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MONDAY, May 11, 2026 |

Photo – Water main break sign – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials discussed the most recent water main breaks.

During the May 5th Rawlins City Council meeting, Public Works Director Cody Dill updated the governing body on several water main breaks that occurred two weeks ago.

Dill said on Tuesday, April 28th, city crews detected a leak in the high-pressure line that carries treated water to the Painted Hills and Hospital storage tanks. The tanks provide water to more than half of the city’s residents. Dill said crews replaced 27 feet of broken pipe.

While addressing the original leak, crews discovered three separate ruptures in the high-pressure line, requiring them to replace approximately 50 feet in total.

The repairs were completed by Wednesday afternoon, but four and a half hours later crews found another break in an area just north of the previous failure. Public Works Director Dill said because the treated water tanks were so low at the time, crews chose to plug the hole and let the tanks fill before beginning repairs.

On Wednesday evening, the city asked residents to conserve water by taking short showers and waiting to do laundry and dishes until repairs were complete.

Calls for reduced water use continued through the week as crews addressed additional breaks on the high‑pressure line. Dill said another leak was discovered on Thursday night, requiring an additional 38 feet of pipe to be replaced.

Due to the treated water tanks being at only 35 percent of capacity, calls to conserve water remained in effect until Monday, May 4th.

Public Works Director Dill said the city lost 1.55 million gallons of treated water during the weeklong incident, adding that event cost the city between $35,000 and $40,000.

Dill and the City Council thanked the public works and water treatment staff who performed the repairs.

The breaks occurred on the high-pressure pipeline that was identified as a priority one project by the city’s 2023 Water Master Plan. Other high priority projects include revitalizing the Sage Creek Springs to provide more consistent water flows, repairing the 32-mile transmission line from the springs to the water treatment plant, and replacing the deteriorating Painted Hills and Hospital treated water storage tanks. Altogether, the four priority one projects are estimated to cost between $20 and $50 million.

As of May 6th, the city’s two treated water tanks were 84 percent full.

The post Rawlins City Council Updated on Recent Water Main Breaks first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, May 11, 2026 |

Photo – National Police Week announcement – Courtesy Rawlins Police Department

The Rawlins Police Department is hosting a National Police Week event to honor Carbon County’s fallen peace officers.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week.

This Thursday, May 14th, the Rawlins Police Department will celebrate National Police Week with a short ceremony on the front steps of the police department, located at 215 5th Street. Police Chief Mike Ward said the event will honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice or were disabled in the line of duty.

Chief Ward said National Police Week also recognizes the families of fallen officers. The police chief said every member of the law enforcement community relies on the support of their loved ones.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page website, which tracks every fallen law enforcement officer in the country, 38 officers have died in the line of duty this year, with Border Patrol Agent Sean M. McDonough and Massachusetts State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor killed this month.

In Carbon County, twelve officers have died in the line of duty, beginning with Deputy Sheriff Robert Widdowfield and Union Pacific detective Tip Vincent, who on August 19th, 1878, were killed by the outlaw Big Nose George Parrott and his gang.

On April 20th, 1903, Rawlins Police Officer John Baxter and Lieutenant Thomas Kling were ambushed and killed by a store owner while responding to a “shots-fired” call.

In 1907, Wyoming Department of Corrections Guard Ed Samuelson was killed by an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.

In 1945, Wyoming Game and Fish agents Bill Lakanen and Don Simpson were shot to death in the Sierra Madre mountain range near Rawlins while investigating reports of illegal beaver hunting. The suspect died in a cabin fire before he could be taken into custody.

Department of Corrections Lieutenant Orville Lee Ventling was killed by two inmates on March 4th, 1975. Lieutenant Ventling was a U.S. Army veteran.

Wyoming Highway Patrolman Peter Visser died on October 12th, 1981, after a drunk driver rear-ended his cruiser while he was investigating a traffic accident on Interstate 80.

On June 26th, 1997, Department of Corrections Corporal Wayne Martinez was killed by three inmates during an escape attempt at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Corporal Martinez was a seven‑year veteran with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

On October 20th, 2014, Wyoming Highway Patrol K9 Robbie was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 80 while performing a vehicle search.

