The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

Articles from the February 11, 2021 edition


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  • Moorcroft prepares to go it alone on landfill

    Grace Moore|Feb 11, 2021

    The future of the landfill has long been a concern for not only Moorcroft, but also for the surrounding communities and county residents who take advantage of the lower prices and convenience of a local repository. However, at last week’s meeting of the Crook County Commission, the decision was made to appoint a committee to continue the discussion, rather than form a solid waste district as requested by Mayor Dick Claar. In response, the Moorcroft council has decided to explore the possibility of going it alone and will be investigating p...

  • Winter chill keeps everyone indoors

    Feb 11, 2021

    With an average wind chill of -21 this weekend, the flags were about the only activity to be found outside in Moorcroft. Dog walkers and pedestrians were scarce as snow continued to fall and wind chill reached -22 over the weekend. Some folk reminisced about similar weather decades ago, though not necessarily with any degree of longing....

  • PD unveils dash cam upgrade

    Grace Moore|Feb 11, 2021

    The dash cameras Moorcroft’s police department has used for the last several years were sadly out of date and in need of an upgrade, according to Police Chief Bill Bryant. Bryant explored his choices and, about six months ago, became serious in his efforts to acquire three up-to-date dash cams for himself and his officers. The system the chief chose is far better than the camera system the department has been using. Bryant says, “The old system saved two minute clips, didn’t have audio outsi...

  • Smith sworn in

    Feb 11, 2021

    Austin Smith, lifetime resident of Moorcroft, was sworn into office at Monday night’s meeting of the council. Smith replaces elected Paul Gallegos, who resigned before taking office last month....

  • Garrett Lee Carver

    Feb 11, 2021

    Garrett Lee Carver was a caring father, son, brother and friend, who left this world suddenly on January 14, 2021, at the age of 29 in Casper, Wyoming. He was born May 23, 1991 in Louisville Colorado. Garrett and his family moved to Wyoming when he was six and, after graduating from Moorcroft High School in 2009, Garrett attended Laramie County Community College and later made Casper his home. A true outdoorsman, Garrett enjoyed hunting, motocross, camping, riding his horse, but most of all, he...

  • Larry Petersen

    Feb 11, 2021

    Larry Petersen of Pine Haven, Wyoming, 80 years old, died February 6, 2021, after a short battle with cancer, at his daughter Dawn’s home in Sundance surrounded by his daughters and family. Larry was born to Woodrow and Marlys (Stewart) Petersen in Gillette, Wyoming, in 1940 and raised on the Petersen Ranch off of the Old Sundance Road. During his early years, he was awarded the nickname the “great white leader” for he was often instigating trouble around the ranch with his siblings. In some...

  • Card of Thanks

    Feb 11, 2021

    The family of Bob Smoot extend our heartfelt thanks for the thoughtfulness in kindness and condolences we have received as we grieve the loss of our beloved dad. The outpouring of support in coming along beside us as we managed the loss and funeral details will never be forgotten. We experienced care in so many ways from warm meals to amazing help from the Moorcroft Police during the funeral procession to the cemetery. The Community of Moorcroft was loved by our grandparents, parents and will always be “home” to the Smoot chi...

  • Legislative Update

    Representative Chip Neiman|Feb 11, 2021

    Greetings Crook and Weston Counties, I’m writing with an update to overview some of the information on the happenings at the virtual session. As I have shared before, what we dealt with were bills that had been discussed during the interim. One would think that after going through committees over the year there would not be much discussion. That was not always the case. Some of the more heavily talked about issues included HB 0054, which dealt with the Statewide Health Information Exchange. While the ability to move records quickly from d...

  • State Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Feb 11, 2021

    Cody resident detains burglary suspect CODY (WNE) — Jumping over neighborhood fences as he chased the auto burglary suspect, Cody resident Colton Johannsen, 20, was not willing to let the man go despite the late-night hour and winter’s chill. Despite not being armed, Johannsen still took the law into his own hands in order to stop an attempted auto burglar from getting away on Feb. 1, and was successful, tackling and apprehending suspect Bryan Nihei, 31, of Powell. “I felt like I had to catch him no matter what, even if he was armed,” Johanns...

  • Starting a tradition

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 11, 2021

    Dance the night away this Friday at the Pine Haven Community Center Board’s first dance, to be hosted at the Keyhole Country Club. The dance has been scheduled to follow the club’s annual Sweethearts Dinner, which begins at 6 p.m., and the board hopes to make this just the first of many monthly dances. Though the first dance falls on the weekend of Valentine, it won’t be specifically themed as such, says organizer Karla Brandenburg. Everyone is invited to partake of this new tradition, whether young or old, married or single – just head to...

  • Library News

    Pam Jespersen|Feb 11, 2021

    Yes, we are open, and our programs are going strong. We have two book clubs: One is the third Thursday at 1 p.m. The second one is the fourth Wednesday at the museum at 6 p.m. Call 756-3232 for information on what we are reading this month. Miss Lacey has her children’s programs also. Every Wednesday there is story hour at 10 a.m. and afterschool craft class, and they are offering a painting class for nine yr olds and up on the first Friday of every month. There is a meeting room for public use, computers, old newspapers, DVD’S, CD books and...

