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

Articles from the April 23, 2020 edition


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  • CCMSD severs ties with management company

    Sarah Pridgeon|Apr 23, 2020

    Claiming that there is no longer rapport between Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) and Health Management Services (HMS), the Board of Trustees announced last week that it will sever the relationship with its management company. At a special meeting last week, the board retired into executive session to discuss the situation. “The current contract is expiring at the end of September,” said board chairman Mark Erickson. “With that, and since we’ve now received notice of [CEO Nathan Hough’s] departure, the board is going to retire in...

  • Wyoming coronavirus cases to 370; Legislature drafts special session bills

    Wyoming News Exchange|Apr 23, 2020

    The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming increased by 21 over the weekend, with 17 of the new cases coming from Fremont County. The Wyoming Department of Health, in its daily coronavirus update, reported the state had 370 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Sunday. The count stood at 349 on Friday. Fremont County officials had announced last week that an increase in testing and “contact tracing,” a process by which health officials determine who may have come in contact with an infected individual, the county’s confirmed case...

  • Seventh coronavirus death reported

    Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers|Apr 23, 2020

    An older Teton County man has died as a result of the coronavirus, bringing to seven the number of Wyoming residents whose deaths have been linked to the illness. The Wyoming Department of Health announced the death Wednesday night, a few hours after announcing the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state had grown to 326. The department said the Teton County man had been hospitalized in another state after being diagnosed with coronavirus. It added he suffered from existing health conditions that put him at a higher risk for...

  • Pandemic restrictions remain in place

    Sarah Pridgeon|Apr 23, 2020

    With the peak of the pandemic expected to arrive in early May, Governor Mark Gordon has reminded the public that it’s vital to stay the course. Wyoming is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of its COVID-19 timeline, he said last week. “I want to remind everyone that Wyoming saw COVID-19 arrive late,” said the governor, explaining that Wyoming is not in sync with its surrounding states regarding the expected peak of infection numbers. “Ours comes in a couple of weeks and South Dakota’s comes in June.” This means that Wyoming’s r...

  • One door closes...

    Grace Moore|Apr 23, 2020

    With the retirement of Pastor Bob Rudichar and the subsequent dissolution of the Vineyard Church, the building was recently offered to the town of Pine Haven for purchase at the price of $30,000 with all equipment included and the council agreed to the offer at last Tuesday’s meeting. Funding is available to the town for the specific purpose of attaining a senior center through an account created by a previous council; that $17,000 will be used to help pay for the building. Councilwoman Karla Br...

  • Powder River Project well underway

    Grace Moore|Apr 23, 2020

    Hot Iron crews could be seen last Thursday morning working tandem track-hoes along Goshen. According to Moorcroft Public Works Director Cory Allison, the first machine digs and installs the pipe while the second buries the newly laid line. “They are hoping to pressure test the first block this week,” said Allison, “and maybe turn that water on.” The crew plans to tie into the existing line later in the week at first Goshen and Green River Avenue, then Goshen and Powder River before laying...

  • Ross John Garman

    Apr 23, 2020

    Ross John Garman, 58, of Sundance, Wyoming passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 12, 2020, 20:20 at Crook County Memorial Hospital in Sundance with his four daughters and wife gathered around him when Jesus unexpectedly called him home. Ross was born July 23, 1961 to Mary S. Garman and Neal A. Garman of Sundance, Wyoming. He attended school and graduated from Sundance High School in 1979. He went to work for Elbert & Neda Zimmerschied on their ranch near Carlile, Wyoming. He then worked for Dave Reynolds on his ranch near Oshoto, Wyoming and...

  • Nadine Lena Miller Fidler

    Apr 23, 2020

    Nadine Lena Miller Fidler, 90, of Spearfish, South Dakota passed away peacefully on April 11, 2020 at Monument Health Spearfish Hospital after a battle with cancer. Born August 17, 1929 in McCook, Nebraska, to Charles Jr. and Francis (Shook) Miller. She attended school in McCook graduating in 1946 where she was a cheerleader. In 1948, Nadine earned her associate’s in Arts from McCook Junior College. As a teenager she worked in the store of the family dairy, Cloverleaf Dairy. She married Raymond H. Fidler on October 22, 1950 at the Memorial M...

