By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Strength training for adults 65 and older, done more than twice a week and combined with physical exercise, can prolong independent living and promote general well-being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, strength training, generally in the form of lifting weights or doing various other static exercises, can do more than build strength and endurance. Those factors are important for minimizing falls by maintaining the muscles necessary for proper balance.
Working out regularly also increases bone density, making it less likely to break bones or develop osteoporosis. Additionally, it reduces the risk of diabetes by improving the body’s ability to metabolize glucose.
“Lifting weights regularly can help keep a person out of the nursing home or assisted living for up to three years,” Judy Justesen said.
Justesen, a former Rawlins Recreation Center Recreation programmer for senior citizens, lifts weights three times a week, devotes another three days to other strength training and rests on the seventh day. She combines her activities with daily stretching and aerobic exercise.
Strength training “does a lot to enhance the whole person by releasing endorphins,” Justesen said. Endorphins are chemicals released by the body through exercise and other activities that produce a general sense of happiness or well-being. “I recommend doing it in the morning,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the day with energy.”
According to a CDC, 11 percent of adults 65 and older engaged in strength training, with women less likely to do so than men. Justesen said that women should consider exercise and strength training because “it prevents skin from sagging as much as you get older,” she said. “You look better and definitely feel better. The two go hand in hand.”
When done correctly, strength training helps older folks better enjoy life. Justesen, now a grandmother, still plays volleyball. She says her exercise program helps her agility.
But she says the time lifting weights inside is boring. “It’s my least liked activity, and that says a lot,” she said. “If it didn’t do so much good, I wouldn’t be there three times a week.”
Denise Davis, who has Justesen’s old job, plans to establish a physical training program, provided the community shows interest. To get a class started, check in at the front desk of the Rawlins Recreation Center or call Davis at 324-7529.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Water exercise has many benefits
For the Health Fair section
• Exercising in water reduces impacts to bones and joints and the water provides natural resistance.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Jogging that is relocated to the water, called aqua jogging, has been proven to save joints as well as create resistance training that can have more powerful effects than land-based activities.
“If you exert the same energy jogging on land when jogging in the water, you will burn more calories in the water,” water jogging instructor Gail Dahl said. The water resistance is more than that of air, making the running motion more difficult. And jogging in the water eliminates the damaging joint impact of land jogging.
Dahl has men and women, young and old, attend her classes, which begin at 6 p.m. and run for an hour every weeknight at the Rawlins High School pool. The class is particularly popular with individuals with injuries or joint pain, as well as with pregnant women.
Half of the class is devoted purely to jogging laps at a pace specific to each participant. In the second half hour, Dahl leads the joggers in toning exercises including leg work with buoyant “weights” as well as crunches and thigh and arm exercises using an inflated ball.
“As a new person, it’s easy to get involved,” Dahl said. She gives the new jogger a run-down on correct posture, exercise options and recommendations based on a person’s ability and current health. “All you need is a swimsuit,” Dahl said.
She recommends the activity to anyone looking to revamp their exercise program or start a new one. “I always leave (the pool) feeling energized, not exhausted,” she said.
• Exercising in water reduces impacts to bones and joints and the water provides natural resistance.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Jogging that is relocated to the water, called aqua jogging, has been proven to save joints as well as create resistance training that can have more powerful effects than land-based activities.
“If you exert the same energy jogging on land when jogging in the water, you will burn more calories in the water,” water jogging instructor Gail Dahl said. The water resistance is more than that of air, making the running motion more difficult. And jogging in the water eliminates the damaging joint impact of land jogging.
Dahl has men and women, young and old, attend her classes, which begin at 6 p.m. and run for an hour every weeknight at the Rawlins High School pool. The class is particularly popular with individuals with injuries or joint pain, as well as with pregnant women.
Half of the class is devoted purely to jogging laps at a pace specific to each participant. In the second half hour, Dahl leads the joggers in toning exercises including leg work with buoyant “weights” as well as crunches and thigh and arm exercises using an inflated ball.
“As a new person, it’s easy to get involved,” Dahl said. She gives the new jogger a run-down on correct posture, exercise options and recommendations based on a person’s ability and current health. “All you need is a swimsuit,” Dahl said.
She recommends the activity to anyone looking to revamp their exercise program or start a new one. “I always leave (the pool) feeling energized, not exhausted,” she said.
Snowshoeing adventures abundant in county
Rawlins Daily Times, Janice Kurbjun***************
Looking at the trailhead, nothing was familiar.In summer, there was lush, green foliage scattered with wildflower shades of purple, blue, pink and orange. Now, in late winter, the trail into the Sierra Madres is white, broken by sharp shadows of lodgepole pines reaching into the blue sky.
The well-cleared trail marked with blue diamond signs is off limits to snowmobilers, though the machines can still be heard. The snow is nearly waist deep at the edge of the pavement; the only way to get through is to strap on snowshoes.
Snowshoes create a duck-like effect when the wide, aluminum frames with inside rubber are strapped over boots. Climbing over the snow bank, the only sound is the crunch of crusty snow underfoot.
The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is a perfect place to hit the snow for a few hours. With snowshoe and cross-country trails in Brush Creek, across the highway from the Medicine Bow Lodge in Ryan Park, and Bottle Creek west of Encampment in the Sierra Madres, there is plenty of terrain to explore.
Mark Rauterkus at the Trading Post at the Encampment-Riverside junction provides the only place to rent snowshoes in Carbon County. For $10 a day, Rauterkus can equip the outdoorsman with shoes, and he provides poles and Forest Service trail maps. “It’s easy to learn,” he said. Just strap them on and go, just like walking.
On the trail, the pristine snow is untouched except for rabbit tracks zigzagging through the forest. Veering from the trail and softly wading through untouched powder, a view of the Sierra Madres comes into focus as the trees open into a clearing. Beyond, the craggy summits of Colorado’s Never Summer mountain range are barely visible.
“It’s the most fun to go off the trail, especially if you see moose tracks or want to go over the ridge,” said Sue Cary, of the Brush Creek-Hayden ranger office in Saratoga. “Often, people just go. You can snowshoe anywhere in the forest if you’re careful.”
The trails Rauterkus points out to visitors start off as an easy hike with a gradual incline, ideal for beginners.
“The trails are very scenic,” he said. “They wind in and out of the trees and as you get higher, they have great views.” Snowshoeing difficulty increases with the trail’s grade, but varies slightly from traditional hiking since it involves snow, deeper means harder going.
— Janice Kurbjun
******************
Tips Offered
For people who plan to strap on a pair snowshoes and take off into the great unknown, officials at Saratoga’s Brush Creek-Hayden ranger station recommend some safety tips:
• Explorers should carry water, a snack, a compass and a whistle.
• Do not go into the forest alone. Leave a note in your vehicle saying where you’ve gone. A vehicle will often be investigated by law enforcement before Forest Service officials recognize that someone has not returned from the trail, especially in winter.
• Remember the acronym WOW: Where am I? Is everything OK in terms of gear and myself? What is the weather like? Forest Service personnel recommend being consistently aware of your surroundings, especially when off a marked trail.
• The weather changes quickly in the mountains; explorers should pay attention to the clouds.
Emergency service undergoing review
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Emergency medical services have long been heralded as the first line of defense in emergencies, with their role growing increasingly important in rural communities.
As such, the Wyoming Healthcare Commission, in its search for rural health care solutions with Carbon County as the guinea pig, has contracted with New Jersey-based SafeTech Solutions to evaluate the county’s EMS system.
Gary Wingrove and John Becknell of SafeTech recently visited Carbon County. They talked with a medical professionals and city and county officials about the system and the community’s perceptions.
“We’re not the fixers,” Wingrove said. “Our role here is to assess and then to prescribe the best practices from other communities according to what might fit into this one.”
They defined EMS as all services provided in an emergency prior to arrival at the hospital. That includes anything from answering a 911 call to giving telephone instructions for patient care to taking patients to a care facility.
The SafeTech representatives said they often make recommendations to communities that require the involvement of more than one entity. To them, the responsibility for emergency medicine rests on the shoulders of the community as a whole.
According to the consultants, hospital officials should think about shortages in ambulance workers while organizations and individuals should be aware of how an the emergency service’s functionality affects them. City officials should think about the importance of a fully-funded service and public education can be accomplished through newspapers.
Becknell said they discovered that Carbon County is served by a hodgepodge of volunteer workers and full-time, paid staff, mostly in Rawlins, who also serve at the hospital.
“This is the two-headed monster of EMS,” Becknell said. “It is difficult to recruit and retain volunteers anywhere, across the country. It goes hand in hand with the issue of how to fund EMS if staff must be hired.”
Times staff writer
Emergency medical services have long been heralded as the first line of defense in emergencies, with their role growing increasingly important in rural communities.
As such, the Wyoming Healthcare Commission, in its search for rural health care solutions with Carbon County as the guinea pig, has contracted with New Jersey-based SafeTech Solutions to evaluate the county’s EMS system.
Gary Wingrove and John Becknell of SafeTech recently visited Carbon County. They talked with a medical professionals and city and county officials about the system and the community’s perceptions.
“We’re not the fixers,” Wingrove said. “Our role here is to assess and then to prescribe the best practices from other communities according to what might fit into this one.”
They defined EMS as all services provided in an emergency prior to arrival at the hospital. That includes anything from answering a 911 call to giving telephone instructions for patient care to taking patients to a care facility.
The SafeTech representatives said they often make recommendations to communities that require the involvement of more than one entity. To them, the responsibility for emergency medicine rests on the shoulders of the community as a whole.
According to the consultants, hospital officials should think about shortages in ambulance workers while organizations and individuals should be aware of how an the emergency service’s functionality affects them. City officials should think about the importance of a fully-funded service and public education can be accomplished through newspapers.
Becknell said they discovered that Carbon County is served by a hodgepodge of volunteer workers and full-time, paid staff, mostly in Rawlins, who also serve at the hospital.
“This is the two-headed monster of EMS,” Becknell said. “It is difficult to recruit and retain volunteers anywhere, across the country. It goes hand in hand with the issue of how to fund EMS if staff must be hired.”
Schools need modular units
Times staff report
Carbon County School District 1 plans to lease two modular buildings for next school year.
Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools each need a two-room modular unit. District 1 already leases some modular buildings.
The additional space should meet anticipated enrollment growth for the next two years, district officials say. The growth is based on patterns in monthly enrollment reports. The district’s initial enrollment has been increasing since 2004. Last August saw the smallest increase — 47 students — as compared to the year before with 52. In August 2005, enrollment increased by 89 students.
In two years, the new Highland Hills school complex should be nearly complete. However, the lease of modular buildings may trickle into the 2010-11 school year.
“We may need to make unusual arrangements in the third year to accommodate (the anticipated number of students),” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But we do not want to bring in more modulars.”
Carbon County School District 1 plans to lease two modular buildings for next school year.
Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools each need a two-room modular unit. District 1 already leases some modular buildings.
The additional space should meet anticipated enrollment growth for the next two years, district officials say. The growth is based on patterns in monthly enrollment reports. The district’s initial enrollment has been increasing since 2004. Last August saw the smallest increase — 47 students — as compared to the year before with 52. In August 2005, enrollment increased by 89 students.
In two years, the new Highland Hills school complex should be nearly complete. However, the lease of modular buildings may trickle into the 2010-11 school year.
“We may need to make unusual arrangements in the third year to accommodate (the anticipated number of students),” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But we do not want to bring in more modulars.”
Friday, March 21, 2008
Arapaho language alive and well
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Through the story of the fox and the wood tick, children of the Arapaho tribe learn how to be clever.
“I can beat you!” said Merle Haas, a Northern Arapaho from the Wind River Reservation. Her exclamation imitated a voice characteristic of a tiny insect, the wood tick, which challenged the fox to a race. Haas’ laugh then mimicked the fox, which claimed the wood tick would have no chance.
Cleverly giving the vain, furry beast a head start, the wood tick jumped onto the fox’s tail just as he took off. At the end of the race, the bewildered fox found that the wood tick crawled from tail to nose, hopping off as they arrived at the finish line. “I beat you!” Haas chirped in the wood tick’s taunting voice.
Haas wears many hats, the most prominent of which is that of a storyteller. She is also a co-founder of the Wind River Tribal College and an educator. Her brother-in-law, Alonso Moss, is also a Northern Arapaho and native of the Wind River Indian Reservation. His mission is to keep the language of his people alive. The two spoke as part of the “Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture series earlier this week.
“Stories are considered sacred because they contain the old way of life, passed from generation to generation,” Haas said.
There are parable-like stories that have a moral lesson as well as what Haas called “how it came to be” stories that illustrate such questions as “why does the raccoon have black eyes?” The Arapahos also have ceremonial stories, often based around religion. “We also have trickster stories,” Haas said.
Haas plans to lead an effort to create a map of Wyoming which lists the Arapaho names for places.
Haas told her stories in English, but Moss insisted that the stories are only pure if told in Arapaho.
Moss is notorious on the reservation for speaking only his native language when only about 8 percent of the tribal members speak the native tongue. His Arapaho name is “Ridge Walker.” “They told me I’m going to walk right along the ridge. No one is going to pull me this way or that. I’m going to be myself, they said. It’s true. I’m doing what I want.” By speaking the native tongue to everyone he encounters, he hopes to educate them through immersion and set the example for parents and grandparents to do the same.
Moss delivered a crash course in the Arapaho language at the lecture, teaching the audience how to pronounce the letters and how to translate a few words. Often, non-natives who visit the reservation can speak the language better than the natives. “If they can learn it, then why not the Arapahos?” Moss asked.
“People today like to blame the missionaries or the teachers,” he said. “But that didn’t stop the old people like me. I got beat up, but I kept talking, because I was crazy. I told people not to excuse themselves. Right now, the opportunity is there to learn it. We’re through with excuses.”
Times staff writer
Through the story of the fox and the wood tick, children of the Arapaho tribe learn how to be clever.
“I can beat you!” said Merle Haas, a Northern Arapaho from the Wind River Reservation. Her exclamation imitated a voice characteristic of a tiny insect, the wood tick, which challenged the fox to a race. Haas’ laugh then mimicked the fox, which claimed the wood tick would have no chance.
Cleverly giving the vain, furry beast a head start, the wood tick jumped onto the fox’s tail just as he took off. At the end of the race, the bewildered fox found that the wood tick crawled from tail to nose, hopping off as they arrived at the finish line. “I beat you!” Haas chirped in the wood tick’s taunting voice.
Haas wears many hats, the most prominent of which is that of a storyteller. She is also a co-founder of the Wind River Tribal College and an educator. Her brother-in-law, Alonso Moss, is also a Northern Arapaho and native of the Wind River Indian Reservation. His mission is to keep the language of his people alive. The two spoke as part of the “Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture series earlier this week.
“Stories are considered sacred because they contain the old way of life, passed from generation to generation,” Haas said.
There are parable-like stories that have a moral lesson as well as what Haas called “how it came to be” stories that illustrate such questions as “why does the raccoon have black eyes?” The Arapahos also have ceremonial stories, often based around religion. “We also have trickster stories,” Haas said.
Haas plans to lead an effort to create a map of Wyoming which lists the Arapaho names for places.
Haas told her stories in English, but Moss insisted that the stories are only pure if told in Arapaho.
Moss is notorious on the reservation for speaking only his native language when only about 8 percent of the tribal members speak the native tongue. His Arapaho name is “Ridge Walker.” “They told me I’m going to walk right along the ridge. No one is going to pull me this way or that. I’m going to be myself, they said. It’s true. I’m doing what I want.” By speaking the native tongue to everyone he encounters, he hopes to educate them through immersion and set the example for parents and grandparents to do the same.
Moss delivered a crash course in the Arapaho language at the lecture, teaching the audience how to pronounce the letters and how to translate a few words. Often, non-natives who visit the reservation can speak the language better than the natives. “If they can learn it, then why not the Arapahos?” Moss asked.
“People today like to blame the missionaries or the teachers,” he said. “But that didn’t stop the old people like me. I got beat up, but I kept talking, because I was crazy. I told people not to excuse themselves. Right now, the opportunity is there to learn it. We’re through with excuses.”
County may benefit from bill
• Physician recruiting bill could help local hospital, doctors’ offices.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With $400,000 set aside for the next two years, Wyoming health care officials are better equipped to attempt to reel in much-needed physicians.
Legislation passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature, and signed by the governor, distributes money to high-need hospitals and physician practices around Wyoming. The bill allows for a hefty incentive package to attract new physicians to the state.
Dan Perdue of the American Hospital Association predicted Carbon County would be in a good position to secure some of the state funds. Perdue said Wyoming Department of Health officials are expected to establish the process for distributing the funds.
“We’ll have to wait until the rules and regulations get issued before we’ll know if it affects us,” said Patsy Carter, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s chief executive officer.
Originally introduced with an allowance of $800,000 per year, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate. As a compromise, it was revised with half as much funding.
“It doesn’t go a long way, but if we can show that there’s a demonstrated need for this type of legislation, we may be able to go back into the next session and ask for more money,” Perdue said. “The legislature is under the gun to make sure they’re funding all the programs that are worthwhile. We’ll have to see what our track record is.”
