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
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N E W S
CENTERPIECE
TIPPING POINT [ 16 ]
CO-OP SPOTLIGHT
How Could You Not? [26]
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2019
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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 6, July 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 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
Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Dick Clifton, President Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith, Vice 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
FEATURES 06 H IG H W E S T
ECONOMIC BENEFITS E N E RG Y, IN C .
07 H IG H W E S T
CO-OP YOUTH E N E RG Y ' S K E N Z IE S P E A R
16 CENTERPIECE T IP P IN G P OI N T
BY ELIZABETH SAMPSON
YOU N OT ?
BY DAVE SHELLES
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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
NOTES 04 WREA D.C. YOUTH TOUR BY ROBIN FEEZER
ON THE RANGE 22 HOME MILK AND HONEY BY GINA SIGEL
US 35 ENLIGHTEN FO RT B R I D G E R R E N D E Z VO U S
BY ROBERT L. FOSTER
STATE NEWS & EVENTS 08 10 COWBOY STATE BUZZ 30 WHAT'S HAPPENING THE CURRENT
JUST FOR FUN CORNER 21 KIDS' P O L L INAT I O N O B S E RVAT I O N
SPOTLIGHT 26 CO-OP H OW COUL D
wren@wyomingrea.org
$12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each
ESSAYS & ANECDOTES
FROM OUR READERS 28 B A R B E C U E
COUNTRY COOKS
TO PAPER 29 PEN CORRALLING HORSES
O L D PA I N T, O L D FR I E N D
PICTURE IT 33 JUST CONSTRUCTION
24 PUZZLE G O O D ADV I CE BY KENDRA SPANJER
REVIEW 25 BOOK T H E ALT E RNAT E C O M PASS
BY STEVE A. ANDERSON
COVER PHOTO The sun sets over a spring pasture near Dry Creek Road and Tipperary Road, west of Gillette. PHOTO BY MATT IDLER, IDLERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
WREA NOTES
D.C. YOUTH TOUR 2019 Engaging the Next Generation
For many teens, the Rural Electric Youth Tour is full of “firsts.” It may be the first time they left the state, flew on a plane, visited the nation’s capital or have been away from their family for an extended period of time. Even more, they are seeing and experiencing the larger world through their own eyes, rather than through their parents’ perspective. That’s the most important first, as it’s truly a “leap” to their next phase and where their journey to adulthood begins.
ROBIN FEEZER
W R E A OFF IC E M ANAG E R A N D YOU TH T OU R C OORD I N AT O R FOR W YOMING
For more information about the Youth Tour program, contact Robin Feezer at the Wyoming Rural Electric Association via email at rfeezer@ wyomingrea.org or by phone at (307) 634-0727.
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The idea of the Youth Tour sprang from a suggestion by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson to a national gathering of co-ops in 1957. Johnson felt youth from rural areas would benefit by visiting Washington to see firsthand how government works and gain a wider perspective through the experience. From this idea, Youth Tour evolved. The program has grown exponentially since its inception and this year we saw more than 1,900 young people participate from co-ops in 44 states. This year, Wyoming took 13 students to D.C.
CLEAN SLATE In preparation for Youth Tour, teens learn about cooperatives, our history and grassroots advocacy. They then travel to D.C. for a week that is interspersed with visits to many monuments and sites, including Capitol Hill. They participate in National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) activities with Youth Tour delegations from across the country and meet a broad spectrum of co-op kids. Our program creates a safe space for teens to discover the adults they are striving to be. Teens leave behind their hometown identity and venture forward with a clean slate. Students are encouraged to stretch themselves by talking to those they wouldn’t ordinarily interact with.
A highlight of Youth Tour includes a meeting with our congressional delegation. Teens learn first-hand that their elected officials work for their hometown community. Students often have the opportunity to discuss issues with legislators, and our chaperones are always impressed with the interactions and questions asked by our students. Evening events feature national co-op partner organizations from the financial and insurance sectors and NRECA International, an organization bringing electricity to rural areas in developing countries. The evening programs challenge and inspire teens to make an impact in their communities. As conversations evolve, so too do the teens’ world view – their definition of community often changes from their hometown to a broader meaning. I can say that nearly all teens who have participated in our Youth Tour program look back with fond memories of an educational, interesting and eventful week. Many make lifelong friends. For a few, Youth Tour is a transformational experience. Parents remark how their child returned noticeably different – more mature, more confident, with bigger goals and aspirations, and with a sense of purpose.
TAKE THE LEAP Youth Tour is one of the most important programs that Wyoming Rural Electric Association undertakes. I am constantly impressed by the caliber of students that our co-op sponsors. Our teens are our future, and it’s looking brighter every day. I hope you will consider urging your teen to “take the leap” and join our next Youth Tour delegation.
Brighter together We prepare for the future while you plan for theirs. Together, Tri-State and our family of electric cooperatives are working together to power your tomorrows. We are brighter, stronger and better together. www.tristate.coop/together
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
HIGH WEST ENERGY, INC. COUNTIES
2.7
ALBANY, LARAMIE
METERS PER MILE
10,136
METERS SERVED
High West Energy has a proud history of supporting the communities we serve. Our employees visit local classrooms to provide STEM education, and we award thousands of dollars in scholarships every year. We recently cohosted an event to raise $12,000 to help a former employee and his family, who fled their new home during the wildfires in Paradise, California.
AT THE CO-OP
58 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
80 HOUSEHOLDS SUPPORTED
CREATED IN 100 JOBS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
$22,427,319 SALES
$3,861,662
$5,494,218
PAYROLL
PERSONAL INCOME GENERATED
IN THE COMMUNITY
$16 ,4
$13,175,438
TY
$3,131,734
T O C O MMU NI
1912 Capitol Avenue Suite 500 Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 432-9399 WRNLawFirm.com
$113,091 $52,500
-OP
DEBORAH RODEN JOANNE SWEENEY KATYE BROWN CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN
CO
GAY WOODHOUSE TARA NETHERCOTT HOLLI WELCH JEFF VAN FLEET
M
Land Use
,763 TOTAL DOLLARS 2 7 F
RO
Wills, Trusts & Probate
PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS RETURNED TO MEMBERS PROPERTY TAXES PAID SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AWARDED AWARDED FROM OPERATION ROUNDUP DONATIONS
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 High West Energy is an economic driver in the local community. IN THE COMMUNITY: Between 2007 and 2017, High West Energy gave more than $16 million back to the community. Numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar.
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CO-OP YOUTH
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLLY MACKIE
WREN: Tell us about your studies and interests. KS: In addition to studying business finance and economics I am also involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, the oldest business fraternity at the University of Wyoming, and I helped cofound Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate level of the Future Business Leaders of America, at the University of Wyoming where I am currently the chapter president.
CO-OP YOUTH
Outside of school activities, I also play women's and co-ed softball during spring and summer and love traveling around the United States as well as around the world.
Wyoming’s rural electric cooperatives are proud to
WREN: How have your hometown, family and/or friends influenced you?
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: Kenzie Spear received a $1,000 college scholarship from High West Energy for the 2019-2020 school year.
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.
KENZIE SPEAR
KS: My hometown, Cheyenne, has influenced me by providing opportunities to participate and grow, such as Junior Leadership of Laramie County, as well as volunteer opportunities to strengthen my sense of community and leadership. Cheyenne is big enough that I was able to participate in numerous activities, but it is also small enough that I made strong connections with people from all walks of life, making connections that will last a lifetime.
HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: Cheyenne East High School
My friends and family have influenced me by providing ample support no matter what direction I went in. They picked me up when I fell down, had my back when I needed it most, and followed me down every path I took, helping guide me back out when it wasn't the right path for me. I wouldn't be where I am today if they hadn't been there through all of my trials and tribulations.
YEAR OF GRADUATION: 2017
WREN: What are your plans for the future?
