Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Kelly Dennis was sworn in to serve a new four-year term as county commissioner by Judge Matthew Castano on Tuesday morning. The three commissioners kicked off the year with necessary housekeeping activities, which began with the re-appointment of Dennis as chairman and Jeanne Whalen as vice chairman. The commission additionally made appointments to boards and associations including the Wyoming County Commissioners Association and the Crook County Volunteer Firefighters Association Advisory...
Over the month of December, hospitalizations in Wyoming due to the COVID-19 virus dropped by more than half, prompting Governor Mark Gordon to announce that restrictions on hours of service in bars and restaurants will be dropped. A health order requiring the use of face coverings in most public places will, however, remain in place for the time being. “Thank you to the people of Wyoming who recognized the strain on their hospitals and health care workers and acted accordingly,” Gordon said in a press release. “I also want to express my gratitu...
This year’s traditional Sundance Chamber of Commerce Raffle was a little different to usual, but the grand prize winner still walked away with significantly heavier pockets. Vicky Vineyard was announced as the winner of the raffle after the drawing took place on New Year’s Eve. Vineyard was the recipient of $3000. The drawing took place virtually this year, rather than during an in-person event. A total of 250 tickets were made available at $25 each, says Jamie Jessen of the Chamber of Commerce, and all of them were sold. “As promised the p...
Vaccines may now be available for COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean the public is willing to automatically trust them. A year ago, we didn’t even know the virus existed, so how can we be sure getting vaccinated is safe? Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines followed the usual steps for testing and review – something that was sped up considerably by a worldwide effort to remove the usual barriers and delays. Even so, says Infection Preventionist Charity Lindholm, a certain amount of distrust is normal for something that’s both completely new and...
After battling for many months over a nuisance order for a property on E. Sewell Street, the city was pleased to hear that Crook County School District was purchasing the lot. The home and outbuildings have been removed from the lot. Facilities Manager Randy Gill previously informed the council it will be used for a greenhouse and storage shed....
On Tuesday morning, the county commissioners opted not to authorize a $379 expense submitted by the Crook County Treasurer’s Office. The charge, which appeared in the mileage and travel line, was for a Christmas dinner hosted for office staff. The commission was unanimous in the opinion that it would be inappropriate for such an event to be funded by the taxpayer. Commissioner Jeanne Whalen commented that, while she understands the desire to treat hard-working staff, it is not customarily paid for through an organization’s budget. “You guys...
Our Thanks From the family of Violet Courchaine, we would like to thank our friends, family and neighbors for all your kindness during this difficult time. For your visits, calls, food, flowers and donations for the memorial. We also send our gratitude and appreciation to the Crook County Long Term Care and Hospital. Family of Violet Courchaine Thank You Once again, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Crook County. This past year was a challenge for everyone, especially those in need of support of the three food pantries in Croo...
Sundance’s ambulance service has acquired a state-of-the-art ambulance with improved equipment and has full-time paramedics working for Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD), says EMS Coordinator Anthony Vopat. However, there’s a final missing piece in the quest to upgrade the service: a driver/operator program. Vopat is hoping that members of the community will be interested in stepping into this new role, which is part of a volunteer program to ensure the ambulance service is ready to respond at all times. The goal, he says, is bot...
Crook County Assessor Theresa Curren would like all businesses and agricultural producers to know that personal property renditions were mailed on December 31, 2020. This is your chance to make any changes to your personal property account, such as equipment that has been sold, purchased or is not working. If you are no longer in business, please call us or write “out of business” and the last day you were in business on the rendition and return it. If you do not receive a rendition in the mail, then we do not have the business information nee...
A Sundance woman faces child abuse charges after an allegedly violent incident involving a minor. According to the affidavit of a Sundance Police Officer, the incident took place after Delissa Fowler returned home from a bar and physically attacked a minor before demanding the minor leave the residence. The minor was placed in protective custody with the Department of Family Services. The officer reports in his affidavit that he was aware of several other incidents at the residence over the previous months. Fowler faces one felony count of...
Crook County resident Nancy Hawken faces a felony charge of driving while under the influence, fifth offense, after her vehicle was found in a ditch on the highway. On December 15 at around 6:20 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol was advised of a vehicle that had slid off the road with a possibly intoxicated driver. The reporting party stated that the car was in the ditch and the driver appeared to be ok. The trooper reports that he arrived at milepost 3.75 on Hwy 116 at around 6:30 p.m. and found a vehicle in the barrow ditch on the east side of t...
Two Iowa men face multiple charges related to possession and delivery of marijuana. Keith Gates Jr. and Dontaye Burton were found to be transporting a significant quantity of marijuana products after being pulled over for speeding on Hwy 212. On December 17 at around 5:40 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was parked on the shoulder of Hwy 212 when a vehicle crested the hill in a posted 45 mph zone at what the trooper estimated to be around 55 mph. His traffic radar confirmed the speed to be 52 mph, so the trooper conducted a traffic stop....
Speeding – Andrea L. Marden, Moorcroft, 88/75, $125; Aaron Gray, NY, 88/80, $101; Michael Higgins, MO, 85/70, $135; Cody Harrison, Evansville, 90/80, $105; Felipe Lucas Gomez, MD, 51/45, $97; Ross Coopwood, Gillette, 94/80, $130; Zachary Davis, SD, 96/80, $140; Chad Groll, ND, 81/70, $115; Steven Ransom, IA, 53/40, $135; Joseph Carner, IL, 79/65, $130; Emily Domenech, VA, 86/80, $97; Devin Atkins, SD, 89/75, $130; Justin Clayton, SD, 85/80, $15; Payten Lint, Gillette, 86/75, $115; Brent Turner, TN, 79/70, $103; Hunter Sakamoto, OR, 96/80, $...
