Spectators watched as Red Devil pilots Dan McLung and Buck Roetman cross paths in mid flight as part of their aerobatics performance at Saturday’s Wings and Wheels show that took place August 15 and 16 at the Powell Municipal Airport.
Tribune photo by Kara Bacon
The annual Wing ‘n’ Wheels event this past weekend was a success, according to Rinda Coons, interim executive director of the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“The numbers were definitely up this year for the car show. We had 100 cars entered,” she said, “Numbers were up for general attendance, too.”
She added that she would have exact numbers later this week.
“The pilots said it went well. They seemed pretty happy, so that’s good,” she said, “The weather was beautiful, thank goodness. It wasn’t too hot or cold, so that was great.”
The family-oriented event, in its twelfth year, featured an aerial performance by Red Eagle Air Sports, a vintage car show, and flights for the public, as well as food and entertainment.
Wetzel hopes to complete journey from Pioneers' bat boy to Wall of Fame
Ben Wetzel, shown in front of the Powell Pioneers’ Wall of Fame, recently completed his second year as the bat boy for the team. His contributions and dedication to the team during the regular season were rewarded with an invitation to travel with the team to Cheyenne for the recent state tournament. Tribune photo by David Dickey
Ben Wetzel has many aspirations when it comes to his baseball career. Like many 11-year-old boys, he envisions greatness on the diamond, particularly the one at Ed Lynn Field, which serves as the home of the Powell Pioneers.
The team's self-proclaimed No. 1 fan, Wetzel sees himself one day blasting a game-winning home run or making a stellar defensive play to help the orange and black to a dramatic victory. That, he said, is all part of what it will take for him to realize his goal of earning a spot on the Pioneers' Wall of Fame, which decorates the front side of the concession stand at the local American Legion ballpark.
The wall is adorned with photos of Pioneers past and present who have achieved some type of noteworthy milestone, whether it's hitting .400 in a season or striking out 21 batters in a game. Like those already there, Wetzel hopes to one day carve out his own little space on the wall and in Pioneers' lore.
Wetzel, who carries the nickname Bucky, still has a few years to go before he will have a chance to make that dream become a reality, so for now he's content to fulfill his role as the team's bat boy. But if his ability to handle whatever tasks are tossed his way in his current position is any indicator, Wetzel's a lock to achieve Pioneer greatness.
Today (Tuesday) is Wyoming’s primary. It’s important not to discount this election.
Voters, both Republicans and Democrats, have some tough choices to make.
Republicans will choose between Mark Gordon, Michael Holland, Cynthia Lummis and Bill Winney to challenge Democrat Gary Trauner for Barbara Cubin’s seat in the U.S. House.
Democrats, too, have some decisions to make. Wyoming’s two U.S. Senate seats currently are occupied by Senators Mike Enzi and John Barasso — both Republicans. Democrats Al Hamburg and Chris Rothfuss are squaring off to run for Enzi’s spot, while Nick Carter and Keith Goodenough each hope to challenge Barasso in the general election.
On the county level, Republicans also will select the two candidates, of six, who will move on to the general election in the race for Park County Commission.
Of Judy Allshouse, Dave Burke, Terry Hinkle, Hank Whitelock, Margaret Wilde and incumbent Bucky Hall, who will best serve the people of Park County?
Voters better be ready to make that decision in the primary, since the two who survive — barring a strong write-in candidacy — will go on to fill the two open seats. No Democrat is running.
Though voters can only cast ballots based on their party affiliation, voting in the primary is an important step in the democratic process.
It allows each party the chance to decide who will best represent them in the general. In the case of the County Commission, for all practical purposes, it is the election.
Anyone who says the primary election doesn’t matter should reconsider.
A second Powell city employee has been accused of stealing gasoline.
Bill Fields, head of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, has been accused of using a city gas card to buy fuel for himself.
He is being charged with misdemeanor theft by bailee — punishable by up to six months in jail and $750 in fines, in addition to any restitution sought, said Deputy County Attorney Tim Blatt.
Fields, 53, is accused of stealing about $127.32 worth of gas, Blatt said.
He was cited last Wednesday.
Fields is the father of Jason Fields, a Water Department employee who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor larceny earlier this month.
Jason Fields allegedly used a city gas card for his own vehicles, court documents say. He was given six months of probation and a suspended jail sentence. Restitution has yet to be determined.
City Administrator Zane Logan said the city has procedures in place to deal with personnel issues.
“I’m in the middle of that right now,” he said.
Logan said he asked Powell police to investigate all departments for possible gas theft.
Powell Police Chief Tim Feathers said the charges against Bill Fields represent the end of the investigation.
Blatt noted that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Bill Fields is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today (Tuesday).
City councilman Tim Sapp is challenging incumbent mayor Scott Mangold in this year’s election.
Sapp, who is finishing his second term as Ward 3 city councilman, was born and raised in Powell. He has worked for Superior Machine Company since 1972. Sapp said he is running to fulfill a promise he made eight years ago.
“I promised my constituents when I first ran for city council that I would eventually run for mayor,” he said.
Incumbent Scott Mangold is part owner, program director, sports reporter, “engineer and gardener” at local radio station KPOW. He grew up in Montana and North Dakota and moved to Powell from Seattle in 1980. He is wrapping up his first term as mayor.
“I have a lot of unfinished projects — Centennial Park and other events — and some things I’d like to lobby the Legislature about,” said Mangold, when asked why he chose to run again.
