Interchange – March 2024

Compliance and Investigation

Working to protect Wyoming drivers from unsafe vehicles and fraudulent activity

By Mark Horan

The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Compliance and Investigation program is responsible for regulating vehicle related industries such as vehicle dealers, salvage yards, towing companies, Wyoming-based commercial trucking companies, rental vehicle agencies and ignition interlock device service centers.

The main focus of Compliance is to educate these businesses on the laws, rules and regulations that govern them and to assist them in achieving compliance with those requirements. In addition, Compliance provides training for licensees, county clerks, treasurers and law enforcement.

The Compliance program consists of Chief Investigator Bob Stauffacher, Investigation Supervisor Lacey Bruckner, and investigators Shane Fox, Terry Reagan, Dan Laffin and Shannon Ferree. Fox, Reagan and Laffin cover the southeast, northeast and western parts of the state, respectively, while Stauffacher, Bruckner and Ferree work out of WYDOT’s Cheyenne Headquarters.

The team assists other agencies with vehicle related issues, responds to complaints from vehicle industry victims and investigates Vehicle Identification Number and title fraud. These duties help ensure a level playing field for Wyoming businesses in

vehicle related industries and aid in protecting consumers from becoming victims of fraud.

The ever-evolving vehicle industry and advancements in technology make working in Compliance and Investigation chal-

A 2014 Chevrolet Camaro was the victim to vehicle cloning. Its VIN number was removed and replaced with a fake VIN using a legitimate VIN from a vehicle titled in another part of the country.

WYDOT’s Compliance and Investigation program has been operational since 1999. Pictured here are three of the team’s six members: From left: Chief Investigator Bob Stauffacher, Investigator Shannon Ferree and Investigation Supervisor Lacey Bruckner.

Photo: Mark Horan/WYDOT

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 Dakins, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.dakins@wyo.gov.

Staff

WYDOT

Darin J. Westby, P.E. Public

Doug McGee

Editor

Carlie Dakins

Contributors

Carlie Dakins Public Affairs

Matt Groth Public Affairs

Mark Horan Public Affairs

Jordan Young Public Affairs

Andrea Staley District 1

Jeff Goetz District 2

Stephanie Harsha District 3

Laura Dalles District 4

Cody Beers District 5

Lt. Kyle McKay Patrol

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.

lenging and rewarding, as there is always opportunity to learn something new. For example, discovering a new twist on an old scam, monitoring the laws and policies of other states to assist customers in tracking what documents are required for vehicle ownership transfers, and working on projects with stakeholders to improve how business is done in Wyoming, to name a few.

“A background in criminal justice and law enforcement is essential for our team members so that the basic skills in working with laws, administrative and court procedures, and public service are common knowledge,” Bruckner said.

In the last few years, Compliance has frequently been called upon to investigate online scams where either the fraudsters steal the identity of a legitimate Wyoming dealership, or they post on vehicle trader websites as an individual seller using fake Wyoming title. Either way, they con consumers all over the globe into wiring money to purchase the vehicle and have it shipped, when all along they don’t have a vehicle to sell.

“Often, the consumers that are victimized are from other states or countries, and since the offense did not occur in Wyoming, we have no jurisdiction to bring charges,” Bruckner said, adding that it’s very hard to locate these scammers. “The best we can hope for is that the web hosts will remove scam websites or posts to prevent consumers from being defrauded.”

She also noted that scammers often put up another site under a different dealership name shortly after their original post has removed.

“We’re constantly watching for this type of activity,” said Bruckner.

Some scammers have used pictures of legitimate Wyoming titles with altered information, and others have drafted fake titles and labeled them as Wyoming Certificates of Vehicle Titles. The title in this scam used false owner and address information.

To assist in their endeavors, Compliance uses the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System on a daily basis. Created under the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, NMVTIS is a federal electronic system that provides consumers with valuable information about a vehicle’s condition and history. Prior to purchasing a vehicle, consumers can use NMVTIS to find information on the vehicle’s title, most recent odometer reading, brand history, and in some cases, historical theft data. This helps protect consumers from unsafe vehicles.

A “brand” is a descriptive label that states assign to a vehicle to identify the vehicle’s current or prior condition, such as “junk,” “salvage,” “flood,” or another designation. Federal law requires all auto recyclers (including all junk and salvage yards with more than five cars per year) report the VINs of any salvage vehicles, including “total loss” autos, to NMVTIS.

Consumers, both individual and commercial, have access to NMVTIS vehicle history through approved NMVTIS data providers. Only approved providers are authorized to sell NMVTIS vehicle history reports and display the NMVTIS logo.

The Compliance program also uses NMVTIS to assist other agencies, county offices, dealers and law enforcement in identifying and preventing title fraud, cloned vehicles, VIN switching and other crimes.

By capturing into one system specific information from multiple entities – including state motor vehicle titling agencies, automobile recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and insurance carriers – NMVTIS helps keep stolen vehicles from being retitled, and makes it more difficult for criminals to use stolen vehicles for illegal purposes.

“We use NMVTIS to assist county clerks when a transfer of vehicle ownership occurs and a new title needs to be created,” said Ferree. “We want to make sure vehicle titles are created properly and are based on accurate information at the time of transfer.”

The Compliance program has investigated a variety of fraudulent activity over the years. Bruckner and Ferree cited several case examples their staff have worked on.

Vehicle Cloning

Throughout the past 20 years, Compliance and Investigation has investigated several cloned vehicle cases where a vehicle is stolen, the VINs are removed, fake VIN plates are placed on the stolen vehicle using a legitimate VIN from a vehicle titled in another part of the country, and fake titles are used to transfer ownership to unsuspecting consumers. These cases are usually discovered when there are current title records, insurance policies or liens filed for the same VIN in another state. Victims of this type of fraud lose thousands of dollars as the insurance company usually reclaims the stolen vehicle and the victim’s insurance company does not always cover their loss.

One example involved a 2014 Camaro. The VIN on the dash and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards label was actually titled and registered to a red 2014 Camaro in Texas. The actual VIN belonging to this car was found in a confidential location on the floor board under the carpet, and the vehicle had been stolen out of New Mexico. The thieves removed all of the public VINs, replaced them with fake VIN labels and even altered the VIN in the car’s internal computer. The County Clerk ran a NMVTIS

Compliance continued on page 4

Photo: WYDOT

report and discovered the title provided to the Wyoming buyers was not the most recent. Further inspection revealed the title provided was fake.

A 2014 Camaro

On the left, the image of the fake VIN label that had been attached. The right shows the real VIN had been hidden under carpeting.

A second example involved a 2007 Nissan Titan pickup that was owned by a Wyoming resident who purchased the vehicle in 2016. The Wyoming customer tried to renew the registration on the vehicle, but the county noticed the title had been canceled. NMVTIS showed the Wyoming title had been canceled by a Texas title issued in 2021. The VIN on the 2007 Nissan Titan located in Wyoming was sharing a VIN with a vehicle in Texas.

