April 26 may 3, 2013 by C.C. Observer

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The Campbell County Observer

www.campbellcountyobserver.net

June 17 - 24, 2011

April 26 - May 3, 2013

“If it doesn’t have to do with Campbell County, we don’t care!”

Buffalo Ridge Elementary Book Wars Club

Third place Conestoga Cougars Book Wars Club pose after the event. Tuesday - Thursday 11 am - 10 pm Friday - Saturday 11 am - 11 pm Closed Sunday & Monday Happy Hour 3 to 6 pm Every Day

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The War is On!

12 Elementary Schools including schools from Wright, Rozet, and Recluse came together for a contest last Tuesday at the Gillette South Campus High School for the 5th annual Book Wars. From every elementary school, a group of children signed up and then tried out to be part of the team. The ones who made it on the team had a lot of work cut out for them, as every team had to collectively read ﬁfteen books before the contest, which consisted of asking questions to every team about the books in three different rounds. Of course, there has to be someone who takes home the plaque with the history of the winners on every tag. This year’s winner was Prairiewind Elementary, who will be displaying this proud plaque in their home library until next year’s Campbell County Elementary School Book Wars.

Sunﬂower Elementary Book Wars Club

Cottenwood Elementary Book Wars Club (Wright, WY)

Mine workers plan to protest Arch Coal meetings On April 25th and April 29th the annual shareholder meetings of Arch Coal and Peabody Energy will be held in Campbell County, Wyoming. Rodger Kerson with United Mine Workers of America has said that more than a dozen retired and active mine workers also plan to be in Campbell County during that time. Kerson says the group will protest against pay and beneﬁt cuts. Kerson also says the meetings are being held in Wyoming in an effort to hinder turnout for the protest. Kim Link, spokeswoman for Arch Coal Inc., said in an email basinsradio.com that it is routine to hold meetings in areas that the company operates and noted the company empathizes with people affected by the market downturn. Both the press release provided by Kerson and the statement from Link are provided below.

United Mine Workers Press Release:

Gillette, Wyoming: A delegation of more than a dozen retired and active mine workers from West Virginia, Illinois, Kentucky and Florida will travel

to Wyoming this week to protest at the annual shareholder meetings of Arch Coal on Thursday April 25th and Peabody Energy on Monday, April 29th. Who: Active and retired members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and community allies What: Leaﬂeting and protesting at annual shareholders meeting When and Where: Thursday, April 25th –Arch Coal Annual Meeting (6:30 am – leaﬂeting by UMWA members and supporters; 8:00 am -- Annual meeting) - Wright Hotel, 300 Reata Drive, Wright, Wyoming Monday, April 29th – Peabody Energy Annual Meeting (2:30 pm – leafleting by UMWA members and supporters; 4:00 pm – Annual meeting) - Gillette College, 300 Sinclair Street, Gillette Wyoming Both companies have moved their annual meetings more than 1,000 miles from their respective headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., after repeated protests by thousands of members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and community allies. More than 2,000 people attended the most recent St. Louis protest, as

demonstrators placed 1,000 white crosses in memory of deceased miners and those currently put at risk by Arch Coal and Peabody Energy. Fourteen people were arrested in front of Peabody’s St. Louis headquarters. “Wyoming is a wonderful destination,”said UMWA President Cecil Roberts, “but these companies didn’t travel 1,000 miles from their corporate headquarters to give shareholders a chance to admire the scenery. They want as few people as possible to see what they’re doing to retired miners, families and active workers.” “Every coal miner knows that to work safely, you need to shine a light on what’s happening around you. We’re going to shine a light on these companies, to protect our members and to keep other workers safe from corporate schemes to abandon retirees and cut pay and beneﬁts for active workers.” UMWA members and supporters object to actions taken by both Arch Coal and Peabody Energy to ofﬂoad

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Continued on Page 2

Community

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Arch Coal meetings... their obligations to retired miners and surviving spouses to a new company, Patriot Coal, formed in 2007. With 43 percent of Peabody’s retiree obligations, but just 11 percent of its assets – as well as additional Arch Coal obligations acquired from Magnum Coal – Patriot has been described by Temple University professor of finance Bruce Rader as a company “designed to fail.” Patriot filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis for drastic reductions in health care for retired miners and surviving spouses, as well as severe cuts in pay, benefits and working conditions for active miners. In a recent interview with the West Virginia State Journal, Patriot CEO Ben Hatfield essentially admitted what UMWA members have been saying for months: His company was established in 2007 with not enough assets to meet its liabilities. At the time, Hatfield was CEO of International Coal Group: “Frankly, as a competitor, we looked at that and said ‘how could that work?’ It looks like a bad balance here – too many liabilities and not enough assets,” Hatfield said….”As a competitor we were very suspect from the day the spin was announced as to whether this venture could survive. “It’s one of the areas where I

frankly agree with many of things (UMWA President) Cecil Roberts has said. Something doesn’t quite smell right here.” Further information about the UMWA effort to stand up for retired miners and family members from Arch Coal and Peabody Energy, and active workers at Patriot Coal is at www.FairnessAtPatriot.org.

Information Provided by Arch Coal Inc Spokeswoman Kim Link

Our board of directors is holding its April meeting in Wyoming, which coincides with our annual shareholder meeting. It’s routine for our board to hold meetings in areas where we operate; in fact, in recent years our board has held meetings and site visits in Colorado, West Virginia and Wyoming. As you know, Wyoming is home to our Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines. Wyoming is home to nearly 30 percent of our company’s total workforce, and home to a signiﬁcant number of Arch Coal shareholders as well. This is a very challenging time for the U.S. coal industry, and we empathize with the many people who have been affected by the market downturn. However, Arch Coal sold the former subsidiary companies in question more than seven years ago to ArcLight Capital Partners. Arch

Continued from Page 1 Coal did not spin off subsidiaries to Patriot Coal Corporation, and Arch Coal was never a signatory to a UMWA contract. The facts remain. On Dec. 31, 2005, Arch Coal completed the sale of three of its Central Appalachian subsidiaries, along with the associated mining operations and reserves, to Magnum Coal Company. The subsidiaries were not “spun-off” by Arch, they were sold in an armslength transaction to an unrelated party. This sale included two mines with UMWA-representation and two that were not afﬁliated with a union. At the time of the transaction, Magnum was owned by ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC and was already a sizable Central Appalachian producer with annualized production of more than 10 million tons. Under ArcLight Capital’s ownership, Magnum operated as an independent producer until July 23, 2008, when Patriot Coal Corporation purchased Magnum for a reported $695 million. Arch Coal had no involvement whatsoever in either ArcLight Capital’s decision to sell Magnum to Patriot or in Patriot’s decision to purchase Magnum. The transaction with Magnum was executed in good faith, at a time when coal market conditions were very different than they are today.

Campbell County Observer

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CAM-PLEX announces new Marketing Manager CAM-PLEX is excited to announce Sandra Bott is the newest addition to their management team. Bott begins work April 29 as the new Marketing Manager. Bott brings years of experience in public service to the position. Most recently she worked at Campbell County Recreation Center for 12 years. Through that work she gained a wealth of knowledge on event management, marketing and advertising as well as fostering numerous ties in the community. Bott was in charge of organizing the community Fourth of July celebration, the Secret Santa program and many other special events over the years. “Sandra’s enthusiasm for Gillette and

Campbell County, her community relationships, and her energetic personality made her a clear choice for our new Marketing Manager.” said Larry Gaffey, CAM-PLEX General Manager. Bott is excited to bring diverse events into the community to increase the quality of life. “I grew up in Gillette and I love it. I can’t wait to share our community and the CAM-PLEX facility with the entire country.” said Bott. She sees the value CAM-PLEX brings the community in the form of economic development and looks forward to using her skills to bring things to new heights. Bott is in a great place in her career to put her energy towards a broader goal of impacting the entire community.

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It’s Donating Time Again

The Campbell County Observer is now taking donations for our Readers Choice Scholarship. The Observer is hoping to raise $1,000.00 this year for a scholarship that will be given to a student from Wright (Panthers) or Gillette (Camels). Students will be presenting the Observer with an essay, which the readers will vote on their favorite and the most deserving. The only conditions are that the student must graduate from either Wright High School or Gillette High School and will be attending Gillette College in the fall. The scholarship will be put in their account at Gillette College by the Campbell County Observer. “We are the local newspaper, we take our community that we live and work in very personal. So we decided to do everything we can to keep the money local,” said Observer owner Nicholas De Laat. “And, community college attendees do not get the ﬁnancial help from scholarships at the same level as the kids going to Uni-

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versities.” Observer owner Candice De Laat stated that “The money is donated by community, given to a young adult from our community, and spent on further education in our community…for our community. This is what we are all about, from the owners to the workers of our company.” The Campbell County Observer has donated over $68,000.00 in money, advertising, and product to help local charities so far in 2012. “And this in only our second year in business!” said Mrs. De Laat. “The more we grow, the more we give.” She does not, however, want to discount the most important part of giving to these local charities. “Our customers and subscribers are the glue that holds everything together. If you want to thank someone for all the giving, thank them. They deserve it most!” To donate to the Campbell County Observer’s Readers Choice Scholarship go to their website at www.CampbellCountyObserver.net or call (307) 670-8980.

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Community

Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

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Yellowstone larger than previously thought

Yellowstone’s underground volcanic plumbing is bigger and better connected than scientists thought, researchers reported Wednesday, April 17, at the Seismological Society of America’s annual meeting. “We are getting a much better understanding of the volcanic system of Yellowstone,” said Jamie Farrell, a seismology graduate student at the University of Utah. “The magma reservoir is at least 50 percent larger than previously imaged.” ‘The magma reservoir is at least 50 percent larger than previously imaged.’ - Jamie Farrell, a seismology graduate student at the University of Utah Knowing the volume of molten magma beneath Yellowstone is important for estimating the size of future eruptions, Farrell told OurAmazingPlanet. Supervolcano trail Geologists believe Yellowstone sits over a hotspot, a plume of superheated rock rising from Earth’s mantle. As North America slowly drifted over the hotspot, the Yellowstone plume punched through the continent’s crust, leaving a breadcrumb-like trail of calderas created by massive volcanic eruptions along

Idaho’s Snake River Plain, leading straight to Yellowstone. The last caldera eruption was 640,000 years ago. Smaller eruptions occurred in between and after the big blasts, most recently about 70,000 years ago. The magma chamber seen in the new study fed these smaller eruptions and is the source of the park’s amazing hydrothermal springs and geysers. It also creates the surface uplift seen in the park, said Bob Smith, a seismologist at the University of Utah and author of a related study presented at the meeting. The volcanic plume of partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano. Yellow and red indicate higher conductivity, green and blue indicate lower conductivity. Made by University of Utah geophysicists and computer scientists, this is the ﬁrst large-scale ‘geoelectric’ image of the Yellowstone hotspot. “This crustal magma body is a little dimple that creates the uplift,” Smith said. “It’s like putting your ﬁnger under a rubber membrane and pushing it up and the sides expand.”

Clearer picture A clearer picture of Yellowstone’s shallow magma chamber emerged from earthquakes, whose waves change speed when they travel through molten or solid rock. Farrell analyzed nearby earthquakes to build a picture of the magma chamber. The underground magma resembles a mutant banana, with a knobby, bulbous end poking up toward the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, and the rest of the tubular fruit angling shallowly southwest. It’s a single connected chamber, about 37 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 3 to 7 miles deep. Previously, researchers had thought the magma beneath Yellowstone was in separate blobs, not a continuous pocket. The shallowest magma, in the northeast, also matches up with the park’s most intense hydrothermal activity, Farrell said. The new study is the best view yet of this zone, which lies outside the youngest caldera rim. Additional molten rock, not imaged in this study, also exists deeper beneath Yellowstone, scientists think.

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We've Got You Covered! Campbell Co. Fire Dept. April 17, 2013

- At 10:33 a.m. to the 800 block of East Laramie Street for a medical assist. - At 2:04 p.m. to the area of Ron Don Road for a medical assist. - At 11:34 p.m. to Mesa Drive for an EMS assist.

April 18, 2013

- At 1:46 PM to the 700 block of West Sixth Street for a medical assist. - At 9:18 PM to South Garner Lake Road (between waste water treatment plant and South Douglas Highway) for a motorcycle accident. The driver was injuried and was transported by ambulance.

April 19, 2013

- At 10:49 a.m. to Fairway Drive for an EMS assist. - At 6:42 p.m. to 309 Rockpile Blvd for a gas smell. CCFD responded to the scene and investigated the odor but did not detect any gas in the area. - At 8:22 pm to Chinook Lane for an EMS assist. - At 11:27 p.m. to South Douglas HWY for an EMS assist.

acres in size. An exploding target during target practice started the grass on fire. No buildings were damaged by fire. - At 11:52 PM to the intersection of Westover Road and Skyline for a two vehicle traffic accident. There were no injuries. Firefighters disconnected one of the vehicle’s battery cables to prevent electrical arcing and applied an absorbent material to anti-freeze spilled in the roadway.

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- At 6:19 AM to the 100 block of Overland Trail for a medical assist. - At 8:25 AM to Overland Trail for an agency assist.

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- At 9:17 AM to the 900 block of Mountain Meadow Lane for a medical assist. - At 12:14 PM to Raymond Street for a medical assist. - At 9:26 PM to Raymond Street for a medical assist.

Campbell County Observer

CampbellCountyObserver.net 5105 Tarry St. Gillette, WY 82718 (PP-1) Volume 3 Issue 17 The Campbell County Observer is published by Patriot Publishing L.L.C. in Gillette, WY every Friday. 5105 Tarry St. Gillette, WY 82718 Postmaster: Send address changes to 5105 Tarry St. Gillette, WY 82718

April 20, 2013

- At 12:15 AM to 17 Hereford Drive for a structure fire. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival found an 8’ X 10’ chicken coop fully involved with flames. The fire was attacked and brought under control in approximately 12 minutes. The cause of the fire was determined to be a heat lamp used to keep chicks warm and total damages were estimated at $2000. Ten chickens were also killed in the fire. - At 4:01 AM to Wigwam Blvd for a medical assist. - At 12:29 PM to 20 Hazelton Peak Road for a report of a grass fire. The fire was contained to less than 2

Candice De Laat - Owner/Publisher CandiceDeLaat@CampbellCountyObserver.com

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Writers

Nicholas De Laat - Owner/Editor NicholasDeLaat@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Sandra Boehler (Charities/Fundraisers/Veterans Events) SandraBoehler@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Anne Peterson - Advertising Sales Manager AnnePeterson@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Glenn Woods (Political Column) GlennWoods@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Bill Stone - Advertising Sales/Marketing BillStone@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Mike Borda (American History) MichaelBorda@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Falica Valdez FalicaValdez@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Jeff Morrison (Local History Contributor) JeffMorrison@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Kimberly Jones- Sales/Marketing KimberlyJones@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Amanda Wright (Government/Politics Reporter) AmandaWright@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Owen Clarke - Ad Design OwenClarke@CampbellCountyObserver.com

James Grabrick (Where is This?) JamesGrabrick@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Clint Burton - Photographer ClintBurton@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Weekly Weather Forecast

Saturday,

Sunday,

Monday,

Tuesday,

Wednesday,

Thursday,

Friday,

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

May 2

May 3

73/47

67/43

77/36

53/35

57/37

65/43

73/43

Rain: 0% Wind: WSW at 11 Sunrise: 5:59 Sunset: 20:00 Moonrise: 22:38 Moonset: 7:16 Day length: 14h 1m

Rain: 10% Wind: NNW at 17

Sunrise: 5:58 Sunset: 20:01 Moonrise: 23:40 Moonset: 8:13 Day length: 14h 4m

Rain: 10% Wind: NNW at 16 Sunrise: 5:56 Sunset: 20:03 Moonrise: none Moonset: 9:16 Day length: 14h 6m

