Articles from the December 3, 2014 edition


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  • Administrator search continues

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    The search of a new city administrator reached a new point when the application period closed Nov. 30. According to Interim City Administrator Chris Steffen, the city received 19 applications from people interested in the position. Locally, three residents living in the city are amongst applicants Steffen said either meet or exceed the requirements posted in the city's job description. Steffen said the city also has three applicants from the Wyoming, Colorado and Utah region that either meet or...

  • No more breaks for felon

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    A 19-year-old of man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl will serve prison time after he violated his probation. Edward Charles Buckendorf appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James at a probation of revocation hearing to an original charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Judge James revoked his probation and sentenced him to three to five years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary, with credit given for 48 days served. On. Aug. 28, Buckendorf entered a guilty plea to the felony charge under Wyoming...

  • County steps up lobbying for industrial complex

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    Sweetwater County's efforts to attract a large-scale industrial complex continue as state officials visit with some of the Sweetwater County Commissioners. The complex, which is little more than an idea at this point, is based on a massive industrial complex in Alberta, Canada known as the Heartland complex. Legislators from Wyoming, including Representative John Freeman (D-Green River) toured the facility in late February, striking interest amongst lawmakers throughout the state in the...

  • Commissioners raise more salaries

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    A round of salary increases within the Sweetwater County government was capped by four increases aimed at four chief deputies at the county offices. Tuesday, the Sweetwater County Commissioners voted to give those chief deputies a 33 percent wage increase to keep them on par with wage increases approved for elected officials earlier this year. The raise boosts the salaries for chief deputies in the county treasurer’s office, county clerk’s office, the clerk of district court’s office and the county assessor’s office. The raises go into effect...

  • City funds sculpture

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    As was hinted at during a city council meeting last month, the Green River City Council voted to spend $20,000 to help fund the creation and placement of a statue. The statue, titled “Shift Change,” will be placed in the city’s Mining Memorial Park on East Flaming Gorge Way. It was originally created by local artist Bryan Cordova as part of a competition. Cordova was announced the winner during Art on the Green in August and has resulted in the Green River Arts Council conducting a number of fundraising sales and events aimed at paying for t...

  • Albert Jewel Kiser

    Dec 3, 2014

    Albert Jewel Kiser, 93, of Rock Springs passed away on Nov. 28, 2014 at the Deer Trail Assisted Living in Rock Springs. Kiser died following a lengthy illness. He was born on Sept. 18, 1921 in Glover, Colo., the son of the late Elmer and Bessie Kiser. Kiser attended school in Cheyenne. He married Maxine Dwyer and they later divorced. He married Dolores M. Hornsby in June of 1984 in Pinedale, and she preceded him in death on April 8, 2014 Kiser was a United States Army Veteran of World War II. He served from June 22, 1944 until Feb. 2, 1946 when...

  • Francis Morrison

    Dec 3, 2014

    Francis Morrison, 86, of Green River died Nov. 27, 2014 at Deseret Health & Rehab Center in Rock Springs. He was born Oct. 30, 1928 in Green River, the son of William "Bill" Morrison and Clara Cross Morrison. He attended schools in Green River and Lincoln High School. He also attended machine school. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He married Nancy Martinez May 18, 1950 in Green River. She preceded him in death Jan. 18, 1974. He had worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and at FMC for...

  • Nancy Lee Pivik

    Dec 3, 2014

    Nancy Lee Pivik, 74, of Rock Springs passed away Nov. 29, 2014 at the Deseret Health and Rehab in Rock Springs. She was a longtime resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming. She was born on June 10, 1940 in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew and Louise Lesko. Pivik attended schools in Rock Springs and was a 1958 graduate of the Rock Springs High School. She also attended Colorado State University. She married Arthur P. Pivik in Rock Springs at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church on Sept. 18, 1960....

  • Our View: We should protect our environment

    Dec 3, 2014

    When it comes to answers to the area’s environmental questions, there seems to be only two answers offered by various people interested in environmental issues. On one side, there are groups saying we need to protect everything from development to maintain the rugged and beautiful landscape we take for granted. They’re the people who applaud the large-scale work done at the Bridger Power Plant to retrofit their smoke stacks in an effort to scrub a large amount of its carbon dioxide emissions. That work was spurred by the EPA’s regul...

  • Delve a little deeper at the public library

    Jacquie Kramer, Sweetwater County Library System|Dec 3, 2014

    December is a month filled with holiday shopping, parties, family gatherings, travel, and anything else we can squeeze in. If you're game, I'd like to open your mind to an idea. This idea stems from the fact that the public library is not only a place to find entertainment through novels, DVDs, and Internet access, but a place that give you the tools to delve a little deeper. Dec. 1 is the anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest for failing to give up her seat at the front of a bus and move to the...

