Quantcast
Channel: News Letter Journal
Viewing all 1332 articles
Browse latest View live

Classifieds – March 29, 2018


Curley Pleads Nolo Contendere in Simple Assault Case

0
0

From Christopher G. Humphrey, Attorney for Charles Curley:

Charles Curley, the former Wyoming Republican Party Secretary accused of misdemeanor simple assault, has pled nolo contendere in Laramie County Circuit Court. Mr. Curley faced no time in jail. The case was brought following a Republican Party fundraiser in Cheyenne on February 23rd, 2018.

After consideration with his family and friends, Mr. Curley accepted an offer to pay a fine in lieu of going to trial. Mr. Curley considered the costs of litigation and the expense to Wyoming tax payers in accepting the plea agreement.

The phrase nolo contendere is a Latin legal term meaning, “I do not wish to contest.” As a result of Mr. Curley’s plea, there will be no trial in this matter.

JAMES “JIM” WESLEY WHETSELL

0
0

Aug. 30, 1937–

March 24, 2018

James “Jim” Wesley Whetsell Sr., 80, of Newcastle, Wyo., passed away, March 24, 2018, at the Weston County Manor, surrounded by his family after losing his battle to cancer.

Jim was born Aug. 30, 1937, in the Whetsell Settlement in Preston County, W.Va. After finishing high school, Jim joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Merced, Calif. He served honorably for four years.

His passion in life was farming. He resided near Stockton, Calif., for many years where he farmed and worked the land. He then moved to Culpeper, Va., to be near his brother’s for several years, eventually returning to Brentwood, Calif., to live with his daughter. Jim loved to come to Newcastle to spend the summers with his son and his family.

Jim was a very kind and gentle man, and will leave a lasting impression on his family and his friends, near and far. He will be missed.

Jim leaves behind his son, James Whetsell Jr. (Julie) of Newcastle; his daughter, Victoria Ratcliffe of Brentwood; his five grandchildren, Travis Schmollinger of Brentwood, Holly Rogers (Blake) of Perry, Ga., Jacob Ratcliffe, of Virginia Beach, Va., Tracey Whetsell of Gillette, Wyo., and  Danielle Levers, (Jonathan) of Brentwood. He was blessed with eight great-grandchildren, Riley Schmollinger of Brentwood, Ava Ratcliffe of Virginia Beach, Robert and Karsen Rogers of Perry, and Landon, Lacey, Lexi, and Lucas Levers, all of Brentwood. Jim also leaves behind his brother, John Whetsell of Culpeper, Va.; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Thelma (Waugerman) Whetsell; his brother, Carl; and sisters, Pearl and Inez.

A private memorial will be held at a later date in Kingwood, W.Va.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.

KURT WILLIAM AUNGST

0
0

Sept. 1, 1969–

March 31, 2018

Kurt William Aungst of Princeton, Texas, passed away March 31, 2018, at the age of 48. He was born Sept. 1, 1969, to Robert Fritts and Terri Dolan in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Kurt graduated from Sundance High School in 1987, where he excelled in basketball, football and wrestling. He was awarded All-Conference in football, and also placed fourth at state wresting his senior year. Kurt would remain an avid sports fan and competitor throughout his life. With great pride he would pass on his dedication and competitive spirit to his children.

Kurt worked for Sen. Ogden Driskill, of Camp Stool Ranch at Devil’s Tower, Wyoming. He began working for him in middle school. After working for Driskill, Kurt moved down the road to the Bush Ranch to work for Nick Boles. From these men, he developed a strong work ethic and problem-solving ability, as well as a profound appreciation for accountability. After high school, Kurt attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie and worked part time at the WyDOT Design Squad, which had a branch office on the Wyoming campus. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1996.

Kurt married Colleen Jo Townsend on June 24, 1995, in Newcastle. After his graduation they moved to Texas to work for engineering consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates, where he met numerous friends. In 1998, he was a founder of Kennedy Consulting, Inc. (KCI). Since that time he has led the development of countless transportation projects around the state and came to be highly respected for the quality of his work and attentiveness to his many clients. At KCI, Kurt served as project manager, McKinney office manager and served on JMT’s board of directors.

