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FRIDAY, May 15, 2026 |

Photo – Gavin Green, Ferris Smith, and Cam Bentsen with agility bridges they designed and built – Courtesy CCHEC

A group of civic‑minded Rawlins High School students is inviting the public to a dedication ceremony for new agility ramps at the city’s dog park.

On Monday, May 18th, the Rawlins High School Key Club will host an event at Key Club Park. Key Club advisor Dr. Cristy Magagna explained that on that day, the student-led community service organization will unveil two new additions to the dog park.

Considering the city’s dog park shares its name with the Rawlins High School Key Club, Dr. Magagna said the members felt compelled to enhance Key Club Park. The students settled on installing agility ramps after seeing similar equipment in Green River.

Dr. Magagna said Carbon County Higher Education Center woodworking students were asked to submit plans for the dog‑agility bridges. In the end, the designs by Gavin Green, Ferris Smith, and Cam Bentsen were selected.

The Carbon County Higher Education Center purchased and donated all the materials for the agility bridges.

Green, Smith, and Bentsen worked on the ramps throughout the school year. In March, the Higher Education Center posted a photo on social media showing the three young men standing on the bridges to demonstrate they can support even the heaviest of dogs.

The students built two agility ramps: the larger is about five feet long and three feet high, and the smaller is roughly half that size. Dr. Magagna said crews from the Rawlins Parks and Recreation Department will ensure the bridges are anchored against harsh weather and heavy use.

The Kiwanis Club of Rawlins supplied metal plaques for the ramps recognizing the Key Club’s contribution.

Dr. Magagna said the Rawlins High School Key Club hopes to continue partnering with the Carbon County Higher Education Center on future improvements to Key Club Park.

The Key Club Park bridge dedication is Monday, May 18th, at 10 a.m. All attending dogs will receive treats and a new tennis ball. Their owners will get dog‑biscuit‑shaped graham crackers.

The post Wood Working Students Build Equipment for Dog Park first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 14, 2026 |

Photo – Fossil Cabin on flatbed trailer – Bigfoot99 file photo

After years of delays, Carbon County’s historic Fossil Cabin was successfully moved to the Medicine Bow Museum.

Yesterday, May 13th, the North Dakota-based motor carrier O’Neil House Moving transported the Fossil Cabin from the Como Bluffs to its permanent home at the Medicine Bow Museum.

Company Foreman John Coppe explained what it took to get the 94-year-old structure ready to move.

The Fossil Cabin was built in 1932 by amateur fossil collector and entrepreneur Thomas Boylan. Using more than 5,000 plant and animal fossils he had discovered in the nearby Como Bluffs, Boylan built the roadside attraction to promote his Lincoln Highway fuel station, located roughly seven miles east of Medicine Bow.

Seven years after its construction, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! named the building the “World’s Oldest Cabin” for its use of Jurassic‑era bones dating back 150 million years.

The Fossil Cabin served as a local tourist attraction until the 1960s, when construction of Interstate 80 shifted the majority of motor traffic off the Lincoln Highway and away from Boylan’s fuel station. The cabin was sold to the Nash family in 1974, who ran a dinosaur museum in the structure until 1992.

In 2018, the Nash family donated the vacant building to the Medicine Bow Museum. To improve access to the Fossil Cabin, the nonprofit Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum hired a contractor to transport the structure to the museum grounds. Unfortunately, the mover was either unable or unwilling to complete the job, and the Fossil Cabin remained at its original location until yesterday.

O’Neil House Moving Company Foreman John Coppe said the historic landmark was difficult to move without causing damage because Thomas Boylan built the cabin with little regard to its structural integrity.

Earlier this month, O’Neil House Moving crews securely wrapped the Fossil Cabin in plastic to prevent loose material from falling off during transport. Coppe said the cabin’s weight also created additional challenges when crews lifted the structure onto the moving truck.

Despite the challenges, O’Neil House Moving successfully lifted the Fossil Cabin onto the trailer and, over the course of 44 minutes, transported the building seven miles from the Como Bluffs to the Medicine Bow Museum. At the time of this report, the Fossil Cabin is still on the back of the transport truck. The contractors will spend the next three days placing the structure onto a pre‑poured concrete pad next to the Owen Wister cabin.

