By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Dave Throgmorton’s presentation about furthering concurrent and dual enrollment shook the Carbon County District 1 School Board room like an earthquake last week.
“The county is flush with money from the energy boom,” said Throgmorton, Carbon County Higher Education Center director. “We want to use the tax dollars to create vocational, community and K through 12 programs. I really want to blur the line between the reality we see and the reality we’d like to see, between the community and the school.”
At no cost to them, District 1 students could earn an associate’s degree before they graduate high school. To do so, they can enroll in courses that count for high school and college credits simultaneously.
“They save in tuition, fees and books,” said Patty Pedersen, CCHEC’s student services coordinator. “They also save in dorm rooms. And they become prepared for college level courses.”
To dually enroll, students must take a course during an elective period or outside of school hours. Taught by a college professor, the student earns the college credits, but is limited to one elective credit on their high school transcript. Students must pay tuition for this type of enrollment. If they maintain the right grade, the higher education board reimburses the course fees.
Concurrent enrollment, on the other hand, allows students to earn full credit in high school and college by taking a course under what Pedersen called a “high school professor.” The secondary education teacher is a qualified college professor for such classes.
In District 1, Little Snake River Valley School has two teachers who offer concurrent enrollment. Rawlins High School has none.
This semester, Carbon County schools had a total of 24 students concurrently enrolled. Six were enrolled in Baggs and the remainder were in Carbon County School District 2. To compare, Uinta County high schools have 108 concurrently enrolled students and Fremont County high schools have 550.
Throgmorton and Pedersen hope District 1 parents and the school board push to develop the concurrent enrollment in particular, since it has no price tag for anyone involved. It does, however, require teachers to put in the extra work to become college certified and challenge students at the next level.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
New teacher, new programs?
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A new hire at Saratoga Middle High School could mean an overhaul of the industrial arts program by August.
The Carbon County District 2 School Board recently approved a contract for Scott Bokelman, who taught industrial technology for 24 years in Nebraska and Texas.
Currently, the program focuses on woodworking and drafting, but Saratoga Principal Larry Uhling hopes to expand into electronics, manufacturing and other technical areas. The new program would be called industrial technology.
Uhling, who has a technical background, has an idea of how he wants to see the program develop.
“I want to bring in a new perspective,” he said. “We should keep education exciting and deal with things that are happening now. Not that we don’t still have jobs that require pounding nails or turning spindles on a wood lathe, but jobs are changing in the 21st century, and we need a career program that is alive and viable.”
With the help of Bokelman and Dave Urasky, vocational educator at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, the program should take shape this summer. First, Uhling has to wait for the school year to finish and for Bokelman to finish his contract in Nebraska.
Uhling hopes the partnership with Urasky will help avoid pitfalls as the program unfolds. The two schools should also be able to work together to provide unique programs.
Uhling mentioned the possibility of introducing solid modeling at Saratoga, but executing the designs remotely, using CCHEC’s computerized lathe.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” Uhling said.
Times staff writer
A new hire at Saratoga Middle High School could mean an overhaul of the industrial arts program by August.
The Carbon County District 2 School Board recently approved a contract for Scott Bokelman, who taught industrial technology for 24 years in Nebraska and Texas.
Currently, the program focuses on woodworking and drafting, but Saratoga Principal Larry Uhling hopes to expand into electronics, manufacturing and other technical areas. The new program would be called industrial technology.
Uhling, who has a technical background, has an idea of how he wants to see the program develop.
“I want to bring in a new perspective,” he said. “We should keep education exciting and deal with things that are happening now. Not that we don’t still have jobs that require pounding nails or turning spindles on a wood lathe, but jobs are changing in the 21st century, and we need a career program that is alive and viable.”
With the help of Bokelman and Dave Urasky, vocational educator at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, the program should take shape this summer. First, Uhling has to wait for the school year to finish and for Bokelman to finish his contract in Nebraska.
Uhling hopes the partnership with Urasky will help avoid pitfalls as the program unfolds. The two schools should also be able to work together to provide unique programs.
Uhling mentioned the possibility of introducing solid modeling at Saratoga, but executing the designs remotely, using CCHEC’s computerized lathe.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” Uhling said.
New school project pushing forward
Times staff report
The Carbon County District 1 School Board approved a contract to help find a construction manager for the new Rawlins elementary school project during a meeting last week.
The partnership with Bill Brown of Preconstruction Services should ease administrative efforts in the selection process. Brown should work with a committee from the district administration office, the schools, the School Facilities Commission and the district’s architecture firm to choose the applicant.
“It’s a big chore and a big decision to choose someone to help with building $20 million of elementary schools,” said Garry Goergen, business manager for the district.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Scheduled the annual meeting with the certified teaching staff to discuss benefits, salaries and other financial issues, which should be held at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Carbon County Library. It is open to the public. The board members should discuss and vote on the staff concerns at 6 p.m. in the board room of the central administration office on Rodeo Street.
• Postponed a presentation from planning architect Brad Oberg on the design recommendations for the elementary schools. The presentation was based on a set of individual meetings with representatives from each department of the school.
• Reviewed, but delayed the approval of a revised policy concerning support staff leaves and absences until the district’s attorney verifies its compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Discussed and voted to hold approval of the Pine Cove Consulting technology support contract until the contract reads that no work will be done unilaterally, in order to avoid additional costs.
• Transferred the chief operating officer role to Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune in the prolonged absence of Superintendent Peggy Sanders. In her stead, Terhune will have authority matching that of the superintendent.
• Approved the expulsion of a Rawlins High School student.
The Carbon County District 1 School Board approved a contract to help find a construction manager for the new Rawlins elementary school project during a meeting last week.
The partnership with Bill Brown of Preconstruction Services should ease administrative efforts in the selection process. Brown should work with a committee from the district administration office, the schools, the School Facilities Commission and the district’s architecture firm to choose the applicant.
“It’s a big chore and a big decision to choose someone to help with building $20 million of elementary schools,” said Garry Goergen, business manager for the district.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Scheduled the annual meeting with the certified teaching staff to discuss benefits, salaries and other financial issues, which should be held at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Carbon County Library. It is open to the public. The board members should discuss and vote on the staff concerns at 6 p.m. in the board room of the central administration office on Rodeo Street.
• Postponed a presentation from planning architect Brad Oberg on the design recommendations for the elementary schools. The presentation was based on a set of individual meetings with representatives from each department of the school.
• Reviewed, but delayed the approval of a revised policy concerning support staff leaves and absences until the district’s attorney verifies its compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Discussed and voted to hold approval of the Pine Cove Consulting technology support contract until the contract reads that no work will be done unilaterally, in order to avoid additional costs.
• Transferred the chief operating officer role to Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune in the prolonged absence of Superintendent Peggy Sanders. In her stead, Terhune will have authority matching that of the superintendent.
• Approved the expulsion of a Rawlins High School student.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Teens can get college credits
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Carbon County Higher Education Center is the first Wyoming school to offer its pre-engineering high school students a chance to earn college credit through Project Lead the Way.
Project Lead the Way is a national organization that standardizes the program for participating schools. It is recognized by 35 universities across the country. Gail Parsons, the organization’s director of program quality, visited CCHEC on Monday to evaluate the school.
If the school fulfilled a set of guidelines, including proper curriculum, equipment and administration, it passed the test.
