Volume 5 Issue 13
Sunday, January 15, 2012
“Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished.” Og Mandino
CHECK OUT OUR GORGEOUS WEDDING SECTION ON PAGES 3 and 4!
Senator Townsend Passes Away
Heroic Deputy Who Gave His Life To Save Another, Honored By Town of Rolling Hills Community News Power Plant Gives Thanks To Local Business Owner - Page 2 Glenrock Bird Makes Historic Move - Page 2 Wyoming Calls On Women Leaders - Page 2 SPECIAL WEDDING SECTION PAGE 3-4 Pyatts Pieces - Page 5 Wyoming Still In Lead for Lowest Population - Page 5
Senator Chuck Townsend
Converse County and Beyond
by The Sage Grouse Wyofile.net Charles L. Townsend and his brothers William “Butch” and Mark were born and raised near Newcastle and Osage. They successfully operated several oil and gas businesses and several cattle ranches, together with raising remarkable families in an isolated environment with a strong sense of community. Their parents provided vital genes and a strong work ethic. Chuck Townsend was one of my favorite people. I thought about that a lot at his funeral on January 2. Chuck worked his ass off in the family businesses, devotedly raising three kids, serving on more public boards than anyone else I know, elected as a popular state senator, only to be robbed of another 15-20 years of being “Grandpa Chuck” by cancer at age 68. Packing the Methodist Church in Newcastle were many hundreds of people, including a big chunk of the Wyoming Senate, a U.S. Senator, many other elected officials, former employees, friends and family. Many people spoke of Chuck’s political skills, tenacity, charm, wit and successes. Chuck had a biting wit sometimes, but no one was offended or at least not for long. He was one of the most insightful people I have ever known. Any lobbyist who thought he could run a line by Chuck was either, depending upon Chuck’s need of time for other things, totally ignored or made quickly to feel small. The thing I missed at the funeral was Chuck. I wish he could have been observing a community’s outpouring of respect and loss to a true giant of a man. He would have made some comments. “Oh hell, that’s not true. These people are carrying on too much. These preachers talk too much; it’s time for a drink.” Chuck was a guy who anyone could ask for advice. He loved people. He tickled them, he teased them, he poked and prodded them, maybe just to stimulate them to rise above their perceived limitations. I wish I had taken the time to be with him more. At least I got to sit in his blue Thunderbird convertible. And I wish I could patent his big open grin. The inside of the funeral program had a photo of Chuck grinning above the legend, quoting a speech he delivered in the Senate: “Make My People Happy!” We need more Chuck Townsends in our legislatures. We need more Chucks everywhere.
2011 The Year That Fracking Became Household Word - Page 6 Crash on Old Hwy Claims Life - Page 6 News From The Nest - Page 7 Wyoming Improves, But Still Has Worst Fatality Rate in Nation ObamaCare Waivers End - Health Insurance Skyrockets
Bird Odd’s and Ends
NEW! Wesley’s Way - Page 8 Cowboy Poetry - Page 8 Bunkhouse Recipes - Page 8 Straight Talk With Sassy, The Parrot and so much more in this issue of The Glenrock Bird!
by Amanda Smith The Town of Rolling Hills understands how deeply losing Deputy Bryan Gross has affected the communities in Converse County.
Bird Business Directory
Mayor of Rolling Hills, Devonie Mueller was key in the movement to create a memorial for the Deputy who drowned in the swollen Platte River last summer on July 28th during a rescue of a distraught young girl. “the town was very interested, I was very interested in creating a memorial for Deputy Gross so that we could honor his heroic efforts in some way.” Stated Mueller.
Area Businesses - Page 9 Bird Classifieds - Page 9
A granite memorial was created in honor of Deputy Gross so that he would always be remembered. It will be placed on the grounds of Rolling Hills Town Hall when better weather permits. A tribute will be made to the fallen Deputy once plans to Deputy Bryan Gross and his K9 companion “Gus”. erect the memorial are in place. Photo courtesy CCSD.
Friday’s Snowpacked Roadways Result in 1st Converse County Fatal According to Sergeant Stephen Townsend of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, 23 year old Vanessa Heimbichner of Loveland, Colorado was traveling northbound on WYO 94/Esterbrook road 8 miles west of Douglas when she lost control of her vehicle on the partially snow packed roadway. Heimichner’s vehicle started to spin at which time she overcorrected the vehicle’s steering back in the oppo-
site direction.
scene.
The vehicle went off the roadway on the right side where it then rolled 1¼ times coming to rest on its drivers side.
This accident is following another fatality that occurred on Monday January 2nd, that resulted in the death of Glenn Dale of Evansville, Wyoming. See story page 6.
Heimbichner was not wearing a seat belt and during the rollover she was partially ejected from the cab of her pickup and became trapped under the vehicle. Heimichner died at the
According to Sergeant Townsend, Friday’s accident resulted in the first traffic related death in Converse County this year.
