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

Articles from the July 4, 2019 edition


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  • Lightning strikes water line

    Grace Moore|Jul 4, 2019

    Last Wednesday night, lightning struck a transformer and a number of area residents and businesses were affected for several hours. This same strike traveled from the transformer up the power line and wiped out the two electric “booster” pumps that are responsible for moving water from the Madison well approximately six miles east of Moorcroft into the municipal tank, leaving citizens depending only on the smaller wells located around town limits. Mayor Dick Claar reported that Powder River Energy advised the town that their insurance will pro...

  • A pop and a whoosh

    Grace Moore|Jul 4, 2019

    A commercial Ford F450 hauling ground sheeting to the oil fields in North Dakota burned to the ground last Thursday morning on Interstate 90 eastbound at approximately mile marker 171. Moorcroft volunteer firefighter Jeff Holberg, who was among the first responders, said that the driver started in Gillette earlier in the morning and stopped in Moorcroft for fuel; after traveling another 13 miles, he heard a "pop" under the hood and, by the time he pulled the vehicle over into the nearby parking...

  • youth rodeo

    Grace Moore|Jul 4, 2019

    Brightly colored in their regalia, kids were riding horses of all sizes at the Moorcroft arena Friday night for the third annual youth rodeo. The event consisted of barrel racing, pole bending, goat roping and break away with youngsters categorized by age. Parents and grandparents alike cheered the youngsters on as they worked on their performance and time. The one thing each one demonstrated as they and their mounts conquered a barrel or lassoed a calf was the grit for which this area is...

  • City warns of yard waste risk

    Grace Moore|Jul 4, 2019

    An issue has arisen in Moorcroft due to several residents arguing that the Public Works Department cannot tell them what can be put in their garbage receptacles, specifically referring to yard waste. The council, however, is concerned that yard waste could cause spontaneous fires at the landfill. The problem came to the fore because a number of residents have been putting their lawn debris in the dumpsters for household waste and even packing the matter into plastic garbage bags to be picked up and hauled to the landfill. At last week’s m...

  • Walter Jay Hauber

    Jul 4, 2019

    Walter Jay Hauber passed away on June 24, 2019, at the Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette, Wyoming, of natural causes, surrounded by his loving family. He was 90 years old. Walt was born July 20, 1928, to Henry G. and Olevia (Lackus) Hauber in Hulett, Wyoming, and grew up on the family ranch on the Little Missouri River in Crook County. He attended elementary school in the Hulett area, meeting his future wife Arline Fowlkes at Moore Hill School while in fifth and sixth grade. Walt graduated from Sundance High School in 1946....

  • Della Long

    Jul 4, 2019

    Della Long, a long-time resident of Kaycee, WY, passed away June 27, 2019 at the age of 76 with her loving husband at her side. She had won her battle with cancer and was celebrating life when an infection took her. Della was born May 7, 1943 to the late Marna and Vernon Eitel in Gillette, Wyoming. She was the youngest of three children. Della graduated from Moorcroft High School in May 1961. 55 years ago, she married the lover of her life, Harvey G. Long. They lived an adventurous life in the early days. Then settled down in Kaycee in 1972....

  • CORRECTION - "New life for old livery"

    Jul 4, 2019

    The picture of the historical wagon under “New life for old livery” on the front page of the Moorcroft Leader last week should have been attributed to Cynthia Clonch....

  • Gary Williams

    Jul 4, 2019

    Gary Williams, 64, passed away on June 28, 2019 at home in Gillette, WY of natural causes. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held on July 4, 2019 at 20 Benjamin Franklin Road in Gillette, Wyoming beginning at 3 p.m. Gary was born on November 4, 1954 in Brush, CO. His family moved often while his father worked in the oil fields. Gary carried on the family tradition of oil field work for many years. In April 1974, he married Corky Jaeger, who Gary loved referring to as “the pretty red-haired girl who threw rocks at me in third grade.” Toget...

  • Making a point

    Grace Moore|Jul 4, 2019

    At the last Moorcroft Town Council meeting the governing body passed the third and final reading of the two percent annual raise of both water and sewer rates as demanded by the state. “We have been charged to make sure that the water enterprising account pays for itself,” Mayor Dick Claar spoke plainly, “and without this [increase] it does not do it.” This point was reiterated by town attorney Jim Peck: “The state came in and told the town that they either raise their utility rates two percent...

  • Smokey Mountain Jamboree – vacation bible school & nightly chuckwagon cookout

    Jul 4, 2019

    “When you’re in a jam, here I AM!” That’s the message for this year’s Vacation Bible School, with a Smokey Mountain flair! Folks, there’s fun for all. Young and old are invited to join in the fun at Pine Ridge Community Church (15 miles north of Moorcroft on Highway 14). Chuckwagon-style cookouts and sing-a-longs for all will begin on Monday, July 15th at 7 p.m. and will be held every evening through Friday, July 19. VBS will begin on Tuesday, July 16th at 9 a.m. and will run through noon every day through Friday. The Jamboree will be geared f...

