The weather was perfect for Mother’s Day this past Sunday. It was like a special reward for those many nights of lost sleep while caring for children who were hungry, thirsty or had a bad cold or upset stomach.
In 1999, Baz Luhrmann released the single “Wear Sunscreen,” a spoken-word track that offers various pieces of advice to graduates on how to live a happier life and avoid common frustrations. The song comes directly from an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mar…
While Wyoming lawmakers are working hard to find ways to increase revenue in the state to diversify the economy, unfortunately many of them seem willfully blind when it comes to a real opportunity sitting right there in front of them: growing our tourism sector. In the last two years, bills …
Even though it’s been cool this week, there are more signs of spring and hope of summer each day.
Like most Wyomingites, spring is the season that is most confusing to me. It cannot decide if it is winter or summer!
In the months since Johnson County Schools Superintendent Jim Wagner surveyed parents regarding moving Buffalo schools to a four-day school week, we have received many letters both for and against the proposal.
On April 18, the University of Wyoming American Heritage Center and Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne teamed up to sponsor a panel discussion on the economic and fiscal future of the state. They assembled a panel of six individuals with varying backgrounds to provide perspectives …
The Johnson County School District is considering shortening the school day by 40 minutes for elementary students starting this August.
That “spring feeling” slipped a little the first part of this week when cold winds were blowing some snow around the village.
One thing about the Bench Sitters that has not changed over the many years this column has been in the Bulletin is that they share a trait of being secretive about some of the most trivial things in their lives.
Johnson County’s valuation will likely decline by 14% this year, which means less money to operate the county and tighter budgets for every department and special district.
I’ve spent the past 8½ years at the Buffalo Bulletin interviewing some of the community’s most amazing people, covering some of the harsher facts of life and learning the ins and outs of the place I grew up in and am raising my family in.
A sure sign of spring in Johnson County, besides all the calves and lambs you can spot along the highways, is the assurance that the weather is likely to change every 24 hours or less.
It was bound to happen. It is my turn to dust off my dancing shoes and make my Dancing With the Stars debut. This annual dance competition raises money for the Cancer Society of America.
While downtowns across the country are being revitalized, often with the help of local and state grants, big box stores are closing in droves. Unfortunately, Buffalo’s Shopko has fallen prey to this trend and will be closing soon.
Dear Editor:
It seems like the Bench Sitters have been picking on the weatherman for months.
Earlier this year in opposite sides of Wyoming, students were overcome with emotion as they explored ways to stop school shootings, prevent bullying and keep fellow students from completing suicide.
More than a year ago, the BDA, the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce and JOCO First sat down to evaluate a potential partnership. The goal was to eliminate a duplication of services and find a way to make taxpayer dollars go further.
As I was kicking the snow from underneath my car, I saw a large boot coming my way.
It’s a good thing the Johnson County School District Board of Trustees is pulling back the reins on a proposal to move to a four-day school week in Buffalo.
A reader of this column once asked an interesting question of Sven.
It’s that time of year when Wyoming begins to thaw out. Yes, we will still get those spring snowstorms, but the promise that warmer weather is just around the corner gives us something to look forward to.
It took ingenuity, engineering and a little patience.
For the most part, it’s been what livestock people call an “open winter” around most of Johnson County.
Based on the devastating effects that last week’s storm had on southern Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota, we should be thankful that the predicted bomb cyclone never made it to this part of the state. In Johnson County, the storm closed the interstate and caused officials to clos…
You might recall the Bench Sitters were wondering if the weatherman would be right about “four to seven” inches of snow with all that wind last week.
What makes a small town successful?
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.
