Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

JUNE 26, 2025 |

Photo – Senator John Barrasso – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Washington, D.C., U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso has been leading the charge this week to push President Donald Trump’s budget package across the finish-line.

Called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” it faces a showdown vote in the coming days. The final language in the bill remains cloaked in secrecy. In his role as whip, this week Senator Barrasso was leading the charge. Wyoming’s senior senator said Americans suffered through record high prices and wide-open borders during the Biden Administration.

Senator Barrasso added that Medicaid has been abused by Democrats over the last four years. Waste, fraud, abuse and corruption has been allowed to corrupt the system designed to help the vulnerable, including children, pregnant women and the disabled.  Senator Barrasso said in recent years $1.1 trillion dollars has been wasted through improper federal payments.

Barrasso said Washington Democrats funneled the money to big states and big cities that they control around the country.

The upcoming vote on the bill is likely be close and Vice President JD Vance would break a tie in the party’s favor, if necessary.

The post Wyoming Senator Pushing to Pass Budget Package first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 25, 2025 |

Photo – Andrew Nolan and Erin Kampa – Courtesy Rawlins Police Department

Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies across Carbon County engaged in a high-speed pursuit from Rawlins to Saratoga early Tuesday morning. Two suspects ended up in custody and are facing multiple charges.

The couple arrested are 37-year-old Andrew Nollen and 45-year-old Erin Kampa. Both are from Casper. Initial charges include drug possession and leading police on a high-speed pursuit from Rawlins to Saratoga.

At approximately 2:35 on the morning of June 24th, a Rawlins police officer witnessed a black Chrysler 300 sedan swerving and making an improper turn in the city. The officer initiated a traffic stop, during which the driver claimed to have no identification. However, the officer suspected the male driver, who was later identified as Nollen, was operating with a suspended license.

Rawlins Police Lieutenant Jared Frakes said when the officer instructed Nollen to exit the vehicle, the driver drove off, attempting to escape. The resulting pursuit continued onto Interstate 80 and past Sinclair. Nollen then fled south on Highway 130 into Saratoga.

The driver is reported to have exceeded posted speed limits during the pursuit.

Saratoga Police Chief John Moore said multiple law enforcement agencies joined the chase.

North of Saratoga, officers deployed a spike strip, also known as stop sticks, on Highway 130 in an attempt to puncture the suspect’s tires. However, Nollen evaded the device and continued into town, eventually stopping on the town’s western edge at the Medicine Waters Mobile Home Park.

During the pursuit, the occupants attempted to discard evidence along Highway 130. Officers later recovered a felony quantity of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia thrown from the vehicle.

After being arrested, Nollen and his female passenger, Kampa, were taken into custody.

This is not their first time being in custody for illegal street drugs.

Last fall, Nollen was arrested for allegedly selling meth and fentanyl from a Casper motel room. On March 21st, Nollen was found not guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Wyoming District Court.

In 2019, Kampa was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and Failure to Comply following a police standoff in Casper.

Rawlins Police Lieutenant Daria Hooper explained the new charges the two suspects are facing following Tuesday morning’s incident.

No one was injured and no property was damaged during the pursuit.

Nollen is apparently from Saratoga originally where his criminal history began.

The post Carbon County Officers Involved in High-Speed Vehicle Pursuit first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 25, 2025 |

Photo – A Carbon County maintained road – Bigfoot99 file photo

Due to pending property tax cuts and the resulting loss of revenue, Carbon County officials have been forced to scale back road maintenance. With federal funding now exhausted, it is unclear if any additional roads will receive dust suppression treatment this year.

During the June 17th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz announced the end of the fiscal year 2024 dust suppression project. Funded by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, or CMAQ, grant, Dustbusters Enterprises Incorporated of Evanston was chosen to apply magnesium chloride to the county’s dirt roads.

Fritz asked the Board to approve the final acceptance certificate and pay Dustbusters Enterprises $266,600 from the CMAQ fund.

Magnesium chloride, or mag chloride as it is often called, is a natural salt used to control dust and melt ice. When sprayed on dirt or gravel roads, the chemical binds small particles together and draws moisture from the air, helping the surface stay damp, firm, and safer to drive on.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz said roads treated with mag chloride are holding up well, while those left untreated are quickly showing signs of wear.

