Ashlee Meehleis

Virtual visits with Santa are not a new concept, but in 2020 they are a wonderful and essential addition to holiday traditions. Chit-Chat with Santa allows families to schedule a call with Santa at their convenience. Everyone who wants to spend time with Santa joins a video call at their scheduled time and shares their holiday cheer and wishes.

Ditching laptops and donning rubber boots and coveralls, University of Wyoming students prep within five minutes for class.

How far did you travel to fish last weekend? In some areas of Wyoming, the fish journeyed just as far to their ideal water. The Cowboy State’s finned residents are among thousands of species of fish worldwide that migrate, and those movements are celebrated this week on World Fish Migration Day. World Fish Migration Day, observed on Oct. 24, is a one-day global celebration to create awareness on the importance of free flowing rivers and migratory fish. In Wyoming, the Game and Fish Department recognizes the importance of connected waters for fish and invests in fish passage projects with public and private partners.

Casper Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 1300 block of Trojan Drive for a structure fire. Crews arrived to find a single family residence with smoke from a chimney chase and attic area. Firefighters exposed hidden void space around a fire place and found fire in the framing of the structure and fireplace.

Officers responded to 3920 E. 12th St. (Loaf N Jug) in regards to an Armed Robbery with a knife.The employee stated they were at the register when a male entered the store and brandished a knife, demanding money from the register. The male then fled on foot with money from the store.

A popular recreation spot along the Snake River will be closed to the public beginning next week for routine maintenance. Starting Wednesday, October 21through November 15, 2020, the Walton Levee at Emily’s Pond on Wyoming Highway 22 will close to the public so that the U.S. Army Corps of engineers can perform rehabilitation work.

At 11:23 p.m. on the evening of October 14th, 2020, Casper Fire-EMS units were dispatched to the 900 block of South Chestnut Street for the report of a structure fire. Reporting parties stated that the front of a residential home was on fire.

Cooler, seasonal temperatures accompanied by gusty winds has resulted in more leaves on the ground in recent weeks.

On Saturday, September 19, staff from Yellowstone National Park, the Wyoming Wetlands Society, and Ricketts Conservation Fund released eight young trumpeter swans (cygnets) at Alum Creek in Hayden Valley.

The University of Wyoming Extension’s Cen$ible Nutrition Program is encouraging families to “go on a ghost hunt” this month.

On Monday, October 19th at 1:00 p.m., the City of Cheyenne will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated tennis courts at Jaycee Park (Dillon Ave. and Foyer Ave.).

On October 14, 2020, a fatal crash occurred around milepost 221 on Interstate 80 east of Rawlins, Wyoming. At 6:33 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a motor vehicle collision.

Wingspan, Laramie County Community College’s student media organization, recently received national recognition from the American Scholastic Press Association.

Flu vaccines are more crucial than ever this year as our community continues to battle COVID-19. In an effort to prevent the spread of influenza, the Casper-Natrona County Health Department (CNCHD) is providing convenient, drive-through flu vaccine clinics October 15, 22 and 24 at the Casper College Firehouse located at 800 College Drive.

On October 13, 2020, a traffic stop 23 miles south of Gillette, Wyoming, on Highway 50 has resulted in close to 2 pounds of methamphetamine being seized by Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) Troopers.

The newly formed Black Studies Center at the University of Wyoming will present its first webinar Tuesday, Oct. 13.The free webinar, titled “After Fifty Years, Does Black Studies Matter? A Critical Critique,” will begin at 5 p.m.

Laramie County School District 1 strives to provide a safe environment for our students and employees. In conjunction with the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department (CLCHD), LCSD1 has numerous protocols in place that support this endeavor. However, we have recently been notified by the CLCHD of several cases of COVID-19 in the district.

Cody is one of four gateway communities leading into Yellowstone National Park. As such, tourism is one of the top industries in Park County - and this summer was a mixed bag for the businesses that depend on visitors.

Four cases of COVID-19 have been detected on another floor of a residence hall at the University of Wyoming, prompting the university to take action to limit the spread of the virus in that group of students, employees and the broader community.

The Natrona County School District is committed to our goal of ensuring all district environments are safe, orderly, supportive, and conducive to a climate of high expectations for students, staff, school visitors, and the community. As outlined in our Strategic Plan, NCSD will review progress on this goal by measuring stakeholder feedback via the NCSD Climate Survey.

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter will scale back its hours and services to the community for the next 14 days due to another valued employee testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Chief Judge Scott Skavdahl of the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming ruled on Thursday that the Bureau of Land Management under the Obama administration overstepped its authority with its efforts to regulate emissions of methane from oil and gas operations on federal and Indian lands. Wyoming contended in court that the BLM exceeded its statutory authority when promulgating the BLM’s methane rule.

With just three weeks left for early and absentee voting, Laramie County voters have turned out in record numbers to register and vote in the 2020 General Election.

The City of Laramie invites the public to join a series of activities concerning its Brownfield Assessment Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through which a total of seven environmental-assessments (four Phase I & three Phase II reports) on 40 acres of privately-owned land to identify any potential barriers to development. As we near the end of this EPA-funded initiative, the City of Laramie would like to share this process’s results with the public.

the Wyoming Department of Corrections has selected Unit Manager, Marlena McManis as the new Deputy Warden at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. Deputy Warden McManis will assume her duties, October 15, 2020.

USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen announced the temporary appointment of Tricia O’Connor as the acting regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region, effective October 19, 2020.

On October 6, 2020, Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced former Wind River Indian Reservation Chief Tribal Court Judge Terri Smith and her sister Jerri Lee Smith on federal drug charges.

First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative has partnered with Dan’s Meat Processing in Evansville to provide hunters with the opportunity to participate in the newly launched Food from the Field program, which enables them to donate all or part of their meat to the local food pantry system.

The City of Laramie is a proud recipient of a Blue Sky Award from Rocky Mountain Power to support the installation of solar panels to serve the Laramie Community Recreation Center and the Ice & Event Center. Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program funds renewable energy projects in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.

Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington has been notified that a student, has tested positive for COVID-19.

In-person early voting and registration will not be available on Monday, Oct. 12, due to the closure of Laramie County offices on Columbus Day.

With the number of admissions into the hospital, the total number of new cases, contact tracing and community spread all moving back in the “Concerning” category the Teton County Health Department wants all community members to be aware that we are back into the High Risk level, or Red. This means we have widespread transmission of COVID-19 in our community and stress on our healthcare system.

The National Park Service (NPS) encourages public comment on a proposal to improve telecommunication services in developed areas of Yellowstone National Park. The proposal would also give the park the opportunity to remove antiquated telecommunication systems currently on mountain tops and from the backcountry as underground fiber within the road corridor becomes operational.

The University of Wyoming and the state lost a legend with the passing of Dr. George Frison on September 7, 2020 at age 95. Thanks in large part to him, Wyoming folks can see that big game hunting is an unbroken thread of our culture that runs from the Ice Age right up to the present.

The Eastern Wyoming College Veterinary Technology Club will be holding a dog wash on Saturday, October 17th. Appointments will begin at 8:00 am and will conclude at 1:30 pm. The student technicians will do minimal brushing and do not shave out mats. A current rabies certificate is required to participate. If you have a dog that is scared of the dryer, they need to be here early so they can stay until they are dry.

Members of the Wyoming Military Department have been requested by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), and activated by Gov. Mark Gordon, to temporarily assist with voluntary COVID-19 mapping (contact tracing) efforts and other associated administrative tasks.

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center’s Medical Imaging Department was recently accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT, MRI, Ultrasound and CT. CRMC has also received a specialty accreditation from the ACR as a Designated CT Lung Cancer Screening Center.

The Cheyenne Family YMCA received a 5th year of grant funding for disabled veterans. Program Director Chandra Watson says the program has been steadily growing each year and is there to help every veteran in need.

This week, a design code has been amended by the Cheyenne City Council for historical buildings. The Historic Preservation Board says this will streamline and improve the process.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths among Wyoming residents who had tested positive for COVID-19 has increased again, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

Laramie County School District 1 strives to create an atmosphere that is safe for students, staff and parents. However, due to the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, exposure can happen.

In December 2019, the Leadership Cheyenne Class of 2018-19 donated $16,752.00 to the Greater Cheyenne Greenway Foundation. Funds were generated from the annual Cheyenne Boo Ball with the objective to help beautify the community.

It seems like we just recently made our decisions about health insurance and now it’s time to do it again. Now is the time for all Wyoming consumers to evaluate their health insurance choices for plan year 2021. The Wyoming Insurance Department advises ALL consumers to be aware of the Open Enrollment periods for both Medicare and the ACA Marketplace. If you get your health insurance through an employer, check with your human resources representative about open enrollment dates for that particular employer insurance group.

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce is Now Accepting Women’s Leadership Award Nominations. This annual award will be presented to a Laramie County woman who has exhibited exceptional leadership qualities in her professional work and/or services to others.

Though it’s only October, Laramie County Community College has scholarship opportunities for students taking classes in the spring semester of 2021.

With a goal of being stronger together, Banner Health and Wyoming Medical Center leaders will host an internal open house to welcome each other into a new affiliation, which is effective today. The transaction makes Wyoming Medical Center Banner’s flagship hospital in Wyoming.

University of Wyoming undergraduate students interested in international volunteer service will soon have an opportunity to earn a certificate from the Peace Corps.

The Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division along with the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Rooted in Cheyenne will conduct a contactless drive-thru tree giveaway on Friday, October 2nd from 12pm-1pm in the main parking lot of the Botanic Gardens (710 S. Lions Park Dr.). Three-year old Austrian pine and Black Hills spruce will be available while supplies last. Residents will be limited to two trees per vehicle.

A smooth transition is expected for healthcare providers and clients of the Wyoming Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as Kid Care CHIP, as the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) assumes direct administration of the program.

The Day of Giving Drive-Thru Event on Friday, September 25, at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park, provided an opportunity for the community to come together and provide help for thousands of area residents struggling for life’s necessities or dealing with medical issues. The Day of Giving Board sends a big thank-you to all who helped make it a wonderful day!