Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the May 7, 2020 edition


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  • Opening for business

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    Last week, Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist appeared at the podium every afternoon to answer questions about the new state health orders that would be going into effect on May 1. As well as a modest easing of restrictions on businesses such as restaurants and bars, the orders aimed to get people whose job involves one-on-one contact with clients back to work. The new orders allowed gyms, barber shops, hair salons and other personal care services to reopen under specific operating conditions designed to minimize... Full story

  • Countywide variance sought for local eateries

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    Representative Tyler Lindholm and Senator Ogden Driskill were all geared up to fight the good fight on behalf of local restaurant owners on Monday, but soon discovered that the county’s emergency operations center has already set the ball rolling to secure a variance on the new state health orders for all county eateries. Lindholm began his request to the county commissioners by stating that the orders allow for variances and that he has spoken with some restaurant owners about what it would l... Full story

  • State slow to answer Moskee access questions

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    Concerns have gone unanswered regarding what will happen to the Moskee land recently acquired by the state, according to Commissioner Jeanne Whalen. On Monday, Whalen stated that the county’s questions about usage and road closures have never been addressed. “We attended the public meeting and state lands did not answer any of our questions,” she said, noting that the state had said it would not need to follow the county’s land use plan and would not be coordinating with Crook County. A major question still hanging out there, Whalen said, i...

  • New trustee to join hospital board

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    The Board of Trustees for Crook County Medical Services District has selected a replacement board member to serve out the remaining time in Joey Kanode’s term as the trustee for Moorcroft. Kanode stepped down in February, announcing that he did not want his name associated with the board and disagreed with decisions that had been made. On Wednesday, the board announced that his replacement will be Ed Ray of Moorcroft. “We did have a lot of interest over this,” said Trustee Sandy Neiman. Ray was chosen from two candidates who had been selec...

  • Board voids HMS contract, appoints interim CEO

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    After an executive session at a special meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Trustees for Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) moved to void the remaining 120 days of its contract with Health Management Services (HMS) effective May 1. The motion also included confirmation that CCMSD would issue payments to settle outstanding bills from its management company. With CEO Nathan Hough’s departure, the board retired again into executive session the next day during its regular monthly m...

  • Senior celebration

    May 7, 2020

    With the end of the school year fast approaching and the school buildings still mostly closed, the oldest class of students will not ever be returning. To celebrate this year’s seniors, the city and high school hung banners on light poles in the downtown area....

  • John H. Knospler

    May 7, 2020

    John Henry Knospler 67, was killed on Sunday, April 26, 2020, in a Motorcycle accident. Born in Callicoon, New York, February 10, 1953, John spent most of his early years growing up in Chester, New Jersey and attended West Morris Regional High School, after which he joined the US Navy where he served as a boiler tender third class on board the USS Hoel DDG-13 during the Vietnam era. He continued to apply his combustion engineering experience gained in the Navy throughout his working life as a... Full story

  • Sturgis teen to plead guilty in Wyoming girl's killing

    Deb Holland, Black Hills Pioneer|May 7, 2020

    STURGIS — Details of what happened when 17-year-old Michael Gavin Campbell allegedly killed 16-year-old Shayna Ritthaler may finally surface Thursday when the teen appears at a change of plea hearing in Fourth Circuit Court in Sturgis. Meade County State’s Attorney Michele Bordewyk said Campbell is expected to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter on Thursday after she and Campbell’s attorney reached a plea deal Monday. Campbell originally pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. Bordewyk said at the change of plea hearing t...

  • Letter to the Editor

    May 7, 2020

    Dear Editor, My wife Janie and I are small business owners. We own and operate a physical therapy practice, a 24-hour gym and a business consulting firm. We operate in both Wyoming and South Dakota. Recently, we founded the SRT-Team, a network of regional experts on health, livelihood and small business issues. We contribute knowledge, insight and guidance to our members who access the information at www.surviverecoverthrive.com. We are on top of the issues. We face the challenges of employment, business operations, healthcare – and every o...

