Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

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  • Saratoga to Purchase Truck for Public Works Director

    Wednesday, January 21, 2026 |

    Photo – White 2018 Ford F150 – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

    Saratoga officials have agreed to purchase a work truck for the town’s public works director. During the January 7th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Emery Penner proposed buying a used work truck for his official duties on the job as public works director. Penner said he has struggled to find a vehicle that meets his needs.

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    Penner presented a white 2018 Ford F‑150 with a locking bed cap at a Pocatello, Idaho, dealership. With 81,000 miles on the odometer, Penner said the truck meets his needs and offered to deliver it personally.

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    The 2018 Ford F‑150 costs $23,507, or $28,398 with a four‑year protection package. Penner said the nearly $5,000 difference is significant, but the cost of replacing major powertrain components would easily make the warranty worth the money. The public works director recommended purchasing the protection plan.

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    Mayor Chuck Davis said he and Penner searched the entire region for a used work vehicle and that the proposed truck appears to be the best one available. Councilman Jerry Fluty asked if a suitable option could be found in Rawlins. Penner said he looked but couldn’t find anything in the state for a comparable price, adding that the town shouldn’t spend a lot on a work truck since it will be used for many years before being sold.

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    Mayor Davis added that many of the vehicles they considered had far higher mileage.

    The mayor said the town had already allocated funding for a work truck, and the governing body voted to purchase the vehicle, including the four‑year warranty, for $28,398.

    The post Saratoga to Purchase Truck for Public Works Director first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    0 min
  • House Passes Bill to Protect Funds that Support States’ Crucial Agencies

    Wednesday, January 21, 2026 |

    Photo – Representative Harriet Hageman speaking at House – Courtesy Rep. Harriet Hageman

    The United States House of Representatives approved a new spending bill that allocates $600,000 to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.

    On January 8th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6938, the 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment appropriations bill. The measure funds major law enforcement and science agencies, energy and water projects, and Interior, EPA, and public‑lands programs through the current fiscal year.

    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 her weekly 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.

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    Congresswoman Hageman also said H.R. 6938 fully funds the “Unleashing American Energy” agenda by increasing spending for oil and gas development on federal lands and waters.

    The measure 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.

    Federal Community Project Funding is the modern version of congressional “earmarks,” allowing members of Congress to request federal resources for specific projects in their districts.

    H.R. 6938 also reduces the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by $320 million, or nearly 4%, cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and increases the Drug Enforcement Administration’s budget to combat the continued influx of deadly fentanyl.

    The United States Senate received a copy of the bill after it was approved by the House of Representatives. The next step is a Senate cloture vote on whether to proceed to debate on the bill.

    The White House issued a written statement on H.R. 6938, noting that the Administration supports the bill and that it reinforces President Trump’s agenda on trade and combating illicit drug trafficking.

    The post House Passes Bill to Protect Funds that Support States’ Crucial Agencies first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    1 min
  • County Commissioners Warn About More Property Tax Cuts

    Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |

    Photo – Official Seal of Carbon County – Bigfoot99 file photo

    County officials are once again warning about the impact additional property tax cuts will have on local governments.

    To offset the sharp rise in home sales some counties saw during COVID‑era migration, the Wyoming legislature has enacted a series of residential property tax relief measures.

    In November of 2024, Wyoming voters approved a constitutional amendment creating a separate residential property class, giving lawmakers the ability to reduce residential taxes without affecting commercial or agricultural rates. During the 2024 session, the state legislature also passed House Bill 45, which caps year‑to‑year increases in residential property tax bills at four percent.

    At the same time, lawmakers established the long‑term homeowner exemption, allowing residents over the age of 65 who have lived in Wyoming and paid property taxes for at least 25 years to receive a 50 percent property tax break on their home’s assessed value. While the program was set to expire this year, lawmakers moved to make the exemption permanent.

    During the 2025 session, state lawmakers enacted Senate File 69, which provides a 25 percent exemption on the first $1 million of a home’s fair market value. In its first year, the program automatically applied to all eligible residential properties, but beginning in 2026, residents must manually apply for the exemption.

    Elected officials in Cheyenne have not authorized any measures to reimburse local governments for the lost tax revenue.