Community Message Board
Meetings in Glenrock Where: The Senior Center East Door (thrift store entrance.) When: Monday nights from 7pm - 8pm
Bird Special Announcements! Jan. 5, 2012 -- The University of Wyoming lists 14 students from Converse County on the 2011 fall semester President's Honor Roll. The President's Honor Roll consists of regularly enrolled undergraduates who earned a 4.0 ("A") grade point average for the semester. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours taken for letter grades. Students are:
Glenrock • • •
Nicholas R. Allington James Thomas Moulton Briana L. Parsons
Douglas • • • • • • • • • • •
Melody Mary Bergquist Caitlyn Aubrielle Blain Michael Joseph Bohnenkamp Natalee Ann Brace Saxon C. Bull Heather Marie Dryden Randall J. Haefele Eric Martin Jensen Jessica Dawn McClure Kendall N. Senteney Lindsay A. White
For more information about the University of Wyoming, view the Web page at: www.uwyo.edu
Converse County 4-H Meeting The Converse County 4-H Council will be holding its monthly meeting in Glenrock on January 19th at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Glenrock Library. All members, leaders, and parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Wyoming Calls For More Women Leaders The George B. Storer Foundation Joins Wyoming Organizations to Encourage Women to “Leap into Leadership” in their Communities Voters in Wyoming will head to the polls in August to vote in the primaries, choosing a U.S. Senator, all members of the State House of Representatives and fifteen (or half) of the State Senators. The Wyoming Women’s Foundation and the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus want to encourage more women to obtain leadership positions and run for office. Joining in that effort, the George B. Storer Foundation recently granted $10,000 to the Wyoming Women’s Foundation to help bring local leadership trainings to two Wyoming communities aimed at increasing women’s overall leadership capacity. “Wyoming only has thirteen women in the Wyoming legislature. A more diverse leadership allows for thorough discussion of issues with all perspectives represented. We hope 2012 is the year we see more women filing than ever in Wyoming,” says Richelle Keinath, Executive Director for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation. Wyoming women can obtain the skills they need to get started at three statewide events in February and March. On February 7 in Cody and February 9 in Laramie, partial day Leap into Leadership workshops will give area women the tools they need to run for office, including information about local boards and elected positions and ways to become more active in local leadership. Last year’s successful workshops in Gillette and Evanston attracted close to 100 women; nearly half said they were contemplating a run for political office afterwards.
Post’s Senior Columnist on Life/ Work/Family, will address how women can be effective community leaders and keep their other commitments in balance, while a panel of First Ladies of Wyoming will share their experience finding balance while in the position of First Lady. “While these trainings were scheduled in consideration of statewide June filing deadlines for various elected positions, they are appropriate for any woman wanting to improve her leadership capacity in the workplace, in community volunteer roles, or as effective communicators,” says Keinath, “We want to see women involved, period.” Training will be provided by The White House Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization which aims to advance women’s leadership across the nation. At the training, women will hear from local area panelists that will share how they balance responsibilities with their leadership roles. Cody panelists include Mayor Nancy Tia Brown, School Board of Trustees Member Dossie Overfield, and past Rocky Mountain Regional President of Soroptimist International, Paula Voerding. Laramie panelists include Representative Cathy Connolly, former Laramie Mayor Jodi Guerin and Dr. Anne Alexander, UW Director of International Programs. An early bird registration fee of $15 is available for those who register by January, 20; all participants must be registered by January 27 and scholarships are available. Visit www.wywf.org for event details and registration or contact Melissa Turley, info@wyowlc.org, about the Laramie event or Sarah Mikesell Growney, sarah@wywf.org about the Cody event.
Then on March 1 & 2, women are invited to Cheyenne to participate in Leap into Leadership, a networking conference with speakers, workshops and a visit to the Capitol. Keynote speaker Lisa Belkin, the Huffington
Glenrock Library News Boldog ui evet!! Happy New Year in Hungarian from the library! Visit our Mango Foreign Language database on line. Find out how to get connected. There are over 80 languages to choose from. Learn from the comfort of your own home. This database comes to us courtesy of the state library. The library will be close on January 16 to observe Martin Luther King Day. We will reopen the following day with our regular hours. I came across this and thought it was an appropriate New Year’s wish to our loyal patrons from the library. “Here we are in a month named after the Roman god Janus, an appropriate personification of the start of the New Year. This particular Roman god had two faces so that he could look ahead toward the future and back at the past at the same time. As we get rid of an old year and look forward to a new one, we all try to be a little like Janus. We know through experience what we did wrong and what we did right, and hope to do better this year. Some people make ambitious new year’s resolutions; others just take a deep breath and hope for the best.…”-- Complete Speaker’s Almanac, p. 22. Story time will start a new on January 11 at 10:00. Anyone 5 years old and under with an adult may join us for some stories and the craft for the day. January 11 we will be toasting the New Year with winter stories and creating your own spin drum. January 18 we are celebrating National Popcorn Day (January 19). We’ll read stories about snowmen and you’ll design a “popping” snowman to call your own. We are starting early! Please remember the library on Election Day, November 6, 2012!! Vote to expand the libraries, both Glenrock and Douglas. The expansion will keep our communities moving in the right direction for the future. Seek out one of our Library Board of Trustees or Foundation Board members or the staff of each of the libraries to learn more. For Read Me A Story January 7-14 : Snowman at Night by Caralyn Buehner. January 14-21: Popcorn by Frank Asch. Pick up the phone and dial 436-2353 to listen to some great stories!! We’re on the web at http:wyldweb.state.wy.us/glen or at www. conversecountylibrary.org. Our phone number is 436-2573. Fax number is 436-8525. Be sure to “friend” us on facebook!! Just look up Glenrock Library.
Several scholarships are available for the National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore, Md., April 1-4, 2012. The trip includes a Wyoming Main Street sponsored pre-trip to Maryland and Delaware, March 29-31, to learn how Main Street principles are being applied in other communities. The conference brings together people from communities of all sizes to network, discuss issues, and learn new ideas and solutions for growing and developing downtown revitalization programs. This year’s conference will focus on taking Main Street to the next level by continuing to grow support, economic strength, and the national movement.
