Interchange February 2022
Vol. 50, Iss. 2
Highway Patrol assists in human trafficking prevention WHP supports Truckers Against Trafficking
that life, and then they’re given the idea that there’s no way out. It’s not because they want to do it, they’re forced to do it,” Stewart said. “A lot of times trafficking victims are young people who are either abducted or they’re runaways, and they get brought into horrible circumstances like sex trafficking rings,” said Nate McCarty, a commercial truck driver with ABF Freight and a team captain for America’s Road Team which is a national public outreach program within the American Trucking Associations (ATA). One of the organizations that McCarty is involved with is Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), which aims to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the truck, bus and energy industries on the critical role they can play in fighting Trafficking continued on page 6
Port of Entry Officers Tyson Rein and Chris Stewart share information with a driver at Love’s Truck Stop in Cheyenne to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Photo: Rick Carpenter
By Mark Horan “Human trafficking is something we don’t always think about in the context of transportation issues, however, human trafficking is one of the great atrocities of the 21st century,” according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). “As many as 24.9 million men, women and children are sold into prostitution, domestic servitude or other forced labor around the globe.” Trafficking activity has been reported in all 50 states, lest you think it doesn’t happen in Wyoming. (See side bar.) Which is why the Wyoming Highway Patrol is focusing their efforts by educating commercial motor vehicle drivers, carriers, law enforcement officers and the general public about the crime of human trafficking, the signs to look for, and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked. “Human trafficking is happening in and through our state, and so it’s important to understand the indicators so we can help save lives,” WHP Colonel Haller said. “Our troopers and port officers make a lot of drug seizures, and that’s good, that’s what we should be doing. But the rescue of people is more important than any other type seizure we make.” Combatting this type of modern day slavery involves three factors according to Haller: identifying victims, rescuing them, and providing them with resources so they can return to a safe and normal life. Trafficking victims can be male or female of any age,” noted WHP Port Officer Chris Stewart. “Usually they’re lured into
Photo: Rick Carpenter
Commercial motor vehicle drivers educated by WHP to be on the lookout for trafficking signs
Truckers who go through the Truckers Against Trafficking training receive decals to put on their truck indicating they are a safe zone for victims to reach out for help.
Contents Features
1 WHP helping combat human trafficking WHP educates commercial motor vehicle drivers on human trafficking signs
5 WHP Commissions Class 101 Four new troopers commissioned in December
7 Don’t crowd the plows Four new troopers commissioned in December
Interchange Vol. 50, Issue 2 Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents. Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.
Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner
Programs & Partner Agencies Employee Safety.................................................................................................7
Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee
Game & Fish.................................................................................................... 10
Editor:
HR Happenings..................................................................................................9
Contributors:
Training........................................................................................................... 12 U.S. Forest Service.............................................................................................9 Wyoming A&I.....................................................................................................8
Also in this issue District Briefs.....................................................................................................3 By the Numbers.................................................................................................4 Letters...............................................................................................................4 Wellness.......................................................................................................... 13
Carlie Van Winkle Jordan Achs Matt Groth Mark Horan Carlie Van Winkle Andrea Staley Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck
Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol
Photography: Rick Carpenter
Public Affairs
Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.
District News................................................................................................... 14 Awards............................................................................................................ 16 Passings.......................................................................................................... 17 Break Time...................................................................................................... 19
Kindly recycle this publication after reading.
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A WYDOT PUBLICATION
District Briefs Headquarters
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded more than $24 million in contracts for eight Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its Jan, 20 business meeting. The Commission awarded Kilgore Companies, LLC out of Rock Springs a bid of more than $4.1 million for a project involving milling, paving and other miscellaneous work in various locations within Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Teton Counties. Cheyenne-based Knife River was awarded a bid of more than $5.5 million for a project involving milling, paving and other miscellaneous work in various locations within Goshen, Natrona, Niobrara and Platte Counties. The Commission awarded a nearly $3.6 million bid to Triple A. Building Services Inc. out of Laramie for a project involving placing crushed base, concrete slab replacement and miscellaneous work in various locations around the Rawlins area of Carbon County. Cheyenne-based Simon Contractors was awarded a bid of about $1.5 million for a project involving milling, paving, chip seal and other work on nearly 3 miles of Wyoming Highway 72 in Carbon County. The above projects have a contracted completion date of October 2022. Worland-based McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. was awarded a $3.3 million bid for a project involving grading, milling, paving, chip seal, bridge rehabilitation and additional work on approximately 6 miles of Wyoming Highway 70 in Carbon County. The contracted completion date is July 2023. Three projects awarded during the Commission meeting were awarded to out-of-state contractors: • Minnesota-based Bituminous Paving Inc. was awarded a nearly $4.3 million bid for a project involving chip sealing
Photo: Rick Carpenter
Commission awards more than $24 million in contracts in January
An oversized load carrying a wind turbine blade halted traffic momentarily on Jan. 22 in Cheyenne at US 85 and College Drive.
and other miscellaneous work in various locations within Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston Counties. The contracted completion date is August 2022. • Utah-based Coldwater Group Inc. was awarded a bid of nearly $2.2 million for a project involving grading, paving, concrete overlay, bridge rehabilitation, guardrail and other work in various locations within Sublette and Sweetwater Counties. The contracted completion date is November 2022. • Pennsylvania-based Surface Preparation Technologies, LLC, was awarded a bid of nearly $300,000 to install transverse rumble strips in various locations around the state. The contracted completion date is August 2022. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. January’s meeting saw an average of two bids per project, with a total of 11 bids from Wyoming contractors and nine bids from out-of-state contractors. All the above projects are funded primarily with Federal dollars.