The bill incorporates the two elements of recruiting physicians — initial effort and incentives. Up to 10 percent of the funds are allotted for grant advertisement. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for successful recruitment efforts.
Another $90,000 from the state’s general fund has been allocated to pay for a grant administrator for the program.
Physicians recruited under the bill must agree to work in the respective community for at least two years, or repay the state and pay interest. The incentive package offers up to $20,000 for relocation, up to $10,000 a year in malpractice insurance and a maximum signing bonus of $30,000. Additionally, recruited physicians can be fully reimbursed for outstanding educational loans up to $30,000 per year.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With $400,000 set aside for the next two years, Wyoming health care officials are better equipped to attempt to reel in much-needed physicians.
Legislation passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature, and signed by the governor, distributes money to high-need hospitals and physician practices around Wyoming. The bill allows for a hefty incentive package to attract new physicians to the state.
Dan Perdue of the American Hospital Association predicted Carbon County would be in a good position to secure some of the state funds. Perdue said Wyoming Department of Health officials are expected to establish the process for distributing the funds.
“We’ll have to wait until the rules and regulations get issued before we’ll know if it affects us,” said Patsy Carter, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s chief executive officer.
Originally introduced with an allowance of $800,000 per year, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate. As a compromise, it was revised with half as much funding.
“It doesn’t go a long way, but if we can show that there’s a demonstrated need for this type of legislation, we may be able to go back into the next session and ask for more money,” Perdue said. “The legislature is under the gun to make sure they’re funding all the programs that are worthwhile. We’ll have to see what our track record is.”
The bill incorporates the two elements of recruiting physicians — initial effort and incentives. Up to 10 percent of the funds are allotted for grant advertisement. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for successful recruitment efforts.
Another $90,000 from the state’s general fund has been allocated to pay for a grant administrator for the program.
Physicians recruited under the bill must agree to work in the respective community for at least two years, or repay the state and pay interest. The incentive package offers up to $20,000 for relocation, up to $10,000 a year in malpractice insurance and a maximum signing bonus of $30,000. Additionally, recruited physicians can be fully reimbursed for outstanding educational loans up to $30,000 per year.
Hospital budget work continues
Times staff report
Work continues on the proposed budget for Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Earlier this month, members of the hospital’s finance committee met to coordinate requests from the hospital department managers. The committee plans to present its budget recommendations to the hospital board at its 5:15 p.m. meeting Tuesday, March 25 in the hospital board room.
The meeting is open to the public.
The committee has also prepared a presentation for the Carbon County commissioners, designed to draw attention to its budget needs and request funding from the county.
The budget should be approved by late May.
Also at the meeting, hospital board members are expected to:
• Hear an update from the Carbon County Council of Governments concerning the proposed specific purpose tax.
• Discuss progress on the rural health care improvements pilot project. Last week, officials met with representatives from SafeTech Solutions, a company contracted to evaluate emergency medical services in the county.
• Make a decision on the employee health insurance plan, after considering the possibilities and hospital staff feedback.
• Hear an update on the southeastern Wyoming ambulance service.
• Form a committee to address surgical care in the hospital according to a nine-part evaluation system instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Work continues on the proposed budget for Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Earlier this month, members of the hospital’s finance committee met to coordinate requests from the hospital department managers. The committee plans to present its budget recommendations to the hospital board at its 5:15 p.m. meeting Tuesday, March 25 in the hospital board room.
The meeting is open to the public.
The committee has also prepared a presentation for the Carbon County commissioners, designed to draw attention to its budget needs and request funding from the county.
The budget should be approved by late May.
Also at the meeting, hospital board members are expected to:
• Hear an update from the Carbon County Council of Governments concerning the proposed specific purpose tax.
• Discuss progress on the rural health care improvements pilot project. Last week, officials met with representatives from SafeTech Solutions, a company contracted to evaluate emergency medical services in the county.
• Make a decision on the employee health insurance plan, after considering the possibilities and hospital staff feedback.
• Hear an update on the southeastern Wyoming ambulance service.
• Form a committee to address surgical care in the hospital according to a nine-part evaluation system instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Schools partner for grant
Front pager...
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A $215,000 grant is expected to help enhance the math program in schools in Carbon County School District 2.
Prior to applying for the Math and Science Partnership grant, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates appealed to University of Wyoming’s science and math learning center for help with staff training to improve student math scores. The collaboration resulted in the federal grant and the inclusion of Carbon County School District 1 in the program. The proposed plan is designed to improve long-term student performance in math for students in every grade.
The program targets high-need school districts where at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches or where the school didn’t make adequate yearly progress in math in 2007.
At Monday’s District 2 School Board meeting, board members heard from Robert Mayes, director of the UW science and math learning center. He plans to serve as a resource for the secondary education portion of the project, along with colleagues Michelle and Scott Chamberlin and Linda Hutchison.
“We’ve been diagnosing areas in District 2 where students are challenged and we’ve been identifying areas of need from the PAWS data and teacher data,” Mayes said. “Then we’ll develop units to teach in the classroom through collaborative partnership.”
UW’s work with District 1 officials should start this summer, following the same format.
The goal is to get teachers to think about how they teach the areas that are problematic.
In a truly collaborative effort, the two county districts will also partner with Math Recovery, an Australia-based teacher education program, to develop the elementary education staff. Representatives from the Math Recovery council plan to do on-site teacher training.
The program could mean changes to the schools’ curriculums, “depending on what the teachers find,” grant writer Cathy McAtee said. Otherwise, teachers may simply modify their delivery.
“Hopefully, the students will continue to grow in their love of math and begin applying it to real-world situations,” she said.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A $215,000 grant is expected to help enhance the math program in schools in Carbon County School District 2.
Prior to applying for the Math and Science Partnership grant, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates appealed to University of Wyoming’s science and math learning center for help with staff training to improve student math scores. The collaboration resulted in the federal grant and the inclusion of Carbon County School District 1 in the program. The proposed plan is designed to improve long-term student performance in math for students in every grade.
The program targets high-need school districts where at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches or where the school didn’t make adequate yearly progress in math in 2007.
At Monday’s District 2 School Board meeting, board members heard from Robert Mayes, director of the UW science and math learning center. He plans to serve as a resource for the secondary education portion of the project, along with colleagues Michelle and Scott Chamberlin and Linda Hutchison.
“We’ve been diagnosing areas in District 2 where students are challenged and we’ve been identifying areas of need from the PAWS data and teacher data,” Mayes said. “Then we’ll develop units to teach in the classroom through collaborative partnership.”
UW’s work with District 1 officials should start this summer, following the same format.
The goal is to get teachers to think about how they teach the areas that are problematic.
In a truly collaborative effort, the two county districts will also partner with Math Recovery, an Australia-based teacher education program, to develop the elementary education staff. Representatives from the Math Recovery council plan to do on-site teacher training.
The program could mean changes to the schools’ curriculums, “depending on what the teachers find,” grant writer Cathy McAtee said. Otherwise, teachers may simply modify their delivery.
“Hopefully, the students will continue to grow in their love of math and begin applying it to real-world situations,” she said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
RMS renovations complete
Times staff report
With the Rawlins Middle School renovation project complete as of Oct. 29, Carbon County School District 1 officials are now wrapping up the project in the books.
District 1 Business Manager Garry Goergen is working with the School Facilities Commission to finalize project costs and reimbursement values.
At last week’s District 1 School Board meeting, Goergen presented an amendment to the district’s contract with the School Facilities Commission. The amendment adjusts the final project value according to changes made to the original design that are valued at more than $100,000. The price change flowed over a 5 percent contract allowance by $32,411. In its entirety, the Rawlins Middle School renovations project cost more than $1,621,637.
Changes included alterations to the roof design as well as additional electrical work that was originally part of the project’s second stage. After a revision to the SFC funding evaluation method last year, District 1 lost funding and was forced to adjust the project’s scope. The revised phase two is now “delayed indefinitely,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said.
The intended exterior work included a new approach to the middle school from Harshman Street as well as work on the bus drop off and parking areas. They should be addressed at a later date. “We will know where we fall on the (priority) list when the SFC adds a final element to its assessment: the suitability score,” Sanders said. “At that point, every building will be ranked according to condition, suitability and capacity.”
With the Rawlins Middle School renovation project complete as of Oct. 29, Carbon County School District 1 officials are now wrapping up the project in the books.
District 1 Business Manager Garry Goergen is working with the School Facilities Commission to finalize project costs and reimbursement values.
At last week’s District 1 School Board meeting, Goergen presented an amendment to the district’s contract with the School Facilities Commission. The amendment adjusts the final project value according to changes made to the original design that are valued at more than $100,000. The price change flowed over a 5 percent contract allowance by $32,411. In its entirety, the Rawlins Middle School renovations project cost more than $1,621,637.
Changes included alterations to the roof design as well as additional electrical work that was originally part of the project’s second stage. After a revision to the SFC funding evaluation method last year, District 1 lost funding and was forced to adjust the project’s scope. The revised phase two is now “delayed indefinitely,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said.
The intended exterior work included a new approach to the middle school from Harshman Street as well as work on the bus drop off and parking areas. They should be addressed at a later date. “We will know where we fall on the (priority) list when the SFC adds a final element to its assessment: the suitability score,” Sanders said. “At that point, every building will be ranked according to condition, suitability and capacity.”
County Easter events abound
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
On Saturday, area children should be on a sugar high after a host of egg hunts scattered across the county take place.
In Rawlins, the Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars co-host a Saturday hunt at 10 a.m. in Washington Park. They are prepared for up to 400 egg hunters. Participants up to 14 years old can look for prize-winning, specially-marked eggs. There are also 100 smaller prizes, marked by a certificate inside the egg, for things like sodas, coloring books, footballs and bracelets.
In Saratoga, the Xi Alpha Kappa Beta Sigma Phi sorority hosts a hunt at the Saratoga Inn on Saturday at 11 a.m. Three prize baskets should be available to the finders of several lucky eggs. Kindergarten-aged kids or younger from any community may participate. An Easter bunny should make an appearance.
Encampment, Medicine Bow and Hanna have community Easter events on Saturday as well. The Encampment-Riverside Volunteer Fire Department holds their hunt for kids from pre-school to sixth grade at 10 a.m. in the Riverside Town Park. In Medicine Bow, the Lion’s Club hides eggs for kids ages 12 and younger in the field recreation area on the north side of town at 11 a.m. Hanna’s Girl Scouts sponsor another 10 a.m. egg hunt at the Hanna Recreation Center. Unlike the others, Hanna’s hunt should be held indoors. There is no age limit for participants, but the hunts are staggered by age so parents can watch.
Elks Lodge members plans to hide 5,439 eggs throughout the Carbon County Fairgrounds in Rawlins on Sunday. Stuffed with candy, money and gift certificates for cinnamon sticks at Domino’s Pizza, the eggs should be available for hunting at 1 p.m. for children up to age 14. “If it starts at 1 p.m., be there at 10 (minutes) till,” Rawlins Main Street Director Pam Thayer said. “It’s over at 1:03.”
For each egg hunt, kids should bring a basket or sack to stash their eggs.
Times staff writer
On Saturday, area children should be on a sugar high after a host of egg hunts scattered across the county take place.
In Rawlins, the Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars co-host a Saturday hunt at 10 a.m. in Washington Park. They are prepared for up to 400 egg hunters. Participants up to 14 years old can look for prize-winning, specially-marked eggs. There are also 100 smaller prizes, marked by a certificate inside the egg, for things like sodas, coloring books, footballs and bracelets.
In Saratoga, the Xi Alpha Kappa Beta Sigma Phi sorority hosts a hunt at the Saratoga Inn on Saturday at 11 a.m. Three prize baskets should be available to the finders of several lucky eggs. Kindergarten-aged kids or younger from any community may participate. An Easter bunny should make an appearance.
Encampment, Medicine Bow and Hanna have community Easter events on Saturday as well. The Encampment-Riverside Volunteer Fire Department holds their hunt for kids from pre-school to sixth grade at 10 a.m. in the Riverside Town Park. In Medicine Bow, the Lion’s Club hides eggs for kids ages 12 and younger in the field recreation area on the north side of town at 11 a.m. Hanna’s Girl Scouts sponsor another 10 a.m. egg hunt at the Hanna Recreation Center. Unlike the others, Hanna’s hunt should be held indoors. There is no age limit for participants, but the hunts are staggered by age so parents can watch.
Elks Lodge members plans to hide 5,439 eggs throughout the Carbon County Fairgrounds in Rawlins on Sunday. Stuffed with candy, money and gift certificates for cinnamon sticks at Domino’s Pizza, the eggs should be available for hunting at 1 p.m. for children up to age 14. “If it starts at 1 p.m., be there at 10 (minutes) till,” Rawlins Main Street Director Pam Thayer said. “It’s over at 1:03.”
For each egg hunt, kids should bring a basket or sack to stash their eggs.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Valedictorian policy changes
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The new policy for choosing valedictorians and salutatorians at Rawlins High School is poised for final approval at the next Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting in late March.
The item received little discussion from School Board members during its first reading. The second and final reading is set for the School Board’s meeting near the end of March.
Previously, Rawlins High School’s policy matched that of Little Snake River Valley School, where the student with the highest grade point average was named valedictorian, with no limit as to the number of students who could earn the honor. Likewise, the student, or students, with the second highest GPA were named salutatorian.
Pending approval, next year’s policy will be revised to incorporate ACT scores. Students should be chosen initially by their GPA. In the event of a tie, the student with the best ACT scores would be named valedictorian. The student with the second-highest ACT score becomes salutatorian. If there is still a tie, multiple students receive each honor.
“There are pros and cons to both policies,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “A pro to the old system is that many students get recognized. The other point of view is that if you have up to nine valedictorians, it doesn’t really distinguish to the highest honor of who should be recognized.”
Times staff writer
The new policy for choosing valedictorians and salutatorians at Rawlins High School is poised for final approval at the next Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting in late March.
The item received little discussion from School Board members during its first reading. The second and final reading is set for the School Board’s meeting near the end of March.
Previously, Rawlins High School’s policy matched that of Little Snake River Valley School, where the student with the highest grade point average was named valedictorian, with no limit as to the number of students who could earn the honor. Likewise, the student, or students, with the second highest GPA were named salutatorian.
Pending approval, next year’s policy will be revised to incorporate ACT scores. Students should be chosen initially by their GPA. In the event of a tie, the student with the best ACT scores would be named valedictorian. The student with the second-highest ACT score becomes salutatorian. If there is still a tie, multiple students receive each honor.
“There are pros and cons to both policies,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “A pro to the old system is that many students get recognized. The other point of view is that if you have up to nine valedictorians, it doesn’t really distinguish to the highest honor of who should be recognized.”
Budding chefs take third place
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Encampment High School’s pro start cooking team finished third in February’s state competition in Jackson.
As part of it’s presentation to the Carbon County District 2 School Board on Monday night, the team had School Board members taste part of their winning menu.
In hard taco-like shells the size of silver dollars was a relish made of corn and cilantro. The budding chefs called it “cowboy caviar.”
Encampment competed against many 3A and 4A teams. “Often, our 1A team is competing against the bigger schools simply because those schools can support that type of program,” said Bob Gates, District 2 superintendent.
According to a report from the Wyoming Lodge and Restaurant Association, the judges sincerely sought to hire the winning students to work in professional restaurants.
Encampment finished behind Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central. They competed among 160 students from 17 schools.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Decided to keep the current District 2 schedules for another year, giving schools another chance to fine tune the schedules and try to address any lingering issues.
• Heard updates on ongoing construction projects in Medicine Bow and Elk Mountain. Gates reported that the design and budget for both projects are nearly complete and are about halfway through the stages of approval from the School Facilities Commission. Construction should begin this summer.
• Agreed to collaborate with the town of Encampment on an emergency management and disaster mitigation plan. Encampment officials drafted the plan to include the use of district busses and facilities in the event that a natural disaster left its population homeless or in need of help.
Times staff writer
Encampment High School’s pro start cooking team finished third in February’s state competition in Jackson.
As part of it’s presentation to the Carbon County District 2 School Board on Monday night, the team had School Board members taste part of their winning menu.
In hard taco-like shells the size of silver dollars was a relish made of corn and cilantro. The budding chefs called it “cowboy caviar.”
Encampment competed against many 3A and 4A teams. “Often, our 1A team is competing against the bigger schools simply because those schools can support that type of program,” said Bob Gates, District 2 superintendent.
According to a report from the Wyoming Lodge and Restaurant Association, the judges sincerely sought to hire the winning students to work in professional restaurants.
Encampment finished behind Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central. They competed among 160 students from 17 schools.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Decided to keep the current District 2 schedules for another year, giving schools another chance to fine tune the schedules and try to address any lingering issues.
• Heard updates on ongoing construction projects in Medicine Bow and Elk Mountain. Gates reported that the design and budget for both projects are nearly complete and are about halfway through the stages of approval from the School Facilities Commission. Construction should begin this summer.
• Agreed to collaborate with the town of Encampment on an emergency management and disaster mitigation plan. Encampment officials drafted the plan to include the use of district busses and facilities in the event that a natural disaster left its population homeless or in need of help.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Survey creates more questions
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A survey of Carbon County School District 1 teachers turned up as many questions as it did answers at the district’s School Board meeting last week.
