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Tuesday, OCTOBER 21, 2025 |

Photo – Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon – Courtesy State of Wyoming

Both Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Grey are weighing in on new complaints from qualified electors in Weston County against the county clerk there.

The new allegations were submitted on Monday, October 20th.  The latest complaints allege acts of misconduct or malfeasance by the Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, on Monday, issued the following statement:

The Governor acknowledged the four latest complaints in an email on Monday evening.

The complaints outline two new charges regarding Clerk Hadlock’s filing of a false post-election audit following the 2024 General election and Clerk Hadlock’s refusal to comply with a legislative subpoena issued by the Management Audit Committee in violation of Wyoming law.

Governor Gordon determined, this past May, that while Clerk Hadlock had made serious mistakes in the 2024 Weston County elections, her actions did not constitute “willful negligence” or “malicious intent.” One of the key elements to determining malfeasance is motive or willfulness.

Following the mandated process set out in Wyoming statutes, the Governor’s Office will examine the new complaints and conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether the allegations justify pursuing the requested statutory removal process.

At the end of this investigation, the Governor will make a determination on the request.

In the statement released last night, the Governor said he would have no comment on the investigation given the consequences, which could include the removal of duly elected official.

The post Top State Officials Investigate Complaints Against Weston County Clerk first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, OCTOBER 21, 2025 |

Photo – Fossil Cabin on Highway 30 – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

An unexpected setback has delayed the move of the Como Bluffs Fossil Cabin.

Workers preparing to relocate the historic Fossil Cabin to Medicine Bow have discovered that the structure is anchored to a large rock beneath its foundation. The unexpected finding means that the move will be postponed until next spring.

In 1932, amateur fossil collector and entrepreneur Thomas Boylan used more than 5,000 plant and animal fossils to build a roadside attraction promoting his Lincoln Highway fuel station. The Fossil Cabin, as it came to be known, is located roughly seven miles east of Medicine Bow at Como Bluffs.

Seven years after its construction, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! named the Fossil Cabin the “World’s Oldest Cabin” due to its use of fossils dating back 150 million years to the Jurassic Period.

The Fossil Cabin served as a local tourist attraction until the 1960s when construction of Interstate 80 caused the majority of motor traffic to avoid the Lincoln Highway and away from Boylan’s fuel station.

Since that time, the cabin has fallen into disrepair. In 2018, the current owner of the building, Roger Nash, donated the Fossil Cabin to the Medicine Bow Museum.

Aiming to improve access to the Fossil Cabin, the nonprofit Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum hired a contractor to physically lift the structure off the ground and transport it to the museum grounds. Unfortunately, the mover was either unable or unwilling to complete the job, and the Fossil Cabin remains at its original location.

Last year, the Carbon County Visitors Council took notice of the roadside attraction and offered to help arrange the move. A new moving company was hired, and the Fossil Cabin was lifted off its foundation, stabilized for transport, and declared ready to go. Or so it seemed.

During the October 14th Hanna Town Council Meeting, Carbon County Visitors Council At Large Member Mike Armstrong announced that the move was scheduled to take place the following day, October 15th.

However, Armstrong said workers discovered that the Fossil Cabin is still physically attached to the ground. To ensure the fragile structure doesn’t collapse, workers are postponing the move until next spring.

Armstrong said the Fossil Cabin is nearly ready to move, but the project will take more time and money, which the Carbon County Visitors Council has pledged to provide. While the delay has disappointed many, Armstrong stressed that ensuring the building does not collapse during transport is the primary focus.

The governing body of Medicine Bow was notified of the delay the previous day, during the October 13th Town Council meeting. Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said the building should be fenced off during the winter. Mayor Justin George agreed, fearing that people may fall into the empty foundation hole.

Medicine Bow Fire Chief Wayne Maddox said that the hole had been filled. Councilwoman Wickizer reiterated that the Fossil Cabin should be fenced off, while Treasurer Karen Heath added that doing so would help prevent vandalism.

