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Volume 1 • Issue 31 November 4 - 11, 2011

“If it doesn’t have to do with Campbell County, we don’t care!” www.campbellcountyobserver.net June 17 - 24, 2011

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It started with a re-location drill. The children of Hillcrest elementary filed in the gym not knowing what to expect, and soon found that it was a training that the school does on educational goals. These included “be here,” “positive attitude,” and “don’t give up.”

Soon though, there was a sur-prise for the students and teachers that were not expected. The whole training was a mask for an award that was being given out. When the announcement came out that it was Kathy Stephens, the crowd turned around and saw a surprised face that would be a classic on a television. She marched down the stairs and to the front of the audience with a big smile on her face and not much to say. The surprise worked.

Miss Stephens was named the first local Peabody Energy Leader in Ed-ucation for the 2011-12 school year and awarded $1,000 for her commit-ment and dedication to students.

As a second grade teacher, Ste-phens works to build strong relation-ships with her students and creates personalized curricula to keep stu-dents interested and engaged. She

sets high goals for her students and is willing to give them extra time and support to achieve those goals. Dur-ing statewide placement exams, she identifies her students’ weaknesses and develops educational classroom activities and computer games to help students improve their skills.

The Peabody Energy Leaders in Education program rewards dedi-cated education professionals—from teachers and coaches to librarians and counselors—who inspire and motivate youth to succeed. Award recipients are selected throughout the school year by a committee of top educators and business leaders.

“Kathy Stephens is a shining example of excellence in education. She engages students and inspires them to achieve their true potential,” said Vic Svec, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corpo-rate Communications for Peabody Energy. “Peabody created the Lead-ers in Education program to give outstanding educators like Kathy the recognition they deserve.”

The Leaders program was de-veloped in Missouri in 2009, and reflects Peabody’s commitment

to make a positive impact in the communities where the company’s employees live and work by honor-ing those who inspire students. The 2011-2012 award program is con-tinuing to accept nominations and is open to educational professionals of public, private and independent schools in designated communities where Peabody Energy employees live and work. Nominations may be made at www.PeabodyEnergyLead-ersInEducation.org.

Winners are selected from a diverse group of educators. They can range from veteran teachers to individuals in support staff roles such as administrators, coaches or counselors.

“I am probably going to spend half of the money on the kids in my class-room somehow, and I don’t know what I am going to do with the rest,” she said. The Campbell County Observer staff offered a sugges-tion, a day at the spa, and she said that she would think about it. “I love education kids, and that love hasn’t gone away in my 27 years of service, it has only grown.”

Teacher Kathy Stephens honored as first local Peabody Energy

Leader in EducationBy Nicholas DeLaat

Tommy Lubnau on the left and Austin Clemetson on the right both dressed as women for Halloween.

Crime Stoppers needs your help in solving several Larcenies and Destruction of Property crimes that have occurred on Energy St., En-terprise Ave. and N Butler Spaeth in the Energy Park. An unknown person(s) are siphon-ing gas, stealing items out of vehicles and in one instance drove a vehicle through a chain link fence. Other items taken from the area includes a 20 pound fire extinguisher. Total property damaged or stolen is estimated at over $1000.00.

If you have information that can solve this or any other crime please call Crime Stoppers at 686-0400 or the High School Crime Stoppers at 682-4185. You can remain anonymous and may earn up to $1,000 in reward.

Featured Crime

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Community

THE 2011 VETERANS DAY PARADE WILL BEGIN AT 1:30 PM ON THE COR-NER OF 7TH STREET AND CAREY AV-ENUE. LINEUP FOR THE PARADE WILL START AT 12:00 PM. PLEASE REMEM-BER YOU WILL NEED AN ASSIGNED ENTRY NUMBER, IF YOU DID NOT GET YOUR NUMBER BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PARADE THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE PARADE LINE-UP. (Late Entries will be accepted, they will be placed at the end of the Parade).

THE PARADE LINE-UP WILL START ON THE CORNER OF 8TH STREET AND CAREY AVENUE. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ARRANGED ON 8TH STREET BACK TO VETERANS DRIVE. ENTRY NUM-BERS WILL BE MARKED ON THE PAVE-MENT, PLEASE LOOK FOR YOUR ENTRY NUMBER WHEN LINING UP. THE PA-

RADE ROUTE STARTS AT 7TH STREET AND GILLETTE AVE., (IN FRONT OF TWIN SPRUCE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL) DOWN GILLETTE AVENUE AND CON-TINUING WEST ON 1ST STREET, END-ING AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE CAMPBELL COUNTY RECREATION CEN-TER’S HOCKEY ARENA.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUBMIT-TING YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OR SELF AS AN ENTRY IN THIS YEAR’S VETERANS DAY PARADE, PLEASE RE-TURN THE ENTRY FORM TO THE AMER-ICAN LEGION CLUB BY SATURDAY, NO-VEMBER 5TH. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR ASSIGNED ENTRY NUM-BER BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PARADE, CONTACT LINDA ELDRIDGE at 682-2751 or 680-8341, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10TH.

ALL PARTICIPANTS OPERATING A MO-TORIZED VEHICLE OF ANY KIND, (GO-KART, MOTORCYCLE, FOUR-WHEELER, MOPED, ETC) MUST BE A LICENSED DRIVER AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE, PARTICIPANTS NOT MEETING THE AGE REQUIREMENTS WANTING TO DISPLAY THEIR MOTORIZED VEHICLE MAY DO SO ON A TRAILER OR FLAT BED TRUCK AND MAY NOT DRIVE AT ANY TIME DUR-ING THE PARADE.

WALKERS AT THE CURBSIDE MAY ONLY DISTRIBUTE CANDY. THROWING OR TOSSING CANDY FROM A VEHICLE OR FLOAT IS NOT PERMITTED.

IF YOUR ENTRY IS RETURNING TO THE LINEUP AREA AFTER COMPLET-ING THE PARADE ROUTE, PLEASE GO SOUTH ON 4-J ROAD then EAST ON 7th

Street SOUTH ON BROOKS AVENUE, EAST ON 8™ STREET TO VETERANS DRIVE.

AFTER COMPLETING THE PARADE, ENTRIES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CROSS AT ANY OF THE INTERSEC-TIONS DOWNTOWN UNTIL THE PARADE IS OVER AND TRAFFIC HAS SUBSIDED. THE CITY POLICE ALSO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT SIT AND WAIT AT ANY OF THE DOWNTOWN INTERSECTIONS FOR THE PARADE TO END BECAUSE OF POTEN-TIAL TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS.

PLEASE REMEMBER VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL CEREMONIES” WILL BE HELD AT THE LASTING LEGACY PARK BEGINNING AT 11:00 A.M. PLEASE JOIN US!!

VETERANS DAY PARADE RULES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th 2011

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On Monday, the Campbell County Commissioners awarded Intermountain Construction and Materials (ICM) of Gillette the contract for the first phase of the Northern Drive project.

ICM’s bid came in roughly $675,000 below the county engi-neer’s estimate for the project, ac-cording to Campbell County public works director Kevin King. Of the three bids the county received, ICM’s low bid was in the amount of $7,894,826.

“I think the commissioners are

very excited about Phase I now being out for bid. The bids came in under the engineer’s estimate,” says Campbell County Commis-sioner Steve Hughes. “It’s been a project that’s been on the radar screen and it’s now going to get started, and I think it will be an improvement to our community when it’s completed.”

According to King, the entire Northern Drive project was origi-nally supposed to consist of three separate phases. However, he says the commissioners wanted to

combine Phase II and III into just one phase.

“So potentially we will have Phase II under construction at the same time that we’re completing Phase I, and if everything goes well we could actually have both phases done a year from Novem-ber,” King says.

The construction for Phase I, meanwhile, should begin within a couple of weeks King says.

“[Phase I] should be done by November 30 of 2012,” King de-scribes. “The only thing that could

possibly carry over to the spring of 2013 would be the wearing course which is just the very top ¾ of an inch or so of asphalt that goes on top of the final paving.”

According to King, Northern Drive Phase I will involve the re-construction of Garner Lake Road from Warlow Drive north. “Then we’ll have a brand new roadway that bends to the west and then heads straight west over to Little Powder Road, that will be Phase I of Northern Drive,” says King.

Local company wins bid for first phase of Northern DriveBy Paul Wallem - Basin Radio News

Arrowhead Dr. will include asphalt milling, asphalt pavement repair, overlay, concrete sidewalk and sub-grade prep. This work is part of the City of Gillette’s 2011 Pavement Manage-ment Schedule A is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax.

Fitch DriveFitch Drive will be under

construction - sections of which will be temporar-ily closed at various times throughout the construction process - from Saturday, September 17th through

Wednesday, November 23rd. Work will include as-phalt milling, asphalt pave-ment repair, concrete side-walk and subgrade prep. This work is part of the City of Gillette’s 2011 Pavement Management Schedule A and is funded by the Op-tional 1% Sales Tax.

Harder DriveHarder Drive will be under

construction from Saturday, September 17th through Wednesday, November 23rd. Sections of Harder Drive will be temporar-ily closed at various times

throughout the construction process. This construction work is part of the City of Gillette’s 2011 Pavement Management Schedule A and is funded by the Op-tional 1% Sales Tax.

For more information contact Public Information Officer Joe Lunne at (307) 686-5393.

Road Construction Updates

Weekly Trivia QuestionIn what famous battle was this quote?

“Tell the men to fire faster! Don’t give up the ship!”

Look in next week’s paper for the answer

Southern Drive /Enzi Drive intersectionCrews will be installing a

steel utility casing along the southern part of Southern Drive at the Souther Drive/Enzi Drive intersection from Monday, October 31st through Wednesday, No-vember 23rd. The speed limit at the intersection will be reduced to 30 MPH and the southern shoulder of Southern Drive will be closed during the construc-tion. The steel casing is being installed in advance of the Madison Pipeline go-ing through the area. Once the casing is installed, work will begin to install traffic signals at the intersection.

Wilderness Drive, Granite Court & Foxhill Avenue

These three streets will be under construction from Friday, September 30th through Wednesday, No-vember 23rd for asphalt milling, asphalt pavement repair, asphalt overlay, wa-terline installation and sub-grade prep. This work is for the City of Gillette’s Pave-ment Management Sched-ule A work and is funded by the Optional 1% Sales Tax.

Arrowhead DriveArrowhead Drive will be

under construction from Saturday, September 17th through Wednesday, No-vember 23rd. Work on

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Submitted by Kim BjorklundClass Party at John Paul II

This year’s Halloween night was definitely not ideal for trick-or-treaters. Not only was it very chilly but it was also windy. Any child with a typical cos-tume made from typical synthetic fabric would not have stayed warm enough to collect a good amount of candy going door to door.

This might explain why hundreds of people showed up in droves to wait in line for this year’s “Treat Street” put on by the News Record. The wait was close to an hour but most of it was inside and out of the foul weather. Al-though there were many kids, younger and older, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, there were very few tantrums during the long wait. This was perhaps because of everything there was to look at. The line was more of a showcase of the community children and their costumes.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle and had a great time point-ing out characters they knew or cute babies dressed as animals. Some families themed their costumes while others all expressed their individuality by dressing as their favorite thing.

Once inside, it was a frenzy of things to look at and candy to be had. There were dozens of businesses from hair salons to oil and gas companies and tax specialists to construction compa-nies handing out candy. Each booth had their own costumes and decora-tions as well as an entire Rubbermaid full of treats.

