Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the January 31, 2019 edition


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  • Smith set to plead self-defense at homicide trial

    Sarah Pridgeon|Jan 31, 2019

    According to her lawyer, Marty Smith is set to use self-defense as an argument in her upcoming trial related to the death of local man Doug Haar last August. She stands accused of involvement in the suspected homicide and faces several felony charges as an accessory to the alleged crime. Smith appeared in District Court on Wednesday accompanied by lawyer Steven Titus of Gillette, for a pre-trial hearing. Various points of order related to the trial were discussed and settled between the defendant’s lawyer, Deputy County Attorney Linda Black o...

  • Four-day school week set to continue

    Sarah Pridgeon|Jan 31, 2019

    Swapping to a four-day week appears to have been a successful transition for Crook County School District but, before committing to the new schedule for two more years, Superintendent Mark Broderson wanted to make sure the district’s stakeholders are still on board. He did this by issuing surveys to the staff, parents and high school students, asking each group for their thoughts on how school life has changed since the four-day week was introduced. Surveys were issued just a few weeks into the first semester and then repeated at the end of t...

  • A-blowin' and a-snowin'

    Jan 31, 2019

    Making the comment within earshot of Mother Nature that the winter thus far has been mild may not be the best of ideas, it turns out. The storm that blew into the area on Sunday brought high winds, low temps and plenty of inches of snow, causing schools across the county to be closed down on Monday along with some of the roads into Sundance....

  • High-speed chase felon sentenced to jail

    Sarah Pridgeon|Jan 31, 2019

    At the end of a harrowing afternoon of victim impact statements and tears on both sides of the courtroom, Christopher Nesius of Wheatland was sentenced on Wednesday to spend up to 23 years in jail for aggravated assault and causing serious bodily harm while driving under the influence. Judge Michael Deegan also ordered him to pay approximately $330,000 in restitution to the victim. In October, a jury found Nesius guilty on both felony charges, as well as three misdemeanors. The trial related to...

  • PRECorp to fight "off the grid" bill

    Sarah Pridgeon|Jan 31, 2019

    Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow third parties to produce and sell electricity to industrial members of an electricity cooperative, to all intents and purposes permitting some of Wyoming’s largest energy consumers to take themselves “off the grid”. Powder River Energy CEO Mike Easley believes the bill is “irresponsible” and could have detrimental effects on the cooperative. “This legislation opens that up so that anyone can contract with a member to generate power for them,” said Easley in a statement to PRECorp Local Action...

  • Marylou Frances Ulrich

    Jan 31, 2019

    Marylou Frances (James) Ulrich passed away January 25, 2019, at the Crook County Hospital in Sundance, Wyoming, from health reasons. Marylou was a Valentine's Day baby, born on February 14, 1927, in Thomasboro, Illinois, to Ormal and Chloe Pearl (Webster) James. She was a big sister to five brothers: her twin Marlou, Hardin, Sherman, Eddie and Lee. A brother, Ormal Jr., died before Marylou was born, and two sisters, Fanny and Sarah, died in childhood. The James family lived on an Illinois farm,... Full story

  • Peek at the Past

    Jan 31, 2019

    1 Years Ago The Times January 29, 1919 Mr. Groundhog, the problem is that all want the warm sunshine to continue but don’t want you to see your shadow next Sunday. Just how that can be arranged hasn’t been worked out. Robert Cook of Mona, father of Leslie Cook of the local telephone company, died at Mona January 23 after a lingering illness. He had been a resident and respected citizen of the county from the early settlement. A lot of grain from the Belshe ranch is being trucked out from Sundance to market, and it is said with the exc...

  • Commission appeals for county board members

    Jan 31, 2019

    County Commissioner Jeanne Whalen is urging members of the community to consider volunteering your time to serve on the boards that form a vital cog in the wheel of the county’s affairs. Currently, she says, two positions are open – and, as can often be the case, the commission is experiencing issues in filling both. “Our county runs on its boards,” Whalen says. “These volunteers perform an important function by managing the facilities and activities that make Crook County such a great place to live.” Whalen explains that, while boards such...

