WPA Bulletin AUGUST 2019 2121 Evans Avenue • Cheyenne, WY 82001 • 307/635-3905 • Fax 307/635-3912 • [email protected] • www.wyopress.org

Calendar “THINK F1RST” TO EDUCATE AMERICA of Events 40% COULD NOT NAME ONE FREEDOM IN BILL OF RIGHTS Last year the Freedom Forum Institute’s across America.” Sept. 2 annual State of the First Amendment survey re- If you are interested in receiving full color, Labor Day ceived national attention when 40% of partici- quarter-page print materials, please email the Wy- The WPA Offi ce pants could not name even one of the freedoms oming Press Association at wyopress@wyopress. will be closed. guaranteed by the First Amendment in the Bill of org. Rights. To view the full results of the State of the Oct. 3-5 In response to the survey data and with the First Amendment survey, go to: https://www. goal of spreading awareness about why the First freedomforuminstitute.org/wp-content/up NNA 133rd Annual Amendment is important, Media of Nebraska cre- loads/2018/06/2018_FFI_SOFA_Report.pdf Convention ated the “Think F1rst” campaign. The PFister Hotel The campaign fi rst debuted in Nebraska in Milwaukee, WI 2018, and the dedicated website www.Think- FirstAmendment.org attracted over 400,000 page Oct. 11 views within 60 days. “The reality is, we aren’t Fall Board Meeting really free if we don’t know what our freedoms The Cody Hotel are and don’t exercise them. Freedom is a mission Cody, Wyo. of national importance. We’re proud to expand the I have opportunity to join this campaign to every state Nov. 4 in our union,” said Ariel Roblin, Chairperson of a voice the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Pres- High School ident/General Manager of KETV in Omaha. AND the freedom Student Press Association As of August 1, 2019 the campaign took off Convention all over the country with Nebraska being joined to express it. Central Wyoming College by more than 20 Press and Media groups includ- Riverton, Wyo. UnderstandingUnderstandingt thehe FirstFirst AmeAmendmentndment is keykeyt too ing: Alabama, Alaska, , Connecticut, protecting our free society. Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ken- Freedom of Speech • Freedom of Religion • Freedom of the Press JAN. 23-25, 2020 Freedom to Peaceably Assemble • Freedom to Petition the Government tucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississip- WPA Annual Convention pi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Ramkota Hotel & Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Conference Center Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Casper, Wyo. Wisconsin and Wyoming. Through the end of the year the campaign will combine newspaper ads, radio spots, and TV SEE PUBLIC NOTICES ads featuring people who are protected by the PRINTED IN ALL OF First Amendment for each of the fi ve freedoms: WYOMING’S NEWSPAPERS Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly and Petition. The creative elements of the campaign were Visit created by Clark Creative Group of Omaha, www.wyopublicnotices.com which also made an in-kind contribution to the or production costs. Fred Clark, President of Clark www.publicnoticeads.com/wy Creative Group said, “The creative approach for the Think F1rst campaign was a strong collabora- tion between Media of Nebraska and Clark Cre- ative Group. We thought it was important to rep- resent ‘We the people’ in this important campaign and we are thrilled to see ‘Think F1rst’ spreading PAGE 2 AUGUST 2019 WPA BULLETIN

