July 2, 2024

Sunrise tours highlight life in old mining town, archaeology prospects
SUNRISE – It’s been 10 years since John Voight shook hands with local archaeologists Dr. George Frisan and Dr. George Ziemens to allow exploratory archaeological digging on his property: a former world class iron ore and copper mine, complete with the ghost town of the mining camp Sunrise, and remnants of the first YMCA built in Wyoming.
“This PaleoIndian red ochre mine is unlike any other archaeology site and is one of the most significant sights in North America,” George Ziemens said to a crowd of over 250 people gathered in front of the old YMCA building at Sunrise during an annual tour on June 22.
There have also been artifacts found in layers underneath those 13,000-year-old layers, with “good” dates as far back as 15,000 years using the ISL method.

Guernsey neighborhood watch,
a.k.a. Platte River Posse, gains steam
GUERNSEY – Plans are moving forward for the Platte River Posse as members of the community join together to form a type of neighborhood watch program in the Guernsey and Hartville area. At a meeting last week attended by over 20 people, it was agreed to proceed with the name and logo, Platte River Posse, to represent the group that sprang up after some serious crimes were committed on the streets of Guernsey. At the meeting, posse members were asked to note any streetlights that were not working and report them to the town.

Marry me?...
GUERNSEY – Tarryn DeMers got a big surprise June 22nd at Guernsey's Madison Beach when boyfriend Brendin Garvie handed her this special, personalized bottle and then dropped to one knee with an engagement ring.
Garvie said he had planned the occasion some time ago but managed to keep it under wraps until the 22nd.
Although a bit suspicious of just why Brendin’s parents, who live in another state, were going to be coming to Guernsey for the weekend, said she truly was surprised when he presented her the bottle with the big question.
And of course, she said “yes!”

Shooting complex a no-go for
Guernsey
GUERNSEY – Though a professional application packet was put together, according to councilman Joe Michaels, the opportunity for Guernsey to be chosen as the site for a state-funded, world class multi-million-dollar shooting sports facility has passed up the little town nestled between the hills of Guernsey State Park, the Oregon Trail, and the North Platte River.
He added, the town submitted a great application and made it through the first cut in the process to seek a location for the state shooting sports complex.

Golf cart Ordinance passes final vote, 3-2
GUERNSEY – The council voted to pass the golf cart ordinance on its third and final reading, with councilwoman Penny Wells and Mayor Delgado voting “nae” and councilman Dale Harris, Kelly Augustyn, and Joe Michaels voting “aye.” The new ordinance requires golf carts to be operated only by individuals with a legal driver’s license and during daylight hours. The ordinance was created to reduce incidents of reckless driving, or with more than four individuals on the cart. Mayor Delgado said at previous council meetings, he is in favor of more strict rules, including licensing of the carts, and restricting their use to and from the golf course.

Public hearing seeks input into
expansion of senior center, library
GUERNSEY – Taking the job for a $1 fee plus reasonable travel expenses, Bruce Heimbuck, former Guernsey Economic and Tourism Development coordinator, will be writing a grant at the request of the Town of Guernsey to help build an addition to the library and senior center. Heimbuck said he will do what he can with the funds he is awarded to maximize space, from 2,000 to 3,000 more square feet than is currently available in the shared building.
There were many ideas presented for Heimbuck to consider adding into his proposal. In the end, the town will commit to provide matching funds for the grant in the form of the land they own, as well as an additional $300,000 if needed.

Restrictions currently effective
in reducing water usage
GUERNSEY –Last week, water restrictions went into effect with stiff penalties for violators. Water will be restricted to three days a week for a maximum three hours, and only in early morning or late evening timeframes.
As part of the process of connecting the town’s water to a single point prior to distribution to residents, the tank has been drained and will receive a complete cleaning, sanitation and maintenance overhaul before being re-connected to the water system. That process will take a couple months while in the meantime, the temporary tank, which holds less than half the volume with 450,000 gallons, will be used by the town.

