Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

APRIL 28, 2025 |

Photo – Former CEO of Boys and Girls Club Rawlins Theresa Pacheco – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Rawlins last Thursday evening, parents and former employees of the Boys and Girls Club met for a second time to discuss alleged misconduct by the current Club CEO and the Board of Directors.

At the group’s first meeting on April 10th, the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Theresa Pacheco, discussed her recent dismissal from the organization and answered questions from concerned parents. During the meeting, the parents said they feared the current Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors and Interim CEO Christina Linn were failing to follow the organization’s bylaws and national guidelines.

The parents and former staff members accused Linn and the Board of not conducting background checks on new employees. In a written statement to Bigfoot99, Linn refuted the claim, saying, “Everyone who has worked with children at the Club during my tenure as Interim CEO has had a background check that came back clean. Background checks are a BGCA National requirement.”

The attendees at the group’s first meeting also criticized the lack of security cameras at the Rawlins facility. Writing to Bigfoot99, CEO Linn said when Pacheco was fired, she did not turn over the password to access the security cameras. Linn said she was in the process of either resetting the old cameras or purchasing an entirely new system. On April 14th, Linn reported that a new camera system had been installed in the building.

Ultimately, the parents agreed to request the official Boys and Girls Club bylaws from the Board of Directors to determine if Linn or the Board were violating Club doctrine.

At the meeting held last week on April 24th, Pacheco, several former Boys and Girls Club staff members, and a small handful of parents met again to discuss the next steps in their campaign against the organization’s current administrators.

Due to concerns among the group about retaliation against the parents and the kids, Bigfoot99 agreed to withhold the names of those in attendance.

The meeting began with a discussion of the most recent Boys and Girls Club bylaws.

Parents and former staff had obtained a copy of the bylaws that were in effect in March, when Pacheco was on the job as CEO. However, the parents expressed concern that the bylaws may have been revised since that time because the organization’s Board of Directors meetings are no longer open to the public.

A former staff member mentioned that she sent an email to several Boys and Girls Club of America administrators detailing her concerns about the local branch. She said the Vice President of Field Services responded, saying he would investigate the allegations. However, the Boys and Girls Club of America has little control over how local organizations operate.

Former CEO Pacheco said the national organization does have the authority to suspend or even terminate a local charter for safety violations, such as the lack of security cameras.

Pacheco said the regional headquarters of the Boys and Girls Club in Denver also conducts an annual safety inspection of the Rawlins facility.

The representative will spend two days searching for safety issues and interviewing employees.

Pacheco said any violations found during the inspection are reported to Boys & Girls Clubs Regional Service Director Clyde McGuire and the Rawlins branch.

However, parents and former staff raised concerns about McGuire’s handling of a recent incident report. The former Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County Youth Behavioral Specialist, who asked that his name not be included in the story, recounted an incident in which McGuire allegedly shared confidential information with Interim CEO Christina Linn.

The meeting attendees discussed reporting any future complaints to law enforcement rather than to the Boys and Girls Club of America corporate headquarters, aiming to prevent any alleged impropriety by McGuire.

The parents attending last week’s meeting also explored the idea of creating their own afterschool program to replace the Boys and Girls Club. Former CEO Pacheco explained that creating an entirely new childcare organization will be difficult and time consuming.

The meeting attendees suggested asking Memorial Hospital of Carbon County or the First United Methodist Preschool to provide a space for the new afterschool program while Pacheco searches for grant funding.

In the meantime, the parents said they will seek positions on the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County Board of Directors and push for the policy changes they want.

Boys and Girls Club CEO Christina Linn is also looking for new Board members. In a written statement to Bigfoot99, Linn urged private citizens to help in any way they can, including joining the board or applying for employment.

The parents and former staff members did not set a date for another meeting.

The post Former Staff of Boys and Girls Club in Rawlins Hold Meeting first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 25, 2025 |

Photo – “Teense” Wilford – Bigfoot99 file photo

In Saratoga, progress continues on the Teense Wilford Memorial planned for construction in the town.

Loren “Teense” Willford, known as the “Voice of the Valley,” died on September 3rd, at the age of 85 following a year-long battle with cancer. Teense was a fixture at public gatherings in Saratoga and the surrounding area and is considered a local legend by many Platte Valley residents.

Last October, Carbon County Visitors Council member Ellie Dana announced the creation of the Happy Trails Committee to honor the late politician and entertainer. Dana explained to the Saratoga Town Council that the Committee is planning to create a Teense Wilford memorial in the center of town.

