SVI News

The contamination of the Salt River

dandockstader — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:50:07 +0000

There has always been a focus on Star Valley's natural resources. But never before has the technology and the scrutiny been at a higher level to detect potentially harmful outdoor hazards. Brenda Ashworth of the Star Valley Conservation District, speaks with Dan Dockstader about the quality of the water in the Salt River.

Just how safe is the Snake River Bridge?

sarahhale — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:15:28 +0000

WyDOT scopes the bridge for structural damage. Travelers were delayed through Snake River Canyon earlier this week as WyDOT engineers took a look at the Snake River Bridge. The inspection took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, closing down all but one lane of traffic through the Hoback Junction area. “We have a snooper truck that we [used] to look at the structure underneath the bridge,” said Ted Wells, a WyDOT engineer. “The bridge is a wood and concrete structure and we [looked] for deterioration in the wood and concrete.” According to information provided by WyDOT, the bridge has some structural damage. In August of 2006, WyDOT lowered the speed limit across the bridge to prevent further damage to the bridge ends. “We keep an eye on the bridge and inspect it every year,” said Wells. “All of the bridges in the state are inspected every two years. But we inspect the Snake River Bridge every single year.” As part of bridge inspections in this state, WyDOT engineers measure and record bridge dimensions, clearances and alignments. They record waterway data as well as the condition of the overall structure, including such elements as bridge girders, decks, railings, columns and pilings. “Our inspections are based on a variety of factors which may result in a bridge being rated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, but that does not mean that the bridge is unsafe,” said Keith Fulton. “It just means it may need repair or possibly replacement.” According to information provided by WyDOT, 95 percent (1,838) of the bridges the department maintains in this state are classified as being in “acceptable” condition. The remaining 91 bridges are listed as being structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. WyDOT also has information about city and county owned bridges across the state, 71 percent of that number (597) are listed as being in “acceptable” condition. The remaining 29 percent (248) are listed as being structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. When WyDOT owned and locally owned bridges in the state are combined, 88 percent of the 2,774 total bridges are classified as being in “acceptable” condition. The remaining 339, or 12 percent, are listed as being structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. WyDOT defines structurally deficient to mean there are “elements of the bridge that need to be monitored and/or repaired.” The organization is quick to point out that a bridge that is listed as “deficient” does not mean the bridge is unsafe to traverse. Functional obsolescence is defined as being “how well the bridge meets current and anticipated traffic volumes and types.” The terms are intended to be used as a classification system to determine eligibility for federal funds to repair or replace bridges. They are not intended to be a safety classification. Bridges are evaluated not only on their physical condition but load ratings. Physical inspections are conducted by inspectors who look for “deterioration of bridge elements.” Deterioration includes finding rusted steel components, cracked concrete or even peeling paint. Bridge load ratings identify the maximum weight a bridge can carry on a repeated basis, without causing damage to the bridge. In the event that bridge inspectors determine a bridge is unsafe, WyDOT will restrict bridge use or close the bridge to traffic altogether. In light of the recent Minneapolis bridge collapse, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has called for all states to immediately inspect any bridges of a similar design. Wyoming has two such bridges, the I-25 service road over the South Fork of the Powder River near Kaycee, and Fremont County Road 298 over the Wyoming Canal 40 miles northwest of Riverton. The Snake River Bridge is similar in design, one of the reasons it was inspected this week. It is also listed as being structurally deficient. The Snake River Bridge is scheduled to be replaced in 2010.

Lightning ingnites two fires on Bridger-Teton

sarahhale — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:52:13 +0000

The fire danger rating for the Bridger-Teton rose from “moderate” last Wednesday to “high“ over the weekend. The classification change came as the result of two, large, lightning-caused fires starting on the forest. The two fires have kept firefighters busy throughout the weekend. Both fires are burning in mixed conifer fuels and have grown with the help of high wind. The Hardscrabble Fire was reported on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007 in the Beauty Park Creek area, located approximately 30 miles southwest of Dubois. As of Monday morning, the fire had grown to 1,600 acres and was only 20 percent contained. The fire spread into the North Fish Creek and Moccasin Basin area, less than one and a half miles south of Highway 26. Togwotee Pass and the highway remain open. There is a temporary area closure in place in the Gros Ventre Wilderness in the area near the Teton and Fremont County line. The Middle Fire was discovered on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007 between Little Greys Creek and the Greys River. The fire is located approximately 10 miles southeast of the Alpine Junction. Highway 89 remains open in the Snake River Canyon. The Middle Fire is still on the non-highway side of the Snake River. The Little Greys Creek Road is closed at the confluence with the Greys River.

Star Valley defeats Cody

dahlerickson — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:41:22 +0000

In Star Valley's 20-9 win over the Cody Broncs last season, this fourth down fake punt sealed the fate for visiting Cody. Joseph Call hits Jordan Hyde for the score.

First Day of Football Practice 2007

dahlerickson — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:30:38 +0000

The Braves stepped onto the green grass with temperatures pushing 90 degrees, in hopes of ending a decade-long title drought. Although Star Valley has appeared in the championship game on five occasions in that span, they have come up just short each time. The Braves will face off against Park City, Utah on August 25, 2007 on the campus of Weber State University.

Star Valley kids reach out to northern Peru with humanitarian aid

newsrelease — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:52:40 +0000

"What did you do on your summer vacation?" That is a question that will be asked often over the next few weeks as kids head back to school. Six Star Valley youth will have wonderful stories to tell about what they did on their summer vacation. Cheslie Clark, Devin Christiansen, Chelsie Hamilton, Raelynn Rogers, Sarah Shumway and Camille Simpson were part of a group of 23 kids from Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California and Wisconsin that traveled to Peru from June 27 to July 13, to work on humanitarian aid projects and to get to spend some time sight-seeing in some really unique and beautiful places. Clark, Christiansen, Hamilton, Rogers, Shumway and Simpson traveled to Peru with Eagle Condor Humanitarian, which is a private non-profit charitable organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eagle Condor Humanitarian was founded in 2003, and their mission statement is, "Enriching lives, empowering people while building self-reliance." Eagle Condor Humanitarian works in Northern Peru in the cities of Chiclayo, Plura and Trugillo. In these areas, unemployment is high and poverty is heartbreaking, with many people living on less than $1 per person a day, and many families surviving on a budget of about $US 30.00 a month. Food, water, sewer systems and electricity are all challenges, and things that many people live without. There are few programs in this area to help develop small businesses, and to help give people the tools that they need to help themselves. Multiple times a year Eagle Condor Humanitarian sends service expeditions to Peru, and several of these expeditions are youth expeditions. Eagle Condor Humanitarian says that the purpose of these expeditions is to, " through Grass Root efforts provide a rich and predictable real life experience of humanitarian charity for adults, youth and families who want to be a hand of charity, feeling like they can make a difference in the lives of others." The six young adults from Star Valley that decided to travel to Peru on one of these expeditions spent a lot of time and energy raising the money they would need to go on the trip, and they planned and carried out several different fundraisers during the 2006-2007 school year. They held a garage sale, they planned and ran a Halloween carnival, they sold cookie dough, they cleaned a physical therapy building in Thayne twice a week for a few months, they held a "prom dress swap" where they took in and sold prom dresses and earned a commission off of each sale, and they asked local businesses for donations. The group left Star Valley for Peru on June 27. They flew from Salt Lake City to Atlanta and then started the seven-hour flight to Lima, Peru. From Lima it was an one-hour flight to Cuzco. Their first week in Peru was spent in Cuzco, and doing humanitarian projects for the people of Salkantay, a village in the Andes Mountains above Cuzco. They stayed in a hotel in Cuzco and then stayed at a guesthouse in Salkantay. During their time serving the people of Salkantay, they helped put in cement floors, helped build adobe houses, helped put up roofs, chopped Eucalyptus trees and carried the trees up and down large hills, carried logs to put up lean-to roofs, carried firewood, carried rock down from the mountain and helped build animals pens and fences. While most people picture Peru as a hot place when it comes to temperature, this time of year is their winter, and that combined with the high altitude made for very cold temperatures. "It was really cold and freezing a lot of the time," said Sarah Shumway. "We wore lots of jackets and layers to keep warm." The group also got to visit a village similar to Salkantay named Matinga, which had a very nice school by Peruvian standards. The group brought and donated six computers and monitors for the school, and one of the highlights of the trip for the youths from Star Valley was playing a soccer game against the school children and then reading books with them. "Getting to spend time with the village children and interacting with the people in Peru was the best part of the trip," Shumway said. On the second week of the expedition, the group got to do some sight-seeing in Peru. They traveled to Pisac, which is known as the Sacred Valley. They also visisted Saqsaywaman, Ollantaytamboo, Machu Picchu and other places, and got to see some of the famous Inca ruins. Next they got to fly to Puerto Maldonado, where they got to spend three days in the jungle. The group got to track Cayman crocodiles and saw many monkeys, tarantulas, pirrahanas, anacondas and other wildlife native to the jungles of Peru. And although they were in a South American jungle, the weather was still cold and very rainy. On July 12 the group was back in Lima, Peru where they got to go to the Temple, do some shopping and get a tour of the famous city, and then on July 13, they flew back home to the U.S. "It was an amazing experience," Shumway said. "Having the opportunity to interact with the people of Peru and to serve them was really life changing and had a big impact on us." Although it took a lot of time and hard work to raise the money to go on the expedition, and even though the expedition itself involved a lot of hard manual labor in challenging conditions, it turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for some Star Valley youths to spend a part of their summer visiting new places, gaining new experiences and putting their time and energy into serving others. The story behind the name 'Eagle Condor Humanitarian": For thousands of years South American Holy Men have prophesized of a reunion between the long separated People of the Eagle and People of the Condor. The prophecy relates that in the beginning all the earth's people were one, but long ago they divided into two groups and each followed a different path of development. The people of the Eagle were highly scientific and intellectual, and the people of the Condor were highly attuned to nature and the intuitive realm. At this current juncture in earth's history, the Eagle people will have reached a zenith in their amassing of scientific knowledge, technology and technological tools, expression of high art, and the ability to build and construct. They will even develop tools and technologies that will expand the mind, and they will be producing technical miracles of unimagined power and breadth. The enormous accomplishments and technologies will bring tremendous material wealth to the leaders of the Eagle world. In this same era, the people of the Condor - people of the heart, the spirit, the senses, and the deep connection with the natural world, will be highly developed in their intuitive skills, but at the same time they will be hungry and impoverished for knowledge that will enable them to be successful in the material world. Now is the era for the two groups to rejoin and share their knowledge and wisdom. The Eagle and the Condor will fly together in the same sky, wing to wing, and the world will come into balance. For more information, visit www.eagle-condor.org

Nethercott, Ashton represent Wyoming at Youth World Leadership Congress

newsrelease — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:08:16 +0000

Two Star Valley students, Tiffany Nethercott and Matt Ashton, recently had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and represent the state of Wyoming at the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) World Leadership Congress. "HOBY's primary purpose is to give high school sophomores the opportunity to discover their leadership potential to become the leaders of tomorrow," said HOBY founder Hugh O'Brian. "We give them a hands on opportunity to interact with today's top movers and shakers in business, government, education, technology and other professions." The World Leadership Congress was held in Washington D.C. from July 19-27. The selection process for students to attend the congress began last fall. Over 12,000 public and private schools in the country selected their outstanding sophomores to participate in a HOBY leadership seminar in each state. At the state seminars, several students were chosen to represent each state at the World Leadership Congress. This year the selected students from the United States met up in Washington D.C. with student representatives from more than 20 different countries, including: Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Great Britain, Germany, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Philippines, Malawi, Ethiopia and others. For Nethercott and Ashton, their experience began by writing an essay and applying to participate in the Wyoming state seminar in Cheyenne. The students were asked to write an essay on a problem facing teenagers today. Ashton wrote his essay on pornography and the negative affects it has on today's youth. From there, Nethercott and Ashton went on to Cheyenne along with one other Star Valley student, to attend the HOBY leadership seminar which was held on June 14-17. In Cheyenne, five girls and five boys were chosen to be interviewed out of a group of 30 students, and from those interviews, one boy and one girl were chosen to attend the World Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. Nethercott and Ashton were chosen as the two students to represent Wyoming. Nethercott and Ashton flew to Washington D.C. on their own, and were joined by family members later in the week for sight-seeing. In Washington D.C., they participated in panels on government, media, science, technology, business, law and justice, leadership and college preparation. They also got to listen to keynote speakers and motivational speakers discuss leadership. During an international panel, students from the United States got to ask questions to teens from other countries, and discuss what problems are facing other governments and the youth of other countries. "It was very cool to learn about this stuff through kids our age," Nethercott said. "I really enjoyed the motivational speakers," Ashton said. "They pushed us to figure out who we are as leaders, not to be prejudiced and to improve our leadership skills." All 425 students who participated in the HOBY World Leadership Congress also spent a day working on a service project in Washington D.C. through partnerships with Points of Light Foundation, the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, America's Promise, Washington Parks and People, Junior Achievement, DC Habitat for Humanity, OurEducation and the GlamourGals Foundation. Nethercott and Ashton worked on cleaning up a public park in Washington DC and making is usable and enjoyable for the local residents. When asked about their favorite part of the experience of participating in the HOBY World Leadership Congress, Tiffany Nethercott said that she really enjoyed meeting and getting to know new people. "We spent a lot of time with the international students," Nethercott said. "I roomed with kids from Hong Kong, Mexico and Taiwan. It was great to learn about other lifestyles and how teenagers in other parts of the world live and feel. A lot of the worries and concerns they have are very similar to the worries and concerns that kids in the U.S. have, even though our lives are very different." Ashton said his favorite part of the experience was getting to see the monuments in Washington D.C. "It was very cool to see those places, and it was amazing to experience that piece of our nation's history," Ashton said. And what did they learn at the HOBY World Leadership Congress? Nethercott said that she became very aware of some of the problems that are happening in other parts of the world, such as Darfur. She also learned an important lesson on leadership. "I learned how important it is to be true to yourself if you want to be a leader," Nethercott said. "You have to know who you are before you can lead others." Ashton said that he also learned valuable lessons on being a good leader. "I learned not to judge people on first impressions and to really listen to what they have to say and where they are coming from. Leaders need to know how to listen, before they speak." The HOBY World Leadership Congress is only open to sophomores, so Nethercott and Ashton will not be able to return next year, however they will be able to continue to participate in the program by being junior leaders and ambassadors next year. To learn more about HOBY, you can visit www.hoby.org.

Braves begin fall practice with high expectations

dahlerickson — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:25:15 +0000

Two-time defending Western Conference champions look to end decade-long title drought. Few schools would balk at changing places with the Braves over the past decade. A record of 57-36 in that time, not to mention six Western Conference Championships and five trips to the state championship game. That being said, a sour ending to a very promising season a year ago, combined with five State Runner-Up titles have the players and fans in the area a little antsy to up the ante. It may be a little greedy, but it doesn’t take much research to realize that in those five title games, the Braves were just a whisper from having many more state titles for those fine teams. In the 1997 season, former coach Robert Linford, coming off four titles in five years, guided his Braves to an undefeated mark into November before falling to Riverton in the championship, 23-20. The next year, Linford’s last, the Braves once again were one of the toughest teams in the state, who fell in a defensive struggle, 9-7, to those same Wolverines. Just a few years later, former coach Ballard Johnson fielded a pair of dynamic teams in 2001 and 2002. The Braves came up just short again, losing 6-0 and 17-14 (in overtime) to Worland. The most recent title game came in 2005, when the Braves ran out of time against the Buffalo Bison, 17-14. This particular team featured several standout performances and school records in receptions and receiving yardage. While the 2007 version of the Braves is still taking form, it doesn’t take a great imagination to believe that there may be great things in store for this squad. Some 17 players who garnered varsity time a year ago will be back in uniform for Star Valley again this year. While the team will have to account for several losses due to graduation, the Braves appear poised and ready with players who have put in a large amount of work since the end of the 2006 season. Depth and versatility will be the primary strengths of the 2007 Star Valley Braves. The Braves will open their season on August 25 in Ogden, Utah against the Park City Miners in a first-time historic match up between the two schools. Contrary to previous reports, the time of the game will be at 4:00 on the campus of Weber State University. In addition to the main action between the varsity, the Star Valley junior varsity will be taking on the sophomore squad from the Gillette Camels on the neutral field of the Park City Miners. This game will take place at 10:00 a.m. Those interested in attending both contests should be reminded that the distance between the two venues are roughly 60 miles apart. Be sure to check out starvalleyindependent.com for audio and video from practice and coaches, not to mention team analysis for the 2007 campaign. The Braves will kick off their season on August 25 at 4:00 p.m. at Weber State University against the Park City Miners. Tickets for the event are available at the high school at a cost of ten dollars.

Help for the Middle Fire by Alpine

dandockstader — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:40:41 +0000

With the Middle Fire above Little Greys River approaching 3,000 acres in size, an incident command team arrived in the Alpine area at 10 p.m. Tuesday.The three, 20-member teams, along with local fire fighters from the Greys River Ranger District will be based at Squaw Flat about five miles from Alpine on the Greys River Road.Dean Burnham, serving as the information officer from Greys River District Office for the Middle Fire, reported Wednesday morning on the KRSV Star Valley Sunrise program that the Middle Fire had been moved to the top of the response list for forest fires in the region.Currently there are 17 fires burning in the Wyoming, Idaho and Utah region, ranging in size from 400 to 166,000 acres; Middle Fire started on Sunday afternoon. Initially fire officials suspected human cause for the Middle Fire, but it was later traced to a lightning strike on a tree along the Middle Ridge Trail.Gusty winds late Sunday afternoon flamed the small blaze.“Sunday kicked us real hard,” said Burnham. that’s when it expanded the most.” He noted that flames expanded over 2,000 acres Sunday afternoon.The Greys River District immediately called for three 20-man crews, but with resources spread thin over the 17 fires in the region, the initial response included 24 smoke jumpers. They joined personnel from the district office and up to eight volunteer fire fighters at a time from the Alpine Fire Department.For the remainder of the week, area residents can expect to see a lot of traffic in the Greys River area above Alpine. Burnham said fire fighters, helicopters and various sizes of tanker aircraft will be in the area battling the blaze.“There will be a lot of traffic with ground support, retardant drops and helicopters,” Burnham warned. He asked people to use caution if they must travel up Greys River Road from Alpine, especially in the vicinity of base camp at Squaw Flat.Little Greys River Road remains closed to the public.Sheep and cattle in the area were moved out on Wednesday.This region has a history of lightning caused fires. Burnham researched Bridger-Teton National Forest and Greys River District Ranger files where he found that 44 fires had been recorded in a six-mile area.Among the list of larger lightning caused fires in the Little Greys River area are the Higby Fire burning 600 acres below Bradley Mountain, the Aspen Hollow Fire consuming 4,000 acres and the Blind Trail Fire claiming 15,000 acres.Burnham said the newly arrived incident command team will focus on containing the Middle Fire and keeping it out of the Snake River Canyon.

Star Valley breaks the huddle

dahlerickson — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:50:08 +0000

The Braves finish the day of practice this week with what they have in store for the Park City Miners on August 25

Wolfley moves to defense for defending MWC champion Cougars

dahlerickson — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:04:14 +0000

For the past 18 months, SVHS graduate and former Wyoming Super-25 selection Rick Wolfley has been fighting with ten other 300 pounders for the right to play on the BYU Cougar offensive line. "I was having a hard time getting into the rotation," replied Wolfley in an intervew with the Independent. "I think we have one of the best [offensive lines] in the country, so it isn't easy. When Coach [Defensive Line Coach Kaufusi] came up to me and asked if I would help on the defensive line, I said sure. It's really been a much more natural fit for me so far." The move to noseguard comes on the heels of an injury to sophomore Russell Tialavea, who was expected to start for BYU as they look to extend a ten game winning streak on September 2 as they host Arizona. Wolfley's wrestling background where he was a two-time undefeated heavyweight champion has helped him in his new position, as has the fact that he played on the defensive line for the Braves, including the 2005 State Runner-Up squad. As of this article, Wolfley is either expected to start against the Wildcats in Provo, or see significant time. As the opponents for the 340 pound over his high school career will tell you, it's not a good idea to get in his way.

SVHS Golfers in the middle of the pack after day 1 of Riverton Tourney

dahlerickson — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:29:09 +0000

The Braves and Lady Braves are getting some needed experience at the Riverton Country Club this weekend. The Lady Braves are sitting in 5th place after the first day of the tourney, with sophomore Kelsea Gardner leading the way with a 103. Gardner, who won the 3A individual title as a freshman a year ago is joined by 2006 all-stater Shanae Jackson, who finished day one with a total of 107. Junior Kirsten Robbins rounds out the varsity scores with a 135 after skipping her sophomore season. The Braves are currently sitting in 6th place, led by 2006 all-conference selection Charlie Stibor and his 81. Sophomore Marshall Mendenhall continues to impress with an 87, while Skylar Heiner was hot on his heels with an 88 of his own. Rounding out the scores for the Braves was Chantry Hanson with an 89, Allen Simpson with a 91, Pace Owens with a 94, Mitch Allred with a 97 and Brock Gardner with a 105. "We're finding out right where we need to be for the rest of the season," stated Head Coach Bill Hoopes in a Friday morning interview with the Independent. "The top individual score was a 67 from [Clinton Boutelle] Cody, so we know we need to step it up a level." Cody leads the pack after day one, with Green River and Jackson rounding out the top three. The SVHS golfers will be back in action on Monday and Tuesday, traveling to Powell for the Panther Invitational.

Rain helps hold Middle Fire

dandockstader — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:41:57 +0000

Alpine, Wyoming – The Middle Fire, quieted by rain from a thunder cell centered over the fire this morning, is being mopped up today along the southwest, south and southeast perimeters. Half of the Alaska Chena Hotshots were transported by helicopter yesterday to the northeast corner of the fire and successfully constructed fire line to secure that flank.A crew of firefighters spent last night at a spike camp south of the fire, and are burning out fuels along the southern-most reach of the fire, attempting to tie the burned fire line into that which was hand- constructed by initial attack smokejumpers earlier this week. The firefighters will spend tonight and tomorrow finishing the burn out and, when they complete their work, will walk out to the Little Greys River Road. Two ground crews, including Type II crews from Arizona and Hawaii, are placing fire hoses along the southwest perimeter in order to mop up inside the constructed fire lines. Approximately one half mile of hose has been placed up hill from the Little Greys River Road. Firefighters will continue to strengthen and mop up inside that southwest flank today. Remaining crews are constructing fire in a critical juncture of the fire along its southeast flank from the Little Greys River Road to a natural, geological feature that serves as a firebreak. Outside the perimeter of the fire at this location – between the fire and the old Aspen Hollow Fire – is a pocket of unburned, heavy fuels. The purpose for completing and strengthening the firebreak here is to prevent spread of the fire through the unburned fuels into a very large, contiguous forest to the northeast of the fire. The rain from a thunder cell centered directly over the fire is providing some relief to mop-up efforts, however, it is also bringing with it safety hazards, including loosening ground around dangerous snags, causing slippery and unstable slopes, and producing lightning. All firefighters assigned to the Middle Fire incident have been alerted to these hazards. The fire, which was ignited by lightning last Saturday, is still creeping and smoldering throughout, but fire crews are tightening their grip on the perimeter and expect to contain the fire by Tuesday, August 21, 2007. The fire was initially pushed by winds averaging 30 miles per hour. In order to grow in size, fires burning at higher elevations generally require wind to sustain burning. Winds have subsided since then and the fire is burning slowly now, allowing suppression efforts to continue successfully. The Middle Fire is approximately 60 percent contained and 2,750 acres in size. There have been no serious injuries at the incident. The cost of the fire to date is estimated to be approximately $616,000. Middle Creek Fire Statistics, August 17, 2007 Number of personnel: 207 Start of Fire: 8-11-2007 Location: 9 miles east of Alpine, Wyoming Containment: 60% Total Size of Fire: 2,750 Acres Resources: Type II Hand Crews: 5 Type I Hand Crews: 1 Engines: 5 Overhead: 58 Helicopters: 1 Type 1 1 Type 3 (on loan) Cost to Date: approx. $615,500. Estimated Final Incident Cost: to be determined Closures: AREA: Little Greys River Road, Forest Road 10124 Evacuations: None

Lady Braves vs. Alumni

dahlerickson — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:43:06 +0000

The Lady Braves faced off against members of their storied Alumni over the weekend in an attempt to prepare themselves for the season.

UW's John Fletcher looks to terrorize opposing defenses in 2007

dahlerickson — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:59:12 +0000

At 6'6" and 275 pounds it's hard to miss John Fletcher. It's even harder to block him. It's a fact that should become more evident as the 2007 season progresses. As a redshirt freshman, Fletcher was just starting to cause havoc on the defensive front behind Mike Groover a year ago when his finger was caught in the chains on the sidelines during a tackle. The Cowboys will be counting on Fletcher to contribute to a new group of defensive linemen, but one with a great deal of potential. Be sure to check out the audio link to listen to Fletcher discuss his expectations for the Wyoming defense in 2007

Bear makes meal of mutton

sarahhale — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:55:00 +0000

Black bear slays six sheep up Greys River. Rumors have been circling the valley for several days about a possible grizzly bear in Greys River dining on sheep. There is both some truth and some misinformation in the discussions that have been talking place. According to Zach Turnbull, bear manager for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a bear or two have been making meals of mutton over the last few weeks. However, the perpetrators are black bears. “We’ve had around nine sheep reported killed by one or two different black bears,” said Turnbull. “The damage has been done over the last three weeks. The local game warden, Todd Graham, and I are working on it.” According to Turnbull, the process for reporting livestock that has been killed by wildlife is pretty straightforward. Usually the incidents are reported by herders to the producer and the producer in turn notifies wildlife officials. Sometimes wildlife officials discover livestock kills and report them as well. “The producer will be reimbursed for the loss of these sheep as it is evident that they are bear kills,” said Turnbull. According to information provided by the Game and Fish, once livestock kills are reported the next step is to investigate the carcass for evidence of what killed the animal. “We investigate to determine if it was a trophy game animal that did the damage,” said Turnbull. “When the cause of death is determined then we work out what needs to be done.” In isolated cases, where only one or two sheep or cattle are killed and predators do not return, livestock herds are moved with the hope that further incidents will not occur. In cases such as what has been happening up Greys River over the past three weeks, the answer may be to relocate the problem bears. The Game and Fish are working toward that end with the black bear(s) in Greys River. The current plan is to capture and remove the bears from the area. According to Turnbull, bear removal is a challenge. “Many of those sheep are in pretty remote areas,” said Turnbull. “They are in areas where it is difficult to get a helicopter down and most pack horses will not pack out a live bear.” In the event that the problem bear(s) cannot successfully be removed, the Game and Fish will consider terminating them.

Sheepherder from Peru killed on the job in Greys River

sarahhale — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:56:45 +0000

Authorities working to get the body flown home to family. Freddy Egovil-Aquino, of Peru, died Friday, Aug. 17 in the Hot Foot Canyon area of Greys River. The young man, estimated by rescue teams to be in his mid 20s, was drug behind his horse. The accident occurred while Egovil-Aquino was preforming his duties as a sheepherder in the area. “This injuries sustained by the young man were consistent with being drug behind a horse,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson. According to the Sheriff, the accident was reported by another sheepherder to Forest Service personnel. The Forest Service in turn notified the Sheriff’s office. “The call reached the Sheriff’s office right around noon on Friday,” said Johnson. Star Valley Search and Rescue as well as the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident. The body of Egovil-Aquino was located in rough terrain that was nearly impossible for rescuers to get to on foot. Eventually a helicopter was used to recover the body. Wednesday morning, Sheriff’s Deputy Roy Warren, the deputy who has been working on the case, was talking with the Peruvian Consulate in an attempt to work out how to get Egovil-Aquino’s body back to Peru for burial.

Buses hit the road in LCSD No. 2

newsrelease — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:59:39 +0000

Thousands of miles will be logged this year. Getting the children of Star Valley and Cokeville to school is no small task. Every day, rain, shine or snow, students need to be taken to school and home again. Athletes need to be transported to games and back. Children participating in all sorts of clubs and after school activities rely on activity buses to get them home. Classes need transportation for field trips. All of this responsibility falls on the Lincoln County School District No. 2 Transportation Department, which is now being run by the new director, Dallan Tolman, who started the job this August. Statistical data on miles, buses, students, routes, drivers and other information related to the district's transportation was last gathered in February 2007. As of Feb. 14, 2007, the LCSD No. 2 buses were driving over 4,000 miles per school day. Over 1,300 students were being transported in the morning, over 110 students were being transported at noon, and over 1,500 students were being transported in the afternoon and evening. Covering all of those miles and transporting all of those kids to school and back were a total of 36 bus drivers with 41 routes in the morning, 19 routes at noon and 80 routes in the afternoon and evening. The Lincoln County School District No. 2 Transportation Department is expecting similar numbers for the 2007-2008 school year. "We may see a minimal increase in students and miles, but we anticipate it being very close to these numbers," Tolman said. As of February 2007, the longest bus route was 76 miles round trip, and the shortest was six miles round trip. In the last fiscal year for the LCSD No. 2 Transportation Department, which was July 2006-June 2007, over 935,500 miles were driven by district vehicles, which is enough miles to circle the globe over 37 times. Over 695,100 of those miles were attributed to regular bus routes, over 150,900 were from activity trips, over 3,600 were from summer activities, over 35,900 were from field trips, over 18,325 were from summer school and the other 6,880 miles were for other excursions. These total miles include 106 trips out of the state of Wyoming and included 175 days of school buses being used. To keep all of these vehicles running, the LCSD No. 2 Transportation Department has three mechanics and two large fuel tanks, one for diesel fuel and one for gasoline. While most of the school buses run on diesel, the gasoline is used for some of the smaller buses, as well as the district vehicles, lawn mowers, etc. Drivers in the Lincoln County School District area should be aware that bus drivers have the authority and responsibility to keep track of all vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses with their lights blinking and the arm extended. License plate numbers and vehicle descriptions are recorded in a log and reported, and dispatch is called. On February 14, 2007, in LCSD No. 2, five vehicles illegally passed a school bus in the morning, and 10 vehicles illegally passed a school bus in the evening. If you illegally pass a stopped school bus, you should be aware that you will most likely be getting a ticket. Lincoln County School District No. 2 is always looking for substitute bus drivers. If you are interested you can call Dallan Tolman at 885-7146, or an application can be picked up at the District Office. Parents with questions or concerns regarding the children riding the school buses can reach the Transportation Department at that same number.

Lady Braves showing their potential at Cokeville Tournament

dahlerickson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:28:12 +0000

As the Lady Braves stepped onto the court against the Gillette Lady Camels, there was understandably some first day of the season jitters. After an ugly loss in the opening game, the Ladies rallied to win game two and fought with the Campbell County schol in games three and four before narrowly losing both. Despite playing with three sophomores at once and forging ahead without injured senior, Dixie Warren, the Lady Braves with another month of experience and seasoning may very well prove to be tough to beat come October.

Taking English education to a whole new level

sarahhale — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:15:13 +0000

Senor and Cheryl Bagley gain new world experience in an ancient country. Hundreds of Star Valley students will remember Senor Kdell Bagley for his Spanish classes at Star Valley High School. Now a few hundred Chinese university students will remember Senor and his wife, Cheryl for teaching English in Asia. Just how does a Spanish teacher from Star Valley end up teaching English in China? That is, indeed, an interesting question. Kdell and Cheryl made the decision last year to retire and become a part of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies through Brigham Young University. They attended a two-week training course in Provo prior to leaving. “For the last 18 years the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies has sent approximately 40 couples to major universities in China to teach,” said Kdell. “As part of the training we learned the teaching strategies that have proven to be successful over the last 17 years, what a resource that was. You mixed what had worked in the past with your own personality and went on from there.” Where Kdell and Cheryl went on to was Jinan, China to teach at Shandong University. Jinan is the capital of Shandong Province on China's east coast. The cities population is approximately six million. To the north is the Yellow River, which is called the "cradle of the Chinese nation." Jinan boasts a number of natural springs and is known as the "City of Springs." During the first semester at Shandong University, Kdell and Cheryl team taught about 150 students. “Our students were doctors or medical teachers who had been practicing medicine for five to 10 years and were now coming back to school for their Ph.Ds,” said Cheryl. “So they were older students.” “Most of them were married and had their one child,” said Kdell. “English was one of the required courses for the Ph.D. program.” The Bagleys had a furnished apartment on campus that was located about a five minute walk away from where they taught. They earned $700 a month in salary. “That was plenty of money to live comfortably there,” said Kdell. “Basically what we bought was food and $700 in United States money was plenty for us to get what we needed and even eat out two or three times a week.” Kdell and Cheryl each spent 14 hours a week in the classroom. In the hours that fell inbetween class time, they explored the city of Jinan, spent time with friends or toured Asia. “I was somewhat concerned about how we would spend all our time before we got to China,” said Kdell. “But with the time we spent exploring the city, spending time with friends and touring, it didn’t seem that we had too much time left over. We spent more time together in the last year than in all of the other years of our marriage. We would hold hands and just walk through the city.” “The Chinese people respect teachers, foreigners and old people,” said Cheryl. “We were all three and everyone was just very respectful. We didn’t run into any of the problems that you associate with a big city.” According to Cheryl, the Chinese Government allows the BYU teachers to get together with other Christians in the country two times a year, Christmas and Easter. On both occasions the Bagleys attended religious meetings in Chinese churches with a mix of both Westerners and the people of China. “It was fascinating to see that the people were singing traditional, popular, American Christmas songs in English,” said Kdell. “That was something that surprised me. You could see the Western influence.” The touch of the West was not limited to holiday celebrations, however. Every city also boasted several McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants. “They charged prices that are similar to what is charged in America, but that is very expensive for the Chinese,” said Kdell. “But those restaurants were always busy. We went to Pizza Hut three times while we were there and each time we had about a half an hour wait. You could live for a month on bread and fruit and such bought on the street for the $14 pizza you ate at the restaurant, but it was always busy.” The second semester at Shandong University, the Bagleys each had their own classrooms. They taught sophomores, juniors and grad students. “The younger students had a better grasp of the English language because they had had more of it,” said Cheryl. “They start learning English in middle school. It’s extremely important to the government of China that their people learn English.” Kdell and Cheryl were in China for 10 months, from September 2006 through June 2007. During that time they had the chance to visit many places in China, itself, as well as Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand and Tibet. “We did things and saw things that we thought we’d never see,” said Kdell. “I would not exchange the experience in China. We have no regrets.” In fact, as their months in the Orient concluded, the Bagleys made the decision to take part in the program again. They will be leaving for the city of Chengdu, China on Aug. 29. Chengdu is located in southwestern China in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. The city if famous for its giant Panda reserve. In Chengdu, the Bagleys will teach English at the University of Electronic Science and Technology. They will be the first such teachers at the university. “Normally through the BYU program at least two couples are sent to any university but Chengdu only had space for one couple so Cheryl and I will kind of be pioneering there I guess,” said Kdell. “That is one of the reasons that we decided to return. We will be doing some ground breaking work in that area.” Chengdu is about twice the size of Jinan. But with the smattering of Chinese the Bagleys have learned in the last year, they are up to the challenge. “You should always learn as much as you can,” said Kdell. “Cheryl and I have picked up on some of the language and that is one of the exciting things about going back. In the last three or four months that we were there we were beginning to be able to put our own sentences together and we will be able to build on that.” They will also be able to build on the many friendships and experiences they already have in China.

The Dahl E. Llama's 4A East Preview

dahlerickson — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:19:22 +0000

It's always a dangerous proposition to delve into the discussion between East and West. That being said, this article may very well may be construed as a West is better rant. In the end, supporters of the East who may decide this is the case may just have to tell me so. Eastern Conference Illusions from the Dahl E. Llama (Records and points per game include 2006 playoffs) Douglas: 2006 numbers- Offense: 27.9 ppg / Defense: 14.1 ppg / Overall record: 7-4 / State Runner-Up It would be hard to argue with the offense of the 4A Classification and Douglas was certainly in the middle of it. The top two scoring teams (Douglas and Powell) met in the state championship using vastly different styles. The Bearcats were by far the most balanced offensive team in 4A, compiling over 1,300 yards on the ground and through the air, the only team to even come close to that task. Powell battered their opponents with over 2,000 yards rushing. Drew Hodgs and Black Richendifer combined for a deadly aireal assault and the 'Cats were tough to stop. That being said, strong-armed accurate passers in Wyoming don't come along often and the question for Douglas may be, who will replace Hodgs? Whatever the answer, it would appear that the Bearcats are the second-best team in the East, but the 14-12 squeaker loss to Buffalo shows that the gap may be almost closed. Buffalo: 2006 numbers- Offense: 24.7 ppg / Defense: 13.0 ppg / Overall record: 7-3 / Lost in State semi-finals There's no question as to who has been the class of the Eastern Conference over the past several years. The question that remains, especially to those teams and fans residing in the West is, just how strong is the Eastern Conference. There are two schools of thought. The first being that with three straight state championship appearances and two wins over Western Conference teams, the Bison disprove that theory. Buffalo has also gone 12-4 against teams from the West over the past four seasons. The other argument centers on the extremely weak records of Rawlins, Torrington and Wheatland, who combined for just three wins between them. Whatever your preference, you can expect a confident team from Buffalo again this season. Dan Long looks to anchor their running attack which was slightly slower than in previous years. The departure of UW signee Clayton Kirven will also almost certainly be a blow to the offensive line. That being said, it's hard to imagine Buffalo, who was very young last year, to be anything less than the Eastern Conference representative. Rawlins: 2006 numbers- Offense: 4.8 ppg / Defense: 20.8 ppg / Overall record: 1-7 / missed playoffs Since winning their lone state title in 2000, things have not gone well for the Outlaws. Since their best season in program history that year (they went 9-0), Rawlins has won just five games total. Their biggest problem isn't hard to spot, their 4.8 points per game in 2006 is not a typo, but it is hard to look at. Rawlins compiled just 38 TOTAL points for their season. Any improvement for the Outlaws must begin on the offensive line and with the offense. One actually can be impressed by the fact that with virtually no offensive help, they kept their average points per game on defense to 20.8. The Outlaws are looking forward in 2007, hoping to build on their positives and take advantage of their facilities which are among the best in Wyoming. With Pinedale and Mountain View on the schedule in 2007, Rawlins will try and take advantage of their larger student population and hopefully build some confidence. It isn't easy, as Mountain View beat them last year. There is an air of excitement to begin the season in Carbon County, an early win would do wonders for the confidence of this team. First year coach Travis Moore looks to implement his philosophy in a town where it's been hard to build a team. Torrington: 2006 numbers- Offense: 9.4 ppg / Defense: 40.0 ppg / Overall record: 0-8 / missed playoffs Another first year coach in Brian Harms takes over for the Trailblazers who endured a miserable season in 2006. The good news for the Blazers is the return of many of their skill position players such as Austin Wisroth at quarterback. One thing that almost certainly must improve for the Blazers to end a nine-game skid is their running game which was dead-last in Class 4A a year ago, with just 486 total yards on the ground. With three returning offensive linemen, there is hope that this will improve the situation. A viable running game would also help an overloaded defense which tied with Lander for the worst in the class. Wheatland: 2006 numbers- Offense: 14.7 ppg / Defense: 20.0 ppg / Overall record: 0-8 / lost in state semi-finals All the focus on the Bulldogs has been their upset over the top-ranked Braves to begin the playoffs. While this was a program boosting moment, it seems writers and fans have forgotten how the team actually ended their season, with a 35-0 blowout in Douglas. This isn't sour grapes, it's a fact. That being said, the Bulldogs appear ready to take the next step in their progression with many returning players who have the memory of winning despite the odds. While the number of returning players is a nice feeling, replacing Colt Thayer at quarterback may be a daunting task. Thayer scrambled for a third down conversion on several occasions in Afton, and must me replaced with a mentally tough individual. This team will be better and a return to the playoffs should be expected. Are they ready to contend for the Eastern Conference? That remains to be seen.

Braves anxious to get back into the fray after 45-0 loss vs. Park City

dahlerickson — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:42:39 +0000

Perspective, it's a word that is easier said than done. After pulling off their helmets in an exhibition loss to Park City, Utah, the Braves will have just five days to put together a bit of perspective before taking on Snake River on the road this Friday. It was a game filled with miscues as inexperience trumped talent on many plays. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, it was easy to see why the Miners are picked to return deep into the playoffs for Region 10. In fact, watching both Park City and Logan, it may indeed turn out to be a 3A Utah title game preview. Scott Neuenschwander, who was far less of a factor in Park City's 22-10 win over Hillcrest the week before, was a magician against the Braves, rushing for over 100 yards and throwing for three scores as he looked like a graduate of Hogwarts on several plays. Now in his third year, SVHS head coach Dale Anderson has made it known that the final score doesn't affect his play calling in a game such as this. There are things that the staff if more interested in seeing rather than saving face on the scoreboard. It's hard to argue with the results at this point. While Anderson is now 0-3 in opening games, the Braves are 2-0 in conference titles, with the quest for number three beginning on September 7 against the despised Jackson Broncs. Star Valley wasn't the only Wyoming team sent home in short order, the Logan junior varsity roughed up Mountain View, 39-12 and Logan's varsity clobbered defending 5A champion Gillette, 36-6. Up next for the Braves will be a rematch with the Snake River Panthers who shut out Star Valley to begin last season, 27-0. Time will tell if the extra game with the Miners will pay short-term dividends.

This is Africa

newsrelease — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:39:31 +0000

By Shanelle Galloway The journey began months before the group set foot on the first plane. The time previous to the departure was full of preparations. There were presentations and projects to get together.I was going to Africa. Looking back on it now, it is like an unbelievable dream that seems an insurmountable reality, and yet, it is real, I lived it. When I met with Jeannine Smith, founder of the Small Village Foundation of Boise, Idaho, months before May 30, I thought, "I'm going to Africa." Like the thought of college to a fresh senior in high school, (I am going to college; I am going to be living on my own), it was an event that was always in the future; one that became legitimate in the instant it happened, even with all of the preparation beforehand. Although the members of the foundation board handled the bulk of the preparatory elements, I had my part to do. I gave two presentations; one for the Rotary Club here in Star Valley, and one for a big fund raiser dinner in Boise. It was my responsibility to find a group to support me on an individual project that was to be implemented in Africa. Being a musical person, I turned to my high school band class. I asked if each member would be willing to contribute five dollars with which we could buy recorders and method books that we could donate to children in Africa. About a week before I was due to leave, the recorders came and departure day was fast approaching. The morning of May 30, 2007 dawned anticipation. It had finally arrived. We managed to get the few remaining strings tied and we were on our way - all 16 of us: eight teens, seven adult women and one adult man. I set food on an airplane for the first time since I can remember. (Twenty-three hours an a few layovers later, I discovered flying is not my favorite experience.) The morning of my seventeenth birthday, June 1, 2007, the third biannual Small Village Foundation "Journey to Africa" group landed in Durban, South Africa. The humidity is almost overbearing to someone so well acquainted with the dry climate of Wyoming's mountains. Durban is a very large, industrialized city on the eastern coast of South Africa. It has its glass-walled, multi-story buildings and millions of residents. There are people everywhere; people walking along the streets, in the streets, riding along the backs of bakkis (pick-up trucks) and crammed in taxi vans. Every window is heavily lined with metal bars. Walls, topped with electric fencing, surround schools and upper-class residential areas. The second day there, I came face-to-face with poverty. Our group went up to an area called Rainbow Ridge, where mud and tin shacks clump together on the hillside. We brought with us cans of blue and yellow paint, rollers and brushes. Our project that day was to paint a couple of room sin their creche (preschool). Upon our arrival, children emerged from the maze-work of shanties to watch us, their bright, mismatched array of clothes standing out against the green and umber backdrop of trees and mud. Their radiant faces glowed with warm curiosity and eagerness to be in range of the camera lenses. This is Africa. The next few days took us out to the more rural side of South Africa. We traveled past rolling fields of lush, green sugarcane. Children playing outside waved, calling excitedly, shouting their blessings upon us. Sheep, goats and cattle roamed alongside the roads, not caring less for the arrival of Americans. Sometimes the sights were so familiar, it was hard to imagine I was in Africa. We would pass fields dotted with grassy, square-shaped bales, then all of a sudden there would be a her of zebras of impalas - even a band of monkeys - and I was pulled back into Africa. Our travels brought us to the Centecow village, where we volunteered at the local creche (preschool) among other things. At first, the small children were wary of us, but soon they warmed up and were babbling away in their native tongue. We built them a playground of recycled tires and paint. I taught the teachers the basics of the recorder, leaving them with five of the instruments. (The original plan was for me to teach at a public elementary school, but due to a large strike going on, I had to change course). Upon our departure a few days later, the children were gathered to sing for us. From there, we went to a school for disabled children, most of them with cerebral palsy, abandoned by their mothers. Here, we learned the power of loving touch as we played with and held them. Our last full day in the area, we had the opportunity to be guests at a genuine coming-of-age celebration in the village. There were people - so many people - weaving in and out and around the rondovals (round, plastered huts with thatched roofs). The young people - the women clad in brightly colored beaded outfits and young men with their traditional shields and staffs - danced in a mob, chanting their songs. There were the adult women, with various items professionally balanced atop their heads, walking in a long line to present gifts to the two now-of-age sisters. The men stood around. Proposals for marriage went out to all the American females, to which we kindly, and at times forcefully, declined. A couple hours ticked by, but the excitement hardly slowed. Just before we took off, we were lead to the main rondoval, where meat hung from the ceiling. We were offered plates brimming with white and yellow rice, squash, chicken and spinach. It was an honor for them to feed us. As we sat with our plates, more and more villagers entered to fill every inch of the small rondoval. The scent of dozens of bodies mixed with smoke, drying beef and liquor was overpowering, but I managed to dig in and gut a few bites. All around us, they sang, their voices reverberating against our rib cages. This is Africa. The last few days in Africa were spent around Johannesburg, another huge city in South Africa. We had the chance to stay at a boarding school. The students there welcomed us with open arms and beautiful voices of song. They were from all around the surrounding countries of Botswana, Mozambique, Angola, Swaziland and others, including South Africa. They hooked elbows with us and the questions immediately came pouring from their smiling faces. So many of them have the desire to come to America, to see all of the places that they hear about on TV and in movies. To them, we all live lives of celebrities. There were countless times I had to explain that I have never met Will Smith, Beyonce or Usher. They were very willing to educated us in their culture and country. "That's Nelson Mandela's house," they would say, or "that's Alex. It's a big, sad squatter camp," and "we don't go to college, we got to university. College is an all-boys school." They had no difficulty opening up and tried very hard to get us to do the same. They would pull us into their dancing circles; they would beg us to sing - two things most Americans have difficulty sharing with people they hardly know. HEre, I finally got to do the bulk of my project. I gave each of them their own recorder and a crash course on the basics of the instrument. They came up to me afterward, thanking me again and again. Once girl came up with tears in her eyes - she could not believe it was hers to keep, that someone in America would care enough to just give it to her. I also left them with a notebook of encouraging letters accompanied by photographs from the girls in my young women's group. The morning we left was one full of farewell tears and the exchanging of gifts and addresses When departure time arrived, it was accompanied by more amazing singing - their voices drifted to our ears as we pulled away. This is what Africa does to you: leaves your heart singing and soul dancing, your veins pumping with the beat of the drums. This is Africa.

Workforce crisis building in Star Valley

sarahhale — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:54:51 +0000

Lure of higher wages drawing workforce outside. The summer season is the bread and butter of the Star Valley economy. Tourists make their way through the area, snow birds return and ranchers spend long hours making hay while the sun shines. This summer things have been different. Businesses from the service industry to construction have been struggling to find enough employees to meet the demands of the local population. “I have been asking myself where all the people have gone,” said Pam Wood. She and her husband, Rick, own and operate the Red Baron Drive-In in Afton. “We’ve muddled through.” According to Pam, when she and her husband purchased the Red Baron in 2004 they employed 52 people every season. This summer they have managed to get by with less than 18. “It takes nine people per shift and we run two shifts in a day,” said Pam. “Everyone works every day.” In the event that someone needs time off, the rest of the crew picks up the slack. When that doesn’t work, the restaurant closes early. “We’ve had to close at 4 p.m. for the last two Saturdays because we just did not have the staff to stay open,” said Pam. “Closing early on a Saturday definitely affects our business.” For Pam and Rick, however, the summer season is almost over. They have chosen to close for the season on Tuesday, Sept. 4. They will reopen again in April, following Spring Break and hope that the employees are there to greet them in the spring. Staff shortages are approaching the “critical” level at Star Valley Medical Center. The hospital board is looking at a wide range of options to attract and keep employees. Right now the medical center is looking for people to work in housekeeping and dietary. They are also could use some physician receptionists, CNAs and nurses. “The health care professional shortage is national and we have been pretty lucky in that we are better off than most hospitals around the country,” said Steve Perry, medical center CEO. “But even five years ago we would advertise for a housekeeping position or a cook and have a ton of applicants. Now are are lucky if we get any response.” With the boom in construction, local builders have felt the pinch of the employee shortage as well. Some companies have not put in bids on projects they would have been thrilled been a part of in year’s past - knowing that if they get the big they will not have the workers to complete the project. Some businesses in the valley anticipate an employee shortage in the fall as the school year begins. School district employees and students who have worked for the summer return to the classroom, creating more vacancies in the workforce. “We definitely have a need for employees,” said Cindy Coziah, a manager and Burger King. “I try to anticipate the shortage a little, it is mostly the result of students going back to school.” According to Coziah, right now she has eight employees on the schedule and could use up to 20 more. The restaurant will run a limited crew until more help can be found. The crunch of qualified help has also infiltrated the areas of public safety. Local law enforcement, EMS and fire departments seem to be constantly on the lookout for more help. The widespread workforce shortage in Star Valley brings a lot of questions to the table. Where have all the workers gone? What can local businesses do to entice employees to stay? What will happen to the local economy if current trends continue? “The workforce shortage is a national trend as well as a local trend,” said Karen Schneider, employment specialist at the Afton Workforce Center. “We have more people retiring at middle age and less skilled laborers to replace them.” According to Schneider, the mineral and gas boom across the State of Wyoming is compounding the problem in many respects, but is not entirely to blame for the shortage of workers. “Employees involved in the mineral and gas industry and making a ton of money and are getting paid a wages that [local businesses] cannot possibly match,” said Schneider. “But what is happening is also a natural trend.” Schneider explained that there is an increasingly larger gap between the skills that people possess and the skills companies are looking for in employees. “In Wyoming we have career training grants available to help offset that gap,” said Schneider. “For example, if a company comes to us and says this is what I need in an employee, we have the funds available to train and individual for that job, providing the employer agrees to hire that person when the training is completed.” Workforce development training funds are also available to help businesses train their current employees in new skills or to fund new employment opportunities within the business. “The state will pay up to 60 percent of these costs,” said Schneider. “The funds can really make it easier for local businesses to expand.” Another factor working against employers in Lincoln County is the record low unemployment rate. According to Schneider, right now in Lincoln County the people who are willing and able to work, are working. While the state is trying to recruit employees from other areas of the nation, that is a slow moving process. Meanwhile, local businesses are on the lookout for workers. Schneider is willing to meet with local employers to discuss ideas on how to hire and retain qualified employees. Call 886-9260 to speak with her. [poll=2]

Resource officer now playing part in education

newsrelease — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:57:36 +0000

Megan Thomson is the new school resource officer. This year when the students, teachers and administrators went back to school in Lincoln County School District No. 2, they had a new ally coming to school with them. Deputy Megan Thomson, with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, is the first school resource officer in Star Valley. Thomson has been a deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office since November of 2006, and was interviewed for and chosen to be the new school resource officer for LCSD No. 2 and the LCSO. "I applied for this job because I believe in the position," Deputy Thomson said. "I believe that having a school resource officer works, and I want to do everything I can to make it work well here in our district." Since having a school resource officer in Star Valley is new, many people are unclear about what it means, and what role Deputy Thomson will play in the schools. However, while having a school resource officer may be new to Star Valley, SRO programs have been in schools in the United States since the 1960's, and the popularity of SROs has grown significantly over the past ten years. National School Safety and Security Services says that school resource officers typically focus their functions on law enforcement, student counseling and law-related education, and that SROs work in conjunction with education officials and administrators to benefit students. School resource officers are not security guards, hall monitors or attendance officers; they are specially trained deputies who handle law enforcement issues of all kinds related to schools. Just as there are many officers throughout the country who specialize in homicides, drugs or other law enforcement fields, SROs are specialized officers who receive specialized training and can do a better job when it comes to dealing with school-related law. SROs typically have detailed knowledge about juvenile justice, juvenile issues, juvenile law, juvenile court and Department of Family Services issues and policies. In Lincoln County School District No. 2, Deputy Thomson has a home-base office at Star Valley High School, but she will be on call whenever and wherever needed, from Etna to Cokeville. She will respond to and handle any situation or call that would normally be covered by law enforcement that is related to the schools. She could be called to handle traffic control, truant students, drug issues, child abuse cases, fights, illegal items present in the schools, assisting with drug checks and other law enforcement issues. There is no change in the standard operating procedures in the schools or in the sheriff's office with the addition of a SRO. Having an SRO just allows one officer to concentrate on all of the school-related issues. Deputy Thomson also plans to be a familiar face in the schools, to help the students become comfortable around law enforcement officers. "I want kids to be comfortable and feel like they can approach me anytime with concerns or problems," Thomson said. "I want it to not be a new thing for them to see a cop." So far Deputy Thomson has visited all of the schools in Star Valley, and will be visiting the Cokeville schools soon. She is also participating in special assemblies to meet the students. "I don't want to walk around the schools until the kids and parents know who I am," Thomson said. Later in the school year she plans to introduce some presentations to the students, on topics such as safety and "stranger danger" for younger students and "recreational drugs" for high school students. Having a school resource officer in LCSD No. 2 has been a priority for Sheriff Shane Johnson since he first was appointed to the position of Sheriff in mid-June 2007. "I made that a top priority right away and started working with the schools right after my appointment to make this happen," Sheriff Johnson said. Sheriff Johnson believes that having a school resource officer in LCSD No. 2 is a win-win situation for the students. "These officers are in schools all over the country," Johnson said. "It is not a negative thing and there is no down side to it. The Sheriff's Office and LCSD No. 2 are working towards the same goals of having safe schools and a good learning environment for all kids, including my own." Sheriff Johnson believes strongly that having an SRO in LCSD No. 2 has many benefits. "Having one officer handling school issues provides for consistency, better response times and better law enforcement in the schools," Johnson said. Deputy Thomson agrees that her role in the schools will be a beneficial one. "I will always be available and at the ready," Thomson said. "I will have a good working relationship with school officials and I will be familiar with the issues and cases that the schools are facing."

Thunder in Alpine makes some noise

newsrelease — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:00:57 +0000

Whether you walked in from the parking areas or rode in on the provided shuttle, you were greeted with the sight of hundreds of pristine cars and trucks and the smell of aviation fuel and cheeseburgers. The weekend of Aug. 24 through Aug. 26 was a busy time for the Alpine community. The Top Of The Rockies Snowmobile Club and the Alpine Airpark sponsored the Thunder in Alpine car and airshow. The event took place at the Alpine airpark. Saturday morning started with wandering around the 115 entries in the carshow area. Spectators were treated to vehicles from model A’s to present day Corvette's. Also represented were several trucks and motorcycles that made this show something for everyone. As the day went on, attention was split between the beautiful vehicles and the wonderful displays put on by the aircraft. The aircraft performing in the general aviation class including Aviat Huskies built in Afton, Cirrus, Cessna, Mooney, and even one home built model flown in from Salt Lake City. The main performers included “Warbirds” such as the World War II fighters, the F2G Super Corsair and P-51 Mustang “Cripes A’ Mighty,” owned by airshow sponsor Bill Wiemann. There were several other military aircraft that performed as well. The money raised by the event will be donated to the Alpine EMS, Alpine Fire Department, Friends of Alpine Library, Animal Humane Association of Star Valley and ARDA. Saturdays attendance was estimated to be between 1,000 - 1,500 people and Sunday approximately 200 people participated. “I would like to thank the Top Of The Rockies, the Airpark residents, and the performers for making it all happen,” said airshow sponsor Bill Wiemann. Carshow Chairman Tiphany Gayhart also expressed her thanks.

Ice climbing wall in Swift Creek still a possibility

sarahhale — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:06:47 +0000

American Alpine Club working toward special use permit. A few years ago Afton applied to the Forest Service for a special use permit to create an ice climbing area in Swift Creek Canyon. The project never really got off the ground. Several months ago Jim McCarthy of the American Alpine Club, an ice climbing group that has a long standing relationship with the Forest Service, approached the Town of Afton with the desire to move forward with the ice climbing project. The American Alpine Club agreed to complete the application process for the special use permit. While the ice climbing route in Swift Creek Canyon is still in its infancy stages, the Town of Afton is hopeful that things will move forward. “The American Alpine Club has a lot of experience in getting special use permits and establishing ice climbing areas,” said Town of Afton Administrator Jim Sanderson. “When the Town of Afton tried doing this before, we really just didn’t know how to go about it. Now we have people who know what they are doing and are interested in seeing the completion of this project.” According to Sanderson, he is working to set up a meeting between McCarthy and Brent Smith, engineer with the Swift Creek power project. The goal of the meeting is to get the two different groups thinking about how they can “stay out of each other’s way” and both move forward. Sanderson is also plans to attend a board meeting in Ouray, Colorado. The Ouray Ice Park was opened in 1995 and was the world's first park devoted exclusively to the sport of ice climbing. Today climbers come from all over the globe to participate in ice climbing events in the park. Climbing in the Ouray Ice Park is free. “I am going down to Ouray to learn from what has been done there and what has been successful,” said Sanderson. “While the American Alpine Club is the driving force behind ice climbing in Swift Creek, the Town of Afton wants to have a say in what is done in the canyon.” According to Sanderson, Ouray is a great information resource for the Town of Afton. The Colorado town has first hand experience with how an ice climbing area is run. “What the Town of Afton is primarily interested in is the economic development and business ice climbing would bring to the town in the winter months,” said Sanderson. “Every year more than 100,000 climbers visit Ouray.” According to Sanderson, over the next few months it should become clear whether or not ice climbing is in the future of Swift Creek Canyon.

Neighborhood watch in the works for Star Valley Ranch

sarahhale — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:10:34 +0000

Residents of SVR will work with the Sheriff’s Office to start community watch program. A neighborhood watch program is in its beginning stages at Star Valley Ranch this week. On Saturday, as part of the emergency preparedness fair, residents could sign up to participate in the neighborhood watch program. “What I would like to see happen with the program is neighbors meeting with neighbors and getting to know each other,” said Sheriff Shane Johnson. “Neighbors can exchange information and help each other watch over personal property when someone is out of town.” According to Sheriff Johnson, neighborhood watch programs have proven to be successful organizations across the United States. He is hopeful that each community in Star Valley will work with the Sheriff’s Office to set up programs. “Neighborhood watch can be as involved or as simple as the people involved want it to be,” said the Sheriff. “We are planning to have a community meeting in October with the people who have signed up to participate with the Star Valley Ranch Neighborhood Watch program. At that time we will sit down and discuss what the community members would like to see with their neighborhood watch program.” Sheriff Johnson would like to hold regular neighborhood watch program meetings in the future. At the meetings a deputy, assigned to be the neighborhood watch liaison between the Sheriff’s Office at the community, will meet with community members. The program will give the Sheriff’s Office “more eyes” on what is happening in the community. In addition to attending regular meetings with a Sheriff’s deputy, the role of the community watch program will be for neighbors to report any suspicious activity going on in their neighborhood to the Sheriff’s Office. “I would like to see the same deputy assigned as the neighborhood watch liaison because I believe that consistency is good,” said Sheriff Johnson. Once the neighborhood watch program is established and running in Star Valley Ranch, the Sheriff’s Office will work to set up similar programs throughout the rest of Lincoln County. “The Star Valley Ranch program is sort of a pilot program to see if there is community interest in getting a neighborhood watch program going,” said Johnson. If you are interested in being a part of a neighborhood watch program, contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 885-5231.

The Dahl E. Llama picks week 1 in Wyoming 4A

dahlerickson — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:05:33 +0000

Picking one's opponents to win or lose is sometimes a risky business. I for one never want to provide bulletin board material for another team. I've seen that backfire badly for one of the Braves' playoff foes two years ago, and it wasn't pretty. In fact, it was 57-0 ugly. So, I just want to emphasize that I have no affiliation with Star Valley High School as a coach, adviser, or even as the guy who yells that we should throw the ball more. Also, if you're looking for a Braves prediction, keep looking, I'm not going to go down that road. I think we're going to win every week, so there's your prediction. Also, the Cowboy state is competing with almost every state that we touch this week in 4A, with Montana, Colorado, Idaho and Nebraska on the slate. After a thorough pasting from Utah last weekend, I'd like our teams to earn back some inter-state respect. Without further delay, here's the Dahl E. Llama's Week one picks: Hardin, MT @ Cody Broncs - The team from Big Sky country knocked off Cody by 19 points last year. This game is at home and the Broncs return a lot of players. I think this is the year they sqeak past them. Llama says - Broncs - 24-21 Teton, ID @ Jackson Broncs - Teton was absolutely lit up in Snake River last weekend, 55-12. Jackson showed they could be tough defensively with a 14-6 scrimmage loss to 5A Evanston last weekend. Break out the orange Kool-Aid for the Broncs this week. Llama says - Broncs (again) 34-10 Lander @ Buffalo - Typically one of the toughest places to play, the Bison should be able to run at will on the Tigers unless something has drastically changed in the off-season. Look for a close game after one quarter with Buffalo pulling away for a big win. Llama says - Bison - 38 - 13 Powell @ Lovell - I know the Bulldogs are a tough group, but if the Powell line can protect their signal-caller like I think they can this week, look for a big week from the Panther offense. That being said, this could be a trap game for Powell in the road. Llama says - Panthers - 27-13 Worland @ Thermopolis -This is the third straight year in which the Warriors have two of their first three games with a 3A school. Look for a lopsided score from the road team who should be pretty stout on defense. Llama says - Warriors - 42-7 Riverton @ Douglas - This is a tough game for both of these teams coming right out of the gate. Although the Wolverines struggled last year, they'll still have a lot of pride as a 5A school on the road. Douglas has a chance to show that they aren't ready to rebuild from last year's runner-up squad and I think they will take advantage of it. Llama says - Bearcats - 21-13 Moffat, CO @ Rawlins - This is a huge chance for the Outlaws to show the state that their optimism is justified by beating a border war rival. I just don't think they have the firepower for a team like Moffat who dropped a 46-0 beating on them a year ago. Llama says - Greenies - 27-6 Chadron NE @ Torrington - Torrington didn't have any luck with the Nebraska schools a year ago, losing all three match ups, by a combined 136-34. After dropping nine straight games over the past two seasons, I just don't see the Blazers breaking through with this game. Llama says - Huskers - 24-10 Wheatland @ Sidney, NE - Wheatland and Star Valley show you why it's hard to come up with a classification solution with their week one match ups. One plays in Idaho and the other plays in Nebraska and they could very well meet in the playoffs again. Wheatland was the heartbreak kids against the Husker state last year, losing to Gering by just a single point. I think Wheatland, despite my perceived bias against them, will prove their optimism is justified by winning on the road in week one. Llama says - Bulldogs - 17-13 Don't like them? Be sure to comment. I'll be updating my win/loss throughout the season, right after the Cowboys' win over Virginia this Saturday. This is the Llama reminding you, it's okay to lose your voice, it WILL come back again.

Braves Junior Varsity declaws Panthers

dahlerickson — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:06:50 +0000

The Star Valley junior varsity football squad rebounded from a tough 22-16 loss to Gillette, by edging the Snake River Panthers, 14-12 in a Thursday evening road game. At the same time, the Braves freshman team dropped a hard fought decision, 18-0 after trailing 6-0 at the half. Although coming up on the short end of the score, the freshman squad showed many positive signs, not the least of which was the nifty quarterbacking of Logan Abrams. The Braves' varsity team will be facing the Snake River Panthers in a 7 p.m. game Friday, a game that will be broadcast on KRSV Radio, 98.7 FM, 1210 AM.

Braves show some heart in loss to Snake River

dahlerickson — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:50:34 +0000

The learning process can be a little slow, especially when some of the fan base is ready to jump off the wagon. The Braves lost their first regular season game to Snake River on the road Friday night, 34-20, but things certainly could have been worse. In fact the reason for optimism is that it could have been better too. Despite not forging a first down in the first half and falling behind 20-7 due in large part to some offensive struggles, the Braves didn't go away and what's more, they did it more than once. After striking on the scoreboard first with a Conner Hunsaker fumble recovery returned 30 yards to the endzone, the Panthers controlled the field position game to build their lead. However, after a timely stop on fourth down on the opening drive of the third quarter by Laken Kennington, the Braves answered with their first offensive touchdown of the year, a 17-yard scamper from Logan Fitzgerald. While Snake River did make Star Valley pay through the air as Dusty Harrel threw for three scores, the Braves also found some of their missing air attack as well, as Chad McKen hauled in a 53-yard pass which was stripped. Fitzgerald was rewarded for his hustle in following the play and took it in for the remaining five yards for his second touchdown. Jordan Abrams showed visible signs of confidence at the QB position and McKen finished with 111 yards receiving. The stakes will be huge this Friday as Star Valley hosts a hungry and confident Jackson squad in the 2007 version of the Fall Brawl. The Broncs exploded for 51 points in a 51-14 laugher over Teton to open their season. For a complete breakdown of the Snake River game and a preview of the Fall Brawl, be sure to read the September 6, 2007 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Cowboys clobber Cavaliers in season opener, 23-3

dahlerickson — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:13:46 +0000

All the pre-game talk from national pundits and media was how in the world was an inexperienced Wyoming line going to handle All-American candidate, (not to mention son of Hall of Famer Howie) Chris Long? The answer that ensued was a long and drawn out one for Virginia fans and those unfamiliar with the heart of a Cowboy. With nearly 500 yards of offense, Karsten Sween, Devin Moore and the Cowboy offense carved up a vaunted Cav defense which ranked 17th in the nation a year ago. One that was supposed to feast on an offensive line that doesn't have a single senior on it. "I think we answered that criticism all day long," stated junior offensive tackle Kyle Howard. "He [Long] was lined up against [redshirt freshman Sam] Sterner in his first start and Sam fought him off all day. I really feel like we've been vindicated from some of the pre-game hype." The Pokes rolled up over 200 yards rushing on the Cavs, 125 of which came from junior Devin Moore, who capped off his day with a 49-yard run and showed "Thunder and Lightning" was a problem for their opponent from the opening kick. "The line opened up some great holes for us," stated Moore. "Whether it be Wynel [Selden] or myself, either one of us could have scored on that last one." Somewhat maligned offensive coordinator Bill Cockhill used his newly implemented no-huddle attack to wear down the East Coast team as the offense held the ball for over 40 minutes. On the other sided of the ball, matters were worse for the Cavaliers. The Cowboy defense held them to just 110 net yards, the lowest total for any Wyoming opponent since 1978. Indeed the closest thing about this game was the 23-3 score. "This game was like a heavyweight fight," chuckled Head Coach Joe Glenn in his post-game interview. "We threw the first punch and we threw the last punch. We knew a Cowboy was tougher than a Cavalier anyway." Despite his humor, Coach Glenn praised the Cavs for a hard-fought game. "That's a good football team," he added. "Coach Groh and his squad will have a chance to fix things before the season's over." Wyoming will look to keep the momentum going against a struggling Utah State team next Saturday. Although the Aggies have put together just three winning seasons in the last three decades, it's a game Glenn and company refuse to take for granted. "We're going to have to focus and execute just like we do for any game," said cornerback Julius Stinson, who's two interceptions led the team. "Utah State isn't going to come in here to lose a game and we're going to have to do those things just like we did today." The only question now is, are media experts now wishing they could amend their fifth place prediction of a team that looks capable of a very special season.

4A Week 1 Recap

dahlerickson — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:33:05 +0000

Well, in my first week of high school prognostication, I feel like I should be pretty happy. Going 7-2 in my games selected, the two I missed were both within one score. Here's the recap. Be sure to let me know what I'm getting right and what I'm missing. Buffalo def. Lander 30-6 Correct Hardin, MT def. Cody 30-24 Incorrect Jackson def. Teton, ID 51-14 Correct Moffat, CO def. Rawlins 20-0 Correct Chadron, NE def. Torrington 31-7 Correct Wheatland def. Sidney, NE 6-0 Incorrect Douglas def. Riverton 28-0 Correct Powell def. Lovell 42-14 Correct Worland def. Thermopolis 28-0 Correct By the way, don't forget to bring your cowbells this Friday evening for the 2007 version of the Fall Brawl, Jackson and Star Valley. The Broncs should be a confident bunch heading into Lincoln County, but the Braves have won the last two meetings. Stay tuned to this website for insight and analysis on this historic rivalry all week long!

Flash Flood warning in effect across Star Valley; Snake River Canyon temporarily closed due to mud slide northeast of Alpine

dahlerickson — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:03:15 +0000

Due to heavy rainfall Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, residents of Star Valley have been warned that possible flash floods could occur in the area. This flash flood watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday evening. Check back often for updates on this situation.

Tornado warning lifted for Afton; Tornado reported near Soda Springs

dahlerickson — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:58:10 +0000

As unlikely as a tornado may seem in Star Valley, residents in the area have been warned about the possibility. In fact, a twister has been reported in nearby Soda Springs. According to the National Weather Service the following information has been released.

A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 PM MDT FOR CENTRAL
CARIBOU COUNTY..

AT 1254 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NORTH OF THE MONSANTO PLANT NEAR SODA SPRINGS
...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS GUSTING TO 58 MPH WERE ALSO
REPORTED AT THE SODA SPRINGS AIRPORT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HENRY

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

Students learn new skills on People to People journey

newsrelease — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:28:26 +0000

Local students travel with group to Europe. The Western Wyoming People to People Student Ambassador group recently returned from a 20-day ambassadorial studies tour to Europe. The group, made up of 27 strdents from the Western Wyoming area, visited England, France and Italy. Local students who participated in the trip were Kaitlyn Chadwick, Jessica Cole, Simantha Stewart, Kailee Wagner. Laura Walton and Katie Woods. Maud Jackson, an educator from Holdaway Elementary, traveled with the group as well. The students took part in an environmental service project in a national preserve near Pisa, Italy, attended an educational meeting with a member of the British parliament, spent three days with a family in Southern France and repelled off of a 1,000 year old castle. They also had the opportunity to be part of a flag raising ceremony on the beaches of Normandy. The students also had the chance to visit the coliseum of Rome, where over 50,000 spectators would have watched the gladiators combat. They toured the Duomo Cathedral, saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa, went to Notre Dame Cathedral and rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The group also visited the Louve to see the Mona Lisa. In London they examined the Royal Crown Jewels and rode the London Eye, the largest ferris wheel in the world. President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the People to People organization during his presidency in 1956. He believed that ordinary citizens of different nations could make a difference where governments could not. The People to People Student Ambassador programs are based in Spokane, Wash., and have been coordinating educational travel for more than 50 years. For more information, log on to studentambassadors.org.

Mud slides hit Greys and Snake River Canyons, roads temporarily closed

sarahhale — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:55:29 +0000

Wednesday afternoon a tornado warning was issued for the Star Valley area. Schools were in lock down. Residents wondered if a twister would or could actually touch down in Star Valley. By early afternoon the tornado warning was lifted. Students were bussed home. People returned to their regular lives. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued for the area, but such warnings are a dime a dozen in the late summer of Western Wyoming. Then news came that mud slides had closed Snake River Canyon and the Greys River Road. “What we are experiencing today with the mud slides is that people are trapped up in Greys River,” said Jay Hokanson with Lincoln County Emergency Management. “The best thing you can do is be prepared. Have some water with you and a blanket. You should always have an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle just in case something like this happens.” It is also a good idea to keep your gas tank on the upper half of full. “If you are stuck in the canyon between two mud slides and you have to listen to the radio, you are going to run your battery down pretty quick if you are trying to conserve fuel,” said Hokanson. “Even with the gas prices the way they are it is better to keep plenty of gas in your vehicle just in case something happens.” For people at home, Hokanson advised unplugging major appliances and “getting down, getting low.” “In severe weather get into a smaller room, such as a bathroom, away from windows and crouch down low to the ground,” said Hokanson. “It is also a good idea to unplug major appliances in severe thunderstorms so that damage doesn’t occur to them.” The good news about the weird Wednesday weather was the fact that it gave local officials the chance to activate the emergency plan. Schools were notified and the decision was made to keep students together for safety reasons. Businesses were put on alert. The hospital and emergency response teams were notified. “What we did was put everyone on alert,” said Hokanson. “We did that just in case something were to happen so that we could respond.” Hokanson also explained that extreme weather such as what occurred Wednesday afternoon gives everyone the chance to evaluate their emergency preparedness on an individual level. Some basic preparedness items individuals should consider for their homes are flashlights with extra batteries, food and water storage and a way to get information in and out of the home, such as a radio. Hokanson is encouraging people to call his office at 885-3632 with information about what is happening throughout the Valley as the storm system moves through.

Canyon opens Wednesday evening, mudslide cleared out

sarahhale — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:23:05 +0000

Two mudslides at the west end of the Snake River Canyon closed U.S. Highway 26/89, in the early afternoon on Wednesday. Both slides occurred near the Alpine Junction, about 35 miles southwest of Jackson. Reports of the mudslides came in around 2:30 p.m. A small slide was reported at milepost 118.9 and a larger slide was reported between mileposts 120 and 121. WyDOT crews from the Jackson and Afton maintenance shops were dispatched to clear the roadway. By 3:26 p.m., vehicles that had been trapped between the two slides were able to move out of the area. At 4:55 p.m., the smaller slide at the 118 mile post had been cleared and crews were more than half way finished removing the debris from the highway. The Alpine Fire Department was on standby to hose off mud from the road. WyDOT anticipated the canyon to reopen around 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Cancelation of moratorium delayed pending DEQ review of Alpine system

dandockstader — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:28:38 +0000

Cancelation of a moratorium on new sewer system connections in Alpine was delayed at the Sept. 4 town council meeting until the Department of Environmental Quality could be consulted. Lengthy discussion at the Tuesday night council meeting included a suggestion to withdraw the moratorium in phases. Councilmember Donn Wooden suggested a program that included allowing light duty use of the system by offices or small stores, followed by individual residential use, then larger businesses reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Councilmember Don Jorgensen indicated he would also like to see the town move foreword. However, the town attorney advised that equal use of the system should be allowed and he suggested that the definitions of use should be submitted to the DEQ for review. Councilmember Shirley Brown reminded everyone of potential fines that could be imposed if affluent limits were surpassed in the system. In conclusion, Mayor Victoria Decora said she would like to see the DEQ go through the treatment plant and review the system again before the moratorium is lifted. The mayor said she would arrange for a DEQ representative to be in attendance at the next council meeting. In other news related to the Alpine council: • The council agreed to proceed with a proposal to study the use of impact fees for future town annexations. The project will be coordinated through the Alpine Planning and Zoning Board. • The town will delay issuing soil removal permits for the Palisades Reservoir area until the matter is reviewed further with the Bureau of Reclamation. The town attorney advised that permitting process needed further study. • Preliminary approval was granted to the SALL Enterprises re-plat, (planning document).

Work winding down on Afton water project

sarahhale — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:32:09 +0000

Schedule A portion of project nearly complete. Work on the Afton Water Project will be winding down over the next few weeks. According to information from Sunrise Engineering, the Schedule A portion of the project is almost finished. Crews will be installing some water meters on Monoe and Adams streets. Work on the pipe and meters is scheduled to be completed within two weeks. This month crews will work to remove old fire hydrants and old valves, pavement repair and shoulder grading. According to Sunrise, a final “adjustment of grading around meter pits and driveways will be completed” this month as well. Afton residents who have questions regarding the project should contact Sunrise Engineering at 885-8500. Property owners who believe “something on their property has not been addressed or completed,” are also encouraged to call Sunrise to discuss the issue.

State Supreme Court to hear cases in Star Valley Monday

sarahhale — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:35:45 +0000

Oral arguments are open to the public at begin at 9 a.m. Monday The Wyoming State Supreme Court will be in Star Valley on Monday, Sept. 10, to hear oral arguments in two cases. The court will conviene in the high school auditorium at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend. “The Wyoming State Supreme Court goes out once or twice a year,” said Judy Pacheco, clerk of court. “The location is determined by invitation.” According to Pacheco, the goal behind hearing oral arguments at different locations around the state is to get people more involved with the judiciary branch of government. “A lot of people in this state never seen the supreme court in action,” said Pacheco. “The judiciary branch is possibly the least understood branch of government.” Pacheco went on to explain that the Wyoming State Supreme Court “especially likes to come to schools” across the state to give students a chance to meet the Supreme Court Justices and ask questions. “The justices really like to get out amongst the students in the state,” said Pacheco. “They field questions from the students and have the chance to talk about the justice process and what they do.” Monday’s schedule will include oral arguments from two cases. The first oral argument will take place from 9-10 a.m. Each side will be given half an hour to present their points. A short break will follow. The second case will be heard immediately following the break. At approximately 11:15 a.m. the justices will break for lunch. Students will have the chance to participate in a question and answer session with the Supreme Court Justices following the lunch break.

Local grave site united with searching family

sarahhale — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:42:59 +0000

The Morgan family’s search for a family grave ends in Etna. The story of Hannah Elizabeth Morgan Hadden is similar to hundreds of other stories of American Pioneers. She was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah on Oct. 4, 1866. After spending her early life moving from place to place with her family, Hannah met and married John Russell Hadden. John and Hannah had a son, John E. Hadden on Aug. 27, 1884. Four years later she moved with her family to Star Valley. They settled near Etna. Homesteading in Star Valley proved more than difficult for the Hadden family. They arrived too late in the season to cut and store enough food for their livestock. Long before spring all of the animals except the horses had died. The horses had to be fed willows. After surviving the difficult winter, Hannah died May 22, 1889 in childbirth. The baby, named Francis E. Hadden, lived for a time and then also died. Eventually John left Star Valley for Idaho. There he remarried and established a future for himself and his family. But that was not the end of Hannah’s story. In fact, her death is only the beginning of a tale that would bring families together across the wide expanse of the United States. Ed Lisota has been working on photographing all of the headstones in Star Valley for several years and linking the people buried in Star Valley with obituaries. Kathy Walker and Pat Erickson have also been working on the project. “When I was doing my part my grandson asked me if I was interested in a pioneer grave and I said of course I was,” said Kathy. “So he took me and showed me where it was.” The grave Kathy and her grandson Zack went to was Hannah’s grave. “I wanted her to have a life story. So I started researching,” said Kathy. “All I had was Hannah E. M. Hadden, 1866-1888.” Kathy started looking into the names of early settlers in the Etna and Freedom areas. She found both Morgans and Haddens. Then she discovered a document that confirmed that Hannah Morgan and been married to John Hadden. “I kept trying to locate descendants that could tell me about her life and early death,” said Kathy. Last winter Kathy decided to make a final effort to learn more about Hannah’s life. “I put her name in Google and I had a hit right off,” said Kathy. “I told myself not to get excited, but as I went on I realized I had found her family.” The Morgan Family had a website asking for information regarding Hannah Elizabeth Morgan Hadden. Hannah’s grave location had been lost to the family and they were eager to find her final resting place. Needless to say, Kathy contacted the family and told them what she had learned. James Morgan, a man living in New York, made arrangements to fly out to Wyoming and visit the grave. “James flew out from New York in August,” said Kathy. “He brought relatives from Idaho Falls to be reunited with Hannah.” Kathy credits her grandson, Zack, with helping Hannah’s story have a happy ending. “If he hadn’t asked me about my interest in the grave, she would still be lost to her family,” said Kathy. It seems that after more than 100 years, Hannah has finally come to rest in Star Valley.

Week 2 Wyoming 4A Football Predictions

dahlerickson — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:50:38 +0000

Some huge conference games are on tap in Class 4A this weekend as teams look to get the early wins to boost them through the season. Buffalo @ Wheatland, Cody @ Lander and of course Jackson @ Star Valley, it's time to embrace the Fall. Well starting the season 7-2 in my selections, I'm understandably pleased. It could have even been better as both misses were whisker close. Some huge conference games already this season and none of them are bigger than the 2007 version of the Fall Brawl between the Jackson Broncs and the Star Valley Braves. In all honesty, this is a much bigger game for the Braves than the Broncs. Sure Jackson would love to send the Crimson and Gold to 0-3, but with the next two games on the road against quality teams, Star Valley needs to build their confidence up with their performance this Friday. Rivalry repercussions from the Dahl E. Llama: Last week: 7-2 / YTD: 7-2 (.780) Buffalo (1-0) @ Wheatland (1-0) - The Bison looked good last week against Lander, but the Bulldogs' defense should be a much stiffer test as they look to unseat Buffalo early in the season. I'm still going to pick the road team, but it should be much too close for comfort for Buffalo. Llama says - Bison - 17-7 Glenrock (1-0) @ Douglas (1-0) - Douglas didn't seem to slow down a bit from last season and piled up 28 points against an outmatched and awful Riverton team. I'm taking the Bearcats in a close shootout. Llama says - Bearcats - 27-21 Rawlins (0-1) @ Mountain View (0-1) - With all due respect, one team has to score to win the game and I'm not sure if that's going to happen in this game. The Buffs graduated a very talented team from a year ago which may be contributing to their struggles early. Rawlins' defense is used to not getting any help, and I say they win this one by themselves with a defensive score which will then result in a missed PAT. Llama says - Outlaws - 6-0 Torrington (0-1) @ Gering, NE - As much as I'd like to see the Wyoming team win the road game, there's no reason for me to believe that the 'Blazers are going to break their 10-game losing streak Friday. Llama says - Gering - 20-0 Cody (0-1) @ Lander (0-1) - If Lander wants to end their own personal skid, they need to do it right here. The problems are many for the Tigers, who don't seem to be able to score. Cody will be hungry after a tough loss on their home turf last week, and this one might get out of hand if Lander can't find the Eye of the Tiger. Llama says - Broncs - 31-6 Powell (1-0) @ Riverton (0-1) - Powell rolled up about 500 yards on Lovell last week and while they may not get quite that high this week, this game likely won't be close. Look for the Panther passing game to get a workout against a week Wolverine secondary. Llama says - Panthers - 45-3 Lyman (1-0) @ Worland (1-0) - When I first looked at this game, my first thought was that the Eagles would win, and maybe they will. I think this match-up will go down to the wire with the home team pulling it out in the fourth quarter. Llama says - Warriors - 27-21. There you go, just a reminder that the Llama is refraining from selecting the Star Valley games for both personal and non-harrassment reasons. If you have your opinions on the weekend's games, be sure to leave a comment. And remember, keep it clean.

SVMS Warriors edge Teton, 32-28

dahlerickson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:33:36 +0000

With some power running and some determination, the Star Valley Middle School Warriors nipped visiting Teton, 32-28 in a game played at Star Valley High School. While the game was moved to this location due to a seventh grade contest at the same time, the SVMS Eighth Graders showed they were more than comfortable on the varsity field, overcoming multiple scores from their opponent. Special thanks for Jeanie Malone for the score and the photograph

They taketh away: Broncs pilfer the pigskin to defeat Braves 25-7

dahlerickson — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:12:34 +0000

For one half, it was old-fashioned Star Valley and Jackson football. Strong running games and stingy defenses were the order of the day. It all fell apart in the second half for the Braves beginning with the kickoff to the third quarter Jackson pounced on the football after the ball came loose, setting up a short field where the Broncs scored on an electrifying 14-yard scamper from Alex Bush. The visiting team then caught the Braves off guard on a two-point conversion to lead 15-7. It was a harbinger of things to come. Three more interceptions came to bring Star Valley's turnover total to five, a total that was just too much to overcome against a crisp Jackson squad bent on defeating their rivals. While their statistics were not as gaudy as they were a week ago against Teton, Idaho, Jackson hit for big plays when they needed them and shut down Star Valley's passing attack which finished for just 22 yards. Quarterback Jordan Abrams led the Braves in rushing, with 53 yards on 12 carries, while fellow senior Conner Hunsaker finished the game with 47 yards on 13 carries. Logan Fitzgerald notched his third touchdown on the season for Star Valley's only score. The road doesn't get any easier for the Braves as they travel to Cody to play the Broncs, followed by another road trip to Marsh Valley. The victory for Jackson marks a series split with Star Valley over the last four meetings. Be sure to check out the September 13, 2007 edition of the Star Valley Independent for full statistics as well as a game recap. Also be sure to check back with this website for exclusive audio and video content from the game.

The Llama rides through a bumpy weekend: Week 2 Recap

dahlerickson — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:21:14 +0000

Well, the Jackson / Star Valley second half withstanding, the entire weekend was pretty tolerable. I do have a thought on the Braves' 0-3 start however, and it has to do with the fans. I loved the support, but not the noise level. Get off your hands Star Valley, and let's go through football fan 101. - Get loud when your opponent has a 3rd down - It raises the anxiety level for their players and makes it harder for them to communicate with their coaches and each other. This also raises the energy level for our defensive players, who feed off home crowd energy. - As a home crowd, I've always wished we could unite with a specific cheer when the team gets a first down. I'm going to keep working on this with appropriate authorities, but how about "That's a Crimson and Gold (enter crowd) FIRST DOWN! This does two things, it galvanizes the crowd for a common mindset and it get darn obnoxious for the other team. When the team rolls up 20 first downs in a game, they are tired of hearing it. - Either get on the bandwagon, or get off - There's no room for fair weather fans as far as I'm concerned. You either understand this or you are offended by this. I don't want to hear one more word about us going winless. If that's the only item you can find to talk with me about, then just keep walking. Sorry to get a little preachy, but if someone doesn't believe they affect the mindset of the players during the week and on game day by their attitude, then we seriously disagree. Now, time to get to the recap portion of the article, and the Dahl E. Llama went 5-2 this week to bring my season total to 12-4 or (.750). Some things that stand out to me? How about Lander hanging tough with favored Cody, 17-7. Is Cody not quite as good as we think? We'll find out this weekend. Is Lander better than people think? Something to ponder. Also, Buffalo left little doubt about Wheatland's resurgence, caging the 'Dawgs 27-6. Here's the scores: Buffalo defeats Wheatland: 27-6 (correct) Cody defeats Lander: 17-7 (correct) Worland defeats Lyman: 26-12 (correct) Mtn. View defeats Rawlins: 22-0 (A Vick-sized misjudgment) Glenrock defeats Douglas: 30-22 (Wrong) Powell defeats Riverton: 30-14 (Correct) I know there are a lot of top 5 lists out there, here's the Dahl E. Llama's 4A top 5 after Week 2 #1 Buffalo #2 Jackson #3 Powell #4 Douglas #5 Cody Have a thought? A disagreement? An opinion? let us know with the comment section

Senator Barrasso delivers maiden speech to Senate

sarahhale — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:43:33 +0000

On Monday, Sept. 10 Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., delivered his maiden speech to the U.S. Senate, which outlined his vision for Wyoming and laid out specific legislative efforts he will champion. “In Wyoming, we believe the future is ours to shape,” Barrasso said. “Since taking office, I’ve heard from thousands of people all over the state about their hopes and dreams for their families, their communities, Wyoming and our nation. One theme has been universal: fight for Wyoming.” “I will fight for Wyoming everyday by championing quality education for our children, quality jobs for our families, affordable and accessible healthcare for our communities, and our core values.” “Wyoming is blessed with incredible resources - coal, natural gas, and oil - and alternative sources of energy such as wind,” Barrasso continued. “The University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources is prepared to become the leading energy research institute in the world. They are finding ways to convert coal to liquids, coal to gas, and pump carbon dioxide back into the earth to enhance oil recovery.” “The world’s most powerful computer is being assembled in Wyoming to help make this possible. I believe we can and will develop new energy technologies while preserving the natural beauty and the wildlife of our state. That’s the future I see for Wyoming.” “I believe there is a role for government --- but the role must be limited. Government should not do for people what they can do for themselves. Nor should government put obstacles in the way of people pursuing their American dream. That’s why I will champion legislation to cut wasteful spending and make sure taxpayers get value for their money.” “I will fight to help our hospitals and health care providers deliver quality care to our families in an environment with limited resources by co-sponsoring the ‘Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act’ and by joining the Senate Rural Health Caucus.” “I will work to make sure that public lands remain open to multiple use – while at the same time ensuring that our environment is protected. As an outdoorsman and a conservationist, Senator Craig Thomas worked on two bills affecting the western part of Wyoming that were very close to his heart.” “While he is not here to carry on the work, the work needs to continue as part of his legacy. One is called the ‘Snake River Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007.’ This bill will create a lasting legacy for Wyoming people and for future generations, while ensuring that access, multiple use and private property rights are not restricted.” “As a tribute to Senator Thomas and in recognition of his years of leadership in the Senate and specifically the Energy committee, I will ask that my name be attached to S. 1281.” “The second bill affecting the western part of Wyoming deals with a very special area named the Wyoming Range. As a strong supporter of multiple use, I still believe there are areas of our state that are so sensitive that they must be protected from development.” “I will soon be introducing a bill in the Senate to protect the undeveloped areas of the Wyoming Range from any future oil and gas leasing. My legislation is intended to achieve that goal while respecting property rights that currently exist in the Wyoming Range.” “I am humbled to be given the opportunity and the responsibility to represent the people of Wyoming in the United States Senate,” Barrasso concluded. “I will continue to work with all people, regardless of party, on issues that are important to the people of Wyoming.”

Bridger-Teton hires new ranger for Jackson District

sarahhale — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:31:01 +0000

Ranger Dale Deiter will report to the Forest Oct. 15. Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton of the Bridger-Teton National Forest announced Tuesday that she has hired a new District Ranger for the Jackson Ranger District. Dale Deiter will report to the Forest on Oct. 15, 2007 to assume his new role as District Ranger. The Ranger position had been vacant since this summer. Deiter is familiar with the position as he was temporarily assigned to Jackson to fulfill the Ranger duties until a permanent selection could be made. The Jackson District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest includes 157 acres of forest land and 287,035 acres of wilderness areas. Additionally, Deiter will assist in managing more than 680-miles of trail and 320 special use permits on the District. Deiter comes to the Bridger-Teton from the Fishlake National Forest in Utah. While working in Fishlake he was the travel management plan team leader for several years. Deiter’s training is in hydrology and he served as the forest hydrologist on the Fishlake and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Deiter also worked as a pre-sale forester on the Idaho Panhandle. Deiter will move to Jackson with his wife, Siobhan and their children Aidan, Cailin and Conor. “We are very much looking forward to having Dale as part of our leadership team and leading the Jackson District,” said Hamilton. “He will be a wonderful asset to the Bridger-Teton.”

Week 3 Wyoming 4A predictions from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:40:35 +0000

Well, certainly things have been better for the Braves than they currently sit, but here are some positives from last week. One - The defense gave up 25 points and just 195 yards to an explosive team that had SIX count 'em, SIX posessions inside the Star Valley 45 yard line in the second half alone. Two - This isn't a team that's shown us their best, not by a long shot. In fact, they would probably argue they haven't put together four good quarters yet. This week's matchup in Cody is a big indicator. Three - The potential for an offensive awakening is definitely there. One can't get away with using the word potential in October. In the middle of September, yeah, we can use it. It's a vital week for most teams in Wyoming 4A football, huge conference games in the West will go a long way towards determining the season's outcome for a lot of schools. In the East, Torrington's air attack will see if it can penetrate Wheatland's defense. Jackson Broncs (2-0) @ Powell Panthers (2-0) - This is the game of the week. The defending champs get to play their first home game of the season, and it will be against a Jackson squad that looks very disciplined and agressive. Powell will likely try and use their strong passing game which has looked pretty good. The issue I see with this game is that Jackson's secondary is also their group of receivers so any errant passes may be picked off. I may regret it, but here it goes. Llama says - Broncs - 27-21. Worland (2-0) @ Lander (0-2) - This is another game that will draw a lot of interest from the Western Conference. Can Worland's running game get going against Lander? Is Lander's strong showing against Cody a fluke? Are the Tigers ready to end their losing streak which now stands at eleven? I think the Warriors get on the board early, boosting them to a close win. Llama says - Warriors - 18-14. Glenrock (2-0) @ Buffalo (2-0) - The Bison are flat out tough at home, that's what is going for the Buffalo faithful this week. Add to that a strong running game, and I feel the 4A squad can take a few possessions away from the Herders over the course of the game. The Bison win, but it's going to be a battle in my opinion. Llama says - Bison - 24-21. Douglas (1-1) @ Chadron, NE - Chadron trounced Torrington to open the season, and should be a very tough test for the Bearcats. At this point, Douglas has shown to be pretty strong, with some work to do defensively. That being said, I think this is a shootout won by the visitors. Llama says - Bearcats - 34-31. Rawlins (0-2) @ Laramie (1-1) - It's been up and down for the Plainsmen so far. They dropped 30+ to win their opener, only to get blasted by Sheridan 33-0 in week two. The Outlaws haven't shown they can score many points over the last two seasons and so far this year, so I really don't have choice. Llama says - Plainsmen - 24-0. Torrington (0-2) @ Wheatland (1-1) - I suspect this will be a fun game to watch. The Blazers have the potential for offense, while the Bulldogs look to have a pretty good defense. The rub will be when the opposing units are on the field. I think this is the week that a sluggish Wheatland offense scores a few touchdowns. Llama says - Bulldogs - 21-7. Well, there you have it. If you're wondering why the Braves aren't in this particular section, it's because I realize I can't pick them objectively. If you really need to know, then I think they're going to win every week. How about Star Valley over Cody, 21-17. Feel free to leave comments if you agree, disagree or wonder what type of medication I'm on. Please remember that personal attacks against anyone by name will not be tolerated or posted. Keep the gloves up and keep it clean.

Afton discusses annexation of subdivision

sarahhale — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:58:10 +0000

Public hearing on the issue held Tuesday, Sept. 11 Everywhere in Star Valley, it seems, growth is taking place. For the Afton Town Council, that growth presents some difficult questions. This week at the regular town council meeting the town discussed the possibility of incorporating the proposed Bruce Davis subdivision. The subdivision is located near the Lincoln County Fairgrounds and has been “in the works” for over a year. The town has been working with developers Bruce and Betty Davis, as well as Lincoln County to map the progress of the project. “This subdivision caught the town’s attention for several reason,” Mayor Alan Stauffer told council members Tuesday. “One reason was the the subdivision called for a water treatment plant. That plant would be built in an area where the Town of Afton would like to have a water treatment plant in the future.” According to Mayor Stauffer, the county and town have been working together to make sure that land is set aside for an Afton water treatment plant. The county made it very clear that two treatment plants in the same area would not be an option. An additional reason the Davis subdivision concerned the Town of Afton was the fact that there was a possibility that the homes in that area would be on enhanced septic tanks. “We just didn’t like the idea of having 130 septic tanks right on our borders,” said Mayor Stauffer. The Davis’ have been working with the Town of Afton to resolve the issues of the water treatment plant and septic tanks for several months. For both the Davis’ and the Town of Afton, annexation seemed to be the answer. At the public hearing on Tuesday, the Town of Afton made the decision to move forward with the annexation process. The next step in the process is to create an annexation ordinance. That ordinance must pass three readings before it can be adopted. The public hearing was scheduled to determine if residents of Afton wanted the town to move in that direction. At any point during the ordinance reading process, the Town of Afton can make the decision not to annex the property. “What we are looking at is whether or not we want to be able to have some say in the development of that property,” said Town Administrator Jim Sanderson. “Is it better to have a say from the beginning and make sure the project meets the kind of standards we would like to see? Or, is is better for us to let the development go in and in a few years deal with the issue as we continue to grow?” Those are the types of questions town council members and the developers of the property will be answering over the next several weeks.

Council discusses importance of census

sarahhale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:44 +0000

Next U.S. Census will take place in 2010. Star Valley Ranch Town Councilman Kent Harker gave an informational presentation about the upcoming census at the regular council meeting Tuesday evening. Harker reported on a census conference he recently attended in Casper. “I attended the 2010 U.S. Census kick-off in Casper on Aug. 29,” Harker said. “We were told about the methods that will be used in preparation for the census and what each city, town and county will be expected to provide to the census in the way of local information.” According to Harker, census numbers are very important for a lot of reasons - primarily financial ones. “The amount of federal funds the state could lose is between $100 and $500 per person not counted by the census,” Harker said. “Using the data from 2006, on average municipalities in Wyoming could lose $715 and counties could lose $656 in tax revenue annually for each person not counted by the census.” In order to provide good information to the Census Bureau, will be looking to update local addresses so that the most current contact information is available to use for the upcoming census. “You might think 2010 is a ways away,” said Harker. “But let me tell you that it is right around the corner.”

Town gets behind Fire Wise efforts

sarahhale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:03:03 +0000

Council votes to support residents by picking up Fire Wise debris. Terri Potter, Alpine Fire Chief and a member of the Wyoming State Forestry Division, met with the Star Valley Ranch Town Council on Tuesday evening. She discussed how the Fire Wise program was moving forward in the town. “We have had a good response with the program,” Potter said. “So far about 30 people have signed up.” According to Potter, through the Fire Wise program residents can get funds to assist, educate and finance Fire Wise landscaping choices. The program operates on a 65 percent to 35 percent scale. “What that means is that for every $100 you spend you are going to get $65 back,” said Potter. “There is no cost for me to come out and look at your property and see what can be done. I will make recommendations of things you can do to make your property safer.” The Fire Wise program deals with creating “defensible space” around homes. The defensible space gives firefighters a better chance at saving homes should a fire occur. Such space also makes fighting fire safer for response crews. “A lot of people think that we are going to ask them to cut down all of their trees,” said Potter. “That isn’t the case. There are lots of things homeowners can do. Sometimes we do have to cut down trees, but there are many others things that can be done as well.” According to Mayor Boyd Siddoway, the Town of Star Valley Ranch wants its residents to know that the town supports the Fire Wise program. “This is something that you as individuals have to decide that you want to do,” said Mayor Siddoway. “But we do want people to know that we support this.” The town council agreed to haul Fire Wise debris away at no cost to homeowners if homeowners are under contract with the Fire Wise program. Homeowners who wish to take advantage of the town’s decision are asked to notify the town prior to stacking yard debris so the town can determine how best to pick the debris up.

Greys River District working to preserve public access while protecting resources

sarahhale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:06:36 +0000

Two special orders signed by Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton. Public access to the national forest is becoming more and more of an issue in Lincoln County. The decrease in access is the result of many factors, including an increase in the number of people buying land adjacent to the national forest, and irresponsible forest use by some residents. The Greys River Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest are taking steps to protect resources while still providing for public access into two popular Forest areas. Recently Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton signed two Special Orders. Those special orders modified the use of the Spring Creek Road and trail, and Spruce Hollow Road. The Greys River Ranger District temporarily closed 4.5 miles of the Spring Creek trail last year in order to repair damage that had been done to the area. Repeated motorized use of the trail in wet and soggy conditions had caused significant erosion. As a consequence of that erosion, the water quality in the adjacent stream had been compromised. Forest visitors complained frequently about the poor condition and unsafe state of the trail before the area was closed for repair. This season, the Greys River Ranger District, in conjunction with the Wyoming State Trails Program, has repaired and reopened the lower two miles of the trail. The trail begins about 47-miles up the Greys River Road. Greys River District Ranger Jay Dunbar will be opening the newly rehabilitated section of trail to both motorcycles and ATV’s. At the end of that section, a new parking area and installed fencing will help control motorized use on the portion of the trail that has not been restored. The section of the trail that has not been rehabilitated yet, will remain closed to motorized use. “We have installed signs at the new closure beginning just below the second creek crossing,” said Dunbar. “That crossing continues to pose a safety hazard and resource concern as a series of springs and seeps have been seriously impacted by previous motorized use.” The Greys River Ranger District is still investigating appropriate methods for rehabilitating that section of the trail. “We hope this year’s work will allow for motorized users to safely access the backcountry on the bottom section of the Spring Creek trail for fishing and hunting opportunities,” Dunbar said. The Spring Creek Road run along the ridge just south of the trail and Spring Creek Drainage. Since the last travel plan was developed in 1991, the road has been managed with a seasonal closure from Sept. 10 through July 1. During the trail rehabilitation work, the Greys River Ranger District opted to leave that road open to motorized use throughout the year. The second special order applies to the Spruce Hollow Road (also known Forest Service Road 10862) near Grover Park. Spruce Hollow Road is currently closed to vehicles greater than 50-inches wide. Limiting the size of vehicles allowed to use the road will hopefully cut down on the erosion and damage in the area. The Greys River Ranger District has placed boulders at the road's junction with the Grover Park road to prevent wider vehicles from accessing the area. According to information provided by the Forest Service, ATV's and motorcycles will still be allowed to use the route for their recreational and hunting purposes. According to the Forest Service, forest visitors who have utilized the Spruce Hollow Road area for many years “have expressed concern to the District about the recent degradation of the roadway.” “The majority of this damage is caused by full-sized vehicles,” said Dunbar. “This road closure for full-size vehicles is an effective way of mitigating hazards to users, as well as mitigating damage to the road and resources.” The road closure will allow for Greys River Ranger District planners to determine how best to fix the problems in the area. Alternative routes in the area can be located by using the Visitor Travel Map or looking for green arrows marking the route junctions along the Grover Park Road. For more information on these trails and roads or the plans for rehabilitating these areas, contact Sid Smith at 886-5300.

Results are in, local schools doing well

newsrelease — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:10:10 +0000

Students exceed expectation, again. Every year much preparation and effort goes into preparing students across the state of Wyoming to take the PAWS standardized tests. PAWS stands for Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students and the tests are given to students in third, fourth, fifth sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh grades, as is required by the Wyoming Legislature and the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The PAWS tests measure students achievement and academic knowledge in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics and checks those results against statewide standards in those areas. The PAWS test questions are multiple choice, constructed-response and extended response questions. Results are given by performance level. A student tests either Below Basic, Basic, Proficient or Advanced in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. The goal for all Wyoming students, as determined by the Wyoming Department of Education, is to be at the Proficient level of above in all areas. As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools must ensure that all of their students are proficient or above in reading and mathematics by 2014, and PAWS test results are used to determine if students are proficient or not. PAWS scores are also used to measure a school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), in achieving the goal of having all students reach the proficient level. Schools in Wyoming are required to meet three federally set criteria in relation to AYP. All schools must have a participation rate of 95 percent or higher for PAWS testing. All schools must show a reduction in the percent of students scoring at the Basic level on the PAWS tests at the elementary through junior high grades and must show an increase in the graduation rate for high schools, and all schools must meet federally set goals of proficiency on the PAWS tests. Schools with students in elementary through junior high grades are required to reduce the percentage of students who score at the novice level, or they must have below 15 percent of their students in the Basic category. High schools are required to either increase their graduation rate or maintain a rate that is 80 percent or above. In Wyoming, to be compliant with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools must meet specific targets of students proficient and above. For the 2006-2007 school year, elementary school schools were required to have 36.5 percent of students proficient or above in math and 42 percent in language arts, middle and junior high schools were required to have 37.75 percent of students proficient or above in math and 45.42 percent in math, and high schools were required to have 46.5 percent of eleventh graders proficient or above in math and 57 percent in language arts. The results for Lincoln County School District No. 2 on the 2006-2007 PAWS test results show that Adequate Yearly Progress was achieved district-wide, and that progress is being made in several areas. According to LCSD No. 2 Director of Instruction, Mark Taylor, the standout scores in these results are the schools and grades that had 100 percent of students Proficient of Advanced. "I did not even know that it was possible to have 100 percent of students be Proficient or Advanced," Taylor said. In the third grade test results, 100 percent of Afton students and 100 percent of Holdaway students were Proficient or Advanced in math, and Cokeville had an impressive 94 percent. In the third grade, all students were above the state average in all areas, with writing being the lowest score at 65.9, 58.8 and 74.7 at Afton, Cokeville and Holdaway respectively. Cokeville had 100 percent of fourth grade students test Proficient of Advanced in math and in reading, and Metcalf and Osmond also did very well with scores of 92 percent and 94.9 percent in math and scores of 78.2 percent and 89.8 percent in reading. The district average for students Proficient or Advanced in writing in the fourth grade was 83 percent. Fifth grade scores showed significant increases in writing scores at Metcalf and Osmond with 79 percent and 81.3 percent of students Proficient or Advanced. Metcalf had an exceptional math score of 90.1 percent. Sixth grade students had well above average results in reading at all three schools, with scores of over 90, 85.5 and 93.5 percent at Cokeville, Metcalf and Osmond. All three of Osmond's scores were above 92 percent, and the district average in writing was 21 percentage points above the state average, at 86.8. The seventh grade results showed significant increases in writing scores at both schools, and a district average of almost 80 percent in all three areas. Eighth grade students had noteworthy writing scores, with 89.5 percent of Cokeville students and 88.5% percent of SVMS students testing at Proficient or Above. In the eleventh grade, 100 percent of students at Cokeville High School were Proficient or Advanced in reading and in writing, and 90 percent were Proficient or Advanced in math. SVHS had results of 85.3, 90.7 and 70.7 in reading, writing and math respectively. When comparing the PAWS results of students in LCSD No. 2 with students across the state of Wyoming, CHS outscored all schools of a similar size in all three subject areas, and SVHS outscored all schools of a similar size in writing, and was third and fourth in reading and math. Looking at the progress from 2005 to 2006, writing scores have improved across the board, with the exception of Cokeville fifth graders, and many of the writing scores increased dramatically. Director of Instruction for LCSD No. 2, Mark Taylor, attributes the increases in writing scores largely to the work of Keather Pierantoni, who was hired by the district as an instructional facilitator and worked on reading and writing in the district schools. Pierantoni trained teachers, held workshops and provided other instruction to work on academic achievement in the areas of reading and writing in the district. Julie Erickson was hired to be an instructional facilitator for mathematics in Kindergarten through sixth grades and was valuable in boosting math scores in the district. Both Erickson and Pierantoni will continue to work in the schools this year as instructional facilitators. The PAWS test results from the 2006-2007 school year show that all grades have met the Adequate Yearly Progress federally required, and that overall district students are meeting and exceeding goals. Full scores and more details, about PAWS are available online at the Wyoming Department of Education webpage, www.k12.wy.us.

How much is out of classroom learning worth?

sarahhale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:13:11 +0000

State looks at new funding model for schools. Late last week the Wyoming Department of Education met to discuss a new funding model for schools within the state. The department is considering using the percentage of time a student spends in class as the basis for future funding. Currently districts are awarded funds from the State of Wyoming based on the number of full-time and part-time students who attend school. Under the proposed funding model, schools would be awarded funds based on the percentage of time a student is actually in the classroom. The way the new system would work is fairly straight forward. If a student spends 75 percent of a school day in the classroom, the district would receive 75 percent of the total funding available for that student from the state. Under the current system, any student that spends more than 50 percent of the day in the classroom is considered a full-time student. The district receives full funding for those students. The proposed change in the funding model would have a negative impact financially on Lincoln County School District No. 2. A large percentage of the students who attend high school within the district spend a portion of their day outside of the classroom. “This new funding model would have an impact on students who are involved in work release programs, concurrent enrollment classes, release time seminary as well as those students who have met the necessary requirements for graduation and only attend part of the school day,” said Superintendent Jon Abrams. “Potentially the loss in state funds could be anywhere from $100,000 to a couple hundred thousand dollars a year for this district.” In light of that impact, Superintendent Jon Abrams and Representative Dan Dockstader made a trip to Cheyenne last week to meet with the State Board of Education. “The Board of Education was very receptive to our concerns and wanted to know the impact this funding change would have on districts across the state,” said Abrams. “The impact will be different in every district. There is really no question that the funding model would negatively impact this district.” This week Lincoln County School District No. 2 has been crunching numbers. One of the questions the district was exploring was the cost of increasing the staff of SVHS. If the high school students now involved in out of classroom programs during the school day were in school 100 percent of the time, the district would have to increase the school’s staff. According to Abrams, the cost of doing that far exceeds the amount of state money that would be lost if the new funding model is adopted. “What it looks like right now is that the money we would spend in making the changes necessary to receive full state funding for each student will cost more than the money we would lose if we keep doing business as usual,” said Abrams. “I want to stress that this district is not looking at dropping any of the programs that will be impacted even if the state decides to move forward with this new funding model. If the decision is made to drop the programs at some point in the future, that is a decision that will come from the school board.” Abrams also stated that the proposed funding model is “a work in progress.” “There are a lot of questions yet to be answered,” said Abrams. “The State Board of Education is looking at those questions.” Abrams was confident that no matter what decision the state comes to regarding the new funding model, Lincoln County School District No. 2 would “make it work.” “It is important that people realize that this district will continue to do what is best for students and educators,” said Abrams. “We are proud of what our teachers and students are doing and we will continue to move forward with their best interests in mind.”

Morehouse killed in air show accident

dandockstader — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:28:10 +0000

Brad Morehouse, of Afton,Wyoming, was killed when his jet aircraft crashed and burned during the national championship air races in Reno, Nevada. The 48-year old pilot was involved in the accident just after two o' clock Nevada time, Thursday, Sept. 13. Media reports indicate that Morehouse's aircraft, involved in a lap race competition, was affected by turbulence. Morehouse has been involved extensively in the airport and golf course development in Afton over the past two years. The Star Valley Independent will post more information as it becomes available.

Broken-hearted Broncs: Braves notch thrilling 31-30 win in Cody

dahlerickson — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 09:54:41 +0000

It's hard to imagine an uglier half than the first two quarters for Star Valley in Cody Friday night. With a lost fumble, a botched punt attempt and over 100 yards in penalties, there wasn't much going right for the Crimson and Gold Star Valley trailed by as much as 18-0 in the first half, and 24-7 to begin the fourth quarter, before staging a furious rally to take a 31-24 lead with under two minutes remaining. The Broncs answered with a gutty effort of their own to score a final touchdown and close the gap to 31-30. However, with four previous PAT attempts coming up empty, Cody chose to go for two on a fake kick, only to have it snuffed out by Star Valley in the closing moments. The game of Jekyll and Hyde was a roller-coaster event, but the Braves will take the win nevetheless. Star Valley rolled up over 200 yards rushing in the second half alone in the victory. While special teams miscues cost Cody at least five points, Jordan Abrams was perfect, going four of four on PATs and also hitting on a 32-yard field goal. The Braves' signal caller also accounted for a rushing and a passing touchdown, while Kurtis Suloff returned an interception for a touchdown late in the fourth.

Aspirin and Defibrillator Pads: Week 3 Recap from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:24:50 +0000

Caution: Cheering for the Star Valley Braves may be hazardous to your health. It genuinely felt like a playoff game in Cody over the weekend, and regardless of any account of the game (including mine), it just won't do the effort justice. The Braves played like two completely different teams in the first and second halves, and I must say, I was very giddy about the second half team. I hope to see that one several more times this season. That being said, Star Valley wasn't the only team who made a statement over the weekend. The Jackson Broncs knocked off defending champion Powell on the road, putting them firmly in the front seat for a Western Conference title. In the East, Buffalo showed some toughness outlasting 3A Glenrock who may very well be hoisting the 3A trophy this season. One thing is certain for the Braves for the rest of the season. If they bring their second-half intensity, anything is possible. The Dahl E. Llama had a good weekend in terms of percentages, even if I am a little embarassed at mixing up some of my 4A East picks. So, in trade, I won't count my Star Valley prediction over Cody. So far in 2007, the Llama is 16-4 or (.800) in Class 4A Up next for the Braves is a rematch with Marsh Valley, who has defeated Star Valley in the last three years. Perhaps this is the time Coach Anderson and the Braves break the Idaho jinx. Star Valley has not defeated an Idaho school since 2002 (Bear Lake) Jackson def. Powell 14-6 (Correct) Worland def. Lander 21-6 (Correct) Buffalo def. Glenrock 14-6 (Correct) Laramie def. Rawlins 60-12 (Yikes, how about playing some sophs Plainsmen? Correct) What stood out? How about Jackson winning in a defensive battle on the road. Worland having to put away Lander in the fourth quarter, and Cody not converting a single PAT. Who says special teams can't affect the game? Another thing I noticed? At one point, the Broncs were 4/5 for 94 yards and a touchdown. For the next two and 3/4 quarters, the Braves held them to just 16 yards on 2/8 through the air. Sure the secondary gave up the last ditch touchdown, but they also stuffed the two-point conversion, not to mention the INT returned for the score from Kurtis Suloff, who was in on both plays. On the downer side, The Braves may be without standout Conner Hunsaker who went down at the end of a 38-yard run in Cody. I have faith in the pool of running backs, I just feel bad for any player who's worked as hard as he has and now is forced to watch. Hunsaker finished the game with 97 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, not to mention his defensive contributions. Here's to hoping he's a quick healer. Got a question? An opinion? Do you wonder what type of medication I'm taking? Be sure to let me know with the comment section.

Jet crash claims the life of Brad Morehouse

sarahhale — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:29:50 +0000

Veteran pilot died instantly. The Star Valley community was shocked and saddened at the news of Brad Morehouse’s death. Morehouse died last Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 in a jet crash near Reno. Morehouse was participating in the Reno National Championship Air Races at the time of his death. He was flying an L-39 Albatros aircraft, named “Dino Juice.” An L-39 Albatros is a high-performance training jet that was developed in Czechoslovakia. According to reports, Morehouse was killed instantly when his jet smashed into the ground and burst into flames. Morehouse’s accident resulted in the 17th death in the 44-year history of the Reno air races. Federal aviation authorities are investigating the crash. It is believed that “wake turbulence” is to blame for the accident. This is the second year that Morehouse participated in the air races. Funeral services for Bradley Daniel Morehouse, Sr., will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in the Afton LDS Tabernacle at 1 p.m. Visitations have been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the funeral services at the church.

Braves Cross-Country making noise halfway through season

dahlerickson — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:12:01 +0000

Trevor Ricks reminds me of another long-distance stud at Star Valley High School named Holbrook Call. I remember this particular runner so well because we graduated in the same year way back in the '94-95 school year, and since I was a thrower, I had time to watch him as he went round and round the track. I remember thinking that there was nobody who could outrun this guy, he simply worked too hard to be denied. He even got his name thrown into the SVHS Track annals with legendary Kevin Hyde, who was running four and a half minute miles before I was even born. A man ahead of his time in our little valley some have said. Now, some twelve years after seeing someone who used to run like he was deriving some sort of sick pleasure from it, I see another just like him in Trevor Ricks. Ricks has won all four event titles in the Cross Country season so far, none of them closer than 25 seconds. I don't say this to jinx the deal, but Ricks is the ace in the hole for Star Valley Cross-Country team. It's not like he's alone, Jason Livingston, Cody Brough, Josh Dustin and Lyle Dickey have all run some amazing times as well, and Tyler Skinner and a couple of others are shoring up the sixth and seventh spots. What does this mean? It means, if you've never had a chance to watch the Cross-Country team, it's likely you don't appreciate anything you've just read. I'm not up on a soap-box, because it's not like I'm driving to Douglas and such, but the team is worth the price of admission, and they don't even charge. Their next meet in Evanston on September 20, is definitely worth making the trip if you haven't seen them before. Guys like Hyde, Call and Ricks don't come along every day, but with what looks to be a strong Cross-Country program gaining steam every year, maybe the wait in between won't be quite as long.

Funeral Services for Wendell O' Keefe announced

dandockstader — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:02:11 +0000

Burial Services for Wendell O' Keefe have been scheduled for this Saturday, September 22. The services will take place beginning at 1 p.m. at the Afton L.D.S. Tabernacle. A viewing will be held on Friday, September 21, from 7-9 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. A viewing will also take place from 11:00-12:45 prior to the services beginning at 1 p.m.

Students “un-plug” for education

newsrelease — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:56:06 +0000

Students get wired. District looks at electronics policy As new forms of technology have become more and more present and commonplace in our society, how to handle these devices in the schools is becoming an issue for teachers and school administrators. Clearly teachers do not want cell phones ringing during class time, nor do they want students listening to music when they should be listening to a lesson. However, since cell phones and ipods are used daily by many students in the district, banning the items altogether is not the answer either. Beyond typical concerns regarding cell phone usage in school, newer cell phones, which allow users not only to make phone calls but also text messaging, taking pictures and internet access, bring further concerns and complications. Cell phones now are possible tools for cheating, pornography and taking inappropriate photographs. At the Lincoln County School District No. 2 board meeting held on Sept. 13, a new policy was approved on second reading regarding student use of electronic communication devices. The policy reads: “Students may possess and use cellular telephones, pagers, or other electronic communications devices, subject to the limitations of this and other policies of the District.” “Electronic communications device” is a device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor. Use of an electronic communications device shall be limited to the period before classes begin in the morning, during passing periods, during the student’s lunch period, and after the student’s last class in the afternoon. Such devices shall not be used during instructional time.” “Building principals may circulate rules to enforce this policy at the building level. Students violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the building administrator.” “Inappropriate use of an electronic device for downloading or sharing of pornography, cyber-bullying, taking of photos in the locker room, or other actions judged by the administration as inappropriate, may result in the confiscation of the device and banning of the use of any electronic device by that student for the remainder of their enrollment within Lincoln County School District No. 2.” “The above guidelines are minimum requirements for schools established by the district. School administrators in consultation with faculty, parents, and students may establish more guidelines, as needed for their schools.” While one board member wanted to ban all cell phones completely from the school, he was in the minority. Star Valley High School Principal Shannon Harris was one of the majority in favor of allowing some usage of cellphones and other devices by students at SVHS. "Kids today are growing up in different times than we did," Harris said. "Technology is a part of their daily life. If we can encourage students to use technology appropriately and responsibly, then it is a win-win situation." While this district-wide policy will be new once adopted, it will not have a direct impact on Star Valley Middle School and Star Valley High School students, as both SVMS and SVHS already have policies regarding the use of electronic devices in place. Here is a look at what electronic devices can and can't be used, at what times and under what conditions at SVMS and SVHS. Star Valley High School students are only allowed to use cell phones at school before and after school or during passing periods or lunch time. Cell phones and other similar electronic devices cannot be used in any classrooms, locker rooms, restrooms, the auditorium or any instructional setting at any time at Star Valley High School. If a students is found to have a cell phone when they should not, for a first time offense, the consequence is that the phone is confiscated and the student can pick up the phone at the end of the day, after signing a contact acknowledging the school's cell phone use policy and the consequences for subsequent offenses. After a second offense, the phone is confiscated and a parent has to come to the school to retrieve it, and the parent has to sign a contract acknowledging the school's cell phone use policy and the consequences for subsequent offenses. After a third offense, the phone will be confiscated and will be kept for 60 days, at which time it will be returned to a parent who comes to pick it up. There is no tolerance for pornography or similar offenses. These above guidelines and policies are in place in the SVHS policy handbook and they were discussed and decided upon with administrators, teachers and a parent advisory committee. Regarding the use of ipods and other similar devices, while the Star Valley High School handbook states that ipods are banned from classrooms. At the beginning of thid school year it was decided to change that policy. The use of ipods in a classroom is now left to the discretion of each teacher or instructor. Some situations in which a teacher may allow the use of ipods would be during an art class and at times when students are working independently in class. This change to SVHS policy will be reflected in the SVHS handbook next year. Star Valley Middle School students are required to have their cellphones turned off and in their locker during the school day, from as soon as they enter the school. If there is an emergency or urgent situation in which a student needs to use a cell phone, he or she can bring their phone to the office and ask for special permission to use it there in the office. If a cell phone is seen or heard being used at any other time or place at SVMS, the phone will be taken away and a parent will have to go to SVMS to retrieve the phone. IPODs, Gameboys and other similar electronics are not allowed to be used in school at any time. Those items are however permitted (at the discretion of the teacher or supervisor) on field trips and on school buses.

Mayor appoints special municipal officers

sarahhale — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:59:21 +0000

Yolanda Naverretta and Warren Webb appointed. Passing town ordinances without having an effective way to enforce them is a interesting problem. But, it is a problem that the Town of Star Valley Ranch will not have to deal with any more. Yolanda Naverretta and Warren Webb were appointed as special municipal officers for the Town of Star Valley Ranch at the Tuesday, Sept. 11 council meeting. The two officers will have authority to issue citations for town ordinance violations. They cannot make arrests or enforce traffic violations. “During the last legislative session Wyoming created legislation that allowed towns in the state to have special municipal officers if they chose to,” said Mayor Siddoway. “They are not police officers, but they can enforce municipal ordinances.” According to Siddoway, one of the special municipal officers will be a “patrolling officer who is out looking for violations.” The other officer will not patrol. “I think we will have fairly good coverage within the town with these two officers,” said Siddoway. According to state law, the position of “special municipal officer” is a mayor appointed position. The officers also serve at the discretion of the mayor.

Town saddened by Morehouse’s death, community projects to continue

dandockstader — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:01:10 +0000

Afton community residents and town officials were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Brad Morehouse Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13. Word spread quickly throughout the small community where Morehouse’s influence has been felt over the last two years as he helped move plans forward with the expansion of the municipal golf course and local airport. Afton Mayor Alan Stauffer commended Morehouse for his contributions to the community. “Brad Morehouse was a remarkable man, extraordinary citizen, and good friend to the Town of Afton,” said Mayor Stauffer. “Because of Brad’s generosity and vision, Afton has been put “on the map.” The mayor continued, “The town is grateful for his generous donation of the new golf course and Brad donated the land for the east-west taxiway to the Afton/Lincoln County Joint Powers Board.” The mayor said Morehouse was always thinking of creating more employment opportunities. “He had plans to help the town develop more full-time jobs and bring substantial business to Afton,” said Stauffer. The mayor said Morehouse’s work will be remembered and honored. “The town plans to construct an appropriate memorial in honor of his memory on the new golf course,” he said. Stauffer concluded that the projects started by Morehouse will continue and be completed in Afton. The Town is confident that the unfinished work at the golf course will be completed and the course will be a wonderful asset to our community.”

Pivotal Week 4 Predictions from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:02:43 +0000

This is a "Show Me" week in Wyoming 4A and conference titles may be ultimately decided by Friday's outcomes. The Braves stopped a four game losing streak which dated back to last season, and with over 200 yards on the ground in the second half, the teams remaining on the Star Valley schedule may want to take note. In doing some quick math, the offensive line members who did this, average 227 pounds. Does that in itself guarantee success? Certainly not. But if this crew decides, much like they did in the second half in Cody, that they want to impose their will, they will be a load to stop. Week 4 Forecasts from the Dahl E. Llama: Last Week: (4-0) YTD: (16-4)(.800) Cody Broncs (1-2) @ Sheridan Broncs (2-1) - Cody is one of those teams that other squads may start overlooking because of a couple of close losses. An overtime defeat to Hardin, Mont., and a one-point stomach punch by the Braves hardly equates to a panic session. That being said, Sheridan has looked mighty tough in Don Julian's first year returning to the sidelines, and the real question may eventually be: Will Cody be able to bounce back mentally if they fall to 1-3? I think Sheridan wins this game on their home turf and we find out. Llama says - (Sheridan) Broncs - 27-14. Lander Tigers (0-3) @ Jackson Broncs (3-0) - Despite a winless record and a twelve game losing streak, the Tigers are not the pushovers they were a year ago on the scoreboard. This is a squad that defensively has held their own with Worland and Cody, at least for a half. If the Tiger offense can give their tired defense a rest, they are capable I believe. Jackson on the other hand, showed they know how to win an ugly, defensive battle, and they will have the target on their backs until proven otherwise. Being the top team isn't always what it's cracked up to be, especially in week four. This could wind up being a trap game with Lander, but with a team-starved crowd on hand in Jackson after two weeks on the road, the Broncs should pull this off readily if they're focused. Llama says - Broncs - 29-7. Worland Warriors (3-0) @ Powell Panthers (2-1) - Will the real Warriors please stand up? That's the whole premise of this game in my opinion. With a perceived weak schedule in the first three weeks, just like the last two seasons, Worland has a chance to really make a statement with a win in Powell. The Panthers meanwhile, shouldn't be feeling bad, after all, they were within one score last week, and they get to sleep in their own beds this week. I look for a tough game for the first half before Powell protects the home field. Llama says - Panthers - 24-14. Douglas Bearcats (1-2) @ Buffalo Bison (3-0) - After looking mighty slick in week one, the bandwagon is probably about empty for the Bearcats as they head into the Bison Bowl. Douglas was shutout last week, and with a run-oriented squad on their home field this week to contend with, the 'Cats need to figure out something fast. The problem to me is this: When a team with a strong running game like Buffalo, meets a team with a strong passing game like Douglas, I always feel like the running team has the advantage. As Coach Darrell Royal said in his days at Texas, "Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad." Take away the extra possessions from the passing team, and you get my drift. Look for the Bison running game to control the tempo of this game. Llama says - Bison - 29-17. Pinedale Wranglers (1-2) @ Rawlins Outlaws (0-3) - Yet another new coaching staff is finding out exactly how hard it's been lately to get a winning team in Carbon County. Defensively, I feel like these two teams are pretty close, but Pinedale has shown an ability to at least put the ball in the endzone. I like the Wranglers in a close, low-scoring affair. Llama says - Wranglers - 13-7 Torrington Trailblazers (0-3) @ Wheatland Bulldogs (2-1) - Wheatland has a chance to really put themselves in the #2 spot in the East with a win this weekend, and I think their defense has the ability to do it. Austin Wisroth is a good passer, but any team that cant run the ball effectively when they need to, whether they be in high school, college or the pros, is likely to struggle in the red zone. Look for Wheatland to perhaps give up a big play or two, but they win this one handily. Llama says - Bulldogs - 22-7. The Braves travel out of state to Idaho to take on the wedge-blocking team from Marsh Valley. Star Valley, once the scourge of the potato-pickers, is looking to break a drought from our neighbors to the West, having not won a ball game with an Idaho squad since 2002. I think this is the week the Braves get it done on the road in Armino, Idaho. Llama says - Braves - 24-14. Well, there you have it. If you have your own opinions or thoughts, let us know with the comment section.

Marsh-ed Again: Braves lose, 28-12

dahlerickson — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:32:46 +0000

Much like an expertly orchestrated rugby scrum, the Marsh Valley Eagles ran over the Braves for the fourth straight time in the short series history between the two schools. Sophomore Nathan Johnson rushed for 188 yards to lead the Eagles to their homecoming win over the visiting Star Valley Braves, and they did so in impressive fashion. Rolling up over 450 yards rushing, unofficially, Marsh Valley dominated the ground game and the time of possession in their victory, moving to 3-1 on the season. The Braves had their moments, but struggled to get the potent Eagles off the field on third and fourth down situations. Senior Jordan Abrams compiled 150 yards individually, including a 65-yard touchdown scamper to draw Star Valley close, 8-6. However, the tempo of the match up was controlled by the home team who won in front of a very sparse home crowd. Kurtis Suloff scored for the second straight week, this time on an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The road-weary Braves return home next Friday for the first of three straight home games, as they host the Lander Tigers during Star Valley's Homecoming festivities.

Braves' Stibor in the lead after Day 1 in 4A State Golf Championship

dahlerickson — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:59:31 +0000

Star Valley's Charlie Stibor holds a one stroke lead over two other players after shooting an opening day 74 on Cedar Creek Golf Course Friday. Cheyenne Central leads the pack for the boys' scores after day one, carding an impressive 312 at the end of the day. Star Valley sits fifth with a 341. Other scores for the Braves included a 90 for Allen Simpson, a 92 for both Skyler Heiner and Chantry Hansen and a 93 for sophomore Marshall Mendenhall. The Lady Braves will be looking to make up some ground in day two on their home course, sitting in eighth place after the initial round. The ladies of Campbell County (Gillette) lead the way after day one, with a scorching team round of 276. Kelsey Pamalzy of Green River leads the individual scores with a opening day 85. Shanae Jackson led the way for the Lady Braves, finishing with a 106, while Kelsea Gardner recovered from a tough opening nine to card a 116. 107 golfers from across the Cowboy State will work to beat some impending weather patterns on Saturday, as the officials and coaches have opted for a 9 a.m. "shotgun" start.

4A Teams say a lot with their play in week 4

dahlerickson — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:06:38 +0000

Well, I said it was a "Show Me" week in Class 4A and a few teams did exactly that. Who stood out? How about the Worland Warriors for starters. I'll admit I've been one that has bagged on the Worland schedule the last two years, and I've looked pretty good after they lost their remaining six games. This year? How about a 23-6 spanking of Powell on the Panthers' own field. Worland is 4-0, and with this win, must be considered a contender for the West title along with my next standout, the Jackson Broncs. This isn't the Broncs team that teams have gotten used to, this one is focused and tough. Are they head and shoulders above everybody else? Not really, but their grittiness is their biggest strength and it's definitely a great trait to have come November. Winning games like this week in a big way, as expected, shows that Jackson has bigger fish to fry. Another stand out to me was Cody in a loss. The Broncs lost by just two points in another heart-breaker, this time on the road to a resurgent Sheridan team. Buffalo is once again running basically unopposed in the East with a 40-6 clobbering of Douglas, while Wheatland looks like they are clearly the number two team on that half of the Cowboy state with a 21-0 victory over hapless Torrington. As for the Llama, I really only botched one game, that being Worland and Powell. I thought this would be the score, but I got the teams backwards. Congrats to the Warriors and here's a hearty GOOD LUCK to the Braves who get to play at home for the next three weeks, beginning with this year's Homecoming game against the Lander Tigers. It's at points such as these we find out who the real fans are. Break out your school colors and paint up your windows because Star Valley can't take anything for granted this weekend. The Dahl E. Llama predictions for Week 4: (4-3) YTD: 20-7 (.740) Sheridan def. Cody 17-15 (Correct) Jackson def. Lander 34-0 (Correct) Worland def. Powell 23-6 (Wrong) Buffalo def. Douglas 40-6 (Correct) Rawlins def. Pinedale 20-12 (Wrong, NOW the Outlaws end their streak) Wheatland def. Torrington 21-0 (Correct) Marsh Valley def. Star Valley 28-12 (Wrong) So, there you have it, after four weeks of Wyoming 4A Football, here's my top five teams. 1- Jackson 2- Buffalo 3- Worland 4- Wheatland 5- Cody * Why Cody? Because the Bronc have lost three games by a combined 11 points, including an overtime game. If this team manages to salvage any confidence at some point this season, other teams should beware.

Emergency management plans training exercise

sarahhale — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:38:55 +0000

Training will bring first responders in the area to the high school. Wednesday, Oct. 3, a mock disaster will strike Star Valley High School. The incident will result in victims that need medical help as well as students and staff that need to be evacuated to a safe zone. A communications and command center will be established. First responders from a variety of different organizations will put their training to the test. “What we have planned is a full scale emergency response exercise,” said Steve Malik, exercise design coordinator. “We want to see how well the emergency plans we have in place are, and see what improvements need to be made.” The high school was selected as a training location for a variety of reasons. In the case of a disaster, getting children to safety is a high priority for parents, school officials and first responders. The school is also one of the biggest buildings in Star Valley and its intricate hallway system and the number of people in the building provide unique challenges when it comes to evacuation. “Basically, we figure that if our emergency plan for the high school works then we are in good shape,” said Malik. “It is an excellent training area and we like working with the school district.” The training exercise will have a law enforcement element as well as fire victims. Students and staff will be evacuated to the middle school. A sweep of the building will be done to make sure that everyone is out. “We anticipate that the training exercise will last about two hours,” said Malik. “We will start at 9 a.m.” The training is under the direction of Lincoln County Emergency Management. For more information on the Oct. 3 training exercise, contact Steve Malik at 885-3626.

Art Harvest planned for Saturday, Sept. 29

sarahhale — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:41:25 +0000

The Star Valley Arts Council will host an Art Harvest at the Thayne Senior Center on Saturday, Sept. 29. The even will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and will feature a brunch, artist quick draw, pie auction and pie sale. The event menu will feature fruit and breakfast food items as well as juice and coffee. Community members are invited to come out and enjoy some good food while they watch local and regional artists work. Artists who choose to take part in the event will have a “quick draw” from 10-11 a.m. The artists will work in the medium that they choose and create what they wish. The project must be completed within one hour. At 11 a.m. the art pieces created with be auctioned off, along with some homemade, Carolyn Walton cream pies. The money raised by the event will go toward supporting the arts in Star Valley. Arts Council members are also working to make 80 homemade apple pies for the event. The apple pies will be “take and bake” and will be available for purchase for $13 each or two pies for $25. Children are welcome to attend and participate in a children’s art corner. Supplies will be provided by the art council. “We are supporting local artists through this promotion, and as a result, we're promoting the pursuit of arts for everyone in Star Valley,” said Arts Council President Leslie Shinaver. “Geographically, we're isolated from art walks and gallery showings in other communities, but Star Valley is home to talented artists creating with all kinds of mediums, and frankly, we'd like to see more residents engage in creative pursuits.” According to Shinaver, the Star Valley Art Guild and Arts Council are two organizations “that encourage individual development in the arts.” “Their members understand how much art can contribute to self and world understanding, as well as personal success and happiness,” said Shinaver. "Several art guild members will be participating the in the “quick draw.” The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Countdown to Homecoming begins at SVHS

newsrelease — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:57:49 +0000

One of the most exciting weeks of the year kicks off at Star Valley High School this week. September 24-28 will be homecoming week for the Braves, Lady Braves and all of their fans and supporters. The festivities will begin with the traditional dress-up days at Star Valley High School. Monday, Sept. 24 will be dress-up like a cowboy or indian day. Tuesday will be super hero day. Wednesday will be pirate day. Thursday will be oldies day. Friday will be red and gold day. All are invited to show their school spirit and participate in these fun dress-up days. On Thursday, Sept. 27, the pep rally will be held at Star Valley High School. The fun will start with the snake dance at 7:30 p.m. at SVHS. The bonfire and the traditional "burning of the dummy" will begin at 8 p.m. and powder puff football, which will feature the junior Lady Braves taking on the senior Lady Braves, will start at 8:30 p.m. Friday is the big day, and an assembly will officially start the action at 1 p.m. at SVHS, and all are invited to attend. The homecoming parade will start at 2:30 p.m. The parade route will begin at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds, will head south and will turn around and head north again at the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue. The Braves tailgate party will kick off following the parade in the SVHS parking lot, and the big homecoming football game, where the Braves will take on the Lander Tigers, will start at 4 p.m. The wrap up the homecoming activities, the homecoming dance will be held from 9 p.m. until midnight on Friday, Sept. 28. Go Braves!

Braves junior varsity holds off Lander in 28-22 home victory

dahlerickson — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:16:30 +0000

With just a few minutes remaining, it appeared the game was in the bag. Before it was over, the Braves had to practice the "knock it down" rule. The Braves junior varsity defeated the Lander JV in a game played Tuesday afternoon, 28-22, in a game that went down to the final play. The Tigers jumped out early as shifty quarterback, Garrett Irene found the endzone to put the Tigers up 6-0. The two-point conversion failed as the Braves went on the offensive. Chris Jenkins looked sharp as he found multiple targets and it was culminated by a Darin Taylor touchdown. The PAT was no good from Mark VanSlyke as the game was tied up at 6-6. Taylor, Jenkins and Jonathan Scherbel all contributed in big ways as the defense shut down the Tigers for much of the contest. Star Valley built a 20-6 on a gorgeous fade route from Jenkins to Scherbel before Lander began their rally. After a long sustained drive and a two-point conversion to draw them to within 20-14, the Braves seemingly put the game away on a long 50-yard touchdown run by Tayor to put them up 28-14. The exuberance was short-lived however, as Lander's Justin Artery left the field in his dust to draw the Tigers within six at 28-22. A hard onsides kick careened off the chest of a Braves player while Lander recovered. In the end, Irene had two nice attempts into the endzone but the Star Valley defense was up to the task and knocked them away to preserve the victory. The Braves junior varsity will play again this Thursday at 5 p.m. as they host the Shelley Russets. This game takes the place of the Rock Springs game previously published.

From Show Me to Showdown, it's the Week 5 4A football predictions

dahlerickson — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:58:53 +0000

Some vital matchups in the West and one showcase showdown between two undefeated teams should make for a cowbell ringing weekend. Have you ever had a great sandwich (the Dough Box comes to mind) and you sort of eat around the edges first? It's good, but you know you've got two or three great bites of nothing but the best parts of the meal. That's what is coming up for many teams this weekend. Tops on the list has to be the matchup between undefeated Worland and undefeated Buffalo. To be honest, I've had reservations about the schedules of both, but to their credit, they've taken care of business. This game will prove which one is ready to contend for the state title and which one will need a little more work. Another huge game is a battle between heated rivals in Park County as Cody travels to Powell to take on the defending champs. This is always a tough game, but this one has some huge seeding implications. As for the Braves, they will look to win their second game in three weeks as they host the Lander Tigers in a Homecoming clash. Look for the Braves to try and implement the power running game that had some trouble last week in Marsh Valley. Who's my Star Valley player to watch this week? Hmmm, I'm going to say Junior Kevin Brough, who should have some nice seams to run through on Friday afternoon. Pastrami Prognostications from the Dahl E. Llama (1-3) Cody @ (2-2) Powell - If I'm the Panthers, I'm pretty nervous about this game. Not only have they struggled offensively in their last two weeks, just 12 points and two losses, but Cody is a team that has shown some fortitude and are looking to break through. Their losses have come by one point, two points and overtime. I look for a fairly low-scoring affair, with the team that's able to run the ball in the red zone to come away with the win. I look for the Panther slide to continue. Llama says - Broncs - 20-14. (4-0) Jackson @ (2-2) Rock Springs - Don't let the two losses fool you, the Tigers dropped a three-point decision to Natrona and a 19-13 loss last week to undefeated Evanston. Jackson has been wading through the 4A landscape without too much drama, and I think this is the week where the road atmosphere will make a difference in the game. With the train rolling by the field and the wind blowing about 40 miles per hour, look for the Tigers to come away with a physical win. Llama says - Tigers - 24-16. (4-0) Buffalo @ (4-0) Worland - It's funny how a game can have huge interest and implications one week, while not having any two weeks before. Was anyone thinking two undefeated teams would be meeting this weekend in Worland? Maybe the Warrior faithful did, but not many others. Worland came away with an impressive win in Powell last week, perhaps exposing a team that is not quite as seasoned as people thought. Buffalo is moving along much like they were two years ago, and quite honestly have received little opposition in the Eastern Conference. I look for Buffalo to jump out early while Worland makes some defensive adjustments with Worland's rally coming up just short. Llama says - Bison 27-21. (3-1) Wheatland @ (1-3) Douglas - This game is the opposite of the game above. I was expecting a whale of a game, and now I'm wondering if Wheatland will walk away with this contest. The Bulldogs still aren't tearing it up on offense, but their defense should force a couple of turnovers to help them win this game by a couple of touchdowns. Llama says - Bulldogs - 21-7 (1-3) Rawlins @ (0-4) Torrington - The Outlaws outlasted 3A Pinedale last week, giving them their first win of the season. Rawlins is another team where I believe their defense is a bit ahead of their offense and should be able to slow down the Blazer passing attack. This one is frightfully close with the Outlaws taking home their second win. Llama says - Outlaws - 21-19 And now for the Braves who showed some tough moments in Marsh Valley but are still trying to put together four quarters in a game. I look for Star Valley to try and ram the ball down the throat of the Tigers this week, who allowed more than 400 yards rushing to Jackson a week ago. That being said, there is no reason not to expect a very tough game from Lander, who has been keeping the score a bit closer this year. The Tigers will be smelling a bit of blood in the water in Star Valley, so if the Braves can score early and hang onto the ball, it should dramatically swing the momentum. The Crimson and Gold will be anxious to play well in front of their home crowd and should pull out the win. History is on Star Valley's side, as they hold an all-time series advantage of 13-5 over the Tigers. In fact, Lander has only won in Afton once in history, that one coming in the 2000 season. Llama says - Braves - 28-13. Break out your letterman jacket and your hideous pep star pants ladies and gentlemen, the Braves need you this weekend at full force. Cowbells and Hardhats all around!

What danger lurks in your sleeping pattern?

sarahhale — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:12:36 +0000

How you sleep can have a drastic affect on your health. Over the past decade a lot of emphasis has been put on getting exercise and eating right. But, according to researchers if you're not sleeping right you are still putting your health a risk. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation not only affects a person’s ability to concentrate and be alert, loss of sleep can also increases an individual’s risk for diabetes and obesity. Sleep loss also impairs the body’s immune system. According to a 2003 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of Americans report frequent sleep problems. But in order to understand how to get better rest, it is important to first understand what scientists consider to be an adequate amount of sleep. Determining how much sleep your body needs is not, unfortunately, an exact science. Not even researchers are not in agreement on how much sleep is needed. What has been determined, however, is that the human body needs different amounts of sleep throughout a lifetime. What is also known is that sleep loss does accumulate over time. Studies have shown that a person who has consecutive days of too little sleep causes sleep loss symptoms to get worse and worse. The first signs of sleep loss include feeling tired, experiencing a lower level of mental and physical ability and headaches. But, those are not the worst results of not getting enough rest. Studies have shown that sleep loss has an very negative effect on the body’s ability to metabolize sugar. In one week of severe sleep deprivation, averaging about four hours of rest per night, tests showed that a healthy and fit person fell into a prediabetic state. That change came as a direct result of metabolism disruption. Sleep loss also affects the body’s stress hormones. For example, in a person who gets enough rest, stress hormone levels drop as evening approaches. This reduction allows the body to relax and prepare to sleep. However in an individual who is suffering from sleep loss, those hormone levels remain elevated. The immune system is also weakened by lack of sleep. According to researchers, the amount of antibody a body can build may be affected by as much as 50 percent in cases of chronic sleep loss. Over the next several weeks the Star Valley Independent will feature a news series about sleep. The articles will focus on what loss of sleep can do to the body, the side affects of using sleep aides, the many hazards associated with sleep deprivation and driving and how to achieve better sleep. [poll=5]

State historical society recognizes SV residents

sarahhale — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:16:36 +0000

The Wyoming State Historical Society honored Star Valley residents as recipients of awards presented at the Society’s 54th annual meeting held in Wheatland. Jeremy Wight of Bedford was recognized in the Publications Category for his book titled “The Jackson Hole Conspiracy.” The committee chose this book because it tells a story that “needed to be told about a little known incident in 1895 Wyoming. It is an important examination of the treatment of Indians and their land rights at the time.” Bronwyn Challis, a ninth grade student at SVHS, received second place in the Young Historian Awards category for an essay telling of the school bombing which occurred in Cokeville in 1986. Challis “gathered considerable research to help give an accurate account of the incident that continues to have an effect on the residents of the area,” said the committee. Individuals were nominated by the Star Valley Chapter of the Wyoming State Historical Society. Each year the Society recognizes citizens and groups statewide for their contributions to Wyoming’s history. For more information about the Wyoming State Historical Society and its programs call 307-322-4237 or visit www.wyshs.org.

County library system plans “big read” for residents

sarahhale — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:18:27 +0000

Wyoming is one of more than 100 communities to take part this fall in the Big Read, a program that encourages an entire community to read and discuss the same book. The book that has been chosen for reading and discussion is My Antonia written by Willa Cather. Lincoln County libraries join 12 other counties as participants in the Big Read. The event kicked off Monday, Sept. 17 with a limited number of copies of My Antonia at each of the five county libraries, Kemmerer, Cokeville, LaBarge, Afton and Thayne. Readers are now encouraged to “catch, read and release” the book, passing it along to other readers or returning copies to the library so they can be read by other people. Everyone who reads the book is invited to participate in a local book discussion group. The Star Valley and Thayne branch libraries will be hosting book discussions featuring My Antonia on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For further information, call the Afton library at 885-3158 or the Thayne library at 883-7323.

Powerpuff Girls: Seniors dominate annual game, 20-0

dahlerickson — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:43:00 +0000

It was fast-paced mayhem Thursday evening as the Class of 2008 took their second straight Powderpuff title in convincing fashion. Michonne Robertson returned a fumble 50 yards for a score and threw a pair of scores to Michelle Bowers and Carolee Saunders to put the game out of reach for the seniors, who displayed their trademark swagger all game long. Sierra Nicoll also contributed with several long runs for the victorious squad. The game was highlighted by several unique play calls from Head Coaches Kirsten Robbins and Remick Rappleye, not to mention several bone-jarring collisions in what was generally a friendly game of flag football. The game is part of several activities that surround the Homecoming festivities. The Braves look to defend the home field tomorrow afternoon against the Lander Tigers in a game beginning at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on KRSV and will also be available via streaming internet. Visit silverstar.com and look for the link or click here and then click "Listen" at the top of that page.

Home Sweet Home- Braves cage Tigers 29-12

dahlerickson — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:41:53 +0000

Rolling up over 340 yards on the ground, the Star Valley Braves defeated the Lander Tigers in a Homecoming romp, extending Lander's losing streak to 14 games. Things got out of hand early for the visitors as Zack Walker fell on a fumble on their second play from scrimmage. Logan Fitzgerald capitalized six plays later to give the Braves the early lead. Walker also collected a safety to put Star Vally up 9-0 in the early going, which set the tone for a strong Braves defensive output. Two defensive linemen, Lynk Nield and Zach Booth both collected interceptions as well. Jordan Abrams rolled up over 170 yards and a touchdown on the ground,while Kevin Brough also hit the century mark with 122 yards of his own. Brough scored his first touchdown of the season in the second half. The passing game was sharp and efficient as Abrams connected on seven of eight pass attempts for 71 yards, four of which went to Fitztgerald who compiled 47 yards. Abrams also connected on two field goals throughout the course of the game. Highlights for the Tigers included a tipped pass that was collected by tight end Matt Sabade who raced for 80 yards and a touchdown. Sabade finished the game with 108 yards through the air. Nick Knell also impressed the large Star Valley crowd as he connected on a 50-yard field goal. Be sure to click below for the highlights of the 2007 Homecoming Parade.

Soldiers coming home

sarahhale — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:47:34 +0000

1041st to arrive in Wyoming Oct. 3. This week the 146 members of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 1041st Engineering Company, will return. The 1041st has been deployed since July 2006. They are scheduled to arrive at the Rock Springs Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 3. According to information provided by the Wyoming Army National Guard, the soldiers will arrive in two charter aircraft. The first flight is scheduled to land at 10:35 a.m. Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal and Maj. Gen, Ed Wright will welcome the unit home. A brief welcome home ceremony will occur at the airport after all the Soldiers have landed. "We are very proud of our returning soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Wright, Wyoming’s Adjutant General. “Their sense of service before self exemplifies the entire Wyoming Army National Guard's commitment to defend and serve the nation and Wyoming.” The 1041st deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom, from Rock Springs, on July 7, 2006. They have spent the last 12 months in Iraq. According to information provided by the Wyoming Army National Guard, the 1041st was also the first Wyoming Army National Guard unit mobilized after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. At that time the unit deployed to Fort Polk, La., with the intent to further deploy to Iraq to perform bridging operations. The unit's equipment left Louisiana five months after mobilizing in January 2003, but the swift pace of the conflict in Iraq resulted in the unit's demobilization before going overseas. Formal awards ceremonies will be held for the unit in February. While in Iraq, the unit performed convoy security operations.

Week 5 Recap from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:24:45 +0000

I really do believe that in Class 4A, any team can line up and beat any other team. That being said, two teams have now distinguished themselves as the top dogs. Jackson and Buffalo have now cemented themselves as respective conference kings with impressive wins over quality opponents. What a great weekend in Wyoming 4A football. Not just a nice win from the Braves, but a triple-overtime thriller involving (who else?) Cody, a couple of surprises from some underdogs and the snow-capped mountains that surround the Five Points is one of the most picturesque places to watch a game in the Cowboy State. A note on that. I've had several people ask me, "What in blazes is the Five Points?" Well, technically, our football field has no name. It's not named after anyone, and the only other name I've heard used was Braves Field. While that's fine, it's not quite theatrical enough for me. So, in honor of the original Five Points, which was the scene of all the warfare in New York's gang conflicts, it only seems to fit. A star has five points, . . . . . get it? Well, It's not official, but I like it and it's not something mundane like, The Arena Auditorium. I love my Cowboys, but that's as original as The Classroom Building (Also a UW building name). Anyway, it was a rough week to predict games on the Llama, as I only managed to go 3-3. My hunch about Cody turned out to be right, but that was offset by Jackson's beatdown of Rock Springs (what happened to the Rock Springs mystique?) and Douglas shutting out Wheatland just when it appeared the Bulldogs had things rolling. So far this year, the Dahl E. Llama is 23-10 or (.700). My Outstanding Farmer Awards (For out standing in their field), first goes to Buffalo, who crushed home-town Worland, 25-0 in a battle of the unbeatens. With almost three guys hitting for 100 yards on the ground, it really didn't even seem that close. Cody finally got to win a barn-burner, converting on a tw0-point attempt in triple-overtime to knock off the Panthers, who now travel to Afton on a three game losing streak. Star Valley hasn't been kind to Powell, as the Braves hold an 11-2 series advantage on their home field. The last win in Afton? It was 1999. Another Outstanding Farmer Award goes to the Star Valley fans. Not only were the bleacher creatures out in full force, but the overflow filled two other smaller bleachers, and spilled out and around the entire South end of the field in a horseshoe effect. I love this! Bring your Hibachi, your lawn chair and your Carhardts folks, we need you and your cowbells back out in force this weekend as the Braves try to knock off the Panthers. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. Cody def. Powell 36-35 (3OT) (Correct) Jackson def. Rock Springs 26-0 (Wow, I caved on this one almost as bad as the New York Mets) Buffalo def. Worland 25-0 (Correct) Douglas def. Wheatland 12-0 (Wrong-o , Just when I thought the 'Dawg offense was moving) Torrington def. Rawlins 28-7 (Wrong Big Time, to be fair, It's not like either team had a lot of momentum coming into this game. Congrats to the Blazers,) There you have it, the lone winless team is the Lander Tigers, who's streak continues as 14 games. The final spots in this year's playoffs looks to be down to the final quarter. Have a disagreement, question or heaven forbid, even a compliment? Just let me know on my e-mail, svidahl@silverstar.com until our lawyers figure out this comment section thing.

Powell vs. Star Valley game moved up to 4 p.m.

dahlerickson — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:23:13 +0000

With October weather now looming and the Panthers making the long trip from Park County, Activities Director Jamie Holyoak, along with Powell High School, have make the agreement to move Friday's game from 5 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Arrival time changed for soldiers

sarahhale — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:41:54 +0000

Troops will arrive by bus. There has been a slight change of plans since initial schedules were released regarding the arrival of soldiers from the 1041st Engineering Company. The 146 members of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 1041st Engineer Company will arrive in Rock Springs at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The soldiers will arrive at the Rock Springs Armory via bus. This is a change from the originally scheduled time and location. The soldiers' families are being notified of the change. "Unforeseen circumstances required the Soldiers to divert to another location and to be bused into town," said Deidre Forster, Wyoming National Guard Public Affairs Officer. "We will still welcome them home tomorrow, just a few hours later than originally scheduled."

First Step - Lady Braves knock off Green River 3-1 in home match

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:28:14 +0000

The Lady Braves have been painfully close in several matches this season. Their lone home effort coming into Wednesday evening's contest was a three game loss to rival Evanston which ended a long home winning streak. As the Lady Wolves came to town, the Lady Braves vowed to start a new streak. The Lady Braves controlled the tempo from the early going, building a 6-1 lead in game one and maintaining a three point advantage en route to a game one 25-20 victory. An extremely scrappy Green River team came battling back, building a large game two lead, 21-14. Although Star Valley clawed their way to within three, the visiting team took game two, 20-25. Game three was an absolute slug-fest, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than two points. Leading 20-19, the Lady Braves were able to score five of the last six points to take game three, 25-20. Game four looked anything but pretty as Green River came out aggressive and confident, forcing many Star Valley errors as they built what seemed to be an insurmountable lead of 11-2. A well-timed pause in the action from Coach Brandy Taylor got the ladies back into the game as they scratched their way back to within two points, 13-11. As the two teams traded points, the Lady Braves discovered some newfound strength and took the lead, 18-17. The ladies were able to hold on, 25-22, to notch their first conference victory of the season. The win was sweet redemption after an error-plagued loss in Green River to these same Lady Wolves, a match that went a full five games. Star Valley looks to keep up the momentum as they host the top-ranked Natrona Fillies on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. The Star Valley Independent encourages fans to take in a full evening of SVHS athletics with the Braves hosting the Powell Panthers at 4 p.m. and the Lady Braves to follow in the gymnasium. Please check back often as pictures and video from the Lady Braves' victory over Green River is added to this story.

Star Valley part of the logjam in Week 6 Predictions (bring your cowbells!)

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:15:34 +0000

As Week 6 is now ready to commence, it seems there is a quite a circumstance of gridlock taking place in the West. Star Valley, Cody and Powell all are fighting to move up with the Braves and Panthers facing off on Friday. The winner of this game may have the inside track to a first round playoff home game, while the loser may have to consign themselves to a long road trip. The issue further complicated itself when Cody defeated the Panthers in barn-burner fashion, also putting the Broncs into the "two conference wins" catagory. In the playoffs, the top team from each conference will play the seven and eight seeds. The Dahl E. Llama is doing fairly well on the season, with hopes that the Braves continue to develop their potential and peak in the first round of the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, that means Douglas would travel to play Jackson in a rematch of last year's first round shootout, while Cody would go to Buffalo. Also if the playoffs were to start today, Powell would travel to Worland, while Star Valley would travel to Wheatland. How ironic would that be? There are no mileage factors this year, and beginning next year, no power ratings, just conference standings based on a cross-bracket. Apparently it took 20 years to realize that how things used to be done was just fine. Anyway, some doozies on paper include Jackson heading to Worland, Kelly Walsh going to Cody and of course the battle between Powell and Star Valley. (2-3) Kelly Walsh Trojans @ (2-3) Cody Broncs - Before I say anything, let me just say this game will be close. Cody is playing in it, therefore, it will be close. Also, the term Cardiac Cody? That was Patrick Schmidt of the Casper Star who came up with that one, a variation of the Cardiac Cards from the NFL. Anyway, Kelly Walsh isn't exactly tearing up the 5A ranks and these two teams have a common opponent in Sheridan. The Trojans played them on their own field while Cody had to go on the road. Each game was a two-point contest and Cody will have the three to four point advantage of the home game, so this game should go right down to the wire. With a smaller defensive line, the Broncs may find themselves wearing down towards the end of a game where the Trojans should be able to run the football. I look for a final drive and score from the visitors to put them over the top this week. Llama says - Trojans - 22-21. (5-0) Jackson Broncs @ (4-1) Worland Warriors - As with any team that hasn't lost a game, the Broncs have had much of the praise go to their offense, which is one of the best in Class 4A. A big reason for this is how they've played defensively, especially on the road. In away games in Star Valley, Powell and Rock Springs, the Broncs have given up a total of 13 points. Add to this that a win this week may effectively seal up the Western Conference for Jackson and there will be a motivated group of players for Coach Bill Wiley. Worland on the other hand, will be looking to rebound from a 25-0 smiting at the hands of Buffalo. Both Jackson and Buffalo have had much success this season in part of their adeptness in turnover margin. The Bison: + 18, the Broncs: + 9, the Warriors: + 3. I look for Jackson's defense to force three or four turnovers en route to a comfortable victory in Worland. Llama says - Broncs 27-6. (2-3) Douglas Bearcats @ (0-5) Lander Tigers - And then there was one. The Tigers are the lone winless squad left in 4A but, they know they have winnable games the last three weeks of the season. Douglas has been Jekyll and Hyde this season, most recently shutting out Wheatland, 12-0. The trouble with the Tigers is their non-existent running game, which only put up 33 yards in Afton last week. Both teams like to fling the pigskin, but Lander has not shown they can hold a team to less than two touchdowns, giving the edge to the visiting Bearcats and their defense. One never knows, the Tigers have the ability to ruin somone's season and could happen this week. Llama says - Bearcats - 13-7. (5-0) Buffalo Bison @ (1-4) Rawlins Outlaws - The nicest thing about this game for the Bison is that they will experience one of the finest football facilities in Wyoming High School football. The fact that they are expected to roll over the Outlaws might be nice as well. The simple facts are this: Buffalo has one of the best programs in 4A, their defense and running game are tailor-made to dismantle a team like Rawlins. Look for over 350 yards on the ground from the Bison as well as yet another East win. Llama says - Bison - 34-0. (1-4) Torrington Trailblazers @ (2-3) Newcastle Dogies - Well, the Blazers finally broke a losing streak dating back to a devastating blowout in Afton in the 2005 playoffs. Torrington did so on the strength of three touchdown passes. This week the Blazers go on the road to face one of the better pass defenses, statistically speaking, in Class 3A. I suppose I have to go with history here, and until the Blazers can win a couple in a row, I'm going with the numbers and the home team. Llama says - Dogies - 21-14. Well, now we come to an absolutely huge conference game between Powell and Star Valley, a game to be played at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon in Afton. Being good friends with a member of the Powell coaching staff, Star Valley is a place where the Panthers have felt snakebit in the last several years. Indeed, the numbers back that up. Powell has only scored 14 points in their last four meetings overall, and are just 2-11 in Afton since this series began in 1976. (A 16-7 SV win) That being said, the Braves are nursing several injuries on the season and will have to contend with what can be a very effective passing game with Michael Hildebrand and the Mills brothers. Star Valley will have to eliminate or limit the big play through the air to win this ball game, an issue that has had some consistency problems this season. Star Valley also must continue to win the turnover battle. In the the games the Braves have won this category, they are 2-0, including two of the last three games. Look for a couple of big interceptions from players like Kurtis Suloff and from a linebacker; either Matt Cazier or Michael Luthi to help set up an offense that is starting to roll. Llama says - Braves - 24-18. I encourage everyone to come out and fill the stands much like you have for the Jackson and Lander games, and for crying out loud BRING BACK THE COWBELLS AND USE THEM! [poll=6] Well, there you have it. If you have a disagreement, a differing opinion or just a comment, please let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com.

Reward offered in dog theft cases

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:53:57 +0000

Missing pet cases attract national attention. In late summer several people began reporting missing dogs or dog thefts in Star Valley. Those cases have now caught the attention of the Humane Society of the United States In fact, the HSUS has posted a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. “The crime of pet theft is familiar to Wyoming residents who remember the 2001 case in Goshen County when a Basset Hound named Dexter, was stolen from his caregiver’s home, tortured and burned,” said Dave Pauli, director of the HSUS Northern Rockies Regional Office. “The Humane Society of the United States is committed to ending cruelty towards pets.” The money for the reward will be taken from the HSUS Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund. “Our Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund is one way we can help local law enforcement and communities bring animal abusers to justice,” said Pauli. Since August, over nine Labradors have been taken from yards and vehicles in the Star Valley area. On Aug. 10, a Nebraska couple traveling through Lincoln County reported their five-month old Labrador, named Izzy, was stolen when they were dining in a restaurant. An employee of the restaurant witnessed a young man smash the window of their car, remove Izzy, and run away holding the puppy. According to Animal Humane Association of Star Valley, four yellow labs and three black labs have been taken from fenced yards. “My agency is concerned over these crimes. We care about the welfare of the missing animals and their owners who are now victims over the loss of their pets,” Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson said. “We encourage people to contact local law enforcement when their pet or animals are missing under suspicious circumstances.”

New report fans selenium debate flame

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:58:34 +0000

Hydrologist claims officials aware of the problem for decades. The selenium contamination debate continues with renewed force this week. The revival of the selenium discussion has come as the result of a report released by Edgar Imhoff, a retired federal hydrologist. In the report, Edgar indicated that selenium problems in the eastern Idaho mining region were known to exist as early as 1982. “It is simply illogical to accept the position that a major company, whose staff, consultants and university contracts had access to essentially all the scientific findings on selenium, was not aware of the high concentrations of elemental selenium in the ore to be mined,” said Imhoff in his report. “The claim of being unaware until 1997 of the toxic effects of selenium due to mining and primitive reclamation at the Smoky Canyon Mine and elsewhere in the southeast Idaho mining district does not wash.” In his report, Imhoff alluded to decades long government and mining industry cover-up of the selenium problem. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Caribou Clean Water Partnership have openly accused the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the mining industry of knowing “about the harmful effects of elevated selenium concentrations in the area for decades before the problem was made public.” The public became concerned about the toxic effects of selenium in 1996. when several horses were euthanized after being poisoned by selenium. The horses were grazing in a pasture downstream from the Maybe Canyon phosphate mine. That incident kicked off a firestorm of investigations regarding selenium contamination in eastern Idaho. According to Imhoff’s report, however, the problem was known long before the livestock died. “Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality identified potential selenium contamination at the Smoky Canyon Mine as a significant concern as early as 1982,” said Imhoff in his report. “By 1991, there was considerable information on selenium contamination specifically from the Smoky Canyon Mine - information that responsible officials either ignored or dismissed, imperiling the region’s water quality and its natural resources.” According to Rick Phillips, government and public affairs director for Smoky Canyon Mine, Imhoff’s cover-up conclusions as well as the accusations from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Caribou Clean Water Partnership have no factual basis. “Phosphate mining on public lands in Southeast Idaho has occurred only under the direction and approval of state, tribal, and federal agencies, including public comment and participation,” said Phillips. “The Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine was reviewed and approved by a federal environmental review process, requiring public access and comment on all environmental effects of the project, as well as the proposed mine plan.” Phillips said that in 1997, when it was determined that selenium was a source of ecological risk, Simplot “aggressively began investigating the sources and all possible ecological effects of selenium releases.” According to Phillips, all other phosphate companies did the same. “These investigations and studies were conducted under the direction, approval and review of federal and state agencies, and were open for public participation and comments,” Phillips said. “Work on addressing the major source of selenium at Smoky Canyon, the Pole Canyon area, will be completed this year.” Phillips went on to explain that future mining projects done at Simplot will utilize the best mining practices identified by the selenium investigation. “This includes technology where an impermeable barrier will be installed on top of rock overburden to reduce water infiltration,” said Phillips. “In addition, the rock layers of earth naturally containing elevated selenium will be carefully managed and placed back into the area from which they came. Extensive environmental monitoring and evaluations throughout the extraction process [will take place] to ensure these protections are working.” According to Lynn Ballard of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the accusations regarding federal agencies working “in collusion” with the phosphate industry” are not true. “We are not and have not been in collusion with the phosphate industry,” Ballard said. “We are not hiding any information regarding the effects of selenium in southeast Idaho. We were as surprised as anyone when, in 1996, horses became sick from selenium toxicity.” According to Ballard, while federal and state agencies identified a contamination potential from the waste shales of phosphate mining in the late 1970s, it was not anticipated to be a problem due to the “alkaline environment in Southeast Idaho.” “In 1983 Smoky Canyon implemented the most state-of-the-art water quality monitoring program at any southeast Idaho mine at that time,” said Ballard. “Although some monitoring data existed that indicated the presence of selenium and other potential contaminates prior to 1996, the agencies were not looking closely for impacts from selenium due to conclusions made in the programmatic phosphate Environmental Impact Statement and other documents which identified sediment as the primary concern. Impacts from selenium were first realized by the agencies in 1996 after diagnosis of selenosis in horses pastured adjacent to a historic phosphate mining site. The agencies focused their limited resources on full investigation of the extent and cause of selenium impacts only after that time.” According to Ballard, the federal agencies are addressing the impacts of selenium at the historic portion of the Smoky Canyon Mine site through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. They are also developing and implementing a new set of management practices at the active portions of the mine and other mine locations in and effort to prevent selenium contamination in the future. There are more than 25 phosphate mines in southeast Idaho. Selenium contamination has occurred in the upper Blackfoot River drainage and the western Salt River drainage. The selenium pollution has caused more than 500 documented livestock deaths and is also being blamed for the depleted native populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in some streams.

New signage being placed in Star Valley Ranch

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:01:01 +0000

New street signs are going up this week around town. The Town of Star Valley Ranch road crews are placing new street signs this week. The signs feature brown sign poles with brown sign blades and white street names. “We are using highly reflective, 10-year warranty signs and are placing the signs at every intersection in the Town of Star Valley Ranch,” said Mayor Boyd Siddoway. “The signs and sign posts are being placed in accordance with state regulations.” According to Siddoway, the design and color of the new signs was voted on by town residents. The brown sign blades make town road easily distinguishable from country road signs, which are green and white. And, the signs will help emergency personnel be able to better navigate the streets of Star Valley Ranch. “Town crews have started to put up the anchors for the signs this week and hope to complete the project before the snow flies,” said Mayor Siddoway. “There are 150 intersections in the Town of Star Valley Ranch and 14 different official entrances to the town from county roads. So placing the signs is going to be a big project.”

Local soldiers to be honored at the Parade of Lights next month

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:02:14 +0000

Soldiers ask for time with families before community celebration takes place. Soldiers who served with the 1041st Engineering Company will be the guests of honor at the annual Parade of Lights. The parade is set to take place on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007 in Afton. “We have been asked not to have a big celebration right now because these soldiers want to spend time with their families,” said Lisa Hokanson, Afton town clerk. “We will honor them at the Parade of Lights.” The Town of Afton has hung a welcoming banner from the arch. Banners, posters and yellow ribbons welcoming the soldiers home have also been placed throughout the town’s businesses and along main street. “They asked us to keep things pretty low key for now,” said Hokanson. “So that is what we are doing.” For more information on how to become involved with the November tribute to the troops, contact the Afton Town Hall at 885-8696 of the Star Valley Chamber of Commerce at 883-2759.

Alpine sewer crisis coming to an end

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:04:16 +0000

Residents asked to be aware of what they send down the drain. The Town of Alpine is cautiously optimistic this week when it comes to sewer treatment. A special meeting was held last Thursday, Sept. 27 to lift the sewer moratorium that has been in place for months. “It is a calculated risk,” said Mayor Victoria DeCora. “In the grand scheme of things everything is okay, But we do reserve the right to not allow sewer hook-ups in the future if problems start up again.” The sewer hook-up moratorium was placed several months ago in the Town of Alpine, forbidding any new hook-ups to take place. That action was taken by the Alpine Town Council because of health concerns. “We were out of compliance with our permit and we needed to get things under control,” said DeCora. The water treatment problems were not the result of capacity. When combined, the two water treatment plants have a hydraulic capacity of 88. Even at its peak this summer the hydraulic flows didn’t reach points higher than mid 70. Instead, the problem with the sewer plants came as the result of oxygen levels. There was not enough oxygen in the system to break down the sewage that was coming in. “We were able to double the number of oxygen defusers in the larger plant,” said DeCora. “That helped to get the oxygen levels up to where they needed to be. We can do that same thing with the smaller plant next summer if it is needed.” But the Alpine Town Council is confident that within the next year the new water treatment facility will be online. With that facility Alpine’s sewer woes should be a thing of the past. “What people need to realize is that it is the grease that is the number one violator of our plant,” said DeCora. “It is grease that is killing our plant.” The Town of Alpine will be enforcing a grease interceptor ordinance. The ordinance calls for all restaurants within the Town of Alpine to have a certain type of grease interceptor, have that interceptor cleaned and inspected. However, according to DeCora, it is town residents, themselves, that need to pay more attention to what is going down their drains. “The town will be sending out a letter to educate residents about the situation,” said DeCora. “We are just asking them to be more aware of what is going down the drain.” For more information about the Alpine water treatment plants or what you can do to help prevent any sewer problems in the future, call the Alpine Town Hall at 654-7754.

Skinned! - Braves rally to edge Powell in overtime

dahlerickson — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:04:16 +0000

Call it a voodoo curse, but teams have had a tough time connecting on PAT's against the Braves this year in close game. So far, Star Valley is 2-0 when testing karma. On the strength of great field position set up from their defense and a timely personal foul on Star Valley, the Panthers capitalized with just over six minutes left in the ball game, taking the lead, 13-10. The PAT from kicker Josh Olberding wasn't close, giving the Braves the chance to put the game into the hands of holder Tyler Schwab and kicker Jordan Abrams. Abrams first overcame a hard hit and led the Braves on a nine-play, 50-yard drive, which included an amazing catch from Tim Hokanson. Abrams connected on his second field goal of the evening, this time a 41-yarder in a steady drizzle to force the tie at 13 apiece. Hokanson made several huge plays on both sides of the ball, including over 50 yards receiving and a quarterback sack. The Braves' defense stood tall, forcing the overtime. Taking the ball first, Star Valley scored on a single play, a ten-yard dagger from Kevin Brough. The PAT put the Braves up 20-13 with the Panthers having the chance to answer from the ten-yard line. Powell managed a five yard run from Galen Mills, but were stuffed on third down and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to seal the win for the Braves. The win moves the Braves to 3-3 overall, and more importantly, 3-1 in the Western Conference with one more to go. Powell has now lost four straight, with the last two coming in overtime or beyond. It was the seventh straight time Star Valley has defeated Powell as the Braves now hold a 12-2 lifetime record against the Panthers in Afton. Star Valley will host the Evanston Red Devils in an out of conference game next week in the final regular-season home game of the year. The Braves will close out the regular season on the road in Worland with a chance to earn a home playoff game in Washakie County. Check out the October 11, 2007 edition of the Independent for full statistics, coach's quotes and a detailed recap of Star Valley's impressive win over the 2006 defending champions.

Horsepower: Top-ranked Natrona takes Lady Braves in four tough games

dahlerickson — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:18:16 +0000

It's the first time in SVHS sports that a team from Casper has made the trip to play a conference game on Star Valley's floor. Despite the win, the top-ranked Fillies likely aren't anxious to make a return trip. The Lady Braves put forth a gutty performance on their home court, but were ultimately taken down by a quick, powerful and precise Natrona squad. The Lady Braves came out strong, matching the Fillies point for point. Tied at 23 points apiece, Danette Warren and Brittani Turley helped put together enough for the Lady Braves to take game one, 27-25. Game two will likely be gametape fodder as the hot-serving Fillies carved up the Lady Braves, forcing several net errors and scorching the court with pinpoint serving. Brianna Dawes nearly single-handedly took game two as she skinned the top of the net with more than a dozen brilliant serves. Star Valley was able to force a respectable 14 as Natrona dominated in a 25-14 victory. Games three and four were mirror images of each other, with the Filles able to build modest two, three and four point leads, while the Lady Braves were forced to fight back several times. In the end, top-ranked Natrona lived up to their billing, taking both games, 25-20. The Lady Braves impressed their home crowd with a valiant effort as Turley, Kornie Thomas, Kadi Erickson and Myka Draney combined with seniors, Dixie and Danette Warren and McKenzie Luthi to do Star Valley proud. Shae Wilkes was a machine for much of the match, earning the respect of the opposing crowd. The Lady Braves will be taking on the second-ranked Kelly Walsh Lady Trojans Saturday afternoon in a match set for 1:30 p.m.

Down the Stretch: Week 6 recap from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:27:38 +0000

Not a lot of surprises, but some good tough football was the order of the day under the Friday Night Lights Things went pretty much according to plan for the 4A Classification over the weekend, where yours truely, the Dahl E. Llama of sports, went 5-1 on predictions, moving the percentage up a tad to levels where it should be. On the season, the Llama is 28-11 for a percentage of (.720) The Farmer Awards for the week (outstanding in their field) include the Jackson Broncs, who have not allowed more than 11 points to any opponent this season. An award also must go out to Douglas, who when faced with the prospect of losing to winless Lander despite not giving up an offensive touchdown, rallied in the fourth quarter to collect the W. The final award goes to Torrington who took my slight of them personally last week and shut out the Newcastle Dogies for their second straight win. Of course, I would be remiss if it didn't give a big shout out to the Braves who executed when the chips were down. When Powell was ready to score? The defense forced turnovers. When the game was on the line? The kicking unit delivered in wet cold conditions. The Star Valley run defense is starting to really get on track and has been the catalyst for their wins, now three in four weeks. In those games, the defense has allowed a TOTAL of 132 yards, or 44 yards per game. Generally, in high school football, if you can do that, you're going to have a chance to win. This week's game is for pride as the Braves take on the very tough Evanston Red Devils in the longest running rivalry for Star Valley football. This Friday's game will be the 85th meeting between the two, including playoff contests in a series that dates back to 1932. In that time, the Braves hold a 48-32-4 record with the Devils, including wins in the last two games. While the home field has been important historically for this matchup, break out the Cowbells and the Carhardts, the road team has won the last three meetings in this border war between Lincoln and Uinta counties. This is the last regular-season home game for the Braves, and one can't assume anything about the playoffs just yet. Kelly Walsh def. Cody - 29-12 - (Correct, although this wasn't as close as I was expecting) Jackson def. Worland - 39-11 ( Correct, It took two safeties for the Warriors to break into double digits.) Douglas def. Lander - 19-13 (Correct, Two fourth quarter scores clinched the win for the Bearcats) Buffalo def. Rawlins - 42-0 (Correct, Buffalo roamed all over the Outlaws who are in danger of not making the playoffs) Torrington def. Newcastle - 19-0 (Wrong, I mentioned that the Blazers needed to win a couple in a row for me to start picking them again, they've now done so and are threatening the likes of Powell for playoff positioning.) Star Valley def. Powell - 20-13 OT (Correct, Cold, wet and hard fought, it was everything a football game is supposed to be about. Should the Panthers make the post-season, their opponent will be sweating a bit) If the playoffs started today, here's what the matchups would look like: Cody @ Buffalo Torrington @ Jackson Douglas @ Wheatland Star Valley @ Worland Keep in mind, that the final week of the season is loaded with conference games where Star Valley and Worland could swap, as could Douglas and Wheatland. Powell, Rawlins and Lander are all on the outside looking in at this point, while one team in the pool of Powell, Cody and Torrington has a very legitimate chance of missing the playoffs. This is the final year that power ratings will be used in the 5 through 8 seeds and mileage considerations are not in effect for this year's post-season. Next year, the bracket will look something like this: 1W vs. 4E 2E vs. 3W 2W vs. 3E 1E vs. 4W Well, there you have it. Have any comments, questions or ideas, I'd love to hear them at svidahl@silverstar.com. Let your vote also count as the site is asking who will win the 4A state title. Also, be sure to tell friends and family about the live streaming internet version of the game available on this site Friday afternoons.

Braves defeat Powell (Video)

dahlerickson — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:53:59 +0000

From a clutch pair of field goals, to a missed PAT by Powell, to a huge catch from Tim Hokanson, the 20-13 overtime win over the Panthers was a perfect example of late fall Wyoming fooball.

SVHS Band to perform State routine Wednesday evening at 8:30

dahlerickson — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:18:55 +0000

Kurt Sand and the Star Valley High School Marching Band will be performing their state performance routine Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m. The performance will take place at the SVHS football field and will showcase the hard work of several dozen young musicians as they will then take their show on the road this weekend. The SVHS band is one of 17 bands slated to strut their stuff this Saturday in Casper where awards will be given out in a number of categories. The Star Valley Independent congratulates these young musicians on their accomplishments thus far and wishes them luck this weekend. Check back Wednesday evening for video of this routine right here on starvalleyindependent.com.

Plane Crashes during landing at Afton airport

dandockstader — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:06:42 +0000

Two men were injured when their single engine aircraft crashed while landing Wednesday morning at the Afton airport. At press time names were not formally released as National Transportation Safety Board representatives were in route to investigate the crash. Afton Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Star Valley EMTs and Afton Fire Department responded to the accident scene on the south end of the airport. While a formal report has to be compiled by the NTSB, the plane appeared to have wheel break off while landing from the south. The aircraft, with one wheel missing, went onto the grass strip on the east side of the runway and flipped over, causing extensive damage to the aircraft. The pilot and passenger were able to climb out of the inverted aircraft. The crash scene will be secured until NTSB representatives review the scene. A formal report will be compiled and released by the NTSB.

The 1041st arrives home (Video)

dahlerickson — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:08:05 +0000

The Wyoming National Guard Unit 1041st arrived back in the Cowboy State last week. Click below for footage from Dan Dockstader as they arrived via bus at the Rock Springs Armory and met Governor Dave Freudenthal.

Star Valley Middle School forging through with X-C program

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:30:38 +0000

With the leaps and bounds that have been enjoyed in the time since SVHS made the decision to implement a Cross-Country program, it appears that even better times are ahead with the growing interest at the Middle School level. Seventh and eighth grade runners have participated in several events throughout the year, including last week's Bear Lake Invitational. Their results are as follows: Birttney Nethercott - 9:10 Brooke Nethercott - 9:16 Merideth Wells - 10:48 Amy Saunders 11:52 Daniel Keeley - 9:06 Kaden Hall - 9:11 "I really appreciate the effort of our middle school runners this year," stated SVHS Head Coach Ty Draney. "Because of some coaching changes, we weren't always able to give them the attention they needed and deserved. Coach [Corena] Ricks basically took on the program this year and those who stuck with it continued to improve. We are currently working closely with the administration on ways to increase participation. It is a difficult sport, but no one gets cut, or rides the bench. A person gets out of running whatever they put into it."

Clinch? or Pinched? Losses for some teams in Week 7 will likely spell the end.

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:29:56 +0000

Some teams who have hung around the playoff picture due to the large number that now qualify will have a tough time staying in the conversation if they can't get it rolling this week. For me, the biggest matchup of the week isn't even a 4A Class game, it's 3A #1 Kemmerer traveling up the canyon to face 4A #1 Jackson. I've had many people come up to me and mention that the Broncs are going to smash the Rangers. I'm not so sure. Another big clash is Worland making their final road trip of the year to Cody where the Broncs definitely need a win to secure their post-season aspirations. Worland has lost back-to-back games to a pair of undefeated teams in Buffalo and Jackson, so how they respond will be a key part to the shakeout of the West. Teams hanging by a thread? Rawlins positively needs a win in Douglas to keep hopes alive, while Powell, losers of four straight in the conference, need to extend Lander's losing streak, or else it could be lights out for the defending champs. Torrington can secure a spot by knocking off Buffalo, but I'm not putting any money down on that outcome. Week Seven Chicanery from the Dahl E. Llama (4-2) Worland @ (2-4) Cody - Just how good is Worland? The voters haven't given them a lot of credit and two losses aren't helping their image, but there should be some urgency for Coach Wade Sanford's club this week. With a win, the Warriors would force a down and dirty showdown with Star Valley in Washakie County next week for a home playoff game. With a loss? Cody starts to make things interesting in the West. If the Broncs could somehow win this week and hang a loss on Jackson next week, they would win the West via the tie-breaker. That's a tall task, but it's not like Cody hasn't had some character building moments this season. I feel that Cody would be well served to try and run the football against Worland, but that's not the makeup of this squad. Due to this inclination to pass first, I feel Worland's secondary is going to cause a couple of turnovers on tipped balls to set up a game winning score. I'm really flipping a coin here, that's what makes Wyoming high school football so great. Llama says - Warriors - 28-24. (6-0) Kemmerer @ (6-0) Jackson - Just like the good ol' days huh boys? No team has scored more than 11 points on Jackson, and no team has come closer than 21 points to Kemmerer. So, there's no secret what the big matchup is Friday night in this battle. Kemmerer should be hard pressed, however, to piledrive the Broncs, who have one of the better run defenses in the state. On the other side, the Rangers defense is good, but may have trouble keeping up with the speed of Blane Woodfin and what has turned into a very gritty offensive line. I look for a game that's closer than the doubters say, but in the end, I think the Broncs will be able to run the football better than their counterparts, and put an end to the Rangers' win streak. Still, if Jackson allows Kemmerer to get a couple of big runs in the first half, this will turn into a free-for-all. Llama says - Broncs - 38-21. (2-4) Powell @ (0-6) Lander - It bears mentioning that the Panthers have out-gained their last three opponents in each game, but came up short in the win column. Don't think that there aren't some playoff teams hoping that Lander can come up big in this game so the Panthers can likely stay home. Offensively, Powell will be a load for Lander to stop. Their passing game is the best in the Western Conference, and if their offensive line can open a few holes for Galen Mills and the other running backs, it could very easily be a big day for the Cats. Lander's offense has struggled this year, even against mediocre defenses, and Powell's should prove to be a big too much for them to handle. With a playoff spot on the line after two overtime losses, Coach Jim Stringer will have his team pumped for a win in Lander. Llama says - Panthers - 31-6. (2-4) Torrington @ (6-0) Buffalo - I'm not trying to be disrespectful to the Blazer faithful, although I have had my differences with them during state wrestling competitions, but the Bison should be too tough for them defensively. The Blazers, while able to score points at times, are quite one-dimensional with their passing attack and I don't see them running much on Buffalo. Look for things to go down to the wire for some of the East teams, including Torrington. Llama says - Bison - 35-13. (1-5) Rawlins @ (3-3) Douglas - I have to admit, I don't think Rawlins is going to win this game. That being said, I just have some sort of feeling not to just dismiss the Outlaws in Douglas. The Bearcats have been a bit schizophrenic this year, but at home against one of lowest scoring offenses in the state, I have to believe that Douglas will carry this game. Just to be sure, I'm going to keep the spread close. Llama says - Bearcats - 21-18. (2-4) Newcastle @ (4-2) Wheatland (4-2) - This should serve as a percentage booster due to some pretty weak performances from the Dogies. Wheatland isn't an offensive juggernaut, but they their defense will set them up with a short field as they win this one going away. Llama says- Bulldogs - 28-6. Now for our Star Valley faithful who at (3-3) take on their most consistent rivals, the (4-2) Evanston Red Devils. Star Valley has played no team more than Evanston in their long history. If the Braves and the Rangers would have kept playing, then that pair would be right up there as well. As it stands, Star Valley has played Evanston 84 times in 78 years of football. This will be the 85th matchup with Star Valley leading the all-time series: 48-32-4. The ebb and flow if this game historically means that if your team has won the last couple? You might want to get ready for a loss. That's the psyche of the Devils right now. With two straight losses on their own field to the Braves, Evanston will be looking for some payback. This game will be won or lost by Star Valley's ability to control the running game of the visitors. While this should be tough, I look for a valiant effort from the Braves on senior night to pull off a low-scoring battle of power running teams. Like you didn't know who I was picking? Llama says - Braves - 20-17. Well, there you go. Keep in mind that I love the effort of high school athletes. Nothing here is meant to be a personal slam or a dig on their character. Have something to tell me? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com

Devils burn the Braves 34-20

dahlerickson — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:51:39 +0000

Kyle Crandall compiled over 240 yards passing along with four passing touchdowns as Evanston beat Star Valley for the first time since 2004. Much of the damage was done with receiver Hazen Davis to finished the game with 11 catches and 184 yards as well as three of those scores. Star Valley, who trailed 20-0 at half, refused to give up however, and showed off some of their own offensive firepower. Jordan Abrams accounted for 262 yards of total offense while rushing and passing for a touchdown. The touchdown through the air went to Logan Fitzgerald who finished with 94 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. The Braves will now face off against Worland for a chance to host a playoff game next Friday. With Cody's 45-14 defeat of the Warriors, the Braves will need a win and a Cody loss to Jackson next week to accomplish the task.

