Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
Proudly Serving the Hulet and Devils Tower Community
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The developer of one of the county's newer large-acre subdivisions has received approval from the county commission for its petition to form an improvement and service district for the 46 parcels contained within. A public hearing took place for the proposed Yellowstone L&R Ranch Improvement and Service District. The developer is Yellowstone L&R Ranch, a South Carolina limited liability company. The purpose of the district is to repair and maintain the roads within the subdivision, though it wil...
The Crook County Commission has passed a resolution that will increase the amount of reimbursement Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) receives for ambulance services, with the intention of ensuring these services remain affordable to keep providing in the future. A public hearing for the resolution was set for January's regular meeting of the county commissioners, after a 45-day notice period is complete. At that hearing, the commission heard that County Attorney Joe Baron had...
Wyoming State Parks has announced the launch of a new reservation and permit sales system that it says will offer a more streamlined experience for recreationists looking to enjoy the state’s outdoor opportunities. The new website allows you to refine your needs when staying in a state park, from the type of camping or lodging you’d prefer through to the type of camping equipment you will bring. Once you select from the available options, you can view maps detailing exactly where each available site is located and additional information, suc...
January As the annual Wyoming Legislative Session kicked off, Jason Perry was honored during the opening ceremonies for his work as Hulett's ambulance director and his efforts to get all of Hulett's EMTs certified as paramedics. Meanwhile, Ogden Driskill took the oath as President of the Senate and Chip Neiman was selected as House Majority Floor Leader – which, to the best of his knowledge, was a position never before offered to a freshman legislator. Crook County Medical Services District (CCM...
A series of public meetings has been scheduled for January to solicit input on plans to potentially introduce zoning to Crook County. These meetings will form the next step of the county’s exploration of whether zoning would suit this county in the light of the high level of development that has gone on over the last few years, and will aim to gauge exactly where the public stands on the issue. Meetings will take place in all four municipalities throughout January, led by a facilitator, and will focus on options for growth management. A c...
As a festive spin on its annual efforts to assist the community with disposing of its unwanted goods, Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) invites you to bring your used and broken Christmas lights to the office to be taken to Rapid City for recycling. “For this event, it is only string lights and extension cords,” says Bridget Helms, Office Manager. “We can’t accept anything else at this time.” The idea came about, says Helms, when CCNRD heard that Rapid City is taking these items for free recycling. “I asked EchoWorks at Western...
Over a thousand homes in Crook County are set to have access to broadband internet for the first time thanks to federal grant awards that aim to make access available across the nation. Two local projects were among 32 applications to be approved for funding, with a total of $70.5 million in federal funds to be spent expanding broadband to more than 11,000 locations across the state that do not currently have access to high-speed internet. “This is the single-largest broadband investment in Wyoming history,” said Governor Mark Gordon in the...
Rare Element Resources (RER) reports that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized its review of the demo plant that the company anticipates will soon be built in Upton, officially completing the federal permitting process prior to construction. The DOE’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review was consistent with the one performed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, RER says, with both finding no significant impact. This previous NEPA review will allow RER to make use of around 1000 tons of stockpiled material from t...
The developer of one of the county’s newer large-acre subdivisions has filed a petition to form an improvement and service district for the 46 parcels contained within. A public hearing will take place for the proposed Yellowstone L&R Ranch Improvement and Service District on January 3 at 2 p.m., during the regular meeting of the Crook County Commissioners. The developer is Yellowstone L&R Ranch, a South Carolina limited liability company. The purpose of the district is to repair and maintain the roads within the subdivision, though it will n...
The Board of Trustees for Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) has been working with just four members since August, when Trustee Ed Ray resigned his position representing the Moorcroft area. At last week’s meeting, the board discussed next steps in finding a volunteer to fill out his remaining term, which ends in 2024. “I know this board has made significant efforts, I know there have been personal contacts, I know there was an article published in the newspaper,” said Board Attorney Kara Ellsbury. “If we don’t find someone s...
To guide how climbing opportunities are managed in national forests, grasslands and parks, public input is requested on new guidance for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and National Park Service (NPS) personnel. The public comment period is open until January 16. The guidance covers all climbing types, including rock climbing, snow and ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering and caving. It affirms that this is an appropriate use of public lands, including wilderness, and that it should be managed in a way that protects cultural and natural resour...
Crook County School District has this week announced a partnership with Care Solace to improve mental health care access for students, staff and their families. Care Solace is a social purpose organization that aims to remove barriers in accessing mental health care. It serves as a central hub of care, streamlining communication and coordination in order to connect people with the resources they need. The service acts as a “middleman” of sorts, acting to connect a person with mental health or substance abuse care provider. It is a com...
Almost a hundred seventh graders from across the county convened in Sundance last week for a day of learning about civics. Elected officials were on hand to introduce the students to the functions of local government and the impact each office will have on their adult lives. Arranged by Sara Fleenor, 4-H Educator, and educators from each of the three schools, the field trip included visits to each of the county offices, as well as the museum. The visit began with a welcome speech from Sundance...