Cowboy Derby keeps putters hot
WHEATLAND – The third annual Cowboy Derby Golf Tournament was held on June 7th and 8th. The Cowboy Derby is a fundraiser put on by numerous volunteers and supported by many businesses in Platte County. The funds help support junior golf in our area and our Wheatland High School golf team. Over $15,000 has been earned the first two years of the event. This year 80 competitors entered the event in two-person teams.
In addition, this year’s Cowboy Derby was kicked off by a junior tournament on June 6, boasting ten teams of two individuals that entered the event. Local Wheatland High School and Wheatland Middle School golf coaches assisted in putting on the event, and WHS golfers helped caddy for the junior golfers. Teams of two competed in match play of three-hole rounds.

Competitive week for Lobos
ends at home field
GILLETTE – The Lobos had yet another busy competitive week starting off with a double header in Gillette against the Rustlers on Wednesday, June 26th. Our fellas dropped both games losing 10-4 and 19-9.

July 9, 2024

Highest ever Independence Day parade and watch crowd
GUERNSEY—With nearly perfect weather, Guernsey’s July Fourth parade proclaiming “Freedom Marches On” exceeded the norms not only with the overall length itself, but the numbers of those watching it.
With nearly 40 entries in addition to the classic and antique vehicles interspersed in the route, estimates of those gathered along Wyoming Avenue between the school and the north end near the railroad were between 800 and 1000, certainly a record for any parade in the past 30 years.
Longtime volunteers included Chuck and Doug Frederick, who run check-in and line-up, and Vicki Hood served as parade chairman. All three have worked for 30 years or longer on the July Fourth parade.
This year’s Grand Marshal was Ada Pulos, longtime community resident known for her kind spirit and her willingness to volunteer any time she’s needed. She was honored several years ago as Wyoming’s Volunteer of the Year. She rode in an antique doctor’s carriage pulled by a classic John Deere tractor, both furnished courtesy of Chuck Brown from Wheatland.
This year’s July Fourth celebration is now just another one in the books, but many said it was also one of the best.

Council shoots down
urban renewal petition
GUERNSEY – Citing lack of funds and issues with the approach taken, the Guernsey town council approved a motion to “not approve the urban renewal petition application at this time.”
Before the vote, councilman Kellie Augustyn said, after denying the petition, the town did need to discuss the issues presented by petitioners with the “next-to-be town planner.”
Mayor Ed Delgado agreed.
The urban renewal petition application was approved by Guernsey Economic Development committee and forwarded to the town for a vote. It presented a list of properties identified by former town planner Chuck Porter to be in violation of town code as potentially presenting health and safety dangers to the public. The urban renewal plan would have then set the town on a path to obtain those properties, address the issues (including demolition), then put the properties up for sale.

Surveyer says town needs
new easements for current roads
GUERNSEY – The council made a motion to table any action on a survey by Steil Surveying Services, LLC that would address the issue of many streets not being platted within town limits. Mayor Delgado said there are many residents who are currently paying taxes to the middle of the street. Among other things, the survey recommends rectifying that situation by obtaining new easements for the town for the roads currently in existence. A decision will be made on the issue at the July 16 council meeting.

July 16, 2024

Lobos host last regular season
baseball game
WHEATLAND – The Lobos went on a three-game win streak starting with a road win versus the Laramie Rangers (game 1: 8-3, Rangers; game 2: 9-5, Lobos) on Thursday, July 10th and continuing with wins against the Buffalo Bulls (final scores: 15-5, Lobos; 7-6, Lobos) on Friday the 12th. This week our sluggers took on the Tigers of T-Town for their last regular season home game, ending with a 16-6 loss for the Lobos. The Lobos then traveled to Laramie and Buffalo to conclude their busy week. Next week team manager Myles Hixson and Post 10 of Wheatland will begin postseason play which includes their Class A state tournament.
The Lobos finished the regular season 11-36.

