Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 86
Editor, The overwhelming victory of the Saratoga-Ryan Park Museum District in the recent general election is a victory for all museums in Carbon County. What this win for the Saratoga Museum tells us is that people in our communities value and cherish their museums. Furthermore, the tax that the Saratoga Museum will receive will go far in creating financial stability for their museum and when one museum strengthens all museums benefit working together. All of this being said, I would like to remind you all that the museums in Elk Mountain,...
Dear Editor, On behalf of the newly formed Saratoga-Ryan Park Museum District, I want to thank everyone who worked to pass the ballot measure that will help fund the preservation of our shared heritage. There are so many people who were involved in the process and what unites us all is a love of our communities’ history and a desire to preserve that history. Thank you to all those who gathered the required number of signatures, those landowners who signed the petitions to request the issue be placed on the ballot, those who formed, managed a...
Editor, I am compelled to write this letter based on the actions of thugs that have decided to embark on mischief here in Saratoga. I believe the citizens of Saratoga have a standard of acceptable behavior that has been challenged. If you are one of the cowards that has trespassed and stolen political signs or has decided to deface the portable toilets at Veterans Island Park with graffiti, then you have fallen short of that standard. If you were involved in either of the acts of stealing or vandalizing other people’s property, then you are a...
Editor, As I run my hand through the wool chaps, I imagine cow punching during the winter months in 1890. Seeing the beaver pelt, I wonder if trading amongst Native Americans and town folk always went well for the Mountain Men. Exploring the Rudefeha mine, approaching the tram towers, the random wagon wheel you stumble upon, leaves me astounded with these historical pioneers and their successes. This day; in CCSD 2 we have five historical museums which are accurately geologically represented within this district. Each museum has attracted...
Editor, The ongoing restrictions regarding indoor attendance numbers mandated by Governor Gordon, on the advice of Dr. Alexia Harrist-WY State Health Officer, obviously affects state-wide public school sporting events. These mandates are adopted by the Wyoming High School Activities Association which, in turn, local school districts are required to abide by if they want to participate in sports. The correlation between unlawful mandates–meaning they were never legislated by a governing body elected by the people–and using our youth to make us...
Dear Editor, Dr. Osborne did have the remains of “Big Nose George” Parrot, one the two outlaws who killed Robert Widdowfield and Tip Vincent. Parrot’s remains were stored in a barrel. Some of the skin of Parrot was used to make a pair of shoes and a small patch. Dr. Osborne gave one of the items to James Fisher, a relative of Widdowfield. James gave it to his son Richard who left it in a trunk at the ranch for his son, also named Richard, my husband. Many folk passed through the ranch including employees tending sheep, hunters, fishe...
To the Editor: The staff of the Carbon County Museum have been following Mike Armstrong’s recent series of articles about the county’s museums and historical sites with great interest. It is wonderful that someone is taking the time to call attention to the hardworking people who founded these institutions and have kept them open to the public. I would, however, like to note a few inaccuracies in his recent article on Carbon (August 19), to ensure that the proper information is shared. First, he misspelled the name of Palma Jack twice. Pal...
Editor, I’m all for defunding! Defunding welfare so you can’t riot, burn, loot, steal assault and throw urine, feces, rocks and explosives at police when you have to work for a living. Wake up, America. Left unchecked, these lovelies will soon be visiting your neighborhood (their words, not mine). Art Leys Saratoga, Wyoming...
Dear Editor, Since elected to serve on the Saratoga Town Council, I have strived to encourage public discourse and to promote civic engagement. I believe our best council meetings are the ones when the room is full, when citizens are vocal, when ideas are exchanged, when tough questions are asked and when rigorous debate unfolds about issues that matter to the residents of Saratoga. For some time now, much of that conversation has been about the Town’s finances. Understandably, this has been an important topic to everyone who cares about the f...
Dear Editor, There is an old expression that says if you are in a hole and want to get out quit digging. The controversy in the City Council of the “missing” $3.7 million is without question a hole. But it is not a hole that is likely to be filled because, from all appearances, it appears to be money that was spent but not properly accounted for. It seems to be something of a waste of energy, irrespective of the strong emotions involved on both sides of the discussion, to spend all your time on the past without doing something about the fut...
Editor, I write this today with a heavy heart to share a decision that has not been easy for me to make but, I find it necessary to withdraw my name for the Saratoga Town Council election. I have heard from so many Saratoga residents who have given support not only verbally but also with their vote and for that I am incredibly grateful. There are still 4 candidates to choose from: Creed James, Danny Burau, Ben Spaulding, and Tasha Worthington. It is our duty as Americans to do research and voice our opinions by voting. Our community is in dire...
Dear Editor, Thanks for publishing histories of area museums in Carbon County. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Although I appreciate the article concerning founding of the Saratoga Historical & Cultural Assn. and Saratoga Museum, the piece gave me WAY MORE credit than I deserve. Yes, I was one of the founding members, but played only a modest part–mostly with newspaper articles, editorials and donated advertising–in establishing the organization and museum. The real credit has...
To the Editor, I very much enjoyed Mike Armstrong’s article in the Sun (July 29) concerning the museums of Carbon County. I was dismayed, however, to read Dick Perue’s comments concerning his reluctance to make contributions to the Carbon County Museum. Perhaps Mr. Perue is unaware of the fact that, in the past two years, we here at the CCM have professionalized the place as never before. My newly-hired staff is highly trained; we very much value every object and gift that we receive from our contributors. I welcome Mr. Perue to visit us any...
