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FRIDAY, July 24, 2026|

Photo – Patrick Casey McMorrow – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials agreed to name the city’s new Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass in honor of a 10‑year‑old boy who was killed while crossing the highway.

During the July 21st Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells introduced a measure to dedicate the still‑under‑construction walking tunnel beneath North Higley Boulevard to Patrick Casey McMorrow. Mayor Wells explained that McMorrow was killed on November 2nd, 1983, after he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the busy highway. The mayor said naming the underpass would be an appropriate way to honor McMorrow and his family.

Forty‑three years after McMorrow’s death, high‑speed traffic on the highway continues to create a dangerous barrier between the Highland Hills neighborhood and nearby school campuses, including the Carbon County Higher Education Center. The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Rawlins Urban Systems Committee have spent decades attempting to find a cost-effective way to safely allow people to cross Higley Boulevard. In the end, WYDOT determined that an underground pedestrian tunnel would provide the most effective solution.

WYDOT and Reiman Corporation, the contractor selected for the project, began work on the Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass earlier this year. The idea to name the structure after Patrick Casey McMorrow was first brought up at the March 13th Rawlins City Council meeting. During the discussion, Councilman Derek Elliott suggested dedicating the underpass to everyone killed or injured while attempting to cross the busy highway, not just McMorrow.

At this week’s City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells said Police Chief Mike Ward confirmed that McMorrow was the only pedestrian fatality on Highway 287.

After the conversation, the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to name the city’s new pedestrian underpass after 10‑year‑old Patrick Casey McMorrow. Mayor Wells said she will invite the McMorrow family to the ribbon‑cutting ceremony once the project is complete. Work is expected to finish this fall.

The post Rawlins to Dedicate Pedestrian Tunnel to Ten-Year Old Boy first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, July 24, 2026|

Photo – Carbon County Library main branch in Rawlins – Bigfoot99 file photo

No Carbon County libraries will close thanks to donations from the County Commissioners, contributions from the Library Foundation, and a new funding model.

Statewide residential property tax relief measures have reduced the amount of money local governments receive. In the 2025 through 2026 fiscal year, Carbon County lost more than $900,000 in tax revenue, resulting in a $500,000 deduction from its annual contributions to outside services, such as museums, senior centers, and libraries.

The Carbon County Library System saw a 53 percent reduction in its county contribution last fiscal year, and this year the System will receive a similar level of support.

Originally, Library Board members warned that the budget cuts would lead to the closure of outlying branches, including the Hanna and Medicine Bow Libraries, as the county is only legally required to maintain the Rawlins branch. However, this fiscal year, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners donated $30,000 to be evenly split among all seven libraries.

Interim Library System Director Jenita Calton said the money will allow every branch to remain open for five hours a week but added that many communities wanted more.

Calton created what she is calling the Partner Program to allow towns to “purchase” more hours for their libraries. The interim director said she calculates the cost of keeping each branch open for additional hours, subtracts the amount of money the Library System has set aside for that location, and sends an invoice to the town for the difference.

Calton said the idea for the Partner Program came after she learned that a group of Carbon County residents persuaded the Board of Commissioners to fund additional branches. Now, a century later, she said residents must come together again to show they want libraries in their communities.

Calton said the Partner Program has received positive feedback from towns, with Saratoga and Little Snake River Valley already signed up to increase their branches’ hours through the initiative. The interim director said she expects Encampment and Elk Mountain to join as well. However, the towns of Hanna and Medicine Bow have chosen to keep their branches at five hours a week. She said doubling the hours at the Hanna Library, for example, would cost the town roughly $3,000 a year.

To further support the outlaying branches, Calton said the nonprofit Carbon County Library Foundation, which fundraises for the entire Library System, has chosen to cover every expense except staffing. She said the Foundation members, including herself, expect the Board of Commissioners to pay for the Library System’s employees.

When the Library Board members first considered closing branches, several municipalities and Friends of the Library groups agreed to provide additional financial support to their locations, including paying internet and postage fees. Calton said the Carbon County Library Foundation will now cover all those costs so towns can use their money to increase hours of operation instead.

Calton said Friends of the Library groups, which fundraise for specific branches, can also increase hours of operation through donations. The interim library director encouraged people to contact her for guidance on starting a Friends of the Library group in their own town.

