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In the previous columns I’ve written about Youtube, I’ve focused on some of the more strange and unique video channels available. Want to watch a guy build a mud hut with a heated floor or watch someone open up a 50-year-old military ration and, maybe, eat some really old crackers? I’ve had you covered. Those channels are maintained by people not interested in Youtube stardom, but want to share their particular hobbies with others. However, Youtube has become more than a simple video servi...
Public lands provide high-paying quality jobs and significant tax revenues from mineral resources that drive the economy in Sweetwater County. As a four-term county commissioner, I have witnessed the benefits federal public lands provide residents and non-residents alike. As a native of Sweetwater County, I also know that public lands provide enjoyment, adventure and opportunities to strengthen family bonds and friendships through hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the natural beauty and vast wide open spaces in Wyoming. Sweetwater...
Arbor Day – a day dedicated to public tree planting was first observed in the 19th century over 145 years ago. The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 with a mission to “inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” This year will mark the 34th annual celebration for Green River, which also will mark the 34th year as a designated Tree City USA community. Green River holds the second longest continuous streak for being named as a Tree City USA community in our great state of Wyoming, second only to our capital city of Cheye...
Discussion Tuesday night amongst the Green River City Council caused us to realize the future of affordable garbage service in Green River is in privatizing it. This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to a slick sales pitch, but a realization after looking at a comparison presented during the Tuesday night discussion. In short, the city stands to save money, up to approximately $1 million a year after five years while receiving more than $100,000 in franchise fees each year. Residents would be projected to save as well, saving $10 from the projected c...
You may be aware that the trees near the Depot are being removed. Here is some information on how and why this decision was made. In late 2013, the city of Rock Springs approached the city of Green River about the alignment of one of their proposed sixth-penny projects, a second water main from the Joint Powers Water Board plant in Green River to Rock Springs. Both cities buy water from the same treatment plant, located in Green River, but Rock Springs has to pump their water a lot further. Because the water treatment plant is physically locate...
Federal funding for meals on wheels is on the chopping block. The Trump administration budget blueprint released in March calls for the elimination of two federal block grants: That’s money the federal government gives the states for social welfare programs, and those programs include home-delivered meals and meals served in senior centers. Most of the nation’s 5,000 meal programs also rely on money from the Older Americans Act passed in 1965 to fund about 35 percent of the cost of the meals they serve. Those funds are also in jeopardy. The...
Money is tight in Sweetwater County. Budget requests to the county commissioners are encouraged to cut 10 percent from the previous year’s request. Both cities, continuing to feel the sting of declining sales-tax revenues, are looking at more cuts to their 2017-2018 budgets while protecting the employees working for them. Beyond that, there’s the problem of continued maintenance on county and municipal roads throughout Sweetwater County and Green River’s need to build a new sewer treatment facility. Yes, grants are available for some of the p...
I don’t watch a great deal of TV and I don’t really have a favorite show when I do watch. However, this past year a dear friend of mine, and my daughter both asked me to start watching “Grey’s Anatomy.” I didn’t watch like most people might and start with Season One. I just jumped right in and started watching current episodes. While I still don’t know everything that happened throughout the entire duration of the show, I do enjoy the show, when I catch it. In particular, I enjoyed last season’s finale, but probably not for the reasons everyone...
Back by popular demand, the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is featuring the ventriloquist dummy used by Thomas C. Smith for May’s Artifact of the Month. This dummy wears a cowboy outfit, which is fitting for Wyoming. The dummy was made in London and the head and upper part of the body are constructed out of papier-mâché. Thomas C. Smith was an amateur ventriloquist in Rock Springs who took up ventriloquism after his cousin, Port Jackson Ward. Ward was a popular ventriloquist in England and performed for the royal family in 1909. Smith and...
Dear Editor, I grew up in a small town in Nebraska and now live in Laramie. After working summers in Grand Teton National Park, the wildness in Wyoming greatly influenced me to stay in this wonderful state. I have travelled extensively throughout the country as a tour guide and as a national park employee at three parks. There is something extremely special about the West, and especially Wyoming. The ability to escape to the backcountry and connect with the natural beauty of this state is something that I truly treasure. I have become particula...
Dear Editor, The most recent election cycle brought to the attention of many Wyoming voters a situation of which they were previously not acutely aware. This came about because they wanted to participate in the presidential primary. Wyoming is not a state that has such a primary, but rather is a caucus state. Voters would need to know that, if they wish to have a voice, they must attend their precinct caucuses. Well, at least if they are registered Democrats, they could have a voice. Unfortunately, if they are registered Republicans, they...
As many people saw (or heard), the Union Pacific’s “Living Legend” 844 steam engine barreled into downtown Green River town once again last Wednesday. Although the 844 has made many appearances in Green River over the years, it always draws a crowd. If you didn’t get a good look at it while it overnighted in Rock Springs or stopped in Green River, you’ll have a chance to see it on its return trip Thursday at approximately 1:30 p.m. Even if you missed seeing it, chances are you heard its famously resounding horn as it announced its arrival....