    Speaking at the January 6th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Sue Jones said County Assessor Renee Snider had provided preliminary figures on the tax‑relief programs. As of that date, Commissioner Jones said 804 Carbon County residents had applied for the long‑term homeowner exemption, resulting in a projected $7,200 loss in direct county funding.

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    The county will accept long‑term homeowner exemption applications through May 26th.

    Commissioner Jones said Assessor Snider had not yet determined the cost of the 25 percent property tax exemption or the four percent cap. However, just the projected $96,000 loss from the long-term exemption will be felt across all county services.

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    This November, Wyoming voters may be asked to amend the state constitution once again, this time to eliminate residential property taxes altogether. In response, the state legislature has advanced a trigger bill that, should the amendment pass, would raise the statewide sales tax to six percent. Lawmakers acknowledged that the sales tax increase would not entirely offset the lost property tax revenue.

    At the January 6th Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Jones said the tax‑relief measures are making it difficult for local governments to provide essential services, such as law enforcement, road maintenance, and sanitation.

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    Commissioner Jones emphasized the importance of voicing your opposition to the tax cuts, encouraging those unwilling to speak in Cheyenne to bring their concerns to the county commissioners, who will ensure they are heard in the state capital.

    Applications for the 25 percent Homeowner Property Tax Exemption will be accepted through March 1st. Assessor Snider is urging all Carbon County property owners to apply for any exemptions they are eligible to receive. For assistance or additional information, call the Carbon County Assessor’s Office at 328‑2637.

    The post County Commissioners Warn About More Property Tax Cuts first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    0 min
  • DDA Receives Feasibility Study on Ferguson Building

    Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |

    Photo – Ferguson Building – Bigfoot99 file photo

    Rawlins officials continue working to revitalize the Ferguson Building.

    In 1895, J.E. Hugus and Company built a new general store and First National Bank branch at the northeast corner of 5th and Cedar Streets in Rawlins, the former site of the Carbon County Jail. Six years later, in 1901, a second story was added to accommodate the Masonic Lodge.

    The sandstone faced building was purchased by Ferguson Mercantile, the largest general‑merchandise business in western Wyoming at the time, in 1912, and was operated as a general store until the late 1960s. After the closure of the Ferguson Mercantile store, the building remained largely unused for decades, eventually falling into disrepair. By the early 2000s, the Hugus-Ferguson Building was considered a “dangerous building” by the City of Rawlins.

    The Board of Carbon County Commissioners purchased the building in 2013 for $150,000 with plans to move the Carbon County Museum into the structure. However, the cost of making the building safe for occupancy was estimated to be anywhere from tens of thousands to more than a million dollars. In September of 2020, the Museum Board of Directors formally determined that the relocation was no longer feasible, and in 2022 transferred ownership to the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority, which continues to own the building today.

    In April of 2023, Rawlins officials submitted four sites to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality for Brownfields consideration: the Pink Motel, a property on Pine Street, the old Strand Theater, and the Ferguson Building.

    Created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Brownfields Program provides financial assistance to municipalities dealing with properties that have known or suspected environmental contamination. As part of this program, the federal government awarded Rawlins $500,000 to assess whether any of the listed sites are contaminated.

    Speaking to the Rawlins City Council last April, Downtown Development Executive Director Pam Thayer said Ayers and Associates, the firm overseeing the Brownfields study, explored options to convert the Ferguson Building into either a hotel or an apartment complex. Although the study identified a need for additional housing, Thayer said she advocated for a hotel because it would generate more tax revenue.

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    At the January 6th Rawlins City Council meeting. Thayer reported that the Downtown Development Authority Board received the revised feasibility study. The DDA Executive Director said the Board has questions that must be addressed before renovations can begin. Any decision on the future of the Ferguson Building must then be approved by the governing body.

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    Thayer also updated the governing body on the former Wyoming Bar, located at 413 West Front Street. In September, the Rawlins City Council approved the submission of a $507,000 Wyoming Community Development Authority grant request. If approved, the funding will be used to demolish the 137‑year‑old structure.

