Interchange January 2019
Vol. 47, Issue 1
Letters A message from Director Panos
Show off your wheels!
All, I could not be more proud of my colleagues serving with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. You are simply some of the brightest and most dedicated people I have ever met. You make WYDOT a premier agency in our state and one of the best in the nation. To all of those who serve with us now or who have served with us in the past ... thank you!
All the very best, Bill
Rides Deadline:
02/15/19 carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov
Interchange
Vol. 47, Issue 1
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. The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by sending an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov
Staff WYDOT Director: William T. Panos
Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee
Editor:
Carlie Van Winkle
Contributors: Aimee Inama J.L. O’Brien Carlie Van Winkle Matt Murphy Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck
Photography:
Congratulations to our November recipients! WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.
Rick Carpenter
Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol 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.
Jeff Goetz Cory Vine For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Katherine Castaneda at Katherine.Castaneda@wyo.gov. 2
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A WYDOT PUBLICATION
Contents
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Features 8 Cheyenne wind events get a makeover Fluorescent pink “incident management� signs are up
12 Buckle up! WYDOT Program encourages teens to use seat belts
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Also in this issue Letters.........................................................................................2 Extra Mile Awards....................................................................2 District briefs.............................................................................4 Noteworthy..............................................................................10 Training.....................................................................................11 District news...........................................................................12 By the Numbers.....................................................................15 Passings....................................................................................15 WTDEA......................................................................................16 Outdoors..................................................................................17 Break Time...............................................................................19
On the cover:
Wyoming Highway Department maintenance trucks, circa 1920. In 1929, WHD winter maintenance equipment reaches a fleet size of 59 plows. Today, WYDOT maintains a winter plow fleet of 400 vehicles. Photo: WYDOT archives
Kindly recycle this publication after reading. January 2019
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District Briefs Commission awards $28.7 million in highway contracts in December
• $4.6 million to Lewis & Lewis Inc., of Rock Springs, for patching projects in several locations in Lincoln, Sublette and Sweetwater counties by Oct. 31, 2019;
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will add more lanes on WYO 50 in the southern section of Gillette to help accommodate increased traffic flow. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded Simon Contractors, of Cheyenne, an $8.1 million contract for the work. The commission awarded that and five other contracts totaling $28.7 million at its recent meeting. For the work on WYO 50 in Campbell County, crews will reconstruct a 2-mile section from two lanes into five, with two lanes of travel in each direction and a center turning lane. WYDOT is doing the work to accommodate increased traffic in the area. In addition, crews will install curbing, gutters, sidewalks, new traffic signals and a bicycle path. The contract completion date is June 30, 2020. Other contracts the commission awarded included pavement resurfacing work, river bank rehabilitation and patching work. Kilroy LLC, of Afton, was the low bidder on a $6.9 million pavement contract on WYO 238 between Auburn and Afton in Lincoln County. Crews will resurface about 12 miles of the road and widen it in certain sections. Crews will also rehabilitate two bridges, replace one bridge with a prestressed bridge and replace two bridges with box culverts. The contract completion date is June 30, 2020. Knife River, of Cheyenne, won a $5.2 million resurfacing project on US 85 between Cheyenne and Torrington in Laramie County. Crews will resurface about 11 miles of road and replace pipes on a county road with box culverts. The contract completion date is June 30, 2020. The commission also awarded contracts for:
• $2.6 million to H-K Contractors Inc., of Idaho Falls, Idaho, for a chip sealing project in Sublette and Sweetwater counties by July 31, 2019; and
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• $1.1 million to Kilroy LLC for a bank rehabilitation project on the east side of the Big Wind River by June 30, 2019.
WYDOT to switch to new temporary tags CHEYENNE – Auto dealers will soon switch from issuing green temporary tags when someone buys a vehicle to the new non-destructive white tags, which are designed to prevent fraud. Dealers will have up until Dec. 31 to use their surplus of green tags. Starting Jan. 1, 2019, the Wyoming Department of Transportation is requiring that dealers use the new white tags. The green temporary tags are good for 60 days after they’re issued, which means the last of the green tags could be on vehicles until February 2019. “The Wyoming Department of Transportation is always looking for ways to modernize the way we do business so we can better serve our customers,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “The new temporary tags will help prevent fraud because they come with high-tech security features, which protect our customers.” The new tags will not only be printed on non-destructible paper, but dealers will also need to add a special Wyoming holographic sticker to the tag. A number is assigned to the temporary tag, which must match the number on the hologram. In addition, the new temporary tags will include the vehicle’s year, model and color. The previous green tags didn’t contain that information. The new tags are designed to be mounted to the rear bumper, in the same manner as a regular license plate. They also have an expiration date and a temporary placard that is removed and kept in
the vehicle with the owner’s information. WYDOT stopped selling the green temporary tags on Aug. 31. The department has been working with auto dealers in the state over the past few months to get them ready for the switch. Another change with the temporary tags is how dealers will get them. Instead of buying temporary tags from WYDOT and the Ports of Entry, dealers and counties will get them electronically. They will order the special paper and holographic stickers from OpSec Security Inc., the vendor WYDOT has partnered with to implement the new temporary tag system. The temporary tag information is also stored in a centralized database, making it easier for law enforcement to verify ownership. “Right now, law enforcement has to call us to verify information when they stop someone who has a temporary Wyoming tag,” Lopez said. “That means if they stop someone outside of regular business hours, they won’t be able to check with us. The new system will ensure law enforcement has access to that information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
WYDOT’s Authorized Travel Program helps motorists get to their destinations CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation has a program that will allow motorists to travel on certain sections of a closed road if authorities deem conditions are safe. WYDOT has been accepting applications for its authorized travel program since the fall. Motorists typically apply around the fall to be prepared during the winter months when road closures occur. The WYDOT Authorized Travel program, or WAT, has been in place for eight years. “The WAT program enables motorists to travel on sections of otherwise closed roads if nearby conditions are safe,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “This program is vital to local traffic because it helps those motorists get to their destinations without having to wait for the entire stretch of the closed road to reopen.” The program gives motorists permis-
sion to travel if their destinations are between the closure gates and impassable portions of the road. “WAT is designed primarily for local commuters who travel between home and work, school or for doctor appointments,” said Suzie Roseberry, ITS developer. WAT doesn’t give blanket permission for motorists to travel during every road closure. The only time WYDOT will notify a person is if the section they requested is safe to travel and not impacted by any events that closed the road initially. “We only close roads when it’s necessary to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” said Vince Garcia, WYDOT’s GIS/ITS manager. “Our closure points are limited to where WYDOT has gates to block traffic. That means portions of a closed road may be passable if an area that’s impacted by a crash or storm is miles away.” Besides individual motorists, businesses can sign up for WAT. The business program allows a person to manage WAT subscriptions for multiple drivers within their organization. To apply for the WAT program, motorists can visit the Wyoming Travel Information Service website (http://wyoroad. info) and click on the WAT icon. Motorists will need to submit justification for travel, road sections they need to travel, and driver contact and vehicle information. After motorists apply, the Wyoming Highway Patrol will review the applications. If approved, drivers will receive an email when they are authorized to travel on sections of closed roads. Motorists will also receive an identification number that will allow them to access an automated phone system to check if they are authorized to travel on sections of closed roads. Motorists without internet access can call WYDOT’s Public Affairs at (307) 777-4375 to request a WAT program application.
