BIG TOP RISING. SEE STEPPING OUT.
Jackson, Wyoming
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 s
Snow King details Phase 2
One dollar
Expansion of area boundaries, gondola and more aim to create a ‘first-class’ ski resort. By Ben Graham and Mike Koshmrl Snow King Mountain Resort decision-makers said this week they will begin seeking approval for a gondola, top-to-bottom zip line and boundary expansion that would make the Town Hill two-thirds larger. The King’s president, Max Chapman, outlined the ambitious plans for Jackson’s historical community ski area at a town meeting Monday. The aim, Chapman said, is to create a ski hill that will serve locals while also holding its own against other resorts in the region and across the country. “The goal that we’re trying to have for Snow King is to create a truly first-class recreational area that will be for the benefit of our locals as well as our visitors,” Chapman said, “and can compete with anybody in the area or anyone in the country in terms of quality and experience.” Other additions grouped into Snow King’s latest plans include lift-accessed mountain bike trails, a “first class” restaurant on the summit to replace the Panorama House, a new road and maybe even an observatory. The zip line, according to Snow King’s website, would be the steepest in the country, capable of reaching speeds up to 70 mph. An environmental review of the proposals is likely to take a year and
RYAN JONES / NEWS&GUIDE
Susan Hindman kisses granddaughter Bailey Chamberland while Del Hindman holds grandaughter Ashlyn Chamberland on Saturday at the Teton County Fair and Rodeo Royalty Pageant. For more, see Valley section.
Artifact trove tells history Evidence shows ancient campsites in Moose-Wilson corridor where game was processed and weapons made. By Mike Koshmrl Two or three millennia ago, American Indians used the flats above the wetlands along what’s now the northern Moose-Wilson Road as a base camp during seasonal sojourns in Jackson Hole. For thousands of years these natives moved through the valley, tossing aside chunks of obsidian — scraps from toolmaking — and leaving behind arrowheads, knife blades and utensils. The circles of stones they used to hold down the edges of their tipis remain in place where they left them, telling part of the story of their passing. Archeologists at Grand Teton National Park are just now
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PRICE CHAMBERS / NEWS&GUIDE
Archeologists Jacquelin St. Clair and Shannon Dennison investigate artifacts found along Moose-Wilson Road.
Cops get busy destroying evidence ... and that’s good Jackson police tackle decades-long backlog of obsolete items. By Emma Breysse A bonfire of marijuana smells a lot worse than it sounds like it should. At least if you’re also burning the cookie tins, metal grinders, plastic pill containers and glass pipes that
contain it. Given that, it’s hardly a surprise that when the Jackson Police Department disposes of more than 10 years’ worth of confiscated drug evidence, the county’s burn hut smells more like a recipe for lung cancer than for an afternoon high. In one burn June 17, Sgt. Roger Schultz and Det. Andy Pearson disposed of two truckloads of drugs and drug paraphernalia that have
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Bear scores TKO versus dog Town looks to protect LGBTs Short-term house rentals, again
been taking up space in long-term evidence storage. Some of it was old enough to vote. “You wouldn’t want to smoke this even if it weren’t a crime,” Schultz said. “And we could have one of these burns every week for a year before we ran out of stuff to burn.” Schultz, who took over the Jackson Police Department’s investigations unit last year, is on a mission to do just that. 12A 25A 26A
“I would love to run out of stuff to burn,” he said. The range of items that became evidence in Jackson criminal cases over the years is straight out of a hoarding intervention. Schultz and Pearson, who are spearheading the campaign to clear out the department’s evidence storage, will say as much. “Police officers are basically
Cars, paint don’t mix at “Y” Chickens aid firefighters Spring Gulch to get speeding signs
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Hospital prices to rise 3% To DUI, or not to DUI? Habitat ReStore finds a home
R Park love In its first full summer, the new park along the Snake is attracting many people who love the place, 3B.
Obituaries: 16B
valley Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Circling the Square These people love to go to Town Square and shoot it out — over and over, 18B.
RYAN JONES / NEWS&GUIDE PHOTOS
Chloe Edwards takes the stage during the modeling and speech portion of the Teton County Fair and Rodeo Royalty Pageant on Saturday at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Ten girls, ages 5 to 18, were judged on their poise, riding skills and rodeo knowledge.
Fast friends among princesses
Whether racing through the arena or promoting rodeo, queens of the arena stick together. By Johanna Love
D
uring the Teton County Fair and Rodeo Royalty Pageant, two themes are apparent: These girls love to ride horses, and they love their friends. Answering an ice-breaker question about her favorite food at the start of the modeling and speeches portion of Saturday’s pageant, Bailey Chamberland, 11, answered instantly. “A dill pickle, because I have great memories of dill pickles,” Bailey said. “After I run barrels I always split a pickle with Gracie.” Gracie Hardeman, 10, is Bailey’s best friend and the reigning PeeWee Princess. At the Jackson Hole Rodeo twice a week in the summer, the girls trade off spending $1 of their hard-earned barrel racing winnings on a celebratory pickle, then split it. Although Bailey’s aim on Saturday was to knock the sash and tiara off her
Ribbons hang from inside the Lutz family’s horse trailer. Jordan Lutz, 13, is a Junior Princess in the 2015 Royalty Court.
