Green River Star

11/11/2025

Today in Wyoming history:

In 1950, a DC-3 belonging to a religious missionary organization hit Mount Moran in dense cloud cover, killing all 21 people on board. The impact was nearly direct, and nothing from the plane could be recovered, including the bodies of the victims --- all of whom remain on Mount Moran.

Tomorrow in Wyoming history:

In 1890, the United States government funded a land grant college for Wyoming, which would become the University of Wyoming.

(Thanks Wyoming Historical Society.)

11/11/2025

We would like to thank all of our Veterans who served and are still serving our country. Thank you!

11/11/2025

Congratulations to Green River’s Sophia Arnold, Sydnie Eastman, McKinley Killpack and Natalie Tynsky! These four ladies have earned All-Conference honors in the 4A West Region for Volleyball!

11/10/2025

Help our local Scouts support our local food bank!

Our local Scouts are collecting food donations to support our local Food Bank! Please consider helping them out by dropping off food items to them on Saturday November 22, 2025. Times listed below.

11/10/2025

Want to get involved in local theater? Here's an opportunity!

Want to join us on stage? Auditions for our third play of the season, “Women Playing Hamlet,” are next weekend! This comedy follows one woman’s struggle with the epic role, taking her through a range of encounters with colorful characters. In a reversal from Shakespeare's England, the author requires all male roles to be portrayed by women.

Actors must be available for tech week and performances March 6-15 and 20-22, as well as strike and theater cleanup after the run. Days and times for evening rehearsals will be determined later around actor and director schedules. Auditions will be in Rm. 1333 at Western from 6-9 pm November 14 and 15, as well as 1-4 pm November 16. If you have any questions or if you’re interested in helping behind the scenes, please respond to this post or message us to let us know!

11/10/2025

Congratulations to Rynn Martin and Alex Booth for being named the Expedition Academy for being named the students of the month for October.
From EA Principal Ralph Obray:
"Each month, Expedition Academy High School honors a male and female student for hard work and dedication to the school and the community. Selections come from the school’s staff and student input throughout the month. When a staff member see’s a student doing something good or above and beyond, the student receives a cheetah buck redeemable for a prize. Only 18 students earn "Student of the Month" accolades each school year, with two individuals honored each month from September through May. Arctic Circle of Green River has donated to the “Student of the Month” in the form of gift certificates. Expedition Academy and Sweetwater County School District #2 would like to thank:Green River Arctic Circle for their contributions to our 'Student of the Month.' We just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! Each student is awarded a certificate and recognized at our Friday morning student meeting along with a picture posted at the entrance to the school and on our school website."

11/10/2025

The 35th Annual Flaming Gorge Harley-Davidson Toy Run took place on Sunday. The ride went through Green River and to Rock Springs, meeting up with other riders and ending at the fire station to donate toys to go to families in need this Christmas.

11/10/2025

Today in Wyoming history:

In 1945, the Heart Mountain Internment Camp closed.

Tomorrow in Wyoming history:

In 1950, a DC-3 belonging to a religious missionary organization hit Mount Moran in dense cloud cover, killing all 21 people on board. The impact was nearly direct, and nothing from the plane could be recovered, including the bodies of the victims --- all of whom remain on Mount Moran.

(Thanks Wyoming Historical Society.)

11/10/2025

FROM WYOFILE:

Weston County clerk faces criminal charges for defying subpoena

The Natrona County District Attorney’s Office brought the misdemeanor charge following Becky Hadlock’s no-show at a legislative hearing.

