Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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The murder case involving the untimely death of Ed Svoboda’s wife is now heading towards sentencing after his change of plea to “no contest” was entered into the official record on Wednesday. However, while the court has recorded Svoboda’s plea agreement, District Judge James Michael Causey did so while reserving the right to accept or reject it at the sentencing hearing, which will take place after a pre-sentence investigation is complete. 73-year-old Svoboda’s change of plea hearing took place on Wednesday, having been originally scheduled...
Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) has officially launched its new foundation – an internal fundraising arm dedicated to serving the needs of the district and its patients. “For quite some time, CCMSD has not had a direct charitable foundation,” states a press release from the Board of Trustees. “A foundation has been created and forms have been filed with the State of Wyoming, Internal Revenue Service granting the Foundation 501(c)(3) status.” Dubbed Crook County Medical Services District Foundation, Inc, it is intended to be the...
To the theme of “A Brand of Its Own”, this year’s Crook County Fair will officially kick off next week, bringing all the events and entertainments it has long been known for. Entertainment Begin fair week on July 25 with the ice cream social at 3:45 p.m. The next evening will bring a 4-H/FFS volleyball tournament, while the Muley Fanatics Family Fun Night is scheduled for July 27 at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuck into a pancake breakfast cooked by your elected officials at 7 a.m. on July 28. That evening, a youth dance will take place at the rodeo...
Ed Svoboda has pleaded “no contest” to aggravated homicide by vehicle, one of three murder charges that were leveled against him following the untimely death of his wife, Kathleen. Svoboda initially pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness to charges of murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree and aggravated homicide by vehicle. Svoboda was arrested on September 5, 2021 after the Crook County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports that he had driven a truck into his back yard and struck his wife, Kathleen. She was prono...
Crook County Weed & Pest invites the public to find out more about an invasive grass that has been found growing within county borders and is known to be capable of negatively impacting pasture and rangelands. A ventenata field tour will take place on July 18 near Rozet and the district is hoping to attract as many participants as possible to learn more about the grass and how to combat its spread. “This would be a great time to ask specialist questions,” says Alycia Conroy-Davis, District Supervisor. Ventenata is not native to North Ame...
Residents of Aladdin have been without water since before the weekend. Because the State of Wyoming owns the affected water tank, it’s unclear at this time how the issue might be solved. The problem began with a single affected home on Wednesday, but had become a district-wide disaster by Thursday morning. “We discovered one of the residents here was out of water and then gradually everyone lost water,” says Wendy Tope, Vice President of the district. On Thursday morning, an electrician came out to inspect the well. “They said that the pump is...
Though the Crook County Weed & Pest District budget is not yet finalized for the year ahead, it’s looking likely that it will include some extra assistance for landowners who are dealing with grasshopper problems this summer. Alycia Conroy-Davis, District Supervisor, presented the most recent draft of the district’s annual general budget to the Crook County Commissioners on Monday. She explained that the grasshoppers are so bad in some areas that the Crook County Weed & Pest Board has decided to cut down funding for less-used programs in ord...
Five kids are representing Crook County in rodeo this summer, with three of them set to compete during the seven days of the 75th National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Gillette. Two meanwhile qualified for the week-long National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA. High School Standings for the NHSFR are calculated using the points accumulated during each competitor’s top 12 rodeos throughout the season. In individual events, the top four qualify for the national finals. This year, Chaz D...
A man currently serving up to ten years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to burglary and theft in Weston County is now facing similar charges in Crook County. According to court documents, Donald Jenerou stole items in both Hulett and Moorcroft in October, 2021. On October 14, 2021, an officer of Moorcroft Police Department took a report of a burglary at the Converse Carwash and Laundromat in which $4500 in cash, computer hard drives (including from a security system), keys and cameras were taken. The officer contacted...
This weekend, watch out for your annual treasure-hunting opportunity, with destinations throughout the county joining together for one giant yard sale. Look for a bargain, find the perfect gift or simply browse until something strikes your fancy. The Junkin’ vendors will be spread around the county, with stops available in and around all four municipalities. Garage and yard sales are a summer staple, but are generally not an organized event. Hoping to boost every vendor’s success while making things easier for bargain hunters, Crook County’s lo...
The impacts of rapid inflation – and the need to fix a situation in which it actually costs Crook County Medical Services District money to see patients in the clinics – has led the Board of Trustees to consider an increase across the board in its charges. The board considered a proposed annual budget that had been prepared by Zoe Elyada, GL Accountant, at Wednesday’s monthly meeting. “We clearly need to go in and make some changes before the final budget is given to you, but from our standpoint, I need to know what you guys are willing...
The latest figures from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services shows that Crook County enjoyed an employment bump last year. The county saw a 4.5% increase in employment between the end of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2022, which equals 112 more jobs. Of those, 102 were in private industries. Payroll also headed in an upwards direction, increasing by over $2 million, or 6.4%, between the end of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2022, bringing total wages in the county to $34,223,596. The average weekly wage in Crook County increased by...