  • County clerk stresses safety of absentee voting process

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the likelihood that the 2020 elections will rely more heavily than usual on absentee ballots – otherwise known as absentee voting – County Clerk Linda Fritz would like to emphasize that the process is much safer than rumor may have you believe. While the Democratic Party chose to perform its presidential caucus by write-in vote and the Republican Party hosted its convention online, no official word has yet been given on how the primary and general election could look. Governor Mark Gordon stated during a re...

  • SPOT Tax approved for general ballot

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    The county commissioners approved a resolution on Monday that will officially place the Specific Purpose Sales and Use Tax (SPOT) on this year’s ballot. Voters will be asked to approve a total of $7.5 million, which will be shared between the four municipalities and the counties such that each entity receives $1.5 million. This is an increase from the $1.25 per entity approved on the 2014 ballot. SPOT, better known as the “sixth penny” or “one percent tax,” has a strictly defined purpose....

  • Hospital foundation puts in bid for new clinic – and ambulances

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    As well as seeking funding for a hospital building in Sundance, Representative Tyler Lindholm and Senator Ogden Driskill told Crook County Medical Services District trustees a couple of weeks ago that they would like to put in a separate bid to fund a new clinic in Hulett. With that in mind, the Hospital Foundation was asked to prepare a letter of support, detailing what would be needed to complete the project. Judy Hutchinson, chairman of the foundation, reported last week that this letter has been sent. “We did some final plans – we hope fin...

  • Paycheck Protection Program loans top $6.5 million in county

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    Wyoming as a whole was able to secure over a billion dollars of loan approvals during the two rounds of funding for the federal Payroll Protection Program, with a significant chunk of that total directed to Crook County . During the first round of loan approvals, Andy Miller, President of Sundance State Bank, was able to announce that 114 loans had been approved at a total over $4.6 million. “So far, in the second round, we have done about 30 loans for approximately $1.9 million,” he says. “They’re still trickling in, but have slowed conside...

  • Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame announces Class of 2020 Inductees

    May 7, 2020

    Wyoming springtime marks the annual selection of the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) inductee class. This year’s class includes two names from Crook County: Ed Cooper and Kenneth Canfield. Nominations were accepted from Dec 2019 through Feb 28, 2020. Regional committees in ten different areas of Wyoming read, researched and scored over 70 nominations and sent the top 50 picks to the WCHF State Board of Directors. WCHF State Board of Directors voted on those selections the first weekend of May, and voted 41 nominees into the 2020 WCHF Class o...

  • District school cafeterias continue to provide meals

    May 7, 2020

    Even though students are no longer attending school on campus, Crook County School District cooks continue to provide nourishing meals remotely as well. In Moorcroft, the kitchen staff and support help supply approximately 500 lunch bags each week. Each bag contains six different items for students. The bus drivers deliver this to pick-up points each Thursday. They also use a pick-up location at the MK8 school from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those not on a route. Hulett School is currently providing three breakfasts and two lunches for 77 children...

  • Kindergarten registration May 20

    May 7, 2020

    Due to the COVID-19 school closure, and restrictions still in place, Sundance Elementary School will not be doing Kindergarten screening this year. They are asking parents to come during the allotted time according to the first letter of last name on Wed., May 20 to register their incoming Kindergarten student. A to J will be from 8 to 10 a.m. and K to Z will be from 10 a.m. to noon. All paperwork needs to be returned completed. You may download a copy under the Parent Resources tab on the webpage or stop by the SES office on Wed., May 13 from...

  • Harper Memorial Scholarships

    May 7, 2020

    The Harper Memorial Scholarship committee is pleased to announce the 2020-2021 scholarship recipients. The Orville D. Harper Revocable Trust and the Wanda J. Harper Revocable Trust established this scholarship fund, for which Crook County School District #1 is a beneficiary. The trust designates scholarships for graduates of the Sundance, Wyoming High School to allow them to attend any Wyoming in-state university or college. Crook County School District #1 congratulates the following outstanding Sundance High School students: Tyson Bjornestad,...