No two vehicles have the same VIN. The investigation included VIN inspection on both vehicles, multiple agency assistance and researching NMVTIS history reports. It was determined that the vehicle in Wyoming was a cloned vehicle. The VIN from one vehicle can be replaced with a VIN from an identical vehicle. This allows a vehicle that has a branding history to be passed off as undamaged, and in this case, makes it harder to trace and identify a stolen vehicle with an alert on the VIN. NMVTIS assisted WYDOT with identifying the true VIN on the Wyoming vehicle as a prior theft, which had been cloned.

Odometer Fraud

A 2014 Ford pickup was purchased by a private sale. The vehicle odometer showed 145,679 miles. The prior title from South Dakota showed 81,414 miles. During the title process, a NMVTIS report was ordered and showed the true mileage of 281,414. Evidence shows the odometer reading on the South Dakota printed title had been altered and the odometer on the vehicle had been changed fraudulently. Without running a NMVTIS report or vehicle history report, the South Dakota title looked legitimate at first glance and one would not know the odometer on the vehicle had been tampered with. Odometer fraud occurs when the seller of a vehicle falsely represents the actual mileage of a vehicle to the buyer. The perpetrator of fraud tampered with the odometer to be able to sell the vehicle for a higher profit.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “this type of crime allows more than 450,000 vehicles to be sold each year at prices well above their true market value, making this a $1 billion business.”

Vehicle Restorations

A Wyoming resident purchased a 1967 Austin Healey from a restoration company in Pennsylvania in February 2017 and obtained a Wyoming title. Subsequently, the Wyoming title canceled a Texas resident’s title for a 1967 Austin Healey he purchased from the same restoration company in Pennsylvania in October 2016. The Texas owner discovered that his title had been canceled when he sold his Austin Healy to a private individual and they attempted to obtain a title. The restoration company had to order a replacement VIN plate for the Austin Healey that went to Texas and accidentally requested the wrong VIN be placed on the replacement VIN Plate; they requested the VIN that belonged to the car that went to Wyoming. Had this not been discovered through Texas conducting a NMVTIS search before issuing a title to the new owner, titles for these two vehicles would have canceled each other out multiple times.

“The longer a situation like this goes undetected, the harder it

is to correct,” Ferree said. “Fortunately, the restoration company still had records of both transactions at the time this case was opened and were able to correct the error and obtain a correct VIN plate for the owner in Texas.”

Replica Cars

A Wyoming resident purchased a replica of a 1933 Ford Coupe with a generic VIN plate affixed that decoded to a 1936 Ford, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Replica companies build vehicles from current materials that resemble classic cars. Replica vehicles should not have VINs associated with or previously assigned to the actual vehicle models they replicate. An Arkansas resident purchased a 1933 Ford Coupe replica that was built by a different company but had the same Ford VIN on a generic VIN plate affixed to the vehicle. The titles for the two replica cars canceled each other out, and the Arkansas owner was denied an Arkansas title due to the NMVTIS

Photos: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Picture of NMVTIS History report showing the Pennsylvania title to Texas title, back to a Pennsylvania title to a Wyoming title.

Photo: WYDOT

report showing the Wyoming title for the same VIN being more recent than the title transferring ownership that he submitted to Arkansas. Had Arkansas not conducted a NMVTIS search before issuing a title, titles for these two vehicles would also have canceled each other out multiple times.

In Wyoming, replica cars can be issued a state assigned VIN if they were built from a kit and an old frame from a registered manufacturer was used. In this case, the Wyoming resident was required to obtain a state assigned VIN as the VIN affixed to his 1933 Ford was not assigned to that specific vehicle by Ford Motor Company.

Restoration and Replica/Kit vehicles can be very expensive investments for consumers, especially if upon making the significant purchase, the consumer is not able to obtain a title for the vehicle. NMVTIS gives agencies the tools necessary to identify

discrepancies like these, research the source of the errors and determine if fraud was involved. It also connects agencies from different jurisdictions in order to resolve title errors that occur from time to time. It is a crucial source for consumer awareness and protection.

Additional information about the Compliance and Investigation program can be found on WYDOT’s website. NMVTIS is under the authority of the Department of Justice and is operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. More information on the NMVTIS system can be found at https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/.

Wyoming Replica Car and VIN Plate.

Photo: WYDOT

Arkansas Replica Car and VIN Plate.

Photo: WYDOT

District Briefs

Headquarters Commission awards more than $17.16 million in contracts in February; Aeronautics Commission awards one project in February

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded more than $17.16 million in contracts for 10 Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its Feb. 15 regular business meeting.

A more than $1.82 million bid was awarded to Minnesota-based Bituminous Paving Inc. for a combined project involving chip sealing and traffic control at various locations within Converse, Goshen, Natrona and Platte Counties. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

Bituminous Paving was also awarded an $822,226 bid for a project involving chip sealing and traffic control on approximately 14.3 miles of US Highway 26 in Platte County. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

The commission awarded a more than $1.17 million bid to Cheyenne-based JTL Group Inc., dba Knife River, for a project involving asphalt paving, fencing, chip seal, traffic control, guardrail, milling and aggregate surfacing work on approximately 3 miles of Wyoming Highway 90/ Boxelder Road in Converse County. The contract completion date is Sept. 30, 2024.

Gillette-based S & S Builders LLC was awarded a nearly $1.58 million bid for a combined project involving bridge rehabilitation, asphalt paving, concrete paving, milling and traffic control at various locations spanning 0.9 mile on the Interstate 80 Business Loop in Albany County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2024.

An almost $1.4 million bid was awarded to Montana-based Streamline Markings Inc. for a project involving epoxy pavement striping work at various locations within Sublette, Sweetwater,

Teton and Uinta Counties. The contract completion date is June 30, 2024.

Streamline Markings was also awarded an $826,880 bid for a project involving epoxy pavement striping work at various locations within Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Johnson, Laramie, Sheridan, Sweetwater and Weston Counties. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

Streamline Markings was also awarded a $217,920 bid for a project involving pavement striping and traffic control on approximately 20.4 miles of US Highway 212 in Crook County. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

California-based Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring Inc. was awarded a nearly $1.24 million bid involving rock fall mitigation work, including grading, traffic control, seeding and erosion control work at various locations on US Highway 14 and Wyoming Highway 24 in Crook County. The contract completion date is May 31, 2024.

Eight of the projects awarded by the Transportation Commission this month

are funded primarily with federal dollars. The following projects were awarded using state dollars:

• Worland-based McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. was awarded a more than $5.11 million bid for a project involving milling, asphalt paving, traffic control, chip seal, structure rehabilitation, sidewalk and curb and gutter work on approximately 5.9 miles of US 14 in Crook County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2024.

• Utah-based Intermountain Slurry Seal Inc. was awarded a $2.97 million bid for a project involving chip sealing and traffic control in various locations within Albany, Carbon and Laramie Counties. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

The Wyoming Aeronautics Commission also approved an airport construction contract during its Feb. 14 regular business meeting. Z & Z Seal Coating Inc., based out of Montana, was awarded a $589,006 bid for a project involving

Total number of highway fatalities: As of February 12, 2024 2 One year ago 6

Total number of employees: As of January 30, 2024 1,842 One month ago 1,819 One year ago 1,786

crack sealing and other concrete paving work at various airports within Campbell, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara and Weston Counties. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2024.

Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.

Leadership Wyoming visits Headquarters

CHEYENNE – Members of the most recent Leadership Wyoming class got the chance to ‘touch a truck’ in February during one of their meetings. The group got the chance to explore a rotary plow, tow plow, trooper car and other heavy equipment, as well as hear from the Troopers and maintainers that operate them.

District 1

Public open house held for US 30/Whitney/Dell Range project

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, the city of Cheyenne, and Laramie County, along with Reiman Corp. and Aztec Construction, hosted a public open house to discuss the upcoming construction projects on US Highway 30/Whitney Road/Dell Range Boulevard in east Cheyenne. The meeting was held on Feb. 13.

The intent of this open house-style meeting was to present the project’s purpose and need, history, as well as the current project plans for public comment. The schedule of the project has shifted from the initial schedule presented in 2022. Engineers and subject matter experts were on hand to explain the changes.

After a short presentation, WYDOT, city of Cheyenne, Laramie County, Reiman Corp and Aztec Construction were available to discuss further questions about the project in panel discussion. Consultants from TriHydro and AVI also had exhibits displayed for the general public to view and comment upon.

US 30 work in Cheyenne

CHEYENNE – Crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Reiman Corp. and Aztec Construction began work on US Highway 30 in Cheyenne on Feb. 5. Crews began work at mile marker 365.74 with work ending at 368.36, Pershing Boulevard to Christensen Road, approximately 2.6 miles. The first phase of work started at the box culvert/greenway underpass east of Polk Avenue. Traffic was shifted to the north side of US 30 from the Pershing intersection to just before the Whitney intersection in a head to head configuration. Once crews complete work on the south side, traffic will be shifted to allow work to resume on the north. Greenway users should expect full closure of the existing greenway underpass until completion of the new underpass, expected this summer. Crossing of US 30 by greenway users is highly discouraged for safety reasons.

Other work includes milling and paving, shoulder work, signal installation at Whitney, and a median island installed from Pershing to Whitney. During the project, traffic will be shifted and left turns will be restricted in various locations. There is a 12-foot width restriction. Motorists should expect delays and adjust travel plans accordingly.

The majority of the project is expected to be completed by end of 2024, with crews returning in 2025 to complete the chip seal. All WYDOT project scheduling is subject to change, including due to adverse weather or material availability.

District 2

I-25 overnight closure allows needed work through Casper

CASPER – Overnight travelers on Interstate 25 through Casper early Feb. 1 encountered a detour as they approached the downtown area.

A short-term closure of the interstate allowed for much needed maintenance and traffic safety work in the area of the current bridge project over the North Platte River and Center Street. The safest and fastest option to do this work was to close the interstate between Beverly

The US 30 Public Open House drew a large crowd of interested citizens at LCCC.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Photo: Jordan Young/WYDOT

Photo: Jordan Young/WYDOT

Photo: Jordan Young/WYDOT

Street/Bryan Stock Trail and the Events Drive/Shoshoni Bypass interchanges.

During the closure, all interstate traffic was detoured: Southbound traffic at the Events Drive/Shoshoni Bypass interchange to Amoco Road and northbound traffic at the Beverly Street/Bryan Stock Trail interchange to Amoco Road. All on and off ramps west of Beverly to the Bypass were closed. The southbound on-ramp from East Yellowstone Highway remained open.

The closure occurred after midnight. The goal was to have all work completed and the interstate reopened before the morning rush.

District 3

Input sought on WYO 22 corridor improvements

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation hosted two public meetings to share their progress on the environmental analysis and design of improvements to the Wyoming Highway 22 corridor. These meetings were the second set of meetings hosted by WYDOT to discuss potential improvements to the corridor.

Following the public meetings held last June, WYDOT convened and worked with a project advisory committee composed of stakeholders representing a variety of local interest groups in the project area and a technical team consisting of local and state agency staff. Working with these groups, WYDOT developed an initial range of improvement alternatives to be considered and a process to evaluate these alternatives.

The meetings took place on Feb. 21 at Victor Elementary School in Victor, Idaho and on Feb. 22 at the Jackson Hole Middle School in Jackson. There was no formal presentation and interested parties could attend the meetings any time between the posted meeting times.

WYDOT officials and other team members were on hand to answer questions and discuss any concerns.

The WYO 22 Corridor Project extends from the Y intersection with Broadway Avenue to the west side of Wilson and includes a potential connection to existing Tribal Trail Road. This project involves identifying transportation needs and

improvements to WYO 22 and analyzing associated impacts, in coordination with stakeholders and the public. This work will be used to support a National Environmental Policy Act process that WYDOT hopes to initiate in late 2024/ early 2025.

Pothole repair work, delays on WYO 22

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with contract crews from Ames Construction, repaired potholes on the Snake River bridge and adjacent work areas on Wyoming Highway 22 at the intersection of Wyoming Highway 390 because of excessive deterioration.

The work took place on Feb. 21. Traffic was carried through the work areas at reduced speeds on a single lane under flagging operations. Drivers were advised to plan accordingly for delays through the work zones.

Crews worked to alleviate road damage on the bridge to ease commuting through the construction project during the winter.

Crews hope to finish the work in one day, weather permitting. The delay times varied depending on progress and cure time of the material, which is temperature dependent.

The work is part of the Snake River Bridge and Intersection project, which was awarded in November 2022. The work includes the replacement of the Snake River Bridge on WYO 22, the reconstruction of the intersection of WYO 22 and WYO 390, wildlife crossings and other work on approximately 1.80 miles of WYO 22 and WYO 390 in Teton County. More information about the project history is available at www.dot.state. wy.us/snakeriver. The completion date for this project is June 30, 2025.

Avalanche infrastructure maintenance caused traffic delays in Hoback Canyon

JACKSON – WYDOT crews performed maintenance on the avalanche infrastructure in Hoback Canyon Feb. 17. The work caused intermediate delays for traffic of up to 15 minutes at a time as

helicopter operations landed and took off.

Crews used helicopter operations in the Stinking Springs area of Hoback Canyon to do some general maintenance of the avalanche infrastructure O’Bellx units. These units use explosions to trigger smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent dangerous, uncontrolled conditions. The O’Bellx units are remotely operated by computer and are installed, removed and repaired by helicopter.

For the safety of the traveling public and the safety of WYDOT crews, the road must be briefly closed and free of moving traffic for helicopter operations to collect the equipment for summer maintenance. Ideally, motorists should only see brief delays as the helicopter carries the O’Bellx units down the mountain. Roadside flaggers will control traffic for the operation.

District 5

Bridge work underway on US 20/WYO 789

THERMOPOLIS – A $6.97 million highway improvement and fence replacement project has started on US Highway 20/Wyoming Highway 789 north of Thermopolis.

The Thermopolis North project is between mileposts 133.4 (the old National Guard Armory) and 139.5 (Black Mountain Road) on US 20/WYO 789.

