Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Students will be returning to their school buildings this fall, says Superintendent Mark Broderson. To make that happen, employees from every department are working on a framework to keep kids safe despite the ever-changing picture of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We feel this is the best option for our students for the following reasons: lack of proper connectivity to all homes, reduced stress for parents, building relationships between staff and students, allowing parents to return to work and t...
The management company that Crook County Medical Services (CCMSD) fired earlier this year is suing the district for damages. Health Management Services (HMS) claims it was given 120 days of notice as per its contract, but was then “inexplicably” dismissed without payment. According to the complaint, filed with Crook County District Court, the five-year contract between the two entities states that payment for HMS’s services would take the form of five percent of CCMSD’s total gross operating revenues. This contract was due to come to an end...
Crook County has only seen one new case of COVID-19 over the last week, bringing the local total to seven – a far cry from the hotspot on the opposite side of the state. In Uinta County, an outbreak linked to Memorial Day gatherings has seen a tenfold increase of over100 new cases over the last two weeks. The outbreak is largely responsible for the daily spikes in the state’s case numbers. On Monday, 27 new cases were identified in Wyoming, the second-highest increase since COVID-19 was first diagnosed in the state; case numbers also saw rel...
A partial burn ban is set to go into effect on July 5, imposing caution on county residents as the summer kicks into full swing and the danger of wildfire increases. Anticipating a potentially severe to extreme fire situation throughout the county due to a heavy fuel load and dry conditions, the restrictions were approved by the county commissioners on Thursday and aim to offset situations that could over-extend the county’s firefighting capabilities. County Fire Warden Doug Leis will be i...
It’s been over a year since the county commissioners heard confirmation that the Public Service Commission (PSC) had deregulated CenturyLink in rural zones of Wyoming in return for a subsidy program for customers experiencing service issues. Local customers have seen few benefits, said Commissioner Jeanne Whalen last week, and the county has little interest in helping the PSC gauge how well things have gone since the agreement was made. “It’s not worth our time anymore,” said Whalen, stating that the situation was supposed to improve for cus...
Service for Kyle Dyer will be at 3 p.m. on July 1, 2020 at the JH Ranch 1¼ mile south of Hulett on Highway 24. Signs will be posted. A celebration will start at 5 p.m. at the Ponderosa Bar & Café on Main Street in Hulett. Please wear your favorite band shirt. Kyle left us on March 18, 2020. Please come help us celebrate the joy that Kyle brought to our lives.... Full story
On Thursday, June 25, Katy’s ashes will be spread on Sundance Mountain around 10:30 to 10:45a.m. Everyone is invited to gather on the Sundance Football Field to celebrate the life of this amazing woman. There will be plenty of room to practice social distancing via bleachers, the parking lot or the field. When the ashes are being release, everyone can blow bubbles in honor of Katy. Bubbles will be provided. Thank you to everyone who showed love and support to Katy and for all of the generous donations. Each one of you made a difference and w... Full story
Crook County was declared a Second Amendment Sanctuary last week on the passing of a symbolic resolution by the county commissioners. Resolution 2020-19 recognizes that the Constitution of the United States of America states, “The right of citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied” in Article 1 and further recognizes that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. It also notes that citizens of this county derive economic benefit from activities involving fir...
Justin Ross Hogan of Gillette has been given a suspended sentence for a case involving the stolen identity of a resident of Crook County. On August 23, 2018, a Sheriff’s Office deputy was given a report of alleged credit card fraud and advised that the alleged victim is a resident of this county. The deputy made contact with the victim at his residence, where he claimed that six credit accounts had been opened in his name beginning in September, 2017, without his knowledge or consent. According to court reports, the victim stated he had been un...
“Making the thinker believe and the believer think.” – Ravi Zacharias The above quote is the slogan of RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministry). It’s very recently deceased inspirational founder Ravi Zacharias understood the task of not destroying the skeptic of Christianity, but meeting the questions they had with real, strong, truthful answers. In our lives we twist and turn under the pressures of life and search for that which not only will relieve but give our souls the peace they demand. Whether we acknowledge it or not everyth...
In response to Mayor Brooks’ letter of June 18 about the census, let’s remember that there is one purpose, and one purpose only, for the Constitution’s requirement for a census: to determine the proper representation in the House of Representatives. Period. The Constitution requires a COUNT of residents living in each district. It does not require the age, gender, income level, name, race or whether you own or rent. By simply answering questions #1 and #2 (as I did) you have responded correctly to provide the COUNT of the people living at yo...
Hollywood comes to Dorset about as often as it does the Devils Tower; in other words, not much at all. That’s one reason I’m interested to see a film set to be screened at the Cannes Movie Festival this month; the other is that Ammonite is about one of the more famous scientific names associated with my home county. You’ve probably heard of her, though you may not know you have. Mary Anning is said to be the “she” in the old tongue twister, “She sells sea shells on the sea shore”. Mary Anning w...
Superintendent Amnesty Kochanowski announced the selection of two new leadership team members at Devils Tower National Monument: Facility Manager, Brent Keay and Integrated Resources Program Manager, Russ Cash. Keay began on March 29 and Cash on April 12. Keay will lead the Tower’s facility management division, supporting several permanent and temporary staff in the upkeep of numerous historic park buildings, campground and roadways. Although new to the National Park Service, Brent brings w...
Imagine Your Story Summer Reading Program will be July 1 through Aug. 3 for preschool through sixth grade (the grade you are going into in the fall). Packets will be available for pick up or curbside delivery at the library June 29 through July 1 with logged reading beginning July 1. Every child who signs up receives a packet, which includes a reading log, bookmark, a book and a dog tag with chain. This year’s summer reading program will be considerably different than in past years. Every hour read earns a ticket to be put in for a prize b...