HOMETOWN: Cheyenne
COLLEGE: University of Wyoming MAJOR STUDY INTEREST: Business Finance with a minor in Economics
KS: Currently I am set up to participate in an internship with Northwestern Mutual during the summer of 2019, working as a financial representative to gain experience in the field of finance. After I graduate with my degree in May 2021, I plan to start a career in finance and eventually work my way up to becoming the chief financial officer of a company.
JULY 2019
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THE CURRENT
ANNUAL MEETING
PHOTOS BY MAGGIE YORK
NIOBRARA CHOOSES NEW DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT 2
Niobrara Electric Association’s 74th annual meeting in Lusk on May 16 was an exciting event. With more members in attendance than were expected, co-op employees moved quickly to set up extra tables and nearly ran out of food.
Niobrara members vote during the annual meeting May 16.
If you receive a phone call demanding immediate payment, hang up and call your rural electric cooperative directly. See the insert in the center of this magazine for contact information.
Niobrara Electric Association Manager Ken Ceaglske speaks during the annual meeting.
There was an increase in participation from the crowd as speakers came to the stage and a new director was named to the board. Neal Wurdeman was elected to represent Niobrara’s District 2 with 92 votes, he defeated contenders Kevin Baars; who received 64 votes, and Bryan Brunch; who received 44 votes. Wurdeman will replace Kenny DeGering, who resigned. For the second year, Niobrara welcomed guest speaker Kim Christensen, general manager of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Christiansen motivated members to get involved with their co-op and focus on electing board members who have their best interest in mind. She also warned members about phone scams that target co-op members. Service awards were given to longtime employees: Chris Rejda for 30 years, Twyla Barker for 25 years, and Julie Hageman and Charles Kleinberg for 5 years.
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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
COWBOY STATE BUZZ
2019 WYOMING ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST FROM THE WYOMING ARTS COUNCIL
Hours driving across vast plains must be accompanied by some seriously engaging tunes. The Wyoming Arts Council has put together a playlist for Wyoming adventures. These musicians represent some of the best the Wyoming independent music scene has to offer. From the indie-folk-meets-rock-band style of The Woodpile, to the experimental sound designs of Crep2oose, to Aaron Davis’ unconventional Americana, there’s something for all tastes.
Hwy 89 + On My Mind
The 2019 Wyoming Road Trip Playlist is a partnership between the Wyoming Arts Council and the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
– JASON TYLER BURTON –
Wyoming + Lighthouse
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WYOMING ARTS COUNCIL
– ISAAC HAYDEN –
Rabbit Hole + End of the Show – PETE MULDOON –
My Declaration + Beautiful Scars – BAYLESS – 10
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Black Night + Casper and Colorado – KELLEN SMITH –
You Can’t Force These Things + Man on a Hill
Opulent + Impavid
– THE WOODPILE –
– CREP2OOSE –
LISTEN TO THE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY BY VISITING: open.spotify.com/playlist/ 346os5qK8hYRLBz7hev3lw
Dead Man’s Bells + Straw to the Pile – ONE TON PIG –
Honky Tonk Halos + Gone Wild – JARED ROGERSON –
The Start – WILLIAM PLUMB –
The Wolves + Same Cloth
Helplessly Hoping + Supply & Demand – CANYON KIDS –
– AARON DAVIS –
JULY 2019
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COWBOY STATE BUZZ
FIVE
AVOID THE STING: WEST NILE VIRUS PREVENTION FROM THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
West Nile virus may be off to an earlier than usual start in Wyoming this year, with the state’s first case involving a Campbell County adult reported in early June.
D
’S OF WEST NILE VIRUS PREVENTION
1) DAWN and 2) DUSK: Mosquitos prefer to feed at dawn or dusk, so avoid spending time outside during these times.
3) DRESS: Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt outdoors. Clothing should be light-colored and made of tightly woven materials.
4) DRAIN: Mosquitos breed in shallow, stagnant water. Reduce the amount of standing water by draining and/or removing.
5) DEET: Use an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethylm-toluamide). When using DEET, be sure to read and follow label instructions. Other insect repellents such as Picaridin (KBR 3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus can also be effective.
For more information visit health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-diseaseepidemiology-unit/disease/west-nile-virus/
“Wyoming residents should take steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Clay Van Houten, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit manager with the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Mosquitos spread West Nile virus when they feed on infected birds and then bite people, animals or other birds. “In past years, we typically haven’t seen cases reported until late in July or August,” Van Houten said. “We don’t think this early case necessarily means we’re in for a tough season, but we want people to know they should protect themselves.” Van Houten said most people infected with West Nile virus don’t have symptoms. Among those who become ill, symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. A very small number develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease with symptoms such as severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions and paralysis. 12
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2019 Winner of the National Homebuilders Green Builder Home of the Year Award Our Heritage Builders have been building High-Quality Custom Heritage Homes using our Off-Site Construction System for over 41 years. You save time, money, and get your own design. A typical 1600 sq. ft. Heritage Home will cost less than $400 a YEAR to heat and cool. Call for the location of a Heritage Builder near you, or for a catalog. See our factory tour online. Wayne, NE | 1-800-759-2782 Find us on Facebook @heritagehomesofne www.heritagehomesofne.com
COWBOY STATE BUZZ
HALL OF FAME HONORS 47, ANNOUNCES WYOMING COWBOY & COWGIRL LEGACY WEEK Wheatland Rural Electric Association board member Jack Finnerty is among 47 honorees in the 2019 Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. “It’s quite an honor,” Finnerty said. The induction ceremony will be at the Casper Events Center September 22. Formed for exclusively historical, cultural, literary and educational purposes, the Hall of Fame seeks to preserve ranching history by collecting stories, photographs and artifacts. The group has honored 283 people since 2014. This year’s induction ceremony will take place during Wyoming Cowboy and Cowgirl Legacy Week, which is the third calendar week in September. The legacy week was passed into law in Wyoming this year after a successful lobbying effort by the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame.
REGION 1: Crook County – Joe Graham, Gerald McInerney • Weston County – Harry Aaron Borgialli, Warren Richard ‘Dick’ Shaw, Lora Reynolds Johnson
REGION 2: Goshen County – Bruce Laird, Archie Johnson, Gary Walker • Niobrara County – Glenn Hanson, Raymond Smith • Platte County – Jack Finnerty
REGION 3: Albany County – Dale Robbins, Joe Coykendall • Laramie County – Dan Kirkbride, Earl Marsh
REGION 4: Converse County – Byron E Wollen, Paul ‘Blinky’ Hamilton Miller • Natrona County – Tom Schutte, Roy Jarrard
REGION 5: Johnson County – Tom Borgialli • Sheridan County – Carleton Perry
REGION 6: Park County – Jerry Lanchbury, Art Bales, Peter McCulloch, CW & Dick Curtis
REGION 7: Carbon County – Georgia Platt, Jess Barkhurst • Sweetwater County – A.W. Dick Dickinson, James & Wanda Ramsay
REGION 8: Fremont County – William ‘Bill’ Hancock, William ‘Bill’ Frank Sr. and William ‘Billy’ Frank Jr. • Hot Springs County – Hugh & Mary Sue Vass, Norman Sanford
REGION 9: Uinta County – Jeffery ‘Nate’ Lupher & Jim Lupher, Albert William ‘Bud’ Huseman
REGION 10: Lincoln County – Billy Sherman, Bill Carr • Sublette County – Gene Pearson, Bob Beard • Teton County – Rulon & Loal Jacobson, Wells Beck
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2019 by Healthgrades. Thank you for choosing our family to care for your family.
JULY 2019
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COWBOY STATE BUZZ
WYOMING TRIVIA The Wyoming State Capitol building reopened with fanfare on July 10 after a massive restoration project. The Capitol Square Project was undertaken to restore some of the Capitol’s original features, along with updates to the structure, utilities and overall health of the building, the Herschler Building, and the square block in which they stand. The Capitol has undergone work before in its 133-year history.
