First-Hand Smoke: The massive prescribed fire took months to prepare, only hours to be smelled in Kemmerer
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
If you had a dream Saturday night about campfires, then woke up to a smokey Sunday morning, don't worry. It's all on purpose, and for a good reason.
The Bureau of Land Management and the Bridger-Teton National Forest are currently overseeing a massive prescribed burn in the Pole Creek area. The fire began on Friday afternoon and really began to ...more

Diamondville removes employee furloughs, appoints new judge
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
After a 30-minute Diamondville Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Town Mayor, Council and Police Chief convened for a 30 minute Executive Session while much of the public in attendance sat around half-bored and half-in suspense for the outcome of the unusually long executive session.
For Diamondville employees, it was worth the wait.
The Town of Diamondville officially ...more

Community Calendar
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
September 9
• Deadline to reserve tickets for the Eagles Anniversary Dinner. Call 877-4712.
• KHS golf at Green River HS.
• KMS volleyball vs. Davis MS, 4:30 p.m.
• KES Back to School Night
• KHS volleyball vs. Lyman HS, 7 p.m.

September 10
• KHS golf tournament vs. Star Valley HS
• KHS ...more

Honoring the Fight
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Several lit white bags form the shape of the cancer bow at Triangle Park last Wednesday, Sept. 2 for the Luminaria Ceremony. White paper bags with battery-operated candles were sold to local family members and friends of cancer victims. The purchaser of the bag then decorated the bag to honor the loved cancer honoree. All proceeds from the Luminaria Ceremony ...more

Community Briefs
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
On Sunday, Sept. 12 Lynn Harrell of the BLM will provide a tour for the Lincoln County Historical Society of two sites that are being excavated as a result of the Ruby Pipeline Project. The sites are prehistoric camps located north of Cumberland Gap, about 15 miles south of Kemmerer and easily accessible by gravel roads. The sites were identified ...more

Kemmerer Police Logs
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Sept. 3, 3:16 a.m. Assisted probation and parole with a house check.
Sept. 2, 10 p.m. Verbal domestic dispute.
Sept. 2, 11:20 p.m. Barking dog compliant. Upon arrival the dog was not barking.
Sept. 3, 12:10 a.m. Prescription drug issue.
Sept. 3, 10 a.m. Responded to an alarm that turned out to be false.
Sept. 3, 11:50 a.m. Responded to ...more

Book Nook
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Get the Smartest Card at your library.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Lincoln County libraries want all children to have the smartest card of all - a library card.
Public library programming and books for children make a difference in the lives of students. By providing school-age children with Summer Reading programs and a variety ...more

Wyoming will never discuss medical marijuana
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
One issue that is all over the news in our neighboring states of Colorado and Montana, which will not be discussed soon in Wyoming, is the legalization of medical marijuana.
Both of these states that cover our north and south borders have given into the idea of "medical marijuana" and that has effectively decriminalized the drug. In fact, ...more

Veritas takes a Fort trip
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Veritas Classical Christian Academy students dance with the Shoshone at the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Fort Bridger on Friday, Sept. 3.
COURTESY PHOTO / David Vaughan ...more

Band preps for pep
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
The Kemmerer High School pep band students, pictured last week, began rehearsals even before the first day of classes, much like their peers who are involved in athletics.
The Pep Band, under the direction of Sharon McGeary, will pep up fans at all the home football games.
GAZETTE PHOTO/ Kay Murphy Fatheree
...more

Daily Dose graduates seven
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
The graduates of the Daily Dose program pose with their families on Aug. 25. The Daily Dose is a program to help non-English speaking people develop skills to engage in everyday conversations.
The graduates included Mayra Pereda, Maria Ortiz, Maria Villarreal, Oscar Valdez, Ana Godinez, Liliana Avila and Tommy Ruiz.
The next beginning level class will start on Tuesday, Sept. ...more

A First Time for Everything
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010

