2021 Year In Review
The year 2021 brought its share of ups and downs for Weston County, but events and activities slowly started coming back after many were cancelled the prior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
By the time school started in the fall, it felt as though things were getting back to near normal, and residents seemed ready and excited to partake in and enjoy all the happenings they had missed out on. Here is the breakdown of some of the events that affected Weston County, as told in the pages of the News Letter Journal.
Late December
As 2020 came to a close, a few items of interest occurred in the last few issues of the News Letter Journal that weren’t included in the 2020 edition of the Year in Review.
The Dec. 17 issue reported that Tom Wright was appointed on Dec. 9 to fill the Weston County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees vacancy after Dean Johnson retired. Sen.-elect Cynthia Lummis announced her senior staff on Dec. 14. Outgoing Wyoming Rep. Tyler Lindholm, R-Sundance, and Darrin Munoz from Newcastle were both included in the staff list. The Dec. 31 issue of the NLJ reported that student enrollment for 2020-21 in both Weston County school districts had decreased from the 2019-20 school year. Also reported was the denial of Weston County’s request for a variance allowing bars and restaurants to remain open past 10 p.m. under the COVID-19 health orders at that time.
January
The Decker family of Decker’s Market in Newcastle (as well as Lusk and Sundance) was selected as the 2021 Person of the Year for their legacy of community involvement through their business. Manager Gary Clarke and store director Clint Mullen said they both admired the community and family values displayed by the Decker family and are proud to work for the family. Danny Decker’s father, Max, opened the store in 1954, so Danny got started in the business at the early age of 14, becoming a business partner in the 1970s. Since then, his whole family has been involved; his wife, Becky, runs the floral and gift shop, and his two grown children, Jeremiah (now owner) and Ashley, both did jobs since high school and are still involved with the store. They see their business as a way to give back to the community by sponsoring and contributing to local schools, fire departments and other organizations, as well as employing local labor as much as possible. Becky said they’re grateful for the support of the community and are proud to be part of Newcastle.
Community members expressed their frustration to the Weston County Republican Party about what they saw was an overreach of Gov. Mark Gordon’s mask mandate, former Rep. Liz Cheney’s support of Donald Trump’s impeachment, and feeling oppressed and ignored by the state government. The party’s chair, Kari Drost, said she had “never received so many calls and emails.” To remedy the feeling of being ignored, Drost set up a town hall meeting on Jan. 26 with Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne to allow the community to share the concerns and be heard.
Weston County commissioners made variance requests to the statewide COVID-19 public health orders, but most were denied by the former county public health officer, Dr. Mike Jording, which resulted in his removal from the position in a 4-1 vote. Commissioners Marty Ertman, Ed Wagoner, Nathan Todd and Don Taylor were frustrated with the lack of communication from Jording. A few weeks later, Weston County received approval for its variances when state health officer Alexia Harrist signed the four variance requests to the COVID-19 public health orders submitted by the commissioners. With the exception of school districts, the variances, which were made possible because the number of COVID cases was dropping, allowed looser restrictions on the mask mandate and size gatherings.
On Jan. 5, Commissioner Marty Ertman became the first female chairman of the Weston County Board of Commissioners, and in the history of the county, she is the second female commissioner. Ertman has served 11 years on the board, but the only difference now that she is the chair is her responsibility to lead the meetings. She said she desires to use her role to bring calmness during these “incredible times,” while ensuring that everyone has the right to speak and be heard. She also said she is glad to serve during these difficult times with “a great bunch of commissioners.”
J.J. Lipp, a Newcastle High School student and member of the Saddle and Sirloin Newcastle Future Farmers of America chapter, received the Supervised Agricultural Experience Grant, which is a national FFA grant awarded to 200 members out of 5,968 applicants. He was one of two in Wyoming to receive a grant, and out of the various grants available, Lipp obtained a $1,000 grant sponsored by Farm Credit. In order to apply, Lipp had to submit a plan for what he intended to do with the money, which was raising show cattle. He worked with local ranchers and researched breeds to develop a comprehensive plan with financial aspects and how to offset expenses. His project “includes the artificial insemination and embryo transfer of cows” to enable breeders to improve the genetics of their cattle. He is excited about his project, and FFA adviser Jill Pischke said Lipp worked hard, so the grant was “well deserved.”
February
On Feb. 3, Weston County Republicans voted to censure Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Additionally, 71 individuals signed a letter stating their dissatisfaction with Cheney’s support for Trump’s impeachment, which was sent to the representative. The letter states that she “violated the trust of the citizens of Weston County … (who) expect our representatives to represent us, not act on emotion or self-serving reasoning.” Cheney felt her decision was justified because she said Trump instigated the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and therefore, “there has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.” In the letter, the signers said Cheney did not accurately represent her constituents and requested that she resign her position.
