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Thursday, April 23, 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins Rochelle Ranch Golf Course – Bigfoot99 file photo

Rawlins officials selected a new concessionaire for the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.

During Tuesday evening’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Darril Garner presented a concessionaire agreement between the city and Timothy Carlson, owner of the Crowbar and Grill in Laramie. The contract authorizes Carlson to operate the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course restaurant from May 1st through October 31st.

Councilman Terry Patterson asked why the contract runs for only six months instead of the usual year. City Manager Matt Hall said Carlson preferred to operate only through the summer. If the arrangement works for Carlson, Hall said the city is open to renewing the lease agreement.

Hall said he hopes Carlson, a Rawlins native, is willing to renew the concessionaire agreement beyond October.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave said the six‑month contract will allow Carlson to determine if the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course meets his needs and gives residents an opportunity to visit his restaurant.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked if the contract clearly outlines who is responsible for maintaining the city‑owned facility, noting that previous concessionaires were unclear about those obligations. City Manager Hall replied that Attorney Maberry‑Nave made certain the agreement specified those responsibilities.

The city attorney added that the contract requires Carlson to carry his own liquor license, independent from the city.

The city’s liquor license applies only to the golf course, preventing the concessionaire from serving alcohol anywhere else. According to city staff reports, the previous operator, Win Haymond, failed to follow those provisions, prompting the city to terminate its agreement with Haymond’s 19th Hole Restaurant in January 2025.

The city attorney said the contract also permits Carlson to operate a mobile concession cart to serve food and drinks to golfers on the course.

The agreement states that the city will be responsible for maintaining the mobile concession cart.

A clerical error prevented the contract from being uploaded to BoardDocs, the city’s online meeting organizer. Vice Mayor Darril Garner said he was uncomfortable signing the agreement without having the opportunity to review it and asked if the council should delay a vote until an upcoming special meeting. City Manager Hall said Carlson is prepared to open the golf course restaurant on May 1st, and any delay would make that difficult. Hall added that he, City Attorney Maberry‑Nave, and Carlson all reviewed the contract and found it in order.

Satisfied with Hall’s assurances, the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to sign the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course concessionaire agreement with Timothy Carlson. The restaurateur is required to pay the city $950 a month in rent.

The post Documents Signed, Concessionaire to Open Golf Course Eatery on May 1 first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, April 23, 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins Water Treatment Facility – Bigfoot99 file photo

The federal government is helping rural communities cover the cost to meet water‑compliance standards.

On March 4th, the Environmental Protection Agency launched the Real Water Technical Assistance initiative. EPA Region Eight Administrator Cyrus Western said that in the mountains and plains regions, water is a significant concern. Larger municipalities, such as Casper and Laramie, have dedicated staff to ensure residents have access to safe and reliable drinking water. Western said smaller towns may not have the money or staff to properly maintain their water systems.

In response to those concerns, the EPA set aside nearly $31 million to help small and rural communities meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water acts. Western said through the Real Water Technical Assistance initiative, the federal government will provide funding for compliance training.

Western said meeting the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act can be a daunting task for smaller communities. The regional EPA administrator said the federal grant program will provide the training and resources needed to keep drinking water in those communities clean and safe.

Bigfoot99 asked if the City of Rawlins can use Real Water Technical Assistance funding to rehabilitate its aging water infrastructure. Western replied that the money is primarily for training, adding that proper training can help address maintenance issues.

Western said the EPA compliance training can be done online.

Municipalities have until May 13th to visit Grants.gov and submit an application for Real Water Technical Assistance funding. The grant is titled Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water.

The federal tax dollars allow applicants to request up to $13 million. Private well owners may also apply for up to $3.4 million in federal grant funding. Entities must contribute a 10 percent grant match.

For more information about the Real Water Technical Assistance initiative, email [email protected].

The post Water Compliance Training Funds Available for Small Communities first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, April 23, 2026 |

Photo – Sheriff’s badge over county map – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office can now transfer individuals with immigration detainers from the county jail to federal custody.

During yesterday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Encampment, Sheriff Alex Bakken presented a memorandum of understanding between his department and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sheriff Bakken explained that when an illegal immigrant commits a crime in Carbon County, they are taken to the county jail, where ICE places a 48‑hour hold. Federal agents then have two days to take the individual into custody.

The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, will allow the Sheriff’s Office to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which permits ICE to delegate limited immigration‑enforcement authority to state and local agencies. Sheriff Bakken said that in this case, participation will allow deputies to process illegal immigrants for ICE, enabling them to be removed from the county jail more quickly.

