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Publisher’s note: Originally, this was intended to be a debate-style article similar to the House District 60 candidates article for the Republican candidates running for Sweetwater County commissioner. Unfortunately, only one candidate, Mary Thoman, responded to our emailed questions as of press time. As such, we decided to run this despite the other candidates’ responses not being available. We will update the online version of this article if additional information is sent to us. 1. In three sentences, describe yourself and why you’re seekin...
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...
Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism recently received a $5,000 Community Enhancement Grant from the Sweetwater County Conservation District to fund two endeavors. The first component was to purchase educational material racks to display brochures that promote the exploration and protection of the outdoor wonders of Sweetwater County at the new “Explore Rock Springs and Green River Visitor Center.” The second component was to fund replacement landscaping materials for the Exit 102 and Exit 107 gateway entrances into Rock Springs off Int...
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...
The giant Boise-based agribusiness J.R. Simplot Company has agreed to pay $775,000 to resolve allegations it violated federal waste and community-protection laws at its phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant outside Rock Springs. Simplot representatives signed a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice on July 9 in which they agreed to pay injunctive relief and civil penalties to resolve a suit brought by the federal agency. Simplot “illegally placed” hazardous material in a waste pile of calcium sulfate byproducts known as a phosphogyp...
The critical point Sweetwater County is at pushed Rock Springs resident Joe Barbuto to seek election to the Sweetwater County commissioners’ office. Barbuto, a Democrat, believes Sweetwater County is at a crossroads as its revenues and job opportunities decline. He said it is important for county leaders to start planning for the future, which is one of the main tasks he would like to tackle if elected. Barbuto would also like to focus on creating opportunities as well as jobs for residents. According to Barbuto, community effort is a must f...
After being appointed to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners last July, Lauren Schoenfeld seeks election to the board. Schoenfeld has been working with the other commissioners to ensure Sweetwater County is in the best possible position during this very difficult time. “I have jumped at every opportunity to push for strong and diverse economic development, sound and fiscally conservative decisions, and a community that collaborates to be strong and viable,” Schoenfeld said in a press release. Schoenfeld believes that if the cou...
Two days after a Rock Springs man succumbed to complications resulting from a COVID-19 infection, a second person died from the illness. According to the Sweetwater County Public Health, a Green River woman in her 90s died July 15 at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. She initially tested positive for coronavirus infection July 7. She experienced worsening symptoms and was admitted to the hospital July 11. She was reported to have pre-existing conditions known to elevate the severity of symptoms caused by the novel coronavirus. According t...
A four-legged Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office deputy is sporting some new protective gear thanks to a kind donation. K-9 deputy Deena was awarded a bullet and stab-protective vest by Vested Interest in K9s Inc., a non-profit organization specializing in providing protective gear and assistance to dogs of law enforcement. According to a release from the sheriff's office, the vest, normally pricing $1,744-$2,283, was the result of a donation of $960 made by sponsor, Mark Riccardi of Monument,...
The drowning death of a Green River resident is being investigated by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office. Frank M. Ortega, 63, died Saturday while snorkeling alone in windy conditions approximately 50 feet offshore, between Squaw Hollow and Anvil Draw. Friends and family searched the shoreline by boat after they lost sight of Ortega and were able to pull him from the water. Despite performing CPR on Ortega, they were unable to revive him. A helicopter from Rock Springs was initially dispatched by emergency responders, but Ortega was p...
A team of healthcare providers at Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center recently provided a presentation during the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s virtual Quality Training Program Meeting. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County’s Cancer Center earlier this year was among 10 oncology practices nationwide to receive a three-year grant from the ASCO to target improvement in the delivery of cancer care in medically underserved communities. “Sharing our project and listening to other cancer center’s presentations was an awesome learnin...
As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, Sweetwater County is seeing more cases of the COVID-19 disease. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is no exception. “Just like businesses and healthcare entities all over the county, we have seen a slight increase in the number of staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said MHSC spokeswoman Deb Sutton. “The hospital continues to work with Sweetwater County Public Health in its contact tracing efforts to ensure that every potential contact is notified. “If there is ever a risk of...
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...
A fatal crash occurred Sunday south of Rock Springs, killing two men. At 4:06 p.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a one vehicle rollover. A 2002 GMC Envoy was heading north on US 191 when the vehicle exited the right side of the roadway, near milepost 525. The driver corrected to the left and exited the the left side of the road before the driver over-corrected a second time to the right causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 32-year-old Steven A. Reed. The passenger was identified as...
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...
Like many other local events, the annual Fort Bridger Rendezvous is being postponed to 2021. The rendezvous was canceled for the first time in 48 years due to concerns related to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The decision was made by the Fort Bridger Rendezvous Association Board after carefully considering their options. According to a press release regarding the decision, as the event has a large number of people attending each year, it would have been difficult to meet requirements such as social distancing and limiting contact with...
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...
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...
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Board of Trustees President Taylor Jones was reappointed to the board Tuesday, July 7. Sweetwater County Commissioners voted to reappoint Jones, who has served on the board since July 1, 2016. The appointment is for a five-year term. “It is an honor to be appointed for a second term, and an honor to work with the hard-working and dedicated employees of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County,” Jones said. “Collectively, we all have accomplished so many great things in order to position MHSC where it is to...
While summer may look a little different this year for the Sweetwater County Library System, the libraries are still working to provide fun activities for children. “We are offering Grab-and-Go activity bags, a summer reading challenge, online programs, and more,” said Lindsey Travis, assistant director for the library system. Grab-and-Go Bags The library’s Grab-and-Go bags each contain a project or activity for kids to take home and complete. So far this summer they have featured everything from moon landers to patriotic pinwheels. White...
The upcoming holiday weekend is anticipated to be a busy one for firefighters. The Fourth of July holiday falls on a Saturday this year and Sweetwater County Fire Warden Mike Bournazian expects people will be lighting fireworks well before the sun sets. “Every fire department in Sweetwater County expects to be busy all day on the Fourth of July this year as it falls on a Saturday and many folks will already be well into lighting fireworks and other devices that day, long before n...
Confusion about the difference in quarantine and isolation orders prompted the Sweetwater County District Board of Health to help residents understand the difference and importance of both orders, as well as encouraging residents to wear masks to help limit the coronavirus’ spread. According to Jason Mower, a spokesperson for the board, Sweetwater County has had 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection since the start of the pandemic. Throughout June, number of confirmed infections have i...
As COVID-19 cases have spiked within Wyoming and Sweetwater County, with total 78 confirmed cases as of Monday morning and 42 recorded recoveries since the start of the pandemic, Gov. Mark Gordon is urging residents to wear masks when in public as he extends current public health orders until July 15. A press release from the governor’s office Monday announced his intent to not change public health orders. “It is clear from the recent increase in cases statewide that the dual threat of COV...
The shooting death of an unidentified woman is under investigation by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office. The office issued a statement saying the incident occurred Monday evening at a residence off of Steamboat Drive in the Clearview Acres area east of Rock Springs. Deputies were at the scene as of Tuesday morning and an investigation is ongoing. The sheriff’s office did not release further information as of press time....