Ricks is Regional Champion as Braves and Lady Braves place second and third.

dahlerickson — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:56:52 +0000

Reports are trickling out of Green River, which was the site of this year's 4A West Regional event and Star Valley's Trevor Ricks has a one more accolade to add to his trophy case. Ricks won the event while helping to pace the Braves to a solid second place finish. Meanwhile, the Lady Braves continue to improve and impress as they collected third. Stay tuned to this story as more information becomes available.

Gary Trauner officially announces campaign intent

sarahhale — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:42:10 +0000

Monday, Oct. 15 Gary Trauner officially announced the start of his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Trauner, a small business owner, said he had hoped the last election would have served as a wake-up call to Wyoming's delegation in Washington DC. "Last election over half the state voted for change, but the system is still broken, and Wyoming deserves better," Trauner said "As I speak to my neighbors and people from across the state, I hear the same thing over and over, nothing has changed and Wyoming is suffering because of it." "I believe that Wyoming should be leading the nation in responsible energy development and fighting for health care access. When I'm elected to Congress the only special interest group I'll stand with is the people of Wyoming. Hard work, integrity and straight-talk, Wyoming deserves nothing less." Trauner said that he still has commitments to the business he is running through the end of the year and will spend the next couple of months wrapping that up while getting ready for the race. "The point of today is that Wyoming deserves leaders that tell it like it is, it's what I did last time around and it's what I'll do this time. Wyoming is tired of the games and the gotcha politics, people are ready for change and for serious talk about the issues, and that's what I will continue to stand for."

Week 7 Recap from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:56:04 +0000

Whenever you have to read "by-laws" you know it has the potential for an exciting week. Cody is the big winner of the Farmer Award this week for being outstanding in their field. Their 45-14 whipping of Worland has put things into a bit of a twister for the 4A West. I've said it on more than one occasion, that Jackson had the West wrapped up. I guess I spoke too soon. If Cody can knock off Jackson this weekend, the pair of Broncs teams would tie. For that matter, if Star Valley can defeat Worland, they will tie as well. Here's where it gets a little confusing. With the three teams having defeated each other: (SV over Cody, Jackson over SV and Cody over Jackson), the next rule is to look at common opponent outside of the conference. Well, there aren't any, which means rule three: strength of schedule. Star Valley has the strongest of the three. So, to put it in a nutshell, if Star Valley beats Worland and Cody bests Jackson, the Braves win the Western Conference. Pretty bizarre isn't it? Well, as a fan of the Rockies, this isn't even in the same ballpark (pardon the pun) as Colorado. Things are still very much up in the air for playoff seeding, with teams like Powell needing a little help, while Star Valley can finish anywhere from the top to the bottom as things are played out. So, things might seem a little unfair to Jackson at the moment, but it brings out that "good" kind of pressure as this really is a must-win game for the Broncs to capitalize on their great season. That being said, I have a brother who played on a one-loss team and didn't even get to go to the playoffs, so I guess it's never been fair. To be clear, all of the rules are meaningless if Jackson takes care of business on their home field. So far this season in Class 4A, the Dahl E. Llama is 33-14 or (.700) Not too bad for someone who doesn't know what he's talking about. Or so I've been told. Cody def. Worland - 45-14 - (Wrong-o. I royally missed this one, which I thought would be a close Worland win. Don't be counting any chickens Star Valley fans, this next game's on the road.) Jackson def. Kemmerer - 24-12- (Correct. This was a hard fought game as I expected, although the defenses outshined the offenses.) Powell def. Lander - 28-18 - (Correct. A tougher game than I expected. Lander has a chance to end their 16-game losing streak against hated Riverton to end the season. Powell may need a little help to make the playoffs.) Buffalo def. Torrington - 40-14 - (Correct. I almost picked the right score here, (38-13 in my prediction), Buffalo is going to be a load to stop and whoever does it may have to do it on their field.) Douglas def. Rawlins - 40-7 - (Correct. I don't think the Bearcats liked me picking this one so close, so they made me look bad.) Wheatland def. Newcastle - 40-6 - (Correct) Evanston def. Star Valley - 34-20 - (Wrong. Well, I'm in agreement that there's no shame in losing to a good team like the Devils. I was impressed with the speed of Evanston, in particular Hazen Davis and Jake Spero.) So, there you have it. One more game in the regular season, and it should be a doozy. A cursory glance at the standings might reveal that the loser of SV and Worland will likely be making the trip to the their opponent's field the next week. I really don't want to make the drive two weeks in a row guys, so a hearty good luck to the Braves this week. Have something to tell me? I'm at svidahl@silverstar.com

The Dahl E. Llama wraps up the regular season with predictions and awards for Class 4A

dahlerickson — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:03:47 +0000

There have certainly been some big performances and clutch games. These are the ones that jumped out at me. I've tried to come up with a catchy award name for my end-of-season accolades, but calling them the "Llamies" sounds like something to do with CSU so I just can't do it. For now we'll call it the "Dahl E. Llama Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence." Or the DELAOAIFE for semi-short. If you can think of a great name, I'd love to hear it. These are regular season awards obviously, so the biggest prize is still out there. Team of the Year: Jackson Broncs - I'll admit that I knew Jackson would have a pretty good team. I was thinking five or six wins. My biggest question for Jackson before the season was their offensive line and protection. Not only have they showed up, they've been stifling. Throw in a stingy defense and they are the biggest reason the team is undefeated heading into the final game. Buffalo has had another stellar season, but Jackson's wins on the road in back-to-back weeks in Powell and Star Valley really impress me. As a person who has watched the Broncs struggle for most the last two decades, the fans should be seething at the thought of home playoff contests. Coach of the Year: Bill Wiley - As someone who's lived south of Jackson for my entire life sans a few character building experiences, I know for a fact how hard it can be to build a competitive team in Teton County. Coach Wiley has had a plan in mind for the last three years and the kids have lived up to it. For the former player and local boy to step in and build a winner, it's got to feel extra good. Boy, it's like a Jackson love-fest in here isn't it? Offensive Player of the Year: SV's Jordan Abrams - Okay, call me a homer, but listen to my reasoning first. Abrams is the only player in Class 4A to rank in the top five of all of the following categories. Rushing yards , All-Purpose yards, Scoring, Punting and Kicking (both PAT's and Field Goals). Throw in there that he's in the top seven in passing and that he's compiled just under 1,000 total yards in the last five weeks including 7 total touchdowns) and he definitely in the argument. Blane Woodfin has had a fantastic year as well from Jackson, as has Scott Boner from Douglas. Other worthy recipients would have to include Dan Long from Buffalo and Reed Gifford from Cody. The difference? All of those other players have played their position before this year. This is Abrams' first (and only) year at the QB position. Plus, this is the Star Valley Independent website you know. The Stranglehold Award - Buffalo Bison - Seriously, the last time Buffalo lost an Eastern Conference game was way back in 2002 to Wheatland. Since then, nobody's really been close. To consistently beat teams who see you every year is pretty impressive. For all I know, they etch the Bison onto the Conference trophy the year before to save time. The Bummer Award - Powell Panthers - This isn't an insult, it's just surprising to the rest of the state is all. The defending champs had high hopes, and quite honestly after seeing them play, they can knock off anybody. That being said, it's the little things that have killed the Panthers this year and that's always a bummer. The Hype-Machine Award - Wheatland Bulldogs - Let's be honest, in August, everybody is hitting the weights great and has a conference championship in their sites. Of all the teams that had some hype heading into the new season (Powell, Star Valley, Cody, Rawlins) only Wheatland has really shown they are close to playing to their potential that was hyped during the pre-season. It just goes to show how tough it is to accurately predict what's going to happen before the first hits are made. The Bandwagon Award - Lander Tigers - I think I can honestly speak for almost all of the other 4A schools when I say the other ten members of the classification are pulling hard for the Tigers this week in Riverton. I don't have anything personal against the Wolverines, but I want the Tigers to end their losing streak which now stands at 16 games. True Grit Award - Coach Anderson, SVHS - You know, even someone who doesn't agree with Coach Anderson would have to concede that what has taken place this season in Afton is remarkable. A huge staff turnover right before the beginning of fall practice, season-long injuries to more than half a dozen starters and projected starters and as we get ready to play the final game of the regular season, the Braves have a reasonable chance at winning their third straight Western Conference Title. Now on to the predictions for week eight - Cody (3-4) @ Jackson (7-0) - There aren't many games with more riding on it than this one. This single contest has the possibility of fouling up almost all of the post-season seedings. Just in case you're a little behind, should the Cody Broncs win this ball game, they would tie for the Western Conference Title. If Star Valley defeats Worland, the Braves would join in that little trio, and by virtue of strength of schedule, would take their third straight crown. With a win and a SV loss, Cody wins the title. I can't stress enough how this all goes away with a Jackson win. It seems a bit strange that an undefeated team has the possibility of not hosting a playoff game, but if I've done my homework, a Jackson loss could drop them out of the top two seeds from the West due to the fact that Star Valley and Cody both have stronger schedules. That being said, I expect a hard-fought game, but one that Jackson pulls away with in the second half due to their defense. Turnovers change everything, but I think the home Broncs pull of their first perfect regular season since 1981. I suppose that means a party in the Tetons complete with freshly minted t-shirts and over-turned Subarus everywhere. (That was a little below the belt) Llama says - (Jackson) Broncs - 31-16. Lander (0-7) @ Riverton (0-7) - Well, somebody is going home happy after this game. Neither team has enjoyed any success over the last two seasons, unless it was at the other team's expense. They are close to each other, they don't like each other, and trick plays may abound as both teams try to end their season on a high note. I've already stated that for Classification pride reasons, I'm pulling for the Tigers. I look for and extremely emotional win on a Nick Knell kick to put Lander over the top. Llama says - Tigers - 20-17. Buffalo (7-0) @ Powell (3-4) - This game is going to be tougher than expected for the Bison in my humble opinion. The Panthers have been pretty darn solid defensively and have done a pretty good job at stopping the run. Buffalo should wear them down over the course of an entire game, but if the Panthers can get a couple of big passing plays to their playmakers, it could go the other way. Llama says - Bison - 27-13. Douglas (4-3) @ Torrington (2-5) - The Blazers need a win and some help to make the playoffs, but I don't think they're going to get it done against Douglas, who is better at stopping the pass than teams give them credit for due to stopping their own in practice. Look for the Bearcats to win in a battle of quarterbacks. Llama says - Bearcats - 35-21. Wheatland (5-2) @ Rawlins - (1-6) - The Bulldogs have a great chance to make a bid for the second seed in the East here, and their running game should be able to get going against the Outlaws who have struggled through another tough season. Llama says - Bulldogs - 42-6. Now we come to Star Valley (3-4) @ Worland (4-3) - The Braves will have to drag themselves out of their own warm beds to travel more than six hours in the early Wyoming winter to face a Warrior team who have lost three straight. Worland is 1-2 at home this year while Star Valley is also 1-2 on the road. The advantage has to go Coach Anderson, who is 3-0 against the Warriors over the last two seasons (including the playoffs). Look for the Braves to have a solid running game, but to have a surprising passing game to compliment it at evidenced by the 167 passing yards against Evanston last week. Llama says - Braves - 24-13. Well, there you have it. Have a differing opinion? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com

Discussion of alternative school funding model continues

sarahhale — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:47:39 +0000

Proposed change would cost local district over a half million dollars. The state continues to discuss the possibility of altering the funding model for school districts. To date non of the school districts within the state have spoken in support of the change. In a report dated Sept. 24, State Superintendent Jim McBride outlined the Wyoming Department of Education’s reasons for considering the change. “[The change will] improve the accuracy of school district average daily membership data,” the WDE report stated. “This is part of the natural out-growth of the funding model with average daily membership being school-based and technology allowing for more accurate methos of calculating average daily membership.” Under current regulations, school districts in Wyoming are allowed to calcuate their average daily membership (ADM) in one of three ways. The first way, which would be eleminated under the proposed funding change, divides students into two groups, full-time students and half-time students. Students who attend school for more than 50 percent of the day are counted as full-time students. Students who attend class less than 50 percent of the day are considered half-time students. The second method of ADM calculation works in percentages. For example, a student who attends three class periods of day in a school that offers eight periods has an ADM of .375. The third ADM option in the state ratios the number of hours of a student’s classroom attendance to the total hours available. For example, a student who attends two hours of school each day for 200 days has 400 hours of class time. If that school normally has 1100 hours during that 200-day period, that student would have a ratio of 400/1100 or .364 ADM. Both the second and third option of ADM calculation would remain the same under the proposed funding model change. “The state’s school finance consultants support this more accurate method of counting ADM,” said McBride in the September report. “This change makes the calculation of ADM more cost-based because the state would fund districts based on their actual, full-time equivalency of student membership.” The proposed funding change would have a drastic affect on Lincoln County School District No. 2. According to an impact study completed by the Department of Education, at the request of this district, Lincoln County School District No. 2 stands to lose $586,838 over a three-year period. “That is money that we would have to live without and we would have to find a way to shave our budget,” said Superintendent Jon Abrams. “We hope the state does not move in that direction. But we will live with whatever decision is made.” The other two school districts in the state that will be most impacted by the proposed funding change are Big Horn County School District No. 2 in Lovell and Unita County School District No. 6 in Lyman. The study illustrated that Lovell would lose $125,254 over a three-year period and Lyman would lose $160,334 in that same time frame. Representative Dan Dockstader has been tracking the progress of the school funding model proposal since early September. He and Abrams attended the first public hearing on the matter in Cheyenne. When the matter was deferred to the Joint Education Committee meeting in Casper at the end of September, Rep. Dockstader and Abrams both attended. “I informed the committee that not one school district in the state favored this change and that they continue to oppose it,” said Dockstader. “I made a point that we should be awknowledged for meeting all educational requirements set by the Department of Education from school attendence to passing required state tests. I asked the committee why they would consider changing a system that is already working well.” According to Dockstader, the Joint Education Committee has passed the matter on to Legislative Management. “At this point it doesn’t look like they will consider it any further,” said Dockstader. “That may change. But at this point the issue is not on their agenda.”

SVHS band marches to success at festival

newsrelease — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:50:25 +0000

Marching band brings home superior rating. The Star Valley High School Marching Braves have returned from the Wyoming State Marching Band Festival Competition held in Casper on Saturday, Oct. 13, with a rating of Superior I in 4A marching bands. This is the highest rating possible for marching bands to achieve in the state of Wyoming. The other ratings are Excellent II, Good III, Fair IV and Poor V. This is the first time that Star Valley High School has achieved a Superior rating at the State Marching Band Festival. "We are extremely proud of how we performed in Casper," director Kurt Sand said. The 53 SVHS students that make up the Marching Braves, under the direction of Sand, performed their state festival show in front of an audience of over 4,000 people and seven judges. The judges evaluated the Braves in the categories of Marching and Maneuvering General Effect, Marching and Maneuvering Execution, Music General Effect, Music Execution, Percussion, Auxiliary (color guard) and Drum Majors. The Marching Braves performed three pieces with a disco theme at this year's state competition. They performed Disco Inferno, Le Freak/The Hustle melody and Stayin' Alive. The other bands that competed in the state competition this year were Shoshoni, Rawlins, Douglas, Wheatland, Worland, Buffalo, Lander, Cheyenne Central, Kelly Walsh (Casper), Natrona County (Casper), Laramie, Riverton, Evanston, Campbell County (Gillette) and Cheyenne East. In addition to their Superior rating, the Marching Braves were awarded two “Caption Awards” in the areas of Outstanding Brass Section and Overall General Effect. Caption awards are won by groups receiving a score of 90 percent or better from the judge in that particular area. The Overall General Effect caption award is especially difficult to achieve because the band must score 90 percent or better from both the Marching and Maneuvering General Effect judge and the Music General Effect judge. The final honor brought home by the band was that of the Casper Troopers’ Leadership Award given to Drum Majors Keili Bell and Devin Sand. This award is based upon the band director's recommendation of individuals or sections that display outstanding leadership, commitment and dedication to the marching band. According to director Kurt Sand, "Drum majors Bell and Sand have done an outstanding job preparing the Marching Braves for this year’s State Marching Competition." Star Valley’s drum majors were just five points from winning the Drum Major Caption Award. Color Guard Captain Amber Smith also received high praise from the Color Guard judge in the comments section of the judging sheet. The SVHS Marching Band practices every other day during the school year for 90 minutes, and they also participate in evening rehearsals for several weeks prior to the state competition. A marching band camp was held during the second week of August from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where student musicians got to work on their skills with Kurt Sand, Dennis Reese and Matthew Krause. During the school year, the marching band performs at the homecoming parade and homecoming halftime, as well as several other football games In years past they have also performed for the ISU homecoming parade. The State Marching Band Festival Competition is the only competition for marching bands in the state of Wyoming.

Thayne searches for a new town councilman,

dandockstader — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:41:54 +0000

The town of Thayne prepares to replace a member of the town council, while hearing requests for new additions to the community’s infrastructure. The town acknowledged the resignation of councilman Don Snider at the October 10 meeting. Snider will be traveling more and uable to attend all of the meetings. The council agreed to advertise the opening and select a replacement that will fill the remaining three years of Snider’s term. A request to allow a proposed 40-acre development to connect to water and sewer was considered at the same meeting. Ryan Hurd asked the council for the new connections. Hurd reported that he had wanted to annex into the community, however the land is not contiguous to existing town property. The mayor and council asked the developer to submit an engineering study that would include the number of new homes on the property located east of Thayne on Dana Street. In other news related to the Thayne Council: • A new subdivision prepared by Bret Merica includes new infrastructure for five lots. The new infrastructure will be donated back to the town and the water and sewer connection fees will be waived for the donation. • The town continues to work with Single Edge on a project that would include locating a new data center in Thayne. The mayor and council will be meeting with company representatives in October. A Wyoming Business Ready Grant will be applied for as part of the project. • In preparation for opening a second entrance into the Thayne Post Office, the town will apply to Lower Valley Energy for the use of patronage capital to move existing power lines underground. • Increased police patrols will be conducted by the elementary school to help slow traffic in the area. • The town will explore the option of changing water rates to accommodate larger pipe sizes. • A request by Jason Astle for a small, part-time, meat cutting operation in a residential zone will be considered following notification of adjoining property owners. • The council agreed to allow a permit for farmer’s market if the event was coordinated through just one individual. • An old Thayne ambulance will be offered as a donation to any Wyoming community that may not be able to afford an emergency response vehicle. • The town of Thayne will help sponsor and award prizes at a U.S. Constitution Assembly Oct. 19 in the Holdaway Elementary School. Under Planning and Zoning, expansion was approved for Pines Bar, pending fire marshal approval and a new sign was approved for Paper Works Plus.

Free roaming animals will have shortened leash

sarahhale — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:44:47 +0000

SV Ranch looks to establish animal ordinance. The Town of Star Valley Ranch is beginning the process of establishing an animal ordinance for the town. The council hopes to have such an ordinance ready for its first ready by January 2008. “The town council is working on an ordinance that will effect the owners of animals in our community,” said Councilman Jim Wheeler. “This is a very difficult ordinance to write because there are so many ideas and possibilities of what should and should not be put into such a document.” The town’s first step in the process will be to review the animal ordinances that exist in the other Star Valley communities. Step two will be to hold public meetings. “We will have some special meeting times to get suggestions for what town residents would like to have as an ordinance,” said Wheeler. “There will be three readings of this ordinance before it will become official and final.” According to SV Ranch Mayor Boyd Siddoway, animals are a “serious issue on the Ranch.” “We are not the only ones, however,” Siddoway said. “This is a problem that is valley wide.

Alpine council approves liquor license transfer and work continues on ball field

dandockstader — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:46:33 +0000

The Alpine Town Council gave initial approval to the transfer of a liquor license Tuesday night and moved forward with plans to extend a power line to the new community ball field. The council and mayor approved the transfer of the Bull Moose Liquor License to Caddis, LLC, pending final approval of the sale of the business, along with state approval of the corporation. In other news handled by the mayor and council at the Oct. 16 meeting: • The town council will work with Lower Valley Energy on a proposal to use capital credits to assist with construction of an underground power line that will serve the new community ball field. A motion was passed by the council allowing the town to cash in the necessary amount of credits to help fund the project. Alpine currently has $12,000 available in the LV&E patronage credit program. Earlier, the town of Alpine and the Alpine American Legion came together on a bleacher project for the ball field. In the meantime, the town has applied for a $250,000 grant to help finish the field. Mayor Victoria DeCora reported earlier that the town had applied for assistance from the Daniels Fund, based in Denver, Colorado. Town officials, along with the American Legion, hope the new ball field will bring unity to the the town, while providing a place for youth to enjoy outdoor activities. To help with ball field projects, contact American Legion Commander Harold “Sarge” Rumbaugh at 654-7640 or the Town of Alpine at 654-7754. • The council agreed to have Irish Properties proceed with plans for a new Bank of Alpine building on the corner of Greys River Road and U.S. 89. Approval was granted on the condition that the company submit the building plan to the town with an engineer’s approval stamp. • The open town council seat is expected to be filled in November. The town council is accepting applications for the position. Former councilman Tom Turner resigned due to health reasons. • The town accepted the final work report on paving of Riverview Drive in the Riverview Meadows Subdivision.

Lady Braves knock off Tigers and Wolves to earn 4A state birth

dahlerickson — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:22:56 +0000

It's been a season of trying to peak at the right time. In Casper on Friday, the Lady Braves broke through the proverbial wall. "It's been a long day of matches, but we're obviously excited," stated Head Coach Brandy Taylor. "Now we're going to get ready for Kelly Walsh tomorrow morning." Things were a little bleak early on for the Lady Braves, who dropped their first match to Evanston in four games, 27-25, 22-25,17-25 and 21-25. The spikers rebounded to defeat the Rock Springs Lady Tigers in a grudge match, likewise in four games, 21-25, 25-21, 27-25 and 25-17. This loss ended the Tigers' season. In a do or die match with Green River, the Lady Braves knocked off the Lady Wolves in yet another four game contest, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18 and 25-14. After playing very sporadic matches with both Sweetwater teams, the gals in gold came through in the clutch sending both teams home for the year. Updated** The Lady Braves ran into a buzzsaw early Saturday morning, losing in straight games to the top-ranked Lady Trojans. In similar fashion, the Lady Red Devils were swept by Natrona, setting up a third/fourth match between the two rivals. The Lady Braves defeated Evanston early in the season in tournament play. Since then, Evanston has defeated the Lady Braves on three occasions in matches that went three, four and four games, including Friday morning. The match is schedule to take place at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Braves lose tough game game to Worland, 14-6

dahlerickson — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:29:57 +0000

In a unusually nice October night in the Big Horn Basin, the Warriors managed to make it a very unpleasant trip for the Braves. Worland forced the action in a very hard-fought game where they exploited the stingy Star Valley rush defense to the tune of 254 yards. Quarterback Stephen Pyer had both rushing touchdowns on carries of one yard and 73 yards, while Robby Tumunbrun finished the game with 152 yards. Jordan Abrams finished with 110 yards and Logan Fitzgerald scored his seventh touchdown of the game before being treated for a knee injury. The loss opens the floodgates of speculation about the fate of the Braves' playoff chances and locations. The WHSAA is expected to release the playoff bracket Saturday evening.

Post-season updates for SVHS

dahlerickson — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:08:11 +0000

With a lot on the line, the Braves and Lady Braves were fighting for different things. One wanted to come home, the other wanted to go on yet another trip. They both got their wish. After sorting out all of the fallout for the 4A Classification, the Star Valley Braves, who earned the West's number two seed by virtue of a strength of schedule tiebreaker, will host the very team who defeated them over the weekend. The Worland Warriors will be in Afton this upcoming Friday to try and advance to the 4A semi-finals. *See below for a more detailed explanation of this pairing. In other matchups, the Cody Broncs will also repeat their final game, traveling back to Jackson to take on the Western Conference champion Broncs. Wheatland will travel to play Douglas, while Powell makes the lone inter-conference matchup as they travel to play undefeated and East champion Buffalo In volleyball action, the Lady Braves earned the number four seed from the Western Conference and their first trip to the 4A State Tournament over the weekend with victories over Green River and Rock Springs. The Lady Braves will be back in Casper, this time at the Events Center, where they will face Eastern Champion Sheridan in the opening round. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m on Thursday afternoon. The winner of the opening match between SVHS and Sheridan will face the winner of Campbell County (Gillette) and Natrona. The Cross-Country team wrapped up their season with fine showings in Douglas at the 4A Championship meet. Trevor Ricks placed third overall as the Braves finished fourth in the field of the best teams in the Cowboy State. The Lady Braves finished seventh and will return most of their varsity runners, losing senior Sage Draney. It was a banner day for X-C powerhouse Cheyenne Central, who took both the boys and girls team titles in impressive fashion. The Indians edged Rock Springs for the guys title while the Lady Indians ran away from second place Gillette. Congratulations to the athletes, coaches, parents and fans who faced huge odds and angry weather to support the Braves and Lady Braves in an action packed weekend. The Star Valley Independent and yours truly cannot stress enough how important fan support is for the success of the programs involved. Be sure to look for a special look at the opening round of the playoffs in the October 25, 2007 edition of the Star Valley Independent as the Braves face Worland for the second consecutive week * With a loss to Worland, the Braves fell to 3-2 in the Western Conference, as did Cody with their loss in Jackson. With their win, the Warriors improved to 3-2 in the West, forcing a three-way tie for the West's second seed which comes with an opening round playoff game. The playoffs are compiled using conference records for the W1, W2, E1 and E2 positions. The remaining four positions are determined by using power ratings. With the initial tiebreaker (head-to-head games) proving a wash, the second tie-breaker was considered, that of out of conference common opponents. None of the three teams involved played a common OOC opponent which forced a third tiebreaker, strength of schedule. The Braves had a SOS of 3.75, while Cody and Worland had 3.50 and 3.13 respectively. Once it was determined that Star Valley had obtained the W2 position, Worland then claimed the number 6 seed with a higher overall power rating than that of Cody. The 4A opening round is the following: #8 Cody @ W1 Jackson #5 Wheatland @ E2 Douglas #6 Worland @ W2 Star Valley #7 Powell @ E1 Buffalo - Torrington, Rawlins and Lander eliminated

Bear conflicts persist as fall continues

sarahhale — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:17:56 +0000

Officials respond to record number of incidents. Bear and human conflicts continue to be a huge problem in Teton County this month. According to the Game and Fish Department, the sharp increase in bear incidents is related to “a poor natural food year.” “This year we have seen bears in places we don’t normally see bears,” said Mark Gocke, Game and Fish information specialist. “Even if some residents haven’t ever had a bear visit their property, it could happen this year. We recommend everyone take care of their garbage and other attractants regardless of where they live.” According to the Game and Fish, garbage is still the number-one thing that is drawing bears out of the wild. “We still have a problem of people being complacent with their garbage and other attractants,” said Gocke. “I don’t know if people think the bear problem has gone away, but it hasn’t and we all need to get in the habit of keeping attractants unavailable all year long. People must accept the hard fact that the consequence of not doing this simple thing is often a dead bear.” According to information provided by the Game and Fish, in a poor food year year like this, bears can and will eat food wherever they can find it - even if that means wandering right into town. Just last week the Game and Fish received several reports of a black bear near the Wyoming Highway 22/U.S. Highway 89 intersection in Jackson. This month a black bear was seen crossing Cache Street near the visitor center in Jackson. During the summer, a black bear and her cub were captured adjacent to Jackson’s main street in the middle of the afternoon. According to information provided by the Game and Fish, one of the biggest issues relating to bear and human conflicts is bears begin to associate civilzation with easy food. Officials are currently monitoring a radio-collared adult female black bear that has been frequenting residential areas in Buffalo Valley near Moran. The bear was trapped and relocated to the Togwotee Pass area last week and has since returned. Another problem is mother bears abandoning their cubs. On four separate occasions over the past two weeks, Game and Fish officials have captured black bear cubs that had been abandoned by their mothers . The cubs were frequenting developed areas in search of food. One cub was in very poor condition, weighing a mere six pounds. That is less than a quarter of the normal weight for this time of year. The cub had to be euthanized. Another had become very habituated to people, and was taken to the Game and Fish Department’s Thorne/Williams Wildlife Research Facility near Laramie. That bear will likely be placed in a zoo. The two other cubs were in good health and were relocated. “It’s not uncommon to see mother bears abandon their cubs in a bad food year,” Gocke said. “It’s just another indication that there’s a real lack of natural food out there this year.” In the Jackson area alone, Game and Fish officials have responded to more than 175 bear conflicts this year, well more than the 150 total of the last five years combined. In addition, officials have lethally removed nine black bears and relocated more than 25. “Late summer and fall is typically when conflicts tend to pick up as bears are actively feeding around the clock, trying to put on fat before they go into hibernation,” Gocke said. “I can’t stress enough how important it is for people to be extremely careful with their garbage and other bear attractants.”

Mystery shopper scam strikes Star Valley

sarahhale — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:29:09 +0000

Four cases of fraud reported to law enforcement. A mystery shopper scam hit Star Valley this month. To date four cases of fraudulent checks and shopping offers have been reported. Two reports were logged with Afton PD. Two reports were logged with the Sheriff Department. “What we have here is an offer that sounds too good to be true. And it is,” said Afton Police Chief Tim Heggenstaller. “That is usually the way it works. If you receive a suspicious check or offer, have it checked out.” The scam is fairly strait forward. Postal customers in the Star Valley area have received a check for $1,999. There is also a letter and shopping survey inclosed in the envelope. The letter outlines the recipient as being invited to participate in a paid consumer research program. Program participants are asked to cash the $1,999 check and use a portion of those funds as a mystery shopper. A portion of the funds are also outlined to be used to test branches of the money transferring industry (such as Western Union of Money Gram). The only problem is, the $1,999 check is fake. After a consumer cashes the check it is their own funds they are using to mystery shop and wire money. “All of the wired money is going somewhere,” said Sheriff Shane Johnson. “But it is difficult to track. The chance of money being recovered is slim to none. The best way to put a stop to the scam is to prevent people from being scammed in the first place. If you receive a big check in the mail for no reason, question it.” Both the Afton Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the scam. If you have received a check and mystery shopper letter, call the Sheriff Office at 885-5231.

A New Season: The Dahl E. Llama recaps week 8

dahlerickson — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:28:05 +0000

I won't lie, it wasn't the prettiest game ever played in Star Valley colors over the weekend. A lot of credit goes to Worland in the intensity department, their defense made stops when they had to and their running game challenged Star Valley throughout the game. My Farmer Awards for the week go to the following: First, to Jackson. I've been accused of being a Jackson sympathizer lately, but the bottom line is, when a program with a .393 lifetime winning percentage goes undefeated? That's a special season. Their ability to outlast what is rapidly becoming a more dangerous team in the Cody Broncs gave them their first conference title in a while. I think the rematch is going to be a tough game once again this weekend. Other Farmer Awards go to Buffalo for their undefeated season and to Douglas for not only knocking Torrington out of the playoffs, but for managing to earn the East number two seed. A month ago, it wasn't a lock that the Bearcats were even making the playoffs. Well, it was an ugly weekend personally, but the Llama went 4-2 overall, bringing my overall numbers to 37-16 or (.700) for the regular season. For you conspiracy theorists out there, I rounded up from .698. Jackson def. Cody - 37-25 - (Correct, I think Jackson has drawn one of the best #8 seeds in recent memory and if they don't execute like they did this last week, there could be some disappointment in Teton County) Riverton def. Lander - 19-8 - (Wrong, The streak continues into next season for the Tigers at 17 games. Riverton should at least send flowers to Lander, they represent their wins over the last two years.) Buffalo def. Powell - 21-0 - (Correct, Things will only get tougher for the Panthers this week in a rematch away from home. Can they do it? Of course, but it would be considered a mighty upset) Worland def. Star Valley - 14-6- (Wrong, The weather wont be nearly as warm in Lincoln County as it was in Washakie County this weekend. Will it be a factor?) Douglas def. Torrington -41-21 - (Correct, The Bearcats now host Wheatland in what looks like a grudge match) Wheatland def. Rawlins - 23-0 - (Correct, The Bulldogs have a better defense than Douglas in my opinion, but can they score enough points if Douglas jumps out early?) Well, my condolences to Lander, Rawlins and Torrington who have started focusing on Basketball and Wrestling. Don't feel too bad. Ironically, in sports the only difference between winless teams and teams that make the playoffs is just one week in many cases. Look for the first round playoff predictions later this week and remember Star Valley fans, Worland isn't happy about the trip, and this is your home field. YOU MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE! Cowbells and Carhardts all around on a cold Star Valley night. See you there.

Lander Trail Foundation begins fundraising campaign

sarahhale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:37:04 +0000

The Lander Trail passes right through Star Valley. It begins in South Pass City, Wyoming and runs 252 miles to Fort Hall, Idaho. In Fort Hall, the trail rejoins the Oregon and California Trail route. The Land Trail was established in 1858. In 2008 it will celebrate its sesquicentennial. This summer the Lander Trail Foundation was created. The organization is non-profit and is designed to promote and preserve the Lander Trail. This week the foundation will be sending out request for donation letters. Donations to the foundation can also be made at the Bank of Star Valley in Alpine, Thayne and Afton. “We have a list of projects that we are working on for this next year,” said Jermy Wight, member of the Lander Trail Foundation. “We are not going to whip them all by next July, but we will get some of them.” The proposed projects the Lander Trail Foundation is working on include having large wall maps of the Lander Trail on display in the new Afton Civic Center as well as a terrain table showing the Lander Trail through Star Valley. The organization is also working on created a self-guided tour for the trail, complete with maps and historical information about the trail. Work is also underway to develop signs and the trail to the Stump Creek salt flat, along with the history of that segment of the trail. Additional plans include petitioning the postal service for a commemorative stamp of the Lander Trail, getting the trail designated as a National Historical Trail and developing curriculum for a history class at the local high school and/or junior colleges about the Lander Trail. Directors serving as part of the Lander Trail Foundation include, Jermy Wight, Larry Call, Dan Dockstader, Steve Perry and Chad Jensen. All donations to the Lander Trail Foundation are tax deductible. For more information, contact Jermy Wight at 883-2174.

Brucellosis meeting scheduled for Thayne

sarahhale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:37:51 +0000

A brucellosis informational town meeting will be held on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at the Thayne Senior Center. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and is being co-sponsored by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The Wyoming Department of Game and Fish will also participate. The meeting topic will be Idaho's brucellosis status and what is ahead for livestock and wildlife in eastern Idaho. Greg Ledbetter, Idaho State Veterinarian, will discuss the history of brucellosis and the loss of Idaho's brucellosis status in 2005. Idaho had its brucellosis-free status reinstated in 2007. A summary of the actions taken including herd testing and other disease surveillance activities will be discussed. Dr. Ledbetter will also discuss the on going activities that are being done to increase the spatial relationship between elk and livestock. The big game winter feeding rules, which prohibit the feeding of wildlife in eastern Idaho by individuals, will be discussed. Carl Anderson, IDFG wildlife biologist, will discuss the population levels and elk management activities in the hunting units of eastern Idaho. Phillip Mamer, IDFG veterinarian, will discuss the brucellosis surveillance activities in elk. This will include test results from the hunter survey program and how those results are used to determine the infection level of elk in eastern Idaho. Jason Beck, IDFG landowner relations, will discuss how individual livestock herd plans are utilized to minimize interaction between elk and cattle. A representative of WGF will discuss Wyoming’s management activities and how that management may affect the herds in Idaho.

Road and Bridge loses two familiar faces

sarahhale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:38:53 +0000

Laval Larson and Doc Dana retire. After 25 years with the County Road and Bridge Department, Laval Larson is saying goodbye. Doc Dana, who has been with the department for the last 17 years, is also retiring. “Road and Bridge that services in the county that not to many people really thing about,” said Commissioner Tammie Archibald. “But the departments really do a great service for county residents.” In Lincoln County the Road and Bridge is divided into two separate departments. The North Lincoln County Road and Bridge Department has shops in Thayne, Afton and Cokeville. The South Lincoln County Road and Bridge Department has shops in Kemmerer at the Kemmerer Landfill and in LaBarge. The departments have separate budgets and operate as two distinct departments. “Having two departments is necessary because really we are dealing with two different worlds in terms of roads between North Lincoln County and South Lincoln County,” said Archibald. “The way the roads are used is different. The weather is different. The types of equipment needed to maintain the roads is different.” Larson started out his career with Lincoln County as a driver and worked his way up to the supervisor’s position. Dana also worked his way up to the position of supervisor. “Our road and bridge crews work long hours and put their lives on the line so that we can have safe roads,” said Archibald. “We appreciate that.” Mark Luthi has been named as a new Road and Bridge Supervisor for North Lincoln County, with Hal Hepworth and second in command. Margi Gergen has also been named as a Road and Bridge Supervisor for South Lincoln County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Halloween festival is Saturday

sarahhale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:41:14 +0000

The Star Valley Big Brothers Big Sisters program will host the third annual Halloween Festival on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 from 5-10 p.m. Admission to the event is $4 per person. The spooky delights will take place at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. This year the event will feature a children’s carnival from 5-10 p.m. The spook alley will run from 6-9 p.m. Pumpkin carving will begin at 6:30 p.m. A magic show will start at 7:30 p.m. Halloween movies will also be shown as part of the event. Movie times are set for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. In addition to the above events there will be cookie decorating, a fortune teller, a fish pond, bobbing for apples, a cake walk, prizes and food. The Halloween Festival is the main fund raising event of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program and is appropriate for people of all ages. For more information, contact Katie Onkes at 885-2227.

County linked through the ‘Backbone’

sarahhale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:43:01 +0000

New information letter available on county website. The Lincoln County Website now has a ‘backbone,’ in the form of an informational letter. The informational letter is designed to link county employees and share positive information about what is going on throughout the county. “The Backbone is an internal document that is intended for county employees,” said Commissioner Tammie Archibald, creator of Backbone. “It is very positive. We want people to appreciate being here, working here and living here.” According to Archibald, creating The Backbone has been an interesting challenge that has helped her become more connected to what is happening in Lincoln County. “It is helping me as a commissioner because it is helping me get to know the people in the county and what they do,” said Archibald. “There are a lot of things going on in the county that are positive. The goal of the letter is to bring employees of the county together, keep people informed and showcase and appreciate the people that live and work in the county.” A new edition of The Backbone will be available on the Lincoln County Website each month. The items for the informational letter are submitted by county employees. While The Backbone is designed for employees of Lincoln County, everyone in Lincoln County is welcome to review the information. “There is a lot of really good information in the Backbone,” said Archibald. “It is a project that I am excited about.” To view the Lincoln County Backbone, logon to www.lcwy.org.

1st Round Playoff predictions for Wyoming 4A from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:28:56 +0000

Ahh, the playoffs, something to be cherished by the teams that make it. Good seasons are special, and so is the right to play for the ultimate prize. I'm not going to blow smoke, it's been a challenging year on the gridiron for a lot of teams, the Braves included. Injuries, assignments, intensity and guts, that's what will ultimately determine who raises the championship trophy. There are some pretty darn good matchups between the eight teams who made the post-season, including three rematches from last weekend. That being said, I truly believe there are too many teams who make it. As much as I don't care for bye weeks, I wonder if paring down the playoff field by two teams would be beneficial. When I was growing up, there weren't eight teams making the playoffs. I know upsets like Wheatland over SV last year are an argument to keep things the way they are, but I just can't get behind a system where 73 percent of the teams MAKE the playoffs. Anyway, there is no easy answer, and with the discussions of revamping the classification systems yet again in 2009, who's to say what is the answer at this point period. Here's how I see the first round of the playoffs - Cody @ Jackson - I think there were a few eyebrows lifted when the final from last week came rolling across the communication lines. Jackson, defeating Cody, 37-25. In any other year, that might not seem like cause for notice, but it's by far the most points allowed by the Jackson defense so far this year, the previous high being 12 from Kemmerer. Does Cody have the lineup to exploit the Jackson weaknesses? I'm not sure. What I can say with a bit of confidence, is that Jackson drew a very tough game for an opening round game. As much as I've been touting their defense this year, I think it's going to be their strong running game that will move them into the semi-finals. Cody has a pretty potent offense, but in games with Jackson and Star Valley, two predominantly running teams, the Park County Broncs have shown they can get worn down against a good rushing attack. It's for this reason that the combo of Woodfin and especially Alex Bush should be the difference in what I expect to be a very close game at the half. Llama says - (Jackson) Broncs - 34-17. Wheatland @ Douglas - Before I get an angry e-mail from an Eastern Conference die-hard, let me preface this by saying I haven't seen either team in person this year. That being said, I think Wheatland has the better defense, while Douglas has the edge offensively. The wild-card in this game is the Bearcat defense, which showed in a previous game (played in Douglas) that they could shut down the Bulldogs as they shut them out, 12-0. Douglas has won four straight, and has averaged 28 points per game while they've done it. Wheatland won't allow that many, as I think the Bearcats will be held somewhere in the 17-24 point range. The difference is, I don't see the Bulldogs getting past 14. I see a hard-fought game with maybe even a defensive score as the determining factor. Llama says - Bearcats - 19-12 Powell @ Buffalo - Some people have already started planning the second round playoff game in Buffalo. I can tell you from experience a year ago, that's not a good idea. The Bison's 21-0 win over Powell last week was in Panther country and Buffalo has been an extremely hard place to get a win over the last several years. Don't forget that Powell came into their place and took them to the woodshed a year ago 36-7. I'll bet the Buffalo players remember it. Barring a barrage of turnovers, I have to see Buffalo setting the pace with a very physical running game. Powell is pretty darn good at stopping the run, but it will be mistakes and penalties that cost the defending champs in this one, along with what might be the best offensive line in Wyoming 4A. Llama says - Bison - 35-8 Worland @ Star Valley - Just to appease those conspiracy theorists out there (and it seems like a few of our Star Valley faithful have watched too many Oliver Stone movies), I'm always picking the Braves. The day I honestly start cheering against Star Valley in my mind, is the day I stop talking about sports. Worland deserves a ton of credit for their game plan last week. They forced the Star Valley defensive line to penetrate on sweep plays, and quite honestly, the 255 yards rushing sort of speaks for itself. The good news is the Braves have a chance to redeem themselves. To me as much as the defensive side spoke, the six points from the offense was even more telling. I have a basic formula that doesn't follow anything except perhaps some elementary level rationalization. It is this. For every 100 yards of offense, I feel like you should have AT LEAST 7 points. It's not that much of a stretch. The Braves had 255 total yards last week, which in my book means should have translated into about 17 points. By comparison, The Warriors could have had 21 points with their 300 yards. What I'm saying is this: This was a close game, that Worland was able to control throughout. Was it the home field? Was it their crowd? Was it the fact the Warriors felt their effort the previous week against Cody was weak? Probably all of those things. That being said, the Braves have all of those same factors working in their favor this week. Will it translate into a win? Only the two teams will determine that. Llama says - Braves - 24-18. Well, there you have it. Will there be an upset? It makes for interesting reading to be sure. To be honest, there are only two games where the term upset is appropriate this week because Jackson and Buffalo have earned that level of respect. The other two games will be toss ups where nobody will be confident unless they can build a significant lead. Have something to say? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com.

SVHS Sports Recap

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:26:50 +0000

For one SVHS program, the season ended on Friday, for another, there is still at least one more game. The Lady Braves showed a lot of courage through adversity this season, beginning back in the summer when all three seniors were hit hard with personal and family setbacks. As a number on a piece of paper, the Lady Braves' 2007 campaign won't go down as one of their best, but their ability to persevere and accomplish some of their goals will highlight their first season in the 4A Classification. After eliminating Rock Springs and Green River to earn their first 4A state birth and their seventh straight as a program, the ride came to an end in Casper as the East Champion Sheridan Lady Broncs swept the gals in gold Thursday afternoon, before a four game win by Gillette ended Star Valley's season. The Lady Braves graduate some impressive talent with Dixie and Danette Warren, as well as McKenzie Luthi. The returning group however, with no less than four sophomores starting much of the season, should have high hopes for 2008. On the gridiron, the Braves came out with an attitude and crushed the visiting Worland Warriors, 24-7 in the opening round of the 4A playoffs in a game played in Afton. The Star Valley defense was relentless, holding the Warriors to negative one yard in the first half, and just 99 for the game. On the shoulders of a fantastic crowd, the Braves ran for 338 yards behind a huge group effort of their offensive line and some stout running by several ball carriers. Junior Kevin Brough led the team in rushing, with 124 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. It is the second time Brough has hit the century mark on the year. Senior quarterback Jordan Abrams rushed for 118 yards and score, with 104 of the yards coming in the first half. Abrams put the Braves up early in the first quarter on an electrifying 50-yard scamper to paydirt. Tim Hokanson picked up the third touchdown for the Braves, who will now begin to prepare for a road game with the Buffalo Bison. Buffalo defeated the Powell Panthers, 21-7 to move into the semi-final game. In other 4A playoff news, the Jackson Broncs also moved to the semi-finals with a 38-12 drubbing of Cody. Douglas scored late to take a 14-7 victory over the Wheatland Bulldogs, setting up a rematch of a first round game a year ago in Douglas. This will be the first meeting between the Braves and the Bison since 2005, when Buffalo claimed their second consecutive state title, 17-14 over Star Valley. Stay tuned to this website for information on the time and day of the semi-final games.

Wolf comments posted on web this week

sarahhale — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:09:50 +0000

Game and Fish posts all public comments on wolf plan. Monday, Oct. 29, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department posted all public comments regarding its draft gray wolf management plan. Those comments can be found on the Game and Fish web site at gf.state.wy.us. The public comment period on the wolf plan expired Oct. 10. The department received 352 individual comments by mail, fax or through the department’s new online public commenting system. “Of course, there is tremendous public interest in this issue, and we have already received requests for copies of the comments,” said Game and Fish Director Terry Cleveland. “Throughout this process we have strived to be transparent and allow ample opportunity for public involvement. We hope that by posting all of the individual comments on our Web site, people will have the opportunity to understand the tremendous variety of opinions that exist concerning wolf management in Wyoming.” Individuals who chose to submit comments to the Game and Fish were also given the opportunity to answer two questions related to Wyoming’s draft wolf management plan. The questions dealt with overall support of the plan as written and opinions about the minimum number of wolf breeding pairs included in the plan. A summary of these responses will also be available on the Game and Fish Web site. “It’s important for people to understand that responses to these two questions do not constitute any kind of scientific survey,” said Larry Kruckenberg, assistant to the director with the Game and Fish. “These questions were intended to provide the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission with a thumbnail summary of the opinions of those who chose to comment on this issue. In no way could the results from these questions be extrapolated to any larger segment of the population or be interpreted as opinions of the public at large.” The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will review the public comments and will then take final action on the draft wolf plan. The latest draft of Wyoming’s wolf plan includes several changes submitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to Cleveland, if the the latest draft of Wyoming’s wolf plan is approved by the Fish and Wildlife, it will help lead to removal of wolves from the Endangered Species List in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Once delisted, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will assume management of wolves in that portion of the state where wolves will be classified as trophy game animals. In the remaining portions of the state, gray wolves will be classified as predatory animals. Wyoming’s original wolf plan was rejected by the USFWS in 2004. According to the Game and Fish, the new draft plan is consistent with the requirements of House Bill 213, passed by the 2007 Wyoming Legislature. The department believes the plan is also consistent with USFWS requirements for acceptance of the plan.

Home teams protect their turf in the opening round

dahlerickson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:02:40 +0000

Say what you want, but having a home crowd in the first round of the Wyoming 4A playoffs was a factor. Congratulations to the Broncs, Bearcats, Braves and Bison over the weekend for their wins. Wait a minute, maybe just having a team name that starts with the letter "B" was the key for the opening round. Of course, tell that to the Bulldogs and the Cody Broncs. As for yours truly, it made it look like I knew what I was doing, although blind luck looks exactly the same. For the season, the Dahl E. Llama is 41-16 or (.720) after a 4-0 weekend on the gridiron. Was I totally dialed in? Nope, I really thought the Cody / Jackson game was going to be closer. Here's some standout performances for me this week Farmer Awards for Week 9 - First off, how about those Braves? After an U-G-L-Y performance the week before, they were downright dominant in their 24-7 victory over Worland, allowing just 59 total yards for the game. How big a deal is this? Well, Robby Demunbrun had 152 rushing yards by himself the week before, so I'd say some kudos have to go to the Braves' defense for their outright intensity and execution. Also, a heck of a job by the staff to shut down what had been a very tough toss sweep for the Warriors. A final Woo-Hoo to the offensive line, who made holes all evening long as Star Valley rushed for a season-high 338 yards. And I didn't even get to mention the great catch and the heads-up play of getting out of bounds by Zane Porter right before the half. Another Farmer goes to Jackson who really appears to be clicking. Their 37-12 win over Cody was the third time in the last four weeks they've gone over 30 points. They're a team with a lot on the line as the pressure now moves up another notch. I really don't think they'll have a problem getting motivated for Douglas though, as the Bearcats ended their season a year ago. And the Final Farmer goes to Buffalo for their nine-game winning streak. The Braves will now travel to Buffalo (approximately 410 miles) for the semi-final game. Here's an interesting note, this will be the first game in the history of the two programs that they have played a game that was NOT a state championship. Star Valley defeated Buffalo, 49-0 in 1961, and then again in 1980, 27-22. The Bison most recently ended a great season for the Braves by claiming the 2005 title, 17-14. Jackson def. Cody - 37-12 - (Correct, the visiting Broncs were the only team that had to play the same team in the same location two weeks in a row) Douglas def. Wheatland - 14-7 - (Correct, the Bearcats now have to make the trek to Teton County to face the red-hot Broncs) Star Valley def. Worland - 24-7 - (Correct, the Braves put together their most complete game of the season, out-gaining the Warriors by 259 yards Buffalo def. Powell - 21-7 - (Correct, One has to give the Panther credit for keeping this game withing striking distance. This is the fifth consecutive time the Bison will be participating in the 4A semi-finals.) Stay tuned to the website throughout this week as I preview the four teams still battling it out for the championship.

Halloween Parade

newsrelease — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:15:21 +0000

As the celebration for Halloween draws near, little ghouls and goblins invaded the Star Valley Independent. The Star Valley Independent and starvalleyindependent.com wishes you a happy, fun and safe Halloween!

4A Semi-finals thoughts and picks from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:21:17 +0000

I know the whole "one game at a time mantra" but thinking about a possible Jackson/SV game keeps me up at night. Now if there are any Buffalo bulletin board folks out there, (not to be confused with THE Buffalo Bulletin, the fine newspaper in Johnson County) I have nothing but respect and a little bit of fear for the Bison. In the last four seasons, the Bison have gone 37-6. Think about that for a moment. Over the course of a normal high school student's life there in Buffalo, they've won 86 percent of their games! To paraphrase Chris Farley, "That . . . is. . . . AWESOME!" Similar success has happened here in Star Valley over the many years of football. A very comparable time was from 1961 through the first half of the season in 1968, the Braves went 63-6-2 or 91 percent. It's hard for a guy like me who lives and breaths Star Valley athletics to have to accept the fact that I was indeed not born to watch that span. What I did get to see in vivid color was the span from 1990 through 1998 as "Battlin' Bob" or "Big R" or as I refer to him, Mr. Coach Robert Linford, Sir, go 74-14. That's 84 percent and it's a bit more recent. What these teams have in common with the current Bison is a great running game and a lot of confidence. That being said, it's sometimes not enough. Ironically enough, my senior year of the 1994 season, was the only time in recent memory, or ever considering the old-style playoff format, that Star Valley lost at home in a semi-final game. I remember the thought of absolute disbelief. "Someone else came onto our field and beat US?!" It's the same feeling the Braves will now try and instill into the Bison this Saturday. It doesn't mean Buffalo still isn't an amazing program should they lose this game, but my point is this. On any given day, I truly believe that any team can line up and beat any other team. Turnovers, execution, momentum and intensity. These are all variables that can be a problem at the highest level of football. It can be compounded by the fact that these are high-school aged players. So, at the end of this column, please don't go making copies to show that I disrespected the Bison. The simple truth is, that I pick Star Valley every week. Some people don't like it. I call it loyalty, and I'm Crimson and Gold from the blood in my veins to the cholesterol clogging my heart. Good luck to both teams and here's to an injury-free contest. All right, now that my politically correct junk is out of the way, let's get down to business. Ask anyone who isn't from Star Valley or Douglas, and they'll tell you Jackson and Buffalo are on a collision course for the state title. As for the Braves' faithful, I won't lie and tell you I haven't at least entertained the thought of a Jackson/SV state game. They might very well have to activate the National Guard one more time to make sure things went smoothly. And I don't think I"m out of line by saying there might be 6-8,000 people in Jackson to watch it if it happened. Well, that's a big if. On paper, it's easy to pick the favorites. The Bison and Broncs haven't lost all season. They both have that cool alliteration thing with the letter "B". (A certainty to be enjoyed this year with the Braves and Bearcats also in the mix.) So, since I'm far past getting to the point, let's make a case for a Western Wyoming showdown. Douglas @ Jackson - There are even a few around making sure that we know that a Bearcat/Braves state game would take place in Afton. Well, that's really on the back burner as far as I'm concerned. Jackson dismantled Cody last week, moving to within one game of their first state title game since 1989. With a brutal running attack up front, a stingy defense, a home crowd and a chance to exact a little revenge from Douglas from last year's loss on the line, I don't see Jackson losing this game. I see a Jackson-hosted title game, and it's only a matter of who's playing against them. Llama says - Broncs - 31-17. Star Valley @ Buffalo - Well, here we are at last. It's not been the smoothest season for the Braves, that isn't anything that can be argued. However, there is still size and potential, two things that have been there all season long. This game will be won by the defensive line unit for either team. Buffalo is the top-ranked rushing D in 4A. Star Valley isn't far behind and quite honestly, they've had some head-smasher type games that upped their average. * See Park City, Marsh Valley and Worland part 1. I think the Star Valley defense slows down the Buffalo running game. I don't know that it's possible to stop it completely, but keeping them to two or three scores rather than five or six will be key. (Duh!) On the other side of the equation, the Braves will have to be able to run the ball consistently, and do it in situations where the temptation may be to pass. The Braves' offensive line will have to be able to get the tough yardage, as well as the chunks from misdirection and other play calls. As I mentioned in the November 1, edition of the Independent, the Braves have already validated their season, now they have a chance to make it special. Llama says - Braves - 20-17. Well, there you have it. Have an insatiable need to ask about my cough medicine consumption? Need to know if I ate paint chips as a kid? Or simply questioning my opinion. Please feel free to let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Dry Creek Fork Station

newsrelease — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:31:01 +0000

Basin Electric Power Cooperative is celebrating the groundbreaking of its Dry Fork Station at the plant site near Gillette, WY. The ceremony will be held Tuesday, November 2 at 10:oo a.m. Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager will be master of ceremonies. Governor Dave Freudenthal will be in attendance.

A close run at the title for the Braves

dahlerickson — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:06:13 +0000

And then there were two . . . . Over the weekend the Star Valley Braves traveled the 410 miles to face the undefeated Buffalo Bison for the right to play in the 2007 state championship. Early on, jitters took their toll, as Star Valley fumbled on three consecutive possessions as the home-team Bison scored their only two touchdowns on very short fields. After the Braves settled down, they outplayed the Eastern Conference champions, out-gaining Buffalo 223 yards to 144 yards. Star Valley scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Jordan Abrams to pull to within 14-7. The second half was dictated by the defenses as both teams found it very difficult to move into scoring position. In the end, the Braves had to move some 93 yards in less that two minutes to try and tie the ball game, making a valiant effort in the process. After moving more than 50 yards, including a fourth down conversion, the Bison ended the threat on yet another fourth down attempt with the game's only interception with just 16 seconds remaining. The 144 yards allowed to Buffalo was their season-low, and well under their 339 yard average, which was second in the state only to Jackson. This is the fourth time in five years the Bison have advanced to the title game.

One percent passes

sarahhale — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:02:17 +0000

Unofficial results list 1,980 in favor of the tax and 1,631 against. The long and short of the one percent election results are that Star Valley voted against the increase and the rest of the county voted in favor of the penny tax. As of Tuesday evening, 1,016 voters outside of Star Valley had voted in favor of the measure and 299 had voted against it. In Star Valley, however, the numbers were 965 votes in favor of the one percent and 1,332 opposed. Only two Star Valley towns had more support for the measure than opposition. Alpine had 68 votes in favor and 51 votes against the tax. Star Valley Ranch had 312 votes in favor and 119 votes against the increase. The unofficial tallies for the one percent sales tax show that a total of 1,980 voters supported the tax in Lincoln County while 1,631 voters did not. While these results are still unofficial, it appears that the one percent optional sales tax will go into effect in Lincoln County as of July 1, 2008.

Championship football selections and recap from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:03:14 +0000

Well it goes without saying that I'd like to be watching the Braves again this week, but scores of other schools are saying the same thing. Congratulations to the Bison on a hard-fought victory over the Braves and for a season that seemed fairly unexpected from their fans and staff. I don't believe anyone felt Buffalo would be 10-0 at this point in 2007, but they're certainly believing now. On the other side of the state, the Bearcats kind of clawed the mystique off the Jackson Broncs in a 16-14 Jackson victory. That was the case in both semi-final games I think, now instead of immortal legions clashing in Teton County, there will at least be some good gutty high school football. I suppose one can make whatever opinion about the 2007 Star Valley squad as they like, I for one was a big mix of several emotions throughout the season. Surprised, frustrated, amazed, demoralized and tickled pink, I felt 'em all at some point during the campaign. With the end of the season for the Braves, I'd like to enlist some help from you all, I'd love to have a leading rusher, passer, receiver, interception thief, sack artist, etc. from Star Valley's past. In the absence of any kind of long-term statistics on this type of thing, I want to know who is THE MAN when you and your team was on the field. Was it Mel Olsen, Mack Balls, Jason Cazier, Joe Linford, Jason Sanderson, Casey Erickson or Clint Nicholes? It doesn't have to be any of those guys, but I want to know, who was the person who impressed you either as a team mate or as player in the Crimson and Gold. Please let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com and I'll post 'em here while we still work out the red tape of the comment section. Well, with that assignment out of the way, let's get down to work and pick a champion in 4A this year. I don't have any business picking the other classifications, but I will anyway. (10-0) Buffalo Bison @ (10-0) Jackson Broncs - Even the most ardent fans of either team would probably admit they didn't think an undefeated season was in the cards. The exciting thing is that somebody will get to notch another perfect season in their history books. (FYI: Star Valley has had undefeated seasons in '61,'62, '65, '66 and '67) The thing that will drive the urgency in this game will be this: Nobody wants to remember this as the year that they were 10-0 and lost in the state game. It happens, and it doesn't mean you didn't have a great season, but it does mean you have to live the Runner-Up title instead of State Champion. Don't get me wrong, it's like having a cake with frosting as opposed to cake without. Sure cake is still a lot better than green beans, but man, is that frosting ever sweet. Anyway, to get away from the food topic, there's what I see happening in this ball game. Buffalo's best quality to me is that they are blue-collar. They work together and they don't have a superstar. They have guys with terrific numbers, but they all do their part and they're fine with that. You win a lot of games with chemistry, and Buffalo has it. They love to use this confidence to make a couple of big plays early on in the game and they always seem to be able to be ready out of the locker room. For this reason, they are generally playing with the lead and then beating the team into submission with their running game and a very physical offensive line. On the other hand, the Broncs are flat-out fast and athletic. People will say that the Bison have the edge in experience because of their recent winning tradition, but a large portion of the Broncs have started for three years. They'll be excited, maybe even a little anxious, but I don't see them being nervous. These are the two best teams in Class 4A in turnover margin, so it goes without saying that this will go a long way towards determining the winner. If all things remain somewhat equal in that department, I think the Broncs will break a big play or two either on defense or with their passing game to secure the early lead. There is a ton of anxiety in Jackson over this game, but the crowd should be stellar and loud. I see a very entertaining game that will be lower scoring than what people may expect from two high-scoring teams, with Jackson winning the game. Llama says- Broncs - 20-16. Congratulations to both teams, and here's to a good game played all around. Here's the other selections for the weekend's games Southeast over Guernsey-Sunrise: 24-14 Riverside over Big Horn: 13-10 Kemmerer over Glenrock: 27-21 Evanston over East: 38-34 Well, there you have it. Folks in Southwest Wyoming can take their pick of 3A or 4A title games, with both of them shaping up to be fantastic. Congratulations to all the coaches and players!

Star Valley Ranch celebrates anniversary

sarahhale — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:47:45 +0000

Members of the Town of Star Valley Ranch Town Council met with community members and members of the Star Valley Ranch Association to celebrate their two-year anniversary as Wyoming's newest incorporated town. Be sure to click for video

Broncs among teams celebrating titles

dahlerickson — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:15:22 +0000

Two teams, 20 victories between them, and the title game came down to a fourth and goal. Leading 10-0 for much of the game, the Broncs nearly had the game slip away against the stubborn Buffalo Bison who pulled to within four after a failed two-point conversion, 10-6. With less than two minutes remaining, Bison quarterback, Tyler Gibbs, converted a fourth down attempt with a long run, setting up first and goal for the visiting team. Jackson's defense comes up huge, turning away the Bison on four plays to claim their first title in 21 years. The Broncs record of 11-0 is their best in school history and is their first undefeated season since 1981. In other action, the third time was the charm for Cheyenne East, who knocked off Evanston, 24-14 in Class 5A. It was the third straight trip to the championship for East, with two previous losses. In Class 3A, the Kemmerer Rangers led 9-0 for much of the game over Glenrock before breaking it open for the title, 22-0. Riverside nipped home-town Big Horn, 21-20, in 2A, while Southeast, who looked unbeatable much of the year, handled Guernsey-Sunrise, 28-12.

Veteran's Day Breakfast was a Hit

newsrelease — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:29:23 +0000

Alpine American Legion Post 46 honored Veterans with a pancake breakfast Saturday. They cooked up a tasty spread of all you can eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee. Harold "Sarge" Rumbaugh expressed his gratitude to all the Veterans that have served our country. The Ladies Auxiliary was on hand to help the meal run smoothly.

The end of Fall brings some Winter dates to the forefront as SVHS begins b-ball and wrestling practice

dahlerickson — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:53:41 +0000

I never thought I'd be one of those guys who circled dates on the calender. This winter? I have no choice. First off, congratulations to the teams, coaches and players celebrating titles this week. It's been a long wait for some and I imagine the giddiness will last quite awhile. The Dahl E. Llama went 4-1 on championship Saturday, missing the Evanston/East game as the lone wrong pick. It's been said that the only thing harder than winning a title is defending it, now those teams begin that process. With the first days of winter practice now underway this afternoon, there are some dates that have me very excited November 23 - Yup, the first varsity "action" is only a handful of days away. This is only a scrimmage that will take place in Preston, but if you can't wait to see the new-look Braves in action, this is your chance. November 29 - The Lady Braves have the honor of the first varsity contest in the 2007-08 winter sports season as they will host Snake River to open the season. December 6 - The 2006 3A champion Braves wrestlers get to host Rock Springs for their first home match of the season. I don't think I'm stepping out of bounds by saying the Braves will be looking to send a message in what is now a conference duel. December 20 - This one's been on my mind for quite some time. Although the Braves have been bumped into the 4A Class, the traditional game with Jackson will still take place, although just once in Jackson Hole. As if this rivalry isn't exciting enough (the two teams split last season) Star Valley resident and former Braves championship coach, Doug Broadhead, will be helming the Broncs. If you thought it was wild in Teton County last year, we may be in for some crazy roundball right before Christmas. Just watching how new SVHS coach Todd Dixon is continuing to preach effort and knowing what Broadhead brings to the table, there is not reason not to expect a barn-burner. January 18 and 19 - Casper Natrona and Kelly Walsh will bring their girls team to SVHS for a bit of Western Wyoming hospitality, while the Braves will be in Casper doing their best to win a road game. January 24 - One of the top programs in Wyoming will be entering our valley as the Green River Wolves will be looking to repeat what they did a year ago and knock off the Braves. February 8 and 9 - The situation is reversed and the long-distance teams will hook up with the boys at home and the girls away. February 15-16 - This might very well be my favorite on the whole list, as the teams representing the 4A West get to experience a Star Valley February as the Wrestlers host the 4A West Regional Tournament. Am I happy about some other schools having to make the 6-hour trip over "the pass" in February for a change? Yeah, I am. Am I a little too happy about it, thus putting me over the top and solidifying me in "jerk" status? Yeah, probably. February 22-23 - Ahh, State Wrestling for the Braves at the 4A level. What should be expect? I honestly don't know. I know the effort will be there, so after that, we can only do what we can do. I'm just interested in finding out where the Braves' fans will land upon having to move from their traditional section in the Events Center. February 28 - Regional Basketball should be an absolute blast with the Braves joining with Evanston, Rock Springs, Green River, Natrona and Kelly Walsh in Evanston for a chance to go to the state tournament. A chance to make a little history for the Braves and the Lady Braves. Well, there you have it. Did I miss some? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com

New faces of Braves basketball on display to open practice

dahlerickson — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:52:23 +0000

Since Todd Dixon has arrived to teach chemistry and coach basketball at SVHS, he's seen a lot of the Cowboy State. From pre-season junior varsity football, to volleyball, to long-distance games in Buffalo and Cody to the school play and amateur statistician, he's made himself at home far from Wautauga High School in Boone, North Carolina, where he coached a year ago. Along with a new set of coaches, (Dave Moore at the junior varsity and Andy Taylor at the Sophomore), Dixon most definitely has a philosophy for his opponents this season. "From the beginning of the game to the end of the game, we're going to fight you," said Dixon. "When they get back in their locker room they're going to know that they just played the Braves." Ben Hale, who will coach the freshman team for the fourth season is the lone holdover from the previous staff, which included Homer Bennett and Rob Erickson. For the entire conversation with new varsity boys' basketball coach Todd Dixon, be sure to check out the November 15, 2007 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Braves begin a new kind of title defense

dahlerickson — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:14:26 +0000

Star Valley will be defending their tough brand of wrestling fortitude in Wyoming's largest class. The Braves won four of the last five Wyoming 3A titles, with a six-point deficit as the only other result. This year a program that has also won seven straight regional titles will be looking to prove to the Cowboy State's largest classification that they not only belong, but that they might even be contenders. Be sure to check back often for exclusive footage from the season only on this website.

Time for Winter Sports

dahlerickson — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:17:37 +0000

With Fall sports now complete, the winter sports season officially starts today. Team members participating in boy's and girl's basketball as well as wrestling will be out in force this afternoon as the first official day of winter practice begins after school. It will be two opposite end of the spectrum for athletes at SVHS with a big mix of new things and familiar faces. In basketball, Head coaches Todd Dixon and Jason Cazier will be at the helm for the Braves and Lady Braves respectively on the basketball court. Those two gentlemen will be joined by a nearly new staff for the school's first season in Wyoming's 4A classification. Ben Hale and Brandy Taylor, who coach the freshman teams, are the only holdovers from last year's staff. The Braves are coming off a championship season with a 21-7 record, while the Lady Braves also had a winning record last year of 15-10. On the wrestling mat, things couldn't be more different where Head Coach Eddie Clark and his staff are not only back to lead the team, but will be joined by a large majority of wrestlers from last year's 3A state championship team. All three individual champions from last year, Justin "Whitey" Gardner, Ricky Fairbanks and Zack Walker, will all be back for a shot in the 4A Class.

They are Coming Together to Talk about Sage Grouse

dandockstader — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:22:00 +0000

A group of experts in the fields of wildlife management and mapping will convene in Cheyenne on Thursday, Dec. 6 to discuss establishing a set of standards for sage grouse mapping and habitat assessment in Wyoming. The meeting will be held from 9am to 5pm in the Cottonwood Room at the Laramie County Library. This session follows a two-day Sage Grouse Summit meeting held on the topic earlier this summer.

Do You Want to be a Junior Musher?

dandockstader — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:29:27 +0000

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race - Alpine Committee is searching for two students to participate in the upcoming stage stop sled dog race. Students must be in grades four through twelve. For all the details contact race chairman Kathy Jenkins at 654-7710. Last years Star Valley Junior Mushers were Cassie Ricks and Kamaile DeLong. The International Stage Stop Sled dog race, which starts in Jackson and ends in Park City comes through Alpine, January 29-30.

Students Need Projects for Braves in Action

dandockstader — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:33:36 +0000

A massive community service project is planned by Star Valley High School Students on Wednesday, Nov. 21. From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. that day students will participate in various service related projects. The event is called "Braves in Action," and if you know of a community service project please call the high school at 885-7847, that's 885-SVHS

Barrasso gets a Position on Public Lands and Forests

dandockstader — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:40:13 +0000

This morning, U.S. Senator John Barasso, R-Wyo., was named Ranking Members on the Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee, under the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Barrasso says as ranking Republican on the panel, he will have considerable input on public land use and forest interests important to Wyoming's economy. The Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee oversees public lands administered by BLM and the U.S. Forest Service, including farming and grazing on those lands, wilderness areas, national mining and minerals policy, surface mining, and reclamation and enforcement.

Smokefree campaign gains momentum

dandockstader — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:43:21 +0000

The Smokefree Wyoming Campaign continues to recruit communities across the state. A Smokefree community campaign was kicked off in Alpine last summer and now Afton is considering a Smokefree community ordinance. The ordinances would prohibit smoking in public places. Statewide legislation may be considered in the 2008 session.

New Wolf Management Plan Adopted by the Game and Fish Commission

newsrelease — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:57:45 +0000

On November 16 a new wolf management plan was adopted for Wyoming. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service accepts this plan that it will lead to the removal of wolves from the Endangered Species Act in the Northern Rocky Mountains in 2008."It's a priority of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and that state of Wyoming to get wolves delisted," said Bill Williams, President of the commission. "Wolves are well beyond the foals set for a recovered population, and it's time to let the state assume management." "Both the Wyoming legislature and the U.S. Fish and W ildlife Service have established some very restrictive sideboards concerning what they will accept in a wolf management plan for Wyoming," said Williams. "This new plan works within those sideboards with very little room for any change. If the wolf is delisted, the Game and Fish will assume management of wolves in the portions of the state where wolves will be classified as trophy animals. In the rest of the state the gray wolf will be listed as a predatory animal. The goal is to keep 15 breeding pairs of wolves to ensure Wyoming's share of a fully recovered population. According to the drafted plan Wyoming's Game and Fish will be committed to maintaining at least seven breeding pairs of wolves located in the state primarily outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's original criteria for a recovered population of wolves in the Norther Rocky Mountains is 30 breeding pairs and 300 individual wolves distributed among Wyoming, Idaho, & Montana. By the end of 2006 there were 173 wolf packs in these states, including 86 breeding pairs and 1,300 individual wolves.

Weatherby Corporation to Educate Hunters

newsrelease — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:38:55 +0000

Weatherby Foundation International donated a 2-by-7 power scope for two .243 caliber rifles to help educate hunters in Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department sponsored camps, workshops and hunter education classes will handle the two rifles with new scopes. When the hunter looks down range, they'll clearly see the target thanks to the generosity of the Foundation."We're honored and grateful for these generous gifts." said Jim Dawson, hunter education coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Dawson also says that the rifles each are equipped with interchangeable adult and youth sized stocks to fit different users. Weatherby Corporation owner Roy "Ed" Weatherby and Foundation Vice President Sean Duffy made the donation to commemorate the Wyoming's 10th Hunting & Fishing Heritage Expo held Sept. 7-9 in Casper.

Turkey Day Temptations from the Dahl E. Llama

dahlerickson — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:25:27 +0000

Well, the early deadline affected us all, but I'll be a backup dancer for Britney before I skip my picks on rivalry weekend. Depending on your allegiances, this is a huge weekend. For Utah/BYU fans, this game isn't just a big game for bragging rights within the state of Utah (a small prize if you ask most Wyoming folks) but both teams are red-hot and are looking ahead to their eventual post-season prizes. For the Cowboys/Rams fans, it's just about pride, as odd as that sounds for two teams with three combined conference wins. Yup, it's been that bad. That being said, there will be more people at the Holy War, but there will be more hatred (and fights) at the Border War. In fact, the only time I've ever actually seen the old "break the bottle and try and cut someone with it" was after the 1998 version in Laramie. Both teams were pretty good then, and the Ram fans had come out of the woodwork. There's not much danger of that happening this time. Other matchups include TCU and San Diego State and UNLV at New Mexico. The only thing really going on there is the chance that the Frogs can become bowl eligible and perhaps be taken by the hometown shindig in Fort Worth. . . . . Woo Hoo. . . . . I get to play another bowl game with my .500 record . . . . . in my home town. Nothing breaks out a party like that set of circumstances. Well, for my money, which will be spent at home and not at a bowl this year (unless something extremely odd happens) It doesn't get any better than the Border War for absolute hatred and loathing. It also happens to be the longest rivalry West of the Mississippi. Not USC/UCLA, not Nebraska/Iowa, not even the Holy War. For a matter of record, this is the 99th time the Cowboys and Rams have met on the football field, with CSU holding an all-time advantage of 40-53-5, going all the way back to 1899. (Boy, I hate ties) However, since 1968, the Cowboys have held the "Bronze Boot" 20-19 over their sheep-like rivals to the South. The Boot, for you other fans out there was originally worn in Vietnam by a CSU graduate, and is taken from one location to the other by the ROTC detachments of the respective schools, roughly 66 miles. Well, without further ado, thank a veteran if you can this holiday, especially a returned member of the 1041st, who will be celebrating their first Thanksgiving with their families in quite a while. Thank you guys and gals! Here's to hoping your Thanksgiving is as good as it can be. Utah @ #25 BYU - There's no denying that BYU has had a great run up to this point. In fact, they haven't lost a conference game in almost two years, a streak they can complete with a win over their arch-rivals. Over the past seven games, during which both teams haven't lost, I believe Utah has been the more dangerous team. However, with a full LES (I can't call it the Litter Box due to my annual lost wager between BYU/UW), the emotion and the home field will account for something. Look for Utah to jump out early, than the Cougars to reel them in for the fourth quarter win. Llama says- Cougars (again, I can't call them Kittens due to the lost wager) - 34-31. Wyoming @ csu - Well, neither team has been great this year. In fact, the argument could be made that neither has been good. Wyoming seemed to peak in their opening week win against Virginia, while CSU allowed 34 points to Georgia Southern last week on their own field, albeit in a win. Well Wyoming fans, if our beloved offensive gurus can't at least score four touchdowns this week, I don't know that they should even be allowed to come get their stuff in Laramie. I think the term "ride 'em out of town on a rail" is appropriate for an offense ranked 107th in the nation right now. Don't come home, just keep on going to Denver International Airport. Alright, maybe that's a bit harsh, but the days of the long-suffering Poke fan is over. We're tired of tough breaks, we're tired of being young and we're sick and tired of not going someplace warm in the winter. Do people even realize how friggin' cold it is here? And in Star Valley it lasts even longer. I'm breaking out my hardhat, my Fennis Dembo Jersey (just for good karma, well, collegiate karma) and screaming at the television this weekend. Get it done boys, I can't stand another disappointment. Llama says - COWBOYS! - 31-14. In other picks, look for TCU to hammer SDSU and New Mexico to go bowling yet again with a win over UNLV. Have a great Thanksgiving, Independent readers, and don't forget, the Lady Braves are at home against Snake River a week from Thursday. Have a thought? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com Haters and conspiracy theorists need not apply.

Star Valley Festival of Trees

newsrelease — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:03:30 +0000

SVMC Auxiliary hosted the Star Valley Festival of Trees at the Lincoln County Fair Grounds. All proceeds go to benefit the hospital. A hope chest with all new items, will be actioned off with the proceeds to benefit the mammography department.

Parade of Lights

newsrelease — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:06:04 +0000

As the temperatures drop to below freezing, residents from across the valley gather for the Parade of Lights over the Thanksgiving holiday in Afton. This year was extra special as the community officially welcomed back the 1041st Wyoming National Guard Unit after their year-long deployment in Iraq. All the floats were based upon military themes and although the temperatures were seen at 28 degrees, the warmth of the holiday season was evident as the soldiers were given a loud ovation. (Below) Max from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" hangs over a snowy incline. Be sure to click below for video.

Lady Braves bitten by Snake River 31-29

dahlerickson — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:23:28 +0000

In a game of tough defense and low shooting percentages, it ultimately came down to the free throw line The Lady Braves and 1st Year Head Coach, Jason Cazier, saw glimpses of what may be yet to come for Star Valley. The gals in gold saw their offense function in bursts while working through some dry spells in a close, 31-29 loss to visiting Snake River. Carolee Saunders led all scorers with ten points and collected five steals, while Danette Warren and Sage Draney each chipped in six points each. In the end, the Lady Braves were unable to capitalize from the free-throw line, leading 27-24 late in the fourth quarter. As a team, Star Valley shot 3 for 10 from the charity stripe while the Lady Panthers went 5 for 8. While the team would like to be celebrating a win this evening, several players contributed and there were definitely flashes of what Cazier and the team expects. In other action at SVHS, the freshman squad defeated Snake River, 36-24, while the junior varsity was victorious in a defensive struggle, 19-15. Be sure to click below for exclusive video of the team as well as Coach Cazier

Utes nip Braves to begin season

dahlerickson — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:17:54 +0000

The members of the boy's basketball senior class came into the season with a lot to prove. After one game, it appears they may be on their way. With an 18-point first quarter, Star Valley held the lead after one againt the Uintah Runnin' Utes out of Vernal, Utah. However, with a distinct height advantage, the Utes claimed the lead late in the second and never relinquished it. Despite less than half the number of foul shots, the Braves hung within five points of their opponent before falling behind by as many as 13, eventually scrapping their way to a 71-64 loss. While no coach or fan likes their team to lose, there was certainly a feeling of optimism after the game. Two Braves made it into double digits, with Zane Porter collecting ten points Mitch Schwab torching the Utes for a game-high 31 points. Remick Rappleye scored seven and pulled down nine rebounds before fouling out and junior Tyler Schwab chipped in nine. "We've still got a long way to go before we're playing the kind of ball I want this team to be playing," stated Head Coach Todd Dixon. "But, I'm absolutely thrilled and proud of their effort tonight. They played their tails off." The Braves played just this single game of the Ben Lomond Invitational and will return to a more familiar foe next week as they take on the Bear Lake Bears, a rivalry that has existed for more than eighty years.

Braves put headlock on Evanston title

dahlerickson — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:24:33 +0000

With 30 teams from several states in attendance at the Evanston Invitational, there were many squads vying for the title. By Saturday afternoon, Star Valley had won and won big. The Braves rolled up 244.5 points en route to the team title, pulling away from second-place Weber who finished with 186.5. Green River wrestled tough as well, placing third with 181.5. Rock Springs and Evanston rounded out the top five which finished well ahead of squads from all over Utah, Nevada and from the Wyoming state capitol. Individually, 16 Star Valley wrestlers placed in the top six, including championship performances from Justin "Whitey" Gardner and Ricky Fairbanks at the 119 and 125 pound weight classes respectively. Star Valley now heads home for a Thursday duel with Rock Springs to kick off the home schedule. Junior varsity matches will begin at 5 p.m., with varsity matches scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. under the spotlight. Be sure to click below for Head Coach Eddie Clark and his thoughts on the weekend's tournament.

Christmas tree permits now available from Forest Service

sarahhale — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:20:31 +0000

Tis the season for Christmas tree permits. Permits are now available to the public at the Greys River Ranger District Office and the Confluence Information Center. Permits can be picked up during regular business hours. Both locations offer Christmas tree permits for the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Greys River Ranger District offers permits for the Caribou National Forest. The Confluence Information Center offers permits for the Targhee National Forest. Christmas tree permits are $5 for trees 12 feet and under, $15 for trees 12 to 24 feet in height and $25 for any tree over 25 feet tall. There is only one tree allowed per household, but an individual can get up to five tree permits if they have the name, physical address, city, state and zip code of the individuals they are purchasing the tree permits for. For more information, contact the Greys River Ranger District at 885-5300.

Mine comment period extended

sarahhale — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:02:10 +0000

• BLM grants Governor’s request for an extension. The comment period on the proposed expansion of the Simplot Smokey Canyon Mine has been extended. According to Joe Kraayenbrink, Idaho Falls district manager for the BLM, the comment extension of 30 days was granted in response to a letter sent by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. The governor’s letter was one of many requests the BLM received asking for an extension. "While the Smoky Canyon phosphate mine is located in Idaho, the people who live in the Afton-Star Valley area of Wyoming are directly affected," Freudenthal wrote. "I have received requests expressing concern over selenium contamination.” According to Simplot spokesman Rick Phillips, Freudenthal has been invited to the mine for a tour and to address any concerns the governor has about about selenium leaching out of the mine’s waste rock. However, the governor’s visit to the mine has not been finalized. Kraayenbrink explained that the BLM will issue an official Record of Decision regarding the proposed mine expansion in February.

Enzi looks to benefit families of aerial fire crews

sarahhale — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:33:38 +0000

Legislation introduced this week by U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would allow families of contracted fire fighting crews to receive federal death benefits. The senators introduced the Aerial Firefighter Relief Act of 2007, which would provide death and disability benefits for aerial firefighters who work on a contract basis for public agencies and suffer death or disability in the line of duty. "A small technicality in current law is the only reason that aerial fire crews are disqualified from receiving federal benefits," said Enzi. "These crews risk their lives doing the same work as full-time federal employees and they should get the same benefit coverage." "These contract pilots and crew members assume the same risks as government air crews when they climb into government-owned firefighting aircraft. Yet they are denied equal benefits if they are killed or injured in the line of duty. This is fundamentally unfair," said Feinstein. Currently, pilots that fly air tankers to fight fires on federal public lands do not qualify for death benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program, which provides financial and educational benefits to individuals serving a public safety agency in an official capacity, on a paid or volunteer basis. This includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, ambulance crew members and corrections officers. However, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, the agency that administers the PSOB, has ruled that air tanker pilots are ineligible because they are contractors and not employed directly by the federal and state agencies involved in wild land fire management and suppression. The bill is likely to be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Representative Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo.

What do you want for Christmas?

newsrelease — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:58:42 +0000

Star Valley Independent.com went on the street to see what a few of our residents want for the Big Day. Check out the video below.

December in the Narrows

newsrelease — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:02:42 +0000

The weather is turning cold, but we still don't have much snow in Star Valley.

A conversation with Head Coach Todd Dixon

dahlerickson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:52:32 +0000

After dropping their season opener, 71-64, to the Uintah Utes last Friday, the Star Valley Braves will be looking to collect their first win against a long-time rival in the Bear Lake Bears. See what Coach Dixon has to say about his team after their first game. Don't forget to head on out to SVHS Saturday afternoon as the Braves will host the Snake River Panthers with a varsity tip off at 2 p.m.

Out of Hibernation: Lady Bears drop Star Valley cagers

dahlerickson — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:57:22 +0000

Holding Bear Lake, now 6-1 to just 14 first half points was a good accomplishment, but a 21-point explosion by the home team was enough to do in the Lady Braves who fell 43-34. Bear Lake outscored Star Valley 21-6 in the third stanza and never relinquished the lead after trailing by four points at the half. The loss moves the Lady Braves to 0-2 on the young season. Danette Warren led all players in both scoring and rebounding, pulling in 12 rebounds and scoring 18 points. Warren had a double-double at the half. No other Lady Brave was able to get into double digits, as McKenzie Luthi was next in line finishing with eight first-half points. The Lady Braves now have a week off before traveling to Green River for the three-day Flaming Gorge Classic. Star Valley will face Gillette, Cheyenne Central and Rawlins on their schedule.

Tamed: Braves dominate home duel with Rock Springs

dahlerickson — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:36:32 +0000

Folks around the state are buzzing about the Star Valley Braves wrestling squad after their impressive win over the field at the Evanston Invite last week. Their 65-12 drubbing of Rock Springs in Afton shouldn't do anything to quiet things down. The Braves lost just a single match, as well as giving up an open weight class as they rolled to a convincing decision over the out-matched Tigers. Star Valley will have the weekend off before traveling to Ogden, Utah for the Weber Invitational next weekend.

Hear them roar: Bears run past Braves, 63-55

dahlerickson — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 06:18:36 +0000

Despite a two-point lead after the first quarter, the Braves couldn't keep up with a rampaging Bear squad who kept Star Valley winless after two games. Bear Lake, after looking a bit ragged in the first quarter, took the lead in the second and never gave it up, staying in front by as many as fifteen points in the second half. The Braves, nursing some illnesses and plagued by turnovers, made a valiant effort but were unable to cut the deficit to any less than five points. Mitch Schwab led all scorers with 17 points, while Zane Porter finished with 11. Remick Rappleye chipped in 8 points and 11 rebounds in the effort. The road doesn't get any easier as the Braves look to rebound quickly, hosting perennial contender Snake River Saturday afternoon.

Skinned! Braves collect win in home opener over Panthers

dahlerickson — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:26:26 +0000

The Snake River Panthers have won two state titles in the last three years and have generally been considered one of the top teams in Idaho's 3A Class, which is what makes Star Valley's 64-58 win Saturday afternoon that much more satisfying. "I couldn't be more proud of these guys and how they played," stated Head Coach Todd Dixon. "They handled the pressure of playing with the lead and did a pretty good job. We're still not to where I want this team to be, but really am thrilled with their effort today." Mitch Schwab led all scorers with 21 points to go along with six rebounds, while Zane Porter scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half to keep a slim lead intact, including three three-pointers. Junior Tyler Schwab also was in double figures with 16 points, including three from behind the three-point line himself. Remick Rappleye scored six and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds as the Braves were able to hold off a tenacious Snake River squad down the stretch. The win was the first of the season for the Braves and for Coach Dixon at SVHS as Star Valley improves their record to 1-2. Up next for the Braves is a date with the Rawlins Outlaws on Thursday, as part of the Flaming Gorge Classic in Green River. Star Valley will also play Cheyenne Central and Gillette in the three day tournament. This tournament will come just a few days before a much anticipated match-up between Star Valley and Jackson who meet just once this year as a non-conference game on December 20. While the game against Jackson will pit Star Valley against one of their former all-time greats in Doug Broadhead, it will also serve as a fund-raiser. While several incarnations of the fund-raiser have been discussed, it has been determined that money will be raised from the large expected attendance and donated to the Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research. The Star Valley Independent wishes Coach Wiley a speedy recovery and also extends best wishes to him and his family.

Governor invites discussion on Wyoming's future

sarahhale — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:47:45 +0000

Governor Dave Freudenthal says Wyoming faces the daunting challenge of accommodating growth and prosperity while preserving all that makes the state special to its residents. the Governor will convene a two-day conference in Casper next month to give state residents a voice in discussing both the benefits and challenges of growth in Wyoming. The conference, entitled "Building the Wyoming We Want," is scheduled for Jan. 10-11 at the Krampert Theatre at Casper College. “We have a tremendous opportunity to grow in a way that will improve Wyoming for all of us and our children," Freudenthal said, “but we'll waste that opportunity if we don't at least begin talking about the issues and finding ways to use today’s growth to work for our benefit in the future.” The event is open to the public, but space is limited. Registration and a fee of $25 are required. To register, and for more information, visit: http://governor.wy.gov and follow the red link on the bottom left to the secure registration site. Freudenthal said he hopes the conference will encourage continuing discussion about ways to "make sure that the Wyoming we all enjoy today will endure into the future."

What do you Want for Christmas in Thayne?

newsrelease — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:49:47 +0000

Starvalleyindependent.com went out on the street in Thayne and asked a few hardy souls what they want to receive on the big day. Check out the video below

Braves look to bounce back in Riverton

dahlerickson — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:23:15 +0000

Star Valley will tip off against Riverton and Sheridan over the weekend at a small tournament to be played at Riverton High School. It's a chance for any of the three teams to make a statement on the rest of their season. SVHS Head Coach Todd Dixon spoke on what he feels Star Valley needs to improve on and the character of his team this season. Star Valley will take on host Riverton on their own floor beginning Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Braves will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they face Sheridan at Central Wyoming College.

Braves corral Broncs to halt losing skid

dahlerickson — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:32:04 +0000

After one half of basketball, it looked like Star Valley might run away with a win against Sheridan. After the second half, they were just glad to collect the W. The Braves jumped out to a 36-25 halftime lead over Sheridan and appeared to be running their style of ballgame. Sheridan responded with a long, determined effort to make Star Valley and their fans sweat out a 68-65 victory. "I'm very proud of how the guys responded tonight when the pressure was on and how they finished the game," stated Head Coach Todd Dixon. "We're still not where we want to be but this is a nice win to have going into practice this week before we see Kemmerer on Thursday. " Apparently buoyed by a makeshift student section made up of other Sheridan players, the Broncs refused to go quietly and made for a very tense fourth quarter as they whittled down what was at one time a twelve-point lead. The Broncs closed to within two points on three occasions in the fourth quarter, but each time the Braves responded with a key basket or free throws. Sheridan's Dustin Mccalla tallied 23 points and ten rebounds to keep the Broncs going while Austin Woodward chipped in 12. Tyler Schwab led the Braves with 18 points, including four consecutive free throws in the game's final minute to ice the victory. Kurtis Suloff finished in double figures for the second consecutive night, compiling 16 points and hitting seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter. Mitch Schwab finished with 16 points, while Remick Rappleye scored eleven points and pulled down seven rebounds. The Braves split their games in the Riverton Invitational, losing 70-65 to the Wolverines Friday evening. The Lady Braves once again put together one good half while trying to hang with the Sheridan Lady Broncs. The 4A defending state champions knocked off Star Valley, 56-29. Danette Warren scored 12 points while Carolee Saunders chipped in eleven. The girls' junior varsity lost a pair of games in the tournament, while the JV boys made short work of their competition, winning their games by an average of over 20 points. The Braves now face a familiar non-conference opponent to close out their out of conference schedule as they host the Kemmerer Rangers on Thursday evening at Star Valley High School.

Horse Team and Snow

newsrelease — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:27:23 +0000

In Star Valley many people still do their work with a horse team. Snow is nothing but a part of life for those of us who live here. Living in Star Valley can be an adventure in the winter, but most of us wouldn't have it any other way.

Girl Power! Lady Braves rope the Rangers in 63-54 victory

dahlerickson — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:21:33 +0000

The Lady Braves absolutely needed more points as the season now moves towards conference play. With their win over visiting Kemmerer, they looked downright offensive. Carolee Saunders scored a game-high 22 points to lead the way as Star Valley dusted Kemmerer, 64-54. Saunders wasn't just in the scoring column, as she compiled nine rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and a steal. Danette Warren finished with 14 points and a team-high four steals, while sophomore Shae Wilkes, getting her first start with Sage Draney sidelined, finished with ten points and five rebounds. For the Lady Rangers, they were never able to keep up with an invigorated Star Valley squad, who led by as many as 13 points. Lynzee Crosland finished with 16 points, while Codi Anne Corpening chipped in ten. Despite having no players over 5' 10", the Lady Braves out-rebounded Kemmerer, 33-24. The Braves weren't quite as fortunate as they ran into a hot-shooting Ranger team who stifled the Star Valley offense. Despite averaging under four points per game, Kemmerer's David Paulson netted 19 and five rebounds to lead the way in a 62-50 Ranger victory. Parkie Lint also finished in double figures with 14 points. Star Valley trailed by as many as 23 points in the contest and 21 in the fourth quarter. Sophomores David Cranford and Brandon Taylor entered the game in the final stanza to mount somewhat of a comeback, as Cranford finished with eight points. Taylor finished with four steals. The Braves were led by Remick Rappleye and Tyler Schwab who each finished with nine points. In junior varsity action, both teams were successful. The JV Lady Braves won 57-31, while their counterparts defeated Kemmerer, 57-41. Both the Braves and Lady Braves will now face their first 4A West games as they play Casper Natrona on Friday evening. The Braves will be on the road while the Lady Braves will be on the home floor. Both teams will face Kelly Walsh the following day on Saturday afternoon.

Three snowmobiling fatalities over the weekend

dandockstader — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:51:04 +0000

Funeral services will be held this week for three Star Valley snowmobilers who were killed in a massive avalanche on Saturday. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Alan Jensen, 55, Kim Steed, 51, and Dr. Scott Bennett, 42, all residents of the Smoot area, were trapped and died in an avalanche in the Cottonwood Lake area of the Bridger Teton National Forest. At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a snowmobiler in the Cottonwood area that three snowmobilers were trapped in an avalanche. Star Valley Search & Rescue and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. A search was conducted of the slide area and all three victims were found. Two of the three victims were wearing beacons which assisted in the recovery. The avalanche was estimated to travel a half-mile from the top of a ravine and settled in at the bottom of the ravine where it was estimated to be approximately 10 acres wide, with an average depth of 10 feet. Jensen, Steed and Bennett were all experienced snowmobilers and had snowmobiled in the Cottonwood area on regular basis. The bodies were transported to Lincoln County Coroner’s Office Saturday night. Lincoln County Coroner Mike Richins determined that all three victims died as a result of compression asphyxia. Funeral services for Alan Jensen will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at noon in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held Tuesday evening at Schwab Mortuary from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the church. Funeral services for Kim Steed will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and Thursday from 9-10:45 a.m. at the church. Funeral services for Dr. Scott Bennett will be held on Friday, Jan. 18 at noon in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 6-8 p.m. in the Smoot Ward Relief Society Room and Friday from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services. A memorial fund for the families of the men who died has been set up at the Bank of Star Valley.

Avalanche Claims the Lives of Three Star Valley Men

dandockstader — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:09:51 +0000

Three Smoot men fell victim to an avalanche on Saturday, January 12 in Cottonwood Canyon: Alan Jensen, Kim Steed and Dr. Scott Bennet. These men will be missed. Star Valley feels this loss in a profound way. A memorial fund for the families of these men has been set up at the Bank of Star Valley.

Border War Beatdown: Braves bury top-ranked American Falls, 55-15

dahlerickson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:42:29 +0000

As a primer to the 32-team Tiger Grizz Tournament which begins Friday, the Braves got warmed up by stomping Idaho's top-rated 3A squad on their home mat. Not bad for a Thursday night. Star Valley was in total control Thursday evening as they rolled up an impressive 55-15 victory over American Fall, Idaho, continuing an undefeated duel streak in 2008. The win was all the more impressive due to the fact that American Falls is the top ranked 3A squad in wrestling-rich Idaho. The win should serve as a nice jump-off point for Star Valley who will have their hands full in the enormous Tiger Grizz, which features teams from Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming. Be sure to check back for updates here at starvalleyindependent.com for tournament updates and some thoughts from Head Coach Eddie Clark.

From the Mat, to the Court and to the BYU Invitational, It's a huge weekend for SVHS Sports

dahlerickson — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:57:33 +0000

There were standout performances and performances to forget as Star Valley athletes were active in three states Friday night. Plus, one SVHS trackster set a new event record . On the wrestling mat, the Star Valley Braves are currently in second place with 70 points after the first day of competition at the Tiger Grizz. Blackfoot, Idaho leads the event with 74.5 points. Star Valley will have ten wrestlers in the championship bracket, with two more competing in the wrestle-backs. Blackfoot has nine and four respectively in those same categories. "I like how we're wrestling right now," stated SVHS Head Coach Eddie Clark. "This tournament is going to be decided in the wrestle-backs and it should go right down to the wire." Columbia High School from Boise, Idaho is in third place, with Pocatello and Weber, Utah rounding out the top five in the 32-team field. Only 15 points separate the top five teams after Friday's action. On the basketball court the defending 4A champion Natrona Mustangs stifled the Star Valley offense and led 33-9 at the half before coasting to a 58-34 victory. Mitch Schwab led the Braves with 16 points while Tyler Schwab and Brandon Taylor chipped in eight and six points respectively. Tom Earl led the Mustangs with 20 points while nine different players made it into the scoring column. "That's just a very fine basketball team there," replied SVHS Head Coach Todd Dixon in a post-game interview. "We did do some things that were positive like holding them under 60 points, which was one of our team goals and we did play them even in the second half." Members of the Casper community in attendance joined with visitors in a moment of silence prior to the game in honor of Dr. Scott Bennett, Kim Steed and Alan Jensen who were all killed less than a week ago in a fatal avalanche. The Braves will look to bounce back as they face winless Kelly Walsh on their home court Saturday afternoon. It's a game that Coach Dixon refuses to let his team take lightly "They have played very competitively against very tough teams," he added. "We will have to come out and really play our best game if we hope to win [Saturday]." The junior varsity team lost 73-51, while the sophomore squad won handily, 61-36. The Lady Braves trailed by only four points at the intermission, but could not reel in the Natrona Fillies who claimed the 57-42 victory in Afton. In Provo, Utah, the members of the SVHS Indoor Track Team made an impressive showing in their first outing of the season and even broke a record. Sophomore Audrey West broke the BYU Indoor Track Meet Record in the Long Jump, leaping an impressive 18' 10.5" to claim the new event mark. On the boy's side of the equation, Junior Kevin Brough flew 20' 3" to claim second place in the Long Jump, while Senior Logan Fitzgerald placed sixth in his first ever Long Jump attempt, jumping 19' 5". In the High Jump, Tyler Skinner placed third with a vertical leap of 5' 8".

"A total team effort": Star Valley takes Tiger Grizz title

dahlerickson — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:16:20 +0000

In an event as competitive as the Tiger Grizz, the teams in attendance all have athletes who are among the best. After two grueling days, the Braves were able to prove they had the best team. The Braves, who trailed an incredibly tough Blackfoot squad by 4.5 points after the first day, were able to come through the back door and take the title from the Idaho powerhouse. Blackfoot had six wrestlers in the championship round, but Star Valley had ten medalists, a fact that Coach Clark said was key. "This really was a total team effort," he stated in a telephone interview with the Independent. "Every guy on this team did his part to help win this title." The Braves had two individual champions as Whitey Gardner claimed a 5-1 decision in the 112 weight class and Hayden Heap came all the way from the eighth seed in the tournament to win a thrilling 9-8 decision in the finals. "You've got to give Hayden a lot of credit," added Clark. "Last year he was wrestling JV for us and now he's made it to the championship round of two of the biggest tournaments in the mid-west." The title is the third straight event crown for the Braves who have previously claimed both the Green River and Box Elder tournaments. Star Valley will be at home Thursday, January 24, to host the always tough Green River Wolves in a conference showdown. Junior varsity will begin at 5 p.m. with varsity action to follow. Be sure to read the January 24, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent for full results of this impressive win. 1st - Star Valley 205.5 pts 2nd - Blackfoot 197.5 pts 3rd - Mountain View (Idaho) 167 pts 4th - Weber (Utah) 153 pts 5th - Pocatello (Idaho) 135 pts

Star Valley Independent earns statewide recognition

sarahhale — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:17:54 +0000

Newspaper staff brings home 12 Pacemaker Awards Last weekend the Star Valley Independent earned accolades from the Wyoming Press Association as well as newspapers around the state. The Independent brought home 12 Pacemaker Awards from the statewide press convention, held in Casper Jan. 17-19. Pacemaker Awards are presented for excellent performance in advertising, newspaper design, news coverage, photography and web page design. While the Star Valley Independent earn has earned a handful of awards every year, 12 Pacemakers in a single year is a record. “The 12 awards the Wyoming Press Association presented to the Star Valley Independent over the weekend in Casper are reflective of the great work of our staff,” said Dan Dockstader, publisher and owner of the Star Valley Independent. “Our entire staff has worked long and hard hours over the past year to bring you an award winning paper.” This year’s awards included, first place in web page design; first place in open page design; and a special merit award for creating and publishing student champion posters. The newspaper also received a first place for in-depth reporting, sports feature story and institutional advertisement. Second place awards were presented to the newspaper for headline writing, use of color in an advertisement, news feature story and general news photography. The Star Valley Independent also received honorable mentions for small advertisement design and general news story.

Successful Wolf Plan: Braves pin Green River, 47-10

dahlerickson — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:38:11 +0000

There were some mighty close matches but at the end of the evening, Star Valley collected four pins en route to a 47-10 duel win over visiting Green River. "We won our matches but we were a bit flat," stated Head Coach Eddie Clark. "We'll have to regroup and get ready for this weekend [against Natrona] so maybe we were looking ahead a little bit." While a 37- point conference duel win may seem like a very decisive night, the Wolves were very close in several matches that went Star Valley's way in the end including two extra-period victories and a pair of one-point decisions. Whitey Gardner, Bryan Luthi, Nick Edwards and Lynk Nield all won by Fall, while Zack Walker won by Technical Fall. Nield barely broke a sweat, winning his match in an impressive 29 seconds. Up next for the Braves is a weekend in Casper to face Natrona and Kelly Walsh as the 4A West duels continue. For Clark and the Braves, it's a weekend to perhaps make a statement against the second-ranked Mustangs.

Friday Wrap: A Tigers' Tale

dahlerickson — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:43:00 +0000

Rock Springs came into the SVHS gym on Friday night and completed the varsity sweep of both the Braves and the Lady Braves in 4A West Conference action. The Lady Braves found themselves down 19-5 in the second quarter but drew to within seven at the half and tied the game at 31 apiece in the third stanza. To the Lady Tigers' credit, they responded each time the Lady Braves drew close and sealed the game at the free-throw line for a 56-46 victory. Amanda Willmore scored a game high 18 points and chipped in five assists for Rock Springs, while Kyla Radakovich also scored in double figures wiht 13 points. McKenzie Luthi scored a season-high 14 points, ten of which came in the second half for the Lady Braves, while Carolee Saunders finished with nine. Sage Draney finished with seven points and five rebounds. Danette Warren scored six points and pulled down five rebounds while Aubree Johnson also scored six and collected three steals. On the boy's side of the equation, the Braves led very briefly, 9-6 before Rock Springs went on a 15-0 run to close out the first quarter. It was a deficit that proved to be too much for Star Valley to overcome. While the Braves closed the gap to six points on several occasions, they were never able to catch a confident group of Tigers coached by Mike Swensen. Austin Maxwell was key in building the lead, scoring 14 of his team-high 18 points in the first half. Kolby Vasa and Kevin Gold also finished in double digits scoring 15 and 14 points respectively. Brandon Allen finished with nine points and six rebounds for the Tigers. Mitch Schwab scored a game-high 25 points and collected five steals for the Braves, while Tyler Schwab notched 13 points of his own. Despite playing much of the game in foul trouble, Remick Rappleye finished with seven points and nine rebounds. Coach Dixon shuffled his lineup multiple times while five different Braves finished with at least four fouls. Both Star Valley squads fell to 0-3 in the 4A West and will try to get into the win column Saturday evening against Green River. On the wrestling mat, Natrona edged the red-hot Braves in Casper, 36-33 in a conference duel. Star Valley responded well in their next duel, wiping the mat with Kelly Walsh, 68-6. The 4A West Regional Tournament will take place in Afton on February 15-16.

It's a Start: Lady Braves claim first conference win

dahlerickson — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:19:14 +0000

Carolee Saunders notched 13 points and five steals to pace the Lady Braves to a 40-37 win over visiting Green River Saturday night. The Lady Braves led the entire game, but the Lady Wolves did force four ties over the course of the contest but were never able to claim the advantage. Danette Warren scored seven points, pulled down six rebounds and collected four steals in the effort while Mckenzie Luthi scored six second half points and hit the final two free throws to seal the game. The Lady Braves also received a spark off the bench from sophomore Randi Robinson who scored five points in her first significant varsity time of the season. For the visiting Lady Wolves, they were led by Jenelle Strampe who finished with a double-double, compiling 13 points and ten rebounds to go along with three blocked shots. Kada Williams was next with 12 points, eight of which came from the free-throw line, before fouling out. Green River hit on 13 of 17 free throws while Star Valley went 11 of 19. The win was the first win in the 4A West for Coach Jason Cazier and the Lady Braves who improved to (4-11) overall and (1-3) in the conference. The Braves weren't nearly as fortunate, falling behind an aggressive Wolf pack early before eventually losing 94-63. Drew Martinez paced Green River with 21 points, although he was just one of five different players who notched double figures. Colter Rood scored 15, Mitch Roberts compiled 14, Isaac Wittman collected 13 while Casey Cassity hit four three-point baskets and finished with twelve. Star Valley was led by Tyler Schwab's 14 second half points, while Mitch Schwab scored 12 before leaving with an injured ankle in the third period. Zane Porter also hit for double figures, finishing with eleven.

The Simplot Hill Climbs

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:17:21 +0000

Clck below to view footage from the Simplot Hill Climbs

A Monday Morning whiteout

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:41:08 +0000

January 28, 2008 was a doozy for Mother Nature. Take a look at one member of the Independent staff who makes his daily trip to the office. It's not a long trip, but it's definitely adventurous.

Cutter Racers enjoy a beautiful day

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:46:47 +0000

Cutter Racing, which has it's roots right here in Star Valley, still draws a nice crowd every weekend at the chariot track outside of Afton. Be sure to click below to see a few of the teams kicking up some mud.

Hades on the Hardwood: Devils sweep Star Valley

dahlerickson — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:25:39 +0000

Despite bitter and blowing snow outside, the Evanston Red Devils and Lady Devils heated up the hardwood and came away with a pair of victories in the process. The Lady Braves led for much of their contest with the Lady Devils, with Evanston going ahead in the final minute to seal off the victory. Star Valley's Carolee Saunders had a fantastic evening, scoring a game-high 19 points before going to the floor with a high ankle sprain at the 1:46 mark in the fourth quarter. The injury seemed to take the wind out the the Star Valley sails as Evanston scored the final five points for a 51-47 win. Danette Warren had a heroic night on the boards, hauling down 15 rebounds and scoring seven on senior night. Sage Draney also compiled five rebounds, while McKenzie Luthi scored eleven points. It was the final home game for Saunders, Warren, Draney and Luthi. Other standouts saw junior Aubree Johnson dish out a team-high five assists, while Saunders also blocked three shots. Ashley Davis had a monster first half, scoring 14 points and hauling in six rebounds. Davis finished with 18 points and eleven rebounds to go along with five steals and two blocked shots. Delina Delgado scored eight of her ten points in the second half, including hitting four of five free-throws down the stretch for the win. Jana Barker and Kelsi Thornock chipped in nine and seven points respectively. The game between the Braves and Devils wasn't nearly so close as Evanston played a near-perfect half while Star Valley could do nothing right. After two quarters, the visitors led 49-12. Evanston coasted to the easy victory, 78-45. Evanston emptied their bench in the fourth quarter and eleven different players made it into the scoring column. The Red Devils were led by Austin Kofoed's 20 points while Hazen Davis finished with 18 of his own. Brandon Bartlett also finished in double figures, netting ten points. For the Braves, it was an evening of turnovers and frustration. Tyler and Mitch Schwab each finished with ten points to lead the team in scoring, while Remick Rappleye chipped in six. The Lady Braves will be on the road next weekend as they begin the second half of the conference slate in Casper to take on Natrona and Kelly Walsh. The Braves will host the Casper schools, who will make the long trek to Lincoln County. Both the boy's and girl's squads for Natrona and Kelly Walsh swept Star Valley in previous games this season.

Camels nip Braves by 1.5 points for fourth consecutive Ron Thon Crown

dahlerickson — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:33:03 +0000

If the state tournament is anything like the Ron Thon, then spectators and athletes will have a very interesting weekend. After holding a day one lead, the Braves were edged by Gillette and hung onto second place over Natrona as the three teams all finished within eight points of each other. The Camels forged 199 points, while Star Valley finished with 197.5 and the Mustangs ended the tournament with 193.

Dana funeral services are Monday

sarahhale — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:13:56 +0000

Funeral services for Frank and Barbara Dana have been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 at the Thayne LDS Stake Center. The services will begin at noon. Viewings are planned for Sunday evening, Feb. 10, from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Thayne and Monday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church. A memorial fund for the family has been established at the Bank of Star Valley.

Star Valley Science Team captures first place in state competition

sarahhale — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:23:01 +0000

The Wyoming Regional Science Bowl was held in Casper Feb. 2. After a day of tough competition, Star Valley emerged as the first place team in the state. According to Jim Nation, public relations specialist for the bowl, the state’s competition is one of 64 regional competitions held nationwide. The academic competition is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Department of Energy. At the state level the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center in Casper hosts the event. “Science Bowl provides Wyoming high school teams (four students plus one alternate per team) the opportunity to show off their knowledge of all things science,” said Nations. “The quiz format includes questions in Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Earth Science, General Science and Astronomy.” n addition to some individual prizes, the first place team also is awarded an all-expense paid trip to the National Science Bowl for High School. This year the national bowl will take place in Washington, D.C., May 1-6. According to Science Bowl Coordinator Kari Skalicky, it is great to see “a team from one of our smaller schools do so well.” “This is a very tough competition,” Skalicky said. “Since the question are drawn from the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Earth Science, General Science and Astronomy, teams are made up of a wide age range of students.” According to Nations, the state competition came “right down to the last question in the championship round.” Star Valley edged out Kelly Walsh by a score of 40-32. Kelly Walsh had the opportunity to answer the last question of the bowl, a question worth enough points to move the score into that school’s favor. When they missed the question, Star Valley’s team was proclaimed the winner. “The winning teams from around the country will arrive in Washington on Thursday, May 1 and take a guided bus tour of the national monuments that evening,” said Skalicky. “On Friday morning the teams will have the day to tour the National Mall and visit the many exciting museums there. Saturday is filled with presentations and activities and then the competition takes place on Sunday. The awards ceremony for the top 16 teams is held Monday and all participants are then invited to a Congressional reception. It is an absolutely wonderful trip.”

Indoor track travels to BYU again

dahlerickson — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:13:38 +0000

Lion relocated after spending time in garage

newsrelease — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:43:26 +0000

A female mountain lion was relocated to the Salt River Range just southeast of Afton last week by Wildlife officials. The lion was taken from a garage at a residence near Hoback Junction. Wyoming Game and Fish received the call from a resident who reported the lion hiding under a pickup truck in their garage. When Game and Fish officials responded to the call, they realized that the cat had a radio-telemetry collar on it. The presence of the collar led the officials to believe that the lion was part of a mountain lion research project being conducted in the Jackson Hole area by Craighead Beringia South. Initial attempts to haze the animal away were unsuccessful and it was decided to tranquilize the animal and relocate it away from development. With the tranquilized cat in hand Craighead Beringia South researcher, Howard Quigley, identified the cat as F23, having been captured in November of 2006 near Alkali Creek in the Gros Ventre drainage. “We don*t know exactly how old she is, but would estimate her to be about 8-10 years old,” said Quigley. The researchers hadn't heard the cat’s radio signal in recent weeks. “The last location we had gotten on her was in December near the confluence of Crystal Creek and the Gros Ventre River,” said Quigley. “This is approximately 20 air miles away and on the opposite side of the high peaks of the Gros Ventre Mountain Range. This cat seemed to have a well-defined home range in the Crystal Creek drainage. We’re not sure why she would make such a drastic move, let alone end up in a garage.” Wildlife officials note that it could be related to the fairly severe winter conditions occurring across much of the West this year. “With the increased snow pack this winter we’re seeing more wildlife at lower elevations and in developed areas,” said Doug Brimeyer, Jackson wildlife biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “With more deer and elk at lower elevations, it’s only logical that predators such as lions would follow them down.” This is the second mountain lion to take up temporary residence near a home in a few weeks. The other was at a private in holding within Grand Teton National Park near Moran.

Leadership theme for Legislative Session announced

sarahhale — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:17:59 +0000

“Responsibility and responsiveness will be the theme of this budget session,” Speaker of the House Roy Cohee announced at the end of the House Republican Caucus on Sunday. “While the State of Wyoming has ample wealth, we have an obligation to future generations. Will they look back and say they spent it all, or will they look back and say our predecessors planned wisely.?” “The Caucus is determined to adopt a balanced approach to spending and savings which addresses our present needs, invest in needed infrastructure ands save future generations,” Cohee continued. “Major issues outside the budget to be considered this session include local government finance, property tax relief and carbon sequestration.” According to Cohee, local government financing is an important issue for the Republican caucus. “In years past, local governments have asked for a steady reliable income stream upon which to plan.” Cohee said, “This year, we have a funding model that may reasonably accomplish what our local governments desire. While we are subject to the ups and downs of the minerals industry, we must be responsive to the needs of our cities, towns and counties. With some legislative effort, we should be able to craft a legislative model which meets the needs of our governmental partners.” Majority Floor Leader, Colin Simpson, believes the Republican Caucus is focused on a responsible two year budget that will allow the state to continue to serve the people of Wyoming at a high level and must save for the future as well. “Property tax relief is an issue for many in this state. The legislature will be called upon to choose between broad based relief, targeted relief, or no relief at all,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Tom Lubnau, II. “The tax relief proposals are going to have a significant effect on funding streams at all levels of government. While no one wants to pay taxes, we all demand services from government. We need to craft a responsible, fair and balanced tax structure.” Carbon Sequestration, a process in which carbon dioxide is captured power plants, and injected in the ground, will also be a topic of discussion this session. According to legislators, with the demand for green energy technologies, carbon sequestration will provide a regulatory framework to allow Wyoming coal to be used to provide green energy the world. “We have had the benefit of abundant wealth the last three or four years,” Cohee said. “Now the budget has grown to the point where there is less money available for legislative initiative. We are going to have to prioritize our expenditures in a way that it is both responsible and responsive to the taxpayers of Wyoming.”

Trojans claim victory on SVHS floor; sweep the Braves

dahlerickson — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:13:32 +0000

Despite waiting a few extra days to make the trip, the Kelly Walsh Trojans looked anything but bored and fatigued from the drive. Joe Munsell dropped a season-high 26 points while Cobi Eskew scored 19 in a 67-51 Trojan victory. Munsell scored the game's first nine points and it turned out to be a sign of things yet to come for the 6' 0" junior who scored 16 in the first half and ten more in the second half. It was a game of runs as Munsell spearheaded an 11-0 run to open the game, only to see Star Valley go on a 10-0 run to close the gap. The Trojans responded with yet another run to lead 18-12 after the first quarter. Star Valley's offense was stuck in second gear all night as they committed many consecutive turnovers which led to a double-digit lead for the visitors. After leading by nine at halftime, the Trojans broke the game open with some quick transition buckets from Matt and Lucas Nolan to Eskew who scored 13 of his total in the second half. The Braves trailed by as many as 22 points in the second half and the lone highlight of the evening was a monster two handed jam from Mitch Schwab after a steal. Schwab finished with 15 points to lead the Braves. Tyler Schwab canned a trio of three-point baskets in the first half to finish with nine, while Kurtis Suloff scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter. It was the second victory of the season for Kelly Walsh, both of them coming by way of the Braves. Star Valley will be back on the road Friday evening against Rock Springs and on Saturday against Green River.

Several property tax measures make way through the House of Representatives

newsrelease — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:29:16 +0000

Several property tax relief measures continue to work their way through the system in the House of Representatives. Among a proposal to provide tax relief for Wyoming’s seniors. It comes in two forms, a House Joint Resolution and the second in an accompanying bill. On first consideration Tuesday morning the proposals failed to receive the two-thirds majority vote for introduction during the 2008 session, however after reconsideration by House leadership, both were brought back for a second vote in the afternoon. This time the measures surpassed the majority vote. The resolution and accompanying bill would allow for a 50 percent tax break on the first $200,000 of fair market value for Wyoming residents over the age of 65. Other property tax measures in the House include initial approval to revisit the issue through a reforendom and a bill, still to be introduced, would address fair market values. A proposed increase in fuel taxes went down in the House. Representatives failed to support a raise in gas and dismal taxes. A statewide mill levy to fund community colleges failed. A right to bear arms bill, prohibiting government officials to confiscate guns in a national emergency passed on introduction. A bill addressing illegal immigration failed on the house. Fines may go up for those who chose to run a road block. Currently the fine stands at $100, but a proposal to raise the fine to $750 received a two-thirds majority on introduction. An attempt was made to clarify a current law that suggests that it is illegal for a minor to be drunk in Wyoming, but legal to drink. The proposal to clarify the law failed. An attempt to give conflicted felons a right to vote failed on introduction. A court security study was passed in the Senate. A bill that would reimburse local governments $40 million on lost revenues from the canceled food tax failed in the House. However, funding has already been dedicated to the towns and counties in a $350 million budget proposal prepared by the House and Senate Appropriations Committee. On Wednesday House and Senate committees took on proposals for repeal of a grand jury, uniform notarial acts, the right to bear arms, district court judge salaries, employee criminal background checks. economic development loans, natural gas valuations, fuel tax distributions, school financing recapture payments, community juvenile services, residential mortgages practicies, national guard licensing and commercial vehicle licensing.

Star Valley welcomes 4A West Wrestlers

dahlerickson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:48:58 +0000

Teams from Natrona, Evanston, Rock Springs, Kelly Walsh and Green River will join the Braves on their home mat as the six squads vie for their own chunk of the state tournament spots in Casper next week. SVHS Head Coach Eddie Clark provided some in depth thoughts on who could walk away with individual accolades Saturday evening, but in a conference with the lion's share of championship contenders this year, it's the all-important process of qualifying for Casper that will occupy the teams' thoughts on Friday. "You can't win a state tournament at regionals, but you can sure lose one," stated Clark. "This is just going to be an incredibly intense competition this weekend. When you take a look at the rankings (provided below) you can see that in some cases, there are four or five of the state's top wrestlers here in Star Valley in any given weight this weekend." While the teams will all be fighting for superiority on the mat, Clark also reiterated the close bond that wrestling communities have always shared, particularly in light of the recent tragedy that SVHS experienced earlier this month with the loss of Frank and Barbara Dana in a auto accident. It's a bond that Clark has expressed deep appreciation for. "It's been unbelievable really," added Clark. "Within just a couple of days afterwards, I had been contacted by virtually every wrestling program in the state, wishing us well and offering support and sending donations for the family. At the end of the day, that's the really special thing about wrestling communities is that it's all about the relationships you build and I and truly grateful for everyone who has pitched in to help." The Friday afternoon matches will begin at 3 p.m. and frequent updates including video and audio files will be posted right here on starvalleyindependent.com. With the cancellation of previous matches last week, the SVHS seniors will be honored Friday evening at 7 p.m. Final 4A Regular Season Rankings (* 4A West) Teams 1. Gillette 2. Natrona * 3. Star Valley * 4. Green River * 103 1. Mark Harris (GR)* 2. Matt Child (CE) 3. Aaron Vye (CC) 4. Hayden Heap (SV)* 5. Josh Claye (SV)* 6. Brian Kussy (Nat) 112 1, Tyler Cox (Gil) 2. Justin Gardner (SV)* 2. Kasy Bertagnolli (RS)* 4. Joe Best (CE) 5. Jacob Flores (GR)* 6. Nate Clark (Lar) 119 1. Jesse Hillhouse (KW)* 2. Ricky Fairbanks (SV)* 3. Seth Harris (GR)* 4. Cody Cisneros (L) 5. Leonardo Arias (CC) 6.Isaac Harmon (GR)* 125 1. Perry McAfee (KW)* 2. Kris Stenhaug (Nat)* 3. Justin Schumacher (GR)* 4. Tyler Schwab (SV)* 5. Mike Shelton (EV)* 6. Austin Breckenridge (CC) 130 1. Andy McCulley (RS)* 2. Marc Madsen (G) 3. Travis Henderson (GR)* 4. Ethan Reigel (LAR) 3. Riley Rasmussen (NC)* 4. Dakota Dana (SV)* 135 1. Tyler Juby (G) 2. Phillip Young (Nat)* 3. Joseph Platt (EV)* 4. Orlando Rodriquez (Riv) 6. Seth Lewis (SV)* 6. Scott Verner (GR)* 140 1. Briston Brenton (Nat)* 2. Zack Walker (SV)* 3. Nick Adame (RS)* 4. Tyler Olson (Gill) 5. Ethan Mulhern (CC) 6. Dan Dean (EV)* 145 1. Rodney Dollar (RS)* 2. Telbe Storbeck )Gil) 3. Ab Brown (Nat)* 4. TC Mulbach (CC) 5. Jake Sowers (EV)* 6. Bryan Luthi (SV)* 152 1. Cody Brown (Nat)* 2. Tim Hokanson (SV)* 3. Thomas Thoman (GR)* 4. Grant Burgess (Gill) 5.Hayden Jones (CC 6. Derek Griffin (Riv) 160 1. Brady Burgess (G) 2. Jimmy Owens (Nat)* 3. Brice Parkhill (Nat)* 3. Laken Kennington (SV)* 5. Orin Sell (GR)* 6. Tom Osborne (Riv) 171 1. Miles Nixon (EV)* 2. Derek Miller (Riverton) 3. Franklin Henderson (KW)* 4. Chris Schultz (G) 5. Colby Eaton (NC)* 6. Brad Ramsey (CC) 189 1. Tyson Anderson (GR)* 2. Micheal Paulos (L) 3. Patrick Hartford (RS)* 4. Derek Thrall (G) 5. Nathan Massie (CEH) 6. Paul Woodie (SV)* 215 1. Zack Booth (SV)* 2. Neuman (Nat)* 3. Cody McCalla (Sher) 4. Anthony Fleak (Gil) 5. Jason Simmer (CE) 6. Ryan Howell (KW)* 285 1. RJ Boylan (G) 2.Travis Lynch (KW)* 3. Island Richards (RS)* 4. Nick Elliot (Nat)* 5. Zach Haney (RS)* 6. Lynk Neild (SV) *

State board of education to meet

sarahhale — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:54:52 +0000

The Wyoming State Board of Education will meet on February 19 and 20 in the Administration Building 3rd Floor Training Center at Laramie County School District 1. On February 19, the board will hold a study session from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The members will visit with Gov. Dave Freudenthal. They will also discuss the rules and regulations for teacher evaluation, review the Fremont County 21 redistricting request, receive an overview of the Wyoming Supreme Court decision on the school finance model and review, as the State Board of Vocational Education, the Perkins Five Year Plan for Wyoming. The board will hold its regular business meeting on February 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During the meeting, the members will focus on standards as well as receive information on other items such as body of evidence, common core of skills and knowledge, and the Reading First Initiative. Items the board will be taking action on include the Fremont County School District 21 redistricting proposal, adopting a plan for the review of the content standards and electing its slate of officers for the upcoming 2008-2009 meeting year. The State Board of Vocational Education will convene at 1:45 p.m. on February 20. At this time the members will take action on the Perkins Five Year Plan for the State. Wyoming State Board of Education and State Board of Vocational Education meetings are open to the public. If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Duncan at 777-6213 or jdunca@educ.state.wy.us. The agendas are available on the Wyoming Department of Education website.

Town annexes small portion of land to adjust speed limits south of Alpine

sarahhale — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:59:22 +0000

There was a time when driving into Alpine from the south presented an interesting phenomenon. The posted speed limit in the northbound lane was 45 mph. The posted speed limit for the southbound lane, however, was 35 mph. Confusion was the result. In an effort to alleviate that confusion, the Town of Alpine made the decision to annex 7.5 acres which would give the town control on both sides of Highway 89. The ordinance to annex that acreage passed its third reading at the Feb. 5 meeting of the town council. “It was a good exercise for us to be involved in,” Alpine Mayor Victoria DeCora said of the annexation process. “The result is that Alpine is a little bigger this week.” A public hearing on the annexation was held Dec. 18, 2007.

4A West Regional Wrestling Update: Championship matches

newsrelease — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:17:55 +0000

Updated team scores, from Saturday, with four matches left: Star Valley 215, Natrona 197.50, Green River 150.50, Kelly Walsh 127, Rock Springs 124 and Evanston 123. Here are the championship matches. They will be updated when the results become available. 103 Championship match set between Mark Harris of Green River and Hayden Heap of Star Valley. (Harris def. Heap) 112 Championship match set between Justin Gardner of Star Valley and Kasey Bertagnolli of Rock Springs. (Bertagnolli def. Gardner) 119 Championship match set between Jesse Hillhouse of Kelly Walsh and Ricky Fairbanks of Star Valley. (Fairbanks def. Hillhouse) 125 Championship match set between Perry McAfee of Kelly Walsh and Justin Schumacher of Green River. (McAfee def. Schumacher) 130 Championship match set between Andy McCulley of Rock Springs and Riley Rasmussen of Natrona. (McCulley def. Rasmussen) 135 Championship match set between Phillip Young of Natrona and Joseph Platt of Evanston. (Young def. Platt) 140 Championship match set between Zach Walker of Star Valley and Briston Brenton of Natrona. (Brenton def. Walker) 145 Championship match set between Adam Morse of Kelly Walsh and Jake Sowers of Evanston. (Sowers def. Morse) 152 Championship match set between Cody Brown of Natrona and Tim Hokanson of Star Valley. (Brown def. Hokanson) 160 Championship match set between Laken Kennington of Star Valley and Jimmy Owens of Natrona. (Owens def. Kennington) 171 Championship match set between Miles Nixon of Evanston and Franklin Henderson of Kelly Walsh. (Nixon def. Henderson) 189 Championship match set between Tyson Anderson of Green River and Paul Woodie of Star Valley. (Anderson def. Woodie) 215 Championship match set between Zach Booth of Star Valley and Ryan Howell of Kelly Walsh. (Booth def. Howell) Heavyweight match set between Lynk Nield of Star Valley and Travis Lynch of Kelly Walsh. (Nield def. Lynch) More updates will be posted as they are made final. See how the teams stand after Friday.

Braves claim 8th consecutive regional, this time in 4A

dahlerickson — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:15:09 +0000

After building what looked like an insurmountable lead in the first day and a half, the Braves saw the power of the Natrona Mustangs as they closed to within 12 points before three wins in their final four matches gave Star Valley the 4A West Regional Crown. The win gave the program it's eighth consecutive regional title, although this time in the 4A Classification. Star Valley's Eddie Clark was named Coach of the Year in the 4A West. The Braves finished with a whopping 230 points to take the top spot, while Natrona also finished with an impressive 203.5 points for second. Star Valley finished with 24 wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, while the Mustangs finished with one more, 25. Green River pulled away in the final rounds, claiming a solid third place with 159.5 points, while Rock Springs finished in fourth position with 129. Evanston and Kelly Walsh both finished right behind, tied for fifth with 127 points apiece. After the conclusion of the tournament, SVHS wrestler Dakota Dana was awarded a check from valley businesses which totaled over $21,900. The businesses had committed to contribute based upon the total team points for the Braves. In additional related news, Scott Dana is still listed in critical condition, but is now coherent and improving according to the family. The Star Valley Independent wishes to also extend a hand of appreciation to businesses and programs from numerous programs throughout Wyoming who has overwhelmed our valley with generosity. Congratulations to all the teams in attendance for an amazing two days of wrestling action that was packed with thrills, close calls and abundant sportsmanship. The Braves will wrap up their season against the rest of the 4A Class as they head to Casper this weekend in an effort to knock off the five-time defending state champion, Campbell County Camels from Gillette. Please see below for championship round results. 103 lbs Champion: Mark Harris (Green River) 2nd: Hayden Heap (Star Valley) 112 lbs. Champion: Kasey Bertagnolli (Rock Springs) 2nd: Whitey Gardner (Star Valley) 119 lbs. Champion: Ricky Fairbanks (Star Valley) 2nd: Jesse Hillhouse (Kelly Walsh) 125 lbs. Champion: Perry McAfee (Kelly Walsh) 2nd: Justin Schumacher (Green River) 130 lbs. Champion: Andy McCulley (Rock Springs) 2nd: Riley Rasmussen (Natrona County) 135 lbs. Champion: Phillip Young (Natrona County) 2nd: Joseph Platt (Evanston) 140 lbs. Champion: Briston Brenton (Natrona County) 2nd: Zack Walker (Star Valley) 145 lbs. Champion: Jake Sower (Evanston) 2nd: Adam Morse (Kelly Walsh) 152 lbs. Champion: Cody Brown (Natrona County) 2nd: Tim Hokanson (Star Valley) 160 lbs. Champion: Jimmy Owens (Natrona County) 2nd: Laken Kennington (Star Valley) 171 lbs. Champion: Miles Nixon (Evanston) 2nd: Franklin Handerson (Kelly Walsh) 189 lbs. Champion: Tysen Anderson (Green River) 2nd: Paul Woodie (Star Valley) 215 lbs. Champion: Zach Booth (Star Valley) 2nd Ryan Howell (Kelly Walsh) 285 lbs. Champion: Lynk Nield (Star Valley) 2nd: Travis Lynch (Kelly Walsh)

Trust Fund Grants Should be Turned in

dandockstader — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:57:14 +0000

Grant applications for funding from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account are due at the end of March. According to Trust Fund Chairman Delaine Roberts of Etna, the Board anticipates as many as 50 applications. Roberts says there are many projects coming in and there will probably be some applications the trust fund has not heard of yet. Roberts says the Board will do an initial review of project applications in early April, then begin to determine which applications would need an on-site studies. That determination will occur at the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund meeting April 21 in Dubois. Following that, the board will review projects in the field, with funding allocations made in June. Roberts says they are excited to see what people are doing around Wyoming and he noted it had been a pleasure serving on the board.

A Moose Took up Residence at the Hospital

dandockstader — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:06:52 +0000

Law enforcement and medical center officials weren't sure if the moose was seeking medical attention or just found a secure home. Tuesday afternoon a cow moose found security in an enclosed area between Star Valley Medical Center and the Star Valley Care Center. Law enforcement officials responded to the scene but decided not to stress the animal and allowed it to rest in the area because it was not causing a problem. Late in the afternoon it left the hospital area and moved out to U.S. Hwy 89, but came back to the security of the enclosed area between the hospital and care center.

Trust Fund Grants Should be Turned in, Roberts Chairs the Board

dandockstader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:04:58 +0000

Grant applications for funding from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust are due at the end of March. According to Trust Fund Chairman Delaine Roberts of Etna, the Board anticipates as many as 50 applications. Roberts says there are many projects coming in and there will probably be some the trust fund has not heard yet. Roberts says the Board would do an initial review of project applications in early April, then begin to determine which applications would need an on-site review. That determination will occur at the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund meeting April 21 in Dubois. Following that, the Board will review projects in the field, with funding allocation made in June. Roberts says they are excited to see what people are doing around Wyoming and he noted it had been a pleasure serving on the board.

WYDOT Will Install Underpasses in Lincoln County

dandockstader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:09:02 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will install underpasses on U.S. Highway 30 in South Lincoln County as part of a project to protect wildlife. An average of 130 mule deer are killed each winter in the Nugget Canyon area of Lincoln County as they cross the highway on a southwest Wyoming migratory route. Every year an estimated 14,000 deer cross the highway each fall and spring in Nugget Canyon. Hout Fencing of Wyoming in Worland was awarded a $4 million contract by WYDOT to install deer fences and deer underpasses on U.S. 30 in Lincoln County.

Lincoln County Unemployment Rate Improves

dandockstader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:14:10 +0000

In a year-to-date comparison, Lincoln County's unemployment rate has decreased. The Wyoming Department of Employment reports the unemployment rate went from 5.6 percent in January of 2007 to 3.6 percent for the same time period this year. The latest Department of Employment figures show a labor force of 8,973 in Lincoln County

Star Valley Ranch has a new Administrator

dandockstader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:17:48 +0000

The Town of Star Valley Ranch has appointed Gregg Wilkes to be the new Administrator. Wilkes will be assisting Mayor Boyd Siddoway on various projects, including plans for a new town hall. Will received unanimous approval for the position by the town council.

Wyoming Army National Guard Soldiers ordered to mobilize

sarahhale — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:18:02 +0000

The Wyoming Army National Guard is sending 16 Soldiers to serve as an Embedded Training Team for the Afghanistan National Army. The team is made up of Soldiers from the Wyoming Army National Guard. The Soldiers will report to Cheyenne on May 27. Their pre-deployment training will be at Fort Riley, Kan., from there they will deploy to Afghanistan to serve as trainers and mentors for senior Afghan army officials. "These Soldiers volunteered to deploy to train the Afghanistan force in order to foster a similar environment of freedom and liberty that we hold as rights as American citizens," Maj. Shane Crofts, Wyoming Army National Guard mobilization officer said. The 16 Soldiers mobilized will be on federal active duty orders for 400 days. The period of active duty can be extended, based on the U.S. Army's requirements. The Soldiers are from Cheyenne, Laramie, Lingle, Gillette, Evanston and Colorado, Utah and Nebraska. This is the third Embedded Training Team deployed from the Wyoming Army National Guard to Afghanistan. The first deployed in 2005, the second deployed in April 2007 and is expected to return later this Spring.

You'll be Seeing Hueys Again This Week

dandockstader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:21:03 +0000

Large Forest Service Helicopters know as Hueys have been based in Afton during March undergoing repairs by a Georgia based company. The helicopters are being stored in an Afton Airport Hanger during the repairs and the moved out at times during the day for test flights following maintenance. the company experts to be doing more test flights this week.

Funeral Services

newsrelease — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:23:54 +0000

Funeral Services for Cliff Bingham, father of Russ and Charlotte Neel Reinhart, will be Friday, March 28, at 1 p.m. In the Grover LDS Chapel. Family will greet friends at the church, starting at 11 a.m, prior to the service.

Ozone advisory for Upper Green River Basin given

sarahhale — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:45:04 +0000

The Air Quality Division (AQD) of Wyoming*s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in conjunction with the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), is issuing an ozone advisory for Monday, March 24, 2008, for the Upper Green River Basin, in Sublette County. Ozone is an air pollutant that can cause respiratory health effects especially to children, the elderly and people with existing respiratory conditions. People in these sensitive groups should limit strenuous or extended outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon and evening. More information on ozone and the health effects of ozone are available at the Wyoming Department of Health website, http://www.health.wyo.gov. Predictions of elevated ozone are based on evaluation of weather forecasts, and are therefore only as reliable as those forecasts. DEQ is conducting an intensive study of wintertime ozone formation in the Upper Green River Basin. Ozone appears to be elevated in the Basin when there are strong temperature inversions, low winds, snow cover, and bright sunlight. Current information on ozone levels at the Air Quality Division*s monitoring stations at Daniel, Jonah, and Boulder can be found at www.wyvisnet.com.

Star Valley Medical Center announces new service

newsrelease — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:22:45 +0000

Dan Dockstader had the opportunity to sit down with Star Valley Medical Center Pharmacy Manager, Lonnie Dobler and discuss the hospital's new, free program which should benefit those with multiple prescriptions. The "Brown Bag" program will allow patients and residents to use the Medical Center to determine if their own prescriptions are being used together in the most effective way. Be sure to click below for exclusive video on this new service from Star Valley Medical Center.

A Question of Class: Wyoming's 4A may shift again

dahlerickson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:14:49 +0000

If discussions at the March meetings are any indicator, one can expect more changes to be afoot beginning in the 2009-2010 school year. The latest proposal that is building momentum would add Cody and Jackson to the 4A fold. Be sure to click below for an exclusive interview with Star Valley High School Activities Director, Jamie Holyoak and check out the March 27, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent for complete coverage.

Bridger-Teton Forest Planner Rick Fox discusses management

newsrelease — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:44:54 +0000

Dan Dockstader speaks with Bridger-Teton Forest Planner, Rick Fox, as they attend a workshop that took place at Star Valley Middle School. From forest access to the balance that needs to be struck between users, forest administration and wildlife, the conversations and workshops will continue to take place throughout Western Wyoming. Be sure to click below for an exclusive interview as Mr. Fox speaks with Dan Dockstader. rick-fox

Family Nominations are Sought for UW Families

dandockstader — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:06:01 +0000

Nominations for e 2008 Wyoming of the Year are now being accepted by the Associated Parents of the University of Wyoming. Nominations must be signed and received by April 30. The executive board of APUW will make the selection based upon the written materials submitted. Nominations should provide detailed narrative information about the family's history with UW and also specific examples of service provided for the University, their community and the state. Nomination packets should be mailed to: the Associated Parents of the University of Wyoming, c/o the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3066, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071. For more information, contact Janicca Lee in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at (307) 766-5123 or e-mail janicca@uwyo.edu

Governor calls Western Wyoming air quality a "significant concern"

newsrelease — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:56:23 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Calling the presence of ozone in the western Wyoming air a “significant concern,” today Gov. Dave Freudenthal responded to a citizen petition requesting that a health assessment be performed in Sublette County. The letter from Freudenthal to Pamela Curry of Pinedale, who forwarded the petition, follows. Dear Ms. Curry: Thank you for your letter requesting that a Human Health Impact Assessment be conducted in Sublette County due to air quality and other concerns. From the data that has been collected, there is little doubt that ozone is a significant concern. After initial discussions with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), it seems that the Garfield County, Colorado, Human Health Risk Assessment – supplied by Carmel Kail - might be an appropriate tool to address the concerns raised in your correspondence. Any human health risk assessment that is ultimately undertaken should involve the state DEQ and Department of Health from a technical and logistical standpoint, but the process must be driven by your community – as was the case with the Garfield County assessment. It is my understanding that John Corra, Director of the DEQ, has already been in conversation with the Sublette County Commission to discuss this approach. I have advised DEQ that I do not want to wait until the area is found to be in violation of the standard - which only occurs when exceedances continue for a three year period - before taking action. Similarly, I do not want to wait on the health risk assessment to trigger action. As such, Director Corra and his staff have been in regular contact with the oil and gas industry to assemble a set of emission control strategies and to request the application of additional voluntary emissions reductions to reduce ozone when the potential for exceedances exists. But I understand that ozone is only one concern of citizens in Sublette County – there are other impacts – again underscoring the need for local leadership to play a central role in defining the scope and nature of any health assessment. In the absence of a comprehensive national energy policy and in the wake of rampant fuel switching – from coal to natural gas – our water, air and wildlife will be under even greater pressure moving forward. The intense levels of oil and gas development do not look as if they will subside in Sublette County and across Wyoming. Because most of the development will occur on federal lands, the state is limited in its ability to control what actions are authorized. It is my view, and one that I understand might not be shared by some in Sublette County, that our best course forward in such a natural gas-hungry environment is to seek greater emissions controls, wildlife habitat protections and socio-economic stability than we have today with actions like those identified in the Pinedale Anticline Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). While not perfect, and still subject to some fine-tuning under the watch of Director Corra and others, it is far preferable to the 2000 PAPA Record of Decision – which relied too heavily on the BLM to monitor and actively manage the field. Director Corra has supplied me and my staff with regular briefings regarding the ozone alerts that have been issued in response to the elevated levels of ozone in Sublette County over the course of the past several months. I understand that Director Corra will be in Pinedale at the Rendezvous Senior Center on April 21, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to discuss the issue of air and water quality with the community. Mr. Corra’s coming visit to Pinedale follows an earlier community presentation on the same subject. I look forward to hearing from Director Corra following the meeting on April 21. Best regards, Dave Freudenthal Governor

Eye of the Tigers: Rock Springs edges shorthanded Lady Braves 2-0

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:03:10 +0000

There are a lot of things to appreciate about Spring Break. Shorthanded teams aren't one of them.Rock Springs was the aggressor from the get go, and wound up being the beneficiaries of an own goal off a corner kick from Corinna Mizel. Mizel's attempt was swatted into the net by the Star Valley keeper in the 13th minute. In the 22nd minute, Rock Springs' Karen Duncan scored the game's only other goal on a missle from the left side to put the match at 2-0. The Lady Braves struggled to get quality shots on goal against a stingy Tiger defense and the missing players certainly didn't help the situation. In the junior varsity match, the Lady Braves made good on the evening, nipping the visitors, 4-3 due in large part to a hat trick from sophomore Alisa Gimlin. Fellow sophomore Courtney Cox scored the other goal in the winning effort. Meanwhile on the road in Rock Springs, the Braves junior varsity was doubled up in a very offensive affair, as Rock Springs' JV won 10-5. Stay tuned to this website for the result of the Braves and Tigers varsity boys' matchup.

Governor visits China to discuss coal bed methane development

newsrelease — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:41:45 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - In two separate meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing today, Gov. Dave Freudenthal discussed future opportunities in tourism, energy and in particular, coal bed methane development.“I thank both officials for their gracious reception and am encouraged by the substantive nature of the discussions,” Freudenthal said. The Governor first met with Ma Xiuhong, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Commerce. Communicating through an interpreter, the Governor and the Vice Minister covered a wide range of topics. As expected, clean coal development was central to the discussion, but the conversation also touched on agriculture and tourism. The leaders talked about a possible visit by a Chinese delegation as a way to strengthen tourism ties between Wyoming and China. A second meeting later in the day with Mr. Zhang Guobao, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, also yielded significant possibilities for collaboration. The Governor and Vice Chairman discussed clean coal technology and the partnership between the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources and General Electric for the development of a High Altitude Gasification Research Center. Later, the conversation expanded to a discussion of coal to liquids technologies, the containment of spontaneous combustion coal fires and the gasification of coal for the creation of synthetic natural gas. Freudenthal offered to share Wyoming’s experience in the containment of underground coal seam fires, which apparently the Chinese are dealing with in some Western provinces. Vice Chairman Zhang Guobao suggested that Wyoming researchers might be interested in the extensive efforts underway at the Coal Energy Research Institute near Tiayuan in Shanxi Province. The Chinese also have a strong interest in coal bed methane development, though the situations in China and Wyoming are slightly different. China currently uses methane from deep underground coal mines to produce electricity from mine mouth generators, which is then used locally. Plans are being formulated to expand this energy resource.

SVMC's Connie Titensor talks about annual health fair blood draws

newsrelease — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:43:33 +0000

Clinic manager, Connie Titensor, discusses the annual SVMC blood draws in preperation for the 2008 Health Fair. The event takes place on May 3. The interview also specifies where and when blood draws across the valley are taking place. Be sure to click below for a video report.

Dr. Paul Head discusses the growth of SVMC and the role of full time Family Physicians

newsrelease — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:52:30 +0000

When Dr. Paul Head arrived in Star Valley, there were five full or part time physicians to aid with the multiple aspects of SVMC. Now after nearly 19 years, 24 different physicians have made it possible to receive treatment not imagined in 1989. Be sure to click below for an exclusive video as starvalleyindependent.com's Dan Dockstader catches up with Dr. Head.

Rayback to transfer from Weber to Rocky Mountain for senior season

dahlerickson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:42:01 +0000

Janie Rayback, who ended last season as the starting center at Weber State University, is transferring to Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., to play her senior season of basketball. Rayback was a a formidable force with the Lady Braves, who went 47-5 in her junior and senior seasons. Rayback graduated with honors from SVHS in 2005. The 6' 4" Rayback started the final 12 games of the season for the Big Sky Conference school. She averaged just under 18 minutes per contest and averaged five points and three rebounds per game. "She's a big time player," stated Rocky Mountain Head Coach Brian Henderson. "We're excited to have her come in and help us." Henderson said Rayback "was looking for something a little different" in deciding to transfer to Rocky and play her final season with the Battlin' Bears. Janie scored a season-high of 15 points against Montana State on two occasions this past season. Her career high to this point came against Idaho in her sophomore campaign as she dropped 18 on the Lady Vandals. "She moves well; has got great hands and a great understanding for the game," added Henderson. "We believe she will be a dominant force in this league." Rayback, 21, was one of three captains for the 12-16 Wildcats last season. She appeared in 85 games during her three-year career, starting 23 of them. She also shot 48.5% from the field in the 2007-08 season. Janie played her high school basketball under Kade Wilkes and was the Salutatorian of the Class of 2005 at SVHS. * Portions of this release were provided by Rocky Mountain College

Dr. Noel Stibor discusses the growth of SVMC

newsrelease — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:26:31 +0000

When Dr. Noel Stibor first arrived in Star Valley in 1989, many aspects of the health care services available to the community were much different. From a greater quantity of physicians, to a much wider array of services, Dr. Stibor discusses the future of Star Valley Medical Center with Dan Dockstader

Parched No More! Braves end drought by quenching Devils 4-1

dahlerickson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:53:05 +0000

The Braves won their first match since 2006 with a 4-1 drubbing of Evanston Thursday evening amid snow flurries and and a soggy field. JonScherbel performed the hat trick for Star Valley with three goals. Star Valley came back from Casper after a 1-0 loss to Natrona, convinced that they were onto something good. So, when Evanston's Kyle Armstrong notched the game's first goal in the 10th minute, the Crimson and Gold didn't panic. Instead, junior forward Drew Hathaway tied the game just five minutes later in the 15th minute, assisted by Igor Dugat. Dugat was busy, assisting the first of Scherbel's goals in the 23rd minute to give the Braves a lead they would not relinquish. Scherbel fought through the Red Devil defense all match long andnotched his second goal in the 32nd minute off an assist by senior Kelly Ponciano. Leading 3-1 at the break, Scherbel, along with Skyler Heiner pressured the Evanston defense and Joakim Wicksell assisted on the game's final goal, coming in the 50th minute. While the Braves have had three ties and several one-goal losses over the course of their drought, they had not been able to put together a win, but they controlled the action for the vast majority of the match although the shots on goal finished with similar number as Star Valley collected 17 to Evanston's 16. Senior keeper Kitrick Galloway collected nine saves, including one late in the first half which he punched up and over the crossbar in impressive fashion. Goals: Evanston: Kyle Armstrong, 10th Minute; Star Valley:Drew Hathaway, 15th Minute, Jon Scherbel, 23rd Minute, Jon Scherbel, 32nd Minute, Jon Scherbel, 50th Minute Assists: Star Valley: Igor Dugat (2), Kelly Ponciano (1), Joakim Wicksell (1) Penalty Kicks: SV- 4, Evanston- 2 Corner Kicks:SV- 3, Evanston 6 Shots on Goal:SV- 17, Evanston 16 Saves:SV- 9 (Kitrick Galloway), Evanston- 6 (Kason Belnap)

Llama Tracks- Squinting into the spring sunshine

dahlerickson — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:51:23 +0000

It seems odd that Star Valley's closest version of a home track meet this season will take place in Jackson, but so be it. - Construction plans are still underway for the high school football/soccer field and track facilities to boot. I'll admit, I'm missing the Dave Draney Invite this year. Yeah, you either got frostbite or sunburn, but it was ours. I'm remaining optimistic that everything will be completed when the time comes for the Braves to host the Snake River Panthers on September 5. The lingering weather certainly hasn't helped but hopefully we'll see some heavy equipment out there soon. After all, the football season begins in just a little over four months and there will be a lot of new things in place. At least that's the plan. A new field, a new head coach and the new crop of young men vying to be the next team leaders. Star Valley's not the only school in Western Wyoming changing coaches, as Riverton and Evanston have recently hired replacements while Lander will have a new coach as well this fall. - Congrats to Trevor Ricks on yet another impressive performance at the Casper Track Classic. Ricks won the 1600 Meter this year after winning the 3200 Meter last year. I've actually lost count of how many event titles Ricks has won in his time at SVHS, including Cross-Country of course, but it's enough to know that he's one of the school's elite runners of all time. It will be interesting to see how the last month of the season shakes out and where his times end up, and whether schools will be calling for his services after high school. Also, kudos have to go out to Mitch Schwab who won the High Jump. Schwab and Tyler Skinner have proved to be a great 1-2 punch in the High Jump this year and placed first and fourth respectively at the Classic. - A big Woo Hoo! to the Braves soccer team who ended their losing streak with an emphatic 4-1 win over Evanston. They've got a very tough Green RIver team on Wednesday on the road, while the Lady Braves have a chance to rebound against the Lady Wolves at home. And how can I not mention the hat trick (3 goals in one game for those of you who are soccer-challenged) by Jon Scherbel? Here's to hoping he notches three more against the Wolves. Did I miss something? Let me know with the comment section.

Star Valley competes at Lynn Williams Invite in Jackson

dahlerickson — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:47:03 +0000

There were some standout performances for the Braves and Lady Braves while others throttled back their events in anticipation for the BYU Invitational in Provo this weekend. Overall, the Lady Braves finished second while their male counterparts finished fourth in the second meet of a busy week. Those who participated in the Wyoming Track Classic on Monday chose to skip the Lynn Williams or not to compete in their typical full slate of events including Classic champions Trevor Ricks and Mitch Schwab. That being said, the squad pulled together an impressive number of first place finishes as well as building the confidence level of many underclassmen at the same time. Be sure to scroll below for meet results and also click below for an exclusive video of the Braves and Lady Braves in action. Team Results Girls 1- Evanston 188 pts 2- Star Valley 130 pts 3- Pinedale 85 pts 4- Jackson 67.5 pts 5- Teton (Idaho) 47.5 pts 6- Rock Springs 26 pts 7- St. Stephens Indian High School 4 pts Team Results Boys 1- Pinedale 164 pts 2- Rock Springs 137 pts 3- Jackson 111.5 pts 4- Star Valley 76 pts 5- Evanston 74.5 pts 6- Teton (Idaho) 33 pts 7- Jackson "B" 2 pts Girls Results 100 Meter Dash: Madison Wilkes 14.29 (10th) Winning Time: 13.57 (Gabbi Smith, Evanston) 200 Meter Dash: Winning Time: 26.44 (Erin Kirby, Evanston) 400 Meter Run: Randi Robinson: 1:05 (1st), Lauren Oliver: 1:09 (6th) 800 Meter Run: Randi Robinson: 2:35 (2nd), Alicia Inskeep: 2:54 (5th), Lisa Baugh: 3:05 (9th) Winning Time; 2:25 (Brooke Rice, Jackson) 1600 Meter Run: Alicia Inskeep: 6:11 (2nd) Winning Time: 5:50 (Bernadette Gutierrez, Evanston) 3200 Meter Run: Alicia Inskeep: 13:46 (1st) 100 Meter Hurdles: Charli Fisher: 18.55 (8th) Winning Time: 15.36 (Erin Kirby, Evanston) 300 Meter Hurdles: Charli Fisher: 54.83 (5th), Harli Hornof: 57.10 (9th) Winning Time: 52.08 (Shephanie Sheets, Evanston) 4x100 Meter Relay: Charli Fisher, Lauren Oliver, Madison Wilkes & Audrey West: 53.90 (1st) 4x400 Meter Relay: Kirsten McKen, Randi Robinson, Audrey West & Charli Fisher: 4:23 (1st) 4x800 Meter Relay: Charli Fisher, Kirsten McKen, Lauren Oliver & Audrey West: 10:47 (1st) High Jump: Danette Warren: 4' 10" (1st) Long Jump: Audrey West: 15' 2" (1st) Triple Jump: Lauren Oliver: 30' 8.25" (4th), Danette Warren: 29' 4.25" (7th), Harli Hornof: 28' 7" (8th) Winning Mark: 32' 7.5" (Chelsey Hanson, Pinedale) Shot Put: Danette Warren: 34' 6" (1st), Madison Wilkes: 32' 4" (4th), Nicole Wellard: 27' 0" (8th), Karli Coehlo: 22' 4" (13th) Boys Results: 100 Meter Dash: Stirling Jorgensen: 12.51 (13th), Christopher Mortensen: 13.06 (19th), Logan Haderlie: 13.10 (20th), Mike Harris: 14.47 (26th), Winning Time: 11.48 (Blane Woodfin, Jackson) 200 Meter Dash: Logan Haderlie: 26.05 (12th), Stirling Jorgensen: 26.31 (14th), Cortland Dickey: 27.14 (15th) Winning Time: 23.35 (Neal Nelson, Pinedale) 400 Meter Run: Cortland Dickey: 1:01.13 (8th), Alex Cooper: 1:01.82 (10th), Taylor Keller: 1:07 (15th) Winning Time: 53.52 (Daniel Goe, Jackson) 800 Meter Run: Chris Sessions: 2:34 (19th), DJ West: 2:41 (20th) Winning Time: 2:09 (Damon Smith, Jackson) 1600 Meter Run: Josh Call: 5:15 (5th), Geof Elliott: 6:12 (12th) Winning Time: 5:08 (Wes Werbelow, Pinedale) 3200 Meter Run: Shane Titensor: 13:41 (8th), DJ West: 13:41 (9th), Cory Ingersol: 13:46 (10th) Winning Time: 11:27 (Andrew Rembacz, Rock Springs) 110 Meter Hurdles: Chad McKen: 15.78 (2nd), Brandon Taylor: 17.06 (4th) Winning Time: 15.75 (Lincoln Proud, Pinedale) 300 Meter Hurdles: Chad McKen: 42.96 (2nd), Brandon Taylor: 44.50 (3rd) Winning Time: 41.46 (Lincoln Proud, Pinedale) 4x100 Meter Relay: Logan Haderlie, Stirling Jorgensen, Shane Titensor & Christopher Mortensen: 50.05 (4th) Winning Time: 44.28 (Jackson) 4x400 Meter Relay: Kevin Brough, Cody Brough, Alex Cooper & Tyler Skinner: 3:45 (2nd) Winning Time 3:36 (Pinedale) 4x800 Meter Relay: Cody Brough, Kevin Brough, Trevor Ricks, & Tyler Skinner: 8:49 (1st) High Jump: Tyler Skinner: 6' 4" (1st), Sean Pierson 5' 6" (8th) Long Jump: Cory Ingersol: 14' 11.75" (6th), Travis Walters 13' 3" (9th) Winning Mark: 19' 6" (Jason McFadden, Rock Springs) Triple Jump: Cory Ingersol: 35' 8" (8th), Travis Walters: 35' 8" (9th) Winning Mark: 41' 10.50" (Alex Bush, Jackson) Shot Put: Andrew Erickson: 37' 11" (8th), Shane Titensor: 35' 2" (14th), Taylor Sessions: 28' 9" (21st) Winning Mark: 48' 5" (Matt O'Farrell, Rock Springs) Discus: Andrew Erickson: 104' 1" (11th), Taylor Sessions: 90' 4" (17th), Shane Titensor: 83' 5" (19th) Winning Mark: 147' 11" (Mike O'Ferrell, Rock Springs

Department of Health announces May as Stroke Awareness Month

newsrelease — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:11:10 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Health is encouraging Wyoming residents to reduce stroke incidence and death by learning how to recognize stroke symptoms and how to help prevent strokes from happening. “Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain gets blocked or ruptures, which interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain,” said Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer. As a result, sometimes people pass out, have trouble moving their arms or legs on one side of the body, or can’t talk. Sherard noted people don’t always know how to recognize whether they or another person they are with may be having a stroke. “Early treatment is essential because for every minute brain cells are deprived of oxygen during stroke, the likelihood of brain damage increases,” he said. Sherard suggested a set of guidelines from the National Stroke Association to help identify strokes: FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARM Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? TIME If any of these signs are observed, it’s time to call 911. “If you recognize any of these signs of stroke, immediate emergency medical help is needed,” says Sherard, adding that About 1,700 Wyoming residents experiences strokes each year, leading to personal suffering and a financial burden. Stroke is the top cause of permanent disability in the state. “Prevention is always preferable, and there are a number of common-sense steps people can take to lower their risk of having a stroke,” Sherard said. These actions include: *Knowing blood pressure. *Find out about the presence of atrial fibrillation. *Stop smoking. *Those who drink alcohol should do so in moderation. *Determine the presence of high cholesterol. *Diabetics should check with their doctors. *Exercise frequently. *Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet. *Find out if circulation problems (movement of the blood through the heart and blood vessels) are a concern.

Llama Tracks - Ramblin' Regional Ruckus

dahlerickson — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:26:42 +0000

The three sports programs that compete at this time of year will all be in action in various parts of the Cowboy State Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I've got quite a few thoughts as the athletes head out on those beautiful yellow buses with green seats. Who came up with that combo by the way? Here are some things to watch for as the Braves and Lady Braves take on their respective opponents. - The Girl's Soccer team collected their first shutout since 2006 with their 2-0 win over Rock Springs last weekend. The program actually collected three shutouts that year, their first as a varsity squad. This team is a wonderful blend of seniors who have played for four years, (although there could be a few more) and young, fast, enthusiastic underclassmen. In fact, this team will look very similar next season and that bodes well for the future. Becca Sangster, the keeper, is a question mark right now due to a shoulder injury. Hopefully she can play, but if not, the defense has shown they're up to the task of limiting good shot attempts. The ladies are aggressive, tough and despite a couple of wins, are using the underdog status to it's limit. A birth in the state tournament would be an ideal next step for a program on the rise. Don't be at all surprised if the Lady Braves kick their way to the next round. - The match between the Braves and the Rock Springs Tigers was the best match I've seen the program play. Period. The guys are having fun and are genuinely disappointed to come up short. They're ready to take that next step, and it's the same team that will be standing in their way. The goal scored by Jon Scherbel on a full-speed header from Igor Dugat was stunning. If you feel that soccer can't entertain, or will fail to do so, you've missed out this season. Sure it's been cold, and some programs are just awesome (Kelly Walsh springs to mind) but this has been a very gutsy team this season. The Tigers will be at full strength and won't be overlooking Star Valley this time. The big wild card for the Braves will be their ability to capitalize on good opportunities. No fewer than four shots had a great chance of going in in Afton that didn't. Thus the loss. If Star Valley can convert those same opportunities into goals, they will be moving on. Defensively, the Braves have really stepped it up, and they'll have their hands full with an incredibly quick Tiger squad. If you've got some time, this one should be very entertaining. - So, the Independent had a few records that might be in danger of being broken this week or next week for the Track program. I wanted to expound a bit on a few of them after talking with Coach Brandon Sanchez. The girl's 800 Meter record is the most intriguing to me. I had a very interesting conversation with sophomore Kirsten McKen, and I hope she won't be embarrassed that I share it. In the Rock Springs Invite, my results of this event were wrong, but I didn't know that as of yet. I mentioned to her that was only six seconds off the record which is 2:21. Her time from the Tiger Invite came back as a 2:27. She only laughed and said that the numbers were wrong and that she had run a 2:37, still good enough for the event title. She added: " I wish I could run a 2:27". There was not a hint of guile in her voice. Well, you know what they say about wishing, but McKen has put in the work. In a discussion with Sanchez and Coach Ty Draney who handles Cross-Country duties with McKen, they estimate she's run over 1,200 miles this year and has been fortunate that her body has handled well. The result? McKen ran a 2:26 at the BYU Invitational just a few weeks later. I'm not going to pretend I ran the 800 Meter in high school, heck I was a thrower, and not a very good one. But even I know that cutting nearly 12 seconds on any event in that amount of time is amazing. -Another discussion centered on Kevin Brough who became the first Wyoming boy to break the 50 second barrier this season. Sanchez, a former 400 runner himself, states that cutting off another six tenths is very difficult, but something he's confident Brough will accomplish either this year or next. Hopefully conditions will be good in Casper like they were in Provo. If so who knows what will happen. - One more track thing that involves the jumpers - Mitch Schwab and Tyler Skinner finished 1 and 4 in their respective leaps at the Track Classic. Skinner jumped even higher last week in Jackson, easily outdistancing the field with a jump of 6' 4" that he didn't even come close to touching. What does this mean? The High Jumpers from Star Valley could very well go 1-2 in Casper. Both of these guys can clear 6' 6" and I hope for clear minds and performances over the weekend. Well, who did I miss? Be sure to check out the May 8, 2008 edition of the Independent for more records poised to fall and also check back over the weekend for updates from the 4A West Regional Meet in Casper. Use the comment section and good luck everyone!

Bobcat to Brave: Sky View’s Chris Howell named as new Star Valley football coach

dahlerickson — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:59:25 +0000

A large pile of resumes was whittled down by SVHS Activities Director and the hiring committee to determine Star Valley’s next head football coach. Added urgency comes in the wake of the vacancy of the head basketball job as well, a fact well understood by Holyoak. That being said, the committee worked through nearly 60 applicants into eight interviews and they believe they’ve found their man. That man’s name is Chris Howell and he has served as the defensive coordinator at Sky View High School for the past several years. He was approved by the school board of L.C.S.D. No. 2 Wednesday evening in their meeting. Howell has also served in the same capacity at Logan High School from 1992-1997. At Sky View, he has been involved in football, basketball and baseball where he was the head coach on the diamond. He comes to Star Valley with a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis on strength and conditioning. Howell has developed a regimen for strength training at both Logan and Sky View High Schools and has performed on the summer football staffs of BYU, the University of Washington and Boise State University. For Howell, he will be exchanging one SVHS for another, this time in Crimson and Gold. According to Holyoak, it’s Howell’s experience, his vigor, his enthusiasm and his organization that impressed the interview committee. “The committee feels that within the pool of applicants that we’ve found who they wanted,” stated Holyoak. “This is a young applicant compared to some of the others that we saw, but the guy that we’re going with is young, enthusiastic and he wants this job. He wants to be in Star Valley and we could tell. He has done an exceptional job with his organization and we’re excited to have him.” The Bobcats have gone an impressive 21-4 over the last two seasons, averaging over 33 points per game in that span.

Barasso's Wyoming Range Legacy Act passes committee stage

newsrelease — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:20:13 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The efforts of U.S. Sen. John Barrasso to protect the Wyoming Range in perpetuity are one step closer to fruition thanks to a vote Wednesday moving the bill out of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee to the Senate floor. The bill, the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, passed the committee by a vote of 13-9. If passed into law, it will permanently protect more than 1.2 million acres of prime fish and habitat of acute value of Wyoming’s sportsmen from further oil and gas development, and allow for buy-outs of existing oil and gas leases. “On behalf of literally thousands of sportsmen and women across Wyoming, I want to say thank you to Sen. Barrasso for having the fortitude to stand up for Wyoming’s rich outdoor heritage,” said Tom Reed, spokesman for Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range. “The senator truly gets it—we need to keep some places as they are but not locked up. He’s has been to the Wyoming Range and has talked to countless sportsmen who have told him about the importance of leaving some places to share and pass down through generations. He gets it and I thank him for it.” The bill, which will affect some 100 miles of terrain in the Bridger-Teton range will still have to be approved by the full senate, and already has it's detractors such as Larry Craig (R) from Idaho, who felt it sends the wrong message to oil producing countries whom the Senate has recently asked for help. "This is a message that should not be sent to the world's oil suppliers" he said. Other opposition came from Senator Mary Landrieu, (D) Louisiana, who called it counterproductive at a time when oil prices are at an all time high. She said the area includes 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and potentially 331 million barrels of oil. She noted that President Bush has asked OPEC to increase production. Governor Dave Freudenthal testified on behalf of the bill recently, flying to Washington and back in a single day to do so. “This is a testament to the senator’s willingness to listen to the sportsmen of Wyoming,” said Walt Gasson of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. “I have seen first-hand how Sen. Barrasso has talked and corresponded with literally thousands of hunters and anglers from all walks of life during the past several months. Without exception, they are all deeply concerned about losing their hunting and fishing areas to energy development and on behalf of our organization, I would also like to extend some home-state gratitude.” Reed, who has spearheaded the campaign to protect this sportsmen’s paradise for the past year and half, added, “When we started this hook-and-bullet effort to safeguard the Wyoming Range, we had 11 key groups offering their support. Today we have over 30 different sporting organizations representing Wyoming’s ‘way of life’. It’s not easy being a senator, sometimes standing up for your state means you get a little bloody out in D.C., and today Sen. Barrasso proved he can not only take a punch, but he is also darn good at standing up and throwing them on behalf of his constituents.” Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range plans to continue its efforts to protect the area as the bill reaches the Senate floor. The Senate must now pass the Wyoming Range Legacy Act to clear the measure before it moves over to the U.S. House of Representatives and on to the president for approval.

SVHS Regional weekend wrapup: A year of firsts

dahlerickson — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:01:16 +0000

The weather was cold, the competition stiff and the locales far away. But that still didn't stop several new athletic happenings from taking place for the Crimson and Gold. The weekend began on the soccer pitch, where despite more losses than wins overall, both the Braves and Lady Braves felt they had favorable conditions heading into the post-season. The Braves, fresh off a thrilling 2-1 overtime loss to Rock Springs, thought momentum was on their side as the two met up again just six days later. This time, the Tigers were ready and able. Rock Springs earned a state birth and regained momentum in a 6-1 drubbing of the Braves. Rock Springs eventually fell in the title match with Kelly Walsh, 2-1. (Photo by Kay Cox) With a slightly higher number five seed, the Lady Braves met up with the Green River Lady Wolves with a chance to earn their first ever state tournament birth in this their fourth season of soccer, all under Head Coach Allison Hicks. Much like their most recent meeting, it was a physical, low-scoring affair, but this time it was Star Valley punching their ticket to Laramie and prevailing with the 1-0 win. In a bit of numerical favor, Star Valley was one of three number five seeds to advance to the state tournament of the four regional tournaments in the 4A Class. Despite dropping a hard-fought contest to top-ranked Kelly Walsh in the semi-finals, 2-0, the Lady Braves capped off a very memorable weekend by dispatching Rock Springs for the second time in two weeks in a shoot-out. The pair of wins not only were the first for the program, but also netted Star Valley the third place trophy coming out of the regional tournament. The performance now earns Star Valley the right to face the Cheyenne Central team as the number two seed coming out of the East regionals. The Independentwishes to congratulate the Lady Braves on this achivement and wish them the best of luck at their first ever state tournament. As for the Track & Field team, the Braves managed a third place finish as a team, scoring 95 team points and claiming a trio of Regional champions from the 4A West Meet held on the campus of Natrona High School. Standout senior Trevor Ricks won both the 1600 and 3200 Meter events in impressive fashion, pulling away from his nearest competitiors in both events for the set of titles. Ricks won both of these events at the state level a year ago at the 3A classification. In addition to Ricks, junior Tyler "Skinny" Skinner cleared 6' 5" and won in a jump off for the High Jump title. The home team Mustangs won the team title with 218.5 points, far outdistancing their cross-town rivals Kelly Walsh who finished with 116.5. The Rock Springs Tigers finished behind the Braves with 86.5 points. The girls squad, despite taking a total of just 15 athletes still scored 56 points in a sixth place finish. Evanston took the title with 151 points, nipping Natrona who finished with 148.5. Sophomores Audrey West and Kirsten McKen both qualified for state action next week in four events, while West broke her own school record in the 400 Meter event Finals with a time of 59.15, besting her mark of 59.47 from two weeks ago. State Track will take place in Casper at Kelly Walsh High School.

Bridger-Teton Firewood Permits Available

newsrelease — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:44:35 +0000

Western Wyoming – The Bridger-Teton National Forest will sell firewood permits for private use beginning Thursday, May 15, 2008 at many District offices. Firewood permits are a service offered by the U.S. Forest Service and cost five dollars per cord with a minimum purchase of twenty dollars. Individuals may purchase up to ten cords per year for personal use When gathering firewood, permits allow for the harvest of down or standing dead wood only. All wood gathered must be kept to a length of 8-feet or less. Due to the prolonged winter and colder temperatures, many of the Forest roads are still impassable or too soggy for motorized use. All Forest users are encouraged to check with the local ranger stations for information about the areas trails and roads. In the Jackson area, Interagency partners at the Jackson Hole / Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center are again selling firewood permits on behalf of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, including weekends and holidays. The visitor center is the sod-roofed building located at 532 N. Cache in Jackson. Firewood permits can be obtained at the visitor center any time during their regular business hours. Permits are offered at the following Forest offices. For more information, contact the Bridger-Teton at 307-739-5500. Grey’s River Ranger District 125 Washington Street Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-3166 Confluence Information Center Located in the Alpine Civic Center Alpine, WY (contact the Afton office for more information) (307) 885-3166 Kemmerer Ranger District 308 Highway 189 North Kemmerer, WY 83101 (307) 877-4415

Reward Offered for Information Regarding Illegal Wolf Kill

sarahhale — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:25:16 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information about an illegal wolf kill in northwest Wyoming. On April 21, Game and Fish personnel responded to a call about a wolf carcass found near Highway 26/287 in the Buffalo Valley, east of Moran Junction and west of Togwotee Pass. They found the female wolf carcass about 25 feet from the main highway, where it had apparently slid down an embankment. The cause of death was not apparent, so the carcass was sent to the Game and Fish Laboratory in Laramie for further analysis. A necropsy found small traces of a bullet in the carcass and wounds suggesting the animal had been shot at least once. A person convicted in this case could face a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to a year in jail. “Compliance with state laws related to wolves is an important component of successful wolf management in Wyoming,” said Wyoming Chief Game Warden Jay Lawson. “The public can help us achieve that compliance by reporting violations in a timely manner. I want to make it clear that our game wardens and investigators are taking their new responsibilities related to wolf management very seriously. We will thoroughly investigate all reported violations to determine if prosecution is appropriate.” Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains were officially removed from the federal Endangered Species List on March 28, 2008, and are currently under management authority of the states. This incident is the first evidence of any illegal killing of wolves in Wyoming since delisting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that before delisting, 10 percent of annual wolf mortality in the northern Rocky Mountains was attributable to illegal take. Anyone with information—even second-hand information—may be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to a conviction. Callers to Wyoming’s Stop Poaching Hotline can remain anonymous, and any reward money can be collected anonymously. Report information to the Stop Poaching Hotline at (877) WGFD-TIP (877-943-3847).

State Weekend Updates: Who, What and How Fast?

dahlerickson — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:45:29 +0000

Dozens of athletes from Star Valley are in action today in both Casper and Laramie as the culminating state events for both soccer and track & field are underway. The Lady Braves had a rude awakening this morning as they played a 9 a.m. match with Cheyenne Central, losing in a one-sided affair, 7-0. The Lady Braves don't exactly get a break despite moving to the consolation bracket, as Cheyenne East's upset of Kelly Walsh has sent the Trojans down to face Star Valley. Kelly Walsh defeated the Lady Braves 2-0 in the 4A West semi-finals last weekend. The match is scheduled for 9 a.m. again Friday morning. In Casper, the weather is considerably more pleasant than it was a week ago when the team competed at regionals. At this point in the day, nearly all of the updates involve the Braves. Trevor Ricks, who won both the 3200 and 1600 meter events a week ago, ran his fastest time of the year to place second in a time of 9:46, just five seconds short of the school record set by Holbrook Call in 1995. Dominick Robinson of Gillette won the event with a time of 9:31. It bears noting that Ricks' time in Star Valley's first year of 4A competition, was a full 25 seconds faster than the winning time in Class 3A. In fact, six runners in the 4A field broke the ten minute barrier. At the High Jump PIt, regional champion, Tyler "Skinny" Skinner had a few near misses, placing fourth with a jump of 6' 2". Team mate Mitch Schwab placed second with a leap of 6' 4" for an impressive finish for the Braves in the event. Thursday Evening - Danette Warren threw 36' 6" in the Shot Put, but missed out on the top eight by several inches. Warren will graduate having set the school record a year ago at 37' 3.5". Junior Madison Wilkes threw her best distance of the season, hitting 35'. In the Long Jump, Audrey West leaped 16' 11.25", good enough for fourth place and the total points scored by the Lady Braves on day one. Star Valley is currently in eighth place with those five points, while Rock Springs and Cheyenne Central are tied for first with 32 points. Senior Chad McKen earned a trip to the finals in the 110 Meter Hurdles with a time of 16.36, while sophomore Brandon Taylor barely missed the cut with a time of 16.79 The Braves currently sit in third place with 21 team points. Gillette is leading the pack with 34 points while Central is right behind with 32 points. Friday Morning - The Lady Braves rebounded from a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Cheyenne Central to play in a hard-fought loss against 4A West Champion Kelly Walsh, eventually losing, 2-1. This officially ends the Lady Braves season, but they will return a large percentage of their players again next year where they should continue to improve. On the Track front, both Audrey West and Kevin Brough both ran the 200 Meter event. West qualified for the finals with a time 26.22, which will rank her sixth going into the finals. Brough ran a 23.24 which was .07 off from qualifying for the finals in the event. Friday Afternoon - The 400 Meter event was a very good stretch for Star Valley High as both Audrey West and Kevin Brough both had the fastest times of any runner in the preliminary heats. West broke her own record for the second time in seven days, running 58.00 for the top time. Brough also slightly bested his own personal best for the year, running a 49.93, the only time under 50 seconds for the day. Saturday - It was an exciting day to wrap up the 4A Track & Field Championships, and several events included some very noteworthy performances by several Star Valley standouts. On the girl's side, Audrey West placed fourth in the 100 Meter Dash, running a 12.95. West also placed fifth in the 200 Meter, matching her school record time of 25.95 seconds. And to top it all off, West broke her own 400 Meter record for the third time in nine days, setting a new time for herself at 57.40 which was good enough for third place, just a few tenths behind the winner. Kirsten McKen placed in the points running a 2:27 in the 800 Meter Run, good enough for eighth place. Danette Warren also scored points in the High Jump, clearing 4' 10", which put her in seventh place. As for the Braves, they notched a pair of second place finishes. First off, Kevin Brough broke through another personal best in the 400 Meter Dash, running a 49.64, just behind Mario Harris of Natrona who ran a 48.85. Brough's time is now just .3 seconds from breaking the 20-year old mark of Matt Hansen in the event, a feat he will try to perform next year. Trevor Ricks also had an exciting finish in the 1600 Meter Run, placed second with his fastest time of the season at 4:24, just two seconds behind the winner, not to mention the 35-year old school record of Kevin Hyde. Chad McKen ran his fastest times of the season in both the 110 and 300 Meter Hurdles, placing fifth in both events with times of 15.75 and 40.21 respectively. As a team, the Lady Braves finished with 26 points which placed them tenth, in front of Green River and Riverton. Cheyenne Central claimed the state title with 117 points, while Kelly Walsh finished in second with 99.2 points. As for the Braves, they finished in sixth place with 50 points, just 1.5 points behind Kelly Walsh for a fifth and seven points behind Laramie who finished fourth. Gillette continued a dominant year, winning the event with 140 points, edging Natrona and their 132. In other classifications, Cody swept Class 3A by running away from all the other teams in both the boys and girls events. Fellow L.C.S.D. No. 2 school, Cokeville, finished with a pair of State Runner-Up titles in Class 1A. The Independent wishes to congratulate the Braves and Lady Braves on a spectacular effort over the weekend where times were beaten in seemingly every attempt. A special congratulations goes out to the seniors such as Warren and Ricks who have performed admirably throughout their Star Valley career. Warren graduates with the school Shot Put record and Ricks will graduate as arguably the finest long-distance runner in school history.

2007-08: Remembering a few moments from the Sports Landscape

dahlerickson — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:30:21 +0000

On one hand, it doesn't seem all that long ago that pads and helmets were being used and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils was in the air. On the other hand, try telling that to a high school senior. Here are a few moments caught in my mind from the sports year that was in 2007-08. For the span of about two years the tide was rolling toward a classification change for Star Valley. It finally happened and now that the school year is coming to a close, I thought I’d recap some of my favorite moments in a year of change. • Reversal of Fortune - an 0-3 start including a loss on the home field against Jackson had the Braves reeling as they made the trip to Cody to face the Park County Broncs. A mistake-laden first half and four-improbable missed extra points by the home team saw the Broncs lead 24-7 to begin the fourth quarter. The Braves woke up that day, rushing for over 200 yards in the second half and coming away with a thrilling 31-30 game that ended by snuffing out a two-point attempt by Cody. Although the Braves had several close contests, this reversal of fortune will likely stick in my mind as the reminder of the year. • Ticket for Casper - The Lady Braves volleyball team was coming off five straight appearances in the 3A title game, with four championships when the season began. It didn’t take long for the doubter to concede that Star Valley’s chances for a trip to the state tournament were slim. However, with a group of raw sophomores and a mix of crafty veterans, the Lady Braves shocked both Rock Springs and Green River at the Regional tournament held at Kelly Walsh. The performance kept alive a streak of seven straight state appearances in the sport’s culminating event. • The Makeshift Student Sections - So far as the win column was concerned, the Braves didn’t have a stellar season on the hardwood, but one of their wins will be a positive reminder of the season for me. Having lost a heart-breaker to Riverton the evening before, the Braves faced the Sheridan Broncs in the final hours of the Riverton Invitational. Despite threatening to run away with the game at several points, the Braves found themselves fighting for every point they could find as the Broncs, buoyed by their girls' team and others, refused to go away. The Star Valley crowd reciprocated in kind and the two sections battled it out as their two teams fought to the very end, a 68-65 Star Valley victory. I’ve never seen two enthusiastic groups spontaneously appear on a neutral court for two struggling teams, and I may never see one again. But it certainly was memorable. • The Burning Cross - No, not that kind. The Braves, fresh off the tragedy involving the Dana family, hosted the 4A West Regional wrestling tournament and needless to say, emotions were high. The Braves remained in control the entire time and pulled out a big team victory over rival Natrona overall. The capper was the heavyweight match in which Lynk Nield performed a technique usually not attributed to the style of heavyweight wrestlers as I sat calling the match with SVHS wresting legend, Richard Hoopes. The Burning Cross, which gave Nield the Regional crown and topped off a feel-good weekend for a community that desperately needed one, will always be remembered in my mind. • The Hat Trick - For the considerable number of Star Valley seniors who play on the boys soccer team, success has been a measured response. In four years, they’ve had three head coaches, and just a handful of wins. Through those hard times however, they were able to find positives and it came to a head as the Braves hosted Evanston down the stretch of their second straight winless season to that point. The soccer gods were wearing their Crimson and Gold that day as the Braves dismantled the Devils, including a hat trick, or a three goal game, by Jon Scherbel, the first in school history. Despite the mounting losses and little interest, the soccer seniors finished their season with effort and grit and the Hat Trick game will signify this for yours truly. • Ricks’ Kicks - The Braves and Lady Braves made their way to the 4A West Regional track meet at Natrona County High School, and while injuries, weather and apathy took an effect on the team’s numbers for this season, there were a lot of impressive standout performances from Star Valley athletes. Two in particular took place at this meet in the 3200 Meter and 1600 Meter events as Trevor Ricks battled with the crowd and a select few individuals and won both of these events with a final “kick” in the race’s last 100 meters, a new addition to Ricks’ considerable running skills. The 3200 Meter in particular will stand out to me as, despite running nearly two miles in ten minutes, Ricks pulled away from his nearest competitor with yardage to spare. Ricks’ uncommon work ethic and commitment to his craft is indicative of the Track team and is what I’ll remember most. • The Catch - I know NFL fans will remember this phrase as Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, but for me, it will be Jordan Abrams to Tim Hokanson in a cold wet contest on the home field with Powell. Trailing late, Abrams was pressured and heaved the ball into the air where Hokanson was double covered by two taller defenders. Despite the odds, he came down with the ball in the rain, and then Abrams knocked through a 41-yard field goal in horrible conditions to force overtime where the Braves eventually won, 20-13. For over 20 years, Dan Dockstader has captured Star Valley on film, and he took the picture of Hokanson straining to catch this particular ball. I’ve looked at it nearly 50 times since that game in early October, and do you know what? I still don’t know how he got that ball. Definitely a memorable play in a very memorable game. So, there are a few of my memories of this last sports school year, what are yours? Please use the comment section to fill in those that I may have missed.

