Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

JUNE 20, 2025 |

Photo – Sweet Marie’s logo – Courtesy Facebook

After allowing the Saratoga Farmers Market to be held twice downtown in the last month, the governing body decided not to okay the event to be held on Bridge Avenue for a third time.

The market will happen this Saturday, but in a different location.

Sweet Marie’s Mercantile owner Marie Christen offered to restart the Saratoga Farmers Market last month. The open-air market was previously organized by the owners of Badges and Bagels, but as their business grew, they declined to continue managing the event.

Christen offered to move the farmers’ market from the town hall to her property located at Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 downtown. The Town Council expressed concerns that food trucks parked in front of the shop on the busy corner could make the intersection more dangerous on weekends.

The governing body voted to allow Christen to host two farmers markets at her Bridge Avenue location. Afterwards, the Council would determine if the location was suitable for the event.

At the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Marie Christen reported she thought the farmers market went smoothly.

Saratoga Police Chief John Moore said the single food truck caused attendees to spill onto Bridge Avenue. Additionally, Chief Moore said he was told the food truck operators were frustrated by the lack of space in front of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile.

Christen acknowledged the event had few vendors but said both they and attendees reported being satisfied.

Councilman Mike Cooley said area around Sweet Marie’s Mercantile is too small to accommodate a larger number of vendors. Additionally, Councilman Cooley said ambulances from the North Platte Valley Medical Center, along with funeral processions, regularly use Bridge Avenue.

Councilman Cooley said many regular vendors from past farmers markets may have chosen not to attend Christen’s event out of concern there wouldn’t be enough room.

Christen responded that she had space on the east side of her shop, facing Highway 130, but didn’t have enough vendors to make use of it.

Mayor Chuck Davis said he received only one complaint: an unnamed business owner claimed the farmers market was occupying their parking spaces. Christen said she only blocked off the area in front of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile.

Councilman Jerry Fluty said downtown restaurant owners complained to him about the food trucks, saying they were not subject to the same overhead costs, such as water and sewer, as brick-and-mortar eateries.

Christen said she understood their concerns. However, she said the presence of the food trucks is good for the farmers market attendees.

Christen said she believed that the event was successful, but the final decision was in the hands of the Town Council.

The governing body unanimously voted not to renew Christen’s farmers market permit. The Town Council instead voted to allow Christen to hold future outdoor markets in the small park west of her store. However, the event organizer said she has no plans to host any more farmers markets.

Christen posted on Facebook following Bigfoot’s story that the farmers’ market will continue this week on her own property with off-street parking.

The post Bridge Avenue Farmers’ Market Permit Will Not Be Renewed first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 20, 2025 |

Photo – Hanna Draw Road – Bigfoot99 file photo

County officials report that motorists are traveling excessively fast on the Hanna Draw Road.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz reported a recent traffic study done on the Hanna Draw Road, which runs between the town of Hanna and Seminoe Reservoir, showed many drivers are exceedingly the 55 mile an hour speed limit.

Commissioner Sue Jones joked that the high speeds imply that the roads are properly maintained. Superintendent Fritz said the north end of the Hanna Draw Road, near the Seminoe Reservoir, is more heavily traveled, but motorists are typically going slower than those on the southern end.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked Fritz to provide Sheriff Alex Bakken with a copy of her traffic report. Vice Chair Bartlett said Sheriff Bakken should be made aware of people speeding on the Hanna Draw Road.

Commissioner Jones said many of the speeders are likely to be locals who live on the Hanna Draw Road.

The post Drivers Tend to Speed on Hanna Draw Road first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 20, 2025 |

Photo – Shively Hardware logo – Courtesy Shively web page

Saratoga’s hardware store will hold a grand reopening to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Shively Ace Hardware in Saratoga was opened in 1925 by Ed and Pearl Shively. Over the past century, the store has remained in the family, managed by Ed’s grandchildren, Mike and Joe Glode, along with Joe’s son, Ed.

