THURSDAY, September 24, 2026|

Photo – Town of Saratoga logo – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

Saratoga officials will ask the State Loan and Investment Board for more money to complete needed sewer improvements.

The Town of Saratoga is undertaking major sewer and water infrastructure upgrades. The West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, which involved repairing and replacing roughly 7,000 feet of deteriorating underground water lines on the west side of town, was completed earlier this month. The next effort is the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements Project to replace two sewer lines running beneath the North Platte River.

During the September 2nd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner announced that Oftedal Construction of Casper submitted the lowest bid for the sewer replacement project at $3,199,535.90, or just over $166,000 over the engineer’s estimate. The contractor’s bid, combined with an additional 20 percent for engineering and related project costs, brings the total price to $3,839,443.08. The town received a $3.15 million grant from the State Revolving Fund, leaving $689,433.08 unfunded.

Penner recommended requesting another SRF loan from the Office of State Lands and Investments to cover the remaining cost of the sewer replacement project. He said the town must hold a public hearing and draft a resolution before the State Loan and Investment Board meets on October 1st. The governing body agreed to award Oftedal Construction the contract before receiving confirmation that SLIB will approve the second funding request.

On Tuesday evening, the Saratoga Town Council held the required public hearing where Public Works Director Penner explained that the town is asking the state for the remaining $689,433.08 needed to complete the North Platte River sewer replacement project.

No members of the public spoke for or against the matter and the Saratoga Town Council voted to approve the resolution to seek additional funding from the State Revolving Fund. Penner added that he expects the second loan to carry 50 percent principal forgiveness, the same as the original.

The State Loan and Investment Board will consider the town’s second SRF loan request during its October 1st meeting. If the loan is denied, the remaining costs will be covered by Saratoga’s sewer enterprise fund.

The post Saratoga Requests More Funding from State for Sewer Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2026|

Photo – North Platte River in Saratoga – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga officials discussed the possibility of removing sandbars from the North Platte River to reduce flooding risk.

During the September 16th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner called attention to the two islands in the North Platte River south of the Highway 130 bridge. Penner said that in the past, the town has dredged the sandbars to improve the flow of the river, but some have suggested finding a permanent solution instead. He recommended the less expensive option of excavating the islands while he investigates a more long-term remedy.

Penner said the least expensive option is for the town to obtain the necessary permits and have its own employees do the actual dredging work. He said removing the islands will reduce the risk of flooding on the North Platte River. Penner added that if nothing is done to address the issue, the sandbars will continue to grow and increase the likelihood of future flooding.

Should the governing body move forward with the dredging project, Penner recommended performing the work during winter when water levels are at their lowest.

Mayor Chuck Davis said the islands have re‑formed after being dredged in the past and will keep doing so. He noted the sandbars are simply continuing to grow without intervention from the town.

Penner was asked who would own the material removed from the river. The public works director said he was waiting for an answer from the Army Corps of Engineers, adding that the last time dredging work was done, the sand and gravel was split between the county and the town.

Newly appointed council member Joe Parrie returned to the topic of a long‑term solution, saying he was told the Highway 130 bridge was contributing to the problem. Public Works Director Penner explained that any obstruction in the river will cause sediment to accumulate.

Penner said the engineering firm Stantec studied ways to alleviate the sediment problem but found that a permanent solution would be very costly.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst asked how much the town spent to dredge the islands in the past. Penner responded that “just over a couple hundred grand” was spent to hire a contractor. For town crews to perform the work, Penner said he would need to rent heavy excavating and hauling equipment to remove roughly 18,000 tons of sand and gravel from the river. He added that using the town’s existing equipment would significantly prolong the project.

Penner said he would likely need to access the North Platte River near East Main Avenue and North River Street or at the end of East Saratoga Avenue, where the bank is the shallowest. He said the Army Corps of Engineers is unlikely to allow him to construct a new entry point into the river.

Penner said he is under the impression that the Corps will only permit dirt work above the established high-water line.