Legislature authorizes construction of the Capitol Building. David W. Gibbs & Company, Architects, is commissioned to draw plans and specifications. Adam Feick & Brothers construction company breaks ground on building site.
East and west wings for the House and Senate were completed.
1886 1887
Cornerstone laid with a time capsule containing maps and other papers. During the Centennial of the Capitol in 1987 the cornerstone was opened and the original documents were replaced with contemporary versions.
1890
WYOMING STATE CAPITOL HISTORY
1917 A renovation project was completed. Work included stripping and staining woodwork, painting walls, replacing the wooden floor beams and modernizing the wiring, heating, plumbing and air conditioning.
1980 2015
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New, larger House and Senate chambers were built to relieve crowding.
Capitol Square renovation project begins, with JE Dunn Construction as construction manager and HDR Architecture, Inc. as the design and preservation team.
Wyoming 2019 Wyoming Honor Farm, Riverton May 17-18 Wind River Wild Horse Ranch, Lander May 31- June 1 Deerwood Wild Horse Ranch, Laramie June 7-8 Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne July 19-28 Wyoming State Fair Mustang Days, Douglas August 13-17 Wyoming Honor Farm, Riverton September 13-14 Wind River Wild Horse Ranch, Lander September 20-21 Deerwood Wild Horse Ranch, Laramie September 27-28 Visit the Wild Horse & Burro Program on Facebook to view available animals. There is a wild horse or burro waiting for you!
JULY 2019
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CENTERPIECE
New restaurants, new venues, new ideas coming to historic downtown Cheyenne
The historic asbestos fire curtain in the Atlas Theatre was repaired, touched up and encapsulated in 2019 at a cost of $24,000.
Cheyenne’s downtown neighborhood isn’t entirely what it used to be—and that’s a good thing. Historic buildings are being revived or rebuilt to accommodate government offices and new business, 24 of which have opened their doors here in the last three years. Downtown Cheyenne is experiencing a revitalization that is enticing more people to take a second look at the Magic City’s historic core.
BY ELIZABETH SAMPSON “I took this job because I saw downtown was ready to go,” Dugger said. “All it needed was a little pull and a little push at the same time. I have a good feel for when a town is ready and what is the tipping point for that downtown. I really felt like this downtown was at that tipping point.”
PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS
New businesses are filling empty spaces, new restaurants are filling bellies and community events are filling the calendar. Creative solutions for downtown are the focus of Cheyenne’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) with executive director Vicki Dugger at the helm. She came on board just over a year ago with experience as the director of the Oregon Downtown Development Association.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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C
urrently the DDA has multiple strategies to make downtown viable. Those ideas are as simple as filling planters with flowers and installing new trash cans – and as complicated as helping business owners get through the red tape of turning their building’s upper stories into apartments. They are playing match-maker between available spaces and businesses who want to open downtown, and they are trying to develop shopping clusters where similar businesses open near to one another. This encourages people to park once and shop in multiple locations.
Galeotos grew up in Cheyenne, and
boutique liquor store called Provisions,
when he returned to Cheyenne after
which opened in early 2018.
“I think there has always been a great interest in making downtown happen, but I think all the pieces to weave a beautiful downtown are coming together now,” said Alane West, president of the board of directors of the DDA.
Right next door to the east will be an
spending time working in cities around the world, he was sad to see that Cheyenne had lost many of its core downtown businesses.
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renovations, though they tried to preserve as much original character as possible. In the restaurant, which was
“He came back to Cheyenne and real-
built in the 1930s in an Art Deco and Art
ized there was just something missing
Moderne style, they preserved the origi-
with downtown,” Rinne said.
nal terrazzo floors, and referenced old
He decided to do something about it, and has worked to improve the entire corner of 17th Street and Carey Avenue. The Metropolitan Downtown is in the corner location and offers New American Cuisine.
photos to return the front of the building to a more original look. The Gallery was built in the early 1900s and at one time housed Arp & Hammond Hardware Store. They took off two layers of facade to uncover the original brick, restored the original hardwood floors and reused the original tin ceiling tiles.
event space called The Gallery at the Met, and to the north on Carey is their
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Cheyenne's Fridays on the Plaza live music event draws a crowd.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT CHEYENNE
Several big projects are in the works that confirm Dugger’s analysis that the neighborhood is ready for change. Former candidate for Wyoming governor, Sam Galeotos, just opened a large restaurant called The Metropolitan Downtown at 1701 Carey Ave. “We’re really hoping it has a very positive effect on downtown and all the existing business,” said Katy Rinne, director of marketing and business development for OMI Group, the management company for The Metropolitan Downtown. “We would love downtown to be a dining and entertainment-focused area of Cheyenne, and I think we can absolutely add to that.”
All three buildings required extensive
Total cost of the restoration.
900,000 pounds of concrete needed for the expansion of the Hershler Building.
10 Total number of state capitol buildings in the country that have a gold dome.
7 ounces Approximate total weight of the gold leaf covering the Capitol dome.
6 days Time it took for the entire dome gilding process.
A view looking up in the Capitol rotunda. Seven ounces of gold leaf gild the Capitol dome.
4 years Time it took to complete the restoration. The project began in 2015.
REFURBISHING THE CAPITOL After a massive restoration, Wyoming’s State Capitol Building reopened in early July. The Capitol Square Project also included renovations to the grounds and the Herschler Building. Here is a look at some of the details of the entire project. For more information, visit wyomingcapitolsquare.com.
$0 Total payment to Anschutz Corporation who owns the Rawlins quarry where sandstone for the restoration was harvested. The company donated all stone needed to repair the Capitol.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHEL GIRT/WYOMING CAPITOL SQUARE PROJECT
$299 million
O
ther historic downtown buildings are getting a new shot at life as well, including two theaters in the process of renovating or revitalizing.
The Lincoln Theater, which had a long history as a movie theater at 1615 Central Ave., is prepping to become a live music venue. Jon and Renee Jelinek have opened several businesses in historic downtown Cheyenne, and now they are working to make the Lincoln one of the premier venues along the Front Range. Renee wrote in an email that they are bringing in a top-notch sound system and working with national booking agents to bring in big-name shows that have never had a space to perform in Wyoming. “We are really excited to give Cheyenne access to see artists that they thought they would never get the chance to see,” she said. “We really want to help make Cheyenne a better place to live so that our young people don’t want to leave as soon as they graduate.” Though the theater is still in its renovations phase, the Jelineks are no strangers to updating old downtown buildings. In 2013 they purchased the Paramount Cafe at 1607 Capital Ave., which was a struggling coffee shop that had been opened in the lobby of the former movie theater. The theater’s auditorium was destroyed by fire in 1981. They improved the business, and went on to purchase the entire Paramount building and the Majestic building next door in 2015.
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PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
The Atlas Theatre will host the Old Fashioned Melodrama during Cheyenne Frontier Days. The theater can seat 242 people.
