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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.

FRIDAY, July 17, 2026|

Photo – Mayor Chuck Davis swears-in Mike Cooley in 2023 – Bigfoot99 file photo

Mike Cooley has abruptly resigned from the Saratoga Town Council.

In 2022, Saratoga voters elected a new mayor, Chuck Davis, and three new council members: Jerry Fluty, Jacob Fluty, and Mike Cooley. Cooley was chosen to fill an unexpired two‑year term and was reelected to a full 4-year term last year. He also served as Mayor Pro Tem and as the council’s representative to the Airport Advisory and Specific Purpose Tax boards.

During Wednesday evening’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Davis announced that Councilman Cooley had submitted his resignation, effectively immediately.

Cooley was on hand for Mayor Davis’s restructuring of Saratoga’s government, which included appointing a new chief of police, treasurer, town attorney, and public works director.

Back at Wednesday’s meeting, the mayor said Councilman Cooley had performed well during his time on the governing body and asked the remaining councilmembers to accept his resignation. Councilman Cory Oxford moved, Bub Barkhurst seconded, and the motion passed.

Following the vote, Mayor Davis said the council had two additional matters to address. The first was to seek letters of interest from residents willing to finish the two years and four months remaining on Councilman Cooley’s term. The mayor said they can advertise in the local newspaper and on the electronic sign in front of town hall.

If no one expresses interest in the position, the mayor said they will continue advertising.

The Town Council voted to publicize Councilman Cooley’s open seat for 30 days.

Next, Mayor Davis said they need to appoint a new Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor Pro Tem presides over meetings and handles mayoral duties when the mayor isn’t available. Mayor Davis asked the governing body to appoint Councilman Cory Oxford to the position.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to appoint Cory Oxford as Mayor Pro Tem.

Saratoga residents who want to fill Councilman Mike Cooley’s unexpired term should submit their letters of interest at Saratoga Town Hall or email Town Clerk Jennifer Anderson at [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is August 14th.

The post Saratoga Town Council Member Resigns Position first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, July 17, 2026|

Photo – Tap water – Bigfoot99 file photo

Elk Mountain officials are asking residents to voluntarily conserve water to avoid future restrictions.

Last winter, the University of Wyoming’s Elk Mountain Observatory recorded less than 51 inches of snowfall, 48 inches below average. Moisture has been scarce through the spring and into the summer. The continuing drought has left the county at risk for wildfires and towns scrambling to manage low water reserves.

During the July 13th Elk Mountain Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Will Redmond said he will begin urging residents not to waste water because the town’s wells are being used faster than they can recover.

To conserve water, Redmond said residents should avoid midday lawn watering, run dishwashers only when full, and be mindful of how long they shower.

The public works director said he doesn’t expect the weather to change in the near future. Mayor Morgan Irene noted that forecasters are predicting monsoon rains at the end of the month, but Redmond said long‑term projections still show another dry winter. He added that conservation efforts now can help the town avoid future water restrictions.

Redmond said he will print flyers asking residents to voluntarily conserve water throughout the summer. Town Clerk Heidi Hess will also include the information in residents’ municipal utility bills.

The post Town of Elk Mountain Ask Residents to Conserve Water first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, July 16, 2026|

Photo – Hanna Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Attorneys advised Hanna officials not to use 6th‑penny funds to enlarge an existing project at this time.

In 2019, Hanna voters approved the use of Specific Purpose Tax revenue to replace metallic fittings, water valves, and fire hydrants on Mineral Drive before resurfacing the road. When enough tax money was collected and work finally began, crews found that the water lines themselves needed replacement, not just the fittings. During Tuesday evening’s Hanna Town Council meeting, the governing body asked Town Attorney Mike Roberts if the tax funds could legally be used to expand the scope of the project beyond what appeared on the 2019 ballot. Attorney Roberts said state law appears to prohibit the town from doing so.

Attorney Roberts said newly adopted state statutes loosen restrictions on how Specific Purpose Tax revenue may be used. However, he said the town must follow the law as it existed in 2019, which does not permit any change in how the 6th‑penny funds can be applied.

