Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Dear NP, “Please discuss the screening recommendations for pediatric hypertension. My 14-year-old had a blood pressure of 151/102 during a recent sports physical. I don’t remember his blood pressure being checked at previous medical appointments.” Dear Reader, Recommendations for blood pressure screening in children can vary depending on the organization presenting the guidelines. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an organization that reviews the evidence for or against screening services. Currently, the USPST...
Dear Editor, I have hesitated in writing this letter because my spouse is on the Crook County Hospital Board and I am apprehensive that my thoughts may be received incorrectly or with prejudice. But after due consideration, I believe that words must be spoken. This message is not necessarily to the CCHB but more to the reporting presented by Ms. Sarah Pridgeon in both the Sundance and Hulett newspapers relative to the Hulett clinic. The articles she continually writes are mostly one sided, gained from information spawned from one of the CCHB...
I made it halfway through my wedding day before nature called. If you’ve never worn a voluminous dress that’s twice as wide as your own hips by the time it reaches the floor, you may not be aware that it’s a good idea to put off this moment for as long as you possibly can. Fortunately, assistance was available in the form of my dear mum. The wedding itself took place in our own back yard with Sundance Mountain as the backdrop, under an arch of flowers hand-built by loving family, but our recep...
Reassuring news from across the pond: the United Kingdom will not be collapsing at this time. The number of large black corvids housed at the Tower of London is no longer in danger of falling below the threshold that would have spelled our immediate doom. This is thanks to two little heroes by the names of Huginn and Muninn. Together, they form the resident breeding pair stationed at the Tower of London and are responsible for laying enough eggs to keep the local raven population steady. Legend...
I grew up watching westerns with the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. Predictable endings – good guys riding off into the sunset after saving the town – never spoiled the action or suspense of the movie. Wyoming hoped for the same sequence during this year’s legislative session. There was plenty of action and suspense during the session, especially around school funding. However, when our legislators tipped their hats and bid farewell to the 2021 session, they had not made inroads to solve Wyoming’s education funding woes. W...
When a scandal comes along, one expects it to involve some combination of sex, drugs, gambling and alcohol, maybe a murder or three. Without those juicy elements, what’s the use in having one at all? There’s no point asking the Brits, because we prefer to be understated even when it comes to our scandals. Back in my homeland, the story of the week has centered on a sofa and matching set of rugs. They’re calling it the “Cash for Curtains” saga, so not even the name is all that thrilling...
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. ~ Ps. 42:5 Why? This small word is reasonable and searching. Often asked, demanding much and seldom satisfying. We wonder “why” and when not understood, we tend to substitute “whatever” and discover that won’t work. Why can produce the correct solution, although when that occurs, we still have the ability to accept or deny that which will complete the peace the soul is desiring. God alone is the One a...
I’m not exactly breaking news to point out the weather hasn’t been able to make its mind up recently. One minute we’re pondering the idea of shorter trousers, the next we’re knee-deep in a snowdrift. It’s times like this when it’s impossible to be confident in your dinner plans. You don’t want to buy the ingredients for a salad and then find yourself soaked through with freezing rain, but you also don’t want to put a hearty casserole in the oven, only for the weather to hit 100 degrees and cli...
Dear NP, “I have an 18-month-old who continually gets ear infections. Can you explain what causes some children to be more prone to ear infections than others? Is there anything I can do to help prevent these ear infections from recurring?” Dear Reader, There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling helpless. Some children seem to be particularly prone to ear infections. The onset of an ear infection generally occurs rapidly, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Children may se...
On an island in the Pacific, surrounded by jungle, the tribespeople are in mourning. Clad in traditional garb and still linked to the cultural rituals that have always shaped their way of life, the Vanuatuans proudly decorate their wood-and-thatch huts with photographs of the Duke of Edinburgh. I’m sure it cannot have escaped your notice that the longest serving royal consort in history was laid to rest on Saturday after a low-key service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. A man who did...
A quick update on the session. I will follow with more in-depth information in future releases. We finished our session on April 7. It has been both a productive session as well as a frustrating one. This portion of the session began with a virtual session early and committee meetings being held virtually prior to this session. That led to a very compact session that was challenging and fast moving. It ended up with a budget being passed by both bodies and signed into law by the Governor. The...
I’ve always said that America has a service industry beyond compare. In fact, during all the time I have lived on this continent, I cannot remember a single experience that I would describe as less than stellar. Perhaps this is because you guys are kinder and more pleasant than the rest of us, or perhaps it’s because those of you who deal with the public all day place higher expectations on yourselves. Maybe it’s something to do with the tipping culture, or it could be because, at least in Br...
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all - 1 John 1:5 In a world so seemingly complicated, dark, contentious and twisted by hatred towards one another…I want to take time to look at what is good. Those things given directly to us from God or others that are just plain simple, helpful and nice. God is light, love and life. Life is hard, God is good. Don’t get the two confused. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not...