2019 WPA BOARD MEMBERS Kristen Czaban, President HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAY TO OUR PAPERS! The Sheridan Press P.O. Box 2006 • Sheridan, WY 82801 WHEATLAND, CODY, EVANSTON, SHOSHONI, GREYBULL (307) 672-2431/Fax (307) 672-7950 Email: [email protected] The history of the Platte County Record-Times in Wheatland is a long and involved story, and Louie Mullen, Vice-president in August of 1901 the paper began as the Laramie County Times. During this period in Wyoming Green River Star Box 580• Green River, WY 82935 history, Laramie County encompassed what is now Goshen, Platte, and Laramie counties. The (307) 875-3103/Fax (307) 875-8778 newspaper changed its name to the Wheatland Times in January of 1913 shortly after the county Email: [email protected] was broken up. Stephanie Bonnar, Sec.-Treas. The fi rst issue of the Cody Enterprise was published on August 31, 1899. The paper was found- Newcastle News Letter Journal Box 40 • Newcastle, WY 82701 ed by Col. William F. “Buff alo Bill” Cody who was arguably the most famous American at the (307) 746-2777/Fax (307) 746-2660 time. The fi rst newspaper site for the Enterprise consisted of two log cabins producing four page, Email: [email protected] seven-column papers. Jen Sieve-Hicks “This, the fi rst number of the Enterprise, is handed out sans excuses, other than an expression Buffalo Bulletin P.O. Box 730 • Buffalo, WY 82834 that each succeeding number shall be a trifl e superior to its predecessor.” ~From Page 1, Vol.1, (307) 684-2223/Fax (307) 684-7431 Number 1, Thursday, Aug. 31, 1899. [email protected] The Uinta County Herald, a relative newcomer to one of Wyoming’s oldest communities, Lara Love Thermopolis Independent Record debuted on August 12, 1937. Loraine Rollins and Melvin Rollins, brothers, formed the paper, pub- PO Box 31 • Thermopolis, WY 82443 lishing 1800 copies of the fi rst issue and selling subscriptions for $2 a year. (307) 864-2328/Fax (307) 864-5711 Email: [email protected] On August 20, 1937, the fi rst issue of the Shoshoni Pioneer was published, but shortly after the year ended, so did the paper. It wasn’t until forty years later that the paper re-emerged on March 27, Rob Mortimore Torrington Telegram 1980 in a twelve-page edition including stories on a train derailment, a fi rst-degree murder, trouble 2025 Main • Torrington, WY 82240 at city hall, another homicide, and farming and community news. (307) 532-2184/Fax (307) 532-2283 Email: [email protected] The fi rst issue of the Wyoming Standard was published on Aug. 30, 1907, a few months after Kevin Olson the town of Greybull was founded. The newspaper was moved from Meeteetse where it had been Jackson Hole News&Guide launched in 1902, but the name was not changed to the Greybull Standard until June of 1916. P.O. Box 7445 • Jackson, WY 83002 (307) 733-2047/Fax (307) 733-2138 Wyoming Newspapers: A Centennial History, Wyoming Press Association, Robert A. Peck, Email: [email protected] project manager, January 1990. Rory Palm Adams Publishing Group P.O. Box 1286 • Cheyenne, WY 82003 (307) 633-3165/Fax (307) 633-3191 One of the Enter- Email: [email protected] prise’s earliest staff s Jade Stevenson gathered in front of Gillette News-Record their building for this PO Box 3006 • Gillette, WY 82717 1904 picture by noted (307) 682-9306/Fax (307) 686-9306 Email: [email protected] area photographer F.J. Hiscock. Pictured are Mark Tesoro Kemmerer Gazette (from left) one of the PO Box 30 • Kemmerer, WY 83101 original employees, (307) 877-3347/Fax (307) 877-3736 Bob McMullin, devil Email: [email protected] boy* Glen Newton, Matt Adelman, NNA Chair Mrs. Peake, who was Douglas Budget PO Box 109 • 310 Center St. aff ectionately known Douglas, WY 82633 for many years around Email: [email protected] Cody as “Granny,” Milton Ontiveroz, Assoc. Chair founding editor Col. UW Institutional Communications J.H. Peake, printer Dept. 3226, 1000 E. Univ. Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 George Nelson and (307) 766-6709/Fax (307) 766-6729 taxidermist Fred [email protected] Chase. Cindy Price Schultz UW Dept. of Communication and Journalism *Printers devil is a person, Dept. 3904, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 typically a young boy, serv- Email: [email protected] ing at or below the level of apprentice in a printing Ken Smith establishment. UW Liaison Emeritus Email: [email protected] STAFF Darcie Hoffland, Executive Director Cec Moats, Deputy Director Josie Jenkins, Office Assistant WPA BULLETIN AUGUST 2019 PAGE 3