  • State Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Jul 4, 2019

    Jackson man confirmed to Interior slot JACKSON (WNE) — A Jackson Hole man breezed through his U.S Senate confirmation on Thursday to fill a high post in Washington, D.C., overseeing the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Rob Wallace was confirmed unanimously as the next U.S. Department of Interior’s assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, becoming the first Senate-confirmed nominee in that job in eight years. He’ll answer to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who lauded the Senate’s approval. “I look forward t...

  • Mobile food pantry

    Jul 4, 2019

    The mobile food pantry was in town last Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The truck brought in many food stuffs including fresh fruit and vegetables, canned goods, bread and chips. Unfortunately, there was not an overwhelming turnout and much of the food was returned to the distributor, which means the next truck to come to Moorcroft will not bring as much....

  • Library News

    Pam Jespersen|Jul 4, 2019

    We will be CLOSED on Thursday July 4. We ae almost back together, the new carpet is in and we are slowly getting things organized again. It has been a long process but it looks so nice and we are happy to have most of it done. Summer reading is going on, there are lots of things to do with Miss Lacey. The reading program is A UNIVERSE OF STORIES, Movie Monday at 1 p.m., French Class Wednesday at 3p.m. and our Wednesday programs at still 10 a.m., and Yoga at 11 a.m. with the kids. Looking for something to do? The library has book clubs,...

  • Youth Library News

    Lacey Rasco|Jul 4, 2019

    Summer Reading is in full swing but there is still time to sign up! New Arrivals! K-3 Phases of the Moon (4D) (Non-fiction) by Catherine Ipcizade, 8 Little Planets (board book) by Chris Ferrie, Mouse Loves Summer by Lauren Thompson, The Universe Ate My Homework by David Zeltser, Daddies Are Awesome (board book) by Meredith Costain, Astro-Physics for Babies (board book) by Chris Ferrie, Hello, Night Sky! (board book) by Martha Day Zschock. Juvenile Freaky Nail Art with Attitude (non-fiction) by Rebecca Rissman, Disney Tangled: The Series...

  • New Haven Community Picnic coming soon

    Jul 4, 2019

    The annual New Haven Community Picnic will be held Sunday, July 14 beginning with a meeting at 5 p.m., with election of trustees and officers. The meeting will be followed by a potluck meal and auction. Proceeds for the purpose of insurance, utilities and upkeep of the building. The public is invited....

  • Local students receive degrees and certificates from Gillette College

    Jul 4, 2019

    Gillette College held its 29th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2019. Gillette College students earned more than 300 degrees and certificates this year. “The achievement of a college diploma or certificate is a major milestone,” said Dr. Paul Young, president of the Northern Wyoming Community College District. “Our Gillette College students continue to excel, while preparing for the next steps in their lives. Congratulations to the class of 2019.” The following is a list of Gillette College students who completed their course work an...

  • Casper College Honor Rolls

    Jul 4, 2019

    Casper College officials have released the names of the 422 students who made the President’s Honor Roll at Casper College for the 2019 spring semester. To qualify, a student must take at least 12 hours and receive a GPA of 3.5 or better. They include Austin Butler and Wade Monnens from Hulett and Miami Leeper from Moorcroft. Casper College officials have released the names of the 354 students who made the Dean’s Honor Roll at Casper College for the 2019 spring semester. To qualify for the award, a student must have a semester GPA of 3.5 or...

  • UW President's Honor Roll

    Jul 4, 2019

    The University of Wyoming lists two students from Crook County on the 2019 spring semester President’s Honor Roll. They are Sara J. Thomas of Hulett and Savanah Richter of Pine Haven. The President’s Honor Roll consists of regularly enrolled undergraduates who earned a 4.0 (“A”) grade point average for the semester. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours taken for letter grades....

  • Moorcroft Police Report

    Jul 4, 2019

    On June 16, police were called for a welfare check on a man lying on the ground near the swing set in Robinson Park. Upon officer’s arrival, there was no man lying on the ground in the park or surrounding area. Unfounded. On June 17, police assisted Crook County Family Violence by conducting a welfare check. On June 17, police were contacted in reference to several children riding bikes and playing in the street in the area of Lomac and Goshen. Complainant was concerned for the children’s safety as that area has heavy traffic and could be dan...

  • Blackjewel CEO out, court grants emergency financing

    Greg Johnson, Gillette News Record Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jul 4, 2019

    GILLETTE — Blackjewel LLC President and CEO Jeffrey Hoops Sr. will resign as a condition of a federal bankruptcy court’s order granting $5 million in emergency financing to pay for security and other maintenance at the company’s properties as it pursues a Chapter 11 reorganization. The financing, which will come from Riverstone Credit Partners, will provide money to adequately secure shuttered Blackjewel coal mining operations, including the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Campbell County. The mines were abruptly shut down and emplo...