Business

Southern Wyoming Partners to Pursue Wyoming Scenic Byway Designation for the Lincoln Highway

Publisher — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Southern Wyoming Partners to Pursue Wyoming Scenic Byway Designation for the Lincoln Highway Publisher Sat, 10/31/2026 - 06:00

Press Release

Discover Carbon County

Tourism and historic preservation organizations across southern Wyoming are joining forces to pursue the designation of the historic Lincoln Highway as a Wyoming Scenic Byway. This collaborative effort aims to preserve the highway’s history, strengthen regional tourism, support local economies, and encourage travelers to explore the communities along this historic route.

The partnership includes Visit Cheyenne, Visit Laramie, Discover Carbon County, Sweetwater County Travel & Tourism, Visit Evanston, the Evanston Historic Preservation Society, and the Alliance for Historic Wyoming. Established in 1913, the Lincoln Highway was one of the nation’s earliest transcontinental highways and played an important role in the development of automobile travel and tourism.

The proposed Scenic Byway designation would create a connected historic tourism route across southern Wyoming, encouraging travelers to venture beyond the interstate and discover local museums, historic sites, attractions, restaurants, lodging, and businesses. “This designation is about more than putting a name on a road,” said Megan McComas, Project Lead. “It is an opportunity to preserve and share an important piece of Wyoming and American transportation history, while using that story to support tourism, local businesses, museums, historic sites, and communities across southern Wyoming.” P

roject Goals Through this collaborative initiative, partners aim to:

• Preserve and promote the history and significance of the Lincoln Highway.

• Establish a recognizable historic tourism route connecting southern Wyoming communities.

• Encourage travelers to explore communities and attractions beyond the interstate.

• Increase visitation, overnight stays, and spending at local businesses.

• Strengthen regional partnerships and create new tourism marketing opportunities.

• Promote southern Wyoming’s heritage to domestic and international travelers.

Together, the participating organizations hope to preserve an important piece of American history while creating new opportunities for tourism, economic development, and community connections throughout southern Wyoming. For more information about the Lincoln Highway Scenic Byway project, contact Megan McComas, Project Lead, at 307-324-3020 or sales@wyomingcarboncounty.com.

Discover Carbon County Has a New Home for Advenuter

Publisher — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Discover Carbon County Has a New Home for Advenuter

Publisher Sat, 10/24/2026 - 07:00

Take a Break, Make a Splash in Rawlins

Publisher — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Take a Break, Make a Splash in Rawlins

Publisher Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

Keeping Rochelle Ranch on Course for 22 Years

Publisher — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Keeping Rochelle Ranch on Course for 22 Years

Publisher Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The Rochelle Ranch Golf Course is a treasure to many golf enthusiasts in Wyoming and the Country, for that matter. A person largely responsible for this golf course in Rawlins is Kevin Gannon, the golf pro of the facility.

Gannon is a Wyoming guy, but he was born and raised down the road in Laramie.

“I didn’t grow up in a golfing family, and did not grow up playing golf,” Gannon said. “I played a lot of baseball and basketball. Baseball was my passion and I played through the American Legion and we won one State Championship in Laramie. We had some fantastic teams.”

He went to the University of Wyoming and got his degree in Social Sciences.

“I started working in the golf industry about 10 to 12 years after I got my degree, so I was in my 30s when I started playing golf,” Gannon said. “I fell in love with the game and luckily, I was really good at it from the get-go.”

Gannon said that by the time his first summer of playing ended, he was beating all of his friends.

At the Glen Red Jacoby Golf Course, he was asked to come and work for the place.

“So I worked there as the assistant golf pro there for seven years,” Gannon said. “In 2004, the position here came up. I called Kevin Skates up, who was head of Parks and Recreation for Rawlins; he was not wild about me calling him every two or three days. I kept pestering him and finally he told me to come over to see the course. This was July and the place was opening in August.”

Gannon came to Rawlins and saw the course. He remembers that they went to lunch at Su Casa, which he enjoyed. Gannon enjoyed the trip although the building was not quite done.

“The pro shop wasn’t quite finished yet,” Gannon recollected. “So I left feeling good about the place.”