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 2019 WPA COMMITTEES Hall of Fame THE WPA RECOMMENDS SF57 BE GIVEN TIME TO WORK Darcie Hoffland (Chair) Wyoming Press Association The Joint Judiciary Committee met in Casper but not the unduly burdensome provision. Mark Tesoro Aug. 15-16 for their second meeting of the inter- The WPA testifi ed that the unduly burden- Kemmerer Gazette im to continue a discussion of the Public Records some provision was troubling because it allows Pat Schmidt Act. for the withholding of records that would other- Past President The fi rst item on the agenda was the intro- wise be available if sought in a narrower request. Ken Smith duction of a bill draft pertaining to budget and Entities could possibly keep documents in a more UW Liaison Emeritus fi nancial data reporting. The draft bill amends diffi cult and unworkable fi le system to prevent NNA the requirement of who is required to submit fi - public access. Louie Mullen (Chair) nancial reporting to the Wyoming public fi nance Regarding the “voluminous” provision, the Green River Star and expenditure of funds website to include local WPA asked the committee to give Senate File time Matt Adelman government entities, along with state government to work. The ombudsman position created under Douglas Budget entities and would also now apply to the Universi- the new law should solve many of the issues gov- Toby Bonner ty of Wyoming. ernment says it is incurring with large requests by Powell Tribune Before public comment on the draft, Senator creating a dialog between the entity and request- Robb Hicks Buffalo Bulletin Tara Nethercott explained that the concept of the or in such a way as to narrow requests and make bill is to create a “one-stop shop” for all public them more productive. It was further explained by Legislative entities’ fi nancial data and the consolidation of the WPA that the 30-day deadline in the Wyoming Rob Mortimore (Chair) resources. The WPA legislative committee met Public Records Act, recently in eff ect, allows for Torrington Telegram prior to the judiciary meeting and were in support exemption if a longer response time is necessary Bob Bonnar Newcastle News Letter Journal of the bill that favors more openness, but were to produce a request. Jim Wood concerned about certain language in the draft that Sen. Nethercott then stated that the commit- Wyoming Newspapers, Inc. was confusing. Their concerns were echoed by tee is reviewing the entire Public Records Act and Kristen Czaban many of those who testifi ed at the judiciary meet- that there has been no mention of repealing Senate The Sheridan Press ing. File 57. However, at Jen Sieve-Hicks No amendments the June meeting in Buffalo Bulletin were requested and the Gillette, Rep. Bill Audience/ Marketing committee decided to ...the 30-day deadline in the Pownell called for Kevin Olson (Chair) continue the discussion Wyoming Public Records Act, its repeal, saying Jackson Hole News&Guide at the October meeting. that it would solve Rory Palm Next on the agen- recently in eff ect, allows for the issues. Adams Publishing Group da was a review of an exemption if a longer response Sen. Neth- Stephanie Bonnar Illinois exemption to ercott went on to Newcastle News Letter Journal their Public Records time is necessary to produce a explain that it was Jade Stevenson act pertaining to “un- appropriate to look Gillette News-Record duly burdensome” and request. at fi xing the Act and Cathy Cline Riverton Ranger “voluminous” requests. talking about wheth- The Illinois FOIA er it works. She be- Contest policy states “it is not intended… to allow the re- lieves that Illinois has balanced the concern of Rory Palm (Chair) quests of a commercial enterprise to unduly bur- staying transparent while alleviating the burden Lara Love den public resources, or to disrupt the duly-under- placed on government staff designated with ful- Thermopolis Independent Record taken work of any public body independent of the fi lling record requests. Jade Stevenson fulfi llment of any of the aforementioned rights of In response to a question by Sen. Nethercott, Rob Mortimore the people to access information.” Jim Angell, former executive director of the WPA, The diff erence in the two categories of excep- told the committee that to his knowledge there had Convention tion is that an agency may decline to provide any never been a case with the media where a request Jen Sieve-Hicks (Chair) documents, regardless of the fact they would be was not met or was denied because of its volume. Kevin Olson otherwise available, under their “unduly burden- Later, at the end of the topic dicussion, Sen. Nether- Lara Love some” provision. Under the voluminous provision, cott would take that testimony out of context in her Milton Ontiveroz custodians may charge search and review fees for opposition to drafting language that would rein- Associates Group Chair requests, but they must still supply non-exempt state the misdemeanor penalty for “knowingly Budget records. Fees cannot be charged in Illinois unless and intentionally” violating the public records act Kristen Czaban (Chair) the request is for commercial purposes. The news by saying that the committee had heard the for- Louie Mullen media is exempt from the voluminous provision, See LEGISLATIVE UPDATE page 8 Stephanie Bonnar Mark Tesoro PAGE 4 AUGUST 2019 WPA BULLETIN