July 23, 2024

Guernsey police sergeant resigns at council meeting, land swap with military department postponed
GUERNSEY – Citing continued discrepancies between his signed contract with the Town of Guernsey and his paycheck, Guernsey’s number-two police officer tendered his resignation at the council meeting last week.
The council made a motion to hold off a decision for 120 days on a proposed land swap with the Wyoming Military Department. Councilman Kellie Augustyn was absent from the meeting. The swap would exchange ownership an acreage of military land north of the town, in exchange for the town’s ownership of the airport.

Superintendent reflects on first year,
has eye on the future
GUERNSEY—Coming to Guernsey-Sunrise Schools in August of 2023, Superintendent Lisa Weigel says she approached her new position as a spectator: getting a feel for the school, the community, and the desire to define both the strengths and the weaknesses that were present.
Now nearly a year later, she is reflecting on what she observed and is more able to define what needs to be done to make improvements and grow the successes that she has seen.
“When I came last year, the priority was doing a lot of listening and developing relationships,” she said.
Even though Guernsey is a familiar place to her because she once was a G-S student in her elementary years, she acknowledges that times are much different now. “It was important to me to understand the needs and wants of the community, the students and the staff. We want to establish a positive culture that really supports the kids, is student-focused, and finds the strengths of the staff.” Weigel says she sees the staff has many strengths and she hopes to “grow a culture that supports those strengths and gives students a voice and be a part of improving their school.”
Weigel’s fresh outlook on the future and her positive attitude in her approach should please district patrons. She is realistic with her approach and understands that especially in a small town, the school is a huge piece of the community. She meets issues head on and has a great capacity for listening.
After a year of determined observation, she is looking forward to this school year and seems ready to take the next steps to make improvements.
She made it quite clear that she knows it is a process that, as she said, “will take time and we can’t magically turn things around, but we’re getting there.”

Local youths successfully play
softball on regional teams
WHEATLAND – Numerous local athletes have been competing all over the region and country for softball. Here are a few highlights of the recent state tournaments. If there are any additions, please feel free to let us know for next week’s issue.
State Champions in the 14U league are Mya Connel, Peyton Teton, Sophie Meyer, and Kamlee Collar. They played for the Laramie 14U squad.

July 30, 2024

First combined farmer’s market,
music in the park held in Guernsey
GUERNSEY – A combination farmer’s market and concert in the park was a success, according to one organizer, Misty Thomas. Last Thursday was first time the two were combined in Guernsey, offering a combination of quality products for people to peruse, then hang out and enjoy Gordon Davis Park.
The farmer’s market is sponsored by the Guernsey Economic and Tourism Development Corporation and are held every Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m through Sept. 19. A special Duck Days Market is planned for August 24 from 11 to 2 p.m.
Concerts in the Park are planned for Aug. 17, a back-to-school dance at G-S school featuring DJ Cos, and Aug. 23 featuring Pioneer Road. They are sponsored by GETDC, the Town of Guernsey, and Tri-City Parks and Recreation.

Guernsey discusses utility rake hikes; current rates ‘not sustainable’
GUERNSEY– A decision must be made in the next few months by Guernsey’s Town Council on utility rate increases for all utilities provided for residents. At a workshop held last week the reasoning was explained for the need of the increase.
The budget for the enterprise systems (water, sewer, electric, and sanitation) includes deficits from one category that gets funded by revenues in the other, and very little is in reserve for any of the systems.
Wyoming Rural Water Association representatives were invited by Mayor Ed Delgado to the meeting to help explain the need for to increase water rates. Kathy Weinsaft is a training specialist for Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems.
“It’s not sustainable,” Weinsaft said. She explained there needs to be enough income to cover the costs of maintaining and testing the drinking water system, but there also needs to be a reserve for emergency repairs and a gradual set-aside of money for future replacement of the water system, when it ages out over a period of decades.
Weinsaft also said the monthly water rates in Guernsey are lower than the average in the state. “
Currently residents are paying $30 per month for water. The council is looking at increasing that to $40 per tap – possibly at the end of the year – and is considering conducting a water study to identify the exact amount needed for the set-aside to create a fully self-sustainable system of providing safe drinking water to residents of Guernsey.
Electric utility meter rates are proposed to bump up approximately 12 percent to cover the costs inflation and salary increases over the next three years.
There was no action taken by the council at the workshop, but the concerns of residents were heard, and a discussion of the methods and timing of increases was considered by the council for upcoming council meetings where final decisions will be made.

