WTE offers thumbs up

Kudos to first responders, WYDOT for handling of emergencies

UP to Sweetwater County first responders and employees at the Wyoming Department of Transportation for their rapid, competent handling of the recent triple-fatal pileup inside the westbound Interstate 80 tunnel near Green River.

In addition to the heroic efforts of a few individuals involved in or near the crash, the response by local first responders and recovery efforts by WYDOT crews were outstanding. WYDOT Director Darin Westby and Gov. Mark Gordon were on the scene the day after the crash, as well, making sure the community had the latest information and responders had all of the resources they needed.

In less than a week, the eastbound tunnel was open to head-to-head traffic, which helped take the pressure off a two-lane road through town that wasn’t meant to handle that many heavy vehicles or that kind of volume.

This rapid response, along with last year’s work to reopen Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass following a massive landslide, shows what state employees and their private contractor partners can accomplish in a short amount of time. Wyoming residents and those who pass through the state are the beneficiaries of their competence and dedication.

State lawmakers right to reaffirm trade relationship with Canada

UP to Wyoming lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives for reaffirming their support for continuing the state’s longstanding trade partnership with Canada.

In what has become almost an annual occurrence, Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, and House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, both signed a resolution that, according to WyoFile.com reporting, “affirmed the importance of Canada as a purchaser of Wyoming’s exports, during a visit from a Canadian diplomat to the statehouse.”

Before handing him a copy of the resolution, Sen. Biteman told Canadian Consul Stephen Green, “We love you, and we’ll always have your back, and we look forward to maintaining this wonderful relationship.” Sen. Biteman told WyoFile this wasn’t meant as a rebuke of President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs on our neighbor to the north and even suggested Canada could become “the 51st state.”

But as WyoFile’s Andrew Graham reported, “The resolution states Canada is the biggest buyer of Wyoming exports, spending around $430 million a year on Wyoming goods and services. When Wyoming’s imports from the nation are incorporated, the number in annual trade reaches $1 billion. There are 47 Canadian-owned companies operating in Wyoming, employing 750 people — not an insignificant sum for Wyoming’s small towns.” For these reasons and others, including tourism promotion, we’re glad to see this tradition continue.

Council members should reverse paid parking downtown decision

UP to those members of the Cheyenne City Council who continue to support an ordinance to repeal one passed late last year to create a paid parking program downtown.

Approved on second reading Monday, the ordinance must pass one more vote March 10. Sponsored by Ward 3 councilor Michelle Aldrich, the proposal needs six votes to be approved. It had seven votes of support this week, with Dr. Mark Rinne absent; only Ward 2 councilor Tom Segrave was opposed to the repeal.

We understand the stated desire of Mr. Segrave and Mayor Patrick Collins to see the program implemented. The reason they approved it in December was to address the issue of lack of turnover in parking spaces in front of downtown businesses, and they’re right that something needs to be done in certain areas to improve parking access.

However, it quickly became clear that there was insufficient notice given to downtown business and property owners before the original ordinance was approved. In addition, the concern that many older residents will choose not to patronize downtown businesses if they’re required to use a smartphone app is valid.

Council members need to give final approval to this “repeal ordinance,” then revisit recommendations from a 2016 Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization report to improve parking downtown. Whatever is implemented going forward, downtown business and other property owners need to be involved in making it a success.

Youth and adults put on a fabulous Black History Month program

UP to the youth and their adult directors who put on an entertaining and informative Black History Month program last Saturday at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ.

Students acknowledged this year’s national theme, “African Americans and Labor,” and showed YouTube videos highlighting the history of Black History Month and how it grew from a week to a month-long celebration. But the main part of the program was a play called “Missing Pieces” which focused on the need to learn about and preserve the history of Black Americans and their positive impact on our country through the generations.

Staged like the summer Old-Fashioned Melodrama, the play featured a villain named Freddy Fingers, who was snatching up historic Black inventors (in the form of quilt squares being made for a class project). The well-dressed Detective Dan helped save the day (and the class project) by foiling Freddy’s fun and reminding the audience that they can’t let anyone steal or hide their history.

Coordinated by WTE Editorial Board member and retired/current substitute teacher Paulette Gadlin, the event was a timely reminder that all history should be told — both the good and the bad — and heroes should be celebrated, regardless of the color of their skin.