Mayor George instructed Treasurer Heath to contact the Carbon County Visitors Council and insist that the Fossil Cabin fencing be replaced until the move is complete next year.

The post Another Setback Delays Move of Fossil Cabin first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, OCTOBER 20, 2025 |

Photo – Dirt and old concrete piles – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

A resident on Saratoga’s west side is demanding that the Town relocate its debris stockpile, which some claim is unsightly.

During the October 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis announced that Elizabeth Hilliard, a resident of the Vista Dawn subdivision on the town’s west side, had expressed concern about the staging of waste concrete and rock near her property.

Mayor Davis said Hilliard was unable to attend the Town Council meeting. Instead, the resident submitted an email outlining her concerns. Town Clerk Jennifer Anderson read the letter aloud, in which Hilliard said she was assured that the large debris pile west of Saratoga Middle High School would be removed shortly after she purchased her home. Instead, Hilliard wrote, the pile had only gotten larger.

Hilliard provided the governing body photos taken between October 6th and 8th showing the debris pile from various angles. Clerk Anderson continued reading from Hilliard’s letter in which the resident claimed the town was violating several of its own ordinances, specifically those related to the handling of excavated material and debris and warned that the waste rock might be contaminating the area. Hilliard urged the town to relocate the debris to a more appropriate location.

Hilliard wrote that the dump site is aesthetically unappealing to all Vista Dawn residents. Clerk Anderson continued reading from the letter, in which Hilliard claimed that the debris pile is preventing her from selling or renting her property.

Hilliard ended her letter by stating that visitors and potential investors do not want to see a big pile of waste rock and construction debris when they come to Saratoga.

Mayor Davis said Hilliard also spoke to Public Works Director Emery Penner. The Mayor said that both he and Penner informed the resident that the Town currently lacks a place to relocate the debris pile, adding that Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip is working to secure additional land for that purpose.

Mayor Davis said he would like to move the debris pile as soon as possible, but the Town is unable to do so until the land deal is finalized.

The post Town’s Debris Pile Cause for Concern to Area Residents first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, OCTOBER 20, 2025 |

Photo – Hanna Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Unlike other municipalities, Hanna officials welcome short-term rentals.

Short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, have been a contentious topic for some towns in Carbon County. Supporters argue that short-term rental guests boost the local economy, while opponents contend that limiting their numbers is necessary to protect the town’s character.

During Tuesday’s Hanna Town Council meeting, Clerk Vivian Gonzales announced that a resident plans to offer their home as a short-term rental. Clerk Gonzales said the town has no regulations governing home sharing, but the resident must at least have a business permit to operate.

Clerk Gonzales asked the governing body if they wanted to draft an ordinance to limit short-term rentals, as the idea may catch on in Hanna.

Carbon County Visitors Council At Large Member Mike Armstrong said that in Platte Valley, towns are limiting short-term rentals, as they reduce the availability of affordable housing.

Armstrong pointed out that communities at the northern end of Carbon County would benefit from an influx of visitors.

Mayor Charlie George said he supports the idea of opening the town to short-term rental activity. Councilman David Felix warned that Hanna may become overrun with guest accommodations, similar to Saratoga and Encampment. Mayor George responded that he’d welcome that outcome.

Councilman Felix said Airbnb and Vrbo have systems in place to handle disruptive guests. The Councilman said the governing body may wish to create a way for the town to shut down short-term rental properties that create issues.

Meeting attendees emphasized the need for short-term rentals in Hanna, adding that out-of-town guests, such as visiting relatives, are often forced to stay 40 miles away in Rawlins.

The governing body has chosen not to regulate short-term rentals at this time. Mayor George wished the property owners success.