Calton said she hopes participation in the Partner Program will demonstrate to county officials that residents want to keep their libraries open, possibly prompting additional county support. She added that, even without increased funding, she believes the initiative will enable the outlying branches to remain open indefinitely.

Calton said the Partner Program means communities no longer have to rely solely on the Board of Commissioners for a library, giving towns confidence that they can financially support their own branches.

For more information about the Partner Program or how to start a Friends of the Library group, email Carbon County Library System Interim Director Jenita Calton at [email protected].

The post New Funding Model Helps Keep County’s Libraries Open first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, July 23, 2026|

Photo – Burning Barn – Courtesy Tyler Jones

A fire north of Hanna destroyed a historic barn.

Around 2:40 Tuesday afternoon, the Carbon County Fire Protection District received reports of a fire at 3075 County Road 291, approximately 30 miles north of Hanna. Fire Warden John Rutherford explained that 15 local and federal firefighters rushed to the scene.

Upon arrival, crews immediately began working to contain the blaze. Fire Warden Rutherford said that despite their efforts, two structures were destroyed: a mobile home and a historic barn.

Known as the Huhtula Barn, the structure stood for roughly a century. Commissioner Sue Jones, who grew up on the property and played in the barn as a child, said it was built using the Swedish cope method, making it among the strongest buildings in the county.

The property is now owned by Q Creek Ranch.

Fire Warden Rutherford said crews had the blaze under control by 9 o’clock Tuesday evening. Though the fire’s advance was slowed, the Huhtula Barn was completely destroyed. Rutherford said firefighters will continue to monitor the area to ensure the flames do not reignite in the dry weather.

Because the fire was far from town, Rutherford said response time was slow and the flames moved fast through the dry grasses around the barn. However, he said improved weather helped crews keep the blaze from spreading out of control.

Fire Warden Rutherford reminded residents that Carbon County is currently under Stage One fire restrictions and urged them to exercise extreme caution. He said the exceptionally dry weather has left the entire county vulnerable to wildfires.

Rutherford said the incident is still under investigation. Unconfirmed sources report that the blaze may have originated from a fire used to brand cattle.

No matter the cause, the Huhtula Barn is gone. Commissioner Sue Jones voiced her disappointment at losing the historic structure.

Fire Warden Rutherford thanked the volunteer firefighters who responded to the call. He said everyone, including himself, recognizes the services they provide.

According to the wildfire‑tracking website Watch Duty, the Kortes Fire, as it is called, was still active yesterday afternoon and had burned 8.7 acres. Crews will continue monitoring the area to ensure the flames do not spread any farther.

The post Fire Destroys Historic Barn North of Hanna first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, July 23, 2026|

Photo – Jenny Mathill and city representatives – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials announced the winner of the July Community Builder Award.

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, Volunteer Committee member Fire Chief Allen Robinson announced that Jenny Mathill was chosen to receive the Community Builder Award for July.

Following a round of applause, Volunteer Committee member and Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer said Mathill serves quietly, never seeking recognition for her service. Even so, Thayer said the award recipient has spent three decades supporting and encouraging women in the community.

Thayer said that when her children were involved in local sports, Mathill would routinely volunteer to assist the organization in any way she could. The award winner also served on the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority Organization Committee, helping raise money for the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.

Thayer said Mathill also provides household assistance to sick and needy residents.

When asked what drives her to serve, Mathill responded that it’s the people. She said she values the community’s friendliness and hopes others see its good qualities.

Thayer said Mathill has a special method to ensure that every child in Rawlins can celebrate their birthday. Mathill explained that she was inspired by a social media personality to donate preassembled birthday packages to those in need.

Every Community Builder Award winner receives a plaque and $100 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Mathill chose to give her prize money to P.E.O., the Philanthropic Educational Organization, which provides learning opportunities for female students around the world.

The post Rawlins Announces July Community Builder Award Recipient first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2026|

Photo – Carbon County Weed and Pest logo – Courtesy Carbon County Weed and Pest

Carbon County Weed and Pest warns that property tax cuts could limit its mosquito‑control efforts.

Recently enacted residential property tax relief programs, including a 25 percent cut for most Wyoming homeowners and a 50 percent reduction for long‑term residents, have reduced the property tax revenue local governments receive. Carbon County saw a $947,000 drop in property tax revenue in the 2025 through 2026 fiscal year, resulting in less spending on road maintenance and libraries.

