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The Westvaco and Granger trona mines outside Green River that were owned and operated by Genesis Alkali have now been purchased and will be operated by WE Soda. "WE Soda is pleased to announced it acquired Genesis Alkali, the largest producer in the U.S. of natural soda ash," the company shared in a press release Monday morning. "Obviously, the Westvaco and the Granger sites have been very successful for 70 years, and they've got a great workforce," Craig Rood, Director of Government Affairs...
Workers from Sweetwater County and across Wyoming gathered on the steps of the State Capitol last Friday to make their voices heard. "Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, workers of all trades, today I stand before you to talk about something that affects every single one of us -- our safety, our rights, and our ability to work with dignity," Marshal Cummings said in a speech at the event. Cummings, the union president for United Steelworkers Local 13214, helped organize the rally to...
While some of our community members stood on the steps of the Wyoming Capitol last Friday, others stood on the stage of the Broadway Theater, but both groups shared a message about the importance of workers and their need to be protected. This week, three different plays are being performed in our community, and while they all have very different stories, they all have very timely messages. I feel especially connected to the three plays this weekend. One of them, I'm performing in. One of them...
Stories about mythical Greek gods and heroes, 1920s radium dial painters in New Jersey, and 1930s nightclub goers in Berlin may not initially seem to have much in common. However, all of these stories present their own challenging truths, and all of them are coming to life on stages across Sweetwater County this weekend. "Hadestown (Teen Edition)," performed by the Green River High School Theater Department, is a musical retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. "Radium Girls" from the Acto...
First responders in Green River have had a busy and difficult few weeks. Following a pile-up crash at the Interstate 80 westbound tunnel on February 14, local first responders have also had to respond to another fatal crash as well as a house fire. "When it rains, it pours," as the Green River Fire Department said. Less than a week after the tunnel accident that claimed three lives, another vehicular crash claimed two more lives, this time of Green River residents. On Wednesday, February 19, at...
The question of how property tax cuts could lead to reductions in local services continues to be a topic of discussion and concern locally, even as bills that could impact property taxes are still working their way through the legislature. The City of Green River has continued to keep an eye on the changes affecting multiple bills related to property tax, waiting to see what the effects on local budgets and services could eventually be. Meanwhile, discussions on the topic have continued across...
On the morning of Valentine's Day, the community of Green River was rocked when citizens looked outside and saw thick black smoke billowing out of the I-80 tunnel. A pile-up accident involving over two dozen vehicles led to a fire inside the westbound tunnel on Interstate 80, leaving three dead and several injured. While the tunnel itself did not sustain structural damage and is not in danger of collapsing, according to officials, the concrete lining inside was significantly damaged, and it is u...
"What can we do?" This was the question on the minds of many community members in Green River and throughout Sweetwater County last weekend after a tragic accident at the tunnels along Interstate-80. As residents heard about the accident, and about the efforts of local first responders, law enforcement, and emergency services that responded, many wondered how they could show their support to everyone involved. Lunch and someone to listen "A whole bunch of people started reaching out, saying,...
The future of the controversial Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bureau of Land Management's Rock Springs Field Office is less certain than ever after federal orders have essentially paused the process in order to review and potentially revise the plan. Sweetwater County elected officials recently shared the news that orders have been given that could revise the plan. The RMP would address how public lands in the county are managed, and has been strongly criticized by officials. "The Rock...
With Valentine's Day this week, the subject of love may be on people's minds more than usual. Unfortunately, the subject of empathy, often connected to and associated with love, seems to be under attack and up for debate these days. Empathy is simply defined as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another." Merriam Webster goes into even more detail, defining it as "the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings,...
Exploring and greeting people between rows of motorcycles and Harley Davidson products, a number of dogs searched for their forever homes, and several found them, last weekend. The annual "For the Love of a Pet" event hosted by Flaming Gorge Harley Davidson brought together local animal control and animal rescue organizations on Saturday afternoon, giving Green River and Sweetwater County residents a chance to see available pets, learn about adoption, and get pets microchipped. Staff and...
With legislation to drastically cut property taxes moving forward through the Wyoming Legislature, elected officials in Sweetwater County are speaking out to warn citizens of the potential effects these cuts could have, including the loss of public services and facilities. Both the Wyoming House of Representatives and Senate have put forward bills to cut residential property taxes. While numbers have varied between a 25% and 50% cut, current bills that are going forward are promoting a 50% cut....
