Articles written by Clair Mcfarland


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  • Gaming reg fix weighed during special session, but vote failed

    Clair McFarland, The Riverton Ranger Via Wyoming News Exchange|Nov 11, 2021

    RIVERTON — An attempt to tighten Wyoming’s loosened gambling regulations during the special legislative session failed last week when the House opted not to introduce a corrective bill. Senate File 1019 and its counterpart, House Bill 1019, sought to correct what their language called a “scrivener’s error,” or unintentional drafting mistake dating back to the 2021 session –– when legislators tried to repeal a sunset date for gambling regulation but instead, by an apparent omission that State Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, called an error –– r...

  • Former Pavillion clerk charged again with stealing from town

    Clair McFarland, Riverton Ranger Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jul 1, 2021

    RIVERTON — Originally charged with stealing more than $34,000 from the Town of Pavillion, the municipality’s former clerk was charged again last week, after more unexplained expenditures were discovered. The newly discovered bank account charges date back to 2013 and appear to have funded a wedding in Kentucky. Rebecca Irene Milleson, a 48-year-old Riverton woman also known as Rebecca Hatcher, now faces an additional count of felony larceny. The charge in worst-case scenarios could be punishable by up to a decade in prison and $10,000 in fin...

  • Woman accused of killing wants confession stricken

    Clair McFarland, The Riverton Ranger Via Wyoming Exchange|Apr 22, 2021

    RIVERTON — A woman accused of killing her husband with a knife in their Pavillion home on Christmas Eve has asked to have her confession removed from trial evidence. Through her attorney, Bennilee Strock argued Tuesday that she had asked for a lawyer prior to her confession but didn’t get one. According to arguments made during a Tuesday suppression hearing in Fremont County District Court, the following discussion occurred between Strock and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office detective Anthony Armstrong after the latter allowed her to revie...

  • Gun group's election activites probed

    Clair McFarland, Riverton Ranger Via Wyoming News Exchange|Oct 7, 2020

    RIVERTON — Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan’s elections division is reviewing the practices of a social media activist that has been pressuring Fremont County campaigns this election season. Wyoming Gun Owners identifies itself as a pro-gun group but has been accused by many of picking favorites in Wyoming Legislative campaigns regardless of candidates’ Second Amendment stances. The group often posts negative, combative videos about candidates on sites including Facebook and YouTube that accuse their unfavored political contenders as an...

  • Man shot by Riverton police dies

    Clair McFarland, The Riverton Ranger Via Wyoming News Exchange|Apr 22, 2020

    RIVERTON — New developments in the standoff that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Riverton have emerged, revealing that James Hinman, 56, was shot during a rapid volley of gunfire earlier in the day – not while being extricated from his home by law enforcement at the end of the incident. Hinman died between Thursday night and Friday morning. His death marks the third officer-involved shooting fatality in Riverton in 15 months. Two involved the Riverton police department, while the other shooting was by federal drug enforcement agents. Hin...

  • Riverton couple charged with murder

    Clair McFarland, The Riverton Ranger via Wyoming News Exchange|Apr 1, 2020

    RIVERTON — A husband and wife were charged Friday morning in the death of 38-year-old Trevor Bartlett, who died of a gunshot wound early Thursday. Court documents state the following: On March 26 at about 5:09 a.m., Courtnie Mills, 43, called the Riverton Police Department to report that 38-year-old Trevor Bartlett had shot himself to death at her home on Sunset Drive in Riverton. Mills had said she and her husband, 37-year-old Mario Mills, found Bartlett dead in their garage that morning when they woke to let their dogs out. Mario Mills s...

  • Finding should end shooting probe

    Clair McFarland, Riverton Ranger via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 4, 2019

    RIVERTON — In his document detailing the legal conclusion to an investigation into the Sept. 21 officer-involved shooting in front of Walmart in Riverton, Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun cautioned the public against further proceedings in the matter. The shooting killed 58-year-old Anderson Antelope Sr. LeBrun wrote that because the Riverton Police Department officer who shot Antelope did so because Antelope placed the officer and several bystanders in “immediate peril” by swinging a six-inch knife. The officer had the right to “take...