Issuu

NEWS S OURCE FOR WYO M ING C O - O P M E M BE RS

W Y O M I N G

R U R A L

E L E C T R I C

S INC E 19 5 4

APRIL

N E W S

CENTERPIECE CO-OPS MEET TORNADO DESTRUCTION

HEAD ON [16]

CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

A Life of Service [26]

For news from your local cooperative, turn to the center of the magazine.

2019

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[36] [16]

APRIL

THE WREN MAGAZINE WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association

2019

The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 65, number 3, April 2019 (ISSN 1098-2876)

[ 21 ]

is published monthly except for January for $12 per year by Linden Press, Inc., 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Periodicals postage paid at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster – Send address changes to: The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, c/o 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 40,912 for 11 months ending in September 2018. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/ consumers and other subscribers throughout the

FEATURES

ESSAYS & ANECDOTES

BENEFITS 06 ECONOMIC CA R B ON P OW E R

NOTES 04 WREA W H AT ' S U P

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: Maggie York

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

& L IG H T

Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith, Vice President

YOUTH 08 CO-OP CA R B ON ' S G AG E

Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Dick Clifton, President

Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – Gary Nix, Secretary/Treasurer Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker Big Horn REC, Basin – John Joyce Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees Carbon Power, Saratoga – Kenny Curry High Plains Power, Riverton – Hearley Dockham High West Energy, Pine Bluffs – Michael Lerwick Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Fred Brog Niobrara, Lusk – Andy Greer Powder River Energy, Sundance – Mike Lohse Wheatland REA, Wheatland – Sandra Hranchak Wyrulec, Torrington – Dewey Hageman

ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO WREN Magazine • 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001, [307] 772-1968 wren@wyomingrea.org

B A RT L E T T

16 CENTERPIECE CO- OP S M E E T

T OR N A D O D E S T R UCT IO N H E A D - ON

BY ELIZABETH SAMPSON

26 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

A L IF E OF S E RV I C E BY GINA SIGEL

SUBSCRIPTION RATES $12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each

ADDRESS CHANGES To change, contact Jean Whitlock: [307] 286-8140 or jean@golinden.com. Please make sure to include your name, address and co-op.

ADVERTISING To purchase, contact Dhara Rose: [307] 996-6552 • dhara@golinden.com

OFFICE OF WREN OWNER 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001

OFFICE OF WREN PUBLISHER Linden Press, Inc., 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001

PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE INK

STATE NEWS & EVENTS 09 THE CURRENT 14 COWBOY STATE BUZZ 30 WHAT'S HAPPENING

AT W R E A ?

BY SHAWN TAYLOR

ON THE RANGE 22 HOME A DAY W I T H A TORNADO

BY BRUCE CONNALLY

US 36 ENLIGHTEN THE OLD

SCHOOLHOUSE BY CHUCK LARSEN

FROM OUR READERS 28 S A N D W I C H E S

COUNTRY COOKS

TO PAPER 29 PEN GLORIOUS MUD SKUNK POEM

PICTURE IT 33 JUST STORMS

JUST FOR FUN CORNER 21 KIDS' FI R E S AND FO R EST S

24 PUZZLE E Y E O N T H E SK Y BY KENDRA SPANJER

REVIEW 25 BOOK H AVO C & SO LACE BY CAROL DEERING

COVER PHOTO Storm central over Moorcroft on June 29, 2018. PHOTO BY KRISSY BORCHER

WREA NOTES

BREED OF A DIFFERENT (AND BRAVE) KIND

here is a saying amongst the co-op family that if you’ve met one co-op, you’ve met one co-op. That’s because while we all operate under the same cooperative business model, we all have different demographics, geography and needs.

SHAWN TAYLOR

EX E C U TI VE D I R E C T O R

The same could be said for our linemen and women. They all seem to possess the same attitude, consciousness, and awareness when they do their jobs. Similarly they do their jobs to enhance the quality of life for their families, friends and communities where they serve, and they do it in some of the worst conditions Mother Nature can throw at them; all with an approach that makes sure they and their fellow lineworkers make it home safely to their families. But they all have their own quirks, personalities and reasons for getting into the trade, just the like cooperatives they work for: they are the same but different. National studies consistently rank power line work among the most dangerous jobs in the country, and for good reason. Laboring high in the air wearing heavy equipment and working directly with high voltage creates the perfect storm of a dangerous and unforgiving profession. But electric lineworkers are up to the task. These brave men and women are committed to safety, as well as the challenges of the job. Wyoming’s rural electric cooperative lineworkers are responsible for keeping power flowing day and night, regardless of national holidays, vacations, birthdays, weddings or other important family milestones. Beyond the years of specialized training and apprenticeships, it takes internal fortitude and a mission-oriented outlook to be a good lineworker. In fact, this service-oriented mentality is a hallmark characteristic of lineworkers. The job requires lineworkers to set aside their personal priorities to better serve their local community.

APR 2019

FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM To perform their jobs successfully, lineworkers depend on their years of training, experience and each other to get the job done safely. Equally important is their reliance on a strong support system at home. A lineworker’s family understands and supports their loved one’s commitment to the greater community during severe storms and power outages. This means in times of prolonged outages, the family and their lineworker may have minimal communication and not see each other for several days. Without strong family support and understanding, this challenging job would be all the more difficult.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT In Wyoming and across the country, electric coop lineworkers’ mission-focused mentality of helping others often extends beyond their commitment to their work at the co-op. Lineworkers are often familiar figures in the community. They can be found coaching youth sports teams, volunteering for local charities and serving on local advisory boards. Much like many of our coop employees and directors.

THANK YOU Monday, April 8 was Lineworker Appreciation Day. Given the dedication of not just the cooperatives lineworkers but those of other utilities as well, both on and off the job, I encourage you to take a moment and acknowledge the many contributions they make to our local community. And if you see their family members in the grocery store or out and about in the town, please offer them a thank you as well.

Tough training. Safe & reliable power. Linemen play a critical role in our mission to provide reliable, affordable electricity. Tough training and a focus on safety is behind everything they do. Simulated field operations and emergency-response training are ways Basin Electric invests in their safety and in providing reliable power to you.

Your energy starts here. basinelectric.com

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

protect what matters looks like

mother nature

CARBON POWER & LIGHT, INC. COUNTIES

3.2

ALBANY, CARBON

6,284

METERS PER MILE

METERS SERVED

Carbon Power & Light purchases winning steers from 4-H and FFA participants at the Carbon and Albany county fairs each year, paying a total of $99,690 over the last 10 years. We do not put on an employee Christmas dinner, instead we donate the money to Toys for Tots and The Giving Tree. Since 2012, we have donated $18,000 to these two organizations.

DIY KIT 30 x 36 Starting at $8,559

AT THE CO-OP Check out our new 3D designer on our website!

Visit our website at WorldwideSteelBuildings.com for more information.

25 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

30 HOUSEHOLDS SUPPORTED

CREATED IN 38 JOBS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

$12,002,888 SALES

$2,017,230 PAYROLL

$2,535,479 INCOME GENERATED

PERSONAL

IN THE COMMUNITY

$10 ,1

Numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar.

APR 2019

PROPERTY TAXES PAID SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AWARDED

AT THE CO-OP: The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) recently completed a study of the economic benefits of Wyoming’s rural electric cooperatives. Looking at employment and tax revenue data from 2017, the WBC reported that Carbon is an economic driver in the local community. IN THE COMMUNITY: Between 2007 and 2017, Carbon gave $10 million back to the community.

CAPITAL CREDITS RETURNED TO MEMBERS

$1,547,599

$8,589,976

T O C OMMUNI T

 

1912 Capitol Avenue Suite 500 Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 432-9399 WRNLawFirm.com

$60,000

-OP

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DEBORAH RODEN JOANNE SWEENEY KATYE BROWN CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN

GAY WOODHOUSE TARA NETHERCOTT HOLLI WELCH JEFF VAN FLEET

Land Use

Wills, Trusts & Probate

T O TA ,575 L DOLLARS F 7 9

Stronger together Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and our family of electric cooperatives are working together to lead the charge in an ever-changing energy industry, so you can cheer on your favorite team. We are brighter, stronger and better together. www.tristate.coop/together

CO-OP YOUTH

WREN: Tell us about your studies and interests. GB: I love the Ag Industry and so I decided to go on and study it. I have been taking ag classes and really enjoying them. I have been a part of the Ag Industry since the day I was born and have loved every bit of it throughout my life.

CO-OP YOUTH

I love basketball almost as much as ranching. I dedicated most of my high school career to basketball and trying to be the best I could at that. Another one of my addictions is welding and working on equipment. I love being in a shop, building new projects and fixing old ones.

Wyoming’s rural electric support our youth, giving college scholarships and lineman scholarships. In addition, our co-ops sponsor high school students on the D.C. Youth Tour in June and Youth Leadership Camp in July.

THIS MONTH: Carbon Power & Light nominated Gage Bartlett, who received a college scholarship from the co-op in 2018. You may have caught him serving lunch at Carbon’s annual meeting last June.

WREN: How have your hometown, family and/or friends influenced you?