Coaching Carousel winds down with positions now pending board approval

dahlerickson — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:37:47 +0000

The Braves football job, now filled by former Sky View (Smithfield, Utah) coordinator Chris Howell, was the first varsity sports position to be visited, but it most certainly hasn’t been the last as L.C.S.D. No. 2 has announced that the interview process has been completed on head positions for boy’s basketball, track & field and golf. The district has showed preference in the past to look internally at those employees in order to create more stability. It’s a mindset that is being put to the test as two more varsity coaching positions were coached this past school year by individuals who will not be in the employ of the district next year. Namely, Bill Hopes, who helmed the SVHS Varsity Golf position for 20 of the program’s 21 years is retiring from the school district and Brandon Sanchez has tenured his resignation to the district from his teaching position for other employment opportunities. In light of those moves, the district has decided to make a few changes. It was determined late Wednesday evening that the Golf position was offered to Kelly Fulmer who will become the third coach in the program’s history. The Track position will also be filled internally by distance coach Ty Draney. The boy’s basketball position will be filled internally by Dr. Mark Taylor. All three of these offers have been accepted but are still pending board approval at their next meeting, June 12. Be sure read the May 29, edition of the Star Valley Independent for more details.

Governor applauds emergency response in storm's aftermath

newsrelease — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:33:41 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Praising their rapid response to areas in the city ofLaramie and Albany County that were damaged by violent thunderstorms yesterday, Gov. Dave Freudenthal thanked emergency responders today. “I appreciate the efforts of all the emergency responders and volunteer organizations in Laramie and Albany County who provided appropriate warnings and emergency services during and after the storm,” the Governor said. “They should be applauded for their work yesterday, and for their assistance in the ongoing recovery efforts.” The Governor said he particularly thanks Emergency Manager and Albany County Fire Chief Randy Vickers and Albany County Sheriff Jim Pond and their staff for their quick response and work throughout the night to ensure the safety of citizens. He also recognized the work of the Laramie Police Department, Emergency Medical Service personnel, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Wyoming National Guard and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. “All of these agencies worked together to minimize property damage and to prevent injury and loss of life,” he said. Yesterday Freudenthal authorized the mobilization of Wyoming National Guard troops and equipment from the 133rd Engineer Company in Laramie to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts. He will continue to monitor the situation closely, as well as potential trouble spots elsewhere in the state that may have problems with weather and flooding, and will authorize additional state resources as needed. The Governor has been informed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct an assessment of the situation in Laramie as well. At this time the Governor does not intend to visit Laramie to personally inspect the damage. “I have full confidence in the people working on the ground there. If I show up, they will feel obligated to stop what they are doing to show me around, and that doesn’t seem to me to be the best utilization of their time right now,” he said.

Funeral for Trevor Tolman announced

sarahhale — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:39:28 +0000

Funeral services for Trevor Tolman will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 in the Fairview LDS Church at noon. Viewings are scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 from 6-7 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and Wednesday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church.

Star Valley Medical Center growing at an impressive rate

dahlerickson — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:36:09 +0000

Be sure to click below for exclusive interviews with Dr.'s Bender, Schrader and Tallerico as they discuss the improvements and advancements for their respective departments.

Governor skeptical of Forest Service relationship in Bridger-Tetons

newsrelease — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:05:22 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal remains concerned that the integrity of an environmental analysis for leasing in the Wyoming Range has been compromised by an inappropriate relationship between the U.S. Forest Service and an oil and gas company. The U.S. Forest Service announced today that it will dissolve its memorandum of understanding with Stanley Energy, a company seeking to acquire oil and gas leases in a sensitive 44,720 acre area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. On hearing the news, the Governor released the following statement: “This is a good first step by the Forest Service, but it is only a first step. We still have the same proposal, and we still have the same unreasonable time line. This MOU provided undue access for Stanley Energy to dictate both the details and the outcome of the analysis that will determine the fate of this sensitive block of leases in the Wyoming Range. The dissolution of the agreement appears to be a good first step, but one that was only necessary because the Forest Service chose to compromise the integrity of the leasing SEIS by allowing Stanley an inappropriate seat at the table. The company and the contractor may now be gone, but the process may still be tainted by a sense of impropriety. We remain concerned that the Forest Service continues to push that this analysis be completed on a very short time line. Development of the Wyoming Range involves serious questions about air quality, watersheds and wildlife, including such sensitive and threatened species as the cutthroat trout and Canada lynx. It is too critical to address in a hurried fashion. Instead of rushing this sensitive analysis, the Forest Service should approach the leasing decision in a forest plan revision and wait to see the outcome of Sen. Barrasso’s Wyoming Range legislation which passed out of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee earlier this month. The approach of warmer weather brings with it concerns about wildfires, beetle-killed trees and a host of other costly forest management issues. The Forest Service may want to consider its priorities as it moves forward with this costly analysis.”

3rd Annual Walk Across Wyoming encourages residents to get moving

dahlerickson — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:14:14 +0000

While most folks will never walk across the Cowboy State in real life, the Walk Across Wyoming program give them a chance to do so virtually and get a head start on what could be a new idea to jump start their exercise routine. With a program designed to engage the citizens of Wyoming in a more active and healthy lifestyle, the annual Walk Across Wyoming contingent now enters their third year. The organizers are making a concerted effort to encourage participation from not just individuals but businesses and organizations as well. Using an interactive program as part of the Casper Star Tribune, the organizers will take you on a virtual trip beginning at Devil’s Tower and stopping at 25 towns across the Cowboy State and finishing in Evanston. This eight-week program affords participants the chance to walk up to 250 miles or roughly 500,000 steps. Weekly prizes and a Grand Prize will be awarded based on individual steps. Those interested in signing up can turn their web browser towards www.trib.com/walk to register and get warmed up for the program which will take place from June 8 through July 31. Registration is currently taking place. In order to qualify for prizes, individuals must complete at least 70 percent of the overall distance.

1041st activated to build bridge

sarahhale — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:41:44 +0000

Close to 25 members of the Wyoming National Guard arrived in Weston County Saturday, June 7, to build a 26-foot long temporary bridge over a washed out county road. The request came to the Wyoming National Guard Friday to send personnel to put a bridge into place. Two medics assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Medical Group and 21 members of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 1041st Engineer Company will perform the mission as a training exercise. The bridge is expected to be completed by Sunday evening and remain in place for up to one month.

Work underway on athletic complex

dahlerickson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:24:59 +0000

As residents of Star Valley can attest, the summer months are fleeting and weather can be uncooperative. Despite this limited number of days, work has commenced in earnest at SVHS where something special is the goal for those involved. That goal is when the athletes and students of Star Valley High School attend the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, that a fabulous new facility will be at their disposal. The current location of the football field is now undergoing the initial phases of what will result in a new artificial field turf that will house the Braves as well as the Braves and Lady Braves soccer teams. In addition to the field itself, a track & field area like none that SVHS has ever seen will also be constructed, including an eight-lane track and a state-of-the-art timing system. Be sure to click below for an update on the project with SVHS Activities Director Jamie Holyoak who had his sleeves rolled up and was aiding in the process before taking a break to speak with the Independent. Also, look for an update on the progress of the project every Tuesday right here at starvalleyindependent.com.

Mine expansion decision released

sarahhale — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:26:12 +0000

The Idaho Falls District of the Bureau of Land Management and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest released a Record of Decision regarding the expansion of the Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F & G. Their decision authorizes the J.R. Simplot Company to extend current open pit phosphate mining operations. “Both the BLM and Forest Service have considered the resources at stake and have carefully weighed the analysis and public comments,” BLM Idaho Falls District Manager Joe Kraayenbrink said. “This decision incorporates state of the art mitigation, Best Management Practices and thorough analysis.” According to the Forest Service, the Final Environmental Impact Statement was released to the public on Oct. 17, 2007 for a 30-day comment period. The initial comment period was extended an additional 30-days and over 47,000 comments were received. “The level of public interest with this project is unprecedented for the phosphate patch,” stated Larry Timchak, Forest Supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. “As decision makers, we need to balance the public concerns with the laws and regulations that govern our management to reach a decision that provides for future phosphate mining in an environmentally sound and legal manner. I believe we have done that." The Caribou Clean Water Partnership disagrees.“If the Record of Decision is not reversed it will be a major setback for Idaho and Wyoming water quality,” said John Hart, a spokesman for the Caribou Clean Water Partnership. “If the federal agencies, whose job it is to protect our public lands, cannot compel the J.R. Simplot Co. to clean up past contamination and comply with clean water laws, then ordinary citizens are forced to take action. We will appeal this decision.” Because each agency operates under different authorities, the BLM and Forest Service have each issued a separate ROD.The appeal period for the Forest Service, which is 45-days, opens Friday, June 13, 2008. The BLM decisions regarding on-lease mining operations are the final administrative determination of the Department of Interior and are not subject to appeal.

Assistant coaches approved by L.C.S.D. No. 2

dahlerickson — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:18:52 +0000

Some coaching staffs will remain intact such as the Lady Braves volleyball team. Others, such as the Braves football staff, have undergone an overhaul. Here are the newest additions to the Fall Sports staffs as approved in L.C.S.D. No. 2's latest meeting held June 12, 2008. Football: Newly minted Head Coach Chris Howell will also serve as the team's offensive coordinator. Jason Cazier will return as the team's defensive coordinator, while Kelly Merritt will serve as the linebackers coach. Joe Hale will handle offensive lineman duties and Winston Patterson will coach the running backs. Nick Crosby is the new defensive backs coach, while newcomer to the valley Justin Walker, will take the defensive ends and tight ends. Chris Abrams rounds out the new staff as the wide receivers coach. Additionally, Star Valley picked up a valuable Jackson defection as Dustin Shockley will join the freshman staff in addition to picking up freshman boy's basketball duties in the winter. Shockley has coached in Jackson as part of the Lady Broncs basketball squad and served as the Broncs linebackers coach up until last season including Jackson's 11-0 state championship season. New Head Golf Coach Kelly Fulmer will welcome long-time Star Valley coach Homer Bennett as an assistant coach this fall. The Lady Braves' staff remains unchanged as Brandy Taylor, Jayne Filibi, SaVanna Romine and Dahl Simpson helm the volleyball programs respectively. Ty Draney and Corena Ricks will remain as the Cross-Country staff.

SVHS Athletics Complex Tuesday update: June 17

dahlerickson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:55:34 +0000

Work has taken another step on the new facilities at SVHS. Click below for your weekly update.

Governor names Steve Ferrell Director of Game & Fish

newsrelease — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:09:07 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The deputy director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been named the new director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department by Gov. Dave Freudenthal. Steve Ferrell, an avid hunter, sport shooter and angler with more than 30 years of experience in wildlife management, said he is deeply honored to be named to the position. Ferrell succeeds Terry Cleveland, who will retired on June 30 after 39 years of service with the department. “The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is recognized nationally by wildlife professionals as a leader among state fish and wildlife agencies,” Ferrell said. “I have known the Department to be staffed by dedicated and talented people who are proud of the State of Wyoming, its natural resources and their agency. It is my intention to continue the exemplary leadership provided by outgoing Director Terry Cleveland who has been a true giant among leaders of our profession.” Ferrell was one of three finalists chosen by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. The other two were John Emmerich, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Kevin Delaney, former Director of the Division of Sport Fish for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and a current Account Vice President with UBS Financial Services in Fort Collins, Colo. Gov. Dave Freudenthal said of the three candidates, Ferrell was the logical choice to lead the agency. “I commend the Game and Fish Commission for sending me a slate of three well-qualified candidates,” he said. “Obviously, it was a difficult decision and it took longer than I had hoped for me to reach a decision. But based on both a review of the materials, the candidates’ resumes and contacts with people who have worked with them, I believe Mr. Ferrell is the logical choice to lead the commission and the agency forward. His wildlife management experience and understanding of the challenges we face in the future make him a good fit for the agency.” The Governor acknowledged that there may be concern about an out-of-state candidate leading the agency tasked with managing Wyoming’s treasured wildlife and fisheries. “I am mindful that the last time I selected someone from out of state it didn’t work out too well,” Freudenthal said. “I am hoping for a better outcome this time.” Ferrell has spent his entire career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, an agency that employs more than 600 people and is funded at more than $85 million annually. Beginning in 1975, he has served the department as a Wildlife Assistant, Wildlife Manager, Habitat Evaluation Specialist, Research Program Supervisor, Wildlife Regional Supervisor, Assistant Director, and Deputy Director. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Arizona. As deputy director since 1999, Ferrell’s primary responsibilities have included the coordination and implementation of all agency programs including: administration, wildlife management, Information and Education, Field Operations, and Special Services. Ferrell has also served as chief financial officer of the department, as chairman of the Game and Fish Director’s executive staff and as leader of the department’s management team. He coordinated regularly with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the Arizona Governor’s Office, the Arizona State Legislature, and with organized constituent groups. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership and administrative skills. Ferrell is current chairman of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Resources Policy Committee, is a member of the 2008 White House Conference on Hunting Heritage Technical Committee and a member of the National Sports Shooting Federation’s advisory committee on best practices in hunting and shooting sports recruitment and retention. Ferrell said he has long been fascinated by Wyoming and the leadership role that the state’s Game and Fish Department plays among other state wildlife agencies across the nation. “My wife and I have felt a long-time attraction to Wyoming, and had planned to relocate to the state in coming years,” Ferrell said. “This is a very exciting opportunity for us. I look forward to serving the state, its citizens, and the dedicated employees who work for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.”

Masters of the Flame: Afton's firemen are Wyoming's best

dandockstader — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:28:03 +0000

With mere fraction of a second deciding the winner, the Afton Volunteer Fire Department City Team captured first place at the 2008 Wyoming State Fireman’s Convention June 13 and 14. Afton’s overall time of 121.90 was accumulated in five different skilled events. Newcastle followed in second place and Riverton No. 2 was third. Fifteen teams competed on the drill field west of Afton. The 2008 overall championship marks the third time for the Afton Fire Department to win the title. The state’s top honor was first awarded to Afton in 1972 and again in 2001. The 2008 Wyoming Fireman’s Association All Conference Team includes Rodd Hillyard and Kip Johnson from the Afton Fire Department. Team members are also follows: Afton City Rodd Hillyard, Dirk Hillyard, Mont Hess, Brandon Robinson and Jared Hansen. Afton Rural Cody Wilkes, Dennis Mcdonald, Kip Johnson, Justin Guzman, Andy Sessions and Kade Hebdon. Afton Mud Flaps Glen Magee, Clay Larson, Brian Erickson, Brock Brown and Jarred Baxter. The Independent congratulates these firemen and their efforts throughout the year to assist the many communities of Star Valley. For a full detailing of times and events, please read the June 19, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Palisades Reservoir at 59 percent capacity

newsrelease — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:36:54 +0000

It’s been a long time since Palisades Reservoir has been at its full capacity. Currently, the popular recreational reservoir sits at only 59 percent. People around the area all seem to have the same question, why hasn’t the reservoir been filling up this year? Weather conditions for the area have aided in the slowing of melting snow, so the reservoir has not filled up as rapidly as usual this year. “We’re still expecting it to fill,” said Mike Beaus, Snake River Bureau of Reclamation Office Water Operations Manager. Apparently, there is still a lot of snow that is expected to start rapidly melting within the next couple of weeks. The Idaho Bureau of Reclamation expects the reservoir to fill over the next few weeks and is hoping for a near-full season." The last time that Palisades was at its full capacity was in June of 2000, so a near-full season this year will have made progress to perhaps a full capacity season next year if plenty of snow falls this coming winter. If the Bureau of Reclamation is correct in their assumption, it will be a happy day for all of those fishing, camping, and boating recreation lovers that enjoy the scenic area of Palisades Reservoir.

Athletic Complex Update: June 24, 2008

dahlerickson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:58:43 +0000

In our third update on the progress for the athletics facility being constructed at Star Valley High School, some of the improvements in the last seven days include a level surface which has been expertly excavated. Also, drainage pipe construction is underway as is the concrete pad for the Pole Vault runway. The naming process for the facility is underway and you can submit your name for the new addition by sending it to the Independent at P.O. Box 129, Afton WY, 83110 or by dropping by the Independent offices at 360 S. Washington St. in Afton. The names will be placed in the poll section of this website from July 1 through July 16 and the top vote getter will be submitted to the school board of LCSD #2 for approval at their meeting on July 17.

Small wildfire strikes Bridger-Teton National Forest

sarahhale — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:43:45 +0000

A wet spring does not mean fire danger is non-existant. Monday, June 23, the Bridger-Teton National Forest dispatched a fire engine to a small wildfire on the Pinedale Ranger District. The fire burned approximately a quarter acre of grass and tree stumps near the Dutch Joe Guard Station. The Dutch Joe Guard Station is located 47-miles southeast of Pinedale. “Federal officials on site were able to successfully scratch a perimeter line around the fire with shovels and hand tools to keep the fire from spreading until the engine could come and extinguish the blaze,” said Mary Cernicek, public affairs for the Bridger-Teton. The cause of the fire is under investigation. “Just because there is a low fire danger doesn’t mean there is no fire danger,” said Fire Management Officer Rod Dykehouse. “While some of the upper elevations of the forest are still under snow with swollen creeks, the vegetation is rapidly drying due to the recent spell of warm weather.” According to Dykehouse, the Forest Service is looking at elevating the fire danger from l ow to moderate in the next several weeks. “Visitors to the Forest can help prevent unwanted wildfires by thoroughly extinguishing their camp fires, and being responsible with ashes and cooking stoves,” said Cernicek.

Accident Results in Two Fatalities in Grand Teton Park

newsrelease — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:01:31 +0000

A head-on collision between a passenger car and a semi truck hauling a car transport trailer resulted in the death of two people in Grand Teton National Park. The accident occurred Monday afternoon, June 23, at 4:30 p.m. on Highway 26/89/191, approximately 1.5 miles south of the Moose junction. Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of the accident from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office shortly after it occurred. Approximately 10 park rangers and emergency medical personnel along with Teton County Fire/EMS personnel immediately responded to the scene, and several Teton Interagency fire staff helped with traffic control at various intersections near the accident site. In addition to the park response, several Teton County sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer assisted with traffic control and an accident reconstruction investigation. Other mutual aid assistance included a Teton County ambulance, and the Teton County rescue vehicle with an extrication team, responding from Jackson, Wyoming. Details on the cause of the accident will become available after the investigation is completed. The two deceased persons were visitors from Belgium. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Due to the serious nature of the accident and the position of the semi truck and its trailer, Highway 26/89/191 was closed from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Traffic was rerouted through detours along the Antelope Flats Road and the Moose-Wilson Road.

Friday Sports Stir

dahlerickson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:39:09 +0000

Taking a cue from the sports world, the Independent presents a Friday brain teaser to whet your appetite for local athletics. Click below to prove your Star Valley sports knowledge. First off, no cheating. A powerful temptation the internet is (Yoda voice). Use the comment section to make your guess and I'll let you know if it's right. If we go the weekend without a correct answer then I'll give the answer on Monday. We'll have one of these every Friday so that you can have an excuse to have lower productivity on a day that you should have off anyway. Rotten five-day work weeks anyway. And with that, today's Star Valley sports question is related to wrestling: The Braves have a long tradition of wrestling proficiency dating back to the 1960's. In that time, three Star Valley wrestlers have claimed three individual state titles during their high school career. Who are they? Okay Star Valley faithful, let's get those answers rolling in. Also, if you have a great sports question, send it along to svidahl@silverstar.com.

Star Valley residents meet with President at the White House

newsrelease — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:36:51 +0000

In late March, Smoot resident Angie Hardesty had the opportunity to meet with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office at the White House. Her son, Sgt. Charlie Hardesty, is a marine who was in the HMX (Helicopter Marine Special Forces). The HMX are those that handle safety and transportation of the President in helicopters. The HMX guard the hangers, assemble the helicopters, and protect the President while he is traveling. Charlie was a part of the MP Canine Program and was a dog handler for four years; meaning he took a dog around the areas of helicopters and hangers to inspect for bombs. He had the chance to travel to many places of the world with the President. The majority of the places that Charlie went, they had no problems. Charlie recently finished his work with the HMX and was selected to meet with President Bush. Charlie asked his mother, Angie, to accompany him. There were only four individuals from the HMX that were selected to meet with the President this year. “What an honor. The President is a very humble and gracious man,” said Angie. Before Angie and Charlie could meet with the President, they were told what to do, what not to do, and were informed of rules and procedures of the White House. Angie recalls that they walked through the rose garden and that their names were announced to the President when they walked in the Oval Office. Then they got their picture taken with the President and were soon ushered out. “It’s quite an honor to be selected. It’s not something that comes easy,” said Angie. Charlie graduated from Star Valley High School in 2000 and went on to become a marine in 2003. He will soon be stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and will be going into the first marine expeditionary forces in the Combat Tracker dog program. “He loves it. He absolutely loves it. It’s not like a job for him, he likes going everyday…he’ll probably make a career out of it,” Angie said.

Boy Injured By Yellowstone Bison

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:33:26 +0000

A 12-year-old Pennsylvania boy was flipped in the air by a bison near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Friday morning. A mature bull bison, apparently annoyed at the close proximity of the boy, tossed him approximately 10 feet in the air. Witnesses said the boy was posing with members of his family within 1-2 feet of the animal despite repeated warnings from other visitors. The incident occurred just off the trail adjacent to the Uncle Tom’s Trail parking lot along the South Rim Drive of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The bull’s horns did not puncture the boy. The only outward injuries he suffered were abrasions possibly received from hitting the ground after the fall. Because the boy complained of abdominal pain, he was transported by ambulance to the Lake Clinic and then flown to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. The name and hometown of the injured juvenile aren’t being released. His current condition is not available. Visitors are urged to be very cautious around the park’s wildlife. Extremely serious injuries or death can result from approaching wild animals too closely even if they appear docile. Park regulations require that a minimum distance of 100 yards be maintained from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other animals.

Hundreds of people take part in 2008 Relay for Life in Star Valley

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:27:59 +0000

The word itself is a blight on the English language. Cancer. It’s unwelcome meaning frightens the public when it is mentioned as news reports of it’s devastating effects are a daily occurrence in today’s 24-7 information deluge. With such a long running and formidable foe however, is an army of those who would withstand it. This was the face of the crowd during the 2008 Relay for Life. Those unfamiliar with the event should know that while there are moments of somber reflection of those lost during the 24-hour trek, the real overwhelming feeling is the determination of the human spirit. The original idea for the Relay for Life came from Dr. Gordy Klatt, a surgeon from Tacoma, Washington. A marathon enthusiast, he decided to help the income of his local American Cancer Society office by circling a track for a 24-hour period. The day-long walk symbolized the fact that cancer never sleeps. In his inaugural walk, Klatt covered 83 miles as friends paid various amounts to walk or run with him, raising $27,000 for his first attempt. Since that time, the Relay For Life has become a team event where sponsors organize for several weeks or even months to put together a 24-hour celebration of life. From that first event in 1985, the program now involves millions of people in thousands of locations across the globe. The Star Valley event descended on Star Valley Middle School where not a parking spot could be found for hundreds of yards surrounding the track. Dozens of fifth-wheel trailers and even more tents were set up for the full overnight experience. “As a committee, we were very pleased with the turnout and the generosity of the people in this valley,” stated Lona Izatt. “We hope we made it an event that people will want to return to next year.” Izatt also said that the amount of money raised surpassed their goal. “We know that it takes a village,” she added. “For us to all band together and do what we can to fight cancer and every little bit helps." For more information on the national affect of the Relay for Life or for other ways to help battle cancer, visit www.cancer.org. Be sure to click below for an exclusive photo slide show of the Star Valley Relay for Life. (Photos by Dan Dockstader)

Wyoming Air Guard fighting fires from the sky

newsrelease — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:24:58 +0000

Two Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd Airlift Wing C-130 cargo planes are battling the California wildfires from the air with the modular airborne firefighting system. The aircraft and crews began releasing fire retardant on June 28 to help contain multiple fires throughout California. Flying out of the McClellan Airport in Sacramento, Calif., the crews opened with two sorties, or two different flights to drop the retardant. The Wyoming Air National Guard is one of four National Guard and Reserve units in the country trained to operate the MAFFS units. Each MAFFS unit can drop 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in 8 - 10 seconds. "There's a lot more fire than there was last year," Lt. Col. Wylie Walno, 153rd Operations Group MAFFS coordinator, said. "The flights are real hazy. Visibility during the past two days has been down to three miles or less." Walno said Wyoming crews flew four sorties on June 29, over the course of six hours, to the Piute Fire, 17 miles northeast of Caliente, Calif. "I can't tell you this is any worse or any better than any other year," he said. The National Interagency Fire Center activates the National Guard and Reserve MAFFS units when other fire fighting resources are exhausted. Besides Wyoming, MAFFS equipped C-130s from the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard; and the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, Colo., are flying in California. The Wyoming Air National Guard has performed its MAFFS mission for more than 30 years. This is the unit's first MAFFS activation since it was called to battle California wildfires in October 2007.

Athletics complex update for July 1, 2008

dahlerickson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:43:46 +0000

While it may not look like much has changed since last week, much of this week's progress took place below the soil. Drainage pipes and soil shaping that will eventually help the track drain were constructed, as was the posts for the fencing which will surround the field and the track. In addition to the work on the main portion of the field, grading work has also taken place in the throwing area as well as a new layer of protection on the driving area and the parking lot surrounding SVHS and the athletics area. Be sure to click below

Governor Freudenthal appears on "Meet the Press"

dandockstader — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:31:07 +0000

In an interview with NBC’s Tom Brokaw on Saturday, Gov. Dave Freudenthal and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter discussed the upcoming presidential race, the pressing need for a federal energy policy and the importance of coal to the national economy. With increasing pressure to drill for more oil and gas on public lands in the West, the governors emphasized the need for a rational federal energy policy that includes diverse sources including fossil fuels, renewable sources and an infusion of funding for research into clean coal and other technologies. In the wide-ranging interview taped at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club, Brokaw described the West as a region that is emerging as a new political battleground. The governors emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation and pointed to the Western Governors Association as an organization where Republican and Democratic governors work in concert to achieve policy goals. Wyoming and Colorado are among other states in the region that are struggling to achieve a balance between wildlife conservation and energy resource development. In order to ensure the future of the West’s wildlife herds, more attention must be paid to wildlife migration corridors, Freudenthal said. Efforts to achieve balance between energy development and conservation in the region would be more effective if the federal government would be a better partner on the issue, he said.

"Total Precipitation" at 112 percent for the region

dandockstader — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:21:16 +0000

The high snowpack accumulated in the winter of 2008, combined with the spring rain and snow showers have produced an abundance of water in Star Valley. According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) there is an average of 231 percent of snow water, which equals 112 percent average of total precipitation for this region. According to the NRCS the snow pack percentage at the Salt River Summit and Willow Creek in the Star Valley region was at 100 percent in the final readings this spring. The Wind River Range in Sublette County was at 117 percent of average.

Afton Heritage Committee to induct Hall of Fame class Saturday

dahlerickson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:30:25 +0000

While the title may say Afton, indeed the first six members of the Afton Heritage Committee's Hall of Fame did much more than simply stay in Afton. They founded the very basis for life in Star Valley and went a long way towards determining the stability of this area. From building schools, businesses and churches, these early settlers also developed water systems, power infrastructure and trade routes that today's citizens still owe much of their lifestyle. The Afton Heritage Committee will induct their inaugural Hall of Fame class this Saturday as part of Independence Day celebrations and as part of the Afton Civic Center's Grand Opening. Be sure to click below for exclusive footage of Mr. Larry Call, Chairman of the Afton Heritage Committee as he discusses the six inductees, Anson Vasco Call II, William Walton Burton, Dr. George Washington West, Osborne Lowe, Anie Rebecca Seward Kennington and Clarence Gardner, and speaks about this week's Heritage Jubilee.

Friday Sports Stir - Sunday Night edition

dahlerickson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:09:49 +0000

Well, with the Governor in town, the nation celebrating it's birthday and yours truly with a busy schedule, I forgot my new Friday sports trivia. Well, here's your makeup question - Of course all of the Friday Sports Stir questions can be answered using your comment section, and it's always a chance to either show off your intelligence, or your luck. Either one is good here. Okay, here we go. With the Star Valley Braves beginning their summer football camp Monday evening at 6 p.m., this one has to be a football question. The Star Valley Athletic Club played their first football game in the fall of 1928 under Coach Newell Peterson. They lost their first two games to Kemmerer and Cokeville respectively (ouch!). They won in Week 3 against what team? For bonus points, what was the score? This is also important because Star Valley has won at least one game in every season they have played, no small feat over eight decades of football. I am keeping track of the winners for this portion of starvalleyindependent.com, and they will be rewarded with cool Star Valley gear for the winners of each month, so take your best guess. Good luck to the football and soccer players who both begin camps on Monday, check back for some video and some pictures from their July experiences right here at the website.

Star Valley communities celebrate Independence Day

dahlerickson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:11:28 +0000

Alpine, Thayne, Star Valley Ranch and Afton all celebrated the weekend of July 4, in various ways, but a parade was the common thread that connected them all. Be sure to click below for exclusive slide shows of each community's efforts. More slide shows are being added throughout Monday. What was your favorite part of the Independence Day celebration? Use the comment section to sound off. MUSIC: Livin' In America: Performed by James Brown Stars and Stripes Forever: by John Phillip Sousa America: Performed by Neil Diamond God Bless the U.S.A.: Performed by Lee Greenwood America the Beautiful: Performed by Ray Charles and Alicia Keyes PHOTOS: Thayne Parade: Rozie & Dahl Erickson Ranch Rodeo/ Pack Horse Finals: Dahl Erickson Alpine Parade: Sarah Hale Star Valley Ranch : Victoria Simpson Afton Parade: Sarah Hale & Rozie Erickson

Braves Field update? It sure looks that way.

dahlerickson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:19:29 +0000

If the voting through the first week is any indication, the fans of Star Valley want the name of the field to be Braves Field and they're not liking much of anything else. This week's update takes a look at the new curbing made of concrete that has given the oval shape of what's to come in the eight-lane track. According to those working on the field, the curbing is something that the rest of the field will anchor to and will provide a solid base when the turf and track are installed. Also, dozens of new fence poles have sprung up around the field and behind the main bleachers to the west of the Pole Vault runway but it isn't stopping several coaches from using the facilities. In addition to Allison Hicks and Adam Isaacson teaching the youth in morning soccer camps at the practice fields, the Braves have between 60 and 70 players trying to learn from the new Star Valley coaching staff. Coach Chris Howell is busy, as are many of his assistants, installing a new offense, a new defense and a new mindset for his first head coaching opportunity, and after witnessing the first day of the camp, Coach Howell is certainly making good use of his time with the players. The Braves will meet up with the Riverton Wolverines on August 30, on the new surface and facility with both teams sharing surprisingly similar goals. New Wolverine head coach Jeremy McCormick will also be looking for a good first impression as the two new coaches will christen a new field for the 80th year of Star Valley football. Be sure to click below for video footage of the update and don't forget to vote for your favorite suggestion on the right hand side of this page. The top vote getter, and that's looking to be nearly decided, will be presented to the school board of LCSD #2 for approval at the July 17, meeting.

"Prepare now for high home energy prices" say Governor

dahlerickson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:28:23 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Now is the time to prepare for the high utility bills that Wyoming customers will likely see this fall, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said. “The easiest way to explain it is that the price of gas today at the major hub serving Wyoming is double what it was a year ago today.” he went on to say. Governor Freudenthal, fresh off a visit in Star Valley to help dedicate the Lander Trail Monument in Afton, went on to say the following: "Higher wholesale gas prices are passed on to consumers in utility rate increases. The Wyoming Public Service Commission does not regulate the wholesale price of gas. Consumers can cut their utility bills by reducing energy use and improving the efficiency of their homes and businesses." Click below for more audio from Governor Freudenthal on the future of energy prices

Wyoming colleges launch Distance Elementary Education Program

newsrelease — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:56:05 +0000

The statewide pilot elementary education distance program, a partnership between the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges, is set to begin this fall. The program offers the final two years of the UW elementary education degree program during a three-year period to provide flexibility for non-traditional students who do not have access to the UW campus in Laramie or the UW/Casper College (UW/CC) Center. The UW College of Education, with assistance from the UW Outreach School, will deliver all of the junior- and senior-level courses via online, teleconferencing or hybrid formats, with some face-to-face meetings that will be centrally located in Casper. "What we tried to come up with was the best combination of courses, requirements and timing to fit the particular needs of site-bound students," says Alan Buss, head of the UW Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education. The pilot program, formally announced in November 2007, was created in response to ongoing requests by community college personnel and site-bound students in Wyoming interested in earning an education degree from UW. The UW Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education has cooperated broadly to bring the statewide program to implementation, Buss says. The first cohort will launch this fall and graduate in spring 2011. The second cohort begins in the fall of 2009, with graduation scheduled for spring 2012. Graduates complete the same nationally-accredited and recognized program as other UW elementary education students but on a different time-line with adjusted course delivery. The deadline to apply for the second cohort is next April 15. Packets must include a completed program application form, a copy of the student's admission letter to UW and current copies of all post-high school academic transcripts. For more information, visit the UW Teacher Education Program Web site at www.uwyo.edu/ted and click on the "Statewide ELEM Program Pilot" link, or call program coordinator Sharyn Polley at (307) 587-9974 or e-mail srusk@uwyo.edu.

Friday Sports Stir - Duffers and Hackers need apply

dahlerickson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:47:34 +0000

With a solid month of beautiful Star Valley weather and some of the nation's most scenic links, the Stir is dedicating this week's trivia to the sport of Golf. Congratulations to Rick Walker, who's won both weeks, coming from left field to claim last week's answer. Just a reminder of how this works: Use the comment section to answer, I'll respond as timely as I can to let you know if you're right. You can certainly guess more than once. In fact, guess 'till your heart's content Please no Internet researching. If you have an old paper that you can look at, or a relative that knows, that's great. I'll usually try to have a bonus question included that will also be worth a point. Over the course of our Friday Sports Stir columns, I'll keep track of the points and for every four points compiled by someone, they'll win some Star Valley sports apparel. Up for grabs right now? A Star Valley Cheesemakers Hat. Okay, here's this week's question: Bill Hoopes, recently retired SVHS Golf Coach, won how many state championships as Head Coach of the Braves and Lady Braves Golf Teams? Bonus Question: Who was the most recent individual state champion golfer from Star Valley? Good luck to all, and make sure to make use of the comment section below. Have a great weekend and Go Braves!

Delays may frustrate travelers over Togwotee Pass

newsrelease — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:41:50 +0000

Although Yellowstone National Park is a huge tourist destination every season, road construction in between Grand Teton National Park and the nation's oldest treasure may put a dent in guests' summer plans.Togwotee Pass is one of the most scenic and dangerous passes in Wyoming and will have construction work commencing in the early hours of the morning this summer. This is a situation which should lead to safer travel in both the summer and winter seasons. Crews have been rebuilding the highway over the pass. This Monday through Friday, the highway will be closed from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 2:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Also, blasting is scheduled for 7 p.m. each day during the week. The blasting could cause delays of up to an hour. This latest phase of the project involves stabilizing three landslide zones and adding a box culvert and a bridge to help wildlife cross the highway. Culverts also are being built for snowmobilers and trees are being removed to improve visibility for drivers.

Afton claims official ownership of Johnny Miller Course

dahlerickson — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:22:42 +0000

In a move from the Third District Court and Judge Jere Ryckman, approximately 30 acres of property in the south portion of Afton was transferred from the Bradley D. Morehouse Estate to the Town of Afton. According to a press release from the Town of Afton, the Estate satisfied the creditors who were involved in the construction of the course. The Town has received executed deeds from the Estate as well as the Design firm, Next Step Engineering and Design, LLC. First Bank of Afton has signed and delivered a release of mortgage terminating the Bank's lien on the property. The Estate was able to complete this step using approximately $1.3 million transferred from the Town of Afton after the untimely death of Mr. Morehouse in a tragic jet accident last September and the National Air Races in Reno, NV. Afton Mayor, Alan Stauffer, feels that it's important that people understand that the $1.3 million dollars will now be paid back to the town coffers from the sale of homes and building lots surrounding the 18-hole course. "It's also important that people realize that there is no way the Town would have accomplished this project without the generous contribution of Mr. Morehouse, or the continued cooperation of Leslie Morehouse Gardner and her family," he added. Construction for the final phase of the golf course has been underway since May, and completion of the project is anticipated to be in October of this year. Look for a more detailed interview from Mayor Stauffer as well as golf course specifics on the new course in the July 17, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

UW names new head wrestling coach from Oklahoma State

newsrelease — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:27:47 +0000

Laramie, Wyo. (July 14, 2008) — University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced on Monday that Mark Branch has been selected as the new head wrestling coach at the University of Wyoming. Branch comes to Wyoming from Oklahoma State University where he was the Associate Head Wrestling Coach. He was a part of five NCAA team championships as a coach and student-athlete at OSU. As a college wrestler, Branch was a member of OSU’s 1994 NCAA Championship team, and served on the coaching staff for OSU’s 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 NCAA titles. He provided the Cowboys from Stillwater with personal and team instruction including technique training, weight training, conditioning and nutrition. He was instrumental in the recruiting of student-athletes to Stillwater, as well as organizing fundraising projects, promotional strategies and assisting in public relation functions with student-athletes. Branch replaces Steven Suder, who coached the Wyoming Cowboys from 1989-2008. “The hiring of Mark is exciting for the future of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling,” Burman said. “We feel his experience and passion will enable us to become a national player in the wrestling community.” “For me, this is the realization of my goal to become an NCAA head coach,” said Branch. “I’m from a competitive background, and I was looking for a place where I could build a nationally-competitive program. I believe there is a great deal of support from the Athletic Department and the University as a whole at Wyoming. Wyoming is the right program for me and the right fit for me and my family. I appreciate the confidence that Tom Burman (UW Athletics Director) and Matt Whisenant (UW Senior Associate Athletics Director) have shown in me to get the job done.” As a member of the OSU coaching staff, Branch was named the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. He helped coach OSU to seven Big XII Championships, four NCAA Championships and three Dual Team Championships. He was named the Associate Head Coach at OSU in 2002. He individually coached 31 All-Americans and nine NCAA Champions. Branch has been a freestyle wrestling coach for the Gator Club in New Orleans, La., since 1997 where he provides personal instruction and training in freestyle wrestling. His teams have participated at various World Team training camps. He has coached at the U.S. Nationals and World/Olympic Team Trials. As a student-athlete at OSU, Branch was a four-time NCAA All-American (1994-97), four-time NCAA National Finalist (1994-97), two-time NCAA National Champion at 167 pounds (1994 and ’97) and a two-time National Freestyle All-American (1998 and ’99). In 1997, he was named the Big XII Athlete of the Year, OSU Student-Athlete of the Year and the top graduating senior for OSU Wrestling. He was a four-time NWCA Academic All-American, received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and a Big XII Post-Graduate Scholarship Award. Branch earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State in 1997 and earned his master of science degree in athletic administration from OSU in 2000. “I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for the opportunities I was given at my alma mater, Oklahoma State,” said Branch. “John Smith (Head Wrestling Coach at Oklahoma State) gave me the opportunity to learn from him. I consider him to be the greatest coach in college wrestling. I was fortunate to be a part of the greatest program in college wrestling as a student-athlete and assistant coach with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, now I’m excited to build on the great tradition of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling.” A native of Newkirk, Okla., he and his wife Susan have a daughter, Maggie Belle, and a son, Mason Layne.

Monday Sports Stir - Out of Town edition

dahlerickson — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:52:44 +0000

Well, on some counts I have to apologize for not having the Stir up and running on Friday, but some days you just have to take the phone off the hook and head out of town. Here's the make up question for this week. This week's Stir question has to do with basketball. Remember, please no internet researching and feel free to guess as many times as you would like in the comment section. Perhaps wait until I've responded with a right or wrong until you guess again. The winner will get points based on the correct answer of course, but also get bonus point(s) for the harder additional questions. After racking up 4 total points during the Stir, you'll be getting some Star Valley apparel. (Check out the standings at the bottom of this post) Who knows, at the end of the 2008-09 school year, the overall winner might be getting something big. Without further delay, here's this week's Sports Stir question. In the 1967-68 season, the Star Valley Braves, with head coach Lew Monsen, won the school's first ever basketball state title. They went 18-5 that season, never losing by more than three points. Here's your question: Which team did the Braves defeat in the state championship game? Bonus question: Where was the championship game played? (be specific) Extra Hard Bonus question: What was the score of the game? The Friday Sports Stir standings so far: Rick Walker: 3 pts Shane Williams: 2 pts

University of Wyoming donations reach record mark

newsrelease — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:55:30 +0000

LARAMIE -- Private donations to the University of Wyoming exceeded $43 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, an all-time record, according to a UW statement. In addition, UW announced that another $19.8 million in state money was committed to the university through the state's facility and endowment matching funds as a result of the private donations. The total of the gifts and pledges UW received in the past year brings UW's five-year average for private donations to more than $30 million a year. According to a release from UW, the past year's total includes $1 million from Marian Rochelle and April Brimmer Kunz to the UW College of Law; $1 million from the Ellbogen Foundation to the College of Education; $1 million from Marathon Oil Corporation to support energy and education research programs; $3 million from the Daniels Fund to the College of Business; $5 million from BP America to support UW's energy programs and $5 million from Mick and Susie McMurry through the McMurry Foundation for the College of Business. The UW athletics department reached its goal of raising $16 million during the year, the university announced. Combined with state matching funds, UW athletics will have $32 million for facility enhancements.

Federal Court Decision Changes Wolf Management in Wyoming

newsrelease — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:10:14 +0000

A decision issued Friday, July 18 in federal court will have significant impacts on the way wolves are managed in Wyoming. Judge Donald Molloy issued an injunction to suspend the removal of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the federal Endangered Species List. Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains were removed from the Endangered Species List in March 2008. A number of environmental groups are challenging the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s delisting decision. Today’s injunction effectively returns management authority for wolves in the region to the federal government while these legal challenges are heard. Under state management, wolves in Wyoming were classified as Trophy Game animals in the northwest corner of the state and Predatory animals in the rest of the state. In the Trophy Game area, wolves could only be taken by hunters with a wolf hunting license during an open season or by ranchers who had been issued a lethal take permit by the Game and Fish. In the Predatory Animal area, wolves could be taken by anyone at any time. As a result of the injunction, wolves can no longer be taken anywhere in Wyoming except in cases where wolves are in the act of attacking livestock. Ranchers who are experiencing livestock depredation problems anywhere in the state should contact their local Wyoming Game and Fish office. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and US Fish and Wildlife Service are currently drafting a Memorandum of Agreement to cooperatively manage wolves in Wyoming until a decision is reached on wolf delisting. Under this agreement, the department will likely remain active in monitoring, conflict resolution, and law enforcement activities related to wolves in the state under the authority of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the proposed MOA, the department will be active in wolf management only in the Trophy Game area.

Governor remains concerned about Sylvan Pass agreement

newsrelease — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:45:32 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The National Park Service today amended its record of decision on winter access to Yellowstone National Park through Sylvan Pass to indicate that the pass will remain open in winter. On hearing the news today, Gov. Dave Freudenthal issued the following statement: “I’m pleased that the Record of Decision has been amended to ultimately reflect the Sylvan Pass Study Group’s goal to keep Yellowstone’s East Gate open for motorized winter access to the park. However, I still have concerns about Sylvan Pass remaining predictably and consistently open in the future. The language that causes me specific concern states that while the pass will remain open from Dec. 22 through March 1, it is conditioned by “weather related constraints and National Park Service fiscal, staff, infrastructural, equipment, and other safety-related capacities.” I hope in the future the Park Service will not use this vague language as justification for closing Sylvan Pass. We look forward to working with the Service to keep the pass open so that businesses in Park County can rely on continued winter access going forward.”

Investigation Continues on the Grand Teton Climbing Fatality

newsrelease — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:37:59 +0000

Grand Teton National Park rangers continue to investigate the death of longtime Exum Mountain Guides employee George Gardner, age 58, that occurred on Saturday, July 19. Fellow guides, who were with Gardner before the accident that took his life, have provided rangers with extensive information about the circumstances leading up to his untimely death. Gardner and several other Exum guides had taken a group of clients, including youths from Wilderness Ventures, to the Lower Saddle on Saturday with the intention of climbing the Grand Teton the following day. After the group had eaten dinner and settled into their Lower Saddle camp for the evening, Gardner departed around 5 p.m. to free solo climb the Lower Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton, a climb rated 5.7 on the Yosemite Decimal System. According to his colleagues, Gardner planned to climb the route to Wall Street and then return back to Lower Saddle base camp. According to investigators, it is not unusual for professional guides—either in pairs or solo—to go out for additional climbing on their own, once their clients have settled in for the night. Several guides were concerned when Gardner had not returned by dark; however, the guides noticed headlamps coming down from the Upper Saddle and they figured it was Gardner, perhaps assisting a mountaineering party in their late-hour descent. When the guides awoke at 3 a.m. to prepare for the day’s excursion, they discovered that Gardner was missing. Out of concern, they notified Exum Mountain Guides President Jack Turner, who contacted Teton Interagency Dispatch Center (TIDC) with news of the missing guide. After the call, park rangers immediately began coordinating a search and rescue response, and requested for an interagency contract helicopter to arrive at first light. At the Lower Saddle, several Exum guides began a hasty search for Gardner, with three guides climbing the Lower Exum Ridge route and two guides ascending the classic route to the Upper Exum Ridge via Wall Street. One of the guides ascending towards Wall Street spotted Gardner’s body around 6 a.m. from an area near the Eye of the Needle. After alerting the party that was ascending the Lower Exum Ridge, two of the guides from the Lower Exum Ridge party climbed to Gardner’s location and confirmed that he was deceased. Park rangers and TIDC were notified of the fatality, prompting a switch to a recovery and investigation operation. At approximately 6:30 a.m., park rangers were flown by helicopter with the intention of landing at the Lower Saddle. They were diverted to a landing spot on Teepee Glacier due to moderate and high wind conditions; a local storm system with lightning temporarily shut down air operations. After the storm passed, the helicopter delivered additional rangers involved with the recovery and investigation effort to the Lower Saddle. Gardner’s body was flown from the accident site on the mountain via short haul and delivered to his family and a contingent of fellow climbing guides at the park’s Lupine Meadows rescue cache at 12:30 p.m. Gardner’s body was then transferred to the Teton County Coroner’s office in Jackson. Park rangers are further investigating the accident, though they acknowledge that the exact cause may never be known for certain. Rangers speculate that Gardner may have fallen from one of the upper pitches of the Lower Exum Ridge route. They also note that there was a substantial (and atypical) wind gust—of about 60 mph—at approximately 6 p.m. the day of the accident that may have been a factor in Gardner’s fall. Whatever the cause of this accident, park rangers and Exum guides both agree that Gardner was climbing well within the realm of his capabilities, and doing what he was comfortable with and what he loved. Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of all park staff. “Park employees, local residents and the climbing community are stunned by this tragedy,” she said. “George was not only a respected guide, but also a wonderful mentor to other climbers. Our hearts go out to his family.” A resident of Ridgeway, Colorado, Gardner had been an Exum guide for 17 years and a climbing guide for 28 years. His vast mountaineering experience included expeditions on the southwest face of Kanchenjunga and the west face of Hyani Potosi in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real; ski ascents in the Alps and in Colorado; and extensive climbing in North America and the Himalayas. He was the program director for Sterling College’s “Semester in the Himalayas” as well as an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide.

Denied! Double L Ranch airstrip struck down

sarahhale — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:14:26 +0000

In a unanimous vote, the Lincoln County Planning Commission has voted against recommending a grass airstrip on the Double L Ranch just north of Etna. The decision was made Wednesday, July 23 at the regular county planning and zoning meeting. According to information presented at the meeting, there are 20 airstrips or airports in the Star Valley area already. The vast majority of those airstrips are privately owned and operated. For complete details of the decision, see the July 31 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Friday Sports Stir - Historic Rivalry edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:49:41 +0000

Today's Stir comes at you from the annals of Star Valley football history where battles took place between teams many decades ago that still are played today. The 80th year of Star Valley Football is now just 36 days away and with fall practice officially beginning on August 18, there is precious little time to get things ready for the Braves' battle with Riverton on August 30. Look for some more in-depth interviews from some of the coaches right here at starvalleyindependent.com in the upcoming weeks to get you psyched up for the new school year. We'll also be expanding the Stir into some collegiate questions as well as the Mountain West schedule gets underway in just over a month. A little reminder of the rules: Please no internet research. Also, you can make multiple guess using the comment section and I'll respond with an yes or a no as soon as I can after the guesses are made. Please wait until I've had a chance to respond before making another guess. This way I can avoid some ambitious soul from naming every team in the region. Getting the main question will be worth a point, and getting the successive bonus questions will also be worth a point. Upon collecting four points, the skilled individual will be taking home a Star Valley Cheesemakers hat courtesy of yours truly. Look for the current standings below. I have a feeling someone might be winning a hat this week. Here's this week's question that relates to football: Which team has Star Valley played more than any other team? Bonus Question: What year did this series begin? Standings: Shane Williams - 3 pts Rick Walker - 3 pts * Also, a little clarification on last week's bonus question snub. Mr. Williams guessed that Star Valley won their first state championship in the Double A or Arena Auditorium, when in fact it was in the Fieldhouse. I've been told that I'm being a little sticky on this one, but here's why. The first official game in the Arena Auditorium wasn't played until February of 1982. So, um, it wasn't built yet in 1968.

One reason I love football - Cowboys Clobber Cavs

dahlerickson — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:06:03 +0000

Wyoming fans have been accused of living in the past a little too much. But, here's a little gem of a video I put together just over a year ago that should get your blood pumping for the collegiate football season. A year ago, the Cowboys were big underdogs at home against Virginia and Chris Long, eventual second overall pick to the Rams and the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. It was expected to be a long day for the Cowboys and an inexperienced offensive line, but Wyoming responded that day, dominating Virgina and allowing just a total of 110 yards. The rest of the season had many forgettable moments, but this is one that will show a perfect day in War Memorial Stadium as the underdog had their day. Be sure to click below for the video and hopefully you'll be a little more enthused as football season marches ever closer.

Braves Field enters final phases: July 29, 2008 update

dahlerickson — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:20:03 +0000

Up until two weeks ago, you might have found a few naysayers when it came to the completion of the updates to the Star Valley High School Athletics Facilities. All you can say now with just likely one more week before turf arrives is: Whoa. Folks were hard at work smoothing out the gravel base while preparing the field portion for the sand which is expected later this week. Meanwhile more dirt was being smoothed out via a grader while blacktop is also expected to begin sometime next week. In addition to the visually appealing items being finished per the field and track, power and conduit has been run for the new scoreboard and timing system as workers continued to be baked by a cooperative yet hot summer day. Braves Field is expected to be used for the first time in official competition on August 30 as the Riverton Wolverines make their way to Lincoln County for a "Zero Week" game with the Braves. As of today, a junior varsity game is expected on that day with a 1 p.m. kickoff. The varsity game is tentatively scheduled for a 4 p.m. kickoff which will mark the beginning of the 80th year of Star Valley football.

Attorney General engages in preliminary wolf discussions

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:36:42 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg today joined attorneys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other parties to the gray wolf lawsuit on a conference call to preliminarily discuss the next step in the litigation. Participants included attorneys for the Fish and Wildlife Service; the States of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming; and several of the non-governmental entities who have intervened on behalf of the Service. Following the conference call, Attorney General Salzburg issued the following statement: “Consideration was given to an immediate appeal of the preliminary injunction to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, or accepting the preliminary injunction and proceeding to a hearing on the merits of the case, following the filing of the full administrative record by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The United States Department of the Interior, which includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has not reached a decision whether to recommend an appeal of the preliminary injunction, or to proceed to a final hearing on the merits of the case. Therefore, while each of the participants expressed its views regarding the pros and cons of either path, no final decision was made.”

It's interesting; It's funny; It's This Week in Star Valley

newsrelease — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:31:06 +0000

For more than 100 years, the Star Valley Independent has been informing the citizens of this area of news, happenings, and everything in between. So what happened this week 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago? This Week in Star Valley is researched and written by Rozie Erickson. All content appeared between the days of July 30, and August 6, from these four time periods in the Star Valley Independent. By Rozie Erickson 25-years ago: Bible school will be held at the Baptist Community Church in Afton next week, announced Pastor Amo Stephens. He said the activities will include Bible stories, games, crafts and contest for boys and girls from age 4 to 12 years. Silly Billy will be in attendance at the school to have fun with the children. • Customers in the Freedom and Alpine exchanges will be able to get help quickly by dialing 911, the new emergency number, according to Brad Olsen, manager of the Silver Star Telephone Co. that serves that area. Olsen urged everyone to write the number down, and keep it near the phone, memorize it and teach children how to use it, too. 50-years ago: Bp. Ezra Jensen of Grover was knocked unconscious and received burns on his chest and stomach when he was struck by lightning last Friday. Jensen was talking on the telephone about 2:30 p.m. when a bot of lightning apparently hit the telephone lines nearby. Several telephones on the line were put out of order by the bolt and a radio in the Jensen home was badly damaged. • Ad: At Walker's Variety, The Friendly Store, a White Shoe Sale. Take advantage of these reduced prices in Quality Shoes at our Store. Values to $3.89, only $1.97; Values to $4.90, only $2.77; Values to $6.90, only $3.77. Now arriving–New Fall Fabrics. But now for Back-to-school Clothes, Dan Rivers, Shirley Fabrics, Velveteens, Sand Crepes, Suiting, Taffetas. 75-years ago: Death has summoned Mrs. Jerusha Walker Blanchard, one of the pioneer women who by the genius of her housewifely skills helped to make the localities in which she lived blossom as the rose. She recalled vividly the happy days spent in the home of the Prophet Joseph, when her playmates were the sons of the prophet, Joseph, Fredrick, Alexander and David, playing hide and go seek. Mrs. Blanchard came west in 1860 in a company of 15 or 20 wagons. • Weeds! Weeds! Weeds!--Canada thistle, white top, Russian knapp weed and wild morning glory are simply taking certain sections of the country. To acquaint farmers with these weeds and best control methods a meeting is being held at Freedom. A field trip will be taken and methods of control discussed. Every farmer should be in attendance. County Agent. 100-years ago: Ad: L.C. Procter, Dental Surgeon, Afton, Wyo. • Ad: Hay makers wanted. We have an application for hay makers to put up on shares about 45 acres of good grass, south of Afton. • The Union Creamery will open Saturday, August 1st for business after being closed since May 2nd, and everything bid fair to be a successful run. The company has been successful in engaging the services of Mr. Orey Mitchell and experienced Creamery man who hails from Seattle.

Friday Sports Stir: "Holy Cow it's August" Edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:48:59 +0000

As much as the citizens of the valley anticipated the summer months after a long cold winter and a wet sloppy spring, the summer days are waning and so is the Dahl E. Llama's patience while waiting for fall. Last week, the Stir had it's first apparel winner as Rick Walker claimed a Star Valley Cheesemakers hat. Shane Williams has a chance to claim that same prize this week. When you earn four points, you win something, simple as that. I'll keep a tab after that and every four points will result in another prize. At the end of the fall season, the person with the most points will win something a little bigger . . . . . . no, not me. Use the comment section to guess, and I'll let you know if you're right or not. Tell your friends and let's make the Stir something that could be a lot of fun over the course of the 2008-09 school year. Here's this week's question which has to do with SVHS Cross-Country In the opening event of last season, Trevor Ricks won the Teton Challenge at the Targhee Resort, setting a new course record in the process. This week's question is: What two other Braves placed in the top ten of that race? Bonus Question: Ricks' new record was the only time under what time mark? (i.e. under 80 minutes, 90 minutes for yours truly) There ya go, please no internet researching, and I'll be responding as quick as I can to guesses. Please feel free to guess multiple times, but please wait for my responses before doing so. Got a good idea for a Sports Stir question? Let me know by zipping me an e-mail at svidahl@silverstar.com

Free photography workshops set for Yellowstone

newsrelease — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:11:02 +0000

A series of free photography workshops by Photography in the Parks will be held at Yellowstone National Park from August 18 to August 24. Participants will have the opportunity to learn digital photography from the pros while using top-of-the-line equipment. The workshops are aimed at aspiring photographers who want to learn the tips and tricks to taking great outdoor photos and experience hands-on training using some of the same equipment that professional photographers use. The free workshops will take place daily (except Tuesday) from August 18 through August 24. The daytime workshops begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day at the Old Faithful Inn and the evening workshops begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Snow Lodge Meeting Room. Those who plan on attending need to remember that all equipment will be provided for the free workshops and to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early.

CallAir Museum to open Saturday

newsrelease — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:08:32 +0000

The CallAir Museum, located in the new Afton Civic Center, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 at 11 a.m. The museum will portray a living history of CallAir airplanes. A look back in the past shows that a man named Reuel Call, his uncle Ivan Call, and his brother Spencer Call sat down to design an airplane that would perform well in high mountain valleys. “Their task was daunting, and they picked a tough time to accomplish it,” wrote Bill Call. Following a rough start in 1942 and in the middle of World War II, the legendary CallAir cabin plane was created and was designed as a mountain plane. Early on CallAir’s history, Barlow Call came to Star Valley and brought many flying skills that would really show what the CallAir aircraft could do. He used the plane for hunting, ferrying, and measuring snow, like the CallAir airplane, Barlow Call has been named a legend of Star Valley. The CallAir Aircraft factory had be flexible in order to stay afloat, so in the early fifties Herb Andersen was hired as the new plant manager and he brought with him efficiency and discipline and a new marketing plan. During Andersen’s management, CallAir discontinued its cabin plane and began manufacturing a new crop-duster plane. CallAir changed owners in the sixties with new owners being Doyle Child and Ted Frome. The new owners then replaced the previous crop-duster plane with the CallAir A-9. It was a success from its beginning with as many as 850 manufactured and sold in subsequent years. Following that, a still-bigger spray plane was designed, the B-1. About 35 of them were built in Afton. From that point on the company progressed to make many different types of aircrafts and today manufactures the famous Pitt Special Acrobatic Biplane and the rugged upper-winged Husky. The CallAir factory has over the years employed literally hundreds of Star Valley residents. Star Valley is and will long be known as the place in the Mountain West where airplane manufacturing has thrived for more than 70 years.

Water tank in SV Ranch vandalized

sarahhale — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:22:16 +0000

Wednesday evening, Aug. 6, 2008, between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. the Green Canyon Water Tank in the Town of Star Valley Ranch was vandalized. According to initial reports of the incident, locks and chains at the gate were removed and the lock to the access door on top of the tank was removed.The Town of Star Valley Ranch is working with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department on the investigation of the incident. If you have any information regarding the vandalism, notify the Town of Star Valley Ranch at 883-8696 or call the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department at 885-5231. More detailed information regarding this vandalism will be available in the Aug. 14 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

PRCA Rodeo highlights from the opening day of the Lincoln County Fair

dahlerickson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:06:25 +0000

From steer wrestling to calf roping to bronc riders, it was two days of serious rodeo action from the Lincoln County Fairgrounds to open this week. Be sure to click below for some exclusive video footage of Monday's round. Also, be sure to check back over the next several days for the Star Valley Independent's coverage of the University of Wyoming media day and exclusive interviews with members of the Wyoming Cowboys football team and coaching staff.

Friday Sports Stir: Albany County edition- Now with comments

dahlerickson — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:30:32 +0000

Coming to you from Laramie, home of the Wyoming Cowboys, there is definitely football in the air. That's why this week's question has to be centered around the pigskin. It must be frustrating to want to answer on the Stir and not be able to. I just realized why I didn't have many comments over the weekend; I didn't have the comment section turned on! Alrighty, lets get some guesses i here before next Friday's question! If you're a Wyoming fan, you're not going to want to miss checking back here starvalleyindependent.com over the weekend and on into next week. I'll have exclusive interviews from several Wyoming impact players,not to mention coaches and hopefully the Athletic Director and the President of the University himself. Even if your loyalties are with another squad (and you know who you are) you'll want to check it out in the thread of doing research on your enemy. This week's question is about defense. After speaking at length with new Star Valley Head Coach Chris Howell, there is a lot of excitement about the team, but especially about the defense as the first official practice is just ten days away. There has been some dominating defenses in Star Valley's history, but here's this week's question: Which Star Valley team has allowed the fewest points over the course of a season? (1941, 2007 etc.) Bonus: How many points did they allow? Use the comment section to guess and I'll let you know how you're doing. Also, one more little note. Keep in mind that when I'm talking about the year of a particular squad, I'm using the year in which the team actually competed. For example, the 1928 team, was part of the 1928-29 school year. See? I've already given away some hints. It's not the 1941, 1928 or 2007 team. Only 76 more to choose from.

UW Media Day Interview: Safeties Quincy Rogers and Michael Ray

dahlerickson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:10:51 +0000

With the departure of two senior cornerbacks, Michael Medina and Julius Stinson, Rogers and Ray will be counted on heavily in the Cowboy secondary. And that's just fine with them. Having combined for 138 tackles and ten passes defensed as juniors, this senior tandem speaks with the Independent about their expectations for 2008. Click below for exclusive video from the University of Wyoming Cowboys media day.

Accident Results in a Fatality in Grand Teton National Park

newsrelease — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:20:59 +0000

A single-car rollover on Saturday evening, August 9, resulted in the death of a sixteen-year-old male in Grand Teton National Park. The accident occurred at 7:05 p.m. on Highway 26/89/191, near the Elk Ranch Flats just 1.5 miles south of Moran junction. Seven people—an extended family from Washington State and Hungary—were traveling in a Honda Odyssey minivan when the accident occurred. The driver and six passengers sustained injuries; one of the passengers, an eight-year-old boy, suffered life-threatening injuries. Four of the vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts and remained in the minivan; two passengers, including the deceased teenager, were ejected from the vehicle. James Kochis, age 70, from Port Orchard, Washington, was driving southbound on the highway when his vehicle left the pavement for unknown reasons and rolled one or more times before coming to rest on all four wheels. The cause of the accident is under investigation; however, it appears that the tires of the minivan dropped off the pavement, forcing Kochis to make an abrupt correction, which caused the vehicle to roll and come to a stop on the east side of the highway after crossing both lanes of the highway. The sixteen-year-old male passenger was ejected out of the rear window of the minivan and was pronounced dead at the scene. The eight-year-old boy received fractures to both legs and sustained other internal injuries. A park ambulance took the young boy and his father to St. John’s Medical Center, where he was transferred by Life Flight to Salt Lake City later Saturday night. The other four occupants were transported to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of a variety of serious injuries. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of the accident from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office shortly after it occurred. Approximately 20 park personnel (park rangers, emergency medical personnel, one Air Force EMT detailed to Grand Teton National Park and Teton interagency fire staff) as well as Jackson Hole Fire/EMS staff, Teton County deputy sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer responded to the accident. In addition to the interagency response, two physicians from St. John’s Medical Center, Dr. Will Smith (the park’s medical director) and Dr. Vaughn Morgan, also provided emergency medical care at the scene. Teton interagency fire staff helped with traffic control at the Moran and Moose junctions to divert vehicles from the area. Other mutual aid assistance from Jackson included a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS rescue vehicle with an extrication team and two ambulances. Due to the serious nature of the accident and the multiple ambulances and emergency medical personnel required to treat the numerous injured people, Highway 26/89/191 was closed to traffic from 7:10 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Traffic was rerouted through a detour along the Teton Park Road.

$5,000 Reward offered for Idaho arson cases

newsrelease — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:08:16 +0000

Idaho officials are offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for intentionally igniting a series of wildfires in rural southeastern Idaho. The reward is being offered by a joint investigation taskforce including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Power County Sheriff’s Office and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Idaho BLM Special Agent-in-Charge Loren Good said a similar pattern has been observed in each of these wildfires. “All were ignited in remote areas near roads with easy vehicle access. Each was ignited during the night in dry, highly flammable conditions, and quickly spreading through dry grass, shrubs and sagebrush.” Alleged arson fires have burned thousands of acres during the last few summers, ranging in size from 10 acres to 10,000 acres. Suppression efforts have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Authorities hope that someone in the local area knows something about these arsons. “Perhaps those who started the wildfires have bragged about it in the community,” Good said. “We’re asking anyone with knowledge of who is doing this to come forward.” The state and federal penalties for an arson fire are stiff. In Idaho, the penalty for third-degree arson is a maximum of 10 years in prison, fines up to $50,000 and restitution of firefighting costs. The federal penalty (18 USC 1855) is a maximum of 5 years in prison, fines and full restitution. “We aggressively investigate all human-caused wildfires, especially when there is evidence that the fires may have been intentionally set,” Good said. “This series of wildfires is being investigated as a high priority of the BLM, Power County Sheriff’s Office and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. “Arsonists not only destroy private property and natural resources on public lands, but they also endanger the lives of the public and the firefighters who are responsible for suppressing the fires,” Good continued. “The safety and security of our communities and our fire crews are our paramount concern.” The public can help assist in a wildfire investigation by following these tips: 1) Contact the local fire department or law enforcement agencies with an initial observation of suspicious activity; 2) Make a detailed record of suspicious activity, take photographs of the area if possible, and take good notes; 3) Record descriptions of any vehicles and license plate numbers in the surrounding area. Anyone with information that might help investigators solve these human-caused fires is urged to call BLM Law Enforcement in Boise at (208) 373-4024.

This Week in Star Valley: August 1-7

newsrelease — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:41:09 +0000

For over 100 years, the Star Valley Independent has been covering the news in and around the Star Valley area. From 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago, see what was making headlines in the Star Valley Independent. Content researched by Rozie Erickson Content taken from the Star Valley Independent: 25-years ago: • The exhibits are in place, the carnival is operating, the livestock are groomed and much of the judging is completed as the crowds gather at this year's Lincoln County Fair. • Groundbreaking at the new Western Wyoming Mental Health Association building near the Star Valley Hospital was accomplished as board members and staff met at the sight. • Ad: Playing at the Ford Theatre, Star Wars–Return of the Jedi. Admission, Adults $3.00, Children $1.50. 50-years ago: • Record Number of Exhibits Expected at County Fair–The primary purpose of the fair is to present to the public the agricultural and business development of the county area, and to foster development of 4-H activities among young people. • The Bill Rieske dancers–one of the outstanding chorus lines in the West–will be seen by those attending the night show at the Lincoln County Fair. • Verla Jean–"The Magical Miss," 11 years old, is the world's youngest professional magician. She will appear with "Showtime 1958" at the Lincoln County Fair. 75-years ago: • Last Tuesday about fifty people from Montpelier, representing the Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce, came to Afton on a good will tour They brought the Montpelier brass band with them. The visitors were joined by the Star Valley Chamber of commerce and other Star Valley citizens at a banquet in the high school building. The keys of the town were extended to the visitors. The festivities concluded with a big free dance in the Welch Hall, which was filled to capacity. • The opening of the season for sage chickens last Sunday saw many local hunters out for the sport as well as the birds. While the supply of birds in the Valley is limited, most of the hunter succeeded in getting a fair bag, and many report their full limit. However, sage chickens are more scarce in Star Valley in than in past years. • Ad: Homade Ice Cream, made from Star Valley farmers Fresh sweet cream. Gallon, $1.00; Quart $.40; Pint, $.25. Afton Drug Co. The Rexall Store. 100-years ago: • Local items: Who is that fellow, J.W. Arnold? and what does he do? The 8 piece Lee-Caro orchestra will play for a dance next Wednesday night at Afton. I have several good milk Cows for sale at my ranch, Moses Cook. • We have twenty tons of fresh fruit contracted for, and it will be delivered one ton per week. The first ton has already been spoken for; you had better get your order in at once and make sure of an early shipment. Owing to our sale of the store at Fairview we will now remain in business in Afton at the same location, N.C. Allred. • Taft's Speech of Acceptance--Republican candidate makes address from steps of brother's home in Cincinnati; Discusses Trusts, Labor, Injunctions, the Physical "Valuation of Railroads, the Currency, and other Issues which he regards as pertinent in campaign.

Braves Field update from August 11, 2008: Send in the Turf!

dahlerickson — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:20:24 +0000

The process of a new athletic facility for Star Valley High School is now in the final phase as the new field turf has arrived and is now in the process of being installed on the football/soccer portion of the field. Be sure to click below for the video update of the progress that has taken place on the field and get a feel for how different the atmosphere may be come kickoff time for the Braves and Wolverines on August 30. Also be sure to check out the August 14, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent for specific requirements for student-athletes this season including practice times and expectations from each of the four head coaches in the fall sports. Want something else? Be sure to use the comment section and we'll do our best to make you happy

Is there a storm brewing? Cowboy fans hope so

dahlerickson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:02:37 +0000

Wyoming residents know that weather changes and extreme offerings of Mother Nature are more common in the Cowboy State than in many other places. So when it comes to the hopes of Cowboy football in 2008, the fans know that it's time for an epic storm to crash down upon the Mountain West Conference in the form of Thunder and Lightning. The nickname, coined by UW Head Coach Joe Glenn, refers to Wynell Seldon (Thunder) at 6' 1" 221 pounds and Devin Moore (Lightning) 5' 10 190 pounds, who carried the Cowboy running game to over 1,500 yards a year ago and 13 touchdowns. Although it sounds great, the numbers still fall short of the potential that fans and coaches are excited about this season as the two tailbacks enter their senior campaign. Entering the 2008 season, Seldon, who rushed for a Wyoming freshman record with just under 900 yards, is now ranked eighth all time on the Cowboy rushing list with over 2,000 yards and 20 career touchdowns. Moore, who is already being touted as a possible first day selection in next April's draft, posesses 4.27 speed and in Bob Cole's new offense could be poised for a monster season. However, when I talked to the tandem at Wyoming's media day, their concerns were to take care of their own business of course, but to also help the passing game reach their potential. Look for a lot of cloudy skies over Laramie this season and be sure to click below for an exclusive interview with Thunder and Lightning.

This Week in Star Valley: August 7-14

newsrelease — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:21:05 +0000

From 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago, the news of Star Valley during this week of the year is recapped by content from the Star Valley Independent. Content researched and taken from the Independent by Rozie Erickson 25-years ago: • Palisades was one of the dams approved to receive $76 million for improvement to increase generating capacity from 119 to 209 megawatts. • Ad: Back to School savings at The Cobbler–shoes for the family, Afton. Puma football cleats $29.95, reg. $38.95. • Racquet Ranch & Spa opening next week. Free introductory racquetball lessons. 50-years ago: • Ad: Highest Quality Coal–There has just been completed a new road to the Cottonwood Coal Mine 40 miles from Alpine up Greys River to Sheep Creek. Then follow the signs on the new road up Sheep Creek which leads to Daniel, Wyo. Lump, $7.00; Nut and Screened Oil Stoker, $6.00. • Ad: At Star Valley Feed Co., in Afton, For BIG Litters and Husky Pigs, Purina Sow Chow; a supplement which you mix with your grains, available with high levels of antibiotics; a real pig builder and sow conditioner. • Ad: Special Values for Fair Week at Ken's Furniture & Appliances. Free! With each Bedroom set sold, your choice $49.95 set of box springs or $49.95 inner spring mattress; with each living room set sold, 1 floor lamp free. 75-years ago: • A meeting will be held Sunday in the Ag. room of the high school for all fellows who wish to play football this season. Training schedule will be worked out and plans for boxing and wrestling meet at the county fair arranged. Be sure you are there if you want a suit. Freshmen coming in this year should also report. • Kemmerer May Have $90,000 Post Office--Word came to Kemmerer the fore part of the week by telephone from Cheyenne, that under the Works bill program, Kemmerer was approved on the list for a $90,000 post office building. No further details are available. • The ranch house belong to Ralph Astle northeast of Grover, burned to the ground Wednesday of this week. Ralph had his bedding, dishes, clothing, and camping outfit in the house, which was all destroyed. 100-years ago: • Local items: A number of the Child family of Fairview were visiting at Thayne Tuesday so the Thayne people got busy and arranged a dance, and all had a glorious time in the evening. • Miss Maud Stock and her cousin Miss Rose Findlay, left Monday for a trip to Fishaven. Miss Opal Nield takes Maud's place at the telephone switch board until she returns. • Ad: Free Delivery Service--In order to keep pace with the growing demands of our business and to meet the wishes of our patrons, we shall make free delivery of goods as follows: In the city limits all orders received up to 3 p.m. will be delivered daily. All orders received from Grover, Aubrun and vicinity up to Tuesday evening of each week will be delivered Wednesday; and from Osmond, Smoot, Fairview and vicinity up to Wednesday evening will be delivered Thursday. Very truly yours, Burton Mercantile Co.

Bennett family to benefit from CASVAR

newsrelease — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:27:45 +0000

Children of the late Dr. Scott Bennett, who passed away tragically in an avalanche on January 12 of this year, will benefit from the upcoming Cycling Association of Star Valley Annual Ride. Proceeds from the event will be placed in a scholarship fund Bennett’s children Philip, Samuel, Emily, and Elizabeth. The event will begin on August 23 at 6:30 with registration and check-in at Canyon View Park in Afton, which will proceed into the bike tour. Participants can choose all lengths of tours to allow for many people that go throughout Star Valley. Following the bike tour a BBQ dinner will be served at 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Canyon View Park. Tickets for the dinner will be $12 for adults and free for children five years old and younger. The dinner will be a great opportunity to mingle with other members of the Star Valley community, as well as the Bennett family including his wife, Jamee. Wasatch Back Band will be performing during the BBQ and community get-together. The bike tour will be a great opportunity for riders to take in the scenic views of Star Valley, all while getting a healthy workout and contributing to a very worthy cause. The BBQ dinner is open for anyone who is interested and everyone is encouraged to attend to show their support for the Bennett family and to contribute to their college educations. The 2008 CASVAR will be the fourth annual bike tour that the Cycling Association of Star Valley (CASV) has sponsored. Currently, there are 65 people pre-registered for the bike tour, which is an average amount. However, the number of participants is hoped to be higher as the tour is for such a worthy cause. Bennett and his wife were two of the original members of CASV, and in this instance CASV is giving back to the family of the man who gave so much to them and his community. Online registration will be accepted at www.casv.org or by calling (307) 883-9779. Registration forms are available at the Afton Town Hall and Northern Title Company in Thayne. Pre-registration is not required, but highly encouraged.

Town of Star Valley Ranch to move forward with grants

sarahhale — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:30:40 +0000

The Town of Star Valley Ranch passed a resolution in favor of moving forward with the silo and barn project. The decision was made after a public hearing was held in which the majority of attendees expressed approval of seeking grant funds for the project. According to Mayor Boyd Siddoway, the town can act as a sponsor on the project to get a Community Development Block Grant. The grant would be used to pay for a structural study on the barn and silo. The study would determine the structural soundness of the building and provide cost estimates for renovation and repair. While the town would act as the sponsor, it will not pay any funds toward the project. “The Wyoming Business Council has funds available for planning grants up to $25,000,” said Siddoway. “There is a match of $8,333 which the association will pay if we get this grant.” According to David Ward, chairman of the SVRA, getting a grant to help pay for a structural study will mean the SVRA could save over $12,000 as the organization was planned to have a study done on the facilities, anyway. “The intent of this grant is to get a structural survey as well as cost estimates to bring the barn and silo into ADA compliance,” said Siddoway. “It is about getting information so that a good decision can be made in regards to what to do with those facilities. Right now we have no idea if they are structurally sound or how much renovations and those types of things will cost. Once we have that information, then we can make a good decision. This grant and this study will help provide that information.”

Friday Sports Stir: Mountain West edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:52:02 +0000

The tenth anniversary of the formation of the Mountain West Conference is this season and we haven't even scratched the surface of any MWC trivia here on the stir so far. Well, that has to change. Some big items are taking place with the conference that has been referred to as the original Western Athletic Conference. This is to say, the members who originally founded the WAC and took it to great heights, broke off from what was a 16-team "super conference" and started the Mountain West. I can tell you very vividly that the super conference was nothing of the sort. It was too big, the quality of competition between the good and the bad was poor and traditional rivalries like Wyoming vs. BYU were not even being played. One need look no further than the fact that in 1996, the Cougars and Cowboys met up in the WAC championship with Wyoming being the "Pacific Division" champs. What? I still have the pennant on my wall, and that is a bonehead idea for all time. Anyway, the big news for many MWC fans is that The Mtn., the conference's dedicated channel will be available on Direct TV for the first time after two very frustrating seasons. I've had some folks talk to me and assume that the channel must be a joke. Trust me, it isn't. It's well done, and the content is very good. From covering the events as they happen, to being in Laramie for spring ball in the IPF, they get it done. Good stuff. Anyway, the television deal has me thinking about this week's Stir question. It's not like the conference schools live in the largest television markets. Well, except for TCU which is in the Dallas/ Forth Worth area and ranks fifth in the country. But it got me to thinking about enrollment. BYU has the largest enrollment of any school in the conference with 33,278 students reported over this last year. So, here's this week's question, with not one, not two, but three bonus questions. Which member school has the second-largest student enrollment in the MWC? Bonus: Within 1,000, how many are enrolled there? Bonus: Which member school has the smallest enrollment? Bonus: How many are enrolled in the smallest, within 1,000. A quick reminder of the rules. Please no researching, only the person guessing the original question will get credit towards their point total which results in Star Valley apparel. Use the comment section to let us know. So, there ya go. With BYU picked to win the conference in football this year, they have a giant target on their backs with a 16-game conference winning streak. Fans of all schools will be watching the Cougars this year in their free time, especially the folks in Star Valley who will be looking for SVHS graduate Rick Wolfley wearing number 71 in the middle of the defensive line. Be sure to tab the Independent website as one of your favorites with a lot of great stuff coming up in the fall.

Midnight Madness! - SVHS Cross-Country Runners kick off '08 Fall Practice

dahlerickson — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:20:27 +0000

It was a beautiful August evening, and by the looks of the Town of Afton, nearly all the residents were fast asleep. But while they were dreaming of a Monday work schedule, the SVHS Cross-Country team was waiting until the first minute of August 18 so they could begin fall practice For the third straight year, the Distance Posse, led by their partially sane coach Ty Draney, wasted no time in their season and completed a run of approximately five kilometers (3.1 miles) before 12:30 a.m. In fact, the crew was then fed by Draney and assistant coach Corina Ricks before setting goals for the season and getting a little sleep before waking up and running again at 7a.m. Monday morning. Didn't get a chance to see what was going on while you were sleeping? We at starvalleyindependent.com have you covered with the exclusive coverage of the midnight run and some thoughts from Coach Draney. Be sure to click on the video and discover what Midnight Madness is all about.

Second to Last field update of the summer! - Hashmarks being installed

dahlerickson — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:49:06 +0000

Just a month ago, the area where the Braves were to play football this fall looked like a desolate construction zone. Now with crews putting the finishing touches on the newly installed turf, Braves Field is now starting to live up to it's name. Yard line markers, large "SV" logos and of course the Indian head and dream catcher will all be parts of the field that will go in this week. While discussion is currently underway as to how is the best way to lay down the track surfacing in between several home contests, most Star Valley football fans are only interested in one day: August 30. It's on that Saturday the Braves will kick off the 2008 football season, and the 80th year of Star Valley football. The Riverton Wolverines will be in town for the first time since 2003, and they too will have a new head coach at the helm of their program. It's a weekend destined to be remembered for the many firsts mixed with the tradition of two historically rich programs. Be sure to click below for a look at the new field as just 12 days separate fans from the beginning of the Wyoming high school football season.

Veterans of Foreign Wars once again offering scholarships

newsrelease — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:00:16 +0000

Youth in Star Valley will once again have the opportunity to compete in two Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) scholarship contests. The first, Patriots Pen, is an essay competition that gives youth an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy with the prospect of winning U.S. savings bonds. The grand prize in the Patriots Pen contest is a $10,000 bond and an all expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. All those placing first through forty-fifth will all receive money, not less $1,000. Patriots Pen is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students enrolled in school. For those interested, this year’s theme is “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored”. Those who wish to participate need to contact the local VFW Post. The deadline for essays to be turned in to the local VFW Post is November 1, 2008. “I’m a firm believer in these children’s programs,” said Chuck Sutter, VFW member and Wyoming Veteran’s Commissioner. Another program, Voice of Democracy, will be taking place at the same time. Voice of Democracy is the VFW’s premier scholarship program. Each year more than 100,000 high school students compete for more than $42.5 million dollars in scholarship money and incentives. The highest level winner will receive a $30,000 scholarship. The Voice of Democracy program has participants record an audio essay to submit to be judged, which will be under the theme “Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth by…” this year. “I really do believe in the program,” said Sutter. Interested high school students should contact the local VFW Post to get specific guidelines and rules for the contest. The deadline will be November 1 for this contest as well. Many Star Valley students have done well with the programs in the past and the local VFW Post is hoping for large participation this year. Those with questions may contact Chuck Sutter at (307) 883-4312.

Cowboy Basketball releases schedule

newsrelease — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:32:56 +0000

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Aug. 18, 2008) — On Monday, the University of Wyoming announced its 2008-09 men’s basketball schedule which is highlighted by 16 home games, a road game against UCLA and Saturday home games versus Colorado State, Utah, TCU and New Mexico. “We are excited to offer 16 home games to our fans this season,” said UW head coach Heath Schroyer. “It will be great to play a Final Four team in UCLA, a top ranked Missouri Valley Conference team in Casper like Northern Iowa and some other very good programs like Boise State and Loyola Marymount during the non-conference. We are also looking forward to renewing an old rivalry with Utah State by traveling to their tournament just after Christmas. “I think that there is better balance on the schedule with some very good home and away games. I believe that this schedule will really benefit our RPI with the likes of UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Boise State and Utah State in addition to our conference schedule.” The non-conference schedule is highlighted by a Dec. 23 meeting on the road with UCLA, a team who has reached the Final Four in each of the past three seasons, while also winning the Pac-10 regular- season title in each of those years. The last time Wyoming faced the Bruins in basketball was in the second round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Behind 41 points from Fennis Dembo, the Cowboys won that game by a score of 78-68 to advance to the Sweet 16. The Cowboys will have the luxury of playing their first six games of the season at home in the Arena-Auditorium. They will open the season with an exhibition game against the Colorado School of Mines on Sat., Nov. 8. The other November home games include meetings with Cal State Bakersfield, Prairie View A&M, Johnson & Wales, Texas State and Denver. “I think that for this team to be able to play our first six games at home in the Arena-Auditorium will be big in a lot of ways,” said Schroyer. In addition to UCLA, the Cowboys will also face three other NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in Boise State, BYU and UNLV. The Pokes will travel to Boise on Dec. 3 and play a home and home series in conference play with BYU and UNLV. Another highlight will be the 2008 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming Shootout in Casper, Wyo. on Dec. 13. The Cowboys will face Northern Iowa, a Missouri Valley Conference team that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2004, ‘05 and ‘06. The Mountain West Conference portion of the schedule features Saturday home games against Colorado State, Utah, TCU and New Mexico. During the conference season, 15 of UW’s 16 games will be televised on either The Mtn. or CBS College Sports. “The league is as strong as ever,” said Schroyer. “It will feature a senior laden group with a lot of experience. Thirteen of the top-20 scorers from last year will be back this season. There is no doubt that UNLV, San Diego State and BYU will be very good teams. I truly feel the rest of the conference teams all have a chance to challenge for a spot in the top half of the league. The Cowboys will welcome back four significant contributors, including three starters, from the 2007-08 season. The group will be led by senior Brandon Ewing, the MWC’s leading scorer in each of the past two seasons. “We are excited for the upcoming season,” added Schroyer. “I think our talent has increased, we have better character and a better attitude. It will also be very nice to bring back four guys with a great deal of experience in Brandon Ewing, Tyson Johnson, Ryan Dermody and Mikhail Linskens. “After having to sit out last season, we are really looking forward to getting Sean Ogirri and Djibril Thiam on the floor. Sean will be a big part of our team throughout the season, while Djibril will be eligible to compete at the end of the first semester after transferring from Baylor last December. We are also looking forward to bringing two redshirts into the lineup in Afam Muojeke and Adam Waddell. All four of these guys were able to practice with us last season and learn our system. They will contribute greatly this year.” The Cowboys will begin practice for the 2008-09 season on Fri., Oct. 17.

Sheriff's Department nabs long-time sex offender

newsrelease — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:25:25 +0000

BREAKING NEWS - Working with the cooperation of several agencies, the Lincoln County Sheriff's department apprehended Randy Curtis Gibbons, a fugitive out of Utah and Arizona for aggravated sex offenses against children. Gibbons, who has been on the run from the law for ten years, is wanted on eight felony counts in Utah and ten felony counts in Arizona. The Sheriff's Department acted on a citizen's tip to arrest Gibbons on Monday. "This is someone in our community that needed to be put away," stated Sheriff Shane Johnson. "There are victims and family members who have been waiting nearly ten years for some justice with this person." Johnson specifically acknowledged the efforts of Jody Gardner during the process of finding Gibbons. For complete details on this developing story, please read the August 21, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Primary Election results point out winners and losers

dahlerickson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:45:16 +0000

While it still figures to be an intense election season as campaigns roll into November, some people with political aspirations saw their bids come to a close Tuesday night as primary election results from Lincoln County poured into the Independent. Those running for various town council seats will all move on to the general election on November 4. With all precincts reporting, the various elections saw the following results: Lincoln County Commissioner: (Top Republican and Democrat to advance to general election) Kent Connelly (R) - 1,005 Stephen Mavy (R) - 378 Stanley Thompson Jr. (R) - 619 Ron Galloway (R) - 571 John Holick (D) - 446 U.S. Representative: (Top Democrat, Libertarian & Republican advance to general election) Gary Trauner (D) - 549 Mark Gordon (R) - 857 Michael S. Holland (R) - 159 Cynthia Lummis (R) - 1,100 Bill Winney (R) - 362 United States Senator (Top Republican & Democrat advance) Al Hamburg (D) - 254 Chris Rothfuss (D) - 261 Mike Enzi (R) - 2,494 United States Senator (Unexpired Term) * Nick Carter (D) - 266 Keith B. Goodenough (D) - 268 John Barrasso (R) - 2,497 Alpine Town Council (2 year term) Kevin Aznoe - 20 Bryant Brown - 34 Troy Johnson - 90 Alpine Town Council (4 year term) Joshua Floyd - 44 Troy Greene - 31 Don Jorgensen - 48 Brad Lovett -31 Tyler Peterson - 48 Beau Taylor - 62 Afton Town Council Winston Allred - 94 Kenn Belveal - 56 Alan Chadwick - 62 Jerry Goulding - 168 Rick Merritt - 96 David Parsons - 102 Hal Titensor - 132 Thayne Town Council Bob King - 44 Lorell Woolley - 48 Star Valley Ranch Town Council Kent Harker - 288 Lovell Hopper - 33 Ed Koch - 295 Andy Moffett - 140 Russ Storbo - 131 Wyoming House District 22 (Top Democrat & Republican advance)(Lincoln County Results only) Jim Roscoe (D) - 31 Charles Stough (R) - 39 Donn Wooden (R) - 140 Wyoming House District 21 (Running Unopposed) Robert McKim (R) - 1,481 Wyoming Senate District 16 (Running Unopposed) Dan Dockstader (R) - 1,751 Lincoln County Sheriff (Running Unopposed) M. Shane Johnson (R) - 2,364 (* refers to the fact that John Barrasso was appointed to his current seat by Governor Freudenthal after former Senator Craig Thomas passed away last year)

UW Cowboy Interviews: Mitch Unrein and the D-Line

dahlerickson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:28:00 +0000

For the Wyoming Cowboys, who host the Ohio Bobcats on August 30, a lot is being placed on the shoulders of their defense, and in particular their defensive line. And that's just fine with them. Fred Givens, Mitch Unrein, and Outland Trophy nominee John Fletcher are all back for their junior season and have the look of a group that is ready to cause trouble for opposing offenses beginning with the Bobcats in just a few days' time. In particular, the Independent spent some time with these three players, and especially Mitch Unrein. Unrein is perhaps the one player in the league who is flying under the radar and will have a chance to become a household utterance by the end of the 2008 campaign. Unrein talks about his goals for the season individually and what he expects from the defensive unit. Be sure to click below for interviews with the UW defensive line and Mitch Unrein as the Independent counts down the days until the Brown & Gold ride again.

Take a Video Tour of Etna Elementary

dahlerickson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:52:47 +0000

When the students of Lincoln County School District #2 head back to school next week, they'll have two new schools to welcome them back. Both facilities are modern, beautiful and ready to be used. Both are also mirror images of each other so while this is technically in Etna, you can be sure to make the connection if you're attending Thayne this year as well.From a more detailed security plan and convenient layouts of rooms like the gymnasium and lunchroom, to a full fledged music room and modern classrooms that have all the newest learning gadgets, take a tour through the Etna school via the Independent almost a week before you have to attend a single class or drop off a single child.

The Independent wishes to thank Superintendent John Abrams for his time and his accessibility. We'd also like to thank everyone from the staff, especially Larry Hodgson who agreed to be on the air with us. We hope this will give parents, students and community members a glance at what are two buildings to be proud of in both Thayne and Etna.

That's a load of garbage: Landfill rates to be discussed September 17

sarahhale — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:09:30 +0000

An additional Star Valley meeting to discuss county landfill rates has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 at the Thayne Town Hall. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. According to Mary Crosby, solid waste director for Lincoln County, the meeting held in Star Valley in July was well attended. The upcoming meeting in September will present the same information. Public comment on landfill rates will also be accepted at the September meeting. Crosby explained that some residents expressed concern to the county over not being able to attend the landfill meeting in July. Others who did attend the meeting expressed a desire for their acquaintances and/or customers to hear the presented information. The purpose of the community meetings, Crosby said, is for members of the public to present additional ideas for rate fees as well as comment on the proposed landfill rate system. The proposed changes to the fee schedule include a $10 flat fee per residential vehicle. The proposed rate for commercial use of the Kemmerer landfill is $40 a ton. The proposed commercial rate for the Cokeville landfill is $44 a ton. The proposed commercial rate for the Thayne landfill is $50 a ton. Commercial e-waste, defined by the county as computers and televisions, is $.10 a pound at the Kemmerer Landfill, $.11 a pound at the Cokeville landfill and $.12 a pound at the Thayne landfill. There is no proposed charge for residential e-waste. The commercial and residential fees for appliances would be $10 each. Tire fees would be $2 a tire for passenger or pick-up tires with no rims and $4 a tire with rims. Semi truck or trailer tires would be charged $6. The fee for small tractor or farm equipment tires would be $20 a tire under the proposed fee schedule. And large tractor or earth mover equipment tires would cost $100 per tire to take to the landfill. Dead animals such as livestock, elk or deer would cost $20 each to dump at the landfill. Crosby stressed the fact that these are merely “draft rates for discussion purposes.”

UW's Bob Cole brings a new offense to the high plains

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:58:21 +0000

After finishing near the bottom of the nation in offensive efficiency a year ago, the University of Wyoming Cowboys have brought in Bob Cole to replace Bill Cockhill as offensive coodinator. There are already high hopes in the Gem City, but with hope bring high expectations for a senior laden squad. Cole directed offenses to the top portion of the NCAA at both Montana and Utah State and inherits some talent in Laramie that has always seemed for fall short of potential. With a pivotal season on the line for the Cowboys, will Cole's offensive playbook mean a return trip to the postseason? Click below for an inteview with Bob Cole and his thoughts on the players in Laramie

History Trek: SV Historical Society to explore Caribou forest Sep. 6

newsrelease — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:12:17 +0000

The Star Valley Historical Society will sponsor a 50 mile, motorized trek in the Caribou National Forest. The forest is located just west of Star Valley. The trek has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6. The group will assemble in the north parking lot of the civic center in Afton. Departure will take place at 9 a.m. “Participants are encouraged to use pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles or other four wheel drive cars,” said Jermy Wight of the historical society. “The family sedan is not recommended.” The motorized trek is anticipated to take four to five hours to complete. Bring your own lunch. The Historical Society will furnish the drinks and chips. “The previously scheduled trek through Sheep Creek in the Bridger National Forest has been canceled for this year as the bridge over Sheep Creek is out,” said Wight. For more information about the upcoming trek, contact Jermy Wight at 883-2174.

The Good Hands people: UW Wide receivers look for big season

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:30:54 +0000

For more than a decade, the University of Wyoming has produced NFL and NCAA award winners from the wide receiver position. From the NFL's Ryan Yarbrough, to the Belitnekoff winning Marcus Harris, to Wendell Montgomery and more recently, the CFL's Ryan McGuffey and the San Diego Chargers' Malcolm Floyd. The Pokes feel like it's time to keep the tradition going. Greg Bolling showed flashes of brilliance in his first stint in Laramie. Lately, he's become more well known for having to miss spring camp to restore his academic standing. But he's not one to hide from it. In fact, he's using it as motivation as well as the faith the Cowboy fans have shown in him. Click below to listen to Bolling and 6' 4" target David Leonard as they prepare for the Wyoming wide receiver to make a resurgence.

Friday Sports Stir: Field of Dreams edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:50:10 +0000

Well, I know what the new "Brave Head" in the middle of the football field looks like and if you click here, so will you. This week's Stir question has to do with the new Braves Field and the idea of home field advantage. Well, hopefully you've had a chance to meander over to the new facilities at Star Valley High School. Yes, I know certain areas of the place look like it's a construction zone, so hopefully folks can continue to be patient as school gets underway. As we, . . . well . . . read, the field is receiving hash marks, yard markers, and of course the aforementioned Brave head and the twin "SV"'s you're seeing. Just to give you an idea of how big these are, the center logo is about 10 yards wide as far as I have been able to determine. For you math-letes out there, that's 30 feet wide! As for the letters, one set will be placed on each 25-yard line. Here's a few answers to some questions I've been hearing: Everything that I've just mentioned, has to be cut out of the existing turf and installed. This is NOT a field you paint. Also, the field is not finished yet. The turf itself has to have rubber "infill" combed in. The infill is tiny rubber pieces that will be roughly a few inches deep and give the field depth and volume. There are actually some pieces that will have to be added every year, and in a smart bit of discussion, the crew has already determined that by throwing the needed pellets onto the layer of snow this next spring, it will heat up, melt the snow and then be deposited on the field. Pretty neat huh? If you're looking at the Braves head and thinking that it doesn't look exactly like the Redskins' logo. You're right. Copyright law forces us to be different, but I think this one looks even better. When that baby is installed with the green field to contrast it, I might just break down and cry. When will the field get officially done? I don't know. But I haven't heard a word about not playing next Saturday on it. As for the track surfacing, it will likely be done in one or two waves in between the home games in September. The administration is working hard to not move any game to the middle school to accommodate the track surface. The surface has to be applied with certain temperature restraints and nobody can walk on it, thus, the issue at hand. It's being handled, and I can't even imagine how nice it's going to be for the Track & Field teams come spring when the time comes to use that baby. Speaking of spring, I got a genuine wave of excitement for the soccer players too. Considering how nasty the conditions have been for them (especially last year) the new field will be awesome to practice and play on. And, no, it doesn't wear out, so practice all you want folks. Now, on to the questions. It's been 12 years since the Braves hoisted a state championship trophy. I gotta tell you, that's waaaaaaaay too long for us Crimson and Gold faithful. The team has been to the state game five times since last winning it all in 1996, but have come up painfully short in each one, under three different coaches. This week's question is: What was the last season the Braves won the state title on their HOME field? Bonus question: Who did they defeat? Non-Credit, Cliff Clavin Bonus question: What was the score? So, there you have it. Please use the comment section to answer, by earning points, one can win Star Valley merchandise from yours truly. Mr. Rick Walker and Mr. Shane Williams have already cashed in and Williams is close to more. Can anyone stop him? I'm not sure, he's in a zone. Just a reminder of the rules. Please, no internet researching, it spoils it for everyone else. Also, feel free to guess more than once, just let me post back first before doing so.

This Week in Star Valley: August 14-21

newsrelease — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:57:09 +0000

Ever wonder what was happening this week in the area at 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago? The Star Valley Independent was there, bringing you the news as it happened. Click below for a snapshot back in time. All content appeared in the Star Valley Independent, your hometown newspaper for over 100 years! 25- years ago: • Walter Kirby was presented with the trophy and a check for $320 for first place in the SV EMT's Fourth Annual Demolition Derby held during the Lincoln County Fair. • There were many excellent exhibits in the household arts division of the Lincoln County Fair. Those receiving purple rosettes on their baked foods include: Nona Cassity, Gwenna Nelson, Monica Kennington, Polly Erickson, Allene Heiner, Jan Hyde, Julie Lewis. 50-years ago: • Ad: At Brog & Hemmert in Afton. Watch for our Big Special $.88 Sale. • Afton's new Elkhorn arch across Main Street is proving to be a very popular tourist attraction. Only a few weeks old, it has already been photographed thousands of times. • Ad: Boxing Thursday at the Freedom Rodeo Grounds. 10 bouts–2 main events. No admission charge, donations accepted–proceeds go to Freedom Ward building fund. 75-years ago: • Glen news: All of Glen turned out Tuesday to help make the Swiss banquet and dance a real time. Again the stork appeared in Glen and left a big baby girl at the home of Clarence Ashment. Mother and babe doing fine. • Wants Crusher Jaw Returned--Mr. T.O. Harris informs us that a broken rock crusher jaw is missing from the gravel pit in the narrows. He thinks probably some one has taken it for an anvil. • Ad: Wrigley's Spearmint, the Perfect Gum. In step with the Nation. 100-years ago: • Local items: A crowd of twenty-three of Smoot young people enjoyed a few days at Cottonwood Lake last week. • For sale--15 cows; inquire of John A. Hyde of Freedom, Wyo. • (Stake) Fair news: Fairview may haul in some heavy rails on which to roast the ox and sheep for the Barbecue. Afton Mutual may build a Merry-Go-Round. The following Ladies have won in the primary contest for queen of the Fair: Miss Edith Walton of the Auburn and Grover district; Miss Mary Moser of the Lower Valley district, and Miss Mary Call of Afton.

Bubonic Plague diagnosed in Yellowstone visitor

newsrelease — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:58:38 +0000

Wyoming Department of Health officials said Monday, Aug. 25 they are investigating a case of bubonic plague in an out-of-state resident who recently visited Teton County and Yellowstone National Park. The individual traveled to multiple sites in the area with a group of Boy Scouts from July 26 to Aug. 3, said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “The young adult traveled to Yellowstone National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and other sites within Teton County," said Murphy. "He was involved in a combination of activities during his visit that included working on a service project, camping, sightseeing and participating in sports.” Wyoming Department of Health staff will participate in an environmental investigation with other agencies this week to look for fleas and animal carcasses in areas where the individual visited. “At this time the exact location where the exposure to the disease occurred is not known and it is likely we will never determine that level of detail,” Murphy said. Dr. Karl Musgrave, state public health veterinarian with the Wyoming Department of Health, said that while the risk for humans to contract plague is relatively low in Wyoming, the disease has been documented in animals in 22 of Wyoming's 23 counties since records were kept. This is the sixth human case of plague thought to be acquired in Wyoming since 1978. The most recent human case of plague in Wyoming was acquired in Goshen County in the fall of 2004. Other recorded cases involving residents include a 1978 Washakie County case, a 1982 Laramie County case, a 1992 Sheridan County case that resulted in death and a 2000 Washakie County case. “It’s safe to assume that the risk for plague exists all around Wyoming,” Musgrave said. “And while the disease is rare in humans, it is important that people take precautions to keep exposure to the disease to a minimum.” Ways to avoid the plague include: • Avoiding unnecessary contact with rodents and their nests and burrows. • Avoiding unnecessary contact with sick or dead animals, especially rodents and rabbits, and wearing protective gloves when handling sick or dead animals. • Having ill pets, such as cats and dogs, examined by a veterinarian. • Avoiding areas where a large number of unexplained rodent deaths have been observed. • Keeping pets away from rodent nests and burrows by keeping them leashed. • Treating pets with flea preventatives (see your local veterinarian for more information). Murphy said that the typical sign of the most common form of human plague is a swollen and very tender lymph gland, accompanied by pain. The swollen gland is called a “bubo” (hence the term “bubonic plague”). Bubonic plague should be suspected when a person develops a swollen gland, fever, chills, headache, and extreme exhaustion and has a history of possible exposure to infected rodents, rabbits, or fleas. Murphy advised anyone experiencing these symptoms to see their health care provider.

Braves Field: Final Update

dahlerickson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:23 +0000

In a sport that always makes connections to how the ball bounces, it's oddly fitting that rubber is the final element being utilized as Braves Field gets ready to make it's debut Saturday against Riverton. "Infill", or tiny, uniform rubber pieces are currently being forced into the fibers of the turf. The Braves logo complete with dreamcatcher is now installed, along with twin "SV"'s at the 25-yard lines. It's a project that still has a lot of things to finish as August comes to a close, but things that will take place in addition to the games themselves which are slated to be played. The red track surface, landscaping, fencing and of course the little touches that will continue to be completed, will actually extend on into September. Click below for the final field update and take a look at the new center logo in it's natural place. The Braves will host the Riverton Wolverines on Saturday with junior varsity action slated to take place at 11 a.m. Varsity action will take place at 2 p.m. The Independent encourages the entire community to come out and witness the new facilities and the beginning of the 2008 season. Don't forget your cowbells!

Sleepy? Maybe a trip to the Sleep Lab at SVMC could help

dahlerickson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:12:05 +0000

Studies have shown that millions of Americans deal with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA on a nightly basis. This can lead to serious health complications and even death. The Sleep Center at Star Valley Medical Center not only feels they have a fantastic setup for you to be tested, but you won't even have to wait very long. The SVMC Sleep Lab is one of just two facilities in the entire state of Wyoming that can give you an overnight diagnosis and a quick turnaround without waiting to send your results to an out of state technician. Take a video tour with Hudson England a certified technician and see how easy and comfortable a night in the lab can be. A better night's sleep may be just around the corner.

"Save the Etna School" holding a fundraiser

newsrelease — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:34:55 +0000

Members of the Etna community have taken on the task of purchasing the old Etna elementary school building to be used as a community Recreation Center and Public Facility. Lincoln County School District No. 2 has offered the building for sale at $500,000, a number that has not stopped community members from pursuing the building. Members of the community have come together and are calling themselves the Etna Community Center Group (ECCG). The group is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. to help raise funds for the building. The cost for adults will be $10 a plate and all children will be free. During the dinner, which is being held on the old Etna school campus, community members will be presenting the facts, figures, and ideas for the building and there will be many discussions taking place. There will be a bounce-house for the kids featured and a dessert raffle/auction taking place as well. Perhaps the biggest barrier for the Etna community is the $500,000 purchase cost, however, individuals from the ECCG have pursued a community facility grant that will be used in the purchase process. This situation, however, is a little more unusual than most like it, because facilities like the old Etna school are typically donated to the community and the grant is used to refurbish the building. A statement issued by members of the ECCG states, “Things are happening very fast and we really just hate to see a public building be sold and not be owned by the public. The tax payers paid for this building and the tax payers should be able to keep it and use it for the benefit of the community.” The ECCG has also applied for a planning grant of $25,000 to help facilitate the community facility grant. The group is hoping to raise an $8,333 match from the dinner/fundraiser, which will be used to get the planning grant process moving. The community is in the process of creating a Joint Powers board with the county that will manage the day-to-day operations once the money has been raised and the grants come through to purchase the building. Once the building is in operation the ECCG, hopes that the building will be used as a community center, recreation center, and public facility. The ECCG is hoping to have a building where all age groups can have a meeting location. Things like youth basketball, volleyball, a playground, book clubs, exercise classes, painting classes, and a place for seniors to meet and participate in activities are all possibilities for the building. Once the building is in operation, the ECCG expects a small portion of the building will be rented for profit and hopes to get enough tenants including government agencies and starter businesses to help pay for the expenses of the building, like electricity, heating, lawn care, etc. It is expected that when the Etna community grows and incorporates into a town, that the town will take on some of the responsibility of the building. How soon Etna will incorporate is purely speculation, but when the community does decide to incorporate, they will have an excellent site for a town hall. Community support for the project is growing as word and information is spreading throughout the community. The ECCG is encouraging and extending a special invitation to everyone interested to attend the dinner/fundraiser on Friday night where plans of the project and new suggestions and ideas will be heard. The ECCG would like to remind the community that not just Etna residents will be able to use the building but is hoping that people and groups from Alpine to Thayne will use the building.

Regional poaching case looking for public help

newsrelease — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:44:01 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking any information regarding a mule deer buck that was illegally shot and killed along the Middle Piney Road west of Big Piney sometime between Wednesday, Aug. 20 and Thursday, Aug. 21. The mature buck mule deer carcass was discovered the morning of Friday, Aug. 22, approximately 18-miles west of Big Piney with the head removed. The buck’s antlers were likely still covered in velvet. Anyone with possible information regarding this poaching incident, or other suspicious vehicles or activities, are encouraged to call the Pinedale Game and Fish office at 1-800-452-9107 or the STOP POACHING hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or Big Piney Game Warden, Adam Hymas at 307-276-3359. Any information leading to the arrest and conviction may result in a reward of up to $5,000.00.

Star Valley and Cokeville both open volleyball season with wins

dahlerickson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:10:45 +0000

The Lady Braves were shorter, less experienced and downright young on a lot of their lineups but when their first match was over they knocked off Gillette in five games. Cokeville rode a raucous early-morning crowd to rally from one game down to a 3-1 victory over Preston. At times, the Lady Braves were playing three sophomores and a freshman to go along with a pair of juniors in their varsity match with the Lady Camels. True to her word in Thursday's edition of the Independent, Head Coach Brandy Taylor shuffled lineups often as she tested her young squad. The Lady Braves staved off a late game one collapse as they edged the purple squad, 26-24. They also took game two, 25-18. Gillette bounced back, cutting back on numerous errors in the first two games to take game three, 20-25. Game four was tied at 15 all before the Camels drove Star Valley backward and ended the stanza with a 22-25 cushion. With all of their early momentum now gone, Taylor got her troops ready for game five which was all Star Valley by building a 9-2 advantage our of the gate. The Lady Braves collected the win, 15-7 As for Cokeville, the Lady Panthers came up on the short end of a game one score, before absolutely obliterating Preston in the next two games by a combined 50-18. Cokeville was buoyed up by their infamous volleyball crowd, and even the Alta High squad as they claimed game four. The Lady Panthers showed just why they are one of the favorites more often than not in Wyoming's 1A Class, going all out on loose balls and sacrificing their bodies for the betterment of the team. Brian Toomer's squad was also superb at the net as they won three straight games with more ease than not. The Lady Braves will face Alta beginning at 3:30 this afternoon and then Bear Lake at 6 p.m. to round out day one of the tournament and pool play. The teams will play a bracket tomorrow to determine the champion. For a detailed account of the Lady Braves' Cokeville experience, be sure to read the September 4, 2008 edition of the Independent.

Friday Sports Stir: Season underway edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:01:54 +0000

After traveling to the Cokeville, the volleyball excitement is pretty high, so this week calls for a volleyball question from the Stir. It's a year where the ladies have a lot of ability and not a lot of experience. But if their first match was any indication, they also have little fear. If you've never watched or cheered for the Lady Braves, I encourage you to plan on it in a couple of weeks when they get home. They got off on the right foot, knocking off Gillette Friday morning. So, with that in mind, let's spike a volleyball question at you from deep in the annals of SVHS history. In what year did the Lady Braves first win the state championship? Bonus: Who was the coach? Cliff Clavin Bonus: Who did they defeat? Remember, please, please, please no internet researching. Feel free to make your guesses from the comment section. Winner will have their point total updated and will be on their way to Star Valley apparel. We'll see everyone at Braves Field on Saturday!

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Emergency Closure of Whitewater Section of the Snake River

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:34:31 +0000

The Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest temporarily closed the stretch of the Snake River between West Table Boat Ramp and Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp on Labor Day due to a large tree being wedged across the river. The tree blocked more than 80 percent of the river channel and resulted in one flipped boat Monday morning. “No injuries have resulted from the obstructed river channel thus far, and we’d like to keep it that way,” said Jackson District Ranger Dale Deiter. Due to public safety concerns the District Ranger closed the whitewater stretch until the tree could be removed. “We hope to get this addressed as soon as possible,” said Deiter. “We don’t take closing the river lightly, but we must put safety at the forefront of our decision,” said River Manager David Cernicek. The Bridger-Teton was assisted by Star Valley Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers in removing the river hazard. “We are certainly grateful for the Star Valley SAR volunteers that are willing to give up their holiday to help the Forest and the visitors out with this operation,” said Cernicek. Monday afternoon Star Valley SAR was on their way to the blockage with their jet boat and trained operators to help position the Forest Service sawyer crew for removal of the tree. The sawyers are part of the Forest Service firefighting crew and are trained in removing hazardous trees. The blockage occurred just below Taco Hole at the top of the S-turns about 1-mile below the West Table Boat Ramps. The scenic sections of the Snake River remained open and unaffected by the temporary closure.

Braves fall to Wolverines in Overtime

dahlerickson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:18:44 +0000

Although the match up between the Braves and Wolverines won't factor into this year's power ratings, it was a hard hitting battle between two coaches in their their respective first years at their new locations. In their first ever meeting, it was Riverton who captured the win. Much like previous games between the two teams, it was a defensive struggle with a 0-0 score at the break. In the third period, Kevin Brough broke in the new surface at Braves Field with an 83-yard touchdown scamper to put Star Valley up 7-0. However, just five game minutes later, a botched punt was blocked and hurried into the end zone by the Wolverines to tie the game up. Numerous penalties and turnovers took place as both teams had great effort, but spotty execution. In the end, the teams went to overtime where Star Valley had to settle for a field goal after three runs from the ten yard line netted them nothing. The defense was solid all day, and it took the overtime rules of putting Riverton on the Star Valley 10 to get them in the end zone. A third down touchdown pass and a terrific catch saw the visitors spoil the first ever game at the new facilities as the Wolverines won, 13-10. Please read the September 4, 2008 edition of the Independent for complete details, statistics and insight from Coach Howell. Star Valley will be back on their field this Friday evening under the lights as they host the Snake River Panthers.

Over your head and above the clouds: 88 year old man takes up skydiving

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:53:07 +0000

Darrel Jenkins is not the kind of man who jumps out of airplanes. He was born in Freedom on Jan. 18, 1920. He married the love of his life, Magdalene, and the two of them spent a lifetime scraping a living off the land, managing a dairy farm and building a family together. “When you dairy farm you don’t have time to do much of anything else,” he said. Seven years ago Darrel and his wife moved to Logan. Magdalene passed away two years later. Darrel still considers Star Valley to be his home and makes trips to Freedom on a fairly regular basis. This summer while making his way back from the valley to Logan with his son, Kim, the two started talking about the future. “I was kidding around with my dad a little, just giving him a hard time and I asked him if there was anything he wanted to do in his life that he hadn’t done,” said Kim. “He told me that ever since he’d heard about President Bush, the first one, jumping out of a plane he’d wanted to try skydiving.” Kim took that declaration to heart and called his brother, Jake, to arrange the whole thing. On Saturday, July 12, 2008, Darrel became a skydiver. “I guess what I learned from all this is that I need to be very careful of what I say to my kids anymore,” he said. “They might take me up on it.” At the grand old age of 88 and a half, Darrel was the oldest skydiver by a few months that the Ogden based skydiving company had ever had. “They had another fellow who was 88 jump, but my birthday is in January so I was older than he was,” said Darrel. “I was a little nervous thinking I might screw up some way.” First time skydivers, no matter what their age, do a tandem jump, meaning they are connected to an instructor. Two of Darrel’s granddaughters also decided they wanted to get in on the skydiving action. “I guess they figured if I could do it, they could do it,” said Darrel. “I really didn’t have to do much talking to talk them into it.” While Natalie Jenkins and Janaan Weaver jumped with grandpa, a number of Darrel’s other family members traveled to witness the experience from the ground below. “It was unlike anything else I’ve ever done,” said Darrel of his jump. “It was a thrilling experience.” Darrel said his favorite part of the whole experience was “landing.” “I was just glad when that chute opened,” he said. “After that it was just a matter of floating down.” To this day Darrel is not exactly sure what prompted him to announce that he wanted to try skydiving. “At some point in life you just lose your marbles,” he said. “But I’ve got it in my mind to try it again next summer. We’ll see how things go. We never get to old to try something new. I don’ think I’m ever going to get to the point where I will jump out on my own.” Only time will tell. But one thing is certain, at the age of 88, Darrel may be over the hill, but his is still riding above the clouds.

Alpine Sewer Collection and Waste Water Treatment moving forward

sarahhale — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:57:11 +0000

The Alpine Town Council received a favorable financial report on the Alpine Sewer Collection System Project and the Waste Water Treatment Plant this week during their regular meeting. Leon Kjellgren, the engineer overseeing the collection system, presented the financial outlook for the project. According to Kjellgren, the preliminary engineering report cost $45,373. The design for the collection system cost $182,697. Both of those projects have been completed. The construction engineering of phase one of the project cost $291,400 and is ongoing. The construction itself is estimated to cost $2.1 million and is ongoing. Water system repair inventory, supplies set aside in the event that something in the water system breaks and needs repair or for locating pipelines was listed at a total of $14,038. Additional costs associated with the project include power to the lift station at $5,000 and constructing a building over the lift station at $15,000. Whether or not the lift station building will be constructed has not been officially decided by the town. According to Kjellgren, the estimated total cost for the collection system project is $2,653,508. The state has committed $3,034,230 in grant funds and $1,011,410 in state loan funds, bringing the total amount of state funds for the project to $4,045,640.

Friday Sports Stir: No more Warmups edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:18:34 +0000

Well, some teams played a game, while others played a scrimmage. This week, everything counts. Not only does the Stir have some Star Valley trivia for you, but I've got your predictions for the weekend. First off, hopefully everybody, myself included, can continue to give the Braves' offense some time to gel. Hat's off to the Wolverines for finding a way to win, but Star Valley came away knowing they gave up a lot of opportunities. This week, it's the the Snake River Panthers who invade Afton in a bit of an important game for the Braves. It sure would be nice to collect a win over a quality opponent before kicking off the conference slate next week against Cody. Here's your question for the week: Star Valley has always played Idaho teams due to their close proximity and has traditionally done well against them. However, in the new millennium, Star Valley has struggled mightily, finding it tough to win against the Gem State. So here's your question which is a two-parter. Who was the last Idaho team Star Valley defeated and in what year? Bonus: What was the score? Now that your brain is working, here's the 4A predictions from the Dahl E. Llama of sports. Buffalo @ Lander : On paper, this one is a bloodbath. The Bison are the class of the Class, or at least they have been for the last decade. The Tigers, with new head coach, Doug Hughes, is hoping to recapture some of the Lander success of the 1990's. Buffalo returns nearly their entire squad from last year's State Runner-Up squad, and have to be considered the prohibitive favorite in my eyes. This will be a chance for Lander to protect Bill Bush Memorial Field and show some renewed community pride. It will be tough however, as the Bison are Tailor-made to churn out rushing yards on a squad like Lander and beat up their defense. Look for a tough effort from Lander, but a big Buffalo win. Llama says - Bison: 42-7 Cody @ Hardin, Mont. : Cody returns a good group of senior leaders. This has traditionally been a match up where the boys from Montana have had the edge and with Cody traveling across the state line, I look for this to continue. For fans and opponents of the Broncs, this will be a test to see who can replace Reed Gifford in Coach Williams' offense. Glen Clinton and Landon Blanchard should have big games, but I think it will be the inexperience at the skill positions that help Hardin claim the win. Llama says - Montanans: 28-20 Douglas @ Glenrock : With a lot of players returning from a strong semi-finals team of a year ago, the Bearcats do have to travel to open their season but should have the leadership to handle it. Something that people may have forgotten is that Douglas was very, very close to making it to the state championship, almost knocking off eventual champ Jackson. Glenrock is no slouch, but I look for the aerial assault of Douglas to be too much for Herders. Llama says - Bearcats: 34-17 Jackson @ Teton, Idaho : Well, a lot of folks feel this one will be a walkover. The defending 4A champion Broncs traveling to play a team that they obliterated a year ago. I think this will actually point out if Jackson is a contender or a pretender in 2008. If they handle the Redskins, then they'll be in the mix. If Teton, who's struggled mightily the past several years, can manage to pull out a win or keep it close? It could be a tough year. Only time will tell, and I expect Coach Wiley to have his program ready to start with a game in the win column. Llama says - Broncs: 31-7 *Game of the Week* Powell @ Worland : There is a quiet fervor about the Warriors this year. They have several key starters returning as well as a large chunk of their line. Coach Sanford has some championships to prove his worth, but this may prove to be a tough test. Powell fought through a lot of adversity a year ago and never quit on Coach Stringer, but they know they want more than what 2007 gave them. It's one thing to start off the season on the road against a tough opponent, but it's quite another to do so within the conference. Whoever loses this game will start in a 4A West hole, and with how tight things were a year ago, they might not climb back out. Powell has the Mills brothers, with Gavin having committed to the Air Force Academy. I think Worland's Demunbrun has a big game, and the Worland defense bends but doesn't break as they beat back the Panthers. Llama says - Warriors: 27-14 Mountain View @ Rawlins : The Outlaws dropped Wheatland in last week's zero week contest. Do they have enough to keep the wins coming? I'll be honest, I really don't know. Their offense isn't much to write home about yet, but their defense kept the Bulldogs to just six points. When in doubt, go with the home team. Nope, I just cant forgive Rawlins for making me look bad last year. Llama says - Flip-Flop! Buffalos: 9-7 Torrington @ Chadron, Neb. : It's been a tough handful of years for the Blazers. Since making the playoffs in '05 and getting blasted by the Braves 59-0, Torrington has gone a dismal 2-14. Look for the Huskers to continue their recent dominance in this match up. Llama says - Chadron: 35-17 Sidney, Neb. @ Wheatland : As I've already said, the Bulldogs were collared by the Outlaws in zero week. So, what does this mean? Despite a playoff win in Afton in '06, Wheatland seems to struggle with consistency. I know they're at home, but this is once again a match up in which the Nebraskans have owned. Llama says - Sidney: 28-7. Snake River @ Star Valley : Well, if you're not a resident of Star Valley and you've read this far, first off, thank you. I like to think I have some non-bias bones in me, but you'll likely never see me pick against the Braves, I just can't do it. Star Valley struggled offensively last week against an improved Riverton squad, but came away believing they gave the game away. Multiple turnovers and special teams gaffes obliterated any good field position the Braves gained and while it's a concern, Coach Howell knows they are not even close to playing their best football. Snake River has quite frankly dominated this match up as a new rival. Even last year's 34-20 loss was not as close as the score sounds. The Braves sport an improved secondary this season, and a defense that has the capability to shut down opponents. Will they be able to do this against a Panther squad who thrived on big plays in '07? There's a lot of new faces on the Idaho squad, including a new coach, but Star Valley fans would be foolish to think this game will be a Braves blowout. In fact, a win here would help tremendously, but the offense will need to improve on their performance of a week ago to pull one out. I look for a defensive score from the Braves this evening, and a better performance from the offense in general. Look for a game that's much more low scoring than last year's contest. Llama says - Braves: 17-14. Well, there you have it. Week One in Wyoming's 4A. Have a different take? Please feel free to use the comment section. We'll rehash the results over the weekend so we'll all get a chance to see where my logic failed me. Good luck to all involved, and thank goodness football's back!

Second Half Breakdown: Turnovers doom Braves

dahlerickson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:00:59 +0000

For nearly a full half, the crowd at Braves Field was given a show of the capability of the new look Star Valley offense and it was very popular. The second half? Well, it wasn't pretty. With five second half turnovers, including three inside their own red zone in the third quarter, the Braves saw a 14-0 lead turn into a 32-14 loss to the Snake River Panthers. The game started off with the Panthers moving the ball very effectively down the field before the Braves were able to force a turnover. While turnovers were the issue for the Braves in the second half, it was the main issue for the Panthers in the first. In fact, due to several forced turnovers from the Star Valley defense, the Braves found themselves with possession of the football for the majority of the first half. The lid came off the scoring bucket as Chris Jenkins connected with Jon Scherbel on a deep slant, while Scherbel took it the distance, a score of 63 yards. The two would hook up again in the second quarter, this time for a 66-yard touchdown, putting the Braves up, 14-0. With Star Valley driving once again inside the Snake River red zone and 21-0 looking like a distinct possibility, the Panthers claimed the first of several turnovers as Randy Rosendiz intercepted an errant pass and returned it to midfield From that point on, it was all Snake River as they would score 32 unanswered points during the remainder of the game. For a complete recap and for expanded details, please read the September 11, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent. The Braves will host the Cody Broncs in their first 4A West Conference game of the year next Friday at SVHS.

Are you prepared for an emergency? September is the time

newsrelease — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:30:51 +0000

Emergency preparedness is not something new to many Star Valley residents, but probably not to all. This September marks the 5th annual National Preparedness Month that is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In Lincoln County, the office of the DHS is still stressing that everyone in the county have a 72-hour kit to use in case of emergency this year. “There’s still people out there that feel like ‘this can’t happen to me’,” said Jay Hokanson, Deputy Coordinator, from the Lincoln County office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. When an emergency or natural disaster does happen, people may have to depend on their 72-hour kits. Those with 72-hour kits will be much more prepared than those without. Disasters like power outages, which may cause no water or heat, extreme cold temperatures, large snowstorms, wild fire, and even floods are several of the natural disasters that could happen to Star Valley. The county DHS is currently encouraging county residents to purchase weather service alert radios, which are somewhere within the range of $50 to $70. The radios will pick up signals from the National Weather Service Center in Riverton so people will be able to know weather conditions quickly. “It’s the fastest and quickest way we can get word out to the public,” said Hokanson. No, huge disasters are not very likely to happen in Star Valley, but there is always the chance, and that chance can’t go overlooked. Too often people aren’t prepared when a natural disaster or major emergency takes place and it leaves those people in a poor situation. “There’s a tendency – and it’s human nature – to think that large-scale disaster is not going to happen where you live, said Sandy Baruah, acting administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Accepting the inevitability of an emergency, and then taking the responsibility for our own recovery are the necessary first steps toward protecting your family, your assets, and your community.” Those who have questions about about preparing a 72-hour emergency kit or for those who would like to learn more about emergency preparedness, please contact the Lincoln County Department of Homeland Security office at (307) 558-3626.

4A Football Wrapup: Week One

dahlerickson — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:59:33 +0000

The Wyoming 4A Classification mirrored the collegiate and professional ranks in the eyes of this writer. This week was a wild one with unexpected results and teams stepping up past their perceptions. Well, some games transpired according to the numbers and others proved just how meaningless numbers can be. Time to give out awards for the week's performances. On a personal note, Let's keep up the attendence Star Valley fans! What a great experience it is to see the new facilities and that many people making their way to the game. This is a conference game on Friday, and the Braves and the staff continue to need our support. If you have cowbells, bring 'em on out. If you hate cowbells, bring something else. The noise and the atmosphere can do so much for the players morale and for their intensity. I'm proud to see so many people come out for the games and we'll need even more for this weekend's game with conference foe, Cody. The SV / Cody games have been some of the most entertaining of the year for the past couple of seasons and I expect nothing less this season. See you there! The Farmer Award for being Outstanding in their Field: Powell and Galen Mills: The Mills Brothers are the heart and soul of this squad and the fact that they got on their horse and went into Worland and held a team with some returning firepower to just 7 points is saying something. Galen scored both TD's in their win and puts the Panthers right in the hunt for the 4A West. Biggest Surprise of the Week: The Glenrock Herders. Maybe we should not be that surprised. But Glenrock just dismantled the Bearcats in Douglas this weekend, putting themselves as the front runners of the 3A East. Biggest Disapointment of the Week: Star Valley. This one hurts to say, but it's just because of how the game transpired. After leading 14-0 and moving the ball again into Snake River's red zone to possibly go up 21-0, the Braves unraveled, turning the ball over five times and watched as the Panthers scored 32 unanswered points. It's an issue for the offense right now, and not even the New England Patriots can overcome five turnovers in a half and expect to win. This will be a very important game this weekend as the Braves host Cody. Well, here's how the Dahl E. Llama did in Week One of the 2008 Football season. Buffalo @ Lander : Llama says - Bison: 42-7 (Result: Bison 42-0. Hang in there Lander, better times are ahead) 1-0 Cody @ Hardin, Mont. : Llama says - Montanans: 28-20 (Result: Montanans: 12-7. The Broncs have been snakebit in Afton for almost two decades, will it continue this weekend?) 2-0 Douglas @ Glenrock : Llama says - Bearcats: 34-17 (Result: Herders: 27-14 - Once again my apologies to the Herders. Douglas will be smarting this week over this one) 2-1 Jackson @ Teton, Idaho : Llama says - Broncs: 31-7 (Result: Broncs: 34-12 - Coach Wiley and crew have a great chance to go 2-0 in Lander this weekend) 3-1 *Game of the Week* Powell @ Worland : Llama says - Warriors: 27-14 (Result: Panthers: 13-7 - Not only was I wrong about the winner, but about both defenses. This one must have been a slugfest) 3-2 Mountain View @ Rawlins : Llama says - Flip-Flop! Buffalos: 9-7 (Result: Outlaws: 7-3 - Well, I flip-flopped because I said Rawlins made me look bad last year. Well, they did it again with a kickoff return for a touchdown being the difference this game) 3-3 Torrington @ Chadron, Neb. : Llama says - Chadron: 35-17 (Result: Chadron: 41-7 - It's a tough deal to face these squads every year) 4-3 Sidney, Neb. @ Wheatland : Llama says - Sidney: 28-7. (Result: Sidney: 21-6) - Could Rawlins be the team to make the playoffs in the East this year?) 5-3 Snake River @ Star Valley : Llama says - SV 17-14 (Result: Snake River: 32-14 - Just a bitter, bitter game to watch in the second half. There were some flashes for the new-look offense, but turnovers will kill any squad, especially one that's learning. A very positive thing however, is the fans and the turnout for the Braves. Full stands and a real tail-gating atmosphere all around the new facility, really a lot of fun, now we just need to make 'em happy.) 5-4 Well, there you have it. A very pedestrian 5-4 beginning for the Llama in Week One. Hopefully we all can keep improving.

Home Sweet Home: Braves X-C claims victory in SV Invite

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:21:29 +0000

By it's very nature, a Cross-Country run begins as a huge mob of competitors, all lobbying for position. That sure isn't how they end however, as Jason Livingston and Cody Brough finished number one and two to elevate the Braves to the event title on Cedar Creek Golf Course. In fact, six Braves finished in the top 17 runners, outdistancing Teton, Idaho, for the top spot. Livingston and Brough ran together for nearly the entire race before the former pulled away with the winning time of 17:42. Brough was close behind with a time of 17:48. As for the Lady Braves, freshman Brittney Nethercott finished first for the squad, with senior Alicia Inskeep and twin sister Brooke Nethercott not far behind. The Lady Braves had a strong pack and had a solid second place finish as a team behind Soda Springs. Look for a detailed account of the race and insight from Coach Ty Draney in the September 18, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Salt River Orthopedics attains Center of Excellence status

dahlerickson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:46:15 +0000

As far as having a total knee replacement, one couldn't do better than Dr. Marlowe Goble and Dr. Brian Tallerico. The duo are the surgeons at Salt River Orthopedics, part of Star Valley Medical Center, have turned SVMC into not just a surgical option, but even a destination. Click Below for an exclusive interview with Dr. Brian Tallerico, who discusses the process of learning and the assertive path that Salt River Orthopedics has taken to get to this point.

Friday Sports Stir: Conference Clash edition Updated

dahlerickson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:49:01 +0000

Well, this is a prime weekend for Star Valley sports, but the problem is, there isn't enough of you to go around. The Cody Broncs are in town for a 4A West football battle, while the undefeated Kelly Walsh Lady Trojans are also in town to take on the Lady Braves inside SVHS. What to do? Well, the good news is that the Natrona Fillies are in town on Saturday afternoon if you have to have a volleyball fix, the bad news is that you will miss either Kelly Walsh or Cody on Friday. In addition, the Braves Cross-Country team defended their home turf, winning the team crown at the Star Valley Invitational on the shoulders of Jason Livingston and Cody Brough, who finished first and second respectively. The Lady Braves finished second behind Idaho powerhouse, Soda Springs. The Braves golfers were also on top of things at their own invitational, winning the boys side, while the ladies placed second. Charlie Stibor and Kelsea Gardner did win the individual accolades as well. Well, good luck to all, here's some trivia as well as this week's predictions. The question has to do with Cody and Star Valley At the end of the 1991 season, the Broncs and Braves clashed in Cody for the 3A state championship. For three quarters, it was a 7-0 SV lead with the Braves defense dominating before things went terribly wrong for the Crimson & Gold and just right for the Broncs. In fact, in the span of just over four minutes in the fourth quarter, Cody scored four times off five Braves' turnovers for a 25-7 title, their last to date. This week's question is this: Who scored the Star Valley touchdown? Bonus: Who led the Braves in total yardage? Clavin Bonus: How many passes did Cody complete that day? Well, there you have it. Please no internet researching, not that it would help you much this week. Please use the comment section to guess and I'll let you know how it's going. Without further delay, here's this week's Wyoming 4A football predictions from the Dahl E. Llama Powell (1-0) @ Buffalo (1-0): There's not many tougher places to play than the Bison Bowl. Buffalo showed no mercy against Lander last week and they always seem to step it up another notch against the West conference. Kudos to the Panthers for a road win in Worland last week. Their defense was downright stingy, holding the Warriors to just 7 points. They'll need to be mean again to slow down the Bison running game. Buffalo's biggest strength to me is their ability to start quickly. After building a lead, their power game just demoralizes opponents. Look for Powell to hang tough, but I just don't think they've got the offensive horses to keep up this week. Llama says - Bison: 34-17. (Reality Check : Powell's defense appears to be for real. The Bison still won, but only 14-7. The Powell Tribune and excellent sports editor David Dickey talked about a scrappy crew in Powell this year, it looks like he's right. ) 1-0 Douglas (0-1) @ Riverton (0-1): Riverton is better. You have to give them that. But without turning the ball slowover, the Bearcats should be able to handle them. The big question is: Can their defense stop the Wolverines? It's not like they're a juggernaut; their only score came in overtime in Afton in zero week from the six yard line. Look for Douglas to rebound nicely here with a road win to put them back on track. Llama says - Bearcats: 24-6 (Reality Check: Douglas wins, 27-0. I wasn't too far off on this one, but the real question is still coming later in the season for the Bearcats. Can they stop a really good offense?) 2-0 Jackson (1-0) @ Lander (0-1): I'm not the first to say it, but in case you missed it, this is the class' longest winning streak in the Broncs (12 games) going against the longest losing streak in Lander (18 games). Lander couldn't get on the scoreboard against Buffalo, but I think they'll break into the offensive category this week against Jackson. The Tigers still have too much improving to do to collect the win I think, but a solid effort keeps this one closer than people think. Llama says - Broncs: 20-10. (Reality Check: LANDER WINS! First off, congratulations to the Tigers. An 18-game losing streak isn't anything I wish on anyone. The Tigers defeated Jackson 6-0 in a defensive struggle. Hopefully people aren't getting too caught up in the whole, #1 Jackson loses thing. The Broncs lost the vast majority of their players from last year and the pre-season #1 was a courtesy I think. Maybe that sounded rude, but it wasn't intended to be so. So how big is SV @ Jackson this week? ) 2-1 Rawlins (1-0) @ Pinedale: Well, I'm not even sure who to pick because of the fact that I obviously don't have a good handle on the Outlaws. Their defense does well against the middling type teams, but they can't score an offensive touchdown without some help. I'm going to pick my Western Wyoming brothers from Pinedale in an interclass showdown. Llama says - Wranglers: 17-3. (Reality Check: Outlaws, 10-0) Don't look now, but the Outlaws are 2-0, albeit against the lower tier of 3A. Still give 'em credit) 2-2 Torrington (0-1) 2 Gering, Neb.: On the road in Husker country, it will be a short drive, but a long day for the Blazers. Llama says - Gering - 35-10. (Reality Check: Gering, 21-9. The Blazers played with some pride in this game.) 3-2 Wheatland (0-1) @ Newcastle: Wheatland is a notch above Rawlins and Torrington at this point in the season, at least in my book. But the Dogies might actually be contenders in the 3A East and they're at home. I'm looking like a traitor, but I'm going 3A again. Llama says - Dogies: 23-19. (Realtity Check: Wheatland, 28-0. Not much to say here, I was completely, utterly and embarrassingly off on this one. Nice win 'Dawgs) 3-3 Worland (0-1) @ Lyman (0-1): Worland is the only team that really surprised me last week. At home against a conference opponent, I was expecting more than 7 points. Well, they probably were too. I look for a focused bunch of Warriors traveling to Uinta County to take on a struggling Eagle squad. Look for a big rushing output out of Worland; in the neighborhood of 300 yards. Llama says - Warriors: 35-7. (Reality Check: Warriors, 63-7. Wow, was it something the Eagles said? 63 points generally means one of two things. It was personal, or Lyman is THAT bad.) 4-3 Cody (0-1) @ Star Valley (0-1): Well, without sounding too biased, this is the game of the week in the conference. Both teams need a win, and as the 4A West goes, getting off to a good start is vital. Cody has shown to be a tough defense through the first two weeks of the season, and points may be at a premium for the Braves who have struggled mightily with consistency. Going into last week, the Broncs had two of the league's most explosive players in Landon Blanchard and Glen Clinton. With the loss of Clinton to a knee injury, this will be a tough outing for the Broncs in a tough environment against a team that is desperate for a win in the Braves. On a personal note, my best to Glen and the Clinton family. It never seems fair when a guy works that hard and then is done for the season so quickly, especially their senior season. The Braves had several instances of this last year, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I look for a very gritty performance from Cody, but I think this is the week the Braves offense, which has shown flashes of brilliance, gets it's most consistent performance and collects the win at home before traveling to Jackson next week. Llama says - Braves: 21-12. (Reality Check: I'll be honest; folks can talk about making some of the same mistake and miscues as the two previous games, but Cody flat out beat up the Braves in every facet of this game. Offense: They were faster and more aggressive. Defense: They stuffed every attempt at running and intercepted two red zone passes, both of which went for Cody scores. Special Teams; Did I mention that they took the opening kickoff the distance? If Star Valley players want to look at one thing to improve on, it's this. They should be going out for Track if they aren't already. Dayton McMillan, Landon Blanchard, Sam Werner. All track stars for the state champ Broncs in that sport. I thought Cody might struggle without Glen Clinton, Now I've got them my favorites to win the West.) 4-4 Another pedestrian effort from yours truly. Let's see if the 70th version of the Fall Brawl will get me back on my feet. Well, there you have it. Have a deeply seated grievance? Use the comment section. Here's to a healthy week of pigskin for all of 4A. Get out and enjoy it folks, it's over before you know it.

Dr. Scott Bender: General Surgeon at SVMC

dahlerickson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:58:38 +0000

It's a bit of a luxury to have a full time general surgeon in a rural place such as Star Valley, but Dr. Scott Bender uses the surrounding landscape to fill in his free time. Be sure to click below for an exclusive interview with Dr. Bender, the full-time general surgeon as part of Star Valley Medical Center.

Wyoming Air Guard sends medical crews for hurricane relief

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:15:33 +0000

Ten Wyoming Air National Guard Airmen with the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron were deployed Monday, Sept. 15, to Fort Worth, Texas, to assist in transporting patients displaced by Hurricane Ike. The 10 include four flight nurses and six medical technicians. The mission will last until they are no longer needed to provide relief. "We are always ready to render aid and comfort," Lt. Col. Amy Olson, 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander, said. "Our nurses are some of the best this nation has to offer and our technicians are experts in emergency field medicine." The deployment order comes the same day as the last of five Airmen deployed to assist with Hurricane Gustav returns home. The Wyoming Air National Guard initially deployed four Airmen from the 187th AES to assist with Gustav on Sept. 2.

Wells Fargo awards grants to six local groups

newsrelease — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:53:17 +0000

Recipients of grants from the eighth annual Wells Fargo Community Assistance Fund in Wyoming were announced by Jared B. Gleue, Star Valley’s Community Banking President. “We’re extremely pleased with the response to this program,” Jared said. “So man organizations work hard to improve our community, and we’re proud to be able to support their efforts.” The Wells Fargo Community Assistance Fund committed $35,000 this year in Wyoming to certified 501 (c)(3) organizations with annual budgets of $150,000 or less. The organizations that received grants in Star Valley were: Animal Humane Association of Star Valley, Cultural Enterprises, Foundation of Liberty, Inc., Lincoln County 4-H Shooting Sports, Lincoln County 4-H Leader Council and Star Valley VFW. Checks will be presented by Jared Gleue at a special breakfast on September 24, 2008. In Wyoming, Wells Fargo has 18 financial services tores and 300 team members in 13 communities. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $595 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N. A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide to have the highest possible credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, “Aaa,” and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA”.

Star Valley television to be affected by digital change

newsrelease — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:58:43 +0000

As most people have heard, the FCC has mandated a change from analog to digital television broadcast service. The change has been in the works for several years, but will become final on February 17, 2009. The first phase was for all TV broadcast stations in the United States to construct digital transmitter facilities. The new facilities are now operational and working alongside the existing analog transmitters. In February, all stations have been mandated to shut down their analog transmitters and broadcast just digital signals. Only people who receive their TV signal from an antenna will be affected by the upcoming change. If you get your TV service from a cable company or satellite service, the change has already been made and nothing need be done on your part. If however, you receive your TV from an antenna, your service will be completely lost. You are encouraged to not rush out and buy a digital TV or “converter” box because they won’t help. The new digital TV transmitters operate in a different frequency band than the old analog transmitters. Due to this change, Star Valley community translators will not be able to receive the new digital signals to feed into the translators. The digital signals sent from TV stations will not be able to reach the translators, because they don’t travel as far as analog signals. So basically, those of you who get your TV from an antenna, you’re just plain out of luck come February 17.

Friday Sports Stir: The Fall Brawl edition updated

dahlerickson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:45:10 +0000

The stakes are high for two teams in need of a win this evening. The question is: Who wants it more? And don't let anyone in Jackson let you think they came up with the phrase "Fall Brawl". I coined that term, and they can't take it away from me. This week's trivia question is this: In 2004, the Broncs beat the Braves in Jackson, 29-19. It broke a winning streak for the Braves that was quite considerable. The question is this: Prior to 2004, when was the last time Jackson defeated Star Valley in football? Bonus: What was the score? Now, a reminder of the rules, please no internet researching. Use the comment section to guess or answer. Time for this Friday's picks: Buffalo @ Glenrock: The Bison showed a bit of chink in their armor last week, although they did win, 14-7 over Powell. Teams with tough run defenses can hold their own with the Bison, but those teams are few. Glenrock is arguably the best team in 3A along with Kemmerer. This will be a tough game, which I think will be under 20 points apiece with the Bison pulling out the win. Llama says - Bison: 17-14. (Reality Check: Glenrock - 16-14: It was the week of two-point conversions and Glenrock kept their win by stuffing Buffalo on their attempt. In Wyoming, good teams are good teams, regardless of what classification they are; Glenrock proved that this weekend. That Kemmerer / Glenrock state championship could be a good one if both teams continue to prove their mettle) 0-1 Cody @ Rawlins: Talk about road warriors; the Broncs haven't been home to play a game yet since zero week. After obliterating the Braves in Afton, Cody is looking good and riding high. The Outlaws are 2-0 for the first time in eight years and haven't allowed a whole lot of points thus far. However, Cody will be a much stiffer test than Mountain View and Pinedale. I look for Cody's offense to break off a couple of big plays which will be enough. Llama says - Broncs: 21-3 (Reality Check: Cody - 22-0: Not much to say here, it's nice to be right on the money once in awhile) 1-1 Chadron, Neb. @ Douglas: Well, I don't know much about these teams except the Husker state typically does pretty well in Eastern Wyoming. I think it's going to be close (just a hunch) with Chadron winning. Llama says - Chadron: 28-26. (Reality Check: Chadron - 20-6: Well, the rule of thumb lately is that Wyoming East struggles with Nebraska while Wyoming West struggles with Idaho) 2-1 Lander @ Worland: First off, congratulations to the Tigers. I think most everybody can feel good about a team ending a losing streak like that. Except Jackson obviously. The road gets tougher for Coach Hughes and his Tigers as they travel to Worland. The Warriors struggled against Powell, but so has everybody. I think Lander keeps it close for a half, but the Worland running attack will prove too much. Llama says - Warriors: 28-7. (Reality Check: Worland - 14-13: First off, give Coach Doug Hughes credit for the Tigers. Lander wasn't content to go into overtime and went for two after closing the gap. I love this call. It didn't work out this time, but more often than not, I think it pays off) 3-1 Riverton @ Powell: Talk about a tough first few weeks; well, make that a tough schedule for the Wolverines. They won't find the sledding any easier against Powell at home. At least, that's what I think. I look for the Panthers to find some scoring opportunities and I look for a shutout. Llama says - Panthers: 21-0. (Reality Check: Powell - 34-6: For my money, the match up between Cody and Powell is going to be for the 4A West title) 4-1 Torrington @ Alliance, Neb. - While the Blazers have shown they are playing tougher, I think this road trip will add to their woes. Plus, the name "Alliance" for a town is really cool. Llama says - Alliance (see?): 24-7. (Reality Check: Alliance - 27-14: The Blazers appear to be closing the gap the last few weeks. Teams in the 4A East better not take them lightly moving ahead) 5-1 Gering, Neb. @ Wheatland - Well, in this pick, I'm opting for the Cowboy state. Look for the Dawgs to have some bite. Llama says - Bulldogs: 21-14. (Reality Check: Gering wins 9-6 OT: Well, it's hard to swallow when you miss a pick due to overtime, but the defense really outshined the offense in this matchup.) 5-2 Star Valley @ Jackson - Well, it's time to let people know what the yearly record is in this series. This is the 70th meeting between these two teams and Star Valley holds a 56-13 record in the previous 69. What does that mean? Nothing for today's game. The Broncs are rebuilding their team after a perfect season a year ago. I had someone ask me the other day what if Jackson really struggles this year? I answered by saying: "Would you struggle for an 11-0 season?" It's true. Regardless of what the Broncs do this year, Coach Wiley is the only guy in that town who can say he's won as a player and a coach. It's also very good to see him healthy as well as he had a heck of a scare this off season. That being said, the Braves need this game more. With three straight home game, including zero week, Star Valley needs a win. Badly. Not just for the fans and community, but for the players and coaches. It's not easy to install a wide open attack after lining up between the tackles for 79 years. In fact, we're all finding out how hard that is. But, I believe in this staff, and I believe in this group of players. This is a group with a lot of ability, and once they put it all together, folks had better watch themselves. Will that be this week? I don't know. But I think they have enough to claim that elusive first win and build some momentum. (Not that I ever would have picked Jackson anyway) Llama says - BRAVES: 17-14. (Reality Check: Jackson - 24-7: Two huge plays will haunt the Braves this week as they discuss the game. First, the inexplicable touching of a punt after Jackson booted the ball, resulting in a touchdown recovery. Second, a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct after Star Valley had stopped the Broncs in the third quarter. Both plays ultimately led to touchdowns. Kudos to the Broncs for passing the ball much better than I expected and for making big plays when they were available. i.e. - fake field goal for a touchdown and the aforementioned special teams touchdown. One positive for the Braves is how they were able to connect through the passing game at times, but until turnovers are all but eliminated, it's going to be a struggle. That's a football truth whether you're the Star Valley Braves or the New England Patriots. ) 5-3 Well, be sure to check back to see how I did, and throw a couple of guesses my way to try and win some Star Valley apparel.

Lady Braves devoured by the Wolf Pack

dahlerickson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:10:25 +0000

The Lady Braves are still looking for their first conference victory this season and while there were some promising aspects of their game with the Green River Lady Wolves, the evening belonged to the Green & White. The Wolves knocked off Star Valley in Afton 3-0 with scores of 20-25, 5-25 & 21-25. To add insult to injury, 5' 9" junior Kortnie Thomas suffered an ankle sprain in game three after stepping on the foot of a Green River player while both teams jostled at the net. Game one was very typical for this season thus far for Star Valley, with their opponent building a modest but quick lead right out of the gates. Green River led by at least four points for the vast majority of the game while Star Valley scrapped to keep it close. After pulling to within one at 19-20, it was a mental error that gave side out to the Wolves as they finished it off, 20-25. Game two is likely one that Coach Brandy Taylor will burn in the film room. The gals in gold appeared half asleep as point after point found an empty floor due to Star Valley miscommunication. The 5-25 final fits the bill . Game three started out very promising as Star Valley built a 7-3 lead, and seizing the momentum back from a Wolves team that looked unbeatable in game two. However, after the Thomas injury, Green River went on a 15-4 run to compile a lead that they would not relinquish. The Lady Braves have been swept 3-0 in four of their five conference matches thus far. The ladies will be participating in the Bonneville Tourney this weekend before taking a much deserved break of roughly ten days. It's a break that Coach Taylor and the Lady Braves will be counting on to recharge their batteries before the meat of the conference road schedule hits. Star Valley's last remaining home contest will take place October 16, against the Evanston Red Devils.

Bloxham receives Bronze Star 63 years after service

dandockstader — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:39:23 +0000

In 1945 at the age of 18, Vern Bloxham earned a Bronze Star, but it wasn’t until 2008 that he was formally honored with and received the medal. As a young Army Corporal, Bloxham was accompanying his unit and moving up a draw on an island in the South Pacific when the group came under fire from Japanese soldiers in a pillbox. The term is used for a bunker that houses a machine gun and soldiers. When the Japanese soldiers saw Bloxham and others moving up the draw they threw out hand grenades as part of the attack. While others were wounded or killed, Bloxham was able to return fire with his Browning automatic rifle and killed the soldiers in the pillbox, saving his company from further attack. In April of this year, Bloxham received word that he would be awarded the Bronze Star for that service six decades earlier. The star is a specific military decoration awarded for bravery and meritorious service. The honor would have come years earlier, but Bloxham’s military records and others were destroyed in a fire. In July a package arrived at the Bloxham address. Not knowing what was in the package, Bloxham told his wife Dolores not to open it and they would “send it back.” He was cornered that it may be a pen and pencil set. “I didn’t want another one,” he joked. “I got stuck with one once.” He recalled, “When we got back to the post office I said, ‘maybe we better look at it.’ ” When they opened it they found the bronze Star. “I said, ‘we’re not sending that back.’ ” The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars honored Bloxham for his service and formally presented the medal in a special program in Thayne earlier in September. Chuck Sutter, VFW Commander, along with Stephan Rennells, American Legion State Commander, made the presentation to Bloxham before friends and family at the Thayne Senior Center. “I was highly honored to do this,” Sutter said. “It was a about time he got this after 63 years. “I knew the combat he had served in. He saved the remainder of his unit by wiping out the pillbox and consequently he is a real patriotic hero.” Bloxham’s service on the front line didn’t end without injury. Later he received a serious wound to his arm that resulted in several surgeries. Evan after the many years since he served, Bloxham found it difficult to talk about when he was wounded when speaking to the gathering in Thayne. “I knew I was hit bad,” he remembered. “It felt like someone had hit me with a great big sledge hammer.” Blood filled the young soldier’s field blouse and the same blood stains remain on his dog tags to this day. Bloxham was moved off the front line by jeep and plane. He went through 26 months of hospitals and surgical procedures in Okinawa, Guam, Hawaii and California. Bloxham has never let the experience or limitations from his wounded arm stop him from a successful career that has included ownership of an oil distribution company and life insurance agency. The Bloxhams live in Downey, ID and Star Valley Ranch. He is a past mayor of Downey and manager of the ranch.

Energy audits suggested before the snow flies

newsrelease — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:42:38 +0000

With heating costs expected to rise very dramatically this winter, many people are looking for ways to lower their heating and energy costs. A residential energy audit could be what people need. An energy audit is a home inspection that evaluates your home and provides recommendations on how best to invest you money to reduce energy bills and improve comfort. “We look at the envelope of the home,” said Wid Ritchie, energy specialist for Lower Valley Energy. The envelope of the home is the walls, floors, ceiling, windows, and doors. An energy audit will detect how much cold air leaks in from outside or how much warm air leaks out. The specialist will make recommendations of things that need to be fixed, replaced, or things that you can do to conserve energy. “It’s very beneficial,” Ritchie said. Lower Valley Energy charges $100 for a home energy audit if the home is under 3,000 square feet and $200 if the home is over 3,000 square feet. “If the home owners do anything that we recommend, we’ll refund their fee,” said Ritchie. If a home is heated just electrically, Lower Valley Energy can actually provide some funding to help make improvements. On average, energy efficient upgrades can reduce energy use from 20-70 percent every year for the rest of the life of the home. “Compare that to the return on investment in the current stock market or interest on a savings account,” said Tiger Adolf, executive director of the Wyoming Energy Council. Lower Valley Energy also offers a residential compact fluorescent lighting audit. For $25 they will replace all of the light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. The new bulbs can save people up to 70 percent of their costs per bulb than regular incandescent light bulbs. Ritchie said, “The lighting is the easiest thing to do...it’s instant savings.” Energy audits are not a new thing, it’s just that people haven’t paid that much attention to them in the past. Now, however, many more people than usual are looking for ways to cut costs in just about everything.

Powder Puff game ends in a 6-6 tie

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:07:28 +0000

It's been said that Americans hate ties. The crowd wasn't exactly up in arms Thursday evening but they went home without a resolution after the annual Senior/Junior Powder Puff game ended at the conclusion of overtime The game was physical but distinctively less so than last year's affair which came complete with injuries in a senior win. This year, it looked as though the juniors would run the Class of 2008-09 off the field as they picked up yardage in chunks with their superior speed. With Dani Scherbel at quarterback, the juniors utilized their ability to get to the outside in the first half, with speedster Audrey West blowing past everyone to give them the 6-0 lead. The two-point conversion was no good. In an evening marred by an marginal referee staff, the seniors capitalized on several questionable calls, including one interception by West which certainly would have been returned for a touchdown. The seniors showed their pride in the second half however, as Gabby Barnes and Madison Wilkes utilized the great blocking of Raini Wolfley to march down the field. With just 43 seconds left on the clock, the Wilkes found the end zone, knotting up the game at 6-6. A subsequent pentalty for the senior "victory lap" caused the two-point conversion to be no good. After three downs of overtime, the juniors decided to utilize their advantage with soccer kickers as Becca Sangster lined up the field goal. The kick looked good, but careened off the cross bar as a miss. The seniors also went three downs without much action, although a deftly called timeout on fourth and four by Coach Paul Woodie, forced an offsides penalty to move the ball to the two yard line. Despite an initial signal of touchdown, it was clear than the player's flag belt was well behind the goal line. Activities Director, Jamie Holyoak, called the game a 6-6 tie, the first such event for a Star Valley football team since the Jerry Hart era. Friday's homecoming events are lined up as follows: Parade: 2 p.m. Tailgate Party: 3 p.m. Kick off against Marsh Valley: 4 p.m. Good Luck Braves! Pluck those Eagles!

Off the Schnide! Braves clip Eagles in OT for first win

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:49:34 +0000

When it comes to the Marsh Valley Eagles, the Braves haven't had much success. In terms of wins in fact, they've had no success, going 0-4 in the last four years against the hard running squad. That all changed Friday night as the Braves celebrated Homecoming in style with a 21-14 OT win. It was an inauspicious start for the Braves offense, but the defense refused to be bullied as they slowed down the power running game of the Eagles. Star Valley struck first with a methodical aerial attack which culminated with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Bagley. The Eagles struck back with an impressive drive which ended with a 7-yard touchdown run from Dylan Bybee. After a 7-7 halftime intermission, the Eagles struck again after a huge 63-yard run from Bybee which saw him score on a deftly executed 9-yard touchdown pass reception. Trailing 14-7, the Braves answered with a 52-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Rosenbaum who had to make the catch in traffic and then outraced the Eagles to the goal line. With both defenses standing tough, the contest went to overtime. The Braves received the ball first from the ten-yard line, struggling to move against the Eagle defense. Coach Chris Howell used a height advantage with Jon Scherbel in the end-zone on two occasions and drew pass interference penalties from the officials to give the Braves new life. Finally, after ten plays inside the ten yard line, Mark Van Slyke caught a short pass and fought through a tackle for the go-ahead score. Van Slyke also was 3-for-3 on PAT attempts and gave the Braves the 21-14 lead. The Eagles were called for motion and holding penalties, but still it came down to a fourth and goal from the five yard line. The Phillip Hansen pass was tipped up in the air and intercepted in the end zone by Jon Shumway. The win is the first victory over an Idaho school since 2002 and Star Valley's first win this season. The Independent wishes to congratulate an amazing home crowd, the SVHS Pep Band, the Cheerleaders and the Brave Cadettes for a fabulous evening. Of course the biggest praise goes to the coaching staff and the Braves themselves for their fine efforts. Congratulations Braves, you earned it! Of course a big congratulations must go out to Head Coach Chris Howell for his first win at Star Valley High School.

Stibor in 2nd place after day one of State Golf

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:13:51 +0000

A year ago, Charlie Stibor was in first place after day one. Of course, that was also on his own course at Cedar Creek. This year, he's four strokes back and well within striking distance for an individual state title. Stibor shot a day one 74 and is all alone in second just one stroke in front of Kyle Fanning of Cheyenne Central. Cameron Lindell of Sheridan shot an impressive 70 on Friday. Lindell's Broncs lead the team race by eleven strokes over Fanning's Indians and the host team Evanston Red Devils. As a team, the Braves have struggled a bit and sit in 12th out of the twelve teams in attendance. However, Star Valley sits just nine strokes out of eighth place so the possibility to move up to a more respectable position certainly exists. Brock Gardner was next, shooting a day one 88, while Skyler Heiner was one stroke behind his team mate, carding an 89. Cody Rich and Tommy Crittenden both shot a day one 108. On the Ladies' circuit, Kelsea Gardner leads the way, but her day one 98 has room for improvement from her performances during the year and she sits in 14th place. The Lady Braves are currently in eighth place, in front of Sheridan, Kelly Walsh, Riverton and Rock Springs. Freshman Haley Norman shot a 112, while Kylee Rich rounded out the varsity girls with a 125. The Gillette Lady Camels are a solid 14 strokes ahead of Cheyenne Central in the team scores, with Cheyenne East in third as the 4A East is proving that playing across the state is not a problem for their programs.

Ty Draney wins 100-mile Ultra-marathon

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:48:37 +0000

The vast majority of people will never know the type of dedication it takes to even complete an ultra-marathon. Saturday morning, local running enthusiast and SVHS Cross-Country coach Ty Draney, found out what it was like to win one. The Bear 100, is a race that extends from Logan, Utah and finishes in Fish Haven Idaho. By the way, this isn't a road race, but extends over mountainous terrain and tests the limits of the human body. In previous attempts, Draney had finished in the top five of this race which extends over the evening between Friday and Saturday. So, 100 miles? Check. Running over a mountain? Check? Doing it at night? Check. Breaking 20 hours while doing it? Check. Draney's time of 19:59 means not only did he break an impressive time barrier, but averaged over five miles per hour while doing it. Assistant Coach of the X-C team, Corena Ricks is also participating in the event and is currently on the course. The Independent is amazed and impressed by these valley residents and a special congratulations go out to Draney who continues to show his peers and students the real meaning of heart.

Classification still a hot topic at WHSAA meetings

dahlerickson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:33:47 +0000

Even the most ardent Star Valley fan who would like to forget about who they're playing and just lace it up and play the game. However, with the continuing discussion regarding the Cowboy State's classifications and how they affect schools, Star Valley is still firmly in the discussion; whether they want to be or not. Tomorrow, officials from around the state will gather in Casper to discuss the future of the sports classifications in Wyoming. This year's votes are the biggest they've been in years as huge changes may be in the horizon for many schools. Regardless of how the votes turn out, Star Valley's schedules will change at least a little next year. Much of the discussion centers on the amount of travel, and the last school year and this school year have only confirmed what perhaps some other schools did not want to believe: Star Valley is nobody's neighbor. The main items up for vote include new classifications for football, and another vote for the remainder of the sports except soccer. So far as the latter item is concerned, the final tally will determine whether Cody and Jackson will be brought up to the 4A ranks and help form a new 4A West while pushing Natrona and Kelly Walsh to the East. A contingency plan had already been put in place in the event that the vote fails, moving Kelly Walsh to the East and Riverton to the West. Obviously there has been little support for the move from Cody and Jackson. The vote that concerns football would see classifications renamed, putting Star Valley back under a 3A umbrella, while moving Riverton down to the 3A East. The top ten teams in the state would then be considered 4A and would have a wide open schedule. Some opponents of this plan have argued that traditional conference rivalries may be adversely affected. In a district votes recently, the football proposal was passed in all four, while the Cody/Jackson proposal failed in a very close final tally. Wednesday, October 1, will determine whether anyone has changed their minds. Several WHSAA board members have already started yet another contingency in the event that the vote fails, by proposing three, four-team conferences in Class 4A. The WHSAA discusses enrollment and possible classification changes every two years, but the classes remained relatively unchanged from 1992-2006. At a Glance: If the proposal requiring Cody and Jackson to form a 14-team 4A Class, the following would be the respective classes. 4A West: Star Valley, Jackson, Cody, Evanston, Green River, Riverton & Rock Springs, 4A East: Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Gillette, Natrona County, Kelly Walsh, Laramie & Sheridan. If the vote fails as it did in district meetings, the 4A will look like the following: 4A West: Star Valley, Evanston, Green River, Natrona County, Riverton & Rock Springs. 4A East: Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Laramie & Sheridan.

LCSD #2 students learning Spanish through hands on approach

newsrelease — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:45:51 +0000

Hands-on learning is how students are being taught Spanish in grades K-3 in Star Valley. Teachers Kirk Hoopes and Trevor Buchanan put an active spin on teaching Spanish at Afton and Thayne elementary schools. The so called “active spin” is part of the Total Physical Response (TPR) method that both Hoopes and Buchanan are teaching, which makes the students physically and mentally active in whatever they are learning. This method makes it so that the students don’t just hear it, but they see it. “We try to make Spanish fun for the kids,” said Hoopes about his teaching methods. Hoopes says that he uses motivation in the classroom, which helps students learn more effectively. Students begin in kindergarten with learning words for colors, numbers, shapes, sizes, and just simple vocabulary in general. They continue through first grade and in second grade they begin learning the alphabet and a small amount of conversational speaking. Then, students go through third grade learning more Spanish, even being required to pass of the Spanish alphabet. “First grade has surprised me the most with how they pick it up,” Buchanan said and Hoopes said, “You’d be amazed at how well a kindergartner can pick up Spanish.” Both teachers use many games as teaching tools, as well as songs to help the students learn the Spanish concepts in a fun, active way. When teaching methods like these are used, rather than the “sit in a desk and listen to a lecture” method, students get excited and energetic about learning. This is the third year that the school district has implemented this type of Spanish program in the elementary schools. Before that, students learned Spanish through a program called “Salsa”, which was presented through a series of videotapes. The “Salsa” program wasn’t near as effective for students as the current program is. When asked about the challenges of teaching concepts of a new language to elementary students, both agree that being in so many classrooms during a week can be tough, even though students are only taught an hour of Spanish per week. Hoopes teaches 21 different classes each week and Buchanan teaches 17, which means that both have hundreds of students to remember. It is the hope of both Hoopes and Buchanan that the school district will one day continue the Spanish program for K-12. Right now, the Spanish program ends when a student begins fourth grade and it doesn’t pick back up again until eighth grade as an elective. During the time between the end of third grade and eighth grade, students forget much of what they learned. If the program were to be extended, it would allow the students who wished to, to keep learning consistently so they didn’t lose anything they had learned throughout their schooling experience. The Spanish program doesn’t have a set curriculum like other programs in the district, which allows the two teachers to come up with their own lesson plans and teach the way that they decide is most effective, not the way someone else does who doesn’t know the situation. In many classes in the district, the teacher has to follow a step, by step, by step, and by step process for teaching kids, which doesn’t allow them to adjust their teaching styles to meet the needs of the students. “You have to really use your own resources,” said Hoopes while commenting about not having that set curriculum like other teachers. “The best part about it all is teaching the kids in fun ways.”

Upper Swift Creek Hydro project nears completion

dandockstader — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:49:20 +0000

Work on the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project is gearing down for the winter season. With the installation of the penstock and dam reconstruction at the upper reservoir all that remains is turbine installation later this winter. Excavation contractors will be done by the end of the week. Reconstruction of the old hydro electric project in Swift Creek Canyon east of Afton is a cooperative effort between the Town of Afton and Lower Valley Energy. Afton and LV&E have entered into an agreement that will allow the cooperative to own and operate the facilities for 15 years. At the end of the time period Afton will join LV&E as a 50 percent owner. The town coordinated the federal licensing procedure in preparation for the working agreement between municipality and cooperative. With the arrival of October, Bill Spaulding, LV&E Director of Electrical Operations, reports penstock installation, along with upper reservoir and power plant preparation is on schedule. All of the penstock work is complete with the exception of the connections at the reservoir dam and power plant. Final work on the housing structure for the power plant should be completed by the third week of October. In the meantime, the penstock installation and dam refurbishment at the Upper Reservoir will also be concluded. The power plant building has been designed to accommodate installation of the turbine when the new equipment is installed. The manufacturer has notified Lower Valley Energy the turbine will be delayed for two to three months. Spaulding commended the LV&E crews and contractors for having the penstock, reservoir and power plant work complete in preparation for turbine installation. LV&E personnel will work with turbine manufacture crews on installation later this winter. Due to the extreme water pressure involved with power generation measurements need to be exact with turbine installation in order to avoid vibrations. The Lower Swift Creek hydro system, which also includes a power plant and reservoir, will be completed in the summer of 2009 with power generation expected from the lower plant in the fall. The Swift Creek facilities will be used to generate green power, similar to the power which comes from Lower Valley Energy Strawberry Canyon facilities east of Bedford.

Friday Sports Stir: Yellowstone Road Trip Edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:33:42 +0000

First off, sorry for missing last week's Stir. I'll try not to let that happen again. But this week's game on the gridiron is vital for the Braves if they want to take that next step. Star Valley vs. Powell has produced some of the best games of the last five years and I"ll say this right now: This one will be close. . . . . unless it isn't. This week's trivia also has to do with road warrior status. Perhaps no coach ever traveled more than Coach Robert Linford. Okay, maybe Jerry Hart did, but it's arguable because during Coach Hart's tenure, the playoff system was non-existent. Coach Linford's squad were famous for having to travel to Torrington in the post-season. In fact, I can remember people planning a trip to Blazer country every year, whether you went or not. So, with an impending long bus ride for the Braves and a long drive for the fans, here's this week's trivia. In his 11 seasons as the head coach of the Braves, how many times did Coach Linford's squads play IN Torrington? Bonus Question: How many times did they play them in that same span overall? Cliff Clavin Bonus Question: How many times was it for the State Championship? So there you go. Please, please no internet researching. It ruins it for everyone else. Use the comment section to make your answers and if you're driving to Powell, remember this: It's a lot shorter than Torrington. Now let's take a trip around the 4A Class Rock Springs @ Jackson: The Broncs rolled over the Braves two weeks ago, but struggled against Cody. That's understandable, most teams have struggled against Cody this year. The Tigers have had their share of struggles too and this should be a good contest for teams who wear the Orange & Black. They really should call this the Halloween Bowl or something. Of course, with Jackson, Worland and Powell all sharing the same colors, the entire month of October could be called that. I look for a low-scoring contest with turnovers playing a big part. Look for the Tigers to win a close one in Teton County. Llama says: Tigers - 17-13. Buffalo @ Torrington: The Blazers have taken some good steps this year and I expect this game will be closer than they have been over the last several years. The Bison have a great formula for winning. They hit you early and they wear you down with the running game. If your team doesn't have the defense to get them off the field, you're in for a long day. Their passing game is efficient when it needs to be and while I think Torrington is improving, this is still going to be a Bison win. Llama says: Bison - 27-6. Cody @ Worland: The Broncs are showing they can win in blowouts, and close games. Their 12-0 win over Jackson last week showed that their defense can get things done as well, holding the predominantly running Teton Broncs to under 100 yards on the ground. To be honest, Worland has not been as impressive offensively as I expected this year. That doesn't mean they won't get there, but I think they will struggle to get things going against the speed of Cody. Llama says: Broncs - 26-10. Lander @ Douglas: How good is Lander? That's something that comes up every week. How much can a team improve in one offseason? That's still being answered, but this will be a tough test for the resurgent Tigers. Douglas has their offense rolling now, evidenced by a 48-0 blasting of Rawlins and their previously tough defense. A long road-trip followed by a balanced attack from the Bearcats will be a big challenge. Llama says: Bearcats - 21-13. Rawlins @ Wheatland: The Outlaws fascinate me; they really do. Up until last week's aforementined game, their defense and their offense appeared to be polar opposites with the same result: Little to no points. The Bulldogs are struggling mightily as well, and this game might decide if one of these teams stays home for the playoffs. It's particularly big for Wheatland seeing as they're at home. Look for a game near the single digits much like their zero week contest. Llama says: Outlaws - 12-6 Star Valley @ Powell: This will be a fantastic game. Two years ago in Powell, it was the undefeated Panthers losing their only game of the year to the Braves. Last year, it was a 20-13 OT thriller in the rain of Afton. I expect some big plays made by both defenses tonight. I really believe the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win in a game that has two teams that come across as very evenly matched. Powell ranks #1 in overall defense, and the ability to convert third downs will be crucial for a Braves victory. Also, Gavin Mills has averaged over 80 yards receiving against the Braves since his sophomore year, and his brother Galen is second in 4A in total yards. The two units that will be tested thoroughly will be Powell's pass defense and SV's rush defense. The Panthers have only allowed 66 ypg through the air this year. This figure's to go up against the Braves' output of 193 ypg. On the other side, if Star Valley's rush defense can really stick the Panthers into third and long, the Braves should have a good chance tonight. While those two units have a task in front of them, the real set of players on the spot is the Star Valley running game. If they can't have an effective game, it will be very tough to win. If they turn it over in poor field position? It might only take one of those to cap the game for the home team. Hopefully Powell readers realize that I always pick the Braves and not take this one personally. Llama says: Braves - 21-17. Well, there you go. Disagree with any picks? Use the comment section. Good luck to everyone and a safe return home for all of the traveling teams.

Weekend Sports Wrap-up

dahlerickson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:51:20 +0000

The SVHS X-C Teams did well in the huge Orem Kiwanis Invitational held on the campus held on the UVU campus, with the Lady Braves notching an impressive third place. All five varsity runners for the ladies finished between 13th and 25th place, as Brittney, Brooke and Tiffany Nethercott joined Alicia Inskeep for top-20 finishes. On the boy's side, Jason Livingston and Cody Brough both finished in the top ten, with Livingston claiming 7th overal and Brough finishing 10th. On the gridiron, it wasn't nearly so sunny as the Braves were held out of the end zone for the first time this season in a 28-2 drubbing at the hands of Powell. The offense turned the ball over four times and generally struggled against a stingy Panther defense. With a (1-4) record and trips to Lander and Evanston before a regular season finale in Afton with Worland, the next three games will determine whether the Braves miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Lady Braves will be playing in Green River this Wednesday after an extended break.

Volleyball program has mixed success in Green River

dahlerickson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:16:45 +0000

After going ten days without a match, the Lady Braves went into Green River Wednesday evening with the hope that they would be able to play a bit better. At the end of the evening one could very easily say that was the case, although there is still obvious room for development. The freshman squad lost to the Lady Wolves, while the sophomores and junior varsity defeated their Green River counterparts. The momentum of the matches carried over into the varsity match where Star Valley won game one, before falling in three straight, hard-fought games. The Lady Braves led game one, 17-6 before Green River closed the gap. Star Valley was able to hang on to take the opening stanza, 27-25. In game two, the home team evened things up with a 25-20 win. Down two starters as Kortnie Thomas and Lachelle Winters both sat out, the Lady Braves wore down a bit, losing game three, 16-25 and falling 10-25 in game four. "We had a great start with a lot of adrenaline and strategy, like tough serving, and I was really proud of that effort," stated Head Coach Brandy Taylor. "Green River made some adjustments and we backed off a little and lost our killer instinct due to our youth. "However, we had a little different lineup due to two missing players, but the girls played well for being mixed up a little. We are growing as a team and sticking together which will take us far in the future." The Lady Braves, along with the entire Star Valley sports program, will be on the road this weekend in various venues, but it's the spikers who have the furthest to go in their trip to Casper. To further add to the anxiety, a winter storm watch is in effect for many of the roads the teams are traveling. "We're looking forward to playing the two best teams in the state again," added Taylor. "We want to see how much we've improved since we hosted them at home."

Teacher's Association sponsoring LCSD#2 candidate forum

sarahhale — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:24:37 +0000

The Star Valley and Cokeville Teacher’s Association is sponsoring a meet the candidates forum this month. The forum is open to all school board candidates who are running for the Lincoln County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees. The purpose of the forum, according to Scott Milne of the teacher’s association, is two-fold. The forum provides an opportunity for candidates to present their views. It also provides voters a chance to hear what each of the individual candidates stands for. The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 at Star Valley High School. The start time for the forum is 7 p.m. It is scheduled to take place in the high school auditorium. “This is a great opportunity to come and meet those running for this year’s school board election,” said Milne. “Each candidate will be given an opportunity to express their goals and reasons for running as well as answer other pre-determined questions relating to the school district, its management, and the role of school board members.” According to Milne, questions from the audience will be accepted “as time permits on a first come basis.” “There are four positions open for this year’s election and we encourage everyone to come and hear the candidates so they can make a qualified decision based on what is best for our students and this district,” said Milne. For more information regarding the upcoming candidate forum or on the teacher’s association, contact Farren Haderlie, Robert Linford, Matt Erickson, McKay Erickson or Scott Milne.

The books are here!

dandockstader — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:30:28 +0000

The Lincoln County Library system invites you to drop by the Alpine, Thayne or Afton branch and pick up a free copy of the book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This 1943 classic is the featured title in One Book, One Community, a reading event designed to have people countywide reading and talking about the same book. Brenda McGinnis, Director of the Lincoln County Library System reports there are a limited number of copies, and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call the Alpine library at 654-7323, the Thayne branch at 883-7323, or Afton branch at 885-3158. This event is sponsored by the Lincoln County Library Foundation.

Medical Study will utilize Star Valley youth

dahlerickson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:33:45 +0000

In order to combat increased levels of childhood conditions such as asthma, autism and obesity, a study being performed by the University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital will utilize several different areas of the region to find solutions. Parents and children of Star Valley will have the opportunity to participate. Dr. Ed Clark of the University of Utah sat down with Dan Dockstader as the good doctor traveled to Kemmerer to speak with Lincoln County Commissioners about the study and the benefits that they hope to discover from it. The study, which is also taking place in Salt Lake County, Cache County and Bear Lake County, will likely begin in earnest in 2011 for Star Valley residents. Click below for an exclusive video interview with Dr. Clark.

Alpine receives grant for civic center

dandockstader — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:19:14 +0000

Alpine has received state funding to renovate the Civic Center, damaged by snow in the winter of 2007-08. This morning (Thursday, 9 Oct. 08) the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) approved the town of Alpine's application for $1,275,905. The Community Facilities Grant will be used for roof and truss replacement, internal renovations and expansion. Alpine's community match is $530,656.

Work has started on the well

dandockstader — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:22:59 +0000

The town of Star Valley Ranch has stared work on a municipal well. Ownership of the culinary water system was transferred from the ranch association to the town in May of 2007. To date, the Wyoming Water Development Commission has committed $800,000 to the Town of Star Valley Ranch for the project.

Christmas tree permits available Oct. 15

dandockstader — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:26:13 +0000

The Bridges-Teton National Forest announces that Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase beginning October 15. Permits may be obtained at the Greys River, Kemmerer, Big Piney, Pinedale, and Buffalo Ranger Stations.

Timber sale reviewed at open house

dandockstader — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:27:39 +0000

The Greys River District Ranger’s Office will host an open house on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. to review a proposed timber sale in the upper Greys River area. The proposed sale includes 375 acres. It has been 30 years since the last timber sale was held on the Greys River District.

Senator Enzi plans visit to Star Valley

sarahhale — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:40:47 +0000

U.S. Senator Mike Enzi will be in Star Valley Oct. 19-21. Monday and Tuesday the senator has planned a number of stops to visit with various organizations and businesses in the area. The planned schedule is subject to change. Senator Enzi will be at the Bank of Star Valley on Monday morning. The next stop will be Star Valley High School to visit with students from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The senator will have lunch at the Star Valley Senior Center from noon to 1 p.m. A tour of Star Valley Medical Center is also planned for Monday. The tour will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Senator Enzi will stay in Thayne Monday evening. Tuesday's agenda includes visits with local elementary students and a tour of Etna Elementary school from 10-11 a.m. The senator will also stop at Star Valley Feed and Tack from 11:10-11:40 a.m. Tuesday. The senator will have lunch at the Thayne Senior Center from noon to 1 p.m. For more information regarding Senator Enzi's visit to Star Valley, contact Robin Bailey at (307) 682-6268.

SVHS Marching Band holds final dress rehearsal

dahlerickson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:44:20 +0000

This Saturday, the SVHS Marching Band will combine with 16 other schools to form the 2008 State Marching Band Competition. Star Valley will be performing at 4:15 Saturday afternoon and have been slated as the first group to perform for the competition. Can't make it to Casper and the Events Center? Click below for a video of their final dress rehearsal. Good Luck SVHS Marching Band! The Band is directed by Kurt Sand.

Lucky's opens with a leash cutting

dandockstader — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:44:56 +0000

Lucky’s Place Animal and Adoption Center will be opened on Saturday, Oct. 25 with an official leash cutting. The public is invited to tour the new building located on Strawberry Creek Road at the Lincoln County Landfill Grounds south of Thayne. The event starts at 12 noon and continues until 5 p.m. A drawing for a horse will be held at 5 p.m.

Lady Braves extinguish Devils for first conference win

dahlerickson — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:31:45 +0000

The Lady Braves caused some extra drama, but they were still able to hold on for an amazing 3-2 victory over Evanston for their first conference win of the year. Star Valley had match point in the third game, but an Evanston rally forced the action all the way to game five before the Lady Braves could put the nail in the coffin. Star Valley was a slow starting squad most of the night, falling behind in the beginning of the first four games, but they were able to show their resolve and battle back. The Lady Braves won game one, 25-20, and had to check their mental toughness in game two by holding on for the 30-28 victory Star Valley had match point at 24-23 by the Lady Devils weren't ready to go down quietly in three. A furious handful of rallies had the final score in Evanston's favor, 29-27. The Devils and Braves traded points for much of the fourth game before Evanston claimed the win, 25-21. Game five saw Star Valley take the lead for the first time out of the gate, 4-0, although the visitors came screaming back to a 9-7 lead. After tying the game at 9 points apiece, the two teams were knotted up at 11, 13 and 15 before Star Valley was able to claim the match victory, 17-15. On the gridiron, the Braves weren't nearly so lucky as they were held out of the endzone in a 19-0 loss to the Red Devils to fall to (1-6) on the season. The loss all but eliminates Star Valley from post-season consideration. The Braves wrap up their season next week at home with a Western Conference clash with the Worland Warriors.

Senator Enzi speaks with the Independent

dahlerickson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:21:05 +0000

Wyoming Senior Senator Mike Enzi (R), is currently in Star Valley and spent some time with the Independent. He spoke about the national bank bailout bill that he opposed, land usage concerns in Wyoming, what he's working on now and even what he thinks about the World Series and the SVHS Band. The Independent is pleased to post this exclusive video interview with Senator Enzi as he discusses national and local issues that have significant impact here in Star Valley. We at the Independent thank him and his State Director, Robin Bailey, for their generous allowance of time. For more information on the Senator, his voting record, his travel plans and more, please visit his website at www.enzi.senate.gov. Please click below for the interview.

Friday Sports Stir: Fair Weather Fan edition Updated

dahlerickson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:25:51 +0000

Well, I got a nice little comment from Park County this week accusing me of something I've never heard before. It did make me smile though, because nothing could be farther from the truth. We all know how hard it is to keep our heads up when the going gets tough, and it's definitely been a tough season for the teams of SVHS. At least the traditional teams. The Cross-Country team is doing fine. In fact, don't be surprised if the ladies shock the 4A Class and bring home a championship banner. This comment let me know that I was a fair weather fan and that as the season got harder, the less I wrote. That's partially true I suppose, at least if you don't take into account any variables. And, there's no doubt the Friday Sports Stir has stumbled lately, but it's hardly because of effort. Regardless of what one person might think, there is not wireless internet in Yellowstone National Park, or in Grand Teton National Park. Nor do I have the gumption to write something when my car rolls into my driveway at 3 a.m. As far as the fair weather part, that's what made me smile. Coming home from Lander in a blizzard that saw at least one car off on it's side and our car breaking trail through drifts over South Pass after a heart-breaking loss in the last two minutes of a very memorably cold road game, you guessed it. No internet there either, nor can I type while I'm driving. As for this last week, I was here while the team battled in Evanston. I was taking in the gutsy performance by the Lady Braves and quite frankly, writing something about something I haven't seen is pretty tough without any other numbers or accounts to help me. So, sorry for the stumble lately, but fair weather? That cuts to the core man. Here's this weeks trivia: The last time the Braves won only one game in a season was 2004. Prior to that season, When was the last time a Star Valley team only won a single game? Bonus Trivia: Who did they defeat that year? Please no internet researching, not that it would help you anyway on this one. Please use the comment section to respond. It's been an interesting season to say the least. Buffalo started out as the juggernaut, and while they are still very capable of sweeping the playoffs, they've at least shown that they're beatable. Douglas showed that last week, claiming the Eastern crown since who knows when. Cody is still perfect in the West, although it looks like their margin of error is shrinking. Today's game with Powell will decide who the third West champion is in the last three years. As for the Braves, I'm not one who feels the need to make the playoffs at 2-6. And that's counting in a victory today against Worland which is far from certain. I know the mental and emotional high that comes with saying one's team made the playoffs, but the only difference the vast majority of the time between a #8 seed and an eliminated team is an extra week of practice and a long road trip. Call me cynical, but I'm not exactly heart-broken if we dont' get in. I'm looking at the big picture and yes, the dreaded "wait till next year" Cubs mentality. Winning the game? That is what is important this evening. Now it's on to this week's picks: Rawlins @ Buffalo: There's bound to be a surprise this week when it comes to scores. With teams like Rawlins, Wheatland, Torrington, Jackson and yes, even Star Valley (no matter how small the chance) trying to make the post-season, effort will pay off for someone. I just don't think it's this match up. Since 2002, the Bison have been vengeful after a regular-season loss, winning by an average margin of nearly 29 points. Since there's no guarantee for the Outlaws, look for their defense to play with abandon, but also look for a couple of those gambles to cost them in the Bison Bowl. Llama says: Bison: 42-13. (Reality Check: Buffalo 49-7: The Bison rarely lose twice in a row under Coach Lynch. Rawlins backed into the playoffs by a small margin thanks to a strong showing by their opponents in week 8. Their reward? A trip to Douglas to take on the top-ranked Cats) Douglas @ Wheatland: Kudos to the Bearcats for throwing off the chains of their oppressors (Buffalo) and claiming their right to the East crown. Douglas is for real. When they traveled to Jackson last year and very nearly came away with the win in the semi-finals a year ago I penciled them in my notebook as a title contender this year. Wheatland is a streaky team, but they seem to only streak to a win when the other team fails to score as their 28-0 and 25-0 wins over Newcastle and Rawlins can attest. Douglas may let down just a hair after what had to be a thrilling win over Buffalo last week, but I just don't see them stumbling for long. Llama says: Bearcats: 28-7. (Reality Check: Bearcats 41-0. Well, I guess there was no let down for Douglas as they eliminate Wheatland from the playoff race) Newcastle @ Torrington: This is the game that all the 2-5 and 1-6 teams are wearing the Newcastle colors and cheering on the Dogies. It's not like either team has lit up the scoreboard this year, but the Blazers have at least looked like a team ready to take a step into the post-season. At 1-6, I don't have a lot of confidence in Newcastle traveling to Betschart country when Torrington has a playoff birth on the line. Llama says: Blazers: 21-8. (Reality Check: Blazers 53-23. Wow! hats off to the Blazers for leaving no doubt. Dropping 50+ in a game that earns a playoff spot makes a bit of a statement. Powell @ Cody **** Game of the Week****: Much like last week's game between Buffalo and Douglas was the game to watch, this week's game in Park County will be extremely well attended and loud. It doesn't hurt that these two communities have a natural rivalry as well, but the winner will claim the conference crown and will face a much weaker team on paper in the first round. Despite what Star Valley fans think about Cody (I think Dayton McMillan just scored again!) Their offense hasn't been as explosive as perhaps it could be. Since their 46-6 drubbing of the Braves, the Broncs are averaging 19.8 ppg. To me? That plays into the hands of the Panthers. Both teams have very athletic and hard working defenses. In fact, that's where this game will be decided. I really believe a defensive score, most likely from the secondary will be the difference in a game that even non-football fans should go and watch if they can. With a whole lot of speed, I think that's the Broncs. Llama says: Broncs: 24-17. Reality Check: Broncs 14-6. I feel good about this analysis, I just predicted too many points. Jackson @ Kemmerer: This is the final year of the Power Ratings. This game is a prime example of why few will miss it. Kemmerer's undefeated season is actually helping Jackson's strength of schedule, no matter if they win or lose. Yes, a win is much better than a loss in the ratings numbers, but given how the Rangers have played? Considering Jackson won this game last year? Look for Kemmerer to try and break that 40-point plateau of which they are well familiar. Jackson needs a win, but I really don't think they get it in South Lincoln. Llama says: Rangers: 42-12. Reality Check: Rangers 39-0: Kemmerer finishes their perfect season while the Broncs are eliminated in the process. Riverton @ Lander **The Fremont County Shootout** : This is always a great rivalry game. Even with both teams struggling the last two seasons, it's been a great contest. Now Lander is ready to pay back the Wolverines for those two close losses. Llama says: Tigers: 24-6. Reality Check: Tigers 20-7. Congrats to the Tigers who make a return to the playoffs after a two-year absence Worland @ Star Valley: Even taking away the playoff implications, the Warriors have plenty of reasons to be up for this game. Thinking back to last year, the Power Ratings worked against Worland, making them travel to Afton for a round one playoff contest despite defeating the Braves the week before. The result? Star Valley made the most of their "do-over" and pummeled the Warriors. Worland comes to town now with their playoff bid secure and a chance to avenge last year's perceived wrong. The one thing that jumps out at me is the outside running ability of Worland. Why? Well, the Braves have struggled with containment this year and teams that have had effective plays to the outside have rolled up some big time yardage. That's what seems to be the bread of butter of Worland in the past, but without Robby Demunbrun, that explosiveness has been lacking. However, Worland's pass defense has been pretty stingy, allowing only 73 yards per game. This stat right here is where this game hinges. If the Braves can get their passing game clicking to to open up their running game, some big plays might be in store. If not? It very well could be an ugly grind-it-out type game and the Braves have struggled in those types of contests. I can't help but think Star Valley has a complete game left in their hat. For new readers, this is where I always pick the Braves, so try not to be offended. Llama says: Braves: 17-14. Reality Check: Braves: 14-0 Two hard-playing defenses dictated the game for three quarters before Star Valley was able to put together some big plays. As for the analysis, Jenkins threw for 140 yards and 2 scores against the Worland secondary, but the big plays in the fourth quarter, i.e., a 45-yard fourth down conversion and a 37-yard scamper both led to the touchdowns. The fall out is that Worland will now travel to Buffalo in a tough first round playoff pairing. As for the Braves, the one-point loss very late in the fourth quarter in Lander will loom large as they will miss the post season for the first time since 2004. Hey, 7-0 this week in predictions. I guess I put together some things late in the season also. By the way, the skies look to be clear this evening with temps at a balmy 31 degrees for kickoff. I guess I'll have to show up.