Since that time, the Happy Trails Committee has been working with the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation and the Saratoga town government to design and fund the memorial.

At the April 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis explained the town is negotiating a lease agreement for a property at the corner of Bridge Avenue and 1st Street. If the deal is successful, the Happy Trails Committee will begin construction of the Teense Wilford Memorial, starting with a commemorative bench, followed by a life-size statue.

Mayor Davis said the lease agreement is in the hands of the property owners: the Shepards. The mayor asked the Town Council to allow him to sign the contract if the property owners accept the terms of the agreement. A completed lease agreement will allow the Happy Trails Committee to install the Teense Wilford Memorial bench by July 4th.

The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to allow Mayor Davis to sign the lease agreement. However, the governing body deliberately withheld the exact location of the Teense Wilford Memorial, stating only that it will be on the corner of Bridge Avenue and 1st Street.

Bigfoot99 reached out to Mayor Chuck Davis for more details about the lease agreement. In a written reply, Mayor Davis explained that since the contract has not been signed, he is unable to disclose where the memorial will be located.

Happy Trails Committee member Ellie Dana explained to Bigfoot99 how ownership of the memorial will be handled. Dana wrote that the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation will own both the memorial and the rights to the life-sized statue, while the town of Saratoga will oversee the property lease. The Happy Trails Committee developed the memorial plan and is responsible for fundraising. Dana added that once the project is completed, the committee will be dissolved.

The post Memorial Placement Discussed by Saratoga Town Council first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 25, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Official Seal – Bigfoot99 file photo

Carbon County officials have postponed a decision to fund the relocation of a resident’s utility line for a bridge replacement project in the Little Snake River Valley.

In March of 2022, Carbon County Road and Bridge Coordinator Kandis Fritz identified four bridges that need to be replaced or rehabilitated: the French Creek Road Bridge on County Road 660, the Elk Mountain Arlington Road Bridge on County Road 402, the Baggs Dixon Road Bridge on County Road 702, and the Baggs Four Mile Road Bridge on County Road 603. Fritz explained that WYDOT, using federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will pay the entire cost to replace any of the listed bridges.

At the April 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Fritz said WYDOT is preparing to replace the Four Mile Road Bridge on County Road 603, southwest of Baggs. She reminded the board that the county is not required to contribute any money toward the project.

However, Fritz said a nearby landowner may need to relocate a four-inch gas utility line that runs along the existing bridge. The Road and Bridge Coordinator asked the Board to provide financial assistance to the landowner.

Fritz said without a signed agreement between the landowner and WYDOT, the bridge replacement project may be canceled. The Road and Bridge Coordinator added that moving the gas utility line is estimated to cost roughly $100,000.

Commissioner John Espy agreed that the bridge replacement project should not be put at risk because of the gas utility line. Commissioner Espy said since the project is entirely federally funded, the county should help the landowner pay to move the line.

Fritz asked the Board to help the landowner relocate the gas line. If the utility company is unwilling to assist with the cost, Fritz said the county should step up and help pay for the project.

Commissioner John Johnson raised concerns about committing county funds before the landowner and utility company reach an agreement. Road and Bridge Coordinator Fritz suggested that the Board could set a maximum contribution limit. Commissioner Johnson said he feared that if the county set an amount it is willing to contribute, the utility company may adjust the cost of relocating the gas line to match that figure.

Commission Chairman Travis Moore said the Board is willing to help but agreed that the county should not commit itself to the project until after the utility company provides a cost estimate.

The board of commissioners decided not to contribute to the cost of paying to relocate on County Road 603 until the utility company provides a cost estimate. However, the Board agreed to convene a special meeting to make a decision if WYDOT requires an immediate response.

The post Utility Gas Line in Way of Bridge Repairs first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 25, 2025 |

Photo – VFW smoker/grill – Courtesy Larry Million of Hanna

Following the success of the first Hanna Community Barbecue, which was held recently, event organizers are planning additional town gatherings.

On March 29th, Hanna resident Larry Million held the first Hanna Community Barbecue at the town’s volunteer fire station.

Prior to the event, Million told Bigfoot 99 that he would be collecting donations during the free community meal. All money raised went to the tax-deductible nonprofit organization, the Hanna Community Fund, which provides financial assistance to Hanna residents facing hardships, such as house fires.

