Wyoming Rural Electric News February 2024

THE ENERGY MIX

BASIN ELECTRIC

RELIABILITY

POWER YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON

At Basin Electric, we understand that life doesn’t stop when the going gets tough. No matter the season or storm our members face, reliable and affordable electricity for our members’ homes, schools, and businesses is our mission. We’ll do everything we can to keep fans running, the lights on, and the coffee brewing.

WREA NOTES

I’m not a fan of “borrowing” someone else’s material for my column, especially for the first one of the year. But my friend and colleague from Arizona, Dave Lock, wrote the following column for his co-op member magazine last month and it struck a chord with me, so with his permission, I wanted to share it with you. - Shawn Taylor

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE

BY DAVE LOCK

Sometimes I find myself consoling friends and family that the dire challenges facing mankind today need to be remembered in context of the past. Humans, for some reason, seem to be a pessimistic lot. Some tend to believe we’re living in the most unprecedented, dangerous, perilous, crisis-filled times ever. Everything poses an “existential” threat.

I encourage such friends and family members to harken back to times in the annals of history and to contemplate what it may have been like. Imagine a time when:

• The United States didn’t have a vice president in office.

• For a time, the U.S. Senate was without a Majority Leader.

• A major sports league made a drastic and unprecedented expansion.

• One musician seemed to outshine all the others.

• One of the most controversial Americans in history held an office that provided a crucial service to the United States.

• A federal law was enacted that excluded a certain ethnic group from emigrating to the United States and put immigration quotas on other ethnic groups.

• It took 103 ballots at the convention of one of the major U.S. political parties to nominate a candidate to run for president.

• A company was founded that promised injecting life-changing and revolutionary technology into society – technology that many feared would threaten humanity.

• When new weapons were used against law enforcement by gangs supplying illegal substances.

• A good part of the country – including where Arizona’s rural electric co-cops serve – didn’t have access to electricity.

The time was 100 years ago – 1924. Think about the calamity befalling the country when a new president (Calvin Coolidge) didn’t have a vice president. When the Senate Majority Leader (Henry Cabot Lodge) died in office and wasn’t immediately replaced. When the all-Canadian National Hockey League expanded into the United States for the first time and the Boston Bruins became the first American NHL team. When George Gershwin was all the rage. When J. Edgar Hoover became head of the FBI. When Congress enacted a law that said Japanese citizens couldn’t emigrate to the United States, restricted the number of “eastern” and “southern” Europeans who could come to the U.S., and created the Border Patrol. When it took Democrats forever to nominate John Davis as its presidential standard-bearer. When IBM was founded. When bootleggers used Thompson machine guns to run alcohol during Prohibition. When America’s and Arizona’s farms and ranches couldn’t rely on electricity to help run their operations.

Taken individually or collectively, some of these events likely led the citizens of the time to believe the end times were nigh. Not to mention everything else that’s transpired during the past 100 years that has caused similar consternation with other generations. So, my friends (and family), relax. Find peace and pleasure in the many places where they’re abundant. Be nice. Keep perspective. 2024 will be just fine.

TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SHAWN

WINTER IN WYOMING

PHOTO BY LANNA WING PHOTOGRAPHY BUFFALO, WYOMING

THE WREN MAGAZINE

WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS

The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association

The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 70, number 1, February 2024 (ISSN 1098-2876) is published monthly except for January for $22 per year by Linden Press, Inc., Periodicals postage paid at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional mailing offices.

WREN Magazine is owned and controlled by rural electric cooperatives in the interest of the economic progress of rural areas specifically and the entire population of Wyoming and the nation generally.

WREN Magazine has a total average monthly paid circulation of 32,298 for 11 months ending September 2023. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/consumers and other subscribers throughout the entire state of Wyoming and the nation.

Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives.

WREN STAFF

Publisher: Linden Press, Inc. — Editorial Team — Maggie York Alison Quinn

Becky Freismuth — Design Team — Dixie Lira

David Merkley

Shawna Phillips

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

High West Energy, Pine Bluffs –Michael Lerwick, President

Big Horn REC, Basin –John Joyce, Vice President

Wheatland REA, Wheatland –Sandra Hranchak, Secretary/Treasurer

Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker

Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees

Carbon Power, Saratoga – Kenny Curry

Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith

High Plains Power, Riverton – Brett Gardner

Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Scott Anderson

Niobrara Electric, Lusk – J.D. Wasserburger

Powder River Energy, Sundance – Mike Lohse

Wyrulec Company, Torrington – Dewey Hageman

Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – Gary Nix

Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Julie Kilty

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

$22 per year, Single copies $2 each

ADVERTISING

To purchase call (307) 996-6552.

OFFICE OF WREN OWNER 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please contact your local cooperative to update your address.

Paid subscribers contact publisher.

PUBLISHER 307-286-8140

wren@wyomingrea.org

POSTMASTER

— Send address changes to —

The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, c/o Linden Press, Inc., 121 E Mountain Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524, [970] 221-3232. Include 3-digit co-op code.

Survive Just About Anything for Under $20

On any outdoor adventure, Mother Nature’s job is to present you with challenges. Some days she’s more demanding than others. And on those days, you’d better come prepared. The Stauer Survival Box is a near-guarantee you’ll be up to the challenge. The stainless steel multitool offers wire cutters, knife, bottle opener, file, a set of screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and much more. The powerful flashlight has three different settings, and the tactical loop watch is a reliable, waterresistant timepiece that clips to your hip and never leaves your side. All told, opening the Survival Box gives you instant access to nine different tools for JUST $19.50.

Regularly sold for $99, we’re offering this collection of survival essentials to you for A FIFTH OF THE NORMAL PRICE! Why? Because we’ve had an incredible year and we feel like giving back to our valued customers. As this kit has proven to be one of our all-time best sellers, we can only extend this offer while supplies last. Of our initial run of 1,737, more than half have already sold. Your move, Mother Nature.

Survival Box Specifications:

• Multitool: 3 1/4" x 1" folded

• Flashlight: 3 1/2" x 1", 260 lumens, takes AA batteries (not included), three LED light modes: strong, medium and caution flashing

• Watch: 2 3/4" x 1", battery type SR626SW (included)

Survival Box $99 $19.50* + S+P Save $79.50

*You must use Insider Offer Code: SVB239-01 to get this price. California residents please call regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: SVB239-01

Regularly priced at $99, take advantage of this special offer while supplies last!

