Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the May 6, 2021 edition


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  • Busy year so far for local business

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    Construction, moving trucks and for sale signs illustrate what a busy year this has been so far for the business community in Sundance and the surrounding area. Renovations are being made to established businesses, while others are moving to the area either from nearby or further afield. Grossenburg Implement The sizeable new building that will soon house Grossenburg Implement is heading towards completion, says Will Yemington, store lead. The structure replaces the 40-year-old building that...

  • Healthy attendance

    May 6, 2021

    Recognizing a familiar date on the local calendar, members of the community headed to the Sundance High School gym on Saturday to collect the results of their blood draws and browse booths during the annual Crook County Medical Services District health fair. From pharmacy services to physical therapy, from emergency services to long term care, the event offered its usual broad insight into the medical support available to patients in this area....

  • Multiple factors cited in fatal crash

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    A fatal vehicle crash on the intestate east of Sundance claimed the life of a Rapid City resident last Wednesday. The incident took place in the morning and involved a single SUV. According to reports from Wyoming Highway Patrol, the crash took place near milepost 199 at 8:52 a.m. on April 28. The vehicle was heading east when its left rear tire tread separated from the tire, which caused the driver to lose control. The vehicle exited the right side of the roadway, where it overturned. The driver, later identified as 42-year-old Kelsey M....

  • Museum opens in Old Stoney

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    The big day has finally arrived. After years of effort to refurbish Old Stoney and bring new life to the historic school building, the Crook County Museum has reopened to the public on the ground floor. Although the grand opening isn’t scheduled till mid-June, to coincide with the opening of the Sundance Square park next door, locals and tourists alike are now invited to browse the collection in its new home. When the doors were flung open to the community on Monday, it marked the culmination o...

  • Teacher of the year revealed

    May 6, 2021

    Crook County School District has announced that this year’s recipient of its Teacher of the Year award will be Mrs. Tina Inghram, second grade. Inghram has spent a quarter of a century educating kids, with the last 15 of those at Sundance Elementary and 21 as an educator in Wyoming. Mrs. Inghram began her career teaching students as a paraprofessional in special education while pursuing her education credential. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the U...

  • Rod Owen DeCent

    May 6, 2021

    Rod Owen DeCent, age 57, passed away peacefully May 1, 2021, with his wife and family by his side. Rod was born May 13, 1963, in Aurora, Minnesota, to Allan “Doc” and Priscilla DeCent. He grew up in Embarrass, Minnesota, and graduated from J. F. Kennedy High School in Babbitt, Minnesota. After graduation, Rob joined the National Guard where he devoted four years of his life. Rod met the love of his life, Melony, in 2001 and they married on September 11, 2010. From this marriage three children were born; Rio Lynn born June 29, 2008, Rayanne Ros...

  • Engagement

    May 6, 2021

    Bob and Bonnie Queen proudly announce the engagement and coming wedding of their daughter, BobbiJo to Matthew Rodriguez of Spearfish, South Dakota. Matt is the son of Angel Rodriguez of Spearfish and Eddie Rodriguez of LaPuente, California. A May, 28, 2021, wedding is planned at Besler’s Cadillac Ranch....

  • County outstrips state average in population growth

    May 6, 2021

    According to the results of last year’s national census, performed by the United States Census Bureau, the population of Crook County has grown by 7.1% over the last decade. This is a faster rate of growth than the 6.3% average for the United States at a whole. It’s also much higher than the rest of Wyoming, which has seen just a 2.7% growth in population since the last census in 2010. During those ten years, Crook County has grown from 7080 residents to an estimated 7584. While some other counties have also seen growth, such as Teton at 10....

  • Names sought for County War Memorial

    May 6, 2021

    The Crook County War Memorial Committee is seeking names to be added to the Crook County War Memorial this fall. Please submit names, along with a copy of the veterans DD Form 214, by July 16. In order for a name to be engraved on the War Memorial, the veteran must (1) have been a resident of Crook County at the time of their induction and claimed it as their home of record OR (2) have been serving active duty here in Crook County at the time of their reenlistment (this option is only available to those who served here when the “Radar S...

