Articles written by Keith Mclendon


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  • Angus turns 100

    Keith McLendon|Jul 31, 2019

    Though the current location of American Legion Post 54 “just across the bridge” has been a fixture since 1991, the Post itself has held a location in Saratoga for 98 years and it turns 100 this year. In celebration of reaching its centennial mark, the American Legion will be holding the North Platte River Poker Run at 10 a.m. on Aug. 3 followed by Stockwell-Wilcoxson Chicken Burn. American Legion Post 54, also known as Angus England Post 54, is named after Saratoga resident and World War I sha...

  • Rawlins rivalry renewed

    Keith McLendon|Jul 31, 2019

    A Saratoga/Rawlins rivalry is starting up again. No, it’s not like the Hatfields and McCoys this time, it’s coed softball to raise funds for a favorite cause in each municipality. The Saratoga and Rawlins teams are set and ready to go—all they need are spectators and folks to cheer their home teams on. Organizers TK Skraastad and Monte Thayer decided to do a fundraiser for Saratoga Safe Ride with the Saratoga game and came up with coed softball games. The Rawlins coed team will be visit...

  • A yardstick of yardwork

    Keith McLendon|Jul 24, 2019

    Lawn mowing began in stone age times as dinosaurs were strapped to carts to munch on the greenery around stone dwellings. I know this because I saw it in a documentary called “The Flintstones.” Okay, I can see how you might not believe my reference there. Some scientists believe that the need for humans to encircle themselves with turf grass is a trait ingrained from our ancestors. These scholars point to the low turf grasses of Africa which allowed early man to better spy approaching dan...

  • Bye the numbers

    Keith McLendon|Jul 24, 2019

    The newly renamed Platte Valley Healthcare Project (PVHP-formerly the Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee) held their monthly meeting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 in the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) Great Hall. The first thing that struck an attendee to the meeting was that instead of all the seats facing a front table, the chairs were arranged in a box fashion surrounding an open space. Snacks were also on hand for visitors. To start the meeting, project member George Haigh...

  • Shooting, bombing planned

    Keith McLendon|Jul 17, 2019

    The group met to plan a bombing. Picking an experienced shooter was also added to the blueprint. No, the scene was not a surly group of terrorists meeting in an abandoned warehouse-but a gathering invited to formulate a yearly federally-required disaster drill at the Saratoga Care Center. Though law enforcement and fire officials were invited, those present at the Platte Valley Community Center meeting included members of the Saratoga Care Center, Laramie Peaks Therapy and Platte Valley Clinic...

  • Where the Spirit moves you

    Keith McLendon|Jul 17, 2019

    Susan Dyer was ordained as a vocational deacon in Colorado in 2000. Dyer worked in this position in the larger suburban Denver area helping out as a hospice chaplain, hospital chaplain and homeless shelter aide working to bring the needs of the world to the church and taking the gospel outside the church. Dyer and her husband, Steve, then began a seven year project building a house in Saratoga. The couple finally moved into that house in 2010. During the build, Dyer was contemplating...

  • A Monumental Day

    Keith McLendon|Jul 3, 2019

    On a bright Saturday morning, June 29, around 33 people interested in learning about the past gathered at the Saratoga museum for a trek to area burial places to soak up information about local cemeteries, those who populate them and those who have worked to restore and beautify them. The trek, titled "From Boot Hill to Paradise", began with Saratoga Museum director Kim Givens introducing the host for the Saratoga Historical and Cultural Association sponsored journey, local historian Dick Perue....

  • Rising to the future

    Keith McLendon|Jun 26, 2019

    On June 11 the trio of Christina Barrineau, Aquatic Habitat Biologist for Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), Joe Parsons, District Manager for the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District, and Jeff Streeter, North Platte River Project Manager for Trout Unlimited (TU), were in Washington, D.C. to receive national awards for work they have been doing in restoring fisheries on Upper North Platte river drainages including the Big Creek and the Encampment River and its tributaries....