In 1999, the Glodes divided the business into two locations. The hardware store remained in downtown Saratoga, on East Bridge Avenue, while a new powersports store opened on Highway 130, north of town. Joe and his son Ed manage the powersports division, while Mike Glode continues to oversee the hardware store.

At the June 3rd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Karen Smith, a descendant of the Shively founders, submitted a special event permit. The family wants to close South River Street, from East Bridge Avenue to the ally south of the store, on Saturday, July 26th.  Smith said the event will serve as the 100th anniversary celebration for the hardware store.

Smith’s special event application asked to close River Street from noon to 9:00 p.m. However, Smith said the actual celebration won’t begin until 3:00 p.m. By listing noon on the application, Smith said she was allowing time to organize the event while preventing vehicles from parking on the east side of the building.

Saratoga Police Chief John Moore acknowledged that preventing people from parking outside the store can be challenging. Chief Moore suggested placing cones around the parking spots before closing the road, adding that he had no other concerns with Smith’s permit application.

In her special event permit application, Smith wrote she is expecting roughly 200 people to attend the grand opening and 100th anniversary celebration, with 20 staff members assisting.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to approve the permit application, including an open container provision.

The next day, Sunday, July 27th, the Glodes will unveil a new monument outside of Saratoga’s airport, Shively Field. Originally, the airport featured a small cannon which was said to have been used to defend Fort Halleck in 1880. The cannon remained along Highway 130 for over 70 years before officials discovered it was not an authentic artillery piece. Instead, the makeshift firearm was a toy built in the Hanna coal mines in the early 1900s.

In a 1981 Saratoga Sun article, Hanna resident Charles Ainsworth is quoted as saying, “In 1902 several men built a small cannon which they used on days of celebration. It was mounted on brake wheels. It was taken to Elk Mountain and now it is in Saratoga. Some claim it is an old cannon from Fort Halleck”

The supposed cannon was returned to Hanna last year and is currently on display at the Hanna Basin Museum. In its place, the Glode family has commissioned sculptor Chris Navarro to create a bronze replica of a P-51 Mustang, honoring Lieutenant Jack Edward Shively, the airport’s namesake. Lieutenant Shively was killed in combat over Chinon, France, on June 13, 1944.

The 16-foot-tall sculpture, titled Mustang Warrior, will depict a P-51 Mustang climbing in a banking turn. Sculptor Chris Navarro describes it as capturing the fearless spirit of those who took to the skies in the legendary aircraft.

The Shively Ace Hardware grand reopening and 100th anniversary celebration will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26th, at 119 East Bridge Avenue in Saratoga. The following day, July 27th, the Glode family will unveil the new Shively Airport monument.

The post Shively Hardware to Celebrate 100 Years first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 20, 2025 |

Photo – City government members with Buddy Barto – Courtesy City of Rawlins

The Rawlins Volunteer Committee announced the winner of the June 2025 Community Builder Award during the June 17th City Council Meeting. Community Relations Coordinator Mira Miller announced the Bank of Commerce Chief Business Officer Buddy Barto was chosen to receive this month’s honor. Miller explained the monthly award is given to groups and individuals who work to make Rawlins a better place to live.

Rawlins Buildings Official and Volunteer Committee member Mike O’Brien said Barto is a Rawlins native who donates his free time to help his fellow residents, both young and old.

O’Brien said Barto gains his sense of purpose by mentoring young people, helping them find the right path. O’Brien said the Community Award Builder winner encouraged everyone to volunteer, even those who think they have nothing to give, because every person can make an impact.

Barto, himself, said helping others doesn’t require money, just time. With that mindset, Barto said the quality of life for all residents can be improved.

All Community Builder Award winners receive a plaque and $100 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Barto chose to give his prize money to Carbon County Child Development Programs.

The post June 2025 Community Builder Awardee Announced first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 19, 2025 |

Photo – Circa 1940 photo of Highway 130 and Bridge Avenue in Saratoga facing east – Courtesy Byron Barkhurst

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is unlikely to address safety concerns in downtown Saratoga for another four years.