Praise for Stauer’s Survival Box 

“[It] has everything!”

— Carol T., Anaheim, CA

Box includes flashlight, watch and multitool with wire cutters, knife, bottle opener, file, screwdrivers, pliers and more!

UPGRADE YOUR HVAC AND SAVE

Looking to comfortably heat your home this winter while being more efficient, environmentally friendly, and still save money? Consider a high-efficiency heat pump!

+ HEATS EFFICIENTLY IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES

Modern cold climate heat pumps can heat homes efficiently down to -13°F and operate in sub-zero temperatures as low as -20°F.

+ IMPROVES YOUR HOME’S AIR QUALITY

Natural gas and propane furnaces generate heat by burning a mixture of fossil-fuel and air. Heat pumps don’t use combustible fuel to create heat which eliminates potential exposure to dangerous combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide.

+ SAVES MONEY COMPARED TO ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEAT OR PROPANE FURNACES

A heat pump can transfer up to 300% more energy than it consumes, compared to a high-efficiency gas furnace’s 95% rating. Because of this, electric heat pumps can also save substantially on fuel consumption.

VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/electrifyandsave

Cody Hotline School T-Shirt Drawing Contest

IT’S

Cody Hotline School is looking for drawings from elementary age children’s perspective, depicting line workers performing work safely. The first place winner receives $200 and their drawing is featured on the Cody Hotline School T-shirt. The second place winner will be awarded $100 and both the third and fourth place winners receive $50 each.

The instructions for children who wish to participate are:

Please draw your ideas of a person safely working on your electric lines and power poles. Use whatever drawing material you like. Write your name, address, age and phone number, as well as your service area or power supplier’s name on the back of your drawing.

Welcome to all things wild west in the rural electric cooperative world. Each month will be dedicated to our lineworkers, including snippets about a day in their life, true tales of risky jobs, or more information about what it’s like to be a lineworker at an electric cooperative.

WILD WIRED WEST

WYOMING’S ENERGY MIX

BY WREN STAFF

The theme for WREN magazine 2024 will largely be focused on various types of energy and how they play a role in our everyday lives. For example, what does solar or wind power look like in Wyoming? How is it captured and how is it used? How do we use coal and where does carbon capture fit in?

But also, how do we fit in? How do communities across Wyoming embrace change and adapt to the new energy sources impacting the ways we live, whether they are welcome or unwelcome?

This year, WREN will explore the impact of Wyoming’s rich energy resources on our members, the state as a whole and the national economy. Each month, beginning in March, we’ll focus on one source like coal, natural gas and oil, uranium, wind, solar, biofuels and geothermal, and offer you the latest on how these resources are being put to work to generate electricity, and the power Wyoming needs.

Here’s an overview of the topics you can expect throughout the year.

Carbon-based energy is derived from carbon sources, such as crude oil, coal and natural gas. In Wyoming, advancing the carbon economy includes Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS). We will explore what this process is, as well as how and where it is being utilized in Wyoming.

How does solar energy work and where is it being used across the state? Wyoming’s first utility solar project was built in 2019, and the second in 2023. Let’s talk about the solar power footprint and how solar works alongside other energies.

Wyoming ranks first for class 6 and class 7 wind sites, the highest site rankings for potential wind speed and power generation. Currently, WINDExchange (a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office) has Wyoming’s electric grid mix as 22.4% wind power. We will look deeper into Wyoming’s investment in wind power and how it benefits the state economy.

One of the oldest sources of renewable energy, hydroelectric power is the fourth-largest source of Wyoming’s in-state generation; the state has 16 hydropower dams. Where? And does the whole state benefit from their power? Let’s explore.

Coal provides jobs to Wyomingites and energy to communities across the country. In fact, in 2018, 40% of the coal mined in the U.S. came from Wyoming. As the energy industry continues to shift, coal still has a place. We will discuss the history of coal in Wyoming, as well as its future.

04

03

the power grid

All of these energies play a role in Wyoming’s “power grid.” But what does that actually mean? And how big of a role does each type play? We will show you the big picture of how the energy industry powers Wyoming, the power grid and what that actually means, and how each of the energies discussed are represented on Wyoming’s power grid.

Let’s explore what it means to be a “renewable” energy, the difference between renewables and other energy sources, and the impact of renewables in Wyoming, from residential communities to the agricultural industries to commercial businesses.

Wyoming is the number one producer of bentonite and trona. Our coal reserves have a variety of rare earth elements. These industrial minerals, found in everyday items such as plastics and glass, are also critical elements in the production of wind turbines and solar panels. We will discuss how so many of the state’s industries are connected, and how they work together to power Wyoming.

Uranium is a metal that is mined from the ground and processed to create nuclear power. It can be found in rocks all over the world, but Wyoming mines the most uranium in the United States. We will explore how this energy is used and how it compares to and lives alongside Wyoming’s other power sources.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wyoming holds about 2% of the U.S. oil reserves, and is the eighthlargest crude oil producer. In 2019, the oil and gas industry delivered $1.67 billion to state and local governments and employed 19,416 people across the state. Let’s talk about oil and gas, the Wyoming economy, and our local communities.

Co-op Retail Energy Mix

Electric co-ops rely on a diverse suite of resources to reliably meet the energy needs of their communities.

Renewable Energy Growth

• Over the past decade, co-ops more than doubled their renewable capacity from 5.7 gigawatts to nearly 14 gigawatts.

• Co-ops added over 900 MW of new renewable capacity in 2022.

• Electric co-op wind and solar capacity is enough to power more than 3.4 million homes.

• Co-ops have announced more than 6.5 GW of renewable capacity additions through 2026.

• Co-ops purchase 10 GW of hydropower from federal hydropower facilities.

Cumulative Co-op Renewable Capacity, Owned and Under Contract

E N E R G Y

Your Voice, Your Cooperative

As our team continues to explore Wyoming’s vast energy resources, our challenges and opportunities, we strive to keep you, our member-owners, informed of discussions happening at the local, regional, state and federal levels, as they all intertwine. And it’s important to consider all of them in the discussion of Wyoming’s energy mix.

It’s also important to remember that you have a voice, and it’s your voice that powers your cooperative. A great way to make a difference in your cooperative community is to join organizations and grassroots movements like Voices for Cooperative Power, which speaks up to policymakers on issues that impact electric co-ops.