Wyoming residents have access to new career development resources to help recover from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Linkedin Learning is supported by funding from the CARES Act via the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Linkedin Learning, with over 6500 courses for career development, is available online to all Wyoming residents with a valid library card. As part of the GoWYLD.net databases, Linkedin Learning can be accessed from home, libraries or anywhere with an internet connection. “Career development is i...
The library doors are open. We will still be doing curbside delivery if you would prefer not to come into the library. Maximum of five (non-staff) people in the library at one time. Maximum length of stay limited to 30 minutes. Children under 13 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Unfortunately, due to budget cut-backs, we are no longer able to offer free InterLibrary Loan requests. Starting July 1, there will be a $3 fee to request a book from a library outside of Crook County. Library Programming: PROGRAMMING IS SUSPENDED FOR JULY. DUFFY HUDSON...
1 Years Ago June 23, 1920 Frank Hickey, who has been held at the county jail during the past month as a suspect in connection with the murder of Laben Woods, was liberated Friday for lack of evidence. Parties in the Hulett country re-arrested him Saturday, claiming to have the goods on him, and Sheriff Hurtt and County Attorney Nichols went out Sunday to examine into the sufficiency of the alleged new evidence. The sheriff and attorney arrived in Sundance Tuesday afternoon with Hickey in custody. Attorney Nicholls states that Mrs. Hickey has...
Speeding – Cole G. Schroeder, Gillette, 64/50, $115; Luis R. Dominguez-Valenzuela, NM, 79/70, $88; Thomas A. Vanluvan, Sundance, 35/30, $75; Adam J. Rotstein, CA, 81/75, $82; Janelle L. Rafaele, MT, 54/45, $88; Zachary M. Tremblay, NJ, 60/55, $15; Julian P. Perez, Moorcroft, 92/80, $105; Kevin M. Cornelius, Gillette, 87/75, $105; Grant W. Lund, Sheridan, 75/65, $90; Bobbilee A. Stephens, Gillette, 29/20, $85; Kyle M. Wahler, FL, 90/80, $90; Brandon S. Domash, IL, 88/75, $110; Timothy J. Haas, MO, 85/75, $90; Victor Marranca, PA, 87/75, $105; Ch...
June 6 – House watch and business checks. Four traffic stops. Three bar checks. Officer checked out suspicious vehicle. Officer responded to civil issue. June 7 – House watch and business checks. Officer assisted Sheriff’s Department with call. Officer assisted Port Of Entry with Life Flight. June 8 – House watch and business checks. Officer out for Circuit Court. June 9 – House watch and business checks. Civil assist. Assisted DFS. June 10 – House watch and business checks. Traffic stop. Officer checked out suspicious person. June 11 – House...
June 8 – Five VIN checks. Four paper services. Nine traffic stops. Civil assist. Fingerprints; conceal carry and outside employment. Two motorist assists. Assist WHP with traffic stop. June 9 – Eight VIN checks. Paper service. Traffic stop. Motorist assist. Business checks Sand Creek. Request for EMS. June 10 – Seven VIN checks. Paper service. Four traffic stops. Two EMS pages. Notify coroner. Fingerprints outside employment. Three motorist assists. June 11 – Seven VIN checks. Three paper services. Six traffic stops. Trespassing complai...
The 2019-2020 Sundance Athletes of the Year are Kye Taylor (above), son of Mike and Liz Taylor, All Conference and All State for football and basketball and selected to play in the Wyoming Coaches Association All-Star game; and Aftyn Marchant (below), daughter of Chris and Stephanie Marchant, volleyball All Conference and All State and All Conference for basketball....
GILLETTE — Former Gillette City Councilman Shay Lundvall isn’t the only elected official to express support for a group of social media posts that prompted Mayor Louise Carter-King and the rest of the council to ask for his resignation last week. Lundvall resigned at the urging of the mayor and council after the city received a pair of complaints that he had “liked” several social media posts that support potentially sexist, violent and racist views. State Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, said in a 20-minute Facebook video Wednesday that he also...
CASPER — Since peaking in 2008, coal production nationwide has been on a precipitous decline. Last year, U.S. production volumes reached their lowest since 1975, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Energy Information Administration. A decade ago, in the heydays of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming’s coal epicenter produced over 400 million tons of the commodity. Last year, the basin’s mines pumped out much less, just 267 million tons. Most Wyoming lawmakers and industry leaders have come around to admitting there’s a problem...
POWELL — A father and son team from Cody claim they solved the clues left by Sante Fe art dealer Forrest Fenn and are now waiting for their payoff of gold and jewels. Chris and Christopher Hurst say that after presenting their evidence to Fenn, he announced later that same day that the hunt was over and the riddle solved. It was on the evening of June 6 that Fenn announced that the treasure — a cache of gold and jewels reportedly worth somewhere between $1 million and $5 million — had been discovered. “It was under a canopy of stars in the lush...
JACKSON — Food, garbage and vomit were scattered around a dispersed Darby Canyon campsite early June 14 when state wildlife officials arrived to respond to a report of a pre-dawn mountain lion attack. The supposed cat struck through a tent, raking a sleeping man in the back. But at the scene, Wyoming Game and Fish Department staffers Mike Boyce and Becca Lyon saw no sign of a cat. They did see ursine spoor, and 50 yards off the campsite found a decomposed deer carcass that had been fed on by a black bear just the night before. “Clearly a bea...