News source for Wyoming co-op owners since 1954
w y o m i n g
r u r a l
e l ec t r i c
n e w s DECEMBER
2015
2015 Series: The innovators
Manufacturing
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Coming Home to the Co-op Family: The WREA’s Robin Feezer
Schroll Cabinets: Craftsmanship on the Cutting Edge
18
Hitch in Your Get-Along?
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PAIN MANAGEMENT
The Wren Magazine, Wyoming rural Electric News
The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association
Photo by Neil Suntych
Features
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Schroll Cabinets: Craftsmanship on the Cutting Edge Gayle Irwin
The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 61, number 11, December 2015 (ISSN 1098-2876) is published monthly except for January for $12 per year by Linden Press, Inc., 2710 Thomes Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Periodicals postage paid at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster - Send address changes to: Linden Press, Inc., 223 S. Howes St., Fort Collins, CO 80521, (970) 221-3232. Include 3-digit co-op code. WREN Magazine is owned and controlled by rural electric cooperatives in the interest of the economic progress of rural areas specifically and the entire population of Wyoming and the nation generally. WREN Magazine has a total average monthly paid circulation of 39,953 for 11 months ending in September 2015. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/ consumers and other subscribers throughout the entire state of Wyoming and the nation. Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives. WREN Staff Publisher: Linden Press, Inc. Editor: Cara Eastwood Baldwin Board of Directors
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Essays & Anecdotes
Co-op Spotlight Coming Home to the Co-op Family: The WREA’s Robin Feezer Maggie Budd
STATE news & EVENTS
6
The Current
Dr. Candice Carden
10
37
14
Walt Gasson
Cowboy State Buzz
from our readers
30
What's Happening
Big Horn REC, Basin, Tom Delaney Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View, Ruth Rees
Photo by Brett Deacon Brett Deacon Photography
Carbon Power, Saratoga, Jerry Rabidue High Plains Power, Riverton, Hearley Dockham Powder River Energy, Sundance, Mike Lohse Wheatland REA, Wheatland, Bill Teter
Pen to Paper “Granddaughters Next Door“
Just Picture It Wildlife
Basin Electric, Bismarck - ND, Paul Baker Deseret Power, South Jordan - UT, Gary Nix Tri-State G&T, Westminster - CO, Dick Clifton, Secretary/Treasurer
just for fun
Address all correspondence to
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WREN Magazine • 2710 Thomes Ave. • Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: (307) 772-1968 E-mail: wren@wyomingrea.org
P R I N T E D W I T H V E G E TA B L E I N K
29 34
High West Energy, Pine Bluffs, Troy Freeburg
Office of WREN publisher: Linden Press, Inc., 2710 Thomes Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001
28
Country Cooks Chocolate Chips
Lower Valley Energy, Afton, Linda Schmidt
Office of WREN owner: 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001
Enlighten Us Aboard the Bull Hauler
Electricity 101
Garland Light & Power, Powell, Scott Smith
Advertising To purchase, contact: Maggie Budd: 307-772-1552 • maggie@golinden.com
22
Vet Notes You Might Be…
Niobrara, Lusk, Andy Greer, Vice President
Subscription Rates
WREA Notes Keep the Lights On Shawn Taylor
Wyrulec Company, Lingle, Dewey Hageman, President
$12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each
4
on the cover A thin flowing stream defies the freezing temperatures and fresh snowfall near the Green River picnic area in the Snowy Range. In nearby Cheyenne, Schroll Cabinets has been fine tuning its manufacturing processes for over 40 years. Learn more about the manufacturing innovations at Schroll Cabinets on page 18.
Kids’ Corner Water Maker
24
Puzzle Head to Head
25
Book Review Legendary Truths Description by Annette Chaudet
wrea notes
Shawn Taylor exec ut ive dir ec t or
Keep the Lights On Normally at this time of year I write about how we celebrate Christmas too early and how I love Thanksgiving and think it shouldn’t be overlooked as a holiday. I’m not going to do that this year, and instead I want to say how thankful I am for my family, my friends, my cooperative family, the people I work for and with, and the beautiful state of Wyoming. However, I also want to mention what I am not thankful for—specifically, all the federal agencies attempting to save us from ourselves. This alphabet soup (USFWS, EPA, ESA, CAA, CPP, WOTUS, and I could go on and on) is currently attempting to enforce various regulations, often without taking the public’s input or concern into account. Take, for example, the Clean Power Plan (CPP). There are a number of problems with this regulation, and I’ve written about them in past columns. But recently there was a nationwide survey conducted of co-op member-owners, and maintaining 4
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
reliable electric service came back as their top priority. The survey asked member-owners of America’s electric cooperatives to identify the most important factor of their electric service. Fifty-four percent of the respondents said that reliability is most important. Thirty percent of coop members listed cost as their greatest concern. Conservation and environmental impact were third and fourth, with nine and five percent of respondents listing them as their top priority, respectively. In response to the survey, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Interim CEO Jeffrey Connor said, “The memberowners of America’s electric cooperatives are clear about what’s most important to them, and that’s reliability and affordability…When they flip the switch, they expect the lights to come on—and stay on—at an affordable rate.” I’ve written about the financial costs of the CPP and that it will force the closure
of cooperative-owned power plants with years of life left in them, but I haven’t written much about the reliability of the grid when these plants shut down. And it should come as no surprise that the EPA doesn’t mention much about reliability either in their plan. Time and again the EPA has ignored the voices of rural Americans when they have expressed concerns about the costs of the CPP and now about reliability. I doubt that will change anytime soon. So my hope for this holiday season is that Santa will bring a lump of coal to every bureaucrat and administration official who continues to ignore us. Not only would it be an appropriate gift, but the irony of it would also be spot on. So as not to end this column and this year on such a sour note, I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll be back in 2016 with a better attitude…maybe.
grassroots network
NRECA and Co-ops Fight EPA Carbon Rule in Court By Cathy Cash The NRECA and dozens of electric cooperatives are challenging the Clean Power Plan in federal court, citing the potential of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule to shutter coal-based generation at a high financial cost to coops and their members. “The final Clean Power Plan exceeds EPA’s legal authorities and will have a significant negative impact on consumer-owners of not-for-profit co-ops across the nation. We are asking the court to put the brakes on this rule and prevent this incredible overreach from being implemented,” said Kirk Johnson, NRECA senior vice president for government relations. “EPA’s rule provides no relief for electric cooperatives that have invested billions of dollars in power plant upgrades to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Now, the Clean Power Plan will require many of these plants to shut down and force co-ops to build new generation or buy replacement power, all at additional costs to members,” Johnson added. The NRECA is also asking the court to stay the EPA rule while it is under legal challenge “to prevent irreparable harm” to members. The rule was published October 23 in the Federal Register and will take effect December 23. Publication launched a 60day period to legally challenge the rule in
Electric Co-op Today
the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Numerous states and other industry groups and sectors also were expected to file suit against the Clean Power Plan. The rule, finalized in August, requires existing fossil fuel-based power plants to achieve an overall carbon dioxide reduction of 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The EPA set emission budgets for each state to meet, beginning in 2022. States must submit compliance plans to the EPA by September 2016 or qualify for a two-year extension. A federal plan for emission reductions will be installed where states fail to submit plans accepted by the EPA. “The Clean Power Plan is costly and risky,” said Johnson. “It will force electricity price hikes on our nation’s most vulnerable citizens—those who can least afford to pay more each month—and jeopardize the reliable power supply on which the American economy depends.”
Grassroots Network If you'd like to get involved in the WREA Grassroots Network, sign up here:
www.wyomingrea-action.org
DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
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Coal Report The University of Wyoming’s Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy recently published a report titled “The Impact of the Coal Economy on Wyoming.” WREN is publishing portions of the report in installments, but readers can also access the full publication at www.uwyo.edu/cee.