“We wanted to ensure the cafe always had a home, and we had an idea to renovate the upper floors that had been sitting vacant for almost 30 years,” Jelinek said. They opened office spaces in the building’s upstairs, and in 2017 added a craft cocktail lounge, the Paramount Ballroom, next to the coffee shop. “We definitely feel like downtown is at a tipping point, and we are going to see more and more businesses come in,” Jelinek said. “We want to see downtown become the gathering place for Cheyenne as it once was.” Cheyenne’s Atlas Theatre, home to live stage productions, is undergoing an extensive $300,000 restoration. From painting the building’s facade at 211 W. Lincolnway to fixing the roof and adding air conditioning, the theater is getting many updates. Originally built in 1887, the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players (CLTP) use it to stage the Old Fashioned Melodrama each summer during Cheyenne Frontier Days as well as other productions throughout the year. A committee of the CLTP, the Friends of the Atlas (FOTA)
formed in 2016 and is in charge of the restoration. According to Wayne Hansen of the FOTA, their goal goes beyond the current restoration to educating the community about the theater and securing funds to maintain and preserve the building. “Some buildings get torn down because their value is not worth the cost and effort to sustain them,” Hansen wrote in an email. “Preserving a historic icon like the Atlas Theatre never ends. There will always be new tasks to tackle.” Future plans include putting up a blade sign, marquee, new lighting and electronic poster windows. They are also looking at ways to restore the deteriorated second and third floors. Members of the public have the chance to see the restoration either by attending a stage production or by joining the periodically scheduled behind-thescenes tours offered through the box office. W
Elizabeth Sampson lives in Cheyenne with her husband and two young daughters.
INSECT ILLUSTRATIONS BY KRISTEN NIELSEN
KIDS CORNER
POLLINATION OBSERVATION
Taking a nature walk in town can be quite exciting! Squirrels, cottontails, raccoons, deer, foxes, coyotes and birds all live in towns, though you may have to take an early morning walk to see them. But the group of animals that is easiest to find and observe is also the most diverse group – insects!
A great place to observe insects is in a garden, where pollinating insects are busy sipping nectar and gathering pollen – it's easy to get close, because they are so intent on their tasks. To identify the insect, look at the eyes and antennae, estimate the size, count the wings (this can be tricky!) and look for hair and pollen.
TYPES OF BEES: HONEY BEE
HONEY BEES
are medium-sized gold and black bees. If there’s a hive nearby, these bees will be very common. They collect nectar and pollen; they are the only bee that makes a lot of honey.
LEAFCUTTER BEE
BUMBLEBEES
HOVER FLY HERE’S A QUICK GUIDE TO A FEW OF THE COMMON POLLINATING INSECTS:
are fat, fuzzy, and various combinations of black, yellow and orange. The big queens come out in early spring; the smaller, summer bumblebees are the queen’s daughters. Bumblebees live in nests, usually in the ground, with hundreds of siblings.
FLIES
have two wings, big eyes that almost touch and very short antennae. Many adult flies sip nectar and some are very good pollinators.
LEAFCUTTER & MASON BEES
POLLEN WASP
WASPS
SWEAT BEES
have four wings and are smooth and shiny. Nearly all wasps are hunters that provide meat (such as spiders and insects) for their larvae, though the adults like nectar. Pollen wasps, however, collect pollen for their offspring, just like bees.
BEES
have four wings and are usually hairy. Females collect pollen on their legs or under their abdomens.
carry pollen under their abdomens instead of on their legs. Leafcutters have large jaws to cut leaf circles, which they use to line their cavity nests.
are small but abundant. Some have metallic colors, but most are dark. They are called sweat bees because they are attracted to sweat, which they drink for the salts.
HOW MANY KINDS OF INSECTS CAN YOU FIND ON YOUR WALK? The Biodiversity Institute would like to send a booklet, Pollinators of Wyoming Guide for Kids, to the first ten people to call or email dtuthill@uwyo.edu, 307-766-6279. Be sure to leave your name and mailing address in your message.
JULY 2019
21
HOME ON THE RANGE
milk & honey BY GINA SIGEL
I am convinced that no one on earth appreciates the beautiful summers as much as a Wyoming native. After a long winter and potentially dicey spring, the weather in summer feels like paradise.
22
JULY 2019
t
through hands-on experience. They are fascinated by the hives and behavior and, of course, all things honey. As in, the 25 cent honey sticks they beg me to buy every time we are at the farmers’ market. Approximately a third of the food we eat is thanks to bee pollination. Beeswax is in furniture polish, cosmetics and medicines. When it comes to our daily lives, bees are worthy of much credit, including health and happiness. The term
he basic elements of our state – mountains, pastures, agriculture – become extraordinary. My neighbors, some of whom raise bees and dairy cows and goats have me asking myself this time of year, "Is this the land of milk and honey?" Those bees and cows must feel like it’s paradise, too. It’s the peak of the season and abundance is everywhere: from the blue skies and sunshine to the tall grass that hasn’t started to turn crispy in the peak of the summer heat. The wildflowers in the mountains are in full glory and the gift keeps giving, turning nectar and grass into bounty that we can enjoy well into the fall and winter seasons that will follow. Thankfully, that feels a long way off. When it comes to milk and honey products in particular, the harvest continues for most of the lifespan of the animals and insects. In fact, a hive could theoretically survive indefinitely and a cow can live to almost 20 years, though most dairy cows are culled around 5 to 8 years. Given that an average cow produces 350,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime and the average bee colony produces 60-100 pounds of honey per year, there is enough to go around. And around. And around. I am not a bee expert but I turned to my neighbor for some knowledge. My kids recently helped her with tasks as a keeper and were delighted to learn
Given that an average cow produces 350,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime and the average bee colony produces 60-100 pounds of honey per year, there is enough to go around.
And around. And around.
"honeymoon" refers to the ancient tradition of giving a newly married couple a month's supply of honey mead, the world's oldest fermented beverage, for happiness and fertility. However, when it comes to romance, bees have an interesting point of view. Worker bees are all female. Anyone who lives in rural Wyoming can appreciate that dynamic. Only the queen reproduces, and she goes on a mating quest
queen die after mating. Life for them is anything but a walk in the park. After all that work, each bee only produces about 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. But the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In fact, that is true of both honey and dairy and it takes the dedication of the beekeepers and dairy farmers to keep it flowing seamlessly. Some statistics say cows are more valuable for milk than they are for beef. They produce over 6 gallons of milk per day and the host of products made from this milk includes yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter. How much milk it takes for each of these foods varies, ranging from 1 gallon of milk to make 1 gallon of yogurt to over 2 1/2 gallons for 1 pound of butter. It’s not just about the basic product. It’s about making the basic product delightful. Sometimes the delightful can even be exotic. Trendy and delicious products include goat milk ice cream and sheep milk cheese. In Tibet, yak butter, or porcha, is a popular commodity used to flavor coffee. While yak farms haven’t caught on here in cowboy country, goats and sheep seem as content as they can be in the lush summer pastures. Recently, my kids asked for a glass of warm milk and honey before bed. Obviously, these products, and perhaps this lifestyle, serve as more than just a pretty phrase on paper or a pastoral scene of grass and flowers in the fields. If bread and water can easily become tea and toast, I'll take mine with a little milk and honey. W
once in her lifetime and stores the semen to be used throughout her lifespan. The various drones who mate with the
Gina Sigel is a writer and blogger living in Wyoming. JULY 2019
23
PUZZLE
WHERE WOULD WE
WITHOUT
good advice? Can you match these wise words to the sages that said them? brief;
seated.
1
Don’t worry
happy.
2
, that is the question.
3
sincere;
To
, or not to
AARON NEVILLE
ALI IBN ABI TALIB
ARTHUR FREED
honest,
nice,
a flower not a weed.
Do not
hard, lest you
do not
soft, lest you
squeezed.
Whatever will
, will
Do not let it
.
your aim to
something, but to Don’t try to
broken;
4
5
BOBBY MCFERRIN 6
7
someone.
different. Just
good.
8
JOHN WOODEN
here now.
9
the best you can; never cease
10
trying to It is better to
the best you can
beautiful than to
But it is better to
.
good.
good than to
.
OSCAR WILDE
RAM DASS 11
ugly.
Let it
DORIS DAY (AS SUNG BY)
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Good is different enough.
Just try to
THE BEATLES
12
VICTOR HUGO
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Buzz over to page 34 to comb through the answers.