The district’s second survey of instructors asked questions that allowed Duane DeWald to gauge teachers’ perceptions of the quality of their life, but requires further research to better determine its accuracy.
When DeWald pointed out that 80 percent of teachers believe they have adequate communication with student’s parents, Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune asked, “Is it possible that they think they do and they don’t?”
The issue of perception versus reality was evident in questions about feeling overworked, underpaid and well trained. According to DeWald’s presentation, the majority of the district’s teachers felt less overworked than the national average, but felt underpaid and less equipped through training than the rest of the nation.
Some results were clear. District teachers felt that support from and communication with their colleagues was lacking.
However, teachers overwhelmingly said communication with parents and principals was good and that the principals provide adequate direction, are accessible, ask for suggestions and treat the teachers with respect.
“Our goal is to see the whole picture,” DeWald said as he flipped through his Power Point presentation. It showed pictures within pictures, illustrating his goal to expand the data collection. “The data these teachers gave us should help our students be more successful each and every day,” he said.
Times staff writer
A survey of Carbon County School District 1 teachers turned up as many questions as it did answers at the district’s School Board meeting last week.
The district’s second survey of instructors asked questions that allowed Duane DeWald to gauge teachers’ perceptions of the quality of their life, but requires further research to better determine its accuracy.
When DeWald pointed out that 80 percent of teachers believe they have adequate communication with student’s parents, Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune asked, “Is it possible that they think they do and they don’t?”
The issue of perception versus reality was evident in questions about feeling overworked, underpaid and well trained. According to DeWald’s presentation, the majority of the district’s teachers felt less overworked than the national average, but felt underpaid and less equipped through training than the rest of the nation.
Some results were clear. District teachers felt that support from and communication with their colleagues was lacking.
However, teachers overwhelmingly said communication with parents and principals was good and that the principals provide adequate direction, are accessible, ask for suggestions and treat the teachers with respect.
“Our goal is to see the whole picture,” DeWald said as he flipped through his Power Point presentation. It showed pictures within pictures, illustrating his goal to expand the data collection. “The data these teachers gave us should help our students be more successful each and every day,” he said.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Value is more than money
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Sinclair Elementary School dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, giving it significant historical value both locally and nationally, and making it a target for preservation.
The school’s Spanish-colonial architecture and decorative brickwork makes it unique. It was built by craftsmen who spent time on the design, said Mary Humstone, a professor in the American studies department at the University of Wyoming.
In Humstone’s 2005 historical preservation class, students located schools throughout the state that have been standing for 50 years or more. Humstone whittled the list of 130 down to about 50 that fit the bill of a historical building. The rest have additions or renovations that changed them drastically enough to remove them from the list.
Both Sinclair and Elk Mountain elementary schools are on Humstone’s list. Elk Mountain Elementary School, which was likely built in the late 1940s, is not as distinctive, but she considers it well built and attractive. It also has local historical value after serving its community for decades.
Since both schools still stand with few or no additions, Humstone believes they qualify as additions to the National Register of Historic Places, an honor given to a building with historic or architectural significance, or with a connection to a famous person. But in Wyoming, unlike the other 49 states, being listed on the register doesn’t provide protection from demolition.
Humstone is heading up an effort to save the state’s historic schools. Her effort is twofold. According to Humstone, a community must realize its school’s historical significance. Any School Facilities Commission decisions should also take into account a community’s connection with its buildings, she said.
“Generally, people do not get excited about these buildings,” Humstone said. “They don’t really rally to save the schools, but that’s partly due to the fact that they think it’s a done deal. Community members sometimes feel helpless when a small group of board members is making the decisions.” To her, if a community is vocal enough, a decision can be influenced or reversed.
Professor wants rules changed
In Pennsylvania, a building’s historical value must be assessed prior to making plans for demolition or renovation.
That includes schools and is a model Mary Humstone, a professor in the University of Wyoming’s American studies department, is trying to establish in Wyoming.
If School Facilities Commission money is used toward the renovation of historic schools, “people would really be amazed at what could be done,” Humstone said. She said much of early architecture can accommodate new technology.
Ken Daraie, SFC director, acknowledged that technology, electricity and plumbing are not huge problems with older buildings.
“Educational suitability is the buzz word,” he said. Often, a building’s structure limits a classroom’s flexibility.
Daraie and Humstone have been working together to establish a way to preserve schools with historical value by either finding a way to modify them or by transferring the buildings into the hands of organizations that can better use the facility. However, no policies are in place.
Times staff writer
Sinclair Elementary School dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, giving it significant historical value both locally and nationally, and making it a target for preservation.
The school’s Spanish-colonial architecture and decorative brickwork makes it unique. It was built by craftsmen who spent time on the design, said Mary Humstone, a professor in the American studies department at the University of Wyoming.
In Humstone’s 2005 historical preservation class, students located schools throughout the state that have been standing for 50 years or more. Humstone whittled the list of 130 down to about 50 that fit the bill of a historical building. The rest have additions or renovations that changed them drastically enough to remove them from the list.
Both Sinclair and Elk Mountain elementary schools are on Humstone’s list. Elk Mountain Elementary School, which was likely built in the late 1940s, is not as distinctive, but she considers it well built and attractive. It also has local historical value after serving its community for decades.
Since both schools still stand with few or no additions, Humstone believes they qualify as additions to the National Register of Historic Places, an honor given to a building with historic or architectural significance, or with a connection to a famous person. But in Wyoming, unlike the other 49 states, being listed on the register doesn’t provide protection from demolition.
Humstone is heading up an effort to save the state’s historic schools. Her effort is twofold. According to Humstone, a community must realize its school’s historical significance. Any School Facilities Commission decisions should also take into account a community’s connection with its buildings, she said.
“Generally, people do not get excited about these buildings,” Humstone said. “They don’t really rally to save the schools, but that’s partly due to the fact that they think it’s a done deal. Community members sometimes feel helpless when a small group of board members is making the decisions.” To her, if a community is vocal enough, a decision can be influenced or reversed.
Professor wants rules changed
In Pennsylvania, a building’s historical value must be assessed prior to making plans for demolition or renovation.
That includes schools and is a model Mary Humstone, a professor in the University of Wyoming’s American studies department, is trying to establish in Wyoming.
If School Facilities Commission money is used toward the renovation of historic schools, “people would really be amazed at what could be done,” Humstone said. She said much of early architecture can accommodate new technology.
Ken Daraie, SFC director, acknowledged that technology, electricity and plumbing are not huge problems with older buildings.
“Educational suitability is the buzz word,” he said. Often, a building’s structure limits a classroom’s flexibility.
Daraie and Humstone have been working together to establish a way to preserve schools with historical value by either finding a way to modify them or by transferring the buildings into the hands of organizations that can better use the facility. However, no policies are in place.
District 2 schedules on board agenda
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Carbon County District 2 School Board members plan to vote on school schedules in a 4 p.m. meeting Monday at the Saratoga Middle High School Library.
Before the vote, board members should discuss surveys of students, parents and staff in the district as well as the viewpoints of nearly 30 community members expressed during an open forum at the District 2 central office in Saratoga earlier this week.
“The meeting was scheduled for an hour, but went 45 minutes over,” District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates said. “The place was full. They rotated between liking and not liking the schedule.” He said the viewpoints largely reiterated the findings of last month’s surveys.
Gates said there was much support for Saratoga High School’s four-day schedule and Encampment’s five-day schedule to remain the same. For Saratoga’s elementary school, which is on the four-day schedule, support was split. Few people were present from Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow.
“I have no guesses for the outcome of this vote,” Gates said. He expects a lengthy discussion at the Monday meeting.
Times staff writer
Carbon County District 2 School Board members plan to vote on school schedules in a 4 p.m. meeting Monday at the Saratoga Middle High School Library.
Before the vote, board members should discuss surveys of students, parents and staff in the district as well as the viewpoints of nearly 30 community members expressed during an open forum at the District 2 central office in Saratoga earlier this week.
“The meeting was scheduled for an hour, but went 45 minutes over,” District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates said. “The place was full. They rotated between liking and not liking the schedule.” He said the viewpoints largely reiterated the findings of last month’s surveys.
Gates said there was much support for Saratoga High School’s four-day schedule and Encampment’s five-day schedule to remain the same. For Saratoga’s elementary school, which is on the four-day schedule, support was split. Few people were present from Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow.
“I have no guesses for the outcome of this vote,” Gates said. He expects a lengthy discussion at the Monday meeting.
School eyes four-day week
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Little Snake River Valley School could go to a four-day week, according to an advisory board report presented during Thursday’s Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting.
LSRVS Principal Rick Newton is evaluating support for the schedule change by talking to teachers and possibly issuing a parent survey during parent-teacher conferences. The responses should govern the decision, which should be presented before the School Board for a vote prior to the May 1 deadline.
Board member Kristi Groshart wanted to be sure the whole staff was incorporated in the decision, including bus drivers, food servers and custodians. She pointed out that a four-day week could reduce pay. According to Newton, the bus drivers were the only group who showed significant concern.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Heard reports from the district’s principals about steps being taken to address bullying. Many of the principals have instituted programs to educate students and teachers on how to handle bullying.
• Heard a report from Business Manager Garry Goergen that an anticipated increase in enrollment may require additional modular buildings at Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools. He is currently working with the School Facilities Commission to find funding for the buildings.
• Discussed alternatives to plastic foam cafeteria trays used by Rawlins Middle School students. Goergen said biodegradable trays cost approximately 300 percent more than plastic foam trays. Superintendent Peggy Sanders pointed out the possibility of continuing to use the plastic foam, while making the effort to recycle them instead of throwing them away. Board member Dave Dingman and Goergen should present a solution at the next board meeting.
• Approved an amendment to the district’s construction agreement with the SFC to adjust funding for the proposed Highland Hills Elementary School complex.
• In executive session, evaluated the expulsion of an unnamed Rawlins High School student as well as the hiring of Melvin Meyer as the high school custodian and Brenda Roberts as the high school cafeteria worker. The board reconvened and approved the expulsion and the two hirings. Also approved were the resignations of six district employees.
Times staff writer
Little Snake River Valley School could go to a four-day week, according to an advisory board report presented during Thursday’s Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting.
LSRVS Principal Rick Newton is evaluating support for the schedule change by talking to teachers and possibly issuing a parent survey during parent-teacher conferences. The responses should govern the decision, which should be presented before the School Board for a vote prior to the May 1 deadline.
Board member Kristi Groshart wanted to be sure the whole staff was incorporated in the decision, including bus drivers, food servers and custodians. She pointed out that a four-day week could reduce pay. According to Newton, the bus drivers were the only group who showed significant concern.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Heard reports from the district’s principals about steps being taken to address bullying. Many of the principals have instituted programs to educate students and teachers on how to handle bullying.
• Heard a report from Business Manager Garry Goergen that an anticipated increase in enrollment may require additional modular buildings at Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools. He is currently working with the School Facilities Commission to find funding for the buildings.
• Discussed alternatives to plastic foam cafeteria trays used by Rawlins Middle School students. Goergen said biodegradable trays cost approximately 300 percent more than plastic foam trays. Superintendent Peggy Sanders pointed out the possibility of continuing to use the plastic foam, while making the effort to recycle them instead of throwing them away. Board member Dave Dingman and Goergen should present a solution at the next board meeting.
• Approved an amendment to the district’s construction agreement with the SFC to adjust funding for the proposed Highland Hills Elementary School complex.
• In executive session, evaluated the expulsion of an unnamed Rawlins High School student as well as the hiring of Melvin Meyer as the high school custodian and Brenda Roberts as the high school cafeteria worker. The board reconvened and approved the expulsion and the two hirings. Also approved were the resignations of six district employees.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
District 1 expulsions increase
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Expulsions from Carbon County School District 1 schools have nearly doubled in the past two years ago.
Two years ago, there were 10 students expelled from the district. In 2006-07, the number rose to 13. This year, 19 kids have been told to leave.
According to Duane DeWald, public information officer for the district, not many offenses warrant expulsion. The top two categories for misconduct include substance abuse — the using or selling of drugs, usually marijuana — and significant violence. Other expulsion-warranting offenses include possession of a weapon, serious threats and intimidation, theft and arson.
“These things are lumpy,” DeWald said, pointing out that this years numbers may be somewhat high because there have been groups of children caught doing the same activity.
“This year seems a little heavy,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But there are at least two situations that have involved three to four children, and that tends to skew the numbers.”
School board member Jim Espy said the district is looking into ways to both circumvent future misconduct and better address it when it happens.
Espy said the school board is examining ways to “make the punishment fit the crime,” designed especially for children who may be caught violating school policy, but are either less involved or are there unintentionally.
“Any time we have students who are expelled, it’s a concern to board members,” board member Kristi Groshart said. “Expulsion is the result of kids who are violating the rules, and (the board’s) concern is that we do what we can for all the students.”
Currently, district officials follow the state regulation of a one-year expulsion. However, early re-entry is possible if the student appeals to the superintendent with a letter of apology, has a clean criminal record and participates in out-of-school programs as recommended by district officials, like attending a 12-week counseling course on substance abuse, for example.
“We must have well-disciplined schools and the kids must be safe,” Sanders said. “Sometimes the discipline is severe enough that it almost amounts to zero tolerance. We have to draw the line on certain behavior, but we want them back as soon as seems possible.”
Times staff writer
Expulsions from Carbon County School District 1 schools have nearly doubled in the past two years ago.
Two years ago, there were 10 students expelled from the district. In 2006-07, the number rose to 13. This year, 19 kids have been told to leave.
According to Duane DeWald, public information officer for the district, not many offenses warrant expulsion. The top two categories for misconduct include substance abuse — the using or selling of drugs, usually marijuana — and significant violence. Other expulsion-warranting offenses include possession of a weapon, serious threats and intimidation, theft and arson.
“These things are lumpy,” DeWald said, pointing out that this years numbers may be somewhat high because there have been groups of children caught doing the same activity.
“This year seems a little heavy,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But there are at least two situations that have involved three to four children, and that tends to skew the numbers.”
School board member Jim Espy said the district is looking into ways to both circumvent future misconduct and better address it when it happens.
Espy said the school board is examining ways to “make the punishment fit the crime,” designed especially for children who may be caught violating school policy, but are either less involved or are there unintentionally.
“Any time we have students who are expelled, it’s a concern to board members,” board member Kristi Groshart said. “Expulsion is the result of kids who are violating the rules, and (the board’s) concern is that we do what we can for all the students.”
Currently, district officials follow the state regulation of a one-year expulsion. However, early re-entry is possible if the student appeals to the superintendent with a letter of apology, has a clean criminal record and participates in out-of-school programs as recommended by district officials, like attending a 12-week counseling course on substance abuse, for example.
“We must have well-disciplined schools and the kids must be safe,” Sanders said. “Sometimes the discipline is severe enough that it almost amounts to zero tolerance. We have to draw the line on certain behavior, but we want them back as soon as seems possible.”
Ice Sculpting, chili cook-off upcoming
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Rawlins-Carbon County Chamber of Commerce hopes to hold an ice sculpture contest and chili cook-off on Saturday in an event dubbed “Fire and Ice.”
The two-part event includes an ice sculpturing contest that starts at 8 a.m. The large blocks of ice are provided by Candy Mountain and weigh about 300 pounds. They should be set in the sunshine along Cedar Street so sculptors can carve away in relative warmth. Participants should have six hours to make their design using chainsaws, hammers and chisels, hacksaws, or any other tools they can think of.
“We’ve had Mickey Mouse, dragons and angels in the past,” Chamber President Mike Lujan said. “The blocks stay up until they melt or break, so they usually last a few weeks.”
The chamber is currently searching for businesses interested in sponsoring sculptors for $100, as well as interested sculptors who can carve free of charge if a corporate sponsor is found. Registration is also open for entries in the chili cook-off, which starts at 11 a.m. in the Depot.
Participants cook a pot of green or red chili large enough to serve 100 people. The event costs $5 to enter. Anyone can stop into the Depot to sample the entries and vote.
Judging for both events takes place at 2 p.m. Prizes are available for the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each event. Prizes include gift certificates and other donations from chamber businesses. “Our goal is to get people into town and try to keep them there,” Lujan said.
The deadline for registration is Friday. For more information, call the chamber at 324-4111 or Lujan at 321-6453.
Times staff writer
The Rawlins-Carbon County Chamber of Commerce hopes to hold an ice sculpture contest and chili cook-off on Saturday in an event dubbed “Fire and Ice.”
The two-part event includes an ice sculpturing contest that starts at 8 a.m. The large blocks of ice are provided by Candy Mountain and weigh about 300 pounds. They should be set in the sunshine along Cedar Street so sculptors can carve away in relative warmth. Participants should have six hours to make their design using chainsaws, hammers and chisels, hacksaws, or any other tools they can think of.
“We’ve had Mickey Mouse, dragons and angels in the past,” Chamber President Mike Lujan said. “The blocks stay up until they melt or break, so they usually last a few weeks.”
The chamber is currently searching for businesses interested in sponsoring sculptors for $100, as well as interested sculptors who can carve free of charge if a corporate sponsor is found. Registration is also open for entries in the chili cook-off, which starts at 11 a.m. in the Depot.
Participants cook a pot of green or red chili large enough to serve 100 people. The event costs $5 to enter. Anyone can stop into the Depot to sample the entries and vote.