  • Campbell County fraudster now facing charges here

    Sarah Pridgeon|May 7, 2020

    Fraud charges have been levied against Jason Barnum, a Gillette man who allegedly obtained property by false pretenses from two separate victims in Crook County. Barnum has been collared for similar crimes elsewhere in the state, having been sentenced to up to 13 years in prison for defrauding the Boy Scouts and a 76-year-old woman out of $150,000 in Campbell County; he reportedly also has pending charges in Wright and Weston County. On February 21, Moorcroft Police Department was notified of the first incident. In his report, the officer who...

  • Benefit fund set up for Daves

    May 7, 2020

    As many of you may know, Katy Daves has been fighting bone and lung cancer. She was in the hospital in Rapid City for most of April and is currently in hospice at the Crook County Memorial Hospital. The medical and monthly bills have piled up during this time as Katy has been out of work. Any donation will be greatly appreciated! For all of you who know Katy, she has been a huge staple in our community and has a giving heart, now it is our turn to give back to her. She has never met a stranger and is always wearing a bright smile on her face....

  • Card of Thanks

    May 7, 2020

    Our Thanks Thank you from the Kanode family for all the love and support we have received during our time of loss. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and kindness from each of you....

  • Circuit Court

    May 7, 2020

    Speeding – Dalton J. Trask, Gillette, 86/80, $82; Loren W. MacFarlane, MT, 83/70, $110; Larry J. Hennings, SD, 90/75, $120; Rebecca L. Colbert, AZ, $120; Hannah R. Fisher, MN, 80/75, $15 No Auto Insurance – Vincent F. Morgan, Moorcroft, $555 Weight Over Permit Limit (0-2000) – Sterling P. Boylan, SD, $70 Violate Legal Weight (2001-4000) – Donald K. Brummund, SD, $120...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    May 7, 2020

    Apr. 20 – Two VIN checks. Paper service. Two traffic stops. Suspicious circumstances reported. EMS paged. Apr. 21 – Five VIN checks. Traffic stop. Assisted Moorcroft Police with two calls. Suspicious circumstances reported. EMS paged. Assisted Keyhole State Park. Apr. 22 – VIN check. Two traffic stops. EMS page. Traffic complaint. Suspicious vehicle. Drunk driver reported. Warrant arrest. Booking. Apr. 23 – Four VIN checks. Traffic stop. Crash report. Domestic investigated. Apr. 24 – Four VIN checks. Subject booked in. Welfare check. Courtesy...

  • Sundance Police Department

    May 7, 2020

    Apr. 25 – House watch and business checks. Three VIN inspections. Three traffic stops. Apr. 26 – House watch and business checks. Officer responded to disturbance report. Officer responded to reckless driver report. Traffic stop. Apr. 27 – House watch and business checks. Officer assisted parents with problem child. Traffic stop. Apr. 28 – House watch and business checks. Officer investigated dog at large. Apr. 29 – House watch and business checks. Officer assisted Life Flight. Five traffic stops. Apr. 30 – House watch and business checks. Off...

  • Peek at the Past

    May 7, 2020

    1 Years Ago The Times May 5, 1920 Two more moose for the state of South Dakota’s game preserve in the Black Hills are to be captured there, says a dispatch from Jackson, Wyo., last week, and transported by sled and rail to South Dakota. Two of the four animals recently captured and started for that game preserve are said to have succumbed to the hardships of the journey. Never mind. The romantic gink who intimated that it would be nice to have the other 18 inches of snow, making an even 12 feet for the winter, is being hotly pursued with t...

  • This Week at Your Library

    May 7, 2020

    Due to concerns over COVID-19 and for the safety and well-being of our communities, the Crook County commissioners have closed county facilities until further notice. Even though the doors are closed at the county libraries, library staff will still be working. Services still available include: • Curbside delivery of books, magazines, DVD’s, CD audio books and tax forms (please call 283-1006 and staff will gather items requested and bring to you in the parking lot) • Overdue fines are suspended for the duration and due dates are extended to JU...

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