Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Sorted by date Results 676 - 700 of 1480
Dear Editor, We want to express my appreciation to Brush Creek Ranch and the White’s for their investment in Wyoming. We believe that our state benefits in many ways from Brush Creek and it’s employees and guests. Many of the employees of Brush Creek Ranch live in our communities and thus contribute to the overall success of our region. They buy homes, pay taxes, shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants, support our community center, and have children enrolled in our schools. We realize that most of the guests of Brush Cree...
Dear Editor, The past couple of weeks you have run letters from readers who feel Brush Creek is changing the valley in a way that they don’t approve of. I would make the opposite argument. I would start by the obvious and that is that they are targeting a clientele that no one else in the valley targets, and they are doing it successfully. They are obviously providing them with an experience that they find attractive and are bringing a national awareness to their facility. The fact that they continue to grow and attract a dif...
We lost a fine soul last weekend. Keith McLendon was more than an employee at a newspaper. He was a staunch supporter of the community and an advocate for his employees. Keith won numerous awards for his service and artistic abilities, but it was not the awards he pursued, it was verification that he was doing a good job on your behalf. He may have ruffled a few feathers along the way...it comes with the territory. He always had what was best for citizens of the valley in mind. Keith was one of the most entertaining guys to...
“This isn’t just a loss to Saratoga and its community,” Saratoga resident Wanda Snell said shaking her head with eyes misting up. “This is a loss for Carbon County.” Wanda was talking to me on the day after Keith McLendon, my buddy (20 years) and boss, had been pronounced dead in a Casper hospital on July 28. It was a Monday and I had just gone into the office, dropped off my camera and recorder on my desk, and headed to the coffee machine. As I started to get my mug, I re...
I just read the letter from Mr. Carl Beach. I have been coming to Saratoga for a number of years and have always enjoyed the area. 3 years ago I decided to retire and make Saratoga home. I have been watching Brush Creek buy up more and more land for the use of the 1% as Mr. Beach stated. I do agree that the vistors of Brush Creek do not care about the locals or the history of carbon county. I now feel like a prisoner, I can’t enjoy the valley as I did years ago. I did see a group of kids with the Brush Creek camp at the E...
Dear Editor, I just wanted to let you and your town know that I love coming to Saratoga. I happened upon the hot springs by accident and that was the icing on the cake! I usually camp at Ryan Park in one of the Brush Creek campgrounds and also at the lake for a few days. I have made a few friends at the hot springs, early in the morning. I’ve learned a lot about Saratoga from them. Thanks, Dick Perue, Dale and Lori, Ken, Clyde, Marilyn (that has moved away) and Steve for giving me some good company and sharing with me some o...
The Saratoga Sun lost a member of the family early Sunday morning and we are all grieving. For the foreseeable future, things will be in a little bit of chaos as we struggle with how to move forward. There are no puns today. No jokes. That, I think, is the hardest part about all of this. For nearly 10 years, and it would have been 10 years on August 9, the puns and jokes of Keith McLendon filled the newsroom. They also were printed in the pages of this paper. Sometimes his... Full story
Lawn mowing began in stone age times as dinosaurs were strapped to carts to munch on the greenery around stone dwellings. I know this because I saw it in a documentary called “The Flintstones.” Okay, I can see how you might not believe my reference there. Some scientists believe that the need for humans to encircle themselves with turf grass is a trait ingrained from our ancestors. These scholars point to the low turf grasses of Africa which allowed early man to better spy...
On Friday, the Saratoga Care Center held its annual federally mandated disaster drill which involved the complete evacuation of the facility, a bomb going off, two woundings, a fatality and a hostage. At last year’s drill, members of the Saratoga Police and Fire Departments showed up along with a SCWEMS ambulance crew. That ambulance crew included, now, mayor of Saratoga John Zeiger. Mr. Zeiger was also the Carbon County Emergency Coordinator at the time and, in that capacity, has run or assisted in these types of disaster s... Full story
Dear editor, I am appalled at the lack of critical insight and awareness on display in the July 3rd column “Saratoga is famous too” by Joshua Wood. Without a hint of sarcasm or irony, Wood has reaped praise on a company that continues to recklessly gobble up our previously locally owned land in the name of corporate profit and status-sharing among the elite of our nation. Brush Creek Ranch has never been a “win” for our community, no matter how much publicity it brings, because of the exact nature of the tourism Wood shamele...
As the 4th of July rolls by, this is one of my favorite times to be in Wyoming. For that matter, the United States. But honestly, the 4th of July feels special, like it should, celebrating in small town Wyoming. Does it really get any better than celebrating America’s birthday with neighbors and friends in a state that understands the pioneer spirit and what the United States has accomplished since its independence? I truly love celebrating America’s birthday in Carbon Cou... Full story
Dear Editor, The letter from Jake and Nicky Shoales of Spokane, Washington—re: their experience at the “city” supported hot springs, while wonderful, reported no working water fountains plus slippery steps. Neither condition reflects well on the Town’s repair and maintenance nor its concern for the health and safety of residents and visitors. The Shoales suggested that landing fees be established for corporate jets and used to fund needed repair and maintenance. Obviously they were not aware that landing fees are already coll...
Saratoga is in the national news, again! Okay, technically it’s Brush Creek Ranch, but I think we can still count this as a win. It turns out that Karlie Kloss—I have no idea who she was until I did a Google search to be honest—and Joshua Kushner—brother of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner—recently visited the luxury ranch for a 2nd celebration of their wedding. Among those other famous faces joining them were Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry and Mila Kunis. This isn’t the first time... Full story
Editor, On our recent travels through the wonder-filled state of Wyoming, we stopped in Saratoga to enjoy the hot springs. It is truly a wonderful concept that a city supports a hot springs for residents and travelers alike to enjoy at no charge. After soaking in the waters for awhile, I was thirsty and wanted a drink of water. But the water fountains do not work. And the steps are bit slippery. I understand cities can be strapped for cash to keep up maintenance of their recreational facilities. Still, it would be nice to...
Dear Editor, I have been following the debate regarding healthcare in Saratoga with great interest. After studying the proposals to date, I am convinced that we are headed in the wrong direction. There is a medical emergency in rural America. More than 100 of the country rural hospitals have gone broke, then closed in the last decade turning some of the most rural parts of the United States into what experts now call “health hazard zones.” Looking at the information on Saratoga’s situation I believe that we are on the verge...
Chances are, by the time this editorial is being read, Saratoga will be “in the clear” as far as threat of flooding. With the alternating of warm and cool weather, the amount of run-off from the mountains into the North Platte River has been fairly regulated. Despite that there was still some risk of flooding for the area. Over the weekend of June 14, the smokebusters from the Newcastle Honor Conservation Camp came to the Valley and filled over 9,000 sandbags. This, combined with the 2,000 sandbags that were already fil... Full story
There are a few sure signs of springtime in Wyoming. Of course, with the oddly winterlike conditions we have had (interspersed with rare spots of sunshine) lately, it is kind of hard to believe spring is actually here. Smaller roads turn from straight-out-icy hells to industrial-strength mud and larger roadways develop horrible cases of road cone acne. Trees begin to grow leaves just as telephone and light poles start to sprout their own foliage—garage sale signs. Prairie d...
This being the time where many students are graduating from high school and college, I guess I have some words of advice for a person who has been around for a bit. Recently I was invited to a cocktail party by a friend I have known for over five years. Dan worked in my kitchen in a restaurant I founded in Laramie a few years back while he was working on his accounting degree. He loves the cocktail culture as much as I do and it is fitting he now works for the state liquor com... Full story