    The Wyoming Community Development Authority has allocated $3.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funding for projects that address blight, affordable housing, and job‑creation needs. The WCDA will meet on January 28th and 29th to determine the grant recipients.

    The post DDA Receives Feasibility Study on Ferguson Building first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    0 min
  • Public Health Needs Volunteers to Assist Residents Navigate Traumatic Events

    Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |

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

    Carbon County Public Health is putting together a team to help residents navigate traumatic events.

    During the January 6th, Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Public Health Nursing Manager Amanda Brown announced the creation of Carbon County Connect. Brown explained that the Connect team is a group of people who provide resources for survivors of loss.

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    Carbon County Connect is part of the Connect Postvention Suicide Program, an initiative developed by the New Hampshire National Alliance on Mental Illness to help communities respond after a suicide. The Connect Program provides a coordinated response framework that guides schools, law enforcement, mental‑health providers, and other community partners as they respond after a suicide.

    According to a Carbon County Public Health flyer, the local Connect team helps survivors feel supported, encourages open and compassionate conversations about mental health, and strengthens community resilience by preparing people to respond together and prevent future tragedies.

    Back at the January 6th County Commissioners meeting, Brown said Public Health Community Engagement Consultant Tracy Young is still building the Carbon County Connect team and invited people to contact Young for more information.

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    Brown said the key issue is funding, noting that the organization must determine how it will pay for the support it will provide for the community.

    The Carbon County Connect team has held training sessions in Baggs, Saratoga, and Rawlins. Commissioner Sue Jones asked why no classes were held in the northern part of the county. Brown replied that she would like to expand the trainings, but only Baggs, Saratoga, and Rawlins residents have expressed interest in the program at this time.

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    Commissioner Jones expressed her approval of the program, saying that post‑suicide support has been needed in the past.

    The Carbon County Connect team is seeking volunteers. The organization is hosting two virtual meetings this month to discuss what the Connect team offers and to set up future training programs. The first meeting is at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23rd. The following session is scheduled for Monday, January 26th, at 11:00 a.m. A link to the two virtual training meetings will be included in this story when it is posted to the Bigfoot99 website later today.

    For more information about the Carbon County Connect team, email Public Health Community Engagement Consultant Tracy Young at [email protected].

    To use the following links, you must have or must create a Google account. Please have your Google account information available.

    Friday, January 23rd 10 am

    Video call link: Meet – yoo-kzyv-gtv

    Monday, January 26th 11 am

    Video call link: Meet – bdi-vuwo-yqi

    The post Public Health Needs Volunteers to Assist Residents Navigate Traumatic Events first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    0 min
  • House District Rep Talks with Small Communities About Their Concerns

    Monday, January 19, 2026 |

    Photo – HD 47 Representative Bob Davis – Courtesy Wyoming State Legislature

    Representative Bob Davis visited his district to hear issues that should be heard at the state capital.

    Representative Bob Davis of Baggs serves Carbon and Sweetwater Counties in Wyoming’s House District 47, an area larger than the state of Maryland. This month, Representative Davis traveled around his district to ask for feedback on the upcoming legislative session.

    After a stop in Encampment, Representative Davis went to northern Carbon County. Speaking at the January 12th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, the District 47 representative requested guidance from the governing body.

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    Mayor Justin George expressed concern about the effect recent statewide property tax reductions have had on local government. Mayor George said the reduced funding has created a snowball effect, making it more difficult for towns to provide essential services for residents.

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    Representative Davis agreed that the state’s recent property tax cuts were not well thought out. He said Wyoming’s system of government was built with property taxes in mind.

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    In 2023, Wyoming voters approved a constitutional amendment aimed at easing the impact COVID‑related migration had on home values. The amendment separated residential property taxes from commercial and agricultural property, allowing the legislature to adjust residential property taxes independently of the other classes.

    Speaking to the Medicine Bow Town Council, Representative Davis said the legislature has squandered the opportunity, instead, choosing to institute more drastic cuts, such as the 25 percent reduction for all residential properties implemented this fiscal year.

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    Councilman Lee Cook said he appreciates living in a state without an income tax. Councilman Cook added that serving in elected office has given him a clearer understanding of how tax dollars are used and said the state should not further reduce property taxes.

