Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Two veterans were recently honored with Quilts of Valor®, handmade works of art that are offered in thanks for service, sacrifice and valor. The Quilts of Valor Foundation places its focus on comfort and healing, lovingly creating each civilian award to offer three messages: that the veteran is honored for their service, that the foundation and its members know that freedom is not free and, finally, to offer comfort. The first of the veterans was Richard Tebo of Sundance, who served in the U...
Rare Element Resources (RER) has the final confirmation needed from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to begin operations at its demo plant in Upton. The only thing left before the production phase can begin is an operations approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Spokesperson Roger Connett confirmed a few weeks ago that the plant had passed th inspection, and the paperwork is anticipated “in the coming weeks”, according to a recent press release. RER is still hoping to commence its year-long test of operations at the dem...
For three decades, a local program has worked to ensure that every family has food on the table and gifts under the tree during the holidays. The Sundance Community Christmas Basket program will again be seeking donations from the community this year to help provide warm clothing for kids, gifts for Christmas, food for the season and necessities for local seniors. If you would like to support the program, you can drop off monetary donations to Sundance State Bank made out to “Sundance Community Christmas Baskets”. A boot tree will also be ava...
The Sundance Economic Development Task Force will again be running a promotion this holiday season to bring awareness to the importance of “shopping small” within your community. From the beginning of November, watch out for the special $2 bills that will begin circulating within the community – a rare currency that stands out in a stack of bills. Sundance State Bank has ordered these bills to be distributed and members of the community are encouraged to shop and spend them at local businesses in and around Sundance. The idea is that shopp...
Operation Christmas Child is gearing up for the year as Samaritan's Purse prepares to send gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. The goal this year is to reach 12 million children with Christmas wishes and the hope of Jesus. "Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope...
Numerous agencies are urging the public to be cautious of fire danger this fall. The Black Hills National Forest (BHNF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Wyoming Game & Fish (WGF) are all concerned about conditions in this area even after the traditional end of fire season. Fall fires, said Ray Bredehoft, WGF habitat and access branch chief, can be even more damaging than at other times of year. “Fall wildfires have much different implications than a controlled springtime fire,” he said. In the dry conditions of fall, a wildfire can sco...
The Crook County Extension Office last week welcomed its newest team member: Erica Reasoner, who will be taking over as the 4-H youth development educator for this area. The position came open earlier this year when Sara Fleenor, who served as 4-H educator for 12 years, stepped up to become the Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator. Fleenor continued to cover the program while UW Extension sought the right person for the job. On October 15, Reasoner stepped into that role. Reasoner is a...
The Northeast Wyoming Chapter of the Muley Fanatic Foundation (MFF) has become known for pursuing goals that support wildlife and habitat, and for its focus on the younger members of the community. One project that combines these two ideals has been part of the overall MFF lineup since the organization's inception in 2012. Each year, youngsters with life-threatening illnesses are given the chance to experience the joys of hunting. The program is called "Putting the 'U' in hunt" and it offers an...
Members of American Legion Post #45 gathered in front of the war memorial on Monday to receive a donation from Powder River Energy's Community Involvement Committee. Post Commander Welchie Patterson gratefully took possession of the $500 donation, saying that the post already has ideas to put it to good use. "We're going to be putting in our coffers for Post programs and for Girls' State and Boys' State," he said. The American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State are...
Are you a friendly skeleton or a fun-loving ghost? Your help is needed as the smallest spooks in the community prepare to celebrate Halloween at the annual Trunk or Treat. This year's candy extravaganza is scheduled for October 26 and will take place, as usual, in the Sundance High School parking lot. The trunk-or-treating will begin at 4:30 p.m. and last for an hour. To participate, simply decorate the trunk of your vehicle, get dressed up for the season and invest in some delicious candy to...
The final countdown has begun for this year’s presidential election, which means that absentee voting is now open. The absentee voting period starts 28 days before the November 5 general election, which means it became available on October 8. If you opt to vote absentee, be aware that your ballot must be returned to the county clerk’s office prior to 7 p.m. on election day. Any voter registered in Wyoming can request an absentee ballot for the general by providing the county clerk with your full name, date of birth, current residence and mailin...
The Crook County Republican Party announced on Monday that it will be sending a total of $30,000 to statewide candidates in tight races and to the WY Freedom PAC. The money being used for these donations mainly comes from a previous $25,000 donation to the WY Freedom PAC during the primaries, which was later returned over concerns over its legality. According to the party, the donations are all about the Republican Party’s platform and the desire to see people elected who intend to uphold it. The political action committee to whom part of t...
County schools performing above state average By Sarah Pridgeon Crook County’s schools performed better than the state average this year in 17 of 19 tested areas, which include English Language Arts, math and science across grades three through ten. “The schools all did well,” says Superintendent Mark Broderson. “Both Sundance schools are exceeding expectations, Moorcroft Elementary is meeting expectations and Moorcroft Secondary and Hulett are partially meeting. We will continue to work on areas of concern, but I feel like the buildings are go...