  • Times wins six state awards

    Jan 31, 2019

    The Sundance Times is proud to announce we are the recipients of six statewide awards this year from the Wyoming Press Association. Each year, the association honors newspapers across the state and the contributions made to them by members of staff through Pacemaker Awards. Jeff Moberg placed first for photography in the Spot News category, which looks at news items such as natural disasters and accidents that cannot be prepared for ahead of time. Moberg won with an image of an overturned fuel tanker titled, “Tank-full of trouble”. Sarah Pri...

  • Nominations needed for Cowboy Hall of Fame

    Jan 31, 2019

    The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) has honored five classes to date, and the next will be inducted in September, 2019. Nominations for that class are now open, but will close February 28, 2019. Our “Cowboy State” is proud of that designation, and WCHF is excited and eager to honor and preserve the history of each worthy man and woman. Both living and deceased cowboys and cowgirls may be nominated. A frequently asked question is, “Why hasn’t this person been inducted into WCHF?” The most likely answer is, “They’ve never been nominated.” T...

  • Veterans assistance available

    Jan 31, 2019

    A state of Wyoming veterans service officer from the Wyoming Veterans Commission will conduct community outreach services in Wyoming cities throughout September. Brian Yeager is available to meet with veterans and their families to discuss state and federal veterans’ benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs claims or VA healthcare. Yeager can also help veterans and their families apply for benefits, file claims or request healthcare. His office is staffed in Gillette, at 551 Running West Drive, Suite 100, and he will also be available at the f...

  • Cards of Thanks

    Jan 31, 2019

    Thank You I want to thank my daughters for organizing my 80th Surprise Birthday Party and all my family and friends for coming! Thanks to Randy and Barb Gantz at The Gulch, what a great place to have a party. Thanks to Deb and Nicole for all the good cake! I had a great time! Lenord Hook Our Thanks CCSS, Incorporated would like to thank everyone who participated in our Tree of Life Fundraiser. Your donations In Memory of and/or In Honor of your loved ones raised $2,585.00 for services and programs CCSS provides. A special Thank You to Sundance... Full story

  • This Week at Your Library

    Jan 31, 2019

    Library Programming: VALENTINE’S TRAVELING BAKE SALE: The Friends of the Library are busy planning the traveling bake sale. It will be on Thursday, February 14. More information to follow! STORYTIME: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. January’s themes: “Snowmen”, “Dragons & Knights” (dress up if you’d like!), “Hedgehogs/Hibernation” and “Warm as Toast”. “SAVING THE PAST: PRESERVING HISTORIC BLACK HILLS CEMETERIES” program by Vern Davis on Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room. “FATHER BELKNAP” program by Tim Velder on Friday, Marc...

  • Updates from the Legislature

    Tyler Lindholm|Jan 31, 2019

    Greetings from Cheyenne! Last Friday, January 18, Senator Driskill and I traveled to China to represent Wyoming at a technology conference and arrived back in Cheyenne on Tuesday evening. I have never traveled internationally, besides my time in the US Navy, and I cannot recommend that quick of a turnaround. The Global Blockchain Summit in China was a resounding success. By the time Senator Driskill and I left the summit, everyone in attendance was talking about Wyoming. The efforts of the...

  • Crook County Food Pantry

    Jan 31, 2019

    During the month of January the Pantry received approximately 657 lbs of donated food, and provided assistance to over 136 people. This included seven new clients, 44 youth under the age of 18, and 31 persons over the age of 60. We also shared food with the Blessings program in Hulett. February 2019 pantry dates and times: • Sundance: Fri., Feb. 1 and 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Moorcroft: Tue., Feb. 12 and 26, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. • Hulett: Wed., Feb. 13 and 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Any Crook County resident who has a need for food may come to an...

  • This Side of the Pond

    Sarah Pridgeon|Jan 31, 2019

    It seems there’s a new craze sweeping this country thanks to the invention of streaming video, and its name is The Great British Baking Show. I can completely understand why this low-key game show has captured imaginations. In a time where everything is high stress and soaked in adrenaline, it’s nice to settle down with a cup of tea and forget that anxiety is a thing which exists. There’s something comforting about watching good-natured contestants bake Victoria sponges and parkin without a car...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Jan 31, 2019

    Dear Editor, The letter by Randy Leinen of January 24th had some valid points regarding the sausage making process known as an omnibus bill. They say making sausage is an ugly process, and so too with government spending bills. If each link of the sausage were made simply out of separate ingredients, perhaps the meat, the fat, the gristle and the less desirable parts, who then would purchase it, or vote for it? It’s only by the give and take, tit for tat, that any law maker concedes on one issue to gain advantage for his district or l...

