Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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Crook County School District (CCSD) is among numerous educational institutions nationwide that was affected by last week’s data breach of PowerSchool. The district has confirmed that data stolen from its student and teacher database tables was mainly limited to demographic information and that no current staff or student social security numbers were accessed. The PowerSchool application also remains secure and fully operational, according to a letter sent out by Superintendent Mark Broderson. However, the district is, “Treating this sit...
The county commissioners are putting together a steering committee to guide the creation of its updated comprehensive land use plan. The committee will be comprised of up to ten residents of Crook County, who will meet monthly with contractors as development of the new plan continues. Members of the committee will be appointed through a combination of requests for applications and personal invitation. The aim will be to ensure that the committee represents as wide a variety of people as possible, particularly in terms of geography. The...
U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis have once again introduced a bill that aims to protect the name of the Devils Tower National Monument. Wyoming’s current U.S. Senators regularly submit bills to achieve this aim, the first in 2015 when Barrasso did so alongside U.S. Senator Mike Enzi and the most recent in 2022. “As America’s first national monument, Devils Tower is an iconic landmark cherished by people in Wyoming and a famous stop for people visiting our great state,” said Barrasso in a press release. “It is important we protec...
The county is dusted with snow as 2025 begins – a marked change from last year, which saw tempera-ture records broken and less precipitation than usual. According to the Rapid City Weather Forecast Office, the region as a whole saw only around 80% of its usual snow and rain for the year. Only April and August brought above-average precipitation. Though the year began chilly, with temperatures around four degrees below average, the situation flipped in February and temperature readings came in a...
The Wyoming State Legislature convenes for its 68th session next week, with plenty of options available for citizens who wish to engage. As an odd-numbered year, 2025 will be a General Session, which is limited to 40 days and begins on the second Tuesday in January. A typical legislative day sees committee meetings from 7 until 10 a.m., followed by the House and Sen-ate convening in Chambers until noon. After lunch, at 2 p.m., both Chambers reconvene; upon ad-journment, committee meetings...
January The year began with a life-threatening cold snap that saw weather warnings across most of the lower 48 as Arctic air migrated down from Canada. The lowest wind chills were recorded east of Pine Haven at -57 degrees F and Hulett at -56 degrees F. The county completed a series of input sessions on zoning, aiming to gauge the community's opinions in the light of more-than-usual development taking place around the county. The community was warned to watch out for counterfeit hundred-dollar b...
After last week’s much-needed shot of moisture, Fire Warden Charlie Harrison has temporarily suspended all burn ban restrictions in Crook County. This respite is intended to allow time for residents to burn slash and trash piles as needed while conditions are favorable, but the restrictions will be reinstated should this area enter another dry spell. In a statement, Harrison said, “The conditions will be monitored and adjusted as needed.” To ensure that the smoke from your burn is not misinterpreted as an emergency, Harrison asks that you a...
As his final meeting came to an end, Commissioner Kelly Dennis was honored for his years of service to Crook County. Dennis served as commissioner for four terms, spanning a total of 16 years, before which he was a member of the Crook County Land Use Planning & Zoning Commission for several years and served on the Crook County School District Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1984. He is officially the longest serving commissioner in the county's history. "I appreciate having the opportunity to...
The county is considering a change to its fire restrictions, removing the option for individuals to request permits to burn during a ban period. The provision is causing more issues than it’s solving, the county commissioners believe. Fire Warden Charlie Harrison brought up the issue last week when he mentioned that county residents will often request permits during a fire ban period. No matter the person’s history, level of experience or circumstances, he said, he cannot grant one when conditions are dangerous. Commissioner Fred Devish com...
Representative Chip Neiman will complete his swift rise to the top of the leadership ladder next year as he takes on the position of Speaker of the House. Neiman was elected on the weekend, which came as little surprise to him, considering his was the only name being considered. "I knew that was the next logical position for me, as majority floor leader, to move into the position of speaker," he says. "I knew I had the support of everyone who was winning and potentially could win in the general...
Two Crook County ranchers fell victim to the scams of a Kansas man who was sentenced for wire fraud last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. Jory Parks will serve five years of probation and has been ordered to pay back over $100,000 to his victims from a scheme in which he sold – but never delivered – large quantities of hay. “The victims’ desperation in this case was central to the success of Parks’ fraud scheme,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove in a sentencing memorandum. Parks’ scheme took place i...
Crook County didn’t vote in favor of the constitutional amendment that will see a new “residential property” class created for tax assessments. The rest of the state disagreed. Crook was among only four counties that disagreed with the measure, with a final vote count of 1925 for and 1997 against. Goshen, Niobrara and Platte made up the other “no” votes. The amendment still received a majority of the total ballots cast, with 146,336 votes for and 100,392 votes against. The total number of ballots cast was 271,123, so the majority needed was 135...
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the draft of its plans to manage public lands in northeast Wyoming and the public now has a chance to comment. The new resource management plan would replace the current, 23-year-old version now used by the Newcastle Field Office. The Draft Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan covers all the lands within the Newcastle Field Office’s boundaries in Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties, and also the entire state of Nebraska. While this may seem unbalanced, the decision was made to c...
