Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the March 2, 2023 edition


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  • New law promises support for rare earths industry

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Among the bills signed into law by Governor Mark Gordon over the last week was one that gives Wyoming primacy to permit and regulate parts of the rare earth and critical minerals industry. HB 061 does this by amending the agreement state status between the state and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to give Wyoming permitting and regulatory authority. It was passed with unanimous support, authorizing the governor to begin negotiations with the NWC and enter into a final agreement. Upon signing the bill, the Governor immediately sent a...

  • After the storm

    Mar 2, 2023

    A mature bull takes a break from grazing on a newly-melted patch of forage on Monday evening south of Sundance....

  • CCMSD to explore grant options

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    The Board of Trustees is looking to gather information on potential U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants that could support a bid for Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) to build a new hospital. The idea of inviting a representative from the USDA was raised by Trustee Brent Fowler and, he said, was the result of conversations with Kathy Lenz, Resource and Economic Development Manager for U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis. He explained at Friday’s meeting that there are potential grant options available, including specifically f...

  • Bringing loved ones home

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Keeping someone safe if they are prone to wandering can be a challenge, but the Crook County Sheriff's Office can help. The office sponsors Project Lifesaver, a nationwide program designed to help you protect someone who is cognitively impaired. Project Lifesaver is supported by donations and grants and completely free to its participants. Members of the community are invited to reach out to the office for more information if a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition such as dementia or...

  • Late winter storm wallops region

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    A midweek storm last week caused temperature drops of more than 40 degrees in part of Crook County, bringing bitter cold as well as several inches of snow. The snow mostly began to fall across the Black Hills and parts of western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming before widespread snow moved across the area the next day, on February 21. This continued until Wednesday, with snowfall amounts between six and 12 inches across the area. While the winds were not especially strong during this storm, gusts of up to 45 mph were recorded, causing the...

  • Birthday bags

    Mar 2, 2023

    Sundance Girl Scout troop 1989 made 18 birthday bags and donated them to the Sundance Food Pantry for distribution to those in need. The Food Pantry is the first and third Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the rear of the Crook County School District Central Office Building....

  • Pinochle Marathon

    Gail Kaiser|Mar 2, 2023

    These are Pinochle average scores for individuals as of February 22, 2023: Lyle Brunson 4230 Terry Wilkerson 3774 Vivian Brunson 3759 Gail Kaiser 3714 Carol Jordan 3660 Jacquie McInerney 3601 Tracy Santistevan 3589 Jennifer Adams 3544 Larry Byrne 3420 Jean Adams 3313 Mary Jayne Jordan 3229 Joann Salyer 3093 Barbara Byrne 3052 Karol Santistevan 3000 Alan Loken 2858 Richard Wilkerson 2461 Dave Daniels 2289 Marla Loken 1852 These are Pinochle average scores for couples as of February 22, 2023: Lyle and Vivian Brunson 7989 Jacquie McInerney and...

  • Melva Arlene (Bay) Rawhouser

    Mar 2, 2023

    Melva Arlene Rawhouser passed away Feb. 26, 2023, at Weston County Manor, after a stroke in November 2013. She was born Sept. 16, 1938, at the family ranch north of Hulett, Wyoming (close to Seeley, Wyoming) to Tom and Arlene (Stull) Bay. She attended schools in Hulett and Moorcroft. In 1953, she married Jack Bolin. Together they had a daughter, Barbara "Bobbi" Marie Bolin. In 1958, she married James Franklin. Together they had three daughters and one son: a daughter, stillborn (unnamed), a...

  • Peek at the Past

    Mar 2, 2023

    1 Years Ago March 8, 1923 Bids for construction of the new high school building for Sundance High School District No. 1 will be opened by the board next Saturday. It is expected that a considerable number of contractors will be on hand that day to attend the meeting and witness the award. The plans call for a two-story and basement stone building 89x57 feet. From the various elevation plans of the building and different floors it is evident that the school board contemplates a very commodious school building and one that will be a credit to...