SNOW IS VITAL to Wyoming Wildlife

Snowy Blanket

The surface of snow may be cold to the touch, but for the animals that spend their winters hibernating in underground burrows, the layers of snow above them act like a cozy blanket. That’s because snow is composed of many individual snowflakes, and the space between those snowflakes form pockets of trapped air that are warmer than the outside air. There has to be at least one foot of snow in order for it to provide insulation to the soil and organisms below.

Snow = Winter’s VIP

Winter can be a tough season for many plants and animals. Food can be scarce, travel through deep snow can be difficult and exhausting, and staying warm can be a challenge. Plants and animals that live in places where it snows, like in Wyoming, have adaptations that help them survive this tough time of year. In many cases, the winter survival of these plants and animals is now dependent on snow!

Winter’s White Backdrop

Snowmelt’s Importance

Snow is also vital to Wyoming’s ecosystems after it melts! Snowmelt provides valuable moisture to the soil that helps plants grow abundantly, which Wyoming’s herbivores depend on. When snow melts, it also fills our rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Along with providing much-needed water to downstream areas, snowmelt that enters rivers and streams can provide additional spawning habitat for native fish.

In the summer, white-tailed jackrabbits have dusty brown fur, which helps these animals blend in with the dusty brown soil that covers the prairies and plains. But when these prairies and plains are instead covered in snow during the winter, a jackrabbit with a dusty brown coat would be easy pickings for predators! White-tailed jackrabbits are one of several mammal species whose fur color shifts to white during the winter to provide camouflage in the snow.

The Invention of the Year The

Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger.

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field. Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness! Thank You!”

–Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features one-touch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single

Available in Black and Blue (shown)

charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

Joystick can be mounted on the right or left side for rider’s comfort

The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. 10”

Pamela Galbreath is currently seeking publication for her biography of Eleanor Prince, “In the Scent of Horses, Hay, and Old Barns,” from which this story is excerpted.

BY PAMELA GALBREATH

Time for Wyoming Horses

In 2014, Georgia residents Charles Huff and his wife Lisa asked Eleanor Prince, the director of Sodergreen Horsemanship School in southeast Wyoming, to design a riding therapy program for their daughter. Diagnosed with autism, Michelle avoided connecting with anyone outside the immediate family. Lisa and Chuck knew the challenges and exhaustion of raising a child with autism. They asked Ellie to help Michelle achieve, through horses, the highest quality of life possible.

Described by former students as “equine encyclopedic,” Ellie agreed. Ellie’s extensive research resulted in a curriculum using equine therapy to help people on the autism spectrum. The family committed to eight weeks every summer at Sodergreen Ranch.

To ensure a confidence-building equine experience for Michelle, Ellie assigned Lisa to ride, modeling Ellie’s requests. Chuck would walk beside Michelle’s horse, Janey, providing safety. Ellie warned of possible accidents. Lisa recalled the time “a fellow unexpectedly opened the arena door during a therapy session. His dark shadow and the sun’s rays startled Janey, who started to rear up.”

Michelle and friends.

From left to right: Lisa, Chuck (Michelle’s parents) and Ellie.

Ellie built in daily and weekly repetition of skills. Each summer, skills would be re-introduced and reinforced. Time was scheduled for Michelle to learn and relearn ground work: communicating with the horse through touching, grooming, talking, haltering and leading, picking hooves, saddling, bridling, and longeing in the arena. Physical exercise sessions on the ground were essential to warm up Michelle’s muscles and prepare them for movements required to properly guide and ride a horse. Michelle loved the windmill exercise and the neck massage, explaining that afterwards, she “felt like a fluffy cloud.”

Time was devoted to using a reining board and “mounting” Ellie’s fourwheeler. This “off the horse” work increased Michelle’s confidence and connection with her horse’s feelings. “If I plop down on the horse’s back, the horse will say, ‘Oh no, what next?’ If I do it gently, the horse will say, ‘This person knows what she’s doing.’”

Ellie’s ground work and suppleness exercises improved Michelle’s fine and gross motor skills and sensory perception. This was, Lisa said, “the start of years of focus on touch learning.” Sometimes a week passed before Michelle got in the saddle, where exercises were continued. Humor and jokes were welcomed, since, Lisa shared, “humor often unlocks barriers to learning.” There were chuckles when Chuck became Michelle’s horse to halter. Quoting a favorite joke, Michelle asked, “Why the long face, Dad?”

The curriculum for Michelle was similar to that of Ellie’s school, but Ellie’s delivery was somewhat different: soothing but firm voice, slow and gentle movements, encouragement and affirmation murmured, broad smile always at the ready. Ellie broke simple steps into achievable tasks and gave Michelle time to think and make correct decisions. Any change was introduced by a clear cue. Modifications were made to strengthen confidence and self-trust. Ellie learned “a heightened form of patience and flexibility.”

Lisa saw immediate and long-range benefits in Ellie’s instruction. “Folks on the autism spectrum often have other associated issues like sensory processing disorder, high anxiety disorder, and language and learning delays. Rhythmic stroking and touching a horse challenged Michelle, but with repetition, she began to lose her tactile sensitivity challenges and came out of her shell.” At first Michelle was afraid to exert tactile pressure on her horse, but with Ellie’s coaching, she discovered her horse loved it. She started talking to her horse like a friend, a welcome breakthrough since she avoided people. She was elated when she recalled something learned a day, week, or summer before.

Michelle eagerly awaited every summer. “I love horses,” she shared. “They have a free spirit.” Her favorite morning scene was “all the horses coming down the hill. We watched from our RV window as they galloped into the corral. It was a great start to every day.” The lessons at times proved difficult and frustrating for both instructor and rider, but Ellie discovered that “through the difficulties, Michelle’s determination and love of horses spread sunshine.” Just as Ellie praised Michelle for her accomplishments, Michelle looked forward to the horses’ favorite time, after lessons were over. Mimicking with her lips how they reached and nibbled the air, correctly holding her hand flat, palm upward, she said, “They knew I was going to give them a reward, a horse treat.”

Michelle said she was never frightened on a horse but for the time the man opened the arena door and Janey threatened to rear up. Michelle said she “scrunched down and around Janey and held the reins.” A remarkable feat for more experienced riders, Michelle kept her seat. Grinning broadly, she said, “Ellie was happy, and I was proud.”