In Texas, Kurt and Colleen started their family and pursued their love of roping. He became quite a successful team roper, where he won numerous saddles and buckles. Kurt and Colleen acquired a beautiful ranch in Dexter, Texas, and Kurt’s passion for open space and wildlife was renewed. On the ranch, he managed a trophy whitetail deer herd and worked to maintain and improve the property. The family spent countless hours working the ranch, spending holidays and entertaining family and friends at ranch — it was their special retreat. The ranch was where he felt the most at peace and relaxed. Kurt was a devoted husband, father, friend and engineer. His love for his family was second-to-none — he particularly loved and supported their sport endeavors. His children share his work ethic, his desire to be better, and his drive for success. From him, they have learned hard work pays off in every aspect of life.

Kurt is survived by his wife, Colleen Jo Aungst; children, Ryleigh Aungst, Payton Aungst and Brady Aungst, all of Princeton, Texas; parents, Terry and Terri Aungst of Washington; brothers, Kevin Fitzgerald of Elk Rapids, Mich., Jerry Harpoon and Kory Aungst of Washington; mother-in-law, Pat Townsend of Osage, Wyo,; brother-in-law, Collin Townsend and family of West Jordan, Utah; sister-in-law, Kara Lenardson and family of Newcastle, Wyo.; and a host of other loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Robin Bury; brother, Kody Aungst; father-in-law, Sen. Charles Townsend; and grandparents, Irene and John Dolan.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 6, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A private interment is to be held at Aungst Family Cemetery at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to 4425 FM 1377, Princeton, TX 75407. A memorial fund is being established.

To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit TJMfuneral.com.

The economy of enforcement

0
0

Disputes over the division of the cost of law enforcement in Weston County are nothing new, as both parties indicated in our page one story on discussions held last week between officials from Weston County and the City of Newcastle regarding the present and future relationship of the law enforcement agencies from the two entities.

While it may be easy to find fault with the current agreement, or the manner in which it has been followed (or not), hashing out those faults repeatedly over the years has produced little (to nothing) in the way of results for Weston County. In fact, the exercise of revisiting those disagreements periodically has produced a virtual stalemate each time, as both entities have simply walked away from the conversation in frustration or confusion and simply opted to maintain the status quo.

That suggests to us that representatives from both sides tend to decide that the partnership between the city and the county regarding the cost of the space used by the city in the county’s law enforcement center and the cost of the county’s utilization of the city’s dispatch services has largely been deemed fair to both sides— even if nobody has really said it out loud.

But given the fact that the agreement is nearly four decades old, we’re not sure that the agreement— or even the model of law enforcement practiced in Weston County— is fair to taxpayers. We would like to ask those city and county officials who chose to revisit the issue this month to stay the course this time and comprehensively evaluate law enforcement in Weston County and how to best structure the delivery of police services to ensure the people of Weston County get the level of law enforcement they want at the most affordable price.

As such, we think the discussion should be expanded beyond the cost of maintaining the law enforcement center and providing dispatch services, and think Upton officials should join the conversation as well. We urge officials to consider all of the options— including the possibility of consolidating all law enforcement under one entity, the Weston County Sheriff’s Office. We honestly don’t know if it is a good idea or not, but think the uncertain economy dictates that we should give it a serious look.

Students could benefit from old school civics

0
0

Dear Editor,

Way back in the last century, about 1933, I was going to country school. We took Civics as a subject. We were given a list— President, Vice President and on down the list.

There were no daily papers or TV. Sometimes we saw the President’s picture, but for most of the other men we just had their names.

We learned what they did. Then there was a test. There were no multiple choice questions. If our spelling was similar we got credit for the question with a couple points off for spelling. We also did this for governor and county officers. County officers were easy because we knew most of them personally.

Now if I were taking this course I would be pulling out my hair with all the changes in Washington, D.C.

Let us pray that things will improve there.

—Fern Porter

Youth protest is making no difference

0
0

Dear Editor,

The Progressives are very adept at mobilizing and brainwashing the youth to perform their demonstrations.

The continous dialog about gun control has little affect except from the media.

The shootings are not being done by anyone who would be stopped by the proposed controls. None of the shootings have been done by a member of the NRA or a person who would be likely to submit to the controls.