Judging for both events takes place at 2 p.m. Prizes are available for the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each event. Prizes include gift certificates and other donations from chamber businesses. “Our goal is to get people into town and try to keep them there,” Lujan said.
The deadline for registration is Friday. For more information, call the chamber at 324-4111 or Lujan at 321-6453.
Community to battle bullying
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A kid leans forward in his chair and drops gum into the hair of the girl sitting one row up.
Another kid won’t go to the bathroom for the eight hours he’s at school. A handful of others are afraid to go to their lockers. All these cases instill fear in one person, power in another and a chain reaction throughout the community, Dave Dingman said.
Dingman is a Carbon County District 1 School Board member, but he said he’s speaking out about bullying because he’s a concerned community member.
Bullying is not unique to Rawlins, nor does it only occur with children. Anything involving one person exerting power over another because it makes them feel good constitutes bullying, Dingman said. According to this definition, bullying includes anything from littering to domestic violence. However, recent efforts in Carbon County to combat bullying focus on helping children and their parents find resources to handle the issue.
According to an article by Dr. Michael B. Green, “Violence committed on school grounds often derives from conflicts that emerge in the community.” Understanding the connection, Dingman and others pushed for the formation of a community-based committee to respond to bullying in schools. The group is now known as Safe Schools, Safe Homes, Safe Community. After receiving a grant in October, the committee has been able to connect with the statewide SAGE Initiative. Aiming to provide support, access, growth and empowerment, the program gathers social agencies under one roof to better service communities.
“When a mother has a depressed child, she can appeal to this program to get help,” Carbon County School District 1 Curriculum Director Marilyn Vercimak said.
Getting help should be easier for parents since the committee aims to streamline each agency’s application process. Vercimak expects there to be more demand for services since more people will be aware of them.
She believes the expansion of the original committee is crucial to community involvement not just in bullying but in other areas of parenting. “It’s hard nowadays,” she said.
Though Vercimak and Dingman, who are spearheading the community effort against bullying, are also associated with the school district, they emphasized that the issue is not solely a concern for the schools. “Should the schools adopt these kids?” Dingman asked. Since Dingman believes bullying is a learned behavior, it makes sense to him to address it wherever learning takes place, including the community. Vercimak pointed out that the school already has a list of responses to bullying while the community’s response efforts are lacking.
Safe Schools, Safe Homes, Safe Community expects to hold educational meetings for teachers and community members on how to handle bullying in the coming weeks. “If you handle it well, it goes away,” Vercimak said. She expects to start receiving funding from the SAGE Initiative once the committee receives training from representatives in Laramie.
Times staff writer
A kid leans forward in his chair and drops gum into the hair of the girl sitting one row up.
Another kid won’t go to the bathroom for the eight hours he’s at school. A handful of others are afraid to go to their lockers. All these cases instill fear in one person, power in another and a chain reaction throughout the community, Dave Dingman said.
Dingman is a Carbon County District 1 School Board member, but he said he’s speaking out about bullying because he’s a concerned community member.
Bullying is not unique to Rawlins, nor does it only occur with children. Anything involving one person exerting power over another because it makes them feel good constitutes bullying, Dingman said. According to this definition, bullying includes anything from littering to domestic violence. However, recent efforts in Carbon County to combat bullying focus on helping children and their parents find resources to handle the issue.
According to an article by Dr. Michael B. Green, “Violence committed on school grounds often derives from conflicts that emerge in the community.” Understanding the connection, Dingman and others pushed for the formation of a community-based committee to respond to bullying in schools. The group is now known as Safe Schools, Safe Homes, Safe Community. After receiving a grant in October, the committee has been able to connect with the statewide SAGE Initiative. Aiming to provide support, access, growth and empowerment, the program gathers social agencies under one roof to better service communities.
“When a mother has a depressed child, she can appeal to this program to get help,” Carbon County School District 1 Curriculum Director Marilyn Vercimak said.
Getting help should be easier for parents since the committee aims to streamline each agency’s application process. Vercimak expects there to be more demand for services since more people will be aware of them.
She believes the expansion of the original committee is crucial to community involvement not just in bullying but in other areas of parenting. “It’s hard nowadays,” she said.
Though Vercimak and Dingman, who are spearheading the community effort against bullying, are also associated with the school district, they emphasized that the issue is not solely a concern for the schools. “Should the schools adopt these kids?” Dingman asked. Since Dingman believes bullying is a learned behavior, it makes sense to him to address it wherever learning takes place, including the community. Vercimak pointed out that the school already has a list of responses to bullying while the community’s response efforts are lacking.
Safe Schools, Safe Homes, Safe Community expects to hold educational meetings for teachers and community members on how to handle bullying in the coming weeks. “If you handle it well, it goes away,” Vercimak said. She expects to start receiving funding from the SAGE Initiative once the committee receives training from representatives in Laramie.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Special education concerns mitigated
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A recent mid-year budget report announced district-wide savings of more than $250,000 in special education, raising red flags with parents throughout Carbon County School District 1.
When school board member Juli Miller heard those figures, she immediately linked them with the scattered gripes from parents relating to the district’s special education program.
At a meeting held last week, Robin Phillips, a parent of a Down syndrome child in Rawlins, initiated conversation about the schools’ and the community’s role in the lives of the disabled.
There, District 1 Special Education Director Marilyn Addington explained the district’s financial report. “The costs for special education are not fluid because we can’t anticipate them,” she said. Several special education students left the district this year, causing the drop in expenditures.
Phillips’ primary concern is getting a one-on-one aid who would help her son work in regular classrooms despite his disability. For the majority of this school year, she has been unable to secure that aid, though it’s unclear whether that’s due to personnel shortages or district decisions.
According to Addington, Phillips’ appeal is not an unusual one. Parents are often involved in making decisions for their disabled children in the schools, however, they can be overruled. A committee is assigned to form individualized programs for a disabled child’s education. If a parent’s request does not suit the committee’s decision, the committee makes alternate plans.
After Addington’s explanation at last week’s meeting, opinions of the district and its approach to special education became increasingly positive. The group focused instead on problems with getting state assistance for their children. With another meeting scheduled for early April, the discussions are far from over and may continue to include school district issues.
At Wednesday’s school planning meeting for the new Highland Hills elementary complex, project representative Brad Oberg expressed concern for the amount of space requested for special education facilities. He said it was less than he has seen for other schools.
Though the proposed new space is larger than existing ones, Oberg asked, “Do you have fewer programs because of limited space or do you have fewer programs simply because you don’t need them?” He pointed out that a new facility might provide the space for more programs and advised officials to take a careful look at their needs before making design conclusions.
“(Those plans) are something we ought to consider,” Miller said. “And if there are parent concerns (with the district), I’d like to hear what they are and if there are any proposed solutions.”
Times staff writer
A recent mid-year budget report announced district-wide savings of more than $250,000 in special education, raising red flags with parents throughout Carbon County School District 1.
When school board member Juli Miller heard those figures, she immediately linked them with the scattered gripes from parents relating to the district’s special education program.
At a meeting held last week, Robin Phillips, a parent of a Down syndrome child in Rawlins, initiated conversation about the schools’ and the community’s role in the lives of the disabled.
There, District 1 Special Education Director Marilyn Addington explained the district’s financial report. “The costs for special education are not fluid because we can’t anticipate them,” she said. Several special education students left the district this year, causing the drop in expenditures.
Phillips’ primary concern is getting a one-on-one aid who would help her son work in regular classrooms despite his disability. For the majority of this school year, she has been unable to secure that aid, though it’s unclear whether that’s due to personnel shortages or district decisions.
According to Addington, Phillips’ appeal is not an unusual one. Parents are often involved in making decisions for their disabled children in the schools, however, they can be overruled. A committee is assigned to form individualized programs for a disabled child’s education. If a parent’s request does not suit the committee’s decision, the committee makes alternate plans.
After Addington’s explanation at last week’s meeting, opinions of the district and its approach to special education became increasingly positive. The group focused instead on problems with getting state assistance for their children. With another meeting scheduled for early April, the discussions are far from over and may continue to include school district issues.
At Wednesday’s school planning meeting for the new Highland Hills elementary complex, project representative Brad Oberg expressed concern for the amount of space requested for special education facilities. He said it was less than he has seen for other schools.
Though the proposed new space is larger than existing ones, Oberg asked, “Do you have fewer programs because of limited space or do you have fewer programs simply because you don’t need them?” He pointed out that a new facility might provide the space for more programs and advised officials to take a careful look at their needs before making design conclusions.
“(Those plans) are something we ought to consider,” Miller said. “And if there are parent concerns (with the district), I’d like to hear what they are and if there are any proposed solutions.”
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Staff surveys to be reviewed
Times staff report
The results of the second teacher survey should be presented to the Carbon County District 1 School Board during Thursday’s board meeting.
The 6 p.m. meeting is scheduled in the central office board room on Rodeo Street in Rawlins. It’s open to the public.
Duane DeWald, district manager for grants and data analysis, is expected to discuss the opinions district teachers have of their daily work.
“It should explore how they feel,” he said. “Do they have the prestige they wanted, are they working ideal hours, is their pay good?”
The survey, issued to thousands of teachers nationwide, is designed to gauge how content school staff is in the work place. The teacher analysis survey is the second part of District 1 Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune’s year-long effort to study opinions of parents, teachers and students.
During the meeting, board members should also:
• Consider on second reading revised policies regarding the nurse, internships and students dropping out of school.
• Consider on first reading revisions to policies regarding the superintendent’s evaluation and the selection of valedictorians and salutatorians.
The results of the second teacher survey should be presented to the Carbon County District 1 School Board during Thursday’s board meeting.
The 6 p.m. meeting is scheduled in the central office board room on Rodeo Street in Rawlins. It’s open to the public.
Duane DeWald, district manager for grants and data analysis, is expected to discuss the opinions district teachers have of their daily work.
“It should explore how they feel,” he said. “Do they have the prestige they wanted, are they working ideal hours, is their pay good?”
The survey, issued to thousands of teachers nationwide, is designed to gauge how content school staff is in the work place. The teacher analysis survey is the second part of District 1 Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune’s year-long effort to study opinions of parents, teachers and students.
During the meeting, board members should also:
• Consider on second reading revised policies regarding the nurse, internships and students dropping out of school.
• Consider on first reading revisions to policies regarding the superintendent’s evaluation and the selection of valedictorians and salutatorians.
Monday, March 10, 2008
District 1 school funding secured
Times staff report
Carbon County School District 1 administrators wiped their brows a week ago when Superintendent Peggy Sanders returned to Rawlins from Cheyenne to report that the district’s building funds for a new elementary complex in Highland Hills were secure.
Administrators from Goshen County School District presented their case to the state House for renewed funding from the School Facilities Commission to continue work that extended beyond the previously allotted time.
That was in late February, and on the last day of the month, district officials from across the state awaited the final vote on the matter. District 1, low on the hierarchical list of funding from the School Facilities Commission, saw one of the biggest threats from the lobbying efforts.
“It died on the floor,” Sanders said of Goshen County’s bill. She didn’t know how the official vote was split, but was eager to report that construction would go forward for the Highland Hills complex.
Carbon County School District 1 administrators wiped their brows a week ago when Superintendent Peggy Sanders returned to Rawlins from Cheyenne to report that the district’s building funds for a new elementary complex in Highland Hills were secure.
Administrators from Goshen County School District presented their case to the state House for renewed funding from the School Facilities Commission to continue work that extended beyond the previously allotted time.
That was in late February, and on the last day of the month, district officials from across the state awaited the final vote on the matter. District 1, low on the hierarchical list of funding from the School Facilities Commission, saw one of the biggest threats from the lobbying efforts.
“It died on the floor,” Sanders said of Goshen County’s bill. She didn’t know how the official vote was split, but was eager to report that construction would go forward for the Highland Hills complex.
District 2 plans schedule talks
Times staff report
Carbon County District 2 School Board members are scheduled to hold a discussion on school schedules during a Tuesday meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s central office in Saratoga.
The meeting is open to the public.
Talks should center on school schedule survey results and about how the schedules might change to accommodate school staff and the community. The Tuesday discussion should serve as the foundation for the board members’ votes during an upcoming board meeting next week.
Prior to the discussion, board members are set to participate in the second of a series of workshops with the Wyoming School Boards Association from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The focus of the workshop, which is open to the public, should include distinguishing when to be proactive and when to be hands-off in various situations, the art of goal setting, finding the school board’s reason and purpose, and how best to use limited time.
Carbon County District 2 School Board members are scheduled to hold a discussion on school schedules during a Tuesday meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s central office in Saratoga.
The meeting is open to the public.
Talks should center on school schedule survey results and about how the schedules might change to accommodate school staff and the community. The Tuesday discussion should serve as the foundation for the board members’ votes during an upcoming board meeting next week.
Prior to the discussion, board members are set to participate in the second of a series of workshops with the Wyoming School Boards Association from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The focus of the workshop, which is open to the public, should include distinguishing when to be proactive and when to be hands-off in various situations, the art of goal setting, finding the school board’s reason and purpose, and how best to use limited time.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Lectures to focus on state prison
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Rawlins is to Wyoming as the wheel is to your pickup.
Tuesday’s “The Power of Place: The Legacies of Carbon County” lecture should show that, at least in so far as the prison relates to the big picture. The lecture, dubbed “Prisons and Lawmen of Carbon County,” should be held at CCHEC’s main campus on Rodeo Street at 7 p.m.
Tina Hill, director of the Old Pen, and Duane Shillinger, former Wyoming State Penitentiary warden, plan to lay out the rich history of how Rawlins came to be the seat of the state prison and what happened behind its walls once it was established.
“Rawlins has the reputation in the state as being a prison town, when in fact that is not the case,” Carbon County Higher Education Center Director Dave Throgmorton said. Pointing out that each state has its institutional needs and different cities that host them, he said “Rawlins particular work here is a bit grittier. We’re graciously providing a service to the state.”
Manifest destiny is a buzz word for Shillinger, who believes much of the events in pre-territorial and territorial Wyoming hinged on the free spirit fostered by the philosophy. Manifest destiny was thought up by an East Coast journalist named John L. O’Sullivan and is generally defined as the belief that the United States was destined to span “from sea to shining sea,” by having both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans as its borders. Over time, and particularly with the tidal wave of Americans flowing west, it fostered a sense of freedom for conquest and became the justification for many heinous acts.
American Indians were slaughtered, as were a massive number of wild animals. According to Shillinger, pioneers believed their actions were protected by the idea of manifest destiny. The wild West was wild indeed, as prostitution sprang up alongside alcoholism, theft, fighting and killing.
Shillinger should expand on the Wyoming territory’s early years, illustrating what law enforcement was up against and its efforts to combat the surge of crime. In particular, he should hone in on the evolution of the prisons and law enforcement. He plans to focus on Carbon County, but “you can’t look at Carbon County without looking at the rest of the territory,” he said.
Hill should complement Shillinger’s presentation with anecdotes of particular law enforcement officials and notorious criminals who passed through the area. Between the two, the importance of Rawlins as the home of corrections should be reflected.
Times staff writer
Rawlins is to Wyoming as the wheel is to your pickup.
Tuesday’s “The Power of Place: The Legacies of Carbon County” lecture should show that, at least in so far as the prison relates to the big picture. The lecture, dubbed “Prisons and Lawmen of Carbon County,” should be held at CCHEC’s main campus on Rodeo Street at 7 p.m.
Tina Hill, director of the Old Pen, and Duane Shillinger, former Wyoming State Penitentiary warden, plan to lay out the rich history of how Rawlins came to be the seat of the state prison and what happened behind its walls once it was established.
“Rawlins has the reputation in the state as being a prison town, when in fact that is not the case,” Carbon County Higher Education Center Director Dave Throgmorton said. Pointing out that each state has its institutional needs and different cities that host them, he said “Rawlins particular work here is a bit grittier. We’re graciously providing a service to the state.”
Manifest destiny is a buzz word for Shillinger, who believes much of the events in pre-territorial and territorial Wyoming hinged on the free spirit fostered by the philosophy. Manifest destiny was thought up by an East Coast journalist named John L. O’Sullivan and is generally defined as the belief that the United States was destined to span “from sea to shining sea,” by having both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans as its borders. Over time, and particularly with the tidal wave of Americans flowing west, it fostered a sense of freedom for conquest and became the justification for many heinous acts.
American Indians were slaughtered, as were a massive number of wild animals. According to Shillinger, pioneers believed their actions were protected by the idea of manifest destiny. The wild West was wild indeed, as prostitution sprang up alongside alcoholism, theft, fighting and killing.
Shillinger should expand on the Wyoming territory’s early years, illustrating what law enforcement was up against and its efforts to combat the surge of crime. In particular, he should hone in on the evolution of the prisons and law enforcement. He plans to focus on Carbon County, but “you can’t look at Carbon County without looking at the rest of the territory,” he said.
Hill should complement Shillinger’s presentation with anecdotes of particular law enforcement officials and notorious criminals who passed through the area. Between the two, the importance of Rawlins as the home of corrections should be reflected.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Film tour planned
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
From the highest mountain passes in the world to ice caverns deep within the earth’s crust, the stories of exploration, adventure and exotic lifestyles come to the screen in the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, scheduled to hit Laramie on Saturday and Sunday.
