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APRIL 22, 2025|

Photo – An example of a mobile fire training center – Courtesy Fire Blast Global

The Carbon County Fire Protection District is seeking authorization from each municipality to apply for a Mineral Royalties Grant to purchase a mobile firefighting training center.

During the April 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Board Chairman Travis Moore presented a resolution to allow the Fire Protection District to apply for a $155,500 Mineral Royalties Grant from the Office of State Lands and Investments. Chairman Moore explained the grant money will be used to buy a mobile firefighter training center.

The Mineral Royalty Grant program is funded through payments made to the state for the extraction of natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, on state owned land.

The Office of State Lands and Investments requires the Carbon County Fire Protection District to obtain authorization from the county and all municipalities within its coverage area before applying to the Mineral Royalty Grant, or MRG program.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners voted to approve the Fire Protection District’s MRG application.

The matter was also discussed during the April 14th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting. Mayor Justin George explained the training trailer will benefit the town’s volunteer firefighters.

The Medicine Bow Town Council also voted to approve the Fire Protection District’s MRG application.

The Saratoga Town Council discussed the matter during the April 15th meeting. Mayor Chuck Davis explained the Fire Protection Chief, John Rutherford, said the trailer will make it easier to certify Carbon County firefighters.

The Saratoga Town Council voted to sign the Fire Protection District’s MRG resolution.

In his application to the Office of State Lands and Investments’ Mineral Royalty Grant program, Fire Protection District Chief Rutherford wrote the new air quality regulations from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality have made it more difficult to find buildings suitable for conducting live firefighter training. Carbon County firefighters are required to travel to Rawlins for certification, which places a significant burden on many of the volunteers.

Mobile training trailers use propane to simulate realistic firefighting scenarios, eliminating the need to burn an actual structure. The trainers are designed to meet the DEQ’s air quality requirements, with minimal smoke and emissions.

With the mobile fire training center, Carbon County firefighters can receive their National Fire Protection Association Standard certification without having to travel to another town.

The post Fire Protection District Applies for State Grant to Procure Fire Training Equipment first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 22, 2025|

Photo – Eggs and chickens – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Medicine Bow has doubled the number of egg-laying fowl residents may keep.

At last month’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, resident Matthew Leonard asked the governing body to increase the maximum number of allowable chickens from six to eight. Leonard said permitting residents to keep more chickens will help alleviate the high price of eggs.

The governing body said they would take Leonard’s suggestion into consideration.

During the April 14th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George introduced an updated chicken ordinance, announcing that the new regulations increase the allowable number of egg-laying fowl per household from six to ten, but leaves the rest of the ordinance untouched.

Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield elaborated that egg-laying fowl includes both chickens and ducks.

Medicine Bow Town Attorney Cameron Smith said most municipalities seem to set a maximum of six chickens and asked whether allowing additional fowl might lead to noise problems.

Mayor George said chickens are generally not very noisy. The mayor explained that municipalities base their chicken limits on the size of the permitted coop.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer suggested amending the ordinance to allow a maximum of twelve chickens, assuming the resident has enough space for an adequately sized coop.

Mayor George supported the increased limit, provided that property owners comply with the town’s building codes.

Per Medicine Bow ordinance, each chicken must be provided with nine square feet of living space. Additionally, chicken coops must be located at least 20 feet from a property line, unless the resident obtains written consent from their neighbor to build it closer. If residents are able to meet those requirements, Mayor George said they will be permitted to have the maximum number of chickens.

The mayor asked the Town Council to decide how many chickens they will allow, ten or twelve. After a brief discussion, the governing body settled on a maximum of twelve chickens.

The Medicine Bow Town Council unanimously voted to approve Ordinance 3-2025, increasing the max number of chickens residents may keep from six to twelve on the first reading. All ordinance changes must be passed three times during three separate public hearings.

If no additional amendments are required, the ordinance may go into effect after the June 9th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting.