Lower Valley Television and Radio Association announces plans

sarahhale — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:07:22 +0000

The Lower Valley Television and Radio Association will be working on their system this next week. According to Robert Weber of the association, work on the translators is being done in preparation for the transition from analog to digital television, set to take place in February 2009. As a result of the work being done this next week, two channels will be switched around in the Lower Valley service area. Channel KPVI Channel 6 will move to Channel 33. KJAZZ will move down to Channel 12. According to Weber, the switch will take place within the next week. Weber said that the adjustments in the Lower Valley television service area will not alter channels in the Upper Valley service area. Both television associations in Star Valley are working together to fit local translators with digital to analog converters. The translators will capture digital signals and rebroadcast them in analog form. For residents of Star Valley, this means that television service will not change in February. All televisions now receiving a signal will continue to receive a signal in 2009, according to Weber. For more information on the project, contact Robert Weber at (208) 873-2936.

Aaron Ashton Band will perform at SVHS Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

newsrelease — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:02:14 +0000

The Aaron Ashton Band will be in Star Valley on October 23 for an exclusive concert at Star Valley High School. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Brian Ashton, high school orchestra teacher, said that the concert will be a fundraiser for the high school orchestra program. Admission for the concert will be $7 for singles and $25 for families. “We’re hoping to raise about four or five thousand,” said Brian. The money from the concert would then be used to pay for several new Bluegrass instruments and would also help send the orchestra to the Cavalcade Festival in Colorado Springs. The Cavalcade Festival is the biggest orchestra festival in the western United States, so it is a great opportunity for orchestra students. “It’s the best $7 you’ll spend this year,” said Brian. Aaron Ashton is Brian’s brother and a nationally recognized musician. Aaron plays the violin and is the sort of musician who lives in classical, jazz, fiddle, and ethnic genres with equal ease. He has won numerous awards including: 2007 Studio Musician of the Year Pearl Award; Outstanding Violinist from the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival; and College Division Winner of the Federation of Music Competition. He has performed in the Country Music Awards (CMA) country bash, for Vice-Presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and many more areas. Aaron currently leads the Aaron Ashton Band and performs with William Joseph and Carmen Rasmussen. “The whole concert is centered around fiddling. There will be Irish, Celtic, Swing Jazz, and Bluegrass music genres performed,” said Brian. Brian currently teaches 45 orchestra students at the high school as well as a separate Bluegrass group, who will actually be performing a couple of songs with band on Thursday. “I just encourage the community to come out. It will be one of the best concerts you’ll see in Star Valley this year,” Brian said.

Halloween-ish High Note: Braves blank Warriors for senior night win

dahlerickson — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:49:14 +0000

After three scoreless quarters between the Braves and Warriors, Chris Jenkins threw two fourth quarter touchdown passes to Darin Taylor and Jon Scherbel as Star Valley closed out their regular season with a feel-good 14-0 win over visiting Worland. With temperatures hovering in the low 20's, the two teams battled for field position all night. Neither defense allowed much and neither team made it into the red zone in the first half. Jon Scherbel, despite an ugly box score as the back up field goal kicker, had a whale of a game from the punting position and on defense as his 45-yard fourth down fake moved the Braves down in position for their first touchdown. Scherbel also collected his sixth interception of the season as the Warriors were forced to the air. To top it off, he also scored his fifth touchdown of the season on a 7-yard strike to put the proverbial nail in the coffin. The Braves rushed for a season-high 168 yards, most of which came in the fourth quarter as Kevin Brough also returned to the offensive lineup after missing four games with surgery on his thumb. Brough broke a 37-yard run to set up Star Valley's second touchdown off a fantastic block from Kyle Rosenbaum. The two touchdown passes from Jenkins pushes his season total to 11 as he went 12/30 for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Jenkins also rushed 17 times for 52 yards. As for the Warriors, Tayler Reuer ran 15 times for 64 yards while Cody Smith rushed 12 times for 28 yards. Bill Douzenis also collected 24 yards on 13 carries. Douzenis was 2/11 for just 3 yards and an interception through the air. The win moves the Braves into the conversation with a slew of other 2-6 squads, who will all be waiting to see how their non-conference and even out-of-state opponents finish their respective seasons to see who the Power Ratings select for the post-season. Teams who hurt themselves with losses Friday evening included Wheatland, Rawlins and Jackson. In other news, the Lady Braves fell in straight games to Green River to open the 4A West Regionals, and then fell in four games to Evanston in an elimination match this evening. The loss ends the Lady Braves' season and breaks a seven-year streak of advancing to the state tournament. For a full accounting of the game, please read the October 30, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Lady Braves claim third at State X-C

dahlerickson — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:31:49 +0000

The Lady Braves made it onto the podium in their second year at Class 4A with a strong push from the Nethercott twins. The Braves finished with a fifth place finish as a team while Jason Livingston and Cody Brough were both named as All-State selections. In a bit of a twist, Brooke Nethercott earned All-State honors as well. It's the first time Brooke has finished in front of twin sister Brittney this season. The ladies' third place finish is the best showing by a SVHS X-C team at the 4A Ranks. The Independent wishes to congratulate the Cross-Country team on their hard work throughout the summer and during the season. You exemplify hard work and determination and your efforts make the community very proud.

Governor Freudenthal visits weatherization project

newsrelease — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:21:27 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A sophisticated weatherization project at a Cheyenne home aimed at improving the building’s energy efficiency and reducing the homeowner’s winter heating bills got a visit from Gov. Dave Freudenthal today. Local utility Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power provided the service to homeowner Betty Walters, contracting with Advanced Air Systems, Inc., a company that specializes in home energy audits. Josh Story of Advanced Air Systems gave the Governor a tour of the residence and demonstrated how the company detects leaks inside the depressurized home using small puffs of smoke. “It’s really impressive to see how much the air moves inside the house,” the Governor said. “It’s just not something you think about, and it’s amazing to see the air leaks coming in from outlets and gaps in the door seals.” Following the results of the audit, volunteers from Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power and the Wyoming Public Service Commission helped perform the work needed to make efficiency improvements on the house. “Energy prices aren’t expected to be as high as we had feared earlier this year, but they will go up over time,” Freudenthal said. “I commend the volunteers from Cheyenne Light and the Public Service Commission for their work, and encourage all Wyoming residents to weatherize now before the cold weather sets in.” The Governor said the audit was less intrusive than he had expected. The auditors used state-of-the-art instruments to detect inefficiencies in the home, rather than taking apart walls or opening up holes in order to inspect the building. Mark Stege, vice president of operations for Cheyenne Light, said he appreciated the Governor’s attention to the company’s third and final weatherization project this month. “Gov. Freudenthal’s visit shows an obvious commitment by the state to encourage residents to reduce their energy consumption and costs by making their homes more energy efficient,” Stege said. “We are pleased to have the Governor visit our final weatherization project.” During the energy audit today, homeowner Betty Walters sat in her living room and watched workers bustling in and out of her home. Her son, Michael, said he appreciated the work being done on his mother’s house. “It makes me feel good knowing that she’s going to be warmer this winter,” he said. “I won’t be worrying about her being cold in her home in order to save on her heating bill.”

Halloween Hijinks from the Dahl E. Llama of Sports

dahlerickson — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:32:33 +0000

The BCS is primed to be busted. Will the MWC open the door for the WAC again? As I watched a game involving the Boise State Broncos recently, the WAC or Western Athletic Conference for those who don't know better, was running a series of commercials. Well, really it was the same commercial over and over an over. It talked about how two consecutive years had seen the conference sent a team to a BCS bowl. This situation is where the Mountain West’s overall stronger position actually hurts them. Case in point. Is anyone going to beat Boise on their schedule? I say the odds are slim. Are there at least two and maybe three MWC teams that are better? I say yes. But it may very well be the Broncos cashing that huge check again. After TCU’s absolute dismantling of the seemingly invincible Cougars, the conference has been breathing very anxiously ever since. Why? Well, the Horned Frogs may very well be the best team in the conference, but they also have a loss, albeit on the road to Oklahoma. Should the Frogs march into Salt Lake City and hand the Utes a loss in their column, then things go from rosy to rage in the commissioners office. Will the powers that be put a one-loss MWC team in front of a BCS version? Not likely. Not only that, but Boise would cash in on such a situation to the tune of millions of dollars. With a series of defeats of BCS teams over the last several years, including a dominating record against the Pac-10 this year, the timing has never been better for the MWC to invite the Broncos. A group that sported BSU, BYU, Utah and TCU on a yearly basis , not to mention the rest would not only force the hand of the bigger leagues to include us into the national pie, but the NCAA tourney in March would also benefit from the expanded visibility. It’s a natural rivalry, why not pull the trigger now? Air Force Falcons (6-2) @ Army (3-5) - These service academy games are always some of the best of the year. There’s just no substitute for two teams of players who really understand how to be unselfish and want to win. Look for the Falcons to be a bit too salty for the Knights. Also, could Troy Calhoun be heading elsewhere? His performance in Colorado Springs is drawing some interest. Llama says - Birds - 35-21. #17 BYU Mountain Cats (7-1) @ CSU Bleatin’ Sheep (4-4) - There’s not a game on the schedule that I’d like to see both teams handed a loss like this one. After looking like Achilles for the first six games, the Cougars have their fans concerned with a loss in Texas and a near-loss to the Point-Shavers in Provo. Just a side note - Can we call that came the Irony Bowl? Are there two more different places in the country than Provo and Las Vegas? Anyway, my loathing for the Sheep knows no bounds and I look for a fired up BYU defense to gain back some pride this week. Llama says - Cats - 48-17. #12 TCU Blitzkreig (8-1) @ UNLV Point-Shavers (3-5) - I find it odd that the experts still feel Mike Sanford is on the coaching hot seat. Yes, they’ve lost four in a row, but they’ve also been very competitive and their talent level is now nearing the best teams in the conference at the skill positions. If they let him go, maybe the Cowboys will bite huh? Anyway, I expect a decent game, but the Frogs’ defense should be chasing Omar Clayton all night. Llama says - Frogs - 31-17. #9 Utah Utes (8-0) @ New Mexico Sanctions (4-5) - Wondering about the name? I just find it amusing that Rocky Long can still be considered a “classy” or “good guy” coach when his program was not only investigated by the NCAA, but lost scholarships. Yet, he can win enough games to keep people off his back. Unbelieveable. In the year of the perpetual election, maybe somebody should have hired him as their spin doctor. Utah had a bye at the exact right time, although some always wonder whether a hot team will lose focus in a bye week. Look for the Utah defense to batter New Mexico. Llama says - Utes - 38-7. SDSU Black Hole (1-7) @ Wyoming Cowboys (2-6) - The Cowboys employed a new offense against TCU called the “Outlaw”. It did have a little success, as Devin Moore ran for over 100 yards against the nation’s top defense. That’s about it. It also led to a hit on QB Karsten Sween that saw his head bounce off the turf like a super-ball. A friend of mine who has a son at UW says Wyoming is employing the “Jackalope” offense. You always hear about it, but never see it. This seem much more appropriate. ESPN has dubbed this game as the Pillow Fight of the Week, and even the weather isn’t cooperating as it’s supposed to be sunny with temps in the ‘60’s in Laramie this weekend. I’m going to try a little reverse thinking on this one, so hopefully they won’t pull my press credentials. Llama says - Aztecs - 21-7.

PAWS Testing results released for the first time

newsrelease — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:09:31 +0000

In spring of 2008, Wyoming students participated in the state’s first statewide science assessment. The science test was administered as part of the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students (PAWS). Participation in science assessment aligned to the state’s Content and Performance Standards is required in an elementary, middle and high school grade under No Child Left Behind beginning in 2008. Proficiency in science along with mathematics, English language arts (reading and writing) and social studies is considered critical for success in school and college. The PAWS science assessment is based in the scientific inquiry model. Science inquiry is central to the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy. This model of learning and assessment in science, should not be an isolated occurrence, but a comprehensive and ongoing approach. “Science can provide you with the necessary skills to analyze and think logically,” Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride said. “Science is a tool for problem solving that uses what you already know to find out what you don't know by combining the use of skills such as theory, experimentation and analysis.” In Lincoln County School District No. 2, student performed very well on the tests. Overall, the fourth graders in the district had a 48.5 percent average proficient score and a 10.2 advanced score. Eight graders had a 49.8 percent proficient score and a 12.1 advanced score. Juniors had a 37.6 percent proficient score with a 12.7 percent advanced. Individual school scores are as follows: Cokeville 4th Grade – 44.4 percent proficient and 16.7 percent advanced; Metcalf 4th Grade – 46.9 percent proficient and 3.7 percent advanced; Osmond 4th Grade – 50.5 percent proficient and 14.4 percent advanced. Star Valley Middle School 8th Grade – 47.9 percent proficient and 12.90 percent advanced; Cokeville Junior High School 8th Grade– 76.9 percent proficient and no advanced. Star Valley High School 11th Grade – 36.7 percent proficient and 12.7 percent advanced; Cokeville High School 11th Grade – 63.60 percent proficient and 18.2 percent advanced. A little more than 18,000 students were tested in Science in the 2008 PAWS. A full listing of the state, district and school results of the science assessment is available on the Wyoming Department of Education website.

Friday Sports Stir: Home for the Weekend edition Updated

dahlerickson — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:43:57 +0000

Star Valley fans who need to watch some football should head over to Cokeville this afternoon to get their fix. Otherwise, fans and players will be celebrating Halloween I suppose as all of the fall sports programs have completed their respective seasons. It's an adjustment, what can we say? The first thing that jumps to mind is the basketball program. For the first two decades of my life, the Braves only missed state twice. It was absolutely normal for parents to keep reservations for more than a year in Casper. When it didn't happen? Well, it made you look around and see what else you could do to entertain yourself. That's sort of how this weekend feels. The good news is, as a parent I can be a little more involved with Halloween this year. As a fan? I'll be in Cokeville this afternoon to scratch my football itch. This week's question has to do with volleyball. Who was the head coach of the Lady Braves the last time they didn't qualify for state? A reminder of the rules. Please no internet researching and feel free to make guesses in the comment section. I for one and looking forward to the development of the volleyball team. There are some potential monster players in this group. I'm anxious to see if they hit their ceiling. As for the playoffs (Insert high-pitched Jim Mora playoff rant here), There are some match ups that may see some great games. There are some others that look like blowouts waiting to happen. Read now for Mystical Mysteries from the Dahl E. Llama. Because life is not a hanging chad. Rawlins Outlaws (2-6) @ Douglas Bearcats (6-2) - This will be the last jab I put out at the Power Ratings because it is going away, and this situation really is a head-shaker. Rawlins did not win a conference game. They did not defeat a 4A opponent. Yet the system says that's good enough to make the post-season. If any team really wants to complain, it's Jackson. Yes, you heard me. In the final power ratings, the Braves finished in front of the Broncs, despite having an identical record and Jackson winning the head-to-head match up. That won't happen next year, when conference record is the seeding tool with head-to-head the tie breaker. Anyway, Douglas really seems like the team that's peaking at the right time. Their defense has been the unsung heroes of the squad because as fans, all we see is the touchdown total. The D has only allowed 43 total points in their last five games. With their emotional win over Buffalo this year, it has to be an exhilarating feeling in Douglas right now because they're in the driver's seat. This game shouldn't be close, but the Braves were on the fast track to the state title in 2006 before a weak 2-6 Wheatland team came to town. It's the playoffs Douglas. It's a whole new ball game. Don't let up and assume anything. I don't think they will, but that's why they play the game. Llama says - Bearcats: 42-7 (Reality Check: Douglas 55-0. Kudos to the Bearcats for refusing to let down in the face of a weaker opponent. Their game with Powell this weekend will show just how tough the Panthers are.) Powell Panthers (5-3) @ Lander Tigers (4-4) - Amazing how that game six weeks ago came back to haunt the Panthers this weekend. The Tigers have been a great story this year. From two winless seasons, to the second seed in the West. But, while they've been tough, they've also had some fortune. They've lived very dangerously in a lot of their games but have pulled them out. That's the sign of a team that never quits, which is good. However, the Panthers are a team that very nearly came back from an early hole to win the conference, and is probably the fourth best team in 4A by a narrow margin. I look for a couple of turnovers from the Panther secondary on Lander's Garrett Irene. Why? Because I think the Lander run game will be struggling today against Powell and they'll be forced to the air. To me, the Panthers are the dark horse in this race, and I think they end Lander's feel-good story on Bill Bush Field. Llama says - Panthers: 24-13. (Reality Check: Panthers 12-7 - Okay, I was a little high on the points, but the result was correct.) Worland Warriors (4-4) @ Buffalo Bison (6-2) - How bad did that loss to the Braves hurt the Warriors? They could have been hosting a game this week instead of traveling to a very very tough place to win. That's what I say when people say that Star Valley's last game didn't matter. It sure mattered to the Warriors. I actually feel for the Worland crowd. They should have had a much better running game this year than they had but circumstances shot that down. They are a very gutty team, who has kids who give their all. Unfortunately, Buffalo is a team that's tailor-made to stop them. They refuse to let you run up the middle, they force turnovers and they pound the pigskin for four quarters. The Warriors aren't a very big group on the line, and I think they're going to get tired by the third quarter on the road. Look for a big running output by the Bison, even if much of it comes late. Llama says - Bison: 42-14. (Reality Check: Bison 34-7 - This year the Bison have to travel in the semi-finals for the first time in several years. Cody's defense should be tested this weekend) Torrington Trailblazers (3-5) @ Cody Broncs (6-2) - This is the wildcard game in my mind. I haven't seen Torrington personally, but I've seen their numbers. This team has the ability to run the ball when you look at the stat sheet. After you look at it again, they probably should stick to the ground because they led the Class in interceptions thrown. It's for this reason that I think the fans in Cody will be taken aback early on, but then watch their defense take over. I envision the Blazers forging through with a good running game early, but not being able to capitalize. I also see the Bronc defense causing a few turnovers because of this. Look for a Cody win, but closer than you might think or even like. Llama says - Broncs: 24-10. (Reality Check: Broncs 47-0 - I almost feel like I need to give an apology to Cody for this score. They didn't let down a bit and they blew out the Blazers. I continue to under-rate the Broncs defense. If I keep doing that, they'll be sending me a picture of their defense holding the state championship trophy) Well, there you go. No biased goggles this week and good luck to all the players.

Star Valley residents head to the polls

dahlerickson — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:41:28 +0000

Early voting wasn't just limited to larger, more nationally prominent areas as dozens of Alpine voters made their way to the polling station to cast their ballots. These residents of Alpine, much like many other residents in the area, braved cold temperatures and wet conditions to perform their civic duties. It wasn't uncommon around the valley for voters to run across longer lines than usual, but experienced and knowledgeable voting staffers have kept those lines moving quickly. Early morning rain turned into heavy snowfall in the early hours of election day. The National Weather Service is expecting as much as five inches of new snow in Afton, while Alpine is expected to receive up to seven inches. High interest in the national election is driving voter turnout, but local races such as trustees for Lincoln County School District #2 school board and various Town Council seats will have Star Valley residents awaiting results later this evening. Readers of starvalleyindependent.com can check back this evening for unofficial results. Jeanne Wagner, Lincoln County Clerk, estimates that the preliminary results will be reported just past 8 p.m.

Unofficial Election Results posted for Lincoln County

newsrelease — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:27:06 +0000

A number of close and hotly contested battles for political office took place in Lincoln County. When the snow settled down and the votes were counted, the following results have been make available. These results are for Lincoln County with 18 of 18 precincts reporting: These results are unofficial until Lincoln County Clerk, Jeanne Wagner certifies the election on November 12. Presidential Election Barack Obama / Joe Biden (D): 1,823 John McCain / Sarah Palin (R): 6,485 Ralph Nader / Matt Gonzalez (I): 88 Chuck Baldwin / Darrell L. Castle (I): 72 Bob Barr / Wayne A. Root (L): 57 Wyoming Senator Chris Rothfuss (D): 1,430 Mike Enzi (R): 7,001 Wyoming Senator Nick Carter (D): 1,772 John Barasso (R): 6,914 U.S. Representative Gary Trauner (D): 2,732 W. David Herbert (I): 382 Cynthia M. Lummis (R): 5,252 Senate District 16 Dan Dockstader (R): 5,296 House District 21 Robert McKim (R): 4,467 House District 22 Jim Roscoe (D): 368 Charles Stough (R): 323 Lincoln County Commissioner John Holick (D): 1,976 Kent Connelly (R): 6,022 Lincoln County Sheriff M. Shane Johnson (R): 7,246 Afton Town Council Gerald L. Goulding: 425 David Parsons: 530 Hal Titensor: 605 Thayne Town Council Robert E. King: 105 Lorell Woolley: 128 Star Valley Ranch Town Council Kent B. Harker: 428 Edwin A. Koch: 420 Andy Moffett: 365 Russ Storbo: 344 Alpine Town Council (2 year term) Bryant S. Brown: 115 Troy Johnson: 219 Alpine Town Council (4 year term) Joshua Floyd:129 Don Jorgensen: 150 Tyler Peterson: 128 Beau Taylor: 173 Lincoln County School District #2 School Board (At Large) John Bowers: 1,096 Tyler Brog: 731 Christine Call: 879 Karyn Hoopes: 1,530 Mark Weston: 1,254 Lincoln County School District #2 School Board (Area 1) Reynold Johnson: 2,042 Carolyn Reed: 1,538 Debbie Sainz: 1,724 Lincoln County School District #2 School Board (Area 3) Michael Hunsaker: 3,082 M. Lee Schwab: 2,250 Lincoln County School District #2 School Board (Area 4) Barry Fulmer: 2,625 Eileen Merritt: 2,649 Hospital Board Rowan Anderson: 3,103 Ronald Crook: 3,038 Marti Halverson: 3,524 Drew Izatt: 3,190 Rod Jensen: 3,824 SV Conservation District (Urban) Lance Crook: 4,432 SV Conservation District (Rural) Garry M. Crook: 2,480 Don Delong: 1,373 Rollin Gardner: 3,299

A Warrior's Journey: A Veteran's Day Feature

sarahhale — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:01:34 +0000

It has been said that if you enjoy freedom, you should thank a veteran. Next Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 is Veteran’s Day -- the day set aside to recognize the incredible sacrifices that have been made by soldiers to preserve this country’s freedom. “Since World War I, soldiers, marines and sailors have given their lives,” said local VFW Commander and Veteran Chuck Sutter. “Eighteen men have paid the ultimate price from Star Valley.” This week those 18 men will be remembered, along with dozens of others who served faithfully and lived to see their homes once more. “Our own 1041st recently returned from serving in Iraq as a combat logistic patrol,” said Sutter. “The unit served proudly and did an outstanding job.” According to Sutter, veterans throughout the ages share a common bond -- they have made the journey and emerged as heros. John Joseph Fluckiger World War I John Fluckiger was inducted into the United States Army on Sept. 29, 1917. He traveled from Star Valley to attend boot camp at Camp Lewis in Washington. There he was attached to Company E, 362 Infantry, 91st Division. Following his training there, Fluckiger was shipped out to New York were he boarded a ship bound for Liverpool, England. From Liverpool, he made his way to South Hampton and then on to La Havre, France. Eventually he found himself on the battle front at St. Meithel. “After four days of fighting, they were sent to the Argonne Forest,” said Sutter. “Here they were literally shot up. John was wounded the morning of Sept. 29, 1918 in a terrific battle of the Argonne Forest.” Wounded, Fluckiger and other American soldiers crawled through a field of mustard gas to reach a hospital. It was a journey that took Fluckiger nearly the entire day to make. “After he recovered, he was shipped home and discharged in Salt Lake City at Fort Douglas on May 2, 1919,” said Sutter. “He’d served one year and eight months.” Later Fluckiger was presented with a service plaque signed by United States President Woodrow Wilson. Vern S. Cleverley World War II In World War II, Vern S. Cleverley served with the 11th Airborne Division from 1943-1945. “Vern served in the thick of things,” said Sutter. Cleverly was stationed in the South Pacific. Before his service was over, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts. He was also the recipient of the Philippines Liberation Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and American Theater and Asiatic Pacific Ribbons. Cleverley is now 84 years old. Leslie Robertson Korea Leslie Robertson joined the United States Army and was assigned to the 7th Division. After completing his training, Robertson was shipped overseas to Korea. He served there from 1952-1953. “Les received two Purple Hearts, one in ‘52 and one in ‘53,” said Sutter. “Early on he earned the coveted Combat Infantry Badge. He also has Korea Service, National Defense and U.N. Service Medals.” Leron Allred Vietnam After graduating from the University of Wyoming, Leron Allred went into active duty with the United States Air Force. As part of the Air Force, Allred served in Vietnam. On one occasion, Allred was given the mission of rescuing a seven-man intelligence team under fire across enemy lines. It was a mission that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. Later in his career, Allred was also instrumental in rescuing 81 firefighters in Alaska. William “Bill” Spaulding Iraq William “Bill” Spaulding is currently a 1st Sergeant with the 1041st Engineering Company. “While in Iraq the unit performed over 65 missions that took anywhere from a day to a week or more,” said Sutter. “They logged over a million miles and were attacked 321 times, mostly by IEDs. William is proud of the great job the men did and feels that through prayer they were definitely protected.” The unit received 39 Purple Hearts and 24 Bronze Stars for their service. “Like his dad, William is a great asset to the 1041st,” said Sutter. “This great group of patriots also received a Meritorious Unit Citation.” On Oct. 29, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal asked that Wyoming recognize the “valor and sacrifice of our veterans.” “When the call for servicing our country comes, Star Valley men and women are there,” said Sutter. “As far back as World War I, young men volunteered and went to war to protect the freedom of this United States. Over and over again when the call has come in, we have answered.”

2009 State Championship Football Games to be played in Laramie

dahlerickson — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:14:45 +0000

The way things were, had a team from Star Valley advanced to the state title game on the gridiron with the top seed in 2009, the state championship would have been in Afton. After a vote by the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA) this week, War Memorial Stadium will play host to all of the state title swings in 2009. The conversation about playing title games at a neutral site on Wyoming's only Division 1 stadium has been rolling on for the past several years, and in fact both Ron Laird of the WHSAA and Tom Burman, Athletics Director of UW had said that this year's vote would have likely been the last proposal on the subject for quite some time. The board of directors voted 10-7 this week to move the state football championship games to War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on a one-year trial basis in 2009. Quarterfinal and semi-final games will still be hosted by the highest remaining seed, but Wyoming, one of just three states to still allow schools to host the culminating event, has remained split on the discussion. So, it seems that the championship games of 2009 will have more riding on it than just state trophies. The conversation also allowed the WHSAA to take the large majority of the gate fees. The last state title game hosted by Star Valley took place in 2005 when the Buffalo Bison defeated the Braves, 17-14. Early dates for the Class 1A and 2A title games are scheduled for Nov. 13, 2009, with the Class 3A and 4A championships scheduled for Nov. 14, 2009. What's your opinion on the subject? Use the comment section to let your voice be heard. [poll id="29"]

Video: SVHS Bluegrass Class

dahlerickson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:02:32 +0000

The November 6, 2008 edition of the Independent included an article on the SVHS Bluegrass Class, taught by Brian Ashton. Today, you can take a peek and a listen as to what these young musicians are working on behind closed doors. Click below for an exclusive video of these students as they work on their craft. A big thank you to the students and Mr. Ashton who allowed the Independent to film their class.

Friday Sports Stir: Saturday Semis edition Updated

dahlerickson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:37:07 +0000

Well, it's a huge day for a handful of teams in Wyoming's 4A, and two of them haven't celebrated a state title in a long time. In fact, they both hoisted their last trophy at Star Valley's expense, and I have them picked to compete for this year's crown against each other. Before I get there, let's get to the questions. This one will be an easy one for Braves fans. Who was the last Star Valley player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season? Bonus: What was the year? Extra Claven question: Within 50 yards, how many did he rush for? Please use the comment section. I know I've been a bit lazy in keeping up with the questions, but I'll get them rounded up this weekend. Good luck to all the teams involved. Well, I won't keep you in suspense, I think a Cody @ Douglas title tilt is in the future. Of course, Buffalo and Powell will have something to say about that. Powell @ Douglas - Both teams flat out got it done when it was on the line last week. Powell has a very tall, athletic defensive secondary. It makes it very tough to complete passes over the middle and when it comes to a jump ball on third and long or in the end zone, the Panthers certainly have it covered. However, the depth of the Powell defense will be tested by a Bearcat offense that is rolling right now. I think Powell will have some success in slowing down Douglas, but not nearly enough. Douglas' defense will be fired up right now on their home field, and the idea of hosting a state title game this year will be feeding the Bearcat crowd all afternoon. I just don't think the Panther have enough offense to hang with the home team that hasn't smelled a championship since 1978. By the way, in trying to find out what a Bearcat was, I found the picture to the right. Is this right? I've never seen one. Doesn't it look like that huge rats in The Princess Bride? Anyway, we'll see if this animal can outduel a Panther anyway. I think the game is close in the first quarter, but Douglas should be hosting the 4A championship next week. Llama says - Bearcats: 31-13. (Reality Check: Bearcats 28-27 2OT) (Wow! What a barn burner in Douglas. A lot of credit to the Panthers for showing they were very much up to the task. Kudos to Coach Stringer and his staff for their effort and kudos to the Douglas coaching staff for a gutsy call when an opportunity presented itself. ) Buffalo @ Cody - This game is interesting. For some reason, I find myself subconsciously looking for reasons for a Buffalo win. I'm not sure why? For whatever reason the Broncs are stuck in my head as an offensive team. In fact, it's their defense that has been so dominant over the last six weeks, and it will be the reason Cody will have a caravan rolling from Park County over to Douglas. Now, that's not to say that Buffalo will be going away quietly. After all, this team came within a couple of inches of an undefeated season last year. But it's the Bronc D that has me thinking that they will come out on top in a very physical and hard-fought game. Look for some good, old-fashioned smash mouth football in Cody this weekend, with the difference being some good field position set up by some good returns from the Bronc special teams. By the way, 1991 was the last time Cody was on top of the world. Llama says - Broncs: 17-7. (Reality Check: Bison - 23-0)( Another Wow here! I couldn't have been more wrong about this match up. The Bison proved their experience in the post-season is invaluable and their hunger to get back to the title game trumped the Broncs. ) In other matchups, I like a re-match of Burlington and Cokeville in 1A, although Southeast getting to host the Panthers could be a big difference maker. Hard to believe but wrestling and basketball practice start a week from Monday. Enjoy this weekend kids, it's gone before you know it.

The Independent thanks our troops this Veteran's Day

dahlerickson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:01:19 +0000

Dan Dockstader sat down with Afton's Bill Hoopes. Hoopes spent 39 years in the National Guard, 35 of which was in Star Valley. He has spent the last several years involved with the families of Wyoming Guard members who are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hoopes spoke with the Independent about his time in the National Guard, his 35 years as an educator and his 20 + years as a coach with various sports programs in the valley. The Independent recognizes America's Veterans and thanks them for their service and sacrifice. Please click below for a Veteran's Day conversation with Bill Hoopes

When the hunter becomes the hunted: Son shoots mountain lion to save father's life

newsrelease — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:59:10 +0000

By Casey Saxton - What began as an ordinary father and son hunting trip for Kellen Lancaster and his son Adam on October 7, quickly turned into an experience that most people will thankfully never have. The two began their day by traveling on Highway 89 into Salt River Pass at the south end of Star Valley. They pulled their pick-up over at the entrance of Water Canyon, unloaded their horses and started riding. During the trip into the canyon the two talked of other hunting adventures they have had in the same area. “I pointed out where my dad had taken a big bull elk and where I have had success as well,” said Kellen. After riding well into the canyon, the two got off of their horses to try and spot some deer. To begin with, they spotted a herd of about 15 elk around 1,200 yards away. Though they were not hunting for elk, the sight certainly got them in the hunting mood. “It was a picture perfect morning and a great day for hunting,” said Kellen. Adam spotted some deer not far away from where they were standing and decided to move to a place where he could see the deer better. Kellen began riding through the trees to push the deer out for Adam to get a better look. Adam saw several does and a small buck come out of the trees but decided to pass them up. Kellen then rode up to the top of a nearby ridge to get a view of the surroundings and he spotted three horseback riders coming toward them. Kellen radioed his son and told him to stay put to see if the riders pushed some more deer out of the trees in the area. Their simple plan worked as a deer entered the space between them. Adam decided to take the first shot at the three-point buck as it was crossing over the ridge. “Adam let out a big war hoop. I could tell by that, he had been successful,” said Kellen. “I started to make my way over to the deer to help Adam field dress it.” They boned and field dressed the deer to get it ready to pack on their horses. The two both took each other’s picture with the deer and then proceed to cut off the antlers just before they left. After the last cut was made they went to get their horses so they could load the meat. Before he left, Kellen stepped up on the hill just above the carcass to check and see if they had left anything behind. “Out of the corner of my eye I saw something. I turned around and on the downhill side of the carcass, stood a cougar,” he said. “I yelled to Adam, Adam, Look!.” “The cat had its eyes fixed on me, never looking away once to notice Adam or other surroundings,” Kellen recalled. In an instant Kellen was transformed from being the hunter to being the hunted. “I turned my back toward the deer and not 15 feet away from me was standing a mountain lion. I turned and bolted toward the guns. While I was running for the guns, my dad was trying to back away from the deer and the cat,” said Adam. “He tripped over a rock and into sagebrush onto his back. In a moment’s time, the cougar jumped and was within inches of my dad’s feet. My dad tried to kick dirt at the cougar and covered his head and neck with his arms.” “Immediately the cat’s face was at my feet,” said Kellen. “His snarling teeth were at the tip of my boots. I didn’t know what my next move would be, but I was certain, I knew the cat’s.” Kellen said that in the midst of the commotion he had a confidence that he was going to be okay. His son had demonstrated steadiness his whole life when facing struggles. “I heard the crack of the rifle to my left,” said Kellen. “At this point, everything moved in slow motion. The right side of the cat contorted inward. Fur puffed into the air. The cat was forced sideways by the impact of the bullet. I knew it was over.” Things may have been moving in slow motion for Kellen, but for Adam everything had to happen fast. “After I had grabbed the .30-30 rifle, I flipped around and cocked it while running back to the cat,” said Adam. “I had my back turned when the cat had jumped to attack my pops. All I saw was the cat pawing at my dad with her ears pinned and teeth showing. I can still hear my dad so vividly saying shoot, Adam, shoot! I pulled back and shot the cat through the heart. She took two leaps away and dropped dead.” Kellen said his legs were rubbery as Adam went to help him up after he shot the cat. “You saved my life. You saved my life,” Kellen recalled saying to Adam. The two staggered down the slope, each with a rifle in hand, to view the now lifeless cat. “We went a few yards up the hill, and on bended knee offered thanks to God,” said Kellen. “Adam acted as a voice. An amazing feeling overcame us both and we felt protection and safety. I hugged my six-foot son and said again, You saved my life.” Then it was back to the business at hand for the two men. “We loaded the deer onto the pack horse and took off,” Adam said. “The seriousness of the situation didn’t really hit me until I was on the way out of the canyon. I have become a lot more thankful for my blessings and for my father.” When they got home they took care of the deer meat and Adam went to the Game and Fish office to file a report. According to Lucy Wold of the Game and Fish Department, Kellen and Adam handled the situation in the correct way. “We’ve done a lot of research, and this type of situation is very rare. They did the right thing. They protected themselves and notified the game warden,” she said. Game Wardens Todd Graham and Neil Hymas investigated the scene after Adam filed the report. “The Lancasters did the right thing. They weren’t hunting alone and they were aware of their surroundings,” said Cokeville Game Warden Neil Hymas. “The Lancasters left the mountain lion carcass at the kill site and immediately contacted Game Warden Todd Graham.” The Game and Fish did not consider the situation to be an “attack” because no one was injured in the incident. They are considering it an “encounter”. The only reasoning that Kellen and Adam can come up with for why the cougar acted the way it did is that it followed the scent of the blood and because Kellen was standing just over the carcass. “The woods are their home and when we go into the woods, we are on their terms,” said Kellen. “That first night of sleep was hard. I saw yellow teeth every time I closed my eyes.”

Osmond Boil Order Recinded

dahlerickson — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:12:01 +0000

The Osmond water is safe to drink, and it always was, according to recent reports. On November 4 of last week, a positive test from a sample coming from the Osmond Pipeline was determined to contain e-coli. Today, officials have stated that the sample which triggered a boil order in the area was misread and has been classified a false positive test. According to Ron Bassett, chief operator of the Osmond Pipeline, any number of minute contaminants could have contributed to the false positive. The sample could also have been misread. Bassett went on to say the further testing will be done that is required by the EPA. Those tests are ongoing. At the present time, there is no danger of e-coli. Schools and those on the system have either been notified or are in the process of being notified. Lincoln County Public Health called for a boil order on November 5, while the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) called for an order on November 7.

Friday Sports Stir: Kings of the Football Heap edition * Updated*

dahlerickson — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:03:45 +0000

By late Saturday afternoon, five new champions had trophies in their possession due to their prowess on the gridiron. I know I've been a bit lax on giving up the answers on the Stir, so I'll go back and get credit where it's due. This week's question comes from a championship era in Star Valley football. The Braves first football title came in 1961 against the Buffalo Bison. The leading rusher on that team went on to play at BYU and later was on the coaching staff for their 1984 National Championship. He is now a professor on campus. Who is this man? This shouldn't be too hard, especially for any long-time valley residents. Now on to this week's predictions. 1A - Southeast @ Burlington - There's no reason not to think that this might be a baseball type score. Here's my reasoning. Burlington beat Cokeville, 7-6. Southeast beat Cokeville, 7-2. In fact, it's a distinct possibility that this game is decided on one play for a two-point conversion to something similar. That's football at it's most primal. One score. Two teams. Can one squad cross a line when the other won't let it? If you're anywhere near this game, you should go. This one will be old-time, throwback stuff in my opinion. I've seen too many road games won in this way however, so I'm bucking the odds. Llama says - Huskies: 7-6. (Reality Check: Southeast, 12-0 - It seems no other offense can penetrate the defense of the Cyclones this year.) 2A - Big Horn @ Burns: I won't waste your time on this pick. I don't know anything about either team for the most part, although there always seems to be a spirited comment-section debate in other parts of the internet between them. Former SVHS great, Jerry Hart, taught at Burns, so that's my pick. Llama says - Burns: 21-17. (Reality Check: Burns 41-6 - I'd like to take credit for this, but like I said, it was just a guess.) 3A - Kemmerer @ Glenrock: This could very well be the game of the year regardless of class. The interesting thing about undefeated teams that blow out so many of their opponents is that it almost always slows down and is a close game. Both teams can run. Both teams can stop the run. The big question is: How much can either team will themselves on big plays. A missed tackle here or there will swing a game like this to the other team. This one reminds me of Buffalo @ Star Valley in 2005. The Bison took the early lead, but the Braves were storming back and had momentum. On third and a mile from inside their own ten-yard line, the Bison run a reverse to their third string tailback who converts. If the Bison don't make that play, it's likely the Braves score from the resulting field position. Instead, it's a 17-14 Bison championship. That's a gutsy call. It's going to be something like that, that will decide this game. Kemmerer has been awesome and they have a terrific program. But my considerable gut is telling me that Glenrock has played this season like they have something to prove. So despite the Lincoln County pull, I'm going with the home team. Llama says - Herders: 16-13. (Reality Check: Herders 18-0 - Egos are hurting in Kemmerer today as the Herders left little doubt in this match up. I didn't think anyone could blank the Rangers, regardless of class, so hats off to Glenrock who proved they are one of the best in the state, period.) 4A - Buffalo @ Douglas: There's a part of me that is annoyed that the West couldn't get to the title game. That's the funny thing. For about two solid months, I assumed that Cody would get there, but as one rotund sportscaster on ESPN says: "That's why they play the game." Hats off the Bison, who, like their Glenrock brethren, seem to be on a mission to rectify last year's loss. My heart will be cheering for Douglas. Yes, they have some mean-spirited wrestling mothers who obviously don't like Star Valley, but they are on a 30-year drought. The thing is, my head is telling me not to ignore how focused the Bison seem. They've been the team to beat since last year's last second loss in Jackson, so redemption is my theme for the day. They were my pick at the beginning of the year, so they're my pick now. Llama says - Bison: 28-14. (Reality Check: Douglas 34-21 - So much for that dominating Bison defense. Buffalo even scored late to make this closer, but Douglas was in control for the vast majority of this game. I love it when long droughts are put to an end, so congratulations to the Bearcats.) 5A - Green River @ Gillette: Well, once again it's two teams who were expected to be here. Green River has shown some amazing athleticism this year, while Gillette is simply put: Gillette. Good at almost everything. I'm swinging for my Southwest Wyoming tendencies here and blatantly picking against the Camels for no real reason. Llama says - Wolves: 28-21. (Reality Check: Camels 23-21 - A missed field goal with nine seconds by the Wolves gave the Camels a win on their home field. Nobody will be wanting to talk to that guy today.) Well, there you have it. For the folks in Burlington, Burns, Glenrock, Douglas and Gillette, enjoy your day, because it won't happen next year. Everyone seems to be happy about 2009 at the War, we'll see if they are when Championship Saturday comes along.

Official Practice begins today for cagers and wrestlers

dahlerickson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:52:49 +0000

Aspiring Braves and Lady Braves will be out in force after school Monday afternoon in an effort to become the next great team. The Wrestling team will have the advantage of staff consistency while the basketball teams will have many new faces calling the plays in 2008-09. Head Wrestling Coach, Eddie Clark, is beginning his tenth year at the helm of the program. He has four state titles, eight regional championships and Star Valley is generally regarded as one of the state's top wrestling squads. Lady Braves' Head Coach, Jason Cazier, returns for his second season, but will be joined by a pair of new assistants. Justin Walker and Nicc Crosby will be the junior varsity and sophomore coaches respectively. As for the Braves, they will have their third head coach in as many years as Mark Taylor takes the reins. He'll be assisted by Kade Wilkes and Andy Taylor as the Braves will look to rebound from a miserable 2007-08 campaign. Home events will be a rarity for the programs this year, although several games and matches will take place before the Christmas holiday. The wrestlers will host their annual Star Valley Invitational earlier than usual, as the action will take place December 12-13. It's the only home action for the Braves until late January. As for the roundballers, Bear Lake will invade Afton on December 27 for their first home games, while Jackson will be in town just a few days later on December 30. [poll id="31"]

1041st members to volunteer for Kuwait assignment

dandockstader — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:01:14 +0000

Col. Richard Knowlton said he is pleased to find support for National Guard troops in the Afton and Star Valley area. Col. Knowlton Commander of the Wyoming National Guard’s 115th Artillery Brigade was in Star Valley meeting with community leaders, business owners and residents, Nov. 17, explaining the planned mobilization for Kuwait staring in April of 2009. “We’re out here educating the soldiers, their families and communities on what we are doing and what they can do to help each other,” explained Col. Knowlton. “Afton has been great. The community here is organized and very supportive. They already have a structure in place.” The one-year deployment will include 2,400 Wyoming soldiers, an estimated half of the guard’s enlistment for the Cowboy state. Members of the Wyoming National Guard’s 1041st based in Afton, Evanston and Rock Springs will be allowed to volunteer for the Kuwait deployment. The 1041st was previously assigned to Iraq. The Kuwait assignment will includes camp support for the all troops at the base operations and security details for convoys coming and going from Iraq. Troops will be trained for the Kuwait assignment in Texas. Be sure to click below for exclusive interviews with Colonel Knowlton, Battalion Commander and Major Samuel E. House, Army Public Affairs

Star Valley Medical Center receives accreditation; plans for expansion

newsrelease — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:19:39 +0000

Star Valley Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The ACR, headquartered in Reston, VA., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of the facilities equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report. The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic and intervention radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services. In addition, SVMC has plans now underway to expand their services yet again, including a chemotherapy department as well as an expanded dietary services department. Please click below for exclusive video interviews with members of these two departments.

Got their Man: Christensen is new Wyoming Head Coach

dahlerickson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:39:25 +0000

Dave Christensen was considered a hot commodity as one of the top offensive minds in the country. Until Monday afternoon anyway. The offensive coordinator for the Missouri Tigers over the last eight seasons, Christensen was named the new head football coach of the Wyoming Cowboys Monday afternoon, taking his potential services off the table for other vacancies such as New Mexico and Washington where he was also rumored to be a candidate. In a press release from the University of Wyoming, Tom Burman, UW Athletics Director said the following: "We are thrilled to be able to attract a coach with the experience that Coach Christensen brings to our program. He is one of the great offensive minds in college football, and he will bring a very exciting brand of football to Johah Field." "The plan he presented to us for building a comprehensive program was the best we heard in our search process. I am confident that he will put an outstanding coaching staff together, and that they will hit the ground running. With Dave leading Cowboy Football, I believe our program will make dramatic progress in the coming years and return to a position of prominence in the Mountain West Conference." Christensen's total package could exceed $750,000 per year. Christensen was named the 2007 National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com and was also the runner-up for the 2007 Frank Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in the nation each season. The Tigers have been one of the country's highest scoring offenses over the past several years, even setting a record of 558 points during the 2007 season. In fact, the Tigers were the only team in the country to score at least 30 points in every game in 2007. Christensen stated that he is committed to help Missouri in their final two games of the season, saying that "it is the least he could do" to help the Tigers finish their season after what they've given him through the years. The Tigers face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship this weekend. Wyoming also spoke with former Utah State and Michigan State head coach, John L. Smith, as well as current Nebraska assistant and former UW receivers coach, Ted Gilmore about the position. Christensen will be looking to put Wyoming back near the top of the offensive rankings after a dismal season in which the Cowboys only scored a total of 152 points in 12 games. In fact, after going 138-97-1 during the '80's and '90's with eleven winning seasons, the Pokes have struggled mightily in the new millennium, compiling a record of just 35-70. New Mexico and San Diego State are continuing their search for their next respective head coaches. Rumors had surfaced that Air Force head coach, Troy Calhoun, had been in the running for the Tennessee job, but the Volunteers have already announced that former Oakland Raiders head coach, Lane Kiffin, has been hired for the position. UNM and SDSU are the only vacant jobs in the Mountain West at the current time.

Positive, hopeful and thankful...

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:55:52 +0000

Why we are hopeful for the future of our HIV+ children and thankful that they are ours. December 1 is World AIDS Day. Three years ago that would have meant just about nothing to me. I did not know much of anything about HIV/AIDS, and to be very honest, I did not care very much either. It was something that didn't affect me, and I thought of it as "other people's problem". And then I made a very life-changing trip to Ethiopia, and met a little girl that would change me forever. The little girl was an orphan, and she was HIV+. She sat down in my lap and as I rocked her in my arms, held her fat little toddler hands and rubbed her soft hair, I felt my heart swell and my eyes water. She melted into my body like my own babies do…in that way that says, "I am yours and you are mine and this is where I belong." As I was filled with the desire to be that little girl's mom and to give her the love she so clearly wanted and needed, my brain started racing with questions. What would her long-term prognosis be? Would she die young? Would she be a risk to the rest of our family? Could we afford her medical treatment? That day I did not know much about HIV. But I could not forget that little girl, and so when we returned home, I was committed to educating myself and my husband about HIV. We did research on the Center for Disease Control website and many other resources, and we consulted with a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist. We found out that HIV could not be transmitted in any type of casual contact and that an HIV+ child would not be a risk to the rest of the family or to our community. We found out that her long-term prognosis would be excellent with a close to normal life expectancy, that she would likely live in great overall health, and that parenting her would not be much different than parenting any other child. We found that the costs of medications, with our health insurance plan, would be very reasonable. We found out that although there would be a lot of extra red tape, that it would be possible to adopt her. We prayed a lot; maybe more than I have ever prayed about anything. My answer was always the same. "She is yours." We plowed ahead, determined to get her home. Belane finally came home in November of 2006. During the time that we waited for all of the paperwork to be complete so we could travel back to Ethiopia to get her, I made myself an "expert" on parenting HIV+ children and on adopting HIV+ kids. I wanted to know as much as possible. Although at that time adopting HIV+ children was almost completely unheard of, I shared our story openly and honestly, in hopes of educating, and possibly even inspiring, others. When we returned to Ethiopia to get Belane, my heart and my eyes were truly opened to the plight of HIV+ orphans. Being an orphan is a terrible fate, and orphans who are HIV+ are at the very bottom of society's "ladder". It was heart breaking to realize that with limited medical care available in Ethiopia and a crushing social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, these children faced almost impossible odds. In January of 2008 I was hired by Adoption Advocates International to be their HIV+ Adoption Coordinator. I get to advocate for HIV+ orphans, monitor their health care, provide prospective adoptive families with information before, during and after the adoption process, and best of all, I get to see these children, who are truly some of the most vulnerable on Earth, join loving families and thrive. Along with fueling my passion to advocate for HIV+ orphans, something else very significant and life-changing happened while I was in Ethiopia getting Belane. We saw a little boy who had just been brought into the orphanage. He was a year old, but could not even sit up. He was emaciated, and so sick that his eyes were glazed over. They were open, but if he "saw" us, there was no sign of it. I asked if he was going to be available for adoption, and they told me that they didn't think he would live through the weekend. I went home, and could not forget him. Again it was whispered to my heart, "He is yours." In February of 2008, I traveled back to Ethiopia to get my beloved Solomon Tsega, who is now a robust three year old. The little boy who had once so given up on life that he was barely there, is now so full of life he touches everyone that meets him. His recovery has been nothing short of a miracle and the doctors have high hopes for his long-term health. Belane is now five years old, is the picture of health, and is quite the sassy princess. Some people think we're saints for adopting our kids. We're not. Some people think we're crazy for adopting our kids. Again, we're not. We are just a family like any other, that has come together in a different way than most. Both Belane and Solomon are normal, typical, healthy kids who are full of life and energy. They are both expected to live long and full lives. They take their medication twice a day and have extra trips to Primary Children's for monitoring, but other than that they run, dance, get put in time-out, play, and act like any other little kid. They have taught me a great deal about life and love and hope, and I am so grateful to be their mom. While three years ago I did not know much about HIV/AIDS and I saw it as "other people's problem," I now know that HIV is a human problem. In July 2008 it was estimated that 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and over two million people die each year without access to treatment. Because of the stigma and unnecessary fear surrounding HIV and transmission, many people who are HIV+ are not open about their status. However, with the number of people living with HIV in the United States, it has been estimated that most American citizens regularly interact with someone who is affected or infected by HIV, whether they are aware of it or not. While medically speaking, HIV is relatively easy to "live with" (often considered much easier to manage than diabetes, hepatitis and many other conditions), socially, there is still a nasty stigma and a great amount of ignorance and unnecessary fear surrounding the disease. Many people living with HIV feel that dealing with the social and emotional aspects of the disease are much more challenging than dealing with the medical aspects. Our greatest fears as parents do not involve our children's health, but how people will treat them. We believe that educating people, and providing accurate information about HIV, is the only way to fight the stigma, and hopefully make the world a little easier for our children to live in. The Basics HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Not everyone that is HIV+ has AIDS. HIV is the virus that left untreated, causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infections. Information we wish everyone knew about HIV HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming, playing or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). HIV+ children (and HIV+ adults who practice safe sex and do not use drugs) are not a risk to those around them. By using "universal precautions", such as handling any blood with care, you can completely eliminate the risk of contracting HIV from a child. It is important to know that there are no documented cases of HIV ever being transmitted by a bloody nose, a scraped knee, in contact during sports or in any other casual way. HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease, when treatment is available. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives. People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do. If anyone wants more info on transmission, there is great information here: www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm and here: www.thewellproject.org/en_US/HIV_The_Basics/ If you are interested in learning how to sponsor an HIV+ orphan, please visit www.ahopeforchildren.org

Governor recommends conservative state spending

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:21:26 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s supplemental budget proposes appropriating $440 million in existing carry-over revenues, rather than relying on estimates of future revenues. In his Supplemental Budget Recommendations released this week to the Wyoming Legislature, the Governor said the state has the current financial capacity to make calculated, one-time expenditures for investment in the state and its citizens. He also emphasized the likelihood that revenue projections would be adjusted downward in January. “Wyoming is not immune to the national recession,” Freudenthal wrote. “The downturn is impacting public sector wealth and income just as it is impacting our businesses and citizens. Relative to other states and regions, we cannot but be thankful for our circumstance.” The Governor’s budget recommendations are now available, in addition to a letter he wrote to legislators and state agency directors, on the Governor’s Web site: http://governor.wy.gov. The Supplemental State Budget is also now available in its entirety online: http://ai.state.wy.us/budget. The Governor proposes spending $440 million of the $507 million in carry-over from the 2007-2008 biennium. The $507 million is cash in hand. Excluding capital construction, he recommends appropriations including $174.49 million in one-time expenditures, and $58.27 in recurring expenditures. Among his recommendations are: ● $39 million to fund one year of the Homestead Exemption, an existing but unfunded program that would apply to owner-occupied residences with a market value of $237,000 or less. It would exempt from taxation the first $5,000 of taxable value. ● $50 million for highway construction and an additional $7 million for airport projects. ● $81 million for local governments. ● $16 million to complete the startup of the new Torrington prison, and 158 new positions for the facility which is expected to house prisoners beginning in 2010. ● $20 million for near-term water development projects and $100 million that would be earmarked for the Gillette water project at the end of the biennium. ● $10 million to address state employee salaries that are currently below market. ● $30 million in Abandoned Mine Lands funds to the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources for the partnership with GE on the High Plains Gasification Advanced Technology Center. In a letter to legislators and agency directors, the Governor emphasized that he expects revenues to be downgraded by the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group in January. He asked agency directors to examine their existing budgets and their supplemental requests to prepare for such a circumstance. “Given these exceptional circumstances, I am directing agency directors to prepare for the contingency that I may have to reduce budget levels from those authorized in either the 2009-2010 Biennial Budget or the upcoming 2010 Supplemental Budget, and would ask that they prepare to share their plans for such an eventuality,” he said.

The Spirit of a Volunteer

dahlerickson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:05:25 +0000

"Braves in Action" is a yearly endeavor by the students and faculty at Star Valley High School to help those during the holiday season. From ornaments for soldiers in Afghanistan, to home cooked meals for Thanksgiving, there are more than a dozen projects that are the focus of volunteers. This year, the Star Valley Independent went along for the ride as they helped one Alpine woman who got to see the other side of being a volunteer. Please click below for exclusive video of the Braves in Action program, and look for more on this story in the December 4, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Also, don't forget to watch video from this site as well as updates by logging on to our site specifically designed for mobile devices at svimobile.com

SV mountain top transmitters receive digital signal, re-broadcast analog

dandockstader — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:17:30 +0000

Star Valley’s television systems is ready for the mandatory switch to digital television. Star Valley TV System (Upper Valley) and Lower Valley TV association announced that the transition to digital TV is complete. Both systems re-broadcast the signals of the major network affiliates in southeastern Idaho. Limited rebroadcasts from other affiliates are also available in parts of Star Valley. “What you now have, is what you will have after Feb. 17, 2009, when all television broadcast stations in the United Stares are required to turn off their analog transmitters,” Jim Allred, consulting engineer said. Allred has been helping the television systems in the upper and lower valley prepare their transmitters for the change. “The conversion has been done on the mountain tops for both the Upper and Lower valleys,” said Allred. He explained that the transmitters on the mountain tops are receiving the digital signal from the stations and then converting that signal to analog in order to accommodate all televisions throughout the valley. “Our translators still transmit an analog signal, and will for the forseeable future,” said Allred. “This means you will not need a digital TV converter box to use with your older analog TV sets.” Allred warned, “In fact, if you try to install one, you will probably lose your TV Signal.” Allred pointed out the changes in the Upper and Lower Valley TV systems will only affect those receiving television broadcasts with an antenna. “If you have satellite, broadband, or cable, no change is necessary,” he said.

It's Official: State Canvassing Board Certifies Roscoe

dandockstader — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:03:50 +0000

Jim Roscoe is the representative for the Wilson, Pinedale and Alpine areas. Secretary of State, Max Maxfield, announced that the State Canvassing Board met Wednesday morning in the Governor's Conference Room of the Wyoming State Capitol. The State Canvassing Board certified the election for House District 22 in Lincoln County as the official canvass. The total votes cast in Teton, Sublette, and this special election, confirm Jim Roscoe, Democratic candidate, as the candidate who will hold the office for House District 22. In the special election on November 25 only, Jim Roscoe received 320 votes and Charles Stough received 163.

Chili Cook-off highlights Ice Extravaganza; aim to raise fund for polio vacccine

newsrelease — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:28:25 +0000

The Rotary Club of Star Valley will sponsor a chili cook-off in conjunction with the Ice Festival on Friday, Dec. 26. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Rotary Club is now soliciting entries from the community. The event will be held at the fair grounds exhibit booth and electricity will be available. Each entrant should plan on a minimum of two gallons of chili and a cooking container to keep their chili warm. The entry fee is $10 per contestant. All entry fees will be returned in the form of cash prizes. A door fee of $5 for adult $2.50 for child will provide chili bowls, a roll and drink. Each taster will have one vote for the best chili. “All of the proceeds from food will assist in two of Rotary’s pet projects,” said Marta Heap of the Rotary Club. “Bring your appetite and help us provide funding for these important international and local programs.” The two projects the Rotary Club of Star Valley is raising money for are the Polio Plus Campaign and the scholarships for SVHS students. “Polio is still a debilitating disease in four countries of the world,” said Heap. “It threatens to spread if not completely eradicated. Rotary began in 1985 by supplying vaccine to countries which would accept programs to vaccinate children. A child can be protected against Polio with $.60 worth of vaccine.” The Rotary Club of Star Valley is attempting to raise $1,000 locally for the polio campaign. All money raised will receive matching grant monies from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Rotary is also busy in the community. As a club we hope to increase the amount of scholarship money we are able to offer to our graduating high school seniors, to further their education,” said Heap. “This is one of several pursuits Rotary supports to foster literacy in the community.” According to Heap, getting involved in the chili cook-off would be a great way to celebrate the holiday season. “As a community we hope you will come to support these worthwhile projects,” she said. “For employers, this would be an inexpensive way to recognize your employees with a fun lunchtime activity during the holidays.” For more information or presale tickets please contact Marta Heap at 883-2514 or Bob Haunschild at 883-9010.

Braves nearly pull off Eastern sweep to begin hoops season

dahlerickson — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:14:08 +0000

After a season where the Braves went just 2-18, the hope was that they could raise their competition level to the 4A classification. After a weekend that saw them just a few missed free throws from a 3-0 start, expectations from the public may have changed. The Braves collected their second win of the weekend in a 48-44 slug-fest with Cheyenne Central. It was the second time in less than 14 hours the Braves had played against a Cheyenne school on their home court and played well. Star Valley previously won on Thursday over Laramie, 66-64, and lost a heartbreaker Friday night in overtime to East, 69-66. The Lady Braves will be looking for some answers when they get home after a trio of lop-sided losses. The gals in gold first fell to defending champion, Central, 60-33. Friday night saw the East Lady T-Birds run away with a 67-33 win, before Laramie knocked off Star Valley by a healthy margin Saturday morning. Braves finish in fifth place in 30-team field at Evanston Invitational As for the wrestlers, they were busy at the Evanston Invitational where they sat in fifth place after day one with 72 points. Dakota Dana, Nick Edwards and Paul Woodie had advanced to the semi-finals. The team score remained good enough for fifth overall for SVHS. While the Braves won this event by 58 points a year ago, the team is utilizing a lot of young talent, and a fifth place finish is eyed as a good beginning. Congratulations to Dakota Dana for his individual championship and Paul Woodie for this second place finish. Please read the December 11, 2008 edition of the Independent for a complete and thorough recap of the weekend sports schedule.

Simplot mine expansion given the go ahead

dandockstader — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:59:58 +0000

U.S. District Court Judge, Mikel H. Williams, has released a 34-page document on the Simplot Smoky Canyon Min lawsuit. The court has ruled in favor of allowing the mine to expand operations. The ruling noted that the federal agencies allowed for proper study and notice of decisions. The court also noted that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality was satisfied that Simplot had taken the necessary steps to re-mediate for any possible selenium contamination.

Star Valley Medical Center provides services of much larger hospitals

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:56:55 +0000

When it comes to providing health care services that are on course with much larger medical entities, Star Valley Medical Center allows residents and regional patients to stay closer to home CRNA's Gary Hess and Dave Olsen sat down with starvalleyindependent.com and shared their thoughts on the direction of the hospital, as well as their commitment to staying up to date with the latest medical techniques and tools. In addition, Director of Pulmonary Medicine, Mike Ford, visited with the Independent about his impending trip to California to speak to over 7,000 professionals on his wealth of experience. Be sure to add starvalleyindependent.com to your favorites or bookmarks to get the complete picture on the community around you. Look for interviews with other members of the Star Valley Medical Center staff in coming days. Click below for interviews with these men who are making the decision to stay home for medical care much easier.

Avalanche danger raised to considerable

sarahhale — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:20:57 +0000

The Bridger-Teton National Forest Backcountry Avalanche Hazard and Weather Forecast issued a general avalanche advisory report on Monday, Dec. 15 for the Greys River area. The avalanche danger was listed by the BTNF as considerable. According to the advisory report, the general avalanche hazard is considerable at upper elevations (9,000 to 10,500 feet), moderate at mid elevations (7,500 to 9,000 feet) and low below an elevation of 7,500 feet. "At mid and upper elevations soft surface slabs up to two feet in depth lie upon slick sliding surfaces and are expected to be quite sensitive to human triggers," the report stated. "Careful route selection and good travel habits are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations." Avalanche advisories are given on a five level scale. That scale includes extreme, high, considerate, moderate and low. Extreme danger advisories are given when wide spread areas of unstable snow exist and avalanches are certain on some slopes. Backcountry travel should be avoided when avalanche danger is listed as extreme. High avalanche danger advisories are posted when mostly unstable snow exists on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Natural avalanches are likely when the danger is listed as high and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. A considerable danger rank is given when dangerous unstable slabs exist on steep terrain and human triggered avalanches are probable. Natural avalanches are also a possibility when a considerable danger advisory is in place. Moderate danger is posted when areas of the backcountry have unstable snow and human triggered avalanches are possible. However, larger triggers may be needed to result in an avalanche. A low avalanche danger advisory is posted when backcountry snow is mostly stable. Avalanches are unlikely to occur when a low advisory is given. However, isolated avalanches may take place in isolated pockets. To report an avalanche observation call 307-739-2607 or email avalanche@jacksonhole.com.

Star Valley Medical Center's continued growth is startling

dahlerickson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:35:01 +0000

Since splitting from Intermountain Health Care (IHC) in 1999, Star Valley Medical Center has expanded their pool of employees from 67 to over 230, pumping more than $8 million into the economy on a yearly basis in the form of wages. The Star Valley Independent sat down with SVMC Director of Human Resources, Joel Johnson, and discussed some of the big changes the hospital has undergone in the last nine years, as well as some of the ideas and concepts for the future. Be sure to click below for an exclusive video interview with one of the integral cogs in the SVMC machine.

Early snow levels still inconclusive

dahlerickson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:12:02 +0000

Temperatures have hovered in the single digits and even ventured below zero already this season turning everyone into an amateur meteorologist and predicting this year’s snowpack. As Santa and the new year are now approaching at a torrid pace, the only sure thing about what this year’s snow storms is that they are unpredictable. Already this season, more than one storm that was forecast to drop a significant amount of snow has swept a different direction and denied the area the moisture. According to Wade Payne, Soil Conservation Technician with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), it’s not a new phenomenon. “Our data has had to typically start about January because of the varied amounts of December,” he stated from his office in Cokeville. “It’s generally inconsistent.” Despite the lack of concrete data at the time, Payne was kind enough to share some information with the Independent as residents in Western Wyoming hunker down for another winter. “Indian Creek had a site go down for the first time in 20 years so we’ve gotten off to a bit of a rough start,” he replied. Numbers including Hams Fork in the Lower Green Drainage is at 44 percent.” Payne also travels some unforgiving terrain as he gathers the data and tries to calculate accurate results. “The upper Bear River is at 66 percent of average,” he added. “This is where we typically deal with it the most. I start in Pinedale and work over to Larson Creek and hit Afton and then Cokeville. We have eight manual sites but we have roughly 20 automated sites that we use as well.” The information in the region is normally retrieved by snowmachine, which is a change from years past when a helicopter was used. Payne spoke of some of the stations being difficult to reach. “The weather to get into these sites can sometimes be pretty tough,” he stated. “Some of them [the stations] are 33 miles into the mountains and it becomes a challenge. It’s straight in and straight out and your out of gas in your snowmachine.” He also commented on areas around the Pinedale area. “We’ve got Big Sandy opening as well as the Blind Bull Summit,” he said. “This is all part of the upper Green River drainage. East Rim Divide is one that sits up in that drainage. These are all automated sites that give us updates ona regular basis.” The use of the data may be a mystery to even long-time residents of the area, but the applications for using the numbers have an impact on nearly every citizen in Western Wyoming. “The information is used as a setting for reservoirs for one thing,” concluded Payne. “So an accurate reading is essential. It essential for them to store the right amount. It helps them to know how much to release and how much to keep. Agriculture uses the information as well obviously. For example, if it’s going to be a year where water might be low, a farmer might decide to plant wheat instead of alfalfa because it takes so much water to produce an alfalfa crop. There really are dozens of uses that people utilize this data.” He also shared that those interested in keep up to date on the latest developments for snow levels can utilize the following website: www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/snowrept/snowrept.html The website is regularly updated.

Lady Braves win at Flaming Gorge: Braves nearly upset Gillette

dahlerickson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:43:14 +0000

Day one of the Flaming Gorge Classic saw the Lady Braves claim their first win, while the Braves nearly knocked off the top ranked defending champions. The Lady Braves played nearly everyone on their varsity bench including a host of sophomores to fend off the Steamboat Springs Lady Sailors, 49-45. Star Valley led by as many as 13 points and led by double digits for much of the game before a stagnant fourth quarter allowed Steamboat to make a run. In the end, some clutch free throws by Shae Wilkes, Klydi Brower and Dani Scherbel helped seal the game. Scherbel led the effort with 14 points. The Lady Braves may indeed have an excellent chance to win two in a row as they play the Layton Christian Academy, a squad that lost by nearly 40 points to the Lady Red Devils on Thursday. As for the Braves, they found themselves down by double digits to the defending 4A state champion Gillette Camels almost immediately. Gillette jumped out to a 19-8 lead and led 23-10 after just one period of play. After calming down, the Braves started to answer but not before they fell behind by as many as 17 points. At halftime, the Camels had a comfortable, 41-30 lead. It was more of the same as the scoring picked up for both squads in the third as the Camels still had a ten-point lead, 58-48. In the fourth, the Braves kept carving into the lead using free throws and timely three-point buckets and actually took the lead, 67-65 with 1:30 remaining. The two squads traded body shots for the next 90 seconds before the Camels regained a two-point advantage. With just nine second left, Gillette missed the second of two free throws, leading 73-71. The Braves rebounded and put up a last ditch effort which came up just short. The Braves play Layton Christian Academy Friday morning, a squad that defeated Cheyenne Central, 70-56 on Thursday.

Braves and Lady Braves knock off Layton Christian at Flaming Gorge

dahlerickson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:44:29 +0000

The Braves responded to their two-point loss on Thursday to Gillette by rolling up the offensive numbers in a 75-69 victory over Layton Christian Academy out of Ogden, Utah. The Lady Braves won their second in a row with a victory over the same school. Tyler Schwab had a season-high 25 points as he led the team in scoring in the win. Junior Brandon Taylor dropped in 18 points while seniors Nate Imeson and Jon Scherbel both made it into double figures with 13 points apiece. The Braves will wrap up their trip to the Flaming Gorge Classic with a Saturday morning tilt against Salmon, Idaho at 8:15 a.m. The Lady Braves improved their record to 2-4 with their second straight win in Green River, turning back Layton Christian by six points. The Lady Braves wrap up the tournament with a 5:p.m. match up with former 3A conference rival, Mountain View on Saturday.

Braves overcome Savages; Wrestlers tied for first at Warrior Duals

dahlerickson — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:03:17 +0000

When slam dunk champion, Mark Hobbs, was bringing down his tomahawk to regain the lead for Salmon, there was likely a split second of euphoria for the Salmon faithful. It was the last happy second of the game for the Idaho squad. With Star Valley having rallied from a 13-point deficit to gain a one-point lead, Hobbs, who had won the slam dunk contest the evening before in the 25-team tournament, had his put-back slam careen off the rim for not just a miss, but his hanging on the rim resulted in a technical foul. After two Tyler Schwab free throws, the Braves pulled away for a 66-54 win, their second of the tournament. The Braves (4-3) will be hosting Bear Lake on Saturday evening with a revenge game against Jackson coming up on Tuesday December 30. As for the Braves grapplers, they're locked in a three-way tie with host Weber High and South Summit for the lead at the Warrior Duals in Ogden, Utah. Dakota Dana at 140 pounds, Lynk Nield at 285 pounds and Paul Woodie at 215 pounds are all undefeated at this point in the tourney. While tiebreakers would have to fall the way of Star Valley for them to win the event title, this is a very positive indication of their direction with a relatively young squad. Star Valley finished a very close second a year ago at the Warrior Duals to Wasatch High out of Heber.

History and Tradition part of the driving force for Star Valley Cutter Racing

dahlerickson — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:35:16 +0000

Amid bitter temperatures and blowing snow, it’s a sense of history and entertainment that still drive Star Valley’s chariot racers. On any given Saturday afternoon, a group of spectators gather on the grounds just west of Afton, where the melding of man, machine and horse are displayed in one of the oldest methods of transportation known to man. It’s when the racing teams of the All-American Cutter Racing Association tests their mettle in the middle of a western Wyoming Winter. On these Saturdays, you’ll see a lot of sacrifice, a lot of endurance and a lot of fun being had. And that’s just those who are watching. For over 100 years, the tradition of the cutter or chariot races have been a draw in Star Valley where the sport of competitive racing has it’s roots. On Saturday, those root were evident in the opening weekend of competition. From families with several generations of racers and horses, to those making a new endeavor that they hope will last through time, the racers themselves love the sport, and the fact that there is still a lot to appreciate about the weekly camaraderie. “Every week we get together, hook up our two horses and see who can go the fastest,” stated Bob Hokanson, veteran racer and well-respected member of the All-American Cutter Racing Association. “Tradition has a lot to do with it, this sport used to shut down main street in Afton and Thayne as they raced down the road. It really was a spectacle and we try to put on a good show.” This particular starting weekend featured documentary film makers from Germany who not only experienced the thrill of the races bu got to compare winters of Wyoming and their homeland as well. With early afternoon temperatures hovering well into the single digits, a wicked wind battered the drivers and the spectators but that didn’t stop the entire slate of eight races from being completed. A chance to relax on a weekend amid friends, witness some fun and exciting horse racing while sipping some hot chocolate or munching on a burger. What could be more All-American than that? 2008-09 Cutter Racers Team Driver Star “A” Ranch Allen Hale Nelson Q. Horses Tom Nelson Lwr Valley Hydrnics Bob Hokanson Salt River Ranch Sheldon Merritt T.J. Construction Johnny Robinson Narrows Develop. Mike Clark Nelson Too Tome Nelson Pines Bar Jim Stoker Virginian Kelly Garland Hale Family Steve Newman Homestead Jim Stoker 7X Energy Service John Hintz Hillstead #1 Anthony Hillstead Hillstead #2 Adam Hillstead Lwr Valley Heating Kelly Garland B-X Partners Jim Stoker Team Results Week 1 Star “A” Ranch defeated Nelson Q 22.56 Lower Vally Hydronics defeated Salt River 22.52 Narrows Development defeated T.J. Construction 22.92 Pines Bar defeated Nelson Too 22.95 Hale Family defeated Virginian 22.85 Homestead defeated 7X Energy 23.17 Hillstead #1 defeated Hillstead #2 23.98 Lwr Valley Heating defeated B-X Part. 22.99 Bold = fastest time)

Thayne library providing array of activities

sarahhale — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:47:08 +0000

The Thayne Branch Library has a lot to offer the local community. Every week, according to Sherry Skinner, Thayne Branch Library children’s librarian, there is something going on at the library. “We may be small but we have it all at the Thayne Library,” Skinner said. “We have new books coming in monthly, a collection of great books for every age with access to other books through our inter library loan system, books on CD and cassette, videos, magazines, newspapers and computers with high speed internet. We will also have a new children’s computer that will be available in January.” In addition to the reading materials available, there are a variety of programs available at the library. “We offer programs for everyone,” said Skinner. “Story time with stories, songs and crafts for babies and preschoolers are Monday at the library or Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Thayne Town Hall.” All of the story time programs start at 10 a.m. and last approximately 45 minutes. The programs are free and no registration is required. “Our story time theme for the winter is who are the people in your neighborhood,” said Skinner. For older children, the Thayne Branch Library hosts an after school program. The after school program takes place the second Thursday every month. The after school program is done open house style from 3-5 p.m. Activities include crafts, games and stories. On Thursday, Jan. 8 the theme will be winter. On Thursday, Feb. 12 the theme will be Abraham Lincoln. The adult “Let it Snow” reading challenge has stared for anyone age 16 and older. The program challenges adults to read 10 books between now and March 31. Every adult reader to complete the challenge will receive a recyclable tote bag. Readers who complete at least five books from a “Let it Snow” reading list will be entered for a grand prize drawing. The “Let it Snow” program will end with a party in April. The Thayne Branch Library is located at 117 N Petersen Parkway in Thayne. It is open Monday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the library is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call the Thayne Branch Library at 883-7323.

SVMC employees weigh in on hospital's direction

dahlerickson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:01:55 +0000

Be sure to click below to see exclusive video interviews with Lance Peterson, Doreen Ward, Lonnie Dobler and Joel Johnson Dan Dockstader delves into the staff to discover what the employees at SVMC feel about their employer.

Local Citizen wins $10,000 sweepstakes from Ashley Furniture

sarahhale — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:07:06 +0000

It’s all good news for Teresa Peavler this month. Peavler has been named the winner of the $10,000 Ashley Furniture and Hunter’s Furniture and Appliance sweepstakes. “She signed up for our drawing during our After Thanksgiving Day Sale,” said Linda Hunter of Hunter’s Maytag. “Her ticket was drawn from a pool of tickets from Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.” According to Hunter, the only requirement to participate in the drawing was coming into the store and signing up. “There was no purchase necessary,” Hunter said. “You just needed to sign a card with your name, address and phone number and stick it in the box. All of the stores that participated in the sweepstakes sent their tickets in.” Peavler was notified of winning the drawing the week before Christmas.

Braves break the Broncs in 64-54 holiday victory

dahlerickson — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:13:23 +0000

Last year, it was a euphoric overtime victory for the home standing Broncs. This year, it was just more of the same when county 22 makes their way down Snake River Canyon to Afton where the Broncs haven't won since 1984. Tyler Schwab scored a game-high 20 points, including five of six from the free throw line down the stretch as the Braves came away with a 64-54 win over their rivals in the 2008 version of the Snake River Shootout. The Broncs trailed by as many as ten in the first half, but came all the way back early in the third quarter to tie it up at 27. The lead swelled to as many as 15 in the second half, but a series of steals led to breakaway baskets as the visitors clawed their way back to within six. In the end, the Braves were steady from the line thanks to Schwab and Brandon Taylor, who was also five of six from the stripe in the second half. Taylor finished with 15 points, while senior Jon Scherbel notched 11. For the Broncs, Damon Smith caused trouble in the paint all night long, finishing with a team-high 16 points, while Rob Caesar also made it into double figures with 15 points of his own. Jordan Ealey for the Braves and Spencer Steele for the Broncs both fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Although the loss drops the Broncs to 3-6 on the year, they are still 2-0 in their conference and appear to be more than ready to take a stab at the conference title under new first-year head coach, Pete Hoffman. As for Star Valley, the win moves them to 6-3 on the season with two of those losses coming by three points or less. Head Coach Mark Taylor and assistant head coach Kade Wilkes has the Braves playing extremely competitive basketball just one season after a 2-18 season which saw the Braves struggle mightily in their transition to the 4A Classification. The next game for the Braves is a trip to Riverton where they will face both the Wolverines and the Sheridan Broncs in Fremont County. The next home game for the Braves will take place January 23 against top-ranked Natrona County who went 24-2 a year ago.

Dr. Curt Stock shares his thoughts on SVMC expansion

dahlerickson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:56:19 +0000

Dr. Curt Stock grew up in Star Valley. Since 1994 he has been spending time in the area as an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist for Star Valley Medical Center. He takes time right out of surgery to discuss the dramatic changes he's seen in the past 14 years. Please click below for an exclusive video from the perspective of a Star Valley native who now serves as another specialist for an expanding SVMC.

More than 700 deer use new Nugget Canyon underpass weekly

dahlerickson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:13:57 +0000

It may seem odd to anyone who drives in a state other than Wyoming, but all of the effort put forth on the Nugget Canyon deer underpasses appears to be paying off, saving anywhere from 200-300 deer in highway accidents alone. According to Neil Hymas, Cokeville Game Warden and Hall Sawyer, Research Biologist with WEST Inc. These underpasses along Highway 30 will greatly reduce the exposure to vehicle collisions for this segment of the Wyoming Range Mule Deer Herd. Cameras installed to monitor the progress, the new images show that the underpasses are indeed becoming a veritable thoroughfare of activity for the areas deer. According to officials, roughly 700 deer pass through the areas every week.

Braves demolish Bear Lake 50-16

dahlerickson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:22:07 +0000

The Star Valley Braves put their varsity wrestlers out on the mat against the Bear Lake Bears in order for their fans to get another look at the home team. After it was all said and done, the Braves didn't disappoint. The Braves piled up five pins and a technical fall en route to a 50-16 drubbing over their regional rivals. The duel was part of a three-way event that saw Cokeville and Bear Lake invade Star Valley High School. Individually, Brandon Aullman at 130 pounds, Dakota Dana at 135 pounds, Mark Van Slyke at 145 pounds, Paul Woodie at 215 pounds and Casey Wolfley at Heavyweight collected wins by way of fall, while Hayden Heap defeated his opponent 16-2 in a technical fall The top-ranked 2A Cokeville Panthers, led by SVHS grad Marty Linford, rolled over the Star Valley junior varsity, 54-19. The Panthers also won convincingly over the Bears to win both of their duels. Up next for the Braves is a trip to a new tournament on their slate, the Rollie Lane Invitational in Boise, Idaho which will take place Friday and Saturday Varsity Results against Bear Lake (1/7/2009) HWT Casey Wolfley (SV) def. Jacob Hanover (BL) - Fall 103: Riley Lloyd (BL) def. Mitchell Heap (SV) - Dec. (6-4) 112: Hayden Heap (SV) def. Jason Hunt (BL) - Tech. Fall (16-2) 119: T.J. Guild (SV) def. Landon Cornia (CK) * (Star Valley and Bear Lake had open weights at 119) 125: Jaxon Hokanson (SV) def. Jacob Tillotson (BL) Dec. (10-7) 130: Brandon Aullman (SV) def. Michael Brennan (BL) Fall 135: Dakota Dana (SV) def. Tyrel Skinner (BL) Fall 140: Tyson Ward (BL) def. Dalton Dance (SV) Major Dec. (11-3) 145: Mark Van Slyke (SV) def. Travis Eynon (BL) Fall 152: Morris Bunn (BL) def. Darin Taylor (SV) Dec. (11-7) 160: Brandon Anglesey (SV) def. Jordan Rasmussen Dec. (7-0) 171: Gavin Hyde (BL) def. Dawson Loveland (SV) Fall 189: Nick Edwards (SV) def. Doran Hyde (BL) Dec. (6-0) 215: Paul Woodie (SV) def. Logan Bee (BL) Fall

SVMC offers a full pulmonary department at their "rural" hospital

dahlerickson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:27:54 +0000

Dr. David L. Shrader has been practicing pulmonary and respiratory medicine for over 30 years after earning his medial degree at the University of Florida. After the bulk of that time spent in Eastern Idaho, Shrader has brought his knowledge to Star Valley where he heads up the department and a full service sleep lab, one of just two in the entire state of Wyoming where overnight results are available. Shrader spoke with the Independent about his experiences moving to Star Valley Medical Center, the resources that the hospital provides, and the future of the medical community in the valley. Please click below for an exclusive interview with Dr. David L. Shrader.

Governor sharply reduces supplemental budget recommendations

newsrelease — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:32:58 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – In response to dramatically lower revenue estimates, Gov. Dave Freudenthal today forwarded to Wyoming legislators draft changes to his Supplemental Budget Recommendations. “It is critical to remember that we are not cutting the biennial budget that was approved last session,” Freudenthal said. “We are reducing the amount that we might have added to it. We now need to accept the facts as they are, and tighten our belts. We must view this situation as an opportunity, take advantage of it and really think carefully about what we’re doing.” At the request of the Legislature, the Governor developed and released his draft changes in time for legislative caucus meetings this weekend. Due to the rapid turnaround, he emphasized in his letter that figures are preliminary since final numbers have not yet been fully reconciled. Freudenthal’s Jan. 9, 2009 draft outlines an estimated $216 million reduction in General Fund appropriations, and leaves an unappropriated General Fund balance of approximately $32.6 million. The Governor’s Dec. 1, 2008 Supplemental Budget Recommendations included General Fund appropriations of $440.27 million and left an unappropriated balance of $67.38 million. Among other items, the Governor’s revised recommendations profile funding for: ● Most capital construction projects, including $50 million for roads, $7 million for airports and state laboratory projects in Cheyenne and Laramie. ● Construction projects at Casper College, the Girls School in Sheridan, the Pioneer Home and the Wyoming State Hospital. ● The design and planning phase of the Gillette water project. ● $39 million in residential property tax relief. Among the items not recommended for funding in the revised recommendations: ● $10.3 million for adjusting state employee salaries to market levels. ● $10 million to the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. ● $67 million for local governments. ● $20 million for University of Wyoming endowments, although further language will allow the university to access $10 million in existing but unused matching funds. ● $47 million for additional school construction.

Star Valley sweeps Riverton in Friday action

dahlerickson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:35:26 +0000

The Lady Braves controlled much of their game with the Lady Wolverines, eventually winning 40-34 for their third victory of the season. The Braves? Well, a huge three-pointer with two seconds left sealed the deal on Riverton's court. The final four minutes of the boy's varsity game between the Braves and the Wolverines saw three ties, four lead changes and two huge three-point baskets by Tyler Schwab, the last of which came with just two seconds left on the clock to push Star Valley to a 57-55 win. Three Braves finished in double figures, and all seven players who saw action played plenty of minutes due to some early foul trouble. Schwab led all scorers with 17 points including three from long-distance. Junior Brandon Taylor notched 12, including eight early points to keep the Braves close. David Cranford came off the bench to finish with ten points. Unofficially, Nate Imeson finished with five blocked shots and despite picking up two fouls in the game's first two minutes, he completed the game with seven points and six rebounds as well. Jon Scherbel finished with eight points, while Jason Livingston finished with five key rebounds. As for the Lady Braves, seven players scored in an extremely balanced effort. They were led by senior Aubree Johnson who finished with nine points while Randi Robinson scored eight. Dani Scherbel and Klydi Brower each scored six while Kelsea Gardner and Emily Porter each scored five. Star Valley led by nine points for nearly the entire second half, and a half-court three-pointer cut the final score to six for the home-court Lady Wolverines. Both the Braves and Lady Braves will play Sheridan on Saturday, January 10, with the girls' game tipping off at 12:00 noon. The boy's game will immediately follow at 1:30 p.m.

Braves outlast Sheridan to move to (8-3)

dahlerickson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:51:29 +0000

Jordan Ealey hit a pair of free throws for the game's first points as Star Valley claimed a 46-42 victory over Sheridan in a game they never trailed. Star Valley came out hot in the first quarter to build a lead of nine points, one that they would nurse throughout the game. The Crimson & Gold led 27-18 at halftime and led by as many as eleven points, but much like last year's contest between the two teams, the Broncs refused to go quietly. Nate Imeson fouled out of the contest, while Brandon Taylor and Jon Scherbel both sat more minutes than they played. Foul trouble plagued the Braves' seven-deep rotation as their second and third leading scorers played sparingly through much of the game. Taylor and Scherbel average 24 points per game on the season but only managed five total against Sheridan. David Cranford and Jason Livingston came off the bench early and often and combined for 13 points and nine rebounds unofficially in relief. Played at Central Wyoming College, the air was cool as the Broncs were ice cold from the field for the ball game while Star Valley survived the fourth quarter despite not scoring a field goal and going just 9/19 from the free-throw line. Tyler Schwab carried the load with many of his team mates on the bench, scoring a game-high 21 points and pulling down ten rebounds. The Lady Braves battled the Lady Broncs in the first half, trailing 23-26 at intermission. A turnover-plagued third quarter was the tipping point as Sheridan pulled away for a comfortable 57-40 victory. Shae Wilkes, Dani Scherbel and Emily Porter each scored eight points. Randi Robinson scored six and Kelsea Gardner scored five before fouling out late in the contest. The Lady Braves' record now stands at (3-8). Both the Lady Braves' junior varsity and sophomore teams won against their Sheridan counterparts.

Heap wins 112 at Rollie Lane as Braves finish eighth

dahlerickson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:31:30 +0000

As the Rollie Lane Invitational wraps up in Boise, Idaho, the Braves are wrapping up an eighth place finish in the 46-team event as Wyoming's only representative. Hayden Heap, who won the Tiger Grizz and was the Wyoming State Runner-Up at 103 pounds last year, has found himself a bit out of position wrestling at 119 pounds up until 2009. Now a full-fledged 112 pounds with oodles of experience, Heap claimed the individual championship for the Braves. Other impressive finishes included Josh Claye, who is also cutting weight to qualify for 103 pounds, finishing third overall. Kevin Day was the Braves' third placer, taking sixth at 125 pounds. The Rollie Lane is an incredibly tough environment that draws the best talent from Idaho, as well as top talent from Washington, Oregon and Nevada. The Independent congratulates Heap, Claye, Day and the team on an impressive finish. Josh Claye at 103 pounds, Hayden Heap at 112 pounds and Paul Woodie at 215 pounds all won their respective pools, earning themselves a high seed in Saturday's bracket. Eight other Braves advanced to the second day of action for a total of eleven wrestlers in all. Here are the results of Friday's action in Boise for the Braves: Pool Results: (* advance to the bracket) 103: Josh Claye 1st* 112: Hayden Heap 1st* 119: T.J. Guild 2nd* 125: Kevin Day 2nd* 130: Brandon Aullman 3rd 135: Dakota Dana 2nd* 140: Mark Van Slyke 2nd* 145: Darin Taylor 2nd* 152: Alex Cooper 3rd 160: Brandon Anglesey 4th 171: Dawson Loveland 2nd* 189: Nick Edwards 3rd 215: Paul Woodie 1st* 285: Casey Wolfley 2nd*

Cutter Racers bundle up for success

dahlerickson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:48:45 +0000

As if it wasn’t enough to work all morning long in preparation for a race that last less than 30 seconds, the members of the All American Cutter Racing Association (AACRA) have been fighting sub-zero temperatures in three of their first four weekends. However, with weather forecasts now predicting tempers in the 30’s for this weekend, perhaps an extra layer can be shed for the racers and their fans. It was a great weekend to be designated as the white lane, as eight of the nine races saw that color win over their blue counterpart. The Homestead team was the lone participant who bucked the trend. In fast and furious action on January 10, Star “A” Ranch, driven by Allen Hale stole the fastest time with a quarter mile of 23.48 seconds. Hale defeated Pines Bar in that race who finished with a time of 23.89 in an exciting finish. Other racing results were as follows: Jan. 10, 2009 Cutter Racers Team Driver Star “A” Ranch Allen Hale Nelson Q. Horses Tom Nelson Lwr Valley Hydrnics Bob Hokanson Salt River Ranch Sheldon Merritt T.J. Construction Johnny Robinson Narrows Develop. Johnny Robinson Nelson Too Tom Nelson Pines Bar Jim Stoker Virginian Kelly Garland Hale Family Steve Newman Homestead Sheldon Merritt 7X Energy Service John Hintz Hillstead #1 Anthony Hillstead Hillstead #2 Adam Hillstead Lwr Valley Heating Kelly Garland B-X Partners Jim Stoker Allen #2 Allen Hale Redneck Ralph Josh Granacha Team Results Won Lost Time* Allen #2 Nelson Too 23.87 Salt River Ranch 7X Energy 23.72 Narrows Develop. Hillstead #1 23.55 Hale Family B-X Part. 23.52 L.V. Hydronics L.V. Heat. 23.86 Star “A” Ranch Pines Bar 23.48 Hillstead #2 Red. Ralph 24.24 Homestead Virginian 24.02 Nelson Q Horses TJ Const. 23.88 (* Winning Time / Bold = fastest time)

Weekend sports wrapup

dahlerickson — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:52:43 +0000

At their first meet of the season, the Star Valley Indoor Track & Field Team has already claimed two individual championships and two more top five finishes at the BYU Invitational in Provo, Utah. Junior Audrey West defended her Long Jump championship from a year ago with a jump that came in just under 17 feet. Senior Tyler Skinner won the High Jump title with a leap of 6'4", but his attempt at 6' 6" was missed by just centimeters which bodes well for the next several months. Senior Madison Wilkes placed fifth in the Shot Put with a throw of well over 36 feet while fellow senior Kevin Brough placed fifth in the Long Jump. Stay tuned to the Independent for more results from Saturday's action. On the hardwood, the Kemmerer Rangers and Lady Rangers won Lincoln County bragging rights with a sweep of Star Valley Wednesday evening. The Rangers rode 19 points from 6' 8" Keeton Tucker to a 49-42 win which broke a six-game winning streak for the Braves. Brandon Taylor and Nate Imeson each had 13 points in the loss. The Lady Rangers overcame a three-point deficit after the first quarter to roll the Lady Braves, 55-28. Star Valley's offense sputtered to a halt after scoring 12 in the opening stanza. The gals in gold will be Casper next weekend for the beginning of conference play, while the Braves will be hosting Natrona on Jan. 23, and Kelly Walsh on Jan. 24.

Independent wins at WPA Annual convention

newsrelease — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:05:04 +0000

The Star Valley Independent earned eight Pacemaker Awards at the 110th Annual Wyoming Press Association Winter Convention over the weekend. The Independent staff won awards for best designed ads, best use of color in an ad, special merit for cartoonist Jessica Tanguay, government reporting from Sarah Hale and a host of others. The Independent has won 22 awards over the past two years for coverage in news, sports, photography, advertising, special sections, best newspaper website and many others. The Independent has not missed a weekly edition since February of 1903

All Shook Up? Minor tremor hits Alpine

dahlerickson — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:05:27 +0000

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake hit approximately seven miles east of Alpine Thursday evening. Residents of Alpine reported that they felt the quake, but no damage was reported. Geophysicists from around the region stated that the quake was not related to a series of tremors reported at Yellowstone Park on December 26, 2008. Look for a complete write up of the Alpine reaction as well as analysis from Utah State University in the January 22, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Governor warns that Wyoming is not "recession proof"

newsrelease — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:27:53 +0000

Words of warning at the end of last week by Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal. The governor addressed both bodies of the Wyoming State Legislature as he presented his State of the State Address, one day after both the House and Senate officially opened the new session. He advised that the state has a false sense of immunity from the recession. And even in the state that has strong supply of mineral resources the governor said it will probably get worse before it will get better. Last summer reports indicated that the state might have an additional one-billion dollars to spend on top of the 8-billion dollar biennium budget that was set last year at this time. Since summer that one-billion dollar surplus has shrunk to an estimated $259 million. The governor warned, Wyoming enters the recessions late and always leaves late. Among the govenor’s proposed cuts this time: The Wildlife Trust Fund and Library Endowment Program. On education he questioned the amount of spending and the overall grade averages across the state. In fact, Governor Freudenthal stated that in a business sense, the schools as a whole were not performing in accordance with the investments made by state government. The governor advised the legislature to stay out of people’s business. He said there are a series of bills this this time that simply tell people how to run their lives and their business. His advise: use the time wisely and be cautious. He quoted former 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater who said the conservative movement is founded on the simple tenet that people have the right to live life as they please as long as they don’t hurt anyone else. The governor said he thought it to be good wisdom then and is good wisdom now. After the govenor’s comments, local media pointed out there is a bill that would not recognize gay marriage in Wyoming. Following the govenor’s comments the bill was funneled into the Senate Education Committee, rather than the Judiciary Committee, where this bill would have traditionally been sent. If the Education Committee chooses to hear the bill, it has little chance of passing in that committee. And finally the Legislature is trying to decide how to deal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Decision yesterday to allow Montana and Idaho management of the Gray Wolf, but not Wyoming.

Game & Fish concerned with wildlife conflict

newsrelease — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:48:08 +0000

JACKSON- Workers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Jackson found themselves working to free a young bull elk that had gotten its antlers tangled in a woven wire fence along the west boundary of the National Elk Refuge recently. Game and Fish officials say these types of predicaments are becoming all to common, especially in the winter when many big game animals descend to lower elevation winter ranges that are often occupied by human development. Two young bull elk found themselves trapped on the wrong side of the eight-foot fence in the WY Highway 89 right-of-way, as they were migrating to the National Elk Refuge. One of the elk found an “elk jump” constructed to allow elk through the fence and onto the refuge. The other elk apparently got spooked by the bustling highway traffic and tried to bust through the fence, but became tangled. Once on the scene, Game and Fish employees acted quickly to restrain the animal and free it, not an easy task with an agitated 700 pound wild animal. However, they successfully lassoed a rope around one of the elk’s antlers and subdued the animal by pulling it close to one of the fence posts. “We try to avoid having to tranquilize an animal if possible,” says Jackson Region Game and Fish biologist, Doug Brimeyer. “The safety of everyone, including the animal, is always paramount, and in this case we felt we could handle the animal quickly because of the way it was tangled in the fence.” Reaching through the intact portion of the fence, Game and Fish employees cut the wire from around the bull’s neck and sawed off the tangled antler. Then they sawed off the roped antler, freeing the animal where it joined the other elk within the refuge. “Luckily, we were able to get to the animal quickly, before it seriously injured itself,” said Brimeyer. “When a animals become entangled they often break a leg or cut themselves on the wire leaving us with little option but to put the animal down.” Wildlife officials say this is the time of year when wildlife conflicts such as this increase dramatically. In the last week, Game and Fish officials spent several days responding to calls of four different moose in the Cottonwood Park Subdivision, including one bull moose with Christmas lights entangled in its antlers, and also had to put down a trophy mule deer buck that had been hit by a car. “We’ve been getting a lot more calls at the office lately, primarily moose and elk showing up in developed areas,” said Game and Fish spokesperson, Mark Gocke. “If this winter is anything like last winter, we can expect a lot of moose in developed areas throughout the valley as winter wears on. We all need to do our part to share the landscape with these animals by doing things like slowing down on our highways, not feeding wildlife, keeping our pets under control and just giving the animals room.” Officials say these types of wildlife conflicts are a direct result of human development on the animals’ traditional winter range and it will only become worse as more development occurs.

Freudenthal watches and reacts to Obama's speech

newsrelease — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:45:18 +0000

Shortly after taking the oath of office today, President Barack Obama delivered a somber inaugural speech that focused on the need for the nation to come together to face the serious challenges ahead. Governor Dave and First Lady Nancy Freudenthal joined other state and national leaders and nearly two million spectators at the inauguration ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol. Please click below for audio from Governor Freudenthal.

Motorists asked to slow down near Etna school

sarahhale — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:25:01 +0000

Highway signage officially marking the new school zone in Etna is not up yet. However, school officials are asking motorists to be mindful that students are in the area. “We are asking drivers to slow down as they pass Etna Elementary School on Highway 89,” said Superintendent Jon Abrams. “For us it is a safety issue for the students. We are asking drivers to please be aware and reduce their speed.” Abrams said that the state highway department has ordered the school zone signs that will be placed in front of the new school. A specific time frame for when those signs will be in place has not been given. School zone signs reduce the speed limit to 20 miles per hour during school hours, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. That is the anticipated speed limit that will be posted in front of the Etna Elementary School, Abrams said. The reduced speed signage that is currently in place toward the center of Etna where the old elementary school was, marks a crosswalk, Abrams said. That speed zone will likely remain in place even after new speed limit signage is placed along Highway 89 near the new Etna Elementary.

Braves knock off American Falls 40-27

dahlerickson — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:08:21 +0000

The Braves blasted American Falls last year on their home mat, one of the few sour moments in their Idaho 3A championship last season. In the re-match, it looked as though the Braves were going to roll through the Reservoir Dogs again, jumping out to a 37-0 lead. However, the visitors were not quite ready to pack it in and came through in a pair of hotly contested matches which swung the momentum in their favor, helping to lead to a respectable final score. In particular, Dalton Dance trailed by a single point in his match at 140 pounds for the final minute and a half from the down position and was not able to get an escape point as both wrestlers kept finding the out of bounds line. On two separate occasions the Braves staff felt a point should have been awarded but eventually lost the match, 4-3. Another tough pill to swallow was Darin Taylor's match at 152 which he led 9-3 and looked to be in full control before Kody Laggis capitalized on a mistake and pinned Taylor. Paul Woodie, Casey Wolfley, T.J. Guild and Dakota Dana all won by pinfall for the Braves. Both squads will be participating in the Tiger Grizz tournament this weekend. The Tiger Grizz is always a very tough tournament, but it seems this year's competition will be extremely tough. The duel with American Falls was the first of three straight high profile home events for SVHS. Friday night will see top-ranked and undefeated Natrona County invade Afton for the first time since December of 1967. Individual Results 103: (SV) Josh Claye def. Kasey West (AF) by decision (4-2) 112: (SV) Hayden Heap def Chad Curry (AF) by decision (6-0) 119: (SV) T.J. Guild def Francisco Torres (AF) by pinfall 125: (SV) Kevin Day def Cade Peake (AF) by major decision (11-2) 130: (SV) Dakota Dana def Paden Johnson (AF) by pinfall 135: (AF) Andrew Cruz def Mark Van Slyke (SV) by pinfall 140: (AF) Jake Serbum def Dalton Dance (SV) by decision (4-3) 145: (AF) Kody Laggis def Darin Taylor (SV) by pinfall 152: (SV) Brandon Anglesey def Calvin Call (AF) by decision (9-3) 160: (AF) VJ Giulio def Dawson Loveland (SV) by pinfall 171: (AF) Travis Williams def Jordan Reel (SV) by pinfall 189: (SV) Nick Edwards def Maico Rodriguez (AF) by decision (10-5) 215: (SV) Paul Woodie def Carlos Medel (AF) by pinfall 285: (SV) Casey Wolfley def (AF) by pinfall

Mustangs stay perfect with win over Braves

dahlerickson — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:12:03 +0000

Natrona had been slowed a bit in the first half in Afton, leading only 25-19. In the third quarter, the three-point baskets began to fall as the Mustangs moved to 14-0 with a 58-36 win over Star Valley. While team leaders Michael Dietz and Tom Earl were having their usual night, the rest of the squad struggled with Star Valley's team defense. However, in the third quarter, Cam Loe got hot and it spread to the rest of his team mates. Loe scored ten of his 13 points in the second half while Jordan Dick, Max Gustafson, Zach Powell and Mario Harris all hit at least one from beyond the arc. Nate Imeson led the way for the Braves with nine points and eight rebounds, but a relentless defense and cold-shooting saw the Braves fall behind after a competitive half of basketball. Despite being whistled for over 20 fouls in the contest, the Mustangs depth was a key issue in the win as no player fouled out. Meanwhile, Star Valley's Jason Livingston fell hard late in the third quarter. While he returned to the bench in the fourth, his status is uncertain. Dietz led all scorers with 15 while Earl finished with 12. Up next for the Braves is a Saturday afternoon clash with Kelly Walsh. The Trojans were outscored 40-18 in the second half of their conference opening in Evanston Friday night in a 65-45 loss.

Heap wins back-to-back Tiger Grizz titles

dahlerickson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:07:13 +0000

For Hayden Heap, his third straight event title isn't just impressive, it's borderline all-time. After winning crowns at the Rollie Lane, the Richardson Memorial and now the 2009 version of the Tiger Grizz, Heap certainly won't sneak up on anyone in Casper this year. Heap won the 103 pound weight class at the Grizz last year as a sophomore. Heap was one of four Braves' placers at the Tiger-Grizz in a ninth place finish. Star Valley had to suffer through a less than stellar first day but still came through with a trio of third place finishes. Josh Claye at 103, Dakota Dana at 130 and Paul Woodie at 215 all battled thorugh fierce competition to win their final matches of the tourney.

Valley experiences pains of winter flux

dahlerickson — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:29:38 +0000

For nearly a week, the skies were blue and temperatures were in the 30's. Maybe that's normal in a lot of winter locales, but not Star Valley in January. Though residents enjoyed the unseasonably warmer temps for nearly a week, Mother Nature returned from her vacation with a vengeance. Beginning as a light dusting on Sunday afternoon, the area was hit by more than 12 inches of snow on the valley floor. Compounding the cleanup efforts, the temperatures then spiraled downward to -15 with a -25 wind chill on Monday evening. Tuesday evening brought yet another six inches of the white stuf While one never knows exactly what a Wyoming winter will bring, temperature and weather changes this quickly will never get a laugh out of a Cowboy State resident when they pull their winter gear out of their back seat in June. Be sure to take a peek at one aspect of fighting the winter weather to deliver your weekly paper on time by clicking the video below.

Braves hold off homestanding Green River

dahlerickson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:17:48 +0000

With a very tough Wolves squad hosting the Braves on the mat Wednesday evening, there weren't many who thought Star Valley could come away with a win. Dawson Loveland at 160 dominated the final match of the duel, pushing the Braves to a 36-29 victory over Green River. The Braves are hosting Evanston Friday evening. 103 GR Luna beat Claye 11-0 112 SV Heap beat Flores 9-4 119 SV won Forfeit 125 GR Henderson won by fall :24 over Day 130 SV Dana beat Flores 9-1 135 GR Turnbull won 5-4 Van Slyke 140 GR Schumacher win by fall over Dance 145 SV won 5-4 Taylor over Verner 152 SV Angelsey won Fall over Jones 160 SV Loveland won tech fall 21-2 over Antila 171 GR Thoman won 8-0 Reel 189 GR Ross won by forfeit 215 SV Woodie beat Bayles 9-4 HWT SV Wolfley won fall over Alatorre

This Week In Star Valley

newsrelease — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:38:52 +0000

For over 100 years the Independent has been bringing you the news. Here's a look back at this particular week 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago here in Star Valley. This content originally ran over this same seven-day period at the years mentioned above. 25-years ago: Exie the Clown is a creation of The Country Burger and The Extravaganza, Afton businesses, to entertain at children's birthday parties. (There was a picture to show the children who attend the first party Exie hosted at The Country Burger this past week.) Jerry Snyder, nationally recognized guitar teacher, clinician and performing artist and writer, stopped at the Star Valley High school recently to pick guitar and talk to the music students of Mr. Scott Schwab. Mr. Snyder was returning to Jackson to catch his plane back to California following a state music convention for music teachers. Ad: Make your special someone happy; bring them to the Afton Wyoming Stake Sweetheart Dinner Dance. Music by: Wyoming. Best dress. Floor show. Tickets are purchased from your ward elder's quorum presidency. Non-Members contact your nearest Mormon neighbor for information about this dance. Ad: Mid-Winter Sale at Radio Shack. Compact Music System, Clarinette-102 by Realistic. Save $100, $199.95, Reg. $299.95. Our "Everything System" Cassette and 8-track record/play decks, AM/FM stereo, changer. 22"-high speakers. 50-years ago: Ad: 540 KC, KBRV, on every Star Valley radio dial. Spreading a blanket of music over the great Star Valley. Curt Empey, Dale Dunn, Ralph Smart, and Bob Bruce. KBRV Top 20: 1–Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Platters; 2–16 Candles, The Crests; 3–Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price; 4–Donna, Ritchie Valens; 5–My Happiness, Connie Fancis; 6–A Lover's Question, Clyde McPhatter; 7–Goodbye, Baby, Jack Scott; 8–Gotta Travel On, Billy Grammer; 9–Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson; 10–Manhattan Spiritual, Reg Owens and Orch.; 11–May You Always, McGuire Sisters; 12–Lucky Ladybug, Billie & Lillie; 13–Whole Lotta Lovin', Fats Domino; 14–The Diary, Niel Sedeka; 15–Petter Gunn, Ray Anthony; 16–All of a Sudden (My Heart Sings), Paul Anka; 17–One Night, Elvis Presley; 18–Lonesome Town, Ricky Nelson; 19–To Know Him is to Love Him, The Teddybears; 20–Children's Matrching Song, Mitch Miller. KBRV's Featured Albums of the Week: The Best of the Ames, by Ames Brothers; Ricky Nelson, by Ricky Nelson; Sounds of Great Bands, by Glenn Gravy. The Disc-Jockey's pick of the week. Dale: I'm Gonna Hitch my Hotrod to a Star, by Hal Wallis; Curt: Zombie, by the Salmas Brothers; Ralph: I've got a Wife, by Mark IV; Bob: Solitude, by Bonnie Guitar. 75-years ago: Ski tournament at Freedom postponed–the scarcity of snow has compelled the committee to select a later date which they call February 24, for their ski meet. This time of the year should furnish the hill with a blanket of snow sufficient for the flying hardwood to do the act.... To the skiers who really wish to see a thrilling hill, and try their skill on it, be at Etna, Sat. Feb 3 at 12 o'clock. The hill is straight East of Etna on the mountain slop. Bear Clinger says it's the greatest of all hills for thrills, but too steep an approach for great distance. Come out and see a real hill and dense canopy of pines. It has two jumps erected. Checker tournament–Have you selected your champion checker player? If not, remember you have only until February 13 to select a champion to represent you ward in the finals of each valley, the then the final championship for the whole Star Valley. The best players of each valley will compete for the first and second places. "Who knows? you may be the champion." 100-years ago: Grover news: Mrs. Hepworth dies–A gloom has been cast over this community by the sad death of Comera Bessile Hepworth, wife of Geo. W. Hepworth. She is the mother of eight children, six of whom survive her, the youngest being but a week old when its mother died.

SVHS Friday Night Sports Update

dahlerickson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:47:45 +0000

The Braves rolled the visiting Evanston Red Devils on the wrestling mat, 52-15 in a home duel on Friday night. Five Braves won by pinfall as Star Valley compiled a 36-0 lead right out of the gate. See individual match results below. On the hardwood, the Lady Braves hung with the number five ranked Rock Springs Lady Tigers for a half before the home squad pulled away for a 57-40 orange & black victory. The Lady Braves will be home for their first game in over a month as they host Green River Saturday afternoon As for the Braves, they led the Rock Springs Tigers 47-30 buoyed by six three-point baskets from Tyler Schwab who scored 24 points in the first half alone. The Braves went on to win, 80-68.

Historical Society to expose valley roots in Nauvoo

newsrelease — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:23:41 +0000

The Star Valley Historical Society will sponsor a program to be presented by Gordon and Margaret Tueller and Rex and Doreen Bateman concerning the "Nauvoo Experience'. The Tuellers and the Batemans recently returned from serving eighteen months in Nauvoo, Ill., and they will be discussing early pioneer costume and demonstrate early pioneer craftsmanship and discuss several static displays. They will discuss the functions and activities at the Nauvoo village complex designed for the enlightenment of many annual visitors there. With a large number of residents who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the historical significance of the Nauvoo region is particular to those who may have had ancestors pass through. Last summer's research revealed that over 100 Star Valley families have ancestral roots in old Nauvoo. Interested descendents will learn how to access the old family records from nauvoo and surrounding counties. The program will be held at the Afton City Hall, at 7 p.m. on Thursday February 19. The public is invited to attend.

Guardians of the Road

dahlerickson — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:04:01 +0000

Students may not remember much of their high school experience, but they will remember their bus drivers. Just north of Star Valley High School, and just south of Star Valley Middle School, is a building that may as well be the heart of a great web of criss-crossed traffic patterns. Inside the heart is a fleet of long yellow vehicles that act as mechanized transport for virtually every Star Valley student at some point in their academic careers. If the building is the heart, then the buses must be the lifeblood of the largest organization in the area, that of Lincoln County School district #2. It’s not a stretch to say that without the good folks behind the wheel, the whole great beast would shudder and die. That’s not a concern once you get to know a few of these selfless souls; these guardians of child safety. They aren’t going anywhere. Inside the building is a person who is charged with knowing what goes on with nearly 100 vehicles and their requisite cargo. Perhaps no more important than anyone else who does their part, but certainly one who has to be organized. “Most of our drivers are here at 5:30 in the morning,” stated Dallin Tolman, Transportation Director. “That includes a pre-trip and a walk through of their bus.” Tolman is constantly impressed by the commitment shown by drivers and staff to make sure that the task of a child getting on a bus every day is almost an afterthought because of the consistency. “The drivers know their vehicles,” he added . “If something is wrong, they can call my mechanics which sometimes is at 4 a.m. Our mechanics are just phenomenal. Between them and our shop assistant, they can keep our fleet of buses going 24 hours a day; seven days a week.” In addition to the buses, the mechanics also service roughly 30 vehicles which are used by teachers, coaches, administrators and drivers education programs. While it’s not always a party to ride the bus, those behind the wheel are very aware of their importance to the community. “Little issues are magnified when you’re driving a bus. ,” added Tolman. “These drivers haul these kids from the time that they are five years old; their brothers and sisters and they really become almost an extended family, it’s really amazing. They know their parents, they look for the signs of whether someone is home or not and they care so much for these kids.” In addition to the drivers and mechanics, the extended services of others during the frigid and snowy winter months is also a testament to their level of commitment. “What’s also amazing is how hard people work as a community,” concluded Tolman. “We work very closely with the Lincoln County Road and Bridge Department to keep things plowed. With the big recent storm we had, I knew without a doubt that we were going to have school in the morning. I knew that those guys were going to be up at two or three in the morning to make that school would held on time.” So, while you may not remember everything you learned in school, the chances are, you will remember who got you there. This author would like to thank Mr. Harmon, Mr. Lancaster and Mrs. Gardner for driving him from 1981-1991. • Bus Drivers in LCSD#2 completed 895,933 miles in the 2007-08 school year. • The dedicated transportation department oversees 4,256 miles every single day which includes over 1,800 students. • LCSD#2 counts on over 40 buses to carry students, coaches and teachers, all of which are maintained in phenomenal fashion by three individuals.

Weekend Sports Wrapup

dahlerickson — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:23:23 +0000

Hayden Heap's fourth consecutive event title at the Ron Thon Memorial was the highlight of the SVHS weekend sports slate. Heap claimed the 112 pound championship at Wyoming's premier tournament as the Braves placed fifth overall. Heap has now won the Rollie Lane Memorial in Boise, Idaho, the Richardson Memorial in Box Elder, the Tiger Grizz in Idaho and now the Ron Thon in Riverton in succession. The Ron Thon not only hosts all 12 Wyoming 4A squads, but most of the 3A teams and top 2A teams such as Cokeville. Heap was the 4A state runner-up at 103 pounds last year as a sophomore. The top five was a who's who of the 4A Wrestling ranks as Gillette ran away with the crown. Natrona, Green River and Rock Springs all finished in front of the Braves. When figuring in Paul Woodie's injury at 215, it's easy to figure the Braves into the argument for a top three spot. Six Star Valley grapplers placed in Riverton, including Josh Claye finishing second at 103 pounds and Dakota Dana finishing third at 130. As for the hardwood, a back and forth affair with Evanston eventually saw the the home court devils ride a late third quarter advantage to a 59-53 4A West victory over Star Valley. The game was the first of three straight away trips with the Casper double-header now on tap. Tyler Schwab had a game-high 20 points, while Brandon Taylor and Nate Imeson had eleven and ten points respectively. Hazen Davis led the Devils with 19. The Lady Braves were victims to foul trouble early and often in Uinta County as they remained winless in the 4A West, 60-41. Dani Scherbel, Randi Robinson and Kassie Woodie all scored seven points to share in the team high honors but it was a great night from the charity stripe that proved to be the difference for the home team Evanston, shooting just 37 percent from the stripe on the season, made the vast majority of their 36 opportunities in the win. The Lady Braves finished with 12 attempts. The gals in gold will now get an opportunity to stay at home this weekend as they host Natrona and Kelly Walsh at SVHS.

Sled Dog slideshow for Alpine mushers

dahlerickson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:25:47 +0000

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race ran it's way through Alpine for the tenth year recently. The (IPSSSDR) is unique in that it allows the various communities through which it runs the opportunity to meet and greet the mushers and their teams. The race winds it's way through many Wyoming communities before finishing in Park City, Utah. Click below for the Independent's slide show of the Alpine event.

Friday Night Sports Wrap

dahlerickson — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:43:01 +0000

The Braves knocked off Rock Springs on the hardwood and 23 wrestlers qualified for the 4A State tournament next week in Casper. At the 4A West Regional wrestling tournament, the Braves currently sit in third place along with 23 individuals punching their ticket for the Oil City next weekend. Green River holds a solid lead after day one with 189 team points. Natrona County is second with 166. The Braves have 126.5. Rock Springs is a close fourth with Evanston and Kelly Walsh rounding out the field. In addition, four Braves are in the finals for tomorrow's championship bracket in Rock Springs. Josh Claye at 103 pounds, Hayden Heap at 112 pounds, freshman T.J. Guild at 119 pounds and Mark Van Slyke at 135 pounds. More information on the 4A West Regional will be written as the information is made available. On the court, the Braves jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the game but the Tigers tied it up after a furious second quarter. The Braves regained the lead and never relinquished it again as they claimed their tenth victory of the season, 65-57. Junior Brandon Taylor led the team with 23 points while Jon Scherbel had 13. David Cranford suffered a season-ending injury this week and Tyler Schwab was less than 100 percent after suffering an ankle sprain on Tuesday. The Lady Braves were not as fortunate as they lost to the third ranked Lady Tigers, 64-23. Randi Robinson and Dani Scherbel each had six to lead the gals in gold. Both teams will join the wrestlers in Sweetwater County on Saturday as they face Green River. And finally from the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho, three SVHS athletes have made their way to the finals. Tyler Skinner in the High Jump, Madison Wilkes in the Shot Put and Kevin Brough in the 400 Meter Dash will all be participating in the finals heat on Saturday.

Saturday Roundup

dahlerickson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:36:14 +0000

The Braves wrestlers rallied after day one to claim second place at the 2009 4A West Regional Tournament with 185.5 team points, just half a point in front of Natrona. Green River forged 231 points to win the team title. Hayden Heap was Star Valley's lone champion at 112 pounds, defeating Luis Flores, 6-4. Three other Braves made it to the finals and placed second. Josh Claye fell to Green River's Mario Luna, 5-2 at 103 pounds, T.J. Guild fell to Kasey Bertagnolli of Rock Springs, 7-2 and Mark Van Slyke fell to Natrona's Garth Ginder, 9-3. Nine other Braves placed in the top four and 23 wrestlers qualified for the state championship in Casper next weekend. Six of them placed third with Dakota Dana, Darin Taylor, Brandon Anglesey, Dawson Loveland, Nick Edwards and Adam Walton all winning thier final match at their respective weights. Look for a full accounting of the place winners and state qualifiers at the bottoms of this article. The Green River Wolves swept the Braves and Lady Braves on the hardwood. The Lady Wolves held off the Lady Braves by ten points in a 53-43 victory. The Braves ran out of time against the home court Wolves, falling 58-50. Tyler Schwab had 18 points while Brandon Taylor had 17. At the Simplot Games, a pair of Star Valley athletes claimed top-ten finishes in one of the nation's most prestigious Track & Field meets in Pocatello, Idaho. Madison Wilkes become just the third SVHS girl in history to throw the Shot Put over 37 feet, hitting 37 feet even to place tenth. Kevin Brough also placed tenth in the 400 Meter Dash, running a time of 51.31. Brough appears to be hitting his stride, cutting off three seconds over the last two weeks. Brough ran the event in just under 50 seconds last spring and will be a candidate to break the school record which has stood for more than 20 years. As for Wilkes, her throw is just three and a half inches off the school record as well. Regional Placers (Top 4) 103: Josh Claye 2nd 112: Hayden Heap 1st 119: T.J. Guild 2nd 125: Kevin Day 4th 130: Dakota Dana 3rd 135: Mark Van Slyke 2nd 145: Darin Taylor 3rd 145: Alex Cooper 4th 152: Brandon Anglesey 3rd 160: Dawson Loveland 3rd 160: Cole Wines 4th 189: Nick Edwards 3rd 215: Adam Walton 3rd Other State Qualifiers 285: Casey Wolfley 189: Tanner Crook 171: Jordan Reel 140: Dalton Dance & Jade Daugherty 135: Tyson Baker 130: Brandon Aullman 125: Tim Stephens 119: Sterling Jorgensen 112: Nathan Merritt

Governor Freudenthal sends appointments to Senate

newsrelease — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:23:31 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal today sent his 2009 appointments for the state’s boards, commissions and agencies to the Wyoming Senate for confirmation. Many appointments representing towns from around the Cowboy State were made, including Steve Ferrell as director of the Game and Fish Department, Steven Olmstead as a member of the Board of Equalization, Terry Adcock as the State Mine Inspector and Al Minier as a member of the Public Service Commission.

Alpine Roundtable is Thursday night

sarahhale — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:34:56 +0000

The Town of Star Valley Ranch and the Alpine Sewer Committee will hold a roundtable discussion and workshop this evening. The discussion is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Alpine Town Hall. The public is invited to attend. The purpose of the meeting, according to Mayor Victoria DeCora, will solely be for the council and the committee to discuss pros and cons of the different financial plans regarding the town’s sewer system. No action will be taken by the council at the meeting. For more information about the upcoming roundtable discussion, contact the Alpine Town Hall at 654-7754.

Star Valley food banks accepting donations

newsrelease — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:39:02 +0000

While the area's two food banks are on stable ground now, possible increased demand may change that thought. There are two food banks in Star Valley one is located in Afton, the other is in Alpine. According to Heather Warren the Afton food bank is located at The Afton Town Hall. “Right now we have been able to meet the needs of the people that come in, the boy scouts have been able to help keep us stocked when they do their canned food drive, but we are anticipating an increase in need, we are covered now, but it won’t last.” The food bank in Alpine is run by Paster Warren Jones of Morning Star Church. He too has indicated that so far they have been able to meet the needs of the people in the Valley that have come to them for help. “We are focusing on community needs more, and are antcipating and increase in the need for food as more people become aware that we have a food pantry, and because of hard economic times.” Jones goes on to say, “The Boy Scout did a soup drive on Super Bowl Sunday and donated three boxes of soup, so right now we are stocked with soup.” Both food banks are accepting donations. They would like nonparishable items such as canned fruits and vegetables, or packaged items that are easy to store and prepare like macaroni and cheese, soup, or rice. If you would like to make a donation to the Afton food bank you can bring it to Afton Town Hall. If you are in the Alpine area and would like to donate to the food bank call Paster Jones at Morning Star Church 654-7792. If you are in need of help you can stop by the City Hall in Afton, and receive a prepared box of food items for you family. If you are in Alpine call Morning Star Church and receive help with no strings attached.

Season Ending Sweep: SV bests Evanston

dahlerickson — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:46:47 +0000

Though the school celebrated senior night last weekend, the seniors had plenty to say in Star Valley's Thursday night sweep over Uinta County rival, Evanston. The Lady Braves broke a ten-game losing streak that dated back to January by knocking off the Lady Red Devils, 42-39. It was a game that saw Star Valley operating with the lead for most of the contest. Their largest margin was nine points. The Lady Devils battled back on the play of Erin Kirby who was the only player in double figures with 14. Randi Robinson led the charge for the gals in gold, finishing with nine points. Emily Porter chipped in seven of her own and senior Raini Wolfley, who got the start at center alongside junior Kelsea Gardner, scored six points and grabbed several key rebounds. Klydi Brower and Gardner also finished with six. It was the first conference win for the Lady Braves who were ecstatic to claim a win on their home floor for Head Coach Jason Cazier. Senior Aubrey Johnson and Wolfley joined in an emphatic hug for their coach as well. As for the boys, it's not a night the the Devils will point to when putting on any shooting clinics. With the snow flying outside, Evanston found it hard to find any semblence of shooting rhythm and fell behind after a steady diet of Star Valley buckets in the paint. In the end, the Devils were stymied by the Braves' defense in a 60-49 home town win. Nate Imeson dominated the glass, collecting 16 rebounds and nine points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. The man of the night however was fellow senior, Jon Scherbel and his season-high 27 points. The Devils had no answer for Scherbel along the baseline as he routinely finished strong at the basket and in many cases went to the line for a free throw. Scherbel's previous season-high of 23 came against the Laramie Plainsmen. Tyler Schwab gripped the ball tightly as the last few seconds ticked off the clock as the embattled seniors finished with a satisfying final win. The five seniors played for three different head coaches in three seasons and played 17 of their 23 games against Wyoming 4A opponents. Schwab finished with 13 points and several key rebounds as well. Jason Livingston and Jordan Ealey rounded out an extremely satisfying win for the senior five with fine ball play. Evanston's leading scorer, Hazen Davis, tried extremely hard to get team mates involved, and led the Devils with 20 points, but he was the only player to reach double figures. The loss drops the Devils to 13-9 for the regular season, while Star Valley improves to 11-11 on the year. The two teams will go at it one more time for a trip to the state tournament on the line next Thursday at Natrona County High School.

State Wrestling Update Day 1:

dahlerickson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:15:35 +0000

After the third round wrestlebacks, the Braves are in third place overall at the Wyoming 4A State Championship behind rival Natrona and favorite Gillette. Campbell County already has a comfortable lead at 122 team points. Natrona is a distant second with 84.5 points. The Braves are third with 76.0. Cheyenne Central is hot on the Braves' heels with 72.0 team points. Six Braves have made their way into the semi-finals, all of them coming at the lighter end of the weight spectrum. Sophomore Josh Claye at 103, junior Hayden Heap at 112, freshman T.J. Guild at 119, senior Dakota Dana at 130, junior Mark Van Slyke at 135 and sophomore Brandon Anglesey at 152. Casey Wolfley at 285 and Jordan Reel at 171 have been eliminated from competition. ***UPDATE**** Hayden Heap at 112 and Dakota Dana at 130 have advanced to the finals. Congratulations to these two competitors!

Day 2 from State Wrestling: Heap is a state champion!

dahlerickson — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:53:52 +0000

Gillette scored 291.5 points en route to their seventh straight team title, including seven champions out of eight finalists. Their lone loss came at the hands of Hayden Heap who won a state championship at 112 pounds. The Braves battled with four other teams over the course of the tournament, eventually forging 152.5 points and a fifth place finish. 4A West champion Green River finished as the state runner-up with 194 team points, with home town Natrona placing third with 192. Cheyenne Central finished fourth, just eight points in front of the Braves with 160.5 points. Ten Braves placed out of the 23 wrestlers who qualified and nine of them will return next season. The Independent congratulates the team and the coaching staff on all the hard work and dedication amidst an incredibly strong field this year. Placers: 103: Josh Claye placed fourth after a wrist injury forced him out of the third and fourth matchup 112: Hayden Heap becomes a state champion with his sixth consecutive tournament championship. Heap placed as the state runner-up at 103 pounds last year. Hayden fell behind early, 4-0 before dominating Tanner Olsen of Gillette with a 11-4 decision. Heap becomes the second individual champion at the 4A level for Star Valley after Zach Booth claimed the 215 pound division a year ago. 119: T.J. Guild wraps up a tremondous freshman campaign with a third place finish by way of pinfall over Isaac Harmon of Green River. 130: Dakota Dana advanced to the finals against Marc Madsen of Gillette before losing by pinfall in the first period. Dana has compiled an impressive wrestling career for Star Valley High School and the Independent congratulates him and his family on his representation of the school and the community. 130: Also at 130 was Brandon Aullman who battled his way to sixth place, finishing his season with a 15-2 loss to Jacob Flores of Green River 135: Mark Van Slyke placed fifth with a 3-1 decision over Doug Baldwin of Kelly Walsh 140: Darin Taylor placed fifth with a 4-2 decision over Joey Kozlowski of Laramie 152: Brandon Anglesey placed fifth with a pinfall over Brian Greene of Cheyenne Central (.41) 160: Dawson Loveland placed fifth with a 8-4 decision over Jordan O'Dowd of Gillette. 189: Nick Edwards placed sixth with a 3-2 overtime loss to Robert Ross of Green River.

Area avalanche claims lives of three snowmobilers from Idaho

sarahhale — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:20:08 +0000

Three snowmobilers were killed in an avalanche Friday, Feb. 27, 2009. The slide occurred in the Dry Wolf Creek area of the Snake River Range. Robert Clark, 48, Scott Smith, 45, both of Soda Springs and Bob Tiechert, 55, of Grace, Idaho were buried by the snow slide. The avalanche was estimated to be 100 yards wide and over a mile in length. Wade Clark, 53, of Soda Springs, who was also traveling with the group, survived. According to Lincoln County Sheriff Department reports of the incident, after the avalanche occurred, Clark walked out to call 911 from his cell phone. Rescue teams responded to the call and established their staging area near Wolf Creek between Hoback Junction and Alpine. Explosive charges were detonated before any victim recovery attempts were made in order to reduce the risk of a second slide occurring in the area. Rescuers found the bodies of the victims nearly three hours later. The victims were under about three feet of snow and had come to rest approximately 50 feet from their snowmobiles. According to reports, the sole survivor told authorities that the group of snowmobilers had dropped off a ridge line and into a draw when they saw a snow slab breaking away from the mountain. The sledders were buried as they tried to move out of the avalanche’s path. The avalanche danger was listed as moderate when the fatal slide occurred.

Arrest made in methadone case

sarahhale — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:50:10 +0000

Ted Barber, 51, of Afton was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2009 and charged with 11 felony counts relating to the distribution of a controlled substance. After his arrest, Barber was transported to the jail in Kemmerer. According to Lincoln County Circuit Court documents relating to the case, the charges stem from the sale and delivery of methadone dating back to May 2007 and continuing through February 2009. According to the court affidavit put together by Lincoln County Sheriff Deputy Jody Gardner, Gardner began investigating Barber for drug related crimes in August 2008. That investigation came to a head in February 2009 when Gardner worked with Agent Mike Carlson of the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations and two informants to record and monitor a drug transaction in which Barber was allegedly involved. On Feb. 16 Lincoln County Sheriff Deputy Megan Thomson and Deputy Gardner worked with an informant in the case to make a controlled methadone buy from Barber. “The methadone tablets were secured as evidence,” Gardner said in his affidavit. As of press time no date and time had been set for Barber to make his initial court appearance in the case.

Business asks to be de-annexed from Alpine

sarahhale — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:56:25 +0000

S.A.L.L. Enterprises, LLC in Alpine has filed a petition for municipal de-annexation. The petition was filed this week with both the Town of Alpine and Lincoln County. The request for de-annexation is for lots 1-A, 2-A.1, and 3-A.2 of the Palispark Subdivision in Alpine. The amount of property in those lots is approximately nine acres and includes the Tavern on the Greys, the RV park and two and a half acres behind the Bank of Alpine. According to Diggs Lewis, one of the owners of S.A.L.L. Enterprises, there are a number of reasons he is looking to get out of ‘dodge.’ “The town did not complete earlier agreements prior to our purchasing the property,” Lewis stated in the official request for de-annexation. “The town received a grant from the State Loan and Investment Board with the help of the previous owners for $150,000 which was supposed to have included monies for a sewer lift station on the north side of our property. The town did not install the lift station and used the money instead for other expenses. SLIB forced the town to pay the money back and our property was used as collateral on the grant until it was paid back by the town over a five year period.” According to Lewis, as a result, the property owners involved had to “spend over $35,000 to upgrade their septic systems because there was not a way to access the town’s system “without spending major capitol.” Lewis also referred to his belief that the previous property owner had paid a sewer assessment to the town in 2007 “which was supposed to include hook-up fees.” “The town is now requiring that we pay to hook on to their sewer system with proposed monthly fees of up to $800 per month,” Lewis said. “Our business cannot support this expense and will be forced to shut down.” According to Lewis, the property in question has its own water system and “adequate approved septic systems.” “We request that you put this land back into the county,” said Lewis. “We will appreciate your help in this very serious matter.” According to County Commissioner Jerry Harmon, state statute does allow for property owners to petition for de-annexation. Property owners must first appeal to the town, itself, and then the county. “We will follow the state statute,” said Harmon. “According to the statute, we have 60 days to prepare a report on the impact of de-annexation. In preparing that report we will also be looking at county land use plans so our Planning Director John Woodward will be involved.” According to Harmon, the county began working on the report this week. “First the appeal must be made to the Town of Alpine but we have some due diligence and work that needs to be done on this as well,” said Harmon. The Town of Alpine has not reached an official decision about which sewer rate and use fee plan it is going to adopt and move forward with. The Alpine Sewer Committee and the Town of Alpine met last Thursday, Feb. 26 to discuss the different sewer rate proposals. Both groups will review information relating to the four plans over the next two weeks. The next Alpine Town Council meeting is slated for Tuesday, March 17, 2009. It is likely the town will announce its official decision regarding sewer rates and use fees at that time.

Simplot Afton Challenge Hill Climbs names King of the Hill

dahlerickson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:05:28 +0000

Every year the event known simply as the “hill climbs” brings out a huge crowd and even bigger excitement.The cutting edge of snowmobile technology was on display as was the talent and ability to harness it with almost 600 entries at the Simplot Afton Challenge Hill Climb over the weekend. When the dust and snow settled two Star Valley residents not only held their own, but won their classes. Tom Roby of Thayne won the Pro Master Improved division on his Ski-Doo with a time of 41.755 seconds, more than three full seconds in front of second place David Sharp of Moxee, Wash. Roby is well known in climbing circles and was entered in several races. Tyson Thomas of Afton was the other local winner who claimed the 700 Mod division with a time of 40.971 seconds. Jeremy Osler of Bozeman, Mont., was second with a time of 42.393. Both riders were on Polaris sleds. Other local citizens who fared well at the event included Levi Kilroy, who placed third in the Semi Pro Stock division and second in the Semi Pro Improved division. Roby placed fourth in the Pro Master Stock class, while Kenny Thompson of Freedom placed fourth in the Semi Pro Improved. Luke Rainey placed fourth in the 1000 Stock with a time of 39.658, while Thomas also placed sixth in the Open Mod division. Dustin Haderlie rode his Polaris to a fourth place finish in the 600 Improved, while Kevin Kilroy finished the course on his 600 Mod with a time of 53.050 seconds. Winners of the King of the Hill portion of the event included the following: • Dolan Phelps of Montpelier, Idaho was the Stock King with a time of 40.12 seconds. • Kyle Tapio of Battle Ground, Wash., was Improved King with a time of 35.04 seconds. • Jeremy Osler of Bozeman, Mont. was Mod King with a time of 34.91 seconds. Tyson Thomas of Afton was a very clos second with a time of 36.29. • Landon Archibald of Mendon, Utah was the Semi Pro King with a time of 42.37.

Basketball season ends for SVHS as teams are eliminated

dahlerickson — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:30:01 +0000

Just two weeks ago, the Rock Springs Lady Tigers dismantled Star Valley by more than 40 points. Thursday afternoon, they needed 48 points to survive and advance to the post-season while the Lady Braves ended their season in a 48-38 loss. It was nothing like the one-sided affair that took place on February 21, in Afton where the Rock Springs full-court press demoralized a tentative Lady Braves squad. No, this time the gals in gold battled for a full game, eventually coming up short due to a lack of offense in the third quarter. Jordan Giles was the only starter to reach double figures for Rock Springs and ironically also the only one to not reach the free-throw line. Giles had six two-point baskets, sharing game-high scoring honors with Star Valley's Dani Scherbel. Mercedes Crouch added nine points in the win. Kyla Radakovich struggled from the charity stripe, going just 4/11 but pulled down seven rebounds and caused plenty of turnovers for the Lady Braves. Courtney Patterson, Shawn Miskulin and Blaec Christensen each had five points. Rock Springs forced 25 Star Valley turnovers unofficially. Adding to Scherbel was Kelsea Gardner who notched a double-double in the loss with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Gardner also compiled four steals before fouling out late in the contest. Emily Porter added a pair of three-point baskets and eight points overall. Head Coach, Jason Cazier, used 11 players in the game, including three underclassmen. Junior Shae Wilkes and sophomore Kassie Woodie were unavailable for the game due to injury. The loss ends the Lady Braves' season while advancing Rock Springs to the regional semi-finals and a state tourney birth next weekend in Casper. Rock Springs had to battle the Lady Braves due to coming up short on tie-breaking protocol despite finishing in a three-way tie with Natrona and Kelly Walsh in the 4A West. The game was the final contest for Aubree Johnson and Raini Wolfley. Johnson finished the outing with two points and seven rebounds. The program will return seven juniors who saw playing time this season, including top scorers Randi Robinson and Dani Scherbel and leading rebounder, Kelsea Gardner. A pair of sophomores in Woodie and Lachelle Winters saw significant time in the latter portion of the season and a strong junior varsity contingent will push for playing time in 2010 as well. In addition, the freshmen Lady Braves went 20-0 this season, winning the Evanston Tournament. On the boy's side of the bracket, the Braves jumped out to a 17-7 first quarter lead, only to see it evaporate before their very eyes. Evanston battled back and took a ten-point advantage into the locker room and never let Star Valley get any closer than six points again in a 46-37 loss. Hazen Davis was very efficient for the Devils with 18 points while Brandon Taylor led the Braves with 14. Jon Scherbel finished with 12 points as well in the loss. This year's team had made earning a trip to the state tournament a priority but it wasn't meant to be as foul trouble, poor shooting and Evanston's defense held the Braves to just six total points in the second and third quarters. It was the final game for seniors Tyler Schwab, Nate Imeson, Jason Livingston, Jordan Ealey and Scherbel. The Independent wishes to thank the coaching staff and the players for all their hard work and their class on and off the court.

Wyoming recognizes colorectal cancer awareness month

newsrelease — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:10:56 +0000

A Wyoming Department of Health program is encouraging colorectal cancer screening for Wyoming residents and providing a free colonoscopy for some who otherwise might not be able to afford it. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in Wyoming and affects both men and women. According to Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer, most colon cancer cases begin as benign, pre-cancerous polyps and removing polyps early can prevent colon cancer. “Colorectal cancer is really one of the most common and serious cancers we deal with, but is such a treatable disease if picked up early,” he said. Authorized in 2007, the Wyoming Cancer Control Act included funding for the Wyoming Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program (WCCEDP). The program pays colonoscopy costs for residents who qualify based on age, income and lack of insurance coverage. Wanda Webb, WCCEDP case manager, said “More than one-third of colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided if people over the age of 50 had regular screening tests.” Over the past year the program has processed more than 1,000 applications and reimbursed providers for 550 colonoscopies. Of those colorectal cancer screens completed, polyps were removed in 45 percent of patients. Eight colon cancers have been identified to date by the program. A few months ago, the fiancé of Torrington resident Margaret Hauf was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer during a hospitalization for another illness. He had never been screened for colon cancer and faces chemotherapy to fight the disease. A spot has also been identified on his lung. Her fiance’s experience prompted 60-year-old Hauf to get herself screened for colon cancer. “I couldn’t afford the procedure, but the state program made it possible for me to let go of that worry and focus on my health.” “I had the procedure done 30 years ago when they didn’t use any form of anesthesia, so the thought of going back was not top on my list,” Hauf continued. “Medicine has come a long way. The colonoscopy procedure was pain free and I felt safe.” The doctor removed two pre-cancerous polyps from Hauf’s colon. “I had no symptoms and no pain, so this came as a complete surprise to me,” she said. “But they removed the polyps and I am going to be fine.” Over time, she was told she would have developed cancer. Hauf wants to help spread the word about the importance of early detection. “I tell everyone who comes into my workplace, if you are over 50 or have a family member who’s had colon cancer, you need to get screened. Don’t be afraid of the unknown.” This year, to celebrate colorectal cancer awareness month and the importance of screening, the program is implementing the 2009 Pledge to Screen for Colorectal Cancer. All Wyoming men and women over age 50 are encouraged to take the pledge. Additionally, those who have a family history of the disease are encouraged to visit with their provider about screening before age 50. For more information about free colonoscopy, or to pledge to screen, contact Gina Lujan at (866-205-5292), or gina.lujan@health.wyo.gov. Applications for the screening program are available online at http://health.wyo.gov/phsd/ccp/app.html.

Bringing home the hardware: Braves place fourth at State Indoor Track

dahlerickson — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:21:53 +0000

The Braves perhaps didn't expect to bring home a team plaque from the Wyoming State Indoor Championships, but they'll just have to make room. With some late shuffling by Coach Ty Draney, the team edged home-town Laramie for the final spot on the awards podium, the first such trophy for the fledgling Indoor Program. Some of the final points scored came from Cody Brough and his 3200 Meter event and Tyler Skinner replacing Brough in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay. Junior Audrey West has successful defended her 400 Meter Run crown from a year ago with a time of 60.63 seconds. West holds the school record in the outdoor season with a time of just over 57 seconds. Kevin Brough found himself in a battle while trying to defend his 400 Meter Run title. His time of 52.58 seconds wasn't quite fast enough as he placed second behind Bozner of Rock Springs' 52.14. Click here for full day one results from the WSHAA website. Day two saw some great performances from the team as many athletes have garnered impressive finishes. West finished second in the 200 Meter Run and Madison Wilkes had yet another career best as she threw 37' 10.5" to place fourth in the Shot Put. This is a new indoor school record and Wilkes has her eye set on the throw of 37' 3.5" for the outdoor record. Tyler "Skinny" Skinner placed second in the Triple Jump and High Jump, where he went 6' 4" against Boomer McLaughlin of Sheridan. McLaughlin cleared 6' 6" to effectively win the event, then asked for the bar to be raised to 6' 9" which he cleared on his second attempt for a new indoor record. The Brough cousins, West and Skinner all collected multiple top five finishes and scored many points for the team. For a full account of times and distances, please read the March 12, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent

Roberts to address the historical society

newsrelease — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:21:35 +0000

Fred Roberts, a prominent sheep rancher from Cokeville, Wyoming will speak to the Star Valley Historical Society on the subject of the history of the sheep industry in western Wyoming. Mr. Roberts is from a multi-generational sheep raising family rooted in Wyoming and has vast knowledge of his subject material. He has dedicated his life to the industry. The Roberts' sheep herds are among the largest in Wyoming. They are grazed from the Idaho-Utah border east through Sweetwater County. Mr. Fred Roberts has an extensive and successful background in the industry. This talk is the second in teh current lecture series, sponsored by the Star Valley Historical Society, Gordon Tueller, President. The public is welcome to attend this lecture at no charge. The meeting will be held in the Council Chamber at the Afton City Hall at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2009.

This Week in Star Valley

newsrelease — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. All content researched and taken from editions of the Star Valley Independent from the corrasponding week so many years ago. March 5 - March 12 25-years ago: Ad: At The Sundowner, enjoy Chinese buffet. Sukiyaki, chop suey, chow mein, egg foo yong, won tons, fried rice, sweet & sour pork, fortune cookies, $7.25. Ad: This season give yourself an Island Vacation. Hawaii $529, includes round trip air fare from Salt Lake City plus 7 nights on Waikiki Beach. Available only through Jackson Hole Travel, your American Express Office. Afton Library to celebrate 50th Anniversary. [An old photo] is of a parade held to mark the opening of the First Afton Branch Library, March 23, 1984. The first library was at the log building now housing the DUP Pioneer Museum on East Fifth Ave. in Afton. 50-years ago: (Photo) Feeding elk pellets out of his hand is Deputy Game Warden Nawl Gardner, at the elk feed ground near Alpine where several hundred head of elk are feed daily by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Thayne news: After a two month's vacation in California, Mr. and Mrs. Vasco Osmond returned home Sunday. They report a very enjoyable trip, and the Osmond Hotel and Cafe are now open for business. Ad: At IGA Sunshine Pail Toy Cookies, $.45 a pail; Fluffo shortening, 3 lb. can for $.79; Purity vanilla cream sandwich cookies, 2 lb. pkg. $.55., Swifts U.S. good tender, taste chuck roast, $.49/lb., crisp tasty golden carrots, fresh clipped, $.07/lb. Ad: Free! 25 baby chicks with every 50 lb. bag of chick started sold, while they last. At farmers feed store , Thayne ,Wyo. 75-years ago: Ad: Please Read this Article: Every citizen of Star Valley can quite readily recall the days when gasoline sold for $.35 and $.40 per gallon in every town in this vicinity.... Take Salt Lake city for an example...seeing as it lies in exactly the same freight zone as this part of Wyoming, plus a cent per gallon for hauling from the nearest railroad point to Star Valley, the same identical gaoline was selling in Salt Lake for only $.17 to $.19 cent per gallon, thus allowing an excessive and unfair profit of from 12 to 15 cents per gallon. This dishonorable profit was absorbed entirley right in our own midst.... Sincerely yours, by T.H.E. TRUTH. The SVHS piano department, under the direction of Mr. Clyde Allen Miller presented, splended program last Wednesday evening to a very interested audience.... The piano class members are as follows: (1st year) Vona Vee Nelson, Alta Hale, Thelma Call, Edith Yeaman, Rhea Brown, Marie Graham, Maud Kennington, Carol Burton, Earl Kennington, Gilbert Turner; (2nd year) Elanie Harrison, Juaneta Walton, Blanche Campbell, Lorene Pead, Claudita Hoopes, Carol Call, Wallace Gardner, Wamoth Gardener, Valene Brown, Donna Toland, Caol Wilkes, Karen Murray, Helen Murray, June Call, Fern Barker, Delila Hokanson, Audry Hunsaker; (Advanced) Vatia Harrison, Alice Thurman, Aleen Canning and Clara Burton. 100-years ago: Smoot news: Luther Baldwin has also been contained to the house with the La Grippe, but is speedily recovering. Aubrun news: Several boys broke into the Harrison store several days ago and purloined some candy, etc. The matter was fixed up at the hearing. There was a surprise party on Mrs. Ashdown the other day it being her 66th birthday. There was a Basket Ball the same night. Etnanews: All is well in Etna save a little bickering over land. The snow is 20 1/2 in. deep. The weather is prime. The sisters around here are receiving invitations to attend the relief society anniversary at Freedom on the 17th. A splendid good time is assured. Photographer removed. A Jenks, the photographer, has removed from his tent to the Call building, half a block South of the tithing office, where he is doing a general photographic business. Come any day, bright or dull.

Star Valley Medical Center aquires new high definition scope

dahlerickson — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:57:12 +0000

Star Valley Medical Center continues to push the envelope of what is considered rural medicine with their latest acquisition of a state-of-the-art Olympus scope. The scope can be used for both bronchoscopies as well as endoscopies and colonoscopies and provides the physician with the ability to determine and diagnose the issues at hand in high-definition. The scope comes to SVMC as a replacement for old equipment and in addition to being much more versatile and technologically advanced, the scope will also be faster, more convenient and vastly more pleasant than previous models. Click below for an excusive interview with Dr. David L. Shrader, doctor of pulmonary medicine at SVMC as he describes the continued level of excellence in the medical field in Star Valley. Also click for exclusive video with Dr. Donald Kirk who will utilize the scope for colonoscopies and endoscopies. Dr. Kirk describes that the level of high definition and the angle available from the equipment very possibly will save lives in the process of detecting polyps at an early stage.

Lummis votes no on the Wyoming Range bill

dandockstader — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:57:45 +0000

Lummis says no on a bill that includes the Wyoming Range. U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis voted no on S-22, the “Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009.” The bill, which includes legislation closing the Wyoming Range to oil and gas drilling, failed to receive a majority vote in the House yesterday. The vote count was 282 to 144, however Lummis said the Act is expected to eventually pass on further readings. In addition to the Wyoming Range Legislation, S-22 included a bill designating specific rivers as Wild and Scenic, including the Snake River in western Wyoming. Lummis said it was not an easy vote to cast yesterday. She said people in Wyoming need to understand this was not an up or down vote on the Wyoming Range Legacy Act or the Snake River Wild and Scenic Act. The Wild and Scenic River Act has drawn opposition from the Lincoln County Commission. Lummis acknowledged that opposition in her comments released to state-wide media late yesterday. The Congresswoman said she supported the postilion held by the Lincoln County Commission. Lincoln County Commissioners have asked that the Wild and Scenic River designation not be applied to the Snake River within Lincoln County. Congressman Lummis said she could have supported the Wyoming Range Act if it could have been revised to include boundary lines based on topography rather than arbitrary lines that she said failed to address recourses. She also wanted a limit on the number of years that drilling would be restricted. The bill, in it’s present form, prohibits oil and gas drilling forever in the Wyoming Range. In conclusion, Lummis stated she could not support the omnibus lands package act because of its enormous cost to Wyoming taxpayers, while putting restrictions on millions of acres of federal lands. S. 22 is a 1,200 page document containing 160 bills.

Around the Valley: News Briefs

dandockstader — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:31:06 +0000

The travel management regulations governing motor vehicle use will be implemented this year on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and and those changes include the Greys River Ranger District. The rule change has resulted in the creation of a special Motor Vehicle Use Map, also known as the MVUM. This new map will be used specifically for clarifying the which roads are open and which roads are closed. With the change, five routes south of Afton will be closed to motorized use once the new MVUM is in place. These include the following Forest roads: 10034 (Big Ridge North), 10418, 10419, 10428, and 10429. The Big Ridge North route is the longest of these, with a total of 10-miles in that road network. The rest of these routes add up to 5.45 miles all together. An additional access spur, Road 10091 at Lost Creek, goes through private property and has been replaced by a non-motorized public access route through state lands immediately adjacent to the old access road. Meanwhile, the Greys River District includes 260-miles of roads and 117-miles of trails open to motorized users. Some of these roads will be limited by category of vehicle and some may have seasonal closures as well. The new Motor Vehicle Use Map is expected to be available by May of this year. The Greys River District office will host a public open house in late April to demonstrate the new map. A reminder at the Ranch. The town of Star Valley Ranch reminds residents that no over-night parking is allowed at the town’s postal unit. Parking at the unit is limited to 15 minutes. The town of Star Valley Ranch also reminds residents to not park on the streets in order to allow snow plows to keep the roadways clean.

Independent Obituaries: March 12, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:40:38 +0000

The following are obituaries that appear in the March 12, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Ernest “Tex” Wolfley, 64 of Freedom, passed away on Wednesday evening Feb. 25, 2009 at EIRMC due to long time illness. He was surrounded by his family. Tex was born in Afton, on Sept. 15, 1944 to Ernest and Wanda Wolfley. He spent his early childhood years in Turnerville, Bedford and Thayne before moving to Freedom. He attended the Star Valley Schools. Tex spent his youth working on farms and ranches. In the early 1960’s he started working at the Star Valley Swiss Cheese Factory in Thayne. Tex met the love of his life Dalene Clark of Smoot in May of 1964 and they were married on May 24, 1965. Their union was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple. He was a member of the Freedom LDS Ward where he had served as a home teacher. Tex worked hard his adult life ranching, farming or working at the cheese factory. Tex and Dalene were blessed with six wonderful children. They were Tex’s pride and joy. You would always see him taking his kids with him to work. They learned at a young age the meaning of hard work. Tex loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. His family and friends have very fond and special memories of all the hunting and fishing trips. The family would love to get together for a fish fry and dads dutch oven potatoes after a big fishing trip. Tex was a great example of hard work, courage and strength. He loved life and time spent with his family & friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Dalene; children: Sherri (DeeLon) Merritt, of Bedford; Jason (Tracy) Wolfley, of Thayne; Amy (Nick) Cano, of Rigby, Idaho; Lance Wolfley, of Weston, Idaho; Greg Wolfley of Idaho Falls; 16 Grandchildren, one grandson-in-law, and one great granddaughter. Also surviving are brothers, Rex (Marsha) Wolfley, of Freedom; Bob (Phyllis) Wolfley, of Kuna, Idaho; Tony (Jana Lee) Wolfley, of Thayne; and two sisters, Margaret (Orson) Brierley, of Afton; and Roselie (ElRay) Eggleston, of Thayne. He was preceded in death by his son, Ryan; and his parents Funeral services for Tex were held on Monday, March 2, 2009 in Freedom. Burial took place at the Freedom Cemetery. Matthew Jay Yenko passed away on March 3, 2009 after a brief illness. Born on July 3, 1972 in Afton, Matt moved to Omak, Wash., in 1979, and later graduated from Omak High School in 1990. He later served as a volunteer for several years at East Omak Elementary, before moving to Idaho in 2006. Matt drew great enjoyment from any activity that required researching and organizing the obscure. He was an avid genealogist, and always amazed his family and friends with his ability to remember facts, dates, names, and places. He also shared his hobby of antique collecting with his mother, Shirley Yenko. While Matt often found it awkward and uncomfortable to interact with strangers or in social situations due to Asperger syndrome, he nonetheless was always a doting uncle to his niece and nephews. Matt is survived by his mother Shirley Yenko, Meridian Idaho, his brother Scott (Melissa) Yenko and their children Sophie and Daniel, Meridian Idaho, and his sister Toni (Brent) Wheeler, and their son Gavin, Nampa Idaho. He was preceded in death by his father David F. Yenko, Omak Wash., and his grandmother Ada Holt, Freedom. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, Va., 22312. Funeral services were held Friday, March 6, 2009 in Meridian, Idaho. Linda Lee Miles Call, 65, passed away March 6, 2009 in South Jordan, Utah. She was born Sept. 8, 1943 in Afton to O’Niel “Bus” and Rhea Roberts Miles. She married Richard A. Call on March 1, 1975 in Afton. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on Aug. 12, 1977. She was born and raised in Afton and worked in the family business, always lending her numerous talents with fun and enthusiasm. During her adult life she went to Brigham Young University to study genealogy. Later, she married Richard, and became a mother in 1979. They left the valley in 1981 to pursue educational opportunities, and they lived in several places until they settled in Sandy and then South Jordan, Utah. There she served in many church callings in various capacities and developed close friendships. Her family was her life. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, and especially her three grandchildren. She spent countless hours serving, teaching and challenging those around her to be at their best. She always saw the best in people and had a wonderful gift of bringing it out of them. Next to her family came her love and service to her fellow man. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she lived faithfully what she believed. Putting others before herself, she was the friend and neighbor that everyone hoped for. She continually gave of herself to make other’s burdens lighter even when her own trials were often difficult to bear. Even though her health failed her, she endured faithfully to the end. Throughout her life, Linda struggled with many health issues but always looked at the blessings that she was given. As a testament of her devotion to her Heavenly Father, she accepted whatever trial was placed upon her and taught the rest of us what true discipleship is all about. She is survived by her husband, Richard; son, Dan (Angie); grandchildren, Josh, Natalie and Kaylee Call; mother, Rhea Miles; sisters, Sherlene (Sam) Moss, Jill Hillyard, Connie (Marlowe) Scherbel, Venice (Larry) Lancaster; and brother-in-law, Grady Creamer. She was preceded in death by her father, Bus; and sister, Tanna Creamer. Funeral services are being held Thursday, March 12, 2009, at noon at the Afton Third Ward Chapel, with a viewing from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Afton Cemetery. Mitzi Lyn Roberts Pearson was born on Feb. 3, 1955 in Afton. She was the daughter of the late Ivan and Leora Roberts. Mitzi passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in Bountiful, Utah. Growing up, Mitzi loved swinging and climbing trees in her backyard, and working in her dad’s grocery store. She enjoyed playing softball, dancing on the drill team and skiing with her Star Valley High School Ski Club. She had a great love for animals and enjoyed singing, playing the piano, drawing and playing with children. Throughout her life, Mitzi had many passions and talents, including sewing, music, art and athletics. She had the ability to make friends and had a great sense of humor. But most of all, she loved her children, husband and the gospel. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions in the music, primary and young women’s organizations. Mitzi served as the ward choir director and ward organist for over 13 years. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and a deep relationship with her Heavenly Father. She believed in eternal families and looked forward to being reunited with them one day. Mitzi was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law. She is survived by her husband, Melvin; daughter, Monica; sons, James; Clint (Christmas); Brandon (Christie); and Bryant (currently serving a mission in the Nashville, Tennessee Mission); sisters, Eldona (Jerry Call); Pat (Brent Wadsworth); and brother, Jerry Lee (Judy) Roberts; and five grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 13, 2009 in Bountiful, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Perpetual Education Fund of the LDS Church. Graveside services for Donna Astle were held on Monday, March 9, 2009 in the Bedford Cemetery. Donna was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. She loved to associate with people, especially family members, and visit places across the country in travels with her husband. She loved to do handcrafts, which is gave away as presents. She acquired many friends in her travels with her husband and their military travels. She was preceded in death by her mother and father. She leaves behind her sisters, Betty and Beverly, along with her husband, Jim, and son, Kevin, and two grandsons, J.D. Mortin and Gauge Astle. Memorial services for Jody Ellis, the daughter of Ross and Kayleen Dana) will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at noon in the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. Visitation will take place from 11-11:50 a.m. prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Turning Point in Jody’s memory.

Governor concerned over southwest Wyoming ozone levels

newsrelease — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:10:23 +0000

Gov. Dave Freudenthal has submitted a recommendation to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the agency should designate an area in southwest Wyoming as an ozone nonattainment area. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to place an area in nonattainment status when ozone levels exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). “It is unfortunate that we have to make this recommendation, but it is a necessary step,” Gov. Freudenthal said. “I also need to make it clear that this federal process is not the only tool we have to fix the air quality problems in Pinedale, and that I have directed the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to use every means possible to ensure we return to clean air as quickly as we can.” The Governor said the State of Wyoming has moved aggressively in response to the air quality challenges. “We have not waited for the federal declaration of nonattainment to solve our air pollution problems,” he said, “and I do not want a nonattainment designation by EPA to penalize the State for instituting early emission reductions. “I understand that a nonattainment designation includes requirements to reduce air pollution from existing sources,” the Governor continued. “Many local gas producers, working in cooperation with our DEQ, have aggressively reduced air emissions, and those reductions will continue even as our natural gas resources continue to be developed. These air emission reductions have occurred because of the application of Wyoming’s stringent air pollution permitting requirements; because of industry response to our calls for voluntary emission reductions; and because of Wyoming’s insistence on stringent air pollution mitigation requirements in the Jonah Infill and Pinedale Anticline Records of Decision.” According to Dave Finley, administrator of DEQ’s Air Quality Division (AQD), DEQ first observed elevated ozone at the Boulder monitor in the winter of 2005, they began researching the uncommon phenomenon of ozone formation during winter conditions. “AQD has conducted three intensive air quality monitoring studies in the area, during the winters of 2007, 2008, and 2009,” said Finley. “These studies have given us a good understanding of the factors that allow ozone formation during winter conditions, and this original research has dispelled the conventional belief that ozone is only a summertime pollutant.” Finley added that the research has also allowed AQD to carefully define the recommended nonattainment boundary such that all contributing air pollution sources around the Boulder monitor are included in the recommended nonattainment area. AQD research on unique conditions present during winter ozone formation in a rural area was used during determination of the boundary. Following a formal nonattainment designation, Wyoming will be required to develop a state implementation plan which contains state commitments to return the area to attainment status. “Any state plan we develop will meet our obligations under the Clean Air Act, and will contain a series of air pollution control requirements which are needed to return the area to compliance with the new national ozone standard,” said Finley. “The plan will be subject to public review, and we anticipate having several opportunities for local officials, industry, and residents of the area to provide input as the plan is developed.” Wyoming’s State Legislature has appropriated $1.5 million to the DEQ to address the ozone problem in southwest Wyoming.

Weekend Sports Wrap-up / March Madness brackets

dahlerickson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:59:53 +0000

New state champs in prep basketball. The champions have been crowned in the Wyoming State 3A and 4A Basketball Ball Tournament held in Casper over the weekend. The Natrona High School Mustangs have won the Boys 4A Wyoming State Title after being favored for more than two years. They pulled the win away from runner-up Kelly Walsh. The Lady Camels of Gillette carried the banner for Campbell County, blowing out Rock Springs in the 4A Girls State Championship. In 3A, the close disappointments keep on coming for Kemmerer who lost 36-33 to Buffalo. The 20-plus year title draught for the Rangers of Lincoln County continued after yet another stellar year. And in 3A girls action, the Jackson Lady Broncs avenged a 3A West Regional loss to Powell by dominating the Lady Panthers for their third consecutive state title. The Big Dance card is set. The 65 teams have been selected for the 2009 NCAA Tournament and the Mountain West has drawn the big snub of the selection committee. League officials were secretly hoping for four and possibly five selections, instead there are only two set to dance. Tourney champion Utah drew a No. 5 seed, and will play Arizona in round one, while No. 8 seed BYU will play Texas A&M. Click here to fill out a tournament bracket. San Diego State, despite a 23-9 record and a national RPI of 39, was snubbed as was UNLV and New Mexico. The Aztecs have drawn a No. 1 seed in the NIT. The Rebels and Lobos will be there as well. Click here to see the NIT bracket The Wyoming Cowboys with a record of 19-13, will return to the post-season for the first time in six years, playing in the College Basketball Invitational. Sixteen teams are part of the CBI and the tournament features a best-of-three championship format. Word out of Laramie late Sunday night has the Pokes playing Northeastern University. Should the Cowboys win, they will play the winner of UTEP and Nevada. Stanford, Oregon State and Boise State are also among the teams in attendance. Click here to see the CBI bracket.

This Week in Star Valley

newsrelease — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:06:20 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. All content researched and taken from editions of the Star Valley Independent from the corrasponding week so many years ago. March 13 - March 19 25-years ago: (continued from last week) ...Allie Hyde was the first Librarian, leading to a succession of fifteen librarians through the years. For several years, the librarians were not paid a wage but were provided with living quarters in the back of the building. "It is interesting to note that 950 library materials were checked out in a month's time in 1937 [three years later], and according to the Star Valley Independent news article that was a "splendid" circulation, Lydia Dabel [current librarian] adds. "Presently we check out 5,500 items a month on an average. Until ten years ago, the library conducted business with a one-member staff, now we have five employees.... With Afton Mayor Noel Session proclaiming March 23, 1984 as Afton Branch Library Day, we're hoping everyone will join us in commemorating the efforts of those Star Valley residents fifty years ago," invites Dabel. There will be free balloons for the kids and 50th anniversary souvenirs for the adults. 50-years ago: Hawaii Statehood Approved by U.S. Congress–Approval of both houses of Congress was received Wednesday and Thursday of this week when members voted overwhelmingly to make the mid-Pacific vacationland of Hawaii America's 50th state. The statehood bill sailed thru the Senate Wednesday despite southern opposition after about 4 ½ hours debate. Thursday, the House took similar action. The statehood bill will now go to President Eisenhower, long an advocate of Hawaiian statehood, for his signature to make it law. The islands, comprising a 6,434 square-mile area that makes them slightly larger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combine, have been fighting for statehood for 30 years. Last year, they were a source of $166,330,00 in federal revenue, more than the tax payments of 10 other states, including the newest mineral-rich Alaska. Ad: Van Gas of Teton Vangas, Inc., on Highway 89 in Afton says, Save $60 on a new universal gas range! Regularly $349.95, Vangas price $289.95, with trade. Plus Free maple finish rocking chair; honey-toned maple finish, back and seat cushions with pleated flounce. 75-years ago: Books! Books! Books! Can you spare a book, or maybe more than one for the new library? If you can and you think they would interest someone else, just write your name in them and bring them to the library. Let's see how many good books we can add to our library before its big birthday party! Get Dogs Licensed. Anyone having dogs that are not licensed must get them at once or the dogs will be killed. Owen Miles, Marshal. Almanac: March 19-William Jennings Bryan, political leader, born 1860; 20-"Uncle Tom's Cabin" appears in book form, 1852; 21-New Orleans practically destroyed by fire, 1788; 22-German fire on Paris with 75-mile guns, 1918; 23-Phillippine Aguialado surrenders to Funston, 1901; 24-Indians sell Rhode Island for 80 lbs. of lead, 1638; 25-"Full Dinner Pail" becomes Republican symbol, 1900. 100-years ago: Grover: The Freedom theatre presented "The Merry Cobbler" Saturday night to quite a large crowd. It was a pretty play and was presented in a creditable manner. Fairview: The Fairview Dramatic Co. played "Life for Life" at Fairview, Tuesday night, in order to raise means to clear off the indebtedness, incurred by the old folks committee. The company played to a slender house the first night at Freedom, but to crowded houses the last two nights. Dairy Meeting. On short notice, a meeting was called for last Saturday afternoon at the opera house. In the interest of the dairy business. The principal sneaker Mr. J. B. Racliffe was so well informed on the ins and outs of dairying that a talk such as he could give, was good to the people interested in the business. The talk was interesting from start to finish and was told in a humorous vein, but was replete with good common sense and instructive pointers. He ridiculed the idea that the land was at its limited of production, and offered to guarantee that if the ranchers would follow his advice the land would treble its value in six years. He said that so many people watched their test so closely when the test was hardly worth considering, the main thing being the quantity of milk produced and the size of the check at pay day. Any man would be a scally wag who would doctor the test sheet, and that the creamery man was undoubtedly giving all that the test showed, as more people are honest than dishonest.

Independent Obituaries: March 19, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:34:30 +0000

Obituaries appearing in the March 19, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Eileen Dayton Larson, 57, passed away at her home on March 13, 2009 after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Eileen was born May 12, 1951, to Venice Dayton Rucker and Russell G (Bud) Dayton and was the first child born to this union which included two younger sisters. Eileen grew up in Cokeville and graduated from Cokeville High in 1969 where she was a cheerleader and active in many school activities. She married her high school sweetheart, Stanley Glenn Larson, in 1970, after graduating from Milady College of Beauty in Rexburg, Idaho. After a short stint running her own Beauty Salon, she left to help on the Ranch, where she pursued the life she loved. After nearly 20 years they sold the ranch in Cokeville and purchased one in Torrington where they moved with their family. While there, Eileen, worked at Torrington Livestock Auction along with her beloved ranching. In recent years they returned to Cokeville. Eileen was quiet; a woman of few words who never spoke ill of others and was among the kindest people on earth. She loved being a mother and used the perfect mix of love and logic to raise her children. She rarely raised her voice but when she did it was at stubborn animal or machine and never at others. She was a hard worker who loved working the ranch but never let that compromise having a warm family life. Riding horses was one of her favorite pastimes and passions. Eileen fought cancer with the same quiet strength and determination that she used in all aspects of her life. Her granddaughters are the light of her life and made the fight worth it. She beamed with pride at the thought of them and never missed an opportunity to tell others about them. We will miss her quiet yet powerful influence in our lives. Eileen is survived by her husband of 38 years, Stanley Glenn Larson; son, Gerry (Tracy) Larson; daughters, Heather (Andy) Wilkins; and Hilary Larson; mother, Venice Rucker; father, Bud Dayton; step-mother Verdi Dayton; granddaughters, Dally, Kenzie, and Addisyn Wilkins; sisters, Rebecca (John) Petersen; Jill (Neal) Black; Hollie (Jim) Watterson; Sivi (Wayne) Harmon; and Teri (Shane) Veihweg; along with and many other dear friends and family members. At Eileen's request, a "short" memorial services was held at Mathews Mortuary in Montpelier on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Our loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, Shirley Jenkins Merritt, passed away on Friday, March 13, 2009 with her family surrounding her. She was born on Nov. 7, 1932 in Afton a daughter of Orrin Milton Jenkins and Velera Orene Allred Hickman. Shirley married Rodney Merritt on Aug. 21, 1950 in the Logan LDS Temple. He preceded her in death September 2001. Shirley graduated from Weber State College and then went to Utah State University and received her master’s degree. She retired from Box Elder School District as an educator. She was a member of the LDS church serving in various callings. Shirley also was a member of AAUW, Quilting Guild, and the Book Club. Shirley loved to travel and be with her family. Surviving are her four children, Kevin (Rebecca) Merritt, Salt Lake City; Kathy (Mike) Lewis, DeBary, Florida; Patti Sue (Leland) Halcomb, Galva, Illinois; Lucinda (Dale) Lichfield, Brigham City; 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; two brothers, Boyd Jenkins, Salt Lake City; Ross Jenkins, Meridian, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Rodney, two sons, Dennis and David, and one grandson, Justin Lichfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Brigham City 11th Ward Chapel, 506 South 200 East, Brigham City, Utah. A viewing will be held on Friday, March 20, from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery. Gerald “Jerry” W. St. George passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born on Oct. 13, 1940 to Fred and Tillie St. George in Yakima, Wash. Jerry served in the United States Army for three years and was honorably discharged on Aug. 10, 1961. He was married in 1962 and from that union had three children. In 1991 he married Bea Hickman in Yakima, Wash., where they resided in Selah until moving to the Star Valley area in 2003. Jerry worked as a police officer in the Seattle North precinct, retiring in 1983. He also worked in security for CWI Security in Yakima until 1998. He worked as an armored car dispatch until 1996 then worked as a federal guard in Yakima until 1997. From 1997 through 2003 Jerry worked court security for the U.S. Marshal Service. Jerry enjoyed fishing, friends and family as well as travel. He is survived by his wife, Bea, of Fairview; son Doug of Spokane; daughter Pam Pieker of Montana; and son, David. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Pam Stafford of Buffalo, Minn.; stepson Erick Narragon of Atwater, Minn.; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, aunts, uncles and stepson. Virginia Boyack Bagley, age 82, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on Sat., March 14, 2009 in Afton, following a long battle with cancer. Born July 23, 1926 in Lovell, to Archie R. and Hazel Noble Boyack, Virginia was the second of three children, aptly nicknamed "Sunshine" by her mother. In her junior year of high school the family relocated to Cheyenne and it was here she met Dean Bagley from Etna. Following high school Virginia entered L.D.S. Hospital School of Nursing in Salt Lake City, where she graduated with an R.N. degree, continuing on to finish her B.S. at the University of Utah. Eight years after their first meeting, Virginia was sealed to Dean Burton Bagley October 3, 1949 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Virginia was the mother of eight children, one of whom died in infancy, and she dedicated her time and talents to raising her family. Lifelong education was a priority in the home, and she set the example with ongoing classes to update nursing skills, extensive travel and reading good literature. Her other passion was music. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, she participated in choirs wherever she lived. Virginia and Dean were always open to new experiences, which led to re-locations to the Boston area; Arizona; overseas to both Iran and Saudi Arabia; then back to Utah, eventually retiring in Afton. They witnessed Iran's revolution firsthand, and were forced to leave Saudi Arabia when Dean was arrested, incarcerated and deported as a member of the LDS church branch leadership. As Relief Society president, Virginia felt she missed a unique experience in a Saudi jail because she was stateside at the time. She earned her scuba certification at the age of 58, completing qualifying dives in the Red Sea. It was that same sense of adventure and desire to serve that led Dean and Virginia to fill six full-time mission, which included proselytizing in Colombia and Chile; teaching English in China, providing humanitarian aid in Russia; followed by missions in Slovenia and New Jersey. Virginia was in constant demand as a superb cook and gracious hostess to the young missionaries in each area. In addition to their service they traveled the world together. Witnessing the struggles of so many, in dozens of countries, left Virginia with a deep sense of gratitude for her blessings as a U.S. citizen and member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Virginia joins her parents; her sister, Elnora Gwynn; and son, Dean Boyack Bagley. She is survived by her loved husband of 59 years; her brother, Robert Boyack; and her children, Linda Bagley, Fairfield, Calif.; Patricia Wright, Alamo, Calif.,; Jeanmarie Bagley, Graz, Austria; Alan Bagley (Gina), Tustin, Calif.; Bree Dayley (Barry), Afton; Brian Bagley (Diana), St. George, Utah; and Chad Bagley (Liz), Shanghai, China, as well as 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Afton Wyoming Stake Center on March 18, 2009. Interment was in the Fairview, Cemetery.

Honey we're home! Alpine Moose and calf relocated by Game & Fish

newsrelease — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:38:01 +0000

Alpine - Wyoming Game and Fish personnel captured and relocated a cow and calf moose from within the town of Alpine on March 11, 2009. The pair were successfully tranquilized and moved to a location several miles south of Alpine. “It is not unusual for moose to be seen in Alpine during the winter months,” said Todd Graham, Afton Game Warden for the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. “This cow and calf moose had been living in Alpine for at least two weeks, eating any available shrubs and resting next to houses.” Game and Fish officials noted the moose were not particularly aggressive, but had become accustomed to people and were increasingly less responsive to attempts made to haze them away from homes. “This makes for some rather tense moments when someone can’t get into their house because the moose won’t move away from the door.” However, Graham added that most calls to the Game and Fish were citizens concerned more about the safety of the moose than their own. Both moose were reportedly infested with winter ticks, as is common this time of year, and were losing hair. “When they would lie down the moose would leave blood spots in the snow from the ticks,” said Graham. “People thought they were injured, but both moose were actually in pretty fair body condition. "Heavy tick infestations in moose are a life and death situation this late in the winter,” said Gary Fralick, Thayne Wildlife Biologist for the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. “Moose lose their ability to thermo-regulate their core body temperature during extreme cold because of the loss of blood and thermal guard hairs to tick bites.” After several unsuccessful attempts to haze the moose, they were both tranquilized while lying on the front porch of a residence. “Tranquilizing a moose, especially a cow-calf pair, can be a dangerous matter in a developed area,” said Fralick. “It’s important to take your time and proceed with caution. The safety of both the public and the animals is of utmost importance.” The two moose were successfully tranquilized and hauled by horse trailer and snowmobiles with sleds to an undeveloped area south of Alpine. Both moose were ear tagged and given antibiotics to address the tick problem and protect against potential infections. Game and Fish officials continued to monitor the pair and reported them doing fine. Both Fralick and Graham expressed their appreciation to those who assisted with the operation. “We also appreciate the understanding and patience of the Alpine residents,” said Graham. “Winter months are a very stressful time for these animals and they can be dangerous. People were great about giving the moose their space and keeping pets under control.”

Independent News Briefs

dandockstader — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:30:53 +0000

Today's briefs deal with the Alpine American Legion, Afton land use and the unemployment rates in Lincoln County and Wyoming. The Alpine American Legion passes out an honor. Alpine American Legion Post 46 has honored retired Attorney Terence L. Moore for providing legal assistance to the post when it was recently taken to court after a summer storm destroyed a building and some of the flying debris damaged a nearby car. After an insurance company took the the Alpine Post to court Moore donated his legal services. The case against American Legion Post 46 was dismissed. Afton Land use ordinance ready for review. The Afton Town Council has passed an ordinance that oversees and regulates the use of private and public lands within the community. The ordinance will require three reading sand public comment will be accepted. The second reading is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Afton Town Hall. Copies of Ordinance 593 are available for review at the Afton Town Hall. The latest unemployment rates have been released. The Lincoln County unemployment rate went from 5.1 percent in December of 2008 to 7.0 percent in January of 2009, according to the latest report released by the Wyoming Department of Employment. Based on that percentage, 401 people were unemployed in December and 552 in January. During the same time period the Lincoln County Labor Force included 7,933 in December and 7,920 in January. In Teton County, an unemployment rate of 5 percent was posted for January 2008. That included 687 people, while in Sublette County 186 people were unemployed for a 2.6 percent rate. Statewide, the Wyoming unemployment rate for December of 2008 was 3.6 percent compared to 4.8 percent in January 2009. The statewide workforce was listed at 291,497 in December and 290,126 during the same time period.

Senator Enzi discusses small businesses; HIV/AIDS funding

newsrelease — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:38:28 +0000

Wyoming senior senator, Mike Enzi (R) met with several groups recently to discuss matters pertaining to the Cowboy State. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, of Wyoming took part in a forum recently at the White House targeted to helping small business owners and employees in the U.S. get through the economic downturn. Enzi says the only way to truly stimulate the economy is to do it from the bottom up and noted that small businesses are the backbone of the country. In addition to Sen. Enzi, legislators on the House and Senate Small Business Committees and small businessmen from around the country attended the White House Forum. President Obama released his plan to help small businesses by raising the guarantee on loans to 90 percent (up from 85 percent), lowering the Small Business Administration fees for those loans, provide tax relief and incentives, and eliminate the capital gains tax for investment in small businesses. President Obama’s plan also calls for the Treasury to use $15 billion of previously allocated Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funding to purchase small business loans currently held by community banks that aren’t able to sell them in a secondary market. The $15 billion package is designed to free up capital for banks to administer more small business loans. The plan also requires the 11 major banks that were bailed out with taxpayer money to report the percentage of their loans to small businesses each month. In other news, Enzi feels that HIV/AIDS funding is not being distributed fairly. Following a battle on the Senate floor at the end of the past week Sen. Mike Enzie of Wyoming says San Francisco may again receive a disproportionate amount of HIV/AIDS funding from the omnibus appropriations bill. Enzi introduced an amendment to stop the funding shift and the Wyoming Senator’s proposal called for more funding to go to rural and southern states. However, the Senate voted against the amendment by a vote of 42-53. The vote was handled as the Senate and House negotiated reauthorization of Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 2006.

Dry February affecting water levels

newsrelease — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:40:17 +0000

A dry month across Wyoming in February has resulted in lower volume forecasts for almost all major river basins across Wyoming. The only major watersheds that had volume forecasts unchanged by the beginning of March were the Powder, Tongue, and Little Snake Basins. These basins are still expected to have above average spring runoff volumes. The Lower Wind, Sweetwater, and Lower Green Watersheds are forecasted to have below to well below average volumes during the spring runoff season.

Weekend Sports: Lady Braves win two

dahlerickson — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:50:06 +0000

The "X" chromosome ruled for SVHS over the weekend as the Lady Braves garnered a pair of wins on the soccer pitch and senior Madison Wilkes set a new school record in the Shot Put. Members of the spring sports season began competition away from Star Valley over the weekend. On the soccer pitch, the Lady Braves and Riverton played to a scoreless 0-0 tie after one half, but the Lady Wolverines scored two quick goals just after intermission and coasted to a 2-0 victory in Riverton. The Lady Braves bounced back at the Cody Jamboree on Saturday and despite missing several players due to Prom festivities, defeated Pinedale 3-0 and held off Powell, 1-0. Worland stopped the streak by shutting out the Lady Braves 2-0, bringing their weekend record to 2-2. The Lady Braves host Kelly Walsh in a grudge match of sorts this Friday afternoon as well as Natrona on Saturday afternoon. Matches begin at 3 p.m. on Friday and the public is encouraged to attend this home opener between these two good teams on the new Braves Field. Cowbells, of course, are encouraged :) - Things weren't quite as successful for the Braves as they lost a hard-fought match with Newcastle 2-1 to begin the season. The next two games were against 3A powerhouses as Star Valley fell to Buffalo, 5-0 and Powell, 7-1 They will also play the two Casper schools but will be on the road to do so. The Braves' home opener will take place April 9, against Evanston. - Track & Field participated in Preston, Idaho over the weekend, we'll be looking to fill you in on results of those athletes by Tuesday morning. The Dave Draney Invitational will take place on Braves Field on April 11. One athlete that the Independent has results for is Madison Wilkes who swept both the Shot Put and the Discus events in Preston. Her throw of 37' 5" sets a new outdoor school record, breaking the mark set by Danette Warren in 2007. - The Mountain West didn't fare well over the weekend in post-season basketball, just San Diego State in the NIT is still alive. The Aztecs defeated Kansas State in the second round and now await the winner of Davidson and St. Mary's. Utah fell to Arizona who has now advanced to the Sweet 16, while BYU fell to Texas A&M for the second consecutive year in the opening round.

Cody's Adam Waddell gains fame over backflip dunk

newsrelease — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:10:48 +0000

Redshirt freshman, Adam Waddell, is a key part of the Wyoming Cowboys as they move forward into the off-season. But it's his acrobatic backflip dunk and his appearance on NBC's Today Show that are still drawing open-mouthed gapes and some much appreciated national glare at Laramie. That's right, the Cowboys' season is over, but don't tell that to thousands of viewers who have clicked to watch his backflip dunk in Wyoming's 64-62 loss to Northeastern. Now moving towards what is becoming a cult icon status with the endless and instant homes on the internet, Wadell isn't just a part of the Cowboys, right now, he's the face of the program. Click here to watch The Today Show spot featuring Waddell and UW Head Coach, Heath Shroyer as well as multiple angles of the dunk itself. The Cowboys finished 19-14 on the season, including four one-point losses. Waddell will return with a very young lineup that will include Mountain West Conference Freshman of the year, Afam Moujeke. Waddell averaged just under six points per game and over three rebounds in his redshirt freshman campaign. He scored double figures five times, including 11 against Northeastern. The 6' 10" 235 pounder graduated from Cody High School in 2007.