WYDOT to receive $20 million federal grant for I-80 winter safety improvements CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will construct passing lanes, add truck parking and
make other improvements on Interstate 80 in southeast and south-central Wyoming to make winter travel safer. WYDOT will receive a $20 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for an I-80 Winter Freight Improvement Project, which will add improvements along a 45-mile section of road between Laramie and Rawlins. The project calls for the installation of truck passing lanes on 2 miles eastbound over Halleck Ridge and 3.53 miles westbound between Cooper Cove and Quealy Dome Road. The project also includes installing Walcott Junction and Quealy Dome truck parking areas, which will each accommodate about 100 trucks. WYDOT will also install communication devices in that area, which will allow the department to provide traveler information messages to drivers and will supplement WYDOT’s Connected Vehicle Pilot Program. WYDOT will use other state and federal funds in addition to the $20 million BUILD grant to complete the project. WYDOT anticipates starting the project as early as spring of 2020. “Interstate 80 is vital to the state and national economies,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “The proposed project will benefit the regional transportation system by promoting more effective truck traffic movement. The project constructs additional lanes in areas where trucks slow down because of steeper grades, allowing cars and trucks to pass and reducing driver fatigue.” If the interstate closes, the additional truck parking will enable truck drivers to park safely while they wait for winter conditions to improve. If the interstate is open but conditions are poor, truck drivers can use the truck parking to wait out the storm. The additional passing lanes will not only help with traffic flow, but they will also help prevent secondary crashes when the interstate reopens following a road closure. “When the road reopens, additional crashes often occur because a high volume of waiting trucks and passenger vehicles flood the road, causing traffic congestion on slick roads,” Panos said. “By constructing passing lanes where steep grades compound these traffic congestion problems, truck crashes and truck
delays should decrease.” WYDOT’s freight plan shows that wintertime truck crashes on I-80 are about four times greater than during the summer months. More than 2,600 traffic accidents, with 1,323 involving trucks, occurred along this 45-mile stretch of road from 20082017 at an estimated annual cost of about $52 million. “Crashes often result in damage to the road,” Panos said. “These improvements will not only save lives but will also reduce road damage and ensure traffic continues to flow smoothly in the area.”
Pedestrian struck by vehicle CHEYENNE – On the evening of Dec. 5 a fatal crash occurred at milepost 8 on US 85 (South Greeley Highway). Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. A 2013 Dodge van was traveling northbound on US 85. The driver of the Dodge observed a pedestrian in dark clothing start to cross the highway in front of his vehicle. The driver attempted to avoid colliding with the pedestrian by driving into another lane. The pedestrian failed to stop walking across the highway and collided with the vehicle. The pedestrian succumbed to injuries he sustained at the scene of the crash. It was the 108th fatality on Wyoming’s highway in 2018 compared to 120 in 2017, 111 in 2016, and 113 in 2015 at that date.
Public receiving scam phone calls CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol was notified of a phone call scam circulating. Scammers are contacting the public stating a relative has been in a motor vehicle crash and arrested for driving while under the influence while stating the relative needs cash for bail and attorney fees. The phone number the callers are calling from are being replicated (spoofed numbers) to look like they are coming from a legitimate law enforcement office in Dubois and other parts of Wyoming and surrounding states. The Wyoming Highway Patrol would not nor will request any payment over the Briefs continued on page 6 January 2019
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Briefs continued from page 5 phone. Anyone who may have received questionable phone calls soliciting funds are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement or government agency to verify the information you may have received.
WYDOT urges motorists to use caution traveling during the holidays CHEYENNE – With the continuing holiday season, Wyoming motorists may encounter more traffic on the roads, which means they need to continue to be extra vigilant when traveling. The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol want to remind motorists they can take measures to keep themselves and their loved ones safe this holiday season to prevent any more fatalities. “Wyoming families can protect themselves and others by always following safety-related measures when driving such as buckling up for safety,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “Wyoming has a long history of helping families, and one of the simplest ways is to buckle up and drive safely.” Motorists should always buckle up, avoid distractions when driving and never drive impaired. So far, 2018 is set to have one of the lowest fatality totals in years. Preliminary figures for 2018 show that Wyoming has had 105 fatalities as of November, figures from WYDOT’s Highway Safety program indicated. However, that number is just preliminary and can change. Wyoming had 123 fatalities in 2017, 112 in 2016, 145 in 2015 and 150 in 2014. When looking at the fatalities in vehicles, which is a subset of the total fatalities, those who weren’t wearing their seat belt had a greater chance of dying. Over a five-year period from 2014 through 2018, about 61 percent of those fatalities were not wearing their seat belts. Since 2014, figures for those who died and were not wearing their seat belts have fluctuated, with recent figuring showing a downward trend. In 2014, 55 percent of fatalities in vehicles were not properly restrained. The number jumped to 71 percent in 2015 but then decreased to 68 percent in 2016. It
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then continued to decrease to 62 percent in 2017 and 51 percent thus far in 2018. In Wyoming for 2017, the observed seat belt rate use was 84.8 percent, which is lower than the national average of 90 percent. “No matter if it’s the holidays or another time of the year, we want motorists to always be safe and practice safe driving habits,” said WHP Col. Kebin Haller. “This year isn’t over yet, so we want to continue to stress the importance of safe driving to prevent any more fatalities. One fatality is one too many. We want each and every driver and passenger to make it to their destinations safely.” Wearing a seat belt is one of the best ways drivers and passengers can keep themselves safe. “Seventy-five percent of those ejected from their vehicle during a crash die,” said WHP Safety Education Coordinator Sgt. Momen Elazizi. “Buckling up keeps you inside the vehicle and is the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself.”