Kids got books, hats, cans of soda, and all the candy they could handle. There is absolutely no way a child could get as much candy by trick-or-treating. Also, because it was right next door to the Harvest Festival, this was one-stop holiday fun for everyone.

Treat Street is highly recommended to parents and grandparents of children of any age. If you missed it this year, you may have been one of the only ones! So, do not miss your opportunity next year for a warm and reliable trick-or-treating experience to which you do not have to go home and check all of your child’s candy.

Treat Street

Fun with PumpkinsOn Saturday Octo-

ber 29th, the AVA art center put on their annual pumpkin carving. Participants had a good time carving and decorat-ing pumpkins. Come and join them next year!

Taylor Boho

Tanner Boho

Crystal Vandom

Mason Hall, Born without a fibula bone and alner bone, decorates a pumpkin. Just the day before, one of his art pieces sold through the AVA art center.

“I know customer service is important, but it is expensive to provide customer service train-ing to my employees. How do I know that the training will pay off?” Heather, Cheyenne

On a recent shopping trip I encountered stellar customer service -- service good enough to write about. I keep thinking about how this excellent service made me part with a lot more money than I normally would and how happy I am about it.

The stellar service began with a friendly clerk in a clothing store asking, “How can I help you?” I told her I was looking for

an outfit, business casual, not a dress and that I hate to shop. She showed me a few options to get a bead on what I like, set me up in a dressing room and then brought me clothes to try on.

She left me alone to try things on but checked back and brought a few more things that she thought I might like. She gave me good advice about what looked well, what could fit better in a different size and how I could change a few things out and create several outfits. The clerk gave me advice on what should be tucked in, what shouldn’t, how to make a sum-

mer top work into winter. The employee worked hard to find things that I liked. I spent $365 on some great clothes that I’m happy with and wear a lot.

I had such a good experience that four months later I went back to that store and found the same clerk and told her how much I appreciated the help and asked her to help me with another outfit. She remembered me and even remembered what I had purchased months ear-lier and helped me find some new things, giving me ideas to make the new items work with my earlier purchases. I ended

up spending more than $500 on clothes -- again was happy to part with my money.

The customer service was the key to my happy shopping expe-rience. The clerk was helpful but did not badger me. I did not feel pressured to buy, but wanted to. The clerk obviously had been trained well and knew what she was doing. I hope she made a commission on the sales. I can guarantee that I will seek that store out and ask for that spe-cific clerk. This store’s invest-ment in training -- or good hiring --certainly paid off.

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If you stopped by the American Legion last Saturday, you would have been dancing, singing, and playing. But you may have been scared. There were witches, werewolves, and the scariest of all…a 70’s disco dude. It was a Halloween party for kids.

“My sister-in-law had done this for years, but stopped because people quit coming. We decided to do it again,” said Marissa Kuh-bacher. “We love Halloween.”

There was great games for the kids, including but not limited to ring toss, bobbing for apples, and basketball. “The real credit needs to go to my sister, Shereen Kuh-bacher. She put on the party and did all the work.”

So next year, if you are ready for a treat or a trick, come to the American Legion for a great party for the kids.

American Legion hosts

Halloween Party

for Kids

The Campbell County Rockpile Mu-seum is again hosting the popular Native American Artifact Show on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This annual event brings together some of the fi nest collec-tions of projectile points, drills, scrapers, knives, and beaded items in Northeast Wyoming.

This year’s special guest will be archae-ologist Gene Munson who will present “Archaeology in the Powder River Basin” with an emphasis on Campbell County. Campbell County has a rich prehistory with thousands of recorded prehistoric sites. Through the excavations of a number of these sites the local prehistory is beginning to emerge. Variations in climate played an important role in the local prehistory. Munson’s presentation will give a snapshot

of Campbell County and the Powder River Basin prehistory starting around 11,000 years ago and ending with the protohistoric period around 300 years ago.

Over the last 31 years, Gene Munson and GCM Services, Inc. have excavated more than 120 prehistoric sites in the Pow-der River Basin.

Anyone wishing to display their collection of artifacts should contact museum regis-trar Robert Henning at 682-5723.

Come to the museum on Nov. 5 to learn more about the fascinating prehistory of Wyoming. For additional information, please call CCRM at (307) 682-5723 or visit www.rockpilemuseum.com.

The Campbell County Rockpile Museum is located at 900 W. 2nd Street in Gillette, Wyoming.

16th annual Native American Artifact Show

The Campbell County Rockpile Museum in Gillette, Wyoming is pleased to an-nounce the opening of The Unquiet Utes, a temporary exhibit showcasing the journey of approximately 400 Ute Indians who left the Uintah Reservation in Utah and traveled through Wyoming towards South Dakota in 1906. Frustration with the open-ing of their lands to white settlement led the Utes to seek a new place to live where they could be free from government control and live life the way they chose.

Due to rumors of violence and crime, the U.S. Cavalry was called out to intercept the Utes. The national press took notice and Collier’s Weekly sent out photographer Thomas W. Tolman to Gillette to document

the Utes and their meeting with the U.S. Cavalry. This exhibit features Tolman’s photographs and relates the entire story of the 1906 Ute Expedition.

Come to the museum between October 31st and May 31st to see these great pho-tos and learn about this event in Campbell County history. An exhibit reception with special guests from the Northern Ute Tribe is planned for November 17th at 7:00 p.m.

For more information please call Robert at CCRM at (307) 682-5723 or visit our website at www.rockpilemuseum.com and go to the Exhibitions page.

The Campbell County Rockpile Museum is located at 900 W. 2nd Street in Gillette, Wyoming.

New Exhibit opens Oct. 31The Unquiet Utes

Exhibits Reception on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

What once was a small church gathering to provide a safe haven for young children on Halloween night, has turned into one of the biggest “hot spots” for the com-munity. The annual Harvest Festival was a smashing hit again this year with hundreds of people showing up to celebrate Halloween.

Some local businesses like Just Gotta Dance were there hosting games, handing out candy, and offering their services at a discount. Many churches were there doing basically the same. They were hosting games, handing out candy, and providing information on their place of worship.

All the children and many of the parents showed up in their costumes ready to play. They could do a cake walk, ring toss, bean bag toss, and even a chance to throw soggy sponges in the faces of clowns. Families could also get their pictures taken together for a small fee. The biggest hit, by far, was the bouncy houses. The bouncy obstacle course was attracting the older kids while the Shrek and Sponge Bob houses stole the hearts of the younger ones. The infl atable slides not only provided fun for the kids but entertainment to the spectators as it was incredibly fast.

Along with all of the good, wholesome fun was good food as well. For $5 one could eat all the chili they wanted in lieu of having to go home after a long night of festive fun to cook dinner. Warm drinks were also being sold with an extra kick of caffeine so the parents could keep up with those sugar-soaked children!

Not only were families provided a warm alternative to the cold outdoor weather, but they were provided a sense of security that their kids were in a safe and fun environment. Also, the event was of no charge so it was open to literally anyone and everyone who wished to attend. If you missed out on it this year, it is defi nitely recommended for next year and will be here for many years to come.

Harvest Festival

By Keary Speer

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With the astounding num-ber of negative statistics there are regarding Breast Cancer, it is no wonder that there is an entire month dedicated to spreading awareness and helping this cause. This particular event in Campbell County has had weeks of anticipa-tion with all of the classes and articles leading up to the 28th of October and it finally arrived. The C-Cups Auction took place that night at the AVA Art Center with a huge outpouring of support for the cause.

Throughout the previous weeks, people had come to AVA Art Center to glaze coffee mugs made by local artist John Werbelow and

a few others. These cups were set to be auctioned off in a silent auction for Breast Cancer victims. A total of approximately 93 cups, in-cluding some cup-style or-naments and tea sets were made. There was some-thing there for everyone.

Dozens of people showed up every few minutes to enjoy the oer d’oeuvres and look at the impressive number of beautiful mugs. It was also a child-friendly environment with a coloring station to keep them busy and away from the break-ables.

Within the first half hour every mug had at least one bid and throughout the two hour event the bids just

kept getting higher. It was not until someone called out the last ten minutes of bidding that it got really in-tense with people trying to win their favorite mug.

In the end, many people walked away with their fa-vorite mug, or even mugs, and supported a great cause.

There were two women from the community nomi-nated to receive the funds raised from this event. Connie Pate and Shan-non Eurich each received $1,170.00 thanks to every-one who participated in the glazing classes, donated, and bought mugs.

AVA AuctionBy Keary Speer

Saturday, October 29th was a crisp morning perfect for running and that is just what many community members did during the Ghostly Gallop. Many people showed up at the Gillette College to run or walk the 5K and the 10K route offered by the organization.

Costumes were worn by many for a contest. There were crayons, Super Mario Brothers, and many more geared up to run. The staff, who put on the run, also dressed in their finest costumes to direct the runners on where to go. There was also a poker game of sorts to be played. Each runner was handed a playing card at each kilometer. Whoever had the best 5 card hand won a prize as well as the people who took first, second, and third in the appropriate age group.

Each runner and walker who signed up got a black long sleeved t-short that had music playing ghosts that glowed in the dark to commemorate their feat. They were also entered into a drawing for door prizes at the end that included more t-shirts and symphony tickets.

This 5k/10k run was to raise money for the Powder River symphony. The Powder River Symphony is made up of talented community member who practice tirelessly to bring the culture of classical music to our community in a big way. They only perform a select few times a year but happen to have their “Sounds of the Holidays” performance coming December 11th at the Cam-plex Heritage Center.

This was their second annual Halloween run, indicating that there will be more in the years to come. Hopefully, with all of the participants who showed up, they raised plenty of money to keep doing what they love and blessing this town with beautiful music. Mark your calendars for next year’s run to have fun and help a good cause.

Ghostly GallopBy Keary Spear

Photos by Campbell County Observer Photographer Clint Burton

Joni Brisson and (witch) Alyssa Baumgartner fin-ish their 5k walk.

Clint Lee of Big Horn Dental takes off on his qwest to finish first in the Ghostly Gallop 5k.

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The Observer strives to make news reports fair and accurate. If you have a question or

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October 26, 2011- At 5:59 AM to Alex Way

for a medical assist.- At 7:00 AM to North High-

way 14-16 for a traffic ac-cident. A pickup swerved to miss an animal and rolled onto its side. There were no injuries.

- At 8:06 AM to the inter-section of West 2nd Street and 4J Road for a two vehi-cle traffic accident. Firefight-ers applied floor dry to fluid leakage.

- At 11:53 AM to 209 Lime-stone Avenue (Intermountain Construction) for a fire alarm. Dust in a smoke detector was blamed for the alarm. The Fire Alarm Company is working on correcting the problem.

- At 8:25 PM to 330 Oregon Avenue for a possible chim-ney fire. Firefighters arrived to find some hot embers coming out the chimney as the fireplace was being used – there was no chimney fire.

- At 9:07 PM to 600 West Boxelder Road (Campbell County Detention Center) for a burning electrical odor in the kitchen. Firefighters found water from a sink had leaked into an electrical wir-ing junction box for an under the sink hot water heater. The water caused the electri-cal wiring to arc creating an arc hole in the metal bottom. The electrical breaker was shut off until repairs can be made. The incident was con-tained to the kitchen and the building was not evacuated.

October 27, 2011- At 4:02 p.m. to mm 90 on

South HWY 59 for a 2 vehicle collision. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival found a bus versus truck col-lision that occurred after an involved truck unintention-ally spilled its load of gravel on the roadway. No one was injured in the collision. CCFD checked the involved ve-hicles for leaking fluids and

hazardous materials, and assisted with traffic control.