With the completion of the mag chloride application project, the county has used up its Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant money. Recently passed property tax relief programs have seriously impacted the county budget, making it uncertain if additional roads will get treated this year.

Earlier this month, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners estimated that recently enacted state property tax relief measures will reduce the county’s budget by at least $500,000 this coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1st. Speaking at the February 4th Board meeting, Commissioner John Johnson said the county will have trouble finding the money to pay for road maintenance, specifically magnesium chloride.

The Board of Commissioners met to finalize the fiscal year 2025 through 2026 budget after last week’s meeting. It is unclear at this time if the county was able to allocate funding for additional magnesium chloride application.

The post County Road Dust Suppression Efforts May Be on Hold first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 25, 2025 |

Photo – Pump installation – Courtesy City of Rawlins

The City of Rawlins has installed new pumps to deliver water from the North Platte River to the golf course and pretreatment plant.

On Monday evening, the City of Rawlins announced on its Facebook page that two water supply pumps on the North Platte River have been successfully replaced. The social media post states that the pumps supply raw river water to the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course and serve as a critical back-up water source during water infrastructure projects.

The announcement comes in response to concerns raised at the January 21st Rawlins City Council meeting, where Public Works Director Cody Dill reported that the two pumps drawing water from the river were failing. Dill said the pumps operated without incident for more than two decades and only recently began to show signs of wear.

An inspection of the pumps showed that the internal mechanisms were worn beyond repair and needed replacement.

Speaking at the January 21st meeting, Dill said the pumps will be needed when the city begins replacing sections of the 30-mile water transmission line from Sage Creek Springs. The pumps will fill reservoirs with raw water from the North Platte River, which will then be sent to the city’s pretreatment plant to be made safe for drinking.

The untreated river water is also used to irrigate the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.

Citing the critical need for the river pumps and the estimated four-and-a-half-month completion timeline, the Rawlins City Council voted to declare an emergency and bypass the standard bidding process. The governing body selected Arvada Pump Company, from Arvada, Colorado, to undertake the project as a cost of $139,448.

A social media post by the City of Rawlins stated that the two river pumps were successfully installed earlier this month.

Public Works Director Cody Dill is quoted as saying, “These pumps will provide water to Rawlins and Sinclair when we need it, especially during upcoming large projects on our water system. They also allow the golf course to be irrigated without using treated water.” Dill added, “By alternating their use annually, we expect each pump to last approximately 16 years, giving the system an overall lifespan of about 30 years before a full replacement is necessary.”

The post Rawlins Installs New Water Pumps to Move River Water first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 25, 2025 |

Photo – Security Camera – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Saratoga, the governing body has agreed to buy a new cloud-enabled security camera for the town hall.

During the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore asked for authorization to pay Pine Cove Consulting, a reginal cybersecurity company, $2,021.98. Chief Moore explained that the invoice will cover the purchase of a new security camera for the town hall that records directly to the cloud, enabling the police chief to view footage from any internet connected device. Chief Moore added that the current camera is designed to record to a physical location, which it no longer does.

Breaking down the invoice, Chief Moore said the camera costs $911.24, with an additional $683.24 for a 10-year license to store the footage, $21.25 for shipping and handling, and $406.25 for installation by a Pine Cove representative, bringing the total to $2,021.98

After taking office in 2023, Mayor Chuck Davis said his top priority was replacing the town hall camera. Mayor Davis added that the cost should be split evenly between the police department and town hall budgets, since town hall staff will also benefit from the added security.

Chief Moore said both the police department and town hall have sufficient funds in their budgets to cover the camera upgrade.

Referring to the 10-year licensing fee, Councilman Bub Barkhurst asked if the camera is expected to last a decade. Chief Moore said yes, noting that he has used the same type of camera in other parts of town, including the Hobo Hot Pools, for years and has not encountered any technical issues.

Chief Moore said the town hall camera is the last town-owned camera not wired to the cloud-based recording service used on the system.

In the future, the police chief said he would like to upgrade the camera at the Hobo Hot Pool with a four-sensor unit, similar to one used at Shively Field.

At that point, Chief Moore said he would like to take the existing hot springs camera and place it in a position to observe the cooler, small pool.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to pay Pine Cove Consulting $2,021.98 to purchase and install a new cloud-based security camera in the town hall.

