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The snow is coming to the valley in greater amounts now; falling across the valley in blankets of white, turning trees and bushes into works of art. It also brings out the adventurer in some of us. It’s one of the most treacherous activities in winter. I’m not talking about skiing down black diamonds or driving on icy roads-I’m talking about that most mundane of activity-snow shoveling. Over my past 63 years on this earth, I don’t think I’ve lived anywhere where it didn’t snow. Being born...
“Dear God, please help us get through this awful mess of a highway. If you get us through safely, so help me, we will never do anything bad again.” Prayers like the above and many more variants emanate from folks in a long line of cars stranded in blizzards on a horrible stretch of winter highway called the Snow Chi Minh Trail along Interstate 80. Like so many Wyomingites, our family has been there so many times. This area is commonly referred to in the last four decades as the “Snow Chi Minh Trail.” Where did that name come from? My generat...
I recently purchased a DVD copy of Lonesome Dove at Bridge Street Bargains in Saratoga. I am always coming across unusual and older movies in this shop, which were highly acclaimed back in their day. I bought the movie partly because the back cover said it was the most realistic Western movie ever made. Those are some pretty big words to me–as a fan of Shane and The Searchers. It was made in 1988 and probably, because I was newly married, didn’t watch a lot of TV which is where the movie was fir...
In all the years I’ve lived in this valley, I’ve seen many examples of vandalism–obscene words and pictures spray painted on the bridge, written on walls at the hot pool or a public bathroom are fairly common. Slashed tires and broken windows have also been reported by local folks. The most recent occurrence I know of is at the ice rink on Veterans Island. The ice rink that was so generously given to the community by the Kiwanis was damaged over the Thanksgiving holiday by vandals. Although the gates that lead into the skate park where the i...
Masks, guns, and banks. Out here in Wyoming, that sounds like Butch Cassidy and Wild Bunch. Butch was famously asked why he robbed banks? “That’s where the money is,” he answered, looking like he had just been asked the dumbest question on the planet. If Butch did not say it originally, I am sure he thought it. Two years ago, right now, I recall seeing a local Lander sportsman standing before a teller in a local bank, with his pistol on his hip, wearing a mask, and making a withdrawal. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, this happened all the t...
I don’t try to wear my political affiliation on my sleeve because I don’t vote exclusively for that party.There are reasons for this.I learned from my father about the Republican party and my mother was a staunch Democrat. I was lucky to have both exposures and I usually have seen merit in each party. My folks on the other hand; neither could vote for the other party and saw no redeeming in the opposition. My stepmother was the only one of my parents who voted for the person and not the par...
In life you have three things to give to your fellow members of society: wealth, wisdom, and work. Giving your time to your community can make an impact not only in your community, but also to your happiness. Volunteering means giving of yourself, with no monetary or material compensation. The rate that people volunteer has dropped considerably over the past few years, according to The Bureau of Labor and Statistics data. It isn’t dire, but it is clearly a downward trend. Organizations with v...
I put my Christmas tree up on Friday. I can hear the screams now! It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet. For many years I didn’t put up a tree or cook, but with the grandkids kids around and my crazy sister, it feels right to start celebrating earlier and earlier. With Thanksgiving just around the corner I can’t help but dwell on all the blessings in my life. My family of course, but living in a country where I have the right to do pretty much anything I want as long as it doesn’t put anyone else in...
Elections have consequences. Especially on a national level. It’s taken a few days to digest the consequences of the big mid-term national elections Tuesday. Here in Wyoming, our general election was a faint imitation of our amazing primary last August. That primary drew record numbers of voters and saw international press interest as it was viewed as a Liz Cheney versus Donald Trump battle. Liz was trounced by national record numbers in that race by Harriet Hageman, who cruised to general election victory Tuesday. Harriet is now our representa...
Editor, The reason my letter is being submitted is that recently my research indicated that a cargo trailer was stolen from Bill Schroer of Saratoga. This incident is still under investigation by the Saratoga Police Department which the recovery of this stolen trailer averages less than 1%. Trailers are the most often things stolen on wheels and the least often found. Our overworked and understaffed police departments place stolen trailers on the bottom of the list and eventually end up in the garbage can. This loss is devastating and heartbrea...
To the editor, I drove into your little town on Thursday night on my way back from Lincoln. I’ve been making the run from Vegas back to Lincoln for several months due to delivery issues with electronics, but I had seen nothing but good roads. The interstate was an ice rink so I took the exit south and landed in Saratoga. It was late, about 11, and I was starving. I was standing in front of the Cantina wondering what I was going to do for food. The convenience stores were all closed. I was unprepared for any of this, but I understand the p...
I am getting ready to do a presentation for an organization which wants to hear about my time in Asia. I have been looking over a lot of items and photos of my time in Taiwan and China. My years in Taiwan were in a big city, sort of, 3 million, but actually for Asia, Taichung is a medium city at best. Running a business, a restaurant/bar in particular that focused on Western cuisine, had me in the forefront of the expat community. I threw a lot of parties for different Western cultures and got exposed to tons of things I didn’t know about peopl...
Many decades ago, when my brother Ron and I would go big-game hunting, it was comforting to know that we were at the top of the food chain. We had powerful rifles and we knew that no creature out there could cause us serious harm. Our anti-hunter acquaintances always pointed out the unfairness of “hunting,” asking what would we do if the other side could hunt us? Sometime in the 1980s, all this changed. From that time on, grizzly bears have been encouraged to live all over Western Wyoming. It was a game-changer. Human hunters now could be vie...
Editor, Well folks listen up. The November elections are coming up. I’m voting for the second amendment. I’m voting for the next Supreme Court Justice. I’m voting for the electoral college, and the Republic we live in. I’m voting for the Police and law and order. I’m voting for the Military, and the veterans who fought for and died for this Country. I’m voting for the flag that is always missing from the Democratic background. I’m voting for the right to speak my opinion and not to be censored. I’m voting for secured borders. I’m voting for...
Who hasn’t pondered the idea of a perfect world? We imagine what it would look like with glittering visions of world peace and vehicles that rely on nothing but oxygen to fuel them. Who could we elect? What ideals should we uphold? How can we shift and evolve our society into a flawless, irreproachable model? Our humanity makes this utopia unattainable. The rigidity necessary to create this kind of society would be a bleak existence. The perfect society is the one without mistakes and thus one w...
Editor, If you haven’t visited the Saratoga Resort and Spa recently, you are missing out on the many improvements made since the devastation of COVID-19. My husband and I live across from the golf course and visit the Snowy Range Brewery at least once a week. We have witnessed several upgrades in the past year and would like to acknowledge the ‘Inn’s’ management for their dedication to remaining a wonderful feature in our fabulous town. The new front entrance, menu, activity shop and greeting staff are reason enough to express our appreci...
