Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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Over the next six years, Crook County can expect to see three bridges replaced or repaired and plenty of maintenance on the highways and interstate. At around this time each year, representatives from WYDOT’s northeast district visit the towns and counties to lay out their plans for the next period. The “STIP”, which stands for State Transportation Improvement Program, is developed to meet federal expectations, but is also intended to ensure transparency and encourage public engagement. According to District Engineer Scott Taylor, plann...
Crook County now hosts two new improvement districts, one for the Beulah area and one for a subdivision located north of Hulett. Votes for both districts during the recent primary election were the final steps in forming the districts. Yellowstone I&S Late last year, developer Yellowstone L&R Ranch, a South Carolina limited liability company, filed a petition to form a district for the 46 parcels that make up one of the county’s newer large-acre subdivisions. The purpose of the district is to repair and maintain the roads within the subdivision...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially withdrawn from the ballot in Wyoming. Kennedy will no longer appear as an independent candidate for President of the United States at the general election in November. Kennedy announced the suspension of his campaign on August 23 in an address from Phoenix, Arizona. He said that he would remain on the ballot in most states for which he qualified, “But in about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler, I will remove my name and urge voters not to vote for me.” Kennedy blamed “ce...
The primary election presented few issues for Wyoming – and none that needed the attention of the state canvasing board. Secretary of State Chuck Gray nevertheless took the opportunity last week to call for further election integrity reform. "I want to take this opportunity to say this was a great election and I want to thank the county clerks, election judges, poll watchers and other volunteers that made the 2024 primary election a success," Gray said as the board convened on Wednesday to c...
Judge Matthew F.G. Castano has dismissed a motion that would have prevented the jury from hearing the fair market value of the 189 cows and six bulls that Patrick Carroll allegedly marked with bleach with the help of his son, Tucker. Carroll is accused of using bleach to paint markings, including drawings of penises, to bring his neighbor’s attention to the problem of broken fences that weren’t being fixed quickly enough. He faces a felony count of property destruction/defacement and a felony count of conspiracy to commit property des...
Crook County has been lucky so far this summer in avoiding the large wildfires that have devastated much of the northeast of Wyoming. That’s not to say, however, that the county has been free from flames. After a season of constant smaller fires, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now offering assistance to farmers and livestock producers who have been impacted by wildfire. Programs aim to assist in recovery from losses and damages to crops, land, infrastructure and livestock. “Based on your reported losses or damages, our local Far...
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are currently tracking an unusually high number of measles outbreaks across the United States, with 29 states currently known to have been affected. So far this year, a total of 13 outbreaks have been reported, which is defined as three or more related cases. Of the total 227 cases, 155 are associated with outbreaks. Over a third of the cases have occurred in children under the age of five (39%), while 30% of cases have occurred in patients between the ages of five and 19 years. The CDC reports that 86% of...
Devils Tower National Monument opened back up just a couple of days after a temporary closure caused by hail damage. The storm on the evening of August 19 brought down numerous trees, damaged buildings, campers and vehicles and made many of the trails impassable. Significant damage was also reported at the KOA campground next to the Tower and surrounding businesses. By August 21, all trails were back open and visitors were once again welcome to enjoy the nation's first national monument....
The primary election results are now official, with no changes necessary from the preliminary numbers that were released on election night itself. In contested seats, John D. Davis beat incumbent Kelly Dennis to the Republican nomination for county commissioner by 999 votes to 741. Harriet Hageman retained the nomination for U.S. Representative and John Barrasso was Crook County’s Republican choice to retain his U.S. Senate seat. “We didn’t have any automatic recounts,” says County Clerk Melissa Jones. “There’s a formula and it has to be a cer...
The county is now looking for a planning consultant to update its comprehensive land use plan, with the goal of encouraging growth in the places that are most fit to handle it. According to the request for proposals, the plan will identify appropriate land uses and locations best suited for new growth on development, especially where it can be served by the public infrastructure that already exists. It will also identify strategies to reduce the impacts of remote development in areas where few services exist. A refresh of the land use plan is...
Filing is now open for the special district seats to be chosen at the general election in November. This year, seats will be elected for the school, medical services, museum, natural resources and senior citizen districts. Four seats are open for Crook County School District, all for four-year terms. Candidates may file to run for a Hulett, Moorcroft or one of two Sundance district trustee positions. For Crook County Medical Services District, three seats are open. These include four-year terms for the Hulett, Moorcroft and Sundance areas....
Fire Warden Charlie Harrison and the Crook County Commissioners have made the decision to upgrade the county fire restrictions to stage two. At this time, the fire situation throughout the county is considered to be severe to extreme due to a heavy fuel load and dry conditions. This could create situations that over-extend the firefighting capacity of local government. “The situation dictates that,” commented Commissioner Fred Devish last week, noting that it doesn’t seem as though the conditions are set to change any time soon. Shawn Cochr...
