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WEDNESDAY, August 12, 2026|

Photo – 1932 Fossil Cabin – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Fossil Cabin has reached its new home, but the building may never reopen to the public.

Built in 1932 by amateur fossil collector Thomas Boylan, the Fossil Cabin contains more than 5,000 fossils from the nearby Como Bluffs. Boylan built the cabin as a roadside attraction to promote his Lincoln Highway fuel station east of Medicine Bow. It drew visitors for years until Interstate 80 pulled most travelers off the old highway and the structure was effectively abandoned in the early 1990s. After decades of exposure to weather and vandalism, the Fossil Cabin’s latest owners, the Nash family, donated it to the Medicine Bow Museum, which then spent nearly 10 years working to move the cabin to the museum grounds.

On May 13th, the South Dakota‑based motor carrier O’Neil House Moving transported the Fossil Cabin from the Como Bluffs to its permanent home at the Medicine Bow Museum.

During Monday evening’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Carbon County Visitors Council Executive Director Leslie Jefferson and Sales and Tourism Development Manager Megan McComas discussed plans for the Fossil Cabin. The Visitors Council orchestrated the move using tourism dollars and grants.

Sales and Tourism Development Manager Megan McComas said the Visitors Council hired five contractors to handle the relocation. The first, MFC Services of Medicine Bow, framed the interior of the Fossil Cabin to keep it stable during the move. Next, McComas said Rawlins‑based Mass Grading completed dirt and concrete work at both the Como Bluffs and museum sites.

At that point, McComas said O’Neil House Moving was brought in, but the South Dakota‑based carrier determined the Fossil Cabin was not ready for transport. The Visitors Council then hired a welding company to reinforce the structure, but O’Neil was still not satisfied. McComas said additional last‑minute reinforcements were added, and the cabin was finally ready to move.

McComas said that after the Fossil Cabin was relocated to the Medicine Bow Museum and set on the ground, Wild Services of Rawlins returned and secured the structure in place with dirt and concrete. She said the contractor is now preparing to install an ADA‑compliant ramp leading to the building, adding that they will also return to the original Como Bluffs location to remove debris and complete the final site work.

McComas said it was her understanding that the Medicine Bow Museum initially intended to have the Fossil Cabin openly accessible. Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said the structure’s condition and people’s tendency to touch it could make that a bad idea.

Councilwoman Wickizer said the Visitors Council should have approached the governing body first, as they had already decided that people should be kept away from the cabin. Mayor Justin George said the Council was concerned that the cabin could collapse on visitors.

Mayor George added that people will also try to pick fossils out of the cabin’s walls, as they were doing when it was at Como Bluffs. Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer noted that the town’s liability insurance will not allow visitors inside the cabin.

Visitors Council Tourism Development Manager Megan McComas said she was told by former Medicine Bow Museum director Sharon Biamon that guests would be allowed into the Fossil Cabin and apologized to the Council for the misunderstanding. Mayor Justin George placed responsibility for the confusion on the museum’s board of directors.

Public Works Director Brian Lashley said the Visitors Council should have waited to speak with Medicine Bow officials before installing a sidewalk around the Fossil Cabin. He said that when the proposed fence is built around the structure, the sidewalk will either need to be removed, or the fence placed farther away from the building.

Visitors Council Executive Director Leslie Jefferson said the concrete sidewalk was needed to stabilize the building and cover the steel support beams. Lashley said the walkway didn’t need to extend so far beyond the cabin, a point he said he had made to the Visitors Council previously.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said the sidewalk should have been built outside the proposed fence to let people walk near the building without standing directly against it. Tourism Development Manager Megan McComas reiterated that the concrete was needed to stabilize the cabin.

Following the discussion, Mayor Justin George advised the Carbon County Visitors Council representatives to delay the installation of the ADA‑compliant ramp until he speaks with the Medicine Bow Museum board of directors about the Fossil Cabin’s future use.

The post Medicine Bow Town Council Disagrees with Visitor’s Council first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, August 11, 2026|

Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Rawlins officials advanced a city rule requiring insurance for non‑owner drivers.