  • Concerned over shutdown, hospital board takes over finances

    Sarah Pridgeon|Apr 23, 2020

    The Board of Trustees have been concerned about cashflow within Crook County Medical Services District; with many patient visits postponed, the hospital and clinic has seen much reduced traffic over the last few weeks. But though the board did decide to take protective measures regarding its finances last week, Karl Rude of management company Health Management Services assured trustees that things are not as bad as they might seem. “You stated there would be an impending financial crisis; however, we currently sit at cash position of $...

  • Dems choose Biden as presidential nominee

    Sarah Pridgeon|Apr 23, 2020

    Crook County’s choice of Joe Biden as its Democratic nomination for president was largely in line with the overall result from the Wyoming 2020 Presidential Preference Primary on Saturday. Held entirely by write-in vote due to the current pandemic, this was also the first time the Wyoming Democratic Party had introduced ranked choice voting. All Democrats registered to vote by March 20 were mailed a ballot in three waves. The results saw 80.7% of votes in Crook County cast for Biden compared to a state total of 72.2%. The runner-up candidate i...

  • Strata given key approval for low-pH operations

    Apr 23, 2020

    Strata Energy, Inc. (Strata) has announced that the company has received final Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) approval to fully implement low-pH uranium recovery methods at the Ross ISR Uranium Mine north of Moorcroft. The WDEQ has approved Strata’s interim restoration report from the low-pH field restoration demonstration conducted in one of the Ross wellfields during 2019. This latest WDEQ decision concludes the final phase of the stepwise implementation approach outlined in the amendments to Strata’s Permit to Mine and...

  • Moorcroft man arrested after domestic altercation

    Grace Moore|Apr 23, 2020

    During the early morning hours of April 17, 2020 a 41-year-old as-yet-unidentified male residing in Moorcroft was allegedly involved in a domestic assault. Officer Jory Tadlock responded to a call involving a domestic altercation. The individual, according to Moorcroft Chief of Police Doug “Red” Lundborg, was behaving in a belligerent manner and had attacked a female also at the residence described as his “girlfriend”. As the woman attempted to leave the domicile in her vehicle, the male allegedly rammed her pickup into a utility pole with hi...

  • Finishing up

    Apr 23, 2020

    With the advent of spring, DRM Construction is able to finish up the Water Tank and Well III Project, running new water line under Pine Haven Road to be connected to the tank and anticipates, according to HDR Engineering's Heath Turbiville, "substantial completion" within the next week. "We've got to get water to pump up to the tank and that's about it," he says....

  • Local food pantries step into the gap

    Apr 23, 2020

    Local food pantries have seen a large increase in usage over the past month. The Moorcroft Interfaith Community (MIC) released their figures for families served in the month of April and the numbers were up substantially. “In a normal month we serve around 30 families representing close to 100 individuals at our regular pantries,” says MIC President Pastor Monte Reichenberg. “But in the month of April, our regular food pantries, offered on the first and third Thursdays of each month, more than doubled in number. 66 families representing 244 i...

  • Veterans assistance available

    Apr 23, 2020

    A state of Wyoming veterans service officer from the Wyoming Veterans Commission is available for telephone appointments only throughout May. Clifford Knesel is available to meet with veterans and their families to discuss state and federal veterans’ benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs claims or VA healthcare. Knesel can also help veterans and their families apply for benefits, file claims or request healthcare. Due to health concerns regarding COVID-19, all appointments for Campbell, Crook and Weston Counties will be conducted via t...

  • WSGS provides branding recommendations

    Apr 23, 2020

    With branding season set to begin soon across the region, questions over how to safely accomplish the annual chore while adhering to state directives on social distance have begun to crop up. In an effort to provide guidance, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association has provided a list of recommendations for area ranchers to make use of during brandings: Where possible, do not exceed ten people. Where possible, plan to accomplish this work using only family members and employees who are already on the ranch. Respect your employees and do not...

  • Circuit Court

    Apr 23, 2020

    Speeding – Anthony J. Palmeri, TX, 90/70, $145; Orlando Oliverez, NV, 89/75, $115; Keenan James Oby, Upton, 91/80, $100; Richard N. Walsh, CT, 86/75, $100; Sarah E. Crawford, Sundance, 97/75, $155; Tamir Nemekhbayar, CO, 85/70, $120 Fail to Drive Vehicle within Single Lane – Dale P. Murphy, Mills, $75 Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked – Joshua M. Wormuth, CO, $365, 30 days jail/26 days suspended, unsupervised probation through Oct. 10, 2020; Jerry Nye, Beulah, $435, 30 days jail suspended, unsupervised probation through Oct....

