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WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2026|

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo 

Saratoga officials agreed to pursue federal funding to upgrade communications equipment.

During the August 19th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore announced that he met with representatives about the new WyoLink communications tower planned for Baggot Rocks. WyoLink is a public‑safety radio system that allows first responders to communicate across the state. Chief Moore said the tower design has changed, which is likely to leave Saratoga outside of the coverage area.

Chief Moore said the WyoLink representatives suggested placing a radio repeater, a device that retransmits radio signals at a higher power, on the new communications antenna at town hall. The chief estimated the repeater would cost between $20,000 and $100,000. He asked the governing body for authorization to apply for a State Homeland Security Program grant to offset the cost, adding that previous SHSP grants funded earlier communications improvements.

The State Homeland Security Program, or SHSP, is a federal grant from Homeland Security and FEMA that helps local governments strengthen their threat preparedness and response capabilities. The money can be used for a variety of projects, including cybersecurity upgrades, terrorism prevention, and communications improvements.

Chief Moore said he would also request SHSP funding to change out the town’s communications equipment located at the water tower south of town.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to allow Chief Moore to apply for the 2026 State Homeland Security Program grant to cover the cost of the WyoLink repeater and the new water tower communications equipment.

The post Saratoga Will Apply for Federal Funds for Communication Equipment Upgrade first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2026|

Photo – Deputy Jason Black (left) and Sergeant Pat Patterson (right) with their awards – Courtesy County Commissioner Sue Jones

Carbon County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Pat Patterson and Deputy Jason Black received departmental lifesaving awards for assisting a suicidal person.

During yesterday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken announced that on August 4th, county emergency dispatchers received reports of a suicidal individual armed with a handgun near Highway 130 in the Snowy Range. Sheriff Bakken said Sergeant Patterson and Deputy Black responded to the call.

The two officers located the subject and began to de‑escalate the situation. Sheriff Bakken said after three tense hours of negotiations, the armed individual surrendered.

Sheriff Bakken said the individual was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbon County for a mental health evaluation and received follow‑up care. He added that the person recently called the Sheriff’s Office to thank them for helping him through his crisis.

For their exemplary communication skills, calm demeanor, and composure during a dangerous situation, Sheriff Bakken presented Sergeant Pat Patterson and Deputy Jason Black with departmental lifesaving awards. The Board of Commissioners thanked the two officers for their efforts. The sheriff said the situation demonstrated the range of high‑risk encounters his deputies face every day.

It was noted later in the meeting that Sheriff Bakken also responded to the same call but credited his deputies for the outcome.

The post Sheriff’s Deputies Earn Departmental Lifesaving Awards first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, September 1, 2026|

Photo – Invasive goldfish – Courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking the public not to release pets into the wild.

Wyoming Game and Fish has received numerous reports of invasive goldfish in the state’s waterways. Casper Region Public Information Specialist Janet Milek said releasing unwanted pet goldfish may seem harmless, but it can have significant, unintended effects on the ecosystem.

While the fish itself might not pose a large threat, Milek said it may carry diseases or also introduce other aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels. In addition, she said goldfish can crowd out native species, reducing the supply of sport fish.

Milek added that the state’s harsh winters are likely to kill most pets. The public information specialist urged people to consider the consequences of releasing pets into the wild before acting.

In 2022, a similar situation occurred at Saratoga Lake when an unknown person introduced invasive yellow perch into the water. To keep the fish from spreading into the North Platte River system, Game and Fish used a toxin called rotenone to kill all aquatic life in the lake. The following spring, the agency restocked Saratoga Lake with thousands of trout.

Game and Fish Casper Region Public Information Specialist Janet Milek said residents have found truly exotic species, not just goldfish or yellow perch, in her area’s waterways.

Milek clarified that none of those animals have been discovered in the North Platte River.

Instead of releasing unwanted pets into the wild, Milek recommended contacting the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Don’t Let It Loose campaign. The program offers information about responsible pet surrender and provides a database of rehoming resources across the country and parts of Canada.

Public Information Specialist Milek said Game and Fish also uses the Don’t Let It Loose campaign as part of its aquatic invasive species program.