Roger Hespe, owner of Newcastle Ambulance Service, announced his retirement plans for June, so the city began looking for a way to replace his EMS and ambulance services. After a lengthy discussion among the Weston County Health Services board of trustees, Weston County commissioners, Newcastle City Council and emergency responders, the hospital board decided to allow the administration to hire consultants to set up emergency medical services for a year. Concerns included the cost of the provided services, employment needs and revenue. They discussed the most financially efficient means of providing the service after Hespe’s retirement, but without having actual numbers, it was hard to make a commitment. It was also important for them to have the necessary personnel.
The Weston County commissioners voted unanimously to reconsider a motion to remove and replace the Old Highway 85 bridge, which raised some concerns from the Wyoming Department of Transportation and local residents, ranging from emergency access for homes in the area and additional mileage added for ranchers who needed to utilize both sides of the bridge. Some of the commissioners were wary of whether a bridge replacement was a good use of county funds, but Marty Ertman acknowledged that the 90-year-old bridge was well traveled and, in the end, noting the large attendance to the discussion, it was decided that the county should move forward with the replacement. If replaced, the bridge will have an HL-93 live load, a 26-foot clear roadway with 2-inch wide curbs, and be a multiple-span steel girder bridge. The estimated cost for replacing the bridge was $3.8 million. Ninety percent of the funding was to come from the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Replacement Off-System Program, while the other 10% would be the county’s responsibility.
2021 Newcastle High School graduate Alaina Steveson won a $100 monetary prize for the Wyoming Radon Program’s 2020-21 Radon Video Contest for producing the most-viewed video. The contest was organized and judged by the Wyoming Department of Health to raise awareness about the state’s radon poisoning. Steveson first learned of the contest in James Stith’s anatomy class, where students were assigned to make a video and encouraged to submit it. Her video contained written visuals with messages urging viewers to get radon tests before purchasing a home. Radon can cause health problems, such as lung cancer, and learning about its dangers was an educational opportunity for Steveson. She was excited to both receive an award for her project and raise awareness about radon poisoning in Wyoming.
After 20 years of transporting children to school, Bev Krell retired as a bus driver for Weston County School District No. 1’s transportation department. She obtained her commercial driver’s license in 1995, and she started out driving a 60-passenger bus before downsizing to a 23-passenger bus due to fewer children on her rural Four Corners route. Despite challenges the winter weather produced, Krell said, it made her a better driver — not to mention that she loved the wildlife and scenery she witnessed on her drive. She also enjoyed the traveling she did for field trips and watching the kids play sports. But her favorite part of her job was the relationships she formed with the kids and watching them grow up. Now that she is retired, Krell is excited to take care of her AirBnB tiny cabin rental and to spend more time with her grandchildren.
March
The Youthful Offender Transition Program, also known as boot camp, was moved from Newcastle’s Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp to the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, as well as a unit at the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk. The reason for the change was lack of space, and according to an email from the Wyoming Department of Corrections, the move “should allow WDOC to house all Wyoming inmates in WDOC facilities.” Additionally, the move would not negatively impact the staff in the Newcastle facility. The space that was used for the program was possibly to be used as a substance abuse treatment unit for female offenders.
Originally, Gov. Mark Gordon proposed a 10% budget cut in education, but House Bill 173, substitute No. 1, proposed a 0.65% budget cut instead, creating a “substantially lower” impact on Weston County School District No. 1, according to Superintendent Brad LaCroix. This system of funding uses categorical funding rather than a block-funding model, which takes away local control, said Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Sundance. Neiman stated that he usually supports local control but also struggles with block funding because some of the money is being used for things the Legislature did not intend. Often, the money is used toward superintendents, while teachers are the first to go, he argued. Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle, agreed that local control is important, but education cannot be funded at the current level. Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, said the model is broken, but the question is “will the Legislature seize the opportunity or deny reality and kick the can down the road?”
According to a March 8 report from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research and Planning Division, Weston County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.8%, with Crook County close behind at 4.0%. However, the county did experience a 0.4% increase in unemployment from December to January. Twenty-one out of the 23 counties also experienced an increase, and the statewide unemployment rate was 6.1%, or 5.1% seasonally adjusted.
After a resolution to allow Wyoming Downs, a live horse racing and simulcast off-track facilities, blanket access to bars for its betting machines was proposed, the Weston County commissioners voted down 4-1 at the board’s March 16 meeting. Before the vote, several residents came to voice their concerns about gambling coming to the county. Jill Jerrard, a public relations specialist for Wyoming Downs, was also present to answer questions. Residents Allen Slagle and Carol Thurman opined that the negative impacts of gambling, including addiction, are greater than the income it would bring in. Chairman Mary Ertman said betting on horse races is not completely off the table, and it is possible the resolution can be revisited in the future.
