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"Let them be wild and free" was one of the rallying cries of protestors who gathered on Monday morning to speak out against wild horse roundups and management practices by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Approximately 30 protestors met up at the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility, then made their way to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office where they shared speeches, chanted slogans, and held up signs with messages like "Free our wild horses, "Stop wild horse roundups," and "Stop taxpaye...
After what many considered a successful week of hosting the National High School Finals Rodeo, several Sweetwater County residents received quite a shock. At least two locals found the campers and RVs they had rented out to rodeo contestants and their families in disrepair, and several others struggled to obtain full payment. It has long been the practice of many local residents to rent out their campers and RVs to rodeo families as thousands flock to the event and are often hoping to stay on si...
It's getting smoky around Sweetwater County as a result of wildfires. Be kind to your lungs. If you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors, according to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause respiratory health effects. Crystal Hamblin, Sweetwater Memorial Cardiopulmonary...
While several construction projects are in full swing around Sweetwater County this summer, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has construction plans for not just this year, but the next several years. WYDOT District 3 Construction Engineer Peter Stinchcomb gave a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners during the July 16 meeting to go over the annual State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) update. This annual presentation highlights current and future highway pro...
Addressing concerns with county roads in rural parts of Sweetwater County was one of the main topics of discussion during the July 2 County Commissioner meeting. The commissioners voted to award a bid for a frost heaves project on County Road 1 near McKinnon and voted to vacate County Road 124 near Eden. Both roads have been the subject of discussion for the past few months, with several commissioners making trips out to the affected areas to see the roads for themselves and learn more about the...
A new slate of officers for the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Board of Trustees were elected Monday afternoon. Barbara Sowada retains her position as president. Sowada was recently reappointed by the Sweetwater County Commission to a five-year term on the hospital board beginning July 1. Kandi Pendleton was elected vice president, a position previously held by Craig Rood. Nena James was elected secretary, a position previously held by Pendleton. Marty Kelsey retains his position as...
Sweetwater County is prepared to head into Fiscal Year 2025 with a balanced budget and a roughly $4.2 million increase in projected budgeted reserves when comparing this year's budget to last year's. The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners hosted a special meeting last Thursday, June 27, to have a public hearing and adopt the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the county. However, due to the need to follow state statutes regarding the advertisement of the budget, the commissioners only...
After hosting multiple rallies to show solidarity and multiple readings of the proposed agreement, the United Steelworkers Local 13214 union voted on Sunday to approve their new contract with Genesis Alkali. The union and company have been working on renegotiating the contract, with union members calling for changes in order to have more input on safety concerns and better work-life balance for employees. Since the contract was presented to the union and a majority of the members voted to...
Local mine rescue teams from Sisecam, Genesis Alkali, TATA, and Solvay competed against one another in a competition hosted by Southwest Wyoming Mutual Aid (SWMA) last week at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs. The competitions provide an opportunity for mine rescue teams to practice their skills. Results Field 1st place Sisecam Blue 2nd place Sisecam White 3rd place Genesis Blue First Aid 1st place Sisecam Blue 2nd place Genesis Teal 3rd place Solvay Blue Draeger BG4 1st place Tata...
A chorus of honks and cheers rang out along Westvaco Road, even while 40 mile per hour wind gusts blew off people's hats and lightning flashed in the background. "What do we want?" Marshal Cummings yelled through a megaphone. "Fair contract!" hundreds of voices answered. "When do we want it?" "Now!" A severe thunderstorm watch wasn't enough to stop members of the United Steelworkers Local 13214 union, along with supportive family members and friends, from taking part in a rally outside Genesis...
The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) awarded accreditation to the medical laboratories at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County based on results of a recent on-site inspection conducted by CAP inspectors. The inspection team included practicing pathology and laboratory medicine professionals. Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality and mitigates risk, an important way that laboratories can contribute to improved...
As a pharmacist, Brendan Gemelli says he loves being able to make a tangible difference in people's lives. As the new Pharmacy Director at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, Gemelli said what drives him is a patient's well-being. "What drives me as a pharmacist is being able to make tangible differences within people's lives and their well-being," he said. It's rewarding to know that my knowledge and expertise can contribute directly to improving someone's quality of life, whether that...