Gannon then did not hear anything, so he called several times.

“Kevin finally gets in touch with me and tells me we are not going to have a head golf pro this year. We are going to wait,” Gannon said. “I go, ‘What?’ I tell him he needs one. I was relentless in calling him. Finally, I got a call from the city manager who talked to me. He offered me the job if I wanted it. He told me to think about it until Monday. That Monday, I had him on speed dial and accepted the job.”

Gannon came on board two weeks before the golf course was ready to open. He got everything ready and is still the golf pro in 2026.

Gannon said what he learned in Laramie served him well.

“The golf course business is not too different from golf course to golf course,” Gannon said. “It basically is what you learn at one golf course; you will probably implement at the next golf course you work at.”

Gannon chuckles as recounted golfers from out of town often go, “Where are the trees?”

It is a unique golf course with the sagebrush and high desert surrounding the course.

He acknowledges water can be an issue. Gannon said it is about prioritizing what gets watered.

“The first things you water are the T-boxes and the greens,” Gannon said. They are the main focus. If you have the water, then you take care of the fairway. You can’t let greens die, because to get them back, you are looking at $80,000 to $100,000. You protect your greens at all costs. If you don’t have enough water to water your greens, you are done.”

Gannon recognizes he has been at the golf course 22 years and has been the head golf pro during these years, but he said time has flown by.

“It has gone by in a flash,” Gannon said. “My time here has gone by fast.”

Although the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course has faced challenges, there were times the place weathered them fine. Gannon said COVID did not really affect them much because you can social distance in golf.

“Actually, the golf industry as a whole really picked up during COVID,” Gannon said. “That time didn’t really hurt us.”

Droughts are his biggest challenge.

“By far, droughts are the worst,” Gannon said. “You get up thinking about it; you think about it during the day, and you think about it when you are going to sleep. It just really is stressful. You want the best for your members. You want the best for visitors that come to play golf.”

Gannon also points out the course has employed many people.

“So many high school kids come and work here as seasonals,” Gannon said. “People don’t realize what a boost to the Rawlins economy.”

The day-to-day operations are the most important to the golf course.

Gannon has fundraisers for different organizations, athletic events and makes the course available for good causes.

“I have had the greatest job for 22 years,” Gannon said. “I love my job, and not many people can say that. I was so lucky to fall into this. I have gotten to work with so many great people. I have not had any problems with anybody in the city of Rawlins.”

Gannon also enjoys teaching golf.

“I love being a teacher,” Gannon said. “It is so fun to watch kids start to enjoy the game. It is also rewarding to have worked with so many of the employees that I have. There is one worker named Brandon Rideout who has been with the place since I came here. He is a teacher, but he comes to work for me every summer.”

The course will shut down around the end of October to the beginning of November. Then he plans for the Christmas party. He does take off during January and February but is back in March to start ramping up.

“There are days in winter where the course will open only to nine holes,” Gannon said. “It just depends on the weather.”

Gannon has a twin sister named Kay who is very supportive of him working at the course, as are his other siblings and nieces and nephews.

Gannon loves his job and it shows.

With 22 years behind him and a passion for the game that shows no signs of fading, Gannon continues to make Rochelle Ranch Golf Course a place where golfers of all ages can enjoy the sport for years to come.

Stitchcraft Brings Sewing, Tea and Apothecary Goods to Saratoga

Publisher — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Stitchcraft Brings Sewing, Tea and Apothecary Goods to Saratoga

Publisher Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

By Dana Davis

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

A new downtown business is bringing an unusual combination of sewing, handmade goods, loose-leaf teas and traditional apothecary products to Saratoga.

Stitchcraft Haberdashery & Mercantile, owned by Jess and Brad Doudna recently opened its doors on Bridge Street, offering everything from custom clothing and alterations to incense, herbs, teas and handmade products.

Jess said the shop combines several interests and skills under one roof. The front of the store features the mercantile and apothecary, while a sewing studio occupies space toward the back.

“We’ve got incense, resins, homemade tallow balms,” Jess said. “And then in the back of that is my sewing studio.”

