THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 109TH YEAR/ISSUE 25 Powell woman placed on NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR probation for burglary spree BY CJ BAKER program last year persuaded are violations of the terms and Overfield instead suspended Tribune Editor District Court Judge Bobbi conditions of this probation, eight to 10 years of prison time, Overfield to give the … the state most which the judge could impose if Powell woman has been defendant an oppor- likely won’t hesitate Lamb-Harlan makes a misstep sentenced to three years tunity to prove that to bring you back on probation. Aof supervised probation she’s changed. before this court — During the two years that for committing a string of bur- “I can pretty much and most likely, this her cases were pending in Park glaries in 2017, while on proba- guarantee you with court won’t hesitate County’s court system, Lamb- tion for a meth-related offense. this sentence that to impose a sentence Harlan served roughly a year Prosecutors and Valorie you’re going to be accordingly.” and two months in jail. Lamb-Harlan’s probation under some pret- Deputy Park She tearfully apologized for agent had recommended that ty strict scrutiny County Prosecuting her actions at Friday’s hearing. the 45-year-old be sent to for the next three Attorney Leda Po- “I know I have been, like, out prison. But Lamb-Harlan’s years,” Overfield jman argued for of control because of drugs and apparent turnaround after she warned Lamb-Har- VALORIE a nine- to 10-year completed a drug treatment lan. “And if there LAMB-HARLAN prison sentence, but See Burglary, Page 2 City of Powell IT Director Zack Thorington, who was selected for the city administrator position, has been working off and on in various capacities for the city since the early 1990s. Tribune photo by Mark Davis Zack Thorington picked as next administrator Wyoming Game and Fish Commission President David Rael heads through the brush on a pheasant hunting excursion on his pheasant farm near Cowley Tuesday. Rael will serve in the position for one year. Tribune photo by Mark Davis BY KEVIN KILLOUGH be to help the city maintain a Tribune News Editor balanced budget and continue providing utilities and other n Tuesday, City of services at reasonable rates. THE HEART OF A PRESIDENT Powell officials select- “I feel it’s my time to take Oed Zack the city into the AMID TRAGEDY, DAVID RAEL OF COWLEY child, Ezekiel — due on the final many tears. He knew there Thorington — next decade,” he CHOSEN TO LEAD GAME AND FISH COMMISSION day of the commission’s meeting would be many more. the current IT ‘I expect him to said. in Cody. Tuesday was different, director and From an ini- BY MARK DAVIS But as his peers elected him But on March 18, a couple though, because he was heading longtime staffer grow into the tial pool of about Tribune Staff Writer as president at their March 21 days before the meeting, the out to hunt. — as Powell’s position, and he’ll two dozen ap- meeting, Rael didn’t think about phone rang. Rael immediately next city admin- be a great asset plicants, the city hen Wyoming Game how far he had come in his 60 knew it was serious by the tone FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR istrator. interviewed sev- and Fish commission- years, nor could he enjoy the in his son Phillip’s voice: Phil- Rael hadn’t picked up a gun to “I’ve had a to the staff.’ en candidates Wers voted unanimously moment. lip’s wife Becca was being hunt pheasant for many years, connection to the over phone con- to install David Rael Rael was heartbro- rushed to a Casper hospital and preferring to watch the fun as he City of Powell Zane Logan ferencing soft- as their new presi- ken. it didn’t look good. Soon David guided his five children, other for a long time,” Outgoing administrator ware to narrow dent last week, he ‘I don’t know “I couldn’t make and Jennie were in the car, hur- family members and friends Thorington said it to four final- found it hard to think myself be happy,” he rying to Casper. through prime upland game in an interview. “I’ve been ists, who had face-to-face about what it all if I’ve ever explained on Tues- Arriving at the hospital room, bird habitat on his 1,200-acre moving toward this my whole interviews over the past week. meant. met a more day, fighting back they found Becca cradling Eze- Cowley farm. But on Tuesday, life.” Mayor John Wetzel said Rael couldn’t have generous tears from the front kiel in her arms after an emer- Thorington said his intial dreamed of taking seat of his dusty gency C-section. Her baby was See Rael, Page 8 goals as administrator will See Administrator, Page 2 a leading role in the person.’ Ford. wrapped in a blue blanket but management of the Rael quickly put lifeless, having been stillborn. state’s wildlife when Pat Crank on his sunglasses The Raels stayed in the room he first fell in love Cheyenne and stared straight for seven hours. with the outdoors commissioner ahead. There had “We gave him all the love we COLORFUL CRAWL decades ago. Rael been many tears in could,” he said. had been intimidated by Game recent days. Memories of his son and and Fish redshirts approaching daughter-in-law’s loss were in the fields where he found sol- A MEETING AND A FUNERAL still with Rael as the vote was ace after moving from a school A week earlier, he and his finalized last week. After the of 3,000 kids in Los Angeles to wife Jennie were gearing up commission’s business was done his class of 13 in Cowley; he’d for the inevitable nomination for the day, Rael had planned an learned to hunt mostly on his as president. Rael had served open house for the public. He own as a kid. When then-Wyo- a year as vice president of the pressed through, gracious as al- ming Gov. Matt Mead appointed commission and was in line ways, but on autopilot. Funeral Rael to the Game and Fish Com- for the top job. In addition, the services were planned at the mission four years ago, it came couple was looking forward to end of the commission meeting as a surprise. the arrival of their 19th grand- the following day. There were Game and Fish working to increase hunter satisfaction BY MARK DAVIS added and difficult task of earn- Mountain Hall. Very few were Tribune Staff Writer ing trust from area hunters. surprised by what they heard Game and Fish officials from as Mong described the current imply getting to the point the Cody region met with Pow- situation with the Upper Sho- of making proposals for ell area hunters Monday night shone and Clark’s Fork mule Shunting seasons are a to convey their message: We’re deer herds. Not only have area monumental task. Game and committed to working together hunters witnessed a decline in Fish biologists rely on a litany with you to bring back oppor- populations, they were brought of data, much of which means tunity. in before the proposals were getting boots on the ground in “Reservations [in support finalized, as the Game and Fish rugged terrain and long hours for proposals] are the result of gauge the level of support for at check stations, surveying a lack of trust in the Game and shorter seasons and lower tag hunters and analyzing data. Fish,” said Tony Mong, Wyo- offerings. The coming season’s propos- ming Game and Fish Depart- “Things are going to get als have included extra effort. ment wildlife biologist. worse before they get better,” With declining mule deer popu- About three dozen hunters Mong said. Landon Glenn makes his way through a tunnel during a recent Absaroka Early Head Start activity. The lations and tough decisions attended the annual season program serves local children from birth to age 3 and pregnant moms. For more about the program, see needing to be made, there’s the setting meeting at Heart See Proposals, Page 8 Page 14. Tribune photo by Mark Davis INSIDE ♦ NWC PHOTO SHOW TUESDAY: PAGE 7 ♦ NEW NWC SOCCER COACH: PAGE 9 PAGE 2 • POWELL TRIBUNE THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 Administrator: Logan will work with Thorington over the next couple months Continued from Page 1 BABY GOODS the city received very strong candidates, and the decision for the hiring committee was not an easy one. “Any one of the candidates would have made a good city administrator,” the mayor stated. Thorington’s long experience with the City of Powell — which involved working with almost every city department in one capacity or another since the early 1990s — tipped the deci- sion in his favor. Design • Decor • Lifestyle • Gifts “In the end, Zack [Thoring- ton’s] extensive knowledge of the city departments was the push over the top,” Wetzel said. YANCY Thorington has worked in a INTERIORS + HOME number of capacities, he said, 307.586.4126 | [email protected] | www.yancyinteriors.com having done “a little of every- thing.” 1356 SHERIDAN AVENUE | CODY, WYOMING He began working part-time in the Parks Department while getting his degree in mechani- cal engineering in the early 1990s. After college, he started his career at a Cody engineering firm and worked on the city’s Over the next couple of months, Zack Thorington will take over the city administrator position from Zane storm drain project.