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New information regarding a century-old murder discovered by staff at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is shedding light on the acts leading to that murder. According to a Wyohistory.org article by Dick Blust, an employee at the museum, the death of a game warden in 1919 may have been the result of legislation aimed at immigrants. On Sept. 14, 1919, a deputy game warden, John Buxton, encountered two boys, 16-year-old John Kolman and 17-year-old Joseph Omeyc north of Rock Springs. The two...
The Green River High School tennis squad showed how competitive they are in a series of contests with three other schools over the weekend. The team swept Torrington Friday in Laramie and nearly accomplished the same against Powell at home, with the Lady Wolves dropping one match against the Panthers Saturday. The team broke even against Cody, who also visited Green River, as the Lady Wolves lost 3-2, with two matches being decided in a tiebreaker, while the Wolves overcame 3-2, with three of...
The campaigns for seats in both the Wyoming House of Representatives and the Wyoming Senate have attracted a number of donors from throughout the state. Local races in Sweetwater County are no different, with candidates on both sides of the political spectrum receiving thousands in contributions from residents and political action committees. House District 60 For the Republicans, Mark Baker raised $8,864.96 to Ted Barney’s $25, according to state campaign finance records accessed Monday. B...
More details about a new soda ash plant project near Green River have emerged as work continues with state and federal agencies. The site is located west of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and will utilize a solution mining process. The company behind the project, Pacific Soda LLC, is conducting core hole drilling in the area. A Research and Development License application through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality’s Land Quality Division is in its public comment phase, which will r...
A new soda ash plant might be in the cards for Green River’s future, bringing with it jobs and other benefits at a time when economic uncertainty is prevalent throughout the state. Jim Zimmerman, the code enforcement specialist for the county’s land use department, said a company called Pacific Soda and American Soda has started the permitting process with the county. “They contacted us, they want to start (the process,)” Zimmerman said. Little information is available about the propose...
The Sweetwater County commissioners will get a shake up in 2021 as incumbent Wally Johnson will not be a part of the group. During the Primary Election Tuesday, Johnson missed out on proceeding after falling to third and being unable to surpass votes for Mary Thoman and incumbent Lauren Schoenfeld, who will go on to be the Republican nominees for the two available positions on the commissioners' board. According to unofficial results, Schoenfeld and Thoman were only separated by one vote, with...
The first reading of an ordinance that would allow local daycare operators in R-1 and R-2 zoning areas to increase their child counts from 10 to 15 generated a lot of discussion last week. The Green River City Council expects more discussion and public participation in the coming weeks. The ordinance was brought forward by Welcome to the Jungle Daycare, but has had stiff opposition from some neighbors. The change would still require a daycare to seek a conditional use permit before being...
It finally happened. I bought a new lawn mower last week and could barely contain my excitement when I mowed my lawn with it. How did this happen? I thought I’d be the last person to genuinely look forward to yard chores, yet here I am. I used to be cool -- OK, not really. But, there used to be a fine line between the feeling I would get when I’d purchase a household appliance and something legitimately fun. I find that line to blur and fade these days. The previous lawn mower was purchased for...
Zackery Mikesell herded up a few impressive titles while showing his goat at the Sweetwater County Fair. Mikesell earned Senior Grand Champion Showmanship, Grand Champion Meat Market and Grand Champion: Goat at the end of the fair. "I was really excited, I hadn't won a belt buckle in two years," Mikesell said. Mikesell brought a pure-bred boer goat to the fair, which he started raising March 27. His days would see him wake up at 8 a.m. to go to the 4-H Barn to feed, water and walk his goat. Afte...
It may not have been the result he wanted, but “Magic” Mike Hamel came out of his first Bellator fight with a strong showing. Hamel competed at Bellator 243 against Adam Borics Friday evening, losing to the Hungarian fighter in a split decision. Following the loss, Hamel said he’s doing what he normally does after a fight -- take the next week off. “I take a week off regardless,” he said. Hamel said he plans to spent the time with his wife and enjoy food he normally doesn’t get to eat while t...
By DAVID MARTIN Publisher The Sweetwater County commissioners are looking at another voluntary separation program to possibly head off future layoffs. The commissioners discussed the program Tuesday. According to Garry McLean, director of human resources for the county, the program had been offered eight times in the last decade. The program allows for employees close to retirement age to take an early retirement buyout. The goal is to either redistribute the responsibilities associated with a...
Several local nonprofit groups are set to benefit if the Green River City Council approves its yearly community service agreements. The Council was set to vote on the measure Tuesday night, approving the agreements in its consent agenda. The funding, which amounts to more than $104,000, was included as part of the 2020-2021 budget. The agreements don’t include the full list of organizations the Council budgeted this year. A $90,000 grant was budgeted for the Green River Chamber of Commerce, b...