Aug. 6, 2024

Off-grid home burned in
Pleasant Valley Fire
GUERNSEY—She had the outside finished. The interior work was to begin this year.
A final retirement haven, built in the peaceful and scenic hills above a small Wyoming community was something 82-year-old Karen Anderson-Gillis had spent years working toward. But on Tuesday afternoon, the Pleasant Valley Fire near Guernsey swept through the canyon where Karen’s labor of love stood, and within minutes reduced it to a smoldering mound of ashes and smoke.
Fortunately, she was not at the location when the fire came through.
But what was very unfortunate was that very few people knew about the little place in the hills. Unseen from the nearest main road, and with no registered utilities, fire crews became aware only when they drove in to the area to search for a possible backfire location. It was the reason early reports kept stating no structures had been lost in the fire.

Pleasant Valley Fire keeps firefighters, residents on their toes
GUERNSEY – A call came into Platte County Dispatch Center approximately 2:02 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, of a fire on Pleasant Valley Road near Guernsey. That was the beginning of a battle to stop the aggressive progressive of an intense fire across both Platte and Goshen Counties, eventually burning approximately 29,000 acres with a 32-mile perimeter and involving every possible fire suppression source available. High temperatures, dry conditions, difficult terrain, and merging with Goshen County’s Haystack Fire all contributed to the difficulty of containing the fire. Hartville residents and multiple county road residences were evacuated, and the town of Ft. Laramie nearly required evacuation. State highways were closed between the interstate and Lingle, and from Guernsey to Manville.
Camp Guernsey and American Red Cross of Wyoming opened overnight shelter services at the base barracks, and the community of Guernsey and surrounding towns donated water, supplies, food, and put together meals to support firefighters and individuals affected by evacuations.

Two separate fires ignite over weekend
PLATTE COUNTY – Sunday night, a lightning strike started a fire on the hills east of Wheatland, a couple miles south of Grayrocks Reservoir off Grayrocks Road. The first page went out to Antelope Gap wildland firefighters at 8:11 p.m.
Platte County Sheriff’s Office reported at 10:40 p.m. the fire was under control and crews were performing mop-up operations at that time. Grayrocks Reservoir was closed for the night, with campers being evacuated as a precaution. The road was closed for approximately two hours during the incident.
North training area fire
A fire started in the impact area of Camp Guernsey’s north training area sometime around 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3. Camp Guernsey’s media contact, Joseph Coslett, Jr., said by Monday morning the fire was 1,500 acres in size, but still contained within the fire break of the training area and does not pose a threat to the public. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is confirmed the fire was not due to any training activities. Firefighters continue to monitor the situation closely.

Aug. 13, 2024

Candidate Meet ‘n Greet hosted by Guernsey VFW, auxilliary
GUERNSEY – Guernsey VFW post 4471 and its auxiliary hosted a Meet the Candidates event last Tuesday at the VFW hall. In attendance were representatives and candidates for all state offices, the candidates running for senate district 6 and house district 4, county commissioner candidates, and town council candidates.
The informal nature of the three-hour event allowed the community to come whenever was convenient for them to talk one-on-one with the candidates and ask questions in order to make a more informed decision at the ballot box on election day, August 20th.
“I’m trying to decide between six candidates for senate district 6. This gives me the opportunity to see them in person and see which one impresses me more,” Beverly Spungin said.
Organizer Ron Green said the turnout numbers weren’t as high as in previous years, but there were still quite a few people who showed up. He was also pleased those who did come were able to speak in person with all but two candidates (Sen. John Barasso and Rep. Harriet Hageman) who didn’t make it but had representatives in attendance.)