BRIEFLY

INSURANCE PAYMENTS the check you receive or the WPAF pledge The Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) amount, please don’t hesitate to reach out website will open Nov. 1 and entries will SOON IN YOUR MAILBOX to the WPA offi ce at wyopress@wyopress. be accepted until midnight Nov. 17. Entries org or (307) 635-3905. will be judged by our colleagues from the In the next couple of days Wyoming South Dakota Newspaper Association. Press Association (WPA) members will be Contest rules will be emailed to your receiving payment for the Wyoming De- TIME TO GET CONTEST paper and posted to the WPA website prior partment of Insurance ads. ON YOUR MIND to the fi rst day for submission of your en- The payment will include twelve tries. months of ad insertions starting in May The Wyoming Press Association 2019 through April 2020. Additionally, if (WPA) staff would like to urge WPA mem- newspapers made a pledge to the Wyoming bers to avoid some stress and start to set NATIONAL NEWSPAPER Press Association Foundation (WPAF) at aside their well-written stories and bril- the 2019 General Membership Meeting, liantly designed ads for the 2019 WPA Con- WEEK OCTOBER 6-12 that donation will be subtracted from this test. The end of the year is fast approaching Since 1940, the Newspaper Associa- payment. with the contest year ending on Thursday, tion Managers, Inc. (NAM) has sponsored Should you have any questions about October 31, 2019. and supported National Newspaper Week, a week-long promotion of the newspaper industry in the . This year National Newspaper Week will be celebrated the week of Oct. 6-12. Closer to the event a content kit with editorials, editorial cartoons and promo- tional ads will be available for free down- load at http://www.nationalnewspaper week.com/. Next month’s bulletin will include this year’s theme so keep your eyes peeled.

NNA CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE The National Newspaper Associa- tion’s 133rd Annual Convention & Trade Show will take place Oct. 3-5, in Milwau- kee, WI. This year’s convention will address pressing business objectives of community newspaper owners, publishers and senior staff featuring educational sessions and peer-sharing activities. The Buff alo Bulletin, Wyoming Tri- bune Eagle and Jackson Hole News&Guide - general excellence winners - will be hon- ored at the convention and Douglas Budget Publisher Matt Adelman will be inducted as president. More info regarding the NNA Conven- tion can be found at: http://www.nnaweb. org/convention. WPA BULLETIN AUGUST 2019 PAGE 5

DOMINO’S SEEKS ANSWER: DO PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES APPLY ONLINE?