“At this time, the contractor is cleaning under the bridge by the Fountain of Youth Campground (milepost 135.04),” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Kaia Tharp of Thermopolis.

The bridge cleanup is helping the contractor prepare for a May start of nearly two months of rehabilitation of the bridge by the campground. Traffic control during the bridge repairs will include one-way traffic movements across the bridge through use of a portable traffic signal.

Other project work is tentatively scheduled to begin in May.

“The contractor is scheduled to begin replacing cattle guards throughout the project in May,” Tharp said. “Guardrail replacement over Hospital Hill and dirt work are scheduled to occur prior to paving.”

Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell. Contract comple-

tion date is June 30, 2025. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the project to Mountain Construction Co., this past November.

Project work on the pavement preservation project includes pavement leveling, a pavement overlay, chip sealing, widening of maintenance pullouts through the project, fence removal and replacement, placement of rock rip rap, guardrail removal and replacement, placement of asphalt curbing, and bridge deck rehabilitation and a bridge overlay near the campground.

Pipe work began on US 14/16/20 project east of Cody

CODY – A $9.2 million highway improvement and fence replacement project on US Highway 14/16/20 started Feb. 5 with pipe work about 13 miles east of Cody.

“Motorists should expect shoulder work and a reduced speed limit of 45 mph during working hours. Pipe sleeving work and other pipe work will continue as weather permits,” said Wyoming Depart-

ment of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody. “There will be no other work on this section of highway or the fencing portion of the project until later this spring.”

The US 14/16/20 portion of the project begins just west of the highway’s intersection with Oregon Basin Road at milepost 61.04, east of Cody, and extends 14.68 miles to milepost 75.72, 2.02 miles west of the Park County/Big Horn County line.

Work east of Cody consists of asphalt milling, asphalt pavement leveling, a 2-inch pavement overlay, chip sealing, minor slope flattening, bridge rehabilitation at the Dry Creek bridge and other work.

“Pavement milling and shoulder flattening is tentatively scheduled for the first week of May,” Frost said. “Paving is tentatively scheduled to begin in May, with chip sealing scheduled in July. Most work, except for clean up and reclamation, should be completed by the end of July.”

Frost said motorists should expect a one-lane roadway with traffic movements controlled by temporary traffic signals at the Dry Creek bridge when work is being done on the bridge.

“Motorists should expect maximum cumulative traffic delays of up to 20 minutes during all work on the project,” Frost said. “A 12-foot width restriction will be in place across the Dry Creek bridge.”

A portion of the project also takes place on Wyoming Highway 120, north of Cody from milepost 111.00, 11 miles north of Cody, and extends 7.54 miles north to the south end of Chapman Bench at milepost 118.54.

Work north of Cody includes fence removal and replacement and other work. This work is tentatively scheduled to begin in March along WYO 120.

Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell. Contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2024.

HR Happenings A&I hosting “Ideas Festival”

Employees encouraged to submit ideas before March 29

By Jordan Young

The Department of Administration and Information announced in February that submissions are now open for its Ideas Festival.

The Ideas Festival is a chance for employees to submit ideas about ways the state can boost morale, save money, generate money or improve processes.

Some longtime employees may remember the STAR program, which was an acronym for “Savings, Tips and Rewards.” The program first started in the 1980s, under a different name, and in 11 years awarded just over $10,000 to 31 people. They also gave out 41 days of admin leave folks that saved the state money, according to the recent Subject Matter Minute about the festival. The program was revamped again in 1999, and that year they gave out just over $7,000 to nine people and 51 days of leave to others.

There were also ideas gathered in 2020 with the new name, Ideas Festival

No matter the name, the program remains committed to crowdsourcing ways to improve state operations, save state funds, or otherwise improve life for employees.

“The cool thing about this program is that it’s the state taking advice from those on the ground, those doing the work, those getting their hands dirty – either for real or figuratively,” Matt Nagy said in the Subject Matter Minute episode.

Ideas can be submitted using the Google Form when following this QR code:

Please submit separate requests if you have more than one great idea. The deadline for all submissions is March 29.

Highway Safety Vehicle Safety

By Kari Fictum, Highway Safety

Safe Cars Save Lives: This is the lifesaving message the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to share with all vehicle owners. To help keep everyone safe on the road, it is important for vehicle owners to maintain their vehicles properly and regularly check for any open safety recalls.

The Safe Cars Save Lives safety campaign aims to remind all vehicle owners that every vehicle recall is a safety-related issue, which means it is essential to get the repair done immediately. NHTSA provides free user-friendly recall look-up tools that allow vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls for their vehicles and other automotive equipment, such as tires, trailers, and car seats. NHTSA recommends owners check for recalls twice yearly, coinciding with both the start and end of Daylight Saving Time (March and November).

and wheels (5 percent). The remaining contributing circumstances (50 percent) include items such as truck coupling/trailer hitch, power train, lights, cruise control, mirrors, defroster, cargo blocking view, and wipers.

Most vehicle contributing circumstances can be prevented by following suggested maintenance schedules and by the owner conducting periodic vehicle safety checks. It’s also important to perform necessary maintenance before driving, which includes clearing all snow/ice off the vehicle (especially the windshield, windows, and mirrors) and insuring towed vehicles/trailers are connected properly with the addition of safety chains should the coupling/hitch fail.

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is March 4-10, 2024: According to NHTSA millions of vehicles are recalled each year. During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, NHTSA urges vehicle owners to take a few minutes to check their vehicles for open recalls. Checking for open recalls is free, quick, and easy. To check for vehicle recalls and to get more information about getting a recall repair, visit www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter the vehicle’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number in the VIN Look-Up Tool. This tool will provide details on any unrepaired recall for the vehicle for at least the past 15 calendar years. There is also an opportunity to sign up for Recall Alerts to receive an email if the vehicle is included in a future recall. Owners can also download the free SaferCar app to help keep informed about vehicle and other automotive equipment recalls.

While vehicle safety recalls should be checked at least twice yearly, regular vehicle maintenance should occur year-round to help ensure a vehicle is in safe working condition before traveling on the roadway. Vehicle owners should regularly check their vehicles for any safety concerns, especially when planning to drive longer distances or when expecting inclement weather. Safety concerns include odd breaking sounds/behaviors, worn tires, low tire pressure, worn wiper blades, burnt out light bulbs, low washer fluid, etc. If an owner finds a safety concern, it should be addressed or repaired as soon as possible. Ignoring a safety concern puts drivers, passengers, and others on the road at risk.

In Wyoming, during the most recent five-year period (20182022), 3,520 traffic crashes involved at least one vehicle with at least one contributing circumstance (a pre-existing vehicle defect or maintenance condition that may have contributed to the crash), which accounts for around 5 percent of all traffic crashes. These crashes included 162 critical crashes (7 percent of all critical crashes), 638 serious crashes (6 percent of all serious crashes), and 2,720 damage crashes (5 percent of all damage crashes) resulting in 45 fatal injuries, 169 suspected serious injuries, 555 suspected minor injuries, and 347 possible injuries.