One man tightropes high above the red earth, practicing his rock climbing balance. A team of snowkiters slide like an above-ground school of fish across the glass of a frozen lake. A woman pauses high atop a Norwegian fjord, taking one last breath before taking a running jump. A badger rolls over in his burrow, waving away the bright camera lights. Skiers explain their respect for the mountain and for the cultures they cross. These are examples of what could appear on screen.
As one of the most widely recognized events of its kind, the Banff festival is held throughout 10 days in Banff, Canada, showing upwards of 60 films along with other events including a book festival. “It is one of the first,” film festivals centered around mountain activities, said Jill Sawyer, media and communications officer at The Banff Center in Banff, Canada. “But there are now many around the world.”
After the festival, which is held in late October, the world tour staff makes a selection of the most well-received films, the award-winners and a handful of others that ensure variety in the presentation. This collection immediately hits the road.
“It will be a collection of high-action, high-energy films,” said Dan McCoy, coordinator of the University of Wyoming outdoor adventure program. He plans to show the award-winners and choose shorter cultural and environmental films to create variety. The university is one of two Wyoming locations to show the film. The other is in Jackson. UW is in its ninth year of hosting the event.
The event should be held in the arts and sciences building auditorium. Seating begins at 6 p.m. both nights and show time is at 7. The event is free and open to the public, but seats are limited.
Times staff writer
From the highest mountain passes in the world to ice caverns deep within the earth’s crust, the stories of exploration, adventure and exotic lifestyles come to the screen in the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, scheduled to hit Laramie on Saturday and Sunday.
One man tightropes high above the red earth, practicing his rock climbing balance. A team of snowkiters slide like an above-ground school of fish across the glass of a frozen lake. A woman pauses high atop a Norwegian fjord, taking one last breath before taking a running jump. A badger rolls over in his burrow, waving away the bright camera lights. Skiers explain their respect for the mountain and for the cultures they cross. These are examples of what could appear on screen.
As one of the most widely recognized events of its kind, the Banff festival is held throughout 10 days in Banff, Canada, showing upwards of 60 films along with other events including a book festival. “It is one of the first,” film festivals centered around mountain activities, said Jill Sawyer, media and communications officer at The Banff Center in Banff, Canada. “But there are now many around the world.”
After the festival, which is held in late October, the world tour staff makes a selection of the most well-received films, the award-winners and a handful of others that ensure variety in the presentation. This collection immediately hits the road.
“It will be a collection of high-action, high-energy films,” said Dan McCoy, coordinator of the University of Wyoming outdoor adventure program. He plans to show the award-winners and choose shorter cultural and environmental films to create variety. The university is one of two Wyoming locations to show the film. The other is in Jackson. UW is in its ninth year of hosting the event.
The event should be held in the arts and sciences building auditorium. Seating begins at 6 p.m. both nights and show time is at 7. The event is free and open to the public, but seats are limited.
SMART boards are parting gift
Times staff report
SMART boards are the parting gift of Carbon County School District 1’s Director of Technology Marc Stauffer.
As the man versed in business technology steps down after three years of building District 1’s hardware and software infrastructure, he hopes his efforts will last for the next five or 10 years.
As part of the overall plan, district officials purchased 12 SMART boards at the beginning of this school year, Stauffer said. They are white boards that connect to a computer, making them interactive. “It gets students interested in learning,” he said. The plan is to purchase 15 more this summer, and the new elementary schools should come equipped with them.
Teachers can use SMART boards the same way they would use a black board, but it also doubles as a projector for movies or a screen for Internet browsing. Teachers can even design quizzes to appear like a game show on screen and students can press buttons for the correct answers.
Students and teachers benefit from this type of learning, Stauffer said. Students are attracted to it because it tends to mirror their after-school activities. When teachers use certain SMART board capabilities, they can get instant statistical feedback on their students’ progress. For instance, 50 percent of the students answer a question wrong in the quiz. The teacher sees this and can ask why that particular question might pose a problem.
Stauffer’s technology plan has two components: reliable technology and teachers who are capable of using and teaching it. The update was necessary in order to match the district’s capabilities with state and federal standards. Stauffer said the hardware update, which goes far beyond SMART boards, is nearly complete and is designed to support itself for at least five years.
The second part should be turned over to Duane DeWald, manager for grants and data analysis for the district, who will use surveys to try to assess what teachers need in terms of technology training. Curriculum developers then try to close the gap.
SMART boards are the parting gift of Carbon County School District 1’s Director of Technology Marc Stauffer.
As the man versed in business technology steps down after three years of building District 1’s hardware and software infrastructure, he hopes his efforts will last for the next five or 10 years.
As part of the overall plan, district officials purchased 12 SMART boards at the beginning of this school year, Stauffer said. They are white boards that connect to a computer, making them interactive. “It gets students interested in learning,” he said. The plan is to purchase 15 more this summer, and the new elementary schools should come equipped with them.
Teachers can use SMART boards the same way they would use a black board, but it also doubles as a projector for movies or a screen for Internet browsing. Teachers can even design quizzes to appear like a game show on screen and students can press buttons for the correct answers.
Students and teachers benefit from this type of learning, Stauffer said. Students are attracted to it because it tends to mirror their after-school activities. When teachers use certain SMART board capabilities, they can get instant statistical feedback on their students’ progress. For instance, 50 percent of the students answer a question wrong in the quiz. The teacher sees this and can ask why that particular question might pose a problem.
Stauffer’s technology plan has two components: reliable technology and teachers who are capable of using and teaching it. The update was necessary in order to match the district’s capabilities with state and federal standards. Stauffer said the hardware update, which goes far beyond SMART boards, is nearly complete and is designed to support itself for at least five years.
The second part should be turned over to Duane DeWald, manager for grants and data analysis for the district, who will use surveys to try to assess what teachers need in terms of technology training. Curriculum developers then try to close the gap.
Panthers win first round
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
It’s been a long haul for the Saratoga High School boys basketball team this last month, but practice made perfect as the Panthers took one more step toward the regional title on Thursday.
The Panthers beat Normative Services 88-59 in Torrington during the first round of the 1A east regional tournament.
However, it wasn’t all a cakewalk. Thursday’s game was a challenge only because Saratoga made it one. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was an overwhelming desire to do well or maybe it was a lack of focus, but the Panthers made too many turnovers, Saratoga coach Rex Hohnholt said.
The Panthers need to sharpen their minds and bodies as they go into Friday’s 5:30 p.m. game against Midwest. Saratoga’s tallest player stands at 6 foot 2 inches tall, 8 inches shorter than one of Midwest’s posts and six inches shorter than the other.
“It’ll be defense by committee, not individually,” Hohnholt said. “We’ll do the job.”
Midwest has speed, but relies mainly on planting the two redwoods at the base of the net. The plan is to try to make Midwest play defense as much as possible and keep the ball away from its end of the court.
Times staff writer
It’s been a long haul for the Saratoga High School boys basketball team this last month, but practice made perfect as the Panthers took one more step toward the regional title on Thursday.
The Panthers beat Normative Services 88-59 in Torrington during the first round of the 1A east regional tournament.
However, it wasn’t all a cakewalk. Thursday’s game was a challenge only because Saratoga made it one. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was an overwhelming desire to do well or maybe it was a lack of focus, but the Panthers made too many turnovers, Saratoga coach Rex Hohnholt said.
The Panthers need to sharpen their minds and bodies as they go into Friday’s 5:30 p.m. game against Midwest. Saratoga’s tallest player stands at 6 foot 2 inches tall, 8 inches shorter than one of Midwest’s posts and six inches shorter than the other.
“It’ll be defense by committee, not individually,” Hohnholt said. “We’ll do the job.”
Midwest has speed, but relies mainly on planting the two redwoods at the base of the net. The plan is to try to make Midwest play defense as much as possible and keep the ball away from its end of the court.
Surveys to show the way
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When Carbon County School District 1 Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune takes on the superintendent role in July, he wants to know where the school sits in its goals for creating an educational environment, where it is headed and how everybody feels about it.
Toward this end, the district is in the midst of a series of surveys to establish a panorama of viewpoints. In three phases, the district’s manager for grants and data analysis Duane DeWald is surveying parents, teachers and administrators, and students.
“We want to get a picture from all sides,” DeWald said. He is issuing, tracking and analyzing the data from the surveys. “Parents, teachers and students is our 360 degree evaluation,” he said.
In October 2007, the district kicked off the survey series with phase one, directed toward parents. Phase three, to be issued in March, should incorporate student input on how they view their participation in education.
Currently in phase two, DeWald has teachers and administrators taking three surveys. The set is designed to provide insight into the effectiveness of educational measures, the integration of technology in education and quality of life for teachers.
The first teacher survey is Robert Marzano’s “What Works in Schools” survey. DeWald presented its results at last Thursday’s school board meeting. According to his findings, District 1 teachers and administrators often have different opinions about teaching methods that work. These, DeWald said, are areas for improvement. But the survey also shows marked success in areas that were already targeted for improvement.
Marzano’s survey is based on 35 years of educational research. This is one of the reasons it was chosen. Since the district is currently using Marzano’s theories of how students learn to better design its curriculum, it makes sense to use surveys that relate.
“We want to use surveys that are well-measured and accurate,” DeWald said. “And we need to know the results are applicable.”
The last of the three teacher surveys should finish on Friday. DeWald plans to analyze the data and present his findings to school board members in March. The board members should see the “quality of teacher work life survey” on March 13 and the “level of technology integration survey” on March 27.
After DeWald finishes gathering data, the information should fall into the hands of each school’s development teams so they can design plans for correcting problem areas.
Times staff writer
When Carbon County School District 1 Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune takes on the superintendent role in July, he wants to know where the school sits in its goals for creating an educational environment, where it is headed and how everybody feels about it.
Toward this end, the district is in the midst of a series of surveys to establish a panorama of viewpoints. In three phases, the district’s manager for grants and data analysis Duane DeWald is surveying parents, teachers and administrators, and students.
“We want to get a picture from all sides,” DeWald said. He is issuing, tracking and analyzing the data from the surveys. “Parents, teachers and students is our 360 degree evaluation,” he said.
In October 2007, the district kicked off the survey series with phase one, directed toward parents. Phase three, to be issued in March, should incorporate student input on how they view their participation in education.
Currently in phase two, DeWald has teachers and administrators taking three surveys. The set is designed to provide insight into the effectiveness of educational measures, the integration of technology in education and quality of life for teachers.
The first teacher survey is Robert Marzano’s “What Works in Schools” survey. DeWald presented its results at last Thursday’s school board meeting. According to his findings, District 1 teachers and administrators often have different opinions about teaching methods that work. These, DeWald said, are areas for improvement. But the survey also shows marked success in areas that were already targeted for improvement.
Marzano’s survey is based on 35 years of educational research. This is one of the reasons it was chosen. Since the district is currently using Marzano’s theories of how students learn to better design its curriculum, it makes sense to use surveys that relate.
“We want to use surveys that are well-measured and accurate,” DeWald said. “And we need to know the results are applicable.”
The last of the three teacher surveys should finish on Friday. DeWald plans to analyze the data and present his findings to school board members in March. The board members should see the “quality of teacher work life survey” on March 13 and the “level of technology integration survey” on March 27.
After DeWald finishes gathering data, the information should fall into the hands of each school’s development teams so they can design plans for correcting problem areas.
Saratoga can't take a step forward
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Lady Panthers were still shaking off the dust Thursday night after their time off, and it cost them a forward step in the regional tournament.
Losing 52-38 to Hulett in Torrington, the Saratoga High School girls basketball team seemed to not see each other on the court, coach Amy Davis said. They played tough defense, but were slightly outmatched in size. The girls also turned the ball over a few too many times.
“(Hulett) didn’t beat us as much as we beat ourselves,” Davis said. “It just means we have to play more games to get to state. The girls seem to like to take the hard way.”
Channing Love was the high scorer with nine points, followed close behind by Allison Young and Kelsey Jones, who bucketed seven each. Other contributors were Katie Clegg, Brooke Forster and Chelsea Collver.
Facing Upton on Friday at 10 a.m., the Panthers should face great outside shooting from a team that plays up close and personal. They are smaller girls, according to Davis, but play a tough game. “(The Saratoga girls) will have to come with an offense,” she said.
Times staff writer
The Lady Panthers were still shaking off the dust Thursday night after their time off, and it cost them a forward step in the regional tournament.
Losing 52-38 to Hulett in Torrington, the Saratoga High School girls basketball team seemed to not see each other on the court, coach Amy Davis said. They played tough defense, but were slightly outmatched in size. The girls also turned the ball over a few too many times.
“(Hulett) didn’t beat us as much as we beat ourselves,” Davis said. “It just means we have to play more games to get to state. The girls seem to like to take the hard way.”
Channing Love was the high scorer with nine points, followed close behind by Allison Young and Kelsey Jones, who bucketed seven each. Other contributors were Katie Clegg, Brooke Forster and Chelsea Collver.
Facing Upton on Friday at 10 a.m., the Panthers should face great outside shooting from a team that plays up close and personal. They are smaller girls, according to Davis, but play a tough game. “(The Saratoga girls) will have to come with an offense,” she said.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Hospital removes asbestos
This one was a front pager. AND my first to get picked up by the Wyoming AP!
(the top blurb is the AP rendering. the bottom part is what appeared in our paper)
Workers remove asbestos from Rawlins hospital
Eds: APNewsNow.
RAWLINS, Wyo. (AP) — Asbestos is being removed from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Hospital administrators are closing four rooms at a time to perform the work.
The asbestos removal is part of larger renovations that started in November to help the hospital in Rawlins save on utility costs.
Work has included an overhaul of lighting fixtures and the installation of tinted film on windows.
———
Information from: Rawlins Daily Times
• Asbestos abatement is part of the hospital’s energy savings project.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Hunched over her microscope, Susan Annon was in the midst of evaluating whether it would be safe to re-enter the four closed rooms in the east wing of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s second floor on Wednesday.
As asbestos is removed, hospital administrators are closing four rooms at a time to perform the precise, dangerous work. The abatement is part of larger renovations that started in November, an endeavor deemed the energy savings project.
The first two stages of the project are complete. One stage included an overhaul of the lighting fixtures that made them more energy efficient. A slightly tinted film was also installed over all the windows to control the temperature in the building. The final stage is to install new heating and air conditioning ductwork, but the project is currently held up in state department offices, awaiting approval. Once approved, the installation should take 20 weeks.
Joe Jones, the consultant overseeing the work, has his hands full with asbestos right now. Several years ago, he did a study on the presence of asbestos in the building and knew it was there. “It’s not harmful unless disturbed,” he said. The ductwork scheduled to take place will go through the asbestos areas, so it needed to be removed.
Jones sought the help of two firms to perform the project. Casper-based Enviro Engineering is doing the actual labor while Annon, an industrial hygienist for Century Environmental Hygiene in Colorado, is checking the progress. By monitoring the air inside and outside the four-room containment areas, she ensures the safety of the hospital’s air.
“We will do nothing to endanger human health and the environment,” Jones said. As the project consultant, he is there as a liaison between the hospital and the contracting companies. His job is to see that everyone’s needs are met, particularly the needs of the hospital in terms of both its business and its patient care.
“The project is extremely clean,” Jones said as he walked into the plastic-shrouded containment area after being informed that the air inside was safe.
“We can’t shut the hospital down,” he said, “so we have to work around it.” Inside the rooms, the walls were covered in thick plastic secured with heavy duty tape. The plastic is pulled inward by a negative air machine. “This machine sucks 99.9 percent of the air out of this room,” Jones said. “No air escapes from these rooms into the hospital.”
The abatement of the four rooms took approximately two days between preparation, removal and cleaning. Even though the plastic was scrubbed clean, Jones said it would be thrown away with the old ceiling tiles that were dressed in paper-like asbestos film to provide fire-proof safety.
(the top blurb is the AP rendering. the bottom part is what appeared in our paper)
Workers remove asbestos from Rawlins hospital
Eds: APNewsNow.
RAWLINS, Wyo. (AP) — Asbestos is being removed from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Hospital administrators are closing four rooms at a time to perform the work.
The asbestos removal is part of larger renovations that started in November to help the hospital in Rawlins save on utility costs.
Work has included an overhaul of lighting fixtures and the installation of tinted film on windows.
———
Information from: Rawlins Daily Times
• Asbestos abatement is part of the hospital’s energy savings project.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Hunched over her microscope, Susan Annon was in the midst of evaluating whether it would be safe to re-enter the four closed rooms in the east wing of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s second floor on Wednesday.
As asbestos is removed, hospital administrators are closing four rooms at a time to perform the precise, dangerous work. The abatement is part of larger renovations that started in November, an endeavor deemed the energy savings project.
The first two stages of the project are complete. One stage included an overhaul of the lighting fixtures that made them more energy efficient. A slightly tinted film was also installed over all the windows to control the temperature in the building. The final stage is to install new heating and air conditioning ductwork, but the project is currently held up in state department offices, awaiting approval. Once approved, the installation should take 20 weeks.
Joe Jones, the consultant overseeing the work, has his hands full with asbestos right now. Several years ago, he did a study on the presence of asbestos in the building and knew it was there. “It’s not harmful unless disturbed,” he said. The ductwork scheduled to take place will go through the asbestos areas, so it needed to be removed.