In addition to the damage the animals can cause to the environment, releasing pets is a crime that carries some of the highest penalties for wildlife violations. People caught releasing non‑native species may face fines of up to $10,000 and the loss of their hunting and fishing privileges.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking the public to follow C.A.R.E. guidelines. First, contact the place where you purchased the pet to see if they will take it back. Next, act responsibly by never letting animals or plants loose into the wild. Research other places that may be able to provide a new home for your pet. Pet stores, zoos, aquariums, science centers, animal shelters, and humane societies all may be able to help. And finally, as a last resort, euthanize the animal in a humane way. Wyoming Game and Fish states on its website that this option is far more humane than letting the animal starve to death in the wild or destroy the homes of native animals. Game and Fish also advises freezing unwanted plants before throwing them in the trash.

For more information about rehoming an unwanted pet, visit www.dontletitloose.com or call your local Wyoming Game and Fish office.

The post State Agency Receives Multiple Reports of Invasive Goldfish in Waterways first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, September 1, 2026|

Photo – Image of proposed concession stand – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials approved starting work on a new concession stand at the VFW baseball fields.

In 2024, the City of Rawlins tore down the dilapidated concession stand at the VFW Ballpark on Daley Street. Later that year, Rawlins Little League President Dawn Arce informed the city council that most of the league’s income came from food and snack sales. With the stand gone, Arce said the city hurt the organization’s ability to bring in money.

At the time, then-Parks and Recreation Director Nikki Howell suggested purchasing either a new food‑storage shed or trailer to replace the demolished concession stand. At least one member of the governing body did not believe the city should be responsible for installing another structure. Speaking at the October 1st, 2024, Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Chris Weisenburg expressed his support for funding recreation opportunities. However, Councilman Weisenburg said the city isn’t obligated to provide Little League with a new concession stand.

The city council changed direction at the October 15th, 2024, meeting, where then‑Mayor Terry Weickum pledged the governing body’s support for a new concession stand at the VFW Ballfields.

Crews recently finalized a 24‑by‑20‑foot wood‑frame concession stand design with interior space set aside for food preparation, at an estimated cost of $200,000. Before construction can begin, however, the city must replace the failed water and sewer lines that served the old structure.

During the August 18th Rawlins City Council meeting, City Manager Matt Hall asked for authorization to begin reconstructing the underground utility lines at the VFW Ballfields.

City Manager Hall explained that the proposed concession stand meets all the city and Little League’s requirements. He added that the job should be completed by next summer.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked why a wood-frame structure was chosen over a prefabricated building. City Manager Hall said the finalized design was chosen by the Rawlins Little League board members.

Public Works Director Cody Dill added that the selected concession‑stand design is still expected to fall within the city’s $200,000 estimate. However, he noted that the final cost will depend on the contractor chosen for the project.

Councilman Steve Sanger asked if the kitchen area would include food‑service wall coatings such as fiberglass‑reinforced plastic, saying those materials are required by the Wyoming Department of Health. Public Works Director Dill said the request for proposal, or RFP, specifies that health‑department‑approved wall surfaces must be used.

Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council authorized crews to begin replacing the water and sewer lines at the VFW Ballfields and to seek contractors for the concession‑stand construction project.

The post Rawlins to Begin Concession Stand Project at VFW Ballfields first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, August 31, 2026|

Photo – Don Burkhart – Courtesy UW Energy Resources Council

A former Wyoming legislator briefed county officials on the benefits of participating in the nuclear power industry.

During the August 25th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Saratoga, former House District 15 Representative Don Burkhart presented a discussion on nuclear energy. He explained that a standard nuclear reactor uses radioactive fuel to create steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 18.6 percent of the country’s power comes from nuclear energy.

Don Burkhart, who serves on the University of Wyoming’s Energy Resources Council, said the process of generating electricity through nuclear power starts with mining uranium. He said that while the work once relied on open‑pit mining, modern methods now dissolve underground uranium in a solution and pump it to the surface, where the radioactive ore is extracted as a gas. The gas is then transported to Metropolis, Illinois, home to the nation’s only uranium‑enrichment facility.

Burkhart said the final step involves converting the radioactive isotopes into uranium oxide, which can then be formed into nuclear reactor fuel. He said fuel rods typically last 18 to 24 months before they are considered spent.

Burkhart said uranium is by far the most energy dense type of fuel available.

Although uranium has been mined in Wyoming for 75 years, Burkhart said the state still has more than 4 million pounds of the radioactive ore left to recover.

