Interchange June 2022
Vol. 50, Iss. 6
New brake testing technology implemented
Photo: Mark Horan
Port of Entry using special apparatus to check brake performance
PBBT technology provides valuable safety information to commercial carrier inspectors.
By Mark Horan Port of Entry authorities are making good use out of a new apparatus called a Performance Based Brake Tester, also known as PBBT. Once vehicles drive onto it, the machine spins the vehicle’s wheels and measures resistance while brakes are applied. The machine then provides a computer-generated percentage of the brake performance for each axle and each wheel end or brake on that vehicle. Typically, commercial motor vehicle inspectors are only able to look at the brake components and take measure-
ments when conducting standard inspections, but that doesn’t tell them how well the brakes are actually working. The PBBT gives inspectors a much better idea of how a vehicle’s brakes are performing on the road. “We’re checking brake performance on vehicles that we’ve never checked before,” said Lt. Dustin Ragon with the Wyoming Highway Patrol Commercial Carrier section. “With this machine, we’re able to get a lot of unsafe vehicles off the roadway that normally would just go unchecked.” Continued on page 3
Photo: Mark Horan
PBBT technology new to WYDOT, WHP
The Performance Based Brake Tester outside the I80 Port of Entry in Cheyenne.
Contents Features
1 POE implements brake testing technology PBBT apparatus new to WHP, Wyoming
8 Snake River bridge project garners award 2022 Environmental Excellence Award (EEA) in Ecosystems, Habitat and Wildlife
9 Haller hangs it up after 31 years in law enforcement WHP to search for replacement over next few months
10 Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing project
Interchange Vol. 50, Issue 6 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
Ground breaking ceremony held May 10
Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee
Programs & Partner Agencies Employee Safety........................................................................................... 13 Game & Fish.................................................................................................. 18 Training......................................................................................................... 12
Also in this issue District Briefs..................................................................................................3 By the Numbers..............................................................................................4 Noteworthy................................................................................................... 11 District News................................................................................................ 14 Letters........................................................................................................... 17
Editor: Carlie Van Winkle
Contributors: 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.
Passings........................................................................................................ 19 Rides.............................................................................................................20 WTDEA..........................................................................................................21 Break Time....................................................................................................23
Kindly recycle this publication after reading.
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A WYDOT PUBLICATION
Continued from front cover
Photo: Mark Horan
WYDOT currently owns one PBBT, a mobile unit that can be deployed around the state. The machine is rated for 30,000 pounds per axle that can go on the roller.
Inspectors are using the equipment to test brake performance on a variety of commercial vehicles including 18 wheelers as long as both drive axles are deactivated so each wheel can spin independently. The PBBT can’t be used on all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles. PBBT technology has been around for several years and is being used in a number of states across the country. Officials in Colorado and Kansas helped train and certify an initial five inspectors in Wyoming last year, and the Commercial Carrier Section is currently training additional personnel so that the machine can be used throughout the state on a regular basis. “We want to make sure that our heavy trucks and buses have proper braking power on the roadways to prevent and reduce crashes,” Ragon said. “This is just another tool on our belt to really catch those breaking violations and get those unsafe vehicles off our roadways.” n
Rollers on the PBBT allow for brakes on each wheel end to be tested independently.
District Briefs Headquarters
Commission awards $32.2 million in contracts in May
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded $32.2 million in contracts for seven Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its May 12 business meeting. Based out of Rock Springs, Kilgore Companies, LLC, was awarded an almost $7.2 million bid for a project involving paving, grading and other work on about 7.7 miles of US Highway 189 in Lincoln County. The contracted completion date is September 30, 2023. The commission awarded a $5.8 million bid to McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. out of Worland for a project involving paving, milling, chip seal and other work on almost 13 miles of US Highway 287/26 in Fremont County. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2023. McGarvin-Moberly was also awarded a nearly $4.5 million bid for a combined
project involving paving, guardrail, milling, grading and other work on approximately 5.7 miles of US Highway 16 in Johnson County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023. The commission awarded a nearly $3.5 million bid to Cheyenne-based Simon Contractors for a project involving paving, milling, sidewalk work, curb and gutter, and other work in various locations within Laramie County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2023. The only out-of-state bidder this month, Northern Improvement Company out of North Dakota was awarded two bids: • A $6.96 million bid for a project involving milling, paving, grading, chip seal and other work on almost 17 miles of US Highway 18/20 in Converse County. The contracted completion date is July 31, 2023. • A $4.1 million bid for a project involving paving, chip seal, grading and other work on just over 6.5 miles of US Highway 86 and US Highway 16 in Niobrara and Weston Counties. This project also has a contracted completion date of July 31, 2021.
Six of the projects awarded this month are funded primarily with Federal dollars. The sole state-funded project was awarded to Cowley-based S&L Industrial with a bid of $175,533, and the project involves signing and other work in various locations within Campbell and Sheridan Counties. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2022. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. May’s meeting saw an average of more than two and a half bids per project. So far the average for the fiscal year is about two and a half bids per project.
National Click It or Ticket campaign reminds drivers to buckle up
CHEYENNE – Wyoming law enforcement reminds drivers about the lifesaving benefits of wearing seat belts this spring during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, Briefs continued on page 4
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Briefs continued from page 3 which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, ran from May 23 to June 5, 2022. “So far this year, 81 percent of fatal crashes have been with a motorist not wearing a seatbelt,” said WHP Administrator Shannon Ratliff. “I wish a ticket could change this high percentage and be the only consequence. Unfortunately, what we’re talking about is risking your life or the lives of your passengers when you or your passengers choose not to wear a safety belt. The Click It or Ticket campaign isn’t about citations; it’s about saving lives. Taking a few seconds to buckle up could be the difference between life and death.” In 2020, in Wyoming, 44 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants were killed in crashes and seatbelt usage was only 82.5 percent. Nationally, in 2020, 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants were killed in crashes in the United States. Wyoming law enforcement agencies took a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night to those who weren’t buckling up.
District 1
WYO 70 over Battle Pass, WYO 130 through Snowy Range open for season
LARAMIE – Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance crews reopened the seasonally-closed sections of Wyoming Highways 70 and 130 for the summer season. WYO 70 opened May 23 and WYO 130 opened May 26. Crews from Saratoga and Baggs started work on the 23-mile stretch of WYO 70 in early May, using multiple rotary plows and other heavy equipment to clear large drifts of snow. The highway is one of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming that closes annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical. This season the route, which tops out at 9,955 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide at Battle Pass, closed December 10. The seasonally-closed section of WYO 130 through the Snowy Range has also officially reopened for the summer. Crews from Laramie and Saratoga,
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WHP Total number of highway fatalities: As of May 10, 2022
Total number of employees: As of May 4, 2022
1,781
26
One month ago
31
One year ago
One year ago
with some assistance from Casper and Cheyenne crews, started work on the 12-mile stretch of the scenic byway in early May with a target reopening date of Memorial Day Weekend. Multiple rotary plows, snow cats and other heavy equipment were used to clear drifts of snow as tall as 15 feet. Motorists – including bicyclists and motorcyclists – on both WYO 70 and WYO 130 should use caution; severe weather is still possible at higher elevations in late spring, including heavy, wet, intense snow storms. Check road conditions before you travel at www.wyoroad. info or on the Wyoming 511 mobile app. Tim Morton, WYDOT District 1 maintenance engineer, warned drivers to “be aware of melting snow along the roadway. The snow melt can refreeze at night creating isolated hazardous slick spots which may catch drivers off guard.” Morton added tall snow banks may limit visibility around curves and can obscure signs, delineators or guardrail. WYDOT maintenance crews may be in the area in the coming weeks to make repairs to items like guardrail or sign posts damaged by snow. Stay alert for
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workers in the area and be prepared to slow down. WYO 70 typically has a target reopening date of the first week in June. Last year, WYO 70 opened on May 20. The highway reopened May 21 in 2020, June 3 in 2019, May 21 in 2018, and June 1 in 2017. Last year, the WYO 130 opened May 21. WYO 130 opened May 18 in 2020, May 25 in 2019, on May 21 in 2018 and on May 25 in both 2017 and 2016.
