WWW.SHERIDANWYOMINGCHAMBER.ORG I 1 2 I COMMUNITY GUIDE & CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY WWW.SHERIDANWYOMINGCHAMBER.ORG I 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 WELCOME TO SHERIDAN COUNTY 42 LOCALS FIND SOLUTIONS TO TIGHT HOUSING MARKET 6 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 48 SHERIDAN STATISTICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS 14 THE MAN BEHIND THE CITY’S NAMESAKE 52 RELOCATION CHECKLIST 16 SHERIDAN NOTABLES SHARE DEEP HISTORY 55 THE NEXT BIG THING 22 LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE 56 SHERIDAN: THE HEART OF THE BIGHORNS 24 CHILD CARE HIGH IN DEMAND 58 BIG HORN: FROM POLO TO SCHOOLS, BIG HORN IS THE PLACE TO BE 26 ROOTED IN ARTS, CULTURE 60 STORY: QUAINT AND QUIET 28 TOP-NOTCH EDUCATION SYSTEM 62 RANCHESTER: REST OR REFUEL 31 TEAMWORK FOR A BETTER SHERIDAN 63 DAYTON: A DYNAMIC SMALL TOWN 32 TONGUE RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER 64 CLEARMONT: SMALL BUT SPECTACULAR 34 BOUNTY OF THE BIGHORNS 66 2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 36 PATHS AND WALKWAYS 72 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RELOCATION RESOURCES 38 A HUB FOR HEALTH CARE 74 CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY Dry Fork in the Bighorn Mountains 4 I COMMUNITY GUIDE & CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY A SPECIAL EDITION OF VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 1 PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2019 Destination Sheridan is a lifestyle and tourism magazine dedicated to serving the greater Sheridan area. Its circulation reaches into visitor centers, places of hospitality, local businesses and other establishments in greater northern Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado, in addition to home delivery customers of The Sheridan Press. It is also available online at thesheridanpress.com and destinationsheridan.com. All photos in Destination Sheridan are by Matt Gaston or are file photos from The Dixie S. Johnson Sheridan Press archives unless otherwise noted. Copyright Sheridan Newspapers, Inc. All uncredited stories are from The Sheridan Press staff reports. CONTRIBUTORS Welcome Kristen Czaban Troy Burger TO SHERIDAN Publisher Graphic designer Chad Riegler Deb McLain Operations manager Graphic designer COUNTY! Becky Martini Office manager Matt Gaston Photojournalist Caitlin Addlesperger Director of special Ashleigh Fox hether a recent arrival, a potential projects Editor newcomer, or someone simply Janea LaMeres Michael Illiano visiting the Sheridan area, you Lead marketing will undoubtedly be charmed to specialist Journalist find a thriving, vibrant community. Our friendly people and Mandi Hicks Bud Denega W Marketing specialist Journalist unsurpassed quality of life make the Sheridan County area an ideal place to live your life to the fullest. Josh Lovingood Ryan Patterson We hope you enjoy this annual Community Guide and Journalist Marketing specialist Membership Directory, published in cooperation between the Jon Cates Carrie Haderlie Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce and The Sheridan Art director Journalist Press. We produce this publication as a resource for relocating to the area and making the most of living in Sheridan County. We also invite you to contact the friendly, knowledgeable ON THE COVER Chamber staff for more information about our vibrant busi- Nine-year-old Grace Van Dyke climbs a horse nesses and community, as well as the tremendous discover- pen during the Bot Sots Remount Horse Sale in ies awaiting you here. Give us a call at 307-672-2485, email 2017 at the Historic Sheridan Inn. us at info.sheridanwyomingchamber.org or visit our website www.sheridanwyomingchamber.org. Best wishes, A PRODUCT OF Dixie S. Johnson, CEO SHERIDAN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WWW.SHERIDANWYOMINGCHAMBER.ORG I 5 2018 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE KeyAWARD Service March Against Family Violence Advocacy & Resource Center This award honors a Chamber member nonprofit organization that has made a significant impact in Sheridan County: a nonprofit that serves with enthusiasm and dedication, addressing needs in the community and aligning the vision of its organization for maximum effectiveness. he Advocacy & Resource Center was founded as a grass- awareness activities, trainings and events throughout the year. roots movement in the 1980s when women in Sheridan Those who have used the center’s services often wish to remain County found a need for an organization to help women anonymous but are happy to sing its praises: suffering from violence. “I cannot say enough good things about the Advocacy & Resource TOriginally called the Women’s Center, the Advocacy & Resource Center,” one client said. “The services they provide are such an asset Center opened its doors on the second floor of where the WYO Per- to Sheridan. I was treated with respect and understanding and given forming Arts and Education Center is currently located on Sheri- the push I needed to stand up for myself.” dan’s Main Street. The center moved to its current location at 136 “Several years ago, my family’s life was turned upside