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    Representative Davis said most of his constituents feel the same way. No one wants to pay property taxes, he said, but they view it as a necessary cost of maintaining and improving society. With the third lowest property taxes in the nation, Representative Davis said the issue should have been addressed on a case-by-case basis, not through sweeping statewide legislation.

    Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said she supports property taxes, but opposes taxing unrecognized gains, or the proposed increase in a home’s value should it sell. Councilwoman Wickizer said her property is not worth what the county claims it is.

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    Representative Davis said counties should take the lead in reducing property taxes by lowering the tax rate applied to a property’s assessed value, called mill levies. He added that only two counties in Wyoming have adjusted their mill levies to ease the property‑tax burden on residents.

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    Mayor George said lawmakers passed the property‑tax relief measures without fully understanding their effect on local governments. The mayor added that he believed Carbon County was left out of the discussion, which has hurt the county’s ability to provide essential services to residents.

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    A similar discussion took place in Hanna the following evening. During the January 13th Hanna Town Council meeting, Representative Davis again asked for guidance ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Councilman David Felix said the state must find a way to reimburse local governments for lost property tax revenue.

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    Another constitutional amendment, this one proposing to eliminate residential property taxes entirely, will appear on this year’s ballot. If it passes, state lawmakers plan to raise the sales tax by two percent to help offset the lost revenue. Representative Davis said communities with limited commercial activity, such as Hanna, will see little of the additional sales‑tax funds. The legislature will need to reevaluate how those funds are distributed to ensure smaller towns are properly supported.

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    The Hanna Town Council suggested several ways to increase tax revenue, including making Interstate 80 a toll road or raising the state fuel tax. Representative Davis added that a state income tax is not under consideration.

    The conversation turned to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The Hanna Town Council asked Representative Davis to ensure the $205 million earmarked for rural healthcare reaches underserved communities rather than being absorbed by larger municipalities.

    Representative Davis said he will take his constituents’ concerns into full consideration during the upcoming House budget session.

    The post House District Rep Talks with Small Communities About Their Concerns first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    1 min
  • Saratoga Police to Use Telemedicine Provider in the Field

    Monday, January 19, 2026 |

    Photo – Saratoga Police Chief John Moore – Courtesy Saratoga Police Department 

    The Saratoga Police Department is partnering with a South Dakota telemedicine provider to deliver mental health services in the field.

    During the January 7th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore announced that he has teamed up with Avel eCare, a Sioux Falls-based virtual healthcare company. Through Avel eCare’s Crisis Care service, Chief Moore said officers can provide mental health support to individuals during police encounters.

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    Last year, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust donated $2.4 million to expand law enforcement’s access to virtual behavioral health support in Wyoming. The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police partnered with Avel eCare to deliver those services.

    According to Avel eCare’s website, Crisis Care enables law enforcement officers to connect with licensed behavioral health professionals around the clock using a secure, cellular‑enabled tablet. Avel also links individuals to local behavioral health resources for follow‑up care.

    At the January 7th town meeting, Police Chief Moore said the Crisis Care service will help officers more easily determine if an individual qualifies for a Title 25 hold, which permits involuntary psychiatric commitment when someone poses a danger to themselves or others.

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    Last month, Sheriff Alex Bakken announced that the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office was looking into the possibility of partnering with Avel eCare as well. Speaking at the December 2nd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Bakken explained that his deputies often encounter people in the midst of a mental health crisis during emergency calls, but those individuals don’t always meet the criteria for a Title 25 hold. The sheriff said the Crisis Care service could help in those situations, adding that Carbon County is not alone in considering the program.

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    In a media release announcing the donation, Governor Mark Gordon is quoted as saying, “The Helmsley Charitable Trust is an extraordinary friend and active partner to Wyoming. I thank them for recognizing that our law enforcement officers regularly face individuals suffering mental health crises, often in remote locations without easy access to crisis care professionals.” Governor Gordan emphasized that the funding will allow officers to quickly access professional mental health resources and provide crucial follow up care, which the governor said is a key component of the program.

    It remains unclear at this time if the Sheriff’s Office has also entered into a formal partnership with Avel eCare.

