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The Campbell County Observer

Volume 1 • Issue 18

August 5 - 12, 2011

www.campbellcountyobserver.net

June 17 - 24, 2011

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

Governor Mead disappointed High Plains Gasiﬁcation Center put on hold

GE Energy and the University of Wyoming have announced that the joint work on the High Plains Gasification-Advanced Technology Center has been delayed. The original project investment plan anticipated more progress toward certainty in the future of federal energy policy. Future investments will be paced by the development of clear federal energy policy. Governor Mead is disappointed about GE Energy’s decision to pause development of the High Plains Gasification-Advanced Technology Center project until uncertainty around coal utilization is reduced. However, Governor Mead feels this decision and possibly other energy sector decisions to delay projects are not unexpected given the lack of a federal energy policy. “Capital from the private sector only flows to large and ambitious projects when there is reasonable regulatory, legal and financial certainty,” Gover-

nor Mead said. “This is a real world example of the local impact of the federal government’s failure to provide a policy path forward for energy use in America. An energy policy must include the responsible use of our coal resources. Without a clear policy, investors and developers do not have certainty and cannot plan for risk, which is critical in making decisions to build modern, efﬁcient plants.” “GE technology is ready to provide a cleaner coal solution for America and for the world. When government policy and economic realities are aligned in the U.S., we plan to be a leader in cleaner coal technologies,” said Keith White, General Manager of GE Energy’s gasiﬁcation business. “We value our partnership with the University of Wyoming and we will reassess the environment in 18 to 24 months.” UW President Tom Buchanan said, “The University of Wyoming

(UW) stands ready to proceed with continued work to advance the HPGATC. In any business relationship, we acknowledge the need for all parties to be comfortable prior to moving forward. The agreement between the State of Wyoming, GE Energy and UW contemplates significant milestones in the project development.” The High Plains GasificationAdvanced Technology Center is a research and technology center focused on looking at coal gasification solutions for coal from the Powder River Basin and other parts of Wyoming. Wyoming produces 40% of the nation’s coal and the state provides about 10% of the nation’s energy. “America and Wyoming have the leadership capacity, the technology prowess and the private capital availability to wisely put our energy resources to productive use but we are strangled by uncertainty created by the energy policy vacuum in Washington DC,” Governor Mead said.

Police ofﬁcer recognized for helping family in need By Paul Wallum, Basin Radio News

Editor Keary Speer

Owner/Editor Nick DeLaat

Owner/Publisher Candice DeLaat

What’s new at the Campbell County Observer

How is our new community newspaper coming? GREAT! Nick - We have come a long way. If you saw the ﬁrst few editions, you know this just by the looks. Candice - We hired a new lay-out/ design person that has worked in the newspaper business for a long time and really knows how to work some magic. Nick - We also moved Keary Speer to an editor position which has proven to be invaluable. Because of this, we have only had three retractions in four months, and none of these had to do with her. Candice - She is wonderful! We are lucky to have her. Nick - There are a few things that we would like to discuss. First, we would like to remind everyone that we are a public submission newspaper, as most local papers are. If you go to a sports game, a charity event, or something going on in the county, please write a story and submit it. Candice - And don’t forget pictures, we love pictures. Keary - Don’t forget, we are a positive paper. We can’t wait for school to start so that we can try to get all the events we can in the paper. Please send us articles on Choir, Band, Sports, Debate, and more. Nick - Also, we have implemented different pieces like our “joke of the week,” “Where is this,” and “Readers on the road.” If you want to submit to

any of these, please feel free to do so at any time. Candice - The readers on the road is easy. Take a picture of yourself and your family holding the Campbell County Observer while you are somewhere out of the county and submit it in to us. Keary - Don’t be afraid to submit articles. I will not change the content, just check grammar and punctuation. Nick - And please try to keep the jokes PG. We are a family newspaper. Candice - We also have a new advertising sales manager. We would like to introduce Anne Peterson, who will be taking over that department. We are very excited to have her. Keary - We are also trying to implement the “Churches Corner” where local churches can submit articles on what they are doing in the community. Please contact me for more information regarding rules for content. Also, we will take any suggestions when it comes to content. If you know of a small business owner or public servant, for instance, please feel free to e-mail me to nominate them for an interview. It always feels so good to help out individuals in our community with a little well-deserved attention! Nick - If you notice, we try to stay completely local. This is why we have the FAMOUS Glenn Woods (whom if you listen to his show lives in my van down by the river) who is your local

political talk show host writing the political column for the local paper. Keary - Your letters to the editor have been great. Keep it up. We love to see people involved. Candice - We will continue to bring you our quality product for years to come. The feedback from the community has been great, and everyone seems to love the newspaper. Nick - Just make sure you get involved. The more involvement we get, the better the newspaper will be. Keary - And thank you for all the heads up about the events going on in town. There are so many here which is what makes this county so great. Candice - Also, if you go to our website you can vote on the poll of the week which gets printed with the results. Nick - We are selling at more locations, we are gaining more home deliveries every week, and we are very happy to provide this service to our community. Thank you very much for all the positive support. Candice - We love ideas to make our product better. Please contact us at any time. Keary - And don’t forget to contact Elizabeth Albin in Wright, WY for southern county news and events. She is our writer out of Wright. Nick, Candice, and Keary - Thank you all so much. We hope to hear from you soon.

City of Gillette police officer Jeremiah Wagner received special recognition during last night’s city council meeting in which the City of Gillette also swore in two new police officers. Gillette City Council president Kevin McGrath recognized Wagner after a thank you letter from a North Dakota family arrived at Gillette City Hall. The family expressed their appreciation to Officer Wagner for helping them with the breakdown of their minivan on July 3 near exit 126. Wagner helped the family push their broken down vehicle to Flying J, and then he helped them make appropriate arrangements. In the letter, the family said they will always remember their time in Gillette because of the kindness they received. “He was a great inspiration to our family,” the letter said. “We got the van towed by Redrock Towing that day and repaired by Cowboy Up Auto. They were great and we got back to N.D.” In turn, City of Gillette mayor Tom Murphy was pleased McGrath gave Officer Wagner the recognition he deserved. “Two things happened tonight,” the mayor explained. “One is we swore in two new officers to the City of Gillette Police Department. I think it’s good that we recognized an existing officer and his good works and the fact that he’s setting a good example of how this community should be represented. So I think it was wonderful that Councilman McGrath brought that to the attention of the community.”

Crime Stoppers featured crime, burglary, July 28, 2011

Crime Stoppers needs your help in solving a Burglary that occurred sometime between 10:30 a.m. on July 14 and 8:15 a.m. on July 19. An unknown person(s) broke into a locked storage shed at Sage Valley Junior High School and stole three Specialized Hard Rock bicycles valued at approximately $300 each. If you have information that can solve this or any other crime please call Crime Stoppers at 686-0400 or the High School Crime Stoppers at 682-4185. You can remain anonymous and may earn up to $1,000 in reward.

For subscriptions/home deliveries go to www.campbellcountyobserver.net

Business A Higher Calling and Second Chances: Cowboy Cuisine By Keary Speer

Clarke and Vicki Kissack is a couple unlike any other. They have the ability to light up a room with their kindness to others, love for each other, and an incredibly approachable demeanor. Even when meeting them for the first time, their openness makes it seem like they are old friends. So, it is no wonder that they would start a business revolving around faith, family, fun and, of course, food! Cowboy Cuisine is their new venture, an unconventional concessions business that specializes in unlikely, and sometimes innovative, cuisine. “We will fry up anything and everything! ...Some things work and some things just don’t,” Vicki stated. Clarke added, “Apples just don’t work and we won’t do them, but fresh vegetables are good. Cauliflower works great!” They have tried everything out on their family and friends as well as gotten many tips on what to serve. Bull fries, also known as Rocky Mountain Oysters on a stick, are a suggestion Vicki received from a friend that worked out extremely well. Their motto: “Some people take the bull by the horns, we take ours by the…” She added, “We have to try everything twice.” When asked, “Why?” she said, “You may not like something at first, but everything deserves a second chance.” This is a philosophy they do not only practice in their business but is also a life skill they have implemented in their life and marriage. Like any couple, they have had their fair share of road blocks and this business is their attempt to build on their relationship, giving them the opportunity to spend time and travel together as a family. Along with that, the real appeal is getting to share their gifts with others. Vicki shared that Clarke has a real talent for fabrication and welding which will come in handy for their stand as well as his ability to cook up food. Clarke also shared that Vicki is a real people person that can talk to anyone. Together, they create a well-rounded com-

bination to help their business thrive. Even though this week is their “maiden voyage,” as Clarke put it, it seems that thriving has already taken place and it is just what they do. Another thing you will notice when walking up to their stand is their logo. The three crosses makes it clear who exactly they are putting their faith into besides each other. Faith in God has made this entire endeavor possible for them. They believe that part of their purpose, and the purpose of Cowboy Cuisine, is to spread the word and show people how God can work in their lives. It is a higher calling. They are hoping that, just by being present, people will feel compelled to talk to them about faith and Vicki, with her innate ability for storytelling, can, and will, share their story and how their journey through life and faith in the Lord brought them where they are today. In fact, one of their main concerns about the business was having to miss church. However, they remedied the situation with deciding to attend no matter where their travels take them, giving them a real chance to meet the locals and spread their love to others. A lot of their inspiration came from what they do in the church. Another inspiration was their two sons, Garrett, 18, and Justin, 16, who have always brought kids in an out of the house and who Vicki has been feeding all of their lives. Now that they are older and almost out of the house, cooking for them and their friends (something they enjoyed doing) is no longer necessary. Cowboy Cuisine seems to ﬁll a void created by the progression of life. Clarke and Vicki are also hoping to set an example for their boys to follow. They want to show their boys that it is important to step out of their comfort zone in order to grow, that they should never be afraid of a little hard work, and that money is not at all the highest form of prosperity. It seems they have also done an excellent job in being an example of true faith

and forgiveness in their relationships and an utmost importance for faith in the Higher Power. On the true business end of things Clarke stated that this is deﬁnitely not a competition. No matter where they go they will always serve alongside of others and strive to not step on anyone’s toes. For example, at this week’s fair, they will not be serving hot dogs of any kind in order to preserve their relationship with another vendor who exclusively serves hot dogs. When they travel to Laramie they will only be serving desserts and in Ten Sleep they are opting out of their “Chop Stick,” which is a meal on a stick with a pork chop, because there will already be someone serving a pork meal there. It is their way of trying to create a friendly environment and truly practice what they preach in the statement that money really is not the highest form of prosperity. This also creates a revolving menu so they are not limited in what they can, and will, serve to the public. They want to try everything and are hoping for some real, honest, constructive criticism to help them grow. They will be at the Camplex for the fair this entire week serving up things like Bull Fries, various meals on sticks, fried Banana Splits and even some Chocolate Covered Bacon! Their pride and joy, however, as well as their son, Justin’s, favorite is their Sno Cone machine, a welcome relief to these hot summer days. For the more conventional eaters, they will also be serving basic food like breakfast burritos and BBQ. They will also be serving a free pancake feed on Sunday, the 7th at the fairgrounds. The blessing will start at 7:15 and afterward there will be a church service at 8:00 given by Mike Morrison Ministries. “Our goal is to run out of batter! That is how many people we hope will show up.” So, come to the fair and show your support for an amazing local couple who really are all about the people and enjoy their incredible food.