Potential Impacts of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan Proposal Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy School of E n e r g y Res o u r c es
The greatest risks Wyoming’s coal industry faces, and by extension the greatest risks to state revenues derived from coal production, are posed by proposed carbon regulations. Significant expansion of international coal exports on the order of 100 million tons annually may be possible with the opening of proposed new export terminals, which would have significant economic benefit to Wyoming. By 2030, the terminals would not, however, entirely offset the potential coal production losses resulting from carbon regulations in any of the policy scenarios considered in this study. The ways in which policymakers in Wyoming and across the nation implement strategies to meet new carbon regulations is critical to the economic impacts the state will experience. Greater use of energy-efficiency measures coupled with wider cooperation among states at a national scale is critical to minimizing the impact of the regulation on Wyoming’s economy. “The Impact of the Coal Economy on Wyoming” was produced by the Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy at UW. Support for the report was provided by the following entities: Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, UW School of Energy Resources, UW International Programs Office. However, all views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the sponsoring organizations.
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High West Annual Meeting Photo by Maggie Budd
the current
High West Energy President Russ Nielsen congratulates Board Director Jamie Fowler on receiving his NRECA Board Leadership Program Certificate.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, High West Energy held its 78th annual meeting at Kimball High School in Kimball, Neb. Board director Troy Freeburg announced his retirement. “High West has the best members anyone could have,” Freeburg noted in his speech. Michael Lerwick of Albin was elected to replace Freeburg for District 11. Board directors Jerry Burnett and Jamie Fowler received NRECA director training certificates for completing a program. WREA Executive Director Shawn Taylor and High West CEO Brian Heithoff also spoke at the meeting.
Basin Electric Annual Meeting Basin Electric’s 2015 annual meeting brought in more than 1,000 member coop employees, directors, public officials, and utility representatives, and featured several updates on complex issues and developments, but woven throughout the entire two-day meeting was a reminder to all member cooperatives that they own Basin Electric. “Our purpose is to take care of each other, solve problems in our community, and, indeed, power our communities. Basin Electric must never lose sight of that,” said Board President Wayne Peltier. “There was no bigger proof of our commitment than this year, when we faced many monumental changes in the way we do business.”
Before you switch on the lights, we’ve already put up the poles, connected miles of wire and flipped more than a few switches of our own. All to make sure your life is always “on.” Learn more about the power of your co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.
YOUR ELECTRICITY ISN’T SOMETHING WE TAKE LIGHTLY.
Wyoming’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
®
the current
If you have questions about the Youth Tour or would like to learn more about applying, contact Robin Feezer at the WREA office at 634-0727.
Top row (from left to right): Isaac Stanworth, Taylor Wagner, Jared Marquart, Joe Bassett. Middle row: Olivia Croft, Brenda Ransom, Jill Davidson, Karson Stotts, Cortney Johnson, Kathleen Arbogast, Morea Shipley, Makenna Greenwald. Bottom row: Bailey Hitner, Kami Schaefer, Melissa Biegler. Photo courtesy of Robin Feezer
2015 Youth Tour The new degree of comfort.TM
Rheem MarathonTM Electric Water Heater The lightweight Rheem Marathon electric water heater provides worry-free installation for you and years of worry-free hot water and energy savings for homeowners. It’s award winning and as the industry’s only seamless, non-metallic water heater with limited lifetime warranty and six-year warranty on parts, its value is among the best available. Benefits of the Marathon’s durable, non-metallic tank: • Lightweight for easy handling and installation • Does not corrode or rust which means no leaks • No anode required which eliminates ‘smelly’ water issues
The Rheem Marathon electric water heater is available in 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 85, and 105 gallon models.
Additional benefits of the Marathon’s unique design: • Thick, 2-1/2” insulation provides very low stand by heat loss rate for great energy savings - more than any other water heater in its class • Titanium and copper elements resist lime buildup and operate more efficiently • Electric product that requires no venting for greatly reduced installation costs • Factory-installed T&P (temperature & pressure relief) safety valve and 4 feet of pipe insulation for increased energy savings included
Rheem/Marathon Electric Water heaters can be purchased from the following Wyoming rural electric cooperatives: High West Energy, High Plains Power, Carbon Power & Light, Wheatland Rural Electric Association. Contact their member services personnel. Visit Rheem.com/Marathon to learn more today.
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The 2015 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., last June included the largest group of Wyoming students in the last decade. Chaperoned by WREA Office Manager Robin Feezer and Powder River Energy Corporation’s Melissa Biegler, the group’s 14 participants represented the Big Horn, Bridger Valley, High West, Powder River, Wheatland, and Wyrulec co-ops. The group visited the most iconic sights, participated in the Youth Day conference, attended education classes, and met Senators Barrasso and Enzi and Representative Lummis. Each year, the delegations from each state choose a student to represent the state on the Youth Leadership Council. Wyoming’s 2015 representative is Nicole Johnson, who had the opportunity to return to the capital in July for a leadership workshop and who will also take part in the 2016 NRECA Annual Meeting in February.
cowboy state buzz
FYI
University of Wyoming Extension
White House Honors Glendo Rancher as Champion of Change
This Month in History
Temporary Ice Famine
Larry Cundall at the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center field day in August.
The Worland Grit December 2, 1909
Photo courtesy of UW Extension
Glendo rancher Larry Cundall was one of 12 people recognized in ceremonies October 26 in Washington, D.C., for exemplary leadership and innovation in agricultural production and education. Cundall was the only rancher honored in the White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and ClimateSmart Agriculture program. During a panel presentation in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with other recipients—including a dairy farmer from Minnesota, a rice farmer from Mississippi, and a garbanzo and garlic grower from California—Cundall was asked to define sustainability.
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“In Wyoming, it’s pretty simple,” he said. “If it’s profitable and the land stays good for the next generation, that’s sustainable.” The Champions of Change program features individuals doing extraordinary things to inspire and empower members of their communities, according to the White House. Cundall, a Vietnam War veteran and fourth-generation rancher, was recognized for managing his land for increased productivity while protecting wildlife and natural resources. Cundall manages water in a way that decreases water use and labor costs. He has switched from windmills to solar wells and has added miles of waterlines for better water use and grazing distribution, the White House noted. When asked how he wants to be remembered as a Champion of Change, Cundall recalled getting his first calf at age six. He said the cows walked six miles to water. Now he’s 60, and his cattle walk a fourth of a mile. Going back to his definition of sustainability, he said, “I represent my neighbors, because they do those things, too.”
Cooperative Business Journal
FYI
Affordable Care Act Health CO-OPs are Not Cooperatives In highlighting some of the solvency difficulties encountered by non-profit insurers created under the Affordable Care Act, these government-created “CO-OPs” are sometimes mistakenly associated with member-owned cooperatives, or “co-ops,” that provide valuable goods and services and more consumer choice in the market. It is important to note that the label “CO-OP” attached to the non-profit health insurance entities is an acronym while the term “co-op” is an abbreviation for a cooperative business. The “COOP” created under the Affordable Care Act stands for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans. These organizations were never intended to be formed as cooperatives,
legally or otherwise. Cooperatives are structured with a distinct legal business model in many states whereas the nonprofit health CO-OPs do not enjoy that distinction.
of the nation’s landmass. And most of the nation’s 2 million farmers belong to a farmer cooperative and provide 250,000 jobs and over $8 billion in annual wages. Simply stated, cooperatives—or coops—are a working example of real grassroots consumer empowerment, an economic success story that keeps on growing and producing results for the marketplace.
Cooperative businesses can be found in virtually every sector of the American economy. For example, more than 100 million Americans turn to more than 6,000 credit unions for their financial service needs. Cooperative-owned and cooperative-affiliated insurance companies serve over 233 million Americans. About 42 million Americans rely on electricity from 900 electric cooperatives in 47 states, making up 42 percent of the nation’s electric distribution and electrifying 75 percent
We don’t doubt that the financial difficulties facing some non-profit insurers are real and significant, and that the real issue is health insurance. Our message here is to clarify the distinction between these non-profit health insurers and the success story embodied in member-owned cooperatives.
Where in Wyoming? This two-story mural of the historic Globe Hotel was part of a larger project that placed several other murals throughout this Wyoming city. Where can you find it?
