Tribune Staff
August 11, 2008 1:42 pm
Norma M. Scott
Norma M. Scott died Monday, Aug. 11 at the Powell Valley Care Center. She was 84.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Seventh Street in Powell.
Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.
A full obituary will follow. Arrangements are being handled by Thompson Funeral Home.
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August 11, 2008 1:40 pm
Gunbarrel Fire update, August 8, 2008
Sent at 9 a.m. by Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A Public Information Officer,
Laura McConnell.
Cooler temperatures and higher humidities kept fire activity to a minimum on Thursday 8/7/08. The majority of activity occurred at the head of Sweetwater Creek approximately nine miles north of highway 14-16-20.
Owners, employees and visitors to the Elephant Head Lodge, Goff Creek Lodge, and Crossed Sabres Ranch returned after evacuations were lifted with the knowledge that hasty retreat may be necessary if conditions change. Residents of the Moss Creek area were allowed to return to their cabins as well. Structure protection measures were started at the Shoshone Lodge on the west flank and improved at the Standing Star Ranch on the east flank of the fire
A predicted shift in winds today may advance the fire on the west flank towards the highway. The majority of resources will monitor the fire growth closely in these areas in order to meet management objectives of property conservation and ecosystem benefit. Incident Commander Don Angell said, “Our effort is to maximize the benefits for the communities while taking firefighter and public safety into account.” Engines will continue to patrol to ensure that nothing ignites on the south side of the highway and at least one crew will staff the east side of the fire.
In the corridor, Qwest will be repairing the damaged phone lines to restore service to areas west of the fire. Traffic continues to flow well along highway 14-16-20 allowing visitors and residents access to Cody and the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. To ensure safe passage pilot car operations may be implemented that could cause minor delays. Seven of the eight campgrounds in the fire area are open for camping with Threemile Campground being the exception. Fishhawk trailhead remains closed.
Gunbarrel Fire Statistics at a Glance:
- Time/Date Started: July 26, 2008
- Location: 40 miles west of Cody, WY north of Hwy 14-16-20.
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Cost: $2,900,000
- Fuels: Heavy dead and down timber with 50-80% beetle killed trees in spruce/fir.
- Size: 35,500 acres.
Resources Committed:
5 twenty-person hot shot crews, 2 type two crews, 2 heavy helicopters, 1 medium helicopters, 2 light helicopters, 16 engines, and approximately 361 personnel.
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August 07, 2008 7:43 am
Firefighters focus on structure protection, burn-out operations
‘We want to deal with fire on our terms'
Teams of Gunbarrel firefighters were in protection mode Wednesday. This Idaho-based Hot Shot crew prepares a perimeter water line around a Mormon Creek cabin. Tribune photo by Toby Bonner
Crews fighting the Gunbarrel Fire on the North Fork were on the offensive Wednesday, protecting structures and planning for burn-out operations around lodges and along U.S. 14-16-20.
Burn-out operations were scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, weather permitting.
The fire had grown to 32,590 acres by Wednesday morning, but according to fire officials, it was moving slower than in previous days.
Ben Brack, public information officer trainee for Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A, said, “Yes, it's growing, but it's progressing west at a slower pace.”
Elephant Head Lodge, Crossed Sabres Ranch and Goff Creek Lodge, as well as a cabin east of Eagle Creek Campground, all on the west edge of the fire, were evacuated late Tuesday. The campground at Eagle Creek is under a “precautionary evacuation alert,” according to an update sent by the fire management office.
“The fire hasn't overtaken the area, but, because of movement, we decided to evacuate. The evacuations will allow fire managers to conduct burn-outs around the structures,” said Brack.
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August 06, 2008 2:18 pm
Soccer camp proving successful
Kalina Smith blocks a shot attempt during her time as a goalie in a game called Top Gun at Pat D'Alessandro's soccer camp. Tribune photo by David Dickey
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August 06, 2008 2:16 pm
People feeling the force of fire
Two days ago, I wrote a piece expounding the benefits of forest fires — the Gunbarrel Fire, in particular.
The positives of the fire, in an area with 50-80 percent beetle killed trees, are indisputable.
The health of the land depends on fire — to cleanse and promote new growth in weakened areas.
It was just a matter of time, anyway. The North Fork has been a veritable tinderbox for years.
But as the fire swallows up acre after acre, things have turned personal for many.
Late Sunday, Sweetwater Lodge was consumed. My grandparents owned the lodge years ago — much of our family lore is intertwined with Sweetwater. So even though I hadn't spent much time there, I felt a pang of sadness at the news.
By Tuesday evening, the fire raging on the North Fork had grown to nearly 33,000 acres. E-mails arrived saying the fire had moved into the Libby Creek drainage and was moving toward Mormon Creek.
Mormon Creek is home to the Bonner family cabin — a structure the family dedicated many summers to building some 50 years ago.
It's a place I've come to love over the last several years.
Firefighters on Wednesday began installing sprinklers around the building to protect it should the fire advance down Mormon Creek.
So far, the cabin is safe, but the anxiety will hang over us, much like the smoke shrouding the Basin, until it's out of danger.
I know I'm not alone. More people feel the power and destruction of the fire each day as it encroaches on civilization.
The change from natural to threatening came fast. For many of us, it's now personal.