Over the years, Chuck and Lisa wondered if Michelle would tire of a summer in therapy. They feared “unplugging Michelle from everything routine and comfortable and bringing her to an alien place with dust and dirt.”

Michelle, however, marked the months with, “It’s getting closer to time for Wyoming horses!”

Michelle carried the essence and spirit of her work with Ellie home to Georgia. She began working part-time at a grocery store, attended events, and met people. Comments about her disability weren’t upsetting. Despite down days, she displayed a young woman’s strength and certainty.

After her third summer of therapy with Ellie, Michelle volunteered to shop alone and help with daily chores. At Sodergreen Ranch, she joined a trail ride, attempted advanced riding maneuvers, and learned to ride at a trot. Her parents saw Michelle “developing coping skills to deal with our world, which seems a strange and confusing place to those on the spectrum.”

Ellie’s loving intervention in Michelle’s life yielded other benefits. With her increased understanding of human and animal interactions, Michelle interned to help train rescue dogs to become certified service dogs. She became a more verbal advocate for others and herself.

According to Lisa, “Ellie gave Michelle the gift of expanding her world and facing new possibilities with more excitement and less fear. Her comfort level and survival skills grew year after year with Ellie’s calming, consistent hippo-therapy. We were blessed and thankful to have Ellie in our lives.”

In the tenth summer, Ellie, 95, looked toward retirement. Her school horses gone, she pondered how to provide ground work training for Michelle. There was only Flag, the old, gentle stallion who had not been ridden in years, but he was Ellie-trained, and he was an excellent helper. He even graciously lifted his hoof for Michelle to check. The amazing old horse and the amazing young rider became immediate and forever friends. W

Pam Galbreath is a long-time Wyoming resident, a retired English teacher and mom to three sons, three horses and two Labradors.

A Commitment to Ranching, the Lifestyle, & Each Other

BY GAYLE M. IRWIN

Spending decades in ranching, including nearly 60 years as a married couple, Big Horn County residents Stan and Mary Flitner were inducted into the 2023 class of the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The pair met as children, according to Mary.

“Our parents were friends,” she said. “Both of the dads, Howard Flitner and Joe Budd, served in the Wyoming State Legislature.”

Stan and Mary reconnected when each attended the University of Wyoming. They married after Stan graduated.

“We returned to his family’s ranch and have been married for 61 years,” she said. “Stan was always committed to ranching, and it was a lifestyle that appealed to me also, although in those days, wives mainly followed where the husbands led.”

Stan Flitner

Stan and Tim Flitner in Greybull Days Parade.

Stan Flitner

Stan and Mary on Snowshoe Pass in the Big Horns above Shell, near their mountain cow camp.

Stan & Mary Flitner

Mary Flitner

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME

WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME

GENERATIONS OF RANCHERS

Each was born into Wyoming pioneer ranching families. Mary’s ancestors came to Wyoming in 1878 and established the Budd Ranch in Sublette County. Stan’s family moved from Iowa in 1906 and created a ranch in the Shell Valley near Greybull.

“We both enjoyed the [ranch] work – being outdoors, working with livestock, making the place better for our kids,” Mary said.

The couple operated Stan’s family’s ranch under the Diamond Tail brand and had four children. They, too, helped out.

“We all liked good horses, liked raising good quality cattle, and liked working in that landscape,” Mary said. “As time has passed, we’ve admired our four adult children in their own lifestyles, and their appreciation for their roots in agriculture.”

Stan has served as President of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and Mary has volunteered with many organizations, including library and school boards, the Wyoming Game & Fish, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and the University of Wyoming Ruckleshaus Institute for the Environment & Natural Resources.

CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

Throughout their ranching tenure, Mary and Stan saw many changes in the agriculture business and amid their own ranching operations. For example, during the 1970s, the Flitner family ranch was divided between Stan and his brother David. Stan and Mary retained the Diamond Tail brand and set up an operation of their own. Over the next decade-plus, cattle prices sank and interest rates rose.

“The biggest challenge was financial,” Mary said. “For many years, ranchers all around were unable to hold a place together without selling off land. Cattle or sheep might be replaced once sold, but land, very likely not, especially if subdivided.

Livestock prices were terrible for many of those years. We tried everything we could think of to make some extra money, and our kids were loyal employees, if not very well-paid.”

The couple supplemented their income by taking in cow-calf pairs and moving stock around on ranches and by leasing property. Stan also ran an outfitting company for a time, in partnership with Tom Delaney, a longtime member of Big Horn Rural Electric Company, board member and board president, and Big Horn’s representative to the WREA for 22 years. Their outfit guided people on elk hunts.

A partnership with a friend formed and ranch life during the 1990s found solid footing once again through the S&S brand. The Flitners also joined others in purchasing the Castle Garden Ranch south of Moneta, about 100 miles from the Diamond Tail. This 100,000-acre tract of land featured water and quality grazing. Ten years later, Mary, Stan and their partners sold that ranch, and in 2006, the couple turned over operation of the Diamond Tail to their son, Tim, and his wife. Mary and Stan had a house built for themselves within view of the ranch house.

RELYING ON THE CO-OP

Throughout their life together, the Flitners have depended on their local electric co-op, Big Horn Rural Electric Company, to keep the ranch operating. Mary said she and her family are grateful for the services and the work the co-op provides.

“Big Horn Rural Electric has been a strong supporter of the ag industry - their employees never

failed us, as I remember,” she said. “They were on the job immediately if there was an outage, and most of their workers were active community members. We well remember Marvin Hankins, Tom Black, Larry Bullinger, Scotty Hinman and others who were loyal to the co-op.”

PUBLISHED MEMOIR AND LIVES CELEBRATED

Mary crafted a memoir about her Wyoming way of life. Published in 2018 by the University of Oklahoma Press, “My Ranch, Too: A Wyoming Memoir” offers a realistic view of daily ranch life, including the challenges. She reflects not only on her life with Stan, but also shares stories of her family of origin, including her greatgrandfather, Daniel Budd, who settled in Sublette County before Wyoming became a state. The book, which contains maps and photos, is described as “Educational, interesting, and funny. Highly recommend.”

Inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2023, Mary and Stan were described as people with “an enduring legacy” and a strong “commitment to good range management.”

