News | Powell Tribune

Park County planner Jenny Cramer works with Dale Jensvold on filling out a survey during an open house Jan. 29 at Heart Mountain Hall. The county hosted the event for people to give input on what land uses they’d like to see regulated within their planning areas.

Second phase of county regulation amendments starts

The next two days after roughly 100 people packed into the Cody Library’s Grizzly Room for an occasionally heated public hearing on the first phase of county development standards and … more

By Zac Taylor | 2/6/25

Second earthquake in three days rumbles near Thayne

AFTON (WNE) — A second earthquake occurred west of Thayne on Sunday evening. The quake, which occurred at 10:03 p.m., measured 3.0 on the Richter scale, according to the United States … more

2/6/25

Restored property tax cut bill passes Senate, heads to House

A bill to offer all homeowners in Wyoming a two-year, 50% reduction in property taxes has passed the state Senate. Senate File 69, “Homeowner property tax exemption,” passed in a … more

By Carrie Haderlie and Hannah Shields, Wyoming Tribune Eagle | 2/6/25

How the West was won?

A University of Wyoming professor says, had European contact happened 200 years earlier, they would have been met by a much more difficult response from American Indian populations that may have … more

2/6/25

Legislators vote for property tax reform bill

CODY — According to local legislators, property tax relief and reform are a priority for residents of Park County. Within the first two weeks of the legislative session, House Bill 169- … more

2/6/25

Judge picks deputy assessor to fill vacant role

After a messy, month-long process, Park County has a new interim assessor. On Friday, a judge passed over a couple candidates nominated by the local Republican party and appointed First Deputy … more

By CJ Baker | 2/4/25

Jackson Baker crash lands into a fluffy snow drift while skiing at Powell’s Homesteader Park. He and friends Truett Carter, Ryan Rivas and Jude Tillotson arrived early Monday morning at the park to have the sledding hill all to themselves.

Snow daze: Blizzard covers Park County with much needed precipitation

Gregg McDonald arrived at work early Monday knowing it would be a busy day. The first order of business: Digging out. “I know we need it, but did we have to get it all at the same … more

By Mark Davis | 2/4/25

Sen. Dan Laursen (R-Powell) is sponsoring a bill that would allow schools to require students use multi-occupancy bathrooms and changing rooms that correspond with their biological sex or a single use option. If passed the bill would answer a resolution passed by Park County School District 1 in November.

School board resolution answered in Powell based bill

If passed, a bill sponsored by a Powell legislator in response to an issue at Powell High School would allow PCSD1 to create a policy stipulating students must use the bathroom that corresponds with … more

By Braden Schiller | 2/4/25

Northwest College President Lisa Watson speaks to those at the student center dedication and open house Thursday. The building, finished in late 2024, is 38,606 square feet and features a place for students to recreate and study and has a modern dining hall and a new climbing wall. At right is Ismael Dominquez, Wyoming Arts Council program specialist.

Community celebrates student center grand opening

Jared May looked out at the building he had spent nearly two years in, day after day, dealing with the challenges that come with a more than $23 million project to construct a more than 33,000 square … more

By Zac Taylor | 2/4/25

Hillside Floral owner Shelley Hill prepares gifts for the Sweet Treats, Savory Deals, Valentine’s Day-themed event Thursday evening.

Powell businesses to take part in Valentine treat event

A handful of Powell businesses are joining together for a Valentine’s shopping, food and drink event. Sweet Treats, Savory Deals is 5-9 p.m. Thursday. From 5-7 p.m., Hillside Floral, … more

2/4/25

The Powell Middle School Robotics team the Powell Paradoxes pose for a photo at their state competition in Casper last December. The team secured third place and earned a first place Robot Performance Award, second place Innovation Project Award and third place Champions Award. As a result of their high performance the team will be going to an international invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida this June. Back row, from left: Jennifer Taylor, Jasper Taylor, Jaxson Bear, Broc Sherman and Colson Sherman. Front row, Coach Leon Miller, Jade Miller and Carter Kruger.