This Week In Star Valley: March 19-25

newsrelease — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:12:13 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. All content researched and taken from previous editions of the Star Valley Independent. 25-years ago: Smokey the Bear and Woodsy the Owl visited the Afton and Smoot Elementary schools on Thursday March 15. Their visit was coordinated with National Wildlife week, and they wanted the children to understand the importance of clean water. Ad: Banducci's Pizza and Pasta . We will re-open March 29, above the Valley Vinyeard. Afton, 886-9720. Ad: Schwan's Convenience shopping day. Attention shoppers! For your shopping convenience...Schwan's famous frozen food truck will be parked at Lazy B Motel in Afton. We do accept food stamps. Ad: Free one full year's subscription to Satellite TV Week with your purchase of a satellite system from Stemars' Satellite systems . We have systems ranging from $1740 to $3495 installed. Come in an choose the one that's right for you. 50-years ago: Wyoming will receive a U.S. Treasury check totaling over $5 ½ million as its share in funds from mineral leasing on Federal lands during the last six months of 1958, Rep. Keith Thomson announced today. Floyd B. Hunsaker, who operates a U.S. Government Weather Substation at Bedford, reports some interesting observations contained in the climatological date of the summary of Wyoming Weather Substation records for 1958. Among them are the following, of local interest: The Bedford, Wyo., substation was the wettest in the state, with a total of 21.88 inches of precipitation. The wettest month was November with 4.07 inches. The driest month was October with .22 inches. The Afton 2 mile N. Substation showed 16.88 inches total for the year. The state average shows approximately 12.91 inches with the Snake River drainage, averaging 18.37 inches being the wettest drainage area. The Green and Bear River drainage were the driest areas of the state with an average of 7.31 inches. The average temperatures as shown by the annual summary for the Bedford substation is 40.3 degrees; for the Afton 2 mile N. Substation, 39.4 degrees. The state's average temperature is near 43 degrees. 75-years ago: Ad: At American Theatre, a new sensation of sheer loveliness glorifies the screen. Katharine Hepburn in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Not only the biggest, but the best picture ever made. On account of the high film rental, we have to raise the admission to $.15 and $.35 Don’t all wait for Saturday night. City Library is Now Completed. Friday, March 23, 1934. Do you hear that bell ringing. It is tolling out the glad news that we have a city library. Hurry down to Main street and from the side walk see the big parade of four hundred people in colorful, artistic costumes marching to the strains of martial music furnished by our own band. Then go over to the city library and listen to an inspiring program, after which you will be escorted through one of the most unique library's and club rooms in the state of Wyoming. Refreshments will be free to all. It is positively necessary that certain streets be closed to traffic that accidents and confusion be avoided. This is your afternoon, be out and enjoy it. The Afton South Ward Sunday School will stage one of the biggest entertainments in months, which will be in the way of a Black and White Minstrel. They are using the very best material that can be gathered together. Watch this paper for full information, such as cast, time, place and adm. 100-years ago: Etna: All well again. Very little history being made. Ad: Will you sell your Ranch? If so write me a complete description, your price and terms, immediately. Frank Hoag, Miami, Oklahoma. Ad: For Sale: Larson Ranch of 160 acres, 1 1/4 miles from Afton. Also, several farming tools; Enquire, Moses Cook.

Independent Obituaries: March 26, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:52:43 +0000

The following are obituaries that appeared in the March 26, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. William Donaldson “Bill” Croft passed away Monday, March 2 at his home in St. George. He was buried March 12 in the Freedom Cemetery. Bill was born June 28, 1915 in Fairview, the son of Henry and Marion Croft. He grew up in Fairview until the family moved to Freedom in 1927. He married Beatrice Mary (Bea) Luthi on Sept. 13, 1941 in Idaho Falls. Their union was solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple on March 18, 1942. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong testimony of the gospel. His last calling was as High Priest Leader. Some of Bill’s happiest times were spent working on his farm raising hay, grain and cattle. He also drove school bus, worked in Croft’s store, cut grain in the fall, and logged during the summer. During World War II, he served in the Army from March 1942 until the war in Europe ended in 1945. He was stationed in Algiers, Sicily and Italy. In his youth, Bill was quite an athlete, playing basketball and baseball, and later enjoyed snowmobiling and camping. He loved his family and friends and dedicated his life to caring for them. Bill and Bea lived in Freedom until retirement, then moved to Wellsville, Utah where they resided for about 10 years, and then to St. George, where Bea still resides. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brothers Earl, Ed, Dee, and Joel, and sisters Rae Jensen, Marion (Bird) Hillstead, Mary Barker, and Helen Rang, and his son Alma. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Bea; by his daughters and their husbands Connie and Roger Christensen; Jana and Duane Pounder; Teina and Richard Moore; and Julie and Brad Ford. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kristen (Scott) Andrew; Paul (Jodi) Christensen; Britney Christensen; Cole (Becky) Christensen; Taylor (Laura) Woodger; Madison Moore; Hunter Moore; Connor Moore; Parker Ford; and Alexis Ford; and great grandchildren, Tayler Kay Andrew; Mitchell Andrew and Jaxon Christensen. Also surviving are: sisters-in-law, Beulah (Ed) Croft; and May (Dee) Croft. He is also survived by Alta and Clyde Wolfley; Leora (Clyde) Rainey; and Dale Luthi. Jody Lynn Ellis was born August 12, 1963 at Star Valley Hospital to Leonard and Kayleen Ellis. On that blessed Monday parents, relatives and big sister Trenda, were all ecstatic to meet the new 7lb 3 oz baby girl. She grew up in Woods Cross, Utah and after a while the family moved to Arizona where a baby brother and sister were added to the family. During this time Jody showed an immense love for her siblings and all of the family pets. Jody as a little girl loved to sing to her Aunt Kathy who just knew she was going to be a famous singer someday! About the time Jody was nine her parents parted ways and her mother, Kayleen, moved the family of five to her own hometown, Star Valley. It was here that Kayleen met and married Jody's new step-dad, Ross Dana. Jody by now was focusing on her love and skill of working with horses. She and her mother's horse, Shamey, were highly involved in 4-H and showing in multiple events at the Lincoln County Fair. Together they worked hard and accumulated several ribbons and awards through the years. One of her fondest memories was beating her Aunt Kathy in a Halter Class one year. Jody graduated from Star Valley High School in 1981. She then found work in Bondurant are doing seismographing and later transferred to Eagle Butte, S.D. It was there that Jody's oldest daughter, Ember Lynn Dana was born. Then another daughter, Mandy Jasperson, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Then came the boys, Dylan and Rusty ChasingHawk, who were born in Eagle Butte, S.D. and Kermit (Kye) Ellis, who was born in Rapid City, S.D. Jody dearly loved her children and wanted nothing more than for them to be happy and live happy lives. Jody left this earth on Feb. 18, 2009 and will always be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. She's survived by her father, Leonard Ellis (Oracle, Ariz.), her mother and step-father, Kayleen and Ross Dana (Thayne), her daughters; Ember Dana (Buffalo) and Mandy Jasperson (Gillette), her sons; Dylan ChasingHawk (Timberlake, S.D.), Rusty ChasingHawk (Pierre, S.D.) and Kermit (Kye) Ellis (Pierre, S.D.), grandchildren; Dyson Van Dana and Tehya Spring Bagaso (Buffalo), brother Stan "Karla" Ellis (Duncan, Ariz.), sisters; Trinda Brown (Tuscan, Ariz.) and Michelle Dana (Tooele, Utah), several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by bother her maternal and paternal grandparents. Rachel Anderson Scherbel, 89, passed away Monday, March 23, 2009, at her home in Big Piney, Wyoming. She had been valiantly struggling with congestive heart failure and other ancillary problems for several years. Rachel was born in Tooele City, Utah on March 14, 1920, at the home of her Grandparents Benjamin and Barbara Bowen. Her father, Norman Stillwell Anderson, had died from the flu epidemic the month before Rachel was born. She went to Tooele Central Elementary School, where her mother, Martha Bowen Anderson, taught. She went to Tooele Jr. High and also to Tooele High School where she was involved in band, dance, orchestra, concert band, typing and shorthand. Rachel liked going to Lagoon and Saltair, camping at Yellowstone Park, roller skating on the sidewalks, tennis, swimming, sleigh riding, skiing and reading. Education was very important in her family, and it was her mother’s desire that her children should be educated so that they could accomplish whatever they wanted to in this life. Rachel received her Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State and her Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Iowa State University. She taught at Cornell University, University of Vermont, and also at University of Utah. At the time Rachel received her Master’s Degree, her brother received his M.D. and her mother received her Bachelor’s Degree. Rachel married Paul Neslen Scherbel on the 26th of June 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Big Piney, Wyoming, where they have resided for 63 years. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she served the youth of the church in many different callings. She taught early morning seminary for 18 years. Rachel had a special gift for teaching and giving unconditional love to everyone. She emphasized good qualities and de-emphasized bad ones. As far as she could see there was no limit to what anyone could achieve if they had a strong desire and were willing to put forth the effort necessary to accomplish the righteous desires of their heart. Rachel is survived by her husband, Paul Neslen Scherbel and her four children; Paul A. (Geri) of Afton, Wyoming; Annette (Bob) Priddis of Big Piney, Wyoming; Scott (Elsa) of Big Piney, Wyoming; and Marlowe (Connie) of Afton, Wyoming. She has 32 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren. She is enjoying a spiritual reunion with her father whom she had never met, her loving mother, her brother Dr. Norman Stillwell Anderson, and her sister Emma who died at age 13 of rheumatic fever. Her life will be celebrated at funeral services to be held Thursday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at the Big Piney LDS Church in Big Piney, Wyoming. Preceding the funeral will be a viewing and a chance to meet with her family from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to “Friends of Scouting” in care of Keith Palmer. P.O. Box 715, Big Piney, Wyoming 83113. Funeral services for Elaine Anglesey Hyde were held on Wednesday, March 25 at 11 a.m. in the Meadows LDS Ward Chapel.

Weekend soccer cancelled due to snow

dahlerickson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:03:09 +0000

It may be impossible to be happy for a sports cancellation due to weather, but if indeed it is possible, this situation would merit the celebration. Due to the heavy snow this week, the soccer matches with Kelly Walsh and Natrona have been cancelled. The schools are currently working on rescheduling. Up until Wednesday, the initial thought was that only Star Valley would be unable to play due to snow, and the Lady Braves would have to give up their home field games with the Casper schools and once again play on a neutral field in Evanston. This occured last year for the Braves. Instead, the white stuff has blanketed much of the Cowboy State and several matches have been affected. Thursday's games between Evanston and Riverton have been cancelled, as well as the match between Gering, Nebraska and Cheyenne Central Snow also has both Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central along with Gillette and Sheridan scrambling to reschedule.

Governor's office details Wyoming's share of economic stimulus

dahlerickson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:21:24 +0000

When President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion economic stimulus package earlier this month, there were many questions surrounding the distribution of the funds to state, local and individual levels. Mainly, when and how much? Through an incredibly complex sifting of the bill’s language, the State of Wyoming has come to a dollar amount of $498 million which is a very conservative total given the entire package. According to the governor’s office, the total does not include applications and requests for national funds, for which all 50 state s will be vying. For example, just over $215 million has been set aside for Wyoming’s capital infrastructure and environmental protection. I addition to this total, the Cowboy State can apply through competitive grants for their share of up to $210 million for diesel emissions reduction, up to $1.1 billion from the Federal Aviation Administration and $1.5 billion from the surface transportation modes with significant impact. According to Cara Eastwood of the governor’s office, the process by which the states will be required to detail the spending is closely watched. “This is an incredibly complex bill,” she responded. “But this might be the most stringent language that we’ve seen when it comes to reporting where this money is going. There really does have to be a high level of transparency.” The following details a list of Wyoming's share, and also other national funds that will be distributed by grant and request processes. In addition to the aforementioned capital infrastructure and environmental protection money, this is how Wyoming’s share of the stimulus dollars breaks down: ARRA Distribution Mechanisms: Wyoming Benefits - Direct and Indirect Identified federal stimulus monies can be categorized as follows using the best information available to date: I. Estimated “Discretionary” Dollars Available – Approximately $15 million • $15M State Fiscal Stabilization Fund – “Other Government Services”, precise scope of eligible projects is unknown; Governor must apply to U.S. Secretary of Education II. Estimated “Non-Discretionary” Dollars Available – Total Not Determinable Approximately $498 million (known) A. CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE / ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • $157M Federal Highway Administration; WYDOT formula grant • $9.3M Federal Transit Administration; WYDOT formula grant • $19.2M Clean Water State Revolving Fund; formula grant by application • $19.5M Drinking Water State Revolving Fund; formula grant by application • $1.7M Diesel Emissions Reduction; formula grant by application; federal reimbursement • $1M Leaking Underground Storage Tank Remediation • $194K Water Quality Total Maximum Daily Load Restoration • $1-2M U.S. Forest Service grants for state and private land projects • $5.9M Military Operations and Maintenance (Air Force and Army) Other national programs: • $210M (national total) Diesel Emissions Reduction; competitive grants • $1.1B (national total) Federal Aviation Administration; competitive grants • $1.5B (national total) Supplemental Discretionary Grants for Surface Transportation Modes with Significant Impact; competitive grants B. EDUCATION • $67.6M State Fiscal Stabilization Fund – Education Specific, Governor application to Secretary of Education • $26.2M Education K-12; Title I; federal funding through Dept. of Education to School Districts • $25.8M Education K-12; Special Education IDEA; federal funding through Dept. of Education to School Districts • $6.8M Education Title IA; School Improvement Grants; incentive funds by competitive grant application • $3.2M Education K-12; Educational Technology Grants; school improvement program; federal funding through Dept. of Education to School Districts; possibly competitive grants • $69K Education of Homeless Children and Youth; state sub-grant to LEAs Other national programs: • Higher Education – Pell Grants; direct federal aid to students • Higher Education – Teacher Quality Enhancement; $100M national total competitive grants C. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES • $59M Federal Medical Assistance (FMAP); percentage formulaic increases • Transitional Medical Assistance Extension; continuation of existing budgeted dollars • $350K Disproportionate Share Hospitals; federal money directly to certain hospitals • Qualified Individual (QI) Program extension through 12/21/10; no new money • $____ Health Information Technology; state grant program to be developed; may require state match (10%) • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) o $29.6M Carryover Funds; removal of restrictions on use of existing funds; federal reimbursement o Caseload reduction credit; hold harmless provision, no additional dollars • $3.3M Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) reimbursable administrative costs dependent on caseload; 13.6% increase in direct client benefits allocated as state grants • $2.6M Child Care Development Block Grant; increases federal spending authority; federal funding reimbursement; must be used to supplement, not supplant state general revenues • $1.5M Child Support; federal reimbursement; 2 –year relief to state general fund Other national programs: • $1.5B (national total) Homelessness Prevention Fund • Health Information Technology o $2B (national total) competitive grant program to be developed to establish loan fund o $17B (national total) Medicaid provider reimbursement/provider incentive payments • $1B (national total) Prevention and Wellness; U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services must provide Congress with an operating plan; possible state access to dollars to implement healthcare- associated infection prevention strategies; most money will stay at federal administrative level • $150M (national total) veterans extended care facilities • $100M (national total) senior nutrition programs • $87.5M (national total) independent living centers D. WORKFORCE TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT • $14.3M Unemployment Insurance Modernization (additional Reed Act monies ); would require statutory changes to access; $200K/year for administration • $2.1M State Employment Service and Reemployment Services Grants; formula grants; bill Dept. of Labor • $2M Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants • Training and Employment Services; formula grants o $1.24M adult o $583K dislocated worker o $2.94M youth (summer activity) • $447K Experienced Works, federal contractor; community service employment for older workers • $126K Community Service Employment Program (CSEP) – Older Workers • Unemployment Insurance Benefit Extension; payments made from federal funds; waiver of accrual/interest payments if Wyoming borrows from FUA • $____ Social Security Administration; disability determination services office Other National programs: • $750M (national total) Training and Employment Services; competitive grants, including renewable energy sector E. LAW ENFORCMENT AND VICTIM SERVICES • $5-6M Byrne Justice Assistance Grants; formula distribution (drug enforcement teams) • $782K Violence Against Women; formula grant, by application • Victims Compensation and Victims Assistance (VOCA), formula grants by application o $174K victims compensation o $535K victims assistance • $850K Internet Crimes Against Children; formula grant by application; Wyoming is 1 of 59 ICACs Other national programs: • $225M (national total) Byrne Justice Assistance Grants; competitive grants • $125M (national total) Rural Law Enforcement Grants; competitive grants • $____ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; existing program; competitive grants F. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / ENERGY / RESEARCH • $20.4M State Energy Programs; current formulas; federal reimbursement; Governor must provide assurances to Secretary of Energy • Energy Efficiency Block Grants o $6.2M (of which $3.5M is allocated to cities, towns and counties; Cheyenne and Casper get their own allocation); formula grants; federal funding reimbursement • $1.1M Community Development Block Grant – FY08 distribution formula • State - $857,718 • Cheyenne - $145,516 • Casper - $119,192 • $____ Home Weatherization; increased spending authority with federal government; federal funding reimbursement • $____ additional program funds - Neighborhood Stabilization Program; competitive grants; money directly to WCDA • $3M HOME Investment Partnership; FY08 distribution formula; fill gaps in low income housing tax credit projects; money to WCDA, not state Other national programs: • $1.83B (national total) competitive coal conversion grants • $1.57B (national total) competitive carbon capture/storage grants • $6.8B (national total) competitive renewable energy grants • $11B (national total) energy infrastructure grants $2.4B (national total) competitive energy efficiency grants

Two Eastern Idaho men plead guilty to arson

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:07:17 +0000

Two Idaho Falls residents were sentenced this week for setting a wildfire that occurred on public lands in Eastern Idaho in 2003, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss announced. Both men pled guilty to the charges in November 2008. Brad Sims, 34, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for one felony count of setting a wildfire. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Sims to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. Jonathan Barrow, 28, was sentenced to three years probation, of which three months will be home detention with electronic monitoring, for one misdemeanor count of setting a fire. The lesser charge for Barrow resulted from his early cooperation. Sims and Barrow were ordered to pay $167,820.54 in restitution for damages to utilities and for the full costs of the fire-fighting effort. The 2,766 acre wildfire, which was started on July 19, 2003, burned a five-mile section of utility poles. It was started at mile marker 282 on U.S. Highway 20 between Idaho Falls and Arco. The fire was intentionally set using fireworks as an ignition device. “We aggressively investigate all human-caused wildfires, especially when there is evidence that the fires were intentionally set,” said BLM Special Agent in Charge Loren Good. Arsonists not only destroy private property and natural resources on public lands, but they also endanger the lives of the public and the firefighters who are responsible for suppressing the fires. Of paramount concern are the safety and security of our communities and our fire crews.” During the investigation, Bureau of Land Management Special Agents elicited the help of a Special Agent from the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, because the wildfire burned land of the Idaho National Laboratory west of Idaho Falls.

This Week in Star Valley: March 26-April 2

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:20:01 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. All content has been researched and previously published in editions of the Star Valley Independent during this same week at the designated dates. 25-years ago: The American Legion has announced their selection of boys that will be attending Wyoming Boy's State in Douglas: Laramie Merritt, John Draney, Vance Schwab, and Troy Hyde. The Afton Branch Lincoln County Library celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday, at the library located on Washington Street. The program at 2 p.m. began outside in the parking lot under blue skies as the Star Valley High School band and chorus performed several patriotic musical numbers and a flag raising ceremony was held. The audience then moved inside for the remainder of the program. . . . A pen and ink drawing of the first library building, drawn by local artist Steven Greenwall, was on display as well as work by other local artist. Host families needed for foreign exchange students. Have you ever wanted to travel to another country just to see what it was like? Maybe this is not possible or feasible. As an alternative, have you ever considered hosting an exchange student from another country? . . . Learning a foreign language and customs are the obvious benefits to be derived from participating in the exchange program; however, there are many more. Like people, each hosting experience is in some way different and provides new and lasting memories to be cherished throughout a lifetime. 50-years ago: The Star Valley Community Church announces an Easter sunrise service for all wishing to attend, Sunday, March 29, at 6:45 a.m. at the end of McCoy Creek Road in Alpine, under the direction of Eldred C. Bagley, pastor. Lincoln County will be host to the district "Make It Yourself With Wool Contest" this fall, according to officers of the Lincoln County Far Bureau. . . . Girls are urged to plan their 100 percent wool outfits now for the contest. The Wyoming Highway Commission has agreed to go along with Gov. Joe Hickey and the State Legislature; the state will use yellow centerline striping on its highways this year. 75-years ago: Western States interested in the construction of the road up the Grand Canyon of the Snake River. A very important meeting was held last Monday in Ogden at Hotel Ben Lomard in the interest of starting the construction of a highway through the grand canon of the Snake River. Many communities of Utah, Idaho and Wyo. were represented. At this meeting it developed that this project is not longer a Wyoming project but a western states protect, as all those present manifest a vital interest in the road. All marble players get tuned up, for we are going to have some real marble games, and there will be some real medals given to the champions. Who will be champs? Watch for rules in next paper. This tournament will be sponsored by the Star Valley Recreative Association. 100-years ago: Grover news: The character ball last Friday night was not a very good success just a very few taking part. It was given by the officers of the primary, but not one of them took any interest in making it a sociable time by representing a character. Mr. Joseph Anderson is going to sell his milk cows. Mr. Martin Jensen is going to run the milk wagon and his father's farm. Washington–Taft's message brief and plain–does not waste time in attempt to present statement of the needs of the country. Asks that statesmen get busy with the tariff, declaring business interests demand that work of revision be done without delay.

Two players leave Cowboys basketball

dahlerickson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:47:29 +0000

Though initial reports discusses the two taking advantage of professional careers overseas, Mikhail Linskens and Mahamoud Diakite must have seen the writing on the wall. After playing very little in a season that saw the Cowboys win 19 games, both players likely saw that their playing time was unlikely to increase under Head Coach Heath Shroyer in the 2009-2010 campaign. Linskens, who proved to be a decent three-point threat when he was actually on the floor, struggled to acclimate to the American game in the post but his seven-foot frame should draw some interest abroad. Coach Shroyer opted to play 6' 10" Cody native and red shirt freshman, Adam Waddell, the vast majority of the time and was named the starter for the majority of the games in the final two months of the season. As for Diakite, his minutes started off being split Djibril Thiam in late December, but Thiam worked his way into the lineup with an ability to play multiple positions when the situation warranted it, effectively putting Diakite on the bench for practically the entire season. Diakite was a transfer from Western Illinois. With the two departures in addition to the graduation of Brandon Ewing, Sean Ogirri and Tyson Johnson, the Cowboys have multiple scholarships to distribute. Recruiting websites have reported that Ohio All-State selections Daylen Harrison and Desmar Jackson have been recruited by UW. Both players led their respective teams to state championships this past season, albeit in different classifications. Harrison has been reported as giving a "soft verbal" to the team, although the coaching staff cannot comment on recruiting at this time. The loss of Linskens puts pressure on not only Waddell to continue his eye-opening development towards the end of the season, but also on transfer, Boubacar Sylla, who's 7'2", 275 pound frame could make Cowboy fans salivate at the prospect of teaming up a monster in the middle similar to Utah's Luke Nevill and move Wadell to the power forward position. Sylla is a transfer from Auburn who sat out last season to satisfy NCAA rules but has not played in a game situation in nearly two years. New Mexico State transfer JayDee Luster is penciled in as the point guard for next season, while Junior College standout, Thomas Manzano is likely to be an impact player next season after being named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team and averaging over 26 points per game in the post-season. Manzano will have three years of eligibility remaining for the Cowboys. The two will join Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, Afam Moujeke and Waddell in a likely starting five next season.

Independent Obituaries: April 2, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:16:29 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the April 2, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Elaine Anglesey Hyde died March 22, 2009 at her home in Auburn. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the Meadows Ward Church with internment at the Auburn Cemetery. She was born April 1, 1936 in Afton to Richard Ivan and Emma Estella Anglesey. She married the love of her life, Clealon D. Hyde on March 10, 1953 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. They have had a good life together and have enjoyed doing lots of things together. In the past few years, they were inseparable. She wanted to spend every minute with her sweetheart. On November 22, 2008, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. She and Clealon have lived many different places through their lives together. In 1959, they bought the farm on which they still lived at the time of her passing. She spent many hours working on the farm along with her family. These were rough times, but many great memories were made. She worked other jobs away from home besides helping on the farm. She worked at the Golden Spur Cafe for nearly a year before they were married, helped Brog and Hemmert’s put out their Christmas display of toys in 1952, and Fred’s Cafe for approximately one month. She worked part-time at Star Valley Creamery, made spud nuts for Robert’s Market and worked at Maverik Corporate Office where she retired from after 23 years in 1996. She worked hard and did her bet at everything she did. She loved to go camping with her family. Her favorite place to go was Boulder Lake. She looked forward to the trip each year. She was a member of the LDS Church where she held several positions over the years, including counselor in the Relief Society, Primary president, Primary teacher, and visiting teacher. She loved these callings and looked at them as rewarding experiences. She loved to do handy work in which her family was all proud of. She was very good at it and made sure that all of her children and grandchildren had an afghan made by her loving and gentle hands. She loved her family very much and her greatest joy was to see her family happy and to have them come to visit. She was loved and respected by those who knew her. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and love her. She is survived by her husband Clealon and four daughters, Connie (Kirk) Merritt, Auburn; Jeri (Kirby) Luthi, Freedom; Lori McReynolds, Afton; Dianne (Len) Merritt, Smoot; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Virginia Blair, Jackson Hole; Ione Potter, Alpine; brother, Garie Anglesey, Auburn. Funeral services for Andrew Robert Aagard were held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in the Meadows LDS Ward Chapel.

Office of the State Treasurer seeks to return $32 million to rightful owners

newsrelease — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:15:30 +0000

There is $32.0 million available to the rightful owners and Wyoming State Treasurer Joe Meyer wants to return it. "Wyoming Windfall~ is the catch name for the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer's Office. Unclaimed property includes, but is not limited to, wages, uncashed money orders, oil and gas royalties, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Funds that have been held by a company or by another state for a specified number of years and have not or cannot be paid to the owner are then placed in protective custody by the State Treasurer. The Unclaimed Property Division safeguards and makes a diligent effort to return the funds to the rightful owner, at no cost to the owner. The State Treasurer's Wyomin9 Windfall be9ins Sunday, April 5, 2009. Phone banks will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, April 6-10; after April 10, phone banks will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday throu9h Friday. Hundreds of telephone calls are received and claims are mailed to potential owners/heirs during a two week period. Please be patient, though. With thousands of names being advertised, you may get a busy signal. For persons who wish to avoid possible telephone delays, you may write to the Unclaimed Property Division at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 502, Cheyenne, WY 82002. In spite of the high volume of expected calls and questions, we will try to respond to your request within 8-10 weeks." Treasurer Meyer stressed that Unclaimed Property is not a scam, nor is it the result of winning a contest. This money belongs to the owners or rightful heirs. Meyer said the average claim is less than $100; however, some owners have claimed $100,000 or more. The website address to search for unclaimed property is: www.wywindfaJl.gov. The website will be available for preview beginning Sunday, April 5. Phone banks will be open beginning April 6. Even if you don't see your name on the website, you should contact the Unclaimed Property Office at 307-777-5590 or at the address noted above to determine if we are holding unclaimed property for you.

The Return of the Stir

dahlerickson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:57:06 +0000

I wasn't sure if the Friday Sports Stir was anything people wanted to read, but I realized that it's something that I do want to write, so here's to the return of the Friday sports column. The valley is somewhat deserted this week as spring break has decimated worker productivity it seems like it does every year. Generally the most head-shaking question I get asked revolves around not if I"m going somewhere, but where I'm going. Well, my business uses the school district a lot for information, but not so much that they'll give me a week off every year, so I generally stay put. This week being stuck in the valley it's been a pretty grumpy time. The winter absolutely refuses to go away and every other time you happen to peek out the window, it's snowing again. I've complained to the point where I think my co-workers tune me out, and that's a little embarrassing. So as I was complaining to my wife about it, she reminded me that as she was doing some research, she came across some info in the Independent 75 years ago this week and it was, yup, complaining about the weather. Complaining that we don't live in Boca in the spring, a Star Valley tradition. Anyway, here are some thoughts that have been making my brain pulse over the past few days in the sports world. • Jay Cutler - I'll admit this was much more compelling that wondering where Brett Favre and his Wranglers were going to end up last year. My team, the Washington Redskins, have tried to sit out the exciting off-season portion of things for the past couple of years. Not anymore. "Chainsaw" Dan Snyder is one of those guys who you can imagine saying: "I always get what I want," and more often than not, he does. That's why I was genuinely surprised when it was reported the 'Skins were interested and then Cut-n-run went to Da Bears. The Bears? Really? Who knew that the folks in the Windy City felt they even needed a QB. Anyway, now the D.C. coaching staff finds themselves having to reassure Jason Campbell and let him know he's their guy. Luckily for them, he seems like he's much more professional than Cutler. For reference, that means the starting QB's in the NFC North are Sage Rosenfels (they think), Aaron Rogers, Daunte Culpepper/rookie victim 2009 version in Detroit and Cutler. This isn't even close is it? I know they gave up a lot, (1st rounders in 2009 and 2010, plus a 2009 third rounder and Kyle Orton) but the Bears go through quarterbacks like most guys go through socks. I think Jim McMahon is their all-time leading TD passer and he's well under 200 for his career in Chi-town. If some receivers can emerge to take off the pressure, which they did better than I thought they would in 2008, just imagine what Matt Forte might have up his sleeve in his sophomore campaign. As for Denver, I"m not sure what they're doing. Pat Bowlen looks an awful lot like Jerry Reinsdorf lately, meaning, he seems willing to trade a perennial playoff contender for, well, something else. • Prima Donnas - Speaking of the NFL, I know receivers have a rep for being divas, but they're turning into quite a surly lot. Plaxico - gun charge, Stallworth- killed a man while DUI, Marvin Harrison - gun charge and we haven't even talked about Terrel Owens. The one that stands out the most right now is Stallworth. Yes, he seemed contrite while apologizing on television, but he was legally drunk when he ran over a man and killed him. He might very well be trading Cleveland Brown for penitentiary orange in a few months. However, the thing that disturbs me isn't just that this happened, but that people don't seem to think he's worse than Michael Vick, who was recently released. Look, I like dogs, I grew up with a couple and missed them when they died, but we're talking about a guy who killed a human being in a negligent way, and someone who murdered dogs for entertainment. They're both grisly charges, but one of them denies a family of a father and a family member, so why isn't it getting more press? As for Vick, things are already really bad in Detroit. Massive layoffs and an 0-16 team. Do you really think they'll let Vick's past get in the way if they think he's reformed and could give the citizens a reason to forget their troubles for three hours? That's what I'd do if I was the Lions. Of course, I wouldn't have hired Matt Millen either. If you want to have a really good read, click here for Mitch Albom's piece titled the Courage of Detroit. Who says sports writers can't be touching? It will have you cheering for the Lions this year unless you're dead inside. • NCAA Tournament Bracket - Well, call me the victim of the Wyoming bias. I thought Cheyenne native James Johnson and Wake Forest could cause some real damage. . . like Final Four damage. Well, despite that bad quadrant, I'm still tied for the lead in the Independent bracket, which has close to 30 entries. This year is a matter of heart versus mind. My heart tells me Villanova or MSU would be grand, but the mind says that UConn/North Carolina is the likely match up. Time will tell if I win the pool (which has no money), or I get beat by one of the kids who stuffs the newspaper. It's happened before. For my money, I'll be pulling for 'Nova this weekend, just because their coach is going up against three guys who've already won a championship. I'm a Wyoming fan, of course I'm cheering for the underdog. • Star Valley spring sports - I'm very excited about the new facilities. The weather has dampened my enthusiasm lately, because it may cause more cancellations. For the record, the cancellations last weekend were at Casper's request, not ours. I've never thought I would become a soccer fan, and I'm still far from it, but I have come to a real appreciation of their efforts at the high school level. They run anywhere from 3-6 miles during a contest, and there is a lot more contact than I thought there would be some four years ago. Weather permitting (and no, the field isn't heated for those of you who might think it's a miracle) the boys will play Evanston in Tuesday, with the Lady Braves playing Kelly Walsh and Natrona on Thursday and Friday. In addition, the Dave Draney Invitational will hopefully be on Saturday the 11th for a pretty darn full week of SVHS sports. Come on out and make some sweet "spring" noise, and you just might find something else you like. Have your own thoughts on what's stirring the sports world? Use the comment section below and share it with us.

This Week in Star Valley: April 2-9

newsrelease — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:48:17 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. As always, all content was researched and compiled from previous editions of the Star Valley Independent. 25-years ago: The water content of the snow pack on the Salt River watershed is 133 percent of normal as of April 1. Ad: At Valley Market, Bar S. tasty chicken dogs, 1 lb. $.79; seedless grapes, $.99; Banquet 11 oz. frozen dinners, $.95; 8 oz. Bumble Bee oysters, $.99; Meadow Gold 1 lb. cottage cheese, $89; Kraft 16 oz. sandwich spread, $1.19. The Blossoming Homemakers 4-H club of Afton recently elected new officers for the new unit. . . . The club has just completed the cooking unit and is now beginning the "C is for Crocheting" and "Pretty Sitting" units. Leaders are Mrs. Jo Galloway and Mrs. Shirley Gardner, and Mrs. Dale Kennington. Star Valley High School, Prom '84; A Night in Heaven. Music by Evelyn Rhodes. Admission: $10 couple, $5 single; pictures $6. 50-years ago: Royal Jensen, teacher at Star Valley High School, will do advanced study next year at Oregon State College under a special National Science Foundation program grant. . . . Fifty high school science and mathematics teachers from across the country were named to study at Oregon State, one of 16 colleges in the nation picked to start the science teacher training program three years ago. The Old Timer (comic): (Man resting in hammock), "Doing nothing is the most tiresome job in the world--because you can't quit and rest." Barn Dance: Wear your aprons and overalls to Dad's Hall, Thayne, April 4. Sponsored by Variety Club. 75-years ago: Game Commissioner Lester Bagley made a trip up Grays River last weekend. He reports seeing quite a lot of elk, and that they all are doing fine He counted 60 head just across the river from the Gillis ranch. He also reports that 3 head of cattle wintered out in the vicinity of Higbee creek. Car Price to Raise Soon: Manager E. N. Allred has just been notified by the Chevrolet Car company by wire that cars will take raise from $35 to $50 within the next few days. Anyone placing orders immediately will have advantage of the present prices. Almanac: April 9--"Rebel" General Lee surrenders to U. S. Grant, 1865; 10--Eli Whitney invents the important Cotton Gin, 1793; 11--Napoleon is forced to quit French throne, 1813; 12--Gen. Pershing pursue Villa into Mexico, 1916; 13--Noah Webster’s first dictionary published, 1828; 14--Hailstones kill men and horses in Paris, 1360; 15--Abraham Lincoln dies of assassins bullet, 1865. 100-years ago: QUARANTINE NOTICE: The disease known as Lip and Leg Ulceration having appeared in practically all of the counties comprising the Central and Northen District of the state . . . hereby orders that no sheep or bucks shall be trailed or shipped from the Central of Northen districts . . . until the said sheep or bucks are inspected by an inspector of this force and found clean and a permit given by the said inspector. The State Board of Sheep Commissioners. Small Pox at Fairview: The dancers last Friday night at Afton were startled by the announcement from the rostrum that as there is a case of small pox at Fairview. There will be no public gatherings in that ward until further notice. The scare was more pronounced as there were several people from Fairview among the dancers. For Sale: My ranch at Thayne, Wyo., is for sale on good, easy terms. This ranch is one of the best farms in these valleys, well wanted and joins the town of Thayne. Wyo. Yours truly, Arthur Roberts.

Senator Barasso: Drug cartels pose a threat

newsrelease — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:39:34 +0000

Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) was in the border city of El Paso, TX to investigate the drug-fueled violence and the impact of the cartels on the border. “We are faced with transnational criminal networks that produce, transport and market illegal drugs, Barrasso said. We must destroy the cartels. The violence along the U.S. – Mexico border is a serious security challenge that we cannot simply ignore.” Barrasso was in El Paso to participate in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing into violence on the southern border. Barrasso, escorted by West Texas sheriffs, visited a number of points along the porous border, including the new fence. He also flew a surveillance mission with the Texas National Guard Counter Narcotic Task Force. “The problems that Mexico and the United States face may seem simple. But we are dealing with sophisticated drug trafficking organizations that adapt quickly to law enforcement methods and capabilities,” Barrasso said. “Some have suggested that we need to ban semi-automatic assault weapons to curb the violence. I don’t understand the rationale behind disarming law-abiding citizens. Why would you disarm someone when they potentially could get caught in the crossfire?” “We have laws in place to tackle arms trafficking. The existing laws simply need to be fully enforced,” Barrasso said. “I will not allow our Second Amendment rights to be sacrificed. Additional gun control in the United States will not change the U.S. – Mexico border violence and smuggling problem,” Barrasso said. “It will take trust, resources and leadership to defeat the cartels.” Barrasso believes that to destroy the criminal networks we need a three stage plan. “The short-term solution is to beef up our border agents’ ability to collect and share intelligence and put more boots on the ground. Our border patrols are on the front line dealing with the illegal border crossings and cartel gang activity. “The mid-term solution involves putting the Merida Initiative to work and providing the equipment and training to deter, and eventually defeat the cartels,” Barrasso said. “The long-term solution involves reforming the Mexican judicial system and curbing the United States’ appetite for illegal drugs. In the United States, we need to deal with our addiction to drugs and cut the market off for the cartels.”

Stockton & Sloan inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

dahlerickson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:16:36 +0000

Yes, Michael Jordan headlines what might be one of the mightiest HOF classes in history, but don't say that in Jazz country. Jordan joins Utah greats, John Stockton and Jerry Sloan as inductees, along with San Antonio's David Robinson and Rugers University's C. Vivian Stringer in this year's class. Commonly referred to as the greatest player to play the game, Jordan's six titles while playing in the media circus of Chicago is perhaps the opposite of Sloan and Stockton who have put up dramatic numbers in the smaller market of Salt Lake City. But, those looking for and assist or a steal only need look to Stockton. Stockton spent his entire career with the Jazz and finished with 19,711 points, 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. Both are all-time marks and are unlikely to be broken, especially the assists mark which is more than 5,000 more than Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson. Sloan is a paradox of today's stats-laden accolades process. The only coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team, Sloan has never won the Coach of the Year award, instead losing out to at least six coaches who are no longer coaching in the NBA. It's also hard to get over all of the connections between the Jazz and Chicago as well. Two of Jordan's titles came at the expense of the Jazz, while Sloan was a two-time all-star for the Bulls and formed what is arguably the toughest backcourt in history with Norm Van Lier who passed away just last month. Jordan's 32,292 points is third all-time, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and yup, Utah's Karl Malone His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07. The five-time NBA MVP won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina. Stockton also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average in a season (14.5 in 1989-90). Utah took Stockton in the first round of the 1984 draft, using the No. 16 pick on a relatively unknown player from Gonzaga who became one of the top point guards. Robinson, who earned the nickname "The Admiral" from his college career at Navy, is generally regarded as one of the game's most respected big men, and retired with two NBA titles, an MVP and two Olympic Gold Medals. Sloan is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. Stringer has led three separate teams to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades. She trails only Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt on the victories list. Stringer guided Rutgers to its fifth straight regional semifinals trip this season. Stockton, Robinson and Jordan all played with the original "Dream Team" in 1992.

Braves and Lady Braves blast the Red Devils

dahlerickson — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:37:20 +0000

The Star Valley Braves won the first soccer match held on the new Braves Field with a 4-1 one-sided victory over visiting Evanston. For good measure, the Lady Braves collected their third win of the season with an identical 4-1 win on the road in Uinta County. The win for the Braves was their first of the season, raising their record to 1-3 but more importantly it moves them to 1-0 in the conference as they travel to Casper this weekend to take on Kelly Walsh and Natrona. Jon Scherbel notched the game's first goal in the 15th minute. Team mate Skyler Heiner used his speed to collect the game's second goal just four minutes later in the 19th minute as the Braves led at the half, 2-0. Despite some early pressure in the first half from the Red Devils, the Braves eventually dominated the action with multiple shots on goal as Heiner claimed his second goal in the 48th minute. Drew Hathaway scored the fourth goal with a beautiful putback header in the 60th minute. A goal in the 67th minute by Evanston spoiled a near shutout by sophomore keeper, Justin Miller. The junior varsity scored the first two goals of their contest but eventually came up short in a 4-3 match. As for the Lady Braves, they won on the road to improve their overall record to 3-2 and 1-0 in the 4A West. A trio of juniors accounted for the offensive load with two goals from Alisa Gimlin who scored her first goal on a penalty kick. Dani Scherbel scored the third goal while Klydi Brower rounded out the offense with her first goal of the season. The Lady Braves JV pitched a shutout, winning 1-0. While the Braves will be on the road, the Lady Braves will have their home opener Thursday afternoon as they host Kelly Walsh, and will play the double-header as they host Natrona on Saturday.

Independent News Briefs

dandockstader — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:48:02 +0000

News in a nutshell about Star Valley and the surrounding area that can keep you informed and on your way. Congressman Lummis has someone on the ground in Star Valley. Former State Senator Pat Aullman has joined the staff of Congressman Cynthia Lummis. Aullman is the new field representative for Lummis for the Lincoln, Sublette and Teton county areas. In addition Aullman will have oversight of Grand Teton National Park for the Lummis office. Aullman reported that she will be the eyes and ears for the Congressman Lummis, attending all the public meetings and maintaining contact with local leaders in the towns and counties. To contact Aullman regarding matters associated with Congressman Lummis and the federal government, please call 883-1088. Barrasso offers internship. U.S. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming is accepting applications for his summer 2009 internship program. The experience is designed to give Wyoming’s youth an in-depth look into the workings of the United States government. The dates for the 2009 summer session are May 18 through August 14. Applications can be found on Senator Barrasso’s website, (http://barrasso.senate.gov/public). For more information, please contact Cecily Longfield in Senator Barrasso’s office at 202.224.6441. The deadline for applications is April 17. Spring snows send the percentages up. DeMont Grandy, conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation District ,reports that snowpack percentages in the Star Valley and Cokeville areas are hovering around 100 percent at the beginning of April. He reported the Snake River Drainage, which includes the Salt River, has an average of 99 percent, while other such as Willow Creek, the Grover Park Divide and Salt River Summit CCC Camp have all surpassed 100 percent. Willow Creeksnowpack is at 110 percent of normal, Grover Park at 111 percent and the Salt River Summit at 116 percent. Lincoln County Libraries will celebrate in April. Brenda McGinnis, director of the Lincoln County Library System, reports that Libraries from Alpine to LaBarge will be celebrating National Library Week, April 12 through the 18. She says every library has a variety of activities planned.McGinnis says the week is designed to recognize libraries for their contributions to the communities and schools. McGinnis says the Lincoln County Library System will be launching a new web site during National Library Week as part of the celebration.

Independent Obituaries: April 9, 2009

newsrelease — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:22:48 +0000

The following are obituaries that appear in the April 9, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Martice Hancock was born April 24, 1942 and died April 2, 2009. There is simply not enough ink, words, or paper to write on to sum our mother up. Truest love and wife. Our mother, our mom, our nana. Confidant and friend. Pillar to her family and all she claimed as her family. A woman, who truly stands alone in beauty, inside and out; in faith, in which she made a way of life. Instilling it deeply into her children's hearts; in love, truly displaying what unconditional love was, and there is so much more. She is survived by her soul mate and husband of 37 years, her five children, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. But really, everyone who she took under her loving wings and made her own. If you knew her you loved her and felt her love for you like a radiant heat. She could heal our wounds and dry our tears. She was the listening ear, the voice of reason, with the most amazing gift to tell us the right thing at the right time. There's not one of us who did not receive one of her beautiful cards or letters. We will always remember her black and white check apron, her uniform for feeding the masses. It always brought her such joy, us as well. What she will most be remembered for is that she was a woman of faith. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 47 years she shared those beliefs and convictions with all whom she met. No one can fill those shoes and we all know it. And to those who did not know our mother this might sound too good to be true, but, it is simply the person she was, why she loved, and why she will be missed. Memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Grover on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 3 p.m. Donna Ipsen, 81, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009. She was born July 25, 1927, in Woodbine, Iowa. As a young girl, Donna moved with her family to Geneva, Idaho where she attended elementary school. In 1936, she graduated from Montpelier High School and began a 14-year career as a switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company. In February 1949 Donna married Don Ipsen of Bennington Idaho in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple and recently they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. She was an active leader in the Cub Scout program for many years, but was especially known for her talents at sewing and computerized embroidery. Donna also drove and managed the Afton, Wyoming and Garden City, Utah mail routes for the U.S. Postal Service. She also enjoyed an active role in the management and acquisitions of the Ipsen Hereford Ranch. Donna is survived by her husband Don and five of her six children, Loren (Sharon) Ipsen of Boise; Bret (Peggy) Ipsen of Houston; Lillas Ipsen of Idaho Falls; Mark (Becky) Ipsen of Dingle; and Jay Dee (Miho) Ipsen of Payson, Utah. Donna was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Donna Sue. She was also the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at in Montpelier. Interment took place in the Montpelier Cemetery Ross Partington Findlay, age 88, passed away of causes incident to age on April 2, 2009, in Bountiful, Utah. He was born on May 18, 1920, in Smoot to Hugh W. and Gertrude P. Findlay, the fourth of nine children. He worked on his father's dairy farm, hauled milk for the Star Valley creamery and was well known for his beautiful singing voice. Ross graduated from Star Valley High School in 1938. He entered the U.S. Army, serving with distinction in the European Theater during World War II, and was awarded four battle stars. On July 11, 1945, Ross married Linnie T. Marchant in the Salt Lake Temple. He attended LDS Business College and graduated from Utah State University with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in 1950 and 1952. Ross began his career in education as a teacher at Ephraim Jr. High School and Spanish Fork High School. In 1955 he began his long career at Snow College as dean of students and associate professor of social science. In 1958 he became registrar, as well as dean of students, serving in this dual role for nearly ten years. From 1975 until his retirement in 1982 Ross was director of admissions and registration at Snow. In 1994 Ross and Linnie received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Snow College for their service to the college and community. His service to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was long and varied. Ross served a mission in California in 1939-1941. He was a bishop, high councilor, and assisted the local regional representative as executive secretary. Ross and Linnie served together as missionaries in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1983-1985. He directed the Manti Temple visitor center and served as an ordinance worker and sealer in the Manti Temple. Ross had a life-long love for Boy Scouting and dedicated himself to furthering the goals and ideals of this organization. He founded and led the Snow College Merit Badge Pow Wow. He completed training at Philmont, served on the staff for Wood Badge, including as course director, was an executive board member of the Utah National Parks Council and received the Silver Beaver Award. He found great satisfaction as he worked to provide the best possible Scouting program for young men. Ross is survived by his children, Richard Bruce (Linda); Roslyn (Craig) Jackson; Kimball Ross (Rickie); Donald James (Catherine); Kathleen (Richard) Kimble; Scott William (DeAnne); and Charles Robert (Penny); 34 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Merrill; Douglas; and Charles Bruce; son, John Michael; great-grandson Taylor James Gedge; and his wife of 63 years, Linnie Findlay. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 11, 2009, at noon in the Ephraim 7th Ward (400 E Center). Interment will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery with military rites. Andrew Robert Aagard was born March 14, 1985 in Afton to Lyle Rick and Julie Aagard. Andy was the third child into the family. Andy spent the first 11 years of his life on the Tygee Ranch near Auburn. Andy loved the closeness to the forest and spent most of his childhood playing in the forests, willows, creeks and snow banks with his brother and sisters and friends. He learned to ride motorbikes and snowmobiles and to work hard at his responsibilities. After leaving the ranch, the family moved into their newly remodeled barn home in the town of Auburn. Andy was a big help with the work that transformed the cow barn into their home. Andy attended school at Holdaway Elementary in Thayne, Star Valley Junior High in Afton and graduated from seminary and Star Valley High School in 2003. Andy made many friends in elementary school and junior high that remained his friends throughout his life. Andy loved football and took pride in being part of the Star Valley Braves. He played as the starting defensive end his senior year and helped the team take second place in the state championship. Andy worked hard at building himself up physically and enjoyed lifting weights. During his sophomore year he broke the school record for the dead lift, lifting 640 pounds. Following high school graduation, Andy went to work with Rick doing construction and shop work. Working shoulder to shoulder with his dad, he soon became a very conscientious and skillful carpenter. He took pride in doing a good job and appreciated the challenges that came with construction work. Andy was never one to do a lot of talking. He chose his words carefully and thoughtfully and didn't waste them on idle chatter. He loved doing things with his family and having any of his siblings come home to visit and play was a highlight for him. Andy loved to help others and was found at every service activity in the ward and others of his own making. Andy was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and at the time of his passing was serving as a faithful home teacher, Elder's quorum service coordinator, teacher's quorum advisor and Sunday school secretary. Andy passed away at his home in Auburn on March 26, 2009. He is survived by his parents, Rick and Julie Aagard of Auburn; brother Adam Dane of Rocklin, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Allyson and Brandon Major of West Jordan, Utah; and sister Amy Lynn Aagard who is currently serving a full-time mission in San Francisco, Calif. His grandparents, Burchell and Ruby Hopkins of Powell and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins also survive him. Ronald Royce Nickerson passed away March 25, 2009 in Jackson Hole after a courageous battle with cancer. Ronald, or also known as "Rotten Ron,” was born on June 23, 1937. He entered the United States Army where he served from 1954-1958. His company was stationed in Germany where he drove a tank. He also worked as a truck driver, visiting all of the United States except Hawaii and Alaska. His favorite pastimes were spoiling his two granchildren rotten, telling jokes, playing tricks and pranks on people, and spreading his wonderful humor to everyone he met. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda Nickerson, and his father, Kenneth Nickerson. Survivors include his daughter, Shauna Honadel of Afton; his sister Judith Meyer of Salt Lake City; and his brother, Nick Nickerson of Casper. A memorial service will take place in Glenrock in early summer. Otto Dan Peternal, 87, of Kemmerer and longtime member of the Lincoln County ranching community passed away on April 1, 2009, in Riverton. He was born Dec. 28, 1921 in Kemmerer. He attended the University of Wyoming until he enlisted in the Army during WWII. He served his country as a medic on the battlefield in Germany until the war ended. He returned to Kemmerer to join his family running their three cattle ranches and the Union Meat Market. He married Helen Farrell in 1963 and made a life of ranching and raising his daughters and was truly devoted to each! He spent his golden years running up and down the Hamsfork and drinking coffee with his friends. He is survived by daughters Lucy Hillstead; Ann (Scott and son Christopher) Boyle; Ellen Peternal; sister Ida Barlow; grandchildren Devon, Mason, and Caitlin Hillstead; Edna, his sister in law; the Bob Peternal family; the Bob Thoman family and Father Farrell Peternal. He was preceded in death by wife Helen; daughter Amy; parents John and Rose; brothers Johnny and Bill (and wife Nancy). Rosary was held Sunday evening, April 5 at 7 p.m. at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kemmerer. The funeral Mass took place on Monday April 6 at 10 a.m. with burial at the Kemmerer Cemetery. Funeral services for Austin Merritt will be held on Friday, April 10, 2009 at noon in the Bedford LDS Church. Viewings are scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne and on Friday from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

Lady Braves play Kelly Walsh to a 1-1 tie

dahlerickson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:55:48 +0000

For the last three times the Lady Trojans and Star Valley have played, 100 minutes just hasn't been enough. The Lady Braves continue to chip away at their conference rivals after earning a state tournament birth a year ago, this time playing Kelly Walsh to a 1-1 tie. It's the first of a back-to-back home stand for the ladies with Natrona on tap for Friday afternoon. KW's Kayla Fakelman got her team on the scoreboard first, scoring midway through the first half after some indecision by the Star Valley defense. Fakelman took advantage and powered it past Star Valley keeper, Becca Sangster. The Trojans led 1-0 at the half. Sangster would have some great saves the remainder of the way and not allow another. In the second half, the seemingly endless energy of players such as Klydi Brower, Kelsey Diedrich and Alisa Gimlin began to result in higher quality shots. One of which found the net in the 51st minute as Diedrich tied the game at 1-1. For the remainder of the match, the two teams each saw incredibly close shaves come away with no score. Both teams also had some quality shots in the overtime periods but neither team was able to capitalize. Jocelyn Morris in particular had to stonewall at least five point blank attempts. It's the third consecutive time that the two programs have battled to a tie after 100 minutes. The difference is this time being a regular season game, the result is a stalemate. Kelley Walsh won by one the two previous times in a shootout format at regionals and state last season. Both teams showed grit as temperatures were in the high 30's for the beginning of the match, but had dipped to the lower 20's by the time action concluded under some steady rain. The tie moves the Lady Braves to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the 4A West. The junior varsity wasn't so fortunate, falling behind 3-0 before scoring in the match's final minute to avoid the shutout, 3-1. K.C. Schooner notched the goal. As for the Braves, they battled the Trojans far away from home in the Oil City and did their best and battled the home team without a score for quite some time. However, once Kelly Walsh got rolling, they rang up the scoreboard with a 4-0 victory.

This Week in Star Valley: April 9-16

newsrelease — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:18:38 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. As always, this content has been researched and compiled from previous editions of the Star Valley Independent, covering your hometown for 108 years. 25-years ago: School board adopts new policies. The policy on admission of students from non-accredited schools was passed as well as a new closed campus policy for the new junior high school. Etna news: Sixteen cub scouts participate in pinewood derby. The winners were Den 1, Aaron Roberts, first; Markell Bateman, second; Klint Jackson, third; Den 2, Brian Roberts, first, Matt Wolfely, second, and Ian Wolfely, thrid; Webelos, Shad Roberts, first, Corbin Bageman second, Cody Clark, third. Brian Roberts was named Grand Champion. 50-years ago: Winners of Grosjean Studio--Star Valley Drug Baby Photo Contest: 6 mo. to 1 year, Ramona Allred; 1 to 2 years, Randy Veigel; 2-3 years, Jeffrey Wright. Ad: You get more at IGA; Nalley's banquet dill pickles, 24 oz. $.39; Sunny Jim syrup, qt $.45; Jiffy biscuit mix, 40 oz. pkg. $.29; Libby's cadet olives, 5 tall cans $.89; Comet cleanser, reg. size can $.27. Thayne news: Mr. and Mrs. Milford Heap took their son John back to Logan Sunday and visited with Milford's mother, Mrs. May Heap. 75-years ago: Attention Star Valley Schools! We've had several inquiries regarding the taking of the school picture again this year. We are now well equipped for the work and plan to visit the school this coming week. Maximum service assured and your patronage appreciated. Mack's Studio, Afton Wyoming. Harmonica Contest: Sunday, April 15, the Osmond Harmonica Band members are giving a public performance in the Osmond chapel. The nature of the performance will be contest work in both solos and duets. The winners to be present with new harmonicas. Postmaster W. Leroy Call and R. B. Call in company with 11 business men of Cokeville and 23 prominent men of Kemmerer enjoyed a ride last Friday on the new speedy Union Pacific train from Montpelier to Kemmerer. These men were all invited guest of the Railroad Co. While en rout an official of the company explained all the details of this new train. The train is powered by a 600 horse power diesel engine which turns an eclectic generator. . . . The train embodies the latest development in modern travel comfort, and has a maximum speed of 110 miles per hour; the fastest on this trip was 90 miles per hour. . . . Several more trains are being built and will be in service by fall. They will make a coast to coast trip in about 36 hour. 100-years ago: Etna: The snow is getting shallow. It is only 6 inches deep on some of the slopes and on the most of our lands is not over 12 inches deep. Auburn: There will be a basketball game here tonight, Friday, between Auburn and Grover. Friday is the last day of school, and the children are having a celebration in honor of the event.

Etna Elementary wins archery championship

newsrelease — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:35:21 +0000

CHEYENNE - The first annual Wyoming Archery in the Schools Program (WASP) state championship was recently completed with more than 80 youth from throughout the state participating in the tournament. Hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the tournament was held in a virtual format in which students compete at their own school with the scores then submitted to the Game and Fish. According to hunter and angler recruitment coordinator Tristanna Bickford, the championship was the culminating event for the more than 30 schools participating in WASP for the 2008-09 school year. Bickford said the tournament is designed for 4-12 grade students. “Each participant uses the same kind of bows, arrows and targets,” said Bickford. The Game and Fish assists with providing the equipment, and provides instruction to teachers to implement the program.” Archery in the schools has been in Wyoming schools since 2003, but this is the first year schools have participated in a state tournament to qualify students for national competition. The winners of the 2009 Wyoming State Tournament for the following categories are: Elementary Team Division: (Name, Location and Score) 1. Etna Elementary, Etna - 2354 2. Goins Elementary, Cheyenne (team 1) - 1923 3. Goins Elementary, Cheyenne (team 2) - of 1116 Elementary Female Division - Grades 4-6 1. Isabella Currie -Etna - 215 2. Trisha Richards -Etna - 187 3. JoJo Schultz - Etna - 174 4. Carissa Zamora - Cheyenne - 160 5. Janeta McDowell - Cheyenne - 156 Middle School Female Division - Grades 7-8 1. McKenna Brinton - Jackson - 176 2. Melissa Fox, Jackson - 166 3. Tara Ryan, Jackson - 110 Elementary Male Division - Grades 4-6 1. Dillan Ortman - Etna - 198 2. Andrew Eagle Road - Cheyenne - 191 3. Gavin Speakman - Etna - 185 4. Jaden Clark - Etna - 183 5. Alexander Anderson - Cheyenne - 180 High School Male Division - Grades 9-12 1. Will Wise - Jackson - 211 2. Trevor Ryan - Jackson - 159 These individuals as well as the first place team have qualified to compete at the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) championships held May 8 - 9 in Louisville, KY. WASP was adopted in 2003 from the national archery program. The program's focus is designed to teach international archery style target archery in grades 4-12 as part of the in-school curriculum. NASP's core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. The students shoot at bulls-eye targets placed in front of an arrow resistant net in their gymnasium or outside. Before presenting archery instruction to their students at school, teachers must undergo an 8-hour certification-training program for basic archery instruction. Certification is conducted by Game and Fish education staff and certified volunteers. Complete information on tournament results and how schools can become involved in WASP is on the WASP Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us/services/education/educatorshomepage/NASP/index.asp.

Independent Obituaries: April 16, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:51:58 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the April 16, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Austin Heber Merritt was born on Jan. 31, 1922, the first son and eldest child of George Heber and Ethel Spackman Merritt. Austin was born at home in the town of Bedford. His parents homesteaded in Bedford and later Austin purchased property to the east of his parents place. Austin farmed and ranched until the place was sold to his son after his retirement. Austin had two brothers and two sisters and together they had man happy times together. Austin attended the 1st through the 8th grade at the Bedford school and completed two years at Star Valley High School. Austin was needed at home to help on the ranch. Austin was life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Austin served as an Elder, Seventy and High Priest. Austin served both a Stake Mission and was a Stake Home Missionary during his early married years. Austin served as the Thayne 1st ward membership clerk, providing dedicated and unselfish service. Austin also served for many years as a Home Teacher and was the Bedford ward Young Men’s President for many years. Austin grew into a strong, tall, hardworking man and enjoyed time with his friends and the dances in Star Valley. In the Spring of 1940, Austin noticed Dorthy and they enjoyed spending time together. On Sept. 1, 1941 they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity. Five children joined the family, three sons and two daughters. Austin worked very hard to provide a comfortable life for his wife and children. He worked full-time jobs at the Creamery and for the Lincoln County Road and Bridge Department. On April 29, 1988 Austin retired from the road and bridge as the Maintenance Foreman with 19 years and three months of service. Austin will be remembered for the countless early morning hours and evenings pushing snow to keep the roads open and clear for the school buses and folks traveling. He could fix anything. He owned and operated Merritt Repair for years and made house calls to diagnose and repair whatever it might be. Austin enjoyed many things: horses, baseball, basketball, family, traveling, camping, hunting and most especially fishing. Ice, stream, or lake fishing was always on the agenda. Hunting was always a big affair too. As he grew older it became hard for him to go out hunting, so he would stay in camp, tend the fire and wait for the hunters to return. Austin encouraged safety and taught the Hunter Safety Course for several years. He loved music and sang in public with his sons a few times. In later years Austin loved rounding up the cattle each Fall which continued until his health would no longer allow him to. His last trip up Greys River was on Father’s Day 2008. Austin and Dorthy celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversary. His wife passed away just one month shy of their 65th wedding anniversary. Austin’s health was not good and on Sept. 7, 2006 he moved into the Star Valley Care Center. It was a difficult time in his life. He did rally and spent his time playing games, teasing, joking and visiting with the residents. Austin was preceded in death by his wife Dorthy, son Kendall, grandson Ken Merritt, granddaughter Billie Kay Merritt, great-grandson Ken Allen Hales and brothers Elmo and LaMar. He is survived by Kay Odean (Irene), Trudy Christena Karey and Sheldon (Diane), 17 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren,three great-great-grandchildren, sister Betty Hepworth (Oregon) and Naoma Eustace (Nevada), and two sisters-in-law Virginia Prince (Idaho) and Grace Ellen Merritt (Bedford). Von N. Leavitt passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Calif. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children. Von was born in Star Valley on July 7, 1928 to Ira and Genevieve Nield Leavitt. He was the oldest of four boys and one girl. Von grew up like most boys in Wyoming, farming and helping his family with milking and hauling hay as well as taking care of livestock. He spent time in the summer at sheep camps and on cattle round-ups. There were a few encounters with Blackfoot Indians. No wonder he loved John Wayne. He also loved to fish and hunt. Von graduated in 1947 from Star Valley High School. He married the love of his life, LaRue Hillyard, that same year. They moved into a one bedroom house on a potato farm in Idaho Falls. Later they moved to Salt Lake City where he learned the plastering business. They then moved to Las Vegas. Von owned his own business, “Custom Plastering.” He moved his family to Garden Grove, Calif and became employed with Sav-On Drugs, working there for 29 years. He worked his way up to store manager and retired from there in 1985. It was always one of the top stores and he had 56 employees. He and LaRue moved to Oceanside, Calif., in 1989. This was after two, open-heart, by-pass surgeries. Von was active in the LDS Church and fulfilled a mission in the Carlsbad Mission Office from 1996-1997. He held the office of High Priest at the time of his passing. He loved his family and would do anything he could to help them and spend time with them. He would have six or seven grandkids in bed with him and share stores and songs. The grandkids loved it. Von is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, LaRue; sons, Brad (Tami) Leavitt; and Brett Leavitt; daughters, Pamela (Michael) Ford; Teri Leavitt (Steve); and Ronda (John) Truehitt; brothers, Kirk (Nancy) Leavitt; Brent (Annette) Leavitt; sister, Genell Luthi; 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rex Leavitt; son, Steven Leavitt; and granddaughter, Melanie Hart-Goode. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Oceanside. Interment was at the Westminster Memorial Park. On April 11, 2009, Reagan Lillie Crook returned to her Heavenly Father. She died peacefully at Primary Children’s Medical Center. She was born July 26, 2006 to Shane and Michelle Crook of Freedom. She was very loving, and especially enjoyed her siblings, Ellie and Devin. Reagan was happy, active, and strong willed. A viewing was held at Schwab Mortuary in Thayne on Wednesday, April 15 from 6-8 p.m. Another viewing will be held at the Freedom LDS church from 10-11:45 a.m. Thursday, April 16. The funeral will follow at noon. Funeral services for Vernon Jenkins were held on Tuesday, April 14 at noon in the Freedom LDS Church.

Lady Braves outlast Green River, 1-0

dahlerickson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:54:28 +0000

Despite a less that stellar season record, Green River gave the Lady Braves all they could handle until the 75th minute. Star Valley survived a stagnant first half as the Lady Wolves forced most of the action in the first 40 minutes, but neither team could find the back of the net. The Lady Braves were without two starters, including keeper, Becca Sangster. Senior Kirsten Robbins, who has missed the past two seasons with concussion injuries, stepped in admirably and collect the shutout with 12 saves. Tori Guild and Kim Burton were double tough at defensive and midfield positions respectively, continually funneling away attempts by Green River to get the ball to speed demon, Dani Hardy. Guild was like a leech, attaching herself to Hardy and not allowing a decent shot. On the other end, the Lady Braves came out much more aggressive in the second half and put pressure on the Green River defensive front. However, it wasn't until the final ten minutes when the Lady Braves had several quality shots on goal, then in the 75th minute, junior Myka Draney poked the ball high just over the outstretched fingers of the Green River keeper as the ball landed just inside the line. Freshman Ashley Hall was credited with the assist. The Lady Braves continued to be aggressive despite the 1-0 lead and salted away the final minutes for their fourth victory of the year. Star Valley outshot Green River 15 to 11 overall. The win also moves them to 2-1-1 in the 4A West. They will be on the road as they face the Rock Springs Lady Tigers on Friday. Star Valley defeated Rock Springs in their last meeting at the regional tournament in 2008. The junior varsity scored twice in the game's first three minutes en route to a 3-0 win. Haley Norman scored both early goals, assisted by Alyssa Hilgendorf on the second. Merilyn Johns scored in the 54th minute on a penalty kick for the game's final score.

Braves fall to Tigers, 2-1 in Afton

dahlerickson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:32:38 +0000

Star Valley had four high quality shots either knocked away by Rock Springs' Tyler Hamilton, or had them bounce off the goal itself. In the end, those missed opportunities cost the Braves in a 2-1 loss on their home field. Rock Springs scored in the 24th and 36th minute to boast a 2-0 halftime lead, despite a well-played effort by the Braves. Jon Scherbel scored in the 53rd minute with a beautiful header off a great corner kick by sophomore John Strang. Star Valley had two more quality scoring chances throughout the match, as well as dodging a few bullets from the Tigers' Gilbert Gonzalez. The Braves host both Kelly Walsh and Natrona on Friday and Saturday this weekend. Friday's matches begin at 3 and 5 p.m. while Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

This Week in Star Valley: April 16-23

newsrelease — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:38:52 +0000

Take a historic glimpse into what made the news and the headlines of the Star Valley Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. Content has been researched and previously published in editions of the Star Valley Independent during this same week at the designated dates. 25-years ago: The Afton Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 21, announced chamber president, Peggy Erickson. She said the event will begin at 12 noon at the Afton Town Park with sing-up beginning at 11 a.m.. All children eight years old and younger are welcome to participate. A movie "Once Upon a Time" will be shown at the Ford Theater beginning at 1 p.m. that day, said Mrs. Erickson. A change which created a seventh ward in the Afton Wyoming LDS Stake, and realignment of boundaries among the existing six wards was announced under the direction of Stake President Larry A. Call in a special Stake Conference held Sunday, April 15, at the stake center in Afton. Citing figures which indicated a 25 percent growth in the stake during the past five and a half years, Pres. H. Steven Erickson described the realignment of the boundaries to create the new Afton Fourth Ward and the changes which would affect the remainder of the wards in the stake. The move more equally distributed membership among the seven wards, he said. (Photo) The new street Sweeper is shown working the town streets early Tuesday morning as it has been for each day this week. The new sweeper, here operated by Blake Robinson, is a welcome addition to the town's street department, as the crews are cleaning up the streets after the winter sanding program. 50-years ago: Ad: Ford Wagons. Built for people . . . Wider doors for easier entry; No deep sills to trip over; Plenty of leg room for everyone; Full-depth cushioning for all passengers; More insulation than any other wagon in Ford's field; Easy, one hand-operated liftgate and tailgate. Built for savings . . . Save up to $1 per tankful with regular gas; Change oil only each 4000 miles; Up to 20 MPG with Ford's "Six"; New Diamond Lustre Finish never needs waxing. Live better by far in a brand-new car and for the top deal and easiest terms, see . . . Wirthlin Ford Sales. Eldon R. Erickson has been appointed to the position of principal of the Afton Elementary School for the next school year, according to an announcement released by Supt. Carwin H. Linford. This appointment was made during the regular meeting of the school board Monday evening. Mr. Erickson has served as a teacher and principal in Star Valley schools for the last 23 years. He has been principal of the Holdaway School in Thayne since that school was established in 1956. 75-years ago: Elementary School Will Hold Full Nine Months: The elementary schools of the two valleys will continue for one month more than had preciously been planned giving us a nine month term. . . . This opportunity will mean much to the schools of the district in view of the absences because of sickness during the past term and the shortened term for the past four years Pupils and teachers alike will feel the benefits fo the extended term. Ad: Whose Fault? When a Child Wont' Study: "Kept after school!" And it isn't the child's fault, or the teachers. His mother is to blame. How can a boy get his lessons when his senses are dulled day after day by dosing with sickening purgatives? . . . Parents are urged to use just pure California Syrup of Figs. Be sure bottle says "California." 100-years ago: Local items: A general change around has been effected this week. The Ed. Hansen family has moved into the Wm. W. Astle house, and Wm. P. Harrison has moved into the house lately occupied by Hansen's, and Leslie Cole and wife have moved into the Call house. Lost: About three weeks ago a quilt between the Independent office and my house. Finder please return to J. H . Hale. For Sale Cheap: Two second hand buggies in good condition, inquire at the C.W. & M. Co. Grover news: The basketball team of Grover played with Auburn last Friday night, with a score of 36 to 11 in favor of Auburn.

Shannon Harris named Wyoming's Principal of the Year

dahlerickson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:03:07 +0000

In a stealthy production, the students, faculty and administration for Star Valley High School as well as administration officials honored not only the music program for their recent accolades, but also for SVHS Principal, Shannon Harris, who was named Wyoming's Principal of the year for 2009. Harris was nominated by another school district and selected among her peers for the performance of the school. Superintendent Jon Abrams presented Mrs. Harris with flowers, while the SVHS student body officers presented her with an award. In addition to the presentation, Harris was serenaded by Sincopation, and "interviewed" by the SVHS Drama department. Performances by Treble Tones, Sincopation and the SVHS Bluegrass Band were all on the slate. The Independent congratulates Mrs. Harris on this achievement. Be sure to click below for exclusive video of the assembly.

Star Valley soldiers join Wyoming deployment

sarahhale — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:45:43 +0000

Members of the 1041st Engineering Company as well as local servicemen and women from other branches of the United States Military have deployed with soldiers from across the state. According to Bill Hoopes, family assistance specialist for the Wyoming Military Department, between 35 and 40 local soldiers are now serving active duty. According to Hoopes, an official local soldier list will not be released at this time. However, if businesses or individuals would “like to help with an activity or sponsor an activity” in support of military families, they can contact him directly. The Wyoming Army National Guard was ordered to mobilize 941 soldiers for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is the single largest deployment of Wyoming soldiers in state history. Farewell ceremonies were held across the state this last week in the hometowns of the activated units. For more information on local soldiers who are now serving active duty, contact Bill Hoopes at 885-3449 or (307) 286-9993. Be sure to click below for a photo montage of some of the Star Valley soldiers as they took part in a ceremony with Governor Dave Freudenthal. A special thanks to Bill Hoopes for providing these photos.

Cody Roberts sentenced

sarahhale — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:35:02 +0000

Cody Roberts of Thayne was sentenced on Wednesday April 22, 2009. Roberts pled guilty to aggravated assault and manslaughter earlier this year in the death of his stepson. The boy was killed in August 2007. District Court Judge Jeffrey A. Donnell sentenced Roberts to serve up to 18 years in prison. Roberts entered an "Alford plea" in the case, not admitting to the charges but acknowledging there was enough evidence to convict him. Due to the timing of this ruling, the Independent had been sent to the press for the April 23, 2009 edition. Look for more detailed coverage in the April 30, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Independent Obituaries: April 23, 2009

dahlerickson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:38:39 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the April 23, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Vernon Lynn Jenkins was born in Freedom to Lewis Ira and Mary Ann Griffin Jenkins on April 24, 1919. He was the youngest of ten children. Vernon grew up on the family farm, soon learning to help out with all the chores and workings of a ranch. He attended elementary school in Freedom and high school in Afton, where he played on both the football and basketball teams. Vernon was the State Champion in FFA judging and finished third in the national competition at the Denver Stock Show. Vernon was an exceptional horseman. As a young man he participated in rodeos throughout the Inter-mountain west, winning many awards, especially in bareback riding. He later judged rodeos for many years as a member of the Piggin’ String Riding Club. Vernon was instrumental in forming the All-American Cutter Racing Association, the World’s oldest cutter racing organization. He also ran race horses throughout the Inter-Mountain west for many years. He was a 4-H leader for about ten years, and with his truck took the first cattle from Star Valley to the State Fair in Douglas. Vernon served on the FHA board for three years and the fair board for four years. He was the secretary of the Salt River Cattle Association for about thirty years and was the range-rider, looking after the cattle on the Caribou National Forrest, for many years. Vernon married Wyoma Roos Perry and had two sons, Darin and Corey, while raising four step-children: Alice Robinson, Steve Perry and Carol Nield all of Afton, and Patty Hill of Sedona Ariz. Vernon and Wyoma later divorced. Vernon loved working the family farm. His hobby was horses and he once said his horses were his best friends, almost like members of his family. Vernon passed away on April 8, 2009 at his home in Afton. He is survived by his sons, Darin Jenkins of Brigham City; and Corey Jenkins of Rockville, Md.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brothers Wendell Jenkins and Kenneth Jenkins, both of Utah. Everett L. Olson passed away March 20, 2009. He was born to George & Fannie Tippetts Olson in Afton on March 25, 1922. He graduated from Star Valley High School. He married Rita Dable (deceased), Marian Lois Daniels (deceased), and Rufina “Dolly” Framil. Everett honorably and proudly served in the US Air Force as a flight engineer during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired as MSGT in 1971. He enjoyed telling war stories, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren. He owned and operated Olson’s Washer and Dryer Repair Service. Everett was a High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held many callings throughout the years. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, sister, son (Kenneth Olson), and daughter (Diana (Dennis) Griffin). Everett is survived by his wife; Rufina “Dolly” Olson, Layton, Utah; and sons/daughters Dennis (Bonnie) Olson, Huntsville, Utah; Judy (Mark-deceased) Smith, Hooper, Utah; Pamela (Weldon) Jenks, Nampa, Idaho; Pauline (Kenith) Chambers, Batesville, Ind.; Janice Olson White, St. George, Utah; Linda (Tim) Mahoney, West Point, Utah; Florida (Chuck) Strom, American Falls, Idaho; Edgar (Marlyn) Olson, Sunset, Utah; Renante (Luz) Olson, Clearfield, Utah; Roy (Marilou) Olson, Pearl City, Hawaii; Julie (Tim) Williams, Buckeye, Ariz.; Larry Olson, Martinez, Ga.; Dolly Olson, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; 35 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held Sat., March 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hobbs Creek Chapel, Layton, Utah. Interment was at Roy City Cemetery with military honors from HAFB Honor Guard. Funeral services for Esther Simpson will be held on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Thayne LDS Stake Center. Viewings will be held on Sunday evening, April 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Thayne and Monday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church.

Friday Sports Stir: 2009 NFL Draft edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:55:17 +0000

Which Mountain West player from this past year will have the most successful NFL career? We probably can't answer that, but we can tell who we think it will be. This is one of my favorite weekends of the year. The NFL Draft, the gathering of team officials and scouts that used to be all but invisible. Now it extends to 24/7 coverage the two months prior to the first name being selected and you can watch every second on either ESPN or the NFL Network. Personally, I think it's just because the good folks of America would rather discuss their NFL team's draft than post-season hockey or basketball. At least the majority arguably think this way. This year is one of those that you wish your team wasn't anywhere near the top. There's no Peyton Manning, there's no Adrian Peterson and there's no guarantee that your team will be any better in the fall. What there is however, is the promise of quite a few busts. I'll lay out my opinions, then you can sound off with the comment section of you'd like. Who was your team's worst draft choice ever? The best? Your favorite? Lay 'em all down. First off, living in the footprint of the Mountain West Conference, the vast majority of folks who read this will either be Wyoming, Utah or BYU fans. Yes, there are those Utah State fans out there, and heaven knows I like USU to a degree seeing as how both my parent graduated from Logan, but I'm Brown & Gold through and through. One could even argue that USU has as many relevant draft choices in the last five years than any MWC school (Chris Cooley and Kevin Curtis to name a couple), but that's where I'm going to leave it. By the way, that's hard for me since Cooley is arguably my favorite player. For now, let's look at some conference studs who should hear their name called this weekend. Paul Kruger OLB (Utah) - Kruger is one of those guys who's likely to be going higher because he fits the buzz words of this particular draft. He's been used as a linebacker, but can also put his hand down and play as a down lineman, and the term "hybrid" and "3-4" defense have never been hotter than they are right now. Kruger is going to have a solid NFL career by all indications, and draft gurus have him slated to go anywhere in the early to mid 2nd round. That's pretty darn good money right there folks. A big season capped off with his defense stifling Alabama in a BCS game helped his stock too. He's likely to be the first MWC guy off the list. Sean Smith S (Utah) - First off, just how many unrelated Smiths can we have at Utah? Doesn't it seem there's been a prominent player named Smith at the U for about 20 years now? He may not be the first guy selected from the MWC, then again, he might, but I think he's going to have the best career, and he could have a monster rookie season. A converted wide receiver, Smith is listed at 6' 3 1/2" as a safety, who also played some corner in Salt Lake City. If he's got legitimate speed to do this in the NFL, he's going to be a very rich man. What receiver out there is 6' 3" with 4.4 speed to match him? One now has Trent Edwards throwing to him in Buffalo, and the other shot himself in the leg while wearing sweatpants in a "trendy" nightclub. By the way, just how trendy can the place be if they let him in wearing sweatpants and a loaded gun? I think Smith is listed to go in the middle of the 2nd round, but dont' be surprised if a team gets antsy and moves up to take him. Jason Philips ILB (TCU) - Not surprising, TCU sends a couple of guys to the league about every year. Philips is a guy who didn't start drawing attention until later in the season. At least by the media. He should go anywhere in the 4th to 5th round and should be starting in a couple of years on the right team. Austin Collie WR (BYU) - No program complains louder when a player decides to "spurn" the Y and bolt to the pros. I've heard plenty of dye-in-the-wool Cougar fans rip on Collie over the last few months for his decision to go pro after his junior year. Yes, I'd want him back too, anytime you lose your best receiver in a prominently aerial assault, he's going to be missed. Here's where I see his point. He wasn't going to be any better if he came back. Yes, a bit selfish not taking another year for the team when you consider the Y starts off with Oklahoma and Florida State. But if they lose either one of those games, the BCS path is likely busted, and that will be by September 12. Collie is tough, has a knack for the ball, but is not nearly as fast as BYU fans like to think he is. And as for the numbers, Wyoming's Marcus Harris had three consecutive seasons that were better, and collected the Biletnikoff Trophy. Where did he get selected? Detroit in the 7th round. Collie is faster than Harris, but if he goes anywhere before the 5th round, I'll be shocked. Teams like Seattle, Philly, Buffalo and the Steelers all have had success with BYU players, so that might be a place to start. Louie Sakoda K/P (Utah) - Kickers just don't go very high in the draft as a rule. The only time that happens is when Al Davis is calling the shots, and you know how well that's worked out over the last 25 years. Sakoda is valuable because of his versatility. If you can have one guy who can be a world class punter and a kicker, it frees up another roster spot for a position that's not so lucky. I think Sakoda is on a lot of people's radar, it will just be a matter of what round. I'm saying the sixth, but a team like Washington who struggles in both areas might look at him earlier. Devin Moore RB (Wyoming) - Well, this is the main reason I'm writing this. Devin Moore is considered by nearly all Wyoming fans, to be a tragic circumstance. He's been listed anywhere from 4.27 t0 4.35 in speed. (His pro day was 4.33) He bench presses 225 an amazing 29 times for his 190 pound frame, and he's got zero, absolutely zero character flaws. His problem? He played on a team with the least amount of offensive creativity in the country his senior season. Despite not having a quarterback average more than 150 yards a game and nine guys keying on him last season, he led the MWC in rushing with a staggering 5.2 yards per carry. Can you imagine if he had one more year with Dave Christensen's Mizzou offense being implemented? Moore is surprisingly tough, lightning quick (no pun intended) and will do anything to make the team. I see Moore as a slightly larger Darrin Sproles. Moore has touchdowns rushing, receiving, in the punt return and kick return avenues and would probably make the transition to special teams quickly if requested. In short, I know my goggles are thick, but I think a team will get a steal with Devin Moore. That being said, if he goes before the 6th round, it would be a pleasant surprise. However, guys like Derrick Martin and John Wendling have gone in the 6th round in recent years and stuck with their teams, I expect Moore to extend the trend. Well, those are some players I'll be watching over the weekend, but here's my mock draft for the first few picks. Why we do these things, I'll never know. One trade will absolutely wreck the whole deal, so I'll incorporate what I think should happen. In a world where Ryan Leaf is considered a lock, nobody really knows what they're doing all the time. 1- Detroit - Matthew Stafford (Georgia) - Who they should pick - Jason Smith (Baylor) - The Lions are not going to be in the playoffs next year, and Stafford has only started 16 games in his college career. By the way, underclassmen selected at the QB position over the last 15 years include Alex Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Akili Smith, Cade McKnown, Tim Couch and Heath Shuler. In fact, I dare you to find the last underclassman who came out in the last 20 years in the first round and didn't bust. I'm sure there's somebody, but it's rare. Smith would help solidify the line and the Lions can look for a QB next year, but what do I know. 2- St. Lous Rams - Jason Smith (Baylor) - Who they should pick - Smith. This guy has great character if you've ever read his journey to Baylor, and if you're going to play in St. Louis, that would be a definite plus right now. He'll replace Orlando Pace, who's now in Chicago downing deep-dish pizza. 3- Kansas City - Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) - Who they should pick - Trade down. The Chiefs have arguably improved more than anyone in the off season. They have Dwane Bowe and now Matt Cassell. They go their defensive lineman last year in the first round and they just traded Tony Gonzales for a second round pick. Look for KC to trade down for more picks and perhaps have three in the second round where new GM Scott Pioli has an eye for talent. 4- Seattle - Mark Sanchez (USC) - Who they should pick - Trade down. The 'Hawks know they have some leverage with this pick. Teams from Washington, to Denver, to San Fran are interested in Sanchez. Seattle could get some great draft picks to simply move down into the middle of the first round which is likely where they want to be anyway. They could use a new running game, Perhaps selecting Knowshon Mereno with the 10th pick after trading with the 49er's would be in order. Cleveland - Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) - Who they should pick - Jim Brown. Even Mr. Brown in his current advanced state has to be tougher than half this team. With Donte Stallworth likely heading for more trouble after killing a man with his car, Crabtree would be a great selection . . . . if they geniuses in Cleveland will stop trying to trade Braylen Edwards. Well folks, enjoy the draft, and let me know what you think. Here's to hoping Devin Moore winds up a Washington Redskin.

Shorthanded Braves upset Kelly Walsh, 1-0

dahlerickson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:02:06 +0000

Despite missing their top two goal scorers on the year, the Braves upended the Kelly Walsh Trojans, 1-0 in Afton on Friday night. Sophomore John Strang struck a perfect corner kick which was buried in the back of the net off a header by senior Drew Hathaway in the 18th minute. Jon Scherbel was inactive due to a red card last week, while Skyler Heiner was also unavailable. Ironically, Hathaway's goal ties him with both players for the team lead this season. Both teams had opportunities, including one for the Trojans that saw the ball slowly rolling towards the goal after a collision in the box between keeper Justin Miller and Ian McDonnell before the Braves were able to stop it just short. Kelly Walsh had 14 shots on goal, while Star Valley had nine. The Trojans had seven corner kicks but were unable to capitalize. The Braves had three corner kicks during the contest. The win is the first shutout win for the Braves in more than three years, and the program's first over a Casper opponent.

This Week in Star Valley: April 23-April 30

newsrelease — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:20:48 +0000

A historical, nostalgic and sometimes comical look back to the past as you can see what made the headlines of the Star Valley Independent, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Remember, Sunday, April 29, the country goes on Daylight Savings Time. Clocks will be turned forward one hour. The official time for the change is 2 a.m. Sunday morning, but most people prefer to make the adjustment before retiring Saturday evening. The Star Valley EMT's have purchased one of the highly sought after Cabbage Patch dolls which will be auctioned off to the highest bidder May 5 at the National Guard Armory, said RaDawn Rudd, spokesman. Ad: 55 MPH. Give it a chance to work. To save gasoline. To save lives, too. And there's one more thing to remember: It's not just a good idea. It’s the law. 50-years ago: The week of May 4-9 has been designated by the Afton Town Council as annual "Clean-up Week," announces Mayor Doyle F. Child. All citizens will be asked to "clean-up, fix-up, and paint-up" in a cooperative effort to make the town a more attractive and healthful place to live. Councilman Kay Robinson said the town trucks will be available for two days, May 8 and 9, upon request, to haul away rubbish or debris by special arrangement. (Photo) CallAir agricultural airplanes lined up at North end of the airstrip reflect company’s recent growth and production increase. There are 20 planes here, several more in hangers, many of which are awaiting delivery, others rushed to completion to meet anticipated needs of the aerial spraying industry. Twenty more are in production at this time. CallAir is in a better position than ever before to meet the heavy demand for spraying planes in both the foreign and domestic market. The plan is to gradually increase production even more. Parent, Teenager Program to Combat Social Evils is Now Making Progress: ...Four definite evils that exist in our valley were discussed. The social evils listed are: Theft, smoking, drinking, and immorality. 75-years ago: Local Recovery Campaign to start Soon in all Parts of Star Valley: Operating with a State wide movement to increase home trade, The Independent will publish for its readers many interesting news items, showing the personal advantage, for every taxpayer, "Who Buys in the Star Valley." . . . Large placards reading "BUY IT IN STAR VALLEY " are being placed gratis to all business firms cooperating. This campaign will reach approximately seven hundred Valley homes every month, each family with an average of three readers, simply means that twenty one hundred readers will received this interesting news each moth. Schools to Close This Week: All of the grade schools of the Valley will finish the work for the school year this week. The grade school year has been cut nearly a month shorter than last year on account of finances. It is reported, however, that good work has been done and the pupils have completed the work and will receive a full year credit. 100-years ago: Etna news: Old King Pluto has again gone out through Etna's mouth and delivered the beautiful Proserpina to her mother Dame Ceres; and the buds are swelling, birds singing and all nature seems to rejoice in the promise of another new harvest. Wm. Hardman and Mark Hardman have returned from Afton with their families to live here on their places again. Smoot news: The snow is still with us, it will average about eight inches in the fields and if the cold weather continues there is no telling when it will go. Some of our people are very uneasy on account of the hay stacks getting rather small. Bedford news: As there has not been any news in your paper for some time from here, I will try to give you a few items of what Bedford has been doing this winter, there has been parties nearly every week since Fall until the last two. . . . there has been many worthy of note such as the Primary, Sunday School, and Relief Society, also the schools in commemoration of Washington's Birthday which was a grand success and showed what talent there is in our little Burg when it is handled by those that give it as much attention as our school Marms and the pupils did.

Wyoming Department of Health: "Swine Flu worth watching"

newsrelease — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:03:06 +0000

As national and international news reports circulate about recent swine flu cases reported in California, Texas and Mexico, a Wyoming Department of Health official said the disease situation will be “worth watching.” Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, said, “At this time, this particular influenza virus does not appear to be a significant threat to public health in Wyoming, but it is certainly worth watching and that’s what we will do.” “Our department will continue with appropriate disease surveillance activities and lab testing,” Murphy continued. “We will be closely monitoring this situation and will share information on how it may potentially affect Wyoming residents.” Murphy noted that the current influenza season is winding down in Wyoming and reports have indicated a relatively mild season statewide with no increased mortality. More information is available online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the current swine flu situation here.

Take a video tour of Skyview Lanes and Family Fun Center

dahlerickson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:49:12 +0000

The facility doesn't open until May 15, but the Independent had the chance to take a look at Star Valley's newest business that will have area bowlers tickled pink. A full story of this operation appears in the April 30, 2009 edition of the Independent, but click below for a peek at the new bowling area, as well as other great attractions that are on tap in a business that has been a long time coming to the community of Star Valley.

Independent Obituaries: April 30, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:09:15 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the April 30, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Mary Eleanore Kennington, 82, passed away Sunday April 26, 2009 at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. She was born Dec. 15, 1926 in Salt Lake City, Utah, a daughter of Denman Hector Miller and Viola Florence Draney. Her early years were spent in Auburn. She graduated from Star Valley High School and earned a nursing degree from the University of Utah. She married Lester Gordon Kennington on Oct. 12, 1948 in the Logan LDS Temple. They were blessed with six children. They made their home and raised their children in North Salt Lake City, Utah. She worked as a surgical nurse at LDS Hospital. Eleanore served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many positions, including ten years as Stake Relief Society President. She served a mission with her husband at the visitor’s center at Winter Quarters, Neb. She enjoyed camping with her family, quilting, crocheting, and she had a great love for books. She loved singing, dancing, and playing the piano. She was a dedicated wife and mother. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Kathy and Collin Wood, Centerville; Saundra and Corey Dinsdale, Harrisville; Robert and Bonnie Kennington, Kaysville; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; and by her sisters Ruth and Joyce and a brother Earl. She was preceded in death by her husband Lester, sons Kirk and Jay, and her daughter Susan K. Crowther. Funeral services will be held on Thursday April 30 at 2 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 No. Main, Bountiful Utah. Interment will be in Auburn on Friday May 1, at 1 p.m. Reed Clark Humpherys, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Wayan, Idaho on April 26, 2009. Born in Thayne, on July 11, 1924, Reed was the oldest of eight children of Willard Davis Humpherys and Rhoda Clark, both first generation descendants of Mormon pioneers who settled the Utah, Idaho and Wyoming areas. Reed’s early years were spent on Star Valley dairy farms, where he very effectively learned about cattle and horses, which formed the basis of his livelihood in the years to come. Reed was also fascinated by airplanes and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming an avid and exemplary pilot, owning several of his own airplanes. He graduated from Ronan High School (Montana) and attended aircraft repair training at Utah State Agricultural College before entering the Army Air Corps, where he became a Second Lieutenant and certified military and commercial pilot. Reed married Doris Rudrud of Grand Forks, N.D. on Nov. 27, 1943 in Galesburg, Ill., and later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple on April 24, 1945. After serving as a flight instructor until the end of WWII, he returned to ranch life with his dad in Lava Hot Springs and then in Grays Lake during the spring of 1948. At the age of 26, he assumed the responsibility of running the ranch upon the death of his dad. He lived on and operated the JH-Bar ranch for 61 years, until his death on April 26, 2009. Over that time span, he owned five different airplanes, flying out of the Humpherys’ strip located on the ranch, where he still maintains a windsock to check wind speed and direction. After Doris suddenly passed away, he married long-time friend June Boyce Reese on April 18, 1998. Reed’s multitude of talents include 34 years as a professional horse judge, which took him from Alaska to Brazil, and California to Maine. He raised palomino, appaloosa and paint horses, served for nine years on the Appaloosa Horse Club’s Board of Directors and three years as Chairman of the Judges Committee. He judged Paints for 30 years and was the oldest active judge until his retirement last year. Reed served on the Caribou County Fair Board for ten years. In April 2006 Reed was inducted into the Idaho Horseman Hall of Fame. He served in several leadership positions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints, including Grays Lake Ward Bishop and Stake High Councilor. As a philanthropist, he was president of an international humanitarian organization supporting schools in Central and South America and Europe. Possessing a great sense of humor, he had an easy laugh, enjoyed both listening to and telling a good story, and liked to play games. Everyone loved to go to grandpa’s place. He is survived by his brothers Kent (Vonzzaa) and Larry (Marie) and sisters Beth Reed and Ranay Holman. He was preceded in death by his sisters Donna Carr, Mary Magnum and Gwen Barfuss. Reed and Doris’ posterity include Teirre, Sherry Burton (Glen), Thomas (Shauna), Willard (Raelene), and Roxanne Shallenberger (Steven). They have 24 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren. June’s posterity includes five children, 26 grandchildren and 93 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 1, 2009 at noon at the Soda Springs LDS Stake Center. A viewing will be held at the Sims Funeral Home on Thursday April 30 from 6-8 p.m., and on Friday morning at the Stake Center from 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs, Idaho. A gathering of friends in memory of Jerry St. George will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1 p.m. The gathering will take place at 3219 Spring Creek Road in Fairview. Following a presentation by the VFW, anyone wishing to share a few memories of Jerry will have an opportunity to do so. A barbecue will follow. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Funeral services for Quinn B. Cazier will be held Sat., May 2 at 11 a.m. in the Afton Tabernacle. The family will meet with friends Friday evening May 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and Saturday morning, May 2, from 10-10:45 a.m. before the service.

Soccer & Track Update: Lady Braves blank Evanston

dahlerickson — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:14:04 +0000

The Lady Braves won their fifth game of the season with a 2-0 shutout of Evanston on the home field last night. Also, read on for complete track results from Star Valley's foray into the Green River Invitational last weekend. After a scoreless ten minutes into the match, the Lady Braves capitalized on a corner kick as junior Alisa Gimlin hooked one past Wendy Davis to give Star Valley a 1-0 lead. For the next 70 minutes, the Lady Braves continued to pile up shots on goal, but fortune and skill kept the scoreboard close. In a match which saw virtually the entire length played under a 1-0 result, the match itself was really never in doubt as Star Valley compiled a whopping 30 shots on goal compared to just 3 for Evanston. Davis collected 12 saves, including a handful that had fans in attendance already cheering until proof was provided that they had been denied. To put a bit of icing on an otherwise close outcome, Gimlin assisted Kelsey Diedrich who scored in the 80th minute for the 2-0 final. Becca Sangster, who played the match with a partial cast on her right hand, had three saves in the victory. The match was played at 3 p.m. with the junior varsity following. The JV had their way with their Red Devil counterparts as well, winning handily, 5-0. As for the Braves, they fell behind 2-0 early before storming back in the second half to tie the match at 2-2 on a pair of Skyler Heiner goals. Evanston won the match on their third goal late in the contest for the 3-2 victory. (Special thanks to Bryan Miller for the photo) Some members of the SVHS Track Team is headed to the BYU Invitational this weekend, while others will compete in Soda Springs. Below, you will find complete results from the track team's efforts in Green River Last Weekend. Green River Invite Lady Braves (2nd) Name Event Result Place A. West 100 M 12.81 1st J. Perry 100 M 14.31 9th R. Walton 100 M 14.61 14th M. Wilkes 100 M 14.64 K. Pittman 100 M 16.48 A. West 200 M 26.88 1st J. Perry 200 M 31.36 R. Walton 200 M 32.29 K. Pittman 200 M 34.19 S. Robinson 200 M 35.06 K. McKen 400 M 1:03 1st R. Robinson 400 M 1:08 5th S. Robinson 400 M 1:11 9th J. Perry 400 M 1:12 10th R. Walton 400 M 1:14 11th A McArthur 1600 M 6:24 6th B. Titensor 100 MH 18.32 8th C. Fisher 100 MH 18.34 9th M. Laker 100 MH 18.60 10th H. Sorenson 100 MH 21.19 L. Oliver 300 MH 53.52 2nd C. Fisher 300 MH 54.90 4th M. Laker 300 MH 1:04 10th H. Sorenson H Jump 4’ 5” 7th C. Fisher H Jump 4’ 1” 9th(t) Q. Robbins H Jump 4’ 1” 9th(t) A. West L Jump 16’ 8.75” 1st B. Titensor L Jump 15’ 0.75” 3rd L. Oliver L Jump 14’ 4” 5th Q. Robbins L Jump 12’ 3.5” H. Sorenson L Jump 10’ 9.25” B. Titensor T Jump 32’ 2” 2nd L. Oliver T Jump 31’ 6.25” 6th H. Sorenson T Jump 26’ 5” M. Wilkes Shot Put 38’ 2.5” 1st* M. Wilkes Discus 101’ 5” 3rd B. Titensor 4 x 100 55.17 3rd R. Walton Q. Robbins C. Fisher A. West 4 x 800 10:23 1st K. McKen A McArthur R. Robinson (* New School Record) Green River Invite Braves (3rd) Name Event Result Place K. Brough 100 M 11.61 1st R. Hillyard 100 M 11.76 4th B. Welker 100 M 12.16 13th S Jorgensen 100 M 12.25 15th L. Haderlie 100 M 12.27 C. Rich 100 M 12.59 S. Smith 100 M 12.73 M. Luthi 100 M 12.83 T. Hart 100 M 12.89 K. Brough 200 M 23.35 3rd T. Skinner 200 M 23.99 5th R. Hillyard 200 M 24.67 10th S Jorgensen 200 M 25.43 13th L. Haderlie 200 M 25.51 14th C. Rich 200 M 26.02 B. Welker 200 M 26.19 T. Keller 200 M 26.88 A. McBride 400 M 55.92 6th B. Welker 400 M 58.03 R. Miles 400 M 59.36 J Livingston 800 M 2:07 1st J. Call 800 M 2:20 8th J Livingston 1600 M 4:41 1st J. Call 1600 M 5:10 9th M. Rider 1600 M 5:17 11th L. Oliver 110 MH 19.14 8th T. Keller 110 MH 19.24 9th T. Skinner 300 MH 44.56 2nd T. Keller 300 MH 52.21 7th L. Oliver 300 MH 54.32 11th R. Miles H Jump 5’ 4” 6th T. Skinner L Jump 19’ 11.75” 3rd K. Brough L Jump 19’ 1” 4th R. Miles L Jump 16’ 2.5” 14th R. Miles T Jump 36’ 0” 10th C. Call Shot Put 41’ 2.5” 9th M. Luthi Shot Put 38’ 0” 14th S. Smith Shot Put 37’ 5” 15th C. Turner Shot Put 35’ 11” L Sorenson Shot Put 33’ 1” P. Schwab Shot Put 31’ 4.5” T. Stephens Shot Put 24’ 7.5” B McArthur Shot Put 20’ 11” M. Luthi Discus 128’ 4” 3rd S. Smith Discus 122’ 0” 8th B. Simkin Discus 120’ 1” 9th C. Turner Discus 101’ 3” L Sorenson Discus 101’ 2” C. Call Discus 101’ 0” R. Hillyard 4 x 100 47.37 3rd L. Haderlie S. Jorgensen B. Welker C. Sessions 4 x 400 3:40 2nd A. McBride T. Skinner L. Haderlie Green River Invite Team Standings (Girls) School Points Place Evanston 166.5 1st Star Valley 118 2nd Green River 76 3rd Rock Springs 73 4th Jackson 58 5th Rawlins 30 6th Kemmerer 28.5 7th Pinedale 21 8th Little Snake River 13 9th Lyman 10 10th Green River Invite Team Standings (Boys) School Points Place Green River 177.5 1st Rock Springs 157.5 2nd Star Valley 97 3rd Rawlins 53 4th Jackson 46 5th Evanston 41 6th Pinedale 31 7th Farson 12 8th Kemmerer 7 9th Lyman 2 10th

Swift Creek Hydroelectric plant back online after 40 years

dahlerickson — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:34:56 +0000

In 1968, the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Plant was hit by a huge snowslide, destroying the facility. On April 30, 2009, it started churning out power once again. With new demand for renewable "green" power, The Town of Afton, along with Lower Valley Energy (LVE), decided to move forward with the reconstruction of the plant. LVE CEO, Jim Webb, and Trustee, Rod Jensen, presented various people with mounted switches from the original 1948 plant, as well as artwork to commemorate the occasion. The power that is now currently being produced by the Swift Creek Hydro plant has much of it's capacity already contracted out to entities in Jackson Hole. Please click below for exclusive video of the occasion.

Star Valley citizens attend Pinedale meeting over new Wilderness Bill

dahlerickson — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:24:49 +0000

Though still in the early stages, a new bill from Congress has piqued the interest of citizens in Western Wyoming. A meeting of concerned citizens took place in Pinedale over the weekend and those in attendance voiced their concerns of a government land grab by designating much of Western Wyoming with a "wilderness" tag and shutting out multi-use proponents. Be sure to click below for audio from the meeting, including a reaction from the office of Cynthia Lummis. The audio is provided by Bob Rule of KPIN Radio in Pinedale.

Counties likely to take tax revenue hit in 2010

newsrelease — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:25:45 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Wyoming Department of Revenue (DOR) announced Monday that it expects drastic reductions in severance tax and ad valorem mineral tax revenues as a result of the dramatic decline in oil and natural gas prices. Director Ed Schmidt said that lower gas prices are having an immediate impact on severance taxes deposited into the state’s general fund. Because of the timing of when ad valorem mineral taxes are collected, the lower tax revenues will begin to significantly impact local government and education budgets in the last quarter of 2010. “The difference in revenue between production year 2008 and 2009 is going to be a severe shock,” Schmidt said. “Obviously it would be prudent to begin planning now for the impact the reduced revenues will have beginning in 2010 - 2011.” Production year 2008 was a historic high for mineral values in Wyoming and around the world, Schmidt said. “The state’s mineral values reached an all-time high of $20.3 billion in production year 2008,” he said. “In production year 2009, Wyoming will be very fortunate if the gross mineral value approaches $9 to $10 billion.” In the last decade, booming natural gas prices have been the real driver of mineral values in Wyoming. In 2008 alone, natural gas prices accounted for 59 percent of all mineral taxes in Wyoming. In production year 2008, the average price of natural gas reported to the DOR was $6.89 per million cubic-feet (mcf). “Gas prices in the first quarter of 2009 are only one third of what producers were receiving in 2008,” Schmidt said. “If actual prices in the future months of 2009 don’t improve substantially, the average price will more likely be in the $2 to $3/mcf range.” Schmidt said state agencies are beginning to feel the pain of reduced severance taxes going into the state’s general fund. County and local government budgets still appear healthy because they are derived from the banner production year of 2008. “Ad valorem taxes on minerals are only reported on an annual basis the year following the year in which oil, gas and coal are produced,” Schmidt said. “For example, the DOR will certify the mineral values for production year 2009 to local governments on June 1, 2010. That is when county commissioners will first be able to really see just how much mineral values have fallen off from the previous year.” Once the DOR certifies mineral values for the previous production year, county commissioners then prepare their budgets and set mill levies. County treasurers then mail out tax bills in September and the first installment of taxes is due no later than November 10. “Mineral severance taxes are reported and paid to the DOR within two months after they are produced and are immediately deposited into the state’s general fund for distribution,” Schmidt said. “We first began seeing large reductions in oil and natural gas prices reported in the forth quarter of 2008, which immediately had a negative affect on general fund revenues.” In its October 2008 forecast, the economic analysts in the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) predicted that oil would be at $75/bbl and natural gas at $5.50/mcf. CREG’s forecast was reduced downward in January 2009 to $40/bbl for oil and $3.75/MCF for gas. In the first quarter of 2009, gas prices have continued their freefall into the $2.75/mcf range. “The initial CREG forecast had estimated mineral revenues would be much higher,” Schmidt said. “This is why the Governor has taken immediate steps to cut state agency budgets.” In addition, lower gas prices also negatively affect federal mineral royalties, another major source of funds going to state and local governments and to the School Foundation program which funds K-12 schools in Wyoming. Schmidt said it is likely that the K-12 school system will begin to feel the impact of reduced mineral tax revenue at about the same time as the counties, starting in late 2010.

This Week in Star Valley: April 30-May 7

newsrelease — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:49:15 +0000

A historic, nostalgic and sometimes comical look back at what made the news in the Star Valley Independent, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. The Independent has not missed a weekly edition since February of 1901. 25-years ago: Boyd Simpson was the recipient of the Coveted Silver Beaver Award on April 25 at an awards banquet in Rexburg, Idaho, along with 12 other men and women. . . . He holds rank of Life Scout. He has also received the Shouter's Key, and On My Honor Award. He is the father of four sons, with one son holding the rank of Life Scout, and three sons holding the rank of Eagle Scout. The annual Brave Cadette Review will be held Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Star Valley High school gym, according to Connie Day, advisor. . . . Tickets may be purchased form any Cadette or at the door for $10 family, $2.50 adult or $1.50 student. All preschoolers are admitted free. (Printed: a clipping from Nov. 1937) Largest Coyote ever trapped in States is the claim made by the biological survey bureau for the 63-inch coyote which Adolph Hamm, district agent, is holding. Trapped by Louis Hale of Afton, the animal weighed 74 3/4 pounds--the normal weight for coyotes is from 30 to 40 pounds, Hamm said. Hamm said the enormous size of this animal backs up an increasingly popular theory that coyotes are growing larger in mountainous districts. 50-years ago: (Photo) Handy with a needle are Star Valley's three medical doctors who gave immunization shots last Friday to all school children in the district in grades one, six and ten. They received booster shots for diphtheria and vaccination against smallpox. Dr. O. D. Perkes, Dr. S.H. Worthen, and Dr. O.L. Treloar. Improved telephone service between Upper and Lower Star Valley and better connections with the Lower Valley and the outside world are expected to result from improvements now being made, according to Gene Spaulding, manager of the Afton Exchange of the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. Spaulding said an installer for the Western Electric Company has been in Afton for several days installing equipment which will provide two additional toll trunks from Afton to the Silver Star Telephone Company at Freedom. . . . Another convenience for inter-valley telephone communications will be a publication of the 1959 directory . . . which this year will include the listings of the Silver Star Telephone Co., in addition to the Afton Exchange . . . Heretofore, the Silver Star company has had to publish it s own separate directory for its customers. (Photo) Yearbook Royalty crowned at the SVHS Yearbook Dance last Friday night included queen Judy Hyde and king Farrell Johns. 75-years ago: Town Band to Purchase Uniforms: The Afton town band will play for a dance to be given at the Welch Hall, Wednesday evening, May 16. The proceeds will be used to purchase uniforms for band members. Tickets will be fifty cents. Almanac: May 7--Submarine sinks the Lusitania, 1195 die, 1915; 8--Mt. Pelee erupts and kills 30,000 people, 1902; 9--Admiral Byrd flies across the North Pole, 1926; 10--Gold Spike joins Central and Union Pacific RR., 1869; 11--Irving Berlin, noted popular song writer, born, 1888; 12-- US. Fleet bombards San Juan, Cuba, 1898; 13--Capt. John Smith settles Jamestown, Va, 1607. Dance Postponed: On account of so many dances and parties being held in the near future, it has been decided to postpone the Home-Breakers dance, advertised last week, until next September. 100-years ago: Garden seeds have arrived. Thomas H. Roberts. A number of Afton boys left for sheep camps on Monday. Town Convention: A citizens mass meeting for the purpose of nominating one mayor for the term of one year, and two councilmen for the term of two years, for the town of Afton, will convene at the Meeting House at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, 1909. William H. Kennington, Jr. Mayor.

Track & Soccer both collect team wins

dahlerickson — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:00:07 +0000

With the Braves completing their regular season home schedule on the soccer pitch, the Lady Braves away in Green River, and the Track & Field team in Jackson, there was plenty of action for the SVHS sports fan on Wednesday. At the Lynn Williams Memorial, held at Jackson Hole High School, the Braves ran away with the team title on the track with 130 points. Pinedale was a distant second with 88 points with Evanston rounding out the top three with 79. The Lady Braves placed a very close second to the Evanston Lady Red Devils who took the girl's crown. EHS scored 160.5 total team points, with Star Valley nipping at their heels with 157.0. Green River was a distant third with 58. In addition to a fine showing in Jackson, the Lady Braves also set a new school record in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay, despite very wet and miserable conditions. The squad, made up of Kirsten McKen, Randi Robinson, Abby McArthur and Audrey West, ran a 10:12, shattering the previous SVHS mark of 10:21 set nearly ten years ago. The squad pre-qualified for the state tournament and all four runners will be back next year as well. Click here for full results from the Lynn Williams Event. On the soccer pitch, the Green River Wolves dominated the action early in Afton, building a 3-0 lead at the break. Things were just wide as Skyler Heiner had two excellent opportunities in the game's first three minutes that went awry. After the Wolves built a 5-0 lead, the Braves came alive on a free kick from 40 yards away from Ian McDonnel who scored in the 71st minute. Heiner scored the Star Valley's second goal on a penalty kick putback in the 73rd minute, then things started to get interesting as Tanner Robertson scored yet again in the 76th minute to close the gap to 5-3. The Wolves put the nail in the coffin in the 77th minute, extending the lead to 6-3, but John Strang added a goal in the 78th minute for the final of 6-4. In all, five goals were scored in the game's final nine minutes. Cody Smart scored a hat trick for the Wolves with goals in the 14th, 42nd and 75th minutes. The Braves wrap up their regular season on the road this Saturday in Rock Springs. The JV lost 2-1 to Green River. The Braves will host the 4A West Regional Tournament beginning next Thursday, May 14th. Natrona County, Green River, Rock Springs, Kelly Walsh and Evanston will be in Afton to try and punch their ticket for the state tournament in Sheridan. As it sits now, Natrona and Green River would earn the automatic births. The Lady Braves, on the road in Sweetwater County, jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to see Green River claw their way back to tie the match at 2-2 and force overtime. Freshman Bailey Brog scored the game's first goal on an assist from Klydi Brower. In the second half, Becca Sangster stepped out of the keeper position to score on an assist from Alisa Gimlin. Freshman Lara Lewis started in goal the second half. Brower scored in the first overtime period which proved to be the game-winner, 3-2. The win completes the regular season sweep of Green River by SVHS. The JV was not as fortunate, losing 2-0. The Lady Braves wrap up their regular season with a home game against Rock Springs on Friday evening on Braves Field. The 4A West Regional tournament will take place in Casper at NCHS where Star Valley will play either Green River or Evanston for the right to return to the state tournament. Last year's team was the first from Star Valley to earn a tournament birth.

Independent Obituaries: May 7, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:09:56 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the May 7, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Long time Afton resident, Quinn B. Cazier, died April 25, 2009 surrounded by his family at the Star Valley Medical Center. Funeral services were held Saturday May 2, 2009, at the Afton Stake Tabernacle under the direction of the Salt River Ward Bishopric with his son, Bishop Kem T. Cazier conducting. Burial services were held at the Afton Cemetery. Quinn was born July 25, 1927 in Afton to Fannie Blacker and Earl Cazier. He was the sixth of eight children. His early childhood years were spent on the farm west of Afton. At Star Valley High School, he was active in the FFA and in 1945 was named the "All-Tourney basketball guard" in the State of Wyoming his senior year. After graduating from SVHS he marred his sweetheart, Elayne Turner, in 1945 in Paris, Idaho by Bishop Tucker. There marriage was later solemnized on May 21, 1946. He participated in M-MEN basketball and played in an all-church tournament. He worked for 30 years with the department of agriculture in the soil conservation service. He helped survey and design most of the sprinkler irrigation projects in Star Valley. He served as president of the Star Valley Creamery at the time of consolidation with the Swiss Cheese Plant. He was district Boy Scout chairman and sat as a member of many Eagle Scout boards of review. Throughout his life he loved and cared for all of his farm animals. He was truly a Shepard to his flock of sheep. His sheep learned to follow his kind commands and gentle voice. The six children born to Quinn and Elayne were among the highlights of his life. He was an avid fan of all sporting events, school and church activities that his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participated in. He was proud and grateful that several of his grandsons received the rank of Eagle Scout. He supported his children and grandchildren a they served honorable LDS missions and witnessed many temple marriages. Quinn served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many leadership positions including Bishopric, Sunday School and Stake Mission Presidencies, and High Priest group leader, but his most favorite call was teaching in the Primary. Quinn will be remembered and cherished for his love of family and friends, his special devotion to Elayne, his willingness to help others, his kind and caring nature, and his ever-optimistic attitude. Quinn was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elayne, son Roger Cazier, grandson Tyson Cazier, and sisters, Dora Perry and Dona Tolman. Quinn leaves behind daughters, Jolene (Robert) Hunsaker; Patsy (Sid) Steed; Sally (Norm) Nelson; and sons, Kem (Beth) Cazier; Layne (Patti) Cazier, and daughter-in-law Patsy Payne; 26 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren; and sisters, Ireta (Neil) Kennington, Marveline Jenkins, LueDene Jenkins, Billie Renee (Royce) Nield, and brother Paul Cazier. Robert Richard Swiston, 69, of Idaho Falls, passed away April 28, 2009, at Good Samaritan Society Center. He was born Dec. 4, 1939, in Chelsea, Mass., to Charles and Mary Swiston. Robert served in the Army where he earned the rank of E-7. After his service he became a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Kathleen Taylor in 1968 in Two Rocks Calif., later divorcing in 2002. He traveled, worked and lived in Japan; Tehran, Iran; Beruit, Lebanon; Bern, Switzerland; Shirley, Mass.; and Alpine. He enjoyed golfing with his son, and watching any Boston sports team win. He loved going to reunions and reminiscing with his Super Group and Chitose buddies. He was a quiet man who loved his children and grandchildren. Survivors include, Kathleen (Taylor) Swiston, ex-wife, of Idaho Falls; Robert William (Kymm) Swiston, son, of Idaho Falls; Charles (Marie) Swiston, brother, of Florida; and two grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, and daughter, Michelle Nicole Swiston. Memorial services will be at a later date with military rites held in Alpine and later in Boston, Mass., where he and his mother will be rejoined with his father. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to the American Legion or VFW. Alice LaVonne Hurt Ruder, 70, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and formerly of Cheyenne, died Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at her home. She was born March 8, 1939, in Cheyenne to Ivan H. And Hazel J. Koon Hurt. She grew up in Cheyenne and graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1957. She attended Mountain Bell and Qwest trade schooling throughout her 30+ years of working there. She was a certified nutritionist. She married Clarke Theobald and they were later divorced. She married Ralph J. Ruder in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, on Dec. 26, 1975. She lived in Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs, Afton, Alpine and Idaho Falls. She loved harvesting and the study of herbs, fishing, snowmobiling and she had a special love for her four birds. Alice was a fun, loving, caring and adventurous wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She is survived by her husband, Ralph Ruder of Idaho Falls; son, Allen (Laura) Theobald of Ocoee, Fla.; daughter, Johnna (Dean) Charron of Elk Grove, Calif.; stepsons, John Ruder of Meeker, Colo.; Michael and Joseph Ruder both of Ft. Morgan, Colo.; stepdaughters, Vicki Lehmkulla of Loveland, Colo., and Julie Weimer of Ft. Morgan, Colo.; sisters, Nancy Stokes of Mobile, Ala.; and Carol Green of Cheyenne; granddaughters, Miranda Theobald of Casselbury, Fla., and Valerie Baumeister of Tallahassee, Fla.; grandsons, Darren Ruder of Idaho Falls and Andrew and Michael Hernandez both of Cheyenne,. She is preceded in death by her parents. At her request, no services will be held.

Federal officials advise caution across Palisades Dam to Calamity Campground

newsrelease — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:42:44 +0000

Federal officials are urging drivers to exercise caution when driving across Palisades Dam to the Calamity Campground due to landslide activity on Bear Creek Road upstream of the dam. The dam is located on the South Fork of the Snake River about 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest are monitoring landslide activity and have roadway caution signs in place warning motorists of the potential for danger. Flashing yellow caution lights will be visible to drivers heading over the top of Palisades Dam. The landslide area is located about a quarter-mile upstream of the left abutment of Palisades Dam. Geologists for both agencies have been monitoring the slide zone and have confirmed movements in some locations. In the event that the roadway is not accessible to traffic, there is an alternative route across the Snake River about 15 miles downstream of Palisades Dam. However, this road may not be wide enough for vehicles pulling trailers or recreational vehicles to pass one another. The active landslide area covers about 13 acres and stretches across about 1,000 lineal feet above Bear Creek Road which leads to the Calamity Boat Launch area and private property. Reclamation and the Forest Service will continue to monitor the situation and advise the public. The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office has also been informed of the potential for danger and the public warnings. Reclamation has determined that no adverse impacts would occur to Palisades Dam should the landslide area fail. Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov.

This Week in Star Valley: May 8-14

newsrelease — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:01:43 +0000

The Star Valley Independent hasn't missed a weekly issue in over 108 years. Take a look back at the historic, nostalgic and sometimes comical headlines from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Main street speed limit unchanged . . . Afton businessman addressed the council stating that he was in favor of lowering the speed limit between fourth and fifth avenue to 20 miles per hour which would allow four more parking spaces on main street. . . . After much discussion a motion was passed to leave the speed limit at its present 30 miles per hour and to handle the parking problem by developing parking on the side streets. Ad: Lakeside Restaurant, Alpine. Bring the Family for our Mother's Day special. Barbeque Spare Ribs $5.95. A potted plant for every mother ordering a meal while they last. Ad: Need a new Summer look? Perms $19. Walk-ins welcome. Kut 'N Kurl Beauty Shop. Ad: Playing at the Ford Theatre, Footloose--The music is on his side. 50-years ago: Mother's day is Sunday. Make this truly "her day" and let us help you. May we suggest–Sunbeam electric fry pan, General Electric steam iron a, a Mixmaster, a set of fine melmac dinnerware. Brog & Hemmert. Use our convenient parking lot. Phone 18; Afton, Wyo. Auburn news: Last Monday night a fish and chips supper was held at Mrs. Ervon Johnson's for about 25 girls who played on the volleyball team. Afterward they went bowling. The girl's presented Mrs. Johnson with a beautiful TV lamp. Ad: Surprise mom on mother's day. Take her out to dinner at the Golden Spur Cafe where she can feel like a princess and dine like a queen on luscious foods, perfectly prepared and tastefully served. We are now open 24 hours a day. 75-years ago: Smoot news: W. Lancaster and some members of the family motored to Soda Springs hospital Sunday, where they found Mrs. Lancaster much improved in health. She will no doubt have to have a goitre removed before she recovers completely. Fairview news: Orson Harmon has the most unusual accidents, a new one every spring it seems. This spring he has his jaw broken. It all happened Sunday, when he was out playing a friendly game of base ball with some of Fairview's young ladies. He leaned over to pick up a bat when the beautiful young pitcher sent the ball at a high speed and caught him square in the lower jaw. 100-years ago: Smoot news: The snow is gone and ploughs are in operation, everywhere everyone seems to be preparing to put in a big crop. Notwithstanding the cold backward spring our sheep are on the hills now and are doing fairly well. Although the sheep that went from here to the Winter range did not do so well as quite a heavy loss is reported. Grover news: Spring has come at last, the first plowing was done on the 27th of April. The brethren met last Thursday and put a fence between the store lot and the Meeting house lot. Bp. Jenson is improving the appearance of the town by constructing a new fence around his residence. Bedford news: Sister Samuel Merritt is well again after her attack of blood poison. Another fine baby arrived at the home of Jacob A. Fluckiger's about two weeks ago.

SVHS Orchestra impresses in competition, places second at the Cavalcade Music Festival

dahlerickson — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:20:26 +0000

Star Valley High School has boasted a strong music program in many different areas such as band, choir and orchestra. Recently the latter brought home a very prestigious finish from a high-quality competition held annually in Colorado. The Star Valley Orchestra was recently awarded second place for a its performance at the Cavalcade Music Festival and Competition in Colorado Springs. The festival is praised as one of America’s first-class high school music competitions. The competition saw schools from Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Missouri, New Mexico, and Minnesota participate in the festival. Groups perform for judges that rate them based on their proficiency and comparison with other groups in attendance with a “1” or Superior rating being the highest available accolade. The SVHS orchestra was awarded second place in the 3A string division for schools with 500-999 students. Wyoming was well represented with first place going to Laramie High School. When asked what helped them achieve this award, orchestra president and senior member of the group, Rebekah Johnson stated, “Our success at Cavalcade is directly attributed to our close friendships we share with one another, our deep appreciation and respect for our teacher, and our self motivation to work hard and strive to be excellent.” Senior Katie Elliott, concert master, felt much of the group’s success came from their instructor. “I believe the success of this orchestra can be accredited to Mr. Ashton,” she replied. “He took the mind set of the orchestra and changed it from a negative [tone], to a positive one. With that change of attitude, came a stronger work ethic, and a more goal oriented class." Brian Ashton, the orchestra teacher at SVHS, believes that it was a total group effort. “Everyone from our most experienced player to our newest member did their very best to prepare themselves for the festival,” he stated. “We couldn’t have done it without the effort of each student. This is something that these students can really be proud of. What a great life-lesson for these students to learn, that people with average talent and seemingly ordinary ability that work in an extraordinary way, will accomplish great things.”

Lady Braves earn return trip to state

dahlerickson — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:30:16 +0000

The Star Valley Lady Braves earned their second straight trip to the 4A state soccer tournament by defeating Green River in the third straight one-goal win of the season over the Lady Wolves. Junior Alisa Gimlin scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season on a penalty kick midway through the second half to put the Lady Braves up 1-0. The score proved to be the game-winner. The shutout was the third of the season for fellow Junior Becca Sangster, and also proved that Green River was just an eyelash behind Star Valley all season. Star Valley defeated Green River 1-0 in Afton and 3-2 in overtime in Green River before today's 1-0 victory. The win gives the Lady Braves a trip to the state tournament in Sheridan next weekend but they will play top seeded Natrona on their home field in the regional semi-finals on Friday. Things didn't go as well for the Braves who saw visiting Kelly Walsh jump out early en route to a 4-1 victory on Braves Field for a tournament birth. The Trojans, who lost 1-0 on their last trip to Afton, scored in the fourth minute and led 2-0 at the half. Senior Jon Scherbel scored in the 79th minute for Star Valley to avoid the shutout. Rock Springs defeated Evanston in both 4A West venues to completely eliminate the Devils from the soccer season.

Janie Rayback recieves award from Rocky Mountain College

newsrelease — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:46:52 +0000

BILLINGS -- Rocky Mountain College students were honored for their athletic accomplishments at the athletic awards ceremony on April 30, 2009. Awards were presented overall and individually by sport. Janie Rayback received the Coaches Award for being recognized as a loyal team player and a hard worker. The Coaches Award is presented to an athlete who is easy to coach. Rayback is a senior and was a member of the women’s basketball team. Rayback was also recognized as the Women's Basketball MVP for the team. Rayback graduated from Star Valley High School where she was an All-State selection in both basketball and volleyball. She was recruited out of high school by Weber State University and the University of Wyoming before signing with the Wildcats before utimately transferring to Rocky Mountain College for her senior season. Devin Uskoski and Jessica Eliasson were selected as Rocky Mountain College’s senior athletes of the year. Uskoski and Eliasson were also the winners of the Herb and Clara Klindt Awards for outstanding senior athlete. Herb Klindt was a legendary coach at Rocky who started both the football and the basketball programs in the 1930’s. He and his wife, Clara, donated much of their money and time to the school’s athletic programs. Eliasson was a dominating right-side hitter on the volleyball team in the fall. She has been playing for a professional team in Denmark since wrapping up her game at Rocky Mountain College. Uskoski was a star forward on Rocky’s men’s basketball team. He led the team to win a national championship this year. Uskoski was also presented with the President’s Award. The President’s Award is presented to an athlete for his or her leadership, work ethic, attitude in the classroom and in competition, community involvement and overall contribution to Rocky Mountain College. Brian Guisti and Allie Beckers were recipients of the Frank and Helen Mathew awards. This award is given to two outstanding underclass athletes. Frank Mathews was a former Rocky coach and member of the RMC Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Helen, were among Rocky’s best fans. Guisti is a wide receiver and kick returner on the Bears’ football team. Beckers plays forward on the women’s soccer team. Liz Lewis received the Arthur and Linda DeRosier Award. This award recognizes the outstanding senior athlete that represents the true spirit of Rocky Mountain College. This award is given in memory of the DeRosiers’ son who was killed by a drunk driver. Lewis was a member of the women’s basketball team. OVERALL AWARDS WYOMING Afton Janie Rayback: Coaches Award-Women’s Basketball MONTANA Billings Allie Beckers: Helen Mathews Award-Women’s Soccer Centerville Brian Guisti: Frank Mathews Award-Football Livingston Kristin Mullaney: Champions of Character Award-Cheerleading Roundup Jessica Eliasson: Clara Klindt Award-Women’s Volleyball NEVADA Fallon Liz Lewis: Arthur and Linda DeRosier Award-Women’s Basketball WASHINGTON Brush Prairie Devin Uskoski: Herb Klindt Award, President’s Award-Men’s Basketball INDIVIDUAL AWARDS WYOMING Afton Janie Rayback: MVP- Women’s Basketball Douglas Derek Enciso: Hustler Award- Men’s Cross Country MONTANA Belt Weston Leritz: Defensive MVP- Football Billings James Bulluck: Most Inspirational-Men’s Basketball Chase Sukut: Toby Kangas Award- Men’s Basketball Lisa Schoer: Most Inspirational, Best Teammate- Women’s Basketball Allie Beckers: Player of the Year- Soccer Annie Anseth: Newcomer Award- Cheerleading Bozeman Ashley Coburn: Most Inspirational Player- Volleyball Butte Ashley Abraham: Leadership Award- Cheerleading Deer Lodge Jacob Richards: Rocky Bear Award- Men’s Golf Fort Smith Joel Harris: Most Valuable Runner- Men’s Cross Country Great Falls Jackie Nelson: Leadership Award- Soccer Hardin Tana Stewart: Defensive Player of the Year- Women’s Basketball Polson Jen Orchard: Most Valuable Player- Women’s Golf Rapelje Kristin Ballbach: Hustler Award- Women’s Cross Country Roundup Jessica Eliasson: Outstanding Offensive Award- Volleyball Erika Sibley: Most Improved- Cheerleading Shepherd Jillian Stanek: Most Improved- Volleyball Terry Annie Krise: Outstanding Defensive Award- Volleyball ALASKA Seward Mark Chase: Rookie of the Year- Men’s Cross Country ARIZONA Sierra Vista Rachel Hosterman: Best Newcomer- Women’s Golf CALIFORNIA Fremont Vanessa Peters: Player’s Player of the Year- Soccer Fresno Anthony Allen: Mr. Defense-Men’s Basketball Montclair Nate Richardson: Mr. Assist-Men’s Basketball Newport Beach Kasey Peters: Offensive MVP- Football COLORADO Basalt Connor Rakowski: Best Newcomer- Men’s Golf Grand Junction Mandi Loucks: Consistent Team Scorer- Women’s Ski Racing Windsor Teresa Schlomer: Rocky Bear Award- Women’s Golf IDAHO Ketchum Tyler Chandler: Most Improved- Men’s Ski Racing Wendel Kevin Oden: Most Valuable- Men’s Golf INDIANA Coatesville Amber Watson: Most Valuable Runner- Women’s Cross Country UTAH A.J. Oliver: Consistent Team Scorer- Men’s Ski Racing WASHINGTON Brush Prairie Devin Uskoski: Battlin’ Bear Award-Men’s Basketball Woodinville Jade Peterson: Most Improved- Women’s Ski Racing WISCONSIN Merton Monica Sprung: Rookie of the Year- Women’s Cross Country INTERNATIONAL SWEDEN Karlstad Harald Carlsson: Outstanding Competitor of the Year- Men’s Ski Racing Vemdalen Isa Floden: Outstanding Competitor of the Year- Women’s Ski Racing

SVHS Regional weekend update

dahlerickson — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:34:18 +0000

The Lady Braves took top-seeded Natrona all the way to the end of regulation before falling 1-0 on the Fillies' field and Jason Livingston claims a regional championship. The host team scored in the game's final minute to move on to the regional championship against cross-town rival, Kelly Walsh. Star Valley will be looking to match last year's third place finish but will need to solve Rock Springs to do so on Saturday. As for the Track and Field team, it's been a very competitive day one in Evanston. Unofficially, the Natrona Fillies are well out in front with 95 points. Kelly Walsh is second with 54.5 while Evanston is third with 48. Star Valley is currently fourth with 32.5 points, but have several qualifiers in tomorrow's sprint events. Individually, Audrey West placed second in the Long Jump by just one-half inch, as well as winning her heat in the 100 and 200 meter dash preliminaries. As for the boys, Jason Livingston won the regional championship in the 3200 Meter run, and placed second in the 800 Meter run with a time that's just two seconds off the school record set by Joseph Call in 2007. As for the unofficial team standings, Rock Springs leads the way after day one with 60 points. Natrona is second with 48 and Kelly Walsh is third with 40. Star Valley, with 30 points is just in front of Green River's 28.5. Evanston trails the pack with 17 points. Kevin Brough and Tyler Skinner have advanced to the finals in several events, and freshman Ridge Hillyard shaved another few tenths off his 100 Meter time to place third in the prelims. He is the only freshman to finish in the top 18. Click here for the full results from Evanston after day one. Click here for updated 4A West Girls Soccer results

Regional Wrapup for Wyoming high schools

dahlerickson — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:58:56 +0000

When the spring sports season concludes next week in Sheridan and Casper, many SVHS athletes will be competing on their respective stages. The 4A West Regional Track & Field Meet concluded in Evanston Saturday, with Natrona County sweeping the boys and girls titles. The Fillies pulled away for the title with 197 team points, well ahead of second place Evanston and their 168. Kelly Walsh placed third with 103.5 and the Lady Braves at a solid 87.5. Individually, Audrey West claimed the regional championship in the 100 Meter Dash, and placed three extremely close seconds in the 200, 400 and the Long Jump. West accounted for 34 of the Lady Braves' overall points. As for the boys, Natrona edged out Rock Springs who held the lead after day one. The Mustangs finished with 154 team points while the Tigers finished with 141. With a couple of athletes having sub-par marks in some of their more consistent events, the Braves were nipped by third place Green River and their 107.5 points while Star Valley finished just off the podium with 104. Individually, Tyler Skinner won two regional championships in the High Jump with a leap of 6' 6" and in the Triple Jump with a mark over 42 feet. Jason Livingston, who won the 3200 Meter event on Friday, finished second in the 1600 and the 800 for a stellar weekend. Freshman Ridge Hillyard placed second in the 100 Meter Dash behind standout senior Mario Harris. Hillyard was the only freshman in the finals. Click here for complete results from Evanston. On the soccer pitch, the Lady Braves' defense was spectacular all weekend, but they still came up on the short end of two 1-0 losses. After earning a trip to the state tournament with a 1-0 win over Green River, Star Valley lost in the 80th minute to home-town Natrona on Friday. Then on Saturday, it took 100 minutes to see Rock Springs claim third place with another 1-0 heartbreaker. The Lady Braves will play 4A East Champion, Laramie, to open up the state tournament, their second in as many years. Click here to see the 4A Girls Bracket for next week's field in Sheridan. SVHS played host to the 4A West soccer championships, which saw Natrona defeat Green River 2-0 for the title. Kelly Walsh upended Rock Springs 3-0 for third place.

Simplot Smoky Canyon given the go ahead for expansion

newsrelease — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:26:01 +0000

After several weeks of anxiety for one of Star Valley's largest employers, the Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine was given permission by the courts to proceed with their planned expansion. Litigation brought to bear by environmental groups alleging impact to the surrounding area had thrown the decision into doubt and brought the issue to the front and center of many area employees. The Smoky Canyon Mine employs some 200 Star Valley families and the prospect of not being allowed to continue had led to rumors of layoffs. A federal magistrate judge has ruled that the J.R. Simplot Company may resume its preparatory site work to expand its Smoky Canyon phosphate mine in southeastern Idaho. U.S. Magistrate Mikel H. Williams ordered that site work, temporarily halted pending motions from both sides, could resume as of Friday, May 22. The intervening period allows for an appeal of his decision by the plaintiff special interest groups to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Simplot Company senior vice president and general counsel, Terry Uhling, said he hopes the judge’s decision, the second in favor of mine expansion since last November, will put an end to legal maneuvering that has prevented opening new sections at Smoky Canyon. “During the past 10 years, we have shown in court and in many public meetings that expansion at Smoky Canyon is environmentally sound and provides the country with a mineral that is considered vital to national interests," Uhling stated. "We have also proven that continued operation of the mine is economically important for the many communities that provide employees." For a more detailed report of the court decision, see the relating story in the May 21 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Independent Obituaries: May 14, 2009

dahlerickson — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:07:06 +0000

The following are obituaries or death notices that appeared in the May 14, 2009 edition of Star Valley Independent. Janet Renee Thurman Swenson, 65, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009 surround by her loving family. Janet was born in Afton on May 5, 1944 a daughter of Stewart M. and Adell Humphreys Thurman. She grew up in Grover. After graduating from high school she attended Utah State University. She married her sweetheart Eldon Swenson, in the Logan LDS Temple on Oct. 18, 1965. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she had held many positions, including, primary teacher, nursery leader, ward librarian and young women’s leader. Janet enjoyed tole painting, cross words, Sudoku and playing with her grandchildren. Surviving are her husband, Eldon; children, Darin T. Swenson, Brigham City, Utah; Stephanie Diane (Kyle) Harris, Ogden, Utah; Michelle Leigh (Rex) Barker, Brigham City, Utah; Heather Lyn Swenson, Layton, Utah; and four grandchildren, Riley, Jada, Mason, Aidan. She is also survived by siblings, Stanley (JoAnne) Thurman, Sandy, Utah; Marcia (Ken) Higa, Orem, Utah; Michael (Joyce) Thurman, Bluffdale, Utah and sister-in-law Teri Thurman, Grover. Preceded in death by her parents and brother Stewart. Viewing will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary in Brigham City and on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary, in Afton. Graveside services will be Friday, May 15, 2009 at 3 p.m. in the Grover Cemetery. Verl Donald Taysom, 80, passd away March 12, 2009 at his home in Grants Pass, Ore. He was born March 8, 1929 in Afton to Abram Verl Taysom and Eliza Ruth Bagley Taysom. He went to school in Afton until he moved with his family to Vallejo, Calif., where his father, Verl, worked at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The family then moved to Napa, Calif., where Donald graduated from Napa High School. He attended college in Logan, Utah, at what was then known as Utah State Agricultural College. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He graduated from Sacramento State College in Sacramento. Donald is survived by his wife of 38 years, Donna Kim Taysom; three sons, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Annette Taysom McKenzie; many nephews and nieces, one aunt, Wyla Taysom Ames; and many Bagley and Taysom cousins whom he dearly loved. A memorial service was held April 18, 2009 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vacaville, Calif. There will be a graveside service at the Afton cemetery on May 23, 2009 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Louine Clawson Young Cromar, age 100, died on Thursday May 7, 2009 at the home of her son, Glen, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Louine was born Dec. 11, 1908 in Salt Lake City and was the last surviving child of Seymour Bicknell Young Jr. and Carlie Louine Young Clawson. On Aug. 12, 1931 she was married to Raymond Kenneth Cromar in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Kenneth died November 16, 1986 in Colorado Springs, Colo. This valiant and virtuous daughter of God has a long history of serving the Lord in auxiliaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also served 11 years supervising Primaries in the Western States Mission. Additionally, Kenneth and Louine were companions in the Washington D.C. Mission. As a widow she enjoyed being an ordinance worker in the Jordan River LDS Temple for 10 years. A "100 year Party" was held in July, 2008 in her honor, bringing 180 direct descendants together to commemorate the occasion with their mother and grandmother. Thanks to all who sent her cards and flowers on her actual 100th birthday in Thayne in Dec. 11, 2008. She was proud of her pioneer ancestry, which included Brigham Young, Joseph Young, Edward Partridge, Hiram B. Clawson, Emily Augusta Young Clawson, Emily Partridge, Seymour B. Young Sr., and others. Louine is survived by all seven children, Kenneth (Lynda), Aurora; Colo.; Don (Penni), Salt Lake City; Dale (Hevia), Salt Lake City; Carlie (Paul Jensen), Thayne; Bruce (Helga), Boulder, Colo.; Ross, Salt Lake City. She has 40 grandchildren, 141 great grandchildren, and 20 great great grandchildren. Louine has been lovingly cared for in the home of her daughter, Carlie, for 22 years. Louine was a member of the Thayne Second Ward for the past 10 years. Funeral services and burial were in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Missionary Fund, Perpetual Education Fund, or Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Body of man recovered in Alpine

sarahhale — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:51:09 +0000

On Sunday, May 17 the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a body in Alpine. Deputies responded to the scene and located the body of David Reneker, a 41 year old man from the Alpine area. According to the Sheriff’s report, an “investigation revealed that Reneker died of multiple knife wounds.” The report stated that several search warrants have been issued and served by the Lincoln County’s Sheriff’s office relating to the case. According to information provided by Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson, the department “continues to follow up on leads and has identified a person of interest in the case.” Anyone with information that would assist investigators in this case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 885-5231.

State weekend recap

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:33:19 +0000

The "spring" sports at SVHS have come to a close. The track teams competed in their second year of 4A competition and it's hard to argue that the higher level of competition has not resulted in faster times and better marks. Many school records have fallen in those two years, and several others have been challenged. In the end, the Braves finished sixth as a team with 41 team points. Some standout performances came from seniors Jason Livingston and Tyler Skinner, who both placed in three different events. Livingston placed a very close second in the 800 Meter run, breaking the school record in the process. His time of 1:57.51 is the fastest in Star Valley history. The previous record belonged to Joseph Call in 2007 of 1:57.82. Livingston also went on to place fourth in the 1600 Meter run and sixth in the 3200 Meter run. Skinner placed in the High Jump, Triple Jump and the 300 Meter Hurdles. As for the Ladies, they placed ninth with 31 team points. With only one senior on the team, the Lady Braves appear poised to move up dramatically next year and will be led by Audrey West. West placed second in the 100 Meter Dash, third in the 200 and third in the 400. She also placed eighth in the Long Jump, breaking the school mark in the process. Senior Alicia Inskeep competed in two events, scoring points with the 4 x 800 Meter relay. Fellow senior Madison Wilkes, who holds the school Shot Put record, also scored in her signature event. Click here for full results from Casper. State Soccer The Star Valley Lady Braves played much better in this year's outing than their first trip to the state tournament a year ago, but it still resulted in a first round loss to top-rated Laramie. The Lady Plainsmen, who won the 4A East and only tasted defeat once all season, knocked Star Valley to the consolation bracket in a 3-0 Lady Braves loss. The score was tied at 0-0 at the half, with a pesky wind affecting the team forced to shot into it. The Lady Braves were unable to capitalize with the wind in the first half, while Laramie scored all three times in the second half. The Lady Plainsmen went on to defend their state championship while the Lady Braves lost 5-0 to Cheyenne East. With a large group returning yet again, the squad will have to address some of their questions on offense which abandoned them in the post-season where they only scored once in five games. It was a tough weekend in general for the 4A West girls, where just Natrona advanced and regional champion Kelly Walsh was blasted by Gillette in the opening round. Standout defenders such as Kim Burton and Myka Draney will also be missed. Click here for the 4A Girls soccer page. Please read the May 28, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent for full results as well as post-season honors earned by the teams.

This Week in Star Valley: May 21-28

newsrelease — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:40:27 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has not missed a weekly edition since February of 1901. Take a look back a some of the items that made the news this week 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: One hundred and eight will receive diplomas in graduation ceremonies tonight at the Star Valley High School Auditorium. The commencement will begin at 8 p.m. and will include talks and musical numbers by the graduates. Jolyn Call was named valedictorian and Christine Allred salutatorian at the annual Star Valley High School awards assembly held Wednesday. Other honor students named were Laurie Lisota and Dea Anderson with citizenship awards going to Casey Erickson and Jolyn Call. Ad: Shop Afton's Moonlight Madness Sale Friday, 6-9. Ad: Pines Bar in Thayne having 4th Annual Pig Roast Sunday. Fun and Games--Pool Tournament. Ladies' Please Bring Side Dish. Ad: Lazy Ace Laundry "service" Now open. Under new management. Now has jumbo computerize Wascomat washer...Thayne. Greetings to our senior class. Cokeville High School class of 1984. (11 students pictured, 1 student not pictured.) 50-years ago: The newly improved Thayne Cemetery will be dedicated in a special ceremony on Memorial Day, Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m., the cemetery committee has announced. The public is invited to the special program which is being arranged. Poppy Day to be Observed Saturday--"To show that we remember . . . wear a poppy!' This is the appeal being made to citizens in Star Valley by the American Legion Auxiliary, which will sponsor its annual Poppy Day, Saturday, May 23. On that day everyone will be asked to wear a poppy as a personal tribute to America's war dead. Impressive graduation exercises honored Star Valley High School graduates of the class of 1959, Thursday night of last week, when 82 seniors received diplomas from the board of education. The theme, "Tomorrow's Horizons," as depicted in the backdrop created especially for the occasion and in the program presented by the students. New Speed Limit goes into effect in sate May 23--The code limits speeds to 20 mph in any business district, or when passing school grounds or school crossing, and 30 mph in residence or urban district. Sixty-five mph is the speed limit other places except for commercial vehicles. An exception is on 4-lane divided highways where the maximum is 70 for private cars. The law makes illegal driving on a highway at speed "greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions." 75-years ago: Today marks the close of one of the most successful high school years in the history of Star Valley. The largest class that has ever been graduated form the local school will receive their diplomas tonight. Very appropriate commencement exercised will be held, and a formal program has been arranged. The Seminary Graduation exercises were held last night. The drought condition in the Valley is beginning to take a very serious aspect, and unless we get some rain in the near future a large part of the crops will be a failure. Many of the stream have not risen much and they are all getting smaller now. Irrigation water is very short. Fairview and the farms West of Afton are feeling it the worst, while Etna, and Freedom have the best outlook for a good hay crop. Salt River is the lowest it has been since the Valley was settled. 100-years ago: Fairview news: A girl baby made its appearance in Mr. and Mrs. Milton Tolman's home last Friday, May 14th. Miss Elva Child opened a tuition school Monday, May 10th. She is well patronized and is giving good satisfaction. Auburn news: Mr. Erickson, brother to our Blacksmith here, has just arrived from Fort Bridger to help his brother in the shop. He is single and quite good looking, 'so look out girls!'. Ad: Parlin & Orendorff Co., of Canton, Illinois, selling Canton Plows; the Success Sulky Plow. You can make two mistakes in buying Riding plows. One is to buy an inferior plow because it is offered cheap, and the other is to buy a high priced riding plow when the Success, a medium priced plow, will do better work. Successful Plowing.

Independent Obituaries: May 28, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:39:33 +0000

The following are obituaries that appeared in the May 28, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Carolyn Bowers was born Feb. 22, 1940 in Osmond to William “Bill” and Carol Helm. The second of seven children, she grew up working on the family farm in Smoot and Forest Dell. She loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting with her family. After graduating from high school, Carolyn moved to Ogden, Utah, where she met her husband John Bowers. John joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sealed to Carolyn in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Four children were born in their home. She now has fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her family was the center of her life. Carolyn enjoyed serving in the Church, especially in the Primary organization. She loved helping others and looking for the positive in all the people she met. If ever away from Star Valley, she would comment how comforting it was to her to see the mountains again as she drove over the south end. With that same comfort Carolyn Bowers returned to her Father in Heaven and family on May 20, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Bowers, and is survived by her four children and their spouses; John and Teri Bowers, Cammy and Teryl Parsons, Teresa and Nick Imeson, and Nellie and Clint Ashton. She will be greatly missed and always remembered for her kindness and loving spirit. Jana Bell Loyd Nelson Parrish passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at West Point, Utah from the effects of a stroke suffered in 2006. She was born May 11, 1922 in Axial Basin, later known as Loyd, Colo., to Arthur Earnest and Myra Elizabeth Welch Loyd. She grew up in and attended school in Craig, Colo., and Vernal, Utah It was in Vernal where she met Chester Burnett Nelson, whom she later married. To this union were born three children. She and Chet divorced in 1945. Her husband of 26 years, Rex S. Parrish, passed away in 1999. Jana’s extended family was the greatest joy in her life. She loved playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles. She leaves behind three children, Chester Loyd (Shirley) Warren, Utah; David Arthur (Anne) Roy, Utah; Carol Ann Campbell (Jerry) Provo, Utah. She also leaves a legacy of seven grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren. Graveside services were held Sunday, May 24th at 3:30 p.m. in the Afton Cemetery. Lloyd Schwab Heiner passed away quietly at his home in Bedford on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Lloyd was the second son born to Carl G. And Frances Lottie Schwab Heiner. He was born in Afton on April 8, 1927. He spent his life in Bedford, working on his parent’s farm and this his own. He grew up with his older brother, Ralph, and younger brother, Carl. Another brother, Paul, passed away in infancy. Lloyd grew up during the Great Depression when money was hard to come by. They had no electricity or running water in the house but his parents did a super job of teaching the fundamentals of life and provided the family with a good home. Lloyd had the responsibility of milking one old red cow at the age of six. He attended grade school in the little Bedford schoolhouse and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1946. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church and his family were the center of his life. He married his high school sweetheart, Marva Lu Gardner, for time and all eternity on June 4, 1946 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. To this union was born four sons, David, Mark, Gaylon and Verdean. They all worked hard on the farm milking cows, raising hay, grain, cattle and other farm animals. Lloyd also worked as a hunting guide and helped build the Palisades Dam. One of his hobbies was working with wood, especially cedar. He made many beautiful cedar chests, picture frames and other things. He also loved to fly airplanes. He and his brother, Ralph, took flying lessons from Raymond Humpherys and purchased a little Aronaca Champ airplane. Their runway was the field in front of the house. His other passion was fishing. He loved going to Jackson Lake with his family members to fish. He was an expert fisherman. His beloved wife, Marva Lu, passed away Oct. 7, 1981. This was a hard time for Lloyd. On Aug. 4, 1982 he and Allene Winters Astle were marred for time in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They served an LDS Mission in the New Mexico, Albuquerque Mission and also served as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls Temple for five years. Other church callings he had were Elders Quorum President, counselor in the Turnerville Branch Presidency, Stake Missionary, a member of the High Priest Presidency, Primary Teacher, Sunday School Teacher, and Home Evening Teacher for the Single Adults of Bedford . His is survived by his wife, Allene, of Bedford; sons, David (Charlotte), Mesa, Ariz.; Mark (Marilyn), Smoot; Gaylon (Kristi), Bedford; Verdean (Helen), Layton, Utah; brothers, Ralph (Gwen), Bedford; Carl (Darlene), Idaho Falls; 22 Heiner grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren. He is also survived by stepchildren, Michael (Robyn) Astle, Smoot; Gary (Dawn) Astle, Grover; Ronald (Kristin) Astle, Kingston, Wash.; Deborah (Byron) Schwab, Grover; and Susan Loveland, Grover; 19 Astle grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Lloyd had big hands, a big heart and a great sense of humor. Everyone he met was his friend. Thelma Ree Enfield of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Longmont United Hospital. She was 86 years old. Ree, as she was known to her family and friends, was born Aug. 17, 1922, in Afton to Thomas J. and Ethel (Papworth) Call. She graduated from high school in Afton and attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Her studies were interrupted by the United States’ entry into World War II whereupon she moved to Long Beach, Calif., and worked in a munitions factory to support the war effort. On Sept. 19, 1959, Ree married Ronald Enfield in Grover and raised three children, Judi, Valerie, and Glade. In retirement the couple lived in Oak Grove, Mo., and Paonia, Colo., before moving to Longmont in 2006. Mrs. Enfield had worked as a bookkeeper for several years and later became interested in real estate. She was an avid reader and took time each morning to study her Bible. She enjoyed cooking and baking and spending time with family. She is survived by her husband, Ron Enfield of Longmont; daughters, Judi Langer and her husband, John, of Golden, Colo., and Valerie Wegert and her husband, Darell, of Minturn, Colo.; a son, Glade Enfield of Longmont; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Maxine Viegel of St. George, Utah. She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Reuel, Evan, Gerald, Osborne, Spencer and Bob; and two sisters, Vivian and Eileen. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services of Longmont. A private memorial service has been held.

Regional Grizzly relocated

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:59:11 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests, trapped and relocated a sub-adult male grizzly bear. The bear had been frequenting home sites along the Wind River west of Dubois. The bear was released in the Sheffield Creek drainage approximately 20 miles north of Moran on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat and the Grizzly Bear Primary Conservation Area. Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool afforded bear management personnel to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzlies. The decision to relocate and the selection of a relocation site is made taking into consideration the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in. Consultation with the appropriate land management agency is also made to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzlies. Bears are relocated in accordance with state management plans and the Yellowstone Grizzly Conservation Strategy. When selecting a relocation site, the Department makes every consideration to minimize potential conflicts with livestock and people. Bears can create conflicts after they have obtained food rewards. The Department continues to stress the importance of keeping all attractants (food items, horse feeds, bird seed and others) unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants reduces human-bear conflicts.

Car accident leaves teen in critical condition

sarahhale — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:06:37 +0000

Four juveniles were involved in a one-vehicle car accident on Muddy String Road in the early morning hours of Friday, May 29, 2009. All four were transported to Star Valley Medical Center. Two sustained serious injuries in the incident, one of whom remains in critical condition. The others were treated and released. According to Lt. Brian Andrews, with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the scene at approximately 5 a.m. Friday morning. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Thayne Fire and Thayne EMS also responded. The names of the juveniles involved in the accident have not been released. Investigation into the cause of the accident continues. For more detailed information regarding the accident, see the relating story in the Thursday, June 4 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Simplot workers facing layoffs

sarahhale — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:29:09 +0000

The J. R. Simplot Company has notified its 560 employees at Smoky Canyon mine and Pocatello fertilizer manufacturing plant that a reduction in force is being implemented because the company has not been able to proceed with preparatory work that would lead to expansion at the mine. Formal layoff notices will be given this week to 114 employees, 36 at the mine and 78 at the plant. “We deeply regret that layoffs will be necessary, but the delays caused by special interest groups over the past nine months have placed us in a no-win situation,” said Garrett Lofto, president of Simplot’s AgriBusiness Group. “If this situation persists, we not only will be forced to reduce our workforce at the mine and plant, but we’ll have to close both operations within 18 months.” According to information provided by Simplot, the company has less than a year’s worth of phosphate ore reserves remaining in the existing sections of Smoky Canyon. The mine is the sole source of raw material utilized by the company’s Pocatello plant. The company’s site work to prepare the new sections currently is on hold while the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reviews relevant materials in a legal process that started almost a year ago. “We had planned to start using ore from the new sections in the fall, and these court-imposed delays have prevented us from doing critical preparatory work,” said Lofto. “It is essential that the company complete expansion of the new sections simultaneously with exhausting existing sections in order to provide a steady and reliable supply of ore to our Pocatello plant. “In addition, these delays will inhibit our ability to supply long-term customers with high-quality plant nutrient products, and eventually this chain of events will impact the growers who use those products to improve crop yields.” For additional coverage of this breaking news story, see the relating article in the Thursday, June 4 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Independent Obituaries: June 4, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:37:43 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the June 4, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Eileen Gray Brumfield Bartik, 88 years old, of Alpine, died Saturday, May 2, 2009. She was born on Jan. 12, 1921 in Fincastle, Va., to Frank And Mary Brumfield. She married Richard Bartik in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 1945. Richard passed away on Aug. 21, 2001. After graduating from high school, Eileen attended secretarial school in Roanoke, Va. In 1941 she moved to Washington, D.C. to work at the War Department, which later became the Pentagon. She reflected often on being able to walk anywhere throughout the city and seeing the Washington Redskins play when Sammy Baugh was the quarterback. She later was transferred to the Department of Energy. Eileen retired from working for the government in 1980. She soon went back to work in Ocean City, Md., working for Mayor Kelly. She spent most of her later years traveling the world with her daughter and visiting her grandchildren. Eileen is survived by her daughter, Linda (Paul) Schutt, Chicago; daughter, Kay McLennan (James), Mandville, La.; and son, Richard Bartik, Alpine. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christina, Jake and Jacqueline; a brother, Rosco, Bognton, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; brothers, John, James and Larry; and sisters Virginia Phillips and Bernice McFadden. Eileen was buried next to her husband in Quantico National Cemetery in Virgina. A private family funeral service was held at the graveside on May 18, 2009. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the National Parkinson Foundation. Eileen was a member of the Grace Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, Md., and of late attended Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church at the Nordic Ranches. For all those who have known Eileen, they knew a calm and pacific person of tireless perseverance. She will be missed beyond words. Funeral services for Peggy Lyla Olson will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009 in the Etna LDS Church. The services will begin at 11 a.m. A viewing will be held on Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral services at the church.

Lummis airs concerns over health of Wyoming forests

newsrelease — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:44:32 +0000

WASHINGTON – During a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on the future of forestry policy, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., highlighted her concerns regarding the health of Wyoming’s forests, including a specific concern about the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Lummis, a member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry took time to explain the ravaging impacts bark beetles are having on the state’s forests. “I am very concerned about the current state of our forests,” Lummis said. “The bark beetle epidemic in Wyoming has already destroyed millions of acres of adult forests. Forty percent of the Bridger-Teton National Forest has been destroyed since 1991. Forest managers estimate that by 2012, every single adult lodge pole pine in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado will be destroyed by beetle kill. This is devastating to our forests and our forest economies. It is also downright dangerous as we enter another wild fire season.” “To some, forestry policy is an academic exercise; a way to experiment with grand theories about the role of fire or disease in the management of forests. To people in Wyoming, federal forestry policy is so much more. Decisions about fuel reduction, beetle prevention and mitigation, prompt harvesting of dead and dying trees, and the overall health of our forests have real, tangible effects on our livelihood.” “We live near or even in these forests, we base entire industries off of them, we recreate and enjoy them, and we count on these forests to attract thousands of tourists every year. Healthy forests are integral to our lives and livelihoods. For Wyoming's forests, we can no longer wait. Our forests are crying out for help now.” Wyoming is home to nine national forests, encompassing about 8.8 million acres of land. Put into context, national forests in Wyoming cover about a million more acres than the total land areas of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia combined. Lummis also spoke about the role woody biomass could play in federal forest policy. “By expanding the renewable fuel standards to include woody biomass, we can improve forest health while we diversify our nation’s energy portfolio. Rural logging industries, impacted by the decline in logging, might also benefit from allowing feedstock from federal lands to qualify as advanced biofuels. A bill that I am supporting, H.R. 1190 will do just that.” Jim Neiman, owner of the last operating sawmill in Wyoming, located in Hulett, also testified at the hearing.

Reward offered for information on theft of voting equipment trailer

sarahhale — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:13:26 +0000

The Lincoln County Commissioners have offered a $500 reward for information leading to the recovery of a trailer and the voting equipment it housed. The trailer was stolen sometime between May 17 and May 20 from the Lincoln County Roads and Bridges shop in Kemmerer. According to information provided by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the trailer belonged to the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office and contained voting equipment. Some of the equipment was recovered from where the suspect(s) had partially emptied the trailer. Still missing are several poll booths and tables used for elections, including equipment used to assist individuals with disabilities to vote. The inside of the trailer had been modified with custom built shelves and cubbies to fit various voting equipment. Anyone with information regarding the theft of the trailer is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at (307) 877-3971.

Governor reduces budget by $231.6 million

newsrelease — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:07:25 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The state must reduce spending now to address forecasts of significantly lower revenues over the next three years, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said in announcing $231.6 million in budget cuts for the fiscal year which begins next month. The reductions reflect efforts to cut ten percent of state agency budgets, with a particular emphasis on reducing ongoing operating expenses. "These are significant, often painful cuts," Freudenthal said. "You can't cut more than $230 million out of one fiscal year's budget without affecting worthwhile programs, but it needs to be done. Wyoming has been fortunate to experience dramatic increases in revenues in recent years, but we have to tighten our belts to address changes in revenues." The largest agency budget reductions include: $43 million from the Department of Health, $18.4 million from the School Facilities Commission, $18.3 million from the University of Wyoming, $13.8 million from the state's community colleges and $14.9 million from the Department of Corrections. Freudenthal has placed a hold on the distribution of over $25.2 million to water development accounts, and reduced capital construction spending by $17.1 million. "Money saved in the current biennium is money available to meet the approaching shortfall" over the next three years, the governor said in a letter to the co-chairmen of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee. Freudenthal's Fiscal Year 2010 adjustments would trim $205.4 million in General Fund appropriations, $22.7 million in school foundation appropriations largely related to school facility construction, and $3.5 million in appropriations from other funds. The complete budget document, which lists all agency reductions, is available online: http://ai.state.wy.us/budget/pdf/FY2010%20Budget%20Reductions%20Document%20F

This Week in Star Valley: June 4-10

dahlerickson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:14:29 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has published weekly since February of 1901. Take a look back at what made the pages of the Independent at different intervals of 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: The area in Swift Creek Canyon that slid and blocked the flow of Swift Creek last week still has the potential to slide again. Ad: Rusty Razor, June Special, Perm and haircut $20.00. Ad: Country Gardens Swimming Pools. 8 a.m. to 12 noon–swimming lessons; 12 noon to 10 p.m.–open to public. 50-years ago: A change in management was announced this week in the Hi-way Market on the South outskirts of Afton, in which Von and Hilda Titensor have leased the business from George and Ella Thompson. Star Valley's fifth annual Dairy Day will be observed next Wednesday, June 10, with a full schedule of activities which will focus attention on the dairy industry and Star Valley as the dairy capital of Wyoming. 75-years ago: Ad: Dr. Earl Lewis, Optometrist, will be in Star Valley June 18th to 30th. Friendly, Dependable, Conscientious Optical Service. Ad: Playing at the American Theatre Fri., Sat., and Sun., June 8-9-10, the new sensation musical romance, in glorious reunion, John Crawford and Clark Gable in Dancing Lady. More than just a musical picture. A drama that tingles with excitement, soul stirring romance, a wealth of scenic and musical glory. Hundreds of signing and dancing beauties. $50,000 Rain Storm for Star Valley–The rain of Tuesday night and Wednesday will increase the hay and pasture crops of Star Valley by $50,000. We hope the weather man will keep coming this way. County Agent. 100-years ago: Thayne news: Two baseball teams went from Thayne last Saturday to clean up Freedom. The first team succeeded in running up the score 24 to 4 in favor of Thayne, but the second team was defeated. Mr. Aaron Heap umpired the game. Fairview news: June 1, Brigham Young's birthday, was celebrated by the Primary Association. A program and games in the afternoon, and dance in the evening was enjoyed by all in attendance. Mr. Fred Pead has returned home after a successful school year at the Weber State Academy at Ogden. Lost Valuable Sheep: A report has been received that the Covey Bros. lost about 250 thoroughbred ewes, which loss was discovered about a month ago. The sheep were valued at $3,000 and so far they have been unable to find any trace of them. It is supposed they disappeared on the winter range.

Simplot allowed to continue expansion work

sarahhale — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:03:12 +0000

Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine has rescinded its announced layoffs. This action was a direct result of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permission to allow the mine to resume its preparatory work to expand. The company has cancelled previously announced layoffs at the mine and its Pocatello fertilizer manufacturing plant that had been planned because of the work stoppage and consequent threat to the future of both facilities. "We are delighted that we can resume site work that will allow us to expand Smoky Canyon as we have been planning the past nine years," said Larry Hlobik, Simplot president and CEO. "This is the third time we have been given a favorable court ruling in this matter." For the full story on the mine expansion, see the Thursday, June 11 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Wyoming Residents more optimistic than the rest of the nation

newsrelease — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:04:37 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Compared to the rest of the nation, Wyoming residents enjoy a high quality of life and are more optimistic about the future and what growth could bring to the state and the region, according to a new statewide survey released today by the Building the Wyoming We Want initiative. The survey indicated that Wyoming residents place the greatest priority on access to the great outdoors, their small, friendly communities and about the health of the land and the water. “Wyoming people care deeply about their families, their small, friendly communities and about the health of the land and the water,” said Dee Allsop, a nationally-recognized polling expert whose company conducted the study for the Building the Wyoming We Want initiative. The survey findings will be discussed in depth at tomorrow’s Building the Wyoming We Want: Values and Vision Conference in Casper. “The quality of life indicator that appeared most prominently is that Wyoming people love the outdoors and the healthy lifestyle that they enjoy as a result of the state’s spectacular geography and unparalleled recreation opportunities,” Allsop said. Allsop’s company, Heart and Mind Strategies, conducted the study over several weeks this spring, and spoke with nearly 1,000 people across the state in telephone interviews, face-to-face online interviews and online polling. The survey results, which indicated a strongly positive outlook toward the future with measured optimism about growth, were not uniform across Wyoming. Most residents believe that while the future looks bright for Wyoming overall, their local economies are currently neither “strong” nor “weak,” but they appear to be getting worse. Responses varied by county, with residents of Carbon, Sweetwater, Lincoln, Sublette, Uinta, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties all viewing their local economies as getting worse. These residents also viewed themselves as being the most impacted by boom/bust cycles. Other findings focused on perceptions of growth and future change in Wyoming. While many residents believe many of the challenges and problems their communities face are caused by growth, they soundly believe growth can bring significant benefits to Wyoming and should be “encouraged and fostered.” Most respondents also said that they believe “people like you and me” (rather than government) are best able to insure that growth has a positive impact. “These findings give us great insight into what we’re trying to accomplish with Building the Wyoming We Want,” said Terry Cleveland, who heads the initiative’s advisory committee. “Clearly people in Wyoming feel that in order to maintain their outdoor lifestyle, there is much at stake going forward. Many of us have reservations about the kind of growth we see in other parts of the West but this survey indicates that we’re confident we can do it right. The key is to act now to protect what we care most about.” The survey highlighted an interesting dichotomy in Wyoming, Allsop said, in that residents said they value the fact that the state is not crowded and that there aren’t many people in Wyoming. However one of the strongest negative responses centered on the state’s remoteness and its relative lack of entertainment and shopping options and proximity to advanced health care providers and jobs. “This is a key challenge for the leaders of Wyoming,” Allsop said. “Clearly people love to live here but they acknowledge that there are tradeoffs for all the benefits they enjoy in Wyoming.”

Governor urges Wyoming residents to engage on growth

newsrelease — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:58:36 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - At the Building the Wyoming We Want: Vision and Values Conference, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said that while Wyoming residents might have views on how their communities should address growth going forward, their views won’t make a difference unless they actively engage in the discussion. Be sure to click the links to hear audio from the Building the Wyoming We Want conference. Governor Freudenthal discusses the importance of the conference Dee Allsop, a nationally-recognized opinion researcher, presented the findings of a statewide values survey that indicated Wyoming residents think that they, not the government, are the ones who should guide the state’s growth going forward. Allsop encouraged the local leaders in the audience to find a way to take this desire for involvement and put it to use. Dee Allsop discusses items relevant to Wyoming Some of the discussion on the first day of the two-day conference centered on the boom of wind development and the growing concern about its impacts on public and private lands, on wildlife habitat and on land uses like grazing and hunting. Gov. Dave discusses items of change within the Cowboy State The Governor said the values study indicated that the public strongly favors wind energy while state leaders feel less positive about it as they begin to confront the challenges it brings to the state. The Governor discusses the state's opinion on wind energy The Governor challenged residents to voice their concerns about the state’s growth at the local level where many of the key decisions are made in Wyoming. Freudenthal states the importance of residents to get involved

Independent Obituaries: June 11, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:54:58 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the June 11, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Frederick Hugh Munger, 94, passed away June 3, 2009, in Jackson. Born Dec. 29, 1914 in Fullerton, Calif., to William Ross and Frances J. (Prothero) Munger, he lived the majority of his life in the San Bernardino area. He lived the last five years in Star Valley. Hugh married Virginia Ray Cox on June 12, 1936 and had two daughters, Jeanette Smith (Bob); and Virginia Galazin (Jack). They were divorced and on June 2, 1951 he married Emma Ellen (Lemons) Monger. They had two children, David Hugh (Andy); and Susan Kuhn (David). He was preceded in death in 2003 by his wife of 52 years, Ellen and two brothers, Maurice and Ross. He is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special friend, Rosalie Best of Thayne. Hugh was a man of faith, who tried to live his life in a way that pleased God. He was a milkman for many years for Brookside Dairy. He loved all sports, with a special love for fishing and golfing. His passion was golf which led him to a second career working 20 years for San Bernardino Golf Course. He started as a caddy at 12 and was still playing golf regularly at age 92. A graveside service will be in San Bernardino, Calif., on Tuesday, June 9. A memorial service will be at the Star Valley RV Resort Barn on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made in his name to Thayne Senior Center, Thayne, WY 83127. Funeral services for former Afton resident Pauline Bailey will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 1 p.m. in the East Mill Creek LDS Stake Center, located at 3103 E 3600 S in Salt Lake City. Viewings will take place on Friday, June 12 from 6-8 p.m. at the church and again Saturday, June 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the funeral service. Internment will take place in the Mountain View Memorial Estates, Cottonwood Heights.

SVMC holding 10th annual Golf Classic on June 19

newsrelease — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:32:44 +0000

In a decade of existence, the Star Valley Medical Center Golf Classic has grown to 25 groups this year. In those ten years, the medical center has grown by leaps and bounds, and the tenacity of the Foundation is one of the key reasons why. Click below for an interview with Liz Beck and Jim Fairchild, co-chairs of the SVMS Foundation.

Wyoming Department of Health confirms 47 swine flu cases

dandockstader — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:16:38 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Health reports that the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of swine flu, the H1N1 virus has risen to 47 in the state. Testing at the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory confirmed cases in six counties. Of the confirmed infections, 41 are from Laramie County, two are from Uinta County, and there is one each from Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona and Sweetwater counties. The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. The Wyoming Department of Health asks residents to stay at home if you have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat and body aches. Also wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand gel.

Lower Valley Energy has eight candidates running for one seat

dandockstader — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:19:37 +0000

Eight candidates have filed for District Three in the Lower Valley Energy Member-Owned Cooperative Service area. This district includes the Lower Star Valley area and south of Jackson, but all Lower Valley Co-op members may vote. The candidates include Lance W. Bateman, Fred Bowditch, Jack Edwards, F. Michael Kibbie, Brett McPeak, Tom Newman, Teresa Roberts and Nancy Winters. Their complete biographical sketches were included in the proxy ballots mailed out earlier in June. Lower Valley Energy members are encouraged to study the proxy ballots, mark them and return them by mail. Ted Ladd is running unopposed in District Four, which includes the Jackson area. Lower Valley Energy General Manger Jim Webb also encourages to notice the box, allowing the co-op to opt out of PSC regulation for gas rates.

Utah man jumps at Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

newsrelease — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:18:10 +0000

Officials are searching for the body of a Utah man who apparently committed suicide by jumping off the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Tuesday afternoon. The 20 year old was last seen about 1:50 p.m. on the observation platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls, along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Witnesses at the scene said the man jumped over the railing into the Yellowstone River, and then went down over the 308 foot high Lower Falls. A search of the river was begun immediately, using both observers on the ground and the park helicopter. The search and recovery effort continued Wednesday. The Utah man is missing and presumed dead. His name is being withheld pending notification of family members. The incident remains under investigation. The latest stream flow reading upstream of the falls at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake recorded over 44,500 gallons of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River.

Independent News Briefs

dandockstader — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:57:07 +0000

Tidbits of news from around the valley. Making plans for a commercial zone. The Star Valley Ranch Planning and Zoning Board is seeking public input from the community’s residents on a new commercial zoning ordinance. The board is working on a public survey scheduled for distribution in July. Survey results will provide information to the ranch’s P&Z board and town council on the direction the community should take with commercial zoning. Preparing the course. Afton continues preparation work on the new 18-hole Johnny Miller designed course south of the community. Darin Neuenschwander, golf course representative for the town, says work this spring has included further design of holes 10, 11, 17 and 18. As design work is completed the holes will be seeded with grass.

Lower Valley Energy to drop gas rates

dandockstader — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:33:28 +0000

Lower Valley Energy has asked the state for a natural gas rate decrease and that request was granted. The member-owned cooperative, serving Star Valley and Jackson, filed the request with the Wyoming Public Service Commission. The approximate 14-percent rate reduction is based on a recent decline in wholesale natural gas prices. This is the second decrease in gas rates for Lower Valley Energy. An earlier decrease was approved and implemented in December of 2008.

Lummis and Freudenthal upset about Wyoming forests

dandockstader — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:44:23 +0000

Lummis questions national forest management. U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has expressed concerns with how national forests are managed in Wyoming. She spoke last week about problems plaguing huge tracts of national forest in the state during a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on the future of forestry policy. Lummis is a member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry. Congressman Lummis is concerned about the current state of the forests. She says, the bark beetle epidemic in Wyoming has already destroyed millions of acres of adult forests. Forty percent of the Bridger-Teton National Forest has been destroyed since 1991. Lummis noted that forest managers estimate that by 2012, every single adult lodge pole pine in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado will be destroyed by beetle kill. Congressman Lummis says, the beatle damage is devastating to the forests and the forest economies. assistance from Lummis’ office came at the request of the Lincoln County Commission. Wyoming is home to nine national forests, encompassing about 8.8 million acres of land. The Governor is not happy with the Forest Service. According to Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Wyoming has been “left out in the cold by the U.S. Forest Service” as the federal agency allocated economic stimulus dollars to the western states for wildland fire mitigation projects. In a sharply worded letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Governor criticized the agency for allocating millions in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was based on inaccurate data and a model that he said the Forest Service is unwilling to disclose to the states. The governor pointed out that Wyoming’s forests are suffering from the same pine beetle epidemic that has swept across the West, but he noted that other states like Colorado have already received millions in supplemental appropriations to address the impacts of beetle killed timber. Gov. Freudenthal stated, “Forgive my pessimism, but I have my doubts that most in Washington can even find Wyoming on a map, no less understand the tremendous resource issues we face.” The governor has requested $6.5 million for wildland fire mitigation and biomass development on state and private lands and $20 million for capital construction and fuels mitigation projects in Wyoming’s national forests.

Independent Obituaries: June 18, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:10:28 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the June 18, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Jay Bert Muir, 71, passed away at his home in Auburn, after a long illness, on Thursday, June 11, 2009. He was born in Soda Springs, Idaho on Oct. 30, 1937 to Joseph Bert Muir and Virginia Hill. His early years were spent in Grey’s Lake, Idaho. He attended school in Wayan, Taylor Idaho, Shelley Idaho and Soda Springs. He graduated from Soda Springs High School in 1956. Following high school he attended Parks Radio and Television Repair School in Denver for a year. He then attended Utah State University for two years, studying automotive technology. In 1960 he joined the United States Air Force. He received an honorable discharge and returned home in 1961. He married Sharon Butt of Pingree, Idaho on Oct. 27, 1961 in Pingree, Idaho. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on July 31, 1965. Jay helped his father on their ranch in Grey’s Lake, as well as working at several odd jobs. He then became employed by the JR Simplot Company at Conda, Idaho in 1963, mining phosphate ore. During his employment of 39 years with the JR Simplot Company, he operated various types of heavy equipment, becoming an electric shovel operator and a foreman for a time. Jay was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many positions including Sunday School President, 10 years in the scouting program, the Elders Quorum presidency and High Priest Group Leader. Jay enjoyed doing things with his family and being in the outdoors. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and teaching his family. He also enjoyed traveling and visited many places with his family. He loved being out in nature. He was interested in geology and set out to learn as much as he could. He spent many hours hiking and looking for fossils. He also loved to tell stories to his family and friends. He is survived by his six children, Lauren Jay (Angie) Muir; Sharolee McCoy; Andrea (Travis Lee) Arnold; Angelina (John Phillip) Atkinson; Joseph Paul (Amy) Muir; and Serena Muir. He was grandfather to 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Bert Muir; his mother, Virginia Hill Muir; and his brother, Terry Joe Muir. Funeral services were held Monday, June 15, 2009 in the Auburn LDS Church. Internment was in the Auburn Cemetery. Marion Josepha Clinger Allred, 86 years old, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2009. She was born June 27, 1922 in Glenn, Idaho, now known as Jacknife. She was the oldest of three children born to Kenneth Vernile and Sarah Elena Miller Clinger. She grew up in Etna and Freedom. When Marion was only seven years old, her mother died from appendicitis. Her father, then married Cleora Stewart and they lived in the little, two room home known as the Baker Cabin. Two years later, Marion’s father died in an automobile accident in Grover. She stayed with her stepmother and new baby sister, Osa Joy, while her two younger brothers, Darwin then age seven and Donnie age five, went to live with their Grandma Clinger. Later, the three siblings were re-united and they lived with their Grandpa and Grandma Miller in Freedom. Marion was part of America’s “Rosie the Riveter” era during World War II. She worked as a welder in a shipyard in Portland, Ore. Afterwards, she moved to Odessa, Mo., and worked in an arsenal for $1 a hour. On Nov. 2, 1954 she married Leslie E. Allred in Paris, Idaho. She instantly became stepmother to a daughter and five sons. Seven years later, a daughter was born to that union. Marion was an avid reader and enjoyed topics on health and nutrition, controversial philosophies, government conspiracies and particularly debates on religion. She enjoyed a special relationship with her sister, Osa Joy Clark. She dearly loved her entourage of lady friends who provided her with a lifeline phone calls on a daily basis. Survivors include her sister, Osa Joy Clark (Delbert), of Smoot; daughter Kitty Dory (Hunky), of Afton; stepsons Larry Allred (Gaye), of Afton; LaDee Allred (MaryAnn), of Thayne; Lloyd Allred (Jackie), of Ogden; Udell Allred and a stepdaughter Gayle Ball (Dennis) of Clearfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie; a daughter, Loretta Roberts; her two brothers, Darwin Clinger and Donnie Clinger; and stepson, Lael Allred. At her request, no funeral services will be held. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Alden Levi Stewart, June 7, 2009. Alden was born Feb. 28, 1917. He was the fifth of eight children born to David Levi and Jesse Stewart. He grew up and spent much of his adult life in Alamo, a town that he loved and that his grandparents helped to settle. Born into a hard-working family of cattle ranchers, he was a child of the depression. As a young man, Alden served his country for over four years during World War II as a member of the U.S. Army attached to the Air Corps. He served as a medic and was stationed on land and sea in the South Pacific. In recognition of his efforts, he was awarded the Soldiers Medal of Valor, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. When he returned from the service, he met Carma Nelson, who would bless his life forever. In 1946 they were married in the Mesa LDS Temple and have spent the last 63 years building a life and raising a family. Their relationship has been a powerful example to his children and grandchildren of what true love and marriage can be. Alden, along with his brothers, made a significant involvement in the building up of the infrastructure of the State of Nevada. They established and ran Nevada Rock and Sand, Nevada Ready Mix, and Stewart Bros. Alden's career, however, was not the top of his priority list. Rather, his devotion to God, his wife and children were the mark of his character. Alden loved his Father in Heaven and was always active in the serving the church. He witnessed many marvels and had numerous significant accomplishments in his 92 years, but would readily say his family is his proudest legacy. He is survived by his precious wife, Carma; six children; 27 grandchildren; and 48 great-grandchildren, to date. Each of whom can boast of having an intimate and close relationship with him and would say he has been the ultimate example of integrity, generosity and a life well-lived. Funeral services were held Friday, June 12. Interment took place in the cemetery in Alamo. Our dear sweet angel mother, Pauline Claire Horsley Bailey, passed away peacefully, at home, Monday, June 8, 2009. She was a beautiful lady inside and out, who loved life, learning, her family and friends, her Heavenly Father, and Savior Jesus Christ, with all her heart and soul. Mother was a talented lady, great cook, seamstress, poet, gardener, friend, and best of all, mother and grandmother! She could make anything, and everything she made was wonderful, beautiful, and creative. She was very generous with her time and talents, was a friend to all, loved everyone, and everyone loved her in return. She was born Dec. 7, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Rulon David Horsley and Patricia Brown Hayes. She was raised and schooled in Salt Lake City. Mom was a flight attendant for Western Airlines, stationed in Denver, Colo., where she met and married our father, Lyndon William "Bill" Bailey Jr. They were married Dec. 10, 1955. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple, April 8, 1958. He passed away Aug. 1, 1999. Through their union came six beautiful children: Debbie Conger (Ted); Richard (Lori); Edward (Penni); Lynn Condie (Bryan); Robert (Maria); and Liz Young; 21 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Mom and Dad lived, and raised us, in Denver, Colo.; San Jose, Calif.; Ogden, Utah; Beloit, Wis.; Afton, Wyoming; Logan, Utah; Jackson Hole, Wyoming where they owned and operated Frontier Land; Garden City, Utah where they owned and operated the Bear Lake KOA; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Mom was an active, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she served in many capacities: Visiting Teacher, Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society President and teachers, and most recently, missionary in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, and hostess in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Also, she was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and brothers and sisters: Dave Horsley (Betty); Ed Horsley (Margaret); Richard Horsley (Shirley); Pat Whitney (Dave); Carol Urdahl (Rick); John Horsley; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Wahlquist (Jack); and many more loving relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 13 at 1 p.m. in the East Mill Creek Stake Center. Interment took place in the Mountain View Memorial Estates, Cottonwood Heights. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the LDS Church Missionary Fund. Peggy Lyla Lemmon Roberts Olson, 76, of Loveland, Colo., passed away June 1, 2009 at her son’s home in Etna. Peggy was born on May 12, 1933 in Afton to Arthur Lyle Lemmon and Ruth Yeaman. Her family operated a dairy farm in Auburn and she grew up there along with three sisters and one brother. Peggy married Lee Chiel Roberts of Etna in 1950. They moved to Quincy, Wash., and homesteaded a farm there. They had three chlidren, James, Ruth and Lauri. Cliel passed away in October 1961. Peggy married Gene Hoxie in 1964 and gained two step children, Bill and Gwen. Gene passed away in 1970. Peggy later married Dallas J. Olson in 1972. They lived in Wenatchee, Wash. During this time, Peggy was known to always have a meal and assistance ready for someone in need. She also welcomed nephews into her home to stay with her. When the farming was done, Dallas and Peggy enjoyed traveling and usually had extended family and friends along with them. Dallas and Peggy also lived in Etna and Auburn, to be close to family. Peggy also assisted in raising Ruth’s son, Josh, and Lauri’s daughter, Kira. Dallas passed away in 1998. Peggy was a member of the LDS Church. She was constantly of service to her friends, neighbors and family. She truly loved her family, and time and again was willing to sacrifice her time and resources for them. She loved to spend summers in Star Valley, in Auburn with her friends and family. She loved the fair and rodeos. She loved to travel and took trips with family members that included New Zealand, England, Europe, Panama and South America. Peggy is survived by one son, James (Leslie); two daugters, Ruth; and Lauri (Jon) Rogers; stepson, Bill Hoxie; and step daughter, Gwen Cummins; three sisters, Hortence (Spencer) Hovey; Nola (Dean) Stauffer; and Mary Jane (Rex) Crystal; one brother, David (Diane) Lemmon; 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ruth Lemmon; and her three husbands, L. Cliel Roberts, Gene Hoxie and Dallas J. Olson. Funeral services for Cody Dagley were held on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at noon in the Meadows LDS Church. Viewings were held Monday, June 15 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and Tuesday, June 16 from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

Friday Sports Stir: NBA Draft Edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:33:50 +0000

Well, I won't lie. I'm really anxious for the high school, collegiate and professional football seasons to start, but with the NBA Draft coming up on June 25, my attention is at least diverted to that occasion where terms such as "upside", "length" and even the completely ambiguous, "upside potential" are used far too frequently. Before we delve into the underbelly that is the NBA with the Draft and the impending free agency period on July 1, here's your trivia question which has to do with the Star Valley Braves. The SVHS football team has played football for 80 years. An offensive goal for the squad in that time that has resulted in great success is 300 points in a season. Question: How many times has the program scored at least 300 points in a season? Bonus Question: Of those seasons, how many times has the program advanced to the state title game? Please use the comment section to answer and try to avoid using the internet for research. The winner will go into my list of names for a free Cheesemakers hat. This week's Stir takes us to New York City where the NBA Draft process is entering it's final week of preparation. The Draft Lottery was once again a complete stomach punch for the league's worst teams, sending the team with the worst record in Sacramento all the way to the fourth overall pick. I'm a believer in karma, so when I hear a pundit complaining that the Bulls, who had a 1.7 percent chance of winning the lottery last year, come away with the top pick, they use that as an example of what is wrong with the system. What about when the Bulls had the league's worst record, or close to it, for about four consecutive years? How many top picks? Zero. Things always come back around. The worst thing about the draft, is that famous penny-pincher Donald Sterling, is going to get the best player for his Clippers. I can just imagine Oklahoma's Blake Griffin sipping on a cold beverage on the night of the lottery, lightly joking with friends that he didn't care where he went, as long as it's not the Clippers. Well, he's not laughing now. After that, the draft gets very sketchy. Here's my take on the top five picks, plus the Jazz for all you Utah fans out there. #1 - Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin - Oklahoma - This pick is so certain, the junior squad in L.A. isn't even taking calls for trades right now. They are willing to part with Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph. Aren't they generous? #2 - Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut - Memphis may not be anywhere close to Vancouver, but they definitely inherited the apathy that came with the relocation of this team. Even in Spain, they know that you don't want to play for the Grizzlies, which is the problem. Ricky Rubio, who opened eyes during the Beijing games, has emphatically stated through representatives that he doesn't want to be drafted by Memphis. What? He doesn't like BBQ and Elvis? Maybe we don't want him in this country then. All puns aside, his buyout with his current Euro club is high. Like $5-$7 million dollars big. If you knew that you were going to be playing for peanuts because all of your monies are going to another continent, would you just come over anyway? All the negative press has the Grizzlies likely thinking of Thabeet. Al 7'3", 267 pounds of Big East Center. Yes, it's temping, but you know that feeling you get right before you do something you later wish you hadn't done? That's how I feel about this guy. When scouts are saying that a best case scenario is Dikembe Mutumbo, that' s a BAD thing. That guy's been with more teams than the Barry Brothers. Do you really want to spend a second overall pick on a guy who might be that big of a bust? He averaged 13 ppg and 10 rpg in college. Underwhelming isn't even the word. If Memphis was smart, they would take a nice role player and trade down and still get a very good point guard they need. But if 15 + years of Grizzlies basketball has taught us something it's that they aren't very smart. This is the same team that drafted Bryant Reeves and kept him and traded Pau Gasol for about 30 cents on the dollar. #3 - Mystery Team - Ricky Rubio - Now here's where it gets interesting. The Oklahoma City Hijackers own this pick, and I think Rubio will go here, but where that pick eventually lands is anyone's guess. Sam Presti runs this show and he's not afraid to get multiple guys in return for Rubio. This team still has a way to go, but they seem to have some major superstar potential headed by Kevin Durant. Since they already have Russell Westbrook running the point guard position from last year's draft, they could be looking to get some semblence of a big man with this interest. Hmmm, if Marcus Camby can be had from the Clips, he'd certainly help the former Sonics. #4 - Sacramento - Johnny Flynn - Syracuse - Here's where I differ from other mock drafters who have Jrue Holiday penciled in at number four. The Kings, who might be relocating to Anaheim, San Jose or Kansas City over the next year, need a point guard and one with some heart and charisma. Flynn fits the bill. There are certain players who you notice on the big stage of college basketball and just get a feeling of greatness. I think Flynn is going to be a very good player and should impact right away. #5 - Washington - James Harden - Arizona State - Considering that the guard position has been so unreliable for the Bullets, a solid guard like Harden should help ease the fact that they'll be paying Gilbert Arenas a quadrillion dollars over the next handful of years only to see him in a suit on the bench. Believe it or not, the squad from D.C. was a contender in the East just a couple of years ago. And no, they aren't the Wizards, they'll always be the Bullets to me. # 20 - Utah - Sam Young - Pittsburgh - Well, I agree with most mock drafts that Young should be a member of the Jazz. At 6' 7", his toughness from playing four years of college ball should have him able to come in right away and steal minutes from AK47. This will hardly be the biggest move of the off season for the Jazz. The trio of impending free-agents in Boozer, Okur and Milsap will either make or break this team. They need to desperately find a way to keep at least to of them. Convincing Boozer that if he doesn't opt out he'll be traded is the first step. Utah needs a guy at the small forward position who's tougher than Kirilenko and younger than Matt Harpring. If they can land Young, I think he'll be a steal at #20.