24
JULY 2019
BOOK REVIEW
THE ALTERNATE COMPASS A CRAFT COURSE ON AN IRONHORSE DESCRIPTION BY PIECE OF CAKE MARKETING
BY STEVE A. ANDERSON ORDERING INFORMATION: 2015 | 246p. $25.99 paperback, $49.99 hardcover ISBN: 978-0996478113 Publisher: Steamboat Pubs Available at online booksellers, by calling 316-204-7158, or by writing to Steamboat Publishing at 322 E Waller Street, Rose Hill, KS 67133
WIN A
FREE COMPASS
ENTER TO WIN
c/o WREN Magazine 214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001
wyomingrea.org/
wren-submissions
Steve A. Anderson’s The Alternate Compass – A Craft Course on an Ironhorse does away with Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, instead empowering readers to ride a unique 21-stage journey and explore America at their own pace. Anderson has already driven the length of the routes he created and, in his new book, engrosses readers in the breathtaking scenery, fascinating history and nightly trips to an eclectic array of microbreweries; experiences that could only be had on less-travelled roads. Readers can now follow in his footsteps. Looking back on his epic 21,000-mile motorcycle adventure across the United States, Steve A. Anderson is full to the brim with memories of quirky history, scenery that looks like it walked out of a movie and some of the best microbrews any beer lover could dream of. But, strangely enough, none of this came from visiting places that are well and truly on the map. The Alternate Compass – A Craft Course on an Ironhorse is chock-full of ideas for weekend getaways, week-long escapes from reality of even large-scale, multi-week biker pilgrimages. And the best bit? They’ll wind up in a different microbrewery every evening!
COPY OF
Name: Phone:
ALTERNATE COMPASS
MAY'S BOOK WINNER:
VICKI OLSON OF POWELL
Address:
ENTRIES DUE BY AUGUST 10 One entry per household, please. JULY 2019
25
CO-OP SPOTLIGHT
JOE SHOGRIN
How Could You Not? HIGH WEST LINEMAN VOLUNTEERS AGAIN AND AGAIN BY DAVE SHELLES
When Joe Shogrin saw a homeless man with a wife and child on the streets of Cheyenne, he knew what he had to do.
With Cheyenne’s shelters full and sleeping on the street not an option, Shogrin said he did what he felt any empathetic human being would have done. He paid for a room at the Rodeo Inn for a week so the family could get out of the storm and get on their way. “In all honesty, how could you not stop?” Shogrin said. “It’s about humanity. What would you want done to you in that situation? You can’t let someone sit there freezing, especially if he’s got a family.” 26
JULY 2019
PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS
On a cold winter night, with the wind howling and snow flying sideways, Shogrin listened to the man’s story: He was traveling west across the country in search of a new opportunity, his ride headed in a different direction, he got caught in the storm without proper attire and here he was.
High West Energy Lineman Joe Shogrin descends from a training pole during his team's yearly rescue training exercise.
T
hat’s par for the course with Shogrin, a Cheyenne-based lineman for High West Energy. He’s well-known in Cheyenne’s volunteer circles for contributing wherever he’s needed, be it the city’s recreational soccer league, running for city council, helping out with the city’s mentally ill population or just in his neighborhood – all the while embracing the community-minded ethos of a lineman. He started as a lineman in Altus, Oklahoma, around the time of the birth of his daughter, Victoria. In addition to the usual tasks, Shogrin helped his customers in any way he could, including helping them trim their trees to stay clear of the line. All in a day’s work. “As a lineman you’re part of the community, so no matter what you do you serve your community,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re at work or not. I was typically by myself and I’d help a little old lady or single mom or the dad who didn’t know how to use a chainsaw trim out their yard because we had a lot of trees down there – trim out a line, then I’d go back a couple hours later and take down the rest of their trees for them.”
One brutally hot Oklahoma summer day, he found himself at a community celebration, toting 2-year-old Victoria. He had helped a small church organize a dunking booth in hopes of gaining membership, even spending part of the day in the booth. More than having the chance to cool off, the experience stayed with Shogrin and showed him the possibilities of volunteering and helping out in a community.
Shogrin said his daughters now
That desire to help out followed him when he moved to Cheyenne
of 55-gallon garbage bags – and
help him volunteer and have forged their own paths as well. He said Victoria has embraced her faith and is active in InterVarsity campus ministry at Laramie County Community College. Grace sparked her father into helping a neighbor clean up his house while his wife received treatment for mental illness, a task that involved two shovels, gallons of bleach and two boxes resulted in the neighbors stay-
As a lineman you’re part of the community, so no matter what you do you serve your community.
in 2010 and hired on with High West. He started coaching recreational soccer and has continued doing that; daughters Victoria, now 22, and Grace, 16, serve as his assistant coaches. Shogrin said it served as a great entree into further opportunities to help in the community.
ing together as a family.
That included helping a friend’s son install bat houses on high poles for an Eagle Scout project using a bucket truck this spring. His previous experience with bats consisted of helping a neighbor remove a bat from her house during a campaign stop last year; he ran for Cheyenne City Council in Ward 3.
And he hangs out with aging
Two years ago he went to social media and successfully assembled a massive crew to help clean up snow-fallen trees after one of Cheyenne’s early-spring snowstorms. “A fun day,” he called it.
Shogrin helped another neighbor stay abreast of his bills and grocery shopping after a layoff. He organizes Cheyenne’s annual Take a Kid Fishing event, in which every kid discovers the joy of fishing by catching one. veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cheyenne. “My type of volunteerism is to basically go around helping people in need,” said Shogrin, who estimates he puts in 1,000 hours a year. “I’m not attached to an organization. If I see somebody in need, that’s where I go.” W
After 17 years in newspapers around the country, Dave Shelles lives, writes and runs in Cheyenne. JULY 2019
27
COUNTRY COOKS
BARBECUE ELK TACOS WITH BBQ VEGETABLES 1 LB GROUND ELK 2 TOMATOES (CUT IN HALF) 1 ONION (RED OR WHITE, SLICED) 6 GREEN ONIONS 1/2 CUP MILD GREEN CHILIS (DICED) 6 FLOUR TORTILLAS 1 CUP SHREDDED CABBAGE 4 RADISHES (SLICED) 1 TSP GARLIC POWDER
1/4 TSP GROUND CAYENNE PEPPER 1/4 TSP GROUND CHIPOTLE CHILI PEPPER 1 TSP GROUND CUMIN 1 GARLIC CLOVE OLIVE OIL SALT 6 OZ BEER (RECOMMEND DOS EQUIS OR MODELO)
1. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and garlic clove in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground elk and cook for 5 minutes or until meat begins to brown. Add salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chipotle pepper and cumin to the elk meat. Continue to stir until thoroughly cooked. Turn heat to low and add half of the beer to the elk meat. Continue to cook on low while you BBQ your vegetables. 2. Pre-heat barbecue to high temperature. 3. Coat green onions, tomatoes, sliced onion with olive oil and salt. Place vegetables directly on the grill. Turn vegetables as needed until they become slightly charred. While cooking your vegetables, place flour or corn tortillas directly on the grill and cook for about 1 minute on each side until warm. Remove vegetables and tortillas from grill when ready. 4. Place tortilla on plate, add a heaping spoonful of elk burger, add a few red onions, green onion and cooked tomato. I like to then add a few mild green chilis, some shredded cabbage and sliced radish for the additional crunch.
JOSHUA R. JEWETT
SLOW COOKER BARBECUED BEEF SANDWICHES 1 BONELESS BEEF CHUCK ROAST (3 LBS) 1-1/2 CUPS KETCHUP 1/4 CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR 1/4 CUP BARBECUE SAUCE 2 TBS WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE 1/2 TSP SALT 1/4 TSP GARLIC POWDER 1/4 TSP PEPPER 12 SANDWICH BUNS, SPLIT Place roast in a 3 or 4-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Pour over beef, cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or until meat is tender. Shred beef with two forks; cook for 15 minutes or until heated through. Using a slotted spoon, place 1/2 cup on each bun. Serve with onions, pickles and jalapenos if desired.