The post Saratoga Town Hall to Purchase Cloud-Enabled Security Camera first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 24, 2025 |

Photo – Public land potentially for sale – Courtesy Wilderness Society

As average home prices continue to rise, lawmakers are pushing for more affordable housing. Carbon County residents are concerned that a proposed initiative could lead to the sale of prized recreational land.

On June 11th, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced language into the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s budget reconciliation bill calling for the sale of 2 to 3 million acres of federal public land across 11 Western states, including Wyoming. Senator Lee’s measure is intended to address the national housing crisis by making federal land available for residential development.

The bill states the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, must select between 0.5 and 0.75 percent of Bureau of Land Management land for disposal. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins would also be required to choose the same amount of National Forest System land to sell. The sale would be used to address local housing needs, including house supply and affordability.

In his bill, Senator Lee writes that both federal agencies should first consider selling land nominated by state or local governments. Eligible parcels should be adjacent to existing development, have access to infrastructure, be suitable for residential housing, and help reduce checkerboard land patterns. Furthermore, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest System are instructed to consider selling isolated tracts of land that are difficult to manage.

The bill prohibits the sale of federally protected land, parcels subject to valid existing rights, or land not located in one of the 11 designated states.

Soon after Senator Lee’s bill was introduced, the Washington D.C.–based nonprofit The Wilderness Society released a map highlighting 250 million acres of federally managed land that could be subject to sale under the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s budget. The map indicates that large portions of the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range Mountains could be developed for affordable housing. Altogether, 14,940,234 acres of federal land in Wyoming are considered eligible for disposal.

Carbon County residents are voicing their disapproval on social media toward the potential federal land sale.  On Saturday, June 21st, Sheriff Alex Bakken contributed to the conversation, writing that Carbon County’s greatest asset is its vast public lands. The lands offer thousands of acres of accessible outdoor recreation for both residents and visitors. Sheriff Bakken wrote that public lands, especially the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Mountains, significantly contribute to our region’s tourism industry.

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman supports Senator Lee’s additions to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s budget reconciliation bill. In a social media post, Congresswoman Hageman wrote that the text of the bill prohibits the sale of lands with existing rights as well as federally protected lands.

During her June 19th “Weekday Wake Up” radio program, Congresswoman Hageman said that any federal land considered for sale must be located within one to five miles of a community identified as lacking affordable housing.

The Congresswoman added that building affordable housing in mountainous areas, such as the Bighorns, would be cost-prohibitive.

Congresswoman Hageman, however, did not say that the land is ineligible for sale.

The Congresswoman wrote that the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act does not include the sale of any public lands.

In his social media post, Sheriff Alex Bakken encouraged the public to read the bill themselves before forming an opinion. Bigfoot99 will include a link to Senator Mike Lee’s addition to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s budget reconciliation bill when this story is published on our website later today. The relevant section, Subtitle C, can be found on page 30 of the document.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources budget reconciliation bill: C:\Users\NEW\AppData\Local\Temp\NEW25680.loc

The post Housing Crisis May Call for Sale of Public Lands first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 24, 2025 |

Photo – Decorated plot at Rawlins Cemetery – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Rawlins governing body is pushing for improved cemetery maintenance. During the June 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Terry Patterson said members of the public have approached him about the poor condition of the city’s cemetery. Councilman Patterson asked if Public Works was planning to address the issue.

City Manager Tom Sarvey said some areas of the cemetery have been neglected. He explained the current city policy directs workers to focus on the city’s green spaces, such as Washington Park. Once those areas are completed, workers spend the remainder of their day at the cemetery.

City Manager Sarvey said he directed the parks crews to work more efficiently so they can dedicate more time to the cemetery.  Sarvey also suggested enlisting the assistance of other Public Works Department employees to improve the appearance of the graveyard.

Councilman Patterson asked if the cemetery’s sprinkler system was functioning, adding the graveyard contained many areas of dead grass. City Manager Sarvey said parks crews are aware of the issue and plan to restore the grass in those damaged sections.

Assuming the full Public Works Department can assist, Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked when the cemetery mowing would be completed. City Manager Sarvey said once started, the job will be finished within a few days. However, Sarvey said a city-wide shortage of employees makes it difficult to determine when the mowing project can begin.

