Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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Can Crook County control its own future without zoning? This question has been troubling the Crook County Commissioners, who dedicated time on Wednesday for further discussion on the problem of large-acre parcels and subdivisions cropping up with little opportunity for input from the county. However, it’s unlikely the commission will consider moving forward on zoning until the soon-to-be-approved large-acre subdivision rules have been given a chance to solve ongoing concerns about lack of oversight on new development. The Process The new l...
Calling 911 doesn’t guarantee that an ambulance will be sent to your aid. At least, it’s not a guarantee in Wyoming, because emergency medical services are not considered essential. This is something that could change in the near future, however, and the Crook County Commissioners are keen to start looking for ways to support local ambulance services now, rather than wait for the state to make its own changes. At the request of Commissioner Jeanne Whalen, representatives from each of the county’s ambulance services were in attendance at last...
The County Commissioners have begun the process to approve a new service and improvement district for Warbonnet Canyon Estates. The 847-acre subdivision hosts tracts ranging from 35 to 48 acres and is located ten miles north of Hulett and next door to the 476-acre Warbonnet Canyon Ranch, owned by the same developer. Sandcreek Investments 5, LLC, a Nevada-based company, filed a petition for a service and improvement district with the commission. The purpose of the district, according to that petition, would be to, “repair and maintain the r...
Looking for some outdoors family fun this summer? Keyhole State Park has announced plenty of programs for the rest of the month, from night hikes to nature walks. Explore the park by night with the night hike series, which tun from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The first, on June 10 and 11, will introduce you to the amphibian residents of the park, with the help of a naturalist ranger. The second, on June 17 and 18, will focus on avian residents, while the third, on June 24, will take a look at moths and the role they play in pollination. Each night hike...
A significant increase in the amount of funding available through the Workforce Development Training Fund is intended to help Wyoming businesses train new employees and upskill current staff. Through an emergency rule signed by Governor Mark Gordon, businesses can now apply for larger grants per trainee and higher hourly funding for interns. "The Workforce Development Training Fund has been instrumental in allowing employers to hire, train and retain the best talent, and we know how important those things are for the health of any business,"...
No matter who wins at this year’s elections, the Crook County Courthouse is set to see some significant changes. As candidate filing closes for the year, several incumbents within the county offices have opted not to run for another term. Running for the first time – all unopposed on the Republican ballot – will be Julie Altaffer for Clerk of District Court, Tammy Jundt for Crook County Treasurer, Dan Thomas for Crook County Assessor and Melissa Jones for Crook County Clerk. Also unopposed are two courthouse incumbents. Jeff Hodge will run a...
The ever-popular Hulett Rodeo celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, kicking off with a parade through town on June 11. Line-up will begin at 9 a.m. and the parade will set off an hour later, sponsored by the Hulett Rec Board and Hulett Chamber. Hulett Rodeo Queens past and present, from 1948 onwards, have been invited to take part as the Grand Marshal to help celebrate the anniversary, with a meet-and-greet scheduled for 1:30 p.m. that same afternoon. The rodeo itself begins at 1:30 p.m....
The vendor list is now available for this week’s treasure hunting opportunity, introducing a total of 28 individual destinations that make up this year’s countywide yard sale. The Country Junkin’ vendors will be spread around the county, with stops available in and around all four municipalities. Items you can expect to find along your route range from household and baby goods to furniture, crafts, clothes, antiques, books and collectibles. Most stops are individual vendors, but some are associated with local businesses or groups. The Frien...
A draft of the proposed new rules for large acreage subdivisions has been made available ahead of a public hearing with the Crook County Land Use Planning and Zoning Commission. Following the hearing, the commission will vote on whether to recommend the Crook County Commissioners schedule their own public hearing to approve and adopt the new rules. The purpose of the proposed rules, which applies to subdivisions that include parcels between 35 and 140 acres in size, is to establish “standards and procedures for the protection of the common i...
The majority of Wyoming residents feel our schools don’t prepare children for the future, according to Governor Mark Gordon’s education advisory group. A public survey that garnered over 7000 responses – including 326 from Crook County – saw 59% of people answer “no” to the question. School district employees were the most likely to believe the way Wyoming educates its kids prepares them for the future at 48%, followed by parents and guardians at 44%, while concerned citizens were the least likely at just 29%. Just 33% of former and current...
Three local candidates have thrown their names in the hat for the upcoming elections, aiming to vie for Crook County’s two seats in the Wyoming State Legislature. Senator Ogden Driskill announced he will stand again for Senate District 1, saying he will run on his past record and “with a promise of continued leadership in keeping Wyoming strong.” If elected, he says this will be his last term. “I have a proven track record of accomplishing things – not just hollow promises,” he says. “Many who are in this role become frustrated as being an e...
Dignitaries and members of the Crook County Republican Party gathered on Saturday night for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, a fundraising event that once again attracted a sold-out crowd. Hosted at Central Office this year, the dinner is intended to "support conservative candidates for public office" and saw 221 attendees enjoy an evening to the theme of "Remembering Our Legacy." State dignitaries in attendance included Governor Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon, State Treasurer Curt...