Our best source for news is you.

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Hold the Date! e2e Gillette, August 24, 2011 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Clarion Inn & Convention Center 2009 S. Douglas Hwy. Gillette, WY 82718

Readers on the Road

e2e welcomes Fred Dowd, Senior Partner at Dowd-Rudkin, LLC.

“Work Smarter, Not Harder”

We have all heard this phrase before but can this really be accomplished? Fred Dowd, Senior Partner at DowdRudkin LLC, will tackle this topic as well as share experiences from his remarkable career in investment management. He has developed some creative techniques to help employees balance their work and family life while increasing productivity. Fred is an accomplished money manager who ranked in the top 2% nationally from 1985 to 2005 only behind the likes of Warren Buffett. Recently, Mr. Dowd started a “boutique investment” ﬁrm with Reed Rudkin, recent UW College of Business graduate, in Buffalo, WY. Their goal is work closely with clients to build wealth using Mr. Dowd’s proven approach.

Hot hors d’oeuvres and a hosted bar will be provided.

John Fisher displayed a copy of the Campbell County Observer while visiting Cheyenne, Wyoming.

To learn more and to let us know if you can attend: Please call 307-766-6395

***

Event fee included with e2e membership.

The Campbell County Observer welcomes “Readers on the Road” submisisons. Take a picture of yourself and your family holding the Campbell County Observer while you are somewhere out of the county and submit it to us at 5105 Tarry St., Gillette, WY 82718 or by email at CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com.

For e2e membership information contact WTBC at 307-766-6395 or visit http://www.uwyo.edu/wtbc/join.html

Community Name released of War Memorial Stadium fatality deceased upon arrival. Though UW police identified his body, Andrews’ name was withheld last week pending notification of next of kin. “The loss of life is always sad and difficult,” says UW President Tom Buchanan. “We extend our condolences to his family and friends.” UW police say it appears Andrews climbed over the safety rail at the top of the

southeast corner of the stadium and jumped. The incident has led UW to limit access to the stadium until further notice to allow for a full and complete evaluation of safety protocols. Access will be restricted only to individuals authorized by the UW Athletics Department. In addition, UW police will increase security checks around the stadium.

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Wyoming Air National Guard celebrates 65 years The Wyoming Air National Guard is marking its 65th Anniversary with reunion activities Aug. 4-6, at the Air National Guard base, 217 Dell Range Blvd., Cheyenne. The Wyoming Air National Guard was ﬁrst organized in a small hangar on the southwest side of Cheyenne Municipal Airport, as the Army Air Forces’ highly decorated 402nd Fighter Squadron. The squadron was deactivated Nov. 10, 1945, and reactivated as the 187th Fighter Squadron. The unit was allotted to the National Guard

on Aug. 10, 1946, under Maj. Robert E. Sedman, Reunion schedule: Aug. 4 Noon - Golf tournament registration at F.E. Warren Air Force Base Golf Course 1 p.m. - Shotgun start at F.E. Warren Air Force Base Golf Course

tional Guard Social Club, 217 Dell Range Blvd. 6:30 p.m. - Milk Can Dinner and Silent Auction at the WyANG Main Hangar, 217 Dell Range Blvd.

Aug. 5 Historical displays at the WyANG Main Hangar, 217 Dell Range Blvd. 8 - 11 a.m. - Base Tour, meet at the Dining Facility no later than 8 a.m. 5 p.m. - No-host reception at the Wyoming Air Na-

Please use this link to RSVP for access to the base, as well for the food count before close of business on Aug. 5: https://einvitations.afit.edu/WyomingANG/anim.cfm.

· Soup, Sandwich, Salad · Coffee Bar / Expresso · Meeting Room

Aug. 6 9 a.m. - Informal tour of work centers

July 26, 2011

- At 10:51 AM to the 100 Block of Four J Road for an EMS assist. - At 1:26 PM to the area of Church Avenue & East Highway 14-16 for an EMS assist. - At 1:47 PM to L & J Ct. between L and H and Alpha Coals Warehouse for a 1” gas line that was cut by a track hoe. FD crews were able to clamp the line and shut off the ﬂow of gas. - At 2:54 PM to Axels Ave. for a small grass ﬁre that was less than 1 acre in size and was started by a cutting torch.

contain the grass fire to 1.8 acres and extinguish the fire before any structures were damaged. - At 3:34 PM to 509 Elk Creek Road for a timber fire that was started by lightning. The fire is located on a remote ridge that is not accessible by fire trucks. A fire line has been dug around the fire with hand tools to contain it. Approximately 5 acres have burned. The Smoke Busters (honor farm workers) from Newcastle, WY are assisting with the fire suppression. - At 7:59 PM to the 400 block of Prairieview Drive for a medical assist.

July 27, 2011

July 29, 2011

- At 3:41 PM to the 5600 Block of Hannum Road for an EMS assist. - At 4:39 p.m. to 157 North Sage Hill Road for a grass fire. CCFD responded to the scene and determined that the fire was a controlled burn that was not reported to the appropriate agencies. - At 7:56 p.m. to the area east of Rozet for a grass fire. CCFD cancelled en route when they were advised that the fire was a controlled burn that was not reported to the appropriate agencies. - At 8:29 p.m. to 501 South Emerson Avenue for a report of illegal burning within the city limits. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival determined that the smoke seen by neighbors was from a bar-b-q grill.

July 28, 2011

- At 5:11 a.m. to the intersection of HWY 59 and Garner Lake Road for a 2 vehicle collision. No one was injured in the crash and CCFD personnel assisted with traffic control and contained hazardous material leaks from the involved vehicles. - At 8:50 a.m. to the address of 5834 Winland Drive for a fire alarm activation. This was a false alarm due to technicians testing the alarm system. There was no fire and all units were cleared. - At 10:26 a.m. to the area of South Highway 59 and Interstate 90 on ramp to the west bound lanes for a two vehicle accident. There were no injuries during the accident and CCFD personnel assisted with traffic control. - At 3:28 PM o 919 Clarkelen Road for a grass fire. A hot ember from a burn barrel caught the grass on fire. Firefighters were able to

- At 3:35 a.m. to the 2100 block of Evening Shadow Court for a medical assist. - At 4:20 a.m. to the 600 block of South Garner Lake Road for a medical assist. - At 13:23 p.m. to railroad mile marker 6.6 on the Campbell Line for a grass fire. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival found a 5.4 acre grass fire burning along the tracks. The fire was extinguished and the cause was determined to be a sparks from a passing train. - At 8:35 p.m. to the area east of 65 Constitution Drive for a possible structure fire. The 911 caller saw smoke coming from the sides of the house but when CCFD responded to the scene it was determined the smoke was from a bar-b-q grill. - At 8:50 p.m. to 1162 Almon Circle for a cat that had been stuck in a tree since noon. CCFD responded to the scene non-emergently and tried to assist the cat in climbing down the tree. It was decided after a few unsuccessful attempts to leave the cat in the tree and wait until morning to see if it would come down on its own. - At 11:12 p.m. to the area of the Tarver Ranch on the Olmstead Road for a timber fire. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival found a single tree on fire that had been struck by lightning. CCFD firefighters cut down the burning tree and extinguished the area burning around the stump.

July 30, 2011

- At 6:59 AM to 403 South Warren Avenue (RENEW Group Home) for a ﬁre alarm activation. Cooking on a stove top had activated a smoke detector. The ﬁre

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Campbell Co. Fire Dept. alarm panel reset without incident. - At 2:20 PM to 2500 Four J Road (Sage Bluffs Park) for an outhouse fire. An off duty firefighter caught two young boys (age 5 and 7) starting the fire with a cigarette lighter. Fire damage was minimal (the toilet paper dispenser had melted) and is estimated at less than $100. - At 6:16 AM to 706 East Longmont (YES House) for a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Fifteen parts per million (ppm) of CO was found inside the building. A positive pressure fan was utilized to rid the building of CO. Operating the natural gas cook stove without the exhaust fan running allowed CO to build-up. - At 9:58 AM to 2 Redtail Street for a grass fire that was started by fireworks. The fire was contained to less than one acre in size - At 10:44 PM to 1102 Hilight Road for a grass fire

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July 31, 2011

- At 6:23 AM to Timothy for an EMS assist. - At 9:32 AM to the Jack Smith Rd. for a grass fire that was less than 5 acres that was started by a tractor, the tractor was a complete loss. The cause of the tractor fire is under investigation. - At 10:48 AM to Wyodak Mine for a report of a loader on fire, all fire units were cancelled prior to arrival. - At 4:10 PM to E. Boxelder for an EMS assist. - At 4:55 PM to the Hoadley Rd. for a grass fire. - At 5:15 PM to Almon Circle for a Carbon Monoxide call, nothing was found. - At 5:38 PM to Antelope T.C. for an EMS assist. - At 10:14 PM to Interstate 90 mile marker 129 for a 1 vehicle accident with unknown injuries.

ANY MILITARY FROM ANY ERA

August 1, 2011

- At 2:52 AM to the Comfort Inn for a medical assist. - At 3:04 AM to the National 9 Inn for a medical assist. - At 8:38 AM to 1115 Granite Street for a smoke detector in alarm mode. Responding fire units were cancelled when the alarm company called back stating it was a false alarm. - At 4:14 PM to South Highway 59 (16 miles south of Wright) for grass fire. - At 4:48 PM to the 900 block of Camel Drive for a medical assist - At 5:13 PM to 4269 Highway 450 for a grass fire.

