State Revenue Freefall Likely to Linger

de n | eads anePage es 1 The Sundancesae eens Times ae 75¢ Thursday, June 4, 2020 Volume 136 • Issue No. 23 Thursday, June 4, 2020 Thesundanees Sundance Times ae reenue reea ey ner CCMSD prepares to apply for hospital funding first portion of $450 million District to cite has already been available, infection control with $400 million to follow in July and the same amount in issues as basis September. “That is going to be controlled of need for new by the State Lands and In- vestments Board (SLIB),” said building Mark Erickson, chairman of the CCMSD Board of Trustees, Preparing to apply for fund- on Friday. ing for a new hospital, Crook With that decision made, County Medical Services Dis- Erickson suggested that “time trict (CCMSD) has begun to is of the essence”, commenting create a list of flaws associated that it is now confirmed that, with the current building that “They have $1.25 billion out make it difficult to deal with a there that they want to write pandemic such as COVID-19. checks for.” The district was approached CEO Micki Lyons responded by Senator Ogden Driskill and that SLIB is working on the Representative Tyler Lindholm application form at this point when it was first discovered and has indicated a desire that Wyoming would be re- for applicants to fill it in and ceiving $1.25 billion through submit it as quickly as pos- the CARES Act. With strict sible. She informed the board that Lindholm has advised Jeff Moberg photo rules governing how it could hs arss he sae ay e an ar us n an er nd sae n r sae udes be spent, the pair suggested the district to concentrate on a new hospital building would infection control issues as decline before it hit,” the senator says. before COVID-19, but COVID-19 has exac- not only improve the county’s the main reason this county The age of mineral wealth may be at an “Coal was already declining, oil and gas erbated these problems and brought them ability to deal with a future needs a more modern hospital end for the State of Wyoming. The latest were doing alright but they weren’t wild, into sharp focus,” he said. “It is also clear pandemic, but would provide building. CREG report shows a severe drop in reve- we had big problems with our power that we cannot cut our way completely to a construction project that In response, Lyons said she nue over the next couple of years thanks to plants. A lot of these issues are over-time solving this problem.” would be a shot in the arm to has staff members listing is- a huge decline in income from coal, oil and structural issues that have been there State leadership no longer has a choice, the local economy. sues they have experienced natural gas, and Senator Ogden Driskill and it’s just that the chicken has come Driskill says: the time has come to act. The The Legislature made deci- during the pandemic, such as warns that it may not be temporary. to roost.” latest projections show that revenue has sions a couple of weeks ago the lack of available isolation “It’s going to be a very difficult two years This sentiment was echoed by Governor lagged behind the state’s biennial budget as to how the $1.25 billion rooms. – and it could be permanent. COVID-19 Mark Gordon last week during a press by between $1.4 and $1.7 billion. should be allocated, with most Trustee Sandy Neiman took accelerated it and made it worse, but the conference. of it to be released in tranches real truth is that we were in a structural “It is true that these [problems] existed See ude: page 6 over the next few months. The See sa: page 11 Motor home catches fire on I-90 Tabling the chair stating that Robert’s Rules of when she served as chairman Medical district Order had been removed from herself, she neither voted nor them and she would like to see made motions. trustees bicker them reinstated. Lindmier agreed that, in over voting rules When asked to clarify what her experience, “on any other exactly about the bylaws she board I’ve been on, the presi- takes issue to, Neiman said dent does not make motions Should a chairman vote that both her concerns involve or vote, except for in the case on the issues put before the the abilities afforded to the of ties.” board, or make the motions board chairman. While Robert’s Rules of Or- that will then be voted on? In her opinion, “Number one, der does suggest that a board Trustees Sandy Neiman and