WYDOT to resume bridge and pavement work on I-80 in west Laramie
LARAMIE – Crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Reiman Corp. resumed work on Interstate 80 in west Laramie May 31. Work is taking place between the Third Street and Curtis Street interchanges (mileposts 310-313) in both eastbound and westbound lanes. Crews are replacing concrete slabs, paving shoulders and will place a high performance wearing course, helping preserve the new pavement and giving better traction.
The bridges will be treated with an epoxy overlay this year which will help preserve the driving surface of the deck. Motorists will encounter lane closures, speed limit reductions and construction activity near the highway, especially around each structure. Local traffic was asked to consider alternative routes to avoid construction-related delays, including using Snowy Range Road or Curtis Street. Recreationists using the Laramie River Greenbelt Trail should not encounter any construction activity where the Laramie River crosses under the interstate.
WHP and Walmart hosted child safety seat check event Cheyenne – The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Walmart hosted a free child seat safety check station event on May 14. The event was held at the Dell Range Boulevard Walmart in Cheyenne. The event welcomed the public from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Troopers checked proper installation of child seats in vehicles of parents and guardians who were uncertain if it was installed correctly. Child seats were also available at no cost on a limited basis. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 59 percent of child seats are incorrectly installed in vehicles.
Grand Avenue/I-80 bridge open to traffic in Laramie
LARAMIE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and S&S Builders have completed work on the damaged Grand Avenue/Interstate 80 Interchange Bridge on May 9. The eastbound off-ramp bridge at exit 316 opened three weeks ahead of schedule, with an initial completion date of May 31.
Bridge, paving work underway on I-80 near Arlington
ARLINGTON – Delays were expected as crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Avail Valley Construction, along with structure subcon-
tractors Reiman Corp., began bridge and paving work on Interstate 80 near Arlington. The project began with bridge rehab work on the east- and westbound bridges between mileposts 267.19-275.39. Structure work is on 12 different bridges between the mileposts. This is a multi-year project split into two phases, starting with structure work with paving work to follow. The structure work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Paving operations for the project will resume in 2023, with an October 2023 completion date. A 15-foot width restriction is in place for interstate traffic during this project.
Structure and paving work near Vedauwoo may cause delays
LARAMIE – Travelers experienced delays as crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Simon Contractors, along with subcontractors S&S Builders, began bridge and paving work on I-80 by Vedauwoo. Starting the week of May 2, crews set traffic control and lane closures between mileposts 324-330 on Interstate 80. The project began with bridge rehab work on the east- and westbound bridges at milepost 326.6 then will move to the east- and westbound bridges at milepost 329.3. Pavement and surface work will follow in July. Delays occurred due to the traffic configuration. A 13-foot width restriction is in place for interstate traffic during this project. Work is expected to be completed in the fall.
District 2
Improvement projects along I-25 between Casper and Glendo
CASPER – Several projects are underway or are in the beginning stages to improve Interstate 25 between Casper and Glendo. Two Douglas exits are the sites for bridge and guardrail rehabilitation projects at mileposts 126, 137, 139. Near Glendo, work has begun on resurfacing the interstate between mile-
posts 109-115. Traffic was switched to the southbound lanes. Also, an ongoing northbound bridge project at milepost 117.88 is nearing completion and should be finished by the end of June. A bridge rehabilitation varies from location to location but can include surfacing, guardrail updates, structure repairs or any other maintenance or upgrade work required. In the Casper area, work continued on replacing the bridge structures over Walsh Drive. That project is slated to be completed in 2023. North of Casper, a project including surfacing and bridge rehabilitation between mileposts 200-210 is underway. Expect lane reductions, reduced speeds, flaggers, workers and equipment at all construction zones.
District 3
Construction on US 191 north of Rock Springs, delays expected
ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Mountain Construction Company performed road surfacing work on US 191 from milepost 21-33, north of Rock Springs beginning May 25. Work included grinding, pavement markings and a chip seal operation. During the construction, traffic was carried through the work area at reduced speeds on single lane following a pilot car. Commuters were advised to expect delays up to 15 minutes, so those commuting on this highway were advised to plan accordingly.
Temporary signals deployed to again aid road congestion this year EVANSTON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation addressed some congestion issues at the Interstate 80 eastbound off-ramp onto Front Street in Evanston. Previous investigation by WYDOT showed an issue with summer weekend and holiday traffic backing up onto the interstate in past summers, especially recreational trailers and motor homes, trying to turn left off the offramp.
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delays up to 20 minutes, so those commuting on this highway are advised to plan accordingly.
The traffic team placed portable traffic signals on each leg of traffic at the offramp to promote safety and alleviate congestion. Signal wait times are adjustable to prevent queuing at the off-ramp. The signals are in operation every week, typically on Thursdays and Fridays, and set to flash during the rest of the week. However, signals can be activated at any time a need to alleviate congestion arises and may be in operation over the weekend during holidays or special events. The signals began their summer activation the weekend prior to the Memorial Day holiday. WYDOT technicians are on-call and monitoring the intersection. The signals will be in operation until Labor Day, Sept. 5. “This is our usual interim measure until permanent signals can be installed. Previous years operations have had a positive safety benefit. Signs will be placed on the interstate to notify motorists of the recurring congestion,” WYDOT District Traffic Engineer Darin Kaufman said. The construction of permanent signals is planned for 2023.
District 4
Ranchester Bridge on US 14 night closure
Photo: WYDOT
SHERIDAN – Residents of the communities of Ranchester and Dayton and local commuters were notified of a threenight road closure of the Ranchester Bridge which began May 10. WYDOT and its contractor closed the bridge from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in order to place new girders on the structure. Due to the nature of the location of the bridge structure and the railroad tracks, placing the girders from the ground would be less efficient and potentially create safety concerns. The project area does not allow for the accommodation of a larger crane and equipment needed to place the girders without closing the existing bridge. These girders measure approximately 7 feet in height by 6-120 feet in length and weigh up to 25 tons each. Detours were posted for commercial and local traffic all emergency management vehicles. Local traffic was asked to use WYO 345 and Railroad Street in Ranchester, while commercial traffic was detoured onto WYO 345 – Parkman Road to the Dayton cut-off – WYO 343 just east of the town of Dayton.
The longest queuing of vehicles occurred in August 2020, as seen here.