Dear Editor: We are writing to extend our heartfelt thanks to Bill Hensley, owner of the Four Aces, for having opened his establishment to us and given us a full-blown Christmas Party! As Dave Johnston Plant employees, retirees, family members, and friends, we had planned on seeing the holiday come and go without any sort of celebration. However, when Bill learned of that circumstance, he decided to throw a party for us, providing a delightful offering of hot and cold appetizers, as well as a DJ and karaoke entertainment. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 of us got together Friday night, December 9th, to enjoy an
evening of fellowship and camaraderie. Many of us had not seen one another in years, and many others of us work together every day but get no time just to enjoy one another’s company. Everyone had an incredibly pleasant evening, and some stayed right up until closing time!
Bill Hensley is a true reflection of what a good neighbor in a good community is all about. We appreciate his thoughtfulness and good will. Blessings to you and your family at Christmas, Bill!!
Sincerely, Dave Johnston Plant Employees, Retirees, Family and Friends
The Glenrock Bird Newspaper Makes History With Launch On Ipad And Kindle by Amanda Smith After much excitement, its true, The Glenrock Bird Newspaper has luanched on the Ipad and Amazon’s Kindle devices. Six months of statistical examination, has told the Bird that its time to prove itself once again in the newspaper industry as a another “first” for Wyoming. After first launching their digital version of the Bird, an actual digital version of the print copy, almost three years ago, and then again as an alert system for community members in Converse and Natrona Counties utilizing facebook, the Bird decided that the next step should be somewhat co-joined with the late Steve Job’s Ipad releases, and the flurry of e-reader activity that Amazon’s Kindle has well, kindled. And “it worked.” The Glenrock Bird became the first Newspaper in the state of Wyoming to launch on the KINDLE and IPAD.
Travel Scholarships Available For Downtown Revitalization Conference CASPER, Wyo. – The Wyoming Main Street Program is offering travel scholarships to a conference that will help participants revitalize and build vibrant commercial districts in Wyoming’s downtowns.
Dave Johnston Power Plant Gives Heartfelt Thanks to Glenrock Business Owner
ernment, downtown association or its equivalent, downtown merchants association, urban renewal authority, downtown development authority, chamber of commerce, historic preservation organization, or other community organizations intended to revitalize a historic downtown.
As well, The Glenrock Bird became the first small newspaper in the USA to launch on the KINDLE and IPAD. Publisher’s from Georgia, Kansas, California, Chicago and other newspapers around the country began contacting The Glenrock Bird to gain insight and knowledge into the launch, as well as congratulate the Bird on such a monumental step for newspapers, as well as for Wyoming. One giant step for The Glenrock Bird. One giant historical step for Wyoming. The Glenrock Bird Newspaper, Another WYOMING FIRST.
Notification of scholarship awards will be made from the Wyoming Main Street staff on or around Feb. 15, 2012. Recipients are asked to give a report to their local city/town council as well as the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board about the information learned on the trip and how it will help their community. For more information, contact Wyoming Main Street Specialist Scott Wisniewski at 307.777.2934 or scott.w@wyo. gov.
The Town of Rolling Hills - Where the deer and Antelope really do play! If you haven’t done so already, check out the Town of Rolling Hills great website. Chock full of information so be sure and check it out: www.rollinghillswy.org
The scholarships cover airfare to and from an applicant’s nearest airport and Baltimore, conference registration fees, and lodging during the pre-trip and conference. Scholarship applications are due to Wyoming Main Street no later than Feb. 3, 2012. Application packets must include a completed application form. Scholarships will only be offered to individuals who are residents of a Wyoming municipality and associated with, or supported by, one of the following organizations: local gov-
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 2
Converse County’s Premier Wedding Section Presented by The Glenrock Bird
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 3
Converse County’s Premier Wedding Section Presented by The Glenrock Bird
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 4
Wyoming Still Leads as Least Populated State
The U.S. Census Bureau announced that the 2010 Census showed the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2010, was 308,745,538. "A big thanks to the American public for its overwhelming response to the 2010 Census," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. "The result was a successful count that came in on time and well under budget, with a final 2010 Census savings of $1.87 billion." The U.S. resident population represents the total number of people in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The most populous state was California (37,253,956); the least populous, Wyoming (563,626). Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution calls for a census of the nation's population every 10 years to apportion the House seats among the states. The 2010 Census is the 23rd census in our nation's history.
Put down the Playstations and iPads! Mom encourages families to spend more time together
CASPER, Wyo. – We’re all guilty of it. It’s easy to get obsessed with our laptops, video games, iPods and smartphones. But Casey Rislov says family time creates stronger relationships and bonds. In her new children’s book, Time Together, Time Well Spent!, Rislov encourages today’s family to get outside and for good old fashioned quality time. “We did a lot as a family growing up,” says Rislov. “These are very fond memories as we found different activities to do together like water skiing, camping and boating. Games always brought a competitive or silly side to everyone.” Time Together, Time Well Spent! encourages family members to spend more time together in order to stay close and emotionally connected. The time will allow children and their parents to bond in a way that’s meaningful
Tops Wy 0173, Glenrock November Awards Due to a cancelled meeting only one KOPS, Miss Jo Ann Loos weighed in four weeks in a row. Janet Maines received a charm for her first five pounds lost. Glennda Wilcox was our November best loser with a loss of 7.4 pounds. Betty Carpenter lost 3.6 pounds. Bev Voyzey lost 2.8 pounds. Lee Wells lost 1.6 pounds and Janet Maines lost .4 pounds. Congratulations to all those who participate in TOPS WY! Its a great way to lose weight and maintain your health!
and lasting. “I cherish all the time I do spend with my friends and family,” Rislov says. “I love taking the time to talk over a good meal, go on an outdoor adventure, play a game or just make them smile.” Rislov says, after reading Time Together, Time Well Spent!, children will understand that family time is filled with amazing adventures. And, the book is a helpful guide that shows families how to start conversations with children to teach them family time is central to their development and maturity. Time Together, Time Well Spent! shows modern families that ditching technology for a period of time in exchange for traditional ways of having fun is important when it comes to keeping a family close. Time Together, Time Well Spent!
