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APRIL 17, 2025 |

Photo – Wyoming’s 250 Committee logo – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Carbon County 250 Committee is requesting $10,000 from the county government to support America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

July 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To commemorate the occasion, Governor Mark Gordon is offering $10,000 grants to help counties pay for their celebration events. However, to receive a state grant, the county must create its own 250 celebration committee.

In February, Carbon County did just that, when the Board of Commissioners appointed local author Candy Moulton and museum directors Tom Mensik, Tim Nicklas, Angie Hobbs, and Lela Emmons to lead the county’s anniversary committee.

At Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, the chairwoman of the local 250 Committee, Candy Moulton, provided an update on the group’s activities leading up to the events surrounding local festivities celebrating semi-quincentennial celebrations.

Moulton said the Committee has submitted a $10,000 grant request to the State of Wyoming. Government officials have not yet approved the application for funding.

Moulton asked the county commissioners to match the state’s maximum grant request of $10,000. The 250 Committee Chairwoman assured the Board that, if her request is approved, she will not seek any additional funding from Carbon County.

The Carbon County 250 Committee wants to fund a documentary movie called ‘Journeys to 250.’ The film will explore how the area was settled.  The proposed 28-minute movie is expected to cost $80,000 to produce.

Moulton told commissioners on Tuesday that the 250 Committee has requested funding from most towns in Carbon County. Only the town of Encampment has agreed to donate funding for the anniversary celebrations, perhaps a sign of the era we are living in now.

Moulton said she is still waiting for responses from the remaining communities around Carbon County regarding their donation pledges.

Commissioner John Johnson asked if the 250 Committee can wait to receive the $10,000 until after the county sets its 2025 through 2026 budget. Chairwoman Moulton said she can wait, but the Committee requires the county’s financial support.

Moulton added that the 250 Committee has requested the largest contribution from the Carbon County Visitors Council, since the celebration events are expected to increase tourism to our area. The Committee Chairwoman said early discussions with the Council have been promising.

Moulton said she has been told by the administrator of the state’s anniversary grant task force that the Carbon County 250 Committee’s grant application is likely to be approved.

However, the Committee is unable to move forward with its plans, specifically the creation of the documentary film, until they receive the grant money.

In the meantime, Moulton explained that the Committee is already working to secure a production company to film ‘Journeys to 250’.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will reconsider Moulton’s funding request after next year’s budget is finalized in July.

The post Semi-Quincentennial Committee Requests County Funds first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 17, 2025 |

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall and Police Department – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

A massage therapist in Saratoga has urged the governing body to institute licensing requirements.

During the April 1st Saratoga town council meeting, Shandiin Talker addressed the governing body. Talker explained that she has been a massage therapist for 23 years and has a large number of clients in town. She said the council should create a way to ensure people are properly licensed before practicing massage therapy in Saratoga.

Wyoming is one of five states, including California, Kansas, Minnesota, and Vermont, have no widespread massage therapy licensing regulations. Although, certain cities and counties within those states have their own rules regarding the legal practice of massage.

Talker explained that Wyoming lawmakers have considered instituting a state-wide licensing requirement, but the measure has not passed.

Without a state mandate, Talker said many Wyoming municipalities have developed their own licensing regulations. The massage therapist explained that certification in her field requires a minimum of 500 hours of training.

Talker said becoming certified is not the same as obtaining a massage therapy license, which requires additional training. A license is necessary to practice massage therapy in most US states.

Talker said people in Saratoga are practicing massage therapy without any formal training and once again urged the town council to establish massage therapy licensing requirements.

Additionally, certified massage therapists must have professional liability insurance. Talker presented a petition signed by her fellow massage therapists, demanding the creation of minimum certification requirements in Saratoga.

Councilman Cory Oxford asked which other Wyoming towns have established their own massage therapy licensing requirements. Talker explained that several larger municipalities have already implemented laws or are in the process of developing regulations. Additionally, a grassroots licensing campaign may prompt the state legislature to reevaluate the need for a statewide license.

Talker volunteered to help the town determine if a person is a certified massage therapist.

Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis said he would take Talker’s recommendation into consideration and offered to investigate other towns’ massage therapy licensing requirements. The matter will be discussed again during a future town council meeting.

The post Local Massage Therapist Urges Town to Institute Licensing Requirements first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 16, 2025|

Photo – Bridge on County Road 680 – Courtesy Sheriff Bakken

County officials have allocated $106,000 to reopen the Baggot Rocks Road bridge.

