Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the February 9, 2023 edition


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  • Can we afford a new hospital?

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    As Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) gears up to potentially take another shot at securing funding for a new hospital, two trustees have concerns over the overall cost. For Chairman Mark Erickson, the issue is debt: CCMSD could indeed be granted funding, such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, he said at last week’s board meeting, but that it will not be enough to cover the full cost of a new building. He asked, how much debt can and should the district take on to make this happen? “Can we afford to pay the bill, based on...

  • Hospital district shows progress in solving cash flow issue

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    Ongoing problems with cash flow within Crook County Medical Services District are well on their way to being solved, according to a monthly report from CEO Micki Lyons. In November, Lyons promised the Board of Trustees that progress would be visible by the end of the year, a prediction that proved to be accurate. “We had to get it cleaned up, and so now we have a process,” she said. “…It’s slow, but we’re starting to see a positive change now.” The cash flow problem was originally caused by iss...

  • Winter serenity

    Feb 9, 2023

    Ice sparkles on a gate as the sun rises Tuesday morning, casting a serene glow over snow that fell the day before....

  • County graduation rates higher than state average

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    Once again, the students of Crook County have outdone the state average with a graduation rate for the 2021-2022 school year of 90.6%. This places Crook County School District among the top 15 in the state. Overall, graduation rates in Wyoming have been statistically strong over the last decade, staying above 81% since 2014 according to the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). This year’s state average was 81.8%, down slightly from 82.4% in 2020-2021, which was the highest in the nine-year span. A total of 77 students graduated in Crook C...

  • Sheriff's Office trains for ice rescue

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    Following the December tragedy at Keyhole Reservoir, a recent training session gave Crook County Sheriff's Office the opportunity to test out the Argo first responder UTV under the varying circumstances that might occur during an ice rescue. The primary purpose of the training, says Sheriff Jeff Hodge, was to prepare and train for different types of ice rescue operations – and to ensure that a rescue can be completed safely. This was done by pushing the limitations of the Argo and other e...

  • Celebrating women in sports

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    Six foot three and 240 lbs versus five foot nothing and maybe half that weight soaking wet. Not too hard to guess who'd win in a fight, right? Wrong. Young champion Orla Davis demonstrated boxing skills to her schoolmates on Thursday with the help of her coach, Ryan McGivern of Meraki Box, Rapid City, and showed she can hold her own no matter the size of her opponent. As someone whose drive to win is matched only by her desire to kindle the same love of sport in her peers, Davis wanted to...

  • Carolyn Ann Vineyard

    Feb 9, 2023

    Carolyn Ann Vineyard (85) passed from this life on February 2, 2023 at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland, Wyoming. She was born to George Myron and Alice Elizabeth (Laycock) Morey on July 14, 1937 in Wheatland, Wyoming. While attending high school in Chugwater, Wyoming she met Nelson Vineyard. They married on October 29, 1954 and from 1955 until 1970 welcomed five sons. A young boy at one of the ranches they lived once said, "Every few years the Vineyards just go to town and bring back... Full story

  • U.S. Senators move again to protect Devils Tower name

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso have resubmitted a bill that would protect the name of Devils Tower National Monument. The bill, which was introduced on January 22 and has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, would designate the monument as “Devils Tower” and commands that it shall be referred to as such in any law, map, regulation, document, paper or record. Senator Mike Enzi first introduced the bill, along with Barrasso, in 2015, at which time Lummis introduced companion leg...

  • Card of Thanks

    Feb 9, 2023

    Thank You Thanks so much to all my friends for sending me a card for my birthday! Minnie Williams... Full story

  • Peek at the Past

    Feb 9, 2023

    1 Years Ago February 8, 1923 There are 23 cases of scarlet fever reported at Upton, and public gatherings are forbidden until such time as the menace has abated. George Ripley started for Hulett Friday by car, but experienced some trouble and returned to get a more dependable rig. He made the trip by sleigh. They say the groundhog saw his shadow last Friday and promptly went back for six weeks’ more winter. If it’s only six weeks, all right. In 1920 it was six months. The bill to create Whitcomb County out of portions of Weston, Crook and...

  • Recognition

    Feb 9, 2023

    Tracey Jundt (below - 5 years) and Sam Waugh (above - 15 years) were both recently recognized for their many years of service to Crook County....

  • Circuit Court

    Feb 9, 2023

    Speeding – Roger M. Haluzak Jr., Gillette, WY, 93/80, $125; Crofton Higgins, Everett, WA, 94/80, $130; Issak Freisen, Hilda, AB, Canada, 78/55, $175; James Bratton, Douglas, WY, 81/70, $115; Charles Price, Buffalo, WY, 90/75, $135 Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked – Nicole Knorr, Rapid City, SD, $470, 7 days jail suspended, unsupervised probation through July 29, 2023 Expired Temporary License Permit/Improper Registration – Cory Edwards, Gillette, WY, $140 Careless Driving – Kent Parazoo, Kettle Falls, WA, $240; Shane A. Sand...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    Feb 9, 2023

    Jan. 30 – Two VIN checks. Paper service. Motorist assist. Four EMS pages. Fingerprints. Business check. Jan. 31 – Three EMS pages. Four paper services. Two traffic stops. Citizen assist. Fingerprints. Wanted person. Feb. 1 – Two VIN checks. Two paper services. Traffic stop. EMS page. Traffic hazard. Two sets fingerprints. K-9 sniff. Business check. Wanted person. Motorist assist. Feb. 2 – Three VIN checks. EMS page. Traffic stop. Accident. Business check. Welfare check. Feb. 3 – Seven VIN checks. Two traffic stops. Traffic complaint. Assist to...