- At 11:18 p.m. to Gold Road for an EMS assist.

October 28, 2011- At 6:24 AM to 2577 South

Douglas Highway (Fairview Inn) for a fire alarm. A smoke detector had activated due to some burnt food.

- At 10:55 AM to the 100 block of South Carey Avenue for a medical assist.

- At 1:22 PM to 905 North Gurley Avenue (YES House) for a fire alarm. Respond-ing fire units were cancelled when it was learned there was no fire.

- At 5:31 PM to East In-terstate 90 for a traffic acci-dent. Responding fire units were cancelled when it was learned the accident was in Crook County.

- At 6:27 PM to 605 Emer-son for a carbon monoxide detector activation. Fire-fighters arrived to find the home had been air out and that there was no longer any carbon monoxide inside the home. A burner on the cook stove had been accidently left on causing the detector to go into alarm.

October 29, 2011- At 3:34 PM to Skyline Dr.

near White’s Frontier Mo-tors for a small grass fire, unknown cause the size was less than 1 acre.

- At 4:34 PM to 4507 Dako-ta for an automatic residen-tial fire alarm, upon arrival it was determined to be burnt food, no fire.

- At 10:29 PM to E. Lincoln for an EMS assist.

October 30, 2011- At 12:26 AM to Warren

Ave. for a medical assist- At 1:43 AM to Jakes Tav-

ern for a medical assist.- At 2:42 AM to Sierra Cir-

cle for a medical assist.- At 7:38 AM to the 2300

block of Bluffs Ridge Drive for a medical assist.

- At 10:11 AM to 111 Stet-son Drive for smoke odor in-side the residence. Firefight-ers identified the gas boiler as the source of the odor. The scene was turned over to Source Gas (natural gas utility).

- At 1:35 PM to North High-way 59 for a medical assist.

- At 7:01 PM to 411 4J Road for a residential fire alarm. A smoke detector malfunction caused the false alarm.

October 31, 2011- At 9:57 AM to 1801 Four

J Road for unknown odor. CCFD personnel monitored the air inside the building. No abnormal readings were found.

- At 3:56 PM to the inter-section of 4th Street and Carey Avenue for a two ve-hicle accident. No injuries were reported. CCFD per-sonnel did apply floor dry to some fluids that were leaking from one of the vehicles.

- At 6:29 PM to 507 Ross Ave. for an open burning complaint, upon arrival we found a resident burning a pile of leaves. He was in-formed of the city ordinance that bans open fires with the exception of cooking (BBQ grills).

- At 10:50 PM to Castle Pines for an EMS assist.

November 01, 2011- At 8:43 a.m. to the 300

block of Sunflower Lane for a medical assist.

- At 10:26 a.m. to the 5300 block of Gunpowder for a medical assist.

- At 1:29 p.m. to the 300 block of Newton Road for a medical assist.

- At 5:09 p.m. to 800 Hem-lock Avenue for an automatic fire alarm activation. CCFD responded to the scene and upon arrival was advised that a manual pull station was ac-tivated by an occupant of the building and the alarm was false. CCFD assisted with resetting the alarm system.

Campbell Co. Fire Dept.

Go green, or should I say brown. Recycle fall leaves into compost, a soil amendment or a nutritious topdressing for the lawn. It saves time, improves your landscape, and is good for the environ-ment.

Shred fall leaves with your mower and leave them on the lawn. As long as you can see the grass blades for the leaf piec-es your lawn will be fine. Those shredded leaves will break down adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.

It is also a good time to make your last application of fertilizer for your lawn. Use a slow release organic nitrogen fertilizer, like Milorganite, that won’t burn the lawn. Plus, the phosphorous is non-leaching and recent research found when the micro-organisms break down this fertilizer some of the phosphorous and potassium tied up in the soil is released for plants to use.

Northern gardeners with bluegrass, fescue and rye grass lawns can make their last application in late fall before the ground freezes. Those in the south growing Bermuda, St Augustine and other warm weather grasses can make their last

fertilization about one month before the lawn goes dormant. That’s about the time of the first killing frost. Fertilizing later can result in winter damage.

Bag any leaves you do not want to leave on the lawn and dig them into annual flower and vegetable gardens. They will break down over winter improving the soil.

Use any remaining shredded leaves as mulch on the soil around perennials, trees and shrubs. The shredded leaves help conserve moisture, moderate temperature extremes and reduce weed problems. And once decomposed, help improve the soil.

Still leaves left? Start a compost pile by mixing fall leaves with other yard waste. Do not add aggressive weeds or those gone to seed. Leave insect and disease infested or chemically treated plant debris out of the pile. Do not add fat, meat and other animal products that can attract rodents. Moisten and occasionally turn the pile to speed up the process. Soon you will have a wonderful soil conditioner to put back into your landscape.

Mow, Do not Rake Fall LeavesEco-friendly Landscape Tips for the Fall Season

Submitted by Melinda Myers -Gardening Expert, TV & Radio Host, Author and Columnist

Gillette resident Bob Trowe owns and operates a metal art and specialty fabrication business and shop. Because Trowe works on all kinds of things, not just art, he prefers to call his work space a shop rather than a studio.

As a long time inventor and artist, Trowe works in various media, from wood to ceramic tile, to all kinds of metals.

While metal is his first love media is not a con-straint for Bob, who finds inspiration to create from all around him. If he feels in-spired to create something using a media unfamiliar to him, he is unafraid to dive right in and learn all about

its history, traditional us-age, and work methods.

This inspiration then car-ries over to his enthusiasm for teaching others and sharing his knowledge.

Bob has produced many commissioned works in-cluding: a walnut, steel, and granite fireplace man-tle; several large hanging copper wall fountains; a mosaic tile topped chest of drawers; and custom sets of stainless steel grilling tools.

After working in the cor-porate world for ten years as an Information Technol-ogy manager Bob threw off the shackles of the 9 to 5 world and now devotes all his time to creative pur-

suits. Bob possesses a B.A. in American Studies, Women’s Studies and a Master’s degree in Busi-ness.

You can meet Bob Trowe and see his work during an artist reception on Thurs-day, November 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. inside the art gallery of the Cam-plex Heritage Center. This artist reception is free and open to the public.

If you cannot make the reception, Trowe’s work will remain on display inside the Heritage Center Art Gallery through Friday, No-vember 18. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Form versus Function:Artist reception for Bob Trowe

7

Public Pulse

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Warden’s Corner

If you have hunted in Wyoming for very long you have probably come upon a game check station. Game wardens and biolo-gists set up check stations along highly trav-eled routes throughout the state to gather biological data and check for compliance with laws and regulations. Keep in mind that Wyoming state law requires all hunters to stop at established check stations. This includes any hunters that have not harvest-ed any game and we will get you down the road as quickly as we can.

Ending a decade of contentious litiga-tion, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued a controversial opinion last Friday upholding President Clinton’s “Roadless Rule.” The rule in controversy was issued in the last days of the Clinton Administration and was designed to prohibit access to millions of acres of public land as well as to prevent new road construction for timber harvests, mining or natural resources develop-ment. The State of Wyoming originally won in the United States District Court for Wyoming, but the Tenth Circuit ruled, unanimously, that Wyoming’s challenge was without merit and that the Roadless Rule would have the full force of law.

Wyoming and its supporters did not challenge the Roadless Rule on its sub-stance, but rather under the Administrative Procedure Act. Basically, their argument rested on technicalities. On each claim, the Tenth Circuit upheld the broad power of federal agencies to manage federal land holdings. Wyoming’s challenge did not bring up issues of constitutional law or other property rights claims, but this is understandable since states are often on the losing end of such challenges.

With some fortuitous timing, the Wyo-ming Liberty Group just released “One Thousand Roads to Liberty,” a compre-hensive study focusing on how local com-munities and states can regain control of certain roads running over federal lands. (The paper is available at http://www.

wyliberty.org/liberty-brief) Unlike the Wyo-ming challenge, this approach is focused on an often overlooked area of federal law (RS 2477) that established property rights that states and communities have used to win against the federal government time and time again.

By cataloging and recording old rights-of-way over federal land, the State of Wyoming and its counties can properly secure existing paths to protect against federal experiments in land use manage-ment like the Roadless Rule. By focus-ing the legal question away from one of administrative law or federalism, where states usually lose, the Wyoming Liberty Group’s fresh approach shifts attention to the law of real property and servitudes, where local communities and states have soundly defeated the federal government.

True to its motto, “founding principles, guiding innovative solutions,” the new study “One Thousand Roads to Liberty” offers a unique vision to recapture state sovereignty, diminish federal interfer-ence, and permit entrepreneurialism and free markets to thrive. We welcome your engagement and interest in developing this vision.

Benjamin Barr serves as counsel to the Wyoming Liberty Group (www.wyliberty.org) and has a national practice special-izing in the area of constitutional law. Most recently, he vindicated the First Amend-ment rights of veterans through a victory in Carey v. Federal Election Commission.

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Alisa Cochrane, state vet-erans service offi cer for the Wyoming Veterans Com-mission, will be conducting outreach to assist veterans and their families with their state and federal benefi ts, claims, and healthcare.

She will be available at the Crook County Court-house, 309 Cleveland, in

Sundance, on Nov. 8, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

She will be available at the Weston County Court-house, 1 W. Main St., in Newcastle, on Nov. 9, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

During periods of inclem-ent weather, please check with the staff at the out-reach locations to ensure

the service offi cer will be available.

Cochrane is available to meet with veterans and their families in their homes and after hours. Please contact her for more infor-mation and to schedule an appointment at 307-696-5048.

State veterans service offi cer conducts outreach in

Crook and Weston Counties

8

Public Pulse

I know it shouldn’t bother me. But it bothers me. I just can’t help myself. It’s a good thing I sit in a padded room and talk to myself four hours a day or I would have blown a gasket a long time ago.

See, a couple of time a week I like to stop by Dal-bey Park, also known as The Fishing Pond, in Gil-lette. It is a relaxing place where I like to go and wind down. I wander the path-ways, watch the fall leaves change, and see where those little dogs leave those fun surprises for the Frisbee golfers to step in. (BTW, please remember to pick up your dog’s poop). (On sec-ond thought - never mind - I need the laugh). ANYWAY!

Each time, as I stroll, and I approach the bridge from the parking lot, I fi nd myself mumbling, “Ignore it. Ignore it.” But I can never ignore it…

To the right of the bridge, next to the fl oating pier, is a little railed in area, with a hardened surface. It sits be-tween the handicap parking area and the pond. There is a sign in front of this little area that reads: “HANDY-CAP FISHING ONLY”

I’ve been going to that park for two years. I jog there some mornings on the weekend. I have never seen anyone in a wheelchair us-ing that so called Handicap Fishing Area. I began to think that if a fellow with a handicap were to fi sh there he might just enjoy some company. Anyone’s com-pany, handicap or not.

At that point I had to won-

der whose dumb idea was it to install a handicap fi shing area right there in that spot. I mean, it’s next to the dock, and next to the bridge, with so much foot traffi c that it is not exactly an ideal fi shing area.

Then, one evening, I strolled out on to the fl oat-ing dock and halfway out I stopped and looked back and noticed that I could not see the fi shing area through all the reeds that had grown up in front it. In fact the reeds were so high there was no way that a man, even if he was standing, could cast a line over the reeds into the pond.