Photo by Maggie Budd
Find out next month.
November’s Answer: “Wyoming’s Oldest Bar” is the boast of Miners and Stockmen’s Steakhouse & Spirits in Hartville. Congratulations to Chris Wald for being the first person to correctly identify the photograph.
DECEMBER 2015
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Photo courtesy of the Pinedale Travel & Tourism Commission
cowboy state buzz Cuisine: Chinese, Thai Phone: 367-4788
Wyoming Eats
Hours: Every day 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
China Gourmet The distance from Pinedale to Beijing is 6,025 miles as the crow flies, but if you’re craving a taste of the Middle Kingdom, you can skip the plane ride. Instead, head to China Gourmet, a family-owned restaurant that brings Wyoming and China a little closer together. The restaurant is easy to find—just look for the moose statue. Though the moose and the building’s outside are quintessentially western, the inside embraces an elegant and eclectic Asian décor with terracotta warriors, delicate paintings, red lanterns, and architectural accents. As Chinese immigrants, the owners know that fortune favors the bold flavors. They’ve embraced the taste
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Address: 44 West Pine St. in Pinedale Take Out: Yes
of freshness in every dish on their robust menu, so it may be hard for you to order. You’ll choose from more than 100 menu items celebrating the countless variations of Chinese cuisine, including Beijing, Szechuan, Hunan, and Cantonese. (Don’t worry—you don’t have to know anything about the regional traditions to enjoy their tasty results.) All the dishes your taste buds already know and love are there: crunchy fried wontons, wispy egg drop soup, hearty chow mein noodles, tangy sweet and sour pork, garlicky beef with broccoli, and even seven variations of fried rice. If you’re looking for new flavors to liven
up your taste buds, try the spicy Ma Po To Fu. Loosely translated, it means “pock-marked grandma’s beancurd,” but don’t be fooled by the name. This isn’t your grandma’s cooking—unless she has a taste for tofu with hot chili and bean paste sauce. You could also dip a toe into Thai cuisine by ordering the mild Panang curry, made with coconut milk and brightened with lime leaves and basil. Whatever you order, meals are usually best enjoyed with company, and that’s especially true at China Gourmet. With reasonable prices, generous portions, and fresh flavors, this is a restaurant that you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
merry & bright
What a wonderful time to celebrate hope, joy and family, and share how much we care for our employees, members and communities across the region. Happiest of holidays.
electricity 101
Sources: AEP Texas | “Rural Electrification Changed Farm Life Forever in Wyoming” at wyohistory.org
Energy Education
What’s on an Electric Power Pole?
Simple Ways to Save Fireplaces
Remember to close your fireplace damper (unless a fire is burning). Keeping the damper open is like leaving a window wide open during the winter, allowing warm air to escape through the chimney.
Electricity History December 1953
More than 90 percent of farms in the United States are receiving electric power. Less than two decades earlier, only 10 percent of the nation’s farms enjoyed the same privilege.
GUY-WIRES Guy-wires are connected to anchors in the ground to help stabilize the pole.
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Electric Quotables Alexander Graham Bell
“Watson…if I can get a mechanism which will make a current of electricity vary in its intensity, as the air varies in density when a sound is passing through it, I can telegraph any sound, even the sound of speech.”
kids’ corner
science experiment
Content from the National Energy Education Development Project
Water Maker Step 1:
Step 4:
Gather the materials
Conduct the procedure 3 clear bowls
12 ice cubes
1. Place four ice cubes in each bowl. Leave one bowl uncovered, cover one with clear plastic, and cover one with black plastic. 2. Place the bowls outside on a cold day (below freezing).
Clear plastic
3. Check the ice cubes every 15 minutes for an hour and record your observations.
Black plastic
Step 2:
Step 3:
Ask questions Can you melt ice or snow to make water when the temperature is below freezing?
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4. Try this experiment on a sunny day and a cloudy day.
Step 5:
Generate a hypothesis
Analyze the results and form conclusions
Ice or snow can/cannot melt when the temperature is below freezing.
Did any of the ice melt when the temperature was below freezing? Did the amount of sun make a difference? Can you explain your results?
Little Learners december’s playtime activity is:
For children ages 0-5
The Three LiTTLe Pigs 1
AND THE
Engineer
2
Find a variety of building materials from household items with your children to construct different types of houses. Discuss which materials build the strongest houses. Try wrapping and connecting with pipe cleaners, gluing toothpicks together, building with Playdoh, or stacking and connecting blocks and Legos!
Awarene for quali ss & training ty child care
Ask Your Child Which type of house will be the strongest and which will be the weakest? Why do you think so?
3
Play Big Bad Wolf! Have your child use his own breath or a hair dryer to test the strength of each house as he tries to “huff, puff, and blow the house down!”
Story Time
ages 0-3
Read to your child the story of The Three Little Pigs or tell your own version of the Big Bad Wolf who blew the piggies’ houses down. Act it out and experiment with different voices while reading the story.
WY Quality Counts, housed in the Department of Workforce Services, helps Wyoming parents and child care providers identify and create quality learning experiences for children, thanks to the funding of the Wyoming State Legistlature.
For more information about WY Quality counts and the domains of development, visit wyqualitycounts.org.
All WY Quality Counts Little Learners activities are supported by the Wyoming Early Learning Foundations and Guidelines. These domains include: COMMUNICATION
SeNSe OF SeLF & ReLATIONSHIPS
CURIOUS MINDS
STRONg & HeALTHy BODIeS
chroll Cabinets
Photos courtesy of Schroll Cabinets
Craftsmanship on the Cutting Edge By Gayle irwin
F
or more than 40 years, Schroll Cabinets of Cheyenne has served the public with custom-made products to enrich homes, and implementing innovations has played a major role in the company’s success. About 20 years ago, the company incorporated Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines, a technology that uses computers to control machine tools such as lathes, routers, and grinders. “CNCs are common in our industry and in many other manufacturing industries,” said John Schroll, one of the founders of the business. “It does all the machining of our cabinet component parts…[and] machining of sides, bottoms, and backs of cabinets [as well as other aspects of the process].” The computer controls exact positioning and speed, leading to other benefits. “It’s made the operation a lot safer,” Schroll said. “It’s automated our business. It’s also made the components very accurate and very productive. It’s a much faster, more efficient method.”
Interested? To learn more, visit www.schrollcabinets.com. Photo courtesy of Schroll Cabinets
Other Innovations
Other innovations the business employs are computerized saws and in-house-developed software— these work together and optimize materials and components used in the creation of a specific cabinet. The software “produces all of our cut lists and components lists,” which are “interfaced with” another computer program, creating “a cutting pattern that is downloaded to the saw,” he said. “The saw operator is prompted on what material to put on the saw, and then basically the saw will retrieve that and begin cutting those components,” said Schroll. “The process is integrated between order and software, producing the components to optimize [and] creating cutting patterns [that transfer] to the saw with the parts identified. When attached to a barcode machine, the code will go to the CNC machine [for the product] to be machined,” he said. 20
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The proprietary software continues to be developed. “It’s tailor-made just to our application,” Schroll said. A Family-Founded Business
Schroll and his father started the business in 1974; his brother became a partner that year as well. “My father was a custom home builder in Cheyenne—this was kind of a spinoff from that business,” Schroll said. “We supply cabinetry in new homes and remodels.” Growth is part of the company’s heritage. “We’ve expanded the plant several times over the years,” he said. “We started a presence in Colorado about 30 years ago and we’ve been building on that since.” The company has offices and showrooms in Cheyenne, Fort Collins,
Denver, and Colorado Springs, with designers at each location. Additionally, distributors are located in Buffalo and Gillette, Wyo.; in Scottsbluff, Neb.; and in Denver, Estes Park, and Steamboat Springs, Colo. The various innovations have helped move the business forward. “It’s allowed us to have a very broad, well-defined product offering and it’s allowed us to customize any of the standard product offerings we have,” said Schroll. Striving for Energy Efficiency
Manufacturing businesses require a lot of energy to operate. Schroll Cabinets is no exception. However, the company is looking at ways to curb its natural gas and electrical consumption. “We’re trying to be efficient in terms of our energy sources,” Schroll said. Last March, an energy audit was conducted by Colorado State
Energy Audits Benefit Home and Business Owners Energy audits for residences and businesses benefit owners. According to the US Department of Energy, the purpose of an audit “is to determine where, when, why and how energy is used in a facility and to identify opportunities to improve efficiency.” Those improvements range from simple to more complex and often include light bulb replacement. One of the primary benefits of an energy audit is cost-savings. Implementing ways to reduce energy loss saves home and business owners money by reducing the operational costs associated with energy consumption. Energy audits of homes and commercial buildings help an owner gain a better perspective of a building’s energy use. Audits help determine how much energy is used, where energy loss takes place, and the potential fixes that can make the building more energy efficient.