Jones sought the help of two firms to perform the project. Casper-based Enviro Engineering is doing the actual labor while Annon, an industrial hygienist for Century Environmental Hygiene in Colorado, is checking the progress. By monitoring the air inside and outside the four-room containment areas, she ensures the safety of the hospital’s air.
“We will do nothing to endanger human health and the environment,” Jones said. As the project consultant, he is there as a liaison between the hospital and the contracting companies. His job is to see that everyone’s needs are met, particularly the needs of the hospital in terms of both its business and its patient care.
“The project is extremely clean,” Jones said as he walked into the plastic-shrouded containment area after being informed that the air inside was safe.
“We can’t shut the hospital down,” he said, “so we have to work around it.” Inside the rooms, the walls were covered in thick plastic secured with heavy duty tape. The plastic is pulled inward by a negative air machine. “This machine sucks 99.9 percent of the air out of this room,” Jones said. “No air escapes from these rooms into the hospital.”
The abatement of the four rooms took approximately two days between preparation, removal and cleaning. Even though the plastic was scrubbed clean, Jones said it would be thrown away with the old ceiling tiles that were dressed in paper-like asbestos film to provide fire-proof safety.
Carbon City was a hoot
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
It was hazardous and unhealthy, yet raucously fun, to be working and living in Carbon City and its mines in the 1860s.
“It was an active community,” Nancy Anderson, an authority on the history of eastern Carbon County towns, said during Tuesday’s “The Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture. She outlined and provided anecdotes for the extensive history of a population growing roots in the West, first in Carbon City and then moving with the Union Pacific Railroad on to greener pastures in Hanna.
“They bet on everything,” she said. Horse racing, pigeon shooting, wrestling — the miners and their families watched as well as participated in the events.
There was also music. Carbon City had its own Carbon Boys Band, a group that practiced on combs before their instruments arrived by train.
There still exists a program from the 1888 Fourth of July function, which Anderson said is full of activities for children and adults. Strawberry festivals, opera house events and general jokesters in the community made that blip on the new frontier an amusing place to be.
One jokester in Carbon City made himself particularly memorable. Coffee Johnson was a Swedish traveler who owned a store called General Merchandise, which, according to Anderson, was a favorite among children.
“We was learning a lot right there in Carbon,” wrote Mont Hawthorne in his autobiography, “Them was the Days.” “At night, I’d go to his store and stand and look at the bottle of water from the Dead Sea, the sand from the Sahara, the bullets from Gettysburg, the lion skin from Africa, and the eight-legged lamb that was growed here in Wyoming.”
How much of his collection actually existed isn’t know, particularly since the autobiography was written late in Hawthorne’s life. Anderson thought it might be possible that some of it existed. She pointed out that when Johnson’s coin collection was stolen and taken to Denmark, the newspapers recorded his endeavors to travel to the European nation to recover it.
Johnson was also photographed throwing a welcome home party with parrots and sombreros from the West Indies. “You know, I always take my sources for what their worth. Even if they’re perceptions, that’s just as real as anything,” Anderson said of Hawthorne’s account of Johnson.
Thomas Henry Butler was another fellow who made life interesting in 19th century Carbon City. As an 11-year-old boy, he started working in the mines and went through all the steps to earn the title of general superintendent of the Union Pacific coal mines. As such a hard worker, Butler earned respect in the community.
Despite his hard exterior, Anderson said, Butler did have a prankster side. He rode in a town parade on a white horse with a bowler hat mechanized to tip side to side, making onlookers giggle with delight.
Carbon City had its entertainers, but it also had its hazards. A community that built wherever it could to extract the coal necessary to fuel the railroad, the town did not have the most ideal planning.
Walking, the primary mode of travel, led some to get caught in the railroad tracks. Others were caught in a surprise spring storm and froze to death. Some drowned, others were victims of accidental shootings. Some were dragged by horses to their deaths.
Diphtheria and typhoid took many children, as is shown by a mass of graves atop the still existing cemetery at the Carbon City site.
The mines also proved dangerous. While there were few explosions, deaths occurred by falling rocks or coal, where entire roofs would collapse on the miners.
A visitor to Carbon City today would note that nothing substantial stands at the site except for the cemetery. “It is very quiet there,” Anderson said.
The railroad altered its tracks to Hanna in the early 20th century to capitalize on better coal. Many of the buildings of Carbon City were moved to Hanna and others were recycled for materials.
There still exists evidence of dugout homes built in the early settling days when workers had to be creative with their abodes. Some stone walls remain.
The elevated spot where the railroad track used to lay is marked by black cinders. Otherwise, there is little to no evidence that Carbon City was once a thriving mining town, chock full of settlers of every nationality, personality and mentality.
Times staff writer
It was hazardous and unhealthy, yet raucously fun, to be working and living in Carbon City and its mines in the 1860s.
“It was an active community,” Nancy Anderson, an authority on the history of eastern Carbon County towns, said during Tuesday’s “The Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture. She outlined and provided anecdotes for the extensive history of a population growing roots in the West, first in Carbon City and then moving with the Union Pacific Railroad on to greener pastures in Hanna.
“They bet on everything,” she said. Horse racing, pigeon shooting, wrestling — the miners and their families watched as well as participated in the events.
There was also music. Carbon City had its own Carbon Boys Band, a group that practiced on combs before their instruments arrived by train.
There still exists a program from the 1888 Fourth of July function, which Anderson said is full of activities for children and adults. Strawberry festivals, opera house events and general jokesters in the community made that blip on the new frontier an amusing place to be.
One jokester in Carbon City made himself particularly memorable. Coffee Johnson was a Swedish traveler who owned a store called General Merchandise, which, according to Anderson, was a favorite among children.
“We was learning a lot right there in Carbon,” wrote Mont Hawthorne in his autobiography, “Them was the Days.” “At night, I’d go to his store and stand and look at the bottle of water from the Dead Sea, the sand from the Sahara, the bullets from Gettysburg, the lion skin from Africa, and the eight-legged lamb that was growed here in Wyoming.”
How much of his collection actually existed isn’t know, particularly since the autobiography was written late in Hawthorne’s life. Anderson thought it might be possible that some of it existed. She pointed out that when Johnson’s coin collection was stolen and taken to Denmark, the newspapers recorded his endeavors to travel to the European nation to recover it.
Johnson was also photographed throwing a welcome home party with parrots and sombreros from the West Indies. “You know, I always take my sources for what their worth. Even if they’re perceptions, that’s just as real as anything,” Anderson said of Hawthorne’s account of Johnson.
Thomas Henry Butler was another fellow who made life interesting in 19th century Carbon City. As an 11-year-old boy, he started working in the mines and went through all the steps to earn the title of general superintendent of the Union Pacific coal mines. As such a hard worker, Butler earned respect in the community.
Despite his hard exterior, Anderson said, Butler did have a prankster side. He rode in a town parade on a white horse with a bowler hat mechanized to tip side to side, making onlookers giggle with delight.
Carbon City had its entertainers, but it also had its hazards. A community that built wherever it could to extract the coal necessary to fuel the railroad, the town did not have the most ideal planning.
Walking, the primary mode of travel, led some to get caught in the railroad tracks. Others were caught in a surprise spring storm and froze to death. Some drowned, others were victims of accidental shootings. Some were dragged by horses to their deaths.
Diphtheria and typhoid took many children, as is shown by a mass of graves atop the still existing cemetery at the Carbon City site.
The mines also proved dangerous. While there were few explosions, deaths occurred by falling rocks or coal, where entire roofs would collapse on the miners.
A visitor to Carbon City today would note that nothing substantial stands at the site except for the cemetery. “It is very quiet there,” Anderson said.
The railroad altered its tracks to Hanna in the early 20th century to capitalize on better coal. Many of the buildings of Carbon City were moved to Hanna and others were recycled for materials.
There still exists evidence of dugout homes built in the early settling days when workers had to be creative with their abodes. Some stone walls remain.
The elevated spot where the railroad track used to lay is marked by black cinders. Otherwise, there is little to no evidence that Carbon City was once a thriving mining town, chock full of settlers of every nationality, personality and mentality.
District eyes Suburbans
Times staff report
Carbon County School District 2 officials hope to buy three new Chevrolet Suburbans to drive students throughout the district.
Board members approved the purchase during a Tuesday meeting and said the funds should come from the district’s five-year transportation budget. Old vehicles should be used by staff. Suburbans are used because of their capacity and four-wheel drive, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates said.
Board members agreed to request bids for the asbestos abatement and demolition of both Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow elementary schools. Bids are scheduled to be read in early April. A bid should be awarded at the board’s mid-April meeting.
The asbestos abatement should be completed in May and demolition should be done in June. However, Medicine Bow Elementary School’s timeline hinges on other agreements and could change.
While the board approved a letter of understanding for a land trade between the school district, the town of Medicine Bow and the School Facilities Commission at its meeting, the town must publicly post an intention of land trade prior to holding a public hearing. At the hearing, the town can agree to the trade or reject it.
In other action, Gates reported that enrollment was up by six students from December 2007 to January 2008. He also reported that the bid for the Saratoga track project’s bleachers was awarded to DGJD.
The District 2 home schooling policy was approved with slight revisions to make it match the state’s policy more closely. The board also approved the home school application submitted by David Deegan for the education of David, Moriah and Joshua Deegan.
Carbon County School District 2 officials hope to buy three new Chevrolet Suburbans to drive students throughout the district.
Board members approved the purchase during a Tuesday meeting and said the funds should come from the district’s five-year transportation budget. Old vehicles should be used by staff. Suburbans are used because of their capacity and four-wheel drive, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates said.
Board members agreed to request bids for the asbestos abatement and demolition of both Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow elementary schools. Bids are scheduled to be read in early April. A bid should be awarded at the board’s mid-April meeting.
The asbestos abatement should be completed in May and demolition should be done in June. However, Medicine Bow Elementary School’s timeline hinges on other agreements and could change.
While the board approved a letter of understanding for a land trade between the school district, the town of Medicine Bow and the School Facilities Commission at its meeting, the town must publicly post an intention of land trade prior to holding a public hearing. At the hearing, the town can agree to the trade or reject it.
In other action, Gates reported that enrollment was up by six students from December 2007 to January 2008. He also reported that the bid for the Saratoga track project’s bleachers was awarded to DGJD.
The District 2 home schooling policy was approved with slight revisions to make it match the state’s policy more closely. The board also approved the home school application submitted by David Deegan for the education of David, Moriah and Joshua Deegan.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Spanish influenza recounted 90 years later
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When the flu hit Carbon County 90 years ago, it wasn’t just any flu, nor did it hit under normal circumstances.
It started with usual symptoms, but when family members went to sleep at night not to wake the next morning, the flu strain of 1918 proved itself a deadly mutant.
Within hours of contracting the Spanish influenza, a victim could lose the ability to walk. Taking on a bluish tint to the face, patients would quickly begin coughing up blood gathered in the lungs, while some bled from the ears.
The virus often caused the nose, stomach and intestines to bleed. In some cases, the flu opened the door to pneumonia, whereby a patient died by drowning in his or her own bodily fluids. Nearly all of the Spanish flu’s victims were under the age of 65, while approximately half were aged 20 to 40, according to an article published in the Chicago Journal of Infectious Diseases. It usually killed in less than 24 hours.
“I had a little bird, it’s name was Enza. I opened the window, and in-flew-enza,” chanted children in the streets of post-World War I America. The flu was striking quickly. After the initial bite, a victim only had a day or so to live. Sometimes it was only a few hours. And, in contrast to its relatives, the Spanish flu primarily killed on its own.
Evolving every year, the flu is still often able to capture a few victims before the year is out. The most deadly cases hit the young and the old who are unable to keep their immune system strong long enough to fight the onslaught of pneumonia that moves in for the final kill after five or six days.
Spreading in a pandemic across the county and the world, facilitated by the movement of World War I troops, the Spanish influenza took up to 50 million lives worldwide. Carbon County was no exception.
After losing its hospital to fire in early 1918, Rawlins was in no shape to handle the pandemic virus that did nothing to hide its progress across the country. Despite the onslaught of the flu on the East Coast and its rapid dissemination west, the Rawlins Republican, the newspaper of the time, indicated no sense of worry, at least not until Oct. 10, 1918.
On that date, a notice to the citizens of Rawlins from Mayor C. H. Anderson closed all assembly places, including schools, churches and sidewalks in accordance with a national notice that read, “you are instructed upon appearance of the disease in your city to discontinue all public meetings ...” The schools were closed off and on throughout the end of 1918 and into the new year.
Oct. 10 also saw 40 cases of flu reported in Rawlins. According to a doctor’s report, the flu resembles a “very contagious kind of ‘cold.’” Many of the reports of death at the time indicated a rapid failure of a person’s immune system.
Bridget Hettgar of the Carbon County Public Health Office confirmed the speed of death. “They got it and were gone,” she said. “There was high mortality in a small amount of time.”
The Republican reported another 40 cases in Medicine Bow alone on Oct. 24, where a doctor from Casper was sent for care. Little Snake River Valley and Saratoga had a number of cases, but did not have “enough doctors to care for half of them,” the Republican reported.
In Medicine Bow, three of the four deaths that week happened in 24 hours or less. The school was being used as a hospital to accommodate the number of patients.
From October into the new year, the flu claimed people of all ages. The number of death reports on the front page of the newspaper averaged four or five each week.
“Mrs. Cluff had gone to bed in the evening feeling badly,” the Jan. 6, 1919, Republican read, “but her illness was not considered serious, and in the morning she was discovered dead in her bed.”
A cartoon in a U.S. Public Health Service official health bulletin read, “coughs and sneezes spread diseases as dangerous as poison gas shells.” Pertinent, since the country was mourning the death of its soldiers as well.
The health bulletins recommended collecting any mucous from coughing or sneezing on gauze, rags or paper napkins and sending them out to be burned. The suggestion mirrored the methods of sequestering the 17th century European black plague.
In November 1918, while the number of new flu cases was decreasing, the cases themselves were more severe. This report was ironically on the same front page that announced the world at peace.
Name after name after name appeared in the pages of the Republican during this time, announcing deaths. Increasingly, the flu was taking the working class of the county, a detrimental effect not only to families but to the economy. In the third week of December, the flu took two railroad workers, an auto truck driver in the oil fields and a sheep herder.
According to local historians Rans Baker and Dan Kinnaman, the flu wiped out a third of Carbon County’s population. “It hit entire families,” Baker said. “And there was no rhyme or reason as to why one died and another survived.”
Blame it on the birds
Researchers brought the Spanish influenza virus strain back to life in 2005 to study its behavior.
Rebuilding it from the tissue of an Alaskan victim buried in permafrost in isolated conditions, they hoped they could unearth some clues as to the flu strain’s evolution. The effort was partly to shed light on the past and partly to prepare for the future.
By piecing together biological functions of the strain, today’s researchers were able to discover that the Spanish flu may have actually originated with poultry. The strain likely spliced genes derived from the human virus with genes from the avian virus of the time.
Evidence outlined in a report published in Science on Oct. 7, 2005, suggested the virus may have jumped directly from birds to humans, similar to the cases of avian flu prevalent in eastern countries today.
The Spanish flu will likely not strike again, primarily because most people today have immunity to that particular strain of the virus. However, authorities consider a future pandemic virus likely, if not inevitable. Studying the 1918 virus enables the medical field to recognize and prepare for new flu strains that may pose a threat.
Times staff writer
When the flu hit Carbon County 90 years ago, it wasn’t just any flu, nor did it hit under normal circumstances.
It started with usual symptoms, but when family members went to sleep at night not to wake the next morning, the flu strain of 1918 proved itself a deadly mutant.
Within hours of contracting the Spanish influenza, a victim could lose the ability to walk. Taking on a bluish tint to the face, patients would quickly begin coughing up blood gathered in the lungs, while some bled from the ears.
The virus often caused the nose, stomach and intestines to bleed. In some cases, the flu opened the door to pneumonia, whereby a patient died by drowning in his or her own bodily fluids. Nearly all of the Spanish flu’s victims were under the age of 65, while approximately half were aged 20 to 40, according to an article published in the Chicago Journal of Infectious Diseases. It usually killed in less than 24 hours.
“I had a little bird, it’s name was Enza. I opened the window, and in-flew-enza,” chanted children in the streets of post-World War I America. The flu was striking quickly. After the initial bite, a victim only had a day or so to live. Sometimes it was only a few hours. And, in contrast to its relatives, the Spanish flu primarily killed on its own.
Evolving every year, the flu is still often able to capture a few victims before the year is out. The most deadly cases hit the young and the old who are unable to keep their immune system strong long enough to fight the onslaught of pneumonia that moves in for the final kill after five or six days.
Spreading in a pandemic across the county and the world, facilitated by the movement of World War I troops, the Spanish influenza took up to 50 million lives worldwide. Carbon County was no exception.
After losing its hospital to fire in early 1918, Rawlins was in no shape to handle the pandemic virus that did nothing to hide its progress across the country. Despite the onslaught of the flu on the East Coast and its rapid dissemination west, the Rawlins Republican, the newspaper of the time, indicated no sense of worry, at least not until Oct. 10, 1918.