  • This Week at Your Library

    Kim Heaster|May 6, 2021

    The library will be closed on Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day. We are still doing curbside and delivery if you would prefer not to come inside. The statewide mask mandate has ended, but if you want to wear a mask in the library, we have masks available. Teens and children are encouraged to come in and use the computers and kid’s iPads. The meeting room is open for meetings, parties, etc. Please call the library for more information and availability. If you are a Master Gardener, will you please contact the library? We would like to have s...

  • Crook least vaccinated county in Wyoming

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    Wyoming’s remaining public health orders have been extended for another two weeks, according to a press release from the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Valid until May 16, the orders continue the mask use and physical distancing requirements for educational institutions and allow indoor events of more than 500 people at 50 percent of venue capacity, with mask protocols for large indoor events. The orders have been extended while the vaccine program continues to roll out. At this time, almost 25% of adults in Wyoming have been fully v...

  • Fraud alert follows health department data leak

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    The health information of thousands of state residents was mistakenly exposed earlier this year, according to announcement from the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). The department is now warning about fraudulent calls from people falsely claiming to represent the department. “The callers falsely claim to represent us, say they are calling about the breach and then ask the individuals they’ve reached for insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or other financial information. In some instances, it seems they have been able to make it appear as if the...

  • Crook County participates in National Prevention Week

    May 6, 2021

    National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness and action around substance use prevention and the promotion of positive mental health. This year, this national initiative, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will take place May 9 to 15. Here in Crook County, our Prevention program is supported by the Be Well Coalition, a group of community members that work together with Prevention Specialist Katie Allen. Why does prevention matter? Because when...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    May 6, 2021

    April 26 – Three traffic stops. Welfare check. Civil assist. Nine VIN checks. Alarm. Traffic hazard. Fingerprints. Suspicious vehicle. Business checks. Assist Game and Fish. Public relations. April 27 – Two EMS pages. Ten VIN checks. Theft. Two traffic stops. Vehicle crash. Motorist assist. Paper services. Welfare check. Business checks. Animal complaint. April 28 – Two EMS pages. Three traffic stops. Assisted Highway Patrol. Two fire pages. Five VIN checks. Coroner notified. Motorist assist. Found property. Paper services. House watch. Busin...

  • Circuit Court

    May 6, 2021

    Speeding – David L. Elliott, Moorcroft, 68/45, $175; Troy Homme, MN, 89/80, $103; Elbert Marbury, LA, 88/70, $135; Trevor Roberson, MO, 80/75, $15; Jennifer Mickelson, SD, 81/75, $97; Weston Straight, Gillette, 91/75, $140; Derek F. Smith, Hulett, 79/65, $130; Amber R. Rupp, Gillette, 89/75, $130; John Douglas Barton, Upton, 79/70, $103; Tina R. Whaley, SD, 83/75, $101; Victor Gomez, TX, 83/70, $125; Ronald Berry, WA, 87/70, $155; Daniel Reifenberger, CO, 81/70, $115; Frances Curry, WA, 90/75, $135; Jamarlia Martin, 90/80, $105; Cody R. K...

  • Balow: Time for a comprehensive plan

    Jillian Balow, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction|May 6, 2021

    I grew up watching westerns with the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. Predictable endings – good guys riding off into the sunset after saving the town – never spoiled the action or suspense of the movie. Wyoming hoped for the same sequence during this year’s legislative session. There was plenty of action and suspense during the session, especially around school funding. However, when our legislators tipped their hats and bid farewell to the 2021 session, they had not made inroads to solve Wyoming’s education funding woes. W...

  • This Side of the Pond

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    When a scandal comes along, one expects it to involve some combination of sex, drugs, gambling and alcohol, maybe a murder or three. Without those juicy elements, what’s the use in having one at all? There’s no point asking the Brits, because we prefer to be understated even when it comes to our scandals. Back in my homeland, the story of the week has centered on a sofa and matching set of rugs. They’re calling it the “Cash for Curtains” saga, so not even the name is all that thrilling...