  • An ode to the kids dinner table

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    Last week, while sitting down to the annual Thanksgiving feast with my family, I thought about something that hadn’t crossed my mind in the past several years. Many readers may have memories, fond or otherwise, of sitting at the “kids table” during Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners. The smaller table, sometimes a rarely used card table from the basement, where the family members under a certain age were segregated to at while the adults enjoyed dinner and pleasant conversation at the large...

  • Waging a war against 'turkey day'

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Dec 3, 2014

    Growing up, one of my favorite holidays was Thanksgiving. Every year I looked forward to getting together with my family and having a great meal. Back then, when we arrived at someone’s house, they would always say Happy Thanksgiving, or we’d say the same if people were coming to our house. Now things have changed. More often than not you hear “happy turkey day.” The sound of people saying happy turkey day is like the proverbial fingernails on a chalk board or any other type of annoying this th...

  • The joys found through a lifetime of bargain hunting

    Fred Uhrich, Guest Columnist|Dec 3, 2014

    I really like shopping and don’t mind working on something to get it going again. Here are a few stories from looking for a good deal. My first bargain came about when I was seven years old. Making a deal, I ran into our house yelling to my mom that I needed a bag of carrots, she hollered back to look in the crisper. Trading a bag of carrots, I now had a red bicycle, what a trade. I was the envy of my little brother and sister. Of course my mother came out to see what all the yelling was about. She made me return the bike, and get the c...

  • Monroe school awarded key to City of Green River

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    The people behind Monroe Intermediate School’s popular Veterans Day Program were recognized by the city for their continued efforts to honor the city’s veterans. Mayor Hank Castillon awarded representatives of the school with a plaque featuring a key, along with city-branded coins and an American flag that had been flown over Afghanistan. Kathy Wiekhorst, a retired teacher who helped initiate the long-running program, said the idea came about when she and another teacher, Mary Ortega, were talking about their fathers, who had both served dur...

  • Program leads to pageant win

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    Helping Native American elders was something this family always took to heart. Monroe Intermediate School sixth-grade student Delaina Becenti's family is always trying to find ways to keep their Navajo background alive. For years, Delaina has danced at many Sweetwater County School District No. 2 schools to show students Navajo dance. Although dancing is something Delaina enjoys, she and her family wanted to do more. Tomacita Becenti, Delaina's mother had heard about the Adopt-a-Native-Elder...

  • GR Speech team dominates Utah tourney

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    Once again, the Green River High School Speech and Debate Team came out on top. The team did not become intimidated when they went up against Utah-based teams this weekend. With a total of 1,107 points, the team came in first; defeating Copper Hills High School, Utah, who came in second with 982 points and Rock Springs, who came in third with 694 points. Twenty-nine schools attended the Juan Diego High School tournament, all of them were from Utah with the exception of Rock Springs and Green River. “I am very proud of our team, we were m...

  • Library features holiday book tree

    David Martin, Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    While a number of decorative Christmas trees are being placed for public display throughout Green River, the book tree at the Sweetwater County Library might be the most creative and unusual of the lot. According to Sweetwater County Library Manager Jacquie Kramer, two youth services librarians, Becky Iwen and Misti Zimmerman, came across the tree idea while browsing Pintrest. The tree sounded like a great idea to Kramer, who said it fit in with the library's ongoing project to repurpose older...

  • Many cards collected for soldiers overseas

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Dec 3, 2014

    Once again, Sweetwater County residents answered the call for cards. For years, Green River resident Harry Holler has asked the community for help in sending soldiers Christmas cards; and this year was no different. Holler challenged residents, specifically schools, to help send Christmas cards to soldiers overseas. All the residents had to do was write a message on top of the card, such as “God Bless,” “Merry Christmas,” or “Thank you for your service,” and put their name and address at the bottom of the card. The community responded a...

  • Winter practice underway at GRHS

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Dec 3, 2014

    The sounds of sneakers squeaking as they grazed against the gym floor could be heard Monday afternoon at Green River High School. For the first time this season, the winter sports teams at the school were able to officially practice with the season set to begin next week. Boy’s and girl’s basketball, boy’s swimming and wrestling teams will all take center stage till early March and the four state tournaments. The Green River High School wrestling seeks a 12th state crown after finishing secon...

  • Bode makes return trip to Denver event

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Dec 3, 2014

    For the second straight season, Green River's Karlee Bode will be making a trip to compete at the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Team Championship in Denver. The ten-year-old student at Monroe Intermediate School will look to advance to the national competition at the contest that will take place Dec. 7 at the Denver Broncos Practice Facility in Dove Valley, Colo. Bode advanced to the team championship after winning the city competition for an amazing fifth straight year, then the sectional competition...

  • Chorale harmony

    Dec 3, 2014