Emergency relief order for propane delivery CHEYENNE – Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order to allow motor carriers delivering propane to operate outside the regular operating daylight hours. Under the emergency relief order issued, a state of emergency exists in Wyoming for the prompt delivery of propane. This emergency requires that propane transportation and delivery within the State of Wyoming be exempt from 49 CFR 395.3. However, nothing contained in the order is to be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances, alcohol use, and testing requirements (49 CFR 382), the commercial driver’s license requirements (49 CFR 383), the financial responsibility requirements (49 CFR 387), applicable size and weight requirements, or any other portion of the regulations not specifically identified in this order. While under the order, propane transportation or delivery companies shall not require or allow any fatigued driver to operate a propane delivery vehicle. A driver who informs a carrier that they need immediate rest shall be given adequate rest before the driver is required to return Briefs continued on page 4
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Briefs continued from page 3 to service. The order expires no later than midnight, Feb. 7.
District 1
Avoid pushing snow onto state highways LARAMIE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation reminds landowners that it is a violation of state law to place snow on state roadways. WYDOT receives many reports across southeast Wyoming of people pushing snow into the traffic lanes of state highways. State statute 36-10-401 stipulates that anyone who obstructs a public road or highway, common street or alley, public bridge or navigable river in a way that makes it inconvenient or dangerous to pass is breaking the law. Each violation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 and a jail sentence of up to three months. “It is important to remind the general public that piling or depositing of snow in WYDOT’s right of way not only reduces line of sight visibility, but also creates other hazards such as drifting, and potential road obstructions,” says Laramie Area Maintenance Supervisor, Eric Anderson. District 1 Maintenance Engineer, Tim Morton, added, “large piles of snow adjacent to the roadway can melt and contribute to areas of unexpected slick
spots, creating hazards on an otherwise dry roadway.” While finding appropriate solutions to snow removal can be a challenge, be sure to remove snow responsibly, not to cause hazards to the traveling public.
District 3
Snake River Bridge replacement project virtual meeting JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation hosted the second of two virtual public meetings on the Snake River Bridge replacement project on Jan. 6. There was a short presentation, followed by an open format for questions. The meeting had information about WYDOT’s plans to replace the Snake River Bridge and improve the intersection of WYO 22 and WYO 390. Information was available on the bridge and intersection design, as well as the project design and public involvement process and next phases. n
There’s no business like snow business
Jerry Sullivan via email
Big thanks to all of you who are moving snow this winter.
Anglique Sophina via email 4 Interchange
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1,821
One month ago
1,839
One year ago
1,931
WHP
Letters Great job removing the snow I-80 east to Pine Bluffs. I really appreciate it! I drive to Cheyenne for work from Burns. Thanks again!
Total number of employees: As of Dec. 29, 2021
My husband and I are truck drivers that go through your state several times a week and we wanted to give a big THANK YOU to your snow plow operators! They are the best in the nation and we appreciate all the time and hard work they do to keep us all safe and moving. God bless them all.
Bev and JD Mays via email
Total number of highway fatalities: As of January 11, 2022
7
One year ago
2
Photo: WHP
Wyoming Highway Patrol commissions 101st class Four new troopers commissioned in December By WHP Safety and Training WHP commissioned four cadets to the rank of troopers upon completion of their intensive training academy courses. During their academy, the new troopers were instructed in a variety of classes, including firearms, commercial carrier, physical training, RADAR/LIDAR, emergency vehicle operation, custody and control, crash investigation and other training. Being a state trooper for the Wyoming Highway Patrol can be a challenging, yet rewarding career as it takes a special person to become a Wyoming State trooper. All troopers take an oath to protect and serve all citizens of this great state with courtesy, professionalism and integrity as Wyoming’s troopers represent the agency brand of “Guardians of the Cowboy State.” The new troopers participated in their swearing-in ceremony in front of family and friends at the Wyoming Supreme Court building. The ceremony marked the 101st graduating class of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy. The following troopers are now working with a field training officer in areas throughout the state.
Trooper Jarred Bigg, Torrington Bigg is a Torrington resident, having lived in the area for more than a decade. He worked for the Wyoming Department of Corrections at the Torrington facility beginning in 2013. At the time of his transfer to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, he was a corporal and instructor of firearms and first aid/CPR AED. Bigg is assigned to Division F serving Goshen and Platte Counties, and is excited to take a more active role in law enforcement. In his spare time, he Bigg enjoys training and competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, hiking, biking, shooting and any other outdoor pursuit.
Trooper Shawncey Day, Casper Day was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He is from a first responder family. Day was a police officer in Iowa from 2017-2021 and began working for the Wyoming Highway Patrol in August 2021. He is assigned to Division B in Casper and is excited to be a Guardian of the Cowboy State. In his free time, Day enjoys the outdoors and going on road-trips. Day
Trooper Mark Kittelson, Cheyenne Kittelson moved from Colorado to Cheyenne after he and his family fell in love with the Wyoming way of life. He grew up in a military family and has lived all across the United States, from small towns to large cities. Kittleson, his wife and four children are extremely happy to settle down and call Cheyenne their home. His family loves living in the country where they can all spend their free time enjoying outdoor Kittleson activities.
Trooper Brandon Todd, Cheyenne Todd is a Wyoming native, born and raised in Cheyenne. He is in the Army National Guard and has served for three years. Todd was deployed with the Army National Guard from 2019 to 2020. Once returning from that deployment, he worked full-time with the Army National Guard and started working for the Wyoming Highway Patrol shortly after. He is assigned to Division A in Cheyenne and is excited and eager to serve and protect the great citizens in Todd the state of Wyoming.
