The road to the penitentiary

WORLAND - That first beer or that first cigarette could be the first links in a chain that could lead to Worland's youth to spending the rest of their lives in the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins.

That was the message motivational speaker Craig Conrad had for about 390 Worland High School Students Tuesday.

Conrad is in Worland this week encouraging youth to remain unstoppable with his "The Unstoppable You," talk. The unstoppable speaker stopped in Worland Tuesday and will leave after speaking at Worland Middle School tonight at 7.

Union Wireless paid for half of Conrad's $3,750 speaker fee with Washakie County School Dist. No. 1 covering the other half.

During his presentation, Conrad covered topics ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to bullying. He also told inspirational stories of former students he has taught throughout his 26-year teaching career.

At around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2001, Clinton Haskins, a former student of Conrad's, got into his one-ton pickup truck and headed for Fort Collins, Colo., from Laramie. Haskins, however, had been drinking to the point of intoxication.

Haskins never made it to Fort Collins.

At Tie Siding, a small community 17 miles south of Laramie, Haskins' truck crossed the median and struck a 1990 Jeep Wagoner head-on which was carrying eight members of the University of Wyoming cross country team.

Haskins was the only survivor.

Conrad told students that Haskins, who was also involved in UW athletics, participating with the rodeo team, was sentenced to 14 to 20 years at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, but was paroled in 2011.

After telling Haskins' story, students at the function were subsequently shown footage of the state penitentiary. The sound of wind could be heard in the background.

"That's the sound of the wind, which is always blowing in Rawlins," Conrad said adding, "This is the last view a lot of people will see when they are sent to Rawlins for the rest of their lives."

Conrad said the key to avoiding the bad decisions made by other young people, is to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Haskins, Conrad said, had accumulated a number of minor in possession convictions while in high school.

"That smoke. That beer-those are links to the chain. Break the chain, or the chain will break you," Conrad said.

Conrad offered uplifting stories of people he has known who are unstoppable, telling the story of a boy who lost his legs after being hit by an 18-wheeler at the age of 6.

"It was in God's hands. When he got to the hospital, his mom said a prayer, and God. When God talked to him and his mother, God said to be an inspiration to others. So he lived," Conrad said.

The boy went on to become the second best high school wrestler in the state of Oregon and also plays baseball and basketball.

Worland High School students said they were impacted by Conrad's presentation, with student Josh Garza saying Conrad's speech will keep him from making bad decisions.

"It was effective."