Milling, paving operations in Snake River Canyon
JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Avail Valley Construction performed milling and paving on US 89 through the Snake River Canyon (mileposts 127-132). Traffic during the day and evenings was reduced to a single, alternating lane with a pilot car, under the direction of flaggers and traffic control devices. Crews best accommodated drivers during the morning commute hours, but the single lane traffic control was in place during the day and possible evenings to conclude the work in less than 8 weeks. Commuters were advised to expect
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uled at three locations on Togwotee Pass, west of Dubois (mileposts 16.52-16.57, mileposts 20.81-20.88, and mileposts 23.67-23.74). On June 21, WYDOT paving is scheduled on WYO 28 over South Pass between mileposts 57.6-57.74, southeast east of the old iron ore mine.
US 14A opened for the summer between Lovell, Sheridan
LOVELL – The annual spring opening of US 14A between Burgess Junction and Lovell occurred prior to Memorial Day weekend – at noon May 27. “We’re ready to open May 27 at noon,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Maintenance Foreman Tony DeFuentes of Lovell. “Motorists are encouraged to drive safely and buckle up.” The annual winter closure of US 14A, west of Burgess Junction, is at milepost 76.04 on the Lovell side of the Bighorn Mountains. The seasonal road closure at Burgess Junction is just east of milepost 98.1. WYDOT annually closes this 22-mile stretch of scenic mountain road in the Bighorn Mountains of north-central Wyoming about Nov. 30 at the conclusion of the fall hunting season.
District 5
Paving east of Shoshoni; Hudson, Riverton, Dubois, South Pass maintenance BASIN – A Wyoming Department of Transportation paving crew is scheduled to begin its summer work June 6, on US 20/26 east of Shoshoni. About 500 tons of asphalt pavement will be placed on US 20/26 (mileposts 91.4-91.7), about 9 miles east of Shoshoni. The crew is scheduled to move the paving operation June 7-9 to WYO 789 through the town of Hudson (mileposts 90.59-90.62), where more than 1,336 tons of asphalt will be placed on the roadway. The paving crew is scheduled to place 354 tons of asphalt on US 26 (West Main Street) in Riverton between mileposts 133.12-133.24 and 130.67-130.70 beginning June 13. On June 15, WYDOT paving is sched-
Photo: WYDOT
Briefs continued from page 5
Early May along US 14A east of Lovell. Lovell Heavy Equipment Operator Rick Gurney was operating the snow blower on top of the Bighorn Mountains during the annual opening work of US 14A.
Slide repair project on WYO 296
CODY – A $3.98 million slide repair project began May 16 on WYO 296 northwest of Cody. The project is located on 0.1 miles of WYO 296 at milepost 41.45 on Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, about 5 miles west of the intersection of WYO 120 and WYO 296. “Work consists of slide repair, includ-
Tree removal on WYO 295 south of Powell
BASIN – A large tree leaning over WYO 295, at the Willwood corner south of Powell, was removed on May 17. The tree removal was executed from the top down to avoid limbs dropping on the power lines crossing over that intersection. Delays of up to 20 minutes were expected, but were limited to 2-3 minutes. WYDOT placed digital message signs on each end of the Willwood corner along WYO 295, notifying motorists of the highway safety maintenance project.
Pavement improvement project north of Meeteetse
Northwest Wyoming roadway shoulder sealing
DUBOIS – Fog sealing of highway shoulders began in mid-May in northwest Wyoming. Fog sealing uses quick-drying oil to seal highway shoulders, and is part of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s summer chip-sealing maintenance program. Fog sealing occurred May 16 just west of Dubois on US 26/287 (mileposts 45.66 to 49.00), May 17 on WYO 28 south of Lander (mileposts 59.65 to 67.88), May 23 on US 14A east of Byron (mileposts 39.40 to 43.52), May 24-26 on WYO 120 north of Cody (mileposts 118.5 to 137.53), and May 25-26 on WYO 296 northwest of Cody (mileposts 23.00 to 32.96). “We’re asking people to avoid driving, running or bicycling on the fog-sealed highway shoulders for 24 hours,” said WYDOT fog sealing foreman Tyd Erickson of Meeteetse. “These roadways will be chip sealed later this summer.”
US 14A pavement improvements between Cody, Powell
CODY – Motorists encountered traffic delays during a $1.47 million pavement improvement project through the 3-lane section of US 14A between Cody and Powell. Contractor Century Companies, Inc., of Lewistown, Montana, began work May 16, with rotomilling of the existing surface and guardrail replacement through the Corbett Bridge area. Work consisted of rotomilling of 1 inch of the existing roadway, a 2-inch asphalt pavement overlay, plant mix wearing course asphalt, guardrail replacement
on the Shoshone River bridge and other work. “Paving is tentatively scheduled for May 25 to early June, depending on weather,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody. During project work, the contractor is required to maintain 2-way traffic with minimal delays through the project between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. A flagging crew was present to stop and hold traffic just long enough for trucks to enter and exit the work zone. During working hours, motorists encountered up to 10-minute delays with stopped conditions and pilot car operations. During non-working hours, 2-way traffic was maintained with a reduced speed limit of 45 mph. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect for this project. “The contractor is responsible for accommodating oversized farm equipment through the project with prior notification from farmers,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody. The Corbett Bridge highway improvement project is located on US 14A between Cody and Powell from milepost 5.59 north 1.85 miles toward Powell to milepost 7.54. It consists of the 3-lane highway section through the Corbett Bridge area. This section of US 14A roadway was originally constructed to its current 3-lane configuration in 2001. The normal service life for pavement, prior to needing rehabilitation and pavement repairs, is 20 years. n
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CODY – A $2.66 million pavement improvement project began May 19 on Wyoming Highway 120 north of Cody. The project began at milepost 51.75 at the north town limits of Meeteetse and extended north 6.2 miles to milepost 57.93 at Lower Greybull River Road. Project work consists of rotomilling 1-inch of asphalt pavement, paving an inch of asphalt pavement leveling and a 2-inch pavement overlay, chip sealing, minor slope flattening and other items. Traffic was controlled with a pilot vehicle during working hours and reduced speed limits were enforced. Prime contractor is McGarvin-Mober-
ly Construction Co., of Worland. Paving and chip sealing will follow the slope flattening work at the end of June, weather permitting. All work, with the exception of reclamation, is required to be complete by Aug. 31. Contract completion date is Oct. 31. This project represents the final section of roadway improvements between Meeteetse and Cody. Rehabilitation of WYO 120 between Cody and Meeteetse started in 2018.
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ing installation of aggregate columns, installation of drains, construction of a slide stabilization rock berm, and other work including paving,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody. Prime contractor is Oftedal Construction, Inc., of Casper. “All work, with the exception of the chip seal and reclamation, is required to be completed by Oct. 31,” Frost said. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect during the slide repairs. Frost said motorists should expect a gravel driving surface through the slide repair project, and traffic delays of up to 20 minutes during working hours. When slide stabilization work began on the roadway, traffic was moved into a single lane and was controlled by a temporary traffic signal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There was a reduced speed limit of 30 mph during non-working hours.