PHOTO BY AMANDA KNOTWELL

cooperatives are proud to

GAGE BARTLETT HOMETOWN: Saratoga HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: Saratoga YEAR OF GRADUATION: 2018

Interested in applying for a scholarship, D.C. Youth Tour and/or Leadership Camp? Contact your local rural electric cooperative! See the insert in the center of the magazine for contact information.

COLLEGE: Casper College & Central Wyoming College MAJOR STUDY INTEREST: Ag Business

GB: My family has influenced me 100%. My grandparents have a cattle ranch and my family has a cattle ranch. With this, everything I do involves cattle and agriculture. I love both tremendously and they are the reason why I want to follow their footsteps and be a cattle rancher myself one day. They also influence me to do whatever I want and to make sure to do the best of my ability in whatever I do. They have really showed me how to live the Code of the West. My hometown has also influenced me a lot. I went to school in a town where everybody knows everybody and would give you the shirt off their back. Wherever you go you run into at least one person you know which is really unique. So many people have supported me over the years and I cannot express how thankful I am to my hometown. My friends have also influenced me. They push me in everything that I do. We all did the same sports which helped bring us even closer together. We also all had the same classes so you were with your buddies all the time which was such a blessing. WREN: What are your plans for the future? GB: I plan to finish college with a bachelor's degree in Ag Business. When I am finished with this I want to buy a ranch and some cows and start doing my own thing. I also would like to have a custom haying business in the summer.

THE CURRENT

ANNUAL MEETING

GARLAND UNVEILS NEW LOGO

Garland's newest employee Jason Fields and Lineman Josh Serr.

he co-op displayed its new logo on linemen’s shirts and during presentations at the meeting. The logo represents Heart Mountain, a significant area landmark. It was created by Board Member Spencer George.

approved the permit for a new TriState substation. Construction on the substation is scheduled to begin in August. Mike Pease won the progressive drawing, which will reset to $500 for the 2020 annual meeting.

The logo wasn’t the only change at the co-op. Membership increased from 1,619 to 1,636 in the last year, and the Park County Commission

A few things stayed the same: Ike Eastman was re-elected to serve on the board of directors, and there will be no rate increase for members this year.

PHOTOS BY ILENE OLSON

Garland Light & Power Manager Molly Lynn was happy to report a strong co-op and strong attendance at the co-op’s annual meeting, held in Powell on March 14.

Andrew Spiering, age 3, son of Anthony and Elizabeth Spiering.

APR 2019

THE CURRENT

ANNUAL MEETING

HIGH PLAINS POWER MEETING MILESTONES

Longtime board member Jess Hankins was recognized for serving as a board member for 47 years during the High Plains Power annual meeting on March 16 in Thermopolis.

“J

ess has been a pretty faithful board member for 47 years. He told me today he doesn’t think he’s missed a meeting in 47 years,” Bret Gardner, board vice president, told the crowd during the meeting. Retiring this year, Hankins was recognized for his service with a plaque and a standing ovation. His seat on the board was filled by his son, Jesse B. Hankins, who was elected in a contested race against Lyle Alexander. Other director positions up for election were filled by incumbents Beckie Darnell, Matthew Frericks and Gary Gordon. All three ran uncontested. Also during the meeting, Board Treasurer Jim Miller noted that 84.5% of the co-op’s money went directly to purchasing electricity in 2018.

PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS

CEO Marlene Morss spoke of the co-op’s work in the community, financial goals and safety goals; and CFO Jon Mayes gave a quick talk on the new advanced metering system.

Jess Hankins, right, and his son Jesse Hankins stand for a portrait during the High Plains Power annual meeting.

A member of the crowd, left, watches High Plains Power Operations Manager CJ Caress, Line Foreman Colte Russell and Meterman Journeyman Ramsey Allen use a voltage indicator on the end of a hot stick during a safety demonstration at the annual meeting

Lyle Spence of Worland chats with Nadine and John Kaspar of Riverton

APR 2019

Tri-State Generation and Transmission CEO Mike McInnes was recognized for his work with Wyoming’s rural electric cooperatives. He retired April 5. Wyoming Rural Electric Association Executive Director Shawn Taylor thanked High Plains Power members for their work in the Grassroots Network during the 2019 Wyoming Legislative Session. HPP reached out to legislators more than any other co-op. “When they hear from you; it really carries the day,” Taylor said. Aspen Thomas gave the energy youth report during the meeting. The Lander High School student will attend the D.C. Youth Tour this summer. “I want to thank you all for this great opportunity,” she said.

PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS

ANNUAL MEETING

WHEATLAND

ANNUAL MEETING

“We survived the fire, the snowstorm, and there is no rate increase this year,” Wheatland Rural Electric Association Board President Bob Brockman said during the coop’s annual meeting on March 20.

he meeting came a week after the bomb cyclone snowstorm shut down the eastern side of Wyoming, along with much of Colorado and Nebraska, and months after the Brittania Fire destroyed homes and land.

Jeff Loseke, left, Chuck Hiatt, Jared Call and Al Teel (not pictured) were awarded pins for their years of service by General Manager Don Smith.

General Manager Don Smith shared photos of linemen placing fire-retardant wrap around power poles. They wrapped 96 poles in four hours on the main line when the fire became a threat, and it worked. “This ended up saving our bacon on that main line,” Smith said they only lost four of the wrapped poles. Linemen worked closely with fire crews and learned from them. Smith said the partnership saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for the co-op. Board Director-at-Large Candy Gering’s seat was up for election during the meeting, and she prevailed over Darrel Harris and David Hinman, who also ran for the seat. Three Youth Energy Camp attendees spoke of their camp experiences, and Board Vice President Britt Wilson thanked co-op members for supporting the community. “It’s not just about making electricity. You guys sent these kids to this camp,” Wilson said.

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COWBOY STATE BUZZ

PHOTOS BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS

ANNUAL MEETING

DELANEY RETIRES AFTER DECADES OF SERVICE Tom Delaney officially retired from the Big Horn Rural Electric Company board of directors during the co-op’s annual meeting on March 23 in Greybull. A longtime member and board president, he served on the Big Horn board for 25 years and was Big Horn’s representative to the Wyoming Rural Electric Association’s board for 22 years. WREA Executive Director Shawn Taylor compared Delaney to a “godfather” character on the statewide board. “He’s a very valuable person to have in the boardroom. He’s always the one to get us off the dime when we’re stuck. The decision is made, time to move on,” Taylor said. “Everybody speaks their piece and we don’t always agree, but once decided we always support the decision,” Delaney said. “If it was a constant battle I probably wouldn’t have stayed on that long.” Delaney grew up in Iowa, came to Wyoming on a football scholarship at the University of Wyoming, and stayed. He earned a master’s degree in education and was a teacher and football coach in Wheatland and Lusk for five years, then spent five years as an assistant coach for the University of Wyoming football team. A few years later, Delaney came to the Big Horn Basin, where he worked in the center-pivot irrigation business for 33 years. 12

APR 2019

Delaney was first appointed to the Big Horn board when a board member became ill and couldn’t finish his term. He was impressed by the people and the co-op model and ran for re-election when that term was up. John Joyce has been a board member alongside Tom Delaney for 12 years. He noted that Delaney and his wife Deany have a strong partnership. “We all know her and think the world of her,” he said. On the board, Joyce said Delaney would listen to others’ opinions and sometimes change his mind. “Regardless of differing opinions in board meetings, he always had respect for the other board members,” Joyce said. Joyce also noted Delaney’s sense of humor, and that after the financial reports during Big Horn’s board meetings, regardless of the actual content of the financial report, Delaney was a champion of the irrigators. “He would announce that it clearly showed that the irrigators were carrying the company,” Joyce said. The members and the irrigators were the people Delaney worked with and worked for, and he was happy to do it. “The rural people – the farmers and ranchers that make up the co-ops – are the best people on earth,” Delaney said.

MEETING MILESTONES

25 YEARS AT

BIG HORN 1994

2019

2,040

2,336

3,201

3,950

120

300

668

815

MEMBERS

METERS

IRRIGATION ACCOUNTS

KWH AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC USAGE PER MONTH

4 DIFFERENT MANAGERS 11 DIFFERENT DIRECTORS $7.4 CREDITS RETURNED

MILLION IN CAPITAL TO MEMBERS

LEFT: Board members John Joyce, Don Russell and Kathy Gilbreath present Tom Delaney with a plaque and watch. RIGHT: Flags and stars decorate cupcakes at Big Horn’s annual meeting.

Cupcakes were decorated with American flags and Pianist Pennie Offley played patriotic tunes as Big Horn Rural Electric Company members gathered for their annual meeting in Greybull on March 23. Three candidates applied for a seat on the board after Tom Delaney announced he would retire. They were Jan Barnett, Steve Helburn and Dan VanderPloeg. Helburn won the seat with 152 votes. John Joyce ran unopposed and was re-instated with a motion by the co-op’s lawyer, Hank Bailey. Guest speaker Barry Ingold, senior vice president for generation at Tri-State Generation and Transmission, said his cooperative had taken steps to control costs and planned to keep rates steady for the next three years. He noted that generation and transmission co-ops were created years ago to mitigate risks for their members, which includes Big Horn Rural Electric Company. “Our mission is to deliver reliable and affordable power to our members,” Ingold said.

keeping you connected

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COWBOY STATE BUZZ

WYOMING TRIVIA

ALL ABOUT WYOMING As we gear up for a national census in 2020, let’s look at the U.S. Census Bureau’s assessment of Wyoming’s population.