Mayor Chuck Davis said fixing the sediment problem will require addressing the river upstream of the town, adding that the work would likely cost millions. The other members of the governing body agreed that a temporary solution is needed now.

Public Works Director Penner said once the work is complete, the town will need to hire a hydrologist to ensure the project did not affect flood zones.

The Saratoga Town Council approved Penner’s request to obtain cost estimates to dredge the two large sandbars in the North Platte River. The public works director said he will have more information at the next council meeting on October 7th.

The post Saratoga Town Council Discuss Costs to Remove Sandbars in River first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2026|

This week, News Director Matt Copeland sits down with Commissioner Sue Jones to talk about her political experience and the economic future of Carbon County.

The post Carbon County Conversations – Sue Jones first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, September 22, 2026|

Photo – Image of corner crossing – from court documents

President Trump issued an executive order ensuring access to federally managed public lands.

On Thursday, September 17th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage.” Speaking during the September 17th press conference, President Trump said sportsmen should have access to all federally managed lands.

Specifically, “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” directs multiple federal agencies to expand hunting access and improve recreation opportunities on public lands. It orders the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, War, and Commerce to change any policies that limit access for recreation, infrastructure work, and wildlife management, while encouraging volunteer efforts to manage wildlife and invasive species and expanding access for sportsmen and women with disabilities.

President Trump’s executive order also directs his cabinet to unlock checkerboarded and landlocked federal lands through voluntary easements, land exchanges, and cooperative agreements that respect private property rights.

The order also permits the use of traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle.

President Trump’s executive order is a direct response to the Elk Mountain corner‑crossing case here in Carbon County. In 2020 and 2021, a group of four Missouri hunters used a ladder to corner cross from one parcel of federal land to another. The adjacent private landowner, pharmaceutical executive Fred Eshelman, later sued the hunters for trespassing, arguing they violated his airspace despite never stepping on his property. The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office initially declined to cite the hunters, but the county prosecutor ultimately filed criminal trespass charges.

In 2022, a Carbon County jury ruled in favor of the hunters. Eshelman’s attorneys then brought the case before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. In March of 2025, the judges upheld the lower court’s decision, citing the 1885 Unlawful Inclosures Act, which prohibits private landowners from blocking access to federal public lands in checkerboard regions.

Later in 2025, the Elk Mountain Ranch owner’s attorneys petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the corner‑crossing dispute, but the justices refused to take the case. Since the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision, Wyoming law enforcement, including the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, has been instructed that corner crossing is legal when performed at the corners of two public parcels without touching the adjacent private land.

Because President Trump’s “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” executive order was signed just last week, no regulatory changes or corner‑crossing policy proposals have been announced. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have 180 days from last Thursday to submit plans to open checkerboard‑locked federally managed public lands.

The post President Issues Executive Order Ensuring Access to Public Lands first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, September 22, 2026|

Photo – Crews working on irrigation system in cemetery – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials are making needed improvements to the city cemetery.

Last week, the City of Rawlins announced that crews were installing new valves on the municipal cemetery’s irrigation system. Parks and Recreation Director Billy Hunt said his focus since taking the job in June has been to improve the cemetery while honoring its past.

City crews are installing battery‑powered valves on the cemetery’s irrigation system. Hunt said the original manual valves often led to over‑ or under‑watering. He said the new system will allow crews to automate sprinkler cycles during ideal watering periods.

Crews are also replacing broken sprinkler heads and repairing any leaks they find in the irrigation pipes. At the same time, Hunt said the computers that control each section of the watering system are being swapped out. He said his team has finished part of the work, and the upgrades are already improving conditions at the cemetery.

The Rawlins City Council approved the cemetery irrigation upgrades, but asked Hunt to consider different options to power the system, including solar energy. Hunt said he chose a rechargeable battery‑powered setup over solar because it’s less expensive and easier to maintain.