Last July, Governor Mark Gordon announced that Wyoming Highway Patrol would join ICE’s 287(g) program to assist with immigration enforcement. Sheriff Bakken has been negotiating with the federal agency since January of 2025 to bring his deputies into the program as well.

At yesterday’s meeting, the sheriff said he was not prepared to sign the agreement until now.

Sheriff Bakken said participation in the program comes at no cost to the county, as training will be covered by the federal government.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners unanimously voted to sign the MOU between the Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The post CCSO Joins Federal 287(g) Program first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 |

Photo – Proposed site for Hanna ambulance barn – Bigfoot99 file photo

SCWEMS is once again moving forward with its new Hanna ambulance garage.

For several years, South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services, better known as SCWEMS, has been working to build a stand‑alone structure on the north end of Carbon County to house its ambulance fleet. The service currently stores its vehicles in the Hanna Fire Station, an arrangement that leaves little room for either department.

Carbon County School District Number Two agreed to deed a parcel of land on the corner of School and Adams streets to SCWEMS for an ambulance garage. The site was formerly occupied by the Hanna Elementary School, before underground mine collapses forced the district to demolish the building and construct a new facility two blocks north.

In 2022, the SCWEMS Joint Powers Board received a $50,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant from the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board to cover design and survey work for the new ambulance garage. The board hired a local engineering firm to complete the preliminary work, but when the project went out for bid, two contractors submitted quotes for more than $700,000 and $1 million, far beyond what the organization could afford.

The plan was put on hold while the SCWEMS Board considered the next steps.

Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Yvonne Johnson stepped in to help SCWEMS find an existing building that could serve as an ambulance barn, including the shuttered Hanna Recreation Center, which has sat vacant for nearly two years.

Speaking at the April 20th SCWEMS Joint Powers Board meeting, Board Chairman Morgan Irene clarified that the service does not want to purchase the recreation center and prefers to continue working with the original site. Irene, who also serves as mayor of Elk Mountain, said he contacted North Fork engineer Jon Nelson to review the existing plans.

The former elementary school had an indoor pool that was buried when the structure was demolished. The SCWEMS Board was concerned that the pool would interfere with the planned garage. North Fork engineer Jon Nelson said school records show that the pool was filled in with concrete.

Nelson said he overlaid the school’s records onto the original plans for the ambulance garage. Although he was working from someone else’s designs, Nelson said he believes the buried pool will not interfere with the structure.

Nelson said there may be other buried features, but the pool should not present a problem during construction.

With those findings, SCWEMS Board Chairman Morgan Irene asked Nelson if the service was ready to begin seeking funding for the garage construction. The North Fork engineer said yes but noted that the previous bids came in higher than expected and that revising the plans would add to the cost.

Irene said the SCWEMS Board does not want to change the designs or the proposed location. Nelson said he can help move the project forward but cannot use the existing plans because they were produced by another engineering firm.

Chairman Irene said the SCWEMS Board chose to use prefabricated buildings to limit design costs. However, after receiving higher‑than‑expected bids, the board decided not to continue working with the original engineering firm.

Nelson asked if the SCWEMS Board could renew its relationship with the previous company. The board said it was not possible. In that case, Nelson said he would need to restart the design process for liability reasons. The North Fork engineer estimated that redoing the site, grading, and utility plans would cost between $20,000 and $30,000, adding that the board would still need architectural designs.

Alternatively, Nelson said the board could pursue a construction manager‑at‑risk contract. The engineer said the approach allows SCWEMS to work with a contractor on the plans, potentially getting the process started faster. However, Nelson cautioned that the arrangement may limit the service’s ability to secure federal grant funding for the project.

With the design work incomplete and no firm willing to finish it, Chairman Morgan Irene asked Nelson to draft a proposal from North Fork Engineering for the SCWEMS Board’s consideration. Board Vice Chairman Carl Bickel asked if they should consider two alternative properties, the Char‑Ka Apartments at 406 Front Street and a former car wash at the corner of Jade Drive and 2nd Street, before making a decision.

Nelson was asked if remodeling an existing structure would be less expensive than building new. The engineer said that in some cases a remodel would cost less, noting that utilities are a major expense and would already be in place in an existing building. He pointed to North Fork’s Saratoga office, which is housed in an existing structure. By contrast, purchasing a building that requires extensive work would increase the cost.

