Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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As Wyoming continues its ponderous journey back to normality, a new case of COVID-19 popped up locally this week. The first active case in Crook County for several weeks brings the total number of individuals in this county who have contracted the novel coronavirus to six. This sixth case, according to a statement released by Crook County Public Health on Monday, “is an asymptomatic child who tested positive in pre-surgery Covid-19 screening”. The child has been isolated and is said to be recovering at home with their family. Medical pri... Full story
Though Governor Mark Gordon continued to urge the public to remain cautious about the spread of COVID-19 on Thursday, the main focus of his weekly press conference was the pending financial crisis that has been caused by a catastrophic downturn in the energy industry and exacerbated by the pandemic. Hospitalizations due to the virus were at their lowest point last week since tracking began in April. Though this is good news, the governor cautioned there is an “ebb and flow” to this number. Meanwhile, the percentage of tests that come back pos... Full story
Taking on a new job is always a challenge, but for Jenna Ellsbury, that experience was magnified by the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic arrived almost immediately after she became the director of Crook County Senior Services. Speaking to the county commissioners last week, however, she was able to share the many things her program has done to support local seniors throughout the crisis. The pandemic has been advantageous in one way, Ellsbury began: it has made more people aware of the county’s seniors and their needs. Senior Services has a... Full story
Help Crook County Senior Services (CCSS) show some love and appreciation to seniors in the community and other more vulnerable people who are still remaining at home as the pandemic continues. Next Thursday, join in with the ‘Honks for Hugs’ event, a parade to entertain those in assisted living, long term care and elsewhere. “We will do a vehicle parade with signs and drive by the assisted living,” says Jenna Ellsbury, Director of CCSS. If you know of someone who would enjoy the pick-me-up of seeing the parade pass by their home, Ellsbur... Full story
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Updated public health orders that take effect June 15 will continue to ease restrictions on public gatherings in Wyoming, Governor Mark Gordon announced today. The updated orders allow indoor gatherings of up to 250 people with restrictions, permit parades to occur (with appropriate social distancing), and allow K-12 schools, community colleges, the University, and other educational institutions to reopen facilities and resume in-person instruction for all students. The new orders are in effect through June 30 and allow g... Full story
No plans are yet in place to allow visitors back into the hospital and the long term care facility within its walls, said CEO of Crook County Medical Services District Micki Lyons on Friday. Decisions on how to go about this process have been left in the hands of the state, she said, and Wyoming does not yet have guidelines in place. “We still don’t really know when or how we’re going to open back up,” Lyons told the Board of Trustees. Lyons was speaking in response to a query from board chairman Mark Erickson, who expressed concern over re... Full story
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp) Board of Directors voted Tuesday, May 19, to retire $8.5 million in capital credits to its member-consumers. The capital credit process is one of the benefits of being a member-consumer of a not-for-profit electric cooperative. Capital credits are allocated to each member’s capital credit account every year, after the cooperative determines how much revenue is left after paying all expenses for that year. The Board periodically looks at the amount of member c... Full story
As Wyoming’s number of COVID-19 cases passed the 700 mark this week, the fate of the state’s biggest summer events was revealed. Organizers announced that rodeos including Cheyenne Frontier Days, Laramie Jubilee Days and the Central Wyoming Fair will all be cancelled for 2020. “In my soul, I know how important those events are to Wyoming and to our citizens,” said Governor Mark Gordon, visibly emotional as he announced the cancellations during a press conference. Discussions have been ongoing as to the state’s rodeos, he said, and no solutions... Full story
Things seem even closer to normal this week as summertime arrives in Wyoming and brings with it a slow and careful return to tourist season. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to make itself felt with new cases, more deaths and a call from Governor Mark Gordon to follow social distancing guidelines as a “sign of respect” to our friends and neighbors. Two more deaths have been added to Wyoming’s tally over the last week, bringing the total to 12. The first was announced on May 20 and involved a hospitalized adult man in Fremo... Full story
The county has reopened access to its buildings, but will continue to impose restrictions for the time being. A resolution passed during a special meeting on Friday allows the public to enter the common areas of the courthouse and visit the offices inside when conducting regular business. According to County Clerk Linda Fritz, efforts have been made to rope off the bathrooms and employee break area, while keeping the ADA compliant bathroom open to the public, for the safety of staff and... Full story
With a following wind and a lot of hard work, the financial aid programs authorized by the Wyoming State Legislature are set to go live on June 1. Businesses that have suffered financially through the COVID-19 crisis, as well as those whose housing situation has been impacted, are expected to be able to apply for assistance beginning on that date. Speaking last week, Josh Dorrell of the Wyoming Business Council commented that businesses across the state have been “dramatically impacted” by the pandemic. And by businesses, he said, what we reall... Full story
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and representatives from the state’s largest rodeos announced today that six of Wyoming’s large rodeos and events will not take place in 2020. This decision factored in economics, health concerns and logistics. The cancellation decision was made collectively and includes the Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo in late June as well the Cody Stampede, Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo in Casper, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo and Breakaway Roping, Laramie Jubilee Days, and Cheyenne Frontier Days, all s... Full story