Sewing is a significant part of the business. They offer alterations and repairs as well as handmade and custom clothing. Examples of her work include custom Western-style suits and other garments made for individual customers.

The store also carries handmade leather items, adding another element to the eclectic selection.

For customers interested in tea, Stitchcraft stocks a variety of loose-leaf options, including both caffeinated and caffeine-free blends.

“We’ve got a selection of loose-leaf teas, caffeinated, uncaffeinated, a little bit of everything,” Jess said.

The apothecary side of the business includes an assortment of herbs, roots, flowers and seeds. Jess said that portion of Stitchcraft grew from products she and her family had collected and used themselves before beginning to share their interest with friends and relatives.

“It kind of started as a collection of what we use to heal ourselves and keep ourselves healthy, and then shared with friends and family,” she said.

Over time, that interest expanded as they learned more about traditional herbal products and began adding to the collection.

Jess said the shop also hopes to respond to what local customers are looking for. Among the products she has been working on are a liniment and items intended for customers interested in traditional herbal approaches to everyday wellness.

For the couple, interest in herbal products developed partly from a desire to explore alternatives and learn more about plants and traditional practices.

The result is a store that does not fit neatly into a single retail category. A customer might stop in for a clothing alteration and find loose-leaf tea, incense or handmade goods while waiting.

Jess said the combination seems particularly well suited to Saratoga, where local residents mix with visitors drawn to the community’s history, outdoor recreation and events.

Stitchcraft had previously operated from a smaller location nearby, but the previous space did not receive much foot traffic. Moving into the new location offered an opportunity to make the business more visible.

The first day in the new space brought encouraging results.

“We had some great company today, and everybody that we’ve talked to so far has been really excited that this exists now,” Jess said. “So we’re blessed to be here.”

They have lived in Saratoga for about a year after moving from Colorado. Originally from Pennsylvania, the pair said the path eventually brought them to the Platte Valley, where Stitchcraft is now beginning its next chapter.

With its combination of old-fashioned sewing skills, handmade merchandise and traditional apothecary goods, Stitchcraft adds something different to Saratoga’s collection of locally owned shops.

Stitchcraft Haberdashery & Mercantile offers handmade goods, alterations, clothing repair, apothecary items, incense and tea. The business can be reached at 307-939-7139 or magick@braucherei.com.

Growth of Leadership Team Continues Evolution of Award-Winning Wyoming Spirits Program

Publisher — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Growth of Leadership Team Continues Evolution of Award-Winning Wyoming Spirits Program

Publisher Sun, 10/11/2026 - 00:00

Press Release

Brush Creek Distillery

Brush Creek Distillery, the award-winning small-batch craft distillery set on a working cattle ranch in Wyoming’s Platte River Valley, which is also home to Brush Creek Ranch, announced today the promotion of two of its longstanding distillers. Philip Mundt will now serve as Market Development Manager and Head Distiller Emeritus, and Ethan Whitman will step up as Head Distiller.

“These promotions reflect the accomplishments made at Brush Creek Distillery and the depth of experience each brings to the craft,” said Andrew Wason, Managing Director, Brush Creek Distillery. “Over the past four-plus years, Ethan has become an integral part of our spirits program. His technical knowledge, understanding of maturation and blending, and ability to translate that knowledge into exceptional products make him the right person to lead our distilling program into its next chapter. Philip’s extensive production expertise, industry relationships and deep knowledge of the Brush Creek portfolio will support our continued growth across multiple markets and sales channels.”

As Head Distiller, Whitman will assume overall technical leadership for Brush Creek Distillery’s spirits production, overseeing the complete product lifecycle from raw-material preparation, cooking, fermentation, and distillation through barrel filling, maturation, blending, finishing, proofing, bottling,

and final release. His expanded responsibilities will place emphasis on barrel maturation, aging inventory management, blending, cask finishing, and new product development including collaborations, limited releases, and sing-barrel offerings. He will lead the Distillery’s guest-facing whiskey experiences including distillery tours, guided tastings, barrel selections, blending sessions, cask-finishing programs, and Bottle Your Own experiences.