NANCY DENK
RIVERTON
GRILLED SEA BASS FISH FILLETS (3-4 OZ PORTIONS) 1 TSP SALT 1/4 TSP PEPPER 1/4 TSP PAPRIKA 8 SLICES BACON, DIVIDED 1 TBS PLUS 1 TSP LEMON JUICE, DIVIDED Rinse fillets in cold water; pat dry and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Set aside. Place two slices bacon on a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil; place a bass fillet lengthwise on each bacon slice. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice over each fillet. Fold foil edges over and wrap securely. Repeat procedure with remaining ingredients to make three additional packets. Grill packets over hot coals for 10 minutes. Turn packets and grill an additional 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
JOSHUA R. JEWETT
DUBOIS
DUBOIS
Send complete recipe by August 10! SEPTEMBER:
BAKE SALE 28
JULY 2019
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
PEN TO PAPER
CORRALLING HORSES JILL LOVATO
CHEYENNE
I stepped out into the unconvincing morning light. The suggestion of water and grass rose up from below; The insistence of birdsong pierced down from above. I almost missed it – Corralling horses; Dust stirs, Muscle glides over bone, A gate creaks, A latch drops, A moment surrenders to time.
OLD PAINT - OLD FRIEND Old Paint, your days are numbered. You stand with head hung low. Your youth still fills my memory. Your eyes still hold the glow. Remember how we used to run? How you danced in the golden sun! Hardly touching the ground below! A whispered word and off we’d go! As if with wings, to mount and fly! Shoulder to the wind, head held high! How I laughed, so long ago, to the beat of your hooves, come rain or snow! No path too rough for your sturdy feet, no steer too fast for you to beat. With heart and spirit beyond words, you found lost calves, you corralled the herds. You were kind and gentle, you were good, and it seemed you always understood. So, when you gallop off to that heavenly gate, give a pause for me, but don’t you wait! There’s comin’ a day, we will ride again. There’s comin’ a time we will fly again. The days will seem longer when you are gone. Leaving only memories to linger on. But, now my fine steed, stroll on up the hill. Lay yourself down among the daffodils. Unfurl those wings, let your spirit fly. Leaving me to wave goodbye, with a tear in my eye. ‘til we meet again, goodbye my old friend.
MARIE ANTOINETTE HAINES
MOORCROFT
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 JULY 2019
29
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING REGIONAL MAP
02
03
JUL 20 – AUG 20
01 | SOUTHEAST CENTENNIAL ONGOING
Nici Self Museum: Open 12-4p Mon-Thu. Info 307-745-3108.
CHEYENNE
04
01
FEATURED EVENT
RIVERTON RENDEZVOUS BALLOON RALLY
JULY 19-28
Cheyenne Frontier Days: Rodeo, live music, carnival and parades take place during this 10-day event. Various locations in Cheyenne, info 307-778-7222.
C H U G WAT E R ONGOING
Live Music: Acoustic jam session Thu, live music Fri & Sat. Stampede Saloon & Eatery, free, info 307-422-3200, stampedefun@ aol.com.
DOUGLAS AUGUST 17
Centennial Farm & Ranch: Ceremony and barbecue to honor 100-year ranching families. 11:30a, Douglas Intermediate School. Info 307-777-3418.
ENCAMPMENT JULY 19-20
Platte River Shootout: Fundraiser for the Wyoming 4-H Foundation, Silver Spur Sporting Clays Range, info 307-766-2528, wyoming4h.org/4hfoundation/ fundraisers. JULY 19-21
JULY 19-21 RIVERTON 39th annual event will feature car cruise and show, balloon glow, tethered balloon rides, fireworks, parade, pancake breakfast. Balloons lift off behind Central Wyoming College soccer field at 6a Saturday and Sunday mornings. INFO 801-710-1331
RIVERTONRENDEZVOUS.COM
NORTHWEST 30
JULY 2019
Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering: Campfire jam session, kids’ activities, cowboy poetry, music and more to preserve and promote the Western way. Grand View Park and various locations, info 307-327-5465, grandencampmentgathering.org. ONGOING
Grand Encampment Museum: Main Gallery and GEM Store open Mon-Fri 10a–4p, info 307-3275308.
J AY E M ONGOING
Historic Jay Em on the Rawhide: Tours available by appointment only. Call 307-735-4364 or 307-3222839.
S A R AT O G A WEDNESDAYS
Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair: Fruit and vegetables from the Boykin’s orchard in Colorado, food trucks, local artists and other hand-crafted goods. 3-6p, Saratoga Museum.
S AV E RY JULY 20-21
Ride the Divide: Tractor ride between Savery and Riverside begins and ends at Little Snake River Museum. $70, Yampa Valley Antique Power Club members $50. Info 970-270-2401, littlesnakerivermuseum.com.
TORRINGTON AUGUST 3
Lions Club Summer Arts & Crafts Festival: 9a-3p, Pioneer Park, info 307-575-9244. AUGUST 3-10
Goshen County Fair: 4-H and fair events include, Jelmer Johnson Memorial Team Sort Aug 3; Youth Rodeo Series Aug 6; Family Night Aug 7; AG breakfast, parade, Wyrulec Ranch Rodeo Aug 8; rubber check race Aug 9; pig wrestling Aug 10. Info 307-532-2525, goshencounty.org.
02| NORTHEAST B U F FA L O AUGUST 10
Show & Shine Car Show: Car show, food booths onsite. 7:30a-3:30p, Big Horn Tire, free to attend, $20 to register a vehicle. Info 307-684-8200, showandshinebuffalo.com.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
CLEARMONT
M O O RC RO F T
ONGOING
THIRD THURSDAYS
Historical Center: Center open Thu 2-4p, 1250 Front St, free. Historical Group meets 2p first Mondays of the month at Clearmont Library, 1p third Mondays of the month at Sheridan Library, info 307-7584430.
GILLETTE JULY 26
CattleWomen photo contest: Entries due July 26. Entries displayed at Campbell County Fair, info 307-682-9530. JULY 26-AUGUST 4
Campbell County Fair: Entertainment, livestock shows and more. Cam-Plex, info 307-6870200. AUGUST 16-17
Birthday and Anniversary Dinner: Meat provided, bring a side dish. 5p social hour, 6p dinner, Senior Center. ONGOING
Wyoming Military Fallen Warrior Memorial Kiosk: Available for viewing weekdays 9a-5p, West Texas Trail Museum, info 307-756-9300.
FRIDAYS
Bingo: 7:30p, VFW Hall, free.
S U N DA N C E
Farmers’ Market: 5-7p, Old Town, info 307- 468-9323.
Cemetery Walk: 6:30p, Moore Hill Cemetery, free, info 307-283-1008. ONGOING
Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: 8a-4p Mon-Fri, free, info 307-4675292.
LUSK JULY 27-AUGUST 3
Niobrara County Fair: Rodeo, parades, food and fun. Fairgrounds. Info 1-800-223-LUSK, niobraracounty.org.
03 | NORTHWEST
Burnout Wednesday: Music in the streets, food vendors, and the notorious motorcycle burnout competition, Main Street, info 307283-2575. WEDNESDAYS
ONGOING
Library Events: Story time for toddlers and preschoolers 10:30a Wednesdays; Lunch Bunch book discussion group 11a fourth Thursdays; Quilting @ the Library 6-8p last Mondays. Crook County Library, info 307-283-1006 or crookcountylib@rangeweb.net.
