The Carbon County Traveler

Mike Armstrong

My father was an avid gardener.

I always attributed this to his upbringing as a dairy farmer’s son.

His family had 200 acres and since my grandfather died of an infection from a corn splinter, I know they grew corn.

For five or six months, I have been writing essays complimentary of our small town virtues and unique qualities. I ask for conversations in every essay. I offer my telephone and email contact information, but crickets dominate my response channels. So, this issue of Let’s Talk will be more of the same, but different, in the hope that someone, anyone, will be inspired to respond.

There are some things you expect to find in Wyoming. It’s a given you will encounter antelope, sagebrush, and wind. Bananas however, do not leap to mind. After all, bananas come from tropical places where people wear flip-flops year around and shiver when the temperature drops below 70 degrees. Yet, somehow grocery stores, even in the tiniest villages in Wyoming, will have bananas.

About 18 months ago, I attended a February meeting of the Carbon County Commissioners where the Carbon County Semiquincentennial Committee, also known as the 250 Year Committee, was established. I remember Candy Moulton and Tim Niklas being there, putting forth their ideas and mentioning names who would be on the committee.

Sue Jones was the liaison for the Carbon County Commissioners.

Little did I realize what an amazing feat this group would accomplish.

Let's Talk

Henry Nicolle

Hello everyone,

If or when you read these thoughts, please remember these are my own opinions. 

Something to Chew On

Virginia Parker

It’s easy to get caught up in stories about what’s wrong in the world. Turn on the television, scroll through social media, and you’d think kindness had packed its bags and moved somewhere else. But kindness is just an arm’s length away here in the valley we call home. 

I went to a show in Sinclair that featured a Japanese family on drums and flute that was quite simply fantastic.

I have seen a lot of Asian cultural events while living overseas, but this event was one of the best I have ever witnessed in person.

I went backstage and talked to the performers and it came up that I have been to Japan a few times.

It is funny, my first exposure to Japanese culture was in Hawaii.

Something happens in your brain when you hear spurs jingle. You can’t help but smile a little. It’s the sound of the West. Whether they’re walking through a little country store or across the arena, it is a sound most recognize. You don’t hear it very often in big box stores or shopping malls, although I have encountered them in Walmart and Sam’s Club in Wyoming. 

It is hard to believe that the Carbon County Comet is going into its 4th year. We have completed 3 years in business. That means we have kept the paper going for 156 weeks continuously. 

Wow.

This is one of the most substantial enterprises I have ever participated in.

It is mostly due to Dana Davis.

Although the name Carbon County Comet was my idea, it was Dana who really thought we could create a local paper that would cover the entire County.

May is Wyoming stretching awake after winter slips away. In June, she puts on her dancing boots and gets ready to boogie. Most of the time, life in the valley moves at a fairly sensible pace, with the occasional hiccup. Folks wave at those driving by, and nod a hello at the post office. Then things begin to change, with lines at the local gas station counter and license plates from Texas to Maine in the parking lots. 

Father’s Day has come and gone.

I still take a look at pictures of my father on this day and remember how important he was in my life.

My father has been gone for about 30 years. He died a bit young, honestly, but I didn’t realize it then because he was 32 when I was born and always seemed older than many of my friends’ fathers.

I was his first child and only biological son.

For those of us who have lived in Wyoming a few years, some things are fairly predictable. The wind, prairie dog carcasses on the highway and traffic mayhem in the post office parking lot at 11 a.m. sharp. 

In Saratoga and Encampment, the parking lots sit quietly, waiting, anticipating. A couple of dusty pickups pull in around 10:45 a.m.; another vehicle dives in to drop a birthday card in the box outside that was just found behind the seat three weeks late. It’s fairly peaceful. 

I was leaving the school board meeting for Carbon County School District No 2 in Elk Mountain the other day, and I guess it was about 7 p.m. Not quite dusk, by any means, but it was later in the evening.

As I approached my car, I was swarmed by mosquitoes. 

Because I live in Hanna, which is out in the high desert for the most part and it is windy, there are not a lot of these pesky beasts.

Don’t get me wrong.

Let's Talk

Henry Nicolle

Let’s Talk about American government the way we believe it to be and how I see it!

This is all opinion and you are encouraged to agree, disagree or expand the conversation. It is all the same to me, so please join this Civics 101 conversation. 

Something to Chew On

Virginia Parker