  • Three for 33

    Keith McLendon|Jun 19, 2019

    A full three member Saratoga Planning Commission met for 33 minutes starting at 5:30 p.m. on June 11. Though there were three public hearings for variances, permits or amendments on the schedule, only one occurred. The first two on the agenda, a Special Use Permit and a Zoning Amendment for Seth “Turtle” Johnson, did not occur because, as interim zoning officer Kent Smith reported, Johnson had not obtained the proper signatures as of yet. The last public hearing on the agenda was to hear com...

  • The spring in Wyoming's step

    Keith McLendon|Jun 19, 2019

    There are a few sure signs of springtime in Wyoming. Of course, with the oddly winterlike conditions we have had (interspersed with rare spots of sunshine) lately, it is kind of hard to believe spring is actually here. Smaller roads turn from straight-out-icy hells to industrial-strength mud and larger roadways develop horrible cases of road cone acne. Trees begin to grow leaves just as telephone and light poles start to sprout their own foliage—garage sale signs. Prairie dogs fire up for t...

  • Sites and sounds at healthcare meeting

    Keith McLendon|Jun 19, 2019

    The Platte Valley Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee (HSPS) held another open meeting at the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) on June 12 wherein HSPS Chairman Will Faust announced that the group had become a board and was no longer a subcommittee of the Corbett Medical Foundation. Faust explained the new board would be called the Platte Valley Healthcare Project (PVHP) and had approved organizational documents to be submitted to the Secretary of State the week of June 17. This...

  • I call shenanigans

    Keith McLendon|May 29, 2019

    I want to apologize for the paper being late last week. Apparently the delivery driver felt it was unsafe for him to bring us our papers in a timely manner. Don’t worry. I let the organization we have contracted with to both print and deliver our papers know that this was unacceptable. Of course, this apology comes in a paper a day late by design. Hopefully, the Memorial Day photo spread on the front page spread is worth the delay to you, our readers. It has been said lately that I am ...

  • Kids Fishing Day June 1

    Keith McLendon|May 22, 2019

    Anyone wanting to give Wyoming fishing a try are reminded that Wyoming free fishing day is Saturday, June 1. On that day no license is required for both residents and nonresidents. The Saratoga Lions Club and the Saratoga National Fish Hatchery would like to invite families to bring their children fishing at the annual Saratoga Kid’s Fishing Day starting at 8 a.m. on June 1 at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort pond on Texas Trail Road. Prizes, provided by several sponsors, will be given and h...

  • A 'green' start to summer

    Keith McLendon|May 22, 2019

    In 1977 Saratoga Lions Club members Avon Brock, Bob Randall, and Jim Hull got together with other Lions Club members and came up with the idea for the Junior Golf Program both to teach the sport and to give kids from 5 to 17 years a fun activity to begin their summer. The group began the program by cutting down donated adult clubs to fit younger golfers and, in the 90s, Saratoga Lions Club member Bob Lauman was still cutting clubs to fit. Last year’s program had about 35 youths participate a...

  • Back and forth at HSPS meeting

    Keith McLendon|May 15, 2019

    The largest turnout yet was seen at a Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee (HSPS) meeting held Wednesday, May 8 at the Platte Valley Community Center to hear about a proposed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and ask questions of the presenters. After introductions of the subcommittee and speakers present, the approximately 65 people present watched a video describing the present and possible future situation of healthcare in the Platte Valley. That video is available on...

  • Back it up

    Keith McLendon|May 8, 2019

    Apparently, if you write a column about how everyone should be nice to one another, you will be tested. I had a situation recently in which I either backed up my pretty talk or proved myself a hypocrite … I was headed to the hot pool late the other night for a soak and then a run to take my girlfriend (who works the night shift) a cup of coffee. When I got into the dressing room at the hot pool, I noticed two young men kind of hanging around. One was trying to charge his phone on an outlet near...

  • Where's it going to be?