If the youth want to demonstrate, they could pick a topic where they might make a difference. There are eight fatalities a day caused by texting while driving.  There are 11 fatalities caused by abuse of alcohol.

These are two significant activities which the youth might be able to initiate changes in behavior

—Don Thorson

Dead deer don’t make for good welcome signs

0
0

Dear Editor,

I visited a friend who lives on Highway 450, and just off the road I saw a horrifying sight lying near the highway— a dead deer impaled by a highway reflector or post.

Later our son called to inform me that the deer was not impaled, but twisted around the post.

It was still a horrifying sight!

Who takes care of the carcasses beside the road? WYDOT? The Highway Patrol? Game & Fish?

Hopefully not little ol’ ladies.

—Gail Gray


The geezers are coming, the geezers are coming!

0
0

By Bill Sniffin 

In Rinker Buck’s wonderful book ‘Oregon Trail,’ he offers up a classic lament shared by many others when he complains:

“Who are all these geezers in their giant motorhomes that are clogging the roadways and causing the rest of us big problems!”

Well, heck, Rinker, that might have been me! So stick that in your ear.

He does have a point.

He was writing about how big RVs were pulling over to the side of the road and snapping photos of him and his brother when they were riding in their covered wagon on South Pass.

Buck wrote an excellent book about their 2,000-mile trek, which was the first re-enactment of someone traveling the entire Oregon Trail since 1909. It is truly a fascinating look at the historic trail, which is one of my favorite places.

But this column is about geezers and motorhomes.

Nancy and I like to get away from Wyoming winters in late January and drive our 40-foot long diesel pusher toward Las Vegas and places beyond.

We named our 2005 rig Follow My Nose, which is not about our last name Sniffin, but rather about our penchant to follow our noses when we travel. Our rig is 13 years old and the exterior is horribly faded. But the Freightliner Chassis is amazing. I can fire up that 400 hp Cummins turbocharged engine, engage the Allison automatic transmission and away we go.

On this trip, we found ourselves driving all the way through Las Vegas during the 4 p.m. rush hour and finally emerging out the south end heading for Kingman, AZ. We spent the night jammed among 200 semi-trailer trucks at a busy truck stop. Very loud and smelly.

Not sure those professional truckers appreciated our rig parked amongst them. We did not want to go to the trouble of parking in an RV park as we were headed east of Interstate 40 the next day.

Interstate 80 and Interstate 25 in Wyoming are wonderful roads compared to I-40, which is narrow and bumpy with lots of cracks. It was awful in Arizona, a little better in New Mexico, much better in Texas and wonderful in Oklahoma.

While passing through Flagstaff, we saw tourist families on the shoulder making snowballs. Both northern Arizona and northern New Mexico have some impressively high mountains – reminded me of Wyoming.

We caught up with daughter Shelli Johnson with husband Jerry, sons Wolf, Hayden and Fin in Santa Fe for a quick spring break get-together.

We saw the oldest church in the country (1620 or so) and the oldest house next to it. The famous Loretto Chapel with its mysterious stairway was memorable. We ate great Mexican food and saw incredible art.

Our RV was parked at a fine KOA campground in nearby Bernalillo, which is a little town that features a gigantic Indian casino. There are 25 casinos in New Mexico controlled by Indian tribes.

Bernalillo is also famous as an outpost for Spanish explorer Coronado, who ventured north in 1540 with 300 soldiers, 1,000 Indians, 1,000 horses and 500 mules. They compiled a 4,000-mile journey into what later became the United States of America. Coronado’s expedition involved the first visits to many parts of America by Europeans.

Here in Wyoming, there are tales of a Spanish helmet reportedly found in a cave at the base of Steamboat Mountain near South Pass. The helmet later disappeared.

Jim Smail of Lander found an old tree on Sioux Pass near South Pass, which had a Spanish-looking cross carved into its trunk.

Most historians believe the earliest European visitors to Wyoming might have been remnants of a Spanish group just south of Cheyenne around 1720. It was led by Don Pedro de Villasaur, which proved to be a disaster when two tribes slaughtered them.

We all know that Yellowstone contains one of the country’s super volcano calderas but a similar one exists in northern New Mexico, called the Valles Caldera. Not far from that site is Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was developed in World War II.