However, the job isn’t finished after the Fossil Cabin hits the ground. Contractors must still pour additional concrete to secure the structure to the pad. After that, the interior will be renovated to make it more accessible to visitors. The building is not expected to open to guests until next year.

The post Fossil Cabin Arrives at New Home in Medicine Bow first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 14, 2026 |

Photo – Announcement – Courtesy Wyoming Frontier Prison

The Wyoming Frontier Prison is hosting an exhibit on the history of the state’s fuel stations next week.

On Thursday May 21st, the Wyoming Frontier Prison will unveil its newest exhibition in the historic guards’ quarters. Historic Site Director Tina Hill said the Frontier Prison has partnered with the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne to feature 30 photographs tracing the history of fuel and service stations in the Cowboy State.

Next week’s exhibition is the second time the Frontier Prison has partnered with the Wyoming State Museum. Last year, the Old Pen displayed photographs of ancient petroglyphs and pictographs from around the state in a presentation called “Howdy! from Big Wonderful Wyoming.”

This year’s showcase, “Fill’er Up! Wyoming Gas Stations,” opens on Thursday May 21st. Hill said the launch event will include free food, drinks, and a paid liquor tasting from 5 to 7 p.m.

The event will also feature live music from a local band.

The Frontier Prison has teamed up with the Wyoming Department of Corrections to host the opening reception. Hill said part of the money raised from the liquor tasting will benefit the state agency.

The Wyoming Frontier Prison’s showcase of period fuel stations, “Fill’er Up! Wyoming Gas Stations,” opens at 5 p.m. on May 21st in the newly renovated historic guards’ quarters. The exhibition will run through June 20th. Admission is free.

The post Frontier Prison Hosts Wyoming State Museum’s Exhibit first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 14, 2026 |

Photo – Love Street in Hanna – Bigfoot99 file photo

School District Two transferred ownership of an access road to the town of Hanna.

In 2015, the Hanna Elementary School at 2nd and School streets was demolished and replaced with a new facility two blocks to the north. The former site has remained vacant since. South Central Wyoming EMS is working to build a new ambulance garage on the land, but cost overruns have stalled the project.

In early 2025, Carbon County School District Two hired an engineering firm to develop a plan for the unused property. During the process, engineers discovered that a 100‑yard dirt road on the east side of the site was being maintained by the town. The district had intended to vacate ownership of the road to the town, but the transfer never occurred for unknown reasons.

During Tuesday’s Hanna Town Council meeting, Mayor Charlie George announced that Carbon County School District Two was asking the town to take control of the dirt access road, known as Love Street. Mayor George said the road linking 2nd and 3rd streets is already under the town’s care.

The northern end of Love Street is already owned by the town of Hanna.

Councilwoman Ellen Freeman asked if the conveyance might come with unknown risks for the town. Council members David Felix and Sam Sikes said the transfer was simply a clerical matter.

The Hanna Town Council unanimously voted to accept ownership of Love Street from Carbon County School District Two. The district did not ask for any sort of compensation for the road.

The post CCSD#2 Transferred Ownership of Road to Town of Hanna first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2026 |

Photo – Carbon County Public Health – Courtesy Carbon County Public Health

County officials discussed mental health services available to Carbon County residents.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which promotes understanding of mental health, reduces stigma, and encourages people to seek support and treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wyoming ranks third‑highest in the nation for suicide deaths, exceeded only by Montana and Alaska.

During the May 5th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Carbon County Prevention Network Community Engagement Consultant Tracy Young explained how her organization supports local mental‑health efforts by focusing on substance‑abuse and suicide prevention.

In the Platte Valley, Young said Sources of Strength offers community‑based positive mental‑health strategies. Although the program is designed to run through schools, Young said Carbon County Public Health Community Prevention Specialist Rachel Swanson launched it independently. After seeing its effectiveness, district officials now want to participate.

Young added that the Carbon County Higher Education Center is considering bringing Sources of Strength programming to the Rawlins community.

To further bolster Carbon County’s mental health offerings, Community Engagement Consultant Young said the county’s law enforcement agencies are preparing to undergo crisis intervention training.

Young said the training not only provides law‑enforcement officers with the tools to respond during a crisis but also gives mental health providers insight into how officers handle those situations in the field. The 40‑hour class will also teach officers how to manage their own mental health.