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University of Wyoming police have released the name of the man who was found dead last week at War Memorial Stadium. UW police found Erik W. Andrews, 43, of Laramie, at about 6:40 p.m. Thursday after being dispatched to investigate a report of a body on the asphalt pathway at the southeast corner of the stadium. Emergency Medical Services were also notiﬁed but Andrews was

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Community Rural newspapers develop relationship with Local Readers

Walk in to a town council meeting in Pinedale, Wyoming, and you are likely to find as many as three local reporters scribbling notes and asking questions. That news in a town of 2,030 residents is covered by two newspapers and a website is partly explained by the abundance of mineral wealth in surrounding Sublette County, which produced $3.6 billion in natural gas last year. Add to that the urgent concern about breaching a local dam threatened by record snowmelt coming from the Wind River Range, and you’ve got a recipe for a smalltown media frenzy. This scene is also illustrative of how rural journalism is surviving, even thriving, in the rural West and across the United States, in an era of precipitous decline for major metropolitan newspapers. In the United States, some 7,500 community newspapers–papers with under 30,000 in circulation–still hit the streets, front porches, and mailboxes at least once a week. A 2010 survey conducted by the University of Missouri, Columbia for the National Newspaper Association produced some enviable statistics: More than threequarters of respondents said they read most or all of a local newspaper every week. And in news to warm the heart of any publisher, a full 94 percent said that they paid for their papers. “The community newspaper business is healthier than metro newspapers, because it hasn’t been invaded by Internet competition,” says Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. “Craigslist doesn’t serve these kinds of communities. They have no effective competition for local news. Rural papers own the franchise locally of the most credible information.” This is not to say that rural papers are simply going gangbusters. Rural newsrooms make for lean living and busy workweeks. Reporters have to wear many hats to put out a local paper, interviewing Eagle Scouts, snapping photos of the butter queen, writing editorials on the local rec center and stuffing supermarket circulars. And many of these papers are an advertiser or two away from red ink. All of this is in the service of developing a relationship with the local readers that some people say that mainstream journalism has lost, a relationship with all the complications that intimacy and proximity bring. “You have only one day a week to beat the daily on timeliness,” wrote the editor and publisher Bruce M. Kennedy in his 1974 book, Community Journalism. But “weeklies can add a personal touch,” he added. “There’s license to ‘visit’ more. You have time and space to be a small-town citizen talking with another about your community.” “It is more than a little ironic that small-town papers have been thriving by practicing what the mainstream media are now preaching,” writes the broadcast journalist and USC professor Judy Muller in her new book, Emus Loose in Egnar: Big Stories from Small Towns (University of Nebraska Press). Inspired by the local weekly in the working-class Rocky Mountain town of Norwood, Colorado, Muller embarked on a lively, funny and engaging tour of small papers that took her across the country, from Concrete, Washington to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. “I was surprised to find that they’re doing as well as they were,” says Muller, whose book looks at feisty

family-owned papers like the Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Kentucky, whose founders survived a firebombing, the Guadalupe County Communicator, the “sixth smallest weekly in New Mexico,” whose new owner had been a national correspondent for the Rocky Mountain News, and the Dove Creek Press in Colorado, whose editors are so reluctant to deliver bad news that when doctors estimate a car crash victim’s chance of paralysis at 99 percent, it writes “the family reports that Kelsi is looking to the 1 percent chance she still has.” So what are townsfolk waiting for so urgently? “I think the holy trinity of the small town paper is obituaries, the police blotter, and high school sports,” says Muller. “That’s what people care about. The police blotter is where you find out who’s doing what to whom. The school superintendent beating his wife, from there it gets blown into a bigger story. The high school sports thing is so huge, I can’t even explain it to a person who doesn’t live in a small town. And births, not just obits, tend to dominate. If you leave town, and you subscribe online, those are the things, ‘Oh my God, old Pete just died’ — that might seem insignificant to someone outside of a small town, but every single birth and death means something.” But surely local journalism has to be about more than recording comings and goings, nighttime calls for help, and salutes to BearCat pride? Muller finds ample journalistic inspiration in the pages of smalltown papers, what she calls “this wonderful crucible of telling the truth, weighing that against living with the people you’re writing about.” Rural journalism analyst Al Cross says, “The best of these newspapers hold local governments and institutions accountable, by covering meetings and asking for records. They’re prophylactics, by exposing bad things that are going on.” But he says, at the same time, “a lot of papers are timid editorially, they don’t take stands. One is a social reason, they’d rather make friends than enemies–although personally I think they’re in the wrong business. Then you have the business reasons. In these smaller markets, some of these papers are an advertiser away from red ink, so they’re cautious by nature. ‘Don’t get sued, they say. It’s like they never heard of libel insurance, which is pretty cheap.” To Muller, biting the hand that feeds you is the definition of courageous journalism: “Papers that–faced with the loss of revenue from a big advertiser–who speak the truth anyway, that’s just pure heroism.” Back in Pinedale, the century-old Roundup and its 10-year-old rival, the Sublette Examiner, reach about 3,000 and 2,500 subscribers, respectively. The Examiner was started by disaffected reporters from the Roundup after an ownership change in 2000. The papers came under common ownership in 2006, when the Examiner was bought by the NewsMedia Corporation, an Illinoisbased chain that runs 76 papers in nine mostly western states. After moving their publishing dates to opposite ends of the week, the new owners left the two papers largely alone. “They compete with each other, try to scoop each other,” says Jeff Robertson, who publishes both papers and a third in Eastern Wyoming, the Torrington Telegraph. Despite consolidation, weekly newspapers actu-

tising, says Al Cross, and most national chains prefer to advertise in national media. Still, community papers are looking like a haven in the media storm. Near the end of Emus Loose in Egnar, Muller cites a remark by Benjy Hamm, editorial director of a rural newspaper chain in South Carolina: “He is seeing more and more resumés from eager, young editors and big-city journalists who have either been victims of downsizing or growing weary of wondering if they will be next.” “As the number of journalism jobs in metro papers declines,” says Al Cross, “I think rural journalism will be an increasingly popular outlet for people who want to take it on as a career. The monetary rewards are not as great, but there’s a great deal of personal reward that can come with it, and also an opportunity to get in on the ownership side.” Muller agrees, “The reason a weekly thrives is because no one else on Earth can cover what they cover, people will not know what’s going on in their town in any other way. They’ve got a monopoly, a little ﬁefdom, for as long as the advertiser needs the market.” As for local readers, she adds, “as long as refrigerator magnets exist, there will be things to clip and put on refrigerator, if your son was on the high school football team, it’s going on the fridge.” This article was produced by the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University. Rights to the article have been given to the Campbell County Observer by means of donation from Mr. Lane.

ally have a lower rate of chain ownership than dailies, with 60 percent owned by chains, compared to 80 percent of dailies, according to the National Newspaper Association. Nevertheless, the quality of newspapers does not strictly correspond to ownership. The Roundup and the Examiner are similar in form and content, each of them recently flush with color photographs of local events like the high school prom and graduation, horseshoe pitches, cattle brandings, and reader-submitted wildlife photos (which, in this region, are spectacular). And surely to the lasting pride of Mariah Strike’s parents, both papers published the full text of the Pinedale High School valedictorian’s address, a sign not only of hyper-local interest, but also of papers with ad pages to spare, positively groaning with legal announcements like foreclosure listings and regulatory filings, the kind that have long fattened newspapers in county seats like Pinedale. The newsrooms of both papers–which stand only 30 to 50 feet apart in an office complex made out of a former grocery store–are comprised of almost uniformly young reporters, like the 24 year-old editor of the Roundup, Casey Dean. The pay is low, says Dean, but it is supplemented by the free housing that the company offers. “One of my reporters, my intern and an Examiner reporter live in one house,” says Dean. “The ad director and one of the Examiner’s reporters live in company housing. Their office manager and myself live together, and that’s actually because she used to work for both offices.” At both papers, the staffs are small and efficiencies are everywhere. NewsMedia maintains their nearly identical websites, and the newspapers are laid out in South Dakota. “I’ve never seen her in person,” says Dean, “but I’m on iChat all day long with my designer.” The editors take pride in their reporting on local issues, like the dam breach, federal redistricting, wolf management and the 800-pound gorilla of economic development, the natural gas industry. Local papers have largely resisted the pressure to offer content free online, sometimes capitalizing on their virtual monopoly on local news. Despite the competition with each other and from the free website Pinedale Online!, both the Roundup and the Examiner limit most online stories to one or two paragraph teases for the print edition and paid electronic downloads. “Publishers in small and medium communities largely think they are safe from the readership and advertising declines that are eating away at most metro newspapers,” wrote the former publisher and media analyst Alan Mutter in a 2010 blog post. “Are they? Yes, no and maybe,” he concluded. Internet competition might be the least of the threats to local papers, he wrote, compared to the wider demographic shifts. Rural areas are aging faster than urban and suburban ones, and younger readers may be less likely to buy newspapers, even when they get older. For small papers, long-time subsidies may be at risk as well: as the U.S. Postal Service looks for ways to stem its growing losses, the generous subsidy provided by free in-county mail delivery has once again come under scrutiny, as well as mail delivery on Saturdays. Perhaps most worrisome of all, rural papers still live and die with local businesses; WalMart, for example, has little use for newspaper adver-

Preference point application period underway

Resident and nonresident moose and bighorn sheep hunters and nonresident elk, deer, and antelope hunters are reminded that the preference point only application period is now underway. Applications for preference points will be accepted through Sept. 30. Preference points are available for qualifying big game hunters who did not apply for a moose or bighorn sheep license this year and nonresident elk, deer, and antelope hunters who did not draw their ﬁrst choice license and did not mark the preference point box on their license application. Preference points may be purchased through conventional mail or online at http://gf.state.wy.us. Applications can also be obtained online or by calling (307) 777-4600. Hunters with eligibility questions or other inquiries about preference points can call (307) 777-4600.

Weekly Trivia Question What is the “Train Band”? A. An Army Regiment B. Locals helping the Artillery Trains C. Militia Unit D. The ﬁrst railroad workers Flip to page 6 for the answer

Joke of the week

Submitted by Denise Sickeley

A young man, at this construction site, was bragging that he could outdo anyone based on his strength. He especially made fun of one of the older workman. After several minutes, the older worker had enough. “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?” he said. “I’ll bet a week’s wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to the other building that you won’t be able to wheel back.” “You’re on, old man,” the young man replied. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then nodding to the young man, he said with a smile, “All right. Get in.”

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Community “I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” -Winston Churchill

Weekly Trivia Answer Answer is “C” Trainbands were companies of militia in England or the Americas, ﬁrst organized in the 16th century and dissolved in the 18th. The term was used after this time to describe the London militia. In the early American colonies the trainband was the most basic tactical unit. However, no standard company size ever existed and variations were wide. As population grew these companies were organized into regiments to allow better management. But trainbands were not combat units. Generally, upon reaching a certain age a man was required to join the local trainband in which he received periodic training for the next couple of decades. In wartime military forces were formed by selecting men from trainbands on an individual basis and then forming them into a ﬁghting unit.

CCEDC secures funding for Business and Technology Incubator Feasibility study USDA Rural Development recently announced Campbell County Economic Development Corporation has been awarded a $20,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study on developing a business and technology incubator in Campbell County. Business incubators assist small and emerging businesses by giving them a place to locate their start-up business and an opportunity to gain knowledge for the incubator staff and other businesses. Statistics show

approximately 84% of incubator graduates stay in their community. In addition, companies that launched in incubators remained in business ﬁve years later 87% of the time, while only 20% of all new business startups reached the ﬁve-year mark that did not start in an incubator setting. CCEDC determined the need to complete an Incubator Feasibility Study through the Capital for Business Growth Task Force, as part

of CCEDC’s Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan for Campbell County. The University of Wyoming Technology Business Center has partnered with CCEDC to ensure the study thoroughly evaluates all aspects of developing an incubator center. The E-2-E program will be a big contributor should an incubator be built. The Incubator Feasibility Study is slated to begin in September 2011 and will be a six month project.

Gillette building ofﬁcial throws his hat in the ring

Joke of the week

Submitted by Trevor Overhault

During a terrible storm, all the highway signs were covered with snow. The following spring, the state decided to raise all the signs twelve inches at a cost of six million dollars. “That’s an outrageous price!” said a local farmer, “but I guess we’re lucky the state handled it instead of the federal government.” “Why’s that?” “Because knowing the federal government, they’d decided to lower the highways.”