As new orders go into effect that will further reduce the restrictions imposed on Wyoming’s businesses and citizens, and the legislature announces progress from its two-day special session, the state recorded three more deaths from the novel coronavirus this week. The first of the three reported deaths occurred in Fremont County over the weekend. The older, hospitalized woman was described by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) as having existing conditions that put her at higher risk of serious illness related to the virus. Two more d... Full story
A Washakie County man is the 12th Wyoming resident to die from the coronavirus, the Wyoming Department of Health has reported. Meanwhile, Platte County saw its first confirmed laboratory case of coronavirus on Thursday as the total number of cases seen since the pandemic reached Wyoming in mid-March topped 600. The Department of Health said the older Washakie County man was living at a long-term care facility where an outbreak of the illness has been detected, with five staff members and six residents testing positive for the illness. With 16... Full story
Across Wyoming, signs of life are plentiful on city streets as the state takes steps to ease the restrictions that have kept citizens at home and businesses operating on a limited basis since COVID-19 arrived. In Crook County, a variance has been approved by the state for restaurants and bars to re-open table service. Businesses must follow certain restrictions on social distancing and hygiene that are intended to protect patrons and staff from potentially contracting the virus. A countywide effort involving town halls, police departments and... Full story
Cast your eyes to the skies on Friday, when the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing will pass over during an aerial salute to healthcare professionals on the frontlines in the COVID-19 pandemic. A two-ship C-130 flyover will cross the skies above every hospital in the state, beginning in Niobrara County and ending in Cheyenne. Crook County Memorial Hospital is the third stop along the route; the planes are expected to come in from the direction of Newcastle and arrive here at 10:05 a.m. From Crook County, the C-130s will head for C... Full story
Governor Mark Gordon has welcomed a plan to reopen Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to the public in phases beginning May 18. “I want to thank both of these National Park Superintendents for their collaborative and cooperative, phased approach to safely reopen these iconic destinations to visitors,” Governor Gordon said. “Their direct and consistent communication with interested parties has resulted in plans that will help protect employees, visitors and neighboring communities.” The decision to reopen both parks to visitors in phas... Full story
Governor Mark Gordon has announced that updated public health orders effective May 15 will ease restrictions on several business categories and permit restaurants to resume indoor table service statewide. The Governor has also allocated $17 million in federal funding to expand COVID-19 testing, improve contact tracing and add to the state’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). “We have been working diligently to modify our public health orders to continue a safe and sensible reawakening of Wyoming’s economy,” Governor Gordon said. ... Full story
As Wyoming prepared for partial lifting of rules that closed some businesses in March to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the state Department of Health announced that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state grew by 10 on Wednesday. The department, in its daily coronavirus update, said the state’s confirmed coronavirus case count grew to 523, with new cases reported in Fremont, Laramie, Natrona and Teton counties. The updated total came as Gov. Mark Gordon formally announced the relaxation of state health orders issued in March... Full story
Restaurants and bars across Wyoming that have been closed since mid-March opened their doors on Friday as Wyoming’s legislators met in an historic special session to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus. A handful of lawmakers took their seats in the Legislature on Friday morning to tackle legislation giving Gov. Mark Gordon authority to spend $1.25 billion in federal funds received through the coronavirus relief program and directing how some of that money should be spent. Most of the legislators attended via teleconference. One of the f... Full story
Wyoming recorded its eighth coronavirus-related death over the weekend as a COVID-19 outbreak at a nursing home added seven new confirmed cases to the state’s total. The Wyoming Department of Health reported Saturday an older Fremont County woman had died as a result of the illness. The woman had existing medical conditions that put her at higher risk of complications from the disease, the department said. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Wyoming’s confirmed number of coronavirus cases increased by seven, all from Washakie County, where an outbreak was...
Eleven new coronavirus cases in five counties brought the state’s total number of confirmed cases to 577 on Monday. Six of the cases were diagnosed in Natrona County, where officials said 11 new cases have been detected in the last week, including four cases among Wyoming Medical Center employees. Two of the Medical Center employees tested positive for coronavirus last week, prompting center officials to test all staff who had close contact with them. The result was two more diagnosed cases on Monday. “The initial investigation showed that two... Full story
The number of coronavirus patients to recover from the illness since it was first detected in Wyoming in March grew by 24 on Tuesday. However, in Natrona County, where confirmed coronavirus cases have increased by 13 in the last week, the public health officer is urging residents to adhere to public health recommendations that are still in place. “You loosen the recommendations and the compliance with what we want you do and you see an increase in cases,” Dr. Mark Dowell said during a news conference Tuesday. “I’ve got to tell you, we can do... Full story
In the wake of Wyoming’s 11th death related to the coronavirus, Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday urged Wyoming residents to abide by the safety guidelines that have been handed down by state health officials to stop the spread of the illness. Gordon, speaking during a news conference, noted that 13 new coronavirus cases were reported Wednesday and urged people to continue wearing face masks and social distancing as they return to work or begin visiting businesses that had been closed. “If we become complacent, we could see more people getting sick... Full story
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