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Trafficking continued from cover one of the most lucrative and destructive crimes globally. Lucrative, indeed. It’s estimated that human trafficking is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world, generating an estimated $32 billion a year. “It’s a heinous crime, with millions of kids enslaved right now. So it’s up to us drivers to actually help combat this,” said Harold J. Doctor, Jr., a truck driver from Walmart who, like McCarty, is an America’s Road Team Captain working to spread the TAT message. “Truck drivers are pretty much the first line of defense. We have a sixth sense as drivers, and when we think something doesn’t look right – I call it a DLR – we know how to react,” said Doctor. “When I’m out there on the road, if I see a young person that looks like they could be in distress I call it in to the TAT hotline. That might be somebody’s son or daughter out there that they want to see get back home.” McCarty agrees. “There’s around three and a half million drivers in the trucking industry, and millions of others when you count dispatchers, dockworkers, technicians. So we can actually be the eyes and ears for law enforcement, because we’re everywhere in every city,” he said. In addition to learning the warning signs, truckers who go through the TAT training receive decals to put on their truck indicating they are a safe zone for victims to reach out for help. This year the CVSA launched an annual Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative on Jan. 11-13, as part of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month which has been held every January since 2010. Over the course of the three-day initiative, members of WHP were out at truck stops, rest areas, and the ports of entry to spread TAT brochures and other important trafficking information with commercial vehicle drivers. “We want to bring more light and gain assistance from the public and commercial drivers to reduce human trafficking occurrences,” said WHP Commercial Carrier Lt. Dustin Ragon. Since human trafficking is often a crime hidden in plain sight, it is vital to be aware of its warning signs. Some indications that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include (especially in the case of women and children): • Appearing malnourished; • Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse; • Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures/law enforcement; • Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction; • Lacking official identification documents; • Appearing destitute/lacking personal possessions; • Working excessively long hours; • Living at a place of employment; • Checking into hotels/motels with older males and referring to those males as a boyfriend or “daddy,” which is often street slang for pimp; • Poor physical or dental health; • Tattoos/ branding on the neck or lower back;
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• Untreated sexually transmitted diseases; • Small children serving in a family restaurant; • Security measures that appear to keep people inside an establishment – barbed wire inside of a fence, bars covering the insides of windows; and/or • Not allowing people to go into public alone or speak for themselves. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-(888) 3737888 or 911. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. All calls are confidential and answered live by highly trained anti-trafficking hotline advocates. The public is advised not to approach any individual who appears suspicious. Rather, report as much information as possible to law enforcement, such as location, physical description, make and color of vehicle, license plate number, etc. The bottom line? If you see something, say something. It just might save a life. n
Trooper involved in human trafficking rescue
By Mark Horan On Jan. 19, while patrolling I-80 near Rawlins, Tpr. Andy Martinez observed a passenger vehicle speeding. The vehicle was occupied by two adult males and a teenage girl. Upon making contact with the driver, Trooper Martinez immediately knew that something was not right. Martinez persevered with his questioning, and the female eventually told him she needed to get out of her current situation. It turned out she was a runaway who had met up with the men online, and one Martinez of the men was taking her to California for sex-trafficking purposes. As arrest was made and the suspect has been charged with multiple felonies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation are performing further investigation into this matter. The female victim was taken to a shelter to receive medical and other assistance and treatment. The quick and diligent action taken by Trooper Martinez led to a successful trafficking recovery. He is commended for a job well done. n
Don’t crowd the plows
By Jordan Achs February 2021 was a bad month for WYDOT snow plows. During that month, exactly a year ago, the Wyoming Department of Transportation saw 10 plows hit in a five-day period. One of those strikes took place Feb. 13, a day snow plow operator Ed Ecker likely will never forget. Ecker plowed snow for WYDOT for years, including the 2020/2021 winter season. On that fateful February afternoon, Ecker was plowing a section of Interstate 80 east of Rawlins near Walcott Junction. It was an overcast day with the occasional snow flurry, and there was also some blowing and drifting snow. As he was plowing the shoulder of the eastbound passing lane, the wind was blowing the snow back into the lane, obscuring Ecker’s plow. Ecker said he didn’t see the semitruck coming up from behind him. The truck likely didn’t see the plow due to the snow cloud around it. The rear-end collision was forceful enough to cause Ecker’s plow to flip one-and-a-half times until it landed upside down in the median. Ecker was taken to the hospital for his injuries and did not return to plow the rest of the 2021/2022 season. Unfortunately, in recent years highway maintainers are seeing more close calls and plow strikes than ever before, and not just on I-80. Tim DeFuentes, a maintainer on the Lovell crew, was plowing snow on US 310 when he began to pull into the maintenance turnaround point. A vehicle trying to pass the slow-moving plow suddenly crashed into the wing plow, nearly detaching it completely from the plow and damaging the hydraulic system. One driver near Meteetse, Bob Crum, experienced a rear-end
Photo: WYDOT
Working together to try to reverse the trend of double-digit plow strikes
crash while plowing on WYO 120 on Christmas Day 2016. The crash was also attributed to the snow cloud behind the plow as he worked. As of writing this, there have been 11 plow strikes so far for the 2021/2022 winter season. Fortunately, none of those resulted in serious injuries. In winter 2020/2021, 26 plows were hit. The previous winter (2019/2020) saw 23 plow strikes. These stats are noticeably higher than previous winters; the average was about eight per winter from 2014-2019. While it is difficult to change driver behaviors like distracted, impaired or reckless driving, WYDOT is hard at work to try to swing this alarming trend in the opposite direction. A subcommittee of WYDOT’s Safety Committee is focused on reducing plow hits, with efforts underway to make plows more visible and to increase public awareness about the issue. Help us try to reduce plow strikes; use caution when driving near or around a plow, and try to avoid passing unless you can easily see the plow wing plow attachment. Plows move slower than other vehicles, especially on busy interstates like I-80. Be patient and give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Every plow hit in a storm is one less plow on the road fighting the snow, ice and wind. n
Employee Safety
Be prepared with new gloves when out on the job By Geoffrey McPherson, Employee Safety On Dec. 7 a WYDOT employee was injured while removing an animal carcass from the road. The employee was wearing cotton gloves and pulled on the antlers in an attempt to get the carcass of the road. The antlers separated from the head and the employee suffered a puncture wound to their right hand, requiring stitches. Use Best Work Practices: • Use JSA’s and “Tailgate Talks” to identify potential hazards and proper PPE. The JSA did not address potential puncture wounds nor the PPE required i.e. leather gloves.