“Taking on the role of Head Distiller is an incredible honor,” said Whitman. “I’m proud of what our team has accomplished and I am excited about where we will take the program from here. We have an opportunity to continue developing distinctive spirits, build on our aging inventory, explore new approaches to blending and finishing, and create products that reflect both the character of Wyoming and the spirit of Brush Creek.”

Before joining Brush Creek Distillery, Whitman developed his production and operational expertise at Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as Lead Distiller and Packaging/Production Supervisor.

Mundt’s expanded leadership position of Market Development Manager & Head Distiller Emeritus and his strategic relocation to Colorado was designed to leverage and strengthen the Distillery’s distributor partnerships, sales and market development across Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, and Brush Creek Distillery’s eCommerce channel.

In this new role Mundt will assume increased responsibility for sales, market development, distributor engagement, key account development and brand representation across the Distillery’s primary markets. He will serve as an important connection between Brush Creek Distillery and its partners, supporting market planning, sales execution, account development, product education, inventory and portfolio priorities, new product introductions, promotional programming and ongoing brand-development initiatives.

Mundt served as Brush Creek Distillery’s Head Distiller for the last five years. Prior to this he served as Head of Production at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, where he gained extensive experience in whiskey production, operational management and premium American whiskey. Prior to this Mundt held the roles of Brewer at Mother Earth Brewing in N.C., and General Manager of The Bier Baron Tavern (formally the Brickskeller) in Washington D.C.

“Philip brings tremendous credibility to the marketplace because his understanding of our products extends far beyond traditional sales and brand representation,” said Andrew Wason, Managing Director, Brush Creek Distillery. “He understands the liquid, the production process and the story behind what we produce. His expanded role allows us to bring that expertise directly to our distributor partners, accounts, trade partners and consumers while providing a stronger level of market support.”

These promotions come as Brush Creek Distillery continues to expand its presence within the American craft spirits landscape. With an emphasis on Craft Distilling, Blending, and Trailblazing, the Distillery is developing a portfolio that combines traditional distilling disciplines with Wyoming’s distinctive environment, evolving maturation program, and a growing emphasis on limited and highly personalized whiskey experiences.

Under this new leadership, Brush Creek Distillery will continue investing in its production capabilities, aged inventory, product innovation, and technical expertise while maintaining a focus on the quality, consistency, authenticity, and integrity of every spirit released.

About Brush Creek Distillery

Brush Creek Distillery is a craft distillery uniquely set on a working cattle ranch within the one-of-a-kind epicurean center of world-renowned Brush Creek Ranch. Brush Creek Distillery’s onsite distilling, blending, and trailblazing initiatives allow for the small-batch crafting of a variety of spirits, including Brush Creek Straight Bourbon, Brush Creek Straight Rye, Brush Creek Vodka, and Brush Creek Gin, as well as limited cask-finished releases, including Brush Creek “Chimney Rock” and Brush Creek “Honig” Cabernet Sauvignon Cask-Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskeys and Brush Creek “Railroad Rye” Straight Rye Whiskey.

The Distillery has received Double Platinum, Platinum, Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze recognition from numerous spirits industry competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, ASCOT Awards, SIP Awards, American Craft Spirits Association, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, PR%F Magazine Awards, and USA Spirits Ratings.

Each batch is crafted in Wyoming using the finest ingredients and local products whenever possible. For more information, visit www.brushcreekdistillery.com, or follow Brush Creek Distillery on Facebook and Instagram.

Mispel Puts Relationships at Heart of RNB Role

Publisher — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Mispel Puts Relationships at Heart of RNB Role

Publisher Sat, 10/03/2026 - 22:30

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

When Shane Mispel talks about banking, he rarely starts with numbers.

Instead, he talks about people.

As Wyoming Market President for RNB State Bank, Mispel believes the true measure of a community bank is not found in balance sheets or interest rates, but in the relationships it builds and the trust it earns.

That commitment to people is what inspired him to begin a series of Meet and Greet events at RNB branches throughout Carbon County.