Wagonhound interchange and rest area reopen LARAMIE – The Wagonhound Road interchange (Exit 267) on Interstate 80 has reopened, as has the Wagonhound rest area. The interchange and rest area have been closed since June due to bridge work at that interchange. Crews with Reiman Corp. completed construction this week. The bridge replacement is part of a larger bridge rehabilitation project on the I-80 corridor between Laramie and Rawlins during the 2018 and 2019 construction seasons. WYDOT appreciated the public’s patience during the project and closure of the interchange.
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WYO 70 closed for the season SARATOGA – WYO 70 over Battle Pass has closed for the season. The exact closure is between mile marker 27 in the west and mile marker 50 in the east.
The road was first closed on Nov. 23, due to winter conditions and an analysis of the road Nov. 26 led maintenance crews to decide to keep the road closed until the spring. “The wind is what did us in,” said Billy Zeiger, maintenance foreman in Saratoga. “The drifts are about four or five feet deep near Battle Pass.” WYO 70, along with WYO 130 in the Snowy Range, is closed annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical. Crews from Baggs and Saratoga will start working to reopen WYO 70 in the spring. In recent years, WYO 70 has closed on Nov. 13 in 2011, Dec. 8 in 2012, Dec. 4 in 2013, Nov. 24 in 2014, Dec. 14 in 2015, Nov. 28 in 2016, and Dec. 23 in 2017. WYO 130 closed this year on Nov. 3. WYO 70 and WYO 130 are two of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming with seasonal closures. WYO 130 tops out at more than 10,800 feet, and WYO 70 crosses the Continental Divide at the 9,955-foot Battle Pass.
Bomb threat in Wheatland WHEATLAND – The WHP explosives K-9 team was requested to assist Wheatland Police Department for a reported bomb threat on the morning of Dec. 13. The threat was specific to the West Elementary School. The K-9 team responded from Cheyenne and deployed their bomb dogs around the campus. Students were moved to a nearby middle school for safety precautions. No suspicious devices were located and the students and staff were allowed back into the school around 1:45 p.m. The Platte County Sheriff ’s Department and Wyoming Highway Patrol assisted with the incident. The Wheatland Police Department investigated the threat.
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JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation Avalanche crew recently installed new signs on Teton Pass and Coal Creek turnouts. The signs are black-on-white regulatory signs and read: “Avalanche Control No Parking When Flashing.” Crews also installed flashing beacons on the signs. WYDOT has been working with the U.S. Forest Service to provide improved notification and warning for closure times due to avalanche work. “The goal of the signage is to minimize closure times when conducting avalanche control work. When vehicles are parked and there is uncertainty as to the whereabouts of the vehicle owners the control work is delayed, sometimes by hours, until the entire area is clear,” WYDOT Avalanche Technician John Fitzgerald said. By giving advanced warning with the signs, WYDOT aims to keep closure times to a minimum while allowing the avalanche team to do their work in managing avalanche hazards that affect the highway. Typical control missions begin in the middle of the night, usually around 3 a.m. Going forward, when WYDOT initiates a control mission, the flashing lights will begin flashing the night of the mission earlier in the evening. “There will be cases where control missions take place at different times based on weather. In these cases, the lights will go on with as much notice as possible. The end goal is to avoid having anyone in harm’s way while we are conducting the work,” Fitzgerald said. WYDOT will still continue with their current notifications by press release and with our 511 notify system. “The best way to get the most up to date information is by subscribing to 511 notify. You can customize the settings and get the info you need in a timely manner, including road conditions and closures,” Fitzgerald said. Drivers can sign up for 511 Notify alerts at www.wyoroad.info. Drivers found violating the signs (statute 31-5-502) can be found guilty of a
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misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof by any court of competent jurisdiction, is subject to a fine of not more than $50. “We are fortunate to have the premier recreation opportunities off Teton Pass, but safety is the number one priority for everyone involved. While it may be inconvenient at times for backcountry users, it remains important to work with WYDOT to keep the highway safe for both recreational users and the traveling public,” said Teton Basin District Ranger Jay Pence said.
where the vehicle was discovered. Troopers and Afton Police officers were able to place Peterson under arrest without further incident. Peterson was charged with eluding, reckless driving, driving on a suspended driver’s license and interference with a peace officer. The Lincoln County Sheriff ’s Office and the Afton Police Department assisted Patrol with this event.
North Garner Lake Road opened to traffic
Photo: WYDOT
New signs on Teton Pass
The new signage is meant to minimize closure times while conducting avalanche control work.
Pursuit ends safely in Afton AFTON – An Afton resident is in custody following a short pursuit which took place early Dec. 4. The pursuit started north of Afton on US 89 from a traffic stop. Timothy Peterson, a 42-year-old resident of Afton, was arrested within the city limits of Afton after eluding law enforcement in a 2007 GMC Sierra truck. The pursuit began at 7:36 a.m. after a Wyoming State Trooper attempted to stop Peterson for an obscured license plate violation near milepost 89 on US 89. After stopping Peterson, the trooper received information the driver had a suspended driver’s license. The trooper decided to arrest Peterson for the suspended license violation. Peterson would not exit his vehicle and fled the traffic stop. The trooper pursued Peterson south towards Afton. Due to the pursuit approaching the town of Afton, the pursuit was terminated for the safety of the public. Afton Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff ’s Deputies observed the vehicle at a residence in Afton a short time later, abandoned. Law Enforcement was able to confirm Peterson was inside a residence
GILLETTE – The first phase of a new roadway providing a second north-south access to north Highway 59 has opened. This new access shortens the existing route through Gillette via US 14/16 by four and a half miles and will provide a secondary route for heavy truck traffic in Gillette. The new North Garner Lake Road is a two-lane road that begins near the Dry Fork Station power plant and extends roughly three miles east to Garner Lake Road. This is a two-phase project scheduled for 2018 and 2019. Once completed, North Garner Lake Road will include a new overpass and double-track railroad bridge. Bridge work has begun and will continue throughout the winter. A temporary tie-in to existing Garner Lake Road has been constructed using the existing overpass. The second phase, scheduled for 2019, includes a realignment – connecting the two roads – and mill, widen and overlay of a portion of the existing Garner Lake Road. The North Garner Lake Road is a joint partnership between WYDOT, Campbell County Commission, Contura Coal West, Western Fuels Wyoming, Inc., and WYODAK Resource Development Corporation LLC.