And finally, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Rawlins Police Lieutenant Delavan Lewis Dixon, who died on June 4th, 1996, while participating in the FBI Physical Fitness Challenge in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Mike Ward said Dixon’s death is still felt in the Rawlins Police Department.

Chief Ward said representatives from the Rawlins Police Department and the other Carbon County law enforcement agencies will take turns reading the names of those who lost their lives while protecting their community.

After the flag ceremony, the Rawlins Police Department will open the station to the public. Chief Ward encouraged residents to visit.

During the May 5th Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body declared this as National Police Week.

The Rawlins Police Department’s National Police Week ceremony and open house will take place this Thursday, May 14th, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Following the event, the public is invited to tour the police station from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Contact Rawlins Police Administrative Secretary Katrina James at 324-4503 for more information.

The post Rawlins Police Department to Hold Open House for National Police Week first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, May 11, 2026 |

Photo – Meeting announcement – Courtesy Carbon County Road & Bridge

County officials want to hear from residents before closing the Brush Creek Road bridge.

During the May 5th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz discussed the 100‑year‑old bridge over the North Platte River in Encampment. Known as Bridge DML on Brush Creek Road, the structure is set to be demolished and replaced under the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Bridge Replacement Off System, or BROS, program.

The BROS program is a federally funded initiative to replace locally owned, structurally deficient bridges. Carbon County has three structures scheduled to be replaced under the program: the bridge over the Encampment River on Baggot Rocks Road, the Medicine Bow River bridge on County Road Three, and the Brush Creek Road bridge.

WYDOT originally planned to construct a temporary crossing to allow local traffic to continue using Brush Creek Road while the bridge was being replaced. However, Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz said WYDOT has estimated that closing the road during construction would save the state agency $1 million.

WYDOT Project Engineer Diego Fronza said the widening of the river to the south and the steep cliffs to the north make the site difficult to construct a detour, which will increase the cost of the temporary crossing.

Fronza said the entire project is estimated to cost $5.1 million, but the bridge detour will increase the price to $6.6 million. The county is responsible for roughly 10 percent of the project, either $531,000 to close the road or $628,000 for the detour.

Fronza said the Board can also choose not to participate in the BROS program but cautioned that the price of a replacement bridge will exceed the county’s current expected contribution.

The Brush Creek Bridge is scheduled to be replaced in 2028. Fronza said without the need to build a temporary crossing, the project will take approximately one year. With the added cost and complexity of the detour, the project engineer said construction times will double.

During the closure, residents and emergency services will be required to take a 30‑mile detour out to Highway 130 to bypass the site. Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz said fire trucks are prohibited from using the existing bridge and already required to take the lengthy detour. Fritz acknowledged the year‑long closure will be inconvenient, but said the money saved will allow WYDOT to replace more bridges under the BROS program.

Commissioner Sue Jones said the temporary crossing would be too costly, adding that moving the bridge is not an option. Commissioner Jones said Brush Creek Ranch employees would be most affected by the closure but would likely be satisfied with the outcome.

Commissioner Jones added that ranchers with operations on both sides of the North Platte River will be inconvenienced as well but said constructing a temporary crossing would increase the time and cost of the project.

Commissioner John Johnson said he would like to meet with residents and landowners before deciding to close the road.

The Board agreed to hold a special meeting in the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga on June 2nd, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the possibility of closing Brush Creek Road for one year during the bridge construction or building a temporary crossing.

The post County Sets Meeting About Brush Creek Road Bridge Closure first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, May 8, 2026 |

Photo – 12 parcel lot formerly known as Dan’s Trucking – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga’s newest property purchase requires further environmental study.

In December, Saratoga Public Works Director Emery Penner recommended moving his department out of the deteriorating and outdated former water treatment plant and police station on South River Street. Penner proposed buying a 12-lot parcel on North State and East Rochester Streets on the east side of town. The property, formerly the site of Dan’s Trucking, is already zoned for light industrial and suitable for a new public works shop and material staging area.

The town held two public meetings on the proposed sale. Opinions were divided, with some residents opposed to the deal because the town could be taking valuable industrial property off the market, land that could be used for future development. Supporters of the plan said moving the public works department would improve the appearance of the river and allow the area to be opened for public use.

In February, the Saratoga Town Council voted to offer the property owner, Danny McGuire, $800,000 for the parcel.

