Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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The Gines family — including Landon and Sarah Gines and their children Carter and Hailey — watch a display during a demonstration of class-C fireworks available to the general public, sold by Powell’s Western Pyro Enterprises. The demonstration was followed by a professional show Friday night at the company’s warehouse....
GILLETTE — The rumble of American muscle echoed off the storefronts of Gillette Avenue as lines of cool, classic cars and modern-day marvels cruised around the downtown district during the early evening hours Friday. It was an effort to get cars cruising around to entertain vehicle owners and spectators alike. The throwback to the past was initially sparked by Gillette Main Street. Eight-year-old Lyndsey McDiarmid was one of those enjoying the spectacle on the sidewalk. With every car that went by, she could barely contain her excitement, h...
Former worker sues fracking company CHEYENNE (WNE) – A man who had his leg damaged in a fracking accident is suing the president and safety manager of a hydraulic fracturing company, along with the company that provides the fracking equipment, for negligence. The case of Scott Houska versus Newkota Services and Rentals, Donald J. Gawick, Roger Cross and FMC Technologies was filed last Thursday, April 23, in federal court here. The case alleges the defendants acted negligently, causing the permanent injury to Houska’s leg suffered during a fra...
CHEYENNE - Nationwide, there’s been a decrease in the number of people seeking timely treatment for heart attacks and strokes, and the trend is being seen locally at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. There’s about a 40% reduction in stroke and heart attack patients coming to hospitals nationwide, according to a Medscape article. Dr. Jessica Hughes, CRMC Emergency Department medical director, said the ER has seen about a 50% decrease in patients overall, including a 40% reduction in stroke and heart attack patients. The ER is used to seeing abo...
Grand opening of Dubois military museum delayed RIVERTON (WNE) — The grand opening of a world-class museum in Dubois has been postponed. Memorial Day had been the announced date for the public unveiling of the $100 million National Museum of Military Vehicles, constructed by Dan Starks entirely with personal funds. The NMMV is in the final stages of construction at a site a few miles south of Dubois along U.S. Highway 26. Due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, along with state stipulations prohibiting large gatherings, museum l...
Light shows in support of seniors, unusual Easter egg hunts, parades for those who can’t get out and programs to feed the warriors at the front lines of the coronavirus battle were all in the news in the past week as Wyoming residents continued to extend a helping hand to their neighbors. Here are a few examples: Schools light up scoreboards for seniors CASPER — First came the howls, cries into the moonless sky made in solidarity across Casper’s twilight. On Friday night there were also fireworks — a progression of unconventional behavio...
Gillette shatters previous cold temperature record GILLETTE (WNE) – Winter is proving a bit hard to shake this year, and Monday morning was a chilly morning worthy of the record books. Gillette’s long-time record tracking location southeast of Gillette observed a low of 4 degrees between the hours of 5 and 6 a.m. Monday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Bunkers in Rapid City, South Dakota. The low not only beat the previous record of 9 degrees set in 1997, it shattered it. Bunkers said dipping 5 degrees below a pre...
Carbon County Fire Department diver Josh Ejlersen ensures tow-truck cables are securely fastened to the back of a semi-trailer truck in the middle of the North Platte River near the Fort Steele about 22 miles east Rawlins. According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the truck’s driver, Preston Shirley of Indiana, lost control of the truck early Thursday morning while traveling west on Interstate 80 and it went into the river. The driver and a passenger had to be removed from the cab of the semi a...
Apr. 6 – Traffic stop. Paper service. VIN check. Two motorist assists. Civil assist. Business alarm. Two EMS requests. Animal complaint. Welfare check. Vehicle pursuit subject taken into custody in South Dakota. Request for fire department. Apr. 7 – Two traffic stops. Two paper services. Two VIN checks. Assisted Wyoming Highway Patrol. Booked in two subjects. Suspicious person report. Harassment report. Two EMS requests. Fire department request. Animal complaint. Apr. 8 – Five paper services. Business check. Apr. 9 – Traffic stop. Paper service...
Gas prices drop almost 10 cents statewide in a week GILLETTE (WNE) - Wyoming gas prices have fallen 9.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.06 a gallon Monday. Prices have fallen below $2 a gallon in two counties, Albany at $1.762 and Natrona at $1.812, according to GasBuddy. Campbell County’s prices remain in the middle of the pack in the 23 counties at $2.072. But two stations — Exxon and Flying J — have dropped below the $2 mark to $1.99. The highest prices were in Weston County with an average of $2.216 a gallon, and Laram...
CASPER — In the midst of unprecedented volatility in the global oil market, shale producers in Wyoming received a small boost Friday in the form of tax relief. Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law a bill providing reductions in state mineral taxes amidst certain price environments. The tax break would kick in if the 12-month rolling average of oil prices falls below $50 per barrel. For natural gas, the 12-month rolling average would need to be less than $2.95 per thousand cubic feet. In these scenarios, the state’s mineral production tax — know...
Delila, 5, (from left) Dominik, 11, and Jennifer Bieber find a COVID-19 treasure hunt package in Spirit Mountain Cave after following a series of clues from the COVID-19 Treasure Hunt Facebook group on Sunday, March 29th. The Bieber family have been on five hunts now and started one of their own. They always leave the treasure or add more to it so others can participate. “It’s not just about finding the treasure, it's about getting out and discovering new places we didn’t know were here,...
