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January 30th 2026 |

Photo – Bigfoot 99 file photo

The state librarian said independent libraries cannot join the state system.

Recent property tax cuts have affected local governments’ ability to fund essential services, such as law enforcement and road maintenance. Carbon County saw a $947,000 reduction in total property tax revenue this fiscal year. Included in the loss was nearly $500,000 earmarked for outside entities, including senior centers, museums, and libraries.

In fiscal year 2025 through 2026, the Board of Commissioners cut the Carbon County Library System’s allocation by 53 percent. Facing significant cutbacks across all seven branches, Library Board members approached each municipality for additional financial support. Without that help, the under-performing libraries, specifically the Hanna and Medicine Bow branches, are set to close. Thanks to last‑minute donations, the Medicine Bow Library is funded through next March, and the Hanna branch will remain open until May 8th. However, both branches are still set to close unless additional funding is secured.

With closures nearly certain, elected officials in both Medicine Bow and Hanna have begun discussing the possibility of opening their own libraries, separate from the Carbon County library system. The volunteer‑run branches would avoid some of the financial overhead that comes with being part of the county network, including administrative costs and librarian salaries.

To prepare for the anticipated closure of the county-owned library in Medicine Bow, Mayor Justin George proposed using an unneeded computer from Town Hall, along with a personal computer donated by the Medicine Bow Health Center, to establish a small computer lab. Should the library close as planned, Mayor George said the computers will be made available to residents without home internet access.

In the town of Sinclair, which saw its library close in 2024, community members there have taken steps to provide residents with access to free reading materials.

Inspired by the 1994 classic film The Shawshank Redemption,  which carries the themes of hope and perseverance, Sinclair Community Events Director Monte Thayer has chosen to transform the former county library in the town, which is used now as a weekly meeting space, back into a full‑service library without county help.

As of January 21st, Thayer said he had received approximately 2,000 donated books and CDs covering a wide range of titles and subjects. However, the community events director said he has no intention of joining the state’s WYLD, or Wyoming Library Database, system at this time.

County libraries pay a consortium fee to participate in the WYLD system, which lets patrons search and request materials from libraries across Wyoming, not just their local branch. Consortium costs include a $1,500 base charge, a $400 annual network fee, and additional cost‑recovery charges based on the size and activity of each library. The Carbon County Library System pays roughly $6,000 annually to be part of the WYLD program.

Bigfoot99 asked State Librarian Abby Beaver if the state system has any provisions to allow independent libraries to join the WYLD program and, if so, would they be expected to pay the same consortium fees as counties. In an email response, State Librarian Beaver wrote, “Unfortunately, the WYLD network does not have a governance structure to allow city or town libraries in addition to a county library system to join the consortium.” In other words, independent municipal libraries such as Sinclair’s cannot participate in the state system at this time. Bigfoot99 then asking if the state is considering allowing independent libraries to join in the future and what changes would be required to make that possible. As of this report, Beaver has not responded to our follow‑up question.

With state lawmakers advancing several new property‑tax proposals this year, including a constitutional amendment to eliminate residential property taxes altogether, the Carbon County Library System’s budget outlook is unlikely to improve. And without changes to how the state library system operates, towns hoping to establish independent libraries will not have access to the state collection.

The post Are Independent Libraries the Answer? first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

January 30th 2026 |

Photo – Bigfoot 99 file photo

To mark the new year, Saratoga Police Chief John Moore presented his department’s law enforcement statistics for the past year.

Chief Moore provided the governing body with an update on his department’s activity in 2025. Speaking at the January 21st Saratoga Town Council meeting, Chief John Moore ran through the numbers he has compiled. Of the 4,436 calls for service during the previous year, the majority were split between traffic and animal‑related complaints.

Chief Moore continued his report, noting that in 2025 his department responded to only 17 domestic violence and assault calls. The police chief added that burglary and other property‑related offenses were also low.