Great ideas tend to come out of nowhere. They’re the sort of inspirations that strike like lightening and linger on afterward. Recently, an idea came to our attention that could be something the local chambers of commerce, Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism and maybe both cities should look into. Certain regions of the U.S. are known for large gatherings where people cook a local specialty. New England is known for its clam bake and some locations in Alaska host a salmon bake. Green River even hosts is own cajun shrimp boil during the a...
Jabez Stone was a New Hampshire farmer. The time was before the Civil War. Things weren’t going well for him. Boulders emerged in his fields, his potatoes got the blight, his corn went to the borers, his horse got spavins, his wife and children were sick, and he couldn’t afford to feed them. Working hard in his field he broke his expensive and new plowshare. Emotionally struck, he swooned down to the earth on his hands and knees and cried, “I vow it’s enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil!” Soon a tall, thin man alighted...
Dear Editor, Are you aware that the proposed federal budget calls for the elimination of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)? This is the program that keeps many Wyoming residents warm in the winter. Earlier this year, the State of Wyoming legislature eliminated its usual additional funding for this program. Between the federal and state budget cuts, this translates to zero help for people in need of winter home heating assistance. I recently spoke with Brenda Ilg about this issue. Ms. Ilg is the LIEAP program manager for the...
Dear Editor, I was going to laugh at Tom Gagnon’s op-ed piece bashing Trump and Wyoming for voting for him, but then I realized it wasn’t satire. It was apparently an article written in all seriousness. It was interesting that he glossed over The Clinton imperfections as allegations with no specifics. He then went on to detail many of the supposed imperfections and wrong-doings of President Trump as if they were all fact. Some may be. But, even if they are they pale in comparison to Bill Clinton’s extra-curricular activities inside the White...
We appreciate members of Wyoming’s delegation to Washington D.C., coming to Sweetwater County during the congressional break, but we think more could have been done to give residents a chance to voice their thoughts about what should be done in Congress. We realize Sen. Mike Enzi, Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Liz Cheney have very strict schedules and do appreciate the time they do spend in Southwest Wyoming, but a hospital visit and lunch with the Sweetwater County Commissioners isn’t the best way to get a feeling for what their con...
Youtube can best be described as an endless ocean of bottled messages, floating along until someone comes along, picks one up and reads it. With an estimated 819,417,600 hours of content hosted on the website, there is practically something for anyone. From cute animal videos to extreme sports and even episodes of obscure television shows, the spectrum is very wide. However, for every “Youtube personality” attempting to make it big and earn a living off of the video platform, thousands of peo...
The Green River Chamber is excited to announce our brand new “Shop Green River” campaign. The idea was formed through the chamber’s Business Development and Retention committee to encourage Green River pride and entice people to shop locally. As more people support our already existing local shops, more shopping opportunities will follow. Shopping locally helps strengthen the economic base of our community and contributes to new job creation. The average community derives 76 percent of their new jobs and capital investment from existing busines...
When a politician complains about public’s perception of an issue or that a journalist is making a mountain out of a molehill, it’s usually because they’ve been involved in something that most people disagree with. For example, Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, told the Casper Star-Tribune sportsmen opposing a controversial bill regarding state ownership of federal lands, didn’t really understand the intent of the bill. “I think the message that a lot of people believe out there... really isn’t what it’s about. I think we’ve lost that message,...
In response to the recent utility rate analysis that recommends raising the residential garbage rate by $10-$12 per month, several calls have been published in the media for the City of Green River to privatize its garbage system. On the surface this certainly seems to be a reasonable option to consider as the City struggles to address rising costs within its changing garbage system. But would privatization really address the underlying issues that are driving the rising costs? This article will attempt to outline some of the issues driving...
Turning healthcare consumers into educated shoppers has long been a goal of employers who foot the bill for most care, politicians and some consumer organizations that believe that someday shopping for care should be as easy as comparing brands of canned soup. All it takes are some clear disclosures of prices, ingredients and whatever else seems comparable in a product or service coupled with a bit of education in how to make the shopping trip fruitful, and the healthcare system will transform itself like magic. It will become competitive,...
Have you considered what your children will be doing this summer? Are they involved in sports camps, BOCES programs, maybe 4-H or staying home with parents or caregivers? There are many great options for children in our community, but have you considered the benefits to a summer day camp program? Below are just a few benefits to highlight with the city of Green River’s summer camp. Children are unplugged at Summer Day Camp Children are plugged in more than ever in today’s society. Whether it be in school, at home or with their friends, man...
A surprise sale of a downtown Green River property marks a positive step in attracting business to the city, as well as redeveloping the downtown area. The Tomahawk Building’s sale to a group of private businessmen interested in turning the building around and opening up use on all floors shows Green River is worth investing in. We can hope the added space at the Tomahawk will result in a larger push to attract business to the city, something all of Green River desperately needs. Once the upper floors of the building are opened up, we can o...
Catching a cold can be a year-round occurrence and quite the nuisance when you catch one. Everyone hates the runny noses, sneezing and coughing that comes with a cold, and many people have go-to supplies for handling cold-related symptoms. For this month, the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is featuring a common product to deal with a pesky cold symptom: cough syrup. This cough syrup was manufactured by the pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Perrigo, in Allegan, Mich. They marketed this cough syrup as “White Tree Cough Syrup,” which con...
