Page 2 • Tuesday, February 16, 2021 • Sublette Examiner Sublette apprehensive at district consolidation bill

By Brady Oltmans, [email protected] – A bill aimed at restructur- than 24 within the state – effectively making Zwonitze, R-Laramie, before being co-spon- not “cut our way out of our economic chal- ing Wyoming’s school districts, that would each county its own district for the major- sored by Rep. , R-Laramie, lenges.” reduce the different number of districts in ity of the state. Although, specific language Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Natrona, Rep. Joe Mac- He said that he couldn’t speak for the dis- half, was received for introduction by the in the bill states districts could cross county Guire, R-Natrona, Rep. Clark Stith, R-Sweet- trict’s board of trustees but he would oppose on Jan. 26 boundaries and may provide for less than one water, Rep. , R-Laramie, Sen. Dan any legislation that mandates consolidation. That bill, HB0077, would reduce Wyo- district per county. Furphy, R-Albany, and Sen. Lynn Hutchings, As of February, Garvey said he wasn’t aware ming’s unified school districts to no more The bill was introduced by State Rep. Dan R-Laramie. of any interest in pursuing consolidation as an As of now the bill defined a unified school option in Sublette County. district as a district supporting at least kinder- “I cannot speculate on what it might look garten or first grade through grade 12 under like in this county,” Garvey said. “I believe it Gordon relaxes COVID protocols further the control of one board of trustees and one is being proposed as a cost-cutting measure superintendent that offers an adequate and in- but I am doubtful of the remedy it would pro- CHEYENNE – Gov. orders allowing larger groups and more tegrated educational program. vide. Consolidation is a local option whether announced a continued relaxation of capacity will lift up small businesses, keep Some educators consider HB0077 as cost or not this bill passes and I would always pre- health orders as data from most Wyoming schools open and get us closer to normal.” reduction during a reconciliation cycle. And fer a local decision.” counties data show declines in both case Counties can still opt out of the require- local educators inside Sublette County spoke The Wyoming School Boards Association counts and hospitalizations. ments if local conditions move to safer unfavorably towards the premise of manda- announced its opposition to the bill last week. Beginning Feb. 15, attendance limits levels in accordance with state metrics. tory consolidation. All of the representatives or senators who for indoor and outdoor gatherings in- Health officials are regularly reviewing Sublette County School District No. 1 Su- co-sponsored the bill come from some of the creased, reflecting the state’s progress in variance requests for specific events. perintendent Jay Harnack said the bill would largest school districts in the state. Laramie its fight against COVID-19. Indoor gath- “Spring is coming and doing the right be a difficult sell to people in the Sublette 1 holds the state’s largest enrollment with erings that incorporate social distancing things now will allow us to have more community. He cited language in the bill that 13,840 while Natrona 1 touts 12,754 students, and face coverings are permitted for up to people attending these events, have more states one voter from existing districts would according to 2021-21 fall enrollment numbers 25 percent of capacity or 500 persons, and people in restaurants and bars, and allow be brought onto a committee to recommend provided by the Wyoming Department of Ed- outdoor gatherings of up to 1,000 persons. us to look forward to further easing our how counties would be unified. ucation. Sweetwater 1 has the fourth-largest In addition, sporting events, artistic per- protocols,” the governor said. Harnack said if his interpretation of that enrollment (5,141) and Albany 1 has the fifth- formances, restaurants and gyms all had Gov. Gordon praised Wyoming’s ef- language were correct, only two of the 48-per- largest enrollment (3,885). capacity limits eased. ficient COVID-19 vaccine distribution son committee for consolidation would be It’s worth noting Campbell County, home “We are making good progress against rollout. Currently more than 11 percent from Sublette County. That committee would of the state’s third-largest school district, al- this virus. Levels are returning to where of the state’s population has received at be responsible for school location, utilization ready consolidates its schools into one district. they were before the dangerous spike in least one dose and the state is doing very of existing buildings, employment of existing That encompasses the various elementary, November and some counties have lifted well at administering these initial doses. personnel, consideration of impacts to student middle and high schools in Gillette, as well as restrictions. This is good news thanks to Additionally, all of Wyoming’s long-term transportation, number of trustees on each the smaller community of Wright. No delega- Wyoming’s people,” Gov. Gordon said. care facilities have had vaccine clinics for board and the schedule for consolidation. tion member representing Campbell County “At the end of this month state wres- residents and staff. All Wyoming counties “I find it pretty hard to believe that folks in co-sponsored HB0077. tling, and shortly afterwards state basket- are now in phase 1B of the phased distri- any given county will want to give up these Wyoming experienced a seventh consecu- ball tournaments will happen. We want bution plan, which includes adults 65 and kinds of decisions to a group that’s 95 per- tive year of improved graduation rates in the to ensure these events happen safely and over and frontline essential workers. Wy- cent out of our county,” Harnack said. “Just 2019-20 academic year, the Department of successfully for the athletes, families and oming vaccine distribution information my take.” Education recently announced. communities involved,” he added. “Our can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/ Kevin Garvey, superintendent of Sublette Both Sublette school districts finished in trends are encouraging and our vaccina- publichealth/immunization/wyoming- County School District No. 9, acknowledged the top 10 statewide. tion effort is progressing smoothly. These covid-19-vaccine-information/. that the legislature is in a difficult position this On Feb. 4, HB0077 was referred to the year but he said it’s his belief the state can- Education Committee. H Jewkes’ preliminary is continued to March 1 B By Joy Ufford, [email protected]

® SUBLETTE COUNTY – The Sublette and are based on varying degrees of alleged HYDRABED County Circuit Court preliminary hearing alcohol intoxication. Jewkes was driving for Jade S. Jewkes, 28, of Jackson, is once north on Highway 191 on the afternoon again rescheduled from Tuesday, Feb. 16, at of New Year’s Day and others on the road the request of her attorney. reported her erratic driving across the two- Defense attorney John LaBuda filed a lane highway, according to court records. motion for continuance and the preliminary Driving a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, she col- hearing is now set for March 1 at 9:30 a.m. lided nearly head-on with Deal, who was in Circuit Court. At a preliminary hearing, driving a 2005 plow truck in the southbound a judge determines if there is enough evi- lane. The Jeep’s airbags and seatbelt pro- dence to bind a felony case over to 9th Dis- tected Jewkes from serious injury – she suf- trict Court. fered minor cuts to her hand. The truck did Jewkes is charged with two counts of ag- not have airbags and Deal, although wear- gravated homicide and driving under the in- ing a seatbelt, was very seriously injured HYDRABEDS OF WESTERN WYOMING, LLC fluence of alcohol after being involved in a and later died. Servicing Western fatal collision in Hoback Canyon on Jan. 1. Jewkes was released to her parents on BIG PINEY, WYOMING Wyoming and France Clark (307) 214-2498 The two vehicular homicide felonies filed $150,000 cash or surety bond. She is not Haley Clark (307) 260-8983 Beyond! by Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson allowed to drive, travel outside of Teton AUTHORIZED HYDRALINE DEALER both resulted from the death of Shane Deal County or contact Deal’s family.