UPTON TUESDAYS
Farmers’ Market: 5-7p, Old Town, info 307-468-9323. WEDNESDAYS
All You Can Eat Buffet: Drinks and desserts included, 5-8p, Upton Golf Course, $10, $7 seniors, info 307-468-2847. MONDAYS & THURSDAYS
Zumba: 4p, Senior Center, $5, info 307-391-0223.
advanced registration of required, 307-455-2284. AUGUST 20
Mystery Sheep Trap Trek: Educational hike to an area sheep trap, the location won't be revealed until we're on the road. 9a-4p, transportation provided, $8 advanced registration required, call Dubois Museum at 307-4552284.
ETHETE JULY 26-28
Celebration and Indian Powwow: Ethete Road and Route 132, info@windriver.org.
NEWCASTLE
SATURDAYS
AUGUST 1
Indoor Archery: Mon-Sat 5-9p, also 9a-12p Sat, 2741 Hwy 116N, $10, info 307-468-2506.
Library events: Story hour 10a Wed; Book club 1p third Thursdays and 6p fourth Tuesdays. Info 307-756-3232, moorlibrary@rtconnect.net.
AUGUST 7
HULETT
ONGOING
ONGOING
Homestead Habits Vintage Market: Vendors will sell antique, industrial, homemade, handmade goods and food. Live music. $5, free for 12 & under, 1275 State Route 50, info 605-645-1132, homesteadhabits.com. Farmers’ Market: Fresh vegetables and other market items direct from local farmers, ranchers, producers and artisans. 8a-12:30p, Gillette Tech Center parking lot, info on Facebook.
JUL 20 – AUG 20
DUBOIS JULY 27
National Day of the Cowboy: Poker run 10a, parade 1p, hide race 3p. Rodeo and western events. Info 307-455-2556, entry info smylet00@gmail.com. JULY 27
B.A.S.S Golf Tournament: Antelope Hills Golf Course. 126 Clubhouse Dr. Info 307-455-2888, duboisgolfclub@yahoo.com. JULY 27
How the West Was Sung: Dubois documentary concert, Headwaters Art Center, info 307-455-2687, headwaterscenter.org. JULY 31-AUGUST 1
Community Wellness Screenings/Blood Draw: 7-10a daily at Headwaters Conference Center, info 307-455-2243. AUGUST 10
LANDER AUGUST 6–9
Sinks Canyon Kids Extreme Caving: See the Popo Agie River inside the cave. Helmets and lights provided, gloves, old clothes and sturdy shoes recommended. Times vary, 3079 Sinks Canyon Road, free but waivers required. Info 307-332-3077, sinkscanyonstatepark.org. AUGUST 15
Tribal Warrior Art: Program on the amazing collection of tribal warrior art currently on exhibit. 7p, Pioneer Museum, free, info 307-332-3339. AUGUST 17
Historic Ed Young Apple Farm Trek: Explore one of the largest and oldest orchards in the valley. 1p, Pioneer Museum, $8, transportation provided, advance registration required, 307-3323339.
Speed Goats: Cross country motorcycle race with over 50 participants expected to race 6 miles on Dubois Overlook trails. 8a-2p, info 307-438-2156, tylercjardine@aol.com.
SUNDAYS
AUGUST 13
JULY 27
Historic Walking Tour of Dubois: Start at Dubois Museum at 7p and end in front of Rustic Pine Tavern, finish the night square dancing just like the old times. $8,
Swing Dancing at the Coalter Loft: 6-9p, 126 Main St. Free, info 307-332-8228.
R I V E RT O N Castle Gardens Trek: Hike to visit petroglyphs at Castle Gardens. 9a, Riverton Museum, transportation provided, $8, advance registration required, 307-856-2665.
JULY 2019
31
WHAT'S HAPPENING
JULY 27–AUGUST 3
Fremont County Fair & Rodeos: Ranch rodeo, PRCA rodeo, Fremont Ninja Warrior and much more. 1010 Fairgrounds Dr. Info 307-856-6611, fremontcountyfair. org. AUGUST 10
Bullriding: Brahm Nettles Youth Miniature Bullriding, 1-3p, free; Timmy Packard Memorial Bullriding, 7-9p, tickets at the gate. 1010 Fairgrounds Dr. Info 307-349-6400, fremontcountyfair. org. AUGUST 10
SATURDAYS
Carissa Gold Mine Tours: Thursday-Sunday, no kids under 8. 2-4p, 125 South Pass Main St. Reservations recommended $5, $3 WY residents, info 307-3323684, southpasscity.com/tours.
S O U T H PA S S
THERMOPOLIS
AUGUST 3
JULY 30-AUGUST 3
Legacy of Suffrage Talk & Panel: Women leaders from around the state will gather. 1-3p, 125 Main St. Free, info 307-332-3684, southpasscity.com. AUGUST 10
Sequencing: Artist talk on the Carissa Mine women artists’ residency. 10-11:30a, 125 Main St. Free, info 307-332-3684, southpasscity.com. SATURDAYS
English Tunnel Mine Tour: One-mile hike and candle tour of a real gold mine. 11a-1p, 125 South Pass Main St. Reservations recommended, $5, $3 WY residents, info 307-332-3684, southpasscity.com/tours.
JULY 2019
JULY 26-27
Evanston Rodeo Series: 6p, Uinta County Fairgrounds, $10, $9 in advance, 8 and under free, info 307789-5511, evanstonrodeoseries. com. AUGUST 6, 20
SUBMIT AN EVENT
JULY 20
Youth Rodeo: Open to competitors 14 & under, prizes and buckles for winners of all events, no entry fee. 9a, Rodeo Grounds, info 405-623-4722.
Hot Springs County Fair Week: Hot Springs County Fairgrounds, info thermopolischamber.org. AUGUST 3-4
Gift of the Waters Pageant and Events: Pageant takes place at Big Springs in Hot Springs State Park Aug 3-4; Ranch Rodeo at Hot Springs County Fairgrounds Aug 3-4; Pageant Days 5k Run/Walk and 10k Run at Tepee Fountain in Hot Springs State Park Aug 3; Pageant Parade downtown Aug 3. Info thermopolischamber.org. AUGUST 17
Thermopolis Demolition Derby: 6p, Hot Springs County Fairgrounds, info thermopolischamber.org.
04 | SOUTHWEST E VA N S T O N JULY 20
Evanston Brewfest: 1-5p, Historic Depot Square, $30, info 307-783-6320.
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Uinta County Fair: Uinta County Fairgrounds, free, info 307-7894785, uintacountyfair.org.
ONGOING
TEN SLEEP
AUGUST 10
JULY 25-AUGUST 3
Stamp Mill and Arrastra Demos: Self-guided walk on the Flood and Hindle Trail. Reservations recommended. $3 WY residents, $5 visitors, under 18 free. No kids under 8. 125 South Pass Main St. Info 307-332-3684, southpasscity. com/tours.
Super Hero Cuffs: Kids can learn about some of the men and women in the history of Riverton and make super hero cuffs to take home, 2-4p, Riverton Museum, free for children 6 and up, registration required, 307856-2665.
Paint the Town Red: Historical cocktails and live music. 6:30-8:30p, 125 Main St. $50, reservation required. Info 307332-3684, southpasscity.com.
JUL 20 – AUG 20
Send complete information for the September issue’s events by
AUGUST 10!
Please remember that events from the 20th of September to the 20th of October are included in the September issue. Be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address and contact information for each event. Photos are always welcome.
Look for more events at wyomingrea.org/news.
QUESTIONS & SUBMISSIONS:
wren@
wyomingrea.org
[307] 772-1968 214 W. Lincolnway
Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001
wyomingrea.org/
wren-submissions
Bear River State Park Family Movie Series: Begins 30 minutes after sunset, Bear River State Park, info 307-789-6547. AUGUST 10
Relay For Life Uinta County: 5p-midnight at Bear River Greenway, free, 307-677-5287, relay.acsevents.org. AUGUST 16
Main Street Amazing Race: 5-8p, downtown, info on Facebook. AUGUST 16-18
VFW Men’s, Women’s and Co-ed Softball Tournament: Overthrust Baseball Fields, info 307-789-1770. THURSDAYS
Evanston Farmers’ Market: 3-7p, Historic Depot Square, free.