The next generation of Wyoming students and workers will have new opportunities thanks to a $9.63 million infusion from the state. The money has been channeled through the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), a collaboration that aims to align education with workforce development, while also supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and research. These things together are intended to drive the state’s economy. The funding is phase three of WIP’s work and has been directed to 27 programs in community colleges, the University of Wyoming, the Wyo...
Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) is once again bringing a trailer to town to collect the electronics that are clogging up your storage space. The district will this year be hosting the event in the parking lot of its office in Sundance and will have signs posted to designate entry and exit points in order to keep the traffic flowing properly. The trailer will be taking waste on September 7 from 10 a.m. until noon. If you are planning to take advantage of this service, be aware that it is no longer possible for CCNRD to accept the...
With the primary election coming up, voters will soon be asked to decide which of their friends and neighbors should take on the various mantles of government for the next few years. One commissioner seat as well a number of national and city candidates for the general election will all be selected on August 20. U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R) Incumbent Barrasso has served as Wyoming's U.S. Senator since 2007, before which he was a state senator from 2003-2007. He is currently the third-ranking...
The absentee voting period has opened for the primary elections and the Crook County Clerk’s Office is ready to receive your request. While you can request an absentee ballot at any time during the year of an election, voting via that ballot occurs during a limited window. This window opened on Tuesday and will remain so until August 19, when it must be returned to the office before 7 p.m. Apply for an absentee ballot by calling the office at 283-1323 or emailing [email protected]. Ballots can be mailed to you if you are unable to vis...
Lightning is usually the biggest troublemaker when fire season gets underway, with human mistakes also playing their part. This year, though, an unexpected culprit has made its presence felt in Crook County. Hay swathers have caused five of the most recent fires, including one that was first reported on Saturday afternoon. “They hit rocks and it causes a spark or a bearing goes out and gets hot,” says Fire Warden Charlie Harrison. “The ones we have had this year appear to be caused by the spark from a rock.” Swather fires have so far included t...
Northeast Wyoming’s residents will be far outnumbered by visitors this August as rallygoers from the east collide with an estimated 60,000 guests at Gillette’s Camplex. Both the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the International Pathfinder Camporee will be taking place during the first week of August and officials are warning that locals will feel an impact. Save yourself some inconvenience, says Crook County Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Robinson, by planning ahead to have everything you need on hand before the influx begins. What’s Camporee...
Wyoming’s smaller towns may now have an easier path to obtaining federal grant funding through a new state program that aims to fill the gaps in knowledge and capability. Governor Mark Gordon announced last week that the Wyoming Grant Assistance Program (WYGAP) is now active through the State Budget Department and will be looking to assist local governments, nonprofits and small businesses in finding, pursuing and managing the grants they need. The program acknowledges the hurdles that often face smaller communities when it comes to seeking f...
As the final stage of adopting the new hazard mitigation plan for the county, Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Robinson has been presenting it for approval to the governmental bodies it will affect. The Region 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan is, Robinson says, “A plan that is adopted by all of the municipalities and the county every five to seven years.” As the last adoption was in 2018, the time for renewal has arrived. The mitigation plan identifies the demographics and characteristics of the county and the major hazards faced here. These inc...
A new website has been launched to help ensure that every Wyomingite has the resources they need to vote this year. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray announced that “Wyoming Votes” is intended to contain all the pertinent information a voter needs to make sure their voice is counted. Available at letsvotewyo.org, the site includes functionality that will help you check where your polling place will be for the coming elections. Typing in your zip code and street address will allow you to check your polling location, precinct number and the...
The state has been working to overhaul and strengthen its behavioral health system since 2021, when the Wyoming State Legislature passed new laws to support the effort. The goal, says the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), is to focus the state’s resources on the people who need them most: acute psychiatric adults, criminal justice-involved clients, high needs children and families and low income and indigent general access populations. “For many years, our department has paid millions of state dollars to community mental health centers to hel...
CORRECTION Last week’s newspaper listed the day of the parade, bicycle rally, color run, livestock sale and Tris Munsick concert incorrectly. Parade day will take place on Saturday, July 27. The youth rodeo is scheduled for July 20, the ranch rodeo for July 23 and the youth rough stock rodeo for July 25. Fair week is coming right up, this year to the theme of "Country Freedom". Promising all the familiar contests and attractions, there will be a few small schedule changes to watch out for t...
A lawsuit has been filed against Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) by the company responsible for the electronic medical records (EMR) system that was recently replaced throughout the district. TruBridge Inc has filed the suit in the Southern District of Alabama, claiming that the district broke its contract and owes the company just under $1 million in damages. According to the complaint, CCMSD entered into an agreement with TrBridge for the use of its EMR system, Evident. The system was to provide full accounts receivable...
Fire restrictions are back in place on BLM land within Crook County and the agency is asking for the public’s help to prevent human-caused fires by being safe and responsible while enjoying the outdoors. “Preventable wildfires threaten lives, property, and precious resources every year,” says Craig Short, BLM High Plains District Fire Management Officer. “Firefighters are needed more than ever to keep Americans safe, so please, do your part to prevent human-caused wildfires.” A fire ban was initially put in place in March due to the abundance...