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By Paul Wallem, Basin Radio News Building codes’ existence protects the welfare, safety, and health of everyone in the form of safer home and building standards. The Deputy Building Ofﬁcial for the City of Gillette wants to inﬂuence those standards on a national and even international scale. Jim Brown is running for the board of directors on the International Code Council, a member-based organization devoted to the creation of safe communities by offering the construction industry safe, sustainable, and affordable procedures through a set of standards used in the design and construction process. “Building codes affect everybody,” Brown explains. “Plumbing codes, electrical codes, pick your poison. Whatever discipline you want to pick. It does have an impact on that to a large degree on how all that functions and comes about and is deployed nationally.” “I’m in the process of running now,” Brown says. He adds that you have to submit a letter of intent, a resume, and other documentation to be considered for the position. Right

now, Brown has the support of the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s Association, the Wyoming Conference and Building Officials, and Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. Brown hopes that support, along with over three decades of related experience, will help him fulfill his goal. But it does not stop there. Brown describes the importance of having support from those closest to him. “Number one you have to have your family support,” he says. “I’ve been talking with my wife about this. It’s a big time commitment, so I have my family support… The votes going to happen on November 2, in Phoenix, Arizona at the annual business meeting,” Brown explains. If elected to the board, Brown’s new duties will not interfere with his responsibilities with the City of Gillette. Rather, he will complete his responsibilities with the ICC on his free time. “I guess maybe I’m a glutton for punishment because I have to fulfill my responsibilities to the City of Gillette first,” Brown notes. “A lot of

this work if elected is going to be my time. I’ll be working evening and weekends on this ICC stuff.” In fact, Brown has the city’s support to join the ICC’s board of directors, and he needs it. “You can’t even run for that position without jurisdictional support,” he says. “You have to be an ICC governmental member to run - a voting member - and then I’ve received a letter of support from our city administrator.” If elected, Brown hopes to reestablish the relationship between the ICC and various member communities. “In a nutshell one thing I think the organization has lost is the support of building code ofﬁcials across the country, and I’ve been getting that message loud and clear and I want to reestablish that connection,” he describes. “But also, I believe I will have an opportunity to participate on the international level, and my intent there too is at every opportunity I’m going to be out there promoting Campbell County, Wyoming and Wyoming as a state,” says Brown.

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Campbell County Fair Schedule of Events Friday, August 5

-9 a.m.: Sheep Show/ Jr. Llama & Alpaca Show to follow, East Pavilion -9 a.m.: PRCA Slack, Morningside Park Arena -10 a.m.- 7 p.m.: Trade Show/Kids Corral Open, Wyoming Center -3 p.m.: Pocket Pet Show, Plaza Tent -5 p.m.: Mini-Animal Show, Plaza Tent -4- 6 p.m.: Open Class Rabbit Entries Due- Paperwork Only, Central Pavilion -7 p.m.: PRCA Rodeo, Morningside Park Arena

Saturday, August 6

-6- 10 a.m.: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, Plaza Tent -8 a.m.: Open Horse Show, Wrangler Arena -8 a.m.: Jr. Rabbit Show/Open Rabbit Show to follow, Central Pavilion -10 a.m.- 7 p.m.: Trade Show/Kids Corral Open,

Where is this picture taken? See answer on Page 12

Wyoming Center -10 a.m.: Swine Show, Central Pavilion -10 a.m.: Fiddle Contest, Energy Hall -11 a.m.: Pioneer Dinner, Heritage Center -12 p.m.: Open Rabbits Due, Central Pavilion -12 p.m.: Sheep Lead Entries Due- Paperwork Only, Fair Ofﬁce -1 p.m.: Dachshund Races hosted by Campbell County Humane Society, Wyoming Center -5 p.m.: Free BBQ sponsored by Friends of Methane, Plaza Tent -5:30 p.m.: Sheep Lead, East Pavilion -7 p.m.: PRCA Rodeo, Morningside Park

Sunday, August 7

-8 a.m.: Church Services, Free Stage Tent -9 a.m.: 4-H & Open Dog Show, Wyoming Center -10 a.m.- 6 p.m.: Trade

Show/Kids Corral Open, Wyoming Center -10 a.m.: Jr. Beef Show, East Pavilion -11 a.m.: Youth Rodeo, Wrangler Arena -2 p.m.: Demolition Derby, Morningside Park Arena -6 p.m.: Release All Exhibits Release all non-sale animals after Beef Show, but not before 5 p.m.

Monday, August 8

-8 a.m.: Round Robin Showmanship, East Pavilion -10 a.m.: Awards Program [4-H & FFA Horse, Poultry, and Energy Hall Awards Only], Free Stage Tent -4 p.m.: Sale Buyer’s Dinner, Central Pavilion -6 p.m.: Youth Livestock Sale, Central Pavilion

Community Road Construction Updates Following are road construction updates courtesy of the City of Gillette. 4th Avenue 4th Avenue between Greenwood Avenue and Fir Avenue will be closed from Monday, August 1st through Tuesday, August 12th while a contractor installs a water main to Wagonwheel Elementary School for additional fire suppression. This work is being done in conjunction with the Campbell County School District. East 2nd Street (in Interstate Industrial Park) East 2nd Street will be closed Wednesday, July 27th through Monday, August 8th while crews install a box culvert. This closure is for work related to the City’s Industrial Park Drainage project. Traffic will be detoured to Conestoga Drive. This project is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax. Shalom Avenue Shalom Avenue from 1850 Shalom Avenue to the intersection of Shalom Avenue and Chara Avenue will be closed from Monday, August 1st through Monday, August 15th for street reconstruction as part of the City of Gillette’s Pavement Management Schedule B, which is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax. 1st Street / Burma Avenue The intersection of 1st Street and Burma Avenue will be closed until Tuesday, August 9th* for the installa-

tion of the 1st Street Sewer and paving. Traffic Control Plan [PDF] This closure is part of the Stonepile Creek Interceptor, Phase IIB Project to install sanitary sewer service and is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax. *Once the work at this intersection is complete for the Stonepile Creek Sewer Project, the intersection will remain closed for contractors to complete work on the city’s Quiet Zone project - which will last until approximately mid to late August. 2nd Street 2nd Street will be restricted to two lanes (right lanes heading east and west on 2nd Street) at the alley between Ross Avenue and Warren Avenue from Thursday, July 21st and Friday, August 5th. ] This construction is for work related to the Stonepile Creek Sanitary Sewer project. Alley Closures The alley between Ross Avenue and Warren Avenue from 1st Street to 2nd Street will be closed from Tuesday, July 12th through Friday, August 5th while crews install sewer line associated with the Stonepile Creek Sewer Interceptor Phase IIB project. The alley between Rohan and 4J from 3rd Street to 4th Street will be closed from Friday, July 29th through Friday, August 13th for the installation on Sanitary Sewer, in conjunction with the Stonepile Creek Sewer Interceptor, Phase

Enzi Drive Widening Beginning July 5th, traffic on Enzi Drive will be dedicated to the outside lanes of Enzi Drive until July 30, 2011. Traffic control designs will accommodate 12’ lanes and the speed limit will remain 20 mph. Pay attention to signs, watch for trucks, construction equipment as well as workers and flaggers. Trucks and trailers are encouraged to use an alternate route. This project, funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax, will be ongoing throughout the summer of 2011. This will widen Enzi Drive to five lanes from the Enzi Drive/ West 4J Road Intersection to just south of the Enzi Drive/Shoshone Avenue intersection. The project will also relocate the traffic signals at the Enzi Drive and Slate Street to the intersection of Enzi Drive and Sinclair Street - which will include a new entrance and exit to CCHS South Campus on Sinclair Street.

IIB project. This project is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax. Boxelder Road (Highway 59 to Fox Park Avenue) Boxelder Road will be restricted to one lane in each direction on Boxelder Road from Highway 59 to Fox Park Avenue from Tuesday, July 26th through Friday, July 29th while contractors fog seal the road for preventive maintenance. Drivers are asked to reduce speed and observe posted traffic control information. Par Drive Par Drive will continue being under construction from Tuesday, July 25th through Friday, August 5th for construction activities, including: asphalt pavement repair, asphalt overlay and subgrade prep. This project is part of the 2011 Pavement Management Schedule A, and is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax. Clarion Drive & Clarion Court Clarion Drive will be under construction from Monday, July 18th through Sunday, July 31st for storm drain installation and asphalt patching. Clarion Court will be closed for the same time period for asphalt pavement repair, asphalt overlay and storm water subdrain installation. This work is part of the City’s Pavement Management Schedule A and is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax.

For advertising email us at Advertising@ CampbellCounty Observer.com

The Campbell County Observer Staff

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

Nicholas De Laat - Owner/Editor NicholasDeLaat@CampbellCountyObserver.com Keary Speer - Editor KearySpeer@CampbellCountyObserver.com Jenna Flanery - Layout/Design Owen Clark - Ad Design OwenClark@CampbellCountyObserver.com Ken McCoy - Distribution Manager Pattie Ladd - What’s Going On PattieLadd@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Writers

Sandra Boehler (Charities/Fundraisers/Veterans Events) SandraBoehler@CampbellCountyObserver.com Glenn Woods (Political Column) GlennWoods@CampbellCountyObserver.com Mike Borda (American History) MichaelBorda@CampbellCountyObserver.com Elizabeth Albin (Wright) ElizabethAlbin@campbellcountyobserver.com Lin Stephens LinStephens@CampbellCountyObserver.com Josh Uzarski (Science) JoshuaUzarski@CampbellCountyObserver.com Ken De Laat (About Nothing) KennethDeLaat@CampbellCountyObserver.com “Juice” (Political Cartoonist) Juice@CampbellCountyObserver.com Jeff Morrison (Local History Contributor) JeffMorrison@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Church Corner

SMOKIN’ CHARITY BARBEQUE COOKOFF

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Abiding Grace Lutheran Church to host a Worship in the Park

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By Dave Maynard Abiding Grace Lutheran Church will be holding their First Annual “Worship in the Park” on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 10AM in replacement of their customary Sunday 9:30AM worship services for this day only. The Worship in the Park will feature contemporary Christian music and a sermon by Abiding Grace’s ULLM, Brian Hauschild. It will be held at the Amphitheater in Lasting Legacy Park (the park next to the old C.C. Rec. Center off of Highway 59) and is open to all who would like to attend. Following the service, there will be a “pot luck” picnic where all attendees are invited for an outing of fellowship and a great opportunity for visitors and guests to meet the people of Abiding Grace Lutheran Church. AGLC would like to thank Albertsons and Pepsi for donating beverages. Who are they?: As Wyoming’s pioneer church for the American Association of Lutheran Churches, Abiding Grace Lutheran Church in Gillette, Wyoming is the newest Lutheran Church to the Campbell County region. On March 21, 2010, Abiding Grace Lutheran Church opened their arms, their hearts, and their doors to the Campbell County holding services every Sunday at 9:30AM at

their current location at the Lakeway Business Center, Suite 500A. Since their formation, Abiding Grace Lutheran Church’s congregation has seen continued growth in their membership and weekly congregation size. At their current location they hold weekly Sunday worship services that feature a unique blend of both traditional as well as contemporary hymns and songs and twice a month they celebrate Holy Communion. They have an active adult and youth church choir, and any congregant interested in joining is encouraged to do so. There is also an active youth group which has children that range in age from preschool through high school and into college. AGLC offers Sunday School following services to youth in attendance. Abiding Grace also offers Confirmation Classes during the school year along with their adult bible study on Wednesday evenings at 6:30PM. The congregation of Abiding Grace Lutheran Church believes that the church is both a place of faith as well as a place of fellowship. Abiding Grace Members enjoy a “small town” worship environment within the growing population of Gillette.