“You made it,” she said. Hearing this, John Larson, the program’s teacher, looked back at Parsons blankly, clearly exhausted from the rigorous in-class examination. “You made it,” she repeated.
Larson, vocational educator Dave Urasky and CCHEC Director Dave Throgmorton were all smiles when the news came out.
As a certified school, CCHEC’s students can opt to take an additional final examination upon completion of the course. If the student passes by at least 70 percent, they earn college credit. Any of the 35 affiliate schools will recognize the student’s work in Carbon County.
The program is different from the dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment currently offered by the higher education center. In these, students take a class understanding that their year-end mark will appear on their transcript.
Instead, Project Lead the Way’s program is akin to advanced placement courses because students can choose to take the exam at the end of their course. That score determines whether the student’s work is accepted at the college level.
“If they bomb the exam, it goes into the trash,” Larson said.
In order to teach Project Lead the Way curriculum, Larson must become certified in the course he wants to provide. That means his summer should be full of Project Lead the Way course work in order to add a third class — digital electronics — to his repertoire.
Parsons was impressed with CCHEC’s ability to become the first certified school in Wyoming, given the size of its community.
“It shows you don’t have to be urban to run the program,” Parsons said. She attributed much of the program’s success to the work and enthusiasm of Larson.
Becoming certified means Throgmorton and Urasky have room to let their ideas flourish. They plan to establish an advisory committee to guide the growth of the program. Middle and elementary school curriculum is available, and the CCHEC administrators hope to use it to jump start students’ interest in engineering and technology.
Parsons believed the program could attract women, too. “Draw them in by showing them they can make the world better,” she said. “The coolness of the design doesn’t always cut it for them.”
Throgmorton hopes it will open opportunities for the community to explore their interests in unusual ways. “If the students think it, they can do it,” he said. He referred to one student who is nearly finished with a full-sized electric guitar.
Times staff writer
The Carbon County Higher Education Center is the first Wyoming school to offer its pre-engineering high school students a chance to earn college credit through Project Lead the Way.
Project Lead the Way is a national organization that standardizes the program for participating schools. It is recognized by 35 universities across the country. Gail Parsons, the organization’s director of program quality, visited CCHEC on Monday to evaluate the school.
If the school fulfilled a set of guidelines, including proper curriculum, equipment and administration, it passed the test.
“You made it,” she said. Hearing this, John Larson, the program’s teacher, looked back at Parsons blankly, clearly exhausted from the rigorous in-class examination. “You made it,” she repeated.
Larson, vocational educator Dave Urasky and CCHEC Director Dave Throgmorton were all smiles when the news came out.
As a certified school, CCHEC’s students can opt to take an additional final examination upon completion of the course. If the student passes by at least 70 percent, they earn college credit. Any of the 35 affiliate schools will recognize the student’s work in Carbon County.
The program is different from the dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment currently offered by the higher education center. In these, students take a class understanding that their year-end mark will appear on their transcript.
Instead, Project Lead the Way’s program is akin to advanced placement courses because students can choose to take the exam at the end of their course. That score determines whether the student’s work is accepted at the college level.
“If they bomb the exam, it goes into the trash,” Larson said.
In order to teach Project Lead the Way curriculum, Larson must become certified in the course he wants to provide. That means his summer should be full of Project Lead the Way course work in order to add a third class — digital electronics — to his repertoire.
Parsons was impressed with CCHEC’s ability to become the first certified school in Wyoming, given the size of its community.
“It shows you don’t have to be urban to run the program,” Parsons said. She attributed much of the program’s success to the work and enthusiasm of Larson.
Becoming certified means Throgmorton and Urasky have room to let their ideas flourish. They plan to establish an advisory committee to guide the growth of the program. Middle and elementary school curriculum is available, and the CCHEC administrators hope to use it to jump start students’ interest in engineering and technology.
Parsons believed the program could attract women, too. “Draw them in by showing them they can make the world better,” she said. “The coolness of the design doesn’t always cut it for them.”
Throgmorton hopes it will open opportunities for the community to explore their interests in unusual ways. “If the students think it, they can do it,” he said. He referred to one student who is nearly finished with a full-sized electric guitar.
Essay could send students to D.C.
• Carbon County School District 1 promotes Washington, D.C., conference with essay contest.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Answering an essay question could open the door for students to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., as part of an effort to get them involved in battling bullying and other social issues in Carbon County.
The question asks students to draw connections between substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, community attitudes and community norms. Essays are due April 18.
“The goal is to get kids empowered to be leaders in our schools and have them involved in the solution at several different levels,” said Dave Dingman, a Carbon County School District 1 board member.
Dingman got the idea when he attended February’s Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference. He watched as students from across the country spoke and gave presentations on efforts to bridge community gaps caused by substance abuse.
The School Board endorsed Dingman’s idea to take Carbon County students to the 2009 conference. Students would get to represent their county as well as explore the country’s capital.
The competition should be advertised to students in the eighth grade as well as freshmen and sophomores at Little Snake River Valley School, Rawlins middle and high schools, and Saratoga Middle High School. Each school has a representative who promotes the contest and accepts essay submissions.
“(The students) need to show that they have a vision for community in their schools to answer the question and be a part of the solution,” Dingman said. “We as adults have to give them the opportunity to take charge and be who they can be.”
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Answering an essay question could open the door for students to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., as part of an effort to get them involved in battling bullying and other social issues in Carbon County.
The question asks students to draw connections between substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, community attitudes and community norms. Essays are due April 18.
“The goal is to get kids empowered to be leaders in our schools and have them involved in the solution at several different levels,” said Dave Dingman, a Carbon County School District 1 board member.
Dingman got the idea when he attended February’s Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference. He watched as students from across the country spoke and gave presentations on efforts to bridge community gaps caused by substance abuse.
The School Board endorsed Dingman’s idea to take Carbon County students to the 2009 conference. Students would get to represent their county as well as explore the country’s capital.
The competition should be advertised to students in the eighth grade as well as freshmen and sophomores at Little Snake River Valley School, Rawlins middle and high schools, and Saratoga Middle High School. Each school has a representative who promotes the contest and accepts essay submissions.
“(The students) need to show that they have a vision for community in their schools to answer the question and be a part of the solution,” Dingman said. “We as adults have to give them the opportunity to take charge and be who they can be.”
Reading program finds learning gaps
Times staff report
A new elementary-age reading program is working well for Carbon County School District 2.
At a meeting earlier this week, the District 2 School Board heard a report from Mark Shipps, a first-grade teacher in the district. Shipps is the faculty coordinator for the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills test, which began a few years ago. In 2008, the program was fully implemented.
“I really think it’s successful,” Shipps said. “It’s really making a difference in how we teach our students.”
The test identifies students who are likely to struggle with reading proficiency. It also helps teachers target solutions for those kids.
The program revealed significant learning gaps for some students, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates. The challenge of the program is to collect the right data and understand the results.
“It is working,” Shipps said, “but we need to continue to refine it.”
At the meeting, board members also:
• Agreed to outsource the annual floor refinishing project for district schools to save time and money. Under a contractor, the refinish process should take two days and cost less than $10,000. Previously, local labor cost nearly $15,000 for four weeks of work.
• Reviewed driver guidelines to ensure student safety during extended school outings. The guidelines outline what to do in the case of bad weather and driver relief.