best friend, the competition was goodnatured. “Whoever wins, whoever loses,” Bailey said, before Gracie finished her sentence for her: “We’re always best friends, no matter what.” The 10 royalty candidates strode
down a T-shaped runway in the Teton County Fair building, modeling their finest Western wear to the tunes of classic country songs before launching into a short monologue. Judges Grant and Landa Scheer and former Miss Wyoming Rebecca Wright
took note of perfectly sprayed curls, good command of the microphone, presentation and confidence. The oldest participant, Claire Andrews, 18, was competing against herself for the title of Lady in Waiting, a step below Queen. She modeled a turquoise satin fishtail gown with black lace at the neck, hem and cuffs. Her speech about the Code of the West drew applause for the tightly worded portrait it painted of Wyoming residents, including “Be tough but fair” and “talk less and say more.” Her younger sister, Sarah Andrews, 16, went head-to-head for the title of Senior Princess against Lexi Daugherty, also 16. Each modeled competently, Andrews in lavender leather and Daugherty in black lace. Andrews’ well-delivered speech focused on how the sport of rodeo brings small Wyoming towns together, and Daugherty’s skipped from hunting to 4-H to various facts about the state. What it lacked in cohesion, Daugherty’s speech made up in sound bites. From early mornings and late nights “feeding, watering and exercising our college savings plan,” Daugherty said, to competitions where “a judge can See faSt fRiendS on 12B
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Jordan Lutz models a stunning leather dress during the speech portion of the contest. Her monologue described the disciplines of team roping, barrel racing and saddle bronc riding.
Gracie Perry puts away her saddle following the pageant.
Teton County Fair Manager Tracy Ross crowns Sarah Andrews after the judging of the contestants. Andrews has been involved in rodeo royalty pageants for years.
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Sarah Andrews rides a prescribed pattern in Heritage Arena.
clearly sense a slacker,” she feels blessed to live in the Cowboy State. “The only true way Wyoming’s magic is felt is when it is lived,” Daugherty said. Another tight contest emerged for the title of Junior Princess, pitting 13-year-old reigning princess Jordan Lutz against Gracie Perry, 15. Jordan’s gown was a stunning cream-colored leather with gold rhinestones and fringe from the knee to the floor. Jordan showed her knowledge of rodeo by describing the disciplines of team roping, barrel racing and saddle bronc riding. Gracie wore a red leather ankle-length skirt and vest over a white button-down. She incorporated fancier footwork into her modeling portion and spoke slowly and clearly to the judges while describing the feeling of spurring her horse down the home stretch after turning the third barrel: “I hear the audience roar. It is my favorite thing in the whole world.” Jordan gave Gracie a high-five as she sat back down. For the PeeWee Princess contest between Bailey and Gracie Hardeman, each confidently delivered a short speech about her horse. Both girls’ monologues relied heavily on rhyme, but Bailey may have gained an edge with the perfectly timed line “Win or lose, fast or slow, doesn’t matter to me, as long as I get to rodeo.” The smallest contestants were Ashlyn Chamberland, 6, and 5-year-old twins Chloe and Mylie Edwards. Claire Andrews escorted
the twins one at a time to the runway, and they each answered a question. Ashlyn got a hearty laugh when asked “What is the barrel pattern name?” “First, second and third,” she said. After one-on-one interviews with the judges, the girls grabbed a bite to eat and changed into jeans and white shirts for the horsewomanship portion of the contest. Most seemed relieved to get out of the fancy duds and into the saddle. “The hardest part is over,” Claire Andrews said. “I’m always nervous I’m going to trip and fall off the stage.” The 5-year-old twins are embarking on a path their mom’s boots traveled, grandmother Connie Tafoya said. “They’re really shy, so getting up there by themselves was a really big deal,” Tafoya said. Her daughter, the twins’ mother, Jodi Tafoya Edwards, “started with Peewee Princess all the way through. It’s a family tradition.” Edwards said she was just as quiet as a child, and the pageants helped her confidence. “Public speaking, being in front of a crowd, and just getting confidence as a woman,” Edwards said. As a bonus, she said, the event is “helping them get prepared for kindergarten.” Watching her girls talk and horse around with the older girls, Edwards noted another important part of the rodeo royalty group: “I love that they’re all such good friends. I’ve had friendships that have lasted since we were PeeWees.” After another two hours of the PeeWee, Junior and Senior princess contestants riding a prescribed pattern on horseback and answer-
RYAN JONES / NEWS&GUIDE PHOTOS
Claire Andrews talks with Future Princess Ashlyn Chamberland, who was joined by 5-year-old twins Mylie and Chloe Edwards.
Rodeo Royalty 2016 Here are the results for the 2016 Teton County Fair and Rodeo Royalty Pageant. The new titles take effect on Jan. 1. Lady in Waiting: Claire Andrews Senior Princess: Sarah Andrews Senior Princess Attendant: Lexi Daugherty Junior Princess: Gracie Perry Junior Princess Attendant: Jordan Lutz PeeWee Princess: Bailey Chamberland PeeWee Princess Attendant: Gracie Hardeman Future Princesses: Ashlyn Chamberland, Chloe Edwards, Mylie Edwards ing judges’ questions about veterinary science, tack and general horse knowledge, the pressure was on. Girls led their horses out to their trailers and filed back in, fidgeting with their parents in the stands. When pageant coordinator Jennifer Cyr announced the winners, the girls who didn’t get the tiaras put on brave faces and cheered for their friends. The new titles take effect Jan. 1 and will last through 2016. Whether their sashes say “Princess” or “Princess Attendant,” it doesn’t matter. They still get to be ambassadors for the sport of rodeo. And they’re still royalty. Most importantly, they’re still friends. Contact Johanna Love at 732-7071 or features@jhnewsandguide.com.
Brad Luense comforts Jordan Lutz following the news she didn’t earn the tiara for 2016 Junior Princess.