WYDOT Procurement Services recently received a shipment of Iron Fencer Gloves that can be used for fence repair, among other jobs. Please contact them if you would like more information. n
• Maintain situational awareness, and seek assistance if necessary.
Photo: WYDOT
• Use the “Hierarchy of Controls Pyramid” to mitigate risks. PPE is the last line of defense. Gloves like these can be ordered from Procurement Services.
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Wyoming A&I
A new edition of the Wyoming Economic Summary Report is now available This quarterly publication highlights the State’s economic conditions. The economic indicators that are discussed and graphically illustrated include employment by industry, income, housing, taxable sales, tourism, agriculture, and selected revenue. The current report highlights data for the third quarter of 2021 (3Q21). On the whole, Wyoming recorded approximately 6,800 or 2.4% more payroll jobs in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year. Leisure and hospitality led this growth with 4,300 (11.9%) more jobs. “Despite the surge of the Delta variant, Wyoming’s economy continued to rebound in the third quarter, but the pace has decelerated. With a strong rebound in energy prices, employment in the mining industry showed a year-over-year increase (5.9%), the first rebound since the second quarter of 2019,” said Dr. Wenlin Liu, Chief Economist with Wyoming Division of Economic Analysis. Total taxable sales grew only 1.5 percent in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year. However, this weak performance was mostly attributed to the fading activities in wind power construction. Otherwise, both leisure & hospitality and retail trade demonstrated strong expansions. “Indeed, these two sectors both surpassed their preCOVID level of the third quarter 2019 by double-digits.” Visitation figures for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were the highest recorded for the third quarter in history. “The record visitations were mostly attributed to visitors’ outdoor sightseeing preference and the booming travel & tourism activities from pent up demand.”
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The amount of mineral severance taxes generated in the third quarter was substantially higher than a year ago, and the amount was the largest since the fourth quarter of 2014. “The petroleum prices in the third quarter of 2021 was the highest since the third quarter of 2014, while natural gas prices were the highest since the third quarter of 2008.” “Though slower than the rest of the United States, Wyoming’s home values continue to trend upward (14.9%) and outperform expectations, supported by resilient demand (mostly due to the near rock-bottom mortgage rates) and increasingly constrained supply.” The full report may be downloaded at: http://eadiv.state. wy.us/wef/Economic_Summary3Q21.pdf n
HR Happenings
Covid-19 Admin Leave & Updated CDC Guidelines The following information regarding Covid-19 Admin Leave and Updated CDC guidelines, has been issued and implemented by the Human Resources Division (HRD) as of Jan. 17, 2022. People with COVID-19 should isolate for five days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by five days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted CDC now recommends quarantine for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days. NOTE: An individual is not considered fully vaccinated unless they are out of the recommended time period after the initial vaccine and boosted. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following exposure but should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure. NOTE: For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day five after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms
are not attributable to COVID-19. Isolation = refers to the behavior after a confirmed positive infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitted mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Quarantine = refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone COVID positive. Attached is some language straight from CDC that differentiates isolation from quarantine that is helpful. NOTE: The schools have not adopted the new guidelines. The quarantine period for them is still 10 days. If a parent is needing time to care for an isolated or quarantined child we will still allow them the 10 days to care for a school-age child, as that is how long they are required to remain home at this time. The procedure of contacting Human Resources is still the same: Please have your Supervisor contact HR if you have been exposed to a person who has tested positive or you yourself tested positive. If you decide to get tested, we ask that you not return to work after a rapid test but wait for results from the lab for a PCR test before returning to work. Many false negatives have been reported with the rapid test with positive results coming back later from the lab. n
U.S. Forest Service
Winter logging temporarily reroutes snowmobile trails, closes roads near Ryan Park in Snowy Range The E, Q and U trails have been detoured, Roads 225 and 231 temporarily closed By Aaron Voos, U.S. Forest Service Winter logging activity near Ryan Park on the west side of the Snowy Range has temporarily closed two National Forest System roads and rerouted portions of three snowmobile trails. The impacted routes are near Wyoming Highway 130 in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Forest Roads 225 and 231 are being used as haul routes and have been temporarily closed by a Forest Order, until April 1, 2022 or operations cease. The closures will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Forest Road 225 is also the Q groomed snowmobile trail during the winter, and Forest Road 231 is the E snowmobile trail. Portions of snowmobile trails E, Q, and U have also been impacted by hauling and have been rerouted in cooperation with Wyoming State Trails. The Q and U trails have full reroutes. Logging operations along the 231 Road and E trail should be completed by mid-January and the E trail will reopen for use. The connector between Q and E is open and the E trail around to the west is open into Ryan Park.