Earlier this month, the Wyoming Department of Transportation declared the bridge on County Road 680, crossing over the Encampment River, unsafe and closed it to all vehicle traffic.

Structural issues were discovered during a routine inspection conducted as part of WYDOT’s Bridge Program. Unlike what Bigfoot99 originally reported, District One Construction Engineer Ryan Shields was not responsible for the closure of the County Road 680 bridge. Instead, the bridge was immediately closed to traffic based on the findings of the Bridge Program inspection.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Medicine Bow, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz explained that the same day WYDOT closed the road, April 3rd, 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 repairs will be enough to reopen the bridge.

Fritz said Reiman Corporation has quoted $106,350 to make the Baggot Rocks Road bridge safe to cross once again.

WYDOT was already planning to completely replace the trellis bridge on County Road 680 under its Bridge Replacement Off System, or BROS, program. However, work on the replacement bridge wasn’t scheduled to begin until 2030, five years from now.

During Tuesday’s Board meeting, Commissioner John Johnson said five years is too long for local landowners to be without a way to cross the Encampment River. Commissioner Johnson thanked Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz for her quick response after receiving WYDOT’s report.

Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked if the proposed repairs will last until WYDOT can replace the bridge. Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz explained that the repairs will provide enough stability to keep the bridge functional until 2030.

Fritz said similar repairs done on another county bridge lasted for 10 years.

Commissioner Sue Jones also thanked Fritz for expediting the County Road 680 bridge repairs. Commissioner Jones said a nearby rancher has agreed to allow the county to park on his property while the repairs are underway.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners unanimously voted to waive the standard procurement policy, which requires the county to seek bids for purchases exceeding $75,000. The Board has the authority to bypass the policy in emergency situations.

Additionally, the Board approved a payment of $106,350 to Reiman Corporation to make the Baggot Rocks Road bridge usable again, pending WYDOT approval.

The post County Moves Forward to Repair Closed Bridge first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 16, 2025|

Photo – Garrett Ricketts, CP&L Lineman – Courtesy Oregon Empowers

With the assistance of a Carbon County lineman, a northwestern electricity cooperative is working to bring power to residents in Guatemala.

Oregon Empowers is an electricity cooperative that has been sending linemen from across the western United States to South America to electrify rural villages.

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Director of Member and Strategic Services Lea Hoover explained Oregon Empowers is the 501(c)(3) branch of the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Oregon Empowers was established to undertake international charity projects. In 2023, the non-profit organization traveled to Guatemala to run electrical lines to remote parts of the country.

Hoover said earlier this year, Carbon Power and Light lineman Garrett Ricketts was selected to join the Oregon Empowers team as they returned to Guatemala.

Garrett Ricketts was joined by another Wyoming lineman, Levi Gossard of the Powder River Energy Corporation.

Hoover explained that the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or NRECA, oversees the Guatemala trips, ensuring the linemen have everything they need to safely accomplish their goals.

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Strategic Director Hoover said the Oregon Empowers crew spent nearly two weeks in Guatemala, installing electrical lines. Hoover said the project is highly coordinated to maximize the crew’s productivity.

Hoover explained the electrical poles are already in place by the time the Oregon Empowers team arrives in the country. In addition to running power lines, the team was also be responsible for installing electrical systems inside local homes.

Hoover said the work was difficult and hot, with mountainous terrain and temperatures ranging between 95 and 107 degrees.

Oregon Empowers is in the process of planning their next humanitarian trip. In the meantime, Hoover said Garrett Ricketts can use the experience he gained in Guatemala to encourage more Wyoming electrical cooperatives to join the next Oregon Empowers project.

The post Local Electric Lineman to Set Up Power in Guatemala first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 16, 2025|

Photo – Clifford Smith poses with tile mural – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

Medicine Bow officials want to display the old high school’s mascot in town. The question is: where?

In 1969, the Medicine Bow High School student body hired the town’s postmaster, Ellen Smith, to create a mural of the school’s mascot: The Medicine Bow Wrangler. The six-by-four-foot tile mural depicts a cowboy wearing a red vest, red chaps, and a large black hat. Every piece of the mural is hand cut from linoleum tile.

The high school was closed in the late 90’s due to a lack of students. Before the building was scheduled to be demolished, Ellen Smith’s sons, Clifford and Toby Smith, cut the Wrangler mural out of the school’s floor. Clifford Smith is still in possession of the 56-year-old mural.

