A young author’s article about Little Free Libraries received the grand prize in the 2020 Gib Mathers Journalistic Writing and Photography Contest.

Emmalee Nordland, 14, of Powell won top honors with her piece, titled “With Literacy and Just the Right Book for All.” Judges called it a nice feature subject and engaging article, with photos that provided support for the story.

In the youth category, Samuel Yount received honorable mention for his piece, “A Day in the Life of a Biker in Powell,” which featured humorous and insightful observations about bicycling around Powell.

In the adult category, Rachel Rodriguez-Williams was recognized with an honorable mention for her informative article, titled “A Suicide Safer Community.” Mathers was a longtime member of the Suicide Prevention Alliance in Park County and advocated for suicide prevention.

Organized by the Friends of the Powell Library, the contest was expanded this year to include photography categories, as Mathers also loved taking pictures.

Among youth entries, the grand prize went to 16-year-old Kinley Bollinger for her photograph of a bison in the winter, taken near Yellowstone Lake. Judges commented on the nice use of the frost on the subject.

Nordland received honorable mention in the photo category with her image of a ladybug.

Among adults, Katilee Gebhard won the grand prize for her photograph of a fox titled “Tiptoe Pro.” Judges said it was nicely executed, especially given the challenging subject to photograph.

Becky Morlang’s image of deer in a cemetery, titled “Deerly Departed,” received honorable mention in the adult category. The deer are seen in an unusual juxtaposition, and judges said the caption hooked them. Mathers was a well-known punster and would have appreciated the clever title.

In its third year, the contest received more entries than previous years. The contest was founded by the Friends of the Powell Library in partnership with the Powell Tribune as a way to honor Mathers, who died in 2017. Mathers was a longtime member of the Friends group and worked as a journalist for the Tribune.

William Nordland, of Powell, peers inside Cheryl Doty’s book box, searching for the perfect book. There are free books available for all ages and stages. Photo courtesy Emmalee Nordland

With literacy and just the right book for all

By Emmalee Nordland

Special to the Tribune

A box on a pole sits waiting, ready for a passerby to come forward to pick up a book, examine its cover, and, with a smile on their face, run off — prepared to enter the magical world of reading. In these times of quarantine, what better idea than to curl up in your home and read a good book and take full advantage of being stuck at home during these difficult times.

“A free library is a book sharing system often housed in small boxes on private or public property near public routes that circulate used books without the expectation of them being returned,” said Anna Hardy in an interview. 

These books are a convenience in the community, and unlike library books, they don’t have to be returned. What a delight that you don’t have to return them, for they are and always will be a gift, like on the stamp that marks the free books in the clever red book house belonging to Cheryl Doty, of Powell, who owns a book house at 681 Road 7. Her quaint red book house consists of two shelves; the lower is geared toward younger audiences, while the upper shelf houses books for all ages.

Doty keeps a notebook in her book house that is currently being filled with compliments from joyful readers that have visited previously. Doty wants readers to add recommendations into these lovely notes because she wants to see what our community likes. She then looks online, at used book sales and the Salvation Army in Billings in order to procure and fill the house with genres we all can enjoy.

Home bookshelves can get very full, which is why, if you no longer want a certain book, you can bring it to a free library, allowing someone else to enjoy it. Some people really enjoy reading yet can’t afford books, so giving away these books for free can give them the opportunity to get a glimpse into literature. Cross your comfort zone, go outside the box and discover new genres that you may not have normally tried.

“I used to work in an elementary school library, so emerging readers is near and dear to my heart. Falling in love with books at an early age is a gift that helps grow thoughtful, creative, and successful human beings,” Hardy said. 

For a recent anniversary, her handy husband, Luke Robertson, created the beautiful whimsical book house, which you can visit at 144 N. Douglas St.

