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I grew up hearing stories about my Great Uncles John, Harold and Ed who fought against Hitler and the Nazis in World War II to defend us from the scourge of communism. Uncle John and Ed told us how after fighting for days they were captured and held in concentration camps as prisoners of war. They were prisoners because they knew the value of freedom. Surrounded by barbed wire, their bellies empty and bodies suffering from a lack of food and warm clothing, they took matters into their own hands. Uncle John found a way to sneak out of camp...
Sometimes the awards that mean the most are the ones that look the goofiest. I'm now the proud owner of two "Spammies," made of an actual can of spam with little pig figures glued to the top, a fancy board glued to the back to say what the award is, and little foam star stickers and fake gemstones giving some extra bedazzling here and there. I was surprised to receive these awards during the Actors' Mission's recent "Golden Spam Awards" event, which was more hilarious and more heartwarming than...
This past week I was lucky enough to visit Washington D.C. with my daughter as part of The Gold Medal Summit for Congressional Gold Medal award recipients. The Congressional Award Program was actually started here in our great state of Wyoming in 1979 by Wyoming Senator Malcom Wallop. It is the highest civilian honor awarded to the youth of our country for participating and recording nearly one thousand hours of Voluntary Public Service, Physical Fitness, Personal Development along with...
Dear Editor, I am disappointed to learn that Jordan World Circus is scheduled to visit Rock Springs on June 25 given its history of recurrent violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. The USDA has cited Jordan World Circus numerous times for providing inadequate, unsafe enclosures and depriving animals of proper veterinary care, nutritious food, clean water, and shelter from the elements. Despite prior violations, Jordan World Circus continues to hire outside exhibitors to feature potentially dangerous large, wild animals such as...
Wyoming is blessed to be a resource-rich state. Developing our abundant natural resources is critical to creating jobs, supporting local businesses and industries and building a stronger, more resilient economy not only in southwest Wyoming but the entire state. However, a dysfunctional federal permitting process often stands in the way of the progress we are making to explore, mine and produce the vast mineral deposits that lie just beneath our feet. Wyoming is home to the largest trona deposit in the world, covering roughly 1,300 square...
A number of Wyoming legislators wrote a letter to Governor Mark Gordon at the end of May expressing their frustration with his veto of Senate File 13 and their desire to “heighten the Wyoming government’s reaction to the lawless Biden administration’s attacks on our state’s sovereignty and our citizen’s way of life.” After receiving a response from the governor, the legislators wrote the following reply: Governor Gordon, We are grateful for your timely response to our May 22 letter. We only wish you would act with such haste when defending Wyom...
This week we honor those who died while fighting for our country. There was a time when society seemed to be more sensitive and compassionate about casualties of war, but today there are so many distractions that cause us to not have our priorities in the right order. This day is not about politics or worldviews, it's about giving the highest respect to those who paid the greatest price. The liberties we are thankful for today did not come without the sacrifice of many brave men and women as...
From the Office of Governor Mark Gordon Governor Mark Gordon responded forcefully to an announcement by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that it had selected the “No Leasing” alternative in its Buffalo Coal Resource Management Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The BLM’s choice means it is all but determined that coal leasing in the Powder River Basin will not be permitted past 2041. The Governor’s statement follows: “With this latest barrage in President Joe Biden’s ongoing attack on Wyoming’s coal country and a...
Dear Editor, Last November, I wrote and sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris. I recently received a reply. In her letter, among other things, she said: “Today, our Nation faces many challenges. Together, we are responding with what I call American Aspiration. American Aspiration is the ability to see what can be, unburdened by what has been. It is the determination to do, not only to dream. I see it in America’s innovators, educators, small business owners, and nurses. I see it in people like you. Although these are tough times, I hav...
In Wyoming, we have always relied on access to America’s public lands for our way of life and our livelihood. It is essential for energy and mineral development, ranching and agriculture, hunting and fishing, hiking and climbing, and so much more. Unelected, unaccountable Washington bureaucrats are now jeopardizing Wyoming’s access to that land. They want to hijack Wyoming’s decision-making surrounding public land management and transfer it to climate zealots. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s new Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (R...
As Ruby Sunday steps out of the TARDIS, she enters a lush prehistoric world, standing on a cliff overlooking a broad river with waterfalls and groups of roaming dinosaurs. As she admires everything in amazement after having traveled back in time, the Doctor explains where they are. "The TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension in Space. So we've moved location as well. This will be North America. One day this is Wyoming. Little town called Green River." This exchange happens in the first...
Dear Editor, We aren’t doing enough to stop bullying in schools. School bullying is plaguing our children with ill health, causing depression, headaches, poor grades, along with the inability to focus on school work and becoming anti-social, not wanting to be part of school activities. We need more education in our schools for our children about the impact school bullying is having on fellow students along with procedures that can be taken when someone is being traumatized due to school bullying. It should never be ignored. Schools can offer c...