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By Stephanie Harsha The Wyoming Department of Transportation has been awarded a 2022 Environmental Excellence Award (EEA) in the category of Ecosystems, Habitat and Wildlife from the Federal Highway Administration for their efforts on the Snake River Bridge reconstruction and wildlife crossing integration project. WYDOT, along with their partners from the Wyoming Game and Fish, Teton County and other community organizations, designed a project for the replacement of a critical bridge on Wyoming Highway 22 over the Snake River, near Jackson, and expanded it to accommodate local and migrating wildlife within the Greater Yellowstone National Park ecosystem. When planning the bridge replacement, WYDOT proactively pursued stakeholder and community engagement to shape and expand the project to strategically address a diverse set of challenges, including wildlife-vehicle collisions and congestion. The project will extend the Snake River Bridge to accommodate a wildlife underpass, and will include three additional wildlife crossings that will facilitate safer wildlife movements, especially for large animals such as moose, elk, and deer. WYDOT also is implementing additional improvements that will enhance recreation and natural resource education and access in the nearby Rendezvous Park with work that will include increasing wetlands along ponds, constructing a boardwalk and deepening a community swimming hole. The purpose of the
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improvements was to support positive public interaction with the natural environment while addressing the needs of the ecosystem. “We appreciate the recognition and affirmation from the FHWA that this is a special project that The project spans the Snake River near Jackson on WYO 22. will benefit not just the transportation of motorists but of wildlife, too,” said WYDOT director Luke Reiner. “I am grateful to our partners who were instrumental in shaping this project into an award-winning success.” The Snake River Bridge project will be let to contract this fall and construction could take place as early as spring of 2022. Since 1995, the Environmental Excellence Awards have been recognizing leaders across the country whose outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and partnerships that go above and beyond traditional transportation project outcomes. n
Photo: WYDOT
WYDOT wins national environmental award for Snake River Bridge project
By Jordan Achs The WYDOT auditorium at headquarters was standing room only for Col. Kebin Haller’s retirement ceremony in mid-May. In addition to Haller’s family and his WHP family in the audience, coworkers from WYDOT, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and more made the time to attend. Many spoke about their time working with Haller and the impact he had on their lives both professionally and personally. Special guests included the Colonels of Utah Highway Patrol, Idaho State Police and Colorado State Patrol. Each spoke to the impact Haller had not just in Wyoming, but to our neighboring states. Haller CSP Col. Matthew Packard even gifted Haller with a flag flown over the Colorado Capitol to honor Haller’s service to Colorado as Colonel of the WHP, a testament to the excellent partnership between agencies. Haller started his career in law enforcement more than 31 years ago, serving with the Rawlins Police Department until joining DCI in 1997. After a long career with DCI, he was appointed WHP Colonel in September 2015 and made a big impact with his time here as an advocate for the WHP. “I will most miss the men and women, and teamwork at the WHP,” Haller said. “Their professionalism and compassion portrayed to one another, as well as those they serve, is com-
Photo: Rugged Grace Photography
Haller retires after more than 31 years in law enforcement
Col. Haller (left) laughs at remarks by WYDOT Director Luke Reiner during Haller’s retirement ceremony in May.
mendable and inspiring.” In retirement, Haller plans to spend time with family and friends as well as training his brand new labradoodle puppy. A nationwide search will be conducted over the next several months to select Haller’s successor. n
Photo: Rugged Grace Photography
Col. Haller (center-right) greets (from left to right) Utah Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Rapich, Idaho State Police Colonel Kedrick Wills and Colorado State Patrol Colonel Matthew Packard at Haller’s retirement ceremony at WYDOT headquarters in Cheyenne.
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Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing project breaks ground
“WYDOT certainly prioritizes safety on our highway system, and we look to make wildlife improvements on nearly all of our construction project,” Reiner told the attendees. “Wildlife crossings like these nine underpasses that are about to be built are a proven way to help reduce crashes with wildlife.” WYDOT highway maintainers will be another beneficiary of the Dry Piney project. The crossing will increase worker safety because there will be less carcass cleanup due to wildlife collisions The project contractor is McMillen Jacobs Associates, and construction will cost a little over $15 million. Funding for the project came from a federal build grant, WYDOT, Wyoming Game and Fish, wildlife conservation groups, Sublette County, and private landowners/foundations. According to Director Reiner, when the project was originally let there were eight underpasses planned. But the project came in with a low enough bid that there was enough extra money to include an additional underpass. “My hat’s off to our various partners for really leading the charge and saying, “Hey, let’s get some private money into something that we in Wyoming care about, and that’s our wildlife,” Reiner said. “Wildlife is valuable to Wyoming, and this project is an investment that helps preserve the historic migration of many big game species,” noted Director Nesvik in 2019 when the project was under development. “Underpasses, coupled with fencing, can reduce crashes by 80-90% and ensure animals can safely cross roads to get to seasonal ranges.” The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2023. n
Photo: Rick Carpenter
By Mark Horan After more than 15 years of planning and securing funds, the Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing project officially broke ground on May 10. The ceremony celebrated the start of a project focused on increasing safety in one of the highest wildlife-vehicle collision zones in the state. Located along US 189 between the communities of LaBarge and Big Piney, the project will separate wildlife from traffic with nearly 17 miles of fencing. In addition, a series of nine wildlife underpasses will be built to facilitate animal movement - mostly for mule deer, but also for other animals such as pronghorn and moose. Wyoming Department of Transportation Director Luke Reiner, Wyoming Game & Fish Director Brian Nesvik, WYDOT Transportation Commissioner Jon Dolezal and WG&F Commission President Ken Roberts provided remarks to roughly 40 project stakeholders at the ceremony.
Rick Carpenter snapped this shot near the Sapp Brothers along I-80 in Cheyenne. The trailer boasted 128 tires – eight on each axle. It is a power transformer for the Archer Power Sub Station. The behemoth weighed around 780,000 pounds. No high-wind stopping this load!
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Noteworthy
The first WYDOT District 2 Safety Day and Employee Car Show
Photo: Jeff Goetz
By Jeff Goetz Approximately 100 attended the event on Saturday, May 14, hosted by the Casper WYDOT office. The idea behind the event was to create an interactive environment where the public can get a close and hands-on look at WYDOT and Highway Patrol equipment and meet employees and talk about what we do - and about our hobby vehicles.
Photo: Jeff Goetz
Employees brought in their prized rides to showcase right next to various WYDOT and WHP work vehicles.
WYDOT vehicles on display for Safety Day participants.
pickup owned by Teshaylo Trujillo. Second was a 1992 Camaro owned by Ron Reed and third was a 1963 Buick Riviera owned by Daniel Francom’s family. In addition to seeing the rotary snowblower, plow trucks, striping trucks, sign trucks and patrol cars, the Wyoming Highway Patrol opened their pedal car course. These adult-sized pedal cars are used to navigate a pylon track, sort of like a go-kart track. Unlike with the go-karts, drivers of the pedal cars get to wear “drunk” goggles which mimic the effect of alcohol when driving. It’s challenging, but that’s the point. WYDOT also had representatives from human resources and the WTDEA on hand to talk about opportunities within the organization. A tow plow and operator from Douglas made an appearance and its capabilities were demonstrated around a parking lot. The plow drew a lot of attention and the crowd, especially the children, seemed fascinated when operator Casey Dickau deployed it. Highway Patrol’s rollover demonstration machine also drew a crowd, no doubt surprising people with how quickly one can be ejected from a vehicle during a rollover - if you’re not wearing your seat belt. Thanks to everyone who helped plan this event and make it a success. Discussion has begun on hosting a similar event in 2023.
n “We don’t often get to show our human side,” said Jeff Goetz, District 2 public relations specialist. “So we created this event to draw attention to our equipment, including demonstrations of safety warning lights what people will encounter on the highways when we’re out working. “We also wanted to have some fun with it, and interact with the public. Having an employee car show seemed like a great way to do that.” Seven employees entered their “rides,” and there was an amazing variety of vehicles considering the small number entered. Everyone got to vote on their three favorites. The WYDOT Safety Day and Employee Car Show was a great place for gathering. Crowds Taking the most votes was a 1955 Chevrolet were able to get up and personal with classic rides and working vehicles.