The post Hanna Council Discuss Short-Term Rental Ordinance first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, OCTOBER 17, 2025 |

Photo – Vote Here sign – Bigfoot99 file photo

On Thursday, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray sent notices to Carbon County Clerk Lisa Smith, as well as the clerks in Lincoln, and Teton Counties, notifying them of three active voter records matching individuals identified by the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services as non-U.S. citizens.

The investigation into voter records at the state level was done in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as part of ongoing efforts to enhance voter list maintenance procedures. The goal is to ensure only eligible Wyoming citizens are registered to vote in Wyoming elections.

The secretary of State’s office is authorized through House Enrolled Act 62 from this year’s Legislative Session to identify any non-citizen on the voter’s rolls.

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, is a program managed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a branch of the US Department of Homeland Security.

House Enrolled Act 62 gives the Secretary of State authority to determine if any alien identification number or other evidence on non-US citizenship is kept in driver’s license records, or any other information indicating a voter should be ineligible to vote. The legislation was approved on March 18th of this year and signed into law by Governor Mark Gordon. It became effective as law on July 1, 2025.

In a letter to the Carbon County Clerk, the Secretary of State reported that a “a known match of a voter record in your county which has been confirmed by the SAVE System as a non-citizen.”

The clerk’s office has 20-days to provide proof of citizenship for the voter. In the meantime, the citizen’s status will be placed in a pending status as a “potential non-US citizen.” The matter is also being referred to the Carbon County Attorney’s Office.

The post Secretary of State Identifies Three Counties with Non-Citizen Registered Voters first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, OCTOBER 17, 2025 |

Photo – Jets at Saratoga airport – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga has agreed to lease portions of Shively Field to the new owner of the airport.

During Tuesday evening’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis announced that Airport Advisory Board member Ladd Sanger had purchased the Saratoga Jet Center from Mountain Flight Service Incorporated. As part of the purchase, Mayor Davis said he and Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip drafted a lease for the fixed-base operator, or FBO, building, the fuel farm, and two airplane hangars.

Sanger purchased the Saratoga Jet Center business, but the Town still owns the land and buildings on the property. As such, the business owner must pay rent to the Town as the landlord.

Mayor Davis said under the lease, Sanger will pay $2,000 annually for the FBO building and fuel farm, plus $1,250 each for Hangars Seven and Eight, bringing the total to $4,500 per year.

Additionally, Sanger must pay seven cents for every gallon of aviation fuel dispensed at the airport, increasing revenue for the town.

The lease agreement is for 25 years, which Mayor Davis admitted was longer than usual. The Mayor explained that Sanger is financing a portion of the sale and requires the extended lease to meet the bank’s conditions.

Mayor Davis said the Airport Advisory Board unanimously approved the sale of the Saratoga Jet Center to Sanger.

The Saratoga Town Council voted to approve the lease agreement. Afterwards, Sanger thanked the governing body for the opportunity, saying that he’s dreamed of owning the local airport since he was a child.

Sanger said Shively Field is the first thing many visitors see when arriving in Saratoga. The airport is well known across Wyoming and has attracted financial support from both state and federal sources.

Sanger attributed much of the Jet Center’s success to its current manager, Larry De Andredes. While the Saratoga airport is the envy of many, the new owner said it can be improved and plans to invest his own money in those upgrades.

Sanger said he’s in a position to lead the Saratoga Jet Center and Shively Field into the next generation.

The post New Owner of Saratoga Airport will Lease Buildings from Town first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, OCTOBER 17, 2025 |

Photo – Pilot Dwight France – Courtesy Laramie Regional Airport

The Wyoming Aeronautics Commission, this week, posthumously inducted Rawlins’ pilot Dwight France into the state’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

According to a post from the Laramie Regional Airport, France logged nearly 40,000 accident-free hours over his 40-year aviation career and played a key role in developing wildlife-tracking methods still used across Wyoming.

France died in 2022, just 12 days shy of his 75th birthday.

