A peek at tomorrow's paper, using quotes that didn't make the cut...
“I don’t have a gift because I’m just a standard, normal guy, because I can’t see ghosts,” Robert Larson, talking to the Powell Valley Genealogical Society last month about the technique of grave dowsing. How you can (reportedly) talk with your dead ancestors on page 14.
“The concept that justice is blind does not require the Court to gouge out its own eyes and wander in exile like Oedipus,” the state public defender's office, writing in a colorful appeal of Richard Gordon Bloomer's conviction of aggravated assault and aggravated robbery in January. The state defender's office contends, among other things, that local prosecutors made missteps in the case, and the attorney general's office has agreed on one point. Why Bloomer will likely receive a reduced sentence, on page 5 (Region).
“Keep ‘em in the (Big Horn) Basin, that’s what it’s about,” Forward Cody's James Klessens, talking about the renewed effort to lure Eleutian Technologies to Cody. The company is expanding, but no longer in its original home of Ten Sleep. Some details on the front page.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tomorrow's Tribune: 10-22
A peak at tomorrow's paper using quotes that didn't make the cut...
“Growers lose precious harvest time every day, introducing the specter of freezing temperatures coming again before the beets are out of the ground,” state representative Dave Bonner (R-Powell), writing to Park County commissioners about the crisis being faced by local sugar beet farmers. The commission took action, requesting emergency federal aid on county growers' behalf. Details on page 1.
“We just can’t make them go away,” Powell Police Chief Tim Feathers, explaining that officers can't stop door-to-door salesmen from knocking on your door with the city's Green River ordinance suspended. However, salesfolk don't have free reign in town, either. Check the story below the fold.
“I was quite beside myself watching my wife hemorrhaging,” Clark resident Scott Brazil, narrating the need for emergency services in his community. Brazil said with responders in Powell and Cody roughly 30 miles away, Clark-based services are essential; he said it was agonizing to wait for over a half-hour for an ambulance to arrive for his injured wife. On Tuesday, Brazil, along with a host of fellow Clark residents, urged the county to OK an expanded Clark Fire Hall.
“Growers lose precious harvest time every day, introducing the specter of freezing temperatures coming again before the beets are out of the ground,” state representative Dave Bonner (R-Powell), writing to Park County commissioners about the crisis being faced by local sugar beet farmers. The commission took action, requesting emergency federal aid on county growers' behalf. Details on page 1.
“We just can’t make them go away,” Powell Police Chief Tim Feathers, explaining that officers can't stop door-to-door salesmen from knocking on your door with the city's Green River ordinance suspended. However, salesfolk don't have free reign in town, either. Check the story below the fold.
“I was quite beside myself watching my wife hemorrhaging,” Clark resident Scott Brazil, narrating the need for emergency services in his community. Brazil said with responders in Powell and Cody roughly 30 miles away, Clark-based services are essential; he said it was agonizing to wait for over a half-hour for an ambulance to arrive for his injured wife. On Tuesday, Brazil, along with a host of fellow Clark residents, urged the county to OK an expanded Clark Fire Hall.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Radio shipping costs county a boatload
Park County typically pays out well over $1 million a month meeting payroll and other expenses. Commissioners sign off on hundreds of bills every couple weeks, usually with little to no discussion.
However, one unusual bill drew their attention last week -- a $580.25 invoice to ship five radios.
“They must have been heavy,” quipped Commissioner Jill Shockley Siggins.
After a closer look at the voucher, commissioners found it was actually the insurance costs that drove up the freight costs at Cody's UPS Store.
County CIO Mike Conners submitted the bill, which he readily called, “crazy”* in a conversation with the Tribune.
“I figured that might raise a red flag somewhere,” he said.
The $5,000 radios - only about five years old - had been removed from some older, soon-to-be decommissioned patrol cars from the sheriff's department, Conners said. The communication devices were being shipped out to Veto Enterprises in Sycamore, Ill., where they'll be installed in shiny new squad cars.
“The radios are still in good shape,” Conners said.
Making sure they stayed that way was the big financial burden -- UPS insurance on the pricey items cost just under $60 per radio.
“I didn’t dare not insure them for five grand a piece,” said Conners.
Because if they did get destroyed, and Conners had to submit a $25,000 bill for their replacement?
“Then I’d get some questions, I suppose,” he said.
Last Tuesday, commissioners were satisfied with a second look at the receipt.
“Sometimes you wonder, you know?” said Commission Chairman Bill Brewer, who initially inquired about the expense. “We just get a bill and approve it.”