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As a Church of the American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC), Abiding Grace offers a Biblical, Christian foundation for their congregation. Abiding Grace Lutheran Church strives to confess the Christian faith in an unstable world, remaining evangelical and Christ-focused, being neither partisan nor sectarian. In following the teachings and doctrine of the AALC, Abiding Grace continues in the proud conservative Lutheran tradition, holding firmly that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and they offer a viable alternative to Lutherans across America who find themselves unable to feel comfortable in either of the larger Lutheran church bodies. Additionally, Abiding Grace Lutheran Church, in association with the AALC, is in Altar and Pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and they practice “responsible communion.” Anyone interested in Abiding Grace Lutheran Church who may have questions can contact them via e-mail at abidinggracegillette@gmail.com, or they can call the church president David Maynard at 307-299-6340.

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Public Pulse Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: Could the City have planned a better way to do all this construction? You bet. This is ridiculous how all the construction is on the main roads going into the west side of town. What is it doing to the businesses? Fred McKensey From Editor Keary Speer: Dear Reader, I hear you! It seems like every year each common route is plagued with construction. All we can do is keep in mind that once it is done it will be an improvement to our town. Also, we can take a little comfort in the fact that for every site of construction we see, we also see men and women at work. Maybe one day it will come to a standstill and we can enjoy our town as is.

Bold Republic Weekly

Dear Editor: I just wanted you to know that I love your delivery guy. He personally walks up to our doorstep; the paper is always in a plastic bag, and hanging on our door handle. Usually my papers are in my ﬂower bed or at the end of my driveway ready to get ran over with my car. Your man walks up and delivers it with kindness and a good conversation if I am home. This is the personal quality touch that separates a small business from a big business. Thank you for that customer service and thank Ken for his wonderful delivery. Donna Shoeler

Hero’s Among Us By Glenn Woods

Monday morning, 6:03am, August 1st. I am sitting at the control console in my radio studio. Our news anchor, Paul, is reading a story that stops my train of thought and I sit up and listen. DOUGLAS, Wyo. A Wyoming deputy who had rushed into the North Platte River after a struggling girl was discovered after four days of searching. 29-yearold Bryan P. Gross, was found roughly a mile and a half from where he had entered the river. My mind drifted back to the day that he had gone missing, and, much like the town of Douglas, I feared the worse. As the weekend wore on, all hopes faded. Police officers often get a bad rap. Sure, as in any line of work, I think there might be a bad egg here and there, but for the most part I admire the men who, for little pay, and even less respect, as well as the abuse they must suffer through day after day from the general public, is willing to strap on a gun and a bullet proof vest and go out and do a job that most of us are either afraid, or unwilling, to do. Apparently, the girl that he was attempting to rescue was distraught over a boyfriend and she jumped into the river. She was just 14 years old, and in town for the 4-H fair. The North Platte River was above its banks following heavy snows from last winter. The waters rushed faster than an adult male could swim against. Deputy Gross knew the risks each and every day he went to work. Whether a routine traffic stop or call to a scene of domestic violence. He knew the risks when he jumped into that swollen river. Yet, without hesitation, he did it anyway. The news has hit the town of Douglas hard. Gross had worked as a Douglas police officer for a couple of years

before joining the sheriff’s department. He worked as a drug enforcement officer with a canine partner. Perhaps the worst of this news is that Deputy Gross had gotten married within the past few months to a receptionist for the city. I looked past my microphone to the computer screen that held the daily news I had intended to rant and rave about. But I just could not do it. My hand reached for the mouse and my finger clicked to reduce the stories in front of me. The decision was to open my radio show with news of Deputy Gross. There was no way to do my usual thing after hearing this story. Being human is hard and strange. The noise and mayhem around us has caused each generation to think that their time was the worst time in history and that things had never been this been before. Everyone yearns for a simpler time. Yet past times were just as hard, if not harder, than the times we live in today. There is always danger. There is always risk. There has always been chaos. But now and again, somehow, through the noise around us and in our brains, something happens that causes everyone of use to pause, and take notice. Something happens that puts everything into perspective. Something happens that changes us all. For the town of Douglas Wyoming the death of their brave officer has caused the town to pause. There will be quiet in Douglas, for a time, before people return to their lives. Life must go on. But for a moment they will reflect on the life of a good and brave man who wanted nothing more from his simple life than to marry his sweetheart and serve his community. They will think of a man who did not think of himself and dove headlong into a rushing river after a distraught little

girl. I’m betting that if we could go back in time and explain it to Mr. Gross, before he leapt; he just might have gone in anyway. On my way from work that day I saw a police car, on the side of the road, its lights flashing, and the officer cautiously approaching the car he had pulled over. Perhaps the driver of the car was gritting his teeth and cursing the officer. Perhaps the driver is a bit nervous. Honestly, the driver could have one of any number of reactions to being pulled over. The officer, however, approaches slowly, having no idea what he is up against. Most likely this will just be a routine traffic stop. But sometimes, it is not. He approaches anyway. It is his job. Somebody has to do it. Most of us do not know the true meaning of stress. We think we do. But in comparison, we do not. Most of us will never know the feeling that comes, day after day, from a loved one having to strap on a gun and a vest in order to go out and face the worst that the world has to offer. I doubt that no one ever entirely gets over the feeling. I think of Mrs. Gross as I write this paragraph and the wife of that officer as he approached the car, cautiously. The girl was saved, by others. She is in the hospital. Officer Bryan Gross did not die in vain. He has caused many of us to stop, for just a moment. To think. To reflect. After Thought: Wednesday morning, same time, Paul has news out of Rapid city about three officers shot. One had died. He had just asked his girl to marry him. The suspect is currently in surgery where they are removing a bullet shot into him by one of the officers. There are Hero’s among us, and I don’t think we say it often enough.

From Editor Keary Speer: Dear Donna, Thank you so much for your kind words toward our delivery man. We really like him too! He is a quality person with a lot to share with anyone and everyone. We will be sure to let him know how you have enjoyed his work. He will be pleased to hear it as are we. Hopefully, the quality of everyone’s work here at the paper is pleasing to our readers.

Dear Editor: Thank you so very much for running the story about “Suicide Prevention Walk” in the last edition of your newspaper. It was well written and to the point. If the story doesn’t bring me “walkers” I guess I’ll have to put on billboards and stand downtown. Sort of like the Statue of Liberty people did for the tax preparers. It is with community support such as yours that I have raised close to $2,500 from businesses and individuals in the Gillette area. During the Opening Ceremonies I will be announcing my Contributors and will be sure to mention the Campbell County Observer. From Editor Keary Speer: There is no need to thank us for running the story. That is what we are here to do! You are a shining example of exactly why we feel compelled to run this paper. It is you who keeps us going! Congratulations on what you have raised so far. I hope it contributes to your cause greatly! Dear Editor: I am appalled about the lack of politics in your paper. I tried to write in a letter that was 982 words. I know your rules are 300, but sometimes you need to bend those rules. This was all about the debt ceiling and needed to be heard by the uneducated public. You claim to be a community paper, written by the community but won’t allow my submission. We need to raise the debt ceiling, and raise taxes to get out of this debt. The Rich need to contribute more, they have the money. There is no reason for our economy to be where we are, except for the fact that the Teaparty conservatives are holding us back. There is also no reason that if you make more money, that you couldn’t give more. It is up to us, the people, to make sure government has the power (the elected Re-

publican government and therefor “the people”) has the power to do this or we all will fail. John Hammond From Editor Nick De Laat: Ok, I had to answer this one. This is ridiculous thinking. We spend too much, so why not spend more? We are losing private industry so let’s create more government jobs? The rich must pay more because they earn more? I could see a flat tax system (everyone pays 10%) or something like that. But while the poor get taxes back, the rich sometimes pay up to 52% taxes. Is that fair? I am not rich, but I do not believe in looters. Let me let you in on a little something. The less taxes I pay for my little company here, the more I can expand my company. If I expand, I hire people. People pay taxes. Get it yet? How about this; If I am talented enough to start a business from nothing and earn a living, should it be ok for someone who doesn’t want to work to feed off of my profits through welfare? That is stealing. I am not talking about elderly or disabled, but lazy. Looting is bad. One more question. If you are in debt in your personal finances do you spend more, or cut spending to pay it off? All debt works the same. Just because it is easier to spend other people’s money doesn’t mean you should. Rant Done.

All opinions in the Public Pulse section are not necessarily the opinions of the Campbell County Observer

Write for your community newspaper! Little League Games Band Concerts Plays Local Events If you are at one of your kid’s events and think it should be published, write an article, submit pictures with captions, and send it in to: OpenArticles@CampbellCountyObserver.com

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Letters to the Editor

ORN TIRE, IN H G C. BI

You may submit your letters to the editor the following ways: Mail your letter to 5105 Tarry St., Gillette, WY 82718 or Email your letter to: Letters@CampbellCountyObserver.com All letters must be under 250 words and must be signed with a valid name and telephone number. We reserve the right to not publish any letter for any reason. We will call you before printing your letter for veriﬁcation that you wrote it for two reasons. The ﬁrst is that we do not want to print a letter that has the wrong name on it, and the other is that it is the position of this newspaper that any public opinions or writings where the source is hidden is not worth being printed.

Gillette, WY

Exit 124 off I-90 307-682-9411

STOP IN FOR A FREE BRAKE INSPECTION!