To learn more about home energy audits, visit www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-audits. To learn more about commercial energy audits, visit www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/pnnl-20956.pdf.
“...being aware and committed to making our plant as energy efficient as we can is certainly a smart thing to do—it has a good payback.” University engineering students. They visited the plant, analyzed the company’s utility bills, and gained a greater understanding of business practices. They also took inventory of the lighting sources. A report was given to Schroll in August. “They came back with suggestions on what we could do to be more efficient in our utility usages,” he said. “We’re now analyzing it and plan to implement a lot of the suggestions they have. Utility rates seem to be going up, and we use a lot of electricity and gas. “This is the second audit they’ve done for us in the last 10 years,” he added. Companies benefit from energy audits, said Schroll. “There’s information out there that’s
valuable that you may not know— such as manufacturing utility costs are not taxable,” he said. “You get an opportunity to have an independent person come in and give an assessment of what you’re doing and what your improvements might be. It’s nice to hear some alternatives. Energy is a large item and you want to be able to make it as cheap as you can.” Looking Ahead
Growth is not just part of the past—it’s also a vision for the company’s future. “We’ve spent the last three years redefining and reinventing our complete product offering, a task we are still working on,” Schroll said. “We’re re-writing all of our spec books and increasing those offerings substantially.
Because of all of the work we’ve done with our proprietary software and our operation, we feel like we’re able to produce a larger variety of cabinetry. “Our goal going forward is to implement that into our market and hopefully have the business grow because of our capabilities,” he added. With growth comes additional energy costs, a factor that, given the energy audit, will be taken into consideration. “We’re in a transitional period in terms of more efficient lighting and motors,” he said. “So we as a company need to continue to make sure that, as we replace our lighting in our plant, we’re replacing it with the best, most efficient LEDs. And when we purchase a larger piece of equipment, we’ll certainly analyze that equipment and what options we have to buy motors that are energy efficient, that put a lower demand on the power when we turn it on. “I think being aware and committed to making our plant as energy efficient as we can is certainly a smart thing to do—it has a good payback in terms of saving on expenses and trying to head off increased utility costs.” A Wyoming-Based Company
Schroll Cabinets employs 80 people, 60 of whom work in Cheyenne. Schroll said he is pleased with having a Wyoming-based company. “We find Wyoming a very great climate to have a business in,” he said. “The State of Wyoming works with us in creating a safe workplace and a clean environment, so we’re very happy with Wyoming.” W Gayle Irwin is a Casper-based freelance writer. DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
21
vet notes on a mini rming an oral exam My daughter perfo am ex ase d pre-purch donkey for a preten
You Might Be.. By Dr. Candice Carden
I
have always enjoyed listening to Jeff Foxworthy, and his “You Might Be a Redneck If…” bit is my favorite. Over the past few months, I’ve created my very own “You Might Be…” list, but in this case it’s called “You might be a multi-tasking mom and a small town veterinarian if…” Your child is comfortable using the word “semen” in everyday conversation. With anyone. Even total strangers. (Oh, we’ve gotten some looks from people!) Not only that, she’s also happy discussing the size of a dog’s testicles with those around her (again, insert horrified looks from passersby), or bringing out her PonyCycle to give an artificial insemination demonstration when company is over for dinner, complete with one of my shoulder-length plastic gloves and the insemination pipette and syringes she brought home from the barn. On the bright side, experiences like this are probably going to make those birds and bees talks a little easier in the future.
You might be a multi-tasking mom and a small town veterinarian if…
Your child has grown up watching you perform surgeries instead of watching TV. While we were putting peaches up this fall, my daughter told me that she 22
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
would take the peel off after the peaches were blanched and cut them in half, but “Mom,” she said, “you can rip their organs out.” One of her favorite games to play is one she made up, called “C-section,” where she is a cow that needs surgery and I’m the vet. She will stuff a couple small dolls under her shirt, tell me where to “cut” on her side, and let me know if one is backwards, or too big, or the exact reason why she needs a C-section. Once they have been safely delivered and I’ve sewn her up, she asks me to put them in front of her so she can lick them off. You might be a multi-tasking mom and a small town veterinarian if…
Your child has been working with you since she before she was born! When I was pregnant, my water broke just after I had come home from injecting hocks on a horse. It would have made for an interesting appointment for that horse’s owner had it happened just a few minutes earlier! This being our first child, my husband was in a hurry to get me to the hospital and make sure everything was alright, so I promptly locked him out of the house because I needed to make some jam (no way was I going to let all that fruit go bad!), and
once it was safely put up in jars I went to the hospital to have the baby. I was back working when she was four days old, and she’s been on the road with me ever since. At that time I was the boss, the secretary, and the only employee in my veterinary practice, and there is no paid time off with that employee roster! You might be a multi-tasking mom and a small town veterinarian if…
Your child’s favorite play dates revolve around brandings, preg checking, and sick animals. Nothing makes me smile more than ranch kids running around and playing together while learning to work and “helping” where they can. And forget electronic devices. When their parents bring an animal to the clinic for treatment, these kids need nothing more than the empty cattle chute in our large animal barn to have hours of fun with their friends while we are working on an animal. They
Photos by Dr. Candice Carden
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Your child has more “grandmas” and “grandpas” than they can count! Our family is so blessed to live where we do. Our clients are some of our best friends. They are truly salt-of-the-earth, God-fearing, good people, who will give you the shirt off their backs and aren’t afraid to discipline and line the kids out if they need it. They will also hold your crying baby and soothe her while you work on their animals. They are happy to answer the phone at the clinic and pitch in to help if everyone is busy! They are amazing examples of honesty, integrity, and goodness to me, my staff, and our
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*** So there you have it. By no means all-inclusive, my “You Might Be…” list grows every day, and I treasure the memories made as we add to it. Especially this time of year, as we all remember the things we are grateful for, I have to think I’m one of the luckiest gals in the world. I have a wonderful, supportive husband, whom I dearly love, and a daughter who, near as I can tell, is just about perfect. I love the people who work for me and with me every day. I can’t imagine raising my girl anywhere but here in the great state of Wyoming, and I get to make a living doing what I truly LOVE. I gotta say, it doesn’t get much better than that! W Dr. Candice Frome Carden was born and raised in Afton. She currently owns and operates veterinary hospitals in Sheridan and Kaycee.
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DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
23
PUZZLE
Head Head TO
During the height of football season, mascots get even less appreciation than kickers. How unfair! Unscramble the possible solutions to each mascot-themed statement, and then decide which option is the real answer. Each correct number sequence unlocks a segment of the dot-to-dot puzzle—a portrait of the only professional football mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Entering overtime? Settle the score by rushing to page 33 for the answers.
The Denver Bronco’s mascot is called ___________.
OR The Tennessee Titans’ mascot, T-Rac, is a ________.
OR The Chicago Bear’s mascot is named ____________ in honor of the team’s founder.
OR The San Francisco 49er’s mascot name is Sourdough ___________.
OR The New Orleans Saints’ mascot is a ________ named Gumbo.
OR The Dallas Cowboy’s mascot goes by the name ____.
OR ________ is a name usually reserved for elderly horses, not spry Colts.