The post Medicine Bow Increases Number of Egg-Laying Fowl Residents May Keep first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 22, 2025|

Photo – Town Hall in Hanna – Bigfoot99 file photo

Hanna’s Energy Park is slated to gain more trees along with a new sprinkler system.

The Hanna Town Council, last month, voted to allocate $2,000 as a fifty percent match for a $4,000 grant from the Wyoming State Forestry Division. The town will use the funding to purchase 20 juvenile trees to improve the town’s parks, especially Energy Park in southwest Hanna. During the March 11th Hanna Town Council meeting, Clerk Vivian Gonzales explained the grant to the governing body.

The town is able to use donations of in-kind labor, such as from town staff and school students, to cover its portion of the grant match.

Speaking at the April 8th Hanna Town Council meeting, Clerk Gonzales said the Wyoming State Forestry Division accepted the town’s grant application. However, due to the increasing cost of trees, the town will now receive only half of the originally expected number.

New trees aren’t the only upgrades planned for Energy Park. During the April 8th meeting, the town council also discussed paying Saratoga-based Quality Landscape and Nursery $48,510 to install a new sprinkler system in the park.

A resident voiced concern over the cost of replacing the watering system. Councilmen Sam Sikes and David Felix explained that labor will make up most of the expense. Public Works Director Larry Korkow added that the new sprinkler system will require relocating the valve and meter vault.

However, Public Works Director Korkow said the town is responsible for installing the new vault.

Town Treasurer Ann Calvert explained that the sprinkler project will be funded using 6th Penny Special Purpose Tax money.

The Hanna Town Council voted to approve the $48,510 payment to Quality Landscape and Nursery for the replacement sprinkler system at Energy Park. Mayor Charlie George added that the new sprinklers will service both the new and existing trees.

The post Energy Park in Hanna to Receive an Upgrade first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 21, 2025|

Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Progress on the updated Rawlins nuisance ordinance has stalled while awaiting input from stakeholders.

Last May, the Rawlins city council determined that the city’s nuisance ordinances, specifically those governing derelict and abandoned vehicles, were too difficult to enforce. The governing body asked City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave to rewrite the ordinances for improved clarity and easier implementation.

Since that time, Attorney Maberry-Nave has been revising the nuisance ordinances to improve the city’s ability to enforce and track violations.

Like all ordinance changes, the newly established nuisance regulations must be read three times during three separate public hearings. The Rawlins city council read and passed the amended ordinance during their March 18th and April 1st meetings. A third reading is required before the proposed changes go into effect.

At the April 15th Rawlins city council meeting, Attorney Maberry-Nave explained, before the third and final reading of the ordinance, she presented the changes to the relevant department heads to ensure they were satisfied with the outcome.

During the meetings, Attorney Maberry-Nave noted that several issues with the ordinance were identified. One of the main concerns is how certain regulations will be enforced. The Rawlins city attorney also said the stakeholders helped identify clerical errors in the documents that she had missed during their development.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked why the stakeholders were not involved in the initial drafting of the nuisance ordinances. Attorney Maberry-Nave clarified that they were included, but changes to the lineup of department heads resulted in different interpretations of the regulations.

Attorney Maberry-Nave said the stakeholders did not recommend any major changes. However, the changes that were made to the ordinance should be reviewed by the council. The city attorney recommended holding another public hearing specifically to discuss the updated nuisance ordinances.

The Rawlins City Council agreed to hold a special work session to review the proposed changes to the nuisance ordinance. The governing body did not set a date for the meeting.

The post Rawlins’ Nuisance Ordinances Get a Facelift first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 21, 2025|

Photo – Mule deer – Bigfoot99 file photo

Instances of Chronic Wasting Disease in mule deer have increased across the state, including here in Carbon County.

Earlier this month, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department released the results of its 2024 Chronic Wasting Disease survey. Out of 5,276 mule deer carcasses tested last year, 726 were found to be positive, indicating a 13.7% statewide prevalence of Chronic Wasting Disease.