By Robert Barnes plies equally to the Internet. brief. The ADA “says nothing about the ac- Beyoncé’s website has been targeted. Domino’s sells cessibility of websites or applications on So have art galleries in New York. And the more than 2.5 million smartphones, whether standing alone or in National Retail Federation tells the Su- pizzas every day, and connection with restaurants, stores, or any preme Court in a friend-of-the-court brief the company says it other brick-and-mortar establishments that that its website doesn’t comply with indus- off ers at least 15 ways qualify as public accommodations,” wrote try standards, either. to order one. But Washington lawyer Lisa S. Blatt, who rep- The group ran supremecourt.gov Guillermo Robles, resents Domino’s. through a free online resource that applies who is blind, said neither the company’s “When Congress passed the ADA in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines website nor its mobile app allowed him to 1990, websites were in their infancy, and (WCAG 2.0) developed by private parties order the pizza he wanted, or receive a dis- apps did not yet exist.” and found “19 ‘known problems’ and 411 count for ordering online. Lower courts have said the statute ‘potential problems.’ ” He sued. does apply, although they have disagreed “Only this court’s intervention can Now Domino’s, backed by the U.S. about exactly when and to whom. As a re- establish a true nationwide standard estab- Chamber of Commerce and the nation’s sult, the number of lawsuits has exploded: lishing the proper scope” of website acces- largest retailers, wants the Supreme Court 2,250 federal suits asserting ADA viola- sibility, writes Washington lawyer Pratik to step in to decide whether the Americans tions based on website inaccessibility were A. Shah, representing the retailers. With Disabilities Act, which has trans- fi led in 2018, nearly triple the number from “It is time for this court to bring order formed America’s physical landscape, ap- the year before, according to the Domino’s See DOMINO’S SEEKS page 7 PAGE 6 AUGUST 2019 WPA BULLETIN

AMERICA NEEDS LOCALLY-OWNED NEWSPAPERS

By Peter Wagner Gannett moved mostly away from a will shed itself of many of their small, The once power- focus on the printed newspaper a year and a less-profi table, weekly publications. That ful Gannett media half ago, putting emphasis on producing its might be good news for those interested in company — pub- digital products. Gannett and GateHouse, investing in and upholding the local home- lishers of the Sioux which is owned by New Media Investment town newspaper. There is a need for local- Falls Argus-Lead- Group, are believers in consolidated man- ly managed community newspapers. But er, Des Moines Register, USA Today and agement and minimum local operating ex- operating a small, local weekly paper has 106 other mostly daily newspapers — has penses. become fi nancially diffi cult. Many local announced it will merge with GateHouse With the new fi rm’s emphasis on an communities no longer have a retail base Media. GateHouse is reported to own 156 information network dedicated to fewer large enough to support a local paper. dailies across America. locally printed pages and less publication The national Democratic Party appears Of course, it isn’t really a merger, Gan- days, the plan is to expand the company’s to be responding to this cultural change in nett is being assumed by GateHouse. Both overall digital presence. The hope is to re- a way that could be dangerous to the future companies have seen steady grown through duce costs through centralized accounting, of local and national media. acquisitions during recent years, but nei- production and editorial centers and in- In a recent online article, David Uber- ther is doing well fi nancially. By combin- crease national advertising revenue through ti reported one of the Democratic Party’s ing into one company, the new organiza- expanded multicity readership. But the dig- largest Super PACs, Priorities USA, is re- tion should see huge savings in operational it content will most likely be built around ported to be underwriting a $100 million costs and possible increases in advertising general interest national news, sports and eff ort to boot President Donald Trump from revenue. GateHouse, traditionally, operates features — think CNN and USA Today — offi ce. The PAC hopes to do it with a fl ood with less staff than Gannett and is known and reduced coverage of hometown news of one-sided digital information messages for cutting staff whenever it buys an addi- important to local voters and taxpayers. in key swing states that have lost numerous tional publication. The rumor is the new fi rm probably See AMERICA NEEDS page 8 WPA BULLETIN AUGUST 2019 PAGE 7