The Carbon County Prevention Network also participates in a family management program with Headstart and the Higher Education Center. Young said the 12-week class teaches families how to provide healthy meals on a budget.

Young said the meal preparation classes will also be offered in Spanish.

Community Engagement Consultant Young said the Carbon County Prevention Network provides a variety of suicide‑prevention training based on local needs, including a new gun‑safety component.

Young concluded by saying Prevention Network also operates a connect team that offers mental‑health resources to communities following a traumatic death.

Commissioner John Johnson thanked Young for addressing mental health locally. He said the topic rarely receives the attention it deserves statewide.

Sheriff Alex Bakken said mental health is especially important to those in law enforcement. Sheriff Bakken said officers often overlook their own well‑being and encouraged them, and anyone suffering from a mental health crisis, to seek help.

For more information about local mental health services, contact Carbon County Public Health at 328‑2607.

The post May is Mental Health Awareness Month first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2026 |

Photo – Photos of water department – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials are considering raising utility rates to keep pace with inflation.

On Monday evening, the Rawlins City Council held a workshop to discuss the fiscal year 2026 through 2027 budget, with a focus on the city’s enterprise funds. An enterprise fund is a self‑supporting account that must cover its own costs through fees instead of taxes. The City of Rawlins has four enterprise funds: water, sewer, landfill, and recycling.

Finance Director Laura Malone said the average in‑town customer pays $76.21 a month for water. Malone said out‑of‑town tap users pay $92.77 per month on average. She added that the average commercial water user pays $4,171.44 a month.

With those figures in mind, Finance Director Malone recommended a three percent increase to both the monthly water fees and the usage rates.

Under the proposed increase, the average Rawlins resident would see their monthly water bill increase from $76.21 to $78.50. Malone also proposed a one or two percent increase and a tiered system where churches, apartment complexes, and trailer courts would be charged for water at different rates than standard residential properties. The final decision to adopt Malone’s proposed adjustments or tiered rate structure rests with the governing body.

Altogether, Malone said the three percent water rate increase could generate up to an additional $84,831 for the water enterprise fund.

Councilman Steve Sanger asked if the rate increase would bring the city closer to being eligible for United States Department of Agriculture grants. Malone said that even with the higher fees, average residential water rates still fall below the USDA threshold.

The average residential water rate in Rawlins would need to be raised by an additional $9.07 to meet the USDA’s $85.28 eligibility cutoff.

Malone also proposed a three percent increase to the city’s sewer rates.

Residents inside city limits would see their fixed sewer fee rise from $25.50 to $26.27 a month. Out‑of‑town users would go from $34 to $35.02.

The sewer enterprise fund is used to maintain the city’s aging sanitary system. When asked about repeated sewer backups along La Paloma Drive, behind Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, Public Works Director Cody Dill said the fund has never had enough money for a project of that scale, but the proposed rate increase will help.

Dill added that a recent sewer inspection camera trailer upgrade will allow city crews to find and address specific problems while they wait for funding for larger projects.

Finance Director Malone also recommended increasing residents’ monthly landfill fees by three percent, from $12 to $12.36. She also proposed raising the fee to dump used tires to match the city’s costs.

Malone also suggested raising the fees to dump all other materials by 50 cents per one hundred pounds and $10 per ton. Altogether, the rate increases are proposed to generate an additional $105,000 for the landfill enterprise fund over the next fiscal year.

The City Council asked if the additional revenue could be used to install doors on the municipal solid waste transfer station, a measure meant to deter crows. Public Works Director Dill said he would rather use the money to purchase an entirely new building.

Dill said the money can be used as a grant match for a new solid waste transfer station building.

And finally, Finance Director Malone recommended a three percent increase to residents’ recycling fees, which would raise monthly rates from $6 to $6.18.

The proposed changes will be included in the 2026 through 2027 budget when it is read for the first time during the May 19th City Council meeting.

The post Rawlins Finance Director Suggests Increase to Utility Rates first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2026 |

Photo – Sunrise Engineering demonstrates Owl 3 for town council – Bigfoot99 file photo

The governing body of Medicine Bow approved the purchase of a camera system to broadcast meetings to the town attorney.