But what is Chronic Wasting Disease? Wyoming Game and Fish Saratoga Wildlife Biologist Teal Cufaude explained the disease, often called CWD, is caused by misfolded proteins called prions that impact members of the cervid family, such as deer and elk. Cufaude said the exact method of transmission isn’t entirely understood at this time, but biologists believe that the prions can be transmitted through bodily fluids.

Animals infected with Chronic Wasting Disease may exhibit symptoms such as drastic weight loss, stumbling, drooling, increased thirst and urination, drooping ears, a loss of fear of humans, and other unusual behavior.

Alternatively, animals in the early stages of the disease may not show any symptoms of the illness. Laboratory testing of tissue samples, including the brainstem or lymph nodes, remains the only reliable method for confirming the presence of CWD.

To track the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department enforces mandatory testing. This requires hunters to provide tissue samples from deer or elk to a department biologist. During last year’s hunting season, Game and Fish set up sample collection stations in deer hunt area 70, home to the Shirley Mountain mule deer herd.

Saratoga wildlife biologist Cufaude explained over the past five years, Game and Fish has collected over 150 mule deer samples from the Shirley Mountain herd. Cufaude said roughly 28 of those samples, or 18%, tested positive for CWD.

Cufaude explained a CWD prevalence of over 10% is concerning to biologists.

Due to the high number of infected animals in Deer Hunt Area 70, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will continue mandatory sampling of the Shirley Mountain mule deer herd this year. Cufaude urged hunters to voluntarily submit tissue samples from their mule deer harvests.

Game and Fish biologists also tested mule deer in the Platte Valley hunt areas of 78, 79, 80, and 81. Cufaude said ten percent of the 280 mule deer carcasses tested over the past five years showed signs of Chronic Wasting Disease.

Cufaude reported CWD in both the Shirley Mountain and Platte Valley mule deer herds was higher than the previous five-year study. Carbon County elk populations have shown fewer signs of Chronic Wasting Disease. The biologist said, of the 632 elk samples collected from the Snowy Range herd over the past five years, only 9 tested positive for the disease.

Cufaude said elk in the Sierra Madre hunt areas showed even fewer signs of CWD, with only two elk testing positive over the past five years. Elk populations consistently show less instances of Chronic Wasting Disease than mule deer in the same area.

Statewide, percentages of CWD in elk are 2.8%.

Moose are also suspectable to Chronic Wasting Disease. Game and Fish Biologist Cufaude said instances of CWD in moose are very rare, with no cases reported in Carbon County.

No instances of humans contracting Chronic Wasting Disease from eating contaminated meat have been reported. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advises against consuming meat from CWD positive animals.

People are free to eat the contaminated meat, but Cufaude said, like the CDC, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department recommends against it. Instead, the state agency issues written confirmation when an animal tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, allowing individuals to discard the meat.

Cufaude suggested that all hunters should have their mule deer and elk carcasses tested before eating the meat. If an animal tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, the carcass should be properly discarded in a landfill or a dumpster provided by Game and Fish to help prevent the spread of the disease.

For more information about Chronic Wasting Disease testing or disposing of infected animals, visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s CWD information website. A link to the site will be included with this story when it is posted to the Bigfoot99 website later today.

Game and Fish Chronic Wasting Disease information website: Chronic Wasting Disease | Wyoming Game & Fish Department

The post Chronic Wasting Disease on the Rise in Wyoming first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 21, 2025|

Photo – Medicine Bow Airport – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Medicine Bow Airport Advisory Board is still seeking donations to restore the town’s historic landing field.

Last summer, Colorado pilot Nathan Finneman addressed the governing body of Medicine Bow to explain the significance of the town’s nearby airport. Finneman explained that the Medicine Bow airport, located less than a mile south of town, features the best-preserved airmail directional arrow and outbuildings in the western United States, dating back to the 1920s. The Colorado pilot urged the council to preserve the existing structures while they can.