Following the community barbecue, Million told Bigfoot99 that $1,423 was raised during the event.

At the April 8th Hanna Town Council meeting, Million said he was pleased with the strong community turnout.

Million informed the Hanna Town Council that between the community barbecue and donation jars placed around town, the Hanna Community Fund has raised over $1,700.

Mayor Charlie George expressed his gratitude to Million and the Hanna Volunteer Fire Department for organizing the event, as well as council members Sam Sikes and Paul Cruz for assisting with the food service. Mayor George added that he would have helped more if his rubber gloves hadn’t been too small.

Hanna resident and Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Foundation member Donna Pipher thanked the entire Town Council for participating in the community barbecue. Pipher said the council’s involvement showed that they support the community and local events.

Million said he has been asked about plans for another community event. The Hanna resident said he will contact the town’s newly reestablished Recreation Board to organize a future fundraising activity as soon as possible. In the meantime, Million said he is seeking volunteers to serve on the Hanna Community Fund’s Board of Directors.

Million explained that he chose to host the community barbecue in the town’s fire department to provide shelter from the weather. However, the space wasn’t large enough to accommodate all the attendees. Million said he would like to hold future events in the parking lot of the shuttered recreation center.

The Hanna Town Council offered to loan Million additional folding tables for future community fundraisers. While he works to organize another event, Million is constructing a larger smoker so he can provide more food.

To volunteer as a Hanna Community Fund board member or to assist with a future event, call Larry Million at 321-4365.

The post Hanna Community Fund Asking for Volunteers first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 24, 2024 |

Photo – Scholarship notice – Courtesy Carbon County website

Tomorrow is the last day to apply for the 2025 Carbon County Commissioners’ Scholarships.

Every year, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners selects three new students and one returning student to receive a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Wyoming or any Wyoming Community College.

County Clerk Lisa Smith explained that the scholarships are available to graduating high school and non-traditional students, such as homeschoolers and adults returning to school, that live in Carbon County.

Clerk Smith said Commissioner’s Scholarship applicants must submit a completed scholarship application form to the county clerk’s office by tomorrow evening. The application forms must also be accompanied by a separate letter containing additional details, such the name of the college the person intends to attend and what major they plan to study.

Clerk Smith said students do not need to follow a specific career path, such as agriculture, to be eligible for the scholarship. The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will select the three winners based entirely on their academic accomplishments and extracurricular activities.

Clerk Smith encouraged students from both Carbon County school districts to apply for the Commissioners’ Scholarship. The county clerk said last year’s recipients came from communities throughout Carbon County.

For more information, please call the county clerk’s office at 328-2668 or e-mail [email protected] for more information about the 2025 Carbon County Commissioners’ Scholarships. Bigfoot99 will provide a direct link to the application in this story when it is posted to our website later today.

All applications for the 2025 Carbon County Commissioners’ Scholarships must be received by the clerk’s office or postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. tomorrow, April 25th.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will select three new students and one returning student to receive a $1,000 scholarship during their May 20th meeting in Riverside.

2025 Carbon County Commissioners’ Scholarships application: Scholarship Application Information

The post 2025 Carbon County Commissioners’ Scholarship Deadline Tomorrow first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 24, 2024 |

Photo – Carbon County Courthouse – Bigfoot99 file photo

Janitor wanted.

Carbon County officials, unhappy with the current provider, chose a new janitorial company to handle custodial services at the Carbon Building and detention center.

During the March 4th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Buildings and Grounds Manager Jeff Askins requested authorization to seek bids for janitorial services at the Carbon Building and county jail. Askins said he is satisfied with the company currently responsible for cleaning the courthouse and hopes to extend their contract for another two years. In response to a question from Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett, Askins explained that he would like to replace KI Cleaning Services as the contractor for the Carbon Building and detention center.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Askins said the owner of the cleaning service provider handling the courthouse has expressed interest in continuing for another two years.

Askins said he will seek a different contractor to perform custodial services at the Carbon Building and county jail for the next two years. If he is happy with their work, the contract may be extended.

The Board gave Askins permission to advertise a position for a new janitorial contractor for the Carbon Building and detention center.

At the April 15th Board of Commissioners meeting, Buildings and Grounds Manager Askins announced he had received a single bid. Rawlins-based Wyoming Cleaning and Solutions asked for $109,000 a year to clean the two county-owned buildings.