On that date, a notice to the citizens of Rawlins from Mayor C. H. Anderson closed all assembly places, including schools, churches and sidewalks in accordance with a national notice that read, “you are instructed upon appearance of the disease in your city to discontinue all public meetings ...” The schools were closed off and on throughout the end of 1918 and into the new year.
Oct. 10 also saw 40 cases of flu reported in Rawlins. According to a doctor’s report, the flu resembles a “very contagious kind of ‘cold.’” Many of the reports of death at the time indicated a rapid failure of a person’s immune system.
Bridget Hettgar of the Carbon County Public Health Office confirmed the speed of death. “They got it and were gone,” she said. “There was high mortality in a small amount of time.”
The Republican reported another 40 cases in Medicine Bow alone on Oct. 24, where a doctor from Casper was sent for care. Little Snake River Valley and Saratoga had a number of cases, but did not have “enough doctors to care for half of them,” the Republican reported.
In Medicine Bow, three of the four deaths that week happened in 24 hours or less. The school was being used as a hospital to accommodate the number of patients.
From October into the new year, the flu claimed people of all ages. The number of death reports on the front page of the newspaper averaged four or five each week.
“Mrs. Cluff had gone to bed in the evening feeling badly,” the Jan. 6, 1919, Republican read, “but her illness was not considered serious, and in the morning she was discovered dead in her bed.”
A cartoon in a U.S. Public Health Service official health bulletin read, “coughs and sneezes spread diseases as dangerous as poison gas shells.” Pertinent, since the country was mourning the death of its soldiers as well.
The health bulletins recommended collecting any mucous from coughing or sneezing on gauze, rags or paper napkins and sending them out to be burned. The suggestion mirrored the methods of sequestering the 17th century European black plague.
In November 1918, while the number of new flu cases was decreasing, the cases themselves were more severe. This report was ironically on the same front page that announced the world at peace.
Name after name after name appeared in the pages of the Republican during this time, announcing deaths. Increasingly, the flu was taking the working class of the county, a detrimental effect not only to families but to the economy. In the third week of December, the flu took two railroad workers, an auto truck driver in the oil fields and a sheep herder.
According to local historians Rans Baker and Dan Kinnaman, the flu wiped out a third of Carbon County’s population. “It hit entire families,” Baker said. “And there was no rhyme or reason as to why one died and another survived.”
Blame it on the birds
Researchers brought the Spanish influenza virus strain back to life in 2005 to study its behavior.
Rebuilding it from the tissue of an Alaskan victim buried in permafrost in isolated conditions, they hoped they could unearth some clues as to the flu strain’s evolution. The effort was partly to shed light on the past and partly to prepare for the future.
By piecing together biological functions of the strain, today’s researchers were able to discover that the Spanish flu may have actually originated with poultry. The strain likely spliced genes derived from the human virus with genes from the avian virus of the time.
Evidence outlined in a report published in Science on Oct. 7, 2005, suggested the virus may have jumped directly from birds to humans, similar to the cases of avian flu prevalent in eastern countries today.
The Spanish flu will likely not strike again, primarily because most people today have immunity to that particular strain of the virus. However, authorities consider a future pandemic virus likely, if not inevitable. Studying the 1918 virus enables the medical field to recognize and prepare for new flu strains that may pose a threat.
Roofs take a beating
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2, Carbon County residents may have wondered what six more weeks of winter would do to their roofs, especially if they are flat.
In what many call the toughest winter in 15 years, the snow, ice and wind that first breathed its icy breath across the county in October have pushed the limits of residential and commercial flat roofs.
Flat roofs trap snow, and while it takes seven or eight feet of snow to really press the structural limits of a flat roof, the melting process is what stresses its ability to withstand winter.
And so, in snowy areas of the county, residents often climb atop their house to remove snow in anticipation of spring.
Don Brinkman, director of maintenance for the city and a homeowner in Ryan Park, said he keeps his roof clear through the hired help of Eddie Gross. Gross said there are some homes in Ryan Park that currently stand under four feet of snow. Sometimes, the houses collapse under the weight of the snowflakes. “You have to watch it,” Brinkman said.
Flat roofs atop the city of Rawlins’ buildings see a lot of trouble from the melting process, according to Brinkman. The problem doesn’t arise until the sun comes out on a warm day, he said. Then, the snow begins to melt and flows toward the drains. When there is heavy snowfall, it doesn’t all melt at once, so what Brinkman called an “ice dam” forms when the melted snow freezes that night. The next day, the same thing happens. It occurs over and over until the roof has a solid block of ice covering its drains.
“Whoever says water can’t flow uphill is wrong,” Brinkman said. According to Brinkman, as the snow melts and hits the ice dam, it freezes again. Then the water becomes trapped and starts seeping under the plastic membrane protecting the roof from leakage. He believes this is the harshest winter since 1984 in terms of city roof care, since there has been a constant wind chill keeping the roofs from completely thawing and draining on their own.
Currently, the city’s Public Works building is in need of repair due to leakage of the type Brinkman talked about. Likewise, City Hall is having trouble keeping Rawlins City Manager Dave Derragon’s office dry. Hones Veterinary replaced its roof this year, but employees said they did not have significant trouble with it before.
New roofs are costly and often need repair more frequently in Wyoming than they do in other places. Brinkman said a new roof on a building the size of the Rawlins Family Recreation Center would cost $70,000. New guttering and a membrane replacement on City Hall might cause a $25,000 dent in the city’s budget.
“Flat roofs are bad in this area, yes,” Brinkman said with a laugh. “No doubt about it.”
Times staff writer
When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2, Carbon County residents may have wondered what six more weeks of winter would do to their roofs, especially if they are flat.
In what many call the toughest winter in 15 years, the snow, ice and wind that first breathed its icy breath across the county in October have pushed the limits of residential and commercial flat roofs.
Flat roofs trap snow, and while it takes seven or eight feet of snow to really press the structural limits of a flat roof, the melting process is what stresses its ability to withstand winter.
And so, in snowy areas of the county, residents often climb atop their house to remove snow in anticipation of spring.
Don Brinkman, director of maintenance for the city and a homeowner in Ryan Park, said he keeps his roof clear through the hired help of Eddie Gross. Gross said there are some homes in Ryan Park that currently stand under four feet of snow. Sometimes, the houses collapse under the weight of the snowflakes. “You have to watch it,” Brinkman said.
Flat roofs atop the city of Rawlins’ buildings see a lot of trouble from the melting process, according to Brinkman. The problem doesn’t arise until the sun comes out on a warm day, he said. Then, the snow begins to melt and flows toward the drains. When there is heavy snowfall, it doesn’t all melt at once, so what Brinkman called an “ice dam” forms when the melted snow freezes that night. The next day, the same thing happens. It occurs over and over until the roof has a solid block of ice covering its drains.
“Whoever says water can’t flow uphill is wrong,” Brinkman said. According to Brinkman, as the snow melts and hits the ice dam, it freezes again. Then the water becomes trapped and starts seeping under the plastic membrane protecting the roof from leakage. He believes this is the harshest winter since 1984 in terms of city roof care, since there has been a constant wind chill keeping the roofs from completely thawing and draining on their own.
Currently, the city’s Public Works building is in need of repair due to leakage of the type Brinkman talked about. Likewise, City Hall is having trouble keeping Rawlins City Manager Dave Derragon’s office dry. Hones Veterinary replaced its roof this year, but employees said they did not have significant trouble with it before.
New roofs are costly and often need repair more frequently in Wyoming than they do in other places. Brinkman said a new roof on a building the size of the Rawlins Family Recreation Center would cost $70,000. New guttering and a membrane replacement on City Hall might cause a $25,000 dent in the city’s budget.
“Flat roofs are bad in this area, yes,” Brinkman said with a laugh. “No doubt about it.”
Gillette: Best swimming you get
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Rawlins High School boys swimmers had their shot at glory. On Thursday and Friday, they’ll get that chance again.
A week and a half ago, the Outlaws let the conference championship slide through a grasp that just wasn’t tight enough. Only time will tell if the team’s spirit can recover going into the state meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Gillette.
What is for sure, however, is that Lander High School is poised to be ahead of the pack. Defending champions for 12 years running, Lander still has its depth and has not lost its speed.
According to Rawlins head coach Don Brinkman, the powerhouse has four qualifiers in every event. “That’s enough to gain them two in the top six and two in the bottom six at least,” Brinkman said. It’s tough to catch a team that attracts points like a magnet over paper clips.
Brinkman plans to take a team of eight to Gillette. His team is larger than Worland, Newcastle and Douglas, but the teams brought by Lander and Sublette should be substantial.
On the bright side, Brinkman believes his team has the potential to place third in the state meet. However, they could also place as low as seventh. Really, it depends on how hard the swimmers go and how the rival coaches arrange their teams.
Attracting the most attention on the Outlaws’ roster is Ryan Palmer, who “has all the potential” to be a state champion diver, Brinkman said. Palmer should also compete in the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard freestyle relay. He will join the DeMillard-Palmer relay team in the 200-yard freestyle relay, alongside his younger brother, Jimmy Palmer, and the DeMillards, Daniel and Eric.
Placing second his sophomore and junior years, Palmer goes into the state meet with “the highest degree of difficulty in optional dives of all my divers from my 32 years of coaching,” Brinkman said. That includes his two sons, both of whom walked away with state championships in their tenures at Cheyenne East High School.
Also diving on Thursday and Friday, Andrew Gile earned the eighth-place slot on the top 10 board at Rawlins High School, earning 235 points in the mock meet against Laramie last Friday. Jimmy Palmer also plans to dive in the event.
Keep an eye out for Daniel DeMillard and James Laux, two seniors who are expected to finish in the top six in their events. Daniel DeMillard should be entered in the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle, while Laux should swim the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke. Though he qualified in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 6:12.12 in the Laramie meet, he does not plan to swim it in Gillette.
Laux and Daniel DeMillard should be part of relays as well, with Daniel DeMillard in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and Laux in the 200-yard medley relay, swimming backstroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relay as anchor.
Jimmy Palmer ought to be one to watch in the 50-yard freestyle, as he has elevated himself to be among the fastest on the team in the event. He currently stands right behind his brother and Daniel DeMillard. He should also appear in the diving event and as anchor in both the medley relay and the freestyle relay.
“He really stepped up this year,” Brinkman said. He pointed out that Jimmy Palmer just qualified for the state meet in the 50-yard freestyle, earning a time of 26.11 seconds in the Laramie meet.
The true colors should show for the Outlaws as they seek to finish in the top three. The swimming preliminaries begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, while the diving preliminaries begin at 7 p.m. Finals for both should be held Friday, starting at 11 a.m.
Times staff writer
The Rawlins High School boys swimmers had their shot at glory. On Thursday and Friday, they’ll get that chance again.
A week and a half ago, the Outlaws let the conference championship slide through a grasp that just wasn’t tight enough. Only time will tell if the team’s spirit can recover going into the state meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Gillette.
What is for sure, however, is that Lander High School is poised to be ahead of the pack. Defending champions for 12 years running, Lander still has its depth and has not lost its speed.
According to Rawlins head coach Don Brinkman, the powerhouse has four qualifiers in every event. “That’s enough to gain them two in the top six and two in the bottom six at least,” Brinkman said. It’s tough to catch a team that attracts points like a magnet over paper clips.
Brinkman plans to take a team of eight to Gillette. His team is larger than Worland, Newcastle and Douglas, but the teams brought by Lander and Sublette should be substantial.
On the bright side, Brinkman believes his team has the potential to place third in the state meet. However, they could also place as low as seventh. Really, it depends on how hard the swimmers go and how the rival coaches arrange their teams.
Attracting the most attention on the Outlaws’ roster is Ryan Palmer, who “has all the potential” to be a state champion diver, Brinkman said. Palmer should also compete in the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard freestyle relay. He will join the DeMillard-Palmer relay team in the 200-yard freestyle relay, alongside his younger brother, Jimmy Palmer, and the DeMillards, Daniel and Eric.
Placing second his sophomore and junior years, Palmer goes into the state meet with “the highest degree of difficulty in optional dives of all my divers from my 32 years of coaching,” Brinkman said. That includes his two sons, both of whom walked away with state championships in their tenures at Cheyenne East High School.
Also diving on Thursday and Friday, Andrew Gile earned the eighth-place slot on the top 10 board at Rawlins High School, earning 235 points in the mock meet against Laramie last Friday. Jimmy Palmer also plans to dive in the event.
Keep an eye out for Daniel DeMillard and James Laux, two seniors who are expected to finish in the top six in their events. Daniel DeMillard should be entered in the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle, while Laux should swim the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke. Though he qualified in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 6:12.12 in the Laramie meet, he does not plan to swim it in Gillette.
Laux and Daniel DeMillard should be part of relays as well, with Daniel DeMillard in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and Laux in the 200-yard medley relay, swimming backstroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relay as anchor.
Jimmy Palmer ought to be one to watch in the 50-yard freestyle, as he has elevated himself to be among the fastest on the team in the event. He currently stands right behind his brother and Daniel DeMillard. He should also appear in the diving event and as anchor in both the medley relay and the freestyle relay.
“He really stepped up this year,” Brinkman said. He pointed out that Jimmy Palmer just qualified for the state meet in the 50-yard freestyle, earning a time of 26.11 seconds in the Laramie meet.
The true colors should show for the Outlaws as they seek to finish in the top three. The swimming preliminaries begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, while the diving preliminaries begin at 7 p.m. Finals for both should be held Friday, starting at 11 a.m.
Panthers head north
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The lady Panthers head into uncharted territory on Thursday as they face teams in the regional tournament they haven’t seen this season.
With a 7:15 p.m. tip off on Thursday at Torrington High School, the game against the Hulett Red Devils should be a good one, as the teams are well-matched, Saratoga High School coach Amy Davis said. Not very big, the Devils pack a punch with their speed, which mirrors the assets of the Panthers.
Still, Davis expects a tough one. In order to advance, “we will have to play at the top of our game,” she said.
If her ladies move forward, they play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Davis anticipates meeting Arvada-Clearmont in the quarterfinals if the Panthers make it that far. If they don’t, their game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.
“They’re tough,” Davis said of Arvada. The 2A state champions last year, Arvada has all five starters returning to the tournament this year. “They and Southeast will be the toughest two teams,” she said. The Panthers met Southeast once in the regular season and lost. They can only meet in the final game of the regional tournament.
Saratoga will have to step up to overcome the odds. Three weeks ago, the team lost its center to a knee injury, which she had surgery on recently. As one of the top three shooters, the loss hurts the team. However, Davis remains hopeful. She has filled the position and altered her strategy and her players’ positions to accommodate.
The Panthers go into this tournament youthful and inexperienced. Four freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior make up this year’s regional team, forming a total of three who have seen playing time in the final tournament of the season.
“It’s a little to our disadvantage (to not have an older team),” Davis said, “but then again, it may be to our advantage... (the team) won’t know what to expect.” The Panthers go into the tournament with the philosophy that what they don’t know can’t hurt them. They plan to just play basketball to win.
Times staff writer
The lady Panthers head into uncharted territory on Thursday as they face teams in the regional tournament they haven’t seen this season.
With a 7:15 p.m. tip off on Thursday at Torrington High School, the game against the Hulett Red Devils should be a good one, as the teams are well-matched, Saratoga High School coach Amy Davis said. Not very big, the Devils pack a punch with their speed, which mirrors the assets of the Panthers.
Still, Davis expects a tough one. In order to advance, “we will have to play at the top of our game,” she said.
If her ladies move forward, they play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Davis anticipates meeting Arvada-Clearmont in the quarterfinals if the Panthers make it that far. If they don’t, their game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.
“They’re tough,” Davis said of Arvada. The 2A state champions last year, Arvada has all five starters returning to the tournament this year. “They and Southeast will be the toughest two teams,” she said. The Panthers met Southeast once in the regular season and lost. They can only meet in the final game of the regional tournament.
Saratoga will have to step up to overcome the odds. Three weeks ago, the team lost its center to a knee injury, which she had surgery on recently. As one of the top three shooters, the loss hurts the team. However, Davis remains hopeful. She has filled the position and altered her strategy and her players’ positions to accommodate.
The Panthers go into this tournament youthful and inexperienced. Four freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior make up this year’s regional team, forming a total of three who have seen playing time in the final tournament of the season.
“It’s a little to our disadvantage (to not have an older team),” Davis said, “but then again, it may be to our advantage... (the team) won’t know what to expect.” The Panthers go into the tournament with the philosophy that what they don’t know can’t hurt them. They plan to just play basketball to win.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Ten years later, track is reality
a front pager...
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Ten years ago, a Saratoga High School junior opened the phone book and started dialing numbers.
He told the folks on the other end of the line that he was having a meeting in the back of a restaurant and invited them to come hear what he had to say.
Laying out his plan in front of the 10 or so who gathered that night, Scott Stevens wondered what he had gotten himself into. He was not the first to propose building a new track to replace Saratoga High School’s dirt oval that saw an average of seven to eight days of use a season due to its perpetual muddiness. Stevens had started an uphill battle and more than one person in the community reminded him that the project failed before.