Guernsey Rural Fire Department
holds post-fire meeting
GUERNSEY – The Pleasant Valley Fire was 100-percent contained as of Wednesday, Aug. 7, and encompassed an estimated 28,984 acres, according to official reports. The fire started Tuesday, July 30, on Pleasant Valley Road approximately one mile north of Guernsey and resisted the containment efforts of local, regional, and federal firefighters for several days.
“I’ve never seen a fire act like that – and I never want to again,” said Chris Orr, a seasoned firefighter in a post-fire meeting of Guernsey Rural Fire Department.
The meeting took place on a drizzly Thursday, just one day after 100 percent containment of the fire, with guests in attendance including volunteers who spearheaded impromptu support for supplies and meals. Appreciation was expressed for the abundance of community donations and support, as well as fire suppression assistance from fire departments from Platte and surrounding counties.
“As far as everything that went wrong, a lot went right. It’s not something a community practices - maybe we should, but I think we did really well,” said Platte County Emergency Manager Tony Krotz.
There were many donated supplies left over. Plans were made to distribute them among the fire departments in the county, following the reasoning the donations were made by Platte County residents for fire response, (and every fire department in the county responded to the Pleasant Valley Fire) so the surplus should be shared among the fire departments in the county.

Guernsey council approves police K9, increase in wages plus $5k hiring bonus
GUERNSEY – The new officer approved by the Guernsey town council to add to the force of Guernsey Police Department will be something new for the town. At last week’s meeting, the council approved Chief Jay Harrison’s request to add a K9 officer with drug sensing capabilities. The only cost for town would be for the cage and the animal, as Harrison is already a certified K9 handler. The funds are available, since the town budgeted for three police officers, but haven’t had a fully staffed department for several months.
Chief Harrison detailed his efforts and the challenge of finding qualified candidates to fill two open police officer positions in Guernsey.
Councilman Michaels suggested advertising a higher wage to be more competitive. He made a motion to increase the wages of police officers for the municipal police force, and add a bonus paid out over two years of continued employment, and include a signed contract. The motion passed unanimously.

Sneak Peek: Guernsey-Sunrise school has had a facelift this summer
GUERNSEY – A new school year, new faces, and a fresh look are awaiting Guernsey’s youth when they head back to school on August 21st.
Weigel said she and the staff are ready for school to start and are excited for the students to see the updates the school has had over the summer. There is new flooring, the gym floors have been re-surfaced and volleyball lines painted green to be more visible for players, the commons and cafeteria have upgraded furniture and Viking-themed graphics, and there will be an upgraded weight room / wellness room by Sticker Stadium.
At their first official day of work on Monday, new staff posed for a picture and rolled up their sleeves to immerse themselves in the active Guernsey-Sunrise school schedule: Trilby Douglas, P.E.; Kaitlyn Vigil, third grade; Jeni Waring, family and consumer science; Kiley Bennett, second grade; and Jessica DeLaurentis, special education para.
Guernsey-Sunrise principal Liesl Sisson is excited about the experience the new staff is bringing to the school, and is looking forward to having kids back in the building.

Aug. 20, 2024

WNG hosts successful educator
leadership rendezvous
GUERNSEY– The Wyoming National Guard celebrated its fourth successful year of hosting the Educator Leadership Rendezvous from July 30 to Aug. 1, 2024, at the Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center. This annual event continues to build strong relationships between educators and Guard members, highlighting the value of the National Guard as a viable career path for students and enhancing recruitment efforts.
The ELR is a three-day event that pairs Wyoming Guard service members, many of whom are recruiters, with educators as they participate in activities together. Although Camp Guernsey canceled the planned C-130 plane ride due to smoke in the area, participants still experienced a black hawk helicopter ride, rappelled over cliffs, engaged in a weapons simulation, and enjoyed several other activities. The event culminated in an intense paintball competition, pitting squad against squad.

Local family celebrates birthday
by giving…to the blood bank
GUERNSEY –Last Tuesday the Atwood family from Guernsey celebrated Alexis’s sixteenth birthday a little differently than usual: they made it a family affair by donating blood at Guernsey’s Vitalant Blood drive. In all, 10 people donated blood during the drive in Guernsey, and each pint of blood that is donated can affect three people to save lives.