“I would like to see the use of ankle bracelets for sex offenders. I’d like municipalities to have more say in monies coming in, and for counties to have a bigger part. I also want to see the swimming pool project through, to deal with construction problems. I’d also like to lobby the Legislature to do something about gas prices,” he added.
Gunbarrel Fire, now at 41,000 acres, is a history-making tool
Wapiti District Ranger Terry Root (right) told lodge and cabin owners and residents of the North Fork at a Wednesday morning briefing on the Gunbarrel Fire that the forest service “didn’t want another Blackwater Fire Memorial,” a reference to firefighters killed in battling fire on Blackwater Creek on the North Fork in 1937. Citing difficult terrain, the decision was made to preserve public safety and protect structures on the North Fork corridor while allowing the Gunbarrel Fire to burn in beetle-infested timber of the rugged back country. In the foreground is Dave Van Norman, operations section chief of the incident command staff. Tribune photo by Dave Bonner
You’re going to see smoke for a long time from the Gunbarrel Fire on the Shoshone National Forest west of Cody.
It is growing in size, and if all goes according to plan, it will get even bigger in the rugged back country on the north side of the North Fork corridor.
This is a beneficial fire, as far as forest fires go.
So said forest managers as the Gunbarrel Fire grew beyond 41,000 acres Wednesday. In a briefing at the old Wapiti Ranger District headquarters on the North Fork, forest managers and incident command officers touted the history-making significance of this fire as a tool to clean out a beetle-killed forest.
In fire control terms, the Gunbarrel is classified as a “fire-use fire,” one that is managed to perform a benefit to the health of the forest. Incident Commander Don Angell of Denver said the Gunbarrel Fire is now the largest “fire-use fire” in the history of forest firefighting in the Rocky Mountain Region.
That doesn’t mean the fire goes unchecked. The priority remains to protect structures and public safety, including the safety of firefighters.
Necessary actions are taken to protect lodges, cabins and other structures and to keep traffic moving safely on the North Fork highway, U.S. 14-16-20.
Misty D. Walbert, 28, of Cody has been identified as the driver in the one vehicle accident Tuesday evening just outside Ralston. She was life-flighted to Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
Passenger Gerald D. Brown, 43, also of Cody, died en route.
Linebacker Ward Dobbs is one of several returning starters expected to help anchor the Cowboys’ defense in 2008. Courtesy photo/University of Wyoming
A year ago, the University of Wyoming’s defense was among the top units in the country. By season’s end, the Cowboys were ranked 22nd in both total defense and sacks, 27th against the run and 30th in pass defense. With seven starters returning from that group, it’s no surprise that UW head coach Joe Glenn is expecting an encore performance in 2008.
“We’re going to be more physical,” said UW head coach Joe Glenn. “I don’t think there is any question about that. “(Defensive coordinator) Mike Breske has a great nucleus there.”
Among the anchors for that unit with be the players along the defensive front, including junior defensive tackle John Fletcher (6-6, 280). Fletcher had an outstanding sophomore campaign and earned Second Team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He recorded 10.5 sacks last season and ranked 11th nationally. He also had 14 tackles for losses to rank 52nd in the nation, and his total of 60 tackles for the season placed him sixth on the team.
The Gunbarrel Fire on the North Fork of the Shoshone River has grown, but Cascade, Tumble Creek and LeHardy fires have slowed significantly.
Gunbarrel rising
Significant growth of the Gunbarrel Fire occurred on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday, according to official updates Wednesday.
The 41,000-acre fire, about 40 miles west of Cody, is burning on the north side of U.S. 14-16-20. The fire is burning in timber consisting of 50-80 percent beetle-killed spruce and fir trees.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire had grown by more than 3,450 acres Since Monday’s update.
To date, about $4.4 million has been spent fighting the fire.
Growth took place Tuesday evening when islands on Turret and Grizzly creeks ignited, said the report.
Throughout Tuesday, crews labored to remove fuels on south side of the highway near Kitty Creek.
The update said similar fuel reduction projects have occurred around 160 structures on the edge of the North Absaroka Wilderness area.
The firefighting effort is considered preparation — removing trees and brush, installing sprinklers and hose-lays, or running fire hose from a water source to the protection location, said Ben Brack, public information officer for the Rocky Mountain incident management team.
Preparing lodges and cabins can protect these areas for this season or safeguard them from future fire seasons. Brack called it a proactive approach.
At a time when Americans are more polarized than ever — the primary election is creeping closer, and races promise to rise in intensity in the coming months — the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games offer a welcome moment of pause.
When the Olympics roll around, most of us actually agree on one thing: We want our team to bring home as many medals as possible.
People who struggle to see eye-to-eye at any other time find it hard to argue about Michael Phelps’ stunning performances — and he’s only halfway through his races. Others who usually would be hard-pressed to cop to watching gymnastics or beach volleyball admit to being riveted to their TV screens when an American medal is on the line.
And who doesn’t get misty-eyed, or at least feel a twinge of emotion, as they watch a U.S. athlete fall off the balance beam? Or when an unsung or underdog American teammate pulls off a medal-winning performance?
It’s a nice reminder that patriotism has a place and a role.
In a couple of weeks, we’ll see polarization return to the forefront. Increased drilling vs. conservation. Stay the course vs. pull out the troops.
Public funding of capital facilities vs. no new buildings. Red Sox vs. Yankees. Business as usual.
But for the moment, “our” team is playing. Our players are doing great. And we’re pulling for them.