The SCWEMS Board voted to have Nelson draft a proposal for North Fork Engineering to restart the design process on the ambulance garage. With finished plans, board members can begin seeking funding for the project. In the meantime, Vice Chairman Carl Bickel will meet with Yvonne Johnson of the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation to continue discussing the possibility of purchasing an existing building.

The post SCWEMS Looks to Move Forward with Ambulance Barn first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 |

Photo – Slide from a presentation on eagle strikes at windfarms – Courtesy Mike Lockhart

A Laramie‑based wildlife conservationist is urging lawmakers to slow new wind projects to protect eagles.

Anne Brande, Executive Director of the Albany County Conservancy, is fighting the expansion of wind energy projects in southern Wyoming. Brande said journalists have begun noting the high number of wind turbines in the region, but they often overlook existing projects, including the Seven Mile and Ekola Flats wind farms.

Brande said she formed the nonprofit Albany County Conservancy with the goal of creating a wildlife migration museum on Highway 287 south of Laramie. However, the chosen site now falls within the Rail Tie Wind Project, a 26,000-acre 504‑megawatt wind farm just north of the Colorado border. Realizing few people would visit a migration museum in the middle of an industrial wind facility, Brande began tracking the number of wind energy projects around the state and their cumulative impact to wildlife, specifically golden eagles. Once abundant throughout Wyoming, golden eagles are now in decline, which Brande attributed largely to wind turbines.

In 2024, Brande’s Albany County Conservancy, along with other local groups and residents, filed a lawsuit to stop the Rail Tie Wind Project primarily due to concerns about wildlife protection. Brande said one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 30 years, and that his studies show wind blade strikes account for more golden eagle deaths than all other causes put together.

Brande said wind farms are contributing to eagle deaths across southern Wyoming. The conservationist said both the National Audubon Society and the Wyoming Outdoor Council submitted comments on the Two Rivers Wind Project, located between the towns of Medicine Bow and Rock River, stating that the turbines would create an “ecological sink.” Brande explained that the installation has the potential to kill not only local eagles, but migrating birds as well.

While golden eagles are not listed under the Endangered Species Act, they are protected by federal statutes that make it illegal to harm them, disturb their nests, or possess their feathers. Because blade strikes are considered inevitable, energy producers must obtain an Eagle Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The permit allows companies to unintentionally kill or injure eagles without violating federal law. The exact number of birds killed is difficult to determine.

Brande said that because energy companies are not forthcoming with the data, the Albany County Conservancy filed a freedom‑of‑information request with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for records on bald and golden eagle deaths at wind farms between Hanna and Rock River. Brande said the federal government incorrectly withheld most of the documents, citing trade‑secret concerns.

Brande said the Albany County Conservancy was created specifically to expose wildlife impacts, which led the nonprofit to file an appeal in Washington D.C. Brande recently received the requested documents, and said she will now review them to determine what, if any, data they contain about eagle deaths.

In April 2024, the federal government revised its eagle statutes to eliminate mandatory third‑party oversight, now requiring energy companies to self‑certify that their monitoring data and reports are complete and accurate.

Brande said protecting wildlife, including golden eagles, is important to Wyoming’s economy.

Brande urged residents to press their elected officials to protect the state’s wildlife. While not opposed to development, she said lawmakers need a clearer understanding of the effects of energy production, including wind, before signing off on new projects.

Along with the Albany County Conservancy, Brande also heads Wywindhere, a nonprofit created to oppose the Rail Tie Wind Project and keep area residents informed about future energy development. Wywindhere plans to hold a rally outside the state capitol building in Cheyenne on Thursday, June 4th. More information about how industrial development on open spaces is affecting wildlife can be found at www.albanycountyconservancy.org.

The post Laramie Resident Protests Wind Farms to Protect Wildlife first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins Rochelle Ranch Golf Course – Bigfoot99 file photo

Rawlins officials are set to choose a new concessionaire for the city’s golf course.

During tonight’s Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body is expected to enter into a restaurant concessionaire agreement with Timothy Carlson. City documents show that Carlson has owned and operated the Crowbar and Grill in Laramie for fourteen years. The restaurateur has indicated that he plans to offer a similar mix of bar‑style comfort food at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.

The city has been managing food and beverage sales at the golf course since the Rawlins City Council terminated its contract with the previous concessionaire, Win Haymond, in January 2025.

Haymond opened the 19th Hole Restaurant at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in May of 2023. In December of 2024, the governing body voted to suspend the restaurant’s liquor license. An official reason wasn’t provided at the time, but Haymond later acknowledged in a social media post that alcohol was left at the Jeffery Memorial Center following a Christmas party catered by the 19th Hole.