  • Poetry Out Loud winners

    Feb 11, 2021

    Joslyn Von Olenhausen won first place and Lyndon Walizer won second place....

  • UW Honor Rolls

    Feb 11, 2021

    The University of Wyoming lists three students from Crook County on the 2020 fall semester President’s Honor Roll. Students are: Myles T. Stefanich of Beulah, Allessandro Mastrovito of Hulett and Shelby Heaster of Sundance. The President’s Honor Roll consists of regularly enrolled undergraduates who earned a 4.0 (“A”) grade-point average for the semester. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours taken for letter grades. The University of Wyoming lists 17 students from Crook County on the 2020 fall se...

  • Lady Wolves battle to victory

    Dusty Petz|Feb 11, 2021

    On Thursday, the Lady Wolves traveled to Wright for a make-up game. The junior varsity started the night off right with a pressure defense and rebounding to transition that caused problems for the Panthers. The Lady Wolves won the JV game, 21-2. The varsity team then took the floor. They got off to a slow start in the first quarter, but saw themselves ahead, 26-17 at the end of the first half. The Wolves were again unable to put much distance between themselves and the Panthers, but were able to close out the game with a 46-33 victory. I...

  • Local Wolves take flight

    Feb 11, 2021

    Four former standout wrestlers at Moorcroft High School are members of the Chadron State College wrestling team this winter. They are Parker Seeley, Rowdy Pfeil, Tate Allison and Parker Schlater. Allison is a senior and the others are freshmen. Allison and Pfeil are in the varsity lineup while Seeley and Schlater have been wrestling exhibition matches. The Eagles ended their regular season schedule last Friday, Feb. 5 with a 27-13 win over Western Colorado....

  • Commissioners to form solid waste committee

    Sarah Pridgeon|Feb 11, 2021

    A solid waste district is not on the cards as a means to solve the county’s issues with trash, but the commissioners are still willing to explore the available options. A committee will be formed to more fully investigate what possibilities exist to preserve the last remaining landfill in the county. Commissioner Kelly Dennis voiced that the 30 days since the issue was last discussed have brought new information from sources including the Department of Environmental Quality and private entities. Commissioner Fred Devish described having been c...

  • National Elk Refuge feed trucks rumble on

    Mike Koshmrl, Jackson Hole News&Guide Via Wyoming News Exchange|Feb 11, 2021

    JACKSON — The daily morning feeding of 7,000 or so wapiti on the National Elk Refuge began for the winter on Wednesday, after animals started to get antsy as the grasses they graze on waned. Biologists use a criteria of 300 pounds of grass and forbs per acre to determine when to begin the supplemental feeding season, a 109-year-old tradition on the federal refuge north of Jackson “I was starting to see anecdotal signs that elk were starting to leave the refuge,” said biologist Eric Cole. Elk were starting to move into the Twin Creek subdi...

  • Moorcroft Police Report

    Feb 11, 2021

    On February 1, police responded to a traffic accident on South Big Horn. While traveling east on Converse, driver of a Ford Expedition lost consciousness and their car proceeded to turn right onto South Big Horn. While on Big Horn, the Expedition veered left and went onto the sidewalk striking a Kia Sedona, two Town light poles, and a Chevy Malibu before crossing to the right side of the street and striking the buildings of Clearwater Xpurts and Happily Ever After Daycare. EMS and Fire responded to the scene. There were no injuries associated...

  • Temperatures may freeze out RCS

    Jeron Smith|Feb 11, 2021

    RCS continues to work on the rip rap for lagoon cell 1 as well as the rebar for the eastern contact chamber. They are prepping for concrete pouring for both chambers at the end of the week, but will reschedule for a warmer date depending upon the weather. Work this week will likewise be dependent upon the weather....

  • Crook County Natural Resource District Board

    Feb 11, 2021

    Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) January 5th Regular Board Meeting Minutes CALL MEETING TO ORDER by Chairman Wayne Garman at 12:07 pm at the Sundance USDA Service Center and by conference call. ATTENDANCE Board: Wayne Garman, Lily Altaffer, Wanda Burget (Call in) Employees: Sarah Anderson, Bridget Helms, Carmen Horne-McIntyre (Call in) Guests: FSA Executive Director Sarah Hanlon OPEN ISSUES TO DISCUSS FSA Update Ms. Hanlon introduced her new employee. The board was updated on activities within her office and upcoming deadlines...

  • Crook County Land Use Planning & Zoning Commission

    Feb 11, 2021

    CROOK COUNTY LAND USE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes Cody Galloway Roger Connett Chairman Vice-Chairman January 11, 2021 Members Present: Chairman, Cody Galloway; Vice-Chairman, Roger Connett; Mary Yemington; Morgan Ellsbury & Terry Wilkerson Members Absent: Staff: Tim Lyons Visitors: Kyle Norris, Crook County Attorney, Joseph Baron Chairman, Cody Galloway called to order the regular meeting of the Crook County Land Use Planning & Zoning Commission January 11, 2021 at 7:01 p.m. and welcomed the visitors. Amend and Adopt...