The Board mentioned that Wyoming Cleaning and Solutions was requesting approximately $11,000 more per year than KI Cleaning Solutions, which charged $98,760 to service the Carbon Building and detention center.

Askins explained Wyoming Cleaning and Solutions is effectively handling janitorial services at the county courthouse. Meanwhile, KI Cleaning Solutions has been performing below expectations in maintaining the other two county-owned buildings.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett instructed Askins to ask Wyoming Cleaning and Solutions to lower their price. In the meantime, the Board approved the contract for cleaning services at the Carbon Building and county jail, pending the cost renegotiation.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Askins will report on the outcome of the negotiations at a future Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting.

The post County Officials Select New Janitorial Services first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 24, 2024 |

Photo – Car after it hit a snowplow – Courtesy WYDOT

Last year, Saratoga recorded the lowest number of vehicular crashes in the past five years.

During the April 15th Saratoga Town Council Meeting, Police

According to the WYDOT website, four crashes were reported in Saratoga, with one resulting in an injury, while the other three were property-damage-only incidents.

Chief Moore said the intersection of Bridge Avenue and 1st Street saw the most significant reduction in crashes since 2020. The police chief said that a historic photo shared on Facebook by Dyrt Road Realty, showing the area as it appeared in the 1940s. Chief Moore said a traffic light may further reduce accidents in the area but admitted that the idea is unpopular.

According to WYDOT, Carbon County recorded 595 crashes in 2024. Of those, seven were fatal, resulting in the deaths of eight people. Baggs reported a total of three traffic collisions last year, with one injury.

WYDOT reported one crash in Elk Mountain, which only caused property damage. Encampment also experienced a single motor vehicle crash in 2024; however, that incident led to one injury.

Hanna saw two traffic incidents last year, both of which were property-damage-only. Medicine Bow reported the same statistics, with two property-damage-only crashes.

WYDOT reported that a single crash occurred in Riverside last year, which only caused property damage. Nine traffic collisions were reported in Sinclair, with two resulting in injuries.

Rawlins recorded the highest number of motor vehicle crashes in 2024. Of the 152 reported incidents, 24 crashes led to 27 injuries, while one was fatal.

In Carbon County, 2024 and 2022 are tied with seven total traffic fatalities. The highest number of traffic collision-related deaths recoded by WYDOT occurred in 2019, when 19 people died on Carbon County’s roads.

The post Saratoga’s Car Crash Numbers Dropped in 2024 first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 23, 2025|

Photo – Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill – Courtesy naag.org

The state’s Attorney General, Bridget Hill, credits her Saratoga upbringing with preparing her for a role on the Wyoming Supreme Court.

On April 11th, Governor Mark Gordon appointed Attorney General Bridget Hill to the state’s highest court. Hill will begin her term on the Supreme Court on May 28th.

Speaking to Bigfoot99, Attorney General Hill said she spent her childhood in Saratoga. After high school, Hill attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie. While pursuing a degree in accounting at UW, she discovered a growing interest in law.

Instead of becoming an accountant as planned, Hill turned to law, obtaining her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming. After leaving law school, Hill began working as a staff attorney for Supreme Court Justice Larry Lehman. After Justice Lehman’s passing in 2004, she took to the same role with Justice Michael Golden. Attorney General Hill spoke fondly of her time working in the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Despite her fondness for the Supreme Court, the Attorney General said she found working as a law clerk unfulfilling and began seeking new opportunities to practice law. Hill applied for a position in the Attorney General’s office and was hired by then-AG Patrick Crank as his assistant.

Governor Matt Mead appointed Hill as Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments in 2013. During her time in the position, Hill met future Governor Mark Gordon, who, soon after taking office, selected her to serve as the state’s Attorney General.

Hill has been Wyoming’s Attorney General for six years, since 2019. After Chief Justice Kate Fox announced her upcoming retirement from the Wyoming Supreme Court, Attorney General Hill said she successfully applied for Justice Fox’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, bringing her career full circle.

The Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission nominated Attorney General Bridget Hill, Campbell County District Judge Stuart Healy III, and Wyoming State Bar President Anna Reeves Olson for a seat on the Wyoming Supreme Court. Of the three candidates, Governor Gordon selected Hill to serve on the state’s highest court.

Attorney General Hill explained that her interest in joining the Supreme Court stemmed from a desire to rule on the state’s most compelling legal matters.