At the July 21st Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body considered changing city regulations to allow Rawlins Police officers to cite drivers who lack insurance, even when they’re not the vehicle’s owner.

Section 10.15.070 of the Rawlins Municipal Code prohibits a vehicle owner from operating or allowing someone else to operate their motor vehicle without state‑mandated liability insurance. The city’s existing codes apply only to owners and say nothing about non‑owner operators.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave explained that approving the amended ordinance would bring local regulations in line with state law.

At the time, Councilman Steve Sanger questioned the state statute the city was trying to adopt, saying it was unclear who, exactly, is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is insured. He said Wyoming law specifies that the owner must maintain coverage and asked how that wording applies to non‑owner operators.

Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward responded that as chief of police, he interprets the law to apply to the driver, even when the vehicle doesn’t belong to them. He added that by adopting the state’s language, his officers can begin ticketing non‑owner operators for failing to maintain liability coverage, allowing the charges to be handled in municipal court. Under the existing ordinance, Chief Ward said those citations would have to be heard in county court since they’re strictly violations of state law.

Councilman Steve Sanger reiterated that the state regulation the city was attempting to adopt was too vague. He said the opening of the statute states that the owner is responsible for insurance, but the wording becomes less clear as the provision continues. Still, the councilman said he understands why failure to maintain insurance cases belong in municipal court instead of county.

Despite Councilman Sanger’s concerns, he and the rest of the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to amend the municipal code on failure to maintain liability coverage to match state statute on first reading. As with all ordinance changes, the measure must be read and passed during three separate public meetings before being adopted into law.

The amended ordinance was brought up for a second reading during the August 3rd Rawlins City Council meeting. City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave explained that the proposed language had not changed since first reading, adding that it simply allows the city to adopt state law regarding vehicle liability insurance requirements.

Councilman Steve Sanger asked if the amended ordinance affects the ability of Wyoming Highway Patrol or the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to issue failure to maintain liability insurance tickets to non‑owner drivers. Attorney Maberry‑Nave responded that state and county enforcement is unaffected. Under the proposed changes, she said Rawlins police officers will now also be able to cite for those violations of state law.

If the amended ordinance passes, Councilman Sanger asked if Rawlins police can choose which court to issue the failure to maintain liability coverage citation in. Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the ticket itself would likely be a municipal matter, but additional violations may push the citation into a higher court.

Attorney Maberry-Nave added that without the amended ordinance, she is unable to prosecute non-owner operators for liability insurance violations.

Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to approve the second reading of the ordinance amending Section 10.15.070 of the Rawlins Municipal Code, failure to maintain liability coverage. The third and final reading will take place during a future City Council meeting.

The post Rawlins Amends Driver Insurance Ordinance to Match State Law first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

TUESDAY, August 11, 2026|

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Saratoga officials moved forward with an ordinance to remove jail time from all violations of town law.

At the April 1st Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis announced that a resident had requested legal representation for an upcoming municipal court case and said the town is responsible for providing the public defender.

Mayor Davis said the town’s prosecuting attorney, Robert Piper, estimated the cost of a public defender at around $75 an hour, while Municipal Judge Daniel Massey put the price closer to $150. The mayor said he wasn’t sure what the final rate would be, but the town must provide counsel regardless of the cost.

Mayor Davis said the defendant was charged under a municipal ordinance, which makes the town legally responsible for providing her with an attorney. Following the discussion, the Saratoga Town Council voted to hire an attorney for the upcoming bench trial, with a maximum rate of $150 an hour.

At the July 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, where Police Chief John Moore presented Ordinance 893. Chief Moore said the measure limits the penalty for violating municipal regulations to a fine, eliminating the need for a trial and therefore the need for the town to supply an attorney.

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

As with all changes to local law, Ordinance 893 must be read three times during three separate public hearings. As required by statute, Chief Moore read the updated ordinance, stating that the maximum penalty for municipal violations would be limited to a $750 fine.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to approve Ordinance 893 on first reading.

At the August 5th meeting, Police Chief John Moore presented the measure for a second time, saying municipal violations would no longer involve any possibility of jail time. However, the judge may still impose jail time for other offenses.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to approve Ordinance 893 on second reading. The third and final reading will take place during a future Council meeting.