APR 2019

Wyoming population (July 2018)

577,737

Percentage under 5 years old

6.4%

Percentage under 18 years old

23.6%

Percentage 65 years and over

15.8%

Number of veterans

46,540

Foreign-born persons

3.6%

High school education or higher, percent of persons 25 years and over

92.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons 25 years and over

26.7%

Mean travel time to work, workers aged 16 years and over

18 minutes

Median household income, 2013-2017, in 2017 dollars

$60,938

Population per square miles in 2010

5.8

Land area in square miles in 2010

97,093.14

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CENTERPIECE

COOPERATIVES MEET TORNADO DESTRUCTION

HEAD ON Roiling clouds northwest of Burns in July 2016. PHOTO BY ORI CONNOR

Last year was an unusual one for Wyoming when it comes to tornados. We had more tornados than normal, and the ones we had were more destructive than usual. There were 31 reported tornados in 2018, which was more than twice our average of 12 per year. BY ELIZABETH SAMPSON

ince 1950, Wyoming has only had 10 EF3 tornados, which are rated as severely damaging with wind speeds from 136165 miles per hour. Last year, though, the state experienced three. Prior to that, Wyoming hadn’t seen an EF3 in more than 30 years. What did that mean for the state’s electrical cooperatives? Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp) saw an EF3 strike housing subdivisions near Gillette on June 1. That same tornado hit Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station power plant. Carbon Power & Light dealt with their own EF3, which struck north of Laramie on June 6, knocking down both wood and metal power poles and damaging buildings. A third EF3 caused damage near Douglas on July 28. All of the cooperatives affected by the tornados worked hard to stay ahead of the spinning chaos.

DRY FORK STATION HIT BY TORNADO Dry Fork Station Plant Manager Tom Stalcup said June 1 was a clear day near Gillette, but thanks to weather warnings, by mid-morning the crew knew that a tornado was possible. Senior Safety Coordinator Ashley Fraser had already alerted everyone that there were tornados in the region, so it wasn’t a terrible surprise when the plant tripped, or shut down. A tornado had touched down in a subdivision west of Gillette, which caused a system disturbance. Stalcup explained that voltage and frequency were both swinging on the transmission system, which in turn made the system trip at 1:43 p.m. But this was just the start of the tornado’s work for the day. The Dry Fork Station was still in its crosshairs.

Stalcup and operations superintendent Bob Donovan were on their way to the control room to troubleshoot the trip when Fraser alerted them to a tornado that had been spotted that was heading right toward the plant. The two men immediately went into the control room to activate the emergency siren and intercom system. They announced a tornado was heading for them and that the 55-60 employees there that day should head to their designated shelters. The plant has three places workers can go when necessary, with people assigned to specific shelter spots. Within

Mammatus clouds over Burns in August 2017. PHOTO BY ORI CONNOR

“

BUT THIS WAS JUST THE START OF THE TORNADO’S WORK FOR THE DAY. THE DRY FORK STATION WAS STILL IN ITS CROSSHAIRS.

APR 2019

TORNADO four to five minutes, everybody was accounted for in the shelters. Then the lights went off in the plant. “After the fact, we went and looked at our security cameras to try to understand what was going on,” Stalcup said. They saw a dumpster that came over the hill from the Transmission System Maintenance (TSM) building. They think the metal lid of the dumpster flew up into the line that feeds power back into the plant. “We can see that it hit the line, and we can see the arc, and then the camera went dead,” Stalcup said. “We lost power to the plant at that point—we call that a black plant.” The tornado had gone right over the top of the TSM building and right over the switchyard. Afterward they had the TSM crews inspect the lines, and when they gave the go-ahead, they energized, brought power back to the plant and moved to start-up mode. In total, the plant was down less than 24 hours. Training for disasters just like this helped ensure everyone was safe at Dry Fork. “We were really impressed with how our employees reacted to the emergency,” Stalcup said. “We’ve done tornado drills in the past, and I think it paid off. People took it seriously and they went to their shelter immediately.”

SAFETY TIPS PROVIDED BY TIM VELDER, PRECORP

Do not approach or try to move downed power lines after a storm. 2

Assume all electric facilities are energized. 3

If your home or other electrified building has been structurally damaged in a storm, it may not be safe to restore power or hook up a generator. 4

A surge of electricity could start a fire or short-circuit and injure someone. 5

Be sure to check in with loved ones and emergency response authorities as soon as possible. 6

Report outages or damaged electrical delivery infrastructure so crews can respond safely. The tornado in Laramie on June 6, 2018. PHOTO BY DOLORES MARSHALL

APR 2019

Do not attempt to fix anything on your own.

PRECORP SUSTAINS $118,000 IN DAMAGE PRECorp dealt with the same tornado that day. The rural electric cooperative in northeastern Wyoming sustained $118,000 worth of damage, including 29 power poles broken and debris in the power lines. About 1,000 meters were affected by the tornado, but 800 were restored to power in about five hours, with the remaining 200 meters turned back on the next day, Communications Specialist Tim Velder said. “Obviously, safety is the top priority on any outage response, but especially when Mother Nature has turned the world upside down in a matter of minutes,” Velder said. “Crews in the field worked in radio contact with the PRECorp dispatch center, where system engineers and operations staff ensured an orderly and effective restoration of power throughout the afternoon, and into the dark of night.”

“

OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY ON ANY OUTAGE RESPONSE, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN MOTHER NATURE HAS TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

With a storm of this size, the damage to the electrical system could have been much worse if it weren’t for careful preparations beforehand. “Lightning and wind are the primary threats to reliability for our system,” Velder said. “An ongoing system maintenance plan has reduced our outage events to historically low levels in 2018, despite this big storm.” Looking forward, the storms of 2018 have changed how PRECorp plans to handle this type of situation. “In the future, more personnel will be assigned to perform site assessments in the field to provide a more complete picture of the damage after a major storm,”

Velder said. “PRECorp will strive to proactively contact members with damaged homes to discuss service options as soon as possible after the storm.” Many of those members were quick to reach out and thank PRECorp for their fast work, making positive comments on the cooperative’s Facebook page and even sending written notes. Jerry Hight wrote a note to PRECorp that said, “I would like to thank all you people for all your hard work after the tornado. You all did a super job. You are what still makes America great.”

Storm clouds over Powell. PHOTO BY VICKI OLSON

TOP: Squall at sunrise near Powell. PHOTO BY TODD HALL

APR 2019

2018 TORNADO REPORTS

“

Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center

AFTER THE STORM, CREWS WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO THE NEXT DAY TO GET POWER RESTORED AND POLES REPAIRED.

CARBON POWER & LIGHT LOSES 26 POLES A tornado that even caught the attention of the BBC News hit north of Laramie on June 6. While the eyes of the world took in the Laramie tornado, Jim Wheat of Laramie, a Carbon Power & Light member, was busy taking it in too. He was in town and could see the large tornado as it formed north of town—right near where his house is. Even though he and his wife Debbie live seven miles north of Laramie, he was concerned about his 95-year-old mother who lives near the stadium in Laramie. The tornado was predicted to come into town and right over the stadium, so he headed over to check on his mom. “That’s when we started getting calls that we had problems,” Wheat said. The sheriff’s department called him, and his neighbors started sending him pictures of what the tornado had done to his property.

APR 2019

Storm clouds near Wheatland. PHOTO BY NEIL SUNTYCH

“It took out the garage and put it on top of a brandnew pickup truck,” Wheat said. The Ford F-350, which only had 3,000 miles on it, was totaled. The attached garage took a portion of their house’s roof when it ripped off. Luckily, their home itself was not too damaged, and they had lots of help from friends and neighbors who jumped in that day to help and continued to do so as they worked to rebuild their garage.

Some of the most noticeable damage was to the earth itself. “There was no grass in the whole area,” Cutbirth said, “It took all the grass and left pretty barren ground.” After the storm, crews worked through the night and into the next day to get power restored and poles repaired. “We had them back on within 31 hours,” Cutbirth said.

As the storm continued its 45-minute rampage, it knocked down power poles and stripped huge swaths of grass right out of the ground.

Noting that they had a good plan in place with a list of resources available for this storm, Cutbirth said if it had been worse, he knew they could have counted on the help of the other cooperatives in the state. W

“It went through one of our single-phase lines and one of our three-phase lines,” said Carbon Power & Light Director of Operations David Cutbirth. “We lost a total of 26 poles.”

Elizabeth Sampson is a freelance writer living in Cheyenne with her husband and two young daughters.

KIDS CORNER

FORESTS & FIRES Don’t think of a forest fire as an ending— think of it as a new beginning.

Forests in the Rocky Mountains have tolerated fire for millennia. In fact, the beautiful forests and meadows where we camp and recreate wouldn’t exist without past fire.