The Medicine Bow town council took Finneman’s advice and reestablished an airport advisory board to oversee the renovations to the historically significant airfield. Earlier this year, the governing body accepted letters of interest from Carbon County residents interested in preserving the airport. However, work has been slow because the advisory board is not a federally recognized charity organization.

During the April 14th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield provided an update on the airport. Councilwoman Mayfield said the state has recognized the town’s efforts to retain the integrity of the landing strip and outbuildings, which are listed on the National Park Service’s Registry of Historic Places.

Additionally, Councilwoman Mayfield said Megan Stanfill, the Executive Director for the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, is excited for the project and has contributed research information about the airport.

Councilwoman Mayfield said that Stanfill contacted an individual who had previously helped establish a 501(c)(3) for the Medicine Bow airport. That person will now attempt to transfer ownership of the nonprofit organization to the town.

Last month, Vernon Lovejoy, of Hass and Lovejoy Protected Area Advisors, reached out to the Medicine Bow Airport Advisory Board to suggest a business that might be interested in donating a new roof for the airport’s historic weather station. Lovejoy is also spearheading the Pathways National Heritage Area project.

During the April 14th meeting, Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield said the Iowa-based roofing company has reached out to offer a long-lasting synthetic roofing system.

The Airport Board is attempting to restore electrical power to the beacon light and weather station. Mayor Justin George said he secured a utility pole that can be used at the airport. Councilwoman Mayfield explained the electric company refused to donate an electrical transformer to the airport. Without a 501(c)(3), the Airport Board is finding it difficult to raise the money needed to purchase the transformer itself.

In the meantime, Councilwoman Mayfield said the Airport Board has no shortage of volunteers. However, the Board must ensure they are following state guidelines to preserve the Medicine Bow Airport’s recognized historic status.

Although High Plains Power is the electricity supplier for the airport, Medicine Bow Volunteer Fire Chief Ed Standish recommended contacting Carbon Power and Light about a potential grant to pay for the electrical transformer.

The post Donations Sought for Historic Medicine Bow Airport first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 18, 2025 |

Photo – Dispatch logo – Bigfoot99 file photo

The town of Saratoga is moving forward with a plan to transfer emergency dispatching services to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.

In November of 2023, the Saratoga Police Department’s emergency dispatch center was suffering from a shortage of dispatchers. Then-Chief Mike Morris coordinated with the sheriff’s department, arranging for county dispatchers to oversee the town’s call center. Faced with a persistent shortage of qualified dispatcher candidates and a call center requiring costly upgrades, Chief Morris and Sheriff Bakken began investigating the possibility of permanently transferring Saratoga’s dispatching duties to the county.

Sheriff Bakken took it one step further, suggesting to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners in February of 2024 that his department should handle emergency dispatching for the entire county, including Saratoga and Rawlins.

While Saratoga was open to the proposal because of financial challenges, the Rawlins Police Department was unreceptive to the sheriff’s plan.

Last month, Sheriff Bakken presented a contract to the Saratoga town council, authorizing the county law enforcement agency to cover the town’s dispatching services for $125,087.62 a year.

The Saratoga town council unanimously voted to enter into the contract with the sheriff’s department.

The governing body was presented with the official combined dispatch contract earlier this month. Speaking at the April 18th Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said both he and current Police Chief John Moore have concerns about the agreement.

Chief Moore explained the contract failed to include any provisions regarding dispatching services for the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department.

Mayor Davis said the contract is now in the hands of Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip. In the meantime, the town is waiting for a reply from Sheriff Bakken. The mayor said he expects to have the revised contract within the next month.

Later during the April 18th meeting, Chief John Moore explained he is short of dispatchers at the moment. While his staff are away at the Academy, Chief Moore said the sheriff’s department is handling nighttime emergency calls for the town.