“Stan and I felt quite honored to be invited to the [Wyoming] Cowboy Hall of Fame,” Mary said. “Many people deserve that recognition, throughout Wyoming and in the cowboy world. As time passes, it appears that those life histories will be preserved.” W

CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP

3 LBS BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS OR THIGHS

28 OZ CAN GREEN ENCHILADA SAUCE

24 OZ CHICKEN BROTH SALT AND PEPPER, TO TASTE

1 CUP HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM

2 CUPS MONTEREY JACK CHEESE, SHREDDED

4 OZ CREAM CHEESE, CUBED

AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

4 OZ SALSA VERDE*

In a crockpot add chicken, green enchilada sauce and chicken broth. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Add shredded chicken, heavy cream, monterey jack cheese, cream cheese and salsa verde to crockpot. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until cheeses are melted. Cook on high for another 30 minutes and serve.

You can top with sliced avocado, cilantro, green onion and sour cream and add strips of crisp tortillas if you like.

*You can add additional salsa to taste.

DEBRA DOWELL WINCHESTER

CROCKPOT

TEXICAN STEW GREEN CHILI SOUP

2 LB HAMBURGER, BROWNED AND SALTED

1 LARGE ONION, CHOPPED

2 CANS DICED TOMATOES

24 OZ FROZEN HASH BROWNS

3-6 CUPS BEEF BROTH

2-3 CANS GREEN CHILIES, CHOPPED

Combine all ingredients and cook in crockpot until done.

MARTHA LEAVELL HASTINGS, NEBRASKA

2 BONELESS BEEF OR BUFFALO CHUCK ROASTS (2 1/2 LBS EACH)

1 ENVELOPE RANCH SALAD DRESSING MIX

1 ENVELOPE ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING MIX

1 ENVELOPE BROWN GRAVY MIX

1/2 CUP OF WATER

1 LB GROUND BEEF

2 CANS TOMATO SOUP

2 CANS VEGETABLE SOUP

1 CAN KIDNEY BEANS, UNDRAINED

1 ONION, CHOPPED

1 CLOVE GARLIC, MINCED

2 TBS CHILI POWDER DASH HOT SAUCE

GARNISH WITH: CORN CHIPS CHEDDAR CHEESE, SHREDDED

1 ONION, FINELY CHOPPED

Brown onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon oil. Add ground beef and brown well. Place beef in the bottom of the crockpot. Add remaining ingredients (except garnish). Mix well. Bring to boil on high and turn to low. Simmer for 5 to 6 hours. When serving, put chips in the bottom of the bowl, then stew and top with cheddar cheese and chopped onion.

ANNE METZLER RIVERTON

TINY

APRIL:

Still

Frosty

Frosty Morning at the Ranch

Marilyn

Frosted Trees

Martha Rasmussen, Burlington

Frosty Window

Aiyana Miller, Laramie

Sparkly Sunrise

Sandra Lineberry-Sims, Sheridan

Frosty Spring Morning

Melody Posey-Harris, Saratoga

Branches

Debra Dowell, Powell

SUBMIT A

 wren@wyomingrea.org

 214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001

 wyomingrea.org/wren-submissions

Please include your name, hometown and a title.

Please submit high-quality digital files* or an original we can scan, as well as details about the artwork, the artist’s name, and the co-op. *Use the highest quality setting on your camera, or save digital artwork as a .jpg or .tif file with at least 300 dpi resolution.

If you would like your work returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Better than cannabis, better than CBD

New Joint-Supporting “Miracle Oil” Capsule Delivers Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Comfort in Just Days

Thousands of Americans are rediscovering normal freedom of movement thanks to a “miracle oil” capsule that’s outperforming hemp in promoting joint comfort.

According to the official figures from the CDC, more than 58 million Americans are living with joint discomfort. This epidemic has led to a search for alternative approaches – as many sufferers seek relief without the harmful side effects of conventional “solutions.”

Anti-aging specialist Dr. Al Sears is leading the way with a new formula he calls “the most significant breakthrough I’ve ever found for easing joint discomfort.”

The capsule is based on a “miracle oil” historically treasured for its joint healthsupporting properties. Marco Polo prized it as he blazed the Silk Road. And to this day, Ayurvedic practitioners rely on it to promote optimal joint health.

Now, with a modern twist backed by science, Dr. Sears is making this natural solution for joint health available to the public.

Your Body’s Hidden “Soothing System”

Joint health research changed forever with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in 1992. Up until that point, research on cannabinoids focused on psychoactive effects. Now, scientists were looking at a new way to fight occasional aches and pains.

Your ECS serves as a central “signaling system” that tells your body how to react to things you do every day. It controls several critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, sleep, healthy immune responses –and your response to discomfort.

A recent study revealed a direct link between the ECS and creaky, sore joints. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied the aging of mice with endocannabinoid deficiencies versus “normal” mice.

As they aged, the deficient mice had a whopping 60% more joint degeneration than the mice with a healthy ECS.

As the name suggests, the ECS responds to cannabis. At the time it was discovered, scientists assumed that was the best way to support it. But thanks to Dr. Sears’ all-natural solution, you can power up your ECS without marijuana.

“Calling it the ‘endocannabinoid system’ was a misnomer from the very beginning,” Dr. Sears explained. “Modern research reveals that you don’t need cannabis to activate this incredible system. You don’t need to ‘get high’ to get joint relief.”

A scholarly review found that plants and herbs that don’t produce mind-altering effects can support the ECS and help it maintain its healthy functions.

The active ingredient in Mobilify soothes aching joints in as little as 5 days

This includes common foodstuffs, such as kava, chocolate, black pepper, and most significantly – the star ingredient to Dr. Sears’ own Mobilify formula - frankincense.

Modern scientists say this natural ingredient meets “cannabinoid tetrad” – the signs used to determine if something supports the ECS. While it doesn’t produce a “high” like cannabis does, it binds to the same receptors to support a healthy response to discomfort.

All the Benefits of CBD –Without Cannabis

Indian frankincense, the chief ingredient in Mobilify, has been shown to provide all the benefits of cannabis without any feelings of sluggishness or sleepiness.

And studies show that users don’t have to wait long for the comfort they’re looking for.

In a study published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences, 60 patients with stiff knees took 100 mg of Indian frankincense or a placebo daily for 30 days. Remarkably, Indian frankincense “significantly” supported healthy joint function and relieved discomfort in as little as five days.