Newcastle High School students made history when they became the first Wyoming school to make contact with the International Space Station on March 1, after a failed first attempt on Jan. 28. This was made possible by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, also known as ARISS. Students were able to have a 10-minute conversation with ISS astronaut Mike Hopkins, where they could ask various questions about his experience as an astronaut. The ARISS team in Belgium used call sign ON4ISS, which is the amateur radio telebridge ground station. According to instructor Jim Stith, the project took a year and a half of work, and the process taught the students how to operate ham radios and build antennas, which tied in to the school’s mathematics and science curriculum. Gunner Ramsey and Travis Scribner, students involved with the project, said that it was a really neat experience.
April
Members of the Concerned Citizens of the Weston County Sheriff’s Office and the Weston County Republican Party stated their concerns through a grand jury that not all of the Weston County commissioners resided in the county, thus the board was not properly constituted. The grand jury stated that Commissioner Tony Barton was ineligible to serve as a commissioner because he no longer resides in Weston County. It was signed by over 270 county residents, requesting that the board declare a vacancy to initiate the process of appointing a properly qualified citizen. Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle, successfully sponsored a bill requiring various elected officials to reside in the county they represent, although it does not affect those currently in office. However, according to County Attorney Alex Berger, the board could not legally remove Barton, so Barton said he was committed to finishing his term to 2022. Chairman Marty Ertman said while they did not have the authority to remove him, the governor does, so she recommended the group to follow Wyoming State Statute 18-3-523.
The 66th Wyoming Legislative Session wrapped up a “productive session, as well as a frustrating one,” according to Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower. Nothing was done to address the approximately $300 million in education shortfalls, but the Legislature did pass a supplemental budget bill for fiscal year 2022, with reductions to the general fund of $430 million, which is about 96% of the $446 million recommended by the Joint Appropriations Committee, with no tax increases. Cuts were made to various programs, as well 324 cuts to state positions, and the budget bill was passed with overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate, leaving the general fund side of the budget complete for the next year without having to draw on the reserves. Additionally, when the U.S. Census Bureau released preliminary figures from the 2020 census, it launched a debate in the Wyoming Legislature over legislative redistricting. Driskill said that the last redistricting left the “big and powerful with bigger and powerful voices, and the smaller and under-represented with an even weaker voice.” Driskill and Chairman Marty Ertman said the desire is to make Weston County whole again to right what several Weston County officials felt was a political wrong when splitting the county during the last redistricting a decade ago.
Weston County School District No. 1 was finally returning to normal when its allowed variances to public health orders issued for COVID-19 made it possible to bypass certain state guidelines. This allowed students and teachers to gather in larger groups and ban the mask mandate. School trustee Dana Mann-Tavegia said she was concerned for high-risk students and teachers, and Superintendent Brad LaCroix said that protective shields were placed where needed for those at-risk individuals. It also enabled the school to host events such as prom, graduation and spring concerts, as well as taking the elementary students to Watiki. While there was an excitement to return to normalcy, LaCroix reminded people that the guideline waivers depended on the number of COVID cases.
The COVID-19 vaccination became available to the general public for anyone 18 years old and older. However, nearly a third of the Weston County residents were hesitant to receive the vaccination, according to the U.S. Census survey data. The Wyoming Department of Health reported that all 23 counties in the state fell into the top 1% of vaccine-hesitant counties. The reasons for reluctance included concerns about side effects, effectiveness, lack of data and misinformation about the vaccine, according to Weston County public health nurse Lori Bickford. At the time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 42% of the state was fully vaccinated.
Mike Jording retired from Monument Health Clinic after working there since March of 1989. His interest in the medical field started in high school, and after graduating from Newcastle High School in 1972, he studied chemical engineering for his undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming before going to medical school at Creighton University in Omaha. It was no easy task, but he pushed through and joined a family practice residency program in Sioux Falls, where he met his wife Peggy. Three years later, he joined a private practice in Torrington until he came to Newcastle. Dr. Lanny Reimer said Jording was “very caring and thoughtful” towards his patients. During retirement, Jording and his wife hope to spend more time with their children and grandkids. They also hope to travel and camp more as well as have time to pursue hobbies.
May
After Weston County experienced some of the wettest years on record in 2018 and 2019, the northeastern region of Wyoming entered into a drought, so a Natural Resource District Local Working Group meeting was held for Weston, Crook and Campbell counties to discuss water and rangeland needs. Various groups were represented at the meeting, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Natural Resource Districts for Weston and Crook counties, Bureau of Land Management, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Forestry Division, and Weston County Weed and Pest, among others. Stock water is a priority and cropland comes in second, according to Jamie Tarver, vice chair of the Campbell County Conservation District’s board of supervisors. This was similar to previous years; however, 60% or more of funding was going to rangeland, then cropland followed by forestland. It’s expected that the drought won’t subside, and small nonfarm businesses and producers in the area are eligible for various grants through the Farm Services Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration to offset economic losses caused by the drought.