Additional calls included 13 DUIs, 21 accidents, and three weapons‑related incidents. However, Chief Moore said none of the weapons calls were found to be valid.

Chief Moore reported that in 2025, officers responded to four drug‑related reports. Unlike the weapons calls, the drug incidents were legitimate. And finally, the police chief said he was surprised to receive only four hot pool violation calls last year.

Next, Chief Moore announced that three new security cameras have been installed at the Hobo Hot Pool, adding that officers have already used the cameras to identify an alcohol‑related violation.

Although the old cameras were only five years old, Chief Moore said the new ones provide a much sharper image. The police chief explained that the camera technician recommended regularly cleaning the lenses.

With that, Chief Moore ended his report. Mayor Chuck Davis said he approved the purchase of five vehicle‑mounted fire extinguishers for the Saratoga Police Department at a cost of $520. Mayor Davis said police officers are likely to be the first to respond to a vehicle fire, and the extinguishers will be useful in those situations.

The post Saratoga Police Dept – A Year in Review at Town Council Meeting first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

January 30th 2026 |

Photo – Courtesy of the Wyoming Game & Fish website

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking Outdoor Hall of Fame nominations.

On Monday, January 26th, Wyoming Game and Fish began accepting nominations for the 2026 Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. Game and Fish Public Information Officer Amanda Fry explained that the award, created in 2004 by then‑Governor Dave Freudenthal, honors individuals, both living and posthumous, who made significant and lasting contributions to the state’s outdoor heritage.

The award is divided into two categories: one for overall Outdoor Hall of Fame honorees and another for the Youth Conservationist of the Year. Fry explained that the recently added award is reserved for nominees under 18 years old.

Since 2004, 70 individuals have been inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame, with Game and Fish typically presenting three or four awards every 18 months. Public Information Officer Fry said this year’s winners will join a long list of previous honorees, including Curt Gowdy, a broadcaster, conservationist, and avid Wyoming fisherman, and Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.

Last year’s winners included Jim Zumbo, an outdoor writer and longtime advocate for hunting and wildlife conservation; Steve Kilpatrick, a wildlife biologist known for decades of habitat work; and Dr. Douglas Crowe, a conservationist and educator who made a lasting impact on Wyoming’s natural resource stewardship.

Winners of the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame have their photos on permanent display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody.

Fry explained how to nominate someone for the Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Nominations must be received by Tuesday, March 31st.

The 2026 Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for November at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Tickets will cost $75, which includes dinner, and will go on sale at a later date as the even draws closer.

The post Nominations Open for Outdoor Hall of Fame first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 29, 2026 |

Photo – Carbon County School District #2 – Bigfoot99 file photo

A “threatening message” resulted in the evacuation of Platte Valley schools.

At 8:55 a.m. on January 28th, Carbon County School District Two sent an alert stating that a threatening phone call had been received. Speaking to Bigfoot99 yesterday afternoon, Saratoga Police Chief John Moore explained that the Encampment K through 12 School and Saratoga Middle High School received voicemails late Tuesday evening. Using a voice changer, the caller claimed explosive devices had been placed in both schools and threatened to shoot students if they were removed.

The following morning, staff at the Encampment and Saratoga schools listened to the messages and, per school policy, immediately called law enforcement and evacuated the campuses. Chief Moore said he and Sergeant Ken Lehr arrived at Saratoga Middle High School around 8:00 a.m. While Sergeant Lehr monitored the evacuation zone, Moore said he searched the school. After determining that no explosive devices were present, he gave Carbon County School District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings the “all clear”.

Encampment and Saratoga students were permitted to return to class at 9:42 a.m. Around that time, Chief Moore said he was notified that 13 other Wyoming schools had received similar threats, including schools in Washakie, Teton, and Laramie counties. Police maintained a presence at the Encampment and Saratoga campuses until the 1:00 p.m. deadline passed without incident.