Last July, Smith approached the governing body with a proposal to display the former high school mascot somewhere in town. However, the mural’s size and weight limits where it can be placed.

During Monday’s Medicine Bow town council meeting, resident and Rural Health Care District member Kay Embree mentioned that Clifford Smith would still like to donate the Wrangler mural to the town.

Embree suggested displaying the mascot in the community center, where it would be visible from outside the building.

Mayor Justin George said the Wrangler is too heavy to store on the second floor of the community center. Mayor George said he is considering displaying the mural outside the town hall and the former marshal’s department. The Wrangler will need to be fully enclosed to protect it from the weather and to discourage people from touching the mural.

Mayor George said a Medicine Bow resident volunteered the services of two aircraft engineers to build a water and weatherproof enclosure for the Wrangler mural. However, the project has apparently stalled.

Kay Embree said the Medicine Bow Museum has offered to take possession of the high school mascot, but the location suggested by the museum is not ideal for the tile mural.

Mayor George said the town hall appears to be the best place to display the Wrangler. Creating a sturdy enclosure to house the mural will be the most difficult aspect of the project.

Embree said Clifford Smith mentioned the tiles are likely made of asbestos, meaning the public must be prevented from touching the mural.

Additionally, Embree said she would like to secure the pennants from inside the shuttered high school. Mayor George explained the pennants hold significant historical value for Medicine Bow. The mayor said he has tried to contact the owner of the property to inquire about retrieving the pennants, but they can no longer be reached.

Mayor George said the property may change hands. Someone has been paying the property taxes on the property and may take ownership of the building. If that occurs, the mayor said he would retrieve the pennants.

Mayor George said the new owner must contact him to settle the $2,000 lien the town has against the property for unpaid water bills. Town Treasurer and Clerk Karen Heath said the new owner has asked to reduce the lien amount.

Mayor George reported the new property owner has not attempted to contact him. Treasurer Heath suggested the lack of communication may indicate the sale has been cancelled.

Back to the subject of the Wrangler, the mayor said the mascot could be displayed either on the ground floor of the community center or in the town hall. Embree said the mural will be more visible inside the community center.

Mayor George instructed Public Works Director Brian Lashley to contact the mural’s owner, Clifford Smith, and work on constructing a frame to house the Wrangler. The mayor assured the public that the mascot is still an important part of Medicine Bow’s history.

The post Medicine Bow Officials Discuss Placement of High School Mural first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 15, 2025 |

Photo – MHCC Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment – Courtesy MHCC

Bigfoot99 sat down with the newest Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County to talk about the future of the medical center.

On March 31st, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle announced the hospital’s Board of Trustees appointed Kerry Ashment as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Speaking to Bigfoot99 reporter Matt Copeland, Ashment explained he has been in the healthcare industry for over 26 years.

Ashment said a job recruiter contacted him about the open CEO position, providing details about the struggling medical facility. He explained that those challenges, along with the small-town atmosphere, drew him to the Rawlins hospital.

Ashment is beginning his third week as the CEO of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. During his short time as head of the organization, Ashment has concentrated on boosting the hospital’s reputation by continuing to improve the accuracy of medical billing.

Ashment said hospital staff are working to ensure patients receive their medical bills in a timely manner, with a focus on avoiding errors.

A positive aspect of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is the staff. Ashment said the community knows that the medical team will deliver the care they require, even if that treatment doesn’t occur in Rawlins.

Ashment said every member of the Memorial Hospital team, including the administrative, housekeeping, and maintenance staff, is fully dedicated to providing the highest level of care possible.

Memorial Hospital is facing a critical revenue shortfall. Ashment explained that as the medical facility rebuilds trust within the community, revenue will grow. The additional money will be used to improve the services offered by the Rawlins hospital.

Ashment stated he and his team are committed to rebuilding the reputation of the medical facility. The Chief Executive Officer shared a conversation he had with a community member, where he promised to restore people’s confidence in Memorial Hospital of Carbon County through increased public engagement.

Ashment said he will prioritize restoring community trust, address billing issues, and enhance the quality of care during his time as CEO of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.

The post MHCC Board Appoints Chief Executive Officer first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 15, 2025 |

Photo – “Cowboy” Bill Wadsworth – Courtesy Owen Tanner

An Encampment filmmaker has created a documentary about the legendary Cowboy Bill Wadsworth.

Billy Ogden “Cowboy” Wadsworth passed away on May 30th, 2024, at the age of 96. Before his death, Encampment filmmaker Owen Tanner sat down with the local legend to document Cowboy’s remarkable life story.