“I want people to understand who we are,” Mispel said. “RNB has been here for 127 years, helping businesses grow, helping families reach their goals, and supporting communities. My mission is to share what we’re really about as a bank.”

For Mispel, the newly created role of Wyoming Market President is about making sure every Wyoming community has a voice.

Although RNB operates a branch in Colorado, Mispel is quick to point out that the bank’s roots are firmly planted in Wyoming soil.

“This position was created because our communities are all unique,” he explained. “Instead of managing just one branch, I can help bring together the needs, ideas, and concerns from communities across Wyoming. Every branch matters, and every community deserves to be heard.”

That philosophy is guiding Mispel as he spends time traveling between branches, getting to know customers and learning firsthand what matters most to them.

On September 18th, Mispel held an open house at the Saratoga branch which was the first in a series of community gatherings that also included Rawlins on September 25th, and Hanna’s will be held on October 2nd.

More than anything, Mispel wants people to know they can walk through the doors, ask questions, and have real conversations.

One topic that naturally comes up is the bank’s recent core conversion, a major technology upgrade completed over the summer.

Mispel understands that for customers, the transition may have been frustrating at times.

“The best way I can describe it is like replacing the engine and all four tires on a car while trying to keep driving it,” he said. “It’s a huge undertaking.”

While the process created challenges, he believes the improvements will ultimately provide customers with better services and new capabilities. More importantly, he says, the experience reinforced what matters most.

“We know there were issues, and we’ve worked hard to make them right,” Mispel said. “At the heart of it all are relationships. Trust is everything. If you don’t have trust, you don’t have anything.”

That focus on relationships is one of the reasons Wyoming feels like home to him.

Originally from a small town in New Hampshire, Mispel spent years living and working throughout the East Coast. During his career, he served in the Marine Corps, owned a financial services company in Virginia, and held banking positions throughout the Northeast.

Yet something never quite fit.

“I struggled with the culture back east,” he said. “Everything felt very transactional. People talked about relationships, but there wasn’t much time to build them.”

Three years ago, Mispel and his family moved west, and everything changed.

“When I got here, I remember thinking, ‘Finally,’” he said with a smile. “I found a place where relationships truly matter.”

In Wyoming, he discovered something he had been missing: the opportunity to be part of a community rather than simply work in one.

Whether coaching youth sports, serving as treasurer for the Lions Club, or volunteering on local boards, Mispel embraced the chance to get involved.

“Back east, I was doing a job,” he said. “Here, I get to be myself. I genuinely care about people. I like seeing people succeed, whether it’s a family, a business owner, or one of our employees.”

His appreciation for the West actually began years earlier while attending the Graduate School of Banking program at Colorado University. There he fell in love with the sunshine, the outdoors, and the welcoming nature of people throughout the region.

Eventually, that connection led him and his wife, Christina, to Carbon County.

The decision to move wasn’t easy. Christina, who is originally from Vermont, has four sisters she remains very close with. But after spending time in the area, the couple decided Wyoming felt right. Today, she serves as the Head Start preschool teacher and director in Saratoga.

“It was a huge change for both of us,” Mispel said. “But it turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

After three years with Bank of Commerce, an opportunity with RNB emerged.

“I wasn’t looking for another job,” he said. “But after many conversations with RNB, it became clear we shared the same vision. It felt like a really good fit.”

Now, as part of RNB’s executive leadership team, Mispel believes he has an opportunity to help shape both the bank’s future and its role within Wyoming communities.

He wants RNB to be known as more than a financial institution.

He wants it to be a community partner.

That means supporting local events, helping municipalities, encouraging small businesses, and investing in the places people proudly call home.

“We serve the entire county, and small towns are every bit as important as larger communities,” Mispel said. “I grew up in a very small town myself. We didn’t even have our own high school. I understand what small towns mean to the people who live there.”

Whether it’s a community fundraiser, a local festival, or a youth program, Mispel says RNB doesn’t want to take center stage.

“We just want to help,” he said. “We want to use our resources to support the communities that support us.”

Those words reflect the heart of Mispel’s vision for both himself and RNB State Bank.

For him, banking is not simply about transactions. It is about people, promises, and partnerships.