Despite those restrictions, Roberts said lawmakers would likely understand why the town chose to expand the Mineral Drive project. Still, to avoid any legal issues, he advised not to proceed without permission from the state.

Attorney Roberts said he would call state officials to ask if the town may redirect Specific Purpose Tax money, though he expects the state to be slow in responding.

Mayor Charlie George said that following state law as written would keep the town from addressing the real issues on Mineral Drive.

Attorney Roberts said the town could seek a new vote on the Specific Purpose Tax projects but cautioned that the process would be expensive.

Some members of the governing body suggested moving ahead with the expanded project without waiting for the state’s approval. Mayor George said he wants a clear answer before taking any action. The Hanna Town Council agreed to have Attorney Mike Roberts continue researching the matter to determine if the Specific Purpose Tax money can be used beyond what was originally on the ballot.

The post Town Attorney Advises Council Not to Use Tax Funds to Expand Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, July 16, 2026|

Photo – Ambulance – Bigfoot99 file photo 

Memorial Hospital of Carbon County plans to use newly released federal funding to partner with the Laramie medical center.

In 2025, the Trump administration created the Rural Health Transformation Program, which allocated $50 billion to stabilize, modernize, and expand healthcare in rural communities. Wyoming received $205 million in the first year of the program. The Wyoming Department of Health attempted to place a portion of that money into a long‑term investment account to fund future healthcare initiatives, but the federal government rejected the proposal. The state has now released the money.

Speaking at the July 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle said hospital administrators are preparing an application to request a portion of the state’s $205 million Rural Health Transformation fund.

Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment said the Rawlins medical center can request federal funding for the services it already provides. Ashment added that he can also seek Rural Health Transformation money for additional treatment options the hospital does not currently offer, including maternity care and hemodialysis. However, he said labor and delivery is too costly for many rural hospitals to operate on their own, with Memorial Hospital among them. Ashment said some facilities, including MHCC, are looking for ways to partner with other medical centers to provide those costlier services.

Commissioner Sue Jones encouraged Ashment to partner with a larger hospital, noting that obstetrics is an expensive line of care.

Commissioner Jones emphasized the importance of collaboration between the region’s medical providers, including Carbon County’s two hospitals and various clinics. CEO Ashment said his facility has already partnered with Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie to offer women’s healthcare. If the Rawlins medical center were to expand those services to prenatal care, he said it may qualify for additional Rural Health Transformation funding.

Commissioner Jones said the federal money is largely directed toward increasing recruitment and equipment upgrades for rural ambulance crews. Ashment said Memorial Hospital has already submitted a Rural Health Transformation application for EMS services and is working to complete another. In the meantime, he said the medical center is hosting monthly meetings between Little Snake River Valley EMS, South Central Wyoming EMS, and Memorial Hospital’s internal ambulance service to promote coordination between the agencies.

Commissioner Jones said the county’s medical centers and ambulance services must work together to ensure their long‑term viability.

South Central Wyoming EMS, or SCWEMS, is also seeking federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Speaking at the July 13th Elk Mountain Town Council meeting, Mayor and SCWEMS Joint Powers Board Chairman Morgan Irene said the organization is partnering with Saratoga’s North Platte Valley Medical Center. He said they plan to submit a funding application for additional staff, vehicles, and supplies.

With the help of the North Platte Valley Medical Center Board of Directors, Mayor Irene said he is hopeful they’ll have their Rural Health Transformation funding application in before the July 31st deadline.

The post County’s Medical Agencies to Apply for Grant Funding first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2026|

Photo – Gymnasium at Elk Mountain school – Bigfoot99 file photo

The superintendent of School District Two met with town officials about the future of the Elk Mountain School.

Carbon County School District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings was present at Monday evening’s Elk Mountain Town Council meeting to discuss alternative uses for the town’s school. Currently, the Elk Mountain School has no students and is being used as a combination town hall and community center. This arrangement benefits both the town and School District Two, as Elk Mountain evenly splits utility costs with the district.