• Awarded asbestos removal contracts amounting to $120,000 to Casper’s Enviro Engineering and Safetech, Inc., in Billings, Mont., for Elk Mountain Elementary School and Medicine Bow Elementary School, respectively. The Medicine Bow contract hinges on School Facilities Commission funding. The Elk Mountain asbestos removal should begin once classes finish, while Medicine Bow’s should begin as soon as funding is secured. Demolition bids should be opened and awarded by the end of the week.
• Saw a presentation from construction consultant Joe Jones displaying plans for the new Elk Mountain school. The project is about 70 percent complete. An open meeting with the architect and district officials is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Elk Mountain school to firm up details, including technology.
A new elementary-age reading program is working well for Carbon County School District 2.
At a meeting earlier this week, the District 2 School Board heard a report from Mark Shipps, a first-grade teacher in the district. Shipps is the faculty coordinator for the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills test, which began a few years ago. In 2008, the program was fully implemented.
“I really think it’s successful,” Shipps said. “It’s really making a difference in how we teach our students.”
The test identifies students who are likely to struggle with reading proficiency. It also helps teachers target solutions for those kids.
The program revealed significant learning gaps for some students, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates. The challenge of the program is to collect the right data and understand the results.
“It is working,” Shipps said, “but we need to continue to refine it.”
At the meeting, board members also:
• Agreed to outsource the annual floor refinishing project for district schools to save time and money. Under a contractor, the refinish process should take two days and cost less than $10,000. Previously, local labor cost nearly $15,000 for four weeks of work.
• Reviewed driver guidelines to ensure student safety during extended school outings. The guidelines outline what to do in the case of bad weather and driver relief.
• Awarded asbestos removal contracts amounting to $120,000 to Casper’s Enviro Engineering and Safetech, Inc., in Billings, Mont., for Elk Mountain Elementary School and Medicine Bow Elementary School, respectively. The Medicine Bow contract hinges on School Facilities Commission funding. The Elk Mountain asbestos removal should begin once classes finish, while Medicine Bow’s should begin as soon as funding is secured. Demolition bids should be opened and awarded by the end of the week.
• Saw a presentation from construction consultant Joe Jones displaying plans for the new Elk Mountain school. The project is about 70 percent complete. An open meeting with the architect and district officials is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Elk Mountain school to firm up details, including technology.
Calendars more congruent
Times staff report
Calendars for Carbon County District 2 schools now match within communities.
Though next year’s calendars still vary across the district, each schooling area should see holidays that coincide between primary and secondary schools.
Each calendar was approved by School Board members during a Monday meeting.
School administrators tried to create common staff development days and similar Christmas and spring break vacations. Any variance is limited to the final weeks of school.
For instance, Brad Barrow matched Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow Junior Senior High School’s starting date and holidays with the elementary school’s. His in-service days coincide with Saratoga Middle High School’s. Barlow is the principal for HEM.
“It is difficult to make the schedules start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day,” said Larry Uhling, principal of Saratoga Middle High School. He was responding to questions about the length of the school year, which ends in June this year.
Most of the changes respond to community concerns voiced in surveys issued earlier this year, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates.
Calendars for Carbon County District 2 schools now match within communities.
Though next year’s calendars still vary across the district, each schooling area should see holidays that coincide between primary and secondary schools.
Each calendar was approved by School Board members during a Monday meeting.
School administrators tried to create common staff development days and similar Christmas and spring break vacations. Any variance is limited to the final weeks of school.
For instance, Brad Barrow matched Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow Junior Senior High School’s starting date and holidays with the elementary school’s. His in-service days coincide with Saratoga Middle High School’s. Barlow is the principal for HEM.
“It is difficult to make the schedules start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day,” said Larry Uhling, principal of Saratoga Middle High School. He was responding to questions about the length of the school year, which ends in June this year.
Most of the changes respond to community concerns voiced in surveys issued earlier this year, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates.
Monday, April 14, 2008
National spotlight focuses on state
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
For the first time in more than a decade, representatives from Development Counsellors International drove the Interstate 80 corridor last week.
The visit to Southern Wyoming could mean national press for some Wyoming businesses.
Susan Brake and Erin Bodine were in Wyoming as part of their firm’s partnership with the Wyoming Business Council, a contract that began with the council’s birth in 1998.
The trip’s purpose was to gather information that could illustrate why Wyoming is a good place to do business.
The firm specializes in getting news about businesses into national media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Denver Post and “Fox Business News.” In the past, “The Christian Science Monitor,” “Popular Science” and “Inc Magazine” as well as various trade productions have published stories suggested by Development Counsellors International.
If everything goes according to plan, Oprah’s Magazine, “The O,” should print an article about Wyoming in May, said Carol Stearns, manager of the business council’s marketing and attractions team.
The story should focus on Climb Wyoming, a Cheyenne organization that trains single mothers for historically male-dominated jobs.
“We have taken to calling it Rosie the Riveter 2.0,” said Erin Bodine, one of the visiting public relations representatives. They said their effort was successful because the story fit well into trends of work force shortages and skills training nationwide.
Southern Wyoming was chosen because it has recently popped up on the radar as an area bubbling with unique economic progress.
Bodine and her partner Susan Brake’s two-day whirlwind trip included visits to two Carbon County enterprises — the Elk Mountain Hotel and the Carbon County Higher Education Center. Both were chosen by Mark Ducker, the director of the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation. The women also visited Wamsutter, Green River, Evanston and Rock Springs.
The cities and towns are home to businesses that vary from fuel production to health and beauty product development, so each lends itself to interesting stories for the media.
“We pick different companies that are doing exceptional things and pitch those stories to the national media,” said Julie Curtin, regional director of the firm’s Denver branch. “Once we land on a good one, we will use it as long as we can.”
Bodine and Brake said Wyoming is opposite most of the country in terms of labor needs, skilled labor training and economic growth. That profile should mean that media can easily latch onto stories.
It’s important to bring the public relations folks to Wyoming, according to Ben Avery. Avery is the director of business and industry for the business council.
“If they actually have the opportunity to be on site, they’re able to sell the material to the national writers with a lot more enthusiasm and knowledge and, hopefully, it’ll help to close the deal a little better,” he said.
PR reps tout county gems
In their journey along Interstate 80, public relations representatives Erin Bodine and Susan Brake saw strong possibilities for news stories about Carbon County businesses to appear in the national media.
The Elk Mountain Hotel and the Carbon County Higher Education Center could lend themselves to stories about tourism and work force shortages.
“They’ve been around the world and ended up here. And they love it,” Brake said of Arthur and Susan Havers, owners of the Elk Mountain Hotel. Bodine agreed, saying “she’s a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. It shows there’s a variety of backgrounds and culture right here in Wyoming.” The hotel’s story could be touted as a weekend travel destination, appearing in regional publications like Denver’s “5280.”
Brake and Bodine say CCHEC’s effort to cater to local businesses is remarkable. While people are losing jobs across the country, Wyoming needs workers and CCHEC officials are addressing that need. They hope to ride the work force wave to promote the school, particularly using the story of vocational educator Dave Urasky’s work with Hyland Enterprises.
“Wyoming is an innovator in work force training,” Bodine said. “There’s a desire to grow their own. (The state) has a mentality of just getting the job done ... and they don’t even know it sometimes.”
Times staff writer
For the first time in more than a decade, representatives from Development Counsellors International drove the Interstate 80 corridor last week.
The visit to Southern Wyoming could mean national press for some Wyoming businesses.