Next, Burkhart explained that nuclear power plants come in a variety of sizes. He said the kind of plant most people picture, which can produce about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, requires roughly 1,500 acres of land with a 10‑mile exclusion zone in case of a containment breach. Burkhart said new advanced reactors, such as the facility being built in Kemmerer, can produce up to 300 megawatts and need roughly 50 acres with a quarter‑mile emergency buffer zone. Finally, he said new micro‑reactors in the 20‑megawatt range occupy only one acre with an exclusion area of roughly the same size.

The Energy Resources Council member said micro-reactors are less expensive to build and easier to maintain than traditional nuclear power plants.

Burkhart said billions of dollars are being invested across the nuclear industry, not just in power plants. He added that many parts of nuclear energy production do not involve handling radioactive materials at all.

Burkhart said workers manufacturing components for nuclear reactors typically earn roughly 10 percent more than those in other industries.

Some reactor designs rely on large amounts of graphite. Burkhart said China currently dominates the global supply of carbon ore. However, he said the University of Wyoming is working on a process to convert coal into graphite, which can be put into full production with the right investor.

Burkhart said UW determined that Kemmerer coal performed best, though a graphite conversion plant could be constructed here in Carbon County.

Burkhart said the United States Department of Energy is providing communities with hundreds of millions of dollars to encourage local nuclear‑industry projects, including storing spent nuclear fuel. He said the nation’s largest nuclear energy producer, Constellation, believes an annual payment of $1 billion is a fair price for storing that fuel.

In conclusion, Burkhart said Carbon County could gain a significant economic advantage by attracting companies in the nuclear industry to the area.

The post Burkhart Presents Nuclear Energy Discussion to County Commissioners first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, August 31, 2026|

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga officials eliminated jail time for all municipal violations.

As reported by Toga Radio, back in April, Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis announced that a resident had requested legal representation for an upcoming municipal court case and noted that the town is responsible for providing the defense attorney. Mayor Davis said the town’s prosecuting attorney, Robert Piper, estimated the cost of a public defender at roughly $75 an hour, while Municipal Judge Daniel Massey put it closer to $150. The mayor said the town was obligated to provide legal counsel regardless of the final price.

To prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future, Saratoga Police Chief John Moore created Ordinance 893, which limits municipal violations to a maximum $750 fine. Chief Moore said that without the threat of jail time, there is no need for a jury trial or for the town to provide an attorney.

Chief Moore added that the municipal judge may still order jail time for warrants and contempt of court.

Like all changes to municipal law, Ordinance 893 was required to be read and passed three times during three separate public hearings. Chief Moore read the ordinance for the third and final time at the August 19th Saratoga Town Council meeting.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously passed Ordinance 893 for the final time, codifying the changes into law. Violations of municipal statutes no longer include the possibility of jail time, with fines now limited to $750 or less.

The post Jail Time Removed from Saratoga’s Ordinances first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, August 28, 2026|

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

The Rawlins finance director delivered encouraging news.

During the August 18th Rawlins City Council meeting, Finance Director Laura Malone presented a high‑level overview of the city’s finances from the previous fiscal year, which ran from July 1st, 2025, through June 30th, 2026. She said the main operating budget, or general fund, performed better than expected. The city was projected to receive nearly $14.7 million in revenue, but it brought in $16 million. Finance Director Malone added that the budget was roughly $1.4 million higher than the 2024 through 2025 fiscal year.

Why was the budget higher than expected? Finance Director Malone explained that increased county‑wide spending resulted in greater than projected 5th and 6th penny tax collections. She said those funds are used for major expenditures and large‑scale projects, including the Edinburgh Street rebuild currently underway.

The combined revenue from the 5th and 6th penny taxes was nearly $660,000 higher than projected.

In addition, Malone said revenue from licenses and permits, the cemetery, police and court, general fund grants, gaming, and franchise fees exceeded expectations by a total of $280,000.

However, not every area of the general budget showed gains. Malone said Rawlins didn’t receive as much money as projected from cigarette taxes and vehicle registration fees. She said cigarette revenue is expected to keep falling, but she was not sure why vehicle registration fees dropped.

According to Malone’s report, Rawlins received roughly $6,000 below its cigarette tax projection and just under $25,000 under its vehicle registration estimate. Because the county does not report how many vehicles are registered in Rawlins, Malone wrote that the decline in revenue may be tied to fewer registrations, aging vehicles, or a mix of the two.