Two Crook County natives are to be honored this year with an induction into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. Jeff Garman and Wallace Canfield have been named to the Class of 2023. The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) seeks out and celebrates the men and women who introduced this state to its ranching heritage, honoring the cowboys and ranchers who helped to break those first trails. This year, 25 more nominations have been added to the prestigious list. Alongside Crook County’s two honorees, the Region 1 class includes Marion Scott of G...
Every so often, something crops up that leads you to question the way things have always been done. Such was the case last week for the county commissioners, when County Attorney Joe Baron and County Clerk Melissa Jones brought to their attention a quirk in how the county’s audit is set up. Specifically, Crook County Weed & Pest is included as a “component part” of the county’s audit, along with the library and fair. However, said Baron, the latter two entities are considered to be “component parts” because they share in the county’s 12...
When the majority of the basement level of the courthouse was taken up by historical artifacts, it wasn’t obvious to the beholder just how much space there is available. Now the museum has taken up its new home in Old Stoney and those 10,000 square feet lie empty, it’s time for a new lease of life for the county’s seat of government. Eventually, the basement floor will allow for more spacious offices and additional storage, as well as an additional – but smaller – community room to provide a more intimate space for gatherings. Right now, thou...
If you own vacant property in Crook County, you may have received a letter from a real estate company offering to purchase it from you. County Assessor Dan Thomas shares a key piece of information about these letters: the price at which they offer to purchase your land is not based on information provided by his office. This is important for property owners to know because the price you are offered may be significantly lower than what your property would be appraised for. “Mailing addresses are public information,” he explains. “On our websi...
Christopher Walter has been charged with strangulation after an incident late last month at a motel in Hulett. According to court reports, Hulett Police Department responded to a reported verbal dispute at the motel on March 25 that occurred at around 5:30 a.m. During the dispute, Walter’s actions allegedly transgressed into physical and mental harm. He is accused of striking a female victim several times in the face with an open hand, leading EMS to suspect a broken jaw. He is also accused of placing his hands around the victim’s neck, str...
A Belle Fourche man has had his sentence for aggravated assault reimposed after repeatedly breaking the terms of his probation. Myles Dillon was originally given a suspended sentence following an incident at a Hulett motel in which he allegedly beat a victim to the point of severe trauma, including kicking him in the face and striking him with a chair. The incident occurred on August 8, 2021, outside a room in a Hulett motel. Injuries to the victim were reported to include severe trauma to the head, face and neck and a potential collapsed...
The Wyoming Department of Revenue has opened applications for its newly expanded property tax relief program, which is intended to assist homeowners struggling to pay property taxes. “With this program, Wyoming is taking a step forward toward helping those who need it most,” announced Governor Mark Gordon. “We recognize the importance of keeping property taxes low so families can remain in their homes and communities. We are committed to ensuring that this program helps homeowners in need. Target relief ensures that those who need assis...
Garage filled with items you no longer need? Can’t bring yourself to throw out those gently used tools? Applications are now open to vendors for this year’s Country Junkin’ event. Find a new home for your well-loved belongings as, for three days this summer, bargain hunters travel the length and breadth of the county on the hunt for treasures from second hand goods to vintage items and food. Country Junkin’ is scheduled this year for June 2 to 4, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the first two days and from 8 a.m. until noon on the Sunday. Vendors...
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis has once again expressed her disapproval of the decision to upgrade the northern long-eared bat’s status to endangered – this time, in the form of a joint resolution. As the new listing for the bat went into effect, Lummis was among a group of eleven lawmakers who submitted a joint resolution in protest. The resolution states that Congress “disapproves the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service…and such rule shall have no force or effect”. It was introduced to the Senate, read twice and refer...
The county is in the process of setting up protocols for issuing grants to local organizations involved in combating the opioid addiction crisis. The funding for the grants comes from a large-scale class action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that were involved in supplying opioids. The county commissioners signed a resolution in 2021 to accept the statewide settlement agreement and receive the associated funds. The OneWyo Opioid Settlement is part of a nationwide settlement and is eventually expected to net somewhere between $82,000...
Black Thunder Oil, the new owners of assets that once belonged to BW Oil, approached the Crook County Commissioners last week to request assistance with penalties on tax payments that the company didn’t know were owed. Jeff Waliezer of Black Thunder explained that the company had not received any notice of these taxes until a bill arrived with a ‘past due’ penalty. Black Thunder acquired the assets after BW Oil defaulted on three years of tax payments totaling over $300,000 in 2016, leading the Crook County Treasurer’s Office to launch the pro...
The Black Hills region appears to have escaped the more severe levels of wildlife mortality that have affected much of Wyoming this winter. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department has announced that active monitoring of the big game across the state has shown increased mortality due to the increased snowfall and extreme temperatures over the last few months. “Wyoming is used to tough winters, but it has been a while since we have had a winter where severe conditions were so widespread across the state,” said Doug Brimeyer, Wyoming Game and Fish Dep...
Crook County’s recent population growth is considerably higher than the state and national averages, according to new data released by the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information’s Economic Analysis Division. Between July of 2021 and 2022, Crook County saw a 1.8% increase in its population – as compared to a 0.4% increase nationwide and 0.3% in Wyoming. While 16 of Wyoming’s counties saw population increases during that time, Crook County’s rate was beaten only by Lincoln County’s 2.4% (and was matched by 1.8% in Big Horn County)....