By Casey Rislov Paperback 8.5x11, retail price: $11.99 ISBN: 9781467041911 Available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. About the author Casey Rislov’s passion has always been with children. In her early teenage years, she began teaching swimming lessons. During her late college years, Rislov began assistant coaching swimming and downhill skiing. Eventually, she moved into the classroom to teach both elementary and preschool. Rislov’s most recent career has been in early childhood special education. She received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University. Rislov found a renewed sense of love for children's books as soon as she entered the classroom. She and her family live in Casper, Wyoming.
“Can It Get Any Crazier? In the midst of drinking my second cup of coffee at my favorite spot recently, a group of seasoned citizens were huddled, waxing eloquent about the current state of affairs, and related conundrums on this revolving orb we call plant earth. They appeared to be in great consternation about what one vocal member labeled “ a sad state of affairs” as they covered the waterfront of topics, from politics to child rearing and the spiraling cost of healthcare and out-ofcontrol profligate government spending. Given a personal inclination to offer my view, after mustering all my discipline to muzzle “my opinion”, one of the sage interlocutors was silent for a brief interlude, then exhaled and opined, “Can it get any crazier?” The group was, if memory serves me, evenly divided among the sexes, and each responded with their respective view on what was “crazier” than it used to be. They failed to define what “crazier” meant or assigned a relative value to the term. The context, in my opinion, had nothing to do with one’s mental state of mind, sanity or insanity, or being deranged, but rather, as Webster states, “wild, fantastic…with great intensity…without restraint”. Inexplicable works for me. Lost in taking notes before my coffee chilled, the group had disappeared absent any conclusion or consensus. For some time my infertile mind left the subject unattended in the recesses of my mind, until recently when a news anchor reported that in 2012 more than 14, 000 new laws would be enacted nationwide. Those he enumerated prompted me to mutter to myself, “That’s really crazy!” This is the basis or fodder for another article. Right? Readers have suffered enough of my rants to know that more than once I have written about the “moral decline” of our country and other infelicitous events in our recent history. That recent discussion precipitated a list of “crazy’ things, and not all are contemporary “craziness”. While this list may not be your list; perhaps it may elicit a list of your own, if only in your mind. What’s “crazier” than the Supreme Court’s 1857 ruling(Scott
v. Stanford) that blacks were nothing more than chattel or property like a horse or a field of cotton, and could be sold or traded as such? What’s “crazier” than the 1942 internment of more than 110, 000 Japanese Americans in the wake of Imperial Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, under President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, upheld by the Supreme Court in 1944? What’s “crazier” than to watch an “adult” parent being pummeled about the waist and thighs by a pugnacious 35 pound three year old assailant in a grocery isle, while the parent screams in utter terror “timeout, ” then rapidly counts to onehundred before the little terror finally looses interest and relents the attack? What’s “crazier” than a government that placed a nation of people on reservations to be “taken care of” with no chance of ownership or incentive to improve their lot in life? What’s “crazier” than educating four generations of students in a culture of moral relativism, and then be surprised when they take it seriously and demonstrate a life bereft of absolutes or plumb line for truth? What’s “crazier” than a federal government and states that create a culture of dependency and sense of entitlement that marginalizes individual work ethic and self-dependency, yet promotes a marginal propensity to consume non-essentials? What’s “crazier” than to turn loose a novice President, whose only budget experience was balancing his own check book, with the purse strings of a federal budget, only to be surprised that as a nation we find ourselves on “economic life support” and further in debt to China? What’s “crazier” than the fact that spending by “pet parents” was projected to rise to over 4 billion dollars in 2010, a 4% annual increase, according to the American Pet Products Association, while the relative increase in family health(human) care dollars declined in that same period? And, what’s “crazier” than having absolute disdain for the Chinook wind and live in Central Wyoming? You get the drift? Are we in a “crazier” world than ever? An exercise in futility, or a reasonable musing of the way things are? Are we on a pursuit for truth in such an endeavor? C.S. Lewis adroitly stated what has only been alluded to, “If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you only look for comfort you will not get either truth or comfort, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” What do you think?
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 5
Crash That Closed Old Hwy For Eleven Hours Claims One Life, Injures Another
This Was The Year That “Fracking� Became a Household Word by Abrahm Lustgarten Staff reporter Nicholas Kusnetz contributed to this report. It wasn't just that environmental concerns about the underground drilling process finally struck a mainstream chord -- after three years of reporting and more than 125 stories. For the first time, independent scientific investigations linked the drilling technique with water pollution, and a variety of federal and state agencies responded to the growing apprehension about water contamination with more studies and more regulation.