During the April 15th Saratoga Town Council Meeting, Police Chief John Moore discussed the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s 2024 standard crash data for the town. Chief Moore explained WYDOT has recorded the lowest number of car crashes involving injury or property damage over the past five years.

Chief Moore said the intersection of Bridge Avenue and 1st Street saw the most significant reduction in crashes. Referring to a 1940s-era photo shared by Dyrt Road Realty on Facebook, Chief Moore said a traffic light could further reduce incidents in the area, though he acknowledged the idea remains unpopular.

The safety concerns at the intersection were brought up again following the re-establishment of the Saratoga farmer’s market. Marie Christen, former town clerk and owner of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile, proposed hosting the event near her shop, with food trucks positioned along Bridge Avenue.

Concerns for traffic and pedestrian safety have been raised about staging the food market at the busy interstection. During the May 20th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief Moore voiced concerns that food trucks could obstruct visibility, increasing the risk to pedestrians crossing the four-way intersection.

The Town Council asked Chief Moore to request a new traffic survey on the Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 intersection from WYDOT. Speaking at the June 17th Town Council Meeting, the police chief said he and Public Works Director Emery Penner met with local WYDOT engineers last month and were presented with a traffic study from 2023.

Chief Moore said WYDOT has concluded the intersection of Highway 130 and Bridge Avenue does not warrant a traffic light. Instead, the state agency will construct pedestrian curb extensions during a 2029 repaving project.

Curb-outs, also known as bulb-outs, are sidewalk extensions that project into the parking lane, narrowing the roadway to improve pedestrian visibility and create safer crossing points at the intersection.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst said drivers face increased risk because they must pull far into the intersection to check for oncoming traffic, blocking the crosswalk.

Drivers on Bridge Street are known for nudging the front end of their vehicles into the intersection for an improved view of oncoming traffic.

Chief Moore said he also asked WYDOT engineers about removing parking along Highway 130 to increase visibility. The police chief reported the town has the authority to remove highway parking spaces, provided they comply with WYDOT’s intersection setback requirements.

With the potential removal of parking spaces along Highway 130, Chief Moore said he is drafting updated parking violation ordinances. The police chief said he currently lacks the ability to properly enforce the town’s parking laws.

A new WYDOT funded traffic study on the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 is scheduled for next year. Chief Moore said WYDOT will send an employee to physically monitor traffic at the intersection during different times of the year, including special events, such as Saratoga Days, when traffic is typically heavier than average.

The post Concerns for Pedestrian Safety Cause for Discussion of Saratoga Intersection first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 19, 2025 |

Photo – Vehicle rollover that occurred on the south side of Rawlins – Courtesy Rawlins Police Department

In Rawlins, a rollover crash closed a south-side intersection for two hours on Tuesday afternoon.

During the noon-hour on Tuesday, Rawlins Police Dispatch received a 911 call about a rollover crash at the 300 block of East Water Street, on the city’s south side. The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. Police Lieutenant Jared Frakes explained what happened.

Rawlins Police are withholding the identity of the male driver until he appears in Carbon County Circuit Court. Lieutenant Frakes said the crash was most likely caused by driver inattention, not drugs or alcohol.

The unidentified driver was issued a citation for careless driving with damages or injury. Lieutenant Frakes said no one was seriously hurt during the incident.

Lieutenant Frakes said the driver exited the vehicle on his own and was assessed by EMT’s from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. While members of the Rawlins Fire Department cleaned up the debris, the 300 block of East Water Street was closed to traffic for roughly two hours.

Lieutenant Frakes reminded drivers to stay focused on the road, adding that driver inattention is extremely dangerous.

Lieutenant Frakes said drivers must exercise caution when driving through Rawlins, especially during the summer. The warmer weather brings out more pedestrians and cyclists, increasing the need for drivers to stay alert.

