Powell Tribune

Spring break switch: District revises 2019-20 school calendar

With the school year soon coming to an end, Powell kids are just about to go on spring break. The week-long break coincides with Easter, but with the holiday in late April this year, it’s … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/16/19

Mason Webster, a student at Northwest College, welds on a trailer during class on Wednesday afternoon. As part of their response to declining enrollment, NWC leaders plan to develop more trade programs.

With enrollment down, NWC facing budget cuts

Community colleges across the state are struggling with falling enrollment figures, and Northwest College is not immune to the trend. The issue was on the agenda for Monday’s Board of … more

By Kevin Killough | 4/11/19

Led by Chuck Hewitt, the new Powell Cares Alliance will offer assistance to local residents who have a financial need. The group is replacing the Powell Council of Community Services.

A new alliance forms

A new group is organizing to assist Powell residents in need of financial help. Billed as the Powell Cares Alliance — and run by the city’s police department chaplains and local churches … more

By Mark Davis | 4/11/19

Following double-lung transplant, Hansen returns to school board

Before undergoing surgery for a double-lung transplant in December, Don Hansen knew he might not make it through the operation. He told his wife Lori that he was thankful for the life they … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/11/19

Adorned with flowers and his fire chief’s helmet, Calvin Sanders’ hand-made casket, with Louisville Sluggers and plumbing equipment as handles, awaits interment at Crown Hill Cemetery Wednesday east of Powell. Sanders, a firefighter, umpire and businessman, died last month following a 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Remembering Calvin Sanders

Friends, colleagues and family members gathered at Northwest College’s Cabre Gym on Wednesday to say goodbye to Calvin Sanders, a longtime firefighter, businessman and Little League … more

By Don Cogger | 4/9/19

Parolee sentenced for attempt to get pain pills

A woman who reportedly misled Powell hospital staff in an attempt to get pain medication has completed her jail time in Park County — but she now faces the prospect of serving prison time in … more

By CJ Baker | 4/9/19

As CWD spreads, testing and management plans increase

Chronic wasting disease is killing deer and threatening other ungulates across Wyoming — and the more scientists look for CWD, the more of it they find. more

By Mark Davis | 4/9/19

Mary Ellen Ibarra-Robinson, left, moderated a discussion on non-citizen workers last week. The panel included, from left, Rep. David Northrup, Jeremy Blaylock, Tina Finneman, and Regan Smith. Not pictured is panelist Renee Nash.

Foreign workers critical to some local businesses

Non-citizens are a vital source of labor for Park County businesses. That was one of the takeaways from a panel of speakers who offered an eye-opening glimpse into how vital foreign workers are to … more

By Kevin Killough | 4/4/19

County sheriff’s office investigating reports of abuse at Clark facility

In recent weeks, more than a dozen women have contacted the Park County Sheriff’s Office to report being abused at a Clark facility for troubled teenage girls. The allegations — from 15 … more

By CJ Baker | 4/4/19

Mark Vondersaar, a part-time adjunct professor at NWC, picks up debris along the shore at West Newton Lake outside of Cody as part of a Sunday cleanup effort.

Area volunteers clean up local waters

It had become a point of pride for volunteers to fill a dumptruck full of garbage during their annual Shoshone River cleanup. But now pride is found in the fact that the effort on the Shoshone has … more

By Mark Davis | 4/4/19

Joseph J. Mulvaney’s casket is covered with the American flag in the chapel at Ballard Funeral Home on Friday while (from left) Jerry Clark, 2nd Vice Commander for the Department of Wyoming American Legion, Frank Cropanese, department chaplain, Jim Vandavart, District 4 commander and Jim Yockey, District 4 vice commander stand watch.

From ‘box of bones,’ to honored veteran

A river of tears ran down Shelley Statler’s rosy cheeks, as members of the Army National Guard Honor Guard presented her with the American flag from atop her grandfather’s coffin. Statler … more

By Mark Davis | 4/2/19

Hemp — shown growing from seeds in Colorado — still has some barriers to overcome before it can be a staple among Wyoming producers, but ag experts see potential with the new crop.

Will there be a hemp industry in Wyoming?

Hemp still has a long way to go before it can become an important commodity in Wyoming or the nation as a whole. Gov. Mark Gordon recently signed legislation that provides funding for testing hemp … more

By Kevin Killough | 4/2/19

Using blocks of spoiled cheese, Cosimo Cavallaro is building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Cavallaro brought his unusual artwork to Powell in 2001, when he covered a small cottage with cheese.

Cheese house artist heads to the border to build cheese wall

An artist who once covered a Powell house in cheese is taking on a new challenge: Building a cheese wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Los Angeles-based artist Cosimo Cavallaro says he was inspired … more

By Tessa Baker | 4/1/19

Powell woman placed on probation for burglary spree

A Powell woman has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation for committing a string of burglaries in 2017, while on probation for a meth-related offense. Prosecutors and Valorie … more

By CJ Baker | 3/28/19

Wyoming Game and Fish Commission President David Rael heads through the brush on a pheasant hunting excursion on his pheasant farm near Cowley Tuesday. Rael will serve in the position for one year.

Amid tragedy, David Rael of Cowley chosen to lead Game and Fish commission

When Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners voted unanimously to install David Rael as their new president last week, he found it hard to think about what it all meant. Rael couldn’t have … more

By Mark Davis | 3/28/19

Over the next couple of months, Zack Thorington will take over the city administrator position from Zane Logan, who is retiring.

City picks IT director Zack Thorington as next administrator

On Tuesday, City of Powell officials selected Zack Thorington — the current IT director and longtime staffer — as Powell’s next city administrator. “I’ve had a … more

By Kevin Killough | 3/28/19

A grizzly bear browses in Yellowstone National Park earlier this month after being one of the first grizzlies spotted to have come out of hibernation. Grizzlies are roaming further south and east from the park, coming into increasing conflicts with humans and livestock.

Deadly year for grizzlies, wolves

Newly released statistics show 2018 was the deadliest year on record for the region’s grizzly bears.Wildlife managers in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho euthanized a total of 42 grizzlies last year … more

By Mark Davis | 3/26/19

Advocates of a new Powell dog park are raising funds to make their dream a reality.

Powell dog park seeks funding

With dogged determination, Tina Fagan and Judy Londo have pursued the construction of a dog park in Powell.Besides being good for Powell pups, they say the park would be an added amenity to sell … more

By Kevin Killough | 3/26/19

Chris Schuler, a firefighter for the Powell Volunteer Fire Department, fights a structure fire at 646 Lane 7 on Saturday afternoon. Fire crews were kept busy over the weekend, largely due to grass fires growing out of control.

Burns make busy weekend for fire department

While many enjoyed the first weekend of spring with family and watching basketball tournaments, a group of volunteers was busy racing from one emergency call to the next.Powell firefighters had a … more

By Mark Davis | 3/26/19

Arrowhead alpacas feed on grass hay at the Sapp farm east of Powell. The animals are easy to raise, produce high quality fiber for clothing and household goods — and they’re also harvested for their mild tasting meat.

Alpaca: The cute meat

They were chasing wild geese when yet another real estate listing in an endless stream of disappointments caught their eye. The Sapp family was looking for a home in “God’s country” … more

By Mark Davis | 3/22/19