I continued walking to the end of the pier and it is then that I realize that the pier itself is in a lousy spot in relation to the handicap fi shing area. There is a good chance of a fi sherman hitting the dock with their baited hooks. Add to that --- NO ONE CAN SEE OVER THE RIEDS WHEN THEY CAST! There is a good chance that people relaxing on the pier will get hooked by someone who is casting but can’t see where they are casting too.

Ok, so, let’s review:We have a fi shing area, in

a real sucky place for fi sh, marked and railed off with a sign that restricts it to only people who are most likely sitting down and can’t get up, and we have allowed or have planted reeds be-tween the fi shing area and the pond that no one could cast over even if they were standing, leading them to

cast, blindly to a fl oating dock where people are sit-ting.

AH yes, --- your govern-ment in action.

Here again I can’t help myself. Let’s add it up.

How much did it cost to pave the area?

How much for the railing?Did the city plant those

reeds? How much?How much did labor cost

us on this fi ne idea?How much is the fi ne if I

am caught fi shing here?Finally - how much for that

STUPID sign.OK - look - I know who-

ever’s bright idea this was meant well, but at this point I have to ask, was anyone thinking here? At any time did anyone working for the city stop and look at any part of this situation and say - you know - this just ain’t working. Let’s just scrap the whole idea.

Considering the waste of taxpayer money I’m think-ing of staging a protest. I might just pitch a tent in that restricted fi shing area and stay a couple of month. I’m going to call it, OCCU-PY HANDICAP FISHING LAKE - or something. The problem is that winter is close and there is no way I’m camping out in sub-zero temperatures. Look for me this spring.

Actually, I have a better idea --- could someone slip out to Dalbey Park and re-move that STUPID SIGN? I don’t need to know who you are, and I don’t care if you work for the city or not.

HEY GILLETTE!Here’s your Sign!

By Glenn Woods

Bold Republic Weekly

To listen to Glenn Woods morning radio show tune in to 1270am KIML Gillette

Monday through Friday from 6 - 10 a.m.www.boldrepublic.com

2011 Chamber of Commerce award nominees

This year, the Chamber honors six organizations and professionals at the Annual Chamber Awards. All nominees are current Chamber members. The awards are:

Chamber Award of Excellence - Nominees are actively involved with the Chamber, have more than 25 employees and have an established business in Campbell County for the past fi ve years. Nominees include:

• Animal Medical Center of Wyoming • Collins Communications• Gillette College • Greg’s Welding Inc.• Powder River Dental • Schilling Companies LLC• Subway Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Nominees have fewer than 25 employees and

have been in business for at least three years. Nominees include:• Theresa Kokesh, Aloha Scuba and Travel• Kati Sipe, Brothers Coffee Co.• Christina Hjorth, First Place Cellular• Jim West, Go West Games LLC• Bruce and MaryAnn Marshall, Marshall Jewelry• Dustin and Heather Martinson, Rehab Solutions Friend of the Chamber Award - Businesses or individuals who have helped the

Chamber staff immensely throughout the fi scal year. Nominees include:• Wes Johnson and John Davis, 4 Seasons Events• Karl DeCock, CTA Architects Engineers• Sandy Hart, Fantastic Sam’s• First National Bank New Chamber Member of the Year Award - Members who joined the Chamber in

the previous 18 months leading up to the end of the fi scal year (June 30, 2011). Nomi-nees include:

• Blue Butterfl y Boutique • Big Horn Dental Clinic• Big Screen Entertainment • Buffalo Jump Saloon & Steak House• Claus LLC • CTA Architects Engineers• Dynamic Homes LLC • Joe’s Pet Depot• Schilling Companies LLC • SignBoss LLC Spirit of Gillette Award - Nominees generously give their time and talent to com-

munity projects, and must not have held a public offi ce in the last 12 months. Nominees include:

• Basin Radio Network• Charlene Busk, City of Gillette• Tami Erb, First Interstate Bank• Ric Schuyler, Pokey’s Smokehouse & Barbeque• Mary Silvernell, Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau Kelly Swenson Business Person of the Year - The Chamber’s most prestigious

award, nominees are a current business manager or owner who is actively involved with the Chamber, and has resided and operated a business in Campbell County for at least fi ve years. Nominees also embody the spirit of Kelly Swenson, the fi rst manager and president of the Chamber. Nominees include:

• Kathi Brazee, Coffee Friends• L.D. Gilbertz, Yates Petroleum Corp.• Sherry McGrath, ERA Boardwalk Real Estate, Inc.• Daryl Meyer, Farmers Cooperative Association• Robert Mills, O.D., Gillette Optometric Clinic

Friday, November 4-Senior Center- 1st Nation-

al Bank Birthday Dinner-Campbell County Cham-

ber of Commerce Annual Banquet, 6 p.m., Cam-plex Energy Hall

-Gillette Gun Club Ban-quet, 5-11 p.m., Cam-plex Wyoming Center

-AVA- Uncorked! 7 p.m.-CCHS Musical, 7-10 p.m.,

North Auditorium-Face Lift @ Jakes Tavern

Saturday, November 5-SAT Testing, 8 a.m., North

Campus-3rd Annual Bulb Bonanza,

9 a.m., City West Building-16th Annual Native Ameri-

can Artifact Show, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Rockpile Museum

-RCM Barrel Racing, TBA, Cam-plex East Pavilion

-AVA- Van Gogh Kiddos, 10 a.m.

-All About Women Christ-mas Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Lakeway Learn-ing Center

-CCHS Musical, 7-10 p.m., North Auditorium

-Snow Ball 9 (Fundraiser for Miss CC Scholarship Fund), 7-11 p.m., Cam-plex Wyoming Center

--Face Lift @ Jakes Tavern

Sunday, November 6-Daylight Savings Time

Ends-UMF Meeting @ Jakes

Tavern-WRCHA Club Clinic, 8

a.m.- 6 p.m., Cam-plex East Pavilion

-Senior Center, Carry-In Game Day, 12 p.m.

-Wyoming Outlaws to Visit County Libraries, 1:30 p.m., CCPL

Monday, November 7-Adecco: Canned Food

Drive, 11/7-11/14, Drop Sites: Adecco & Campbell Co. Chamber of Commerce

-Prairie Wind Picture Re-take Day, 8:30-10 a.m.

-Senior Center, Medicare Part D, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

-Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Level 1, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., K2 Technologies, 686-3025

-AVA- Pine Needle Basket Class, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

-AVA- Little Tikes, 1 p.m.-Green Advantage/Green

Construction Training, 3-5 p.m., Gillette College, 307-674-6446 ext. 4505

-AVA, Life Drawing, 7 p.m.-Conestoga 5/6 Grade Pro-

gram, 7 p.m., Cam-plex Heri-tage Center

-Cottonwood 3/4 Grade Music Program, 7 p.m., Cot-tonwood

-Prairie Wind 5/6 Grade Music Program, 7 p.m.,

CCHS Auditorium-Wyoming Outlaws to Visit

County Libraries, 7 p.m., WBL

Tuesday, November 8-ELECTION DAY-HealthCHECK Testing,

7-11 a.m., CCMH Lab, 688-1222

-Basic MS Access 2010, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Gillette College

-Microsoft Windows 7 Ba-sic, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., K2 Tech-nologies, 686-3025

-Microsoft Excel 2010 Lev-el 2, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., K2 Tech-nologies, 686-3025

-AVA- Pre-School Art, 2 p.m.

-Green Advantage/Green Construction Training, 3-5 p.m., Gillette College, 307-674-6446 ext. 4505

-AVA- Grade School Pot-tery, 4 p.m.

-AVA- Pottery with John Werbelow, 6:30-9 p.m.

-Book Discussion with Young Adult Author S.L. Rott-man, 7 p.m., CCPL

-CCHS Veteran’s Day Concert, 7-10 p.m.

Wednesday, November 9-Early Release, 1 p.m.

Secondary, 1:30 p.m. El-ementary

-Children’s Immunization Clinic, 8-11:30 a.m., Public Health

Wednesday, November 9

-Worksite Wellness Work-shop: Employee Health Costs Cutting Into Your Profi t Margin?,

10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Gillette College Tech. Center 888-582-9002

-Optimist International Club Meeting, 12 p.m., Holi-day Inn Express, 605-645-1102

-AVA- Early Release, 2-5 p.m.

-Green Advantage/Green Construction Training, 3-5 p.m., Gillette College, 307-674-6446 ext. 4505

-The McManus Comedies, Poor Again Dagnabbit!, 7 p.m.,

Cam-plex Heritage Center, Call 682-8802 for Tickets

Thursday, November 10-NO SCHOOL- Parent/

Teacher Conferences-HealthCHECK Testing,

7-11 a.m., CCMH Lab, 688-1222

-K2 Focused Seminar: Taming Your Email, 8:30 a.m.- 12 p.m., K2 Technolo-gies, 686-3025

-Senior Center- Tin Lizzie Bus, 9 a.m.

-Downtown Revitalization Meeting: Review of Corridor

Assets & Liabilities, 12 p.m., 2nd Floor Conference

Room, City Hall-AVA- Homeschool Kids,

2-3:30 p.m.-Green Advantage/Green

Construction Training, 3-5 p.m., Gillette College, 307-674-6446 ext. 4505

-AVA- Grade School Kids Club, 4 p.m.

Friday, November 11-VETERAN’S DAY-NO SCHOOL-Lilli Jean @ Jakes Tavern-Online- Microsoft Excel

2010 Level 2A, 9-10:30 a.m., K2 Technologies, 686-3025

-Online- Microsoft Excel 2010 Level 2B, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., K2 Technologies, 686-3025

-Online- Microsoft Excel 2010 Level 2C, 1-2:30 p.m., K2 Technologies, 686-3025

-Veteran’s Day Parade, 1:30 p.m., Linda Eldridge 680-8341 to Enter

-Ladies Night Expo, 5-9 p.m., Cam-plex Central Pa-vilion

-AVA- Photography Invita-tional Reception, 6-8 p.m.

-Rotary Cajun Night, 6-10 p.m., Cam-plex Energy Hall

-Bricks for Vets Quilt Raf-fl e, 7 p.m., AVA, 687-0513

Saturday, November 12-Lilli Jean @ Jakes Tavern-ACTRA Team Roping, All

Day, Cam-plex East Pavilion-Canned Food Drive Pre-

sented by the Heart of Gil-lette, 11/12-11/19, Downtown Businesses

-YES House Bazaar, 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., YES House Tammy Hladky Center of Hope, for Booth Call 686-7539

-Recluse Holiday Bazaar, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Recluse Hall

-Stock Dog Trials, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Cam-plex Barn 3

-Church of Christ Youth Rally, 7-10 p.m., Cam-plex Wyoming Center

Sunday, November 13-Senior Center- CLOSED-ACTRA Team Roping, All

Day, Cam-plex East Pavilion-WRCHA Club Clinic, 12-6

p.m., Cam-plex Barn 3

Monday, November 14-Microsoft Access 2010

Level 2, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., K2 Technologies, 686-3025

-Senior Center- Scarlett Belles, 11 a.m.

-Prairie Wind PTO Meet-ing, 12 p.m.

-AVA- Little Tikes, 1 p.m.-AVA- Mad Platter, 6-9 p.m.-Paintbrush 5th Grade Pro-

gram, 6:30 p.m., Cam-plex Heritage Center

What’s Going On?