A permanent 50 percent residential property tax reduction, known as the People’s Initiative to Limit Property Tax in Wyoming through a Homeowner’s Property Exemption, will be on the ballot this November. If passed, the measure will cut the taxable assessed value of residents’ primary homes by half.

By cutting residential taxes, the programs have reduced assessed valuations and, in turn, mill‑levy revenue. A mill levy is the tax rate applied to a property’s assessed value, with one mill equaling one‑thousandth of the property’s value. Because these programs reduce valuations, they have also cut funding for special districts that rely on mill levy revenue, including Carbon County Weed and Pest.

Carbon County Weed and Pest Supervisor Reese Irvine said that for the past 53 years, his organization has worked to control state‑ and county‑designated weeds and pests, including cheatgrass and mosquitoes.

With the passing of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Control Act of 1973, Carbon County Weed and Pest has been able to collect one mill levy, which in recent years has totaled roughly $724,000. Reese Irvine said that money is used to operate the district and secure additional state and federal grants.

Between its mill‑levy revenue and grant funding, Irvine said Carbon County Weed and Pest has a total budget of more than $3 million. The special district allocates between $110,000 and $135,000 each year to combat mosquitoes.

Every municipality and organized mosquito‑abatement district in the county may request funding from Carbon County Weed and Pest to support their mosquito‑control programs. Irvine said that money is entirely paid for by the district’s mill‑levy revenue.

The proposed 50 percent reduction in residential property taxes will further reduce the amount of funding the district can provide for mosquito abatement.

Irvine said effective mosquito control is essential to reducing the risk of West Nile virus transmission. While there have been no reported cases of humans contracting West Nile virus in Carbon County, horses and birds have tested positive. Irvine said uncontrolled mosquito populations raise the risk of animals and potentially humans acquiring the neurological disease.

Carbon County Weed and Pest provides mosquito‑abatement funding to nearly every municipality in the county. Irvine said towns will have difficulty controlling their mosquito numbers under the reduced mill‑levy funding the district will receive if property taxes continue to drop.

Irvine said property taxes are vital for the county’s special districts, which depend on mill‑levy dollars for fire prevention, environmental conservation, and weed and pest control.

The post Weed and Pest Warn Residents of Limited Mosquito Control Efforts first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, July 21, 2026|

Photo – High Fire Danger sign – Bigfoot99 file image

As of eight o’clock this morning, Carbon County is under Stage One fire restrictions.

During yesterday morning’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Fire Warden John Rutherford asked elected officials to institute Stage One fire restrictions. He said the Bureau of Land Management’s newest fuel‑moisture report indicates significant wildfire risk across the majority of Carbon County.

Stage One fire restrictions are the first level of wildfire‑prevention regulations, limiting activities that could spark a fire while still allowing most normal public use. Under the restrictions, outdoor fires are prohibited except in designated metal or concrete rings. Lighting fireworks and charcoal grill use outside developed recreation sites are temporarily banned. Smoking is restricted to enclosed vehicles, buildings, or cleared spaces. Shovels, water, and fire extinguishers are required when using machinery. The state classifies Tannerite as fireworks, meaning the exploding target compound is also prohibited under the restrictions.

Fire Warden Rutherford said he hopes the fire restrictions will limit the chances of manmade wildfires. If predicted rain reduces the risk, the fire warden said he’ll lift the restrictions. However, he added that the county will likely need significantly more rain than what is in the forecast.

At the July 7th County Commissioners meeting, Rutherford said he was waiting for the Bureau of Land Management to institute fire restrictions before he followed suit, as BLM manages roughly 40 percent of the land in Carbon County.

During yesterday’s meeting, the fire warden said BLM was now ready to go into restrictions. He said the State Forestry Division was waiting to see how the predicted rainfall will affect conditions before imposing restrictions on state‑managed land.

Commission Chairman Travis Moore asked Fire Warden Rutherford to explain how he determines when to go into fire restrictions. Rutherford said local, state, and federal agencies use a scientific formula that factors in moisture levels and operational readiness to decide when restrictions are necessary.

Fire Warden Rutherford said that even with restrictions in place, wildfires will likely still occur. He said he is simply attempting to reduce manmade causes.

Rutherford said if the fire danger continues to increase, he’ll ask the Board of Commissioners to enter Stage Two restrictions, which prohibit all open outdoor flames.

The Board of Commissioners agreed to place Carbon County under Stage One fire restrictions, effective at 8 a.m. today.