Additional research linked regular use to lasting comfort.

In another study, 48 participants were given an extract made from frankincense for 120days. When the results came in, researchers determined the extract strongly supported joint comfort – especially in the knees.

These results were all achieved without marijuana. Research continues to back up the idea that you can support smooth, strong, and healthy joints naturally – without tiredness or sluggishness.

Get Moving Again with Mobilify

Mobilify has already helped thousands of Americans stay on their feet and breeze through their daily activities with ease.

One user even reported getting results the same day it was used.

“Mobilify really helps with soreness, stiffness, and mild temporary discomfort,” Joni D. said.

Larry M, another user, compared taking Mobilify to living a completely new life.

“After a week and a half of taking Mobilify, the discomfort, stiffness, and minor aches went away…it’s almost like being reborn,” he said.

Dennis H. said it helped him get back to his favorite hobby.

“I can attest to Mobilify easing discomfort to enable me to pursue my golfing days. Definitely one pill that works for me out of the many I have tried,” he said.

How to Get Mobilify

Right now, the only way to get this powerful, unique Mobilify formula that clobbers creaking joints without clobbering you is directly from Dr. Sears. It is not available in stores.

To secure your bottle of this breakthrough natural joint discomfort reliever, buyers should call with Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-3424840. “The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers.”

Dr. Sears believes in this product so much, he offers a 100% money-back guarantee on every order. “Just send me back the bottle and any unused product within 90 days, and I’ll send you your money back,” said Dr. Sears.

The Hotline will be taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow them to restock. Call 1-800-342-4840 to secure your limited supply of Mobilify. If you are not able to get through due to extremely high call volume, please try again! Call NOW to qualify for a significant discount on this limited time offer. To take advantage of this exclusive offer use Promo Code: MBWREN224 when you call.

01 | SOUTHEAST

CENTENNIAL

ONGOING

Nici Self Historical Museum: Museum grounds and exhibits open Thu-Mon 12-4pm. Free. Info: niciselfmuseum.com.

CHEYENNE

MARCH 2-3 AND 9-10

Used Book Sale: 8am-5pm on 2nd and 9th. 9am-4pm on 3rd. 9am-2pm on 10th. The former Big Lots in Cheyenne Plaza. Info: 307-630-3682.

SAVE THE DATE – MAY 1-2

FEATURED EVENT

BRUCE BLEVINS:

DUBOIS  MARCH 27  6:00PM

The Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speaker Series program and Dubois Museum will host Bruce Blevins and his “Mapping Yellowstone” talk. He will speak on the early historical mapping of Yellowstone National Park and the early published and unpublished cartography of what would become Yellowstone National Park. Information from government and private expeditions made up early mapping and included verbal information provided by Native Americans and fur trappers. A variety of historic maps will be illustrated and discussed in the slide show presentation.

Dubois Museum

Free and open to the public

Info: 307-455-2284

Next Frontier Energy Summit: The Wyoming Energy Authority will host the summit, which provides energy innovators, researchers, developers and stakeholders a place to network the Wyoming energy industry. Info: Emily Sorenson, emily@em-poweredsolutions.com.

CHUGWATER

THURSDAYS

Acoustic Jam Session: Stampede Saloon & Eatery music venue open for jam sessions. Info: 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.

ENCAMPMENT

ONGOING (TUESDAYS-SATURDAYS)

Grand Encampment Museum: 10am-4pm. Main Gallery and GEM store open. Info: 307-327-5308.

MEDICINE BOW

ONGOING

Museum and Gift Shop: 8:30am-4:30pm. 405 Lincoln Highway. Info: 307-379-2383.

02 |

NORTHEAST

BUFFALO

THURSDAYS

Bluegrass Jam Session: 6:30pm. Occidental Saloon. Free. Info: 307-684-0451.

GILLETTE

ONGOING

Ava Community Art Center: Exhibits and workshops. Info: 307-682-9133, avacenter.org.

HULETT

MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS

(SEPTEMBER-APRIL)

Adult 5-mile Walking Exercise Class: 4:45pm. GHCC Gym. Info: 307-467-5676.

THURSDAYS

Storytime: 3pm. Hulett Library. First group ages 0-7, second group ages 8-12. Info: 307-467-5676.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: 9am-5pm. Free. Info: 307-467-5292.

MOORCROFT

WEDNESDAYS

Moorcroft Branch Library Activities: 10am storytime, 4pm afterschool craft, 7pm AA meetings. Please use the downstairs entrance. Info: 307-756-3232.

THIRD THURSDAY OF MONTH

Adult Book Club: 1pm. Moorcroft Branch Library. New book each month. Stop by the library for your copy. Info: 307-756-3232.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

West Texas Trail Museum: 9am-5pm. Info: 307-756-9300.

NEWCASTLE

THIRD SATURDAYS

Weston County Democrats: 4pm. Weston County Library. Info: 307-941-1822.

FRIDAYS

Bingo: 7:30pm. VFW Hall. Free.

SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS

Gigi’s Closet: 9am-1:30pm. First United Methodist Church. Gently loved clothing available for babies to adults. Info: 307-746-4119.

SHERIDAN

MARCH 9

4-H Carnival: 4-7pm. Sheridan County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. Open to the public. Tickets $1. Enjoy a concession stand, cake walk, and games! Info: 307-674-2980.

MARCH 16

Tris Munsick and the Innocents Saint Patrick’s Day Shindig: 8pm. Luminous Brewhouse. Live music by Tris Munsick and the Innocents! Special guest TBA. Info: Luminous Brewhouse, 307-655-5658.

Fight Night: Gates open 6pm; fights at 7pm. Amateur boxing. Sheridan County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. General admission $20. Info: bit.ly/BloodOfHeroesFC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DUBOIS MUSEUM

MARCH 19

Lunchtime Conversations About Open Spaces: State & Federal Lands: 12-1pm. Luminous Brewhouse. Free. No registration is necessary. Bring your lunch and your questions to join the conversation. We will explore what role outdoor recreation plays in maintaining open space and how it contributes to our community. Info: Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce, 307-672-2485.

SATURDAYS

Landon’s Farmer’s Market: 10am. Landon’s Greenhouse, 505 College Meadows Dr. Info: 307-672-8340.

SUNDANCE

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 10:30am. Crook County Public Library. Info: Tonia, 307-283-1008.