The scene of the tragic accident that resulted in the loss of one life and injured another. Photo Lona Patton. L. Patton Photography. by Amanda Smith Monday morning January 2nd, just two days into the 2012 New Year a crash occurred on Hwy 20/26 - dubbed the "Old Hwy" by locals. At approximately 6:45 a.m. Glenn Dale of Evansville, Wyoming and well known friend to neighboring communities was headed eastbound on US 20/26 when for unknown reasons his vehicle crossed the center line going into the westbound lane of travel. According to Sergeant Stephen Townsend of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Dale's vehicle collided head on in the westbound lane of 20/26 with a tractor trailer tanker combination driven by Larry Hammond of Mills, Wyoming. After impact, both vehicles went off the roadway on the south side result-
ing in Hammond's tractor trailer overturning 1/4 time onto the driver's side. The tanker trailer suffered a breech druing the crash and approximately 3,000 gallons of crude oil was spilled into the right-of-way. The crude oil that remained in the overturned trailer had to be pumped off into another tanker, and the crude oil that spilled was cleaned from the scene. US 20/26 was closed temporarily for approximately 11 hours while Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers investigated the crash and worked to clear the area. Traffic was detoured at Glenrock onto Interstate 25 for northbound traffic and southbound traffic was detoured at the Hat Six Interchange onto Interstate 25.
Hammond reportedly suffered non life threatening injuries and was transported to Wyoming Medical Center and later released. 24 year old Glenn Dale, a well known night clerk at the Eastgate Travel Center, died at the scene. Sidenote from the Editor: On behalf of The Glenrock Bird and the communities of Converse and Natrona counties, we send our prayers for comfort to the family of Glenn Dale, and prayers to the driver of the tanker Larry Hammond for comfort and a speedy recovery.
The most important development -- and perhaps a crucial turning point -- was in December. In a landmark finding, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that hydraulic fracturing was the likely culprit in a spate of groundwater contamination that had forced residents to stop using their water in dozens of homes in central Wyoming. The agency had been investigating since 2008. Earlier in the year, a study published through the National Academy of Sciences determined that in Pennsylvania, private water wells in close proximity to fracked gas wells were 17 times more likely to be contaminated with methane gas. Those studies are separate from a national research project the EPA has undertaken to assess the risks fracking poses to water resources. The agency is examining five case studies across the country and is now estimating that some of its report will be complete by the original 2012 deadline and the rest will continue into 2014. The study is meant to help Congress and regulators determine whether fracking should be regulated like other similar processes under the Safe Drinking Water Act and whether companies that frack should be forced to disclose the details about the chemicals they use.
Last winter, the Obama administration -- which has repeatedly referred to natural gas as a bridge fuel and encouraged its development -- urged the Department of Energy to conduct its own assessment of fracking's safety on a quicker timeline than the EPA. In a matter of months, a DOE panel determined that the environmental risks were substantial and needed to be addressed in order to safely develop more natural gas resources. The panel raised concerns that pollution could have serious health consequences for those who live close to drilling operations. Indeed, a report published by ProPublica in September found that residents in drilling areas across the country complained of serious health symptoms ranging from skin lesions to tumors, and that health and science organizations had yet to develop any comprehensive system for studying such problems. While water pollution is one concern, many of the health effects reported are believed to be related to air pollution and emissions released in the natural gas development and drilling process. Earlier in the year, a ProPublica investigation found that the EPA had grossly underestimated the amount of methane that seeps out of pipelines and drill rigs as gas is produced, and reported that the agency was doubling its calculations. Our analysis of the new emissions levels showed that they threaten to offset the relative advantages presented by cleaner-burning natural gas over oil and carbon in combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. In some cases, government officials didn't just debate fracking and call for additional study. They enacted real changes in how drilling is overseen.
drilling industry would have to comply with tough new industrial emissions standards. Then it said that it would issue new rules governing how wastewater from fracking is disposed of; this addressed concerns first raised by ProPublica in 2009 that in eastern drilling areas, which cannot inject waste into underground wells the way the industry does in the west, chemical-laden waste is winding up in river systems, and then drinking water. In December, Colorado implemented the toughest law yet requiring comprehensive disclosure of frack fluids, following similar but weaker laws in Texas and Wyoming.
This was also the year fracking went global. While France banned fracking outright and South Africa enacted a temporary moratorium, multi-national energy companies began exploring shale reserves in Poland, Argentina and China.
Closer to home, New York state officials continued to inch closer to allowing drilling to take place in the coveted Marcellus Shale. After a multi-year process and its own temporary moratorium on some fracking activity, New York finished up the latest version of its environmental review and has signaled that it intends to begin permitting more drilling early next year.
According to the state's environmental assessment, no fracking will be allowed on state lands, and the process will be severely limited within the New York City watershed.
Still, the state's chief environmental regulator, Joe Martens, told ProPublica he is confident the drilling can proceed safely, and that he does not expect there will be much to learn from the EPA's research into the issue. New York's draft plan is in its final stage of public review, and is expected to be completed on Jan. 11, 2012.