Susan Brake and Erin Bodine were in Wyoming as part of their firm’s partnership with the Wyoming Business Council, a contract that began with the council’s birth in 1998.
The trip’s purpose was to gather information that could illustrate why Wyoming is a good place to do business.
The firm specializes in getting news about businesses into national media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Denver Post and “Fox Business News.” In the past, “The Christian Science Monitor,” “Popular Science” and “Inc Magazine” as well as various trade productions have published stories suggested by Development Counsellors International.
If everything goes according to plan, Oprah’s Magazine, “The O,” should print an article about Wyoming in May, said Carol Stearns, manager of the business council’s marketing and attractions team.
The story should focus on Climb Wyoming, a Cheyenne organization that trains single mothers for historically male-dominated jobs.
“We have taken to calling it Rosie the Riveter 2.0,” said Erin Bodine, one of the visiting public relations representatives. They said their effort was successful because the story fit well into trends of work force shortages and skills training nationwide.
Southern Wyoming was chosen because it has recently popped up on the radar as an area bubbling with unique economic progress.
Bodine and her partner Susan Brake’s two-day whirlwind trip included visits to two Carbon County enterprises — the Elk Mountain Hotel and the Carbon County Higher Education Center. Both were chosen by Mark Ducker, the director of the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation. The women also visited Wamsutter, Green River, Evanston and Rock Springs.
The cities and towns are home to businesses that vary from fuel production to health and beauty product development, so each lends itself to interesting stories for the media.
“We pick different companies that are doing exceptional things and pitch those stories to the national media,” said Julie Curtin, regional director of the firm’s Denver branch. “Once we land on a good one, we will use it as long as we can.”
Bodine and Brake said Wyoming is opposite most of the country in terms of labor needs, skilled labor training and economic growth. That profile should mean that media can easily latch onto stories.
It’s important to bring the public relations folks to Wyoming, according to Ben Avery. Avery is the director of business and industry for the business council.
“If they actually have the opportunity to be on site, they’re able to sell the material to the national writers with a lot more enthusiasm and knowledge and, hopefully, it’ll help to close the deal a little better,” he said.
PR reps tout county gems
In their journey along Interstate 80, public relations representatives Erin Bodine and Susan Brake saw strong possibilities for news stories about Carbon County businesses to appear in the national media.
The Elk Mountain Hotel and the Carbon County Higher Education Center could lend themselves to stories about tourism and work force shortages.
“They’ve been around the world and ended up here. And they love it,” Brake said of Arthur and Susan Havers, owners of the Elk Mountain Hotel. Bodine agreed, saying “she’s a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. It shows there’s a variety of backgrounds and culture right here in Wyoming.” The hotel’s story could be touted as a weekend travel destination, appearing in regional publications like Denver’s “5280.”
Brake and Bodine say CCHEC’s effort to cater to local businesses is remarkable. While people are losing jobs across the country, Wyoming needs workers and CCHEC officials are addressing that need. They hope to ride the work force wave to promote the school, particularly using the story of vocational educator Dave Urasky’s work with Hyland Enterprises.
“Wyoming is an innovator in work force training,” Bodine said. “There’s a desire to grow their own. (The state) has a mentality of just getting the job done ... and they don’t even know it sometimes.”
Friday, April 11, 2008
Students embrace compost experiment
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerret RaffetyBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Filing into Rawlins Middle School’s room 310 on Thursday afternoon, the sixth graders had no idea that their guest was going to assign them homework.
They chattered and squirmed as five neat rows of young adults turned into a mess of bodies scattered through the room.
“You’ve come up with a problem for us to fix,” School Board member Dave Dingman said loudly. The room quieted. “In fact, I didn’t think this issue existed, but you made us aware of it. And you’ve got our attention.”
Charged with the task of finding a solution to depositing 375 plastic foam trays into the Rawlins landfill daily, Dingman wanted to find out what the kids thought before presenting his own ideas.
“We could bring our own plates,” Lincoln Garlington called out.
“That would be weird,” some voices murmured. “No, that would be cool!” others piped up.
Or maybe the trays could be edible, like ice cream cones?
Students thought of plates made of plastic or metal, to be cleaned by students serving in-school suspension or doing community service. Or, they could be carted to the high school to be washed, they said.
Mel Fryar wondered if the paper salad plates could be used.
Each suggestion was met with laughter and uproar, until Dingman presented his idea of creating a compost experiment. He was met with 50 blank stares.
Dingman explained that during the summer the kids could try a science experiment. They could mix 100 biodegradable trays and some discarded food in a bin, add water and worms and stir it regularly to see what happens. If it worked, he said, the school board may decide to continue the project on a large scale.
However, the project requires some planning. In the next week, the sixth graders will discuss Dingman’s proposal while he figures out its budget and time feasibility.
Four-day week under review
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Little Snake River Valley School could go to a four-day week next year.
Given the ongoing wrestling match in Carbon County School District 2 about the pros and cons of such a schedule, district 1 officials have examined the possibility under every light.
Carbon County District 1 School Board members raised concerns that echoed those of residents. Through surveys, community discussions and staff meetings, Baggs residents said they have explored their options thoroughly and mostly lean toward adopting the new schedule.
Concerns were voiced about support staff schedules, pay reductions and accurately gauging whether the community understood that a four-day week could mean that children are at home while parents are working.
“There appears to be strong community support,” said Neil Terhune, district 1 associate superintendent.
Duane DeWald, district public information officer, outlined the results of the survey of the Baggs community which showed overwhelming support for the four-day week and strong community support for child care on the days students would not be in school.
The survey also turned up things board members want addressed.
Some members of the community said they aren’t well-informed about how the schedule would iron out. And some parents worried they might not be able to find adequate care for their children on Fridays.
LSRV school staffers say the small school could benefit from the schedule by increasing student-teacher contact time and by opening up remediation opportunities for lagging students. Often, kids are on the road due to family reasons, appointments that require a full day’s travel and school events. Though the schedule is still in the works, the idea is to provide a day for such activities.
“It’s a big change, so there’s reservations,” LSRVS Principal Rick Newton said.
The School Board and the LSRVS staff agreed if a four-day week is implemented, there will likely be kinks. To provide an opportunity to iron those out, the schedule should roll out as a three-year plan.
“We have to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, but it won’t be perfect as it goes forward,” Terhune said.
Times staff writer
Little Snake River Valley School could go to a four-day week next year.
Given the ongoing wrestling match in Carbon County School District 2 about the pros and cons of such a schedule, district 1 officials have examined the possibility under every light.
Carbon County District 1 School Board members raised concerns that echoed those of residents. Through surveys, community discussions and staff meetings, Baggs residents said they have explored their options thoroughly and mostly lean toward adopting the new schedule.
Concerns were voiced about support staff schedules, pay reductions and accurately gauging whether the community understood that a four-day week could mean that children are at home while parents are working.
“There appears to be strong community support,” said Neil Terhune, district 1 associate superintendent.
Duane DeWald, district public information officer, outlined the results of the survey of the Baggs community which showed overwhelming support for the four-day week and strong community support for child care on the days students would not be in school.
The survey also turned up things board members want addressed.
Some members of the community said they aren’t well-informed about how the schedule would iron out. And some parents worried they might not be able to find adequate care for their children on Fridays.