Hunt said he expects the batteries to last approximately one year, with the new valves and controls projected to hold up for five to seven years. However, he said the current upgrades are only a test setup to determine the equipment’s actual lifespan.

Hunt added that the irrigation work is only the beginning of the improvements he has planned for the Rawlins Cemetery.

As part of those planned upgrades, Hunt said he would like to dedicate May to cemetery maintenance, where volunteers and city staff work to address winter‑related damage.

Hunt thanked his team, including Nate Williams, Tom Kelly, and their crews, for their work on the cemetery upgrades.

The parks and rec director said the newly upgraded irrigation system should be roughly 70 percent finished before winter, with the entire project completed by next spring.

The post City of Rawlins Makes Improvements to Cemetery first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, September 21, 2026|

Photo – Carbon County Senior Center in Rawlins – Bigfoot99 file photo

County officials are frustrated by new federal rules tied to an older project.

In October 2022, the Carbon County Senior Services was awarded a Federal Transit Administration grant to repave the Rawlins Senior Center’s northern parking lot. The Wyoming Department of Transportation partnered with the federal agency to administer the funding.

Speaking at the August 25th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, County Clerk Lisa Smith announced that she had received a Notice of Federal Interest for the parking lot project. Clerk Smith said under the agreement, the county must inform WYDOT before selling or transferring ownership of the property.

Commissioner John Johnson asked how long the agreement would last. Clerk Smith said she was uncertain. While the county is unlikely to sell the property, Commissioner Johnson suggested having Deputy Attorney Ashley Davis clarify the timeframe before the Board signs the agreement. The commissioners agreed to postpone a vote until they could determine WYDOT’s precise requirements for the property.

The matter was revisited during the September 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Baggs. Deputy Attorney Ashley Davis reported that WYDOT has started a new process to promote cooperation between the state agency and local governments on federally funded projects.

Attorney Davis said the Notice of Federal Interest acts as lien, or a legal claim against a piece of property that secures a debt. She said WYDOT appears to be using the agreement to avoid pushback from the federal government.

As for the length of the agreement, Attorney Davis said a WYDOT representative indicated the project is expected to have a 20‑year useful lifespan. While not specifically mentioned in the contract, the attorney said WYDOT’s claim to the property may end after that 20‑year period.

Attorney Davis said she informed the WYDOT representative that the project was completed over the course of two years, 2022 and 2023, without any mention of the state agency retaining an interest in the property. She said the WYDOT rep simply reiterated that it was a new policy.

Attorney Davis said the Board can choose not to sign the agreement, but they may be required to repay the $440,000 in federal funding used for the senior center parking lot project. Commissioner John Johnson expressed his disappointment with the last-minute change.

Commissioner Johnson said the Board could challenge the legality of the late addition, but a court case would likely be costly.

Commissioner John Espy said to prevent misuse, the Trump administration has imposed stricter requirements on all federal funding.

Since the Notice of Federal Intent wasn’t part of the original grant agreement, the Board of Commissioners chose not to sign the contract at that time. Instead, they instructed Deputy County Attorney Ashley Davis to contact Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz’s office for guidance.

The post County Receives Notice of Federal Interest on Three-Year Old Paving Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, September 18, 2026|

Photo – Visitor’s Information booklet – Courtesy Discover Carbon County Wyoming

The Rawlins representative to the Carbon County Visitors Council explained how tourism money is benefitting the county.

During Tuesday evening’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Carbon County Visitors Council member Mary‑Pat Whitfield presented the organization’s regular update to the governing body. Whitfield said the Carbon County Visitors Council, now doing business as Discover Carbon County Wyoming, was established in 1987 through a joint powers agreement between the Board of Carbon County Commissioners and the towns of Baggs, Elk Mountain, Encampment, Hanna, Medicine Bow, Rawlins, Riverside, and Saratoga. Since that time, Whitfield said the Visitors Council has worked to attract tourists to Carbon County while supporting residents.

