Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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Dear Editor, Our homes are ablaze with Christmas lights as we celebrate Christmas. But, the question needs to be asked. What are we celebrating? Is it Christ’s birthday or a pagan celebration of selfish acquisition, hatred and tribal exclusion. Do his values permeate Christmas? It seemed for a period of time that love and acceptance of“others” was winning. Enforcing civil rights and building a society of inclusion seemed to have made progress. We had more to do, but thought it was better. Ironically, it seems that was only on the surfa...
Dear Editor, Thank you for the invitation to submit opinions in last week’s paper. Appropriate discussion during the political decisions should be part of every voter’s day. One hot button is property tax increases. The only way to be fair to the taxpayers is cap the annual increase to the rate of inflation. As it is, the increase or decrease in valuation is driven by the boom of the recent real estate market. Consequently, that sector of property tax has risen at the rate of the percent increase in values. Every government entity that der...
Dear Editor, People have asked why the Wyoming REALTORS are backing Amendment A. The answer is straightforward: We believe in homeownership and will always support any effort to keep people in their homes. Our Wyoming Constitution currently has three classes of property for the purpose of property taxation. First is Minerals, second is Industrial, and the third class is “all other.” All other encompasses Residential, Commercial, Agricultural, and personal property. Our constitution says that “all properties shall be taxed uniformly in each...
Dear Editor, I recently shared this story of our visit to Saratoga to my social media account, and someone suggested offering it to the local paper. The backstory: We are camped in the middle of nowhere in the small town of Saratoga, Wyoming, I’ve been here a number of times over the past 12 years because there are wonderful (free) hot springs here and good people, some of whom have become friends.. While my fianc? and I were soaking late Thursday night, someone stole the $900 customized hitch off the back of our car. Called a “weight dis...
Dear Editor, Scammers are calling Medicare recipients to “verify information for a new plastic Medicare card.” There is no new card. Please print this letter to warn others that they will be billed for services they did not order if they provide the information requested. I urge others, like me, to be extremely suspicious of information requested on the phone. Signed, Dawn Munro Saratoga, Wyoming...
To the citizens of Saratoga and surrounding area. I want to say how fortunate you are to have the Platte Valley Medical Clinic and the Emergency Center. I was staying in Saratoga and had to go to the emergency center in the early morning hours. I arrived and within the hour I was admitted, treated, with IVs for fluids and pain medication and a CATscan was ordered and performed within the hour. I have never experienced such immediate and caring attention. I had to spend the night and the attention and care continued. Ten days later I visited...
To whom it may concern, I lived in Saratoga a long time ago. My parents and brothers moved to Saratoga when I was 12 years old. I spent 7 years altogether there but we moved back to Vermont and I graduated with my cousin who also had been to Saratoga. I still get the Saratoga Sun and know a lot of people there. My dad was Oscar Lane and mother [Not Sure Name] Lane and brothers Jesse, Ted and Jim. They [Ted and Jim] lived in Saratoga. All my brothers were in the military. We had uncles who worked on the Silver Spur Ranch; Frank, Roy and Howard...
Dear Editor, My partner and I are visiting in Saratoga from Oakland, CA as he loves fishing in the North Platte River. When we were in the Conoco Country Store buying a fishing license, I noticed your newspaper with the absolutely catchy motto: “Where the Trout Leap in Main Street” and couldn’t resist buying the paper. I read practically every article and learned so much about what it’s like living in Wyoming. Thank you! Please keep the town motto! Barbara Pottgen Oakland, California...
Editor, Well it seems that we have people wanting to fix something that isn’t broken again. Our town motto is fine and works very well. Leave it alone. Our motto draws 1000s of tourists here every year and they never leave disappointed. It seems to me it is doing its job. It’s very true that we have many wonderful things to do in this valley and surrounding areas. It’s seems to me that what the people instigating this change need to do is to review their plan and realize that our motto is doing it’s job very well, and what they need to do is f...
Dear Editor: The historically significant town motto: “Where the Trout Leap in Main Street,” attracts more than fishermen to the town and the valley. It is a unique expression of our way of life, where wildlife and nature are not a separate thing “out there,” but an integral part of the community. Other mottos mentioned are dull and ordinary—not unique to our town. I wholeheartedly support keeping the phrase that is deeply meaningful to long-term residents, yet fun, intriguing, and catchy to travelers and newcomers. Thank you, Dawn Senior-Tr...
To the Editor: While I fully support more recreational facilities in Saratoga, I believe the destruction of a frequently used public park to construct a half million dollar Pickleball facility for 25 or so people would be a significant misuse of public resources. If public property is to be used to construct the facility, perhaps the now vacant property adjacent to the Community Garden would be a better location. Given the longterm failure of the Town to construct the Never Forget Park, no public funds should be expended to construct a...
Editor, The last thing the town of Saratoga needs is to throw away its nearly century old slogan of “Where the Trout Leap in Main Street” and start all over again! Read on and I’ll tell you why.—Dick Perue A news item in the March 4, 1927 issue of “The Wyoming Eagle” notes: “In an editorial, ‘The Saratoga Sun’ declares that the city now has a slogan, it being the title of a short story written about the city and its surrounding territory as a resort.” (Author's note--I selected this out-of-town article to show that the new 1927 motto drew sta...