Nearly 3,700 vehicles involved in a traffic crash for the years 2018-2022 were reported to have had at least one contributing circumstance (up to two contributing circumstances may be reported per vehicle). The top five contributing circumstances include tires (19 percent), brakes (15 percent), steering (6 percent), an obstructed windshield (5 percent) due to ice/snow,

FAST FACTS

Wyoming crash data from 2018-2022 report that:

• Around 5 percent of all traffic crashes involved at least one vehicle with at least one contributing circumstance (pre-existing vehicle defect or maintenance condition that may have contributed to the crash).

• Just over 7 percent of all critical crashes involved at least one vehicle with at least one contributing circumstance.

• Roughly 6 percent of all serious crashes involved at least one vehicle with at least one contributing circumstance.

• Nearly 3,700 vehicles involved in a traffic crash were reported to have had at least one contributing circumstance.

• The top vehicle contributing circumstance reported in a traffic crash was tires (19 percent). Brakes also accounted for a significant amount at 15 percent.

CRASH CATEGORIES:

Critical Crashes – fatal and suspected serious injury crashes.

Serious Crashes – suspected minor injury and possible injury crashes.

Damage Crashes – no apparent injury and injury unknown crashes.

BY THE NUMBERS

Wyoming crash data Feb. 1, 2024 vs. (Feb. 1, 2023):

Fatalities: 1 (16)

Serious Injuries: 19 (38)

Alcohol-Involved Fatalities: 1 (1)

Bicycle-Involved Fatalities: 0 (0)

CMV-Involved Fatalities: 0 (11)

Drug-Involved Fatalities: 0 (6)

Motorcycle-Involved Fatalities: 0 (0)

Pedestrian-Involved Fatalities: 0 (2)

Speed-Related Fatalities: 0 (11)

Data current as of 02/20/2024

Come for the safety tips, stay for the horn honking Kindergarten students visit the Cheyenne maintenance shop

By Mark Horan

Approximately 60 kindergarten and Pre-K aged children from Cole Elementary School toured the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s “Round House” maintenance facility in Cheyenne on Feb. 20.

The field trip was organized by Maintenance Vocational Equipment Trainer Lawrence Pavone and his wife, Carrie, with assistance from the Cheyenne maintenance crews and Wyoming Highway Patrol Capt. Tim Romig.

During the event the students were able to check out a snowplow, sweeper, patrol car and other equipment.

“My favorite part was honking the plow horn,” one girl said.

On their tour, the group learned about vehicle safety kits, safe driving around plows and the importance of slowing down in winter conditions. They received

plastic hard hats, activity books and WHP stickers as souvenirs.

“We try and instill a little basic safety information in the kids, with the hope that they’ll take home some reminders for mom and dad,” Pavone said.

“Something we can all do to help keep each other safe is to make sure each of us is wearing a seatbelt,” Romig told the group.

The field trip was also a good opportunity to introduce the youngsters to the vast array of services that WYDOT provides.

“You never know, some of these kids might come to work for us one day,” Pavone said.

Students from Cole Elementary on a tour of the Cheyenne maintenance facility. Maintenance Vocational Equipment Trainer Lawrence Pavone (second from right) answers questions while Capt. Tim Romig (third from right) looks on.

Photo: Mark Horan/WYDOT

Pavone leading a Q and A with the kindergartners and their chaperones in front of a rotary plow.

Photo: Mark Horan/WYDOT

Noteworthy Rawlins Foreman Ackerman honored at Gov’s State of State address

67th Legislature convenes 2024 Budget Session

By Jordan Young

Governor Mark Gordon touched on a variety of topics during his annual State of the State address in February, including specifically thanking WYDOT and the Wyoming Highway Patrol for stepping up, despite being shorthanded, to “meet unprecedented demands” during the historic 2022/2023 winter season.

The address kicked off the 2024 Budget Session and the convening of the state’s 67th Legislature on Feb. 12.

Gordon made sure to specifically thank Rick Ackerman, foreman in Rawlins, for coordinating plow efforts during such a harsh winter.

“Everyone needs to know Rick worked 59 consecutive days, endured three vehicle hits while he was plowing Interstate 80 and aided in rescues of several stranded motorists,” Gordon said in his speech. “Rick I want to thank you for showing the cowboy spirit: living each day with courage, doing what has to be done, and keeping your promises.”

Following those remarks, Ackerman received a standing ovation from all the Wyoming legislators and other elected officials in the chambers.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Ackerman said. “I was able to sit next to the Governor, was interviewed by the media, and met so many new people. It really was a once in a lifetime experience.”

Ackerman added he was thankful to Director Darin Westby for “taking time out of his schedule to escort me around for the

day.”

“I had never been to the Capitol Building before, he made sure I felt comfortable,” he added.

While Ackerman was honored in person, Gordon thanked all state employees in his speech as well.

“They’re committed, skilled, resourceful, and professional” Gordon said.

Gordon then remarked on recent efforts to bring state employee compensation closer to market rate, and mentioned wanting to continue those efforts to bring employees to a fair wage through this year’s budget.

To watch the full State of the State, watch the Wyoming PBS YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiy2Ew6kp3g

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

As Director Darin Westby said in an email to staff on Feb. 9, Executive Staff, Management Services and other key programs spent much of February tracking key bills that moved through the session, with periodic updates to all employees throughout the session via email.

“We are monitoring hundreds of bills for potential department impacts,” he wrote. “Since this is a budget session, the legislature will concentrate on budget-related bills, but other legislation of interest to WYDOT concerning light and high profile vehicles, commercial driver licenses, vehicle registration, and other topics may still be considered. Bills affecting the workforce such as retirement contributions, pay, and other issues are also possible.”

To see all bills, view legislative meetings remotely or other helpful legislative information, visit the LSO website: wyoleg.gov

The session is scheduled to conclude on March 8. More details about any bills that passed that may affect WYDOT operations will be featured in the April Interchange.

WYDOT Rawlins Foreman Rick Ackerman stands as he’s recognized during Governor Mark Gordon’s 2024 State of the State address in February. Ackerman was recognized for the work WYDOT did during the historic 2022/2023 winter season.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, left, stands with WYDOT Rawlins Foreman Rick Ackerman. Ackerman was thanked as part of the Governor’s State of the State address, which convened the 67th Legislature for the 2024 Budget Session in February.

Photo: WYDOT

Snow Plow Simulator

By Andrea Staley

Crews in Rawlins and surrounding shops were able to test out the snow plow simulator from Powell Community College the week of Jan. 22-26. Brian Pittman, area maintenance supervisor, out of Basin transported the operation down. Operators were able to test a variety of conditions; mountain plowing versus interstate, night versus daytime, high winds, low visibility and the

list goes on. Operators were also able to plow with a tow plow attachment. While seated in the simulator, Pittman had some fun throwing them some curve balls while plowing.

“District 1 Public Involvement Specialist Andrea Staley even got in on the action. She only wrecked one time!” said Pittman.

Thank you Powell Community College for the experience.