Chief Moore said the lack of dispatchers has given him a chance to test the county’s ability to interface with the Saratoga Police Department’s dispatching system. The police chief said the initial system setup was time-consuming, but everything now appears to be operating properly.

In addition to taking emergency calls, Chief Moore said the sheriff’s department is monitoring the security cameras at town hall and the Hobo Hot Pools. Mayor Davis said this experience has given the town an opportunity to see how the future combined dispatch center may operate.

If the contract moves forward as planned, the Saratoga Police Department and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office are expected to be fully integrated by July 1st of this year. The agreement would leave the Rawlins Police Department as the only remaining independent emergency dispatch call center in Carbon County.

The post Saratoga Moves Forward in Transfer of Dispatch Duties first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 18, 2025|

Photo – Baggot Rocks Road bridge – Bigfoot99 file photo

Carbon County officials, not WYDOT, ordered the closure of the County Road 680 bridge at the south end of the Platte Valley. The bridge, along with another on County Road Three, are scheduled to be replaced in the future.

On April 3rd, the Wyoming Department of Transportation recommended closing the Baggot Rocks Road Bridge, crossing over the Encampment River. A routine inspection carried out through WYDOT’s Bridge Program identified unspecified safety concerns, leading to the bridge being closed to traffic.

The Baggot Rocks Road bridge is owned by the county, making it the county’s responsibility to pay for repairs. In a written statement to Bigfoot99, WYDOT District One Senior Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley stated, “We closed it based on the inspection, but the county will be the one that needs to repair it.”

On April 8th, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the status of the bridge. County officials accepted WYDOT’s recommendation and closed the bridge to all vehicular traffic.

A statement released by County Road and Bridge Coordinator Kandis Fritz stated that the closure was temporary, noting that the county was already working to determine the estimated cost of repairing the bridge.

In a separate written statement to Bigfoot99, Fritz wrote that the Board of Commissioners chose to close County Road 680 and the damaged bridge, not WYDOT. The county commissioners were following WYDOT’s recommendation, issued on April 3rd.

The matter was discussed further during the April 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting. Road and Bridge Coordinator Fritz told the Board that soon after the bridge was closed, a representative from the Laramie-based engineering firm Reiman Corporation was on site to evaluate the structure. Fritz said the engineer developed a plan to repair the bridge. However, WYDOT has the final say on whether the proposed fixes will be sufficient.

One company, Reiman Corporation quoted $106,350 for repairs to the Baggot Rocks Road bridge.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the bridge repairs using money from the Road and Bridge budget. The Board did not provide a timeline for the project, stating that work will begin after WYDOT approves the plan.

The County Road 680 bridge is scheduled to be replaced in 2030 through WYDOT’s Bridge Replacement Off System, or BROS, program. However, the county commissioners agreed that landowners who depend on the crossing cannot wait five years for its replacement.

Another county-owned bridge, this one on County Road Three over the Medicine Bow River, is included in the WYDOT BROS program. During their April 15th meeting, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners reviewed a contract allowing the state agency to perform a recon report on the County Road Three bridge.

Road and Bridge Coordinator Fritz explained that the recon report will determine if the bridge needs to be replaced or if it can be repaired. Should WYDOT recommend a complete replacement, Fritz said she will push for a less expensive bridge. The contract requires the county to contribute roughly ten percent of the project total, which will be at least $11,000.

Once the agreement is signed, the county is obligated to see the entire bridge replacement project through to the end. County Attorney Ashley Davis explained that if the Board decides not to complete the project, it will be responsible for all costs incurred up to that point, not just the original ten percent.

With the report in hand, the Board will know if the County Road Three bridge must be entirely replaced or if it can be repaired.

Commissioner John Johnson said he planned to abstain from the vote because the bridge is located near his Elk Mountain ranch. Commissioner Johnson explained that he does not support spending millions of dollars to replace a bridge that mainly benefits him.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners voted to sign the WYDOT recon report for the County Road Three bridge, with Commissioner Johnson abstaining.