The tough times Sweetwater County is experiencing are what motivated Dave Gray to run for election for county commissioner. “My fear is the economy is going to be in bad shape for two to four years,” Gray said. “It concerns me.” He said the announcement that the state could cut every job and release every inmate and still face a significant budget deficit got his attention, believing the shortfall to local government in the coming years. The Democrat is not stranger to county politics. He serv...
Right now, he isn't feeling nervous. "Magic" Mike Hamel's daily routine consists of training at the gym three times a day, with breaks between sessions consisting of time spent with his wife and his two dogs. "I'm chill," the mixed martial artist said. Come Friday, Hamel admits it will be different story as soon as his entrance music starts. Hamel, a former Green River resident, will be fighting at Bellator 243 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Bellator is the second largest...
Along with a schools being open to students Aug. 19, the Wyoming High School Athletics Association plans to host fall sports competition as well. An announcement from the WHSAA last week confirmed the fall season for all six sports: football, volleyball, tennis, cross country, golf and girls swimming. Practices are set to start Aug. 10 for 4A football, tennis and golf while practices for cross country, 1A-3A football, girls swimming and volleyball begin Aug. 17. “We are excited for our s...
The city is seeking impact assistance funds related to the Ciner expansion project. Last week, the Green River City Council voted to send a letter to Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to become a party in future Industrial Siting Council meetings regarding the project. On June 8, Ciner filed an application with Wyoming DEQ to build its Unit 8 refinery and associated facility to increase its soda ash production by 1.1 million tons a year. According to Wyoming DEQ, the project will...
Kids will be returning to their schools Aug. 19 if its reopening plan is approved by the state. The Sweetwater County School District No. 2 board of trustees approved its Smart Start Plan, which creates the three-tiered opening plan for the school year. The district will open in the first tier, but will change what tier it operates under depending on guidelines issued from county and state health officers. The first tier allows for in-person classes and activities as appropriate and buildings...
Businesses in Green River received More than $2 million in loans created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. In total, the amount protected 745 jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The CARES Act was approved by Congress to help address economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the areas funded by the act created a Paycheck Protection Program through the Small Business Administration, which allowed employers to apply for...
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is investigating claims of horses being sexually abused north of Rock Springs. According to Jason Mower, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, the initial case was reported June 25 after a property owner turned over trail camera footage depicting a man trespassing into a private corral and initiating sexual intercourse with a mare. Mower said the property owner became suspicious after leaving the corral locked and returning to find it loc...
By DAVID MARTIN Publisher An unidentified Sweetwater County man is the first person in the county to die from COVID-19, according the Wyoming Department of Health. The man was 77 years old and had health complications known to increase the risk of serious illness from the virus. According to Jason Mower, interim public information officer for Sweetwater Public Health, the man started experiencing symptoms July 7 and was taken to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County July 10 after testing positi...
Green River is joining a group of cities in monitoring sewage for presence of the novel coronavirus. Last week, the city council voted to approved a contract with the Wyoming Department of Health to monitor sewage for the virus. The health department is providing up to $28,000 in funding from the federal CARES Act for sampling and testing. Testing sewage for evidence of the coronavirus isn’t new to Wyoming. In April, Teton County started sending samples to MIT for testing as it allows s...
Responding to a recent increase in COVID-19 infections, the Sweetwater County commissioners debated a resolution mandating people visiting county buildings to wear masks while inside, ultimately passing it back to the county’s human resources office. According to the resolution, county employees would have to wear a face covering, but can have it removed if they’re in their private office of in another area isolated from the public. The mandate would have also required employees traveling to...
(Full disclosure -- David Martin is a member of the Green River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors) The shrimp boil won’t be taking place at River Festival this year as the event was canceled due to complications from the coronavirus pandemic. The marathon, Flaunt Your Fish and duck race events will continue as scheduled. The Green River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors discussed the long-running event during a special video conference meeting Thursday. The chamber initially c...
Residents of Green River and Rock Springs were treated to an unusual sight in the skies Monday morning. Two World War II warbirds flew through the skies on their approach to the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport, the sun reflecting off the polished metal fuselages and their engines announcing their visit long before they could be seen. When they landed at the airport, a small group of people had already gathered to get a closer look at the flying museum pieces. The planes, the B-17 bomber Senti...
Dana Sykes hadn't seen her husband since his fall April 19. Chuck said he was feeling dizzy before he "locked up like a tree" and fell down the stairs in the Sykes' residence, hitting his head several times. It was the second time he had fallen down the stairs. "He looked dead," Dana recalls. The couple's son and daughter-in-law were at the home and following CPR from his son and an EMT responding to the 911 call, Chuck was resuscitated. He was taken to the hospital and ultimately to the...