Though audio books and digital reads are cool, getting to really feel and hold a real bound book, to smell and touch the pages, and savor the whole experience of reading is truly priceless. A sense of nostalgia is easily reckoned by immersing oneself in the far-off lands and characters of rapid flying pages. Books are meant to be enjoyed to the fullest.

“Even if just one kid could just put their controls down and pick up real books it would be worth it,” declares Doty. 

Now that children have the opportunity to actually “DEAR,” or Drop Everything And Read, boredom should no longer exist in your child’s mind during the long hours spent at home.

“Many people want to get rid of books, so the free libraries can get very full. You don’t just have to take AND leave a book. We just really want you to take a book, even if you don’t have one to trade. Take a book and read it,” added Hardy.

These people have done this because they have always loved reading and to contribute to the community, which we all need to do somehow. If interested, you can start your own Little Free Library at littlefreelibrary.org/start and share the joy.  Registered free libraries can be located anywhere in the world by looking up  littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap. Powell has been very blessed to have the access to several of these boxes on poles that bring us to the focus that imagination found in literature matters.

Honorable Mentions

A suicide safer community

By Rachel Rodriguez-Williams

Special to the Tribune

Engaging community members to participate in suicide prevention efforts in Park County hasn’t been a difficult task over the years. We are a community that has no fear of working hard, handling problems ourselves and making sure our neighbors are well. We are willing to give a “hand up” to those in need more often than not. Wyomingites are known for their willingness to “give the shirt off their back” to help.

According to recent data, Wyoming had the second-highest suicide rate in the United States in 2018 (Klamann, 2020). The Wyoming Department of Health spends “millions of dollars every year” to support community mental health systems. This funding provides access affordable treatment services so that finances aren’t a barrier for individuals seeking help. When it comes to quality of life, Wyomingites experience physically and mentally unhealthy days at the same rate as adults across the nation. Additionally, over 15 percent of Wyoming adults have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, and just over 3 in 10 in Wyoming high school students experience depression.

There is a distinct difference between treatment and community prevention. Both are essential to drive down Wyoming’s suicide rates. Suicide Prevention needs to thrive in all settings, such as: schools, colleges and universities, primary care facilities, behavioral health care, emergency departments, detention centers, faith communities, workplaces and in the home. Effective suicide prevention in Wyoming needs to be comprehensive. In order for it to thrive, it will require a combination of efforts that work together to address all aspects of the problem.

Grant funding for suicide prevention has changed hands several times over the years in Park County. The State currently funnels the funding through County Commissioners. Despite the funding changes, one thing remains stable, the hearts of those in our community willing to help. We know that many people in crisis don’t seek help on their own. Identifying the signs of suicide and identifying people at risk can help us reach those experiencing suicidal ideation. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do for a living, everyone can play a role in preventing the most preventable cause of death. Let’s move past discussions that we need to overcome stigma associated with mental illness in our community. Let’s create a suicide-safer community. Become a gatekeeper. Become engaged. Be the person that is willing to have a real, open and honest conversation with a person at risk of suicide and get them to a professional resource. Resources in Park County are available. With the right help, comes hope. Hope is contagious. Hope makes life prevail.

This article was written in memory of Gib Mathers. Gib was a longtime member of the Suicide Prevention Alliance in Park County. He wrote articles in the Powell Tribune hoping to get his community involved and engaged in suicide prevention efforts.

(Rachel Rodriguez-Williams received an honorable mention in the 2020 Gib Mathers Journalistic Writing and Photography Contest.)

A day in the life of a biker in Powell

By Samuel Yount

Special to the Tribune

Riding a bicycle around Powell can be unforgettable ... and dangerous. I am a Staff Sergeant in the YRCS Civil Air Patrol and one of my jobs is being a safety officer. So, to Powell parents and kids, this is your safety briefing on accidents from riding my bicycle around our town. All these accounts have happened to me personally.

Let’s start with the worst-case scenario that any biker can be in, short of being chased by a grizzly bear.

