By SEAN MORTIMER
Staff Reporter 

County hears reports on damage to road signs, fairgrounds

 

December 8, 2022



WORLAND – The Winchester Bridge is planned to be relocated from its current location over Cottonwood Creek on Washakie County Road 86 to be displayed outside the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Stuart Bower told the Washakie County Commissioners during the monthly meeting on Tuesday Dec. 6 that the project to relocate the historic structure was ready to proceed despite complications.

Previously, the bridge was planned to have old, possibly hazardous paint removed before bringing it into the city, but amid discussions on whose responsibility this was, the move itself took priority over the paint situation. Rather than sandblasting the paint and propelling harmful particles into the air, it has been decided to use chemical solvents that would clean the paint off. Due to concern over how this process is affected by temperature, this project will be revisited in the spring when it is warm enough.

In the meantime, samples of the paint will be removed from the bridge and tested to determine how they will proceed.

Otherwise, plans to relocating the bridge are going smoothly according to Bower. CC&G Inc., a bridge construction company is responsible for the move, which was scheduled for Wednesday. Swing Trucking was previously said to be assisting them in moving the structure, but CC&G representatives has stated that they can do it without help, according to Bower.

TEN SLEEP SIGNS

Lately, there has been an increase in incidents of county signs being damaged in Ten Sleep. There are multiple signs that have been shot at over a short period of time in the area around the town, and many are damaged to the point that they need replaced.

Bower said that the supposed individual doing this is responsible for approximately $10,000 in damages and can face felony charges if they are connected to these crimes. He said, “It’s getting ridiculous.” Bower and the commissioners considered options in dealing with this problem, and mentioned the possibility of installing trail cameras or making available a reward for information on the perpetrator.

FAIRGROUNDS

The head of Washakie County building maintenance, Tom Schmeltzer, reported to the commissioners that he had barred a club from using the fairgrounds for archery activities following his discovery of damages to the building caused by members.

Schmeltzer said that upon a walkthrough of the facility, he noticed archery targets sitting out, debris suggesting they had been shot at and the absence of a curtain that is normally used as a backstop for stray arrows. This led him to believe that people were shooting in the building without setting up properly. Upon further inspection, Schmeltzer said that he had discovered multiple holes in a door behind the targets that had been covered by tape in an attempt to conceal them.

Schmeltzer called this “unacceptable,” and likened it to shooting at the side of somebody’s house. He then confronted club leaders about the issue, told them they were no longer welcome there, and they promptly took their belongings and left. Schmeltzer contemplated with the commissioners on seeking compensation from the club to pay for damages caused to the facility.

Schmeltzer also emphasized to the commissioners that the 4-H archery program was not responsible for any damages.

 
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