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Articles from the December 31, 2020 edition


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  • December 31, 2020

    Dec 31, 2020

    Don't forget to check out our annual year in review as we take a look back at the stories that impacted the Big Horn Basin in 2020. Have a Happy New Year!...

  • Dec 31, 2020

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  • Dec 31, 2020

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  • Dec 31, 2020

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  • Dec 31, 2020

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  • Majority of county ends year in extreme drought

    Karla Pomeroy, Editor|Dec 31, 2020

    WORLAND – The majority of Washakie County remains in extreme or severe drought conditions as 2020 draws to a close. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 85% of the state had no drought a year ago on Dec. 24, 2019. As of Dec. 22, 2020, 95.73% of the state was listed in drought with 25.78% in extreme drought. Extreme drought impacts include poor snowpack and surface water being inadequate for ranching and farming. Impacts from areas in severe drought include poor p...

  • Pandemic, price war led to challenging year for oil; Wyoming's rig count fell to zero for first time since 1884

    Camille Erickson, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 31, 2020

    CASPER — The ubiquitous heads of pumpjacks, usually faithfully bobbing up and down across Wyoming’s landscapes, largely came to a standstill this year. A series of events devastated the U.S. oil and gas business, and the Equality State was not immune to the damage. This past year, Wyoming oil and gas developers have been slammed by depressed market conditions caused by a glut in oil supply worldwide and a global economic recession. Price volatility has long been a normal fixture in oil and gas global markets. Oil and gas operators said Wyo... Full story

  • The News Editorial: COVID was only one major story in 2020

    Karla Pomeroy, Editor|Dec 31, 2020

    In this week’s issue we begin the annual year in review, a look back at the stories that moved us, changed us, made us laugh, smile and cry. We take a look at major stories throughout each month in 2020 but here I want to take a look at some of the top stories of the past year. •Yes, the No. 1 story, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. We chronicled many things throughout the pandemic, the caring spirit of our community that made masks for health care workers using 3D printers, and those who sewed hundreds of cloth masks for health care wor... Full story

  • Work underway on new water load-out system

    Karla Pomeroy, Editor|Dec 31, 2020

    WORLAND - Work is in full swing for the new water crane/bulk water load-out at Railway and Russell Public Works Superintendent Brian Burky said the new system will be up and running in the spring, but hopefully sooner than that. He said the city is saving money by having the city crews do the prep work and installation of the new system. However, that means that the installation will take longer with crews working on the project only as time allows. This winter priority is devoted to addressing...

  • Lawmakers weighing options for 2021 general session

    Tom Coulter, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 31, 2020

    CHEYENNE — After state lawmakers decided last month to delay most of the 2021 general session beyond January due to COVID-19 concerns, plans for the 66th Wyoming Legislature are still up in the air, with a couple main options being considered by legislative leadership. Lawmakers on the Management Council, which includes chamber leaders from both parties, decided during a meeting last month to postpone the session, as legislative staff raised concerns about the challenging logistics of holding a standard, in-person session starting in J... Full story

  • Governor Gordon reveals county-led Community Charitable Relief Program

    Dec 31, 2020

    CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon has unveiled the Community Charitable Relief Program, which provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations that have provided public assistance or seen a decline in donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor has allocated more than $12.1 million in CARES Act funding to Wyoming counties and tribal governments for the program. All decisions on funding will be made at the local level, with county commissioners and tribal governments placed in charge of distributing the grant funds to local entities t... Full story

  • Melvin L. Slack

    Dec 31, 2020

    Melvin L. Slack, 90, passed away Thursday, December 24, at his home in Thermopolis. Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 31, at 10 a.m. at Federated Community Church Hall.... Full story

  • Roxie Ann Crabtree

    Dec 31, 2020

    Roxie Ann Crabtree, 66, passed away on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2020, in Billings, Montana. She was born Roxie Ann Davis to Edwin and Betty Davis on September 22, 1954, in Alliance, Nebraska. She was the third child of four to that union, brothers Lee, Rick, Roxie and sister Becky in order. Roxie attended elementary school in Alliance and graduated from Deer Lodge, Mt. High School where she lived with her father after he and Betty divorced. Roxie returned to Alliance, Nebraska, where she worked... Full story

  • Donna Jean (Pickett) Swing

    Dec 31, 2020

    Donna Jean (Pickett) Swing, 92, died December 21, 2020 at Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Donna was born August 11, 1928, in Worland, WY, the youngest of two children, to Harold Allen and Esther Elizabeth (Johnston) Pickett. The family farmed near Worland. She attended Durkee and Worland schools graduating from Worland High School in 1946. Music was a big part of her family life because of her mother, Esther. Donna was an accomplished pianist. She loved to dance and read. She was... Full story

  • Mary Evelyn Bower

    Dec 31, 2020

    Mary Evelyn Bower passed away in Worland on December 23, 2020 with her son Brian at her side. Mary Evelyn was born in Spokane, WA on May 6, 1936 to Thomas and Lois Elaine (Coulter) Turnbull. Her family later lived in Amarillo, TX before moving to Worland when she was about 7 years old where her father became a partner with her grandfather, Frank Coulter, in the Farmers Lumber Company. Mary Evelyn attended school in Worland, and she graduated from high school in 1954. While attending high school... Full story

  • John A. Worrall

    Dec 31, 2020

    John A. Worrall died on December 25, 2020 at Washakie Medical Center from complications of COVID-19. John was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado on January 7 1926 to Tresa Strelow Worrall and A.I. "Ike" Worrall. His parents moved to Cody, Wyoming with John and his sister, Athlyn "Addie" when he was two. He grew up in Cody where Tresa ran the first hospital for many years. John was able to hunt and fish while he grew up and played sports for Cody High School until he graduated in 1944. He made many... Full story

  • 33 More COVID-Related Deaths Confirmed; 3 in Washakie County

    Dec 31, 2020

    Thirty-three more coronavirus-related deaths among Wyoming residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been confirmed, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), according to a Dec. 31 release.. An older adult Big Horn County man died earlier this month. He was a resident of a long-term care facility in another state; it’s unclear whether he had health conditions recognized as putting patients at higher risk of serious illness related to COVID-19. An older adult Big Horn County man died earlier this month. He was a resident of a... Full story

  • Bars, Restaurants Can Resume Late Night Service After Decline in COVID-19 Hospitalizations

    Dec 31, 2020

    CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon has announced a return to normal operating hours for bars and restaurants, praising the response by Wyomingites that has resulted in a decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations around the state. Effective January 9, updated health orders permit bars and restaurants to resume onsite consumption from 10 pm to 5 am. The updated orders also allow gyms to increase the number of participants in group fitness classes from 10 to 25. “Thank you to the people of Wyoming who recognized the strain on their hospitals and hea... Full story

  • 2 More COVID-Related Deaths confirmed in Washakie County, 26 statewide

    Dec 31, 2020

    Twenty-six more coronavirus-related deaths among Wyoming residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have been confirmed, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), according to a release on Tuesday, Dec. 5.. An older adult Albany County woman died last month. She was hospitalized; it’s unclear whether she had health conditions recognized as putting patients at higher risk of serious illness related to COVID-19. An older adult Big Horn County woman died late last month. She was a resident of a local long-term care facility and had h... Full story