Dear Editor, I retired from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2014 after a 40 year career as a Wyoming Game Warden. During that career, I wrote several hundred citations to people violating the laws and regulations that dealt with illegal taking of wildlife in Wyoming, and spent many sessions in courts around southwest Wyoming dealing with the aftermath of these violations. I am as sickened as most folks are after hearing of the injured wolf at the Green River Bar in Daniel. No one should...
Dear Editor and community, I would like to start a bike program for inmates that are upon release to be given a bike to ride to achieve their new goals and dreams or even just to Cruel Jack's truck stop. I feel that a donation pile would be greatly healthy due to being on the way to the local landfill, and the detention center being right there! I would like to donate at least beginning with one day of my time a month for the rest of my short stay on this Earth being that we are not promised...
Can you tell the difference between something created by a computer and something created by a human? This question is increasingly put to the test these days, with the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) rising quickly, and AI-generated pictures and text being shared all around us. Last weekend, the same question was put to the test in an especially chaotic and hilarious way thanks to the Actors' Mission's 24 Hour Page to Stage: Man vs. Machine event, which I was insane enough to...
It’s legal in Wyoming to chase coyotes and run over them with snowmobiles, but recently, a man used his snowmobile to run down a wolf until it was disabled. Then he taped the wolf’s mouth shut and paraded the animal around a local bar, taking photos to commemorate the event. Finally, he killed the wolf. According to news reports, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department fined the man $250. His only crime: possession of a live wild animal. The more we learn, the worse this disturbing story gets. Most recently, one news outlet released video foo...
I was startled when I started going through my email on Tuesday, and was getting ready to mark “receive death threats” off my journalism bingo card. I had to read the email a couple of times as I tried to understand it, and understand why I had received it. It said: “First of all you are morally and legally responsible for the action taken again [sic] innocent Earth life in your establishment. You will be closed in a year. I hope you and your family starve and get ripped apart by the speci...
While a majority of the senate voted for a special session, a majority of the Wyoming House voted against. As a result, taxpayers will be spared the likely $700,000 expense of a 20-day special session in 2024. We take pride in Wyoming’s history of a citizen legislature, deeply rooted in its connection to the people and in stark contrast to a professional political class. Safeguarding this institution is paramount and more important than any single bill. The prospect of a third special session in four years presented significant practical c...
Acknowledging receipt of Governor Mark Gordon’s veto letters addressed to him in his capacity as Wyoming Secretary of State and in accordance with Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming State Constitution, Secretary Chuck Gray issued a response noting his disagreement with many of the vetoes in a letter. “While acknowledging receipt of these vetoes, our republic is built on discourse and debate,” Secretary Gray said. “In this vein, I wanted to respond to some of the points made in your letters that I disagree with as well as express disagre...
Last week, in the aftermath of Governor Gordon’s veto of Senate File 54, the Department of Revenue conveyed to us that the veto would effectively halt any additional legislative efforts toward property tax relief in 2024. However, on Monday, the Department of Revenue informed us that property owners could be notified of the exemption in their September tax bills, although it may lead to some confusion for the taxpayer. This information made us take a second look at whether we would recommend a special session. In the end, we think a special s...
On March 15, Governor Mark Gordon vetoed two bills: Senate File 103 (Wyoming PRIME Act) and Senate File 13 (Federal land use plans- legal action authorized). Representative Scott Heiner, who represents portions of Sweetwater County, criticized the Governor’s veto of both bills, which he supported “as each provided a way for Wyoming to regulate itself and choose its own destiny.” Rep. Heiner continued: “Senate File 103 would have allowed for the sale of meat from producers directly to consumers without the government getting in the way and fur...
Dear Editor, A recent news article in the Green River Star discusses the continuing use of a gas chamber for euthanasia by Green River Animal Control. The article quoted the Animal Control Supervisor as stating there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue for the use of the gas chamber in euthanasia for animals. There are not strong opinions on both sides of this issue. The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated the most humane method of euthanasia for animals is by injection and while they do allow for the use of inhaled as...
On Friday evening we gaveled a close to the 67th Budget Session in the Wyoming Senate and House. It was a tumultuous budget year. Yet, despite political differences and policy disagreements, the Legislature passed a conservative, balanced budget that addresses our state's needs and invests in the future. Those investments include funding for nursing homes, preschool for developmentally disabled children, and home services for senior centers. The budget supports mental health efforts and funds...
The state of Wyoming has taken a significant step in addressing its longstanding struggle with high suicide rates by implementing the 988 suicide hotline. This critical tool in the fight against suicides has proven to be an invaluable resource for individuals facing mental health crises in the state. The 988 hotline, unlike national hotlines, operates locally in Wyoming, with trained counselors based in Casper and Greybull who are available around the clock. This localized approach ensures that individuals calling the hotline receive support...
On March 4, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous decision reversing the Colorado Supreme Court’s December ruling to remove Donald Trump from the ballot in 2024. Some Wyoming politicians released statements to express their approval of this decision. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray previously filed an Amicus Curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States, arguing that the Supreme Court should reverse the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to bar Donald Trump from the ballot under Section Three of the Fourteent...