Of all the treasure chests buried during the Golden Age of Piracy, not a single one has ever been found. Thanks to British television presenter Richard Hammond, I stumbled across this fact last week and at first found it tough to believe – until I remembered that those troves of gold and silver belonged to the most famous thieves in history. We know there are pirate hoards out there, it’s just a matter of finding them. Perhaps the most famous belongs to Edward Teach, a British privateer fro...
Dear Editor, I just returned from the impressive SHS performance of the musical “Flapper” which compelled me to write my first letter to the editor, one which I have been thinking about for several months. I know firsthand as both a director and a cast member the amount of work and dedication that goes into putting on a performance such as this. I also know that that it had to take the administration, entire staff and students in the school to produce such a quality performance! Kudos to Teresa Priesner and Mr. Gillis! The smile under my mas...
Dear NP, Last year I was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever after a long course of sickness. My delay in treatment was because I failed to mention I had a recent tick bite. With warmer weather approaching, it may be helpful to let readers know about tick-borne illnesses found in our area. Dear Reader, Warmer weather is coming and while we are all looking forward to spending time outdoors, avoiding ticks is a crucial way to prevent contracting the illness they can spread. Ticks can...
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but sometimes it’s a surreal experience to be told you’re awesome. I discovered this week that I could walk all the way from Britain to China and still find myself staring at Victorian church spires and Tudor houses. There’s a replica version of London on the outskirts of Shanghai, complete with as many symbols of Britishness as its designers were able to think of. It has pubs and shops, lamp posts and pillar boxes, statues of Winston Churchi...
When government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.” That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again. No one wants to be held directly responsible for letting the public down. Case in point is the recent catastrophe in Texas, when unexpected winter storms left four million homes without power, ruptured pipes and tainted the water supply for many. Texas’ energy grid essentially collapsed. While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to blame frozen wind turbines,...
Dear Editor, I am responding to Dick Claar’s letter to the editor. Our county commissioners are elected by the people to represent the people of Crook County. Please read that, picturing the entire county. I resent that he is so critical of the Constitutional Representation of our commissioners. I am reminded of the old saying that a lamb, a lion and a wolf sit down to decide what is for dinner. In a democracy the lamb is sure to be dinner, but in a constitutional representative government the lamb is protected from being dinner. Our F...
In 1992, when I worked my first fall hunting season in the Black Hills, there were some elk around and the lucky folks who had tags could fill them with a little work. That has changed radically since, and now we have elk in numbers and places where we never thought we would. The population has been so successful, trying to manage their numbers has become very difficult and frustrating for a lot of folks. The Black Hills provide excellent habitat for elk. Plus, unlike the western side of our...
When you think of Britain, the image that likely pops into your head includes our iconic red telephone boxes. Bright, cheerful and emblazoned with a golden crown, in 2015 these iconic kiosks were voted the greatest British design of all time. Astonishingly, that means they are more beloved than the double decker bus, Doc Marten boots and even our own national flag. Phone booths may have gone the way of the dinosaur in these times of a communication device tucked into every purse and pocket, but...
Dear Editor, Recently Sundance Councilman Joe Wilson and I attended the March Crook County Commissioners meeting. We asked the commissioners to form a solid waste district in Crook County. After a discussion was held on the subject, a motion was made and seconded to not form a district. The vote was taken, it was two to one not to form a Solid Waste District. Commissioners Dennis and Whalen completely ignored the survey they authorized two years ago. The survey was approximately 60 percent in favor of forming a Solid Waste District....
I’m so proud of you guys. I thought the Brits were the only ones incapable of coming up with sensible names for things, but you’ve gone and proven me wrong. Following in the grand tradition of the United Kingdom’s snow removal team, the Department of Transportation for the State of Minnesota recently launched a contest to name its incoming fleet of snowplows – one new plow for each of the eight districts. They can’t possibly have expected a scholarly reaction and that’s good, because the...
Dear NP, Can you talk about the COVID-19 antibody test? Specifically, who should get the test, what does it mean if I have a positive or negative test, and how long do antibodies last? Dear Reader, Now that the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of resolution, at least locally, COVID-19 antibody bloods tests are becoming more readily available. When it comes to COVID-19 testing, you’ll find two main options: diagnostic tests and antibody tests. A diagnostic test will show if you have an active C...
The United States once had its very own tea, made from the only caffeinated plant that’s native within these borders. Unfortunately, legend has it that this tasty beverage was hounded into obscurity by the devious plan of none other than the British. But I’m not prepared to apologize quite yet for the loss of yaupon tea. Like many of the myths that circulate this world, it’s possible the accepted version is either a misunderstanding or a blatant mistruth. Of course, I would say that. You guys...
