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Monday, January 12th, 2026 |

Photo – Salvation Army logo – Courtesy Salvation Army

St. Thomas Episcopal Church donated $10,000 to the Salvation Army of Carbon County.

Last week, the Salvation Army of Carbon County announced that it received a $10,000 donation from St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins. Reverend Bobbe Fitzhugh explained to Bigfoot99 that, through a sizeable endowment, the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming provides financial assistance to the state’s 45 Episcopal churches. Each congregation receives annual funding to support its local ministries.

When requesting its yearly Foundation grant, Reverend Fitzhugh said St. Thomas chose to ask for an additional $10,000 for the Salvation Army.

The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese agreed to the funding request, allowing Reverend Fitzhugh to donate $10,000 to the Salvation Army of Carbon County.

In 2021, St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins formed St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County to help stranded travelers. The program, however, assisted only those passing through the area. Seeing an unmet need for local help, St. Thomas chose to take over management of the local Salvation Army branch.

The Salvation Army helps residents pay housing and utility bills. Two years ago, local Salvation Army leader Tink Day stepped away from the organization. WYO Help, a statewide charity, took over management but was unable to fulfill its commitment to Carbon County. The group ended its involvement in December of 2024, having collected no money that year. St. Thomas assumed control of the local Salvation Army branch last summer, and Day returned to head the organization.

The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming also provided participating churches with a $5,000 Love Thy Neighbor grant at the end of the year. Reverend Fitzhugh said St. Thomas split the funding in half, using $2,500 to purchase food for needy residents and giving the remaining $2,500 to the Salvation Army of Carbon County.

Altogether, Reverend Fitzhugh said the Salvation Army of Carbon County received $12,500 from St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins last month. The donations will be added to the $17,503.95 raised by volunteer bell‑ringers during the holiday season, allowing the charity to continue helping Carbon County residents with housing and utility costs.

To request assistance from the Salvation Army, residents can call St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County at 321‑6688. Day will be notified and arrange a meeting in Rawlins. Each family may receive up to $200 in aid per year.

The post Salvation Army of Carbon County Receives Donation from Local Church first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, January 9, 2026 |

Photo – Map of the former Lawrence Salvage Yard – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins City Council is preparing to hold meetings on the potential sale of city‑owned properties.

Last July, during discussions about purchasing the fire‑damaged former Lawrance Salvage Yard, Councilman Terry Patterson requested an update on the number of city‑owned properties and the plans for their use. Then–City Manager Tom Sarvey said Community Development Director Lou Lascano had prepared an updated list of those properties, adding that the next step was determining how to prepare the land for future development.

During a special work session held before the September 2nd Rawlins City Council meeting, Community Development Director Lascano presented his 59-page document listing all 26 city-owned properties. Lascano said the 50‑acre parcel between Harshman Street and the 287 Bypass, which includes the Rawlins Radio Control Recreation Area, along with the former Kum & Go at 1115 North Higley Boulevard, were the properties most sought after by developers.

After Maverik purchased all Kum & Go stores in 2023, including the Rawlins location, the company relocated the convenience store. However, Maverik still holds the lease on the original property through the end of this year.

Lascano said City Manager Tom Sarvey was looking into the cost of ending Maverik’s lease early, enabling the governing body to sell the property.

In the end, the City Council directed Lascano to obtain appraisals for the five most desirable city‑owned properties and present his findings at a later date.

During the January 6th Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Terry Patterson asked for an update on the real estate sale.

Community Development Director Lascano announced that he had obtained an appraisal for the former Kum & Go site but said no further action can be taken until the governing body provides additional direction.

Lascano said a council work session is needed to allow the governing body to determine which properties he should prioritize.

Mayor Jacquelin Wells said the City Council will need to schedule a work session on the properties once Interim City Manager Matt Hall is fully briefed on the project.

The post Council Members Discuss City-Owned Properties first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, January 9, 2026 |

Photo – McKenzie Crandall, Jentry Peppersack, Baby Beau – Courtesy Jentry Peppersack

In Hanna, residents of the northern Carbon County town are collecting baby items to help a new family after an unexpected arrival.