The post Saratoga Removes Jail Time from Municipal Ordinances first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, August 10, 2026|

Photo – The canyon at Seminoe Reservoir – Bigfoot99 file photo

Despite federal approval, county officials say the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project still faces state and local obstacles.

For roughly ten years, the Salt Lake City‑based developer, rPlus Hydro, has been working to build a variation of a hydroelectric power plant called a pumped storage facility at Seminoe Reservoir. The project would require the construction of a lake above the existing reservoir, an underground powerhouse, and a bridge over the North Platte River to access the tunnels leading to the powerhouse. During periods of high energy production, such as late at night, excess electricity will be used to pump water from Seminoe Reservoir into the upper lake. When additional power is needed, the water would flow downhill through an underground turbine, generating approximately 900 megawatts of electricity for up to 12 hours.

Wildlife conservationists have raised concerns about the project, including its potential impact on the blue‑ribbon Miracle Mile trout fishery and the Seminoe-Ferris bighorn sheep herd. rPlus Hydro representatives have said that extensive water modeling shows the facility will have no negative effect on the downstream ecosystem. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality agreed and issued a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification in March.

The Section 401 certification for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project fulfills rPlus Hydro’s obligation to show that it will protect the North Platte River.

On June 12th, the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project moved closer to construction approval when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement.

During the August 4th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, local journalist Mike Armstrong said everyone appears to oppose the project and asked if local governments can do anything to prevent construction.

Armstrong said by allowing the project to continue, the federal government seems to be disregarding concerns from residents and local officials.

Commissioner John Espy said FERC may have issued its permit, but the Bureau of Land Management must still amend the Rawlins Resource Management Plan, or RMP, which covers the Seminoe Reservoir. He said that change requires another public comment period.

To reduce disturbance to the Seminoe‑Ferris bighorn sheep herd, the Rawlins Resource Management Plan restricts rPlus Hydro to a four‑month construction period, from May through August. The company has requested an amendment to allow year‑round work. Although, during the May 28th Wyoming Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee meeting, rPlus Hydro General Counsel Kevin Baker said the company plans to limit construction of the upper reservoir to a nine‑month window, from March to November, to protect the herd.

At the August 4th Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner John Espy said people can still challenge the project but stopping it outright will be difficult.

Commissioner Sue Jones noted that both the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council and Carbon County itself must still issue permits, each with a public comment period, before construction can begin. Despite what rPlus Hydro has stated publicly, Jones said the project is far from being finalized.

Commissioner Sue Jones added that the Bureau of Land Management is unlikely to amend the Rawlins Resource Management Plan solely to allow the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project to proceed.

Commissioner John Johnson said the FERC ruling is just the beginning. He said rPlus Hydro must still obtain a county permit, which will require the Board’s concerns to be addressed.

Commissioner Sue Jones said the Board of Commissioners has the final say on the project. Even though many feel their opposition is being ignored, she said the Board is aware of their concerns.

The Commissioners assured the public that the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project has a long way to go before construction can begin.

The post Commissioners Say Project “A Long Way from Construction Phase” first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, August 10, 2026|

Photo – Announcement for World Record Attempt – Courtesy City of Rawlins

World long‑drive record holder Kyle Berkshire is coming back to Rawlins to try to break his own record.

In October of 2023, professional golfer Kyle Berkshire set the world long‑drive record at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins by hitting a golf ball 579.66 yards. Rochelle Ranch Head Golf Professional Kevin Gannon said the weather wasn’t in Berkshire’s favor on that cold October day, but after changing his hitting position, Berkshire was able to break the record.

Gannon said Berkshire prefers the Rawlins course because of its long holes.

On Friday afternoon, the city of Rawlins announced that Kyle Berkshire will return to the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course next week to try to break his own record. Head Golf Professional Kevin Gannon invited the public to watch. He added that the day is set, but the time of Berkshire’s record attempt is out of the golfer’s hands.