  • Black Hills Snow Course Readings

    Sherry Burr, NRCS|Feb 9, 2023

    Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current % of 30-Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 14.1 3.4 1.8 0.4 189 Blind Park Snotel 6870 24 5.3 4.7 2.6 113 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 21 4.5 3.2 2 141 Ditch Creek 6880 16.1 2.9 2.4 1.4 121 Little Bear Run 6240 17.5 3.3 2.7 1.3 122 Mallo 6420 26.9 5.9 4.7 1.8 126 Mount Tom 5560 23 4.4 3.3 1.5 133 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 21 4.6 4.7 3 98 Reuter Canyon 6280 29.2 7.3 6 2.9 122 Upper Spearfish 6500 24 5.4 4 1.8 1...

  • New CCMSD trustee raises executive session concerns

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 9, 2023

    New trustee Brent Fowler has raised an objection over the Crook County Medical Services District’s alleged misuse of executive session. Fowler objected to the January minutes at last week’s meeting and said he had given his fellow board members a copy of the state statutes regarding executive sessions. Fowler stated that he does not believe the board should have gone into an executive session to tell him he needed to “fall in line”. “You got a problem with me, you can say it in public. I...

  • Weekly Update

    Ogden Driskill, Wyoming Senate President|Feb 9, 2023

    As I report at the end of week four of the 67th General Session of the Wyoming Legislature, the Wyoming Senate is in the middle of third reading debate on SF0001, also known as the supplemental budget bill. Budget debate signals perhaps the Legislature’s most important responsibility: balancing our state’s checkbook and allocating taxpayers’ hard-earned money. Unlike many recent sessions, this year lawmakers start with the fortunate question of how to appropriate a nearly $2 billion surpl...

  • Lady Bulldogs beat Eagles in OT

    Rebecca Maupin|Feb 9, 2023

    It was another game that went down to the wire on Saturday afternoon in Dayton, Wyoming, as the Sundance Lady Bulldogs defeated the Tongue River Eagles in double overtime and took over the top spot in the conference standings, with a 3-0 conference record. Opening play a little shy, the first quarter did not fare well for the Lady Bulldogs, who found themselves down by six. An excellent second quarter, however, changed the momentum for Sundance. Outscoring the Eagles 20-4, Sundance was able to o...

  • JH boys stomp Wolves

    Feb 9, 2023

    Amanda Watt The junior high boys' basketball team took on Moorcroft last week. The seventh graders earned a 44-14 victory....

  • Bulldog wrestlers take on SD tourneys

    Todd Klopp|Feb 9, 2023

    The Sundance Bulldog wrestling team had a busy week this past week as they competed in the Newell Scramble on Tuesday and Hill City Invitational on Saturday. The shorthanded Bulldog team competed this past Tuesday with only five healthy wrestlers but returned with an overall 8-4 record. Competing were Karter Mayberry 120 lbs. 3-0, Jayden Keller 126 lbs. 2-0, Liam Holt 160 lbs. 1-2, Gavin Mollenbrink 182 lbs. 1-1, and Jacob Comer 220 lbs. 1-1. On Saturday the Bulldog wrestling squad attended the Black Hills Invitational in Hill City SD. This...

  • UW President's Honor Roll

    Feb 9, 2023

    The University of Wyoming lists seven students from Crook County on the 2022 fall semester President’s Honor Roll. Students are: Katrina Bauman and Joseph Kennah of Hulett; Tianne M. Fischbach, Audrey Lynn Merwin and Shania N. Miller of Moorcroft; and Ella S. Bifulco and Sherry Negaard of Sundance. The President’s Honor Roll consists of regularly enrolled undergraduates who earned a 4.0 (“A”) grade-point average for the semester. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours taken for letter grades....

  • WDTC Dean's List

    Feb 9, 2023

    Western Dakota Technical College congratulates the 209 students named to the 2022 Fall Semester Dean’s List. To qualify, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for a minimum of 12 credit hours in a given semester. Sundance’s Christien Robison (Computer-Aided Design) is on the list....

  • School Board Appreciation Week

    Feb 9, 2023

    Feb. 6-10, 2023 is School Board Appreciation Week in Wyoming. This week helps build awareness and understanding of the vital functions our locally elected boards of education play in our community. Crook County School District #1 is joining public school districts from across the state to celebrate School Board Appreciation Week and honor local board members for their commitment to Crook County and its children. “Our school system is the backbone of our community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are h...

  • Donuts with Dad

    Feb 9, 2023

    Donuts with Dad is back at Sundance Elementary! Last Wednesday morning students enjoyed the company of their loved ones while enjoying a delicious donut. Thanks to the all the volunteers and the Parent Involvement Committee this event was tremendously successful. Muffins with Mom will be held in March....

  • Wyoming News Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Feb 9, 2023

    Police seize 1,342 fentanyl pills BUFFALO (WNE) — Johnson County law enforcement seized more than a thousand fentanyl pills and a handful of other drugs after a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Kum & Go parking lot in early January. “We pulled over 1300 fentanyl pills, which is a big bust for Denver, let alone Buffalo,” Chief of Police Sean Bissett told the City Council after arresting two individuals. In the car were 1342 fentanyl pills, 24 grams of methamphetamine and 54 grams of marijuana, among other things, according to court docum...

  • Bids

    Feb 9, 2023

    WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION TO BID The Wyoming Department of Transportation will receive bids uploaded to the Public Purchase website, until 11:00 A.M., Mountain Time on February 28, 2023, at which time they will be publicly opened and read for FURNISHING JANITORIAL MAINTENANCE AT THE SUNDANCE OFFICE AND PORT OF ENTRY. A MANDATORY Pre-Bid Inspection will be held at 11:00 A.M., Mountain Time on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Sundance Maintenance Building located 224 South 29th, Sundance, Wyoming. Only bids... Full story

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