  • Moorcroft Police Report

    Apr 23, 2020

    On April 13, police were requested to go out to Country Lane to search a certain area for someone calling 911. Multiple calls and hang ups were coming in to Dispatch. Officer searched the area and spoke to residents and was unable to find anyone in need of assistance. Officer cleared. On April 15, police provided backup for Wyoming Highway Patrol and assisted in a drug search on a vehicle. On April 16, police were contacted in reference to an abandoned vehicle on private property. Officer advised complainant of the statute that outlined the...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    Apr 23, 2020

    Apr. 13 – Two VIN checks. Coroner call. Apr. 14 – Animal carcass removal. Two motorist assists. Suspicious circumstances. Welfare check. Search and rescue. Fire department page. EMS page. Prisoner transport. Apr. 15 – Traffic complaint. Paper service. Two VIN checks. Search and rescue. Apr. 16 – VIN check. Two fire department pages. Three EMS pages. Trespassing call. Assisted Wyoming Highway Patrol. Suspicious circumstances. House watch. Assisted Sundance Police Department. Motorist assist. Apr. 17 – Four traffic stops. Four VIN checks. S...

  • Stroke, heart attack patients not seeking timely care

    Isabella Alves, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange|Apr 23, 2020

    CHEYENNE - Nationwide, there’s been a decrease in the number of people seeking timely treatment for heart attacks and strokes, and the trend is being seen locally at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. There’s about a 40% reduction in stroke and heart attack patients coming to hospitals nationwide, according to a Medscape article. Dr. Jessica Hughes, CRMC Emergency Department medical director, said the ER has seen about a 50% decrease in patients overall, including a 40% reduction in stroke and heart attack patients. The ER is used to seeing abo...

  • State Briefs

    rom Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Apr 23, 2020

    Grand opening of Dubois military museum delayed RIVERTON (WNE) — The grand opening of a world-class museum in Dubois has been postponed. Memorial Day had been the announced date for the public unveiling of the $100 million National Museum of Military Vehicles, constructed by Dan Starks entirely with personal funds. The NMMV is in the final stages of construction at a site a few miles south of Dubois along U.S. Highway 26. Due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, along with state stipulations prohibiting large gatherings, museum l...

  • Library News

    Pam Jespersen|Apr 23, 2020

    National Library Week is here. It is sad to us that we can’t share the inside of the library with you. We are fairly busy with our patrons calling and wanting books. Remember we are here, call us at 756-3232 and tell us what you want and we will hand it to you out the door. Curbside ONLY. Don’t forget with your library card (you will use the bar code on the back) you can access WYLDCAT.NET. This gives you several different avenues to look at. IF you need your PIN # call the library and we will give it to you. There are databases with mag...

  • State to begin process to ease restrictions next week

    Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers|Apr 23, 2020

    State officials will begin moving next week to ease the restrictions on businesses and gatherings that were put into place in March, Gov. Mark Gordon has announced. Gordon, in a news release and during a news conference Thursday, said the state will take a phased approach to removing the state public health orders that were put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “This will be a balanced approach that will be driven by two guiding principles: public safety and helping more people get back to work,” he said. “We are going to relax...

  • School districts decide to close buildings for rest of year; Wyoming coronavirus case count to 389

    Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers|Apr 23, 2020

    School districts across Wyoming are making the decision to leave their buildings closed for the remainder of the school year. The decisions by school officials in communities including Pine Bluffs, Casper and Powell come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming increased by 19 on Monday, led by the growth of 15 cases in Fremont County. Although some districts have not yet decided whether classes will resume before the summer break, others are citing continued requirements for social distancing as making regular education...

  • Governor Gordon authorizes re-opening of gyms, personal care services under new public health orders

    Apr 23, 2020

    CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that new public health orders effective May 1 will allow gyms, barber shops, hair salons and other personal care services to reopen under specific operating conditions designed to minimize public health risk from COVID-19. Other parts of the phased approach involve easing restrictions on day cares and issuing guidance to hospitals allowing them to resume elective surgeries. “These new orders start our process of getting this part of Wyoming’s economy up and running again,” Governor Gordon...