FIRE FOR SEEDLINGS

Lodgepole pines have a special adaptation to fire—serotiny. Serotinous cones stay closed, preventing seed release, until they are heated to temperatures of about 150 degrees or higher. This adaptation allows lodgepole pine to quickly reseed after fire. After the Yellowstone National Park fires of 1988, lodgepole pine grew up quickly in most burned sites, with as many as 250,000 saplings per acre, though most sites had far fewer. According to work done by University of Wyoming scientists, the density of seedlings was partly determined by the age of the trees that were burned—because older trees have more serotinous cones.

FIRE SURVIVAL

Many of Wyoming’s plants are adapted to fire; some conifer trees are especially suited to withstanding wildfire. For example, ponderosa pines have thick, fire-resistant bark so that adult trees survive fires that clean out the understory vegetation. It’s only when small pines begin to grow up, because there hasn’t been a fire recently, that fire can reach into the branches of large ponderosas and kill them.

FIRE FOR WILDLIFE

Well before trees return to a burned area (and sometimes they never do), a variety of plants arrive or return. Grasses, wildflowers and shrubs grow back quickly, attracting a wealth of insects, birds and wildlife. Even burned trees are a treat for many wood-boring beetles and the birds who eat them. It will take many, many decades for the forest to return to what it was— but in the meantime, it may be better!

Last month, the Kids' Corner incorrectly stated that Wyoming doesn't have a state shrub. In fact it does! Thank you to Hulett teacher Lila Kennah for notifying us of this error. She writes: In the spring of 2016, the advanced biology class at Hulett School wrote a bill and lobbied the Wyoming Legislature to establish Wyoming Big Sage, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, as our state shrub. Their efforts were successful and Governor Mead signed the bill into law. Throughout this process, the students learned about the ecology of Wyoming, the legislative process and were honored to be able to make a change in Wyoming's history.

APR 2019

HOME ON THE RANGE

A frantic call from local farmer Gordon to the Colorado State University vet school was why three vet students and I were driving east toward the violent storm. “The tornado went right over us.” Gordon panted into his cell phone. “We rode it out in the basement. The house isn’t hurt too bad but I have one horse down in the alfalfa field and I can’t find the other one yet. I need you now!”

A DAY WITH A TORNADO BY BRUCE CONNALLY

“That cloud is terrifying!” Abby’s hushed voice reflected the trepidation we all felt. The roiling, churning black cloud was an EF4 tornado which had just torn a half-mile wide swath through Windsor, Colorado.

“I hope that thing keeps going north,” Don said from the back seat of the truck. Highway 257 was taking us east right along the back edge of the tornado. To our left we could see black clouds, constant lightening, and sheets of rain as the monster churned over farmland and scattered houses. To our right the sun had emerged again and revealed the carnage caused by a storm with 135 mph winds. The cornfield beside us looked like a woven placemat with areas of punk rock hair. Cottonwood trees were twisted into long yellow splinters or standing and pointing at the now-clearing sky with completely naked branches. There was muddy, brown water lapping at the edges of the county road that led to Gordon’s farm. The beautiful tan stucco house showed little damage; Gordon was waiting for us between a horse barn and machine shed that were not so fortunate. His black and white mare appeared to be resting in the alfalfa beside the mangled remnants of a center-pivot irrigation system. She attempted to stand as we approached, but was only able to get up on her front legs. Sheet metal from the barn roof had sliced through her rear legs, leaving them useless. After a short consultation with Gordon I administered an IV solution that ended her suffering. The vet students and I spread out to help Gordon search for his missing horse. “Harold is a big black gelding that I team rope on,” Gordon told us. “I really like that horse,” he added, almost as an afterthought. We didn’t get to search for long. “Are you the vet?” a woman’s voice called through the wind. “My horse got hurt in the storm.”

APR 2019

woman in tall chore boots and a green slicker was running up the muddy driveway.

“Thank goodness!” Carole replied. “Now if we can find our dog everything will be OK. He disappeared during the tornado and hasn’t come back.”

“My house is across the county road but you’re gonna have to walk ‘cause the trees are down.”

As Katelyn finished with the wound and Don administered an antibiotic, my cell phone rang.

“You better go help Linda,” Gordon said. “I’ll keep looking for Harold but I don’t think he is here.”

“Bruce, this is Steve, your neighbor. The tornado just went through your place. I don’t know how much damage you have but your new foal is out on the county road.”

We drove the vet truck down Gordon’s drive to the county road. After moving several big branches and using four-wheel drive to get through the mud, we made it to Linda’s road. There, a huge fir tree had been snapped off, covering the road and her metal gate. The students grabbed surgical equipment, a stainless steel bucket and drugs. We crawled through the top of the fir tree and over a wooden fence into Linda’s yard. Her house and barn were completely intact. The only signs of a storm on this side of the down fir tree were lakes of muddy water and a nervous bay Arabian mare tied to the fence with a bloody tee shirt wrapped around her front leg. “I got the bleedin’ stopped but she’s pretty shook up.” Linda cautioned.

We threw everything in the truck and navigated the treacherous roads back to I-25. The fear in my heart made me drive a little faster than the speed limit north toward my home. As we pulled into the drive I could see the 12 x 24 foot metal shed where the mare and eight-day-old foal had been kept was gone. All seven of my horses were standing unusually close together in the larger corral. “We got the foal back into this pen with the others,” Steve explained as I jumped out of the vet truck. “None of the fences are down so I think the tornado picked the little feller up and put him out on the road.”

The tornado just went through your place. I

don’t know how much damage you have but

A quick inspection showed that my five saddle horses were not hurt. The foal had a swelling on his knee but was walking fine. His mother had some minor cuts on her chest where she had apparently tried to get through the fence to her baby. We were back at Carole’s house the next day treating the chest wound on the big warmblood. Katelyn was flushing the wound and I was using gauze to remove the remaining sand. As we worked a Chesapeake Bay retriever trotted into the corral and sniffed the bloody gauze on the ground.

your new foal is out on My vet student team, fueled by adrenaline, sprang into action. In 20 minutes the mare was the county road. sedated, the wound cleaned and sutured, and a bright purple bandage replaced the bloody tee “Jake! You’re back.” Carole screamed. “Where have you shirt. Linda’s cell phone rang as the students wrapped the leg. been?” The big dog seemed a little tired but completely un“My neighbor on up the road,” Linda explained. “She says her horse is harmed from the ordeal. hurt bad.” “Must have been a long walk.” Don commented. There were power lines down across the road so we couldn’t drive up Gordon was giving me an update a couple days later. “We to the big yellow house. Carole met us and led the rest of the way on found my big black horse. He was in a hayfield about a half foot. Only the west wall of a log barn was still standing: the rest of the mile from home. All the fences were up and the gates closed barn was nowhere to be seen. The dark clouds were gone now, allowing so I think he learned to fly! I don’t think Harold likes to fly a strangely reddish afternoon sun to shine through a window in the rethough because now when the wind blows he runs into the maining wall and down on to a palomino Shetland pony. The pony was barn and stands there trembling.” not hurt but the big chestnut warmblood gelding on the other side of the corral was not as lucky. He had a bloody wound on his left side behind his elbow that was as big as the top of my hat. The skin and muscle were completely missing. Sand and dirt mixed with the clotted blood. The three massive ribs that were exposed had been strong enough to repel whatever the tornado had tried to drive into the big horse’s heart. “I’ll sedate him.” I told Katelyn, the quietest of the three vet students. “You get a big syringe and start lavaging the sand out of the wound.” In fifteen minutes the wound was clean enough to evaluate. “I think he was very lucky!” I told Carole. “The ribs are intact and there does not seem to be any penetration into the chest cavity.”

The devastation from the tornado was amazing. One man lost his life. Many people lost homes and animals. The cost to the community was in the millions of dollars. “I haven’t named my foal yet,” I told the students as we drove back toward the vet school. “Maybe I will call him Twister.” W Dr. Bruce Connally practices equine medicine in central Wyoming and northern Colorado from his home in Berthoud, Colorado. The tornado hit Windsor, Colorado in 2008. APR 2019

PUZZLE

EYE ON THE SKY

People who understand cloud patterns can read Wyoming’s skies like a weather report. Everyone who has seen a so-called “anvil cloud” knows that a big thunderstorm is brewing, or that a “mackerel sky” means the weather is about to change. But did you know that each type of cloud has an official, scientific name too? Each cloud on this page has a name that includes the five Latin building blocks below. Fill in the blanks then float over to page 35 to see how accurate your forecast was.