Superintendent Jennings said the Elk Mountain School is entering its fourth year without any students. Because the state funds schools on a three‑year basis, Jennings said the facility will lose all state funding next July.

Jennings said the Wyoming School Facilities Commission has asked the District Two Board whether it wants to keep the school active or shut the facility down until students return, known as mothballing. He said mothballing would cut off the town’s access to the building, something school officials want to avoid.

Jennings said District Two pays roughly $20,000 a year to maintain the Elk Mountain School, with annual utility costs around $10,000, which the town splits evenly with the district. New education‑funding requirements prevent the district from using state money on a school with no students.

With that funding no longer available, Jennings presented four options for the Town Council to consider. Option One: keep the current setup and have the district cover all maintenance and operational costs for the Elk Mountain School. Jennings said high equipment replacement expenses make that a poor choice.

Option Two: sell the building to the town. However, Jennings said recent property tax reductions have likely left the town unable to afford the purchase. Option Three: mothball the building. Jennings said they’ve already discussed why that would be an unfavorable idea.

And finally, Option Four: convert the facility into a Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, day school. Jennings said a residential day school would serve students with severe social, emotional, and behavioral needs that can’t be met in a traditional public-school setting.

The closest BOCES residential day school is the C‑V Ranch Therapeutic Residential School outside of Jackson. Jennings said having a day school in Elk Mountain would allow Carbon County students who need that level of specialized support to return home each day instead of living on the Jackson school campus.

Jennings said he reached out to nearby school districts to ask if they had any need for a day school. Based on their answers, he said the facility may see as many as 10 students from both Carbon and Albany counties.

Not only would transforming the Elk Mountain School into a BOCES day school benefit students, but it would also benefit the district. Jennings said the state agency would rent the building from the district and pay to staff it with highly skilled educators.

Jennings said the town would continue being able to use the building if the district converts it into a day school. The facility could also still serve as a regular school and an attendance center when severe weather prevents Elk Mountain students from reaching Hanna. He noted that the idea is still in the very early planning stages and requires a School Board vote to move forward. The district superintendent said he will keep the Elk Mountain Town Council informed of any future developments.

The post CCSD #2 Superintendent Meets with Elk Mountain Town Council first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2026|

Photo – Sewer project staging area – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga officials are ready to hire contractors to continue sewer line replacement work.

In March 2025, the Saratoga Public Works Department and Engineering Associates drafted plans to use 6th Penny Specific Purpose Tax funding to modernize sewer lines on the west side of town. Known as the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, the work involved replacing and repairing 7,000 feet of deteriorating underground water lines. After nearly 11 months of work, including a winter shutdown, that project is now complete. The next job is the installation of new main sewer lines beneath the North Platte River.

In January, Saratoga Public Works Director Emery Penner announced that he had secured a State Revolving Fund loan to cover half the cost of the $2.4 million North Platte River Sewer Project.

The State Revolving Fund offers low‑interest loans for municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Penner reminded the Council that the project will be partially funded through a State Revolving Fund loan. He said the state money will cover $1.2 million of the total cost.

Penner said the town has two additional sewer lines to replace that weren’t part of the original West Bench project. If funding allows, he said he’ll add them to the Platte River project as extra work.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to allow Penner to seek contractor bids for the North Platte River Sewer Project.

The post Saratoga to Open Bidding for Next Phase of Sewer Replacement Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, July 14, 2026|

Photo – Coy Munroe takes aim at target with his Mathews Title 38 – Courtesy Coy Munroe

An Encampment teen is representing Wyoming in national 4‑H shooting events.

In late June, 16-year-old Coy Munroe, of Encampment, and the other members of the Wyoming archery team, competed in the 2026 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska. Munroe explained that the archery portion of the statewide tournament began with the FITA round, which involves shooting at paper targets from four different distances. He said heavy rain interrupted the competition, but the archery teams still had to shoot.

