News

Mission accomplished, says outgoing councilman

Published by admin on Thu, 12/15/2022 - 11:49am

By Nathan Oster

Marvin Hunt takes pride in many of the town’s accomplishments during his 12 years on the council, but one thing stands above the rest and it can be found at the corner of First Avenue South and South Fifth Street. 

The opening of the town’s outdoor swimming pool in the summer of 2020 was the culmination of years of planning, meetings, fundraising, and toiling in the summer heat. While a great many contributed, Hunt was often the public voice of the effort due to his role on the council.

With three summers at the pool in the books, Hunt said he wrestled “a little bit, but not much” with the idea of running for another term on the council. He opted not to and will be leaving the council at the end of the month. 

“My whole intent these last eight years has been to get the pool built and then get off — and that’s where I’m at,” he said in an interview Tuesday, a day after receiving a plaque for his service from Mayor Myles Foley.

Former Co-op employees charged with felony theft, conspiracy

Published by admin on Thu, 12/08/2022 - 12:10pm

Two former employees have been accused of stealing more than $50,000 from Big Horn Co-op over a 12-month period before their activities were detected in late August 2022.

Felony theft and conspiracy charges were filed Thursday, Dec. 1 against Eric James Stanley, 36, and Laurie Denise Barber, 30.  They were arrested Friday, Dec. 2 in Greybull and are currently being held in the Big Horn County Jail, with bond for each set at $25,000.

Court documents detail how Stanley and Barber, co-workers at the Greybull store, allegedly initiated 162 fraudulent returns and refunded to themselves $11,565 in cash and $38,674 in credit to their debit cards, totaling $50,139, between Aug. 26, 2021, and Aug. 17, 2022.

Gillard assumes reins of county library system

Published by admin on Thu, 12/01/2022 - 9:59am

Collaboration and teamwork are the watchwords of new Big Horn County Library System director Gail Gillard, who started her new position earlier this month.

Gillard, who moved to Lovell just over a year ago, has 14 years of library operations experience under her belt and hopes to bring the various branches of the county library system together as a cohesive team.

“I’m really excited about the position, because I love coaching people and working with a team,” she said. “I had 28 people on my team at Highlands Ranch (Colorado), and I love bringing the best out of people and taking coaching opportunities.”

Gillard’s position includes overseeing all of the libraries in Big Horn County located in Basin, Greybull, Lovell, Deaver and Frannie – hiring, working with the state, meeting with the county board, foundation board and friends groups and overseeing 13 employees.

Council seeks cheaper solution for multi-purpose court improvements

Published by admin on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 2:45pm

The Greybull Town Council continues to explore ways of improving the outdoor tennis/basketball court complex located between the South Big Horn Senior Center and the Greybull Elementary School campus.

Last month brought sticker shock as council members reacted to a $400,000 estimate from Nelson Engineering to incorporate four pickleball courts into the overall layout, remove the asphalt and replace it with new asphalt or concrete. Written into the $400,000 estimate was a sizable chunk, $115,000, for design and specs, permitting and legal and construction engineering.

Ace planning Greybull location

Published by admin on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 2:39pm

An Ace Hardware store will be opening early next year in the former Shopko/Pamida building on North Sixth Street Greybull.

Shane McInroy, district manager for Ridley’s Family Markets, confirmed the rumors on Tuesday, adding that the set-up of the store and hiring of employees was about to commence.

Based in Twin Falls, Idaho, Ridley’s operates 30 grocery stores and 12 Ace Hardware stores spread out across Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado.

The company has only one other Ace Hardware location in Wyoming.  It’s a combo featuring a Ridley’s, an Ace and an Outfitter Liquor.

The other Ridley’s stores in Wyoming are in Kemmerer, Laramie, Sheridan and Casper, where it also operates an Outfitter Liquor.

“Greybull’s a great community and we’re looking forward to being there,” said McInroy.

As the store name suggests, the Greybull Ace will primarily deal in hardware, but McInroy said it’ll also offer a nice selection of apparel.

Committee backs additional funding for Leavitt Reservoir project

Published by admin on Thu, 11/10/2022 - 2:49pm

The State of Wyoming’s Select Water Committee is recommending an additional $32 million in state funding for the Leavitt Reservoir Expansion Project (LREP), which has been on hold since the only bid to complete the work came in well over budget earlier this year.

Thursday’s committee vote was a victory for the Shell Valley Watershed Improvement District (SVWID), which has been working on the project for the past 15 years.

“It was a relief, just crossing that hurdle,” said Kent Johnson, vice president of the SVWID.

The larger battle looms, however, as state lawmakers will have the final say at their next session whether the $32 million earmark remains in the omnibus construction bill. 

It’s by far the largest single appropriation in the dams and reservoirs program, and while they ultimately voted in support, several committee members expressed concern about the escalating cost of the project.

 

Background

Mural a community effort

Published by admin on Thu, 10/27/2022 - 4:04pm

They toiled at all hours of the day and night, sometimes with others and sometimes in quiet solitude, driven by a shared desire to create a mural that celebrates Greybull’s people and proud heritage and welcomes visitors arriving from the east on U.S. Highway 14.

On Tuesday night, the 27 artists with ties to the Big Horn County Arts Guild (BHCAG) who devoted a combined 386 hours of volunteer labor over the last month turning the vision into a reality celebrated their success with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. 

TK2.Designs opens main street location

Published by admin on Thu, 10/13/2022 - 2:46pm

Talysa Klein never anticipated that painting a fly fishing lure on a wall in her house would lead to opening a retail space in downtown Greybull.

“It is so random where things go,” Klein said. “I’m a mechanical engineer, and now I do art.”

A Greybull native, Klein holds a degree in mechanical engineering with a specialty in energy systems and engineering. She moved to Golden, Colorado after an internship at National Renewable Energy Lab turned into full time staff science position. 

Klein always considered art a hobby, but her scientific and artistic interests intersected in an unexpected way.

“The graphic design started while I was still in that (research) job. That’s where I really started doing a lot of graphic design because I was building a lot of graphics for my publications and presentations.” 

GPD investigates animal hoarding and abuse

Published by admin on Fri, 10/07/2022 - 1:10pm

A Friday evening call brought Greybull police to a property in the Heights where they uncovered a dangerous and unhygienic animal hoarding situation that required several dogs to be put down.

The situation was brought to light by family of Marvin Harp, who owns the Windy Run residence alongside his wife, Patty.

“I received a call a week prior from some family members of an elderly gentleman who had been living there with his wife, and they said they were concerned for his safety because supposedly, there were dogs in the basement that were vicious,” said Chief Bill Brenner. “They hadn’t confirmed this, but that was what the elderly gentleman was telling them.”

Marvin’s family arrived Sept. 30 from Sheridan with the intent of removing him from the premises. 

Pickleball finds fans in Greybull

Published by admin on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 1:35pm

For two years running the Sports and Fitness Industry Association has named pickleball the fastest growing sport in the United States and Greybull is no exception to the fervor sweeping the nation. 

The Greybull Recreation District began hosting adult pickleball open gyms in March after the sport was repeatedly requested on community surveys. 

Director Heather Howe applied for a grant through the Rocky Mountain Power Association that provided funds for the equipment. She said the community center’s twice-weekly pickleball open gyms have drawn a crowd of regulars, including seasoned and new players. 

Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor paddle sport where players (singles or doubles) hit a perforated ball over a low net using solid-faced paddles. Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, the two sides hit the ball back and forth until one side commits a rule infraction.