Powell Tribune

Amid thick fog, Colby Stenerson signs in skiers for the Powell Recreation District ski bus to Sleeping Giant Ski Area on Saturday morning. The bus leaves the Mr. D’s parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and begins its trip home from Sleeping Giant at 3:45 p.m., giving area kids a full day of fun in the snow.

Service to Sleeping Giant helps area kids learn to shred powder

As a big yellow bus pulled into Mr. D’s parking lot, the headlights cut through thick fog, illuminating blurry-eyed parents and energetic children with a head of steam. This isn’t a … more

By Mark Davis | 1/15/19

Last April, Powell school bus drivers underwent active shooter training for how to respond to an intruder. Throughout Park County School District No. 1, staff and students have participated in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training.

Powell school district moving forward with safety, security plan

The new year will bring a new safety plan for Powell schools. From stronger windows to revamped fire drills to in-depth training, district leaders continue to take steps toward making local … more

By Tessa Baker | 1/15/19

A mature bull elk rests near the railroad tracks between roads 11 and 12 on Friday, just west of Powell. Infested with scabies, the elk was put down by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after being unable to stand.

Sick bull elk put down near Powell

A 6x6 bull elk was dispatched by wildlife managers on Friday after being found in poor condition outside of Powell. Earlier in the week, the bull was pursued by Game Warden Chris Queen, but it was … more

By Mark Davis | 1/15/19

Former Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Rodney Miears’ patrol car was severely damaged in a 2015 crash in the Wapiti area. Miears has filed a lawsuit in Wyoming’s federal court against the company that owned and operated the delivery truck that hit him.

Former trooper sues trucking company over vehicle crash

A former trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol is suing the owner of a food delivery truck that turned in front of his patrol car and caused a head-on crash in 2015. In a complaint filed in … more

By CJ Baker | 1/10/19

City Arborist Del Barton has been closely monitoring the progress of the Powell Arboretum, which is a 10-year research project on what trees do best in the area’s climate. He’s helping launch a new effort that’s aimed on rejuvenating Powell’s aging tree population.

New program aims to renew Powell's aging urban forest

The beautiful ash trees lining city hall will be gone and so will most of Powell’s oldest trees. Sooner rather than later, invasive insects and age will take them all. Powell is 110 years … more

By Mark Davis | 1/10/19

Congress fails to reauthorize conservation fund

As Congress broke for the Christmas break — and in a partial government shutdown — the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was one of the programs left behind. Wyoming senators have … more

By Mark Davis | 1/10/19

A sign posted on the front door of Linton's Big R on Tuesday announces the store's pending transition to a Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply.

Linton’s Big R sold to Murdoch’s Ranch & Home

One of Powell’s most iconic businesses, Linton’s Big R Store, is changing hands. In a Tuesday morning release, Linton’s Big R CEO Jim Linton and COO John Linton announced that … more

By CJ Baker | 1/8/19

The sun rises over the Gardner River in Yellowstone National Park last month. The park sees only a trickle of visitors in the winter months, which, combined with funding provided by Yellowstone concessionaires, has allowed the National Park Service to generally leave the park open to winter visitors during the partial government shutdown.

Partial shutdown brings mixed impacts for local federal employees

The partial shutdown of the federal government has affected many national parks and services in the Powell area. For some federal employees, it means being on furlough and living off savings, if … more

By Mark Davis | 1/8/19

Don Hansen of Powell is recovering after surgery for a double-lung transplant last month. Hansen, who was elected in November to a second term on the Powell school board, must stay in Colorado for at least three months as he recovers.

School board trustee Don Hansen undergoes double-lung transplant

For nearly two years, Don Hansen had been on the waiting list for a double- lung transplant. “Every time the phone rang, your heart skipped a beat … is this the call we’ve been … more

By Tessa Baker | 1/8/19

Man serving time for Cody auto burglary escapes from Casper facility

A man serving time for his role in a Cody auto burglary remains at large after escaping from a work release program in Casper last month. Richard Fountaine II, 29, went missing from the Casper … more

By CJ Baker | 1/8/19

Man facing charges after alleged assault at Powell hospital

After allegedly chasing a Powell Valley Hospital nurse with an IV stand, barricading himself in an elderly patient’s room and screaming at a police officer, a 27-year-old Powell man is facing … more

By CJ Baker | 1/3/19

Wearing his hunting pack on his back, Garrett Burbank fights the wind near Bald Ridge while looking for elk on Saturday. Burbank’s pack was stolen out of his truck at his Powell residence a week before Christmas, and then anonymously returned after the Burbank family mounted a social media campaign for its recovery. Police are investigating.

After hunting equipment stolen a week before, items returned on Christmas morning

Garrett Burbank owes his wife an apology. For years, Becky Burbank had been nagging him to lock his truck. Then, as she had warned, Garrett’s hunting gear was stolen last month, in the … more

By Mark Davis | 1/3/19

Casper man pays $25K for accidentally killing grizzly bear

Attempting to scare off a grizzly bear with a gunshot turned out to be a costly mistake for a Casper man, as the round from his .22 caliber rifle wound up killing the animal. In Park County … more

By CJ Baker | 1/3/19

A Thursday morning rock slide damaged the guardrail and blocked the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 14/16/20 west of Cody.

Rock slide partially blocks highway west of Cody

A Thursday morning rock slide has blocked the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 14/16/20 west of Cody. Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance workers are responding to the scene. "We are … more

By Tribune Staff | 12/27/18

Powell, Inc. signs on as Clocktower Inn investor

A local economic development group has pledged to invest $50,000 to help build a new hotel and conference center in west Powell. more

By Dave Bonner | 12/27/18

New commissioners plan to discuss landfill rates

Park County’s two incoming commissioners — Lloyd Thiel and Dossie Overfield — stopped by last week’s Powell City Council meeting to introduce themselves and offer their assistance. Thiel, of Clark, and Overfield, of Cody, were elected by voters in November and will take office in early January. more

By CJ Baker | 12/27/18

Sally Montoya is surrounded by a few of more than 20 volunteers who spent their Christmas at Sally’s Boutique, including Neva Slaght (far right) and her granddaughter, Henley. This is the last year the boutique will operate. Montoya has spent nearly 70 years volunteering to help Powell-area families in financial crisis.

Volunteers celebrate final season of Sally's Boutique

Longtime volunteers gathered around Sally Montoya at her charity boutique in a bittersweet celebration on Christmas Day. It would be the last celebration in almost 70 years of service Montoya has provided to those in need in the Powell area. more

By Mark Davis | 12/27/18

Shana Bartle of rural Powell loves to decorate her home for Christmas. Above, she sits on a couch in her living room, surrounded by Christmas teddy bears and other holiday decor.

Crazy about Christmas

Shana Bartle loves Christmas. In fact, she begins planning her holiday decorations long before Thanksgiving; sometimes, even before Halloween. “I started on the 14th of October this … more

By Ilene Olson | 12/24/18

Extra sales tax will end April 1

Local residents are getting a tax break next year: Starting April 1, Park County’s sales tax rate will drop from 5 percent back down to 4 percent. County voters agreed in 2016 to temporarily … more

By CJ Baker | 12/20/18

A group of Powell firefighters, including newly elected fire chief Cory Baker and assistant fire chief Willie Onstine, pose for a group shot during a training exercise in the Willwood area on April 27.

Powell firefighters elect new chief

The Powell Volunteer Fire Department will start 2019 with new leaders. Cory Baker, a volunteer with nearly a decade of service to the department, was recently chosen as the new chief and Willie … more

By Mark Davis | 12/20/18