OR Unofficially the Packers are Cheeseheads; their real mascot is ________.
OR The Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s mascot is known as Captain ________.
OR Toro the Bull is the mascot for the ________.
OR Ragnar didn’t renew his contract, so ________ is now Minnesota’s sole mascot.
OR 24
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
book review
Legendary Truths by Ken Johnston • 2012 • 348 p. While reading the history of California and the Gold Rush, one continually encounters historic discrepancies and contradictions. This is especially true about the character and ability of Peter Lassen, a prominent California pioneer for whom the Lassen Trail, Lassen Peak, and Lassen Volcanic National Park were named. While prominent pioneers and military officers sought his company, advice, and guidance, others, including some disillusioned, trail-worn Argonauts and even some historians, denounced him and his achievements. Working as a park ranger and historian at Lassen National Park, Ken Johnston’s curiosity was piqued. It continued through the 20 years of research that has led to this fascinating account of the life and legacy of Peter Lassen.
Annette Chaudet is a publisher at Pronghorn Press.
Ordering Information
“It has been almost fifty years since anyone published a credible
Cost: $24.95
biography of Peter Lassen, one of the West’s most interesting
ISBN: 978-1-932636-93-2
pathfinders and characters. Johnston’s reevaluation of the legends,
Publisher: Pronghorn Press
myths, misunderstandings, and outright lies about the not-so-wily
Available from your favorite booksellers
Dane is a worthy contribution to our understanding of the opening
For a signed copy, contact the author at kljstn@msn.com.
of America’s overland trails and the conquest of California.” –Will Bagley, author of So Rugged And Mountainous
Congrat s!
Win a free copy of Legendary Truths A book drawing is held on the 15th of every month. To enter, fill out the entry form and mail to the address below. Entries must be received by december 15.
Novem
Last month’s winner is not eligible. One entry per household, please.
ber’s winne is Alb r ert W i l d e of Mc Kinno n.
Please print clearly, or use a return address label. Name:
Phone:
Address: Send to: Book Drawing – Legendary Truths c/o WREN Magazine 2710 Thomes Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001 DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
25
co-op spotlight
Coming Home to the Co-op Family: The WREA’s Robin Feezer By Maggie Budd Robin Feezer had a strong tie to the cooperative world before interviewing for the office manager position with WREA Executive Director Shawn Taylor; however, during her interview she realized she still had a lot to learn. “My stepdad was on the board for High West Energy, my brother works for High West, and my uncle sold insurance to Federated. Shawn asked me what a coop was and I couldn’t answer,” Feezer laughed. “Learning how co-ops work and the community was definitely different,” Feezer explained. Prior to applying at the WREA, she worked for the City of Cheyenne and ran the Events Center for 15 years. “Shawn’s son played hockey out there and [Shawn] saw the improvement in the facility over the last two years, so he knew that I was a good worker. He was
familiar with my work ethic,” she said. Feezer said the biggest adjustment from her last job to this one was the new method of office work. “I went from having five bosses to one. I never had to work with a board, but instead worked with city council members,” she said. After growing up in Pine Bluffs, Wyo., Feezer moved to Cheyenne for school. She now has two sons with her husband Phil—Tyler, 21, and Bradley, 11. Feezer handles scheduling and everything in between for all WREA board meetings and office operation meetings in addition to organizing the annual meeting and legislative reception in Cheyenne. She also heads up the Youth Tour and has traveled to Washington, D.C., three times. She is in charge of sending information to kids that have gone to Energy and Youth Camp. She schedules
ONE-CALL OF WYOMING
Call 2 business days before you dig. It's fast, it's free, and it's the law!
811 or 1-800-849-2476 26
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
the interviews in Casper and asks the coops if they are interested in sponsoring any other kids that applied but did not get selected in the top three. In 2015, 14 kids attended Youth Tour. Feezer was one of the two chaperones on the trip. “I make arrangements for sight seeing, visiting senators and representatives, and touring the capitol,” she said. Feezer also serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Energy Share of Wyoming, a nonprofit, statewide program that assists those who do not qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and are experiencing a situation that makes it difficult to pay their energy bills, such as a medical or family crisis. “I do most of my work while I am at the WREA,” Feezer said. “It is something the WREA has agreed to do as part of being a part of the electric community.” “I love the co-op community. I have grown up on farms and ranches my whole life, so I am very comfortable with the board and people that I work with,” Feezer said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two and a half years.” W Maggie Budd is an editor and writer for WREN Magazine.
country cooks
This Month :
Chocolate Chips
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie 1 baked 9-inch pie shell 1-1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp. salt 3 cups milk 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten 2 Tbsp. butter 2 tsp. vanilla 2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted 3/4 cup peanut butter 1 Tbsp. semisweet mini chocolate chips Whipped cream
Combine sugar, flour, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Gradually add milk, and blend well. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat until thick. Blend a little of the hot pudding into the egg yolks. Return the mixture to the saucepan and continue cooking for one minute, stirring constantly. Blend in butter and vanilla. Divide pudding in half, and then add the peanut butter to one half and the melted chocolate to the other half. Let cool to lukewarm. Sprinkle mini chips in pie crust. Add the peanut butter pudding and then the chocolate pudding. When cool, top with whipped cream and sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top. Refrigerate. Delicious! Mary Dickey, Gillette, Wyo.
Chocolate Chip Surprise Cupcakes
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups water
1-3/4 cup boiling water
2 cups white sugar
2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 pkg. (8 oz.) softened cream cheese
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup soft margarine
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 large eggs
1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 2/3 cup vegetable oil
Mix well and pour into 9x13-inch greased and floured pan. Sprinkle remainder of chocolate chips and the nuts on top of batter. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.
1-3/4 cup flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Mix together flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Stir in oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. To make the filling: beat together cream cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of cream cheese mixture into each cupcake before baking. Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool.
Linda Woolhether, Hillsdale, Wyo.
Pour boiling water over oatmeal into a mixing bowl, and let stand 10 minutes. Add brown and white sugar, margarine, and eggs. Mix well and add flour, soda, salt, cocoa, and half of the chocolate chips.
1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. cocoa 1 pkg. chocolate chips 3/4 cup chopped nuts
You can slice a piece of the warm cake and fill with ice cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and top with Cool Whip.
Kay Trowbridge, Lingle, Wyo.
For MARCH, send us your favorite recipes with
Lemon Send by February 5 to Country Cooks: wren@wyomingrea.org OR 2710 Thomes Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001 Please include your name, hometown, and a phone number (in case we have questions).
28
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
pen to paper
Granddaughters Next Door
We share a selection of WREN readers’ creative writing (poems, limericks, haiku, short verse, and prose) every
Five little granddaughters All live next door. First there was one, And now there are more.
Mikaela, the second, With brown eyes and hair, Knocks not as firmly, To say she is there.
Five little granddaughters, Eight years old down to one, Can come right on over, And have lots of fun.
Anytime of the day, Can be heard a small knock, As I read, clean, and pray, For our small, little flock.
Samantha, the next one, Is timid and shy, Knocks a bit lighter, To come to say “hi.”
They laugh, play, and giggle, As girls usually do, Play house, bake, and clean, Dress up baby dolls too.
I pretty much know now, As I listen with care And walk to the door, Which one will be there.
Then there’s Dakota, With eyes sparkling blue, Her two taps so faint, Saying, “I have come, too.”
Being so close, They’ve all learned to share, Though it doesn’t come easy, It does come with prayer.
Montana, the oldest, With her smile so sweet, Will knock very firmly, To ask for a treat.
Patricia, the youngest, So small and petite, Just follows her sisters On wee, tiny feet.
God’s given them sisters, A father and mother, And next month things change, For He’s giving a brother.
issue as space and content allow. To be considered for publication, please include the author’s consent to be submitted, his or her mailing address, and confirmation that the work has not been published elsewhere. If you would like us to return your work, include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.
Lorayne Leastman, Carpenter, Wyo.