France’s widow, Candy, spoke to Bigfoot99 about how her late husband became interested in aviation. She said Dwight and his twin brother, Sherrod, would take turns flying their father’s 1956 single-engine Cessna 180 to dental appointments in Cheyenne.

After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1970 with a degree in business, France returned to Rawlins to work alongside his father, John, at the Rawlins National Bank.

Candy France shared a piece of family folklore that her husband John once gave his son an ultimatum: either become a banker or a pilot. France chose the skies, becoming a charter pilot.

In 1975, France started France Flying Service, a successful charter aviation company operating out of Rawlins. Six years later, he began managing the city’s FBO, or fixed-base operator, a position he held for 30 years until retiring in 2011. Candy recalled that during those years, France often tried to keep rattlesnakes from gathering on the airport runway.

France served for many years with both the Rawlins and Carbon County Fire Departments, including seventeen years as the Carbon County Fire Warden. After his retirement in 2011, France and Candy moved to Encampment, where he continued to volunteer with the Encampment/Riverside Fire Department.

That same year, 2011, the Wyoming chapter of the Wildlife Society named France Citizen of the Year, an award, recognizing individuals outside the natural conservation field, whose efforts directly support animal and habitat protection. Candy explained that France used his plane to help biologists locate collared animals.

Candy said her late husband’s induction into the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame came as a surprise. She only learned about it after the state Aeronautics Commission’s summer meeting and said she is grateful for the honor.

Dwight France is scheduled to be inducted into the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame on November 1st, in Laramie. Due to space limitations, the event will not be open to the public.

The post Rawlins Pilot to be Inducted Into State’s Aviation Hall of Fame first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, OCTOBER 16, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Emergency Management web page – Courtesy Emergency Management

Carbon County Commissioners have requested that Emergency Manager Lenny Layman look at another option for sending emergency alerts, namely a system recent deployed by the financially strapped Public Broadcasting System.

The Carbon County Office of Emergency Management uses “AlertSense” to notify residents of potentially dangerous situations. During an emergency, subscribers receive automatic text messages and phone calls describing the event.  Safety instructions are also included. Recently, “AlertSense” was used to inform residents that Stage One fire restrictions had been lifted.

During the October 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett announced that Wyoming PBS had created its own automated emergency notification system, simply called Wyoming PBS Alerts. Vice Chair Bartlett explained to the county’s Emergency Manager that the state’s public television network is offering a free service to rival “AlertSense.”

However, the Vice Chairwoman admitted that the Wyoming PBS system will not remain free indefinitely and seems more limited than the county’s current alert messaging system.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett asked Layman to investigate Wyoming PBS Alerts and determine if local notifications could be added to the service. The Board Vice Chairwoman said a single state-wide alert system would be beneficial.

Emergency Manager Layman explained that the four major emergency alert services allow users to send county-specific messages. Layman said the main draw of the Wyoming PBS system appears to be its ability to broadcast emergency alerts on public television, something the county’s existing system already supports.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett said she had already signed up for Wyoming PBS Alerts to evaluate the system. Emergency Manager Layman warned that the Vice Chairwoman’s early subscription to the untested notification service may prompt other Carbon County residents to do the same, potentially causing confusion and missed alerts.

Vice Chairwoman Bartlett explained that Wyoming PBS is seeking funding from the Department of Homeland Security for its new notification system, the same funding source that supports “AlertSense.” The Board Vice Chairwoman asked Layman to look into Wyoming PBS Alerts in case the federal government shifts all its funding to that program.

Layman said he was unaware that Wyoming PBS was creating its own emergency alert system. Layman added that the program may be an attempt to recoup lost federal funding in the wake of a Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, audit.

Board Chairman Travis Moore asked Layman to explain the difference between how local and statewide alerts are handled. The Emergency Manager said that through “AlertSense” and similar systems, he can issue county-specific warnings. Additionally, Layman said the same platform provides access to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s official network for distributing emergency alerts across TV, radio, cell phones, and weather radios.