By Maggie Mullen, WyoFile.com

The Natrona County District Attorney’s Office has charged Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock for failing to appear at a legislative committee meeting in Casper after she was subpoenaed by state lawmakers, court filings show.
The subpoena, issued by Rep. Chris Knapp, R-Gillette, in his capacity as co-chair of the Joint Management Audit Committee, required Hadlock to appear at a September hearing, where lawmakers were expected to question her about her office’s actions in the November 2024 election.
Hadlock, however, did not attend the meeting, prompting lawmakers to pursue criminal charges. The violation is a misdemeanor, according to state law. If convicted, Hadlock could face up to six months in jail and a $100 fine.
The subpoena stemmed from Hadlock’s role in an initial ballot miscount and subsequent false post-election audit in Weston County’s 2024 general election. In July, lawmakers formed the Weston County Clerk Subcommittee to investigate what occurred and to compel testimony.
“This is a big violation,” Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, said at the September meeting when Hadlock failed to appear.
It was initially unclear to lawmakers and staff attorneys whether charges should be pursued in Casper, where the meeting was held, or elsewhere. However, the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation in late September, according to an affidavit signed by Sgt. Ken Jividen.
The investigation involved interviews with multiple lawmakers including Reps. Knapp and Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, and Sen. Laursen.
Knapp told Jividen that Hadlock had indicated ahead of the meeting that she would not be present, according to the affidavit.
“Although she provided documentation to the committee indicating she would not be present, she did not provide any specific details as to why she would not be available to attend,” the affidavit states.
In her own interview with Sgt. Jividen, Hadlock said she had a doctor’s appointment in Newcastle on Sept. 29, the day of the meeting. Hadlock also said she had to drive her mother to Gillette for a doctor’s appointment that same day.
“Ultimately, Hadlock again said she did receive a subpoena, she knew she was commanded to appear, and that she was not excused from the subpoena,” the affidavit states.
Hadlock also provided documentation following the interview that indicated the Sept. 29 medical appointments in Newcastle and Gillette.
Ryan Semerad, Hadlock’s attorney, declined to comment for this story.
A hearing in the case is set for Nov. 14 in Natrona County Circuit Court in Casper, according to a criminal summons.

Background

For the November 2024 election, Hadlock printed three versions of the ballot due to errors on the first two. It’s not unusual for clerks to reprint ballots to correct misprintings and other errors ahead of an election, but problems arose when some voters were given the erroneous first and second versions.
As a result, tabulators miscounted votes in a county commission race and the contest for House District 1, where House Speaker Rep. Chip Neiman (R-Hulett) was running unopposed.
The initial results for Weston County showed Neiman received 166 votes while 1,289 voters left that part of the ballot blank, also known as an undervote.
That count caught Secretary of State Chuck Gray’s attention on election night, he told the state canvassing board last year. When Hadlock didn’t answer his calls, he sent the sheriff’s office to her home.
Hadlock initially denied there was an issue, but ultimately agreed to Gray’s request that her office complete a hand tabulation of the ballots, which confirmed her mistake. The recount showed that Neiman received 1,269 votes, and the results were certified by the county canvassing board.
Gray recommended that Hadlock be removed from office, but Gov. Mark Gordon came to a different conclusion, saying her mistakes did not rise to the level of malfeasance. Gordon is now weighing new complaints against Hadlock, including for her failure to comply with the subpoena.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

PHOTO CUTLINE: The Weston County courthouse in Newcastle is pictured on Sept. 25, 2025. (Maggie Mullen/WyoFile)

11/10/2025

FROM WYOFILE:

Wyoming hopes to bolster health care workforce, services, access with federal health funds

The state stands to receive up to $800 million through the new Rural Health Transformation Program.

By Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile.com

Wyoming’s application for up to $800 million in federal money earmarked for rural health care focuses on stabilizing hospitals, bolstering preventative health, growing the workforce and using technology to improve access.
The state submitted its application Wednesday for money from the Rural Health Transformation Program, a new federal initiative created by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Wyoming will learn its fate at the end of the year with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expected to announce winners Dec. 31.
“Wyoming is taking full advantage of the Rural Health Transformation Program championed under President Trump,” Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement Wednesday. “These funds will help us transform care for Wyoming families and keep critical services local, where they belong.”
The availability of federal funds comes at a time when Wyoming’s gaps in health care access have grown more conspicuous. From the long distances patients travel for care to nursing shortages to affordability concerns in hospitals, Wyoming has a laundry list of needs and challenges related to its health care network.
New health policies, such as the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax subsidies at the end of this year, are expected to exacerbate barriers to health care for many residents by hiking costs.