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Photos: Jeff Goetz
Photo: Jeff Goetz
Trooper Daniel Adame with a youngster navigating the pedal car course.
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Training
What are your leadership training needs?
Photo: Adobe Stock
By Jim Boyd, Training Services WYDOT University offers leadership training at each stage of your career. The leadership stages Training focuses on include how to lead yourself, how to lead others and how leadership works from a bigger picture perspective. For every fiscal year, a training schedule is released that includes workshops relevant to the above stages. These workshops are pre-scheduled, offered monthly and dive into some of the competency areas that are most relevant at each stage. For example, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a 3-day workshop covering concepts particularly helpful in the ‘Leading Self ’ leadership development stage. Starting this year, Training Services will be sending out random surveys to help identify some of the leadership workshops and topics that are most needed at WYDOT. Some of the competencies we plan to focus on next year include: • Leadership • Developing Others • Conflict Management
If you’re not randomly selected for the survey, we’d still love to hear from you with any feedback you have. Simply contact Check out these upcoming training Training Services at dot-training@wyo.gov, or reach out to any of opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation our team members and let’s talk. n Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
Training@aGlance
• Fostering an Inclusive Workplace • Motivating Others • Team Building
Training@aGlance Coming in June: Start Date Development Stage 6/16/2022 Leading The Agency 6/23/2022 New Employee
Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
Class Description Maximizing Employee Engagement & Effectiveness Know WY New Employee Onboarding Workshop*
Class Hours 8:30am-4:30pm 8:30am-12:00pm
Location Cheyenne VILT
Coming in July and August: Date Development Stage Class Description Class Hours Location 7/11/2022 New Employee Google and WELL Basics: Part of 8:30am-11:30am VILT Know WY New Employee Program* 7/19/2022 Leading Self Everything DiSC Workplace (WYDOT) 8:30am-4:30pm Riverton 8/8/2022 New Employee Google, WELL, and Intranet Basics - In-Person Training 8:30am-11:30am Various 8/18/2022 New Employee Know WY New Employee Onboarding Workshop* 8:30am-12:00pm VILT 8/24/2022 Leading Others Hiring Smart: Staffing for Optimum Performance 8/24: 1:00pm-4:30pm *All new employees are assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these Know WY workshops in the WELL
Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information.
Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information.
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Employee Safety Workers’ Memorial Day
By April Patrick, Employee Safety Each year on April 28th, Workers’ Memorial Day encourages national and international remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. This day also highlights the preventable nature of most workplace accidents and ill-health. Additionally, it promotes the fight for improvements in workplace safety.[1] Employers must provide a safe work environment, as well as the financial support, management oversight, PPE, tools, and training that workers need to do their jobs safely. Both management and workers need to do their part to make safety a personal priority.[2] Take the pledge on the National Safety Council’s web page 400
WYDOT Safety Stats 2020 2021 2022
300
200
Photo: WYDOT
100
0 Total Incidents
Total Injuries
OSHA Recordables
(https://www.nsc.org/faforms/safeatworkpledge) to show your commitment to safety, from the workplace to any place.[2] Doing your part today can help save a life tomorrow – maybe even your own.[2] At WYDOT, safety is everyone’s responsibility. Based on the efforts of the entire organization, our incident and injury rates have been trending down. Director Reiner recently shared our success with Gov. Mark Gordon and highlighted the following safety changes and best practices: • Implemented a Job Safety Analysis for each work activity and enforced daily safety meetings at crew level; • Pushed safety responsibility to the district engineer (DE) and program manager (PM) level; • Implemented quarterly reporting on safety from DEs and PMs to the director; • Implemented and staffed a district safety representative program to focus on safety at the district and local level; • Implemented a Safety Management Software System to assist in record-keeping and trend analysis; • Prioritized funding for unfunded critical safety items throughout the state and implemented solutions; • Strengthened partnership visits and implemented a robust follow-up process;
The WYDOT/WHP memorial at Headquarters in Cheyenne.
• Re-established the WYDOT Safety Committee, who are providing consistent support and direction; • Updated safety policies to meet current standards and requirements; and • Sponsored OSHA 10/30 training for 573 employees; First Aid/ CPR/AED training for 1050 employees; & Hazmat/Confined Space/Fall Protection training for 834 employees. A big thank you to all of the employees of WYDOT for their continued efforts toward a safe work environment. With employees taking ownership of safety at an individual level, we are able to be more proactive and ensure that safety remains at the forefront during all work activities. It is imperative that we always strive to be safer and constantly search for the opportunity to make improvements where safety is concerned. It is also imperative that we recognize complacency or when an artificial sense of urgency starts to dictate safety. Remember, you are empowered to stop unsafe acts in their tracks. Safety starts with you! National Day Calendar. (n.d.). Workers’ Memorial Day. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/workers-memorial-day-april-28/. [2] National Safety Council. (n.d.). Take the SafeAtWork Pledge. https://www.nsc.org/faforms/safeatworkpledge. n [1]
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District News Headquarters Katherine Darrah, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title – 15 years; Matthew Gribble, Facilities Management-Grounds – 15 years; Tobias Gutierrez, Facilities Management-Building Maintenance – 15 years; David Norby, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/Survey – 15 years; Daniele Galluzzo, Driver Services-Administration – 10 years; and Lyons Vance Lucero, Mechanics-Equipment – 10 years.
Welcome
William Hassler, Planning-Statistics/ Inventory; Matthew Hooten, BridgeOperations Design; Britteny Muniz, Patrol-Records; Bonita Shenefelt, PatrolRecords; Alexandria Simpson, Highway Safety; Zachary St. John, BridgeHydraulics; and Christi Weinzierl, Training.
Promotions and Transfers Scott Henderson, Right of WayAdministration; Ravid Ingram, Materials-Bituminous; Sergio Ramos, Right of Way-Property Management; Christopher Sorensen, Highway Development-Project Development; Christopher Stewart, Port of EntryCheyenne; Michael Whisenhunt, Driver Services-Cheyenne; and Jessica Williams, Materials-Surfacing. Henderson
Reginald Boyd retired on April 30 from the Bridge program with nine years of service to the state. Vanessa Guerra retired on April 1 from Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch with 21 years of service to the state. Donald Legerski retired on April 5 with 21 years of service from the Geology program as a driller. Legerski
Congratulations Mariah Johnson was selected as the Aeronautics Policy and Planning coordinator, effective May 2.