Jentry Peppersack and his girlfriend, McKenzie Crandall, moved to Hanna in November. Originally from Casper, the couple were expecting their first child, a baby boy named Beau, on January 23rd. Not long after arriving in Hanna, Crandall began experiencing early labor and had to be airlifted to Colorado for treatment.

After arriving in Denver, Peppersack said doctors were able to stabilize Crandall and the baby. However, on December 1st, it was determined that an emergency caesarean section was necessary, requiring baby Beau to spend over a month in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Peppersack explained that Crandall suffers from a form of uterine hypoplasia, or an undersized uterus. Because of her condition, Crandall was unable to carry the baby to full term and Beau had to be delivered prematurely.

Peppersack said baby Beau appears healthy and currently only needs an external oxygen source as his lungs continue to develop.

The family didn’t return to Hanna until Monday, January 5th. After the recent move, the early delivery, and 35 days in Denver, Peppersack was unable to gather the baby supplies his family needed and turned to Facebook for help. That’s when Heart of Hanna owner and Hanna Council member Ellen Freeman became aware of the family’s situation.

Freeman issued a plea on social media stating that the Heart of Hanna was assembling a care basket to help the family with expenses and the basic items needed to settle back into the community. The Heart of Hanna is a volunteer‑run non-profit consignment and thrift store with a large selection of 25‑cent items. On top of the care basket, Freeman said she is also allowing the family to take clothing and household goods from the store at no cost.

Freeman also said an unnamed individual has offered to match a donation to the Hanna Hometown Market grocery store. Additionally, a Saratoga resident donated $10 in Heart of Hanna gift cards to the family.

Larry Million also contributed a cash donation to the family through the Hanna Relief Fund. Million established the fund early last year to help Hanna residents cover unexpected emergencies.

Peppersack is asking for donations of bassinettes, diapers, wet wipes, bottles, preemie clothing, and blankets. Contact Ellen Freeman at (573) 286‑7553 or visit the Heart of Hanna, located in the Miner Plaza shopping center in Hanna, to drop off items for the family.

The post Hanna Family in Need of Baby Items for Early Arrival first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, January 9, 2026 |

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga has adopted a new internship program designed for high school students.

During Wednesday evening’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner announced a new paid internship program that will place local high school students in various town departments. Penner said the program is designed to give students meaningful, hands‑on experience in municipal government while supporting the town’s ongoing projects.

To legally allow high school students to work for the town, Penner said the governing body must adopt a resolution creating the Saratoga Interim Internship Program. Without the resolution in place, Penner said the interns would need to be treated like regular employees, requiring the town to provide benefits and retirement packages.

The public works director said under the terms of the Saratoga Interim Internship Program, students would be permitted to work for the town while they are enrolled in school.

Penner said the town will only accept a total of five interns each semester, with the students split between the various departments. The public works director said the goal of the program is to encourage more young people to work for the municipality.

Councilman Jerry Fluty asked about insurance coverage and workers’ compensation for the students. Penner said Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip is researching the issue and added that he believes the town’s Local Government Liability Pool, or LGLP, would cover the interns.

The Town Council expressed its approval of the program. To pass the resolution, Mayor Chuck Davis said it must be read aloud and directed Clerk Jennifer Anderson to do so.

Under the Saratoga Interim Internship Program, high school juniors and seniors, along with students enrolled in an accredited post‑secondary institution, are eligible to apply regardless of age. They may be assigned to public works, recreation, town hall, or the police department, but only in non‑enforcement roles. Additionally, the interns are treated as temporary employees of the town and will be compensated as such.

The Town Council unanimously voted to approve the Saratoga Interim Internship Program. Applications must be submitted through the school.

The post Saratoga Adopts Internship Program for High School Students first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, January 9, 2026 |

Photo – Zara and Bud – Courtesy Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter

Cats and dogs at the Rawlins animal shelter are waiting for a family to call their own.