the president does not vote ex- chairman refrain from voting Connie Lindmier believe the cept to break a tie,” she said. and making motions so as to answer to both these questions “Number two, [the chairman] remain impartial as the person is no, and made their opinions cannot make a motion – that presiding over the assembly, clear during Friday’s meeting has never been done.” the matter is not legal in na- of the Crook County Medical Neiman added that, in the ture. The statutes governing Services Board of Trustees. case of a roll call vote, she does hospital districts begin with “I feel the bylaws need to be believe the chairman should worked on,” Neiman began, vote. She also mentioned that, See haran: page 11 Four Aces bets on new location Photo courtesy Fred Devish At 12:50 p.m. on May 31, according to Lt. Tim Boumeester of Wyoming Highway Patrol, a Gillette resident and her young children were traveling westbound on Interstate 90 near mile post 160 when their 1989 Chevrolet motor-home began to lose mechanical power and he aue shed an nrease n enne eeraure n hereaer, se ean n r he enne aren ander ued n he eereny shuder, eed he ehe and aed r asssane hn ens, he aue as enued n aes There ere n ans r nures due hs nden aes annuned r rary a At the county level, one coun- have placed their names on Filing dates have closed for ty commissioner seat with a the ballot. the seats that will appear on four-year term will be voted on In Moorcroft, Owen Mathews the ballot at this year’s pri- this year. Kelly Dennis will run and Ben Glenn’s seats are up mary election and the names to retain his seat, challenged for re-election. Glenn, John Jeff Moberg photo of those candidates who will by Bob Latham. Aloisio and Paul Gallegos have ur es aran has ade he u a an near he r enry be running for seats at the city, At the city level, two four-year filed to run for the two posi- county, state and national level city council member terms tions. on Hwy 585,” Pixley says. “We’re just a mile have been published. will be voted on this year for In Pine Haven, the seats A new structure on the south side of town, out here and it’s been here for about ten years, At the state level, Tyler Lind- three of the county’s towns. In to be voted on are currently near the port of entry, will soon open its doors but we’re moving over there and building a new holm will run again for State Sundance, Jana McLean and occupied by John Cook and as the location for Four Aces Fabrication, a local facility.” Representative, House District Joe Wilson’s seats are up for Karla Brandenburg. Cook will business until recently housed at the property As well as showing off what the business can #1. He will be challenged by re-election. of its owner, Jay Pixley. Chip Neiman of Hulett. Randy Stevenson and Wilson See a: page 6 “It’s been out here at my house south of town, See es: page 6 rea eaher , T T T 4 The Sundance Times Page 2 Thursday, June 4, 2020 Obituaries Rita Ann McKenney Pickerd Pete Lord on May 28, 2020, af- a teaching degree after her of three and fighting cancer ton “Dig” Mitchell; and broth- ter a long courageous battle youngest son graduated for more than 20 years. ers-in-law, Leonard McKenney Gaona with cancer and heart prob- from high school. She taught Rita is survived by her lov- and Mitch Mitchell. lems. for three years in Ridge, ing husband, Albert; three A memorial has been es- Rita was born March 9, Montana, then taught Spe- children, Khristy (Dan) Fritz, tablished to the Eastern Star 1943 and was raised in the cial Education in the Sun- James (Doreen) McKenney Pine Cone Chapter #41 Ser- Aladdin area and graduated dance and Bear Lodge High and Todd (Andrea) McKen- vice Dog Fund. from Sundance High School schools. ney; nine grandchildren; ten Due to the COVID-19 pan- in 1961. Rita was a mem- Rita married Albert Pick- great-grandchildren; her sib- demic, private services were ber of the Order of the East- erd in 1989 and the couple lings, Laura Lee McKenney, held with burial at Black ern Star Pine Cone Chapter ran Pickerds Greenhouse Pat Mitchell, John (Anna) Hills National Cemetery. 41 for over 50 years, where through 2019. Rita loved Mitchell and Billie (John) Arrangements are under she held the Worthy Grand gardening and flowers, was Wolter; and her best friend, the care of Fidler-Roberts Matron Office several times.

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