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
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Last week saw the first snow of the season in Moorcroft and Pine Haven. By 6 a.m. on October 29, Moorcroft and the surrounding area sported about six inches of the much-needed heavy wet stuff. The area enjoyed a continued gentler snowfall through the night and into the following morning as the town maintenance crew plowed the main streets. With drought through the summer months and very little snow or rain falling over the last year, nearby ranchers have had to water their animals with tanks and buy hay while wildlife has begun coming into...
On Tuesday morning, Moorcroft was coated in a white blanket for the first time this season. These first flakes were the first signs of what promised to be a two-day snowfall in the area....
Wyoming Game & Fish has confirmed that live zebra mussels have been intercepted at the border for the first time this year. The watercraft was intercepted at the Beulah check station on September 22 when the owner stopped for an inspection. Inspectors immediately decontaminated the watercraft and removed zebra mussels in multiple water intakes, along the pontoon and in other areas of the boat. According to Game & Fish, the watercraft had been moored for several months at Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota, where mussels were discovered in 2022....
Crook County Weed and Pest is reaching out for input on the potential listing of cheatgrass as a noxious weed. Because this could have significant financial impacts and might affect the district’s ability to assist in treating other weeds and pests, says District Supervisor Alycia Davis, the board wants to hear from the public before casting its vote. A Call for Action The weed and pest districts for ten Wyoming counties have called for cheatgrass to be added to the State Designated Noxious Weed List, throwing their support behind prevention a...
Leaves turn yellow and begin to fall at Noonan Park as the season changes in Moorcroft....
A toxin advisory has been issued for Keyhole Reservoir due to harmful levels of cyanotoxins present in the water. A harmful cyanobacterial bloom (HCB) is described by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as an abundance of a substance that is always present in surface waters at low levels and play an important role in the aquatic ecosystem, but can bloom into a harmful overabundance. Cyanobacteria is able to produce toxins and other irritants that can have harmful health effects to people and animals, including pets and...
A rock climber is reported to have died after falling from Devils Tower on Sunday. According to Devils Tower National Monument, 21-year-old Stewart Phillip Porter of Eau Claire, WI, sustained major injuries after falling from the second pitch of El Cracko Diablo. Devils Tower Law Enforcement was informed of the accident around 8 p.m. and found Porter approximately 40 minutes later. A Hulett EMS paramedic pronounced him dead at the scene. Crook County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the incident. Porter’s partner was stranded on the Tow...
It's essential to stay hydrated as temperatures climb. Drinking enough fluids is one of the most important things people can do to prevent heat-related illness. As a person loses fluids, dehydration occurs. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are serious health conditions that can be avoided. About two-thirds of your body weight is water. Your body, including your heart, kidneys and blood, needs daily water to function. According to the National Institutes of Health, even when you're inactive, your...
The sun is coming up red and people are having a little more trouble breathing easily outside with scratchy throats and maybe even a small cough. With the air currents moving smoke from the wildfires in Washington and Canada our way, those sensitive to the fumes may want to limit their time outdoors. Moorcroft and Pine Haven are currently moderate on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s air quality index, meaning the smoke is not too bad except for the previously mentioned people with...
The shores and water of Keyhole Reservoir were populated with both locals and travelers on Monday afternoon enjoying a second day of near-100 degree temperatures. Keyhole is busy this summer, according to park superintendent Greg Devereaux, who says, "It's super crowded, taking up a lot of campsites and a lot of people out on the water. The hotter it is, the more people show up." With so many enjoying the park facilities and particularly the lake in the heat, Devereaux suggests, "Drink lots of...
The deteriorating condition of Pine Haven's Etched in Time Park was the center, again, of discussion at last week's council workshop. The park, under the auspices of the Pine Haven Beautification Committee, was established more than a decade ago with many volunteers sharing in the vision of a park with the names of individuals and families who have made a difference on faced brick and a water feature running beneath a small bridge before falling into a concrete pool. As time has moved on, the...
Keyhole State Park will be offering its popular "Paddle in the Park" events again this summer, an opportunity to learn new skills relating to kayaking, paddle boarding and staying safe on the water – all while having fun! Alternatively, the events provide visitors who may already be experienced in the basics of kayaking and paddle boarding the access to hone their skills in a new location. During the Paddle in the Park events, all watercraft and life jacket supplies are provided free of c...
With the onset of warmer weather, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is warning residents to beware of wild animals that may carry rabies, especially bats, as they become more seasonally active. “Many people do a good job of protecting their family pets from rabies, but don’t realize other animals can sometimes be a threat,” said Dr. Emily Curren, state public health veterinarian with WDH. “Rabies can infect any mammal, including humans.” Humans and pets can get infected from the bites or scratches of an animal with rabies. People ca...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says the recent discovery of walleye in Black Elk Pond in Newcastle is the result of illegal fish stocking and seeks to find the person responsible. Walleye have not been stocked by the department in Black Elk Pond. They are a predatory species and after they reach just a few inches in size, they feed exclusively on other fish and can have lasting impacts on a fishery if a population becomes established. “Illegal fish introductions are a serious problem and seem to be especially prevalent in northeast W...