Last August, Medicine Bow Attorney Cameron Smith asked the governing body to allow him to attend its monthly meetings remotely rather than in person. Smith, founder of SAS Legal Group in Cheyenne, bills the municipality by the hour, which includes $540 for his monthly commute from the state capital. Winter weather can also make the roads impassable, preventing him from attending the meetings at all.

Sunrise Engineering Civil Manager CJ Walker suggested using a Meeting Owl 3 by Owl Labs to allow Attorney Smith to attend virtually. The 11‑inch‑tall device is equipped with a 360‑degree camera and microphone, allowing the attorney to see who is speaking and address everyone present. Walker added that the town would also need a laptop to run the camera and allow Mayor Justin George to chat privately with Attorney Smith during meetings.

Last month, Walker brought a Meeting Owl 3 from his office to demonstrate the device for the Medicine Bow Town Council. He showed how the camera can display a 360‑degree view of the room or track individual speakers. The governing body agreed that the device would meet its needs.

During Monday evening’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath said an Owl 3 and the laptop required to run it will cost roughly $1,800, depending on the type of laptop the governing body selects.

A two‑in‑one laptop features a screen that can fold over to serve as a tablet. The governing body decided that the larger 16‑inch model would be the better option.

Clerk Heath said Walker recommended allocating $2,000 for the purchase: $1,780 for the camera and laptop, with an additional $220 for what he described as “miscellaneous materials.”

Mayor George asked the council for their opinion on the Owl 3 system. The governing body agreed that the device would serve the town’s purpose.

Clerk Heath said the Owl camera and laptop would be paid for through the Chokecherry Sierra Madre Impact Assistance Fund. Public Works Director Brian Lashley asked how long it would take for the town to recoup the expense. The governing body estimated about two meetings.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said the remote camera system would also eliminate the need for Attorney Smith to travel to Medicine Bow during bad weather.

Following the discussion, the governing body unanimously voted to buy a Meeting Owl 3 camera and a companion 16‑inch laptop. Mayor George directed Clerk Heath to reach out to Sunrise Engineering Civil Manager, CJ Walker, to initiate the purchase.

The post Medicine Bow Town Council Votes to Purchase On-Line Meeting Camera first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, May 12, 2026 |

Photo – Proposed floor plan for Saratoga’s Boys and Girls Club – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

As reported by Bigfoot99, representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming met with the Saratoga Town Council last month to discuss building a recreation center and gymnasium on town‑owned property. The facility, planned for West Elm Avenue, would allow the organization to run afterschool and weekend programs for the youth of Platte Valley.

Speaking at the April 22nd meeting, Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming Chief Executive Officer Ashley Bright said the existing Platte Valley Community Center does not meet the organization’s strict security needs.

Instead of using the Platte Valley Community Center, the Boys and Girls Club representatives proposed constructing a 14,000‑square‑foot gymnasium behind the Saratoga Public Library. The youth‑service organization also offered to build a second 8,000‑ to 9,000‑square‑foot gym for the Saratoga Recreation Department. The town would only have to pay for utility and janitorial costs. Carbon County School District Two would also have access to the second gym.

The facility is expected to cost roughly $9.5 million to construct and $400,000 annually to run, with the majority of the money coming from donations. Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming board member Daney Tanner said residents have already pledged more than $1.5 million in support over the next three years.

CEO Bright asked the town to sign a memorandum of understanding, giving the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming access to the proposed site on West Elm Avenue. Bright said a signed document will allow him to begin fundraising for the project. Mayor Chuck Davis said he would have Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip review the document and, if she had no changes, the governing body would vote to sign it at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

At the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Davis said Attorney Waldrip needed clarification on addresses and other administrative items before the governing body could sign the agreement. The mayor said he’ll send the revised document to Boys and Girls Club CEO Ashley Bright for the requested changes before Attorney Waldrip conducts a final review.

Mayor Davis did not provide a proposed signing date.

According to the draft MOU, the town agrees to give the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming access to the property for “due diligence” and refrain from leasing the land to anyone else without first notifying the organization. The club would be required to present a conceptual development plan within 120 days of the signing of the agreement, which would expire in either 12 or 18 months depending on what the town council decides.

The post Boys and Girls Club Requests Document for Access to Town’s Site first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, May 12, 2026 |

Photo – Vacant home on South Side of Rawlins – Courtesy City of Rawlins

The Rawlins City Council approved the demolition of an unsafe building on the city’s south side.