Last month, the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter held its Home for the Holidays foster event. The annual program allows people to temporarily take a dog or cat into their home, giving both the animal and the foster family companionship during the Christmas season. The Rawlins shelter supplies food and medical support for the animals while they are in foster care.

Rawlins Police Lieutenant Daria Hooper, who oversees the animal shelter, said no one took advantage of the Home for the Holidays program. Instead, residents donated needed supplies to support the animals in the city’s care.

The Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter is home to six cats and 14 dogs, including five enrolled in the Cage to Save Program, where Wyoming State Penitentiary inmates spend nine weeks training the dogs in obedience and basic manners.

This month, Lieutenant Hooper asked to highlight one particular dog she hopes to see adopted: Bud, a black‑and‑brown rottweiler mix. The police lieutenant said Bud would make a great companion but needs to be the only pet in the home.

Bud was featured in last month’s Bigfoot99 animal shelter spotlight. Lieutenant Hooper said Bud is energetic and sociable, with skills he learned through the Cage to Save Program. However, Bud isn’t a fan of cats and needs a home without other animals.

Lieutenant Hooper also asked to highlight a young calico cat named Zara. The police lieutenant said Zara is gentle and loves attention.

Lieutenant Hooper said last month’s featured cat, Zelda, is still available for adoption. Zelda is an overweight six‑year‑old tabby who is very affectionate but would do best in a home with older children.

The Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter is asking for donations of blankets, toys, treats, and bagged pet food, which it distributes to families in need. Lieutenant Hooper said the shelter also relies on monetary donations to help pay for medical needs that extend beyond basic vaccinations and exams.

Lieutenant Hooper said to check the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter’s Facebook page to see the animals available for adoption. The police lieutenant added that the shelter has also been posting adoption stories on the social media platform.

The shelter is also seeking volunteers to help clean and care for the animals. Lieutenant Hooper said volunteering is challenging, but worthwhile work.

To meet an animal, volunteer, or drop off donations, visit the Rawlins animal shelter at 2711 East Murray Street during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. or call 328‑4534 to schedule an appointment. Adoption fees are $35 for cats and $50 for dogs.

Animal Control | Rawlins, WY – Official Website

The post RPD Highlights Pets of the Week for Animal Shelter first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 8, 2026 |

Photo – Interim City Manager Matt Hall – Courtesy City of Rawlins

The Rawlins governing body offered the interim city manager a permanent position.

After a closed‑door executive session at the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the Rawlins City Council voted to officially offer Interim City Manager Matt Hall the job. Councilman Steve Sanger made the motion.

Matthew J. Hall served two terms as mayor of Cody, Wyoming, from 2017 to 2024. Hall was selected as the interim city manager of Rawlins in October after former City Manager Tom Sarvey stepped away from the position due to a serious, ongoing medical condition.

At this time, the details of Hall’s employment offer haven’t been announced publicly. Additional information, including the terms of the contract and compensation, is expected to be discussed during the January 20th Rawlins City Council meeting.

The post Rawlins City Council Offers Job Position to Interim Employee first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 8, 2026 |

Photo – MHCC Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment – Courtesy MHCC

Administrators from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County reported positive financial figures to county officials this week.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, the hospital’s Chief Financial Officer, Joy Coulston, presented the monthly financial report. While the hospital saw a $45,000 loss in November, Coulston said the figures were similar to the previous month.

Despite the shortfall, Coulston said Memorial Hospital gained $377,569 over the year.

The facility’s chief financial officer said the number of days the facility can operate without any income, called cash on hand, has increased from 24 to 36 days, a heathy sign. Coulson attributed the increase to a $1.2 million Medicare qualified rate adjustment payment.

Coulston said Memorial Hospital administrators used $855,000 from the qualified rate adjustment to pay off past debt. The remaining money was set aside for equipment upgrades and employee bonuses.

Coulston said Memorial Hospital has steadily paid down past vendor debt, known as accounts payable, adding that it is the lowest she has seen since taking the chief financial officer position nearly seven months ago.

