Powell Tribune

During a Tuesday meeting, Park County Commissioner Lloyd Thiel (at left) visits with fellow commissioners Lee Livingston, Dossie Overfield and Joe Tilden about ways the county could help protect homeowners; county planning director Joy Hill is seen in the foreground, with Commissioner Scott Mangold out of the frame.

County considers ways to protect homeowners from shoddy contractors

After hearing complaints about some contractors getting away with shoddy work, Park County commissioners are considering how they can help protect rural homeowners. On Tuesday, commissioners … more

By CJ Baker | 1/13/22

A grizzly bear crosses Swan Lake Flat in Yellowstone National Park in October. The State of Wyoming says the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s grizzly bear population has recovered and that management of the species should be turned over to the states — though the National Park Service would continue to manage wildlife within Yellowstone’s boundaries.

State files petition to delist grizzly bears

On Tuesday, Wyoming officially submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to have grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem removed from protections under the Endangered … more

By Mark Davis | 1/13/22

Dan Jordan and his hunting mentor from Wyoming Disabled Hunters, Scott Smith, pose with Jordan’s mule deer buck after a successful hunt last fall. The group is now accepting applications for the 2022 season — and looking for volunteers to help out with hunts.

Group seeks help to continue serving disabled hunters

When Dan Jordan saw a huge muley buck walk out of the brushy bottoms a couple hundred yards away, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then the monster started heading his way. The 30-inch … more

By Mark Davis | 1/13/22

After serving four terms as Park County’s coroner, Tim Power plans to retire at the end of this term. Power helped stabilize the office after a tumultuous period.

Coroner to retire at end of term

After serving as Park County’s coroner for nearly two decades, Tim Power plans to retire at the end of his current term, in early 2023. It will be the first time in his career that Power … more

By CJ Baker | 1/13/22

Local COVID case numbers going up again

Cases of COVID-19 are continuing to rise in Park County, with the number of local residents actively infected with the disease more than doubling over the past two weeks. However, the number of … more

1/13/22

Powell High School students Allison Morrison, Jordyn Dearcorn, Gracie Trotter, Lilly Morrison and Stetson Davis discuss plans for a greenhouse they’re designing. The students, who are in Wendy Smith’s science classes, were named Wyoming state winners in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Not pictured are Steven Stambaugh, Katie Beavers and Simon Shoopman.

PHS named a state winner in Samsung contest

A group of Powell High School students recently won a statewide award in a STEM contest for an innovative greenhouse project they’re designing, with the prize valued at $6,500. PHS was named … more

By Tessa Baker | 1/13/22

Powell Police Officer Matt Koritnik — seen here at left with a prior beard — is among the officers growing facial hair to help raise funds for Wyoming’s Special Olympics athletes.

Police again using beards to raise funds

The Powell Police Department is again participating in the annual Donate to Insulate fundraiser to support Special Olympics Wyoming and the Wyoming Law Enforcement Torch Run. Powell officers will … more

1/13/22

Burlington author to discuss memoir at Powell Library

Melissa Cook walked into the Powell Tribune smiling from ear to ear; from both ears hung miniature versions of her new book, “The Call of the Last Frontier: The True Story of a Woman’s … more

By Braden Schiller | 1/13/22

A Wyoming Department of Transportation message sign warns motorists to be aware of bighorn sheep on U.S. highway 14/16/20 at the boundary of the Shoshone National Forest near Wapiti. Some local residents were unhappy the message seemed to mock the Black Lives Matter movement.

WYDOT message draws complaints

WYDOT announced seemingly uncontroversial plans in late December to use message signs to remind motorists of posted speed limits and the presence of wildlife along the North Fork Highway. But when a … more

By Mark Davis | 1/13/22

A mule deer is seen in the North Fork area last fall. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is hosting meetings in Powell and Cody this month to discuss the management of local deer herds.

Game and Fish schedules mule deer meetings

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will host two public meetings this month to discuss mule deer management in the Upper Shoshone mule deer herd unit in Park County. The areas of concern include … more

1/13/22

Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative continues work

In late November and early December, Wyoming Outdoor Recreation’s six Collaboratives met for their bi-monthly meetings. Organized throughout the state by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, … more

1/13/22

BSF starts in Powell and Cody

Bible Study Fellowship International is currently holding Bible studies on the book of Matthew. Classes are available for men, women and children, with in-person and virtual options available. The … more

1/13/22

NY Times says Teton County has highest COVID rate

JACKSON (WNE) — As of last week, The New York Times’ coronavirus dashboard showed Teton County leading the nation in daily COVID-19 case rates. With a daily average of 539 cases per … more

1/13/22

Gillette mayor resigns over texts

Louise Carter-King resigned as the mayor of the City of Gillette last week, two days after apologizing for old text messages that surfaced — including off-color and denigrating language about … more

By Jake Goodrick, Gillette News Record Via Wyoming News Exchange | 1/13/22

A volunteer delivers food to truckers stranded in Rock Springs on Jan. 6. A team of volunteers organized by Joey Majko makes it a point to deliver hot food to truckers when they are unable to travel because of bad weather.

Rock Springs volunteers feed stranded truckers

I-80 eastbound was closed from several directions the afternoon of Jan. 6 due to brutal winter conditions. Truck drivers had to stay in Rock Springs and Green River for up to 27 hours. Even … more

By Trina Brittain, Rocket Miner Via Wyoming News Exchange | 1/13/22

While Park County has been experiencing drought conditions, the snowpack in the area — including in the North Fork area west of Cody — recently improved to 87% to 96% of median moisture levels. The area’s irrigation systems can blunt the effects of a drought on local ag producers, but the dry conditions can still make an impact.

Drought conditions ‘extreme’ or ‘severe’ in Park County

As 2022 began, about half of Park County is in extreme drought conditions, with the rest in severe drought conditions, according to the North American Drought Monitor. In the Big Horn Basin, … more

By Kevin Killough | 1/11/22

Federal fugitive apprehended in Cody

After spending three months on the run, a Cody man wanted on federal drug and escape charges has been apprehended. Philip A. Dobbins was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on Wednesday night, at a … more

By CJ Baker | 1/11/22

Morgan Schmidt (left) and Victoria Beaudry (right) work on painting the underside of a model F-22 fighter. It’s the most complex project ever undertaken by Powell High School’s art students.

PHS art students take on their most complicated assignment

Powell High School’s art department has done a lot of large scale projects over the years, but its upcoming project poses a particular challenge. This year they have decided to construct a … more

By Braden Schiller | 1/11/22

Education advisory group begins seeking public input

The Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) Advisory Group has begun soliciting input from parents, families, communities and businesses on “how to create the ideal … more

By Kevin Killough | 1/11/22

Wapiti artist James Bama painted ‘A Contemporary Sioux Indian’ in 1978. Bama, who’s best known for his realistic renderings of figures from the contemporary West, was named as a recipient of the Wyoming Arts Council’s 2021 Governor’s Arts Award.

Two area artists to be honored

A pair of area artists will be among the recipients of the Wyoming Arts Council’s 2021 Governor’s Arts Award. Wapiti resident James Bama and a representative for Meeteetse photographer … more

By Mark Davis | 1/11/22