LSRV school staffers say the small school could benefit from the schedule by increasing student-teacher contact time and by opening up remediation opportunities for lagging students. Often, kids are on the road due to family reasons, appointments that require a full day’s travel and school events. Though the schedule is still in the works, the idea is to provide a day for such activities.
“It’s a big change, so there’s reservations,” LSRVS Principal Rick Newton said.
The School Board and the LSRVS staff agreed if a four-day week is implemented, there will likely be kinks. To provide an opportunity to iron those out, the schedule should roll out as a three-year plan.
“We have to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, but it won’t be perfect as it goes forward,” Terhune said.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Foam tray review continues
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerrett RaffetyBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Limited options and budget restraints have faced school officials as they’ve tried to eliminate plastic foam trays from the Rawlins Middle School kitchen inventory.
School Board member Dave Dingman plans Thursday to meet with the sixth graders who requested the elimination of the trays. He wants to talk about options with the students.
“There’s not a lot that you can do with Styrofoam right now,” Dingman said. Still, he has found some possibilities.
Dingman’s favorite idea is to purchase biodegradable trays made of corn and sucrose that decompose fairly rapidly. At 10 to 15 cents a pop, the trays are expensive, but address all the concerns of the students, including safety when carrying hot food. And the trays have environmental benefits. By contrast, plastic foam trays cost between 1 and 5 cents each.
Two other options exist, Dingman said. One involves gathering the trays after use and applying a chemical substance — acetone — to shrink them into a glue-like resin. The chemical is typically used on foam packing peanuts, so Dingman is not sure if it would effectively interact with food remnants on the lunch trays.
Another option is to install a dishwasher in the school’s kitchen and purchase permanent trays that would be reused.
Politics part of curriculum
• Teachers throughout Carbon County find ways to incorporate real politics into the classroom.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The presidential game of tug of war won’t last forever, and it seems young voters have the pull to decide whether the ribbon falls to the right or the left in 2008.
According to a post-Super Tuesday Rock the Vote poll, the energy of young voters is at an unprecedented level.
Requiring a senior government course is one step Carbon County schools have taken in an attempt to mobilize teens. From there, teachers can embellish the curriculum as they see fit.
“There’s so much outside the book, so why stick with a simulation when so much else is at your fingertips?” asked Doug Tieszen, Encampment’s government teacher.
Tieszen starts locally by asking each student to track three to five bills before the Wyoming Legislature that are of interest to the student, such as changes to driver’s license regulations or the Hathaway Scholarships.
“They see laws being made that directly affect them,” Tieszen said. “That’s when they realize they’re adults.”
Tieszen stands among a crowd of county teachers who incorporate a media unit where students explore bias, points of view and vested interests of various media outlets. He believes understanding the media and being exposed to the gamut of outlets is important in making educated decisions.
Last week, Tieszen’s class discovered that the BBC has a different definition than NBC of world news. “(The students) counted 16 different countries in the BBC report versus a brief about Iraq (on NBC),” he said.
Amy Hazelwood, Rawlins High School’s American history teacher, encourages conversation about satire. Students watch, but do not always understand, television programs like the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Little Bush and South Park, so they ask their teacher about the jokes.
“Satire gets them interested,” she said.
Most government teachers in Carbon County encourage students to register to vote and most have the county clerk visit their classrooms. Saratoga’s Ginger Miller even takes a class field trip to the voting booths to cast ballots while non-voters watch. Her students also participate yearly in a national mock election, where the voting process is simulated in entire schools.
Teachers notice changes
In 2001, an MTV survey of young adults found that about half thought that rather than vote, they could make more of a difference by getting involved with the community.
By contrast, a 2008 Rock the Vote survey showed that 89 percent of the people polled believed they have the power to change the country through the ballot box.
However, after 20 years of teaching, Encampment’s Doug Tieszen doesn’t think much has changed in terms of young voters being excited about the elections.
“All students are pretty apathetic and have been,” he said, “but I am encouraged by the reports of new voter registrations throughout the country.”
Saratoga teacher Ginger Miller believes the apathy “is mixed. I’ve found that if their parents voted, they are more likely to vote.” Parental influence is listed as one of the top reasons for a lack of student votes.
Meanwhile, Amy Hazelwood at Rawlins High School said that “this year is the most interest I’ve seen (in the elections). It was interesting to see the heartbreak when candidates dropped out.”
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The presidential game of tug of war won’t last forever, and it seems young voters have the pull to decide whether the ribbon falls to the right or the left in 2008.
According to a post-Super Tuesday Rock the Vote poll, the energy of young voters is at an unprecedented level.
Requiring a senior government course is one step Carbon County schools have taken in an attempt to mobilize teens. From there, teachers can embellish the curriculum as they see fit.
“There’s so much outside the book, so why stick with a simulation when so much else is at your fingertips?” asked Doug Tieszen, Encampment’s government teacher.
Tieszen starts locally by asking each student to track three to five bills before the Wyoming Legislature that are of interest to the student, such as changes to driver’s license regulations or the Hathaway Scholarships.
“They see laws being made that directly affect them,” Tieszen said. “That’s when they realize they’re adults.”
Tieszen stands among a crowd of county teachers who incorporate a media unit where students explore bias, points of view and vested interests of various media outlets. He believes understanding the media and being exposed to the gamut of outlets is important in making educated decisions.
Last week, Tieszen’s class discovered that the BBC has a different definition than NBC of world news. “(The students) counted 16 different countries in the BBC report versus a brief about Iraq (on NBC),” he said.
Amy Hazelwood, Rawlins High School’s American history teacher, encourages conversation about satire. Students watch, but do not always understand, television programs like the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Little Bush and South Park, so they ask their teacher about the jokes.
“Satire gets them interested,” she said.
Most government teachers in Carbon County encourage students to register to vote and most have the county clerk visit their classrooms. Saratoga’s Ginger Miller even takes a class field trip to the voting booths to cast ballots while non-voters watch. Her students also participate yearly in a national mock election, where the voting process is simulated in entire schools.
Teachers notice changes
In 2001, an MTV survey of young adults found that about half thought that rather than vote, they could make more of a difference by getting involved with the community.
By contrast, a 2008 Rock the Vote survey showed that 89 percent of the people polled believed they have the power to change the country through the ballot box.
However, after 20 years of teaching, Encampment’s Doug Tieszen doesn’t think much has changed in terms of young voters being excited about the elections.
“All students are pretty apathetic and have been,” he said, “but I am encouraged by the reports of new voter registrations throughout the country.”
Saratoga teacher Ginger Miller believes the apathy “is mixed. I’ve found that if their parents voted, they are more likely to vote.” Parental influence is listed as one of the top reasons for a lack of student votes.
Meanwhile, Amy Hazelwood at Rawlins High School said that “this year is the most interest I’ve seen (in the elections). It was interesting to see the heartbreak when candidates dropped out.”
Recycling bags is smart for business
My first business story!
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerrett Raffety
Plastic bags may be recycled at City Market in Rawlins. The bags are shipped to Denver and eventually to Idaho where they're used to manufacture new plastic shopping bags.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Plastic bags collected by City Market in Rawlins see much of the west before they find their way back into grocery stores.
Once most people drop the bags off at the store, they are out of sight and out of mind. But what happens from there?
According to Pat Greaser, director of retail operations at King Sooper’s Denver headquarters, the bags come in from various stores, including Rawlins, and get compacted into a tight brick. Each brick is put on a pallet and sits in the warehouse until there are enough pallets to fill a semi.