*Consider this: it's about 1,250 miles to Sycamore from Cody, which Google Maps conservatively estimates as a 21-hour drive. So if you paid someone $12 an hour to deliver just the radios in a vehicle getting 15 miles per gallon (at $2.50 a gallon), it would cost only $460. Granted, that doesn't cover any insurance. (An addition: As anon points out in the comments, that figure is also assuming that the driver lives in Sycamore or something, and has no need to return to Cody. The number would double to $920 for going both ways, which makes UPS cheaper. Of course, the the UPS price doesn't include return delivery, either. At a doubled-bill it would tally $1,160.50. I guess the point is that this comparison is clunky.)
However, one unusual bill drew their attention last week -- a $580.25 invoice to ship five radios.“They must have been heavy,” quipped Commissioner Jill Shockley Siggins.
After a closer look at the voucher, commissioners found it was actually the insurance costs that drove up the freight costs at Cody's UPS Store.
County CIO Mike Conners submitted the bill, which he readily called, “crazy”* in a conversation with the Tribune.
“I figured that might raise a red flag somewhere,” he said.
The $5,000 radios - only about five years old - had been removed from some older, soon-to-be decommissioned patrol cars from the sheriff's department, Conners said. The communication devices were being shipped out to Veto Enterprises in Sycamore, Ill., where they'll be installed in shiny new squad cars.
“The radios are still in good shape,” Conners said.
Making sure they stayed that way was the big financial burden -- UPS insurance on the pricey items cost just under $60 per radio.
“I didn’t dare not insure them for five grand a piece,” said Conners.
Because if they did get destroyed, and Conners had to submit a $25,000 bill for their replacement?
“Then I’d get some questions, I suppose,” he said.
Last Tuesday, commissioners were satisfied with a second look at the receipt.
“Sometimes you wonder, you know?” said Commission Chairman Bill Brewer, who initially inquired about the expense. “We just get a bill and approve it.”
*Consider this: it's about 1,250 miles to Sycamore from Cody, which Google Maps conservatively estimates as a 21-hour drive. So if you paid someone $12 an hour to deliver just the radios in a vehicle getting 15 miles per gallon (at $2.50 a gallon), it would cost only $460. Granted, that doesn't cover any insurance. (An addition: As anon points out in the comments, that figure is also assuming that the driver lives in Sycamore or something, and has no need to return to Cody. The number would double to $920 for going both ways, which makes UPS cheaper. Of course, the the UPS price doesn't include return delivery, either. At a doubled-bill it would tally $1,160.50. I guess the point is that this comparison is clunky.)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
'Autumn' photos and the next photo theme: 'What makes your day?'
After enjoying crisp Autumn air in September, the first weeks of October brought snowfall and frigid temperatures to northern Wyoming. Readers shared scenes of autumn with the Tribune as part of our photo theme.
The next photo theme is: "What makes your day?" We're asking readers to submit photographs of the moments that brighten your day.
If you're a photographer — of any age or skill level — we'd love to see what you've got for our themes. Just e-mail your submissions to web@powelltribune.com in jpeg, png, tiff or PSD format. Please include the photographer's first and last name, and tell us a little bit about your photo. For more information, see our blog entry. Please submit photographs by 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.
We published three of our favorite autumn photographs in the Thursday, Oct. 15 Tribune. Here are more autumn-themed shots:
Donna also captured this fall image on Oct. 1 at Mesa Falls, Idaho. Mesa Falls is where the Henry' s Fork of the Snake River is squeezed into a gorge that drops 115 feet. It is located along the Mesa Falls Scenic byway, Highway 47 in Island Park, Idaho.
A colorful leaf in the snow illustrates autumn weather in the Big Horn Basin in this photo taken by Donna Wageman.
Steve Jackson took this photo of a ripe apple framed by changing leaves.
Pamela Kresky shared this shot of South Fork aspen trees in all their autumn glory.
The next photo theme is: "What makes your day?" We're asking readers to submit photographs of the moments that brighten your day.
If you're a photographer — of any age or skill level — we'd love to see what you've got for our themes. Just e-mail your submissions to web@powelltribune.com in jpeg, png, tiff or PSD format. Please include the photographer's first and last name, and tell us a little bit about your photo. For more information, see our blog entry. Please submit photographs by 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.
We published three of our favorite autumn photographs in the Thursday, Oct. 15 Tribune. Here are more autumn-themed shots:
A lovely October day inspired this shot by Laurie Vredenburg.
Laurie also shared this photo, which was taken near Roscoe, Mont.
Donna Wageman trudged through snow to take this photo of a scarecrow in her window. "One can see some of the snow reflected in the window which comes from the mountains on the east side of our little ranch in Cody," Donna said.
Donna also captured this fall image on Oct. 1 at Mesa Falls, Idaho. Mesa Falls is where the Henry' s Fork of the Snake River is squeezed into a gorge that drops 115 feet. It is located along the Mesa Falls Scenic byway, Highway 47 in Island Park, Idaho.