U.S. Forest Service

Pole Mountain seasonal closures, non-motorized access use permitted

LARAMIE – Annual, seasonal road closures on the Pole Mountain unit went into effect Feb. 1 to protect resources in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Seasonally restricted routes consist of all roads on Pole Mountain except Interstate 80, Wyoming Highway 210, Forest Road 700 west of Vedauwoo Campground, Tie City and Happy Jack parking areas, as well as Forest Roads 719 and 719.A. Signage and swinging gates are used to ensure easy identification of closed areas.

The 55,000-acre unit between Laramie and Cheyenne in southeast Wyoming sees heavy year-round use. To accommodate non-motorized public access during the closure period, three parking areas exist along WYO 210. The lots are located at the junction of the highway and For-

est Roads 700 (Vedauwoo Road), 707 (Blair-Wallis Road), and 712 (Telephone Road).

Specific to the heavily used Tie City parking lot and winter trailhead, when the parking lot is full recreationists should seek access and parking at alternate locations, such as Happy Jack or the I-80 rest area. Parking along WYO 210 is not allowed.

The end date of the annual closure is flexible, as it is dependent on weather and road conditions. District staff will monitor and evaluate conditions on Pole Mountain during late spring to facilitate the re-opening of all roads as soon as practical.

The decision to seasonally close roads on Pole Mountain during snowmelt and/ or wet conditions is a result of the Pole Mountain Travel Management project decision, signed in July 2017. Reduction of resource damage is the intent of the seasonal closures.

Pole Mountain remains available for public use with the road closures in place.

Non-motorized access for a wide variety of activities and uses is permitted during the closure period.

It is important to remember that even when roads begin to dry and reopen; motorized users must remain on designated routes and are not permitted to travel off-road.

If you have first-hand information about any incidents of resource damage caused by unauthorized motorized vehicle use, please call the Medicine Bow National Forest-Laramie Ranger District anonymous tip line at 307-745-2392.

When calling the tip line, select option 5 (“to report any other information”). Please provide information about the date, time, location and any identifying facts about the activity. You are not required to leave your name or contact information, but it can be helpful in identifying responsible individuals.

For more information about roads on Pole Mountain, contact the Laramie Ranger District at 307-745-2300.

Baggs Foreman Trevor Ballinger tries out the simulator while Saratoga Kevin Treat looks on.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Saratoga Heavy Equipment Operator Kevin Treat in the driver’s seat before a simulation.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Stay safe during tax season

By Enterprise Technology Services

Tax season can be stressful, and bad cyber actors add even more anxiety to this season. Following a few best practices can help protect your refund!

As we move into 2024, cybersecurity will be top of mind for many. With tax season just around the corner, it’s crucial that individuals and businesses alike take proactive steps to protect their sensitive data.

Though cyber threats evolve yearly, some best practices remain tried and true.

Here are 10 tips from the Internal Revenue Service to help minimize exposure to fraud and identity theft:

• Safeguard personal data. Provide a Social Security number, for example, only when necessary. Only offer personal information or conduct financial transactions on sites verified as reputable, encrypted websites.

• Protect personal information. Treat personal information like cash – don’t hand it out to just anyone. Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank and even utility account numbers can be used to help steal a person’s money or open new accounts.

• Use strong passwords. Use a password phrase or series of words that will be easy to remember. Use at least 10 characters; 12 is ideal for most home users. Mix letters, numbers and special characters. Try to be unpredictable – don’t use names, birth dates, or common words. Don’t use the same password for many accounts and avoid sharing them. Keep passwords in a secure place or use password management tools.

• Set password and encryption protections for wireless networks. If a home or business Wi-Fi is unsecured, it allows any computer within range to access the wireless network and potentially steal information from connected devices. Whenever it is an option for a password-protected account, users should also opt for a multi-factor authentication process. Multi-factor authentication is critical to protecting your password.

• Use security software. An anti-virus program should protect from viruses, Trojans, spyware and adware. The IRS urges everyone to use an anti-virus program and keep it current. Set security software to update automatically so it can be updated as threats emerge.

• Educate those less experienced about online safety. Children and those with less online experience may be unaware of the perils of opening suspicious web pages, emails, or documents. Teens and younger users can put themselves at risk by leaving a trail of personal information for con artists to follow.

• Back up files. No system is entirely secure. Copy important files, including federal and state tax returns, onto removable discs, backup drives and cloud storage. Store discs, drives and paper copies in secure, locked locations.

• Know the risks of public Wi-Fi. Connection to public Wi-Fi is convenient and often free, but it may be unsafe. Hackers

TAX

and cybercriminals can easily steal personal information from these networks. Always use a virtual private network when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

• Review ID Theft Central. Designed to improve online access to information on identity theft, it serves taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses.

Avoid phishing scams. The easiest way for criminals to steal sensitive data is to ask for it. IRS urges people to learn to recognize phishing emails, calls, or texts that pose as familiar organizations such as banks, credit card companies, or even the IRS. Keep sensitive data safe and:

• Be aware that an unsolicited email with a request to download an attachment or click on a URL could appear to come from someone you know, like a friend, work colleague, or tax professional, if their email has been spoofed or compromised.

• Don’t assume internet advertisements, pop-up ads, or emails are from reputable companies. If an ad or offer looks too good to be true, take a moment to check out the company behind it.

• Never download “security” software from a pop-up ad. A pervasive ploy is a pop-up ad that indicates it has detected a virus on the computer. The download most likely will install some malware. Reputable security software companies do not advertise in this manner.

Tips:

• Get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS – An IP PIN is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number.

• Beware of emails, calls, or texts “claiming” they are the IRS. The IRS will not call without sending physical mail first.

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication which creates an extra layer of security, such as a fingerprint or a unique one-time code sent to your phone. Most online tax preparation services have this tool available.

• File early – the sooner you file, the less time cybercriminals have to file a fake return. While having your refund routed illegally to a scammer bank account isn’t common, getting done with your taxes reduces the chances. The IRS will not email, text, direct message you, or try to friend you on Facebook.

Image: Carlie Dakins

Training What’s your WY?

By Kurt Borgaard, Training Services

If you’re feeling that there’s more in your program, section, or crew that can be tapped into, and probably more in you as well, you should consider applying for the 2024 WY Lead Advancing Leadership Academy.

This program is for those who envision a different kind of future and believe in their ability to influence others towards it. The WY Lead Leadership Academy is for employees who want to explore and broaden their leadership capabilities, help develop their team or colleagues, plus widen their perspective of the organization and the issues it faces.

WY Lead is a structured leadership development program for existing supervisors or those with previous leadership experience who are interested in advancing with WYDOT. It serves as the third structured development program at WYDOT following Know WY for our new employees and WY Supervise for our new front line supervisors.

The WY Lead program is meant to focus more on experiential learning (e.g., project work, coordinating team activities, organizational outings, etc.) and one on one mentoring / coaching (e.g., Leadership Development Plan) versus formal classroom learning.

It will be a blended program to include both synchronous (happens in real time such as in-person, on the phone, or during

a live video conference) and asynchronous (doesn’t happen in real time) events.