Speaking at the February 18th, 2025, Rawlins City Council meeting, City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave explained that the 19th Hole Restaurant’s liquor license only permitted the eatery to serve alcohol at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.

For those reasons, Attorney Maberry-Nave said the city was justified in suspending the 19th Hole Restaurant’s liquor license.

Haymond was invited to address the allegations in a public meeting, but the restaurant owner did not respond to the city’s requests. On January 7th, 2025, the city council unanimously voted to terminate the concessionaire agreement with Haymond and the 19th Hole Restaurant.

During the February 2025 city council meeting, Attorney Maberry-Nave explained that Haymond violated city ordinances more than three times, giving the council ample grounds to end the contract.

The city attorney also accused Haymond of leaving the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course restaurant in poor condition after moving his business out of the building.

Since ending its agreement in January 2025, the city has been operating the golf course restaurant with a limited menu. By entering an agreement with Timothy Carlson, the golf course will likely be able to offer a full menu once again, increasing revenue for the city, supporting tournaments and events, and providing the community with another dining option.

Tonight’s Rawlins City Council meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, located at 521 West Cedar Street. The proceedings will also be broadcast live on the City of Rawlins YouTube channel.

The post Rawlins Council to Enter Agreement with Concessionaire first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga must wait for a historical review before a new communications tower can be built.

Last November, Saratoga officials began negotiating with Mountain West Technologies to install equipment on the new communications tower at Town Hall. At the time, Mayor Chuck Davis said he was told the existing tower is decades old, possibly as much as 70 years, and not suitable to support the planned upgrades. Mayor Davis said Mountain West representatives cautioned that the tower may be vulnerable to collapse.

Mountain West Technologies refused to use the existing communications tower and offered to split the cost of a new tower with the town. At the December 3rd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mountain West Technologies Chief of Operations Lesha Thorvaldson said the company will build the structure if the town agrees to pay for the materials.

On December 17th, the Saratoga Town Council agreed to the construction of a $38,856.89 tower, with the town paying $24,496.89 and Mountain West Technologies covering the remaining $14,360 in labor costs. Roughly $17,000 of the town’s portion will be covered by an unspent State Homeland Security Program grant.

During the April 15th Town Council meeting, Councilman Jerry Fluty asked for an update on the project. Police Chief John Moore announced that, due to the age of the tower, the State Homeland Security Program requires a historic‑site review to ensure the new antenna will not affect the character of the surrounding area.

State Homeland Security Program funds are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. All projects must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal agencies to account for any effects a project may have on historic properties.

Mayor Davis said he is waiting for a state representative to take soil samples from the site. The results must be reviewed and cleared by the federal government before construction of the new communications tower can begin.

The post Replacement of Communication Tower on Hold for Historical Review first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |

Photo – KD Shinkle (center) with volunteers and City Representatives – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Officials around Carbon County declared this as National Volunteer Recognition Week.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon issued Proclamation 4288, establishing National Volunteer Week to honor and promote volunteer service nationwide.

During the April 7th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells declared the week of April 19th through the 25th as National Volunteer Week. Reading from the proclamation, Mayor Wells said both the city and the Downtown Development Authority rely on hundreds of volunteers to support community programs and local improvement projects.

Continuing to read from the proclamation, Mayor Wells said volunteers help government and businesses keep communities functioning. Following the reading, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer thanked the city’s 500 volunteers for their commitment to improving their community.

Continuing to recognize the city’s volunteers, Rawlins Fire Chief and Volunteer Committee member Allen Robinson announced the winner of the April Community Builder Award. Chief Robinson presented the honor to Recreation Center Administrative Assistant and Rawlins Police Department Victim Assistance volunteer K.D. Shinkle.

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer described Shinkle as the quintessential volunteer, saying the award recipient plays a key role as a victim assistance advocate. Thayer said Shinkle is dedicated to serving the public and supporting victims of crime.

Thayer said victims describe Shinkle as having a big heart and taking the hardest calls with empathy and composure. When asked why she does the work, Thayer said Shinkle responded that she values the community, wants to help, and hopes more residents will consider volunteering.

All Community Builder Award winners receive a plaque and $100 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Shinkle chose to give her prize money to Carbon County Crisis Outreach and Victim Empowerment, or COVE.

Nearly one week later, on April 13th, the Medicine Bow Town Council recognized today, April 21st, as National Service Recognition Day. Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath read the proclamation, stating that volunteers are vital to the community’s stability and long‑term health.