Finance Director Laura Malone said mineral taxes were $32,000 below expectations, which she attributed to the unseasonably warm winter limiting the need for natural gas to heat residents’ homes. Mineral taxes are charged to companies that extract minerals in the state. In her report, Malone wrote that most energy prices were down during the previous fiscal year, but that the sector is expected to stabilize in the next.

Impact assistance fees, which are used to mitigate the negative effects of nearby infrastructure projects, were also lower by nearly $28,000. Malone said the city has no say how much of that revenue is collected.

And finally, the finance director reported that interest on the city’s savings accounts was $173,000 below expectations. She said the money hadn’t been properly invested, an issue she has since corrected.

Finance Director Malone said her priority in the previous fiscal year was increasing the city’s General Fund Reserves. City policy demands maintaining reserves of at least $10.6 million, or 270 days of operating expenses. Malone said that by the end of the fiscal year, she had surpassed that amount, giving the city 310 days of reserves.

With that goal accomplished, Malone said her priority in the current fiscal year is to increase the city’s Capital Replacement Fund, which is used to replace major assets as they wear out, such as vehicles, building infrastructure, and technology. At the end of the 2025 fiscal year, the Capital Replacement Fund contained just under $6 million. Malone projected that $23 million will be needed to cover the city’s long‑term replacement needs.

Malone reported that two of the city’s three parks and recreation programs earned enough revenue in the previous fiscal year to cover their operational costs. The Rochelle Ranch Golf Course and Rawlins Family Recreation Center generated 138 and 142 percent of their projected expenses, respectively. The indoor and outdoor shooting ranges only generated 71 percent of their projected costs.

Malone also reported that the city’s three enterprise funds, water, sewer, and landfill and recycling, were profitable in the previous fiscal year. Per state law, enterprise funds must generate enough revenue through fees to cover the entirety of their operating costs, rather than relying on tax dollars. The water enterprise fund posted just under $3 million in net profit, the sewer fund posted $1 million, and the landfill and recycling fund brought in just over $71,000 in total.

In conclusion, Finance Director Malone said the city is in a strong financial position heading into the 2026 through 2027 fiscal year. She said her department will focus on increasing the Capital Replacement Fund.

The post Rawlins’ Finances Have Improved in Many Areas first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

FRIDAY, August 28, 2026|

Photo – Service day announcement – Courtesy Saratoga Middle High School

Saratoga high school students will take on various community assistance projects around town.

Next Wednesday, September 2nd, Saratoga Middle High School is holding a community service day in preparation for the upcoming fall and winter sports seasons. Principal JD Johnson explained that a large amount of work will go toward improving the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, as the facility hosts the school’s cross-country events.

Principal Johnson said another team of high school students will clean up debris on Veteran’s Island, while a third will work around the school.

On the same day, the junior class will begin painting panther paws around town as part of the school’s annual fundraiser. Principal Johnson said demand was high enough that students will need more than one day to complete the work.

The school paints purple and gold panther paw prints on sidewalks outside local homes and businesses for $50, with proceeds going toward that class’s prom. Principal Johnson said requests are still being accepted.

To request a paw print, call Saratoga Middle High School Special Education teacher Tiffany Herring at 710-6055 or email [email protected]. Students and their class sponsors will be bused to their designated community service locations.

The post Saratoga Students to Perform Various Community Projects first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, August 27, 2026|

Photo – MHCC – Bigfoot99 file photo

Officials said the county’s two hospitals received federal healthcare funding, while the ambulance services did not.

In 2025, the Trump administration created the Rural Health Transformation Program, allocating $50 billion over five years to stabilize, modernize, and expand healthcare in rural communities. Wyoming received $205 million in the program’s first year.

Carbon County Commissioner Sue Jones serves on the Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee, which is responsible for distributing the state’s share of the federal funding. During Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting in Saratoga, Commissioner Jones announced that she and the other members of the Rural Health Transformation Committee met for the first time on August 11th in Casper, where they disbursed the entire $205 million. She said the medical centers in Saratoga and Rawlins both received a portion of that federal funding.

Commissioner Jones added that she abstained from all votes pertaining to Carbon County.

Two of the county’s three independent ambulance services, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County EMS and South Central Wyoming EMS, applied for Rural Health Transformation funding. Little Snake River Valley EMS did not request any financial support. Commissioner Jones said the federal government is pushing to consolidate regional medical transport providers under one umbrella, but the process will be difficult.