The state of Wyoming imposes a five percent tax on hotel, motel, campground, and short‑term rental stays. Three percent of the lodging‑tax revenue supports the Wyoming Office of Tourism, while the remaining two percent is returned to the county where the stay occurred. In 1987, Carbon County voters approved an additional two percent lodging tax to promote tourism to the area. The tax has been renewed every four years and will be on the ballot again this November.

At Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Mary‑Pat Whitfield explained how lodging taxes, both state and local, benefit the county.

Whitfield said over $227,000 was returned to municipalities where the lodging taxes were collected. She added that the City of Rawlins has received nearly $22,000 in lodging tax revenue since July.

The city’s Visitors Council representative said Discover Carbon County awarded approximately $147,000 in grant funding to support 41 countywide advertising, signage, and community improvement projects last fiscal year.

Whitfield added that lodging‑tax revenue has risen two percent since 2025, with collections more than doubling since 2021, reflecting Carbon County’s rebounding tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitfield said in 2025, Discover Carbon County collaborated with a wide variety of organizations to produce more than 500 print, online, radio, and TV advertisements promoting the area.

Whitfield said last year, the Discover Carbon office in Rawlins fulfilled over 24,000 visitor information requests from around the world. In addition, the Visitors Council partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to provide staff for the Brush Creek Visitors Center and appeared on behalf of Carbon County at tourism events around the country.

Whitfield said recently, Discover Carbon County has sponsored programs to install wayfinding signs around the county, improve the Continental Divide Trail, and move the Fossil Cabin from the Como Bluffs to the Medicine Bow Museum. She said the organization is working with the Wyoming Department of Transportation on a proposed bicycle path from Rawlins to Walcott Junction. Despite cutting costs by over 80 percent, Whitfield said the project remains financially out of reach.

Whitfield said the Visitors Council also partnered with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to establish the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Information Exchange.

In conclusion, Mary-Pat Whitfield said residents rarely pay the lodging tax, but every community benefits from the revenue it provides.

Following the presentation, Discover Carbon County Executive Director Leslie Jefferson thanked the Rawlins City Council for appointing Whitfield to the Visitors Council.

The post Visitor’s Council Rep Reports on Benefits of Tourism Money first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, September 18, 2026|

Photo – County Road and Bridge Shop – Bigfoot99 file photo

County officials approved a bid to lay 10 miles of gravel on dirt roads near Encampment.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Baggs, Road and Bridge Director Kandis Fritz announced that she had received two bids for a gravel project on County Roads 660 and 203, also known as Brush Creek Road, both in the Encampment area. She said the material will be split evenly, with each road receiving five miles of gravel.

Fritz said the material suppliers were given an option for the type of gravel offered to the county, W or L. She explained that L gravel is a larger, coarser base layer, while W gravel is finer. The Road and Bridge director said Plattoga Aggregates in Saratoga only provided an estimate for the higher‑grade road base. Knife River Material from Rawlins proposed the lower‑grade gravel, but for roughly half the price of the Saratoga supplier.

Noting the $285,000 difference, Fritz recommended accepting Knife River Material’s bid. She said the remaining funds can be used to pay to haul the gravel to the job sites.

Commissioner John Johnson asked if the different grades of gravel change the road material’s durability. Road and Bridge Director Fritz said she wasn’t certain, but added that W‑grade gravel contains more rock, which isn’t necessarily well suited to the Encampment area.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve Knife River Material’s $315,000 gravel bid. The money will come from a dedicated gravel account, with any remaining funds covered by the Road and Bridge budget.

Fritz said the County Road 660 gravel project is scheduled to begin this fall. However, assuming our area experiences a typically snowy winter, she said Brush Creek Road won’t be addressed until next spring.

After the vote, Fritz asked the Board to waive the county’s procurement policy so she could skip the mandated bidding process to select a company to haul the gravel. The Road and Bridge director explained that instead of choosing one firm for the project, she would like to have every local contractor transport road base to the job sites.