A colorful leaf in the snow illustrates autumn weather in the Big Horn Basin in this photo taken by Donna Wageman.
The Moore family shared this photo from Paducah, Kent., at the annual Seabee get together.
Steve Jackson took this photo of a ripe apple framed by changing leaves.
Tribune photographer Gib Mathers shared this about a photo he took of a fall drake: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. It isn’t that good a picture of a drake mallard lifting-off a puddle near the Shoshone River in Cody, but the duck, geese and sandhill crane fall assembly in Park County always gives me a lift. Two days ago a flock of sandhill cranes flew over my car. On Sunday, I heard a gander of geese voicing their melancholy call while flying in formation. I know honking is just a signal to other geese, but it always invokes a bittersweet sentiment — a forewarning of winter. Still, watching waterfowl has been a favorite fall pastime of mine for years. You can’t beat nature."
Pamela Kresky shared this shot of South Fork aspen trees in all their autumn glory.
Even with their petals buried in snow, these flowers proudly showed their color in this photo by Tribune News Editor Ilene Olson.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tomorrow's Tribune: 10-15
A peek at tomorrow's paper using quotes that didn't make the cut...
“We’re always on the look out for juice,” Cindy Balderas, talking about items residents can donate during the Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes food drive, which takes place in Powell neighborhoods on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Read about it below the fold.
“It’s a maintenance issue for you; it’s a liability issue for you,” Willwood Irrigation District Manager Tom Walker, lobbying Park County Commissioners for financial help on a project that would bury an unstable drainage ditch running along Road 4. Several groups sought money from commissioners as they divvied up the last batch of State Loan and Investment Board consensus funding given to the county. Who got money and who might go without on the Region page (5).
“He was gone by the time we got there,” Police Chief Tim Feathers, speaking about a prowler who reportedly climbed into a Powell woman's bed on Wednesday. Some details on Digest (page 6).
“We’re always on the look out for juice,” Cindy Balderas, talking about items residents can donate during the Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes food drive, which takes place in Powell neighborhoods on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Read about it below the fold.
“It’s a maintenance issue for you; it’s a liability issue for you,” Willwood Irrigation District Manager Tom Walker, lobbying Park County Commissioners for financial help on a project that would bury an unstable drainage ditch running along Road 4. Several groups sought money from commissioners as they divvied up the last batch of State Loan and Investment Board consensus funding given to the county. Who got money and who might go without on the Region page (5).
“He was gone by the time we got there,” Police Chief Tim Feathers, speaking about a prowler who reportedly climbed into a Powell woman's bed on Wednesday. Some details on Digest (page 6).
Monday, October 12, 2009
A map of Park County's TV Translators
The Tribune ran a number of stories about Park County's television translators this spring and summer (read your heart out). If you're unfamiliar, translators beam the over-the-air (free) television signals picked up by rabbit-ears and other basic antennas.
There are a total of 38 translators (one per channel) serving the county from eight different sites, and it's a fairly complex and counter-intuitive system.
To help make visual sense of the thing, I put together the map embedded below. Click around on the towers and broadcast beams to pull up info bubbles and learn which channels and translators are found where. You can also check it out in a larger view.
View Park County's TV Translator System in a larger map
There are a total of 38 translators (one per channel) serving the county from eight different sites, and it's a fairly complex and counter-intuitive system.
To help make visual sense of the thing, I put together the map embedded below. Click around on the towers and broadcast beams to pull up info bubbles and learn which channels and translators are found where. You can also check it out in a larger view.
View Park County's TV Translator System in a larger map
Friday, October 9, 2009
Jail no longer an echo location
The hallways of the Park County Detention Center should soon echo a bit less a bit less.
Jail staff got the go-ahead from county commissioners on Tuesday to install sound-absorbing “Echo Eliminator” panels at the facility.
Reverberating sounds have been an issue since the jail opened in 2006, said Lt. Rick Atwood, the detention center administrator.
The problem, put simply, is that inmates at the jail are serving hard time — literally.
“Basically, there’s no soft surfaces in our building,” said Atwood.
A total of 422 two-by-four foot burgundy wall panels, made of recycled cotton, will be slapped on jail walls. Those supplies, along with 85 tubes and 43 cans of adhesives, will run a total bill of $11,089.30, to cover some 3,376 square feet.
After the commission approved the project, Commissioner Jill Shockley Siggins asked why the one-inch thick panels were ordered in burgundy. She noted psychological studies that show that “red makes people angry.”
“Green would be more soothing in a jail,” Siggins suggested.
Atwood said the burgundy matches color in the jail's tiling, though he quipped that had it been up to him, the facility would have pink-inlaid flooring.
Jail staff got the go-ahead from county commissioners on Tuesday to install sound-absorbing “Echo Eliminator” panels at the facility.
