Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 41
An act of kindness can be life-changing, as was ably demonstrated last week by the students of Sundance High School. A group of seniors gifted a classmate who had never before seen what the world really looks like with a pair of glasses to correct his color blindness. “I had the idea a few years ago and it’s just been in the back of my head to do it,” says Payton Ewing, who organized the surprise for fellow senior Ben Tinsley. With a little research, however, Ewing realized that a set of color...
As the pandemic once again gathers speed across Wyoming and Crook County experiences an uptick in COVID-19 cases, Crook County Medical Services District has made the difficult decision to once again close down visitation to the long-term care facility. Some of the county’s most vulnerable citizens reside within the LTC, which means it’s particularly important to take safety measures when the risk of infection increases. Interim CEO Micki Lyons informed the board of trustees last week that the numbers prompted a review of whether non...
Conceding that it simply won’t be possible to secure CARES Act funding through the State Lands and Investments Board (SLIB) for a new hospital or a remodel of the current building, the board of trustees has authorized an application that would instead see Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) reimbursed for some of its pandemic-related expenses. Due to the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 and the end-of-year deadline for spending the money, the state was at first distributing CARES Act while simultaneously working to f...
According to Judy Hutchinson of the Crook County Hospital Foundation, a bid has been accepted to construct a new clinic in Hulett. The foundation has been pushing towards this moment for many months and broke ground on the site during the Hulett Rodeo this summer. Five bids were received for the clinic, Hutchinson said. “They were really pretty close in amount,” she added, except one that was dismissed because it was considerably higher. The contract was ultimately handed to RCS of Rapid City for a total of $2.54 million, which Hutchinson comme...
During a week in which President Donald Trump was infected and hospitalized, COVID-19 cases across the United States neared 7.5 million and the death rate neared 210,000, the spread of the pandemic across Wyoming has gathered speed. New case numbers remain high as the active case count continues to grow and more people are currently hospitalized due to the virus than at any other point during the pandemic. We are now seeing a “very serious deterioration in conditions,” said Governor Mark Gordon on Monday, expressing concern for the impact thi...
This class of 19 students recently completed the Wyoming Game & Fish Department Hunter Education Class in Sundance. This class involves about 17 hours of class instruction, marksmanship, gun handling and the passing of a written test. The class is offered free of charge in Sundance with sponsorship by the Sundance Rod & Gun Club, books and materials by the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept., facilities provided by the Crook Co. Fair Board and time donated by several certified volunteer instructors....
Janet Walkinshaw passed away peacefully at home with her family on their Sundance area ranch on September 30, 2020, after a years-long struggle with kidney disease and congestive heart failure. She was 95 years old. Janet was born in 1925 in Iowa to Clyde and Ruth Doolitle. She and her family resided in Des Moines, where her father was a lawyer and banker. She lived there until she attended Denver University, graduating as a registered nurse and nurse educator. She married Robert Nye in 1948, and during their ten years of marriage, had three...
Norma ‘Elaine’ Waugh, 83, died October 2, 2020, with her family by her side in Sundance, Wyoming. She is survived by her husband, Leslie Waugh. Elaine was born October 13, 1936, in Hulett, Wyoming, to Hans Borchgrevink and Lucille (Tinkum) Borchgrevink. She was crowned Hulett Rodeo Queen in 1951. Leslie and Elaine were married December 29, 1952, in Hulett. They left Hulett to live in Cody, Wyoming, for three years before returning to Hulett where they settled and raised their three children. Elaine had a deep love for her family and was a ver...
After an extended illness Arlo Lee Ellefson, 80, MSGT United States Air Force, retired, of Hulett, Wyoming, passed away at the Fort. Meade VA Health Care Center, Fort Meade, South Dakota, on September 29, 2020, attended by the compassionate loving health care team. Arlo Lee (Al) Ellefson, was born January 26, 1940 to Harry B. Ellefson and Ellen (Palmer) Ellefson In Minneapolis, Minnesota. Al grew up in Northfield, Minnesota and received his GED from Northfield High School. While in the Air Force he met and married Madonna Lenz in 1960. Al and...
Faith Honey Anderson of Devils Tower was selected to serve on the 2020-2021 Wyoming State 4-H Leadership Team. Team members go through a selection process starting with an application, then four interviews to narrow the candidates and select an eight-member team. The State 4-H Leadership Team represents Wyoming 4-H at all state events, contests and activities. Anderson is starting her ninth year as a 4-H member and a member of the Campbell County 4-H Young Leaders. She has earned membership in the Wyoming 4-H Honors Club, the state 4-H...
Interested in becoming an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault? Join Crook County Family Violence (CCFV) and the Crook County Attorney’s Victim Witness Program in a training course that provides the key skills necessary to offer support. CORE Rural Advocacy training is a free and interactive 32-hour training, says Kayleigh Gould, CCFV. “This training is meant for anyone who would like to either work or volunteer for any domestic/sexual violence (DV/SA) agency in the State of Wyoming,” says Gould. “In other words,...
It’s Fire Prevention Week across America, and this year’s theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen”. Sundance’s Fire Marshal Chris Tomford would like to remind the community that now is the perfect time to tick off your family’s fire safety checklist. As the theme of the week is related specifically to the kitchen, the first Fire Prevention Week recommendation this year is for a grown up to always pay attention to things that are cooking – and to watch the stovetop when frying, boiling, grilling or broiling. Always turn off the burner wh...
Gillette resident Milford Hiebert has been bound over to District Court on felony possession charges after evidence of marijuana use was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop for speeding. A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was clearing an assist near milepost 173 on I-90 when he observed a vehicle traveling westbound at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. Radar allegedly confirmed the speed to be 90 mph in a 75 mph zone. The trooper pulled the vehicle over and approached the driver, who allegedly stated he was aware he was speeding...
