District News

Headquarters

Welcome

Holly Garrison, GIS/ITS; Alanna Jarvis, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-25; Jordon Lackey, Financial Services-Disbursements; and Jordan Remley, Right of Way-Administration. Promotions and Transfers

Nathan Bell, Patrol-Capitol Services Protection; Wesley Bybee, Materials-Administration; Caleb Decroo, Materials-Bituminous; Sabrina Ernst, Budget; Kathryn Everett,

District News Valley High School, Casper College where he graduated with an associate degree in law enforcement, and the University of Wyoming, graduating with Criminal Justice Administration. Driver Services-Policy and Records; Ratliff has also been a part of the WyoJames Garland, Traffic; Nicole Harvey, ming Army National Guard beginning in Driver Services-Policy and Records; Job March 1985. Lopez, Materials-Bituminous; Margaret In his spare time, especially now in Mordahl, Planning-Programming; April retirement, he enjoys hunting, fishing, Patrick, Employee Safety; Joshua Wal- camping and all types of winter sports. ther, Patrol-Operations. John Samson, WYDOT’s lone Service Awards agonomist and “roadside beautification specialist” packed away his wildflower Sarah Meyer, Bridge-Engineering seeds on Sept. 3, to retire after 27 years of Design – 20 years; service. He retires from the EnvironmenRonald Hartwig, GIS/ITS – 15 years; tal Services Program. Daniel Tolman, IT-Administration – Born on a farm in eastern Nebraska, 15 years; Samson continued his affinity for agriNathan Smolinski, Emergency Com- culture by attending the University of Nemunications-Administration – 10 years; braska where he received a dual degree in Damion Aldana, Motor Vehicle Ser- Agronomy and Ag Economics. Later, he vices-Registration/Title – 5 years; and received his Master’s degree during which Vincent Martini, Driver Services-Poli- time he had the opportunity to work with cy and Records – 5 years. some of the country’s best known experts Retirements on re-vegetating highly erodible lands, establishment of indigenous plant materials Russell Howe retired Sept. 9 from and climate change. Construction Staff as a Senior Staff Tech- After working for the Soil Consernician. He leaves WYvation Service in Nebraska, Samson’s DOT with 40 years of knowledge of re-vegetation practices led Ernst service to the state. him to Wyoming. Since his favorite “enHowe began his tertainment” was hiking in the beautiful career in February Wyoming mountains, the agronomy job 1981 as a temporary at WYDOT was a perfect match for him. micro-graphic records For 27 years, Samson was instrumental technician. He moved in re-vegetating all roads that were cut or into a job with the renovated across the state of Wyoming. Wyoming Highway Patrol in Overweight During his employment, he established Walther Loads. Howe was with Overweight Loads for 26 years before moving to Maintenot only native grasses, but also showy wildflowers along roadsides for many nance Staff in Cheyenne. He moved from miles. One of his favorite accomplishMaintenance Staff to Construction Staff ments is the establishment of the beautiin 2008. ful and iconic Palmer Penstemon in the When not at the office, Howe can be high steep rock cuts in Telephone Canyon found on the basketball court officiating between Cheyenne and Laramie. games, bicycling, woodworking or play- Anyone who was lucky enough to traving softball. el with Samson was quick to acknowledge that they had received a crash course, Shannon Ratliff retired Sept. 2 from albeit comprehensive, on native grass and Patrol-Operations as wildflower identification. Samson never the highway patrol lt. met a plant that he did not know and colonel with 30 years appreciate. of service to Wyo- Wyoming’s roadsides are certainly ming. Ratliff began his more spectacular due to his knowledge career with the WHP and efforts. n in August 1991. He attended Lander

Bell Mordahl

Tolman Aldana Martini

Meyer Smolinski Howe

Filip Camacho, Cheyenne Maintenance; Kyle Hurlburt, Cheyenne Mechanics; Elizabeth Landry, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad; and Kendall Smith, Cheyenne Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Brian Erickson, Cheyenne Maintenance; and Kenneth Lennon, Laramie Maintenance.

Lennon Erickson

Sharp

Service Awards

Ken Sharp, Cheyenne Maintenance – 10 years.