As our trip continued, we ran into cold, windy weather around Amarillo, Texas, but at least there were some green grass and fresh crops coming up. It was the first green we had seen for a long time.

It was cold and windy in north Texas, but nary a snowflake in sight. We truly were getting homesick for Wyoming. It was time for this geezer brigade to start heading north.

Bill Sniffin is a retired newspaper publisher who has penned a number of books about Wyoming. Check out additional columns written by Bill at www.billsniffin.com. and find volumes from his coffee table book series, which have sold over 30,000 copies, for sale at the News Letter Journal.

You don’t have to be a starter to be a game changer

0
0

Every player who puts on a uniform has a goal of being one of the starting five.

It’s an exhilarating feeling to see the crowd on their feet, to hear your name announced as you run through the tunnel your team has created for you and to be on the floor at the opening tip.

The top players in each position earn that coveted role, but how important is the sixth man?

If you ask Villanova today, my bet is they will say it’s pretty darned important!

Donte DiVincenzo (a.k.a the Big Ragu) came off the bench for the Wildcats in Monday night’s NCAA championship contest and put up 31 points in his team’s 79-62 win over Michigan.

He became Twitter famous with tweets like “It’s not delivery, it’s DiVincenzo”, and “Donte’s Inferno.” It’s likely this redshirt sophomore will level up to the starting five next season given his performance was not an anomaly, but that he came off the bench with his obvious skills speaks volumes for the importance of that role on his team.

Instant energy is what a great sixth man provides, and though they don’t enjoy the glory of being a member of the starting five, they are just as vital to the success of the team.

My favorite NBA player, Andre Iguodala, is another great example of how important the sixth man can be. Though he was pushed out of the top five of the Golden State Warriors’ lineup by the acquisition of several offensive powerhouse players, every time he takes the court he makes an impact on the game.

After being named the NBA Finals MVP in 2015, Iguodala became the first off the bench and though his stat numbers may not reflect it, he has been the “Swiss Army Knife” for the Warriors, according to head coach Steve Kerr.

Last season, he was among three who were named as finalists for the Sixth Man Award, and it was only his numbers that held him back from winning it.

Of course, we don’t have to look to the NBA or the NCAA to find a shining example of what a sixth man can mean to a team. The Dogies’ own Lyle Whitney embodied all one looks for in the first man off the bench.

In fact, it was his energy and the spark he provided for his team that landed him the sixth man role rather than a starting position. Like Iguodala, his numbers in the scoring column didn’t rank in the vicinity of the offensive weaponry of the top four, however he impacted the game in so many other ways.

Whitney consistently and successfully defended players much bigger than himself, and he holds the single season record, the career record and the school record for charges taken. I watched him rack up an astounding seven in one game, several of which were taken in pivotal moments of the contest.

Taking a charge ranks right up at the top of the most important moments in a basketball game. They nullify an opponent’s basket, they tack a foul onto an opposing player, they swing momentum and ignite a fire for a team. Whitney came off the bench and sacrificed his body to give that advantage to the Dogies on the regular.

As a former player and coach, and a current fan of the game, I have a special place in my heart reserved for the sixth man, and his importance to the team cannot be overstated.

MEDIA ALERT from Black Hills Energy

0
0

RAPID CITY UTILITY WARNS CUSTOMERS OF SCAM ATTEMPTS

Rapid City, SD – April 5, 2018 — According to a press release from the company’s Rapid City headquarters, Black Hills Energy has received customer reports of late bill payment scams with customers being told that they are past due on their account, and without immediate payment, their service will be disconnected.

“Individuals claiming ties to the utility may threaten to disconnect service if they are not paid immediately or may say you’ve overpaid and must provide personal bank account or credit card information for a refund,” said Nick Gardner, vice president of operations for Black Hills Energy, South Dakota. “If your account is at risk of service disconnection or you’re due a refund, we will issue advance written notices by mail.”

“Beware, as perpetrators are becoming more sophisticated, manipulating caller ID or leaving a call-back number with a recording that mimics a utility’s phone system message and options,” said Gardner.

We advise customers with concerns to call our service associates at 1-888-890-5554 to verify the legitimacy of requests for payment history, amounts due or whether an employee was dispatched to your location. Payment options and account access also are available at blackhillsenergy.com.