DOMINO’S SEEKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 to a chaotic legal landscape marked by un- joyment’ of Domino’s goods and services,” Courts across the country have found that predictable and unworkable accessibility Circuit Judge John B. Owens wrote. websites and apps must comply with the standards that run counter to the goals of He added: “While we understand ADA, she said. Companies may not like the ADA, consumers, and the retailers who why Domino’s wants DOJ to issue specif- the message, but that doesn’t mean there is serve them.” ic guidelines for website and app accessi- a need for the Supreme Court’s attention. Businesses have rallied around the bility, the Constitution only requires that And she said the Justice Department’s Robles case in their eff ort to persuade the Domino’s receive fair notice of its legal inability to issue guidelines for compli- Supreme Court to intervene, even as they duties, not a blueprint for compliance with ance — it announced in 2017 that it was profess that it would be in their best inter- its statutory obligations.” giving up the eff ort — does not mean com- ests to make their goods as accessible as The judges sent the case back for the panies are helpless. The lack of a national possible. lower court judge to decide whether Dom- standard could be seen “as a feature, not a Robles sued because he said his at- ino’s has complied with its obligations, bug,” freeing companies to comply in dif- tempts in 2016 to use the Domino’s web- saying “courts are perfectly capable of in- ferent ways, Hill said. site and mobile app to order a pizza for terpreting the meaning of ‘equal’ and ‘ef- In the Domino’s petition, and the ac- delivery were unsuccessful. fective.’ ” companying amicus briefs, is a familiar A federal judge in California agreed Domino’s and the business interests battle between companies and lawyers who with Robles that the ADA covered web- urging the court’s intervention said the de- sue them. sites, but dismissed the lawsuit. He agreed cision in the 9th Circuit — which covers Gregory G. Garre, representing the with Domino’s that its due process rights California and most of the western United Chamber of Commerce, told the court that would be violated because the Department States — was a game-changer. an “opportunistic plaintiff ’s bar” has dis- of Justice has never made good on its ob- “Virtually every national business and covered “a lucrative sue-and-settle practice ligation to issue guidance on exactly how non-profi t off ers its goods and services at against businesses.” websites and apps should comply with Ti- physical locations within the Ninth Cir- “Businesses now face a rising sea tle III of the act, which concerns public ac- cuit,” Domino’s tells the court, so its rule of litigation that fl ows from one venue to commodations. “will apply nationwide no matter what. No another as plaintiff s’ lawyers seek out the But earlier this year, a unanimous one can tailor their online presence to fi t most favorable local precedent, leaving three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Ap- diff erent rules in diff erent circuits.” companies unable to tell what standards peals for the 9th Circuit disagreed. But Eve Hill, a Baltimore attorney they should meet in order to provide access “At least since 1996, Domino’s has who has worked on website accessibil- and avoid liability,” he wrote. been on notice that its online off erings must ity cases for the National Federation of Domino’s said the fi rm representing eff ectively communicate with its disabled the Blind and at Justice, said the decision Robles has fi led 14 suits on his behalf, customers and facilitate ‘full and equal en- “breaks no new ground.” and more than three dozen for a Montana resident. Joseph R. Manning Jr., the New- port Beach, Calif., lawyer who represents Robles, said in an email that he was not discussing the pending case. He is due to respond to the pizza chain’s petition to the high court next month. But Hill said the explosion in the num- ber of lawsuits was simply a result of the explosion in new websites and apps. Her client, the National Federation of the Blind, is not interested in “stick-up lawsuits,” she said, but securing compa- nies’ compliance in opening the web to people with disabilities. The case is Domino’s v. Robles.