The Weston County commissioners voted to allot up to $4,000 to help pay Meridian Mortuary for the burial costs of an indigent man. The previous resolution allocating $1,800 for cremation costs was written for Worden Funeral Home. Chairman Marty Ertman said a new one had to be written up after July 1 because a new state law, House Bill 47, regarding indigent burials was going into effect. This would allow the Wyoming Department of Family Services clearance to compensate the costs for indigent burials. The original policy, which was signed in 2017, states that the total cost of the county cannot exceed $1,800, and if the deceased’s estate or resources exist, then the responsible party or funeral home can “file an application for payment by the county, by submitting an itemized invoice or accounting and a sworn affidavit stating that diligent inquiry was made regarding potential property, assets or funding.”
Weston County School District No. 1 decided to end late-start Wednesdays to implement early-release Fridays instead for the 2021-22 school year. The elementary school day now ends at 1:30 p.m., while middle school and high school classes at 1:45 p.m. If school were to start late on Fridays, school was to remain in session until the normal time of 3:30 p.m. Superintendent Brad LaCroix and school board Chairwoman Tina Chick said this is not a precursor to a four-day school week. Some of the concerns with a four-day school week are still apparent with the early release, including students who have to go home to an empty house, but LaCroix said Doubles AAces could potentially fill in the gap with its afternoon program. Chick said she hoped that the early-release schedule will help solve activity concerns that triggered the four-day school week, and she hopes it’s successful and will benefit the community.
The Bill Kohlbrand Arboretum on Stampede Street became the first accredited arboretum on the Morton Register for the state of Wyoming, according to city arborist Travis Peterson. It was planted in
2013 in a celebration of Arbor Day when 50 trees were planted. It was an experiment to test
the sustainability of a wide
range of tree species in Newcastle’s harsh climate, several of which are native to Wyoming. Funding for the arboretum originally came from the Wyoming State Forestry Division’s arboretum program.
Local 2019 home-schooled graduate Cole Slaamot accomplished his childhood dream of publishing his own book in August 2020. “Dividing Blades” is a medieval adventure novel that took him nearly two years to complete as part of a high school English program. Growing up, he started writing several books but finishing them was a challenge, so the curriculum helped him stay focused, and the result was well worth the effort. Behind the adventure of the story, however, was a bigger goal. Slaamot wanted to use his novel as a platform to share his faith in the Gospel of Christ. The salvation message is planted throughout the story because he said he wants to give his readers biblical truths they can apply to their lives. The sophomore in college is studying to be a pastor at Frontier School of the Bible.
June
Roger Hespe sold the Newcastle Ambulance Service to Campbell County Health for $1.23 million. Hespe started the business 20 years ago. He assured Weston County that Campbell County Health was the best fit for the community’s needs. They planned on converting some of the building into a crew headquarters with a kitchen, sleeping area and other needs, as well as providing an in-house paramedic and EMT, 24/7. However, the Weston County commissioners said they were concerned about the emergency medical services in Upton and Osage, where there was a lack of volunteers in both communities. Campbell County Health assured that it would provide the best EMS service in Newcastle and the county, and although Osage and Upton were not a part of their jurisdiction, they were open to looking at other communities and how to serve them. According to Christopher Beltz, a paramedic and director of Campbell County Health’s emergency medical services, if Upton and Osage “can’t respond, we definitely will. This is a team partnership.”
A little over 48 hours after the Skull Creek fire was reported, it was 100% contained on June 11, after burning over 880 acres 6 miles northwest of Osage. There were over 40 firefighters, several fire engines and multiple water trucks, dozers and blades at the fire site. According to Weston County Fire Warden Daniel Tysdal, the dry conditions contributed to more acres burning in 2021 than the past four years combined. As a preventive action against the dry conditions, stage one burn restrictions were implemented in both Weston County and on the Thunder Basin National Grasslands, in addition to a fireworks ban in Newcastle. Most of the fires were caused by lightning, although some were human caused. As of June 10, portions of Weston County were categorized by the U.S. Drought Monitor in various stages of drought ranging from D0, abnormally dry, to D3, extreme drought. Precipitation levels were below average, and the drought was not expected to subside.
The Black Hills Bentonite Co. celebrated 75 years of business in Newcastle. Harry Thorson started the company in 1946, officially opening its doors the following year. Today, it still remains in the Thorson family as his son Don and daughter Mary Gullickson still maintain their interests in the company. Their niece Cynthia filled in as president after her father, Tom, passed away. Don said his father didn’t originally have any plans to start his own business, but he had a way “to see business ideas and make them work.” The legacy he set for his children continues through the company’s success, and they hope to keep it a family business for many years to come.
Newcastle High School Principal Tracy Ragland retired after many years of dedication to Weston County School District No. 1. He graduated from NHS in 1982, and after receiving his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming, he spent a year in Kadoka, South Dakota, before returning to Newcastle to teach eighth grade science. About a decade later, he was hired to be the athletic director and assistant principal, eventually becoming the high school principal. He has enjoyed watching students succeed and achieve their goals, and it’s rewarding to him knowing that he and the other teachers were a part of that. Newcastle Elementary School Assistant Principal Bryce Hoffman was hired to take Ragland’s place, and he said he hoped to make a positive difference in this role.