Aug. 27, 2024

Duck Daze delivers big bucks
from little ducks
GUERNSEY—There’s just something about those little ducks! Once a year--five in 1,200 chances is a steep swim for sure—but for some reason, the tickets sell and everyone is ready to see whose duck will get across the finish line first.
Duck Daze 2024 began with a 5K walk/run. Then at the appointed time, the numbered ducks were dropped into the water from the bridge west of town for the race to the south bridge along the North Platte River. It only took about 30 minutes for five little ducks to be declared the big cash winners in this year’s annual Economic Development fundraiser. The first five ducks to cross the finish line were the winners, with the first place $750 grand prize going to Robert Jairrel.
Following the duck race, the community gathered at Gordon Davis Park for lunch, a farmer’s market, games for kids, and a cornhole tournament.

Town increases utility rates
to become sustainable
GUERNSEY – The grant application seeking funding to expand the senior center and library is “99.99 percent done,” Bruce Heimbuck, grant writer for the project, said. If the grant is successful, the town would need to hire an architect to lead the town through the process, vet contractors, etc.
Resolution 2025-002 and 2025-003 were unanimously passed, approving an increase in sanitation rates and tap fees charged for individuals or businesses to tap into the town’s water, sewer, or electric system.
The council also approved ordinance 2025-004 permit fees, adopting the most current international building code (IBC) for building permits.
Councilman Kellie Augustyn reported he has been working with the Platte River Posse, a neighborhood watch group recently formed in the Guernsey-Hartville area. Guernsey Economic Development (GEC) is purchasing three signs to place on each main road coming into town. The Guernsey town council voted (with Augustyn abstaining) to approve paying $283.11 for half the cost of the signs.

Students get biggest win

from golf tournament
GUERNSEY—The golfers won some cash and bragging rights for the next year, but 14 area students were the biggest winners as they received $7,600 in scholarship funds to use for their post high school education.
This year’s tournament marks the 29th year since the tournament was established to help with the high costs of pursuing a degree, something members of the Frederick family have supported for many years, some as teachers and board members in the local school system for many years. Students are encouraged to apply each year they attend the school of their choice and award amounts are increased in relation to how many years the student has attended classes.
Sixty-seven three-person teams, a total of 201 players, entered this year’s tournament held at Guernsey’s Trail Ruts Golf Course. Players were divided into seven flights that each played for their respective portion of the prize pool and the Calcutta.
Trent Engle, Lauren Stovall and Slade Roberson took the top honors as they won second and first place overall, shooting 14 under par.

Sept. 3, 2024

Guernsey Fire mobile command post
a possibility because of donations
GUERNSEY – In its first use, the new Guernsey Volunteer Fire Department mobile command post (left) was utilized for the Pleasant Valley Fire, and according to fire chief Jeff Thomas (above), it has been a great asset to first responders on scene. The display at Duck Daze in Guernsey last week gave the public a chance to see how their donated dollars have been used.

Lady Vikings face tough opponents
at LFL Invite
LINGLE – The Lady Vikings traveled just down the road to take on 1A and 2A opponents in the opening tournament of the 2024 season on Friday.
The Vikings faced off against Pine Bluffs, Kaycee, Hulett, and Hanna-Elk Mountain. Formidable opponent Pine Bluffs – ranked number-three in 2A – proved to be tough to handle as the Vikings lost in two sets 19-25 and 9-25.
Our Guernsey spikers took on Kaycee next, turning things around to finish on top of the Buckaroos in a three-set thriller: 25-22, 18-25, 15-6. Their third match was against the Red Devils of Hulett and the Lady Vike’s were able to stay on a roll, winning in two sets 25-17, 25-16.
The fourth and final match of the day earned the Lady Vikings a 3-1 start on the season as they took care of business against the Miners of Hanna-Elk Mountain in three sets: 25-23, 20-25, 15-9.