Although not yet impacted, it is anticipated that the cross-country ski trails, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, at Brush Creek will be affected sometime in early 2022. Maps and information about closures and alternate routes will be posted at trailheads, as well as at appropriate road/trail intersections and sign boards. To learn more about the complete network of snowmobile trails on the Medicine Bow National Forest, snowmobile trail maps, produced by Wyoming State Trails, are available online. Riders are advised to always use caution when riding near intersections. All recreationists are reminded to be aware of and avoid heavy equipment operating in the area. Do not enter areas which are posted closed, as they are closed for public safety. Temporary road closures are a short-term inconvenience needed to provide safe access in the long-term. Visitors need to be aware of ongoing changes that may affect travel on Forest roads or maintained trails. n
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Game & Fish Healing the hills
By Robin Kepple, Wyoming Game and Fish Fire can be a devastating and powerful force. Initial observations and thoughts of wildfires in our open spaces tend to be about destruction. Much of the West has been hit hard in recent years by wildfires, including Wyoming. Last year much of the 176,000-acre Mullen Fire burned within the state’s border in the southeast portion of the state. Whether it is from a distance or up close, it is difficult not to see the remnants the fire left behind. However, fire also can be a benefit to forests and its inhabitants — albeit over time. Biologists with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department toured the Mullen Creek Fire burn area by aircraft and on foot this summer to assess the impacts of the wildfire on wildlife habitat, and they saw some positive changes. Patchwork of burns Right away, biologists noted a natural mosaic — or mixture — of burned and unburned areas within the perimeter of the wildfire, and a variation in burn intensity across the landscape. While the areas that burned hotter will take longer to recover, biologists are optimistic the fire produced long-term benefits for mule deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. “We saw interesting fire behavior where one hillside was 100 percent consumed, and then an adjacent hillside was left unburned,” said Ryan Amundson, Game and Fish terrestrial habitat biologist in Laramie. “The word mosaic applies well to this fire.” The mosaic of burned and unburned areas can create a range of vegetation age classes and high-quality forage in big game seasonal ranges. Following the Mullen Fire, the
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Photo: Wyoming Game and Fish
A year since the Mullen Fire burned in southeast Wyoming, there are signs the blaze will have long-term benefits to habitat and wildlife.
The Mullen Fire burn area.
U.S. Forest Service mapped the severity of the burned area, and it was a mixed bag. Fire intensity was much higher in areas of high conifer densities, and as of late June many of those areas had seen little-to-no new vegetation growth. However, areas with low-to-moderate fire severity should recover within the next several years. “We are already seeing this in areas outside of heavy conifer stands where grasses and forbs are regenerating,” Amundson said. “There’s still a lot of bare ground in areas that burned with higher intensity, and these areas will take awhile to grow back. This is especially true in areas that had high conifer density before the fire because they lacked understory vegetation to start with. Now that these areas are cleaned up, there’s an opportunity for grasses and forbs to return. But this will be a slow process.” From the ashes Following the Badger Creek Fire in southeast Wyoming in 2018, it took about three years for grasses and forbs to return to some areas. The path a fire takes
as it burns can determine the severity of damage to vegetation. Backing fires, which burn down a slope and are slower burning, tend to burn shrubs into the root crown and kill the plant. A fire that moves up a slope burns faster and can leave more of a plant’s woody skeleton behind. This causes less damage to the root crown and results in better resprouting following a wildfire. “I like to see shrub skeletons left; it gives me hope that the fire severity wasn’t too high. When it is table-top flat that tells me it was hot and intense, and the plant is likely dead,” Amundson said. Shrub regeneration following a wildfire also can depend on topography. Amundson said there has already been some shrub regeneration on north-facing slopes from the Mullen Fire, but those areas may not be available to wildlife in the winter due to high snow depths. Conversely, Amundson said the more arid, south slopes will take longer to regenerate due to lack of water and competition from cheatgrass — an invasive plant in Wyoming. Because it
Photo: Zach Alexander
The fully-involved Mullen Fire in September 2020.
thrives in disturbed areas, cheatgrass has already invaded many south-facing slopes in the Mullen Fire burn area. In response, more than 9,000 acres was aerially treated with herbicide to control cheatgrass this summer, and more acres will be treated in 2022. “We need to continue to watch for cheatgrass invasions post-wildfire. Its presence can affect native, perennial vegetation recovery and also result in altered fire frequencies in the future,” Amundson said. While cheatgrass is quick to move in after a disturbance, other plants are a bit slower to respond to the benefits from a wildfire. Aspen suckers, which sprout from aspen roots and allow trees to reproduce quickly if damaged or stressed, started to appear in late June, some of which were 12 to 18 inches tall. Fire typically stimulates a strong suckering response in aspen. In other wildfires, such as the 2012 Squirrel Creek and the Badger Creek fire, aspen response has been good. “Of all the treatments we do for aspen, fire gives us the greatest number of sprouts per acre compared to other treatments,” Amundson said. “Clear-cutting or other mechanical treatments may give us several hundred aspen sprouts per acre, while fire results in several thousand
per acre.” Many wildfires occur in the summer, but the Mullen Fire started in September and burned for more than two months. “As a result we are seeing a delayed aspen regeneration response,” Amundson said. Good from the bad Below-normal levels of precipitation resulted in good and bad news for the Mullen Fire burn area. Riparian areas, which naturally help control erosion, showed patchy burn scars across the footprint of the fire with some loss of willows. Precipitation was between 50 to 65 percent of normal in much of the Platte River watershed in May. While the lack of moisture slowed vegetation growth, it also minimized sediment finding its way into rivers and streams, which is good news for fish and other aquatic life. Amundson said grasses are already recovering quickly in riparian areas, and some willows are showing signs of resprouting. Areas along North and South Mullen Creek, portions of Douglas Creek and the main stem of the North Platte River showed higher fire severity than other riparian areas. Due to steep topography, these areas have a limited riparian vegetation band along waterways, which normally reduces the impact from wildfires.
