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With our record snowfall this winter and spring on the horizon, warmer temperatures and nicer days are just around the corner. Mother Nature is unpredictable during this time of year, which could mean severe storms and flooding that will coincide with the spring runoff. Now is the time to be aware and be prepared. Our mountain snowpack this year is one of the highest we have seen and we are expecting a very high runoff coming our way. Here are some steps in helping all of us to pre-plan and prepare for the spring and summer. First and foremost...
One doesn’t have to wait until Dr. Seuss’ birthday to have green eggs and ham. Last week, the preschool my youngest son, John, 4, attends was hosting a Dr. Seuss event. This event was not only for the students who attend the school, but an open house for those who wanted to learn more about the preschool. I signed up to bring treats and was asked to make green eggs and ham. I didn’t know what they wanted, but then I received a photo of what I was asked to make, it was a picture of pretz...
March’s Artifact of the Month is a little different as it features two artifacts instead of one. The first is a poem written by William J. Stroud, also known as “Rocky Mountain Bill,” titled “The Last Supper.” The second artifact is sheet music of “The Last Supper,” with music composed by Sylvan Donald Ward. As the title suggests, the poem depicts Jesus’ final days before his crucifixion, with references to Via Dolorosa and the Garden of Gethsemane. In Sylvan Donald Ward’s composition, we see that the song is in E-flat major with a ¾ time sig...
Generally speaking, it isn’t a policy for this newspaper to publish letters to the editor signed by groups. Of course, exceptions can be made and while a recent letter we received doesn’t warrant special treatment, the subject it brings up is worthy of discussion. A letter, signed by the “Citizens of Cheyenne,” requests the Wyoming senators and representative serving in Washington, D.C. to host a town hall-type meeting with residents in Cheyenne to discuss and explain actions the three have taken during the first months of the year. Wyoming...
Walking the land is a form of poetry. My preference is off-trail walking, especially in the high deserts of the west. Every curve and slope, drainage and rock outcropping, becomes an experience. There is no better way to observe animals, plants, rocks and soil, the weather, and your own heart rate, and new thoughts and deep old memories. It can be done singly or with a friend. This is the original activity and pace and rhythm of human observation, learning, and thinking. Ken Wright and I exited Dark Canyon by way of the tributary Lean-to...
Have you ever wondered exactly who are the American Legion and what do they do? I spoke to Tom Niemiec, Adjutant of the American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28 in Green River to get some insight. Tom told me that the American Legion has always been around in Green River, but in 2014 they revitalized a building at 38 North Center Street in downtown Green River. Their goal was to re-energize their presence and impact in the community. They were able to remodel the building using money raised by donations, raffles and other activities. They also rece...
Snowfall last Thursday made for an unusual day for residents of Sweetwater County. Snow accumulation and terrible road conditions were anything but typical. Since I drive back and forth between Green River and Rock Springs quite a bit I’m pretty good at judging the road conditions. But even I, in all my infinite wisdom of 15 years living in Wyoming, was thrown through a loop Thursday morning. After I made sure my oldest son, Matthew, got on the bus, my youngest son, John, 4, and I made our w...
Dear Editor, This bill, which would allow private game farming of greater sage grouse, is both misguided and dangerous to our Wyoming lifestyle. The most damaging provision would be the loss of Wyoming’s legacy of disallowing the privatization of native species. Disallowing private citizens to “propagate, breed, possess, release, kill, hunt, sell...farmed sage grouse,” or any other native wild species, has been a pillar of Wyoming conservation and management efforts, and has been upheld by the citizens of Wyoming many times. Priva...
In the Feb. 15 article “Notes from Town Square: Tips for a Successful Construction Project, Part One,” we discussed the initial steps for a successful construction project including planning your project and selecting your contractor. We will now discuss the purpose of building permits, the permitting process, and inspections for your upcoming construction project. We will address these topics by answering some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive in the Green River Community Development Department. What is a building per...
Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport plays a critical role in fostering business and economic growth in Southwest Wyoming with over $31 million in annual economic output. The airport handled more than 1.2 million pounds of cargo, 16,600 aircraft operations, and 50,000 travelers in 2016 and is poised for growth in 2017. With an airport in their backyard, Sweetwater County companies are able to access the global marketplace. Hundreds of companies have major operations here, and they rely on quality air transportation services to transport...
Over the past few months, these columns have raised plenty of questions about Medicare, present and future, and I’ve received many responses to those questions from readers. Today’s column addresses some of readers’ concerns about Medicare, a complicated program. Q: Why do you refer to Social Security as social insurance? This continues to baffle me just as those who continually refer to SS as a handout. It’s not a handout. That money has been taken out of every one of my paychecks since I was 16. This is my money. A: Social insurance is group...
When we send this newspaper off to the printers, the Wyoming Legislature will have seven days left to debate and resolve the state’s biggest issues. We find that unacceptable. According to local representatives Stan Blake and John Freeman, the leadership within the house and senate are engaged in political gamesmanship over the outcome of these important issues. This gamesmanship includes the times representatives and senators meet to discuss. Today, the house convened to discuss potential cuts in the state’s budget at 1:30 p.m., while the sen...