Robotics team on their way to the sunshine state

For the second time since the club’s reboot three years ago, a Powell Middle School robotics team will be heading to an international competition. Kate Gunn, a club member who will be … more

By Braden Schiller | 2/4/25

Diamond Truss, a Ralston company and one of the state’s few truss companies, was recently named World’s Best truss business by World’s Greatest. Recently the company created an unusual half circle truss for a customer on the North Fork.

Diamond Truss recognized for work

On the edge of Ralston, a company is using a Japanese practice of constant improvement to stay at the forefront of its industry. Diamond Truss, run by Dick Fennell and his wife Gail, … more

By Zac Taylor | 2/4/25

Brian Beauvais is the curator of the Park County Archives.

Archives curator to kick off 2025 Lunchtime Expeditions

Brian Beauvais, Park County Archives curator and popular speaker, kicks off this year’s Draper Natural History Museum’s Lunchtime Expeditions lecture series. On Thursday, Feb. 6 at noon … more

2/4/25

Park County Animal Shelter adoption special

The Park County Animal Shelter is running a “Don't be Alone on Valentine's Day” adoption special through Feb. 14. For this limited time, all adoptable cats and dogs can be adopted for … more

2/4/25

Freshman Rep. Nina Webber (R-Cody) sponsored HB 206, which would remove Medicaid and Medicare insurance cards from the list of acceptable voter ID and add a provision to explicitly require a photo ID.

House backing bills to shrink acceptable voter ID list

Bills to shrink Wyoming’s list of acceptable voter IDs are advancing in the House of Representatives. The bills, which are among a litany of proposals related to elections, align with … more

By Joseph Beaudet, The Sheridan Press Via Wyoming News Exchange | 2/4/25

Park County assessor candidates Terry Call (at left) and Dave Baker (second from left) visit with Paul Lanchbury, a former candidate, outside the district courtroom where Judge Dawnessa Snyder conducted interviews. Snyder interviewed seven candidates who are vying to serve out retired Assessor Pay Meyer's term.

Judge interviews seven for assessor position

A Rawlins-based judge will soon pick Park County’s next assessor from a pool of seven candidates. The role has been vacant since the start of the month, when longtime Republican Assessor … more

By CJ Baker | 1/31/25

After 15 years of seasonal work at Yellowstone National Park, Kim Kain was promoted to full-time in 2018. Kain transferred to the North Entrance after years of working near her home in Cody. Seasonal workers and newly offered permanent positions were rescinded last week when the Trump administration called for a hiring freeze for up to 90 days. If the freeze goes the full time allotted, it would expire about a week before the East Gate swings open for the season on the first Friday in May (weather permitting).

Federal hiring freeze to challenge National Park properties

A Trump administration hiring freeze is turning many experienced National Park, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management seasonal workers to other industries. While a similar hiring freeze was … more

By Mark Davis | 1/30/25

City Building Official Ben Hubbard walks through a section of the under-construction Powell police station on Jan. 24. Crews are currently installing new ducts as part of an upgrade of the building’s aging HVAC systems.

City saves $100K on police station work

Replacing and upgrading the heating and cooling systems at the Powell Police Department won’t be as pricey as city officials had feared. At their Jan. 20 meeting, Powell City Council … more

By CJ Baker | 1/30/25

Riley’s term on Powell school board brought perspective and dedication

After one term on the Park County School District 1 board, but decades of prior experience in education, Laura Riley decided it was time to move on. “It would have been different if … more

By Braden Schiller | 1/30/25

Roughly 100 people packed the Cody Library Grizzly Room on Monday afternoon for a public hearing on the first phase of the county’s development standards and regulations amendments. After an overwhelming amount of comments in opposition, county commissioners agreed to table a vote.

In face of opposition, county tables new regs

After a crowd of residents expressed staunch and at-times heated opposition to proposed changes to Park County’s planning and zoning regulations, county commissioners unanimously voted to table … more

By Zac Taylor | 1/30/25