opportunity to improve our country. I love the fact for one day, I have the same voice as anyone else. I don’t want to sound overly patriotic with this column, but with election day coming up, I feel like there is something I need to address. By all means: go vote... Full story
Editor, I have read with great interest several letters which have been printed in the local newspapers in regards to the proposed Carbon County Fire Protection District. I feel there are several inaccuracies with the statements made and would like to clarify the issues. 1) The OSHA standards absolutely apply to fire departments. There is no governmental courtesy. Fire departments have to comply with personal protective equipment and respiratory protection standards the same as industry. This includes fit testing for...