Layman said “AlertSense” already includes all the features offered by Wyoming PBS Alerts, and more. However, the Emergency Manager offered to collect more information about the Wyoming PBS notification system and present a report to the Board during a future meeting.

The post Commissioners Request Looking at New Emergency Alert System first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, OCTOBER 16, 2025 |

Photo – Hanna Library – Bigfoot99 file photo

Library Board members say that supporting local branches helps strengthen the entire system.

Statewide property tax cuts have significantly reduced local tax revenue, with Carbon County alone facing a $500,000 reduction to outside services such as senior centers and public libraries.

As a result, the Carbon County Library System saw a 53% reduction in county funding, dropping from $350,964 in 2024 to $164,452 this fiscal year. Due to decline in funding, the Carbon County Public Library Board has reduced hours at all seven branches and is now considering closures at its smaller locations.

On October 15th, the Carbon County Public Library Board held a budget workshop to discuss the financial challenges facing the countywide library system. Library Board Chairwoman Adelaide Myers said the Board has already drawn heavily from its savings to keep all seven branches open, even with reduced hours. Myers added that at the current spending rate, the Library Board will exhaust its funds by the end of the fiscal year.

Myers said the library board expects to receive less money from Carbon County Commissioners in the next fiscal year.

Myers said that after learning about the funding shortfall, Platte Valley residents used Brush Creek Ranch’s annual Embrace the Valley fundraiser to channel donations toward the Saratoga and Encampment branches. Myers said the two Friends of the Library groups raised approximately $139,000 together.

Myers said the Saratoga library will remain open for now with reduced hours. The Encampment branch, however, is at risk of closing its doors. The Library Board Chairwoman said the Friends of the Encampment Library must decide how to allocate the $30,000 in donations it received recently through the Embrace the Valley fundraiser.

One option is to restore the branch to full operating hours, though Myers warned that doing so may not prevent it from closing next year.

Alternatively, the Friends of the Library group could use the funds to cover operating costs, keeping the branch open through this year and into the next, while allowing the Carbon County Library System to direct its limited funding toward outlying branches.

Myers said the decision on how to use the donations is entirely in the hands of the Friends of the Encampment Library.

The fate of the Little Snake River Valley library is undecided, but Myers said the Hanna and Medicine Bow branches are likely to close their doors to the public.

As an alternative, a bookmobile could be used to serve the two communities. While operating a bookmobile to visit the outlying communities would be less expensive than maintaining a physical location, Myers said it cannot offer the same level of in-person services.

Hanna Treasurer, Ann Calvert, asked when the Hanna and Medicine Bow branches are scheduled to close. Myers responded that funding is projected to run out before next June, which coincides with the end of the current fiscal year.

Hanna Treasurer Calvert said people are more likely to donate to their local branch if they know it’s expected to close soon. Myers added that she is working to ensure that any closures are temporary.

The Library Board Chairwoman said donations will determine which branches close and which remain open.

Ultimately, Myers said she will prepare detailed cost estimates for each branch, enabling municipalities and nonprofits to determine how much additional money it will take to keep their local libraries open.

In the meantime, the Library Board Chairwoman is asking anyone with ideas to help prevent branch closures to email her at [email protected].

The post Supporting Local Library Branches Strengthen Entire System first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, OCTOBER 15, 2025 |

Photo – Reading area in library – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Public Library Board of Carbon County is asking towns to find ways to preserve their local branches.

In March, the Wyoming State Legislature passed a series of relief bills to help residents manage rising property taxes. The increases are largely fueled by out-of-state buyers purchasing homes at above-average prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, driving up assessed values for everyone. Under the new measures, all Wyoming homeowners received a 25% reduction on residential property taxes for the first $1 million of assessed value on their homes and associated lands this year. Seniors aged 65 and older who have lived in their homes for at least 25 years are also eligible for a 50% reduction in their property taxes.