In a social media post about the rollover crash, the Rawlins Police Department reminded the public that the speed limit in Rawlins is 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted, and that a stop sign is not a suggestion, it means stop.

The department’s goal is to ensure all drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians can travel safely and enjoy the summer weather.

The post Intersection in Rawlins Closed After Vehicle Crash first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 19, 2025 |

Photo – Charity Golf Event notice – Courtesy T’Keg Spirits and Saloon

T’Keg for the Cure is hosting a charity golf event this weekend in Rawlins.

Every year, Mark and Diane Kulmus, owners of T’Keg Spirits and Saloon in Rawlins, hold a charity event to raise money for T’Keg for the Cure. Speaking to Bigfoot99, Diane Kulmus explained T’ Keg for the Cure is a tax-exempt organization that helps Carbon County residents pay for unexpected health-related expenses, such as medical bills and travel for treatment.

Kulmus said over the past 20 years, T’Keg for the Cure has provided financial assistance to roughly 200 Carbon County residents.

The T’Keg for the Cure board created an annual golf tournament 19 years ago, to raise money for the charity. Kulmus said the event started small, being hosted at the golf course in Sinclair. The tournament quickly grew in popularity. Organizers needed a larger venue, prompting a move to the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins.

Kulmus said this year’s tournament is no exception, with all 40 team slots filling up over a month before the event.

Each of the charity golf tournaments has featured a different theme, with last year’s games being centered around 1960s hippy culture. Kulmus said this year’s event, titled Hillbilly Gulfing, invites participants to wear stereotypical hillbilly clothing. The event organizer said the costumes add to the fun for both players and spectators. Additionally, the tournament will feature hillbilly-themed activities, but Kulmus said people will have to attend the event to find out what those activities include.

Although Saturday’s tournament is full, golfers can still take part in this weekend’s fundraising event. Kulmus said T’Keg Spirits and Saloon will host a golf Calcutta the evening before the tournament. Though a relatively new addition, Kulmus said the Calcutta has quickly gained popularity.

In a golf Calcutta, teams or individual players are auctioned off to the highest bidder, and anyone, including the players themselves, can place bids. The money raised goes into a prize pool, and the person who “owns” the winning team receives the largest share.

Kulmus thanked the individuals and businesses who donated to T’Keg for the Cure over the years. The event organizer said the charity golf tournament wouldn’t have been a success without support from the community.

The T’Keg for the Cure fundraiser Hillbilly Gulfing tournament is this Saturday, June 21st. Tee off is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins.

Tomorrow, June 20th, is the T’Keg Swing for the Cure charity Calcutta. The cash-only event begins at 7:00 p.m. at T’Keg Spirits and Saloon, located at 307 East Cedar Street in Rawlins.

The post Hillbilly Gulfing This Weekend at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 18, 2025 |

Photo – Property Tax Notice – Bigfoot99 file photo

Carbon County Commissioners face the realities of doing more with less as they grapple with the reality of lowering or eliminating property taxes.

In February of 2024, Natrona County Republican Representative Steve Harshman introduced a bill to eliminate property taxes on residential homes. The bill, titled Property tax reduction and replacement act, proposed making up the lost property tax revenue with increased sales tax. The measure was defeated in the Wyoming House of Representatives by a vote of 14 to 47.

However, Natrona County politicians were still working on their attempt to eliminate property taxes. During the June 3rd Joint Revenue Committee, Natrona County Senator Bob Ide proposed amending the state constitution to eliminate the 1876 mandate for property tax collection. Without that provision, Sentor Ide, and the members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, would be free to eliminate all property taxes, not just those on residential land. The Joint Revenue Committee approved Senator Ide’s motion by a vote of 11 to three.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Sue Jones criticized the Joint Revenue Committee for voting to eliminate property taxes. Commissioner Jones said without property tax revenue, local governments will struggle to fund necessary services, such as libraries and senior centers.

To make up for the budget shortfall, the Joint Revenue Committee has proposed increasing the state sales tax by 12 to 20 percent. Commissioner Jones warned that higher sales taxes could drive Wyoming families to shop out of state, causing statewide economic harm.