  • Chapel of Faith

    Jan 31, 2019

    Clever Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! Isiah 5:21 (NASB) Clever. At its first impression this word is attractive, wanted and perhaps even worn. It’s not at all a bad thing to be called a clever person or is it? It is one of those words that presents itself as respectable, although once possessed and lived takes on a different dimension. This term and a life wrapped in such is soon seen as superficial and dangerous if not handled properly. After all, the devil is very cunning and a master at the s...

  • Wyoming News Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Jan 31, 2019

    Cheney moves again to protect Devils Tower name WORLAND (WNE) — Wyoming U.S. Representative Liz Cheney announced on Monday a plan to reintroduce legislation to codify the name of Devils Tower National Monument. The move would follow several previous attempts to set the name in stone. In 2014, a proposal was submitted to the Unites States Board on Geographic Names on behalf of the Lakota tribe to change the name of the monument to “Bear Lodge”, in accordance with Native American tradition. Prior to 1901, the unique feature was referred to as “B...

  • Sundance Municipal Court

    Jan 31, 2019

    Expired Registration – John Snow, MT Speeding – Shannon Wahl, CO, 78/55; John Brouk, OK, 70/40; Sunshine Martin, SD, 43/30 Expired Drivers License – Pablo Galindo, AZ...

  • Sundance Police Report

    Jan 31, 2019

    Jan. 19 – Eleven traffic stops. All house watches checked. Officer removed debris from HWY 585. Several business checks. Three bar checks. Jan. 20 – All house watches checked. Bar checks. Business checks. Jan. 21 – Traffic stop. House watch and business checks. Citizen reported a vehicle parked in front of her house and thought it was suspicious; officer responded; vehicle was legally parked. Jan. 22 – Traffic stop. House watches and business checks. Officer gave safety presentation to Girl Scouts. Jan. 23 – Five traffic stops. House watch and...

  • Circuit Court

    Jan 31, 2019

    Speeding – Braylan P. Materi, Sundance, 111/70, $250; Sidney D. Braskamp, Sheridan, 85/75, $90; Trevor J. Jones, Rozet, 91/80, $100; Hassan H. Hmed, ND, 95/80, $120; Darion M. Huefner, ND, 86/80, $82; Anthony T. Warner, Gillette, 94/80, $115; Mark A. Polzin, CO, 85/70, $120 Stop Sign Violation – Jared Shane Linehan, CO, $135 No Registration and Improper Display of Tabs – Jenna S. Swaney, Moorcroft, $85 No Auto Insurance – Kevin Lawrence Arnold, ND, $545 Fail to Prevent Load from Falling – Thomas R. Kirkman, Gillette, $75 Violate Legal Wei...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    Jan 31, 2019

    Jan. 21 – Two paper services. Deputy assisted stalled motorist. Deputy investigated suspicious circumstance. Deputy investigated crash; no injuries. Detention Deputy booked in male subject on Crook County warrant. Jan. 22 – VIN check. Paper service. Detention deputy did two sets of fingerprints. Deputy investigated abandoned vehicle. Detention Deputy booked in subject. Deputy gave courtesy ride. Deputies served search warrant. Deputy assisted motorist. Jan. 23 – Paper service. Detention Deputy did multiple fingerprints for outside emplo...

  • Senator introduces bill to keep national parks open in future shutdowns

    Nick Reynolds, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jan 31, 2019

    CHEYENNE — In the throes of the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States, Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, was sitting down for breakfast and reading a newspaper. Workers for the U.S. Department of the Interior had been furloughed, and in the national parks of the West, things were beginning to go into disarray. In Yellowstone, roads went uncleared and in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, trash began piling up, with those responsible for cleaning it nowhere to be found. Fortunately, it was wintertime and v...

  • Super Tag license raffle helps fund growing management needs

    Jan 31, 2019

    The Super Tag Raffle has raised more than $3.7 million for big game management and wildlife conservation in Wyoming. Since it was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2014, it’s been a boost to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department fund that supports wildlife conservation projects. “Maintaining Wyoming’s world-class hunting is not getting any easier or less expensive. Current challenges facing wildlife managers, such as new wildlife diseases, invasive species, migration corridors and others were not major concerns a generation ago,” said Sc...

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