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US 14A closed for the season SHERIDAN – Crews from the Wyoming Department of Transportation closed US 14A west of Burgess Junction for the winter Nov. 26. WYDOT seasonally closes the 22-mile Briefs continued on page 14 January 2019
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By Matt Murphy
WYDOT has installed new signs on Interstate 25 south of Cheyenne to be used during some high wind events – the product of more than a year of planning and action to reduce the number of blowovers on that section of highway. 8
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The fluorescent pink-colored “incident management” signs are located in the southbound lanes between College Drive (Exit 7) and High Plains Road (Exit 4). They’re typically flipped closed, but during a high-wind event, they can be opened and used to help sort passenger vehicles from large commercial vehicles and those with trailers. When wind gusts are around 60 mph or more and the wind direction is likely to cause blowovers, the traffic sort option may be used. In that scenario, the Wyoming Highway Patrol will force all trucks and trailers to exit at High Plains Road, while passenger vehicles are allowed to continue south in the left lane. WHP personnel, with the assistance of WYDOT maintenance, will then sort the trucks at the interchange, allowing those that do not pose a blowover risk to continue south, and making the rest stay in Cheyenne and either wait out the wind event or find an alternate route. The entire effort is coordinated with the Colorado Department of Transportation, which has a similar plan to sort north-
Photo: Matt Murphy
CHEYENNE WIND EVENTS
Photo: Matt Murphy
bound traffic at the Owl Canyon Road exit north of Wellington, sort begins. Colorado. Under the plan, two WHP troopers and one or two WYDOT The new procedure follows an increasing number of blowover maintenance units are dispatched to designated spots along I-25 incidents on I-25 beginning in 2017. WYDOT, WHP, CDOT, and at High Plains Road. Each unit has a job to do, whether it be and the Colorado State Patrol all coordinated to develop a plan to troopers enforcing the closure and ordering high risk vehicles to implement the traffic sort. turn around or maintenance units with portable electronic mesWyoming has had a “high and light” closure system in place sage signs to assist drivers in understanding the situation. for some time, but it relies on drivers of high profile and lightOne trooper is parked at the road closure gate on I-25 (which weight vehicles to make the decision about whether or not it’s too only blocks the right lane), and the other is stationed at the end risky to proceed. of the exit ramp to enforce the closure to high-risk vehicles. But more drivers are ignoring the high and light closure Maintenance has one vehicle with an electronic message completely, said WHP Division A Supervisor Lt. Tim Romig and sign parked along I-25 prior to High Plains Road to warn drivDistrict 1 Commander Capt. Tom Stoker. ers about the situation ahead, which is an attempt to prevent Exactly why drivers ignore the law can be due to a number of secondary crashes, Cheyenne Maintenance Area Supervisor Don causes, including inexperienced drivers or language barriers, but Bridges said. Another maintenance vehicle can be stationed at Stoker said one reason for drivers ignoring the “high and light” the interchange to assist with traffic management. closure is due to the changing nature of the logistics business. “We’re trying to do this with as few of our people as possible “It’s just-in-time delivery anymore,” he said, adding that empty in harm’s way,” he said. trucks are akin to money not being made. “They’re thinking, ‘if I Stoker said Wyoming’s traffic sort plan has the advantage of can sneak by this time, I can get down there and get loaded and keeping high-risk vehicles off the road while causing little disrupstart earning.’” tion to unaffected vehicles. The event that really pushed the traffic sort idea to fruition “There were a lot of people that appreciated going into the left was a road closure on I-25 last fall, when lane and continuing on their way south,” CDOT asked WYDOT to shut down the he said. “People were honking and giving interstate due to a blown over truck blockus thumbs up and waves.” ing the southbound lanes in Colorado. As the process for sorting traffic solidi“It was a hard closure,” Stoker said. fied, WYDOT decided to place permanent “Nobody was allowed to go down 25.” signs along I-25 to be used for such an But drivers were not happy. event. “We got a lot of negative feedback about Several signs were installed. why we are blocking the whole road and The first two are on both sides of the no cars could proceed,” Stoker said. southbound lanes at MM 7, just south of Following the incident, agencies in College Drive. Those read, “All trucks use Wyoming (WHP and WYDOT) and right lane,” when opened. Colorado (CSP and CDOT) continued to The remaining signs continue to inform have conversations with one another about trucks of the mandatory exit at High Plains how to try to prevent as many blowovers as Road as they approach the interchange. possible while keeping the transportation The permanent signs will be used along system flowing. with the portable electronic signs from CSP and CDOT did an initial trafmaintenance and the overhead digital mesfic sort at Wellington, Colorado, last fall. sage signs on I-25 and I-80. WHP troopers traveled to Colorado to Not every high-wind event will result observe the process and see how it could in a traffic sort, however. Adverse weather be implemented in Wyoming. conditions or other emergencies may take WYDOT and WHP personnel experi- The new incident management signs are located priority, in which case drivers will need to between exits 4 and 7 on southbound I-25 south mented with different ways to separate the of Cheyenne. make a decision as to whether their vehicle high blowover risk vehicles from the rest of will or will not constitute a blowover risk. traffic. Initially, all traffic was forced off I-25 at High Plains Road, “If the roads are slick, that’s not what (the traffic sort) is set up but that method resulted in backups for southbound traffic, parfor,” Romig said. ticularly during the evening rush hour. In some cases, troopers may make the decision that it is better After meetings and after-action reviews, WYDOT and WHP to enforce the high and light closure by just patrolling I-25, as settled on the current plan. was the case with a recent wind event, Romig said. As in the past, WYDOT and WHP begin preparing for action The end goal is to reduce or eliminate the number of blowwhenever wind gusts of around 60 mph or greater are forecasted. overs on I-25, which delay traffic and can cause damage to Once winds reach a crucial speed and direction, the closure to WYDOT’s infrastructure. By taking a proactive safety measure light and high-profile vehicles is implemented. when circumstances allow, WHP and WYDOT are able to ensure If the wind direction is likely to cause blowovers and weather a safer transportation system to motorists, while simultaneously and other conditions permit, and WHP determines a traffic sort protecting the property that is being moved in commerce. n would be the best way to prevent blowovers, the traffic
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By Aimee Inama The Wyoming Department of Transportation is using peer-topeer messaging to encourage teenage drivers to buckle up. WYDOT Public Affairs Office’s high school banner program features photos of high school students along with a message encouraging students to wear their seat belts. Public Affairs Photographer Rick Carpenter has been traveling the state over the past few years, getting photographs of the students and creating the banners. “These are one of the ways we are engaging with the youth of Wyoming to help spread vital safety messages,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “It’s important to impress upon our kids safe driving habits and these banners are the perfect platform for us to do that. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to work with these Wyoming kids.” Carpenter has photographed students at most Wyoming schools. A school’s athletic director or administrator selects the students Carpenter photographs. Those students are most often athletes but can also be from band, choir or other clubs. Students recognized for academic achievements also have been featured. After Carpenter photographs the students, he then creates the banners. School officials hang the banners in common places in a school such as the gymnasium. Carpenter also creates posters for the students, who can then give them to family members and friends. “This program enables us to get an important safety message about buckling up in Wyoming schools where there are young
Civil Rights Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program By Mitzi Krois, Civil Rights program The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in federally-assisted highway, transit, airport and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracting markets nationwide. The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE program is to level the playing field
Photo: Rick Carpenter
WYDOT program helps encourage seat belt use among students
Photo: Rick Carpenter
Noteworthy
drivers,” said Cody Beers, public relations specialist for the northwestern corner of Wyoming. “It’s their friends and classmates who are delivering this message. Peer-to-peer is much more effective because it’s someone their own age delivering this message.” WYDOT’s ultimate goal is to work with every school in the state as time and schedules permit. n
Students are selected by the athletic director or administrator of each school. Top: Wyoming Indian School students; bottom: Lovell High School students.