Motorcycle collision with pronghorn in Grand Teton National Park

newsrelease — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:43:23 +0000

A collision between a motorcycle, with two riders aboard, and a pronghorn on Saturday afternoon, June 20, resulted in serious injuries to the passenger and minor injuries to the driver. The single vehicle collision occurred at 1:25 p.m. on Highway 26/89/191, two miles south of the Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park. Brady Burgess, a 38-year-old resident of Garland, Utah and his passenger and wife, 46-year-old Koreen Burgess, were traveling southbound when the collision occurred. Burgess, driving his 2005 Polaris Victory motorcycle, was leading a string of about seven motorcycles, when he entered the northbound lane, attempting to pass a motor home. As he started to clear the front of the RV, a pronghorn, heading eastward, began to race across the highway. While traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour, Burgess attempted to swerve left to avoid the animal. In response to the approaching vehicle, the pronghorn leapt into the air and impacted the right side of the motorcycle. The force of the impact knocked both riders off the motorcycle, causing the bike to tip over. The motorcycle continued to slide for approximately 100 feet down the highway. Neither Burgess nor his wife was wearing a helmet at the time. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received reports of the accident from several passers-by shortly after it occurred. Eleven park rangers and emergency medical personnel responded immediately to the scene. Emergency medical personnel from Teton County and an off duty Minnesota highway patrolman, who was first on the scene, also assisted with the incident. Two ambulances—one from Grand Teton and the other from Teton County—responded to the scene to transport the two injured people to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson. Due to the serious nature of the incident, and the multiple ambulances and emergency medical personnel required to treat the injured people, Highway 26/89/191 was closed to traffic for one hour from 1:40 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. Park rangers assisted with traffic control at Moran and Moose junctions and diverted vehicles through a detour along the Teton Park Road.

Recovery efforts continue in Yellowstone for missing Utah man

newsrelease — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:47:13 +0000

Searchers are continuing their efforts as they look for the body of a Utah man who apparently committed suicide in Yellowstone National Park last Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses say 20 year old Nicholas Mostert was on an observation platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls, when he jumped over the railing into into the Yellowstone River. The Salt Lake City area man was then swept over the 308 foot Lower Falls to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Searchers Wednesday rapelled to the bottom of the canyon, and recovered some of Mostert’s clothing from an eddy about a quarter mile downstream from the base of the Lower Falls. The park helicopter conducted another search flight Thursday morning along the 20 mile long canyon. The ground search is centered on observation points along the canyon rim with a clear view of the Yellowstone River at the bottom of the canyon, which ranges from 800 to 1,200 feet deep. The Brink of the Lower Falls is a popular observation point along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. A gauge upstream of the falls recorded nearly 6,000 cubic feet of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake at the time of the incident.

Dietz to leave UW basketball

newsrelease — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:55:15 +0000

The Star Valley Braves have had an up close and personal look at Natrona graduate, Michael Dietz, over the past two seasons. The Mustang standout committed to the University of Wyoming during his junior year. Now after arriving on campus, Dietz has left program. The University released the following statement on the issue: Wyoming Head Coach Heath Schroyer announced Monday that Michael Dietz of Casper, Wyo., has decided to leave the Cowboy basketball program for personal reasons. Dietz, a 6-7, 185-pound guard from Natrona County High School, was enrolled in summer school at UW as a freshman and had attended three days of classes with other Cowboy freshmen and returnees before informing Schroyer of his decision. “We are disappointed that Michael has decided to leave the program,” Schroyer said. “He is a quality young man who we felt had a great future in our program. We wish him the best in whatever he decides to do.” Schroyer indicated he would not have any further comment. Dietz was named the Gatorade "Mr. Basketball" for the State of Wyoming this past season. He averaged over 17 points per game as well as over 7 rebounds and two blocks as the Mustangs claimed the 4A state title with just one loss on the season.

Star Valley soldiers depart for Iraq with 115th Fires Brigade

newsrelease — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:54:32 +0000

FORT HOOD, Texas - Father's Day was bitter-sweet this year for thousands of Soldiers deploying with the 115th Fires Brigade as they marked the official end to the pre-deployment process in Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony took place at the North Fort Hood's Shorthorn Airstrip and included an official brigade formation with a gathering of more than 1,000 family and friends. The brigade includes more than 2,300 Soldiers from units in five different states - Wyoming, Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota and South Dakota. Soldiers will depart later this month to spend approximately nine months throughout Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers arrived at Fort Hood in mid-April to train with the First Army Division West's 120th Infantry Brigade. 1st Lt. Timber Toste, of Broomfield, Colo., said the pre-deployment training was chaotic at first. "When we first got here, it was difficult because there were so many people from so many different units," Toste said. "Guys from all over really came together and worked together as a team." Col. Richard Knowlton, the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Fires Brigade commander, was also pleased with the level of interaction between Soldiers and said the training in Fort Hood was exceptional. "This was the best training that some of these Soldiers have ever had," Knowlton said. "It is 97 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Fort Hood today and 111 degrees in Kuwait. Our Soldiers are ready to take on this challenge." Knowlton said the mission is to protect bases and camps in Kuwait, secure convoys traveling into Iraq, and to conduct security missions in Iraq. "We have the right people in the right job at the right time for this deployment," Knowlton said. "My goal is to bring everyone home physically, mentally and spiritually intact." This is Wyoming's largest deployment in the history of the Wyoming Army National Guard and the largest deployment of Soldiers from the Colorado National Guard since World War II. The brigade will replace Task Force Lava Thunder, a combination of the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Fires Brigade and Hawaii's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The task force, which included Soldiers from Oklahoma, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and Saipan, departed Fort Hood in October 2008. Soldiers were granted a four-day pass to spend with family before departing for Kuwait and Iraq.

A Day in the Life: A Photo journey through one day in Star Valley

dahlerickson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:13:14 +0000

The Star Valley Independent features photos from area photographers every year. This year's pictures revolve around June 12, 2009 and many are printed in the June 25, 2009 edition. Click below for an exclusive slideshow from a few of the pictures that make up a Day in the Life.

Dr. O.D. Perkes discusses his 53 years of service to Star Valley

dahlerickson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:01:07 +0000

If you and your family have lived in Star Valley for more than a handful of years, the chances are some of, if not all of clan was delivered by Dr. O.D. Perkes. In his 53 years, he's performed thousands of surgical procedures, delivered thousands of children and also provides a link to the past with the doctors who helped settle the area. In one man, his conversations with Dr. West, Star Valley's first doctor, provides a connection to over 100 years of medicine in the area Click below for an exclusive interview with Dr. Perkes as he talks about his methods, his thinking and how he dealt with months of little to no sleep.

Independent Obituaries: June 25, 2009

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:07:56 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the June 25, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Cody Shawn Dagley, 17, was born Dec. 18, 1991, on his big brother Kenny’s birthday. He was born in Afton, the fourth of six children. He has two brothers and three sisters. He died June 12, 2009. Cody was always a happy little boy. He always had a smile on his face. He will always be remembered for always having a smile on his face. He loved to tease and make people feel happy. He was a very kind, caring and tenderhearted young man. Cody loved to hunt, fish and go camping. He loved football also, but decided that hunting was more important. He was able to get himself a nice bull elk last fall with his bow for the first time and he was so excited. Cody enjoyed going hunting with his Dad and sister, Kelsi. He loved to spend time with family and cousins and go camping. When he would come home from school he would do his chores if he had some or ask if he could do them when he got home, then head down to the fishing hole or go shooting. He loved to be outside and enjoyed the outdoors. Cody’s little nieces and nephews loved cody. He was always so kind and patient with them. If his little niece called she would want to know what Cody was doing. His family always told Cody that he would make a great dad because he was so good with kids and they loved him. Cody loved to play games, play in Stump Creek, the Hog Hole and the creek that ran by his house. He spent hours playing in the water with his sisters and cousins. He always wanted his Mom to come and watch him. He was always so happy when he was playing with his family or cousins. Cody spent days every spring helping his family fence for his grandparents. He was always willing to go and help his grandparents if they needed something. Almost two years ago Cody accidental shot a friend of his in the arm. It devastated Cody, even though it was an accident. He always tried to be happy, but we knew that it was extremely difficult for him. He was so kind hearted and caring that we knew it was tearing him up. AS a family we did everything that we could to try and help him. Cody was a very good young man. He didn’t go out drinking, but the night that he died he rode with two others to a party, and someone brought up the shooting accident, and it really upset him to the point where he was crying and went outside. A message that we feel that Cody would leave is to recognize who you truly are inside, and let your words build each other up and not tear each other down. Cody did not like to hear gossip, nor did he like to speak unkindly about anyone. Cody was preceded in death by his grandfather, LaDee Chadwick. He is survived by his parents, Shawn and Larissa Dagley; brothers and sisters, Kenny (Kelly) Iott; Brian (Hattie) Iott; Jennifer (AJ) Clinger; Kelsi Dagley and Ashley Dagley. He is also survived by his grandparents Dick and Shirley Taylor and Marilyn and Curtis Dagley. Our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Loa Draney Call, age 78, of Bountiful, Utah passed away peacefully at home, on June 16, 2009, among family members who loved her. Loa was born in Auburn on March 19, 1931 to Samuel Ebeneezer and Elma Undrea Draney, the twelfth of sixteen children. She graduated from Star Valley High School in 1949, married Mayo White Call in the Idaho Falls Temple, May 31, 1950, later divorced. Loa earned her beautician’s license while living in Laramie, Wyoming. She loved the gospel and enjoyed each and every church calling, especially that of stake missionary. She also volunteered to teach Institute classes. For the past fifteen years, missionaries in her ward have received monthly poetry-filled inspiring letters from her. She loved attending the Bountiful temple. She loved dancing ballroom and the swing (jitterbug), writing poetry, and learning and lecturing about nutrition and health. As a nutritional counselor, she traveled the world, published three health recipe books, and helped hundreds overcome health problems through holistic, alternative medicine. She is survived by two sisters, Vada (Duane, deceased) Smith, Afton; Ruth (Robert, deceased) Litchfield, Brigham City; and two brothers, Dale (Sandi) Draney, Minnesota; and Evern (Cheryl) Draney, Ogden; as well as sisters-in-law, Joyce (Wendell, deceased) Draney, Tyghee Valley; Renee (Gleno, deceased) Draney, Auburn; and Ruth (Imri, deceased) Draney, Pocatello; her three children, Roger (LeeAnn) Call, Great Falls, Mont.; Lori (Kelly) Burningham, Bountiful, Utah. and Debra (Steven) Nickle, Alpine, Utah; also 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Her cheerful optimism and encouragement will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 26, 2009 at noon at the Mueller Park First Ward, 825 East 1800 South, Bountiful, Utah. Family and friends may call Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Mueller Park First Ward and at an additional viewing at the church on Friday morning from 11-11:45 a.m prior to the services. Interment will take place at Lakeview Memorial Estates. In lieu of flowers, donations to the LDS Church Missionary Fund would be appreciated. Memorial services for Dennis Schwab were held on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 1 p.m. in the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. Funeral services for Harold F. Bateman will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2009 in the Bedford LDS Church. The services will begin at noon. Viewings will take place on Friday, June 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne and again Saturday, June 27, from 10=11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

Friday Sports Stir: NBA Draft fallout edition

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:47:17 +0000

Just a handful of years ago, the Mountain West Conference saw the number one overall draft pick come from their ranks in Andrew Bogut and perhaps the nation's most underated player in Danny Granger. This year? The MWC might as well have been the MLB when it came to drafting impact basketball players. Even in the last couple of drafts, guys like Trent Plaisted and J.R. Giddens have been selected, so why didn't Lee Cummard, Luke Nevill or Brandon Ewing hear their names on Thursday night? In short? They aren't good enough. It's a tough pill to swallow if you've spent the last four years harboring loyalty for one of them, but the honest truth is, there is a big jump between being one of the best players in a league that can't win an NCAA tourney game and the NBA. If Nevill had been in the draft ten or fifteen years ago, he'd be a millionaire. Tall guys from foreign countries with limited athleticism could be champions. Don't remember Luc Longley? He's from Australia also, and New Mexico. But it's different league now. Nevill was abused by lottery pick Jordan Hill in their NCAA clash. Cummard wasn't much better and his body is less than ideal for the rigors of the NBA schedule. Ewing? Well, since I'm the guy who bleeds Brown & Gold, this is hard to say, but this wasn't the year for Brandon Ewing to be coming out. Ten of the 21 first picks were point guards and all of them either had a speed or size advantage on Brandon. I love Ewing and I hope he stays involved with UW when his playing days are over with. Do I want him to start for the Bulls? No. It's okay to be a stand out collegiate player and maybe play abroad. Considering the exchange rate from Euros to Dollars right now, it's a downright good idea. But the NBA dream is just that for this year's crop of MWC players. Let's break down some items from the NBA Draft and some reaction on specific picks. - The Clippers did the right thing. They drafted the best player in the list and then didn't get fancy. Even with that said, I still read pundits who had something negative to say that they have too many post players. It's the Clippers! They need too many of something don't they? They're coming up short on wins, fans, money and dignity. - I told you Memphis would do something silly like taking Hasheem Thabeet. I'll buy a six-pack of someone's favorite beverage if he ever makes an All-Star game. I'm not exactly saying Rubio was the guy, but they didn't even take advantage of their spot in the selection process by aquiring a player and moving down to number five or something. - Why do Knicks fans insist on acting that way when things don't go their way? It isn't like the team is relavant. When was their last title?, when Rocky lost to Apollo? - What is Minnesota doing? You thought they had problems when Stephon Marbury was their point guard. Five guards in the draft heard their names called by the Wolves, including two top point guards right in a row. The only way this is a good move is if the T-Wolves can claim somone like David Lee and picks from New York in exchange for Rubio. If they stand pat and try to play both guys in the backcourt, they are as incompetent as they seem. Then again, the franchise has never been out of the first round of the playoffs. Ever. - At least one player with Wyoming roots heard his name called. James Johnson, a state champion with Cheyenne East, was selected 16th overall to the Chicago Bulls. Good Cowboy fans might remember that Johnson had verballed to Wyoming his junior year but changed to Wade Forest after lighting it up at Nike camp. I was going to follow his progression anyway due to him being from Wyoming, but since he's on my team, there will definitely be a little more anxiety from my house to see him succeed. I think he's Tyrus Thomas' replacement. TT will likely be on another team next year. - Maynor to the Jazz was a great pick. In fact, the reason I didn't have him going to Utah in last week's mock was that I assumed he'd be gone. Unlike some of these other teams who drafted guards who drafted someone who averaged eight points per game in college (Jrue Holiday anyone?), Maynor is ready to step in and help this team now. The Jazz also made a qualifying offer to Milsap today, so he should be staying as well. If the Jazz management can get a team with cap room like Detroit to bite on a trade for Boozer, there will never be a better time. - Brandon Jennings, what are you thinking? You don't even show up to the Draft for fear of falling into the 20's and then expect a NEW YORK crowd to just love you when you show up late? This guy's bravado was stunning. I think his Italian experience was a good thing, but he's definitely not too humble. - Nice bow tie James Harden. Seriously. - Chicago passed on DeJuan Blair not once, but twice at 16 & 26. I hope it doesn't come back to bite them. - If the proposed trade of Amare Stoudemire to Golden State actually happens, why would you do that? Trade your guy within the conference? Steve Kerr is obviously trying to get his name mentioned in the same breath as Elgin Baylor, Kevin McHale and Isaiah Thomas, and not in a good way. - Am I the only one who's really tired of Stuart Scott? How about not creating a stupid conversation all night and asking someone like John Saunders to do it. - If the Magic lose out on Turkoglu, the addition of Vince Carter isn't enough. Hedo was their best clutch option down the stretch. Big Winners of the Draft: San Antonio. I'm not even saying that Blair will last, but in the late 30's, he's well worth the risk. It's not like the Spurs have a history of whiffing on the draft either. Adding Jefferson and Blair together could be huge this next season. Big Losers: Memphis. Thabeet barely averaged a double-double in college at 7'3". Blair for example, who measures closer to 6'6" than 6' 8", dominated him. Twice. No extra picks, no impact on offense and again no playoffs and little hope for the Grizz.

This Week in Star Valley: June 25-July 2

newsrelease — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:15:13 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been publishing weekly for well over 100 consecutive years. Take a look back at what made the pages of the Independent 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Ad: Astro Turf for steps, porches, decks. Install indoor-outdoor carpet while the weather is warm. Good selection, good prices, expert installation. Village Furniture and Appliance. Ad: B-G's Alpine Merc. Diesel, Gas, Lettuce 4 for $1.00; watermelons, $.15/lb.; large avocados, $.25 ea.; garden fresh corn, 4 ears $1.00. One free watermelon with $10.00 purchase. 50-years ago: Ad: 540 KC KBRV, on every Star Valley radio dial. Spreading a Blanket of Music over the Great Star Valley. Radio Log: 6 a.m. Sign on–News every hour on the hour, headlines on the half hour; 7:05 a.m. Hymn of the Day; 7:00-7:30 Western Time; 7:30 Trading Post; 11:00 Back to the Bible; 12:30 Regional News; 1:05 Ogden Farm Market Report; 2:00-3:00 Western Time; 4:15-4:30 Fish and Game Report (Friday Only); 4:30 Social Calendar; 5:30 to Sign off, Dinner music. BYU Devotional Sunday Mornings at 8:30 a.m. Ad: At Robert's Market, bananas, no. 1 in South American, $.17/lb.; liquid Joy king size, $.80; fresh California corn, $.49/dozen; jello, 4 pkg./$.35; Tip Top Lemonade, 6 cans/$.55. 75-years ago: The Fourth of July is the day, and the place is Etna. Be there at 10:30 a.m. and the boys who wore the khaki uniforms in 17 and 18 will be there to help you commemorate the birth of the good old U.S.A. It being the 158th anniversary of the day our fore fathers, breathing the breath of freedom and independence, declared to all the world they would keep life, liberty and the happiness for themselves and their posterity according to the dictates of their own conscience . . . . Merilyn, infant daughter of Mr. an Mrs. Roney Barrus died June 23, from whooping cough and pneumonia. The twenty third day of the month was conspicuous in her life. She was born April 23, contracted whooping cough May 23, and died June 23. 100-years ago: Celebrate the 4th of July at Afton on Monday July 5th. Grand program. FREE LUNCH. Children's Sports. Children's Dance. BRASS BAND ALL DAY. Athletic Sports. Foot Racing. Horse Racing. Baseball, Afton vs. Fairview. Basketball, Afton vs. Fairview. Grand Ball at night. EVERYBODY INVITED. Program of Celebration of 4th of July at Fairview. We Celebrate Saturday July 5th.

Lincoln County Emergency personnel respond to boating accident

dandockstader — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:51:05 +0000

A weekend boating accident has claimed the life of an Idaho man. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Arthur Craig McCuistion, age 50 from Rexburg, was pronounced dead at St. John’s Hospital in Jackson on Saturday. He was one of four people that had been retrieved from the Snake River above Alpine after their boat overturned. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. CPR was administered and the individual was transported to the Jackson hospital, but was not revived. According to the Sheriff’s Office, McCuistion was floating the river with a Boy Scout group. He was reported to be wearing a life vest at the time of the accident, but witnesses told law enforcement authorities that he was under the water for three to four minutes before he was pulled from the river. The accident occurred by Wolf Creek in an area on the Snake River known as “Three Ordeal.” Lincoln County Coroner Mike Richins ruled the death as drowning.

Independent Obituaries: July 2, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:49:14 +0000

The following are obituaries that appeared in the July 2, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Harold F Bateman, 78, of Bedford, died June 18, 2009, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center of complications from a tractor accident. He was born May 25, 1931, in Afton, to Frank H. and Anna Barbara Neuenschwander Bateman. He grew up on the family farm in Bedford. Harold graduated from Star Valley High School, where for his senior year he was elected the senior class president. He attended Brigham Young University and Ricks College. Harold married his high school sweetheart, Eva LaRue Michaelson, on Sept. 27, 1951, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Harold joined the Air Force and served during the Korean War as an air traffic controller. This is where he began his love of flying. Other interests included riding motor bikes and snow machines and taking pictures. But his highest priorities were his family and being of service. When he returned from the military he worked on the family farm in Bedford, milking cows and raising beef cattle and sheep. In later years, during the winter months, he was the alternate driver of the Senior Citizens Bus. More recently, he delivered Senior Citizens lunches during the Winter. Harold worked at Star Valley Ranch RV Resort for 20 seasons, assisting with the care of one of their golf courses. He has also served on the Star Valley Hospital Board and on the Bedford Water Board. Harold was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, including Bishop and Stake High Councilor. He and Eva served a six-month Mission to Tennessee-Nashville and served as temple workers in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple for 22 years. Harold is survived by his wife, Eva; his children, Harlan J. Bateman of Bedford; Hal Dean (Jenny Cox) Bateman of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Sheryl Ann (David) Hair of Millville, Utah; Therold M. (Stacie Sellers) Bateman of Rexburg, Idaho; and Sharan (Alan) Motzkus of Bedford; sisters, Mary Lou (Reid) Wilding of Sugar City, Idaho; and Lana Hepworth of Idaho Falls, Idaho; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents and grandchildren Anna Kay Bateman and Clay Bateman. Funeral Services were held June 27 at the Bedford LDS Church. Internment was in the Bedford Cemetery. James Roland McDonnel III peacefully passed from this world into the loving arms of his Father and all who had gone before him on Monday June 22, 2009. James passed away due to complications of severe head trauma sustained in a fall brought on by his tragic and ongoing battle with depression and alcoholism. Some of the strongest spirits have the biggest battles to fight during their sojourn in this life. James was born in Pasadena, Calif., to James Roland McDonnel Jr. and Phyllis Mary Summers McDonnel on April 19, 1953; the third child of four. He frequently spoke of his wonderful childhood full of fond memories and fun days, especially at the beach. In his teenage years he loved surfing, played the saxophone in his high school marching band, and became an Eagle Scout. James served an LDS mission to the Netherlands. He graduated from BYU and later the U of U with a degree in Pharmacy. He had a love of the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking, and was an avid scouter. James loved helping others and was endlessly selfless with his time, energy, and talents. He also served in various church callings. He married Jeannine Cockerill in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 17, 1976. He is survived by his wife; three children, J.R. (Marin); Whitney; and Archie; his mother; and siblings, Carol (Roger) Manning; Margaret (Dean) Taylor; and Paul (Lori) McDonnel; and a new grandson, Collin. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents. Funeral services were held Friday June 26, 2009. In lieu of flowers please donate to The Boy Scouts of America, 525 S. Foothill Blvd, SLC, Utah 84113 in memory of James.

Swine Flu confirmed in Star Valley

sarahhale — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:46:05 +0000

The first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu, has occurred in Star Valley. The case occurred in Alpine. According to Ruthanne Taylor, Doctor of Nursing and Certified Family Nurse Practictioner who works at the Alpine Clinic, four suspected cases of the H1N1 virus are awaiting confirmation. “The interesting thing is that these cases are all locals, not tourists, and this is our big tourist season,” said Taylor. Taylor emphasized that the best thing local people can do to prevent the disease from spreading is stay home if they have a fever and cough and contact their local healthcare provider. As of Friday, June 26, the Wyoming Department of Health has confirmed swine flu cases in eight counties. Of the lab-confirmed infections, 50 are from Laramie County, eight are from Sweetwater County, six are from Lincoln County, there are two each in Fremont, Natrona and Uinta counties, and there is one each in Campbell and Johnson counties. “Counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory,” said Kim Deti of the Wyoming Department of Health. “The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain.” According to the Wyoming Department of Health, flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Steps recommended by the Wyoming Health Department to help prevent the spread of illness include: • Staying home from work, school or travel while ill with flu-like symptoms; • Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel; • Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can; • Avoiding contact with ill persons. • Persons at high risk for complications from influenza (such as persons 65 years or older, children younger than five years, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions) should consider avoiding crowded or large gatherings if ill persons may be present.

McClure sentenced to no less than three years

newsrelease — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:59:19 +0000

Robert Julian McClure, Jr., was sentenced on Thursday, June 25, 2009 in the Third Judicial District Court. According to court documents, McClure will serve “not less than three years, nor more than seven years.” McClure will be incarcerated in the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins. In addition to his time in prison, McClure is required to pay $150 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund and register with the state as a sex offender. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, a 12 person Lincoln County Jury found McClure guilty of one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. The jury also acquitted McClure of a second count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. According to County Attorney Eric Phillips, the 15 year old victim in the case alleged two separate incidents in which she was sexually abused. The first incident allegedly occurred in October 2008. The second incident allegedly occurred on Jan. 8, 2009, Phillips said. According to Phillips, shortly after the January incident, the victim reported the crime to a friend and later to authorities. “She was examined by medical personnel and the examining physician testified at trial,” said Phillips. According to Phillips, the reported crime and subsequent medical exam provided vital information in the case.

Snake River claims life of Scout leader from Idaho

newsrelease — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:52:30 +0000

Friday afternoon, June 26, 2009 the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as well as medical personnel from Star Valley were dispatched to the Snake River area. A report had come in regarding an overturned raft. According to information provided by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, the call for service reported that four individuals had been recovered from the water. However, one, 50-year-old male was not breathing. “Individuals on the scene started CPR and medical units transported the male to St. John’s Hospital in Jackson,” the Sheriff’s Report of the incident stated. The man was identified as Arthur Craig McCuistion of Rexburg. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to the Sheriff’s Report, McCuistion was with a Boy Scout group “on a private float trip down the Snake River” when the rafting accident occurred. It was reported that McCuistion had been wearing a life vest at the time of the incident. The report also indicated that the scout leader had been “under the water for three to four minutes before being recovered.” The raft was overturned in the “three ordeal” area of the Snake River, near Wolf Creek. McCuistion’s death was ruled as drowning by Lincoln County Coroner Mike Richins.

This Week in Star Valley: July 2-9

newsrelease — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:14:02 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been producing a weekly newspaper for well over 100 years. Take a look at what made the headlines 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Ad: Loretta's Clip 'n Snip, located at Grant’s place. Children's Hair Cuts (7 and under) half price, reg $5.00 now $2.50. Ad: Brides to be come in an see our largest selection of invitation, thank you napkins, bridal books accessories, at Afton Thrifty Print. A slow pitch, double elimination softball tournament will be sponsored by the Smoot Recreation Park Committee at the Smoot ball diamond . . . there will be a $100 entry fee for the eight team tournament with a purse of $200 to the first place team and $150 to the second place team. 50-years ago: Smoot news: It is reported that Low Gardner has purchased the Arthur Schwab ranch in Forest Dell. Arden (Budd) Lancaster has purchased the Henry Redford property. Grover news: Mrs. Hilda Stitt is visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anderson. They all motored to Logan and back last week, where they visited with Mr. and Mrs. Roice Anderson and family. Auburn news: Mr. and Mrs. Les Hillyard have received word that their son, Elder Jim Hillyard, has been released from his mission and is in New Zealand, on his way to Hawaii, from where he will fly on home. 75-years ago: Prisoners Captured after Exciting three day hunt–Prisoners got sheriff in cell room under ruse, attacked him with gun, aided by prisoner Joe Welch. He made desperate resistance, two escaped, taking sheriff's car . . . Immediately Sheriff Oakley knocked the gun hand away and floored Morris. About that time the other three jumped on him and had laid him out, when Welch got up and came to his assistance. In the melee that followed Paul Morris and Raymond Shelton got out of the cell room and made for the back door, jumping into the sheriff's new Buick and made their getaway . . . . Commencing lst Monday the Valley mail has been transferred from Montpelier to Cokeville and in the future will come form Cokeville. The new contractor, Willard Cranney, made his first trip last Monday. He arrived in Afton with the mail about 2:00 p.m. on the first trip. The other new contractors, Russell Sessions and Ed Sessions started to haul the mail to Etna and Fairview, respectively. 100-years ago: Fairview news: Mrs. Mary Dewey came in Tuesday on the mail to visit her daughters Mrs. C. F. Campbell and Mrs. O. R. Child. She has just spent three weeks with her son John in Emmett. She reports that place beautiful and thriving and says it is indeed a land of roses and strawberries this time of the year. After spending a night in jail, Adelbert Welch was brought before Justice Wilde, on the charge of shooting within the town limits, and discharged with a good talking to. Ad: We are now taking orders for the White Bronze Monuments. Particular work, correct engraving. T.L. VanNoy & Son, Thayne.

Commuter Airplane service in the valley

newsrelease — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:49:26 +0000

Trent Peterson sits down in the cockpit of his aircraft and talks about the conveniences of getting to an important meeting via the sky. Click below for a video of this new Star Valley business.

Public meetings on Yellowstone road projects scheduled

newsrelease — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:38:35 +0000

A series of public meetings has been scheduled to update area residents with information on travel delays and road closures due to construction taking place in Yellowstone National Park this summer. Visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays, as well as nightly closures from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., on the park’s Grand Loop Road between Madison and Norris through Gibbon Canyon through August 16. Beginning August 17, the road through Gibbon Canyon will be completely closed to all travel for the rest of the season due to bridge work. The road will reopen to snowmobile and snowcoach travel in December. Park staff will provide details and answer questions about this and other road projects at a series of public meetings scheduled in area communities during July. Cooke City: Thursday, July 9 at 7:00 p.m., at the Fire Hall. Jackson: Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m., at the Jackson Hole Middle School at 1230 S. Park Loop Road. West Yellowstone: Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m., in the Community Room of the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center at 30 Yellowstone Avenue. Bozeman: Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room of the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Region 3 offices at 1400 South 19th Avenue. Gardiner: Monday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m., in the conference room of the Yellowstone Association headquarters on West Park Street near the Roosevelt Arch. Billings: Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m., at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Region 5 offices at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive. Red Lodge: Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m., at the Elks Lodge at 114 N. Broadway Avenue. Cody: Thursday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1338 Rumsey Avenue. Maps and additional details on park road construction projects are available at all visitor centers and online at http://www.nps.gov/yell. Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is always available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

Dana accepts National Spirit of Sport award in Chicago

dahlerickson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:20:10 +0000

In many ways, Frank and Barbara Dana epitomized the Star Valley and Wyoming wrestling parent. Wrestling tournaments are full of long drives and hot gyms, but they are also full of a special comradery among competitors, team mates and parents. What happened as the Danas drove home from the Ron Thon Memorial in Riverton one snowy day in February of 2008 caused a community and a state to mourn. Veterans of long snowy travel, the Danas through no fault of their own were struck by a semi-truck where Barbara was instantly killed. With Dakota still on the team bus behind the accident, it fell to coach Eddie Clark and his wife, Kristi to tell him of the tragedy and then drive him to Lander where Frank and Scott still were in critical condition. After the two were transferred to Salt Lake City, the bad news continued as Frank died due to his injuries as well. While son Scott still lie in a coma from the accident, Dakota did was few are able to do so soon after such an experience. He competed. His appearance at the Braves wrestling practice just a short time after the actual incident lifted a haze of sadness and doubt over the entire team and helped forge a chemistry and a bond that added to one of the finest teams in SVHS history. Over the past 18 months since the accident, Dana helped the Braves win the 4A West Regional Title, a 4A State Runner-Up title and became one of just a handful of SVHS athletes to have placed in the State Tournament all four years. Dana was singled out at the national level by the National Federation of High Schools. A film crew came to interview Dana and Clark and a video tribute was shown recently on June 30, in Chicago where Dakota was awarded the National Spirit of Sport award for all sports in the United States. As part of that ceremony, Scott accompanied Dakota to the Windy City much like he did throughout every single match this past year. It’s yet another national honor born from the wrestling program at Star Valley High. “I don’t know if everyone realized how big this is,” stated Clark. “This is the only award of it’s type given in the entire country for all the sports. There isn’t one for each sport; this is it.” Clark admits that emotions have been mixed for quite some time. “Granted, this is a hard story to be excited about, but it’s great to be happy for Dakota, who’s succeeded despite the odds being stacked against him,” he said. “I think that’s the greatest part of it. I think that they [Frank and Barbara] have got to be happy for Dakota and that he’s become a young man that Star Valley can be proud of. He didn’t give in. He kept doing the things that he needed to do, not just in wrestling but in life. I think that’s just as important as anything else. He’s become the person that Frank and Barbara would have wanted him to become.” In a previous interview with the Independent, Dakota discussed the journey over the past year. “Wrestling has helped me through,” he said. “It’s something that I love that I got to share with my parents and I get to keep doing it. It’s a chance to focus on something else as well.” Not coincidentally, the man who has spent the past several years as his coach, is also one who’s helped him through the last year. “Coach Clark has helped me out a lot,” he added “My team mates have been there for me too to help me out through everything. Cory and Scott were at every wrestling tournament this last year.” Clark was impressed by the size and scope of the award process. “It was quite a production,” he added. They put up the big screens and they have the people in charge of the state athletic associations from every state in the union. There was over 1,000 people at the banquet and people are there from all over the country. I’ve been to a lot of ceremonies and it was very well done and very formal and professional. Clark concluded that Dakota and his family deserve credit for their courage, but they were never alone. “The one thing that needs to come out of this that we need to honor Dakota’s parents,” he concluded. “They need to take a lot of credit for the character that they’ve instilled in him. The young man that they raised; having the strength to do this is a testament to them. They’re the heroes in all of this. He wouldn’t be the kid he is without Barb and Frank. That’s what I’ll remember about this. The best reflection of a kid is how they act when no one is watching and we’ve had a chance to see that.” Look for this feature story in the July 9, 2009 edition of the Independent. The video was produced by Allegro Media for the National Federation of High Schools.

Construction underway by Palisades Reservoir

dandockstader — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:09:52 +0000

Construction to shore up a shoulder of U.S. 26 about seven miles east of the Palisades Dam started this week, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. Crews will install retaining walls to buttress the eastbound shoulder, which is located a little over 2 miles east of the Blowout Campground. Runoff from the highway eroded the shoulder last year. Crews will install a 10-foot-tall retaining wall along 40 feet of the slope below the highway, then a 6-foot-tall retaining wall along 100 feet just below the shoulder. Retaining walls will be constructed of heavy wire mesh to contain rock fill. Construction of the lower wall is expected to take two weeks, with trucks and other construction equipment entering and exiting U.S. 26 in the construction area. Motorists should watch for equipment. After the first retaining wall is complete, crews will build the second wall close to the road surface. During its construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane, the speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph and commercial vehicles will be restricted to a width of 12 feet. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Drivers should proceed with care. Work hours on the project are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work is scheduled to be finished on Friday, Aug. 7. For construction information on state highways, visit 511.idaho.gov, or dial 5-1-1 from phones within Idaho. Outside of Idaho, dial toll-free (888) 432-7623. Reports are updated as conditions change.

Star Valley Medical Center earns recognition

newsrelease — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:39:38 +0000

The Respiratory Care Department at Star Valley Medical Center has earned the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition Award. The honor came from the American Association of Respiratory Care. Tanya Merritt, Star Valley Medical Center spokesman, pointed out that 700 hospitals or only 15 percent of the hospitals in the United States qualified for and received the award. To receive the honor a hospital must show that all respiratory therapists in a department are licensed, credentialed and receive continuing education, are available 24 hours a day, and the department must have a medical director assigned to respiratory services. The Respiratory Therapy Department at Star Valley Medical Center includes Director Michael Ford, along with respiratory therapists Mike Hepworth and Colette Jensen.

Independent Obituaries: July 9, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:46:34 +0000

In a highly unusual circumstance, no obituaries were submitted for the July 9, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. However, a single death notice was made printed. Memorial services for Donald Lee Hartman were held on Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 5 p.m. in the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. Military honors were performed at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the local American Legion or VFW Post 4797.

Injured climber evacuated by helicopter

newsrelease — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:13:48 +0000

An injured climber was evacuated by helicopter from Teewinot Mountain on Saturday afternoon, July 11, in Grand Teton National Park. Sam Russell, 22, of Jackson, Wyoming sustained serious injuries when he slipped on snow and tumbled about 200 feet before landing on a break between two snow patches, while attempting to descend the North West Couloir (elevation 12,000 ft). He was wearing crampons and carrying an ice axe at the time, but was unable to perform a self arrest. Russell’s climbing party had successfully reached the summit of Teewinot and was on their way down when the accident occurred; all of the climbers had ice axes and crampons, but none were wearing helmets. The group decided to make their decent via the South West Couloir but missed their intended route and ended up on the more technical North West Couloir. Grand Teton National Park rangers were notified of the accident at around 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, when Russell’s companions placed a call for help from a cell phone. Rangers immediately organized a rescue operation and requested the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter for support in the rescue operation. The helicopter flew to Lupine Meadows, picked up several rangers, and performed an aerial reconnaissance flight. Rangers were able to remain in contact via cell phone with a member of Russell’s climbing party, which was helpful in pinpointing his location on the mountain. A suitable helicopter landing zone near the accident site allowed rangers to arrive on scene just before 2 p.m. Rangers provided Russell with emergency medical care before placing him into a rescue litter for aerial evacuation. He was then flown via the short-haul method at 2:30 p.m.—with a ranger accompanying him below the helicopter—directly to the Jenny Lake rescue cache located on the valley floor. A park ambulance transported Russell to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment of his injuries. Park rangers also evacuated Russell’s companions via helicopter after helping them descend to the high west shoulder of Teewinot Mountain. Rangers remind climbers that dangerous and variable snow conditions persist above 9,000 feet. Backcountry users are advised to stop in or call a visitor center or ranger station on the day of travel to obtain the most current trail, route and snow conditions. Climbers should also note that most climbing accidents involve slips on snow, and most occur on the descent at the end of a long day. This marks the first major mountain rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this summer.

Wyoming Swine Flu Case Count Passes 100

newsrelease — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:57:23 +0000

The number of laboratory-confirmed swine flu (novel H1N1) virus identified in Wyoming residents to date has risen to 103, with a significant number of those in Lincoln County. Of the lab-confirmed cases, 57 are from Laramie County, 17 are from Sweetwater County, and 13 are from Lincoln County. There are also three each from Natrona and Uinta counties, two each from Albany and Fremont counties, and one each from Campbell and Johnson counties. Three related hospitalizations have been reported. Counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory or another state lab. The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Steps recommended to help prevent the spread of illness include: · Staying home from work, school or travel while ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and body aches. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. · Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. · Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. · Avoiding contact with ill persons. · Persons at high risk for complications from influenza (such as persons 65 years or older, children younger than five years, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions) should consider avoiding crowded or large gatherings if ill persons may be present. More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

This Week in Star Valley: July 9-16

newsrelease — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:30:54 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has not missed an edition in well over 100 years. Take a look at what made the headlines 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Ad: The Job Stinks! But our business is picking up. Commercial or Residential Valley Sanitation. Ad: See Gerald Thomas, your new Boise Homes representative in the Star Valley Area presenting the exciting home for the 80's! Come in Today. Friday the 13 is the last filing date for town mayor and councilmen. In order to qualify, a candidate must live within the city limits. Cokeville to celebrate Pioneer Day–L. Tom Perry to be Grand Marshall. 50-years ago: (photo) Independence day was fittingly observed in Star Valley with a patriotic program at the city park in Afton, followed by a parade, both sponsored by the VFW. A CallAir Agricultural Airplane has a little difficulty getting by the center support post of the elk horn arch. Ad: Ironrite automatic ironer. Ask for a free home demonstration today! Let us prove to you–in your own home on your own laundry–that you can iron everything form curtains to shirts in about half the time on an Ironite. Call us today for a free home demonstration at no cost or obligation to you–and find out what a difference an Ironrite can make in your life. Ken's Furniture & Appliance. 75-years ago: The Afton Parent-Teachers Association are happy to announce that kindergarten will begin Monday, July 16, in the Seminary class room (building North of the high school.) Five days a week from nine to twelve o’clock Mrs. Elmina Papworth will be the teacher. The kindergartens field of usefulness is so well known that no description need be given here. We earnestly ask the mothers of children 4 to 6 years of age to have them attend the five week kindergarten. The fee will be seventy five cents a week for each child, or less according to the number of children enrolled. 100-years ago: Etna news: We had a very nice 4th of July celebration. The grove was an ideal place for program and picnic, and near it was a good place for races and other sports. Many said it was the best 4th they had ever had. (more Etna news:) We remember reading about the bear at Smoot and the wonderful elk at Thayne, but Etna is not far behind. We have a sitting Tom cat. He has not yet proven himself a good mother to little chickens but he seems to be a faithful sitter. He has chosen a nest in the straw-stack and carefully warms the eggs the friendly hens lay. Smoot news: We celebrated the 4th on Saturday the 3rd, and to say the least, we had a glorious day, and much credit is due all the committees which put forth every effort to make the day a success. Special prize is due the refreshment committee for everything that is good was there in abundance, and which was free to everyone present.

Independent Obituaries: July 16, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:44:31 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the July 16, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Three weeks before her 94th birthday, Florize Edwards Hepworth passed away on Monday, July 13, in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by her family. Florize was born Aug. 2, 1915 in Freedom. She was the third of seven children born to John James and Luannie Sophia Edwards. She married Fay Edmund Hepworth on Sept. 26, 1935 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. From their eternal union came eleven children: Marva Hepworth of Kearns, Utah; Waldo-deceased (Gaye Lynn) Hepworth of Grover; MIlan Hepworth deceased; Arnola-deceased (David) Borman of Roswell, N.M.; Janet (MIke) Morris of Davis, Calif.; Wilma (Bart) Thomas of West Valley City, Utah; Kendall (Jennifer) Hepworth of Cedar City, Utah; Valerie Hepworth of Kearns, Utah; Rosanna (Steve) Crain of Alpine, Utah; Zina Larsen of Orem, Utah; and RaChel (Joel) Pont of Sandy, Utah. Florize was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Fay; as well as three of her children and two grandchildren. She is survived by eight children, 49 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. Florize, a woman of faith, was a dedicated and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served tirelessly in the Sunday School, Primary and Relief Society. She loved others unconditionally. Following the death of her husband, she served two temple missions to the Idaho Falls Temple, and two family history missions. This legacy of service was a great example to her entire family. Six of her children and twenty-five of her grandchildren have served as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in nations all around the world. She also highly valued education. All of her children attended college. She was amazingly talented in arts and crafts and delighted her family and friends over the years with countless handmade gifts. She crocheted, knitted, tatted and worked with plastic canvas. She loved to travel and had opportunities to travel to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Nauvoo. Services to be held on Saturday, July 18 at 11 a.m. in the Meadows Ward Chapel. Viewings will take place on July 17 from 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday at 10 a.m., both at the Meadows Ward church. Geneva Bragg Burton Avrett was born Dec. 28, 1919 in Bryant, Arkansas to Lida Tull Bragg and Albert Ross Bragg. Geneva went to be with our Lord on July 10, 2009. After living in Arkansas and Texas most of her life, she first moved to Alpine in 1988 and later to Afton, where she lived for many years. For the last six years she lived in the Star Valley Care Center in Afton. She had been widowed and was preceded in death by husbands Milton Burton and Al Avrett. Also gone before her were her parents and nine brothers and sisters. Geneva was a loving mother and grandmother. Her passing will leave an empty place in our hearts. She is survived by two children, Mike Burton of Bedford; and Carolyn Burton Townsend of Salado, Texas; three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren, of Texas and Oklahoma Geneva took great pride in being a good wife and mother. Her skills as a fine seamstress were unsurpassed. She could look at a dress in a store window and recreate it at home without a pattern. She was the seamstress for a dance studio and made costumes for the dancers for several years. Geneva had the wonderful gift of being able to make something lovely out of practically nothing. She was a Christian and a member of the Baptist Church in Texas where for many years she sang in choirs and with her musical family. A memorial service will be held at a later date. She will be greatly missed by family and friends, but we are happy that her struggle is over. She has been reunited with our Lord and her loving family that have gone before her. Roderick Roskie was born Dec. 3, 1932 in Wheatland, Wyoming. He passed away Saturday, July 12, 2009 in Afton. Rod graduated from high school in Wheatland. He married Darlene Parker in 1953 and they moved to a ranch in Jelm, Wyoming, just outside of Laramie. After four years they moved to Jackson where he owned and operated Jackson Front End Tune-Up Shop for about 16 years. They then moved to Afton, where they spent the last 35 years. Rod traveled back and forth to Kemmerer, where he worked at Utah Power Company for 20 years. He retired in 1997. Rod loved working on his ranch, especially working with horses and cattle. His favorite pass time was to ride his horses. He was a hard worker and good provider for his family. He also enjoyed going hunting and fishing. Rod is survived by his wife of 56-years, Darlene. He is also survived by their five children, Ron (Brenda) Roskie, Lyman; Shane (Colette) Roskie, Parker, Colo.; Carol Ann Roskie of Lander; Peggy Kennington of Sandra Park, N.M.; and Dianne (Tony) Aquino of Ocean View, Hawaii. Rod also leaves 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, three sisters, Allene (Raymond) Krauss; Barbara Shrang; and Eleanor Byird; as well as several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Andrew and Margaret Roskie of Wheatland and by his daughter, Linda Lou Roskie. Funeral services for Roderick A. Roskie will be held on Saturday, July 18 at 2 p.m. in the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. Viewings will take place on Friday, July 17 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30-1:45 p.m. prior to the serves at the funeral home. Stacey Lynn Lambert Wolfley, “The Thrifty Chick”, loving wife, devoted mother, sister, daughter, and loyal friend suffered a stroke on July 13, 2009, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Stacey passed away with her husband by her side. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 4, 1978, to Kenneth Lynn Lambert and Susan Annette Judy. She spent her childhood in West Jordan. She married her eternal companion Mitchell Duncan Wolfley on May 20, 2005 in the Jordan River LDS Temple. Together they have four beautiful children; Kayley Nicole (8), Emma Sue (3), Bridger Wan (2) and Greyson Lynn (14 days). Stacey was a proud, devoted and busy mother. She dedicated her life to teaching her children through example; love, respect, responsibility, kindness, determination and a strong testimony in their Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was thankful for all of the blessings in her life, even the smallest ones. She was dedicated to preserving her family history for her children. She was an artist of language and her daily updates on her family blog will be missed by her family and friends. She had a passion for photography and saw the beauty in everything and everyone. Stacey was always willing to lend a helping hand whether it is by sharing the fruits of her labor or by patiently teaching others to master a skill. She had many devoted fans that visited her “The Thrifty Chick” blog. Her site was dedicated to inspiring creativity on a budget centered on time spent as a family. She “made cheap look good.” The Lord must have needed a skilled genealogist (scrapbooker) in heaven and only the most skilled would do. She was a scrapbooking master and leaves behind a visual record of the precious time her family spent together. Stacey is survived by her husband, children and parents; her siblings: Jeremy (Karlie) Lambert, Jana (Jeremy) Mitchell, Cami (Tyler) Morrill, Carrie Lambert, Holly (David) McNichols, Lindsay Lambert, Melissa Lambert, Amy Lambert, Kristin Lambert; her Wolfley family: Wan and Susan Wolfley, Christopher (Rachael) Wolfley, Jennifer (Darrin) Collard, Kenneth (Erin) Wolfley, Rebecca Wolfley, Sandi Wolfley, 10 nieces and 8 nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2009 at the Hyrum 4th Ward Chapel, 245 Apple Drive. West Jordan friends and family may call Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mountain Shadows Ward, 7925 South 2700 West, West Jordan. Cache Valley friends and family may call Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan and Friday at the church in Hyrum from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Paradise Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com. Charles Darwin Pead was born on Nov. 16, 1946 in Afton to Delbert and Myrtle Pead. He passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at the age of 62, in Salt Lake City. Funeral services took place on Monday, July 13, 2009 in West Valley City, Utah. Burial was in the Valley View Memorial Park. Charles married Peggy Ward and together they a daughter, Teresa. They also have three grandchildren. Charles was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served an LDS mission to Switzerland. He is survived by his wife; his daughter and grandchildren; as well as his siblings, Edith Schroder of Fairview and Gene Pead of Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services for Wilda Allred Swenson will be held on Friday, July 17, 2009 at noon in the Afton LDS Tabernacle. Viewings will take place on Thursday, July 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and and again Friday, July 16 at 10 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

Scales now in use at Thayne Landfill

dahlerickson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:54:37 +0000

Any recent trip to the county landfill has been met with the new scales that were completed and began weighing the valley’s garbage on July 1. For many months, the public has also braced for possible rate increases when disposing of trash but Ryan Lyman wants to reassure the community that the rates for the vast majority of the public have not changed. “People will notice a difference in how we’re asking them to approach the min,” stated the landfill supervisor. “It’s now one-way traffic and everybody will stop at the red light as they enter and leave the facility. We like to think that we got the valley’s first traffic light.” Lyman went on to say that possible rate increases will be determined by the county commissioners and that they will not revisit the issue until July of 2010. Until that time, the weighing of the valley’s refuse brings the facility in line with Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations. In addition, it also will allow the facility to gauge just how much garbage Star Valley residents produce. “Everybody is asking what the rates are,” added Lyman. “They’re the same as they’ve been. The costs are incurred when you bring in a large load such as a large horse trailer or a dump truck. Even then, the most you might be paying is ten dollars. For the large majority of folks, there will be no charge. We are weighing things right now but we aren’t charging by weight. We do want people to get used to the idea so people can get an idea of how much garbage they make. Up until now, they really haven’t had any idea.” Lyman went on to say that the ability to put a number on just how much trash the average valley resident brings in will help them be more precise in long-range plans. Your costs in the future? It will be up to elected officials. “Whether or not the costs go up based on weight is one hundred percent up to the commissioners,” concluded Lyman. “They voted not to change it this year.” Lyman stressed that many questions can be answered by visiting the county’s website at www.lcwy.org and clicking on the landfill link. The landfill can also be reached at 883-4666. The hours for the Lincoln County facility near Thayne is from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The facility is closed on holidays as well as the day before Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas.

Man near Cody fights off mountain lion with chainsaw

newsrelease — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:22:11 +0000

CODY, Wyoming — A man says he used his chainsaw to fight off a starving mountain lion that attacked him while he was camping in the Shoshone National Forest. Although Wyoming Game and Fish spokesmen say lion attacks on humans are rare this is the second high profile attack in Western Wyoming in the last nine months including this story of Star Valley hunters, Kellen and Adam Lancaster. In the incident outside of Cody, Ex-Marine Dustin Britton says he raised the chainsaw he had been using to cut brush and inflicted a gash on the 100-pound lion's shoulder. The animal retreated, leaving Britton with a small puncture wound on his forearm. Wildlife agents later shot the lion after it attacked a dog brought in to track the animal. The incident occurred Sunday evening at a campsite 27 miles west of Cody. Authorities say the lion was in poor physical condition.

Calamity Campground now open after slide

newsrelease — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:39:51 +0000

Idaho Falls, ID: Movement on the landslide near Calamity Campground (Snake River-Calamity Road #076) appears to have temporarily stabilized and the road conditions remains good for passenger cars, pick-up trucks and trailers. The Calamity Campground and boat launch are open. Due to the size and complexity of the Calamity Landslide, the Forest Service had requested and received a review from the Federal Highway Administration as well as Forest Service specialists. Earlier plans for installation of electronic monitoring equipment at the site have been eliminated. The equipment considered does not provide an all encompassing coverage of the slide area and can be inconsistent in providing public warning depending on location of movement within the slide. Recommendations from the Federal Highway Administration include requiring road users to stop before entering the slide area and visually verifying road condition from outside the slide area. Signs will be manufactured and installed before significant draw down of the reservoir occurs later this summer. The Forest Service and Bonneville County will continue to provide monitoring and maintenance as conditions require.

Miller to serve no less than three years in felony robbery

sarahhale — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:43:05 +0000

Monday, July 6, 2009 Paul Allen Miller plead guilty to felony robbery. He was sentenced to serve “not less than three years nor more than eight years” in the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Miller’s plea stemmed from a Nov. 8, 2008 incident where Miller allegedly beat and robbed a minor behind Star Valley High School. According to a police report of the incident, on the night of Nov. 8, the victim was dropped off behind the high school building to pick up his car. He started his vehicle and then stepped outside of the vehicle to scrape the ice from the windshield. “The minor victim was then reportedly approached by two males, one of whom was Miller, and was asked if he needed any help,” said County Attorney Eric Phillips. “The minor victim stated that he did not need any help and turned his back to the two males so he could finish scraping the window.” According to the police report, when the victim’s back was turned “away from Miller, Miller allegedly hit him in the side of the head. “The minor victim was then pushed against his car and shoved to the ground,” said Phillips. “The minor victim reported he tried to fight back but ‘covered up’ when Miller began to kick him. Miller allegedly took the minor victim’s wallet during the skirmish.” According to Phillips, during the police investigation, “numerous text messages were discovered where Miller admitted to having beat up a high school kid behind the school.”

Media picks TCU to win the Mountain West Conference

dahlerickson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:47:26 +0000

With a #18 pre-season ranking and perhaps the fastest defense in his coaching tenure, Horned Frog Head Coach, Gary Patterson, has a target on his back for the 2009 football campaign courtesy of the MWC media. As for the Cowboys? Wyoming fans won't like it. Members of the MWC media awarded TCU 15 first-place votes which added to a total of 207 overall points to claim the top spot in their pre-season prognostications. The Frogs went 11-2 a year ago, losing to Oklahoma and Utah and knocking off previously undefeated Boise State in the post-season. Right behind the purple reptiles are the BYU Cougars and their record-setting quarterback, Max Hall. The 24 media members contributing to the poll picked BYU second, with 190 points. Despite losing a large number to graduation, the mythical national champion Utah Utes garnered 178 points to claim third. The rest of the breakdown went as follows: Air Force, UNLV, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State and Wyoming. The Cowboys, who finished last in the nation in offensive efficiency are likely to take the ninth place prediction personally with new head coach Dave Christensen. In fact, the three new head coaches are picked to finish in the bottom three of the standings. Coach Christensen, who's Missouri Tigers were in the top-ten offenses nationally all eight seasons he served as their offensive coordinator, inherits eight returning starters from a defense that ranked 29th nationally despite a woeful offensive output. Wyoming opens their season on September 5, as they host the Weber State Wildcats before hosting Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns on September 12.

Independent Obituaries: July 23, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:58:46 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the July 23, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Wilda Viola Hokanson Allred Swenson passed away peacefully at the Star Valley Care Center in Afton on Sunday, July 12, 2009. Wilda was born Jan. 12, 1915 in Grover to Olaf and Emma Joanna Welchman Hokanson. She was the youngest of nine children. She learned the value of hard work at a very young age helping her parents work on the farm and in the home. She attended schools in Grover and Afton as well as Salt Lake City, Utah. She married Zenneth W. Allred, Nov. 6, 1933 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Seven children were born to them and raised on the farm south of Afton. The beautiful mountain drainage of Grey’s River was always special for her family and friends whether it be for fishing, hunting or just a drive. After Zenneth passed away on Oct. 31, 1963, Wilda finished her college degree and began teaching school, a job she dearly loved for nine years, and finished raising their family. She married Lewis Swenson on June 1, 1976. They loved to travel and visit their families and made several trips to Alaska. They served an LDS mission to the Missouri St. Louis Mission. Lewis passed away on April 27, 2001. Wilda was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Service in the church began when she was 17 years old as the Primary organist. Since then she has served in numerous ward and stake callings. She was a loving and compassionate person who found a friend in everyone she met. Her smile and laughter brought joy to her families and friends. Her beautiful quilts and ‘crazy quilts’ have found their way into many homes. She is survived by her children: Beth, Layton, Utah; Leron (Rosalyn) Afton; Carol (Grant) Kennington, Tollhouse, Calif.; Luann, (Ed) Enderle, Salcha; Alaska; Brad, Jake Everett Lee was born July 14, 1985. He passed away on July 17, 2009. Jake grew up range riding on the south end with his dad. He spent every summer out at "Cow Camp" with his family until he was 17 and brought along all his animals including his sheep, chickens, rabbits, and geese. Jake loved the outdoors and his animals. Jake was a loving, kind hearted person and was well liked. Jake graduated from Star Valley High School in 2003 and started work at the Dietary Department at the Hospital. His co-workers were his good friends. He later entered the CNA program and became a CNA at the Care Center and the residents loved him. Jake had plans to go to nursing school in the fall to become a Registered Nurse. Jake lived in Fairview with his partner Myles Shephard along with his animals. Jake was a happy person and always brought a smile to everyone’s face. Jake loved to landscape and create beautiful flower gardens. Jake loved his nieces and nephews and was a awesome uncle. He had a way with children and all children loved him. Anyone who knew him loved him and respected him. He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. Jake is survived by his parents, David and Linda Lee, Grover; his brother Phillip (Debra) Lee, Grover; his sister Mike (Melissa) Condon, Calif.; his sister Joshua (Stacy) Hutchinson, Osmond; and his sister Samantha Lee, Auburn. Jake is proceeded in death by his brother Robert Suter; brother Jeffrey Lee; and his brother Rocky Suter. Services for Jake will be Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Schwab Mortuary in Thayne at 2 p.m. with a viewing to be held prior to the service from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Funeral services for Audrey Lainhart will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Smoot Ward LDS Chapel. A viewing will take place from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

This Week in Star Valley: July 16-23

newsrelease — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:04:39 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been printing every week for over 108 years. Take a look back 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago and see what made the pages in the newspaper. 25-years ago: (photo) Ordained recently into the ministry was Pastor Wade E. Wadsworth, Afton. Shown here with other reverends of the Baptist Church: Rev. Clinton Powell, Rev. Don Hill, Clifford Anderson, Pastor Wadsworth, Pastor Amo Stephens, Rev. Jerry Hill and Rev. Wesley Powell. Ad: Just arrived sheet music and music books, at Afton Music & Sports. For Sale: House is only nine months old. One block off main street of Afton. Two city lots with large back yard nice neighborhood Three bedrooms attached one car garage with automatic garage door opener, full unfinished basement, asking $65,000. 50-years ago: (photo) Melvin Thurman is very much impressed with the vigorous growth on the Hairy Vetch he planted a year ago. Mel says he thinks this forage has great possibilities here in Star Valley. He noticed the following advantage: (1) It matures early; (2) Good production while alfalfa is getting a good start: (3) Low in seeding costs; (4) High in protein; (5) It is a cool weather plant ;(6) Drought resistant; (7) Very palatable. Pictured are Melvin and his boy, Nixon, holding Hairy Vetch (left [twice as big as]) alfalfa (right.). Ad: National Farm Safety Week. It's never too early to practice Safety. 75-years ago: Jensen Family will reunion in Str Valley next year–The Jensen family, descendants of Ollie A. Jensen, a pioneer of Mendon, Utah, in 1847, met at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, last Saturday in annual reunion, 115 descendants being present. Almie L. Jensen of Haton, eldest, born July 4, 1964, permanent president of the family organization, gave the genealogical report. W.J. Jensen of Fish Haven, second son , is vice president, and Susie Shumway of Fairview, Wyo., is secretary. It was voted to hold the 1935 reunion in Star Valley. 100-years ago: Ad: A man with $550 could not invest it to better advantage than by purchasing the Independent plant, which is for sale. Under good management it would pay for itself in a year, besides paying a fair wage. Ad: Buy your Soda Crackers in quantity and save money. A 5 lb. box for $.50 at Billings Bazaar. Wanted: A team to haul freight from Montpelier, apply Billings Bazaar. For Sale: House and Lot. Pleasantly situated on the South West Corner of the Public Square. House is a fine roomy structure, heated throughout with Hot-air system.

Wyoming unemployment rises to 5.7%

dahlerickson — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:12:38 +0000

Those unable to secure work rose from 5.0% in May to 5.7% in June according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Wyoming has in some ways been able to avoid some of the large scale layoffs and unemployment that has plagued much of the country. While stock prices and other indicators have increased in recent weeks, the numbers for June were not promising for the Cowboy State. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, Wyoming’s economy is still adversely affecting unemployment numbers which increased to 5.7 percent in June. The number is the highest unemployment has been in Wyoming since January of 1999 when it spiked to 6.1 percent. It is also well above numbers at 4.9 percent in January of this year. Wyoming's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to climb in June, hitting its highest level in 17 years. One important ingredient to Wyoming’s economy is energy prices and in particular natural gas. The cost of natural gas has been pointed out to residents as to where they may look to see indicators of the statewide economy. Prices of the abundant natural resource has plummeted from $5.15 per million btu’s in January of this year to $3.45 per million btu’s in June. According to the Energy Information Administration, prices in the Rocky Mountain Region has risen anywhere from six to 48 cents per million btu’s in July. Wyoming’s unemployment could shortly be due for it’s seasonal decrease. Last year unemployment numbers fell to just 2.7 percent in October of 2008 as workers were able to find employment in various fields. Comparatively, neighboring states such as Idaho and Utah are not faring quite as well. Utah reported 5.9 percent unemployment for June, while Idaho continues to see a huge spike up to 8.0 percent in the same month. Idaho’s unemployment a year ago was just 3.9 percent. Montana is also in a higher bracket with a June percentage of 6.4.

Park visitor gored by bison

newsrelease — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:55:36 +0000

A visitor from Southern California was gored by a bison in a Yellowstone National Park campground Wednesday morning. The 55-year-old man from Norco, California, was staying in Bridge Bay Campground. About 11:30 a.m., he was taking pictures of a bull bison that was wandering among the campsites. When the two got to within about ten feet of each other, the bison charged the camper. The man received a puncture wound to the upper left thigh. He was treated at the Lake Clinic, and then transported by ambulance to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening. The man’s name is not immediately available. This is the second time a park visitor has been injured by a bison this summer. A 50-year-old woman from Spain was tossed in the air by a bull bison in the Canyon area on June 24, while talking on a pay phone. She was treated for minor injuries. A bull bison can stand six feet tall, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and run at speeds up to 30 miles an hour. Bison can be dangerous at any time, but may be more so during the next several weeks which are the peak of their mating season.

University sets new record for Cowboy season-ticket sales

newsrelease — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:29:12 +0000

Laramie, Wyo. -- Thanks to a great response from Wyoming fans, the biggest game in University of Wyoming Football history will be a sellout when the Wyoming Cowboys host the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 12, 2009. Only 150 season tickets remain available for purchase to the 2009 Wyoming Football season. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are expected to be sold out by Aug. 1. Fans who want to assure themselves a seat in War Memorial Stadium to the Wyoming-Texas game are encouraged to contact the UW Athletics Ticket Office as soon as possible to purchase season tickets. There will likely not be any single-game tickets available for the Texas game. Single-game tickets for Wyoming’s other five home games versus BYU, TCU, Weber State, UNLV and New Mexico will go on sale Monday, July 27. Tickets may be purchased by going online at: WyomingAthletics.com or by calling (800) 922-9461. In addition to the excitement generated by the Texas game, the hiring of new Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen and a home schedule that includes two other teams, BYU and TCU, that joined Texas in the final BCS Top 25 rankings from last season has resulted in a new school record being set for season tickets sold at Wyoming. A total of 7,837 season tickets had been purchased for the 2009 Wyoming Football season as of Thursday, July 23. The previous Wyoming season-ticket record was 6,887 season tickets sold in 1999. “It has been exciting to see the response from our fans,” said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. “Soon after signing the deal with Texas, I know there was some concern that Texas fans would be buying up tickets to this game, but it has been Wyoming fans who have driven the growth in our season-ticket numbers this season.” Less than 2% of 2009 season tickets sold through the UW Athletics Ticket Office were purchased by fans who could be identified from the state of Texas. The University of Texas was provided 3,800 single-game tickets to sell to their fans per the original contract between the two schools. Additional bleachers are being added to the north and south endzones for the Texas game only to help meet the demand. Approximately 1,700 bleacher seats are being added to the south endzone, and approximately 840 bleacher seats are being added to the north endzone. Single-Game Tickets Due to the overwhelming demand, the UW Athletics Department will not have any single-game tickets for the Texas game available for sale at this time. The only single-game tickets that may go on sale the week of the Texas game would be if University of Wyoming students do not pick up all of the tickets allocated for them to that game. A total of 7,000 tickets are allocated for UW students to each Wyoming home game. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible UW Students. In order to pick up a ticket to the Texas game, eligible UW students will have to show their UW student I.D. at the UW Bookstore Buy Back Windows in the lower level of the bookstore, which is located in the Wyoming Student Union. Those Texas single-game student tickets will be available for pick up Mondays through Fridays from Monday, Aug. 24 to Friday, Sept. 4. Eligible UW students do not have to pay for tickets. No guest tickets will be available to students for the Texas game. Eligible UW students will have to bring that game ticket and their UW student I.D. to the game on Sept. 12 to gain admittance. If there are unused UW student tickets remaining after Friday, Sept. 4, then those tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Sept. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. at a cost of $55 per ticket. Ticket prices for the 2009 Wyoming Football Season 1. Season tickets $168.00 per ticket 2. Family Plan (Four Tickets) 100.00 per ticket 3. Cowboy 3-Pack 72.00 per ticket (For three home games, excluding the Texas game) 4. Single-Game Adult Tickets* 28.00 per ticket (For Adults) 5. Single-Game Youth Tickets* 14.00 per ticket (For Children ages 3-18) *There are not currently single-game tickets available for purchase by the general public to the Texas game. If they become available the week of the game, the price for the Texas single-game tickets would be $55. Tickets may be purchased by going online at: WyomingAthletics.com or by calling (800) 922-9461. 2009 University of Wyoming Football Schedule Date Opponent Time (M.T.) TV Sept. 5 WEBER STATE 1:00 p.m. No TV Sat., Sept. 12 TEXAS 1:30 p.m. VERSUS HD Sat., Sept. 19 at Colorado 1:30 p.m. TBA Sat., Sept. 26 UNLV* 1:00 p.m. No TV Sat., Oct. 3 at Florida Atlantic 2:00 p.m. TBA Sat., Oct. 10 NEW MEXICO* Noon The Mtn. Sat., Oct. 17 at Air Force* Noon The Mtn. Sat, Oct. 31 at Utah* 6:00 p.m. The Mtn. Sat., Nov. 7 BYU* Noon The Mtn. Sat., Nov. 14 at San Diego State* 8:00 p.m. The Mtn. HD Sat., Nov. 21 TCU* Noon The Mtn. HD Fri., Nov. 27 at Colorado State* Noon The Mtn. HD

Barrasso questions nominee on Yellowstone usage

newsrelease — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:46:23 +0000

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso slammed the Obama administration’s threat to limit snow machine access to Yellowstone National Park at a Senate Energy Committee Hearing on Tuesday. Senator Barrasso grilled Jon Jarvis, the nominee for director of the National Park Service. The nominee’s responses to Barrasso’s questions were not reassuring. Barrasso believes Jarvis represents the extreme policies of the Obama administration. An administration that will put environmental ideology before the public interest. Barrasso believes the philosophy of shutting the public out of our parks is deplorable and will be harmful to Wyoming and to parks nationwide. National Park Service wants to limit snowmobile and snow coach access into Yellowstone National Park. "The Obama Administration’s plan will roll back years of public input and court rulings. Visitors to Yellowstone will be robbed of reasonable and responsible access to the park," stated Barrasso. "The Administration plan will halve the number of visitors to Yellowstone. It will have a significant impact on Wyoming’s gateway communities." The National Park Service move will leave small recreational businesses around Yellowstone in limbo. The proposed limits are below what was recommended by the Park Service less than two years ago. Partial Transcript of Energy Committee Hearing: Barrasso: The New York Times had an editorial last week and it said that there shouldn’t be any access by snow machines in Yellowstone Park, period, so you support snowmobile access to Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks, is that what I hear you say? Jarvis: At this point I cannot commit one way or the other. I don’t know the details of this, but I do commit to winter use and winter access and a sustainable decision; one that can provide continuity and planning for the gateway communities and for the Park itself. Barrasso: Well, planning if you say there’s no snowmobiles, I mean, that’s an absolute answer, but that’s not the one that anybody in Wyoming is looking for. So when you say you’re committed to winter access I want to know that you’re committed to winter access for snow machines in Yellowstone Park. Jarvis: As I say, we have litigation in this case. We have two dueling courts, we have to do an interim rule. Hopefully we can kick in immediately to do the environmental impact statement, the final rule, which will analyze the best available science, the working group that is out there, all of the stakeholders on a range of alternatives. But at this point it would be incorrect for me to make a commitment to one or the other. We have to go through the process, I think that is the key. Barrasso: Well on November 17th of this last year, the National Park Service released a statement about winter use in Yellowstone, and this is the quote; “Monitoring data from the past four winters shows excellent air quality, few wildlife disturbances and reduced sound impacts,” the things that you just mentioned. “All were at fully acceptable levels,” air quality, wildlife, sound, “All were at fully acceptable levels, and below the levels of historic, unregulated use of the parks, which show that the limited use of guided and the best available technology snowmobiles has worked. So the science appears to support current management of the snowmobiles in the park.” Do you agree with that National Park Service statement of November 17th? Jarvis: Absolutely, I think that all of those indicators have been…all of these programs that we have implemented as a system, as you have mentioned, have significantly improved, not only the quality of the environment in this case, but also the public experience. But what we’re trying to reach now is something that is sustainable into the future, applying all of those standards.

Independent Obituaries: July 30, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:14:23 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the July 30, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, Angie “Ilene” Echols Garn died on Pioneer Day Celebration, July 24, 2009 with family at her side. Mom would have turned 83 years old on her birthday, July 27, 2009. She is a daughter to Bryan Echols and Margret Webb, of Claypool, Ariz. She married Preston J. Garn in the Salt Lake LDS Temple for time and all eternity May 15, 1946. Together they raised nine beautiful children. Our Dad, Preston, died May 5, 2000. Later she married into a large family with Ivan Robinson for time on Feb. 12, 2005. Ivan died March 2009. Mom taught us to love life, quilting, gardening, and canning. She shared her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and served in many positions in the LDS Church. She set an example for us in many areas of life. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and operated several successful businesses throughout our lives. With loving memory, her surviving children: Gerald P. Garn of West Valley City; Paula (John) Sever of Riverdale; Russell G. Garn (deceased); Verlene (Larry) Stanger of West Bountiful; Ronald A. Garn of Centerville; LuAnn (Don) Farr of Riverdale; Jeanette (Ben) Booth of West Bountiful; Mark L. Garn of Woods Cross; and Gloria (Mervyn) Asher of Alpine, WY; siblings, Ted, Gene, and James Echols; 38 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. Interment took place in Fielding Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com. Audry Hunsaker Lainhart was born to Mary Ann Bowcutt and Allen G Hunsaker on Feb. 21, 1918 in Collinston, Utah at the home of her grandparents. Audry was the third child in the family and joined older brothers Leroy and Floyd. When Audry was three months old, her family moved to Star Valley. Brothers Melvin, Sterling and sisters Ruby and Thelma were born after this move. Audry lived in Star Valley her entire life with the exception of a short time that she lived in Evanston, Wyoming and Grace, Idaho. At an early age Audry taught herself to read music and could soon play by ear any tune that hit her fancy. Audry attended schools in Afton but quit school after the 10th grade to stay home and take care of her mother who was very ill and also her younger sister. When Audry was 15 she developed juvenile arthritis and they put her arm in a cast. When the cast was removed her arm had atrophied. The doctor said they only thing that saved her from losing the arm was that even though she had a cast on, she had continued playing the piano just using her fingers. In November of 1935 she went to a dance in Grover and met Boyd Lainhart. He was in Star Valley with the CC camp and had come from Kentucky. Mom and Dad were married in Paris, Idaho on July 31, 1936. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple July 31, 1959. Boyd and Audry had a large family of twelve children- Vada, Vola, Vatia, Deland, MaryAnn, Genevieve, Sherman, Dorthy, Larry, Laura and Amanda Ellen. Their first child, Vada B. Lainhart was born in February of 1937. A few months later Vada became very ill and on May 25, 1937 passed away. On July 28, 1958 their son Boyd R was hit by a car in front of their home as he was crossing the road. His life was taken in this accident. In 2000, Mother’s oldest living daughter, Vola Mae, passed away after experiencing a brain aneurysm. Mother never felt it was right that she outlived her children. In June of 1988, Boyd, Audry’s husband, was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in April, 1989. Audry was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved to read the scriptures and was knowledgeable about the gospel. She was a premier genealogist and found great joy in doing this work for 50 to 60 years. At the age of 91 she was still a staff member of the Family History Center and also did extraction work in her home. In the past two years she had indexed 135,704 names and had 5,303 names arbitrated. Audry loved to serve others and never turned anyone away. She was a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to many. Audry Lainhart passed away on July 20, 2009 in the comfort of her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, one sister, her husband Boyd, two daughters, one son, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, two grandsons and two great-grandsons. She is survived by her brother Sterling, her sister Ruby, and her children. Vatia Booth; Deland (Olivia); MaryAnn Larsen; Genevieve Burdick (George); Sherman; Dorthy Manley (Kevin); Larry (Jackie); Laura Aullman (Robert); and Amanda Welch (Vance). She had 41 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Ora Hilda Brog Porter passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at her home in Logan, Utah. She was born May 22. 1929 in Freedom in the Swiss Cheese Factory. Her parents were Ernest and Martha Brog. She was preceded in death by her husband, Max Wilford Porter, who she married and was sealed to on June 22, 1948 in the Logan LDS Temple. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her infant brother, Paul Ern, and her sister, Gayle Clara Brog Rigler. Ora is survived by her four children, Ernestine; Lex (Marianne); Marie and Kolin (Valerie); as well as 11 grandchildren. Ora was raised in Freedom. She attended BYU and USU where she majored in Home Economics. She was a wonderful homemaker, and was a perfectionist as a seamstress and a wonderful cook, earning many blue ribbons at the fair. Ora loved to read and was constantly learning. In her younger years, she held many church callings. Ora is survived by Frank and Ruth Brog; Roy and Joan Brog; Larry and Paula Brog; Clyde and Rea Brog Stock and Fred and Annie Brog. Graveside services were held on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Freedom Cemetery.

Video: 2009 EMT Demolition Derby kicks off the Lincoln County Fair

dahlerickson — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:47:48 +0000

Always one of the fan favorites, the 2009 EMT Demolition Derby packed the stands once again. Not able to take in the event? Click below for an exclusive video of the festivities.

Video: Hog Wrestling a wet and wild part of the '09 Fair

dahlerickson — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:41:31 +0000

The Lincoln County Fair has a huge number of entertainment choices. One of which is the annual hog wrestling event which utilizes an eight and under division, a 9-14 division and an adult division. A local crew made up the team, Rednecks-R-Us won the adult time, while a speedy team from Kemmerer representing Outlaw Supply had the fastest overall time of the night. Click below for exclusive video of the 2009 Hog Wrestling event of the Lincoln County Fair.

True sentenced in Star Valley Senior Center case

sarahhale — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:34:41 +0000

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, Vicky True was sentenced on four felony counts relating to the embezzling case at the Star Valley Senior Center. True was sentenced to serve not less than one year or more than four years in the Wyoming State Women’s Prison in Lusk. True was also placed on supervised probation for a term of 24 years and ordered to pay restitution to the Star Valley Senior Center in the amount of $123,632.93. According to County Attorney Eric Phillips, the criminal charges against True alleged that between the years 2004 to 2007, while employed as the project director of the Star Valley Senior Center, True embezzled large amounts of money from the Center. “During the DCI investigation, True admitted to issuing herself double pay roll checks without authorization and to making and cashing checks on the Star Valley Senior Center bank account for personal use,” said Phillips. “The money taken was reportedly used for paying True’s personal monthly bills, living expenses, medical expenses, vehicle payments, travel, etc.” According to Phillips, the embezzling case was a difficult one. “There were a lot of financial records that had to be reviewed and a lot of interviews that took place,” said Phillips. “I know that the senior center suffered great financial hardship because of Ms. True’s actions. The fact that the senior center is still going strong is a testament of the durability and determination of the staff and senior citizens at the center. It is my hope that Ms. True’s conviction and incarceration will bring about some closure for the Star Valley Senior Center.”

Judge sides with Simplot

sarahhale — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:28:19 +0000

In a 54-page opinion, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Idaho District Mikel H. Williams concluded that an expansion of Smoky Canyon Mine was “reasonable.” The court opinion was released Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. However, environmental groups can make an appeal. In the opinion of the case, Judge Williams concluded that with “the stringent monitoring requirements and safeguards in place, expansion of the Smoky Canyon Mine 800 yards from its existing Mine into an adjacent portion of the known phosphate leasing area of southeastern Idaho appears to strike a reasonable balance between mining efforts and the employees, farmers, communities and other stakeholders by the expansion.” Judge Williams also stated that the expansion approval process worked “as it was designed to work.” The judge noted that the plaintiffs in the case as well as the public, and state and federal agencies “had the opportunity to comment on the mine expansion.” “As a result of those comments and the agencies’ response, the ultimate action is more protective of the environment that it would have been without the process,” the opinion read. For additional coverage of the recent court opinion, see the Aug. 13 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Independent Obituaries: August 6, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:02:13 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that were published in the August 6, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Lionel Welch passed away June 30, 2009 from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and pneumonia in Colorado Springs. He was born Feb. 22, 1930 in Afton to Benjamin F. Welch and Minnie Crawford. Lionel graduated from Star Valley High School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University and a Master’s Degree from New York University. Lionel served in the Wyoming Army National Guard and was deployed to active duty with the Guard during the Korean War. He later served in the Air Force Reserve. Lionel married Maxine Bruce in Afton. Later they were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Lionel and Maxine moved from Ogden to San Diego in 1960 where he was employed as divisional manager of the Walker Scott Department Store in College Grove, Calif. Later he became a professor of Marketing at Mesa College in San Diego. Lionel retired from Mesa College in 1993. He and his family resided in San Diego for 33-years. They were members of the La Mesa First, La Mesa Second and Grossmont LDS Wards. Lionel and Maxine moved to Monument, Colo., where they have resided for 16-years. Active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many positions. He especially enjoyed serving in the temple. Lionel gave service to anyone in need. He was a talented craftsman and could fix almost anything. In his retirement years be became an expert wood carver of animals and birds. Lionel is survived by his wife of 58 years, Maxine; their four children, Jill; Jeffrey; Jean and Joyce; 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his brother, Wardell. Memorial services were held on Monday, July 6, 2009 in the Monument Ward Chapel in Monument, Colo. Burial took place in Afton. Ruby Petersen Crandall, 86, our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away Sunday, July 26, 2009 in Montpelier, Idaho. Ruby was born in Fruit Heights, Utah Jan. 5, 1923 to Joseph Lars Petersen and Deseret Rosetta Collings Petersen. She married to Robert Byron Crandall Aug. 22, 1945. Ruby worked for the Granite School District in the central kitchen, getting up at 4 a.m. every morning to make hot school lunches for thousands of school children in dozens of schools throughout the Salt Lake valley. She loved to knit and quilt, making countless baby blankets, sweaters, hats and scarves for her family and her extended family, which included many friends and co-workers. She is survived by her five children, Jim Crandall (Kanab, Utah); Rulon and Val Crandall (Murray, Utah)l Janet and Doug Prows (Cokeville); Joy and Ray Hutchison (Cokeville); Ben and Melinda Crandall (Draper, Utah); 33 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Melvin, Dean and Stanley; and sisters Pearl and Virginia. Her husband Robert preceded her in death, along with her parents, and brothers Russell, Arland and Ivan, sisters Mildred and Ellen and great granddaughter Dusty Ann. She will always be remembered for her comforting singing voice, hard work and wonderful meals. Her warm embrace continues to touch our lives with her home made bread recipe, which she has lovingly taught to her children, and grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday, July 31 at 11 a.m. at the Mountain View Christian Assembly in Sandy, Utah. Monte Victor Ralon was born March 27, 1970 and died July 29, 2009. Monte was born in Alexandria, Va., to Victor and Bonnie Ralon. Victor and Bonnie moved their family to Star Valley in 1974. Monte grew up on the edge of the Star Valley ranch hiking and hunting the hills behind his family’s home. Monte attended school in Star Valley and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1988. He attended ISU in Pocatello, Idaho. Monte had a private pilot's license and loved to fly. He was certified as a computer technician and loved to work with his hands. He was a loving and kind son, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his mother, Bonnie Ralon; sister Carla and Rob Abercrombie; and their children, Shelby, Robbie, and John. He is also survived by a sister, Celia Morgan. Memorials can be sent to Emmanuel Bible Church, P.O. Box 962, Thayne, WY 83127. They will be equally distributed between Steve and Gayle King who are members of Victor and Bonnie's family that are serving as missionaries in the Ivory Coast of Africa and a company that is researching the use of Adult Stem Cells to alleviate illness. "But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 Graveside services for Audine Kennington Stafford were held on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 at 3 p.m. in the Afton Cemetery. Memorial Services for Erin M. Goodman, 18, will held at the Presbyterian Church 1251 S. Park Loop Road in Jackson on Friday, Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers a scholarship fund has been set up in memory of Erin at the Bank of Star Valley, P.O. Box 928 Thayne, Wy 83127.

This Week in Star Valley: August 6-13

newsrelease — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:53:42 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has not missed a weekly edition in over 107 years. Take a look back at what made the pages of the Independent some 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Lincoln County Fair welcomes visitors–The Lincoln County Fair is getting into full swing. Entries for the horse shows and races are described to be knee deep by some of the workers. . . . A concert will be held Thursday at the fair grounds in front of the grand stands with the "Cache Valley Cloggers" and "The Wyoming Band" performing, with a dance following. Ad: At Nield food town, 16 oz. pkg Doritos chips, $1.99; 5 lb. chub regular gourd beef, $.89/lb.; 84 oz. Fab detergent, $3.09; Purina 10 lb. bag cat chow, $5.99. 50-years ago: CD's [Civil and Defense Mobilization] a vital part of farm safety–Fallout shelters are the best way for rural Americans to protect themselves from a massive nuclear attack which could unleash dangerous radioactive fallout throughout the country. (photo) Retiring and new technicians Frank Hoopes and Lyle Stoker of the Lower Valley Unit, Cache Valley Breeding Association. Mr. Stoker will take over inseminator duties Sept. 1 CallAir Payroll is in $2 bills–As a public relations good will gesture, and to demonstrate the impact of the CallAir payroll on the economy of the community, today's CallAir payroll is being paid to employees in $2 bills. If you corner some of this green stuff, you will know that it originally came form a CallAir employee, and that his or her employment helped the economy of your community. 75-years ago: Secretary of State visits Star Valley–A.M. Clark, secretary of state and republican candidate for nomination for Governor, was in the Valley yesterday and today. Mr. Clark strongly urges the completion of the Grand Canyon road up the Snake River. Baby show at county fair–Dr. Henderson , baby specialist now working in Kemmerer, will spend two days at the county fair to assist with the baby show. This will give us a chance to give more thorough examination to all the babies. Babies will be judged on the their general appearance, posture, weight, height, teeth ears, nose throat and chest. 100-years ago: Newspaper Law: Taking a periodical from the post office is prima facie evidence that the person taking it is a subscriber, unless the periodical is marked "sample copy" or "marked copy." Subscribers who do not give express notice to the contrary are considered as wishing to renew their subscriptions. . . . Remember that the names of all subscribers who are behind on their subscription one year or more will appear in the Independent next week. Pay up now and save notoriety. Grover news: Mr. Peter Anderson returned from Afton Monday night and retired for the night with his smoke; after smoking for some time, he threw his smoke to one side and dozed off to sleep. When he woke his house was full of smoke; he had to knock the windows out to get a little air, his clothes had all been consumed by the fires so he had to call Alfred Anderson to open the store and buy him some more clothes.

El Vaquero Loco is this weekend

dahlerickson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:34:22 +0000

Star Valley’s annual endurance race has 34 registered runners. Part of the summer months can be about relaxation and entertainment. Other parts, particularly the late summer, tend to be all about testing limits. El Vaquero Loco, or “The Crazy Cowboy” is a 50 kilometer race with a 25 kilometer option which takes in not only some of the most breathtaking areas of Star Valley’s hidden mountain ranges, but features an extremely challenging set of obstacles. The race is organized by ultra-marathon veteran, Ty Draney, but is also aided by many volunteers in the form of aid stations. Not to mention the Star Valley Search & Rescue who have been instrumental in taking care of runners as the race has grown. El Vaquero Loco’s 25K race begins at the Intermittent Spring on Saturday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m. The 50K race begins near Cottonwood Lake with pre-race details being taken care of at 5-5:40 a.m. In a day when talking about mileage is all the rage, the participants will be running over 31 miles powered by a few ounces of food and a lot of determination. How can Detroit hope to compete with that?

This Week in Star Valley: Tabernacle Centennial edition

newsrelease — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:07:22 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 107 years. The Independent was on hand 100 years ago at the dedication of the Afton Tabernacle, which is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this weekend. Be sure to read below at some interesting tidbits about Afton's landmark building. 25-years ago: Local rabies case identified in bat--Donald R. Kwiatkowski, an Alpine veterinarian has reported a rabies case, which has been verified by tests in the Star Valley area. On Saturday, August 11 a rabid bat attacked a cat in the town of Thayne, he said. The stray cat became a family house pet approximately six months ago, so no vaccination history is known on the cat, he noted. (photo) Mrs. Meldee Porter, chairperson of the Smoot Community Booth, received the rosette for the Smoot Booth as it won first in Division two of the booth competition at the Lincoln County Fair. The annual LDS Northern Utah Area Golf Tournament will tee of Saturday, August 18, at the Montpellier, Idaho, golf course. 50-years ago: Construction began this month on the addition to the SVHS building. . . . The new addition will extend out flush and will be connected to the old rock high school building. It will be a two story structure which will house a library for both junior and senior high school, a faculty room for the teachers of both schools, and two class rooms for the high school. Football practices for all high school boys interested in playing football this fall will start Sat., Aug. 15, at 4:30 p.m. according to Coach Vern Gardner. The Lincoln County Fair starts next week. 75-years ago: Ad: Watch your Child. If he is backward in school or complains of his eyes, let us examine his eyes at once. Eye strain in youth works permanent injury, which proper glasses will relieve. Dr. Chilton has specialized in the treatment of children's eyes, and he has cases coming as far as 300 miles to consult him. You can rest assured that if your child does not need glasses he will frankly say so, for he has the reputation of never having fitted a pair of glasses unless absolutely necessary. Pocatello Optical Company. P.S. You will find it a safe plan to consult a doctor who is Permanently Located and has a growing practice. 100-years ago: (Notice the actual dedication was originally slated for the following weekend.) Dates changed. Tabernacle dedication tomorrow and Sunday. Word was received last Saturday by President George Osmond to the effect that the conference and Dedication date was changed to August 14th and 15th. Fortunately, all preparations are complete, and one great item worth considering, is that seventeen years ago to the day (August 14th) the Star Valley Stake of Zion was organized. President Joseph F. Smith, and his son Apostle Hyrum M. Smith, will be in for the dedication, and there will also be a number of Bear Lake people and others who are interested in the development of the Valley. The building is built of a beautiful, hard, light gray, native sand stone (quarried about 13 miles from town) and stands on an imposing site of the Public Square and faces the West. The building measures over all, 122 ft by 56 ft.. . . . On Wednesday the organ arrived and was installed. . . . The building in its rough state, unpainted, was used for the last Quarterly Stake Conference.

Independent Obituaries: August 13, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:21:06 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the August 13, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Jerry E. Huhtala of Thayne peacefully passed away July 23, 2009, at Madison memorial Hospital in Rexburg Idaho. He was born Feb. 1,1927 in Rocklin, Calif., to Alfred “Hoot” and Helen Huhtala. He was born in the month of February a few hours after his twin brother who was born in January, in the same house as their father. As a young boy, Jerry was raised in the outdoors by a father who was a government trapper, fire lookout, cowboy, wildlife manager, fisherman and hunter. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jerry ran a trap line after school and learned to be an excellent hunter and rifleman. In the 1940’s, Jerry served stints in the Army, Navy, and Merchant Marines. He circled the world and saw such places as Japan, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Europe. While in the Merchant Marines, Jerry’s ship was the lone survivor of eleven ships to battle a typhoon in the pacific. Upon returning to the states, Jerry began his service to the state of California. He worked for the Department of Fish and Game, State Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. He also spent 22 years working for the Aero jet General Corporation as one of their best boiler and maintenance mechanics. On Oct. 28, 1953, Jerry was married to Bobee’ Mickelsen. From this marriage was born a daughter Renee’ and a son Steve. They spent many great years together raising their young family camping fishing and hunting. This marriage ended after 16 years. Shortly after, Jerry married Sonja who brought to the family two sons of her own, Marty and Mike. Jerry and Sonja were life-long partners who shared many great years together. Jerry was an accomplished pilot, owning his own plane, and was a decorated marksman winning many competitive shoots around the west in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s in “big bore” matches. He attained the National Rifle Associations ranking of “Lifetime Master,” for which he was very proud. After retiring, Jerry and Sonja moved to Wyoming in 1998 to be closer to their son Steve and enjoy the great outdoors. Jerry kept active cutting wood, hiking, hunting, and keeping fit. He had a great relationship with his all family, and was the “glue” that kept the family in touch with each other and the great outdoors. Jerry is survived by his wife Sonja of Thayne; his sister Melody (Ken) Huhtala of Los Angles; brother Wayne (Janice) Huhtala of Loomis, Calif.; daughter Renee’ (Dave) White of Standish, Calif.; son Steve “Hoot” (Libby) Huhtala of Thayne and two grand children and one great-grand child. His parents; brother Tom; and stepsons Marty and Mike preceded him in death. A private ceremony will be held at the Rocklin Cemetery in Rocklin, Calif., on Aug. 29, 2009 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the National Cancer Society or the Western Wyoming Riflemen’s Association. Maxine F. Heiner passed away on Saturday morning, Aug. 8, 2009 in the comfort of her home in Thayne after a long illness. Her family was by her side. Maxine was born March 19, 1930 in Douglas, Wyoming. Preceding her were two sisters, Marjorie Tishner and Grace Ellen Merritt. The three of them were adopted into the Herman and Marion Fluckiger family, where Joyce, Alice, Barbara and Leila joined the family in Turnerville. Maxine married Glenn W. Heiner on April 2, 1948 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They made their home in Bedford. Maxine served in many callings in her early years. She loved working with the youth, both in the church and in the 4-H program. She also worked as the head cook at Holdaway School and at the Cheese Factory for several years. She was very talented in cooking, crafts and she loved quilting. She was a perfectionist in everything she did. She had many friends and loved ones that will truly miss her bright smile and her kindness. Maxine returned to her Heavenly Father where she joined her companion, who passed away Aug. 4, 1996. They are survived by their 11 children: Dan (Cathy) Heiner, of Vernal; Irene (Floyd) Mills, of Taylorsville; Rosann (Jack) DeMill, of Draper; Quinn (Hyesoon) Heiner, of Bedford; Deon (Cheryl) Heiner of Bedford; Evan (Leslie) Heiner, of Thayne; Diana (Joshua) Flud, of Thayne; Todd (Allison) Heiner, of Draper; Stacey (Tammy) Heiner, of Thayne; Tina (Gary) Clark, of Thayne; Tracy (Jason) Wolfley, of Thayne. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be truly missed by all that knew her.

Fall Practice officially begins with Midnight Madness

dahlerickson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:12:34 +0000

The SVHS X-C Team has made a tradition of kicking off the fall practice slate. 26 runners turned out to run just after midnight on August 17. The squad covered roughly five kilometers before returning to the school where they were fed by their coaches (Ty Draney & Corina Ricks) and volunteers, a meal of blueberry pancakes and eggs. The runners slept over on the school grounds and then practiced again at 8 a.m. The Lady Braves X-C team returns a strong group from last year's 3rd place finish in Wyoming's 4A including runners such as Kirsten McKen, Brooke and Brittney Nethercott, Abby McAurthur, Aislinn Lewis and Charli Fisher. The squad looks to add such talent as senior Randi Robinson and sophomore Ashley Hall. The Braves X-C team will be relying heavily on a group of younger runners after graduating a very experienced group from a year ago. The football team got underway at 7:30 a.m., while the volleyball team under new head coach, Kathy Robinson, began tryouts at 8 a.m. The Braves will be practicing twice a day throughout the week, with the first three official practices taking place sans pads as per Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA) rules. Coach Chris Howell is in his second season and hopes are high after a disappointing 2-7 season a year ago. The Lady Braves volleyball team will be looking to return to the state tournament after missing out on the action in Casper last season. The SVHS Golf team also began practice today under second-year head coach, Kelly Fullmer.

Road Closures near Cokeville this week

newsrelease — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:43:24 +0000

The Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest has scheduled some temporary road closures for maintenance beginning next week. The improved roads should be opened for public use before the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. Forest Road 1062, located 21-miles northeast of Cokeville, Wyoming, will be closed on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 approximately half of a mile south of the Kelly Guard Station. A culvert will be replaced in the roadway and the road will be closed to the public for the day until the installation is completed. Additionally, Forest Road 10138, which is located 1-mile south of the Tri Basin Divide, will be closed for the week of August 24, 2009 for bridge replacement. The previous bridge was inadequate and frequently washed out due to flooding. “Replacing the existing bridge with a new one will improve the public’s access to that portion of the District as well as reduce our maintenance costs in the future,” said Natural Resource Manager Josh Sorenson. The project is scheduled to be completed and the road reopened before the end of the month. Recreationists will be able to enjoy the Kemmerer Ranger District on the many other routes and trails that the Forest offers throughout the scheduled maintenance projects. Visitors can contact the District at 307-877-4415 for more information or questions about recreational activities.

Wyoming to get $6.4 million in stimulus funding for forests

newsrelease — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:01:54 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – On hearing the news today that Wyoming will get $6.4 million in federal economic stimulus funding for projects aimed at restoring forest health and reducing fuels for wildland fires, Gov. Dave Freudenthal issued the following statement: "There can never be enough Forest Service funding to address the beetle kill and forest fire issues we are seeing in the Thorofare, but we certainly appreciate this $6.4 million." The Governor and First Lady are currently on a horse packing trip in the Thorofare region of northwest Wyoming with Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials.

El Vaquero Loco slideshow

dahlerickson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:49:56 +0000

Over 60 extreme runners faced off to see who would indeed be "The Crazy Cowboy". Click below for an exclusive video of the race organized by Ty and Andrea Draney. Visit http://elvaqueroloco.blogspot.com for complete results.

H1N1 claims first Wyoming fatality

newsrelease — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:58:51 +0000

The first death of a state resident infected with the swine flu (novel H1N1) virus has been confirmed by Wyoming Department of Health officials. The young adult female resident of Fremont County had an underlying health condition associated with higher risk of complications from influenza. Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer, offered his sympathy to the woman’s family and friends. “We are, of course, saddened to hear of this young woman’s passing.” “Most people who become ill with influenza are able to recover fully after a few days,” Sherard said. “But, unfortunately, we know that every year with seasonal flu as well as with this new swine flu strain there are always a few situations when the illness can become a serious threat.” Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Sherard reminded Wyoming residents to be cautious about influenza in the coming months and recommended the following common-sense steps to help prevent the spread of illness: · In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. · Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. · Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. · Avoiding contact with ill persons. A swine flu vaccine is not yet available in Wyoming but is expected later this fall. “We’re asking everyone to stay tuned for future announcements about this new vaccine. We also want to make sure that people get their standard seasonal flu shots this year,” Sherard said. To date, 158 cases of swine flu among Wyoming residents have been reported to the department from 15 counties. “Swine flu has continued to circulate around the state throughout the summer and we expect that it’s been present in every community,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “However, the level of flu activity has been significantly lower over these last few months than what we see during a typical winter flu season.” The department has received reports of seven hospitalizations among Wyoming residents in connection with the virus. Of the reported cases, 20 were reported from patients under the age of five, 63 cases were from patients age 5 to 18, 75 cases were from patients age 19-64 and no cases were from patients over 65. “These age ranges have been fairly consistent with what’s been happening with this virus in other states and countries,” Murphy said. Counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the swine flu strain. The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be much higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain. More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

Independent Obituaries: August 20, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:16:44 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the August 20, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Madelle (Sally) Elizabeth Abbott of San Dimas, Calif., died on Aug. 6, 2009 at Pomona Valley Hospital of pneumonia due to Leukemia. Sally was born, July 3, 1932 in Seattle, Wash. Sally graduated UC Berkley with a BA degree in Sociology. In 1955 she married Spencer Earl Abbott and they moved to the Charter Oak/San Dimas area to build their life together. Sally was a perpetual volunteer. She spent 16 years as a Camp Fire Girl Leader with five years specializing in teaching the leaders how to cook outdoors with the girls. Additionally, she volunteered for Charter Oak School District, Boy Scouts, La Verne YMCA and 4-H. Sally was a Home Economics Teacher at Chaparral Middle School in Diamond Bar from 1976 to 1990. Her love of cooking and sewing was infectious to all. Sally traveled the West Coast and Mexico for over 50 years joyfully with her husband and family in their motor home every summer visiting family and friends. They purchased a property in Forest Dell in 1978 and for over 30 years enjoyed Star Valley during August and September. One of Sally's favorite things to do was to roam the yard sales in order to meet new people and see new areas of the Valley. She especially enjoyed hosting family and friends in her beloved mountain paradise. Sally is survived by her husband, Spencer Abbott. Her sister, Carol Widrig of Seattle, and sister in-law, Patty Widrig of Gig Harbor, Wash. Her three children: Kathleen Bennet and husband Ed of San Dimas; Raymond Abbott of San Dimas; and Jill Serna of Henderson, Nev. She is also survived by three grandchildren; Bryce Hulet, Danielle Serna, Kevin Serna and two great-granddaughters; Taylor and Trinity. Sally will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother and friend to all that she met. We who loved her are grateful for her life and her example. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 30 at Todd’s Memorial Chapel in Pomona, 570 North Garey Avenue, with lunch following at the Sheraton Fairplex. A private interment at La Verne Cemetery was held Aug. 13, 2009. Orlean Sizemore Perkins, 84, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother went peacefully asleep on Monday, Aug. 11, 2009 at Rocky Mountain Care in Evanston, where she had resided for the past 15 months. Orlean was the youngest of three daughters born to Walter Carl Eugene Sizemore and Gladys Kirstina Poulsen. She was born on March 5, 1925 in Soda Springs and spent her entire life in Cokeville. Spending her young life during the depression years set the tone for Orlean's life. Many who "rode the rails" in search of work were fed on her parents' back porch. Few if any were ever turned away. Orlean was a quiet, unassuming person who served anyone struggling whether family, friend or stranger. Although her life in Cokeville was lived quietly she was a very strong person, shedding few tears for herself, and working to dry everyone else's. She was a cow girl in her early years, a waitress, and later a business partner to her husband in an auto repair business in Cokeville. Orlean married James Richard Perkins on June 1, 1946 in Paris, Idaho. It was an elopement because Richard could not believe she had agreed to marry him and wanted to hurry before she changed her mind. The marriage was later solemnized on July 8, 1963 in the Logan LDS Temple. They were married 63 years. Orlean was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a Primary teacher, a visiting teacher and a ward missionary. Richard and Orlean were the parents of four children; Nyle Richard of Maine; Larry James of Fort Hayes, Kan.; Lynette (Keith Nate); and Craig Eugene of Pocatello,. She is survived by her husband James R. Perkins of Cokeville, her children, and also by an older sister. Verona Kemp, of Sandy, Utah. Orlean was preceded in death by her parents, one older sister, Alene, a granddaughter, Laura and a great grandson. Her posterity includes 14 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren who she loved very dearly. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009. Interment took place in the Cokeville Cemetery. Duane Keith Hyde passed away peacefully while tending to his beloved ranch in Auburn on Aug. 6, 2009. He was born Oct. 6, 1937 to Keith and Ruth Hyde of Auburn. Duane Graduated Star Valley High School and attended collage at Utah State University. Duane was a active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He spent 46 years of his life working for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and in those years he built a reputation that couldn’t be matched. He retired in 2002 with the number one badge in the state. Duane married Shirley Atha Neild in the Auburn Church in 1957. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1961. Together they resided in Newcastle, Douglas and Pinedale Wyoming while he was working as Game Warden. In 1971 Duane was transferred to Afton where he worked as the local Game Warden for the next 31 years of his life. This would also be the place where he would pass on his enthusiasm for life and the outdoors to his three sons. In 1980 Duane bought the property he would build his home on north of Afton. He loved spending time there building fish ponds, planting trees and building their house. In 1994 Duane purchased part of his father-in-law’s ranch in Auburn. This is where he loved to spend his time. He continued to work the family ranch until the time of his passing. During his retirement, Duane spent many days with his brothers, sons, grandchildren, friends and dogs hunting many different states for birds and fishing many different lakes and streams all just to enjoy the time with others and be outdoors. He passed his love and knowledge for the outdoors and wildlife on to everyone he became friends with, which were many. His work ethic was to always give ten percent more than anyone else, and to take pride in everything you do. This showed up in everything Duane accomplished. He took great pride in his sons and enjoyed spending time with them and their families. Duane is survived by his wife of 52 years, Shirley; their three sons, Dan, Dave and Robert; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Terry and both his parents Keith and Ruth Hyde Memorial services were held Monday Aug. 10, 2009 at the Afton Tabernacle building. He was laid to rest peacefully in the Afton cemetery. Robert Glenn Barngrover’s earthly journey was finished on Aug. 6, 2009. His life began April 25, 1919, in Hugo, Colo. He was the eldest in the family followed by one brother and two sisters. His exciting college years were followed by military duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy after which he became a practicing attorney. Robert enjoyed and appreciated classical music and his life was akin to a great symphony with a lifetime of blessings. Barney considered his family and friends his greatest blessings. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife Jean. He is also blessed with a family of four children: Janet Wolf; Nancy Vaughn; Roger Barngrover; and Ronald Barngrover with their spouses and children. With Jean, he extended his family to include her three children: Patrick Clark; Paul Clark; and Elizabeth Ramos with their spouses and children. Barney’s walk embraced many righteous causes for he never hesitated for one second to stand up and voice concern and/or indignation for social and human value issues. He was relentless with his typewriter, even notorious at times as he fought for pure drinking water for Star Valley Ranch and so many other worthwhile causes. Robert has indeed left us a living, loving, lasting legacy of memories with his beautiful cabin in trust for all the family. A memorial celebration of life will be held at his beloved homestead cabin at Star Valley Ranch in Wyoming on July 25, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Robert (Barney) Barngrover. Please send stories, photos and other memorabilia to be used at the Celebration of Life to Elizabeth Ramos, 4564 Theresa Street, Fremont, CA, 94538. David “Dave” A. Taylor passed away peacefully at home, Aug. 10, 2009 after succumbing to his brave battle with cancer. He had his loving wife, Linda, and faithful companions, Sascha and Rizzo, at his side. Dave was the youngest child born to Hal and Margaret Taylor on Oct. 28, 1953 in Burley, Idaho. This was also where Dave attended school and graduated from Burley High School. During the summertime, the family would herd sheep to Thayne until the sheep business was traded for a more sedentary lifestyle at the motel in Alpine. Dave married his wife Linda on March 14, 2008 in a small ceremony in Rawlins. He was always fascinated with “big rigs” and ultimately became a truck driver. There was a long list of companies where Dave had worked. He took any trucking jobs he could get before he graduated high school. After graduating, Dave worked for Clark Construction, Burgraff, Purple Sage, Circle A, Andris, HK, and many more. As of most recently, Dave was employed by Highland Enterprises of Rawlins until the cancer forced him to quit driving truck in May of 2009. Dave was a lover of life and a very witty person. He was cool, calm, and collected, and if quick thinking was needed he rose to the occasion. Though you wouldn’t guess it by looking at him in his trucking attire, Dave was one of the most intelligent people you’d meet. He was never boisterous, but had a talent for choosing words that would bring a general to attention. He was a man among men and one to be admired. He had a knack for always being able to bring a smile to anyone’s face, as he really enjoyed the art of teasing. Even grumpy people would meet Dave, and within minutes he would have them laughing. His cool, composed approach to life had the appearance of being easy going, yet it was definite and pre thought. He had a special way of slicing through the bull and getting down to the nitty gritty. He was a kind, considerate, fair and forthright individual. His presence will be missed. There were no children born to Dave, but he was the proud father of many spoiled dogs. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Hal and Margaret Taylor, and his dogs Trouble, Toosh, Teesh, and a few Beagles. Dave is survived by his wife Linda Taylor, kids Rizzo and Sascha, sister Gai Sue Sterling and brother Benjamin Hal Taylor. Nieces and Nephews; Deana Clayton, Nancy Uli, Wes Watterson, Bob Watterson, JT Lindsey, Jessica Taylor, Brandy Taylor, Kelly Taylor, Kristy Hartnett, Beau Taylor, Amanda Taylor, and numerous great nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service for Dave in Alpine, at the Alpen Haus park and gazebo area. It will start at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome, and will have the opportunity to share any special memories that you might have. We will miss you Dave, but forever keep you in our thoughts! Josephine Nellie Megeath passed away peacefully on Aug. 12, 2009. Jo was born in Mountain View, Wyoming on July 19, 1918, to Timothy Theadore “Ted” and Isabelle Madeline “Belle” Rochford, delivered by her Great Grandmother Hicks. She spent most of her childhood at the Old Fort in Fort Bridger with her two brothers. Jo graduated from Mountain View High School in 1936. Jo married William Adison “Bill” Megeath on Dec. 12, 1938; they had four children: Peggy Elaine; Paul Edward; Russell Alan “Rusty”; and A. Jean “Jeannie.” The family lived in Evanston were she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which she lived with for 68 years. But Jo was too stubborn to be left behind, she continued to live a full life raising her children, working at Cornets and City Drug, golfing, bowling and playing cards. Jo was very involved as a member of the Presbyterian Church. She also cared for her parents in their elderly years. In her senior years Jo and Bill headed south, finally settling in Circle City Arizona where they purchased a home. Jo spent most of her time visiting with her friends and neighbors and caring for her citrus trees and yard. She even took a road trip across country in 1989 from Arizona to Rhode Island. The last ten years of her life was spent living in Star Valley with her daughter Peggy, were she enjoyed her cats, playing pinochle and watching some of her great grandchildren play. Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lester T. and Roger Samuel, husband Bill and son in law Jim McJunkin. She is survived by her children; Peggy Mcjunkin, Afton; Paul (Joanne) Megeath, Clermont, Fla.; Rusty (Lacey) Megeath, Evanston; Jeannie (Dale) Gardner, Evanston,; Nephew Barry Rochford, Evanston; 15 Grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. In Lieu of Flowers donations should be made to the National MS Society. Graveside services will be held at the Fort Bridger Cemetery on Aug. 21, 2009, at 11 a.m. Memorial services for John Henry Lecoeuvre were held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. Funeral services for Delman A. Johns will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 in the Third/Fourth Ward LDS Church in Afton at 10 a.m. The family will greet friends prior to the service.

Golfers compete in Riverton

dahlerickson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:12:25 +0000

The linksters of Star Valley High were the first teams to begin the varsity season with their work at the Riverton Invitational. The Lady Braves placed fifth as a team with the trio of Haley Norman, Mesa Pheiffer and Kylie Bennett. Green River took top honors for the girls side of the bracket. The Braves watched hometown Riverton run away with first place in boy's competition with Evanston finishing second. Star Valley had to settle for tenth place in the 12-team field. Up next for the golf team will be a pair of tournaments in Powell and Cody. For a full breakdown of the tournament including scores, read the August 27, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

New York man dies after fall in Snake River Canyon

newsrelease — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:40:44 +0000

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the Snake River Canyon this week on a report of a person injured from a fall. EMS personnel had also responded and were treating the victim. Despite efforts from EMS the victim died at the scene. Deputies made contact with the victim's sister-in-law, who identified the man as Mark Brown, 54 years old from Waverly, New York. The sister-in-law told Deputies that Brown had just finished floating the Snake River and had climbed the cliff in an attempt to find cell phone service. It was determined that Brown fell approximately 65-70 feet after apparently slipping on the rocks above. The Lincoln County Coroner's Office responded and confirmed Brown's death was from injuries sustained in the fall. Although no foul play is suspected, the circumstances surrounding the fall are still under investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Governor releases information on use of state aircraft

newsrelease — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:02:30 +0000

CHEYENNE – In the first six months of 2009, Gov. Dave Freudenthal used state-owned aircraft to meet with local government officials across Wyoming and to attend meetings in Washington D.C. to discuss energy development, transmission and wildlife issues with members of Congress and the incoming administration. The cost for these trips to this point, total $60,004.59. Today the Governor released an inventory of the trips for which he used state planes so far this year. He releases a similar inventory regularly. “It is critical that the people of Wyoming know what their governor is doing,” Freudenthal said. “We release this inventory of state plane trips on a regular basis to fulfill the commitment I made to be open in my activities and to be an active participant in events and activities going on across the state.” The Governor’s out of state travel included meetings in Washington D.C., Denver, and Pittsburgh, Penn. His travel within Wyoming included a two-day visit with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson who joined the Governor in touring a wind farm near Cheyenne, a coal mine near Gillette and a natural gas field near Pinedale.

S.V.I. Coaches Show: SVHS X-C Head Coach Ty Draney

dahlerickson — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:37:56 +0000

The Independent is striving to bring you more coverage than ever before of your Star Valley High School Sports. Head Cross-Country Coach, Ty Draney, is a veteran of ultramarathon events, having run ten of them in his lifetime, including a win in last year's Bear 100. His training methods have helped the Braves and Lady Braves work harder than ever before. After a third place finish in the 4A Class for the Lady Braves, they have their sites set on possibly upsetting the Cheyenne Central Lady Indians this season. Below is the first of hopefully many videos which will include coaches from the high school. Draney discusses items from running itself to where he feels the team can finish this year. Click below to learn more about Star Valley High School Cross-Country and some insight from Head Coach Ty Draney.

S.V.I. Coaches Show: SVHS Football Coach Chris Howell

dahlerickson — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:55:39 +0000

The Braves will be facing off against the defending champion Douglas Bearcats this Saturday on a neutral field in Riverton in zero week action. Coach Chris Howell sits down with the Star Valley Independent and discusses some of the items that he expects from his team not only this week but also during the course of the season. He discusses team philosophies, the quarterback situation, the Braves who will be carrying the football as well as the receivers and the members of the offensive line as Star Valley looks to make it back to the realm of contender.

Star Valley weekend sports wrap

dahlerickson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:50:25 +0000

All four SVHS sports were in action over the weekend with varying shades of success. First year head coach, Kathy Robinson, rallied her troops after losing to Gillette and seeing her team give up more service and net errors than they would have liked. Robinson used a combination of seniors juniors and sophomores as Kassie Woodie and Shae Wilkes saw time at outside hitter, Kortnie Thomas, Hailey Wilkes held down the middle blocker position and Brittney Titensor came in on multiple substitutions. Senior Kadi Erickson saw time particularly in the service department while Lachelle Winters served as the teams libero. On the gridiron, the Braves were sent home with plenty of questions after their 42-0 zero week loss to Douglas in a game played in Riverton. The defending champion Bearcats looked every bit the part as they dismantled the Braves who could not find the end zone nor get their running game going against an opponent who looked to be in post-season form. Fortunes were brighter for the Lady Braves Cross-Country team as they placed five in the top 15 of the Firth Mud Run, snatching first place in the Idaho event. Underclassmen had their say as well as freshman, Hailey Ricks placed sixth along with senior Randi Robinson who finished ninth. Sophomores Brook and Brittney Nethercott placed 10th and 11th respectively while fellow soph Ashley Hall placed 15th. Abby McArthur, Charli Fisher and Aislinn Lewis ran as well, placing in the top 25 of the wet and dirty event. The Braves placed third as a team, paced by freshman David Livingston. Jared Inskeep, Taylor Kennington and Nathan Merritt all finished in a solid line from 18th through 21st. Logan Christensen also placed for the Braves in the effort. Finally in golf news, the Lady Braves placed third as a team in the Cody/Powell Invite, finishing behind Gillette and Themopolis respectively. Individually, Kelsea Gardner placed sixth in the tournament. As always, for a full recapping of the weekend in sports please read the September 3, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Look for more coaches interviews this week right here on the newspaper website.

Fire burning on the Bridger-Teton

newsrelease — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:54:34 +0000

Firefighters on the Bridger-Teton National Forest discovered the Ditch Fire on Saturday August 29. The Ditch fire is a lighting caused fire burning approximately 11-miles north east of the town of Kelly, Wyoming on the Jackson Ranger District. The fire is being managed for the benefit of the resources and the ecosystem. Allowing naturally ignited fires to burn on the Forest is a way for land managers to reintroduce fire to the landscape and improve forest conditions for wildlife as well as reducing fuels build up on the landscape. The fire is approximately a third of an acre in size and burning is a mixture of spruce and fir trees. There are no road or trail closures associated with this fire.

Broadcast premiere of new Yellowstone geology film set for September 8

newsrelease — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:26:25 +0000

A spectacular new film on the geology of Yellowstone National Park will soon be coming to living rooms nationwide. Yellowstone: Land to Life reveals how powerful geologic forces from fire to ice have combined to create a unique landscape which supports an abundant variety of life. The 18-minute film is set to make its nationwide broadcast debut on PBS on Tuesday evening, September 8. The film uses breathtaking photography and a lush original score to share the wonder and majesty of a place which continues to inspire awe in millions of visitors year after year. "We are excited that this dynamic story of the ever-changing nature of Yellowstone will soon be shared with television audiences across the nation," said Superintendent Suzanne Lewis. "This would not have been possible without the Yellowstone Association’s continuing, generous, financial support for projects we identify as park priorities." The Yellowstone Association is the nonprofit cooperating association which has supported the park’s interpretive and educational programs since 1933. Yellowstone: Land to Life debuted earlier this summer at the Canyon Visitor Education Center where it is shown hourly for park visitors. It is the first film shown in Yellowstone that is fully accessible to visitors with hearing and visual disabilities. When shown in the amphitheater, it can also be heard in the visitors’ choice of English, Spanish, French, German, or Japanese. Additional information on the film including local channel information and broadcast times is available on the PBS web site at http://www.pbs.org/yellowstone/.

This Week in Star Valley: September 3

newsrelease — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:33:28 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area non-stop since 1901. Take a look back at what made the news 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: "Apathy is a real threat in the upcoming election, "Sen. Al Simpson told a group Thursday night . . . . "This is one of the most critical elections in many years. What happens in the next four years will be the most dramatic since the 'New Deal'." Ad: Playing at the Ford Theatre, the Muppets take Manhattan. Star Valley Braves beat Preston Indians. 50-years ago: A shorter season and lower bag limit will be the rule for the Wyoming hunters during the 1959 duck season, according to an announcement made recently by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Star Valley Braves Open Grid Season at Montpelier Saturday. 75-years ago: Turneverville news: The atmosphere is rather smoky here because of forest fires. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Skinner of Bedford visited here with relatives Wednesday. Mrs. Alf Walton, Mrs. Jack Moser, Mrs. Chas. Walton and duaghter Ula, of Thayne spent Wednesday here wall papering for Mrs. Percy Turner. Mr. and Mrs. Maren Turner enteretained 24 young folks Sunday night at a suprise party in honor of Margie Garrett. After everyone was tired of playing games, cake and lemonade were served. Fights at Thayne were Very Good–Ken Gardner showed his real athletic ability by staying with Tiry Taylor and getting a draw. Rex Ivie got a well earned draw with his man. Link Gardner got a decision over his man and did everything but lay him out. Bear Clinger did well in the first rounds, but his condition was not good enough for him to win over his man. He contracted summer complaint two days before the fight, however Dr. Treloar helped him through his prescription, nevertheless he was not strong enough to put his usual power across, he got a draw. The fight was well attended an a good dance after. Ad: Yes! We have your School Shoes Here. Smart looking oxfords in brown and black. Styles to please the smart dresser as well as the more conservative. Boys and children's Shoes and they are "Peters" which means all solid leather. At M. J. Hale, the Best Shoes in Town. 100-years ago: Smoot news: The Dance Committee for the Young Ladies Mutual gave a splendid Apron Dance last week. The music was furnished by the Gomm Orchestra, assisted by Mr. Thomas Hood Jr., from Fairview. Tthe crowd was large, and an enjoyable evening was spent, quite a number of young people from other wards were present. The Gomm orchestra gave a dance this week which was well attended and everyone had a jolly time. Bedford news: Last Friday, the 27th, the Y.L.M.I.A. gave a Pie Dance and a neat little sum was realized. Tuesday there was a free dance given by the sheep men. Jack Frost gave us a call last week and nipped nearly all the potatoes, but has not hurt the apple crops which are very small this year. There has been tomatoes ripen in our town this season but I did not see them.

VFW 4797 earns National Recognition for community service

sarahhale — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:36:38 +0000

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4797 has long been a dominating force at the Wyoming VFW Convention. The group wrangles a slew of awards each year for its efforts and involvement in the local community. Recently, however, the local VFW group also earned top honors at the national level. During the VFW National Convention in Phoenix, VFW Post 4797 and its Ladies Auxiliary group was presented with the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Outstanding Community Service Award. “Through our community service program, we help build a better, stronger America, and we fulfill our commitment to serve America’s veterans and their families,” said VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen M. Gardner, Jr., while honoring the award recipients. “This post has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their community. Their exemplary service in an example to citizens across this great nation.” As community service award recipients, Post 4797 will receive a reflective street sign to display within the Town of Afton. “It’s an honor to be recognized on the national level because of the fact that we are the only post that received a national award for community service,” said VFW Post 4797 Commander Chuck Sutter. “We’re just over here plugging along and doing our thing to help the community.” According to Sutter, some of the community service programs and events sponsored by the local VFW Post include the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy youth programs, performing military honors at funeral services, presenting Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day programs and helping veterans in need. According to Steven Van Buskirk of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, VFW members across the country completed over 13 million hours of community service in the last year. The VFW was founded in 1899. There are 2.1 million members of the VFW and its auxiliaries, located in approximately 7,800 posts worldwide.

S.V.I. Coaches Show: SVHS Volleyball Coach Kathy Robinson

dahlerickson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:03:12 +0000

The Lady Braves, fresh off their weekend in Cokeville at the Tournament of Champions, travels to Gillette for the Camel Invitational. Star Valley defeated Alta High and Bear Lake in Cokeville and will face the defending champion Kelly Walsh Lady Trojans, Tongue River and Rawlins over Friday and Saturday. Click below for an exclusive video with new SVHS Head Coach Kathy Robinson.

The Dahl E. Llama takes on the week one Mountain West pick 'em challenge

dahlerickson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:36:33 +0000

Mountain West faces a sneaky challenge in 2009. As college football begins this weekend, it’s a feeling of euphoria and glad hearts as the nation’s favorite sport is nearly in full swing. After a stellar season in 2008 in which Utah, the true national champions, were the only undefeated team, and TCU defeated the only other undefeated team in the regular season, the Mountain West caused a lot of discussion around the water cooler. The big bad programs from around the country don’t like it. Not. One. Bit. I have a conspiracy theory that explains why the MWC has three teams in the pre-season top-25 for the first time ever. They expect them to lose. BYU is at Oklahoma with the Heisman winner and a loaded Sooner team, the Utes graduated nearly everyone but Kyle Whittingham and TCU looks pretty darn good but they still have questions on offense. If all three of these teams go down in the first month, which I think is very possible with their schedules, the higher ups of college football will slap us on the face and tell us to go back to the kid’s table. Well, the only way we continue the battle against the BCS is if the teams win anyway. BYU needs to find a way to protect Max Hall against what might be the best defensive line in football. TCU needs to find a way to win in Death Valley and Utah needs to gel their new signal caller in a hurry. Teams like Wyoming have to play Texas in a manner that earns respect, and knocking off Colorado the following week would help too. In a clash like this, all the teams have to do their part. Without further windbaggery, there’s the Dahl E. Llama’s MWC picks for week 1: 9/3 - Utah State Aggies @ #19 Utah People’s Champion Utes: Yes, this game is over, but I wrote this before the Utes and Aggies suited up so this still counts. This is a perfect story line really. After guiding the defense to a drubbing of Alabama, Gary Anderson defects to Logan to try and turn back nearly 40 years of drudgery. His first task? Beating his old team. I think the Aggies could be a pleasant surprise this year, but not in SLC. Do you honestly think that after that crowd whips itself into a frenzy with their undefeated banner tonight that they go out and lose to Utah State? Nope, me neither. Llama says: Utes 31-14. (Notice how close the actual score was. Yes, it's after the fact, but you'll just have to trust me) #24 BYU Hurtin’ Kittens @ #3 Oklahoma Sooners: Yes, technically this game is on a neutral field in Jerry Jones new TV room but it’s as neutral as Wyoming’s game in Nashville a few years ago in Tennessee. If only the Cougs hadn’t been decimated by injury this fall, it would be easier to see them hanging with what might be one of the most loaded teams in history. This program didn’t just beat top-25 teams last year, it annihilated them. I think with two really young guys facing the pass rush for the Y? they eventually get to Max Hall and the running game will struggle early. That being said, I really am pulling for the conference in this game. If Jan Jorgensen and the Cougar line can put some pressure on Bradford the Kittens have a chance, if not, the fourth quarter might be all about the gamblers cursing the Cougars for ruining their spread. Llama says: Sooners 56-31 Weber State Wildcats @ Wyoming Cowboys: It’s a whole new rodeo, that’s the statement new coach Dave Christensen issued when he arrived in Laramie. He’s been true to his word as the team appears to be in the best shape of their lives. A lot of experts around the country and especially in Ogden are saying the ‘Cats are going to knock off the Cowboys. Nothing but silence has come out of Laramie. Right now, the Pokes appear to be that guy in the corner of the room that doesn’t do anything when a fight breaks out. But when he does decide to join the fray, it will be worth watching. The Wildcats are coming off one of their best seasons in history but their skill players will face a defense that returns eight starters on a top-40 ranked squad. Also a note for the naysayers. Chris Stutsriem and the others are gone from last year. This isn't the 120th ranked offense anymore and even with that dubious ranking, this is still the defense that single-handedly went in and knocked off Tennessee last year on homecoming. I think the Cowboys make this a statement game for their season. Llama says: 31-7. San Diego State Surfer Boys @ UCLA Office Pool Gamblor: Yes, I am Gamblor, master of the two-dollar office pool! Rick Neuheisel and his crew respect the Aztecs, and they should. SDSU has a history of scaring stronger opponents to open the season. However, This is almost becoming a ritual that takes place about three times a decade where a high profile coach comes into San Diego and says the following things: "I have sun, surf and a great talent pool, I can't lose!" Well, they all have for the most part. Consider that the Aztecs have been to three bowl games in the last 40 years. Consider that they are the only team not to go to a bowl game in the conference since it's inception. Considering Wyoming's monumental struggles in that same time frame, that's saying something. I think it will be close, but no cigar for Brady Hoke and his new crew. Llama says: UCLA 27-25. New Mexico @ Texas A&M: We all know that the 12th Man started with the Aggies and it's a formidable place to play. Unfortunately, the Lobos have had a double-whammy of sorts this offseason. Rocky Long leaves and heads to a conference rival, and new coach Mike Locksley has been hampered by allegations of an embarassing nature. That's no way to start a new regime. Llama says: Aggies 31-10. Nicholls State @ Air Force: Well, since this will be an easy addition to my overall total: Llama says Falcons: 35-7 Sacramento State @ UNLV: The Rebels are the darlings of the offseason for collegiate pundits. Many are even expecting them to go to a bowl game. There's a reason Mike Sanford has won 11 games in three years. I"m not saying it's going to happen, but for a team based in Vegas, it's quite a gamble to think that they're going to just put it all together. That being said, they'll squash this bug-related mascot. Llama says: Rubbblesss . . . . 38-3. csu @ colorado: Yes, they are in lower case. I'm a small-minded blue collar jerk from Wyoming. . . . . and I'm okay with that. Nobody want to admit that the Sheep have struggled this offseason. For a team that leaned heavily on Gartrell Johnson a year ago, they need to have someone step up in the backfield in a hurry. Also, they've gone with a fifth-year senior to make his first starts of the season at QB. I think the buffs, no matter how loathsome I find them, will handle their little brother this year. Llama says: 31-17. Well, I didn't give a lot of credit to our conference this week, hopefully someone will make me look fooolish. San Diego State is my upset possibility of the week. Don't like it? Let me know with the comment section, but keep it civil. Dahl Erickson is an award-winning sports writer for the Star Valley Independent and has been recognized by the Wyoming Press Association for outstanding work in Sports Features, Columns and Specialty Publications. He's also a hopeless Wyoming fan and a sports fanatic who lets his own opinions get in the way of rational thought.

S.V.I. Coaches Show: Chris Howell and the Braves travel to Snake River for a Week One clash

dahlerickson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:46:23 +0000

After a 42-0 drubbing at the hands of the Douglas Bearcats in Zero Week, the Braves and their staff hope brighter times are ahead in tonight's game against Snake River. SVHS Head Football Coach, Chris Howell, sits down with the Independent and talks about adjustments and their goals for the beginning of the regular season.

Wyoming airmen return to the Cowboy State

newsrelease — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:28:45 +0000

CHEYENNE - The murmur of family, friends and guests carried by the Wyoming wind fills the air with excitement as they wait for the 153rd Security Forces Squadron Airmen to arrive. A Wyoming C-130 hums above as its four propellers cut through the sky on a final approach. Barely audible, a small voice is heard, "My mommy's here." The excitement heightens as the C-130 rolls to a stop, the doors open and the Airmen exit the aircraft one by one. This scene unfolded as more than 20 members of the Wyoming Air National Guard returned Thursday from a six-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Airmen were tasked with security operations in and around Sather Air Base, Iraq. "Not a day goes by that I don't reflect on those deployed and hope for their safe return," said Col. Dennis Grunstad, 153rd Airlift Wing commander. Grunstad, along with fellow command staff and prominent local dignitaries, waited outside the aircraft to greet the Airmen upon their return. Also in attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that supports veterans. The riders formed a passageway lined with American flags to show their appreciation and support of the returning Airmen. "We hope (the Airmen) realize how much we appreciate their service and we want them to know we are there for them anytime for any purpose," said Wayne Webster, retired state captain for the Wyoming Patriot Guard Riders. Currently, the Wyoming Air National Guard has more than 1,100 men and women assigned. The wing continues its support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom through year-round missions by both Air National Guard Airmen and their active duty co-workers, the 30th Airlift Squadron.

This Week in Star Valley: September 10-17

newsrelease — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:59:21 +0000

The Independent has been covering the valley for over 100 years. Take a look at what made the headlines 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Primary election draws average turnout. (photo) These young ladies are enjoying the new slide erected in the Afton Town Park recently through a Wyoming Recreation Commission grant to help provide such facilities. (Current twisting slide at Star View park.) Bedford news: A great-great grandchild is born–Evelyn Merritt received word Saturday of the birth of her first great-great grandchild to be named Johnathon Wubker. 50-years ago: (photo) Lavell Larsen, 16-year-old 4-H'er from Thayne, shows his champion Holstein heifer at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas. Lavell won two blue ribbons with the champion heifer's sister at the sate fair last year. Ad: Register Now! Parents be wise! Give your child a good sound education in one of the oldest of the arts. Register Now for Dance Classes. Clea Putman's Dance Academy. 75-years ago: Miss Erma Taysom, daughter of A.D. Tasyom of Afton arrived home today from Oregon, where she has been doing missionary work the past 16 months. Miss Taysom expected to be gone about three months when she left, but she was not released until last week. Needless to say, she is pleased to be home. The school of the Valley started last Monday with the largest enrollment in the history of the Valley. We have not learned the number enrolled in the various towns and the Afton grades. In the high school the registration today is 365 or nine more than had registered last year on the corresponding day. Principal Holdaway states that he estimates that by he time all of the students are registered the number will be right near 400. Clark Gable Plays Thrilling Role in Film–Clark Gable's latest pictures, "Manhattan Melodrama" marking his return to the screen after his triumphal tour of the East, opens at the American Theatere Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 14, 15 and 16. 100-years ago: Grover news: The school-house is receiving a new coat of paint on the outside and the inside is also receiving some attention. The primary school will start Monday morning, the principal a month later. Our teachers are the Misses Sullivan. Mary Welchman has gone out to Cokeville for the Winter. Ad: All Hallows College, Salt Lake City, boarding and day school for boys. Class begins Wednesday, September 8, Classical, Scientific, and Commercial courses. Special department for little boys, under the care of a trained teacher. Gymnasium and Millitary Drill under the direction of special instructors . For temrs and information, apply to Very Rev. J. J. Guian, S.M., President. Ad: Hamilins Wizard Oil, great for pain. The oil that penetrates.

Independent Obituaries: September 3, 2009

newsrelease — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:59:08 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the September 3, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Gail Dixon Burton, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009 at his home in Salem, Utah. He was born Feb. 10, 1921 in Afton to Arthur Fielding and Kittie Calpurna Dixon Burton. He attended schools in Wyoming and graduated from Star Valley High School. He also attended from Utah State University. He married his eternal sweetheart, Eileen Warner, in Logan, Utah. She passed away on July 30, 2003. They are the parents of five children. Gail was a rancher in Star Valley for most of his life until moving to Utah in 1972. He was then employed at BYU in facilities for 16 years. He enjoyed travel, reading, and was an avid outdoorsman. He was also a professional toe-tweaker. Gail especially loved to support the missionaries. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gail served in many capacities, including Bishop, Bishopric Counselor twice, Young Men’s President, High Councilor, Temple Worker with his beloved wife, and as a Provo Tabernacle Tour Missionary. He is survived by his children, Joyce (Mack) Slye, Salem, Utah; Kittie (Ralph) Hoggan, Kearns, Utah; Dru (Cheryl) Burton, Orem, Utah; and Bret Burton, Salem, Utah. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and his brother, Reese Burton, Lincoln, Calif. Gail was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Warner Burton; a son, Warner Dixon Burton; his parents; one brother; and eight sisters. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Salem 2nd Ward Chapel, 60 South Main Street, Salem, Utah. Family and friends may call on Thursday evening, Sept. 3, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. or on Thursday morning at the church from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Salem City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. John Henry Lecoeuvre, 89, passed away quietly in his Alpine home on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. He was born on Oct. 24, 1919 in Grafton, Ma. John had a successful electrical business in Grafton and retired in 1982. The John and his wife, Louise, moved to Alpine. John loved Star Valley. He loved hunting, helping round up the cattle, building lodgepole furniture and golfing with all his friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; and a son, Richard. He is survived by his son, Robert, Toccoa, Ga.; his daughter, Denise Harmon, Star Valley Ranch; and stepsons, William Cove, Waterbury, Vt.; and George Cove, Westbord, Ma. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren. Memorial services were held on Aug. 18, 2009 in Schwab’s Mortuary in Thayne. The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the August 27, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Delman A. Johns was born May 1, 1937 in Afton, to Arlene and Albert Johns. He was born many weeks premature, which set the stage for life of fragile health. Del was always a hard worker, and started off at a young age delivering newspapers and working along side his dad in the butcher shop. In High School, Del participated in football, basketball, and baseball. he saved his money to buy nice clothes and was voted "best dressed" in high school. He received straight A's and was runner-up for an academic scholarship, despite rarely opening a book during those four years. he graduated high school in 1955, then attended the University of Wyoming, graduating with a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. he later attended the University of Arizona, graduating with a master's in Aeronautical Engineering. Del married his high school sweetheart, Coralie Beth Brown, in August 1958. Last year they were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with many friends and family in attendance. Together Coralie and Del traveled with Del's career in the Air Force. Some of the places they lived were Texas, Mississippi, California, Washington, Wyoming, Alabama, North Dakota, Arizona, New York, Utah and Florida, finally retiring in Santa Maria, Calif. Del advanced to the rank of Colonel in the Air Force. Two of his most accomplished jobs were teaching Engineering to the cadets at West Point and being Operations Manager to the space shuttle in Cape Canaveral Florida. After 23 years of service in the Air Force, he went to work for 15 years at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Del loved traveling the country and seeing new things. He and Coralie were able to travel Europe when Cyndi completed her mission. He also went to Hawaii and many other places around the country. His retirement years were spent playing golf, and doting on his grandchildren. He spent many hours traveling to and watching their ball games and musical events. For the past 40 years Del had many illnesses including a kidney transplant 16 years ago. With unbelievable optimism and faith, he conquered these many health trials, but his body finally got tired and worn out, and he succumbed to this last health battle, cancer, on August 18, 2009. Del is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Draney of Afton and Cyndi Earl of Reno, Nev.; 12 grandchildren; brother Farrel Johns, and sister Layna Haderlie of Afton. He was preceded in death by his wife Coralie and his parents. Burial took place in Afton on August 22 with military honors. Sarah Cleo Larson passed away unexpectedly Aug. 10, 2009. Cleo was born Oct. 11, 1920 to Richard H. and Mary Penninah Cameron Horton, the youngest of seven children. She grew up in Idaho and married Myron H. "Doc" Larson. They were married on June 15, 1940 and were sealed 50 years later in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on their golden anniversary. Doc and Cleo raised two sons: Jerry and Dickie in Star Valley. Later they moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to family. Cleo is survived by her son, Jerry (Judy) Larson; five grandchildren: Jeff (Angela) Larson; Kim (Rick) Galloway; Bryan (Allison) Rock; Chris Larson; Matt (Kathy) Larson; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Doc; a son, Dickie; and six siblings.

Lady Braves and Braves dominate home invitational

dahlerickson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:48 +0000

It's pretty rare to see what's referred as a perfect score in Cross-Country circles. On Wednesday afternoon, Star Valley did it twice. Sweeping all top five positions in both the boys and girls races, Star Valley finished with a perfect score of 15. Soda Springs finished second in the girl's race, albeit short of their normal selves. Lyman finished a distant second on the boy's side. Individually, Randi Robinson won the girls side with team mate Hailey Ricks right behind her. Brooke and Brittney Nethercott were also close behind in third and fourth. In fact, the Lady Braves finished in the top eight positions to totally dominate the field. The Braves nearly matched their female counterparts as Jared Inskeep won the boy's side, followed closely by team mate David Livingston. The Braves finished in the top six spots and eight of the top ten overall. Click the link below for an exclusive audio reaction from SVHS X-C Assistant Coach, Corena Ricks, as she also shares her opinions on where the program is headed in Star Valley. Girls (1st Place) 15 pts 1- Randi Robinson (Sr) 21:50 2- Hailey Ricks (Fr) 21:58 3- Brittney Nethercott (So) 22:18 4- Brooke Nethercott (So) 22:22 5- Ashley Hall (So) 23:30 6- Abby McArthur (Jr) 23:40 7- Aislinn Lewis (Sr) 24:06 8- Kirsten McKen (Sr) 25:35 Boys (1st Place) 15 Pts 1- Jared Inskeep (Jr) 19:29 2- David Livingston (Fr) 19:33 3- Mike Rider (Jr) 20:13 4- Nathan Merritt (Jr) 20:20 5- Taylor Kennington (Jr) 20:28 6- Cody Rich (Sr) 20:43 8- Logan Christensen (Jr) 20:43 10 - Caleb McArthur (Jr) 21:34

The Dahl E. Llama looks at Week 2 in the Mountain West

dahlerickson — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:39:59 +0000

It's hard to top BYU's win over #3 Oklahoma. But the MWC will have the opportunity when #2 Texas travels to Laramie. By far the biggest news of the opening weekend in college football was BYU roughing up Oklahoma and then making the third largest jump in the polls after the initial ranking by leapfrogging all the way up from #20 to #9. It's very deserved by the way. Anybody who watched that last drive to take the lead knows what the Cougars are made of. I used to pick on former QB John Beck due to his inclination to cry in certain media moments. Not Max Hall. That is one cool gunslinger. As for the selections, the Llama went 6-2 in the opening weekend, ironically missing both Big-12 defeats in BYU and CSU. Perhaps it's because these are my two least favorite teams. Although Utah is rapidly climbing. This week sees the Texas Longhorns travel to Laramie to take on the Cowboys as the highest ranked team to ever visit the Cowboy State. They are the highest non-conference team to play at War Memorial since Arizona State was #11 back in the 1970's. A game the Cowboys won by the way. If you see a rotund man wearing a hardhat trying to pull down the goal posts after a Wyoming win, you'll know it is me. Without further windbaggery, here's the picks for Week 2 in the Mountain West Conference. Air Force Falcons (1-0) @ Minnesota Frozen Quadrupeds (1-0) - Even as I write this, I think the Falcons just scored again. Dropping 73 points on hapless Nicholls State seems cruel, but admit it, you noticed the score didn't you? Meanwhile, the Rodents, I mean Gophers, had to hold off a team that had a guy playing quarterback that had played basketball for the past four years. I think this is a game the Falcons win in a game that I honestly don't think will be that close. Llama says: Falcons 38-17. BYU Shoulder Shredders (1-0) @ Tulane Ambiguous Non-Offensive Mascots (0-1)- In all honesty, I'm sad Sam Bradford got hurt. He along with Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow all rolled the dice and as the three best QB's in the country all came back to give us a show their senior seasons. I hope he get's back soon and the Sooners can go on a run. BYU not only won that game, but they controlled it. 37 minutes of ball control and a stop on seven straight plays at the goal line. The Wave got smoked by Tulsa who kind of reminds me of BYU. Potent offensive weapons to be sure. Tulane won't have the offense to keep up and Bronco will make sure his team won't let down. Llama says: Cougars 41-17. Weber State (0-1) @ csu sheep (1-0) - First off, I'm tired of seeing write ups that allude to the idea that Weber scared Wyoming. It was an absolute beatdown with five forced turnovers and a vaunted WSU running game that had negative six yards at the half. If anything, I'm still mystified by the Pokes' move to play yard ball in the last six minutes. Maybe it was possum, but it was certainly annoying. CSU won their game in Boulder, but I'm not so much impressed or surprised. CU is a team that's full of hot air as well as other items. I think WSU could win this game if the Sheep don't remember to run the ball. Averaging over 4.0 yards per carry against the Buffs, the Rams should be able to wear down the 'Cats. However, if they play stupid, they can certainly loose this game. Llama says: Sheep - 28-14 Tulsa (1-0) @ New Mexico (0-1) - I think New Mexico fans are finally starting to appreciate Rocky Long. They were competitive for so long with Long that they forgot how much of a doormat they used to be. Tulsa should have little trouble in this one as they will likely score enough points in the first half to secure the win. Llama says: Hurricane - 42-13 Southern Utah @ SDSU Aztecs (0-1) - On paper this looks like a nice opportunity for a bounce back game for the 'Tecs, but SUU is not walkover. I think the MWC prevails here, but it's closer than most people think. Llama says: Aztecs - 31-30 TCU Pointy Reptiles @ Oh No Virginia (0-1) - Not only would TCU dominate this game in theory anyway with an extra week to prepare, but Virginia was dismantled by William & Mary AT HOME last week. That's not a popular singing duo in the '60's, that's a football team that took the Cavs to the woodshed. TCU and Patterson will cruise in this game on the back of their speedy defense. Llama says - Frogs 38-12 Oregon State Dirty Rodents (1-0) @ UNLV Point-Shavers (1-0) - This is where UNLV decides whether or not they are going to live up to early pre-season hype and a possible bowl game. I think OSU pulls away late to win this game. Llama says: Beavers - 27-17. Utah Utes (1-0) @ San Jose State (0-1) - Well, you don't really want to start by heading into L.A. and facing the Trojans as evidenced by SJSU's lopsided loss to USC. The path doesn't get any easier as Utah has had 10 days to prepare for an away game. Utah's defense will have a field day against the Spartans as Utah moves their winning streak to 16 games. Llama says: Utes - 38-10 Texas Longhorns @ Wyoming Cowboys - I was pretty neutral coming into this weekend on my hatred meter, but the arrogance of some of the Longhorn fans have gotten my dander up. Games are played on the field, not on the depth chart. Fans have to get to Laramie from Austin, not an easy task, and the Wyoming crowd that seemed to be in cruise control against Weber State will be in full blown four-alarm mode on Saturday afternoon. The actual Texas players and coaches have been nothing but cordial. Mack Brown even reminisced about watching Wyoming play LSU in the Sugar Bowl in the '60's and how all Texans know about Jay Novacek. They're smart and they likely saw what BYU did to OU and have taken any idea of overlooking the Cowboys and filed it in the trash. Wyoming was clearly holding some things back last week. Coach Christensen will throw the kitchen sink at the Longhorns this week because they have very little to lose minus players themselves. Wyoming's defensive line will need to get pressure on McCoy and the secondary will have to be like a blanket on Shipley if the Pokes want to stay in the game. That being said, I picked the Pokes to win when they went 1-10 under Koenning, so you know where I'm going with this one. Llama says: COWBOYS - 31-28 Well, there you go, good luck to the teams out of conference, and especially the Pokes. Special awareness to Wyoming soldiers in harm's way are in our hearts and minds this weekend, especially the 115th Fires Brigade. Powder River, Let 'er Buck!

Star Valley sweeps Riverton on the court and the field

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:44:01 +0000

The Braves used two fourth quarter touchdowns to come from behind and edge the visiting Riverton Wolverines, 14-13 to move to 1-1 on the season. The Lady Braves didn't have quite as much drama as they swept the Lady Wolverines in three. Junior Logan Abrams passed for a 29-yard touchdown to senior James Bowers and senior Elio Merino scampered for a two-point conversion as Star Valley took the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, 8-7. Riverton, who had been backed up on two successive plays and faced a third and 16 from their own 16, saw Jarrett Watson fire a perfect strike to Justin Graham who outraced the Braves for an 84-yard touchdown rocket. Star Valley, trailing 13-8 with just 3:31 remaining, saw a pair of catches go to senior Mark Van Slyke who finished the game with 84 yards receiving. Van Slyke bullied his way all the way to the three-yard line before sophomore Ridge Hillyard punched in the go ahead score, 14-13. Behind a very stiff defensive effort, Alex Cooper sealed the game with an interception. The defense only allowed 97 total yards. Star Valley finished with 266 total yards, including 165 on the ground. Hillyard finished with 87 yards and a score while Abrams rushed for 56 yards, and passed for 62 more and a touchdown. On the volleyball court, the Lady Braves survived a very close opening game to claim the opening stanza, 27-25. Game two was much more manageable as gals in gold won 25-15 and then 25-18 to complete the sweep. It was the first home match of the season for the team and it moved them to 1-0 in conference. "They really played well," stated Head Coach Kathy Robinson. "They were up and ready to go and we really hit the ball well tonight. In addition our defense just picked up everything."

Rangers charge two for attempted poaching

newsrelease — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:44:08 +0000

Grand Teton National Park rangers arrested one man and cited another during an investigation of an attempted poaching of a bull elk in the park. Ryan Palmer, age 25, and his 32-year-old brother Tracy Palmer, both residents of Rawlins, Wyoming, were cited for resource violations, drug violations, and weapons violations. They will each face a mandatory appearance in federal court for multiple charges. About 2 a.m. on Thursday, Ryan Palmer was driving his Chevy truck down Highway 26/89/191 near the Snake River Overlook when a Teton County deputy sheriff stopped him for swerving in the road. The deputy sheriff performed an investigation for alcohol-related violations, and consequently cited Palmer for possession of an open container. During the investigation, the deputy sheriff also learned that Ryan’s brother, Tracy, had been let off near the Triangle X Ranch in pursuit of a bull elk with a bow and arrow. The deputy sheriff notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center, and park rangers responded to both locate Tracy and conduct an interview of Ryan in the investigation of a possible wildlife poaching. During the roadside interview with Ryan, other violations were discovered; as a result of the evidence, rangers arrested Ryan and took him into custody. Rangers discovered that the Palmer brothers had driven to Jackson Hole to hunt elk on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the brothers decided to spotlight wildlife—an illegal activity in Grand Teton National Park. They spotted a bull elk with its harem of cows about one mile south of Triangle X Ranch, and armed with a bow and quiver of arrows, Tracy got out of the vehicle to shoot the animal. Ryan apparently drove on down the highway after seeing the deputy sheriff’s patrol car, leaving his brother behind in the brush. After a systematic search, park rangers eventually located Tracy about 9:30 in the morning as he emerged from the underbrush and approached the road in an effort to hitch a ride. Tracy Palmer was subsequently charged with illegally spotlighting, discharging of a weapon in a national park, and attempting the illegal take of wildlife; he was cited and released. During the interview of Ryan, evidence of other illegal activity was discovered; rangers found illegal drugs (methamphetamine) and paraphernalia, as well as several loaded firearms in his vehicle. Ryan Palmer was charged with illegally spotlighting, possession of drugs, and illegal possession of loaded firearms, in addition to the citation he received from the deputy sheriff for possession of an open container. Ryan is being held in the Teton County jail pending a more serious charge for felony possession of firearms. Rangers later returned to the area of the possible poaching and searched for evidence of blood or an animal carcass, but none was found. At this time, it appears that Tracy missed his intended target; however, the investigation is ongoing.

This Week in Star Valley: September 17-24

newsrelease — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:18:15 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has not missed a weekly edition since February of 1901. Take a look back as what made pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Property Taxes Raised Unfairly–The state board of equalization ordered all assessors in all counties to raise the assessed value of lots to 8% of current market value. Most counties (including Lincoln) complied with that order. . . . It has just been discovered that five counties (Teton, Sublette, Weston, Carbon and Laramie) failed to comply with the order. The state board then violated its own order and approved the assessment abstracts of those five counties illegally. 50-years ago: A change in one of the assigned visitors to the Star Valley Stake Quarterly Conference at Afton Saturday and Sunday was announced today by E. Francis Winters, stake president. Afton's Airstrip Project Completed, Now in Use–No longer will the problems of muddy airstrip plague pilots who land and take off at Afton. Ad: At IGA, cucumbers, $.05 each; grapes, $.14/ lb.; yams, $.09/ lb. 75-years ago: Pall of Sadness Cast over Valley by the Untimely Death of Gerald Call–South Ward Chapel filled to capacity to pay last respects to young man who passed away leaving young widow and child. Gerald P. Call, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. J. Call of Afton, passed away late last Thursday night from poisoning due to a ruptured appendix. . . . Gerald would have been 20 years old last Sunday. He was married to Wanda Haderlie of Thayne a year ago last June, and to this union a baby girl was born several months ago. The wife and baby, his parents and several brothers and sister survive him. 10,000 Acres of Valuable Timberland Burned over During last few Days–500 men working day and night in effort to control most disastrous fire in history of Wyoming National Forest. Fire thought to be under control unless new outbreaks. A man caused fire, which was located in Pearson Creek, Monday, Sept.17, has been fanned by high winds . . . C C C men have been secured from Logan, Paris and Fremont. E.C.W. camps to assist in combating flames. Practically all available men from Kemmerer, Cokeville and Star Valley were secured to work on fire. 100-years ago: Rules for Dealing with the Fly Nuisance–Keep the flies away from the sick, especially those ill with contagious diseases. Kill every fly that strays into the sick room. His body is covered with disease germs. Do not allow decaying material of any sort to accumulate on or near your premises. If you see flies, you may be sure that their breeding place is in nearly filth. It may be behind the door, under the table or in the cuspidor. To Kill Flies–The London "Lancet" the leading medical journal of the world, says that the best and simplest fly killer is a weak solution of formaldehyde in water (two teaspoonfuls to the pint) Place in plates or saucers through the house . Ten cents worth of formaldehyde will last an ordinary family all summer. It has no offensive smell, is fatal to disease organisms, and is practically non-poisonous except to insects.

New UW nutrition educator will serve Lincoln County

newsrelease — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:32:20 +0000

A bilingual University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES) nutrition and food educator based in Sweetwater County will provide educational programs for a five-county area. Jossy Ibarra begins Thursday, Sept. 17. Counties she will serve in addition to Sweetwater include Lincoln, Sublette, Teton and Uinta. A native of Mexico, she received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics in 2006 from The University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. She also obtained her registered dietician certification and is a licensed dietitian in Texas. Ibarra has spent the past three years working as a clinical dietitian with dialysis patients in Texas, said Susan James, UW CES federal relations and staff development coordinator. “Jossy brings an exceptional nutrition background to the position. She understands health and nutrition issues, which will be relevant to individuals and families in Wyoming,” said James. “She is fluent in Spanish and English, which will also be a tremendous asset to Wyoming extension.”

Independent Obituaries: September 10

newsrelease — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:35:43 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the September 10, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 Douglas A Barrus, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather went home to his sweetheart, June, and our Heavenly Father. He was 88 years old. He was born March 29, 1921. He married June Brown on Oct. 9, 1946. She died on May 22, 1986. He then married Venna Kennington on Sept. 8, 1987. Doug grew up hunting, fishing, working hard and loving the beautiful Star Valley. He served a mission for the LDS church in Northern California. Following his mission he served as a Marine in the Marshall Islands during World War II. He spent his life as a teacher, principal, and education director for the Bureau of Reclamation Job Corps. Doug was a dedicated servant of the Lord. He held many church callings and fulfilled many responsibilities including that of Bishop in the Clearfield Second Ward and as a member of the Stake Presidency in the Clearfield Stake. Doug and Venna happily served a mission together and worked in the Idaho Falls Temple for many years. He had a kind heart and was always giving to others. He was an example of stalwart gospel living. He was a talented singer with a beautiful bass voice that gave many hours of pleasure to all who heard him. He was a fun loving father and grandfather. His sense of humor and warm ways have become a legend among his family. His familiar sayings are quoted daily by each generation, and none of us escaped the 7 a.m. Saturday morning wakeup call “Are You Up For All Day?” Doug was preceded in death by his parents, 11 brothers and sisters, his wife June and his infant son Ren. He is survived by a sister Lucy Wilkes; his wife Venna; his four children Barry (Jean); Kim (Beth); Ryan (Marge); Derena (Bob); and his step children, Melanie (Nolan); Jim (Dixie); Irene (Dallas deceased); Kevan (Kathy); Karen (Steve); Garry (Joyce). Doug, June, and Venna shared the joy of many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sept. 12, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Fairview LDS Ward Chapel. Friends and family may call from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. Graveside services for Ray McNeel, 77, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Afton Cemetery. Visitation with family and friends will take place on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 from 3-9 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary in Afton. Raymond Waugh McNeel was born on Aug. 29, 1932 in Afton to Glidden and Elizabeth McNeel the second child of 10 and the oldest son of seven boys. He passed away on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was raised on the McNeel family ranch in Alpine and attended elementary school in Etna. He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1952 and in 1958 he went to a welding trade school in Cleveland, Ohio. Raymond was inducted into the U.S. Army and served in South Korea. He received an honorable discharge from the military in 1957 and returned to Alpine where he worked on the family ranch and in the Glidden McNeel and Sons Hunting Camp on Elk Creek. In 1965 he moved to Huntington Beach, Calif., where he was married to Penny Heap. Raymond worked at various jobs in California until 1966 when he took a job with McDonnell Douglas. He worked a total of 28-years with McDonnell Douglas before retirement. After his retirement in 1995 he spent summers and falls in Wyoming and moved back to California during the winter months. Raymond became a resident of the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo in March of 2005 where he lived until the time of his death. Raymond attended a school of dance in California and spent his leisure time on a ballroom dance floor and touring the state in his black corvette. He had a deep passion for fly fishing and spent many hours fishing on the Snake River, Greys River and Salt River near the family home and also in the Wind River Mountains. He is survived by four children and their families; one son Matthew McNeel of Idaho Falls, Idaho; three daughters Amy Chord of Francis, Utah; Audra Shumway of Cottonwood, Idaho; and Jana Bryant of Afton; four brothers Paul McNeel of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Edwin, Merrill and J.C. McNeel all of Star Valley; and three sisters Julia Ritchey of Buffalo; and Erna Deutz and Cheryl Tarrell both of Grafton, N.D. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Glen R. and Clifton L. McNeel. Funeral services for Don Wendell Wood, 95, will be held on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Afton Third/Fourth Ward LDS Chapel. A meeting with family and friends will begin at 10 a.m., prior to funeral services at the church. Funeral services for Caitlyn Nelson, the daughter of Jeremy and Meghan Nelson, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 at the Thayne LDS Stake Center at 1 p.m. Viewings will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Thayne mortuary and Saturday at noon prior to funeral services at the church.

Braves and Lady Braves sweep Evanston event

dahlerickson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:26:14 +0000

For the second time in seven days the Lady Braves and Braves Cross-Country teams both took first place in their event. Last week, both teams dominated as they hosted a small contingent from Idaho at the Star Valley Invitational. This week with conference foes Evanston and Green River in attendance the result was the same. The Lady Braves posted their second straight perfect score, sweeping the top five positions with Randi Robinson, Hailey Ricks, Brittney and Brooke Nethercott and Ashley Hall. The Braves placed all five top runners in the top ten as Jared Inskeep placed fourth with his best time of the season while the Braves also took top honors. David Livingston, Mike Rider, Nathan Merritt and Taylor Kennington rounded out the top five for the team. The Lady Braves of course finished with 15 points, while Green River came in with four straight runners to claim second place with 43 points. Evanston placed third with 72 points. The Braves edged Green River by a single point 46 to 47. Evanston placed third with 64 points. Girls 1st: Randi Robinson 21:28 2nd: Hailey Ricks 21:37 3rd: Brooke Nethercott 21:43 4th: Brittney Nethercott 21:44 5th: Ashley Hall 22:14 Boys 4th: Jared Inskeep 18:49 5th: David Livingston 19:10 7th: Nathan Merritt 19:27 9th: Mike Rider 19:32 10th: Cody Rich 19:43 11th: Taylor Kennington 19:55

Independent Obituaries: September 17, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:45:45 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the September 17, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Don Wendel Wood, 95, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 at Sunshine Terrace Rehabilitation Center in Logan, Utah after a short illness. Don was born Feb. 17, 1914 in Auburn to Daniel Thomas and Susie May Walton Wood. He was the ninth child in a family of 13 children. Don grew up in Auburn and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1934. In high school he participated in the sports of boxing, wrestling and football. Don married Leona Irene Jenkins on Jan. 6, 1938 in the Logan LDS Temple. They were the parents of two children, Dorald J. and Mary Lou. Don worked for the Forest Service in Afton and then attended trade school in Laramie, studying mechanics, welding and took electrical classes. A few months after graduating, because the war was on, Don was on route to San Diego to work at the Navy shipyards. However, in Provo he found a need for his welding skills to help build Geneva Steel Plant. He later worked at the Navy Supply Depot in Ogden, maintaining the equipment on base. Don moved his family back to Thayne, where he worked for Bill Newswander as a mechanic. In 1946 he opened his own welding business in Afton and in 1947 his business grew into Don Wood Tractor Company. Don took pride in serving the agricultural community for almost 50 years, selling and servicing tractors and farm equipment and irragations systems. Don was a member of the Intermountain Hardware Dealers, serving as a director, vice president and president. Don loved to fish, hunt and golf and enjoyed watching basketball, football and baseball. He was an avid Jazz fan as well. Following his retirement, Don enjoyed spending the winters in Arizona and Southern Utah. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was active in community service including being involved with the Lion’s Club and the local fire department for 20 years. Don was actively involved in helping to build the first Afton Golf Course and was willing to help where he was needed. He is remembered as a hard working, generous, kind man and a friend to all. Don moved to the Pioneer Valley Lodge in Logan in 2005, where he resided until his death. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Russell, Percy, Jesse, Denzil, Earl and Verl; sisters, Bertha Leavitt, Ada Hillyard, Ila Wilkes, Lula Griffiths, and Elgin Johnson Anderson. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Leona; his second wife, Arlene Johns; and his son, Dorald. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Lou (Delton) Herget of Lethbride, Alberta, Canada; his daughter-in-law, Betty Wood; 11 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren; and one brother, Tom (Virgie) Wood of Montpelier. Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 in Afton. Interment took place in the Afton Cemetery. Caitlyn Nelson, born May 3, 2003, passed away on Sept. 8, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. Caitlyn faced this demon with a smile, courage and great strength. She never complained or let others know she was hurting. Caitlyn will always be remembered for her kindness and love. She loved her family very much, and everyone she met. She will always be remembered for her smile and how she could enter a room and brighten everyone’s day. She was always singing, telling a story or a joke. Our family was blessed with an angel, and she touched everyone she came into contact with. And our lives will never be the same. Caitlyn is survived by her father and mother, Jeremy and Meghan Nelson. She is also survived by her brother, Cameron; and sister, Rebeka. Caitlyn is also survived by her grandparents, Margaret and Orson Brierly; Lee and Janet Schwab; great grandmother, Nevada Reynolds, great grandmother Mary Butler; and countless uncles, aunts and cousins. All we can say is “Caitlyn, keep smiling. We will meet again. We love you.” Funeral services for Ella Thompson will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 in the Third/Forth LDS Ward Chapel at 11 a.m. Viewings will be held Friday, Sept. 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and again on Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church.

The Dahl E. Llama looks at Week 3 in the Mountain West and Wyoming 3A

dahlerickson — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:41:54 +0000

Yup, the Longhorns are pretty good. But can the Buffaloes turn back Wyoming in week three? The Llama's game of the week in Wyoming 3A is Buffalo traveling to Powell in a game of unbeatens. Well, the Dahl E. Llama went an impressive 7-2 in the Mountain West. Imagine if the Cowboys had been able to pull it together for another half. Oh well, it was fun and even in the loss the Pokes gained confidence. This week, there are still some opportunities for the conference to keep the ball rolling, most notably, the Cougars hosting Florida State and the Cowboys going into the People's Republic of Boulder. Air Force Falcons @ New Mexico - The Falcons burned me last week, but I blame myself for not knowing that Minnesota was opening a new stadium. This week Troy Calhoun's flyboys travel to New Mexico for a chance to keep the Lobos winless. After a disappointing effort and UNM's offense completely stagnant, look for an Air Force win this weekend. Llama says: Falcons - 31-10 Florida State @ #7 BYU Cougars - When this game was scheduled, it looked like an opportunity for an upset of sorts with the Seminoles invading Provo. Now? If the Y? loses this game it would be a huge setback. Florida State presents some challenges with some real speed at linebacker and in the secondary, but it's the sheer number of weapons for the 'Cats that make the difference this week. Look for a big game from Max Hall to enter his name into the Heisman discussion. Llama says: - Y? 38-17 Nevada Wolfpack @ CSU Rams - Is there any team more lucky than CSU last week? You're about to go down to Weber State and the Wildcats fumble while trying to center the spot of the ball for the game-winning chip shot. CSU might be 2-0, but they don't really deserve it. I think this game is close, but Nevada comes out on top. Llama says: Pack - 27-14 SDSU Aztecs @ Idaho Vandals - I never understood the University of Idaho's name. What? Muggers was taken? Thugs? Why not the Idaho Misdemeanors? Well, this game will actually be a little closer than people think while Brady Hoke is trying to build some confidence with this weak schedule. It will bite them in the long run because the MWC as a whole is moving onward and upward. Llama says: Aztecs - 34-27. Texas State @ #15 TCU - I said this during the week, there is so much talent in Texas, that's why so many schools are so good there. Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU . . . . . . not Texas State. Llama says: Froggies - 44-6. Hawaii @ UNLV - I've flip-flopped on this one so many times. My considerable gut is telling me to go with the Rainbow Warriors. (Yes, I know they've changed this, but I was not consulted) But with Hawaii's traditional difficulty in flying across the ocean to play, I'm going to go with the Point Shavers. Llama says: Shavers - 27-24. #16 Utah Utes @ Oregon Ducks - Utah has hardly gotten off to a stellar start. Yes, they are 2-0, but they were ugly wins against lesser opponents. All due respect to the Aggies and Spartans. I'm not seeing smart football from the Utes, and heading into Oregon with a ranking and the Ducks still trying to sort out their season after "the punch", I think Oregon wins this one. Llama says: Ducks - 31-24. Wyoming Cowboys @ Colorado Buffaloes - "10 Wins and no excuses" This was Dan Hawkins' mantra before this season. I doubt he had "A bewildering loss to CSU and a beatdown by Toledo" as his backup motto. A friend of mine said that if Wyoming goes into The People's Republic of Boulder and wins, that Hawk might be packing his bags. I tend to agree. Wyoming's defense is playing as well as it ever did under the previous regime and I think an early score from the Cowboys will have the Buffs on their heels. I wonder if Boise State would ever trade Chris Peterson for Hawkins. I don't think you'd find one person in Idaho who would. Llama says: COWBOYS - 31-21. Now onto the Wyoming 3A Ranks. I'll admit there are a few teams that have me scratching my head. Cody and Worland to name them. Cody lost virtually every significant starter from last year's conference champs on offense, yet have scored over 100 points in two weeks. Worland had all sorts of returning players and are struggling mightily. There's still a lot of ball left to be played, but those two teams are very confusing to me right now. Buffalo @ Powell - Powell is a scrappy program. With the loss of the Mills Bros, everyone wondered what they would do offensively. While I think it's still a work in progress, the Panthers are going to win their share of games it seems. This year's Buffalo team reminds me of the squad two years ago. You know, the one that was rebuilding and went 10-1 and almost won the state title. Their defense will carry their team until the offense gets on track. If it does, they'll be playing in November again. I think this is a watershed game for both campaigns and Buffalo does just enough to win on the road. Llama says: Bison - 17-13. Torrington @ Cody - This is a very intriguing matchup. No question the Blazers have some talent in the running game, but Cody has just been lights out offensively so far this year. So, who have they played? Well, I'll admit I know nothing about Hardin, Montana, but I've noticed that his is usually a hard-fought rivalry over the years and the 43-0 blanking has me opening my eyes to the Broncs. The blowout over Rawlins doesn't do anything for me because the Outlaws are struggling again. This is a game where we find out where both teams sit. The edge goes to Cody because there's no way that's a short drive. Llama says: Broncs - 31-17. Alliance Neb. @ Douglas Bearcats - Suddenly Star Valley's 42-0 loss to Douglas doesn't look so bad in the wake of the 65-0 game they posted on Jackson. I have no reason to doubt the 'Cats at this point. Llama says - Bearcats - 28-7. Rawlins @ Jackson - The whispers from this game is that it's between two struggling teams. Well, one of them is going to get a W out of it. I think Coach Wiley gets enough from his kids to protect the new home turf and collect his second win of the year. Llama says - Broncs again - 21-20. Lander @ Riverton - What a great rivalry game. I love it when two teams so close together have such a tense match up. I think the Tigers' defense will stifle the Wolverine O. Llama says - Tigers - 17-3. Wheatland @ Worland - The Warriors have had a pretty tough opening slate with Buffalo and Torrington. This is a vital game for them. If they can't hold serve against Wheatland, it's going to be a long year for the Warriors who had much loftier aspirations. I think they win, and the mind game continues. Llama says - Warriors - 21-14. Star Valley @ Marsh Valley - Well, most teams don't know much about the Idaho schools the Braves play every year. The Eagles bunch it up and run 11 guys in between the hash marks a lot of the time and they've been running it since the kids are in pee-week ball. By the time they are varsity, this eat-up-the-clock type of offense can be demoralizing. The Braves broke through with a win last year, and the JV won last night 28-8. I think the strength of the Bravos right now is the defense and they do just enough to help the team keep things going in the right direction. Llama says: Braves - 17-14. Well, there ya go. Please keep in mind these are all opinions, and if you want to have a discourse, please do so, but keep it civil. Enjoy the weekend, and god speed to all of our Wyoming soldiers.

This Week in Star Valley: September 24

dahlerickson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:49:27 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 100 years. Check out what was in the news 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: (photo) The grandchildren of Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Simpson, Elizabeth Stevig, 2, and Erick Simpson, 5, show the huge Kuta squash their grandmother, Wilda, grew in her organic garden. The squash were the result of volunteer growth from seeds mixed with the compost used in the garden. The squash[es] weighted [9 lbs. & 14.5 lbs.] Mrs. Simpson grows 19 to 21 different vegetables in her organic garden prepared from compost of her own preparation. The Simpson reside in Turnerville. 50-years ago: The Palisades Dam Project was formally dedicated Saturday in a ceremony at the dam attend by federal and Idaho state officials. Fred A. Seaton, Secretary of the Interior, gave the dedicatory speech. About 300 persons were present. . . .The Palisades Dam Project embraces the largest earth-fill dam ever constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the tenth largest in the world, and a 1,400,000 acre-foot reservoir. It cost about 80 million dollars. Its generators produce about 144,000 kilowatts of power, part of which is consumed in Star Valley, Jackson Hole and Swan Valley. The rock faced dam is 273 feet high 2,200 feet long at the crest, 2250 feet wide at the base, and 40 feet wide at the crest It has a total volume of approximately 13,800,000 cubic yards. Flood control and recreation are included in the benefits along with irrigation and power. 75-years ago: Edgar Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Erickson of Freedom, slipped to Idaho Falls with Twila Allen and they were married on Monday of last week. Edgar is a very thrifty young man, employed at the creamery in Freedom. Twila is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Annie Allen Yeaman, and well prepared to make this young man a splendid wife. We all join in wishing them a happy and prosperous sojourn. Star Valley Wins from Jackson–Star Valley outplayed their slightly smaller opponents for a victor y of 33 to 0 in a fast football game at Jackson Friday, Sept. 21. Never once was the Star Valley goal threatened. The local boys scored consistently all through the game. The plays which scored the most yardage were round end runs and over line plays. . . . The most spectacular part of the game was a beautiful execution of the "sleeper play" a pass from Harrison to Clinger and away for a touchdown. Ad: At American Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28, 29 and 30, Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan in "Tarzan and His Mate." More thrilling than ever in new and greater picture. A picture for the entire family. Mother will enjoy the love story. Father the fast-moving adventures, and there are thrills, for children of every age. Also News and Comedy. No advance in Adm., only 10c, 25c. 100-years ago: Auburn news: Mr. Jos. H. Walton was presented with a fine baby girl, this is the 18th member of Mr. Walton's family, and he feels justly proud of this addition. A Big Free Dance at the Auburn ball tonight. Bedford news: Mr. C.G. Heiner's addition he is building to his home makes a very big improvement to his place. The Sheep Men are moving out of the hills which will make the place seem lonesome after their summer stay with us. We are expecting to hear the hum of the thresher this week. Jack Frost has nipped everything possible now. Thank providence haying is over at last. Ad: Bees Laxative cough syrup, conforms to national pure food and drugs law.

Wyoming Game & Fish Department investigates grizzly shooting

newsrelease — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:19:59 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that a subadult female grizzly bear was shot on Saturday, September 19th, 2009. The bear was shot by an individual while hunting in the Ditch Creek drainage north of Jackson. The incident is currently under investigation. As many big game hunting seasons are now getting underway, Game and Fish officials are reminding hunters that much of Wyoming is bear country and that grizzly bears continue to expand their range south into areas they haven’t inhabited for decades. These areas include the southern Teton and southern Gros Ventre Ranges and even farther south into the northern Wyoming and Wind River Ranges. At a minimum, hunters are urged to remember five basic guidelines for preventing conflicts with bears while hunting: ● Hunt with a partner and be especially cautious while calling game ● Carry and know how to use bear spray ● Keep a clean camp ● Pack and remove downed game as soon as possible, and ● Do not attempt to scare a bear off of a carcass it has claimed

Green River sweeps Lady Braves

dahlerickson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:19:10 +0000

The Lady Wolves saw their junior varsity go down in Afton but would not share the same fate. Green River withstood some hearty net blocking by Star Valley with some very solid play in a three game sweep of the gals in gold. Game one was controlled by the Wolves from the start as they built a 6-1 lead. Star Valley never got any closer than the five-point margin as the visitors coasted to a 25-16 victory. Game two was a different story with nine ties involved before the final was cemented. Star Valley nursed a one-point advantage until midway through the game with Green River lurking. Then at 13-12, the Lady Wolves took the advantage and then never relinquished it as they prevailed in a hard-fought 25-22 victory. Game three mirrored the second with Green River never trailing by more than three points until taking the lead at 15-14 and closing out the contest, 25-21. The Lady Braves now head to Idaho to play in the Bonneville Invitational before playing the meat of their conference road schedule next week.

LCSD#2 moving to electronic school board packets

sarahhale — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:43:38 +0000

Lincoln County School District No. 2 is switching from hard copy school board packets to electronic school board packets. The decision to go electronic was made at the September meeting of the School Board. The “go live” date for the change is December 2009. Prior to that time, training on how the new program works will take place. According to Amanda Welch, administrative assistant, the program the district will use is called BoardDocs. The program is a web based system that will allow board members, school administrators and the public more access to upcoming school board meeting information. “Right now the agenda is the only document that is really available to the public or administration prior to board meeting,” said Welch. “This program will allow access to supporting documentation and information as the packet is being built.” Because BoardDocs is a web based program, board members will be able to access the school board packet via any computer with an internet connection. According to Welch, this will allow board members to have up to date information about the upcoming meeting earlier than they currently do. “Right now board packets are sent out on Thursday or Friday the week before the school board meeting,” said Welch. “By the time the school board meeting takes place, there are changes to the information and board members have two packets to keep track of. With this new program board members can view the document and make notes regarding information in the packet in their file. At the school board meeting they will have a laptop so that the packet information and any notations they have made will be right there.” According to District Superintendent Jon Abrams, the electronic school board packets will allow for more transparency and efficiency. More information will be available in a quicker time frame than ever before, he said. “As we move into the 21st Century I feel that it is important that we use the resources that are out there to aid us in making information more accessible,” said Abrams. “This program will allow us to do that.”

Independent Obituaries: September 24, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:05:00 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the September 24, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Ella Hilda Liechty Thompson was born Aug. 23, 1917 in Providence, Utah and died Sept.12, 2009 in Afton at the age of 92. Her parents were John and Anna Lena Schneider Liechty. Ella went to school in Providence and South Cache High School in Hyrum, Utah. She came from quite a musical family. Her father played the accordion and her parents belonged to the Swiss-German Choir in Logan, Utah. She and her sister Lillie would dress up in Swiss dress and sing all several types of programs in Swiss in Providence and surrounding communities. She was married to Arthur Marion Wolfley and they later divorced. Shirley and Reed were their children. Ella married George Willis Thompson on July 19, 1951. To this happy union a son was born, George, W. Thompson Jr. named after his father. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple Nov. 1, 1969. George and Ella owned the Highway Market for several years and also helped operate the Alpine Hot-Springs Swimming pool which George and Ella co-owned with Tol and Donna Chapman. Ella also cooked for the hunting camp that George and Tol operated together. George and Ella would travel with their cutter team during the winter and to different parts of the country in the summer with George’s racehorses. After they sold their hunting camp Ella cooked for the Ted Frome hunting camp. After they sold the Highway Market, she worked in several cafes in Afton. She made pies for Martha Brog at the Star Valley Swiss Cheese Co. in Thayne, was a cook for the Senior Citizens and a cook for the school for 20 years before retiring. Ella was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints throughout her life. Some of her callings included being a singing mother, teacher in the M.I.A., Sunday School and Primary; a counselor and president of the M.I.A.; chorister for different organizations and being a Relief Society Visiting Teacher for 62 years. She was honored at a Stake Conference and given a Relief Society Pin, she was also a Relief Society Supervisor and a Stake Missionary; a Den Mother for cub Scouts and a 4-H leader. Ella was proceded in death by her husband, George Willis Thompson; her parents; brothers, John, Otto, Walter, Joseph, Elmer, Ernest, Edward and Oliver Liechty; sisters, Clara Luthy, Olga Hansen, and Lillie Jensen; one daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Ella is survived by her daughter Shirley (Ralph) Haderlie; sons Reed (Shirley) Wolfley; George (Beverly) Thompson; 20 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; and 47 great-great grandchildren.

The Dahl E. Llama looks at Week 4 in the Mountain West and Wyoming 3A

dahlerickson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:39:28 +0000

This is what I'm calling the Missouri Week in this column. In other words, the "Show Me" week in terms of match ups. The Mo-West took a big pie to the face last weekend as they had a chance to further cement it's legacy only to see ranked Utah go down to unranked Oregon, Wyoming not even get off the bus in Boulder and BYU allow 50+ to visiting Florida State. I'm not sure the conference can make up what they've lost in one day, but all hopes now rest on TCU. Their trip to Clemson is now bigger than ever. In Show Me week, teams have the opportunity to check their bowels and decide if they want to be contenders or pretenders. The Mountain West and Wyoming 3A is littered with several match ups that back this up. MWC UNLV @ Wyoming - UNLV has at least shown they deserve some credit. Yes, they lost a close one to Oregon State, but they also pulled out a big win against Hawaii. Wyoming on the other hand, took two steps backward and didn't produce a single point against what appeared to be a backpeddling Colorado squad. The frustration showed. Coach Christensen announced this week that several true freshman have topped the depth chart. Austyn Carta-Samuels will start at QB, Alvester Alexander will start at tailback, and unrecruited walk-on Ian Watt will kick as the Cowboys host UNLV. In contrast, Omar Clayton is a dangerous signal-caller and a threat to run or pass to talented receivers. Wyoming better have their mind set cleared up. A loss this week puts a major dent in the rebuilding process. I'm putting it all on the defense and the young kids on offense who already lead the team in their respective statistical categories despite not starting until now. Llama says : COWBOYS - 27-21. SDSU @ Air Force - The Falcons should have an easy go of this game in their own stadium. Idaho? The Aztecs should be embarassed at last week's loss as much as anyone else I've mentioned. Llama says: Falcons - 38-14. CSU @ #19 BYU - There was a time when I called this game the toilet bowl. Can't both teams lose? Well, that's bit classless, so I'll just hope for one afternoon at least that a tire fire will break out and stink up the area around the stadium. I don't for one minute believe the Cougars will allow CSU to come in and make them lose twice in a row. I think CSU is a paper tiger, and it's time for the Y? to defend their turf. Llama says: Y? 42-17. New Mexico State @ New Mexico - I love match ups for trophies and the Silver Spade is on the line here. Both teams have really struggled this season. I think less than two touchdowns for either team is sufficient. I'll go for the home team in a close rivalry. Llama says: Los Lobos - 13-10. #14 TCU @ Clemson - All those millions of dollars in profit sharing is on the line this weekend, and every weekend now for the Horned Frogs. Death Valley isn't as intimidating as I thought it would be this year, but that doesn't mean Clemson can't pull the upset. I think it's fairly close before the Frogs pull away. Llama says: TCU - 24-14. Louisville @ Utah - Will the real Utah stand up? I guess that's an unfair question. I'm not sure who Utah is right now. When they play up to their potential, yes, they are a top-25 team. When they don't? I think they are a middle of the road MWC team. After a loss, you have to give the benefit of the doubt to Coach Whittingham who should have his troops rallied for a home game. Llama says: Utes - 31-21. Now on to the 3A Class. It's been a year of uncertainty to this point. Only one team, Douglas, has everyone convinced. Powell is better than expected, Buffalo is human and Star Valley's offense is struggling mightily. This week is one that will help clear up the picture. Douglas @ Buffalo - I've always said, at least this decade, that you have to give Buffalo the nod in close games. I just don't think this one will be that close. Buffalo's defense will keep them in it for awhile I think, but Douglas looks that much better than everyone else. At least right now. Llama says: Bearcats - 28-7. Cody @ Lander - Offense versus defense. This was the first thought that came to my head when I saw this match up. Cody has put up some gaudy numbers and they also were grounded last week. Lander has shown to be gritty, but also gave up some unorthodox points to struggling Riverton last week and had to score twice in the game's final two minutes to win. While the focus has been on the Bronc offense, it's their defense that will hold Lander under 20 points and win this game today I think. Llama says: Broncs - 21-13. Jackson @ Powell - The Panthers are young, hungry and 3-0. They aren't blowing teams out, but they are controlling every contest. Jackson has two wins, but over two programs that aren't tearing it up in Teton, Idaho and Rawlins. I expect Powell to score it's highest total of the year this week. Llama says: Panthers - 38-7. Riverton @ Rawlins - One team is definitely going home happy here. I think Riverton, though they've struggled and lost two games in the final minutes to Star Valley and Lander, is on the right track. A steady dose of Seth Hosking and the offensive line should be enough to knock off Rawlins. Llama says: Wolverines! (In honor of the last Patrick Swayze of course) - 28-3. Torrington @ Wheatland - The Blazers look to be for real as they have a couple of impressive wins under their belt. They are riding their best player and he looks to be up to the task. I think they have enough to win this one comfortably. Llama says: Blazers - 28-14. Star Valley @ Worland - This is a huge game for both teams as they start conference play. I was only off by about 40-50 points in overall swing for last week's pick. Ouch. Facing a more traditional offense, I have some pretty good feelings about the Star Valley defense. They'll have to be aware and not give up the big play. I have some real concerns about the secondary and some big passes that might occur tonight. Worland is very tough to beat if you let them have the corner. Alex Cooper and William Buckley will need to have big games for Star Valley. However, my biggest concern is how the offense performs and executes on the road. After looking to be on the right track against Riverton, the offense was battered by a huge, fast Marsh Valley squad. These two teams typically play a very tough contest and I think it stays under 20 with one team winning in the game's final five minutes. As an unapologetic Star Valley homer, I think that team will be us. Llama says: Braves - 17-14. Well, there you have it. I'm off on the road to see the last game, and here's the best of luck to all the teams that no injuries take place.

Worland capitalizes on Braves miscues, shut out Star Valley 21-0.

dahlerickson — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:54:24 +0000

There were three big plays in the game between the Worland Warriors and the Star Valley Braves. Unfortunately for Braves fans, all three were Worland touchdowns. Despite compiling a modest 211 total yards, the Worland Warriors scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half and then added another in the fourth quarter en route to a 21-0 shutout of visiting Star Valley. Robert Heyer broke half a dozen tackles to go 59 yards on a wide receiver screen scoring the game's first touchdown. After picking off Star Valley on an ill-advised pass with just 35 seconds left in the first half, Dane Dooley threw a perfect fade route to Heyer from 18 yards out to put Worland up 14-0 at the break. Both touchdowns came in just 37 seconds. Star Valley never got closer than the Worland 20 yard line and threw three interceptions which contributed to five turnovers overall. Heyer finished with three receptions for 95 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a blocked punt. He also racked up a fair amount of defensive points. Brad Hunter scored on the third touchdown with a 53-yard reverse. For the Braves, it marks the third time during the regular season that they've been shut out in four outings. Not coincidentally, they've been held to under 100 yards in those games with 99 in Friday's contest. Star Valley looks to extend their three-game home winning streak as they host Powell next Friday for Homecoming. The Panthers are 4-0 after routing Jackson 36-0. In the east, Douglas remained undefeated with an impressive 35-6 win in Buffalo.

Lady Braves place fourth at huge Bob Firman Invite

dahlerickson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:24:45 +0000

The Lady Braves Cross-Country team continues to show that they should be a squad that will be reckoned with, cementing a very good showing against some of the best high school runners in the western United States. Scroll to the bottom for a link to video from Eagle Island State Park in Boise, Idaho. Running in the Varsity Division 1 class, the Lady Braves finished with fourth place overall as a team, by far the best showing for a Wyoming school in attendance. 4A West Conference foe, Rock Springs, finished 15th at the event. Individually, Randi Robinson also earned the honor of placing in the top ten with a tenth place finish in a time of 20:07. Hailey Ricks was 16th at 20:33, Brittney Nethercott was 19th with 20:46 and Brooke Nethercott was 21st in 21:04. Abby McArthur rounded out the squad with a time of 22:28. As for the boys, Jared Inskeep ran his personal best time of 18:19 to pace the Braves who finished 20th in the huge field. Freshman, David Livingston, ran in 18:22, Michael Rider ran 18:37, Nathan Merritt finished in 19:26 and Taylor Kennington rounded out the team score with a time of 19:31. Logan Christensen also ran well, finishing in 20:31. Teams of regional note on the boy's side included Rock Springs who finished 27th and Preston who finished 24th. Both sides of the SVHS Distance Posse will be running in Bear Lake on Wednesday afternoon. Click here to visit Coach Draney's team web page with a video of the action in Boise.