“The streams should be able to handle the sediment loads in the future with some vegetation regrowth in the riparian areas to hold the soil in place,” Amundson said. Depending on precipitation amounts and intensity throughout the remainder of the summer, these areas could see increased ash, sediment and woody debris deposits into the river corridors. Overall, wildlife managers are optimistic that this wildfire will be ultimately beneficial for big game animals. “In the next two to three years we should see a lot of good come from this fire,” Amundson said. “Mule deer summer ranges should be positively affected, and in the Platte River and Savage Run Wilderness areas many acres of bighorn sheep habitat have likely been created by this fire. Recent helicopter flights showed bighorns have moved into areas they have not historically used due to high conifer densities. The sheep have better line-of-sight visibility now with the conifers gone. There’s currently a bighorn sheep collaring study taking place in this area to learn more about habitat use, so it should be exciting to see.” For habitat recovery, patience is key. Biologists will continue monitoring regrowth and how wildlife respond to the new landscape. n
Goals
February 2022
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Interchange 11
Training
WYDOT University attendance numbers By Jim Boyd, Training Services How engaged are WYDOT employees in learning and development? According to the WELL data that Training Services uses for its annual report, we have approximately 1,700 individual employees who have completed almost 10,000 formal training or learning assets this past year. Those assets could include a 30-minute to multiple hour workshop, or a 1-minute or more completion of an on-demand eLearning asset. Before digging into the numbers however, it’s important to note that there have been many changes over the last several years in how, when and where WYDOT offers learning and development. WYDOT University’s learning philosophy, for example, has transitioned from offering first come, first served open development opportunities to a mix of assigned learning interventions as well as open training. Additionally, development opportunities now include classroom (ILT) and virtual instructor-led training (VILT) plus online learning that are generally part of learning plans. Over the years, the number of and attendance to yearly WYDOT University workshops has decreased, but in its place is an increase in online offerings that are accessible through the WELL system or externally through our partners. Our New Employee (Know WY) and New Supervisor (WY Supervise) workshops have been expanded to include multiple events and the Transportation Learning Network video conference courses are now
almost entirely offered as webinars where employees can easily access them through their personal computers. Finally, employees can now access formal training at any time by logging into the WELL and taking on-demand training as well as registering for up and coming ILT’s or VILT’s. For specific numbers, completions for WYDOT University’s Instructor-led training decreased from 1,113 in FY20 to 1,002 in FY21. Of the 1,002 completions, 365 employees participated. It is more complicated to track only WYDOT University developed online learning as Training Services has both developed content and included it in leadership learning plans like WY Supervise as well as compliance learning plans like WYDOT’s Workforce Fundamentals but has also assisted with the development and implementation of vocational learning plans like the Maintenance and Drivers Services Learning Plans. Instead of focusing on Training Services online courses only, our focus is on WYDOT’s overall engagement in online learning. Online learning numbers across WYDOT increased from 5,391 eLearning completions in FY20 to 8,979 eLearning completions in FY21. Approximately 98% of the completions come from assigned learning plans with the remainder being employee-initiated completions. If you’re not aware of the many different ways WYDOT University can help you develop your leadership or professional development skills, please reach out to dot-training@wyo.gov, or any member of the Training Services team. n
Training@aGlance Training@aGlance
Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation CheckNetwork out these(TLN) upcoming Learning and thetraining WELL. opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
Coming in February: Start Date Development Stage Class Description Class Hours 2/14/2022 New Employee Google and WELL Basics – 8:30 am-11:30 am Part of Know WY New Employee Program 2/15/2022 Technical TLN – Ensuring Compliance with 8:30 am-10:00 am the Contract’s Scheduling Specification 2/16/2022 Leading Others Developing Peak Performers: The Flexible Leader 2/16: 11:30 am-3:00 pm 2/17: 8:00 am-11:30 am 2/23/2022 Leading Others Performance Management: Setting the Stage for Success 8:30 am-4:00 pm 2/24/2022 New Employee Know WY New Employee Onboarding Workshop 8:30 am-12:00 pm (All new employees are assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these Know WY workshops in the WELL) Coming in March/April: Date Development Stage Class Description Class Hours 3/2/2022 Leading Others Feedback 8:30am-10AM 3/9/2022 Leading Others WY Supervise New Supervisors Workshop COHORT A (All new supervisors are assigned the WY Supervise Learning Plan and should register for one of the Cohort groups in the WELL) • 3/9: Supervisor Fundamentals 8:30am-4:30pm • 3/10: Communication: Connect Through Conversations 8:30am-4:30pm & Addressing Poor Performance • TBD: Virtual Check In – Date determined by cohort participants TBD • 4/13: Driving Change 1:00pm-5:00pm Visit the Training• Services intranet 4/14: Resolving Conflict page for more information.8:00am-12:pm
Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information. 12 Interchange
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February 2022
Location VILT VILT VILT Cheyenne VILT
Location VILT Blended
VILT VILT VILT
Wellness