Commissioner Jones said the lack of a plan to unify service led to several ambulance providers being denied federal funding, including South Central Wyoming EMS, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County EMS, and Saratoga’s North Platte Valley Medical Center, which had attempted to partner with SCWEMS to establish a combined ambulance service.

Speaking at the August 19th Saratoga Town Council meeting, North Platte Valley Medical Center Board of Directors Chairman Will Faust said his organization and SCWEMS had submitted a joint Rural Health Transformation funding request for $1.25 million. However, Faust said he later learned that the ambulance service also filed its own separate application, which caused their joint request to be denied.

Faust said the SCWEMS Board of Directors should have worked more closely with the North Platte Valley board to improve their chances of receiving federal funding. He added that hospital administrators were disappointed by the outcome.

Faust said the Rural Health Transformation funding denial will have a negative impact on the community. The money was going to be used to increase volunteer staffing for SCWEMS, which is responsible for transporting patients from Saratoga to other hospitals for additional care. Without increased cooperation from the SCWEMS board of directors, Faust said patients are in danger.

Faust also reported that the Saratoga medical center received $1.75 million in Rural Health Transformation funding through its separate application.

At the August 25th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Sue Jones said the Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee chose to fund organizations that provided long‑term plans for the money. Should those plans not hold up, she said the funding will be returned to the state.

Because of that requirement, Commissioner Jones said there is likely to be more Rural Health Transformation money available for next year’s funding cycle.

Despite the influx of federal money, Jones said Wyoming is still struggling to pay for basic services, such as water and sewer repairs. She said the state must find additional ways to increase revenue, or it won’t succeed.

Likewise, Commissioner Jones said the state’s healthcare facilities must also find ways to attract more providers to live in Wyoming’s rural comminutes; otherwise, residents will continue to be forced to travel for basic medical care.

The Wyoming Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee will meet again in early November, when members will sit down with representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to discuss alternative ways to meet the state’s medical needs.

The post County’s Hospitals Granted Federal Healthcare Funding first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, August 27, 2026|

Photo – Versace, Pepe, and Penelope are available for adoption – Courtesy Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter

Pets at the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter are still seeking permanent homes.

The majority of Carbon County’s stray and feral cats and dogs are taken to the Rochelle Animal Shelter in Rawlins. Currently, the facility is home to three cats and 13 dogs, seven of which are enrolled in the Cage to Save program, which pairs shelter dogs with inmates at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Prisoners spend nine weeks training the animals in essential manners and basic obedience.

Every month, Toga Radio teams up with the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter to highlight pets waiting for adoption. This month, Rawlins Police Lieutenant Daria Hooper, who oversees the city’s animal shelter, asked to feature Versace, an adult heeler mix who graduated from the Cage to Save program. Lieutenant Hooper said Versace is very friendly, though not with other dogs.

Versace was featured in a previous Toga Radio animal shelter spotlight. Lieutenant Hooper said Versace is still energetic despite being an adult dog and urged someone to adopt him.

Lieutenant Hooper also chose to highlight Pepe and Penelope, two adult cats who, like most cats, can be skittish until they get comfortable with someone.

Pepe and Penelope do not have to be adopted together.

Lieutenant Hooper offered good news about last month’s featured animals, Buddy, the white four‑year‑old Shepherd-Husky mix, and Julius, the young adult orange cat.

Lieutenant Hooper declined to publicly discuss those big plans for now but said she will announce the details once everything is finalized.

The Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter is seeking donations of used blankets and pet treats. Hooper said financial support is also needed to cover unexpected medical costs, such as a recent surgery to correct a dog’s prolapsed tear gland, commonly called an eye cherry.

Rawlins Animal Control Officers Leah Ketner and Lisa Eriksson assist Lieutenant Hooper at the Rochelle Animal Shelter. Because the three officers split their time between patrolling the city and managing the facility, Lieutenant Hooper said volunteers are always welcome to help care for the animals. She said that work can satisfy court‑ordered community service requirements, but each case must be handled individually, and participants will be expected to put in genuine effort.

Lieutenant Hooper added that any community service work must be scheduled around the officers’ availability.

To meet an animal, volunteer, or drop off donations, visit the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter at 2711 East Murray Street Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., or call 328‑4534 to schedule an appointment. All adoptable animals are posted on the shelter’s Facebook page and on Petfinder.com. Adoption fees are $35 for cats and $50 for dogs.

The post RPD Highlights Three Pets for Adoption at Animal Shelter first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.