Three Newcastle graduates showed their potential when they were recognized for their talent. 2021 graduate Lyriquelle Peterson won the First Lady Award at the 53rd annual Wyoming State High School Art Symposium, where 2,600 art pieces were showcased. Only 50 pieces were selected for the First Lady award, and those pieces were to be hung in the governor’s mansion for a year. Peterson said she loves art and hopes to pursue a career in the creative field. Siblings Wyatt and Lexus Voelker both decided to attend Dakota Wesleyan University after high school, and both received academic honors. Wyatt received the university’s Scotchman Award, which is highly competitive and only given to seniors of exemplary character and academic achievement. Lexus was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society during a small ceremony, based primarily on academic excellence. Their parents, Ryan and Donna, said they are proud of their accomplishments, but they’re even more proud of the character their children have built and the young adults they’ve become. Wyatt is pursuing a master’s degree at the Nicholls State University graduate school, and Lexus hopes to find a teaching job after graduation and eventually pursue a master’s degree.
July
A meeting to discuss a California-based renewable fuels company, EcoTech, and its local prospects, Black Hills Advanced Synfuels LLC., was set for July 6 between the Newcastle City Council, Weston County Commission and the company. President and founder of the company, Linda-Rose Myers, said that it would create 80 jobs, ranging from chemical engineers to entry-level career opportunities. Myers was discussing the purchase of the old sawmill with owner Jim Neiman. According to Myers, the company would convert biological and carbonaceous woody biomass into advanced synthetic fuels.
The company had the support of the U.S. Forest Service’s Black Hills National Forest and Region 2 of the Rocky Mountains. Myers said they planned to convert 500 tons of dead wood from the Black Hills into 1,150 barrels of advanced synthetic SAF or diesel per day, accruing to approximately 16 million gallons per year. The estimated cost of the project was $389 million.
After 10 years of service to the American Legion, Deb French was elected the first female commander of Newcastle’s George Monroe Post No. 3. French served in the Air Force from 1980-1987 as a B-52 crew chief and joined the American Legion in order to join the American Legion Riders, a motorcycle group. French was nominated by Kirk Will, vice commander of the post.
With the budget to include the purchase of Newcastle and Upton Clinics from Monument Health, the Weston County Health Services board of trustees approved a budget of $25,333,618 for fiscal year 2022 at a June 17 board meeting. This included an extra $6,839,217 for the clinics. Included in the budget were salaries and benefits at $13,624,256 and supply costs at $5,953,480, among numerous other items. The clinics were also expected to bring in an estimated additional revenue of $6.7 million. Projected cost of the acquisition was $200,000 paid to Monument Health for equipment, staff, etc. This cost didn’t include the buildings, however, which would probably be leased. Costs to build the Epic medical record system for the clinics was estimated at $359,374.
A county budget of $17,996,517.11 was approved by the board of Weston County Commissioners, setting aside funds for reserve accounts and general operations. With the county valuation being up from the previous year with a total of $1,446,841,062, the board was able to set aside extra funds for capital improvements. Some budget items include $3,371,976.47 in cash reserve, $628,979.11 in depreciation reserve, $3,375,702.78 in county road reserve and $102,290.06 in fuel reserve. Also included are block grants of $117,485.28 for the Weston County Fairgrounds, $319,000 for Weston County libraries and $105,000 for prevention management, reimbursed by the state of Wyoming. Also budgeted was $553,500 for the Weston County Sheriff’s Office, $578,649 for the law enforcement complex, $1,250,130.88 for the road and bridge budget and $526,802 for county road funds projects.
Newcastle Police Chief Sam Keller worked with Sheriff Bryan Colvard to start a tip line for Weston County, due partly to an uptick in local crime, especially vehicle burglaries. The establishment of the tip line was also partly due to an active warrant out for Donald Jenerou, who had been avoiding arrest, to solicit help from the public in learning his whereabouts. The public was encouraged to use the tip line to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement, and callers were free to remain anonymous if they wished. The tip line number is (307) 746-3804.
Nickalena Schantle and Emma Haugen, seniors at Newcastle High School and members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, attended State FCCLA in Cheyenne March 24-26. The competitors had to bake pumpkin muffins, beignets, dinner rolls and decorated cupcakes in under three hours. Schantle won first place, qualifying for nationals, and Haugen placed third, with the opportunity to go to nationals if the second-place winner wasn’t able to go. Contestants had about a month to learn the recipes for nationals, taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, June 27-July 1. The convention allowed for students to attend virtually or in person, but all competitors had to submit a video of them baking their items, eclairs, braided bread rolls, blueberry scones and a decorated cake. Schantle said that she enjoyed attending workshops in Nashville, and she ended up taking third place at nationals.