Robert Barnes has been a Washington CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS -- WPA Executive Director Darcie Hoffl and, left, Post reporter and editor since 1987. He was invited to share the Rocky Mountain Power box at a rodeo during Cheyenne joined The Post to cover Maryland politics, Frontier Days last month. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, second from right, visited and he has served in various editing posi- with Darcie and Pam Thayer and her husband (right of Darcie). Thayer is Execu- tions, including metropolitan editor and tive Director of Rawlins Downtown Development Authority/Mainstreet. national political editor. He has covered -- Courtesy photo the Supreme Court since November 2006. PAGE 8 AUGUST 2019 WPA BULLETIN

AMERICA NEEDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 local newspapers. age of 130 newspapers closed each year local community papers survive if we are Four “news” outlets staff ed by Demo- across the country, according to Penelope going to keep balance and consensus in cratic operatives will publish state-specifi c Muse Abernathy, a University of North our communities and across our nation. information across social media in Mich- Carolina professor who studies “news Let us hope those who still believe igan, Pennsylvania, Florida and Wiscon- deserts.” in the printed word, easy to post on the sin. They also will boost content to in- That number increased to about 200 refrigerator and paste in a scrapbook, dependent sources. The message will be last year, with aff ected areas tending to be and capable of challenging wrong and Trump’s economy isn’t working for them. “much poorer than average, less educated encouraging right, will live long past the “This should be covered by local and much older,” she said. death rattle suggested by our competitors. news(papers), but local news is dying,” But news generated and reported by said Priorities USA communication di- any source with an agenda is not a good Peter Wagner, Creative House Print rector Josh Schwerin. thing for our nation or our individual and Media Consultants; pww@iowainfor- Between 2004 and 2018, an aver- rights and freedom. It is important that mation.com or cell 712-348-3550.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 mer director of the Press Association say issues fi lling large record requests. He re- forward thoughtful legislation is made.” that “all” their requests had been complied plied that they could wait and see if the Rep. Mark Jennings commented they with over the course of decades and how newly created ombudsman position could had been tasked to look at every hypotheti- that indicated the transparency of govern- alleviate those issues they’ve had in the cal that may crop up and instead should be ment agencies – a fact, she said, to be proud past. tasked with problems as they arise. of. At this time, Rep. com- Other public comment came from the After providing his knowledge on the mented he believed that the ombudsman Wyoming Association of Conservation history of voluminous requests made by position really would be the solution, and Districts, Wyoming County Commission- the press, Angell went on to further state that it was premature at this point for the ers Association, DEQ, the Equality State he had heard testimony about concerns that committee to look at this right now. Policy Center, Jackson Hole Airport and someone could be prosecuted for failure In response to that comment, Sen. the Wyoming Liberty Group. to comply with exceptional requests. He Nethercott reiterated to the committee that After public comment, Sen. Nether- said it’s been eight years since the criminal they had been tasked by the management cott made a motion to draft a bill “for the penalty for non-compliance with the Public council to do a two-year study of the Public purpose of further discussion” of exemp- Records Act has been in eff ect, and in its Records and Open Meetings law and that tions based off the Illinois Law into the history, zero persons had been prosecuted the current conversation was appropriate. Wyoming Public Records Act. for compliance failure. At the Gillette meeting in June, Sen. Neth- During the call for discussion, Rep. Sen. Nethercott asked Angell if the ercott told the committee that it was she said he believed the com- committee should disregard the request who had gone to the management council mittee was trying to “put the cart in front from government entities to look at their requesting the study “to make sure moving of the horse and we don’t even know if we have a cart,” and then went on to say that being only six weeks into eff ective legis- lation, they don’t even know if there is a problem. Presently, there is only a history :HOFRPHWRWKH of requests being met. :3$·VQHZ Rep. also spoke against the motion, stating that he did not think it wise $VVRFLDWH0HPEHU to use as a model a state that has very re- strictive public record laws and was rated as the most corrupt state in the union by a 7KH&KH\HQQH3RVW 2014 Harvard study. When the call for votes was taken, 9LQFH%RGLIRUG the motion by Senator Nethercott was *ROGHQ0HGLDRZQHUDQGSXEOLVKHU defeated.