After setting his 579.66‑yard record in 2023, Berkshire remarked that he could go farther. Gannon said he’s been told that this time, Berkshire plans to add more than 20 yards to his drive.

The public is invited to watch professional golfer Kyle Berkshire attempt to break his world‑record drive next week, from Monday, August 17th to Wednesday, August 19th at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins. Head Golf Professional Kevin Gannon said Berkshire may stay longer if conditions are unfavorable on those days.

The post Berkshire Back in Rawlins to Break His World Record first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

MONDAY, August 10, 2026|

Photo – Goats – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga is unable to permit a local business owner to use goats to clear brush along the riverbank.

During the August 5th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis announced that Jeff Talus, owner of the Sierra Madre Trout Club on the corner of North River Street and East Main Avenue, had asked for approval to use goats to remove vegetation along the bank of the North Platte River adjacent to this property.

Mayor Davis said he told Talus that any decision requires a Town Council vote. However, after researching the matter, the mayor said he learned the town doesn’t own the land and therefore cannot approve the business owner’s request.

Mayor Davis said he didn’t know who owned that section of the riverbank. Public Works Director Emery Penner noted that the town requires authorization from the United States Army Corps of Engineers before performing any work on the banks of the North Platte River.

Mayor Davis recommended that Talus contact the Army Corps of Engineers. He added that even with federal approval, the business owner must still follow the town’s livestock ordinances.

Regardless of the Corps’ decision, Mayor Davis said livestock grazing is prohibited within town limits. He said making an exception for this request may open the door to others wanting the same accommodations.

Mayor Davis said since the riverbank isn’t owned by the town, the Council didn’t need to make a formal decision about the goats. The mayor said he would let Jeff Talus know to contact the Army Corps of Engineers and remind him of the town’s livestock‑grazing rules the following day.

The post Goat Grazing Request is Directed to Another Agency first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

August 7th 2026 |

Photo – File Photo

County officials expressed uncertainty over new requirements for Mineral Royalty Grants.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett presented a certification statement for the county’s Mineral Royalty Grant application. Vice Chair Bartlett explained that the grant is to replace an elevator at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. However, she noted that the agreement’s wording requires the county to have already done something it is not yet able to do.

Specifically, Vice Chair Bartlett said the agreement requires the county to meet the grant requirements before the elevator replacement project even starts. She said she brought the discrepancy to the State Loan and Investment Board’s attention. Despite her concerns, she said the agency still expects the county to accept the certification.

Vice Chair Bartlett said that in the past, the county would only sign the agreement when a contractor was selected or after submitting a reimbursement request. Only then, she said, could county officials be certain they were complying with the requirements of the Mineral Royalty Grant.

Bartlett said she was not comfortable signing the agreement as written. Deputy County Attorney Ashley Davis agreed that the certification statement was unusual.

Attorney Davis offered to contact Attorney General Keith Kautz’s office and inform the state that the county will not sign the agreement until after work has begun. Instead, Vice Chair Bartlett said she would notify her State Loan and Investment Board contact of the Board of Commissioner’s decision.

The post Carbon County Questions New Mineral Royalty Grant Requirements first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

August 7th 2026 |

Photo – Courtesy Saratoga Police Department

Unexpected legal complications have delayed restoring the Saratoga police chief to his original pay status.

At the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore announced that he was short an officer and working significant overtime while filling in for staff on medical leave and vacation. In addition, calls for service were increasing, requiring the chief to put in even more hours.

Because of the added workload, Chief Moore asked the governing body to move him from salary to hourly pay. His rate would stay $42.30 an hour, but he would qualify for overtime. Councilman Bub Barkhurst calculated that, as an hourly employee, the chief would receive approximately $3,000 in overtime pay on top of his base salary.

Following the discussion, the governing body unanimously voted to approve the chief’s request, moving him from salary to hourly pay and agreed to revisit the matter in 30 days.

Police Chief John Moore’s pay status was discussed again during the July 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting. Mayor Chuck Davis said that now that the 4th of July rush is over and the overtime spike has passed, he thinks Chief Moore should return to salary status.

