Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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The U.S. Forest Service has followed the lead of local counties, cities and state agencies in calling for fire restrictions within the Black Hills National Forest. Black Hills National Forest Supervisor Jeff Tomac has signed a special order BKFfor Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on both the Bearlodge and Hell Canyon Ranger Districts. The restrictions became effective at the end of last week. In a press release, the U.S. Forest Service stated that restrictions are not taken lightly, but are necessary due to dry fuel conditions, persistent fire...
Crook County has joined the call for the U.S. Forest Service to rethink its draft assessments for the revised Black Hills National Forest Plan. A comment letter submitted by the county commissioners touts "significant concerns" with the science used to create the drafts, and with the level of public input solicited so far. "I think we probably have some of the most comprehensive comments that will be submitted," commented Dru Palmer of Dru Consulting, who prepared the 21-page letter on behalf of...
This year’s primary election will take place on August 16 and voter ID will be required for the first time. You will be asked to show an acceptable form of identification when voting in person, which can include a Wyoming driver’s license, a tribal ID card, a valid passport, a DL or ID card from another state, a UW, community college or public school student ID or a valid Medicare or Medicaid insurance card. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. If you have not already registered to vote, you may do so at your polling place on ele...
Wyoming Department of Transportation is looking for comments from the public for its 2023 transportation improvement planning document. This document is used to project the construction and other projects that will be undertaken over the next few years, beginning with the next fiscal year for the department, which starts on October 1. It includes everything from highway and bridge projects to airport improvement and transit and is published annually, with updates once per month. According to the draft, next year is expected to see pavement...
A male subject with an active Wyoming warrant was shot and killed by law enforcement on Saturday morning after two shootouts took place on I-90 near Sundance. According to the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, the subject was contacted by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper on Saturday night at around 10:10 p.m., as he was walking along I-90 near milepost 184. The trooper learned that there was an active warrant for the subject’s arrest. The trooper immediately called for backup from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and the subject was advis...
It’s time again to scour your home for electronic items you no longer need, but aren’t sure how to dispose of. Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) has announced it will be offering this year’s e-cycling opportunity on August 27, and the first 100 lbs will once again be free. Properly e-cycling your electronics is important, both for your own digital safety and for the sake of groundwater and the environment, says Bridget Helms, CCNRD. In terms of personal safety, she points out that CCNRD utilizes ProTech Computing of Gillette to co...
Neiman Enterprises announced last week that it will be reducing hours for employees at both of its sawmills in the Black Hills. The reduction will see a shift removed at the Hulett sawmill and reduced hours in Spearfish, SD. The move has been attributed to a reduction in timber sales across the Black Hills National Forest, with indications that further cuts may be coming within the draft assessments for the upcoming revisions of the forest's Land and Resource Management plan. In a statement,...
The Crook County Commissioners have set a date in September for a public hearing regarding proposed new rules for large acre subdivisions. The hearing will take place on September 6 at 2 p.m., during the commissioners’ regularly scheduled monthly meetings. It will be held in the commissioners’ room within the courthouse and will be an opportunity for oral and written comments on the regulations to be heard. The purpose of the proposed rules, which apply to subdivisions that include parcels between 35 and 140 acres in size, is to establish “st...
Is Sundance now the smallest city in the nation to host a congressional office? With the opening of U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis' new digs within Old Stoney, it might just be. Having a presence in the smaller communities of Wyoming was the plan all along, says Kristin Walker, Chief of Staff for Senator Lummis. She and State Director Jackie King came to town last week for the grand opening of the office and spent the afternoon meeting the community, playing cornhole and indulging in a spot of roping. Senators are permitted a certain amount of...
Sundance-raised filmmaker Chris Canfield will be premiering his new feature in Rapid City later this month. A “classic western with a horror twist,” Canfield decided to make his first feature-length movie in his childhood home of the Black Hills. The premiere will be taking place at 7 p.m. on July 22 at the Historic Elks Theatre, followed by a Q&A with Canfield and producers Eric Corneliuson of Denver and Ryan Hall of Rapid City. The plot centers on Dowanhowee, a Sioux Indian woman who crosses paths with an outlaw group known as the Dutch Wil...
Landslide dangers and necessary construction have hindered use of Cook Lake Recreation Area in recent seasons – but not this year. According to Mike Gosse, District Ranger, the popular site will be offering a full set of amenities over the coming weeks of summer. “Cook Lake, Reuter, Bearlodge and Sundance Horse Camp are all open for camping with a full season of use expected. There are campground hosts at Reuter Campground and Cook Lake,” he says. “New additional horse corrals have been installed at the Sundance Horse Camp with a new restroo...
At a special meeting last week, the commissioners appointed Melissa Jones as the new Crook County Clerk. The commission followed the statutory rules governing the appointment of a replacement for an elected official who resigns their position before the end of a term. This involves asking the elected officials political party – in this case the Crook County Republican Party – to provide the names of three candidates for their consideration. Brad Marchant attended the special meeting in his capacity as chairman of the local party, which had con...
Watch the sky light up this July 4 at the annual Devils Tower celebration of Independence Day, a full day of activities that raises money for local EMS and firefighters, or head over to the annual fireworks exhibition at Keyhole State Park on July 2, a fundraiser hosted by the Pine Haven Volunteer Fire Department. At the lake, free park admittance begins at 8 p.m. and the fireworks begin as dark falls. The event draws a big crowd and the park is expected to be at capacity, so attendees are...
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...