August
Bond was set at $150,000 cash or commercial surety bond by Mathew Castano, Circuit Court Judge, for Paul Manders. Manders was charged with second-degree murder. He was accused of shooting and killing Vernon Clyde of Osage on July 27.
The Board of Weston County Commissioners accepted a resignation letter, dated July 20, from Weston County Attorney Alex Berger, whose resignation would be effective July 31. Kari Drost, chairwoman of the Weston County Republican Party, was then notified so she could call a meeting of the Weston County Republican Party Central Committee to select three candidates to forward to the commissioners to choose a new county attorney. The meeting was set for Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Pinnacle Bank conference room.
Josh Womack, who has been involved with the National Little Britches Rodeo Association for several years, took part in three National Little Britches Rodeos and qualified for a fourth National Little Britches Rodeo. The senior at Newcastle High School competes in tie-down roping. Guthrie, Oklahoma, was the location for this year’s national rodeo, which took place July 3-10. A contestant has to place in the top seven at five different Little Britches Rodeos in order to qualify for the national event. Although the highest he has placed at nationals is 12th place, Womack’s goal is to win eventually. However, while he’s competitive, he also enjoys the memories of travel and time with family.
Michael Stulken, former deputy Weston County attorney, was appointed the new Weston County attorney. He was the only interested party at the Weston County Republican Central Committee’s Aug. 14 meeting, so his name was forwarded to the Weston County commissioners. At the time, Stulken had resided in Newcastle for about 16 months, serving as deputy Weston County attorney and city attorney. Stulken has had over 15 years of experience as an attorney.
With the announcement from President Joe Biden that a COVID-19 vaccine mandate could be going into effect within the next month for employees of nursing homes, the Weston County Health Services board of trustees discussed the issue at its Aug. 19 board meeting. Maureen Cadwell, CEO of the hospital, said that the federal mandate would mean that if employees weren’t vaccinated, the Weston County Manor would lose Medicaid funding. With the Manor receiving $3,154,556 from Medicaid the previous year, Cadwell said, those funds were needed. Issues were also brought up about losing employees who would refuse to get the vaccine if mandated, and at the time of writing, 46.5% or 47% of Manor employees were vaccinated. At the time, no decision was made.
The opening of Newcastle’s newest store, Dollar General, located at 833 S. Summit Ave., where the Stardust Motel used to be located, was slated for fall of 2021. According to Dollar General Corp. spokesperson Katie Ellison, the store would employ 6-10 workers and sell food, cleaning supplies, housewares and more.
September
Fourteen counties in the state of Wyoming showed a decrease in population from 2010 to 2020, including Weston County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Weston County lost 5.1%, or 371 people. Weston County is the third-smallest county in Wyoming with 6,838, with Hot Springs County at 4,621 and Niobrara County at 2,467. Newcastle’s population is 3,403, which fell by 3.65%. Newcastle’s population in 2010 was 3,532. Upton’s population is 1,054, down 4.18% from 1,100 in 2010. The state as a whole showed a growth of 2.3%. Some of the largest areas of growth included Laramie County, growing by 8,774; Natrona County, growing by 4,505; and Teton County, growing by 2,037. Some of the more pronounced losses were Sweetwater County, losing 1,534 people; Sublette County, losing 1,519; and Carbon County, losing 1,348.
After serving as the Weston County public health nurse for 19 years, Lori Bickford retired on Aug. 31. She stated that Weston County Public Health would be operated by the staff until a replacement public health nurse was found. Bickford said she was thankful for the relationships she made in the community over the years, but that she was ready to have more time for her family.
At a Sept. 20 executive session of the Newcastle City Council, the city fathers decided to move the dispatch center and the Newcastle Police Department to City Hall by March 8, 2022. Mayor Pam Gualtieri said she hopes the county and city can continue to work together to make sure the needs of the community are appropriately met . The Weston County commissioners were informed of the decision in a Sept. 21 commissioners meeting, and they too said they hoped to continue relations with the city. The city clarified that it would still provide dispatch services to all county entities, even with the relocation.
Weston County School District No. 1 received WY-TOPP scores, which were released at the end of August. Sonya Tysdal, curriculum coordinator, said that scores ranged from in the top quartile down to close to the bottom of the 48 school districts represented in Wyoming. Seventh grade math placed sixth in Wyoming, with 64.71% proficient or advanced in the subject. The eighth grade had 61.4% advanced or proficient. The sixth, eighth and 10th grades also performed well in reading, being placed in the top quartile. The ninth and 10th grades didn’t perform as well in math, and fifth grade reading left some to be desired as well.