The EPA announced that the
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 6
Wyoming Fatality Rate in Workplace Improves, still “Worst in the Nation” by Dustin Bleizeffer Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate improved from worstin-the nation — 17 fatalities per 100,000 workers in 2007 — to fourth-worst in 2009, according to an AFL-CIO report, passing the “worst” distinction to Montana, Louisiana and North Dakota where many drilling rigs migrated during the same period. But before Wyoming leaders and employers claim victory over such a poor past performance, safety officials are warning that workplace fatalities could spike again when drilling and construction activity returns to Wyoming. “More than half of the 16,000plus jobs lost in Wyoming were in natural resource development and construction, and these bear the most dangerous occupational risks,” Wyoming state occupational epidemiologist Timothy Ryan told WyoFile in a recent interview. “My concern is that people are going to look at this and say ‘problem solved,’” Ryan continued. “Well, no. When the economy picks back up in construction and mining, and oil and gas picks up, so goes the fatality rate.” HIGHER FINES, FEWER FATALITIES On January 5, Kyle Rooke, 42, of Drummond, Id., was struck by drilling mud when a standpipe valve failed on a drilling rig south of Pinedale. The drilling mud caught fire, according to the Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Rooke died before medical responders arrived at the scene. A Wyoming OSHA investigation revealed several alleged safety violations. Rooke wasn’t wearing flame-retardant clothing, and had the rig operator — Unit Drilling Co. — conducted a “protective equipment assessment” the company should have realized that flame-retardant clothing was necessary for the job Rooke was performing, according to Wyoming OSHA. The investigation, according to OSHA officials, also found improperly functioning equipment related to the accident that should have been repaired, replaced or removed. As a result of those and other safety violations on the rig, Wyoming OSHA issued several citations to Unit Drilling Co., totaling $23,250 in fines. The company has until July 13 to contest the citations or agree to pay. “Normally, they contest,” said J.D. Danni, program manager for Wyoming OSHA . Unit Drilling Co. didn’t return WyoFile’s requests for comment. That $23,250 figure is substantially higher than Wyoming OSHA has issued in the past for violations related to the death of a worker. The four workplace fatalities that Wyoming OSHA investigated in 2010 resulted in a total $9,125 in fines, according to federal OSHA documents. That’s an average $2,281 for violations contributing to the death of a worker. In this 2009 photo, Ensign driller Bruce Day operates an "iron derrick hand" and other automated equipment designed to make drilling safer. (Dustin Bleizeffer/ WyoFile - click to enlarge) By comparison, in April an 18-year-old Worland man was fined more than $9,000 for illegally killing a trophy mule deer. The national average OSHA penalty for safety violations related to a workplace fatality in 2010 was $17,105. Only South Carolina, Nevada, Montana and
Alaska had average fatality-related penalties lower than Wyoming’s in 2010. “Industry here agreed the fines could be higher and we, administratively, followed federal OSHA’s lead in raising fines,” said Danni. Danni explained that the potential for higher OSHA fines began this year, mostly as the result of trimming several credits a company could earn based on past performance and other factors. Other steps are being made to improve workplace safety in Wyoming. In June approximately 200 companies within the oil and gas industry formally signed an alliance with Wyoming OSHA. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Industry Safety Alliance (WOGISA) seeks to raise safety awareness, identify best practices and share training resources. Already in the works is a training program for “first-line” supervisors. The group meets Wednesday (July 13) from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs. The meeting is open to the public. (Download the agenda at the bottom of this article.) But whether Wyoming employers and Wyoming OSHA are actually on course to substantially improve workplace safety is still in serious question. A 2010 study by the Wyoming Department of Employment’s Research & Planning division, “Employment Change and Impacts on Workplace Fatalities in Wyoming,” found that the number of workplace fatalities in Wyoming closely tracks the number of people working in the state. Analysis of employment and workplace fatalities spanning the 18 years from 1992 to 2009 suggests a 1 percent increase in employment is associated with an increase of 2.4 fatalities annually, according to the study. For another representation of workplace fatality trends, safety officials look to the fatality rate — or number of deaths per 100,000 workers. In 2007, near the peak of Wyoming’s energy boom, the state’s workplace fatality rate was 17 per 100,000 workers — more than four times the national average of 3.7 for the same year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In 2008, Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate improved to 11.6 per 100,000 workers, compared to the national average 3.6. In 2009, Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate improved to 7.1 per 100,000 workers, compared to the national average 3.5. Wyoming has improved its workplace fatality rate. However, Ryan warned, that may have more to do with the fact that Wyoming’s job losses were in drilling, mining and construction — those jobs most prone to workplace fatalities.
“Tim is absolutely right,” said Chuck Dobkins, safety and security specialist for Williams Exploration & Production in Gillette. “When the price of gas comes back, and the economy comes back in full-force, you’re going to bring a mass of workers into the state. For those smaller companies that need help, this (WOGISA-OSHA alliance) is a good opportunity to get those companies the help they need and be prepared.” A large part of the WOGISA effort is to encourage large companies and corporations that can afford good safety programs to share those resources and share their knowledge. “It’s a heck of a lot better now than it was five years ago,” said Dobkins. “I think we got a better handle on it than we ever have.” State and industry official believe the biggest stride they can make toward reducing workplace fatalities is to address the use of seatbelts and driving habits. In the state’s preliminary analysis of workplace fatalities, officials found that many of the deaths are the result of vehicle accidents. In 2008, 71 percent of the workers who died in vehicle accidents in Wyoming were not wearing seatbelts. Ryan said when he talks to the WOGISA membership at its meeting this week in Rock Springs, he will recommend the industry institute employee shuttle services to and from worksites where possible.
Obamacare Waivers End, Soaring Health Costs Continue On Friday January 6, 2012 U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s decision to grant final waivers from the President's health care law: “Today marks the end of the Administration’s flawed and embarrassing waiver process. Each round of waivers has been a red flag that the President’s health spending law is making costs and premiums skyrocket. It’s clear that President Obama and Administration officials are more focused on ending their public humiliation than reducing Americans’ health care costs. “From today on, any of America’s new entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses will be hit by the expensive mandates of the President’s health care law.
ers and workers deserve a better option. “Republicans are committed to repealing and replacing the President’s health care law. We need a new law that gives Americans the care they need, from a doctor they want, at a price they can afford.” Background: On July 21, 2011, Senator Barrasso introduced the WAIVE Act to give all Americans the opportunity to apply for a waiver from the Administration out of the President’s health care law. The waivers are no different than the ones that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already granted to companies and unions.
