The Year in Review

A difficult year dominated by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, 2020 still saw plenty of important business conducted throughout Crook County.

January

The county commissioners hosted their first meeting of 2020 in a larger, renovated space featuring additional audience room and file storage. This was achieved as part of a larger project to also re-work the County Clerk’s Office.

The commissioners meanwhile penned a letter of comment on the state’s plans to purchase a chunk of land in the Grand Canyon area of Moskee, which included concerns that the wording of the multiple use plan might mean the land would become a wilderness.

Several projects moved forward for the City of Sundance, including one to install a new water tank in the canyon area. The council also heard that it would only need to wait a couple more months for the Department of Environmental Quality to approve its new construction and debris pit.

County Clerk Linda Fritz made the decision to move the Beulah voting location to the Northeast Wyoming Visitors’ Center due to issues with the old country school, including a water leak in the roof.

The Sundance High School trap team revealed that it had swept the board at its first fall competition. The sport had barely existed in Wyoming a year ago but, thanks to Crook County, clay target shooting was beginning to spread to schools across the state.

February

An estimated 225 runners and walkers turned out to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Freeze Your Fanny in the early morning of Superbowl Sunday. Later in the month, piles of snow along Main Street were transformed into obstacle courses to test the talents of skijorers in the annual Sundance Winter Festival.

Members of the Beulah community stepped up to save the old schoolhouse that had long served as a community building and polling location. Bridger Pipelines told the county commission that progress was underway to install a new oil pipeline through the county that would match the route of the existing Butte Pipeline, beginning near Hulett and crossing into Weston County to eventually end in Guernsey.

The Sundance City Council heard that Abandoned Mine Lands funding had arrived, allowing the city to begin a new project to replace the water tank on the other side of I-90 and the pipes that lead to it.

A surprise job posting for the administrator position within Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) provided the first indication that the Board of Trustees was considering the removal of CEO Nathan Hough. Unable to comment on discussions held in executive session, the board issued a statement that the contract with Health Management Services (HMS) was up for renewal and the board had a responsibility to the community to look at all options as to how the hospital is run.

Shortly after, Trustee Joey Kanode resigned from the board, citing a lack of faith in his fellow trustees.

March

At the beginning of March, the Wyoming Department of Health announced that the risk of COVID-19 remained low, but it was “increasingly likely” that the novel coronavirus would spread to this state.

By the middle of the month, ten confirmed cases had been identified in Sheridan and Fremont Counties and Governor Mark Gordon signed an executive order on March 12 declaring a state of emergency. In Crook County, the emergency operations center was activated in preparation.

By the end of the month, the county had joined the rest of the state – and much of the world – in locking down to slow the spread of the virus. No cases had yet been recorded in Crook County.

At its monthly meeting, the CCMSD Board of Trustees agreed to hold future discussions over its contract with HMS in the public eye. That promise was honored immediately, with audience members, board members and representatives from HMS airing their thoughts and concerns over the relationship.

The ongoing project to rejuvenate Old Stoney hit a sticking point when it was discovered that there is insufficient water flow to support the building’s fire suppression system. A solution was found by hooking a new line onto the six-inch main running down Cleveland Street.

The council agreed that this move would likely also be of benefit to the newly named Sundance Square park, which at that time was being designed.

Wyoming Game and Fish collaborated with the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory to investigate a rare disease outbreak among pronghorn in northeast Wyoming. More than 50 animals had been found dead in an area north of Gillette and Mycoplasma bovis was believed to be the cause.

The state announced it had completed the transaction to purchase a chunk of land in Moskee.

April

As stricter lockdown rules came into effect across the state, Crook County identified its first positive case of COVID-19 at the beginning of April. Numerous efforts began within the community to offer support and assistance, including homemade masks, a drive-by Easter hunt and a free fresh produce program.

At the end of the month, the governor indicated that the focus would now move to loosening restrictions one step at a time.

Hough tendered his resignation to Health Management Services, beginning a 30-day notice period as the CEO of CCMSD. Later in the month, the Board of Trustees announced it would sever the relationship with HMS, claiming there was no longer rapport between the two organizations.

Senator Ogden Driskill and Representative Tyler Lindholm brought forward a plan to use CARES Act funding for a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to replace the county’s aging hospital. This was believed to be in line with the rules for the federal funding because the current hospital was unable to offer isolation rooms; later, however, it transpired that this was not the case.

The county commissioners appointed six people to serve on a steering committee to create a new natural resource management plan for the county.

Fritz announced she would be closing the New Haven polling station due to the difficulty of securing election judges and the cost of keeping it open. Voters of that precinct were told they would be voting at the Greater Hulett Community Center instead.

Strata Energy announced that it had received final approval from the Department of Environmental Quality to fully implement low-pH recovery methods at its Oshoto uranium mine, a move expected to greatly increase yield.