Cdebaca ties for sixth at Worland
WORLAND – GSHS Student Athlete, Isaac Cdebeca, and the Wheatland High School Golf team traveled to Worland this past week to compete in a two-day tournament.
The WHS boys finished on top with five golfers in the top ten out of a field of 10 teams composed of 70 golfers. The schools that competed were Riverton, Worland, Cody, Buffalo, Thermopolis, Glenrock, Lovell, Ten Sleep, Wheatland, and Lander.
Cdebeca placed second on the WHS team and tied for sixth overall shooting an 82, 76 for a total of 158. The WHS boys team shot 306 and 302 for a two-day total of 608, which was good for thirty shots over second-place Lander Valley High School.

Sept. 10, 2024

WMPA to pass-through rate increase
GUERNSEY – During last week’s Guernsey Council Meeting, councilman Joe Michaels briefed the rest of the council on the WMPA (Wyoming Municipal Power Agency) summer meeting he attended recently.
He reported, residents could see an increase of a half-cent per kilowatt hour (around $2.50 per month raise in an average electric bill). The rate is being passed through from Basin Electric power supplier to WMPA, who will let the rate hike pass through, but money will be set aside with participating municipalities so rates can stay “reasonable.”

Town to residents: water restrictions
to continue through September
GUERNSEY – Residents will have to be patient a little longer with water restrictions which were put in place June 25. Responding to an inquiry by Ada Pulos, who pointed out the water restrictions have taken a toll on her yard. She was told the restrictions won’t be changed, and while the project is behind schedule, it was estimated restrictions would continue through the end of September at least.

Lady Vike’s achieve homecoming victory
GUERNSEY– The Lady Vikings are having a great start to their season. Following a Homecoming Victory over Hanna-Elk Mountain, they are 4-1. On Friday, Sept. 6, the Lady Vikings won their first conference match against HEM, posting scores of 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, and 25-20. 

Vikings take on Chiefs at home field
GUERNSEY – The gridiron Vikings took on the Chiefs of Wyoming Indian for their first week of battle but fell shy of the victory with a score of 12-26.
At the end of the first quarter Guernsey led with a score of 6-0. Wyoming Indian tied it up at the half at 6-6. With two seconds left on the clock in the third quarter, the Chiefs were able to run the ball in two yards to score and bring the score up to 12-12.
The battle was lost in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs were able to score an additional 14 points to set the final score at 26-12.

Sept. 17, 2024

Fire season still underway:
worst in a decade
PLATTE COUNTY – The smell of smoke, along with visible plumes, have drifted across the county frequently the last couple months, and there’s a reason for it.
Platte County fire warden Aaron Clark says this year has been one of the worst fire seasons in a decade, and it’s due to hot, dry weather and a large fuel load. Summertime lightning storms have brought a small amount of moisture to the area, but everything’s so tinder-dry, any moisture benefits are short-lived. There have been a high number of lightning-ignited blazes, and it has taken a toll on volunteer firefighters responding to each and every call for a smoke check.
“[Our firefighters] are tired and stretched thin. We roll everything we can get, and when we need one engine to respond to a call, we call five because any fire has the potential to become a major fire, very quickly,” Clark said. He added, “The community in Platte County is fantastic, I think there are few counties in the state that have so much support.”
A fire ban has been in effect in all of Platte County since June.

Progress made in refurbishing water tank
GUERNSEY – There has been significant progress on the re-connection of the town’s water tank over the past week.
On Friday, maintenance supervisor Mike Fronapfel said the tank has been cleaned, sanded, and re-lined with an epoxy resin. He said he was still waiting on the stairs to access the top of the tank, and some welding still needed to be done; however, water should be running into the tank by the time the Gazette hits the printing press.
“I want to make sure the tank is flushed three times before I connect to the [town’s] water supply, and some Bac-T tests are taken,” Fronapfel said, adding, so far all the tests for bacteria in the town’s water supply have continued to come back negative.

Three locals participate in
Wyoming Girls State
CHEYENNE– Liberty Whitebird, Leni Dimas, and Lashea Dimas of Guernsey- Sunrise High School were selected to attend the 2024 session of the American Legion Auxiliary Wyoming Girls State held on the campus of Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, June 9-15. 2024.