Since the debut of the bag recycling program in the fall of 2007, two trucks have been filled in Denver and a third is nearly full. So far, 6.6 million bags have been gathered in Denver for recycling.
The trucks travel to Idaho, directly to the bag manufacturer, to melt the bags into reusable pellets. Mixing the recycled pellets with new plastic pellets at a ratio of about 80 new to 20 old, new bags are made.
“(The bags) have to meet the specifications for rigidity,” Greaser said. “That’s why the mix so highly favors the new plastic.”
The recycling program was set up by the stores’ bag manufacturer, to ensure that 100 percent of the bags get reused and are not lost in a landfill. “We are in control from start to finish,” Greaser said. That way, the ad on the bag boasting recycled material is sure to be true.
The Rawlins store empties its bag barrel once a day, according to store Manager Otto Novota. The plastic gets stuffed into large, black garbage bags and loaded daily into a semi-trailer destined for Denver. Accompanying the bags are 12,000-pound bales of crushed cardboard, also meant for recycling.
To discourage the wasteful use of a resource, the grocery store chain pays customers five cents per bag if they bring their own, a cost that far exceeds the price of simply manufacturing more bags. It’s costly, but Greaser said it’s the right thing to do.
According to Novota, “more often, people bring (the bags) in and reuse them because we offer a nickel for each. It’s better than having them blow around in the wind.” He sees people reusing the plastic bags or bringing their own canvas ones.
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerrett RaffetyBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Plastic bags collected by City Market in Rawlins see much of the west before they find their way back into grocery stores.
Once most people drop the bags off at the store, they are out of sight and out of mind. But what happens from there?
According to Pat Greaser, director of retail operations at King Sooper’s Denver headquarters, the bags come in from various stores, including Rawlins, and get compacted into a tight brick. Each brick is put on a pallet and sits in the warehouse until there are enough pallets to fill a semi.
Since the debut of the bag recycling program in the fall of 2007, two trucks have been filled in Denver and a third is nearly full. So far, 6.6 million bags have been gathered in Denver for recycling.
The trucks travel to Idaho, directly to the bag manufacturer, to melt the bags into reusable pellets. Mixing the recycled pellets with new plastic pellets at a ratio of about 80 new to 20 old, new bags are made.
“(The bags) have to meet the specifications for rigidity,” Greaser said. “That’s why the mix so highly favors the new plastic.”
The recycling program was set up by the stores’ bag manufacturer, to ensure that 100 percent of the bags get reused and are not lost in a landfill. “We are in control from start to finish,” Greaser said. That way, the ad on the bag boasting recycled material is sure to be true.
The Rawlins store empties its bag barrel once a day, according to store Manager Otto Novota. The plastic gets stuffed into large, black garbage bags and loaded daily into a semi-trailer destined for Denver. Accompanying the bags are 12,000-pound bales of crushed cardboard, also meant for recycling.
To discourage the wasteful use of a resource, the grocery store chain pays customers five cents per bag if they bring their own, a cost that far exceeds the price of simply manufacturing more bags. It’s costly, but Greaser said it’s the right thing to do.
According to Novota, “more often, people bring (the bags) in and reuse them because we offer a nickel for each. It’s better than having them blow around in the wind.” He sees people reusing the plastic bags or bringing their own canvas ones.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Recruiting effort advances
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
This summer, officials at the Rawlins hospital plan to move toward abating the nurse shortage in Rawlins.
Dawn Dingman, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s director of nursing, reported that a University of Michigan student is “very excited” to possibly come to the hospital after graduating in May. Dingman plans to follow up with the prospect.
Dingman also said that three University of Wyoming students are expected to take part in a six-week rotation between the emergency room, the intensive care unit, the obstetrics department and the operating room. The program has students split time with Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and a hospital in Rock Springs. Each student will be assigned a nursing preceptor to oversee the students’ work.
A Casper student is also scheduled to do a respiratory therapy externship this summer.
Dingman hopes that exposing the students to the hospital’s work and benefits program may encourage them to sign on for full-time employment.
Times staff writer
This summer, officials at the Rawlins hospital plan to move toward abating the nurse shortage in Rawlins.
Dawn Dingman, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s director of nursing, reported that a University of Michigan student is “very excited” to possibly come to the hospital after graduating in May. Dingman plans to follow up with the prospect.
Dingman also said that three University of Wyoming students are expected to take part in a six-week rotation between the emergency room, the intensive care unit, the obstetrics department and the operating room. The program has students split time with Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and a hospital in Rock Springs. Each student will be assigned a nursing preceptor to oversee the students’ work.
A Casper student is also scheduled to do a respiratory therapy externship this summer.
Dingman hopes that exposing the students to the hospital’s work and benefits program may encourage them to sign on for full-time employment.
School board sets meeting
Times staff report
Several issues that were tabled at a previous meeting of the Carbon County District 1 School Board are expected to be discussed at the board’s April 10 meeting.
The board meets at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Central Administration Office on Rodeo Street. The meeting is open to the public.
Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune said a contract between the district and Pine Cove Consulting should be discussed. The consulting firm could provide a wider range of technical expertise for less money than hiring a technology director, he said.
Other items listed on the agenda include discussion of working with Pre-Construction Services, a company that would help select an individual to serve as construction manager at risk to oversee progress in the Highland Hills project and consideration of first reading of a policy concerning staff vacations and absences.
Several issues that were tabled at a previous meeting of the Carbon County District 1 School Board are expected to be discussed at the board’s April 10 meeting.
The board meets at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Central Administration Office on Rodeo Street. The meeting is open to the public.
Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune said a contract between the district and Pine Cove Consulting should be discussed. The consulting firm could provide a wider range of technical expertise for less money than hiring a technology director, he said.
Other items listed on the agenda include discussion of working with Pre-Construction Services, a company that would help select an individual to serve as construction manager at risk to oversee progress in the Highland Hills project and consideration of first reading of a policy concerning staff vacations and absences.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
City recycling options could increase
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerrett RaffetyBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The recycling business is like trading in cash crops.
Similar to farms, the productivity of a plant is limited by space and demand. Also like farms, a plant buys and sells its product with the markup necessary to operate.
This information explains why the recycling program in Rawlins is limited. The city’s recycling center is but a transit point for Ark Recycling Center, a nonprofit organization in Laramie.
“We are maxed out on what we can do,” said Bill Vance, Ark recycling services coordinator. Because Vance has a market for plastic products that bear the numbers one and two, he sticks with them.
Milk jugs, categorized as No. 2 opaque, go to Heartland Biocomposites in Torrington which uses the plastic as a component in composite wood.
“I believe in supporting a business right here in Wyoming,” Vance said.
Vance ships most of his No. 1 plastic to Michigan where it is processed. No. 1 plastic often get shredded and heated which turns it into pellets for stuffed animal filling.
The Rawlins Recycling Center currently accepts the things it can resell to Laramie. Aside from plastic, it gathers aluminum cans, steel cans, newsprint, magazines, office paper, corrugated cardboard and brown and clear glass. Last year, the center shipped off 792,498 pounds of material.
Between 2006 and 2007, Rawlins nearly doubled its recycling efforts, with the largest increases in the deliveries of cardboard, newspaper and magazines, No. 1 plastics, brown glass and office paper.