As further details were released, Chief Moore said it became evident the calls likely originated outside the community, as schools in Nebraska and possibly nationwide received similar messages. The Saratoga police chief said the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation is now overseeing the case.

The matter is now in the hands of Wyoming DCI. Carbon County School District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings said his staff will assist in any way they can.

In December of 2023, Rawlins High School received a similar bomb threat. At the time, Carbon County School District One posted a statement on its official Facebook page saying it had, “received an email that is believed to be a “swatting” email that several states across the country have received. We are working with the Rawlins Police Department in response to this threat. The message was received by other districts across Wyoming and is believed to not be a viable threat at this time.” Chief Moore said yesterday’s incident was reminiscent of that previous event.

Following the incident, Superintendent Jennings wrote, “I would like to thank our staff and our law enforcement for the amazing work today and every day.”

Yesterday’s bomb scare did offer one positive outcome. Saratoga Police Chief John Moore said the threat served as a training exercise, strengthening the department’s ability to respond to future situations.

The post Several Wyoming Schools Receive Threatening Message first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 29, 2026 |

Photo – Laura Malone, Rawlins Finance Director – Courtesy City of Rawlins

The Rawlins Finance Director delivered a positive report to the City Council.

In May of 2022, the City of Rawlins hired Tom Sarvey as Finance Director. Several months later, he was selected as Interim City Manager, a position he held for nine months before being appointed to the role permanently, leaving the Finance Director position vacant.

Last August, Sarvey began an extended medical absence. After exhausting his approved Family and Medical Leave Act time, the governing body officially dismissed the City Manager on November 4th. Former Cody mayor and Interim City Manager Matthew Hall was chosen as Sarvey’s successor.

Soon after Hall was appointed Interim City Manager, the city hired Laura Malone, former Chief Financial Officer for the Laramie County Department of Health, as its new finance director. Malone’s first task as finance director was to ensure the city completed a legally required annual audit.

Speaking at the January 20th Rawlins City Council meeting, Malone said that with the audit now complete, she was able to update the governing body on the city’s finances. The finance director began by announcing that the general fund contains a little over $1 million roughly halfway through the fiscal year, which began in July. Malone said the total shows the city is on track to meet or exceed the previous year’s budget.

Malone discussed the city’s various enterprise funds. An enterprise fund is a government service, such as sewer and water, that’s run like a business, meaning the service must charge enough in fees to support its operations. The finance director said the funds are higher than they were at this time last year. However, costly infrastructure projects may draw them down. Even so, Malone said the accounts are expected to match last year’s totals.

During the January 6th City Council meeting, Jason Lund of Carver, Florek, and James, Certified Public Accountants, presented the 2025 Financial Audit Report. In his presentation, Lund outlined five areas for improvement, including separation of duties, misclassified revenue, a bank signor discrepancy, missing council approvals, and insufficient insurance and deposit collateral.

At the January 20th meeting, Finance Director Malone said she’s taking steps to address the auditor’s concerns.

Malone said on December 24th, she began investing the city’s money per the state’s updated investment policy. During that time, the finance director said she located approximately $20 million sitting in various bank accounts, earning just .45 percent interest. Money expected to be spent within six months was reinvested into short‑term accounts. Funds earmarked for projects more than a year out were invested with WyoClass, a state-approved government investment pool, where they can earn nearly nine times the interest offered by local banks.

Malone said in total, she moved $8.1 million, split evenly between the city’s general fund and the Edinburgh Street Rebuild Project, into short‑term investments. After six months, the principal is expected to return approximately $119,000.

Malone said the remaining $9.6 million, which was earmarked for longer‑term projects, was invested with WyoClass. In the three weeks since she deposited the money into the government investment pool, it has generated nearly $18,000, putting the city on pace for a 44 percent increase in investment returns this fiscal year.

Malone said she has begun working on the 2026 through 2027 budget and will start meeting with department heads in the near future.