Altogether, the state-backed property tax relief programs have cost Carbon County an estimated $500,000 in lost revenue. The resulting shortfall has caused the Board of County Commissioners to reduce funding for all outside agencies, including the Carbon County Library System, which saw a 53% drop in revenue. Funding fell from $350,964 in 2024 to $164,452 this fiscal year.

On Monday evening, Library Board Chairwoman Myers addressed the Medicine Bow Town Council during their regularly scheduled meeting. Myers explained that the Library System is partially funded by the Carbon County Library Foundation and local Friends of the Library groups. However, Myers said those organizations cannot cover the day-to-day operating costs of the individual branches.

Myers said the Carbon County Library System received a $9,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation to help pay for utilities and employee salaries but added that the appropriation is unlikely to be renewed next year. Additionally, Myers said County Commissioner Sue Jones secured a $50,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp for the Hanna and Medicine Bow libraries, on the condition that they remain open despite plans to shut them down on September 30th. Furthermore, Myers announced that the recent Embrace the Valley fundraiser generated over $100,000 in grants and donations, which may allow the Library Board to allocate additional funding for branches outside of the Platte Valley.

Myers said the Library Board is looking into alternative ways to maintain library access in Hanna and Medicine Bow, including the possibility of a bookmobile to replace the physical branches until tax revenues stabilize.

Myers said that unless the state legislature changes how property tax relief programs are administered, the Carbon County Library System is set to lose even more funding in the coming fiscal year, further limiting library access across the county.

Myers said the Library Board is considering all available options to keep each library open, including the possibility of municipalities taking over their local branches. The Library Board Chairwoman said the Medicine Bow branch costs the Carbon County Library System nearly $18,000 this fiscal year, an admittedly small percentage of the Library System’s overall budget.

Without support from the Carbon County Library Foundation and the Town of Medicine Bow, which covers water, sewer, snow removal, mowing, garbage collection, and mosquito abatement, the local branch would have cost the Library System $28,518 this fiscal year. Myers said the financial burden is unsustainable, necessitating additional cuts in the future.

Medicine Bow Mayor Justin George asked how each library’s share of the overall budget is determined. Library Board Chairwoman Myers said former Library System Director Maria Wenzel based allocations on the number of books in the individual collections. Myers added that the new Library Director may choose a different approach, but the Board is not pushing for major changes during the current budget crunch.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer asked Myers how the town can help ensure its local branch remains open. The Library Board Chairwoman said additional funding would help but was unable to provide a specific figure. However, Myers reiterated that the cost to operate the branch is roughly $18,000, a small sum in the grand scheme of things.

Councilwoman Wickizer asked if employing a librarian from Medicine Bow could help reduce the overall cost of operating the local branch. Myers said yes but mentioned the difficulty of finding qualified applicants. Responding to the Councilwoman’s question about job qualifications, Myers said formal training is not necessary to serve as a librarian.

Myers said internet is another large expense for the Medicine Bow Library, totaling $1,100 a year. The governing body was surprised by the statement, prompting Councilwoman Wickizer to mention that the town pays $53 a month, or $636 per year. The Library Board Chairwoman said she will look into the possibility of switching the branch’s internet provider.

Finally, Myers said the Wyoming Joint Revenue Committee will meet on November 18th to discuss additional property tax cuts. The Library Board Chairwoman encouraged everyone in attendance to reach out to Representatives Larry Hicks and Bob Davis, both of whom opposed the current set of tax relief measures and ask them to pressure the Joint Revenue Committee to consider ways to offset the negative effects of the legislation.

The Public Library Board of Carbon County will hold a public meeting tomorrow, October 16th, in Elk Mountain from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Immediately afterward, the Board will convene a public budget meeting to discuss how to maintain library access throughout Carbon County while operating under a reduced budget.

The post Libraries Ask Towns for Assistance in Preserving Local Branches first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.