Sports Report

High School fall sports practice times The first day of practice for all Campbell County High School fall sports is Monday, August 15, 2011 except for football, which begins Monday, August 8, 2011. All activity participants must have a current school physical dated on or after June 1, 2011. As well, they must sign a drug testing consent form, and show proof of insurance before the start of practice. Specific practice times are listed below:

Loss ends Roughriders’ season By Ted Ripko

The Gillette Roughriders’ season ended Saturday night as they lost to Cheyenne Post 6 in the American Legion AA State Championship 14-4. For Cheyenne, this is their third straight Wyoming state championship, and they improve to a record of 5119. The Roughriders, meanwhile, finish the year with a record of 47-24. Post 6 got out to an early lead against the Riders, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings, and then exploding for six runs in the third before adding another two runs in the fourth. The Riders were already behind 10-0 before they scored their first runs in the top of the fifth. The Riders were finally able to get on the board against Post 6 when Dalton McCann drove in Westin Hinkel with a single to right field. After two strike outs, Dalton Cowen singled to third base, driving in Kadison Wass. The final run of the inning came from a Turner Lofing single up the middle of the field, bringing in Gavin Reimer. On the same hit, Dalton McCann tried to score from second, but he was gunned out at home by center fielder Brandon Nimmo. Since the mercy rule was applicable, the Riders had to score at least one more run entering the seventh inning as they were behind 13-3. In the end, the Riders would extend the game by a half inning as Dalton McCann scored from second when Turner Lofing singled to right field. With three hits in the inning, however, Gillette was only able to add one run. Ultimately, Post 6 won on the mercy rule in the seventh inning after Jorden Mossey scored from third on a wild pitch. For the Roughriders, Dalton Cowen was 2-3 at the plate with one RBI. Turner Lofing hit 2-4 with two RBIs, Westin Hinkel was 1-4 at the plate with one run, and Dalton McCann batted 2-3 with one RBI and one run. Dalton Cowen started out on the mound for Gillette, pitching just three innings, scattering nine hits, giving up eight earned runs, and striking out two. With the loss, Cowen’s record fell to 3-4 on the season. Westin Hinkel relieved Cowen in the fourth, throwing for two innings, giving up four hits and one earned run. Matt Fogle finished the game throwing 1 1/3 innings while allowing one hit and one earned run. With Saturday night’s victory over Gillette, Cheyenne Post 6 advances to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Billings, MT beginning on Wednesday. For the Riders, they can only look forward to the 2012 season, where they will have several players retuning. Next season, the Roughriders will be without Dalton Cowen, JT Zigray, and Robert Markve.

Football: grades 10-12 Head Coach Vic Wilkerson

Sun (8/7) Check out gear in Locker Room #6 (North Campus) • Seniors @ 3:30 pm • Juniors @ 4:15 pm • Sophs @ 5:00 pm MANDATORY Parent/ Player Meeting - 6:00 pm (Auditorium) Mon (8/8), Wed (8/10), Fri (8/12) practice from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tues (8/9) & Thu (8/11) practice from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Volleyball: grades 10-12 Head Coach Toni Hladky

Mon (8/15) – Fri (8/19) 8:00 am - 1:00 pm at North Campus

Girls Swimming & Diving: grades 9-12 Head Coach Josh Bott

Mon (8/15) - Fri (8/19) • 8:00 - 10:00 am at Aquatic Center • 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Aquatic Center

Golf: grades 9-12 Head Coach Rory Williams

Mon (8/15) – Wed (8/17) 7:00 am at Bell Nob Golf Course Bring golf clubs and be prepared to play 18 holes.

Tennis: grade 9-12 Head Coach Mark Miessler

Mon (8/15) – Fri (8/19) • Boys 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. • Girls 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. All practices at CCHS North Campus Tennis Courts.

Cross Country: grades 9-12 Head Coach Ron Kline

Mon (8/15) - Fri (8/19) • 7:00 am at Camplex Park Shelter #4 • 6:00 pm at Camplex Park Shelter #4 Parent Meeting August 15th @ 6:30 pm @ Camplex Park Shelter #5

Cheerleading: grades 10-12 Head Coach Kelsey Dewey

Mon (8/15) – Fri (8/19) • 9:00 am - 11:00 am and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Open try-out Mon (8/15) at 9:00 am All practices at South Campus Cheer Room

Marching Band: grades 9-12 Director Chris Lubken

Thur (8/11) & Fri (8/12) 9th & 10th Grade only • 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Mon (8/15) – Fri (8/19)912 Grade • 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Meet in CCHS North Campus Band Room Parent meeting Aug. 12th in Band Room, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Dance: grades 9-12 Sponsor Donna Packard

Auditions will be held on Thurs. Sept. 1st (one day only) from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Live 2 Dance studio. Pre-registration is required, call 687-0207. Audition requirements and additional information located at www.live2dancewyoming.com.

The Sports Bar Cruz Nights are back! We have a “Celebrity Chef” each Wednesday! The Chef DRINKS FOR FREE!!! Please allow us to care cab you home for this one.

SPORTS BAR

New adult baseball league forming in Gillette

Bike groups that host one large event each year with The Sports Bar will have two separate evenings to raise money. The final Cruz Night will be donated to our favorite “non bikers” charity, The Boys and Girls Club of Campbell County.

By Ted Ripko, Basin Radio Sports

The High Plains Adult Baseball League is currently forming baseball teams in Gillette and the surrounding area, and they are looking to recruit anyone interested in participating in this year’s inaugural season. Those interested in getting on the field to enjoy America’s pastime are encouraged to arrive at the Monday night games at Bicentennial Park 15 to 20 minutes early. Currently,

the games begin at 7 p.m. at Babe Ruth field 2. Additional weeknight games on days other than Monday will be added as new teams join the league. Even if you believe you are too old, the league says not to worry because you’re still encouraged to participate. The focus of this association is on having fun, bringing people together in an active, outdoor setting. Those interested in playing or otherwise be-

ing involved should call Nick Marty at (307) 2902207. Besides players, the league is also recruiting umpires and other supporting people. As well, managers with complete or nearly complete teams are encouraged to call. For more information, visit the Black Hills Adult Baseball League website atwww.leaguelineup.com/ bhabl

July 20 - Second Brigade July 27 - CMA Aug. 3 - BACCA Aug. 10 - Elite Flys Aug. 17 - UMF Aug. 24 - WBA Aug. 31 - Boys & Girls Club of Campbell County

1400 n. us hwy 14-16

To be in compliance with county ordinances we ask that patrons do not “burn out” when approaching the highway,!!!

Sports Report

High School Fastpitch Fall Ball tryouts By Ted Ripko, Basin Radio Sports The Campbell County High School Lady Camel fast pitch softball team will be holding tryouts for the fall season on Monday, August 15, and Tuesday, August 16, at Sampson Field at 6pm both nights. Players are required to attend both days of tryouts. The Lady Camels will also be having open ﬁeld nights

on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the next two weeks at Sampson Field from 7-8:30pm. This will be the 2nd full season for the Lady Camels who played their inaugural season against teams from South Dakota. They will now be adding other Wyoming teams to their season schedule. This sea-

son The Lady Camels will have doubleheaders once a week against teams from South Dakota and then have league games on the weekends in Gillette and across the state. The fall 2011 fastpitch softball season will wrap up in October with the 1st ever Wyoming High School Fast Pitch State Tournament.

Gillette Roughrider’s Broadcasters

Ted Ripko (Basin Radio Sports) and Nick De Laat (Campbell County Observer) Broadcast the Gillette Roughrider District Championship tournament live on am1270 KIML. Ted has been broadcasting local sports including baseball, basketball, and football for over 3 years in the area. Nick recently joined the team for the last three home games of the season. Tune in during future sports games to listen to the duo bring you a quality show, great entertainment, and knowledge of your local sports that you will not ﬁnd anywhere else.

What’s Going On In Sports? Friday, August 5

-Roughriders @ Northwest Regional Tourney, Billings, MT, TBA

Saturday, August 6

-Roughriders @ Northwest Regional Tourney, Billings, MT, TBA

Sunday, August 7

-Roughriders @ Northwest Regional Tourney, Billings, MT, TBA

Monday, August 8

-Roughriders @ Northwest Regional Tourney, Billings, MT, TBA

Thursday, August 11

-CCHS Marching Band Camp, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., North Campus

Friday, August 12

Race Results

Finish Start 1 5 2 3 3 4 4 6 5 1 6 9 7 2 8 8 9 7

Car 18 44 E5K J 36 F16 97 21R 71

Finish Start 1 2 2 5 3 3 4 8 5 9 6 6 7 4 8 7 9 1

Car E5K 36 97 44 18 J 71 21R F16

Finish Start 1 8 2 5 3 2 4 6 5 4 6 3 7 1 8 7

DriverHometown Race Points Eddie Kirchoff Gillette , Wy Byran Bettchor Sheridan , Wy Harvey Tinnes Greenriver , Wy Jeff Cooper Riverton , W

40.00 39.00 38.00 0.00

Late Model - Main Event

DriverHometown Race Points Tony Leiker Gillette , Wy Eric Mass Rapid City, Sd Eddie Kirchoff Gillette , Wy Chris Johnson Rapid City, Sd Kelly Hample Billings , Mt Scott Anderson Spearﬁsh , Sd Dan Henrikson Rapid City, Wy John Robertson Gillette , Wy Morris Oberle Lead , Sd

35.00 33.00 32.00 31.00 30.00 29.00 28.00 27.00 26.00

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00

LIMITED LATE MODEL - Main Event Car DriverHometown 6 Danny Allen 2 Marty Erivez 81 Freddy Molnar 12 Brian Allen C4 Toby Smith 99G Galen Guzenhauser 71 Donald Molnar 01 Jason Snyder

Race Points Gillette , Wy Gillette , W Gillette , W Gillette , W Casper , Wy Gillette , Wy Gillette , W

75.00 70.00 65.00 60.00 55.00 50.00 48.00 46.00

Thunder Stock - Main Event

Finish Start 1 8 2 6 3 5 4 7 5 4 6 3 7 2 8 1

Car 80P 13S 80 S16 01 6 21 13T

Finish Start 1 2 2 1 3 4 4 3

Car 13S 21 80 6

DriverHometown Duane Haines Seth Cavanaugh Chad Horst Teresa Schuler Brittni Snyder Chris Russell Cyle King Austin Long

Race Points Gillette , Wy Gillette , Wy Gillette , W Wright , Wy Gillette , W Wright , Wy Gillette , Wy

35.00 33.00 32.00 31.00 30.00 29.00 28.00 0.00

Thunder Stock - Heat 2 DriverHometown Seth Cavanaugh Cyle King Chad Horst Chris Russell

Race Points Gillette , Wy Wright , Wy Gillette , W -

Car 13T 80P 01 S16

Thunder Stock - Heat 1 DriverHometown Austin Long Duane Haines Brittni Snyder Teresa Schuler

Race Points Gillette , Wy Gillette , Wy Gillette , W Wright , Wy

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00

Midwest Mod - Main Event

Late Model - Heat

DriverHometown Race Points Eddie Kirchoff Gillette , Wy Kelly Hample Billings , Mt Dan Henrikson Rapid City, Wy Eric Mass Rapid City, Sd Tony Leiker Gillette , Wy Chris Johnson Rapid City, Sd Morris Oberle Lead , Sd John Robertson Gillette , Wy Scott Anderson Spearﬁsh , Sd

Finish Start 1 4 2 1 3 3 4 2

10.00 9.00 8.00 0.00

Finish Start Car DriverHometown Race Points 1 1 34H Rob Hoffman Gillette , Wy 2 4 14 Kenny Bell Gillette , W 3 2 2J Jerry Martin Moorcroft, Wy 4 5 10J Scott Joslyn Gillette , Wy 5 7 1* Scott Edwards 6 10 28S Cannon Slawson Gillette , Wy 7 6 26 Ray Nash Evansvile , Wy 8 9 23 Ernie Acuna Gillette , Wy 9 8 23DB Maklain Harrison Gillette , Wy 10 3 27 Scotty Fischer Gillette , W