    The post Saratoga Police to Use Telemedicine Provider in the Field first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    1 min
  • Carbon County Selects Official Legal Publication for 2026

    Friday, January 16, 2026 |

    Photo – Carbon County Comet newspaper heading – Courtesy Carbon County Comet

    The Carbon County Comet was selected as the county’s official legal publication for another year.

    Wyoming state statute 18-3-519 requires that all government legal notices be published in a newspaper that has printed at least one edition every week for a year and has a minimum circulation of five hundred paid customers.

    This year, three newspapers submitted bids to become the official publication of Carbon County for 2026: The Rawlins Times, The Saratoga Sun, and The Carbon County Comet, which held the role last year.

    On December 23rd, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners reviewed the three applications. However, after discussing the matter, Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett said she would like more time to review the bid submissions. Commissioner John Espy agreed and said he needed a breakdown of the type of advertisements the county placed each year to ensure both the county and residents are getting the most for their money.

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    Commissioners Sue Jones and John Johnson agreed that more time was needed, and the decision was postponed until the following meeting.

    The Board of Carbon County Commissioners met again on January 6th, where County Attorney Ashley Davis announced that the Rawlins Times was no longer in contention for the official publication. The Board was to choose between the Saratoga Sun and the Carbon County Comet.

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    Commission Chairman Travis Moore asked for questions. In response, Commissioner John Johnson moved to select the Carbon County Comet as the county’s designated newspaper of record.

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    Commissioner Espy and Vice Chair Bartlett offered friendly amendments to the motion allowing the county to extend the contract for an additional year or terminate the agreement at any time. The Board of Commissioners unanimously selected the Carbon County Comet as the county’s official newspaper for 2026.

    Last year’s publication choice was not without controversy. After the Comet was selected, the Saratoga Sun filed a lawsuit against the county commissioners and the Comet, alleging that the rival newspaper did not meet the statutory definition to publish legal notices.

    At the time, Saratoga Sun Operations Director Joshua Wood argued that the United States Postal Service requires an official publication to deliver at least half of its copies to subscribers. Because most copies of the Comet were available for free around the county, Wood said the publication did not meet the legal requirements to become Carbon County’s official newspaper.

    The legal battle continued until October, when a judge dismissed the case. The lawsuit prompted the Carbon County Republican Party to create a standing rule not to advertise with the Saratoga Sun.

    Speaking at the March 1st, 2025, Carbon County Republican Party meeting, Vice Chairman Joey Correnti IV said governments should not spend taxpayer money on any newspaper advertising. However, while it works to repeal the mandate, the Republican Party will continue to follow state law, just not with the Platte Valley‑based publication.

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    In the meantime, all county legal notices and advertisements will be published in the Carbon County Comet.

    The post Carbon County Selects Official Legal Publication for 2026 first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    1 min
  • Final Round of 250th Anniversary Grant Awardees Announced

    Friday, January 16, 2026 |

    Photo – Journeys to 250 – Courtesy Discover Carbon County Wyoming

    Governor Mark Gordon announced the final round of 250th anniversary funding.

    Yesterday, January 15th, the Governor’s office stated that the Wyoming Semi Quincentennial Planning Task Force had completed the eighth and final round of the Semi Quincentennial Grant Program.

    This July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Wyoming Legislature allocated $2 million to support the state’s celebrations through a series of community grants. Local governments were required to establish their own 250 committees to qualify for the funding.

    Here in Carbon County, local author Candy Moulton and museum directors Tom Mensik, Tim Nicklas, Angie Hobbs, and Lela Emmons established the Carbon County 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee. Since its formation last February, the 250 Committee has been developing programs and activities to commemorate the occasion.

    One of the first projects is a short documentary film titled Carbon County’s Journeys to 250, which will explore how humans came to inhabit the land that would eventually become Carbon County. Speaking to the Board of Commissioners last April, 250 Committee Chairwoman Candy Moulton said the goal is to have the 28‑minute film broadcast on television and showcased at festivals.

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    The film will feature interviews with Carbon County residents and include reenactments of three historically significant events: the Stansbury Expedition, during which Jim Bridger surveyed a viable route through what is now Bridger Pass; the Hanna mine disasters of 1903 and 1908, which together killed nearly 230 coal miners; and a reenactment at the historic Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow highlighting the former Lincoln Highway, the nation’s first transcontinental route.