A new program targeting healthy lifestyles for teens is being offered through the Pediatric Clinic of Sweetwater Memorial. TEEN (Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, and Nutrition) is a 15-session program. This program is meant to complement and to build on the skills learned in the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) program, which has been helping children for about four years. Joshua Walker, the clinic's Child Life Specialist, leads both programs. Here's a breakdown of both...
Sweetwater County continues to see growth, from plans for new development - including new housing - to the improvement of existing services. The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners addressed and discussed some of the recent growth in the county during the June 18 meeting, from approving Planning and Zoning resolutions to hearing an update from Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. One of the Planning and Zoning resolutions the commissioners approved was for a zoning amendment to al...
Local first responders and law enforcement had several eventful days last week, working together with multiple agencies on calls including water rescues and high speed pursuits. The Green River Fire Department shared information on an incident involving rescuing an adult and juvenile whose canoe had capsized in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. At approximately 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, the Green River Fire Department (GRFD), Castle Rock Ambulance, and the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Departmen...
Questions over how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been making rules and handling decisions continue to concern the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Mary Thoman, in particular, works closely with several federal government groups and the BLM on a number of conservation projects and processes. In her report to the other commissioners during the June 4 meeting, Thoman shared that she has recently been part of several Zoom meetings with federal government...
Hospital leaders and local dignitaries broke ground Thursday on a laboratory renovation and expansion project. Once completed, it will provide a new outpatient setting for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County's current main laboratory, curbside access and an enhanced patient experience. "We are so excited about the laboratory renovation and expansion project," said MHSC CEO Irene Richardson. "The layout will allow our patients to access the laboratory without having to enter the main building...
While both the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and representatives from the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport expressed frustration about the circumstances surrounding the decision, the county commissioners approved several agreements with the airport to help support and potentially fund plans for the completion of the airport renovation projects that have been delayed. "The gateway to our community is in disarray," Airport Director Devin Brubaker said, explaining the desire to...
Our firearms training staff is pleased to announce this year’s civilian firearms and concealed carry training schedule. This year, we are offering two basic classes. Each class features a combination of classroom instruction and shooting exercises. The training emphasizes firearms familiarization and safety, and topics include grip, stance, sight picture, trigger control, holster considerations, firearms storage, and more. Our two scheduled classes this year are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, and Saturday, August 17. There is a $...
Some plans the county has previously worked on have been going well, while other plans for the future are still looking for more input. During this week's Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners meeting, discussions included both updates on topics including ambulance service and camping in Pioneer Trails Park, as well as overviews of projects regarding the future of certain county roads. A quarterly update from Castle Rock Ambulance Service was presented during the meeting. Ambulance...
The Western Wyoming Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of the College's next president, Dr. Kirk Young at the April 25 special board meeting. Young will begin on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Dr. Kim Dale, who announced her departure from the College last year. In discussing Youngs's appointment, Board President Jim Jessen shared that the board could not be more pleased to find a dynamic leader to continue Western's evolution and on-going impact in the region....
Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Clean Power Plan 2.0 regulations, including issuing a suite of final rules that would cut down on coal production. Wyoming leaders and lawmakers reacted strongly to the new rules, expressing their anger and their intent to fight against the regulations. On April 25, the EPA released the final rules, explaining in a press release that the purpose of the new regulations is to "reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired...
Sweetwater County works together with a number of federal partners throughout the year, particularly when it comes to managing land and resources in the county. Several of these partners provide an annual update to the county in order to give an overview of what they've been working on and project coming up in the future. The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners heard an update from representatives of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Ashley National Forest (ANF), and the...
Sweetwater County is one step closer to being part of a trail system connecting communities across Southwest Wyoming. The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution designating and enrolling county roads as open to off-highway vehicle travel during their meeting on Tuesday. The decision came after discussion of Sweetwater County being a part of Southwest Wyoming Off-road Trails (SWOT), a group hoping to create an interconnected trail system people can use to travel...
Within the next few days, Sweetwater County residents will begin receiving their 2024 Notice of Value Property Assessments in the mail. Residents will also see some changes on their Notice of Value because of recently passed legislation, and some residents may qualify for exemptions. If applicable, the exemption amounts will be listed on the bottom left corner of the notice, and the resulting tax amount exempted in the bottom right corner, according to a press release from the Sweetwater County...
