Powell Tribune

EDITORIAL: Tourism worth investing in — but it’s a balance

When we hear about all of the money travelers are spending here — more than $3.5 billion last year alone — we welcome out-of-state and international visitors. But that welcome can quickly wear out when sitting in a traffic jam in Yellowstone … more

5/3/18

EDITORIAL: Gun debate needs voices on both sides

Whether we choose to admit it, gun violence has affected our community. While Wyoming has a different attitude toward guns and gun ownership than much of the nation, that Park County school districts have been voting on whether to arm their teachers … more

By Don Cogger | 5/1/18

EDITORIAL: More people should consider running for office

The official filing period for partisan positions such as those in the county government or the Legislature, and also for the city council, opens next month. It runs from May 17 to June 1. Folks can still run with a third-party or as an independent … more

By CJ Baker | 4/26/18

EDITORIAL: Safely share the road, stop for emergency vehicles

In recent days, the Powell Volunteer Fire Department responded to multiple out-of-control burns — a sure sign of spring in Wyoming. With an increase in fire calls, it’s a good reminder for drivers to safely share the road with firetrucks and … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/24/18

Celebrate Powell’s trees on Arbor Day

Now, with the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration scheduled for next week, the spotlight will once again shine on Powell’s trees. Festivities will kick off Thursday, April 26, as fifth graders from Parkside, Westside and Southside elementary … more

By Don Cogger | 4/19/18

EDITORIAL: Final Yellowstone fee plan an improvement

The cost of a one-week pass to Yellowstone or Grand Teton national parks will soon rise from $30 to $35. However, the rates will not shoot all the way up to $70, as Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke initially proposed last year. We didn’t … more

By CJ Baker | 4/17/18

EDITORIAL: Renew your interest in your local library

Research in the mid-1950s revealed Americans were spending more money on radios, televisions and musical instruments and less on books, according to the American Library Association. Out of concern that people were reading less, National Library … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/12/18

EDITORIAL: Start of spring brings change and renewal

For baseball fans, spring means the start of another Major League Baseball season, and this year’s opening-day festivities featured a Park County angle. Cody filmmaker Preston Randolph’s award-winning documentary “The Summer of ’81” was … more

By Don Cogger | 4/10/18

EDITORIAL: Celebrate diversity at Multicultural Showcase on Saturday

But you can find people from Uganda, China, Pakistan and Turkmenistan all living here. Our small town is home to students from each of those countries, and more than a dozen others. They’ve traveled thousands of miles to study at Northwest … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/5/18

EDITORIAL: School safety is critical, but so are other measures

Last week, Park County School District No. 1 leaders and Powell police announced that multiple students had been involved in discussing some kind of threat against Powell Middle School. With a continuing investigation and the matter involving … more

By CJ Baker | 4/3/18

EDITORIAL: 4.5-day school week will benefit students, teachers

When we look at the early-release Fridays, it’s not just a means of letting everyone out early to start the weekend. For students, getting out earlier gives them the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities without missing as much … more

By Don Cogger | 3/29/18

EDITORIAL: Spring burning: Call ahead, check the forecast

If you’re planning a controlled burn of a field this spring, it’s important to follow some basic guidelines from local and state officials: • Before igniting a fire, be sure to call the Park County Dispatch Center at 754-8700 to notify … more

By Tessa Baker | 3/27/18

EDITORIAL: Comprehensive, long-term funding solution needed for Wyoming’s K-12 schools

Statewide, K-12 schools must trim $27 million from their budgets over the next two years. While those cuts aren’t as deep as they could have been — state senators had proposed slashing up to $76.2 million, according to WyoFile — we’re … more

By Tessa Baker | 3/22/18

EDITORIAL: Paper tariffs will hurt us

But behind the bureaucratic jargon was a dramatic announcement: The federal government was declaring a more than 22 percent tariff (that is, a tax) on certain types of Canadian paper. The targets include the newsprint used by the Powell Tribune and … more

By CJ Baker | 3/20/18

EDITORIAL: Grizzly hunt a long time coming — And well overdue

It’s the natural progression of the delisting process — and it’s a good idea. The proposed hunting season would run from Sep. 15 to Nov. 15 in six of the eight hunting areas bordering Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and two … more

By Don Cogger | 3/15/18

EDITORIAL: Fees should be waived for Bighorn Canyon

When comparing the two neighboring National Park Service properties, the differences can be stark. While over 4.1 million visitors flocked to Yellowstone National Park last year, only around 260,000 ventured into Bighorn Canyon National … more

By Tessa Baker | 3/13/18

EDITORIAL: Keep demanding transparency from your government

After all, whoever heard of a city councilman, lawmaker or gubernatorial candidate running on a platform of secret plans and confidential documents? The reason for that is simple: Our government is intended to be, as President Abraham Lincoln put … more

By CJ Baker | 3/8/18

EDITORIAL: Early childhood literacy crucial to development

— Dr. Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” Dr. Seuss, the much-loved writer of children’s books whose simple, rich stories and colorful characters helped shape generations of young readers, would have celebrated his 114th birthday last … more

By Don Cogger | 3/6/18

EDITORIAL: Pay attention: Government decisions may affect your home or street

The first item on the city’s list: Absaroka Street improvements. After the survey found that voters were open to the idea of a specific purpose tax, government leaders for Powell, Cody, Meeteetse and Park County put a tax on the November 2016 … more

By Tessa Baker | 3/1/18

EDITORIAL: Driving safely should be your top priority

While Wyoming Department of Transportation snowplows were working to clear U.S. Highway 14-A between Powell and Cody, the crews reported about a half-dozen instances where impatient drivers passed the plows on the right-hand side. “People just, … more

By CJ Baker | 2/27/18