The opportunity

The Rural Health Transformation Program is designed to funnel $50 billion to states to stabilize and strengthen rural hospitals and providers. Program funding is intended to support priorities like chronic disease prevention, sustaining health care access, workforce development and technical assistance. Funding will be dispersed over five years.
The application was released in September, which created a short timeline for health officials to collect public feedback and determine the state’s priorities.
Starting in September, Wyoming Department of Health staff hosted eight in-person and three virtual meetings on the topic. Meetings took place from Newcastle to Lander, Buffalo to Saratoga. The state also received 1,300 responses to an online survey it circulated.
Five priorities emerged from the public meetings:
Improve the financial viability of small rural hospitals to provide basic services.
Expand affordable health insurance options.
Recruit and retain primary care physicians.
Train and recruit more nurses and direct care workforce.
Strengthen OB-GYN services, labor and delivery and related care so women can safely deliver babies.
Health department staff condensed the priorities into four initiatives in the application.
The first is “improving access to basic medical care.” That entails consolidating and right-sizing Wyoming’s rural hospitals and EMS systems around sustainable payer sources with a focus on basic services, including maternity care.
The second is building up the state’s health care workforce. This initiative would expand educational opportunities for nurses, paramedics and other health professionals to smooth career pathways.
Third is improving residents’ health by promoting healthy diets, exercise and lifestyles. This would help Wyoming fight back against high diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates and alleviate pressure on the health care system.
The fourth initiative involves using technology to improve health care access and management of chronic disease.
“Our application reflects a clear vision for Wyoming’s healthcare future,” Gordon said in his statement. “Just as we have done with other transitory federal programs, we recognize this money is not forever and it is taxpayer money. So the investments we make must stand the test of time and not further burden our grandchildren.”

The holes

At the same time that the Big Beautiful Bill created the rural health fund, it also made changes that many say will make health care less accessible and less affordable, weakening the system and harming communities.
The act is projected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by $793 billion over 10 years, resulting in an estimated 10.3 million fewer people enrolled nationally. The cuts in the federal bill could cost Wyoming nearly 200 jobs per year and shrink the state’s economy by $140 million over five years, an economic analysis finds.
Enhanced premium tax credits on the Affordable Care marketplace are set to expire at the end of 2025 — and the act did not renew them. That will result in significant premium spikes for some patients, who are just seeing this week what their new plan costs will be. According to Healthy Wyoming, a 60-year-old couple with an annual income of $82,000 will face an increase of $37,422 in annual health care costs due to the tax credit loss. The premium increase for a 45-year-old who earns $62,000 annually could be upwards of $6,000.
Between 11,000-20,000 state residents are at risk of losing their coverage due to the anticipated marketplace cost increases, according to Healthy Wyoming.
In the maternity care landscape, Banner Health announced in September that it would pause labor and delivery services at Platte County Hospital in Wheatland. It marked the fifth Wyoming hospital in recent history to shutter a birth facility.
A legislative committee will bring two bills in the 2026 session aimed at fortifying maternity care.
One would authorize freestanding birth centers to be covered by Medicaid for births handled by midwives.
The second bill, a divisive measure that ignited lengthy debate, would set rules and regulations aimed at protecting pregnancy centers, which are typically intended to discourage women from seeking abortions.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Banner Wyoming Medical Center volunteers Perry Propp and Patty Sanford help a patient with a question on Nov. 15, 2024. (Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile)

11/10/2025

The Green River Fire Department and Castle Rock Ambulance escorted the GRYFL 4th grade All- Star team through Green River tonight after they won the 307 Showdown State Champion game. Green River defeated Gillette and Casper during the games in Casper over the weekend.
Congratulations 4th grade Wolves!

Photos by Dakota Riddle

11/09/2025

The Green River Lady Wolves Volleyball team officially ended their season in 2nd place at the 4A State Championships in Casper.
The Lady Wolves lost to defending State Champs the Kelly Walsh Lady Trojans.
Congratulations Lady Wolves! You had an outstanding season and we are proud of you and all your accomplishments this year!

Kelly Walsh 3 Green River 1 = 17-25, 25-9, 25-16, 25-23 – CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH