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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID GILLETTE, WY PERMIT NO. 5105
The Campbell 00 $1. County Observer
Subscribe Online at www.CampbellCountyObserver.net
Volume 4 • Issue 33
August 15 - 22, 2014
Wyo. PBS This Week’s “If it doesn’t haveDebate to do with Campbell County, we don’t care!” Highlights Political • Events Calendar.....Page 4
www.campbellcountyobserver.net
June 17 - 24, 2011
By Holly Galloway
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andidates for the Republican Party’s nomination for the general election in November met for questions and some debate on Monday evening. This forum was produced by Wyoming Public Television, located at the Central Wyoming College campus in Riverton and was televised live on KCWC from the Little Theater in the Student Center. Gregg O’Gara and Stephanie Joyce did the moderating and questioning. Gubernatorial candidates Dr. Taylor Haynes, Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill, and incumbent Governor Matt Mead were all in attendance. During opening statements, all of the candidates were asked, “What makes you qualified to be governor of Wyoming and what would make you the superior choice?” “I have more education than anybody ever to seek this office,” said Haynes. “I have great experience in our free-enterprise system.” Haynes is an engineer, physician, and currently has several private businesses. “I have particular experience in power generation distribution, mining, and medicine. So, everything that is really affecting Wyoming right now, I have been prepared to deal with.” Superintendent Cindy Hill said that there is only one candidate for Governor who has fought for your rights. “I have written a book, so that you would know what I would do as your Governor.” Hill believes that with every decision she would make as Governor, she would protect the people of Wyoming’s rights. “My experience as a state prosecutor and having been born on a ranch,” Governor Matt Mead stated. “I point to my record as a good indicator of what I will do in the next four years.” We are the lowest taxed state and the second most business friendly state according to Mead. “We have more people working now than in the history of the state,” said Mead. A question about possible lost revenues due to the “war on coal” and how those monies would be replaced was asked of the candidates. “It is already affecting state revenues in terms
• Fire Reports ...........Page 8 of federal leases,” said Mead. “I have been challenging it; I have thirteen lawsuits involving the EPA right now.” “We have lost 1,700 jobs in coal mines,” said Haynes. “We had two coal bed leases that were not bid on.” Haynes believes that the shutting down of coal-fired power plants in the country could be an opportunity for Wyoming. He believes that we should build coal-fired power plants here. “There is more in coal than just burning it for power,” said Haynes. He would like to see Wyoming produce more than 50% of the nation’s power. “It takes years for litigation to be resolved and settled,” said Hill. “We need to form a coalition of coal mine workers and elected officials.” This coalition would be able to settle most of the problems in the industry rather than waiting for lengthy litigation to solve it. Common Core standards and man’s role in climate change were other topics discussed. “While my background in science (climate change) is not scientifically founded,” said Haynes. “They are theories. I reject Common Core. It was designed to kill creativity and free thinking. It is designed to separate the parents from the students.” Common Core was brought into the state by former Governor Freudenthal and Superintendent McBride without legislative oversight. “I want teachers to be able to teach, nurture, mentor and discipline. When we had that system, we had people going to the moon using a slide rule,” said Haynes. “Actually, it was Governor Mead who sat before the state boards of education and said I want these standards adopted without further delay,” said Hill. She is against these standards and believes that any education standards that are set should be Wyoming standards, not standards coming from other states. “The science standards in California and Washington DC are some of the highest, yet they have some of the lowest performance,” said Hill. “Wyoming can compete with anybody, and we need high standards,” said Mead. “The fact is, we don’t want to be left behind.” Mead believes that
• Comics .................Page 11 • Bold Republic: Choosing Candidates..............Page 12 • State Senate and Representative Forum .....................Page 14 • County Road Meeting ...................Page 15 • Cole Sports...........Page 17 • Powder River Country: The Grey Wolf ........Page 20 we need high standards whether it is Common Core or some other nationally recognized standard. “Senate file 104 was unconstitutional,” said Hill. “At a personal cost to self and to others, who contributed, we went to the State Supreme Court and we fought this unconstitutional bill.” This senate file went through very quickly and the legislators were not paying attention to the people of Wyoming. Hill believes that many of the legislators who voted for senate file 104 will not be returning to Cheyenne after the November elections. “Two-thirds of the legislators signedoff on this bill and I signed it,” said Mead when talking about senate file 104. “I believed that it was constitutional, but the Supreme Court told us we were wrong,” said Mead. “We made a mistake and we have to accept that.” Mead believes that there was no bad intent on the part of the legislature or himself on this bill. “Senate file 104 was clearly unconstitutional. I said this in the hallways before it ever got to committee,” said Haynes. “I was the second person to testify against it as unconstitutional; I know the constitution and I won’t fall into those traps.” He does not want power taken away from an elected official and given to another. The Director of Schools who was hired after passage of senate file 104 was only accountable to the Governor. “That is not our form of government,” said Haynes.
Deer Area 97 Added to CWD List Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk and moose, has been discovered in deer hunt area 97, bringing the known total of CWD areas in the Lander Region to four; areas 97, 98, 157, and 87. A mule deer doe from hunt area 97 was confirmed CWD positive by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s wildlife disease laboratory in Laramie on August 3, 2014. The animal was dispacthed by wardens after being reported as acting strangely west of Muddy Gap. Hunt area 97 borders deer CWD endemic areas 87 and
89 to the east. Hunt area 89 became positive in 2002 and 87 in 2007. After a review of available scientific data, the World Health Organization in December 1999 stated, “There is currently no evidence that CWD in cervidae (deer and elk) is transmitted to humans.” In 2004, Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for Disease Control said, “The lack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission and unusual cases of CJD, [Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a human prion disease] despite several epidemiological investigations, suggest that the risk, if any, of transmission
of CWD to humans is low.” Nonetheless to avoid risk, both organizations say parts or products from any animal that looks sick and/or tests positive for CWD should not be eaten. Lander region personnel will continue to collect samples through hunter field checks, and at CWD sampling stations. For more information on chronic wasting disease and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses please visit the Game and Fish website at: http://wgfd.wyo.gov/ web2011/wildlife-1000284.aspx
City Pool to Close Friday, Aug.22, Pooch Plunge Aug. 23 The City Pool, located at 909 S. Gillette Avenue will close for the summer season on Friday, August 22nd. However, the pool will re-open for dogs, and their beloved owners, on Saturday, August 23rd from noon to 2 p.m. For the Pooch Plunge. *Please note: From August 18th 22nd, the City Pool will not be open for night swimming (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and will only be open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to Noon, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last night session for open swimming will be Friday, August 15th. Fur Kids Foundation, with support from Campbell County and the City
of Gillette, is hosting a Pooch Plunge so you can watch your pup play in the water! Bring your dog to the City Pool, 909 S. Gillette Avenue, on Saturday, August 23 from noon to 2 p.m. and watch your pups have a blast plunging into the water. Registration begins at 11:30 am. Cost is $5 for two dogs, humans get in free! Tennis balls, Frisbees and dog treats will be provided. Attendees may also a in a 50/50 raffle as well as bid on some fun dog gift baskets at the event. Humans will not be allowed to play in the pool with their pups. The pool
will also be sectioned off for large and small dogs to enjoy. Participants are asked to only bring people and dog friendly dogs to the event, and to keep control of their dog at all times. Registration will be taken the day of the event, but attendees may download a form at www.furkidsfoundation. org ahead of time. Fur Kids Foundation is the only organization in Northeastern Wyoming that provides families with pets access to veterinary care when they cannot afford it. The Foundation will also host its signature event, Pet-A-Palooza, onSeptember 13, at CAM-PLEX Park.