A book titled “Drifting into Darkness” is slated to be released in January of 2022 and is available for preorder. The book is about Caroline Scoutt, deceased former Weston County resident, and crimes connected to her, and it is written by crime author Mark Pinsky. The focus of the book is on the murder of a Springford couple in Montgomery, Alabama. Brent Springford Jr. was charged with his parents’ death. Scoutt lived with the man before the incident, and he later died in prison of suicide. The author also tells of the death of Richard Campbell in 2015 while he was living on Scoutt’s property near Newcastle. A coroner’s inquest ruled it a suspicious death and the cause was determined to be homicide. Scoutt had previously purchased a $100,000 life insurance policy on Campbell, and some money from Campbell’s father’s estate somehow ended up in Scoutt’s bank account. There were also similarities between Scoutt’s relationship with Springford and Campbell.
October
Hans Hunt, representative for District 2 in the Wyoming House of Representatives, announced his resignation, effective Oct. 1. Hunt was to work as an agriculture and trade policy adviser for Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a job starting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11. Because he had received his master’s degree in international agriculture at the end of 2020, Hunt was looking for other opportunities and had decided not to seek another term as representative. Hunt brings to the position with Lummis a decade of experience working on the House Agriculture Committee and four years as its chairman, among other qualifications. Hunt also has ranching experience. He was elected to the Wyoming House when he was 22, in 2010.
Delbert and LaRae Blocker were chosen as the 2021 Wyoming Tree Farmers of the Year, after being Wyoming Forest Stewardship/Tree Farm Landowners for three decades. They also helped put together the “Forest Stewardship – The Conservation of Wyoming’s Forest Inheritance” brochure. The Blockers have been thinning and managing their trees to help keep the forest healthy. Thinning allows trees to grow faster and healthier. It also allows more sunlight to help with grass growth.
J.D. Williams, of Lusk, was chosen on Oct. 19 by the county commissioners from Weston, Goshen and Niobrara counties to fill the vacant seat left by Rep. Hans Hunt for House District 2 in the Wyoming House. Williams will fill the seat until the 2022 election. Williams was chosen out of three
candidates who were selected on Oct. 14 by the Republican Central Committees from the three counties. The other two candidates were Gregg Matney of Niobrara County and Allen Slagle of Weston County. The other people vying for the seat at the Republican Party meeting were Sara Sampers of Niobrara County, Roger Huckfeldt of Goshen County and R. Dean Nelson of Niobrara County. The candidates were allowed time for opening statements, answered several questions and gave their closing statements before the committees voted for the three whose names were to move on to the commissioners.
Dr. Wayne Erickson retired at the end of September from dentistry, leaving his practice, Erickson Family Dental, vacant. He was born in Afton, Wyoming, graduating from high school there in 1961. He then joined the Wyoming National Guard, being deployed when the Berlin Wall was built. He also spent more than two years doing missions in Belgium and France through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He met his wife, Suzanne, in 1965, and they were married the next spring. Erickson attended Brigham Young University and got accepted into dental school in Chicago in 1968, graduating from Loyola Dental School in 1972. The couple moved to Newcastle and opened their practice later that year.
Questions were raised after the Oct. 19 meeting of the Weston, Goshen and Niobrara county commissioners to vote for former Rep. Hans Hunt’s replacement. The commissioners kept their vote secret, causing concerns. The breakdown of the votes were eight for Williams, two for Allen Slagle of Newcastle and one for Gregg Matney of Lusk. With weighted votes, Williams received 72.34% of votes, Slagle received 19.24% and Matney received 8.42% of votes. Kari Drost, chairman of the Weston County Republican Party, asked during the meeting why the vote was not being made public. According to Drost, they told her that the decision was made to preserve relationships with possible future representatives.
Efforts to possibly develop land to the north of Pinnacle Bank are being conducted by the city of Newcastle, the bank and other locals. Those involved are hoping to build a veterans memorial and splash pad, and the bank would donate the land for the proposed project. The city was applying for grants and hoped to get a feasibility study done.
November
Michael Alexander’s resignation was accepted by the Newcastle City Council on Nov. 1. The councilman and his family were moving outside of city limits, he said, which is the reason for his resignation. Those interested in filling the seat had until Dec. 3 to submit a letter of interest. Applicants were to be invited to attend a council meeting for a question and answer time before the council chose Alexander’s replacement.
Garrett Borton filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgement, Application for Temporary and Permanent Injunctions, against Weston County Commissioner Tony Barton, who was served with a summons on Nov. 2 at the courthouse. The reason for the petition was Barton’s move to Crook County last year. The commissioner’s home is located in Carlile, Wyoming, but he owns Sustainable Homes & Design in Upton. Borton’s petitions asked for a temporary injunction, not removal of Barton from office. The injunction would be for Barton to refrain from voting as an elected official and also forfeit financial compensation from the county.
2018 Newcastle High School graduate Emalee Sweet is working as Harriet Hageman’s personal assistant for her campaign to be Wyoming’s sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sweet started working with Hageman in September, when she announced her campaign. Sweet takes notes for Hageman when she talks to people, helps her coordinate with people she needs to talk to, helps coordinate events to attend, etc. She also helps with some fundraising. Sweet said she has an interest in politics and was excited to be involved in that arena.