by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts. Our DBE directory remains consistent at about 140 certified, eligible firms and it always available on the WYDOT website. WYDOT’s DBE program is “race-neutral,” meaning that we do not assign contract-specific goals to our projects. We do, however, have an annual goal that must be met for DBE participation, which is currently set at 4.78 percent through FY21. If you have any questions, comments or would like more information about the DBE program or any of the other Civil Rights programs, please do not hesitate to contact us. n
Put a stop to distracted driving.
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Training
New Year’s road maps By Amy Bale, Training Services Every new year, people make resolutions to change this or fix that, do more or have less. You know the drill. Have you ever made those resolutions about your job? Or about your employees’ jobs? Do you find yourself wishing you knew more about what is expected of you, or of your employees? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a road map, a path laid out that tells you not only what’s expected in your current position, but what skills and knowledge you need to promote or transition into another position? Well, starting in 2019, WYDOT is going to give you that road map. Training Services, along with employees from all around the state, have been outlining plans to implement standardized required training across the agency. This means that teams of employees and supervisors from each classification family (maintenance, construction, etc) will form committees to decide what training is needed for each level in that classification group, and identify resources to provide that training. Why are we doing it? It began as a directive from Director Panos to identify training requirements. It has also been driven, in part, by requests from supervisors in the districts who want more clarity on training requirements. This road map will provide consistency across the agency, while still allowing individual districts and programs flexibility in how they manage those training requirements along with regular work duties. How is this all going to happen, and how will it affect you?
First, we’ve started with two groups of employees - new hires, and employees in maintenance classifications. Second, we’ve developed a tool called a Learning Plan, which is basically a container that will hold all the required training information in one place, and will be readily accessible to both the employee and their supervisor. Third, these Learning Plans will be located in the WELL. New employees and employees in certain classification families, starting with maintenance, will receive an email informing them they’ve been assigned a Learning Plan, which they will find in their WELL account. Each Learning Plan will contain three types of learning events: Courses/Classes (eLearning), ILTs (Instructor Led Training), and Assignments (on-the-job training). These events will be supported by various WELL administrators around the agency who will create, manage, and help complete these training events. Once completed, these events will appear in the employee’s transcript, which will be visible to the employee and their supervisor, throughout the employee’s WYDOT career. When does this happen? Learning Plans for maintenance employees will be assigned in early February 2019, and new employees hired beginning in March will receive their Learning Plans immediately upon their start date. Other classification families will be notified of implementation as their Learning Plans are developed. This huge task will eventually impact nearly every employee at WYDOT. Because we want to do it right, and we want to make sure the right people are involved in the process, it will take some time to get through each classification family. Construction training requirements are currently being identified, and we will keep you updated as we continue to develop these Learning Plans. n
Training @ a Glance In January: Class Closes
Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the new WELL.
Class
PMI Competency
Location
Coming in February: Class Closes Class
PMI Competency
Location
1/9/19 1/10/19 1/16/19 1/23/19 1/24/19 1/25/19 1/31/19
1/7/19 1/7/19 1/14/19 1/16/19 1/7/19 1/22/19 1/29/19
2/1/19 1/29/19 2/4/19 2/7/19 2/1/19 2/8/19 2/5/19 2/12/19 2/5/19 2/19/19 2/12/19 2/20/19 2/13/19 2/25/19 2/26/19 2/19/19 2/27/19 2/22/19
NEW! NEW!
NEW!
NEW!
Managing Yourself in Time Personal Effectiveness Mobile and Terrestrial Lidar and Advancements in Mobile Imaging Vocational Resilience for Life and Work Roundabouts – Operational Analysis And Lane Configuration Vocational Rumble Strips – Permanent & Temporary Measures, State of the Practice Vocational Wildlife and Roads – Webinar Series Part 1 Vocational Innovation – Everybody’s Business Judgement and Decision Making
Wildlife and Roads – Webinar Series Part 2 WY Supervise (New Supervisors & Emerging Leaders) Positive Motivation Equals Positive Performance Wildlife and Roads – Webinar Series Part 3 Franklin Covey’s 5 Choices of Extraordinary Productivity Concrete Manholes and Inlets: Design, Production and Installation Interpersonal Competence – Enhance Teamwork New Employee Orientation Planning & Delivering Presentations Evaluation of Asphalt Patching/Crack Sealing Methods/Best Practices
Vocational New Supervisor Orientation Developing Others Vocational Personal Effectiveness Vocational Team Player New Employee Orientation Personal Effectiveness Vocational
WYDOT-U Webinar WYDOT-U TLN TLN TLN WYDOT-U
TLN TBD Webinar TLN WYDOT-U TLN TLN WYDOT-U TLN Webinar
Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information. January 2019
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District News
Retirements
Headquarters
Welcome Brock Anderson, Right of WayAppraisals; Shane Buchholz, Right of Way-Negotiations; Erin King, Driver Services-CDL; Matthew Plante, Facilities Management-Security; Brady Rehm, Right of Way-Appraisals; and Ariel Villa, Highway Development-Engineering Services.