Coulston said she is continuing to strengthen the hospital’s revenue cycle, from initial patient contact through final payment. While progress has been slower than she would prefer, weekly meetings have helped staff ensure the hospital is getting paid and able to meet its financial obligations.

Coulston said her goal is to reduce the hospital’s overall debt without writing off unpaid patient bills. The chief financial officer said that while there is still work ahead, she is pleased with the progress made so far.

Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment said the positive financial report means the current administration can focus on running the hospital rather than struggling for money, adding that, as finances allow, he would eventually like to offer additional medical services at the Rawlins facility.

The post MHCC Reports Improvements in Financial Figures first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 8, 2026 |

Photo – Governor Mark Gordon – Courtesy State of Wyoming Office of the Governor

Governor Mark Gordon, on Wednesday, directed the Wyoming Attorney General to begin the removal of the Weston County Clerk from office.

Voters in Weston County have filed official complaints about Clerk Becky Hadlock, who has been accused of misconduct following inaccuracies in two races in northeast Wyoming.

Voters in Weston County filed two complaints. One, Clerk Hadlock refused to comply with a legislative subpoena issued by the Management Audit Committee in violation of Wyoming law. Two, the clerk also filed a false post-election audit with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office following the 2024 General Election in violation of Wyoming law.

In a letter to Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz, Governor Gordon said, “Any responsible public servant would make an effort to obtain some documentation or affirmation that their arrangements had been properly accepted before proceeding to miss such an obviously important summons from the legislature.”

The Governor said the clerk has demonstrated “a pattern of carelessness and inattention to detail”.

In the letter, the Governor acknowledges that the clerk did not display “malicious intent to change the outcome of the election,” but that the complaint “adds to the findings of incompetence.” The Governor writes, “These careless actions demonstrate, at best, an inattentiveness to detail and, at worst, a disregard for her responsibilities as County Clerk.”

Citing state law 18-3-902, the Governor instructed the attorney general to begin the process of removing Clerk Hadlock from office.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who oversees elections in the state, celebrated the decision.

Clerk Hadlock is apparently not stepping down following the Governor’s order. The matter must now go to court.

The post Wyoming Governor Directs the Removal of Weston County Clerk first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, January 8, 2026 |

Photo – Seminoe Reservoir – Bigfoot99 file photo

County officials asked the state to hold a meeting in Rawlins to discuss the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.

Utah‑based rPlus Hydro is pursuing a pumped‑storage facility at Seminoe Reservoir. The project would require construction of a 13,000‑acre‑foot man‑made lake and an underground powerhouse. During periods of high energy production, water would be pumped from Seminoe Reservoir uphill into the new lake. When demand increases, the water would be released downhill through an underground turbine to generate electricity.

The project is facing significant pushback from environmental groups. The Bureau of Land Management has requested strict limits on the construction season to protect the local bighorn sheep herd. Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting cold‑water fisheries, warned during a September online meeting that the project could harm the downstream blue‑ribbon Miracle Mile. In addition, Casper officials agreed last month to submit a formal letter opposing the project.

rPlus Hydro Managing Director of Hydro Strategy Matthew Shapiro said the company has agreed to move its construction and waste‑rock staging areas away from critical bighorn sheep habitat. Shapiro added that state and federal agencies will not permit the project to harm the world‑class trout fishery and said the company will install temperature monitors to ensure compliance.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Attorney Ashley Davis announced that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality notified her office that it requested a Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project. Attorney Davis said the board has until February 2nd to submit an official comment on the matter.

A Section 401 certification ensures that any project discharging water or disturbing waterways will comply with state water‑quality standards.

Attorney Davis continued, saying that Wyoming DEQ has scheduled a public meeting in Casper on January 21st to provide an additional opportunity for comment on the proposed water‑quality certification.

Commissioner John Johnson criticized Wyoming DEQ for not holding an additional meeting in Rawlins. Attorney Davis agreed, saying both DEQ and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which held meetings in Rawlins and Cheyenne in November, were not providing residents with enough opportunity to comment on the project.