The post Carbon County Enters Stage One Fire Restrictions first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, July 20, 2026|

Photo – This week’s weather forecast – Courtesy NWS – Cheyenne

Despite predicted monsoonal rains, forecasters say our area still needs more moisture.

This year, much of the country has been experiencing above‑average temperatures and well below‑average rain, with Colorado and Wyoming facing severe short‑term precipitation shortfalls. National Weather Service Cheyenne Lead Meteorologist and Fire Weather Program Lead Colby Goatley said this week will start with temperatures climbing into the triple digits in some parts of the state. However, he said heavy rain is expected as the week progresses.

Goatley said our area will need far more moisture to break the existing drought conditions, but the forecasted rain will be a good start.

When asked if the current weather pattern is the result of El Niño or its cooler-phase counterpart, La Niña, Goatley said El Niño may play a part, but the weather is driven by a variety of regional and local factors.

The lack of moisture has led many local, state, and federal agencies to institute fire restrictions, sharply limiting when and where outdoor fires can occur to prevent them from spreading out of control. Although the coming monsoons will help, Goatley said more rain is needed before those restrictions can end.

Even with rain in the forecast, officials say that only prolonged and widespread moisture will ease the region’s ongoing drought and fire risk.

The post Predicted Rains Will Not Be Enough to End Drought Conditions first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, July 20, 2026|

Photo – Saratoga’s Chief of Police John Moore – Courtesy Saratoga Police Department

Saratoga officials debated putting the police chief back on salary now that the overtime surge has ended.

At the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore announced that he was short an officer and working significant overtime while filling in for staff on medical leave and vacation. Because of those extra hours, Chief Moore asked to switch from salary to hourly pay. His rate would remain at $42.30 an hour, but he would be eligible for overtime.

Mayor Chuck Davis asked if the change would be temporary until additional officers could be hired. Chief Moore said yes, adding that even with help from part‑time officers he would still end up working more than 100 hours during that pay period.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst calculated that, as an hourly employee, Chief Moore would receive approximately $3,000 in overtime pay on top of his base salary. Following the discussion, the governing body unanimously voted to approve the chief’s request, moving him from salary to hourly pay. The matter was scheduled to be revisited in 30 days.

Police Chief John Moore’s pay status was discussed again during the July 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting. Mayor Chuck Davis said that with the excessive overtime now over, he believes Chief Moore should return to salary.

With the departure of K9 handler Sergeant Casey Lehr, the Saratoga Police Department is down to four full‑time officers, including Chief Moore. Councilman Bub Barkhurst asked if the open position had been advertised. Chief Moore responded that the opening has been widely promoted.

Chief Moore said he had one person pick up an application and one experienced officer meet with him, but that individual had not submitted an application at that time. He said the officer who applied reported hearing about the opening on this radio station.

Chief Moore said he was unsure how the other officer heard about the position.

Returning to the subject of pay status, Councilman Bub Barkhurst said he agreed with Mayor Davis that the police chief should return to salary.

Mayor Chuck Davis acknowledged that a full‑time officer was preparing to undergo surgery later this month, once again bringing the police department down to three full‑time officers, including the chief. Councilman Jerry Fluty asked if the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office could provide coverage while the officer was out. Chief Moore responded that the sheriff’s department is also short-staffed.

Mayor Chuck Davis added that the sheriff’s office was even more short‑handed, with a deputy having recently left to become the Encampment Chief of Police.

July 29th will be 30 days from the Council’s decision to move Chief Moore to hourly status. Despite the continuing staffing concerns, Mayor Davis said he still would like to return the chief to salary after that time period ended.

The Saratoga Town Council agreed to revisit Chief Moore’s pay status during the August 5th meeting.

The post Saratoga Council Discuss Police Chief Pay Status first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, July 20, 2026|

Photo – Hanna Recreation Center – Bigfoot99 file photo

Hanna officials have arranged an appraisal of the town’s shuttered recreation center ahead of a potential sale or lease.

In the early 1980s, when local coal mining was in full swing, growth by companies such as Arch Mineral Corporation fueled a major population boom in Hanna. To support the growing workforce and attract miners and their families to the area, the Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board used coal‑impact funding to build the 31,000‑square‑foot Hanna Recreation Center. The facility offered a large gymnasium, an Olympic‑style heated swimming pool, multiple saunas, racquetball courts, and a weight room, along with other amenities.

