Powell Tribune July 2, 2019

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TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2019

109TH YEAR/ISSUE 52

ALUMNI WEEKEND FOR PHS CLASS OF 1969, A BARN PARTY, MEMORIES BY DAVE BONNER Tribune Publisher

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The fire at the Vining Substation on North Ingalls Street Saturday morning crippled Powell’s electrical grid, leaving the town entirely without power. Crews worked through the day to restore and maintain power for residents and businesses. Tribune photo by Toby Bonner

FIRE AT SUBSTATION CAUSES CITY-WIDE POWER OUTAGE BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

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fire at the Vining Substation Saturday morning on North Ingalls Street knocked out power across all of Powell. Volunteers were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but city crews worked through the day and into the evening to completely restore power to all homes and businesses in town. City Administrator Zack Thorington said the extent of the power outage was unprecedented.

“We can’t express how much we are thankful no one was hurt,” Thorington said. City crews, with help from Garland Light and Power and Western Area Power Administration, were able to restore power to much of the city by 11 a.m., but the repairs were temporary fixes to get electricity to consumers. Thorington sent out statements on the Powell Police Department social media page requesting residents minimize See Power, Page 7

Residents of the Cactus Garden Court move a safe distance away from an electrical substation adjacent to the residential neighborhood while emergency crews work to put out a fire at the facility. Tribune photo by Mark Davis

ollowing on the heels of the Fourth of July, the 104th consecutive allclass reunion of Powell High School graduates rolls out this weekend. In the middle of the FridaySaturday fanfare is the Class of 1969, observing its 50th year since leaving the hallowed halls of PHS. The Class of 1969 wants to leave a meaningful legacy on its 50th. The class is raising funds to establish the William (Bill) McRann Panther Pride Scholarship to honor the memory of the late, long-time PHS art instructor. Tickets are being sold for a special knife created by celebrated knife maker Dennis Friedly of Cody, a former McRann student. The scholarship will be awarded to a PHS art student to continue an art education at Northwest College. The theme of meaningful creations will be continued as the Class of 1969 meets for its own 50-year reunion Friday at Jake Clark’s Mule Days barn in Ralston. Kay Clark is a member of the Class of 1969. Class members are asked to bring something they’ve made or something special in their life for a silent auction during the evening. “We’ve got a lot of painters in our class,” said 1969 class member Terry Faxon. The class party starts at 4 p.m., and a turnout of 60 class members and spouses is expected. “We’re having a taco bar, and people are bringing their favorite salsa or dip,” Faxon said. Reunion classes hold their own events Friday night. The Panther Open Golf Tournament is also a Friday feature, teeing off at 10 a.m. at the Powell Golf Course. These other special reunion class gatherings are on the See Reunion, Page 3

County relying on reserves to balance budget EMPLOYEE PAY TO REMAIN FLAT BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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ark County commissioners have balanced the county’s budget for the coming fiscal year — but only by taking $1.3 million out of savings and delaying road maintenance. “This is not sustainable stuff,” Commission Chairman Jake Fulkerson said

as the board honed its proposed budget last week, adding that commissioners “are going to have to make some hard decisions in the next 12 months.” Commissioners indicated that, over the coming year, they plan to study how to cut a couple million dollars worth of spending. “I think everything’s on the table. Everything,” said Commissioner Joe

Tilden, adding, “Barring any windfalls out there that we’re not aware of … right now, we’re looking at, every year, somewhere in the neighborhood of a $2 to $2.5 million shortfall.” As currently drafted, the budget for the fiscal year — which began Monday

and runs through June 30, 2020 — authorizes $27.97 million worth of spending. That’s up from the $27.86 million that commissioners approved for the past year. The dollars cover a wide range of government services, ranging from the

‘I feel very badly that we’re not able to do something additional for our employees, I mean I really do, but we just can’t.’ Joe Tilden, Commissioner

sheriff’s office to the Park County Fair to the landfill system. BIG TICKET ITEMS The increase can be attributed to a handful of large projects — including a new facility where the Park County coroner can examine and store bodies. Coroner Tim Power had long worked out of Ballard Funeral Home in Cody, but the business no longer has space. See Budget, Page 7

Thousands of park visitors lose property in the park. Thanks to determined employees of visitor services, many will recover their losses.

LOST TREASURES of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park visitor services employee Sara Fleming moves a child’s bike while organizing items found in the park.

Seattle without their pet. For 23 days, Groovy roamed the park. It’s unknown what he did, but BY MARK DAVIS there were multiple sightings, with Tribune Staff Writer multiple park employees hot on his roovy was on a cross coun- tail, not wanting a feral cat to become try trip with his family when part of the world famous park’s wildlife. It evolved into they pulled an all-hands-onthrough the gates deck effort across of Yellowstone Na- ‘Probably the weirdest the community tional Park. But as the door to the fam- thing we’ve ever found in Mammoth Hot Springs. ily van swung open, recently was a toupee.’ Finally, after the tabby cat made a break for it. Sara Fleming more than three weeks, he was capThe feisty feline’s National Park Service tured. Tammie family searched as long as they could, but even after Wert, manager of visitor services staying in the park for a few extra at the park, took Groovy home for days, they couldn’t find Groovy. Brokenhearted, they made their way to See Lost, Page 8

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

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LOTTA NUMBER - 12776 09/12/2019

LAST WEEK’S LOTTA NUMBER BELONGED TO TONY ELLIOTT OF BASIN WHO MISSED $20.


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