Rain: 20% Wind: W at 16 Sunrise: 5:55 Sunset: 20:04 Moonrise: 0:34 Moonset: 10:24 Day length: 14h 9m

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Community

April 26 - May 3, 2013

21 students welcomed into Daniels Scholarship Program, receive four-year scholarship to any college or university in U.S. Today, the Daniels Fund is announcing the names of 21 high school seniors from across Wyoming whose exceptional character, leadership, and commitment to giving back to the community have earned them a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program. “We provide Daniels Scholars with resources, encouragement, and support far beyond financial assistance to help them earn a college degree,” explained Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “We provide personal and professional development through leadership programs, and networking opportunities to help them succeed and thrive in life.” Daniels Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States and the program covers the expenses that remain after all other scholarships and financial aid have been applied. Funding covers all or part of a student’s required college expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other educational expenses. Students also receive a laptop computer. The new class of Daniels

Scholars includes 177 from Colorado, 42 from New Mexico, 16 from Utah, and 21 from Wyoming. The percentages of scholarships awarded in each state were established by Bill Daniels, founder of the Daniels Fund. Each year, the Daniels Fund awards more than $13 million in funding through the Daniels Scholarship Program. More than $95 million in scholarships have been awarded since the program was launched in the year 2,000. The funding received by each Daniels Scholar varies depending on the college or university they attend. With this year’s announcement, more than 2,762 students have received the Daniels Scholarship. Since it is a four-year scholarship, there are approximately 1,000 Daniels Scholars attending some 214 colleges and universities in 44 states at any time. “We set high expectations and emphasize personal accountability for our Daniels Scholars,” continued Childears. “This year’s recipients will be welcomed into a community of likeminded peers united in their commitment to character, leadership, and ser-

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vice.” Daniels Scholars beneﬁt from tools such as an online curriculum that provides training and guidance from top business and community leaders in subjects that range from securing internships, civic engagement, and the importance of a strong work ethic. Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television who owned the American Basketball Association’s Utah Stars, established the Daniels Fund to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. His estate transferred to the Daniels Fund when he died in the year 2000, making it one of the largest foundations in the Rocky Mountain Region. Rising high school seniors graduating in 2014 are encouraged to visit the Daniels Fund website between mid-September and late-November, 2013, to apply online for the Daniels Scholarship Program. Visit www.DanielsFund.org for more information. Daniels Scholarship recipients in Campbell County include Noe TorresChacon of Gillette and Tiana Terrell of Gillette.

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Obituaries

HEIDI MARINI

Funeral services for Heidi Anne (Heidzig) Marini was held at 10:00a.m., Friday, April 19, 2013 at Walker Funeral Home with Pastor Don Wight of Calvary Community Church ofﬁciating. Interment was held at a later date in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Heidi Marini, age 49, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2013 at her home in Gillette, Wyoming. Heidi was born on November 18, 1963 to Pete and Marian (Aldrich) Heidzig in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She spent her early childhood on a farm outside Columbia, South Dakota. In 1970, she moved with her family to Nisland, South Dakota where her family farmed and ranched. In 1972, she moved with her family to Gering, Nebraska where she completed her education, graduating from high school in 1982. After graduating from high school Heidi moved to Colorado, living and working ﬁrst in Denver and later in Colorado Springs. She later relocated to Gillette, Wyoming and has lived there since. She developed a long career as an advertising representative for various media organizations in Gillette. As a young woman Heidi enjoyed traveling with her mother, playing softball, and playing with her nieces and nephews when the opportunity arose. She loved animals, especially her dogs and loved taking them on long walks and to play in the park. She was a favorite of all her nieces and nephews, who loved her spirit and sense of fun. Heidi was a warm and loving woman, always ready with a smile and a giggle. Heidi met her husband, Ray Marini in Gillette and they were married September 5, 1998. They enjoyed traveling to New Jersey to

visit Ray’s family. Heidi is survived by her husband, Ray Marini of Gillette, Wyoming; her sisters: Kim Fullen (Greg) of Gering, Nebraska, Jill Lesselyoung (Steve) of Spearﬁsh, South Dakota; her brother, Steve Heidzig (Brenda) of Rogersville, Missouri; nieces, nephews, and one great niece. Heidi was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. Memorials in Heidi’s honor may be made to the Friends Gillette Animal Shelter. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences may also be sent via the website www.walkerfuneralhome. com.

of Gillette, Wyoming, and Mike Rychecky and his wife Kathy of Roscoe, Illinois; daughter, Deanne Perzel and husband Mike of Sparta, Wisconsin; stepson, Todd Oberst and his wife Nancy of Gillette, Wyoming; step-daughter, Brenda Kujuth and her husband Steve of Upton, Wyoming; his sister, Lydia Bailey of MT Juliet, Tennessee, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Lonnie Rychecky, his parents and his sister, June Steinmentz. Memorials and condolences may be sent in Frank’s name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.

ADAM PETERS

FRANK RYCHECKY

Frank Rychecky, age 72, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at his home. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Frank Rychecky was born March 13, 1948 in Sparta, Wisconsin the son of Joseph and Rowena (Shaw) Rychecky . He lived in the Sparta, Wisconsin area until 1980, when he moved to Gillette, Wyoming, where he resided until his death. Frank operated heavy equipment and was a mechanic for many companies in his life which include, Modern Crane Service of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, Osborne Brothers construction, Melgaard Construction, JR Vaughn Construction. His interests included hunting, camping, watching NASCAR, and spending time with his grandchildren. Frank is survived by his wife Darlene Rychecky of Gillette, Wyoming; sons: Jon and Tim Rychecky

Campbell County Observer

Memorial services for Adam A. Peters was held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 26, 2013 at Walker Funeral Home, Gillette, WY with Erik Bergquist ofﬁciating. Adam Peters, age 26, of Gillette, Wyoming died at his home on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Memorials and condolences may be sent in Adam’s name in care of Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the website www.walkerfuneralhome.com

Community

Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Ag photo contest kicks off sixth year, cash prizes to be awarded

The Wyoming Business Council’s Agribusiness Division is now accepting photos for its 6th Annual Ag Photo Contest. Youth and adults, either amateur or professional, may submit photos to the Agribusiness Division until Sept. 1, 2013. While there are no subject categories, all submissions must be agriculture related and taken in Wyoming. Photos could include crops; livestock and farm animals; ag recreation and activities; or scenic agriculture. Photos may be in color or black and white. All contestants are eligible for the Grand Prize of $300. Adult contestants may win $150 and $75 for 1st and 2nd places respectively. Youth contestants may win $75 and $50 for 1st and 2nd places respectively. Winning photos will also be used in the

2014 AgriCulture Calendar issued in fall 2013. “The last photo contest was record breaking with more than 450 photos submitted, and I look forward to what we will receive this year,” said Cody Ann Bainter, agricultural marketing specialist in the Business Council’s Agribusiness Division. “As a new member of the Agribusiness team, I am excited and enthusiastic about Wyoming’s agriculture being captured by diverse viewpoints from around the state. I wish all the contestants good luck and hope they enjoy snapping their special ag moments.” Each submitted photograph must be accompanied by a completed and signed application form. The photos must be at least 300 dpi in jpeg or tiff format. Each submitted photo needs to include the location of the picture,

contestant’s name and a title on the back of the photograph. Digital photos may be submitted on CD or via email. For convenience, applications and photos may be submitted online at www.wyophotocontest.com. For questions or to receive the application and contest rules, contact Cody Ann Bainter at cody.bainter@ wyo.gov or 307.777.2864. Applications, contest rules and tips are also available online at www.wyophotocontest.com. All photos become property of the Agribusiness Division and may be used in marketing materials, publications and the AgriCulture Calendar. For a free copy of the 2013 AgriCulture calendar featuring last year’s winning photos and submissions, contact Bainter.

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Heather Babbitt has rejoined the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) as the Aging Division’s new senior administrator. Babbitt has worked in the human services ﬁeld since 1992. She began as a Department of Family Services (DFS) caseworker in Laramie. She has held various positions in DFS, most recently as the Economic Assistance Division administrator. Babbitt has also worked at the Department of Corrections with inmate programming and previously at WDH as the drug court coordinator. The Aging Division includes Community Living, the Wyoming Pioneer Home in Thermopolis, the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin and the Veter-

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Two Wyoming companies win business ethics awards Two Wyoming companies claimed top prizes at the Northern Colorado and Wyoming Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Business Ethics at a ceremony held last night in Fort Collins, Colo. Basic Beginnings Early Learning Center, Laramie, Wyo., and Gluten Free Oats, Powell, Wyo., were two of the three winners of the award that recognizes business ethics. Colorado-based Jorgensen Laboratories was the third and sole Colorado company to win the award. In a Wyoming Business Council release earlier this week, CEO Bob Jensen said of the companies: “We are really proud of these Wyoming business men and women who exemplify the high-level of professionalism and ethics that have become synonymous with Wyoming business. It is a great honor for these folks and a great

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and survey role.” Babbitt replaces April Getchius, who left the department for a professional opportunity in Colorado.

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April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

Wyo. natural products companies ﬁnd industry trade show a success Four Wyoming companies could see more than $300,000 in potential sales from an industry trade show they recently attended in Anaheim, Calif., with the Wyoming Business Council. Bunnery Natural Foods, LLC, from Jackson; Elk Mountain Herbs from Laramie; GF Harvest of Powell; and Wyoming Authentic Products of Cody, attended the Natural Products Expo West (NPEW) in early March. The Business Council purchased booth space at the trade show that it shared with the companies, which allowed them to attend an important industry event at a signiﬁcantly reduced cost. The companies reported several solid leads with three of the four businesses projecting more than $300,000 from the show in potential sales combined. David Fales of Wyoming Au-

thentic Products, said attending the show was helpful to his company. “At the March Anaheim Natural Products Expo, Wyoming Authentic Products, which features Wyoming gourmet beef and allnatural Angus exclusively from Wyoming ranches, received approximately 50 good leads for the U.S. and Asia,” said Fales. “These leads centered around the company’s Wyoming All Natural Angus Beef Jerky and Beef Snack Sticks, which will be produced in the company’s new USDA plant starting in July. One lead in particular, based on discussions since the expo, could potentially generate over $100,000 of new business for the company in Asia in 2013-2014.” More than 60,000 industry members attend the show each year, which features more than

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3,000 exhibitors, buyers and owners of natural foods stores, gyms, restaurants, grocery stores and gourmet shops. “We are so pleased our Wyoming companies found the trade show to be this beneﬁcial,” said Donn Randall, Crop and Forage Program manager at the Business Council, who also manages the state’s value-added food program. “This is the biggest industry event out there for natural products companies. Being able to help our businesses get in front of potential buyers by mitigating the cost to attend is really helpful to smaller companies who might otherwise miss this chance.” For more information about the show or the value-added food program, contact Randall at 307.777.6578 or donn.randall@ wyo.gov.

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Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Five Wyoming companies nominated for business ethics awards

Five Wyoming businesses have been nominated for the Northern Colorado and Wyoming Better Business Bureau 2013 Torch Awards for exemplary business ethics, three of which are finalists for the honor. Basic Beginnings Early Learning Center, Laramie, Wyo., Gluten Free Oats, Powell, Wyo., and Thomas Crawford Auto, Casper, Wyo., are the three Wyoming companies in the running for the award along with five other companies from Northern Colorado. Medicine Bow Technologies, Laramie, Wyo., and Powder River Office Supply, Gillette, Wyo., were also nominated. “We are really proud of these Wyoming business men and women who exemplify the high-level of professionalism and ethics that have become synonymous with Wyoming business,” said Bob Jensen, chief executive of the Wyoming Business

Council. “It is a great honor for these folks and a great honor for Wyoming. We’re very proud that these companies call Wyoming home.” The BBB will announce the winner of the 2013 Torch Award for Ethics tomorrow night at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colo. As part of the BBB’s Foundation of Trust initiative, businesses are nominated according to six criterion reﬂecting business practices and ethics including leadership commitment to ethical practices, communications of ethical practices, organizational commitment to ethical practices, organizational commitment to performance management practices, organizational commitment to ethical human resource practices, and organizational commitment to the community. Jan Lawrence, co-owner of Basic Beginnings Early Learning Center said being recognized as a ﬁnalist for

this business ethics award is very exciting: “We are completely honored,” she said. “Child care facilities rarely get this type of recognition, so it is a testament to our management and staff’s commitment to our clients to provide the safest, most transparent and above board experience possible. We’re just very excited about this.” Thomas Crawford, owner of Thomas Crawford Auto reiterated his company’s enthusiasm for this recognition. “We do everything we can not to have a bad reputation,” he said. Thomas and his wife Nova believe in modeling ethics by example. For more information on the Northern Colorado and Wyoming BBB Torch Awards visit: http://wynco.bbb. org/torch_awards/

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Snowed in at the Occidental By Glenn Woods Sure I’ll take a trip out to Buffalo for the newspaper. Why would I say no? But I better hurry. Here in Wyoming, it seems, it snows more in the spring than it does in the winter. A storm is coming. If I’m going to be snowed in, I can’t think of a better place than the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo. Why more people don’t get away to places like this, in the middle of winter, I don’t know. Towns like this tend to shut down at the first sign of a snowflake. Are folks afraid of getting stuck? Well, here is what it’s like to be “STUCK” at the Occidental Hotel through a weekend snow storm: Walking through the front door there is the sound of live music. That would be the husband and wife that will be staying down the hall in the Clear Creek Suite. I’ll be one room down on the other side in the Teddy Roosevelt room. Yes, Teddy slept there. The man on the Piano is Mr. Mark R. Stratmoen. Currently he is Chief Deputy for the Fremont County Coroner’s Office, and working as a medical-legal death investigator. He is also a sculptor, musician, and now the author of a new book called Murder, Mayhem and Mystery. Coroner Inquests in Fremont County Wyoming. 1885-1900. His new book is selling quite well on Amazon. I now have a copy. Its VERY interesting reading. As Mr. Stratmoen rolls out a tune on the piano his wife stands by his side singing in perfect pitch. She is a radio host and news reporter on a Fremont County radio station. Her background in music and theater taught her to sing like that. I did not know at the time that I would be having dinner with those two later that night. The folks unloading equipment and carrying it into the hotel are members of the Sheridan-based Paranormal Researchers of Wyoming. They will set up cameras around the hotel in the empty rooms with a command post in one of those rooms. While the guests snooze they will search for those things that go BUMP in the night. But of course I asked if I can tag along for part of the ghost hunt and of course they said yes. I’d join them later. Now it seems that the Deputy Coroner and his wife have found the piano in the bar. I follow their music and introduce myself when their song is done. We chat under the watchful gaze of old dusty hunting trophies that were lucky enough to not be hit by a second bullet. Those wild cowboys and their guns. Plus one wife who went looking for her husband at the bar and fired up into the ceiling to get his attention, the bullet stopping in the room above, just short of the cowboy up there who was trying to nap. The bullet logged just

shy of his back. The old ﬂoors creek underfoot down the hallway as I carry my bags to the Roosevelt room is at the end. The old and slightly out of tune saloon piano echoes even to this side of the building and I can hear her voice rising through the stairwell. There is something very interesting about having dinners with a deputy coroner and his news-radio wife, then, after dessert, slipping off down a dark hallway with ghost hunters who love to play with their ghost hunting gadgets and call out to the spirits in the night, hopping to record and answer. “And then he came through that door, and was shot dead on that spot. It was a lover’s triangle.” The sweet lady telling the story was the chief investigator. We were in what they are calling THE MURDER ROOM. There was the sensation of a campﬁre fable as the only thing half illuminating her face is a dimly lit computer screen. A camera with night vision scanned the room. Later, I asked if I could join up with a group given the task of moving from room to room. As I was about to leave with them I was stopped by a delightful young teenage lady with dark rimmed glasses, wearing a stocking cap with a Batman logo on it with tassels that hung from the cap down past her shoulders. Her name is Brooklyn. She gave me a small crystal for my pocket and told me it would enhance energy. I asked if she meant my energy or the spirits. She was not sure. If there was anything “ODD” that really happened, from my point of view, it was when they place four dollar bills on one of the beds in the bordello, and asked the lady of the evening, in spirit, if she was interested. Before we could get an answer we were suddenly were called back to THE MURDER ROOM because of some apparent disturbing activity. Several freaked and creeped out investigators had to step outside for a cigarette or two to calm the nerves. I had a wonderful time ghost hunting with some delightful people, but I did not stay up all night. I found Brooklyn, thanked her for the crystal and handed it back to her. I went to sleep. They continued their investigation on through the night. Five in the morning I was up writing all of this down. Later, when then sun had risen and it was apparent that the snow was nowhere near done falling; I met everyone downstairs in The Busy Bee Restaurant for breakfast. The ghost hunters would brave the weather and head for home. The coroner and his wife would stay an extra day. They agreed with me. What a

wonderful place to be stuck. Later that morning I confessed to the owner that I had shut the door to THE VAULT so I could video opening it, and almost could not open it. The Vault is the old bank vault that is now part of the dining room. Care to have a romantic dinner inside an Old West bank vault? Well, now you can. Just don’t shut the door while you are in there. She told me that a woman once closed that door while having dinner in there and they almost could not get her out. It seems the vault will vacuum seal if the door is closed. It’s still snowing. Weather advisories recommend not traveling if it is not necessary. I’m stuck inside, writing, with old 1920’s music on the radio. Every room has an old radio and the hotel broadcasts old radio shows on a signal that covers just inside the hotel. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m as happy as I could possibly be. What a wonderful place to be stuck.

