"Wyoming at its finest"

"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, 'What can we do?'" Marshal Cummings said. 

For Cummings and his fellow union members, the answer was to break out a grill. 

On Monday, a few days after the accident, members of United Steelworkers Local 13214 and USW Local 15320 put together a lunch to show appreciation for local first responders. The lunch took place at the Green River Fire Department station, and included not just GRFD staff but also members of the Green River Police Department, Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol and Castle Rock Ambulance. 

Cummings, who is the union president for Local 13214, was one of those who helped organize the event, although he also gave credit to Tate Davis, Vince "Big Vinny" Albrecht and Kaleb Busby for getting the ball rolling. The union members reached out to local stores for donations for the event. Walmart and Albertsons donated food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and cookies, while Western Wyoming Beverages donated drinks like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Cummings also reached out to his pastor, Dr. Clint Scott from Hilltop Baptist Church, who not only provided the grill but also said a prayer before the meal. 

"Lord, right now we need some healing," Pastor Scott prayed. "Lord, I'm thankful that we have a great community here...and for what the first responders do to help keep the community safe, to help in healing the community, for continuing to take this community forward." 

Both Pastor Scott and Cummings thanked the first responders for their service and also encouraged them to reach out if they needed someone to talk to.

"Mostly I wanted them to know that we're here for them," Cummings said. "If they ever need to talk, there's a whole bunch of union guys here showing them that we're here." 

The need for support is an issue that is personal for Cummings. He pointed out that the number one problem that kills the most miners in Southwest Wyoming is suicide, so as a miner he understands the importance of mental health and of having support, especially in a crisis. 

"I can only imagine what this did," Cummings said, thinking of the impact of the recent accident on the first responders involved. "I know they're heroes and they're way tougher than me, but you always need somebody sometimes."

Putting together the lunch was also a way to show gratitude for local first responders, not only for their actions in the recent accident, but for their continual service to the community. 

"I think it's the least that we can do," Tate Davis said. "To know that if something catastrophic, God forbid, were to happen at one of the mines, that these guys are going to be boots on, ready to come out and try to help us out, it's the least we can do to show them our appreciation."

Gifts of gratitude

The lunch hosted by the unions was just one of the ways that community members have been showing their ongoing appreciation and support for local first responders, especially in the aftermath of the accident in the I-80 tunnel. 

"What really hit us today was the overwhelming support from our community," the Green River Fire Department shared on Friday evening, following the accident. "In the midst of chaos, you showed up for us – just like you always do."

The GRFD expressed thanks to Lory Kettering, Marisa Kalinski, Kayla Majhanovich and Logan, a first grader at Harrison Elementary, and his grandfather, for bringing food to keep the staff going after hours at the scene of the accident. They thanked the Norbergs and the Binghams "for the water that helped us recover after pushing ourselves through the heat of the fires." Additional thanks went to Moriah Teuscher and Sami Doak for providing pizza, the Green River Pizza Hut for the delivery of pizzas and sodas, to Josey and Matt Hirchert, and to First Baptist Church. The GRFD also noted their gratitude "to so many others who stopped by the station with food and drinks – we may not have gotten all your names, but we felt your kindness."

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office also expressed their gratitude on Friday evening following the accident, including their thanks to those who stepped up to find ways to help. 

"Thank you to the community members who have already reached out with thoughts, prayers, and generous gestures of support for the first responders," the sheriff's office said. "Your kindness reminds us why this is a special place to live and serve. Today was a difficult day, but it also highlighted our community's incredible strength, resilience, and unity. We are proud to serve alongside such dedicated professionals and are truly grateful to be part of Sweetwater County."

Another tangible expression of gratitude went to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in the form of multiple bouquets of flowers and a card of gratitude, given by the Rock Springs Smith's. 

"It means so much to every single person in every single department here who helped with Friday's tragedy," the hospital said in a Facebook post about the flower donation. "From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you." 

Gratitude for the support of the community was also a common theme reiterated throughout a press conference about the tunnel accident. The press conference, taking place on Saturday, included Governor Mark Gordon and representatives from the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Wyoming Highway Patrol, as well as local first responders and law enforcement. 

"The support's been coming in from state, local, federal, whatever we need, and the support is definitely felt," WYDOT Director Darin Westby commented. "It's just a constant reminder of what Wyoming does. They just rally around a crisis, and I really can't say enough about the support that we've received locally."

"The community in this area is fantastic," Wyoming Highway Patrol Major James Thomas added. "I appreciate the support that they give our first responders."

Ongoing help

While much of the community support has been for the first responders involved in the situation, it has also extended to those who were in the accident. Both expressions of condolences for those whose lives were lost and concern for those who were injured in the accident have been shared repeatedly, and actions to help support those who were impacted are underway.

One such cause is the local support rallying around Daryn Macy, who was injured in the accident.

"Our sweet Daryn Macy was among those entangled in the wreckage," Amber Gold Randall of Rock Springs posted on Facebook after the accident. "By the grace of God, she made it out of the tunnels alive but with many life threatening injuries." 

Randall shared that Macy is currently undergoing treatment in Utah. 

"We are hoping to relieve some of the financial burden on the family, so they can focus on Daryn and her recovery journey," Randall explained. 

One fundraising effort for Macy is being hosted by Santa Fe Southwest Grill in Rock Springs. Next Tuesday, February 25, will be "Daryn Day" at the restaurant. 

"Our treasured Santa Fe family of staff has come together to help Daryn by donating their tips and hourly wages to her and her family for the day of the fundraiser," the restaurant posted on Facebook. "We will also be donating all profits for the day to this family." 

Western Wyoming Beverages has also pledged $5 for every Pepsi or Anheuser-Busch product sold at the event, according to the restaurant. A Venmo account has also been set up for direct donations for Macy. 

"Our community is incredible, and has always been one to rally around those in need," Santa Fe said. 

Wyoming spirit

The ability of the Green River and Sweetwater County community to come together and offer support in times of crisis reflects a common value shared across the state. 

"That's just the Wyoming way," Marshal Cummings said, expressing how moved he was to hear about both the first responders and the everyday people that were helping each other during the accident in the I-80 tunnel. 

That feeling of support and connectedness not only reflects on the state as a whole, but gives local leaders hope for the future. 

"Thank you to our community partners and citizens here in Sweetwater County. The outpouring has been incredible," Sheriff John Grossnickle said during the recent press conference. "It's Wyoming at it's finest, and we're going to put our boots on and get past this and be better than we were before."