A conflict of interest as defined by the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary is “a conflict between the private interests and the official or professional responsibilities of a person in a position of trust.” A response to the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner’s questions regarding an article we published focused on the ethics of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County’s public relations and marketing director having ownership in an online media company perfectly illustrates both the definitio...
Just when it seems like there is finally a calm in my house, another storm seems to hit. This time the storm hit in a different way. Unlike other storms, this one was caused by my two, sweet, innocent and beautiful children, Matthew, 7, and John, 4. It happened on a weekend. My husband had gone to the store to pick up a few groceries and I needed a short bathroom break. I was only in the bathroom for about two minutes, but when I reappeared, the living room was trashed. Magazines, books, toys, b...
What transpired last week between the Sweetwater County Commissioners and the members of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County’s Board of Trustees is unprecedented, but we think few options were left on the table. What isn’t disputed is the fact the hospital’s cash reserves are nearing a dangerous level. If the reserves dip below 75 days of cash on hand, the hospital is in default on the revenue bonds sold to improve the hospital’s emergency room a decade ago. The board members’ responses to the commissioners’ questions regarding rumors of a...
Seeing the piles of snow slowly melt away is a nice reminder that construction season is just around the corner. Last year was an unusually busy year for construction within the city, mostly in part to the freak hail storm that we were dealt in June. As a result of the damage caused by this storm, the Green River Community Development Department issued 1,163 building permits in 2016, which is more than three times the average annual permits issued of 340 per year. Based on communication with local developers and contractors, the city is...
We now have a new administration. In January, I became chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. President Trump announced his nominee to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Senate also started the process of rolling back punishing regulations from the Obama administration. Supreme Court Nomination On Jan. 31, President Trump announced his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Our next justice will make decisions that impact our country for generations. That’s why it’s im...
When you fill a prescription at your local pharmacy, you assume the medicine you receive is safe and won’t interact badly with other drugs you’re taking. That’s not an unreasonable assumption, considering that pharmacists enjoy a positive reputation among the public. A recent Gallup poll found that pharmacists are among the most trusted professionals ranking second only to nurses. But pharmacists’ reputations as patient guardians may be unwarranted. The results of an investigation published by the Chicago Tribune before Christmas showed...
Producing a newspaper week in and week out can be an intense process and sometimes items make it to print in a way that has some unintended consequences. This was the case last week with the unfortunate placement of a dodgeball photo over an article regarding an alleged sexual assault. The photo itself was one of my favorites from the Make-A-Wish dodgeball event. The look of “I’ll get you back” on Green River High School student Candon Croft’s face as he dropped his dodge balls was what sold it...
Dear Sen. Barrasso, I am disappointed that you did not include Teton County in your scheduled constituent visits this February. Many people whom you represent are quite concerned about your recent voting record on cabinet positions, executive orders, and rule changes. A less charitable person than myself might think you are trying to avoid constituents who don’t agree with you. I will simply say the optics look bad. You know as well as I that a “town hall” conference call is not the same thing as face-to-face interaction. I have many thing...
The Frostbite run is quickly approaching so we thought it would be a good idea to give everyone some winter training tips to get you ready. Keep yourself motivated this winter by registering for a couple of races. This way you are sure to keep working towards your goals of fitness whether it be running or walking a 5K, 10K or the 1 Mile Family Fun Run. You can register at the Green River Recreation Center or at www.runnercard.com. Snowmen are better than just one Snowman Find a running partner to help keep you motivated. It’s much harder to s...
If you’ve been having trouble talking freely with friends and neighbors since the last election, you’re not alone. And the media wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether we’re sounding the drums of the Left or the Right, there’s nothing that sells quite as well as conflict. Even your hometown newspaper is guilty of leading with the bleeding. That’s because conflict is what makes a story interesting. You’re a reader - think about the last book you read. Now take all of the conflict out of it. Reading can be a pretty boring exercise without the c...
As the city looks to increase the rates paid by residents for utility services, it might be time to seriously consider privatizing trash collection. According to proposed rates sent to residents in their water bills, the monthly solid waste charge is projected to increase from $25.50 during the current fiscal year to $47.50 by 2022. Utilizing one of the private solid waste companies within Sweetwater County may provide savings to residents and save the city from the costs associated with building a solid waste transfer station -- a win-win...
Booming times for Wyoming’s oil, gas, and coal industries might come again, but the next boom may be the last one, or, at any rate, the booms will become less and less significant. Perhaps something like open warfare breaking out between Saudi Arabia and Iran, or a Civil War within Russia, would reduce global energy output enough to create huge demands for our state’s fossil fuels, and prices will skyrocket, thus solving our state’s economic problems overnight. This, however, would only be putting off the inevitable; fossil fuels are being...
Have you been in to Rose Floral lately? If not, you might be surprised by some of the changes that have taken place. Stacy Bruder and Mike Reed purchased Rose Floral in November of 2016. Since then, they’ve made a number of great modifications to the interior of the building. The space is more open which has made room to showcase their products and show off new inventory. Stacy has been in Green River for over 20 years, while Mike as been here since 2000. They choose to stay in Green River because it is a family-friendly community and a great p...