After the mining industry left in the early 2000s, the town’s population declined and recreation center use fell to less than 40 paid members. Keeping the facility open cost the town nearly $300,000 a year. A large portion of the money was provided by impact‑assistance funding from nearby wind‑energy projects. However, as that revenue began to run out, the town council voted to close the recreation center indefinitely on July 31st, 2024.

Since that time, the facility has sat vacant. Efforts to revive the recreation center, including a push to transfer control of the building to a nonprofit organization, have failed. Left with a deteriorating building it must still pay to maintain, the Hanna Town Council is now exploring the possibility of selling or renting out the former rec center.

In April, the governing body voted to have an appraisal done on the building. The pricing information is needed before the town can consider any alternative uses for the building, including a lease or sale.

During the July 14th Hanna Town Council meeting, Treasurer Ann Calvert said an appraiser had been found, and the assessment will take place in August.

Treasurer Calvert said the appraiser will need full access to the building and recommended ensuring it is open when the assessment takes place.

Mayor Charlie George said the appraisal will give the town what it needs to advertise the recreation center for sale or lease.

Last year, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality reviewed what options, if any, were available to redevelop the former Hanna Recreation Center. The state presented the Town Council with a 10‑page report outlining two possibilities: find someone willing to convert the building into a factory space or demolish it. At least one Council member supported demolition, but the estimated cost of more than $600,000 was far beyond the town’s budget.

The town’s best remaining option is to find someone willing to lease the building or buy it outright, taking the responsibility of maintaining the recreation center away from the town.

The post Hanna Council Arrange Appraisal of Recreation Center first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, July 17, 2026|

Photo – No Soliciting sign – Bigfoot99 file photo

Rawlins officials are concerned about the number of door‑to‑door salespeople operating in the city.

Several internet providers are installing fiber‑optic cable throughout Rawlins. During the July 7th Rawlins City Council meeting, City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave said as that work progresses, the providers want to reach new customers by soliciting directly to residents’ homes.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the city has received an increased number of solicitor applications from the fiber‑optic installers, with five filed and two already approved. To prevent harassment and maintain residents’ privacy, she said solicitors must register with the city, pass a background check, and obtain a permit that includes their photograph and the company they represent. She added that the statutes also limit how many solicitors may operate at the same time.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave said city staff can interpret those provisions in different ways. One reading of the ordinance is that it prohibits more than two people from the same organization from entering a resident’s property at the same time. Another interpretation is that it may restrict more than two individuals from the same organization from operating in the same area of the city. She said the regulations may also limit the total number of solicitors who may visit each property to two.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave said her office interprets the ordinance to limit solicitors to specific geographic regions and asked the governing body to give city staff the authority to enforce the regulations in that manner. In doing so, the city can ensure that residents are not approached by multiple solicitors from a single company.

The ordinance already limits solicitors to one visit per household in 24 hours and allows residents to place their addresses on a citywide “do not disturb” list to block all visits. It also requires every solicitor to carry a city‑issued photo ID card at all times. Every violation of the ordinance carries a $750 fine.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave said she isn’t seeking to change the ordinance. Instead, she asked the council for its view on her interpretation of it.

Mayor Jacquelin Wells asked if residents were complaining about the solicitors. Attorney Maberry‑Nave said one resident reported receiving three visits in three days from two different companies. Town Clerk Lynn Shearer said she has not received any complaints, nor have any been submitted through the city’s website. Clerk Shearer added that the fiber installers are requesting year‑long solicitation permits, increasing the likelihood of multiple visits.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked if the ordinance already prohibited multiple solicitors from visiting a home. Attorney Maberry‑Nave said it does, though the ordinance does not clearly specify the extent of that restriction.

The city attorney added that residents may opt out of all solicitation activity but may choose not to because it would limit visits from organizations they support.

Councilwoman Lewman said her view is that residents should only have to deny solicitors once for every company to stop further visits.

However, she acknowledged that there is no way to communicate that information to all the solicitors operating in the city.

Mayor Jacquelin Wells instructed Attorney Maberry‑Nave to continue enforcing the ordinance as written, which restricts two solicitors to each property. If residents begin complaining about the number of visits, the City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss its options, including limiting the number of solicitors in specific areas of the city.

The post Rawlins Council Discuss Ordinance on Solicitors first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.