Councilwoman Lewman directed Sarvey to have the cemetery fully mowed before the July 1st City Council meeting.

Mayor Jacquelin Wells said the City Council is planning to hold a public workshop on the state of the cemetery before its July 15th meeting.

The post Rawlins Council Pushes for Improved Cemetery Maintenance first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 24, 2025 |

Photo –  Airway Beacon Site 32/Medicine Bow, WY Airport – Courtesy Larry Liebrecht presentation

Nationally recognized aviation historian Larry Liebrecht delivered a presentation on the history of the Medicine Bow Airport.

On Thursday, June 19th, the Medicine Bow Airport Advisory Board held its regular monthly meeting. Board member Lee Cook, who also serves on the Town Council, introduced Larry Liebrecht, providing a summary of the aviation historian’s accomplishments.

Liebrecht described himself as an aviation archaeologist who explores historic airfields, crash sites, and battlefields across the country. The historian began his presentation on the history of the Medicine Bow Airport, officially called Intermediate Field Site 32, Salt Lake City to Omaha. Liebrecht called the small-town airport, located one mile south of Highway 30, a culturally significant resource and a passport through time.

Liebrecht said he first heard about the Medicine Bow Airport in 2019, when he and a group of fellow aviation archaeologists were searching for a lost B-24 Liberator near a former Casper Army Air Base.

On their way back to Colorado, one of his colleagues suffered a flat tire, which required a stop in Medicine Bow for service. While there, Liebrecht learned about the local airfield. When he visited the area, the aviation historian said he was impressed by the untouched condition of the site, adding that most 1930s-era airfields are overrun with modern buildings.

Liebrecht explained the original Medicine Bow airport was built in 1929 as part of the national airmail route. The airfield served as an emergency landing site for airmail pilots flying between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Omaha, Nebraska. Liebrecht also said the airmail route eventually became the backbone of the modern aviation industry.

Liebrecht said the airport’s original light beacon tower, teletype weather office, and directional arrow remain at the site. The concrete arrow was used to guide airmail pilots to the next airfield. Ruins of the airport keeper’s home, maintenance garage, and two hangars are still visible today.

Liebrecht presented a slide of the Medicine Bow Airport as it looked in 1933, showing two homes with the powerhouse in the background. The aviation historian said the concrete curb in front of the houses remains visible today. He added that, at the time, the federal government required pilots to evaluate each airport’s physical appearance.

Long considered a rumor, Liebrecht confirmed Amelia Earhart landed at the Medicine Bow Airport in 1931 during an attempted transcontinental flight in an experimental autogiro. The aviation historian explained that the autogiro was a hybrid between an airplane and a helicopter and was capable of nearly vertical takeoffs and landings. While flying through Carbon County, strong Wyoming winds forced Earhart to land in Medicine Bow in search of fuel.

Liebrecht said that in the late 1920s, the federal government built small emergency landing strips, such as the one in Medicine Bow, every 30 miles along the national airmail route, typically near railroad stations.

In the event of a breakdown, which Liebrecht said occurred often, the mail and any passengers could take the train to their destinations.

As the planes got larger and more reliable, the small emergency landing strips were no longer needed. Over time, some airfields were developed, while others, such as the Medicine Bow Airport, were simply forgotten by the aviation industry.

With adequate preservation, Liebrecht said the Medicine Bow Airport could maintain its historical designation while continuing to operate as a working airfield. The aviation historian said the city of Douglas, Wyoming, converted its original airport powerhouse to hold modern technology. A similar effort took place in Grants, New Mexico, where the historic beacon tower and powerhouse were restored and remain in active use.

Liebrecht urged the Medicine Bow Airport Advisory Board to continue working to preserve the historic landing strip.

The post Medicine Bow Town Council Gets Aviation History Lesson first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 23, 2025 |

Photo – Garden – Bigfoot99 file photo

Last week, the Saratoga Community Garden presented an update to the town council.

During the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Community Garden representative Dawn Munro provided the governing body with a summary of the 28-member non-profit organization’s yearly activities. Munro began by explaining that the community garden is located on town-owned land at the corner of Cyprus Avenue and South River Street, adding that it was established 14 years ago with the help of two United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, grants.

Munro said the garden houses 14 raised beds for individual use and 12 larger community beds. Additionally, the garden contains a variety of fruit trees. Munro said the newly planted flowers are a pleasant sight.