Commissioner John Espy suggested sending a letter to DEQ requesting an additional meeting in Rawlins. Commissioner Johnson supported the idea, saying that because the project would be located in Carbon County, residents should have a more convenient way to comment.

Commissioner Espy moved to send Wyoming DEQ a letter requesting an additional meeting in Rawlins. The motion was seconded and passed.

Afterward, Commissioner Sue Jones said the board should submit an official comment opposing the issuance of the water‑quality certification at this time.

Commissioner Jones added that the local conservation service has reported that the project’s water‑quality adaptive management plan, which outlines how water will be monitored to ensure compliance with state and federal standards, has not been completed. Commissioner Jones encouraged the public to comment on the project as well.

Commissioner Jones moved to have Attorney Davis consult with Wyoming County Commissioners Association Natural Resources Policy Analyst Triston Rice on the county’s official response to Wyoming DEQ. The motion passed unanimously.

The post County Votes to Ask State for Public Comment Meeting in Rawlins first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, JANUARY 7, 2026 |

Photo – Saratoga Municipal Swimming Pool – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga agreed to spend $25,000 on new equipment for the municipal swimming pool.

During the warmer months, Saratoga’s outdoor public pool, located adjacent to the Hobo Hot Springs, is popular among families, residents, and morning exercise groups. However, last August, Mayor Chuck Davis announced that water‑aerobics participants were reporting the pool was uncomfortably cold during their morning classes. Mayor Davis said the town would buy a cover before next summer.

At the December 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Recreation Director Carter Edwards asked the governing body to approve the purchase of a $23,096.84 insulated pool cover. Edwards said the retractable cover will make morning water‑aerobics classes warmer and put less strain on the hot springs, which are used to regulate the pool temperature.

The Hobo Hot Springs consist of three soaking areas with increasing heat: a small warm pool, a larger hot pool, and the hottest “lobster pot.” The town uses thermally heated spring water to fill its municipal swimming pool. As the water cycles back into the system, it flows into the not‑so‑hot pool, occasionally raising its temperature above the main pool.

Speaking at the December 17th meeting, Mayor Davis said he was worried that pulling so much water from the hot pools could damage the underground springs. Public Works Director Emery Penner agreed that the town is putting additional stress on the hot pools.

Penner said the insulated cover won’t eliminate the need to draw hot water from the springs, but it remains the town’s best option for retaining heat. When Mayor Davis asked how much warmth it could add, Penner said the cover will help maintain daytime temperatures overnight.

RecSupply of Bismarck, North Dakota, quoted $23,096.84 for the insulated retractable cover and three stainless‑steel roller reels. At $14,252, Penner said the reels are pricey but worth the money.

Rec Director Edwards said the cover will be deployed each night and reeled back in every morning. The reels can then be stored out of the way until the covers are needed again.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst said the cover should address the most frequent complaint from morning water‑aerobics participants, namely the temperature.

Penner said the cover won’t entirely fix the problem, but it’s the town’s best option for maintaining the pool’s temperature without spending over $80,000 on an auxiliary water heater.

Penner said he didn’t want the council to assume the cover will be 100 percent effective, but it is the most cost‑effective way to maintain the pool’s overnight temperature.

The governing body unanimously approved the purchase. Mayor Davis said the town can afford the cover, although a budget amendment will be needed since the annual pool‑improvement funds have already been spent.

Recreation Director Carter Edwards also requested approval to buy a $1,999 Dolphin Wave 80 commercial robotic pool cleaner, adding that the town’s current pool vacuum is no longer operational.

Mayor Davis asked Edwards if he had enough money in the pool‑improvement budget to cover the purchase. Edwards said he did not, noting that another budget amendment would be necessary. Treasurer Corina Daley said the cost can be split between a Wyoming Community Gas grant and the capital‑improvement budget.

Edwards added that the specific model has a good reputation. Mayor Davis said the town needs a vacuum to maintain the pool. Councilman Mike Cooley agreed and moved to authorize the $1,999 purchase. The motion was approved.

The post Saratoga Will Purchase New Equipment for Swimming Pool first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.