And as he continues traveling across Carbon County, meeting residents face-to-face and listening to their stories, he hopes to earn something far more valuable than a customer’s business.

He hopes to earn their trust.

Because in the end, Shane Mispel believes the strongest communities are built the same way the best banking relationships are built: one conversation, one handshake, and one act of service at a time.

Where History Checks In

Publisher — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Where History Checks In

Publisher Sat, 10/03/2026 - 22:30

CCEDC Highlights Growth and Opportunity at Annual Fundraiser

Publisher — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:30:00 +0000

CCEDC Highlights Growth and Opportunity at Annual Fundraiser

Publisher Sat, 10/03/2026 - 22:30

By Dana Davis

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Carbon County’s economy is changing, but speakers at the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation’s annual meeting said the county has both the assets and opportunities to build its next chapter.

CCEDC held its annual meeting and fundraiser, “Guns & Roses — An Evening of Vision, Community and Celebration,” Saturday, Sept. 26, bringing together business owners, community leaders and supporters for an evening focused on economic development and the future of Carbon County.

CCEDC Executive Director Yvonne Johnson organized the event and introduced guest speaker Renny MacKay, President, Wyoming Business Alliance. Missy Turney, CCEDC board president and a representative of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, later addressed the audience.

MacKay told those attending that his connections to Carbon County stretch back generations. His mother lived in Wyoming as a child in the 1950s, and his grandfather worked with the University of Wyoming’s outreach school and traveled to Carbon County.

“I love Rawlins,” MacKay said, adding that visits over the years have given him an appreciation for the community.

He said workforce development remains a major priority for Wyoming, along with creating thriving communities, maintaining a strong business climate and continuing the state’s role as an energy leader.

MacKay pointed to Carbon County’s long history in energy, including coal production that helped fuel the Union Pacific Railroad and generations of workers associated with the Sinclair refinery.

That economy, however, is changing.

MacKay said Wyoming continues to lose young people, while traditional industries such as coal and natural gas are declining or undergoing significant changes. Wyoming’s economic growth has also lagged behind surrounding states.

He compared those challenges to a story about former Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper Delaine Roberts, who later became a state senator and U.S. marshal.

According to the story MacKay shared, Roberts once found himself trying to break up a fight near the Rawlins rail yards while a man he had arrested waited in his patrol car. When Roberts began losing the fight, the prisoner climbed out of the unlocked patrol car. Instead of escaping, the man joined the fight and helped Roberts.

MacKay used the story to illustrate that help can sometimes come from unexpected places and said Wyoming may be reaching a similar turning point economically.

There are encouraging signs, he said.

Wyoming’s economy is more diversified than it has been in about 50 years, while Carbon County’s gross county product continues to grow. Advanced manufacturing, new forms of energy development and other industries are creating opportunities that did not previously exist.

MacKay also pointed to data centers as a potentially significant opportunity. He said Carbon County government has a budget of approximately $24 million, while one large data center can generate between $20 million and $25 million annually in taxes.

A project of that scale, he said, could have a major impact without requiring the community to absorb thousands of new residents.

Still, MacKay said communities should not wait for a single project to transform their economies.

He referenced the often-repeated story that Thomas Edison conceived the idea for the light bulb while visiting Carbon County for the 1878 solar eclipse. MacKay noted that the story is not true, but said the reality of Edison’s work provides a better lesson.

The light bulb was developed through repeated experimentation, refinement and hard work rather than one sudden moment of inspiration.

MacKay said economic development works much the same way.

Transforming Wyoming’s economy and strengthening Rawlins and Carbon County will require people continually putting in the work, investing in their communities and improving ideas over time.

“Just by being here, you’ve invested in Carbon County’s future,” MacKay told the audience.

Turney later provided a closer look at how CCEDC is putting that philosophy into practice.

She said the organization has gone through a rebuilding period that included developing a new mission, values, vision and bylaws. Johnson, working with the board, has been meeting with businesses, government agencies, town councils and potential partners throughout the county.

Turney said there is already progress to report.