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Community

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Free-market group presents GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt with proposal to simultaneously end harmful medical device tax and pay for it by repealing federal wind subsidies

This week, at General Electric’s annual meeting of shareholders in New Orleans, Justin Danhof, Esq., director of the National Center for Public Policy Research’s Free Enterprise Project, presented GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt with the National Center’s plan to repeal ObamaCare’s medical device tax while keeping the move ﬁnancially balanced by simultaneously ending taxpayer subsidies to the wind power industry. “Mr. Immelt seemed sincerely interested in evaluating our efforts to end both the medical device tax and federal subsidies for wind power,” said Danhof. “Calling the proposal ‘interesting,’ Immelt noted that he had not heard of our speciﬁc idea, but seemed to think it merits earnest consideration.” Embedded in ObamaCare is a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical device manufacturers and suppliers that took effect at the beginning of 2013. According to a report by the Mil-

waukee Business Journal, this medical device excise tax could cost GE Healthcare Services between $100 million and $150 million annually. This new burden has already been blamed for job losses in the health care industry, and some believe it inevitably will hamper investment in research innovations. Support for repeal of the tax has come from ideologically diverse lawmakers such as Senators Al Franken (DMN) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Danhof presented Immelt with a proposal that is analyzed in a new paper by National Center health care analyst David Hogberg, Ph.D. The National Center has concluded that repealing the medical device tax while ending the wind production tax credit would lead to a net increase in U.S. jobs. Nearly a ﬁfth of U.S. medical device manufacturers expect to lay off employees because of the medical device tax. Some

medical devices companies, such as Stryker, Smith & Nephew and Zimmer Holdings, have already laid off employees as a result of this tax. Meanwhile, a study published in March jointly by the American Energy Alliance and the National Center found that employment beneﬁts of wind subsidies have been grossly overestimated by lobbyists for wind subsidies. “The medical device industry produces devices that save our lives and improve our health,” explained the paper’s author, David Hogberg. “By contrast, the wind-energy industry produces less than 2% of the nation’s electricity, despite decades of tax credits and government subsidies. Repealing the medical device tax will eliminate a burden on an industry that provides great value for Americans. Eliminating the two-decade old wind-energy production tax credit will not only help replace some of the revenue from the medical device tax, it will end a tax

credit for an industry that provides little beneﬁt for the U.S.” “I am hopeful that Immelt will sincerely consider endorsing our plan, and encouraged that he seems interested in doing so,” said Danhof. “Every day that passes without a repeal of the medical device tax is another day in which the jobs of employees in the medical device industry are lost or at risk.”

Veteran of the Month

Petranek was born in in White River and attended college at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, and received his BS degree in 1942. At graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the R.O.T.C. program. He was then assigned to the 34th Infantry Division. His first assignment was at Oran, Algeria, in Africa for about a month. Then on to Bizerte, Tunisia, and then on to Naples, Italy where he was assigned to the 36th division as a platoon leader. The 36th pushed to San Pietro with full combat against the Germans. In January 1944, Patranek was fighting with General Mark Clark’s 5th Army. He was with Company B of the 143rd Regiment on January 20th and 21. Those were two terror-packed days of bloody attempts to cross the treacherous Rapido River. This fight decimated the 141st and the 143rd Infantry Regiments. On February 10, 1944, near Monte Cassino, Patranek was hit by mortar fragments in his left shoulder and returned to Naples for hospitalization. After three weeks, he returned to his same unit and reorganized for the Anzio Beachhead assault. May 18, 1944, was the break-out attack where they engaged in artillery, tank, and infantry warfare at the last German defense before Rome. Rome fell to our forces the day before D-Day, June 5th, 1944, and Patranek was among those who marched into the city. After that, they pushed northward to Grosseto where they were relieved and they moved back to Naples to prepare for the invasion of France. Early in 1945, the 36th Division be-

gan to move again, with Patranek now a First Lieutenant and Company Commander of CO. B. Patranek could see the Rhine River near Oberhoffen, when he was wounded for the fourth time on February 10, 1945. His right hip was shattered, his hearing permanently impaired from close cannon ﬁre. He was at Barnes until October 12, 1945. He was then assigned to limited active duty as a company executive ofﬁcer at Camp Roberts, CA, from October 1945 to July 1946 when Ed received a medical discharge. Medals received include: •The Silver Star •The Purple Heart with 3 oak leaf clusters •The Bronze Star with cluster for meritorious service •Infantry Combat Badge •The Victory Medal •European Theater Combat Ribbon with 4 stars •Invasion Arrowhead •American Campaign Medal •Infantry Combat Medal •He also received the French Legion of Honor medal on behalf of the government of France in recognition for his “valorous action during World War II.” After his honorable discharge, he went home to Gillette and Sundance for a time, then was hired as a high school principal and coach at Colome, SD. He and his wife then moved to Vermillion where Petranek worked toward his master’s degree at the University of South Dakota, and their son, Rodney, was born there in 1950. Petranek taught until retirement in 1979.

Campbell County Observer

Featured Crime Larceny

Crime Stoppers needs your help in solving the larceny of three firearms. Unknown suspect(s) stole the following firearms after entering two vehicles. A model 92F 9mm Berretta pistol SN# K25644Z, a model 60 Marlin 22 rifle with a camouflage stalk and a Remington model 860 12 gage shotgun with a 26 inch ribbed barrel, SN# RS39445G. If you have information that can solve this or any other crime please call Crime Stoppers at 686-0400. You can remain anonymous and may earn up to $1,000 in reward.

Community

Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Weekly Trivia Question A drilling rig operates near Rock Springs as part of a recent carbon dioxide storage site characterization project led by the University of Wyoming’s Carbon Management Institute. Project researchers discovered a vast new lithium resource in the underground brines of the Rock Springs Uplift.

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UW Researchers’ litium discovery could boost CO2 storage prospects Researchers at the University of Wyoming Carbon Management Institute (CMI) discovered a vast new lithium resource near Rock Springs during a geological carbon dioxide storage site characterization project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Lithium, a key component of batteries and electronic devices, has become highly sought after as nations -- including the U.S. -- transition to greener technologies. Wind, solar and smart grid technologies all employ lithium-ion batteries to store excess energy for later use. Presently, the U.S. imports more than 80 percent of the lithium used domestically. In addition to making CO2 storage cheaper, the potential new lithium resource discovered by CMI could have a major impact on the global market, transforming the U.S. from a signiﬁcant lithium importer to an independent lithium producer. “We’re excited about this discovery and the prospect of creating a completely new industry in Wyoming,” says Shanna Dahl, CMI deputy director. “More work must be done to fully assess the potential, but our research is very encouraging at this point.” Preliminary analyses of ﬂuid samples collected from a well drilled on the Rock Springs Uplift -- a

geological feature in southwest Wyoming -- suggest that reservoir brines from a 25-square-mile area of the uplift could contain 228,000 tons of lithium: enough to meet annual U.S. demand. To help put this number in perspective, the lithium reserves at Silver Peak, Nev. -- the largest domestic producer of lithium -- total 118,000 tons in a 20-square-mile area. In a best-case scenario, the 2,000-square-mile Rock Springs Uplift could harbor up to 18 million tons of lithium, equivalent to about 720 years of current global lithium production. The geological CO2 storage site characterization project on the Rock Springs Uplift is an effort to protect the viability of Wyoming’s fossil energy resources. On a commercial scale, CO2 capture and underground storage is the emission reduction technology of choice -- it allows industrialization and environmental quality to coexist. CMI scientists discovered lithium dissolved in the highly saline ﬂuids, or brines, contained within Wyoming’s most promising CO2 storage reservoirs (the Madison limestone and Weber/Tensleep sandstone) on the Rock Springs Uplift. Before CO2 can be safely and successfully stored, these brines must ﬁrst be removed from underground geologic forma-

tions to manage pressure in the reservoirs during CO2 injection. If the brines remained in the reservoir formations during injection of liquid CO2, the resulting pressure increase could fracture the reservoir rocks and allow CO2 and other substances to escape. Removing brines from the reservoirs makes room for injected liquid CO2 while keeping pressures at safe levels and maintaining the integrity of the confining rocks. “Due to their high salinity, brines from the CO2 storage reservoirs would have to be pumped to the surface and treated -- often an expensive process. Recovering and marketing lithium from the brines would produce significant revenue to offset the cost of brine production, treatment and CO2 storage operations,” says Scott Quillinan, CMI’s senior hydrogeologist. “Although other researchers have evaluated the economic potential of producing metals and salts from saline oil field brines, incorporating lithium production into the CO2 storage process is a new concept,” CMI Director Ron Surdam says. “Several factors make southwest Wyoming ideal for testing this process.” First, production of lithium from brines requires soda ash (sodium carbonate), and importation of soda

ash to lithium production facilities often represents a large expense. However, the Rock Springs Uplift CO2 storage site is located within 20 to 30 miles of the world’s largest industrial soda ash supplies, so the costs of soda ash delivery (by rail, truck or pipeline) would be minimal. Second, magnesium must be removed from brines before they can be used for lithium recovery, which makes the entire lithium recovery process more expensive. Fortunately, the brines from the Rock Springs Uplift reservoirs contain much less magnesium than brines at existing, currently profitable lithium mining operations. Third, brines must be heated and pressurized before lithium can be extracted from them. However, because the Rock Springs Uplift brines lie so far underground, they are already at a higher pressure and temperature than brines at existing lithium operations. This would allow operators to essentially eliminate this step in the process, resulting in significant cost savings. “In addition to lithium, the brines contain other recoverable, economically valuable metals and salts. Also, the treated water resulting from the recovery process could benefit local communities, agriculture and industry,” says Fred McLaughlin, CMI’s senior petrologist. CMI scientists will continue to use a variety of tools to further evaluate the reservoirs and brines in order to fully define the potential of an integrated brine production/ CO2 storage system in southwest Wyoming.

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Every week, the Observer prints one article, paragraph, or section of either the U.S. or State Constitution for your information. Wyoming State Constitution, Article 1, Section 36 Rights not enumerated reserved to people. The enumeration in this constitution, of certain rights shall not be construed to deny, impair, or disparage others retained by the people.

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Fishing Report By Mike Smith Empire Guesthouse & RV Crazy Spring weather hasn’t done much to get fishermen out yet. The few nice days we’ve had this month has seen a lot of fishermen eager for open water fishing coming to Keyhole. As I write this, the long range forecast looks like warm and dry weather will be moving in. This coming weekend looks great and we expect to see a lot of fishermen over the weekend. Those that have been out over the

past couple of weeks have been picking up good walleye in the 16”-18” range. Jigs and minnows work best this time of year and the water temps are in the high 30’s to low 40’s. We have also had several reports of good smallmouth bass and northern pike ﬁshing. Most are caught by walleye ﬁshermen, if you were to target them you should do really well. This past year we’ve seen a big improvement in

both size and quantity of both of these species. Crappie have yet to turn on, but it should only be a couple of weeks away. Last year at this time the crappie bite was in full swing; what a difference a year makes! It’s all about water temperatures. Don’t forget to bring your catch by the Empire Guesthouse for photos and to be entered in our monthly photo contest with prizes for both kids and adults.

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Community

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

UW Commencement schedule and speakers announced Oliver Walter, the longest-serving College of Arts and Sciences dean in University of Wyoming history, and three women who wore the crown as Miss Wyoming will be among speakers during UW commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 11. Walter, who will retire this summer, has served as dean for 23 years. He will speak during the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony. The three Miss Wyomings all will speak at the College of Health Sciences ceremony. Alicia Grove won in 2010 while ﬁnishing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Catherine Brown, the 2011 winner, was a graduate student in the college’s Division of Communication Disorders. Both Brown and Grove practice at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette. The 2012 Miss Wyoming, Lexie Madden of Torrington, is a student in the college’s Division of Kinesiology and Health. Ceremonies for the individual colleges are scheduled Saturday, May 11; the College of Law ceremony will be held Saturday, May 18; and the UW/Casper College Center ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 9. UW is scheduled to accord degrees upon more than 1,750 students, including 1,293 undergraduates, 344 graduate students, 73 College of Law graduates and 41 School of Pharmacy graduates. The largest degree categories are Bachelor of Arts, 537; Bachelor of Science, 418; Master of Science, 137; Bachelor of Science in nursing, 101; and Master of Arts, 90. The schedule of events for individual college commencement ceremo-

nies, along with key speakers: Thursday, May, 2 6 p.m. -- African-American and Diaspora Studies, Laramie Train Depot, student speakers Barb Sandick, Cheyenne; Sam Shedden, Sheridan; and Kelly Yeend, Laramie; and faculty speaker Kerry Pimblott. Thursday, May 9 7:30 p.m. -- UW/Casper College Center graduation ceremonies, Casper Events Center: U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl; Jennifer Forrester, assistant professor of elementary education/educational studies, faculty speaker; and Shona Ross, secondary science education, biology, student speaker. Friday, May 10 3 p.m. -- Multicultural graduation ceremony, UW Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn: UW President Tom Buchanan and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Oliver Walter. 6 p.m. -- American Indian Studies Program, UW Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn: Barbara Morris, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fort Lewis College. Saturday, May 11 8:30 a.m. -- College of Health Sciences, Arena-Auditorium, the three Miss Wyomings, Alicia Grove, Catherine Brown and Lexie Madden. 9 a.m. -- College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium: graduating students Derrek Jerred, Gillette, B.S. in business administration; Libby Stetson, Craig, Colo., M.S. in accounting; and Kasey Watson, Douglas, B.S. in business administration, minors in ﬁnance and banking and ﬁnancial services.