    Keith McLendon|May 1, 2019

    On Thursday, the Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee (HSPS) held their first meeting at the Grand Encampment Opera House. The goal of the meeting was to include the south Valley in discussions about the future of healthcare in eastern Carbon County. HSPS member and Riverside representative Leslie McLinskey opened the meeting with introductions of subcommittee members. The members of the subcommittee are: Encampment teacher McLinskey, Saratoga businessmen Will Faust and George Haigh,...

  • Full for Fungi

    Keith McLendon|May 1, 2019

    The Saratoga Friends of the Library and Saratoga Community Garden co-sponsored "Fungi Fun," a presentation by Saratoga local Susan Marich at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 at the Saratoga public library. About 34 people filled the meeting room of the library for the presentation as Marich began her slide presentation by telling of the importance of having the correct gear to take hiking and then launched into a talk about knowing not only what mushrooms a person is looking for, but also what local...

  • Finances, survey discussed at healthcare sustainability meeting

    Keith McLendon|Apr 24, 2019

    The Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee (HSPS) held an open meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 to give updates on their healthcare survey results, touch on the financial feasibility study and listen to comments and discussion from the audience. Survey Update Will Faust began the meeting saying the subcommitee had received 441 survey responses, which impressed the subcommittee. Faust reminded the audience that there were surveys in self addressed envelopes at several areas...

  • Easter services, events

    Keith McLendon|Apr 17, 2019

    As one of Christianity’s main Holy Weeks arrives, many area churches are offering special services. Other organizations are holding Easter egg hunts. Following is a list of those services and events from all the churches and organizations the Saratoga Sun was able to contact. EASTER WEEK SERVICES Abundant Life Church The Abundant Life Church will be holding a special Easter service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 at 211 North First St. in Saratoga. Christian Community Church The Christian C...

  • Dollars and documents

    Keith McLendon|Apr 17, 2019

    The South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) board met at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 at the Riverside Town Hall. All members of the board were present with the exception of Ralph Brokaw. Chaiman John Rutherford opened the meeting and had guests to the meeting introduce themselves. Kyle Warren with the Hanna EMR station introduced himself first while members of the media, Saratoga Mayor John Zieger, Carbon County Commissioner Sue Jones, Saratoga Care Center Administrator Mark...

  • Firing numbers at ISC

    Keith McLendon|Apr 10, 2019

    The Industrial Siting Council (ISC) held a pre-trial meeting Wednesday April 3 at the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) Theater to line up exhibits and witnesses for the hearing on the TransWest Express, LLC permit application for the TransWest Express Transmission Line Project. Joining representatives from the ISC were officials from the various towns and county entities affected by the project along with representatives from TransWest Express, LLC and the Department of Environemental Quali...

  • This is Wyoming. act accordingly

    Keith McLendon|Apr 3, 2019

    There is a local restaurant that frequently uses the motto: “This is Wyoming. Act accordingly.” While I find that exceedingly amusing, I got to thinking about what exactly that entails. Following is the long version of what I think that saying really means … or should mean anyway. Please note that this in no way represents the intent or meaning the eatery in question possibly intended. Here we go: Honesty I find Wyomingonians respond better to brutal honesty than a half truth. Sometimes the t...

  • Open for business

    Keith McLendon|Apr 3, 2019

    "Saratoga will have the greatest pool players in the world, per capita, during the Wyoming Open," this from Wyoming Open Director Monte Thayer as he describes the numerous professionals and Hall of Fame pool players coming to Saratoga to play in the region's premier billiards event. In 2018, an American team won the Mosconi Cup held last December in London. That team, comprised of Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, Skyler Woodward, Billy Thorpe and Tyler Styer, will be in attendance and will be int...

  • Tigers 'fast track' two

    Keith McLendon|Mar 27, 2019

    A balmy weekend greeted the Encampment track team in Casper as they brought 12 athletes to compete at the Natrona Invitational held Saturday. The springlike weather may have encouraged Lizzi James and Amber Stubbs as the pair qualified for State during the team’s second outing. Women’s Results James qualified for State tournament with her 5th place shot put distance of 99’11” and added a discus throw of 30’9.5” while at the event. Stubbs was the other Lady Tiger to join the ranks of those going...

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