The News Editorial: Opportunity to be Informed

While it is only September and the Nov. 8 general election is more than a month away, the time to be an informed voter is now.

While the county and city council races are uncontested, residents still have important races and issues to vote on in the general election this November.

There was a good showing of people at the first forum for the 14 candidates vying for four seats on the Worland school board. There will be another opportunity to meet the candidates and hear from them on Oct. 10 when the Washakie County Republicans host another forum. Last week’s forum was sponsored by the Washakie County Republican Women and Washakie County Democratic Party.

There is a lot of interest in the school board this year and it is important for voters to vote informed, vote for which candidates you feel will do the best job in helping lead the district the next four years.

In addition to school board, perhaps the biggest issue facing voters will be two continuing tax issues — the fifth cent general purpose sales tax and the lodging tax.

The entities working hard to continue the optional fifth penny will be having their first forum next Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Worland Senior Center. There are eight entities hoping to share a piece of the one-cent that comes directly to the county.

Six of the entities have been helped for the past eight years — City of Worland, Town of Sleep, Worland and Ten Sleep senior centers, Worland Community Center Complex and Crisis Prevention and Response Center. Two new entities are also seeking funding — Worland Youth Learning Center and Washakie Development Association.

Come and hear what the fifth cent has done and will continue to do for you and the county.

Another forum will be held next month in Ten Sleep and a third community forum is still to be scheduled.

Also, the Northern Wyoming News will be profiling school board candidates and reporting on the tax issues in the weeks to come.

Please take advantage of one or several of these opportunities to be informed before casting your vote.

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On a side note I was saddened to learn of the death of Meg Stark. I spoke with Meg earlier this year about some upcoming events sponsored by organizations for which she was a long-term member and volunteer.

The first was the ice cream social for the hospital auxiliary and the second was the candidate forum by Worland Business and Professional Women. We spoke about the regular events and how hard it was for these organizations, as well as many others to find volunteers and new members and how so many events end just due to lack of volunteers.

Meg had a passion for this community and anyone who knew her will remember her characters in the Gorgeous Gals annual fundraiser for breast cancer survivors. Meg, a crowd pleaser, was always the final act of the variety show.

The organizations for which she was a part, and this community, will miss her energy and willingness to serve.

--Karla Pomeroy