Speaking to Bigfoot99, Tanner explained that his passion for filmmaking began during his freshman year at Green River High School. Over time, Tanner honed his craft and eventually selected Cowboy, a well-known Encampment resident, to be the subject of a documentary.

Cowboy was deeply involved in his community, serving as an interpretive guide at the Grand Encampment Museum and a host at the Carbon County Visitor Center. Tanner said Cowboy remained active in local events up until the end of his life.

Tanner recalled that over the years, he and Cowboy crossed paths several times during local events. One conversation about Cowboy’s impressive educational background compelled Tanner to learn more about the man behind the legend.

In January of 2024, Cowboy agreed to sit down with Tanner for a three-and-a-half-hour-long interview. Tanner shared his favorite of Cowboy’s stories was about the time he forgot the lyrics to the iconic country song ‘The Strawberry Roan’ while performing alongside Charley Pride.

Tanner explained that after interviewing Cowboy and his daughter, he had recorded roughly six hours of material. Over the course of 418 grueling days, the Encampment filmmaker edited the footage into an hour-and-a-half-long documentary.

Tanner’s film is titled “A Man Called Cowboy.” The filmmaker said he is still exploring ways to distribute his documentary. He met with representatives from the University of Wyoming. Ideally, Tanner said he would like to premiere his film in the Platte Valley.

Tanner explained Cowboy Bill Wadsworth was a captivating storyteller who always made people feel like the center of attention when they spoke.

Bigfoot99 will include a link to the trailer for A Man Named Cowboy with this story when it is posted to our website later today.

Bing Videos

The post “Cowboy” Bill Wadsworth Memorialized in Film first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 14, 2025 |

Photo – Fire Protection District logo – Bigfoot99 file photo

A wildfire on Saturday burned about 45 acres of hay meadow and pasture on the TA Ranch off Pass Creek Road. The fire started as controlled burn and became out of control in the windy conditions. Saratoga, Ryan Park, and Encampment VFDs all responded. Wind made it hard to catch and keep shut down, but firefighters corralled the blaze.

The post Forty-Five Acre Wildfire Started as Controlled Burn first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

APRIL 14, 2025 |

Photo – Former Boys and Girls Club Executive Officer Theresa Pacheco – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

Parents and former Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County staff addressed concerns about the organization’s current administration.

On Thursday evening last week, former Boys and Girls Club Chief Executive Officer Theresa Pacheco held a meeting in Rawlins to discuss her dismissal from the organization and answer questions from concerned parents.

A written statement provided during the meeting states that Pacheco, the long-serving CEO of the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club, was terminated for insubordination.

The statement continues, saying that since January 1st, the unnamed Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors “demanded” sensitive information, including financial records, personnel files, and youth and parent records.

At Thursday’s meeting, Pacheco elaborated further on the circumstances surrounding the events leading to her termination.

The parent Pacheco referred to, described how, on March 7th, a member of the current Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors was recording her daughter without permission. The girl who was being recorded is a member of the club. The parent of the child said she brought her concerns to Pacheco, who presented them to the Board of Directors. The Board then allegedly demanded the child’s enrollment information, which Pacheco initially refused to provide.

The parent of the child explained that the Board threatened Pacheco’s job if she refused to provide the child’s information, later assuring her that no disciplinary action would be taken if she complied. Hoping to protect Pacheco from retaliation, the parent of the child ultimately agreed to the demands of the organization’s Board.

Eleven days later, on March 18th, the Board of Directors voted to suspend Pacheco for refusing to provide the requested information.

The following day, eight Boys and Girls Club staff members went on strike to protest Pacheco’s treatment by the Board. The Board then terminated Director Pacheco for insubordination.

Pacheco brought her concerns to the National and the State Boys and Girls Club of America but received no response. Instead, a representative from the Casper Boys and Girls Club visited the Carbon County chapter.

Documents, provided during last week’s parents meeting, state that on April 3rd, the Chief Financial Officer of the Casper Boys and Girls Club came to Rawlins to confirm the allegations against the Board of Directors.

The Youth Behavioral Specialist, who asked that his name not be included in the story, said that he decided to resign due to the Casper CFO’s behavior during her visit, which some considered rude.

With so many staff members resigning, the Club was forced to hire new employees.

Pacheco said she believes the children are uncomfortable with the new staff and suggested creating an alternative child-centered, after-school learning program to replace the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County. Pacheco and her former employees would staff the new organization.

