THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2017 107TH YEAR/ISSUE 66 Judge dismisses Clark couple’s suit against Powell school district COUPLE CLAIMED SCHOOL STAFFERS ‘PLOTTED’ TO HAVE THEIR CHILD TAKEN AWAY laws shield the school district from be- ing sued over the allegations. BY CJ BAKER neglected the boy. and Clark physically and emotionally allegations ... which are grossly exag- “We’re pleased and believe that the Tribune Editor In their recently dismissed lawsuit, harmed their son while failing to prop- gerated, inaccurate and, in the opinion decision of the court was appropriate,” the Whithams claimed their legal trou- erly supervise him in the months before of the defendants, untrue.” Copenhaver said Wednesday. judge has tossed out a Clark ble actually stemmed from “fabricated” he was taken into protective custody. The Powell school board denied the The Whithams plan to appeal the couple’s lawsuit, which alleged reports to law enforcement from school The Whithams accused the district of Whithams’ claims of mistreatment and decision. APowell school district officials employees who “plotted” against them. negligence, assault, battery, child en- requests for compensation in March; the In a series of videos posted to conspired to take away their child last An attorney for Park County School dangerment and intentional infliction of Whithams filed their 30-count complaint YouTube — containing snippets of year. District No. 1, Tracy Copenhaver, has emotional distress — including alleging in Park County’s district court in early video footage from the incidents in Authorities temporarily took Dominic disparaged the Whithams’ accusations that school district staffers improperly April. question, interspersed with com- and Kimberly Whitham’s 6-year-old son as “paranoid delusions.” restrained and “attacked” the boy. Late last month, District Court mentary on the case — Dominic into protective custody in early 2016 and The couple also alleged in their Copenhaver said the Whithams’ Judge Steven Cranfill dismissed the a jury later concluded the Whithams had lawsuit that school staffers in Powell complaint contained a “laundry list of Whithams’ case, ruling that Wyoming’s See School, Page 3 CONNECT TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN BOND BETWEEN POWELL, NWC NWC to kick off school year with Paint the Town Red events BY DON COGGER that you can drive through this Tribune Staff Writer town and not even know there’s a college,” Hicswa said. “So we n a cold, snowy morn- got together and brainstormed ing in early February, some ideas, trying to figure out Ocommunity members priorities for connecting. Some gathered to discuss ideas on really good ideas emerged out of reinforcing Powell’s image as a those meetings.” “college town.” One of the ideas was the That meeting resulted in the genesis of what would become formation of Connect to Paint the Town Red. Ini- Community, or C2C — an tially, the plan was just to initiative designed to paint downtown win- bring the col- dows red to wel- lege and the come students community back to Powell. closer together. That quickly Six months lat- evolved into er, C2C is host- a concert and ing Paint the dance at Plaza Town Red on Diane, food Friday, Aug. 25, trucks to pro- Scout leader Catherine Labdon, 21, holds a good hand as she plays cards with Lewy Harrison, 13, in a new cowboy hat. The scouts from and Saturday, vide a variety Salisbury, England, bided their time while waiting for lunch before demonstrations on tent set-up. Tribune photo by Mark Davis Aug. 26. It’s a of grub, ac- series of events tivities such as to celebrate the face painting return of NWC and basketball English Scouts pick Wyoming for eclipse students for fall demonstra- semester and tions and a con- BRITISH INVASION TOOK THREE ning early to make the long trip Baird said. the downtown test/poker run happen. So, for more than two Salisbury is a small city of businesses that where people YEARS TO PLAN, COSTS THOUSANDS years, his Scouts have been do- about 45,000 English citizens support them. will vote on their ing fundraisers and dreaming — just a little smaller than At last winter’s meet- favorite painted win- BY MARK DAVIS vance. of seeing America. Casper — in a country of 53 ing — facilitated by dows downtown. More Tribune Staff Writer “I penciled him in,” said An- The troop cleaned cars, sold million people on an island Northwest College Presi- than 30 businesses drew Allgeier, Senior District baked goods, bagged grocer- about half the size of the cow- dent Stefani Hicswa and agreed to have their win- ordon Baird thought it Executive for ies, cleaned golf boy state. It’s 9 miles south of Powell Economic Part- dows painted red. would be a great experi- the Boy