RIDES!

Photos deadline: 11/15/21

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Donald Bridges retired on Sept. 8 from Cheyenne Maintenance with 40 years of service to the state. Bridges was a Highway Maintenance Supervisor in Cheyenne.

He began his career as a maintainer in Saratoga back in September 1981, later moving to an operator position and a heavy.

Brand Fogg retired on Sept. 8 from Elk Mountain Maintenance. Fogg retires with 32 years of service to the state.

Fogg began his career with the state in April 1989 in the Photogrammetry and Survey Program in Cheyenne. After a year in the office, he moved to the maintenance side of WYDOT. He has worked as a laborer in Thermopolis, an equipment operator in Douglas, a welder in the fabrication shop in Cheyenne and a heavy and foreman in Pine Bluffs.

He retired as the Arlington, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow area highway maintenance supervisor.

Fogg has been a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard since May 1986.

Bridges Fogg

Congratulations

Ryan Shields has been selected as the new District Construction Engineer in Laramie, effective Oct. 1. n

Shields

Highway Maintenance Supervisor Brian Erickson (left) gives Warren Moeller (Crew 1034) his certificate for his 10-year service award

District 2

Welcome

Bradley Chapman, Wheatland Maintenance; Samuel Keck, Wheatland Mechanics; and Daniel Tiemersma, Casper Maintenance.

Chapman

Keck Tiemersma

Promotions and Transfers

Peter Cross, Patrol-Casper; Lawrence Huelle, Shirley Rim Maintenance; and Ryan Sorenson, Casper Construction.

Service Awards

Tyler Strickland, Casper Maintenance – 5 years; and

Terry Vollmar, Casper Maintenance – 5 years. n

Cross Sorenson

Bradley Chrisman, Rock Springs Mechanics; Wyatt Duran, Kemmerer Maintenance; Kimberly Pagh, Port of Entry-Evanston; Dane Widner, Evanston Maintenance; and Christopher Yarnell, Traffic-Striping.

Promotions and Transfers

James Brash, Wamsutter Maintenance; John Bundy, District 3 Shop; Lizabeth Porter, Pinedale Construction; and Clay Seals, Jackson Maintenance.

Brash

Bundy

Seals Service Awards

Stephanie Harsha, District 3-Administration – 10 years.

Welcome

Gregory Bland, Buffalo Mechanics; Richard Burridge, Sheridan Maintenance; Mark Conrad, Traffic-Signing; and Lorren Lane, Sheridan Maintenance.

Bland Burridge

Harsha Retirements

Richardson

Lon Richardson retired on Sept. 8 from Lyman Maintenance as a Highway Maintenance Supervisor with 25 years of service to the state.

He began his career in December 1995 as an equipment operator in Evanston.

Richardson is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served near and far from March 1974-August 1987. He had been stationed in Korea, southeast Asia and at Ft. Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Congratulations

Afton resident engineer, Darrin Robinson, was awarded the Patriotic Employer Award from the ESGR for his support of military employees.

An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating service member and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed. Robinson was nominated by our surveyor Tyler Mckenzie.

The ESGR is the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization--more information here: https://www.esgr.mil/About-ESGR/ Who-is-ESGR). n

District 4 Promotions and Transfers

Jeremey Frisbie, District 4 Maintenance Staff; John Holloman, Gillette Maintenance; Bradley Jones, Sheridan Construction; and Thomas Skubal, Gillette Maintenance.

Frisbie Holloman Afton Resident Engineer Darrin Robinson being awarded the Patriotic Employer Award by a representative from the ESGR.

Service Awards

Anthony Morris, Buffalo Maintenance – 15 years.

Retirements

Ronnie Moseman Jr. retired on Sept. 8 from the Wyoming Highway Patrol in Sheridan as a trooper. He retires with 24 years of service to the state.

He began his career in February 1997 as a trooper in Arlington and then to Buffalo before landing in Sheridan.

Moseman was a hazmat specialist in Boston, Massachusetts before coming to Wyoming. He is also a U.S. Army veteran where he served seven years as an aeroscout observer. n