The county commissioners were offended during last week’s hearing by the suggestion that road maintenance decisions have anything to do with racism. Terry McNeil approached the commission to complain about the state of New Haven Rd, which he travels as a driver for the Amish community. He suggested the road is not properly maintained due to a racist attitude towards the Amish, claiming that the Road and Bridge Department is just covering holes with dirt rather than cutting them out and is only grading as far as the Amish property. ...
Once upon a time, the word “zoning” was akin to a curse in this part of the world – but that doesn’t seem to be the case any more. To make sure this is more than an illusion, the county commissioners will include public forums in the process of researching possible new zoning rules. Last month, the commission kicked off the process of developing a possible zoning plan for the county by inviting a community planning and zoning consultant to do the necessary groundwork of figuring out exactly what the county wants and needs. As Jayna Watson...
At precisely 11 a.m. on November 11, the courthouse lawn will reverberate with the sound of rifle volleys and the revered bugle call that signals both “lights out” for a military day and respect and honor for military ceremonies. Members of the public are invited to join American Legion Post 45 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4311 in marking Veterans Day this year with a service at the war memorial in Sundance. This will be followed by a lunch and social time at the Sundance Senior Center. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. “The three...
Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) continues to pursue the necessary steps to find out if it qualifies for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan that will be used to either build a new hospital or renovate the current one. CEO Micki Lyons reported that a certificate of incumbency was recently sent to the USDA – a document that lists the names of current leadership. The next stage involves additional information from CCMSD, Lyons said. “In order to begin processing the loan, they will need rate and term sheets for three oth...
Ed Svoboda has been sentenced to between four and 14 years of incarceration and a $5000 fine for aggravated vehicular homicide. The charges relate to the death of his wife two years ago. Svoboda pled “no contest” to the charge as part of a plea agreement. Defense attorney Rob Oldham told the court during the sentencing hearing on Thursday that Svoboda chose to enter this plea not because he refuses to take responsibility for what happened to Kathleen, but because, “He really does not recall all of the details of what happened that day.” In Svob...
Crook County School District (CCSD) has updated its policy for evaluating the books that are available in the school libraries. Recognizing the right of the individual parent to request that their child not read a specific book, the policy sets up a system whereby a book can be challenged and removed, but kept at Central Office to be loaned out with parental permission. “Community members and staff are still able to challenge books in much the same manner as previously stated in the policy. Book challenges have become popular in some portions o...
The county commission will be hosting a public hearing on December 5 at 2 p.m. regarding some updates and amendments to its minor subdivision rules and the bylaws that apply to its planning and zoning commission. Should the updates to the subdivision rules be approved, the Crook County Commissioners will now have the authority to approve the covenants drafted for new subdivisions. The minimum size of an allowable lot, tract or parcel has been reduced from five acres to 2.5 acres. The updated rules would increase the size of a cul-de-sac at the...
To kick off the process of developing a possible zoning plan for the county, the commission has invited a community planning and zoning consultant to do the necessary groundwork of figuring out exactly what the county wants and needs. Jayna Watson brought a questionnaire to last week’s meeting that was intended to assess what each commissioner wants from the zoning rules. “The next step will be for me to write a scope of work for a planning consultant, who will be bringing to you a process and project that reflects your desires,” she said....
A joint powers board formed in 2016 to investigated options for a countywide solid waste district will likely soon be revived. The board, which included representatives from the county and each municipality, met regularly but ultimately disbanded without reaching a resolution. Last week, after a discussion that involved numerous elected officials from across the county, the county commissioners determined that resurrecting the board was the most reasonable next step in answering the lingering question of whether it’s worth constructing a l...
Two ranchers face property destruction charges after using bleach to paint markings, including drawings of penises, on a total of 189 cows and six bulls belonging to their neighbor. The father-son duo claimed their actions were intended to bring their neighbor’s attention to the problem of broken fences that weren’t being fixed quickly enough. The markings led to an estimated loss in value for the cattle of $141,750. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a county rancher on Ju...
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis and all members of the Senate Western Caucus on which she serves as chairman, as well as U.S. Senator John Barrasso, voted to override President Joe Biden’s veto of the resolution that questioned the listing of the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. In total, 47 senators voted for and 45 against, failing to meet the two-thirds majority required to overturn the veto. “The Biden administration’s heavy-handed interpretations and ongoing abuse of the ESA continues to punish private property owners rathe...
Rare Element Resources (RER) is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony and open house on Monday for its planned separation and extraction demonstration plant in Upton. Construction is expected to begin at the plant before the end of the year. The event is a celebration of progress towards the eventual goal of constructing a full-scale separation plant using the company’s proprietary extraction technology, which it says is environmentally friendly and can successfully produce pure oxides that are more than 99.5% pure. The open house will also i...