Over 100 students from eight different schools filled the pavilion on Expedition Island last Friday, sometimes quietly working away on problems with pen and paper, sometimes loudly cheering on their teammates after they called out a correct answer. The Green River MathCounts Invitational brought together "mathletes" from middle schools across Southwest Wyoming. The students had the chance to test the math skills they've been working on the past several months, and to prepare for even bigger comp...
Concerns about the future of the Jamestown/Rio-Vista Fire District, and the future of fire protection in the Jamestown area, have been answered as three community members have stepped up to serve on the fire district board. Long-time fire district board members Dave Buller and Patsy Moody brought their concerns to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners during the December 17 commission meeting. Buller and Moody shared that the terms of all three board members were set to expire at...
A hometown hero was recently honored for his quick actions that helped save the life of his friend. Skyler Hossele was presented with a Citizens Lifesaving Award from the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office during the January 21 Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners meeting. "We firmly believe in honoring individuals who demonstrate extraordinary courage and selflessness in service to others," Sheriff John Grossnickle said during the presentation. "In keeping with this commitment, I am...
When people think of high school theater, they may not think of 24-hour plays, film festivals, card game nights, or state championships, but those are all part of the many things going on in the Green River High School theater department. "We're always trying something new," Theater Director Bradlee Skinner said with a laugh. From traditional to brand-new activities, the department regularly finds creative ways to have fun while learning and practicing new skills. 24-hour creativity The newest...
Before leaving for the start of the 68th Wyoming Legislature this week, local legislators stopped by to talk to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and see what main areas of concern, like property taxes, may need to be addressed. During the public comment portion of the January 7 meeting, Senator John Kolb and Senator Stacy Jones spoke with the commissioners about topics that may come up during this year's legislative session, with an emphasis on bills that may be put forward...
With the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) having released the Record of Decision regarding the Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Rock Springs Field Office, Sweetwater County is considering what a future under the new RMP could look like, as well as hoping that future doesn't come. While the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners recently met with Governor Mark Gordon to discuss the RMP on the same day that the Record of Decision was released, the commissioners still took time to...
As the first local government meetings of the year got underway this week, the elected officials leading the community acknowledged the changes and continuations to their governing bodies. For the Green River City Council, two incumbent members and one newly elected member were sworn in at the start of the January 7 meeting. Current Council Members Sherry Bushman and Robert Berg, alongside new Council Member Jessica Maser, took the oath of office Tuesday night, led by Judge Jason Petri. The...
Green River and Sweetwater County kept moving forward all throughout 2024. From making progress on ongoing issues, to addressing new challenges, to finding room for growth and improvement, the city and county, and the community as a whole, worked together to keep making progress. Changes in the city The City of Green River saw some exciting new features and developments added in 2024. The Green River Greenbelt Taskforce had a busy year, making progress on long-standing projects and celebrating...
A community is nothing without the people it's made up of. From those who lead in positions of authority to those who work behind the scenes, everyone has an impact. From those who share their resources to those who share their time and energy, everyone working together to give what they can is what makes a community strong. In 2024, the people of Green River and Sweetwater County consistently did what they could to step up, have fun together, help those in need, and keep our community moving...
Boys Swimming The Green River High School Boys Swimming and Diving team worked hard to keep growing throughout their season at the start of 2024. While it was a young team overall, the Wolves kept at it and made steady improvements. They picked up qualifiers for State at meets throughout the season, ultimately taking 17 athletes to compete. The team had an exciting and successful time at the 3A Conference Championships, where they took third place and had several athletes finish with...
As the year ends and the nation prepares for the incoming of a new presidential administration in January, the hotly-debated fate of public lands in Southwest Wyoming seems to hang in the balance. When he was in town last Friday, Governor Mark Gordon met with the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and local legislators to discuss the latest developments with the Bureau of Land Management's plans for the Rock Springs Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP). On the same day, the...
"Nice house!" The young people smiled as they called out from behind the rolled-down windows of their truck driving by. Robert Bostick chuckled as they drove away, then turned back to contemplating his plans to improve the waterfall made of Christmas lights cascading down from the roof. The waterful is just one of many features in Bostick's elaborate light display, which includes scenery and animals native to Wyoming. In addition to drive-by praise, Bostick regularly receives feedback on his Chr...
Without board members, can there be fire protection? That's the question and concern that board members of the Jamestown/Rio-Vista Fire District brought to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners this week. "We have served for many years, and we're coming to the end of our terms," Dave Buller explained, adding that the board has kept the fire service in Jamestown going. "Our concern is, in the first part of the year, how does that continue without a board?" Buller and Patsy Moody,...