WY Lead is a voluntary opportunity for existing supervisors or those with previous leadership experience and should build upon their previous leadership knowledge gained through:

1. Experience

2. Formal training via IDP or other structured training opportunities, and / or

3. Other self-development

The WY Lead program lasts six months, starting in May and ending in November 2024.

The WY Lead program is a longer term commitment and requires time and effort. It is essential applicants discuss it with their supervisor up through their chain of command to ensure they will be given the time during work hours to complete it.

Detailed instructions and a link to the web-form application can be found on the Employee Intranet at Training Services –WYDOT-U. WY Lead Applications are due by March 29 and applicants will be notified of their status by early May 2024.

Read more on the Employee Intranet at Training Services –WYDOT-U.

We’d love to have you join us!

TRAINING @ A GLANCE

Coming in April and May:

District News

Headquarters

Welcome

William Arnold, Patrol-Safety and Training; Clarence Biggs, Patrol-Safety and Training; Aubrion Bloodworth, Patrol-Safety and Training; Catherine Brennan, Right of Way-Property Management; John Brizek, Patrol-Safety and Training; Jacob Burch, EquipmentMechanics; Gabriella Gallardo, Highway Development-Project Design-Support; Michael Gross, Patrol-Safety and Training; Brittany Johnson, Patrol-Safety and Training; Evan Marchildon, PatrolSafety and Training; Domingo Moya, Patrol-Safety and Training; Julih Pittsley, Patrol-Safety and Training; Kyleigh Price, Patrol-Safety and Training; Ariel Ramos, Patrol-Safety and Training; Larry Ray, Right of Way-Administration; Joshua Schofield, Patrol-Safety and Training; Parker Smith, Patrol-Safety and Training; Dalton Ward, Patrol-Safety and Training; Blake Waters, Right of Way-Engineering; Seth Wittke, Geology; Madoc Wrobetz, Bridge-Engineering Design; and Eric Wyatt, Planning-System Planning.

Promotions and Transfers

Cloyd Ash, Planning-Counter Shop; Kathryn Everett, Highway Project Management-Oversight; Seth Wilkinson, Right of Way-Appraisals; and Bruce Witt, Aeronautics-Flight Operations.

Service Awards

Robert Alles, Highway DevelopmentPhotogrammetry/Survey – 35 years; Mark Wingate, PlanningAdministration – 30 years;

Christopher Salmon, Emergency Communications-District 1 Radio Shop – 25 years;

Laura Schei, Maintenance Staff – 20 years;

Cheri Fagin, Driver Services-Training – 15 years;

Jonathan Goehring, BridgeEngineering Design – 15 years;

Kathryn Sednek, Highway Development-Project Development – 15 years;

Chance Johnson, GIS/ITS – 10 years; Kelly Cope, Environmental Services –5 years;

Gedeon Heilmann, GIS/ITS – 5 years

Matthew Oolman, Highway Development-Project Development – 5 years;

Jenny Parsons, Patrol-Records – 5 years; and Bonita Shenefelt, Patrol-Records – 5 years.

Retirements

Elena Alvarado Mondragon, a buildings and grounds specialist with Facilities Management at Headquarters, retired in January with 15 years of service.

District 1 Welcome

Charles Granke, Port of Entry-Laramie; David Smith, Pine Bluffs Maintenance; and Kacie Foelschow, Torrington Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Heather Schauer, Rawlins Construction.

Service Awards

Deidre Bennett, Highway Development-Project DevelopmentLaramie Design Squad – 30 years.

Congratulations

District 1 Maintenance on your Fundamentals of Service certifications.

Elk Mountain Heavy Mechanic Joe Neel has earned his master mechanic certification.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Brian Rushing (left), Elk Mountain Shop foreman, recently received his Master Mechanics Award from District Equipment Supervisor Jesse Burgess.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Alles

Goehring

Schei

Oolman Wingate

Sednek

Fagin Parsons

Smith

First Aid and CPR trainings were conducted throughout the district earlier this year. The Signing and Electrical crews have all been recertified. The above group is practicing CPR on the small child resuscitation doll.

District 2 Welcome

Lauri Gobble, Casper Construction; Joshua Hackett, Casper Mechanics; Eric Kirkendall, Casper Maintenance; and Branden Sauer, Kaycee Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Jeremy Holkan, Douglas Maintenance.

Service Awards

Cory Johnson, Torrington Construction – 20 years; Brett McKinley, Wheatland Mechanics – 15 years; and Kyle Fillingim, Emergency CommunicationsDistrict 2 Radio Shop – 5 years.

District 3 Welcome

Robert Ashworth, Patrick Draw Maintenance; and Jon Weed, Rock Springs Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Jeffery Holden, Wamsutter Maintenance.

Service Awards

Tyler Wille, District 3 Maintenance Staff – 15 years.

District 4

Welcome

Torrey Cannon, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail; Ann Gensichen, Buffalo Construction; Michael Hawkins, Gillette Mechanics; Dawn Turner, Gillette Construction.

Promotions and Transfers

Travis Unterseher, Newcastle Construction.

District News continued on page 18

Zachary Rouse (right), Laramie Maintenance, was awarded his FOS in electrical from District Equipment Supervisor Jesse Burgess.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Dustin Gray with the Laramie Mechanics shop earned his FOS in rigging.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

District Equipment Supervisor Jesse Burgess (left) congratulates Cody Cockroft on his FOS in engines.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT Community

Traffic Engineer Taylor McCort visited the 6th grade classes at Henderson Elementary and did a fun presentation about the importance of traffic signals.

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Photo: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Holkan

McKinley

Johnson Fillingim

Wille Unterseher

District 4, cont.

Retirements

Daniel Duff Jr., a senior technical operations tech with the District 4 Traffic electrical crew in Sheridan, retired on Jan. 2 with eight years of service.

Duff moved to Sheridan with his wife when he transfered with the railroad. After 32 years with the railroad, he joined WYDOT on April Fool’s Day 2015 and from that time on, made sure the traffic signals in the district were operating.

Duff is also a licensed pastor and spends his time doing humanitarian work around the world and locally on Native American reservations. He is an advocate for Celebrate Recovery and spends much of his time promoting and supporting those who participate in the program.

Duff plans to continues this work in retirement as well as spend more time with his hobbies of restoring old motorcycles and his 1967 Chevy pickup, riding his Harley, designing and repairing guns and knives, and starting up an LLC for his electrical business.

Promotions and Transfers

John Hoffman, Patrol-Worland; and Jessica Mullins, Basin Construction.

Service Awards

Randy Merritt, District 5 Construction Staff – 20 years; and Roni Stott, Cody Construction – 20 years.

Congratulations

5

Welcome

Drake

Worland

District 4 Engineer Scott Taylor, right, congratulates Daniel Duff on his retirement.

Photo: Laura Dalles/WYDOT

District

Andrew

,

Maintenance; Matthew Music, Thermopolis Mechanics; Stacey Thomas, District 5 Administration.