The official tallies appear to show a record-breaking turnout for Crook County at the general election, with a total of 4368 ballots cast. This outstripped the 4143 ballots cast during the last presidential election in 2020, which then-County Clerk Linda Fritz said at the time was the most she'd seen in her 22 years of working for the county. In the prior presidential election of 2016, for example, 3866 ballots were cast, while 3718 people voted at the general in 2012 and 3706 in 2008....
Chronic Wasting Disease has been identified in an elk hunt area at the border of Crook County. Elk Hunt Area 126 begins at the border to the southwest of the county and travels south through much of Weston and Niobrara and west into Converse. The hunt area is bordered by seven other elk areas that are now known to be positive for CWD, including 117 and 129, both of which are partially in Crook County. CWD was also confirmed in Deer Hunt Areas 31 and 94, both towards the middle of the state in the Sheridan and Lander regions respectively. The...
Crook County School District (CCSD) will be hosting events to help kids avoid the dangers of opioid addiction, thanks to grant funding through the county. According to Superintendent Mark Broderson, an incident took place on the Moorcroft campus in early October and “opioids were part of that problem”. This generated a conversation with principals across the district about possible ways to prevent opioid abuse from impacting the kids of Crook County in the future. On hearing that the county has funding available, Curriculum Director Mel...
To the surprise of few but the relief of many, fire restrictions are now being lightened across the county. Shortly after last week’s snowstorm, Fire Warden Charlie Harrison announced that the county burn ban was to be temporarily suspended until November 5. “The ban will be discussed at the commissioners’ meeting to determine if it will be suspended or modified to meet conditions,” he said. Following a 120-acre fire next to Keyhole State Park on the weekend, which Harrison says was caused by a controlled burn on private land that escaped...
American Legion Crook County Post #45 and VFW Devils Tower Post #3411 invite the public to a ceremony and gathering to commemorate Veterans’ Day. A program of respect and honor for veterans will take place at 11 a.m. on November 11 at the war memorial in Sundance. This will be followed by a pot luck lunch, to which the public is also welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring a salad or dessert to share. The lunch will feature a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action table (otherwise known as a Missing Man Table). This table holds symbolic items, s...
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Devils Tower Post #3411 is the recipient of a sizeable donation last week: a third of the proceeds from the delicious treat that has become a hallmark of Burnout Wednesday in Sundance. The Powder River Energy (PRECorp) walking taco booth, as always, was set up on the corner of the courthouse lawn throughout the busiest day of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this side of the border. It was staffed by volunteers from the cooperative. The booth raised a total of $3600, all of which was to be directed towards the local...
The Crook County Extension Office last week welcomed its newest team member: Erica Reasoner, who will be taking over as the 4-H youth development educator for this area. The position came open earlier this year when Sara Fleenor, who served as 4-H educator for 12 years, stepped up to become the Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator. Fleenor continued to cover the program while UW Extension sought the right person for the job. On October 15, Reasoner stepped into that role. Reasoner is a...
The Crook County Republican Party announced on Monday that it will be sending a total of $30,000 to statewide candidates in tight races and to the WY Freedom PAC. The money being used for these donations mainly comes from a previous $25,000 donation to the WY Freedom PAC during the primaries, which was later returned over concerns over its legality. According to the party, the donations are all about the Republican Party’s platform and the desire to see people elected who intend to uphold it. The political action committee to whom part of t...
The final countdown has begun for this year’s presidential election, which means that absentee voting is now open. The absentee voting period starts 28 days before the November 5 general election, which means it became available on October 8. If you opt to vote absentee, be aware that your ballot must be returned to the county clerk’s office prior to 7 p.m. on election day. Any voter registered in Wyoming can request an absentee ballot for the general by providing the county clerk with your full name, date of birth, current residence and mailin...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that Campbell County has been granted a primary disaster designation, with contiguous disaster declarations for five counties, including Crook. This designation acknowledges the damages and losses that have been caused by wildfire and opens access to emergency loans to meet recovery needs. “I appreciate USDA’s recognition of the incredible impacts Wyoming agriculture producers are experiencing this year due to wildfire,” Governor Mark Gordon commented in a press release. “Fire season...
Post-audit testing has confirmed that concerns about the security of voting machines before this year’s primary were unfounded. County Clerk Melissa Jones told the county commissioners on Wednesday that she was able to report no issues existed with the machines. “At the time that it was requested that I do another practice test, it was too late, so I had agreed to do it at my post audit,” she said. “We did hold our post audit and we did do additional testing as I promised, and we still didn’t have any issues with our machines.” Prior to th...
The suspect in an armed home invasion was shot and killed by a deputy from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office early on Saturday morning in Sundance. At around 5 a.m. on October 5, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a call for an armed home invasion involving domestic violence. While responding to the residence, deputies were informed that a shot had been fired in the residence. Upon arrival, they learned from the 911 dispatcher that the victim was unsure whether the suspect was still located within the res...