In this year’s legislative session, Wyoming House of Representatives passed a 25% property tax cut on the first $1 million of all single-family homes.

Commissioner Jones said residents will begin seeing the effects of the tax relief programs beginning on July 1.

Commissioner Jones urged the public to reach out to their state representatives and advocate for ending the tax relief programs. Otherwise, Commissioner Jones recommended taking the money you’re saving on your property taxes and donating to local services that you support.

Commissioner Jones stressed that non-profit organizations will need more public support to remain operational.

Commissioner John Espy added that in the 1990s, Wyoming faced a budget shortfall. Lawmakers at the time considered adopting a personal income tax. With the discovery of natural gas, Wyoming entered another economic boom. At that time, lawmakers had the foresight to place much of the new income into savings, which now funds roughly 30% of the state budget.

If property taxes are eliminated, Commissioner Espy said the state might deplete its savings accounts to fund legally required services.

Commissioner Espy urged state lawmakers to study Wyoming’s history to avoid repeating past mistakes.

The Commissioner said Wyoming residents have a relatively low tax burden when compared to other parts of the country. Wyoming exports large amounts of electrical power, enabling residents to benefit from a low tax rate.

Commission Chairman Travis Moore said he was especially frustrated by the lack of backfill for special districts. The proposed property tax cuts do not specify how special districts, such as Carbon County Weed and Pest and the Medicine Bow Conservation District, will be funded. Chairman Moore said lawmakers must be held accountable for cutting funding to those publicly supported programs.

Commissioner Sue Jones said government funding is intertwined, with property taxes being used to fund essential services. Commissioner Jones argued that the state legislature should have taken a more nuanced approach to property tax reductions and criticized the reliance on sales taxes to cover the deficit.

The Board said the proposed sale tax increase will far surpass any property tax savings.

The post Carbon County Commissioners Discuss Doing More with Less first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 18, 2025 |

Photo – Image shown during G&F meeting in Hanna – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is lowering the number of projected mule deer in the Shirley Mountain herd.

On Tuesday, June 17th, Game and Fish Saratoga Biologist Teal Cufaude and Game Warden Ryan Snell held a meeting in the H-E-M High School in Hanna to review the 2025 Shirley Mountain mule deer objective.

Game and Fish Biologist Cufaude explained that, unlike annual season-setting meetings, objective reviews only occur every five years. The state agency uses data collected from landowners, sportsmen, and climate records to establish a recommended management objective, or the ideal number of animals for a given herd.

The Shirley Mountain mule deer herd spans deer hunt area 70, extending from north of Hanna to the Shirley Rim on both public and private land.

Cufaude said that 47 years ago, when the first mule deer estimates were conducted on the Shirley Mountain mule deer, Game and Fish established a herd size limit of 5,200 animals. The Saratoga Biologist emphasized the data was collected using an outdated population estimation tool.

Nine years later, in 1987, Game and Fish used an updated population estimation tool to set a new herd size objective of 10,000 deer. However, Cufaude said wildlife managers on the ground reported the models overestimated the number of mule deer in the Shirley Mountain herd by 50 to 70%. In 2015, Game and Fish used a new population estimate model to reduce the ideal herd size by 4,500 animals.

At 7,500 animals, Cufaude said the 2015 population model was also overestimating mule deer numbers in the Shirley Mountain herd. Instead, data gathered by Game and Fish biologists in the field indicate that 2,500 mule deer is a more suitable herd size.

Cufaude explained that in 2023, Game and Fish biologists spent 25 hours performing aerial surveys of the Shirley Mountain herd. Using data collected from the study, the state agency determined the herd contained fewer than 3,000 deer, rather than the 7,500 projected in 2015.

The data collected in 2023 was used to create a new mule deer population estimation model. Cufaude said with the new tools, Game and Fish biologists estimate the current Shirley Mountain mule deer herd at 1,800 to 2,800 animals. The herd likely reached its peak in 2010 and its lowest point in 2020.