A Gillette man has been bound over to District Court on charges of possession of meth and being under the influence of a controlled substance after allegedly acting strangely at a Keyhole State Park campsite. A State Parks Ranger was dispatched to a campsite at Keyhole State Park to reports of a male who was acting as though he was on something. He arrived on scene to find the campground host dealing with a male, who was in a vehicle matching the description the ranger had been given, but the male himself did not match the description. The...
Sept. 28 – Six VIN checks. Three traffic stops. Fingerprints for outside employment. Two business checks. Domestic issue. Booked in new inmate. Civil assist. Trespassing reported. Two motorist assists. Fire paged out two times. Sept. 29 – Two VIN checks. Paper service. Two traffic stops. Welfare check. Fingerprints for outside employment. Report of suspicious circumstances. Animal complaint report. Courtesy ride. Assisted Wyoming Highway Patrol. EMS paged out two times. Sept. 30 – Three VIN checks. Three paper services. Two traffic stops...
Speeding – Marnie R. Nisley, Wright, 102/70, $220; Martin Villegas Baeza, Gillette, 77/65, $120; Kelly Kopaska, IA, 46/30, $212; Cole P. Kaiser, 85/75, $90; Paige Jeffries, NC, 74/65, $103; Amy Hodge, SD, 90/80, $105; Jean Cook, WA, 93/80, $125; Matthew Menzi, MD, 90/75, $135; Rodney B. Martin, SC, 90/75, $135; Randall Jay Harvey, Hulett, 79/65, $125; John M. Sampson, WV, 82/70, $120; Christophe Jones, TN, 39/30, $133; Jay Rock, AZ, 89/80, $103; Thomas Scoffin, NJ, 94/80, $130; John M. Vanblitter, AZ, 93/75, $150; Fredrick Watkins, CO, 90/80, $...
I am disappointed that you included the article in your September 24 issue titled “Man accused of kidnapping wife...” from the Gillette News Record. These are real people with real families and many of us know this family. This is too small of a community to be shaming people in our public newspapers. This family is broken and hurting right now and we need to be supporting them with prayer and encouragement, not making them the subject of gossip at the local coffee shop. I know this article was not written by your staff, but you made the cho...
There is one week set aside each year to salute newspapers for the important role they have played in our nation, a role that goes back to the beginning of these United States. This year, however, waiting until October 4-10 and National Newspaper Week has been difficult, because the coronavirus pandemic and a variety of major news events across our land have tested newspapers, and our communities, in ways we might never have fathomed. Taking stock of the contributions by newspapers, large and...
Dear NP, During my recent hospital admission, the nurse asked if I have an advance directive or a living will. I am only 55 years old. What are these documents, and are they necessary at my age? S. S. Dear S. S., Aging is something that will happen to all of us, eventually. It’s scary to think about, but this is why it’s so important to plan ahead, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Unfortunately, according to the CDC, many people don’t plan ahead – according to the CDC, up to 70% of Americans do not have an advance care plan. Fifty-fiv...
Wales has attracted my attention again this week with a story that sounds like a picture book for children – something along the lines of the woman who lived in a shoe or the spider that ate the fly. The town in which this tale begins is a lot bigger than the one I told you about in my last column and, as far as I’m aware, its residents have had no trouble logging on to the internet. But what makes Tredegar similar to last week’s featured village is that a single event managed to bring a whole c...
Three names have been announced on the shortlist of candidates to replace District Judge Michael N. Deegan on his upcoming retirement. Judge Deegan has served the Sixth Judicial District, which covers Crook, Campbell and Weston Counties, since his appointment by Governor Dave Freudenthal in September, 2005. Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael K. Davis, who serves as chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission, announced this week that the commission has reviewed all the potential candidates for the position. All those who have...
Devils Tower National Monument hosted 27,550 vehicles or approximately 74,135 recreation visits in September 2020. This is an 18% increase from September 2019, making it the busiest September in Devils Tower history. The nation’s first national monument, located in Crook County, Wyoming, is 1374 acres and was at 70% staffing this summer. So far in 2020, the park has hosted approximately 385,140 recreation visits, down 9.6% from the same period last year. However, the park was closed due to health and safety reasons related to COVID-19 for nearl...
Make-A-Wish® Wyoming has recognized Sundance High School and its student council for contributing to its Kids for Wish Kids program in 2020. Acknowledging the difficulty of hosting fundraisers in the middle of a pandemic, the organization has thanked the students for still making a donation. “The Kids for Wish Kids program is vital to our ability to grant wishes of children across the state of Wyoming. The funds raised through the Kids for Wish Kids program often account for up to a third of our direct public support each year. We truly co...
The annual WyoPoets 2021 Eugene V. Shea National Poetry Contest opened for submissions on October 1st, 2020 and is open through the postmark deadline of December 31, 2020. First place prize is $100, second place is $50, and third place is $30. Submissions must be unpublished poems in English, single-spaced with a maximum length of one page, written in 12-point Times New Roman. Entry fee is $2 per poem entered with a maximum of 20 poems. For guidelines and instructions on how to enter, visit the WyoPoets website at http://www.wyopoets.org/contes...
Plea agreement reached in Rock Springs stabbing case ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — A Rock Springs man originally charged with attempted second-degree murder in a stabbing case pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of aggravated assault and battery as part of a plea agreement Monday morning. Alexander Cave, 27, entered his no contest plea before Judge Suzannah Robinson during a change of plea video hearing in Sweetwater County District Court. He will be sentenced at a later date following a pre-sentence investigation. Cave was arrested Jan. 29, 2020 f...
