The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 893
A month after the closing of the Moorcroft landfill, Moorcroft Mayor Ben Glenn says it is still too soon to realize the full ramifications of the closure. However, speaking to the obvious disadvantage to most people, he says, “You can’t just go to the dump any time you want and throw whatever you need away; now, we’re reliant on a company to take our trash for us.” The town’s Public Works Director, Cory Allison concurs, “The residents of Moorcroft don’t have a place to take their trash and Pine Haven especially; a lot of those guys hauled t...
The Crook County Sheriff’s department received a call regarding a single vehicle accident last Thursday, July 21, at approximately 11:48 p.m. A 17-year-old Pine Haven area resident was driving a Dodge pickup southbound on Liberty Lane just off Highway 113 when the individual lost control of the automobile. Tracks show the pickup left the roadway and returned to the hard top where the young driver overcorrected, which caused a spin and subsequent three quarter rollover. The youth, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected, succumbing to t...
Pine Haven has officially joined Crook County in issuing an open fire ban, effective July 22. Moorcroft has not issued any municipal prohibition. However, after a discussion between Mayor Ben Glenn and Deputy Fire Chief Dan Swaney, the council may vote to add the municipal ban at the Monday night meeting, according to Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Schneider. Pine Haven had previously permitted open flames in designated pits, but under advisement of Fire Chief TJ Gideon, all issued permits have been rescinded and no new permits will be issued this...
Pine Haven residents are invited to a public meeting on Saturday, July 30 from 1-2 p.m. at Waters Park to voice any suggestions about the route or any other comments or concerns regarding the intended completion of the bike path, business park and infrastructure. "The engineers will be there to answer questions," Mayor Karla Brandenburg welcomes interested individuals. "We want input... so we encourage everybody to come out and participate in that." HDR will have survey forms available for...
Pine Haven Volunteer Fire Chief TJ Gideon reported to the town council at last Tuesday’s meeting another joint training, employing a mock mass casualty scenario with Moorcroft’s fire department, saying, “It was a very good training.” This is one of many training exercises for the combined volunteer departments over recent months. According to Gideon, the Pine Haven unit voted to actually change their training schedule to better fit with the Moorcroft division in an effort to make possible the joint training. “I had asked the Moorcroft...
When I was in the first grade, I drew a picture of an open window and the curtain was flying out of the window." This was how Penny Cruickshank began her lifelong love affair with sketching, painting and quilting. Penny has always enjoyed painting portraits, but does not limit herself to only faces, as can be seen in her work on display at the Moorcroft Senior Center. The oil on canvas of the cabin in the woods is a rendition of a picture she saw many years ago. "I thought, 'I think I could...
Crowds gathered around the arena under canopies of various shapes and sizes as the setting sun glistened off the nylon ropes of the riders at the Moorcroft Ranch Rodeo Friday evening, opening the weekend to the 57th Moorcroft Jubilee. While many guests filled the long tables in front of the West Texas Trail Museum for breakfast, others joined the walk/run at Robinson Park. The presentation of the 50 state flags were again the star of the parade, the barbecue lunch at the fire hall fed about 900...
A fire that destroyed an RV in Pine Haven on Friday evening brought an important safety issue to the fore, according to Moorcroft volunteer firefighter Dan Swainey. “We arrived to find a fully engulfed RV trailer. The owner had attempted to extinguish the fire and was not able to so we were informed of the hazards that were present,” he says. The warning about ammunition and propane tanks within the burning RV was the best move the homeowner could have made for the first responders and anyone else close to the situation. “We were able to take...
When Moorcroft’s council convened Monday night, the governing body was joined again by mobile home park owners to further discuss the town’s legal and fiscal obligation to follow the ordinance and charge property owners water investment fees for each lot. The ongoing issue is that the owners do not want to pay on vacant spaces, though said spaces are actively attached to the municipal water and sewer lines. This point of contention was reiterated by Bill Manke, who said, “I still contend that if that empty chair is not bringing in any incom...
This year's Jubilee weekend began with the Culpepper, Merriweather traveling one-ring circus at the arena west of town. Of the two showings Wednesday afternoon, the first was truly standing room only. The show entertained children and adults alike as the trainer shared an enclosed ring with young lion Wendal and 19-year-old tiger Delilah along with acrobats and a bird show. Earlier in the day, guests arrived to take advantage of the invitation to watch the raising of the big top and a more...
With campgrounds filled to capacity and boats decorating the water like bright marbles beneath the setting sun, Saturday evening saw hundreds more guests enter Keyhole State Park's Coulter Bay with families setting up chairs and coolers before the sun slowly departed the day's sky. Firefighters and EMS volunteers stood at the park entrance to offer comments, smiles and a boot for donations; this is the department's largest fundraiser of the year and the moneys collected will provide much needed...
Several MK8 school teachers have departed this season due to personal reasons and, according to Crook County School District #1 Superintendent Mark Broderson, this is to be expected. Even so, the nationwide teacher shortage epidemic is certainly making itself felt here in the county. With new teachers particularly, “It’s important they find their first job after they graduate college and many of those teachers will not stay in that place for the rest of their career. Not every teacher we hire will remain in Crook County.” He noted that in hi...