Munro said the community garden members are raising roughly 20 different kinds of organic vegetables, including carrots and potatoes. Additionally, the plants receive water through a newly installed automatic irrigation system.

Munro said the Saratoga Community Garden maintains a beehive surrounded by pollinator-attracting flowers. The bees can travel up to three miles away from their hive, collecting pollen from agricultural areas and private gardens. Munro said the garden club has also planted two additional flower beds around town to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Munro said bees help the Saratoga Community Garden engage with the public. Munro added that the garden club also offers tours to kindergarten students, who especially enjoy handling the worms raised on site.

Munro said the amount of fruit and vegetables grown by members varies widely every year. In the past, when food was abundant, the garden club would share the surplus at the farmers market, free of charge. Beginning this year, Munro said all excess produce is being donated to the Saratoga Senior Center.

Munroe said on top of membership fees, the Saratoga Community Garden is funded through an annual dinner called the Pesto Festo. Munro said the fundraiser’s 50 tickets typically sell out quickly.

Munro said the Pesto Festo typically generates $2,000 in revenue. Combined with the membership fees, that funding allows the garden club to purchase seeds and maintenance equipment.

Munro invited the public to come and see the Saratoga Community Garden at the corner of Cyprus Avenue and South River Street.

The post Community Garden Rep Gives Update to Town Council first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 23, 2025 |

Photo – New sewer pipe – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Rawlins, a west-side resident urged the governing body to address the frequent sewer backups affecting her home and those of her neighbors.

During the June 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, resident Kendra Sisneros addressed the governing body about sewer issues on La Paloma Drive, behind Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. Sisneros said a sewer backup in 2020 forced her to install a costly replacement pipe from her home to the city’s main line. However, the problem continued, with Sisneros reporting that sewer water from other residents has backed up into her basement at least 13 times over the past five years.

Sisneros said when the sewer backs up, two feet of sewage accumulates in her basement. The Rawlins resident said the problem is not isolated to her home. Neighbors are reporting similar issues with the city’s sewer system.

Sisneros explained when her basement floods with sewer water, she must wait for city utility crews to clear the blockage. Afterward, she wades into the sewage to clean up the mess. Sisneros said the repeated flooding has begun to damage her home.

Sisneros said the backed-up sewage has caused her to lose furniture and important family heirlooms, such as an antique dining room set and childhood memorabilia.

Public Works Director Cody Dill was asked to explain why the sewer system on La Paloma Drive has been causing wastewater to pool in residents’ homes. Dill responded the pipes in that neighborhood have settled over time, forming low spots known as bellies. When improperly disposed items, such as wet wipes, accumulate in these areas, they can obstruct the flow and back up the entire system.

Dill said homes without back flow preventers are at risk of having the sewer water rush into their homes. A sewer backflow preventer is a plumbing device that stops wastewater from flowing in the wrong direction. The device allows sewage to flow out of a person’s house but automatically closes if it detects a reverse flow from the municipal system.

The City Council then asked Dill how to stop the sewer system from flowing back up residents’ service lines and into their homes. The Public Works Director said the first step is for people to stop flushing trash and debris down their toilets.

Permanently fixing the issue will require a large-scale sewer line replacement project. Dill said he wasn’t sure how much a project of that size would cost but estimated it to be roughly $3 million.

City Manager Tom Sarvey said the city’s sewer enterprise fund, which is where the money for any sewer repair projects would need to come from, contains approximately $700,000. The city will need to obtain a loan for any projects over that amount.

The La Paloma Drive sewer system isn’t the only water and sewer-related issue the city of Rawlins is facing. A recently completed water master plan identified roughly $50 million worth of critical water infrastructure repairs.

At the June 17th meeting. Councilman Steve Sanger asked how a city of 8,000 people could ever hope to afford to fix all the water problems. Councilman Sanger said the city would need to secure loans for the repair work, and the resulting payments would significantly increase water rates.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave said she and City Manager Sarvey will search for funding sources once Public Works Director Dill obtains an estimate to repair the La Paloma Drive sewer system. Dill was instructed to present the information at the next City Council meeting, on July 1st.

The post Frequent Back-Up of Sewer Lines Affect Condition of Homes first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.