Send submissions to: wren@wyomingrea.org
or 2710 Thomes Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001
DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
29
What's happening
Fallen Warriors Memorial Kiosk
For more information, call the Rockpile Museum at 682-5723 or visit rockpilemuseum.com
Gillette | Through January 30 The Rockpile Museum is pleased to announce the arrival of the Fallen Warriors Memorial Kiosk. Three memorial kiosks were created by the Wyoming Veterans Commission to honor fallen Wyoming warriors since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Come read the biographies of 77 Wyoming servicemen and women who have died since September 2001. The interactive kiosk also includes photographs, videos, and related stories provided by family members to help us remember and honor these brave men and women who served our country.
Big Piney
Chugwater
Tuesdays
Third Mondays
Story Hour: Ages 0–5 yrs., 10:30a, free, Big Piney Branch Library, info 276-3515.
The Chugwater Historical Group: We have varied presentations on Wyoming history. 7p, Chugwater Community Center, info 422-3509 (Ruth Vaughn).
Buffalo Thursdays Bluegrass Jam Session: Local musicians play bluegrass, western, and folk. 6:30p, free, Occidental Saloon, info 684-0451. Story hour: A variety of fun activities for kids: stories, puppet shows, crafts, snacks, etc. 10a, Johnson County Public Library, info 684-5546.
Clearmont Historical Center: Every Tue from 2–4p the newly established Clearmont Historical Center is open. Story Time: Grades K–4. 4:30p, free, Clearmont Branch Library, info 758-4331.
Ongoing
Dec 12 Christmas in Centennial: “Breakfast with Santa,” Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Carols from the Melodees, vendors, a special Christmas cancellation at the post office “Elf Station,” and many other events. Info christmasincentennial.com, 760-6946 or jkcostello@cox.net.
Cheyenne
Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9a–5p Mon–Fri, info 587-3597.
Third Sundays The Wyoming Fiddler Assoc District #2 Jam at Cassie’s Supper Club: Old time country/ western music played with fiddles backed up with guitars, mandolins, etc. 1–4p, info 754-2687 (Jerry).
Crowheart
Fourth Mondays Laramie County Cowbelles Monthly Meeting: To attend the monthly luncheon meeting, RSVP by contacting Carole Goertz (547-3423 or cgoertz54@hotmail.com) no later than the Friday prior to the meeting. The meal is $13 per person.
Tuesdays Story Time: By Dubois children’s librarian. 12:30p to 1:30p, free, Crowheart Elementary.
Dubois Dec 12
Tuesdays Cheyenne Tuesday Farmers’ Market: The best in local and regional farm products, locally prepared foods, and handmade farm crafts. 3–6:30p, parking lot of Frontier Mall west of Sears, info 635-0749 (Jackie) or tuesdaymarket.org.
WREN MAGAZINE
Tuesdays
Cody
Centennial
30
Clearmont
DECEMBER 2015
Open House and Gift Shop Sale: 2–4p, Dubois Museum.
Dec 19 McDonald’s Children’s Exploration Series: CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS ART PROJECT. 1–4p, Dubois Museum.
Dec 19–20 Old Fashioned Western Chariot Horse Races: Horse and buggy style from regional participants. 12–3p, $4 admission, Dubois Scenic Overlook Chariot Track on McKinley Drive, info 455-3675, 455-2556, duboiscc@ gmail.com, www.duboiswyomingchamber. org.
Jan 23 Children’s Ice Age Fact or Fiction: Watch the children’s movie and discuss if this could have happened in Dubois. Everyone is welcome to attend. 1p, Dubois Museum.
Ongoing Dubois Museum: Winter hours 10a–4p Mon-Sat, free, info 455-2284.
Encampment Ongoing Grand Encampment Museum: Main Gallery and store is open most weekdays, 9a–4p, info GEMuseum.com, 327-5308.
Fort Bridger Thursdays Junior Rifle Club: For boys and girls, 8 to 18. All shooting equipment is supplied, including .177 caliber rifles, targets, shooting pads, safety glasses, etc. 5p, American Legion Post Home, info 7475868 (Lester Zoellner).
Fort Laramie Dec 13 Fort Laramie National Historic Site Annual Christmas Open House: Fun for the whole family. Music, living history, cowboy poetry. 1–4p, free admission, in the Historic 1874 Cavalry Barracks mess room.
Gillette
Lander
Laramie
Jan 19–31
Dec 13
Tuesdays
Northeastern Wyoming Furniture Restorers Annual Workshop: 8a–9p daily, $180 for the total time, Camplex Central Pavilion, info 682-8442 or brittmbp@vcn. com (James Britt).
Art in the Afternoon Holiday Fair: Featuring all manner of fine art and original hand-made crafts from 50 regional artists. 10a–4p, admission is $2, Lander Community & Convention Center, info 332-5772, frontdesk@landerartcenter.com.
Jan 22 Bunko Fundraiser: Door prizes! Great snacks! Silent auction! 50/50 raffle! Proceeds benefit the ACS Relay for Life team of Rita’s Rebels. 6:30p sign-up, 7p start time, $12 per player, upstairs at American Legion, info 682-9857 (Rita).
Ongoing Ava Community Art Center: Wide variety of programs and classes for youth and adults. Info 682-9133 or avacenter.org.
Jan 1 5th Annual “First Day Hike”: Bring snowshoes or good boots. Lander hikers will meet at the Nature Trail parking lot of Sinks Canyon State Park at 9a. Refreshments will be provided after the hike. Info 3326333, sinkscanyonstatepark@gmail.com, sinkscanyonstatepark.org.
Jan 8–Feb 27
Greybull Library Book Discussion Group: Everyone welcome! Call the library (7652551) for a book list.
“It seemed like a good idea a the time” National Juried Show: At the Lander Art Center. Artist Reception is Jan 15, 6–8p, free. Open Tues–Thur 10a–6p and Fri–Sat 10a–4p. Show runs through Feb 27. Info 332-5772, frontdesk@landerartcenter.com, www.landerartcenter.com.
Wednesdays
Ongoing
Free Preschool Story Time: Each Wed at 11a with a story and fun craft. Greybull Library, info 765-2551.
Pioneer Museum: Open year-round, Tues– Sat. 10a–4p, free, 332-3373.
Greybull Ongoing
Guernsey Mondays Pre-School Story Time: 11a, Guernsey Public Library, info 836-2736.
Third Mondays Book Discussion Group: 7p, info 575-1384. Tri-City Arts Guild: 6:30p, info 575-1384.
Sundays VFW Bingo: 1p, VFW Hall, info 836-2631.
Fourth Sundays American Legion Riders, Chapter 95: 2p, Crazy Tony’s Bar & Grill, info 575-0838.
Hartville Ongoing Hartville Museum & Community Center: Free Music Jam/Carry-In every second Sun from 4–6p. Bring your ears, instruments, and snacks. The Museum is also open 10a–2p Sat. Info 836-2288 (Town Hall).
Hulett Ongoing Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: The museum seeks to inspire, educate, and enrich by collecting and preserving both prehistoric and historic artifacts. 8a–4p Mon–Fri, free, info 467-5292.
Prayers and Squares: Quilt-making for those in need. 9a–12p, free, Hunter Hall, Gild Room, info 742-6608.
Thursdays Square Dance Lessons: All Ages and Abilities. Fun, Exercise, Easy to Learn. Oct 15–Dec 17. 6:30–8:30p, Quadra Dangle Square Dance Club, info 742-6008.
Lyman Mondays & Thursdays Story Time for Preschoolers: 10:30a, Uinta County Library, info 787-6556, on Facebook, or at uintalibrary.org.
Medicine Bow Ongoing Medicine Bow Museum: Hours & days may vary. 10a–5p Mon-Sat, donations appreciated, info 379-2383 or 710-2383.
Meeteetse Dec 12 Christmas in Meeteetse: Local artisan’s Craft Fair, food specials, Santa visit, and lighting of the Memory Tree, roasting marshmallows, community dinner and live
What's happening nativity. Info meeteetsewy.com or events@ meeteetsewy.com (Tess Fremlin).
