T
undance
NEWS FIE
tic 65. BOX 201
ON'K, N~ 72852-8501
"Where the Kid got his name"
The County Newspaper of Carol Petersen
Continuing the Crook County news since 1884
Service offers
Bearlodge Ranger District will be holding an
house for concerned citizens to better under-
and share concerns over the proposed man-
plan for the Black HiLls National Forest.
open house will be held from 2:00 p.m.- 8:00
on Monday, October 18 at the Bearlodge Dis-
offices in Sundance.
One of the more controversial measures included
I the preferred management alternative is a pro-
unity to learn,
t on plan
vision which calls for five Researched Natural
Areas (RNAs). The RNA designation, which
is aimed at providing undisturbed parcels
of land for educational and scientific use,
would severely restrict traditional activities
and access to the affected areas. A total of
nearly 5OO0 acres are targeted for RNA's
under the preferred alternative, just over
4000 of which fall within Crook County.
ounty polling places
.A.V.A. approved
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County Clerk Connie Tschetter announced
t Week all precincts in Crook County passed a
H.A.V.A. inspection and are ready for resi-
to cast their votes in the upcoming Novem-
election. The Help America Vote Act
of 2002 passed legislation for all polling
across America to be handicap accessible
[to be ADA compliant by August of 2004.
help facilitate the transition, Federal funds
set aside for counties to apply for in the form
Unfortunately, the entire state of Wyo-
was given only $I00,000 to upgrade polling
in all twenty-three counties. Since then,
has been working with precinct persons
Crook County to meet the 2004 dead-
them I would not be able to guarantee we
get those grant funds," said Tschetter, re-
how various people took it upon themselves
their voting communities involved. *They had
out of their own pockets--not knowing if
get refunded with grant monies."
, surrounding the upgrades began back
H.A.V.A. passed. The Wyo-
' Clerks met during their
meeting in January 2003 at Cheyenne to
the logistical problems, to network with
other, and to get questions answered by the
representatives.
of 2003," continued Tschetter, "l
to all registered voters in the pre-
amt would be affected to let them know their
have to be ADA compliant. I asked for
r input if they wanted to upgrade their polling
date with another polling place." True to Wyoming's
stalwart nature, Tschetter indicated the general
consensus was to keep the polling places and to
make the changes needed to preserve their pre-
cincts.
In her typical take charge fashion, Tschetter im-
mediately began the paperwork to apply for the
grants and her diligence secured the necessary
funds for improvements. "We received 100% of the
Federal funds we applied for. If we hadn't applied,
other counties would have got the money."
Last week, two agents from the Protection Advo-
cacy System, an ADA compliant group, toured the
polling places in Crook County to analyze the fa-
cilities and either approve or reject the handicap
accessibility of each. "They were extremely pleased
with what they saw," said Tschetter. She verified
the authenticity of thd group and the legitimacy
stm'otmding their authority. "They are a group who
can file legal complaints and sue you (the county)."
Several components were necessary to meet the
ADA requirements. New ADA voting booths, handi-
cap accessibility, and installation of a statewide
voter registration system, were mandatory. Crook
County polling places passed all areas ,and received
kudos for the handicap accessible restrooms the
county paid for during the primaries. The final
H.A.V.A. requirement is forthcoming with ADA and
new electronic voting equipment to be installed by
2006.
"I want to thank all the people involved in all the
communities for upgrading these polling places,"
said Tschetter. "Because of them, we are able to
keep all our voting places open in Crook County. It
Crook County Clerk Connie Tschetter, left, watches as Sheila Christoph runs sample
ballots through the county'b counting machine last week. Crook County Democrat Chair-
man John Shoffidall was an official observer to validate that the machine was calibrated to
fairly record each ballot. Christoph has been delegated as the chief operator of the ma-
chine and for several elections has kept the machine operating smoothly with problems
only occurring on the night of the election.
Friends of NRA to
,hold banquet October 30
The Crook County Friends of NRA are holding their Board decides from the applicants where the money
First Annual Banquet October 30, 2004 in Sundance.
The banquet is a fundraiser to establish an in-
door shooting range at the Crook County Fair-
grounds. This range will be open to the public and
will be used for the benefit of the 4-H Shooting
Sports Program. The funds raised are sent to the
NRA Foundation and then the Wyoming State Grant
will be used. The money is not used for political
support or wages.