9 a.m. -- College of Education, War Memorial Fieldhouse: former Wyoming ﬁrst lady Jane Sullivan. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- President’s picnic, Arena-Auditorium concourse. 1:30 p.m. -- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, War Memorial Fieldhouse: graduating students Kaitlynn Glover, Casper, B.S. in agricultural communication with a minor in international agriculture; and Kelsie Speiser, Casper, M.S. in animal and veterinary sciences. 1:30 p.m. -- College of Arts and Sciences, Arena-Auditorium: retiring Dean Oliver Walter. 1:30 p.m. -- College of Engineering and Applied Science, UW Arts and Sciences auditorium: Dakota Roberson, Rock Springs, Wyoming Engineering Society student engineer of the year; Stacia Burke Slowey, Thornton, Colo., Joint Engineering Council outstanding senior; and husband and wife alumni Mike and Glenda (Catchpole) Thomas. 1:30 p.m. -- Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing Convocation, Fine Arts concert hall: Distinguished Alumna Award recipient Karleen Goerke, Glenrock. 6 p.m. -- Army/Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony, Fine Arts Center concert hall: Maj. Gen. Michael J. Carey, commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Saturday, May 18 10 a.m. -- College of Law, Fine Arts concert hall: Wyoming Attorney General Greg Phillips.

UW Photo

Oliver Walter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for 23 years, will be among UW commencement speakers.

Snow make-up days Campbell County School District Associate Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Boyd Brown has provided the makeup days for school cancellations due to inclement weather in April. Below are the days that schools were closed due to inclement weather and the make days that have been scheduled by the district. School Days Canceled due to Inclement Weather April 9, 2013 - No School for the entire District April 10, 2013 - No School for Wright Junior Senior High & Cottonwood Elementary April 22, 2013 - No School for entire District

Student Make-up Days All Schools (Except WHS, WJSH & Cottonwood)-May 31, 2013 and June 3, 2013 Westwood High School - April 26, 2013 and May 30, 2013 (Westwood is on an alternative calendar) Wright Junior Senior High & Cottonwood Elementary - May 31, 2013, June 3, 2013, and June 4, 2013

UW Photo

University of Wyoming Molecular Biology Professor Don Jarvis is the recipient of the 2013 George Duke Humphrey Award, UW’s highest faculty honor.

Jarvis receives UW’s top faculty award

A world-class scientist and entrepreneur who goes out of his way to help his students and colleagues has won the University of Wyoming’s highest faculty honor. Molecular Biology Professor Don Jarvis has been chosen as the 2013 recipient of the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award, named for UW’s 13th president. “Don embodies all of the qualities that one would associate with an outstanding academic, including excellence in research, teaching and service,” wrote David Fay, professor of molecular biology and director of UW’s Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program. “In addition, Don is an incredibly generous colleague who takes time to assist anyone in need.” Jarvis, who joined the UW faculty as an associate professor in 1998 and became a professor in 2000, is internationally renowned for his work on using genetically engineered insect cells for manufacturing vaccines, diagnostics or therapeutics for use in human and veterinary medicine. “Don has built the reputation of being the ‘go to’ man worldwide on all matters concerning glycoprotein expression in insect cells, both in academic research labs and in industry,” wrote Loy Volkman, professor emerita in plant and microbial biology at the University of California-Berkeley. “His outstanding expertise in both virology and glycobiology is in evidence by his service on editorial review boards of journals dedicated to these two topics… It is a rare person who can successfully achieve such breadth in their professional expertise.” Jarvis has received more than 30 grants from the National Institutes of Health and other entities for his research. He holds eight patents and has ﬁled 10 patent applications and invention disclosures. He was the recipient of UW’s 2012 Outstanding Research Award. “In addition to publishing more papers in top journals than anyone at Wyoming of whom I am aware, Don has consistently had an astonishingly high level of support for his work,” Fay wrote. “In fact, he is one of the very few faculty members at UW whose salary is consistently more than paid for by the indirect costs of his extra-

mural grants. “Part of the reason that Don has enjoyed such a high level of funding success is the quality and impact of his science. But it also has much to do with Don’s work ethic. Don continues to work with the urgency of a first-year assistant professor who has yet to land their first grant.” Jarvis’s scientific expertise not only is of academic interest, but also is relevant to solutions for real-world problems. In 2011, he helped form a new company, GlycoBac, which is working to produce glycoprotein drugs using insect cells. The company will commercialize his academic laboratory group’s research and promises to further diversify Wyoming’s economy, with the ultimate goal of helping find treatments for human diseases. “I believe that if you were to ask any scientist for their ideal career arc, they would describe one that resembles Don’s -- make important discoveries that push forward the frontiers of science and use that knowledge to improve the human condition,” wrote fellow molecular biology Professor Peter Thorsness. His colleagues also describe Jarvis as an outstanding mentor to young scientists, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and young faculty members. He has developed a “capstone” seminar course for graduate students in molecular biology, as well as a course that allows all undergraduate majors to meet and speak with visiting scientists. Jarvis’s students consistently give him high marks in their evaluations of his classes. “As a teacher, Don is outstanding,” Fay wrote. “He has the highest standards of any instructor I have known. He pushes students very hard and extracts the very best from them.” Jarvis earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in microbiology from Idaho State University before receiving his Ph.D. in virology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in 1986. Before coming to UW, he worked as a research scientist, assistant professor and associate professor at Texas A&M University.

Instrumental music changes approved At the April 23rd Campbell County School Board Meeting trustees unanimously approved changes on how 5th and 6th grade students will participate in instrumental music next year. Below is that handout provided to trustees and staff on the need for the changes and the proposal that was approved Tuesday night. Rationale for Instrumental Music Proposal: - Preserve/increase instructional time for core academics in line with the strategic plan. - Current process is not working *Complaints and concerns from parents, students, classroom teachers, instrumental teachers, administration and board members. * What we are doing currently is not systemic. -Provide more equity across the district. -Support the opportunity for 5th and 6th grade students to have instrumental music instruction. Proposal: - Instrumental Music will be part of the 5th and 6th grade specials (Art, Music and PE) schedule.

- 5th and 6th grade students will choose to take either instrumental or general music. (Students can still chose between Band and Strings if they select instrumental music) *Students who choose Band or Strings will attend instrumental music every third day rather than general music, then attend Art and PE as normal in the three day rotation. - The classroom teachers have agreed to allow the instrumental teachers to use their rooms if needed to accommodate band and strings happening at the same time. -Teams of instrumental teachers will rotate to elementary schools, on a three day schedule, to provide instrumental instruction along with the general music teacher. *Each team will provide instruction for two elementary schools each day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each team will service six of our elementary schools. * During the middle of the day the elementary instrumental teachers will provide team teaching, as we have at the high school, for band or orchestra for a 90 minute period each day. -We have paired the rural schools with Rawhide and Meadowlark, our two section schools.

Public Pulse

Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

On the Contrary... On the Contrary is a column in debate format originated by the Campbell County Observer. The opinions expressed in this debate do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions of the writers of this column, the Observer staff, or of the Observer itself. To show two sides of a debate, many times one of the guest columnists or regular writers may be playing devil’s advocate. This article is not to push political agenda’s or opinions, but to show both sides of the debate. To become a guest for “On the Contrary” email us a request at CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com

The Issue: Is New York Law MHL 9.46 Constitutional?

Nicholas DeLaat

Glenn Woods

The Sides: Nick (Newspaper Publisher) is debating for the bill, and Glenn (CCO Columnist and Radio Personality) is debating against the bill. Nicholas: On April 1st, a legal gun owner in upstate New York reportedly received an official notice from the state ordering him to surrender any and all weapons to his local police department. The note said that the person’s permit to own a gun in New York was being suspended as well. The gun owner contacted attorney Jim Tresmond (a specialist in gun laws in New York) and the two visited the local police precinct. Mr. Tresmond reportedly went into the precinct and informed the officers that his client, waiting in the parking lot, was coming in to voluntarily surrender his weapons as requested. The local police were aware of the letter because they had already been contacted by the State Police. Apparently, if people do not respond to the initial mailing, local law enforcement is authorized to visit the gun owner at their home and demand the surrender of the firearms. In this case, the gun owner followed the

request as written. The guns and permits were handed over and a receipt given to the client. After the guns were turned over, a request for a local hearing was filed and the gun owner is expecting to have his Second Amendment rights restored. But there is more to this story. In a conversation with lawyer Jim Tresmond, it learned that this client, who has never had a problem with the law — no criminal record and or violent incidents on record — did have a temporary, short term health issue that required medication. Glenn, you are against this. Why? Glenn: Hey, Nick, you ever get a headache playing Devil’s advocate like this? You want some aspirin first? Look, I can agree that someone with a dangerous or volatile mental disorder should not be allowed to own a gun, for example, if we know of someone who is prone to violence and has been arrested for it. But in this case that you’ve sited from NYC, this gentleman never got his day in court. Here we see a man who, as far as we can tell from the article, has not committed a crime, now or in the past. He might be on medication for something, but we do not see any evidence of criminal or violent behavior. Are we to assume that he is innocent before proven guilty? Should a man’s private property be taken from him without his day in court? The way I see it the police cannot simply order this gentleman to show up and turn in anything, much less his gun, until they have proven that he is a risk, and he has a right to face his accusers before a jury of his peers before his property and his right are taken. Nicholas: Yes, doesn’t it always seem like I am the one taking the “other” side? One thing we do know is that these senseless crimes and mass shootings have been a result of mentally disturbed children and adults who were on certain medication, mostly anti-depressants. Since the late 80’s, mental health funding has seen a dramatic drop in funding, and therefore resources to identify and help these individuals. That funding is not coming back anytime soon, nor can our country afford it currently. If these shootings keep happening, than we are going to lose one of our most precious Amendments to our Constitution (not like our government cares about the Constitution anyway) which is the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment was written specifically to defend

one’s life from criminals and liberty from government (see writings by ALL founding fathers). By the mental health services not being able to be effective you will see more of these shootings and therefore the same anti-gun statists responses of new laws that restrict our Second Amendment. It looks to me like New York is being proactive and possibly saving our Second Amendment Rights (I know, headache…I can’t believe I just said that). Glenn: Let’s think back for a moment to the past two tragedies, The Batman Shooting and Sandyhook. In both cases we found evidence, after the fact, that these young man had both been in treatment, and there was plenty of evidence, beforehand, that there was a problem. But for whatever reason the professionals treating these young men did not turn over the evidence to proper authorities. It seems to me that we do not need tougher gun laws. We need a better system when it comes to identifying possible problem people. But that brings up back to my ﬁrst point: Before we take away anyone’s rights, or property, they get their day in court, and the state has to prove that there is a problem. Nicholas: But is this a tougher gun law? It seems that the government of New York is simply doing just that, getting the evidence from the doctors and hospitals and taking the initiative before the shooting happens. So they are not creating gun laws, they are preventing gun violence before it happens so they do not have to make gun laws. Glenn: But how are they getting that evidence? There was a time when your medical information was private, unless a doctor had a concern, then through proper procedures the process could be started to see if there actually was a threat. But now the police are pouring through a person’s personal information without a court order. While I agree with the concept of stopping a mentally deranged man, with a history of violence, I worry even more about stopping creeping tyranny. A police state is far more dangerous. I am a free man, until it can be proven, ﬁrst, that I am a danger. That keeps the tyrants from coming up with any excuse that they can dream up. Nutballs need to be restrained. I include the nutbualls in government in that statement. But how were his client’s private medical information accessed by the government? This appears to be a violation of HIPAA

and Health Information Privacy policies at HHS.gov. Let’s also look at a couple amendments to our law of the land. Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or afﬁrmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Nicholas: Yea, I lost this debate right at the start. So Glenn, do you have an asprin?

What Our Readers Thought?

Is New York Law MHL 9.46 Constitutional?

No - 89.4% Yes - 10.6% Results are from 1,890 votes counted. To vote on the next “On the Contrary” subject, go to our website at www.CampbellCountyObserver.net and click on the “polls” page.

When America lacks fiscal leadership Submitted by Sven Larson - Wyoming Liberty Group President Obama’s latest attempt at presenting a budget ended with about the same debacle as last time: no one in Congress likes it, no one takes it seriously. The only upside of this is that there is very little chance the American economy will be faced with new tax increases – except of course for those that are associated with the Affordable Care Act. Those tax increases are bad enough to completely annihilate the fledgling recovery we are currently seeing, but Congress can avoid those increases entirely by postponing (or, better still, terminating) the reckless health “reform” act, and it can shield America’s struggling taxpayers by continuing to reject any new budget that comes out of the White House. Wyomingites need to pay close attention to the fiscal policy battle in the nation’s capital. Our state has exhibited very poor growth numbers over the past few years and our private sector seems caught in a complete standstill. We simply cannot afford to have bad federal fiscal policy compounded onto that. If any state needs to demand fiscal leadership from Washington, it is Wyoming. We may have a small voice there, but we can make it vocal by focusing on the real dangers facing our nation if Washington keeps running away from its economic responsibilities. We can, e.g., point to the problem with Congress rejecting Obama’s budget without producing a solid alternative: our country will remain without fiscal leadership until after the 2016 election. While Congressional Democrats are unhappy with their president’s budgeting efforts, they are chronically unable to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans on a long-term fiscal policy for America. This is increasingly problematic: our federal government behaves like a decapitated hen, running around aimlessly until it trips and falls. And that is exactly what is so worrisome about the lack of fiscal leadership in Washington. The longer this goes on, the closer we get to a point of no return called “fiscal panic”. It is the point where our international creditors force us to shock-raise interest rates; where the Federal Reserve has printed so much money that monetary inflation is sending our paychecks into the basement; where the U.S.Treasury

has to pay seven, eight, maybe even nine percent interest just to move another batch of bonds. That is the point that several European countries have already reached: Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal have been devalued to the junk-bond division. Next in line is France, the second largest economy in the euro zone.Utter panic is setting in among the socialist government’s cabinet members: seeing how their economy is inching closer and closer to junk bond status they have desperately tried to eliminate their budget deficit with higher taxes and spending cuts. This has not worked. Bad macroeconomic news is emerging from France almost weekly. This has raised the temperature, and panic level, even further in Paris. Explains Ambrose EvansPritchard with The Telegraph: French president Francois Hollande is facing an anti-austerity revolt from his own ministers as he pushes through a fresh round of tax rises and austerity to meet EU deficit targets. Three cabinet members have launched a joint push for a drastic policy change, warning that [spending] cuts have become selfdefeating and are driving the country into a recessionary spiral. The problem for the French is that they have waited so long with doing anything about their economy and their public finances that they are now locked into a corner with very little wiggle room. In a matter of speaking, the cabinet and the legislature, the National Assembly, have been reduced to puppets executing whatever policies international lenders dictate. Will the U.S. president end up in a similar situation? Will international creditors reduce Congress to an assembly of errand runners? It is hard to tell when this will happen, but unless Washington gets its act together we can safely bet that it will happen. And when it does, there will be only one game in town: austerity. Drastic tax increases will be coupled with harsh, immediate and indiscriminate spending cuts. The very same policies that have sent Greece into the dungeon of mass unemployment, poverty, economic despair and political extremism; the same policies that have turned middle-class Spaniards into food scavengers and brought Portugal to the brink of social chaos.

There is no mistaking the panic gripping France. Evans-Pritchard notes that the French government is planning “the harshest fiscal squeece since the Second World War”, adding that: Almost all the austerity measures will come from tax rises, pension fees and a “green’ levy, rather than spending cuts. The state sector will climb to a record 56.9pc of GDP this year as the economic contraction eats into the private sector. Public spending has reached Scandinavian levels … France is at growing risk of a debt trap as the slump itself erodes tax revenues. Public debt will jump to 94pc of GDP next year, a drastic upward revision from 90.5pc. America is far from these numbers, but unless we do something drastic to curb the runaway federal deficit, we will continue to slide into the same dungeon as Europe’s junk-rated welfare states. Once we get there, it is going to be very difficult to get out again. A recent report by the Brussels, Belgium based think tank The Breugel Forum has some desperate words to say about Europe’s economy Europe’s pre-crisis growth performance was disappointing enough, but the performance since the onset of the crisis has been even more dismal. … while total output of the EU15 countries (EU members before 2004) exceeded that of the United States by 15 percent in 1982, it is expected to be 17 percent lower in 2017. … Unlike the U.S. and Japan, Europe’s growth and unemployment numbers have consistently disappointed since 2007 What the report is describing is, in effect, continent-wide economic stagnation. It has been going on for such a long time that Europe is now effectively stuck in it. The case for a recovery – any kind of recovery – is extremely weak. Europe is turning into an economic wasteland. The cause is a combination of a runaway budget deficit and an excessively large welfare state. America is on the same trajectory, only several years behind. But time is running out for us, and the longer we go without even a hint of fiscal leadership from our president and Congress, the straighter the path will be straight into the European economic quagmire.