Make-A-Wish starts Messages of Hope campaign as wishes are postponed CHEYENNE (WNE) – More than 50 Wyoming kids with critical illnesses had pending wishes with the Make-A-Wish Foundation before the coronavirus spread across the U.S. Now, for the safety of the children and families, a majority of those wishes are on hold for the time being. Cruises, trips to Disney World and tropical vacations will have to wait until the coronavirus threat is mitigated and traveling is safe. In the meantime, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has organized a Messages o...
CASPER — The phones at the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services office have been ringing off the hook. Busy signals and hour wait times greet callers, even as 37 agency employees frantically answer desperate caller after desperate caller. Each is eager to work but restricted from doing so, looking for relief in a time of economic uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic. Calls to the agency are only expected to rise, after Gov. Mark Gordon and state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist ordered restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and many o...
Trinity Lutheran Pastor Kay Wittman gives a sermon at the American Dream Drive-In Theater in Powell on Sunday, Mar. 22 , after recently canceling services due to the growing threat of coronavirus. Musical guests included (from left) Doug Morton and Drew Murray. “I’ve never been a pastor during a pandemic before,” said Wittman....
U.S. Attorney warns of COVID-related fraud RIVERTON (WNE) — The U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen in charge of federal prosecutions in Wyoming is urging the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). “It is unfortunate, but criminals often use times of adversity to their advantage,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. Some examples of potential fraud schemes to be aware of include: • Individuals and businesses selling fake testing kits, masks, treatments, or cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms o...
Wyoming legislators support daylight saving bill GILLETTE (WNE) – After years of debates in the Legislature, a bill to make daylight saving time permanent is on Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk awaiting his signature. A year ago, a bill requiring at least four neighboring state legislatures to make the change, died in the Senate on a 15-15 vote. House Bill 44 passed this year’s session, which ended a week ago. The attitude changed in Wyoming because of Utah, he said about legislators passing House Bill 44. The Utah Legislature recently passed a bill...
PINEDALE – Far from our state lines, people celebrate the fact that Wyoming was the first in the nation to pass its Food Freedom Act – five years ago this month. Added to that is the recent successful passage of Wyoming House Bill 84, “Food Freedom Amendments” to become House Enrolled Act 43 and a newly amended state law after Gov. Mark Gordon’s signature on March 12 in Cheyenne. “The purpose of the Wyoming Food Freedom Act is to allow for a producer’s production and sale of homemade food or drink products for an informed end consumer and...
The Gillette-Campbell County Airport is undergoing a name change to reflect that it serves a larger area than its current moniker implies. According to a press release, the airport board has passed a resolution to change its name to Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport. Resolution 2030 also authorizes all necessary actions to effect the name change as of January 21. Airport Director Jay Lundell attributes the change to the fact that the airport serves the commercial air service and general aviation needs for a large portion of northeastern...
JACKSON — Medical research is a Sisyphean endeavor: each study pushes the rock slightly farther uphill, until it finally reaches the top and a new discovery is made. Recently Brain Chemistry Labs, the nonprofit research lab in Jackson, moved the rock closer to the top of the hill. In a study published in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, research done on vervets, monkeys native to Africa, shows a toxin in cyanobacteria is associated with the misfolding of proteins found in patients with neurodegeneration. Perhaps more im...
Coronavirus testing now available JACKSON (WNE) — If you live in Wyoming and think you have the coronavirus, you can now be tested in the state. However, health officials want patients to avoid exposing others in the process. Up until Thursday, test kits were available only through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory now has the capability to test for COVID-19, as do some commercial labs. What that means for the state’s capacity for testing should coronavirus spread within Wyoming rem...
CHEYENNE — Oil prices worldwide suffered a major hit over the weekend, reaching a four-year low in the United States, and the rapid changes in the global economy could have major implications for Wyoming. U.S. oil prices were down by as much as 34% on Monday, largely due to two factors: a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and dropping demand as the coronavirus continues to spread globally. The effects of the rising supply and dropping demand of oil could be felt in Wyoming, where oil extraction is a linchpin of the state’s eco...
RAWLINS — By the time Fernando and Carlos saw the livestock trailer, it was too late. The two non-English-speaking motorists from Mexico quickly became another pileup statistic. Like many roads in Wyoming on Sunday, March 1, their lane was caked with ice and slush. Visibility was dangerously low. Not to mention, they were heading westbound on one of the most high-traffic transport routes in the country. And when they needed them most, their brakes malfunctioned. With Fernando at the wheel, their half-ton “dually” pickup veered into the lives...
Most of Wyoming’s schools announced extensions of their spring breaks on Sunday, closing their doors for three weeks in response to a recommendation from Gov. Mark Gordon and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. Meanwhile, state health officials said the diagnosis of the coronavirus COVID-19 in an older man in Fremont County raises particular concerns about the spread of the illness in a community rather than exposure through travel. “Our initial follow-up with this individual found nothing that could be explained other than pot...
House restores funding for UW buildings LARAMIE (WNE) — In its last substantive vote of the week, the Wyoming House voted Friday afternoon to budget $50 million of state funds for construction projects at the University of Wyoming. That vote came as the state’s capital construction bill passed the Senate on Monday and included only $500,000 for UW construction. If the $50 million for UW makes it through three readings in the House, the leaders from the two chambers will need to form a compromise next week before sending the bill to Gov. Mar...