If Rawlins residents want to see recycling options expand, particularly to include other types of plastic, they should tune into Ark Recycling’s goal to buy a $5 million piece of machinery — the automated sorter. To make such a large purchase, the organization needs the volume to make it profitable. The machine’s efficiency would result in more “crops” to trade and could mean instituting a curbside pickup in Rawlins, Cheyenne and Wheatland.
Mulch for the taking
The Rawlins Recycling Center has made no changes to what products it will accept this spring, but it will offer free mulch.
Last fall, the center stopped accepting wood to turn into mulch because it was overloaded with limbs because of tree damage from a storm. “The parking lot was a sea of broken tree branches and limbs,” said John Medina, superintendent of the recycling center. Now, those branches have been converted to mulch, available to the masses.
Timber is again being accepted at the center along with the usual materials. Medina encourages Rawlins residents to keep the recycling center in mind during the city clean up period.
“People are less willing to separate and recycle when the landfill opens its doors at no charge,” he said. “They often opt to get it all done in one shot.”
Friday, April 4, 2008
Trailer design challenges LSRV teen
Rawlins Daily Times, Janice KurbjunBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Of all the Little Snake River Valley vocational agriculture metal shop projects, one outsizes them all.
Measuring 41 feet long and 8 1/2 feet wide, senior Chaunce Criswell’s trailer occupies nearly one-third of the garage space at the Little Snake River Valley School.
“As the American dream grows, you need a bigger, tougher machine,” Criswell said. His project even has a hydraulic lift that angles 22 feet of the 30-foot deck toward the ground for easy loading. It is powerful enough and has enough leverage to function as a jack, too, lifting the heavy iron off the ground enough to change the rear tires.
Criswell pulls on fireproof coveralls — a requirement since he singed the others — twice a day to work on his project. He’ll even stay after school to get work done.
“I ordered the parts toward the beginning of the (school) year,” Criswell said. His family purchased the parts while the school allowed the use of the shop and its equipment. Criswell started working in October and has had little help from anyone but his teacher, Dale Wille.
The hulking web of interconnected beams has Criswell’s custom mark all over it, literally. The fancy metal light fixtures, a total of 29, that run the length of the trailer have a Baroque-like curved design with two Cs, Criswell’s initials, on either side of the opening for the light. These and the winches still need to be attached to the deck.
“I hide the tools I like to use,” Criswell said with a laugh as he moved toward the torch tucked far into the corner of the shop. “Why would anyone use this one when that one is right there?” He gestured toward the smaller, older machine in the center of the room. “They don’t know this one’s better.”
Lighting the torch with a simple spark, he turned some knobs, adjusting the flame to cut part of the metal winch.
Criswell’s trailer is a custom design, but some of the parts were pre-fabricated, including the winches, the hydraulic lift and the torsion axles — each of which can handle 10,000 pounds and allowed Criswell to widen the load-bearing frame for better support.
Could his untried, untested custom design fail? “I’m trying to think of a part I’m worried about,” Criswell said. “But really, I can’t think of anything. But, if it did break, I could fix it.” He grinned and said, “I mean, I put it together in the first place.”
Criswell thinks the vocational agriculture program at his school has utmost practicality. Almost all the LSRVS students participate in the classes. According to him, all of what the students learn in the classes is applicable.
“You can diagnose your sick dog or really understand your food,” he said.
Criswell plans to enter the trailer in the county fair with the goal of moving on to the state competition. If he goes to state, he is up against kids around the state from larger programs. Trailers usually don’t win in the contest with calf tables and loading chutes, but Criswell hopes his attention to detail and custom engineering design will prove the extra step necessary for success.
The trailer is a practical project for Criswell and his family. He’ll take it home when it’s finished, with hopes to put it to use as a hot shot worker, hauling materials from Casper to the energy fields.
Moms weather snowstorms
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When early spring storms roll in, the Wyoming frontier becomes a proving ground for good mothers.
Amid the 10 or so inches of snow that fell earlier this week, four cows at Sandstone Ranch had calves, causing Colleen Stratton to worry. If it got too cold, the calves were at risk.
Still, each year she trusts the instincts of the mothers to take care of their young.
Born wet with low circulation, calves depend on their mothers to lick them dry and in the process, stimulate circulation.
Many cows are left on the range to give birth naturally, and sometimes this means a loss for ranchers. Other times, it simply amounts to cosmetic damage such cropped ears or shortened tails resulting from frostbite.
“(The cows) take them into the brush or into a protected spot,” she said. “In that way, they’re a lot like deer and antelope or anything else ... (they) try to get out of the weather best they can.” But, if a cow comes back without a calf in the fall, Sandstone Ranch prepares to sell.
It shows “they aren’t good mothers,” Stratton said. “It’s a process of elimination. (Bad motherhood) is a trait we don’t want in our herd.” Often, a cow is young and in good enough shape to either be sold for meat or to a rancher who wants to give her another shot at carrying young.
On the other hand, two-year-old cows — heifers — often get assistance in the mothering process. Cows, like humans, must learn how to take care of their young. They are kept in corrals or barns until they learn the motherhood ropes and can join the herd on the range.
Though some spring storms can threaten to drop a foot of snow or more, Stratton said it’s difficult to move a herd indoors each time the weather changes. Early spring temperatures generally rise quickly enough after storms to provide a livable environment for the animals outside.
Times staff writer
When early spring storms roll in, the Wyoming frontier becomes a proving ground for good mothers.
Amid the 10 or so inches of snow that fell earlier this week, four cows at Sandstone Ranch had calves, causing Colleen Stratton to worry. If it got too cold, the calves were at risk.
Still, each year she trusts the instincts of the mothers to take care of their young.
Born wet with low circulation, calves depend on their mothers to lick them dry and in the process, stimulate circulation.
Many cows are left on the range to give birth naturally, and sometimes this means a loss for ranchers. Other times, it simply amounts to cosmetic damage such cropped ears or shortened tails resulting from frostbite.
“(The cows) take them into the brush or into a protected spot,” she said. “In that way, they’re a lot like deer and antelope or anything else ... (they) try to get out of the weather best they can.” But, if a cow comes back without a calf in the fall, Sandstone Ranch prepares to sell.
It shows “they aren’t good mothers,” Stratton said. “It’s a process of elimination. (Bad motherhood) is a trait we don’t want in our herd.” Often, a cow is young and in good enough shape to either be sold for meat or to a rancher who wants to give her another shot at carrying young.
On the other hand, two-year-old cows — heifers — often get assistance in the mothering process. Cows, like humans, must learn how to take care of their young. They are kept in corrals or barns until they learn the motherhood ropes and can join the herd on the range.
Though some spring storms can threaten to drop a foot of snow or more, Stratton said it’s difficult to move a herd indoors each time the weather changes. Early spring temperatures generally rise quickly enough after storms to provide a livable environment for the animals outside.
Saratoga begins bug battle
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With this year’s hefty snowfall, the cost of keeping mosquitos at bay in Saratoga for the summer may increase.
“It is a good possibility that there will be a bigger (mosquito) problem this year,” Saratoga Public Works Director Chuck Bartlett said. “It depends on how the snow melts.”
Saratoga officials are advertising for a contractor to spray for mosquitos. Bartlett expects to finish evaluating bids by the end of the month.
“We have stepped up our efforts because of the threat of the West Nile virus,” Bartlett said. Last year, Carbon County saw its first case of the virus. “But one case is one too many,” Bartlett said.