Cufaude reiterated the current models show the Shirley Mountain herd to be significantly smaller than the 7,500 deer predicted in 2015. Using this information, Game and Fish have reduced the ideal size for the herd to 2,500 deer.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will continue accepting comments on the updated Shirley Mountain mule deer herd objective until this Friday, June 20th. However, Cufaude said she will consider all comments made before the September 7th presentation deadline.

Bigfoot99 will include a link to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Shirley Mountain herd survey and comment website with this story when it is posted to our website later today.

Game and Fish Shirley Mountain herd survey and comment website: https:2025 Shirley Mountain Mule Deer Objective Review Survey

The post Shirley Mountain Mule Deer Herd Numbers Lowered by Game and Fish first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

JUNE 17, 2025 |

Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

An ordinance requiring drivers of other people’s cars to carry their own insurance, a mandate already covered under state law, was narrowly derailed by Rawlins City Council to put the law on the City’s books.

The ordinance died on a dead-even vote with the mayor absent from the meeting and not voting.

On June 3, the city council introduced a measure to amend Rawlins municipal code section 10.15.070: Failure to maintain liability coverage. The June 3rd meeting was the third and final reading of the ordinance.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave explained the state law requires all motor vehicle operators to carry liability insurance. Attorney Maberry-Nave said the city lacks a corresponding ordinance, which prevents Rawlins police officers from issuing municipal citations to anyone other than the vehicle owner.

The city attorney gave an example of someone being pulled over by the Rawlins Police Department for speeding. In the example, the officer could cite the driver for speeding into municipal court. However, if the driver didn’t have insurance and wasn’t the vehicle’s owner, they would need to be charged in Carbon County Circuit Court instead.

Attorney Maberry-Nave said circuit courts can impose higher punishments than municipal courts.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked how often people are cited for driving another person’s vehicle without insurance. Attorney Maberry-Nave reported the violations occur frequently. Additionally, Rawlins police officers may hesitate to add a state violation to local charges, knowing they would have to testify in circuit court.

Councilman Steve Sanger said amending the municipal code to mirror state statute is unnecessary, because the state ordinance is already enforceable by local police.

Councilman Sanger, who opposed the amendment, said he believed the code was being changed to transfer such proceedings to municipal court.

Councilman Derek Elliott explained that moving cases to municipal court would allow the city to collect any associated fines, a measure he supported. Councilman Steve Sanger disagreed, saying the law is meant to keep people safe, not to generate revenue for the city.

City Attorney Maberry-Nave said the city has followed state statute in the past. However, the Wyoming Legislature revised the insurance requirements, and this ordinance amendment is simply attempting to align with those changes.

Councilman Sanger pointed out that all traffic laws, barring those pertaining to one-way streets, are based on state statutes and can already be enforced by Rawlins police officers. The Councilman said the amended ordinance appears to serve only as a way to generate revenue for the city.

Councilman Sanger suggested repealing all city traffic ordinances and instructing officers to follow state law.

Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward acknowledged that the city’s traffic laws closely mirror state statutes. However, Chief Ward said municipal citations typically carry lower fines, allowing individual officers to choose how to punish violators.

Police Chief Ward said his department uses fines to prevent people from breaking the law, not to raise money.

By passing the amended ordinance, City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave said the governing body is simply closing a loophole in the municipal code.

After the discussion, the Rawlins City Council voted on the amendment to section 10.15.070 of the city’s municipal ordinance governing liability coverage. Council members Derek Elliot, Tonya Lewman, and Bruce Seilaff voted in favor of amendment. Vice Mayor Darril Garner and Councilmen Terry Patterson and Steve Sanger cast their votes against the measure. Without Mayor Jacquelin Wells, who was absent from the June 3rd meeting, there to cast a tie breaking vote, the ordinance amendment failed.

The post Rawlins City Council Votes Down Adding Insurance Law to City Ordinances first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.