Medicine Bow Mayor Justin George said National Service Recognition Day holds personal significance for him, noting that the example set by others inspired him to become an emergency medical technician. Mayor George added that many essential municipal services are carried out by volunteers and urged residents to step into one of the many open board seats.

Following his remarks, Mayor George proclaimed today as National Service Recognition Day in the Town of Medicine Bow.

The post Carbon County Towns Declare National Volunteer Recognition Week first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, April 20, 2026 |

Photo – Last year’s Property Tax Refund Program application – Courtesy WY Dept of Revenue

The Carbon County Treasurer’s Office is now accepting property tax refund applications.

On Wednesday, April 15th, the Carbon County Treasurer’s Office began taking applications for the Wyoming Property Tax Refund Program. Treasurer Lindsey West explained that the initiative provides property tax relief to qualifying Wyoming homeowners, adding that Carbon County residents received approximately $86,000 in refunds last year through the program.

Wyoming Property Tax Refund applicants must meet specific residency, asset, and income requirements.

Treasurer West said to qualify, a person must have lived in Wyoming for the past five years and owned and occupied their home for at least nine months.

Applicants are limited to $169,866 in assets per adult household member. Treasurer West said bank accounts and investments count toward the total, while many other items, including life insurance policies, do not.

Applicants must also fall below 145 percent of the median income of either their county of residence or the state, whichever is higher. In Carbon County, the threshold is tied to the state figure, which is $114,043.

Even after meeting all the requirements, Treasurer West said the refunds still carry limitations.

In addition to the Wyoming Property Tax Refund Program application, homeowners must submit a copy of their 2025 property tax bill and proof of payment, which can be obtained from the Carbon County Treasurer’s Office. West said additional information may also be required, including proof of income.

The Wyoming Department of Revenue set the eligibility guidelines to ensure the refunds are limited to homeowners with demonstrated need. When asked who should apply for the program, Treasurer West said anyone who falls within the criteria is eligible for a property tax refund.

County Treasurer West said because the program is administered by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, the state agency is responsible for verifying that applicants fall within the eligibility thresholds.

Residents who have enrolled with the Wyoming Property Tax Refund Program in the past will receive an application in the mail. West said first‑time filers can obtain an application online or from the Carbon County Treasurer’s Office.

For more information about the Wyoming Property Tax Refund Program, call the Carbon County Treasurer’s Office at 328‑2631 or the Wyoming Department of Revenue at 777‑7020. Applications are due by June 1st.

The post County Treasurer Now Accepting Property Tax Refund Applications first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, April 20, 2026 |

Photo – Example of “Cured in Place” epoxy pipe lining – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

Work on Saratoga’s latest sewer improvement project is nearly complete.

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 proposal called for using cured‑in‑place epoxy lining to repair roughly 7,000 feet of deteriorating underground water lines. The method uses a flexible tube to essentially create a new pipe inside the existing lines. Sections deemed beyond repair would be excavated and replaced with new synthetic sewer pipes.

Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel of Cheyenne was selected to carry out the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project for $1,706,843. Shortly after beginning work last fall, the contractor discovered two sections of pipe on Saratoga Avenue, from 11th to 9th Streets, that were originally scheduled to be relined but needed to be replaced instead. The town council approved a $318,823 change order, bringing the project total to $2,025,666. A change order is a formal adjustment to the original contract, allowing for approved changes to cost, scope, or schedule after work has already started.

During the April 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner presented the governing body with a second change order, this one for $22,348. Penner explained that Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel struck an unknown water line while digging, forcing crews to wait while the break was repaired, then replace a damaged section of pipe afterward.

In addition, Penner said the pipe was disconnected, but left in place, as it only served a vacant home. Knowing the property will eventually be sold, the public works director said Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel dug a trench for a future water connection.

Those two incidents led to the $22,348 change order.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously approved the second change order, bringing the total project cost to $2,048,014.

After the vote, Penner announced that the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project was nearly finished, with only minor details left to complete. The public works director said he was impressed the contractor repaired and replaced 7,000 feet of underground water lines so quickly, noting that the unusually warm and dry winter helped.

As the West Bench Project wraps up, town crews will continue replacing heavily corroded water valves under West Elm Avenue, working their way toward Highway 130. Penner also announced that design work to replace two sewer mains that cross the North Platte River is nearly complete, with hopes the job can begin in November, when water levels are low.

The post West Bench Sewer Project Near Completion first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.