Attorney General Hill credits her childhood in Saratoga with giving her a unique advantage in her professional life. Hill said the town’s close-knit community provided the support she needed to pursue her dreams, and that deep sense of community continues to shape her legal philosophy.

In a small town, Attorney General Hill said people must set aside their personal and political differences for the good of the community. The same mentality applies to the Wyoming State Bar, said Hill.

Attorney General Hill said the strong sense of community and mutual support she received in Saratoga has profoundly shaped her legal career.

Hill will take her place on the Wyoming Supreme Court on May 28th. The Attorney General said she is unsure who Governor Gordon will choose as her successor, but the governor has a strong pool of candidates to consider.

The Attorney General expressed her great appreciation for the people of Saratoga and the support they provided her throughout her career. Despite living in Cheyenne for over 20 years, Hill said she still considers Saratoga her home.

The post Attorney General Credits Saratoga Upbringing for Success first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 23, 2025|

Photo – Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems logo – Courtesy RARWS webpage

The Medicine Bow governing body voted to expand the protected area surrounding the wells that supply the town’s water.

During the April 14th Medicine Bow Town Council Meeting, Mayor Justin George proposed Resolution 2025-2, Source Water Protection. Mayor George explained that per the suggestion of water experts, the resolution enlarges the area of protection around the Como Bluff well field.

Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems Source Water Protection Specialist Michelle Christopher said the revised protection area encompasses the wells and the recharge area in northeastern Albany County, at the Casper aquifer.

Bigfoot99 spoke to Source Water Protection Specialist Christopher about the importance of protecting sources of drinking water around the state. Christopher explained that a source water protection plan, such as the one signed by Medicine Bow, attempts to prevent industry and agriculture-related contamination from entering the ground water.

As the state’s Source Water Protection Specialist, Christopher works with communities around Wyoming to develop plans to protect their water sources. Christopher said every plan is unique.

In Medicine Bow, for example, Christopher said the wells that supply the town with drinking water are located in Albany County. However, the wells are fed by an aquifer north of Laramie, meaning contamination may not reach the Medicine Bow wells right away. A water source protection plan must take all those factors and more into account to ensure the water remains safe to drink.

Christopher said mining operations and oil and gas pipelines are the most likely cause of water source contamination. The water source protection plan establishes a protocol for notifying the appropriate entities in the event of a spill.

Additionally, the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems works with county officials, such as Carbon County Emergency Manager Lenny Layman, to determine how contamination and cleanup efforts may impact the water shed.

Christopher explained that the water source protection plan also establishes backup water supplies in case the primary source becomes unusable.

Christopher said Medicine Bow’s water source protection plan includes specific provisions to safeguard the water supply from potential contamination caused by wind farm operations, such as lubricants and vehicle fuel. The Source Water Protection Specialist deliberately kept details of the Medicine Bow plan vague to prevent malicious individuals from using it to sabotage the town’s water supply.

At the April 14th Medicine Bow Town Council Meeting, Mayor Justin George emphasized the importance of protecting the town’s drinking water.

The Medicine Bow Town Council unanimously voted to sign Resolution 2025-2, the Source Water Protection Plan.

The post Medicine Bow Council Signs Water Protection Plan first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 23, 2025|

Photo – Tom Sarvey with Employee of the Quarter Joe Langenderfer with city council in the background – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins officials name a veteran water treatment plant operator as the Employee of the Quarter.

Four times a year, the Rawlins city government honors a staff member who exceeds their usual responsibilities with the Employee of the Quarter Award.

During the April 15th Rawlins City Council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey announced long-time city staff member and current water treatment plant operator Joe Langenderfer as the Employee of the First Quarter of 2025.

City Manager Sarvey explained that Langenderfer is an exploratory employee, possessing a detailed knowledge of the city’s infrastructure. Additionally, Sarvey said Langenderfer takes the time to ensure that new employees are properly trained.

Sarvey shared a story about when Langenderfer moved to Florida. Even while away, the water treatment plant operator remained available to answer questions about the city’s water system.

Langenderfer later returned to Rawlins and resumed his role on the city staff.

City Manager Sarvey continued, saying Langenderfer uses his free time to volunteer around Rawlins.

Sarvey thanked Langenderfer on behalf of the city of Rawlins and the Public Works Department for his contributions.

Employee of the Quarter winners receive a $300 bonus and have their names inscribed on a permanent plaque displayed in Rawlins City Hall.

The post Rawlins Names Employee of the First Quarter of 2025 first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.