A red-tailed hawk hunts the fields near Moorcroft. These common predators prefer terrain with open ground and high perches to watch for their prey....
Angling at Wyoming’s State Parks June 1 will be a good day of fishing guaranteed. Wyoming State Parks, in conjunction with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s “Free Fishing Day”, is waiving daily use fees at all parks/recreation areas that provide angling on June 1. Wyoming State Park locations offering free entrance are Boysen, Buffalo Bill, Curt Gowdy, Edness K. Wilkins, Fort Phil Kearny, Glendo, Guernsey, Keyhole, Seminoe and Hawk Springs. Does not apply to camping fees or reservations. Fishing opportunities also exist at the followi...
Keyhole State Park is gearing up for summer with several perennial events, this year’s calendar is called “Hiking Through Summer”. Dedicated to improving and expanding the trail system within its boundaries, the park celebrates and raises awareness of these trails with a focus on hiking them throughout the summer this year. Interpretive guides have set out eight hikes from May through August, each path will entertain and educate with their own unique attributes. May 23, at 6:30 p.m., also known as the evening of the Flower Full Moon is the d...
This weekend, the North East Wyoming Walleye Association (NEWWA) celebrated the second annual Memorial fish tourney honoring Jason Otto and Bruce Lang. Forty four teams competed, enduring high winds Sunday to enjoy a great fishing day, according to NEWWA spokesperson Sharon Coleman, who reported a donation of $2543 to Crook County Search and Rescue. The group was happy to be able to present the check directly to Sheriff Hodge at the awards ceremony....
With predictions of a bad grasshopper season ahead, Crook County Weed & Pest has launch a program for larger properties that it hopes will keep the hungry insects from causing too much damage. The district is also offering its assistance to landowners with smaller parcels who would like to tackle the potential influx. “They are an intrusive, invasive little insect,” says Alycia Conroy-Davis, District Supervisor. “They eat everything.” Hay, soy beans, alfalfa – it doesn’t make a difference, the grasshoppers are willing to eat it. In fact, a gra...
With tick season quickly approaching, the Wyoming Department of Health says simple steps can help state residents protect themselves and their family members from potentially serious tick-borne illnesses. Courtney Tillman, an epidemiologist with WDH, said past records show people typically start seeking medical help due to tick bites in May. Diseases sometimes spread by infected ticks in Wyoming include tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and Colorado tick fever (CTF). Tularemia symptoms include fever, swollen and painful lymph...
Site Name Elevation (ft) Current Snow Depth (in) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in) 30-yr Median SWE (in) Last Year’s SWE (in) Current Percent of 30 Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 2.6 0.4 1.1 4.8 36 Blind Park Snotel 6870 0.0 0.0 7.0 8.7 0 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 10.0 2.3 5.2 8.1 44 Ditch Creek 6880 1.5 0.4 3.6 6.0 11 Little Bear Run 6240 0.0 0.0 2.5 5.2 0 Mallo 6420 0.0 0.0 5.9 9.5 0 Mount Tom 5560 0.0 0.0 2.9 5.8 0 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 13.0 4.9 6.6 7.6 74 Reuter Canyon 6280 0.8 0.1 7.0 10.1 1 Upper Spearfish 6500 5.0 1.2 5...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 0.5 0.1 2.1 4.8 5 Blind Park Snotel 6870 11.0 2.8 6.6 7.5 42 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 7.0 1.9 4.7 7.4 40 Ditch Creek 6880 11.1 2.6 3.5 3.8 74 Little Bear Run 6240 0.0 0.0 3.6 4.0 0 Mallo 6420 9.4 2.0 6.5 6.1 31 Mount Tom 5560 4.5 1.0 4.3 4.9 23 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 16.0 4.5 5.8 6.5 78 Reuter Canyon 6280 0.0 0.0 8.2 9.1 0 Upper Spearfish 6500 9.2 2.3 6.2 8...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-yr Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 1.0 0.2 1.8 3.4 11 Blind Park Snotel 6870 11.0 2.1 4.7 5.3 45 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 8.0 2.1 3.2 4.5 66 Ditch Creek 6880 8.5 1.5 2.4 2.9 63 Little Bear Run 6240 3.7 0.6 2.7 3.3 22 Mallo 6420 10.6 2.0 4.7 5.9 43 Mount Tom 5560 9.0 1.0 3.3 4.4 30 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 13.0 3.8 4.7 4.6 81 Reuter Canyon 6280 4.4 0.9 6.0 7.3 15 Upper Spearfish 6500 9.7 1.5 4.0 5...
The University of Wyoming Extension will offer eight private pesticide applicator education programs at various locations in northeast Wyoming Jan. 25 through March 14, 2024. Private applicator licenses are required for anyone who applies or supervises the application of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). The four-hour private applicator education programs provide an overview of certification requirements, pertinent regulations, pesticide safety and handling, proper disposal practices and more....
On New Year's Day, Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites hosted a record number of participants during their annual First Day Hikes with 1132 attendees hiking more than 2000 miles. This reflects a 206% increase in participation from 2023. Locally, Keyhole State Park welcomed 48 hikers to the event. "Each year, our agency strives to enhance this annual event in ways that will continue to encourage both returning and first-time guests to join us outdoors for this special occasion, and we were,...