F O RT B R I D G E R TUESDAYS
Bingo: 6p, American Legion Hall, info 307-780-5489.
M O U N TA I N V I E W AUGUST 17
Veterans Freedom Festival and Car Show: Blackhawk helicopter and military vehicles, speakers, vendors, endurance course, bounce house and more. Free breakfast 8-10a, event 8a-5p, Mountain View Town Park. Info 307-871-2113, info on car show 307-747-6497. ONGOING
Movies in the Park: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Aug 8, Gifted Aug 22, Trona Valley Green Space, info 307-787-6738, www. bvchamber.org.
01 02
01
Teamwork, Elizabeth Childress, Newcastle
02 03 04
Man's toys, Elizabeth Childress, Newcastle Helping Daddy, Darla Mouat, Sundance Helping Daddy with concrete, Darla Mouat, Sundance
THIS MONTH:
CONSTRUCTION SEP (DUE AUG 10):
SKY OCT (DUE SEP 10):
GARDENING 03 04
JUST PICTURE IT
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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®.
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PUZZLE ANSWERS
FROM PAGE 24
PUZZLE ANSWERS
brief;
seated.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Don’t worry
happy.
BOBBY MCFERRIN
sincere;
To
, or not to
honest, Do not
hard, lest you
Do not let it Don’t try to
nice,
broken; do not
your aim to different. Just
, that is the question.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
a flower not a weed.
AARON NEVILLE
soft, lest you
squeezed.
ALI IBN ABI TALIB
Whatever will
, will
DORIS DAY (AS SUNG BY)
.
someone.
VICTOR HUGO
good. Good is different enough.
ARTHUR FREED
something, but to
RAM DASS
here now. Just try to It is better to
the best you can; never cease trying to
beautiful than to
good. But it is better to
.
JOHN WOODEN
ugly.
OSCAR WILDE
.
THE BEATLES
the best you can good than to
Let it
ONE-CALL OF WYOMING
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JULY 2019
Summer BBQ
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ENLIGHTEN US
F OR T BR IDGE R
Mountain Man Rendezvous BY ROBERT L. FOSTER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORT BRIDGER STATE HISTORIC SITE
Rendezvous participants browse sales tents on Traders’ Row
Have you ever been to a mountain man rendezvous— I mean a real down-to-earth, get dirty, no-holds-barred rendezvous? To be honest with you, none of us have.
ENLIGHTEN US
Traders' Row
T
hey happened long before any of us were born. However, some of you may have attended reenactments of those fascinating historic events which occurred between 1825 and 1840. I’ve enjoyed attending several reenactments in different states, but I must confess the Fort Bridger Mountain Man Rendezvous is by far my favorite. I guess that’s why I eagerly join thousands of other curious visitors every Labor Day weekend. The fall weather is usually cool and pleasant; and when you step through the open gate you’ll find you’ve eased into another world, that of the 1830s, when those rugged individualists called mountain men lived lives of incredible hardship on the chance they could make enough money from trapping and trading to survive another year. They took comfort in knowing there would be copious amounts of whiskey at the next rendezvous, maybe even some women, that is if they were darn lucky and didn’t get scalped before they got there!
rhythm and campfire smoke wafts across the fort’s quakenaspen and cottonwood tree-covered cam-
Native American drums thump out a cadenced rhythm and campfire smoke wafts across
the fort’s quakenaspen and cottonwood treecovered campus.
Jim Bridger was one of those mountain men. The pioneer sign at Fort Bridger reads, “Old Fort Bridger Pioneer Trading Post. The fort was established about 1842 by Jim Bridger, discoverer of the Great Salt Lake, notable pioneer, trapper, fur trader, scout and guide. He was born at Richmond, Virginia March 17, 1804. Died at Westport, Missouri July 17, 1881.”
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
pus. Tipis dot the landscape, and in the distance you’ll hear gunfire as black powder rifle shooters compete against each other. You’ll rub shoulders with male and female rendezvous participants who are required to dress in period costumes predating 1840. I was intrigued at meeting a tough-looking bearded mountain man wearing a beaver skin top hat and Coke bottle eye glasses, among his other unique accoutrements. He looked rather wild with a brace of flintlock pistols in his waistband. When I struck up a conversation he told me he was a medical doctor from Minneapolis and this was his annual
break from civilization – to which he would soon have to return. In fact I met several professional men taking time from their busy schedules to relish the role of transforming into “mountain men” even if only for a couple of days.
A TRUE FRIEND One attraction at the fort which I’m invariably pulled to is the fenced monument to Thornburgh, Wyoming’s most famous dog.
At Fort Bridger, as you browse along rows of canvas-covered
He was just a puppy in 1879 when discovered by Army soldiers
vendors’ shelters, Native American drums thump out a cadenced
after a fight near the White River Indian Reservation in Colorado.
36
JULY 2019
ENLIGHTEN US
Participants relax along Groshon Creek.
He was named for Major T.T. Thornburgh, who had been killed in that battle. Known as the Pony Express Stable Dog, Thornburg is credited with several heroic acts, the most notable being the rescue of a young boy from a fast-flowing creek. The boy’s parents were so grateful to the dog they had a special collar made for him, complete with a silver nameplate which read, “Thornburgh – For most distinguished gallantry.” Sadly, Thornburgh died instantly when kicked in the side by a mule in 1888 and was buried with full military honors. His owner, Buck Buchanan, was so distraught that he purchased a marble headstone which reads, “Man never had a better truer friend. Sleep on old fellow. We’ll meet across the range.”
IF YOU GO: 2019 FORT BRIDGER MOUNTAIN MAN RENDEZVOUS
You may want to take a few moments to visit Thornburgh’s fenced monument which is on the north side of the fort. I don’t know why but every time I read that headstone I get a lump in my throat. I guess it’s because I love good dogs!
on my pistol, calling my dog and heading for the high country.
Sometimes in my mind I’m a tough, rugged, buckskin-clad mountain man. At other times I’m just a quiet Utah city dweller (okay, okay, we can’t all be from Wyoming – though my wife is from Cheyenne) frantically scurrying through city traffic to complete the errands on my day planner. But a man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. That’s how it is with me. Some days I would really enjoy taking my beautifully polished .50 caliber black powder Hawkin rifle from the den wall, strapping
Gates open from 8a-6p August 30 to September 2 Gate fees $5 per person, 11 and under free For more information call 307-782-3842 or visit fortbridgerrendezvous.net
I guess the spirit of the mountain man lives on in many of us. It keeps us believing that we are free like the eagles and that somewhere the buffalo herds are beyond description, the streams are full of beaver and the pine-covered mountains stretch on forever. If you’re up for a little different sort of adventure, head on over to Fort Bridger over Labor Day 2019. Maybe I’ll see you there. In the meantime keep your powder dry and don’t get scalped along the way. W
Robert L. Foster is a writer based in Utah. In late August he’ll travel to Fort Bridger for his 6th Rendezvous. JULY 2019
37
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.
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38
JULY 2019
01 | EQUIPMENT
07 | WANTED
Antique Tractors for Sale. 1949 John Deere MC Crawler, 44 Massey Harris, many more. Call 307-7427370.
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 307-680-8647 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 & nonproducing. 800-733- 8122.
09 | OPPORTUNITIES Want to work from home? We are a legitimate work from home company. Call or email Karen at 307-222-4403 or Karen@fpc-1. com. No sales, no risk, no inventory. Your life, your dreams, your business. Website: livetotalwellness.com/karenhippe.
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.
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Take field trips to the library. Read, read, read - there’s always something new to learn! Still curious? For fun activities to do together, visit: wyqualitycounts.org/wren
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