To a high school junior, even two voices can be a roadblock, and Stevens remembers that. But he had other plans. “I told them thank you for your help, but I’m going to learn the hard way. So you can either help or don’t come back,” he said. “A few said I couldn’t, so that got me motivated.”
Holding a few more initial meetings, Stevens dragged in members of the community to ask for help, but soon enough, he was getting calls from those who wanted to be involved. Eventually, the core group materialized and formed itself into the Saratoga Track Association. The group, with Stevens as its youngest and most vigorous member, gained nonprofit status and created a mission statement. “It was a huge learning experience,” Stevens, now in his late 20s, said. “I had no idea how to really start it.”
As president of the association, Stevens partnered with Laurie Johnston, making the assistant track coach his vice president. Together, they rode the roller coaster of success and defeat.
Stevens and Johnston faced their first and most difficult task in obtaining the land for the track and planning how to supply water to it. With the help of Saratoga-based PMPC Civil Engineering, the association chose the site. It immediately faced a problem: The land belonged to Carbon County School District 2, and the school district could offer no money to fund a project that was in its flighty dream stages.
“I told them all we want is the land. No need to give us money. If they gave us an inch, we could see how far we could go,” Stevens said. “They gave it to us.”
Stevens and Johnston soon found that their board of parents, teachers, coaches and community members was going to have to collaborate with Saratoga’s Town Council, other officials and the school board. With no success in other attempts to locate water, the association found it needed to tap into the town’s supply to begin work at the site. More long hours paid off when an agreement formed and the town gave the green light to proceed with design.
Even under normal circumstances, building an all-weather track is time intensive in Wyoming’s cold climate. In the track association’s battle, one year quickly turned to two, which quickly turned to eight, nine, and now 10. “I can’t believe it is going to be done, after this long,” Stevens said. “It’s kind of surreal.”
When Stevens went to college, Johnston took the reins. “It’s just awesome that she continued one young man’s dream,” Stevens’ mother, Laurie Forster, said of Johnston. Johnston was flanked by Saratoga High School athletic director Rex Hohnholt and she eventually conceded the presidency to Jim Larscheid, who by day works for Sinclair Oil Corporation.
In 2005, after eight years of hard work and in-kind donations of time, services, materials, supplies and money from the community, the Saratoga Track Association successfully won the funding of the school capital facilities system.
“Because of the ground (the community) had laid, it was enough for them to give us the money,” Johnston said. She said the association received approximately $300,000 of donations from the community and businesses of Saratoga, as well as grant money from the District 2 recreation board. The project is ultimately worth more than $700,000.
Stevens, now a Wells Fargo employee and owner of Impulse night club in Des Moines, Iowa, pointed out that by the time they finally brought the project under the noses of official funding sources, it was more than halfway complete. “We got to the point where we needed a track, and the school and government could just complete the one we’d started,” Stevens said.
The Saratoga track is the largest project that Stevens has been involved in. “It’s cool to think I made all the first calls,” he said. But he wasn’t the one who finished it. “The town did that,” he said. “This track is not just a track. It’s what the town has done together. It shows it can pull together and do great things.”
Johnston agreed. She named the companies, individuals and board members who endured year after year of monthly meetings to see the project come to fruition, all on volunteer time. “The community was showing us that they wanted to do it,” Johnston said.
In early March, 10 years of sweat and tears should pay off when the track finally opens. Johnston’s proudest moment will be to see the track finished.
“The kids now run on pavement in the streets or on the golf course,” she said. “Just to see them actually have a facility where our jumper can jump outside, our runners can run on an all-weather surface ... is probably the greatest sense of accomplishment ... to see that we finally have a track,” she said.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Ten years ago, a Saratoga High School junior opened the phone book and started dialing numbers.
He told the folks on the other end of the line that he was having a meeting in the back of a restaurant and invited them to come hear what he had to say.
Laying out his plan in front of the 10 or so who gathered that night, Scott Stevens wondered what he had gotten himself into. He was not the first to propose building a new track to replace Saratoga High School’s dirt oval that saw an average of seven to eight days of use a season due to its perpetual muddiness. Stevens had started an uphill battle and more than one person in the community reminded him that the project failed before.
To a high school junior, even two voices can be a roadblock, and Stevens remembers that. But he had other plans. “I told them thank you for your help, but I’m going to learn the hard way. So you can either help or don’t come back,” he said. “A few said I couldn’t, so that got me motivated.”
Holding a few more initial meetings, Stevens dragged in members of the community to ask for help, but soon enough, he was getting calls from those who wanted to be involved. Eventually, the core group materialized and formed itself into the Saratoga Track Association. The group, with Stevens as its youngest and most vigorous member, gained nonprofit status and created a mission statement. “It was a huge learning experience,” Stevens, now in his late 20s, said. “I had no idea how to really start it.”
As president of the association, Stevens partnered with Laurie Johnston, making the assistant track coach his vice president. Together, they rode the roller coaster of success and defeat.
Stevens and Johnston faced their first and most difficult task in obtaining the land for the track and planning how to supply water to it. With the help of Saratoga-based PMPC Civil Engineering, the association chose the site. It immediately faced a problem: The land belonged to Carbon County School District 2, and the school district could offer no money to fund a project that was in its flighty dream stages.
“I told them all we want is the land. No need to give us money. If they gave us an inch, we could see how far we could go,” Stevens said. “They gave it to us.”
Stevens and Johnston soon found that their board of parents, teachers, coaches and community members was going to have to collaborate with Saratoga’s Town Council, other officials and the school board. With no success in other attempts to locate water, the association found it needed to tap into the town’s supply to begin work at the site. More long hours paid off when an agreement formed and the town gave the green light to proceed with design.
Even under normal circumstances, building an all-weather track is time intensive in Wyoming’s cold climate. In the track association’s battle, one year quickly turned to two, which quickly turned to eight, nine, and now 10. “I can’t believe it is going to be done, after this long,” Stevens said. “It’s kind of surreal.”
When Stevens went to college, Johnston took the reins. “It’s just awesome that she continued one young man’s dream,” Stevens’ mother, Laurie Forster, said of Johnston. Johnston was flanked by Saratoga High School athletic director Rex Hohnholt and she eventually conceded the presidency to Jim Larscheid, who by day works for Sinclair Oil Corporation.
In 2005, after eight years of hard work and in-kind donations of time, services, materials, supplies and money from the community, the Saratoga Track Association successfully won the funding of the school capital facilities system.
“Because of the ground (the community) had laid, it was enough for them to give us the money,” Johnston said. She said the association received approximately $300,000 of donations from the community and businesses of Saratoga, as well as grant money from the District 2 recreation board. The project is ultimately worth more than $700,000.
Stevens, now a Wells Fargo employee and owner of Impulse night club in Des Moines, Iowa, pointed out that by the time they finally brought the project under the noses of official funding sources, it was more than halfway complete. “We got to the point where we needed a track, and the school and government could just complete the one we’d started,” Stevens said.
The Saratoga track is the largest project that Stevens has been involved in. “It’s cool to think I made all the first calls,” he said. But he wasn’t the one who finished it. “The town did that,” he said. “This track is not just a track. It’s what the town has done together. It shows it can pull together and do great things.”
Johnston agreed. She named the companies, individuals and board members who endured year after year of monthly meetings to see the project come to fruition, all on volunteer time. “The community was showing us that they wanted to do it,” Johnston said.
In early March, 10 years of sweat and tears should pay off when the track finally opens. Johnston’s proudest moment will be to see the track finished.
“The kids now run on pavement in the streets or on the golf course,” she said. “Just to see them actually have a facility where our jumper can jump outside, our runners can run on an all-weather surface ... is probably the greatest sense of accomplishment ... to see that we finally have a track,” she said.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
School board meets Tuesday
Times staff report
The Carbon County District 2 School Board should plow ahead with plans for school construction during its meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
With funds secured from the School Facilities Commission, asbestos abatement can begin at the Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow elementary schools. Board members are to consider issuing a call for bids to perform the work on both schools as well as for the installation of a new heating and boiler system at Saratoga Elementary School.
Board members are scheduled to finalize and vote on a memorandum of understanding between the town of Medicine Bow, the SFC and the District 2 board concerning the exchange of the village square land in Medicine Bow and the town’s current elementary school property.
Superintendent Bob Gates should report on the district’s enrollment and update board members on the upcoming building projects. He is scheduled to announce the bid award for the bleachers for the nearly complete Saratoga Middle and High School track.
The Carbon County District 2 School Board should plow ahead with plans for school construction during its meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
With funds secured from the School Facilities Commission, asbestos abatement can begin at the Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow elementary schools. Board members are to consider issuing a call for bids to perform the work on both schools as well as for the installation of a new heating and boiler system at Saratoga Elementary School.
Board members are scheduled to finalize and vote on a memorandum of understanding between the town of Medicine Bow, the SFC and the District 2 board concerning the exchange of the village square land in Medicine Bow and the town’s current elementary school property.
Superintendent Bob Gates should report on the district’s enrollment and update board members on the upcoming building projects. He is scheduled to announce the bid award for the bleachers for the nearly complete Saratoga Middle and High School track.
Design for new school tops $1 M
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Twisted Sister set the mood at Thursday’s Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting, which was filled with banter, teasing and laughter, among other things.
When “We’re not going to take it” blared from the boom box at the end of the sixth-graders skit, parents, teachers and children alike had smiles on their faces. Rawlins High School freshmen class president Tanner Nicholls and vice president Brittany Gale then took the floor to present the class’s progress.
After the usual report of regular council meetings, fundraisers and event organization, Gale said, “And we don’t particularly like the lunches.” She and Nicholls said pizza twice a week is a bit much. That, and they don’t enjoy having a closed campus for lunch.
Though overshadowed by student presentations, the board still conducted its business. Duane DeWald reported on the first of three surveys being issued to District 1 teachers and administrators, which highlighted concerns about communication between the teachers and administrators.
Curriculum Director Marilyn Vercimak announced the launch of the selection process for the reading literacy series, in which elementary teachers from across the district are given a chance to evaluate each textbook’s ability to meet the district’s standards and benchmarks as well as its needs for ESL and special education students.
Superintendent Peggy Sanders talked about the Feb. 24 legislative forum, when the school board has the chance to visit the state Legislature to “see the impact the school board can have,” she said.
The board also approved on first reading a laundry list of policies and construction agreements, including the agreement between the district and the School Facilities Commission for the design of two new elementary buildings in Highland Hills. The designs of the kindergarten through second-grade building and the school for grades third through fifth should cost $707,490 and $281,290, respectively.
In the executive session, the board approved the employment contracts of the District 1 administrators for the next school year. Additionally, it worked toward the expulsion of one Rawlins middle school student and one RHS pupil. The hearing for another expulsion has been set for Thursday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m.
With her hair covered in red hair spray, Rawlins Middle School teacher and co-chair of the Carbon County District 1 Teacher Education Association Denise Ashline substituted her report on the associations progress with an explanation of why she had such a terrible hairdo.
“Some young ladies wanted a picture for the yearbook,” she said.
Ashline consented to letting the girls paint her hair for Valentine’s Day and snap the shot, but on one condition: “They have to maintain a B average for the whole year,” she said. If they don’t, they can’t use the picture in the yearbook and Ashline gets to play hairdresser on them. She said the bet was extended to others in the girls’ class as well.
Times staff writer
Twisted Sister set the mood at Thursday’s Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting, which was filled with banter, teasing and laughter, among other things.
When “We’re not going to take it” blared from the boom box at the end of the sixth-graders skit, parents, teachers and children alike had smiles on their faces. Rawlins High School freshmen class president Tanner Nicholls and vice president Brittany Gale then took the floor to present the class’s progress.
After the usual report of regular council meetings, fundraisers and event organization, Gale said, “And we don’t particularly like the lunches.” She and Nicholls said pizza twice a week is a bit much. That, and they don’t enjoy having a closed campus for lunch.
Though overshadowed by student presentations, the board still conducted its business. Duane DeWald reported on the first of three surveys being issued to District 1 teachers and administrators, which highlighted concerns about communication between the teachers and administrators.
Curriculum Director Marilyn Vercimak announced the launch of the selection process for the reading literacy series, in which elementary teachers from across the district are given a chance to evaluate each textbook’s ability to meet the district’s standards and benchmarks as well as its needs for ESL and special education students.
Superintendent Peggy Sanders talked about the Feb. 24 legislative forum, when the school board has the chance to visit the state Legislature to “see the impact the school board can have,” she said.
The board also approved on first reading a laundry list of policies and construction agreements, including the agreement between the district and the School Facilities Commission for the design of two new elementary buildings in Highland Hills. The designs of the kindergarten through second-grade building and the school for grades third through fifth should cost $707,490 and $281,290, respectively.
In the executive session, the board approved the employment contracts of the District 1 administrators for the next school year. Additionally, it worked toward the expulsion of one Rawlins middle school student and one RHS pupil. The hearing for another expulsion has been set for Thursday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m.
With her hair covered in red hair spray, Rawlins Middle School teacher and co-chair of the Carbon County District 1 Teacher Education Association Denise Ashline substituted her report on the associations progress with an explanation of why she had such a terrible hairdo.
“Some young ladies wanted a picture for the yearbook,” she said.
Ashline consented to letting the girls paint her hair for Valentine’s Day and snap the shot, but on one condition: “They have to maintain a B average for the whole year,” she said. If they don’t, they can’t use the picture in the yearbook and Ashline gets to play hairdresser on them. She said the bet was extended to others in the girls’ class as well.
Nonprofits seek team effort
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With lofty goals being proposed for nonprofits in Carbon County, a group has formed to turn the goals into a reality.
The group met Friday during a roundtable luncheon at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, allowing their thoughts to mix and meld.
Baggs resident Linda Fleming, a member of the Wyoming State Nonprofit Association, sees the “energy corner of the state” as the least active in promoting its nonprofit organizations.
“We need to realize just how powerful we are in our communities,” she said. “Be it in Baggs, Elk Mountain or (Rawlins).”
Stephanie Moles, executive director of The Woman’s Heart organization in Casper and also a member of the state nonprofit association, said nonprofits fit alongside governmental and private enterprises to form cohesive, functioning communities. Moles emphasized the economic benefits provided by nonprofit services.
By fostering support among nonprofits and forming a more unified effort to fulfill southern Wyoming’s community needs, each nonprofit’s function can grow exponentially. Nonprofits applying for grants are also more likely to get the attention of financing organizations, a huge help when groups have to compete for funding.
The group set goals for future progress, including a follow-up meeting in six months. The group hopes to establish a set of workshops to turn area nonprofits into smoothly functioning machines. The workshops may be held at the Carbon County Higher Education Center in the future. The Carbon County Visitor’s Council has a head start with a “how to start a nonprofit” seminar already on its calendar, so nonprofits should have a choice of where to find guidance. Other CCHEC classes could include executive director training, grant writing, volunteer organization and marketing.
The group pushed for the creation of a resource databases to help the groups work more efficiently. Fleming kicked off a networking effort by asking attendees to supply their mailing and e-mail addresses as well as phone numbers. The group also recognized the benefit of a newsletter, keeping everyone aware of the progress and needs of other community nonprofits.
As the luncheon wrapped up, one attendee raised a critical question. “Are we re-inventing the wheel?” she asked. She warned that groups in Carbon County have a tendency of charging forward with ideas that others have already developed. Before expending too much effort trying to build everything from scratch, she said, resources could already be available.
Times staff writer
With lofty goals being proposed for nonprofits in Carbon County, a group has formed to turn the goals into a reality.
The group met Friday during a roundtable luncheon at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, allowing their thoughts to mix and meld.
Baggs resident Linda Fleming, a member of the Wyoming State Nonprofit Association, sees the “energy corner of the state” as the least active in promoting its nonprofit organizations.
“We need to realize just how powerful we are in our communities,” she said. “Be it in Baggs, Elk Mountain or (Rawlins).”
Stephanie Moles, executive director of The Woman’s Heart organization in Casper and also a member of the state nonprofit association, said nonprofits fit alongside governmental and private enterprises to form cohesive, functioning communities. Moles emphasized the economic benefits provided by nonprofit services.
By fostering support among nonprofits and forming a more unified effort to fulfill southern Wyoming’s community needs, each nonprofit’s function can grow exponentially. Nonprofits applying for grants are also more likely to get the attention of financing organizations, a huge help when groups have to compete for funding.
The group set goals for future progress, including a follow-up meeting in six months. The group hopes to establish a set of workshops to turn area nonprofits into smoothly functioning machines. The workshops may be held at the Carbon County Higher Education Center in the future. The Carbon County Visitor’s Council has a head start with a “how to start a nonprofit” seminar already on its calendar, so nonprofits should have a choice of where to find guidance. Other CCHEC classes could include executive director training, grant writing, volunteer organization and marketing.
The group pushed for the creation of a resource databases to help the groups work more efficiently. Fleming kicked off a networking effort by asking attendees to supply their mailing and e-mail addresses as well as phone numbers. The group also recognized the benefit of a newsletter, keeping everyone aware of the progress and needs of other community nonprofits.
As the luncheon wrapped up, one attendee raised a critical question. “Are we re-inventing the wheel?” she asked. She warned that groups in Carbon County have a tendency of charging forward with ideas that others have already developed. Before expending too much effort trying to build everything from scratch, she said, resources could already be available.
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