Articles from the June 17, 2015 edition


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  • City increases some fees

    Lillian Palmer, Staff Writer|Jun 17, 2015

    Green River City Council approved a nearly $22.8 million budget Tuesday night. This is the same amount approved as last year. As the budget remains the same for Green River, city fees are on the rise. “As costs go up normally we did small increases to cover those costs,” City Administrator Reed Clevenger said. Water, sewer and waste fees have been raised two percent. Among the sewer fees raised, monthly residential sewer user fees were raised 30 cents, from $16.61 to $16.94. Fees in solid waste and garbage rates, fees and charges went up. Mon...

  • Co. worker accused of theft, larceny

    David Martin, Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    A former employee at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum faces two felony charges after allegedly helping herself to museum funds. Cynthia Jaye McCullers will be charged with larceny and theft, facing a possible maximum $10,000 fine as well as 10 years imprisonment for each charge. McCullers’ initial appearance to the charges is scheduled to take place July 7 at 10 a.m. in Green River Circuit Court. According to court documents, McCullers’ charges stem from an internal audit the Sweetwater County Museum Board’s Treasurer, Tim Winger, condu...

  • Some public records are anything but

    David Martin, Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    For Marilyn Halsey, her attempts to understand family history were stonewalled. The Lewiston, Idaho resident and her husband traveled 800 miles to Green River to trace the history of his grandfather, a Hungarian immigrant who worked in the Gun coal camp outside of Rock Springs. Records she found painted the picture of a very proud American citizen who helped with local elections. Research conducted at the Sweetwater County Courthouse revealed the county paid him $6 for his work in a local election in 1915, shortly after he became naturalized....

  • Former resident regains mobility

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    With each step, there is pain, but Neil Scott is just happy to be able to move. Scott, a former Green River resident, can still recall the day he broke is back in five places. At the time of the accident, Scott, who now lives in Colorado, was working for Halliburton, at a shell location northwest of Pinedale. Sept. 16, 2009. It started out as a typical day, with Scott and a coworker were working on a new truck that was modified and new to the department. Scott and the coworker were attempting...

  • Tony Saulo "Little Tony" Trujillo

    Jun 17, 2015

    Tony Saulo "Little Tony" Trujillo, 52, of Rock Springs, passed away June 11, 2015 at his home.A longtime resident of Rock Springs, Trujillo died following an eight-year illness. He was born on May 30, 1963 in Rock Springs, the son of Tony J. and Lillian Lucero Trujillo. Trujillo attended schools in Rock Springs and obtained his GED and later attended Western Wyoming Community College. He was a self-employed landscaper and also the grounds keeper for the Rock Springs Worship Center. Trujillo was...

  • Christian Anthony "Tony" Riegger, III

    Jun 17, 2015

    Christian Anthony "Tony" Riegger, III, 67, of Green River, passed away June 9, 2015 at his home in Green River. A longtime resident of Green River and former resident of Utah, Riegger passed away following a brief illness. He was born on Oct. 9, 1947 in Baltimore, the son of the late Christian A. Riegger and Raye A. Gavin. Riegger attended schools in Holiday, Utah and graduated from Olympus High School with the class of 1964. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict from...

  • Fabiola C. Garcia

    Jun 17, 2015

    Fabiola C. Garcia, 79, of Rock Springs, passed away June 10, 2015 at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. A longtime resident of Rock Springs, Garcia died following a sudden illness. She was born on May 8, 1936 in Arroyo Seco, N.M., the daughter of the late Willie Cordova and Amilia Casados Cordova. Garcia attended schools in Arroyo Seco, N.M. She married Braulio U. "Ben" Garcia in Green River July 19, 1950 and he preceded her in death on June 25, 2011. Garcia was employed...

  • Norma Jean Boyer

    Jun 17, 2015

    Norma Jean Boyer, 90, of Green River, passed away June 13, 2015 at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. A longtime resident of Green River and former resident of Moab, Utah, Boyer passed away following a lengthy illness. She was born on March 28, 1925 in Auburn, Ill., the daughter of the late Gilbert Robinson and Bessie Woolary Robinson. Boyer attended schools in Auburn, Ill. and graduated from Auburn High School with the class of 1942. She married Harvey "Hap" Boyer in Dragerton, Utah on Feb...

  • This land is your land, this land is my land

    Josh Coursey, Muley Fanatic Foundtion|Jun 17, 2015

    Five years ago the Wyoming legislature adopted the Code of the West as the official State Code. Number nine of the ten articles spelled out in this code implore all Wyomingites to “Remember that some things are not for sale.” I mention this with a token of irony as discussions continue to be had regarding the transferring of United States of America’s public lands to the states. On the surface, no pun intended, the average Wyomingite would probably see this proposal as a good idea with a plethora of benefits and upsides. Heck, momentum of su...

  • Our View: Everyone can access records

    Jun 17, 2015

    Some of our readers may wonder why newspapers fight so hard in regards to open access to public meetings and government documents. This week, we published an article about a woman who was turned away from seeing a marriage license from 1915 regarding her husband’s grandmother as well as the results of a small public records audit we conducted. While some of our more cynical readers may view it as an attempt to either make news or draw undue pressure on hard working employees who have a lot on their plates, the fact of the matter is we’re fig...

  • Letter: Legislative act protects customers

    Jun 17, 2015

    Many people are not aware that important legislation was passed this session in Cheyenne to protect consumers. The Wyoming Telecommunications Act, through a strong coalition, was revised and extended. The legislation passed out of the Senate with only four opposing votes and passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously. And, while it was so widely supported, it’s important to know what the act does for people in Wyoming who may take it for granted. Thanks to the act, people will continue to have a guaranteed access to reliable landlin...