Many of the parents attending last week’s meeting approved of Pacheco’s idea to start a new child-care program. However, the attendees acknowledged that creating an entirely new organization from scratch will take time.

In the meantime, the parents asked if Christina Linn, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County, could potentially be removed from her position for violating the organization’s policies.

Responding to a question from a concerned parent, former CEO Pacheco said after she was terminated, the Board disabled the security camera system in their Rawlins facility.

While not expressly written in the Boys and Girls Club of America’s policies, many chapters of the organization have security camera requirements written into their bylaws. Violating the bylaws may result in a staff or Board member’s termination.

Bigfoot99 reached out to Interim Chief Executive Officer Christina Linn about the allegations leveled against her and the current Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors. Linn provided a written statement that said the cameras at the Club were removed because the only person with access, Pacheco, is no longer associated with the organization.

Linn said in her written response that Pacheco ignored repeated requests from both her and the organization’s President, Karla Ross, to gain access to the cameras. Linn had the cameras removed because she felt it was unreasonable to allow a former employee to have access to the cameras at the Club.

The Interim CEO wrote that as soon as the previous CEO, Pacheco, gives her access to the account, she will reinstall the cameras, adding that she plans to order new cameras and have them installed by this weekend.

Next, the current Board of Directors was accused of not performing legally required background checks on new employees. The Youth Behavioral Specialist reported that he personally observed new hires working at the Boys and Girls Club before their background checks had been completed.

Former CEO Pacheco said background checks typically take between four days and two weeks.

Bigfoot99 also asked Interim CEO Christina Linn about this allegation. Linn responded that everyone who has worked with children at the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County during her time as Interim CEO has passed a background check. Linn added that background checks are required by the National Boys and Girls Club of America.

Linn concluded by writing, “We finally have a board in place that is providing proper oversight. We stand behind the decisions we have made. As Interim CEO, I am working diligently to ensure we make continuous improvements within the organization.”

Several parents attending last week’s meeting said they felt that the Board of Directors was wrong to fire Pacheco, but that they were worried that the Board would retaliate against their children if they spoke out since they rely on the organization’s afterschool programs.

Pacheco and the former Boys and Girls Club employees advised the parents to make written demands to Interim CEO Linn and the Board of Directors for copies of the current bylaws. With those documents, the parents can determine which, if any, policies the current administration is violating. If violations are found, the parents can then report them to the National Boys and Girls Club of America in the hopes that the current Board will be forcefully removed.

While they wait for a response from the current Board of Directors, the parents were asked to bring their concerns to Senators Barrasso and Lummis and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman.

Another Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County parents meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Rawlins.

The post Unrest at Boys and Girls Club in Rawlins Cause for Meeting first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

4/11/2025 |

Photo courtesy of the RPD

The Rawlins Police Department is reminding drivers that passing school buses while they are loading or unloading students is illegal.

On Thursday morning, the Rawlins Police Department Facebook page asked city residents to pay more attention to school buses.

Lieutenant Jared Frakes said both state and city statutes prohibit drivers from passing school buses when they’re loading or unloading students unless there is a physical barrier between the bus and the street.

Lieutenant Frakes explained that in Rawlins, school buses do not pull off the road when picking up or dropping off students. Instead, they use flashing red lights, and a deployable stop sign to warn drivers not to pass.

Lieutenant Frakes said his department has received 21 reports of drivers illegally passing school buses in the city since the start of this year. The police lieutenant said the number of violations is unusually high this year, especially given the short time school has been in session.

Lieutenant Frakes said school bus drivers have reported drivers in the city are illegally passing buses when they are loading or unloading school students throughout the city. The violations are not concentrated in any specific area.

The Rawlins Police Department has a zero-tolerance policy for drivers who pass school buses when their red lights are flashing, and the stop sign is deployed. Lieutenant Frakes explained that drivers proven to have broken the law will be cited.

Wyoming Statute 31-5-507 mandates that drivers must stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. Failure to do so is classified as a misdemeanor crime and comes with a $450 fine.

Lieutenant Frakes said the law exists to keep students safe when they’re getting on and off school buses.

While students should be aware of their surroundings and avoid crossing in front of vehicles, Lieutenant Frakes said the primary responsibility to keep students safe lies with the drivers.

On their Facebook page, the Rawlins Police Department posted that law enforcement takes these violations seriously and has zero tolerance for putting the city’s school children at risk.

The post Illegal School Bus Passing in Rawlins has Increased first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.