Submitted by James Phillip Grabrick

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Public Pulse

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

Bold Republic Weekly Let’s learn something this time By Glenn Woods Last week was a heck of a week wasn’t it? There is so much to talk about but let’s focus on the Boston Bombing for a moment. So much happened. So much to learn. But did we learn anything? Lesson #1: There are still crazy people out there. Sick, twisted, crazy people. We can explore and try to figure out why they did what they did. But before we do that we need to come to the realization that these people do exist. I lived in Boston for a short while. Talk about a fish out of water. A very liberal city with some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. It might surprise you the extent to which they take it. Let’s say a young college student likes to go jogging by MIT and Harvard every morning. In Boston. By law she’s not even allowed to carry pepper spray for protection. Yes it is indeed that bad. The city of Boston goes way beyond the regulation of guns. They regulate all weapons of any sort to the point that a law abiding citizen is not allowed to carry anything and is even discouraged from defending themselves with their own fists. In the first shootout that they got into with police they were shooting back and tossing homemade bombs. But all of these laws are supposed to protect Bostonians from harm. So how is it then that these two young men were able to get guns, and make bombs? So here are the lessons: Lesson #1: Passing laws to ban something does not prevent the criminal from getting it. The lesson is, --WHEN sick minded people attack, are you prepared to

defend yourself? I bet many anti gun advocates in Boston wished that they had a gun in their home, while Boston police were sweeping their neighborhoods. Lesson #2: The ﬁrst thing you hear in a news story is usually wrong. Lesson #3: Most of the speculation that you hear shortly after is almost all crazy nonsense. Lesson #4: It’s a good idea to simply just turn down the volume on the television and wait until they actually have something new to report. The television news networks seem to feel the need to stay on a story like this 24/7. So they drag out these so called experts just to ﬁll air time, and engage in endless speculation. Lesson #5: Most of the experts on the television news networks are not experts in much of anything and are not worth listening to. Lesson #6: The vast majority of the speculation that comes out of your own mouth rates right up there with the “EXPERTS” on TV. The good news here is that means that you’re as intelligent as the experts on TV. ---- Wait, that sounds insulting doesn’t it. Never mind. Sorry about that. Lesson #7: The wild speculation of conspiracy theorists is worse than the garbage that you hear on the major cable news networks. REALITY CHECK: So when all is said and done what can we really take away from last week? 1). Yes, it is true that making guns and murder and bombs and terrorism illegal never stops crazy people from doing crazy things. Crazy exists. Tough laws will never change that. 2). Being a well prepared

individual is the smart way to go. Preparing your family is even smarter. As much as our ﬁne folks in law enforcement try, they will never be able to stop everything. Thank God that there were clear-thinking and well-prepared citizens on hand at the scene of the bombing who were ready to run toward the danger and protect and save lives. The police and other emergency responders really did need all the help that they could get. 3). Back at your own home, should there ever be a crazy person on the loose in your neighborhood, you might want to make sure that you are able to defend your home and your family. The police are not always available and even when they are they have to get to where you are, and that might take a little time. But don’t just think about self defense, think about the threat of ﬁre or maybe a medical emergency. 4). In the end it does not really matter who the nutball is or why they are doing what they are doing. Honestly I really do not care to sit with my conspiracy

friends and listen to their theories. It’s a good idea to tune them out just like you should tune out the wall to wall coverage on the news channels.

FINALLY: The answer lies in the understanding that there are sick minds out there in the world. There are rapists, murders, terrorists, and, believe it or

Randy the Builder 307-682-7598

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not, far worse than that. As individuals, as friends, family, and as a society, they lesson it to be prepared to defend ourselves WHEN the next predator strikes.

ANDY CALL R ONTH’S IS M FOR TH M O! PRO

Radio Talk Show Host and Newspaper Columnist www.boldrepublic.com

Dear Editor, This past week the House voted to better utilize an abundant, clean, renewable and affordable energy source: water. H.R. 678, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Scott Tipton of Colorado and myself, passed with overwhelming support. The bill facilitates hydropower development on existing, man-made Bureau of Reclamation water canals and pipes, known collectively as “conduits.” The legislation reduces the red tape imposed by federal bureaucracy and duplicative environmental regulations, paving the way for thousands of megawatts of hydropower to be made available to consumers. This job-creating legislation harnesses the power of our nation’s water supply all without costing the taxpayer a dime; in fact, development will actually generate federal revenue. Its passage is welcome news for Wyoming as the Bureau of Reclamation has identiﬁed 121 water conduits in our state that have hydropower potential. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon! U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis Dear Editor, Do you ever get the feeling that we, Americans, are some of the most selﬁsh, self-centered, and immature brats that ever lived ? I am not claiming to be guiltfree, but look at our national situation as a whole ! We have supposed “leaders” in Washington, D.C. that will not agree to “takecare-of-our-own” in the form of Health Care Reform, but they continue; well over ten years; to send U.S. Troops in harm’s way and to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on two un-necessary wars in coun-

Letters to the Editor

tries that are reported to have very corrupt governments ! We have probably ten to fifteen percent of the richest; most powerful people in the world, yet these brats are the very “Americans” that are sending our jobs; and perhaps our very future stability; to other countries ! At what point in unemployment and under-employment will these so-called “Americans” understand the very real damage they are causing to the very country they call “home” ? The over-whelming majority of us are not guilt-free; either. When are the parents and grand-parents of our generation going to understand that you can not always treat yourself and “little Johnny and Sue” to every brand-new do-dad that comes along ?! There are probably millions of Americans who are absolutely so immature in their finances that they have very little savings; yet they treat themselves to every monthly billing service amenity available ! In closing, I believe I heard, on the national news, The U.S. Government is technically in debt to China by over 300 billion dollars ! I truly pray the rampant selfishness, self-centeredness, and gross immaturity in our nation will subside before we all are totally indebted to foreign powers! Timothy ( Tim ) Monroe Bledsoe Dear Editor: Now is “We The Corporations” by the 5-4 ruling in 2010 by the U.S. Supreme Court in CITIZENS UNITED vs. FEC that said all corporations, even billion-dollars corporations have the same political speech rights as we the citizens do and corporations can spend unlimited amount of money to influence our elections, THIS IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY. Corporations are not people and they have a fiduciary responsibility to their sharehold-

ers, not to the american people, to them, our elections and our elected ofﬁcials are little more than acquisition plans and hostile take-over challenges. Our U.S. Congress has the power to support an an amendment to undo the outrageous U.S. Supreme Court ruling but with the REPUBLICAN majority is not possible because they beneﬁt with the money of the special interests to pass the best laws money can buy. Gerard A Sanchez Dear Editor, The Liberal Media has completely ignored the Gosnell trial where 6 live babies were beheaded! If it was 6 dogs beheaded all the liberal news coverage would have been present for the bleeding hearts! It is a shame that we can’t get real news coverage in the United States. The Liberal Media has no right to call themselves News Coverage, they do not deserve that name! This includes NBC, CBS, CNN, and ABC and the majority of Magazines. The only coverage was in a New Magazine called Week which should replace Time as real news very soon! Jim Mabarah Dear Editor, Latest survey by PricewaterCoopers with 1300 global CEOs of leaders they admired most gives astonishing results. Closely observing the top ten list, only two are from business world and rest eight are from the political side, seven had highest political positions. The list has three American presidents and two British prime ministers and all leaders are from modern times with no from medieval or

ancient period. The eight even after death continue to garner admiration’s and their charisma continues. Equally interesting is no name from ﬁeld of science, education, social welfare, spirituality. Can it be concluded that political leaders create more value to society than others or they are better at expressing themselves and enjoy greater inﬂuencing power, or the tough decisions at the time of crisis with bigger picture in their mind with success coming eventually take them to celebrity status .With four presidents and two prime minister, is the concept that “the big THE better seen” or they take decisions which are ahead of time and they believed in unconventional approach like achieving freedom for their country with non-violence, not popular and unbelievable at that time. Another thing to understand whether they were born leaders or the situation has brought out the hidden leader in them like in case of Mahatma Gandhi. What in leaders inspire others and how admirers are able to integrate their leaders’ philosophy in their day to day affairs? Maybe further research will generated data that will bring out interesting details. Rhonda Ghupta

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Sports Report

Campbell County Observer

2013 Soccer Rankings - Week 6 By Kevin Koile - wyopreps.com A new #1 graces the polls, but as quick as their rise was, their fall could be the same.

4A Boys

Gillette retains their unanimous hold on the #1 ranking, while Laramie tumbles after a bad road trip. The Plainsmen drop to #4, which allow Sheridan and Central to move up to #2 and #3. The Indians play the hard schedule this week, but all 3 of their game are at home. First off is a make-up game vs. Laramie, which has already been postponed 3 times. Then the Indians host the 2nd ranked Broncs and topranked Camels. Meanwhile, Green River breaks the East Conference’s stranglehold on the rankings, as the Wolves are in at the #5 position. GR has an interesting week ahead of them, as they host Evanston, then hit the road for an inter-class game at #1 3A Jackson.

3A Boys

The poll is unchanged again (Jackson, Buffalo, Lander, Worland, Star Valley), although top ranked Jackson will be put to the test this weekend and early next week. The Broncs are the unanimous #1, and just picked

up a hard fought 1-0 win at home vs. #3 Lander, and the challenges keep coming. On Friday, it’s a rematch of last year’s 3A state championship, when the Broncs host #4 Worland. Then on Saturday, it’s an inter-class battle vs. #5 4A Green River. Then next Tuesday, Jackson returns the trip to Lander. The only other big game of note this weekend, is on Saturday, when #2 Buffalo and #5 Star Valley meet in Riverton to do battle.

Boys National Rankings

Although Jackson is still undefeated, the Broncs are no longer ranked nationally, in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. Jackson is ranked #4 in Region 3 (Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska and Iowa), while Gillette is #7.

4A Girls

East and Laramie remain as the top 2, but can not afford to look ahead to next weekend’s clash, where they hope to settle things. First the Lady Plainsmen have to take care of business in a make-up game vs. #3 Central, while the Lady Thunderbirds have to hit the road to Gillette and Sheridan. Central has to share the

Wyoming High School Girls Soccer Scoreboard: April 22-27 Games are starting to become more important, as the battle for post-season seeding begins to build. Here are the schedules and scores for the last full week of April for Campbell County Sports:

#3 ranking with Natrona. Green River holds at #5. The Lady Wolves had their chance to move up the rankings after winning at NC last weekend, but turned around and got shutout by Kelly Walsh. GR will have a tough game Saturday at #2 3A Jackson.

3A Girls

Lander’s reign as the new #1 ranked team could be a short one, depending on what else happens this week. The polls closed before word got out, that the Lady Tigers lost at #2 Jackson. They’ll have to shake it off quickly, because their schedule does not get any easier with a road trip to Powell and Cody (also ranked #2 with Jackson)…and then host the Lady Broncs in a rematch next Tuesday. Star Valley dropped from #1 to #4 after an 0-1-1 road trip, and are back on the road this week in Riverton against #5 Buffalo. Jackson hosts #5 4A Green River on Saturday.

Girls National Rankings

No Wyoming team is ranked nationally in the latest NSCAA polls, although Cheyenne East is #10 in Region 5 (Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, California, and Alaska).

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Three Peak wrestlers earn Governor’s awards During the 2013 Wyoming Amateur Wrestling Association Wyoming State Tournament April 19-21, three Peak wrestlers were presented with the Governor’s Award for their accomplishments during the 2012 wrestling season as well as their achievement of earning All-American status. Trevor Jeffries won the Governor’s Award for the Schoolboy division in Folkstyle, Mason Miller won the Governor’s Award for the Intermediate division in Greco/ Roman, and Taylor Jeffries won the Governor’s Award for the Schoolboy division in Greco/Roman. This is an prestigious award that every wrestler strives to achieve and can only be earned with commitment to attending and placing at national tournaments in the United States. The Governor’s Award is given to the outstanding wrestler for each age division and style from the past season. This award is given to age divisions in which there is a USA sanctioned national tournament. Selection criteria are based on placement at USA sanctioned events with emphasis toward the highest levels of competition. Awards are given at the accompanying state tournament of the following year. Wrestlers may earn only one award per year and may also win one per style while participating as a Bantam through Schoolboy/girl and one per style while participating as a Cadet through Junior.

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PublicReport Pulse Sports

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

Pro Wrestling coming to Wyoming

When most people go on vacation it is for rest and relaxation. Not for Beau James, a pro wrestler from Tennessee. James ﬁrst came to Wyoming in 2004 on his way to Portland,OR. He liked the area and was surprised when he did not see any advertisement for local wrestling events. “You can’t go a mile in the South with out seeing a sign or poster for live wrestling” James said. Pro Wrestling has always been based on a night out for the family on a budget. “Most places we promote our kids tickets and concessions are cheaper than a movie or other sporting events” explained James. After returning to Tennessee in 2004 Beau started working on the idea of bringing Pro Wrestling to Wyoming and surrounding states. In 2005 he returned with then girl friend now wife Ladies Wrestling Champion Misty James. They spent a few days in not only Wyoming but surrounding states looking at possible venues to hold events. “We live in The Appalachian Mountains at the foot hills of The Smokies, same kind of small towns and communities of The Rockies. The people come from the same mold farmers, ranchers, and hard working people. They just want to provided for their families and take them out for a fun night” James told us. There has been two other trips by the James Wrestling Duo to Wyoming since then. Beginning last September they started with many emails, phone calls, and mailing brochures. James says since January 1st of this year all eyes and work have been toward making this tour a reality. This summer they will be testing the waters, in hopes venues and civic groups will be interested in booking them. All of the events are set up for a family night out with reasonable prices. Their brochure says “Our events are for the entire family. Our wrestlers do not use profanity or rude gestures. We are classic pro wrestling heroes vs. villains. Wrestling the way it should be, fun for everyone” Wrestling is the family business for

The James Gang. Beau went on to tell us “Someone in our family has been involved in wrestling since the 1960s. I had two cousins involved in the 60s and 70s. Mom and Dad promoted in late 80s to mid 90s. I have a brother in law, two cousins, and a nephew who wrestle now. My wrestling wife and I were married in a wrestling ring in front of a packed house in our home town. I have two published books about my life in wrestling. It seems the one constant with us is wrestling”. He followed up with “I’m excited about coming out there. I think we can help a lot of people raise needed funds. When we say we are coming to Wyoming that’s what we mean. Not just the bigger towns. We want to come to the small towns too. All we need is for a civic clubs, community center, sports teams, Volunteer Fire Departments, American Legions, or anyone else who has a need to raise funds to contact us and set it up”. We come here knowing we may be in bigger venues some nights but we plan on wrestling in small community centers, Legion Halls, Fairgrounds buildings, and Volunteer Fire Departments. If they have a building we can ﬁt a ring and 250 plus people in we are there!”. We have wrestlers from Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, and West Virginia coming with us. All top talents who could be wrestling in places like Memphis, Louisville, Birmingham, Pensicola, Charleston, and other big cities. They all believe that we can make a go in Wyoming in the summer months and they are coming to give their all. If you are part of a Civic Groups, School, American Legion, Fire or Police Department, local Community Center, or any other non proﬁt organization that would like to use Pro Wrestling as a fundraiser you can get all the info by emailing championshipwrestlingrockies@gmail.com or calling 423-817-5346. More info on Beau James at kingofkingsport.com