  • Resident questions city court system

    Jun 17, 2015

    Dear Editor, I am writing this letter as a concerned citizen of Green River. I have recently had the opportunity to experience the Municipal Court system within the City of Green River as a parent of a minor child. On April 1, my son was issued a citation for inattentive driving. He hit an unoccupied parked vehicle while backing up causing damage to both vehicles. He immediately contacted the police, attempted to locate the owner and then contacted me by phone. There were no injuries, drugs, or alcohol involved. It was simply an accident and...

  • Notes from Town Square: A history of Father's Day

    Misty Springer, Green River Public Affairs and Grants Administrator|Jun 17, 2015

    This year, Father’s Day happens to fall on the official advent of summer, an entirely satisfying coincidence since today, most celebrations for dear ol’ dad usually involve golf clubs, BBQ grills or fishing poles. Father’s Day is celebrated in about 70 other countries around the globe, many of them on the third Sunday in June, but it all started right here in America around the turn of the last century, not long after Mother’s Day was recognized as a commercial holiday in 1908. By 1909, 45 states observed Mother’s Day. Then in 1914, as World...

  • Horses help children learn

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    Despite the mud and water, two students in the project Forward Stride still showed up to ride horses. Cindy Brandjord, director and instructor for Forward Stride, was busy Monday and Tuesday helping students from both school districts in Sweetwater County ride horses as part of their equine therapy. Brandjord said the program, funded by the Sweetwater County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, allows students with mobility issues to ride horses. She said a horse's movement is closest to...

  • Flea market, picnic planned

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    The Golden Hour Senior Center is preparing for its Flaming Flea Market, which will take place during Flaming Gorge Days this year. A pancake breakfast will kick off the event, which will take place Saturday, June 27, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. GHSC activities director Megan Brown said she would like to see a lot of residents show up for the breakfast before the parade starts. She said it would be a good way to start the day. The $4 pancake breakfast, which will take place from 7-10 a.m., will...

  • State quilt show comes to county

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    The Wyoming State Quilt Guild is hosting the 2015 Quilt show in Rock Springs this year. Guild Co-chair Nena James said the event will take place at Western Wyoming Community College on June 25-28. James said this is the first time in the last five years that the quilt show will be in Sweetwater County. Rock Springs, the home of 56 nationalities is also known for a historic event, the 1885 Chinese Massacre. Another historical event the Quilt Wyoming 2015 Committee wanted to highlight is the Heart Mountain Japanese interment camp in Park County...

  • Museum seeks help in promoting eyes

    David Martin, Editor|Jun 17, 2015

    A pair of eyes on display at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum compete with 25 historical artifacts in the running to be named one of Wyoming's Most Significant Artifacts. Eyes are often referred to as the windows to the soul, but the eyes on display are actually a window into the Chinese influence within Sweetwater County during its early days. The eyes are decorative glass pieces originally part of a dragon that would be paraded through Rock Springs during the late 1800s. The dragon...

  • Couple to marry at island in July

    Jun 17, 2015

    Nicole L. Cooper of Thermoplis and Tito Flores of Green River recently announced their engagement and upcoming marriage. The bride elect is the daughter of Vickie and Bob Ward of Pinedale, and the late Daniel Cooper of Rock Springs. She graduated from Hot Springs County High School; and currently works at Loaf n Jug. The prospective groom is the son of Oscar L. Flores and the late Mercedes Flores. He graduated from Green River High School and currently works at OCI. The wedding is scheduled to...

  • Runners prepare for last Flaming Gorge 5K

    Lillian Palmer, Staff Writer|Jun 17, 2015

    It’s been a good run, but now it’s time to say goodbye. It’s been 30 years of running for John and Terry Pawleska. They have been the backbone to the marathons, 5ks, 10ks, the Frostbite race, the Riverfest marathon, and the Flaming Gorge 5K and others in the area as well. This year though, will be the last for their Flaming Gorge 5K. “We’re getting to the point where I’m ready to retire,” John Pawleska said. “We’re both in our sixties now and it’s time to slowly phase our runs out.” For now, they still plan on continuing to help with the annual...

  • Knights host annual invite tournament

    Staff Report|Jun 17, 2015

    Staff Report Baseball fans in Green River have a lot of action to look forward to this weekend. The Green River Knights will host its annual invitational tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Veterans’ Park and Stratton Myers Park. Featuring 10 teams and 30 games in all, the tournament gives the Knights’ varsity and junior varsity squads a chance to measure up against other teams in the region. Friday Veterans’ Park Steamboat, Colo. vs. Rawlins – 10:30 a.m. Green River JV vs. Price, Utah – 1 p.m. Rangley, Colo. vs. Evanston – 3:30 p.m. J...

  • Wrestlers compete in off-season matches

    Staff Report|Jun 17, 2015

    Competing in a total of 132 matches, 13 wrestlers from Green River recently competed in Paonia, Colo. against teams from Colorado, Utah and Nebraska. Coach Marshal Rhodes said some of the wrestlers competed in as many as 14 matches during their trip. "That is a lot of wrestling in a short time period," Rhodes said. He said the group, consisting of junior high and high school wrestlers, are putting forth effort to improve during the off season. He believes off-season competition like the matches...

  • Green River fencer takes the gold

    Lillian Palmer, Staff Writer|Jun 17, 2015

    It was mid afternoon in May, 2012. The day started out like any other day for then Green River High School senior Devin Harrison. It was three weeks away from the state track meet, which he already pre-qualified for. His track meet started like any other track event. He started the 200-meter sprint like any other race. He was in pretty good shape with good flexibility. "I warmed up well, like I would've any other race," Harrison said. Harrison was running well, a typical, nothing out of the...