On Nov. 18, the Weston County Health Services board of trustees approved a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its employees. This policy has been an ongoing discussion since the August announcement from President Biden that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services would be requiring the shot. The facility must mandate the vaccine or risk losing Medicare, Medicaid and even private insurance payments, according to LeAnn Kenagy, board secretary. According to CEO Maureen Cadwell, the Manor received Medicaid funds totaling $3,154,556 in 2020. The district could be at risk of losing $15 million if it decided to not enforce the mandate. The district felt it had no other choice, she said. Under the CMS’ rules, employees can request medical or religious exemptions. Employees have to submit exemptions by Dec. 1 for approval by the committee.
The local COVID-19 death count for Weston County reached 13 after three more deaths were reported by the Wyoming Department of Health on Nov. 16. The deaths were reported as two women and one man, occurring in October and the beginning of November. Wyoming totals were brought to 1,347 COVID deaths in the state since the pandemic started. Of the deaths, 106 were people who were vaccinated, and one of the deaths in Weston County was a vaccinated individual.
There was to be no United Fund pie auction this year after years of hosting the annual pie auction. Chris Beardsley, president of the United Fund, said that one of the reasons was a concern among past volunteers and workers about the health and well-being of volunteers and auction attendees, wanting people to be asked for proof of vaccination for COVID-19. Another reason was that many long-time bakers and volunteers were running out of steam to continue with the work. Melissa Stubbs, United Fund secretary, said a lack of younger generations being interested in volunteer work is a concerning factor as well. The United Fund said that more help is needed if the organization is to hold auctions in the future. People were still encouraged to donate this year to either the United Fund as a whole or to the specific organizations supported by it.
December
Tony Barton, Weston County commissioner, responded to a suit filed by Garrett Borton on Oct. 26. Barton’s response was filed Nov. 18 and stated his right to remain on the Board of
Weston County Commissioners and asked the Sixth Judicial Court to dismiss the suit. As previously reported in the NLJ, “according to court documents, Borton is seeking an injunctive and declaratory relief within the jurisdiction of the court concerning Barton’s qualifications to function in the office that he is currently holding.” Borton’s request was not to have Barton removed, but for a temporary injunction, which would disallow Barton from voting or receiving financial compensation from Weston County.
Not long after Weston County Health Services announced its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to comply with the mandate put forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, it was announced that Wyoming, along with nine other states, did not have to implement vaccine mandates. Wyoming, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota and New Hampshire “do not have to enforce vaccine mandates at healthcare facilities following a preliminary injunction issued on Nov. 29 by the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri that halts the implementation and enforcement of a rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that would have imposed the vaccine requirements,” as previously reported by the NLJ and according to a press release from Gov. Mark Gordon’s office. WCHS put its mandate on hold following this announcement.
With redistricting being discussed at the Wyoming Legislature, Weston County is concerned about remaining whole. The redistricting plan will be adopted during the 2022 budget session, beginning Feb. 14, by the Legislature. Multiple potential plans have been submitted and reviewed, and the Joint Corporations Committee must prepare a plan to give to the whole Legislature. Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, along with Weston County Commissioners Marty Ertman, Ed Wagoner and Don Taylor, pleaded the county’s cause to remain whole to the committee. Allen Slagle, Weston County Republican Party vice-chair; Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Sundance; and Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, also spoke on Weston County’s behalf.
Pinnacle Bank’s 18th annual Festival of Trees raised a record-breaking amount of money on Dec. 3. The festival raised $41,318 for four local nonprofits — FOCUS, Weston County Children’s Center, Weston County Humane Society and Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department Explorer Post No. 66. All four nonprofits planned to put the funds received toward needs in their organizations, and they all said they were thankful for the support of the community and Pinnacle Bank’s efforts each year to put on the event.
Rare Element Resources closed on its rights offering, getting the company closer to its goal of “constructing its demonstration scale rare earths separation and processing plant at the Upton industrial park,” as stated in the NLJ article. RER’s focus is to deliver rare earth products for technology, energy and defense applications. The company is advancing the Bear Lodge Critical Rare Earth Project in northeast Wyoming. Bear Lodge contains many valuable rare earth elements. According to George Byers, consultant to RER, the offering gave about $25.1 million. In addition to the $21.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, RER planned to put the funds toward “construction and operating the Upton facility.”
A discussion to spend about $220,000 of federal American Relief Fund monies to Weston County was tabled at a Board of Weston County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 7. A total of $672,744.50 was received from the COVID-19 stimulus package, half of what the county is to receive. At the Dec. 7 meeting, the county’s elected officials, including Treasurer Susie Overman, Clerk Becky Hadlock, Assessor Tina Conklin and District Court Clerk Tina Cote, asked to use some of the money for “premium pay for county employees,” as the NlJ article states. The proposal was to pay county employees $200 per month, March 2020 to December 2021, amounting to about $4,400 for each employee. After some discussion, the topic was tabled until the next meeting.