“America’s small business own-
“You’re taking a good portion of the guys off the road that don’t need to be on the road after working a long shift,” said Ryan. “The model is there, and it has been proven to work, with the coal mines in the Powder River Basin.”
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“If you look at fatality rates, it looks like things are improving,” said Ryan. “But if you look at the number of hospitalizations, amputations and burns — the total number injuries has gone down, but not the rate. Amputations have gone up.” Ryan said that while voluntary efforts such as WOGISA are an essential step toward stemming workplace injuries and fatalities, it’s likely that those numbers could spike again in correlation with a resurgence in energy development in Wyoming. Bill Adams of Jackson Electric Inc. operates a trackhoe at a construction site in Casper. (Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile - click to enlarge)
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Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 7
Gathered steers on the old red river; loaded cars in Omaha. The northern wind sure made him shiver on the stage at Tonopah. TJ Casey is a singer/ songwriter, storyteller, composer and entertainer. He was raised up on ranches in Wyoming and Montana and now teaches the "Code of the West" and poetry to students all across America. Check him out at: www.tjcasey.net.
He stepped aboard the horse he bought at the livery down town; then he rode on back to Texas to buy a piece of ground. Was the peak of the cattle gather by the time that he got home. He hired on the (4*6) 6666’s wagon, from there, began to roam. Five times, up north he gandered ‘fore they made him trail boss; by then, he knew every single man and the name of every hoss. He knew every river crossing from Texas to ol’ Montan; and every place an outlaw lingered
all the way up the Rio Grande. He knew every town and brothel; every hotel and saloon. Every place to bed the cattle and when to travel by the light of moon. He was loyal and honest and trusted by the men that owned the herd. They shake of his hand and the look in his eye said “he’d” die to keep his word.” Now folks? That there’s a cowboy, it’s the way we are today; and we wouldn’t change our ethics for a double raise in pay. Its cowboy pride, folks, and integrity our hearts and souls in this western land. We’ll always live by the cowboy code, and ride for the Masters brand.
My boyfriend recently asked me to marry him. I'm not sure I should. We have been together four years, I have worked at the same restaurant for three of those four years in Casper, he has had sporadic jobs over the years of our relationship and is currently not employed.
He did not present me with a ring but said he would get me one when he can and that he just wants to make sure I'm his and he's mine.
I love him for the good person that he is, we don't live together as I don't feel comfortable supporting both of us and he has asked to move in post his proposal. I said no. He took the proposal back stating if you can't love me now while things are tough then I don't want to marry you. I'm flabbergasted but somewhat relieved.
I would like to continue our relationship but only if he can get a job, a real job and stick with it. I guess what I'm asking is what do you think about all that has transpired and what are your suggestions for helping him find work and committing him to keeping a job. Then maybe we can talk marriage again...if he still wants to. Thanks Sassy. Looking for answers in Evansville
Cowboy Goulash 2 pounds ground beef 1 tablespoon oil 1 large onion, chopped 1/4 cup parsley, chopped fine 2 celery stalks, chopped 4 large tomatoes, chopped 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped 2 cans red beans, drained 1 (10 ounce) package
Three green trends for 2012 home remodeling (ARA) - For some homeowners, remodeling projects are regular occurrences to keep their homes looking fresh. Sometimes, that means smaller changes like a new coat of paint or changing a light fixture. Other times, more substantial changes are needed. Determining those changes can be a challenge, but looking at the potential return on investment is a great way to prioritize. Bathroom remodeling offers a 68.7 percent return on investment, according to a National Association of Realtors survey. One way to add value to
Hi there and Happy New Year, Glenrock! I just want to start off by first saying thank you for all of the positive response to my last article, and I’m excited to share more with you! So let’s get right to it! Something near and dear to me is good customer service. Working with the public, I know how hard it is to deal with hundreds (if not sometimes thousands) of people every day of your life and how people that work in those situations deal with a lot of crap that they shouldn’t have to. Whether you’re in sales, answering phones, waiting tables, whatever it may be - all you deal with is people. And for those of you that don’t – it’s exhausting. We might not have back breaking manual labor, but when we come home from work we are so mentally exhausted it’s difficult to explain. I’d like to share a story about bad customer service, and how I reacted terribly yet correctly. A few months ago, I was in Casper with my mother and we stopped at a fast food burger place to get something to eat. When we got to the drive through the girl on the intercom sounded absolutely annoyed in the first place. This was her first mistake. We placed our order of two value meals and a chili cheese dog. When we pulled to the window we were greeted
a bathroom remodel is to pick bathroom fixtures that are more efficient than what you currently have installed. Americans are going green in many areas of life, whether with more energyefficient light bulbs, hybrid cars or by recycling more regularly. Bathroom fixtures are no different. Here are three reasons why you should consider going green with your bathroom modeling project: * Products may be outdated. Toilets made before 1994 use anywhere from 3.5 gallons to 8 gallons per flush (gpf), while new EPA WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilets can work
by a sixteen something blonde girl that grumpily blurted our total, didn’t make eye contact, and most importantly didn’t thank us for coming to their business. My mother paid her, we received our food, and before we left the window we checked our bag of food to make sure everything was there. We found that we were missing our chili dog, so we waited patiently at the window. About a minute later, we were greeted with the window being slammed open and the same girl coming back with “Did we forget something?” My mother, not being one for confrontation (and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met) kindly told the girl that we did not get our chili dog. The girl let out a HUGE sigh and said “Well fine. We’ll get it for you.” After that, I had had it. I blurted out “HEY! Get that, and when you come back, please try not to (selective swear word) hate your life!” Greeted by a smack on the shoulder from my mother, I then explained to her the exact advice I’m going to give you. Take a trip to Colorado where the job market is scarce, and there are people my parents age working at fast food places to make ends meet, or taking a second job at Wal-Mart as a cashier, or some other line level low paying position. Those people are so happy to be working they don’t even care. You are always