The post WYDOT Recommended Bridge Closure, County Closed the Bridge first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 18, 2025|

Photo – A farmers’ market – Bigfoot99 file photo

After the first attempt failed, a Hanna resident is again trying to start up a farmers’ market in the northern Carbon County town.

In the summer of 2023, Darlene Scheneman, who sold baked goods under the name Granny D, created a farmers’ market to help support the town’s financially struggling recreation center. Held in the rec center parking lot, all vendor booth fees, which were set at $10 apiece in an attempt to help save the facility.

In a June 2023 interview with Bigfoot99, Scheneman said she would like the market to be more than just a place to buy and sell goods. She said her goal was to create a fun and enjoyable destination for the entire area.

The farmers’ market opened only twice before being cancelled due to a lack of vendors and limited community interest. Speaking to Bigfoot99 in August of 2023, Scheneman, said the Hanna town council was initially very supportive of her plan to save the recreation center.

Ultimately, Scheneman said town officials failed to promote or participate in the farmers’ market.

The following summer, the governing body, under then-Mayor Jayson Nordquist, voted to indefinitely close the town’s recreation center.

Scheneman remains determined to establish a farmers’ market in the town. During the April 8th Hanna Town Council meeting, Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales reported that Scheneman was proposing another community farmers market, this time in the town hall parking lot.

The farmers’ market is scheduled to take place on Friday mornings, from May to August. Clerk Gonzales acknowledged that the schedule might not accommodate everyone. However, the town clerk explained that Scheneman chose those times to correspond with her ability to procure fresh vegetables.

Clerk Gonzales added that although the times may not be ideal because of the economy, the town hall parking lot is a more visible location than the recreation center.

The Hanna farmers’ market is scheduled to begin sometime next month, weather permitting. Booth space is free, but vendors must possess a current Hanna business license. To reserve space at the farmers market, call the Hanna town hall at 325-9424.

The post Hanna Resident Sets Up Farmer’s Market first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 17, 2025 |

Photo – Saratoga Branch Library – Courtesy Carbon County Library website

The Saratoga branch of the Carbon County Library System is asking the town to contribute more money because of upcoming budget cuts.

During Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting, Carbon County Library System Board of Directors member Adelaide Myers explained that recently passed property relief measures will have negative impacts on the library’s budget. Myers said the board anticipates losing at least 10% of its funding in the upcoming fiscal year.

Myers provided a breakdown of how the Saratoga Library is funded. The Board of Directors member explained that the county covers specific utilities and maintenance for the library building. The town of Saratoga donates its utility costs, such as water and sewer, a gesture that is greatly appreciated by the Library Board.

Myers said the Saratoga Library also receives funding from both Carbon County School Districts and the Saratoga arm of the Carbon County Friends of the Library Foundation.

Despite those funding sources, Myers reported that the property tax cuts will have a significant impact on the library’s finances. With that in mind, the Board of Directors member asked the town council to consider providing additional financial support to the Saratoga Library. Myers suggested having the town pay for phone and internet access, which directly benefits Saratoga residents.

Myers said if the town of Saratoga is unwilling to pay for internet services at the library, perhaps the town could instead cover office supplies, such as printer paper and ink.

The governing body could choose to assume responsibility for a county utility expense, such as electricity, Myers added. The financial assistance would reduce the overall cost for the county.

Myers said the Board of Directors may then request the savings to be added to the Library System’s annual budget.

Myers recommended that the town of Saratoga cover either the cost of phone and internet services or office supplies for the Saratoga Library.

Mayor Chuck Davis said he is not opposed to contributing more to the town’s library. The council will take the Carbon County Library System’s funding requests into consideration during upcoming budget setting meetings.

The post Saratoga Library Requests More Financial Support from Town first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.