down,” Coffeen Ave. in 1983. In 1998, the center’s name was changed to the another client said. “The Advocacy & Resource Center was right Advocacy & Resource Center and services were expanded to assist there. They explained what our options were and continued helping all people, not just women, affected by violent crimes in Sheridan us navigate each unfamiliar step as we went. My family would have County. been completely lost had it not been for the Advocacy & Resource Today, the Advocacy & Resource Center exists to empower peo- Center.” ple affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of In 2018, the center welcomed Swanson as the new executive di- violence to realize lives of safety, choice and freedom. rector with 12 years of victim service experience and expanded the “As a nonprofit organization, we provide free services to victims staff to better serve the county of Sheridan. In addition to the center’s of violent crimes,” Executive Director Yvonne Swanson, said. “The satellite office at the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office, the center crimes may be domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, home in- obtained office space at Sheridan College to give students on campus vasion, homicide, DUI accidents, burglary, larceny, theft and oth- access to services. ers. Our services include, but are not limited to, crisis intervention, A co-facilitator of the reorganization of the Sheridan County Co- emergency shelter, food, transportation, help navigating the criminal alition Against Violence, the center has also partnered with Sheri- justice system, information about protection orders and support.” dan High School to add two days of dating violence prevention and In addition to its services, Advocacy & Resource Center provides healthy relationship information to the health class curriculum. ■ 6 I COMMUNITY GUIDE & CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY Business Person of the year AWARD Jessica Garrelts Cottonwood Kitchen + Home This award honors a Chamber member business person who shows outstanding business acumen and strong leadership in business and community efforts. This person is a champion for economic development, constantly strives to exceed customer expectations, delivers industry leading standards of service and quality and exhibits innovation in business development. essica Garrelts’ love of food and desire to connect with Jessica Garrelts people through a carefully crafted meal began as a child in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen. This passion con- tinued to grow while working at The Cottonwood Shop, Garrelts is thrilled that the teaching kitchen has evolved into a aJ local kitchen and home store, while home during college breaks. collaborative space where she and the Cottonwood staff are able to Jessica and her husband, Jeff, purchased The Cottonwood Shop in connect and help showcase so many other local businesses. 2011, with Jessica managing it full time and turning it into a staple “Having a business in downtown Sheridan offers me a very direct for locals and a must-see for visitors. way to give back to the place that has given so much to me,” Garrelts When the store outgrew its space, the Garrelts took over the former said. “I think too often we measure success by financial or material JCPenney building in 2017 and painstakingly restored and renovated contributions when truly it can be as simple as just committing to the building, bringing back its former beauty while adding modern making sure every person that walks through your doors leaves with touches, including a full commercial kitchen for cooking classes and a bigger smile than when they came in.” community events. Cottonwood is a longtime Chamber member and a Gold Com- “Being a local and also having studied interior design in strong munity Partner since 2017. Garrelts is a member of the Chamber’s collaboration with architects and historic preservationists, something Board of Directors and contributes to the Chamber’s annual fund- I am most proud of is giving that so very special landmark building raiser and donates time to the Downtown Sheridan Association. the TLC it so desperately needed,” Jessica Garrelts said. “As much “Sometimes the endless hours of work a small business owner of the work and materials as possible were provided by other local puts in is trying; it often takes guts but rarely is done for the glory,” businesses, which is another important focus for us. And of course, Garrelts said. “I’ve come to realize that what we are doing here is it doesn’t get more local than pouring so much of your own blood, so much more than just selling ‘stuff.’ What we are selling are ex- sweat and tears into it, and we did just that.” periences, reasons to give, to create and to share our love and our The new Cottonwood Kitchen + Home opened in September 2018. lives. Selling you a Marcato Hand Crank Pasta Machine…now, it’s Business success, service and giving back to the community are all not about the margins, it’s about the memories and it feels so good. intertwined for Garrelts. “I am transported back to my grandmother’s kitchen, helping her “How I serve my community is through my heart,” Garrelts said.