Munroe said the second day of the competition was hot and still, with archers taking part in the field round, which involves shooting at varying distances in simulated field conditions. Day three had teams shooting at three‑dimensional animal targets. Munroe said the field was still extremely muddy even with the improved weather.

Despite the weather on the first day of competition, Munroe placed 5th, and the Wyoming 4‑H archery team finished second. On the second day, Munroe was 7th and the state team placed 3rd. On the final day of competition, Munroe missed a target and did not place, but the team finished 4th. Overall, Munroe said he ranked 7th in the nation in the individual Compound Archery division, with the state team placing 3rd.

Munroe said archery is his top shooting sport, but shotgun ranks second for him. Last weekend, he participated in the shotgun portion of the 2026 Wyoming State 4‑H Shooting Sports Match in Douglas. Munroe said his goal was to qualify for the national competition. Even though he was nervous, Munroe placed 1st in Senior Shotgun Singles and 2nd in the longer‑distance Senior Shotgun Handicap events.

With his overall 1st‑place finish in the state tournament, Munroe has qualified to compete in the shotgun division of the 2027 National 4‑H Shooting Sports Championships. Munroe said his victory also earned him one of 12 spots in the Wyoming 4‑H Raton Shooting Sports Awards Trip in New Mexico.

Munroe and the other trip recipients will be given access to the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico to participate in a variety of unique events, including specialized field formats, tactical shotgun courses, and extreme long‑range silhouette shooting.

Munroe said he would like to represent the United States in a future Olympic Games. However, he acknowledged that doing so will require a great deal of work, making him unlikely to qualify for the 2028 games.

Munroe said he prefers using a Browning Citori CXT shotgun and a Mathews Title 38 compound bow in competition.

While he prepares for a career in professional shooting sports, Munroe will continue to represent the Platte Valley and the state of Wyoming in 4‑H shooting events.

The post Local Youth Represents Wyoming in National 4-H Shooting Events first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, July 14, 2026|

Photo – BLM’s fire danger board – Bigfoot99 file photo

Wyoming Game and Fish has issued fire bans in five Carbon County areas.

With temperatures topping 90 degrees and rain still a way off, Wyoming Game and Fish has banned open fires on four state‑managed public access areas and one wildlife habitat management area in Carbon County. The prohibition covers campfires, charcoal grills, and coal or wood‑burning stoves. Smoking is also restricted, except inside a vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while in a spot that’s cleared of flammable material.

A fire ban is in effect at Dome Rock Reservoir, just south of the Natrona County line. Farther south, fires are also prohibited at the Miracle Mile, a popular spot for fishing, hunting, and camping. It’s a similar situation at Seminoe Reservoir, where the Bow Arm public access area is also under fire restrictions. And, in the northeastern portion of the county, Walker Jenkins Lake is under restrictions as well.

Game and Fish has also banned fires in the 4,700-acre Morgan Creek wildlife habitat management area in the Seminoe Mountains.

As of this report, the state agency hasn’t issued a blanket fire ban in Carbon County, as it recently did in Park County. Game and Fish is most likely waiting for county‑wide restrictions before putting a broader ban in place. Speaking at the July 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Fire Warden John Rutherford said he was waiting until the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees roughly 40 percent of the county’s land, puts fire restrictions in place before he follows suit.

Due to the dry conditions and strong winds, Fire Warden Rutherford said the county is likely to see a wildfire in the near future. He added that county fire crews are prepared to respond.

On June 26th, the Bureau of Land Management placed Natrona County under Stage One Fire Restrictions, banning campfires outside of provided fire grates, smoking outside near flammable material, operating a chainsaw without a spark arrester, and welding without a fire extinguisher.

While the federal agency waits to implement similar restrictions in Carbon County, Wyoming Game and Fish is already taking action to prevent wildfires at its public access and wildlife habitat management areas.

A link to Wyoming Game and Fish’s full list of statewide fire bans can be found in this story on Bigfoot99.com.

Wyoming Game and Fish Statewide Fire Bans: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/public-access/fire-bans-game-and-fish-land

The post Wyoming Game and Fish Issues Fire Bans in Carbon County first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.