More aid requests are expected among Wyoming residents

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:19:31 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Family Services expects to see an increase in the number of households seeking help from various aid programs this year. DFS Economic Assistance Administrator Heather Babbitt said the poor economy is forcing more people to turn to government aid for food, heating bills and telephone service. The agency said it's committed to creating more awareness of the issues and the services available to Wyoming residents and families who qualify. Information about programs is available at www.dfsweb.state.wy.us.

Wyoming players earn national recognition

newsrelease — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:05:17 +0000

Laramie, Wyo. (Sept. 28, 2009) -- For the second time this season, Wyoming Cowboys have been recognized by CollegeFootballPerformance.com as among the best performers at their positions in the nation. Cowboy punter Austin McCoy was named the nation’s Co-Punter Performer of the Week by CollegeFootballPerformance.com. He shared the honor with BYU’s Riley Stephenson. McCoy averaged 53.2 yards on five punts versus UNLV. He had a long punt of 60 yards, and placed one of his five punts inside the Rebel 20-yard line. Sophomore cornerback Tashaun Gipson was one of only six defensive backs nationally to be recognized this week. He was one of five Honorable Mention honoree as a defensive back. Air Force’s Reggie Rembert was named the Defensive Back Performer of the Week. Gipson intercepted two passes at critical points of the win over UNLV, and added four tackles on the day to help key Wyoming’s 30-27 MWC-opening win. Gipson’s first interception came in the third quarter with UNLV looking to break a 13-13 tie. The Rebels had a second and goal from the Wyoming 10-yard line when UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton threw a pass toward the endzone. Gipson intercepted the pass at the Wyoming’ one-yard line and returned it to the four-yard line to end the drive for the Rebels. With 7:41 remaining in the game and Wyoming having just tied the game at 27 all, Gipson intercepted his second pass of the day at the UNLV 37-yard line. Gipson’s interception set up Wyoming’s game-winning drive of 26 yards, culminating in a 28-yard field goal that gave Wyoming a 30-27 victory. Earlier this season following Wyoming’s 2009 season-opening win over Weber State, Wyoming freshman strong safety Shamiel Gary was named the Co-Defensive Back Performer of the Week, while senior defensive tackle John Fletcher was one of only five defensive linemen in the nation to earn Honorable Mention honors that week.

Johnny Miller Course expected to receive players in the Spring of 2010

dahlerickson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:14:38 +0000

Afton Mayor, Alan Stauffer, and Golf Course Superintendent, Darin Neuenschwander, discussed some of the obstacles and challenges for the 18-hole Afton Golf Course which will bear the endorsement of two-time major winner Johnny Miller. Click below for an exclusive video conversation with the two men and Dan Dockstader as they discuss some of the details and the time frames for the course.

Lady Braves win Bear Lake Invite

dahlerickson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:06:46 +0000

The Lady Braves, despite being one short of their typical top five runners, placed five girls in the top 18 and won the Bear Lake Invitational Wednesday afternoon despite wet cold conditions and snow flurries. Freshman Hailey Ricks took first place with an unofficial time of 19:56, made all the more impressive amid the less than ideal conditions in Montpelier. Brittney Nethercott placed third, Brooke Nethercott placed sixth, Ashley Hall placed 11th and Abby McArthur placed 18th as the Lady Braves beat Idaho power Soda Springs for the first time in SVXC's existence. Senior Randi Robinson who has placed first for the squad in all of their other outings to this point in the season was not was not able to run with the team due to illness. As a team, the ladies scored a 39 while Soda Springs was second with 68. Some difficulties with the timing system made it difficult to collect specific and official times on Wednesday evening. Results should be available on Thursday morning. On the boys side, it was another freshman who led the way as David Livingston paced the Braves. Mike Rider was second for the team while Jared Inskeep, Nathan Merritt and Cody Rich rounded out the varsity times. The effort was good enough for fourth overall as Idaho Falls won the boys side with Soda Springs and Preston rounding out the top three. "I was really proud of how our girls just took everything in stride," said Head Coach Ty Draney. "Bear Lake is hosting a post-season event in a couple of weeks so this meet was about twice as big as it normally is with ten teams and our girls just went out in the snow and showed what great competitors they are."

Independent Obituaries: October 1, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:59:59 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the October 1, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Gregory T. “Beam” Seith, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 at his mother’s home in Etna. His passing was quick and painless. Greg was born in Rawlins, graduated from the Palo Alto Military Academcy, a prep school for Stanford now known as the Harker Institute. He was planning to attend an alumni function around the holiday season. He studied law and completed his arbitrary and counseling courses, maintaining a 4.0 GPA . During his early years, while determining which area of work in which to make his career, he was employed in several different fields. He learned to repair and literally build autos from the ground up. Greg developed a passionate love affair for high end cars and managed the Idaho Auto Auction, which led him to own and operate a Mercedes Benz dealership. He also had a love for flying and ended up as a jet pilot. He was chief pilot for the Alberston Corp., the Duponts and former Governor Cecil Andrus to name a few. His dream was to end up in a secluded mountain town where he could look out at a lot full of old, battered cars that he could refurbish and then sell all over the world. Greg was an organ donor and they were able to use his whole body. According to the Donor Institute, his gift has already helped a number of people and he is considered a hero. The recognition is nice and comforting, but we’d take him back. Greg is survived by his mother, Wanda Jackson of Etna; his brother, Mike Beam of Etna; a sister, Sue Lee of Hawaii; an aunt, Francis Mason of Rawlins; and his three huge pets that were placed with the help of Lucky’s Place and the Jackson Hole Animal Shelter. Greg made many friends here and around the world. He will be missed. Harold Corbett Allsop, 83, of Star Valley Ranch, WY, passed peacefully into the next life after a brief but valiant battle with cancer, on Sept. 28, 2009. Harry was born in Buhl, ID, to Emily Rae Corbett and Albert Allsop on Dec. 11, 1925. He graduated from Grace High School in 1943, before serving as a Signalman in the US Navy in WW2. He graduated from the Idaho State College of Pharmacy and owned the Downey Pharmacy for 35 years. He married Dorothy Ann Grimes on July 5, 1952, and they enjoyed 57 years together. He served faithfully in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At the age of 70, he and his wife served a mission in Mongolia, where he was president of the Erdenet Branch. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Monte. He is survived by his wife, his brother Lionel (Sherma) Allsop, his sisters: Evelyn (Jim) Twiss, Sheila (Mike) Whitworth, his four children: Brynne (David) Heaton, Harold Cory (Annette) Allsop, Kimberly (David) Johnson, Kristen (Brent) Bearnson, sixteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held at the Schwab Mortuary in Thayne, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be held at the Thayne LDS chapel on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. with a visitation preceding from 9:30 to 10:30. Interment will be in Grace, Idaho. Sterling Lawrence Weber, 89, passed away peacefully near his beloved wife Marian a Sunshine Terrace on Sept. 23. He was born in Freedom, Wyo., on March 21, 1920, the first son of Lawrence and Leon Weber. While still in junior high school he did electrical repair on 16 construction trucks. In high school he was chosen president of the Radio Club. He went on to build several one- and two-tube radios and sold them to friends and family. While still in Star Valley he had a full complement of sound equipment. He announced at some and covered a lot of rodeos, fairs, airport dedications, cutter races and other events throughout the Jackson, Idaho Falls and Montpelier areas. During World War II he served in the Signal Corps, and upon returning from overseas he attended an LDS social in Yuba City, Calif., where he met a beautiful young lady, Marian Elizabeth Clark, who was later to become his wife. They were married and later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on July 29, 1946. Sterling went to work for Cache Valley Electric, and six months later a telephone company in his hometown of Freedom, Wyo., came up for sale. He made arrangements to purchase it. At that time he built a new plant and installed the first dial telephone system extending telephone service to the entire lower valley. He even strung telephone lines across the Snake River in Star Valley. The company was called Silver Star Telephone and still exists today. A few years later the phone company was sold and the family moved back to Logan. Sterling worked at Thiokol and was section head of communications. He continued his education and became a licensed real estate broker, owning his own business for 37 years. In the early 1970s he designed a camper on the back of a ’57 Chrysler Imperial, calling it “The Cozy Cruiser.” It was featured in Popular Mechanics magazine where he received the Golden Hammer Award. Today the prints can be found on the Internet with his original signature. His second love in life was his passion and interest in collecting and restoring antique cars, particularly Fraizers and Kaisers. He restored several of these automobiles and attended car shows all over the country. He was great at designing, building and repairing almost anything. He was a Jack of All Arts. He was very talented in drama and music and had a band of his own with his instrument being the trumpet. Sterling and his wife Marian sang and harmonized together to entertain at man venues. Active in the LDS Church, he served a mission to the Philippines. He has been active in many callings including bishopric, high council, elders quorum president and high priest leadership. He was also active in civic services as a member of the Kiwanis Club, as chairman of the Crusade of Freedom and president of the PTA. He is survived by his wife, Marian Elizabeth, Logan; sons David (Pat), Phoenix, Ariz., Steven (Robin) and Clark, Logan; daughters Rhonda (Randy) Christensen, Logan, and Julie (Ron) Wiley, North Logan; brother Rex, Star Valley; sisters Nola Sears, Salt Lake City, Arlene Pettit, Kaysville, Lanece Balliff, Bountiful, Karen Bindrup, Providence; also 20 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Tanya, Kay and his parents. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at noon at Allen-Hall Mortuary. Friends may call at the mortuary Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at Sunshine Terrace, CNS Hospice, Dr. Salisbury and Louise Tobey for the kind care given Sterling during the latter part of his life.

Propane explosion claims Star Valley Ranch home, injures two

dahlerickson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:23:18 +0000

A propane explosion and subsequent fire destroyed a home on Star Valley Ranch and injured two inhabitants within. According to initial reports, by 9 a.m. on Friday morning, the home on Country Club Lane, west of Muddy String Road was completely engulfed by flames after an early morning explosion. The incident injured both residents of the home who were taken to Star Valley Medical Center. The fire was battled by the Thayne Fire Department and the injured parties were cared for and transported by the Thayne EMT's. The status of the couple is unknown while the incident is still under investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Braves stun previously undefeated Powell, 29-3

dahlerickson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:33:06 +0000

The term home sweet home has never been more appropriate. After playing four of their first five contests on the road, Star Valley had no favors done for them on the schedule as they hosted 4-0 Powell on Friday afternoon for the Braves' 2009 Homecoming game. Star Valley scored four touchdowns and John Strang booted a 42-yard field goal as the Braves pummeled the visiting Panthers with a very aggressive defense. It's a result that will likely cause a few turned heads as the Braves rebounded from last week's 21-0 drubbing in Worland. The Crimson defense forced four turnovers and escorted Powell off the field on three more occasions on failed fourth down conversions to aid the Star Valley offense. After a huge 58-yard catch and run by senior Elio Merino, senior Hayden Heap plunged in for the game's first touchdown. The PAT struck the left referee for the score to remain 6-0 Powell methodically moved the ball down the field to set up a goal line situation but could not convert as they kicked a short field goal. It was the last points they would score as Star Valley immediately answered with a 60-yard touchdown sprint from sophomore Ridge Hillyard. A failed two-point conversion left the score 12-3. After the first half had all but expired, the Panthers decided to snap the ball on a running clock with less than five seconds before intermission. It was a costly mistake as Senior Sean Smith barreled into Keithen Schwahn, forcing a fumble. Junior Payton Sandoval picked it up and ran into the end zone to put the Braves up 19-3 at the break with the ensuing PAT. The defense scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter as sophomore T.J. Guild put together a highlight reel on a spectacular 40-yard interception return for the score. The final score was a 42-yard field goal from Strang, who rebounded from the mishap on the first PAT nicely. Star Valley held Powell running back, Billy Harshman, to 55 yards on 18 carries while Schwahn was forced to hoist 26 pass attempts while playing from behind. The Panthers did compile 60 more yards of total offense on the game, but were forced to go the length of the field all afternoon long while Star Valley capitalized on good field position. The Braves will be back on the road next week as they travel to Cody before returning home to play Lander and Jackson to close out the schedule.

Reported Influenza activity jumps sharply across Wyoming

newsrelease — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:15:32 +0000

Wyoming influenza activity jumped sharply due to swine (novel H1N1) flu and has become widespread across the state over the last week or so, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Since late May, 592 cases of influenza have been reported to the department. Of those, 123 cases were reported just in the last week. The department expects the number of actual flu infections around the state to be much higher because most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested. “This current level of activity is near what we have seen some winters during a typical peak of seasonal influenza,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “What is not typical, however, is the timing or the situation. We don’t usually see so much flu this early in the fall, but because we are dealing with a new strain of influenza this year the increase is not unexpected.” Murphy said the department’s surveillance activities show Wyoming’s flu activity is almost solely due to the novel H1N1 flu strain. “Over the last month all of the samples confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health lab for influenza have been the new H1N1 strain. If you have the flu in Wyoming right now, you probably have the H1N1 flu.” Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. “The good news is that we are not seeing a shift in severity of the illnesses. Most people who become ill with novel H1N1 flu are able to recover fully within a few days,” Murphy said. Since the end of May, the department has received reports of 11 hospitalizations and one death among Wyoming residents in connection with the swine flu virus. “Influenza can be serious in some people and that’s why we should all do our best to avoid spreading illness,” Murphy continued. “Vaccines are the single most effective weapon we have in fighting influenza,” Murphy said. “This year, people will need a special novel H1N1 flu vaccine in addition to a seasonal vaccine for the best possible protection.” Murphy noted that seasonal vaccines are now available around Wyoming and swine flu vaccine supplies are expected to arrive over the next month or so. Other measures the department recommends to slow the spread of illness include: · In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. · Avoid contact with ill persons. · Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. · Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. Of the total 592 reported flu cases in Wyoming since late May, 225 have been confirmed as swine flu cases. Specific swine (novel H1N1) flu counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the swine flu strain as part of the department’s ongoing surveillance activities. More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

Reported Influenza Activity Jumps Sharply Across Wyoming Wyoming influenza activity jumped sharply due to swine (novel H1N1) flu and has become widespread across the state over the last week or so, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Since late May, 592 cases of influenza have been reported to the department. Of those, 123 cases were reported just in the last week. The department expects the number of actual flu infections around the state to be much higher because most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested. “This current level of activity is near what we have seen some winters during a typical peak of seasonal influenza,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “What is not typical, however, is the timing or the situation. We don’t usually see so much flu this early in the fall, but because we are dealing with a new strain of influenza this year the increase is not unexpected.” Murphy said the department’s surveillance activities show Wyoming’s flu activity is almost solely due to the novel H1N1 flu strain. “Over the last month all of the samples confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health lab for influenza have been the new H1N1 strain. If you have the flu in Wyoming right now, you probably have the H1N1 flu.” Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. “The good news is that we are not seeing a shift in severity of the illnesses. Most people who become ill with novel H1N1 flu are able to recover fully within a few days,” Murphy said. Since the end of May, the department has received reports of 11 hospitalizations and one death among Wyoming residents in connection with the swine flu virus. “Influenza can be serious in some people and that’s why we should all do our best to avoid spreading illness,” Murphy continued. “Vaccines are the single most effective weapon we have in fighting influenza,” Murphy said. “This year, people will need a special novel H1N1 flu vaccine in addition to a seasonal vaccine for the best possible protection.” Murphy noted that seasonal vaccines are now available around Wyoming and swine flu vaccine supplies are expected to arrive over the next month or so. Other measures the department recommends to slow the spread of illness include: · In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. · Avoid contact with ill persons. · Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. · Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. Of the total 592 reported flu cases in Wyoming since late May, 225 have been confirmed as swine flu cases. Specific swine (novel H1N1) flu counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the swine flu strain as part of the department’s ongoing surveillance activities. More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

This Week in Star Valley: October 1

newsrelease — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:39:27 +0000

Take a look at what made the news 25, 50 & 75 years ago in the pages of the Star Valley Independent. Serving you for over 108 years. 25-years ago: Ad: These are the weeks to seal the leaks! We're reminding you winter is not far away. You know how easy it is to put things off until the last minute–especially things like installing new siding, insulation or putting in a more economical heating system. Star Valley State Bank has the money you need to get your home ready for those icy, cold winter months ahead. Suzuki piano workshop planned–The Star Valley Suzuki Association announces its third annual Suzuki Workshop to be held. Classes on Suzuki philosophy, how the method works, why begin very young and many other aspects of the Suzuki music philosophy will be discussed. Extension office discusses zucchini and Mexican vanilla. Leanne Johnson of the Lincoln County Extension office reports there are new ways to can zucchini. Last year a wide variety of zucchini pineapple recipes were available throughout the area. This year, there is a recipe for zucchini apple butter. These are not approved and tested recipes. 50-years ago: An early fall storm, which dumped 2.41 inches of water in the three day period of Sept. 25-28, left a blanket of snow on the mountains ringing Star Valley and on much of the valley floor. Heavy rains were followed with sleet and snow and depths of three feet and over were reported in the mountains. Only an inch or so of snow built up in Afton. Alumni welcomed to SVHS for homecoming activities today. . . .The parade is schedule at 11 a.m., the theme is "War Cry" and prizes are being offered for the best floats. . . . The football game at 1:30 p.m. will bring the State’s highest rated team, the Rock Springs Tigers, to grips with Coach Vern Gardner's undefeated Star Valley Braves. Special halftime activities will be staged by the SVHS Marching Band, which will also add color to the parade with their new blue uniforms trimmed with crimson and gold, being worn today for the first time. Flag carriers will also have new uniforms. 75-years ago: The opening of the big campaing in Star Valley started last night when the Democrats made talks to a crowed house in Afton. The Amerian Theatre was filled to capacity and people crowded into the aisle and stood up in the rear of the theater. The entire state candidates an all of the county candidates with the exception of George W. Tanner, candidate for county clerk, were present. This is the first time in our recollection that the entire state ticket has attend a rally in Afton. Mine explosion kills three men–others in hospital suffering from shock and burns. Two miners were instantly killed and twelve more seriously burned in an explosion in the Blazon mine near Kemmerer yesterday. The explosion occurred in the south level of the mine where 14 men were at work, none of whom escaped injury. Classes given for student at home–Under a new plan put in motion Monday, Wyoming is taking a college or university course of study to students who are unable to bear the expense of going to the institution . It was stated in the department of education today that it is expected that between 400 and 500 students in Wyoming will avail themselves of the opportunity, Almanac–Oct. 6th–50,000,000 marks equal one dollar in Germany, 1923. 100-years ago: (Unavailable.)

Dr. Martha Hageman says Star Valley women still not utilizing clinical exams to detect breast cancer

dahlerickson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Slowly but surely, the national awareness about breast cancer has increased to the point that the public realizes that it is no longer a rogue disease that strikes only once in a great while. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while the national discussion has gotten better, there is still much to do in order to bring attention to a disease that is one of the biggest killers of American women. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health. A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and older. While this is well and good, Star Valley in particular has some items in this fight that they can work on specifically. “There is still some confusion in women’s minds that if they go and get their mammogram that that’s all they need to do,” said Dr. Martha Hageman of Independent Family Practices and Star Valley Medical Center. “They still need to see a professional for a clinical breast exam. While a mammogram is an absolute vital link to discovering breast cancer, each cancer can be different and it may not show up on a mammogram which is why a clinical breast exam is so important.” Dr. Hageman went on to say that she feels that the ability for women to speak with a professional about this issue is of the utmost importance in Star Valley. “Getting a clinical breast exam is an ongoing issue that hopefully through education that we’re calling women’s attention to the fact that a mammogram is important but it’s not enough,” she added. “Also when they come in, they have a chance to visit with their doctor so that they can discuss risk factors which are individual specific. We can talk about personal history and family history and perhaps some things can be changed or modified. For example, personal hormonal replacement therapy after menopause is something that would be discussed. Some women need this ongoing therapy and proper dosing in this regard is important, this is just one thing that can be discussed.” Dr. Hageman went on to state that there are many tools to not only detect breast cancer but to perhaps even prevent it. “Raloxifene sounds an awful lot like Tamoxifen which is a medicine that is used to treat breast cancer,” she continued. “These two medicines are sisters if you will and Ralolxifene is used to treat Osteoporosis with a side effect that it can help some women prevent invasive breast cancer.” One item that has perhaps been a barrier for detection is the embarrassment or fear of the procedures themselves. “The technology has come a long way so it’s a much more sensitive and specific test,” Hageman concluded. “It’s not a painful procedure it’s a quick procedure. As far as the embarrassment factor, breasts are another part of the human body and exams are a routine procedure from the provider’s standpoint.” The discussion concluded with the fact that the potential life-saving information that comes out of an exam far outweighs any momentary embarrassment. The most recent data from the Wyoming Cancer Surveillance Registry showed that 309 Wyoming women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2007 with 64 deaths. According to the Wyoming Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, Wyoming’s mammogram rate of 67.2 percent among women 40 and older has been consistently below the national median of 76 percent. Over 180,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2008, with over 40,000 deaths.

Afton airport named number one in terms of economics among business airports in Wyoming

dahlerickson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:55:45 +0000

As nearly all of us climb behind the wheel of our cars and trucks, we might not realize just how much the local airport does in terms of service to the community. Recently, the airport in Afton topped the state list in terms of economic viability due in large part to a diverse group of customers. According to Lincoln County Commissioner, Jerry Harmon, there are many contributing factors to this ranking. “The Town of Afton and Lincoln county have a joint board for the airport. We have several board members that are from the city and then we have three board members that live outside the town in the county. Those board members meet once a month in an advertised meeting. About two years ago we hired Rick Sessions as the airport manager and he’s done a tremendous job. The economic value of the airport to the community is really important. Economically, we are the number one business airport in the state right now.” A business class airport differs from those that accept commercial flights such as ones that exist in Casper and Cheyenne. Local businesses are the catalysts for the ranking. “I think it’s because we have Aviat sitting right here next to the airport and providing 65 jobs; that has a lot to do with the value of the airport,” added Harmon. “But in addition, J.R. Simplot uses the airport quite a bit. We have firefighters coming in here and we have Life Flight, which we are very proud to be able to provide for. Fuel sales are important and the service that those pilots provide is a big part of that.” According to the Afton airport manager, Rick Sessions, Star Valley’s air traffic has bucked the statewide trends. “As a state, aviation numbers are down, but Afton is running about the same as it was a year ago,” he stated. “But jet traffic is up 20 to 30 percent over last year. Last winter was by far the most jets that we’ve seen. Folks vacation in the local area and flying into Jackson to ski and vacation. We don’t charge as much as their airport so they will land here and while they’re here they support all kinds of other businesses.” Sessions went on to say that some of the recent additions to the airport have been the purchasing of snow removal equipment. There are current plans in the works to build a structure to protect that equipment and funds have already been approved to that project. Some future endeavors are also under discussion. “We’ll also be putting in a perimeter wildlife security fence,” Sessions said. “It will encompass the entire airport and that is about a $650,000 project. It’s a process of submitting projects to the state and once they are approved, we can work on the engineering and build forward.” Another future project that Sessions would like to see is a “back taxi” or a strip that allows airplanes to return to the airport on a separate strip. While one is currently in place to go south, a strip for planes moving north on the ground would help eliminate the potential for crashes through miscommunication. Sessions believes such a project is approximately four years out. With the increased jet traffic, a proposal is also under consideration to alter the runway. “We’d like to widen and strengthen the runway,” added Sessions. “Our runway is now 75 feet wide, we’d like to expand it to 100 feet because they [jets] are coming in so much faster. I would think that’s several years down the road.” In conclusion, both Harmon and Sessions pointed out the expertise of those at the airport such as Jim Lawson, Trent Peterson and Mark Heiner. They also mentioned that while the facility is more or less a secret to most locals, it is well known to pilots. “People probably don’t know what’s down here,” concluded Sessions. “We have about 35 hangers with approximately the same amount of planes. For our class, we’re the biggest airport out there.”

Lady Braves fall to Green River in four

dahlerickson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:01:55 +0000

Star Valley opened up with a great game one victory but the Lady Wolves defended their turf by coming back and winning three straight. The Lady Braves lost game two but bounced back in game three and led 22-17 before a costly rally by Green River saw the home team win, 25-23. The Green and White closed out the match in game four. The Lady Wolves are currently ranked #2 in the Wyopreps.com Coaches and Media Poll. Click here for a great highlight video of the match provided by the folks at Wyopreps.com under the video section of their site. Star Valley travels to Casper to play Natrona on Friday before playing Riverton on Saturday. The Lady Braves will have a chance to avenge their loss as they host Rock Springs on senior night Tuesday, October 13.

Second death in Wyoming attributed to H1N1

newsrelease — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:11:21 +0000

The second death of a Wyoming resident infected with the swine (novel H1N1) influenza virus has been reported to the Wyoming Department of Health as flu activity continues to be high and widespread across the state. The adult female resident of Laramie County had underlying health conditions linked with higher risk of severe illness. “This death is certainly sad to acknowledge. Unfortunately, a few people die in Wyoming every year due to flu complications,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “We have known this would also be likely with H1N1.” In the previous nine years, up to 11 flu-related deaths have been reported per year in Wyoming. “Flu activity around Wyoming right now is high. In fact, case numbers are as high or higher than the peaks reported during a number of recent winters with seasonal influenza,” Murphy said. Since late May, 1014 cases of influenza have been reported to the department. A very large (58 percent) portion of this total has been reported over the last three weeks. The department expects the number of actual flu infections around the state to be much higher because most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested. Over the same timeframe, the department has received reports of 19 hospitalizations among Wyoming residents in connection with the swine flu virus. “As our overall flu numbers climb, we can expect to see more hospitalizations and possibly deaths in our state,” Murphy said. Murphy said the department’s surveillance shows Wyoming’s flu activity is almost 100 percent due to the novel H1N1 flu strain. “The illness remains similar to seasonal flu, and isn’t showing any indications of change,” he added. Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting. “Everyone should watch for signs and symptoms of flu and take proper precautions should illness appear,” Murphy said. Recommended measures to slow the spread of illness include:

When available, get immunized with both a swine flu and a seasonal flu vaccine.
In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care.
Avoid contact with ill persons.
Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel.
Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can.

Of the total 1014 reported flu cases in Wyoming since late May, 341 have been confirmed as swine flu cases. Specific swine (novel H1N1) flu counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the H1N1 strain as part of the department’s ongoing surveillance activities. More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

Independent Obituaries: October 8, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:15:57 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the October 8, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Alfred Bergen Shortt passed away October 2, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah surrounded by his family. He was born March 27, 1921 in Salt Lake City to Charles Shortt and Matilde Olina Johnsen. He married Lucille Yvonne Eldredge June 14, 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple and they were married 57 years prior to her passing in 2003. He later married Ruth Rothe; they divorced and remained friends. Al’s boyhood was divided between Salt Lake City and Mink Creek, Idaho working on farms and ranches. He graduated from Granite High School and attended the University of Utah. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940 and enjoyed a 22 year career which took his family across the country and overseas. Dad was an avid horseman and he settled on a farm in American Fork, UT after his military service where he could raise his children and horses. He was an educator and a natural born teacher and outdoorsman. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were recipients of his knowledge and treasured the time they spent with him. He was an example to many of strength, integrity and service to others. Al worked for Kennecott Copper and Utah Power and Light Company where he retired in 1986. After retiring, he and Yvonne served a mission in Troy, New York. As civilization encroached on American Fork, Dad and Mom divided their time between Star Valley, WY, Neola and Washington, UT. He was generous with his time, tools, and talents and was the neighborhood handyman wherever he lived. He truly appreciated the many friendships he made in his travels. His homes were always wide open to his large extended family and many memorable times were had running rivers in Wyoming and riding in the mountains of Utah and Wyoming. He is survived by his children Terry, Jill Preece Blevins (Woody), Kelvin (Kathy), Ann Bills (Jim), Ken (Marilee), and Wayne (Leslie); 20 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren; sisters Joyce Michels and Elsie (Max) Cannon. He was preceded in death by his wife Yvonne, parents, eight brothers and sisters, and his grandson Matthew. Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the American Fork 33rd Ward, 1305 North 100 East, American Fork, UT. Interment was in the American Fork City Cemetery under the direction of Anderson & Sons Mortuary. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the LDS Philanthropies: Perpetual Education Fund, 15 E. South Temple, 2nd Floor East, Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Road Warriors: Braves blank Cody 13-0 amid frigid temps

dahlerickson — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:36:29 +0000

On a night when the mercury was dipping below zero, the only thing more cold-hearted than Jack Frost was the Star Valley defense. After an eight-hour bus trip that included two detours due to winter weather, the Braves finally made it to Cody to take on the Broncs who were 4-1 on the year and 2-0 in the Western Conference. After a long ride, the Star Valley defense took it out on Cody in a 13-0 shutout. The defense forced more than three turnovers for the second straight week and held standout signal-caller Matt Frost to just 46 total yards to claim their second straight win. It was the first road win for Coach Chris Howell who credited his staff and the defense for confusing the Cody offense. "We're able to give the other team multiple looks and it can be difficult, especially for a high school quarterback, to make some of those reads when your defense is able to get the kind of pressure that we did tonight," Howell said. Offensively, Logan Abrams rushed for 51 yards and completed nine out of 19 passes for 111 yards including a 16-yard touchdown strike to senior Elio Merino. Bill West was a terror for the Braves and collected two quarterback sacks while making stops all night long. William Buckley, Nick Edwards, Alex Cooper, Logan Haderly and Trenton Walters were outstanding for a defense that is priding itself on selflessness. The kickoff temperature was five degrees and with the wind chill the temperature was estimated at -10 degrees during the frigid night game. Up next for the Braves is a pair of long-awaited home games with the Lander Tigers and the Jackson Broncs. Lander kept it's post-season hopes alive by surviving the Broncs, 7-0, in Teton County. The Worland Warriors won a wild one in Powell, 42-31 to remain undefeated in the West as they take over first place.

Accident claims life of Star Valley native

sarahhale — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:21:38 +0000

Funeral services for Jeremy Kunz, 33, will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Kamas, Utah LDS Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Smoot Cemetery. Kunz was involved in a pedestrian/vehicle collision in the Las Vegas area early Saturday, morning Oct. 10, 2009. He was participating in a relay race at the time of the accident. According to Keith Paul, Public Information Officer with the Henderson, Nev., Police Department, Kunz died after “being struck by a car.” Kunz was “standing on the side of a roadway” when the collision occurred, Paul said. According to a press release issued by the Henderson Police Department, Joshua Salayich, 25, of Henderson lost control of the vehicle he was driving at approximately 4:35 a.m. “The car went onto the shoulder of the roadway and struck [Kunz],” Paul said. “The car continued to skid, going over the center median, across the westbound lanes and overturning in the desert.” Salayich suffered minor injuries in the incident and is facing charges of DUI with death, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting an officer. The investigation of the accident is ongoing.

Lady Braves add huge Bob Conley Invite to list of event titles this season

dahlerickson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:32:19 +0000

If the Lady Braves Cross-Country team was under the radar during the season, they likely aren't anymore. With 14 teams in attendance at the Bob Conley Invitational on Saturday, the Lady Braves notched three runners in the top 15 spots en route to one of the most impressive team titles in the program's history. Freshman Hailey Ricks placed sixth overall with a time of 19:49 to pace the squad and was followed by Brittney Nethercott with a time of 20:05 for seventh. Brooke Nethercott finished in 15th with a time of 20:30. As a team, the Lady Braves won handily with a total of 71 points. Twin Falls was second with a total of 105. The top five was rounded out by Jerome, Hillcrest and Highland. The Braves finished eighth overall with the top five varsity runners all claiming personal best times. The boys' team finished well ahead of conference rival, Rock Springs, who finished 13th. Complete times and results are incomplete at this time, be sure to check back over the course of the weekend.

Wyoming Army National Guard Charlie Med Soldiers return

newsrelease — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:05:41 +0000

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Army National Guard's 21 Soldiers, who have been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since Oct. 17, 2008, are scheduled to arrive in Wyoming at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, at the ArmyAviation Support Facility, located at 4600 Powderhouse Rd., Cheyenne. The Soldiers are members of C Company, 5th Battalion, 159th General Support Aviation Brigade, also known as Charlie Med. They have been performing medical evacuation missions in Afghanistan. They will be greeted by Wyoming National Guard command staff and families. A brief welcome home ceremony will follow. The unit will out-process at Fort Lewis, Wash., prior to the evening arrival in Cheyenne. The Soldiers deployed with other medical evacuation units from California and Nevada. The Soldiers are from the Wyoming communities of Cheyenne, Laramie, Burns; the Colorado communities of Windsor, Gill, Loveland, Grand Junction, Fort Collins, and Highlands Ranch; as well as Omaha, Neb., and Warrenton, Mo. Charlie Med, as the unit refers to itself, is the most deployed unit in the Wyoming Army National Guard.

This Week in Star Valley: October 13

newsrelease — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:39:29 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the news for the communities for more than 108 years without missing a week. Take a look at what made the news 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Hunters, outfitters and campers have been preparing for the Annual Greys River Elk hunt, due to open Monday, Oct. 15. Camp preparations have been in progress for more than a week, as hunters and outfitters have been setting up camps and preparing their equipment and horses for the annual season. The Greys River season draws large numbers from outside the Star Valley area, as the western part of Wyoming is a watershed for hunters. Ad: Children's Clothing sale, 20% off at the Hospital Gift Shop. Ad: Home Pharmacy will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11, to attend the Wedding of the Century! (Morgan and Marsha). Ad: Artful Yarns is going out of Business! Everything in the stores is reduced to our cost, just in time of Christmas savings. 50-years ago: Ad: No need to hunt ... for groceries. Buy ALL of your needs here, at Roberts Market. Eggs, $.41/doz.; shortening, 3 lb. can, $.69; Jiffy biscuit mix, 40 oz. pkg., $.29; bananas, $.10/lb.; Cudahy's Purity thick sliced bacon, 2lb. pkg., $.98. Star Valley High School's 1958-59 yearbook, Sta-va-hi, won All-State honors in Division I (over 300 enrollment) in the annual yearbook competition held during Journalism Weekend at the University of Wyoming last week. Afton's new municipal water system improvement project is nearly completed, and water will be turned from the new pipeline extending to the intermittent spring seven miles up Swift Creek Canyon into the town distribution system next week, according to Mayor Doyle F. Child. Notice to Afton Water Users, Next Monday, Oct. 12, has been tentatively set as the date the new pipeline will be turned into the town construction system. If bad weather or other delays arise, the date may be set back a day or two. As the water will be off for perhaps, three hours when the system is cut in, there will be a warning signal given the night before . . . . The signal will be six long blasts on the fire siren at 8 p.m. on the eve of the morning . . . . Water was stored in the reservoir for the first time on Wednesday of this week after the concrete in the 70,000 gallon storage tank had properly cured. 75-years ago: Survey crew to test sites for reservoirs in valley streams . . . sites will be surveyed in upper Salt River, Crow Creek, Stump Creek and the possibility of raising Cottonwood Lake about three feet. If any of these sites are deemed feasible by the surveyor, we are assured that federal money will be available to build dams, etc., to conserve the water. This will also give employment to local people and if reservoirs are built it will mean much to the people of Star Valley. Card of Thanks–We wish to cordially thank all those who so kindly assisted us during our recent illness. J.T. Nelson. Dell Draney had an unusual and painful accident early this morning. He was cranking his car and when the motor started, the crank failed to come loose, with the result that Dell was whipped about and two of his fingers cut off or torn off, He received other bruises on his arm and head. His fingers were attended to and he is feeling pretty good. They were taken of at the first joint. Almanac–Oct. 8, $200,000,000 loss in great Chicago fire, 1871. Oct. 10–First pony express arrives in San Francisco, 1859. Oct. 13–Cornerstone of first white house laid , 1792. 100-years ago: We want to call your attention to the Fourth Dry Farming congress to be held at Billings, Mont., Oct. 26,27, &28 1909. There congresses have done an invaluable amount of good for the dry farmers of the West, and it would be money well spent to hear the reports of yield and experiments that would be of a benefit to all farmers. Cattle Buyer–Having been east, I am in touch with the market, and will pay the highest price for fat cattle. L.J. Tolman. Ad: "Clearance" Sale at N.G. Allred's On all goods in my Store until Oct. 15, 1909. New Ann Arbor Organ, $50.00; Window blinds, $.35; 3 lb. feather pillows, $.55; 6 good heavy tumblers, $.20; 6 good 7 in. plates, $.50; Linoleum $.50/sq yd.; Go-carts for the babies, $2.25.

Governor cautious about lower state revenues as he crafts state budget

newsrelease — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:57:42 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Dave Freudenthal said he will be conservative when he looks at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group’s report, due later this week, as he drafts the 2011-2012 State Budget. “We will be conservative in what our estimates are, then you can end up with, let’s say that I’m wrong and the economy’s going to go barreling back and natural gas is going to start selling for 9 bucks - I should have that problem. I would be glad to have a press conference and say not only was I wrong but they can come down and beat me with a hickory switch, because you can always spend money you didn’t expect. If you budget to money and it doesn’t show up, you’re going to do exactly what we just finished doing, which is pulling $238 million out of the budget. And so, you bet I’m going to be fairly conservative about it.”

Braves survive Lander in double-overtime thriller

dahlerickson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:52:12 +0000

It took a couple of extra stanzas but the Braves were able to nip an extremely tough Lander squad with a 23-yard field goal by John Strang. The Braves improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play as they put a serious dent into Lander's playoff consideration. The two defenses took center stage as the teams respective offenses tried their best to eek out some points for the scoreboard. After a scoreless first quarter, the Braves marched down the field and punched it in on a three-yard plunge from William Buckley. The Strang PAT put Star Valley up 7-0. The score was set up by a pair of big catches from Mark Van Slyke. Buckley also came out and put a big hit on Lander QB, Garrett Irene who had to be helped off the field but also showed his toughness as he continued to take big hits and return to the game. Irene orchestrated a touchdown drive of his own after returning, scrambling for two key third down conversions and then hitting Jarrod Tamez on an 18-yard touchdown strike. After being tied at the break, the two teams traded turnovers. Star Valley forced four Lander turnovers but could not convert, while Lander forced two interceptions of their own but also could not find the scoreboard. The two teams went into overtime where the Braves struck first on a ten-yard touchdown run by Darin Taylor. Lander answered on a fourth down plunge by Hawk Cain to tie it up at 14 apiece. And then the game got really interesting. Lander took possession in the second overtime, only to be stifled into a field goal attempt. On the ensuing field goal, the Braves' Bill West blocked the kick which was then scooped up by Alex Cooper and run the entire length of the field for a touchdown and the win. Or so it seemed. An inadvertent whistle on the Lander sideline by the referee nullified the play, forcing the Star Valley offense back onto the field. The Tiger defense did their best, forcing a field goal attempt but Strang calmly booted it though the uprights to make up for a missed 36-yard attempt in the first quarter. "We can't control that," stated SVHS Head Coach Chris Howell referring to the botched whistle. "All we can do is make the plays we can make. I was proud of our kids for their hustle and being aware that they could advance that ball. We were really physical tonight and there were a lot of white shirts on the ground." The Braves now have an extra day to prepare for the Jackson Broncs who will be coming onto Braves Field to try and win for the third consecutive time in the series. It's an event that has never happened as Star Valley leads the all-time rivalry, 56-14. "Jackson, much like Lander is better than their record," concluded Howell. "They have a really good athletic quarterback, they probably have the best kicker in the state. It's the Jackson game. You can throw out the records." Statistically, Logan Abrams threw for 153 yards to five different receivers. Mark Van Slyke caught five balls for 80 yards, pushing his career total to 37 receptions. The school record is 48, set by Orrin Schwab in the early '80's. Darin Taylor accounted for 90 yards of offense, a touchdown and two pass breakups on defense. Defensively, Trenton Walters and T.J. Guild each had interceptions while Sean Smith had a fumble recovery and two quarterback sacks. Hawk Cain ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries including six carries for 15 yards and the score in the overtime periods for the Tigers.

Lady Braves are 4A West Regional Champions

dahlerickson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:08:39 +0000

Placing five runners in the top ten and earning all-conference honors, the Lady Braves claimed their first 4A West Conference title in the program's history and just the second 4A conference crown since Star Valley moved up to the 4A Class in 2007. Due to the effort, Coach Ty Draney was named the 4A West Coach of the Year by his peers. Despite battling the flu bug, the Lady Braves saw all seven varsity participants finish in the top 19 with senior Randi Robinson leading the way and finishing third overall. Rock Springs' Nicole Peterson continued her stellar prep career by out-dueling Chelsea Carrick of Natrona for the individual medalist honor. Brittney Nethercott and Brooke Nethercott finished very strong in fourth and fifth place respectively while freshman phenom, Hailey Ricks showed incredible fortitude despite battling a nasty flu bug to finish eighth overall. Sophomore Ashley Hall closed with incredible gusto, notching the tenth spot. Senior Kirsten McKen, who has been slowed all season with an Achilles injury, had her best outing of the season finishing 17th while Abby McArthur also notched a top-20 spot at 19th. As a team, the Lady Braves scored 30 points, pulling away from Peterson and the Lady Tigers who placed second with 45. Green River placed third with 82 points while Natrona, Riverton and hometown Evanston rounded out the team scores. The Braves put together a strong effort but were edged off the podium as they placed a very close fourth. The I-80 corridor showed their strength again as Green River nipped Natrona for the team title with Rock Springs edging Star Valley for the third place spot. Riverton and Evanston rounded out the scoring. Junior Jared Inskeep ran a personal best of 17:40 to place eighth and earn all-conference honors. Mike Rider, David Livingston, Nathan Merritt and Cody Rich rounded out the varsity five but some of the runners were challenged in the time category by Gabe Waldron who finished fifth in the junior varsity run and Ben Sabat who also had an impressive showing. The Lady Braves who have now won a program record six event titles this season, will face their stiffest test next week as they try to usurp the crown from Cheyenne Central who is going for their third straight state championship. The squad placed third last year and five of the top seven runners will return again next season.

Independent Obituaries: October 15, 2009

newsrelease — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:46:11 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the October 15, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Jeremy Bart Kunz, 33, passed away unexpectedly in Las Vegas, Nev. on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 while participating in the Las Vegas Ragnar Relay with his family. He was born on July 12, 1976 in Logan, Utah the son of Monte Bart and Denice (Fraser) Kunz. Jeremy grew up in Star Valley. He served a LDS mission in the Canada Toronto West Mission. On March 20, 1998 he married Melinda Kay Cox in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. He was employed with All West Communications as a Software Developer in Kamas, Utah. More than anything, Jeremy loved spending time with his wife and children. He also wholeheartedly enjoyed backpacking, running, photography and anything having to do with computers. He was serving as Stake Young Mens' President, and loved working with the youth, especially in the scouting program. He is survived by his wife, Melinda, and their children; daughter, Brinci Kay; sons, Tobias Bart and Gage Charles, all of Kamas; parents, Bart and Denice Kunz, Smoot; sisters: Katie (Nate) Rockwell, Logan, Utah; BreAnne (Cameron) Neff, Pocatello, Idaho; Emily Kunz, Morgan, Utah; and Chandra (Chris) Parry, Logan, Utah; grandparents Montain and Bettie Kunz, Bern, Idaho; Lynn and Connie Fraser, Stansbury Park, Utah. He is preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Ryan McEntire. Funeral service will be on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Kamas LDS Ward Chapel. Friends may call at the church on Thursday one hour prior to the service. Graveside service will be on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Smoot Cemetery. For those wishing to contribute to Melinda and her children, an account has been created in Jeremy Kunz's name at any Zion's Bank branch.

Governor announces $180 K in agricultural grants to Wyoming

newsrelease — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:56:35 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Dave Freudenthal today announced that the State of Wyoming received $180,691 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund seven projects under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. “Agriculture is an important part of Wyoming’s economy and these grants will help ag producers around the State,” Freudenthal said. “We have to find new ways to add value to our agriculture industry and these efforts cut a wide swath toward making that a reality,” said Freudenthal. Among the efforts the grant will fund are: a partnership with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Business Council to help Wyoming producers market their products online; financial assistance to producers and agriculture organizations to increase the specialty crop season and develop native seed production; increasing consumer knowledge regarding the benefits and availability of specialty crops through a local food guide; raising consumer awareness through webisodes showcasing farmers’ markets as they relate to specialty crops and producers; high tunnel workshops; planting experiments with fenugreek, an herb and spice, to determine if it can be grown to maturity in two varying Wyoming environments; and a position within the Wyoming Department of Agriculture where 36 percent of the job will be devoted to providing information, promotional and technical assistance to specialty crop growers. Wyoming is among 55 recipients of $49 million in federal grant blocks from the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative. Summaries of all 745 projects can be viewed at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.

This Week in Star Valley: October 22

newsrelease — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:09:16 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for more than 108 years without missing a single edition. Check out what was making the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: A dedication program for the new Star Valley Junior High school will be held tonight, Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the school's multipurpose room, Principal E. Joy Erickson said today. Ground was broken for the new facility, one and a half miles northwest of the Town of Afton on May 18, 1983, and received students on the first day of school this fall, Aug 30. . . . Principal Erickson said 307 students registered for classes in the inaugural year of the new facility, 140 seventh graders and 158 eight grade students. Ad: Give Congress our best. Re-elect Dick Cheney. Paid for by the Cheney for Congress Committee. Ad: Ghost Buster Sale! continues at Jeans 'N Things in Thayne. New "Underground" shirts; Boy's "Leather Look"; Parachute Pants are Here! $14.59; Parachute pants of all types and more coming! 50-years ago: District Class A Football Champions are the Star Valley Braves, who last week ended their regular playing season unbeaten and untied. They will meet the Big Horn District Champions in a regional playoff game to be played Nov. 14, probably at Afton. The team roster includes the following: Duane Perry, Blair Hillstead, Joel Gardner, Thad Skinner, Ronnie Jensen, Steve Erickson, Jerry Robinson, John Warren, Mack Balls, Laron Olson, Eddie Hunaker, Heber Hillstead, Layne Lancaster, Brue Tolman, Ronald Taggart, ValDee Kennington, Terry Johnson, Jerry Mead, Bryce Jenkins, Neldon Kingston, Richard Summers, Vern Crook, Richard Osmond, Bruce Wolfley, Erick Ericskon, Bill Ludwick, Gary Johnson, Robert Campbell, Donley Linford, Kent Erickson, David Lemmon, Larry Jenkins, Farrell Brown, Rex Brown, Loran VanNoy, Mel Olson, Ernold Coates. Coaches: Vern Gardner and John Robinson. Athletic manager, Darrell Haderlie Salt Lake City, Utah–Howard W. Hunter, prominent Los Angles attorney and businessman, has been named a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Mr. Hunter, a native of Boise, Idaho, was approved in the his new position by a vote of the church in its three-day semi-annual conference, Oct. 9, 10, and 11, in the historic domed tabernacle on Temple Square. Production at the CallAir, Inc. factory in Afton is now virtually at a standstill, as all but a few employees were laid off in the last few days, company offices said Thursday. Twenty-three employees had previously been laid off on Oct. 2 and the complete shutdown followed this week. Barlow H. Call, general manager, told the Independent that Ruel Call had bought back his controlling interest in the corporation from H B. Rotherbard who a few months ago purchased Mr. Call's interest. 75-years ago: The state highway Commission met last Tuesday and several contracts were let. The one of importance to Star Valley was a gravel contract from Osmond to the Narrows, a distance of about 12 ½ miles. It calls for a base course gravel and other work, and was awarded to the Green River Lumber Co. for $17,331.70. It is expected that work will commence on this job in the near future. Card of Thanks: We take this means of expressing our sincerest gratitude to everyone who assisted in any way during the illness and death of our beloved mother Elizabeth Moser. Moser Family and Relatives. Ad: Deposits insured by The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., maximum insurance for each depositor $5000. Star Valley State Bank, Afton, Wyoming. Make the Home Bank your bank. 100-years ago: WORLDS Championship Series, Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3. Ad: H.H. Harrison & Sons General Merchandise. Established 1892. Stock $1,500.00. Increased to $5,000.00 We have advanced along strictly equitable lines, and have many items of interest for you. Smoot news: Vasco Call has started again to complete Bp. Cranney’s house, and expects to finish it in the near future.

Another Wyoming death linked to H1N1 Flu

newsrelease — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:06:15 +0000

A third Wyoming resident infected with the swine (novel H1N1) influenza virus has been reported to the Wyoming Department of Health. The adult female resident of Laramie County had underlying health conditions linked with higher risk of severe illness. Flu activity continues to be high and widespread across the state and is almost 100 percent due to the H1N1 flu strain. Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting. Actions recommended to slow the spread of illness include: · When available, get immunized with both a swine flu and a seasonal flu vaccine. · In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. · Avoid contact with ill persons. · Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. · Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. Of the total 1,614 reported flu cases in Wyoming since late May, 419 have been confirmed as swine flu cases. Most other cases were not subtyped. Over the same timeframe, the Department has received reports of 28 Wyoming hospitalizations in connection with the virus. The Department expects the number of actual flu infections around the state to be much higher, because most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested. Specific swine (novel H1N1) flu counts provided by the Department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing, as the H1N1 strain is part of the Department’s ongoing surveillance activities. More information about swine (novel H1N1) flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

Former Wyoming Governor and U.S. Senator Cliff Hansen dies

dandockstader — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:39:44 +0000

Wyoming’s congressional delegation has offered the following comments. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., mourned the passing of former Wyoming senator and governor Cliff Hansen. They made the following comments about his life and service to Wyoming. “The state of Wyoming has lost a great leader. Diana and I have always looked to Cliff and Martha as role models. When I first got to Washington, a significant part of my staff had worked for Senator Hansen. I learned from him through them. I have followed his astounding career and know what he has done for Wyoming and America, as a senator, governor and business man,” said Enzi. “The story of Wyoming and the life of Cliff Hansen are intertwined - a pioneer state and its patriarch. People often say that Wyoming is what America was. Cliff Hansen was the independent spirit, the rugged cowboy that helped make her great. “Cliff Hansen was a legendary Wyoming figure who will be missed terribly. Bobbi and I offer our deepest condolences to the Hansen and Mead families – especially to his beloved Martha, his wife of more than 75 years. They were role models for all of us,” said Barrasso. “Cliff Hansen was a living icon,” Lummis said. “He exemplified the quintessential Wyoming life through his humor, humility and complete devotion to family, community and country. His vision and passion for our state and its people are a testament to his career in public service. Al and I join all of Wyoming’s people in celebrating his life and gratefully acknowledge what Cliff and Martha accomplished for all of us. Every time I see the statue on the Wyoming Capitol lawn of the calf kicking up its heels, which is dedicated to Cliff and Martha, I will remember what a privilege it was to have known him.” Governor Dave Freudenthal is requesting flags be flown at half-staff in honor and memory of Governor Clifford P. Hansen. Flags are to remain at half staff until interment.

Independent Obituaries: October 22, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:11:35 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the October 22, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Lyman P. Bruce, 84, passed way on Oct. 11, 2009 in Portland, Ore., surrounded by his family. He was born Nov. 6, 1924 in Smoot to Franklin and Minnie Bruce. He married his wife, June Papworth, on Dec. 18, 1942 in the Logan LDS Temple. He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1942 and later served in the U.S. Army at the end of WWII. He earned a bachelors degree in music education from Utah State University and began teaching band and choir in Winnemucca, Nev. His band was chosen by Walt Disney Studios to play the National Anthem at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics; was the first band from outside the state to perform at the East-West football game, and was selected by the New York times as one of the top ten bands in the U.S. from small schools. After a decade of teaching, Lyman returned to college and obtained a masters degree in school administration. He was either principal or superintendent for several school districts over the next 27 years. They included Humboldt County, Nev., Riverdale School District, Portland, Ore,, and Dickie Prairie and Maple Grove schools in rural Oregon. He spent his retirement years doing the things he loved; playing in multiple community bands, participating in sporting events, and maintaining his show piece yard. He is survived by three children, Claire (Ralph) Oler; Barbara (James) Olavarria; and Lyle (Jerralyn) Bruce; as well as 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Wayne Bruce. A private interment will be at the Willamette National Cemetery under the direction of the Family Memorial Mortuary. Our loving, devoted mother, sister, and friend Vicky Tolman, 59, passed away of unexpected complications following a short illness on Oct. 14, 2009, at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. She was born on Dec. 22, 1949, to Vincent (Bish) and Dona Cazier Tolman in Afton. She graduated from Star Valley High School in 1967. She received an Associate Degree from El Paso Community College in Colorado Springs, Colo. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Mich. Her work experience included accounting, teaching, vice-president of a junior college, certified locksmith, manager, and real estate broker. Her many interests and hobbies included horseback riding, skiing, golfing, photography, camping, biking, racquetball, traveling, writing, reading, enjoying pets of all kinds, talking to friends, and being a mom. She always said she was having a “fine and dandy day” no matter what struggles she was facing. Vicky lived a life that she loved. There isn’t a person she has met that didn’t love her. She was the epitome of unselfishness and goodness. She was Heavenly Father’s caretaker for the animals. If she were driving and saw a lost dog, she would stop to rescue it and return it to the owner. It didn’t matter what her personal agenda was at the time. She endured intense pain and still had an incredible positive outlook on life. She is survived by her daughter Victoria Tolman (Xay); two brothers, Jerald C. Tolman (Kathy); and Vincent Bruce Tolman (June); one sister Dawnette T. Muir (Leland); a devoted friend Luana, and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father and mother. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at the Fairstone Branch LDS Chapel (1250 W. Atherton Drive [4375 S], Taylorsville, Utah) at 1:30 p.m. Family prayer will be held prior to the services at 1:15 p.m. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, with a graveside dedication. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vicky Tolman Fund at Mountain America Credit Union at any location or mail to MACU, P.O. Box 9001, West Jordan, UT 84084. Lena Mae Layton, 78, of Sand Springs, Okla., passed from this life and into the presence of her Lord in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. She was born in Clever, Mo., on June 19, 1931, one of seven children born to George Frazier and Stella (Trotter) Frazier. Lena married Jerry Layton in Sand Springs on Feb. 9, 1952. She and Jerry were both graduates of the Class of 1949 of Sand Springs High School. Jerry’s employment gave them the opportunity to live in many areas of the United States. They were members of Broadway Baptist Church. Lena, like a lot of ladies, enjoyed shopping, redecorating, and cooking. She also enjoyed oil painting. Survivors include her husband Jerry; two daughters, Diane Richards of Oklahoma City; and Suzanne Tarver and husband David of Guthrie; one son, Larry Layton and wife Michelle of Guthrie; and nine grandchildren. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers and three sisters. In lieu of flowers the family would like for you to consider a donation to the American Heart Association. Funeral services were held Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. Interment took place at Woodland Memorial Park. Funeral services for Gina Johnson Brewer will be held Friday, Oct. 23 at noon in the Afton Third Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6-8 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary in Afton and Friday morning from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Gina’s name at the Bank of Star Valley.

Weekend Sports Slate: Football

dahlerickson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:29:17 +0000

The Star Valley Braves buried the Jackson Broncs in the 71st edition of the Fall Brawl, 41-16 while their female counterparts fell to Rock Springs and eliminated Riverton to set up an 8 a.m. all or nothing match on Saturday morning The Star Valley Braves scored incredibly early and often as they dispatched the visiting Jackson Broncs, denying the Teton County rivals the opportunity to win for the third consecutive time for the first time in the series' history. The ball bounced Star Valley's way right from the opening kickoff as the Broncs fumbled the ball and senior Elio Merino picked it up off the bounce and jogged in for the score. The Star Valley offense who eventually made it onto the field went 76 yards on six plays to push the advantage 14-0. After a stagnant second quarter, Jackson answered with their biggest play of the game, an 88-yard touchdown strike from Kyle Vinson to Sean McDonald to cut the deficit in half. The Braves answered on their first offensive play of the third quarter as sophomore Ridge Hillyard scorched the Broncs for a 78-yard touchdown run. Hillyard replaced Logan Abrams in the second quarter after he left with an injury. The PAT was no good to put the Braves up 20-7. A brutal hit by Alex Cooper after a punt caused a fumble which was recovered by Bill West inside the five-yard line. William Buckley pushed his way into the end zone and the rout was on. The Star Valley defense then saw Hayden Heap intercept a pass and take it 35 yards for a score. On the very next possession they saw Sean Pierson intercept another pass and take it to the house for another touchdown. Jackson would score on a field goal and a late touchdown off a beautifully executed hook-and-ladder play by Sean McDonald. The blowout overshadowed a stellar individual effort by McDonald who accounted for all 16 of the Broncs points. Hillyard finished with 134 yards rushing on the day and the Braves rolled up 270 on the ground as a team. The Playoff Picture With Cody defeating Worland in overtime, the Broncs, Warriors and Braves tied for the 3A West Conference crown. In terms of seeding the Broncs claimed the top seed while Worland is #2 and Star Valley #3. This will put the Braves on the road where they will face the Buffalo Bison next Friday. The Powell Panthers, after starting the season 4-0, lost their last four games and were eliminated as the Lander Tigers defeated them 27-10 to earn the West #4 slot and a date with Douglas. In the east, Riverton defeated Wheatland 31-20 to not only qualify for the post-season but claim the #3 seed and will travel to Worland The final match up will see Torrington travel to Cody.

Lady Braves sweep Rock Springs to earn state tournament birth

dahlerickson — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:50:20 +0000

The Lady Braves might have been underdogs on paper but when the match started they hardly looked the part. The Lady Braves dominated at the net and peppered the Rock Springs Lady Tigers in an 8 a.m. match that Star Valley swept 25-15, 25-14 & 25-21. It's the first time that this particular team has beaten Rock Springs this season and avenged a 3-1 loss Friday afternoon. It's the second time in three years that the Lady Braves have eliminated Rock Springs to earn a 4A state tournament birth. The Lady Braves will return to Casper after a one-year hiatus. First year head coach Kathy Robinson has insisted all season that the Lady Braves were better than their conference record. They will play the top-seeded Evanston Lady Red-Devils at 11:30 a.m. as the 4A West Regional Tournament continues. Natrona and Green River will play at 1:30 p.m.

Green River claims 4A West Regional Crown

dahlerickson — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Evanston came out of the gate looking very strong in an opening win, but the Lady Wolves just wouldn't go away. Even after the Lady Red Devils who were down 8-1 to begin the second game, went on an 18-6 run to seemingly put the game and the match on their side. Green River battled back to take game two and then fought and won two more very close matches to claim the 2009 4A West Regional volleyball crown held at Star Valley High School. GRHS's Rikki Shantz was named the conference coach of the year even before the match started but it seemed fitting after her team came from behind to win the title in four games. Natrona outlasted Star Valley in four games to notch fourth place. Star Valley will play Kelly Walsh, Natrona will play Laramie, Evanston will play Cheyenne Central and Green River will play Gillette in the opening round of the state tournament in Casper next weekend.

This Week in Star Valley: October 29

newsrelease — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:05:20 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been bringing you the news uninterrupted for 108 years. Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Voters go to the polls Tuesday. . . . President Ronald Regan and Vice President George Bush are on the ballot opposite Democrats Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine A. Ferraro. . . . Voters will decide whether or not to keep the optional one percent sales tax in Lincoln County. The tax law is to be voted on each two years, and voters will be making that decision again on Tuesday. Ad: At Afton Maverick Country Store, Monday night special, ½-gal. ice cream and 2-liter pop, $2.29. For Sale: 1977 Chrysler Cordoba, $1500 or make offer. For Sale: 1978 Datsun B210 48,000 miles, new paint, 30 mpg. excellent condition, $2500 or best. For Sale: 1971 VW station wagon, $650. 50-years ago: New, Safer Penicillin ready soon–The first synthetic penicillin, more deadly to germs but safer for humans than natural penicillin, should be in doctor's hands in a few weeks, it was announced this week in Syracuse, N.Y. The new penicillin apparently destroys germs which have become resistant to the old penicillin and causes fewer dangerous reactions. Seminary names queens and kings for harvest ball. Queens chosen to reign overt the event are Beth Hoopes of Fairview, and Brenda Thurman of Grover. Kings who will share the royal spotlight are Kent Lindberg of Osmond and Bruce Winters of Afton. The Star Valley High School Band, under the direction of Neil Tippets, attended Utah State University’s homecoming Saturday as guests of the college, participating with other high school's of the area in pre-game music actives in the football stadium. 75-years ago: Reports have been made that J. L. Brown has made promises as to whom he would appoint for deputies if he is elected sheriff on November 6th. He has requested us to state that no promises of any kind have been made, and all such rumors are entirely false. The Town of Afton Installs Siren–The Town of Afton has just installed an electric siren. However, this siren is only on trial for 30 days. It is installed on the Call Service Station corner and will be blown with one long blast each day at six o'clock p.m. When used as a fire signal it will be blown in a series of blasts. All you should do in case of fire is call the Telephone office and she will put in the alarm. 100-years ago: Weather Forecast, Stormy with SNOW, to-day Thayne news: Did any one feel the earth quake last Monday. Marion Heap was out looking for an expert to set up a new cook stove he had ordered from Denver, he said it was a dandy, but to much for his diminutive intellect. Etna news: Our threshing is done. Burning sage brush is now in order and some of our people are making the families do much of the work attendance upon cleaning. Some of our people are going and some have gone to Soda Springs and Snake River for flour, fruit, etc. Some plowing being done. All well.

Independent Obituaries: October 29, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:32:47 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the October 29, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Gina Johnson Brewer was born on Sept. 3, 1964 to Farrell and Naomi Johnson in Afton. She had three brothers and one sister; Bobby; Kipp; Tory and Lori. Gina grew up on her Grandma Hemmert’s ranch. She loved riding horses and cleaning up the barn. Gina married the love of her life, Bill Brewer, on July 20, 1991. They had three daughters; Christina; Natasha and Sierra. She worked as a respite provider for 13 years and also had a day care, where she took care of her grandchildren and a couple of other children which meant the world to her. She was highly involved with the Star Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce, where she helped raise over $300,000. She was also a Turning Point advocate. Gina was always volunteering to help in anyway she could. She loved her summers up Little Greys River every weekend, and in early December to cut down Christmas trees with her family. Gina spent the last three years of her life with so much pain, trying to get the help she needed to get fixed - until her body just could not fight any longer. On Sept. 23, 2009 she had a massive heart attack, that stopped her heart. This one was actually the second or third heart attack she had. She had two more while she was in ICU. She under went a seven bypass surgery and recovered pretty well. Her heart was finally fixed. She fought so hard the next three weeks to get better, but her liver shut down. There was nothing anyone could do for her anymore. She passed away on Oct. 18, 2009. She is survived by her husband, Bill; her children, Christina (Jeff) Stoker; Natasha Hess and Sierra Johnson; her grandchildren, Taylee and Tayson Stoker; and Kaydence Hess and Calli Carlson. She was welcomed in heaven by her brother, Bobby; her father; her angel, Kayzlee; and her grandparents. Yvonne Diane Larson Overfield, of Smoot, entered into glory on Oct. 24, 2009. She was born Dec. 17, 1937 in Steven Minn., to Edgar and Laura Diane Larson. She married Donald Lloyd Overfield, Sr., on July 3, 1963 in Honolulu, Hawaii. This past July they celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her loving husband; her five children, Donald Overfield, Jr., of Thayne; Debra Phillips of Waterford, Mich.; Laura Squier of Waterford, Mich.; Jennifer (Jim) Dennis of Afton and David Overfield of Thayne. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; two sisters and one brother. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; two sisters; and two grandchildren, Jessica Yvonne and Brandon David. We are incredibly blessed to have had a mom who gave her love without conditions and was loyal and devoted without boundaries. The love she shared with our dad is a love and will be cherished. We will forever treasure her kind heart, amazing spirit, sense of humor, unwavering values, uncanny advise, endless hugs, limitless kisses, beautiful smile, and contagious laugh. Mom was truly one of a kind. Even though she will be missed beyond words, we are greatly comforted because of the love she had for the Lord and because of His promise we know, without a doubt, this is not goodbye. Into Paradise the Angels did lead you; in the arms of our Savior may you safely rest until we can all be together again. You will never be forgotten. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 at 1 p.m. in the Schwab Funeral Chapel, located just north of Thayne. The family will greet friends on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. Internment will take place in the Afton Cemetery. Funeral services for Floyd Skinner will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at noon in the Bedford LDS Church. Viewings will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne and again on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church.

Prescription drug abuse numbers increasing

sarahhale — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:53:07 +0000

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in Lincoln County, said County Attorney Eric Phillips. The dangers and crimes associated with prescription drugs abuse are something that everyone needs to be more aware of, he said. “Of late, the use and abuse of prescription drugs has been on the rise in Lincoln County,” said Phillips. “The most commonly abused drugs include Percocet, Valium, Xanax, Vicodin, Oxycodone, and Oxycontin. The fact that these drugs are typically prescribed by a doctor does not make them safe. According to a recent study, prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.” The statistics associated with prescription drug abuse are alarming. The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. In 2000, nearly 43 percent of individuals that were hospitalized for drug overdoses were hospitalized due to the abuse of prescription medications. “Contributing to the problem is the availability of these types of drugs,” said Phillips. “In many cases, prescription drugs are obtained via the internet by using a foreign or overseas pharmacy. These drugs can often be illegally obtained without a valid prescription.” According to Phillips, many individuals who abuse prescriptions are teenagers who have to look no further than the family medicine cabinet. “A large percentage of those abusing prescription medications are teenagers,” Phillips said. “Teenagers are often able to easily obtain medication because parents have the medication available in the home. In one recent case, a teenager became addicted to the pain pill Hydrocodone because the drug had been prescribed to his mother following back surgery. The mother only took a couple of the pills prescribed and left the mostly full bottle in the medicine cabinet. The teenager started out by taking only a few of the remaining pills. After a short period of time, however, the teenager was emptying the bottle and exploring illegal ways to obtain more Hydrocodone.” The side affects of using prescriptions for non-medical reasons is only part of the danger, Phillips said. Addiction to prescription drugs usually leads to the addict engaging in illegal activities in order to feed the habit. “Once a person becomes addicted to these types of medications, it is extremely difficult to quit,” said Phillips. “Drug addiction is a biological and pathological process that changes the way the brain functions. These long-lasting changes are a major component of an individual’s addiction. It is as if there is a figurative “switch” in a person’s brain. Once a person starts using drugs, that “switch” gets turned on and an individual is transformed from a user into an addict. Individuals who are addicted to certain medications will often go to great lengths to obtain more drugs.” According to Phillips, in Lincoln County over the last year, prescription addict activities have included illegal entry into homes in an attempt to obtain prescription medications. “Usually these people will knock first and if nobody comes to the door, they will enter the home and search for medication,” said Phillips. “If somebody comes to the door, they will falsely claim to be asking for directions or looking for work.” Phillips urged residents of Lincoln County not to contribute to the prescription drug addiction epidemic by being responsible prescription users. “People who have addictive prescription medications in their home should take caution,” Phillips said. “These medications should not be stored in medicine cabinets or in places easy to locate. Prescriptions should be taken as recommended by a doctor and disposed of when they are no longer being used. Moreover, people should lock their doors and be cautious of strangers entering [their] home.”

Fall seasons come to a close

dahlerickson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:49:23 +0000

The SVHS volleyball team and the football team both made the post-season but the trip proved to be short-lived. The Lady Braves were eliminated at the state tournament in Casper with two sweeps at the hands of 4A East foes. First the defending champion Kelly Walsh Lady Trojans on Thursday evening and then by the Cheyenne Central Lady Indians on Friday afternoon. Despite losing some great senior leadership by girls like Shae Wilkes, Kortnie Thomas and Kadi Erickson, the Lady Braves will be looking to continue their improvement with a host of ladies who have now played for a lot of varsity minutes. The Braves saw their four-game winning streak come to an end in Buffalo as the Bison capitalized on a Star Valley turnover and also had an 81-yard touchdown run right before the half. Buffalo scored again in the third quarter as they shut down Star Valley 21-0. Mark Van Slyke caught seven passes to move into third place all-time on the SVHS varsity receptions list with 35. Jace Jensen rushed for 95 yards and a score while Hayden Kessler finished with 79 yards and a score. The Bison defense held Star Valley to just 122 total yards. Buffalo will now play at Cody next week in a rematch of last year's semi-final Bison blowout in Park County. The Broncs eliminated Torrington 19-6. On the other side of the bracket, home team Worland had to survive in double-overtime as they successfully converted a two-point conversion in the second extra stanz, 38-37. Douglas continued to roll, shutting out Lander, 34-0.

Roads in Southeastern Wyoming finally open on Monday

dahlerickson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:22:49 +0000

A pair of large fall storms converged in eastern and southeastern Wyoming over the weekend, causing some residents to report anywhere from 18-26 inches of snow. Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reported that 122 vehicle crashes were called in and confirmed. Some of the largest collisions included semi-trailers and the stretch between Cheyenne and Laramie. The State government was also shut down for approximately 36 hours due to the storm and roads like Highway 287 were closed until Monday morning.

State Treasurer reports on tumor

newsrelease — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:20:02 +0000

Wyoming State Treasurer Joe Meyer announced in press conference today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, that he has been diagnosed with a tumor on the outside of his lung. Meyer explained the tumor is encapsulated in fluid, and although malignant, it has not metastasized. He also noted the bone scan tests have been clear. “I am very fortunate to have made this discovery early on,” said Meyer. Meyer said additional tests were encouraging, including pulmonary lung function. “My lung function is good so I guess it’s a good thing I was a jock when I was young and have remained active in the outdoors with my two sons,” he said. Meyer said he is expecting to undergo surgery within a couple of weeks to have the tumor removed. It is anticipated that after being released from the hospital the State Treasurer will return to work in four to six weeks. “I’m a fairly private person, Meyer concluded, “but as a state official, I believe people deserve to know what is happening, I know people worry about me because I have been a smoker, Mary has been trying to get me to quit for years, now I’m finally listening to her.”

Planned power outage will affect Alpine area

dandockstader — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:25:55 +0000

Lower Valley Energy will conduct a planned, one-hour power outage on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2:30 in the afternoon. The planned outage will affect the Riverview Subdivision on the North side of Highway 89 in Alpine and every residence between there and the Palisades Dam. Lower Valley energy extends apologies for any inconveniences the outage may cause. If you have questions or need additional information related to this planned one-hour outage at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, please contact Lower Valley Energy at 885-3175. Again, the one-hour outage will occur at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and will affect the Riverview Subdivision on the north side of Highway 89 and all residences between that subdivision and the Palisades Dam.

There’s still a chance to bag an elk on an HMA

newsrelease — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:31:47 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that there are three Hunter Management Areas, also known as HMAs, involving private lands near Big Piney, Daniel and Boulder. The Big Piney and Daniel areas include 28,000 private aches, while the Boulder location includes 10,470 acres. An HMA is composed of one or more large ranches that enter into an agreement with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department to allow free hunting access. The Department takes on the responsibility of managing the hunters by giving out permission slips to eligible hunters. Permission slips must be obtained prior to hunting. The Big Piney HMA is west of Big Piney and provides hunting for elk in hunt area 94. Hunters wishing to participate in this hunt must have an unused Area 94 type 6 elk license, and an access permit obtained from the Pinedale Game and Fish office. Access permits will be limited to 100. The season for this area will run from Nov. 23, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010 for antlerless elk only on those lands enrolled in the Big Piney HMA. The Daniel HMA is northwest of Big Piney and provides hunting for elk in hunt area 92. Hunters wishing to participate in this hunt must have an unused Area 92 type 6 elk license, and an access permit obtained from the Pinedale Game and Fish office. Access permits will be limited to 100. The season for this area will run from Nov. 23, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010 for antlerless elk only in that portion of Area 92 east of Sublette County Roads 115, 116, 117 and south of North Beaver Road, off national forest. The Chimney Butte HMA is North of Big Sandy and southeast of Boulder and allows hunting for elk in hunt area 98. Again, hunters must have an unused Area 98 Type 1, 4 or 6 elk license and an access permit to hunt the private lands within the Hunter Management Area. The season for this area will run from Nov. 23, 2009 to through Dec. 31, 2009 for antlerless elk only in that portion of Area 98 between Scab Creek and the East Fork River drainage, excluding Irish Canyon Creek and Muddy Creek. Access permits for all three HMAs will be given out at the Pinedale Regional Office on Saturday, November 14th, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters will need to bring their valid unused elk license with them and be prepared to provide a description (make, model, color, year and license plate number) of the vehicle they plan to hunt with in order to get an access permit. Leftover access permits will be available during regular business hours at the Pinedale Regional Office beginning Monday, November 16th.

Accident claims the lives of two valley residents

dahlerickson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:37:39 +0000

A single rollover accident on Highway 238 west of Afton resulted in the deaths of two Star Valley residents on Thursday morning. The accident is still under investigation by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) but initial reports stated that the driver and a passenger of a car traveling on Highway 238 took a corner too fast and caused the vehicle to roll, killing both people. The names of the victims are being withheld until family is notified and the incident continues to be scrutinized by the WHP.

Independent Obituaries: November 5, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:35:03 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the November 5, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Lester LaVerne Weber, age 77, a longtime resident of Jackson, died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at the St. John’s Hospital in Jackson. Les was born Nov. 8, 1931 in Bladen, Neb., to Andrew and Rose Meester Weber. As a young adult he traveled and worked in several different trades. During this time he met Shirley Mae (Einsphar) and they married. In 1957 Les got a job offer to help build a new elementary school in Jackson Hole. He and Shirley had three children at the time and decided to pack up and move to the mountains. They added two more children to the family after moving to Jackson. Les was a carpenter by trade and worked for local contractors for several years until starting his own construction company. He and three of his sons are responsible for many of the beautiful log homes that grace the valley of Jackson Hole. He was a master at what he did and passed his skill down to his sons. Even after his retirement, Les never lost his love of woodworking and building. You can see his passion in every detail that he has left behind in their home in Thayne. After retirement, one of his great loves was working in the shop building special projects for his family. After the passing of his wife Shirley in 2001, Les remarried in 2005 to Doneta Tunsen Baker Shinkle. They relocated to Thayne where they built a log cabin. They lived there during the summer and traveled to Arizona for the winters. He had many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed rock hunting, reading, cooking, gardening and building. Later in life, he always enjoyed and looked forward to the yearly family camping trips. He was always so intrigued with any and every part of construction. Not only construction, but his ‘roots’ of Nebraska farming always brought a big smile to his face. When passing a field of crops. He is survived by his wife, Doneta of Thayne; brother Donald (Leota) Weber of Harvard, Neb.; son Robert (Ginny) Weber of Hamilton, Mont.; daughter Sharon (Glen) Steers of Lander; son Ronald (Kaylea) Weber; son Dan (Terri) Weber; and son Andy (Cari) Weber all of Jackson; stepdaughter Kim Poletti of Phoenix, Ariz.; stepson Cory (Alison) Shinkle of Peoria, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Shirley, one sister and one grandson. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jackson. Burial will be in the Southpark Cemetery south of Jackson. John Peter Balderson, age 55, of Freedom, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 north of Jackson, Wyoming in an automobile accident. John was born Jan. 23, 1954 in Los Angeles to John and Nikki Neri Balderson. He married Linda Robinson on July 20, 2001 in Independence, Calif. They lived in Temecula, Calif., until they moved to Freedom in July of this year. John was a member of the LDS church and loved to fish and hunt. He is survived by his two daughters: Shawna de la Cruz and Erin Balderson both of Glendale, Calif., and son Brandon Dobbins of Pasadena, Calif. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at the Schwab Mortuary in Thayne. Cremation arrangements were made by the Valley Mortuary in Driggs, Idaho. Funeral services for Harold Dean Barber will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7. 2009 at 1 p.m. in the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. A viewing will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to services.

Governor asks for Wyoming flags to fly at half-mast

dahlerickson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:54:07 +0000

In the wake of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, flags should immediately be adjusted to half mast. Governor Dave Freudenthal requests that flags be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset, Tuesday, November 10, 2009. President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation which calls for the flags to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect honoring the victims of the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas. The proclamation may be viewed on line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog.

State shows small increase in economic numbers

dandockstader — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:44 +0000

Wyoming’s economy showed a small increase in strength in October but job losses continue, according to a monthly report gauging the business climate. The Wyoming Business Conditions Index, produced by the Goss Institute for Economic Research based on a survey of the state’s supply managers, increased to 47.5 from 47 in September. The index, based on a survey of supply managers in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, points to continuing economic weakness for the rest of 2009. Despite the increase, there are still indicators over the past several months that point to a struggling economy in the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming region in the coming months.

Smoky Canyon Mine earns honors

dandockstader — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:28:37 +0000

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded the J.R. Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine with the Sentinel of Safety honor. The annual award encourages accident-prevention and is presented to mining operations that exhibit safe programs. Dennis Facer, Smoky Canyon Manager, says he is proud of the employees for achieving a great safety record. Facer says Smoky Canyon mine personnel have made a strong commitment to a special program that was stared several years ago to improve the safety of mining operations.

Two area teens identified in single vehicle rollover

dahlerickson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:28:25 +0000

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), Bracken G. Erickson 18, of Afton, and Michael J. Stanek 19, of Jackson, were not wearing seat belts and were both ejected from the cab of their 2004 GMC 2500 pickup at a high rate of speed resulting in their deaths on Thursday Nov. 5. According to the same report "The Erickson vehicle was eastbound on WYO 238 which was dry with clear weather conditions at the time. As the driver was attempting to negotiate a left hand curve in the roadway the vehicle went off the roadway onto the right side shoulder where it struck a delineator post. The driver then over corrected the vehicle’s steering to the left which caused the vehicle to go into a broadside slide as it went across both the eastbound and then the westbound lane of travel. The vehicle went off the roadway on the left side going through the right-of-way fence before it rolled 1½ time. The vehicle came to rest on its top in an irrigation ditch in approximately 3 to 4 feet of water. During the rollover both Stanek and Erickson were totally ejected from the cab. The airbags in the vehicle did deploy, however, neither occupant were wearing their seat belt. " The crash remains under investigation, however, Troopers believe excessive speed to safely negotiate the curve in the roadway is a contributing factor in this crash. The WHP stated that the two fatalities marked the 110th and 111th deaths on the highways in Wyoming this year, compared to 134 at this same time last year.

Wyoming Superintendent gathering inputs on NCLB reauthorization

newsrelease — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:02:50 +0000

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Jim McBride, released his draft comments on what he believes needs to be changed or addressed when No Child Left Behind is considered for reauthorization. “It's critical for our neighboring western and frontier states that Wyoming stays involved and be a leader in the reauthorization process,” Dr. McBride said. “With Sen. Enzi’s experience and his position of leadership, we have strong representation in the process.” Dr. McBride said he speaks with Sen. Mike Enzi often to discuss education in Wyoming and how the state is affected by federal laws and regulations. Some of these key areas that he has referenced in his comments include growth models, full funding, rewards versus sanctions, and national standards and assessments. Dr. McBride drafted the comments as a starting point for the discussion in Wyoming on the reauthorization of the law. He is now seeking comments and feedback from educational leaders, school and district staff, business leaders, civic leaders and the general public. “We are all very familiar with this law and I have had many discussions with people about what needs to be changed,” he said. “I’ve taken the time to consolidate those thoughts and today we are asking for inputs and feedback to help us make sure we present a recommendation that reflects what Wyoming wants.” The draft comments are available on the Wyoming Department of Education website at www.k12.wy.us. Comments can be submitted by email to nclb@educ.state.wy.us. The final recommendation will be sent to Wyoming’s congressional delegation, the U.S. Department of Education, other state education departments and other national education organizations. In addition, it will be available to the public on the Wyoming Department of Education’s website.

Nichols pleads no contest in Alpine stabbing

dahlerickson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:20:32 +0000

Clair Bruce Nichols has entered a plea in the case relating to the May death of Alpine resident David Reneker. According to a press release from Lincoln County Attorney, Eric F. Phillips, "On November 9, 2009, Clair Bruce Nichols entered a no contest plea to the charge of Manslaughter. Nichols will be sentenced at a later date not yet determined by the judge. Nichols could be sentenced to up to twenty (20) years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary and may be required to pay a fine of up to $10,000. Nichols was remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office where he will remain incarcerated on a $100,000 bond until sentencing. " According to an affidavit written by Sherriff’s Deputy Jody Gardner, David Reneker was found dead at his home on May 17, 2009. An autopsy revealed that Reneker died after being stabbed multiple times. Phillips went on to say that pursuant to a search warrant, police later found bloody clothes and a blood stained knife at the residence of Mr. Nichols. The Wyoming State Lab confirmed that it was Reneker’s blood on the clothing and the knife. Moreover, Nichols DNA was also present on the knife. The knife matched the size and width of the knife used to kill Reneker. Blood matching that of the victim was also found in the Defendant’s car. The Defendant stated at the November 9, 2009 hearing that he was so intoxicated on the night in question that he has no memory of the incident.

Wyoming Flu-Related Death Toll Climbs to Eight

newsrelease — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:12 +0000

According to the Wyoming Department of Health, influenza was associated with the recent deaths of two more Laramie County residents. The two men were both elderly and had underlying health conditions associated with higher risk of severe illness. One died last week; the other about three weeks ago. These are the seventh and eighth flu-related deaths reported to the department since the emergence of H1N1 flu in Wyoming. Four reported deaths have been among residents between the ages of 19 and 64; four among residents over the age of 65. “Due to the H1N1 flu, Wyoming continues to experience widespread flu activity at levels higher than we’ve seen over at least the last 10 typical winter flu seasons,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. “However, the reports from the last two weeks have indicated the growth in activity has started to slow.” Since late May, 663 swine or H1N1 flu cases have been confirmed by the department. Of those: *56 were among residents younger than 5 *349 were among residents between the ages of 5 and 18 *253 were among residents between the ages of 19 and 64 *5 were among residents older than 65 Over the same timeframe 3,672 cases of flu have been reported to the department overall, as well as 102 influenza-related hospitalizations. The department expects the number of actual flu infections around the state to be much higher, because most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the H1N1 flu strain. Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting. Actions recommended to slow the spread of illness include: • When available, get immunized with both an H1N1 flu and a seasonal flu vaccine. • In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care. • Avoid contact with ill persons. • Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can. • Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel. More information about flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov.

This Week in Star Valley: November 12

newsrelease — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:24:26 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 108 years. Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: The Lincoln County School District #2 is instigating a "School Crossing Guard" program through the efforts of the PTO, the town and the school. The school is currently seeking applications of anyone wishing employment as a guard for approximately three hours per day to serve at crossings near the elementary and high schools. The Afton Chamber of Commerce is planning the annual Christmas Kickoff again this year. . . . The Annual tree lighting ceremonies at the Afton Town Park is planned for Friday, Nov. 23. . . . new decorations [are] on order to decorate 12 street light poles on Afton's Main street. Ad: Coming Soon to the new Afton Plaza, The Toy Box. Toys, Hobbies, and bulk candy; featuring, Fisher Price, Tonka, Trains, Stompers and much, much more. The architect's drawing of the pipe organ for the Afton LDS Stake Center has been received. . . . Over $41,000 has now been pledged or received toward the organ and committee members appreciate those who have already made contributions and welcome others to do so. 50-years ago: (photo) Brenda Thurman and Bruce Winters were crowned queen and kind of the Seminary Harvest Ball, Friday night by Pres. B. Delos Gardner. Beth Hoopes and Kent Lindberg were attendants. The 12 ward queens and their attendants are also pictured. Ad: Hoover Day at Ken's Furniture & Appliances. New Hoover Eclectic floor washer, washes floors, then drinks up the scrub water, only $79.95; Hoover Pixie cleaner, the lowest priced Hoover cleaner made and what a joy to use, only $39.95; Hoover steam and dry iron, for the fastest, smoothest, ironing you've ever tried, only $19.95. Annual Sadie Hawkins Dance, Friday, Nov. 20, SVHS gym. Prizes for the best costumes. Admission 50c single, $1.00 couple, sponsored by SVHS Pepstars. 75-years ago: Almanac: Nov. 12–Thomas Edison is awarded the Nobel Prize, 1915; 14–Sherman sets torch to Atlanta, Ga., 1864; 16–Oklahoma is admitted to the Union, 1907; 17–Suez Canal opened. Cost $127,000,000, 1869. The gravel crusher and loader was set up last week in Grover Canyon, and actual gravel hauling was started Monday night. The crusher will run continuously night and day, allowing only necessary stops for greasing etc., and the trucks are running four shifts per day of five hours each shift. The graveling has started at Grover and thy will come this way. A three inch course of gravel is what is called for in the contract. During the last few days the road crew and machinery has been arriving in Salt Canyon to finish the new contract let recently. It is expected that work will be started on the grading in a very short time. The new contract calls for a little more than three miles. Work will continue all winter if the weather will permit. 100-years ago: Auburn news: Henry Erickson and wife are leaving shortly for Montpelier to spend the winter. Mr. Erickson is one of the best blacksmiths in the country, so anybody wishing any work done must hurry before he leaves. Aurthur Lemons gives his wedding dance Nov. 19th, at Harrison Hall. Freedom news: People are busy getting their Winter's wood and preparing in other ways for the cold season. Some are plowing the stubble land, for the job of breaking is too hard in most fields, because the land is dry. Alfred Lee went to Soda after flour, and it seems he did not ask if they had a load for him, consequently he is there filling up on soda water for a few days, when they expect a car load. Thayne news: The night was dark and the stars gave no light, when R.E. Coy's bald head was seen turning the corner of our principle street, last Saturday night. It’s a fine 10 lb. girl.

Governor visits Wyoming troops in Middle East

newsrelease — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:44:08 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Dave Freudenthal visited Wyoming National Guard troops and other active duty U.S. personnel serving in Kuwait and Iraq while on a trip sponsored by the Secretary of Defense. “We have a greater number of our National Guardsmen deployed right now than at any other time - nearly one thousand soldiers and airmen - and I welcome the opportunity to go where they are serving to make sure that they know how much all of us back home in Wyoming support them and appreciate what they’re doing for their State and Country,” Freudenthal said. Freudenthal is joined on the bipartisan trip by three other governors: Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and Sonny Perdue of Georgia. According to Col. Jeff Cashman of the U.S. Air Force, the three states also have a significant number of Guardsmen deployed. The governors are accompanied by Brigadier General Tim Kadavy, the deputy director of the Army National Guard, and other military and federal officials. “I appreciate getting to see firsthand where our folks are serving and what their mission is,” said Freudenthal. “When I get back home I hope to be able to reassure their families that our country and our military leaders are doing their best to ensure that they are as well cared for as possible, under the circumstances,” he said. The trip, which began on Monday, included a Pentagon briefing and a visit from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. Gov. Freudenthal encouraged Wyomingites to drop the troops a line, send them a care package and remember them during the holidays. “Wyoming has been sending its National Guard soldiers and airmen on overseas deployments literally since the first month of my first term in January, 2003, and they have been serving continuously, many have deployed more than once and in more than one theater,” Freudenthal said. “It won’t be possible for me to visit each and every person from Wyoming, but I hope to see as many as possible, to shake their hands and tell them ‘thank you’ personally,” he said. For information on adopting a solider please contact the Wyoming National Guard’s Yellow Ribbon Program at 307-772-5262. More than 700 Wyoming Soldiers deployed in April and are currently serving in Kuwait and Iraq. Freudenthal, in his time as governor, has extended the Military Members Compensation Committee; provided for the retention of wages, group health insurance, deferred compensation and accrued annual leave for soldiers placed on active duty; and worked on the Wyoming Military Assistance Trust Fund, which assists military families in times of need.

Etna Gravel Pit tabled until 2010

sarahhale — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:22:16 +0000

The Evans Construction proposal to expand a gravel pit in the Etna area has been tabled until the January 2010 Lincoln County Planning and Zoning meeting. The applicant requested the proposal be tabled in light of public interest in the project. According to John Woodward, planning director for Lincoln County, the gravel pit proposal called for a conditional use permit from Lincoln County. “There has been a gravel pit in that location since the mid 70s,” said Woodward. “It is a 10-acre pit that falls under DEQ rules.” Once a gravel pit exceeds 10-acres, Woodward said, the applicant must have a small mining permit in place from the state. In order to get that state permit, however, the applicant must first have the necessary county permits in place. Evans Construction applied for a conditional use permit from Lincoln County Planning and Zoning in October. The county received extensive public comment with regards to the project and Evans Construction requested the project be tabled until Jan. 27, 2010. According to Woodward, the county does allow a one-time table request from an applicant. A request to table an application must be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled public hearing relating to the project. The public hearing for the gravel pit was slated for Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 in Cokeville. While Lincoln County Planning and Zoning will meet that night, the Etna gravel pit application will not be on the meeting agenda. The proposal calls for expanding the existing gravel pit, located approximately a half mile south of Nordic Ranches on the east side of U.S. Highway 89, to 54 acres. The state would require that expansion of the pit take place only 10 acres at a time, Woodward said. The gravel pit expansion would allow for processing sand and gravel, producing asphalt hot mix and batching. Woodward anticipates the applicant will schedule a public informational meeting regarding the project prior to the Jan. 27 hearing. Lincoln County Planning and Zoning will continue to accept public comment with regards to the project. For additional information on the proposed expansion of the Etna gravel pit, contact County Planning Director John Woodward at 885-3106.

Abby Nicoll invited to join Olympic Development Program

dahlerickson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:42:47 +0000

The Nicoll family has certainly put their stamp on Star Vallely Lady Braves soccer in it’s relatively short history. Leisel was a standout in the program’s initial few years. Later Sierra became the first all-state selection in school history. Big things are expected of Kallie in her junior season and apparently the fourth girl of the group, Abbie, has already turned heads despite not even having an official high school practice under her belt. Abbie Nicoll has been invited to participate in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the State of Wyoming. “She’s the first girl from Star Valley ever to be invited,” stated former Lady Braves assistant coach and new Braves head coach, Scott Berglund. “The Nicoll girls have cemented a reputation in the area and are a big part of Star Valley Soccer and they are well known around the state.” Berglund went on to state that the ODP enters select tournaments around the country and play other development teams. “It’s really a good way to get your name out there and noticed for college scholarships,” he added. “From the state level you go to the regional team. From the regional team you can try out for the national team.” Having been hanging around a soccer pitch for much of her young life around three successful older sisters, Abbie is already starting to put her name into play before the Lady Braves suit up in March. “She was named the MVP of the Afton soccer league two years in a row,” replied Berglund. “She’s easily one of the best girls I have seen play. She is one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had. She’s played with the high school kids since she was ten years old.” As for the opportunity, Berglund believes the chance to be taught by some of the country’s best has already had an effect and even brighter days are ahead for the Nicoll family. “It’s a high honor, especially as a freshman.”

Plans to pay for new county detention center underway

sarahhale — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:53:11 +0000

Lincoln County is moving forward with plans for a new detention center. This month the county commissioners signed a resolution “authorizing the expenditure of funds prior to the formation of a joint powers board and the issuance of revenue bonds to finance a detention center project.” Resolution 2009-43 also announces the county’s intent to “have the expenditures reimbursed by the board with proceeds from the future sale of the bonds.” “Lincoln County is in need of a suitable jail facility, which will include but not be limited to detention housing, office and support facilities,” the resolution states. “In order to facilitate the detention center project, Lincoln County desires to create a joint powers board which will provide methods of financing for the detention center project. In order to finance the detention center project, the joint powers board will issue revenue bonds.” The resolution outlines that the county “may need to expend monies on the detention center project from its general fund prior to issuance of the bonds.” “To comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations, Lincoln County desires this resolution to constitute its official intent for reimbursement of such expenditures with proceeds from the bonds,” the resolution states. According Resolution 2009-43, the reimbursement allocation “to be made with respect to original expenditures will occur not later than 18 months after the date on which the expenditure is paid; or the date the detention center project is placed in service or abandoned.” For an inside look at the aging county facility, check out the November 12, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Independent Obituaries: November 12, 2009

newsrelease — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:52:01 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the November 12, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Bond Sidney Harman, age 65, passed away on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 in Salt Lake City. He was born March 29, 1944 in Salt Lake to Lon and June Harman. Bond married Georgette on Feb. 5, 2000 in Las Vegas. Prior to residing in Western Wyoming, Bond maintained golf courses in Washington, Oregon, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. He filled the positions of construction superintendent and superintendent of Teton Pines Country Club in the 80s. He also was a superintendent at Star Valley Ranch in the 90s. Bond also owned and operated Field of Greens Putting Club and Pizza. His current businesses, that is operated along with his wife, are Field of Greens Irrigation, Inc., and Jett Enterprises, Inc. Both businesses are located in Star Valley. Bond was a renowned Christian. He enjoyed golf, RVing, fishing, and playing tennis ball with his poodle, Moose. He also loved to cook for family and friends. His wishes were to celebrate his life with all his family and friends, in a happy and warm environment, at the appropriate time. Bond and his wife, Georgette, have resided in Star Valley since 1988. Bond was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lon; an aunt and uncle, Nadine and Sid Harman. In lieu of flowers, an account has been opened in Bond’s name at Wells Fargo for donations to cancer research. Harold Dean Barber was born March 2, 1933 in scenic South Dakota to Francis “Dick” and Mary Elizebeth Barber. Dean was the third of seven children. The family moved to Rapid City in 1936, where he grew up. Dean finished the 10th grade, enlisted in the Army, then took a hardship leave to help at home. In 1952, he married Mona Lee Anderson in Rapid City. To this union three sons were born. They were divorced in 1965. Dean wasn’t one to let grass grow under his feet, living in many Wyoming towns and working in auto body. He traveled to Long Beach, Calif., where he met Beverly Brennan Hobbs and they were later married in Sheridan, Wyoming in 1967. Bev brought four children to this union and they had one son together in 1969. The winter of 1977, Dean brought his family to Star Valley, where they lived until the time of his death. He lost his beloved Beverly “Fred” in June of 2007 and he later passed Oct. 31, 2009. Dean is survived by eight children and 30 grandchildren as well as 19 great grandchildren. Funeral services for Braken Erickson were held on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at noon in the Afton Tabernacle. Viewings were held Sunday evening, Nov. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Dixie Taylor Kennington passed away Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Funeral services are pending.

Troopers in Alpine help with poaching case

dandockstader — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:57:28 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that Casper resident Timothy J. Alme was ordered to pay $30,030 and has lost his privilege to hunt or be in the field with anyone hunting for the next 10 years after poaching two mule deer near Lusk. On Nov. 23 of 2008, Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak received a phone call from Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Andy Jackson concerning a possible poaching case. Trooper Jackson and fellow officer Karl Southam were investigating a traffic accident involving a guard rail and a pickup truck on Highway 89 near Alpine. They discovered that the bed of the pickup truck, a white 2008 Dodge, had blood and deer hair in it. The truck was left abandoned along the highway, and a check of the license plate revealed it was registered the Casper resident. A consented search of Alme’s residence revealed deer meat in the freezer, several sets of deer antlers and pronghorn horns in the garage and a number of deer and pronghorn carcasses in a draw on the property. Four of the deer carcasses – three mule deer and a white-tailed deer – were fresh kills and had the skull caps and antlers removed. The Game Warden determined two of the mule deer appeared to have been killed within the past week, while the other mule deer and the white-tailed deer were killed a few weeks earlier. Evidence was collected at the scene and from the abandoned pickup and tested. During an interview with Alme and his attorney, Alme confessed to poaching two mule deer Niobrara County. The individual confessed to shooting the deer from the cab of his pickup while stopped along the highway. Alme was charged with the illegal killing of antlered big game animals without a license during a closed season and shooting a big game animal from a vehicle.

Governor to have an updated state budget ready by December

dandockstader — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:13:06 +0000

Governor Dave Freudenthal said the continuing economic conditions will impact State revenues through fiscal years 2010-11 and 2011-12. In a telephone conference from Iraq, where he's visiting Wyoming National Guard troops, the Governor said the Wyoming Legislature will have his budget recommendations by the Dec. 1 deadline. The Economic Analysis Division of the Department of Administration and Information reports the Wyoming cost of living index increased at a 7.9% rate in the second quarter of 2008 before falling to 2.6% in the fourth quarter, and then to zero in the second quarter of this year. Revenue forecasts compiled in October by the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) project FY 2010-11 general fund revenues falling an additional $25.5 million, to $1.987 billion, from CREG’s May projection. FY 2011-12 figures have been reduced even further, to $1.866 billion, a $168 million drop. General fund revenues are not expected to begin rebounding until mid FY 2011-12.Gov. Freudenthal has been meeting with State agencies to review their budget requests and prepare his recommendations for the Legislature ahead of the budget session.

Funeral services for Vearl W. Hoopes

newsrelease — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:53:11 +0000

Funeral services for Vearl W. Hoopes are scheduled for 12:00 noon, Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Afton Tabernacle. Viewings will be held Wednesday evening November 18th from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and before the funeral at the Afton Tabernacle from 10:30 to 11:45.

Funeral Services for John "Jack" Osmond

newsrelease — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:43:02 +0000

Funeral services for John "Jack" Osmond will be held Friday, November 20, at 11 a.m. in the Afton fourth ward chapel. A viewing will take place from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Gardner will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

dandockstader — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:35:13 +0000

Rulon Gardner, who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in wrestling history at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, headlines the 2010 class of inductees into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. An unheralded wrestler at the time, Gardner provided one of the most spectacular moments of the 2000 summer games when he stunned Russian superstar Alexander Karelin with a 1-0 sudden victory in overtime. Karelin was considered the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time and already owned three Olympic gold medals entering the bout. He hadn’t lost a match of any kind for three years entering the Sydney Games, but Gardner avoided Karelin’s signature lifts to set himself up for victory. Perhaps equally as famous as his victory was the exuberant cartwheel Gardner performed on the mat in celebration after the match was complete. In addition to his Olympic gold in 2000, Gardner also picked up international titles at the 1996 World Cup, the 1998 and 2000 Pan American Games and the 2001 World Championships. Joining him as Distinguished Members are David Auble, Russell Camilleri and Lincoln McIlravy. The Hall of Fame's Board of Governors approved these selections at its semi-annual meeting held in Kansas City. The Class of 2010 will be inducted during the Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony in Stillwater, Oklahoma, June 4-5, 2010. The event will mark the 34th anniversary class of the Hall of Fame & Museum. Gardner was a state champion for Star Valley High School in 1989.

4-H club is seeking assistance with service project

newsrelease — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:49:24 +0000

The Free Spirits 4-H Club has organized a service project to help Wyoming families in need this holiday season. The project will also be used to help families in Brazil. The service project includes a toy and book drive. They will be accepting gently used toys and books through Thursday, Dec. 10. The Free Spirits 4-H toy and book drive locations include Country Charm Salon and Spa, Star Valley Holistic Health, The Cottage and Familee Thriftway in Afton. Jitters Coffee Shop and Farmers Feed Store in Thayne, Star Valley Feed and Tack in Etna and Alpine Market in Alpine. For information contact Dena Clinger at 248-3453.

Wyoming confirms 12 cases of West Nile virus

newsrelease — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:53:04 +0000

The final count of laboratory-confirmed West Nile virus infections reported in Wyoming residents was 12 this year, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Four of the reported case patients were from Fremont County, three from Goshen County, two from Platte County, and one each from Converse, Campbell and Washakie counties. There was one West Nile virus-related death this year in a Washakie County resident. In 2008, 10 cases and no deaths were reported in Wyoming. There were 184 human cases and one death were reported in 2007; 65 human cases with two deaths in 2006; 12 human cases with two deaths in 2005; 10 human cases with no deaths in 2004; and 393 human cases with nine deaths in 2003.

Independent Obituaries: November 19, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:20:43 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the November 19, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Dixie Lou Kennington passed from this life on Nov. 10, 2009, after a valiant battle with cancer. In both her life and her death, she explempified her families' motto: The Lord Can Depend On Me. Dixie was the mother of eight children, four daughters, Amber (Jerod) Johnson of Grass Valley, Calif.; Monica (Aaron) Sessions of Paso Robles, Calif.; Marci (Joe) McAllister of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kayla (David) Stock of Logan; and four sons, Kade (Shelli) Kennington of Kaysville, Utah; Devan (Meagan) Kennington of Omaha, Neb.; Ladd (Kelli) Kennington of Logan; and Todd Kennington Idaho Falls; as well as 16 grandchildren whom she had dedicated her life to by showering them with praise, joyful moments and unconditional love. Perhaps her greatest achievement was showing each of them just how special they are and convincing each and every one that they were her favorite. Dixie was born May 3, 1949 in Loma Linda, Calif.; and grew up in Star Valley, where she graduated from Star Valley High School and met her eternal sweetheart Jim Kennington. Jim and Dixie were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1968 and spent the next 41 years together building a life that exemplified faith, commitment and hard work. By her own account, Dixie had "dedicated her life to her children," and found her greatest joy in their successes and her greatest pride in the strength of their individual characters. For her efforts, Dixie was awarded the Young-Mother-of-the-Year award in 1983 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. By both choice and necessitiy, Dixie was a homemaker extraordinaire. She had learned an incredible work ethic as a child while working in hunting camps, bee camps and at the Lazy B Motel in Afton. As a mother she worked tirelessly sowing, cooking, cleaning, canning, doing yard work and decorating to make her humble home a warm and inviting place where her family could always find respite from the world. She was always ready with a word of encouragement or a treat and never missed an opportunity to praise and love her children and grandchildren. Speaking of her industriousness and love, Venna Barrus (mother-in-law) said that "she was as perfect a mother as there can be in this life." Dixie is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and truely loved the Lord. She found great joy in dedicating her time and talents to serve in the church, and served faithfully in many callings throughout her life. Her steadfast commitment to the gospel and desire to always do what is right has been the guiding principle of her families' life and will always serve as a lasting legacy for her posterity. After she had raised her own eight children through the bumps, bruises and illness of their own childhoods, she was trained as a medical assistant and shared her kindness and empathy with the patients and staff at the Budge Pediatrics Clinic, where she not only loved her work but her co-workers as well. Services were held in Dixie's honor at the Beaver Dam LDS church on Saturday Nov. 14, 2009. Internment followed that same day at the Fairview Cemetary. Floyd F. Skinner, 86, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother of Bedford Wyoming passed away Oct. 22, 2009 in his daughter’s home in Bedford. Floyd was born on Aug. 19, 1923 to Joseph Alma Jr. and Anna Fluckiger Skinner. He was the 6th of 11 children. Floyd attended grade school in Bedford and attended high school in Afton where he was active in several organizations; He graduated from High School in May of 1941. After which he attended the Aviation Institute in Denver, Colo. He married Dorothy Alleman on Nov 12, 1943 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Seven Children were born to this union. Gary Darrel, Robert Floyd, Bruce M., Joseph Kay, Valorie Stokes, Lucinda Ann Heiner, Sonia Coziah. Floyd joined the Army Air Corps in Nov 1943 and served in Puerto Rico for two years where he worked repairing airplanes. After returning home from the war, Floyd worked in several places before settling in Bedford with a job at the Star Valley Cheese Co-Op. He worked there for 35 years, retiring in 1986. Floyd loved the out of doors, He loved to go camping with his Family he loved to go fishing, and hunting and he enjoyed bowling. He was happiest when he was busy weather he was working or enjoying time with his family. He loved to travel with his wife and grandchildren. Floyd was an active member of the LDS Church where he served in many positions through the years. He was Bishop of the Bedford ward for 5½years from 1984 to 1990. Floyd and Dorothy served a mission for the LDS Church in the Atlanta Temple in Atlanta Ga. from Nov. 1991 to April 1993. Floyd was a man of great honesty and integrity who had a great love for his fellow man. He worked in the service of others all the days of his life. He will be remembered as a hard working, generous, kind man and a friend to all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Alma and Anna Skinner, Son Gary Darrel Skinner. brothers: LeRoy (Zelta), Wayne and Dean Skinner, Sisters: Vanessa (Wendel) Ransom, Rhea (Walter) Clark and Verna Skinner; Brother-in-law James Clark He is survived by his wife Dorothy Skinner, Sons: Robert (LeAnna), Bruce (Susan) and Joseph Kay (Diane) Skinner, his Daughter-in law Emma Skinner, daughters Valorie (Lynn) Stokes, Lucinda (Jim) Heiner, and Sonia (Mike) Coziah; his Brothers; Wilbert (Relia), Blain (DeAnn) and Jay (Carolyn) Skinner and his sister Verda Clark, sister-in-laws Marva Judy & Carma Skinner. 34 grandchildren and 71 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Floyd Skinner were held on Oct 31 at the Bedford Ward. He was interred in the Bedford, Wyoming Cemetery. Funeral services for Vearl W. Hoopes will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19 at noon in the Afton LDS Tabernacle. A viewing will take place from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church. Funeral services for John “Jack” Osmond will be held on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Afton Fourth Ward LDS Church. A viewing will take place on Friday from, 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

More than 13,000 deer utilized Nugget Canyon underpasses in the project's first year

dahlerickson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:58:29 +0000

For out of state drivers and perhaps a few locals alike, the idea of spending millions of dollars to encourage migratory deer to travel under the road instead of across may seem ridiculous. But with more than 1,000 deer per month on average utilizing the Nugget Canyon project in it’s first calender year, it’s easy to see just how quickly the idea may pay for itself in dead animals, property damage and even human fatalities. “They [the underpasses] were installed with all the fence completed in October of 2008, so we’ve been through one calender year,” stated John Eddins, District Engineer for District Three who joined the Independent from his office in Rock Springs. “We of course did a research project with cameras on all seven of the underpasses. Since December 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009, over 13,000 mule deer had gone through the underpasses.” While it’s always an estimate as to just how many animals are killed in the segment of the Lincoln County highway, Eddins says on average the number is significant. Any regular driver between north and south Lincoln County would agree. “It [fatality rates] goes up and down, but on average over the last ten years, in the neighborhood we would pick up about 200-300 deer per year.” While the project is now in use in recent memory, the project dates back to the 1980’s coincidentally with Eddins’ father in the legislature. “This goes way back in time but way back when Boyd Eddins was in office, there was a resolution passed with the Wyoming Game and Fish (WG&F) and WYDOT to keep deer from getting hit between Sage Junction and Nugget Canyon,” Eddins added. “There were some experiments done at the beginning of this decade which developed a level of comfort and determined that deer will use tunnels that are 10 foot high, 20 feet wide and from 50-60 feet long. Then we started designing a project to do that from 2003 until 2005. From there, the hurdle was how are we going to pay for it. In 2007, our state legislature graciously allowed us to use appropriations to build and pay for these underpasses. It would not have happened without the support of the state government.” Eddins also feels the huge numbers of dollars saved with the reduction in dead deer makes the project worthwhile. “Anytime you reduce the number of wildlife collisions by more than 150 percent, it’s likely to have prevented loss of life and a big time reduction in property value.” In addition to the large number of deer that continue to utilize the underpasses, the cameras located in the tunnels also showed that roughly 400 elk, 40 antelope, nine coyotes, four bobcats, two badgers and two racoons have used the tunnel.

Braves looking to contend for 4A state title this season

dahlerickson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:11:07 +0000

The Braves had a season of adjustment and coaching on the fly. As a guy with four state titles, two runner-up finishes and eight regional championships under his belt, Eddie Clark and his staff may have done some of their best coaching in a year that saw them fail to add to any of those accolades. Star Valley finished second at the 4A West Regionals and placed fifth at the Wyoming 4A state championships amid a handful of very strong teams. But in a year that saw major injuries, a brutal schedule and decisions to leave the program, the Braves battled through it all. And last year’s resolve just may turn into this year’s glory. With 20 wrestlers who qualified for last year’s state tourney now returning for another season, there’s no shortage of experience. With nine of them placing in Casper, there’s no lack of accomplishment either. And with six of those wrestlers accomplishing that feat as sophomores or freshmen, there will be no lack of youth on this year’s squad either. In short? Expect some noise in 2009-2010. The team will return some impressive experience, led by last year’s 4A 112-pound state champion, Hayden Heap, who went on a tear to close out last year by winning six straight major event titles. In fact, once Heap moved to 112, he never lost again. Now with another year of growth behind him, it’s always an evaluation process as to where certain grapplers will end up on the competition scale. With weight certification rules mandating that only a certain percentage of body weight can be lost and still compete, here’s what we do know. Junior Josh Claye won 42 matches before the state tournament last year at a stripped down 103 pounds. Claye’s experience will add to Star Valley’s impressive depth at the lower weight classes. Along with Heap and T. J. Guild who won 36 matches as a freshman en route to a third place finish, the scrappy grapplers of the bunch appear to be in good hands. In the middle weights, the Braves will have to deal with the loss of four-time state placer and 2009 runner-up, Dakota Dana at 130 pounds. Brandon Aullman placed sixth in the same weight class and will be a key component in the middle weights. Mark Van Slyke, Darin Taylor, Brandon Anglesey and Dawson Loveland combined to win 114 matches last year at weights 135 through 160. Some excellent additions from the junior varsity will also swell the numbers of the middle weights. In the big boy weights, there was a lack of depth again down the stretch from a year ago. Star Valley had two top-ranked wrestlers at 215 and 285 that never wrestled at state. Returning this year will be some combination of Nick Edwards who will be looking to become Star Valley’s eighth wrestler to place all four years. Adam Walton and Casey Wolfley along with Tanner Crook round out the musclebound weights. However, outside of Edwards’ 25 wins, the varsity credentials will need some seasoning this year. With six tournaments before the conference duels even begin, there will be plenty of opportunity for that. “Basically the first part of the season is all about working on your skills,” stated Head Coach Eddie Clark. “We obviously haven’t started at the weights that we’ll finish at. The big thing is to go out and compete no matter what weight you’re asked to wrestle. We expect our experienced kids to lead our team and to get the rest of the kids the experience that they need.” While there were some newcomers and underclassmen in last year’s varsity singlets, Clark feels that experience pretty much fills out the squad this season. “Most of our weights have kids who are established wrestlers,” he replied. It will be pretty tough to have a kid come in and contribute at the varsity level right away.” The Braves will begin their season after two weeks of practice as they travel to the Evanston Invitational on the first weekend in December. “We’re sitting at 50 kids,” Clark concluded. “We’ll have some fall out [of the program] over the course of the season but I don’t expect too many. Most of these kids who are in here know what they’re in for.” After two years of top five finishes in Wyoming’s largest class including a heart wrenching runner-up title in 2008, the Braves are poised to make another strong run at the title. “The 4A class is a tight race,” Clark concluded. “There are four teams that can legitimately contend and I think we’re one of them. I think the kids are excited about it. They see the potential so that helps drive the early part of the season so it’s exciting and it’s fun to come in where everyone’s working hard because they know we’ve got a chance.” 2009-2010 Season Event Date @ Evanston Invite Dec. 4-5 Star Valley Invitational Dec. 11-12 @ Weber Invite Dec. 18-19 @ Rollie Lane Invite Jan. 8-9 @ Box Elder Tourney Jan. 15-16 @ American Falls Jan. 21 @ Tiger Grizz Tourney Jan. 22-23 Vs. Green River Jan. 27 @ Natrona County Jan. 29 @ Riverton Jan. 30 @ Ron Thon Tourney Feb. 5-6 Vs. Rock Springs Feb. 10 @ Evanston Feb. 11 Regionals (@ NCHS) Feb. 19-20 State (@ Casper) Feb. 26-27

This Week in Star Valley: November 20

dahlerickson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:24:40 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for more than 108 consecutive years. Take a look at what made the pages 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago! 25-years ago: The Postal Service is cooperating with the business community of Afton in urging customers to shop early and mail early for the holidays. Postmaster Carter asks holiday shoppers to mail early this year. . . . "Normally, we handle about 11,000 pieces of mail a day including cards, letters and packages, but during the holiday season, volume goes up to about 17,000 pieces." For Sale: Large Idaho spuds, $8 per hundred. For Sale: House on beautiful secluded 25 acres, 7 miles North of Freedom. Three bedroom, 2 baths, dishwasher, fridge, all electric. Full basement, partially finished. Spring water, $135,000. 50-years ago: (photo) Mrs. Vaughn Bassett shows what is left of her pressure cooker and kitchen range after the cooker blew up Monday night at the Bassett home in Osmond. The entire kitchen was devastated, but fortunately no one was hurt. A very entertaining program entitled, "The Golden Road to Happiness" was presented Thursday evening at the high school auditorium by the Sixth Grade of the Afton Elementary School. A large crowd was in attendance. The program featured song and dance numbers depicting life in various countries throughout the world. Special costumes were made. All sixth graders participated. The program was under the direction of Principal Eldon Erickson, with text and music by Elona Hillyard; narration by Barbara Veigel; choreography by Lejette Johns and Gwen Dean; Costumes by Gwen Dean. 75-years ago: Almanac: Nov. 19–Lincoln delivers famous Gettysburg address, 1863; 21–First practical phonograph shown by Edison, 1886. (photo) 1934 Red Cross Poster invites your membership. Chas. Berg and sons have been busy the last few weeks building a new shoe repair shop. Mr. Berg states he is installing all new modern machinery and will soon be ready to do repair work. The building is between te Taysom Store and the Merritt Barber Shop. Civil War Veteran dies at Fairview–Warren T. Whitten of Fairview passed away Wednesday evening at the home of his daughter Mrs. C.J. Bagley. He was an old Civil War veteran and the last one in the Valley to pass on. 100-years ago: Ad: We will make special low prices on beef and mutton by the quarter at, Afton Meat Market. New Telephone Directory–The October issue of the directory of the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company is now being distributed to subscribers. The book contains the lists of subscribers in eastern and southern Idaho and in Star Valley, Wyoming, the list of long distance connections, and the usual general information and suggestions for telephone users. Fairview news: After much tribulation our school is running full blast, with Wm. J. Jensen as principal and Leo Harrison in the primary grade. Mrs. Eliza Ann Tolman has returned from a visit to Swan Valley.

Graveside services planned for Una Ray Simpson Horton

newsrelease — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:41:44 +0000

Graveside Services for Una Ray Simpson Horton will be Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. In the Thayne Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 11 a.m. To 12:30 p.m. at the Thayne Stake Center prior to the service.

Star Valley football names post-season awards

dahlerickson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:09:26 +0000

After going on a tear to close out the 2009 season, the Braves finished in a three-way tie for the 3A West conference crown. Not surprisingly, Star Valley was well represented when all-conference and all-state awards came out this week. Five players earned all-conference honors while an additional four earned honorable mention all-conference. Four of those players earned all-state honors, the highest number of all-state selections for Star Valley since 2005. All-State / All-Conference: Bill West (Senior) - West was a terror from the defensive end spot and also played extensively on the offensive line. He was second on the team in defensive points and was very difficult to block for the entire season. More impressive is the fact that West returned from a grisly broken leg in the second to last game of last season at Evanston to help lead this year's defensive unit. Alex Cooper (Junior) - Cooper was the leading defensive point scorer for any player that advanced to the playoffs. He led the team in defensive points and also made for a defensive attitude in terms of run support and pass coverage. Cooper's real strength was tackling where he was one of the best in the state. He will be returning next season to lead what could be another salty defensive unit. Larry Chavez (Senior) - Perhaps no player has meant more to the offensive and defensive lines over the past two seasons than Chavez. A versatile player who was asked to play center as a junior and up and down the offensive line as a senior when injuries decimated the squad early, Chavez showed incredible heart as he returned after a brutal cheap shot at Marsh Valley. Mark Van Slyke (Senior) - Not a player who dominated with height or speed, Van Slyke overwhelmed defenses at times with his determination. Van Slyke caught a school record 50 passes in his two years at the varsity level. Those 50 passes helped him compile 550 yards in his career. Van Slyke also played significant time at linebacker in many blitz packages. All-Conference Nick Edwards (Senior) - Edwards, along with Chavez, helped wreak havoc with a push from the middle of the defensive line. One of the strongest players on the team, Edwards helped the Braves slow down the slew of impressive runners in the 3A West. Honorable Mention All-Conference Hayden Heap (Senior) - Certainly not the biggest player, but one of the most tenacious players on the Braves was the only person on the team to score on both offense and defense. Trenton Walters (Senior) - Walters had multiple interceptions and was very solid in run support from his safety position throughout the season. William Buckley (Senior) - At 192 pounds, Buckley was a load when he carried the ball but even more so when he leveled a hit. Buckley had many memorable moments this year from his linebacker position. Sean Smith (Senior) - With multiple quarterback sacks and fumble recoveries, Smith was one of the most unheralded players for the Braves this season. His ability to play bigger than his size from the linebacker position helped the Braves win several of their games.

A skate park under consideration for Alpine

dandockstader — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:45:27 +0000

The Alpine Parks and Recreation Committee is looking into the possibility of a skate park. According to Town Administrator Deb Wolfley, the committee is in the preliminary research phase of project. Wolfley reports the Alpine Parks and Recreation Committtee is working to get more information on skates parks in general and the costs associated with them. According to Wolfley, the committee will research different styles of skate parks and the costs to build and maintain the parks. The parks and rec committee will also look for grant assistance. For more information on the parks and rec committee or the possibility of a skate park within the Town of Alpine, contact Deb Wolfley at the Alpine Town Hall by calling 654-7754.

Thayne given a beautification grant

dandockstader — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:51:12 +0000

The Town of Thayne has been awarded a grant from the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The grant will assist with landscaping on and around the Thayne canal area adjacent to Highway 89. According to Thayne Town Clerk Joan Jensen, the grant will provide the community with $40,000 and requires a 10 percent match from the town. The Town of Thayne is soliciting landscaping proposals for the Thayne Canal. Proposals will be reviewed over the next few months. Work on the beautification project will begin in the spring of 2010. For more information on the WyDOT grant of the beautification project for the Town of Thayne, contact the Thayne Town Hall at 883-2668.

Enzi battling new health care reform bill

dandockstader — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:44:20 +0000

U.S. Senator Mike Enzi reports that late Saturday night, the majority party was able to get the 60 votes necessary to ensure that Majority Leader Reid’s health care reform bill will be considered by the full U.S. Senate. Enzi spoke multiple times on the Senate floor over the last few days outlining the pitfalls of the bill. He said the 2,074 page bill will: increase taxes for nearly every American, cut Medicare for seniors, mandate every American to buy health insurance regardless of their age or health, mandate small businesses purchase health insurance for their employees, and add trillions of dollars of government spending. Enzi pointed out that the bill will be subject to change when the Senate resumes debate, which is scheduled to begin the week of Nov. 30. The amended version will also likely require 60 votes to pass the Senate. Enzi called the bill a prescription for future pain.

Alpine firefighters complete certification

dandockstader — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:47:31 +0000

Seven members of the Alpine Fire Department have completed pro-board practical evaluations and testing by the Wyoming State Fire Marshall’s Office. The training allows the seven members to be nationally certified as both Firefighter I and Firefighter II. Training for the certification started in November of 2008 and continued until 2009. Those completing the training for the Alpine Fire Department include Dick Knisley, Erick Brogeson, Brian Coe, Ben Franklin, Cody Engler, Dave Gieck, Jessee Calhoun, Greg Cook, Jim Ramirez, Steve Fusco and Bryan Pack.

This Week in Star Valley: Week of November 25

newsrelease — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:56:15 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been serving the area for over 108 consecutive years. Take a look back at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: The Postal Service is cooperating with the business community of Afton in urging customers to shop early and mail early for the holidays. Postmaster Carter asks holiday shoppers to mail early this year. . . . "Normally, we handle about 11,000 pieces of mail a day including cards, letters and packages, but during the holiday season, volume goes up to about 17,000 pieces." For Sale: Large Idaho spuds, $8 per hundred. For Sale: House on beautiful secluded 25 acres, 7 miles North of Freedom. Three bedroom, 2 baths, dishwasher, fridge, all electric. Full basement, partially finished. Spring water, $135,000. 50-years ago: (photo) Mrs. Vaughn Bassett shows what is left of her pressure cooker and kitchen range after the cooker blew up Monday night at the Bassett home in Osmond. The entire kitchen was devastated, but fortunately no one was hurt. A very entertaining program entitled, "The Golden Road to Happiness" was presented Thursday evening at the high school auditorium by the Sixth Grade of the Afton Elementary School. A large crowd was in attendance. The program featured song and dance numbers depicting life in various countries throughout the world. Special costumes were made. All sixth graders participated. The program was under the direction of Principal Eldon Erickson, with text and music by Elona Hillyard; narration by Barbara Veigel; choreography by Lejette Johns and Gwen Dean; Costumes by Gwen Dean. 75-years ago: Almanac: Nov. 19–Lincoln delivers famous Gettysburg address, 1863; 21–First practical phonograph shown by Edison, 1886. (photo) 1934 Red Cross Poster invites your membership. Chas. Berg and sons have been busy the last few weeks building a new shoe repair shop. Mr. Berg states he is installing all new modern machinery and will soon be ready to do repair work. The building is between te Taysom Store and the Merritt Barber Shop. Civil War Veteran dies at Fairview–Warren T. Whitten of Fairview passed away Wednesday evening at the home of his daughter Mrs. C.J. Bagley. He was an old Civil War veteran and the last one in the Valley to pass on. 100-years ago: Ad: We will make special low prices on beef and mutton by the quarter at, Afton Meat Market. New Telephone Directory–The October issue of the directory of the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company is now being distributed to subscribers. The book contains the lists of subscribers in eastern and southern Idaho and in Star Valley, Wyoming, the list of long distance connections, and the usual general information and suggestions for telephone users. Fairview news: After much tribulation our school is running full blast, with Wm. J. Jensen as principal and Leo Harrison in the primary grade. Mrs. Eliza Ann Tolman has returned from a visit to Swan Valley.

Funeral Service for Elma Bae Newman

newsrelease — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:08:54 +0000

Services for Elma Bae Newman will be held Saturday, November 28 at 11 a.m. at the Thayne Stake Center. A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

County explores billing at the dump

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:27:34 +0000

Lincoln County will be exploring a billing program that will be based on weight. Mary Crosby,, solid waste director for the county explained the new scales will allow the county to charge fees based on actual weights rather than estimated volumes, as has been done in the past. The Lincoln County Landfill Department and Lincoln County Commissioners will hold a workshop on the proposed weight program Monday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. in the Cokeville Town Hall.

Free cancer resources available to all Wyoming citizens

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:05:27 +0000

Men and women across Wyoming have access to cancer education, prevention, screening, navigation and survivorship resources due to the expansion of the Wyoming Department of Health’s Wyoming Cancer Resource Services project (WCRS). Services provided by WCRS for Wyoming residents include cancer education and awareness, promotion of early detection of cancer, recruiting eligible participants into state-funded cancer screening programs and patient navigation. For more information about the program, (WRCS), please contact the Wyoming Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at 307-777-7362 or visit the Wyoming Department of health web site. (visithttp://www.health.wyo.gov/phsd/ccc/ccrc.html online).

Independent Obituaries: November 26, 2009

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:34:52 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the November 26, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Braken G. Erickson was born on Aug. 1, 1990 at 10:23 p.m. at the Star Valley hospital. The doctor’s first words were, ‘he has big feet and big hands, he will grow to be a big boy.’ Two years and five months later, on Jan. 5, 1993, his very best friend was born, his sister Slader. They were inseparable, sharing a bond that was unbreakable. Braken was very protective of Slader, he watched over her and she has always been one of the most important people in his life. Braken had many interests, riding four-wheelers, motorbikes, water skiing, knee boarding and riding horses. We can thank his friend, Jon Clark, for honing his cowboy skills. However, Braken’s real passion was hunting. He would hunt just about anything and he was a very good shot. He loved the outdoors and anything to do with nature. One of Braks favorite places on earth was Greys River, up by Telephone Pass. Braken was unique and so amazing, he took the time to notice the little things in life, like rocks along the path or the way the sun shone on the trees. Camping was also a big part of Braken’s life. He loved it! He enjoyed cooking breakfast and he especially loved Grandpa Robinson’s cook tent. He liked to get wood with his dad, he even enjoyed chopping it up. Fishing on Jackson Lake and Flaming Gorge was a favorite thing for Braken. Braken was easy going with a big smile and an even bigger heart. He would wave really big when he saw you and say ‘howdy, howdy!’ He had a way of ducking his head and smiling when he was thrilled about something and when he was excited he would flap his hands and hug you real tight. He made us laugh and he loved us unconditionally. Braken was a kid magnet! Little children loved him. They would climb on him and he would play with them and was so patient. There are no words to describe the love we have for Braken. He shines as bright as the sun in our hearts. He had such a good heart and a million friends. He was so amazing and unique. Braken returned home on Nov. 5, 2009. Braken is survived by his parents, Bradie and Randall Rees and Gary and Kristi Erickson; his sisters, Slader, Gracie and Sadie; his brothers, Samuel and William; his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and a million friends. We love you Brak. Una Rae Simpson Horton, 62, of Rigby, passed away, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at her home. She was born Feb. 18, 1947, in Afton to Jess Simpson and Ivy Hunsaker Simpson. She graduated from Star Valley High School in 1965, shortly after she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. She married her best friend and soul mate, Frank Horton, on Oct. 24, 1986. Una loved her three dogs and being outside whether it was working in her yard, or just relaxing. Una touched many lives, while battling cancer. She was always very positive and kept a strong attitude, which influenced many people. She is survived by her parents; Jess and Ivy Simpson, of Evanston; husband; Frank Horton, of Rigby; children; Mike Stoddard, of St. George, Utah; Ronda, (Robbert) Jenson, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Randy Stoddard, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kristy (Jeremy) Gregerson, of Santa Clara, Utah; Maria Horton Miller, of Juneau, Alaska; siblings; LuGene (Bob) Osmond, of Evanston; Doyle Simpson; Sharon (Tim) Trefren; Karen Huston; 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her daughter; Amanda Lee Stoddard. A viewing was held at the Thayne LDS Stake Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. A graveside service followed in the Thayne Cemetery.

WYDOT hosts open house for Afton south widening project

newsrelease — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:33:35 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will host an informal open house concerning the widening and overlay project on US 89. The open house will be Dec. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Afton Civic Center. Interested parties may attend any time, during these scheduled hours. WYDOT personnel and others involved with the project will be available to discuss the project with individuals. Maps, displays and plan sheets of the project area will be available for public review. Questions concerning the meeting can be directed to Jeffrey Sherman, WYDOT - Project Development at 307-777-3850. Interested persons with a disability that would prevent their attendance or participation may contact Tim Stark at 307-777-4379 prior to the meeting so accommodations to participate can be arranged.

New Alpine Ordinance features connection fees and billing

newsrelease — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:14 +0000

The Town of Alpine has passed Ordinance 197. The ordinance allows the town council to revisit water connection fees, usage rates and billing procedures for the community. According to Town Attorney Stefan Fodor, the proposed ordinance brings water service fees into alignment with the town’s sewer ordinance. Under the proposed ordinance, a water connection fee “will only be valid for one year from the date on which fees are paid in full.” The ordinance further states that “in the event that water connection has not been made within one year, an applicant must reapply and re-pay all fees in full.” The ordinance does allow for a “one-time, one year extension” if a “timely written request” is made to the town showing “good cause by the applicant” as to why “the connection has not been made.” According to the ordinance, the connection “will include the actual tap, fittings, pipe, valves, meter and meter box.” The ordinance outlines that “billing for water will begin the first full month after installation of the meter, irrespective of use and bills shall be issued monthly thereafter.” When it comes to meter reading within the Town of Alpine, the ordinance states that “the town will attempt to read all meters from the latter part of April through November 15, weather permitting.” The town will bill “all users monthly based on the usage rate. The last reading of the year will be used to compute the bills for the winter months. Once spring reading has been taken, adjustments will be made based on the users base rate and usage over and above that.” Ordinance 197 will be up for second reading at the Tuesday, Dec. 1 meeting of the Alpine Town Council. It must pass and second and third reading before it can officially be adopted by the town.

Funeral services for James R. Wray

dahlerickson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:19:48 +0000

Funeral services for Jame R. Wray will be held on Saturday, December 5, at 11 a.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. A viewing will be held on Friday, December 4, from 7-9 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and also from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service.

Lincoln County among those seeking stimulus funds

newsrelease — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:31:10 +0000

The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will review 53 energy efficiency grant applications for federal stimulus funding, 56 grant applications for community assistance funding and a $20 million contract pertaining to the National Center for Atmospheric Research supercomputing center during a two-day board meeting in Cheyenne. Among the applications: High Country behavioral Health in Afton requesting $46,241, the Town of Thayne requesting $23,000 and Lincoln County, $357,435. The board meeting will be held Dec. 2-3 at the Laramie County Community College’s (LCCC) Training Center in Cheyenne. In related news, the town of Thayne will be receiving a water study grant from the state of Wyoming. The Wyoming Water Development Commission has agreed to award Thayne with an $85,000 grant to assist with preparations for additional water storage. The grant was awarded as Thayne is working with the Wyoming Water Development Commission on a Level II Water Study.

Funeral services for Budd Pead announced

dahlerickson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:36:34 +0000

Funeral services for long-time valley resident Budd Pead have been announced for Saturday, December 5 in Orem, Utah. A viewing will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 520 E. Center Street in Orem. A funeral will also take place on Monday, December 7, at the Fairview Ward church in Star Valley at 12 noon. A viewing will take place at the church at 10 a.m. prior to the service.

Independent Obituaries: December 3, 2009

newsrelease — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:47:34 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the December 3, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Vearl William Hoopes was born Oct. 2 1915, in Auburn to Riley William and Mary Luella Harmon Hoopes. He passed away on Nov. 15, 2009. His mother died during the flu epidemic of 1918 when he was three-years old, leaving three small children. The children lived with grandparents for several years. Riley later married Della Rigby. Six more children joined the family. Vearl helped his father in the freighting business starting at a young age. He drove a team of horses over the Crow Creek road for many years. They hauled cheese and butter from Afton and brought lumber, grain, coal and other freight back. Vearl and his father hauled one of the last loads in 1937. After completing the eighth grade, Vearl stayed home from school to help the family on the farm. He worked at freighting, on thrashing crews, digging pipelines, cutting and hauling logs from the canyon for lumber, building roads, shearing sheep and in the hay fields as a hired hand. Vearl was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings in the church. He especially enjoyed serving as a Stake Missionary. Vearl married Dona Lucille Harrison on Jan. 10, 1935 in the Logan LDS Temple. Seven children were born to this union. They lived in Fairview on a dairy farm much of their married life. Vearl worked in the Osmond creamery for several years. He later bought a truck and hauled milk to the Afton and Thayne creameries for about 20 years, while still running his farm. He enjoyed his association with the other haulers as well as those people he hauled for. Vearl had a great love for horses. In 1955 he began horse pulling. He traveled all around in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Colorado to compete. He had a lot of success and was a great judge of a good horse. He felt that if a team pulled their best, that that was all he could ask and he was happy with them. He enjoyed working his horses. He used his team doing farm work when ever he was able to. In 1983 he retired from the dairy business and he and Dona served a mission for the LDS church in the Mesa Arizona Visitors Center. They loved those they served with. Dona passed away in 2003. Vearl has lived with his daughter and son-in-law Beth and Ralph Burton since that time. He was preceded in death by his parents Riley, Luella and Della; wife Dona; sisters Jual McIntosh; Lillian Eppich; and Hazel Chadwick; as well as several grandchildren. He is survived by his children: Lael (Bonnie), Greenville, South Carolina; Gaylen (Geri), Osmond; Beth (Ralph) Burton, Fairview; JoLene (Michael) Binkerd, Riverton, Utah; Jeryl (Jim) Lewis, Sweet Home, Oregon; Royce (Paula), Fairview; VerDon (Debbie), Laramie; brothers, Melvin; Frank and Lowell; sisters, Maybell Burton; Lenore Clark; and Alta Harmon Johnson. He and Dona have a posterity of 210; 42 grandchildren, 113 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren. All of which he loved dearly and they in turn loved him. He will be missed greatly. Alvin Boyd Wilkes, 60, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother passed away Nov. 12, 2009 after a valiant fight with cancer. We will miss him terribly. Al was born June 9, 1949 to Boyd and the late Ione Wilkes in Afton. He attended school and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1967. Al was an excellent ball player and really enjoyed playing sports. July 22,1970 he married the love of his life Karen Welty in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. They were blessed with two sons; Cody born in 1973 and Cole in 1978. Al worked many places in Star Valley and eventually owned and operated the Super Star Drive-in and later Super Star Construction. He was very proud of the many beautiful homes he and Cody built in Star Valley. Al joined the Wyoming National Guard in 1967 and enjoyed being of service to the community by being a member of the Afton Fire Department for 34 years. Al loved living in Star Valley and was an avid sportsman. He loved camping with his family, hunting, fishing and four wheeling. He especially loved ice fishing and catching the big ones. Al was proceeded in death by his dear mother, Ione Wilkes and is survived by his wife Karen, sons Cody and Cole, daughter-in-law Andee, grandchildren Addy, Wylie and Zane, and his father Boyd Wilkes. Today we remember our grandmother, mother and friend. Elma Bae Rogers Newman was born October 18, 1932 in Lewiston Utah to Elmer Hollister Rogers and Sarah Ruby Hokanson. She was the third of five children. Elma was raised in Cache Valley and attended North Cache High School in Smithfield. She worked in the fields topping beets and was also a paper girl with a square mile route. Growing up she enjoyed roller skating and ride the electric rail car with her cousin to Preston, Idaho where she attended dances at the Persianna. In 1952 she married Donald Forrest Newman. Together they had five children: Jesse, Debra, Donald, Leeanne and Paula. Following her husband's death, she mover her family to Thayne in 1962. She was a woman that worked hard to support her family. For a time she was employed at Dana Cold Storage. Later, she worked as a custodian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cleaning buildings in Star Valley. She loved each grandchild as they arrived and always remembered birthdays. When each of us turned 8 she would send us a set of scriptures that had a plastic canvas personalized case. For Christmases, she often gave handmade gifts as an expression of her love. In February 1996, she left to serve as a missionary for the church to Cleveland, Ohio. There she worked on document preparation of genealogical records. She returned with a love of Amish country and their woodworking skills. Grandma was an amazing quilter with an eye for detail and color. Many of us may have a piece of her in a quilt she made especially for us. She enjoyed sharing her most recent project with any that would listen. Grandma loved reading and could often be found with a book in her comfy chair or pouring over new recipes at the kitchen table. She enjoyed listening to storied and catching up with grandchildren. She liked teaching us games with cards, dice and marbles. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was reserved with her feelings, but her eyes danced and face smiled when she was happy. Especially when meeting new people. Elma Bae passed away on Nov. 24, 2009. She is survived by two brothers Glen Rogers, Scott Rogers, a sister Monta Brown, her 5 children and numerous grandchildren. John (Jack, J.D.) Darwin Osmond passed away on Nov. 16, 2009 in Afton. John was born Sept. 28, 1918 at home in Etna to Mary Moser Osmond and Vasco Osmond. He attended grade school in Thayne and high school in Afton. He married Martha Jensen on May 20, 1936 in Paris, Idaho. They had one son, Larry Darwin Osmond. Jack attended barber school in Salt Lake City where he received his master barber certificate. He served in the Navy as a barber and also a bookkeeper in boot camp. He was also a self-employed electrician. Jack served in the Wyoming Legislature and also on the Wyoming Recreation Commission for several years. He also served on the Lower Valley Power and Light Board. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jack married Wyoma Jenkins on May 20, 1983. He is survived by his wife Wyoma; son Larry; grandchildren Cindy Wood; Debra Kriedler; Steve Osmond; Kevin Osmond; step-children Alice Robinson; Carol Nield; Patty Hill; Steve Perry; Cory Jenkins; Darin Jenkins; and seven step-grandchildren. Preceded in death by wife Martha (Mart) Jensen; parents Mary and Vasco Osmond; brother Arlo Osmond; sister Loa Mae Edgren; and grandson Robert Osmond. Funeral services for Budd Pead will be held on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at 12 noon in the Fairview LDS Church. A viewing will be held prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. A viewing will also be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Orem, Utah at 11 a.m. with funeral services following at 1 p.m. at 520 E. Center Street. Funeral services for James R. Wray will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. A viewing will be held on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at Schwab Mortunary and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.

Lady Braves and Braves both fall to Cheyenne East

dahlerickson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:21:30 +0000

First game rust aside, both the Lady Brave and Braves left Cheyenne East High School knowing that they could have walked out the winners. The Lady Thunderbirds used a double-digit margin in the first half to outlast the Lady Braves despite 21 points from senior Randi Robinson. The Lady Braves lost 46-40 on the T-Birds home floor after falling behind by as many as 15 points. Kelsea Gardner chipped in eight points and nine rebounds in the defeat. The Lady Braves tip off against the Laramie Lady Plainsmen on Friday afternoon. The Braves flip-flopped the lead five times with the T-Birds before the home squad finally found the range from the three-point line. Jerel Rote hit two fourth quarter three point baskets while sophomore Nikko Johnson scored all 12 of his points in the second half as East defeated the Braves, 61-54. Rote led the team with 13 points. Brandon Taylor overcame a shaky first quarter to finish with a game-high 19 points. David Cranford contributed ten points while Brock Gardner pulled down seven rebounds to go with four points. James Bowers scored six points and collected three steals while junior Josh Hunsaker had six rebounds and seven points in his first start. Both teams missed their fair share of free-throws and committed their share of fouls in a frenetic paced ball game. The Braves have a full day to recover before they try and even their record against the Laramie Plainsmen on Friday evening.

Lady Braves fall to Kelly Walsh while Laramie runs past Braves

dahlerickson — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:55:41 +0000

Although fans and players were hoping to even the season records on day two of the McDonalds Invitational, neither game on Friday's slate ended up being that close. The Lady Braves struggled mightily offensively as they managed just five total field goals in a 45-25 loss to Kelly Walsh. The Lady Braves were tied with KW at 14 apiece at the break but could not find any semblance of offensive flow as they fell to 0-2 on the season. Both the sophomores and the junior varsity defeated their Trojan counterparts by more than 30 points. Emily Porter led the Lady Braves varsity with eight points including a pair of three-pointers. The Lady Braves close out their tournament with a 3:30 p.m. tip against the Cheyenne Central Lady Indians on Saturday. As for the Braves, they took a very early lead but then saw Laramie roll up the numbers offensively due in large part to 14 three-point baskets, eight of which came from standout senior, Dan Estes. Estes finished with 38 points as Laramie avenged last year's loss to Star Valley, 92-71. David Cranford led the squad with 19 points while junior Josh Hunsaker scored 13 and collected three blocks. Brandon Taylor also scored in double figures with ten points. The Braves close out their Cheyenne trip with a 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning tip against the Kelly Walsh Trojans.

Braves sitting in second place after Friday's action in Evanston

dahlerickson — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:17:45 +0000

Before the the annual Evanston invitational began, everyone thought returning champion South Summit would repeat. But after one day they'll have to overcome both Star Valley and Green River to do it. After one day of action the Star Valley grapplers are right in the mix for the event title, sitting in second place in the 36-team field with 131.5 points. Green River has the lead at the moment with 137 points. Eight Star Valley wrestlers have advanced to the semi-finals, the most of any team in the tournament. South Summit is currently in third place with 113 points. Last year the Braves placed fifth with 135 points after two days of action Information is incomplete but Nick Edwards (215), Dawson Loveland (171), Darin Taylor (145), Brandon Aullman (140), Hayden Heap (130), T.J. Guild (125) and Josh Claye (112) have all advanced to the semi-finals.

Weekend Sports Wrap: Wrestling and Basketball

dahlerickson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:55:49 +0000

The SVHS winter sports teams all shared a mixed measure of success over their opening weekend. The Braves wrestlers placed second at the huge Evanston Invitational with a total of 175.5 team points. 4A West conference foe, Green River, pulled away with a strong day two to finish with the event title and 211 team points. Defending champion South Summit had to settle for third place and 174.5 team points. The Braves had eight semi-finalists but ended up with no individual champions. Many of Star Valley's wrestlers were in a mix and match type of weight qualification in the opening weekend of the 2009-2010 campaign but Coach Clark was pleased with their fighting spirit over the weekend. Wrestling fans will want to clear part of their weekend schedule as Star Valley hosts their annual "Braves Brawl" over this next weekend December 11-12. 16 teams will be participating from Wyoming, Utah and Idaho in the round robin style tournament. Junior varsity will wrestle in the Auxiliary Gym while the varsity wrestlers will be in the main gym. Other familiar schools at the tournament included Rock Springs placing fourth, Cheyenne East placing seventh and Cokeville just one point behind the Thunderbirds in eighth place. On the court, the Braves collected their first win of the season with a 62-56 victory over the Kelly Walsh Trojans on Saturday. Seniors Brandon Taylor and David Cranford led the way with 18 and 17 points respectively while junior Josh Hunsaker notched his second straight double-digit game by scoring ten points. Hunsaker also collected a game-high six blocked shots. Overall, eight different Braves scored in the victory. Lucan Nolan led the Trojans with 16 points while Taylor Robbins scored 13 in the contest. The team went 1-2 at the tournament, losing 61-54 at Cheyenne East and 92-71 against Laramie. The Lady Braves were unable to find their first victory of the season as they fell in their third game on the floor of Cheyenne Central, 48-36. Both the Braves and Lady Braves will play traditional rival, Bear Lake this week as the girls play Thursday evening in Montpelier. The boys will play Friday night also at Bear Lake High School.

Thayne Library is raising funds

newsrelease — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:34:19 +0000

The Friends of the Thayne Branch Library will host a holiday open house and raffle this month. The raffle will take place throughout the first half of December. The open house is slated for Saturday, Dec. 19. “Our raffle that will take place between now and Dec. 19,” said Merridee Matson of the Friends of the Thayne Branch Library. “Tickets will be sold at various businesses in Thayne or through any library volunteer. Tickets are $1 each or five tickets for $3.” According to Matson, raffle winners will be announced at 2 p.m. at the open house on Saturday, Dec. 19. “All [raffle] proceeds go directly to benefit the library,” she said. The holiday open house will take place in the Thayne Town Hall from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 19. The event will include a visit from Santa Claus, Christmas stories, homemade cookies and hot chocolate.

Money committed for the bark beetle battle

dandockstader — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:01:04 +0000

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the U.S. Forest Service will commit an additional $40 million toward forest health needs because of the bark beetle epidemic in some Western forests. The announcement came Tuesday and Wyoming’s Congressional Delegation responded. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) commended Secretary Vilsack for finding the money to address the beetles. He called the funding “a first step in combating a dire situation in the forest. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said there is still “a lot of work to be done with the beetle problem” and he also referenced Vilsack’s funding as “a first step for healthier forests in Wyoming.” Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) of Wyoming said she would continue to encourage Secretary Vilsack to “provide forest supervisors and their staff, the management tools they need to address the beetle problem.” Enzi and Barrasso, along with six other Senators, wrote to Secretary Vilsack on Nov. 23 requesting the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize funds already in the Forest Service budget to provide additional resources to the Rocky Mountain Region to help battle bark beetles. Rep. Lummis and three other western members of congress spearheaded a similar letter in the House, asking the Secretary to work with members of congress to develop a comprehensive resource strategy to address the bark beetle epidemic. This past year Lincoln County Commissioners Kent Connelly, Jerry Harmon and Tammie Archibald met with the Wyoming’s Congressional Delegation and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal encouraging their assistance with the battle against the bark beetle in the Bridger-Teton National Forest surrounding Star Valley. Please the full report in the Dec. 10 Star Valley Independent.

Afton airport hosts aircraft and people from across the nation

newsrelease — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:54:59 +0000

On any given day in any season, the Afton Airport will have a variety of aircraft parked on the tarmac. Pilots and passengers have been ferried to Afton and Star Valley from places such as Florida and Alabama in the east or California and Arizona in the west. They come from many states to conduct business in the region or to enjoy one of Wyoming’s many outdoor adventures. Mark Heiner, Afton Airport Aviation General Manger talks about the activities at a facility he refers to as “one of the jewels in the west,” in this week’s Independent. Please the Dec. 10 edition of the Star Valley Independent for the complete feature report.

Lady Braves double up Bear Lake 56-28

dahlerickson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:02:28 +0000

Star Valley bounced back from their 0-3 start in Cheyenne with a convincing win over their border rivals in Montpelier. The Lady Braves, who led by nine points at the half, used some timely free-throw shooting to expand the lead on the cold-shooting Lady Bears. Emily Porter paced the Crimson & Gold with 11 first half points, finishing with a game-high 16 in the victory. Randi Robinson scored nine while Kelsea Gardner scored eight and pulled down nine rebounds in an overall team effort that saw 11 different players contribute in the scoring column. The Lady Braves also compiled 15 team steals. The ladies play in the Flaming Gorge Classic next weekend in Sweetwater County.

Braves dominate first round of annual Brawl

dahlerickson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:46:17 +0000

With a total of 16 teams in attendance and returning champion Highland at full strength, the Braves sent an early day message with seven pins and a 69-3 team victory over a mixed group in their opening round. The Braves will be taking on an independent team made up of several wrestlers from different teams in round two. The Braves Brawl will finish it's pool match ups on Friday evening before starting up again with a full day of action on Saturday.

Braves and Rams on collision course in Brawl standings

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:33:18 +0000

After a day and a half of wrestling, the defending Brawl champion Highland Rams of Pocatello, Idaho and the host team Star Valley Braves are both undefeated and on track to clash on Saturday afternoon. The Braves have rolled to a 5-0 record overall, the best of any team at the event. The Rams are 4-0 . The two are the only teams to escape from pool action unscathed. So far one of the best matches of the tournament was a classic between Star Valley's Hayden Heap and Rock Springs' Ryan Slaugh with Heap winning a beauty at 130 pounds. Here is a breakdown of the team results so far. Star Valley: 5-0 Highland: 4-0 Logan, UT: 4-1 Evanston: 3-1 Teton, ID: 3-2 Rock Springs: 3-2 Madison: 3-2 Independent Renegades: 3-2 Lander: 2-2 Jackson: 2-2 Cokeville: 2-3 Star Valley "B"/Pinedale: 0-4 Shelley ID: 0-4 Kemmerer: 0-5 Bear Lake: 0-5

Braves outlast Bears in border war, 52-48

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:42:59 +0000

The Star Valley Braves defeated the Bear Lake Bears, 52-48 in yet another classic pairing between the two communities that dates back more than 90 years. The Braves fell behind with a lackluster first quarter but went on a 16-5 run in the second quarter to lead by six at halftime. The Bears responded with a 7-0 run immediately out of the locker room to take the lead but the Braves took back the advantage with a modest 5-0 run. The two teams swapped the lead on five occasions in the second half but the Braves led for the majority of the game. Star Valley built a six-point lead with under three minutes remaining and had to overcome some shaky clock-management from the home-town Bears as the seconds were frequently wrong. David Cranford led the winning effort with 11 points, while Brandon Taylor scored ten. James Bowers scored nine points while Tyson Woodford chipped in eight of his own. Josh Hunsaker was dominant defensively in the fourth quarter, forcing the Bears out of the paint as he matched his season-high with six blocked shots. The Braves play the Cheyenne Central Indians on Thursday as part of the Flaming Gorge Classic next week.

Braves bury Cokeville, 55-18 to remain undefeated at the Brawl

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:31:23 +0000

The Braves clashed with fellow LCSD #2 school Cokeville and rolled up eight pins en route to a 55-18 victory. Brandon Anglesey at 160, Dawson Loveland at 171, Nick Edwards at 215, Mitchell Heap at 103, Josh Claye at 112, T.J. Guild at 119, Hayden Heap at 130 and Dalton Dance at 145 all pinned their opponents. Up next for the Braves is the Redskins of Teton High school before a showdown with the Highland Rams.

Braves tromp the Redskins to set up undefeated dual

dahlerickson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:36:08 +0000

The Braves continue to roll through the Braves Brawl, this time it was a 68-6 drubbing of Teton, Idaho. The victory coupled with a close win by Highland over Rock Springs sets up an undefeated dual on tap this afternoon with the winning team winning the tournament. The Tigers had four open weight slots in the loss.

Rams outlast Braves to repeat as Invitational Champions

dahlerickson — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:34:30 +0000

Both the Star Valley Braves and the Highland Rams advanced to the undefeated ranks Saturday afternoon at the SVHS Braves Brawl. After a hotly contested and emotional battle, the Rams came out on top, 39-28. The Rams battled back in two somewhat controversial matches in which the Braves were getting back points but were not awarded the fall, to come back and win those matches by fall themselves. The Braves have finished second in both of their events so far this season. They enjoyed a large amount of success throughout the weekend, losing just the one dual to Highland.

Enzi seeks support for small business during White House visit

dahlerickson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:12:30 +0000

Following the President’s address to outline his jobs plan for America, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who ran his own small business with his wife before coming to the Senate, was invited to the White House to further discuss ways to stimulate job growth. Enzi took the opportunity to encourage the country’s chief executive and Congress to slow down and listen to the people who provide the majority of jobs for this country. Enzi said he urged the administration to stop the rush to take over business and stop the rush to regulate businesses they don’t understand. The Senator from Wyoming told the administration they should focus on finding a way to get loans to small business to promote job growth. Enzi warned that as long as the administration is looking at regulations that add additional requirements on businesses, no one is going to increase their business’ size and add jobs.

Independent Obituaries: December 10, 2009

newsrelease — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:50:37 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the December 10, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. George Budd Pead, 95, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at his home in Orem, Utah. He was born Nov. 4, 1914 in Fairview to Frederick and Henrietta Harmon Pead. Budd married Erma Erickson on Dec. 17, 1936 in the Logan LDS Temple. Erma passed away on May 2, 2005. Budd was the first student with four letters in sports at Star Valley High School. He loved reading, learning and reciting poetry. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Budd and Erma served a church mission in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Budd is survived by Jeanette (Wayne) Denney, Salt Lake City; Jeanice (Monty) Harrison, Severance, Colo.; Jeraldine (Sherrill) Shorter, Orem; Ballard (Leah Mary) Pead, Orem; Brian (Corlie Ann) Pead, Layton; Orson (Donna) Pead, Orem; Debra (Michael) Woodard, St. George; Patricia Pead, Laverkin; and daughter-in-law, Sylvia Pead. He is also survived by 54 grandchildren, 155 great grandchildren and 47 great great grandchildren; brothers, Raymond Pead, Orem; Robert Pead, St. George; and sister, Marie Call of Afton. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Erma; son, Fred; daughter-in-law, Eileen; one brother, three sisters, one granddaughter and three great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Orem and Monday, Dec. 7 in the Fairview LDS Church. Burial took place in the Fairview Cemetery. On Nov. 25, 2009 our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Beulah Johns Croft, age 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Orem, Utah. She was born in Smoot to Vivian Alberta Staley and William (Bill) Johns on Jan. 11, 1920. Being the oldest of nine children, Beulah spent many hours helping on the farm and caring for her siblings until she graduated from Star Valley High School in 1937. Not long after her graduation, she met and married Edward Gene Croft on May 20, 1939. They were eventually blessed with a wonderful family of five daughters and one son. On Nov. 7, 1957 the family was sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Ed and Beulah lived in Freedom most of their married lives, where Beulah began working for the U.S. Forest Service and continued for the next 20 years. After her transfer to Provo, Ed and she eventually sold their property in Freedom and moved to Orem, Utah where they resided for the past 32 years. Beulah has always served faithfully in many leadership positions and had a wonderful testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was known for her hard work and dependability. She was very talented and found great joy in baking, doing handwork and gardening. She readily shared her talents with her friends and family. Beulah was a great caregiver and often administered to those sick or in need. Beulah was a wonderful mother and is survived by her children Karma Hyde; Judy (Farrell) Brown; Joan (Larry) Sessions; Lyn Leavitt; Kevin (Roylence) Croft; Kathy (Paul) Carter; 28 grandchildren, 43 great grand children and one great-great grand daughter; and her siblings, Roland Johns; Thea DeGroot; Dale Johns; Earl Johns; and Genevieve Allred. Her husband, Ed Croft, preceded her in death on March 10, 2003. Funeral services were held on Saturday Dec. 5, 2009 in Orem. Interment took place in the Orem Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Primary Children's Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 58249, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158-0249. James R. Wray, age 74, of Maricopa, Ariz,, formerly of Afton, passed away on Nov. 28, 2009 after a short battle with melanoma cancer. James was born May 12, 1935 in Afton to the late Cannon Silver and Myrtle Hale Wray. He was preceded in death by his wife Janice Anderson Wray originally of Grover. He is survived by his three daughters, Tamra Ortega and husband Dirk; Debra Perry and husband James; and Rebecca Wray and husband Piers Heriz-Smith. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Casey Ortega, Brandon, Ashley and Amanda Deem, and Cannon Heriz-Smith. James spent his childhood and teenage years in Afton, helping his father in several of the family businesses. He also played basketball on both his church and the Star Valley High School basketball teams, graduating in 1953. He married Janice Anderson in 1955 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. James graduated from the University from Wyoming with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics and Physics and a Master’s of Science in Mathematics. James began his career working for Marquardt Corp in Van Nuys, Calif., in the late 1950’s. He then moved to Utah and worked for Thiokol Chemical Corp. He began a career in computer information systems with Hercules, Inc., in 1960 and continued there until he retired in 1991 as Chief Information Officer in Wilmington, Del. James was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hiking the Grand Canyon, cycling, white water rafting and snow skiing with the Wilmington Ski Club. James’ family was always his first priority and he was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ, 85014 or at www.HOV.org. Funeral services for Norma Lindberg will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 at noon in the Osmond LDS Church. Viewings will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 from 5-7 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church.

Basketball teams lose Flaming Gorge openers

dahlerickson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:42:18 +0000

Both the SVHS teams led at the half, but neither could collect the win as they fell to Cheyenne Central and Gillette to open up the 15th annual Flaming Gorge Classic. The Braves led 28-26 at the break but then fell victim to a rash of turnovers with the Cheyenne Central Indians converted into 18 fast break points in the second half alone as they pulled away for a 59-43 victory. The loss dropped the Braves to 2-3 on the year. Brandon Taylor led the way with 17 points The Lady Braves showed they could play with anyone as they led for the majority of their game with the defending state champion Lady Camels before falling in the final minute, 48-44. Sophomore Britney Titensor led the Lady Braves with 12 points in a very gritty effort for the gals in gold. The Braves face off against the Salmon, Idaho Savages on Friday while the ladies will battle Rich County, Utah.

Renewable Energy Stimulus funds have been exhausted

newsrelease — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:53:56 +0000

In less than 10 days, the Wyoming State Energy Office has obligated all federal stimulus funding designated for the residential renewable energy program, and has created a waiting list for those still interested in the program. On Dec. 1, the State Energy Office, housed in the Wyoming Business Council, announced that over $2.2 million in federal stimulus funding was available to Wyoming residents to help defray the cost of installing renewable energy systems on Wyoming homes. In 10 days, 332 applications were received, obligating $2,254,580. The State Energy Office will continue to take applications for the program and place applicants on a waiting list. In the event that obligated funds do not result in legal grant agreements or that projects are not completed, then funds will be re-obligated to the waiting list.

Independent Obituaries: December 17, 2009

dahlerickson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:18:04 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the December 17, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. On Nov. 28, 2009, three days after celebrating her 72nd wedding anniversary with husband Arthur, Angie Sandner quietly left this earth to be with her Lord in heaven. Angie was born Dec 16, 1918 in Orville, Wash., but lived most of her life in the Salem, Ore., area. She and Arthur moved to Alpine in 2008 to live with their son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Linda Sandner. She thoroughly enjoyed that last year being with Jim and Linda and close to her grandchildren Justin and Teresa Sandner and great grandchildren, Keely, Logan and Haylen. She was delighted to renew friendships made during previous visits to Star Valley and make new friends. Angie spent 72 years being the “household engineer.” She was the bookkeeper for the family farm and sawmill businesses in Oregon. During the row crop years, she oversaw the strawberry fields during harvest. She thoroughly enjoyed being the local Avon lady for many years. She was devoted to her family and their care. Angie was a wonderful cook and entertainer in her home. She loved to set a beautiful table and entertain guests. She also was great at preparing for her family’s needs by canning or freezing whatever produce was in season. She always had a smile and in her attitude wanted others to see the joy of the Lord. She will be remembered for her storytelling as a Sunday School teacher with flannelgraphs and flash card stories. She wanted her children and others to grow up to know her Lord. Angie is survived by her loving husband, Arthur; daughter, Karen; son, Jim (Linda); son Dan; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and two brothers. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and one granddaughter. A memorial service for friends and family will be held Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Alpine. Mary Mildred Williams Dockstader, 80, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 at a Pocatello care center with her daughter, Linda, by her side. She was born Jan. 31, 1929 in Shelley, Idaho to Sylverus (Pash) Williams and Laura Moore Williams. She attended school in Shelley and graduated from Shelley High School. Mary loved music. She sang, played the clarinet and piano in high school and throughout her life. After graduation she went to work in Idaho Falls for Idaho First National Bank. While walking each day to catch the bus to work she caught the eye of Keith C. Dockstader working at the local barbershop. They were married June 2, 1948 in the home of her parents in Shelley. Keith passed away on Nov. 20, 2008. Keith and Mary lived in Shelley for the next 48 years except for nine months spent in the Seattle area. Mary worked on and off through the years in the banking field. In between Keith and Mary had six children, losing the first, third and fifth boys due to premature births. They were blessed with three surviving children, two girls and a boy. Mary was an active member of the Community Methodist Church of Shelley all of her life until joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Shelley First Ward) in 1972. Keith and Mary sent two children on missions, one to Australia and one to South Africa. She was active in musical programs in both churches and in the community for much of her life. Mary moved to Clinton, Utah in 2004 living near her daughter Julie. She made many friends at Country Pines Independent Living during her time there. She moved to Quail Ridge in Pocatello in October of this year to live near her daughter Linda. They enjoyed trips for frozen yogurt and a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Mary is survived by three children, Linda (Dana) Christensen, Pocatello, Idaho; Daniel (Kim) Dockstader, Star Valley; and Julie (David) Heaps, Syracuse, Utah; eight grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and one brother, D. Gene (Maxine) Williams, Frankenmuth, Mich. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, three sons, Scott, Wynn, and Brian, one granddaughter, Reagan, and her parents, Pash and Laura. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nalder Funeral Home in Shelley. Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Shelley First Ward with viewing prior to services at the church from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery. Wanda Hyer Burton, age 87, passed away in Glenwood, Utah, while living at the Curtis Assisted Living facility on Dec. 12, 2009. She was born in Logan, Utah, June 25, 1922, daughter of Ralph James Hyer and Arvilla Johnson. Her family moved to Star Valley, Wyoming in the fall of 1926. She graduated from Star Valley High School and attended Utah State University. She married her sweetheart, Claude Poulter Burton, on Nov. 26, 1941, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. In April of 1951, they moved to Salt Lake City and raised their family in the Cannon Stake. Her life was one of dedication to her family and church. She served faithfully in various positions in the church. She and her husband served in the San Jose California Mission from March 1983 to April 1984. She was also a member of the DUP. She had a great love of music, and enjoyed playing the piano. She loved reading, sewing, and camping with her family at Greys River. She enjoyed her family very much and there was always time for her children and grandchildren. Her giving heart and beautiful smile will be an everlasting legacy. She is survived by her six children, Ralph (Judy) of Island Park, Idaho; Pauline (Larry) Wilson of Manti, Utah; Annette (Dale) Harrison of Sandy, Utah; Jerald (Glenda) of Salt Lake City; Shannon (Niel) Parry of Woodland Hills, Utah; and Nancy (Errald) Curtis of Glenwood, Utah. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude, who died Nov. 24, 1996, and by two brothers, Harold and Grant Hyer. She has 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and one great, great-granddaughter. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Cannon LDS Stake Center, 934 West Fremont Avenue (1150 South). Friends may call at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, Friday, Dec. 18, from 6-8 p.m. and at the Cannon LDS Stake Center from 9 - 9:45 a.m., prior to the funeral services. Burial will take place in the Afton Cemetery. Norma R Lindberg, 88, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on Dec. 9, 2009 due to complications of a stroke. Funeral Services were held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 at the Osmond Ward LDS Church. She is interred at the Afton Cemetery. Norma was born Dec. 31, 1920 to Leonard Robinson and Lila Irene Staley of Freedom. She attended grade school in Freedom and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1941. After school Norma worked in the LDS mission home in Salt Lake City. She was married to Merrill Taylor until 1946 when he was killed while working on a power line in the Mojave Desert. They had three children, Carolyn Darla, Jed R and Lila Irene. She married Wilton J. Lindberg of Osmond on March 27, 1957; he had two little girls, Jackie and Sherry. Together they had another girl, Laurie Sue and have spent the last 52 years happily living in Osmond on the family farm. Norma worked for Call Air Airplane factory as a bookkeeper for six years and for Caribou Four Corners Oil Co. and Maverick County Stores for 20 years prior to her retirement. What Norma enjoyed most was gardening. She had wonderful flower and vegetable gardens and shared their abundance with all. She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting and cooking for family and friends. She loved to play games with the grandchildren and be of service to others. She is a member of the Osmond Latter-day Saints Ward and has fulfilled many callings within the ward. Norma was happiest when doing service for others. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers for 29 years and a volunteer at the Star Valley Hospital gift shop for several years. Norma had suffered several heart attacks and strokes in her later years and also macular degeneration had taken much of her sight. Regardless of these illnesses, Norma was always happy and enjoyed life. She is a true example of perseverance, dedication and generosity to all. Norma is survived by her husband Wilton; daughter Jackie (Wendell) Lowry; son Jed (Jan) Taylor; daughters Irene (Clark) Price; Sherry Lindberg and Laurie (Mike) Mignano. She has 21 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. Lambert T. Bewkes was born Aug. 13, 1916 and passed away on Nov. 25, 2009. He went peacefully with Billie by his side. Lambert joined the Navy in 1935 and served for 31 years. He met Billie in 1977. They came to Star Valley where they built two homes and had the foundation poured for the third when Lamberts emphysema kept him from the high elevation. Lambert enjoyed hydroponic vegetable gardening and building models of the homes he built. He leaves his wife of 31 years, Billie May, and two sons, Jeffery and Sandford Bewkes. Memorial services for Max Schwab were held on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at noon in the Schwab Mortuary in Afton. Military honors will immediately follow after the service at the Afton Cemetery, conducted by the local American Legion and VFW Posts.

Star Valley water study completed

dandockstader — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:06:42 +0000

Sunrise Engineering has completed an extensive water study in Star Valley for the Wyoming Water Development Commission. The study was funded by the WWDC and looked at the feasibility of creating a regional system or systems to meet the water needs in Star Valley. The idea of moving forward with a regional study came about over three years ago. The study took two and a half year to complete. According to Robert Hood of Sunrise Engineering, 19 of the 21 water systems that currently exist in Star Valley participated in the study. Each system was evaluated individually. Then the study looked at ways to connect each water system with the surrounding systems to create a regional water system. For more details see the Dec. 17 Star Valley Independent.

Bridger-Teton appoints new supervisor

dahlerickson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:09:34 +0000

The Bridger-Teton National Forest reports that José Castro will be appointed the new Deputy Forest Supervisor in January, filling the vacancy that was left when Deputy Mike Balboni transferred to Louisiana earlier this year. José Castro takes the assigned post in Jackson with over 20 years of Forest Service experience on five national forests and three Regions. Castro worked his way up the ranks starting in 1988 as a forestry technician on the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia and later as a forester managing the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina. He detailed to the Santa Fe National Forest as Deputy Forest Supervisor and as Deputy Fire Director in Region 1. Castro also completed international forestry assignments in Mexico. Castro was previously the District Ranger in Bozeman, Mont., and had been in that position since 2001. He moved to Bozeman following a stint as Deputy District Ranger on the Coeur d’ Alene District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

This Week in Star Valley: December 24

newsrelease — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:09:26 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for more than 108 consecutive years. Take a look back at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago! 25-years ago: US 89 will receive high-volume snow removal attention . . . the high-volume designation means that the maintenance crews will work up to 20 hours per day to maintain high volume service. This also means that highway department crews will strive to provide a roadway surface free from drifts and snow ridges and to remove as much ice and snow pack as practical. The goal of high-volume service is to maintain a bare roadway suitable to driving safely at reasonable speed. Ad: Merry Christmas from J.R. Simplot Co., Conda-Smoky. Ad: Last Minute Christmas Sale, from Afton Music & Sports. Guitars 25% off. We also have a full line of Christmas music including, Kenny & Dolly Christmas, and Oak Ridge Boys Christmas. Ad: Playing at the Ford Theatre, from the producers of the superman movies ... Supergirl, her first great adventure. 50-years ago: Wyoming gets $210,859 from National Forest–The four inter-mountain states of Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming have received US. Treasury checks totaling nearly $1,700,000. Ad: Be a Smart Santa, shop at Gephart's. Ladies' Dacron cotton slips, a beautiful gift for, $3.98. Men's Oxfords, fashion-right for campus or city wear, $9.90; bleached flour sacks, 4 for $.95; new shipment of Christmas shoes, for Miss or Mrs., $3.98 to $6.95. Ad: Man!! The way to a woman's heart is through our front door! If you're playing Santa...the Fasion Shoppe has just the gift she wants for Christmas. Ad: Attend all of our big Holiday Dances, three gala events, Christmas Eve, Christmas night, New Year's Eve. Music by the Ron Wooden Combo at the Valleon ballroom. Ad: Shop Late! It's too late to shop early! We still have a good selection of Toys from Santa's workshop. You can find a suitable gift for any member of the family at Brog & Hemmert. 75-years ago: Almanac: Dec. 17–Wright brothers make first airplane flight, 1903; 21–Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock, Mass, 1620. About a week ago the new Swiss cheese plant located at Paris, Idaho, opened for business. This plant is claimed to be the largest in this territory and is capable of handling 70,000 pounds of milk per day. The building is similar to the one at Osmond and will be managed b Paul Brog, who, according to the Paris Post, will move his family out there. Last Saturday was the termination, locally of the Parco Gas and Oils or the "Independent Gas and Oil Co." All of the local stations that have been handling Parco products, will handle Sinclair Gas and Oils. The Sinclair company purchased the Parco refinery several months ago, but the Parco name has been held until last Saturday. The big refinery at Parco, Wyoming, is now making gas and oils for the Sinclair Co. 100-years ago: Ad: Attention! Attention! $4.00 in cash will be paid for coyote skins. $5.00 for beef hides. Highest price paid for all other hides and furs at Ed. Lewis', Afton, Wyo. Local items: Many very good loads of wood are passing thru the town now. Mr. Wm. W. Burton has moved to the south again, for the winter. Mr. Ollie Hartman and wife have gone to spend the holidays in Utah. Santa Claus is certainly busy now days, all the stores are doing a big business. Utah and Idaho have been having more severe weather than we have here in the Star Valleys. Fairview news: Some of our boys ran up against a snag one day this week. They have been in the habit of joking quite freely in the past, but this time the joke didn't seem to fit: the consequence was, one of the boys is carrying a beautifully decorated eye. (Meniholatum is the very best ingredient to remove discolorations. Ed.)

Independent Obituaries: December 24, 2009

newsrelease — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:03:37 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the December 24, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Max Hale Schwab passed away on Dec. 14, 2009. He was born on April 11, 1934 in Afton to Mary Hale and Martin Henry Schwab. Max was a loving, caring brother and son. He served his country in the U.S. Army and spent much of that time in Germany. He grew to love the old country of his grandfather and returned there after his receiving an honorable discharge from the army. He remained there for the next 35 years, working as a truck driver then night watchman for a large trucking company. After his retirement, Max returned to Afton to live with is brother, Anthon. They enjoyed many times together. He also enjoyed visiting with his sisters, nieces, nephews and many old friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Anthon and Gene, and two sisters, Melva Bassett and Belva Dixon. He is survived by two sisters, Arlean Clinger and Ruth Cranney, and many loving nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton on Dec. 18, 2009. Interment was in the Afton City Cemetery. Laura Olive Franklin died on Sunday Dec. 6, 2009. Her services were held on Saturday, Dec. 12 in the Afton LDS 4th Ward Church House. Laura was born on May 24, 1981, in Afton to Craig and Lennis Franklin. She was brought into our lives as a strong angelic baby girl, with a spark of happiness in her eyes. She was a middle child with three older brothers and an older sister, as well as a younger brother and younger sister. Laura received her education in Afton and graduated in 2000 from SVHS. She spent three years as a treasured employee to Lloyd Baker never complaining about any of the hardships that came with the job. In 2004 she moved to Denver, to continue her education. While in Denver, she was given the opportunity to travel with her sister to many national parks and the Pacific Ocean. She created strong bonds with her siblings during this time. In 2008 she chose to move to Blackfoot with her younger sister to begin her career as a massage therapist. Laura had a passion for many things including animals, nature, martial arts, writing, artwork, singing and always thirsting for knowledge. She had a great love for others and was always there to offer her heart and a helping hand to all. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Erwin and Velma Merritt, and Merton and Lucille Franklin. She is survived by her parents Lennis and Craig, her siblings and their spouses; Jonathan (Rebecka); Christy (Robert); David (Jeanie); Daniel (Cassie); Michael, and Rose, as well as two nieces and five nephews.

Osmond Elementary hits the bulls eye with archery program

sarahhale — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:12:02 +0000

Students who participate in the archery program at Etna Elementary School traveled to Osmond Elementary to compete against students involved in the archery program there. The Etna Archery program is under the direction of Neal Kiehne. The Osmond Archery program is under the direction of Jeff Whitney. Last year a similar competition took place hosted by Etna Elementary and Osmond bringing in the overall high score. This year the competition went to Etna by 50 points. Isabella Currie of Etna Elementary brought home first place with Janice Hall of Osmond Elementary winning second. According to Whitney, while the spirit of competition is fun for both schools, students learn a lot more than archery while involved in the programs. Whitney listed the development of self confidence as being a key benefit of the after school archery program. The program also helps students learn restraint and responsibility, he said. A second archery competition of the school year is planned for March 2010, Whitney said. There is a chance that Cokeville Elementary will also take part in that competition. The date and location of the spring event has not yet been set.

Double-Disappointment: Broncs nip Braves in 2OT

dahlerickson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:22:48 +0000

Fans were treated to a classic on Tuesday night in Teton County as the Braves and Broncs faced off against each other in the Snake River Shootout and the moniker lived up to it’s name. In what was game number 130 in the series since 1958, the Broncs calmly drained five consecutive free throws in the second overtime to win their fifth game of the year with a 64-62 double-overtime thriller. The game started out hot for Jackson as Jordan King wasted no time in connecting from extremely long-range to put the home team up early. The Braves battled back to seize control in the second quarter, leading by seven with under two minutes left. Star Valley was unable to capitalize with the lead as the Broncs went on a 8-2 run to trail by a single possession at the half. The second half and more specifically the fourth quarter was a veritable roller-coaster ride that would eventually result in 14 ties and 17 lead changes in the contest. As time drew to a close in regulation, the Broncs owned a one-point lead as the Braves tried desperately to get a shot to connect. An initial attempt went long with Brock Gardner collecting the offensive rebound and was fouled on a putback attempt with just 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock. The senior was unable to connect on the first attempt, putting all the pressure of the gym on him to at least tie the game with the second. After a deftly called time-out by Jackson coach, Pete Hoffman to ice the shooter, Gardner was able to make the free-throw to tie the game. A poor inbounds pass by the Broncs resulted in an immediate turnover and Star Valley had a chance to win. A nice inbounds pass found David Cranford who released a shot just prior to the buzzer that missed by inches sending the game into overtime. Jackson controlled the momentum in the extra period, building a modest three-point cushion as the Braves could not score inside. Once again the clock wound down under 20 seconds as Cranford connected on a three-pointer that would ultimately send the game into double-overtime. After a frenzied pace and at least one player fouling out in Star Valley’s Josh Hunsaker, the battle was decided by free throws as Jackson connected on five straight despite shooting just 44 percent as a team on the season. Brandon Taylor, who did no harm to his reputation as one of the state’s top steal artists, nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to pull the final close but Jackson claimed the game, 64-62. It was the second consecutive overtime game played in Jackson between the two rivals with the home school winning both of them.

Overtime Blues: Lady Broncs beat Star Valley by one

dahlerickson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:27:33 +0000

It was less of an offensive clinic and more of a battle for survival as the Star Valley Lady Braves clashed with rival Jackson this past Tuesday evening in Teton County. Despite a start that saw them leading 15-6 at one point, the Lady Braves could not solve the Jackson zone defense effectively as the defending three-time 3A state champs cut the lead to just one possession at the half. Both teams struggled mightily to score in the second half with the final tally hovering in the 20’s. The Lady Broncs took a two-point lead with under a minute to play much to the delight of the home crowd. A healthy Star Valley contingent answered back as Randi Robinson banked in a field goal from the left corner to ultimately force overtime. The teams traded free throws for much of the night with both teams dipping well below the poverty line in their charity stripe conversion rate. Eventually, with the Lady Broncs leading by one, the Lady Braves had a final shot carrom off the rim, pulled down the offensive rebound and missed again as time expired as the Lady Broncs claimed their fifth straight win over Star Valley, 31-30.

Star Valley earns sweep over visiting Bear Lake

dahlerickson — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:18:52 +0000

From the freshmen to the seniors, the Star Valley basketball program all did their jobs in a six-game holiday sweep of their rivals from Montpelier. The boys and girls programs of the freshmen and junior varsity squads were all victorious, setting up the varsity programs for the sweep as the Lady Braves tipped off against the Lady Bears. Star Valley used some crisp ball movement and some deadly outside shooting from Emily Porter to counter-act a tenacious squad that was determined not to be blown out again as they were on their home floor earlier this month. The Lady Bears however, could not solve the Star Valley defense as they built a double-digit lead on more than one occasion and watched as they Lady Braves won, 37-28. Porter finished with 13 points, including three baskets from the three-point line to pace the Crimson & Gold. Senior Shae Wilkes chipped in with nine of her own, including several baskets from inside the paint. The win gave the Lady Braves their fourth victory of the season and an overall record of (4-5). The team will travel to Riverton for their next tournament where they will face the last undefeated team in Wyoming 4A in the Laramie Lady Plainsmen as well as Sheridan. As for the Braves, they came out scorching hot in the first quarter and never let down as they coasted to a 64-37 victory against the over-matched Bears. The first half was the David Cranford and Josh Hunsaker show as the two combined for 30 points by themselves. Cranford drained four three-point baskets while Hunsaker abused the Bear Lake interior with several deft post moves. When it wasn't the aforementioned duo it was a combination of great team passing by everyone else resulting in easy buckets. With the score swollen in favor of the Braves, Coach Taylor emptied his bench with resulted in ten different players scoring for Star Valley. The win moves the Braves' record to (4-5) overall. Up next is a trio of games against Kelly Walsh, Laramie and Sheridan on January 8-9.

Funeral services for Wilma Hoopes Westover

newsrelease — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:32:45 +0000

Funeral services for Wilma Hoopes Westover will be Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 12 noon in the Fairview LDS Ward Chapel. Family will greet friends on Monday, Jan. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Schwab mortuary in Afton and from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services.

Independent Obituaries: December 31, 2009

newsrelease — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:56:07 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the December 31, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Funeral services for Bob Lee were held Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009 at noon in the Fairview LDS chapel. Robert Melvin Lee, known as "Bob,” was born Sept. 23, 1927 in Lindon, Colo. to Elsie Jane Keim and Deuane Freeman Lee. He was the youngest of 12 children, four older brothers and seven sisters. His mother died from childbirth complications when he was a week old. His oldest sister, Iona, raised him for six years until he started school. Then he went back to live with his dad, brothers and sisters. His dad died when he was 11 so he went back to live with Iona again. He and her son Howard "Hoot" grew up like brothers instead of uncle and nephew. He lived with Hoot's family until he was out of school. Bob joined the Merchant Marines and after two years there he joined the 82nd Airborne Division to become a paratrooper. When that enlistment time was up he went back home to Colorado. After a short time he decided to move to Cheyenne where he got a job with Mountain Bell Telephone Company on a construction of new lines crew. In May 1949 the crew moved to Afton and stayed at the Valleon Hotel. There he met his true love of 59 years, Eda Loy Hoopes, who was working there cleaning rooms and the lobby. They dated and attended all the dances that were held in the Valleon Ballroom. They enjoyed listening and especially dancing to the music of all the "big name bands" that played there (Tommy Dorsey, T Texas Tyler, Hank Snow, Paul Martin, etc.). Bob and Eda were married March 27, 1950 at her home in Fairview and went to the LDS temple in Idaho Falls Dec. 27, 1950 after Bob had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a year. They lived in Worland, Riverton and many other Wyoming towns traveling where his job took him. They moved to Cheyenne in 1954 where they lived for two years until an offer to transfer to a permanent position in Jackson was offered to him. They moved to Jackson in 1956. In 1963, another transfer to the Star Valley phone company was available so he moved his family back to Fairview. He retired from the phone company in 1980 with 31 years of service. During that time the phone company changed from Mountain Bell "Ma Bell" to U.S. West and to Qwest. He worked for Metro Cable, the local cable television, for two years. Bob was the Scout Master in Cheyenne, Jackson and Fairview. He was the young men's MIA president in Jackson. He helped many young men receive their Eagle Scout Award and was very proud when his son and five of his grandson's received their Eagle Scout Awards. He loved to go fishing and hunting and had friends from Minnesota and North Dakota to go hunting with him for two weeks every October, without fail, for years. he and Melvin Hale had many good times together. Craig, Angie, Brant and Dayne also spent many fun times fishing on the Snake River with him. Bob passed away Dec. 24, 2009 from complications of congestive hear failure, diabetes and kidney failure. He is survived by his wife, Eda Loy, of 59 years and 9 months; son, Russell Lee (Lorrie); daughters, Angie Campbell; Sharon Lehman; and Shauna (Mike) Clark; six grandsons, Brant Campbell; Dayne Campbell; Kelan Lee; Kevin Martin; Aron Martin; and Gavin Clark; three granddaughters, Mickie Lehman; Shelbi Lee; and Darbi Lee; three great grandsons, Colter Lehman; Austin Campbell; and Treyson Campbell; and one sister, Thelma Bodendorfer, in Lakewood, Colo. Alta Mae Hicken Allred, our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on December 15, 2009. She was born in April 11, 1925, to John Ernest and Lena Elizabeth Blood Hicken in Heber City, UT. She grew up there, graduating from Wasatch High School. She moved with her parent to Provo Utah, where she worked as a secretary for KOVO radio. Alta met Reid Tew Allred and after a lengthy courtship they were married on Nov. 22, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. They settled in Malta, Idaho, where they came to cherish their relationships with the people of the valley. Alta raised her family immersing herself in childrearing and homemaking. She enjoyed reaching out to those around her through church service. In her early married life she served and taught the young women of the church, as a young mother she taught the children, and during mid life she served her peers in the Relief Society. Her golden years were filled with involvement in Family Record Extraction. After her children were raised she worked as a secretary for Raft River Electric. Upon retirement she continued to enjoy her family in companionship with her husband as well as increased involvement in the Daughter of the Utah Pioneers. She cared for Reid in his declining health. After his passing and because of her own health challenges she sold her home and lived with her children enjoying the summers in Star Valley and the winters in Oak City, Utah, and Tempe, Arizona. She was particularly appreciative of and looked forward to her daily association with friends at the Thayne Senior Center. She had five children: Katherine (Steve) Anderson [Tempe, Ariz], Michael (Marie) Allred [Thayne], Elizabeth (Jon) Christensen [Oak City, Utah], Ernest (Karen) Allred [Manhattan Beach, Calif], and Mary Jane (Gene) Rice [Sandy, Utah], 11 grandchildren and 12 great grand-children. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at the Crescent Park 4th Ward meetinghouse in Sandy, Utah with interment at the Lehi Cemetery. Funeral services for Wilma Westover will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 at noon in the Fairview LDS Church. A viewing will take place prior to the services.

Micro quake shakes the valley on New Year's Eve

dandockstader — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:25:35 +0000

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a 2.6 magnitude earthquake shook the western Wyoming and southeastern Idaho region at 9:13 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. The USGS reports the micro quake occurred 7 miles southwest of Fairview, at a depth of 3 miles. Check back to starvalleyindependent.com for more details as they become available.

Funeral notice for Rayma Anglesey

newsrelease — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:26:54 +0000

Funeral Services for Rayma Anglesey will be held Monday, Jan. 4, at 11 a.m. in the Smoot Ward LDS Chapel. Family will greet friends form 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service.

This Week in Star Valley: January 7

dahlerickson — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:49:21 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been serving the area for over 108 consecutive years! Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50 and 75 years ago. 25-years ago: Snow pack 132 percent of normal. 48th Wyoming Legislature convenes. (photo) The new Alpine Nordic Inn, the newest hotel in Western Wyoming, was recently opened for business, featuring 21 rooms, a restaurant, bar, and shop, in a European manner. "The Red Fury," the latest theatrical entry in a series of made-for-the-family movies from successful fill-maker Layman Dayton is completed and will be shown in at the Ford Theatre. 50-years ago: Jan.1 survey in area shows lightest snow cover in 20 years. The water content of the snow pack for the Salt River watershed is 47 percent of normal. Aliens must report address this month . . . According to Clingan, 21,896 aliens reported their addresses last year in the states of Colorado and Wyoming. The number this year is expected to be slightly larger. Mr. Clingan attributes this anticipated increase to an increase in immigration during the past year. Ad: At Afton Drugs, Lowest prince in History! The camera that made color slides popular, the famous Argus C-3, only $39,95. 75-years ago: Ad: First Annual Fireman’s Ball at Welch Hall, Sat. Jan. 12th. Two Orchestras Will furnish the music. Don't miss this gala dance event, free caps and noise makers for all. The fire siren must be paid for. The first of a series of dances and other entertainments that will be given for the pleasure and enjoyment of the public starts Saturday. Never has there been a series of Fireman's entertainment given before, and both young and old will find, by attending the dance, a very good time awaits them. Music by the Blue Birds and the Hay-makers orchestras. Special hats and caps confetti, noise makers and serpentine. A free voting ticket, valuable on chance for a valuable prize. Dance tickets 50c; extra ladies, 10c.; spectators, 10c. 100-years ago: (Unavailable.)