Thursdays
Shell Ongoing
Ongoing Meeteetse Museums: Winter hours 10:30a–4p Tue–Sat. Free admission.
Moorcroft Wednesdays Story Hour: 10a for 3–5 year olds, 11a for 0–3 year olds, Moorcroft Branch Library. Library hours 10a–5:30p Mon & Wed, 10a6p Tues & Thur, 10a–4:30p Fri.
Mountain View Mondays & Thursdays Story Time for Preschoolers: 10:30a, Uinta County Library, info 782-3161, on Facebook, or at uintalibrary.org.
Art Shelter Gallery and Shop: Both gallery spaces will be displaying work daily, and the shop will be open 7 days a week. Artist is on site with work in progress. Free admission and free coffee and tea available to browsers.
Sundance
Fridays Bingo: 7:30p, free, VFW Hall.
Pine Bluffs Tuesdays Bingo: New players welcome. 7p, 25¢ per card, 14 games, recreation meeting room, info 245-3301.
Riverton Riverton New Years Eve Party: With party favors, confetti canons, and a huge balloon drop at the Wind River Hotel and Casino, 9p–midnight, info 856-3964, sseiler@windriverhotelcasino.com.
Last Saturdays Open Mic Night: 10-minute slots are available on the last Saturday of each month to musicians, bands, and other stage performers for this family-friendly evening. 7–8:30p, free admission, Mammoth Music, info 856-0258.
Saratoga Ongoing Saratoga Museum: 9a–4p Thur–Mon, info 326-5511, 710-3226, or saratoga-museum. com.
To submit an event…
Dec 10 Upton Chamber of Commerce Meeting: 12p, Western Café, info 468-2642 (Brit).
Dec 11
Lunch Bunch Book Discussion Group: New members always welcome. 11a, free, Crook County Public Library, info 2831006 or crookcountylib@rangeweb.net (Jill Mackey).
Dec 21
Ten Sleep Ten Sleep Parade of Lights “Rockin’ Country Christmas”: The annual event hosted by the Ten Sleep/Hyattville Lions Club. 6:30p, downtown Ten Sleep, info 366-2748 (Becky Cooper)
Thermopolis Dec 12 Ranch Sorting: HSC Fairgrounds, info thermopolischamber.org. Tour of Homes: Hosted by People for People. 5–8p, info thermopolischamber. org.
Dec 18 Bluegrass Jam Session: 5:30–7:30p, Exxon Southside, info thermopolischamber.org.
Card Elimination & Potluck: Senior Center, info 468-2858 (Karen Carter). Christmas Tea at the Red Onion Museum: 9a–5p, info 468-2672 (Terry Newlin).
Tuesdays and Fridays Zumba Gold: 9a, Senior Center, info 4682858 (Karen Carter).
Wednesdays All You Can Eat Buffet: 5–9p, $8 adult, $6 seniors and kids ages 5–12, free for kids under 5, Cedar Pines Golf Course, info 468-2847.
Wheatland Ongoing Platte County Senior Outreach Center: Last Out 4-Wheeler Raffle, Yoga, Tai Chi, Crafts, Cribbage, and Knitting. Info 331-7780.
Worland Ongoing
Dec 18–20 CWCC Cutting: HSC Fairgrounds, info thermopolischamber.org.
Torrington Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group: Brought to you by Michele Ogburn, Patient Services Senior Manager at Goshen Care Center, and Dr. Royce Fitts. 1p, free, chapel at Torrington Community Hospital, info 534-7039 (Michele). Club:
Washakie Museum: Winter hours 9a–4p Tue-Sat, info washakiemuseum.org or 3474102.
Wright
Second Wednesdays
Rex Young Rock Friendship Center.
Mrs. Claus Visits the Upton Library: 2p, info 468-2324 (Sherry Randall).
Dec 23
Dec 14
Dec 31
Upton
Third Thursdays
Dec 19
Newcastle
TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): 8–10a, Senior Friendship Center, info 3343358 (Dana Williams) or 532-0728 (Judy Stellpflug).
7–8p,
Senior
First Wednesdays Thunder Basin Belles Meeting: We are now meeting the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30a. The location is subject to change. Lunch: $7 for those 59 years and under, $3 for those 60 years and up.
Third Fridays Dinner: 5–7p, Wright Community Center.
Send complete information for next issue’s events by January 5! Please remember that events from the 10th of the current month to the 10th of the next month are included in each issue. Also, please be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address, and contact information for each event. Each month we select an event for our Featured Event listing. These events have regional appeal and must be submitted with high-resolution photos.
32
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
Questions and Submissions: E-mail: wren@wyomingrea.org Call: 307-772-1968 Write: 2710 Thomes Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001
classifieds
1. Equipment
5. Poultry
9. Opportunities
13. Help Wanted
2. For Sale
6. Real Estate
10. Miscellaneous
14. Dogs
17. Travel & Recreation
3. Horses
7. Wanted
11. Business Consulting
15. Employment Sought
18. Health
4. Livestock
8. Crafts
12. For Rent
16. Building Supplies
19. Personal
WANT TO PURCHASE MINERALS & other oil/
2. for sale HEATMOR OUTDOOR FURNACES, heat your home with wood, coal, used oil, or pellets with a stove that is backed with Limited Lifetime Warranty. www.
gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557,
Puzzle Answers
Denver, CO 80201.
puzzle on page 24
WE PAY CASH FOR mineral & oil/gas interests
producing
&
non-producing.
K.C. Wolf of the Kansas City Chiefs
800-733- 8122.
heatmor.com or call 307-710-6264. Motorcycles for sale: 2013 Triumph
8. crafts
Thruxton: $8,300. 2010 Royal Enfield: $3,000.
2003
American
Ironhorse:
$10,000. 1946 Harley Servi-car: $5,000. Email
questions
to
jaxusedbikes@
Two FREE Bars of Holiday Scented Goat
Milk
Soap.
$10
Value!
Use
yahoo.com, or call Jack at 307-754-
Coupon: XMAS Expires 12/31/15 Merry
7033.
Christmas from the Rusty Bucket, Rozet, WY! www.RustyBucketWy.com.
NEW & USED COAL STOKERS, parts, service & advice. Available for most
9. Opportunities
makes. Thanks. 307-754-3757. Ready to pass these on! 1999 Ford F250: $4,000. 2007 Toyota FJ: $21,000.
Amazing Opportunity!
Must See! Large
1998 BMW Z3: $8,500. 1977: Toyota FJ
4600 sq ft commercial building on 2 lots
with 350 Chevy motor $15,000. 1974
with four 8’ roll-up doors PLUS five walk-in
Jeep CJ 5: $3,000. 1970: Chevy 1/2 ton
doors for easy in/out access. Current build-
$3,000. 1970: 3/4 ton
$3,000. 1970:
out accommodates 5 rental units. Includes
Chevy Blazer: $1,500. Email questions
fenced yard & covered back storage area.
to jaxusedbikes@yahoo.com, or call
3-phase power available. On 4-lane hwy in
Jack at 307-754-7033
Ralston, WY. $185,000 OBO. 307-754-7033. Ask for Jack!
Shaver outdoor wood. Aermotor Windmills and parts, cylinders, pipe, rod,
submersible
control
boxes,
bottomless
stock
pumps, Hastings tanks
motors, 12
and
more.
Herren Bros., Box 187, Harrison NE. 1-308-668-2582.
Generators, air heaters, engine driven submersible
Kauai
pumps
(sizes
range: 5-50 HP and 15-200 GPM on used pumps), solar pumps, trash pumps, 3” and 4” polypipe, etc. A variety of types and sizes available. Call for pricing and details: Premier Powerplants & Pumps, Farson, WY 307-273-9591.
vacation
rental,
2
bdrm,
full
kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600 per week.
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT NEW AND USED: pumps,
17. travel & recreation
ga.
808-245-6500;
kauaiweddings.com;
mokihana@hawaiian.net. BRANSON SHOW EXTRAVAGANZA. Spring 2016. Join NAMI Wyoming and Trapper Tours on a Deluxe Escorted Motorcoach tour from Casper. 8 nights lodging, 14 meals, 7 fabulous live shows. For information 5233
or
call
visit
toll
free
877-765-
www.GroupTrips.com/
TrapperTours.
