Letters

Andrew Mathison, Casper Mechanics.

Promotions and Transfers

Edward Reish III, District 2 Construction Staff.

Reish Hopkins

Welcome

Marshall Thompson, Kemmerer Construction.

Promotions and Transfers

Dannette Edelmayer, Driver ServiceJackson/Afton; Jay Nelson, Cokeville Maintenance; and Jason Smelser, Granger Maintenance.

Service Awards

John Wynn, Evanston Mechanics – 20 years;

Ty Jereb, Rock Springs Traffic-Striping – 10 years;

Robert Musfelt, Lusk Maintenance – 20 years;

Steven Hopkins, Chugwater Maintenance – 5 years; and

Danny Robinett, Wheatland Patrol – 5 years.

Retirements

Jeri Kennedy retired July 3 from District 2 Administration with 24 years of service to the state. Kennedy began her career with WYDOT in September 1996.

Gary Mellor retired July 3 from District 2 Construction Staff with 38 years of service to the state. Mellor began his career with the Department in July 1983. n

Gary Mellor and Jeri Kennedy both retired from the Casper office in July. The office held a party for them June 24.

District 3

Shaneal Miller, District 3 Maintenance Staff – 10 years; and

Michael Merritt, Jackson Patrol – 5 years.

Smelser

Wynn Miller

Retirements

David Chapman retired July 3 from District 3 Shop as District 3 Equipment Manager. Chapman retires with 32 years of service to the WYDOT. He began his career with the old Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, in April 1989 as a mechanic in Rock Springs.

Chapman is a U.S. Navy Reserve veteran. He was a member of the SeaBees Battalion Chapman and was honorably discharged in February 1995. n

Letters

Compliance and Investigation employee earns kudos

Shannon (Ferree),

Thank you so much for sorting this out. I really appreciate your going the extra mile in helping me out with this. You are living proof that government employees are here to help people. Roger Stewart

Editor’s note: A bit of background for this letter. Mr. Stewart was directed to the Compliance and Investigation Program and Shannon Ferree by the Teton County Clerk’s office. Stewart, with Teton County Clerk’s office, realized that the VIN on his title and registration did not match the VIN on the car. Ferree helped fix the error on the title and registration. n

Christine Jewett, Port of Entry-Sundance; Wesley Oellerich, Buffalo Construction; and Derek Smellie, Newcastle Construction.

Jewett Oellerich

Smellie Reimers

Promotions and Transfers

Andrew Reimers, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail.

Service Awards

Thomas Hulick, Buffalo Construction – 10 years;

Harley Kalb, Gillette Patrol – 5 years; and

Heather Steele, Driver Services-Gillette – 5 years.

Kalb Hulick

Steele

D4 summer happenings

Resident engineer and construction techs have been enjoying a light construction season this summer after several summers of heavy workloads. But that is about to change, as there are four large projects kicking off in September.

John Leahy’s Newcastle crew oversaw the statewide rumble strip project as well as wrapped up the WYO 59 project in Wright. Preston Beckstead and his Sundance crew watched over bridge repairs on I-90 in and around the Moorcroft and Sundance areas. Josh Jundt’s crew in Gillette were busy with finalizing the Garner Lake and Lakeway projects from last summer. Buffalo’s new resident engineer, Jake Whisonant, and crew completed the chip seal on US 16 west between Hazelton Road and Deer Lodge in June. Mick Brinkerhoff and team buttoned up the I-90 mill and overlay with wearing course east of Sheridan.

September will be a busy month for the Sheridan office, as they have two project starting after the Labor Day weekend.

Simon Contractors will begin a reconstruction of a portion of I-90 at the Acme Interchange west of Sheridan and will return in May 2022 to mill and overlay both east and westbound lanes west of the Dietz Port of Entry.

A joint venture of Reiman and High Country Construction will begin work on replacing the railroad bridge upon entering Ranchester on US 14. As with most bridge projects, this work can be done during the winter months.

The Buffalo crew will begin overseeing Croell Inc. with the mill and overlay with bridge repairs on US 14/16 between Ucross and Clearmont. Project completion is expected by the end of October.

Gillette began work on extending six passing lanes on WYO 59 south between mileposts 101 and 77. WYO 59 carries a large volume of traffic due to the strong presence of oil, gas and mining operations in the area in addition to commuter traffic. Extending the existing passing lanes should decrease congestion during peak commuting times and provide added safety measures.

Surveying and slope staking, kick off meetings and pre-cons fill the days throughout the district. The summer of 2022 will be a busy one.

Not to be eclipsed by construction activities, maintenance crews were busy with paving operations throughout the district. More than 30,000 tons of asphalt were placed on approximately 28 lane miles of highway. Director Luke Reiner stopped by and spent some time with the crew. He even spent some time behind the wheel of the paver.

When not paving, the District 4 team of maintenance techs, heavies and foreman have been working diligently on mowing operations, fencing and other daily tasks.

Deer have been thick around the Sheridan area this summer – a huge shout out to the guys who take one for the team being out and cleaning up roadkill. Guardrail has been operating with a skeleton crew due to promotions within D4 but are still able to replace and repair guardrail throughout.

Traffic has been able to manage the shortfall in paint supplies and have been out and about refreshing highway markings and painting new markings on the US 16 and I-90 mill and overlay projects.

Let’s not forget the mechanics in our district – they have stayed on top of things by keeping everything up and running. A big thank you to the Sheridan Shop (Brian and Trevor) for modifying the rotary shoot to accommodate the bubble machine for the Sheridan WYO Rodeo parade. n

Director Luke Reiner (left) spent some time with the District 4 paving crew – even spent time behind the wheel of the paver.