Last matches|Wrestlers head to state tourney:Page 1 page The Sundance 13 Times 75¢ Thursday, February 21, 2019 Volume 134 • Issue No. 8 Thursday, February 21, 2019 Thewww.sundancetimes.com Sundance Times Smith trial gets underway BY SARAH PRIDGEON select a jury from the initial The trial of Marty Smith group, however, it was not began this week for charges necessary for the second group related to the death of local to attend and the trial proper man Doug Haar last August. began on Tuesday afternoon. Smith was arrested on several To ensure the safety of par- felony charges following the ticipants in the trial, the au- suspected homicide, all of dience and employees in the which were associated with her courthouse offices, Sheriff Jeff alleged role as an accessory to Hodge issued rules for anyone the crime. visiting the building during A higher profile case than the trial. These included a has been seen for a number of ban on electronic devices and years in Crook County, Smith’s firearms, a ban on large images trial required District Court to or messages on clothing and call in a larger pool of potential no access to the courtroom jurors. A total of 100 members except during recesses and of the community were called breaks; visitors to the build- to participate in the selection ing were also screened on process. entry. Due to the relatively small Smith was charged with size of Crook County’s court- accessory before the fact of room, arrangements had to be murder in the second degree made for overflow of both ju- as well as accessory before the rors and members of the public fact of voluntary manslaugh- in the courthouse basement. ter; accessory before the fact A live stream of proceedings of involuntary manslaughter; in the courtroom was made and accessory before the fact available while just short of 60 of aggravated assault and jurors underwent the selection battery, all felonies. process in the morning. At the present time, the Just under 40 potential ju- pretrial of Jessie Johnson, rors were scheduled for the the other party accused of in- selection process in the after- volvement in Haar’s death, is noon. As it proved possible to expected to begin in March. Legislature reforms campaign finance The Wyoming Legislature has Election Code,” commented passed a new law that aims to Secretary of State Edward reform campaign finance in Buchanan. the state by regulating for is- The new law is intended sues such as social media, po- to enhance transparency by litical action committees and requiring that candidates modern technology. Senate report their expenditures and File 18, now Senate Enrolled contributions simultaneously Act 3, is just the second piece and up to two weeks before of legislation signed into law the election. It also raises the by Governor Mark Gordon, threshold for reporting from who took office in January. $25 to $100 to account for “During the 2018 Election inflation. Season, several campaign fi- Meanwhile, the new law nance issues presented them- clarifies campaign advertis- selves. The advent of social ing provisions to now include Jack Greer pulls George Cartwright up the course during the Young Guns class on Saturday. media, the creative use of online advertizing and defines political action committees “electioneering communica- and the advancement of tech- tions”, while requiring that nology, require a more dy- campaign activity be subject namic approach to campaign to the disclosure of donors Good, cold fun finance. This bill is a good start to reforming Wyoming’s See Reform: page 7 By Sarah Pridgeon For the first time in its five-year history, the Sundance Winter Festival was not blessed with sunshine or unusually warm temperatures on Saturday. Of course, that did little to dampen the spirits of the crowds who lined the streets Senate kills death determined to follow the commentators’ advice to make sure they didn’t go home that night hungry or sober. The crowd may have been smaller and the temperatures penalty repeal bill low, but the atmosphere was as festive as ever as revelers innocent person. came from far and near to watch the ski joring and bar stool BY RAMSEY SCOTT “This is something we have to races. The first horse and skier partnership raced down the WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE get right each and every time. course at 9 a.m., but the anticipation had already been build- VIA WYOMING NEWS We have an excellent legal ing for several days. EXCHANGE system, don’t get me wrong. As anyone who walked down Main Street during the week CHEYENNE — The effort to But if you have a death pen- could see, the city and volunteers started preparing the festi- end the death penalty in Wyo- alty on the books, it should val area earlier than usual this year. On Thursday morning, ming was unable to get past be perfect,” Boner said during the trucks began their mission to dump piles of snow up conservative opposition Thurs- debate. “Since 1973, about to nine feet high along the road, ready to be flattened and day in the state Senate. 