Knowing the location was a former trucking yard, the town contacted the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a Phase I study to determine if contamination may be present at the site. A Phase I review includes historical research, regulatory records checks, a visual inspection, and interviews with neighbors and the owner.

Speaking at the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Penner said DEQ submitted its completed Phase I report and found enough potential concerns to recommend moving on to a Phase II study.

A Phase II study consists of on‑site sampling and laboratory analysis to confirm the existence of any potential contamination, including petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and any other industrial residues linked to the location’s past trucking activity.

Penner said the town isn’t obligated to do any further sampling, but DEQ’s contractor recommended moving ahead with the additional testing.

Penner said he expects Wyoming DEQ to approve the Phase II study by next week. The state’s contractor will begin collecting soil samples soon afterward.

The post Future Site of Saratoga’s Public Works Recommended for Further Testing first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, May 8, 2026 |

Photo – Pomeranian – Courtesy Samantha Davi

A Los Angeles-based promotional organization is looking for the best pets in Wyoming.

The Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards has teamed up with USA TODAY to find the best pets in the country. Celebrity animal trainer Nicole Ellis said the awards program is asking residents of every state, including Wyoming, to nominate their cat or dog in the national competition.

Winners are determined entirely through public voting. The top three pets in each state receive cash awards of $3,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third, plus a trip to Los Angeles, California, to accept their awards. Ellis said the competition follows a People’s Choice‑style format established by television producer Mike Burg, with each state’s champion advancing to the national round.

One free vote can be cast each day, but additional votes must be purchased from the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards website. Ellis said more than half of the proceeds from paid votes are donated to Best Friends, a national animal‑welfare nonprofit focused on ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters across the country. She said a previous nationwide competition generated over $700,000 in donations for Best Friends, prompting organizers to open the contest to individual states.

Best Friends partners with shelters across the United States, including organizations in Cheyenne and Laramie. Ellis said donations generated by the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards go a long way toward supporting those shelters.

Applicants have until May 20th to submit their pets for the statewide competition. The entry form asks if you’re entering a dog or cat, your pet’s name, a picture, and a 50‑word statement explaining why you consider your pet to be the best in the state.

Ellis said that once entries close, anyone can visit the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards website and cast one free vote per day.

A link to the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards Wyoming signup page will be included in this story when it is posted to Bigfoot99.com.

The winners of each state competition will be invited to participate in the national award ceremony, hosted by comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.

Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards Wyoming signup: Enter best in state Wyoming | Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards

The post Best Pet in Wyoming Contest Closes This Month first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, May 8, 2026 |

Photo – Desert Dust presentation flyer – Courtesy Town of Sinclair

The Town of Sinclair is hosting a presentation on Desert Dust, one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century.

On Thursday, May 14th, the public is invited to attend a presentation by author R.J. “Gill” Gillian in the Sinclair Recreation Hall, next door to the historic Parco Theater. Sinclair Community Events Director Monte Thayer said Gillian, a Rawlins native, wrote a book about Desert Dust, the world‑famous picture of a horse captured in the Red Desert.

The photograph was taken in 1945 by Rawlins photographer Vern Wood at the request of Frank Robbins, a rancher known for capturing wild horses in the Red Desert. Locals had spotted the unusually colored horse and urged Robbins to capture the animal. Thayer said after Wood published his picture, Desert Dust, as the horse became known, gained widespread fame.

The popularity of the Desert Dust photograph prompted Robbins to sue for ownership of the negative. Robbins claimed he had commissioned Wood to take the picture and should control the rights. Thayer said the case was eventually ruled in the rancher’s favor.

Soon after the photograph became famous, Desert Dust starred in a short film called “Fight of the Wild Stallion.” In 1947, the movie was nominated for an Academy Award in the Short Film category, but was narrowly beaten by Climbing the Matterhorn, short documentary about the rescue of a stranded British couple off the Matterhorn mountain.

In 2020, R. J. “Gill” Gillilan and Paul Papa published Desert Dust: One Man’s Passion to Uncover the True Story Behind an Iconic American Photograph, which documents Gillilan’s sixteen‑year investigation into the history of the Desert Dust photograph. The book covers the events surrounding the 1945 capture of the palomino stallion, the photograph’s rise to fame, and the legal dispute between Robbins and Wood.