Where is this picture taken? Find out in next week’s Campbell County Observer

Joke of the weekSubmitted by Dana Laft

Q: How many municipal employees does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Seven – two to administer the Civil Ser-vice examination for the Light Bulb Admin-istrator position, the Commissioner of Pub-lic Works, who ends up hiring his brother for the position anyway, one to plow the may-ors driveway, a Summer Youth student to actually screw it in, and a Union steward to protest that it’s the electricians job to screw in light bulbs.

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9

Public Pulse

The 2011 Wyoming House IndexThis table shows the weighted liberty score and weighted liberty percentage for each representa-tive. The highest score, earned by Rep. Lorraine Quarberg, shows a weighted score of 61.67. WEIGHTED WEIGHTEDNAME PAR DIST DISTRICT LOCATION SCORE PERCENTJoseph Barbuto D 48 SW Fremont/Sweetwater -33.5 16%Rosie Berger R 51 Sheridan -13.17 34%Stan Blake D 39 Sweetwater -19.67 28%Gregg Blikre R 53 Campbell -10.17 37%Dave Bonner R 25 Park 1 46%Jonathan Botten R 30 Sheridan 10.83 55%Bob Brechtel R 38 Natrona 53.5 93%Kermit Brown R 14 Albany 8.83 53%Edward Buchanan R 4 Goshen 21.83 65%Donald Burkhart, Jr R 15 Carbon -0.17 45%James Byrd D 44 Laramie -51.67 0%Rita Campbell R 34 Fremont -1.67 44%Richard Cannady R 6 Converse -0.5 45%Pat Childers R 50 Park 6.33 51%Cathy Connolly D 13 Albany -30.33 19%Bernadine Craft D 17 Sweetwater -36 14%Kathy Davison R 20 Lincoln/Sublette/Sweetwater 9.33 54%Amy Edmonds R 12 Laramie 45.5 86%John Eklund R 10 Laramie 8.33 53%Ken Esquibel D 41 Laramie -12.67 34%John Freeman D 60 Sweetwater -18.17 30%Gerald Gay R 36 Natrona 49.17 89%Keith Gingery R 23 Fremont/Teton 3.5 49%W. Patrick Goggles D 33 Fremont -21.67 26%Mike Greear R 27 Washakie 14.83 59%Matthias Greene R 45 Albany -7.17 39%Steve Harshman R 37 Natrona -1.67 44%Elaine Harvey R 26 Big Horn/Park -1.83 44%Hans Hunt R 2 Niobrara/Weston/Converse/Goshen 20.17 63%Peter S. “Pete” Illoway R 42 Laramie 9.83 54%Allen Jaggi R 18 Uinta/Sweetwater 41 82%Norine Kasperik R 32 Campbell 1.83 47%Kendell Kroeker R 35 Natrona 55.5 95%Samuel Krone R 24 Park -11.83 35%Thomas Lockhart R 57 Natrona 10.33 55%Bunky Loucks R 59 Natrona 17.83 61%Thomas Lubnau R 31 Campbell -3.17 43%Michael Madden R 40 Johnson/Sheridan 33.33 75%Robert McKim R 21 Lincoln 22.5 65%Del McOmie R 54 Fremont 4 49%David Miller R 55 Fremont 27.83 70%Glenn Moniz R 46 Albany 4.83 50%Bob Nicholas R 8 Laramie -1.83 44%John Patton R 29 Sheridan 6.83 52%Frank Peasley R 3 Converse/Platte 49 89%Bryan Pedersen R 7 Laramie 5.67 51%Owen Petersen R 19 Uinta -5.5 41%Ruth Petroff R 16 Teton -18.67 29%Lorraine Quarberg R 28 S Big Horn/Hot Springs/SE Park 61.67 100%Jim Roscoe D 22 Lincoln/Sublette/Teton -14 33%Mark Semlek R 1 Crook/Weston 41.33 82%Lisa Shepperson R 58 Natrona 35.83 77%William “Jeb” Steward R 47 Carbon/Albany 20.17 63%Tim Stubson R 56 Natrona 7.33 52%Matt Teeters R 5 Goshen/Platte 47.5 88%Mary Throne D 11 Laramie -21.17 27%Clarence Vranish R 49 Uinta 13.67 58%Sue Wallis R 52 Campbell 34.67 76%Dan Zwonitzer R 43 Laramie -2.17 44%David Zwonitzer R 9 Laramie 8.5 53%

The 2011 Wyoming Senate IndexThis table shows the weighted liberty score and weighted liberty percentage for each senator.

The highest score, earned by Sen. Cale Case, shows a weighted score of 67. WEIGHTED WEIGHTEDNAME PAR DIST DISTRICT LOCATION SCORE PERCENTJim Anderson R 2 Converse/Platte 3.33 43%Paul Barnard R 15 Uinta -26.33 17%Eli Bebout R 26 Fremont 11.33 50%Bruce Burns R 21 Sheridan 29.67 67%Cale Case R 25 Fremont 67 100%Leland Christensen R 17 Teton/Fremont -30.17 13%Henry H.R. “Hank” Coe R 18 Park 12.33 51%Stan Cooper R 14 Lincoln/Sublette/Sweetwater/Uinta -22.17 20%Dan Dockstader R 16 Lincoln/Sublette/Teton 10.33 49%Ogden Driskill R 1 Crook/Weston/E Converse/Niobrara/NE Goshen 2.33 42%Fred Emerich R 5 Laramie -11 30%Floyd Esquibel D 8 Laramie -40.67 4%Gerald Geis R 20 S Big Horn/Hot Springs/SE Park/Washakie 4.83 44%John Hastert D 13 Sweetwater -44.83 0%Larry Hicks R 11 Albany/Carbon -12.33 29%John Hines R 23 Campbell 0 40%Kit Jennings R 28 Natrona 13 52%Wayne Johnson R 6 Laramie -21.83 21%Bill Landen R 27 Natrona -26.33 17%Marty Martin D 12 Sweetwater/Fremont -21 21%Curt Meier R 3 Goshen/Platte -18.5 24%Phil Nicholas R 10 Albany 14.83 53%Leslie Nutting R 7 Laramie -16 26%Drew Perkins R 29 Natrona 14.83 53%R. Ray Peterson R 19 Big Horn/E Park -3.17 37%Tony Ross R 4 Laramie -9.17 32%Chris Rothfuss D 9 Albany -27.17 16%John Schiffer R 22 Sheridan/Johnson 3.33 43%Charles Scott R 30 Natrona -20.33 22%Michael Von Flatern R 24 Campbell -19.33 23%

Wyoming Liberty IndexSubmitted by the Wyoming Liberty Group

The Wyoming Liberty Group released its ninth annual Wyoming Liberty Index today, which rates all final bills in the House and Senate from the 2011 General Session and shows whether they support or inhibit liberty.

“Many of these bills have a strong impact on personal liberty and the Index gives people a sense of how liberty friendly their legislators were during the 2011 session,” said Charles Curley, project lead of the Wyoming Liberty Index. “The Index will allow constituents to either thank their legislators for their sup-port of liberty or question legislators on their lack of support.”

Liberty Index citizen volunteers

rated each bill on a scale of -3 (most hostile to liberty) to +3 (most favorable to liberty) to create a scorecard for each bill. The volun-teers then matched up each bill to issues such as federalism, individ-ual rights, limited government and taxation. Then, each legislator’s voting pattern was automatically calculated.

“The Index will help legislators see where they stand on issues important to citizens living in a free society and see where they can improve if they value liberty,” said Curley. “It also helps constituents in each district see how liberty-friendly their legislators are and adjust their votes accordingly.”

Legislators voted on 275 bills in the House and 162 bills in the Senate. Out of this total, the Liberty Index showed that 49 liberty-sup-porting bills passed and 67 failed. Additionally, 57 liberty-inhibiting bills passed while 88 failed.

The Index also showed the top liberty-friendly member in the House was Representative Lorraine Quarberg (R-Hot Springs), and in the Senate, Senator Cale Case (R-Fremont). The House represen-tative most in need of improvement was Representative James Byrd (D-Laramie) and in the Senate, Senator John Hastert (D-Sweetwa-ter).

I’m never going to be anything close to a gourmet cook. I came to the art of preparing food rather late in life somehow surviving my early single years away from home through discovering ‘cheap eats’ venues or show-ing up at friends houses around dinnertime and staving off hints about leaving until managing to wangle an invi-tation to join in (a strategy that only works if not repeated too often lest the friendship be threatened).

Although I’ve developed my culinary capability over the years I’m still not at any level close to, say, a short order cook at a greasy spoon or a burger flipper at a fast food joint. Oh, being of the male gender I can grill pretty well, but, really, it’s not as if you’re doing much besides slap-ping something over a few coals and hoping to not burn it for most of us grillers. Acquaintances I’ve known try to make it seem like some type of art form particularly when they add sticks to the coals for flavoring or develop other special touches, but seriously, when it comes down to it we’re just slapping something over a group of hot coals and hoping to find that window between being under-cooked and coming out looking like overdone jerky.

Lil, on the other hand can create epicurean outlays of edible provisions fit for the finest tables and in my desire to be helpful so as to establish a hassle free environ-ment that promotes frequent efforts on her part the task of prep cook often falls my way. That’s how we ended up with It.

During one of my impulse driven periods I purchased a set of knives that were on sale at a local grocery store thinking I had found a bargain. Alas, like so many bargains the knives proved to be woefully inadequate so I haven’t used them in the 4-5 years since their purchase but remain too cheap to toss them out and settled for using the one knife I kind of like. Once at a kitchen store I purchased a rather expensive paring one and loved it until it came up missing one day with no clue as to how this might have happened. After an appropriate period of mourning we were in another kitchen store (marvelous places to browse) and I saw another like it. High priced or not, I took it upon myself to make the purchase and a few days later gave it a whirl.

I suffered a slight cut which I passed off as being my unfamiliarity with the new member of our kitchen arsenal. A couple of days later Lil and I were collaborating on a small banquet for two and it slipped again leaving me bleeding fairly profusely, though a bit short of requiring stitches. The next few times I kind of ignored the new-comer, then one day I noticed Lil holding a compress to her hand.

What happened?“Oh, I cut myself with that new knife.”I know. I’ve done it twice. To tell you the truth I kind of

think she’s evil.“It’s a knife. It can’t be evil. Besides why is it a she?”I just kind of sense it’s a her.Lil flashed the look I’ve grown accustomed to that

exemplifies the mixture of perplexity peevishness and patience she’d keenly developed over the years and with a sigh and a shake of her head went back to working on dinner.

But she didn’t use The Knife anymore that day and I veered away from it from then on. It was kept in a separate spot from its brethren encased in a cardboard sleeve it had come with. Often I opened the drawer and saw it lying there, waiting for me to pick it up but there it remained, untouched, unloved.

Recently there’s been a spate of odd events around the house. A door open here, an item misplaced there. Nothing wildly disturbing but just small clusters of strange occurrences such as those. Then the other day I opened the drawer and saw the empty sleeve. The Knife had escaped. I held back a small feeling of panic and looked in other drawers, the dishwasher, a cupboard or two, but to no avail. I didn’t tell Lil, no sense in alarming her when it could just be hiding, but a couple of days later I found it lying in the drawer next to the previously empty sleeve. I (warily) slipped it back in and spent the next couple of days checking on it periodically.

During those days Lil noticed that our boat had a small piece of rope tied to the front of it. She asked if I had done it (I didn’t. I don’t even drive the thing) and we sat puzzling over how it had gotten there. Many scenarios were pieced together none of which made sense, then I thought for a minute and said:

Do you suppose The Knife had anything to do with it? Yep. Same look.