7. wanted 19. personal ANTIQUE
COLLECTOR
LOOKING
FOR
OIL COMPANY GAS PUMPS, GLOBES
Interested to meet lady 40-60 years
AND SIGNS. Also state and national
old. For friendship and more. Must enjoy
park and wildlife signs. Also general
outdoors, horses, camping, fishing, hiking,
antiques. Will pay fair market value.
gardening and walks at sunset. No smokers.
307-680-8647. jwandler@LNH.net.
Light drinking. Call Jim 307-532-5554.
DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
33
just picture it
1
December’s Theme:
Wildlife February: Winter Activities Deadline: January 5 March: Parents Deadline: February 5 April: Bridges Deadline: March 5
To be considered for publication, please include high-quality digital files* or an original we can scan, as
2
well as details about the artwork, the artist’s name, and the co-op.
*Use the highest quality setting on your camera, or save digital artwork as a .jpg or .tif file with at least 300 dpi resolution. Don’t use Kodak Easy Share®.
4
Send digital files* to wren@wyomingrea.org. Mail prints to Just Picture It, c/o WREN Magazine, 2710 Thomes Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001. If you would like us to return your work, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.
3
5
6
7
8
1. “Patience”
Sandra Price, Wheatland, Wyo.
2. Baby owl
Carrie Miller, Laramie, Wyo.
3. A moose too close for comfort
Butch and Barbara Moretti, Lyman, Wyo.
4. Fall cottontail
Gregg Moretti, Lyman, Wyo.
5. Taken in the Bighorn Mountains
Dena Murray, Gillette, Wyo.
6. Outbound sandhill cranes
Neil Suntych, Wheatland, Wyo.
9
10
7. In Thermopolis at Christmastime
Barbara Rasco, Riverton, Wyo.
8. Bobby
Carol Lechner, Lander, Wyo.
9. “Not so wild”
Mona Dunn, Wheatland, Wyo.
10. Ferruginous hawk ground nest
Gwyn McKee, Banner, Wyo.
DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
35
Wanted:
Personal Ads Beginning in 2016, WREN will publish reader-submitted personal ads in the Classifieds section of the magazine. So if you’re looking for a friend, pen pal, or romantic partner, send your ad to wren@wyomingrea.org. Send by January 1 to make it into the first 2016 WREN issue. Standard classified ad pricing will apply. m a g a z i n e
36
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
Aboard the Bull Hauler
By Walt Gasson For a guy who set out to experience life never more than 150 miles from Green River, Wyo., I seem to have managed to become a pretty seasoned traveler. It wasn’t something I set out to do. It just sort of happened. Like an earthquake or a head-on collision with a logging truck, it was just one of life’s happy little surprises. So, given my status as an accomplished road warrior, I approached the brass here at WREN about becoming the designated travel correspondent. I pitched them the opportunity to bless you readers with the glamor of exotic places, the excitement of adventure, the thrill of discovery. Quite honestly, they seemed a little slow to catch the vision. So, in the tradition of great travel
writers, I’ve decided to bravely forge on. I can only assume that Rudyard Kipling and Alexis de Toqueville encountered naysayers in their time, but did they simply quit and go home? They did not, and neither shall I, dear readers; neither shall I. My work gives me the opportunity to travel a lot. It’s very glamorous. One of the best parts is what I fondly refer to as “shipping time.” For bovine or ovine passengers, it usually happens only a couple of times in a lifetime. For me, it happens once a month. Usually, it starts at some unearthly hour of the morning, when (like the ovids and bovids) I’m awakened out of a peaceful sleep out here on the range and herded onto the trail.
Regardless of what you may recall from watching Rawhide when you were a kid, life on the trail is not a leisurely stroll from San Antonio to Abilene. Usually, I join the herd moving from Cheyenne to Denver before the sun is up, but they’re already on a hard lope. The speed limit on this trail is 75, but the only time we see that is when we’re speeding up or slowing down—and we do that a lot. Various scenic wonders along the trail (like a Subaru pulled off on the shoulder or a one-dimensional skunk on the center line) cause the herd to balk, mill aimlessly, and eventually come to a complete halt for a while. But eventually we get it sorted out and are happily back at 90, making our way DECEMBER 2015
WREN MAGAZINE
37
enlighten us
to the next stop in our ordeal, uh…I mean adventure. With only a minimum of bawling, mooing, and bleating, we make our way to the “squeeze chute.” This is a relatively new part of the whole shipping experience, designed to remind us that we are indeed livestock, and that we will be handled as such. After checking our brands to make sure none of us are mavericks, and touching us in places that would in any other circumstances land them in jail, the brand inspectors herd us into the “loading corral.” I’ve found this is a good time to feed and water if I can. The options are few and expensive, but it may be the last chance for a while so I’m usually happy to pay 20 dollars for a Coke Zero and a bag of Fritos. Experience has taught me that this may be the culinary high point of the next 12 hours. From the loading corral, we’re hustled (again amid the customary noises and smells of moving livestock in confined spaces) into the “bull hauler.” Long, long ago, the bull hauler experience was much different. You dressed up for it. They fed and watered you well. They smiled at you. Now, not so much. Now they just run you down a long alley onto the bull hauler with as many other critters as they can squeeze in there and shut the gate behind you. There used to be signs welcoming you. Now they 38
WREN MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
should have signs like the ones that once graced the Coliseum—“abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” I have had dozens of quaint and charming experiences traveling by bull hauler. Like the sultry summer day when we paused briefly on the
vaca loca en route from Atlanta not long ago. She had self medicated with a mix of drugs and alcohol at the loading corral to ease her anxiety (a habit I may well adopt myself) and proceeded to bawl and puke her way up and down the center aisle of the bull hauler as we flew the friendly skies across the American heartland.
But the charm of the bull hauler is all too soon behind us as we once again are herded through the long alley and out to our new home on the range. Sometimes it’s a familiar pasture where we know all the best places to feed, water, and rest while we chew our cuds. Sometimes it’s to new and dangerous pastures where I go with a briefcase but should probably go with a shotgun instead. Usually, there’s way too many critters already on what little grass is out there. I mill around for a couple of days and sometimes get rimrocked in the concrete canyons of Washington, D.C., or bogged down in the creek crossings of Providence, R.I. But never quite soon enough, I’m back on the Photo by Walt Gasson bull hauler and headed for the home place. tarmac in Newark for two hours to allow some thunderstorms to pass, And I guarantee you, my friends, and shut off the engines to conserve despite all the joy of travel, Judy fuel that might have been wasted in Garland said it best: there is indeed no keeping the air conditioning on. The place like home. W Angus bull next to me was soon bathed in perspiration, which he generously Walt Gasson is a fourth-generation Wyoming shared with me. Or the wonderful in- native and the director of endorsed businesses flight entertainment provided by the for Trout Unlimited.
EVEN THREE IS A CROWD.
NEVER OVERLOAD OUTLETS. Helping members use electricity safely, that’s the power of your co-op membership. Learn more from the experts themselves at TogetherWeSave.com.
A SALUTE TO
WYOMING AGRICULTURE Download monthly computer calendars from the 8th annual ag photo contest AT wyophotocontest.com
Grand Prize: Todd Werbelow, Greybull
Congratulations to the 8th annual ag photo contest WINNERS
Edit: Stacey Atkinson, Powell
Crops: Stacey Atkinson, Powell
Youth: Helaina True, Douglas
People/Recreation: Gwen Shepperson, Arminto
Scenic: Lacee Sims, Evanston
Livestock: Jennifer DeFreece, Casper
The WYOMING BUSINESS COUNCIL proudly supports Wyoming's 11,000 farms and ranches. AGRIBUSINESS DIVISION Growing Wyoming Agriculture wyomingbusiness.org ▪ 307.777.2800 ▪ info.wbc@wyo.gov