Coaches of the Year

The Wyoming Coaches Association has announced their coaches of the year for the Winter sports. Special sports: Scotty McClelland, Jackson Wrestling: Charlie Williams, Moorcroft; Nate Urbach, Powell; Tom Seamans, Gillette Assistant Wrestling: Justin Hoopman, Douglas

Boys Swimming: Bruce Gresley, Lander; Mark Miller, Central Assistant Swimming: Marcia Gaines, Buffalo Girls Basketball: Briant Tiechert, Cokeville; Dianne Moser, Tongue River; Robert Erickson, Star Valley; Mitch Holst, Gillette Boys Basketball: Paul Prestrud, Little Snake Riv-

er; Brian May, Lovell; Tony Saras, Star Valley; Dick Quayle, Riverton Assistant Boys: Frank Boley, Big Horn Boys Indoor Track: Mark Hileman, Kelly Walsh Girls Indoor Track: Mark Kelting, Gillette Indoor Assistant: Jon Cook, Douglas

Gillette Boys one-up Laramie in battle for 4A East lead By Kevin Koile - wyopreps.com Highlights of the Saturday, April 20th Boys Soccer game between #2 Laramie at #1 Gillette. The top-ranked Camels would break through early in the 2nd half, and make it hold against the 2nd ranked Plainsmen. Oh them? They share everything. Same clothes, same toys…even the same highlights. Number 2 Laramie at Number 1 Gillette…ﬁrst half…Laramie wearing the maroon…Sean Ohagan was trying to center the ball for a team-mate, but Andrew Hays saw that one coming, and he’ll cut it off at the pass before the visitors could establish a connection…and that would keep a point off of the board. On the other end…Gillette had their own plan of attack…this is not a centering pass by Lane Knievel… rather it’s a shot on goal, but Kolton Rap would rise to the occasion and pull that ball down, and ensure that this contest would stay scoreless for the time being. The Camels would try

again from the corner… good approach and all Rap could do was swat the ball over the cross bar…and we have nothing doing on the scoreboard going into halftime. Second half…both teams going in the opposite direction…Tyler Greener gets the steal and then sometimes, you just got to say, forget strategy…just shoot it…and that had just enough to get between Rap and the cross-bar. The result was a much needed goal, since

these teams could not ﬁnd the back of the net when they last played. The home team now has the advantage, leading 1-to-nothing. The Plainsmen had their chances to even things up…Gavin Wordan launches this ball from the corner…Hays had to scramble for this one, but he would eventually pounce on the ball, to end that scoring threat…as Gillette would hang on to secure their hold on the 4A East…winning 1-nil.

Kashton Renolds - 2013 50 lbs Wyoming Folk Style Champ.— with Quincy Reynolds, Kathy Morris Reynolds,Maryona Morris and Clark Reynolds.

Jerron Granberry to transfer to UW

University of Wyoming head basketball coach Larry Shyatt announced Tuesday that Jerron Granberry has signed a scholarship offer and will transfer to UW from the University of North Florida. Granberry will graduate from UNF on Friday with a bachelor’s degree in communication and, under NCAA rules, have one year of eligibility with the Cowboys while he pursues a master’s degree. “Jerron is an individual the Shyatt family has followed for close to four years,” Shyatt said. “I’ve had the chance to follow his basketball career at UNF since Jeremy [Shyatt] was there two years ago under my former assistant Matthew Driscoll, including seeing him compete and practice. Jerron’s story means a lot more to me personally because of the loss of his father and that rang true with all of our staff. We know Jerron can help the Wyoming basketball program, but we also hope we can help him and his family through a tough time.” Granberry comes to the Cowboys after a stand-out career for Driscoll, who just completed his fourth season at the helm for the Ospreys. Driscoll was an assistant at Wyoming under Shyatt during the 1997-98 season. A 6-5, 225-pound guard, Granberry started the first five games of the 201213 season, before he was excused from the team to be with his family following the death of his father. “Jerron is capable of playing all the perimeter positions, but also guarding all three of those spots on defense as well,” Shyatt said. “He’s shown through his career that he is a consistent and solid threepoint shooter, but his greatest attribute on the court is his toughness and competitiveness.” Granberry missed just one game his first three seasons in the program, as he crafted an impressive stat sheet at UNF. In 101 starts, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 36 percent from the field and 35 percent beyond the arc. During his junior season in 2011-12 he became the sixth player in UNF history and first in the NCAA Division I era to reach the 1,000-point mark. Granberry is the school’s all-time leader in three-point makes (213) and three-point attempts (579), while his 1,071 career points are fifth and his 101 starts are fourth on UNF’s

career lists. He was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference Preseason Team before the 2012-13 campaign and to the conference’s All-Tournament Team in 2010-11. During the 2011-12 season, Granberry ranked second on the team in scoring at 10.9 points, as he posted 17 double-digit performances that included 25 points and 6-of-6 beyond the arc against Stetson. Granberry missed just one game during his junior season with an ankle sprain. Granberry’s sophomore campaign saw him pace the team at 12.0 points per game and 23 double-figure scoring games, which included four with 20 or more. He notched a careerbest 28 points in a triple-overtime victory over Kennesaw State, as he drilled a pair of game-tying threes late in the contest. He notched nine points, four assists and three rebounds in UNF’s 7660 win over Wyoming on Nov. 18, 2010, in Laramie. Current UW assistant coach Jeremy Shyatt was an assistant with the Ospreys at the time. He was named tournament MVP of the Cancun Challenge and earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Week once during the season. An immediate contributor, Granberry started all 31 games as a freshman in 2009-10 and led the Ospreys in scoring at 9.0 points per game. He was also the team’s top three-point shooter at 37 percent and ranked third on the team in rebounds at 3.3 per game. He recorded 14 games in double-digit points. Granberry played his prep career at Coral Reef High School in Miami, Fla., where he was a teammate of current UW player Charles Hankerson Jr. As a senior, Granberry averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists to help lead Coral Reef to its first-ever state title and earn secondteam all-state honors. He paced the team in field goal percentage (52 percent), rebounds and was second in assists. A fouryear varsity member, he helped Coral Reef improve from four wins as a freshman to 14 as a sophomore, 20 as a junior and 27 as a senior. The son of LaFreida and Leslie Granberry, Jerron has three brothers, Lance, Davin and Leslie Jr., and two sisters, Kim and LaTorri. Davin lettered for the University of Central Florida basketball team from 1997-2000.

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Sports Report

Campbell County Observer

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Camel Kids wrestler Deric Johnson named Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Responsible Sports “Moment of the Month” for April Selﬂess act on the wrestling mat exempliﬁes the spirit of sportsmanship and responsibility; Johnson and Camel Kids Wrestling eligible for $1,000 grant

Following the close of fan voting on Twitter, Deric Johnson of Sage Valley, Wyoming has been named Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Responsible Sports “Moment of the Month” winner for April. During a USA Wrestling meet last month, 13-year-old Johnson was wrestling for his club team, Camel Kids Wrestling. Johnson was in desperate need of a win, hoping to improve his 3-12 record, when he drew Joey Pinkerton of Douglas Wrestling Club (Wyo.) in the third-place match. Pinkerton, a young athlete with Down syndrome, had never known the thrill of a victorious match. Johnson decided a victory for his opponent would be more important than one for himself. He gave Pinkerton a solid match, but ultimately, it was Pinkerton who tasted his first career victory with a 7-0 decision to the cheers of wrestlers from both teams. It is simple acts of sportsmanship just like Deric’s that Liberty Mutual Insurance and its partner Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) look to celebrate with the “Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments” program. Now in its third year, the “Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments” of 2013 seeks to identify and applaud acts of sportsmanship, selflessness, integrity, fairness, and honesty from youth sports fields, rinks, courts, mats and pools around the country. Now through November 30, coaches and parents can submit a moment that celebrates the inherent goodness in youth sports at ResponsibleSports.com or by tweeting a nomination using #RSMoments. In addition, throughout 2013, Liberty Mutual Insurance will scour local headlines across the country and identify additional moments that exemplify sportsmanship within local communities. Each month, three nominees will be highlighted on the Responsible Sports site where fans can tweet their vote for the most responsible “Moment of the Month.” Johnson has made Camel Kids Wrestling eligible for a grant donation if named one of the “Top 10 Moments” of 2013. Winning moments will be announced at the close of 2013 and be honored by Liberty Mutual Insurance with a charitable donation of $1,000 to the ten organizations that are responsible for each Responsible Sports moment. The Top “Moment of the Year” winner, as voted on by fans on Twitter, will also earn an extra $1,000 honorarium for their organization. This year, with the help of U.S. Olympic skiing legend and youth sports parent Picabo Street, Liberty Mutual Insurance will name the ‘Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments’ at the close of 2013. The Top 10 winners will be chosen from among the monthly moments by a panel of sports

experts, including PCA Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jim Thompson; executive directors from leading youth sports organizations and Responsible Sports partner organizations, ASA Softball, AYSO Soccer, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Softball, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo and USA Wrestling. “Youth sports are a vibrant part of all local communities for the life lessons they teach our children, as well as our coaches,” said Julie Brassard, manager of sponsorships for Liberty Mutual Insurance. “We are proud to celebrate Deric Johnson and Camel Kids Wrestling as our “Moment of the Month” for the team’s selflessness on the wrestling mat and commitment to good sportsmanship.” All “Moment of the Month” nominees exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship, selflessness and responsibility on the basketball courts and the wrestling mat. Other finalists for the Responsible Sports “Moment of the Month” include: • High school senior Aly Carr’s (Auburn, Wash.) basketball career came to an early end in January when she was sidelined with a torn ligament in her knee. Her coach, and father, Chris Carr, consoled her, but the reality was this was his last season as well, as he planned to retire at the end of the 2013 season. It was then that Coach Carr received a text message from Steve Jacobson, the coach of his team’s next opponent. He had heard of Aly’s injury wanted to do something to help. Jacobson suggested the two teams orchestrate the opening-game tip so Aly could not only be on the court for her final home game, but be handed the basketball first, showcasing that good sportsmanship always prevails. • The DeSoto (Mo.) Dragons girls’ basketball team has had one constant the past three years – their team manager, Brooke Kirby. Kirby, a student with autism, was greeted with cheers from a gymnasium full of fans in February when she got her moment in the spotlight after years of being the shadows of the classmates whose team she manages. Known as “the missing puzzle piece” to her teammates, Kirby was introduced into the starting lineup and played her first game as a member of the JV girls’ basketball team. Fans wore T-Shirts with Kirby’s name spelled out on puzzle pieces on the front and offered words of encouragement. DeSoto won the game 4228, with Kirby scoring the team’s first basket, and six points total. The “Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments” is part of the larger Liberty Mutual Insurance Responsible Sports™ program powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, which supports volunteer youth sports

coaches and parents who help children succeed both on and off the field. Liberty Mutual Insurance recently re-launched the Responsible Sports website with a new look to the vast tools, resources, tips and advice that adults and youth coaches can use to help kids experience the best that youth sports have to offer. For more information, visit ResponsibleSports.com or join the conversation @JoinTeamRS. About Responsible Sports: At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of responsibility shown by people every day who take personal ownership in ensuring positive outcomes in life. In 2007, we created Responsible Sports as a part of this belief, to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display responsibility. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when Responsible Coaches and Responsible Sports Parents come together to support winning both on and off the field. Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports is a community-based program providing resources, tools, tips and advice for volunteer youth sport coaches and sport parents. Powered by PCA, the Responsible Sports program offers parents and coaches constructive tips, expert advice and practical examples to help create a positive sports environment for children. Liberty Mutual also has provided more than $500,000 in grants to youth sports teams, organizations and schools for community participation in the online Responsible Sports curriculum. Liberty Mutual is proud to support youth sports organizations, including ASA Softball, AYSO Soccer, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Softball, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo, and USA Wrestling. To access the Responsible Sports resources, see previous Responsible Sports grant winners, and register your league or school for the Responsible Sports grant program, visit www.ResponsibleSports.com. About Liberty Mutual Insurance: “Helping people live safer, more secure lives” since 1912, Bostonbased Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2011 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 84th on the Fortune 100 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2011 revenue. The company employs over 50,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world. The sixth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual (lib-

ertymutual.com) sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 14,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups. Liberty Mutual Insurance is the Official Property and Casualty and Life Insurance Partner of the 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Liberty Seguros (Brazil) is a National Supporter and Official Insurer of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup, both of which will be held in Brazil. About Positive Coaching Alliance: Since its founding within the Stanford University Athletic Department in 1998, Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) has helped develop “Better Athletes, Better People” primarily through live group workshops, online courses and books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, studentathletes and school/organizational leaders. In partnership with nearly 2,000 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide, PCA has conducted more than 11,000 live group workshops and impacted nearly 5 million youth. In 2013, PCA will conduct roughly 1,200 live group workshops across the U.S., while assisting tens of thousands of other individuals via online courses at www.PositiveCoach.org.

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April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

World of Sports By Ted Ripko - Local Sports Authority

Peak wrestlers compete in state tournament Submitted by Jannie Miller Peak Wrestlers competed in the 2013 Wyoming Amateur Wrestling Association Wyoming State Tournament April 19th-21st. During the ﬁrst day of competition for Folkstyle, Peak had three state champions: Josh Macy - Novice 85lb division, Warren Carr - Novice 90 lb division, and Trevor Jeffries - Schoolboy 105 lb division. Other placers include: Hunter Rawlings - Schoolboy 120 lb - 2nd place; Baran Lechner Novice 65 lb - 3rd place; and Dalton Macy - Schoolboy 112 - 5th place. The second day of competion was Freestyle and again Peak had three state champions: Josh Macy , Warren Carr, and Trevor Jeffries. Dalton Macy ﬁnished

3rd, Mason Miller was 4th in the Novice 70 lb division, Seamus Casey was 5th in the Intermediate 65 lb division, Tristan Wornkey was 5th in the Intermediate 80 lb division, and Tanner Macy was 6th in the Intermediate 65 lb division. The ﬁnal day concluded with Greco Roman. Josh Macy and Trevor Jeffries once again earned state championships making them both Triple Crown Winners. Dalton Macy placed 2nd with a gutsy ﬁnish, Warren Carr was third, Seamus Casey and Tristan Wornkey each placed 4th, Baran Lechner placed 5th while Tanner Macy, Brady Carlson in the Intermediate 70 lb division, and Mason Miller all placed 6th.