The post Rawlins Council Receives Positive Financial Report first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 29, 2026 |

Photo – Senator John Barrasso – Courtesy Senator Barrasso’s office

As tax filing season begins, American families will see bigger refunds this year from the Internal Revenue Service. That was the word on Wednesday from U.S. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming.

The Senate Majority Whip said Republicans are working to cut taxes and deliver bigger refunds to families this year.

The Tax Foundation, an independent non-profit devoted to the study of federal tax policy, estimates that the average refund this year will be $3,800 for each American or about $1,000 more than last year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes refunds for working families will be even bigger.

Senator Barrasso said research shows that American families will receive about $100-billion dollars more than what was issued during last year’s filing period, the last, under former President Joe Biden.

Senator Barrasso broke down the benefits included in the Working Family Tax Cuts.

All of the tax changes will apply retroactively on last year’s earnings, Senator Barrasso said.

At the 3:30 mark of his speech, the majority whip from the Cowboy State turned sharply partisan, drawing the difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Wednesday’s floor speech came as Democrats prepared changes to immigration enforcement, as part of a larger debate over government funding, ahead of Friday’s midnight shutdown deadline.

The post Tax Year May Bring Higher Returns to Residents first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |

Photo – Image on City’s webpage – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Work on the Rawlins Edinburgh Project is progressing at a slower pace than expected.

In 2019, Rawlins’ residents approved the use of Specific Purpose 6th Penny Tax funds to reconstruct Edinburgh Street between Dunphail and Murray. The project includes replacing the existing water main and sanitary sewer system, installing a new stormwater collection system, and reconstructing the road with new curb, gutter, and sidewalks, along with ADA‑accessible pedestrian ramps.

Two years later, in 2021, the Edinburgh Street Project was projected to cost $2.3 million. However, inflation has pushed the price to more than four times the original estimate. Fearing that inflation could put the project permanently out of reach before enough 6th Penny Tax revenue was collected, the governing body voted to move $1.3 million from the city’s reserve account to the streets department and set aside $1 million in unallocated impact assistance funding for the Edinburgh repairs.

Last fall, Rawlins officials submitted an RFP, or request for proposal, for contractors interested in the project. In November, the City Council voted to accept a $7.9 million bid from Lewis and Lewis Incorporated. The contract gives the Rock Springs contractor 250 working days, or until July, to remove and replace 10,500 square yards of asphalt on Edinburgh Street, from Dunphail to Murray, install 3,000 feet of new water lines, and 2,900 feet of storm sewer pipes. The agreement allows Lewis and Lewis to shut down for the winter if necessary and includes a provision granting the contractor five additional days beyond the expected completion date for every five hours lost to adverse weather.

Work on the Edinburgh Street Project began on Monday, November 24th. During the January 20th Rawlins City Council meeting, Public Works Director Cody Dill updated the governing body on the status of the repairs, noting that several unforeseen issues have caused delays. First, Dill said the contractors were held up by a city‑owned property at 1146 North Higley Boulevard, the site once occupied by Kum and Go. The former convenience store and gas station is monitored through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality’s Soil Vapor Extraction program, which pulls gasoline vapors out of contaminated soil.

To keep the project moving, Dill said engineers contacted Wyoming DEQ and Trihydro Corporation, the state’s environmental engineering firm, for guidance. The issue has since been resolved, and the contractors plan to return to the area later in the season.

Next, Dill reported that initial excavations showed water lines in the area were roughly a foot and a half from where they were listed. The public works director said engineers were able to quickly devise a solution to the problem, allowing progress to continue.

Dill said he doesn’t expect any further issues locating the water lines. However, the public works director added that a change order is likely to be needed. A change order is a formal amendment to the original contract that authorizes extra work, adjusts the price, or extends the schedule when unexpected conditions arise. In this case, Dill said soil in the area is either too soft or too hard, depending on where crews dig. WWC Engineering, which designed the project, is developing a solution.

Dill said the project began slowly, but production is picking up. Mayor Jacquelin Wells credited the unseasonably warm temperatures and lack of snow for the progress.