Promotions and Transfers Melissa DeFratis, Highway Project Management Oversight; Philip Flores, Planning-Programming; Dale Ryden, Highway Development-Project Development; Michael Spilker, Materials-Bituminous; and Ginni Stevens, Highway Project Management Ryden Oversight.
Service Awards Vincent Lucero, Traffic-Sign Shop – 30 years; Paul Smith, Highway DevelopmentProject Development – 25 years; Heidi Bosch, Con-
Bosch
Smith
struction Staff – 20 years; Roy Weber, Right of Way-Administration – 15 years; Lori Davis, Highway Safety – 10 years; Jonathan Russell, Patrol-Capitol Services Protection – 10 years; Kurt Borgaard, Training – 5 years; Tory Meisel, Aeronautics-Flight Operations – 5 years; and Sheryl Taylor, Aeronautics-Unmanned Aircraft Systems – 5 years.
Congratulations Trooper Jeremy Beck was recently promoted to public relations and recruiting sergeant within the Safety and Training Division by Col. Kebin Haller. Beck assumes the role as the agency’s point of contact for media relations for the WHP. In this position, Beck Beck is the agency’s primary recruiter while also assisting with the Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy, and WHP safety campaigns. Beck has served with the Wyoming Highway Patrol for 15 years and was previously stationed in Divisions L, O and most recently, A. During Beck’s career with the patrol, he has excelled in being a K-9 handler, WHP firearms instructor, Child Seat Technician, Executive Protection Detail member, and part of the Special Services Squad. John Goyen has been selected as the new photogrammetry and surveys engineer for the Photogrammetry and Surveys section. Goyen began his new duties Dec. 3.
Weber
Oops! Russell
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Valerie Padilla retired on Dec. 3 after working for the Wyoming Highway Patrol for almost 39 years. She was an office support specialist in Patrol’s Safety and Training.
Padilla
Deborah Trojovsky retired Dec. 8 from Driver ServicesAdministration with more than 28 years of service to the state. Trojovsky Trojovsky was most recently the program manager for Driver Services. n
District 1
Welcome Robert Booth, Medicine Bow Maintenance; Jonathan Power, Cheyenne Mechanics; and Elijah Springfield, Rawlins Maintenance.
Promotions and Transfers Gabrianna Ruskowsky, Rawlins Construction.
Service Awards Roy Sommers, Cheyenne Mechanics – 15 years; Wyatt Houston, Elk Mountain Maintenance – 5 years; and John Winslow, Pine Bluffs Maintenance – 5 years. n
Ruskowsky
Sommers Goyen
It was brought to our attention that Heather O’Connor’s new title is PatrolAssistant Dispatch Manager not PatrolSupport Services Manager. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Houston
Winslow
District 2
Promotions and Transfers
Retirements
Charles Mallory, Torrington Maintenance; James Mathis III, District 2 Maintenance Staff; and Joe McGuire Jr., Traffic-Electrical.
Tom Anglund retired Dec. 8 from Casper Traffic-Striping with 41 years of service to the state. Anglund began his career with Casper Anglund maintenance in January 1977, later becoming an equipment operator with the Casper shop. n
Service Awards David Gillaspie, Shirley Rim Maintenance – 40 years; Gerald Carr, Douglas Maintenance – 35 years; Wayne Fox, Muddy Gap Maintenance – 35 years; Debbie Herbold, Casper Construction – 15 years; Gillaspie
Carr
Herbold
Priest
District 4
Welcome Frazier
Kidney
Mark Priest, Casper Patrol – 10 years; Van Frazier, Casper Maintenance – 5 years; and Asa Kidney, Casper Maintenance – 5 years.
Fox
District 3
Welcome Cassie Gale, Driver Services-Rock Springs; Kai Ginest, Pinedale Maintenance; Dylan Heer, Pinedale Construction; and Justin White, Kemmerer Construction. Ristau
Bullock
Newsome
Libert
Service Awards Loretta Ristau, Kemmerer Port of Entry – 25 years; Damon Newsome, Evanston Construction – 20 years; Mark Bullock, Evanston Maintenance – 15 years; Mark Libert, Evanston Maintenance – 15 years; David Homer, Evanston Patrol – 10 years; and Kurtis Covert, Pinedale Maintenance – 5 years.
Retirements Homer
Covert
Alan Kaul retired on Nov. 16 from Pinedale Maintenance with 10 years of service to the state. n
Alan Kellogg, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail.
Retirements Robert Gripp Kellogg retired on Nov. 3 with 12 years of service to the state. He began his career at WYDOT in Buffalo on May 15, 2006 as a maintenance technician and was soon promoted to a dual role of mainteGripp nance and construction technician, alternately working six months maintenance and then six months construction. n
District 5
Welcome Bryce Gilbert, Thermopolis Maintenance; Crystal Gullickson, Driver Services-Cody/Lovell; and Sean Morrison, Shoshoni Maintenance.
Promotions and Transfers Austin Shields, Lander Construction.
Retirements Rick Saylor retired on Nov. 26 with five years of service to the state of Wyoming. He retired from Cody Maintenance. n January 2019
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stretch of scenic mountain road in the Big Horn Mountains of north-central Wyoming at the end of the fall hunting season. According to WYDOT Maintenance Area Crew Supervisor Rich Hall, heavy snows and relatively light traffic during the winter months make maintenance of the mountain portion of US 14A impractical. “The area Highway 14A passes through is known for producing huge drifts, and trying to keep it open is a losing battle,” Hall said. “As a safety precaution, WYDOT likes to close the road seasonally rather than as a reaction to a storm.” This decision ties in with our mission of providing a safe, high quality, and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming. Seasonal road closure gates are located at Burgess Junction, just east of milepost 98.1, and on the Lovell side of the mountain near milepost 76.04. While the road is closed, US 14 via Granite Pass and Greybull is open as an alternative route from Sheridan to Lovell. WYDOT opens US 14A in the spring after crews spend nearly three weeks removing the winter snowpack from the road.
