Wyoming News Briefs

Donations for family of fallen marine reach $500,000; local bank fund established

JACKSON (WNE) — Three days after an online fundraiser was started, donations to assist the family of Rylee McCollum — the Jackson native and U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan — have reached nearly $500,000.

About 10,000 people from all over the nation had contributed via two online GoFundMe accounts.

In addition, friends have established a local account for direct donations to Rylee’s widow, Gigi, who is expecting to give birth to their baby in September. Donations can be made to that account via the Bank of Jackson Hole, which has branches in Pinedale, Dubois, Alpine, Jackson, Wilson and Teton Village.

Bank of Jackson Hole will match up to $10,000 given through that account.

“This will allow people to donate to that account where 100% of their donations will go directly to the family,” Ed Liebzeit told the Jackson Hole Daily. Liebzeit, who is assisting as a veteran and Commander of the Jackson Hole VFW Post, noted that donors may not be aware that GoFundMe charges administrative and processing fees.

Donations can be deposited into the Bank of Jackson Hole fund named FBO Rylee McCollum. Donations can also be mailed to the fund c/o Bank of Jackson Hole, P.O. Box 7000, Jackson, WY 83002.

The online fundraisers are available at GoFundMe.com under “Rylee McCollum’s Child Education Fund” and “Rest Easy USMC Rylee McCollum.”

Campbell County Public Library offers banned books reading challenge

GILLETTE (WNE) — Campbell County Public Library will be offering an online banned book reading challenge for teens and adults starting Wednesday.

“I feel it’s as important as every year, [to remind] the teens you do have the intellectual freedom, you have the right to read what you want,” said Marcy Mathis, teen room library youth services coordinator.

The library also will display books such as “The Hunger Games,” the “Captain Underpants” series, “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Catcher in the Rye” that have been challenged or banned in places across the United States.

“It’s another way for us to promote them to our teens,” Mathis said, adding that adults can participate this year as well.

The challenge is part of its commemoration of Banned Books Week that will happen at the end of September.

Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, started in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries.

Despite the recent controversy involving requests by some Gillette residents to remove what they deem to be questionable books, Mathis said she did not think that this year’s banned book reading challenge is “necessarily more important than the previous year or anything like that.”

The challenge will end Oct. 3.

For every banned book someone reads, his or her name will be entered into a prize drawing scheduled for Oct. 4. There will be one winner for each age group.

To sign up, visit ccplswy.readsquared.com.

For more information, call 307-682-3223, and for a look at the library’s collection development policy, visit www.ccpls.org.

Sheridan school board votes at special meeting to require masks

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The Sheridan County School District 2 Board of Trustees voted unanimously at a special meeting Monday to update the district’s COVID-19 policy and require students and staff to wear masks while in the classroom and on school buses.

The action comes just a day prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday.

It was the second time in August that SCSD2 officials have updated their COVID-19 protocols. Administrators reviewed the policy, also known as the Smart Start Plan, at the board’s regular meeting Aug. 9, stating protocols had not changed from the end of the 2020-21 with masks being optional but not required.

However, on Aug. 25, SCSD2 officials issued an update with masks then being “strongly recommended” while in class and on school grounds.

SCSD2 Superintendent Scott Stults said the recommendation to require masks was made after consulting with local health officials and considering a recent increase in reported COVID-19 cases.

The SCSD2 COVID-19 policy may be viewed on the school district’s website at scsd2.com/updated-covid-19-plan.

Jackson Town Council votes to extend mask order through December, depending on risk level

JACKSON (WNE) –- The Jackson Town Council at a Monday morning workshop voted unanimously to extend Teton County Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell’s mask-wearing mandate through December, as long as the COVID-19 risk level remains high.

The vote was 4-0 in favor, with Councilor Jim Rooks absent from the meeting. The order is effective through Dec. 31, unless the council votes to remove or alter it based on potential new information from public health officials.

It was noted at Monday’s meeting that Riddell had reached out to both Jackson Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson and Teton County Board of County Commissioners Chair Natalia Macker over the weekend to request that the respective elected bodies vote in favor of the extension.

County commissioners are expected to address it at a Thursday morning meeting.

Riddell’s initial order, which went into effect last week, was set to last for ten days, through Sept. 4, barring an extension. 

A relatively new Wyoming statute empowers county health departments to put mask orders in place for up to ten days and then leaves it to local elected bodies to determine whether they want to extend the order, as the town did Monday.

Riddell’s order requires people to wear appropriate face coverings inside buildings within the county unless the risk level were to drop to yellow, or moderate.

Alleged Old Trail Town thief arrested

CODY (WNE) — Since Zakary Diller didn’t have a home to stash his allegedly stolen guns, he decided some bushes around the corner from where he committed the crime would be the best place to store them.

But it was his less than discreet hiding spot that revealed Diller’s theft of five guns and other artifacts pilfered during an alleged burglary at Old Trail Town in the early morning of Aug. 23.

Diller, 23, is now facing up to 48 years in prison and $75,000 in fines for charges of aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, theft of a firearm, theft of property valued $1,000 or more, and possession of a firearm as a felon. 

Although Diller was known to regularly carry a firearm on his person, according to court documents, there was no proof provided in the affidavit that he did so while committing the alleged crimes.