Have you ever really thought about just how weird sports are? Who in their right mind would’ve thought that 22 guys in tights, pushing and pulling and tugging on each other would become the most popular sport in the United Sates? But football is the most beloved sport in our nation right now, and has been for quite some time. I find myself out during the summer months using a metal stick trying to whack a tiny ball into a hole 300 yards away and I am not the only one. People all over the world enjoy playing golf. I have tried all different types of sports throughout my life and been good at most of them, but the sports I have played like baseball, tennis, football, track and field, badminton and volleyball. Even some of those sports are weird in their own right, but they have nothing on some sports that take the cake on being extremely unique. So, just what is the most awkward sport out there? At one point and time some of the most popular sports in the world seemed crazy, but then they became mainstream and loved by millions. Futbol, or soccer as it is known in the US, is the most popular sport in the world. When soccer first began in England it has been rumored that the ball that was used was the head of some Danish brigand. Nothing screams “mainstream sport” like kicking a head all over a field in front of thousands of rowdy fans. So, it is conceivable that some of the new sports on the scene these days might grow to be as popular as soccer of football, but something tells me no. Take chess boxing. Yes, combine the most cerebral game ever and combine it with one of the most brutal sports out there and you get one exciting competition. This sport was created back in 1992 by a Dutch artist, The sport involves alternating rounds of chess and boxing and the first player to achieve a knockout or a checkmate is crowned the champion. Equestrian is a very tough sport that involves jumping horses over different obstacles and jumps, but what if you were to replace the horses with bunnies? That’s exactly what kaninhop is, which was invented in Sweden in the late 1970’s. The United States Rabbit Agility Association now recognizes 50 rabbit show jumping clubs throughout Scandinavia. What? Bunny jumping not strange enough for you? How about a couple variations on hockey? Unicycle hockey was created before the fad of rollerblading hit the market. There were a good number of “athletes” who took to the playground to play

street hockey with the help of unicycles. There are actually still full blown leagues still active in great Britain. Would you prefer playing hockey underwater? Octopush, as it’s called, was created by the Australians. This is just like the hockey you know and love, but without all the pads, the fights and the ice. Competitors wear the same uniform as water polo players, but with snorkels and what looks like an ice scraper to move a puck around the bottom of a pool. There is a sport that might catch on here in Gillette, coal carrying. Every Easter Monday in Gawthorpe, a small English village men compete by carrying a 50 kilogram bag of coal and women a 25 kg bag up a hill for 1 kilometer and the winner is crowned the coal carrying champion. Maybe the next champion will be from the Energy Capital of the Nation. What about camel wrestling? No, I don’t mean the 11-time state champions in Wyoming, but instead a sport that reminds me of cockfighting, but with camels. This is a favorite sport in Turkey, which pits two camels against each other to see which one will come away the champ. They actually specifically breed and train male camels to be the best they can be. To get the male Camels all riled to fight they introduce a female who is in heat. Sounds like the start of bar fight to me. Are some of these sports just not “extreme” enough for you? Well then this next sport is for you! EXTREME IRONING! According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, this “sport” is the latest danger sport that combines the thrills and of an extreme outdoor activity with the tedious task of creating a well pressed piece of clothing. The whole idea behind this sport is for competitors travel all over the globe looking for the most dangerous places to break out an iron and some starch. What would pin pong be without paddles and a net? Well it would be called blo ball. Played on a ping pong table without a net, each player then tries to blow the little white ball off the end of table to score a point. First one to pass out loses. Of all of these crazy sports that I have shared with you there is one that I believe takes the cake. Ferret legging and yes it means exactly what it sounds like. You stuff two angry ferrets in your pants and try to keep the biting, fighting rodents in your pants for as long as possible. Would you believe the world record is 5 hours and 26 minutes?! This is another sports created by the time wasting citizens of England and while the sport is not very popular anymore, it was the bees knees back in 1970’s.

Classiﬁeds BOAT FOR SALE. 18ft 120 port jet outboard bass tracker for sale. Call 307-680-5947 2008 Harley Dyna Super Glide, custom 19k miles blue $9,680 Marlins 685-4452 or 685-8100 16ft Sea Nymph Fishing Boat, 50 hp outboard Merc, trolling motor, just serviced at wyoming marine $2,500 O.B. O 307-299-4662 or307622-0825 2013 Custom Harley Hardtail Bobber all new $9,500. Marlins 685-4452 or 685-8100 International Tractor 300 Utility For Sale. $2000 Artic Cat 4X4 2001For Sale. $2000 Call Bill 307 - 660 – 8563 94 Mazda MX3 for sale. $1500 obo. 307-670-2037 1988 Honda Gl1500 for free if interested contact me at ( james.bernard10@live.com) 2010 Polaris 550 eps with less than 100 miles, books for $8,000. make and offer. Call Steve Terry at 307-2992992 Chopper - Custom built frame, s&s engine, carb, etc. 80ci. Evolution engine. Wide glide front end. Low. Torn apart down to frame. Have all parts, could be built in two days with under $200.00. Asking $5,500 or best offer. Price:$5,500obo. Contact: 307-670-2037 1981 Harley Davidson FXBSturgis, 1st dual-belt drive to commemorate Hill-Climb @ Sturgis, Jack-Pine Gypsies rally started in ‘41, 50th anniversary model. 12K on straight-up original paint, new Moetzler’s driven-by beefed Shovel, 102hp at wheel. Perfect in every aspect, serious inquiries only, loan is $15K and value of over 25K. Ben 680.7464, 3-other older bikes and this has to go to the right person!

Guns for Sale

Miscellaneous

With the current controversy of gun control you can expect changes. One of these changes will be permanently attached low capacity magazines. Make your current guns compliant to this regulation. Call for quotes on all your gunsmithing needs. Call Wyoming Mountaineers (307)299-2084 to get yours today.

A friend of mine called the other day and tells me he has 2 friends that are looking for some AR-15’s do I have any? I told him yes I do, They are M4 style scope ready models and priced at $695.00. Great, he says, They will be right over. They never showed up so a few days later I asked him if his friends were still interested. He told me nope, they bought them online for $1500.00. So, here they come with UPS, I still made my $15.00 for the transfer but while they were there they looked at the riﬂes I had in stock and discovered they were the same models they ordered with the same features and they could have bought 2 from me for the same price they paid for one they ordered. Don’t let this happen to you, Any gun, Any models, Any features can be ordered or built for a lower cost. Call for a free quote. Call Wyoming Mountaineers (307)299-2084 to get yours today.

Licensed daycare now open. Spots available full-time and before and after school. Close to Rozet school and the post ofﬁce. Monday through Friday 6:30am to 6pm. Ages 3 and up. Call 307-299-1915

Get a piece of history. Mosin Nagant Russian M91/30 Surplus Rifle. Very good to Excellent condition 7.62X54 Caliber. These are a very accurate rifle shooting 4” groups at 1000 yards. Open sights are adjustable to yardage with a push of a button. Great gun for hunting deer or elk very cheap ammo available for target practice. Comes with military issue sling, sling pouches, bayonet, and cleaning tools. Call Wyoming Mountaineers 2992084 and mention this ad. Chinese Type 53 Carbines 7.62X54R. These guns have been fully restored and are excellent shooters. They are a shorter model of the Mossin Naugant making them easy to carry through the brush and trees. Large caliber with plenty of take down power for the largest and most dangerous game. Ammo is still available and still very reasonably priced. This gun comes with a fold down bayonet permanently attached. Adjustable sights on an elevation ramp rear sight makes this package very versatile. permanently attached floor plate magazine holds 5 rounds with one additional one in the chamber. Call Wyoming Mountaineers (307)299-2084 to get yours today.

Boat for Sale with trailer. Needs work. Call 670-8980 for info.

1903 Springﬁeld. 30o6 Cal. U.S. Military. $700 obo. Call (307) 682-7864

ACE will reduce your appetite and give you energy. The natural way to lose weight. www.facebook.com/AcePill 660-2974

Personals Interested in founding a Sherlock Holmes Society in Gillette? Contact gillettesherlockians@gmail. com for info.

Before you buy, make a call to get a quote. We can order any gun you are looking at and just may be able to save you a ton of money. Call for a free quote. $15.00 FFL Transfer Fee on all internet purchases. Call Wyoming Mountaineers 299-2084 and mention this ad.

For Rent 2 Bedroom Duplex, with one car garage, washer/dryer, no pets. $700rent/$700deposit. 307-689-0202 Ofﬁce and Retail space for rent Marlins 685-4452 or 685-8100 For Rent Single Bedroom House in Silver Hills 307680-8838. C2-12-4h Room for Rent. Nice Room for Rent for one responsible person. $480.00 per month. 689-9358.

Heavy Equipment/ Trailers 6x10 trailer. Great shape, fits your biggest Harley. $1,400 obo. 299-4967. 1981 Circle J 4-horse Horse Trailer. New floor, paint and wiring. $2500 OBO Call 307 - 680 – 2374 1981 Circle J 4-horse Horse Trailer. New floor, paint and wiring done in shop class 2 years ago. No rust only used once since redone. $2500 or OBO Call 307 - 680 – 2374

Toy Parts & Accessories Stock pipes for Sportster. 500mi. Stock pices for Dyna Wide Glide. 1500mi. Email baxtersmom62@gmail.com for info. Four 16 inch rims, ﬁve hole, with caps.$90 307 - 670 1887 Harley Accessories for sale. Call 307-670-8980. Ask for Tammy.

HELP WANTED Advertising Sales/Marketing Specialist    

20% Commission plus gas allowance Monthly Individual & Team bonuses Fun Work Enviroment Set Your own hours

Send resume/cover leter to campbellcountyobserver@gmail.com

Be a part of the best up-and-coming business in the area!

Why advertise in a weekly newspaper? 1. Local weekly newspapers are the most trusted form of media! 2. Over 3 out of 4 readers spend more than 15 minutes reading their weekly Newspaper! 3. More people read a local weekly paper than any daily newspaper on any day! 4. Local weekly newspapers have a large readership profile because the whole family reads them. Each newspaper has many readers and each section targets different economic, social and age groups. All local weekly papers appeal to all sections! 5. Most people that read a weekly community newspaper do not read any other local paper, however most people who read other papers read a weekly newspaper as well. Why waste your advertising budget? Stay with the tried and tested - The Campbell County Observer.

iot Publ atr

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Custom Harley Soft tail. Being built, need to sell now. Almost ﬁnished. Chopper, built in Sturgis, SD. Asking $5,500 and will help you build it. HAVE ALL PARTS! Call 257-2306

Wyoming Mountaineers now offers easy payment plans on any in stock ﬁrearm. Your debit card is your line of credit. Purchase any ﬁrearm that is in stock making 4 payments weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Processing fee and payment plan fee apply. Call Wyoming Mountaineers for more details. Call Wyoming Mountaineers 299-2084 and mention this ad.

Gunsmithing Special of the week. Electrolysis Barrel Cleaning. Increase the accuracy of your ﬁrearm, get ready for hunting season or a summer of shooting fun. Most cleanings complete overnight and your gun is ready the next day. Call Wyoming Mountaineers 2992084 and mention this ad.

Bring your catch by the Empire Guesthouse for photographs which may be published in this newspaper with our ﬁshing reports. Along with that, the Guesthouse staff will be awarding monthly prizes for those that let us photograph them and their catch. It doesn’t have to be a trophy to enter and there will be special prizes for those 12 and under. Carp shooters are also welcome to enter. Check with the Guesthouse for more details.

Toys (ATV’s Boats, Etc.)

For all your advertising needs call us today! (307) 670-8980

Classiﬁeds

Campbell County Observer

Help Wanted Cook needed at Lu La Bells. Motivated and Energetic. Days Only. Apply at Lu La bells. “It’s just the right time.... for Avon”. By becoming an AVON representative, you help make your clients look and feel beautiful by selling them great products, while giving you the extra income to have a financially stable lifestyle. For information about this great direct selling opportunity call Sandi at 307-670-2724,an Independent Sales Representative for the World’s No#1 Beauty Company. Call today or email Sandi at wyavonlady@ yahoo.com Looking for CDL to work in North Dakota full time. Call 307-670-3629. PERSONAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED: We are looking for an Office Assistant. Duties include greeting clients, answering phones, and routing mail, data entry and retrieve,scheduling and calender maintenance,Ideal candidates will have proven customer service skills in an administrative setting and experience with Microsoft Office applications email resumes to akeelahanderson001@gmail.com IF INTERESTED Powder River Roofing, a growing company in N.E. Wyoming, is hiring full time roofers. Call 307-696-7465 for an interview. Personal Assistant needed to organize and help. Basic computer skills needed, must be good with organization. I am ready to pay $600.00 per week. Interested person should contact: deans995@ gmail.com Bl-32-2V Full Time Flooring Installers wanted. Must have experience. Bring resumes in to Carpet Express Direct on Hwy. 59 next to the Prime Rib Restaurant. Exciting new career. Unlimited income potential. Think you can sell? Call 307-2994662. We offer commission, fuel allowance, and much more. Sell in the Bighorn, Casper, Powder River, and Black Hills Area. Are you a friendly outgoing individual? Do you connect with people casually? Are you looking for supplemental income? Do you need to be in charge of your own hours? We are looking for an independent contractor for commissioned based ad sales. For more information call Sandra at 307-689-0028 or email at campbellcountytidbits@yahoo.com State Wide Sales people. Print Advertising Sales for new State-wide newspaper. Call 307-299-4662

Child Care Child Care in Sleepy Hollow. Room for 2 children. $20 per day per child. Call 307-2572306. In a Pinch?? Back up Daycare service call 307-6807948

Homes for Sale Home for sale by owner in Western Way. Asking $239,000 for the 1,800 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath home with an unﬁnished basement and a two car garage. Fully fenced, large landscaped yard with a sprinkler system. Home is within walking distance to the new recreation center and the new elementary school that is being built. Please contact me at 307-670-1209 if you are interested. For Sale. 3br Townhouse. 1.5 bath. 307-680-1449 (c139-tfnh) Tri-level house for sale 4 bed 2 bath $209,000 (307) 6701925. 40+ Acres 2 miles south of Wright 1999 Atlantic Oak Modular. $250,000 OBO Call 307 - 680 – 2374 Great House - 4 bedroom, 2 bath, computer room, huge island kitchen, ﬁreplace. Must see! call 307-687-0333 C1-23-tfn 3 bedroom 11/2 bath C1-39-tfnh

Townhouse 680-1449

FSBO 2,688 SF home on corner lot with fenced back yard. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, upgraded kitchen, ﬁnished walkout basement, oversized garage. $259,000. 307-680-9180.

Apartments for Rent 1-5 bedroom units available for rent. Please contact Real Estate Systems of Gillette Inc at 307-682-0964 for all the updated details. Immaculate 1-2 bedroom apartments, fresh paint, and new ﬂooring. (no pets). Call for move-in special starting at $595 307-686-6488 Apartment for Rent in WindRidge Appts. Water/Trash/ Washer/Dryer. Air and Heat. 3bs/2bth. Must qualify for low income housing. $740.00/ mo. Call 307-685-8066 Foothills View Apartments Hot Move In Special! Cool, Clean, Quiet Apartments. A/C, 2 Bdrm. $695 1Bdrm. $595. Showing anytime Call 307-686-6488 C3-28-2v Apartments for rent. Foothills View Apartments. Clean and Quiet. One and Two bedroom units starting at $595.00. Call for showing andmove in special 307-6866488 (c3-42-3v) Spacious & new, 1, 2, &3 bdrm affordable apartments available now! Call 6858066. Washer and dryer in every unit. Private sunny patio or balcony. Special move-in rate, 1 bdrm: $694, 2 bdrm: $777, 3 bdrm: $888. Move in now and deduct $ 200 off ﬁrst month while special lasts. Call Konnie or Celeste at Highland Properties 685-8066.

Services Homeowners and renters insurance for house, trailer, or apartments. Call Elizabeth Jones Agency 307-682-6520 RV Winterization starting at $99.95 at YOUR house. Call Randy at 307-660-3091 (b340-tfnh) Spring Cleaning Special! Any purchase over $200 prior to 5-31-13 Will have the choice of: Free couch cleaning (up tp 8ft. long) or Free 1 year warranty on oil/water based spots. www.pineridgeclean. com 307-660-7856 ﬁnd us on Facebook

Merchandise

Pets

1939 HA Selmer Trumpet $750 OBO. 687-1087

Basset Hound pups for sale; 9 weeks old; need shots. Rust and White and Tricolor $250.00; One Lemon and White female $300.00. Transportation cost additional if I deliver @ 25 cents per mile. Serious Inquiries Only! Please call 307-382-9282.

