CHEYENNE — A bill regulating both surgical and chemical abortions in Wyoming has passed the Senate and House on three readings each.

After hearing of another attempted scam targeted at Wyoming Medicaid clients, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is warning residents to be cautious with unexpected callers. “As an example, a client reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be from a department program that doesn’t actually exist. The caller was pushing medical equipment and aggressively asking for personal information,” said Lee Grossman, state Medicaid agent and Division of Healthcare Financing senior administrator with WDH.

During the Monday, Feb. 26, Kemmerer City Council meeting, board members discussed approving Lincoln County’s application for assistance from the National Parks Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. Councilmembers approved the appointment of Jennifer Edinger as the at-large member to the Fossil Basin Promotion Board. In her application, Edinger said she was interested in the position to promote tourism and winter activities.

With about 18 inches of ice at Lake Viva Naughton, the Kemmerer Lions Club 40th annual ice fishing derby on Feb. 17-18 was a success. Around 275 anglers braved the freezing weather and blizzard like …

KEMMERER — At the start of the Kemmerer City Council meeting held on Monday, Feb. 12, the board revisited a previous request from Lions Club President Mark Ristau for the city to help support …

Despite three individual champions, two runners-up and seven overall placers, the Kemmerer High School boys’ wrestling team fell just short in their bid for a third consecutive 2A State …

Four of six bills intended to give state electric utility regulators more powers to scrutinize system investments that may cost Wyoming ratepayers advanced this week out of the Senate Corporations, Business and Economic Development Committee. Though each bill addresses individual aspects of Wyoming and system-wide investments on the western electrical grid, the discussion has been mostly uniform around the entire suite of legislation; many lawmakers believe that shifting away from fossil fuels in favor of renewable forms of electrical power creates reliability risks and unnecessary costs for Wyoming ratepayers.

COKEVILLE — Areawide snowpacks are variable depending upon your location for the month of January. Generally speaking, snowpacks are higher in the south end of Lincoln County and taper off as you go north, especially in the Upper Green River Basin. Lower elevation snowpacks are below median, which is a reverse of last year’s measurements.

KEMMERER — A Kemmerer-Diamondville Water and Wastewater Joint Powers Board (JPB) meeting was held on Feb. 13, where members briefly discussed the Miners Park lift station. The station, which contains a wet and dry well, has had some issues and needs updates.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, was World Read Aloud Day, encouraging us all to read out loud to promote literacy around the world. It focuses on the power of story to create community and to promote reading as a basic human right. The first World Read Aloud Day was in 2010 and, since then, it has involved millions of readers, writers, and listeners from around the globe.

The Kemmerer Volunteer Fire Department honored Corey Ashliman (right) on Thursday, Feb. 8, upon his retirement. Ashliman served with the department for more than 23 years and has been an asset to the community. He is currently serving on the South Lincoln Fire District board and will continue to be involved with the firefighters. He is pictured with KVFD Chief Fred Baldwin. (COURTESY PHOTO/ Jamie Thornock)

A draft Bureau of Land Management plan for the administration of 3.6 million acres in southwest Wyoming sparked disapproval from the highest levels of state government this summer, along with plenty of misinformation and hysteria. Now, it’s spawned legislation as well.

KEMMERER — Standing on the sidelines while her dogs race is not where Alix Crittenden thought she would be this winter during the Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, which runs through Wyoming and Idaho. Winning the Kemmerer leg of the premier race last year and taking second overall, she had her sights set on being this year’s Stage Stop Champion.

February is already here, and can you believe the weather? Not that I’m complaining, especially after last year. I am a little disappointed about the Super Bowl this year. Sadly, the teams I wanted got beaten, but there are still the commercials and halftime besides the game, so I guess I’ll still watch.

“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.” - author Sidney Sheldon National Library Lover’s Month is celebrated the whole month of February as a way to honor libraries and the amazing services libraries offer their communities. Many people would say they love the library because of the books! The Lincoln County Library System has all kinds of books available, as well as ways to request books we don’t have through interlibrary loans.

KEMMERER — Boxes of old brochures, stacks of old magazines, garbage bags full of old ceiling tiles, empty boxes and chalkboards were just some of the trash that more than four dozen youth members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently cleared out of the basement of the Hamsfork Museum. More than 50 youth and adult volunteers from three Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints congregations rolled up their sleeves and, by creating a long line, implemented the “fireman pass” to effectively and efficiently remove the items.

KEMMERER — More than 50 guests poured into the South Lincoln Training and Events Center to meet the sled dog mushers of the 29th annual Pedigree Stage Stop Race for a mushers dinner the night before the Kemmerer leg of the race, Wednesday, Jan. 30. This year’s race consisted of seven legs in which racers competed for the title of “Stage Stop Champion.” Beginning in Jackson, teams travel 225 miles across rugged mountains in Wyoming and finish the seventh stage of the race in Driggs, Idaho.

EVANSTON — A 2020 study by the CDC found the suicide rate for farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers was 43.7 deaths per 100,000 and is the sixth highest among occupational groups in the U.S. A Morning Consult Poll found that during 2021, most farmers, workers, and rural adults reported experiencing more stress and mental health challenges compared to the prior year.

LYMAN — Bryson Quinney, Lyman, received a new lease on life and the chance to grow and play like a normal boy when he received his heart transplant some time ago. This transplant didn’t come easily, and he was on the list for a donor for some time before he received his heart transplant. But the outcome has been tremendous for Bryson and his parents, Eric and Jennylin Quinney. Bryson is 17 years old and a junior at Lyman High School. He is now very active in school…“lives a full life…and is a normal, healthy teenager,” Eric said. When he was in the seventh grade, Bryson had to carry an oxygen tank to school every day.

CASPER — Gov. Mark Gordon spoke at the Wyoming Press Association’s 125th annual convention during a luncheon and awards presentation. “This is an exciting time for the state,” Gordon said.