Granger mayor charged with theft By DAVID MARTIN fine of up to $10,000 while the the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Publisher misdemeanor carries a possible Office. sentence of up to one year in jail Sloan said she resigned from The mayor of Granger is fac- and a fine of up to $1,000. her position due to issues with ing allegations he used mu- McCollum made his initial the town’s accounts and voiced nicipal funds for personal use, appearance before Circuit Court concerns McCollum was misus- which include purchasing a Judge Craig Jones Friday after- ing the town’s bank card. furnace part for a rental home noon and was released from the On Nov. 14, 2019, Sloan was he owns in New York state. Sweetwater County Detention interviewed by detectives and al- Bradly McCollum, 55, was Center after posting bail. leged the current town council of arrested and charged last week According to court docu- “total hypocrisy” when members with felony theft and misde- ments, the investigation into spoke badly about the previous meanor wrongful appropriation McCollum’s activities started council’s activities when the cur- of public property. Nov. 8, 2019 when Sharon rent council was doing the same The felony charge carries a Sloan, the former clerk and trea- thing. potential sentence of up to 10 surer for the town had contacted years in prison and a possible Detective Matthew Wharton of Continued on A2 Wednesday, November 11, 2020 130th Year, 25th Issue Green River, WY 82935 Address Service Requested $1.50 County is thoroughly Republican By DAVID MARTIN Publisher If the General Election last week proved one thing about Sweetwater County’s voters, it’s that they’re overwhelming Republican. Democrats seeking office, both longtime fixtures in the Wyoming Legislature and newcomers looking to take over for retiring Democrats were cast aside as voters sought to support President Donald Trump. According to election results certified by the Sweetwater County Clerk’s Office Friday, 16,698 ballots were cast both prior to and during Election Day. During the Presidential Election in 2016, 16,660 ballots were cast in the county. Locally, voters supported a change in leadership in Green River’s Ward 1 election. Sherry Bushman defeated incumbent Tom Murphy 1,026 votes to 716. In Ward 2, George Jost, running unopposed, received 1,050 votes. He will replace Lisa Maes who decided not to seek re-election. In Ward 3, Robert Burg, running unopposed, received 1,781 votes. For Sweetwater County School Number One District No. 2, voters supported incumbents while bringing a newcomer Alexa Lauze, Lauren Lee, Madison Young and Lauren Jensen, the captains of Green River High School’s girls swimming and on the board. The top four in the race diving team, celebrate the team winning State after arriving in Green River Saturday night. Star photo by David Martin were Steve Core, Brenda Roosa, David Young and Mark Sanders, who received 2,560, 2,300, 2,298 and 2,247 votes respectively. Danielle Salas received 2,006 votes, Debra Barton received 1,577, Jennifer Figenser received Any mask mandate could be 1,177, Daniel Flom received 976, Cristy Pelham received 933 and Robbie De Leur received 627. In the race for two Sweetwater challenging to enforce County commissioner seats, Republicans Lauren Schoenfeld and Mary Thoman enjoyed a tremendous By DAVID MARTIN this week, but isn’t sure if the state would proceed with such lead over Democrats Joe Barbuto and Publisher a mandate. While Dr. Stachon said she supports countywide Dave Gray. mask mandate, she recognizes a number of political hurdles in Schoenfeld and Thoman received COVID-19 infection rates continue to increase in Sweetwater establishing the mandate. 9,704 and 9,053 votes respectively County. According to Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel while Barbuto received 4,339 and Grey As of Monday evening, Sweetwater County recorded Erramouspe, Dr. Stachon can ask for a countywide mask had 3,336. 200 active COVID-19 cases, with another 46 probable, but mandate through the state’s health offi cer, Dr. Alexia Harrist. District Court judges received unconfi rmed cases. In Sweetwater County, the percentage of If the request is approved by Dr. Harrist, the mandate could be tremendous support for their retention. positive COVID-19 tests conducted surpassed 20% during the set without involving the Sweetwater County commissioners or Judge Richard Lavery and Suzannah weekend. As infections continue to increase locally, some have city and town councils in the county. While a mandate could be Robinson were both retained, with started calling for a mandate to require masks in public places. placed, enforcement is another question entirely. Lavery receiving 