100 Years Ago
February 10, 1920
Survey for State Highway Through Platte Valley Will Start in Few Days
The survey for the State Highway through the Platte Valley from Encampment to Walcott will be under way within a few days, is the statement of State Highway Engineer Z. E. Sevison, who, with District Engineer R. V. Newcomb of Rock Springs, was in Saratoga for a few hours yesterday. They made the trip by auto from Walcott to Encampment, looking over the proposed route for the permanent highway, and Mr. Sevison talked at some length on highway subjects to a gathering of citizens at the city hall during the forenoon.
Cashier Fred H. Healey of the Encampment State Bank was piloting the engineers over the proposed route, and was also accompanied by I. M. Conness. They left here early in the afternoon for Encampment and the engineers will return to the main line by train tomorrow morning.
In his talk here, Mr. Sevison stated that he contemplated at this time that the highway between Saratoga and Walcott would be a present, and that only state money would be expended on it this year, the $15,000 available being sufficient to clear an 80-foot right-of-way and build a grade 18 to 20 inches in height of available material over the entire distance, which would give a snow-free road, passable at all times of the year. In subsequent years this would be improved by surfacing with gravel or other more permanent material, and in later years could be improved in other ways to bring it up to the federal specifications, when federal aid could be secured to surface the thoroughfare with concrete. If federal aid be asked at the present time, he said, the great expense of building according to government specifications would exhaust the entire appropriation on a very small section of the road, and he considered it much more desirable to work the entire distance with state money alone.
From here to Encampment, he said, the conditions were somewhat different, and he believed that at least one section of a few miles would require heavy and permanent contruction, and that federal aid would be asked on that project, while the balance of the distance would be worked as a state project, as from Saratoga to Walcott.
The principal problem confronting Valley people at this time, he said, would be providing the right of way for the highway, which must be furnished free of the state, as none of the highway bond money can be expended in purchasing rights-of-way. This will probably not be a difficult matter, as any land-owner should be glad to have a highway such as is contemplated pass through or near his land. Mr. Sevison stated that he believed the land along the highway would be increased in value by 100 per cent, and that in some cases coming to his knowledge the increase in value had been much greater.
After the meeting, Engineer Sevison, at the request of County Commissioner R. T. Wood, inspected the county bridge across the Platte here, with a view to estimating to what extent the structure could be lowered and at what approximate cost. The commissioners have discussed this question to some extent, and expect to have a bridge builder come here this spring to look the proportion over. Mr. Sevison was of the opinion that the bridge could be lowered from 3 to 3 1/2 feet to good advantage, and that the cost probably would not be prohibitive. He also volunteered to send one of the state’s bridge experts here to make an estimate as to the expense of lowering it.
A meeting was held at Encampment last night, attended by the engineers, and they have returned to their headquarters to arrange for the survey crew to lay out the road through the Valley.
75 Years Ago
February 15, 1945
Art Zieger Graduates From
Navy Course
Among those graduating from an intensive course fo Basic Engineering training at recent Service Schools exercises here was Artlin Zieger, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Zieger, Saratoga, Wyo. says a report from the Ninth Naval District headquarters at Great Lakes, Illinois.
Art was selected for his specialized training on the basis of his recruit training aptitude test scores. Graduated from the twenty specialized courses taught here at the Service Schools are sent to sea, to shore stations, or to advanced schools for further duty, the report said.
50 Years Ago
February 19, 1970
Teachers Receive Hike In Pay
School district No. 9 teachers will receive between $400 and $700 pay increase next year, by virtue of action taken Monday night by the board of trustees.
Base pay for beginning teachers was raised from $6,100 to $6,500 with equivalent pay hikes provided for additional education and experience. The maximum increase for any teacher will be $700 per year.
Action of the board also extended the school year from 180 days to 185 days for teachers. Students usually attend school three to four days less than the instructors.
The contract of elementary principal Robert Randall was renewed with a slight raise in pay. Board members also voted to make an addition to the administrative staff to securing a high school principal, Supt. John C. Tynon said this week.
Teacher contracts for the 1097-71 school year will be reviewed at a special meeting of the board March 9.
Official inspection of the elementary buildings is being made today by the consulting engineer, school board members and a representative of the architect firm. It is hoped that the new classrooms and all-purpose building be be ready for use next week,
25 Years Ago
February 15, 1995
Sherrod Wins Scottish Rite
Foundation Scholarship
Kristine Sherrod, a geography major at the University of Wyoming, recently won one the the Scottish Rite Foundation of Wyoming scholarships valued at $600. The awards are presented annually to Wyoming high school graduates who are entering their senior year at UW and are based on leadership, scholarship and need. The foundation awards 24 scholarships, three each to UW and the seven community colleges, for a total of $14,400.
The scholarships are funded through interest and dividends earned on an endowment established by contributions and memorials of Scottish Rite members, relatives and friends of the Mason organization.
She is a 1991 graduate of Saratoga High School.
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