35.00 33.00 32.00 31.00 30.00 29.00 28.00 27.00 26.00 25.00

“A tough day at the ofﬁce is even tougher when your OFFICE contains spectator seating.” - Nik Posa

Midwest Mod - Heat 2

Finish Start Car DriverHometown Race Points 1 5 2J Jerry Martin Moorcroft, Wy 2 3 14 Kenny Bell Gillette , W 3 4 26 Ray Nash Evansvile , Wy 4 1 23DB Maklain Harrison Gillette , Wy 5 2 28S Cannon Slawson Gillette , Wy

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 0.00

Midwest Mod - Heat 1

Finish Start 1 1 2 4 3 5 4 3 5 2

Car 34H 27 10J 1* 23

DriverHometown Rob Hoffman Scotty Fischer Scott Joslyn Scott Edwards Ernie Acuna

Race Points Gillette , Wy Gillette , W Gillette , Wy Gillette , Wy

Finish Start 1 5 2 9 3 4 4 2 5 3 6 8 7 6 8 1 9 7 10 10

Car DriverHometown Race Points 33 Robert Harley Casper , Wy 50 Wade Manning Gillette , Wy 5 Justin Williams Gillette , Wy 00 Benjie Bayne Casper , Wy 70X Steve Schickentanz Casper , Wy 27 Gene Eckman Casper , Wy 307 Tom Manning Gillette , Wy 42 Dakota Estrada Cheyenne , Wy 55 Duane Manning Gillette , Wy 37 Chris Harley Evansville , W

Finish Start 1 2 2 3 3 5 4 1 5 4

Car 33 307 5 50 37

Finish Start 1 1 2 5 3 3 4 4 5 2

Car DriverHometown Race Points 55 Duane Manning Gillette , Wy 70X Steve Schickentanz Casper , Wy 42 Dakota Estrada Cheyenne , Wy 00 Benjie Bayne Casper , Wy 27 Gene Eckman Casper , Wy

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00

Mod Four - Main Event

35.00 33.00 32.00 31.00 30.00 29.00 28.00 27.00 26.00 0.00

Mod Four - Heat 2

DriverHometown Race Points Robert Harley Casper , Wy Tom Manning Gillette , Wy Justin Williams Gillette , Wy Wade Manning Gillette , Wy Chris Harley Evansville , W

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 0.00

Mod Four - Heat 1

10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00

iot Publ r t a

ing ish

Car E5K 71 92 02

IMCA MODIFIEDS - Main Event

Finish Start 1 2 2 1 3 3 4 4

-Roughriders @ American Legion World Series, Shelby, NC, TBA -CCHS Marching Band Camp, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., North Campus

Patriot Publishing is a small publishing business starting up right here in Wyoming. We not only publish the Campbell County Observer and calendars, but anything in print. We will soon also have a monthly publication that we think you will enjoy. If you have a book and can’t get a major company to publish you, we are a new and Americanowned publisher that may print your work. Please feel free to contact us at anytime with your idea.

Our Roots What’s Going On? Friday, August 5

-Campbell County Fair -BACA- Wright -Teen Open-Play Video Gaming, 1-4 p.m., CCPL -Cody Canada & The Departed with Walker Williams Band @ Jakes Tavern -Senior Center Summer Soiree, Carry In Dinner 5 p.m., Dancing 6-9 p.m., Musician Eddie Prazma, $5 per person or $7 per couple, 686-0804 -AVA-Uncorked! 7-9 p.m., $35 Class Fee, 682-9133 for more info.- MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND -Movies in the Park, 7:30 p.m., Cars, Camplex Park Shelter #3, $5- Children 4 & under FREE

Thomas Edison

Saturday, August 6

By Mike Borda

When we think about what we use in life today, many things come to mind. Cell phones, portable music, computers, television, and much, much more. However, something not many of us think about is how they came to be so accessible, and who made it possible. The answer lies with one man: Thomas Edison. Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. In the next 84 years there would be few men that matched his contributions to history and technology. As a boy he attended only three months of school, before his lack of concentration on the work relegated him to homeschooling. He moved to Michigan in 1854, where he began creating businesses to help him earn some extra money. Later he found work as a telegrapher, which would ultimately provide the springboard to his future as it was there he met his mentor, inventor Franklin Leonard Pope. These ventures would prove to be just the beginning, however, of an extraordinary career. Living with Pope in New Jersey, it was there Edison came up with the idea for his phonograph in 1877, allowing people for the first time to record audio and replay it

back (although the audio quality left something to be desired). With the money he acquired from the sale of his phonograph, Edison was able to, in 1879, make the best light bulb to date. While they had existed previously, Edison was the man who finally made it cheap and reliable, perfect for a growing American population. While Edison’s story could take up many more pages, it seems appropriate to, instead of writing about the rest of his life, sum up his life’s work with those things that his mind brought to life. The following are a few of the highlights of his career and the 1,093 patents Edison held – the inventions of a true innovator. • Phonograph • Motion Picture Camera • Filament Light Bulb • Electric Vote Counter • Vacuum sealed food • Electric Grid • General Electric (Founder) • Stock Ticker • Alkaline Battery It is amazing to think of what these inventions have become today, and where they will be in another 80 years. We can only imagine.

-Campbell County Fair -BACA- Wright -Keyhole Rhythm & Ribs 2011, Pine Haven, www. pinehavenchamber.org for more info. -Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m.12 p.m., Gillette College -Trash to Trees, 8 a.m.- 12 p.m., Gillette College Tech. Center -Campbell County Humane Society Dachshund Race, 1 p.m., Camplex -4th-6th Grade Wii Play Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., CCPL -Teen Open-Play Video Gaming, 1-4 p.m., CCPL -Car Racing; CLMA/ WDRA, 7 p.m., Gillette Thunder Speedway -Walker Williams Band @ Jakes Tavern

Sunday, August 7

-Campbell County Fair -CCPL- CLOSED -UMF Meeting @ Jakes Tavern -Lions Club Tournament, Gillette Golf Club, 682-4774 for more info. -Senior Center Carry-In Game Day, 12 p.m., 6860804

Monday, August 8

-Senior Center Golf Scramble, 686-0804 -Wyoming Nature Camp, Aug 8-12, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., 1-6 Grades, $150 per child, Call (307)733-1313 or visit www.wynaturecamps.org for more info.

-Wright Annual Used Book Sale, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wright Library -AVA-Kidz Summer Art Camp for Boys 8-12 yrs. Old, Aug. 8-11, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., $60 Fee, 682-9133 PreRegistration Required -AVA- Life Drawing Class, 7 p.m., 682-9133

Tuesday, August 9

-HealthCHECK Testing, 7-11 a.m., CCMH Lab, 6881222 for more info. -Wyoming Nature Camp, 8 a.m., 1-6 Grades, Gillette College Tech. Center, (307)367-7007 -Wright Annual Used Book Sale, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wright Library -AVA-Kidz Summer Art Camp for Boys 8-12 yrs. Old, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., 682-9133 -Story Time, 3-5 yr. old, 10:30 a.m., CCPL -AVA-Adult Beginner Painting, 6:30 p.m., 682-9133

Wednesday, August 10

-Children’s Immunization Clinic, 8-11:30 a.m., Public Health -Wyoming Nature Camp, 8 a.m., 1-6 Grades, Gillette College Tech. Center, (307)367-7007 -Wright Annual Used Book Sale, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wright Library -AVA-Kidz Summer Art Camp for Boys 8-12 yrs. Old, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., 682-9133 -Story Time, 3-5 yr. old, 10:30 a.m., CCPL -Teen Open-Play Video Gaming, 1-4 p.m., CCPL

Thursday, August 11

-WGSA Tournament, 23rd Mid Amateur,(All Day), Bell Nob Golf Course -HealthCHECK Testing, 7-11 a.m., CCMH Lab, 6881222 for more info. -Wyoming Nature Camp, 8 a.m., 1-6 Grades, Gillette College Tech. Center, (307)367-7007 -Wright Annual Used Book Sale, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wright Library -Senior Center- Tin Lizzie Bus, 9 a.m., 686-0804 -AVA-Kidz Summer Art Camp for Boys 8-12 yrs. Old, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., 682-9133 -Toddler Time, 18 months-3 yrs. Old, 9:30 a.m., CCPL

-Story Time, 3-5 yr. old, 10:30 a.m., CCPL -Dry Fork Station Dedication Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., Dry Fork Station, Call 6823673 for more info. -August Business After Hours Mixer, 5-7 p.m., Gillette College Tech. Center -AVA-Adult Intermediate Painting, 6:30 p.m. -CC Cowgirls/Cowboys, 6:30 p.m., Camplex Wrangler Arena, 687-0566 -Families & Jammies, Birth- 6th Grade, 6:30 p.m., CCPL -Outdoor Connections, 6:30 p.m., McManamen Park, Provided By NWOC, 660-5076

Friday, August 12

-WGSA Tournament, 23rd Mid Amateur,(All Day), Bell Nob Golf Course -2nd Annual City Tennis Tourney, (All Day), Rec. Center Field House, 682-8527 -Wyoming Nature Camp, 8 a.m., 1-6 Grades, Gillette College Tech. Center, (307)367-7007 -Wright Annual Used Book Sale, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wright Library -Teen Open-Play Video Gaming, 1-4 p.m., CCPL -Mark Twain 100 Years LaterEndowment Fundraiser, 5:15-7:30 p.m., CCPL -Couples Night, Gillette Golf Course, 5:30-6 p.m., 682-4774 -Artist Reception for Centennial Committee, 6-8 p.m., Camplex Heritage Center South Lobby, 682-8802 for tickets -Movies in the Park, 7:30 p.m., School of Rock, Camplex Park Shelter #3, $5children 4 & under FREE -Stone Monkey Band @ Jakes Tavern

Be a part of your community newspaper. To join our team e-mail Campbell CountyObserver @gmail.com

Classifieds Help Wanted

Homes for Sale

Office Space Needed

Campers & Motor Homes

Cook needed at Lu La Bells. Motivated and Energetic. Days Only. Apply at Lu La bells.

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.

Looking for office space to rent. Affordable, 1000 square feet or more. Call 6700-3037

1997 32ft. Class A Motor Home. Sleeps 6, Only 31,000 Miles. Asking $17,000. Call (307) 660-7520.

Toys (ATV’s, Boats, etc.)

Large Private RV/Camper Lot for rent. Big yard, trees. All utilities available. $400 per month, $400 deposit. 1 year lease. Call (307) 660-1007.