KB Energy is working on a manufacturing expansion with Manufacturing Works and the Wyoming Business Council, while CCEDC is involved in active discussions with manufacturers considering Rawlins as a regional hub.

The organization is also working with Brownfields funding connected to the St. Joseph School project, partnering with the town of Hanna on its recreation center and fielding interest involving housing development, drone manufacturing and new business startups in Saratoga and Rawlins.

Six new members have joined the CCEDC board this year, and the organization has launched board training programs.

“None of that happens by accident,” Turney said. “It happens because organizations like this one exist to knock on doors, build relationships, chase down grants, and sit at tables most people never see.”

The goal, she said, is to make sure Carbon County is ready when an opportunity arrives.

One of CCEDC’s newest efforts is a partnership with Global Site Location Industries, a national site-selection firm that Turney said has helped communities land more than 2,100 projects representing more than $6 billion in capital investment.

For a small organization with one staff member and a limited budget, Turney said the partnership expands CCEDC’s reach.

She described GSLI as an extension of the local economic development team, connecting Carbon County with potential projects, assisting with proposals and helping put the county in front of site selectors deciding where manufacturers, distributors and other employers will locate.

The company is also helping CCEDC examine potential development sites, including the Hanna Recreation Center.

“This is exactly the kind of outside capacity that lets a small organization like ours punch above its weight,” Turney said.

CCEDC is also finalizing a five-year strategic plan centered on what Turney described as Carbon County’s existing strengths: the Interstate 80 corridor, energy infrastructure, outdoor recreation and a dependable workforce.

The plan focuses on increasing the organization’s capacity, strengthening relationships with existing businesses, helping those businesses remain and expand in the county, improving access to site and utility information and advocating for infrastructure needed for future growth.

The Guns & Roses fundraiser helps finance that work.

The evening included dinner, raffle drawings and a live auction led by Rodeo Rick Darcy. Students helped serve food and sell raffle tickets, while many of the auction and raffle items came from businesses and individuals in Carbon County.

“Every dollar raised tonight helps us move that plan forward,” Turney said.

She encouraged those attending not only to bid generously, but to tell others about the economic development efforts underway across Carbon County.

“The more people who understand this work, the stronger we all become,” she said.

For CCEDC, the evening’s message was that economic development rarely happens with one announcement or one major project. It is built through relationships, planning and the less-visible work required to make sure Carbon County is prepared when opportunities arrive.

“Thank you for believing in Carbon County,” Turney said. “Thank you for believing in this organization.”

Carbon County Comet Celebration

Publisher — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Carbon County Comet Celebration Publisher Sat, 09/26/2026 - 07:00

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

On October 3, starting at 6 p.m. in the Livery Building at the Grand Encampment Museum, the Carbon County Comet is welcoming readers and supporters to a celebration of the paper going into its 4th year of publication.

Dana Davis will be supplying some eats that have been featured in the Comet’s Sip and Savor section.

Mike Armstrong will have a selection of cocktails available, such as the Shanghai Buck, that have been featured in the Sip and Savor section, along with bottles of spirits from his personal collection that he has acquired over the years. Many of these bottles are not available in Wyoming.

There will be a 50/50 raffle and a signed bottle of Nate Romanoski Rye by C. J. Box will also be raffled. The proceeds and any donations received will go to offsetting the legal bill incurred by a lawsuit the Comet faced last year.

The event is free and there is no requirement to participate in a raffle or donate any money. The Comet wants to thank all its supporters and let them have an opportunity to enjoy what we write about.

Mike is proud of all the spirits he has collected over the years and would like to share their unique tastes.

His specialty is gin, orange liqueurs and whiskies, but there will be a selection of other spirits to try.

Dana wants to let guests try some of the snack recipes the Comet has featured over the years.

We hope our guests will come from all the communities that support the Comet each week.

The Grand Encampment Museum’s Livery Building is an excellent place to have the event with all its historical artifacts to look at.

Tim Nicklas, the Museum’s director will be there to answer any question about the exhibits for those who have not been there before.

The event will finish at 8 p.m.

Dana and Mike look forward to meeting all those that come by to celebrate another year of the Comet.