Large Underground Tank. 307-680-8838

Fuel

Large and Small Band Saws call for info. 307-680-8838 18v Dewalt tools - sawzall, hammer drill, one battery and one charger. $150 obo. call (307)299-1382 Exterior door with window, interior light ﬁxtures, and computer supplies. E-mail Corsair115@yahoo.com Refrigerator (white) Great condition $100 307-2995918 Blue Dual Reclining Sofa. Good shape $100 Call 6802982. Can text photo if you like. Spyder Semi-auto paint ball gun. cal..68 Special Edition. Only used twice! New $300 For you $175 plus two canisters. Call 680-1302 If you are interested in purchasing Nutrient Rich Ranch Raised Beef grown locally, call 307-340-1108. Great Jerky http://www.rberlinger.jerkydirect.com/ For sale: whirlpool refrigerator, brand new patio propane heater, still in box Cabela’s shower tent, large dining room dark blue/red rooster rug, 10” wet tile saw, treadmill. Call 682-6353. Kojac series One, two and three dvd $65.00 $98 value 307 - 670 - 1887

Autos, Trucks and Vans ‘76 Electra-Glide would consider trade on Pan or Knuck if ya know of anyone, ‘81 sent it to LA-S&S, 11.5to1 and dual-plugged to run regular-gas, had burn-out time at Hog-Jam! Ben 680.7464. 2008 Dodge Charger AWD Hemi, loaded Black $18,000 books for $22,500 Marlins 685-4452 or 685-8100.

Want To Get in Shape?Like to have Fun? Learn The Graceful moves of American Oriental Belly Dancing! The 3rd Sunday of every month. Call Leanna Tabatt 307-6808457

1993 Chrysler LHS for sale or trade. Needs tie-rod and alignment. Runs good. $1,500.00 OBO. Email KevlarGrease@gmail.com

Avenue Mall - Over 30 vendors, come check us out! 217 Gillette Ave. Mon-Fri. 9AM to 7 PM, Sat. 9AM- 5 PM, Sun. 10 AM - 4 PM Computers have become like cars, and they need repaired. Want the best quality repair work in N.E. Wyoming? Bring your computer to “Your Computer Store.” Quality work at a quality price. “Your Computer Store,” where YOU COME FIRST 802 E. Third street next to Ice Cream Land.

2 AKC Registered Tea Cup Yorkies Puppies for free. They are male and female. If interested contact james.bernard10@live.com D7-45-3H

2002 Oldsmobile Aurora. Black. Leather interior. Good condition. 87,400mi. Power everything. Front wheel drive. New tires. Call Charlene 307-660-7316.

1994 Plymouth Voyager for sale or trade. Runs/ looks great. 188,000 miles. $2,000.00 OBO. Email KevlarGrease@gmail.com 1996 Nissan Pathﬁnder 4x4. New BF Goodrich Tires, Runs good. $1,200.00. 307299-4662. (a141-tfnh) 2004 Yukon Denali XL,6.0 Motor, Loaded $14,000 OBO 660-9351 2008 Hyundai Sonata LMTD, 40,000 mi. $13,500, Call 307-660-2532. 2000 Chevy Silverado 4x4 1/2 Ton Pickup. New tires, ext. cab, long bed. 148,000 mi. One owner. 307-6700858 or 303-250-4096

To place a classiﬁed ad, email us at Classiﬁeds@CampbellCountyObserver.com Include name, phone, e-mail and physical address. For more information go to www.campbellcountyobserver.net

Sales Repfor Print Wanted Advertising. Desirable Qualifications:  Self Motivation  People Person  Previous Local Sales Experience e-mail CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com or call 670-8980 to apply

Business Opportunities Looking for investor in local business. Call for Details. 307-257-2306.

Made Fresh Daily

Exciting career available Now! No weekends, holidays, or nights. Unlimited income potential. 20% commission plus gas allowance selling print advertising. Call Anne Peterson (advertising manager) at (307) 299-4662 or email AnnePeterson@ CampbellCountyObserver. com Health problems? Try doTERRA certiﬁed pure essential oils. 307-680-0363. www. myvoffice.com/healingisbelieving

Cinnamon Rolls for pickup or delivery. Call Sandi 307-670-2724

Wanted to Buy

Head to

I Buy Militaria. Swords, uniforms, bayonets, medals, guns/parts, ﬁeld gear. 6827864

2006 Dodge Mega Cab 4x4 Laramie 102,000 miles $16,000 307-689-7290

Powder River Mechanics. We have the cheapest labor rates, but the best quality repairs in town. We offer full services on Foreign and domestic vehicles, ATV’s, Snowmobiles, motorcycles, jet ski’s, boats, and more. Let us put you on a Preventative maintenance schedule so your vehicles run miles past your warranty. Call for an appointment. 307-6967713.

2 AKC Registered Bulldog Puppies for free, THEY ARE MALE AND FEMALE. IF INTERESTED CONTACT ( james.bernard10@live.com)

Two place aluminum snowmobile trailer. $1,600. 307689-0202

Powder River Rooﬁng is N.E. Wyoming’s top quality roofing, with the highest safety standards in the area. Call for your FREE estimate today for metal/wood/shingle removal, install, and repair. (307)-696-7465. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Looking to buy a new computer? Why waste the money? “Your Computer Store” has refurbished towers and laptops rebuilt right here in our store. Plenty of memory, disc space, and advice. Come by and see our inventory at “Your Computer Store,” where YOU come ﬁrst! 802 E. Third St next to Ice Cream Land

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Wanted: Old Batteries. Call 307-670-1675. D4-30-8P WILL PAY CASH FOR CAMPERS. Call Scott (307) 680-0854.

Campers & Motor Homes

the

Lake

Salt Lake City

1997 32ft. Class A Motor Home. Sleeps 6, Only 31,000 Miles. Asking $17,000. Call (307) 660-7520. 32 ft. Wildcat by Forestriver, sleeps 10, 1 slide,4 bunks 307-680-6625 Large Private RV/Camper Lot for rent. Big yard, trees. All utilities available. $400 per month, $400 deposit. 1 year lease. Call (307) 6601007. 5th wheel camper for sale. Call Skip (307) 680-0073

Camping/Fishing Camper spot for rent $300 per month in Silver Hills 307680-8838 Minnows, crawlers, leeches, ﬁshing tackle, boating and camping supplies. Fully furnished cabin rentals, 50 Amp Full Hookup RV sites 5 minutes from Keyhole Reservoir in Pine Haven. Empire Guesthouse & RV Park 307756-3454. www.empireguesthouse.com

Home Appliances/ Furnshings

97’ Chevy Long Box Extended Cab. ¾ Ton, selling for Parts. $1,000 OBO. 307680-7431

Booth Table. L-shaped. With Chairs. Seats 6. $500.00 Call 299-4967

1982 Chevy Ventura Van. 350 Engine, 400 Turbo newly rebuilt transmission. Interior in GREAT shape, has a working electric wet bar and built in cooler in back. Carb. needs re-jetted, other than that there are no problems. Must see. Asking $3,500 or best offer. Price:$3,500obo. Contact: 307-670-8980

3 Propane Refrigerators 307-680-8838. D4-12-4h

Whirlpool Large Capacity front load washer and dryer with bottom drawer excellent condition asking $700 for pair 307-680-7948

Three antique pressedbacked oak chairs. Excellent condition. $85 each. 6820042

1952 Chevy Dumptruck, hauls 5 tons of coal $1500 307-682-1172

book your weekend getaway now:

iflygillette.com iflygillette.com

Auto insurance preferred and SR-22’s. Call Elizabeth Jones Agency 307-682-6520 Motorcycle and ATV insurance. Call Elizabeth Jones Agency 307-682-6520

HOME OF THE ADULT DAYCARE CENTER

Produce for Sale

302 E 2nd • Gillette • (307) 682-9442

Fresh local “Free Range” eggs. All natural, no animal by-products. No antibiotics. $3/Doz. 257-9049’

Bud / Bud Light (Cans or Bottles) $2.50 ea

Our Roots

April 26 - May 3, 2013

Campbell County Observer

Are We Alone? By Mike Borda Are we alone? This is the question man has been asking for thousands of years. Astronomy and the search for the extraterrestrial have been recorded as far back as writing. The ancient Greeks believed that there were many alien worlds in existence, as did the Egyptians. However, even today, we have no proof that there is life beyond our world. Or do we? In 1977, a signal was detected coming from deep space, and in the years since has yet to be fully explained. This signal has the potential to change our understanding of the universe, or conﬁrm our galactic loneliness. Here is the story of the “Wow! Signal”: The astronomy world during 1977 consisted of, among other things, many large telescopes, probing the sky. Known as the SETI project (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), the focus of this group of astronomers was to scan the sky to see if there were any discernable signals coming from space, similar to those we are broadcasting out ourselves. In 1971, NASA began providing funding for SETI, which had grown to involve computer companies such as HewlettPackard. One ofﬁce of SETI was located at Ohio State University, known as the Big Ear radio telescope. The man running this particular piece of equipment, Dr. Jerry Ehman, was a volunteer who was simply reading printouts of data. However, on the night of August

15, 1977, his life would change forever. While reading the printouts of telescope data, Ehman noticed something unusual. The characters printed before him were higher than he had ever seen before. He read “6EQUJ5”. At the time, the coding used to describe the signal strength started at 1, going to 9, and then used letters to extend the scale. “6EQUJ5” then, is a signal that increases in strength to a peak (U) and then decreases. When he saw this reading on the paper, Ehman circled it, and wrote “Wow!” in the margin. While the telescopes also intercept many signals from Earth and our satellites, the fact that this one lasted 72 seconds from one point in space ruled out most of possibilities of interference. In fact, it came from the constellation Sagittarius. However, an interesting complication quickly arose. The Big Ear telescope used two different receivers to hone in signals. The “Wow!” signal came through one receiver, but not the other (which scanned the same point in space three minutes later). The signal has never re-appeared. In the months following the announcement of the signal, public interest in SETI peaked, but because the result was never replicated quickly tailed off. That did not stop the theories from collecting, though. Some say that the signal could have come from an alien space-

ship, which was moving through space. Because they were moving, the signal was not found in the same spot again. Another theory states that the signal was a one-time burst sent out to attract attention to other signals we have yet to detect. Even Ehman has expressed doubts, however,

as to the origin of the signal. More terrestrial explanations have also been offered. It could have been interference bouncing off an Earth satellite, or a glitch in the system (although no proof of these has been found, either). To this day, we cannot be sure of the origin of the “Wow!” signal.

Is it sign of alien life, or simply a misunderstanding of the data? One thing is sure, though. Humans have been searching for extra-terrestrial life from our earliest days, and that trend is not likely to stop anytime soon.

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The Birth of a Recreational Area By Jeff Morrison While driving through northeast Wyoming, it’s fairly easy to picture the countryside as it appeared 100 years ago. Aside from the coal mines that line Highway 59, and the urban sprawl of Gillette, the landscape hasn’t changed much. This is especially true of Crook County; the home of Devil’s Tower, the Little Missouri Buttes, Inyan Kara, and most of the Wyoming portion of the Black Hills. One significant man-made change to the landscape occurred in the early 1950s, however, with the construction of Keyhole Dam. It is unlikely that anyone watching the Belle Fourche slowly flood the valley above the new dam could have envisioned that the resulting reservoir would become a fishing mecca, and one of Wyoming’s major outdoor recreational areas. The valley that became Keyhole Reservoir was located where the Belle Fourche River entered the Black Hills. Running mostly southwest to northeast, the river was augmented along a six mile stretch by the water from seven tributary creeks. Between two of these – Wind Creek and Mule Creek – the river valley narrowed into a canyon, lined with limestone cliffs on both sides. The natural grass grew green and tall here, and was perfect for grazing. This drew the attention of Stocks and James Millar, who established the AK ranch in 1881, just east of what eventually became the west shore of the lake. The Millar brothers, who named their ranch headquarters “Moorcroft”, raised horses, and shared the grazing in the valley with the cattle of the nearby 101 ranch. The old Montana Road ran through the valley as it made its way from Deadwood to the old Bozeman Trail. In the early 1890s, with the help of Stocks’ wife, Sarah, they purchased three sections of land along the Belle Fourche to the mouth of Wind Creek, under the Desert Land Act. Stocks died in the spring of 1890 and Sarah moved to Nebraska, leaving the ranch to James. Ten years later, the McKean

family began acquiring land along the Belle Fourche, under the Homestead Act, receiving their patents by the early 1900s. By the time the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 ended the homesteading era, no less than 83 patents had been issued in and around the valley. Ironically, most of these homesteads failed, due in large part, to a lack of water. One by one, each failed homestead was absorbed by their neighbors, primarily the McKean family. By the 1940s, Paul John McKean owned the AK brand, and although “Moorcroft” was owned by John Schuricht, the McKean family owned most of the rest of the valley, including the Keyhole Ranch, which would eventually lend its name to the reservoir. As early as 1917, the United States Reclamation Service saw the need for water storage, to be used for flood control and irrigation, along the Missouri River Basin. Although dry land farming had its die-hard enthusiasts, it was plain to anyone involved in the endeavor that farming worked a lot better with irrigation. Unfortunately, as the Army Corps of Engineers concluded in the 1930s, the construction of irrigation dams along the Missouri Basin was cost prohibitive. In the late 1930s, the Bureau of Reclamation began looking into the possibilities of creating reservoirs in the Cheyenne River Basin. As the Belle Fourche is, geographically speaking, a fork of the Cheyenne River, it was included in the study. Authorization to build the dam on the Belle Fourche was finally given in 1948, the private property bought, and the dam site was finalized in 1949. The construction contract was given to the Knisely-Moore Company of Douglas, Wyoming. A construction camp, located just below the dam site was quickly established, and construction began in the summer of 1950. In addition to the construction of the dam, the entire valley had to be deforested, primarily to reduce the buildup of silt. According to one area rancher,

the trees were stacked into mounds on the valley ﬂoor and burned, however some of the tree stacks could still be seen near Asher’s Store in the early 1970s. Buildings were also dismantled and/or relocated. One of the houses, probably belonging to Paul John McKean, was moved to Gillette, where it still stands today on the corner of 4th Street and 4-J Road. Two major roads had to be moved as well. The MoorcroftSundance road, part of the original Black and Yellow Trail, was rerouted around what would become Mule Creek Bay, while the Hulett Road was moved west about three quarters of a mile. Construction was completed in 1953, although it took a few more years for the water level to reach its intended nominal capacity elevation of 4099 feet. As the water rose, what had been most of McKean’s AK Ranch, nearly half of the Keyhole Ranch and all of what had been Stocks Millar’s “Moorcroft” disappeared under the waves. What remained was the largest body of water in northeast

Wyoming, just waiting for fishermen, boaters and outdoor lovers – except that for the first few years the shoreline was heavily infested with rattlesnakes that had been displaced from their dens in the valley below, making it extremely hazardous to go anywhere near the water. In 1961, due to a snafu in negotiating a contract with down-stream water user, it was decided to drain the reservoir and maintain the dam as a flood control measure only. The planned drainage ran into problems from ice jams and flooding, causing delays throughout 1962. By the time engineers were ready to resume draining the lake, a 40 year contract with the Belle Fourche Irrigation District was signed and the plan was abandoned. The snake infestation eventually returned to a normal state and by the late 1960s Keyhole Reservoir became the outdoor recreational hot-spot it is today. The 1970s brought a new type of “homesteader” to the valley. A group of people, including Albert “Coop” Waters (who had acquired the Keyhole

ranch from Sam McKean), Gillette businessman Bob Hays, and Paul John McKean, envisioned the creation of a resort community on the tip of the divide separating Mule Creek Bay and Wind Creek Bay. Within a few short years Pine Haven became a bedroom community of Gillette, 48 miles away, in another county, with another town in-between. It also has the distinction of being the only town in Wyoming designed around a golf course. The “town hall” was actually a garage that housed the fire truck and ambulance, while the nominal community meeting house was the Keyhole Kountry Store, owned by the Solomon family. In 1987, Pine Haven got organized and filed for incorporation, to become an officially recognized town by the State of Wyoming. In true Wyoming fashion, the town fathers solved the dilemma of meeting the population requirements the same way our state founders did when petitioning to become the 44th state. They lied.

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