About Nothing

By Ken DeLaat

Monday, November 7-City Council Pre-Meeting, 6-7 p.m., 3rd Floor Conference

Room, City Hall-City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall

Tuesday, November 8-Board of Examiners, 12:30 p.m., Community Conference

Room, City Hall-Mayor’s Art Council Meeting, 5 p.m., 3rd Floor Conference

Room, City Hall-Planning Commission Meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chambers,

City Hall

Thursday, November 10-Parks & Beautification Board, 5:30 p.m., 2nd Floor Com-

munity Conference Room, City Hall-Campbell County Public Land Board, 7 p.m., Cam-plex

Board Room

Monday, November 14-City Council Work Session, 6 p.m., 2nd Floor Community

Conference Room, City Hall-Wright Town Council Workshop, 7 p.m., Council Room,

Town Hall-Wright Town Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Council Room,

Town Hall

What’s Going On In Government?

10

Sports Report

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Cindy Mullaney steels the ball and runs down the court for a layup in 5th and 6th grade rec center basketball.

The children start in 1st grade and work their way up until High school.

Friday, November 4-CCHS Football(V) Semi Final (11/4 or

11/5), TBA-The Nick Carter Law Firm & Coach Amer-

ica Classic Pronghorn Basketball Tourna-ment, 5:30 p.m. Women’s, 7:30 p.m. Men’s, CCHS South Campus

-Gillette Wild vs. Helena, 8 p.m., Cam-plex

Saturday, November 5-The Nick Carter Law Firm & Coach Amer-

ica Classic Pronghorn Basketball Tourna-ment, 5:30 p.m. Women’s, 7:30 p.m. Men’s, CCHS South Campus

-Gillette Wild vs. Billings, 8 p.m., Cam-plex

Friday, November 11-Gillette Wild @ Missoula, 7:30 p.m., Gla-

cier Ice

Saturday, November 12-CCHS Football(V) Championship, TBD-Gillette Wild @ Missoula, 7:30 p.m., Gla-

cier IceMonday, November 14

-WJSH WR 1st Practice, 6:15 a.m.-WJSH B/G BB 1st Practice, 6:15 a.m.-WJSH State Drama Rehearsal, 5-10 p.m.,

Town Hall

What’s Going On In Sports?

Public PulseDear Editor,I thought an email was more than

called for to thank you for running the article about our roller derby team. We’ve received a great response from the people who have seen it and it will be in all of our scrapbooks for years to come! We have run into our fair share of problems with other publications and really appreciate you willing to allow us to get the word out about the Betties. We look forward to working with you in the future.

Thank You So Much!Alexandria “Beefcake Bettee” Chiesa-

via email.

From Editor Keary Speer:Dear Alexandria,We are all about helping people in

the community and the way we do that is by spreadin’ the word! There is no need to thanks us for simply doing our jobs here at the Observer! Just keep being fabulous and let us know of your upcoming events and we will be there.

Dear Editor, Let’s play 260 Questions. “What time

did this person usually leave home to go to work last week?” “How many times has this person been married?” Answer the questions accurately or you will be fi ned $1000 according to Title 18 § 3559 & 3571. No, I wasn’t visiting Communist Russia. I was right here

in Gillette wondering what ------busi-ness the U.S. Census Bureau had to force me to answer personal questions like these on a 28 page form. At least if I had robbed a bank I could have pleaded the 5th Amendment. If you don’t mail in the questionnaire they will invite themselves over to your home to violate your rights. But they assured me I wasn’t being picked on. They said everyone will be selected eventually.

Gary DawsonGillette

From Editor Nicholas De Laat. After some research, I have some informa-tion for you. In 2000, nobody was fi ned, so I can’t imagine any fi nes will be given in 2010, although with this cur-rent government I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. The census is used for many things. Say a Red Lobster wants to move into Gillette, they can look and see how often people go out, what they like to eat, how big is their family, can the locals afford to eat at one on a regular basis, and more. This is one example of how these questions can be used. Should the government be able to fi ne you for not answering? Abso-lutely not and those statutes should change. However should you partici-pate in the census? That is individually up to you, and I believe the freedom should remain to say “Yes” or “No.”

Letters to the Editor

“A government is never in a position to give direction, teach morals, or instill ethics on a people.

As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true.”- Nicholas De Laat-Owner of the Patriot Publishing L.L.C.

Jireh’s LightBook and Gift Store

Clark ~ 307.689.7290Vicki ~ 307.696.3570

e-mail: v.kissack@yahoo.com

Specializing In:Spreading the word of God!

Clark and Vicki Kissack ~ Owners

Opening October 3rd

Joke of the week“Unfamiliar with a term”

Submitted by Ron KasslebeckThese four guys were walking down the

street, a Saudi, a Russian, a North Korean, and a New Yorker.

A reporter comes running up and says, “Excuse me, what is your opinion about the meat shortage?”

The Saudi says, “What’s a shortage?”The Russian says, “What’s meat?”The North Korean says, “What’s an opin-

ion?”The New Yorker, says, “Excuse me??

What’s excuse me?”

11

Sports Report

“If you are going to be a champion, you must be willing

to pay a greater price.”- Bud Wilkinson

Hanna Ostrem dives to a 3rd place finish at State Diving this last weekend.

Casey Van Patten gets ready for her next heat at the Girl State High School Swimming Champion-ships.

Sage Riss participating in the 100 Butterfly.

Photos by Campbell County Observer Photographer Clint Burton Brittany Van Auken competed in the 500 yard Freestyle.

The Gillette Lady Camel swimming and diving team held off Cheyenne East on Saturday at the Aquatic Center to claim their seventh consecutive State Swimming and Diving Championship.

Coming into the state meet, Gillette’s Head Coach Josh Bott knew that either East or Laramie would give the Lady Cam-els a run for their money, and both of those school pushed Gillette on the final day of competition with East coming in second place, just 31 points behind Gillette’s 289 total team points.

The Lady Camels won two of the 3 re-lays and 7 total events. Jade Ely, who was swimming in her final high school competi-tion, brought home victories in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Shaya Schaedler, who was also swim-ming for the Lady Camels for the last time, swam her way to her fourth consecutive state title in the 100 backstroke and came in second in 100 free.

Kelsey Ocshner, just a sophomore, won both the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

Also helping Gillette to the title were there divers as they had three girls finish in the top six: Hannah Ostrem, Haylie Mills and Kelsey Lunberg came in third, fourth and sixth respectively.

Joining Ely and Schaedler on the cham-pionship 400 freestyle relay team were Haley Hance and Carly Fuller. In the first final of the day, Raleah Cisneros helped Ocshner, Ely and Schaedler to the title in the 200-medley relay.

Lucky Number 7By Ted Ripko - Basin Radio Sports

Weekly Trivia Answer from Last Week

Who won the battle of Lexington and Concord?British won in Lexington, and Americans in Concord.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Mid-dlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge, near Boston. The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America.

About 700 British Army regulars, under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, were given secret orders to capture and destroy military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord. Through effective intelligence gathering, Patriot colonials had received word weeks before the expedition that their supplies might be at risk and had moved most of them to other locations. They also received details about British plans on the night before the battle and were able to rapidly notify the area militias of the enemy movement.

The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. The mili-tia was outnumbered and fell back, and the regulars proceeded on to Con-cord, where they searched for the supplies. At the North Bridge in Concord, approximately 500 militiamen fought and defeated three companies of the King’s troops. The outnumbered regulars fell back from the minutemen after a pitched battle in open territory.

More militiamen arrived soon thereafter and inflicted heavy damage on the regulars as they marched back towards Boston. Upon returning to Lexington, Smith’s expedition was rescued by reinforcements under Brigadier General Hugh Percy. The combined forces, now of about 1,700 men, marched back to Boston under heavy fire in a tactical withdrawal and eventually reached the safety of Charlestown. The accumulated militias blockaded the narrow land accesses to Charlestown and Boston, starting the Siege of Boston.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his “Concord Hymn”, described the first shot fired by the Patriots at the North Bridge as the “shot heard ‘round the world.

Who’s Brand is this in Campbell County?

Find out in next week’sCampbell County Observer

Derek Izzi has been in Gillette for five years but has yet to see a Racquet-ball tournament. He loves the sport, and felt that it was time for Gillette to have one. He got the ball rolling and a few months later, 33 contestants showed up for the first Racquetball tournament in at least five years. “We have a lot of local talent, and this is the best way to show it.”

Derek did a great job. There was food provided by Perkins and Godfathers Pizza, prizes, trophies, and new rackets to give away. Next year, Derek wants to have 100 contestants, which will make the cost of the tournament break even. “We have that much talent in the area; I think we can do it.”

Watching the tourna-ment, men of all ages com-peted vigorously for the tournament championship and with the results of the locals, showed that Camp-bell County has athletes of all ages.

The following are the lo-cal participants with their results:

• David Castelli - 2nd place in Men’s 55+, 1st place in Men’s B doubles (with Sam Siebert)

• Martin Crump - 2nd place in Men’s B Doubles (with Bronson Haley)

• Curtis Dearborn - 3rd place in Men’s C

Racquetball tournament comes to Gillette

• Kevin Griffith - 3rd place in Men’s 45+

• Bronson Haley - 1st place in Men’s A, 1st place in Men’s B, 2nd place in Men’s B Doubles (with Mar-ty Crump)

• Derek Izzi - Semi-finalist in Men’s Open.... lost to tournament winner Matt Majxner 13-15, 15-7, 11-10

• Christopher Nannemann - 3rd place in Men’s B Dou-bles (with John Barnes)

• Chad Nannemann - 2nd place in Men’s B singles

• John Barnes - 3rd place in Men’s B Doubles (with Chris Nannemann)

• Merle Nannemann - 1st place in Men’s C Singles

• Will Rider - 2nd place in Men’s C singles

• Samual Siebert - 3rd place in Men’s B singles, 1st place in Men’s B dou-bles (with Dave Castelli)

• Tyler Thielen - did not place in Men’s open, but first tournament in years.

• Al Wieweck - 1st place in Men’s 55+.

12

Sports Report

Adrian Jackson Dylan McCoy

Felicia Boyd, Mary Nelson, Jamie Jeho

Gillette Pronghorn Mary Nelson sprints to the fi nish line.

Talking with Debbie McLeland, who sponsored the team, we found that there is a love for the sport and a large local following. Her sons ran for the Camels and for the Wyo-ming Cowboys, and she wanted to the local College cross country team. “They are the only junior college team in the region, so all their competition is with 4 year schools.” She also takes a personal interest in the children. “Their good kids, great kids. I’ve had them over to my house for dinner.” They work hard and have “been training since August” according to Mary Nelson. Come and cheer on our Pronghorns for their next event, the National Championships on November 12th. GO PRONGHORNS!!!

The Pronghorns had a great meet on Saturday on our home course. The women’s team had our best team fi nish ever, with a 3rd place team placing out of 6 teams. The women were led by Mary Nelson, whose time of 15:56 for the 4k course placed 7th overall. Mary’s time was over 1 minute faster than her performance on the same course during the team’s time trial in August. Feli-cia Boyd placed 17th with a time of 17:44. That time was 2 minutes faster than her time trial performance. Jamie Geho rounded out the scoring team for the women with a time of 18:31. An exciting twist in the women’s race was that the current GC women actually tied in the team placing with the GC Women’s Alumni Team that featured 2 former All-Americans for the Pronghorns.

