The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

Articles written by Ellen Gerst


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  • Lawyers fighting abortion ban seek to limit who participates

    Ellen Gerst, Caper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Sep 29, 2022

    CASPER — Wyoming women and health care providers are asking a Teton County judge to block state lawmakers and an anti-abortion group from joining an ongoing lawsuit over Wyoming’s abortion ban. Right to Life Wyoming and lawmakers Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, and Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, filed a motion last month asking to join the lawsuit as intervenors. If accepted, they would plan to make additional arguments about abortion as a procedure and the legislative process. While an attorney representing the state said he isn’t again...

  • Wyoming places undergo name changes; Federal effort looks to remove slur aimed at Indigenous women

    Ellen Gerst, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Sep 15, 2022

    CASPER — More than 40 Wyoming places now have new names, after a federal effort to remove a slur aimed at Indigenous women from federal landmarks. The term “squaw” has historically been used, often derogatorily, as an ethnic and sexist slur. The Department of the Interior, under the leadership of Laguna Pueblo member Secretary Deb Haaland, issued an order last year calling for more than 650 public places in the United States that use the term to be renamed. The department also replaced the term with “sq___” in official communica...

  • Kimmell family shares anger over change in killer's sentence

    Victoria Eavis and Ellen Gerst, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Mar 31, 2022

    CASPER — Nearly two decades after being sentenced to death, Dale Wayne Eaton was ordered Friday to spend the rest of his life in prison without the chance of parole or commutation. Eaton was convicted of the kidnapping, rape and murder of Lisa Marie Kimmell, which took place in Casper in 1988. Friday was the 34-year anniversary of Kimmell’s disappearance. Eaton’s trial and conviction took place in 2004, and he was originally sentenced to death. But court appeals kept that punishment from being carried out, and prosecutors decided not to seek...

  • Former coroner alleges Health Department changed death certificates

    Ellen Gerst, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jul 15, 2021

    CASPER — Former Fremont County Coroner Mark Stratmoen has alleged that the Wyoming Department of Health has changed and issued inaccurate death certificates in the last several months. Citing confidentiality, Stratmoen did not give any specific examples of the changes he alleges, but said changes have been made to a minority of certificates checked by his office. At least one other county coroner in Wyoming said he had also noticed changes being made without authorization. A Department of Health representative said an internal review found t...