Norby Stevenson
Jordan Striff was selected as the Employee Safety program manager, effective May 1. Striff replaces Todd DePorter who recently left WYDOT. n
Lucero Williams
Galluzzo
Service Awards
Retirements
Deborah Lopez, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title – 30 years; Daniel Lyons, Highway Development – 30 years; William Stevenson, Bridge-Operations Design – 30 years;
Jana Belt retired April 1 with more than 22 years of service to the state.
Striff
Belt
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June 2022
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: WYDOT
District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton presented Laramie Maintenance Supervisor Eric Anderson with his 20-year service award.
Johnson
Cheyenne Maintenance crew member Jesse Jenkins was presented his 1-year service award by Cheyenne/Pine Bluffs Maintenance Supervisor Brian Erickson.
Photo: WYDOT
Stewart
Boyd
Heavy Equipment Operator Ken Sharp received his 10-year service award from Cheyenne/Pine Bluffs Maintenance Supervisor Brian Erickson.
District 1
District 2
Welcome
Welcome
Katherine Standish, Medicine Bow Maintenance; and Jarid Trujillo, Laramie Maintenance.
Dylan Heath, Casper Maintenance; Chris Jepson, Douglas Mechanics; and Teshaylo Trujillo, Casper Maintenance.
Promotions and Transfers
Gregory Hopper, Traffic-Signing; Christopher Knapp, Laramie Maintenance-Guardrail; and Anthony Talkemeyer, Emergency Communications-Microwave.
Service Awards
Andrew Klingenberg, District 1 Construction Staff – 20 years; Joshua Petty, Laramie Maintenance – 15 years; Dustin Macy, Cheyenne Construction – 5 years; Kord Newkirk, Arlington Maintenance – 5 years; Gabrianna Ruskowsky, Rawlins Construction – 5 years; Ethan Smith, Patrol-Laramie – 5 years; and Stephen Winegeart, Cheyenne MainKlingenberg Petty tenance – 5 years. n
Macy
Ruskowsky
Heath
Jepson
Trujillo
Promotions and Transfers
Ryan Schneider, Torrington Traffic-Striping; and Thomas Williams, Casper Maintenance.
Service Awards
Gary Enniss, Wheatland Construction – 20 years; Adam Kennedy, District 2 Construction Staff – 10 years; Zachery Miller, Douglas Maintenance – 10 years; and Trenton Carr, Casper Construction – 5 years.
Enniss
Kennedy
Carr
Winegart Miller
Retirements
Photo: WYDOT
Calvin Goddard retired on April 16 with 37 years of service to the state. He attended Wheatland High School and attended and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in civil engineering in December 1984. Goddard began his career with WYDOT Goddard as an engineer analyst in December 1984. He was later a project engineer in Laramie (1988), a resident engineer in Casper (1991), resident engineer in Laramie (1992), a construction staff engineer, in Cheyenne, and lastly retiring from, the District 2 maintenance engineer in Casper.
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: WYDOT
Rawlins Construction crew member Steve Sapp was presented his 15-year service award by District Construction Engineer Ryan Shields
District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton presented Rawlins Maintenance Foreman Rick Ackerman his 20-year service award.
Terry Vollmar retired on April 2 with five years of service to WYDOT. He was with Casper Maintenance. n
Saratoga Maintenance crew member Kevin Treat was presented his 15-year service award by District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton.
Vollmar
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District 3 Kelley Berryhill, Driver Service-Jackson/ Afton; and Jared Waldien, Pinedale Construction.
Promotions and Transfers Brian Rushing, Patrick Draw Maintenance; Dane Widner, Evanston Maintenance; and John Wynn, Evanston Mechanics.
Wynn
Service Awards
Clint Lockman, Rock Springs Construction – 25 years.
Retirements
Kerry Nelson retired on April 2 from Evanston Mechanics with 37 years of service to the state. He began his career in June 1985 as a mechanic, in Evanston, and retired as a heavy mechanic supervisor. Nelson is a U.S. Air Force veteran having served from 1976-1980 at Homestead AFB in Florida. n
Lockman
Nelson
CODY – WYO 296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Highway), US 212 (Beartooth Pass), and other areas in the region saw as much as 3-feet of snow on May 29-30. This resulted in multiple vehicles getting stuck in areas – such as the top of Dead Indian Pass and on the switchbacks on the west side of the pass. Making matters even more difficult was on-going bowling-ball sized rock slides on US 14/16/20 west of Cody to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Maintenance crews and troopers were out in full force to get roads plowed, cleaned and re-opened as soon as possible and to rescue stranded motorists. It was a wild and challenging weekend, to be sure. “Thanks to everyone who had to give up their weekend to battle the storm and keep our friends, neighbors and visitors safe,” said District 5 Engineer Pete Hallsten. n A spring snowstorm took the northwest corner of the state by surprise Memorial Day weekend.
District 4
Welcome
John Cranmer Jr., Gillette Maintenance; James Haugen, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail; James Jelly, Sheridan Mechanics; Mark Vigil, Sheridan Traffic-Striping; and Robert Williams, Sheridan TrafficStriping. Cranmer
Haugen
Promotions and Transfers
Jerimya Jensen, Gillette Maintenance; Jeremy Kehrer, TrafficSigning; and Troy Tyree, Port of Entry-Sheridan.
Jensen
Kehrer
Tyree
Oetken
Wood
Service Awards
Jelly
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June 2022
Williams
Heath Oetken, Sheridan Construction – 20 years; and Misty Wood, District 4 Support – 10 years. n
Photo: Cody Maintenance/WYDOT
Hats off to District 5 – going above and beyond over a snowy holiday weekend
Welcome
District 5
Welcome
Ricky Hoffman, Basin Construction; Jesse Maschke, Thermopolis Construction; Clifton Mortenson, Cody Construction; Logan Whipple, Basin Maintenance; and Jett Winland, Cody Construction.
Jack Hoffman, District 5 Traffic Staff – 20 years; Dustin Harvey, Thermopolis Mechanics – 5 years; and Lance Schatz, Thermopolis Construction – 5 years.
Retirements
Lori Ebersberger retired from Cody engineering May 3, after more than 38 years of service. She began her career with WYDOT in April 1984.
Promotions and Transfers Aron Mullis, Basin Traffic-Striping; Adam Powell, Riverton Construction; and Douglas Walker, Basin Construction.
Hoffman, J. Photo: WYDOT
Flores
Mullis
Powell
Service Awards
Harvey
Schatz
Victor Flores, Traffic-Signing – 20 years;
Ronald Hoffman retired April 6 from Riverton Construction with more than 32 years of service to the state. Hoffman began his career with WYDOT in May 1989. n
Hoffman, R.
Letters WHP, WYDOT work together toward agency mission
Working in District 5 is different from anywhere else I have been (D1 & D3). Recently, a spring blizzard rolled through our district and we don’t have the fortune of having road closure gates on most of our routes. US 310 from Lovell to Frannie was a complete whiteout – it reminded me of working I-80 – with slide offs all around. So, we had to close the road and get all the stranded motorists safely off the highway. Two D5 radio technicians, Dalen Davis and Lloyd “Steve” Nickles, heard our situation on the radio and volunteered to man the closure. I also called out another trooper to cover the rest of our patrol area, with no complaints from
him. A couple of days later, I assisted an out-of-state motorist with a flat tire north of Meeteetse. The way the car was sitting, a scissor jack wouldn’t work. I called Meeteetse Foreman Shawn Coggins, who brought out a low profile jack, so I could change the tire. In both cases, none of the co-workers had to help, but they wanted to. Together, we provided a great service to the motoring public. D5 works together better than any other place I have been in the state, because we know one another, care about each other and we are focused on the mission. Thanks to everyone in D5 for what you do!