The men’s team placed 4th out of 6 scoring teams. Devvin Hayden led the way for the men with a 5th place overall fi nish, and a time of 21:35 for the 4 mile course. Jesse Shutts placed 11th with a time of 22:02, while Dylan McCoy rounded out the scoring team for the men with his 13th place fi nish and time of 22:17. Adrain Jack-son also ran a time of 27:02 for the Pronghorns.

We had one of our largest crowds ever for a cross country meet. Thank you to everyone that came to cheer on the Pronghorns.

Up next for the team is the NJCAA Cross Country National Championships on November 12, in Hobbs, NM.

Mary Nelson leads Gillette Pronghorns

Cross Country to best

team fi nish everArticle by Chris Kozlowski -

GC Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach(Submitted by Ruth Benson)

Girls 5k Run CC Class 4A2 107 Phillips, Abby 10 Campbell County High School 20:05.94 25 101 DeStefano, Audra 12 Campbell County High School 20:30.61 513 105 Jeffries, Jessi 10 Campbell County High School 21:08.28 1315 109 Sharp, Sarah 11 Campbell County High School 21:17.08 1519 103 Fischer, Demi 11 Campbell County High School 21:24.99 1929 102 DeStefano, Quinn 10 Campbell County High School 21:54.06 2933 108 Roberge, Haley 9 Campbell County High School 22:04.09 33

Boys 5k Run CC Class 4A5 906 Myers, Derek 10 Campbell County High School 17:18.58 516 907 Rodrigues, Jamon 11 Campbell County High School 17:56.32 1519 901 Andrew, Thomas 12 Campbell County High School 18:03.89 1823 909 Simmons, Harrison 10 Campbell County High School 18:09.17 2233 903 Doherty, Matt 12 Campbell County High School 18:32.94 3251 902 Bobbitt, Jeremy 12 Campbell County High School 55 908 Sarcinella, Zach 12 Campbell County High School 19:13.93 53

Event 6 Boys 5k Run CC Class 4A1 Rock Springs High School 70 1 12 13 16 28 34 35 Total Time: 1:28:40.19 Average: 17:44.042 Cheyenne Central High School 75 3 7 11 21 33 38 57 Total Time: 1:29:03.90 Average: 17:48.78 3 Laramie High School 91 6 8 10 31 36 44 64 Total Time: 1:29:39.86 Average: 17:55.984 Campbell County High School 92 5 15 18 22 32 49 53 Total Time: 1:30:00.90 Average: 18:00.18

Event 5 Girls 5k Run CC Class 4A1 Laramie High School 52 6 7 8 11 20 24 42 Total Time: 1:45:05.29 Average: 21:01.06 2 Campbell County High School 54 2 5 13 15 19 29 33 Total Time: 1:44:26.90 Average: 20:53.38 3 Natrona County High School 82 10 12 16 17 27 30 37 Total Time: 1:46:37.02 Average: 21:19.41

Wyoming H.S. State Championship Meet

Candy Cane Holiday PageantNovember 12, 2011 1:00 p.m.

Campbell County High School Auditorium

This pageant is for girls 12 months to age 13.Compete in formal dress, holiday costume of choice, & photogenic.

Category winners receive crown, trophy, and stocking.

Entry fee: $50.00 Entry fee due by November 8, 2011

For more information: Call Linda at 660-1798 or send e-mail to topnotchauto@bresnan.net.

Pick up entry forms at Top Notch Auto1502 W. 2nd St. Gillette, WY 82716

Enter Extra Categories $10.00 Best Smile, Best Hair, Best Personality,

Best Eyes, and Best Holiday Costume of Choice.

Sponsored by Wyoming Center Stage Productions

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13

Our Roots

Toys (ATV’s, Boats, etc.)

Toy Parts & Accessories

Home Appliances/Furnishings

Sporting Goods

Personals

Boat for Sale with trailer. Needs work. Call 670-8980 for info.

Stock pipes for Sportster. 500mi. Stock pices for Dyna Wide Glide. 1500mi. Email baxtersmom62@gmail.com for info.

Harley Accessories for sale. Call 307-670-8980. Ask for Tammy.

Microfiber couch with 2 recliners com-bined. Green. $100 Call 299-4967.

Booth Table. L-shaped. With Chairs. Seats 6. $500.00 Call 299-4967

Chest Freezer. $100. 307-299-5918

Like new Horizon Elliptical. $300 obo. Call 299-7058 for more info.

Wanted to BuyI Buy Militaria. Swords, uniforms, bayo-nets, medals, guns/parts, field gear. 682-7864

Newspaper vending machines. Contact us at: CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com

WILL PAY CASH FOR CAMPERS. Call Scott (307) 680-0854.

Manual Transmission for 93’ Chevy Pick-up 4wd. Must be in good shape. Call 257-2306.

Looking for kittens. Please call 670-8980. Brittany.

Interested in founding a Sherlock Holmes Society in Gillette? Contact gillettesher-lockians@gmail.com for info.

Autos, Trucks and Vans

Campers & Motor Homes

1981 Harley Davidson FXB-Sturgis, 1st dual-belt drive to commemorate Hill-Climb @ Sturgis, Jack-Pine Gypsies rally started in ‘41, 50th anniversary model. 12K on straight-up original paint, new Moetzler’s driven-by beefed Shovel, 102hp at wheel. Perfect in every aspect, serious inquiries only, loan is $15K and value of over 25K. Ben 680.7464, 3-other older bikes and this has to go to the right person!

2008 Hyundai Sonata LMTD, 40,000 mi. $13,500, Call 307-660-2532.

‘76 Electra-Glide would consider trade on Pan or Knuck if ya know of anyone, ‘81 sent it to LA-S&S, 11.5to1 and dual-plugged to run regular-gas, had burn-out time at Hog-Jam! Ben 680.7464.

2003 Chevy Monte Carlo SS (White) with 137,000 mi; $6500. Call 307 - 689 – 0966

1983 Ventura (Chevy) for sale. WORKING WET BAR. Closet, fold down rear seat bed, caption swivel chairs. Great shape. Needs carburetor adjustment. Newly re-built Transmission, 400 Turbo. $4,000.00. Call 307-670-2037.

2004 Yukon Denali XL,6.0 Motor, Loaded $14,000 OBO 660-9351

1986 Toyota Tercel 4x4. $1050.00. Call 307-299-5918

1997 32ft. Class A Motor Home. Sleeps 6, Only 31,000 Miles. Asking $17,000. Call (307) 660-7520.

Large Private RV/Camper Lot for rent. Big yard, trees. All utilities available. $400 per month, $400 deposit. 1 year lease. Call (307) 660-1007.

5th wheel camper for sale. Call Skip (307) 680-0073

1961 Aristrocrat Camper $600. Call 307-299-4662

Local journalists wanted. Always wanted to try? Must be 16 yrs of age. Contact us at CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com

Advertising Sales for our weekly paper. Great commission rate, set your own hours. Contact us at CampbellCountyOb-server@gmail.com

Contributors wanted for weekly newspa-per. Need a doctor, a Politician, a lawyer, and more to contribute an article a month. E-mail CampbellCountyObserver@gmail.com for more information.

Sports writers, event writers wanted. Gil-lette, Write, Recluse, Rozet. Call 670-8980.

State Wide Sales people. Print Advertis-ing Sales for new State-wide newspaper. Call 307-299-4662

Delivery Driver wanted. Retired? Want a little walking around cash? Work one day per week delivering the Campbell County Observer to people’s homes. Contact the Campbell County Observer at (307) 670-8980.

Help Wanted

Minnows, crawlers, leeches, fishing tackle, boating and camping supplies. Fully furnished cabin rentals, 50 Amp Full Hookup RV sites 5 minutes from Key-hole Reservoir in Pine Haven. Empire Guesthouse & RV Park 307-756-3454. www.empireguesthouse.com

Camping/Fishing

Home for sale by owner in Western Way. Asking $239,000 for the 1,800 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath home with an unfinished basement and a two car garage. Fully fenced, large landscaped yard with a sprinkler system. Home is within walking distance to the new recreation center and the new elementary school that is being built. Please contact me at 307-670-1209 if you are interested.

Homes for Sale

Welsh Corgi Puppies. 3 females, and two males. 682-2598

Pets

Cook needed at Lu La Bells. Motivated and Energetic. Days Only. Apply at Lu La bells.

1-5 bedroom units available for rent. Please contact Real Estate Systems of Gillette Inc at 307-682-0964 for all the up-dated details.

Spacious & new, 1, 2, &3 bdrm affordable apartments available now! Call 685-8066. Washer and dryer in every unit. Private sunny patio or balcony. Special move-in rate, 1 bdrm: $694, 2 bdrm: $777, 3 bdrm: $888. Move in now and deduct $ 200 off first month while special lasts. Call Kon-nie or Celeste at Highland Properties 685-8066.

Apartments for Rent

Tri-level house for sale 4 bed 2 bath $209,000 (307) 670-1925.

Classifieds

Heavy Equipment/Trailers6x10 trailer. Great shape, fits your biggest Harley. $1,400 obo. 299-4967.

Gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 bath with den. 1800 sq.ft/Culdesac lot. Financing avail-able. For a personal showing, call 687-0333.

Gorgeous land home package set up in Wright. 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, hickory cabinets throughout, front porch, central air, and much more. Financing available. For a personal showing call (307) 687-0333

Merchandise1939 HA Selmer Trumpet $750 OBO. 687-1087

7mm Mag rifle with optics. Call 670-8980 Spyder Semi-auto paint ball gun. cal..68 Special Edition.Only used twice! New $300 For you $175 plus two canisters. Call 680-1302

If you are interested in purchasing Nutri-ent Rich Ranch Raised Beef grown locally, call 307-340-1108.

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Seeking a new member for out team!

Looking for a public water system operator for sampling, monitoring and maintenance of water systems. Must be able to obtain a level 1 water license within one year. Will train highly motivated individual. Clean driving record, drug testing and background check. Wages are DOE. E-mail resume to therese@waterguywyoming.com or fax to 303-686-4044.

While being one of America’s Presidents is undoubtedly a great honor, some Presi-dents will be remembered for the things they did not do rather than the things they were able to accomplish. It is one of the inherent risks associated with holding the highest of offices in our country. While successes are engrained in textbooks and schoolchildren, so too are the failures. Unfortunately, for one man what is viewed as his economic failure remains one of the greatest in history.

Herbert Hoover was born August 10, 1874 in West Branch, Iowa. The son of a blacksmith Quaker, he endured a difficult childhood. By the age of 10 both of his parents had died, and Hoover was an or-phan. After living in the homes of several different family members and friends, he eventually found his way west, settling in Oregon with his uncle. In one of the more interesting facets of Hoover’s life, he nev-er actually attended high school, instead taking night classes at a local school.

By 1891, Hoover had learned enough to make his way into Stanford in its inaugu-ral year, graduating in 1895 with the intent to become a mining engineer. He ac-complished this two years later, moving to Australia to mine for gold. After marrying and starting a family, the Hoovers actually found themselves stranded in China upon the start of the Boxer Rebellion. Herbert, having worked in the area, was able to help America even in this foreign land. He directed the soldiers in the building of

barracks, tutored them as to the terrain, and even rescued local children.

During the First World War, Hoover first became known to the public, help-ing several humanitarian organizations in their efforts. When America entered the war in 1917, he was chosen to lead the United States Food Administration by President Woodrow Wilson himself. The public quickly came to call his policies “Hooverizing”, and he was known for asking the American people conserve food whenever they could in order to help soldiers.