Additionally, Black Hills Energy urges customers with concerns about the identity of someone claiming to represent the company to call Black Hills Energy’s 24-hour emergency line at 800-694-8989 to verify employment. Calling local law enforcement is also an option.

Additional tips:

  • Don’t give in to a high-pressure call seeking personal information – if someone calls claiming to represent your local utility and they demand immediate payment or personal information, hang up and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
  • To verify whether an employee was dispatched to your location, call your utility using the number on your bill or the company’s website. Black Hills Energy employees wear shirts with a Black Hills logo, carry a company-issued photo ID and drive logoed vehicles. Employees will gladly wait outside while you call the company to verify their identity.
  • Do not provide your Social Security number, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone during an unsolicited phone call or an unannounced visit.

Classifieds – April 5, 2018

Wyoming Legislature Launches New Website

0
0

CHEYENNE-The Wyoming State Legislature is scheduled to launch a new legislative website on Monday. The site can be viewed atwww.wyoleg.gov

Key features of the site include a cleaner aesthetic design, a more engaging user experience with enhanced accessibility to legislative information, archived audio from most interim committee meetings and optimization for mobile devices. The new site improves search functionality for legislation and allows Wyoming residents to connect and interact with their legislators.

“The purpose of the redesign was not only to update the look of the site, but to also make finding legislative information easier and more convenient,” said Senate President Eli Bebout. “A user-friendly legislative website provides even more transparency to the people of Wyoming,” added Bebout.

The new design also streamlines the site’s familiar content, providing clear navigation.

“The redesign aims to simplify access to the Legislature and facilitate citizen involvement in the legislative process by enhancing the user’s experience with features like the “citizen engagement” section of the site which highlights ways citizens can participate in the legislative process,” said House Speaker Steve Harshman.

The new design was built entirely in-house by the Legislative Service Office’s non-partisan information technology and legislative services staff and was beta tested during the 2018 Budget Session.

60 Wyoming prisoners being transferred out of state

0
0

Rawlins – Sixty inmates are being transferred from the Wyoming State Penitentiary (WSP) to an out-of state facility due to limited available bed space and the continued growth in the prison population. For security reasons, the name and details of the facility won’t be released until the inmates have arrived safely, according to Wyoming Department of Corrections Director Bob Lampert.

“Transferring inmates outside the system is not our preference. However, we need to be able to absorb new inmates coming from county jails to prison and still have the flexibility to close a housing unit should ongoing repair projects at WSP require. As an added benefit, we can maximize the use of our current resources and give staff some relief from overtime” Lampert stated.

The Department of Corrections has contracts with Wyoming county jails to house low-custody inmates, such as those transitioning back to the community and those not actively involved in programming. However, the inmates in this transfer are long-term high-custody inmates who are not suitable for temporary housing in county jails in Wyoming, according to Lampert.

An increasing prison population in Wyoming is nothing new. The prison population has grown from 534 in 1980 to 2,477 in 2018. In response, the legislature enacted legislation during the 2018 session hoping to reduce that trend somewhat. House Enrolled Act 42, which became effective upon the Governor’s signature, provides some alternatives to prison for offenders on supervision in the community who violate their release condition due to substance abuse.

The legislature’s work on prison population growth is ongoing. According to Lampert, the Joint Judiciary Committee set the topic of criminal justice reform as its highest requested priority for 2018 interim study. There will also be a public safety forum held in Cheyenne in June to give stakeholders an opportunity to give their input on what future public safety policy should look like.

Black Hills wild turkey hunters may want to delay hunt

0
0

SUNDANCE – Sportsmen wanting to hunt the wild turkey Hunt Area 1 opener in the Black Hills may want to consider delaying their trip.  This spring’s weather is making access to some areas across the northeast corner of Wyoming difficult.

Game and Fish Sundance Game Warden Chris Teter states, “There has been a good amount of snowfall since the middle of March and many roads are not passable.  Even though some warm weather is predicted this week, there is a possibility for more snow before opening day.  Access to the Black Hills National Forest, where many people hunt and camp, will likely be limited until late April.”

With the weather this year, Newcastle Wildlife Biologist Joe Sandrini suggests hunters consider hunting during the second peak in gobbling, normally after May 10.  At that time the weather is generally more predictable, and access to the National Forest becomes more favorable.