Lady Vike’s spike wins at jamboree
YODER & CARBON COUNTY – After last week’s games, Guernsey-Sunrise volleyball has improved to 6-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
On Tuesday, Sept 10, the Vikings took on the Cyclones of Southeast. The scores were 6-25, 14-25, and 7-25 ending in a three-set loss. 
On Friday GSHS traveled to a volleyball jamboree in Encampment and Saratoga. The Vikings played a total of six matches and went 4-2 on the weekend. The first match featured the Oilers of Midwest, and Guernsey finished with the win: 16-25, 25-13, and 15-7. 
Next the Vikings took on Farson-Eden and came up short with scores of: 13-25 and 23-25. Saratoga JV was the final match-up of the day and the Lady Vikings pulled out the victory: 23-25, 25-19, and 16-14.
The Lady Vikings went 2-1 on day two of the tournament.

Golf team wins at regionals
BUFFALO –The Wheatland golfers had another great week on the links. The Buffalo Golf Course played host to the 3A East Regional golf tournament this past week and it was a test for all 63 golfers in the field. With that said, the WHS boys team came out victorious with a regional championship after winning by 95 shots over host team Buffalo.
The boys also walked away with five all-conference awards when the tournament concluded.
On the boys’ side, Isaac Cdebaca of Guernsey had a pair of 79’s to finish fourth individually and earn All-Conference. Every boy in the starting lineup earned all-conference since the top ten placers get that award.

Sept. 24, 2024

Officer sworn in; community concerns discussed at council meeting
GUERNSEY – As a way to help fill vacancies at the police department in Guernsey, the town swore in Michael Staiger as a part-time police officer at the council meeting last week. Staiger will provide relief for Guernsey police chief Jay Harrison, who said he is still having difficulty recruiting qualified police officers for the two open positions in the department.
The council addressed issues brought up during public comments, including water bills, abandoned houses, and overgrown weeds in violation of town ordinances.
Town planner John Burfeind said he is communicating with residents to clear up the issue of confusing or inaccurate verbiage in deed-correction requests from the town, which is seeking to ensure accurate easements for the public roads. Burfeind said the surveying company sent a one-size-fits-all letter to residents, rather than specifying the differences where needed.
It was also reported there will be only two more mobile pantries in Guernsey (October and December) due to funding cuts in the program.

Platte County chamber director resigns
WHEATLAND – Last week, Platte County Chamber of Commerce director Shawna Reichert announced she is stepping down from her position of CEO of the chamber to pursue a new chapter in her professional journey. The board will be interviewing for a replacement beginning this week as they seek to have a smooth transition to a new director/CEO when Reichert leaves on Oct. 12.

Golf team wins fourth consecutive
3A state golf championship
RAWLINS – The 3A state golf tournament was held in Rawlins to wrap up the 2024 competitive golf season. Heading into the state tournament, the Bulldog boys’ team were heavy favorites to take home the title. Individuals Tate Nichols and Haylie Nelson were expected to make a run for medalist honors.
The Wheatland Bulldog boys shot a team score of 311, giving them a 37-shot lead over the second-place team.
The top three spots on the leaderboard were also held by Tate Nichols (71), Jacob Miller (77), and Isaac Cdebaca (79).
On day two, the Bulldogs were led by Nichols who came out and tamed the beast of a course with a 4 under score of 68 to help his team win the state team title. His teammates showcased their ability by finishing strong and landing themselves in the top ten on the leaderboard, including Isaac Cdebaca, who finished in a three-way tie for eighth after shooting an 81. All five boys on the team placed in the top ten individually, earned all-state honors, and as a team won the state tournament by an astounding 60 shots. Their dominance of the state included winning every tournament this season.

Last week’s G-S football game forfeited
GUERNSEY – Due to team injuries and unforeseen circumstances that impact the safety and well-being of the players, Guernsey-Sunrise High School had to cancel Friday evening’s football game against Lingle-Ft. Laramie, according to athletic director Jolyn Hillen. “The decision was made with careful consideration for the health and safety of our team,” she said.