spaghetti, cooked 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper salt to taste pepper to taste 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 cups Parmesan cheese Brown the ground beef lightly in oil. Add onion and celery and cook until the veggies are softened. Add beans, tomatoes, parsley, jalapenos, spaghetti, seasoning plus 1
beautifully on a modest 1.28 gpf. Not sure of your toilet's vintage? Look at the underside of the tank lid - the date of manufacture is often stamped into the porcelain. In the shower, the typical showerhead installed in California homes built after 1994 uses as much as 2.5 gallons per minute. At that rate, your eight-minute shower consumes a whopping 20 gallons of water. * Savings to be had. Compared to 3.5 gpf toilets, TOTO's Aquia One-Piece Dual Flush HighEfficiency Toilet has a flushing system that enables homeowners to select the level of water used each time the toilet is flushed - 1.6 gallons for bulk waste or .9 for liquid. The approach provides exceptional water savings paired with outstanding performance. A family of four can save more than $90 annually on their water bill, and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet. If you replace a typical 2.5 gpm showerhead with a TOTO highefficiency Trilogy Showerhead,
greeted with a smile (whether the employee is young or old), treated with respect, helped to the fullest extent possible and reasonable, and thanked for choosing their business. If you acted like the girl at the fast food place I patronized at a business down there, you’d be fired in a hot second – and that’s no lie. I’ve seen it happen right before my eyes. There’s no time for rudeness in a professional work environment, no matter where it is. Just because you think you’re from a town in the middle of nowhere, or you’re having a bad day, or whatever might be going through your mind, does not give you an excuse to act that way. Put it in a perspective of counting your blessings. It doesn’t matter who you are – young or old – be thankful that you have that job. Be thankful for it every single day. You were specifically chosen to work for that company, or that person, or that government office, or were approved from that loan from that bank to finance your small business for a reason. They saw something in you, and you should never take that for granted, and you certainly should never show that to a customer that comes into your business, or to another coworker. One of the people closest to me in my life said something I’ve never forgotten, and never will forget. “Everybody is replaceable – even me, Wes.”
and 1/2 cups of parmesan cheese. Place everything in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees F until hot and bubbly (about 20 minutes). During last 5 minutes, top with remaining parmesan cheese and remove from oven just before the cheese browns. Makes 12 servings.
you will experience the same luxurious shower, yet consume a responsible 14 gallons, saving 20 percent of the water used by older models. Even something like a faucet can contribute to water savings. TOTO's Silas Widespread Lavatory Faucet is a WaterSense labeled lavatory faucet that consumes a responsible 1.5 gallons per minute without sacrificing an ounce of performance. Its design has a classic contemporary elegance with a graceful, curved spout.
Well, Miss Evansville, you told me what you need to tell him! "I would like to continue our relationship but only if you can get a job, a real job and stick with it." Its a new year and time to start fresh. A woman should awlays have standards and high ones at that.
We should always have the desire to be with someone who completes us, challenges us and makes us better with that person than we are by ourselves. So this fellow... the only thing he has going for him is that you "love him." Sometimes love just isn't enough. He is an adult and if wants to marry you then "be the man women want." Be a partner in providing, loving and contributing.
As for his "marriage proposal?" Honey, a proposal without the ring is BS. If you don't mean enough for him to make it perfect and well thought out, forget it.
His proposal is most likely for other reasons, like this case he needs a place to live and you to pay the bills. So sweetie, start fresh or flat lay out your expectations and he can decide if you are worth him getting his life together.
Keep me posted and good luck! Sassy Have a question for Sassy? Email her: sassy@theglenrockbird.com
* Be a trendy homeowner. A whopping 68 percent of builders surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders say that energy-saving technologies and features including low-E windows, energy-efficient appliances, and LED lighting will be common along with other green features like engineered wood products, and water-saving plumbing fixtures such as dualflush toilets and low-flow faucets by 2015. Start now and you'll be ahead of the curve.
Just remember that fact. In any business – even your own – EVERYONE is replaceable and it can happen. Don’t give your customers, clients, or whomever a bad experience – EVER. If you ever do that it will ruin not only your business’s reputation, but your own as well. In a small town like Glenrock or Casper, that absolutely will stick with you when you’ve been replaced, or are trying to go to a different (hopefully even better) job. So, for those of you that work with the public like me – I encourage you go to work tomorrow, start your new week, and think about how you treat the clients, customers, and guests that patronize your business. Leave your personal life at the door, and if you can’t – simply call in. It’s okay. Your employer would rather have you not there if you’re going to be upsetting customers like that girl upset me. And if you’re patronizing a business and receive poor service – do not hesitate to call the employee out directly. Count your blessings every day, and be thankful for your opportunity to go to work, or go patronize a local business. Questions or topics you’d like Wes’s opinion on? Email him at wes@theglenrockbird.com.
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 8
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Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 9
Sunday January 15, 2012 The Glenrock Bird Page 10