Gillian will discuss his research and the two men involved in the photograph on May 14th, in the Sinclair Recreation Hall, located at 502 Lincoln Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7:00. Admission is free.

For more information, call Sinclair Community Events Director Monte Thayer at 321-8694.

The post Sinclair Recreation Hosts Desert Dust Presentation first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 7, 2026 |

Photo – Flyer announcing muralist bids – Courtesy Megan McComas

The Rawlins-Carbon County Airport Board is seeking artists to design a mural honoring the airport’s namesake, Norm Harvey.

Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board members are asking for submissions from local artists to paint a mural on the side of the Rawlins Flying Club hangar at Harvey Field. Board member Megan McComas said the painting must incorporate Rawlins’ pilot Norm Harvey in some way.

Norm Harvey was a Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board member, serving as chairman for nearly 20 years. During that time, Harvey worked with local, state, and federal agencies to expand the Rawlins airport. McComas said Harvey shared his passion for aviation as president of the Rawlins Flying Club.

Harvey’s hanger, now the home of the Rawlins Flying Club, was a popular stop for pilots traveling through the municipal airport. McComas said Harvey flew his prized blue Cessna 195 across the country, earning a world speed record in the process.

Harvey was a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors, National Aeronautics Association, the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, and the International Cessna 195 Club, and taught future pilots at the Carbon County Higher Education Center.

Harvey died on September 26th, 2003, at the age of 59, while attending an International Cessna 195 Club event in Dayton, Ohio. McComas said Havey’s influence is still felt throughout Carbon County, and the airport board would like to honor his legacy with a 500-square-foot mural on the side of his former hangar.

To submit a design, email the Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board at [email protected]. The deadline for applications is May 15th, and the piece must be completed by July 12th at a maximum cost of $18,000. The mural will be unveiled during the July 10th Harvey Field Sky Festival, which will include an airport tour, aircraft displays, a car show, a cookout, as well as other events.

The Rawlins Flying Club offers public lessons at Harvey Field. McComas said details about the courses will be available during the July 10th event.

McComas said the Rawlins‑Carbon County Airport Board looks forward to engaging more with the public and renewing interest in aviation in the community.

The post Rawlins Airport Board Looking for Muralist first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 7, 2026 |

Photo – Carbon County Museum Director presents flag to Rawlins City Council – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials declared the city’s intention to participate in the county’s semi quincentennial celebrations.

During Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Carbon County Museum Director and 250 Committee member Tom Mensik presented a proclamation to the governing body celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Vice Mayor Darril Garner read the proclamation.

Vice Mayor Garner continued reading the proclamation, saying Carbon County is shaped by the journeys of indigenous peoples who stewarded the land for generations, emigrants and settlers moving west, railroad workers and miners who built towns, and ranching families whose traditions endure today.

The vice mayor said Carbon County will celebrate the semi quincentennial by focusing on the spirit of exploration that continues to draw people to the region. While the county was founded on mineral extraction, specifically coal and copper, there is a renewed emphasis on adventure and recreation.

Vice Mayor Garner said the communities of Carbon County are committed to preserving and sharing these stories through education, cultural programming, and public engagement during the America 250 commemoration. The vice mayor then proclaimed the city’s intention to participate in the celebration and recognized “Journeys to Carbon County” as the theme for events and activities throughout the county.

To mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners established the Carbon County 250 Committee to oversee local celebrations. The group, made up of Encampment author Candy Moulton and museum directors Tom Mensik, Tim Nicklas, Angie Hobbs, Lela Emmons, and Justin Horn, is collaborating with towns on their individual events and a larger county gathering in Rawlins on July 10th, Wyoming Statehood Day. The 250 committee has also commissioned a 30‑minute documentary about the history of Carbon County.

Speaking at the Rawlins City Council meeting, museum director Tom Mensik said the film will be shown during the city’s celebration and shared across the county afterward.

The documentary, titled Carbon County’s Journeys to 250, will be distributed to every museum and school in the county, with 250 committee members planning an educational curriculum built around the film.

After his remarks, Mensik presented a 13‑star Betsy Ross flag to the Rawlins City Council. The commemorative flags were provided by Sunrise Sanitation and will be given to every municipality in Carbon County.