Diller is also accused of stealing a multitude of other items, including custom-made knives, ropes, holsters and a white felt cowboy hat.

He is accused of breaking into four different structures and the gift shop at Old Trail Town. Locks were broken off every building that was burglarized.

“Diller expressed intent to go out and steal more things and sell them this weekend,” Jack Hatfield, Park County deputy prosecuting attorney, said during Diller’s initial hearing Friday.

Diller is currently being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

“He is an extreme flight risk and danger to the community because of the nature of his convicted felonies,” Hatfield said. “As young as he is, Mr. Diller has racked quite an extensive record so far.”

Campbell Co. library sees 22 book challenges

GILLETTE (WNE) — Nearly two dozen books have been formally challenged at the Campbell County Public Library.

Library director Terri Lesley said she’s received 22 reconsideration forms as of Wednesday afternoon.

At an Aug. 12 special meeting between the library board and the county commissioners, Lesley said she had received just three formal complaints. The library board asked that anyone who has a problem with a book to take it through the process that has been established for this purpose.

The library has 30 days to respond to each complaint. The manager in charge of collection development needs to read the book itself, as well as reviews on the book, before responding to the person who filed the complaint.

All of the challenged books are either in the children’s section or the teen section of the library, Lesley said. She added that one of those books is “This Book Is Gay,” which has been the focus of a lot of criticism for its descriptions of sexual acts.

The book is currently checked out and has not been returned, but Lesley said she’s been able to get the book through an inter-library loan.

Lesley said she doesn’t remember a case of a formally challenged book not being returned, but there have been instances where books just go missing.

“I know we’ve had some books that people didn’t like that disappeared from our collection,” she said.

Hospital Association urges vaccine for all hospital staff

CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Wyoming Hospital Association and LeadingAge Wyoming, along with their governing boards, on behalf of their member hospitals and nursing homes, strongly encourage all who are eligible, and particularly those who work in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, to become vaccinated against COVID-19. 

“Hospitals and nursing homes in Wyoming have seen firsthand the devastating impact of COVID-19,” according to a statement from the organization. “The lived experience of our health care heroes, and the objective evidence of what works to make a difference informs our position on this issue. Furthermore, we owe it to these brave employees and the patients they serve to provide the safest environment possible. 

“We are urging all health-care workers to receive the free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The WHA is available to assist all hospitals and nursing homes in whatever ways needed to achieve 100% vaccination in our facilities.” 

The release goes on to say WHA recognizes the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, while simultaneously valuing the ability of health care facilities creating those environments of safety in the best ways they know how. 

“We know what works to stop the spread of infection, and we have the necessary tools. Vaccination, good hand hygiene, socially distancing when able, and wearing masks are steps we all should be taking to keep everyone safe,” the statement continues. “Those who work in hospitals and nursing homes should lead the way in modeling these precautions.”

Cooler weather helps firefighters battle Crater Ridge Fire

CASPER (WNE) — Firefighters took advantage of cooler weather over the weekend to increase containment around a blaze burning in the Bighorn National Forest. 

Containment of the Crater Ridge Fire reached 52% on Sunday, up from 35% just two days earlier, according to the latest update from crews working the blaze. That progress came as rain and hail fell over the region of the fire, which is roughly 30 miles northeast of Lovell near Wyoming’s border with Montana. 

As crews make progress on the blaze, the number of personnel working it has begun to fall. As of Sunday, that number stood at 139. At one point, more than 200 people were involved in fighting the fire. 

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped to minimize fire behavior over the weekend, the update states. Firefighters planned Sunday to increase containment in areas that were accessible to them. 

However, the cooler, wetter weather wasn’t expected to last. Sunday was forecast to be warmer, with humidity falling to around 30%, according to the update. No additional rain was expected to fall. 

The Crater Ridge Fire has so far charred 6,232 acres since it ignited July 17. Fire officials suspect it was touched off by lightning. 

A closure order remains in effect for the forest areas near the fire, affecting several forest roads and trails.

Former rehab center director accused of stealing $189,000

GILLETTE (WNE) — The former executive director of Personal Frontiers is accused of stealing $189,075 from the drug and alcohol abuse counseling center over a three-year period making “suspicious transactions” mainly at liquor and gambling establishments.

Donna E. Morgan, 58, has been charged with three felony counts of theft, one for each of the years she worked at the agency.

Each count has a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Morgan allegedly told a Personal Frontiers board member in July while they were drinking that she was stealing money from the organization. She “felt that she would possibly have to refinance her home to pay off the outstanding debt,” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

The board member contacted another board member and then reported it to the police.

Police learned that Morgan was the only one to have access to a Personal Frontiers’ debit card, which was supposed to be used for business-related expenses.

Bank statements showed that “suspicious transactions” using the debit card were made at the Eagles Lodge, Wyoming Downs, Horse Palace and other gambling and liquor establishments, according to the affidavit.

In 2019, Morgan is accused of spending $36,999. In 2020, she spent $97,908 in unauthorized charges and in 2021, $54,168 before Aug. 8, according to the affidavit.

Bond for Morgan was set at $5000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to determine whether there is probable cause to bind her over to District Court on the charges.