UPTON

FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Bingo at Senior Center: 6:30pm. $10 for 10 cards. Info: 307-468-9262.

03 | NORTHWEST

CODY

MONDAY-SATURDAY

Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9am-5pm. 836 Sheridan Ave. Info: 307-587-3597.

DUBOIS

FRIDAYS

Family Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library. Free. Songs, stories, and crafts for ages birth to 5 years. Stay and play in the Children’s Library after story time. Info: 307-455-2992.

THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Wyoming Health Fairs Monthly

Wellness Screen/Blood Draw: 7-10am. Dubois Medical Clinic. Appointments encouraged. Info: 307-455-2516, whf.as.me/dubois.

FRIDAYS

Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library, 202 N First St. Free. Stretches, story, songs, crafts and fun! Ages birth to 5 years. Info: 307-455-2992.

GREYBULL

SECOND SATURDAYS

Greybull Ladies Coffee: Greybull Library. Info: 307-765-2100.

LANDER

MARCH 3

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Women’s Small Business Owners Tea: 2-4pm. Pioneer Museum. Hosted through the Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series program. Free; open to all women’s small business owners. There will be a speaker presentation about historical women who have had an impact on our community, tea and refreshments, as well as an opportunity to meet women in our community! Info: 307-332-3339.

MARCH 14

History of the Wyoming Flag: 6:30pm. Pioneer Museum. Hosted through the Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series program. Historian Kylie McCormick talks about the history of Wyoming’s state flag. Free; open to the public. Info: 307-332-3339.

SATURDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 11am-1pm. Lander Bake Shop. Info: 307-332-3237.

ONGOING

First Friday: 5pm art show reception. 6pm music. Middle Fork Restaurant. New artist and local musician each month. Info: 307-335-5035, facebook.com/MiddleForkCafe.

RIVERTON

WEDNESDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 6:30-8:30pm. Holiday Inn Convention Center. Free. Join in or listen as musicians and dancers perform. Info: 307-856-8100.

PreK Tales & Tunes: 10:30am. Riverton Branch Library. Ages 3-5. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

Starlight Storytime: 5:30pm. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth to 5 years. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

THURSDAYS

Toddler Move & Groove: 10:30am. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth to 2 years. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

MEETEETSE

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS

Yoga: 10:30am. Meeteetse Recreation District. Info: 307-899-2698, meetrec.org.

MONDAYS

Toddler Storytime: After school. Meeteetse Library. All kids grades 1+ not in school. Legos, board games, crafts, stories, songs and more. Info: 307-868-2248.

POWELL

SECOND SUNDAYS

Community, Conversation, and Crafts: 12-4pm. Homesteader Museum. Info: 307-754-9481.

THERMOPOLIS

SECOND SATURDAYS

Great Until 8!: 4-8pm. This event showcases the businesses who are staying open until 8p or later in town. Shop after 5pm and enter in for a chance to win $100 gift certificates valid at the business with the winning receipt. Info: 917-589-7852, mainstreetthermopolis@gmail.com.

04 | SOUTHWEST

LYMAN

THURSDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Lyman Branch

Library. All ages welcome. Free. Info: 307-787-6556, uintalibrary.org.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MONDAYS

Cub Scout Pack 7798 Meeting: 3:45pm. Presbyterian Church on 3rd Street. We are always accepting new boys who are in grades 1-5. Info: MarNae, 307-677-2566.

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Uinta County Library. Info: 307-782-3161.

ONGOING

Community Classes: Valley Learning Center. Fitness, computer, workforce and kids’ classes are available. Times and prices vary. Info: 307-782-6401, valleylearningcenter.coursestorm. com.

Popular CoQ10 Pills Leave Millions Suffering

Could this newly-discovered brain fuel solve America’s worsening memory crisis?

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

— Millions of Americans take the supplement known as CoQ10. It’s the coenzyme that supercharges the “energy factories” in your cells known as mitochondria. But there’s a serious flaw that’s leaving millions unsatisfied.

As you age, your mitochondria break down and fail to produce energy. In a revealing study, a team of researchers showed that 95 percent of the mitochondria in a 90-year-old man were damaged, compared to almost no damage in the mitochondria of a 5-year-old.

Taking CoQ10 alone is not enough to solve this problem. Because as powerful as CoQ10 is, there’s one critical thing it fails to do: it can’t create new mitochondria to replace the ones you lost.

And that’s bad news for Americans all over the country. The loss of cellular energy is a problem for the memory concerns people face as they get older.

“We had no way of replacing lost mitochondria until a recent discovery changed everything,” says Dr. Al Sears, founder and medical director of the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine in Palm Beach, Florida. “Researchers discovered the only nutrient known to modern science that has the power to trigger the growth of new mitochondria.”

Why Taking CoQ10 is Not Enough

Dr. Sears explains, “This new discovery is so powerful, it can multiply your mitochondria by 55 percent in just a few weeks. That’s the equivalent of restoring decades of lost brain power.”

This exciting nutrient — called PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) — is the driving force behind a revolution in aging. When paired with CoQ10, this dynamic duo has the power to reverse the age-related memory losses you may have thought were beyond your control.

Dr. Sears pioneered a new formula — called Ultra Accel II — that combines both CoQ10 and PQQ to support maximum cellular energy and the normal growth of new mitochondria. Ultra Accel II is the first of its kind to address both problems and is already creating huge demand.

Over 47 million doses have been shipped to men and women across the country and sales continue to climb for this much soughtafter brain fuel. In fact, demand has been so overwhelming that inventories repeatedly sell out. But a closer look at Ultra Accel II reveals there are good reasons why sales are booming.

Science Confirms the Many Benefits of PQQ

The medical journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports that PQQ is up to 5,000 times more efficient in sustaining energy production than common antioxidants. With the ability to keep every cell in your body operating at full strength, Ultra Accel II delivers more than just added brain power and a faster memory.

People feel more energetic, more alert, and don’t need naps in the afternoon. The boost in cellular energy generates more power to your heart, lungs, muscles, and more.

“With the PQQ in Ultra Accel, I have energy I never thought possible at my age,” says Colleen R., one of Dr. Sears’s patients. “I’m in my 70s but feel 40 again. I think clearly, move with real energy and sleep like a baby.”