May

Discussions began as to how the pandemic might affect the 2020 elections. It became clear that a larger number of voters might opt for an absentee ballot this year, prompting Fritz to detail the many intricate safety measures employed in Wyoming to secure the integrity of every vote.

The state opted for a cautious approach to easing restrictions, allowing service businesses to reopen under specific operating conditions designed to minimize public health risk. Crook County was awarded a variance to allow restaurants and bars to re-open table service; at the end of the month, the county reopened access to its buildings but continued to impose restrictions for access.

The Wyoming Legislature met in special session to figure out how to spend the $1.25 billion received by the state through the federal CARES Act. Three bills were passed, creating programs to assist businesses and providing legal protection for businesses against lawsuits related to the pandemic.

The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing passed over in an aerial salute to healthcare workers on the frontlines. The two-ship C-130 flyover crossed the skies over every hospital in the state.

Micki Lyons was offered the position of Interim CEO of CCMSD on the departure of Hough. Ed Ray was meanwhile appointed to fill the open trustee seat on the board.

A collaborative working group for the Black Hills National Forest released a draft of a report investigating the changed condition of the forest after impacts from wildfire and the mountain pine beetle. With current conditions, growth levels and mortality estimates in mind, the report suggested it could be necessary to reduce the number of trees harvested each year by up to 60% to allow the timber to recover enough for a return to current harvest levels within a century.

The City of Sundance opened its new construction and debris pit after an 18-month wait for a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality.

June

The number of COVID-19 cases across Wyoming passed the 700 mark as June began and many were dismayed to hear that the state’s biggest summer event would be cancelled, including Cheyenne Frontier Days and Laramie Jubilee Days.

Smaller rodeos, including the Hulett Rodeo, were given the all-clear to continue. The county fair was also confirmed to be moving forward, while the Sturgis City Council voted to officially sanction the annual motorcycle rally.

Meanwhile, the state announced that a huge decline in income from the energy industry would be a heavy hit to Wyoming’s budget – deep cuts were likely to be ahead. Mid-month, Gordon announced Wyoming was facing “the largest decline in revenue it has ever seen.”

Among the first signs of the coming cuts was the closure of the Sundance and Moorcroft rest areas, a decision WYDOT said had forced due to budgetary uncertainty. The two rest areas were among ten that had been chosen to cause as little hardship as possible to the traveling public.

The Crook County Hospital Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hulett Clinic to take place directly after the Hulett Rodeo Parade. HMS filed a lawsuit against CCMSD, claiming it had been “inexplicably” dismissed before its notice period was over and without payment.

July

A storm at the beginning of July caused widespread power outages in northeast Wyoming. Around 4100 members of the Powder River Energy cooperative lost power due to the damaging hail and winds.

A week later, a tornado touched down in Crook County, but reports made it difficult to pin down exactly where it traveled. However, the only reported damage was to trees in a remote area of the county.

The next week saw another storm supercell roll through, creating another tornado that caused damage near the old mining town of Tinton. The storm brought hail bigger than baseballs and wind gusts in excess of 80 mph.

Family members were once again able to visit their loved ones at the long term facility in an outside setting that met with state guidelines. The state revealed its “Smart Start” plan to allow schools to reopen for the fall semester.

Concerned by rising infection numbers, the governor announced that the public health orders for COVID-19 would be extended. At that time, Wyoming was averaging 27 new cases per day.

The county’s new voting equipment was demonstrated to party leaders from both sides. Fritz pointed out the many safety measures of the new machines, which were to be used for the 2020 elections.

CCMSD moved to dismiss the complaint filed against it by HMS on the basis that the management company cannot sue a governmental entity without following Wyoming’s rules for doing so. HMS responded by dropping the lawsuit, but refiled after meeting the specified rules.

The governor announced a 10% cut across the board on the state’s budget and warned that further cuts would be coming. Revenue projections suggested the state general fund would have an almost $1 billion shortfall and an additional $500 million for schools.

August

The 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was surprisingly ordinary, with little change to the usual numbers that head over the border for Wyoming Wednesday. However, Crook County did prove to be a popular destination for bikers over a longer-than-usual amount of time, with visitors on the streets throughout the week.

Crook County Memorial Hospital saw its first cases of COVID-19, one of whom was transferred to Rapid City for treatment and both of whom were out-of-state tourists. Micki Lyons was appointed the permanent CEO of CCMSD.

The primary election saw Chip Neiman beat incumbent Tyler Lindholm to become the Representative-elect for House District #1. The number of absentee ballots received this year was estimated to be more than the Crook County Clerk’s Office had ever received before.

The city announced that the Sundance Kid statue would be on the run again, but this time not from the law. The Kid was to find a new home in Sundance Square, the park under development next to Old Stoney.

September

The beginnings of Wyoming’s first true surge in COVID-19 cases were felt in September. Crook County, once a haven from the pandemic where only 15 cases had been recorded, began to see infection rates rise and the first signs of community spread in this area. The county’s schools meanwhile experienced their first cases since opening.