Editor, Open Letter to Jim Copeland, Superintendent of School District #2. Recent orders requiring students to wear masks has been circulating and as a concerned citizen of this Valley, here are scientific studies showing the extreme adverse effects of mask wearing, especially by children. To wear a mask or not is a highly emotional subject, so I am not giving my opinion, I am quoting scientific data to remove the emotional aspect. These articles were taken from www.childrenshealthdefense.org. This is an organization created and ran by Robert...
Editor, With all of the turmoil throughout the United States, the protests, the tearing down of various historic statues and monuments, the Upper Platte Valley showed the true silent majority in this Great Country. The crowd at the 4th of July parade, many dressed in patriotic colors, stood proud as the Flag went by, hat in hand, head bowed, hand on heart. The many parade entry’s flew the flag with pride, and were colorfully decorated. Candy by the handfuls was cast to the crowd. What a wonderful celebration for the Birthday of our country. I...
Editor, Thank you, Saratoga Sun, for printing the map of the special museum district proposed by the Saratoga Museum and Historical Association and for covering discussion of this proposal at recent Carbon County Commissioners’ meetings. To avoid sliding into the petty and personal, we should look at the blueprint for the creation of special districts; Wyoming Statutes, Title 22 - Elections (Chapter 29). Briefly, authority shifts from property owners (signing the petition), county assessor (authenticating the signers and value of the p...
Dear Editor, I would like to remind the elected officials of our town that it is their duty and responsibility to answer to the constituency. Questions from other council members are not an inconvenience to be overcome; they are means to discovering and understanding the truth. The public is not an inconvenience to be overcome; they are the citizens of this town to whom you answer. The financial activity of the town is not a mere inconvenience to deal with; it is a priority for you to manage. You chose to sit behind that bench. You chose the...
Dear Editor, Black Lives Matter marches and protests around the country have had a secondary significant benefit beyond raising social awareness of race related issues in our society. It has put our elected officials in a position that they have little rational reason to reimpose the draconian measures associated with the COVID pandemic. In my opinion, the overwhelming majority of the country imposed restrictions that did much more harm than good. Elected officials at all levels, from City Mayors to Governors and public health officials,...
Dear Editor, Time to get involved folks! This is a call to the voices of all Carbon County residents to provide input based on your personal expertise, knowledge, experience and desire to develop the Natural Resources Management Plan for Carbon County. This plan will be the product of a non-partisan committee. Why is this important? Because without a plan for our county, the Federal Government can step in and dictate to use how to use our resources! We chose to live here, in good part, due to these unique, limited and irreplaceable resources....
Dear Governor Gordon, May I ask who cuts your hair? I assume someone in Cheyenne - or someplace close to there. When I see you on the TV your hair looks mighty good. If I just knew who dun’ that I think mine also could. Indeed, it is a long ol’ drive from Encampment all that way. But, with an early start I’d be back in just a day. As you know, shops here are closed and all over the State, I guess. If you do not let them open We’ll become a hairy mess. You see, I’ve always kept well trimmed since I was just a lad. Now after weeks without o...
Dear Editor, Well, here I go again, or should I say here we go again. I stood in front of the last administration in August 2017 and told the town council then they had a terrible track record of failed or incomplete projects at considerable financial loss to the Town of Saratoga. At that time, I read Suzie Cox’s internal memo (town being financially broke) for the record during the meeting. Now it’s 2020 and a new administration, except it’s really an older administration repurposed for a third term in office. Business as usual. And what this...
Dear Editor, With the advent of the COVID-19 virus, those unfamiliar with the workings of the beef industry were shocked to learn that Beef Packers were charging large increases for boxed beef and that, at the same time, had dropped the prices they were paying for the live cattle ready for slaughter thereby making huge profits at a time when the producers of cattle and consumers were under stress dealing with the virus and weather related losses. How did this happen they ask? Directors and members of ICOW, other independent cattlemen...
Dear Editor, Now, when we are stuck at home, is the time—the perfect time—to reflect and think about your and your family’s history. There are valuable stories and pictures just waiting for you. You think there is not anything interesting to tell? You’re wrong. We find that our grandchildren are fascinated with our stories when we visit together but we should all write, record and preserve these stories. Fancy writing is not necessary. Just honesty and feeling. Childhood, parents, youth, memorable moments. Play, education, activities, jovial...
Dear Editor, One of my favorite books in the Saratoga Museum is “Saratoga and Encampment Wyoming: An album of Family History.” Residents, tourists and researchers use this reference to the Platte Valley to explore and learn about their families. I would like to ask those with history in the Valley to reach out again to their families. Maybe there was not enough time with the last edition or maybe they always wanted to but thought they didn’t know enough details. We can turn staying at home into a positive with teaching children how to gathe...
Dear Editor, Over the last several decades the world has witnessed a spate of new health threats in the format of SARS, HIV, Ebola, Bird flu, Swine flu. All of these in the form of highly communicable diseases which at one time have threatened the health of the planet. Now we are experiencing another such virulent disease in COVID-19 which is currently attacking countries around the world. In addition to the public health implications, it also reveals the diminished response capability of our government at all levels of society and highlights...