Jesse Preator passed general shop and engine tests.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

Mark Christopherson passed rigging and administration procedures tests.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

Reese Rettinghouse passed general shop, power trains, electric and hydraulic tests.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

Saughn DeFuentes passed his hydraulic test.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

Merritt Stott

Hoffman Mullins

Letters

Westby thanks Basin maintenance crew heroes

Motorist asked for help, crew members worked to save man’s life

Dear Fred (Sherburne), Catarino (Zapata), Craig (Brown), Logan (Whipple), Scott (Thomas), Jeramy (Capt. Pittsley), Andy (Hoffman) and Thomas (Gamblin):

I wanted to personally reach out to you to thank you for your quick thinking and decisive actions during the recent suicide attempt on US Highway 14. You didn’t necessarily expect to act as a first responder that day, but when faced with a serious situation, you stepped up and reacted professionally and compassionately in this man’s time of need. Thanks to your actions, he was able to get help and, as of writing this, is still alive. Your integrity and dedication to your neighbors and the travelers through our state

Rides

make me incredibly proud to work alongside you and your fellow employees.

I know a situation as serious as this one can weigh heavy on a person’s soul; please do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything from Executive Staff or me. We have your back, too. I hope in my travels, I will be able to travel up to District 5 and thank you in person.

With the utmost respect,

Darin Westby, WYDOT Director

Casper Driver Services kudos

Laura in the Casper office is such an amazing individual! We have had to go in three times in the last two weeks and she is just so on top of it and makes everything so easy for us.

Thank you for having someone like her on payroll.

Joshua F. Ryan, via email

Photo: Mark Christopherson

Mark Christopherson in Basin sent in these beautiful images of his 1969 Dodge Charger 500.

Reno Jct 4043 Michael Shaffer in Reno Junction calls this beauty his – a 2016 Harley Davidson Street Glide CVO.

Photo: Michael Shaffer

Passings

Paul P. Bercich

Paul Patrick Bercich, 75, of Cheyenne, died Feb. 14. He was born on May 28, 1948 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Peter and Sarah Bercich.

Paul spent his entire career at the Wyoming Department of Transportation, beginning with the Laramie Design Squad in college, retiring in 2010 as Highway Development Engineer. Bercich had 42 years of service with the agency.

His passion for the state and people of Wyoming was unmatched and he spent nearly every vacation exploring the state, hunting its lands or fishing it waters. In his career he gave back in many ways,

serving on numerous boards and commissions. Bercich was an avid University of Wyoming Cowboys and Denver Broncos fan, and leaves this world still owing on a longstanding Broncos bet with his friend Deacon David Zelenka.

Funeral Services were held Feb. 22 with Deacon David Zelenka presiding.

Scott T. Hamilton

Scott Thomas Hamilton, 53, of Dayton, Wyoming, died Feb. 14, in the Big Horn Mountains.

Hamilton was born in Helena, Montana, on Feb. 24, 1970. He grew up with his two brothers, Craig and Kevin, on a farm where he learned the value of hard work and the value

Hamilton

of family. He joined the Wyoming Army National Guard in 1989 where he proudly served for more than 15 years as a signal support systems specialist and cannon crew member sergeant.

Hamilton worked in different capacities with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, where he built his career for more than 30 years.

He was a loving family man who lit up the room with his witty sense of humor. Anyone who knew him knew he would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need without any questions asked. When he wasn’t working to keep Wyoming roads and interstates safe for people to drive on, he would spend his time fishing in the mountains, camping, hunting, ice fishing and cooking. Hamilton was a mountain man through and through. Services are pending at this time.

How many times do you say “uh” when speaking to a friend or in front of a group?

Are you terrified of speaking to a group, no matter the size?

Bercich

WTDEA

WTDEA HQ Chapter hosts first blood drive of 2024

‘The need is huge, and donation is the only way to help’

By Jordan Young

The first of Wyoming Transportation Department Employee Association’s blood drives for 2024 was a success, with 20 units of blood collected from 19 donors.

HQ WTDEA has hosted blood drives for about 30 years. Brian Rentner, principal bridge engineer with WYDOT’s Bridge program, has been blood drive coordinator for nearly half that time. Rentner said he’s been donating blood since high school after watching his dad donate when he was a kid.

“Blood is a fascinating thing in that no one has been able to artificially produce it,” he said. “The need is huge, and donation is the only way to help.”

Last year, the HQ blood drives collected 70 units of blood through five blood drives. For perspective, according to the American Red Cross, someone involved a serious car crash may require at least 100 units of blood as they recover.

Annually, only about 3 percent of age-eligible people are donors, which is about seven million people in the United States. The Red Cross estimates 43,000 people nationwide are in need of donated blood per day, totaling to about 16 million people per year.

Even if you don’t

donate blood, it’s important to know your

blood type. If first responders aren’t sure what your blood type is, they will give you O negative blood, which is a universal blood type but is often in extremely short supply. If you know your type, you can save that blood for more serious situations.

That monumental need hits close to home, too. Most donated blood stays within the community; your donations help your neighbors and local hospitals. If a certain blood type is needed but not available in a community, sometimes Wyoming Highway Patrol will conduct a “blood run” to help ferry it to where it is needed in the state.

In Cheyenne, the company that collects blood is called Vitalant. Vitalant collects about 1 pint of blood per donor; the average person has 10 pints of blood in their body.

Rentner said donated blood is usable for three to four weeks after the donation, but he’s never seen his donation sit on the shelf that long.

“If you want to know how urgent the need is, I’ve received a text from Vitalant within hours of my donation saying my blood was already on its way to a patient,” he said. “I hadn’t even taken off my Band-Aid yet.”

Rentner said in recent years he’s noticed a slight downtrend in WTDEA blood drive participation as some long-time donors with the department have retired. The goal for each drive is at least 16 donors, or more ambitiously, to fill the 20-24 appointment slots.

“I want to encourage anyone who can to donate,” he said. “It is very safe, doesn’t take very long, and we offer free snacks afterward for donors. The homemade scones and brownies have been big favorites lately.”

Beyond offering delicious snacks and drinks, WTDEA volunteers help at the donation sign-in table during the drive, coordinate the drive with Vitalant and overall encourage participation.

Want to donate or get involved? The next WYDOT HQ blood drive is April 23 at the Training Building – sign up for an appointment today at Vitalant.org or using the Vitalant mobile app.

Reach out to WTDEA to become a member today!

CREATE SNOW CLOUDS

PASS WITH CARE PLOWS

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Kimm Brookshire with Financial Services donates blood as part of the WTDEA HQ Chapter February blood drive at the WYDOT Training Building. The next blood drive is April 23, sign up for an appointment today at Vitalant.org.

Photo: Carlie Dakins/WYDOT

Break Time

Sudoku time! What are the 3 rules of Sudoku?

• Each row should have numbers 1-9, no repeats.

• Each column should have numbers 1-9, no repeats.

• Each 3x3 quadrant should have numbers 1-9, no repeats.

Have fun!

Answer to the February 2024 Break Time maze:

1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or

Send an email to Carlie Dakins at carlie.dakins@wyo.gov.

Address Service Requested