For additional information on wild turkey hunting in Wyoming, please visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website at wgfd.wyo.gov.


Kelley to Leave Cowboy Basketball Program to Pursue Graduate Degree

0
0

LARAMIE, Wyo. (APRIL 10, 2018) – University of Wyoming guard Cody Kelley, who is scheduled to graduate this May with a degree in kinesiology and health promotion has decided to transfer to another university to pursue his graduate degree and basketball career.

“After giving this decision a great deal of thought, I feel this is the best decision for myself moving forward,” Kelley said. “When the ball stops bouncing I want to have pursued a graduate program specific to my career goals. My undergraduate experience at UW has prepared me very well for the next step of graduate school. I want to have the opportunity to pursue an academic program that fits my specific career goals while continuing to play college basketball. I will be a Cowboy for life and always keep Wyoming in my heart.”

“Coach Edwards and the staff are some of my biggest mentors in life and I love and respect them. I’m very grateful to have learned from the entire staff and really grow as an adult. I feel that I have grown as a person in Laramie and all I can express to the University of Wyoming is my gratitude and being thankful for the three years I had playing in this great state.

“I’m extremely honored to have been a part of this program for the last three years. I have made incredible connections in Laramie. The fans have been incredible to myself and this team throughout my career.”

“Cody has done a great job representing the State of Wyoming along with this institution and program,” Wyoming head coach Allen Edwards said. “Cody has personal dreams and goals both academically and athletically that are best for his future, and we wish him the best in all his endeavors.”

From a Bakery to the Cleaners

0
0

The history of block 7, lot 19

The News Letter Journal continues the History on Main Series with Leonard Cash as we cover block 7, lot 19, of Newcastle’s downtown. To begin, courthouse records date back to May 23, 1891, when the Lincoln Land Co. granted the land to Milton W. Walton. A miscellaneous record then followed up on the land’s proceedings, as the estate was turned over to Walton’s wife, Zelinda Walton, who then sold to Grover C. Taylor in June 1919. Oddly enough, the record was not filed until 1945, but Cash said delayed recordings were not uncommon for the times.

The Sanborn Maps indicate that the land was vacant until around 1920, which makes sense because Taylor was a local barber in town who likely had his shop on the premises. However, as of April 8, 1924, courthouse records of a sheriff’s deed show that Grover C. Taylor and Christine J. Taylor, husband and wife, turned the property over to Pete Cristo.

According to Cash, Cristo was a native of Jugo Slavia (Yugoslavia). Cristo tried to come to the U.S. in the early 1900s, but was sent back. He then worked in England for about nine years, during which time he did not see his wife and kids. Cash said he eventually made his way to the States and became the first baker in Cambria before moving on to Newcastle about 1919. Cash added that Cristo’s wife and children joined him in Newcastle, and both he and his wife are buried in Hot Springs, S. D.

LLOYD PETER BECKTON

0
0

Nov. 11, 1920–April 2, 2018

Lloyd Peter Beckton, 97, passed away April 2, 2018, at Newcastle, Wyo.

Lloyd was born Nov. 11, 1920, at Hanna, S.D., to William and Mary (Bandura) Beckton. He was the third child of four. He grew up and attended elementary school in Hanna. He attended one year of high school in Lead, S.D. He went to work as a blacksmith apprentice for Homestake Gold Mine in the summer of 1938. He also joined the South Dakota National Guard that year, where he served with the 109th Engineers Company E Regiment, (combat) Lead, S.D.

He continued to work at Homestake until 1942, when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served four years. In that time he was sent to the San Diego Destroyer Base to serve for three years, then to Honolulu for 13 months with a ship repair unit. After his discharge, he returned to South Dakota and worked at the Homestake Gold Mine.

In 1946 he married Jeanette Ann Shipman; she had one daughter, Toni. In 1957 they moved to California, where Lloyd worked for a construction machinery company. In 1958 he went to work for the Civil Service at a ship repair forge shop in Long Beach, Calif. Jeanette passed away in 1963. 

In 1967 he married Eugenia Del Barco. He retired in 1970, then in 1980 they moved to Costa Rica. In 1985 Lloyd divorced Eugenia and moved to Newcastle to be close to his mother. In 1986 he married Lois Dowdy. Lois died in 1997.