Bigfoot99 reached out to Public Works Director Cody Dill for the latest information on the project. Dill wrote that nothing has changed since the January 20th City Council meeting.

For more information on the Edinburgh Street Project, visit the Rawlins city website at www.rawlinswy.gov and click the banner titled “Edinburgh Updates” at the top of the page.

The post Progress on Edinburgh Construction Project is Slow first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |

Photo – CCSO patrol vehicle – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office will receive $600,000 in federal funding to purchase new vehicles.

On January 23rd, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, into law. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month.

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman announced her support for H.R. 6938, saying that the bill funds crucial agencies that serve Wyoming, such as the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency. During an online public address, Congresswoman Hageman said the measure protects funding for law enforcement, prevents federal overreach involving the Second Amendment, and removes federal abortion funding.

H.R. 6938 also includes $20.8 million in Community Project Funding for Wyoming, including $14.6 million for the Fort Laramie Canal Tunnel Restoration Project, $1.75 million for the City of Casper’s North Platte Sanitary Sewer Project, and $600,000 to purchase and update eight Carbon County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles.

Once the bill was signed into law, Sheriff Alex Bakken wrote on social media that securing the funding took two years of effort, one rejected application, and countless hours of revising, editing, and resubmitting proposals. Following all that work, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has officially been awarded $600,000 to purchase new patrol vehicles.

In the same social media post, Sheriff Bakken wrote that the funding allows his department to update its fleet of pickup trucks, adding that deputies will continue to have access to safe, modern, pursuit‑rated vehicles. Additionally, the Sheriff stated that patrol units rack up high mileage covering Carbon County and that regular replacements will help keep deputies safe and ensure spare vehicles are available when needed.

Sheriff Bakken thanked Congresswoman Hageman, Board of Carbon County Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett, and Merchant McIntyre and Associates, the county’s funding lobbying firm, for their support of H.R. 6938.

Now that President Trump has enacted the measure, federal agencies can begin allocating and spending the funds authorized in the act. Local governments, including here in Wyoming, can access the appropriated money through grants, formula funding, or congressionally directed spending, such as Community Project Funding.

The post CCSO Approved for Federal Funds to Purchase Patrol Vehicles first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga’s mayor highlighted the governing body’s accomplishments from the previous year.

In what has become an annual tradition, Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis took time out of the January 21st Town Council meeting to outline the progress his administration made in 2025. Mayor Davis began by expressing his appreciation for past and current town staff, elected officials, and residents, all of whom appear to stand behind the governing body’s efforts.

Mayor Davis presented a list of 13 milestones from the previous year. First, the mayor announced that the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project is 80 percent complete. In late August, Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel began modernizing underground sewer lines on the west side of town. Crews were scheduled to wrap up work for the winter last month, but Mayor Davis said the unusually warm weather and lack of snow allowed the Cheyenne‑based contractor to continue, putting the project on track to finish ahead of schedule.

Next, Mayor Davis discussed a project to replace water lines along West Elm Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets. The mayor commended the town’s public works crews for replacing the heavily corroded underground valves. While half of the road has been repaved, Mayor Davis said the town is waiting to finish a new walking path between Saratoga Middle High School and the Platte Valley Community Center before completing the remaining asphalt work.

The town received a $1.4 million Wyoming Department of Transportation grant to install new walkways from the high school to the recreation center, along with improvements to the elementary school bus lane. Mayor Davis listed this as another one of his key milestones from 2025.

Continuing his remarks, Mayor Davis said the town poured concrete and installed water lines for restrooms at Never Forget Park, the long‑delayed memorial for Staff Sergeant Tyler Pickett. The town is expected to seek contractors to build the restrooms this week.

The town also repaved portions of South Veteran’s Street and replaced two valley pans to reduce how much they were felt while driving. Walnut Street, between Highway 130 and South River Street, was repaved, as was the intersection of 2nd and Main Streets. The Shively Field sewer lift station was connected to the town’s infrastructure, and Mayor Davis said the town plans to seed grass on the bare portion of the airport entrance.