Kudos to Sundance POE officer
POE Officer Kristy Durfee was very helpful and courteous as I entered the state and she assisted me in obtaining a commercial permit. She was welcoming and projected pride in her duties. She is a very positive and shining star for her department and state!
James Nash
Lt. Lee Pence, 34 Wyoming Highway Patrol
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Game & Fish Wyoming bears are awake and active Stay safe and bear aware
By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish Wyoming’s bears are waking from hibernation throughout the state. The bears’ spring emergence serves as a reminder for outdoor recreationists and rural homeowners in bear-inhabited areas of Wyoming to brush up on bear safety. “Even the most experienced recreationists or rural homeowner who has lived in bear country for years can wind up in a close encounter or conflict situation with a bear,” Bear Wise Coordinator Kyle Garrett said. “We want people to stay diligent to avoid any potential bear conflicts.” Bear Wise Wyoming is a resource for recreationists, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who lives in bear country. Garrett said everyone has a role in putting bear safety-practices in place this spring. For people who live in bear country — black or grizzly — keep garbage, livestock or pet feed and birdseed properly stored and unavailable to bears. Barbecue grills should be kept clean and stored in a garage or shed when possible. This limits attractants that can draw them to areas where people live or camp. “The majority of the people in rural areas of Wyoming where bears roam do an excellent job of securing attractants away from bears but it’s important to remain vigilant and remember to secure attractants to minimize the potential for conflict,” Garrett said. Those who recreate in bear country also need to be aware of the potential for encounters with bears. When recreating in bear habitat, be prepared and alert. Hike in a group and make noise as you travel so bears can hear you. Learn to recognize areas of heavy bear use by knowing how to identify tracks, scats and diggings, and if you smell a carcass, avoid it. Congregating magpies or ravens often indicate a nearby potential food source for bears. Remember, when bears scavenge large animals they often cover what they can’t eat with brush or dirt and may stay nearby for several days to defend it from other large carnivores. Commercially available bear spray is an effective deterrent if confronted by a bear. Carry bear spray in a readily accessible manner and make sure the spray is EPA approved. Use bear spray only as a deterrent and as a last resort to avoid a physical encounter. Game and Fish strives to manage conflict resolution between people and large carnivores, as well as quantifying and evaluating how situations occur. It is critical the public notifies Game and Fish if a conflict arises as soon as possible. “In most conflict situations, bears do not interact with people, rather they obtain unsecured human foods, livestock or pet foods, garbage or birdseed,” Garrett said. Many times, Game and Fish can take action to effectively deter ongoing conflicts, which is good for people and bears. To learn more, visit the Bear Wise Wyoming website. n
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Caring for your catch
KEEPING YOUR FISH FRESH FOR THE TABLE
D
elicious fish dinners start on the water. Caring for your catch right away is important for the flavor and quality of your table fare later. Fish taste best if they are killed right away and kept ice-cold. And, it’s a humane way to care for any fish. Avoid spoiling your fresh-caught meals with this guide.
For the very best in table fare follow these steps:
1
3
5
Fill a cooler with ice; lots of ice. Chipped ice is best.
Add a bit of water in your cooler creating a slurry.
At any break in the action remove the stomach and gills and drop the fish back into the slurry.
2
4
6
When you catch a fish you want to keep, dispatch it straight away. A solid whack over the eyes works nicely.
Drop the dead fish into this ‘slurry’ as you catch them. Keep adding ice regularly.
At camp, remove the fish from the slurry, and pack into a cooler or another fish bin, ensuring that each fish is well covered with ice, and the gill and stomach cavities are also filled with ice.
Taking proper care of your catch is the only way you’re going to get the best from it. Commercial anglers know the best way to keep any fish fresh is get them on ice. Follow these steps and you will be pleasantly surprised at the difference in taste.
For more info about fishing in Wyoming, visit wgfd.wyo.gov
Passings Harry Evanoff
Harry Evanoff, 98, long-time resident of Cheyenne, passed away on May 5, 2022, in Longmont, Colorado. Evanoff was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, in October 1923, and was raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from high school in 1941. Evanoff His first job was as a machinist for the Bendix Corporation in Philadelphia. In 1943, he moved to southern California where he worked as a manufacturing foreman on aircraft and missiles at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino. He spent two years during this time in the Army where he was an interrogator of Nazi war criminals in Germany. He married Freddie Lee Cook in 1952 and his son Emmett was born in 1956. While in California, the family vacationed for a decade at the Triangle X Ranch in Jackson Hole. In 1966, the family moved to Cheyenne, where he worked as an industrial specialist supervisor at F. E. Warren Air Force Base. In 1977, Evanoff joined the Wyoming Highway Department as an engineering technician and designer for the Right of Way program. He worked at this job for 40 years, retiring at an age of 93. He was well respected and very wellliked by his coworkers and friends. For more than 30 years he never missed a University of Wyoming home football game. He loved living and traveling in Wyoming, and especially loved the outdoors. Evanoff was a fine woodworker, enjoyed long distance running and was an excellent horseman. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.
Nicole D. Harvey
Nicole Denise Harvey, 60, died May 19, 2022. She fought a long battle with ovarian cancer, yet passed peacefully at home. She worked 15 years with WYDOT and retired from Driver Services less than a month ago. She made Harvey a big impact on her Driver Services family, and you could always see her smiling, even under her mask. Outside of the office, Harvey was a competitive triathlete and she loved spending time in her Montana mountain refuge, and in bird watching and quiet time in her flower garden. She loved long walks while holding hands with her husband. She had an amazing sense of humor, a strong faith in God, a gentle soul and a kind heart. She will be sorely missed. A celebration of life was held on May 28, 2022 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Cheyenne.
James L. Keenan
James Lewis Keenan, 75, died April 27, 2022, at his home in Wheatland of natural causes. Keenan was born on Feb. 21, 1947, in Rock Springs the son of Frank J. and Vivian M. (Tracy) Keenan. Keenan was a Keenan longtime resident of Cheyenne, where he worked for the Wyoming State Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, celebrated 30 years of service in September 2005 and later retired from the Materials Lab. He was married to Linda Sawicki on Aug. 21, 1983. In 2019, he moved to Wheatland to be closer to his sister. Keenan was an avid bowler, winning the state bowling championship in 1969 and the team championship in 1994 and 1995, loved golfing and was proud of his longtime membership in AA.
In honor of Keenan, go play a round of golf or tell your favorite story of him at an AA meeting. The Gorman Funeral Homes and Platte Chapel of Wheatland handled the arrangements.
