Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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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...
It isn’t shaping up to be a good summer for Wyoming’s rabbits. Following last week’s announcement from Wyoming Game & Fish that Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 appears prevalent this year, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is now warning about tularemia, otherwise known as “rabbit fever”. This serious disease can spread to humans in a number of ways and can cause serious symptoms. According to WDH data, eight confirmed and suspected cases of tularemia have been reported so far in 2024 – four times the normal amount for the whole year....
Fireworks will likely not be permitted in Hulett for this year's July 4 holiday, but there are plenty of opportunities around the county to celebrate independence. The Devils Tower KOA will be hosting a July 4 event including a mullet contest, cornhole tournament, music and, of course, fireworks. Fireworks Over the Lake will be taking place at Keyhole State Park on July 6, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Pine Haven Fire Department. The Town of Hulett and Fire Chief Jack Johnson...
The county is entering the final stages of setting the budget for the coming year and it seems like holding steady will be the name of the game. While revenue from the mill levy has increased, other revenue sources went in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, inflation has made its presence known on numerous budget lines. This, along with an eye to future sustainability, has led the commissioners to decide that it won’t be possible to greenlight any departmental projects during the fiscal year of 2024-25. Revenues Revenue has been a mixed bag t...
Wyoming Game & Fish is asking citizens to keep their eyes peeled for dead rabbits, whether in your yard or on your property or in another outdoor area. The department is currently monitoring for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHD2V), which was first detected in this state in 2020 and has already been identified in 20 rabbits across eight counties this year. The disease is highly contagious and is believed to kill between a third and half of wild rabbits that become infected. It has been detected in wild cottontails and jackrabbits but may...
A sizeable fire northwest of Hulett had been fully contained by Monday morning, thanks to the combined efforts of local, state and federal firefighters. Located northwest of Hulett, the Creek Fire was reported late in the afternoon of June 11 and is believed to have been caused by lightning, according to Incident Commander Karsten Milek. The fire reached approximately 1470 acres on a mixture of private, state and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. A command center was set up at the...
The Sixth Judicial District officially has a fourth judge. Governor Mark Gordon announced last week that he has appointed Mike McGrady to fill the newly created role for the district that covers Crook, Campbell and Weston counties. A bill passed by the Wyoming Legislature earlier this year increased the number of judges in the district from three to four and appropriated $1.24 million to fund the additional judge for the first two years, beginning on July 1. It also authorized three full-time positions for the personnel necessary to staff and...
The Independence Day holiday brings with it two familiar opportunities to enjoy patriotic firework displays. On July 4 itself, the Devils Tower will form the backdrop for a display at the KOA. The event begins in the afternoon, when proudly coiffed visitors may take part in the annual mullet contest. Should your hairdo not meet the requirements but you’re still feeling competitive, you can instead sign up for a cornhole tournament. Meanwhile, enjoy music on the deck and food from vendors. The firework display will be set off as night falls. V...