    With an estimated $80,000 price tag, the Carbon County 250 Committee requested a maximum $10,000 grant from the state’s Semi Quincentennial Planning Task Force during the first funding round. The remainder of the money came from the Carbon County Visitors Council, also known as Discover Carbon County. The completed film will premiere at the historic Depot in Rawlins on July 10th, coinciding with the 136th anniversary of Wyoming’s statehood.

    Additionally, the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins received a $25,000 state grant to create a new exhibit on Wyoming’s first licensed female doctor, Lillian Heath. Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik explained that the display will chronicle Dr. Heath’s entire medical career, connecting her life story to events occurring across the country.

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    The Hanna Museum also received a state grant to create an exhibit on Edith Birchall and the immigrant families who settled in the area to work in the coal mines. Birchall came to Wyoming from England in 1906 with her father at 18 years old. Her father and two uncles worked in the coal mines, and as the only female in the family it was her duty to take care of them. In 1908, a mine explosion killed her entire family along with 50 other men.

    The Grand Encampment Museum was awarded a grant to fund Heritage of the Cowboys, a set of programs highlighting the music and poetry of the cowboy. The event will be incorporated into the museum’s annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering.

    In the final round of state funding, twenty entities received a total of $260,988.82 for their 250th anniversary celebrations. Converse County will use its grant to install a series of interpretive signs at historic sites, museums, and other key locations across the county. The Cody Music Club plans a one‑time performance at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium featuring musical selections that reflect cultural traditions from Wyoming and across the United States. Here in Carbon County, the Little Snake River Museum in Savery will highlight the role Mountain Men played in the exploration and settlement of the American West, particularly in the Little Snake River Valley, using digital technology to depict area routes and trails.

    In his media release, Governor Gordon wrote that all the grant funding has been allocated and the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources will be in contact with grant recipients to issue their awards.

    The post Final Round of 250th Anniversary Grant Awardees Announced first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

    0 min
  • New Director Impressed with Local Support of Saratoga Museum

    Friday, January 16, 2026 |

    Photo – Saratoga Museum – Courtesy Saratoga Museum

    Buffalo-native Justin Horn is the new director of the Saratoga Museum.

    Established in 1975, the Saratoga Museum is housed in a renovated schoolhouse built in 1909. The museum features more than 10,000 artifacts and rotating exhibits and, according to its website, holds the state’s most diverse geological collection, including minerals and gems from India to Antarctica.

    Last week, the Saratoga Museum welcomed its newest director, Justin Horn. Speaking to Bigfoot99, Horn explained that he’s always been interested in history. Following his time in the Air Force, Horn said he returned to the subject and completed a master’s degree in 2020.

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    Horn said he realized during his master’s program that museums were the best fit for his interest in history. After earning his degree, he spent a summer at historic Fort Laramie working for the National Park Service. Afterwards, Horn said he moved on to a museum position in South Dakota before joining the Rockpile Museum in Gillette.

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    While working at the Rockpile Museum, Horn said he saw a listing for the museum director position in Saratoga. Seeing it as a chance to advance his career, he submitted an application and was hired.

    After a week on the job, Horn said the Saratoga Museum’s biggest strength appears to be strong local involvement. Unlike the Rockpile Museum, he said Saratoga residents genuinely appreciate their hometown institution.

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    Bigfoot99 asked Horn where the Saratoga Museum could use improvements. The new director said he plans to broaden the variety of exhibits and make needed upgrades to the building itself.

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    Horn said he’s developing a new exhibit detailing the history of the Hobo Hot Springs.

    In the meantime, the museum director said he’s meeting with the Saratoga‑Ryan Park Museum District’s Board of Directors to determine if the museum’s annual fundraiser, the Frozen Fore, can still occur. The golfing event is held on the frozen surface of Saratoga Lake, but warmer‑than‑average temperatures have left the lake mostly ice free. Aside from that, Horn said he hasn’t had time to plan any additional museum events at this time.

    The post New Director Impressed with Local Support of Saratoga Museum first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

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