7KHZHHNO\SDSHUSXEOLVKHVRQ)ULGD\ DQGLVDOVRDYDLODEOHRQOLQHDW ZZZWKHFKH\HQQHSRVWFRP WPA BULLETIN AUGUST 2019 PAGE 9

PEOPLE AND OTHER STUFF Michael Karlick is the newest reporter at the Torrington Telegram. and has been a volunteer for the organization both on a local and Prior to working at the Telegram, he was editor of “City Council state level for over nine years. Chronicles,” a project he created in 2016 to explore the culture and Angus Thuermer has received an honorable mention from the So- decision-making of local governments across the world. He grew ciety of Environmental Journalists for his collection of fi ve Wyo- up “in suburban northern Virginia” and has worked in , San File articles. Topics included water law, Pavillion’s groundwater, Jose, New York and Washington, D.C. sage grouse policy, chronic wasting disease and public lands poli- cy. The SEJ describes its international, multi-media contest as “the Long-time Wyoming newspaperman and outdoor enthusiast Mike world’s largest and most comprehensive environmental journalism Jensen has been named Trout Unlimited Wyoming Council Coor- competition.” Thuermer competed in the “50 or fewer journalists dinator. Jensen, a 37-year newspaperman veteran, spent 25 years serving markets of up to 250,000 people.” in Wyoming where he served as group publisher and oversaw newspaper operations in Evanston, Pinedale, Bridger Valley, Kem- Long-time newspaper columnist faculty merer, Cheyenne (Cheyenne Minuteman), Torrington, Wheatland, member Paul Flesher has been named director of UW’s American Lusk, Guernsey, Lingle, Page, Ariz., and Scottsbluff , Neb. (The Heritage Center. The religious studies professor has written the Business Farmer). Jensen is a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited column “Religion Today” for 21 years.

OBITUARY Keith Cordell McLendon

Saratoga Sun General Manager Keith Cordell McLendon In 2009, Keith went to work for the Saratoga Sun, where he passed away July 28, 2019 in Saratoga, Wyoming. received many awards over the years for his columns and ad de- Keith was born in Denton, Texas, September 20, 1964. He signs from the Wyoming Press Association. His Mark Twain-like attended McCullough High School in The Woodlands, Texas, columns, wood carvings and other artworks are well known across where he won the top statewide awards in metal craft, plastics, and Carbon County. electronics. He graduated from Texas State Technical Institute in Keith is survived by his mother, Diana Gebolys and her hus- Waco, Texas, earning an Associates of Applied Arts degree. band, Paul; brother, Woodrow McLendon, his wife Nina and their After doing graphic design work on medical textbooks and a daughter, Morgan; father, Mack McLendon and his wife Lisa and book for the Texas Cattle Breeders Association for Laughing Cow also Raychel and Nora; aunt Sharon Kay Gwaltney and her hus- Press, Keith was off ered a promotion to either Florida or Wyo- band Jim; aunt Donna Irving and her husband Shannon; uncle ming. He chose the part of Wyoming that once belonged to the Gregory Gebolys and his wife, Christine; and uncle Philip Geb- Republic of Texas. olys.

CLASSIFIEDS Inside Sales/Ad Assistant possess great interpersonal skills with organizational and prioriti- The Rawlins Times is searching for the right individual to join zation abilities a must. The candidate will work with inside offi ce our advertising team. Background in sales or working with a team and sales reps and will also manage internal communications with to reach goals is a must. This is a 40 hours per week position with various departments in Rawlins and Cheyenne, troubleshooting benefi ts, including health and dental insurance. We off er hourly and following up on any issues that may arise. wage, plus incentives based on sales. Email resume to [email protected] or mail to Candidate should possess excellent oral and written commu- Gary Loftus, General Manager, Laramie Boomerang, 320 E Grand nications skills; must be self-driven with a positive, outgoing, con- Avenue, Laramie, WY 82070. We are an equal opportunity em- fi dent personality; should be profi cient in computer applications; ployer.