TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 108TH YEAR/ISSUE 17 CITY PERSONNEL, ENGINEERS OUTLINE SCOPE OF CONSTRUCTION Local among finalists for vacant secretary of state position BY KATIE KULL and Smith and said he would WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE “glady” support either candi- Via Wyoming News Exchange date if they’re chosen by the governor. HEYENNE — The Wyo- “I am simply willing to put ming Republican Party my name out there as a con- Con Saturday selected a cerned and willing citizen,” former Wyoming Speaker of George said. the House, a Cheyenne attor- Eight people applied for the ney and a local farmer as the spot. The state party passed three finalists for secretary of over bids from Wyoming Audi- state. tor Cynthia Cloud Torrington’s Ed of Cody, former Buchanan, Chey- Secretary of State enne’s Darin Smith Max Maxfield, for- and Richard George mer state Rep. Pete — who lives be- Illoway and Robert tween Cody and Elwell of Cheyenne Powell — are all and Hot Springs vying to fill the County Clerk Nina spot left vacant by Webber. former Secretary of Each candidate State Ed Murray. presented a three- Murray resigned RICHARD minute speech to earlier this month GEORGE the Republican after two women committee and an- publicly accused him of sexual swered eight questions about misconduct. election policies, voting equip- Now, Gov. Matt Mead will ment, public lands and public Traffic makes its way through the intersection of Absaroka and Third streets Monday afternoon. An informational meeting held last week at select the replacement to serve investment. City Hall outlined the upcoming reconstruction project of the popular thoroughfare, scheduled to begin later this year. Tribune photo by Mark Davis the remaining 10 months of The following is a brief Murray’s term. That appointee summary of the major policy will oversee the August pri- positions discussed by each mary elections and November finalist: general elections; supervise business and trademark reg- RICHARD GEORGE Absaroka Street project istration; and would be first in The Republican national line to replace the governor if committeeman for Wyoming that we’ll be looking at to see will include more parking, bet- he couldn’t complete his term. said he felt God was pushing RESIDENTS PACK CITY HALL how that can help us as the ter sight windows, improved Under state law, Mead must him toward the vacant seat in BY DON COGGER residents. project goes along,” Butts said. infrastructure and better light- make a decision within five the secretary of state’s office. Tribune Sports/News Editor City Streets Superintendent The project is funded by a ing. Total reconstruction will days of receiving the nomi- “We need to have people in Gary Butts said he was pleased 1 cent specific purpose sales occur from Third to Seventh nees; that means he’ll pick a the secretary of state’s office bout 65 residents filled with the turnout and felt the and use tax approved by Park streets, while utility work will candidate by the end of the day who care about elections and the Powell City Coun- meeting helped educate the County voters two years ago. take place between First and on Thursday, said Dave Bush, we’ve got to have conserva- Acil chambers Tuesday public about the work. The work will widen Absaroka Third streets. Decorative light a spokesman for Mead. tives filling these seats,” he to learn more and express In addition, “I thought the Street and reconstruct utilities. poles will be installed through- “I would not assume for a said. concerns about the upcoming residents had some good ideas Benefits, according to the city, out the area. moment that I would do a bet- George talked frequently widening and reconstruction of “Right now, we’re still work- ter job than either of the other about the “good people” Absaroka Street. ing on the conceptual design,” two candidates,” George told that currently worked in the Representatives of Engi- ‘Right now, we’re still working on the conceptual Travis Conklin, of Engineering the Powell Tribune on Mon- neering Associates and the City design. By September, we’re hoping to have Associates told attendees. “By day. He praised Buchanan See Finalists, Page 8 of Powell outlined the scope everything all put together and go out to bid.’ September, we’re hoping to of the project and addressed See Absaroka, Page 2 issues and concerns voiced by Travis Conklin, Engineering Associates TITLE WAVE PET-SPECIFIC OXYGEN MASKS A NEW TOOL FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT Donation could help save lives of pets BY MARK DAVIS the fire — caught in the red, blue and white hoping to save family pets. Tribune Staff Writer lights of emergency vehicles — showed the Firefighters soon came out with Petey. stress of the situation. His fur was smok- here was a different feeling in the air At first, there was no way in. The flames ing, but he was as Powell firefighters battled a blaze were out of control. alert and clinging ‘It doesn’t Tin the Cactus Garden Court on a recent As soon as passage was safe, firefighters to his rescuer. Saturday night. When the call first came out entered the home. By the time they could Emergency medi- matter if over the radios, it was thought someone was get through the front door, they knew all cal technicians our patient trapped inside. people associated with the residence were and firemen im- Faces in the crowd and of those working safe. Yet they still raced through the door mediately began is human or to treat the bull- animal, we treat dog. them the same.’ “I didn’t expect to have Petey as Kaitlynn Norman a patient,” said PVHC EMT Kaitlynn Norman, a Powell Valley Healthcare EMT who’s studying to be a nurse. “It doesn’t matter if our patient is human or animal, we treat them the same.” Most firefighters have pets. Their animals are part of their families and the emotions for victims of fires are earned through the nightmares of the job. It’s not the first time Powell firefighters attempted to rescue pets. Unfortunately, it won’t be the last, accord- ing to Damian Dicks, the volunteer depart- ment’s chief. “It doesn’t happen often, but if we can, we’ll do our best to save [pets],” Dicks said. Now, thanks to a donation of pet-specific Powell High School sophomore Brody Karhu’s hand is lifted by oxygen masks by the company Invisible an official after winning the 152-pound state championship title Fence, area pets have a better chance of at the 3A State Wrestling Championships in Casper on Saturday. survival. Reese Karst also claimed a title for the Panthers, at 138 pounds, Smalls, a golden-doodle owned by Dr. Lael Beachler, models a large oxygen mask donated to helping the team to a fourth-place finish. For more, see Page 9. the Powell Fire Department by Invisible Fence. Tribune photo by Mark Davis See Pets, Page 8 Tribune photo by Breanne Thiel Obesity adding to health care problems, senator says BY CJ BAKER strokes, heart disease, aches and … to the level where you don’t need in America over the last century — cut all other things down to essen- Tribune Editor pains and “the bad back because to take medicine for Type 2 diabe- from 56 in 1922 to 81 today. tially nothing, but with this grow- you’re carrying around [weight] tes; get your blood pressure under “We collectively got all the ing, graying population, we have ne way to combat the prob- like a big knapsack on the front of control with what you’re doing with medicine right,” Barrasso said. But real challenges as a society of how lems and high cost of health your body,” he said at a Wednesday diet and exercise.” that 25-year jump in the average to best cope with all of it,” he said. Ocare in America is through meeting of the Powell Rotary Club. More than a third of Americans lifespan means “we got the math Barrasso added that, “People diet and exercise, says U.S. Sen. “People say, ‘Well, The cost of (36.5 percent) are obese, according wrong” when it comes to govern- paid in a lot to Medicare, Social John Barrasso, R-Wyo. drugs are so high,’” Barrasso con- to data from the U.S. Centers for ment programs like Medicare and Security — we all have — but “A lot of it is we spend $180 tinued. “They’re right: they’re too Disease Control. In a 2016 study, Social Security that provide ben- once you’ve reached a certain age, billion a year related to obesity,” high. And the thing you can person- 27.7 percent of Wyomingites re- efits to older residents, he said. you’re on the better side of that Barrasso, a medical doctor, said ally do … is not need the medication ported being obese. “People say, ‘Why can’t you bal- math equation.” JOHN of the challenges. That includes by getting rid of the 20 pounds that During his remarks, Barrasso ance the budget?’ It’s because of BARRASSO high blood pressure, diabetes, will bring your blood sugar down noted how life expectancy has risen Medicare, Social Security. You can See Barrasso, Page 2 LAST WEEK’S LOTTA NUMBER BELONGED TO LOTTA NUMBER - 6114 08/03/2018 MARY deHAAN OF POWELL WHO MISSED $20. PAGE 2 • POWELL TRIBUNE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 Barrasso: Powell is ‘Norman Rockwell’s America’ AAUW goes around the world in 60 minutes Continued from Page 1 ming in the course of a week are tee on Environment and Public Northwest College students tercultural House at Northwest said Claudia Fisher, an AAUW in Washington,” he said.