The plan of attack is to target the larvae. The first phase begins in late May, as public works personnel plan to place a larvicide in pools of standing water. The large tablets that last a few months, are designed to inhibit mosquito growth. Usually, larvicides do not pose threats to humans or wildlife because they do not generally leech into groundwater.
In mid-June, mosquito spraying is expected to begin. The Saratoga town budget includes about $70,000 for mosquito control, but because this is a wetter year, Bartlett said it may cost more to spray Scourge 412.
The mosquito control crew monitors Scourge 412’s success by setting up mosquito traps, nets that capture the pests. “We have to count and classify them,” Bartlett said.
According to Bartlett, Scourge 412 doesn’t have major environmental ramifications. It isolates four types of mosquitos and should not harm honey bees or most other insects, though it often does kill some flies.
Still, since all pesticides are inherently toxic, residents should take precautions such as minimizing contact with sprayed surfaces for 24 hours so the pesticide has time to sufficiently degrade.
Times staff writer
With this year’s hefty snowfall, the cost of keeping mosquitos at bay in Saratoga for the summer may increase.
“It is a good possibility that there will be a bigger (mosquito) problem this year,” Saratoga Public Works Director Chuck Bartlett said. “It depends on how the snow melts.”
Saratoga officials are advertising for a contractor to spray for mosquitos. Bartlett expects to finish evaluating bids by the end of the month.
“We have stepped up our efforts because of the threat of the West Nile virus,” Bartlett said. Last year, Carbon County saw its first case of the virus. “But one case is one too many,” Bartlett said.
The plan of attack is to target the larvae. The first phase begins in late May, as public works personnel plan to place a larvicide in pools of standing water. The large tablets that last a few months, are designed to inhibit mosquito growth. Usually, larvicides do not pose threats to humans or wildlife because they do not generally leech into groundwater.
In mid-June, mosquito spraying is expected to begin. The Saratoga town budget includes about $70,000 for mosquito control, but because this is a wetter year, Bartlett said it may cost more to spray Scourge 412.
The mosquito control crew monitors Scourge 412’s success by setting up mosquito traps, nets that capture the pests. “We have to count and classify them,” Bartlett said.
According to Bartlett, Scourge 412 doesn’t have major environmental ramifications. It isolates four types of mosquitos and should not harm honey bees or most other insects, though it often does kill some flies.
Still, since all pesticides are inherently toxic, residents should take precautions such as minimizing contact with sprayed surfaces for 24 hours so the pesticide has time to sufficiently degrade.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
LSRV building planning progresses
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Getting a head start on the evaluation of a building that has an estimated third of its life left, an advisory board at the Little Snake River Valley School has teamed with the district’s planning architect Brad Oberg to create a list of facility recommendations.
“Every square inch is well used,” Oberg said of the building in his presentation to the Carbon County District 1 School Board. In fact, the space is so well used, the appeal for adequate storage popped up more than once throughout the evaluation.
“The art room definitely needs to be addressed.” Our art teacher “is constantly struggling with where she can store supplies,” advisory board Chairwoman Janet Herold said.
The recommendations include space for teachers when they’re not in the classroom. Advisory board members consider the existing lounges to be less than ideal.
Since the gyms are used by the community members as well as sports teams, a second gym is also in order.
Technology updates were high on the priority list. Audio enhancement is becoming a staple for educational environments nationwide, and the advisory board wants to adopt it soon.
As the school’s programs excel, teachers need more space and better facilities. Herold outlined a need for an expanded vocational agriculture department as well as updated athletic facilities.
“The locker rooms are antiquated, horrendous,” she said.
Other suggestions involved sprucing the school up so that the students, staff and community would be proud to call it a community center.
Herold pointed out that the elementary, junior high and high school students should have boundaries between them to foster grade-level pride. Currently, elementary students walk past high school classrooms to get to gym class, and Herold said that middle school students sometimes get lost in the shuffle.
Upgrades to electrical, lighting, fire safety, security, plumbing, flooring and heating and ventilation work are all on the agenda.
Since the community takes pride in the school, it is well maintained. “A lot of schools are not half this old and are not in half as good of shape,” LSRV Principal Rick Newton said. Still, the roofs, the parking lot and general accessibility need to be addressed, he said.
Partnership should help
Ken Daraie, director of the Wyoming School Facilities Commission, has agreed to help with the design of the Little Snake River Valley community center as a precursor to future school construction.
According to Jim Espy, a Carbon County District 1 School Board member, the school usually comes before the center.
In Baggs’ case, Daraie acknowledged the community’s predicament and suggested that the commission become part of the community center’s joint powers board. As part of the design process, the board would decide together where to put the school and center complex.
“The design process is always expensive,” Espy said. “If the SFC helps out, it will save a lot.”
The partnership could help secure a grant from the Wyoming Business Council. The grant requires that the funds go toward expanding, renovating or enhancing existing structures or schools.
The town of Baggs planned to purchase a building to which the new center could be attached. However, the expense may be circumvented if the business council takes into consideration plans for a new school at the same location.
Times staff writer
Getting a head start on the evaluation of a building that has an estimated third of its life left, an advisory board at the Little Snake River Valley School has teamed with the district’s planning architect Brad Oberg to create a list of facility recommendations.
“Every square inch is well used,” Oberg said of the building in his presentation to the Carbon County District 1 School Board. In fact, the space is so well used, the appeal for adequate storage popped up more than once throughout the evaluation.
“The art room definitely needs to be addressed.” Our art teacher “is constantly struggling with where she can store supplies,” advisory board Chairwoman Janet Herold said.
The recommendations include space for teachers when they’re not in the classroom. Advisory board members consider the existing lounges to be less than ideal.
Since the gyms are used by the community members as well as sports teams, a second gym is also in order.
Technology updates were high on the priority list. Audio enhancement is becoming a staple for educational environments nationwide, and the advisory board wants to adopt it soon.
As the school’s programs excel, teachers need more space and better facilities. Herold outlined a need for an expanded vocational agriculture department as well as updated athletic facilities.
“The locker rooms are antiquated, horrendous,” she said.
Other suggestions involved sprucing the school up so that the students, staff and community would be proud to call it a community center.
Herold pointed out that the elementary, junior high and high school students should have boundaries between them to foster grade-level pride. Currently, elementary students walk past high school classrooms to get to gym class, and Herold said that middle school students sometimes get lost in the shuffle.
Upgrades to electrical, lighting, fire safety, security, plumbing, flooring and heating and ventilation work are all on the agenda.
Since the community takes pride in the school, it is well maintained. “A lot of schools are not half this old and are not in half as good of shape,” LSRV Principal Rick Newton said. Still, the roofs, the parking lot and general accessibility need to be addressed, he said.
Partnership should help
Ken Daraie, director of the Wyoming School Facilities Commission, has agreed to help with the design of the Little Snake River Valley community center as a precursor to future school construction.
According to Jim Espy, a Carbon County District 1 School Board member, the school usually comes before the center.
In Baggs’ case, Daraie acknowledged the community’s predicament and suggested that the commission become part of the community center’s joint powers board. As part of the design process, the board would decide together where to put the school and center complex.
“The design process is always expensive,” Espy said. “If the SFC helps out, it will save a lot.”
The partnership could help secure a grant from the Wyoming Business Council. The grant requires that the funds go toward expanding, renovating or enhancing existing structures or schools.
The town of Baggs planned to purchase a building to which the new center could be attached. However, the expense may be circumvented if the business council takes into consideration plans for a new school at the same location.
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