164 [inmates] who have been smoothed into a ski joring course with several jumps and a House Bill 145, sponsored by on death row have been exon- hoop rack. Rep. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, erated. The reason for the early road closures, said Public Works was defeated on its first read- “Mr. Chairman, if that num- Director Mac Erickson, was to allow the teams to spread the ing in the Senate on an 18-12 ber was one, that would be snow from one side of the course to the other. In previous vote. Only the day before, the enough to give me pause. But years, the snow had been placed in the center of the street bill had passed out of the Sen- it’s 164 (people) falsely convict- and the roads kept open through Friday but, said Erickson, ate Judiciary Committee on a ed and sentenced to death.” this meant there was never quite enough compaction down 5-0 vote. Other senators who sup- the middle of the course. One of the Senate co-spon- ported the bill tried to focus the Though there were still a fair few tumbles among the ski- sors, Sen. Brian Boner, R- debate on both the financial ers (one of whom made the sensible decision to forego the Douglas, laid out the argu- cost of keeping the death pen- jumps on his next run and simply drink a beer and wave to ments for HB 145 during a alty bill on the books and the the crowd as he sailed along the snow), the track appeared floor debate Thursday, focus- mental cost placed on juries to hold firm throughout the day. ing on the financial cost for the who have to make that life-or- The course was also experienced by a number of intrepid state, the moral issues with death decision. souls who didn’t arrive in town on Saturday morning with giving government that much The fiscal note for HB 145 a horse or a set of skis. The tube races kept the crowd Jeff Moberg photos The raucous tube races were enjoyed by plenty of partici- power over its citizens and the See Winterfest: page 16 pants, though at least one injury was reported on the day. real possibility of executing an See Repeal: page 7 Area Weather SUNDANCE, WYOMING CONTINUING THE CROOK COUNTY NEWS SINCE 1884 The Sundance Times Page 2 Thursday, February 21, 2019 is proud to recognize Sundance Bearlodge FFA as they celebrate National FFA Week! Page 3 The Sundance Times Thursday, February 21, 2019 Churches Obituaries Sundance Community Calvary Temple Church (SBC) Assembly of God Gaylord Lenz 10th and Cleveland, 240 W. Hwy. 14, Spearfish, (605) Sunday Worship - 11 a.m., 642-3844, On March 18, 1939, Gaylord motor mounts.) and Stacia Altaffer; plus 15 Fellowship - 10:30 a.m., Sunday Pastor Mark Chaplin; Sundays: was born in Eagle Bend, MN He was a life-long member of great-grands: Keaton, Kam- School - 9:30 a.m. 9 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. on a dairy farm to John and the United Methodist Church, den, Kayson Lenz; Max, Gwen Chapel of Faith Worship Service; Wednesdays: Inez (Stevenson) Lenz. He lived and president four times for Croell, Zander, Ryland Lenz, 6:30 p.m. Adult/Children/Youth 116 S. 3rd, Pastor Dave there until after high school the local Commercial Club Jackson, Landon, Rylan Gay- Jagemann, Chapeloffaith.org, Services graduation and then married that later became Chamber lord, Paisley,Chesney Cundy, Non Denominational - Simply Church of Christ teaching the Bible, verse by 369 W. Highway 14; Jean Beckstrom in 1958. of Commerce. He worked 20+ Harper, Tru Lenz and Corbin verse. Sunday School - 9 a.m., Bible Study - 10 a.m., Worship - He was in business with his years to get the statue of the Altaffer; brother, Lowell (Ro- Worship - 10 a.m.; Wednesday 11 a.m. dad and brother Lowell selling Sundance Kid to become a re- salie) Lenz; sister Jeannine Royal Rangers and M’Pact: Girls Gateway Baptist grain dryers in four states plus ality. (Willis) Johnson plus a host of - after school, Dinner - 5:30-6:30, Church had Ford and Allis Chalmers On February 12, 2019 in the nephews, nieces and cousins. Boys - 6:30-8 p.m. 6 Antelope Lane, dealerships. In 1978, the Sun- Crook County Memorial hospi- Preceding him in death are Sundance United off Frontage Road East, Phone: dance KOA was purchased, tal in Sundance, Gaylord went his parents; nephew, David Methodist Church 283-1756, www.