BY KENDRA SPANJER

ALT- HIGH (BUT NOT HIGHEST)

CIRR- FRINGE

CUMUL- PILE

STRAT- LAYER/SPREAD

A. B.

H. F.

O 24

NIMB- RAIN

APR 2019

ANSWERS ON PAGE 35

BOOK REVIEW

HAVOC & SOLACE: POEMS FROM THE INLAND WEST

BY CAROL L. DEERING ORDERING INFORMATION: 2018 | 100p. $19.95 Hardcover $11.95 Paperback

In her impressive debut collection, Havoc & Solace, Carol Deering celebrates the inland West. Ecstatic and luminous, her poems construct a “tracery of awe” in that intersection between the self and the natural world: sunrise and dew, the coyote and the meadowlark, lightning on the horizon and “little moons reflecting in our eyes.” Cognizant of the “brittle” world and the tenuousness of peace, these are poems of witness, wonder and revelation, poems that rejoice in the act of looking carefully and intensely until “all the senses ring.” - James McKean, author of poetry books Headlong, Tree of Heaven and We are the Bus

ISBN: 978-1-944986-53-7 Publisher: Sastrugi Press Available at online booksellers or by calling Valley Books in Jackson at 307-733-4533

WIN A

- Lynne Bama, author of Yellowstone Rising

FREE  HAVOC

ENTER TO WIN

"From poignant encounters with wild creatures to vivid evocations of Western landscapes and people, Carol makes magic with words."

c/o WREN Magazine 214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001

 wyomingrea.org/

wren-submissions

COPY OF HAVOC & SOLACE

Name: Phone: Address:

FEBRUARY'S BOOK WINNERS:

SHERRILL WILLIAMS OF MOORCROFT

RUTHELE NEWBY OF MOORCROFT

ENTRIES DUE BY MAY 10 One entry per household, please. APR 2019

CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

LOREN WILLFORD

Loren Willford on the Fourth of July. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOREN WILLFORD

A Life of Service BY GINA SIGEL

Loren “Teense” Willford loves Wyoming. A life-long resident of Saratoga, Willford has given much of his time and his life to the people of the Platte Valley. His greatgrandfather moved to the area following the Civil War, planting a generations-long line of Willfords in Wyoming. Willford and his wife, Sandy, will be married 55 years later this year. “I haven’t won my first argument yet,” he jokes. In Saratoga and beyond, folks know him as the leader of “Teense and the Wyoming Homegrown,” a band that plays music and entertains across Wyoming and the United States. In April, the band will play at the Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs. Music runs in Willford’s blood: as a young boy, he recalls playing music with his parents and grandparents in the living room of their ranch house. “Those memories stick with you,” Willford says. Willford’s life is one of memories – one could say of the “good ol’ days.” His life has been one of giving back and paying forward, from his time serving in the military to his current role as a community leader and volunteer. Willford served in Germany on the Berlin Wall in 1961-62, driving behind the Iron Curtain. 26

APR 2019

“I hate when people complain and won’t do anything

about it. This valley has been kind to me, so I thought I’d give something back to the people.”

Scott Platts, former staking engineer with Carbon Power & Light, left, and Willford at a performance for Teense and the Wyoming Homegrown. PHOTO COURTESY SCOTT PLATTS

“It was eye-opening to see how people lived over there,” he recalls. He tells of seeing women, working in the fields, overseen by men with guns. “That’s a reason I came home to serve Wyoming. We are so fortunate to live where we do,” Willford explains. And serve he has. Russell Waldner of Carbon Power & Light nominated Willford for this profile story. “Teense has always been a public servant. He loves the people of our valley and the state of Wyoming. Teense has been a legislator, Carbon board member, and the go-to guy if anyone or anything needs someone to help make it better,” Waldner says. “Teense is that guy. He’s ‘Mr. Volunteer’ in every sense of the word.” Willford returned to his family ranch after serving in Berlin. The ranch, homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1874, was owned and operated by the Willford family until 1986. His grandmother was born in the valley in 1881. Willford’s father was a musician and performed rope tricks; his mother came from eastern Nebraska as a school teacher. With his family’s long Wyoming history, it seemed only fitting for Willford to run for office. He was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives in 1987 and served until 2002.

“I hate when people complain and won’t do anything about it,” he says. “This valley has been kind to me, so I thought I’d give something back to the people.”

“People cared and got things done

While in the legislature, Willford focused on rural initiatives to help small Wyoming communities. He was instrumental in passing legislation to improve medical care in rural towns.

county preschool board, noting

“I enjoyed it,” Willford says of his time in Cheyenne. “I entertained those guys quite a bit. In those days, we liked to have a little fun. We got a lot accomplished, too.” In addition to his legislative work, Willford served on the Carbon Power & Light board for several years in the early 2000s. “Co-ops are very important,” Willford says. Co-ops play a crucial role in community life, he explains, ensuring customers quality service, low rates and staff that can handle problems such as outages. “When I was a little kid, we didn’t have electricity out at the ranch. We got electricity in 1950, when I was 11 years old,” he recalls. “I remember my grandparents sat there and cried.” He laughs, though, remembering another story. “Sometimes, they’d forget they had it. We’d be sitting there, trying to read by the fire,” Willford says. “Someone would say, ‘Why don’t you turn the lights on?’” It is evident that Willford’s commitment to the state he loves grew from a deep respect for generations that came before him. As he tells his stories, one can feel his love for service.

and made things better,” he says. Willford’s life has been devoted to improving the lives of the people around him. He served on the the importance of helping kids get ready for kindergarten. He offered his auctioneer skills for the fundraiser that brought the first CAT scan machine to Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. He now serves on a committee to assist the medical clinic and nursing home in Saratoga. Willford also gives his time and talents to the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation, an organization with $250,000 in reserve funds. PVLF was designed to not only provide scholarships to Platte Valley area high school seniors and students already attending college, but to support Wyoming graduates who want to come home to Wyoming. Willford would like to see more Wyoming natives return. PVLF’s long-term initiative is to support Wyoming natives to start businesses in Wyoming. Teense Willford doesn’t look for accolades or recognition. He wants to give back to the people who live in the place he loves. “Before my dad died, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?’” Willford shares. His voice quivers, just a little bit, as he tells the story. You can tell it’s a sentiment that rings completely true for this fourth-generation Wyoming man. W

Gina Sigel is a writer and blogger living in Wyoming. APR 2019

COUNTRY COOKS

SANDWICHES CARRIE’S FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES

CIABATTA CABBAGE BURGERS 18 CIABATTA ROLLS, SLICED & LIGHTLY TOASTED 1 LB LEAN GROUND BEEF ½ MEDIUM ONION, DICED ½ MEDIUM HEAD CABBAGE, SHREDDED SEASONING TO TASTE (I USE 1-1/2 TSP MRS. DASH) 8 SLICES CHEDDAR CHEESE

1 (3-4 LB) LEAN BEEF OR BUFFALO ROAST 1 BAY LEAF 1/2 CUP SOY SAUCE 1 BOUILLON CUBE 3-4 WHOLE PEPPERCORNS 1 TSP DRIED CRUSHED ROSEMARY 1 TSP THYME 1 TSP GARLIC POWDER ENOUGH WATER TO COVER MEAT

Brown the ground beef lightly, add the onion, cabbage and seasonings. Continue cooking and mixing together until meat is well-browned and onion and cabbage begin to brown.

Simmer ingredients in a Crock-Pot until tender. Put shredded meat on hard rolls. Dip sandwich into the warm sauce (au jus).

Top each ciabatta with the meat mixture. Add 1 slice cheese to top of half while still hot and top with other half of ciabatta. Also good with pickles!

TINY BUSH

HAM AND CHEESE MELT FOR EACH SANDWICH:

HULETT

NOLA DERRINGER

2 SLICES SOURDOUGH BREAD SLICED COOKED HAM (AS DESIRED) SLICED SWISS CHEESE (AS DESIRED)

2 TBS FINELY CHOPPED ONION 2 TBS STEMS AND PIECES CANNED MUSHROOMS, DRAINED MAYONNAISE (ON BREAD)

Layer all items on bread, top with other piece of bread. Wrap in Cling Wrap and microwave 1 minute. Let cool a bit and slice in half. Wonderful!

KAREN MIXON

SLOW COOKER RECIPES APR 2019

3 SLICES BACON 4 EGGS 1/4 CUP SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE 1/4 CUP MUSHROOMS, SLICED 4-OZ JAR PIMIENTOS, DRAINED 2 TBS BUTTER 2 LARGE FLOUR TORTILLAS SALSA, OPTIONAL Fry bacon until crisp and lay on paper towels to drain. Crumble bacon and mix with eggs, cheese, mushrooms and pimientos in bowl. Melt butter in skillet, then pour egg mixture into skillet over medium heat, scrambling and cooking until firm. Warm tortillas in microwave and place them on a plate. Spoon mixture down the center of each tortilla. Add salsa if you wish and wrap. Yield: 2 servings.

ANNE METZLER

RIVERTON

ALADDIN

Send complete recipe by May 10!

JUNE:

HYATTVILLE

BREAKFAST BURRITO

Please include your name, address and phone number. SUBMIT A RECIPE

 wren@wyomingrea.org |  [307] 772-1968  214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001  wyomingrea.org/wren-submissions

SKUNK LOVE

Soft green scent of spring Comes sweetly in my window. Then a skunk comes by.

MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD

PEN TO PAPER

My car is firmly stuck, Wheels kicking up a ruck. I know what is the reason, It is the Mud Season. Should I stay in the hills, Or stay at home with pills. My mind will not show reason, It is the Mud Season. The ground once more will gain, Because of snow and rain. Let’s all give thanks the reason, It is the Mud Season.

The skunk treads softly.