Moorcroft trailer park owners accepted the invitation from the council to a workshop on Monday before the regular council meeting to discuss the decision the town must reach regarding utility fees. The concern has been a lack of fairness, leading to a situation where residents are not all paying the same share of the water investment fees. Mayor Ben Glenn opened the discussion, stating, "We're all familiar with this, we've had a lot of discussion on this for the last several years. Tonight is...
Quite often, the most important part of any program – the behind-the-scenes stuff – is conducted by volunteers. This is very much the case in Moorcroft, with many volunteer activities available for those who are interested in getting involved with their community. A great way to meet other like-minded individuals is to get out and join in. Moorcroft has a place for everyone. Volunteering is a great family effort, too; teaching youths the importance of stepping up and giving them the confidence t...
With summer moving in, the safe and correct use of Pine Haven's slash pile is a subject of discussion once again. Public Works Director Sunny Schell is composting grass clippings, ash and dirt on the south end of the burn pile. Fire Chief TJ Gideon reminds residents to remove any plastic bags in which the clippings are transported as the yard waste is deposited into this composting pile, ensuring no decomposing material spontaneously combusts. Do not add these clippings to the main pile....
The Fireworks Over the Lake celebration has received a green light from the state fire warden to move forward this year. The excitement starts at dark on Saturday, July 2. The pyrotechnic display is the largest yearly fundraiser for the Pine Haven Volunteer Fire Department with planning by both the department and town council started months in advance. The around 40 different types of firework bundles have been ordered at a cost of approximately $10,000, according to fire chief TJ Gideon. Fred Negebauer and associates is volunteering their...
Pine Haven Mayor Karla Brandenburg and council recognized first responders at last Tuesday night's meeting with handshakes and smiles. Council members positioned themselves in a standing room only chamber as firemen and EMTs came forward as their names were called according to their years in service. "A year ago," Brandenburg espoused, "Last year, we only had eight to ten fire fighters; today, we are up to 20 firefighters and we thank all of you." June 16 was "the first anniversary of the big fi...
The Over the Hill Gang in Pine Haven is hosting their second annual First Responders BBQ celebration, honoring first responders from all over the county at the community center on Wednesday, June 29, from noon until 1 p.m. The Gang invites Pine Haven area residents to join these quiet heroes for a lunch of burgers, brats and hotdogs grilled by professional eaters, accompanied by chips and drinks....
The Pine Haven Recreation Department will be hosting their third annual Kids Day in the Park at Waters Park on Saturday, July 2, from noon until 2 p.m. Fun in the sun is the agenda for youngsters with a splash pad and a slip-and-slide as well as squirt guns and toys with which kids can play and take home after the party; if anyone would rather take their own water weapon, they are welcome to do so. Lunch includes hot dogs, chips, water and snow cones....
Public Works Director Cory Allison addressed two issues affecting garbage pickup at Monday's meeting of Moorcroft's ruling body. One is the inclusion of yard waste [grass clippings] in the dumpsters. Allison noted the admirable compliance with this safety directive while reiterating this advice to the public: "[The garbage truck] will not take it, he will leave it." These seemingly innocuous clippings and other plant material actually create heat and become combustible in contained spaces like p...
The Moorcroft Town Council approved the unpopular-yet-inevitable closure of the municipal landfill at Monday’s meeting. As of July 1, the landfill will no longer accept household garbage from individuals or contractors, but will continue to accept yard waste, construction/demolition (C&D) waste and dead animals. According to Public Works Director Cory Allison, the schedule for times and fees for dumping these items has yet to be set, but will be made public before the closure date. Along with possible restrictions on the burn pit and the d...
The difficult decisions kept coming for Moorcroft’s council Monday night with the question of applying the existing municipal investment fee ordinance to the mobile home parks and apartment buildings in town. The council has set a workshop to seek property owners’ opinions Monday night at 6 p.m. before making a decision at the meeting immediately following regarding the direction the town will take. “As we’re all discussing the hard part of our job,” Mayor Ben Glenn ruefully said to his fellow councilmen, “we have to keep it fair across the...
The Moorcroft Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) Jubilee committee has been working overtime to bring a great Jubilee celebration to town this year. Wednesday, July 6 The 57th Jubilee starts with the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus on Wednesday, July 6, at the rodeo grounds at 1001 West Converse (next to the rest area west of town) with the first show at 5 p.m. and the second at 7:30. The C&M Circus is an authentic one ring big top event that has been entertaining audiences for 37 years and is...
Moorcroft Mayor Ben Glenn and HDR Engineering’s Heath Turbiville attended the June meeting of the State Land and Investment Board (SLIB) in Cheyenne last Thursday to stand with their application for the 75/25% $250,000 grant. Due to Turbiville’s diligence, according to the mayor, Moorcroft was on a list of municipalities recommended for funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). This money will purchase a preliminary landfill site investigation. According to Glenn, “This site enquiry is a necessary next step regardless the d...
West Texas Trail Museum Director Cindy Mosteller, through the Moorcroft Historical Society, has been awarded a grant for $8340 to complete a uniquely local project: telling the story of the actual founding of Moorcroft as an important waylay for the West Texas Trail. With fellow collaborators Andrea Wood, Lona Tracy and the Moorcroft High School students, who will assist in research in the coming fall, Mosteller will be installing multi-swing panels “to inform visitors of our story and the people who have influenced our community” as a par...
