EVANSTON — It was a packed house at the Beeman-Cashin building in Evanston as Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials discussed the Flaming Gorge fishery on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Green River Fisheries Biologist John Walrath shared a brief history of the reservoir, covering past and present data, to provide anglers with an understanding of the current status of the sport fisheries. The presentation included possible management options moving forward as high numbers of small lake trout remain a concern for fisheries managers.

Factors that led to the recent demise of a “small modular reactor” energy project in Utah do not directly apply to TerraPower’s nuclear energy project in Wyoming, the company says. Timing delays, forecasted cost overruns and a growing lack of faith in the effort foiled the NuScale Power Corporation’s plans. In contrast to the Utah project’s inferior design — “just an adaptation of the same technology that has been running nuclear power plants in the United States for the past, you know, five, six decades” — and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems’s failed commercialization plan, TerraPower’s Natrium project in Kemmerer has a solid design and the company is on track to deliver on its promises, Jeff Navin, the company’s director of external affairs, said.

KEMMERER — Reid Rasner brought his “We The People” campaign to a townhall meeting at the Kemmerer Senior Center on Oct. 20. Rasner aims to unseat Republican Sen. John Barrasso, who has served in that position since 2007. Rasner introduced himself as a fourth-generation Wyomingite who grew up in Casper, saying, “I am looking forward to meeting people of Wyoming and listening to the challenges we are all facing together.”

KEMMERER — Brian Muir wears multiple hats as the city administrator for Kemmerer, and one of those is raising funds for town projects. Sometimes that requires calls to the State Loan and Investment Board or applications for grant funding. Currently, Muir is hoping to raise money through a sixth-penny tax, but first it must get on next year’s ballot. The tax would allow towns in Lincoln County to cooperate with each other, using funding raised from a voluntary sales tax for specific projects.

OPAL — The Town Hall building in Opal saw a busier than usual morning last week on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Judge J. Michael Lamp conducted the bench trial for the Town of Opal v. Ellie Bienz and Tracie Clayton. Witnesses were called to testify, and a ruling was made after more than three hours of proceedings.

The Best Western Fossil Country Inn and Suites in Kemmerer was presented with the brand’s highest honor once again. The local hotel was given the M.K. Guertin Award at the Best Western Hotels and Resorts’ 2023 North American Convention. The prestigious M.K. Guertin Award is held in high regard — hotels that receive this award best represent the vision of Best Western’s founder and demonstrate exceptional levels of quality, guest satisfaction and dedication to the brand. (COURTESY PHOTO)

KEMMERER — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission presented to a packed room at the event center in Kemmerer during a meeting last week. The purpose of the event, held Tuesday, Nov. 7, was to inform the community of the upcoming application from TerraPower, which is expected to be turned in by March of 2024.

KEMMERER — On Nov. 1-2, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfield Program brought technical assistance providers from Kansas State University (KSU) and ICF International to facilitate two days of workshops with Kemmerer and Diamondville business owners, community members, members of the Chamber of Commerce, city councils and other municipal leaders.

KEMMERER — Responding to a critical need in war-torn Ukraine, the Kemmerer Rotary Club has launched a project to convert used solar panels into cellphone chargers for shipment to schools in Ukraine. Kemmerer Rotary Club past president Lexie Scherr said that, as she handed the baton over to the new president, she wanted to work on a project for the club. She latched on to the idea of transforming old solar panels for a new use.

KEMMERER — Robert Bowen, a local veteran and business owner, can be seen around town in uniform carrying a flag during special occasions to honor those who served. As commander of American Legion Post 55, he continues to serve his country after beginning his service in the military in 1998. Bowen said he felt called to serve, following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

KEMMERER — Kemmerer residents are invited to enjoy free food and drink at Grumpies Bar on Saturday, Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day. Generous donations from the public and organizations such as American Legion Post 55 brought in money and food for the event.

Members of the Cokeville Lady Panthers volleyball team celebrate after winning the 1A state tournament over the weekend. See recap on page A6. (GAZETTE PHOTO/Jan Moody)

15-year-old celebrates first moose harvested

Trick-or-treaters brave the cold for candy

KEMMERER — The first items of business for the Kemmerer City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 23, were to approve the bills and agree to sign a lease with Heidi Despain of Quality Reality LLC. Despain requested to lease two offices spaces in the Old Town Hall. The council approved the bills and for Kemmerer Mayor Bill Thek to sign the lease agreements.

Lincoln County Search and Rescue was involved with a two-day search last week, beginning the early morning of Thursday, Oct. 26, after a hunter didn’t return to camp the night of Oct. 25, in the area of Twin lakes. “The storm that rolled through [during] the night, while the hunter was missing, brought frigid temps and around 12 inches of snow in the area,” reads a Facebook post by Lincoln County Search snd Rescue. “This made it difficult for the man-tracking teams while the storm was ongoing and after the storm settled down.”

CHEYENNE — Wyoming’s elected state superintendent of public instruction was invited to testify before Congress on Thursday, where she informed members of her plan to create a statewide guidance policy for K-12 school libraries. Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce heard testimony from education leaders in different states that addressed the nationwide controversy over sexually explicit books in public school libraries.

Four years ago, southwest Wyoming was reeling from energy industry layoffs, anticipating further economic challenges and wondering how to prevent an all-out youth exodus. Today, anxieties remain high, but for very different, and many say better, reasons. At least five major industrial projects appear imminent, thanks in large part to an influx of private and federal investment driven by last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.

SUBLETTE COUNTY — It was a small but cheerful group of state officials and wildlife lovers, donors and employees that gathered in the sharp wind and chilly rain off Highway 189 on Thursday morning, Oct. 12, for the Dry Piney wildlife-crossing ribbon cutting event.

The Bureau of Land Management will “work together” with Wyoming and others to finalize a plan for future uses of 3.7 million acres of federal public land in the Rock Springs area, agency Director Tracy Stone-Manning said Thursday. Stone-Manning extended the deadline for public comments on the agency’s draft Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, draft environmental impact statement and proposed “areas of critical environmental concern” by 60 days to Jan. 17, 2024. The plan seeks “a balance of opportunities” to use and develop public resources “while promoting environmental conservation.” The final plan will guide management of a Connecticut-sized swath of southwest Wyoming for years.