  • This Week at Your Library

    Carrie Riley|Mar 2, 2023

    We do in-town deliveries for people who are unable to make it into the library and we do curbside delivery for those who would prefer not to come inside. Just give us a call and we will get your books ready. Have you tried the Libby app to access digital content using your library card? You can get eBooks, audiobooks and magazines right on your smart phones or Tablets. Stop in today to find out more. Displays: Bronze Sculptures by Gary Shoop and “A Room for the Night: Roadside Lodging in Wyoming” by the Wyoming State Archives and Museum Lib...

  • Circuit Court

    Mar 2, 2023

    Speeding – Matthew Silbernagel, Frederick, CO, 90/80, $105; Martin Gonzalez, Greeley, CO, 92/75, $145; Jijette Wood, Rozet, WY, 79/70, $103; Colin Woods, Gillette, WY, 92/75, $145; Peter W. Davis, Sundance, WY, 40/30, $140 No Seat Belt (driver) – August I. Hewson, Gillette, WY, $25; (passenger) – Jacob W. Hamilton, Buffalo, WY, $10; Zane R. Huntley, Hulett, WY, $10 Speed Too Fast For Conditions – Adam Coulthard, Calgary, AB, Canada, $240 Careless Driving – Ryan Anderson, Gillette, WY, $240 Expired Temporary License Permit/Improper Registrat...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    Mar 2, 2023

    Feb. 20 – Coroner call. Accident. Motorist assist. Fraud. Suicidal subject. Feb. 21 – VIN check. Traffic stop. Escort. Fingerprints. Fraud. Two motorist assists. Accident. Alarm. Fingerprints. Patient transfer. Two business checks. Abdominal. House watch. Feb. 22 – Search. Two alarms. Motorist assist. Fall. Feb. 23 – Two VIN checks. Alarm. Motorist assist. Burglary. Life Flight. Accident. Sickness. Feb. 24 – Six VIN checks. Business check. Utility problem. Assist Wyoming Highway Patrol. Accident. Project Lifesaver. Feb. 25 – Three traffic sto...

  • Hold

    Dave Jagemann, Pastor, Chapel of Faith|Mar 2, 2023

    Take firm (strong) hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life (Prov. 4:13). There are certain things in life that are good to hold on to. They are helpful, hopeful and heartful. The Bible is very good at showing what to keep (in memory), possess, retain, seize on and detain. These are necessary and essential items to assist in navigating life as they help in clearing the obstacles placed in our way. Here are several, may they hold you firm, fast and strong in HIM. Test (examine, prove) all things; hold fast what is good...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Mar 2, 2023

    Dear Editor: Once again the so-called “pro-life” members of the Wyoming Legislature appear in public wearing only the emperor’s clothes. House Bill 152 would force every pregnant Wyoming woman, even those pregnant by rape, to bring their pregnancies to fruition. Every House member who voted in favor of this draconian measure also voted against House Bill 65, which would have put $46 million into a trust fund to fund the suicide prevention hot line in perpetuity. Some of those voting no on HB 65 suggested that the prevention hotline supporters s...

  • From the Desk of House Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman

    Chip Neiman, Representative|Mar 2, 2023

    We are on the downhill slope as the Legislature finishes its seventh week. Deadlines are approaching and debate is speeding up to ensure bills important to the people of Wyoming are heard. Strengthening families is one of my most important priorities this session and I have been hard at work ensuring their voices are heard and we do all we can to support them with a focus on moving legislation that protects our children, helps people with medical issues receive medication they need, and saving...

  • Speaker of the House: I'm focused on Wyoming solutions, not out-of-state influences

    Albert Sommers, Speaker of the House|Mar 2, 2023

    Throughout the last decade serving as a Representative in the Wyoming State Legislature, I have consistently used the following metric to assess legislation: does it solve a Wyoming problem with a Wyoming solution? Some bills that come to the Legislature do not come from Wyoming but instead from another state, or they are templates from a national organization. Bills not crafted in Wyoming often take a one-size-fits-all approach that demands the Wyoming Legislature’s due diligence to ensure a bill solves a problem and does not create a new o...

  • This Side of the Pond

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    We’re going to file this week’s column under “things you didn’t know about famous people”, even though, for me, it also falls into the category of stuff I’ve failed to notice about my own home county. You undoubtedly know the name Brian May, even if you don’t like rock music or were born too late to enjoy the stylish performances of Freddie Mercury. He is widely regarded as one of the finest guitar players of all time, we can all still hum along to most of the timeless songs he’s written...