The Board voted to waive the procurement policy and allow Road and Bridge Director Fritz to hire as many trucks as possible for a set rate. Fritz encouraged local contractors to participate in the County Road 660 and 203 gravel project.

The post County to Gravel Two Roads Near Encampment first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, September 17, 2026|

Photo – Mural on hangar – Courtesy Artist Hans Geist

A Louisiana artist recently completed a mural at the Rawlins municipal airport paying tribute to a beloved local aviator.

In early May, members of the Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board began seeking submissions from artists to paint a mural on the side of the Rawlins Flying Club hangar at Harvey Field. At the time, Board member Megan McComas said the painting must incorporate well-known pilot Norm Harvey in some way.

Norm Harvey was the longtime chairman of the Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board. He worked with local, state, and federal agencies to expand the Rawlins airport all while sharing his passion for aviation as president of the Rawlins Flying Club. His hangar, now home to the club, was a popular stop for traveling pilots. Harvey was known for flying his prized blue Cessna 195 around the country, even earning a world speed record. He taught future pilots at the Carbon County Higher Education Center before his death on September 26th, 2003, at the age of 59.

Louisiana artist Hans Geist was browsing nationwide calls for artists when he spotted the Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board’s mural request. Despite the distance from home, Geist said he was driven to apply.

Geist has painted numerous murals around the country, including one at Founders Plaza in Brighton, Colorado. The artist said he used his family’s aviation background as inspiration for the Rawlins airport mural.

Geist and his daughter Emma finished the 12‑by‑40‑foot mural in about two weeks. The artist said he chose to highlight the local scenery and the airport’s past as part the Transcontinental Airmail System.

Geist used a yellow biplane to represent the airmail route. Opposite the biplane, Geist painted a portrait of Norm Harvey, with his iconic blue Cessna 195 towing a Rawlins Flying Club banner above. He also added the Discover Carbon County logo, as the organization helped sponsor the project, and at the end of the dirt runway Geist recreated Harvey Field’s main hangar.

While a typical desert landscape may be fairly monotone, Geist said he added a variety of colors to make the scenery stand out. The artist said the mural was shaped by his love of aviation and the airport’s past.

Geist said he is accustomed to painting large pieces, adding that the 480-square-foot Harvey Field mural is relatively small compared with some of his other works. He said it wasn’t the mural’s size that caused problems, but the hangar’s uneven siding material and the constant Wyoming wind.

Despite the difficulty, Geist said he enjoyed creating the mural and the time he spent in Rawlins.

Geist thanked Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board member Megan McComas for giving him the opportunity to work on the Harvey Field Airport mural.

The post Artist Completes Airport Mural first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, September 17, 2026|

Photo – Lola Armijo and family receives award – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials recognized a local business owner for hosting multiple community events.

Every month, the Rawlins Volunteer Committee selects a person or organization to honor for their service to the city. During Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Public Information Officer and Volunteer Committee Member Mira Miller announced that LA Looks and More owner Lola Armijo was chosen to receive the September Community Builder Award.

LA Looks and More is a retail gift shop and floral studio located at 804 West Spruce Street in Rawlins.

Continuing the presentation, Volunteer Committee Member Mira Miller said that when Armijo opened her business two years ago, she chose to make it more than a retail space by hosting a range of community events.

Miller said Armijo has fond memories of attending past events in Rawlins and wanted to share that experience with the community, adding that the business owner donates generously to local causes. Miller encouraged residents to follow Armijo’s commitment to public service.

Armijo thanked the city for the award. She said she genuinely loves to give back to the community and that even a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life. Armijo said her business has allowed her to help more residents.

Armijo said she hopes to continue hosting events for the community and thanked those who have supported her. Vice Mayor Darril Garner commended Armijo for her dedication.

Every Community Builder Award winner receives a plaque and $100 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Lola Armijo chose to give her prize money to the domestic violence victim-support group, Carbon County COVE.

The post Local Business Owner Recognized with Community Builder Award first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.