Dec. 16 – House watch and business checks. Three traffic stops. Three bar checks. Patrolled school zones. Assisted Highway Patrol with accident. Dec. 17 – House watch and business checks. Nine traffic stops. Three bar checks. Patrolled school zones. Dec. 18 – House watch and business checks. Three traffic stops. Three bar checks. Assisted Sheriff’s Department with interviews. Two warrant arrests. Dec. 19 – House watch and business checks. Six traffic stops. Three bar checks. Responded to business alarm. Dec. 20 – Officer on call all day for...
Speeding – Hannah Brewer, CA, 46/30; Hayley Klein, CO, 75/55 Operate a Motor Vehicle without Proof of Insurance – Alejandra Martinez De Garza, TX...
Dec. 28 – Four VIN checks. Two fingerprints. EMS page. Two traffic stops. Dec. 29 – Two motorist assists. Two fingerprints. Three EMS pages. Two fire pages. Six VIN checks. Assisted Highway Patrol. Four traffic stops. Traffic hazard. Dec. 30 – Two suspicious circumstances. Two VIN checks. Two motorist assists. Assisted Highway Patrol. EMS page. Fire page. Two fraud reports. Two harassment reports. Theft report. Traffic hazard. Nine traffic stops. Dec. 31 – Fingerprints. Three VIN checks. Eleven traffic stops. Booked in two subjects. Busines...
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” – John 4:11 Can you live your life both quickly and deeply? Blowing through life, hoping something of substance or significance will stick? Is it wise? Is it clever or crippling? Living but losing your life and all that is precious along the way? Quick has become a way of existing for many and the resulting solitariness that turns itself into loneliness is apparent. We all must be a...
Last week, my countrymen did absolutely nothing to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of our own version of Roswell. The Rendlesham Forest UFO is often referred to as “one of the most famous alleged alien sightings in history,” which does nothing to explain why none of us have ever heard of it. Permit me to enlighten you, just in case we should all be keeping one eye to the heavens. At the tail end of 1980, something strange happened in a remote forest, but we’re as likely to ever find out what...
CASPER — After a bruising year battling the one-two punch of the COVID-19 pandemic and collapse in energy markets, coal operators in Wyoming could receive a small boost in demand in 2021, but it may be short-lived. In 2020, U.S. coal production came in around 26% below the levels of the prior year, according to initial data compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, an impartial data center. Residential and commercial demand for electricity slumped during the pandemic as states enforced stay-at-home orders and industrial activity s...
Legislature to convene for one-day virtual session CHEYENNE (WNE) – The 66th Wyoming Legislature will convene at noon Jan. 12 for a one-day virtual session to fulfill the requirements of the Wyoming Constitution. Gov. Mark Gordon’s message will take place at 2 p.m., according to a news release from the Wyoming Legislative Service Office. During the convening of the 2021 general session, the Legislature will address all necessary business in accordance with the Wyoming Constitution, including, but not limited to: • Election of legislative leade...
Molly O’Connor of Sundance has been named to Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Dean’s List for the 2020 fall semester. At the end of each regular semester, the University recognizes those students named to the Dean’s List. Eligible students must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours with a term GPA of 3.5 or above. Outstanding academic work placed 321 students, or 23.46 percent of eligible undergraduates, on the Dean’s or President’s list following the fall 2020 semester. “We are delighted that nearly one out of four DSU students met...
CHEYENNE – About 250 people demonstrated in front of the Wyoming State Capitol Monday afternoon to protest a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 related restrictions. Calls to “Stop the tyranny,” “Free Wyoming” and make Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon a “one-term governor,” were the rallying cries the protesters belted out after about an hour of listening to elected officials and other citizens decry the mask mandate, including outgoing Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, who challenged people to bur...
Forest Managers are working to reduce hazardous fuels across the Black Hills National Forest. Districts across the Black Hills National Forest are focusing efforts on burning thousands of hand and machine slash piles. Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations. “It is very important to reduce fire and insect hazards by reducing fuel buildup,” said Jason Virtue, Black Hills National Forest Fire Management Officer. Smoke will be visible and may impact local com...
CALL MEETING TO ORDER by Lily Altaffer at 12:00 pm by conference call. ATTENDANCE by conference call Board: Lily Altaffer, Kim Fundaun, Wanda Burget Employees: Sarah Anderson, Bridget Helms, Carmen Horne-McIntyre OPEN ISSUES TO DISCUSS Position Elections Ms. Burget made a motion to appoint Wayne Garman as Chairman, Lily Altaffer as Vice Chairman, Kim Fundaun as Secretary and Wanda Burget as Treasurer. Mr. Fundaun seconded. Motion carried. Office Status Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in Crook County, the office has been moved back to Phase...
MINUTES of MEETING BOARD of TRUSTEES CROOK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 Preparing Today for Success Tomorrow CCSD#1 will prepare & empower all students for successful, lifelong learning through effective teaching. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Crook County School District #1 was held in Sundance, WY, Monday, December 21, 2020, at the hour of 6:00 PM at central office. ROLL CALL The meeting opened with the following present: Chairman Brian Marchant; Trustees Marlene Edwards, Rick Gill (by phone), Thayne Gray, Dave...