Mayor Davis said Chief Moore was hired as a salaried employee and that leaving him on hourly status was unfair to the town’s other salaried staff. Councilman Bub Barkhurst agreed that the police chief should return to his original pay status.

Mayor Davis explained that July 29th would be 30 days from when the Council voted to move Chief Moore to hourly status. The governing body agreed to wait the full 30‑day period and keep the chief on hourly pay until the matter could be revisited at the August 5th meeting.

During Wednesday night’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Davis said lawyers were now involved and that changing the chief’s pay status would need to wait until those legal matters were settled.

As with all legal matters, the details of the proceedings are not publicly available, and Mayor Davis did not elaborate during the meeting. He only said the town cannot change the chief’s pay status until they hear back from the attorney.

Councilman Cory Oxford moved to keep Police Chief John Moore on hourly pay until the attorney issues a formal decision. Councilman Jerry Fluty seconded, and the motion carried. Chief Moore will remain an hourly employee for the time being.

The post Legal Complications Delay Saratoga Police Chief’s Return to Salaried Status first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

August 7th 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins City Council

Rawlins officials will ask the county to improve a section of wetlands next to a city park.

During the August 3rd Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Bruce Seilaff asked city staff to look into Rawlins Spring Park, located on the city’s southwest side, below the county’s Road and Bridge shop. Councilman Seilaff said he would like to seek grant money to improve the area, but was told that no work could be done unless the city owned the property.

Councilman Seilaff said the county likely owns the property while the city maintains it, but he couldn’t find any agreement defining that arrangement. Councilman Steve Sanger said the county assessor’s office should have that information.

Councilman Sanger said that since the city maintains a park it doesn’t own, the governing body should understand the arrangement.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave noted that the city does, in fact, own Rawlins Springs Park. She said Councilman Seilaff was referring to the spring to the north, which the park is named after, and the nearby wetlands.

Attorney Maberry-Nave said the spring in question appears to be on county property.

Councilman Bruce Seilaff reiterated that funding is available to improve the area, but the city cannot pursue it because if doesn’t own the land.

Councilman Seilaff said he wasn’t proposing any development of the wetlands. Instead, as an example of a small improvement, he said a pump could be installed on the spring to irrigate nearby trees. Councilwoman Tonya Lewman said the city could partner with the county to improve the entire area.

Mayor Jacquelin Wells said she would bring the issue to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners at their next meeting.

The post Rawlins Seeks County Partnership to Improve Wetlands Near City Park first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

THURSDAY, August 6, 2026|

Photo – Great Seal of Carbon County – Bigfoot99 file photo

State law prohibits the county from providing road maintenance to a Ryan Park neighborhood.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Deputy County Attorney Ashley Davis announced that the Board received a letter from the Ryan Park Property and Homeowners Association seeking road maintenance. The nonprofit organization oversees residential properties in the unincorporated community of Ryan Park.

Attorney Davis noted that the county received a similar letter last year requesting funding to maintain the same road. She said the state constitution prohibits the county from giving the homeowners association money.

Article 16, Section 6 of the Wyoming Constitution prohibits counties and other local governments from loaning or giving public funds or credit to private individuals, associations, or corporations. Attorney Davis said county services, including road maintenance, also fall under those provisions. In addition, she said the roads were built with full knowledge that the county would not provide support.

Attorney Davis added that the county no longer owns property in the area after control of the Ryan Park Fire Department was transferred to the Carbon County Fire Protection District. She asked the Board if they wanted to send a response to the Ryan Park Property and Homeowners Association informing them of the county’s legal limitations.

Commissioner John Johnson said an official letter may not be necessary as the association was informed last year that the county is unable to help with road maintenance.

Commissioner John Espy said sending a written response may be in the Board’s interest. If the Ryan Park Property and Homeowners Association seeks assistance with road maintenance in the future, he said the county can refer them to the letter.

Following the discussion, the Board unanimously voted to send a letter to the Ryan Park Property and Homeowners Association stating that the county cannot legally provide funding or services for road maintenance.

The post State Laws Prohibit County from Providing Road Maintenance to Homeowner Association first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.