Some memories stick with you throughout time. When I was younger, I visited my grandparents in the rural town of Duncan, Arizona. Duncan, much like Johnson County, relies heavily on agriculture as a big part of its economy and lifestyle. Cotton, corn, maize and alfalfa crops, as well as dair…
It may have seemed like half the county was on the road to Casper this past weekend during the state basketball tournaments, and considering the weather, the Bench Sitters were pleased they didn’t hear about any accidents or anyone sliding into the ditch.
Transparency was a hot buzzword during the most recent election cycle as statewide candidates Mark Gordon and Kristi Racines pledged to form a transparency working group if elected. The goal: To improve the public’s access to the state’s finances.
The last day of the legislative session drug on past midnight. Better decisions would have been made, in many instances, if we’d all gone home and come back better rested. But, for all that, the session turned out well for our area. And, hopefully, for all of Wyoming as well.
The Johnson County Hospital District Board of Trustees decided last week to send a letter to Sen. Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, expressing their concerns with his recent testimony on the Senate floor while debating the proposed skilled nursing facility for veterans that the Legislature ultimatel…
After a couple of weeks of what the Bench Sitters call “real Wyoming winter,” on Thursday it finally warmed up above the point where water freezes, and we all felt like it must be spring already.
A few months back, our intrepid editor Jennifer Burden shared some embarrassing confessions with you, our readers. In an act of solidarity, I am now doing the same.
Stopped by the Senior Center this week and picked up a load of wisdom. Younger folks should pay more attention to these people who have seen quite a few years roll by.
Wow … I’m really late this week and, as usual, I have lots of excuses … sorry! This was one of my topics about New Year, so bear with me please. Some of these “resolutions” we have featured before but they seemed a little appropriate again this year.
Local educators and state legislators have opened another door for Wyoming students with a recent change to the Hathaway scholarship program.
The headline of the week was, of course, the final vote in the Senate to build a veterans skilled nursing facility in Buffalo.
You can always count on the Bench Sitters for some quality quotes about local events and ideas every week.
The Legislature has decided. The skilled nursing facility for veterans will be built in Buffalo.
The people of Wyoming have long held a deep pride and respect for our military veterans. We recognize the tremendous service and enormous sacrifice they have made to protect the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. It is a common occurrence for Wyoming residents to stop veterans at the groc…
A couple of weeks before Valentine’s Day, my oldest son – who is 6 – received his first love letter.
The Legislature is currently discussing a bill that would create a corporate income tax, and my email inbox has been full of Wyomingites’ thoughts on the matter.
If we truly want to protect our students, the best way to do that is to put school resource officers back in our schools. We now have an opportunity to do that.
People who read Sven’s column are usually looking for funny stories about local folks or other thoughts that will bring a smile to their faces or provide something between a good chuckle and a real belly laugh.
If there is one thing that the recent discussions about the proposed skilled nursing facility for veterans has made plain, it is that the local medical establishment is strained providing elder care.
Stopping by the coffee club meetings on fast food row once or twice a week proves things really don’t change all that much. The subject matter is about the same, and the opinions are seldom that much different.
In Wyoming, a good portion of our government activity is subject to oversight by citizen boards and commissions.
Last week, the state Senate took a big step toward help working adults who hope to improve their lives by stepping up, improving their skills and landing better jobs.
It’s that quiet time of year and the only excitement this week will be Groundhog Day on Saturday. Wyoming residents have never been able to understand why someone would want to worry about spring at this time of year.
The JOCO First board voted last week to request $891,000 in 1 percent funds – $740,000 of which is requested for what board member Rick Myers calls “Band-Aid fixes” to the Bomber Mountain Civic Center.
There’s a movement afoot in the Wyoming Legislature that threatens your right to know.
It wasn’t so long ago the Cowboy State was facing a billion-dollar deficit in the state budget.
The decorations have come down, boxed and stored, but if you have a minute the Bench Sitters want to share a wonderful and true Christmas story with you.
Even the hard-core section of the Bench Sitters club is starting to figure out the government shutdown is not such a good idea.
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note; placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
It appears as though 36 of our state legislators have forgotten which state they live in.
Wyoming’s native son Mark Gordon, now Gov. Mark Gordon, hit the ground running in Cheyenne.
Last week, Johnson County School District parents received an email survey asking for their thoughts on changing up the school week.
On Saturday I woke up early, chugged several cups of coffee and put on my Super Clean Mom uniform. Super Clean Mom wears yoga pants, an oversized sweatshirt with a kangaroo pouch (that’s where I stash the small trinkets and doodads that I need to sneak out of their rooms without them seeing …
The days are starting to get longer now. At least the sun is coming up and bothering some of the early morning coffee drinkers facing east before it’s time to go to (work?).
Years ago, when I ran for the office of Sheridan mayor, my motivation was jobs. For too long, the conversation had been that our No. 1 export was our youth.
Wyoming is home to a hardy stock of industrious people who live and work across a vast state.
OK, already! So it’s 2019 and the Bench Sitters are still trying to figure out what happened in 2018 that could make them smile a little.
With a new year comes a promise to be better. To eat better. To work out. To get organized. To live life to the fullest. Spend less. Learn a new skill.
Across the country, millions of Americans woke up on New Year’s Day with the best of intentions. Lose weight. Exercise more. Stop smoking. Drink less.
Christmas 2018 for most of us is filled with church services calling to mind the real meaning of the season, with family meals, with exchanging of gifts, cards and other forms of greetings and good will.
There are politicians and then there are leaders. Rep. Mike Madden has always been the latter.
Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s letter to the editor of New York’s “Sun” elicited a response that was printed as an editorial on Sept. 21, 1897. The editorial, which is the work of Francis Pharcellus Church, has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial, according to the Newseum, a mu…
My family has greatly enjoyed looking at the lights throughout Buffalo this year. I’m not convinced that they are any better than past years, but maybe we have been more intentional about making time, slowing down and creating space to enjoy them. You would think with many of the grand displ…
If the weatherman is right, there is a 64.79 percent chance we will not have a white Christmas in the immediate area. The kids may not be looking for sleds and ice skates under the tree this year.
OK, already … I know, I know … there are only 12 more days until Christmas and we have not gone shopping yet, don’t have all the outdoor decorations up and plugged in, still thinking about how many Christmas cards we need to buy and need to set the tree up so we can get a few decorations hun…
When the Joint Revenue Committee adjourned its meeting earlier this month, its members should have felt a sense of pride.
As the snow swirled outside my living room window, my instinct was to tense up – scrunch my shoulders, crinkle my nose and let out a big “harrumph.” Really make a scene.
Pam McFadden with the Bread of Life Food Pantry may have said it best: “If you’re going to be in need, I hope you live in Johnson County.”
Buffalo got the Christmas season off to a good start with downtown events Friday and Saturday nights this past week, and big crowds were on hand for events at the Crazy Woman Square, fireworks and the annual Christmas Parade. And best of all, the weather cooperated.
The Buffalo High School Theater Company, under directors Karen Blaney and Leigh Ann Schimmel, offered another extravagant production, which spilled out of the proscenium last Thursday and Friday.
If you’re like me, that tune is now running through your head, and that’s OK, because this coming weekend really is just about the most wonderful time of the year to enjoy Buffalo’s small-town charms and character.