Governor Freudenthal taps former U.S. Attorney as legal counsel

newsrelease — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:25:37 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal has announced Kelly Rankin will serve as the Governor’s legal counsel. Rankin is a Wyoming native and career prosecutor. His served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming until today. He earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Wyoming. “In his long career of public service, Kelly has developed a prosecutorial sense I appreciate. I look forward to receiving what is sure to be his unvarnished advice,” the Governor said. Rankin said he is glad to be joining the Governor’s staff, adding, “I’m honored to serve in this position.” Rankin replaces Kip Crofts, who recently left the Governor’s Office following his confirmation as U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming

County backs hill climb event

dandockstader — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:01:32 +0000

The Lincoln County Commission has submitted a letter to the Greys River Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest asking the annual event continue and not only continue, but to be expanded. In a letter to the district, commissioners pointed out that the annual climb has grown each year, drawing riders from the western states and Canada. Commissioners say they support expanding or widening the climb area to allow for multiple sleds. They advised that allowing for multiple sleds would help make the event for marketable.

Two Wyoming areas given disaster designations

newsrelease — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:21:50 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal has thanked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for approving two disaster declaration requests the Governor made in October. “Secretary Vilsack’s action restores some measure of confidence to agricultural producers in Wyoming that suffered from severe weather in 2009,” the Governor said. One declaration names Platte County in southeast Wyoming a primary natural disaster area after hailstorms caused widespread damage to crops in the county. Albany, Converse, Goshen, Laramie and Niobrara counties have been named contiguous disaster counties. “There is no denying 2009 was a difficult year for many Platte County producers,” Freudenthal said. A second declaration from Secretary Vilsack identifies Park and Big Horn counties, in the Big Horn Basin of northwestern Wyoming, as primary disaster counties after a severe early-season freeze caused debilitating damage to sugar beets and other crops. Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Sheridan, Teton and Washakie counties are contiguous disaster counties. “We were pained to watch, week after week in late 2009, the unfolding problems with the sugar beet harvest in the Big Horn Basin. A harvest estimated to be the largest ever was decimated by a freeze in early October,” the Governor said. “These disaster declarations are only one step in a long process of recovery for many farmers in the state. But they represent an important step, which opens doors for affected producers to begin seeking federal aid,” Gov. Freudenthal said.

Silver Star accepting scholarship applications

newsrelease — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:01:35 +0000

As an OPASTCO Telephone Company Member, Silver Star Communications is eligible to submit scholarship applications from students in Silver Star’s service area to the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED). OPASTCO is a trade association for small independent telephone companies in the United States and Canada. Next year, the foundations will award at least $70,000 in scholarships to students from rural America. Each year, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development awards scholarships to rural America's best and brightest students. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are funded by the foundation’s Scholarship Endowment and by donations to the foundation’s annual campaign. High school seniors graduating in 2010 who are interested in applying for the scholarship should download an informational brochure and application from http://www.fred.org. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from Silver Star Communications. Please submit completed applications to Silver Star Communications, PO Box 226, Freedom, WY 83120 to the attention of Nicole Astle by Wednesday, January 20.

Cokeville turns tables on Star Valley 1st JV

dahlerickson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:22:54 +0000

Four-time defending Wyoming 2A champion Cokeville battled to a 45-22 dual victory over Star Valley's first junior varsity in wrestling action on Wednesday evening. Cokeville enjoyed a victory over their inter-district brothers on a frigid Lincoln County evening, one of the few times the Panther faithful are afforded a home opportunity. With the Panthers trailing in at least two matches, they turned the tide in the third period to win by fall. As for the Braves junior varsity, they welcomed back Kole Wines from injury at 171 pounds. Wines is expected to help Star Valley's depth at that position considerably. He was victorious in the dual with Cokeville, as was Michell Heap at 103 pounds, Nathan Merritt at 125 pounds and Jade Daugherty at 130 pounds. "We wrestled a little rusty out of the Christmas break," said assistant coach Winston Patterson. "They exploited some weaknesses that we have and some things that we need to work on and that's why we wrestle; is to fix those things. It was a great crowd and they were fired up to take us on." Heap and Daugherty will be joining the varsity squad this weekend as Star Valley travels to Nampa, Idaho and the huge Rollie Lane Invitational. A year ago, the team finished in an eighth place tie in the 47-team field with just nine points separating ninth from second. Defending champion Columbia High School out of Boise is the favorite heading into action on Friday and Saturday which will have a whopping 14 mats going at the same time with teams from Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming. Star Valley was the lone Cowboy state team in the field a year ago. As for Cokeville they appear to be as strong as ever and should be one of the main title contenders as they go for their fifth consecutive state championship in Wyoming's 2A Classification. Head Coach Marty Linford feels the team is on the right track. "I thought we wrestled fairly well," he replied. "We looked smooth and chained our moves together well and improved from our last tournament before Christmas." The Panthers will be taking the short trip over the Idaho border this weekend as they roll into Montpelier, Idaho for the Bear Lake Invitational. The Braves will also be sending a contingent to the same tournament comprised of their first and second junior varsity teams. Match Results @ Cokeville (January 6, 2010): Panthers 45 Braves: 22 103: Mitchell Heap (SV) defeated Colt Larson (Cok) by Fall 112: Kaylen Hill (Cok) defeated Michael Robinson (SV) by Fall 119: Colter Linford (Cok) defeated Sterling Jorgenson (SV) by Fall 125: Nathen Merritt (SV) defeated Tyrell Toomer (Cok) by Fall 130: Jade Daugherty (SV) defeated Landon Cornia (Cok) by Major Decision, 13-5 135: Chance Maddock (Cok) defeated Jaxon Hokanson (SV) by Fall 140: Bronson Teichert (Cok) defeated Devin Semideni (SV) by Fall 145: Chandler Harris (Cok) defeated Mason Wadsworth (SV) by Fall 160: Jordan Johnson (Cok) defeated Conner Hoopes (SV) by Decision, 14-7 171: Kole Wines (SV) defeated Kade Kennington (Cok) by Fall 189: SV won by forfeit 285: Braden Huefner (Cok) defeated Tanner Passey (SV) by Fall Take a look at the January 7, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent for a look at which weight classes the Braves varsity wrestlers are expected fill at the Rollie Lane.

Independent Obituaries: January 7, 2010

dahlerickson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:36:13 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the January 7, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Wilma Hoopes Westover died Dec. 29, 2009 in Orem, Utah. Wilma was born April 16, 1917 in a log cabin in Fairview, the oldest child of Sarah Lorilla Allred and Julian Hoopes. She attended schools in Fairview and Afton, graduating from Star Valley High School in 1933. Wilma served an LDS mission to the southern states in 1939. On Jan. 1, 1942 she married Richard Nelson Westover of San Diego, Calif . Richard served four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, returning in the fall of 1945 to find that he had two sons, Robert and Keith, born in Star Valley where Wilma had been staying with her parents. The family moved to San Diego where Richard worked with his father in construction. There they added three more sons, Layne, Clay and Jon. In 1965 they moved to El Centro, Calif., where Richard worked for Imperial County as a building inspector. In 1972 Richard began working for the LDS Church Building Division with assignments to New Zealand, American Samoa, and Tonga, followed by a brief period in Boise, Idaho. Wilma's favorite assignment was Tonga where Richard supervised the building of the Tonga Temple while Wilma helped teach the Queen of Tonga and her entourage to quilt so that they could make a quilt to give to Prince Charles and Diana for their wedding. Richard retired in 1984 when he and Wilma moved back to Fairview where he built a new house for them to live in. Richard had a cerebral hemorrhage in 1985 and died nine years later in 1994. Wilma continued to live in Fairview until 2001 when she moved to Orem, Utah where she lived for nine years before her death. Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, brothers J. Wayne Hoopes and Darrel A. Hoopes, and sister Nola Hoopes Turner. She is survived by a sister Eda Loy Hoopes Lee of Fairview, and F. Vaughn Hoopes (Janalee) of Pasco, Wash; and sons Robert N. Westover (Linda) of Sandy, Utah; Keith R. Westover (Sheila) of Fairview; Layne J. Westover (Keiko) of College Station, Texas; Clay A. Westover (Rebecca) of Provo, Utah; and Jon. H. Westover (Dorothy) of Mesa, Ariz. Wilma was blessed with an eidetic memory which allowed her to recall and recite stories, rhymes, riddles, readings, scriptures, etc. up to the day she died. She had hundreds of friends and relatives all over the world with whom she maintained contact and exchanged greetings over the years. Wilma was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in numerous and sundry callings and assignments. She was a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. She was beloved by all who knew her and feared by none (except her five boys). Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 at noon at the Fairview LDS Chapel and internment was in the Fairview Cemetery. Rayma Anglesey was born on June 21, 1947 in Afton at the Star Valley Hospital to Joseph Albert Rickenbach and Siota L. Parsons. Rayma married Keith H. Anglesey March 1, 1969. He was the love of her life. In their later years, Rayma loved to travel with Keith on the truck and could spend everyday with him. They were best of friends and shared everything. They were sealed as man and wife in the Idaho Falls Temple on Sept. 11, 1999. Going to the temple and doing the Lord's work was a great joy in their lives. Rayma loved her family very much and was a devoted wife and mother. As a young family they spent a lot of time hunting and camping and have some of their best memories outdoors. In 1997, Keith and Rayma purchased some land in Smoot west of their first home and built a new house which they moved into in 1998. They had always dreamed of having a farm and their little farm became their pride and joy. Rayma loved the animals, especially the pigs. They raised their own pork and beef along with ducks, chickens, turkeys, cats and dogs. She also loved to raise a large garden, though some years she felt more successful than others. She was also very skillful at preservation and canning. In her later years, Rayma enjoyed photography and loved to take pictures of her family and nature. Rayma loved to crochet and has made many afghans and doilies, but her family and their well-being was always her highest concern and interest. Rayma died in her home on Dec. 31, 2009 at noon after a four month struggle with cancer. She is survived by her three children, Derek Anglesey; Anita Brown; and Misty Stadler. She has seven grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and one great-grandson. Rayma's love and attention will be sorely missed. Alan Kent Beck, of Cokeville, age 57, passed away Dec. 30, 2009 in Pocatello, Idaho after fighting cancer for over a year. He was born Sept. 27, 1952 to Vernon and Agnes Beck in Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Alan was the oldest of three children followed by two sisters Janet and Viki. Being a military family Alan was able to grow up all across America. It was after attending school in Roy, Utah, that he married Vickie Naef in 1971. They had three children Timmea, Scott, and Deanna. He joined the Navy and his career allowed him to see the world, and after 20 Years of service, he retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. In 1993 Alan met his eternal bride to be Ida Marie Pearson; they were married April 6, 1994 in Cokeville, where he became the father to three more boys, Richard, Marc and Eric Romero. Alan joined the LDS church in September 0f 2000, and was sealed to Ida Marie for time and all eternity in September 2001. Alan’s true joys in life were spending time with his family. It did not matter if it was hunting the cold mornings with his sons, or fishing in the warm afternoons with grandchildren, or cutting firewood for family and friends. Alan truly touched the hearts of all that would welcome him. Alan is survived by his wife Ida Marie; father Vernon; sisters Janet and Viki; six children and 21 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Agnes; and one grandson, Kenneth. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, in the Cokeville LDS Chapel Interment took place in the Cokeville Cemetery.

Star Valley splits close roundball contests with Sheridan

dahlerickson — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:29:14 +0000

Both the varsity girls and boys teams were in action Thursday evening against Sheridan High School with a pair of two-point decisions highlighting the night. The Lady Braves evened their record at a (5-5) on the season as they handed the Lady Broncs just their second loss (7-2) on the season in a 33-31 thriller. It was all about defense for the Lady Braves as they held the top scoring 4A team in the state to just 31 points, some 36 points below their average. Star Valley trailed by as many as nine on two occasions but refused to go away as they began the third period on a 8-2 run to close the gap. In fact, the gals in gold outscored Sheridan 15-5 in the third period to lead by one after a huge three-point basket by sophomore Ashley Hall. Sheridan began the fouth quarter with a technical foul being called on their bench as Shae Wilkes extended the lead to two points. Huge baskets by Emily Porter and Randi Robinson gave Star Valley a narrow advantage after a tie at 28 points. Junior Lachelle Winters hit a crucial free-throw with just seconds remaining to push the lead back to two points after a big three-point play by the Lady Broncs. Sheridan's Kayla Woodward who is leading the state with 25.7 points per game was held in check by the Star Valley defense as she could only manage seven points and was unable to connect from long-range as time expired. Star Valley was led by Emily Porter who scored ten points and blocked two shots. Randi Robinson and Dani Scherbel each chipped in six points apiece as Star Valley frustrated the Sheridan game plan with their deliberate ball movement on offense. Coach Robert Erickson hopes the win over the #5 team in the state is a turning point for his team. "I was glad to see the girls stop looking over their shoulder in a close game," he said after the win. "Our girls played the fourth quarter on their own terms and I'm very proud of their effort tonight." The Lady Braves play undefeated Laramie tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. As for the Braves, they fell by two points, 45-43 to #2 ranked Sheridan as a final shot at the buzzer by Josh Hunsaker failed to fall. Star Valley battled through inconsistency offensively but still only trailed by four at the half. The Broncs came out and capitalized on several unforced Star Valley turnovers, going on an 11-0 run to open the third stanza. Sheridan led 37-22 before the Braves were able to stop the bleeding and then answered with an 11-0 run of their own. The cagers were eventually able to tie the game up at 43 points apiece and looked poised to take the lead after Brock Gardner took a charging foul. However another turnover gave Sheridan the opportunity they needed as they made the winning field goal with under 20 seconds remaining. "We've got to stop spotting teams leads," stated Head Coach Mark Taylor after the game. "They jumped on us in the third quarter and we've got to stop putting ourselves in those types of positions. Unforced turnovers were the difference tonight." David Cranford led the team with ten points while Josh Hunsaker scored all eight of his points in the second half. James Bowers chipped in six points of his own. The Braves fell to (4-6) on the season and face Laramie in a rematch from the opening weekend of the season. The Plainsmen rode a 38-point outburst from Dan Estes in a 92-71 romp over Star Valley at the Cheyenne Invitational in December. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.

Friday Night Sports Update: Wrestling and Roundball

dahlerickson — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:03:09 +0000

The Braves wrestlers advanced an impressive 12 grapplers through to Saturday's action at the Rollie Lane Invitational in Nampa, Idaho while the SVHS cagers had their share of heartache against Laramie in the East/West Classic in Riverton. Star Valley saw Carbon Kennington and Mitchell Heap advance at 103, Josh Claye at 112, T.J. Guild at 119, Hayden Heap at 125, Tim Stephens at 130, Mark Van Slyke at 135, Darin Taylor at 145, Dalton Dance at 152, Dawson Loveland at 171, Nick Edwards at 189 and Adam Walton at 285 all advance past the "pod" phase of the 47-team tournament in Nampa, Idaho. Brandon Aullman at 140 and Brandon Anglesey at 160 both did not make it out of Friday's action and have been eliminated. The status of Casey Wolfley at 215 was still up in the air due to a possible tie within his pod. Each wrestler was in a pod of four participants with the top two advancing to a single elimination bracket early Saturday. Heap won his class last year at 112 at the Rollie Lane while Claye finished third at 103 in 2009. Assistant Head Coach, Adam Guild, says overall the staff is pleased with how the team wrestled although there is disappointment at the 140 and 160 weight classes where they felt both Braves were capable of advancing. As for the basketball players, the Braves held a ten-point advantage in the third quarter only to see Laramie hit six three-point baskets in the game's final quarter and a half to keep pace with the Crimson & Gold. Star Valley continued to struggle with turnovers as they had a 66-63 lead and possession with less than a minute remaining only to give the ball back to the Plainsmen. Laramie capitalized as Cameron Frye hit a three-pointer which would eventually send the game into overtime where the Albany County squad took a 75-72 victory. Dan Estes was held in check in the first half but heated up in the second half and overtime where he finished with 31 points, giving him a 34.5 per game average against the Braves. David Cranford finished with 21 while Josh Hunsaker scored 20 points and blocked four shots. Sophomore Ridge Hillyard chipped in eight points as well. The Lady Braves trailed by just a single point at halftime to top-ranked Laramie but the Lady Plainsmen got on track in the second half with Amber Vandiver scoring all ten of her points after intermission in a 52-31 Star Valley loss. Vandiver also had double-digit rebounds to control the glass. Dani Scherbel and Kelsea Gardner each had nine points to lead the Lady Braves. Both basketball teams play their Kelly Walsh counterparts on Saturday to wrap up the tournament.

Deputy has been released from the hospital

newsrelease — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:53:07 +0000

The Lincoln County deputy who was shot while trying to make an arrest in Opal on New Year’s Eve has been released from the hospital and his condition is improving, according to Sheriff Shane Johnson. Deputy Sheriff Cory Stoof was released from the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah after undergoing major surgery. Stoof was shot on the afternoon of Dec. 31, while attempting to apprehend 27-year-old Jacob B. Thoman of Opal on a standing traffic and failure to appear warrant. During the arrest, Thoman produced a large-caliber handgun and shot him, striking him in the right arm.

Governor does not agree with the Interior Secretary

newsrelease — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:55:44 +0000

Changes to federal oil and gas leasing policies will lead to burdensome new requirements without solving underlying problems, Gov. Dave Freudenthal told Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Friday. In a letter to the Secretary, the Governor expressed his concern with the new leasing requirements, that were announced by Salazar Wednesday. Gov. Freudenthal advised the Interior Secretary that his hope would be for the Department to focus its energy and attention on compliance, monitoring, inspections and implementation – rather than on a prematurely constraining leasing program that will functionally tie a millstone around the neck of the Department and detract from the more pressing issues of the day. The comments of Wyoming Govenor Dave Freudenthal to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar regarding changes to federal oil and gas leasing policies.

A new sign for Alpine

dandockstader — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:58:47 +0000

Compliments of Homeland Security Funds, the town of Alpine has a new electronic informational sign for the community. Alpine Police Chief James Phillips says the main purpose of the sign is to provide a means of getting information out to the public in an emergency situation. Phillips serves at the town’s emergency management coordinator. The sign will also be used to post general community information. Local businesses assisted with the installation, electrical work and building supplies.

This Week in Star Valley: January 14

newsrelease — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:14:14 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the valley for over 108 consecutive years. Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: (photo) Londee Hokanson made his appearance in the World, Tuesday, Jan. 15, the first baby born at the Star Valley Hospital since New Years. Ad: Playing at the Ford Theatre, Beverly Hills Cop. Mel Olson, a former Star Valley High School player, who currently coaches the offensive line at Brigham Young University was reported to be an integral part of the success of the BYU football team this year. . . . The Cougars have won 24 consecutive games, a feat rarely achieved in college football. 50-years ago: Wrestling gets under way at high school–For the first time in several years, wrestling has started again at the Star Valley High School. Coach John Robinson is working with a group of boys who are getting into shape and are showing promise. Telephone Company cites progress; dial phones due in Afton in '62 . . . The company reported an estimated gain of 6,932 new telephones in the state in 1959. This is 1,574 more than was gained in 1958, and a total gain of 50,235 telephones in the '50's. Forty percent of all telephones installed in 1959 were in color. At the close of the year, 85 percent of the telephones in Wyoming are dial operated and one home out of five has one or more extensions. 75-years ago: Bedford news: We have had an average snow fall this Winter. We hope this will give us plenty of water for crops next Summer. In spite of the fact that there has been a great deal of drifting of the loose snow, the road has been kept open and cars can travel to Bedford with no difficulty. Osmond news: Miss Donna Harrison, daughter of Bishop and Mrs. Otto A. Harris of Fairview and Verl Hoopes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Riley Hoopes of Fairview, were united in marriage last Thursday at the Logan Temple. Ad: Don't Postpone, Telephone. 100-years ago: Ad: Dollar Day!! The remarkable success of the Dollar Day plan last Monday, has induced us to offer still greater values for One Dollar next Monday. Dollar Day for Jan. 17th, 1910: 1 Bottle each of Townsend's Syrup of Figs, 50c.; Cough Cure, 50c.; Croup Oil, 50c.; Castorla, 35c.; 1 Box each of Townsend's Anti Cold Tablets, 25c.; and Chaberlain's Salve, 25c. Total $2.35. All for $1.00. Send in your dollar by mail if you can't come yourself, with instructions how to ship (you to pay transportation charges.) But your dollar must reach us by Monday. Watch for our offer in Hardware next week.

Jenkins steps down after three and a half decades of service

dandockstader — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:13:06 +0000

Richard Jenkins has retired from the Alpine Fire Department and EMTs after 35 years of service. In his tenure he has responded to over 13,000 calls for service. Richard and his wife, Kathy, moved their family to Alpine in 1975. He was the first EMT and Fire Captain in Alpine. In order to complete the necessary EMT training, Richard traveled 30 miles in the dead of winter to attend classes. In addition to Richard’s service to Alpine with the fire and EMT department, the Jenkins Family opened the first lumber yard and hardware store in Alpine. Richard was also instrumental in making the dream of the having the Morning Star Baptist Church a reality. Richard was elected to the first Alpine Town Council in 1989, serving for 10 years. He then served as the Mayor of Alpine. Even though Richard is stepping down from his responsibilities with the fire and EMT department, his work is far from finished.Richard and Kathy are working as postmasters of the Alpine Post Office. Richard continues to operate his newest business, the Black Mountain Lodge and Trailer Corral.

Independent Obituaries: January 14, 2010

dahlerickson — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:59:57 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the January 14, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Everett Dee Peterson was born July 9, 1929 in Ovid (Bear Lake), Idaho, to Mildred M. Brooks and Wilford H. Peterson. Everett, better known as “Dick” by most of his family and friends, grew up in Cokeville and lived a big part of his life there before moving to Star Valley. It was in Cokeville with his Big Park Camp that Dick began his lifelong business as an outfitter. Dick was one of six that organized the Wyoming Outfitters Association in 1955. Up until his death, he was the last living charter member of the association. During Dick’s 55 years of outfitting, he owned and operated numerous hunting and fishing camps, pack trips and a wagon trail. Atop a horse, he covered most of the country from Cokeville to the Bridger-Teton Wilderness. While in the outfitting business, and for generations to come, Dick was and is known as one of the most respected outfitters, not only in the great State of Wyoming, but country wide. Comments were always made on his honesty, integrity and trust in all that he did. Dick met and fell in love with Leah Beth Bagley. They were married Nov. 17, 1950 and together they started their family in Cokeville. Their first little girl was Marcene, who was followed by Jerrilyn, Billy Dee and Cheryl. The outfitting business allowed them to spend countless hours together in the outdoors. Dick, Beth and their children were sealed as a family on Aug. 10, 1973 in the Ogden, Utah LDS Temple. After 25 years of marriage and many lasting memories, Dick lost his eternal companion on Feb. 22, 1976. On June 9, 1976 married Patricia Lund Fritz. The merge of their two families invited Pat’s three children, Greg, Danny and Jody, into Dick’s life. Dick and Pat enjoyed 34 happy years together, creating many memories of their own. On Jan. 5, 2010, Everett “Dick” Peterson returned home to our Heavenly Father and countless others that waited with open arms to greet him. Dick is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children, Marcene Madsen; Jerrilyn Taylor; Billy Dee Peterson; Cheryl Anderson; three step-children, Greg Fritz; Danny Fritz; and Jody Foulke; one half brother, Robert Peterson; three half sisters, Carol Beers; Dixie Hastings; and Betty Lowder; 30 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Wendell Dee Jenkins, 95, passed away on Dec. 27, 2009 in Providence, Utah. He was born in Freedom, Wyo., on Jan. 12, 1914, to Lewis Ira (L.I.) and Mary Ann (May) Griffin Jenkins. He was the seventh of 10 children. Graduating form Star Valley High School in 1932, he excelled in numerous sports and was musically talented. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England from 1938--1939. Due to World War II, the last six months of his mission was spent in Illinois. He met his sweetheart, Loraine Spackman, at a church dance. Wendell and Loraine were married in the Salt lake LDS Temple on Jan. 12, 1943. Wendell lived most of his life in Freedom and Afton working as a Holstein dairy farmer, serving on the Afton Creamery Board of Directors and represented Wyoming at numerous National Dairy Conventions. Wendell was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in several callings. Teaching and leading the Boy Scouts program for over 43 years, he earned the Silver Beaver Award. Scouting leadership and competitive sports has been his recreational enjoyment through the years. He is survived by his wife, Loraine; his six children, Tanna (Cowen) Baxter of Woods Cross, Utah; Pamela (Val) Morris of West Valley City, Utah; Colin (Alanilee) Jenkins of Helena, Mont.; Kevin (Rea) Jenkins of Millville, Utah; Dorinda (Louis) Lucero of Wellsville, Utah; Troy Jenkins of Concord, Calif.; 17 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild and his brother Kenneth Jenkins of Logan. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and two sisters. Dad's dedicated testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, his strong worth ethic and love for his family were great examples to us all. Funeral services were held Dec. 30, 2009 at the Providence Fourth Ward, and a short service was held at the Freedom LDS Chapel. Interment took place in the Freedom Cemetery. Russell Pierce, 65 of Thayne passed away on Dec. 9, 2009 at the Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. He was born on April 13, 1944 in Evanston to Joseph and Stella (Cook) Pierce. Russ spent most of his life as a lumberjack and had his own construction company. Russ loved fishing and the outdoors. He spent many hours puttering around the house. He was a mountain man and loved the woods. He served in Vietnam and was a disabled veteran. Russ was preceded in death by his parents, He is survived by his life long partner, Barbara Fritzel, his daughters, Kristy Pierce, Sandra Briggs, Sherrie Pierce and Angie Morrow. He is also survived by five brothers and eight grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and services will be held at a later date in Thayne. Funeral services for Noel Allred will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16 at noon in the Afton Third Ward LDS Chapel. A viewing will take place from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.

115th Fires Brigade travels one million miles without major injuries

newsrelease — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:39:51 +0000

The Security Force and Convoy Security components of the 115th Fires Brigade from Cheyenne Wyo. reached a major milestone by traveling over one million miles throughout Kuwait and Iraq during the deployment without any serious injuries. "One million mission miles in less than 60 days on mission, while maintaining an equipment readiness rate throughout the brigade in excess of 90 percent is a huge success," said Sgt. Maj. William N. Frost, operations NCOIC, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery 115th FiB. "The vast majority of these miles are driven at night while escorting large convoys that [in the past] have experienced accidents, medical emergencies and the occasional Improvised Explosive Device. The Soldiers attribute their safety record to constant training and avoiding complacency. "We review battle drills and have safety briefs before every mission," said Staff Sgt. Shawn M. Hauf, a convoy commander, 2-300 Field Artillery from the Wyoming National Guard. "There's always something we are training on to better ourselves and stay prepared so that we can come home safe." After every mission, the Soldiers in the convoy meet to discuss the scenarios they faced and point out the good and bad. They talk about how they could have done things differently to improve the situation and compile this information into an After Action Report. These reports are used to determine training needs and to establish standard operating procedures. "You learn from each mission because they are all different," said Hauf. "We escort different trucks, and the terrain and weather change. The training we do on our off time is to better us and will defeat complacency." The 115th FiB mileage started accumulating the end of July when the individual units completed their Relief in Place training with the unit they replaced from the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Hawaii National Guard. "Within the first 30 days, we realized we were accumulating mission miles at an unbelievable rate," said Frost. "When we started totaling the mileage early after the RIP, the magnitude of the mileage we would accumulate became evident." The 1-151 FA from the Minn. National Guard, the 2-300 FA from Wyo. National Guard, and A Company, 960 Brigade Support Battalion from the Wyoming National Guard are the Units conducting convoy security. The 1-147 FA from the S.D. National Guard and the 151 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear from the Alabama National Guard conduct Security Force missions. Only the security force and convoy security mission mileage is counted in the brigade's million miles. This does not count the miles driven from the separate companies conducting other missions. Travel from commanders and staff members for administrative reasons is excluded as well. The mechanics performing maintenance on the vehicles have also made a significant contribution to the brigade's first million miles. "They put 200 to 1000 miles on a vehicle and we spend about four hours checking it out and doing repairs," said Sgt. 1st Class Albert R. Marcus, motor sergeant, 1-151 FA "If it's broke, we fix it. If it needs a new engine, we just replace the engine. If it needs springs, we replace the springs." "As a rule, we have the vehicles ready by the time the crew is ready to go out again for their next mission," said Marcus. According to Frost, the brigade will exceed four million miles during the deployment at the current rate of missions, however; the number of convoys is expected to increase due to responsible drawdown in Iraq. "Safety will have to be the Soldiers highest priority in completing these missions," said Frost. "The Next goal will be for each of the individual units to achieve a million miles." "This is a big deal for the mechanics as well. If they don't keep the vehicles running we wouldn't have achieved this million mile mark, and we won't reach future goals," explained Frost.

Changes planned for Highway 89 in Star Valley

dandockstader — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:43:22 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is studying the possibility of widening U.S. Highway 89 in Star Valley. The proposed project would begin at the corporate limits of the Town of Afton and travel south to the Fairview Lane, WY 236. The project would include widening the existing roadway to five lanes. A pedestrian pathway would also be constructed along the west side of the road to Dry Creek. In addition to maps of the project, a project schedule was presented at the open house last week. Grading plans would be completed in June 2011. Engineering plans for the project are slated to be finished by October 2011. Utility plans will be completed by February 2012 and final plans will be in place by June 2012. Bids for the project will be let in October 2012. Construction on the project is slated to begin in the summer of 2013. According to Mike Garner, resident engineer for WyDOT District Three, whether or not the project moves forward will depend on funding from the state.

Governor addresses Wyoming's Press

dahlerickson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:35:29 +0000

Governor Dave Freudenthal was the keynote speaker of the 111th annual winter convention for the Wyoming Press Association. Freudenthal commented on several topics ranging from the state's budget to future requests and in quiet spaces between questions jokingly discussed his "ushering in of Wyoming's Golden Age these past seven years." Specific comments during the address centered around the idea that Freudenthal feels the public in Wyoming should be more optimistic despite a perceived avalanche of concerns on state revenues. "We will be operating at 2003-04 levels in comparison," he replied. "Many in the state got used to operating under numbers that were quite frankly the highest in the history of Wyoming." When asked about using funds in the state's coffers for fundamental services, he also said that he believed services were in no danger and that no plans were in effect to utilize "rainy-day" money. Freudenthal also stated that Wyoming was one of the top states in terms of foreseeing economic gloom and that his ten percent budget requests made exactly one calender year at the WPA convention helped ease what has been a tough year for many in the Cowboy State. "We don't spend money we dont have and we don't borrow any because we're not California," Freudanthal chuckled to a full house in the Parkway Plaza in Casper. Freudenthal also drew laughter when asked if he regretted stumping for President Barack Obama in light of certain administration decisions contrary to Wyoming policy. "You guys [Wyoming Press Members] have been beating that drum like you only have one arm," he replied. Other items included opinions from the Governor that he was uncertain as to the future status of the sage grouse and that he is against a toll on I-80 which is a bill currently being discussed by the state legislature.

Braves in the mix for Richardson event title

dahlerickson — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:09:17 +0000

The Braves are in a close battle in Brigham City, Utah in the annual Richardson Memorial Invitational at Box Elder High School. With one day now in the books, the Braves have advanced nine wrestlers in eight different weight classes into the semi-finals. At 103 pounds Star Valley is forcing the action thus far with sophomore Mitchell Heap and freshman Carbon Kennington both advancing into the final four. Sophomore T.J. Guild is into the semi-finals for the second consecutive event at 119 pounds, as is senior Hayden Heap in the 125 pound weight class. Also still in the mix for individual championships are Mark Van Slyke at 135, Brandon Anglesey at 160, Nick Edwards at 189, Casey Wolfley at 215 and Adam Walton at 285. "It's a very tight race right now," stated Head Coach Eddie Clark. "It's a three-team battle right now with us, Box Elder and Mountain Crest and it's probably going to come down to one match or one pin here or there." While many tournaments remain, the Braves will be back home on January 27 when they host Green River High School in what will likely be a preview of the top two teams in the 4A West. All fans of Star Valley athletics are highly encouraged to find their way to SVHS gymnasium that evening to witness a fantastic dual between Wyoming's top two championship programs in terms of state titles.

Track updates from the BYU Invitational

dahlerickson — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:40:23 +0000

A Star Valley contingent of track & field athletes are in Provo, Utah this weekend and so far several of them have collected finishes atop the podium. Freshman, Ashley Elam took top honors in the weight throw while team mate, Nicole Wellard placed second. The women's weight throw had a Star Valley feel to it as Sierra Booth placed fourth. Senior Sean Smith placed sixth in the same event on the men's side. Senior standout, Audrey West, placed third overall in the Long Jump with a mark of 16' 9". Check back for updates as they become available.

Memorial services for Lori Walker Sessions

newsrelease — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:27:38 +0000

Memorial Services for Lori Walker Sessions will be held Thursday, Jan. 21, at 12 noon in the Afton Tabernacle. Family will greet friends on Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. At the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the Tabernacle prior to the services.

Independent News Briefs

newsrelease — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:32:56 +0000

Alpine backs the fifth penny. The Town of Alpine has passed Ordinance 198, in support of the continuation of the fifth penny sales tax. The vote came in the first town council meeting of the new year. The ordinance will be up for second reading on Jan. 19. According to state statute, if a county and municipalities within the county favorably support a continuation of the tax, by resolution and ordinances, the tax can continue without becoming a ballot issue. A leadership team provides 16 recommendations. The Governor’s Leadership Team on Driving Under the Influence has identified 16 key recommendations for reducing impaired driving on Wyoming roads, which the group is now integrating into a plan to present to Gov. Dave Freudenthal. Rich Lindsey, team leader, says Wyoming needs to take a systemic view of substance-impaired driving and this plan will give the governor a big-picture way to look at the problem. Lindsey added, there is often good reason to leave policy decisions to the most local level possible, but sometimes a statewide approach is the only way to ensure progress. Just like it is a good idea to set highway speed limits at the state level, it is a good idea to set DUI policy at the state level. The Leadership Team brings together stakeholders and advocates from across the state, with representation from law enforcement, the liquor industry, family of those killed by impaired drivers, prevention specialists and those in the legal system. They developed the 16 key recommendations. The recommendations span the life-cycle of impaired driving, from prevention to enforcement to rehabilitation to prevention of repeat offenses. Barrasso wants the health care conferences open. Senator Barrasso (R-WY) joined Senator John Thune (R-SD) and the rest of the Senate Republicans in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) calling for increased transparency in the health care conference negotiations. Barrasso said, "A bill that affects one-sixth of our economy and every American should be debated in the open. The people of Wyoming deserve to know what is going on behind closed doors." The field reps will be in town. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, U.S. Senator John Barrasso and U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis have announced that their field representatives, Pati Smith, Reagen Bebout and Pat Aullman will visit with Star Valley residents on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 at the Afton Town Hall and the Alpine Town Hall. The representatives will be available from 1-2 p.m. at the Afton Town Hall and 3-4 p.m. at the Alpine Town Hall. Star Valley area residents are encouraged to visit with them during these times to discuss matters regarding the federal government. These concerns will then be relayed to the Senators and Representative. For more information, contact Pat Aullman at 883-1088. Western Wyoming Community College still has openings. Western Wyoming Community College reports that 280 enrollments were received this past week in the college’s outreach program. The following classes still have openings: English I, Problem Solving, Computer Basics, Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Watercolor, Photography, Woodworking, Guitar, L.E.A.N., Stained Glass, Country Dance, Quilt Top, Effective Relationships, Adolescent Depression, Cooking Workshops and others. If you are interested in any classes not included in this list, contact Western Wyoming Community College Outreach at 886-3834. Home heating applications are still being accepted. Applications for a home heating help program are being accepted through Feb. 28, according to the Wyoming Department of Family Services. The program, called LIEAP (pronounced lee-ap), helps low income households cover the costs of heating a home. Applicants can own or rent their home. Help is available to pay for electric, natural gas heat as well as propane, diesel heating oil, coal, wood and pellets. More than 10,000 families in Wyoming are currently being served through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). To get an application, visit your local DFS office or senior center, call 800-246-4221 or print an application go to the Wyoming Department of Family Services web site, (www.dfs.wy.gov or http://www.dfs.wy.gov/).

Discussion of fifth penny option continues

sarahhale — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:43:11 +0000

The debate and discussion with regards to the continuation of the one cent, fifth penny, general excise tax in Lincoln County continues this week. Ordinances in relation to the sales tax have been discussed by each of the municipalities in Star Valley this month. Tuesday, Jan. 12 the Town of Star Valley Ranch passed an ordinance in support of the fifth penny on third reading, making it the third municipality in the county to do so. Kemmerer and Diamondville have already adopted fifth penny ordinances. The towns of Thayne and Alpine are working on fifth penny ordinances. The ordinances in those towns relating to the fifth penny will be up for second reading this month. The Town of Afton will host a public hearing with regards to the fifth penny sales tax at the Feb. 9, 2010 council meeting. The hearing will begin at 5 p.m. on that date. Afton discussed continuation of the fifth penny sales tax in its December and January council meetings. The towns of Opal, Cokeville and LaBarge each have fifth penny sales tax ordinances in the works. However, none of those ordinances have made it through the governmental process and been adopted yet. According to state statute, if the majority of municipalities in Lincoln County adopt ordinances in support of the continuation of the fifth penny sales tax, and the county passes a resolution in support of the continuation of the tax, the tax will become continuous. Currently the fifth penny sales tax question appears on the ballot during general elections. According to state law, if the tax becomes continuous, the electorate can have the tax put back on the ballot by petition. For more information on the fifth penny sales tax, contact County Treasurer Jerry Greenfield at 877-2040.

The Swiss Connection

newsrelease — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:51:47 +0000

The Star Valley Historical Society will host Bruce Robinson for an address on the “Swiss Connection in Star Valley,” Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Afton Civic Center. According to the society, Swiss immigrants found the valley reminiscent of their homeland and brought the culture of Switzerland to their new home in the Rocky Mountains. The public is invited and there is no charge. Star Valley Historical Society President Gordon Tueller encourages the public to attend this first lecture of 2010. The Star Valley Historical Society hosts monthly lectures or historical treks throughout the year.

Funeral services for Holloway

newsrelease — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:13:21 +0000

Funeral services for Metellus Holloway will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at 3 p.m. in the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. A viewing will take place from noon to 2:45 p.m. prior to the funeral services.

Sno-Cross racing coming to Afton this weekend

dahlerickson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:28:25 +0000

More than 90 racers will be invading Star Valley this weekend as the Town of Afton hosts a snowmobile racing Sno-Cross for the first time in many years. Racers will compete against a course being set up just outside the Lincoln County Fairgrounds where they will participate in a lap race and against each other. Click below for a video with Justin Visser who is organizing the event.

Stage Stop Sled Dog Race is preparing for a 10-town event.

dandockstader — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:31:27 +0000

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) occurred through Wyoming to Park City, Utah, starting January 29 and ending February 6. Race Director Frank Teasley reports the race is celebrating its 15th year. Ten Wyoming and Utah communities will be a part of the stage-stop process. Teasley is hoping for more snow, but after 15 years putting on the race, he reports that plans A, B and C in place. One example is in Jackson, the start of the race. The Jackson Public Works Department has been storing snow at the Rodeo Grounds just in case it is needed. The IPSSSDR attracts many return racers like Sam Perrino and Grant Beck from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, as well as newcomers Chris Adkins from Montana, a rookie in the 2010 race. Buddy Streeper, the only musher in sport history to have won the five majors – Laconia, The Pas, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Yellowknife – returns to Wyoming to vie for victory; he won first place in his first IPSSSDR in 2004. The IPSSSDR will travel through Alpine on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Two minor earthquakes felt in Yellowstone

newsrelease — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:14:19 +0000

Two minor earthquakes were felt on Monday, Jan. 18 in Yellowstone National Park. There were no reports of damage associated with either event. The first earthquake, which occurred at 8:39 p.m., was felt in Yellowstone National Park and West Yellowstone, Mont., according to information received by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS). The event occurred approximately 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 18 miles east-northeast of Island Park, Idaho. The magnitude 3.3, intensity III earthquake occurred 6.2 miles below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC ) in Golden, Colo. The second earthquake, a magnitude 3.0 event, occurred at 9:42 p.m. and was felt in Yellowstone National Park at intensity II. The earthquake occurred 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 18 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 6.3 miles. Both earthquakes were associated with a small earthquake swarm that continued through 7 a.m. Jan. 19. An earthquake swarm is a collection of small earthquakes that happen in the same general area and during the same time period. Earthquake swarms in Yellowstone National Park do not normally indicate that large, damaging earthquakes are imminent. The strength of an earthquake at its epicenter is called its magnitude, as measured on the Richter scale. Minor earthquakes – those between magnitude 3.0 and 3.9 – do not cause structural damage. The effect of an earthquake on the surface is called its intensity, as measured on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale . Intensities range from I (imperceptible shaking) to XII (catastrophic destruction). The WSGS has compiled seismological characterizations of all Wyoming counties, which include analyses of historic seismicity. See http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsgs/hazards/quakes/seischar/seischar.html for more information.

The Search Begins in Wyoming for America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker

newsrelease — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:29:38 +0000

Nominations are now being accepted in the search for America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker. The search is part of a national effort to raise awareness about the contributions older individuals make in today’s workplace and to break down barriers often associated with their employment. It is sponsored by Experience Works, the nation’s largest nonprofit training and employment organization for older workers. America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker nominees must be 100 years of age or older, currently employed, working at least 20 hours each week for pay and involved in his or her community. The honoree for 2010 will be introduced in May, as part of Older American’s Month. Additional information, including the nomination form, is available at www.experienceworks.org. The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2010. “Experience Works is proud to sponsor the search for America’s Oldest Worker, because we know that older individuals have a lot to offer – experience, knowledge, dependability and enthusiasm,” said Lita Kleger, vice president of external affairs for Experience Works. “Older workers provide inspiration to people of all ages and serve as role models for those who want to continue to stay active and make valuable contributions to the workplace and to their communities.” Last year’s honoree was 101-year-old attorney Jack Borden from Weatherford, Texas. A former FBI agent, Borden is the oldest practicing member of the Texas State Bar Association. He still works 40 hours a week, specializing in real estate and probate law. Borden also continues to be active in his community. He was elected to public office four times and served as the Mayor of Weatherford. He was recognized as the Outstanding Citizen of Weatherford in 2005. Experience Works, formerly Green Thumb, is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of low-income older people through employment, community service, and training. In Wyoming, Experience Works administers the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCEP), which is free to participants who are 55 and older and meet low income criteria. Individuals who would like more information about Experience Works’ job programs should visit www.experienceworks.org or call 866-397-9757.

Women's Health Expo to be held this weekend

dahlerickson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:57:49 +0000

Ivy Phillips felt that others in the valley should know about all of the resources available for women to improve their overall health. It is for this reason that Phillips has helped the first annual Star Valley Women's Health Expo which will take place at the Afton Civic Center this Saturday. Click below to listen to Phillips discuss the expo with Independent reporter, Sarah Hale.

Four additional quakes felt in Yellowstone

newsrelease — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:56:54 +0000

Four additional minor earthquakes were felt Jan. 19 in Yellowstone National Park, just a day after two minor earthquakes were felt there. There were no reports of injuries or damage. six earthquakes were associated with a small earthquake swarm that continued through 7 a.m. Jan. 20, according to information received by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS). An earthquake swarm is a collection of small earthquakes that happen in the same general area and time. Earthquake swarms in Yellowstone do not normally indicate that large, damaging earthquakes are imminent. The first earthquake that was felt Jan. 19 in Yellowstone occurred at 9:48 a.m. approximately 10 miles southeast of West Yellowstone, Mont., and 19 miles east-northeast of Island Park, Idaho. The magnitude 3.3, intensity II earthquake occurred 4.2 miles below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo. Click for the site: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/uu00000874.php The second earthquake, a magnitude 3.5 event, occurred at 2:32 p.m. and was felt in Yellowstone National Park as intensity II. The earthquake occurred 10 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 18 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 5.8 miles. A third earthquake happened at 6:35 p.m. and was felt as intensity II in Yellowstone. The 3.1 magnitude earthquake occurred 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 18 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 5.8 miles. A fourth earthquake, magnitude 3.4, took place at 9:41 p.m. The event occurred 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 19 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 5.4 miles. The earthquake was felt as intensity II in Yellowstone. The strength of an earthquake at its epicenter is called its magnitude, as measured on the Richter scale. Minor earthquakes – those between magnitude 3 and 3.9 – do not cause structural damage. The effect of an earthquake on the surface is called its intensity, as measured on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale Click for the Mercalli Intensity Scale - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mercalli.php Intensities range from I (imperceptible shaking) to XII (catastrophic destruction). The WSGS has compiled seismological characterizations of all Wyoming counties, which include analyses of historic seismicity. See http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsgs/hazards/quakes/seischar/seischar.html for more information, or contact WSGS surficial geologist Seth Wittke at 307-766-2286, ext. 244, or by e-mail at wittkesj@uwyo.edu.

SVMC physicians join Women's Health Expo

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Dr. Martha Hageman and Dr. Christian Morgan will be on hand to discuss several matters pertaining to women's health this weekend. The first annual women's health expo will take place at the Afton Civic Center on Friday and Saturday. Click below to listen to Dr. Morgan who sat down with Independent reporter, Sarah Hale.

Rita Meyer is running for governor

newsrelease — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:22:40 +0000

Wyoming State Auditor Rita Meyer has announced her intention to run for Governor of Wyoming. Meyer said that preparedness would be the watchword of her administration. Meyer also committed to promoting the multiple use of Wyoming’s natural resources. As Wyoming State Auditor, Meyer has overseen the office that tracks the state’s income, spending, budgets and bad debts. Among the major changes in the office have been efforts to update the state’s financial and accounting systems, as well as efforts to continue to uphold transparency in government by having information available to the public online. Meyer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Wyoming. She holds a Masters of Business Administration in International Business from Regis University and a Master's in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

SVMC will have two booths at Women's Expo

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:11:39 +0000

Star Valley Medical Center will have a strong presence at the first annual Women's Health Expo this weekend at the Afton Civic Center. Marianne Wamhoff discusses some of the various resources that will be available for Star Valley's women. Click below for an interview with Wamhoff and Independent reporter, Sarah Hale.

Funeral Services for Gerald Putnam

newsrelease — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:59:31 +0000

Funeral services for Gerald Putnam will be held on Saturday, January 23, at 12 noon at the Auburn LDS Chapel. There will be a viewing on Friday, January 22, from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton and from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Moffett places fourth in World Transplant Games Super-G

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:10:40 +0000

Andy Moffett (Team USA) placed fourth today in the Super-G at the 7th Winter World Transplant Games in Sainte Foy Tarentaise, Haute-Savoie, France. Star Valley alpine skier Andy Moffett traveled to the French Alps to compete again for the United States at the 7th Winter World Transplant Games. In action among some of the most challenging and pristine skiing slopes in the world, Moffett placed fifth in Thursday's Super-G. He is expected to compete on Friday as well. Team USA 2010, the nation’s winter squad of organ transplant recipient athletes, is on a mission to raise awareness of the need for organ donation. Managed by the National Kidney Foundation, Team USA 2010 is part of the World Transplant Games Federation’s global appeal to people to consider becoming organ donors, as well as to demonstrate that a lifestyle of intense athletics is fully consistent with major organ transplantation and living life to its fullest. Previous Winter Games have been held at Tignes and Pra Loup, France, Salt Lake City, Nendaz, Switzerland, Bormio, Italy, and Rovaniemi, Finland. At Rovaniemi in 2008, Moffett, a liver and kidney recipient, placed 6^th overall in the super-G and 11^th in the giant slalom, the highest American finishes. Andy, now 51, is a pass-holder at Jackson Hole and Snow King, and has been a member of the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club since 2005. Look for full coverage of Moffett's competition in the January 28, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Final Results for the Super-G 1 266 Rettenegger Walter Austria 2 263 Knaus Robert Switzerland 3 265 Mougin Michel France 4 268 Moffett Andy United States 5 264 Kovacs Otto Hungary

Fund Raiser for Austin Maddox is Monday

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:22:37 +0000

Austin Maddox is in need of a heart transplant. Funds for medical expenses that go towards this end will be raised at Bellos Italian Grill / Ridge Rider Lounge in Alpine on Monday, January 25, at 6p.m. According to family and friends, Maddox needs to raise $160,000 just to get him placed on a donor list. "A dear Family friend and local resident for several years has been diagnosed with GCM (Giant Cell Myocarditis)," said Jeanie Malone-Baker. "This is a rare and fatal heart condition that is undetectable until onset of symptoms. Two weeks ago he was a normal healthy 22 year old and now he is fighting for his life in Murray, Utah at the Intermountain Medical Center." An $8.00 Spaghetti/Meatball dinner will be available with all proceeds going towards Austin's medical expenses. Benefit Info On twitter http://twitter.com/Flyingsaddle Those wishing to contact Maddox can utilize the following address: Austin: Intermountain Medical Ctr Heart & Lung / Room 501 5121 S Cottonwood Street Murray, UT 84107 DONATIONS TO: Wachovia Bank #1010269393301 If mailing a check: Wachovia Bank Attn: Victoria 3994 Tampa Rd Oldsmar, FL 34677 on memo write: Austin Maddox If writing a check make it out to: Monique Miller Also: Austin Maddox Fund EIN# 80-0530054 Donations online to: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=11320912 Information on the condition http://www.myocarditisfoundation.org/giantCellMyocarditis.htm

Planning & Zoning meeting location changed

newsrelease — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:06:32 +0000

The location for the Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 27, has been changed to the Cokeville High School Auditorium, on 300 Pine Street in Cokeville. Agenda items for the meeting include the Triangle II Subdivision, an amendment proposal for private airstrips and an application for a gravel pit expansion two miles north of Etna. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Coach Clark looking for big challenges this weekend

dahlerickson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:20:08 +0000

There's little doubt when you look at the Star Valley Braves' wrestling schedule as to whether or not they look for quality competition. This evening the Braves will take on American Falls High School in a dual that will preface both teams' participation in the annual Tiger-Grizz Tournament. Look for a complete recap of Star Valley's work last week at the Richardson Memorial as well as a look at this week's competition. Click below for an exclusive video of Coach Eddie Clark as he discusses what the Braves have in front of them at American Falls and at the Tiger-Grizz.

Braves roll over American Falls on the eve of Tiger-Grizz

dahlerickson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:21:16 +0000

The Braves faced off against American Falls Thursday night in hostile territory. At the end of the dual, Star Valley prevailed 60-15 over the defending 3A Idaho state champions. The Crimson & Gold grapplers compiled a whopping nine pins en route to dominating the home team on the evening prior to one of Star Valley's biggest annual tournaments at the Tiger-Grizz in Idaho Falls. "We wrestled pretty well and we're excited to go in and perform against a team like that," said assistant head coach, Adam Guild. "The guys and the staff are really fired up to start the tournament tomorrow." The Braves are making a few adjustments due to injury and illness. Matt Booth is wrestling at 189 pounds while Nick Edwards is wrestling back up to 215. Freshman Carbon Kennington is competing at 112 pounds after Josh Claye injured his knee in last weekend's Richardson Memorial. Individual Dual Results: (Won 60-15) 103: Mitchell Heap won by pin 112: Carbon Kennington lost by decision 119: T.J. Guild won by pin 125: Hayden Heap won by pin 130: Tim Stephens won by pin 135: Mark Van Slyke won by pin 140: Brandon Aullman won by decision (9-3) 145: Darin Taylor won by pin 152: Dalton Dance won by pin 160: Brandon Anglesey lost by decision (8-5) 171: Dawson Loveland won by decision (8-4) 189: Matt Booth lost by pin 215: Nick Edwards won by pin 285: Adam Walton won by pin

Independent Obituaries: January 21, 2010

newsrelease — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:55:57 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the January 21, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Stanley Steed 98, passed away Jan. 7, 2010 at his home in Auburn. Stan was born Dec. 9, 1911 in Auburn. He was the second born to a family of 11 children. His parents were Franklin Burton Steed and Pearl Delora Lehmberg. His childhood was spent in the foothills of Auburn in the summer months and the family would move down into Auburn in the winter. His formal education was all in Auburn. He married Fontella Weaver on Jan. 28, 1931 in Paris, Idaho after a two year courtship. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1948. They lived most of their married life in Auburn. Stan worked various jobs while running his farm and ranch in Auburn. He hauled milk for Star Valley Swiss Cheese Company for 35 years. He drove school bus, worked for the Forest Service and was a guide for hunting camps. His favorite hobby was raising and training horses. He had a number of fine teams and saddle horses. Life changed when his eternal companion, Fontella, died in 1988. He later married Trilma Anderson. She died in 1996. He then married Mabel Draney and she died in 2009. Stan always enjoyed good health. He never retired, he was a hard worker his whole life. He was still riding horses in 2007 at 96 years old. Last summer he was baling hay. He was always very organized in everything he did. He had a great sense of humor and he was always a thoughtful neighbor. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a High Priest. He was a faithful home teacher for many years. Stan enjoyed his large posterity. Everyone enjoyed visiting with him and listening to his many stories. He is survived by three of his seven children. Shelby Eugene Steed (Mary Jo Shumway), Afton; Dena Miller, Afton; Craig Wells Steed, Auburn. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 41 great-great grandchildren. Three wives: Fontella, Trilma Anderson and Mabel Draney, one daughter, Shirley Johnson; three sons, Delmar, Brad, and Brett, two grandchildren, Tracy Booth and Kim Steed, and three great-great grandchildren preceded him in death. Funeral services for Metellus Holloway will be held Saturday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. in the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. A viewing will take place from noon to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Funeral services for Gerald Searight Putnam will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at noon in the Auburn LDS Church. A viewing will take place on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. in Schwab’s Mortuary in Afton and again Saturday from 10-11:45 a.m. at the church.

Three additional quakes bring Yellowstone total to nine

newsrelease — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:00:56 +0000

Three minor earthquakes were felt Jan. 20 in Yellowstone National Park, and there were no reports of injuries or damage. They were a continuation of the earthquake swarm that started Jan. 17. The events brought the total number of earthquakes felt to nine, and the seismic activity was ongoing as of 7 a.m. Jan. 21, according to information received by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS). An earthquake swarm is a collection of small earthquakes that happen in the same general area and time. Earthquake swarms in Yellowstone are not usually indicative that large, damaging earthquakes are imminent. The first earthquake that was felt Jan. 20 occurred at 2:43 p.m. approximately 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone, Mont., and 19 miles east-northeast of Island Park, Idaho. The magnitude 2.9, intensity II earthquake occurred 5.8 miles below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden, Colo. The second earthquake, a magnitude 3.6 event, occurred at 11:01 p.m. and was felt as intensity III. The earthquake occurred 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 18 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 6 miles. A third event happened at 11:16 p.m. and was felt as intensity III. The 3.7 magnitude earthquake occurred 9 miles southeast of West Yellowstone and 19 miles east-northeast of Island Park at a depth of 6.4 miles.

Friday night sports update: SVHS enjoys a big evening

dahlerickson — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:45:32 +0000

Both the Braves and Lady Braves opened up their conference play 1-0 over Riverton and ten wrestlers have moved into the quarter-finals of the Tiger-Grizz Tournament in Idaho. Brandon Taylor suffered a horrific fall just 25 seconds into the game as the Braves hosted the Wolverines to open conference play. Taylor was faked into the air by Jarrett Watson and caught his feet on Watson's shoulder, driving him into the court on his neck and back. After missing just under three game minutes, Taylor returned to lead all scorers with a season-high 24 points and five steals in a 65-54 win over their visitors. Junior Josh Hunsaker filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, five steals and five blocked shots. Corbin Nicholls led the Wolverines with 13 points. The Lady Braves moved to 1-0 in conference play with a 44-25 road win over the Lady Wolverines who now move to 0-11 on the season. Stats were not available. Finally, on the wrestling mat, the Braves have advanced ten grapplers into the quarter-finals of the Tiger-Grizz and currently sit in fourth place with 77.5 points. It's a tight team race with just seven points separating first from fourth. Box Elder High is currently in first with 84.5, Highland is second with 82.5 points and Columbia is third with 81.5 points. Star Valley has faced all three teams at various points in the season. "We feel pretty good about where we're at," said Head Coach Eddie Clark. "We won some tough matches and the kids are competing hard." The following Braves have advanced to the Quarterfinals 103: Mitchell Heap 112: Carbon Kennington 119: T.J. Guild 125: Hayden Heap 135: Mark Van Slyke 140: Brandon Aullman 152: Dalton Dance 160: Brandon Anglesey 171: Dawson Loveland 189: Nick Edwards 285: Adam Walton

Governor responds to new revenue forecast

newsrelease — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:42:48 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Friday that he agrees with the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group’s decision to maintain a bottom-line estimate similar to their October figures. Click below for a short audio clip of Governor Freudenthal.

Cokeville arrest one of several marijuana seizures

newsrelease — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:22:13 +0000

Cheyenne – In seven days Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers made sizable seizures totaling approximately 106 pounds of high-grade marijuana across the State. In addition to the marijuana seized approximately $3,862.00 in U.S. currency has also been seized. The seizures of marijuana and currency have come from 5 unrelated traffic stops. All of the vehicles stopped were eastbound. A total of six people have been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The first seizure of 12 pounds occurred Wednesday, January 13, on US 30 in Lincoln County near Cokeville. One subject was arrested during that traffic stop. The other four vehicle stops have occurred on Interstate 80 in Laramie County near Cheyenne. Those seizures were: ● 3 pounds on January 15, mile post #350 Interstate 80 ● 48 pounds on January 17, mile post #352 Interstate 80 ● 1 pound on January 18, mile post #350 Interstate 80 ● 42 pounds on January 19, mile post #367 Interstate 80 A Wyoming Highway Patrol drug detection K-9 was used in three of the seizures on Interstate 80. The 106 pounds of marijuana has an approximate street value of $265,000.00. None of the marijuana was destined for delivery in Wyoming. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation continue to investigate these criminal drug trafficking cases. Last year Wyoming Troopers seized 500 pounds of various grades of marijuana with an approximate street value of $1,032,865.00. It is very early in the year, however, if the current trend continues Troopers could be on track to make seizures in excess of last year’s 500 pound mark.

Bison hunt priority deadline approaching

newsrelease — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:34:42 +0000

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that March 1, is the deadline to submit applications to be placed on the wild bison priority listing for 2010. The priority listing is not a drawing to issue licenses. It is a random computer selection that is held in May to place hunters on a priority list. Applicants are notified based on their ranking on the priority list, in order of their priority ranking, when the department determines a wild bison hunting opportunity may be available. At that time the hunter has the opportunity to purchase or decline purchase of the wild bison license. The harvest of a wild bison is allowed once in a lifetime in Wyoming. Applications to be placed on the priority listing are in the resident and nonresident application booklets and and on the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us. Information on the bison hunt can be obtained by calling (307) 777-4600.

Venna Kennington Barrus services on Saturday

newsrelease — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:38:11 +0000

Funeral Services for Venna Kennington Barrus will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, at 12:30 p.m. in the Fairview Ward LDS Chapel. Family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the church prior to the services.

This Week in Star Valley: January 21

dahlerickson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:14:25 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area non-stop for over 108 years! Take a look back at what made the pages of the newspaper, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Participants in the "name the new Afton recreation area" contest have until 5 p.m. tomorrow to submit entries. The contest is being sponsored by the Town of Afton wherein a prize of a $50 savings bond is being offered. A name is sought that will be appropriate and blend in with the Star Valley area. County Landfill Fees are Adopted–Among the noted changes, non-county residents, those not displaying Lincoln County No. 12 car or truck plates, will be charged $2 per drop, $5 per pickup of one ton load, $10 per truck load over 1 ton pickup, $20 per commercial container load, and $25 per semi-truck load. Fees will be charged to both county and non-county residents as commercial haulers, contractors and builders. County residents will be charged no fees other than the ones listed below: A fee of $5 will be charged for disposing of ranges, refrigerators, freezer, water heaters, washers and dryers. A $2.50 fee will be charged for each mattress or box springs. Tires will be charged at $5 per pickup load with an extra trailer at $5. 50-years ago: (photo) Publisher Lee R. Call receives one of five Pacemaker awards won by the Independent at the annual convention of the Wyoming Press Association at Casper last weekend. Although Star Valley's Winter has been considerably milder than average this year, a cold spell this week saw the mercury drop as low as it has for several years. Readings as low as 45 degrees below zero were reported Tuesday morning in some parts of the Valley, but it is not known if the thermometers were considered reliable by government standards. Both Freedom and Auburn reported readings this low. A new skating rink is being built at the Afton City Park by members of the Afton Fire Department. The town gave permission to the firemen to go ahead with the project. Snow was cleared from the area, and it has been flooded the past few nights and should be ready for skating soon. It will be lighted at night. 75-years ago: Ad: Playing at the American Theatre, Cecil B. DeMille's, Cleopatra. Exciting as the terrific events it lavishly portrays...Powerful as the glorious empires destroyed so that love could live...Romantic as Egypt's great White Queen, history's most alluring woman, a picture produced in awe-inspiring scenes of unparalleled splendor! The gravel job on the highway is now almost finished, and the contractors expect to get through by the last of the week. Funeral services were held in the Afton North Ward chapel Friday, January 18, at 1:00 o’clock for Joseph Holbrok Call, who died at his home in Afton, Tuesday, January 15th. . . .The first speaker was President Clarence Gardner, who paid high tribute to the deceased and his wife and family. He said he had never met a more honest man in his life. . . . A vocal solo, "Goin' Home" by Mondell White was beautifully rendered. . . .The many beautiful floral offerings from friends, clubs, Priesthood organizations, M.I.A. and others proved he had many friends who wished to pay their last respects to him. 100-years ago: Bedford news: New Years went off quiet. In the evening Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Averill gave their wedding dance and all who were there enjoyed themselves splendidly. Bro. Neuenschwander's boy is improving nicely. Mr. Lee Preston has a new phonograph, so we can now have more music. Freedom news: Snow is 14 inches deep, the underpart frozen and compact, the top 4 inches light. The holidays passed in glee. There was a little disturbance once, caused by drink, and a citizen of usually good conduct had to be put out of the dance, whereupon he broke the door by kicking it, and when sober again was likely glad to get off by paying the damage done. This week a number of teams have gone after freight for the store kept by Wm. Heap Jr. Freedom Ward was divided on Jan. 2nd, and Etna obtained a bishopric of its own. Carl Cook being Bishop, with Mark Hardman and Rudolph Wolfley as counselors. Ray Humphreys is ward clerk. There are about 150 people in the new ward.

Afton company awarded state highway project

newsrelease — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:11:46 +0000

Contracts totaling more than $5.5 million for seven highway projects around the state were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission last week during its January meeting in Cheyenne. Kilroy, LLC, based in Afton, won the largest of the contracts with a low bid of $1.8 million for pavement repair work at three locations on I-25 east of Casper. The work consists primarily of stabilizing the subgrade under the roadway and then placing a new layer of surfacing. Together, the three sections, located between mileposts 170 and 175, encompass about a mile of roadway. The work carries a completion date of Sept. 30. A one-third mile section of Wyoming Boulevard (WYO 258) in Casper will be upgraded under terms of a $1.4 million contract awarded to Magnum Construction, LLC, of Casper. The work, located at the intersection of Wyoming Boulevard and Poplar Street, will involve renewing sections of both concrete and asphalt pavement, as well as placing new curb and gutter and making upgrades to water systems and traffic signals. Completion is set for Aug. 31. Cruz Construction, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colo., was the low bidder, at $1.3 million, for a project to remove and upgrade guardrails at various locations along a total of 20 miles of US 191 and WYO 233 in southwest Wyoming. Specifically, the project involves 8.5 miles of US 191 north of the Utah state line and 11.5 miles of WYO 233 north of Kemmerer. The work is scheduled for completion by Aug. 31. About 250 roadside signs along I-25 and I-80 will be replaced or renewed by Rocky Mountain Enterprises, Inc., of Grand Junction, Colo., under terms of a $414,000 contract awarded to the firm. The project has a completion date of Aug. 31. S&S Builders, LLC, of Gillette was successful in its bid of $352,000 to rehabilitate a bridge on Campbell County Road No. 53 (Hoadley Road), located east of WYO 59 between Gillette and Wright. The work will include pavement resurfacing and other improvement work on the bridge over the Burlington Railroad. Completion is expected by Aug. 31. Simon Contractors of Cheyenne will resurface and make other improvements on a mile-long section of I-80 in Cheyenne under terms of a $179,000 contract. The project area is centered at the I-180/US 85 Interchange (exit 362), and Sept. 30 is set as the completion date. US 26 through Shoshoni will be upgraded by Schneider Construction Inc. of Worland under a $153,000 contract. The work includes changes in both asphalt and concrete pavement sections to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Completion is slated for Aug. 31.

All Wyoming Inmates have returned to State

newsrelease — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:22:00 +0000

As of January 26, 2010, all Wyoming inmates who have been housed out-of-state due to lack of room in Wyoming prisons have been returned to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. A group of 100 male inmates were the first group to be housed out-of-state in late 1997 to address lack of room. In the intervening 13 years, Wyoming inmates have been housed in a number of states including Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Colorado. "We are very pleased that we've been able to move all Wyoming inmates back to Wyoming," said Deputy Administrator Dawn Sides. "This is an important day. We know that we can do a much better job in-state of providing inmates opportunities to change the behaviors that brought them to prison." She added that having inmates closer to families, so that they can visit more often, will also help inmates' successful rehabilitation. On Wednesday, January 20, 126 inmates arrived from Virginia by plane at the Cheyenne Airport and on Thursday, January 21, another 127 inmates arrived from Virginia by plane at the Casper Airport. Over the next few days the final 16 inmates arrived by vans from Virginia. Inmates were then delivered to the Wyoming State Penitentiary, the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution and the other facilities. "I think that the folks in Torrington, having never seen our prison business, were taken by surprise on Wednesday when our convoy arrived in town," said Ms. Sides. "Numerous vehicles with lights flashing, including two large buses from the Colorado Department of Corrections, our WDOC bus, and a number of vans and other accompanying vehicles came rolling into town and literally stopped traffic." She mentioned that the same scenario took place in Rawlins the following day, but due to the years of experience that the town has had with the Wyoming State Penitentiary, residents barely took notice. Sides thanked the numerous entities involved in the entire process that made sure safety was a primary consideration. Those involved with the transport process were Laramie County, Goshen County, Carbon County and Natrona County sheriffs' offices; Cheyenne Police Department and SWAT; Casper, Mills, Rawlins and Torrington police departments; Wyoming Department of Homeland Security; Justice Prison & Alien Transportation System (JPATS)/U.S. Marshals Service; Wyoming National Guard; Wyoming Highway Patrol; Cheyenne Airport Fixed Base Operator; Casper Airport Public Safety Officer; Laramie County and Natrona County detention centers; Burlington Northern Railroad; Virginia Department of Corrections; and Colorado Department of Corrections. "Everything went smoothly, which is a credit to all the correctional professionals involved," she said. On January 6, 2010, the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution was opened in Torrington. With the addition of over 700 beds with the addition of this facility, the WDOC now has room for all Wyoming inmates sentenced to the WDOC.

Braves nip Wolves in classic dual

dahlerickson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:22:26 +0000

Green River and Star Valley are two teams with championship aspirations for next month. On this night the Braves came out on top by the slimmest of margins in a classic evening, 31-30. Neither team was tipping any hands for weight movements at the end of February but it was still a very entertaining clash on the Star Valley floor. The Wolves jumped out to a 15-0 lead by winning the first four matches, three of them by decision. Star Valley bounced back as Brandon Anglesey and Dawson Loveland both won by pinfall at 160 and 171 pounds respectively. Green River responded as Tommy Thoman decisively pinned Nick Edwards, followed by Casey Wolfley outlasting Jorge Alatorre in extra time. As the weights flipped over to the 103 pounders the score was knotted up at 21-21. Mitch Heap won by decision to give the Braves a 24-21 lead. Mario Luna pinned freshman Carbon Kennington at 112 pounds with Josh Claye out with a knee injury to put the visitors back up 27-24. T.J. Guild bettered Luis Flores to tie the score again at 27-27. Nathan Merritt then went out and won 7-0 over Senter Timmons. After the referee conferred with the scorer's table, a point was missed that moved the final score to 8-0 and gave the Braves an extra team point for the major decision It would prove to be a big one. Hayden Heap moved up a weight to take on Mark Harris, a rematch of the 2008, 103 pound state championship. Heap jumped on Harris early and had the Green River standout in trouble until blood time was called. Harris responded after the break in action and went on to control the match in a 7-3 victory. The decision was not enough to overcome the four-point deficit as the Braves won, 31-30. Click below for an exclusive video with SVHS Head Coach Eddie Clark. The Braves travel to Natrona County and Riverton this week for more conference duals. Green River @ Star Valley - Braves won 31-30 103: Mitch Heap defeated Justin Verner by decision (12-6) 112: Mario Luna defeated Carbon Kennington by pinfall 119: T.J. Guild defeated Luis Flores by decision (5-3) 125: Nathan Merritt defeated Senter Timmons by major decision (8-0) 130: Mark Harris defeated Hayden Heap by decision (7-3) 135: Jacob Flores defeated Mark Van Slyke by decision (8-3) 140: Brady Turnbull defeated Brandon Aullman by pinfall 145: Kolby Kester defeated Darin Taylor by decision (11-8) 152: Scott Verner defeated Dalton Dance by decision (9-6) 160: Brandon Anglesey defeated Zane Bodin by pinfall 171: Dawson Loveland defeated Clay Allen by pinfall 189: Thommy Thoman defeated Nick Edwards by pinfall 215: Casey Wolfley defeated Jorge Alatorre by decision (3-1) OT 285: Adam Walton won by forfeit

Independent Obituaries: January 28, 2010

newsrelease — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:02:27 +0000

The following are obituaries that appeared in the January 28, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Gerald Searight Putnam was born to Euvern Frank Putnam and Ruth Alice Searight on Oct. 4, 1925 at home in Auburn. He was the fifth child of 12 brothers and sisters. He spent his growing up years in Auburn with his family in their home one block north of the Auburn Post Office. He learned to fish when very young and spent a lot of hours fishing Stump Creek. Gerald attended school first-eighth grades in the Auburn Grade School and then attended Star Valley High School in Afton. In high school he played football and was on the high school boxing team. When he turned 18, he was drafted into the Navy for service in World War II. He trained as an airman and a gunner in a P-47 flight crew. He received his discharge papers in June 1946. He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1947. While there he met Charleen Luthi. They were marred Feb. 24, 1948 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. To this union, 10 children were born. Gerald worked at the Swiss Cheese Factory in Salmon, Idaho; Leonard Robinson Ranch in Freedom; the Swiss Cheese Factory in Thayne; and at Call Air in Afton as a machinist. Then he moved the family to Etna to manage Paul Huber's Angus ranch. He retired in June 1988 and moved back to Auburn. Gerald and Charleen went elk hunting up Greys River together almost every year. They loved to fish and enjoyed the outdoors together and with family. Gerald loved to sing and passed this love of music onto his posterity. Gerald served as cub master, stake missionary, counselor in the Young Men's presidency, home teacher, and teach in High Priest group for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gerald passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 20, 2010. He preceded in death by his parents, Euvern and Ruth Putnam; two brothers, Nord and Euvern, Jr.; one sister, Nora Campbell; one grandson, Michael Bernstein; and one great-granddaughter, Jada Burton. Gerald is survived by his wife of 61 years, Charleen Putnam; his 10 children, Carlene Parker, Debra Merritt, Carola Hyde, Lanis Fluckiger, Ellen Hurd, Paul Putnam, Curt Putnam, Keri Bernstein, Dan Putnam, and Sue Rosenbaum; 50 grandchildren, and 69 great-grandchildren. His brothers and sisters, Erlon Putnam, Elain Slater, Joan Negus, Corine Nelson, Roselyn Allred, Sylvia Pead, and Ruth Swenson. Teressa Ellen Olson Stahle, loving wife and mother, passed away on Jan. 19, 2010 while in the service of her family. Teressa was born to Melvin and Wilda Olson in Afton on Oct. 19, 1957. She was the youngest of seven children. Teressa graduated high school from Star Valley High School. Later, she attended Brigham Young University where she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. During her time at BYU, she met her husband, Roger Stahle, and they were sealed together in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They celebrated 31 wonderful years together last December. After graduating from BYU, she began teaching elementary school. She spent over 25 years devoted to helping children enjoy learning and to succeed every step of the way. More than teaching, she loved spending time with her family; husband Roger, her four daughters Mindy; Candace (Palfreeman); Ginny; Madison; and son-in-law Scott Palfreeman. She never missed out on an opportunity to cheer on and support those she loved most by going to various sport events and recitals. Her last days were spent with her latest additions to the family: her three beautiful grandchildren (Harley Stahle, and Chase and Carter Palfreeman). After receiving a heart transplant almost eight years ago she continued giving back by being a donor herself. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brothers Larry Olson (Shirley); Laron Olson (Darleen); Mel Olson (Sue); Donnie Olson (Cindy); Lynn Olson (Carol); and sister Deniese Ord (Craig). She will be loved and missed. Funeral services were held in Spanish Fork, Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Noel N. Allred passed away Jan. 10, 2010 of complications following a stroke. He was 86 years old. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 in Afton. Noel was born October 11, 1923 in Afton. He was the eldest child born to Seymour Legrand Allred and Alice May Nield. Noel attended school in Afton and graduated from Star Valley High School. He attended the University of Wyoming until he was called to serve in the United States Navy where he received the rank of Seaman 1st Class. Most of his time in the Navy was spent in Hawaii. He was honorably discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II. He then attended Utah State University majoring in woodworking and building construction. Noel married Beatrice McGavin on June 22, 1950 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Three children were born to this union. Noel had many talents and abilities. He was a skilled carpenter and business man. He owned and operated a laundromat and dry cleaning business and later started Allred Appliance. He also operated the Allred family farm west of Afton. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served for many years as bishop. Noel was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Eugene, his wife Beatrice and a great-granddaughter, Brynn LaRue Kuhlman. He is survived by his son Jim (Lynne) Allred, Afton; daughter Nola (Lyndon) Parsons, Afton; son Robert (Debbie) Allred, Grover; sister Vernell Johnson, Smoot; 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Venna Kennington Barrus passed away on Jan. 22, 2010 at the age of 85 in Logan, Utah. Venna was born on Feb. 27, 1924 to Orson and Cora Johnson and was the oldest of their six children: L.A., Shurma, Raeona, Ella Ann & Marie. She was raised on the family homestead located on Bittercreek Road in Fairview and spent her entire life within a very short distance of the home she was born in. She lived an exceptional life in what she called her beautiful corner of the world. Venna attended Smoot Elementary during the Great Depression and was a member of the first class to graduate from Star Valley High School after America entered World War II. She was married to Dick Kennington on Sept. 1, 1942 in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple, and they raised their six children: Melanie (Nolan) Taylor of Afton; Jim (Dixie-deceased) Kennington of Collinston, Utah; Irene (Dallas-deceased) Jenkins of Afton; Kevan (Kathy) Kennington of Nibley, Utah, Karen (Steve) Perry of Afton; and Gary (Joyce) Kennington of Grover. Venna’s life was characterized by hard work. She learned to work hard from an early age, and never let up. She spent her entire life working on a farm, raising animals and crops, canning and preserving food and spent countless hours tending to her garden and growing the most beautiful flowers in the valley. She milked more cows than she cared to count during her life, and always had a soft spot for bum lambs. She was also a seamstress and an accomplished knitter and crocheter. She had a special talent for making the most beautiful yarn work and was a perennial blue ribbon winner at the Lincoln County Fair for her handicrafts. When the work was done, she loved to play the piano and sing with her children. She taught them to sing and love music and shuttled them to every church and social event in Star Valley to perform their singing and dancing routines. As her children grew older, she found more work to do at various valley businesses. She worked at the Swiss Creamery, Strebbles Variety Store, as a clerk at Montgomery Wards, and spent 15 years working for Caribou 4 Corners (Maverick), where she loved her work and her co-workers. Above all else though, she was Grandma Venna. She was the consummate grandmother to her 31 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren and eight great great grand-children. Venna loved the Lord, and served faithfully in the Fairview Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 60 years. She set an enduring example of service to the Lord and was always willing to do what was asked of her and taught her family to do the same. After the death of her husband Dick, Venna married Doug Barrus and they spent the remainder of their lives together until he passed away Sept. 1, 2009. Grandpa Doug and his children: Barry (Jean); Kim (Beth); Ryan (Marge); Derena (Bob), were a wonderful and loving addition to Venna’s life. Venna and Doug served an LDS mission together in Chicago, Illinois and spent many years as temple workers at the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Family and friends will gather at the Osmond LDS Church on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 to celebrate her life. A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by funeral services at 12:30 p.m. Internment to follow at the Fairview Cemetery. Cathern (Kitty) Graham Merritt was born Feb. 7, 1949, to Delmor Bruce Graham and LaVonna Kaye Cranney Graham in Afton. She was given the name “Kitty” by her great-grandfather Bruce who called her his “little Katrina” which was shortened to “Kitty.” Her family always called her “Sis” or “Aunt Sissy.” Her early life was spent in Star Valley at the Cranney ranch in Auburn and in Logan and Salt Lake City, Utah where her dad went to college. She grew up on the family ranch in Auburn where she helped in the hay fields and to prepare meals for the workers. She went to school in Afton and graduated from Star Valley High school in 1967. She met the love of her life, Stanley C. Merritt, in the first grade. He attended her sixth birthday party and informed her mother that when he grew up he was going to marry Kitty, and he did. Shortly after high school she went to Utah to attend nursing school, which she did not like, then she went to Seattle with her friend Lueann Schwab and worked at a motel cleaning rooms until she was laid off. At that time she returned to Afton and helped her dad at the laundry until Stanley returned from Vietnam in August 1970. They were married on Sept. 16, 1970. After a short honeymoon in Montana, she and Stanley moved to Camp Pendleton Calif., where they started their life together. While Stan served in the Navy, they lived in many places including Salem Ore., Seattle, Honolulu, Oakland, Calif., and Exmouth, Australia. She and Stan enjoyed going crafts of all kinds, camping, fishing, and anything to do with water. She was always outgoing and with her friendly personality she made lifelong friends everywhere she went. In Hawaii Stan’s shipmates would look to her for advice and many of them called her Mother. For many years her sister, Treia, came to live with her and she looked upon her as her daughter, maybe because of the age difference of 18 years. While in Seattle, they bought their first house together and planned to retire there until Stan received orders to Australia. She was very excided to be able to see another county. She loved Australia and often said she could live there for the rest of her life. After a short stay in Oakland California, Stan retired from the Navy and they returned to Star Valley to be close to family. She worked for Wyoming Woolens until the business closed. During this time, she also, ran the RKade in Afton with her husband. She would spend many hours talking to many young adults giving them advice on dealing with life and guidance for future endeavors in their life. All her life she worked hard and was willing to help anyone in need. Kitty enjoyed ceramics, stained glass, and needlework of every kind. Her gifts of cooking, sewing, knitting or crocheting were shared with many and each gift treasured. Her faith in the church was very strong and she loved reading and learning about church history. She was a member of the daughters of the Utah pioneers. Kitty will be missed by her family, friends and the love of her life Stanley. Interment took place at Auburn Cemetery.

Friday Night Sports Update

dahlerickson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:17:06 +0000

The Lady Braves moved to 2-1 in conference play with a 51-36 victory over Evanston while the Braves wrestlers made a statement with a 60-7 drubbing of Natrona in Casper. The grapplers rolled out to a 49-0 clubbing of the Mustangs before finishing out the dual 60-7. Check back with the website as detailed results are made available. The Braves will be back on the mat as they look to move to 3-0 in conference action in Riverton on Saturday. The Lady Braves won their seventh game of the season, passing last year's win total and moving to 2-1 in the 4A West in the process in a 51-36 victory over the visiting Evanston Lady Red Devils. Emily Porter led the way with 12 points while Randi Robinson filled up the stat sheet with nine points, ten rebounds, five steals and three assists. Shae Wilkes added seven points and seven rebounds. Evanston was just 9 of 26 from the free throw line while Star Valley was 12 of 17. The Evanston faithful did have something to go home happy about as the Devils started the boy's game on a 9-0 run and led by 11 points at the end of the first period. Star Valley trailed by as many as 15 points but battled back to a score of 45-42 in the fourth quarter. The Devils responded with very good free throw shooting and a display of ball movement to burn the clock as they eventually went on to win, 62-51. Evanston's Beau Ehlers scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half as he torched the Braves in transition and had pinpoint passes directed his way by Jayce Short. Brandon Taylor matched Ehlers' 17 points, also scoring 15 in the second half while David Cranford finished with 15 for Star Valley.

Wrestlers complete impressive conference week

dahlerickson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:03:33 +0000

After Saturday's action, the Star Valley Braves wrestlers have left a trail of defeated opponents behind them, knocking off Green River, Natrona County and Riverton in a four day span. The Braves steamrolled Riverton on Saturday afternoon, 72-3, just hours after dominating Natrona, 65-7 the night before. This all came on the heels of an exciting 31-30 home dual victory over Green River on Wednesday.

Funeral Services for Matthew Lancaster

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:54:37 +0000

Funeral services for Matthew Lancaster, son of Dennis and Leslie Lancaster, will be Monday, Feb. 1, at 12 noon in the Smoot LDS Chapel. Family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to 11:45 at the church prior to the service.

Governor Fruedenthal talks about restoring federal-local balance of power

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:08:42 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Freudenthal encouraged Wyoming Legislators to spearhead efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution and restore the Founding Fathers’ intended balance of power between federal and local governments Thursday. Click below for an audio clip of the Governor as he addresses this issue.

Canadian posts fastest time as mushers race towards Alpine

dahlerickson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:32:24 +0000

Blayne "Bud" Streeper, age 27, from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, posted the fastest time on Day Two of the 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) with a time of 2:54:22. Streeper, winner of the 2004 IPSSSDR, ran 12 dogs and averaged 14.8 MPH on the windy trail outside Lander. Lina Gladh, also from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, placed second for Day Two with a time of 2:59:17; in third, Aaron Peck from Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada, posted a time of 3:01:15. On Monday, February 1, teams will race a 35-mile course starting the stage from the upper Green parking lot in Cora at 10 a.m. for Day Three of the IPSSSDR. Additional upcoming stages include Big Piney/Marbleton, Alpine, Kemmerer/Diamondville, Evanston, Lyman/Mountain View, and finally Park City, Utah, for the final stage and awards ceremony on Saturday, February 6. The Alpine segment of the stage stop race includes a meet the musthers dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, in the Alpine Fire Hall. The teams will leave Alpine at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, and make a 54-mile round trip race to the Box Y and back along the Greys River. The public is invited to the starting line on the Greys River Road in Alpine.

Community Band begins rehearsals on Wednesday

dahlerickson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:15:13 +0000

For former members of the Star Valley High School band and other players, it it time once again to brush off the dust that may have accumulated on one’s instrument case and join the band. Star Valley High School director, Kurt Sand, announced that rehearsals are now underway every Wednesday in February from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. “This is the event where we open the high school band room and our hearts, to anyone that has even the slightest desire to pick up that ol’ instrument and play in the band again,” Sand said. “We promise you will be amazed at how fun it is to be in the band again. Everyone is welcome regardless of ability or time away from playing.” Interested musicians should meet at the SVHS band room. For more information, contact Sand at 885-SVHS.

$4.4 million dollar grant for Workforce Development in Wyoming

dandockstader — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:38:12 +0000

Eight local and statewide projects to train workers in emerging industries in Wyoming will be funded under a grant received by the Wyoming Workforce Development Council. U.S. Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis, announced that a $4.4 million State Energy Sector Partnership Grant to Wyoming is designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, said the training will be delivered throughout the state by community colleges and other training entities. Casper College will receive $578,200, Central Wyoming College $302,060, Eastern Wyoming College $333,700, Fremont County Board Cooperative Education Services $1.4 million, Laramie County Community College $600,000, McMurry Training Center $361,930, Northern Wyoming Community College District $439,335 and Wyoming Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee $225,186. An additional $100,000 will be set aside for training in carbon storage programs. For additional information on the State Energy Sector Partnership Grant to Wyoming see the Wyoming Workforce Development Council website at www.wyowdc.org.

Afton food bank providing produce

newsrelease — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:40:50 +0000

The Afton Food Bank is trying a new program, giving vouchers good for up to $10 of fresh fruit, dairy products, meat and/or toiletry items at local grocery stores. The vouchers are redeemable at all three Star Valley grocery locations. Heather Warren, town treasurer, said Afton is using money that was donated to the food bank for the vouchers. According to Warren, the food bank is “very well stocked” with canned goods and non-perishable items. She acknowledged the generosity of local residents with current status of the food bank. For more information on the Afton Food Bank, call 885-8696.

Mushers to arrive in Alpine tonight

dandockstader — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:46:41 +0000

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race arrives in Alpine tonight for a “Meet the Mushers” banquet at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Fire Hall. Tomorrow, Wednesday, teams race from Alpine to the Box Y and back, a 54-mile round trip journey along the Greys River. Starting time is 9 a.m. on the Greys River Road at the edge of Alpine. The public is welcome to attend. In the meantime, Blayne "Bud" Streeper, age 27, from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, posted the fastest time on Day Three, Feb. 1, of the 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR). The Canadian musher posted a time of 3:09:58 on the trail at Cora, near Pinedale. Average speed for Streeper and his team of 10 dogs was 13.6 MPH. Lina Gladh, also from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, placed second again for Day Three with a time of 3:15:48; Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., came in third with a time of 3:17:41. In overall times, Streeper leads the Stage Stop Race with a time of 6:04:20; Gladh is second with 6:15:05. Gans is third with 6:26:22. On Tuesday, February 2, teams will race a 64-mile course in the Big Piney/ Marbleton Stage beginning at 9 a.m. Upcoming stages include the stop in Alpine, Tuesday night and Wednesday, then on to Kemmerer/Diamondville, Evanston, Lyman/Mountain View, and finally Park City, Utah, for the final stage and awards ceremony on Saturday, February 6.

Another earthquake felt in Yellowstone Tuesday.

newsrelease — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:39:16 +0000

An earthquake was felt Feb. 2 in Yellowstone National Park, according to the Wyoming State Geological Survey, (WGS). The 2.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at 7:44 p.m. approximately 10 miles southeast of West Yellowstone, Mont., and 20 miles east-northeast of Island Park, Idaho. It was located 3.4 miles below the surface. According to the WSG, the Tuesday quake was a continuation of the earthquake swarm that started Jan. 17. No injuries or damage were reported. The event brought the total number of recent earthquakes to 12, and seismic activity was ongoing as of 7 a.m. Feb. 3. The University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) reports that there have been more than 1,800 earthquakes in this latest swarm, ranging from magnitude 0.5 to 3.8. There have been multiple personal reports of ground shaking from observations inside the park and in surrounding areas for some of the larger events. UUSS reports that the swarm is likely the result of slip on pre-existing faults rather than underground movement of magma.

IPSSSDR mushers running the Greys today

dandockstader — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:53:13 +0000

Teams of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race are making the 54-mile run along the Greys River today. The course includes a starting point in Alpine, with a turnaround at the Box Y Ranch. On Tuesday near Pinedale, Blayne "Bud" Streeper, age 27, from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, posted the fastest time on Day Four of the 2010 IPSSSDR with a time of 3:57:39. Averaging 13.1 MPH with 12 dogs, this is the third consecutive day that Streeper has had the fastest time. Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., placed second with a time of 4:13:57. Lina Gladh, from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, came in third with a time of 4:14:15. In overall times, Streeper leads with 10:01:59. Gladh is in second place with 10:29:20. Gans is in third place with 10:40:19. Race times for the Alpine segment will be posted on starvalleyindependent.com later today. The IPSSSDR was treated to a Meat the Mushers banquet Tuesday night at the Alpine Fire Hall.

Troopers continue drug interdiction efforts

newsrelease — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:01:01 +0000

Cheyenne – One of the primary functions of the Wyoming Highway Patrol is to perform criminal interdiction on Wyoming highways focusing on the transport of illegal drugs. Troopers continue those efforts and have made two more sizeable seizures in the last week on Wyoming’s roadways. Two unrelated traffic stops on Interstate 80 have resulted in criminal interdiction seizures of an additional 23 pounds. Both traffic stops were on Interstate 80 and both occurred on January 29. The first stop was made Friday morning just before 9:00 a.m. in Carbon County 3 miles west of Elk Mountain on an eastbound passenger vehicle. Two individuals from the State of California were arrested in that traffic stop which resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 pounds of high grade marijuana. The second stop was in the afternoon just before 6:00 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 80 approximately 13 miles east of Rawlins. The vehicle was a Penske rental moving van loaded with household goods. Two individuals were arrested during this traffic stop as well. Both are from the State of Alabama. During this traffic stop a Wyoming Highway Patrol drug detection K-9 alerted at the rear of the rental van. Troopers spent nearly an hour removing the household belongings from the cargo box. Their efforts paid off and they found just over 3 pounds of high grade marijuana loaded in the front of the cargo box. During the unloading process they also discovered supplies used for a marijuana growing operation. The supplies included grow lights, fans and tubing used to water the maturing plants.

Dress Consignment project aims to get the most out of costly apparel

dahlerickson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:19:07 +0000

From prom dresses for teenagers and dance dresses for young adults to wedding gowns and all their many accessories, the cost of looking one’s best on one particular occasion can be steep. It’s for this reason that Carmelita Guild is trying to take those once-worn and similar items and try and put them back into circulation. “It’s called a formal wear consignment because people will bring their wedding dresses and formal and semi-formal dresses on Monday,” she said. “Tuesday thorough Friday, people will come in to buy dresses. Plus, there will be shoes and wedding accessories such as veils and petticoats.” The consignment is hoped to be an annual or semi-annual event and is slated to begin at the beginning of next week with readers bringing their items to 65 Nield Ave., on Monday, February 8. The location is next to Splash Day Spa in Afton. Guild is spearheading the event as just one of many Star Valley mothers who have expensive dresses in their closets with no real future. “I have a daughter that has three prom dresses that she wore for maybe two hours and the kids never wear them again,” she said. “It would be nice to get some money back and also let other people wear them. It’s hard to sell a dress individually; you don’t want to go to ten different houses to see ten different dresses. This way, all of them can be in one location." Prom for SVHS is scheduled for March 20 of this year. For more information, contact Guild or visit the web at www.sellmydress.blogspot.com, or by clicking here.

Braves wrestlers looking towards Ron Thon

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:09:17 +0000

It's been called a Wyoming all-class state tournament. While the Ron Thon Memorial won't be giving out any state championship trophies, it will give the wrestlers from around the state a chance to gauge where they are as the season hits the stretch run. Click below for a video interview with SVHS Head Coach Eddie Clark who speaks about the Braves' sweep of Green River, Natrona and Riverton last week, and why he thinks the Ron Thon may not be a great indicator for state championship glory.

Lady Braves hoping to make a statement this weekend

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:30:04 +0000

While the win over the Evanston Lady Red Devils last week helped the Lady Braves move past last year's win total, their current status is still far from where they want to end the season. Click below for a video interview of Head Coach Rob Erickson as he discusses the ladies' double-header this weekend at home against a very tough Rock Springs team as well as Green River.

Gans win Alpine leg of IPSSSDR

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:09:24 +0000

Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., placed first with a time of 4:08:42 during Day Five of the 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR). Gans raced 12 dogs averaging 12.5 MPH on the 52-mile course that began in Alpine. Blayne Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia came in second with a time of 4:10:34. Lina Gladh, also from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, came in third with a time of 4:17.20. Streeper maintains the overall lead with 14:12:33. Gladh is in second place with 14:46:40. Gans is third with 14:49:01. Teams are racing at Lake Viva Naughton in southern Lincoln County today, Feb. 4, Click below for a slide show of photos taken by the Independent as the mushers prepared to sprint out of Alpine.

Independent Obituaries: February 4, 2010

newsrelease — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:10:49 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the February 4, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Joe Kasten, 65, passed away on Jan. 27, 2010 at the Star Valley Medical Center in Afton. He was born Sept. 3, 1944 in St. Louis, Mo., to Ray and Dorothy Kasten. Joe was raised in Kansas City, Mo. In 1962 he graduated from Raytown High School. He attended the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Mo., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1966. Joe was enrolled in the ROTC program and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve upon graduation. He was selected as one of the 16 distinguished military students in the 5th Army Area, including Missouri and Illinois. Joe earned a Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1967 from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Joe married Sheilah Sue Siglin on Dec. 29, 1967. The couple met on a blind date over the Thanksgiving weekend in 1964 and had 42 wonderful years of marriage. They had two children. Joe served on active duty in the United States Army from 1968-1970. He was a 1st Lieutenant serving his country in Korea. He began his professional career in the steel industry with Armco Steel Corporation from 1970-1984 in Middletown, Ohio and then in Houston, Texas. Joe continued his career with Oregon Steel Mills in Portland, Oregon from 1984-2000. He retired as Vice President of International Sales and Officer of the Corporation in 2000. Joe and his wife Sheilah, moved to Star Valley in 2004. Throughout his life Joe was an active member of his community. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, served on the Board of Directors for Rivergate Federal Credit Union, as a City Councilor in Tigard, Ore., and most recently as a board member of the Star Valley Medical Center Foundation. Throughout his life Joe was an avid reader, enjoyed trapshooting, skiing, woodworking, making stained glass, sailing, spending time with his family and friends, and walking his beloved Granddog Bones. He was a member and deacon of the Presbyterian Church Jackson Hole . Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Jill and his father, Ray. Joe is survived by his wife Sheilah, son Garrett, daughter-in-law Julie of Houston, Texas; daughter Shannon, son-in-law Jamey, grandchildren George, Frances, and Henry of Kiev, Ukraine; and his mother Dorothy, of Kansas City, Mo. There will be a celebration of Joe's life on Sat., Feb. 6, 2010 at 4 p.m at the Afton Civic Center,150 Washington St, US Highway 89. Joe requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Star Valley Medical Center Foundation Endowment Fund. Checks may be mailed to the Star Valley Medical Center Foundation Endowment Fund at P.O. Box 579, Afton, WY 83110. Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 at noon in the Smoot LDS Church of Matthew Lancaster, the son of Dennis and Leslie Lancaster.

Gladh wins Kemmerer leg of IPSSSDR

dahlerickson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:02:30 +0000

Lina Gladh from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, placed first with a time of 4:35:11 during Day Six of the 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) at Kemmerer. Gladh raced 12 dogs averaging 11.6 MPH on the 53-mile course. Aaron Peck from Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada, was second with a time of 4:39:00. Blayne Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, came in third with a time of 4:51:01. Streeper maintains the overall lead with 19:03:34. Gladh is in second place with 19:21:51. Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., is third with 19:53:19. On Friday, February 5, at 10 a.m. teams will depart for the 45-mile Bridger Valley Day Seven Stage located 30 miles south of Evanston on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, Hwy 150. The race concludes in Park City, Utah, for the final stage and awards ceremony on Saturday, February 6. The IPSSDR traveled through Alpine on Feb. 2 and 3. The community hosted the mushers for a banquet at the Alpine Fire Hall Tuesday night, followed by a 54-mile race along the Greys River to the Box-Y and back on Wednesday.

Braves upset Rock Springs 85-73

dahlerickson — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:02:33 +0000

Rock Springs came in at 12-4 on the season and the second highest scoring team in class 4A. While the Tigers hit their scoring average, the Braves were able to ride a fourth quarter run to a victory. Brandon Taylor scored a season and team-high 32 points as the Braves outran the Tigers on Friday night. Tied at 56 to begin the fourth quarter, Star Valley went on a 9-0 run to begin the final stanza due in part to a personal foul on Rock Springs which was quickly followed by a technical foul on another player. Taylor hit all four free throws as a result. The Tigers had no answer for Taylor who made 11 field goals on the evening. Team mate, David Cranford, had 19 as the two players scored inside nearly at will. Josh Hunsaker added ten of his own to go along with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Senior Elio Merino also scored ten on senior night. Zach Rosette led the way for the Tigers with 20 points, while Daveon Gibson added 16 before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Lorenzo Webb also scored 16 in the effort. The win moved the Braves to (7-9) on the season, but more importantly it moved them back to .500 within the 4A West at (2-2). The Braves host Green River on Saturday afternoon in their final regular season home game. The Wolves lost to Evanston on Friday evening, 64-35. The win helped even out a sour feeling as the Lady Braves were outscored 14-5 in the fourth quarter as the Lady Tigers rolled to (4-0) in the conference with a 45-32 win. Courtney Patterson was unstoppable at times, finishing with a game-high 20 points. As much as Patterson was a force, it was the outside shooting late in the game by Theresa Allgaier that sealed the victory. Allgaier connected on a trio of three-point baskets in the last minute of the third and into the fourth quarters. She finished with 11 points. Jordan Giles added nine in the win. The Lady Braves were led by junior Lachelle Winters who scored a season-high 10 points. Randi Robinson added nine points on the evening which saw the Lady Braves trailing by just three points going into the final quarter. The ladies host Green River early Saturday afternoon. The Lady Wolves lost to Evanston on Friday evening, 56-39. Evanston / Green River scores provided by wyopreps.com

Star Valley sweeps Green River

dahlerickson — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:05:27 +0000

The Star Valley basketball squads both won against visiting Green River. The win gave the Lady Braves a weekend split while the Braves swept their Sweetwater County opponents over the weekend. The Lady Braves led by ten at halftime and then ran away with the game in the second half en route to a 51-31 victory. The ladies had balanced scoring from the entire team as Randi Robinson led the way with 12 points. Kelsea Gardner scored nine while Lachelle Winters and Dani Scherbel scored eight points apiece. Dani Hardi and Janelle Strampe finished with 13 and eight points respectively, most of which was in the second half. As for the Braves, they had a bit of a slugfest with Green River in the first half as both offenses sputtered due to the physical play, 23-16. However, Star Valley began to rachet up the defensive intensity and rolled off 42 second half points for a 65-38 victory. 12 different players scored for the Braves, led by David Cranford and Brandon Taylor with ten points apiece. Josh Hunsaker scored nine and blocked five more shots. Hunsaker has blocked 16 shots in his last three games. Jerome Krysl led the way for Green River with a game-high 15 points while Colter Hamel had 13 in the loss. Riley Hix struggled with foul trouble throughout the entire contest, finishing with six points. The Lady Braves host Riverton and Natrona next weekend while the Braves travel to face the Wolverines and the Mustangs.

Kid Care CHIP Client Information exposed online

newsrelease — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:35:30 +0000

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) announced today an error has lead to potential online exposure of personal information provided by clients and applicants of the Wyoming Kid Care CHIP program. WDH Information Technology was notified Thursday that personal information of Kid Care clients was improperly appearing in Google search results. Thirty seconds upon receiving the call, Information Technology shut down the web site involved. The files that were being searched by the search engine have also been removed from the web site. “I want to make it crystal clear that NO health record information was compromised by this error,” said Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer. “However, personal information such as address information and children’s social security numbers provided by clients and applicants of the Wyoming Kid Care CHIP program may have been exposed.” Lee Clabots, Wyoming Department of Health deputy director for administration, said “We are still investigating exactly what happened and do not yet have all the answers. However, we do know the problem was not caused by intentional wrongdoing.” WDH provided automated recorded calls to about 5,000 affected families with an initial notice about the situation. Each family will also be receiving detailed letters in the coming days. The department is contracting with Debix, an identity protection service, to offer free help to affected families. “This company’s services will offer additional security to families to help ensure the children’s information is not stolen or improperly used,” Clabots said. Affected families are asked to contact Debix at 877-676-0371.

Streeper wins IPSSSDR

newsrelease — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:40:02 +0000

Blayne "Bud" Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, won the 8-day International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) with an overall time of 22:35:35. Streeper, a familiar name in mushing, won 10 races in 2009, including the Canadian Open, Exxon Open, Willow Open, Anchorage, and the Fur Rondy World Championship. He also won first place in his first IPSSSDR in 2004. Lina Gladh, also from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, was second overall with a time of 22:59:03. Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., was third with 23:47:49. Winning mushers will be honored and prizes awarded in a private event in Park City, Utah. Mushers raced through the Greys River area of Alpine as part of one of the stages last week. The public can view photos on the IPSSSDR website photo gallery at www.wyomingstagestop.org. With its unique dog-friendly "stage stop" racing format, the IPSSSDR stops in a different community each night, allowing the host towns to show their hospitality. Festivities for mushers and spectators alike include pancake feeds, dog parades, banquets, carnivals, and snowshoe softball. The Pedigree(R) brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, the largest dog sled race in the lower 48 states, was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For a complete schedule, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org, contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com, or telephone at (307) 734-1163.

Governor urges fiscal responsibility in State of the State address

newsrelease — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:30:16 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal credited hard work and tough decision making for keeping the state in financial health and addressed several legislative proposals in his annual State of the State address Monday morning in front of the Wyoming legislature. Click below for audio from the Governor.

Avalanche claims life in Greys River

sarahhale — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:24:53 +0000

An avalanche in the Squaw Creek area of Greys River claimed the life of a snowmobiler on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Bob Turney, 50, of Dillon, Mont., was caught and killed in the snow slide. According to reports of the incident, Turney's body was recovered by three friends who were snowmobiling in the area along with him. The avalanche danger in the Greys River area was listed as being considerable on Feb. 6 by the Bridger-Teton National Forest Backcountry Avalanche Hazard and Weather Forecast. Turney and his companions were equipped with avalanche beacons and snow shovels at the time of the incident.

This Week in Star Valley: 2nd Week of February

dahlerickson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:37:41 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 108 consecutive years! Check out what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25 - years ago: (photo) There were fishermen camped on the ice at Palisades Friday and Saturday . . . Elwin Dana, Thayne, won the big fish category with a 4 lb. 8 oz. catch. Rusty Bonser, Lincoln County planner, has reported the Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Commission approved some minor changes in the Star Valley Ranch plan recently with a unanimous vote. . . . Some changes considered are in the recreational vehicle park plan. About 1,700 spaces were approved in 1983 but current plans to increase the width of the lost may indicate only 1,400 will be built. The park will operate on a club membership basis, with approximately six or seven memberships sold for each space. Some ranch lot owners have also apparently bought memberships so they will have a place to stay while building a home on the purchased lots. Ranch sales rules do not allow camping or recreational vehicle parking on home lots. 50-years ago: New Souped-up Model CallAir Agricultural Airplane Performance Surpasses Expectations. A new model CallAir Agricultural Airplane, powered by a huge 250 h.p. radial engine, was rushed to completion in January after long, hard hours of work through the wee hours of the morning for several days, in time for it to be flown to Palm Springs, Calif., for the 10th Annual California Agricultural Aircraft Association Convection. CallAir's A-6 Model, manufactured in quantity until the shutdown a few months ago, featured a 180 h.p. engine. . . . Performance of the new CallAir at this sea level altitude was "almost unbelievable," Mr. Call said. The rate of climb was approximately 2,000 feet per minute, with a full load. Ted C. Frome, Afton attorney at law and member of the Wyoming State Legislature, was elected president of the Afton Chamber of Commerce at the organization's annual meeting and banquet at the Valleon Hotel Thursday night of last week. Ivan L. Roberts, co-owner of Roberts Market, was elected vice-resident, and C. Hale Wray, manger of the Credit Bureau of Afton, is the new secretary-treasurer. 75-years ago: "Atop O' the Rockies" Winter Carnival, February 9-10. All in Readiness for Big Winter Carnival. Professional Skiers , Alf Engen, Sverre Engen, and Lars Haugen arrived today, others will be here tonight, ready for the big even Sat. and Sun. . . . The local skiers are here to get the big jump in shape and give local amateurs pointers on skiing. A large group of amateurs are working out daily and are making longer jumps than last year. Bear Clinger is jumping over 100 feet at present. The skating committee is working with the utmost speed and efficiency to get the ice in shape for the professional skaters. They have several shifts working all night to put the water on while it will freeze. The recent warm weather is making this work very difficult. The boys are out training their dogs, and many are making fast time. The hurdle contestants are working overtime as it is quite a trick to ride them behind a fast car. We are adding a free for all cross country ski race this year so get your wind in shape and enter this event. 100-years ago: Etna news: We have experienced the usual January thaw, which has cut down the snow considerable, but from all appearances at present there is an additional amount forthcoming, which will drive away the Spring feeling of the past few days. The Edison Moving Picture and Theatrical Co. will be in Afton Opera House Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 7th and 8th. They come from Montpelier, highly recommended. Mr. F. W. Rose, the manager, is well acquainted in Star Valley. Miss Orline Rose is the illustrated singer. Mr. Rose carries a fire proof Motion Picture Machine, and all his films are non-inflammable.

Child dies in accident

sarahhale — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:09:06 +0000

• Five-year-old pronounced dead at medical center. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and medical units responded to a call for service at the North Lincoln County Community Center in Etna on Tuesday evening, Feb. 9, 2010. The call came in at approximately 6:45 p.m. Officers and EMTs arrived on scene to find that a five-year-old boy had been seriously injured. “The boy was transported to Star Valley Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson. “The Lincoln County Coroner determined that the boy died from head injuries. It was determined through an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and in talking to witnesses at the scene that the death was a result of accidental injuries.”

Braves cage Tigers 59-12 in senior night romp

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:31:52 +0000

The Star Valley senior wrestlers closed out their careers with a bang on Wednesday evening in a one-sided defeat over visiting Rock Springs. On a night where the Tigers fell behind 18-0 early after forfeiting the first three matches of the dual, the overall contest was never in doubt. Mitch Heap at 103, Carbon Kennington at 112 and senior Sterling Jorgenson at 119 stepped onto the mat and claimed six team points apiece. The first match began at 125 pounds where Hayden Heap and Ryan Slaugh had a rematch of last weekend's Ron Thon 125-pound finals. Heap found himself in trouble briefly at one point in the match but pulled away for an 11-4 decision and was working on pinning Slaugh as time expired. Tim Stephens used some aggressiveness to pull away for an identical 11-4 decision over Brandon Richards while Mark Van Slyke earned a 13-4 major decision over Xavier Padilla. Brandon Aullman pinned Laine Gunyan at 140 pounds, followed by Darin Taylor scoring a 9-3 decision over Zach Gunyan moving the team score to 37-0. University of Wyoming signee, Andy McCulley, earned his team's first points at 152 pounds as he pinned Dalton Dance in the first period. At 160, Brandon Anglesey got the Braves back on track with an impressive victory over Chase Medina where he controlled the match until pinning him in the third period. Dawson Loveland wore down Braden Henderson, 9-0, for a major decision at 171 pounds, followed by Nick Edwards who kept the momentum rolling as he pinned Tyler Gunderman at 189. At 215, Rock Springs' Clayton Holler had a 5-1 lead over Star Valley's Casey Wolfley until Wolfley capitalized on a mistake and pinned Holler much to the delight of the Star Valley crowd. At 285, Zac Haney of Rock Springs and Adam Walton traded throws out of bounds before Walton took the lead on a takedown. However, after getting a throw and getting on top, Haney pinned Walton to close out the dual. The Braves now look to complete the 4A West dual sweep as they travel to Evanston on Thursday evening. Be sure to click below for a post-dual interview with Head Coach Eddie Clark. The Braves have this weekend off before traveling to Casper for the 4A West Regional Tournament next weekend. The Oil City will host all the 4A teams in consecutive weeks as Kelly Walsh is hosting the 4A East Regionals with the state tournament taking place at the Casper Events Center on February 25-26. Varsity Results: Star Valley 59 Rock Springs 12 (*senior) 103: Mitch Heap(SV) won by forfeit 112: Carbon Kennington(SV) won by forfeit 119: Sterling Jorgenson*(SV) won by forfeit 125: Hayden Heap*(SV) won by decision over Ryan Slaugh(RS) 11-4 130: Tim Stephens(SV) won by decision over Brandon Richards(RS) 11-4 135: Mark Van Slyke*(SV) won by major decision over Xavier Padilla 13-4 140: Brandon Aullman(SV) won by pinfall over Laine Gunyan(RS) 145: Darin Taylor*(SV) won by decision over Zach Gunyan(RS) 9-3 152: Andy McCulley(RS) won by pinfall over Dalton Dance*(SV) 160: Brandon Anglesey(SV) won by pinfall over Chase Medina(RS) 171: Dawson Loveland(SV) won by major decision over Braden Henderson(RS) 9-0 189: Nick Edwards*(SV) won by pinfall over Tyler Gunderman(RS) 215: Casey Wolfley*(SV) won by pinfall over Clayton Holler(RS) 285: Zac Haney(RS) won by pinfall over Adam Walton*(SV) Junior Varsity Results: Star Valley 50 Rock Springs 6 125: Nathan Merritt(SV) won by pinfall over Cody Frericks(RS) 145: Mason Wadsworth(SV) won by pinfall over Mark Cordova(RS) 152: Alex Cooper(SV) won by technical fall over James Sedae(RS) 19-2 160: Jordan Semadani(SV) won by pinfall over Josh Henderson(RS) 189: Kole Wines(SV) won by pinfall over Muhammad Ali(RS) 125: Cody Frericks(RS) won by pinfall over Stetson White(SV) 145: Jake Taylor(SV) won by decision over Mark Cordova(RS) 11-7 152: Chris Erickson(SV) won by pinfall over Josh Henderson(RS) 160: Conner Hoopes(SV) won by pinfall over James Sedae(RS) 189: Matt Booth(SV) won by pinfall over Muhammad Ali(RS)

Star Valley Ranch adds new well

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:52:31 +0000

For the Town of Star Valley Ranch, adding anything to their infrastructure is an opportunity to improve their self-sufficiency. This week the Town added a well that increases their ability to provide drinking water to their citizens from 50 percent to 75 percent. Click below for an interview with Mayor Boyd Siddoway who discusses the process and how local contractors were used.

Senator Barrasso will be in Thayne on Tuesday

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:39:08 +0000

Senator John Barrasso will be speaking on Tuesday, February 16, at noon at the Thayne Senior Citizen Center. The Rotary Club is sponsoring Senator Barrasso and has invited Chamber members to join them. Cost for lunch is $7.00 and the Rotary has requested an RSVP by Monday afternoon. For more information or to make a reservation, call 885-2759.

Health Care amendment bill voted down

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:43:33 +0000

Cheyenne, WY – Yesterday, Wyoming House Democrats, voting together, defeated a proposed amendment to the Wyoming state constitution. The measure was a national initiative brought through the tea party movement and designed to reject nationwide health care solutions. The proposal failed with a vote of 38 in favor, 19 opposed, and 3 excused. A 2/3 majority or 40 votes are required to introduce a bill during the budget session. Minority Floor Leader Patrick Goggles of Ethete said, “This is a premature proposal. We haven’t seen any national health plan and this isn’t the right time to take the drastic step of amending our constitution. I don’t think many have looked at the far reaching consequences this could have on Wyoming’s health care system.” “Wyoming’s health care would be seriously jeopardized by such a constitutional amendment. Wyoming currently receives more than $500 million in annual Medicaid matching funds and other programs such as mental health services, foster care, food stamps, and Head Start would be at risk. At a time with seriously strained budgets we should not further hamper the delivery of care,” said Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie. AARP Wyoming Director Tim Summers argued that this move would remove consumer protections, increase uncompensated care, and harm existing programs. The proposal was strongly opposed by the Wyoming Hospital Association, Wyoming AFL-CIO, AARP Wyoming, and the Wyoming Health Care Association. These groups assert that this resolution was designed to create litigation and that health care decisions do not belong with the courts, but with the individual. The legislation was sponsored by Reps. Lubnau, Buchanan, Quarberg, and Simpson and Sen. Bebout.

This Week in Star Valley

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:29:48 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been publishing for 109 consecutive years. Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper this week 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Friday, February 8, was a day in which school officials had to make a decision as to whether to send school students home when a storm battered the Valley with high winds and several inches of snow in some parts of the Valley. That day only one bus was late in getting to school, getting stuck along the route and causing the delay. . . . However, as the day wore on and the reports from the weatherman were deteriorating, the school officials decided to dismiss school one and a half hours early to allow busses to make the runs in daylight and not expose students to excessive danger due to drifting snow. The U.S. Postal Service board of Governors announced new rate changes will take effect . . . It has been more than three years since first-class rates were last raised . . . Highlights of the new rate package include: 22-cents first class postage rate; an 18-cents rate for regular presorted first-class mail; 17-cents for carrier route presorted first--class mail; 14-cents for post and postal cards. Ad: At Salt River Oil & Motor, 8.8% APR financing on 1984 and 1985 Dodge Omnis and Chargers. $700 down and $145.31 per month for 60 months will buy a 1984 Dodge Omni 4-dr. hatchback. 50-years ago: (photo) Snowshoe Hollow ski area east of Afton is attracting many skiers who have found skiing very good the past few weeks. Two rope tows and a warming cabin are operated by Ballard Gardner Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and Saturdays all day. The TV booster east of Afton has now been in operation about four months, according to Elmo Newswander, president of the Star Valley TV System. "The KID reception as broadcast by this booster on channel 7 is definitely superior to the reception received on channel 3 direct," said Mr. Newswander. If this is not the case with your TV set, you probably need an adjustment made on your set which you can do yourself or your TV repairman can do in a few minutes. Ad: New Hotpoint Two-speed Pushbutton Washer. Just touch a button to get the proper speed for the fabric you want to wash! $369.00. ($120.00 trade-in on your old washer, regardless of make or condition.) 75-years ago: A Scouters Training Course will be held at the Afton South Ward chapel . . . if the weather is favorable, busses will be available to transport the group to Forest Dell and then skis will be used to go on to the Scout Camp. Bring your skis and wear clothing suitable for the trip. Basket Ball Games Will Be Interesting–Some very close games have been played recently between valley M. Men teams. In the Upper Valley it seems that Fairview has one of the tournament places cinched. The other Upper Valley place will depend on games played this week. South, Auburn, and Grover still have a chance. . . . Freedom and Thayne seem to be taking the lead in the Lower Valley. Wedding Bells–The many friends of Glenn West of Etna will be pleased to hear of his marriage to Miss Theresa Wolfley, also of Etna, which took place in Montpelier on January 28th. . . . The bride is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Wolfley, who is too well known to need introducing. The young couple will make their home in Etna where Mr. West is employed. 100-years ago: Auburn news: Basketball is all the go in Auburn; it is nip and tuck between the married and single ladies. Thayne news: Mr. and Mrs. G.P. Roberts gave their wedding dance last Friday and everybody present had a good time; they were married late last fall at Paris, Idaho. Frank Roberts has returned home, again, he has been working at Blackfoot City, in the Sugar Factory. Dr. West was called down to the home of Marion Heap, last Saturday evening, to attend their baby who was suffering with the congestion of the lungs. Fairview news: The Fairview Dramatic Co. under the management of Aldo Barrus, presented at Fairview, Feb. 5, the Drama entitled "Brother against Brother" to a large and appreciative audience who were held spell-bound from the start. Ezra Child did extremely well on the lead, in Harry the out-cast and abused brother who had the sympathy of all; many eyes were filled with tears, and many throats with lumps which refused to go down.

Wolf numbers down in Yellowstone

newsrelease — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:09:20 +0000

Wolf numbers in Yellowstone National Park declined for the second consecutive year. The decline was expected and considered natural. The Yellowstone Wolf Project reports the 2009 population at 96-98 wolves, down 23 percent from the 124 wolves recorded in 2008. This is the fourth decline since wolf reintroduction began in 1995. A population high of 174 wolves was recorded in 2003. In 2004 and 2007, 171 wolves were counted. Population declines in 1999, 2005, and 2008 were associated with the disease distemper. So far there is no evidence that distemper was the cause of the 2009 decline. Probable causes for this last decline were wolves killing each other, malnutrition, and mange. The greatest decline occurred on the northern range, the area with the greatest wolf population density. Wolf numbers there dropped 29 percent, from 56 to 40 wolves. The decline in the wolf population in the interior of the park was smaller. Those numbers dipped from 77 to 68 animals, off 11 percent from the previous year. The number of breeding pairs in the park remained the same at 6. This is the lowest number of breeding pairs recorded since 2000 when wolves first met the minimum population requirement for delisting. A "breeding pair" is defined as a male and female with 2 surviving pups. Poor pup survival, due primarily to disease, has kept that number low. Wildlife biologists affirm that the Yellowstone wolf population has recovered, and that wolf population numbers can be expected to fluctuate as they do for other wildlife species. Multi-year research projects are underway to help wildlife biologists better understand the impacts of disease and of animal social dynamics on wolf population changes.

Braves wrestlers qualify 27 for state

dahlerickson — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:17:16 +0000

After one day of regional action, it's Star Valley leading the way at Natrona County High School. The Braves advanced a whopping 17 grapplers into the semi-finals and qualified all 27 wrestlers that made the trip to next weekend's 4A State Championship Tournament. As a team, the Braves are in the lead after one day with 71.5 points. Natrona is second with 57.0 points while Green River is close behind at 53.0 points. Rock Springs is currently in fourth with 46 points while Evanston has 44.5 to hold down fifth place. Riverton is currently in sixth place with 27.0 points. The squad has at least one semi-finalist in every weight class with the exception of 160 pounds. Click here for the 4A West Regional Page from the WHSAA. On the basketball court, the Lady Braves saw senior Dani Scherbel calmly swish two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining to give the team a 49-48 victory over the hometown Evanston Lady Red Devils. It was a bit of irony considering that the gals in gold had missed a head-shaking 13 free-throws during the game but made a pair when it mattered the most. Scherbel scored all eight of her points in the second half. She had to pick up an offensive rebound after two Star Valley misses and was hammered to earn a trip to the charity stripe. Randi Robinson and Emily Porter each scored ten points. Porter fouled out of the contest in the game's final two minutes. Lachelle Winters and Brittney Titensor each chipped in six points. Evanston's Sami Kofoed had previously given her team a one-point lead on a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Kofoed finished with 14 points including four three-point baskets. Both Kelsey Thornock and Lauren Thomas fouled out for the Lady Devils The win moved the Lady Braves to (10-10) on the season, matching their win total from the last two seasons combined. Also at 5-3 and a season sweep over Evanston, the ladies locked up the number three seed. On the boy's side of the card, the Devils completed the sweep of Star Valley with a 58-44 win that was much closer than the final score indicated. Trailing by three points to begin the fourth quarter, the Braves were forced to foul down the stretch and put Evanston at the line where the Devils capitalized on the opportunity by hitting 27 of 40 free throws. The Braves finished 9 of 15 for the game. Jace Short had 18 for the hometown Devils while Kache Olson had 17. Brandon Taylor had 12 for the Braves while David Cranford finished with ten. Both the Braves and Lady Braves travel to Green River next Thursday for their next game before wrapping up their regular season at Rock Springs on Friday, February 26. The Independent apologizes for sparse content on the website over the past two days. Technical issues impacted the posting of stories.

Braves are 4A West Regional Champions

dahlerickson — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:06:06 +0000

Star Valley had three individual champions en route to the program's ninth regional championship in the last ten seasons. Hayden Heap at 125, Dawson Loveland at 171 and Adam Walton at 285 pounds all claimed individual regional championships as the Braves pulled away from home mat Natrona. The Mustangs in a bit of a surprise, finished in front of Green River to place second while Rock Springs, Evanston and Riverton rounded out the field. Luis Flores of Green River edged Star Valley's T.J. Guild for the title at 119, the two have split four matches this season and will be favored at the state tournament as well. While Heap and Loveland weren't surprises, Walton pinned Rock Springs' Zac Haney who had pinned Walton just last week in Afton to take the regional title. In the 4A East, Gillette ran away from Cheyenne Central, scoring nearly 300 team points as they are looking for a record-breaking eighth straight team title next week. It's the second regional championship of the school year for SVHS, following a championship by the Lady Braves Cross-Country team in the fall. Click here for final team scores

Backcountry skier dies in avalanche in Grand Teton National Park

newsrelease — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:20:39 +0000

A backcountry skier triggered an avalanche on the South Teton that swept him to his death on Sunday morning, February 21, 2010 in Grand Teton National Park. Wray Landon, age 30, of Driggs, Idaho skied with two companions to the summit of the South Teton via Garnet Canyon and the Northwest Couloir early Sunday morning; they were descending the southeast face of the peak when Landon set off a two-foot crown avalanche, approximately 300 feet below the 12,514-foot summit. The avalanche carried Landon over 2,000 vertical feet of slope and cliff bands before he came to a rest about a thousand feet above Lake Taminah in upper Avalanche Canyon; the avalanche debris continued about 800 feet further before stopping. Landon and his companions were experienced with backcountry travel in the Teton Range and prepared with the appropriate equipment for a mountain excursion. Landon¹s ski companions, Nathan Brown and Brady Johnston, made a 911 call to report the incident at 11:35 a.m., and Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice from the Teton County Sheriff¹s office shortly after. Park rangers immediately summoned the Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter to assist with the rescue operation. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted at 1:15 p.m. during which rangers were able to determine that Landon was deceased, although not buried by the avalanche debris. In order to reach Landon‹who was lying in an exposed avalanche-prone area‹four rangers were flown via helicopter to a landing zone near Snowdrift Lake (elevation 10,006 feet) from which a recovery operation could be staged. Three Teton County Search and Rescue personnel were flown into the location, and they conducted aerial avalanche control using explosives to stabilize slopes above the route rangers intended to ski in order to reach Landon. After the avalanche control work was completed, four rangers traversed a steep slope below an area of cliff bands and couloirs. While two rangers acted as safety spotters, watching for additional avalanche activity, two rangers prepared Landon for aerial evacuation. Landon was airlifted by a long-line to the valley floor at 4:45 p.m. Landon¹s two companions skied out of the backcountry on their own and the rescue personnel were evacuated by air, completing their operation at 5:30 p.m. The avalanche condition rating for Sunday, February 21 was listed as moderate for mid level and high elevations, below 10,500 feet. The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center does not forecast areas above 10,500 feet, and park rangers remind skiers and climbers that conditions on the higher peaks can be vastly different above the Bridger-Teton forecast zone.

Wyoming receives first hybrid school bus

newsrelease — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:28:35 +0000

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Jim McBride, and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Director, John Corra, celebrated the arrival of the first Diesel Hybrid schools bus to Wyoming today. The bus, which utilizes both a diesel engine and an electric battery driven motor, has the potential to save up to 1100 gallons of gas per year, improve fuel economy by up to 65 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 39 percent. The bus was purchased through a partnership between the Wyoming Departments of Environmental Quality and Education with funds awarded by the U.S. EPA Clean Diesel Grant Program. The bus cost $196,500. The bus will be rotated to different school districts across the state to test its capabilities at various locations. That rotation will allow the collection of data on how the bus performs in different altitudes, traffic conditions and travel distances, as well as provide multiple school districts the opportunity to try out the bus. The first district will be Sublette County School District 1 in Pinedale followed by Sublette 9, Sweetwater 1, and Sweetwater 2. IC Bus of Warrenville, Ill., produces the hybrid buses and said the bus is capable of up to 13 miles per gallon. The hybrid system recovers kinetic energy during regenerative braking, which charges the batteries while the bus is slowing down. The hybrid system is recharged by plugging it into a standard outlet at night or between routes. The hybrid bus comes with the same safety features as other buses such as the “Leave No Student Behind” system and the electric door interlock system that prevents the door from opening while in motion. “We are excited to be able to have such innovative technology in our Wyoming schools,” Dr. McBride said. “For years, we have made sure students are served by new technology in the classroom and now, with this bus, we are reaching even beyond the classroom.” “This technology will be a benefit for our environment as well as provide a cost-savings for school districts that invest in the new buses,” he said.

Independent Obituaries: February 18, 2010

newsrelease — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:55:43 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the February 18, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Taylor James Amos Lysager would have been six this past Valentines Day and was looking forward to celebrating with his friends, but he passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, following an accident while he was playing. Taylor was born Feb. 14, 2004 in Pocatello, Idaho to Jefferson and Jamie Lysager. He was a happy and eager boy who fully participated in life in spite of health challenges. He was a budding golfer and also loved swimming, dinosaurs and computer games, and he was involved in the local T-ball program. He loved pre-school and his teachers and the staff in the Thayne LUCDA, and he was an excited kindergarten student learning to read. Taylor loved his teachers and all who worked with him there. Taylor was generous, made friends easily, and was loved by all. Funeral services were held at the Thayne LDS First Ward Chapel on Friday, Feb. 12. 2010. He was laid to rest in the Thayne Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Jefferson and Jamie Lysager; his sisters, Reese Lysager and Justice Hammer; great-grandfather, Bob Justice; grandparents, Richard and Victoria Amos; and Howard and Emily Lysager; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. We will all remember him and miss him, and we are grateful for his influence in our lives. Graveside services for Karen Parsons Poore will be held in the Logan City Cemetery, located at 10th North 12th East, at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.

Star Valley sweeps Green River

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:33:38 +0000

Strong second half efforts by both the Braves and Lady Braves helped put their counterparts from Green River away. The Lady Braves saw 15-point advantage disappear as the Lady Wolves went on an 11-2 run to begin the third quarter. However, after an adjustment into a matchup zone, the Lady Braves cruised to a 50-32 victory where they outscored Green River 21-6 down the stretch. Shae Wilkes has nearly perfect for the ball game, compiling 18 points, five rebounds and four steals on an evening where she set a career high. Randi Robinson added 12 points while Dani Scherbel finished with 11. As for the Braves, they fell behind early before clawing their way to a five-point lead at the half. The third and fourth quarters belonged to the Braves as they peppered the Wolves with transition baskets and tough defense in a 76-51 victory. David Cranford led the way with 19 points while Brandon Taylor added 16 and Josh Hunsaker finished with 15. In all, 11 players got into the scoring column in the win.

First Round State Wrestling update

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:52:52 +0000

Midway through the opening round of the 4A State Wrestling Tournament the Braves have had success, winning nine matches and losing twice. An electric crowd is already sensing what might be a very narrow final tally. Current team scores are as follows: 1- Gillette 51 2- Star Valley 39.5 3- Cheyenne Central 38 4- Green River 34.0 5- Natrona 30.5 6- Evanston 30.0 7- Rock Springs 28.0 8- Cheyenne East 22.0 9- Sheridan / Kelly Walsh 17.5 Star Valley Round 1 Results Walker Hoopes: Won by pin over Mike Emery of NCHS Josh Claye won by Technical Fall over Riley Henderson of Green River Carbon Kennington won by Technical Fall over Kyle Key of NCHS T.J. Guild won by pin over Cameron Rissler of NCHS Sterling Jorgenson won by major decision (17-4) over Lucas Klein of Kelly Walsh Hayden Heap won by pin over Kyle Rose of Cheyenne East Nathan Merritt lost by pin Tim Stephens lost by major decision (13-0) to Mark Harris of Green River Jaxon Hokanson won by forfeit Jade Daughtery won by decision (3-0) over Trevor Brower of Cheyenne East Mark Van Slyke won by pin over Thomas Myler of NCHS (.55) Brandon Aullman won by decision (7-4) over Tucker Collins of Cheyenne Central Devon Semadini lost by pin to Zach Gunyan of Rock Springs Darin Taylor won by Technical Fall over Mason Wadsworth of Star Valley Dalton Dance won by pin over Ty Lester of Evanston Alex Cooper won by pin over Mac Madsen of Gillette Brandon Anglesey lost by decision (2-0) to Ab Brown of NCHS Conner Hoopers lost by pin to Mason O'Dowd of Gillette Dawson Loveland won by pin over Blaine Blackman of Cheyenne East (.26) Cole Wines won by decision (4-0) over Brian Shaffer of Cheyenne East Matt Booth lost by pin to Tommy Thoman of Green River Nick Edwards won by decision (10-7) over Michael Thwereatt of Gillette Casey Wolfley won by pin over Lean Romero of Cheyenne Central Derrick Wolfley lost by pin to Aaron McGee of Gillette Adam Walton won by pin over Ty Caladitto of Evanston

Quarterfinals update: State Wrestling

dahlerickson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:23:59 +0000

The Championship Quarterfinals is now complete. So far the biggest match was Dalton Dance at 152 pounds, who after trailing Tyler Pownell, 10-2, flipped the Gillette wrestler for a huge win by pinfall. Here are the results so far. Losers in this round are still alive. Ten wrestlers have advanced to the semi-finals. (* = advanced to the semi-finals) Walker Hoopes lost by technical fall 16-0 Mitch Heap* won by decision in OT, 6-4 Josh Claye lost by major decision 16-5 Carbon Kennington lost by technical fall T.J. Guild* won by pin Sterling Jorgenson lost by pin Hayden Heap* won by major decision, 15-2 Jaxon Hokanson lost by pin Jade Daugherty lost by pin Mark Van Slyke* won by pin Brandon Aullman lost by technical fall Darin Taylor* won by decision 14-6 Dalton Dance* won by pin over Gillette's Tyler Pownell Dawson Loveland* won by pin over Dylin Nab of Kelly Walsh Cole Wines* won by decision, 2-1 over Kody Brown of Gillette. Nick Edwards* won by decision, 5-2 over Tarin Triplett of Cheyenne East Casey Wolfley* won by pin over Aaron McGee of Gillette Adam Walton lost by pin to Ryan Kuster of Cheyenne Central

Braves send three to the finals

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:14:34 +0000

Three Braves punched their ticket to the finals on Friday night, but no fewer than four more saw their chance evaporate in their matches' final moments. Hayden Heap will go for his second straight state championship at 125 pounds. It will be the third consecutive state final for the senior. Darin Taylor advanced to the finals with an 11-0 decision over his opponent while Casey Wolfey used a late flurry to move on in a 7-2 victory. While fans are happy for the trio, several other Braves fell on hard luck with very close losses, many of them to Gillette who is poised to win their eighth straight title, a state record. Mitch Heap saw a controversial decision at the end of his match force a 7-4 loss at 103 pounds. T.J. Guild butted heads literally in the early moments of his semi-final match, giving up a take down before the officials and staff realized he was dazed. He battled back but lost in a 6-5 decision. Mark Van Slyke was leading by two in the final moments when he gave up a takedown, the ensuing momentum resulted in another call where two back points were awarded in the match's final seconds. Van Slyke lost, 7-5. Dawson Loveland battled back from a 2-0 deficit to tie his match but then gave up an escape in the final moments. In all, the Braves lost seven of ten semi-final matches. The Gillette Camels were extremely strong and appear ready to cruise to the title.

Wrestleback Update from Casper

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:54:44 +0000

The Braves have had some good team success in the wrestlebacks Saturday morning, but inevitably the season came to a close for some. The Braves are still alive in every weight class. Here are the results from Saturday morning. Those losing in this round have been eliminated from the tournament. Walker Hoopes lost by decision Carbon Kennington won by pinfall Josh Claye won by decision 5-0 Jade Daugherty won by technical fall 15-0 Tim Stephens lost by decision in overtime 9-7 Jaxon Hokanson lost by decision 10-4 Devon Semadini lost by decision 7-4 Brandon Aullman won by decision 9-0 Alex Cooper won by technical fall 16-0 Brandon Anglesey won by pinfall Conner Hoopes won by major decision 10-2 Matt Booth lost by decision 4-2 Adam Walton won by pinfall

2nd Round Wrestlebacks update

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:53:54 +0000

The battle continues for many Star Valley wrestlers. Those losing in the first or second round of Friday's action are battling elimination in the second round of wrestlebacks. Those losing in this round have been eliminated. Those who collected a win have advanced to the 3rd round wrestlebacks and have secured a top-six finish at state. Second Round Wrestlebacks results: Josh Claye won by pinfall Sterling Jorgenson lost by pinfall Carbon Kennington lost by major decision 11-3 Jade Daugherty won by decision 8-4 Alex Cooper lost by pinfall Brandon Aullman won by decision 5-0 Conner Hoopes lost by technical fall 16-1 Brandon Anglesey won by decision 3-2 Adam Walton won by pinfall

Top six wrestling brackets set

dahlerickson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:00:13 +0000

The Braves have 15 wrestlers who have secured a top-six finish. Here are the following results of each Star Valley wrestler and which bracket they will participate in. Nine wrestlers are will be in the third/fourth bracket while three will be in the fifth/sixth bracket. Mitch Heap won by pinfall, wrestling for 3/4 Josh Clay won by decision 11-5, wrestling for 3/4 T.J. Guild won by technical fall 18-2, wrestling for 3/4 Jade Daugherty lost by decision 9-4, wrestling for 5/6 Mark Van Slyke won by technical fall 17-1, wrestling for 3/4 Brandon Aullman won by pinfall, wrestling for 3/4 Dalton Dance won by decision 9-3, wrestling for 3/4 Brandon Anglesey lost by technical fall 17-2, wrestling for 5/6 Dawson Loveland won by decision 1-0, wrestling for 3/4 Cole Wins won by decision 8-1, wrestling team mate Loveland for 3/4 Nick Edwards won by pinfall, wrestling for 3/4 Adam Walton lost by pinfall, wrestling for 5/6

Heap wins back-to-back, Wolfley claims 215

dahlerickson — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:43:22 +0000

Hayden Heap became Star Valley's first two-time 4A state champion with a 4-3 thriller over Tanner Olson of Gillette, while Casey Wolfley shocked the field by claiming the title at 215. The Braves' team position was solidified even before the finals were held. Gillette, by virtue of a phenomenal output pulled away for a convincing championship with 290.5 points. Star Valley was a solid second with 245.0, while Cheyenne Central would edge Green River by just half of one point at 195.5 to finish third. Star Valley claimed 15 placers overall, including at least one in every weight class. Dawson Loveland and Cole Wines battled each other for third and fourth at 171 pounds with Loveland coming out on top. Heap jumped out on Olsen early 2-0 before the Gillette sophomore responded by taking a 3-2 lead in the third period. Heap garnered a takedown to lead 4-3 and tried to hold on for the victory. Olsen was battling for neutral position as time expired and Heap celebrated with a double-arm wave to the Star Valley faithful. It was the third consecutive 4A state finals match for Heap. At 145, Darin Taylor ran up against two-time champion Austin Breckinridge of Cheyenne Central. The Indian junior tried a bevy of impressive moves on Taylor with the Star Valley senior generally countering the member of the junior national team. The Central product eventually won the match 7-1 after a gutsy effort from Taylor. Casey Wolfley appeared to have Cheyton Vermillion of Cheyenne East pinned in the opening period but had to settle for back points and a 5-0 lead. He would go on to control the match against the 4A East Regional champion for a jubilant Braves victory. Wolfley stared in disbelief into the Star Valley crowd with index fingers in dual number ones. Nick Edwards became one of just a few in SVHS history to place in all four years of his wrestling career, equaling Dakota Dana of last season. 17 of the 27 Star Valley placers will return next season. 103: Mitch Heap - 4th 112: Josh Claye - 4th 119: T.J. Guild - 4th 125: Hayden Heap - State Champion 130: Jade Daugherty - 5th 135: Mark Van Slyke - 4th 140: Brandon Aullman - 4th 145: Darin Taylor - State Runner-Up 152: Dalton Dance - 4th 160: Brandon Anglesey - 5th 171: Dawson Loveland - 3rd 171: Cole Wines - 4th 189: Nick Edwards - 4th 215: Casey Wolfey - State Champion 285: Adam Walton - 5th

Independent Obituaries: February 25, 2010

newsrelease — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:03:54 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the February 25, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Bessie Annie Turner Despain loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 after battling cancer for several years. Bessie was born to James C. Turner and Bessie Maud Danks on Oct. 16, 1929. She was the youngest of four children. Bessie was born in Evanston, where she grew up and graduated from Evanston High School. Bessie was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While attending her ward in Evanston, one of her ward members introduced her to his younger brother, Wayne Despain. After dating for about six months they got engaged and then married eight months later in the Manti LDS Temple. Bessie and Wayne lived in Lyman for five years before Wayne’s work transferred them to Cody. After 14 years in Cody, Wayne’s work transferred them to Afton on Jan 1, 1969. No matter where they lived, Bessie was an active faithful member of the Church, who held numerous callings in the Primary, Young Women’s and Relief Society organizations. Bessie’s greatest joy was giving service to others and taking care of her family. If someone was sick, or in the hospital or had a death in the family, she was one of the first to arrive on the scene with fresh baked, homemade bread. She had a great gift of being able to listen to others and keep confidences. If you had a problem you knew that you could go to Bessie and that your problem would go no further. Bessie was preceded in death by both parents James and Bessie Turner; two brothers Darwin and Roy Turner; one sister Alice Turner Newland. She is survived by her husband, David Wayne Despain; their two children Alice Ann (Stephen) Shaffer; David J. (Chris) Despain; six grand children Adrienne (Byrant) Petersen; Jonathan (Amy) Shaffer; Heidi Shaffer; Peter Shaffer; Phillip (Lyndsie) Despain; Stacie (Jeff) Lewis; and three, almost four great-grandchildren. Bessie was proud of her posterity and was looking forward to seeing her new grandson. Now she gets to see him before any of the rest of us. We love you mom and will miss you till we see you again. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the Afton LDS Stake Center. A family meet and greet will proceed the service from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Joe Clark, a long time resident of Jackson, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. He was born Dec. 18, 1944 in Afton, the son of Jim and Delois Taggart Clark. He married Elena Ross of Jackson on Nov. 17, 1962. Together they had a daughter, Glenda. As a young man, Joe was a hunting guide for several years. He then went to work for Pete and Lillybelle Peters and became well known as a garbage man. He worked in the community for over 30 years hauling garbage. When Pete and Lillybelle sold the business to Lane and Dianna Ross, Joe remained as a driver for their company. Upon retirement, Joe became a snow bird and wintered in Quartzsite, Ariz. He and Elena would return to Jackson for the summers. Joe enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, camping and getting wood. Joe is survived by his wife, Elena, of Quartzsite, Ariz.; daughter, Glenda (Joe) Cheslock, of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; two brothers, Steve and Brent, both of Smoot; and Irene Blair of Smoot; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private family service at a later date. Karon Poore, loving and devoted wife, daughter, sister, and aunt, passed away Feb. 15, 2010, at the age of 63 at Sunshine Terrace in Logan, Utah. She faced the diagnosis and treatment of the cancer that took her mortal life with the same unwavering faith, determination, selflessness, and love that she had possessed throughout her life. She was born Karon May Parsons on July 12, 1946, the first child of Karol W. and Nelda May Peterson Parsons, in Afton. She attended public schools in Afton, graduating from Star Valley High School, followed by graduations from Ricks College in 1966, Brigham Young University in 1968 (B.S.) and 1969 (M.S. in Business Education). She taught high school business education courses at Madison High in Rexburg, Idaho, Star Valley High School in Afton, and Lyman High School in Lyman. Karon married Gary A. Poore in the Logan LDS Temple in Logan, Utah, on June 11, 1983. They made their home in Lyman. While in Lyman, Karon taught private piano to many of the community’s young people. She was “First Lady of Lyman” from 1993-1994. Karon and Gary moved to Logan in 2000, two years after he retired from teaching in Lyman. All who knew and remember Karon remember her saintly disposition and her angelic smile. Her smile was her “signature.” Karon was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which she served valiantly and conscientiously in many different callings, from primary pianist to Relief Society President. Karon is survived by her husband, Gary, of Logan, Utah; mother, Nelda Parsons, Afton; brothers Walt (Pam) Parsons, Blackfoot, Idaho; Lyndon (Nola) Parsons, Afton; Teryl (Cammy) Parsons, Bancroft, Idaho; sisters Nyla (Randy) Miller, Springville, Utah; Maxine (Tim) McPherson, Nephi, Utah; and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her father, Karol Parsons, and infant brother, Merlin. Graveside services for family and friends were held at the Logan City Cemetery on Feb. 19, 2010. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that people make donations in Karon’s name to the American Cancer Society or the American Red Cross.

Explosion rocks the community of Star Valley Ranch

dahlerickson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:50:11 +0000

An explosion that occurred at approximately 12:30 this morning completely destroyed a home at the north end of Star Valley Ranch.

According to Thayne Fire Chief, Dale Turner, the Thayne Fire Department responded to a report of an explosion at 365 Choke Cherry Drive.

When the firefighters arrived, they found the home had been reduced to debris by an explosion and the remaining pieces in the basement were engulfed in flames.

The explosion blew out windows and pulled siding off of neighboring homes as far as 200 yards away but no injuries have been reported.

The owners of the home had been out of town attending a family function.

Turner has asked that the public refrain from approaching the area due to a large amount of debris lodged high in the surrounding tree tops and other potentially dangerous situations.

Although propane is the suspected cause, the incident is still under investigation and awaiting word from the Wyoming State Fire Marshall.

Wyoming Delegation recieves high marks for fiscal responsibility

newsrelease — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:56:45 +0000

Washington, D.C. – The Wyoming Congressional Delegation received an ‘A’ grade for fiscal responsibility in 2009 for their commitment to reducing federal spending, taxes, debt and regulation. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., received the Taxpayers’ Friend Award based on a report card issued by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU.) They ranked on top while 267 senators and representatives received an ‘F.’ Wyoming is the only state to have all of its Members of Congress receive an ‘A’ in 2009. Enzi, Barrasso and Lummis were of a few dozen U.S. Senators and Representatives to receive the 2009 Taxpayers’ Friend Award for consistently voting to reduce and control the burden on American taxpayers. "Given today’s economic climate, fiscal discipline is more important now than ever. Fortunately, taxpayers have a staunch ally in Wyoming’s lawmakers, to whom National Taxpayers Union is proud to present a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award,” Duane Parde, President of NTU said. “If every Member of Congress were as principled as Senator Enzi, Senator Barrasso and Representative Lummis, current and future generations of Americans would enjoy much lower taxes and a less wasteful government. Hard-working families in Wyoming and across the nation owe them a debt of gratitude for their efforts.” The National Taxpayers Union rating, which is based on every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy, assigns a "Taxpayer Score" to each Member of Congress that indicates his or her commitment to reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation. The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union was founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and greater economic freedom at all levels. If you would like to learn more about the National Taxpayers union you may visit their web site at www.ntu.org

This Week in Star Valley: March 4

newsrelease — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:19:41 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 109 consecutive years! Take a look back at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Water content of the snow pack on the Salt River watershed is 98 percent of normal as of March 1. The Town of Afton council men held their regular meeting at which the all terrain vehicle problem was again discussed. Effective Jan. 1, 1985, the state determined the vehicles (basically three and four wheelers) be considered a motor vehicle with the licensing requirement of cars and trucks, they be licensed, titled and be driven on roadways only by licensed operators. Ad: At Village Furniture and Appliance, FREE kitchen aid food processor, manufacturer's suggested retail price, $169.95, with the purchase of a kitchen aid dishwasher or 18" trash compactor. Two great products for the price of one. 4A Cody Fillies edge Braves–Star Valley led 19 to 12 at the half, but the Lady Braves were outscored 25 to 6 in the second half. The Cody Fillies scored 13 of their second half 25 points from the foul line, as they hit on 13 out of 14 times from the charity stripe. 50-years ago: The new municipal water system in Afton is experiencing some temporary difficulty that cannot be corrected until next summer. As a result, town officials are urging that all users cooperate and reduce waste for the next few weeks during the extreme low water. A cold wave as sharp as any this winter hit Star Valley and the whole inter-mountain west early this week. An official minus 30 was reckoned at the Hepworth Ranch government sation in Grover Monday morning. Much colder temperatures were reported at other locations in the valley. Ad: Best place in the world to misplace valuable documents is around your home. Best place to keep them is in a Safe Deposit box in our vault where they are safe from fire, theft or loss of any kind. Get One! at Star Valley State Bank. 75-years ago: The contract was let the first of the week for building the new picture show house, by C. S. Wray. Harvey Allred of Afton was the successful bidder. The price is between $17,000 and $18,000. The excavation for the basement has already commenced. They expect to have the building completed about the first of July. The old saying "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander" is said to be exemplified with interesting variation in "By Your Leave", RKO-Radio's new romantic comedy featuring Frank Morgan, Genevieve Tobin, and a strong cast. A husband . . . proposes a marital holiday. . . . It doesn't occur to him that his wife may take advantage of the holiday in similar fashion. . . .The husband proves a dismal flop as a Romeo, but the wife meets a romantic young explorer who is all for taking her away with him. Coming to the America Theatre. Notice–Rules and regulations for Whisker Month will appear in next issue of the Independent. Let Whiskers grow until then. Valuable prizes to be awarded. 100-years ago: Local items: Did you feel the balm of spring in the atmosphere Wednesday. The Deacons Dance was a grand success, everyone enjoyed themselves. The appearance of the show windows of Ed Lewis' store makes one feel like they were living in a town. (more Local items): Dr. Groom has purchased the entire stock of drugs from E.A. Gardener. The Dr. will conduct a first class prescription drug store, and carry a complete and up-to-date stock of drugs. The businesses will be conducted under the name of the "Star Valley Pharmacy." Grover news: It is a settled fact that we are to have another store here, the goods to stock the same are on their way, and Mr. Ole Anderson our Post Master, will be the one that will dish the stuff out to all comers. (more Grover news): One of those awful hurricanes that has raged lately, blowed the door of Orson Eggleston's house wide open, and before Orson realized what had happened, a little black haired girl was discovered in bed with his wife, but he says it's all right, and that he is going to try and make good, part of the 6,000 population that Apostle Clawson said Star Valley would have in a few years.

Freudenthal will not seek third term

dahlerickson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:21:59 +0000

Wyoming Governor, Dave Freudenthal, has announced to state legislators that he has decided not to run for re-election this year. Freudenthal, who is in the final year of his second term, cited that there is a season for everything and that he has accomplished what he was supposed to accomplish as governor. Freudenthal told Wyoming's state legislators on their last full day of work in this 2010 session that family is one item that has been an important factor in the decision. His wife and current Wyoming First Lady, Nancy Freudenthal, is under consideration for a judicial appointment. Several prominent Republican challengers are slated to vie for the Governor's chair, including Ron Micheli and Rita Meyer. More information on this decision will be made available shortly.

Braves & Lady Braves punch tickets for State

dahlerickson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:45:29 +0000

Both branches of the Star Valley basketball program sent their counterparts from Riverton home on Thursday evening. With the 4A West Regional Tournament taking place at SVHS, both Star Valley teams took advantage by defeating the Wolverines and ending their season. They Lady Braves were never challenged by the Lady Wolverines as Star Valley coasted to a 47-17 victory. Emily Porter led the way with 13 points, while Dani Scherbel, Randi Robinson and Kelsea Gardner each scored eight points. Gardner also pulled down eight rebounds. It is the first time since the 2005-06 season that the Lady Braves have qualified for the state tournament and also the first time since moving to the 4A Classification. The Lady Braves play the #2 seed Natrona Fillies this evening to try and advance to the regional championship game. While the ladies were never challenged, the Braves had their hands full with Riverton who, despite trailing for most of the contest, refused to go away and took the lead on three different occasions in the second half. Star Valley responded each time with great play from their guard line and held on for a 61-57 win. The four guards of Elio Merino, James Bowers, Tyson Woodford and Ridge Hillyard combined for 34 points. Merino led the way with a game-high 14 points along with five rebounds. Brandon Taylor added 12 points and seven rebounds before fouling out in the game's final minute. It was a foul plagued contest with four Wolverine players fouling out in the fourth quarter and Star Valley's Josh Hunsaker missing nearly two quarters to foul trouble. The win also pits the Braves against Natrona and the top-seeded Mustangs. In other action, the Evanston Lady Red Devils eliminated Green River's girls, while Rock Springs eliminated their rivals from Green River on the boy's side of the bracket.

West wins three titles, Lady Braves place fourth

dahlerickson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:31:44 +0000

The Lady Braves notched 57 team points at the State Indoor Championships over the weekend, placing fourth, just one point behind Natrona County. Audrey West, who had been nursing injuries all season, was obviously healthy in Laramie where she claimed the 55 Meter, 200 Meter and 400 Meter titles. West also captured third in the Long Jump for a whopping 36 individual points. West's time of 7.35 seconds in the 55 Meter Dash is a new Indoor State Record. The 4 x 800 Meter Relay also scored points for the Lady Braves as they placed third with a team made up of Hailey Ricks, Kirsten McKen, Charli Fisher and Abby McArthur. The same quartet also placed fifth in the 4 x 400 Meter Relay. Ricks also placed fourth in the 3200 Meter Run in her freshman campaign. Senior Kirsten McKen broke up a Cheyenne Central sweep in the 800 Meter run, notching a time of 2:26.40 to place third. The time is a school record for the indoor program. The same time would also be a record in the outdoor season, a goal McKen has had for three years. The fourth place finish is the highest for the Lady Braves so far in it's short indoor history and matches the fourth place finish from the Braves last year. Cheyenne Central ran away with the team title on the girls side with Gillette taking second. The Braves did not fare nearly so well on the boy's side, placing 14th and scoring just four team points. Sheridan won the team title with 89.50. Gillette took second with Laramie third. Click here for full individual results.

Powerball searching for possible Wyoming millionaire

newsrelease — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:27:36 +0000

Boise – Someone from eastern Idaho, western Wyoming or a visitor passing through could be a brand new millionaire and not even know they are holding the winning ticket. No one has contacted the Idaho Lottery to claim ownership of the $1,000,000 Powerball winning ticket sold for last Saturday night’s draw. Idaho Lottery officials are encouraging everyone who has visited eastern Idaho recently and played Powerball to check their tickets carefully for winners. “Too often people think they do not have a winning ticket if they did not match the Powerball number itself,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “This unique ticket did not match the Powerball number, but did match every other number and has the PowerPlay option, making it worth an automatic $1,000,000.” The Idaho Lottery has also confirmed the winning ticket was sold in Irwin, near the Idaho – Wyoming border. No additional information about the ticket will be released until it is claimed in Boise. “The winner should also sign the back of their ticket immediately to secure their ownership,” added Anderson. “Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, meaning when they are presented for payment we pay the individual who has signed the back of the ticket.” The $1,000,000 winning Powerball ticket was the largest of its kind in the United States for Saturday night’s draw. The winning numbers for Saturday night's $144.6 million draw were 10, 29, 33, 41, 59 and the Powerball number was 15. There were over 9,200 individual winners on Powerball in Idaho Saturday night, including the $1,000,000 winning ticket. No one won Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot meaning the next jackpot for Wednesday night, March 10, 2010 is an estimated $170 million. Players have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their winnings from Lottery Offices in Boise. Players can check their tickets at any Idaho Lottery retailer or by visiting the Lottery’s website here.

Funeral Services for Walker Inman

newsrelease — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:01:46 +0000

Funeral services for Walker Inman will be held on Thursday, March 11, at 1 p.m. in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Afton. Family will greet friends on Thursday, from 12 noon to 12:45 at the church prior to the services.

SVHS Cheerleaders finish as State Runner-Up

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:22:47 +0000

The State Spirit Competition is underway in Casper. The Star Valley High School Cheerleaders have placed second in the Cheer / Non-Stunt division, the second time in three years they have finished as the State Runner-Up. Green River won the division with 90.667 points. Star Valley was a solid second with 87.00 points. Rock Springs finished third with 82.00 points. Click here for the WHSAA home page

Brave Cadettes place fourth at State Spirit

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:19:15 +0000

The Star Valley Brave Cadettes wrapped up their competitive season with a fourth place finish at the Wyoming State Spirit competition. The Brave Cadettes scored 84.667 points while first place Kelly Walsh scored 89.333. Evanston took second with 85.667 while Gillette took third with 85.000

Braves throw a scare into top-seeded Gillette

dahlerickson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:44:23 +0000

With just four minutes to play, the game was still within one possession. The Braves had led by as many as 12 while the Camels had led by nine. In the end, some costly missed free throws including two opportunities at the front end of one-and-one situations cost Star Valley in a 56-47 game that was closer than the final indicated. The Crimson & Gold missed seven of their last nine free throws and was forced to foul late in the game while 4A East Champion Gillette capitalized on their opportunities. Brandon Taylor finished with a game-high 22 points while Josh Hunsaker scored 11, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked five shots. Sophomore Ridge Hillyard added ten points. David Cranford played in precious few minutes due to foul trouble before fouling out with six minutes left in the game. Matthew Mordecai led the way for Gillette with 21 points including nine of ten from the free throw stripe. Mordecai also pulled down ten rebounds for a stellar performance. Taryn Brown also scored nine while collecting 11 rebounds.

Cheyenne East smashes Lady Braves

dahlerickson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:20:48 +0000

Cheyenne East and Star Valley began their season against each other, a 46-40 Thunderbird victory. There was no such drama on Thursday night. East jumped out to a 16-2 lead and never looked back in a 52-28 victory. Jazmyn Webster scored 16 effortless points as the 4A Eastern Conference champion was never challenged by Star Valley. Dani Scherbel and Kassie Woodie each had six points in the effort. The loss was the fourth of the day for the 4A West who were all relegated to the consolation bracket. Star Valley plays Evanston at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Lady Braves bounce back to elminate Evanston

dahlerickson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:55:45 +0000

Shae Wilkes scored 14 and pulled down seven rebounds as Star Valley advanced to the Consolation Championship against Natrona. The Lady Braves never trailed in a 41-27 victory over Evanston on Friday morning. It was the third time this season that Star Valley defeated their foes from Uinta County. In addition to Wilkes, Britney Titensor had eight points as the Lady Braves outrebounded Evanston 45-38. Randi Robinson had nine rebounds, Kelsea Gardner had eight and Kassie Woodie had seven. Both team struggled from the free throw line, but Evanston never found the range as went 1-19 from behind the three point line. The win was the 13th of the season for the Lady Braves who will be trying to earn some hardware Saturday morning. As for the Braves, after leading in the first quarter, they fell behind Laramie and they were never able to recover as they were eliminated 57-45 at the State Tournament. Josh Hunsaker had 11 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots in the loss which signaled the end of a career for a number of seniors: Brandon Taylor, David Cranford, James Bowers, Elio Merino, Kory Ingersoll and Brock Gardner will graduate as the team who first earned a ticket to the 4A State Tournament.

Independent Obituaries: March 4 & 11

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:23:50 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the March 4, 2010 and March 11, 2010 editions of the Star Valley Independent. Marie Ann Edgerton, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2010 in the Ogden Regional Hospital due to complications following open heart surgery. She was 70 years old and surrounded by her three children. Marie was born to Loren and Ann Walton on April 27, 1939. She was the second of six children and had one sister and four brothers. She was born and raised in Star Valley and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1958. Marie was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She married William Edgerton in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Will and Marie lived in Afton and had three children. The family spent many fun summer weekends together camping up Greys River. Marie worked at the cheese factory in Thayne, the school store in Afton, Strebels, and Wyoming Woolens. She loved crafts and especially loved to sew and crochet. She entered many of her projects in the Lincoln County Fair and received numerous ribbons. She would also give her beautiful creations as gifts to her family and loved ones. Above all else, she dedicated her life to her children. She was blessed with eleven grandchildren, and they were the joy of her life. After her husband Will passed away in 2007, Marie decided to move to Farr West, Utah to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She loved being able to attend their various activities. The move to Utah brought her happiness even though she did not get to spend as much time there as she would have liked. Her family loved having her close to them, and she will be greatly missed. Marie was preceded in death by her husband William Edgerton; her father Loren "Tuff" Walton; and her infant brother Alma Walton. She is survived by her three children Sande (Tony) Olson of Shoshoni, Wyoming; Sherri (Lynn) Raymond of Brigham City, Utah; Dusty (Adi) Edgerton of Syracuse, Utah; eleven grandchildren; her mother Ann Walton of Afton; sister Dell Mae Walton of Afton; and brothers Dennis Walton of Smoot; Lael Walton of Labarge; Don Walton of Afton. Marie's funeral will be held on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Afton LDS Stake Center. There will also be a viewing that morning from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Walker Patterson “Skipper” Inman, Jr., died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Denver, Colo. He was born March 11, 1952 in Florence, S.C., the only child of Walker Patterson Inman and Georgia Polin. He was orphaned at the age of 10 and lived with his aunt, Doris Duke, internationally known heiress and philanthropist. They remained close until her death and Walker was appointed executor of her estate. Walker was a passionate free spirit, an adventurer and explorer -- a true swashbuckler. His life was centered around his family. As a family man, his children, Patterson and Georgia, were more important to him than life, itself. His true love and soulmate, Daralee, gave him the contentment he was searching for his whole life. Walker traveled on his much loved yacht, Devine Decadence, from South Carolina and discovered the South Pacific. He also spent a lot of time with his nephews and niece, David, Bart, Mat and Heather. After a major refit, he took the boat back to Hawaii, meeting his friend and captain, Brett Armstrong. The boat is now in New Zealand, where he enjoyed extensive cruising and dinner parties on board. Walker was a gourmet chef as well as an avid gun, knife, sword and steam engine collector. He looked forward to training his camel, Sinbad. A pyrotechnics expert, his Fourth of July firework displays were legend in the Wyoming Valley below is mountain top home in Grover. His quiet generosity changed many lives. He divided his time between his Grover ranch, Outlaw Acres, and Greenfield Plantation near Georgetown, S.C., that he inherited from his father. Walker is survived by his sister, Susan; and her children, David, Bart, Mat and Heather. He will sadly be missed by his faithful mastiffs, Doolie and Doolie, Jr “DJ”; his twin children, Georgia Noel Lahi Inman and Walker Patterson Inman, III; along with his wife, Daralee Inman. Funeral services for Walker Inman will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 1 p.m. in the Holy Family Catholic Church. A viewing will take place from noon to 12:45 p.m. prior to the services at the church. Services will also take place at the Greenfield Plantation, located at 2713 Choppee Road, Georgetown, S.C. on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 1 p.m. John A. (Johnny) Evinger, a long time resident of the Star Valley and Jackson areas, passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 of sudden heart failure. Johnny was born May 23, 1962 in Denver, Colo., the 11th child of Willard and Hazel Evinger. Johnny grew up in the Denver area and attended local schools. Johnny met the love of his life, Dianna Lynn Cole, in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1987 and they were later married. Johnny and Dianna moved to the Jackson area in 1993 and Johnny worked with local contractors painting custom log homes. They most recently made their home in the beautiful Star Valley area where Johnny started his own painting business in 2005. Johnny enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, working and living in the outdoors. Johnny is survived by his wife Dianna; son John; daughter Brandi; mother; five brothers; four sisters; and one grandchild. Johnny is preceded in death by his father and two siblings. Services were held Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. March 4, 2010 Edition Arlynn Clyde McCoy was born March 4, 1930 to Isabelle and Murl McCoy in Afton. He was their second child, and had an older brother, Glenn. They were both joined by a sister, Lorna, two years later. They had four, half siblings on their mom’s side, Warren, Dee, Elda and Anthon; and two, Ruby and Carl, on their dad’s side. Arlynn’s dad, Murl, operated the first photographic studio in Star Valley, located in a small building on the east side of the main street of Afton. After school, Arlynn would stop by the studio and see if he could help. If his dad was printing Kodak pictures from other people’s films, Arlynn would put the prints through the three step fixing baths. his father would then give Arlynn a little money which he would run out and spend. He often stated, “money and me did not stick together very long.” Glenn, Arlynn, Dick Jergeson, and Keith Williamson would take turns mowing the five acres of grass behind Red Dabel’s gas station. Arlynn earned enough money to get an orange pop and chug it down as quickly as possible. Arlynn dropped out of high school a joined the Navy on Nov. 25, 1947. After boot camp, he was stationed at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station on Waikiki Beach. He was on his own at the age of 17. By the time Arlynn reached the age of 20, he had served a tour in the Navy and the Korean War was raging. Star Valley by then had its own National Guard unit and he joined it after get out of the Navy. Company D of the 141st Tank Battalion, a light tank company, was called to active duty in 1950. After serving a couple of years in the Army, Arlynn once again returned to civilian life. Arlynn went to Kellogg, Idaho and worked for the Bunker Hill Lead and Zinc mine. This is where we believe he received his Electrician License. From Idaho he traveled to Chicago, where he worked as an for the Sara Lee Baking Company, keeping their machinery in good working order. Arlynn met Antonia (Toni) M Cardona and they were married on July 29, 1971. Two boys were born to this union, Lynn Clyde McCoy on March 1, 1972 and John Robert McCoy on June 7, 1974. Arlynn also worked for Alco Druvru Publishing Company for many years. The family moved to Tampa, Fla., in November 1993. There they built a beautiful retirement home in which to spend their retirement years. Arlynn is survived by his wife, Toni; his sons, Lynn and Robert; sister, Lorna Hall; sisters-in-law, Willie McCoy Roy, June Ason McCoy; and many nieces and nephews. Arlynn was so looking forward to his 80th birthday, he even had invitations ready to print. He was also looking forward to the McCoy Reunion at Allred Flats in Star Valley this coming August. Emily Dickinson’s words are appropriate: “Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me.” We love and will miss you, Arlynn. Metellus Royal "Roy" Holloway passed away on Jan. 14, 2010. He was born in Sheridan Feb. 24, 1923 to Metellus Reed Holloway and Lena Emily Weddle. Roy was united in marriage to Santina Traverso on Oct. 4, 1951 in Genova, Italy. Roy was a member of the Sailors Union and worked on ships all over the world. Being a veteran, he was given military honors at his funeral on Jan. 23, 2010, held at Schwab's Funeral Chapel in Thayne. Roy had lived in Wyoming since 1975 and enjoyed all aspects of life in his birth state. Roy was preceded in death by his father, mother and sister, Fern Benson. Roy is survived by his wife of 58 years, Tina Holloway, who misses him every day. His smile will be missed by his many relatives and friends. Roy's ashes are buried by his mother in Scott City, Kansas.

Troopers stop stolen vehicle using GPS

newsrelease — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:32:57 +0000

Rawlins Troopers in the Rawlins area were alerted Monday to watch for a stolen 2009 Pontiac G6 that was currently being tracked via the vehicles GPS system by New York City Police Detectives. The information being relayed to the Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch Center in Cheyenne was that the vehicle was in or near the Rawlins/Green River area. The Pontiac, which is owned by a car rental agency, had been equipped with a GPS tracking device in the event it was ever stolen. The Pontiac had been reported as stolen to the New York City Police Department. Shortly before 8:00 p.m. a Trooper spotted the eastbound stolen vehicle 7 miles west of Rawlins. With the assistance of an additional patrol Troopers the vehicle was stopped and three individuals were taken into custody without incident. As is standard procedure after an arrest, an inventory of the vehicle's contents was taken. During the inventory Troopers discovered a large amount of jewelry, laptop computers, cell phones, IPODS and digital cameras. All items appeared to be brand new with store tags still on them and some items still had a steel cable attached to them as if they were store display models. Troopers contacted detectives from the Rock Springs Police Department and together both agencies were able to determine that the jewelry had been stolen that day from a local jewelry store in Rock Springs. The value of the jewelry is $37,000.00. A dollar amount has yet to be determined for the other electronic items. The other items have store tags from stores outside the State of Wyoming. The case remains under investigation at this time as Troopers attempt to contact other law enforcement agencies outside of the State of Wyoming to determine if the other items have been reported stolen as well. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is working with the Rock Springs Police Department and the New York City Police Department as well as the car rental agency who is attempting to map out stops the vehicle made en-route to the State of Wyoming. With the in-vehicle GPS information law enforcement agencies can determine exactly where the vehicle stopped and for how long. So far law enforcement agencies in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are being contacted. All three individuals remain in custody at this time. They are: Dexter Bernal, 23 years of age, Travis Haynes, 21 years of age and Anthony Daley, 32 years of age. All are from the Brooklyn, New York area.

This Week in Star Valley: March 18

dahlerickson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:49:10 +0000

The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for more than 109 consecutive years! Take a look at what made the pages of the newspaper 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. 25-years ago: Ad.: Fred S. Suloff, Auto Repair Shop, north of Nield market north of Afton. Complete auto repairs, minor & major. Featuring a complete line of Chevron oil products. We sell Firestone tires. Free pickup and delivery in Afton. 'Chopin Lives' concert is tonight–Six years ago, Robert Guralnik, a noted American concert pianist, met with Harold Guskin, a New York City theater director, to discuss a new concept for a musical and theatrical program. Guralnik, costumed as Chopin, recreates the character while playing a recital of the composer' greatest works for the piano. . . . The audience learns about Chopin's life, why he composed, about his youth, his need to rival Franz Liszt, the women he loved, and his fears of having failed his homeland. 50-years ago: A Star Valley player, Mack Balls, was named this week as one of the five players selected by the Associated Press on its All-state calls A basketball team. Balls, who was benched for several games at the beginning of the season with an injured hand, has been top scorer in many of the Braves' games, and his consistent rebounding helped put many of the team's victories on ice. Grover news: All married couples of the ward are asked to remember the annual relief society dinner and program to beheld here tonight. Miss Kathleen Pead and roommate Dorothy Carlson spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Turner and family. The Star Valley Braves lost a heartbreaking state tournament opener to the Lovell Bulldogs. 75-years ago: Something To Think About–The Afton Town Council is confronted with a delicate proposition as to whether to grant a liquor license in the Town of Afton for the next year. On the one side a number of petitions have been circulated asking the council and also the county commissioners to not grant any license in the town or the valley. These petitions would indicate that a large number of our citizens feel that the best way to handle the liquor situation is to deny a license and then prosecute any one who attempts to bootleg. They do not think this will eliminate the liquor, as it can easily be secured at border or elsewhere, but they think it will be the best way to control the situation. On the other hand, those who desire that a license be granted, are of the opinion that if one is granted, the officers will make a very determined effort to stop the bootleggers and also that they will get better support form the state and federal authorities. They claim that if a license is not granted that a myriad of bootleggers will spring up, and will not hesitate to sell to minors or anyone else that can raise the price. The license dealer, of course, would not dare to sell directly to a minor for the reason that his license would be forfeited. This would make it more difficult for minors to secure liquor. The new law places a severe penalty for supplying minors with liquor, either by sale or gift. . . . 100-years ago: Local Items: Mrs. N.N. Hill is now occupying the E. A. Gardner residence on Main. Laugh and grow fat; Afton Dramatic Co., March 22. When you're down in the mouth remember Jonah, he came out all right. Get your wife a hat at Burton's grand opening, on the 25th and 26th. Thayne news: Mr. Price Nelson was called to Seattle, Washington, to be with his brother George, who is in the hospital there, having been in one of the snow slides that have recently occurred near that place, last reports were to the effect that he was recovering.

4A Boys All-Conference / All-State lists released

dahlerickson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:35:45 +0000

David Cranford and Brandon Taylor have been named to the 4A West All-Conference team while Taylor has also been tabbed as an All-State selection. Both Star Valley seniors took turns leading the Braves in scoring for the majority of the contests this season. Taylor had a team-high 32 points against Rock Springs and Cranford had 27 against Natrona at the 4A West Regional tournament. Taylor, who had 22 points against Gillette in the opening round of the State Tournament, earned the school's first All-State selection since moving to the 4A Class. 4A West All-Conference: Beau Ehlers, Evanston Jeff Lee, Evanston Jace Short, Evanston Cooper Palmer, Green River Jordan Dick, Natrona Travis Hayden, Natrona Kyle Vinich, Natrona Corbin Nicholls, Riverton Daveon Gibson, Rock Springs Zach Rossette, Rock Springs Caleb Tygum, Rock Springs David Cranford, Star Valley Brandon Taylor, Star Valley 4A East All-Conference: Taran Brown, Campbell County Matt Mordecai, Campbell County Alan Sisel, Campbell County Josh Reynolds, Cheyenne Central Colby Harrison, Cheyenne East Trevon Hinker, Cheyenne East Lucas Nolan, Kelly Walsh Dan Estes, Laramie Dexter Currington, Sheridan Austin Woodward, Sheridan Conference Player of the Year: West: Kyle Vinich, Natrona East: Dan Estes, Laramie Conference Coach of the Year: West: Shawn Gillum, Natrona East: Mike Curry, Campbell County 4A Boys All State: Taran Brown, Campbell County Matt Mordecai, Campbell County Trevon Hinker, Cheyenne East Beau Ehlers, Evanston Jace Short, Evanston Lucas Nolan, Kelly Walsh Dan Estes, Laramie Jordan Dick, Natrona Kyle Vinich, Natrona Zach Rosette, Rock Springs Austin Woodward, Sheridan Brandon Taylor, Star Valley 4A Player of the Year: Dan Estes, Laramie

Josh Smith named as new Lincoln County Attorney

sarahhale — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:23:56 +0000

Josh Smith, an attorney from Star Valley, has been named as the new Lincoln County Attorney. The Lincoln County Commissioners announced the decision of who would fill the vacant County Attorney position on Tuesday, March 16. Smith was selected from three nominees submitted to the Lincoln County Commissioners by the Lincoln County Republican Party. Jack Edwards and Larry Lawton, who are also attorneys from Star Valley, were also submitted by the party for consideration. Smith took the oath of office on Tuesday, March 16. A second swearing in ceremony will take place at the Circuit Court in Afton on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. Further coverage of the story will be included in the Thursday, March 18 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

4A West Girls All-Conference / All-State List

dahlerickson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:45:40 +0000

Randi Robinson and Dani Scherbel were both named to the 4A West All-Conference list. Despite defeating Evanston three times this season and with Kelly Walsh not earning a trip to the state tournament, both squads had more all-state selections than Star Valley who was not recognized at the state level. Robinson, a standout in Cross-Country as well as Track & Field, led the Lady Braves in scoring this season and and compiled three double-doubles to lead the team over the course of the campaign. Robinson had the team high in points this season with 20 against eventual state champion Cheyenne East. Scherbel, despite her 5' 5" fame, often led the Lady Braves in offensive rebounds and was one of the team's most consistent scorers. Scherbel is also an all-conference selection on the soccer pitch. Both girls helped the Lady Braves return to state for the first time since the 2005-06 season where they advanced to the Consolation Championship. 4A West All-Conference Team: Lauren Thomas Evanston Erin Kirby Evanston Sami Kofoed Evanston Dani Hardy Green River Janelle Strampe Green River Stephanie Lee Natrona Ashley Creager Natrona Shelby Garska Natrona Courtney Patterson Rock Springs Jordan Giles Rock Springs Randi Robinson Star Valley Dani Scherbel Star Valley Coach of the Year: Darcy Bath, Rock Springs Player of the year: Courtney Patterson, Rock Springs 4A Girls All-State: Ashley Creager - Natrona County Kayla Fakelman - Kelly Walsh Breanna Johnson - Cheyenne East Jordan Kelley - Gillette Stephanie Lee - Natrona County Katelyn Means - Cheyenne Central Courtney Patterson - Rock Springs Alyssa Schmidt - Laramie Lauren Thomas - Evanston Amber Vandiver - Laramie Jazmyn Webster - Cheyenne East Kayla Woodward - Sheridan Player of the Year: Jordan Kelley, Gillette

Lady Braves open up soccer season with two wins and a tie

dahlerickson — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:14:22 +0000

The Lady Braves, despite being shorthanded, still flexed some defensive muscle on the opening weekend of the season with three shutouts. The ladies opened up the 2010 season with a 3-0 victory over Powell and a 0-0 tie with Cody. Both were 3A State Tournament participants a year ago, with the Lady Broncs advancing to the 3rd/4th game. The Lady Braves, who are expected to field a deep pool of capable midfielders, showed off some of their experience as well as their youth. Abby Nicoll, a freshman who was invited to play with the U.S. National Team, scored first. Sister Kallie Nicoll, a junior, added another and then senior Klydi Brower added a third in a game that was played in Cody as part of a three-game jamboree. The Lady Braves came back immediately and played Cody to a 0-0 tie on their home field. The ladies closed out the opening weekend with a 1-0 win over Lander, another state tournament qualifying team from a year go, to improve their opening weekend record to 2-0-1. The squad won a program-record seven wins last year.

Independent Obituaries: March 18

newsrelease — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:35:32 +0000

The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the March 18, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent. Vella Haderlie Hansen, 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 13, 2010, surrounded by her family. She was born in Freedom, Idaho, on July 3, 1926, to John and Martha Lindholm Haderlie. She was the fourth of five children and had wonderful memories created by growing up on a farm in Star Valley. Her mother and father instilled in her the value of hard work and an incredible love of music—she took great pride in her Haderlie heritage. She graduated from Star Valley High School and attended Utah State University. While in Logan she met Lyman Dale Hansen; they were married on Feb. 7, 1947, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and resided in Smithfield, Utah. They were blessed with five children, Dale, Von, Penny, Madlyn, and Douglas; 23 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. Lyman and Vella opened their home to others who needed a temporary family, including her infant niece, an Indian Placement daughter and her family, a foster son, her own grandchildren, and friends from far and near. She was a mother and grandmother to anyone who needed her. Vella worked as the bookkeeper for the family business for over 40 years. Vella was a humble and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She commented many times that her testimony of Christ was strongly influenced by the music of the gospel. She loved each opportunity she had to serve in the church and gave each calling her full effort. She was a visiting teacher, a Primary teacher, a chorister in every organization, an activities director, and even the Young Women’s President when she was in her 60s. In her later years she devoted many hours to working in the Logan LDS Temple cafeteria. Vella had a beautiful voice and spent years performing vocal solos and duets with friends. She devoted years directing choirs and will always be remembered for the wonderful musical Christmas programs she wrote and directed. She taught and entertained her family with the violin, her harmonica, and her mother’s mandolin. Vella loved taking care of her home and family and created fun family traditions. She was a beautiful, practical seamstress and enjoyed doing crafts; she created treasured gifts for many people. She memorized and enjoyed stories and poems and shared her thoughts beautifully in written letters. Vella is survived by her husband, Lyman; her five children; Dale Craig (Gayle) of Smithfield, Utah; Von Lyman (Julia) of Boise, Idaho; Penny (Charles) Findlay of Smithfield, Utah; Madlyn (Mark) Huber of Hyde Park, Utah; and Douglas John (Toni) of Riverton, Utah; 23 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren; her sister Nelda (Willard) Oakeson and her brother Morris (Esther) Haderlie. She was preceded in death by her father and mother; her brother Conn Haderlie and sister Wilma Jenkins; her daughter-in-law Susan (Von) and her granddaughter Brenna (Von and Susan). Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Smithfield, Utah. Interment took place in the Smithfield City Cemetery.

Rev. Smylie is the new Wyoming Episcopalian Bishop

dandockstader — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:35:34 +0000

The Rev. John S. Smylie has been elected the 9th Episcopalian Bishop of Wyoming. The bishop-elect presently serves as rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper. He is married to Jill Smylie, a counselor at Verda James Elementary school, also in Casper. The Rev. Smylie's election, was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Laramie and he becomes the first Bishop to be chosen from within Wyoming. All previous bishops have been from out-of-state. The Diocese represents 7,400 Episcopalians in Wyoming. Consecration is scheduled for July 31 at the Casper Events Center. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, will be the chief consecrator. For more information on the bishop-elect and a photo, please go the the Documents section of www.WyomingBishopSearch.org .

Yellowstone Begins Work On Plan To Protect Native Fish

newsrelease — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:20:50 +0000

Invasive species, disease, and climate changes have all led to a decline in the native fish population of Yellowstone National Park. To help halt and eventually reverse that trend, the park has started work on a Native Fish Conservation Plan. The first step is to ask the public to help identify issues that the park staff should consider when writing the plan and Environmental Assessment. This process, known as public scoping, is now open and runs through April 30, 2010. The plan is expected to evaluate ways to conserve native fish populations throughout the park. It could include actions such as large scale removal of lake trout, removal of non-native fish from some streams and lakes, and introduction of native fish into restored habitats. The plan will not propose any changes in the Madison or Firehole rivers. Those interested in the issue are encouraged to attend one of four public scoping open houses scheduled during the month of April: Bozeman, MT: April 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, 1370 North 7th Avenue. Cody, WY: April 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 1701 Sheridan Avenue. Jackson, WY: April 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Snow King Resort, 400 E. Snow King Avenue West Yellowstone, MT: April 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 315 Yellowstone Avenue A scoping brochure is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell. Additional information on the park’s fisheries program can be found online at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/todo/fishing/. Park staff members will analyze the scoping comments and spend the summer writing the Environmental Assessment, which is expected to be released for public review and comment this fall. A final decision and plan is expected to be completed sometime in the winter of 2010-2011. Comments may be submitted online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell. They may also be mailed to: Native Fish Conservation Plan, Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. Comments may also be hand-delivered to Yellowstone National Park headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. Written comments can also be submitted during the open houses. Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified above. Public scoping comments will be accepted until midnight, April 30, 2010.

New Yellowstone Quarter Design Unveiled

newsrelease — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:57:23 +0000

An iconic scene featuring a bison and Old Faithful will grace a new quarter to be issued by the U.S. Mint later this year. The image depicting Yellowstone National Park was unveiled at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. This coin is part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program announced last fall. The program is designed to celebrate the nation’s legacy of conservation. The U.S. Mint will strike and issue a total of 56 new quarters, each featuring one national park or other federally protected area in each state, the District of Columbia, and American Territory. The face of each coin will continue to feature the familiar image of George Washington. The coins will be issued in the order the areas first came under federal protection. The first, honoring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, will be released on April 19. The quarter featuring Yellowstone will be released sometime in June; the second of five to be released this year. Also to be released in 2010 are quarters depicting Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Mt. Hood National Forest. In addition to the coins for circulation, the Mint will produce collectable items including proof sets, silver proof sets, a five ounce silver bullion coin, coin bags, and coin rolls for each quarter. More information about the America the Beautiful Quarters Program is available on the web at www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/NSQuartersProgram/.

Wyoming’s Most Popular Baby Names Listed for 2009

newsrelease — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:46:22 +0000

There will be plenty of girls named “Madison” and boys called “Aiden” on Wyoming’s playgrounds over the next several years as the two were the most popular baby names in the state for 2009, according to the Vital Statistics Services Program of the Wyoming Department of Health. For girls, Madison was the number one name chosen in 2009, followed by Isabella, Hailey, Abigail and Addison (tied), and Ava and Emma (tied). Aiden topped the boys’ list, followed by Kayden/Caden (various spellings), Brayden, Wyatt and Jacob. The program recorded 7,381 births to Wyoming resident mothers during 2009. “There were 250 more boys born than girls, 93 sets of twins and one set of triplets,” said Gladys Breeden, Vital Statistics Services Program manager with the Wyoming Department of Health. Breeden noted there were also two girls named “April” born during the month of April, two girls named “December” born during December, and two girls named “Autumn” born two days after the fall equinox. “There was also a boy named “Joseph” born on Christmas,” Breeden said. The Vital Statistics Services Program promotes and protects the health of Wyoming by serving as the official custodian of all vital records in the state and by disseminating health information in support of health and social planning efforts. More Wyoming statistics and information about the program can be found online at http://www.health.wyo.gov/rfhd/vital_records/index.html.

Wyoming Board of Agriculture to Meet in Cheyenne

newsrelease — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:29:35 +0000

The Wyoming Board of Agriculture will meet April 12 and 13 in the Wyoming Department of Agriculture main conference room in Cheyenne to discuss various issues around the state. The two-day meeting is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 12 at 8 a.m. and will adjourn at 5 p.m. During this time, the Board of Agriculture will elect a new President and Vice President as well as discuss rangeland health and wind energy. On Tuesday, April 13 the meeting will start at 8 a.m. and adjourn at 4:15 p.m. On this day, the Board will discuss Conservation District Extension requests and receive updates from the Livestock Board, WACD, and JIO-PAPO. They will also discuss the strategic plan, ethics and administrative procedures. A complete agenda may be found at http://agriculture.wy.gov/boag/agenda.htm. There will be a chance for public comment on both days and the public is encouraged to attend the meeting. The Board of Agriculture enforces the rules and regulations of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. All eleven board members are appointed by the governor for six-year terms to represent geographical areas of the state. Board members include: Juan Reyes, District 1; Jim Hodder, District 2; Shaun Sims, District 3; Jim Bennage, District 4; Joe Thomas, District 5; Bryan Brost, District 6; and Jim Price Jr., District 7. Youth Board Members include: Patrick Zimmerer, Southeast; Dalin Winters, Northwest; John Hansen, Southwest; and Bridget Kukowski, Northeast. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance or alternate formats will be made available for individuals with disabilities upon request in advance of the meeting.