Next, Mayor Davis said 2025 was a big year for improvements to the town’s outdoor public pool.

The pool upgrades aren’t finished, as recreation department staff will install a zip line and insulated cover this year.

Staying on the subject of the pool, Mayor Davis said the town was able to offer swimming lessons in 2025. The mayor thanked swim instructor Jakobi Mirich for helping make the program a success, adding that swim lessons will be offered again this summer.

Mayor Davis also announced that the town received a 50 percent grant to replace sewer lines running beneath the North Platte River. Work on that project is expected to being this fall.

The town also updated several ordinances to clarify sewer and water construction methods, streamline the subdivision process, and allow accessory buildings.

Finally, Mayor Davis thanked his staff once again, saying the town has a good workforce and strong leadership. Because of their efforts, the mayor said 2025 was another successful year for Saratoga.

The post 2025 Accomplishments Highlighted at Saratoga Town Council Meeting first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins City Manager Matthew Hall – Courtesy City of Rawlins

A former Cody mayor has accepted the Rawlins City Manager position.

After roughly two and a half months on the job, Matthew J Hall has formally accepted the role of City Manager of Rawlins.

Of the ten incorporated municipalities in Carbon County, Rawlins is the only one operating under a City Manager form of government. Unlike the traditional mayor‑and‑council system, the Rawlins City Council sets policy and appoints a City Manager to carry out its decisions. The City Manager oversees budgeting, staffing, infrastructure, and the day‑to‑day operations of the city.

Last August, while then–City Manager Tom Sarvey was on an extended leave for an undisclosed medical condition, the governing body voted to appoint District 15 representative and Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer to serve as Acting City Manager until Sarvey could return. However, Thayer’s professional commitments made her unable to commit to the role and, one week later, Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward was chosen as Sarvey’s temporary replacement.

Chief Ward served as Interim City Manager for roughly one month before the Rawlins City Council voted to authorize Mayor Jacquelin Wells to enter into a contract with an Interim City Manager candidate. At the time, the candidate’s name was not publicly revealed.

During the October 7th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells announced the city’s intention to appoint Matthew J Hall as Interim City Manager. Vice Mayor Darril Garner moved to approve the measure.

Hall previously served two consecutive terms as mayor of Cody, Wyoming, from 2017 to 2024, and was also president of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities.

According to his biography, Hall’s family moved to Cody in 1978 to start Caleco Foundry, a bronze art business still in operation today. After a stint as a golf pro in Arizona, Hall returned to Cody in the early 2000s, where he worked for Wyoming Financial before rejoining his family’s business. Since leaving the mayor’s office in 2024, Hall continued to serve on the Cody Chamber of Commerce board and the Forward Cody economic development board, while also working for a local real estate company.

On November 4th, approximately one month into Hall’s time as Interim City Manager, Vice Mayor Darril Garner motioned to remove City Manager Tom Sarvey from his position.

According to documents provided by the city, Sarvey’s authorized absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act ended on October 27th. Because he remained unable to perform the duties of the position, Resolution 11A‑2025 states that “the Council finds that termination of the Employment Contract is warranted and in the best interest of the City, its operations, and the public.”

Hall continued to serve as Interim City Manager until the January 6th Rawlins City Council meeting, where he was offered the permanent position. He had two weeks to consider the offer. On January 20th, Mayor Wells moved to approve Resolution 1C‑2026, appointing Matthew J. Hall as City Manager.

The City Council unanimously approved the employment agreement. Following the vote, Councilman Steve Sanger moved to authorize Mayor Wells to sign an employment contract setting Hall’s official start date as February 1st. After another round of voting, the governing body unanimously approved the motion, appointing Matthew J. Hall as the new City Manager.

The post Hall Accepts Position of Rawlins City Manager first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.