Continue ringing in the new year with health; get fit with WYDOT Wellness By Carlie Van Winkle WYDOT employees who find themselves a little behind in deciding upon a New Year’s resolution for 2022 might want to consider joining the WYDOT Wellness program. Now in its 16th year, WYDOT Wellness offers employees the chance to get exercise during the day, without having to burn annual leave time in doing so. The program was implemented in 2006 as a means of incorporating physical activity into daily routine, in the interest of promoting better health and well-being. State government policy gives each state agency freedom in how it structures its own wellness program, including the option of offering an incentive. In WYDOT’s case, the incentive is in the form of administrative leave, or “comp time.” Those who participate on a consistent basis and track their progress earn four hours of administrative leave, if they complete a minimum of 13 hours of exercise each month for six consecutive months. That minimum requirement translates to an average of 30 minutes of exercise per day. WYDOT employees are authorized to use their break times to take a walk or other types of wellness activity. Wellness activities can also be tracked and logged before and after work or on weekends. Three dozen wellness activities are eligible, covering a wide spectrum, from aerobics to Zumba. Walking is far and away the most popular activity type, accounting for roughly half the total exercise time logged. Eligible exercises are those that are primarily recreational and include a significant physical activity component which contributes to improved fitness. The goal is encouraging employees to adopt active exercise in addition to work done during their everyday lives. Information about the Wellness Program is available on the
intranet, under Useful Links & Files. Look for the Files section and find Wellness Frequently Asked Questions.pdf. Employees who are already enrolled can select the Wellness Program tab under Useful Links & Files on the same intranet page to log exercise time and type, and track their status. Those who are interested in joining or simply learning more about the program can also contact the Public Affairs Office for more information. n
Exercise types eligible for WYDOT’s Wellness Program
Aerobics Aquatic Exercise Basketball Bicycling Boxing Calisthenics Circuit Training Cross-country skiing Dancing Downhill skiing Elliptical training Hiking
Inline skating Jogging Karate Mountain biking Pilates Racquetball Rowing Running Snowboarding Snowshoeing Soccer Softball Spinning
Stair climbing Swimming Table Tennis Tai Chi Tennis Volleyball Walking Weight lifting Workout with an exercise band Yoga Zumba
Wyoming Health Fairs
The Wyoming Health Fairs (WHF) offers free services to eligible State of Wyoming Health Plan Participants (those covered on the Cigna health insurance) and services are offered in several locations throughout the state. To find an event near you, visit the Wyoming Health Fairs/Wellness Health Fairs (WHF) website at https:// wyominghealthfairs.com/corporate-partnerships/ state-of-wyoming. You can also schedule your appointment and find more information on these benefits by contacting WHF toll free at (800) 979-3711. n
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Interchange 13
District News Headquarters
Welcome Lea Ann Enstad, Right of WayAppraisals.
Promotions and Transfers Melinda Harmon, Highway SafetyData Analyst; Kaley Konrad, PatrolRecords; Amber Nelson, Highway Development-Project DevelopmentUtilities; and Isaac Nelson Nguyen, Emergency Communications-District 1 Radio Shop.
Kevin Lebeda, Right of Way-Administration – 15 years; Jon Peterson, Fuel Tax-Administration – 10 years; DJ Weekly, Budget – 10 years; Shala Brockevelt, Patrol-Support Services Operation – 5 years; Ryan Drake, Highway Development-Project Development – 5 years; Heather Dungan, ITS/GIS – 5 years; and Walter Schoene, Driver Services-Policy and Records – 5 years.
Service Awards Joseph Johns, Facilities Management-Custodial – 15 years;
Johns
Weekly
Brockevelt
Retirements Kermit Green retired Dec. 1 with 37 years of service to the state. He retires from the Office Services Program in Cheyenne. Green began his career in June 1984 as a mail distribution worker. Shortly after that, he moved Green to Financial Services-Accounting as an inventory systems technician. Later, he moved to Office Services-Records as a micrographics technician. Green, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and U.S. Air Force veteran, was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force base, in Cheyenne, as a security police specialist from 1978-1982. Kenneth Hixenbaugh retired Dec. 22 from the Materials Program with 41 years of service to the state. n Hixenbaugh
Lebeda
Peterson
Dungan
Schoene
CALLING ALL RETIREES!
Interchange staff would like to hear from you! We are currently seeking stories about how the department operated during your tenure. Help us tell our story to future generations of WYDOTers. Please send any written feature or photos to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov for review for inclusion in future publications. 14 Interchange
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February 2022
Get it
t
District 1
Welcome
Promotions and Transfers
Kyle Allbright, Laramie Maintenance; Austin Baker, Laramie Maintenance; Jon Case, Laramie Maintenance; Tal Earl, Laramie Maintenance; Shawn Geiler, Cheyenne Maintenance; Justin Kalinay, Laramie MaintenanceGuardrail; and Bradley Parsons, Ferguson Cheyenne Maintenance.
Leo Ferguson, Patrol-Cheyenne; and Peter Aren, Patrol-Laramie.
Joshua Baker, District 1 Maintenance Staff – 10 years; and James Blight, Elk Mountain Maintenance – 5 years. n
Service Awards Steven Sapp, Rawlins Construction – 15 years; Sapp
Baker
Blight
District 2
Welcome Jolene Shelver, Driver ServicesDouglas/Wheatland; and Theresa Swanson, Driver Services-Douglas/ Wheatland.
Promotions and Transfers Debbie Herbold, Casper Construction; and Lawrence Huelle, Shirley Rim Maintenance.
Clark
Photo: WYDOT
Service Awards
Justin Clark, Casper Construction – 20 years; Shawn Dickerson, Patrol-Casper District Office – 20 years; Allen Hunter, Port of Entry-Torrington – 15 years; Joseph Hurdle, Patrol-Douglas – 5 years; and Richard Noel, Casper Maintenance – 5 years.