After the war, Hoover was courted by both Republicans and Democrats, who believed he would become a force in American politics. Eventually he chose the Republicans, though it is not clearly known what really motivated that choice.

Throughout the 1920’s, Hoover served honorably as Secretary of Commerce for Presidents Harding and Coolidge. While his actions are too many to name in this small article, they were indeed far and beyond what the normal Secretary of

Commerce performs. It was this hard-working attitude that earned Hoover the respect of many, and set the stage for his Presidential run in 1928.

His likeability and political savvy led to a landslide victory. Hoover captured 58% of the vote, even taking several south-

ern states that had traditionally voted Democratic.

The first few months of his Presidency were viewed by many as extremely posi-tive. He did not hire a press secretary, instead answering all media questions himself. He also aided the police and government agencies in the prosecution of gangsters, most notably Al Capone. Unfortunately for Hoover, however, he was about to experi-ence a problem no

one had predicted.The Stock Market Crash of 1929 hap-

pened only seven months after Hoover took office, transforming the country. Whether or not he caused it, or even had any impact on it, President Hoover was stuck with this crisis. And although he did try things to help the country, none of

them worked and the public quickly made him the focus of their anger. Hoover be-lieved that it was the responsibility of local groups and volunteers to take care of the downtrodden – this view did not sit well with the many newly poor Americans.

It was a difficult Presidency by any stan-dards. However, even though Hoover did not want to run again, he did because he believed he was the best person to help American through the depression. He lost in a landslide to Franklin Roosevelt.

Done with the Presidency, Hoover led an interesting later life. In the years after he left office, he remained out of the public eye, often going on trips to small camps where he would not even be rec-ognized. However, by the start of World War II he was beginning to speak out again, even warning America after Pearl Harbor that we should not ally with the Soviet Union, as this would inevitably lead to a communist Europe. Later, he worked in commissions under Presidents Truman and Eisenhower, helping once again with food distribution and aid.

President Herbert Hoover died in 1964 at the age of 90. While he has often been labeled as the cause of the Great Depres-sion, it is important to note his real role in the crisis. Hoover did what he thought was right, and in the end remains one of the most interesting Presidents our coun-try has seen, as well as one of the most controversial.

Herbert HooverBy Mike Borda

14

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Elizabeth (Betsy) Jones, AgentCPIW, DAE, LUTCF

1001 S. Douglas Hwy., Suite 184Gillette, WY 82716

O�ce (307) 682-6520Fax (307) 682-3536

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Keary Speer - EditorKearySpeer@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Anne Peterson - Advertising Sales ManagerAnnePeterson@CampbellCountyObserver.com

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Pattie Ladd - What’s Going OnPattieLadd@CampbellCountyObserver.com

WritersSandra Boehler (Charities/Fundraisers/Veterans Events)SandraBoehler@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Glenn Woods (Political Column)GlennWoods@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Mike Borda (American History)MichaelBorda@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Elizabeth Albin (Wright)ElizabethAlbin@campbellcountyobserver.com

Lin StephensLinStephens@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Josh Uzarski (Science)JoshuaUzarski@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Ken De Laat (About Nothing)KennethDeLaat@CampbellCountyObserver.com

“Juice” (Political Cartoonist)Juice@CampbellCountyObserver.com

Jeff Morrison (Local History Contributor)JeffMorrison@CampbellCountyObserver.com

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The mule skinners and timber cutters of the Gilm-ore and Proctor Company could not have guessed how vital their wagon boxes would prove to be as they prepared to remove them from their wagons in the summer of 1867.

Contracted to supply wood for nearby Fort Phil Kearney on the banks of Piney Creek in present day Johnson County Wyoming, the civilian workmen had used the wagons to haul in the supplies and equip-ment they would need for the upcoming season. They established a base camp about six miles away from the fort and closer to the timber they would be cut-ting. The wagon boxes were removed from the running gears and converted into log haulers, similar to the motorized semi-truck ver-sions we see hauling timber today. The fourteen boxes that were removed were then set on the ground and arranged in a large oval to create a corral for their mules. The wagon boxes themselves would also be used for storage of food for the men and fodder for the animals.

During their labors, the contractors were under the close protection of an infan-try detachment sent from the fort, and for good rea-son. Fort Phil Kearney was the focal point of a bitter conflict with Sioux, Chey-enne and Arapaho Indians known as Red Cloud’s War, in which the U. S. Military was tasked with keeping the Bozeman Trail open and safe for gold seekers travelling from the Oregon Trail to Virginia City Mon-tana via the shortest over-land route, while the Indians were equally determined to cause so much havoc and mayhem in order to force the while men to abandon it.

One of the primary tar-gets for Indian attack was the wood trains that hauled timber from the foot of the Big Horn Mountains to the lumber mill that had been built near the fort. It was one such attack the previous December that culminated in the ambush and annihila-tion of just over 80 U. S. sol-diers, two civilians and its commanding officer, Cap-tain William J. Fetterman. This victory, along with the apparent unwillingness of the U. S. Military command-ers to go on the offensive, emboldened the Indian leaders who were eager to strike another devastating blow.

During the annual sun dance, the war leaders of the various bands dis-cussed their next move. Among them was Red Cloud who, while not the only war leader involved had quickly become the dominant voice and driving force behind the war. He favored turning up the pres-sure on Fort Phil Kearney from which the white com-mander directed the three

forts along the trail. Others argued that Fort C. F. Smith, located just below present day Yellowtail Dam in Mon-tana, was more vulnerable. In the end it was decided that they should split forces and attack both forts.

On the morning of August 2, 1867, Captain James W. Powell, commander of Company C, 26th Infantry, had charge of the wood-gathering security on Piney Creek. Powell divided his men into three groups: and NCO and 12 men to guard the wood cutters and their camp near the trees, an-other NCO and 12 men to escort the wood train back and forth to the fort, and the remaining 26 soldiers along with Powell and his 2nd in command, Lieutenant John C. Jenness to guard the wagon box corral.

About 8:00 a.m. two ci-vilian teamsters who had been hunting deer became alarmed by smoke signals and sought the shelter of the wagon box corral. The look-out above the fort, six miles away signaled a warning about what they could plain-ly see for themselves. The hills were filling with Indian warriors. Powell directed his 27 men and four civilians at the corral to begin prepa-rations for an attack. They began by emptying the con-tents of the wagon boxes and using the contents to fill the gaps between them. It had always been a contin-gency plan to use the cor-ral as a fortification against Indian attacks, and several of the wagon boxes had two inch rifle slots carved into the outward facing sides. The gates were lowered on both ends of the boxes to allow for easier movement between them, and ammu-nition was placed around the barricade.

While these activities were going on inside the corral, Red Cloud’s warriors had launched a simulta-neous attack on the wood cutter’s camp and the mule herd that was grazing in-between the camp and the corral, a couple hundred yards away. The wood cut-ters and soldiers, attacked by around 500 warriors were able to slip into the timber and make their way to the fort. The mule herders were able to hold off the 200 or so warriors attacking the herd for a few minutes but soon the mules had been scattered and herders them-selves came under attack. Captain Powell launched an attack into the rear of this Indian force, which al-lowed the mule skinners to make their escape into the timber as the wood cutters before them had done. This now left Captain Powell and his small band of de-fenders surrounded inside their make-shift, five foot tall fortress by somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 Indians.

The time to deal the white enemy another costly de-feat had come. Red Cloud

and his fellow warriors knew that the muzzle-loading rifles used by the frontier soldiers took a long time to reload. By feinting a charge at the white soldiers they would entice them to fire a volley, and then overwhelm the soldiers in a full-force attack while they reloaded. Such was the tactic used in the Fetterman fight with devastating effect. What the Indians didn’t know was that just a month earlier; the army had replaced their muzzle-loaders with the new Model 1866 Springfield trapdoor breach-loading rifle.

The warriors who had gone north to attack the sol-diers at Fort C. F. Smith had already been introduced to the Model 1866 the day before, when around 800 Cheyenne and Arapaho attacked a hay cutting party guarded by 19 sol-diers armed with the new rifle. Using the same tactics Red Cloud intended to use against the soldiers hiding behind the wagon boxes on Piney Creek, the Indians at the Hay Field Fight discov-ered to their dismay that the new breach-loaders could be reloaded in a mere frac-tion of the time it took to re-load a muzzle-loading rifle. The result was a continuous lethal hailstorm of bullets. Unfortunately, word of their defeat hadn’t yet reached Red Cloud, and he would have to learn about the new rifles the hard way.

From a nearby ridge, Red Cloud watched as wave after wave of mounted at-tacks against the small fort were repulsed by the with-ering fire of the defenders. The volume of fire coming from the soldiers wasn’t the only tactical problem fac-ing the Indians. The terrain was fairly flat and treeless for several hundred yards in most directions, giving the soldiers an excellent field of fire. The only protected ap-proaches to the wagon box fort were from behind some stacked logs that were wait-ing delivery to the fort, and the valley slope that came within 100 yard of the north side of the barricade. Even-tually, the Indians mounted a massive charge on foot from these areas.

Red Cloud’s nephew led this new charge, but was killed at the onset. Some of the Indians closed to within 5 feet of the wagon boxes and killing two of the sol-diers before being driven back to shelter. One warrior refused to retreat and found shelter in a depression about thirty feet away from Sergeant Max Littman’s po-sition. From time to time the Indian would jump up into the air and loose an arrow over the wagon box tops into the middle of the de-fenders. Eventually Littman managed to kill the brave warrior.

All during the battle, Cap-tain Powell positioned him-self at one end of the wagon box oval, while Lt. Janness

An Unusual FortBy Jeff Morrison

took charge of the other end. Janness encouraged the men around him to be careful not to expose them-selves and to make each shot count. At some point a soldier advised Lt. Jan-ness to take cover himself, to which Janness is said to have replied, “I know how to fight Indians.” He was im-mediately struck in the head with a bullet fired from one of the few rifles in the Indi-ans’ possession and died instantly.

Four and a half hours af-ter the battle for the wagon box fort began, a cannon shot was heard by attack-ers and defenders alike. It signaled that a relief force of over 100 men from the fort was on its way. Red Cloud and his warriors were forced to leave the field of battle. The brave defenders of the make-shift fort of wagon boxes emerged victorious to greet the relief party. For their reward, each man was given a drink of whiskey from a keg the post surgeon had thoughtfully brought with him.

Unknown to the defenders at the time, the Wagon Box Fight would be the great-est victory won by the U. S. Army in Red Cloud’s War. The U. S. Army abandoned the forts along the Boze-man Trail in the spring of 1868 and officially closed the road, and returned the Powder River country to the Indians. Powell estimated the Indian dead somewhere around 60 dead and 120 wounded while losing three soldiers.

Captain James W. Powell resigned from the military 1869. Some say his nerves were shot after the Wagon Box Fight and that he never recovered. He was awarded a brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel for his role in the battle. Along with Powell’s

cool leadership under fire, two other factors kept Red Cloud from realizing the decisive victory he sought at Piney Creek that day in August: the Model 1866 Springfield, and an impro-vised fort made from wagon boxes that proved to be un-breachable.

Red Cloud has become a figure of controversy in re-cent years. Everything from

his leadership role in the war, to his participation in the key battles of the Fetter-man and Wagon Box Fights has been disputed by his-torians, depending on their points of view. Regardless, one fact remains: Red Cloud is the only Indian chief in the history of the American west to negotiate at treaty with the United States govern-ment as the Victor.

“The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.”

- William Henry Harrison