We need the rain and snow,

He is looking for a mate

For all God’s gifts to grow.

In the cool of night.

The Lord sure has His reason, To give us Mud Season.

Small black striped kitty Is not liked because he smells,

So don’t complain at mud,

But skunk has beauty.

Cheer up your sad face Bud. For every time there’s reason, Even the Mud Season.

A skunk friend comes near. Drifting into the shadows,

CLIVE RUBERY

They touch nose to nose.

CENTENNIAL

Love of skunk is sweet. Springtime will bring new babies For me to enjoy. JOYCE MERLETTI WREN READER LIVING IN CORNING, NEW YORK

We share a selection of WREN readers’ creative writing (poems, limericks, haiku, short verse, and prose) every 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 self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Put Your Pen to Paper!

Please include your name, address, and phone number. SUBMIT A PIECE

 wren@wyomingrea.org |  [307] 772-1968  214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001  wyomingrea.org/wren-submissions APR 2019

WHAT'S HAPPENING

WHAT'S HAPPENING REGIONAL MAP

03 04

APR 20 – MAY 20

01 | SOUTHEAST CHEYENNE MAY 11

Mother’s Day Concert: Laramie County Community College String Ensemble and Collegiate Chorale, 3p, LCCC Clay Pathfinder Building, info lccc.wy.edu/events.

LARAMIE APRIL 27

Spring Gala Concert: Features UW faculty and student soloists, Wyoming Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra. 7:30p, Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming, $12, $8 senior, $6 student, info 307-7665222. APRIL 30-MAY 5

The Robber Bridegroom: Bluegrass musical. 7:30p, 2p May 4, Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming, $14, $11 senior, $7 student, info 307-766-2160.

FEATURED EVENT

MEDICINE BOW

PRECORP LINEMAN SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET

FOURTH TUESDAYS

Bingo: 7p, Community Hall, info 307-710-4045. MAY 18-19

Mineral, Gem & Rock Show: Exhibits, dealers, free gold panning and silent auction. 9a-6p Sat, 10a-4p Sun, Archer Complex Building M&K, $3, 12 and under free. Info 509-953-0634.

PINE BLUFFS TUESDAYS

Bingo: 7p, Recreation meeting room, 25¢ per card, 14 games, info 307-245-3301.

S A R AT O G A GUERNSEY THIRD MONDAYS

Book Discussion Group: 7p, info 307-575-1384. Tri-City Arts Guild: 6:30p, info 307-575-1384.

APRIL 27

Volunteer Meeting: History-lovers of all ages are invited to find out how they can volunteer during events and long summer hours. 10a, Saratoga Museum, info 307710-3226.

SUNDAYS

APR 27  5P  GILLETTE CAM-PLEX ENERGY HALL

Fundraiser includes banquet, benefit auction and side-by-side raffle to raise scholarship funds for future lineworkers. INFO 307-680-4747 PRECORP.COOP

NORTHEAST 30

APR 2019

VFW Bingo: 1p, VFW Hall, info 307-836-2631. FOURTH SUNDAYS

American Legion Riders: 2p, Crazy Tony’s Bar & Grill, info 307575-0838.

H A RT V I L L E FOURTH SUNDAYS

TORRINGTON

Hartville Museum & Community Center: Free music jam for musicians and listeners. Bring snacks and have fun! 4-6p, info 307-836-2288.

MAY 14

Business Roundtable: Financial literacy presentation by RBC Wealth Management, 12-1p, lunch provided, 2042 Main Street, free, info 307-532-3879.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

APR 20 – MAY 20

SECOND WEDNESDAYS

APRIL 26

Rex Young Rock Club: 7–8p, Senior Friendship Center, info 308-632-5574.

The Kingston Trio: 7:30p, WYO Theater, $37.50, info 307-672-9084, wyotheater.com.

THURSDAYS

S U N DA N C E

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): 8–10a, Senior Friendship Center, info 307-3343358.

WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS

Yoga: 4:30p Wed, 5:30p Thu, Central Office Gym, $5, info 307-282-0769.

LUSK

02| NORTHEAST B U F FA L O THURSDAYS

APRIL 25

SUBMIT AN EVENT

Bluegrass Jam Session: 6:30p, Occidental Saloon, free, info 307-684-0451.

GILLETTE APRIL 23

Women and the Myth of the Fetterman Fight: Wyoming Humanities Executive Director will talk about women of Fort Phil Kearny during the Bozeman Trail era. 6p, Rockpile Museum, free, info 908-9637585, holyoak.sw@earthlink. net.

Book signing: Carol Deering, author of Havoc & Solace, Poems from the Inland West will hold book signing and poetry workshop. 2p, Niobrara County Library, info 1-800-223-LUSK. APRIL 29

Send complete information for the June issue’s events by

MAY 10!

Please remember that events from the 20th of June to the 20th of July are included in the June issue. Be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address and contact information for each event. Photos are always welcome.

Dinner and a Movie: 6p, Niobrara County Library, info 1-800-223-LUSK. APRIL 30

Business After Hours: 5-7p, Hometown Country on Main Street, info 1-800-223-LUSK. MAY 8

Mustard Seed Dinner: Prepared and served by Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). 5-7p, St. George’s Episcopal Church, free, info 1-800-223-LUSK.

M O O RC RO F T THIRD MONDAYS

Moorcroft Historical Society: 5:45p, West Texas Trail Museum. Look for more events at wyomingrea.org/news. MAY 11

Strawberry Benefit Festival: Bake sale, lunch, escape room, kids’ games, garden plant sale, silent auction, live music to benefit local nonprofits. 9a-3p, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, info 307-682-4509.

QUESTIONS & SUBMISSIONS:

 wren@

wyomingrea.org

 [307] 772-1968  214 W. Lincolnway

Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001

THIRD THURSDAYS

Birthday and Anniversary Dinner: Meat provided, bring a side dish. 5p social hour, 6p dinner, Senior Center.

S H E R I DA N APRIL 20

Tapestry Dance Company, Passing it Forward: 7:30p, WYO Theater, $20, $18 senior and military, $12 student, info 307672-9084, wyotheater.com.

UPTON APRIL 20

Upton Chamber Easter Egg Hunt: 1p, Upton City Park, free, info 307468-2642. APRIL 26

Upton Gun Club Pistol Shoot: 7p, indoor range at 705 Ash Street, $5, info rrrothleutner@yahoo.com. ONGOING

Senior Center Activities: Weekday lunch $4 make reservation before 9a. 307-468-9267. Tuesday coffee and treats, with an exercise program at 9a. Seniors welcome Thu and Fri from 1-4p. Potluck at 5:30p third Mondays. Medical equipment loans. 1113 2nd St., info 307-468-9251.

03 | NORTHWEST A R A PA H O E APRIL 20-21

Easter Powwow: 12-10p. Great Plains Hall at Great Plains Rd. & 17 Mile Rd, info@windriver.org.

 wyomingrea.org/

wren-submissions

APR 2019

WHAT'S HAPPENING

APR 20 – MAY 20

CASPER

ETHETE

TEN SLEEP

MAY 9-11

APRIL 27

FIRST & THIRD THURSDAYS

Wyoming Outdoor Expo: Event celebrating different ways to get outside and have fun. Casper Events Center, free, info wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/NewOutdoor-Expo.

LANDER APRIL 26

Lander Art Center Members Show: Opening reception 6-8p Apr 26, show continues through June 1. 224 Main Street, free, info 307-332-5772, landerartcenter.com.

THERMOPOLIS MEETEETSE MAY 3-4

Spring Garage-a-Rama: Community-wide garage sale with lots of treasures and oneof-a-kind finds. Info 307-8682454, events@meeteetsewy. com. MAY 4-5

C O DY

May Days in Meeteetse, Open Water Fishing Derby: Threeperson teams compete for prizes, Small Fry contest for kids 12 & under, on the Upper & Lower Sunshine Reservoirs. Info 307-868-2454, events@ meeteetsewy.com.

MAY 4

Service Academy Information Day: Air Force, Military, Naval and Merchant Marine academies will provide information for parents and students. 1p, Cody High School, info 307-261-6413. THIRD SUNDAYS

The Wyoming Fiddler Association District #2 Jam: 1–4p, Cassie’s Supper Club, info 307-754-2687. ONGOING

Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9a–5p Mon-Fri, 836 Sheridan Ave, info 307-587-3597.

DUBOIS REGISTER BY APRIL 30

Camp Bighorn: Five-day summer camp for youth 9-12 on July 7-11, Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp, $500, scholarships available. Info 307455-3429 info@bighorn.org. REGISTER BY MAY 10

Casting for Recovery: Weekend retreat for breast cancer patients and survivors on July 19-21, Absaroka Ranch, free for randomly-selected applicants, info 888-553-3500, castingforrecovery.org. 32

Live Music: Acoustic Open Mic Night on 1st Thu; Open JAM Night on 3rd Thu, 7p, Ten Sleep Brewing Co., info tensleepbrewingco.com.

Service Academy Information Day: Air Force, Military, Naval and Merchant Marine academies will provide information for parents and students. 1p, Wyoming Indian High School, info 307-261-6413.