Local journalists wanted. Always wanted to try? Must be 16 yrs of age. Contact us at CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com Advertising Sales for our weekly paper. Great commission rate, set your own hours. Contact us at CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com Contributors wanted for weekly newspaper. Need a doctor, a Politician, a lawyer, and more to contribute an article a month. E-mail CampbellCountyObserver@gmail. com for more information. Sports writers, event writers wanted. Gillette, Write, Recluse, Rozet. Call 6708980. Central Campbell County Improvement and Service District and the Sleepy Hollow Homeowner’s Association are now accepting applications for the administrative secretary position. Need to have good office skills with experience in Quickbooks and office software a must. This is a parttime position, with variable hours. Also, must be able to obtain a notary. Need to have resume turned into the office at 6304 Irving Blvd. no later than August 10, 2011.

Home Appliances/ Furnishings Small washer. Needs new belt, $25. Email USSailorPatriot@gmail.com Microfiber couch with 2 recliners combined. Green. $100 Call 299-4967. Booth Table. L-shaped. With Chairs. Seats 6. $500.00 Call 299-4967

Toy Parts & Accessories

Tri-level house for sale 4 bed 2 bath $209,000 (307) 670-1925. Gorgeous 3 Bedroom 2 Bath with a Den. 1800 sq. ft/ Culdesac lot. Financing available. For a personal showing call 6870222

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.

Autos, Trucks and Vans 1981 Harley Davidson FXB-Sturgis, 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!

Boat for Sale with trailer. Needs work. Call 670-8980 for info. 2006 Cabella’s “Lowes Sun Cruizer” 20 ft. Pontoon 95 HP Mercury Outboard Motor (less than 50 hrs). Good Condition. Call 680-2982 or 696-7512.

Lost & Found

Pets Welsh Corgi Puppies. 3 females, and two males. 682-2598

Wanted to Buy

FOUND: one large trampoline. Currently located at 5350B M&M circle. If yours, please pick up any day any time. If not yours, do not trespass.

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

Camping/Fishing

Newspaper vending machines. Contact us at: CampbellCountyObserver@gmail. com

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 307-756-3454. www.empireguesthouse.com

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

2008 Hyundai Sonata LMTD, 40,000 mi. $13,500, Call 307-660-2532. ‘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 dualplugged to run regular-gas, had burn-out time at Hog-Jam! Ben 680.7464.

Stock pipes for Sportster. 500mi. Stock 1994 Ford Ranger. Black. With Topper. pices for Dyna Wide Glide. 1500mi. Email Runs Good. 85k Miles. 2300 obo. Call baxtersmom62@gmail.com for info. 307-299-0223

WILL PAY CASH FOR CAMPERS. Call Scott (307) 680-0854.

Heavy Equipment/Trailers 6x10 trailer. Great shape, fits your biggest Harley. $1,400 obo. 299-4967.

Sporting Goods Like new Horizon Elliptical. $300 obo. Call 299-7058 for more info.

- LIMITED TIME ONLY -

Free Classified Ad - 10 words or less (Private ownership only - No businesses) For more details visit www.campbellcountyobserver.com or call (307)

670-8980

Our Roots

Answer: Gillette College outside of the Science Department.

“The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.” -Ronald Reagan

Water Projects, Early Gillette Style By Jeff Morrison Providing a sufficient amount of water to meet the demands of an evergrowing population has always been a challenge in Gillette, requiring creative, not to mention costly, solutions even in the earliest days of our town’s history. The very first water crisis began the day the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad made the decision to run the track north of an existing community calling itself Donkey Town and created a new settlement, named after one of the railroad’s track engineers, two miles north. Donkey Town, named after the creek, had a source of water. The new town had a mostly-dry seasonal drainage wash, optimistically named Stone Pile Creek. Not only would the new population require drinking water, but steam engines required water as well. Added to that was the plans for a large stock yard for shipping sheep and cattle from Gillette to eastern markets, which would also require water. From 1891 to 1906, the new community of Gillette made do with what water they could get from shallow wells, hauling water from Donkey Creek and pumping water from a nearby seasonal pond we now call Burlington Lake. But it was apparent to all parties that, in order for the town to grow, something needed to be done. Fortunately, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad had a solution. The proposed to the town a canal system that would divert water from Donkey Creek to Stone Pile Creek and from Stone Pile Creek into the seasonal lake, which would be enhanced with a dirt dike. In a 1920 article, the Campbell County Record said of the original proposal “… strange as it may seem, there were few those days who thought that the town would ever grow to any proportions and it was generally talked among our residents that it was better for the town to permit of the building of the ditch than of getting the ill will of the company and losing the freight division point, and thus it was put through.” A very good point, considering railroad communities either thrived or withered on the whims of railroad officials who decided where certain off-shoot businesses would be built along their lines. Construction of the Burlington ditch began in 1907 and was completed in 1908. The ditch ran from Donkey Creek, through the lower part of present-day Sutherland Estates and Sage Bluffs subdivisions, crossed to roughly parallel with Boxelder Road where it runs between 4-J and Highway 59. It then ran diagonally northwest, crossing Gillette Avenue next to where the George Amos Memorial Library would

be built in 1941, and continuing back to 4-J road. Running due-west, south and parallel to what would become Highway 14-16, it crossed the road at the Rock Pile, wound around the town’s main landmark then turned northwest again to feed into Stone Pile Creek just north of the railroad tracks and west of Burma Road. Although the natural streambed of Stone Pile runs north of the tracks until just east of Brooks Avenue, at some point another portion of ditch was run on the south side of the tracks, dividing the tracks from the town. Two wooden bridges were constructed on either side of Gillette Avenue to facilitate passenger traffic between the depot and town. This portion of the ditch fed back into Stone Pile Creek at Brooks Avenue. A third portion of ditch was dug from Stone Pile, just west of modernday the baseball fields at Bicentennial Park and ran east to the holding pond, which had by this time a variety of names: Burlington Lake, Burlington Reservoir and Gillette Reservoir. As with most Gillette water projects, it was a costly endeavor. Expenses went far beyond just digging a ditch. Buildings in the path of the ditch had to be moved. Several bridges had to be constructed and maintained. Head gates, dikes and dams had to be installed along the canal system. All of this was done at the railroad’s expense, which meant that the entire water system, once completed, belonged to the railroad. This was both good and bad. The railroad was, indeed, responsible for the maintenance of the ditch system and everything relating to it, however permission had to be granted by the railroad for anything crossing it. This included things like proposed bridges crossing over it and town water supply pipes crossing under it. Early on this was not much of a difficulty, but it became increasingly burdensome as town growth came into conflict with the ditch. At one point, permission to move the city dump from one side of the ditch to the other had to be granted. Another problem became apparent early on. The ditch was prone to flooding during heavy rains. In 1909, the flash flood caused by a large hail storm wiped out a half mile of dike at the head of the ditch. But the worst disaster occurred one August evening in 1912, when nearly two inches of rain came down in a two hour time period. During the deluge, the ditch overflowed and the water turned Gillette Avenue into “a veritable sea of water,” according to the Gillette News, “the gutters being utterly inadequate to carry off the immense volume, and as a result many business hous-

es were caught by the overflow, cellars were flooded and first floors inundated, ruining several thousand dollars’ worth of goods of different kinds.” Burlington ditch broke in several places, washing out nearly every bridge that crossed it. The sidewalks on the east side of Gillette Avenue, all being made of wood, floated away down the street. Most of the businesses that existed on Gillette Avenue at the time suffered flood damage. Passengers, debarking from train number 43, were faced with the choice of staying put at the station or trying to wade across the rushing, waist-deep torrent of water that separated them from the hotels in town. The Goings Hotel flooded both its cellar and some of the lower rooms to a height “sufficient to cover the mattresses on the beds.” At the Montgomery, one block down from the Goings, and across the street, the water filled both cellars and six inches of water covered the floors on ground level. The water also lifted off the cellar door that covered an opening in the front of the building. J. A. Wood, foreman of the Burlington roundhouse, was walking by the hotel and stepped into the open cellar hatch, and sunk out of site. According to the Gillette News, “He managed to pull himself out of his perilous plight uninjured and ahead 35 cents for a first-class bath.” At the Dodd and Fowlston saloon, patrons decided to save the establishment by building a bulkhead across doorways. Two feet of water showed on the outside, but the bulkheads kept all but two inches of water out of the building. Presumably they saved happy hour. The greatest amount of property damage was suffered by the Daly Brothers general store where it was estimated they lost about $5,000 of goods. According to one account, about $1,200 of this was a shipment of prunes. They sued the railroad for damages and received $1,000 in restitution, then allegedly dried the prunes out and sold them later that summer. Demands to fill the ditch in probably started that next day, but it was not until 1920 that a serious look into removing the ditch got people’s hopes up. The railroad went so far as to send officials to Gillette with a plan to rework the canal system by rerouting from Donkey Creek on a path that would have taken it around the west side of dump hill, similar to the Burma Road extension. It would then join up with the existing ditch near the Rock Pile. Part of the plan called for a portion of it to be subterranean. It also included a larger dam to be built at Burlington Lake

so that it could hold even more water. The only problem was that it would cost an estimated $125,000 at first-blush. By January of 1921, the railroad reneged on the proposal due to the expense, and the ditch stayed, even though it cost them a small fortune to maintain it and the bridges crossing it. And the growing town was demanding more bridges every day. It took another twenty years before the railroad relinquished ownership of the ditch to the city in 1942, and another five years before the ditch was mostly filled in and the old bridges removed. In the meantime the ditch continued to flood from time to time, but fortunately never to the extent that it did in 1912. As the ditch disappeared, so did the ground water in northern Gillette. When I was growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s, Stone Pile Creek was a dry gulley that ran behind my best buddy’s house, where we road bikes, had dirt-clod fights and built forts into the banks. I did not even know it had a name until I was an adult. Burlington Lake was a hit or miss mud puddle. Some years it would flood enough to wash out part of Warlow Drive, but most years there was not any water in it. It was later dredged to become a permanent lake and bird refuge. Very little of the Burlington ditch remains today. There is a small section of it that has been preserved on the corner of 4-J and Boxelder, along with some equipment that was used for maintenance of the ditch. However, the best preserved portion of the ditch can be seen at the Rockpile Museum on Highway 14-16. Here, the ditch was dug into the slope on the eastern side and bends around the Rock Pile and runs northwest toward the corner of Burma Avenue and First Street. The ditch that ran from Stone Pile Creek to Burlington Lake remains intact. It was reworked by the city in 1964 to draw spring flood water away from the housing that was built just north of the railroad tracks along Stone Pile Creek. The portion of ditch that ran in-between First Street and the railroad tracks is actually still there, but it has slowly been covered over with cement slabs until it has become a tunnel.

What’s Going On In Government? Monday, August 8

-CCCD Board Meeting, 4-6 p.m., District Conference Room -City Council Work Session Meeting, 6-7 p.m., 2nd Floor Community Room, City Hall -Planning Commission Meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall -Wright Town Council Workshop, 7 p.m., Council Room, Town Hall -Wright Town Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Council Room, Town Hall

Tuesday, August 9

-Board of Examiners, 12:30 p.m., Community Conference Room, City Hall

Thursday, August 11

-Parks & Beautiﬁcation Board, 5:30 p.m., 2nd Floor Community Conference Room, City Hall -Campbell County Public Land Board, 7 p.m., Camplex Board Room

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

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