Jon M. Olson
Jon Olson, 56, died April 29, 2022. Olson, a Senior Construction & Field Survey Specialist in Rawlins, will be greatly missed. Olson had 33 years of service with WYDOT, spending some of those years in Thermopolis as well as with the Materials Olson Lab in Cheyenne. He was very versatile, with skills to do survey work, manage construction projects and inspect bridges, among other tasks. He was very dependable, willing to put in long days on projects and tasks that needed to be done. Outside of his time with WYDOT, Olson recently retired from his service with the National Guard. He also spent as much time in his garden as possible, including on his farm down in Colorado. A memorial service was held on May 14, 2022 at the Wyoming National Guard Armory in Laramie.
Timothy C. Rawhouser
Timothy Charles Rawhouser, 55, died April 18, 2022, at Monument Health Care in Rapid City, South Dakota, surrounded by his family. He was born in Sundance on Dec. 14, 1966 to Donald and Judy Rawhouser. He grew up on the family ranch and graduated Rawhouser from Newcastle High School in 1985. Rawhouser worked various jobs throughout his life, with the most recent being a highway maintenance technician at WYDOT. While he worked with WYDOT for just 3.5 months, Tim was a northeast Wyoming native and the majority of his crew Continued on page 20
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Continued from page 19 grew up with him and knew him very well. His foreman noted he was an easy going guy and got along with everyone, not to mention being a hard worker, a combination that made him great to work with. He will be greatly missed. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent many hours hunting, fishing and flying his model airplanes. A celebration of life was held May 21, 2022 at Farnsworth Services.
Rides
Edward Harley Schofield, 87, died April 29, 2022, in Rawlins, Wyoming. Schofield was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado, on May 20, 1934. He was the only child born to George and Marjorie (Townsend) Schofield. His early years were spent in the Ft. Collins-Poudre Canyon area with a short move to California and then back to Colorado, eventually settling in Elk Mountain, where he finished high school. It was there he met Faye Jones and they married on Jan. 16, 1954. He worked cutting timber and at the Hanna Sawmill until 1958. They later moved to Rawlins where Schofield worked first for Bill Boyce and then for the city of Rawlins. They raised two sons, Clint and Steve, and a daughter, Sareta. They moved back to Elk Mountain in 1970 where Schofield worked for WYDOT in maintenance until his retirement in 1995. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and especially enjoyed ranch work. His children and grandchildren’s first hunting experiences were with their dad/grandpa where he could walk for miles. He would stop to rest and when they finally caught up to him, he would start off again, so their rest was very short. He loved to go for rides whether in a car, snowplow, truck, horse or tractor. He will be greatly missed. Cremation has taken place and services will be held in Elk Mountain at a later date. n
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June 2022
Photo: Shawn Coggins
Edward H. Schofield
Shawn Coggins, with Meeteetse Maintenance, owns these classic trucks. (From left) A 1972 Chevy Camper Special with 350 engine and automatic transmission – original condition (minus wheels and tires); a 1952 Ford in original condition with a 239 flathead engine, 3-speed transmission and 6-volt system; and a 1997 Ford Power Stroke diesel engine with Jasper Transmission, 3-inch down pipe with 4-inch exhaust, Garrett turbo and Hydra tuner, 3-inch lift and 18-inch wheels.
2 0 2 3
W T D E A
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C O N T E S T
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WTDEA
Inaugural bowling tournament a huge success
• 2nd place: Elvis and the Troubadours – 1703 • 3rd place: Disaster Piece – 1599
• 6th: Orogenous Subductions – 1544 • 7th: Spare Me – 1539 • 8th: Rollin’ with the Turkeys – 1538 • 9th: Band of Misfits – 1538 • 10th: Pin-trest – 1536 • 11th: ROW & That Other Guy – 1524 • 12th: I Can’t Believe it’s not Gutter – 1518 1st place won $216, 2nd place won $144a and 3rd place won $120. Those amounts were then divided by each person on that team.
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: WYDOT
• 4th: Hits & Misses – 1592
• 5th: Gutter Ridiculousness – 1553
Stephanie Lowe presenting Cori Schrinar her winnings from the “bust the bank” raffle.
The first place winning team Gutter-Done (from left): Kevin Schei, Shannon Ferree, Brandi Miller, and Justin Miller.
Food Truck Thursdays
• Aug. 4 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and Tumbleweed Tacos; • Aug. 18 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and Queso’s Kitchen; and • Sept. 1 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and Tumbleweed Tacos. n
Highway Patrol 6173
Training 6568
Materials Lab 6101
Vehicle Storage 6187
ing
Planning and Motor Vehicle Svcs. 6263
Purchasing & Resident Engineers 6189
Parking
Main Building 6100
Maintenance Shop 6174
Sign Shop 6188 Auditorium
Lobby
rsta
Parking
5 te 2
• July 7 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), The Munching Moose (burgers and game brats) and Y’erbellies (BBQ);
• July 21 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and Queso’s Kitchen;
Inte
• June 23 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and Queso’s Kitchen;
The WTDEA Headquarters executive board (from left): Justin Mordahl, vice-president; Heidi Martin, president; Chelsey Lindsay, treasurer; and Stephanie Lowe, Secretary.
k Par
This summer WTDEA Headquarters chapter has arranged for several food trucks to be on site at the WYDOT campus for Food Truck Thursdays. Please come out and support your favorite local vendor. The trucks will park in front of the Training Services building every other Thursday starting June 9 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. We invite you and your fellow co-workers to join us. The dates and food truck vendors currently secured are listed below. All vendors are subject to change upon availability. WTDEA reached out to several other vendors and are waiting to hear back. There could possibly be a larger selection of food options on Thursdays. The WTDEA is relying on you the employee to spread the word so more trucks get interested and join in on our fun. • June 9 – Jessie’s Trailer (Mexican food), Y’erbellies (BBQ) and the WyoPhilly Wagon;
Photo: WYDOT
WTDEA appreciates all bowlers who participated in the inaugural WTDEA Bowling Tournament on May 21. Everyone had a great time and we are already planning the next one – details coming later this year, but looking at an early November date. A 50/50 raffle held and Sergio Ramos won the hand of $105. WTDEA also held a “bust the bank” raffle in which Cori Schrinar bowled a strike with just one ball and won $160. Congratulations to both winners. The participating teams and their final scores are listed below. Congratulations to the top three teams. • 1st place: Gutter-Done – 1808
June 2022
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Don’t settle
for an outdated
HELOC
Get a Hybrid HELOC designed for today! Some older things are considered classic, retro, or cool. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with Home Equity Loans! You want your financing to be up to date! That’s why we created the new Hybrid HELOC from WyHy. Our Hybrid HELOC has features like rate locks to protect you from rising rates, easy access to cash, no cost for maintaining your credit line and much more. As Granny would say, that's groovy.
Use your HELOC for anything you want: • Remodeling or upgrading your home • Consolidate debt • Or anything else
Hybrid HELOCs • Current fixed rates as low as 4.75% APR1 • Up to 100% of your home's value
Call, click or come by a branch for more details. Or simply go to www.wyhy.org/equity for details.
1
(800) 442-2392 | WYHY.ORG
22 Interchange
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APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates "as low as" dependent on creditworthiness, Auto Pay, and/or SmartPoints discounts. Rates can change at any time. Other terms and conditions may apply. Contact the Credit Union for full details regarding any WyHy loan product and program. Rates as of April 29, 2022.
Equal Housing Lender | NMLS #456099
June 2022
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