I was on my way home from a summer class when I saw a bush that looked like it walked out of Jurassic park. It blocked my view of a driveway. I slowed my bicycle thinking that there was possibly a car behind the bush. I did not hear anything, so I released the brake. Sure enough three seconds later I had a bumper in my face. The driver was as surprised as I was. We exchanged pleasantries and I thanked him for not killing me. I was lucky to escape unscathed, and I continued until home.

Jurassic sized bushes are not the only monsters that riders must be wary of, not the Chupacabra, not the Loch Ness monster, the ... drainage grates.

I know it might sound stupid to be scared of them but let me enlighten you about these black holes of the streets. In crossing them there’s a chance that you might lose a number of things, your phone, your wallet, your keys, your keychains on your backpack, and finally, the Hot Wheels that you just swindled off your friends. So, you check your pockets rigorously every time you run over one of these black holes. Good luck searching through your pockets and not losing your balance. So next time you ride through the streets of Powell BE WARNED!

But drainage grates and monster bushes are not the only predators on the streets of Powell.

Electric cars are a biker’s worst nightmare! They hunt and move as silently as tigers in an asphalt jungle. You never hear them coming until it’s too late. Beware of these so- called “better” cars for they can strike out of the shadows! Diesels, however, are like a herd of bison coming down a hillside, and as a bicycle rider the best course of action is to run for your life. We can hear and smell them coming from a mile away. I think I have made myself clear on the most bicycle-friendly cars.

When you’re a small fish in a big pond like a kid on a bicycle, it may seem like everything is a predator. There are several bigger fish. For example, I rode by a yard that was either being guarded by a dragon or a Pitbull I’m not sure. My head was only a few inches from the fence when the dog jumped up just to remind me, he eats little fish for lunch.

Now I am going to give the nuts and bolts of the safety briefing. You are now a small fish in a big pond and here is my advice:

• Have fun but don’t be stupid.

On a hot day I purposely ran my wheels through the gutter so it would spit up water and cool me down. I tried to jump the curb, but my tire came out from under me and I fell. I already felt stupid, then here comes this car with a grandma in it who glared at me. I felt smited even though I was just trying to stay cool. In some ways your bicycle can be a liability, depending on the way you use it, people around you began to piece together a picture of who you are.

•Always lock up your bicycle.

I was at the park having lunch with my family. I leaned my bicycle up against the pavilion. I went to play with my niblings for a few minutes. When I came back there was a young girl doing tricks with my bicycle at the skate park ramps. Restraining my mouth, I walked up to her and said, “Pardon me but that is my bicycle.” She gave me a look of disbelief and said, “I can’t play with it?” Then before I could respond she handed me my bicycle back and went and got on her own bicycle. At least I think it was her bicycle.

•Obey all the road laws.

Even when they change daily as during road construction on Absaroka. Road construction is inconvenient. I was riding near Absaroka heading to meet my mom at a local business. They cut Powell in half, literally! So, I rode back to 3rd Street hoping to find a way through the construction . . . there was none. I seriously must have gone through 15 driveways, 10 alleys and backward through the bank drive through! By the way, I have a word of advice for all bike riders, kids and adults alike, 7th Street is a road that can get you on the right track to almost anything in Powell. So, use it riders!

I hope this safety briefing has enlightened you of the dangers of riding your bicycle around town, I have a message for the kids and grown-ups.

•Kids.

Be careful of the dangers like the ones I have listed above. As a boy I always thought wearing a helmet was dumb and kiddish. But a helmet saved my head many times, so please wear a helmet!

• Parents and grown-ups.

Your kids must fend for themselves when they are riding their bicycle around town, so please encourage them and do not make them scared of the outside world. As the parent you are the potter, they are the clay and the world is the wheel. So, encourage them.

(Samuel Yount received an honorable mention in the youth category in the 2020 Gib Mathers Journalistic Writing and Photography Contest.)