Danny Hobbs celebrated his retirement with friends and colleagues on Dec. 30.
Herbold
Huelle
Dickerson
Hunter
Hurdle
Noel
Retirements
together.
Danny Hobbs retired on Dec. 31 from Casper Maintenance with 41 years of service to the state. Hobbs, a Bow-Basin High School graduate, began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOTs predecessor agency, in October
1980 as a maintainer in Shirley Rim. He was also an equipment operator, heavy and maintenance foreman in Shirley Rim before moving to Casper to take on the responsibility of district maintenance technician. He retires as area maintenance supervisor in Casper. Lyle Short retired on Dec. 4 with 18 years of service to the state. He worked in Torrington Traffic on the striping crew. He began his career with WYDOT in May 2004. n
February 2022
Short
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Interchange 15
District 3
Welcome Dottie Dice, Driver Services-Jackson/ Afton; Michelle Dunn, Driver ServicesRock Springs; and Dylan Stack, Evanston Maintenance.
Promotions and Transfers
Guenther
David Fox, Rock Springs Mechanics; Klief Guenther, Patrol-Rock Springs District Office; and Marvin Hutchinson, Port of Entry-Evanston.
Hutchinson
Darrell Bowie, Evanston Maintenance – 15 years; Robert Hass, Rock Springs Maintenance – 5 years; and Curtis Hunsaker, Afton Maintenance – 5 years. n
Mathson
Jensen
Mitchell
Service Awards Robert Mathson, Evanston Maintenance – 30 years;
District 4
Welcome
Service Awards
Stephan Charles II, Buffalo Construction; and Rick Jones, Gillette Maintenance.
David Johnson, Burgess Junction Maintenance – 40 years; Jerimya Jensen, Moorcroft Maintenance – 10 years; and Samantha Mitchell, Port of Entry-Gillette – 10 years. n Johnson
Charles
Awards
Jones
Promotions and Transfers
Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater.
Service Award Recipients Blakeman
D4 Maintenance had their winter snow operations meeting last month and offered a coloring contest for prizes. The activity proved to be a success and everyone’s coloring talent was on display.
16 Interchange
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February 2022
Photo: Rick Carpenter
Photo: WYDOT
Brian Blakeman, Sheridan MaintenanceGuardrail.
Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon: (from left) Shane Pugh – 30 years, November 2021; Cara Moore – 25 years, January 2021; Ken Keel – 30 years, August 2020; and Kevin Stogstill – 30 years, October 2020.
District 5
Welcome
Service Awards
Martin Gonzalez, Lander Mechanics; Bryce Jennings, Driver ServicesThermopolis/Worland/Basin; Jared Little, Thermopolis Maintenance; Wade Pedersen, Riverton Maintenance; and Jason Summers, Meeteetse Maintenance.
Wesly Hust, Lander Mechanics – 15 years.
Promotions and Transfers
Carothers
cle After cy
ading! Re
Please R e
Keith Carothers, Basin TrafficStriping; Samuel Carpenter, South Pass Maintenance; and Leslie Hackworth, District 5 Construction Staff.
OUTDOORS WHERE DID YOU GO?
Retirements Dalen Davis Sr. retired Dec. 4 from Basin Construction with two years of service to the state. Claudia Frederick Dec. 16 from Basin Construction with more than 30 years of service to the state. She began her career in April 1983
Hust
Davis
Passings Joseph W. Arzy Joseph Wayne Arzy, 69, passed away Jan. 16, 2022, as a result of a vehicle accident. Arzy was born Jan. 28, 1952, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Raymond and Gloria Arzy. He graduated from Laramie High School, the Wyoming Patrol Academy and the NTI Arzy accident investigation program. Arzy was a Wyoming State Trooper, badge no. 42, from 1978 to 2010. Following his retirement from the patrol he worked in safety and security for Tomahawk Pipeline and Sheridan Memorial Hospital security. At the time of his
Outdoors photos deadline:
03/15/22
carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov
with Ten Sleep Maintenance as a seasonal flagger. She was hired on full-time as an engineering technician in 1991 in Worland. Frederick later moved to Basin and was an engineering technical specialist before being promoted in 2007 to Frederick the construction and field survey analyst in Basin. She will enjoy spending time with her family and friends, traveling, gardening, quilting and reading in retirement. n
passing he worked for Bizzell Corporation as contracted security at Sheridan VA medical center. He was an avid sportsman spending many hunting seasons in the Snowy Range and in the Big Horn mountains. Hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, boating and motorcycle riding were his off time recreation. A viewing to honor his life was held Jan. 23 at Kane Funeral Home followed by a rosary. The funeral service was Jan. 24 at Holy Name Catholic Church. Wyoming Highway Patrol Honors were presented. n
Take road conditions with you. Get the WYOMING 511 app. www.wyoroad.info
Know before you go. Visit wyoroad.info.
WYDOT’s Travel Information System is the one and ONLY source for up-to-the-minute road and travel information. February 2022
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Interchange 17
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February 2022
Federally Insured by NCUA
Break Time Super Tough Maze, Book 1, Maze 10 by KrazyDad.com
Answers to the January 2021 Break Time word search:
Editor’s note: There were three errors in last
month’s puzzle. We apologize for printing the KRAZYDAD.COM/PUZZLES mistakes. Each word search puzzle is made
Need the answer? http://krazydad.com/mazes/answers
© 2010 KrazyDad.com
entirely in the Public Affairs Office and, well, we’re only human. The words/clues missing one letter each: Thermometer, Wool sweater, Snowflake.
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February 2022
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Interchange 19
Interchange
Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24
Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested
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