Scouts of clubs and did Stonehenge, the iconic prehis- nership Executive Director For those made of sterner Gence for his Scout troop America. ‘We wanted to sponsored rides toric stone structure, and the Christine Bekes — “We kept stuff, the Heart of a Trapper to see the total solar eclipse in Baird had and hikes to raise Salisbury Cathedral, the city’s hearing things like, ‘We want Trail Run and Hike is sched- Wyoming. So he tried to make been planning visit somewhere enough money center, broke ground in the Powell to be more of a college uled for the next day at Heart a reservation at the Camp Buf- for his troop’s they’d never have — about 2,200 year 1220. town,’” Hicswa said. Mountain. Extreme runners are falo Bill — the Boy Scouts of trip for nearly a chance to visit.’ pounds (cur- The group arrived in Denver A committee consisting of lo- encouraged to take on one of the America adventure camp on three years. The rently just over and then drove straight to the cal business owners and college toughest challenges in the area, the North Fork — for some fun British Airlines Gordon Baird $2,800) per per- North Fork in 15-passenger representatives was formed to but day hikers and families are pilot with a de- son — to make vans. Scouts were wide-eyed as sift through all of the informa- also invited to participate. before heading to Jackson for Scout leader the astronomical event. gree in astron- the trip. they passed through the Wind tion gathered at listening ses- “We wanted to start some There was a problem: The omy knew the “There are River Canyon and eventually sions and formulate an action traditions on campus,” camp normally doesn’t take Scouts from Salisbury, Eng- more clean cars in Salisbury plan. reservations two years in ad- land, would need to start plan- than anywhere in the world,” See Scouts, Page 8 “What we realized early on is See Events, Page 2 Men deny charges in Shoshone National Forest horse abandonment case BY CJ BAKER counts of cruelty, were tentatively set charges that the men “unnecessarily while hunting and he told authorities winter, but obviously, the intent here, I Tribune Editor for December jury trials after their de- failed” to properly care for the animals they were his animals. David Flint think, is where the issue’s going to lie,” nials of the charges. The two southwest or “cruelly abandoned” them. reportedly told authorities that two of said defense attorney Tim Blatt, who’s wo Mountain View men accused Wyoming residents were allowed to re- One horse died over the winter, while the horses were his, though he said he representing David Flint. of abandoning a trio of horses in main free on signature bonds while they the other two were brought out of the wasn’t present when they ran off. In most cruelty cases, an animal is Tthe Shoshone National Forest over await future court appearances. forest by an outfitter and a Shoshone The Flints reportedly told authorities left in a pen and intentionally neglected the fall and winter pleaded not guilty The case relates to how the Flints law enforcement officer; the two surviv- they had looked for the horses in No- — “and I don’t think that that’s the case to animal cruelty charges at a Tuesday dealt with losing three horses in the ing horses were in poor condition when vember and couldn’t find them. here,” Blatt said in an interview. Blatt court appearance in Cody. Greybull River drainage west of they were found, authorities say. “The facts are what they are; I don’t said he expects that issue of intent — Brothers Brad and David Flint, Meeteetse last September. The Park Charging documents say Brad Flint think there’s any dispute that the horses each charged with three misdemeanor County Attorney’s Office alleges in the was the one who actually lost the horses were left out in the mountains over the See Horses, Page 8 ZIPPING Residence hall’s woes adding up for NWC BOARD APPROVES ANOTHER tions, a structural assessment, a feasibil- RIGHT ity study on the scope of the damage, as $100K TO COMPLETE DAMAGE well as the development of preliminary ASSESSMENT OF CODY HALL repair plans and options for Cody Hall. ALONG Discussion about Cody Hall became Nona Peyton, BY DON COGGER the focal point of Monday’s meeting of the 89, of Powell Tribune Staff Writer NWC Board of Trustees, held in Meetee- (right) and her tse. granddaughter, hat started as routine mainte- “Currently, Safetech, Inc. continues Robyn Laquihon, nance on one of Northwest Col- discovery and remediation work in Cody are harnessed and Wlege’s residence halls quickly Hall,” Lisa Watson, NWC vice president ready to speed turned south earlier this summer, with for administrative services and finance, down a section of the discovery of enough water damage wrote in a memo.