Lloyd was a member of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his stepdaughter, Toni Hearn of Oregon; two nephews, Richard Taylor of Billings, Mont., and William Beckton Jr of Casper, Wyo; two nieces, Jean Burleson of Newcastle, and Marge Bender of Casper, Wyo; a step-daughter, Betty Petranek of Newcastle; and a step-son, Rodney Dowdy of Moorcroft, Wyo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, William and Jim; one sister, Marie Taylor; two wives, Jeanette and Lois; and one nephew, Stanley Beckton.

Recitation of the Rosary was held April 5 at Worden Chapel in Newcastle. Burial with military honors was held on April 6 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D. Memorial can be sent to Weston County Senior Services center.

BRUCE CARL HANSEN

0
0

April 9, 1957–

March 25, 2018

Bruce Carl Hansen was born April 9, 1957, to Jimmy and Zelpha Hansen. He was the youngest of four. Bruce met Kim Rene Price, the love of his life, in high school, then they married Dec. 23, 1978. Kim and Bruce went on to have two children, Kristie Lynn Hansen and Matthew James Hansen, and three grandchildren, Kayla Ann Aylesworth, Kody Michael Aylesworth, and Kyle Samuel Aylesworth. Bruce and Kim moved back to the ranch in 1994 where he spent the rest of his days. On Sunday, March 25, 2018, Bruce lost his battle with cancer.

He was proceeded in death by both his parents, Jimmy and Zelpha Hansen; his son, Matthew Hansen; and grandsons, Kody and Kyle Aylesworth.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kim Hansen; his daughter, Kristie Aylesworth; granddaughter, Kayla Aylesworth; his brothers, Paul (Lori) Hansen and Dale (Carmel) Hansen; sister, Gwenda (Tom) Freed; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Services to celebrate the life of Bruce Hansen will be held Saturday, April 14, in Newcastle, Wyo., at Weston County Senior Services center, beginning at 1. All are welcome.

ALLEN L. MAHONEY

0
0

July 2, 1941–April 3, 2018

Allen L. Mahoney, age 76, passed away on April 3, 2018, at Weston County Health Services in Newcastle, Wyo.

Allen was born July 2, 1941, in Alva, Wyo., to Jay Smith Mahoney and Alta Lorene Mahoney. He attended schools in Alva, Sundance, and Newcastle, graduating from Newcastle High School in 1959. He joined the United States Army in November of 1959 where he served honorably both as active duty and in reserve. He was discharged in 1965.

Allen spent the early 1960s working on a ranch in Nisland, S.D., and for the Army Reserve in Sheridan, Wyo., and Fort Collins, Colo. He worked on the Christensen Ranch from the mid-1960s through 1976. After leaving the ranch, he was employed by Jacobs Ranch Coal Mine where he worked through 1992. 

In 1993, he went to work for Fisher Sand and Gravel where he remained until his retirement in October of 2017.

He married Ann Snow on July 1, 1961. They were later divorced. Three children were born to this union.

He married Janice Mahoney on Nov. 25, 1995. They had many happy years together creating a home, complete with his ideal shop and garden area.

Allen was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 13 in Newcastle. Earlier days found him active in the Weston County Stock Growers Association and as a 4-H leader.

Services will be held on Monday, April 9, at 9 a.m. at Weston County Senior Services Center. Burial will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D.

Allen is survived by his wife, Janice; daughter, Brenda (Tim) Ayres; son, Lance (Penney) Mahoney; daughter, Serena (Lot) Medina; son, Austin Mahoney; stepchildren, Kevin (Conni) Sawyer, Brian (Mary) Sawyer, Roxanne (Greg) Schmelz, Ronald (Terri) Sawyer, Paula (Joe) Korus; and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He lovingly assisted in the raising of Justin O’Rourke and his sister, Rikki. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Van Every, and his uncle, Earl Gray.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Gerald, Hiram, and Leon; brother-in-law, Robert Van Every; nieces, Donna Rae Williams, Dixie Mathern, Penny Gant; and nephew, Jay Mahoney. Donations may be made in Allen’s memory to the Weston County Health Services Foundation.

Viewing all 1332 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images