Drive-in movies, student adoptions and parades: Wyoming residents reach out to their neighbors

Even as the state slowly begins to return to normal conditions, Wyoming residents continue to reach out to their neighbors to provide support and encouragement. 

The state’s newspapers are filled with stories about people’s efforts to cheer one another up, from the creation of a drive-in theater in Newcastle to parades for people who have been in isolation for one and one-half months and the creation of a “COVID mural.”

Here are a few examples:

Weston County Fairgrounds transformed into drive-in theater

NEWCASTLE — Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank, and the brainchild of the Weston County Fairgrounds manager, Kara Fladstol, drive-in movies will now be held at the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday nights. 

These events will take place during the COVID-19 shutdown. This is not going to be in competition with the Dogie Theatre, Fladstol noted, but to help fill a void that exists since the theater is currently closed.

Weston County’s public health officer, Dr. Mike Jording, has also approved concessions during the events, but certain conditions must be maintained in order for this event to keep occurring for the duration of COVID-19 restrictions. The community is asked to keep all children under 12 years of age in their cars except for bathroom breaks. Only one person from a vehicle should buy the food items, and social distancing should still be maintained. Organizers also ask that people do not congregate in groups outside of their cars. Bathrooms will be available, but they also ask that you use them wisely, keeping social distancing standards in place, and maintaining good hygiene. 

“If everything goes well, we should be able to show movies every weekend until the theater opens again,” Fladstol said.

KASL Radio’s Kevin Senger will also be collaborating to bring these events to the public by providing sound on AM1240. — Newcastle News Letter Journal

Seniors connect through tech

SHERIDAN — A few weeks ago, Lisa Wells texted her son a wish: “I wish seniors had better access to devices.”

Wells is The Hub on Smith’s Fun Department wellness coordinator and her son co-owns Design Your Tech. Some of Wells’ most avid exercise class attendees were looking for ways to continue their weekly meetings since The Hub closed.

Despite a willingness to connect through tech, many simply don’t have the equipment to benefit from video conferencing, Wells noted.

The Hub announced a new program April 24, Tech Connect, inspired by senior residents as a way to maintain connections with friends, family, health care providers, exercise classes and other community gatherings.

Seniors age 60 and older may enroll in Tech Connect over the phone if not already registered with the Hub.

After receiving a donation of outdated devices from Sheridan County School District 2, Design Your Tech cleaned, updated and loaded devices with useful apps. The Hub distributed them to seniors around the community, with individual training sessions for seniors to learn to use their new user accounts.

With her new iPad, Linda Dickson attends a 10 a.m. virtual exercise class three days per week from her home at Heritage Towers.

Using his new device, Bruce Scigliano looks forward to playing Bingo this Wednesday with family spread across four states.

On other days, they have family chat and beverage time. His wife, Connie, who has a neurological disease similar to Alzheimer’s, participates in the exercise classes via Zoom. — The Sheridan Press

Waving drivers, beeping horns highlight senior citizens’ day

DOUGLAS — Team Jacob struck a blow to Team Edward at the Drive-by Parade for senior citizens at the Douglas Care Center on April 26. 

The Twilight movie-themed names were part of a friendly competition between workers at the Douglas Care Center, separated by which shift they work, according to the care center Administrator and Team Jacob leader Kelli Rogge. 

The parade is just the latest in events held for the residents by each team, that have also included a visit from farm animals like goats in the building. 

“We work four on four off shifts, and wanted to make sure department heads were here at times during the COVID-19 crisis,” Rogge said. “So we broke off into teams, and being goofy named them Team Edward and Team Jacob and started a little friendly competition of who can out do each other with different events for the residents, then post them so families and friends can see what’s going on with their loved ones. 

“So someone tagged me in a video from somewhere down south about a drive-by parade, so I posted an event that we were doing one. We mainly thought that it would mostly just be family members taking advantage of being able to see their loved ones and blow them a kiss, but it just turned into this huge thing.” 

Only 29 people said they were going on the Facebook event, but far more Douglas residents showed up. 

A procession of decorated vehicles stretched through the care centers parking lot and more than three blocks down Birch Street as the people of Douglas patiently awaited their turn to greet the residents waiting on the sidewalk and in front of the care center. 

“It was really touching,” Rogge said. “It was good for our hearts, it was good for our souls.” — Douglas Budget

Laramie high school seniors recognized by “adopters”

LARAMIE — Amid busy days of online teaching, Laramie Montessori upper elementary teacher Jenny Palm is operating the week-old Facebook page, “Adopt A 2020 Senior-Laramie, Rock River, & Whiting High Schools.”

“The idea was just to bring joy to these kids, especially this last month, and before they’re supposed to graduate,” Palm said. The operation exists to support high school seniors in a time when graduation ceremonies, proms and other traditional spring events are cancelled.

In a recent conversation with her senior son Jensen Palm, he expressed disappointment about the effects COVID-19 has had on the seniors’ last weeks of high school.

“It just kind of crushed me, you know?” Palm said. She wanted to help.

“I had heard about Adopt a Senior programs that were happening across the nation,” she said.

Palm saw the positive effects the program had on her nephew who goes to Buffalo High School when he was put on the Sheridan Adopt a Senior page. Palm’s sister in Buffalo then suggested she start the program in Laramie.

Palm started the Facebook page on April 21 with the help of her niece, Audryanna Carder, and her friend, Jessica Kimzey. The page immediately took off.

“By the next morning I already had a student up for adoption, by like 8 o’clock in the morning,” Palm said.

Once adopted, the adopter contacts the person who posted the senior profile to find out the students’ likes. The adopter then gets to drop off small gifts at the home of the senior.

Palm said the gifts do not need to be extravagant. Things like cookies, gift cards, food items, candy, socks, and a water bottle are all examples of gifts students have received. — Laramie Boomerang