Pursuit ends safely in Fremont County LANDER – A Florida resident was taken into custody following a pursuit which took place Dec. 8. The pursuit started north of Lander on WYO 789 in Fremont County. Joshua Ewing, a 37-year-old resident of Florida, was arrested around milepost 53 on WYO 28 after attempting to elude law enforcement in a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The pursuit began after a Wyoming State Trooper attempted to stop Ewing for expired plates. Ewing failed to stop for the trooper, and the vehicle was pursued south toward the city limits of Lander. The pursuit was terminated for the safety of the public. Lander Police officers spotted the vehicle a short time later and started pursuing. The pursuit led Lander Police onto a county road before Fremont
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County deputies were able to successfully deploy spike strips to deflate the Dodge’s tires. Ewing was able to drive back onto WYO 789 south of Lander. Once on WYO 789, Wyoming Highway Patrol became the primary pursuing agency. The vehicle Ewing was driving came to a stop around milepost 53 on WYO 28. Troopers were able to place Ewing under arrest without further incident and later learned the 2008 Dodge Avenger was stolen from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ewing was charged with eluding, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property (stolen vehicle) and booked into the Fremont County jail. Fremont County Sheriffs Office and Lander Police Department assisted the patrol with this event.
Blue Sky highway improvement project makes good progress in 2018 near Ethete LANDER – Parts of a $14.63 million highway improvement project are entering a winter shutdown on WYO 132 between Ethete and US 287. Prime contractor High Country Construction Inc., of Lander, has moved 84,000 cubic yards of dirt in 2018, 17,000 square yards of geogrid fabric, and more than 6,000 cubic yards of pit run rock, according to Wyoming Department of Transportation Project Engineer Brian Martin of Lander. “The new highway is beginning to take shape. More than three miles of new fence is in place and 80 percent of all new pipes and irrigation structures have been installed,” Martin said. “Clearing and grubbing and all tree removals are complete. All topsoil has been stripped from the new roadway alignments and has been stockpiled.” Martin said the contractor plans to continue to place as much of the irrigation system as possible this winter. “This work will include pipe, concrete for diversion boxes and siphon structures,” he said. “Fencers will continue to build new fence throughout the winter. This week and next week, the contractor is focusing on preparing the roadside for a winter shutdown of heavy equipment operations.
Earthwork operations will resume in late February or March (2019). Once operations resume in the spring, the existing roadway will be milled and traffic shifted to detours or the new roadway alignments.” Improvements on the Blue Sky highway improvement project, prior to the contract completion date of Oct. 31, 2019, include grading, draining, milling asphalt pavement, placing gravel pit run and crushed gravel, asphalt paving, chip sealing, electrical work and other work on seven miles of WYO 132 north of Lander.
Photo: WYDOT
Briefs continued from page 7
Ethete school buses enter WYO 132. Construction graders line the road.
Snow plow hit on South Pass; drivers reminded to slow down on slick roads RIVERTON – A Wyoming Department of Transportation plow truck was hit by a Nissan passenger vehicle the morning of Nov. 30 on slick roads on WYO 28 near Atlantic City on South Pass. The rear-end crash damaged the plow’s sander and the passenger vehicle’s front end. The plow truck was moving slowly (10-15 mph) and was preparing to pull off the highway on WYO 28 when the crash occurred. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. WYDOT South Pass Maintenance Foreman Mike Hitshew said it’s important for citizens to realize that WYDOT plow trucks are out on the highways during and after snow storms. WYDOT has numerous bright yellow plow trucks, and when working the roads, these plow trucks have amber, red and blue flashing lights mounted on top of the cab and on the back of the sanders. Snow plow trucks and the plows are huge machines and equipment, capable of moving tons of snow every minute. Operators
Passings
of these snow plows are highly trained professionals. These snow plow professionals need cooperation from drivers so they can do their jobs and keep the road safe for drivers. Give them room to operate. “Stay well back from operating snow plows,” Hitshew said. “They are spreading sand, anti-icing and de-icing chemicals on the roadway. It’s always a good idea to stay back from snow plows while their operators are doing their jobs. We still get people passing the plow truck at inappropriate times. Sometimes it takes a little time, but we’ll get out of the way when it’s safe. If we’re not moving over for drivers, it’s because it’s not safe.” WYDOT employees are out on the highways every day and many nights, including holidays, attempting to provide a safe, high quality and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming. WYDOT employees are on the roads when the conditions are the worst, and they’re out there between storms, too. With limited visibility, snow plow drivers can’t see vehicles behind them if the vehicles are too close to the plows. “Remember, the safest driving surface is behind the plow. If you must pass, don’t pass on the right into the plume of snow being moved,” Hitshew said. “Be sure on two-lane highways that you have plenty of time to pass. Keep a close watch. These huge plow trucks often stir up their own snow cloud while doing their work. It’s impossible to see what’s coming at you when passing a plow truck.” WYDOT snow plows usually operate at slower speeds than other traffic. “Always remember our plows are helping to keep you safe,” Hitshew said. n
Roger A. Kindsfater
Roger Kindsfater, 63, died Dec. 8, at Billings Clinic. Kindsfater had an accident at his home on April 14 which left him fully paralyzed. He had lived at Laurel Health and Rehabilitation since April. Kindsfater was hired by WYDOT on Nov. 12, 2009, and worked at the Kindsfater Reno Junction shop as highway maintenance foreman. Kindsfater was born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, on Dec. 12, 1954. As a
WHP Total number of employees: As of Dec. 3, 2018 Photo: WYDOT
1,914
The sanding mechanism was smashed by a passenger vehicle in the rear-end collision near Atlantic City.