Reverberating sounds have been an issue since the jail opened in 2006, said Lt. Rick Atwood, the detention center administrator.
The problem, put simply, is that inmates at the jail are serving hard time — literally.
“Basically, there’s no soft surfaces in our building,” said Atwood.
A total of 422 two-by-four foot burgundy wall panels, made of recycled cotton, will be slapped on jail walls. Those supplies, along with 85 tubes and 43 cans of adhesives, will run a total bill of $11,089.30, to cover some 3,376 square feet.
After the commission approved the project, Commissioner Jill Shockley Siggins asked why the one-inch thick panels were ordered in burgundy. She noted psychological studies that show that “red makes people angry.”
“Green would be more soothing in a jail,” Siggins suggested.
Atwood said the burgundy matches color in the jail's tiling, though he quipped that had it been up to him, the facility would have pink-inlaid flooring.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Eddie 'The Wonder Horse' goes international
Eddie, a Powell horse with a knack for survival and a fondness for apples, has drawn the attention of equine-focused Kiwis.Horsetalk, a New Zealand-based online news source, recently posted a story on Eddie’s perilous swim through the 3.3-mile Corbett Tunnel. Horsetalk deemed Eddie the “miracle horse” after the 9-year-old Arabian survived the perilous journey through the dark tunnel’s cold, rushing water.
Horestalk’s Neil Clarkson called the Tribune last week looking for contacts related to Gib Mathers' story about Eddie. Clarkson interviewed Eddie’s Powell owner, Paul Watkins, as well as Shoshone Irrigation District Manager Bryant Startin.
Startin told Clarkson: "It's absolutely amazing he survived. It's a miracle. He would have been in the pitch black for 3 miles, wondering what the hell was going on. And he makes it out and survives. It's the most fascinating story ... unbelievable.”
Eddie is now relaxing at a local pasture after the traumatic ordeal — healthy, happy and oblivious to the regional and international attention and well wishes.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Harvest photos and next photo theme: 'Autumn'
For the past few months, local residents have welcomed the 2009 harvest season. Farmers across the Big Horn Basin have harvested a variety of crops, including the local staples — beets, beans and barley. Readers shared scenes of the harvest with the Tribune as part of our photo theme.
The next photo theme is "Autumn." Please submit photos by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
If you're photographer — of any age or skill level — we'd love to see what you've got for our themes. Just e-mail your submissions to web@powelltribune.com in jpeg, png, tiff or PSD format. Please include the photographer's first and last name, and tell us a little bit about your photo. For more information, see our blog entry.
Three harvest pictures were printed in the Tribune on Thursday, Oct. 1. Here are more harvest-themed photographs:
A Powell farmer lights his field on fire after harvesting to prepare for the next stage in the growing process. Tribune photo by Kara Bacon
Donna also shared this photo of Bev harvesting a big cabbage in her garden on Sept. 10. The vegetable was steamed for a large dinner to go with ham the following day.
Farmers harvest their crops in the Powell Valley. Tribune photo by Kara Bacon (Editor's note: A previous caption incorrectly identified the crop as sugar beets. Sorry, anon.)
A busy bee harvests pollen from colorful flowers. Tribune photo by Ilene Olson
The next photo theme is "Autumn." Please submit photos by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
If you're photographer — of any age or skill level — we'd love to see what you've got for our themes. Just e-mail your submissions to web@powelltribune.com in jpeg, png, tiff or PSD format. Please include the photographer's first and last name, and tell us a little bit about your photo. For more information, see our blog entry.
Three harvest pictures were printed in the Tribune on Thursday, Oct. 1. Here are more harvest-themed photographs:
Dennis and Pamela Kresky of Powell shared this photo and note: "Not the typical harvest picture you'd expect here in Powell, but we were so happy with this prolific little $2 tomato plant, we just wanted to share it.
It has been supplying us with several tasty tomatoes every week for two months now.
Only problem is we can't remember where we bought it!"
It has been supplying us with several tasty tomatoes every week for two months now.
Only problem is we can't remember where we bought it!"
A Powell farmer lights his field on fire after harvesting to prepare for the next stage in the growing process. Tribune photo by Kara Bacon
Donna Wageman took this photograph of a big kohlrabi grown by Bev Sutton of Cody and harvested Sept. 10.
Donna also shared this photo of Bev harvesting a big cabbage in her garden on Sept. 10. The vegetable was steamed for a large dinner to go with ham the following day.
Willie Marcus captured this image last spring of a bee dutifully collecting nectar from cherry blossoms in the bright sunshine.
Farmers harvest their crops in the Powell Valley. Tribune photo by Kara Bacon (Editor's note: A previous caption incorrectly identified the crop as sugar beets. Sorry, anon.)
A busy bee harvests pollen from colorful flowers. Tribune photo by Ilene Olson
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