A year to remember

Last year, was filled with donations, volunteer work and great school programs.

In February, Green River High School was proud to say that for the second year in a row they beat Rock Springs High School in the Premier Bone and Joint Center’s High School Blood Drive Challenge. The school was able to collect 249 units. While some of the students enjoyed the friendly competition, others thought the rivalry was silly when they were doing something for a good cause. Both schools decided to collect as much blood as they could for the cause.

In March, the Green River High School Speech and Debate team once again showed the state they were the team to beat. For the fifth year in a row, the team brought home the state title. This is the sixth state title in the last seven years.

In April, Bill Hoyt was named the 2014 Green River Distinguished Citizen of the Year Hoyt was nominated by Judy Graham whose nomination letter spoke highly of Hoyt’s success as a music teacher and church volunteer. Hoyt retired as a music teacher after 46 years with Sweetwater County School District No. 2.

“Bill instilled a love of music to all children,” Graham wrote in her letter. “Bill has been an integral part of the city.”

Being kind and caring for animals is what made Chris Thomas stand out among all the other nominees for the 2014 Green River Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Thomas was surprised when she found out and thought the chamber had made a mistake. Thomas said she knew there was another Chris Thomas and she wanted to make sure they had the right one.

In May, Green River saw kindness displayed when a woman paid for another’s prescription while she was at Smith’s. Green River resident Robert Haselhuhn, 51, was in line at the Smith’s Food and Drug pharmacy discussing payment on his prescription.

Haselhuhn and the pharmacy employee were talking about the cost of his prescription for Dronabinol when the lady behind him overheard part of the conversation.

Haselhuhn told the employee he could not afford the $312.60 prescription.

After hearing the conversation, the lady behind him offered to pay for the prescription.

“I told her she didn’t have to,” he said.

To which the lady replied that if he needed the medicine, she would pay for it.

After denying the lady four times, the pharmacy employee stepped in and asked the woman if she was serious. The lady told her she was. He gave in and let her pay for the medication. That’s was the first and the last time he saw her, but she left an impression of him.

In July, the GRHS speech team national finalists were once again put to the test. Last year nine students made it to nationals Fred Wittman triple qualified in extemporaneous speaking, Congress, and Lincoln Douglas Debate; Garrett Young double qualified in extemporaneous speaking and cross examination debate, Dallas Coursey qualified in cross examination debate; Savannah Hook qualified in Congress; JD Richardson qualified in Congress; Kayla Gibson qualified in oratory; Sydney Burbank and Davie Higbee qualified in Duet; and Alexander Marchal qualified in extemporaneous speaking.

Marchal competed against 563 others and took fifth place in extemporaneous debate. J.D. Richardson made it to the top 24 in the nation in Congress. He received a medal and was recognized as a finalist.

Dallas Coursey broke into the top 44 in the poetry category with more than 450 entries.

“We’ve never had people get to the final rounds like this before,” head coach Carina Stulken said. “Wyoming is such a small state so to have anyone do well is such a big accomplishment.”

In August, Green River residents were reminded of how the Green River Pond and Garden Tour got started. After some research, an article was found in the Sept. 19, 1996, edition of The Green River Star called “A Water World.” In that article, Wiley Morgan describes his Japanese-themed ponds in the backyard. He said the running water is something that takes the stress away and gives him a much needed vacation from work. He believes it was like a little mini vacation to the Bahamas in his own backyard.

At that time, Morgan described the pros and cons of owning a pond and taking care of Koi, a fish, in his backyard. Later in the article, Morgan says he knows of at least 12 others in Green River who water ponds, gardens or features in their yards and he wanted to start a city tour to show the ponds and give people information on how they can get their own started.

Just like that an idea was born. The idea didn’t stop there. It grew into an event which has become popular.

The first official pond tour took place in 1997 and included two homes on the list, Morgan’s and Lamar and Eileen Greene. To see what Morgan’s yard looks like today residents can visit his house on this year’s tour.

“The pond tour has been an anticipated event every year after that,” pond tour director Lyneen Murphy said.

Also in August, a new fundraiser was created. Despite the colder temperatures and rain, the Immaculate Conception Summer Festival was well attended.

The church’s parking lot was transformed into a festival scene with more than 16 game and food booths for children and adults to enjoy. The inside of the church was changed to accommodate a craft fair and bingo.

Louise Laughlin, summer festival committee chairman, said about 500 people attended the event where $9,215.45 was raised.

In November, Mindy France, Operation Christmas Child Collection Center Coordinator for southwest Wyoming asked the community to help out with the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program. Since 1993, OCC has been sending and distributing shoe-box gifts to children in need around the world. More than 80 million boxes in 130 countries have been distributed to children in need. This year, Samaritan’s Purse would like to reach the 100-million mark and is asking this country to help out. Thanks to the help of the community the program was once again a success.

With all the wonderful things happening in the community in 2014, 2015 is sure to be exciting.