APR 2019

R I V E RT O N MAY 11 MAY 4

Historic Plant Day: Learn about important crops from Lander's early history and plant your own to take home, 1-3p, Pioneer Museum, $4, 12 participants max, registration required. Info 307-332-3339. MAY 16

Teen-Adult Bead Cleaning Workshop: Join Pioneer Museum Collection Manager for a lesson on cleaning methods for beaded objects. Bring your object and a magnifying glass or reader glasses. 7-9p, Pioneer Museum, info 307-332-3339. MAY 17-18

Wyoming Outdoor Weekend: Event celebrates different ways to get outside and have fun. Lander Community Center, free, wyomingoutdoorweekend.com.

Spool Knitting: Craft your own knitting spool and learn how to use it. 2p, Riverton Museum, pre-registration is required, $2 for children, $3 for adults. Limit 12 participants ages 6 and up. Info 307-856-2665. MAY 17-18

Wild Horse & Burro Adoption: Wyoming Honor Farm. Info 307-352-0302, blm.gov/ programs/wild-horse-andburro/adoption-and-sales/ events.

SHOSHONI APRIL 27

Cowboy Poetry Gathering: 2p, 104 East 2nd, free, info shoshol@rtconnect.net.

APRIL 25

Soul Street Dance Performance: Hot Springs County High School Auditorium, info thermopolischamber.org. APRIL 26-27

Friends of the Library Book/ Bake Sale: Armory, info thermopolischamber.org. MAY 3

Acoustic Jam Session: 5:307:30p at Exxon Southside, info thermopolischamber.org. MAY 11

PEO Tour of Tables Luncheon: 11:30a-1:30p at Thermopolis Middle School, info thermopolischamber.org.

04 | SOUTHWEST LY M A N SECOND FRIDAYS

Lego Club: 10a–noon, Lyman Branch Library, ages 8 & up, free, info 307-787-6556, uintalibrary. org.

M O U N TA I N V I E W WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 11a, Uinta County Library, info 307-782-3161. SECOND WEDNESDAYS

Chamber of Commerce Community Luncheon: For business owners and individuals. $15/plate, noon, Mountain View Town Hall, RSVP bvchamber@ bvea.net, 307-787-6378.

02 03

01 02 03

04 Calm before the storm, Kara Badura, Riverton Seconds of light, Hope Ferrin, Saratoga Big Horn Mountains on June 6, 2018, Lauree Scott, Gillette

Storm coming off the Uintas to Bridger Valley, Butch Moretti, Lyman

A calf catches snowflakes, Carrie Miller, Laramie

Double rainbow after the storm, Nick Biltoft, Riverton

05 06

JUST PICTURE IT

THIS MONTH:

JUNE (DUE MAY 10):

JULY (DUE JUN 10):

STORMS

LEARNING

CONSTRUCTION

07 08 10

Snow on the pond, Neil Suntych, Wheatland

Cloudburst over Rattlesnake Mountain, Toby Sheets, Powell

Snowstorm over the Big Horns, Marion Dickinson, Greybull

Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way in the Big Horn National Forest, Bob Foglia, Buffalo

Looking south, Peggy Truman, Worland

SUBMIT A PHOTO

APR 2019

 wren@wyomingrea.org  214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001  wyomingrea.org/wren-submissions

Please submit high-quality digital files* or an original we can scan, as 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®.

Please include your name, hometown and a title.

If you would like your work returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

EYE ON THE SKY

FROM PAGE 24

Cirrus

Cirrocumulus

Cirrostratus

Altocumulus

Altostratus

Stratus

Stratocumulus

Cumulus

Nimbostratus

Cumulonimbus

MOVE OVER W YO M I N G !

ONE-CALL OF WYOMING

WREN ADVERTISING AD? Call 2 business days before you dig. It's fast, it's free, and it's the law!

811 or 1-800-849-2476

IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE DO THIS I T ’ S T H E L AW ! Drivers in Wyoming are required to move over or slow down for stopped emergency and utility crews.

MOVE OVER. IT’S THE LAW APR 2019

ENLIGHTEN US

BY CHUCK LARSEN

THE OLD

The school yard, now overgrown with weeds and brush, might seem like a silent and empty place to passersby, but for me

SCHOOL

it is filled with the sights and sounds of school days long ago. I’m not sure why, but even back then we referred to it as the

HOUSE

“Old School House” and I remember my dad taking me up the steps to the front door on my first day of school, a first grader who was a little frightened and childishly unaware that he was taking his first steps down the path of higher learning.

THERE IS AN EMPTY

The teacher, Mrs. Benson, informed me

PLOT OF GROUND NEAR

as she led me to my desk that I would

THE FARM WHERE I WAS

be the only first grader that year, and for some reason I can remember that being

RAISED, WHERE ONCE

the only first grader somehow made me

THERE STOOD A SMALL,

feel a little special. I was soon introduced

ONE-ROOM RURAL SCHOOL HOUSE.

to the other students and they in turn introduced me to where we hung our coats, stored our lunch boxes and most importantly, the location of the boys’ outhouse.

APR 2019

At the back of the school room stood a large oil-burning stove, which was a gathering place on the coldest days that winter had to offer, and the area around that stove always seemed to be adorned with wet coats, hats and boots after recesses out in the snow. The image of that stove also serves as a reminder of the day when, during recess and a game of Annie-I-Over, I succeeded in my attempt to throw the rubber ball over the roof of the school; launched that ball in such a fashion that it went straight down the chimney and into that stove. In school that day I learned about gravity, and that when heat is applied to rubber it can stink up a whole school house. On the north side of the school yard stood the outhouses, and in the winter months it seemed as though a trip to the outhouse was like a trip to the North Pole, especially for a short-legged first grader. Here was yet another learning experience:

“

On the north side of the school yard stood the

outhouses, and in the winter months it seemed as

areful

planning

though a trip to the outhouse was like a trip to the

and

timing were required to

North Pole, especially for a short-legged first grader.

make it to the outhouse on

time!

second

memory of the outdoor commode

experience

was related to the time that a skunk took up residence in the “basement” of the boys’ outhouse. This resulted in a temporary arrangement whereby we boys were forced to

ship, the humbleness of winning, the graceful act of losing and the fact that older kids are a whole lot faster than you.

use the girls’ outhouse. I’m sure I didn’t fully

On the front wall of the classroom directly above the blackboard hung the Ameri-

understand why, but I went along with the

can flag, flanked by pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Each

older boys’ horror and consternation asso-

morning, standing with our hands over our hearts, we’d recite the Pledge of Al-

ciated with suffering the indignity of using

legiance. Even as a first grader I understood the importance of this pledge and the

the girls’ privy. In hindsight though, I’m sure

sincerity of that allegiance. Academically,

the girls were far more disgusted about this

the Old School House had so much to of-

arrangement than we were. The problem

fer. Not only did I profit from the almost

with the odiferous intruder was soon recti-

one-on-one teaching skills of Mrs. Benson,

fied, when my dad trapped and removed the

I benefitted from the aid of an entire room

striped trespasser from the premises. Mr.

full of student teachers.

Skunk however, left his calling card, and for weeks afterward a trip to the outhouse left you “skunked” for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, like so many rural schools, the Old School House was closed due to a decreasing number of rural students and

There were three large windows on each

the following year we were bussed to at-

side of the building. Windows that I know

tend school in town. Fortunately, Mrs. Ben-

I looked longingly out of on warm spring

son went with us: she was to be my second

days, wishing to be free of the confines of

grade teacher!

the Old School House after a long winter and a seemingly never-ending school year. Mrs. Benson however, was fully aware of the lure and suffering associated with a bad case of spring fever. The scene outside those school house windows on a particularly warm spring day would have revealed all of us, including Mrs. Benson, enjoying an extended recess, enthusiastically engaged in a game of softball under the warm spring sun. On an early fall day, you might have seen the older boys sitting in the grass with their pocket knives, digging up and eating wild onions. Since the older boys shared those onions, I’m sure my mom, who made and packed my lunch box each day, must have wondered how it happened that I came home with “onion breath” quite frequently. Looking out those school house windows on a winter’s day you would have noted the

Sadly, the Old School House no longer physically exists; the school yard is silent, overgrown and weedy … yet deep inside I can clearly see all that it was so many years ago. I can still remember the taste of wild onions, the sound of Mrs. Benson’s voice; I can still smell the skunk in the outhouse, feel the warmth of that old oil-burning stove, recall the laughter of fellow schoolmates, hear the ring of the bell calling us to class and … reminisce about some of the best school days of my life. I hope for those of you who attended a rural school that this story might cause you to pause and think back on some of the fond memories of your Old School House. W

intricate pattern of a wagon wheel in the deep snow, where giggles and laughter could be heard as the game of Fox and Geese was played. Here were other lessons learned: social skills, sportsman-

Chuck Larsen managed Saratoga-based Carbon Power & Light for 23 years. He now lives in Hulett with his wife, Linda. APR 2019

CLASSIFIEDS WREN CLASSIFIED ADS ARE $0.75 PER SIX CHARACTERS | CONTACT:  SHAWNA@GOLINDEN.COM

 970-221-3232 EXT 22

CATEGORIES 01.