The primary elections this August will see a couple of minor alterations for local voters, but future elections could bring deeper change. Warned County Clerk Linda Fritz last week, the current focus on election integrity may see Crook County lose some of its polling places. “Times are going to change,” she told the county commissioners, later adding, “If we can’t keep the places secure enough and we have too much scrutiny, I think it would be fair to say that [we] may have to…close down some of the rural polling places.” Fritz was referring t...
Crook County’s elected officials are set to see a significant salary increase for the first time in many years. The county commission has approved raises across the board to ensure that those individuals elected to serve the county are paid at a rate that better matches inflation and is more competitive with similar roles in surrounding communities and private industry. According to the resolution, salaries for elected officials were last raised four years ago by $1700. In the time since, non-elected county employees have received cost of l...
Is more control needed over what happens on Crook County land? The county commission is hoping its potential rules for large acre subdivisions will be enough but, as stated by Commissioner Kelly Dennis last week, may need to consider the idea of zoning. The conversation cropped up during discussions of hiring a new secretary for the Growth & Development department to replace an outgoing employee, including what should appear on the job description for that person. “I think we need to have a clear plan of where we’re going down the road to hir...
Sticking close to home again when making his decision, Governor Mark Gordon has selected Crook County Deputy Attorney Lynda R. Bush as the Sixth Judicial District’s next Circuit Court Judge. “I want to thank Governor Gordon for the honor of this appointment, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Crook and Weston Counties,” Bush said. Bush was selected from a list of three candidates that were submitted to the governor by the Judicial Nominating Commission for his consideration. Also on the list were Jacqueline K. Brown of Casper and N...
Once again this June, the Country Junkin’ weekend will offer a unique opportunity to sell your unwanted items, find new treasures or both during a countywide yard sale. Applications are available now if you would like to sign up as a vendor. The Country Junkin’ event was conceived in 2019 as a way to attract visitors to the area while giving avid collectors the chance to share their treasures and combining the yard and garage sales that tend to punctuate the summer in this region. The weekend of bargain hunting is set to take place on June 3-5...
For those interested in standing for election this year, whether for local, county or state positions, the filing window is about to open. For a two-week period, citizens will be invited to put forth their names for seats ranging from U.S. Congress to city council. Filing opens on May 12 and will close on May 27 for most county, state and federal seats. Special district and school board applications will not be accepted until later in the year as these seats will appear on the ballot for the general election. As well as two county commissioner...
Guidelines for public or private organizations wishing to request a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act money granted to Crook County are now available on the county website. After a public hearing, the county commissioners approved the proposed rules that the county will use to guide distribution of the remaining funding left in its coffers, as well as the second installment of just under a quarter million dollars that’s expected later this year. The county has been working to devise an application process for entities with projects t...
Wyoming Game & Fish has now detected cases of bird flu in wild birds within this state. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI, commonly known as bird flu) was already known to be affecting back yard poultry in Wyoming. The national outbreak has caused die-offs in both domestic and wild birds in states as close to home as South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado. The public is asked to report groups of dead birds. “Anyone who finds clusters of three or more dead wild birds – especially waterfowl and other water-birds – please contact the Game...
The Vital Statistics Services division of the Wyoming Department of Health has released data showing that 2021 was a second year of unprecedented death rates in this state. However, there were also more births and marriages in Wyoming, and fewer divorces. A total of 6572 deaths were recorded in 2021 and 5986 in 2020. For context, 2019 saw a lower death rate of 5122. Specific figures for Crook County in 2021 were not available at time of going to press. However, local death rates did show a considerable jump in 2020 with 106 deaths recorded, as...
County Clerk Linda Fritz has handed in her resignation, citing plans to move out of the area to be closer to family. Fritz presented her letter of resignation to the county commissioners last week, but will continue to act as clerk until her official last day of May 31. "My husband, Todd, and I have chosen to move back to Iowa to be with family. Most of our family resides there and quality time with my father has no rival," she said in the letter. "We have lived in Wyoming for 37 years and will...
Law enforcement in Crook County is facing three new – and very concerning – trends. According to Sheriff Jeff Hodge, there have been local increases in the use of fentanyl, suicide threats among the youth and the need to employ force during arrests. “Some of the trends I think people are not aware of – and, if they’re not, they should be,” he said last week. Fentanyl Fentanyl, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It was developed for pain management...
County level elected officials have requested that the Crook County Commissioners consider granting them a pay increase for the next four-year period. County Attorney Joe Baron spoke to the issue, citing issues including competition with private industry, retention and cost of living as arguments for making the increase. “Every four years, the board of commissioners has to set salaries for elected officials,” he said. This process cannot happen once an elected official is instituted; it must be complete before they take office. The Wyoming Leg...
Established last fall, a new collaborative covering the northeast of Wyoming is looking to improve outdoor recreation in this area – and needs your help for its first steps towards doing so. The Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NEWORC) has two ideas for projects this summer, but first needs to discover the identity of the Eagle Scout who installed a life jacket kiosk at Keyhole State Park. “We need to find out who this person was or if anyone remembers anything about it,” says Commissioner Jeanne Whalen, who is part of the NE...