A Kindergartener's first day of school is always a momentous one as it was for Brooke Rosas, Brooklyn Riding and Andi Vineyard's students on Tuesday at Kemmerer Elementary School.
The Gazette snapped the photo at left of Mrs. Rosas reading a book to her young charges called, appropriately enough, Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! near the end ...more

More Wyoming West Nile reports
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
A handful of additional West Nile virus (WNV) cases have been reported to the Wyoming Department of Health for 2010.
So far this year, three human cases have been confirmed by the department in Wyoming residents: an adult female from Natrona County with WNV fever, an adult male from Albany County with WNV meningitis and an adult male from ...more

Wyoming celebrates Recovery Month across the state
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
The Wyoming Department of Health is encouraging residents to participate in events planned in a number of communities around the state during September to celebrate recovery from addiction to alcohol and drug addiction.
"While substance abuse affects many Wyoming families every year, people who misuse alcohol and/drugs can and do recover," said Rodger McDaniel, Wyoming Department of Health deputy ...more

UW linebacker killed in crash
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Sept. 6 -- One University of Wyoming student was killed and three were injured Monday when the vehicle they were in went off Highway 287 in Colorado shortly before 5:30 a.m.
Killed was Ruben Narcisse, 19, of Miami, Fla. Injured were Trey Fox, 19, of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; C.J. Morgan, 18, of Aurora, Colo.; and J.J. Quinlan, 19, of Everett, ...more

Creature Feature - Get a great deal with BOGO
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
GAZETTE PHOTO/ Kay Murphy Fatheree
BOGO needs to go to a good home!
I am BOGO, a charcoal gray Weimaraner-Rideback mix male dog.
My demeanor is very calm and mild-mannered. I am about 10 years old, but still very energetic. In fact, the only request I make of potential owners is that I have a nice backyard, as ...more

Pic of the Week - Mr. Cheney & students
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
Martin Hangich photo
With the start of school this week, we have selected another class photo as our Pic of the Week.
The teacher has been identified as Mr. Cheney (we are not sure of the spelling).
We believe that this is a group of fourth graders.
They are posed on the steps at the Kemmerer Elementary School.
Our ...more

Sawaya's Winners
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2010
The following are the names and point totals from last month's Sawaya's contest winners, a contest held in honor of the store's closing.
Winners by place rankings and point totals from the contest are as follows:

1st Dan Hutchinson 31,007,130
2nd Thomas Wagner 30,021,252
3rd Lisa Wiswell 26,115,164
4th Marietta Lebolo 24,960,278
5th Sandra Hahn 19,962,305
6th Marta Torango 16,905,256
7th Dan Levenhagen 15,344,488
8th Deb Nash 14,569,176
9th Nancy Long 10,902,400
10th Lavonne Cassidy 9,407,296

The ...more

KHS Drill Team will perform at the Capital One Bowl
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Kemmerer High School Drill Team "Rangerettes" danced their hearts out during their recent drill team dance camp. They did such a great job, that the coaches of the camp awarded all eight Rangerette members blue ribbons for each of the three dance routines they learned during the camp.
They further received invitations from the dance instructors to perform at ...more

Bunners bid bye to Beanery
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Dan and Jean Bunner, who purchased The Beanery in May of 2009, are relocating to Elko, Nevada. "My husband took a job with Barrick Gold," Jean said on a recent trip back to Kemmerer. "He's already working there. We are going back and forth trying to get moved."
The business was recently sold to Maxine Ritzdorf, a long time ...more

Packed Picnic
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Kemmerer Business and Industry Picnic was a huge success as people packed Triangle Park for free burgers last Thursday, Aug. 26. Pictured are Kemmerer City Councilman Brian Burg as the grill master and Mayor Michael Nelson and other business and city officials serving up food with smiles.
GAZETTE PHOTO / Zach Zavoral ...more

Maxwell trial set
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
William "Mad Max" Maxwell will face trespassing charges Oct. 18 in the Kemmerer Municipal court.
Maxwell, the leader and father of a rockabilly band called "Mad Max and the Wild Ones", has publicly accused Kemmerer Police Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff's officials of abusing him while he and his family visited town on June 20.
Trial details have not ...more

Community Calendar
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
September 2
• Meet and Greet and BBQ for parents and students of KES, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Bring school supplies

September 2-3
• KHS golf tournament at Rock Springs HS, tba.