During the May 5th Rawlins City Council meeting, Community Development Director Lou Lascano said residents had raised concerns about a vacant house at 440 West Davis Street, a structure already designated as a dangerous building by the city. Lascano said the former home is actively deteriorating.

Lascano said the former occupants died and no one has stepped up to claim the property. The community development director said he and City Manager Matt Hall believe the building should be torn down, adding that it more than meets the city’s requirements for demolition.

Lascano said city staff are struggling to keep kids and vagrants out of the house and recommended tearing it down. He said the city has enough money in the dangerous building fund to cover the work and asked the governing body for a recommendation.

Councilman Steve Sanger asked City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave for a legal assessment. Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the city has clear authority to proceed with the removal of the home.

After the demolition, Attorney Maberry‑Nave recommended placing a lien on the property to recover the city’s costs. She added that the Wyoming Department of Health already holds a $97,796 lien for care provided to the former owner.

However, the parcel is only valued at $43,101. Maberry‑Nave said the state may give up its claim due to the low chance of recovering the debt.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave said removing the structure would improve safety and make the site more appealing to developers. She added that the city is willing to waive a portion of its lien to bring the parcel back to the tax base.

Community Development Director Lou Lascano said he received a $12,000 bid to demolish the home. However, Lascano said the price does not include landfill fees. Once the work is finished, he said the landfill charges will be added to the lien total. The community development director said the contractor can clear the property in three days.

Any items of value, which Lascano said appear to be minimal, will be held by the city. If the heirs do not claim them within a reasonable timeframe, the items will be sold.

Councilman Derek Elliott asked why the city would hire an outside contractor instead of using its own staff to tear the house down. Lascano said crews could be called away for other duties, leaving the site in a more hazardous condition. A contractor would ensure the property is cleared within three days.

Councilman Elliott asked how the demolition would be funded. Lascano said the sale of scrap metal from the Lawrence Property generated $15,300. He said that money would cover most of the cost, with any remaining money coming from the dangerous building fund, which was created specifically to purchase and abate derelict properties within city limits.

The City Council unanimously voted to demolish the home at 440 West Davis Street.

The post Rawlins City Council Votes to Demolish Vacant Home first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, May 12, 2026 |

Photo – Nancy Anderson in front of Lora Webb-Nichols house – Courtesy Alliance for Historic Wyoming

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming presented the Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award to Encampment archivist Nancy Anderson.

Founded in 2005, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving culturally important buildings and sites across the state. Since 2023, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming has presented the Mary Humstone Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation to individuals and organizations whose work has made a lasting impact on the preservation of Wyoming’s historic places and cultural heritage.

Speaking to Bigfoot99 last year, Alliance for Historic Wyoming Executive Director Megan Stanfill explained that Mary Humstone helped found the historic‑preservation group. Last year, the Alliance honored Humstone for her 19 years of service on its Board of Directors by naming the award after her.

This year, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming presented the Mary Humstone Lifetime Achievement Award to Nancy Anderson.

Anderson is the well-known owner of the Lora Webb-Nichols house in Encampment. She also maintains Nichols’ collection of thousands of photographs, diaries, and artifacts.

Not only did Anderson know the famous photographer personally, but she also wrote a book about Nichols, including her work documenting life in early Encampment. In 2023, Anderson began the process of having the Lora Webb-Nichols house listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time, she said the home deserves to be preserved for future use.

Later that year, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places, joining other Encampment listings such as the Willis House and the Boston Wyoming Smelter Site.

Anderson also helped establish the Elk Mountain, Hanna, and Grand Encampment Museums. At the Hanna Museum, a detached exhibit space is dedicated to Anderson’s late husband, Victor.

Alliance for Historic Wyoming Executive Director Megan Stanfill is quoted as saying, “Nancy Anderson has dedicated her life to preservation in Carbon County. […] Her work has been to tell the whole story, and the Alliance for Historic Wyoming is honored to celebrate her success.”

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming will present Anderson with her Mary Humstone Lifetime Achievement Award at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19th, at the Grand Encampment Museum. The event is free and open to the public.

The post Alliance for Historic Wyoming Presents Award to Encampment Resident first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.