Roberts chosen, Hospital board appoints Ben Roberts to fill vacant seat
On Oct. 17, the Weston County Hospital District board of trustees selected Pastor Ben Roberts to fill the unexpired term that became available after Nick Johnson resigned in September.
Roberts’ term will end in May 2026. He lives in Newcastle and has been a resident of Wyoming since April 2021, according to his application for the position.
At the meeting, the hospital board interviewed Roberts and five other candidates: William Curley, Henry Nessul, Leonard Nack, Norma Shelton and Ronald Briggs.
Nessul, Roberts and Curley also ran for the hospital board in the May 7 election this year. Curley received 254 votes, Roberts received 216 votes and Nessul received 86 votes, according to the official results.
Roberts, who is the pastor of the First Baptist Church and a veteran, told the hospital board that he holds a Masters of Business Administration in finance from Norwich University, a military college in Vermont, and a Master of Divinity with a concentration as a chaplain from Liberty University in Virginia. He ministers at the Weston County Manor and has grown to know the people there, he said.
Roberts said that losing the hospital would be detrimental for both current and prospective residents. He believes openness and transparency among hospital leaders and from the hospital leaders to the public is important, and he can bring a lot of experience in organizational leadership and wants to help where he can.
While he had never personally had bad experiences with the hospital, the state of the hospital is “rapidly improving” from what it was a few months ago, based on what he’s heard from the public.
“It’s great to see that things are improving, and I know there’s a lot of work going into it, so my hat is off to you, and my prayers continue for each of you,” he said.
Johnson said in his resignation letter that he decided to resign because his work and master’s program commitments made it impossible for him to dedicate the time and energy necessary to serve.
Hospital Happenings
Notes from the Oct. 17 meeting of the Weston County Hospital District board of trustees
• The board decided that Chair Ann Slagle, CEO Cathy Harshbarger and attorney Alison Gee would resume meeting together on Mondays, at least the Monday before the regular board meeting each month, to improve communication, especially as it relates to preparing the agenda. Slagle said there were “multiple miscommunications” the week of Oct. 16, and Treasurer Kari Drost said she believes communication between Harshbarger and the board was better when the meetings were occurring.