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Dr. Sears receives countless emails from his patients and readers. “My patients tell me they feel better than they have in years. This is ideal for people who are feeling old and run down, or for those who feel more forgetful. It surprises many that you can add healthy and productive years to your life simply by taking Ultra Accel II every day.”

You may have seen Dr. Sears on television or read one of his 12 best-selling books. Or you may have seen him speak at the 2016 WPBF 25 Health and Wellness Festival in South Florida, featuring Dr. Oz and special guest Suzanne Somers. Thousands of people attended Dr. Sears’s lecture on anti-aging breakthroughs and waited in line for hours during his book signing at the event.

Will Ultra Accel II

Multiply Your Energy?

Ultra Accel II is turning everything we thought we knew about youthful energy on its head. Especially for people over age 50. In less than 30 seconds every morning, you can harness the power of this breakthrough discovery to restore peak energy and your “spark for life.”

So, if you’ve noticed less energy as you’ve gotten older, and you want an easy way to reclaim your youthful edge, this new opportunity will feel like blessed relief.

The secret is the “energy multiplying” molecule that activates a dormant gene in your body that declines with age, which then instructs your cells to pump out fresh

energy from the inside-out. This growth of new “energy factories” in your cells is called mitochondrial biogenesis.

Instead of falling victim to that afternoon slump, you enjoy sharp-as-a-tack focus, memory, and concentration from sunup to sundown. And you get more done in a day than most do in a week. Regardless of how exhausting the world is now.

Dr. Sears reports, “The most rewarding aspect of practicing medicine is watching my patients get the joy back in their lives. Ultra Accel II sends a wake-up call to every cell in their bodies… And they actually feel young again.”

And his patients agree. “I noticed a difference within a few days,” says Jerry from Ft. Pierce, Florida. “My endurance has almost doubled, and I feel it mentally, too. There’s a clarity and sense of well-being in my life that I’ve never experienced before.”

How To Get Ultra Accel II

This is the official nationwide release of Ultra Accel II in the United States. And so, the company is offering a special discount supply to anyone who calls during the official launch.

An Order Hotline has been set up for local readers to call. This gives everyone an equal chance to try Ultra Accel II. And your order is backed up by a no-hassle, 90-day money back guarantee. No questions asked.

Starting at 7:00 AM today, the discount offer will be available for a limited time only. All you have to do is call TOLL FREE 1-800-961-9537 right now and use promo code UAWREN224 to secure your own supply.

Important: Due to Ultra Accel II recent media exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you call and do not immediately get through, please be patient and call back.

41.31234, -105.58401

BY WALT GASSON

If you’ve ever used Google Maps or onX or any of the other popular mapping apps on your phone or computer, you’ll recognize those numbers. They indicate a precise location. In this case, it’s the location of Old Main, the heart of the University of Wyoming campus. It’s no great distance from our house. If you zoom out, you’ll notice that it’s on the plains between the Medicine Bow Mountains and the Laramie Mountains. And if you zoom in close, you’ll see that it’s at an elevation of about 7,220 feet above sea level. Those two things create some interesting challenges.

First, it’s cold here. Sometimes it’s extremely cold. The forecast says it’s going to dip down to around -20 degrees Fahrenheit in a couple of days. That’s not unusual for us in mid-January. It’s not unusual for a lot of places in the Cowboy State. Second, it’s windy here. The mountains to the west act like a funnel, channeling cold winter winds directly on us. The windchills will be around -40 degrees next week. And finally, the daylight hours are short. They’re getting a little longer after the winter solstice, but we’re still getting up in the dark and coming home in the dark here in the Gem City.

Not everyone is cut out for life here. We had some neighbors who only lasted a couple of years. The cold and the wind and the long winter nights finally got to them, and they lit out for Seattle. I doubt they ever looked back. My own beloved mother – God rest her soul – had a rough time of it. She was born and raised in Wyoming, but she suffered from what we know now was seasonal affective disorder. Appropriately, it’s known by its acronym – SAD. The winter months were hard for her. That’s why we started calling it dark winter.

Not everyone is cut out for life here.

We’ve learned some coping skills since then. We get outside a lot more than we used to. We ice fish and snowshoe and go on winter hikes with our grand-dog. There’s a big body of scientific evidence to suggest that simply getting out in the sunshine is great for your emotional health in dark winter. Yep – it’s cold and windy. But the Danish folks say that there’s no such thing as bad weather – there’s just bad clothing. So we wrap ourselves in insulated base and mid-layers, with a hard shell to keep the wind out. With decent boots, we’re weatherproof. Getting outside is better when you’re not freezing – dark or no dark. But you can’t be outside all the time. And Kim is a pro at creating an inside habitat that warms the spirit. The Christmas decorations vanish immediately on December 26, replaced by the winter decorations. Again, borrowing from the Scandinavians, the concept is to create a place that’s warm and welcoming. It just makes you want to settle in and have a cup of something warm and read a book or watch the fire. It’s all about cozy here during dark winter.

But at the risk of waxing philosophical, let me suggest that there’s a Wyoming metaphor here. In the end, it comes down to endurance. Ask any Wyoming old-timer what they love about their state, and soon you’ll be hearing what they don’t like about someplace else. We like Wyoming because it isn’t like the Colorado Front Range or the Wasatch Front in Utah. Sometimes it just boils down to who can tough it out when it’s hard. Anyone can make it in places that are easy. It takes a special person to make it here in Wyoming. Take good care of yourselves out there this winter, cowboys and cowgirls. We’re all in this together. W

Walt Gasson is a fourth-generation Wyoming native, writer, and son of the sagebrush sea. He lives in Laramie, Wyoming. Check out his new book “Craven Creek” at bit.ly/WaltGassonCravenCreek.

PHOTO BY WALT GASSON

STUFFIE PORTRAITS

MATERIALS:

Stuffie-sized paper or cardboard

Paints and paintbrushes

Pencil for tracing

INSTRUCTIONS:

Have your kids lay their stuffies down on the paper.

Trace each stuffie’s shape with the pencil.

Have your kids paint the shapes to match their stuffies.

WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS PRACTICING WITH THIS SUPER SIMPLE ACTIVITY?

Motor skills – holding and using the paintbrush

Early STEM concepts like matching

Creativity and self-expression –they might reimagine their favorite stuffed friend!

It’s highly likely that your kids have a favorite fuzzy friend or two (or three). Painting portraits will have your kids seeing their stuffed animals in a whole new way!