11,600 votes in favor Bailie Dockter, CEO of Castle Rock Medical Center, asked the “If a countywide mask mandate is ordered, I don’t believe of retention to 2,987 against while Green River City Council to consider a mandate last week. that it would pose any challenges to my offi ce as we would Robinson had 10,688 favoring her Dr. Jean Stachon, the county’s health offi cer, said 20 of the not prosecute any violations, as I believe such an order is retention to 3,680 against. state’s 22 county health offi cers signed and sent a letter to Gov. unenforceable,” Erramouspe wrote in an email to the Star. Mark Gordon recommending a state-wide mask mandate. She Continued on A11 said the offi cers have a meeting scheduled with Gordon later Continued on A11 Wyoming Downs will move to Uinta Drive Staff Report has forced them to fi nd another location. A resolution approved last With a closure of nearly two week by the Green River City months, Joyce said the county Council will allow Wyoming and city will receive about Downs to operate at 110 Uinta $150,000 in revenue from local Drive, a location formerly gambling. operated by Stellar Coffee. “We hope to grow it going During the council meeting, forward,” he said. Eugene Joyce, managing Joyce said they intend to partner for Wyoming Downs, apply for a package liquor said they were unable to permit from the city, but have continue the lease agreement not submitted an application with Town Bar and Grill, which yet. A2 www.greenriverstar.com Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Spent funds placed on water bill for repayment From A1 started doing the same ing in 2015. being the town’s clerk rant for financial records State, with documents She said she helped thing. She described her After he won his elec- and treasurer and was involving the town form stating Christine McCol- McCollum investigate relationship with Mc- tion to be the town’s appointed Jan. 24, 2019. State Bank in Green Riv- lum’s now daughter lives the previous council’s, Collumn as vasy close, mayor in 2018, Sloan While serving as trea- er, receiving the docu- at the property. McCol- but said it didn’t sit saying the two had been said McCollumn ap- surer, she said she would ments a few days later. lum allegedly provided well with her when he best friends since meet- proached her about loan McCollum and his While reviewing the Romango the invoice for wife Christine McCol- records, he found two the part, but it hadn’t yet lum money as the two purchases for a Farmers been placed on the Mc- had financial troubles. Cooperative Tire Center Collums’ water bill when She would go as far as in Milford, Neb., totaling investigators interviewed saying she would cut $485.38 and $348.48 re- her. The amount was for them a break on their spectively. He also found $454.27. Court docu- water bill, paying $20 of a charge to the Mustang ments state McCollum the outstanding bill the Travel Center in Manila, emailed the invoice to McCollums owed. This Utah for $30.05. investigators, which was went as far as McCollum In March, detec- linked to an HVAC sup- asking Sloan not to mail tives received copies of ply store in West Sen- his water bill because he invoices from Farmers eca, N.Y. On March 23, didn’t want the town’s Cooperative Tire Center Wharton received bank post master seeing how with the purchase made records from State Bank far behind he was in his to a Visa card with a indicating transaction of payments. number matching the $454.27 in West Seneca, She said this re- town’s bank card paying N.Y. lationship started to the $485.38 amount and Investigators also deteriorate later in 2019 observed the words “over took the town’s debit after McCollum’s wife phone” listed on the sig- cards from the McCol- returned from a trip to nature line of the receipt. lums. While Bradly had New York State. She The invoice stated four the town’s bank card, said McCollum’s wife Mastercraft Courser tires Christine had the volun- had driven to New York were purchased in the teer fire department’s to evict renters at their transaction. card. While retrieving property and had gotten On March 12, inves- the card from Chris- a flat tire while driving tigators conducted a tine, detectives noticed through Nebraska.In search warrant at the a white Ford box van at Continuing September Sloan re- Granger Town Hall and the McCollum residence. viewed the town’s bank interviewed Teal Roman- The van had Mastercraft transactions and discov- go, the town’s clerk. She Courser tires match- Our Commitment ered two transactions to said she had an idea why ing those listed on the a tire shop in Nebraska the sheriff’s office was invoice from Farmers totaling approximately investigating McCollum, Cooperative Tire Center.