Donations and underwriting for the banquet make
it possible for the Friends of NRA to be successful.
The Crook County group would appreciate any dona-
tion you would be willing to give. If you have any
questions, call Linda Schelldorf at 307-283-2071.
Commis oners illlellsy
consider alliance
In the wake of sweeping changes
recently announced in the form of
Research Natural Areas on Forest
Service lands in Crook County, the
Commissioners are considering
teaming up with a company whose
sole purpose is to identify pending
policies from government agencies
and to then alert their clients of
proposed changes affecting their
interests.
Kara Brighton, Executive Direc-
tor and co-founder of the Wyoming
Conservation Alliance (WCA), gave
a presentation to the Crook
County Commissioners in their
regular October 6 meeting describ-
hag her business and their unique
research and legal services avail-
able for hire.
According to the mission state-
ment provided by Brighton, WCA
intends to organize, educate, en-
courage and fadl/tate participation
of Wyoming businesses, ranchers,
industry groups and local govern-
merit entities in the Federal regu-
latory ~.
%re specifically help with agricul-
ture and natural resources,~ said
Brighton. "There are not a lot of
alternatives for legal counsel in
Wyoming on these issues."
The WCA outlines a method
where resources are pooled, which
provides a cost effective means of
participating in the federal regula-
tory process. In the presentation,
Brighton highlighted issues her
firm currently disseminates infor-
mation to its members, such as;
water development, management
and use, grazing permits, forest
management and timber produc-
tion, agricultural issues, natural
gas exploration and development,
endangered species listings and
management, and multiple use of
and access to Federal lands.
In addition to researching the
daily Federal Register reports
(which ends up each week in a
hardcopy book four inches thick),
the WCA then emails or sends per-
tinent information via US Marl on
proposed changes regarding issues
identified by their members.
Brighton said, "If it directly affects
a client, we call you up and say,
"Did you see this?"
For a fee, the WCA will take fur-
ther action in the form of draft com-
ments, letters or legal action. Pro-
posed Federal rulings have rela-
tively short comment periods rang-
ing from 30 to 90 days. If a group
or government entity does not re-
spond within the comment period,
"they waive their rights to future
litigation" and "are barred from the
table during the rule making pro-
eess.~
"Right now we're representing
the Wolf Coalition of 29 individu-
als and have filed our case in Fed-
era] Court,~ said Brighton. She re-
ported several pending cases her
firm currently represents for a
group in Nebraska on endangered
species and waterworks issues
and a Forest Service roadless case
for a Wyoming group.
pt~se ~ commissioners page &
Cowboy footballbus
tickets still available
Tickets for the bus trip and UW football game are still available for the
upcoming battle between the Wyoming Cowboys and the Air Force Falcons
on October 30.
The tentative plans call for the bus to make stops in MoorcroR, Sun-
dance and Newcastle along the way. Cost for the trip will be $75 per per-
son. For more information regarding the trip you can contact Ralph Goodson
at 283-1952 or 283-3633 or in Newcastle contact Jim Bunch at 746-2737.
o
Know the ssues.
Citizens are reminded to get out and meet the can-
didates and learn about the issues at stake in the
upcomhag election during Monday's political forum.
The event, sponsored by the Sundance Chamber and
Representative Mark Semlek is set for Monday
evening, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the PRECorp com-
munity room.
Candidates for the office of Sundance Mayor and
school district trustee are expected to be in atten-
dance.
~s and experts will also be on hand to dis-
cuss the state constitutkmal amendments which will
be ~ on the ballot. Four amendments, deal-
ino ,t4th an nrrav of i~.qHoe ,,,;11 ~,~ ,,n for ~-':" : "
year. Amendment A would allow the removal of lim-
its for the recapture of school funding revenues.
Amendment B would add a provision which allows
local governments to use local sources of revenue
for specific types of development if approved by local
voters. Amendment C will allow the legislature to
enact laws which would provide alternative methods
of resolving a conflict with a health care provider
before a lawsuit can be filed. Amendment D would
allow the legislature to enact laws which limit dam-
ages for "noneconomic loss" awarded for injuries or
death caused by a health care provider.
Organizers also plan to have a discussion on the