The post Rawlins Council Declares Intention of Participation in 250th Anniversary Celebrations first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, May 7, 2026 |

Photo – Kelia McCuddy and her artwork submission – Courtesy Kelia McCuddy

A local artist is competing in a national art contest presented by Johnny Depp.

Carbon County Museum Education and Outreach Manager Kelia McCuddy is taking part in the 2026 People’s Artist competition. The contest, presented by actor Johnny Depp, is decided through a public vote that selects one artist for a $25,000 award, a feature spot in Artforum magazine, and an exhibition at The Art of Elysium’s Salon in Los Angeles, California.

Kelia McCuddy submitted a ballpoint‑pen drawing of an alligator skull with a bonsai tree growing from the snout, a piece she calls Spirit of the Swamp. While she chose to showcase her pen work in the People’s Artist competition, McCuddy said she also practices a wide range of techniques.

McCuddy said she developed her love of art from the grandmother on her father’s side. During visits, her grandmother would always ask her to draw a picture.

McCuddy has won awards for her art, which she describes as borderline surrealism centered on realistic depictions of skulls and hearts. A piece she entered in last year’s Carbon County Fair was awarded best in show.

The People’s Artist competition, presented by actor Johnny Depp, is a national fundraising contest where artists submit their works to move through elimination rounds determined by online voting. One free vote is available each day, and additional votes can be cast by donating to The Art of Elysium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports people facing serious health, economic, or emotional difficulties. The winner receives a $25,000 prize, a feature in Artforum magazine, and has their work displayed in The Art of Elysium’s Los Angeles studio.

McCuddy said she saw advertisements for the 2026 People’s Artist competition while browsing social media and chose to enter her ballpoint pen on card stock drawing, Spirit of the Swamp.

As of this report, McCuddy is second in her group of 40 artists. After another seven days of voting, the top 20 artists will move on to the next phase of the competition.

A link to vote for McCuddy’s People’s Artist submission will be included in this story when it is posted to Bigfoot99.com.

McCuddy also displays her art on Instagram under the username mccuddlesandwhimsey.

Vote for Kelia McCuddy: Kelia McCuddy | The People’s Artist presented by Johnny Depp

The post Local Artist is Competing in National Art Contest first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2026 |

Photo – Building in Savery – Courtesy CCVC website

County officials declared this week as National Travel and Tourism Week.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, the Board proclaimed the week of May 3rd through the 9th as National Travel and Tourism Week. Carbon County Visitors Council Executive Director Leslie Jefferson said tourism extends beyond hospitality. Jefferson said visitors staying in Carbon County bring in lodging tax revenue and support local businesses.

Jefferson said that in 2025, tourists spent $5 billion across Wyoming, including $239.9 million in Carbon County. The tourism industry generated an estimated $292 million in state and local taxes, $15.5 million of which came from Carbon County. Jefferson said statewide, the industry supports nearly 1,700 local jobs, admittedly fewer than the previous year.

Jefferson said every two years, the Wyoming Office of Tourism provides Destination Development grant funding to the Carbon County Visitors Council to enhance the county’s marketability and visitor infrastructure. Jefferson said her office received $300,000 in the last funding cycle, $65,000 of which was spent helping the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office establish the county’s first avalanche forecasting team.

In addition, Jefferson said a portion of the Destination Development grant funded a study to determine the feasibility of creating a paved bicycle path along Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Walcott Junction. However, the 20‑mile ADA‑accessible route proved too costly to build and maintain, and the project has been temporality shelved.

Jefferson continued, saying that next week the Fossil Cabin is scheduled to be moved seven miles from its current location at Como Bluffs to the Medicine Bow Museum.

The Carbon County Visitors Council is also participating in the county’s celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of those celebrations, Jefferson said the City of Rawlins is hosting a variety of events on Wyoming Statehood Day, July 10th.

Also on July 10th, the Carbon County 250 Committee will screen its new documentary Journeys to 250. The film explores how the area was settled and why people continue to live in Carbon County and will include reenactments of important historical events. The 30‑minute documentary will debut on July 4th in Saratoga.

Commissioner Sue Jones thanked Jefferson and the Carbon County Visitors Council for helping fund the movie.

Following Leslie Jefferson’s report, Commission Chairman Travis Moore proclaimed May 3rd through the 9th as National Travel and Tourism Week in Carbon County.

The post This Week is National Travel and Tourism Week first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.