young boy, his family moved to a small farm near Fromberg, Montana, where he went to school and graduated from Fromberg High School. Kindsfater had a passion for cars and loved to watch car racing. He was in a band and he even tried his hand as a stand-up comedian, until his dad let him know that it was time to get a real job. He moved to Billings where he tried his hand at road construction. He then moved to Sidney, Montana, to work in the oil fields near Williston, North Dakota. He met and fell in love wtih Janet Montalbo and they were married Jan. 26, 1979. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked for the State Highway Department clearing land for subdivisions. He was also the Assistant City Manager in Cave Creek, Arizona. Memorial Services were held at Dahl Funeral Chapel Dec. 16. n
One month ago
1,912
One year ago
Total number of highway fatalities: As of Dec. 12, 2018
108
One year ago
121
1,906
January 2019
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Photo: WYDOT
Materials Lab
Best Room – first place: Materials Lab; Lobby Honorable mentions: Resident Engineer; Molly Smith Public Affairs; Doug McGee
Photo: WYDOT
Best Door – first place: Human Resources; tree Honorable mentions: Mail Room; Snowman Compliance and Investigation; Nightmare before Christmas
Human Resources
Financial Services
Photo: WYDOT
By Tiffanie Young, WTDEA State Board headquarters representative What would you do in the event of a personal tragedy: fire, flood, tornado, major health issue? Wyoming Transportation Department Employee’s Association (WTDEA) has a program to help in these times of crisis. The WTDEA State Board Employee Relief Fund is to provide crisis assistance for WYDOT employees in the event of a sudden financial crisis or hardship. The Employee Relief Fund Program is available to all WYDOT Employees. You do not need to be a member of the WTDEA to receive assistance. We would love to have you as a member, of course. The WTDEA State Board administers the relief fund program as outlined in WYDOT’s Personnel Procedures. You will find a link on the WTDEA’s Intranet home page with the Relief Fund application and instructions on how to apply for Relief Fund assistance. You will also find an Automatic Deposit Form if you wish to donate automatically from your paycheck each month. One of the great things about working at WYDOT is that we truly are a family; we care about one another and want to help our fellow employees when they have fallen on hard times. If every employee at WYDOT donated as little as $1.00 per month from his or her paycheck the Relief Fund would be completely self sustained. Imagine the difference that we could make when we combine those dollars! Thank you! Your WTDEA State Board thanks you for your support thorough the year. Thank you all who purchase WTDEA’s Cash Calendars, those who participate in our chili cook-offs, those who purchase our raffle tickets, and for your direct donations into the Relief Fund. Thank you all for choosing to make a difference in the lives of your fellow WYDOTers. Contact Audrey Hobbs: 777-4456, email: Audrey.Hobbs@wyo.gov or Tiffanie Young: 777-4778, email tiffanie. young@wyo.gov or your WTDEA State Board Representative to purchase your 2019 Cash Calendars. n
WYDOT’ers really know how to ring in the season. The Headquarters chapter thanks the participants of the third annual decorating contest. The judges had a very difficult time deciding because everyone showed such creativity. Best Program – first place: Financial Services; Christmas tree lane Honorable mentions: Budget; Harry Potter Maintenance Staff; Grinch
Port of Entry
WTDEA 2018 Adult Christmas Party The Annual WTDEA Adult Christmas Party was held on Dec. 8 at the Cheyenne Eagles Lodge. The gala was a fun night out for all with dinner, dancing and cash envelopes, gift card giveaways and raffle items for party-goers. The WTDEA member of the year was also announced – Tracy Romero of Driver Services. Thank you to all who donated gift baskets. n
Photo: WYDOT
WYDOT’s Employee Relief Fund
Best Port of Entry – first place: I-80 Cheyenne n
Photo: WYDOT
WTDEA
Christmas decorating contest winners
Tracy Romero, WTDEA Member of the Year, poses for a selfie with his new tiara.
Outdoors
Annual WTDEA Kid’s Christmas Party
Photo: Cindy Petty
The Annual WTDEA Kid’s Christmas Party was held on Dec. 15 at Roller City in Cheyenne. A record number of tickets were sold this year – 237 tickets were purchased and of those, 141 were for children. Director Bill Panos and his wife, Michelle, attended. The couple donated 100 gifts to the kids. Every child in attendance was given a gift and a McDonald’s gift card. A huge thank you to the director and Mrs. Panos and to all of the great people who helped out. n
Pavement Management Engineer Sarah Rickgauer shows off her hunting success. She hunted this 6x6 bull elk on public land this past fall.
Photo: Chase Cimburek Photo: Kitty Norris-Guile
This bull moose was harvested by Michael Guile of Casper, son of retired engineering technician Doug Guile and retired District 2 clerk Kitty Norris-Guile.
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: Shannon Ferree
So that’s how he sees if we’ve been naughty or nice...
Chase Cimburek with Rock Springs Construction took this mountain goat in the Absaroka Mountains in Wyoming. The rifle used to harvest the goat was a Russian Mosin Nagant M91/30.
This Christmas card from Materials staff is a gem that couldn’t be passed up by Interchange. It’s a must-see.
Shannon Ferree, of Compliance and Investigation, shot her whitetail buck on public Wyoming land and also harvested her first turkey this fall. She is pictured with son, Waylon, and husband, Cliff.
Photo: Shannon Ferree
Photo: WYDOT
Michelle Panos and Director Bill Panos with Santa at the annual kid’s party.
Chase Cimburek with Rock Springs Construction hunted this bull elk this past fall. The harvest was taken with a Thompson/Center Compass rifle, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Photo: Sarah Rickgauer
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: Chase Cimburek
Cindy Petty, from the Laramie office, snapped this photo of the Ryan Fire, near Encampment, in September 2018.
Shannon Ferree, of Compliance and Investigation, along with husband, Cliff, with their turkey harvest this year. Son, Waylon, sports the high-visibility orange vest in the center.
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Break Time Strimko uses rows, columns, and streams. All streams have six cells. The goal is to make each row, column and stream contain the numbers 1-6. A number is not to repeat in a row, column or stream. Check your Break Time answers in the February issue.
Medium Strimko 182
6 5 Answer to the December 2018 Break Time word search:
3
1
6
4 2
Š The Grabarchuk Family. Reprinted with permission. Visit strimko.com for more puzzles and logic games.
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January 2019
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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
WTDEA On Sale Now – State Board
2019 Cash Calendar
Get Yours Today!
WTDEA
r a d n le a C h s a C 9 201 Calendars are $20 each and may be purchased from:
Headquarters Tiffanie Young, Cheyenne; or contact your WTDEA rep, or email Audrey Hobbs at audrey.hobbs@wyo.gov District 1 Robert Martin, Medicine Bow; and Chris Fisher, Cheyenne.
WyHy Sarah Keen District 2 Darren Allbright, Wheatland; Debbie Herbold, Casper; Ryan Sorenson, Casper; Jay Stuck, Torrington; and Myron Witt, Chugwater. District 3 Carl “Kurt” Bennett, Jackson.
District 4 Vicky Gearhart, Buffalo; Rex Markley, Gillette; Heath Oetken, Buffalo; and Misty Wood, Sheridan. District 5 David Bilderback, Basin; John Farr, Lander; Jason Price, Lovell; and Tina Simpson, Basin.