Summer events in District 1

By Andrea Staley

It has been a fun and busy summer in District 1 so far! On June 17th, maintainers in Laramie, along with the district PI and WHP, attended Laramie Parks and Rec Touch-a-Truck event. Kids and parents alike were able climb into a snow plow, rotary, and motor grader to get a closer look. The air horn was a big hit in the snow plow!

The following weekend, WYDOT attended SuperDay in Cheyenne. The family-fun filled day included cornhole tournaments, music, food trucks and more. A WYDOT snow plow and rotary were located along ‘Gasoline Alley’ beside fire trucks, ambulances, a garbage truck, etc. Such a fun day filled with questions from curious kids, laughs, and the occasional horn blaring.

Be sure when you see our snow plows and other machinery out to give our crews room to work. Don’t crowd the plow!

Retirements

In the District

District 2

Welcome

Peyton Call, Wheatland Maintenance; William Clark, Douglas Maintenance; Heidi Mason, Driver Services-Casper; and Zachary Owen, Casper Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Ryan Schmitt, Kaycee Maintenance.

Service Awards

Darren Allbright, Wheatland Maintenance – 15 years; Nicholas Koch, Torrington Construction – 15 years; Richard Steffens, Casper Maintenance –10 years;

Lynnae Curto Magera, Casper Construction – 5 years; and Jaime Merrill, Torrington Construction – 5 years.

Retirements

Myron Witt, maintenance supervisor in Chugwater, retired in May after 19 and a half years of service to the state.

Service Awards

Michael Vandenberg, Rock Springs Construction – 40 years; Richard Wilson, Jackson Maintenance – 15 years;

Kenneth Matlock, Rock Springs Traffic-Striping – 5 years;

Jimmy Morrow, Traffic-Electrical – 5 years; and

Kelly Randall, Driver Services-Jackson/Afton – 5 years.

Retirements

District 3

Welcome

James Bunyan, Patrick Draw Maintenance; Brent Gottwalt, Rock Springs Maintenance; Christopher Matthews, Pinedale Mechanics; and Jacob Morris, Rock Springs Maintenance.

Commission Luncheon Service Award Recipients

Gary Lance, a southwest area foreman with District 3, retired in May after 36 years of service. Lance started with WYDOT in a temporary position in Kemmerer, and also spent some of his long career with WYDOT as an equipment operator and heavy equipment operator in Patrick Draw. He graduated from high school in Joliet, Illinois.

Robert Maxam, a resident engineer in Pinedale, retired in May with 40 years of service to the state. He started as an RE in 1984, having worked previously in different engineering positions in Rock Springs and Pinedale. He’s a graduate of the University of Wyoming. Outside of WYDOT, he spent time as a high school swimming coach.

District 4

Welcome

John Weston, Gillette Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Richard Burridge, Traffic-Signing; Ryan Colby, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail; Christen Schneider, Gillette Maintenance; and Robert Williams, Sheridan Traffic-Striping.

Service Awards

Mark Clements, Sheridan Maintenance – 5 years.

Retirements

Heavy mechanic Marvin Fitzner out of Gillette retired in May with four years of service to the state.

Welcome

Marvin Andreen Jr., Thermopolis Maintenance; Ayden Cox, Thermopolis Mechanics; and Wayne Rettinghouse II, Basin Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Clayton Colman, Lander Patrol.

Service Awards

Highway maintenance technician Frankie Marrello out of Buffalo retired in May with five years of service to the state.

Lyle Lamb, District 5 Maintenance Staff –25 years; and Gina Preator, District 5 Administration – 5 years.

One of D5’s more unusual projects this spring and summer involves night work to remove and replace the overhead lighting inside the big tunnel west of Cody. The crews work at night, sleep during the day, with traffic delays at night and free-range driving without delay during the day. The project has a 153-day work window.