All veterans are invited to the “We’ve Got Your Six” event on November 9, otherwise known as the Northern Hills Veterans Appreciation Fair. The fair will be held at the Sturgis Community Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and you are asked to bring your DD214, NGB-22 or other proof that you are a veteran. Veterans Service Officers from Butte, Lawrence and Meade counties and from the state will be in attendance, along with a VA flu clinic and representatives from or for support groups, veterans’ organizations, service dogs, employment, housing...
A Sundance woman has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly pulling a gun on a male party during an argument. On September 28 at around 5:40 p.m., a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of a female involved in a domestic who was pointing a firearm at another person. When the deputy arrived at the residence, he spoke with Annie Groves, who explained that she had been arguing with a male and some items got broken. However, she allegedly said nothing physical happened between them. According to court reports, G...
Preston James Castor of Sundance has been sentenced in federal court on charges of intent to distribute methamphetamine. Castor was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin on October 4 in Cheyenne. His sentence was 46 months of imprisonment with three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Castor was pulled over by the Riverton Police Department on February 15 for crossing over the fog line with the passenger side of the vehicle. Dispatch advised law enforcement that there was an active fugitive warrant for...
Amber Nehmer has been given a split sentence on a reduced charge of theft after allegedly taking money from the safe and a cash jar of a local bar. As part of a plea agreement, Nehmer pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of theft and the original felony counts of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary were dismissed. According to court reports, Amber Nehmer entered the Dime Horseshoe bar at around 7:55 a.m. on January 22. She allegedly took the key to the office from behind the bar and then entered the back room, where she emptied the safe,...
A Washington man has been given a suspended sentence for a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine after he was pulled over on I-90 because his vehicle’s validation sticker was covered in tape. On March 25 at around 4:10 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper observed a vehicle traveling west on I-90 near milepost 152 with an obscured validation sticker. The trooper caught up with the vehicle and was still unable to read the year tab sticker as it seemed to be covered with something. The trooper stopped the vehicle and observed a p...
Known colloquially as the Olympics of dog agility, the week-long North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) Championships sees teams from around the world come together in Gillette to demonstrate their skills. Six-year-old Shetland sheepdog Keona and her handler, 17-year-old Karen Ulmer, a senior at Sundance High School, have been working towards this competition for years. The duo not only earned enough points this year to qualify for the championships at the end of September, they took a spot...
The suspect in an armed home invasion was shot and killed by a deputy from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office early on Saturday morning in Sundance. At around 5 a.m. on October 5, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a call for an armed home invasion involving domestic violence. While responding to the residence, deputies were informed that a shot had been fired in the residence. Upon arrival, they learned from the 911 dispatcher that the victim was unsure whether the suspect was still located within the res...
Post-audit testing has confirmed that concerns about the security of voting machines before this year’s primary were unfounded. County Clerk Melissa Jones told the county commissioners on Wednesday that she was able to report no issues existed with the machines. “At the time that it was requested that I do another practice test, it was too late, so I had agreed to do it at my post audit,” she said. “We did hold our post audit and we did do additional testing as I promised, and we still didn’t have any issues with our machines.” Prior to th...
How can the county enforce safety rules when the people breaking them are not concerned about the consequences? Caleb Peters, Wastewater Specialist with the county’s Planning department, brought such a conundrum before the county commissioners last week. “I’m ran into a standstill,” he said, telling the commission he has not yet been able to solve the situation himself. In a letter, Peters had already outlined the timeline of a problem involving Amish families on Scenic Valley Drive near Hulett installing outhouses and small wastewater systems...
With funding now approved for the final stage of Old Stoney’s makeover, the Sundance City Council has turned its attention to the fine details of the Wyoming Business Council grant. City Attorney Mark Hughes reported at last week’s meeting that he has reviewed the paperwork and found no issue with it. However, he pointed out a couple of requirements that the council may not have been aware of, such as the need to submit periodic pay requests. He also noted that the wording of the council suggests that the city could be responsible for a pot...
The City of Sundance will be returning to its usual practices for this year’s deer cull. Last year, Sundance implemented a year-round cull in response to evidence that chronic wasting disease (CWD) was much more prevalent than previously thought in the vicinity of the city. At Tuesday’s meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Theresa Curren reported that she had spoken with Game Warden Nate Holst, who said that CWD appears to be holding steady in this region. Consequently, said Curren, the decision as to whether a cull is needed this year will be left up to...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that Campbell County has been granted a primary disaster designation, with contiguous disaster declarations for five counties, including Crook. This designation acknowledges the damages and losses that have been caused by wildfire and opens access to emergency loans to meet recovery needs. “I appreciate USDA’s recognition of the incredible impacts Wyoming agriculture producers are experiencing this year due to wildfire,” Governor Mark Gordon commented in a press release. “Fire season...