September 3
• KHS volleyball at Wind River HS/MS 2 p.m.
• KHS girls swimming at Lyman HS, 4 p.m.
• KHS volleyball at ...more

Mrs. Lincoln County and Mrs. Kemmerer
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Sheree Channel, Executive State Director for the Mrs. Wyoming Pageant, states the pageant is seeking applicants for the title of Mrs. Kemmerer and Mrs. Lincoln County. Once selected, the lucky ladies will advance on to represent their community in the 2011 Mrs. Wyoming Pageant to be held on February 19 at the Cheyenne Civic Center.
Local titleholders will compete ...more

Most popular in the Library
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Lincoln County Library System's Annual Report for fiscal year 2009-2010 is now available online through a link on our website, www.linclib.org or at the circ desk.
In preparation for the Annual Report, we generated a variety of usage statistics including a list of Kemmerer library books that were checked out most in 2009-10.
Top Five Novels
...more

Lincoln Co. Democrat Party to meet this week
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Lincoln Co. Democratic Party will hold a pair of organizational meetings next week.
The main goal of these meetings will be to appoint a new County Chair and to train activists and inspire Democrats county wide. Everyone is welcome to attend. Special guests include State Party Chair Chuck Herz, Democratic National Committee Representative Bryon Lee who ...more

Joint Family Support to visit SW Wyoming
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Wyoming Joint Family Support and Assistance Program team will be visiting various towns in southwestern Wyoming during the week of Sept. 13-17 to provide an opportunity for military members and their families to utilize available services.
The members of this team include representatives of Military One Source, Military and Family Life Consultant Program, Red Cross, and Our Military Kids ...more

Kemmerer Police Logs
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Aug. 27, 7: 36 p.m. Someone ran over the new cement putting tire mark in it.
Aug. 27, 12:16 p.m. Stood by while individual checked his dog, also advised not to trespass on his property.
Aug. 27, 3:35 p.m. Placed two dogs in the shelter.
Aug. 29, 3:36 a.m. Responded to Fossil Butte Dr. across from the Antelope Ridge subdivision ...more

Wyoming teenagers have easy access to alcohol
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
As young people throughout Wyoming head back to school, I encourage parents to consider underage drinking and its potential impacts on their families. For students, a new school year holds great promise of new friendships, academic accomplishments and, yes, fun. However, when that fun includes underage drinking there can be life-damaging consequences.
A teenager's brain is not done ...more

We’re sharing a city called loneliness
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen of Kemmerer, I have a sad announcement to make: we don't belong to a metropolitan or even a micropolitan statistical area!
You know what that means? Basically nothing.
I enjoy the study of media markets and metropolitan markets and the psychology of the people there. Population densities fascinate me.
For example, in Utah it seems like ...more

Freudenthal says no to federal education dollars
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
CHEYENNE - At his regularly-scheduled news conference, Governor Dave Freudenthal said today that he will not apply for federal money intended to cover education funding shortfalls because, in Wyoming, education is fully funded.
Wyoming is eligible to apply for nearly $18 million in federal funds meant for teacher retention, but the state has no voice in determining the best uses ...more

Immunization rules updated to help protect children across Wyoming
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
From the Wyoming Department of Health
State rules for required and recommended immunizations have been updated by the Wyoming Department of Health to help protect Wyoming kids from a number of diseases.
"We want to ensure that our state's children have the best possible protection from vaccine-preventable illnesses," said Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health ...more

