Wyoming News Briefs

Yellowstone sees record visits in October

CODY (WNE) — Yellowstone National Park posted another record month in October to close out its 2020 summer season, shattering the previous record for that month with more than 110,000 additional people visiting this year.

In total, the Park hosted 360,034 recreation visits during the month, up 110% from October 2019. The previous October record was set in 2015, when 252,013 people came through the gates.

It was also the busiest October on record at the East Entrance with 12,182 people visiting. This was nearly double the number of people who came through the gate in 2019. The previous record was 11,609 set in 2015.

The East and South entrances outside Cody and Jackson were the first two gates to open in Yellowstone to the public last spring. All five entrances were open by June 1, but attendance was substantially down for that month.

After an exceptionally slow start to the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Park finished only 6% lower than its 2019 total for visitation, reaching 3,743,907 for 2020. This was 235,246 fewer people than came through the Park’s entrances in 2019.

Yellowstone also had its busiest September on record this year and second busiest August.

Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said he learned in conversations with visitors, that “a variety of different factors” led to them choosing Yellowstone as a destination this year, including the Park’s social distance-friendly environment, and new, remote flexibility in their work and school commitments.

Mullen Fire area closure lifted

LARAMIE (WNE) — The onset of consistent winter conditions and the lack of fire activity in the Mullen Fire burn area has enabled the Medicine Bow National Forest to lift the area closure that has been in effect since mid-September.

The public may access and use the burn area in the southern Snowy Range, Albany and Carbon Counties, Wyo., and Jackson County, Colo., however the Mullen Fire may still be smoldering. Most of the burn area has cooled, but heat may still exist in thick timber stands and deadfall. Smoke has not been visible for several weeks.

There is one exception to the area closure recension. Due to fire damage and hazards in the vicinity of the Rail Trail, approximately seven miles of the non-motorized trail, from Fox Park to Lake Owen, will remain closed to public use until mitigation work can be completed. The parking area and toilet on the northwest corner of Lake Owen, near the fishing pier, will also be closed.

Forest staff will continue to monitor the fire as it remains in patrol status and has not been declared fully controlled (out).

“The benefit of public access to the Mullen Fire burn area now outweighs the risks that exist,” said Laramie District Ranger Frank Romero. “That said, we absolutely do not want to minimize that burned areas can be hazardous and that people should not assume that everything is back to the way it was before.”

Venture capital firm to open in Cheyenne

CHEYENNE (WNE) —  A new venture capital firm will put down its roots in Wyoming’s capital city, in part thanks to a Cheyenne City Council memorandum of understanding passed at its meeting Monday night.

The founders of EQ Capital have worked with the council over the past two weeks, seeking support for building a “technology ecosystem” in the state. While their sights were already set on Cheyenne due to the business environment in Wyoming, founders Madhavan Ramakrishnan and John Castagnini wanted to be sure they had a collaborative partner in the city before they set their decision in stone.

The council solidified that support Monday night by passing the MOU, which will serve as a “framework for any future binding contract” and voices the council’s approval of the firm’s mission.

“This move really signals the fact that in Wyoming and Cheyenne as the capital city, we have poised ourselves to be leaders in the blockchain and crypto banking industry. And tech firms are looking at us,” Mayor Marian Orr said, adding that she’s already heard from startups interested in EQ Capital’s move.

While the MOU doesn’t entail any contractual obligations, it does outline each party’s responsibilities going forward. By passing the MOU, the council agreed to promote the tech ecosystem and EQ Capital’s startup accelerator, which Ramakrishnan said will help as EQ Capital markets Cheyenne as a startup destination.

The city also agreed to work “proactively” on improving infrastructure necessary for startups – security, fiber broadband and housing – though Cheyenne Chief Economic Development Officer Brendan Ames said, “Development begets development.”

Sheridan’s Winter Rodeo canceled because of COVID

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The February 2021 edition of the Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo has been canceled, organizers announced Monday.

After much deliberation with representatives from Sheridan County and the city of Sheridan, and with regards to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community and across the region, as well as the current Sheridan County Public Health orders, event organizers have decided to cancel what would have been the third annual event out of concern for public health and safety.

For the last several months, it has been organizers’ intention to move forward, knowing how much revenue the Winter Rodeo helps to generate for local businesses.

“When I stand back and fully consider it, the truth is that that same revenue will be there in 2022,” Shawn Parker said in a press release. “And there is simply no way to effectively social distance or keep safe the more than 10,000 people who have come out for the event each of the first two years. Causing a mass- infection event, and then forcing the closure of dozens of downtown businesses, would be absolutely devastating to our local economy and health care systems, and completely irresponsible. Regrettably, we are canceling 2021’s winter rodeo, and looking forward to bringing this event back to the community in 2022.”

Powell volunteer named firefighter of the year

POWELL (WNE) — For the first time in Powell history, a volunteer firefighter has been named Wyoming Firefighter of the Year.

Tommy May was nominated for the award by the American Legion Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 for his volunteer work both with the department and to help feed those in need during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

May, who co-owns Smoke Eaters barbecue with Jamie Buck, shut his business and began cooking solely for those in need of assistance this spring. Along with Hickory Street Catering, Virginia Scott of the Point Cafe and dozens of volunteers through Love Thy Neighbor, they served thousands of meals as folks lost their jobs and struggled through the shutdown. 

“He always goes above and beyond for his community,” said Post Commander Russell Stafford, who nominated May for the award.

“We felt like he was stepping out above and beyond the normal duties that he would have to do. He has also stepped up and done meals to take care of veterans and some of the other displaced persons in the community. We just felt like he really deserved the recognition. He volunteers at the fire department and, you know, he’s a real community guy.” 

May has impressed the crew at the department, earning praise from his fellow volunteers. 

“Tommy understands what it means to be a volunteer. Every time there’s a need in the region, he has stepped up,” said Powell Fire Department Lt. Scott Shoopman.

Campbell County employees required to use masks

GILLETTE (WNE) — In response to a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community, Campbell County Commissioners approved a temporary policy requiring its employees to wear masks, effective immediately.

The policy was approved on a 4-1 vote Tuesday morning, with Commissioner Bob Maul the lone vote against it.

The policy requires employees to “wear a face mask while at work unless they are alone in their office or vehicle.” Exceptions can be made for those who cannot wear a mask because of a health condition. In addition to face coverings, employees will be asked to continue other preventative measures such as social distancing, frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces.

The commissioners remain opposed to a countywide mask mandate for the public because they don’t want to dictate the general public’s behavior, but they believe requiring county employees to wear masks is the least they can do to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I don’t think anyone can ignore the fact that we’ve got a problem, and as a society we need to try to do the right thing,” said Commissioner Del Shelstad.

Brandy Elder, the county’s human resources director, wrote the policy. She said that in the past few weeks, there have been county offices around the state, hers included, that “have been almost entirely shut down because of an exposure, which could’ve been easily prevented had we been taking precautions.”

She now requires her employees to wear a mask when on the job but not in their office.