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August 06, 2008 2:15 pm
Practices for PHS's fall sports to begin Aug. 18
The fall sports season is just around the corner, and Jeff Jones, Powell High School's activities director and assistant principal, has released the start times for the first day of practice for all fall sports teams.
Each of PHS's fall teams will open practice Monday, Aug. 18.
Leading the way into the 2008 fall season will be the PHS football and golf teams. PHS's football squad will begin practice at 6:30 a.m. and continue until 12:30 p.m. on the practice field across from the Panthers' football stadium. The boys and girls golf teams also have a scheduled 6:30 a.m. start time. Their practices will be conducted at Powell Golf Club.
The PHS volleyball team and boys and girls tennis teams will open practice at 7 a.m. The volleyball team's first practice session of the day is set for 7-10 a.m. Their second session will be from 4-6 p.m. Both volleyball practice sessions will be at the gymnasium at the new high school. The tennis teams, following their first practice session at 7 a.m., will have a second session from 4-6 p.m. Practices for the tennis teams are scheduled for Westside Courts.
The boys and girls cross country teams have one practice session set for Monday, Aug. 18, and it will begin at 8 a.m. at the PHS Track.
The Lady Panther swimmers have two sessions set for the opening day of practice. The first will be from 8-10 a.m., and the second is from 4-6 p.m. Both practice sessions will be at the PHS pool.
Also opening practice will be the PHS cheerleading squad, which will start preparing for the upcoming season in the PHS wrestling room at the new high school. Their practice time is slated for 4-5:30 p.m.
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August 06, 2008 2:14 pm
Betty Fern Moore
May 28, 1932 - July 29, 2008
Betty Fern Moore, 76, of Casper, died Tuesday, July 29, at the Wyoming Medical Center. She was 76.
She was born May 23, 1932 in Sidney, Mont., the daughter of John and Emma Dalke. She married Oliver Moore Oct. 21, 1951, in Powell, and they became parents of three children.
She is survived by daughters Judith Pratt of Salem, Ore., Gaylan McMurray of Casper and son Allen (Tara) Moore of Casper, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, a brother Melven Dalke of Powell, sisters Estella Burnett of Powell and Glenda Taylor Casper, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband, Oliver.
Services were held Saturday, Aug. 2 at Faith Assembly of God Church in Casper. Newcomer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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August 06, 2008 2:12 pm
Alumni gather in Powell this weekend
Powell High School alumni will convene in Powell this weekend for the 93rd all-class reunion, with a special emphasis on Powell's centennial year.
Individual classes will gather Friday to renew friendships and reminisce about the “good old golden-rule days” in the Powell schools.
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June 23, 2009 4:18 am
Flames force evacuations
Firefighters contain Gunbarrel fire to north side of U.S. 14-16-20
Raging flames in the Gunbarrel fire forced evacuations of two North Fork lodges over the weekend and put others on alert.
But, thanks to the efforts of hard-working firefighters, the fire claimed only an empty dog house.
As of Monday, firefighters had held the fire to the north side of U.S. 14-16-20. That was despite unfavorable weather conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity and high, erratic winds, according to an update from the Laura McConnell, public information officer Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A.
By Monday, the fire had grown to 21,995 acres — up from 1,000 acres just a week before. Containments costs were estimated at $1 million.
The fire is burning 40 miles west of Cody near Gunbarrel and Goff creeks. It is burning in areas with heavy dead and downed timber with 50-80 percent beetle-killed spruce and fir trees.
The fire was zero percent contained. To date, firefighters' efforts focus on protecting threatened structures and resources.
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August 04, 2008 2:36 pm
Pioneers third in West District Tournament
Young squad earns berth in state event
Gianluca Giarrizzo is a study in concentration as he prepares to make contact with a pitch against Cody during the West District Class A Tournament in Powell last week. Tribune photo by David Dickey
A six-team field battled for the top spot in the West District Class A Tournament in Powell last week, and the Jackson Giants emerged as the first-place finisher after topping the Cody Cubs 10-9 in Sunday's championship game.
Powell, the event's host team, achieved a 1-2 mark during its matchups and was forced to settle for third place, and Riverton finished fourth. The top four teams qualified for Legion Baseball's Class A State Tournament, which is slated to begin Wednesday in Cheyenne, and only the combined Worland-Lander team and Lovell were left on the outside looking in from the West District following last week's action at Ed Lynn Field. As for the East District, Wheatland, last year's state champion, garnered the first-place trophy and finished ahead of Cheyenne, Gillett and Douglas, who rounded out spots two through four.
For the Powell Pioneers (32-19), their bid for the district title ended after three games in the double-elimination tournament. During their first contest against Riverton, Powell emerged as a 12-1 winner in a five-inning affair and qualified for this week's games in Cheyenne. However, Coach Jeff Young's team dropped a 6-3 decision to Cody in the semifinals and fell 11-6 to Jackson in a Saturday loser-out game. Despite the fact the Pioneers will enter the state event with a two-game losing streak, Coach Young remains optimistic about his team's chances for a strong finish to the 2008 season.
“I think we're going to be OK,” Coach Young said. “I think the guys were a little disappointed that they didn't finish better, but I don't have any major concerns going into state. Our main goal last week was to win that first game and qualify for state, and we took care of that. Then we lost a close game against Cody and ran into a Jackson team that's been playing really well lately.
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