Western Wyoming ranked 15th best community college in America
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
ROCK SPRINGS - Western Wyoming Community College is one of the best community colleges in the nation according to a recent study conducted by Washington Monthly.
WWCC was ranked 15th among the best community colleges from around the nation. WWCC President, Dr. Karla Leach said, "It is such an honor to be recognized as one of the top community colleges ...more

Wyo. Dept. of Education trying to amend test contract
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
By BOB MOEN
Associated Press Writer

CHEYENNE (AP) - The Wyoming Department of Education is trying to amend its $40 million contract with the company that administers the state's annual student assessment exams.
The agency entered a four-year contract with NCS Pearson Inc. last year to design, administer and score the state's Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students, or PAWS. ...more

Middle Piney Lake Road opens
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Big Piney District Ranger, Kurt Davis, announced today that the Bridger-Teton National Forest has successfully repaired and stabilized the last one mile of Forest Service Road 10024 (Middle Piney Lake Road). Davis would like to invite the public to join him on Friday, September 3 at noon for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the long awaited re-opening of the ...more

Kemmerer’s anniversary of Jim, the Wonder Dog’s visit
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
A rather average-looking Llewellyn English setter dog, born in 1925 turned out to be quite a showman, or rather, show "animal" and possessed some abilities that still seem unbelievable today.
The dog was known to be able to follow commands both verbally and written, not just in English, but numerous languages including French and Greek, Morse code and shorthand, ...more

A Passel of Pretty Princesses
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
There hasn't been a prettier scene in these parts for many years, I'm quite sure!
Saturday, princesses ranging in age from 4-12, dressed in their loveliest outfits and arrived at the South Lincoln Training and Event Center for the first ever Princess Party, sponsored by the SLTEC.
Close to 30 princesses entered the "palace" via a castle archway and ...more

Pic of the Week Tratnik & Students
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
As school is beginning next week, our Pic of the Week features a group of Rosalie Tratnik's fifth or sixth grade students.
The photo was taken at the old Burgoon School gymnasium, and the year is believed to be 1983.
For our readers' convenience, we have gotten all the names of the kids pictured from Mrs. Tratnik.
They are on ...more

The Perfect Senior
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Ralphie Rasmussen, of Opal, a frequent visitor to the Kemmerer Senior Citizens' Center, scored a perfect game of Wii bowling last Monday, Aug. 23. The 60-year-old, wasn't the first person at the center to score a 300. But he is the first senior to do so. A Senior Center employee and a visitor to the center had recently acquired perfect ...more

OSLI to host 2-way video conference set for Kemmerer
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
On Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. - 11:50 p.m., the Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) via the Wyoming Video Conference System (WVCS) will host a two-way interactive compressed video conference. The focus of this conference will be to provide the latest information concerning state and federal grant and loan funding for capital infrastructure projects of local government entities. ...more

Freudenthal protects Sage-Grouse
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
From the Governor's Office
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Dave Freudenthal has issued a revised executive order on Wyoming's sage-grouse Core Population Area strategy, aimed at protecting the bird to prevent an Endangered Species Act listing while offering opportunities for resource development.
Executive Order 2010-4 includes maps with new boundaries of protected sage-grouse Core Area habitat where development is prohibited. ...more

Rose’s Recipes: Fun Fall Favorites
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
Oh, September! That crisp fall air, but still warm in the daytime. Don't you love it! It was my mom's favorite time of the year; the colorful leaves, the ripe fruits and vegetables. It makes me think about baking homemade bread, and making pots of soup and cobblers made with fresh peaches and plums. Mmm, I just love anything to ...more

Fabulous Fountain: Local builds immaculate creation
Posted: Thursday, Sep 2nd, 2010
The Dean and Diane Avery yards are definitely sights to behold, especially when considering the fact that they designed, grew and/or built most everything in the front and back yards.
"Gardening is Diane's hobby," Dean bragged about his wife's many flowerbeds, potted plants and hanging flower baskets all over their yards.
In addition to the fancy deck ...more