The county hosted its first jury trial since the pandemic hit, with precautions including jurors being asked to space out at intervals in the audience gallery. The Wyoming Supreme Court heard an appeal from Marty Smith on her conviction as an accomplice to the death of local man Doug Haar in 2018 on the basis that she was not given a fair trial.

The City of Sundance heard a proposal from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office to replace the Sundance Police Department with contract service upon the retirement of Police Chief Marty Noonan at the end of the year. The suggestion was made for budgetary reasons due to a bleak financial outlook for the state.

Old Stoney finally got the go-ahead from the state fire marshal and the museum and office space renters were able to begin moving in. An ongoing project to replace the dam at Cook Lake reached its final stages and District Ranger Mike Gosse announced that the popular site would likely be open for camping in the 2021 season.

Rare Element Resources announced it was planning to build a demonstration-scale plant for its proprietary rare earth extraction technology. CCMSD counterclaimed for damages from HMS, claiming that the company overbilled for its management fee and repeatedly breached its contract.

Two county residents were inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Kenneth Canfield and Ed Cooper.

October

The pandemic continued to gather speed in Wyoming as Governor Gordon warned that the “very serious deterioration in conditions” would have a negative impact on businesses and the state economy. Visitation was closed down again at the long term care unit in Sundance, while Crook County Senior Services reverted to its policy of meal delivery and curbside pickups, CCMSD admitted COVID-19 inpatients for the first time and Crook County recorded its first death related to the virus

The first significant blizzard of the year saw multiple inches of snow coat the Black Hills, including 12 inches in Aladdin and 11 inches southwest of Beulah.

The Sundance City Council hosted a public meeting to discuss its plan to replace the police department with contracted service through the Crook County Sheriff’s Office. Describing the worrying financial situation at the state level, Mayor Paul Brooks thanked Sheriff Jeff Hodge for presenting the idea, saying, “We’re painted into a corner and this gets us out.”

Mayor Dick Claar of Moorcroft visited all four municipalities to float the idea of putting a solid waste district for the whole county back on the table. His aim, he said, was to create a trash solution that would keep the county’s last remaining landfill open.

A year-long study concluded that the best way for residents in the Carlile area to gain access to quality water will be to hook onto the City of Gillette’s Madison Water System. The study was launched to look for a solution after numerous wells in the area ran suddenly dry or acidic.

The Crook County Hospital Foundation awarded a bid to construct a new clinic in Hulett to RCS of Rapid City for a total of $2.54 million. CCMSD responded to the HMS’s second lawsuit with a counterclaim that the management company deliberately committed fraud against the district.

The seniors of Sundance High School surprised a classmate by raising enough money to purchase glasses that would correct his life-long color blindness. A “stork team” comprised of members of the Hulett EMS and Sheriff’s Office E911 dispatchers were recognized for successfully resolving an urgent situation when they delivered a baby in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

November

A week before the presidential election, over a quarter of registered voters in Crook County had already completed their ballots. By election day, a total of 4143 people had cast their votes, representing 91% of the county’s voters; this included double the usual number of absentee voters.

As daily cases of COVID-19 continued to rise, Crook County reactivated its emergency operations center. Confirmation was received that the virus had infiltrated the hospital building and caused infections among the elderly residents of the long-term care unit.

The state’s healthcare system began to find itself under strain as Wyoming saw the most hospitalizations of any time during the pandemic. Crook County’s total deaths rose to three by mid-November, while jury trials were once again placed on hold by the Wyoming Supreme Court. State health orders were tightened up in response to the worsening pandemic by reducing the size of allowable gatherings.

Governor Gordon released a supplemental budget that would see another half billion dollars chopped from the state budget if approved by the legislature.

CCMSD reached an agreement with ex-management company HMS that would see both sides drop their claims and the lawsuit dropped.

The 1875 Gallery opened its doors inside Old Stoney as the museum began to take shape and renters also moved into their offices.

December

The county requested a temporary mask order with the hope of promoting awareness of the pandemic in this area. This step was taken as active cases across Wyoming hit record highs above 10,000.

Just a few days later, a statewide mask order went into effect to address the ongoing hospital capacity crisis; Crook County Memorial Hospital confirmed that, like many other medical facilities, it was functioning at close to capacity at all times and was taking on virus-positive cases from nearby hospitals that have run out of room. The mask order was set to run for one month until January 8 and required citizens to wear face coverings in most public places.

Crook County School District was able to report a successful first semester of the year. No schools were forced to close their doors due to an outbreak and the total number of COVID-19 cases going into the Thanksgiving break stood at 51.

In additional good news, Wyoming geared up to begin administering the new COVID-19 vaccines, the first doses of which arrived in the state and were issued to medical workers and first responders on the front lines in the fight against the pandemic.

As Christmas approached, the skies were lit by the Star of Bethlehem for the first time in 800 years. Experts believe the bright light seen by the Three Wise Men was not a star, but rather a rare phenomenon called a “Great Conjunction” as Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the heavens.