Editor, As the festivities of yet another fun filled July 4th become a recent memory, we would like to commend those who do the work behind all the events that we have living in this wonderful little Saratoga town. Many come farther distances to enjoy the patriotism, friendliness and relaxed time that Saratoga offers. With that being said, the Kiwanis group has set up for its annual Bake Sale on the corner where our beloved Teense is set to officiate the parade as it turns the corner from Highway 130 to Bridge Avenue. This has been an easy...
Editor, The unsung heroes in this Valley are the nurses and nurses aides at our hospital. What they do every hour of every day boggles my mind. They even have one ER nurse named Sam that could make a dead man smile. Then there is Laura Bucholz and her team that got this beautiful hospital built in this little ranch town in the first place. Beyond belief and timely for me. Thank you, Art Leys Saratoga, WY...
Dear Editor: Has Hobo Pool been sold? If the “Private Property, KEEP OUT” and “No Trespassing” signs posted on the four hog wire fence barricades blocking access to the free flowing mineral hot springs are official and accurate, the “publicly-owned, open and free forever”, Hobo Pool has either been sold, given away or somehow ended up in private hands. None of the signs indicate by whose authority the barriers were erected. (See photos). The barriers and signs have been up for a couple of weeks, with no effort by the town to open the healing...
Editor, He’s nailed it again. Each new book CJ Box publishes is eagerly awaited by Wyoming, especially those living in Carbon County. From cub reporter onward we have watched him make his mark. His latest book in the Joe Pickett series does not disappoint. He updates us on the exploits of not only Joe, but also his family. I’m eagerly await the tidbits he slips into his books about locals and politics in the state. Now, he is cagey, but I think he is a moderate Republican, conservative, but middle of the road...just saying. H...
Dear Editor, The right to access public lands was codified into law in 1885. The Federal Unlawful Inclosures act.43 U.S.D.A. was passed to stop private landowners from inclosing public lands for their exclusive use. The act prohibits the maintenance, erection, construction, or control of an enclosure to prevent access to public lands. From its enactment, it has been contested, ignored and state laws passes to undermine it. Throughout the years, this law have been upheld in the courts.In the following cases illegality of enclosure and...
Dear Editor, Thank you for “A Note From the Intern” piece on climate change. I agree that the science isn’t settled and offer this rebuttal to the idea that humans are causing major climate change because of industrial activity. The theory blames Greenhouse Gases, CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and water vapor. CO2 has risen to roughly 400 parts per million molecules in atmosphere or 4 in 10,000 molecules. Methane and Nitrous Oxide are nearly undetectable. Contract that with water vapor—ranging from invisible density at low relative humidit...
Dear Editor, Before social media, the best way to for organizations to promote local events was through posters hung in the windows of businesses. Fred Williams volunteered to deliver these posters on his daily round about town. One day, Freddie and I were visiting, and he said, “Thanks for the donuts.” I was left wondering what he meant. A few days later, it dawned on me. Years ago, I asked Freddy to deliver some posters for Soroptimist. I was so grateful, I bought Freddie a gift certificate to the donut shop so he could get a donut with his...
To the Editor of the Saratoga Sun, We recently visited your lovely valley and were so pleased to find two museums of such depth. We are both history fiends and visit every museum and historical site we can. Both the Saratoga Museum and the GEM were quite impressive especially considering how small the population is. We are full time RVers and visit many small towns across the country. It never ceases to amaze us at the enthusiasm and energy of the seniors in these little villages. Maybe it’s the small town attitude, the air or in the water, b...
Editor, I recently read an article from your paper regarding the explosions at Number 1 mine in Hanna in 1903 and 1908. I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry at the mention of donkeys pulling the loaded mine carts out of the mine. Perhaps you should educate Messrs Armstrong and Leathers about the different between donkeys and mules. Please do not use the term quadruped since that may add even more confusion. As a founding member of the Hanna Historical Society and a person who lost family members in the 1908 explosion I have to ask why the...
Editor, Gun ownership has always been a given in Wyoming. Both political parties support it. Hunter safety classes are in our schools and children are raised hunting for food and recreation. Many of us have hunted and owned guns all our lives. But there is a counter culture that has emerged that raises the hair on the back of my neck. It has nothing to do with personal protection or recreational use of guns. It is a predatory, terrorist movement that seeks to plunge us into a civil war. Their propaganda is pervasive across Social Media. And...
Dear Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and citizens of Saratoga, Wyo Laffs was hired to be the entertainment at your annual banquet on Thursday March 10th. During Don’s performance many of your members were offended by his jokes. This was your night to spotlight the best of Saratoga businesses and we took that away from you. We would like to sincerely apologize for this. The material that was presented was due to a miscommunication, which we accept full responsibility for, we are to blame. Don has 2 sets, one adult set which he performs in bars, a...
Editor, World peace remains elusive, thus raising the question of whether it is possible. Even peace within our country is in question. For tribalism is continuing to tear us apart. Unless we learn to view and treat each other each other with respect, it will continue to threaten our existence as a human race. You could argue that we have existed with it for centuriesand you would be right. But we have become a global community, interconnected and dependent upon one another. All conflicts and environmental crisis’s now have the ability to d...
SUPER BOWL HALFTIME “SHOW” Did you happen to see that halftime “Show”? At least they called it that. It did not make much sense to me. I thought it just fell flat. I did not understand it - that football halftime show. Those folks were hip-hoppin’ all around as if they had to go. Is that “rappin” now called singing? If it is, then I’m behind. It just didn’t make a bit of sense at least in my old mind. That poor gal’s dress was skimpy. Glad the weather there was warm ‘cause she surely would have perished in just a mild Wyoming storm. I thin...