  • Wrestling season wraps up

    Todd Klopp|Mar 2, 2023

    The 2022-23 Bulldog wrestling season came to an end this past weekend in Casper. For the girls, Savannah Peterson became Sundance's first female state participant and first girl to win a match at the state tournament. She finished 1-2 on the weekend, defeating a girl from Campbell County before bowing out in the 3rd round of consolations. On the boy's side, the Bulldogs came home with two sixth place medals as 106 lb. Senior Zac Duvall and 220 lb. Junior Jacob Comer both went 3-3 and finished...

  • FFA speaking contests held

    Riley Banker|Mar 2, 2023

    The Bearlodge FFA partnered with the Crook County Farm Bureau to put on a speaking contest on Feb. 21. This allowed speakers from Sundance and Moorcroft to compete in the creed, prepared and extemporaneous speaking. Kimberly Robinson won the eighth-grade creed contest, Madeline Fleenor won the freshman creed contest and Jaylin Mills placed second, Cana Ruonavaara won the prepared speaking contest and Lindsey Fosheim won the extemporaneous, with Curtis Hanslik being granted second. Students will...

  • Lady Bulldogs headed to state

    Rebecca Maupin|Mar 2, 2023

    The Sundance Lady Bulldogs are headed back to the state tournament. Participating in the 2A East Regional Tournament this past weekend, the Lady Bulldogs were able to defeat the Niobrara County Tigers and Pine Bluffs Hornets, and fell to the Lingle Fort Laramie Doggers, finishing in second place and earning another trip to the 2A State Basketball Tournament. Going into the 2A East Regional Tournament as the number one seed from the north, the Lady Bulldogs opened play against the number four...

  • Gordon signs supplemental budget

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    This year’s supplemental budget places more than $1 billion into savings – a move that Governor Mark Gordon said would allow the state to keep taxes low and generate higher investment returns. For every dollar of state revenue spent in the bill, he said, $3.50 is saved. The budget also makes “strategic investments” in Wyoming, Gordon said, including more funding for the Property Tax Refund Program, support for the state’s energy industries and a market adjustment for state employees and teachers to offset the impacts of inflation. “I congra...

  • Keyhole check station plans already in place

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Spring may seem a long way away from underneath February’s snowdrifts, but the Wyoming Game & Fish Department will be prepared when it arrives to protect Keyhole Reservoir from an infestation of zebra mussels. Game & Fish has been concerned about this possibility since an infestation of the invasive creatures was reported at Pactola Reservoir, just 30 miles from the Wyoming border. This was the closest location where the species has yet been found, which the department concluded was a significant increase to the risk to the state’s waters. Not...

  • Numerous bills pass into law

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Governor Mark Gordon took action last week on the long list of bills that had made their way through the legislative process and onto his desk. Friday was the last day for bills to be reported out of committee in the second House. Any legislation that did not meet the deadline will no longer be considered during this session. Among the bills that have now made their way into law was HB 65, which establishes the 988 hotline system for suicide prevention and mental health crises. The bill establishes a trust fund and reserve account for the...

  • CCMSD still struggling to get rid of mask requirement

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Federal mandates still dictate that a medical facility implement a mask policy if the risk of COVID-19 transmission is high. Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) has been hoping to drop the mask requirement for a couple of months now, but, so far, it’s been a no-go. “We were able to get rid of masks for four whole days,” CEO Micki Lyons wryly commented last week. Unfortunately, the county’s status then jumped back to red, which means “high community transmission”, before downgrading a step to orange. If a county manages to remain a...

  • Bill halting eminent domain right for wind energy vetoed

    Sarah Pridgeon|Mar 2, 2023

    Of the bills presented to Governor Mark Gordon last week, he exercised his veto authority on just one. HB 106 would have reimposed a moratorium on the exercise of power of condemnation for wind energy collector systems. However, Gordon said that a nine-year moratorium on the use of eminent domain is likely to stall development in Wyoming. “Eminent domain has been and remains a delicate and problematic issue, which should only be deployed as a last resort because most often one party always prevails at the other’s detriment,” he wrote in a let...

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