  • County escapes worst of tourism drop

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    t’s no surprise that 2020 was a challenging year for the tourism industry across the nation. Wyoming, however, fared better than most places, according to a report the Wyoming Office of Tourism, and Crook was one of the least impacted counties in the state. The 2020 Economic Impact of Travel in Wyoming report states that Wyoming’s travel economy only declined by 23%, compared to a national decline of 36%. Crook County saw only a 17% decline, bested only by Washakie County at 16%. The highest recorded declines were in Converse, Sublette and Gos...

  • Financial support available for restaurants and bars

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 6, 2021

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a program to support restaurants and bars that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions. Applications opened on Monday for the program, which makes use of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) aims to restore the revenue an eatery lost during the pandemic, up to $10 million per business or $5 million per physical location. As long as the funding is used by March 11, 2023, it does not need to be repaid. The...

  • ITC in Gillette chosen for $52M CO2 capture project

    Greg Johnson, Gillette News Record Via Wyoming News Exchange|May 6, 2021

    GILLETTE – Less than two weeks removed from announcing the winners of the NRG COSIA Carbon XPrize, the Integrated Test Center is at the center of another large, high-profile carbon capture project. Gov. Mark Gordon announced Friday afternoon that the ITC, attached to the Dry Fork Station coal-fired power plant about 10 miles north of Gillette, will host one of two large U.S. Department of Energy CO2 capture research projects. The DOE has awarded $99 million to a pair of projects to continue their research into Phase III of the federal D...

  • Wyoming News Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|May 6, 2021

    Wyoming gas prices tick up again CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming gas prices have risen 0.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.90 per gallon as of Monday, according to GasBuddy.com’s daily survey of 494 stations in Wyoming. Gas prices in Wyoming are 0.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, and stand $1.10 per gallon higher than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest gas in Wyoming was priced at $2.55 per gallon Monday, while the most expensive was $3.49 per gallon, a difference of 94 cents per gallon. The nat...

  • Busy golf week

    Rebecca Maupin|May 6, 2021

    The Sundance Golf team hosted their triangular this past week as Lusk and Upton ventured their way up to compete against the Bulldogs golfers. Three Lady Bulldogs placed in the top five of the girls’ division as Sheridan Schubarth led the way for Sundance, finishing second with a score of 88. Not far behind her were teammates Allison Crawford, finishing third with 102, and Ella Bifulco, finishing fourth with a score of 106. On the boys’ side, Parker Speidel paced the Bulldogs, finishing in sec...

  • Local students perform well at Bandmasters contest

    May 6, 2021

    These piano and vocal students of Janet Lake participated in the virtual South Dakota Bandmasters Music Contest in March and brought home Superior (I) and Excellent (II) ratings. Left to right: Ali Arambel, II-piano, II-vocal; Lydia Castelli, I-piano, I-vocal; Jude Crago, I-vocal; Cooper Croell, I-piano, I-vocal; Carter Croell, I-piano; Nevaeh Idler, I+ (A+!), piano, I-vocal; Mary Villegas, I-piano, I-vocal; and Kendall Crago, II-piano. All students are in Grades 3-7 at Sundance Elementary and...

  • Great showings for Bulldogs at two track meets

    Rebecca Maupin|May 6, 2021

    The Bulldog runners had a busy week last week participating in two track meets. Travelling to Belle Fourche on Tuesday, the Hofland sisters took top honors in the disc and shot competitions as Hunter Skeens took the top spot in the 3200m race. A Bulldog medley, composed of Josh Pridgeon, Keaton Mills, Ryder Dowdney and Hunter Skeets, also took top honors in their race. The Bulldogs continued to rack up top honors as they competed in Wright on Saturday. Keaton Mills topped the high jump for the B...