EQUIPMENT

02. FOR SALE 03. HORSES 04. LIVESTOCK 05. POULTRY 06. REAL ESTATE 07. WANTED 08. CRAFTS 09. OPPORTUNITIES 10.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.

BUSINESS CONSULTING

12.

FOR RENT

13.

HELP WANTED

14.

DOGS

15.

EMPLOYMENT SOUGHT

16.

BUILDING SUPPLIES

17.

TRAVEL & RECREATION

18.

HEALTH

19.

PERSONAL

20. FREE

APR 2019

01 | EQUIPMENT

07 | WANTED

Antique Tractors for Sale. 1949 John Deere MC Crawler, 44 Massey Harris, many more. Call 307-742-7370.

Antique Collector Looking For Oil Company Gas Pumps, Globes And Signs. Will pay fair market value! Also looking for general antiques for our antique shop. Please go to our website FrontierAutoMuseum. com. Located in Gillette WY, our passion is to preserve Wyoming history and the nostalgia of the past, especially Parco, Sinclair, Frontier, Husky and any car dealership along with all brands. We are also always looking for WY license plates and WY highway signs and State Park signs. Please call Jeff Wandler 307-6808647 jwandler@LNH.net or daughter Briana Brewer 307-660-2402 bbrewer@frontierauto.net.

02 | FOR SALE New & Used Coal Stokers, parts, service & advice. Available for most makes. Thanks. 307-754-3757. Shaver Outdoor Wood Boiler Furnace. Aermotor Windmills and parts, cylinders, pipe, rod, submersible pumps, motors, control boxes, Hastings 12 ga. bottomless stock tanks and more. Herren Bros., Box 187, Harrison NE. 1-308-668-2582. Surplus Equipment New and Used: Generators, air heaters, engine driven pumps, (all sizes), solar 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.

Want to purchase minerals & other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. We Pay Cash For Mineral & Oil/Gas Interests producing & non-producing. 800-733- 8122.

20 | FREE Soon Church/Government uniting, suppressing "Religious Liberty" enforcing "National Sunday Law." Be Informed! Needing Mailing address. TSBM Box 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771, thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com, 1-888-211-1715.

Leading Acid Reflux Pill Becomes an AntiAging Phenomenon

Clinical studies show breakthrough acid reflux treatment also helps maintain vital health and helps protect users from the serious conditions that accompany aging such as fatigue and poor cardiovascular health

by David Waxman Seattle Washington: A clinical study on a leading acid reflux pill shows that its key ingredient relieves digestive symptoms while suppressing the inflammation that contributes to premature aging in men and women. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product’s effectiveness, this ‘acid reflux pill turned anti-aging phenomenon’ is nothing short of a miracle. Sold under the brand name AloeCure, it was already backed by clinical data documenting its ability to provide all day and night relief from heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, and more. But soon doctors started reporting some incredible results… “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting less joint pain, more energy, better sleep, stronger immune systems… even less stress and better skin, hair, and nails” explains Dr. Liza Leal; a leading integrative health specialist and company spokesperson. AloeCure contains an active ingredient that helps improve digestion by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Scientists now believe that this acid imbalance is what contributes to painful inflammation throughout the rest of the body. The daily allowance of AloeCure has shown to calm this inflammation which is why AloeCure is so effective. Relieving other stressful symptoms related to GI health like pain, bloating, fatigue, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and nausea. Now, backed with new clinical studies, AloeCure is being recommended by doctors everywhere to help improve digestion, calm painful inflammation, soothe joint pain, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles – helping patients to look and feel decades younger.

FIX YOUR GUT & FIGHT INFLAMMATION

Since hitting the market, sales for AloeCure have taken off and there are some very good reasons why. To start, the clinical studies have been impressive. Participants taking the active ingredient in AloeCure saw a stunning 100% improvement in digestive symptoms, which includes fast and lasting relief from reflux. Users also experienced higher energy levels and endurance, relief from chronic discomfort and better sleep. Some even reported healthier looking skin, hair, and nails. A healthy gut is the key to a reducing swelling

and inflammation that can wreak havoc on the human body. Doctors say this is why AloeCure works on so many aspects of your health. AloeCure’s active ingredient is made from the healing compound found in Aloe vera. It is both safe and healthy. There are also no known side effects. Scientists believe that it helps improve digestive and immune health by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Research has shown that this acid imbalance contributes to painful inflammation throughout your entire body and is why AloeCure seems to be so effective.

which results in inflammation in the rest of the body. The recommended daily allowance of acemannan in AloeCure has been proven to support digestive health, and calm painful inflammation without side effects or drugs. This would explain why so many users are experiencing impressive results so quickly.

EXCITING RESULTS FROM PATIENTS

By buffering stomach acid and restoring gut health, AloeCure calms painful inflammation and will help improve digestion… soothe aching joints… reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help restore hair and nails … manage cholesterol and oxidative stress… and improve sleep and brain function… without side effects or expense.

REVITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY With daily use, AloeCure helps users look and feel decades younger and defend against some of the painful inflammation that accompanies aging and can make life hard.

To date over 5 million bottles of AloeCure have been sold, and the community seeking non-pharma therapy for their GI health continues to grow. According to Dr. Leal, her patients are absolutely thrilled with their results and are often Readers can now reclaim their energy, vitalshocked by how fast it works. ity, and youth regardless of age or current level “For the first time in years, they are free from concerns about their digestion and almost every of health. other aspect of their health,” says Dr. Leal, “and I recommend it to everyone who wants to imOne AloeCure Capsule Daily prove GI health without resorting to drugs, surgery, or OTC medications.” • Helps End Digestion Nightmares “I was always in ‘indigestion hell.’ Doctors • Helps Calm Painful Inflammation put me on all sorts of antacid remedies. Nothing • Soothes Stiff & Aching Joints worked. Dr. Leal recommended I try AloeCure. • Reduces appearance of Wrinkles And something remarkable happened… Not & Increases Elasticity only were all the issues I had with my stomach • Manages Cholesterol & Oxidative gone - completely gone – but I felt less joint Stress pain and I was able to actually sleep through the • Supports Healthy Immune System night.” With so much positive feedback, it’s easy to • Improves Sleep & Brain Function see why the community of believers is growing and sales for the new pill are soaring.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOECURE

HOW TO GET ALOECURE

Due to the enormous interest consumers have AloeCure is a pill that’s taken just once daily. shown in AloeCure, the company has decided to The pill is small. Easy to swallow. There are extend their nationwide savings event for a little no harmful side effects and it does not require while longer. Here’s how it works... a prescription. Call the AloeCure number and speak to a live The active ingredient is a rare Aloe Vera com- person in the US. Callers will be greeted by a ponent known as acemannan. knowledgeable and friendly person approved to Made from of 100% organic Aloe Vera, Al- offer up to 3 FREE bottles of AloeCure with your oeCure uses a proprietary process that results in order. AloeCure’s Toll-Free number is 1-800the highest quality, most bio-available levels of 746-2873. Only a limited discounted supply of AloeCure is currently available. acemannan known to exist. According to Dr. Leal and several of her colConsumers who miss out on the current leagues, improving the pH balance of your stomach product inventory will have to wait until more and restoring gut health is the key to revitalizing becomes available and that could take weeks. your entire body. They will also not be guaranteed any additional When your digestive system isn’t healthy, it savings. The company advises not to wait. Call causes unwanted stress on your immune system, 1-800-746-2873 today.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. ALL DOCTORS MENTIONED ARE REMUNERATED FOR THEIR SERVICES. ALL CLINICAL STUDIES ON ALOECURE’S ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AND WERE NOT SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN GLOBAL HEALTH GROUP.

FOSTER HEALTHY HABITS FOR YOUR CHILD’S

Body & Mind

Mealtime routines help build strong family relationships and healthy relationships with food. Make the most of your time together and get your kids into healthy eating habits from the start!

Let them choose Responsive feeding helps kids recognize when they’re hungry or full and learn to trust their bodies. When you provide a variety of healthy foods at mealtimes, they can decide what and how much to eat.

“No” is OK It’s tough when your kids turn away the food you’ve prepared, but don’t give up trying! It can take kids 10-15 times to adjust to a new food before they will eat it.

Set an example Let them help Cooking with your kids encourages them to try new things, boosts their confidence and encourages adventurous eating. It also builds basic motor skills, math, vocabulary and communications skills.

Your child will follow your lead! When you make healthy choices and provide an open, accepting space to talk about food and nutrition, your kids are more likely to build healthy relationships with the food they eat and with their bodies.

MAKE A MEAL WITH YOUR KIDS!

For a simple, step-by step recipe, visit: wyqualitycounts.org/wren

WY Quality Counts, housed in the Department of Workforce Services, helps Wyoming parents and child care providers identify and create quality learning experience for children, thanks to the funding of the Wyoming Legislature.

All WY Quality Counts activities are supported by the Wyoming Early Learning Foundations and Guidelines, as well as the Domains of Development, which include: COMMUNICATION

SENSE OF SELF & RELATIONSHIPS

CURIOUS MINDS

STRONG & HEALTHY BODIES